Turtle carvings suggest 37,000-year-old Middle Eastern religion EuroNews
World’s oldest living crocodile celebrates 124th birthday Ynet
Why the world’s economic powers will make 2025 a year of great struggle FT
climate
Startup launches ocean geoengineering IEEE Spectrum
Scientists discover that a small portion of hydrogen hidden beneath the Earth’s surface could power the planet for 200 years
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New York state to sue fossil fuel companies for climate change damages Associated Press
A (successful) test of the state-by-state approach. Bill McKibben’s “Critical Times”
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Bird at center of worst single-species mortality in modern history has not recovered, scientists tell CNN
Earth’s glaciers are melting, releasing a treasure trove of ancient artifacts CBC
syndrome
Metapopulation heterogeneity in host mobility, productivity, and immunocompetence constantly increases the virulence and infectivity of PNAS. From the summary: “Our general theory reveals that when host populations experiencing different regional conditions are linked by migration networks, more virulent and infectious pathogens will evolve than in corresponding homogeneous populations. We note that variations in host mobility, productivity, and immune capacity. The larger the size, the more virulent and infectious the pathogen is. Worse, when such multiple heterogeneities are positively correlated, it promotes the evolution of higher virulence, e.g. If heterogeneity in rate and fertility are positively correlated, then evolved toxicity is By nearly 200%, our theory provides insight into the worsening risk of the emergence of more virulent pathogens in a highly connected and heterogeneous world.” Visionary 2020 1 See the Moon paper: “Reducing mobility will cost you some money in the short term, but failing to do so will ultimately cost you everything. Even if it’s not this event… It’s about the future.”
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Genetic sequence of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus identified in Louisiana avian influenza (avian influenza) person, CDC. “Analysis identified a low-frequency mutation in the hemagglutinin gene in samples sequenced from the patient, which was not found in the viral sequences of poultry samples collected on the patient’s premises and was found after infection. “It suggests that there has been a change in the patient.” And in English:
The CDC said H5N1 bird flu samples show mutations that may help the virus bind to cells in people’s upper respiratory tract. STAT News material: “The mutations may have developed after infection. authorities said.”
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BMC Genomics: Evidence for a new triple reassortant H3N3 avian influenza virus in China Avian Influenza Diary
Influenza mRNA vaccine protects ferrets from lethal infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus Science
China?
China’s industrial profits decline at a slower pace in November South China Morning Post
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China stunned by sudden appearance of heavy stealth tactical aircraft (updated)
Chinese company unveils world’s first riding robot dog for all-terrain adventures South China Morning Post
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Why isn’t China afraid of Trump’s diplomacy?
Chinese spokesperson CGTN says America’s worst enemy is itself
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How Mao-era institutions create second-class citizens in modern China FT
Prosecutors find workers in ‘slave-like’ conditions at Chinese car company’s premises in Brazil Associated Press
South Korea
South Korea’s acting president Han Deok-soo has been impeached, sparking new political turmoil France Agence France-Presse
“Thor” emerges from South Korea’s martial law crisis, which seems a little less political Al Jazeera
syrakistan
Is Israel really building an empire across the Middle East? Haaretz
WHO Director-General says he was just meters away from Israel’s attack on Yemeni airport Al Jazeera
The US claims to have pushed for the withdrawal of a famine warning for northern Gaza. Aid groups raise concerns AP
‘Squad’ Democrats demand end to US investigation into anti-Israel arms embargo FOX
Supporters launch legal push against Argentina and Chile to arrest Israeli soldiers Al Jazeera
Africa
Ugandan runner set to arrive in London after 516 days and 7,700 miles The Guardian
A new war that’s not so cold war
Aviation experts say Russian air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijani plane crash as nation mourns AP
“Azerbaijani plane shot down by Russian air defense systems”: the first semi-official version from Baku Jam News. “For the Azerbaijani side involved in the investigation, the situation is completely clear. No one claims that it was done intentionally.”
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President Putin rejects peace plan drawn up by Trump team – ISW Ukraineska Pravda
Ukraine’s path to peace Foreign affairs
Aaron Mate commits to ‘weak’ Russia, leaves Biden team, finds ‘strength’ in Ukraine
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Trump wants 5% target for NATO defense spending, Europe tells FT
Ukraine war shows NATO’s biggest problem is not strategy, think tank says Business Insider
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‘Safety through darkness’: Swedish huts on the front lines of potential hybrid warfare Guardian
Newly declassified memo sheds light on America’s post-Cold War mistakes
global elections
2024 was the year of angry electoral foreign policy.
Reorganization and legitimacy
Two big issues in the Luigi Mangione case that could lead to a torpedo trial Daily Mail
Media Reads NYPD Mangione Report Not Printing Ken Klippenstein
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Indian immigration is a great thing for American Noahpinion. Explanation:
Tucker Carlson accused of H-1B and other visa fraud
“Who’s going to get hurt?” In particular, college graduates burdened with huge student loans are being thrown into a system that prioritizes foreign successors. ” pic.twitter.com/8Kz9WSbyu7
— Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸 (@ColumbiaBugle) December 26, 2024
If elite composition is important, skilled immigration is also important: American conservatives
Vivek Ramaswami goes on a rant about how American workers will demonize the New Republic and gets dragged away
How and Why Government, Universities, and Industry Create a Domestic Labor Shortage of Scientists and High-Tech Workers by the Institute for New Economic Thinking. Since 2017 I am still German.
spook country
Chicago man asks judge to clarify when border officers can search cell phones SCOTUSblog
antitrust law
Lina Khan’s Christmas present: Limiting onerous fees from hotel and ticket services Matt Stoller, BIG
health care
Medicare $2,000 prescription drug cap starts January 1 Axios
Benefits of Medicare: Domestic carriers gain market share while unaffiliated regional carriers decline, 2012-23 Health Issues
digital clock
Elon Musk’s ‘social experiment on humanity’: How will X evolve in 2024 BBC
Apple calls for abolition of AI headline summaries after BBC debacle The Regioster
Meta envisions social media filled with AI-generated users FT
zeitgeist watch
Are we becoming an illiterate society? F.T.
housing
‘You might end up telling your story in tears’: How former MP and Toronto city councilor ended up living in a homeless shelter Toronto Star
19 Disrupted Homeowner Associations That Will Go Overboard in 2024 Buzzfeed
class war
Details on Starbucks’ unfair labor practices Matt Bruenig, NLRB Edge
Musk’s rise is a sign of an era of neo-feudal capitalism Al Jazeera
Wealthy father surprises kids with treehouse they can Airbnb to earn passive income
Kafka’s Screwball Tragedy: A Philosophical Dog Study MIT Press Reader
Antidote (Giles Laurent):
Click here for yesterday’s link and Antidote du Jour.
