Gaythia Weis @Gaythia@qoto.org

Delhi temperature hits 50.5C as India’s capital records hottest day

"Authorities warn of water shortages as temperatures reach nine degrees higher than expected...

At the SMS hospital in Rajasthan’s capital, Jaipur, so many bodies of casualties of the heat have arrived at the mortuary that its capacity has been exceeded. Police in the city say many of the victims are poor labourers, who have no choice but to work outside, and homeless people."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/29/delhi-temperature-hits-499c-as-indias-capital-records-hottest-day

#heatwave #india #climateemergency #death

"'The light pollution from the [Tesla] Gigafactory is freaking nutty.'"

"'I live in a neighborhood very close to it and had to get blackout curtains for my bedroom. On cloudy nights it basically lights up the night sky brighter than a full moon.'"

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-home/tesla-gigafactory-light-pollution-austin/

#LightPollution #DarkSkies #Austin #Texas

My spider shipment has not been delivered yet. I hope it wasn't dropped off at the wrong address…although in some ways that would be hilarious.

What a story: A former sheriff from Florida has received political asylum in Moscow, and is now a key player in Russia's disinformation operations against the West, the NYT reports.

"Working from an apartment crowded with servers and other computer equipment, Mr. Dougan has built an ever-growing network of more than 160 fake websites that mimic news outlets in the United States, Britain and France."

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/29/business/mark-dougan-russia-disinformation.html

"Two days after the ICC announcement, on 22 May, Spain, Ireland and Norway recognised Palestine as a state – the only European governments to have done so other than Sweden. Their timing was clearly related to Israel’s conduct in Gaza. If there is one thing that Netanyahu hates more than Hamas, it is the prospect of a Palestinian state. That is why, until 7 October, he allowed Qatar to fund Hamas, calculating that a strong Hamas would relieve Israel of pressure to negotiate his dreaded two-state solution. Now, he refuses to plan for post-war governance of Gaza, even though the resulting vacuum makes Hamas’s return more likely, because he fears more the emergence of a prototype Palestinian state. If the Israeli government continues to ignore the ICJ ruling, more governments can be expected to recognise Palestine as a state.

In short, it is a mistake to discount the court’s ruling as ambiguous and difficult to enforce. If, despite the ruling, Israel proceeds with its invasion of Rafah, as the 26 May attack suggests it is, the consequences may be difficult for Netanyahu to ignore."

https://www.newstatesman.com/world/middle-east/2024/05/what-will-stop-israel-in-rafah

Tech billionaire Elon Musk pitches Trump new plan to police the vote: WSJ sources - Raw Story

https://www.rawstory.com/elon-musk-trump/

Over 150 Russian fake news sites linked to former Florida deputy sheriff, report finds https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fake-news-sites-florida-deputy-sheriff-russia-rcna154315

"Atlanta police have been carrying out around-the-clock surveillance in several neighborhoods for months, on people and houses linked to opposition against the police training center colloquially known as “Cop City”.

The surveillance in Georgia has included following people in cars, blasting sirens outside bedroom windows and shining headlights into houses at night, the Guardian has learned."

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/29/atlanta-police-cop-city-surveillance

A pest of our own making: Revealing the true origins of the not-so-German cockroach

https://phys.org/news/2024-05-pest-revealing-true-german-cockroach.html

Not only do realists know that Israel's actions will perpetuate Hamas & violent resistance, "realists oppose Israel’s actions (and U.S. complicity in them) because the combination is undermining America’s global position. The war in #Gaza has made it clear that America’s commitment to a “rules-based order” is meaningless; it is frankly hard to believe that U.S. officials can still utter that phrase with a straight face." https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/05/21/why-realists-oppose-the-war-in-gaza/

The birth of a new, sunlike star is beautiful and spooky in this new image from Hubble. (34 years old and going strong!)

The ominous "mask" is a cloud of cool dust. The baby star HP Tau, top of the trio, is flickering madly due to inspiraling gas, jets, and huge starspots.
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/hubble-views-the-dawn-of-a-sun-like-star/ #science #space #astronomy #astrodon #nature

A note about the request for arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court for Hamas and Israeli leaders...

It includes the point that Israel cut off the #water supplies to Gaza as part of a "plan to use starvation as a method of war and other acts of violence against the Gazan civilian population."

These are violations of Articles 7 and 8 of the Rome Statute.

https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/icc-statute-1998/article-7?activeTab=undefined

As they hoard more wealth, the ultra-rich will do anything to protect it.

They know Democratic majorities would pass higher taxes, stricter regulations, and enforce anti-monopoly laws.

This is why billionaires are doling out big bucks to Trump’s fascist campaign. Be warned.

"The law is both powerful and fragile. No matter how much money you think you may have, no one is above the law."

Letitia James

Just caught up with the "how much money you *think* you may have" part of this quote.

Ouch. Delayed burn!

Israel’s military is tipping off far-right settler terrorists to the location of aid trucks delivering vital supplies to Gaza to block delivery.

This. Is. A. War. Crime.

Israel is claiming “Hamas” is diverting aid. That is a claim all relief agencies reject. US officials also state Israel has offered no evidence to support allegations that Hamas is diverting aid.

Imagine being more upset at ICC for prosecuting this than at the famine its enabling: https://t.co/t9umHxFsUQ

In April 2022, the Heritage Foundation introduced 'Project 2025' with the hope of guiding America toward authoritarianism. Now, with Donald Trump at the top of the Republican ticket, that threat has only grown more dire. But what exactly are the plans of Project 2025, and how can we fight against this right-wing movement? A Q&A with Thomas Zimmer, Professor of 20th-century U.S. and international history at Georgetown University, sheds light on this dangerous project. https://thinkbigpicture.substack.com/p/project-2025-thomas-zimmer-trump

Fire chars home of Black dog walker earlier targeted by racist threats

Just weeks after he began receiving racist threats at his family home, both of Terry Williams’ parents had to be rescued from their home after a sudden fire set their building in flames. Williams’ mother, who is nearly 80, had to be carried out of the building, and his father was rescued as he was trying to escape the building, according to Lieutenant Jonathan Baxter.

https://missionlocal.org/2024/05/fire-chars-home-of-black-dog-walker-earlier-targeted-by-racist-threats/

The DOT regulated junk fees. Airlines are suing.

The CFPB capped credit card fees. Banks are suing.

Medicare is negotiating drug prices. Pharma is suing.

The FTC banned noncompetes. Business groups are suing.

Corporate America can't stand government working for the people.

When I was a mere clerk for the 1st circuit appeals court, I wasn't allowed to have a political bumper sticker for fear of creating even the appearance of bias on the court.

How can Justice Alito be allowed to rule on Jan 6-related matters after flying a pro-insurrection flag?

Though not serving as Trump’s attorney when he appeared as a witness today in Trump’s trial for criminally falsifying business records, Robert Costello is a lawyer, bound by New York’s Rules of Professional Conduct. Costello repeatedly showed his ethical unfitness, violating the most basic principles that inform the entire code. I’ve screenshot the very first paragraph of the entire code, highlighting the most pertinent phrases. 1/ #LawFedi #Ethics #LegalEthics