Current Events Roundup

In a rapidly changing world, different regions and sectors face unique challenges and developments. This roundup highlights significant stories, spanning environmental crises, international politics, and social issues, offering insights into today’s global landscape.

<h2>Marine Life Innovations</h2>
<p><a href="https://oceanographicmagazine.com/news/dolphins-recorded-using-sea-shells-to-catch-fish-for-first-time/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dolphins recorded using sea shells to catch fish for first time</a> Oceanographic</p> 

<h2>Finance and Crime</h2>
<p><a href="https://archive.is/J7tJq#selection-1191.0-1191.65" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Great Modern Train Robbery: Thieves Steal $200 Million a Year</a> Bloomberg</p> 

<h2>Social Inequality</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.theargumentmag.com/p/rich-and-poor-kids-should-grow-up" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rich and poor kids should grow up next to each other</a> The Argument</p> 

<h2>Climate and Environment</h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
    <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Look, how hot this island is, the international media will start to notice this issue sooner. Not only the fires that are being noticed, drought is also hitting the island of Kalimantan <a href="https://t.co/UYxiBVXulA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://t.co/UYxiBVXulA</a></p>
    <p>— yellowcity (@mrbanyakduit) <a href="https://x.com/mrbanyakduit/status/2090320085676396752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">August 20, 2026</a></p>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/17/european-farmers-unprecedented-crisis-successive-heatwaves" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">European farmers face ‘unprecedented crisis’ after successive heatwaves</a> The Guardian</p>
    <p><a href="https://drtomharris.substack.com/p/hunger-at-the-2c-dinner-table" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hunger At The 2°C Dinner Table</a> Climate Uncovered</p>
    <p><a href="https://archive.is/NUCFc#selection-647.0-647.67" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">World may warm by 25 per cent more than current projections suggest</a> NewScientist</p>
    <p><a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15082026/nextera-energy-renewable/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">How the World’s Largest Electric Company Fell Quiet on Renewable Energy</a> Inside Climate News</p>
    <p><a href="https://www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/winning-headlines" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Headlines from 2036: We have our winners!</a> Climate Colored Goggles</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Pandemics</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/mobile-gold-miners-eastern-congo-053951826.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mobile gold miners in eastern Congo complicate health workers’ efforts to contain Ebola</a> AP</p>
    <p><a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/covid-growing-nearly-every-state-212338147.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">COVID is ‘growing’ in nearly every state, CDC reports. Here’s where levels are highest</a> The Hill</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>The Koreas</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260820000354315" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Trump says he will meet N. Korea’s Kim this year, puts N.K. nukes at 57</a> Yonhap</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Japan</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/analysis-japan-few-answers-bond-073649769.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Japan has few answers as bond rout puts fiscal plans at risk</a> Reuters</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>China’s Environment</h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
    <p dir="ltr" lang="en">The story told in this graph is important. If you set a GDP growth target and you cannot get consumption to grow faster than the target, then you also cannot allow investment to grow more slowly than the target except to the extent that a rising trade surplus takes up the slack.… <a href="https://t.co/ll4FO1jhFn" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://t.co/ll4FO1jhFn</a></p>
    <p>— Michael Pettis (@michaelxpettis) <a href="https://x.com/michaelxpettis/status/2089942689055691081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">August 19, 2026</a></p>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-evergrande-founder-sentenced-to-life-in-prison" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">China Evergrande founder sentenced to life in prison</a> Straits Times</p>
    <p><a href="https://themerchantsnews.substack.com/p/so-what-is-china-actually-doing" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">So, What Is China Actually Doing?</a> The Merchant’s News</p>
    <p><a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/unitree-blockbuster-debut-vaults-billionaire-055639908.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Unitree’s Blockbuster Debut Vaults Billionaire Founder Into Ranks Of China’s Richest Tech Moguls</a> Forbes</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Middle Eastern Developments</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://archive.is/2CylM#selection-735.0-735.88" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">IDF Marks Palestinian Detainees With Numbers as It Expands Northern West Bank Operations</a> Haaretz</p>
    <p><a href="https://news.antiwar.com/2026/08/19/after-more-than-two-years-israel-admits-to-firing-on-car-carrying-five-year-old-hind-rajab-and-medics-sent-to-rescue-her/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">After More Than Two Years, Israel Admits to Firing on Car Carrying Five-Year-Old Hind Rajab and the Ambulance Sent To Rescue Her</a> Antiwar</p>
</blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
    <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Israel’s Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir brags about public viewing booths to watch Palestinian political prisoners be executed</p>
    <p>He advertises it as an attraction where Israelis can enjoy the murder of Palestinians up close.</p>
    <p>Israel is introducing the death penalty against… <a href="https://t.co/h9NVMwDdHR" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/h9NVMwDdHR</a></p>
    <p>— MintPress News (@MintPressNews) <a href="https://x.com/MintPressNews/status/2090179558691778578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">August 19, 2026</a></p>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
    <p style="text-align: center;">***</p> 
    <p><a href="https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/trump-declares-economic-d-day-against-iran-assisting-countries-3226431" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Trump declares ‘Economic D-Day’ on Iran, its allies</a> Turkiye Today</p>
    <p><a href="https://larrycjohnson.substack.com/p/the-confession-in-the-escalation" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Confession in the Escalation: If Iran Is Beaten and Hormuz Is Ours, Why the “Unprecedented” Sanctions?</a> Larry Johnson</p>
    <p><a href="https://archive.is/oQBDM#selection-365.0-365.65" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">U.S. conducting stealth operation to transport oil through Hormuz</a> Axios</p>
    <p><a href="https://archive.is/biHAt#selection-1361.0-1361.85" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Saudi Arabia wants Iran-backed militia ‘heads to roll’ in Iraq amid talks with Tehran</a> Al-Monitor</p>
    <p style="text-align: center;">***</p>
    <p><a href="https://www.turkishminute.com/2026/08/19/turkey-rejects-israeli-claim-that-planned-troop-deployment-prompted-syria-airstrike/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Turkey rejects Israeli claim that planned troop deployment prompted Syria airstrike</a> Turkish Minute</p>
    <p><a href="https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/ehud-barak-accuses-netanyahu-of-manufacturing-crisis-with-turkiye-3226430" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ehud Barak accuses Netanyahu of manufacturing crisis with Türkiye</a> Turkiye Today</p>
</blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
    <p dir="ltr" lang="en">The changing landscape of Middle Eastern politics is fascinating to observe.</p>
    <p>The most senior US envoy in the region – effectively the ambassador to three countries simultaneously – is publicly taking Syria’s side and rebuking longtime US darling Israel. Meanwhile, an… <a href="https://t.co/PZLnYKtxuV" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/PZLnYKtxuV</a></p>
    <p>— T. 📚☕️ (@levantophile) <a href="https://x.com/levantophile/status/2089843696703352969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">August 18, 2026</a></p>
</blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
    <p dir="ltr" lang="en">🇺🇸🇮🇱/Syria: Israeli Strikes at Syrian Airport Part of US Perception Management</p>
    <p>▪️Israeli strikes on Syria are designed to manage regional public perception ahead of the regional use of US-backed terrorists now controlling Syria;</p>
    <p>▪️In order to use Syria against Iran and its… <a href="https://t.co/mxUATUWzfi" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/mxUATUWzfi</a></p>
    <p>— Brian Berletic (@BrianJBerletic) <a href="https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/2089908790904959215?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">August 19, 2026</a></p>
</blockquote>

<h2>European Disunion</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-changes-gear-on-big-tech-enforcement-as-first-wave-of-cases-wraps-up/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brussels changes gear on Big Tech enforcement</a> Politico</p>
    <p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/greece-alliance-israel-becoming-domestic-liability" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Greece’s alliance with Israel is becoming a domestic liability</a> Middle East Eye</p>
    <p><a href="https://pascallottaz.substack.com/p/armed-neutrality-and-the-consistent" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Armed Neutrality & The Consistent Renunciation of War</a> Pascal Lottaz</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Canadian Affairs</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Trump-Dangles-Keystone-XL-Revival-as-Canada-Tariff-Deadline-Looms.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Trump Dangles Keystone XL Revival as Canada Tariff Deadline Looms</a> Oil Price</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>British Developments</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://www.dailymail.com/news/royals/article-16065271/Prince-Harry-Meghan-Markle-moving-UK-Archie-Lilibet.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Harry and Meghan will be living back in Britain THIS MONTH: Pair’s sudden decision to leave California takes Charles and William by surprise – Archie and Lilibet will attend UK school but couple don’t plan to be working royals</a> Daily Mail. All is right with the world again.</p>
    <p><a href="https://chrisdillow.substack.com/p/the-politics-of-cher" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Politics of Cher</a> Chris Dillow</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Australian Developments</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/military/australia-us-firm-aukus-nuclear-submarine" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Australia taps US firm to build yard for 10,000-ton AUKUS nuclear submarines</a> Interesting Engineering</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Geo-Political Tensions</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://thepeacemonger.substack.com/p/britain-on-autopilot-escalating-in" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">British Foreign Policy on Autopilot: Escalating in Ukraine Without Strategy, Consent or Hard Power</a> Ian Proud</p>
    <p><a href="https://www.aa.com.tr/en/eurasia/russia-warns-uk-against-participation-in-war/4030976" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Russia warns UK against participation in war</a> Anadolu Agency</p>
    <p><a href="https://theduran.substack.com/p/giving-terrorism-the-consideration" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Giving Terrorism the Consideration It Demands</a> The Duran</p>
    <p><a href="https://korybko.substack.com/p/is-a-social-crisis-really-inevitable" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Is A Social Crisis Really Inevitable Like A Former Top Russian Economist Recently Warned?</a> Andrew Korybko</p>
    <p><a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/sacked-ukraine-defence-minister-challenges-092047512.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sacked Ukraine defence minister challenges Zelenskyy with call for election</a> ITV News</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Latin America News</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/drone-boat-strike-cia-ecuador-shield-ai" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">U.S.-Registered Drone Detected at Site of Suspected CIA Boat Strike</a> Drop Site</p>
    <p><a href="https://www.idnfinancials.com/news/67601/half-of-venezuelas-oil-output-now-exported-to-us" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Half of Venezuela’s oil output now exported to US</a> IDN</p>
    <p><a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/ck-hutchison-seeks-us15-billion-panama-in-treaty-dispute-arbitration-6329856" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CK Hutchison seeks US$1.5 billion from Panama in treaty dispute arbitration</a> Channel News Asia</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Legal Updates</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://jkbjournalist.substack.com/p/virginia-giuffres-case-files-finally" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Virginia Giuffre’s case files finally to be unsealed</a> The Epstein Files by Julie K. Brown</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Surveillance and Technology</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://archive.is/JfB5V#selection-2153.0-2153.42" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Hidden Debt That Apple Owes to the CIA</a> WSJ</p>
    <p><a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/19/africa/kenya-helicopter-crash-latam-intl" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Five Americans, Ecuador intelligence chief killed in tourist helicopter crash in Kenya</a> CNN</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Political Developments in the U.S.</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://archive.is/dndyR#selection-277.0-277.85" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Politics drove antisemitism probes against Ivy League schools, DOJ whistleblower says</a> WaPo</p>
    <p><a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/bessent-becomes-most-interventionist-treasury-213725428.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bessent Becomes Most Interventionist Treasury Chief in Decades</a> Bloomberg</p>
    <p><a href="https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/briefs/trump-administration-advances-plan-to-rescind-protections-for-nearly-45-million-wild-acres/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Trump administration advances plan to rescind protections for nearly 45 million wild acres</a> States Newsroom</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Republican News</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://archive.is/xbzVi#selection-1507.0-1507.56" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Darline Graham’s Campaign Must Give Back Megadonor Money</a> NOTUS</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Democratic Developments</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/19/angie-nixon-florida-democratic-socialist" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Another democratic socialist victory – Angie Nixon in Florida – sends shock waves through party establishment</a> The Guardian</p>
    <p><a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6039986-ossoff-trump-natalie-harp-attack/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ossoff annoys Trump, White House, to Democratic delight and dismay</a> The Hill</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Media Observations</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://kathygannon.substack.com/p/medias-obsession-with-natalie-harp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Media’s Obsession With Natalie Harp Shames Us All</a> Kathy Gannon</p>
    <p><a href="https://cardcatalogforlife.substack.com/p/the-flood-is-the-strategy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Flood is the Strategy</a> Card Catalog</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Law Enforcement and Surveillance</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/17/us/ice-liability-insurance-local-police-immigration" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ICE pitches legal insurance to help shield local officers who make immigration arrests</a> CNN</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Privacy Concerns</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://archive.is/lT86y#selection-727.0-727.60" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Flock Has a Powerful New AI Tool for Police. We Got Its Code</a> Wired</p>
    <p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/08/amazon-aims-for-delivery-drones-to-reach-500-us-neighborhoods-by-end-of-2026/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Amazon aims for delivery drones to reach 500 US neighborhoods by end of 2026</a> Ars Technica</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Technological Trials</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/08/19/nx-s1-5936648/meta-trial-arturo-bejar-whistleblower-testimony" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Whistleblower Arturo Béjar leads testimony in landmark trial against Meta</a> NPR</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Food Innovations</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://archive.is/Et1vn#selection-1117.0-1117.70" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Doritos as farm-to-table snacks? Big Food, under duress, gets creative</a> STAT</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Sports and Climate</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/17/extreme-heat-elite-sport-adapt-climate-crisis-the-hotspot" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Extreme heat has changed elite sport this summer – it must adapt to survive</a> The Guardian</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Gambling Issues</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/19/gambling-on-the-little-league-world-series-sports-bettors-have-gone-too-far/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gambling on the Little League World Series? Sports bettors have gone too far</a> TechCrunch</p>
    <p><a href="https://archive.is/BGE1S#selection-755.0-755.17" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Chaos Machine</a> Harper’s</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Immigration Developments</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://migrantinsider.com/p/the-fight-begins-over-student-workers" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Fight Begins Over Student Workers</a> Migrant Insider</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Defense Spending</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/military-defense-spending-budget-series" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The $1 Trillion Black Box</a> ProPublica</p>
    <p><a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2026-08-19/tens-of-thousands-in-indiana-are-still-without-power-a-week-after-deadly-storms" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tens of Thousands in Indiana Are Still Without Power a Week After Deadly Storms</a> AP</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>AI Perspectives</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/19/ai-was-supposed-to-win-people-over-by-now-it-hasnt/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AI was supposed to win people over by now — it hasn’t</a> TechCrunch</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Equality and Labor Issues</h2>
<blockquote>
    <p><a href="https://sentientmedia.org/how-an-alleged-wage-fixing-scheme-is-fueling-historic-labor-uprisings/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">How an Alleged Wage-Fixing Scheme Is Fueling Historic Labor Uprisings</a> Sentient</p>
    <p><a href="https://workingclassstories.substack.com/p/dont-let-them-take-whats-ours" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Don’t Let Them Take What’s Ours</a> Working Class Stories</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Antidote du jour (<a href="https://x.com/HughHarrop/status/2089961941867307471/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">via</a>):</p>
<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-315118" src="https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HQEIHHZXMAAs6G3-1024x645.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="378"/></p> 

<p>Check out yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour <a href="https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2026/08/links-8-19-2026.html">here</a>.</p> 

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