Whale makes epic migration, astonishing scientists BBC
Climate
Did a Terminal Temperature Acceleration Event start in December 2024? Arctic News
We finally have an explanation for 2023’s record-breaking temperatures NewScientist
Water
An impact-free mechanism to deliver water to terrestrial planets and exoplanets Atronomy Astrophysics. From the Abtract: “We propose that primordial asteroids were icy and that when the ice sublimated, it formed a gaseous disk that could then reach planets and deliver water.”
Syndemics
How close is a new bird flu (H5N1) pandemic? Christina Pagel, Diving into Data & Decision making
EID Journal: Replication Restriction of Influenza A(H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b Viruses by Human Immune Factor, 2023–2024 Avian Flu Diary
China?
China Comes Out Swinging as Trump Trade War Looms WSJ
China reaffirms economic confidence, vows to remain global growth engine CGTN
China loosens purse strings to boost demand as economic conference ends South China Morning Post
US military airfields in Indo-Pacific too easily taken out of action, report says Channel News Asia
The Koreas
South Korea’s Yoon defends martial law as an act of governance and vows to ‘fight to the end’ AP. Commentary:
Looking more like South Korean president’s story claiming tens of thousands of still-unseen North Koreans sent to Russia to fight Ukraine—a story initially rejected by Washington—were part of this same coup false flag op, to gain Biden support. https://t.co/rof7EQmC6I
— Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) December 11, 2024
Cyberscamming is Southeast Asia’s Incurable Disease The Diplomat
Wasabi Nippon.com
Syraqistan
Syria’s Assad has fallen – just as the Pentagon planned 23 years ago Jonathan Cook
Syria’s Factions Explained in a Map WSJ
Israel is targeting Syria’s sovereignty with its occupier mindset: Turkish foreign minister Anadolu Agnecy
* * * Released Syrian prisoners hospitalised in ‘dire state of psychological shock’ France24
Incredible moment CNN’s Clarissa Ward rescues ‘hidden prisoner’ from Assad’s hellhole jail while searching for American journalist Austin Tice Daily Mail. Commentary:
This is really, really, really hard to believe.
The Air Force Intelligence Headquarters where this is taking place (as per the complete CNN report: https://t.co/YmZZ9QSrUd) has been freed since the 7th of December, 4-5 days ago (see https://t.co/auNuPNKF3C and… https://t.co/LdJJI4prPG
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) December 12, 2024
And:
They escort the man outside, but instead of taking him straight to a hospital or doctor – the logical thing to do with a man who has been in a windowless cell for three months, without food & water for four days – they sit him in a chair and interview him pic.twitter.com/kDRAW4BKfW
— Charlie Nash (@CharlieNash) December 12, 2024
* * * ‘We need time’: Syrians in Europe resist calls to return home FT
* * * What is Iran signalling since the fall of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad? Al Jazeera
Houthi group says it targeted US destroyers, ships, Israeli military targets Anadolu Agnecy
* * * Hamas Concedes on Israeli Troops in Gaza, Raising Hopes for Hostage Deal WSJ
These Palestinians disappeared after encounters with Israeli troops in Gaza AP
Africa
Adani’s problems in Kenya undermine Narendra Modi’s ambitions for Africa The Economist
The New Great Game
“If cryptocurrency mining isn’t stopped, Abkhazia will sink into darkness.” JAM News
European Disunion
Romania’s cancelled election is a lesson in social media manipulation FT. But:
Interesting that the claim the Romanian authorities are making against Georgescu’s campaign are related to foreign political financing – the exact issue that Georgian Dream triggered outrage in Europe for addressing. No coherent narrative. This stuff is on its last legs. 🇷🇴🇬🇪 pic.twitter.com/v4fI99vXih
— Philip Pilkington (@philippilk) December 12, 2024
A Judicial Coup in Romania Compact
Hungarian PM responds to criticism from Zelenskyy, saying his “Christmas truce” idea was rejected Ukrainska Pravda
New Not-So-Cold War
After U.S. ATACMS Strike On Strategic Target Russia Announces To Retaliate Moon of Alabama
U.S. Concludes Abrams Tanks ‘Not Useful’ For Ukraine Following Heavy Losses Military Watch
Putin’s regime may be closer to a Soviet collapse than we think Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, The Telegraph
* * * Lawmakers call for intelligence assessment on ending U.S. support for Ukraine The HIll
Biden admin loans Ukraine $20B backed by profits from ‘immobilized’ Russian assets New York Post
Hungarian PM responds to criticism from Zelenskyy, saying his “Christmas truce” idea was rejected Ukrainska Pravda
Zelenskyy: Ukraine cannot legally recognise occupied territories as Russian Ukrainska Pravda
Trump Transition
Where are all the bureaucrats? Kevin Drum. Handy chart:
The housing emergency and the second Trump term Cory Doctorow, Pluralistic
Will Chinese President Xi Jinping attend inauguration at Trump’s invitation? South China Morning Post
Dozens of Democrats Press Biden to Pardon Environmental Lawyer Targeted by Chevron Zeteo
The Adjuster
Luigi Mangione fingerprints match crime-scene prints, police say BBC
Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing could return to New York on a governor’s warrant AP
Who is the lawyer representing Luigi Mangione in his Pennsylvania case? ABC (mrsyrk).
NY Times Doesn’t Want You to See Shooter’s Face Ken Klipperstein
* * * RIP Bruno Latour, you would’ve loved United Health Group Closed Form
Arguments over whether Luigi Mangione is a ‘hero’ offer a glimpse into an unusual American moment AP
People Are Cheering on a Shooting. This Theory Could Explain Why. Politico (Acacia). The deck: “The theory of ‘social banditry’ explains our grim political moment.”
* * * How AARP Shills for UnitedHealthcare Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect
I used to do health insurance company PR. Here’s what I think the backlash is missing STAT
The Press Is Complicit in America’s Health Care Deaths Jacobin i(AG).
Digital Watch
OpenAI CFO thinks business users will pay thousands monthly for AI tools Business Standard
‘A truly remarkable breakthrough’: Google’s new quantum chip achieves accuracy milestone Nature
South of the Border
US-Cuba rum war spills over as Biden law stirs Havana Club row BNE Intellinews
The Final Frontier
ORCs in space! Astronomers find another vast odd radio circle in ‘completely unexpected discovery’ Space.com
Zeitgeist Watch
Canada euthanasia now accounts for nearly one in 20 deaths BBC. Rule #2.
Luxury real estate brokers charged with sex trafficking FT
Class Warfare
Poultry Bosses Benefit from Trump’s Threats Labor Notes
Pentagon says mystery drones over New Jersey are ‘not US military,’ not likely foreign TechCrunch
Antidote du jour (Donald Hobern):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
