The United States attacks two facilities in Syria used by Iran and Iran-backed groups, according to the Pentagon. / Al Jazeera

The White House says Russia is killing soldiers who fail to follow orders, also threatening entire units with death. / The Associated Press

A very long, very good assessment of China's current "era of malaise" by Evan Osnos. / The New York

Over a million Paraguayans "disappear" in the latest census—due to migration, smaller families, and more accurate figures. / The Economist

Newly anointed House of Representatives speaker Mike Johnson gives Fox News a little clarity (we stress: a little) on his positions. / Politico

See also: "Oil And Gas Lobbyists Happy To Fill In Rest Of Nation On Who Mike Johnson Is." / The Onion

Death Valley national park reopens after being shuttered in August, and visitors are discovering sand dunes now dotted with lakes. / The Guardian

Eighteenth-century British naturalists relied on the traders of enslaved people to obtain thousands of natural specimens from West Africa. / Lapham's Quarterly

Ideas about monstrosity are said to have been "fundamental to ancient and medieval debates about the nature of humanity." / Medievalists.net

Related: Jeanette Winterson on the future of ghosts in the age of the metaverse. / The Paris Review

(Personally, we're still haunted by the image of a massive oyster from last summer, icymi.) / X

The Paul Hollywood fandom—those who adore the host of The Great British Baking Show—is said to be the thirstiest fandom. / GQ