How and When Did Humans First Move Into the Pacific? Sapiens
Climate/Environment
The First Ice-Free Day in the Arctic Ocean Could Occur Before 2030, Says Researchers High North News
Texas farmers say sewage-based fertilizer tainted with “forever chemicals” poisoned their land and killed their livestock Texas Tribune
Water
An Alternate Theory for How Life-Giving Water Came to Earth 404 Media
Pandemics
Possible H5N1 bird flu case in Marin County child; source of infection unknown Los Angeles Times
Hong Kong tightens airport health checks amid Congo mystery disease outbreak Channel News Asia
The Koreas
Yoon placed under travel ban amid martial law probe as political turmoil deepens Yonhap
China?
China develops record-breaking 504-qubit quantum computer powered by Xiaohong chip Interesting Engineering
China’s shift to local chips gains momentum from latest US export controls FT
US-China Tech War Fuels Asia Boomtowns Built on AI, Chips Bloomberg
European Disunion
Europe’s next top diplomat is ready to be undiplomatic Politico
Syraqistan
Biden calls Assad regime collapse ‘fundamental act of justice’ The Hill. Commentary:
Difficult to interpret Biden’s speech as anything short of an olive branch to al-Qaeda; a signal that the US would reset relations with the miscellany of jihadist groups we initially armed, then designated as FTOs, if they meet compliance standards for client state status pic.twitter.com/pGDouk3WZM
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) December 8, 2024
>> Plea deals this year for the alleged ISIS masterminds behind 9/11
>> backing ISIS in their takeover of Syria
>> backing ISIS in the Sahel to kill Russians in Africa
>> backing ISIS as they attack civilian targets within Russiaat what point do we stop playing pretend pic.twitter.com/L9MLzg7zUH
— Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) December 8, 2024
America is such a great country! How great? So great it can offer a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Muhammad al-Jawlani while simultaneously pledging millions of dollars to support Muhammad al-Jawlani!https://t.co/FVf7AXNQcI https://t.co/IO0LVX7seL pic.twitter.com/J0xgOCtjGH
— Roland Baker (@RolandBakerIII) December 8, 2024
Experts react: Rebels have toppled the Assad regime. What’s next for Syria, the Middle East, and the world? The Atlantic Council. The view from think tank-landia.
Syria, Mission Accomplished? Larry Johnson, Sonar21
U.S. working to destroy Syria’s remaining chemical weapons, official says Axios
US announces air strikes on ISIL targets in Syria after al-Assad’s fall Al Jazeera
***
What are the Russians saying about the fall of the Assad regime? Gilbert Doctorow
Syrian militants pledge to protect Russian bases – TASS RT. Commentary:
FIVE LESSONS FOR RUSSIA
Doom and gloom are somewhat appropriate, but it is more important to think about the future now. What does the fall of Syria tell us?
1. False Peace is Death. A bad faith ceasefire is a recipe for disaster and after Minsk and Astana should never be…
— Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) December 8, 2024
***
Iran ‘lost faith’ in Assad before his ousting FT. Commentary:
🧵Why Did Syria Fall So Quick & Where Was Iran?
It’s safe to say that everyone is shocked on the events in Syria. Nobody expected for this to happen now—well, that’s actually not true.
6 months ago, the leader of Iran (Imam Khamenei) had warned Bashar Assad regarding the uprise… pic.twitter.com/PwXQTWuyuf
— Arya – آریا (@AryJeay) December 8, 2024
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Syrian rebels enter northern city of Manbij, Turkish source says Reuters
What’s next for Turkey in Syria? Middle East Eye
Two Lessons From the Syrian Collapse Ian Welsh
***
Syrian archbishop: ‘This is the end of the great history of Christians in Aleppo’ CatholicVote. Commentary:
Its wild watching all the Western journalists and politicians celebrating an end to secularism in Syria. And the installation of an Al Qaeda linked regime. Wild.
— Johnny miller (@johnnyjmils) December 8, 2024
Think of a combination of ISIS at its height and the aftermath of Gaddafi’s downfall and you’ll get a good idea of what’s in store for the region in the coming years. https://t.co/E6POiB5znA pic.twitter.com/VLjnkXhfmB
— Armchair Warlord (@ArmchairW) December 8, 2024
***
Inspired by Assad’s fall, Yemeni minister says Iran-backed Houthis can be ousted too Times of Israel. Commentary:
get ready for a deluge of “why are you denying Yemeni agency? OMG DO YOU KNOW HOW EVIL THE HOUTHIS ARE?!?!?” propaganda to be pumped out from all the typical scum as the operation proceeds
— ☀️👀 (@zei_squirrel) December 8, 2024
***
Israel continues killing citizens in south Lebanon as ceasefire violations persist The Cradle. Commentary:
Hate to add to all-pervasive doom now but a major crackdown on Hezbollah is undoubtedly impending. Lebanon’s security/intelligence/military are *heavily* penetrated by CIA/MI6 and now Satanyahu has won in Syria they are surrounded by enemies on all sides, including internally.
— Kit Klarenberg 🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻 (@KitKlarenberg) December 8, 2024
***
Israel bombards military, government buildings across Damascus following HTS takeover The Cradle
Craig Murray: Fall of Syria About Greater Israel Consortium News
Israel captures Syrian territory after Assad regime collapse Axios
***
Taliban poppy ban is economic hit to farmers Deutsche Welle
New Not-So-Cold War
As Syria Falls Under NATO Influence, Its Large Soviet Arsenals Could Soon Flow to Ukraine Military Watch. Including the chemical weapons the US is “working to destroy”? Will “rebels” flow too?
Trump calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and says a US withdrawal from NATO is possible AP
Kremlin refutes Trump’s remarks on losses in Ukrainian conflict TASS. “”In order to get on the peace track, it is enough for Zelensky to cancel this decree [forbidding negotiations with Moscow] in order to resume dialogue based on the Istanbul agreements and accounting for the actual situation on the ground.”
Zelensky rejects Trump’s call for peace RT
***
Bracing for a Russian attack: EU defense chief wants €100B for weapons Politico
NATO plans to deploy sea drones to monitor and protect undersea cables — Admiral expects drone fleet patrols to begin from June 2025 Tom’s Hardware. What all the hyperventilating over the cables was about: checking off another item on the list of NATO near-term actions in the Baltic.
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Geoff Roberts – Ukraine’s defeat by Russia will be a very bitter pill to swallow Brave New Europe
‘Sadovyi’ and the Memory War Bandera Lobby Blog
The Caucasus
Georgia to ban masks; PM calls journalist attacks provocations JAM News
Africa
The Problem With U.S. Diplomacy in Africa Foreign Policy
What To Do About The Sahel The Wilson Quarterly. Commentary:
Dear AES and other competent African states:
ARM YOURSELVES TO THE TEETH!
Nothing else matters right now. Take every red cent of budget available to you and pour it into military hardware and recruitment. Don’t wait till next year, do it now. NOW.
Because once the empire is…
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) December 8, 2024
Trump Transition
Trump sticks by tariffs, but no guarantees on inflation Axios
Antitrust
Monopoly Round-Up: Trump Lays Out His Antitrust Agenda BIG by Matt Stoller
Did Big Potato collude to keep tater tots expensive? One grocery store thinks so Sherwood
AI
Google says its new AI models can identify emotions — and that has experts worried TechCrunch
The phony comforts of useful idiots The Tech Bubble
Imperial Collapse Watch
How Militarism Suffocates Real Democracy Un-Diplomatic
Sports Desk
Juan Soto signing with Mets on gargantuan $765 million contract as Yankees miss out New York Post
Healthcare?
Hospitalization Should Not Mean Financial Ruin for Medicare Beneficiaries MedPage Today
The Other Villains in U.S. Health Care: Private Equity Dollars & Sense
Guillotine Watch
NYPD releases new images of suspected CEO assassin in taxi as he fled NYC Gothamist
Why top internet sleuths say they won’t help find the UnitedHealthcare CEO killer NBC News
A Man Was Murdered in Cold Blood and You’re Laughing? The New Yorker. “Are we really so divided, so used to dehumanizing one another, that people are out here openly celebrating the cold-blooded murder of a hardworking family man?”
Slain Healthcare CEO’s Life Airbrushed by Media Ken Klippenstein
***
Amazon workers died at N.J. warehouses and we don’t know enough about how, advocates say NJ.com
A Dozen Billionaire Plutocrats Now Have $2 Trillion in Collective Wealth Common Dreams
Fearful of crime, the tech elite transform their homes into military bunkers WaPo
The Bezzle
Timekeeping Is on The Verge of a Giant Leap in Accuracy. Here’s Why. Science Alert
Down the Rabbit Hole Atmos
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
