Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
@mackayim.bsky.social
forever virologist, researcher, PCR guy. past lab manager. husband. dad. reader. writer. fixer. bad typist. learner. australian.
#MasksWork
https://virologydownunder.com/
#MasksWork
https://virologydownunder.com/
Pinned
Everything you need to know about ‘subclade K’ flu - and vaccine protection against it
As a new branch of H3N2 influenza gains ground, we explore what it means for this season’s flu vaccine.
www.gavi.org
"whatever strains do circulate here this winter, we can be confident that the vaccine will still help to protect those most vulnerable from developing serious illness and being hospitalised. We strongly encourage all those eligible to get vaccinated against flu" ASAP
#flu #NorthernHemisphere
#flu #NorthernHemisphere
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
A great article in @foreignaffairs.com about the "toothless" Trump sanctions on Russian oil, that people have been getting wrong. China is still buying lots of oil, and without secondary sanctions, this will protect Moscow
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
America’s Toothless Sanctions on Russian Oil
Last month, the Trump administration imposed fresh sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, signaling a renewed desire to drive Moscow to the negotiating table in its war a...
www.foreignaffairs.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:02 AM
A great article in @foreignaffairs.com about the "toothless" Trump sanctions on Russian oil, that people have been getting wrong. China is still buying lots of oil, and without secondary sanctions, this will protect Moscow
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🤬🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
⚡️Trump walks back Ukraine deadline, says 28-point peace plan was 'just a map.’
U.S. President Donald Trump said that there is no specific deadline for Ukraine to accept the initially drafted 28-point proposal, easing previous statements that implied he hoped for a Thanksgiving agreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that there is no specific deadline for Ukraine to accept the initially drafted 28-point proposal, easing previous statements that implied he hoped for a Thanksgiving agreement.
Trump walks back Ukraine deadline, says 28-point peace plan was 'just a map'
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Nov. 25 that there is no specific deadline for Ukraine to accept the initially drafted 28-point proposal, easing previous statements that implied he hoped for a Tha...
kyivindependent.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:53 AM
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🤬🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
I'm sure that's all underpinned by research
The Northern Territory has enacted widespread cuts to free legal representation, leaving children as young as 10 to represent themselves in court, reports Russell Marks. satpa.pe/prYHzFX
NT cuts legal aid for anyone out of custody
The Northern Territory has made widespread cuts to free legal representation, leaving children as young as 10 to represent themselves in court.
satpa.pe
November 26, 2025 at 4:04 AM
I'm sure that's all underpinned by research
Shocks me to my core.
November 26, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Shocks me to my core.
Excellent.
Millennials are bucking trends, becoming an increasingly progressive voting bloc and rewriting the long-held rules of politics, writes Isabella Higgins.
How millennials are rewriting the rules of Australian politics
Millennials are bucking trends, becoming an increasingly progressive voting bloc and rewriting the long-held rules of politics, writes Isabella Higgins.
www.abc.net.au
November 26, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Excellent.
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Despite the recent flurry of diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine and officials touting promising developments, more often than not in off-the-record briefings, it’s hard to say if an agreement is actually close to the finish line. https://cnn.it/4pA2wMB
November 26, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Despite the recent flurry of diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine and officials touting promising developments, more often than not in off-the-record briefings, it’s hard to say if an agreement is actually close to the finish line. https://cnn.it/4pA2wMB
And so the cycle continues.
November 25, 2025 at 8:52 PM
And so the cycle continues.
Pretty minimal efforts
Labor’s attempts to woo Greens and Coalition on nature laws revealed amid criticism of ‘coin toss’
Labor’s attempts to woo Greens and Coalition on nature laws revealed amid criticism of ‘coin toss’
Labor is continuing talks with both sides and could be prepared to give more ground
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The fate of Labor’s nature laws hangs in the balance after new concessions to the Coalition and the Greens failed to immediately convince either party to support them.
But Labor is continuing talks with both sides and could be prepared to give more ground, as it desperately tries to land a deal to overhaul the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act before parliament rises for the year on Thursday night. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Pretty minimal efforts
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Twisting military code, the Trump administration says “all orders” from the president are “lawful orders,” and troops have no right to question him. trib.al/M0jcTz3
The comments come as Hegseth weighs court-martialing a Democratic senator for his part in a video reminding troops to follow the law.
The comments come as Hegseth weighs court-martialing a Democratic senator for his part in a video reminding troops to follow the law.
November 25, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Twisting military code, the Trump administration says “all orders” from the president are “lawful orders,” and troops have no right to question him. trib.al/M0jcTz3
The comments come as Hegseth weighs court-martialing a Democratic senator for his part in a video reminding troops to follow the law.
The comments come as Hegseth weighs court-martialing a Democratic senator for his part in a video reminding troops to follow the law.
"now the United States has seized the idea, proposing a complicated arrangement in which it would take $US100 billion ($154 billion) for a US-Ukraine investment vehicle that would deliver half its profits to the US and $US200 billion would go to a US-Russia" venture.💰
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
In the Ukraine peace plan, brutal equations are being considered
A detailed look at the 28-point plan — as it has been reported — shows some very minor concessions to Russia. But it mostly contains all the same points that have always been made with more or less fo...
www.abc.net.au
November 24, 2025 at 9:29 PM
"now the United States has seized the idea, proposing a complicated arrangement in which it would take $US100 billion ($154 billion) for a US-Ukraine investment vehicle that would deliver half its profits to the US and $US200 billion would go to a US-Russia" venture.💰
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Australian senator Pauline Hanson condemned for 'blatant racism' over burka stunt
Australian senator Pauline Hanson condemned for 'blatant racism' over burka stunt
Australian senator Pauline Hanson has been condemned for repeating a political stunt when she wore a burka to parliament in her attempts to ban the Muslim garment in public.
news.sky.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Australian senator Pauline Hanson condemned for 'blatant racism' over burka stunt
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Another Cop wrecked by fossil fuel interests and our leaders’ cowardice – but there is another way | Genevieve Guenther
Another Cop wrecked by fossil fuel interests and our leaders’ cowardice – but there is another way | Genevieve Guenther
The fingerprints of Russia and Saudi Arabia are all over the decision text in Brazil. But a group of nations led by Colombia and the Netherlands offer hope, says End Climate Silence founding director Genevieve Guenther
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Another Cop wrecked by fossil fuel interests and our leaders’ cowardice – but there is another way | Genevieve Guenther
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
After “highly productive” talks in Geneva, Kyiv and Washington are aligned, but the proposal is now on a collision course with Moscow’s hard line.
www.kyivpost.com/post/64823
www.kyivpost.com/post/64823
US, Ukraine Tout ‘Peace Framework,’ as Rubio Lowers Temperature on Deadline After Geneva Talks
After “highly productive” talks in Geneva, Kyiv and Washington are aligned, but the proposal is now on a collision course with Moscow’s hard line.
www.kyivpost.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:16 AM
After “highly productive” talks in Geneva, Kyiv and Washington are aligned, but the proposal is now on a collision course with Moscow’s hard line.
www.kyivpost.com/post/64823
www.kyivpost.com/post/64823
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Brazil’s COP ends in disappointment and frustration as India, Saudi and Russia pull the strings. All eyes now on Chris Bowen to see if he can do any better.
reneweconomy.com.au
November 24, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Brazil’s COP ends in disappointment and frustration as India, Saudi and Russia pull the strings. All eyes now on Chris Bowen to see if he can do any better.
No, it REWARDS countries for launching wars and committing atrocity after atrocity.
Paralympics won't ban countries from competing for launching wars after lifting Russia's suspension
Paralympics won't ban countries from competing for launching wars after lifting Russia's suspension
The Paralympics leadership is in dispute with the UK government over Russia's reinstatement to the Games, telling Sky News they will not ban countries from competing for launching wars.
news.sky.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:23 AM
No, it REWARDS countries for launching wars and committing atrocity after atrocity.
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
A nice article, highlighting the important work our collaborators in South Africa are doing using wastewater to surveil a bunch of different vaccine preventable diseases (and finding a lot more of them than other reports would make you believe…).
💪🇿🇦
www.nature.com/articles/d44...
💪🇿🇦
www.nature.com/articles/d44...
Wastewater surveillance reveals disease trends in South Africa
From COVID-19 to measles, scientists are showing how wastewater surveillance can expose underreported infections and strengthen national health monitoring.
www.nature.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:28 AM
A nice article, highlighting the important work our collaborators in South Africa are doing using wastewater to surveil a bunch of different vaccine preventable diseases (and finding a lot more of them than other reports would make you believe…).
💪🇿🇦
www.nature.com/articles/d44...
💪🇿🇦
www.nature.com/articles/d44...
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
So what was the Holodomor, and why does Russia still refuse to admit what really happened? Here are 11 questions Russia doesn't want you asking: euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/22/w...
11 Holodomor questions Russia doesn’t want you asking
Stalin faced no consequences for genocide. Neither will Putin—unless the world breaks this cycle of impunity.
euromaidanpress.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:08 PM
So what was the Holodomor, and why does Russia still refuse to admit what really happened? Here are 11 questions Russia doesn't want you asking: euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/22/w...
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Death toll in Kharkiv rises to 4 after Russian drone attack‼️ 13 others were injured. 3 houses caught fire.
November 23, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Death toll in Kharkiv rises to 4 after Russian drone attack‼️ 13 others were injured. 3 houses caught fire.
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
What the US is committed to: Respect territorial integrity, prosecute war crimes, keep NATO open
What Trump's plan requires: Recognize conquest, grant amnesty, close NATO door
71 direct contradictions.
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/24/t...
What Trump's plan requires: Recognize conquest, grant amnesty, close NATO door
71 direct contradictions.
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/24/t...
November 23, 2025 at 11:38 PM
What the US is committed to: Respect territorial integrity, prosecute war crimes, keep NATO open
What Trump's plan requires: Recognize conquest, grant amnesty, close NATO door
71 direct contradictions.
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/24/t...
What Trump's plan requires: Recognize conquest, grant amnesty, close NATO door
71 direct contradictions.
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/24/t...
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
One plan. Six pillars of international law demolished.
Trump's Ukraine plan requires the US to violate 71 international commitments, @EerikNKross has calculated.
It systematically contradicts the legal order America built over 80 years—from the Geneva Conventions to NATO's founding treaty:
Trump's Ukraine plan requires the US to violate 71 international commitments, @EerikNKross has calculated.
It systematically contradicts the legal order America built over 80 years—from the Geneva Conventions to NATO's founding treaty:
November 23, 2025 at 11:08 PM
One plan. Six pillars of international law demolished.
Trump's Ukraine plan requires the US to violate 71 international commitments, @EerikNKross has calculated.
It systematically contradicts the legal order America built over 80 years—from the Geneva Conventions to NATO's founding treaty:
Trump's Ukraine plan requires the US to violate 71 international commitments, @EerikNKross has calculated.
It systematically contradicts the legal order America built over 80 years—from the Geneva Conventions to NATO's founding treaty:
AMAZING what you can achieve if you include the victim in negotiations, not just the aggressor plus an external party that stands to financially gain from their proposal.🤬
"We are much further ahead than when we began this morning."
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
"We are much further ahead than when we began this morning."
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Rubio touts Ukraine peace talks after Trump says Kyiv has shown 'zero gratitude'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says talks taking place between the Washington and Kyiv are "probably the best so far", while Donald Trump criticises Ukrainian leaders for their response to a US-bac...
www.abc.net.au
November 23, 2025 at 8:53 PM
AMAZING what you can achieve if you include the victim in negotiations, not just the aggressor plus an external party that stands to financially gain from their proposal.🤬
"We are much further ahead than when we began this morning."
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
"We are much further ahead than when we began this morning."
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
November 23, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Here's a seven-point peace plan:
November 23, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Here's a seven-point peace plan:
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Streets in Kherson are now covered with nets to stop Russian drones, a warning of what many cities, not only in Ukraine, could face if Russia is not stopped.
November 22, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Streets in Kherson are now covered with nets to stop Russian drones, a warning of what many cities, not only in Ukraine, could face if Russia is not stopped.