Axolotls have incredible regeneration powers, yet they’re critically endangered Earth.com
World’s Oldest Person Dies in Japan at 116 The Japan News
Carbon in our bodies likely left galaxy and came back on cosmic ‘conveyer belt’ Phys.org
Soaring demand for weight-loss drugs could change food spending Supermarket News
A Great Lakes ‘Pompeii’? Lake Huron’s depths hold secrets of human history Bridge Michigan
Climate/Environment
Vermont Sued for New Law Requiring Big Oil to Pay for Climate Damage Common Dreams
As congestion pricing launches, New Yorkers say they’re eager for better, safer subways Gothamist
Major winter storm bears down on America’s midsection, as millions face snow, ice or heavy rain CNN
History of Snow Rollers: Forgotten Heroes of Winter Travel Morning Ag Clips
Pandemics
Is HMPV another Covid-19-like scare in China? What we know so far Business Standard
Disability claims skyrocket, raising new puzzle alongside ‘excess mortality’ Insurance News (antidlc)
India
Graffiti in ancient Tamil Nadu sites similar to Indus Valley civilization signs: Study The Times of India
China?
China-US ties may improve if Trump goodwill signals ‘manifest in tangible actions’ South China Morning Post. How we like those odds?
China Seeks to Bolster Ports and Aviation Hubs in Western Regions Reuters
China flexes lithium dominance with plans for tech-export curbs Bloomberg
Samsung could become NVIDIA and Qualcomm’s new 2nm chip partner amid price hikes at TSMC gagadget. Commentary:
That’s one interpretation. The other is that Taiwan is going to be gradually returned to China because its strategic value is far less than often claimed due to new types of military technology. 🇺🇸🇹🇼 https://t.co/vQfdiAJ1NJ
— Philip Pilkington (@philippilk) January 5, 2025
O Canada
Trudeau expected to announce exit as party leader before national caucus meeting Wednesday The Globe and Mail
Why be a doormat? Canadian Dimension
Fuelling Genocide: Trudeau’s Bloody Record On Gaza The Maple
If Trudeau resigns, it’s to stop the non-confidence vote, and an interim leader will come in, maybe Freeland, and the Liberals will hold on to power until the election on October 27th, 2025.
About 80 MP’s pensions count on it.
Reminds me of 1993 Kim Campbell when Mulroney left. https://t.co/4bAsVqQP8P
— Jason Lavigne (@JasonLavigneAB) January 6, 2025
“Black Ribbon Day” and “Double Genocide” in Canada (2022) Red Sails. In case you need to get reacquainted with Freehand, as well as what unites liberals and conservatives in Canada.
Dying a “Good” Death: Disability and the Assisted Suicide Debate Disability Visibility Project
Old Blighty
What ‘Say Nothing’ Says About Northern Ireland, Violence and Peace New Lines Magazine
Musk, Starmer and the crisis of British politics Counterfire
European Disunion
Germany defunds 2 Israeli human rights groups Deutsche Welle
US to impose ‘full sanctions’ on Serbia’s oil sector in January: Serbian president Anadolu Agency. Killing what’s left of German auto industry, which has large manufacturing presence in Serbia?
A stray dog is the first to cross the Romanian-Hungarian border after Romania’s official entry into the Schengen Area, December 2024. pic.twitter.com/1Rj1BvWtUx
— Future Adam Curtis B-Roll (@adamcurtisbroll) January 3, 2025
Syraqistan
Suspected al-Qaeda member taken off Turkey’s ‘wanted list’ after appointment as general in Syria Turkish Minute
The dream of a free Middle East is coming true The Telegraph
The Head of the Snake? News Forensics
Iran to Operationalise Russian Su-35 Fighters By Year’s End – Reports Military Watch
Can True Promise III reshape Iran’s geopolitical fate? The Cradle
***
Breaking: Israeli prosecutor says state has no rape cases against Palestinians from 7/10 raid The Skwawkbox. Commentary:
Remember how Israel posted multiple videos of brutalized Palestinian detainees “confessing” to r*pe on 10/7?
And Sheryl Sandberg included those “confessions” in her documentary?
And the White House screened and promoted the “documentary”?
And the New York Times reported they… https://t.co/5sc2bpK3AF
— Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) January 5, 2025
Against Guilty History David Frum, The Atlantic. The deck: “Settler-colonial should be a description, not an insult.”
Israel built an ‘AI factory’ for war. It unleashed it in Gaza. WaPo
“We’ve all gained from Israel’s experience” Globes. General Sir Nick Carter, former UK Chief of the Defence Staff.
7th October 2023: a splendid LIHOP GeoPolitiQ
Africa
Citizens for hire Geeska
New Not-So-Cold War
SITREP 1/5/25: Ukraine Launches Final Bargaining-Chip Offensive in Kursk Simplicius
French Mirage and Ukrainian Reality Let Me Tell You…
Transcript for Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom | Lex Fridman Podcast #456
🚨 LEX FRIDMAN: “Next time you come visit me in Texas, me, you, and Joe Rogan will go get some good Texas barbecue together.”
ZELENSKYY: “Who will pay?” 😂 pic.twitter.com/g8luthXEkN— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) January 5, 2025
B-a-a-a-a-d Banks
Switzerland: Credit Suisse Withholds Information About Nazi Leaders’ Bank Accounts Pluralia
Spook Country
What’s Really Going on With the Matt Livelsberger Saga? Larry Johnson, Sonar21
If a “former” CIA contractor with an inexplicably massive media platform has an “intelligence officer” on his show to scare you to death of Iranian MANPADS shooting American planes out of the sky, you should assume the gov’t is thinking about shooting planes down and blaming Iran https://t.co/XLC8sKx3gX
— Connor Freeman (@FreemansMind96) January 5, 2025
Orleans Parish ADA dies by suicide in DA office WDSU. Sexual Assault Kit Initiative division.
1/6
Biden: Jan. 6 reminds us that democracy ‘is never guaranteed’ The Hill
Pelosi says violence of Jan. 6 Capitol attack ‘didn’t end that day’ The Hill
Trump Transition
With Gaza war and Trump’s return, Silicon Valley embraces a military renaissance +972 Magazine
Total farce. https://t.co/cJXDYkInMn
— ecosocialist musician (@EcosocialistM) January 6, 2025
Democrats en déshabillé
Chuck Schumer blames Democratic losses on “average working families who didn’t realize how much we had done and how much we care for them.” pic.twitter.com/mAI9wijKij
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) January 5, 2025
Antitrust
Monopoly Round-Up: Big Ag vs Make America Healthy Again BIG by Matt Stoller
Imperial Collapse Watch
Collapsing Empire: RIP ‘Overt Operations’ Global Delinquents
***
U.S. Department of Defense Sounds Alarm Bells About China’s Growing Presence in Arctic gCaptain
Here comes Yakutia, Russia’s newest nuclear icebreaker The Barents Observer
U.S. Coast Guard Starts Construction of First New Heavy Icebreaker in 50 Years High North News
Why the U.S. Can’t Build Icebreaking Ships Construction Physics. From September, still germane.
AI
The government can’t ensure artificial intelligence is safe. This man says he can. Politico. The deck: Brian Anderson is ready to shape the future of AI in health care — if Donald Trump will let him.
Got cash for the AI babysitter? Becker’s Hospital Review
Healthcare?
Major Depressive Disorder and Driving Behavior Among Older Adults JAMA Network
ADHD diagnoses are surging among older Americans New York Times
Why a ‘Third Life’ Is the Answer to America’s Loneliness Epidemic Time
Class Warfare
How the H-1B System Undercuts American Workers Compact
Biden signs bill to increase Social Security benefits for millions of public workers CNBC
How Rural Post Offices Sustain Community Barn Raiser
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
