Yacht sinks after being rammed by a killer whale in the Strait of Gibraltar BBC. “Scientists believe that the highly intelligent mammals may be exhibiting ‘imitation’ or ‘playful’ behavior, although the exact cause of this behavior is unknown.” Heaven knows we need more playfulness.
Americans’ debts and delinquencies are on the rise. CNN
climate
Thousands evacuated due to smoke from Canada Fires Today’s wildfire. Mask up!
* * * 4 takeaways from homeowners insurance research New York Times. Source: “The home insurance market is starting to become distorted as heatwaves, storms, and fires occur across the country.”
Beverly Hills 90210 mansion loses fire coverage after insurance company flees bloomberg
* * * Siberia’s ‘gateway to the underworld’ grows at an alarming rate every year live science
USDA horticulture zones have transitioned.This map shows in detail what has changed NPR. It’s more interactive, suitable for swiping, but still useful.
* * * Testifying and publicizing climate change experts JSTOR Daily
What we need is a climate change strategy, not ‘bulk tactics’ anarchist library
* * * Secrets of the rainforest’s past revealed in the Amazon’s backyard Monga Bay
Scientists unravel the mystery of the ancient Tree of Life BBC
water
Where does Earth’s water come from? This ancient asteroid family may help us find out space dot com
Ahi in Kanawai: Reinvigorating Hawaii’s water laws in the wake of Maui wildfires Harvard Law Review. interesting!
pandemic
Encountering the Raw Milk Black Market: Quick, Easy, and Without FDA Checks status
Oldest known human virus discovered in 50,000-year-old Neanderthal bones IFL Science
China?
China’s largest bank begins first sale of extraordinary loss absorbing bonds F.T.
President Putin and President Xi sign declaration on strengthening strategic partnership france 24
China builds world’s first drone transport ship navy news
It is called “industrial policy.”
For years, the Chinese government has been cheating by funneling money to Chinese companies, which in turn flood the market with cheaper products and harm competitors who play by the rules.
I am announcing tariffs to ensure American workers are not held captive by unfair trade practices. pic.twitter.com/JHdJ6EcXWr
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 14, 2024
Try it sometime!
4 people killed in riot, France sends troops to New Caledonia Al Mayadeen
Myanmar
Patrick Win talks about the drug economy in Myanmar’s Wa State diplomat
Myanmar workers are among the fastest growing foreign worker group in Japan as society ages channel news asia
syrakistan
Biden pushes for $1.2 billion in ground-based weapons transfer to Israel amid Rafah attack reveal the truth
U.S. military announces completion of Gaza Strip jetty project, aid will soon flow in as Israel-Hamas war intensifies A.P. It will be difficult to do this on the pier, but they will find a way:
Israeli settlers attacked and destroyed a humanitarian convoy traveling through the occupied West Bank to the Gaza Strip, where people desperately needed aid from Jordan. pic.twitter.com/zfcVyObhZJ
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) May 14, 2024
* * * Israeli Defense Minister slams Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for lack of postwar plan F.T.
Taleb about Hasbara:
A system that requires continuous, pervasive, constant misrepresentation and propaganda (by AIPAC, Hasbara, Western mind manipulation) to hide its characteristics will eventually collapse. https://t.co/61xUskA0Jq
— Nassim Nicholas Taleb (@nntaleb) May 15, 2024
I think Taleb’s example can be generalized.
* * * President Erdogan says Israel will ‘set its sights on’ Turkey if Hamas is defeated Turkish portion
* * * House Democrats outraged by Israel’s unprecedented scolding of lawmakers huffpo
shameless Craig Murray. I have always wondered why America’s elites, such as university presidents and funders, identify with Israel so disproportionately. Our elites may understandably believe that they are surrounded and outnumbered. Also, as many of them do, they are ideologically compatible with everything from social Darwinism to outright genocide, and stochastic eugenics is considered a moderate position (“live your life”). It may be possible to do so.
discord in europe
Slovak Prime Minister’s life is not in danger after surgery anadolu agency
Slovak Prime Minister’s shooting suspect named as 71-year-old writer Agence France-Presse
Dutch far-right to form coalition government FT. Geert Wilders.
Dear Old Blighty
Brexit border control system outage puts transport of perishable goods at risk register
The woman who created Edinburgh’s street stitchers group BBC
A new war that’s not so cold war
US Secretary of State and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Working Dinner in Kyiv – Photos Ukraineska Pravda. The following photos were not shown to the press:
What does it mean that these two appear to have dressed specifically for Blinken’s photo? Also notice how Wolfsangel is sticking out of the frame
(By the way, if you search on Google Maps, Veterano Pizza comes up at the top. It shows Kiev pizza) pic.twitter.com/NT673R9ogP
— Brad Pierce (@WaywardRabbler) May 15, 2024
yes, The photo is definitely of Odessa union fire; of wolfsangel (Top right, partially obscured by the lamp in the first photo; cropped in the top right, second photo).
* * * President Zelenskiy cancels overseas trip as Ukraine withdraws from parts of Kharkiv region france 24
Fortification works planned by authorities in 2023 in Kharkiv Oblast are 100% complete Ukraineska Pravda. It doesn’t hurt to know!
Did the coup against Zelenskiy fail? american conservative
* * * 50 countries and organizations agree to participate in Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland ukrainska pravda
* * * Georgia PM talks ‘foreign agent’ bill, sanctions and ‘global war party’ jam news
global elections
Why would Kashmiris vote in Indian elections, which they have long boycotted? Al Jazeera
AI and deepfakes obscure the reality of India’s elections BBC
Biden administration
Another Biden administration staff member resigns over US stance on Gaza war Al Jazeera. Notice of resignation:
Today, I became the first Jewish American political appointee to resign from the Biden-Harris administration over Gaza policy. This is my resignation letter. pic.twitter.com/oqzit7leVD
— Lily Greenberg Call (@LGreenbergCall) May 15, 2024
Globe of Academy
Union:
Union claims Harvard University’s crackdown on Gaza protests violates U.S. labor law bloomberg
‘Maximizing chaos’ University of California faculty members approve strike, alleging rights violations during protest LA Times. statement:
UAW 4811 members approved the strike by a supermajority vote. pic.twitter.com/dmQGofq6ye
— UAW 4811 (@uaw_4811) May 16, 2024
Massachusetts Institute of Technology:
Four suspensions have already been set aside as having no merit, and more are pending appeal. These suspensions are causing unjust and long-term harm to students, their families, and our institution, and must be rescinded immediately. for example…
— Nancy Kanwisher @NancyKanwisher@mas.to (@Nancy_Kanwisher) May 15, 2024
digital watch
Generative AI is absolutely shameless.I want to be that Wired. Deck: “What’s the best thing about brain-melting software like ChatGPT? You won’t regret it.” New employee:
If AI helps with coding, who owns the finished product? register
How Big Tech and Silicon Valley will transform the military-industrial complex (PDF) Roberto J. Gonzalez, Watson Institute for International Public Affairs
boeing
Boeing safety and labor dispute intensifies; CEO steps down with $34 million payout Reham news and analysis
supply chain
Canadian oil producers face potential headwinds including wildfires and rail strikes S&P Global
crumbling infrastructure
Pelican Island Bridge in Galveston partially collapses after being hit by barge: officials Fox. Explanation:
Bridge Closed | A barge crashed into the Pelican Island Causeway this morning, closing it to traffic in both directions. This bridge connects the north side of Galveston Island and the south side of Pelican Island, just west of Galveston Harbor.
Full text: https://t.co/Y0rXOcGs1n pic.twitter.com/3FD6o3DGuh
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) May 15, 2024
Crew trapped on board ship in Baltimore, 7 weeks after bridge collapse BBC. This is systematic. See NC here.
guns
How a Maine businessman made the AR-15 America’s best-selling rifle propublica
class war
Harry Grasbeek talks about how the law firmly suppresses the aspirations of workers canadian dimension
A giant sunspot that causes a solar flare has rotated away from Earth. But will it return? space dot com
Aging Antidote (via) Ken Billington):
See yesterday’s link and antidote. here.
