Japan’s audacious bid to become a semiconductor superpower FT
A pufferfish: ‘probably nature’s greatest artist’ Guardian
Climate
Arctic Ocean may see its 1st ‘ice-free’ day by 2027, study warns Anadolu Agency
* * * EU pushes back deforestation law by a year after outcry from global producers AP
Genetic differentiation and precolonial Indigenous cultivation of hazelnut (Corylus cornuta, Betulaceae) in western North America PNAS (Sub-Boreal). On edible forests, see NC here, here, and here.
From definitions to solutions: Can local food systems sustainably deliver fair rewards for farmers and access to quality food for all? Sustainable Food Trust
Syndemics
DRC: Reports Of A Fatal `Mystery’ Disease in Kwango, DRC Avian Flu Diary
* * * Raw Farms LLC Press Release Claims Their H5N1 Shutdown Is A Political Issue Recombinomics
Raw milk recall in California expands after tests detect more bird flu virus AP
* * * Almost a third of preteens, teens with long COVID still not recovered at 2 years, study shows Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy
China?
Only China can now lead the world on climate Adam Tooze, FT
Chinese industry bodies urge caution in buying US chips over semiconductor export control CGTN
U.S. Navy Bolsters Carrier Presence in the West Pacific Naval News
Translating Ukraine Lessons for the Pacific Futura Doctrina
The Koreas
South Korea – Majority Wins As President’s Putsch Fails Moon of Alabama
How is a South Korean president impeached and does the opposition have enough votes to do so? Channel News Asia
South Korea’s Yoon focus of police ‘treason’ probe over martial law chaos Al Jazeera
Africa
Is U.S. investment in Africa coming too late to counter China and Russia on the continent? (transcript) PBS. Commentary:
Yet another masterclass in diplomatic self-sabotage: you can be sure this will go viral everywhere in Africa…
Combine this with Blinken’s recent ‘counter’ to China’s $3.5 billion Peruvian port – offering Peru some antiquated second-hand diesel trains – and you see why the… https://t.co/wTCgbyb4yr
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) December 5, 2024
Syraqistan
Amnesty International Investigation Concludes Israel Is Committing Genocide Zeteo. Commentary:
“My name is Amos Goldberg. I am an Israeli Professor of Holocaust Studies. For nearly 30 years I have researched and taught the Holocaust, genocide and state violence.
And I want to tell whoever is willing to listen that what’s happening now in Gaza is a genocide.
A year ago… pic.twitter.com/a8i9oy4MjC
— Led By Donkeys (@ByDonkeys) December 4, 2024
Leaks, Distribution of Arms, Incitement to Racism, and Reckless Driving – the Allegations Surrounding Ben-Gvir Haaretz
New report shows pro-Palestine protests suppressed in Democracies Al Mayadeen
Calif bar considers campus protests in moral character review for lawyer licensing Reuters
TikTok isn’t anti-Israel: It’s Hired Unit 8200 Agents to Run its Affairs Mint Press
European Disunion
France’s Barnier to resign as no-confidence vote sparks new political crisis France24
Europe Quietly Prepares for World War III Newsweek
‘Third nuclear age’ threatens the West, armed forces chief warns BBC
Sweden’s ‘soft girl’ trend that celebrates women quitting work BBC. “Her boyfriend works remotely in finance….”
Dear Old Blighty
Warhammer maker Games Workshop enters London’s top stocks index Agence France Presse
New Not-So-Cold War
Trump Should Make Putin Wince Before They Sit Down to Talk Foreign Policy
A winning strategy to end Russia’s war against Ukraine The Atlantic Council
Trump’s Ukraine challenge will be bringing Putin to negotiating table: experts South China Morning Post
Is Zelensky softening his tone on territorial concessions? Responsible Statecraft
KYIV BLOG: It’s time to drop the charade that Ukraine can join Nato BNE Intellinews
* * * Blinken confirms Ukraine to receive $50 billion transfer from frozen Russian assets Kyiv Independent
Handing Out Grants, Zelensky Tries to Win Over War-Weary Ukrainians NYT. The deck: “Citizens will be entitled to a $24 one-off payment this winter, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced, in a move apparently intended to soften the blow of a tax rise to help fund the war effort.”
* * * Russian General Staff chief called his US counterpart after Oreshnik strike – media Ukrainska Pravda
The Ugly Truth about the Permanent War Economy The Stimson Center
The New Great Game
Georgia police raid opposition offices as PM vows to curb protests France24
Seizing the Moment: Armenia and Azerbaijan at a Crossroads War on the Rocks
Trump Transition
Trump Taps Vance Aide Gail Slater as Top DOJ Antitrust Cop Bloomberg. Commentary:
This is a very powerful statement that Trump wants to take on big tech. https://t.co/4Ei42e2vWc
— Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) December 4, 2024
Trump nominates Musk collaborator to head space agency NASA Al Jazeera
Trump chooses fintech CEO to lead Social Security Administration Politico
Bitcoin tops $100,000 after Trump picks crypto-friendly SEC chair Al Jazeera
The Bezzle
UK uncovers vast crypto laundering scheme for gangsters and Russian spies FT
Revealed: the Operators Behind Four Major Neo-Nazi X Accounts Texas Observer
Digital Watch
The Facebook Apostate The Intercept. The deck: “She Joined Facebook to Fight Terror. Now She’s Convinced We Need to Fight Facebook.”
* * * U.S. officials urge Americans to use encrypted apps amid unprecedented cyberattack NBC
Shame on Google for Their Description of Google Messages’s Encryption Support Daring Fireball
The Final Frontier
Moon Should Be a State Pirate Wires
Why we can’t just name a quasi-moon ‘Moony McMoonface’ Space.com
Zeitgeist Watch
Yammering Madness in the Garden of Beasts Jesse’s Café Américain
Book Nook
Final Statement of the Balkan Anarchist Bookfair 2024 The Anarchist Library
Great power and great responsibility: how consciousness changes the world Nature
Antidote du jour (Charles J. Sharp):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.