Scientists baffled: Webb discovers unexplained ancient galaxy Cytech Daily
Study finds humpback whales were happier during pandemic hiatus Physics.org
Great tits have amazing memories and are a lot smarter than we thought ZME Science
Teenage tech genius nicknamed ‘God’s influencer’ becomes first millennial saint NPR
Climate and Environment
Copernicus: June 2024 will mark the 12th month since global temperatures rose 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels Copernicus Climate Change Service. Graph:
Global impacts of heat and water stress on food production and acute food insecurity Scientific Reports
This was once the wheat belt of the world, feeding billions of people. No longer.
When temperatures exceed 30°C, wheat yields start to decline by 44%. This means that the dark areas on the map in India, China and the United States will suffer huge losses as farmers go bankrupt or want to hold off on harvesting… pic.twitter.com/gfKtDHTJpk
— George Tsakraklides (@99blackbaloons) July 5, 2024
What is a Just Transition? breakdown
Ecuadorian court rules pollution violates rights of river that runs through capital Parents
Pandemic
Colorado dairy worker diagnosed with fourth case of bird flu Source NM
Why increasing bird flu testing is important Forbes
Avian flu outbreak on dairy farms, ‘very few’ workers getting tested Iowa State Capitol News
“Adopt a Cow” Program Brings Agriculture to the Classroom, Enrollment Open Through September 15th Morning Agriculture Clip
***
Guess what?! New research shows that SARS-CoV-2 infection is different from common respiratory viruses.
Make no mistake, COVID is not “just a cold.”
These findings are extremely important for a variety of reasons. Here are the details of the study (written for a general audience):
1/16 pic.twitter.com/P7NJL2STJQ— Nick #AirborneCovidExhaustsTCells😷 Anderegg (@NickAnderegg) July 7, 2024
Africa
US troops withdraw from Niamey base in Niger AFP
German troops to abandon Niger air base Al Arabiya
Canadian uranium miner’s shares plummet after Niger revokes mining permit Financial Post
Japan
Okinawa in turmoil as U.S. military indictments cause “no update” on U.S. liberal policies Stars and Stripes
Koike’s reelection unlikely to ease pressure on Kishida Japan Today
Korean Peninsula
Yoon to leave for US for NATO summit focusing on Russia-North Korea ties Korea Herald
Samsung Electronics workers go on strike as labor union voices grow in South Korea Channel News Asia
South Korea to drop plan to suspend licenses of striking doctors to resolve medical impasse AP
China?
Japan, Philippines sign defense pact with eye on China Al Jazeera
Growing opposition to Marcos Jr.’s pro-U.S. policy shift Asia Times
Jens Stoltenberg says NATO needs to turn its attention to the Pacific given the current situation POLITICO
Why NATO should withdraw from Asia Foreign Affairs
Shiraksta
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Netanyahu: Gaza deal requires Israel to resume fighting until war aims are achieved Reuters
Israel commits 43rd massacre in Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp since October 7 Cradle
Counting the deaths in Gaza is difficult but essential The Lancet. “…it is not unreasonable to estimate that the current conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of 186,000 people, or even more.”
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Hezbollah attacks Israeli ‘main’ base near Tiberias in retaliation for recent assassinations Cradle
Condition of American injured in Hezbollah missile attack towards Israel ‘worsening’ CNN
European Separation
Hungarian Prime Minister Orban arrives in Beijing on “Peace Mission 3.0” Deutsche Welle
Germany’s new defense budget called ‘too low’ by critics Eura Active
Old Brittany
UK tech companies overtake China, cementing position as world’s second-largest ecosystem by funding luck
Nobel laureate warns UK of risk of US-style inequality Reuters
UK announces new military aid to Ukraine Anadolu Agency
The center is not sustainable. The question is, what happens next? Funding the future
Beautiful France
France’s left-wing New Popular Front scores shock victory but difficult times lie ahead France 24
French elections: Will Macron copy von der Leyen’s coalition? Euronews
I don’t think people realise that despite the better than expected performance of both the centre and left camps (thanks to their tacit alliance to defeat the RN), we are still heading towards the worst institutional crisis in decades.
— Philippe Lemoine (@phl43) July 7, 2024
The French “far left” is demonized, but its policies are realistic, not radical Julia Cage and Thomas Piketty, The Guardian
“Russian Fury” Tarik Cyril Amar
A new cold war
President Zelensky accuses Russia of ‘attacking’ children’s hospital in Kyiv Anadolu Agency
Russia thwarts plot to hijack Ukrainian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber, security officials say Arab News
Netherlands promises to provide F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine ‘without delay’ Channel News Asia
Ukrainian airfield comes under attack as Russia prepares for F-16 deployment Kyiv Independent
Russia’s blitz leads Ukraine to ‘beg’ for fighter jets, then Western submarines Times of India
NATO needs to defeat Russia in the ammunition war Defense News
Study finds EU shellfish production capacity far below official figures Kyiv Independent
Scott Ritter: ‘My life’s work is melting before my eyes’ Consortium News
Caribbean
China’s spy base in Cuba could be key in Taiwan war Asia Times
Cuban media reports dismantling of US-orchestrated terror plot against Cuba TeleSUR
Biden
Biden’s survival plan: Blame “elite” critics, appeal to base POLITICO
Warner’s Senate Democrats cancel meeting to discuss Biden Washington Examiner
Patrick Lawrence: Power for Power’s Sake Cher Post
Trump
A nationwide abortion ban divides Trump campaign and GOP platform writers AP
2024
Van Jones: Democrats are running Kamala Harris for president anyway, let’s do it Correct, real, clear politics
Kamala Harris replacing Biden won’t save the Democratic Party, warns historian who correctly predicted nine of the last 10 elections Business Insider
Could he be wrong?
This election is even less “existentially important” than 2020, which was also existentially unimportant. Partisan mutual catastrophe talk is out of control. Biden and Trump are perfectly aligned on many, if not most, of the key foreign and domestic policy issues. Let’s not be misled…
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) July 8, 2024
Is he right?
The most important substate race this year is in Nebraska, where independent labor leader Dan Osborne is mounting a populist challenge to the Republican incumbent.
Though the polls are close, this is one election race that has the potential to change the country’s politics.https://t.co/XETRfjUQfu https://t.co/PE5XL2Jifs
— Matt Karp 🌹🦏🇺🇸 (@karpmj) July 7, 2024
The Democratic Party is broken
Non-democratic parties have no democratic options Washington Examiner
If Biden withdraws, it could lead to a “surprise primary” for the Democratic Party Semaphores
artificial intelligence
This man’s family will be able to “stay in touch” with him after he passes away. Interesting engineering.
Boeing
Boeing accepts plea deal to avoid criminal trial in 737 MAX crashes, Justice Department announces AP. Explanation:
Kill one person and you’re a monster serving a life sentence, kill 346 people to increase your profits and you’re just a bad little company that should learn a lesson with a fine of 2.5 times the retail value of each plane that crashed.
— Fuck You, I Quit (@fuckyouiquit) July 8, 2024
Boeing and Wall Street: How Financialization Destroyed a Great Company Seattle Times
United Airlines plane returns to Japan airport for emergency landing Kyodo News
Basil
Police stopped a Waymo vehicle that was traveling in the oncoming lane. The Verge
Bicyclists can’t decide whether to fear or love self-driving cars The Washington Post
Renowned free press
Second local radio host says he was asked questions before Biden interview ABC News
Radio Station Parts Way With Biden Interviewer Who Used Pre-Sent Questions POLITICO
Class struggle
Who benefits? Financial globalization and wealth inequality Journal of Macroeconomics
Neoliberalism’s Great Burden Shifting (Part 1) – How American Corporations Shifted Their Responsibilities onto the People Workday Magazine
Judge orders changes to Louisiana prison labor system, likening it to ’19th century slavery’ appeal
Today’s antidote (via):
See yesterday’s link and the Antidote du Jour here.
