Season’s greetings to all who celebrate Christmas! For those who don’t, may your day still be filled with joy and festive spirit.
Voices of the First World War: The Christmas Truce – Imperial War Museum (Kevin W)
Islam versus Judaism… How is Jesus Viewed? – Larry Johnson
If Jesus Were Born Today, Would He Survive the American Police State? – Counterpunch (resilc)
Dinosaur Bones Found Almost on Top of Each Other in Transylvania – ScienceDaily (Kevin W)
Camus’ Life Without Illusion – Engelsberg Ideas
Weight-Loss Pill Approval to Accelerate Food Industry Product Overhauls – Reuters
#COVID-19/Pandemics
This Christmas Eve, let’s acknowledge that it wasn’t the CEOs and billionaires who came to our aid during COVID-19, but rather the janitors, nurses, cleaning staff, grocery, and food workers who performed their hard, often unseen labor.
— Andrea Junker (@Strandjunker) December 24, 2025
COVID infections heighten vulnerability to flu. It’s just science. Accept it, or take action, but don’t deny it. https://t.co/3NJ6xgypUY pic.twitter.com/nbPoaeksGw
— tern (@1goodtern) December 24, 2025
It appears that Southeast Asia has had a more efficient response to COVID-19, resulting in lower case numbers over time:
We’re observing exponential growth in patient numbers across various diseases and age groups in Finland, with a strikingly linear trend on a log scale, showing no sign of slowing since 2020. No health system can sustain this. It’s merely a matter of time.
— Ilkka Rauvola (@jukka235) December 23, 2025
While no one has been officially diagnosed with long COVID, many are reporting persistent fatigue, memory lapses, emerging medical issues, and a general sense of malaise.
— Em Cohen gazafunds.com (@EmCohen_) December 23, 2025
Climate/Environment
Considering the 11-year running mean and Earth’s energy imbalance, the rate of near-term warming may exceed the linear trends observed from 2010-2025. The upcoming peak of El Niño could provide critical insights into global warming patterns, as noted by @DrJamesEHansen: https://t.co/iaYk8NOZBw pic.twitter.com/wdtYcqxlzF
— Leon Simons 🌍 (@LeonSimons8) December 21, 2025
The Arctic is Chemically Transforming, and It’s Accelerating Climate Change – SciTechDaily
Land, Climate, and Conflict: Unraveling the Nexus in Sudan, Syria, and Morocco – E-International Relations
Southeast Asian Floods Set to Threaten More Wildlife Due to Climate Change – South China Morning Post
Crop Pests and Food Losses Intensified by Climate Crisis – Guardian
Water
Who Controls the Himalayas’ Water? – Observer
The Colorado River is on the Verge of Crisis: No One Has a Solution – Washington Post
Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Clash Could Lead to a Wider Water Crisis – Channel News Asia
Water Crisis Threatens Food Security in Barind Region – Dhaka Tribune
China?
Chinese Consumer Shares Hit Record Losing Streak Amid Weak Demand – Business Times
China to Clear Small Overdue Debts from Credit Records to Encourage Lending – Reuters. Note that this is not forgiveness, just record cleaning.
This… https://t.co/JG5Bu9UvwV
— Paul Triolo (@pstAsiatech) December 24, 2025
China Blocks Artificial Diamonds and the Tools for Their Creation – Kevin Walmsley
Southeast Asia
China’s Strategic Moves Along the Thai-Myanmar Border – Irawaddy
Cambodia Faces Mass Displacement as Conflict with Thailand Escalates – TRT World. Some of this “displacement” stems from Cambodian efforts to establish villages across the Thai border, which Thailand is now addressing.
Africa
The Catastrophic Consequences of the Global War on Terror in Africa – Propaganda in Focus
Algeria Passes Law Declaring French Colonization a Crime – Guardian (resilc)
South of the Border
Pope Leo’s Diplomatic Team Confronts War in Venezuela – Responsible Statecraft
European Disunion
Destruction of Rule of Law in the EU – Anyone Could Be Next | MEP Michael v.d. Schulenburg – Neutrality Studies, YouTube
After two world wars, the post-WW2 era relied on the US rather than pursuing European rearmament. https://t.co/oseyLPmfWL
— Warren B. Mosler (@wbmosler) December 25, 2025
German Communists Have Their Bank Accounts Terminated – RT (Kevin W)
Greek Farmers Plan Christmas Week Blockades on Major Routes – Tovima
Old Blighty
Britain Faces a Shoplifting Epidemic, with Over 800 Unsolved Cases Daily – Daily Mail
‘Bills Keep Rising’: Growth of Community ‘Warm Spaces’ in the UK – Guardian
Campaign Against Antisemitism Fails in “Vexatious” Court Case Against Reginald D. Hunter – Council Estate Media
New Charges Filed Against Comedian Russell Brand in the UK – 9News (Kevin W)
Israel vs. The Resistance
🚨British-Palestinian Doctor Ghassan Abu Sitta Faces His Tenth Legal Action by UK Lawyers for Israel, Costing Him Over £100,000. He stated, “The goal is not to win; it’s about financial and mental attrition.” pic.twitter.com/eb5UdF1yn8
— Declassified UK (@declassifiedUK) December 21, 2025
The so-called “ceasefire” is being utilized by Israel as a way to reinforce its genocidal policies, and the blockade on medical supplies is forcing the few functioning Palestinian hospitals in Gaza to shut down.
— Nicola Perugini (@PeruginiNic) December 25, 2025
2025 Antisemite of the Year – Tucker Carlson pic.twitter.com/1eu2r9jvEs
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) December 21, 2025
14 Nations Condemn Israel’s Expansion of West Bank Settlements – Arab News
Israel’s Diamond Industry is Facing Extinction, Posing a Billion-Dollar Problem for the IDF – Kevin Walmsley
Next Conflict with Israel May Not End in Just 12 Days, Warns Daily Linked to the Guards – Iran International
New Not-So-Cold War
The Reparations Loan is No More – Amerikanets. Includes estimates of Ukraine’s spending for 2026 and 2027.
The Putin-Bush Conversations: What Remained Unsaid – John Helmer
Poland and Hungary Face Threats from Ukraine Yet Remain Divided Over It – Andrew Korybko
Imperial Collapse Watch
The Curious Liberalism of the ‘Axis of Evil’ – Unherd
In Defense of a King (Sort Of) – America’s Undoing (resilc)
Trump 2.0
Trump’s Seizures of Oil Tankers Challenge Maritime Norms – New York Times
The Heaviest American Surface Combatant Since WWII: Evaluating the Trump-Class ‘Battleship’ – Military Watch
Trump’s Ambitious Battleship Project is Bound to Fail – Responsible Statecraft (resilc)
‘Not a Happy Trump Supporter’: Cattle Ranchers Affected by Push for Lower Beef Prices – Reuters (resilc)
Immigration
10 Companies That Made $1 Million as ICE Bounty Hunters. We Found Them. – Intercept
L’affaire Epstein
Officials Discover One Million More Documents Potentially Linked to Epstein Case – BBC. Quite underwhelming.
Epstein Files Suggest Andrew Requested ‘Inappropriate Friends’ from Ghislaine Maxwell – Guardian
Our No Longer Free Press
US Bars Five Europeans Accused of Pressuring Tech Firms to Censor American Perspectives Online – Associated Press
US Sanctions EU Officials Over Free Speech Suppression, Marking a Major Widening of the US-European Rift – Simplicius
This is a significant escalation. For the first time, the US has sanctioned former senior EU officials, including former European Commissioner Thierry Breton. Anyone doubting the existence of a Euro-US split should reconsider in light of these actions.
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) December 24, 2025
LEAKED: The Censored CBS Video Bari Weiss Does NOT Want You to SEE – Katie Halper, YouTube
Stephen Miller Calls for CBS News to Dismiss ‘60 Minutes’ Producers Following ‘Revolt’ – The Hill. Popcorn, anyone? It seems Miller hasn’t heard of the Streisand effect.
Economy
Trump is on the Verge of Appointing a New Federal Reserve Chief Whose Choice Could Heighten Stagflation Risks – The Conversation (Kevin W)
Mr. Market is Giddy
Stock Market Crash: The 1929 Warning that Mirrors 2026 – Share Talk
AI
Adobe Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Accusations of Misusing Authors’ Work for AI Training – TechCrunch (Kevin W)
Concerns Mount Over an AI Bubble—Identifying Potential Pressure Points for Its Collapse – Sky
Guillotine Watch
How the ‘Epstein Class’ Rises to the Top – Chris Hedges, YouTube (resilc)
Elon Musk, AI, and the Antichrist: Major Tech News of 2025 – Guardian
Class Warfare
Sharp Price Hikes Render Basic Foods Unaffordable for Millions in Canada – WSWS
An American Reality from a Chinese Perspective – Karl Sanchez
Antidote du jour (via):
A bonus (singnet):
I adore this moment when dogs choose their new forever family. What a Merry Christmas for them! ♥️🐾 pic.twitter.com/nJ1s07hFFs
— Farm Girl Carrie 👩🌾 (@FarmGirlCarrie) December 19, 2025
A second bonus:
Christmas after being adopted looks like this. 🥺 pic.twitter.com/9Wsgk1BlZK
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) December 21, 2025
And a different sort of bonus:
The art of Pysanky: traditional egg decorating from Europe.
📹 vilsonpessanka
— Science girl (@sciencegirl) December 20, 2025
For more, see yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
As we reflect on the year gone by, let us cherish the good moments while also recognizing the challenges we face. The articles shared today illustrate important global issues and foster a spirit of understanding and collaboration among us all.
May the new year bring light, hope, and positive change. Happy holidays!
