Science has the potential to solve some of the world’s biggest problems. Why doesn’t the government take advantage of it? nature
Ancient killers are rapidly developing resistance to antibiotics, study warns ScienceAlert
#New Coronavirus Infection/Pandemic
Single mutation in bovine influenza H5N1 hemagglutinin switches specificity to human receptor Science (Dr. Kevin). Hmm.
Undiagnosed Diseases – Democratic Republic of the Congo World Health Organization. GM:
Nothing substantial.
They say:
Given the reported clinical signs and symptoms and the high number of deaths associated, acute pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19, measles, and malaria are considered potential causative factors, along with malnutrition. Masu. Malaria is a common disease in the region and may be causing or contributing to cases. Laboratory tests are underway to determine the exact cause. At this stage, it is also possible that multiple diseases are contributing to cases and deaths.
But none of it makes sense. All of these have readily available tests, which means they should already know about them.
And if it were seasonal, it wouldn’t be such a noticeable outlier.
Climate/Environment
Scientists recommend EU halt to solar geoengineering The Verge
According to the Guardian, 40% of the earth’s landmass, excluding Antarctica, is dry land.
“Solar paint” being developed by Mercedes-Benz could revolutionize EV charging Mercedes-Benz
China?
China launches military action after Taiwanese leader’s first overseas trip Financial Times
China sends 90 ships for possible training, Taiwan is on high alert https://t.co/bhh45jcUhq
— gCaptain (@gCaptain) December 9, 2024
What is high-bandwidth memory? Why is the US trying to block China’s access to memory? CNN (Kevin W)
China begins antitrust investigation into NVIDIA Nikkei
Japan’s bankruptcies expected to reach 11-year high in 2024, data shows Reuters
South Korea
South Korean president banned from leaving the country due to suspicions that the ruling party is involved in a “second coup.” guardian
Africa
How uranium mines became a pawn in the fight between Niger and France BBC
Military leaders dissolve Burkina Faso government
Somalia accuses Ethiopia of undermining sovereignty through Hiran arms smuggling
Sudan’s Blue and White Nile states battle eruption Sudan Tribune
south of the border
Venezuela condemns US Southcom and Guyana provocations in Essequibo Orinoco Tribune (Robin K)
discord in europe
Investors exit French government bonds as political crisis escalates The Telegraph
In Germany’s latest politically charged speech prosecution, Oegippius, a pensioner was found guilty of sedition for making negative posts about immigrants. Michael T: “‘This poor woman lives on a pension of 1,600 euros a month, but the facility of 50 euros a month will last until she is 93 years old.”
Workers clash over latest talks with VW over factory closure Reuters
Far-right supporters protest after Romanian court cancels presidential election France 24
old blighty
UK job openings fall at fastest pace since pandemic as economic confidence slumps The Guardian
Israel vs. Resistance
Syria’s collapse spells an existential crisis for Hezbollah and further suffering in Gaza Mike Hampton
430th day of Israeli genocide: Report on progress in ceasefire negotiations as Israel continues to commit genocide across Gaza and Mondweis (Gaast)
Israeli forces storm strongholds, destroy buildings in Lebanon in new ceasefire violation Anadolu Agency
Palestinian Authority clashes with resistance fighters in Orinoco Tribune, West Bank. Robin K: “The PA is just doing his job.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu to testify for the first time in Israeli corruption trial The Washington Post
Iran ‘dramatically’ increases uranium enrichment as nuclear bomb fears grow The Telegraph
A new war that’s not so cold war
Russia has expressed strong opposition to NATO expansion into Southeast Asia, highlighting concerns about militarization of the region News.Az
syrakistan
The Collapse of Syria: A Thorough Analysis Simplicius
Israel occupies new Syrian territory after fall of Assad regime Mondoweiss
Israel has effectively declared war on Syria without any provocation or dilettante, announced that 50 years of international diplomatic agreements are null and void, and is invading other countries at this very moment, and literally no one is doing anything. No, or I haven’t said it. item. https://t.co/K128E5T2Og
— BM (@ireallyhateyou) December 10, 2024
Syria – Winners, Losers, or Both Moon in Alabama (Kevin W)
Russian military staff, Kremlin discuss retaining Latakia Sandjak for base defense – agree to withdraw under safe passage to Turkey John Helmer. Please note, as we have repeatedly had to point out in the comments, there is no evidence that Russia has agreed on Syria. The evidence of extreme callousness and agitation on the part of Russian officials who are usually good at keeping their cool, including Mr. Lavrov, and the clear denials on the Foreign Ministry website should have been taken as positive. But this Helmer post provides further evidence. First, there has been intense criticism in Russia. Second, General Staff sources report that there is intense debate within the military over whether to send in enough additional troops to adequately defend the base, or whether to negotiate with Turkiye for an orderly withdrawal. It is said that it is being done. Given the effort required to secure the base, the debate is moving in favor of the “withdrawal” camp. This is not at all consistent with the idea that Russia was a party to the negotiations, as maintaining the base would have been a key demand.
* * *
Turkey will open its border gates for the safe return of Syrians, President Erdoğan said Alarabiya (Kevin W). As we predicted, Tolkier intends to expel the refugees.
UK and other European countries suspend asylum claims for Syrians Guardian (Kevin W)
From Politico’s European Morning Newsletter:
Who is this about? Millions of Syrians have fled to Europe since the civil war broke out in 2011. Many were granted asylum and built new lives in second homes in Europe. However, some have recently traveled to Europe and are applying for asylum. These individuals will likely be subject to suspension, Playbook’s Nick Vinocur reports.
Political aspects: The influx of Syrian asylum seekers has collided with a resurgence of public support for anti-immigration far-right parties across the continent. Some EU governments, led by Italy, were already pushing for normalization of relations with Syria even before Assad’s removal to facilitate the deportation of migrants. Some EU countries have reported struggling to accommodate Syrians, while governments in other capitals are cautious about growing support for far-right parties in opinion polls. Now that Assad is gone, one EU diplomat reasoned, the legal basis for many refugees to be granted asylum disappears due to his brutal crackdown.
But NGOs say “hey, not so fast”: Refugee rights groups and aid groups say that even though the situation in Syria remains unstable and they know little about the rebels who have taken over Assad’s government, the capital He warned that he was rushing to halt the processing of asylum applications…
“It remains to be seen whether this new reality will allow Syrians to start rebuilding their lives, or whether an even deeper crisis awaits them,” said Imogen, who heads the EU office of the International Rescue Committee. Sudbury said. Statement to Playbook..
The situation in Syria remains extremely difficult. Assad’s departure brings a glimmer of hope, but my colleagues Giovanna Coy and Lucia McKenzie report that returning home will not be easy for Syrian exiles. Their homeland has been devastated by years of war, with half the population living in food insecurity and 96% living on less than $7 a day. Critical infrastructure, from health care to sewage to power grids, is in ruins and will take years to rebuild.
What’s next? EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on December 16 to discuss the situation in Syria.
* * *
Assad leaves a divided nation – Stabilizing Syria will be a major challenge for divided rebels and outside backers Interview (Kevin W)
Alastair Crook: Turkey turns on Russia’s Judge Napolitano, YouTube. Good discussion about the Syrian economy, the intolerably low wage levels of the Syrian army, and rumors about how cheap it is to fire officers.
US considers excluding HTS from terrorist status after occupying Syria Antiwar.com (Kevin W)
imperial collapse watch
World War III has already begun – companies need to pay attention Forbes
Germany, France and Poland condemn use of force against Georgia Independent protesters
Australia’s nuclear submarine program sinks on multiple fronts Asia Times (Kevin W)
Trump 2.0
President Trump says he can’t guarantee tariffs won’t raise prices in the U.S., but won’t rule out retaliatory prosecution Associated Press (Kevin W)
Gabbard opens Capitol meeting amid questions over Syria The Hill
How neocons won over transitional American conservatives (Chuck L)
How Peter Thiel’s right-wing techie network is infiltrating President Donald Trump’s White House Fortune (fk)
Post-mortem analysis in 2024
The Democratic Party cannot change course because Michael Shellenberger is running the party as an illiberal radical leftist. Robin K:
I don’t know who is in charge of the headlines for Shellenberger et al. Someone should tell them that there is no “radical left” in the United States, and there never is. . . Who knows how long? Moreover, no one would run the Democratic Party. The left-handed people I know think the Democratic Party is a bad joke. . . And the Republican Party is a scary story. In foreign policy, it is difficult to tell which is worse, even though there are significant differences. I have doubts about Shellenberger’s analytical ability/competence.
Our press is no longer free
404Media objects to Texas subpoena for our reporting 404Media
police state surveillance
Daniel Penny acquitted by jury in New York subway strangulation case Gothamist
wake watch
Executives at Pink News, the world’s largest LGBT news site, accused of sexual misconduct BBC
basil
Wall Street’s complex debt bonanza is reaching its fastest pace since the Financial Times in 2007. Note that this means the risk is significantly discounted. This type of asset itself is not remote and systemic. But that’s not a good sign.
Record leveraged loan trading masks new vulnerabilities Bloomberg
guillotine watch
The murder of the UnitedHealth CEO has been widely reported in posts and water coolers, so I thought I’d shed some light on it. but…
Leaked video of UnitedHealth CEO defending deniability causes further backlash online Quartz (Kevin W)
Americans Hate Private Health Insurance Jacobin (Robin K.)
Person involved in shooting death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson arrested at McDonald’s New York Post with manifest, gun, and fake ID
class war
US investigates child labor allegations at HelloFresh subsidiary New York Times (Kevin W)
IT giant favors Indian H-1B employees over US employees Bloomberg
Temporary antidote (Kevin W):
Click here for yesterday’s link and Antidote du Jour.
