News from the Note…
A round up of the day’s news that might be of interest to you.
This is an OPEN THREAD, folks. Chat about any of the stories listed, share links to stories that caught your eye today, and generally have a good time discussing whatever you want.
A crypto venture unveiled by US President-elect Donald Trump and his new Middle East envoy, billionaire Steve Witkoff, partnered with a crypto platform that experts say has been used by criminals and Iran-backed militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah https://t.co/Okn56m9J7F pic.twitter.com/EpuP2DlW2p
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 12, 2024
The telecommunications cable was damaged on 18 November 2024 after the Chinese cargo ship Yi Peng 3 passed over it.
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) December 16, 2024
Finland, Germany, Sweden, and Lithuania reported the damage.https://t.co/H41CZHL7Cz
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz loses confidence vote, clearing the way for February election https://t.co/RknZjKc18W
— CNBC (@CNBC) December 16, 2024
Germany and France launch a direct high-speed train between Berlin and Paris https://t.co/dbZKCyj7yg
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 16, 2024
The European Commission is taking the UK to court for violating the terms of its Brexit deal, in the first major blowup between the two sides since Keir Starmer's government came to power.
— POLITICO Europe (@politico.eu) December 16, 2024 at 7:15 AM
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Chen Shirong, a senior Chinese interpreter for #Britain‘s Foreign Office since 1999, and an ostensible journalist at at the BBC World Service, was an agent of #China‘s United Front all along, running CCP propaganda operations, among other things. https://t.co/Oxpxn7S14w
— Kyle Orton (@KyleWOrton) December 15, 2024
‘America’s handling of the bird flu crisis is putting, and will continue to put, the entire world at risk’ https://t.co/gvtupSerOp
— Le Monde in English (@LeMonde_EN) December 15, 2024
In recent years, the circulation of H5N1 has been spectacular. A wide variety of wild birds have been affected, with sometimes catastrophic consequences for certain endangered species. Cats, foxes, otters, seals, sea lions, lynxes and pumas have also borne the brunt of the virus.
A single genetic mutation
What’s new? This time, the virus is American. “Since March 2024, the emergence of clade 2.3.4.4b of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 in non-carnivorous mammals, with infections of goats and dairy cows (…) in several US states, constitutes an epidemiological shift,” wrote some 30 experts in the December issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Two men were arrested Saturday after allegedly flying a drone “dangerously close to Logan International Airport,” according to Boston police. https://t.co/cjAh9hpmCl
— ABC News (@ABC) December 16, 2024
A diving Santa Claus interacts with visitors at the Seattle Aquarium in an annual December event now in its fifteenth year pic.twitter.com/yTJbPjjK0t
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 16, 2024
#PinkFloyd pic.twitter.com/ZszGKjzo5H
— Pink Floyd 💎 (@Just_pinkfloyd) December 15, 2024
Me just pretending to work until the holiday break. Me should take an extra long lunch break today! pic.twitter.com/EpDl7waGju
— Cookie Monster (@MeCookieMonster) December 16, 2024
President Biden and the First Lady Host a Hanukkah Holiday Reception
Scheduled for 12/16/24, 6:45 PM EDT
This Is An Open Thread