Butterflies build up enough static electricity to attract pollen without contact (Press Release) University of Bristol
Killer whales sink yacht in the Mediterranean: ‘We knew what we were doing’ The Daily Beast
Private equity buys hospitals, resulting in less wealth, new study finds The Washington Post
Private equity professionals are busy “putting out fires” in their portfolios, slowing the recovery Institutional Investor
BlackRock’s top executives benefit from unusual ‘points-based’ bonus payout FT
Olympic
Coronavirus hits Paris Olympics: Athletes forced to withdraw and wear masks Associated Press. “Canada’s chief medical officer, Mike Wilkinson, said the team is ‘continuing to implement many of the infection prevention protocols that have been proven effective during the COVID-19 pandemic, including hand washing, sanitizing and good hygiene practices.'”
U.S. Olympic swimmers David Johnston and Luke Whitlock test positive for COVID-19 in Paris Swim, swim
Olympic triathlon goes ahead on Seine despite E. coli crisis deadline
* * * “Hero Energy”:
When Kim Ye-ji (South Korea) easily broke the world record and won the gold medal, it was the most “hero energy” I have ever seen. #Olympics2024 #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/mlTGZQappE
— The Something Guy 🇿🇦 (@thesomethingguy) July 30, 2024
* * * Quote of the day, Olympic edition: “They’re having fun at our expense and they expect us to applaud?” China Digital Times
Olympics’ ‘Last Supper’ scene was actually based on paintings of Greek gods, art expert says Guardian
climate
Melting permafrost will accelerate climate change, study warns BNE Intellectual News
Strengthening power grid to prepare for hurricanes, heatwaves and hail The Wall Street Journal
NIFC: Who will handle it when the West is on fire all at once? Today’s wildfires
Decolonization, Dependence, and Secession: The Challenges of Ireland’s Degrowth Transition Centre for Understanding Sustainable Prosperity
Kepler’s 17th century drawing of the Sun ignites mysteries of the solar cycle Space.com
Syndemics
Changing medical advice leads to surge in coronavirus cases on cruise ships this summer Fox 35
China?
China’s manufacturing activity contracts for third straight month FT
China’s cash-strapped small banks face limitations amid reforms, but no easy fix South China Morning Post. Commentary:
4/4
The form in which China’s banks are consolidated or whether they are integrated into state-owned banks, the state of their balance sheets, and how financial responsibilities are shared will all be of crucial importance to the progress of China’s long and difficult economic adjustment.— Michael Pettis (@michaelxpettis) July 31, 2024
China’s Tianqi challenges Chilean regulators’ decision to hand over lithium reserves to country S&P Global
Ahead of the times: Flag-waving communication and the Japanese Dojima rice exchange Nippon.com
India
How a lawyer used race and caste to gain American citizenship Madras Courier
Africa
Volume and shape New Left Review
Dear Old England
Thugs take over Southport, leaving bereaved families heartbroken, MP claims BBC
Misinformation about Southport attack suspect spreads on social media Guardian
A new cold war
Talking about Ukraine on “The Duran” (Video) John Mearsheimer
Ukrainian society is prone to compromise (Google Translate) Vzglyad
SITREP 7/31/24: Die Welt reveals dire outlook for NATO side on Ukraine Simplicius, the Thinker
Would the US consider assassinating Putin? Foreign Policy
* * * Neo-Nazi Azov Battalion profile quietly removed from Stanford University’s list of extremist groups Noir. Description:
Nazified extremists like Azov are useful as murderers motivating war, but they become Frankenstein’s monsters when it’s time to switch to ceasefire/peace mode. Azov is now too big (and just one of many far-right militant organizations) to be put back in the bottle.https://t.co/zMjziZ5C3c
— Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) July 30, 2024
* * * Ukraine-Russia Update: Kiev hits biggest drone attack of war so far, F-16s equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry Independence
* * * Ukrainian businesses furious over government’s proposed tax hikes to fund fight against Russia Kyiv Independent
Lithuania condemns Hungary’s decision to ease entry conditions for Russians and Belarusians, threatening EU security Ukrainska Pravda
Russia to legalize cryptocurrencies to circumvent sanctions Ukrainska Pravda
South of the Border
New protests erupt in Venezuela as anger grows over contested election results BBC. Commentary:
BREAKING: Venezuela’s opposition and US media are claiming the election was “rigged” based on exit polls from US government-backed firm Edison Research.
Edison worked in U.S. government propaganda in conjunction with the CIA, operating in Ukraine, Georgia and Iraq.https://t.co/HsHglYbUtF
— Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) July 29, 2024
Lula and Biden Call on Venezuela to Release Full Results of Presidential Election France 24
National Lawyers Union Election Observers Praise Venezuela’s Election Process MR Online
Shiraksta
Tensions rise after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is killed in Iran in Israeli attack AP
Israeli attack kills Hamas leader in Tehran: suspected F-35 precision strike Military Watches
Israel carries out unprecedented attack in Beirut, killing Hezbollah commander AP. Commentary:
It is telling that while Israel can (reportedly) accurately carry out pinpoint operations on capture targets thousands of kilometers away, it is using a five-ton bomb on a family to eliminate a minor threat just two kilometers from its own borders.
P.S.: The hostages are still in Gaza. https://t.co/mfmWZ3l8Ki
— Etane Netin (@Etanetan23) July 31, 2024
more:
Israel bombed Beirut, killing civilians including at least two children ages 6 and 10, claiming it was an attack on Hezbollah commanders. It’s very simple: the whole of Tel Aviv is a legitimate target to take out Israeli commanders. pic.twitter.com/XsKlYVDl86
— ☀️👀 (@zei_squirrel) July 30, 2024
* * * ‘More terrifying than Abu Ghraib’: Lawyer describes visit to Israeli prison 972 Magazine. Sde Teiman. Long comment thread:
Military police arrived to arrest nine soldiers serving at the camp, all believed to be reservists, who were wanted for their alleged involvement in the gang rape of a prisoner who had been brought to the camp’s infirmary with severe rectal injuries.
— Mouin Rabbani (@MouinRabbani) July 30, 2024
Far-right protesters storm military base, sparking chaotic day in Israel Axios. “A Hamas operative being held at the facility was rushed to hospital after suffering bleeding from his private parts.” Commentary:
I feel stupid and ashamed. In May, a CNN article came out detailing the abuses at Sde Taiman. The New York Times then published an article about it, both of which combined and corroborated Israeli and Palestinian sources.
I dismissed them because of government sources and Israeli…
— Shaiel Ben Ephraim (@academic_la) July 29, 2024
Biden Administration
The beginning of the non-competitive revolution Wealth Management
supply chain
Red Sea crisis hits trade volumes at Piraeus port Seatrade Maritime News
President Trump’s radical reforms could disrupt U.S. supply chains Seatrade Maritime News
Digital Watches
OpenAI supports Senate bill that could shape US AI policy TechCrunch
W3C says Google cookie reversal would “undo” a lot of its work Registry
Instagram lets users create their own chatbots through AI Studio Business Standard
Zeitgeist Watch
Empire Collapse Watch
US needs more nuclear submarines, mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles, tactical nuclear weapons: Heritage report Breaking the Defense
Catholic group Opus Dei accused of soliciting children FT
Class struggle
For big companies, felony convictions are just a footnote The Wall Street Journal
WhatsApp Mutual Aid Grassroots Economic Organizations
Problems with busy work activities Chloe Humbert, Team Human
Florida HOA overrides state law and won’t allow residents to park trucks on their property drive
Memorable things 3 quarks daily
Today’s antidote (Adrian Pinstone):”
And bonus (AM):
AM wrote: “The third generation of a family of escaped exotic geese at Roger Williams Park are doing well. I believe they are cousins. The slightly larger goose is about 2 1/2 weeks older than the three young ones. There are other adult geese nearby as well, making a total of 10. One is missing. Hopefully he’s still there.”
See yesterday’s link and the Antidote du Jour here.
