Undemocratic, anachronistic, and fantastical: how will cities survive? FT
climate
Are markets the right tool for decarbonizing electricity? (Transcript) Bolt
The one simple trick Paris used to cut air pollution by 40% ahead of the Olympics Electrek
water
Months of water shortages spark riots in drought-hit central Algeria AP
Syndemics
A USDA report says an outbreak of avian flu in dairy cows would be difficult to contain. and Global health leaders criticize ‘incompetence’ of US response to bovine avian flu outbreak STAT. Explanation:
To say we’re “playing with fire” with H5N1 avian flu is an understatement
We have almost missed our chance to contain this virus.
The concern that it may be infectious to humans is growing every day (~proportional to the spread…) and we are doing very little testing. https://t.co/HsBQgCinnx
— Michael Mina (@michaelmina_lab) June 12, 2024
* * * New data shows more COVID-19 patients dying in understaffed hospitals Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy
China?
China has become a scientific superpower Economist. Commentary:
China’s rise in this field has been unusually rapid: “In 2003, the United States published 20 times as many high-impact papers as China… By 2013, the United States published roughly four times as many top papers, and the latest data, looking at papers from 2022, shows that China…
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) June 14, 2024
China is exporting deflation, but the U.S. isn’t benefiting as ties weaken Bloomberg
China’s middle class worried about its economic future Bloomberg
US Embassy says Malaysia has returned $156 million in funds stolen from 1MDB Al Jazeera
Philippines to reopen Subic Bay airfield for South China Sea operations Navy News
India
Indian startup 3D prints rocket engine in just 72 hours IEEE Spectrum
Myanmar
Myanmar junta chief orders further purge of military leaders Irrawaddy River
Shiraksta
Hezbollah rocket fire threatens Israeli ‘strategic site’: official Anadolu Agency
How Israel lost its North Indy
Israel needs to target Lebanon’s civilian infrastructure to pressure Hezbollah, says IDSF chief Jerusalem Post. IDSF = Israel Defense and Security Forum.
* * * The US military is considering temporarily removing a pier off the Gaza coast for a second time due to rough sea conditions. CNN (ChrisFromGA).
* * * Hamas’ Sinwar reportedly hails civilian deaths in Gaza as ‘necessary sacrifices’ The Times of Israel (Furzy Mouse).
Palestinian olive tree JSTOR Daily
European Separation
French President Macron warns of “extremist fever” on both the right and left, fighting on two fronts France 24. Explanation:
Later that day, Marion Maréchal announced that he had met with the RN and strongly hinted at the exclusion of Zémmour as a condition of alliance… Keep in mind that the Reconquier party, of which Maréchal and Zémmour are members, was founded by Zémmour.https://t.co/42q4V6pzv9
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) June 13, 2024
Election forecast: Macron’s party in danger of collapse FT. Presentation: “Left-wing unity pact means president’s alliance with far-right could be locked out in runoff.”
Brawls break out in Italian parliament as lawmakers harass government officials CBS
Euroscepticism after all New Left Review
Dear Old England
Rishi Sunak’s aides bet on the election date just days before the election was announced Guardian
Labour’s trust inheritance tax plans could lead to super-rich people leaving the UK Reuters
A new cold war
Ukraine-US security agreement submitted to Congress to become legally binding Ukraine Pravda
Biden signs security pact with Zelensky — but its future remains unclear Politico: “The agreement is between the US and Ukraine’s current administrations and will not be ratified by Congress.”
Zelensky urges G7 leaders to approve ‘Marshall Plan’ to rebuild Ukraine Reuters
* * * Ukrainian President Zelensky says Chinese President Xi Jinping told him not to sell arms to Russia Reuters. But:
An ominous moment at the G7 today. Zelensky said he had a private call with Xi Jinping and that Xi had assured him that China would not give Russia weapons to attack Ukraine. Biden half-corrected Zelensky’s statement, claiming that China is “indeed assisting Russia.” pic.twitter.com/Qil8XgM9GI
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) June 13, 2024
* * * Ukraine Detains Socialist Writer, Bans World Socialist Website Matt Taibbi, Racquet News
Pressure and threats against Texty.org.ua reported after study on pro-Ukrainian opposition published in the US Urkainska Pravda
* * * Ukraine’s conscription issue puts Western countries under pressure to fill troop gaps conversation
From prisons to trenches: Inside Ukraine’s efforts to turn prisoners into soldiers CNN
* * * Ukraine extends power outage as Russian bombing continues BBC
Ukraine says it won’t have enough power for winter without more air support Reuters
* * * Response from Ukraine Council on Foreign Relations
The impact of the shift in the balance of power to the East on the development of the Ukrainian crisis Valdai Discussion Club
The Supremes
Supreme Court sides with Starbucks over Biden labor committee in “Memphis 7” union lawsuit USA Today
Supreme Court unanimously upholds access to widely used abortion pill AP
The Second Farce: The Absurdity of the New Anti-CFPB Argument Adam Levitin, Credit Slip
Spook Country
OpenAI Adds Ex-NSA Director to Board of Directors Axios. Commentary:
OpenAI just hired a former NSA head of mass surveillance. He outsourced illegal mass espionage against Americans to British intelligence to circumvent US law. He gave them unlimited spy access to US networks. Here’s everything you need to know about OpenAI. https://t.co/5zKyDHfFOC
— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) June 14, 2024
Digital Watches
Business leaders complain that returns from AI projects are ‘dismal’ The Register. Commentary:
It’s not harmless. Being fooled by an AI is not “just a harmless thing.” It requires the ability to discern and distinguish between realities. It requires knowing how the world works at a fundamental level.
Because tricking you with baby animals and flowers is just the beginning of something much worse. pic.twitter.com/JTLsQaY21D
— Dr. Holly Walters (@Manigarm) June 13, 2024
WWDC, Apple Intelligence, Apple Brings AI Together (No Paywall) Stratechery
Guillotine Watch
‘We love you all!’: Elon Musk signs $44.9 billion compensation deal after Tesla vote Al Jazeera
The McKinsey boss’ next big consulting project: his own firm The Wall Street Journal
Empire Collapse Watch
American Messianism Paul R. Grenier, Landmark. Deck: “Evil, when in the power of its power, is felt not as evil, but as a necessity or duty.”
For King and Country? Europe’s Young People May Not Want to Fight POLITICO
Class struggle
Big win for unions in Virginia schools where bargaining is suddenly legal Labor Notes
Wells Fargo fires employee who pretended to type on keyboard FT
The invisible hand of the medical industry is a fist Cory Doctorow, Pluralism
Centuries of childhood Les Obscura
Today’s antidote (Forrest and Kim Starr):
See yesterday’s link and Antidote du Jour here.
