Should U.S. home builders follow Sweden’s example? construction physics
Some of your cells are not genetically yours. What do they teach us about life and death?Nature
Did a firework from a champagne bottle cause a deadly fire in a bar at a Swiss ski resort? first post
Will the next generation of drugs help treat opioid addiction? Scientific American
Please stop mailing anal plugs to Bahrain Boing Boing
You’re not your destiny: The radical logic of positive news Nate Baer
Climate/Environment
Betting on the End of the World 2026 Edition Staring at the End of the World
High risk due to coincidence of particulate matter and heat extremes in India IOP Science
pandemic
This BMJ highlight on the shift from ‘immunity debt’ to the direct role of coronavirus in immune damage is a welcome change
There is growing evidence that T-cell dysregulation poses secondary risks, and it’s good to see mainstream media taking this issue seriously.
1/ https://t.co/ejM2euv0oT pic.twitter.com/YXcs3ayOZY
— AJ Leonardi, MBBS, PhD (@fitterhappierAJ) January 1, 2026
Americans prepare to start new year without health care BBC
China?
Taiwan’s President Lai pledges solid defense following Chinese military exercises Business Standard
China ‘unnecessarily’ escalates tensions with military exercises near Taiwan: US Channel News Asia
Chinese cargo ship modified to fire advanced combat drones and appears in combat zone
China cuts hundreds of tariffs in strategic trade war Asia Times
What is shocking is not the huge demand from Chinese tech companies for the late 2000s (pending Chinese government approval), but that its price is apparently only 15% lower than “gray market alternatives”.
This means that access to chips was not a big issue for large companies, assuming they were going to China…
— Kyle Chan (@kylechan) January 1, 2026
Is manufacturing important?China Talk
India
US tech giant invests billions to open data center in India The Straits Times
Indian military to domestically produce 91% of ammunition, reducing dependence on imports
syrakistan
Israel begins 2026 by killing more Palestinians and banning Gaza aid groups New Arab
Israel seizes planning rights for Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque from Palestinians Middle East Eye
Israel and US advance plan for Rafah ‘green city’ concentration camp
——
Israel’s Channel 14 reported that Israel and the United States have agreed to move forward with the so-called “green city” project in Rafah. This project was presented by Washington as a solution for Gazans, but it should be better worded…
— Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) January 1, 2026
More than 500,000 people gather at Galata Bridge in Istanbul for pro-Palestinian march on New Year’s Day Anadolu Agency
***
Aden airport closure intensifies tensions between Saudi Arabia and UAE in Yemen Al Mayadeen
***
Highlights of Iran’s latest protests by Sina Toosi
Is Israel weaponizing Iranian protests calling for regime change? dissident
Iran in the crosshairs: Economic protests and US-Israel destabilization strategies
The dominant narrative in Western and Israeli media is now familiar: Iran is on the brink of collapse, its society is hostile to the state, and the regime is living on borrowed time. … pic.twitter.com/1InNsB0TbN
— Ibrahim Majed (@ibrahimtmajed) January 1, 2026
🇮🇷|Insurgent saboteurs attempted to seize a police station in Azna, Lorestan province, Iran, but failed.
At around 6pm today, a group of masked insurgents attacked the side of the Azuna police station near the armory.
During this time, several police vehicles were set on fire… pic.twitter.com/Ksw9Nik6nE
— Aria – آریا (@AryJeay) January 1, 2026
Iranian riots have a different pattern this time
Smaller cities have organized groups that target major government buildings. easier target
A small city inhabited by various ethnic groups.
They then head to the police station to arm themselves.
There is…
— Soureh 🇮🇷🇵🇸 (@Soureh_design2) January 1, 2026
Africa
‘Unsubstantiated claims’: Somaliland denies consent to absorb displaced Palestinians The Cradle
discord in europe
Ship seized in Finland for suspected cable damage was carrying Russian steel subject to sanctions Euronews
Bulgaria introduces euro amid political uncertainty and protests TRT World
German exporters face prolonged downturn in key markets of US and China Reuters
Germany falls into a predicament as capital flows become scarce.
Germany’s new military plan sees foreign sabotage as preparation for war Politico
Germany moves to produce TAURUS NEO to strengthen deep strike British Defense Journal
Leading opposition figure Piotr Magyar addressed the nation on New Year’s Eve, exactly 100 days before the Hungarian general election, and left a chilling message 🇭🇺 pic.twitter.com/ytsFeaTCEx
— SzabadonMagyarul 🇬🇧🇭🇺🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@SzabadonMagyar) January 1, 2026
A new war that’s not so cold war
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that GRU chief Igor Koschukov has handed over flight controllers and decoded navigation data recovered from a downed Ukrainian drone to the U.S. military stationed in Moscow. The files allegedly show the drone’s programmed route to Putin’s residence in Novgorod… pic.twitter.com/6hOHIODawU
—Brian McDonald (@27khv) January 1, 2026
Yes, the CIA is lying about the drone attack on Putin President Larry Johnson
The CIA (with President Trump’s blessing) attacked Russian oil facilities and tankers during peace negotiations and efforts to restore bilateral relations between the United States and Russia. “Arbitrator” Trump continues proxy war and dramatically escalates https://t.co/wi0TjER73F pic.twitter.com/lk7pcTayBj
—Glenn Diesen (@Glenn_Diesen) January 1, 2026
Did the CIA’s covert aid to the Ukrainian refinery strike harm Ukraine more than Russia? Simplicius
Nikolai Petro: Chaos after the collapse of Ukraine Glenn Diesen
🇺🇦 A torchlight procession is being held in Lviv to celebrate Bandera’s birthday.
-> These tough guys walk around with torches and attack Russian-speaking grandmas…but there’s no way they’ll join a war that’s literally against them.
Russia wants to de-Nazify you… pic.twitter.com/4Nzt5hYVy0
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) January 1, 2026
great game
Rising border unrest puts China’s interests at risk in Tajikistan The Times of Central Asia
south of the border
Venezuela deploys battle-tested Iranian-made long-range attack drones to respond to US military buildup Military Monitor
Maduro: Venezuela open to talks with US, remains silent on dock attack Al Jazeera
“To the people of the United States, we have friendly people here in Venezuela.” Telesur
Congress is asking who is being killed at sea. This San Diego lawyer has the answers – but no one is asking for an after-action report.
Trump 2.0
Trump reacts defiantly to signs of aging WSJ
TACO strikes again: Italian pasta becomes the latest product to be cut in tariffs by President Trump
White House ‘considering’ denaturalization of Somali-American over Telesur fraud charges
Minnesota fraud scandal and Trump tariffs exposed: How statist capitalism hurts workers Egbert Off the Record
Federal judge blows the whistle on Justice Department deception: Allen analysis of 35+ lies and ‘fake’ evidence
U.S. Treasury lifts sanctions on executives involved in Intellexa Company and Predator Spyware TechNadu
Below is a list of individuals who have defrauded the American people, American financial institutions, and the taxpayer-funded system of billions of dollars through bank fraud, securities fraud, Medicare fraud, insurance fraud, and foreign influence schemes.
They… pic.twitter.com/kEz6IFHZ9x
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) January 1, 2026
Wars Come Home
⚡️🇺🇸🇮🇱 Immediately:
On New Year’s Eve, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the Chabad Synagogue in Miami, Florida, about the “fight against anti-Semitism.”
“We should fight back…we should attack the attacker!”
How is it acceptable to incite violence in synagogues in the United States?pic.twitter.com/WIfHyRLjok
— Hidden news. (@SuppressedNws1) January 1, 2026
immigration
They also stole art. pic.twitter.com/lS2bXkCBXo
— Tracey Schulz (@TraceySchulz) January 1, 2026
imperial collapse watch
The Bad Dream of Modernity Warwick Powell
The end of globalization that didn’t start with food
As threat of annexation looms, U.S. consulate in Greenland seeks unpaid local intern Euractiv
The Accelerating Nature of Financial Collapse Ian Welsh
Post-American Internet Corey Doctorow
mamdani
New Mayor Mandani’s New York City affordability drive faces economic headwinds in 2026 Gothamist
Tax the rich: the common dream of Mamdani, Sanders and the New York City inauguration crowd
A.I.
AI labor is boring. AI Desire Is Big Business Wired
accelerationist
Here’s how, 15 years ago, the PayPal mafia planned to “escape” from politics by creating an “alternative virtual reality.”
They did it. That’s why we’re talking about the “Somali scam” and not the Epstein file.
“But the basic idea was that we could never win… pic.twitter.com/xnR33HV3YY
— Jim Stewartson, Slowdownist 🇨🇦🇺🇦🇺🇸 (@jimstewartson) December 31, 2025
economy
Consumer spending drives the U.S. economy. In 2026, the K-shaped economy will further test this dynamic. finance
Nation Casino
Bally casino jackpot winner says he hasn’t been paid a penny because of his immigration status CBS News
To save Las Vegas, pedestrianize any line on the Strip
class war
Notes left by Socialist Organizer’s Guide to 2026
Things are falling apart. Where should we look for leadership? Anne Pettifor
One more thing. working class storytelling
Antidote (via):
bonus:
You are looking at a creature that was watching the continents fall apart. 🌍
Feather stars (Crinoidae) have been around for more than 400 million years.pic.twitter.com/y239RtKFNR
— Curiosity (@MAstronomers) December 31, 2025
Click here for yesterday’s link and Antidote du Jour.
