Strange things happen to wolves infected with a notorious mind-altering parasite Science Alert
Summary: Dollar assets, gold, and foreign exchange reserves Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Liberty Street Economics
Would a return to the gold standard solve our most pressing monetary problems? Charles Hugh Smith, or Two Hearts.
CalPERS opposes Elon Musk’s $56 billion compensation package after shareholder dissatisfaction Wion
The CRE non-crisis continues FT
climate
Beijing envoy says U.S. and China must take lead on climate change despite rivalry The South China Morning Post reported.
In search of a market-driven carbon price S&P Global. Let us know the results.
Trees in danger St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The proposed cooling policy would increase air conditioner use and pose a risk of blackouts. land
water
Criticism flares as Mexico City’s water crisis approaches ‘day zero’ America
Dozens of Alaskan rivers and streams turn orange and are visible from space Interesting Engineering
Understanding Water Advisories The Brockovich Report
Syndemics
Officials investigate unusual surge in flu virus in Northern California San Francisco Chronicle
The bird flu vaccine is made from eggs, and scientists are concerned. CBS
China?
Beware of predictions of doom for Taiwan under the Liming regime Brookings Institution
Debt Trap Diplomacy J-STOR Daily
Chinese scientists become first to treat diabetes using stem cells NextShak. But if we fixed that, what would happen to the insulin rent? Think about it, guys!
Myanmar
Myanmar’s ethnic militaries strengthen bases as military rule weakens, reports say Reuters
Vast logging concessions threaten Malaysia’s forests: report Channel News Asia
India
Delhi becomes ‘unbearable’ as temperatures soar to nearly 50 degrees BBC
Power demand peaks in heatwave-hit Delhi, but temperature readings may be ‘false’ Channel News Asia
Shiraksta
US-built pier in Gaza collapses: How did we get to this situation and what’s next? Orlando Sentinel
* * * Israel says it has seized key Gaza-Egypt corridor as Rafah ground offensive intensifies France 24
Hunted, hungry and exhausted, Rafah’s internally displaced people struggle to survive New Arab
* * * Attacks on the ICC show that “condemnation of Hamas” is actually exonerating Israel fair
Israel continues attacks on Rafah, ignoring UN Security Council call to ‘stop the killing’ Al Jazeera
European Separation
Walking in France: from Avignon to Pont Saint-Esprit Chris Arnado Walks the World
Dear Old England
A blessed country New Left Review
Labour promises to meet target of 18-week NHS waiting times within five years BBC. Ambitious!
A new cold war
NATO meets amid growing calls to let Ukraine attack targets in Russia France24. Mercouri, while newer than any of these, says the attacks on Russian targets are losing steam.
US Secretary of State suggests Ukraine could allow US weapons to attack Russian territory and Poland allows Ukraine to use Polish-supplied weapons to attack Russian targets Ukrainska Pravda
NATO steps up cross-border attacks Simplicius the thinker
US concerned about Russian nuclear radar attack in Ukraine The Washington Post
How to win in Ukraine: Go hard and don’t worry about escalation RAND, but starting May 22nd.
* * * Ukraine war: Influential Russian think tank proposes ‘demonstrative’ nuclear detonation South China Morning Post
* * * NATO has only 5% of the air defense capability it needs to protect the east Side FT
Image shows seven-layered defense line planned for NATO-Russia border Insider. That’s great. Does it come with PowerPoint?
NATO holds first meeting on critical undersea infrastructure network Navy News
* * * Secretary of State Blinken says U.S. military supplies to Ukraine help stabilize the front line Reuters
Ukrainian soldiers say US-supplied tanks are being targeted in Russian attacks CNN. Damn it.
Russia’s Electronic Warfare is Becoming More Effective, Changing the Tide on the Frontlines – Report Military Watches
* * * Georgia’s “foreign agents” law is now a reality. When does it go into effect and who does it affect? JAM News
Hundreds of Georgian NGOs vow to oppose ‘foreign influence’ law Al Jazeera
Global Elections
South Africa counts votes in toughest election since apartheid France 24
2024
Jury Instructions and Instructions (PDF) The People v. Donald J. Trump
AIPAC faction is spending billions to defeat Corey Bush in the primary Politico. Election interference.
The Supremes
82. Four Supreme Court Justices The first one
Spook Country
The unknown federal intelligence agency that got Vietnam, Iraq, and Ukraine right Vox
Basil
Courts, not arbitrators, will decide whether Dogecoin dispute will proceed to arbitration SCOTUS Blog
Exclusive: The Atlantic, Vox Media sign licensing, product deals with OpenAI Axios
Publishing your AI trash is a choice Bold Fireball
Digital Watches
Google researchers say AI is now playing a leading role in spreading disinformation (and is underestimating the problem) 404 Media. “If you didn’t want to go to Milwaukee, why did you take the train?” – Father Emil, A Prairie Home Companion (from memory).
Google confirms leaked search documents are authentic The Verge
US judge calls ‘unthinkable’ proposal to use AI to interpret legal documents Reuters
Gavin Newsom warns of dangers of over-regulation AI Politico
Boeing
FAA appears ready to grant deadline extension for Boeing safety report Leeham News and Analysis
No. 420
K-Pop Baffler. Ketamine.
Empire Collapse Watch
Jeffrey Sachs: The Untold History of the Cold War, CIA Coups Around the World, and the Origins of COVID (Video) Tucker Carlson, YouTube
Can the B-21 Raider save America’s shrinking bomber fleet? (1945. No.
Class struggle
How tens of thousands of graduate students are organized Labor Notes
Seattle doesn’t claim Tukwila’s immigration crisis, but it started here Seattle Times
Today’s antidote, via JB:
“A little bird singing in the cold.”
See yesterday’s link and Antidote du Jour here.
