Exploring Global Issues and Developments
This article highlights various pressing global topics, from environmental challenges to geopolitical tensions, reflecting the complexities of our current world. The following sections delve into diverse subjects that are shaping our societies and the future.
<p><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adt2642?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The dispersal of domestic cats from North Africa to Europe around 2000 years ago</a> Science</p>
<p><a href="https://gcaptain.com/global-seaborne-trade-reaches-historic-35-trillion-as-regional-shifts-reshape-maritime-flows/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Global Seaborne Trade Reaches Historic $35 Trillion as Regional Shifts Reshape Maritime Flows</a> gCaptain</p>
<p><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/energy/us-roadway-charges-electric-trucks" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">US scientists design first highway that wirelessly charges electric trucks on the go</a> Interesting Engineering</p>
<p><a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australia-has-banned-social-media-for-kids-under-16-how-does-it-work" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Australia has banned social media for kids under 16. How does it work?</a> Straits Times</p>
<h2>Climate and Environment</h2>
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<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/09/food-fossil-fuel-production-5bn-environmental-damage-an-hour-un-geo-report-" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">‘Food and fossil fuel production causing $5bn of environmental damage an hour’</a> The Guardian</p>
<p><a href="https://balancedweather.substack.com/p/heavy-rainfall-and-flooding-continue?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Heavy rainfall and flooding continue to plague the Pacific Northwest</a> Balanced Weather</p>
<p><a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1108603" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Study links rising temperatures to reduced sleep in US adults</a> Keck School of Medicine of USC</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pressenza.com/2025/12/uk-national-emergency-briefing-wakes-up-world/?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">UK National Emergency Briefing Wakes Up World</a> Pressenza</p>
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<h2>Pandemics</h2>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Is the comparison between HIV & SARS-CoV-2 correct or useful? Let’s not go all black & white, and instead just look at how they are different and how they rhyme, and at the implications, shall we? Mini-🧵 1/ <a href="https://t.co/tG5DCChgXK" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://t.co/tG5DCChgXK</a></p>
<p>— FluSCIM Lucas Gonzalez (@lucasgonzalez) <a href="https://twitter.com/lucasgonzalez/status/1997785356549107889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">December 7, 2025</a></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.medpage.com/opinion/second-opinions/118906?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">I’m an Infectious Diseases Doctor. Our Pipeline of Experts Is in Distress.</a> MedPage Today</p>
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<h2>China</h2>
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<p><a href="https://www.eastisread.com/p/china-fears-its-manufacturing-is?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">China fears its manufacturing is shrinking too fast and too far</a> The East Is Read</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pekingnology.com/p/chinas-rural-reform-a-history-not?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">China’s Rural Reform: A History Not Designed but Discovered</a> Pekingnology</p>
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<h2>India</h2>
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<p><a href="https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/microsoft-amazon-investments-india-ai-reason-13958365.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Why are tech giants Microsoft and Amazon betting big on AI in India?</a> Firstpost</p>
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<h2>Thailand-Cambodia Conflict</h2>
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<p><a href="https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20251209-cambodia-retaliates-clashes-thailand?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cambodia retaliates in renewed clashes with Thailand as death toll mounts to 10</a> France24</p>
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<h2>Syraqistan</h2>
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<p><a href="https://the307.substack.com/p/revealed-israel-used-palantir-technologies?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Revealed: Israel Used Palantir Technologies In Pager Terrorist Attack In Lebanon.</a> The Dissident</p>
<p><a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20251209-hamas-says-no-gaza-truce-second-phase-while-israel-continues-violations-1?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hamas says no second phase for Gaza ceasefire until Israel ceases ‘violations’</a> France24</p>
<p><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/9/israel-the-top-killer-of-journalists-worldwide-once-again-says-rsf-report?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Israel remained leading killer of journalists in 2025: RSF</a> Al Jazeera</p>
<p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/tony-blair-dropped-trump-gaza-board-peace" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tony Blair ‘dropped’ from Trump’s Gaza ‘board of peace’</a> Middle East Eye</p>
<p><a href="https://alexthurston.substack.com/p/the-gaza-ceasefire-the-mediathink?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Gaza “Ceasefire,” the Media/Think Tank Establishment, and Post-Meaning</a> Sawahil</p>
<p><a href="https://thecradle.co/articles/economic-peace-comes-to-lebanon-the-committee-paving-a-new-border-order" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">‘Economic peace’ comes to Lebanon: The committee paving a new border order</a> The Cradle</p>
<p><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/09/uae-royal-brothers-ties-west-threatened-sudan-massacre/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">UAE royal brothers’ ties with West threatened by Sudan massacre</a> The Telegraph</p>
<p><a href="https://sonar21.com/what-does-the-trump-national-security-strategy-mean-for-iran/?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">What Does the Trump National Security Strategy Mean for Iran?</a> Larry Johnson</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>Africa</h2>
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<p><a href="https://roape.net/2025/11/26/south-africas-hydrogen-extractive-frontier-climate-action-or-recolonisation/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">South Africa’s hydrogen extractive frontier: climate action or recolonisation?</a> Review of African Political Economy</p>
<p><a href="https://www.africanistperspective.com/p/firms-or-families-another-installment?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Firms or Families? Another installment in the Mission 300 electrification debate</a> Ken Opalo</p>
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<h2>O Canada</h2>
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<p><a href="https://www.canadianaffairs.news/2025/12/05/ottawa-not-changing-maid-after-annual-report/?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MAID increases — Ottawa holds firm</a> Canadian Affairs. “‘[Medical Assistance in Dying] is no longer this exceptional procedure to facilitate the dying process,’ says expert in wake of Health Canada’s latest MAID report.”</p>
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<h2>Old Blighty</h2>
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<p><a href="https://www.newarab.com/news/uk-pro-palestine-prisoners-rushed-hospital-amid-hunger-strike" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">UK’s largest pro-Palestine prison hunger strike in decades sends activists to hospital</a> New Arab</p>
<p><a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2143258/britain-incapable-maintaining-nuclear-submarine" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">UK ‘incapable’ of maintaining nuclear submarine capability as expert issues brutal verdict</a> Daily Express</p>
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<h2>European Disunion</h2>
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<p><a href="https://thepeacemonger.substack.com/p/europe-needs-heed-the-invitation?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Europe needs to heed the invitation in the US National Security Strategy and return power to its nation states</a> Ian Proud</p>
<p><a href="https://chandragupta.substack.com/p/eighty-years-after-yalta-europes" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Eighty Years After Yalta: Europe’s Return to Irrelevance</a> Kautilya the Contemplator</p>
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<h2>New Not-So-Cold War</h2>
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<p><a href="https://www.intellinews.com/e3-meeting-in-london-proposes-alternative-ukraine-war-20-point-peace-plan-415798/?source=baltic-states" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">E3 meeting in London proposes alternative Ukraine war 20-point peace plan</a> Intellinews</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/09/member-uk-armed-forces-killed-accident-ukraine-mod" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Member of UK armed forces killed in ‘tragic accident’ in Ukraine, says MoD</a> The Guardian</p>
<p><a href="https://larrycjohnson.substack.com/p/do-you-believe-in-coincidence-was?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Do You Believe in Coincidence… Was the CIA Involved in Operation Spiderweb and Israel’s June 12 Attack on Iran?</a> Larry Johnson</p>
<p><a href="https://johnhelmer.net/trump-for-peace-is-believing-in-father-christmas-putin-and-modi-dont/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TRUMP FOR PEACE IS BELIEVING IN FATHER CHRISTMAS — PUTIN AND MODI DON’T</a> John Helmer</p>
<p><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/9/lithuania-declares-state-of-emergency-over-smuggler-balloons-from-belarus?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lithuania declares state of emergency over smuggler balloons from Belarus</a> Al Jazeera</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thomasfazi.com/p/the-wests-century-long-war-against-cc1?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The West’s century-long war against Russia — part four</a> Thomas Fazi</p>
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<h2>South of the Border</h2>
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<p><a href="https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-fighter-jets-approach-venezuelan-airspace-in-closely-watched-flyover/3766898" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">US fighter jets approach Venezuelan airspace in closely watched flyover</a> Anadolu Agency</p>
<p><a href="https://thefloutist.substack.com/p/oil-and-ideology?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">“Oil and ideology.”</a> Patrick Lawrence, The Floutist</p>
<p><a href="https://theintercept.com/2025/12/09/asfura-honduras-election-trump-ms-13/?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MS-13 AND TRUMP BACKED THE SAME PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN HONDURAS</a> The Intercept</p>
<p><a href="https://theiceman.substack.com/p/drug-cargo-now-justifies-lethal-force?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pentagon Redefines Drugs as Combat Threat, Justifying Strikes on Survivors</a> The After-Action Report</p>
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<h2>The Great Game</h2>
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<p><a href="https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/why-washington-cant-outbid-beijing-and-moscow-central-asia?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Why Washington can’t outbid Beijing and Moscow in Central Asia</a> ThinkChina</p>
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<h2>L’affaire Epstein</h2>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/jeffrey-epstein-leslie-abigail-wexner-pro-israel-philanthropic-foundation?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">“Ask Jeffrey”: Epstein Ran Wexner’s Pro-Israel Philanthropy Machine, Emails Reveal</a> Drop Site</p>
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<h2>Trump 2.0</h2>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/trump-hails-economic-record-calls-affordability-concerns-democratic-hoax/3766899" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Trump hails economic record, calls affordability concerns Democratic ‘hoax’</a> Anadolu Agency</p>
<p><a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91457282/gofundme-year-in-help-report-crowdfunding-basic-needs" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">More people crowdfunded basic needs in 2025, GoFundMe report shows</a> Fast Company</p>
<p><a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/threat-affordability-just-time-winter-100059206.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">A new threat to affordability – just in time for winter</a> CNN</p>
<p><a href="https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/5639068-ai-reducing-living-costs/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AI can help address America’s affordability crisis</a> The Hill. Is this what the administration is banking on?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-kills-save-loans" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Trump’s Billionaire Education Secretary Makes ‘Backroom Deal’ to Shaft Low-Income Borrowers</a> Common Dreams</p>
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<h2>Democrats en déshabillé</h2>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrats-end-30-year-losing-streak-miami-mayoral-race-trump-backed-candidate-falls-short?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Democrats end 30-year losing streak in Miami as Trump-backed candidate falls short</a> Fox News</p>
<p><a href="https://dandf.substack.com/p/analysing-the-imperialist-left-interview" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Analysing The Imperialist Left – Interview With Gabriel Rockhill</a> Decline and Fall</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>The Supremes</h2>
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<p><a href="https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-orders-new-review-of-religious-exemptions-to-school-vaccines/2025/12" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Supreme Court Orders New Review of Religious Exemptions to School Vaccines</a> Education Week</p>
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<h2>Imperial Collapse Watch</h2>
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<p><a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/trump-nvidia-can-sell-h200-ai-chips-to-china-us-will-get-25-percent-cut" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Trump: Nvidia Can Sell H200 AI Chips to China, But US Will Get a 25% Cut</a> PC Mag</p>
<p><a href="https://mileskellerman.substack.com/p/economic-statecraft-on-chaos-mode?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Economic Statecraft on Chaos Mode</a> False Positive</p>
<p><a href="https://youtu.be/9_vA0ZAuoFg?si=uTyOWsrRuaIEdXfO" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Preventing empire collapse</a> The Duran (Video)</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/12/09/us_military_right_to_repair_stripped/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Congress quietly strips right-to-repair provisions from US military spending bill</a> The Register</p>
<p><a href="https://www.distilled.earth/p/america-is-losing-power-projects?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">America is Losing Power Projects When It Needs Them Most</a> Distilled</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The USA’s airports look like third world countries and are barely functioning but it’s fine because you can do pull-ups in them now. <a href="https://t.co/NSd5a12U1s" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://t.co/NSd5a12U1s</a></p>
<p>— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) <a href="https://twitter.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1998354346912661950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">December 9, 2025</a></p>
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<h2>Screening Room</h2>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.un-diplomatic.com/p/rage-radicalism-and-marine-corps?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rage, Radicalism, and Netflix-Style Propaganda</a> Un-Diplomatic</p>
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<h2>Guillotine Watch</h2>
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<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2025/dec/10/just-0001-hold-three-times-the-wealth-of-poorest-half-of-humanity-report-finds" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Just 0.001% hold three times the wealth of poorest half of humanity, report finds</a> The Guardian</p>
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<h2>Immigration</h2>
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<p><a href="https://gizmodo.com/cbp-announces-plan-to-look-at-foreign-tourists-social-media-activity-prior-to-u-s-entry-2000697654" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CBP Announces Plan to Look at Foreign Tourists’ Social Media Activity Prior to U.S. Entry</a> Gizmodo</p>
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<h2>Police State Watch</h2>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://thecradle.co/articles/florida-blacklists-cair-muslim-brotherhood-as-foreign-terrorist-organizations" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Florida blacklists CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood as ‘foreign terrorist organizations’</a> The Cradle</p>
<p><a href="https://migrantinsider.com/p/senate-report-exposes-systematic?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Senate Report Exposes Systematic Abuse of U.S. Citizens by ICE and CBP, Directly Contradicting Noem’s Denials</a> Migrant Insider</p>
<p><a href="https://www.404media.co/man-charged-for-wiping-phone-before-cbp-could-search-it/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Man Charged for Wiping Phone Before CBP Could Search It</a> 404 Media</p>
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<h2>Healthcare?</h2>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://economicpopulist.substack.com/p/dr-oz-called-prior-authorization?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dr. Oz Called Prior Authorization “a Pox.” Now He’s Spreading It.</a> The Economic Populist</p>
<p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/federally-qualified-health-centers-unpaid-bills-lawsuits?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">These Health Centers Are Supposed to Make Care Affordable. One Has Sued Patients for as Little as $59 in Unpaid Bills.</a> ProPublica</p>
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<h2>The Bezzle</h2>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://oligarchwatch.substack.com/p/how-tesla-bilks-taxpayers?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">How Tesla bilks taxpayers</a> Oligarch Watch</p>
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<h2>Class Warfare</h2>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://groundworkcollaborative.org/work/instacart/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Same Cart, Different Price: Instacart’s Price Experiments Cost Families at Checkout</a> Groundwork Collaborative</p>
<p><a href="https://scholarworks.umass.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/f7eac427-e477-4e96-85a5-7781054dccf5/content" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Price Shocks are Redistribution Shocks: Systemically Significant Prices for Inequality in the United States</a> University of Massachusetts Amherst. A summary thread:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The affordability crisis is an inequality crisis. When prices spike in key sectors, it’s not just inflation—it’s a massive redistribution shock that hits poor households hardest. In our **new working paper**, we identify the sectors that matter most. A 🧵<a href="https://t.co/i8J5zQAURx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://t.co/i8J5zQAURx</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MDZ8MrM9f" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/0MDZ8MrM9f</a></p>
<p>— Isabella M Weber (@IsabellaMWeber) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsabellaMWeber/status/1998135305086595554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">December 8, 2025</a></p>
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<p>Antidote du jour (<a href="https://x.com/SMNK1972/status/1992272191476687010" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">via</a>):</p>
<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-302422" src="https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-04-at-3.41.48 PM-1024x1024.png" alt="" width="600" height="600"/></p>
<p>See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour <a href="https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2025/12/links-12-9-2025.html">here</a>.</p>
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