Butterflies accumulate enough static electricity to attract pollen without contact (press release) University of Bristol
Killer Whales Sink Yacht in Med: ‘Knew What they Were Doing’ Daily Beast
When private equity buys a hospital, assets shrink, new research finds WaPo
Private Equity Professionals Are “Fighting Fires” in Their Portfolios, Slowing Down the Recovery Institutional Investor
Top BlackRock executive benefits from unusual ‘points-style’ bonus pay FT
The Olympics
COVID-19 hits Paris Olympics: Athletes forced to withdraw and mask up AP. “Team Canada’s chief medical officer Mike Wilkinson, said his team ‘continued to implement many of the infection prevention protocols that proved successful during the Covid pandemic including hand washing, sanitisation and good hygiene practices.’”
U.S. Olympic Swimmers David Johnston, Luke Whitlock Test Positive for Covid-19 in Paris Swim Swam
Olympics Triathlon Goes Ahead In River Seine After E.Coli Cliffhanger Deadlinel
* * * “Main character energy”:
The most “Main Character Energy” I’ve ever seen in my life from Kim Ye-ji (Republic of South Korea) casually breaking a world record and winning the gold medal #Olympics2024 #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/mlTGZQappE
— The Something Guy 🇿🇦 (@thesomethingguy) July 30, 2024
* * * Quote of the Day, Olympic Edition: “They’re Enjoying Themselves at Our Expense, and They Expect Us to Applaud?” China Digital Times
Olympic ‘Last Supper’ scene was in fact based on painting of Greek gods, say art experts Guardian
Climate
Permafrost thaw accelerating climate change, studies warn BNE Intellinews
The Rush to Shore Up the Power Grid Against Hurricanes, Heat and Hail WSJ
NIFC: When all the West is on fire at once, this is who deals with it Wildfire Today
Decolonisation, dependency and disengagement—the challenge of Ireland’s degrowth transition Center for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity
These 17th-century drawings of the sun by Kepler add fire to solar cycle mystery Space.com
Syndemics
Cruisers contracting COVID-19 during summer surge as healthcare recommendations change FOX35
China?
China’s factory activity contracts for third straight month FT
China’s cash-strapped small banks face limitations amid shake-up, with no easy fix South Cnina Morning Post. Commentary:
4/4
banks or into national-level banks?), the state in which it leaves bank balance sheets, and the ways in which financial responsibilities will be divided up, will all matter hugely to the evolution of China’s long, difficult economic adjustment.— Michael Pettis (@michaelxpettis) July 31, 2024
China’s Tianqi contests Chilean regulator’s move to hand over lithium reserves to state S&P Global
Ahead of the Times: Flag-Waving Communication and Japan’s Dōjima Rice Exchange Nippon.com
India
How A Lawyer Used Race & Caste To Get American Citizenship Madras Courier
Africa
Volume and Shape New Left Review
Dear Old Blighty
Thugs hijacked Southport and families’ grief, MP says BBC
Misinformation about Southport attack suspect spreads on social media Guardian
New Not-So-Cold War
Talking Ukraine on “The Duran” (video) John Mearsheimer
Ukrainian society is inclined to make concessions (Google translation) Vzglyad
SITREP 7/31/24: Die Welt Reveals Dire NATO Camp Outlook for Ukraine Simplicius, Simplicius the Thinker
Would the U.S. Consider Assassinating Putin? Foreign Policy
* * * Neo-Nazi Azov Battalion profile quietly removed from Stanford extremist group list Noir. Commentary:
Nazified extremists like Azov are useful as motivated killers for warfare, but a frankenstein’s monster when you need to switch to ceasefire/peace mode. Azov way too big now (and just one of many extreme-right military formations) to put back in the bottlehttps://t.co/zMjziZ5C3c
— Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) July 30, 2024
* * * * * * Ukraine businesses furious over government-proposed tax hikes to fund fight against Russia Kyiv Independent
Lithuania condemns Hungary’s decision to ease entry conditions for Russians and Belarusians: it threatens EU security Ukrainska Pravda
Russia to legalise cryptocurrency in attempts to circumvent sanctions Ukrainska Pravda
South of the Border
Fresh protests in Venezuela as anger grows at disputed election result BBC. Commentary:
BREAKING: Venezuela’s opposition and US media outlets claim there was “fraud” in the election based on an exit poll from US government-linked firm Edison Research.
Edison works with CIA-linked US state propaganda and was active in Ukraine, Georgia, & Iraqhttps://t.co/HsHglYbUtF
— Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) July 29, 2024
Lula and Biden call on Venezuela to release full presidential election results France24
National Lawyers Guild electoral observers praise Venezuelan election process MR Online
Syraqistan
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is killed in Iran by an alleged Israeli strike, threatening escalation AP
Israeli Attack Kills Hamas Leader in Tehran: F-35 Precision Strike Suspected Military Watch
Israel carries out rare strike on Beirut that it says killed Hezbollah commander AP. Commentary:
It’s telling Israel (allegedly) can conduct pinpoint operations thousands of kilometers away to a capture target with precision, yet just two kilometers from home, they use 5-ton bombs on families to eliminate minor threats.
PS the hostages are still in Gaza. https://t.co/mfmWZ3l8Ki
— Etan Nechin (@Etanetan23) July 31, 2024
More:
Israel just bombed Beirut, killing civilians including at least two young children of 6 and 10 years old, in what it claims was a strike against a Hezbollah commander. It’s very simple: All of Tel Aviv is a legitimate target to strike to take out Israeli commanders. All of it pic.twitter.com/XsKlYVDl86
— ☀️👀 (@zei_squirrel) July 30, 2024
* * * ‘More horrific than Abu Ghraib’: Lawyer recounts visit to Israeli detention center 972 Magazine. Sde Teiman. Long thread of commetnary:
The military police had come to arrest nine of the soldiers – apparently all reservists – who serve at the camp. They were wanted for their involvement in the gang rape of a prisoner who was subsequently taken to the camp’s infirmary with severe rectal injuries.
— Mouin Rabbani (@MouinRabbani) July 30, 2024
A day of chaos in Israel as far-right protesters storm military bases Axios. “[A] Hamas operative who was detained at the facility was rushed to a hospital after bleeding from one of his intimate parts of his body.” Commentary:
I feel stupid and ashamed. In May, an expose came out on CNN detailing the abuses in Sde Taiman. Then, the NYT released their own article on it. Both were backed up with Israeli sources, crossed with Palestinian ones.
I dismissed them because my government sources and Israeli…
— Shaiel Ben-Ephraim (@academic_la) July 29, 2024
Biden Administration
The Non-Compete Revolution Begins Wealth Management
Supply Chain
Red Sea crisis hits volumes at port of Piraeus Seatrade Maritime News
Trump’s radical reforms could put a spanner in US supply chains Seatrade Maritime News
Digital Watch
OpenAI endorses Senate bills that could shape America’s AI policy TechCrunch
W3C says Google’s cookie climbdown ‘undermines’ a lot of work The Register
Instagram to allow users create their own chatbots through AI studio Business Standard
Zeitgeist Watch
Imperial Collapse Watch
US needs more nuclear subs, mobile ICBMs and tactical nukes: Heritage report Breaking Defense
Catholic group Opus Dei accused of recruiting children FT
Class Warfare
For Big Companies, Felony Convictions Are a Mere Footnote WSJ
WhatsApp Mutual Aid Grassroots Economic Organizing
The problem of busy work activism Chloe Humbert, Teams Human
Florida HOA Decides It’s Above State Law, Won’t Let Residents Park Trucks at Home The Drive
What Is Left Of The Mind 3 Quarks Daily
Antidote du jour (Adrian Pingstone):”
And a bonus (AM):
AM writes: “The third generation of the exotic escapee goose family in Roger Williams Park is doing well. They are cousins, I think. The slightly larger one is about 2 and a half weeks older than its 3 younger relatives. The other adults were nearby – a total of 10. One missing. Hopefully still around.”
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
