Science could solve some of the world’s biggest problems. Why aren’t governments using it? Nature
An Ancient Killer Is Rapidly Becoming Resistant to Antibiotics, Study Warns ScienceAlert
#COVID-19/Pandemics
A single mutation in bovine influenza H5N1 hemagglutinin switches specificity to human receptors Science (Dr. Kevin). Ugh.
Undiagnosed disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo World Health Organization. GM:
Nothing of substance.
Here is what they say:
Given the clinical presentation and symptoms reported, and a number of associated deaths, acute pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19, measles and malaria are being considered as potential causal factors with malnutrition as a contributing factor. Malaria is a common disease in this area, and it may be causing or contributing to the cases. Laboratory tests are underway to determine the exact cause. At this stage, it is also possible that more than one disease is contributing to the cases and deaths.
However, none of that makes sense. All of those things have readily available tests for them, i.e. they would have known by now.
And if it was something seasonal, it would not be such a noticeable unusual outbreak.
Climate/Environment
Scientists Advise EU To Halt Solar Geoengineering The Verge
Drylands Now Make Up 40% of Land on Earth, Excluding Antarctica, Study Says Guardian
‘Solar Paint’ Being Developed By Mercedes-Benz Could Revolutionize EV Charging Mercedes Benz
China?
China starts military movements after Taiwan leader’s first foreign trip Financial Times
Taiwan Raises Alert as China Deploys 90 Ships in Likely Drills https://t.co/bhh45jcUhq
— gCaptain (@gCaptain) December 9, 2024
What is high bandwidth memory and why is the US trying to block China’s access to it? CNN (Kevin W)
China launches antitrust investigation into Nvidia Nikkei
Japan’s bankruptcies set to hit 11-year high in 2024, data shows Reuters
Koreas
South Korea president banned from leaving country as ruling party accused of ‘second coup’. Guardian
Africa
How a uranium mine became a pawn in the row between Niger and France BBC
Military leader dissolves Burkina Faso’s government Jurnaltime
Somalia accuses Ethiopia of undermining sovereignty with arms smuggling Hiiran
Fighting erupts in Sudan’s Blue Nile and White Nile states Sudan Tribune
South of the Border
Venezuela Condemns US SOUTHCOM and Guyana’s Provocations on Essequibo Orinoco Tribune (Robin K)
European Disunion
Investors dump French debt as political crisis grows Telegraph
Pensioner convicted of incitement for posting negatively about migrants in the latest politically charged German speech prosecution eugyppius. Micael T: “‘The poor woman lives on a monthly pension of 1,600 Euro, and the 50 Euro monthly instalments will continue until she is 93.’”
VW, workers clash in latest round of talks over factory shutdowns Reuters
Far-right backers protest after Romanian court cancels presidential election France24
Old Blighty
UK job vacancies fall at fastest rate since pandemic as business confidence slumps Guardian
Israel v. the Resistance
The fall of Syria heralds an existential crisis for Hezbollah and more pain for Gaza Mike Hampton
Israel’s Genocide Day 430: Progress reported in ceasefire talks as Israel continues to carry out massacres across Gaza Mondoweiss (guurst)
In new cease-fire violation, Israeli army hits home, demolishes buildings in Lebanon Anadolu Agency
Palestinian Authority Clashes With Resistance Fighters in West Bank Orinoco Tribune. Robin K: “PA just doing its job.”
Netanyahu is set to take the witness stand for the first time in his corruption trial in Israel Washington Post
Iran ‘dramatically’ increases uranium enrichment as nuclear bomb fears grow Telegraph
New Not-So-Cold War
Russia has voiced strong opposition to NATO’s expansion into Southeast Asia, emphasizing concerns about militarization in the region News.Az
Syraqistan
Syria’s Fall: In-Depth Analysis Simplicius
Israel occupies new Syrian territory following Assad’s collapse Mondoweiss
Israel has practically declared war on Syria with no provocation or casus belli whatsoever, announced a 50-year-old international diplomatic agreement is void, is invading another country in these very moments, and literally no one is doing, or even saying, anything about it. https://t.co/K128E5T2Og
— B.M. (@ireallyhateyou) December 10, 2024
Syria – Winners And Losers Or Both Moon of Alabama (Kevin W)
THE RUSSIAN GENERAL STAFF, KREMLIN DISCUSS HOLDING THE LATAKIA SANJAK TO DEFEND BASES — AGREE TO WITHDRAW UNDER TURKISH SAFE PASSAGE John Helmer. Note that as we have repeatedly had to point out in comments, there is no evidence of any Russian deal with respect to Syria. The extreme frostiness and evidence of upset among Russian officials, who are normally very good at keeping their cool, starting with Lavrov, and explicit denial on the Foreign Ministry site, should have been understood as dispositive. But this Helmer post provides further proof. First, there are fierce recriminations in Russia. Second, General Staff connected sources report that there is an intense debate in the military, of whether to send in enough additional forces to adequately defend the bases, or negotiate with Turkiye for an orderly withdrawal. The debate is moving in favor of the “exit” camp in light of the commitment required to secure the bases. This is not at all consistent with the notion that Russia was a party to the negotiations, since preserving the bases would have been a key demand.
Turkey to open border gate for safe return of Syrians, Erdogan says Alarabiya (Kevin W). As we predicted, Turkiye is going to push the refugees out.
UK and other European states suspend Syrians’ asylum applications Guardian (Kevin W)
From the Politico’s European morning newsletter:
WHO IS THIS ABOUT? Millions of Syrians sought refuge in Europe since the outbreak of civil war in 2011. Many were granted asylum and built new lives in their adopted European homes. However, others traveled to Europe more recently and have open asylum claims — these are the people who’ll likely be hit by the suspensions, Playbook’s Nick Vinocur reports.
Political dimension: The influx of Syrian asylum-seekers collided with a resurgence in popular support for anti-immigrant far-right parties across the Continent. Some EU governments, led by Italy, were already pushing to normalize ties with Syria before Assad was ousted, to facilitate the deportation of migrants. Some EU countries reported they were struggling to accommodate Syrian nationals, while governments in other capitals looked warily at growing support for far-right parties in the polls. Now that Assad has gone, the legal basis for many refugees being granted asylum — brutal repression by his regime — has evaporated, reasoned one EU diplomat.
BUT NGOs SAY WHOA, NOT SO FAST: Refugee rights and aid organizations warned that capitals are rushing to stop processing asylum requests when the situation in Syria is still volatile and despite knowing little about the rebel groups that have taken over from Assad…
“It remains to be seen whether this new reality will allow Syrians to start rebuilding their lives, or whether an even graver crisis lies ahead,” said Imogen Sudbery, who leads the EU office of the International Rescue Committee, a humanitarian relief organization, in a statement to Playbook..
The situation in Syria is still extremely bleak. Although Assad’s departure offers glimmers of hope, my colleagues Giovanna Coi and Lucia Mackenzie report that going home wouldn’t be easy for the Syrian exiles. Their homeland has been devastated by years of war, with half the population experiencing food insecurity and 96 percent living on less than $7 a day. Critical infrastructure, from health care to sewage and power networks, lies in ruins and will take years to rebuild.
WHAT’S NEXT? EU foreign ministers gathering in Brussels on Dec. 16 will discuss the situation in Syria.
Assad leaves behind a fragmented nation – stabilizing Syria will be a major challenge for fractured opposition and external backers The Conversation (Kevin W)
Alastair Crooke : Turkey Turns on Russia Judge Napolitano, YouTube. Good discussion of the Syria economy, the untenably low level of pay in the Syrian army, and how little it is rumored to take to buy officers off.
US Considering Removing HTS From Terror List After Syria Takeover Antiwar.com (Kevin W)
Imperial Collapse Watch
World War III Has Already Begun – And Businesses Need To Take Note Forbes
Germany, France and Poland condemn use of force against protesters in Georgia Independent
Australia’s nuclear sub plan sinking on multiple fronts Asia Times (Kevin W)
Trump 2.0
Trump says he can’t guarantee tariffs won’t raise US prices and won’t rule out revenge prosecutions Associated Press (Kevin W)
Gabbard kicks off Capitol Hill meetings amid questions over Syria The Hill
How the Neocons Won the Transition American Conservative (Chuck L)
How Peter Thiel’s network of right-wing techies is infiltrating Donald Trump’s White House Fortune (fk)
2024 Post Mortem
Democrats Can’t Course Correct Because The Illiberal Radical-Left Runs The Party Michael Shellenberger. Robin K:
I don’t know who does headlinesfor Shellenberger, et al. Someone should tell them that there is not and has not been a “radical left” in the US for . . . who knows how long? Much less any who who would, um, run the Democrats. Leftys I know think Democrats are a bad joke . . . and Republicans are a horror story. In foreign policy it’s hard to tell which is worse, if there’s any significant difference. Makes me wonder about Shellenberger’s analytic capacity/capabilities.
Our No Longer Free Press
404 Media Objects to a Texas Subpoena For Our Reporting 404Media
Police State Watch
Jury finds Daniel Penny not guilty in NYC subway chokehold case Gothamist
Woke Watch
Bosses of world’s largest LGBT news site PinkNews accused of sexual misconduct BBC
The Bezzle
Wall Street’s complex debt bonanza hits fastest pace since 2007 Financial Times. Note this represents serious underpricing of risk. By itself, this type of asset isn’t remotely systemic. But it is not a good sign.
Record Leveraged Loan Deals Mask Emerging Frailty Bloomberg
Guillotine Watch
We are going a little light on the UnitedHealth CEO’s murder since it’s being covered heavily via posts and Water Cooler. Nevertheless…
A leaked video of UnitedHealth CEO defending denial practices sparks more online backlash Quartz (Kevin W)
Americans hate their private health insurance Jacobin (Robin K)
Person of interest in fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson caught with manifesto, gun and fake ID at McDonald’s New York Post
Class Warfare
U.S. Investigating Child Labor Claim at HelloFresh Subsidiary New York Times (Kevin W)
IT Giant Favored Indian H-1B Workers Over US Employees Bloomberg
Antidote du jour (Kevin W):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
