“as linguists decipher elephant language, they are puzzled….” allgebrah, ThreadReaderApp
‘Extremely yellow’ creature caught off Pacific island. See the new ‘duckbill’ species News&Observer
To conserve or cull? Life in Australia’s crocodile capital BBC
Stand Out: How to Prevent Obeying in Advance 3 Quarks Daily
Climate
India cites lack of technology, infrastructure as barriers to fight climate change S&P Global
The Time Jimmy Carter Probably Saved The World And Almost Nobody Noticed IFL Science
Syndemics
HMPV outbreak in China? Amid viral videos and govt ambiguity, know symptoms and precautions WION
* * * H5N1: Much More Than You Wanted To Know Astral Codex Ten
When Seasonal Influenza Goes Rogue Avian Flu Diary
Bird flu is so bad that Japan is running out of land to bury chickens Straits Times
* * * COVID 5 years later: Learning from a pandemic many are forgetting Science. “What did we learn?”
China?
Chinese war games system sees surprise US attack on PLA carrier group in South China Sea South China Morning Post
US consensus on countering China will keep Quad relevant under Trump: experts South China Morning Post
China’s central bank plans policy overhaul as pressure mounts on economy FT
China says committed to taking more practical steps to further enhance SCO cooperation CGTN
The Koreas
South Korean presidential guards prevent arrest of impeached Yoon after tense stand-off Reuters. Commentary:
The military unit responsible for residential security that prevented the arrest of President Yoon Seok-yoel.
“This unit, which appears to be the capital defense command, is obstructing the execution of the arrest warrant,” an official from the investigation unit said pic.twitter.com/oR9wfnF2Ya
— Warzone Observer (@WarzoneObserver) January 3, 2025
Amid martial law-induced crisis, Blinken to visit South Korea Anadolu Agency
* * * Pilot at airport of South Korea’s Jeju Air crash says he ‘assumed’ concrete mound was dirt South China Morning Post. Commentary:
2️⃣ The localizer for Runway 19 was installed on a concrete mound reinforced with a 30cm-thick slab, located 251m from the runway end. Despite being outside the “terminal safety zone,” this structure became the disaster’s epicenter. pic.twitter.com/ACRee0LrmE
— Antony Ochieng,KE✈️ (@Turbinetraveler) January 2, 2025
Syraqistan
Israel struggles to deter escalating attacks from Yemen’s Houthi rebels as other fronts calm AP
‘Stop sharing now’: IDF reservists’ posts are being twisted into Israeli hate – editorial Jerusalem Post. Before and after:
What was the northern Gaza Strip like before the Israeli genocide and eradication, and how does it look now as seen from inside the settlement of Sderot? pic.twitter.com/LfUO1aRbHS
— Ramy Abdu| رامي عبده (@RamAbdu) December 31, 2024
European Disunion
Inoxtag: the incredible success story of France’s most phenomenal influencer EuroNews
Dear Old Blighty
Elon Musk criticises UK prime minister and calls for new elections Ukrainska Pravda
New Not-So-Cold War
Poll reveals fewer Ukrainians willing to bear burden of war for as long as necessary Ukrainska Pravda
The Budapest Memo holds keys to ending the Ukraine war Responsible Statecraft
Are Russian Sanctions Working? Debate Gains New Urgency With Trump NYT
European Commission reveals how Russian gas supplied through Ukraine was replaced Ukrainska Pravda
Putin 25 years in office – has he been a boon or a bane for Russia? Ben Aris, Radio Moskva
Global Elections
Elections to Watch in 2025 Foreign Policy
Biden Admiistration
Scoop: Biden discussed plans to strike Iran nuclear sites if Tehran speeds toward bomb Axios
Mysterious mark appears on Biden’s hand during White House appearance Daily Mail
Trump Transition
The Situation: What to Expect When You’re Expecting Trump Benjamin Wittes, Lawfare. Commentary:
Don’t believe a thing that’s said about these terrorist events
One single thing
Don’t try to “solve” them either or get addicted to the developing “revelations” and “contradictions”
It is a haunted house and every squeak and jump scare and quiet moment before the next one…
— Walter Kirn (@walterkirn) January 3, 2025
New US Congress to convene Friday Anadolu Agency. See here.
What will happen if the U.S. commits to bitcoin Axios
NOLA dude:
New Orleans attacker acted alone; feds look for ties to Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas LA Times
Do not fall for simplistic portrayals of the New Orleans attacker Al Jazeera
The narrative used to be better (1):
Is it me or has the quality of CIA productions got really bad? The 2000s felt like the golden age of black flags: major events, tight scripts, suspense, worthy villains. Today it’s like watching a 3rd rate Netflix movie because you can’t find the remote and are too lazy to look
— Alon Mizrahi (@alon_mizrahi) January 2, 2025
The narrative used to be better (2):
Laying it on a bit thick, don’t you think? https://t.co/WMZ8acmbLm
— leahmcelrath.bsky.social (@leahmcelrath) January 3, 2025
The narrative used to be better, except when it wasn’t (3). Quoted recently:
From Terry Pratchett’s Jingo (the Klatchians are desert-dwelling adversaries of Ankh-Morpork), the two policement Nobby Nobbs and Sergeant Colon:
Hang on, there’s a box right at the back…’ He wriggled out, towing a small box with him. It was locked, but the cheap metal gave way when he accidentally levered at the lid. Silver coins gleamed. Lots and lots of them. ‘Whoops…’ he muttered. ‘We’re in trouble now…’
‘That’s Klatchian money, that is!’ said Colon. ‘Sometimes people slip you one instead of a half–dollar in your change. Look, there’s all curly writing on them!’
‘We’re in big trouble,’ said Nobby. ‘No, no, no, what we have found by patient detectoring,’ said Sergeant Colon. ‘And it’s going to be a feather in our caps and no mistake when Mr Vimes hears about it!’….
[Nobby] looked up at the bare walls and down at the rough floorboards. ‘There’s a bit of sand on the floor,’ he said. said Colon happily. ‘A Klatchian has been here. Bugger all else but sand in Klatch. Still got some in his sandals.’ Nobby opened the window. It gave on to a gently sloping roof. Someone could get through it easily and be away over the tiles and into the maze of chimneys. ‘He could’ve gone in and out this way, sarge,’ he volunteered. ‘Good point, Nobby. Write that down. Evidence of conniving and sneaking around.’ Nobby peered down. ‘Here, there’s glass outside, Fred…’ Sergeant Colon joined him at the stricken window. One of the panes had been smashed. Outside, glass glittered on the tiles. said Nobby, hopefully. ‘It certainly is,’ said Sergeant Colon. ‘See the glass fell outside the window? Everyone knows you look at which way the glass fails. I reckon he was just testing his bow and it went off while it was loaded.’
‘That’s clever, sarge,’ said Nobby. ‘,’ said Colon. ‘It’s no good just looking at things, Nobby. You got to think straight, too.’
FBI releases timeline of deadly New Orleans truck-ramming attack Al Jazeera
* * * Vegas dude:
Who is Matthew Livelsberger? What we know about the Tesla Cybertruck explosion suspect FOX. Commentary:
JUST IN: Family of accused Trump hotel truck bomber Matthew Livelsberger says he was a “big Trump supporter,” questions the incident.
Odd.
The uncle of Livelsberger told the Independent that he is confused by the explosion because his nephew could rig a bomb to blow up half the… pic.twitter.com/uJ4uDmfWzR
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 2, 2025
* * * Turo-rented cars were involved in 2 deadly incidents this New Year’s. Here’s what we know AP
The Supremes
In year-end report, chief justice defends judiciary’s independence SCOTUSblog
Biden’s net neutrality rules struck down by appeals court Axios
Emoji has legal standing in Canadian courts Language Log
Spook Country
US Army soldier allegedly linked to hacked Trump, Harris phone records charged by feds NY Post
Digital Watch
Honey Extension Scam Michael Tsai
Healthcare
Surgeon catches CANCER from patient in first-of-its-kind case Daily Mail
Sports Desk
A rose’s journey from a Colombian farm to a parade float in Pasadena LA Times
The Current Cinema
There Was No Sorcerer Literary Review
Imperial Collapse Watch
Trump Has Promised to Build More Ships. He May Deport the Workers Who Help Make Them. ProPublica
Small talk-free walks and silent meals: Where to find peace and quiet on your next trip EuroNews
100-Foot Wave Surfed at Maverick’s? Potentially. Surfer
Antidote du jour (Andrew Shiva / Wikipedia):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
