How Multitasking Drains Your Brain MIT Press
Calfornia Burning
Space satellites track astonishing expansion of deadly California wildfires FOX. The video:
In maps: Thousands of acres on fire in LA BBC
How a tiny spark in an LA back garden turned into the city’s worst ever fire in HOURS, incinerating 20 square miles and leaving an alien landscape of charred mansions… and it’s still out of control Daily Mail
Hollywood Boulevard is evacuated as wildfires erupt in celebrity epicentre: Another 100,000 told to escape NOW as horror images show LA neighborhoods reduced to ashes and death toll rises Daily Mail
Monstrous wildfires blanket Southern California with smoky air, threatening the health of millions AP. Commentary:
It’s not really the right time for nasty California fires. What are the factors that changed that? AP
On the Water Supply controversy:
After millions of views spreading lies about the Palisades firefighters lacking water because of regulations, the boring truth comes late like usual and wont be shared. Here it is:
1 – Reservoirs and water tanks were at normal levels and completely full before the fire.
2 – All… pic.twitter.com/DmSaTQJuiB
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) January 9, 2025
“Lead your life” :
Climate
Catastrophes cost the world $320bn in 2024, reinsurer reports FT
How Big Oil Hindered The Fight Against L.A.’s Wildfires Lever News
Water
How datacenters use water – and why kicking the habit is nearly impossible The Register
Syraqistan
Japanese crime boss admits to conspiring to sell nuclear material to Iran Al Jazeera
Dealing with Trump, Israel, and Hamas: The path to peace in the Middle East European Council on Foreign Relations
No Israeli Hostage Deal Will Be Signed Until All Sides Agree on How to Control Gaza Haaretz
New York Times rejects Quaker ad for calling Israel’s actions “genocide” American Friends Service Committee
The Koreas
S.Korean police track impeached President Yoon’s location with new warrant Anadolu Agency
North Korea says it tested hypersonic intermediate range missile aimed at remote Pacific targets AP
China?
China’s CPI up 0.2 pct in 2024 Xinhua. Commentary:
3/4
For 2024 as a whole, CPI inflation came in at a very meager 0.2%, the same as it was last year and the lowest since 2009. For all the stimulus and the surge in debt during the year, in other words, China has been unable to revive inflation.— Michael Pettis (@michaelxpettis) January 9, 2025
New discoveries raise China’s lithium reserves to second largest in the world South China Morning Post
China Discovers Vast Copper Deposit on Tibetan Plateau WION
As Trump talks up trade war with China, fears rise for rare earths supply Al Jazeera
Huge cement-dust cloud blankets streets in China after silo rupture South China Morning Post
China, hMPV, and the `Fog of Flu’ Avian Flu Diary
European Disunion
Slovakia’s PM says he visited Putin because of Ukraine’s refusal to continue gas transit Ukrainska Pravda
Hungary threatens to block Ukraine’s EU accession over suspension of Russian energy transit Ukrainska Pravda
Dear Old Blighty
Musk examines how to oust Starmer as UK prime minister before next election FT
New Not-So-Cold War
Trump Is Facing a Catastrophic Defeat in Ukraine Robert Kagan, The Atlantic
A User’s Guide to ‘Who Lost Ukraine?’ Foreign Policy
Trump says he sympathizes with Russia’s opposition to NATO membership for Ukraine Reuters
How Suicide Drones Transformed the Front Lines in Ukraine NYT
Putin’s Booming War Economy Poised for Soft, Bumpy Landing Bloomberg
South of the Border
Venezuelan president says FBI official among ‘mercenaries’ arrested for plotting attacks Anadolu Agency
Three Ukrainians are among seven alleged mercenaries arrested in Venezuela, leader Maduro says Ukrainska Pravda
Biden Administration
US Justice Department accuses six major landlords of scheming to keep rents high AP
Trump Transition
Trump, the ‘America First’ candidate, has a new preoccupation: Imperialism AP
Foreign Leaders Lambast Trump Over His Expansionist Policies Foreign Policy. As opposed to genocide and a proxy war with a nuclear power?
Blinken says Trump’s push for US to take control of Greenland is ‘not going to happen‘ AP
Antitrust
FTC Chair Khan hopes Amazon, Facebook won’t get ‘sweetheart deal’ from Trump in antitrust cases CNBC. Commentary:
My god the reconnection of Americans to their own power in this economy has been just amazing–people feel and see the problem but our tongues were cut out by 30 years of sidelining antimonopoly and antitrust, the core tools for addressing power, to the purview of technocrats. https://t.co/qQsp6zIiDE
— Zephyr Teachout (@ZephyrTeachout) January 8, 2025
Digital Watch
Apple Intelligence summaries might get warning labels. That’s not enough. Six Colors. And–
Jason Snell: ‘Apple Intelligence Summaries Might Get Warning Labels. That’s Not Enough.’ Daring Fireball
Groves of Academe
As a Berkeley professor, I see the impact H-1B visas and AI have on students’ job opportunities FOX
The Final Frontier
Why the space community should care about Arctic geopolitics Space News
Our Famously Free Press
Wikileaks has just put all its files online. It’s all there! Defend Democracy Press
Washington Post ‘rudderless’ as Bezos’ paper engulfed by layoffs, talent exodus ahead of Trump’s second term FOX
Healthcare
People living near airports face increased heart attack risk: Study Anadolu Agency
Industry groups sue over Biden ban on medical debt in credit reports Al Jazeera
Gunz
Study: More Americans Buying Firearms To Defend Selves From Toddlers Who Found Their Gun (video) The Onion
Democrats en déshabillé
Dems’ 2024 losses fuel new openness to GOP bills Axios
Class Warfare
Two powerful labor groups combining ahead of the Trump administration Axios
Sanders doubles down on attacks on Musk over H-1B visas: ‘Dead wrong’ The Hill
US east coast strike averted Splash 247
Forced Labor in Global Supply Chains RAND
The fight over robots threatening American jobs FT
Free Cash, Mergers, and Capital Spillage Monthly Review
Antidote du jour (Yathin S Krishnappa):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
