Euclid’s first images: the dazzling edge of darkness European Space Agency. Image:
What You Need to Know About Winter Solstice 2023 Time
The coming dystopia will be a robust public-private partnership WaPo
Programmable or ‘purpose-bound’ money is coming, probably as a feature in central bank digital currencies The Register. Like gift cards?!
Dog-themed memecoins are pawing their way back into investors’ hearts TechCrunch
Happy Christmas (Covid’s Over) Bloomberg. For Mr. Market, at least.
Sniffing women’s tears reduces aggressive behavior in men (press release) PLOS
Climate
Rolls-Royce begins tests on using hydrogen for commercial airlines Business Standard
Ancient redwoods recover from fire by sprouting 1000-year-old buds Science
Composting in the Winter: 7 Tips to Ensure Rich Compost Come Spring Gardenista (christofay).
#COVID19
An overview on viral interference during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic Frontiers in Pediatrics
A Systematic Review Of COVID-19 Misinformation Interventions: Lessons Learned Health Affairs
COVID test supplier received billions in pandemic contracts after submitting edited results Global News
China?
China’s imports of Dutch chip-making equipment surged tenfold in November after Washington tightened restrictions South China Morning Post
US, China top military officials hold first talks in more than a year Al Jazeera
Hong Kong court rejects publisher Jimmy Lai’s bid to toss sedition charge Al Jazeera
China tries to ‘bury the memory’ and trauma of zero-COVID era Al Jazeera. No trauma from the two million deaths since Xi, like Biden, “let ‘er rip”!
Japan to sell missiles to US in ‘really welcome’ easing of arms export rules South China Morning Post
Japan is a cuddlier friend to South-East Asia than America or China The Economist
Commentary: No, seriously, this is one Japan scandal that’s important Channel News Asia
Syraqistan
The Red Sea Crisis, Explained Foreign Policy
Yemen Houthi leader warns ‘any American targeting of our country will be targeted by us’ FOXd
Beijing shrugs at U.S. call for help protecting Red Sea shipping Politico
Red Sea coalition: Why have major Arab nations opted out? Anadolu Agency
Coalition deploys US Navy’s lethal Swiss Army Knife to send a message to Iran and China FOIX
Vessels still heading into Red Sea war zone SeaTrade Maritime News
Beyond Gaza: How Yemen’s Houthis gain from attacking Red Sea ships Al Jazeera
* * * CIA’s chief spy William Burns emerges as key figure in Hamas hostage crisis Straits Times
* * * The case of al-Shifa: Investigating the assault on Gaza’s largest hospital WaPo. “The evidence presented by the Israeli government falls short of showing that Hamas had been using the hospital as a command and control center.”
US Is Reportedly Working to Prevent Conference on Geneva Convention Violations Truthout
This is How We Fought in Gaza Soldiers׳ testimonies and photographs from Operation Protective Edge˝ (2014) (PDF) Breaking the SIlence
How the Israeli military is bombing ‘safe’ areas in southern Gaza France24
* * * One-State Solution Harpers
I can’t write about Gaza Crooked Timber
European Disunion
Sovereign Virtues? New Left Review
New Not-So-Cold War
Putin scents historic victory amid growing signs of Western weakness The Atlantic Council
West is thinking of scenarios where Putin wins in Ukraine Ukrainska Pravda
Elements of an Eventual Russia-Ukraine Armistice and the Prospect for Regional Stability in Europe RAND
It’s Time to Negotiate With Russia The Nation. Let me know how that turns out….
* * * Ukraine war latest: Defense minister says he wants to mobilize Ukrainian men living abroad Kyiv Independent. Stalemate, totally.
Ukraine’s Front-Line Troops Are Getting Older: ‘Physically, I Can’t Handle This’ WSJ. Ditto.
* * * Bandera mythologies and their traps for Ukraine Andrii Portnov, OpenDemocarcy. From 2016, still germane.
South of the Border
Anarcho-Capitalism Phenomenal World. Argentina.
López Obrador and Biden discuss border ‘enforcement actions’ Mexico News Daily
Biden Administration
Senate returns dozens of nominations to Biden to restart process in 2024, including Julie Su Politico
U.S. Steel’s acquisition will end a difficult marriage that forged — and constrained — Pittsburgh’s identity Public Source
Why the U.S. steel industry is dying Noah Smith, Noahpinion
Digital Watch
Artificial intelligence is a liability The Register
HHS finalizes ‘first of its kind’ AI transparency rule for health care tech firms Benefits Pro
Technology Is Secretly Stealing Your Time. Here’s How to Get It Back Scientific American
Healthcare
ADHD drug prices rise as Adderall shortage leaves patients scrimping to fill prescriptions USA Today
Imperial Collapse Watch
Professor John Mearsheimer: 2023: Lessons for Biden, Zelenskyy, and Netanyahu (video) Judge Napolitano, YouTube
Impolite Society The Baffler. On the State Department.
Guillotine Watch
Billionaires Turn to Legal Bribery in Quest to Build Utopia The Daily Beast
Class Warfare
Let Them Deliver Cake? The Supreme Court, Bakery Drivers, and the Federal Arbitration Act On Labor
The Rich Have all the “Excess” Cash Now (excerpt) The Overshoot
Hubble Telescope captures a galaxy’s ‘forbidden’ light in stunning new image Space.com. Image:
Antidote du jour (via):
Bonus antidote:
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
