Why petting a cat causes static electricity Physics.org
A new study suggests that Earth had Saturn-like rings 466 million years ago. Space.com
Feeling exhausted? Study says Zoom’s virtual backgrounds could be causing fatigue Interesting Engineering
Scientists say these creatures exist in a “third state” beyond life and death. Science Alert
Climate and Environment
It’s getting worse. Sentinel Intelligence
Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain JAMA Network Open
Desert floods expose hidden climate threats Cytech Daily
U.S. finally reining in floodplain development, new study shows Grist
water
Pandemic
Why virologists are increasingly worried about bird flu MIT Technology Review
Health officials warn monkeypox outbreak in Africa is out of control VOI
Troubling questions about deadly American virus Medpage Today
Africa
African Stream: Russia’s latest covert influence pipeline targeting Africa and the US Stanford Cyber Policy Center explains:
Since our founding less than two years ago, we have sought to reframe the narrative around Africa and African people, and in the process, we appear to have offended some very influential people. pic.twitter.com/BqeHB2RIGQ
— African Stream (@african_stream) September 19, 2024
Korean Peninsula
U.S. military policy increases risk of nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula Truth Out
China?
US ‘forgot’ about Philippines’ Typhoon missiles, China warns of risks Bulgarian Army
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Old Brittany
Revealed: Pesticide residues allowed on food have increased significantly since Brexit Guardian
European Separation
Berlin is skeptical of EU immigration policies but favors the Albanian model across Europe Eura Active
Shiraksta
Israel steps up airstrikes in southern Lebanon amid fears of escalating tensions Al Jazeera
‘Nothing can urge Hezbollah to restrain after Israeli terror attacks’: Beirut Cradle
Gallant says Israel’s “course of action will continue” after Nasrallah speech Inet
Lebanese people describe horror after pager and walkie-talkie explosion Al Jazeera
How Israel’s “Modern Trojan Horse” Plan Worked Middle East Monitor
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A video circulating on social media shows Israeli soldiers throwing the bodies of three Palestinians who were killed off a rooftop in the northern West Bank town of Qabatiya on Thursday morning.
The footage shows three Israeli soldiers standing on the roof of a building and throwing… pic.twitter.com/j2b8fMyDKt— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) September 19, 2024
White House acknowledges ‘imminent’ Gaza ceasefire deal ‘may never happen’: Report Cradle
A new cold war
Von der Leyen says EU will use frozen Russian assets to raise €35 billion in loans for Ukraine Euronews
Ukraine’s winter power outages last between 4 and 18 hours a day, UN report says Ukrainska Pravda
EU chief visits Kyiv, promising new energy funds to help Ukraine weather winter Associated Press. “The EU is trying to decentralize energy production in Ukraine with solar panels and other new technologies to make it harder for Russian attacks to directly affect the energy grid. This will also help Ukraine become a greener economy,” Ursula said.
Revealed: Seized documents show Russia anticipated Kursk invasion months in advance Guardian
September Mobilization Newsletter Events in Ukraine. “270,000 weapons lost or stolen. 200 cases of anti-military arson. 400,000 immigrants by 2024. $37,000 to avoid the draft. Deaths and violence. Mobilization minivans and electronic warfare.”
Exclusive: Ammunition from India enters Ukraine, angering Russia Reuters
Russia mines dams around Belgorod in preparation for false flag operations Ukrainianska Pravda. Translation: Ukraine is going to blow up the dam.
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NATO-Russia Dynamics: Prospects for Russia’s Military Restructuring Atlantic Council
MEPs support Ukrainian attacks and Taurus missile deployment in Russia Kyiv Independent
Russia warns missiles can reach US allies in under three minutes Newsweek
Britain wants direct US involvement in Ukraine conflict Duran
Estonia suggests it would be prepared to strike Russia preemptively to defend NATO U-Wire
Caucasus
Armenia thwarts alleged Russian-inspired coup attempt EurasiaNet
Spook Country
Are you a Russian agent? Take the test John Varoli, A Vaccine for a Pandemic of Lies
Biden Administration
How Biden’s NLRB Promotes Bottom-Up Unionism (And Why It Matters) Labor Politics
2024
The political economy of trad-dad populism Law and Politics Project
Kamala
Meryl Streep, Chris Rock and Ben Stiller join Oprah Winfrey for Zoom rally for Kamala Harris supporters The Hollywood Reporter
“You need a lawyer to host a fundraiser for Harris.”
“OK, the Democrats are swarming with lawyers, so anyone will do.”
“Great. Uber’s lawyer and Nestle’s child enslavement rights advocate are here.”
“Hold on, that doesn’t seem like a good idea.” pic.twitter.com/5N2SfGkcoP— David Dayen (@ddayen) September 19, 2024
Lina Khan doesn’t need to be endorsed again. American Outlook
Deshabille Democrats
GOP Clown Car
Empire Collapse Watch
BRICS will build a multipolar economic structure Glenn Dietzsen, Glenn’s Substack. See NC here, hereand here For ongoing challenges.
Patrick Lawrence: Defending humanity Consortium News
States’ endless pursuit of gambling revenue is bad for everyone Useless things
Police State Surveillance
Academy Forest
Charges filed against UC Irvine students and professors who participated in protests LA List
Renowned free press
Unherd Interview: State Department Censorship and Blacklists Matt Taibbi, Racquet News
Declassify RT’s records to allow the public to verify the administration’s claims Freedom of the Press Foundation
“Genocide cannot and should not be simply a normal thing.” impartial
health care?
For-profit U.S. health care system again ranks last among countries A common dream
‘Too big to fail?’: A warning to the health system Becker Hospital Review
‘Smart failure’ promotes safer health systems Medpage Today
Cigna files FTC lawsuit calling PBM report “defamatory” Becker Hospital Review
“Prepayment screening” expands, causing patients to discontinue treatment Clear medical costs
Digital Watch
Project to analyze human language usage halted because ‘generative AI polluted the data’ 404 Media
FTC staff report finds that major social media and video streaming companies engage in pervasive surveillance of users with lax privacy controls and inadequate protections for children and adolescents Federal Trade Commission (press release)
Antitrust
Amazon’s new “Shark Tank”-style show will give winners top rewards in the store The Wall Street Journal
Dairy farmers’ profits fall as industry consolidates Explore the Midwest
Class struggle
Up to a quarter of rent inflation is due to price manipulation “BIG” by Matt Stoller
Today’s antidote (via):
See yesterday’s link and the Antidote du Jour here.
