Scientists Baffled: Webb Uncovers Ancient Galaxies That Defy Explanation SciTech Daily
Research finds humpbacks were happier during pandemic pause Phys.org
Great tits have a surprisingly good memory — and are much smarter than we thought ZME Science
A teen tech whiz nicknamed ‘God’s influencer’ will become the first millennial saint NPR
Climate/Environment
Copernicus: June 2024 marks 12th month of global temperature reaching 1.5°C above pre-industrial Copernicus Climate Change Service. Graph:
Global impacts of heat and water stress on food production and severe food insecurity Scientific Reports
This used to be the world’s wheat belt, which fed billions. Not anymore.
Above 30 degrees Celsius wheat yield begins to drop by as much as 44%. This means that the dark spots on the map in India, China and US will suffer huge losses as farmers go broke and also would rather not… pic.twitter.com/gfKtDHTJpk
— George Tsakraklides (@99blackbaloons) July 5, 2024
What is a Just Transition? The Break Down
Ecuador court rules pollution violates rights of a river running through capital The Guardian
Pandemics
Fourth human case of bird flu diagnosed in Colorado dairy farm worker Source NM
Why Increased Testing Is Critical For The Bird Flu Forbes
As bird flu spreads on dairy farms, an ‘abysmal’ few workers are tested Iowa Capitol Dispatch
‘Adopt a Cow’ Program Brings Agriculture to the Classroom, Enrollment Open Until Sept. 15 Morning AgClips
***
GUESS WHAT?! A new study has shown SARS-CoV-2 infection is DISTINCT from common respiratory viruses!
Unequivocally, COVID is NOT “just a cold.”
These findings are HUGELY significant, for multiple reasons! Here’s a breakdown of the study (written for a general audience)…
1/16 pic.twitter.com/P7NJL2STJQ— Nick #AirborneCovidExhaustsTCells😷 Anderegg (@NickAnderegg) July 7, 2024
Africa
US troops leave Niger base at Niamey AFP
German army to abandon Niger airbase Al Arabiya
Canadian uranium miner’s shares dive after Niger pulls permit Financial Post
Japan
‘No update’ on US liberty policy as Okinawa roiled by troop indictments Stars and Stripes
Koike’s reelection unlikely to take pressure off PM Kishida Japan Today
The Koreas
Yoon set to travel to US for NATO summit with focus on Russia-N. Korea ties The Korea Herald
Samsung Electronics workers strike as union voice grows in South Korea Channel News Asia
South Korea to withdraw plan to suspend licenses of striking doctors to resolve medical impasse AP
China?
Japan, Philippines sign defence pact with eyes on China Al Jazeera
Backlash rising to Marcos Jr’s US-friendly policy pivot Asia Times
NATO needs to look toward Pacific because of current realities, Jens Stoltenberg says Politico
Why NATO Should Stay Out of Asia Foreign Affairs
Syraqistan
IDF Ordered Hannibal Directive on October 7 to Prevent Hamas Taking Soldiers Captive Haaretz
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Netanyahu: Gaza deal must let Israel resume fighting until war goals met Reuters
Israel commits 43rd massacre in Gaza’s Nuseirat Camp since 7 October The Cradle
Counting the dead in Gaza: difficult but essential The Lancet. “…it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186 000 or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza.”
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Hezbollah hits ‘main’ Israeli base near Tiberias in response to latest assassination The Cradle
Injured American citizen’s condition ‘worsening’ after Hezbollah missiles fired toward Israel CNN
European Disunion
Hungary’s Orban arrives in Beijing on ‘peace mission 3.0’ Deutsche Welle
New German defence budget slammed as ‘too low’ by critics Euractiv
Old Blighty
U.K. tech overtakes China, cementing its position as the world’s second-largest ecosystem by funding Fortune
Nobel winner warns UK of U.S.-style inequality risks Reuters
UK announces new military aid package for Ukraine Anadolu Agency
The centre cannot hold. The question is, what comes next? Funding the Future
La belle France
France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory – but now the hard part begins France 24
French elections: will Macron imitate the von der Leyen coalition? Euronews
I don’t think people realize that, even though both the centrist bloc and the left-wing bloc did much better than anticipated (thanks to the tacit alliance they made to beat the RN), we’re still headed toward the worst institutional crisis in decades.
— Philippe Lemoine (@phl43) July 7, 2024
France’s ‘hard left’ has been demonised – but its agenda is realistic, not radical Julia Cagé and Thomas Piketty, The Guardian
Le “Russia Rage” Tarik Cyril Amar
New Not-So-Cold War
Zelenskyy accuses Russia of ‘striking children’s hospital’ in Kyiv Anadolu Agency
Russia foils Ukraine bid to hijack Tu-22M3 strategic bomber, security service says Arab News
Netherlands promises Ukraine F16 fighter jets ‘without delay’ Channel News Asia
Ukraine’s airfields under fire as Russia braces for F-16s Kyiv Independent
Russian Blitz Makes Ukraine ‘Beg’ For Western Submarines After Warplanes Times of India
NATO needs to defeat Russia in the ammunition war Defense News
Investigation finds EU shell production capacity far below official statements Kyiv Independent
SCOTT RITTER: ‘My Life’s Work Melting Before My Eyes’ Consortium News
The Caribbean
China’s spy bases in Cuba could be key in a Taiwan war Asia Times
Cuban Media Report Dismantling of Terrorist Plan Against Cuba Organized From the US TeleSur
Biden
Biden’s Survival Plan: Decry ‘Elite’ Critics, Appeal to His Base Politico
Warner-led Senate Democrats meeting to discuss Biden called off Washington Examiner
Trump
National abortion ban splits the Trump campaign and Republican activists writing the party platform AP
2024
Van Jones: Democrats Are Running Kamala Harris For President One Way Or Another, Let’s Do It Right Real Clear Politics
Kamala Harris won’t save Democrats if she takes over for Biden, warns historian who correctly predicted 9 of the last 10 elections Business Insider
Is he wrong?
This election is even less “existentially important” than 2020, which was also not existentially important. The mutual partisan catastrophizing is just out of control. Biden and Trump have totally converged on MANY if not MOST key foreign and domestic policy issues. Stop deluding…
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) July 8, 2024
Is he right?
This year’s most important down-ballot election is in Nebraska, where Independent union leader Dan Osborn is mounting a populist challenge to the GOP incumbent.
The polls are close — and this is one race that has a real chance to change national politics.https://t.co/XETRfjUQfu https://t.co/PE5XL2Jifs
— Matt Karp 🌹🦏🇺🇸 (@karpmj) July 7, 2024
Democrats en déshabillé
No democratic options for undemocratic party Washington Examiner
‘Blitz primary’ could open up Democratic race if Biden drops out SEMAFOR
AI
This man’s family will be able to ‘engage’ with him even after his death Interesting Engineering.
Boeing
Boeing accepts a plea deal to avoid a criminal trial over 737 Max crashes, Justice Department says AP. Commentary:
Kill one person and you’re a monster who goes to prison for life. Kill 346 people for the sake of higher profits and you’re just a naughty little company who should learn their lesson with a slap on the wrist in the amount of 2.5x the retail price of a single plane that crashed.
— Fuck You I Quit (@fuckyouiquit) July 8, 2024
Boeing and Wall Street: How financialization wrecked a great company Seattle Times
United Airlines plane returns to Japan airport for emergency landing Kyodo News
The Bezzle
Police pulled over a Waymo car for driving in the oncoming lane The Verge
Cyclists can’t decide whether to fear or love self-driving cars WaPo
Our Famously Free Press
2nd local radio host says they were given questions ahead of Biden interview ABC News
Radio station parts ways with Biden interviewer for using questions sent in advance Politico
Class Warfare
Who gets the flow? Financial globalisation and wealth inequality Journal of Macroeconomics
The Great Neoliberal Burden Shift (Part I) – How Corporate America Offset Liability Onto the Public Workday Magazine
JUDGE ORDERS CHANGES TO LOUISIANA PRISON LABOR PROGRAM LIKENED TO ‘19TH CENTURY SLAVERY’ The Appeal
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
