Nikki Haley vows to fight Trump despite primary loss. Ukraine's role in gas arbitrage. Examining cousin-marriage laws in America. Podcast delves into resilience, energy strategies, and societal views on close family marriages.
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Quick takeaways
Commodity traders stored 3 billion cubic meters of natural gas in Ukraine to profit from winter price spikes, shaping Europe's energy storage strategies.
Marrying first cousins is legal in some US states, sparking debates on genetic risks and societal acceptance rooted in culture rather than substantial genetic concerns.
Deep dives
Ukraine's Role in Gas Storage Strategy
Commodity traders capitalized on rock-bottom summer rates by storing 3 billion cubic meters of natural gas in Ukraine to profit from anticipated winter price spikes. Despite concerns about the war in Ukraine, strong profits made the trade worthwhile, benefiting the EU's reserves and the firms involved. This trade experiment could shape Europe's future energy storage strategies.
The Controversy of Marrying Cousins
In the US, marrying first cousins is legal in certain states, prompting debates around genetic risks and societal acceptance. Scientifically, the risk of birth defects for offspring of first cousins is slightly higher but not prohibitive. The societal stigma against cousin marriage is rooted more in cultural perceptions than genetic concerns.
First Cousin Marriage: A Global Perspective
While many Western societies frown upon marrying cousins, other cultures like those in Pakistan and the Middle East embrace it for social, economic, and familial reasons. The US has varying laws on cousin marriage, influenced by the 'ick factor' rather than substantial genetic risks. Despite global norms, the taboo against cousin marriage persists in Western societies.
After a 20-point primary walloping in South Carolina, the state she governed for eight years, Nikki Haley vowed to fight on against Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination. But why? Seasonal opportunities for natural-gas arbitrage have been juicier during the war in Ukraine—and one good place to store cheap gas between seasons is Ukraine (9:31). And examining America’s cousin-marriage laws (16:05).
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