Categories Finance

Naked Capitalism Links – June 2, 2026

Dear readers,

Thank you for your patience as we navigate a significant influx of interesting links. It was challenging to narrow down the selection, as many pieces caught my attention for their unique insights and value.

* * *

A kitten hitches a ride for over 100 miles in a car’s grill in Pennsylvania CBS (Paul R)

A tiny blue octopus has been recognized as a new species AccuWeather (Li). Adorable!

Scientists uncover that the secret behind pigeons’ exceptional navigation lies in their liver Science Daily (Kevin W)

This information is important to share widely:

Exploring Stoicism in contrast to Skepticism Classical Wisdom (Micael T)

The Isolation of Competitive Quizzers Baffler (Micael T)

Scientists identify inherited traits that contradict Mendel’s genetic principles Science Daily

Ebola

Two individuals have died during a protest in Kenya against a U.S. Ebola quarantine site plan, according to organizers and sources Reuters

Ebola Cases in Congo Are Escalating, and Officials are working to determine the epidemic’s actual scale Bloomberg

#COVID-19

Initial assumptions that brain inflammation caused long COVID were challenged by scan results Science Daily (Paul R)

Climate and Environment

Declines in elephant populations could lead to broader ecosystem losses in African savannas, a 15-year study indicates PhysOrg

The Arctic Ocean has reached an ‘irreversible’ chemical tipping point Oceanographic Magazine

The hidden warming risk in chemicals essential for cooling Dialogue Earth

China?

China’s crude oil imports have decreased significantly, influenced by economic factors rather than altruistic intentions Reuters

Japan

Japan intensifies scrutiny of steel imports from China, Taiwan, and Korea Bloomberg

Japanese bond yields have reached their highest levels in 40 years, raising concerns in the markets following remarks by PM Takaichi CNBC

Africa

Local responders in Sudan express feeling overlooked as international attention focuses on primarily other crises The Conversation

Tinubu and Makinde establish special forces as terrorists increasingly target schools Business Day

Southeast Asia

Thailand’s regulatory changes have led to capital flight and the dissolution of shadow networks Pattaya Mail

South of the Border

Potential collapse in Cuba could compel the U.S. to address the repercussions of its actions Sky. Unfortunately, not likely.

Venezuela’s government delegation engages with the IMF regarding loan restructuring VenezuelaAnalysis (Robin K)

The presidential runoff in Colombia matches a leftist senator against a pro-Trump opponent BBC

Leaked audio exposes a U.S. embassy scheme to frame Colombia’s left-wing government in a drug trafficking case Camila Lourdes Galarza (Robin K)

Experts discuss whether Bolivia is on the verge of collapse Channel 14

European Union Challenges

The U.S. criticizes Europe for defense spending as NATO provides reassurances to Asia Internazionale

Observations of rising EU imperialism following the Hungarian coup Kit Klarenberg

Severe price shocks from geopolitical conflicts and climate impacts will hit Europeans hard Bloomberg

Climate change is rendering certain regions in Europe uninsurable due to increasing fires and floods The Conversation

Sweden is increasing support for households and businesses to combat the energy crisis Le Monde

Old Blighty

Britain’s new nuclear initiatives encounter escalating financial pressures OilPrice

Documents reveal Mandelson’s lobbying efforts for an advisory firm following Labour’s victory The Guardian (Kevin W)

Israel vs. The Resistance

Congress is quietly moving towards the integration of U.S. and Israeli military forces Responsible Statecraft (Li). Please circulate this important information widely.

More: Congress plans to solidify the U.S.-Israel military alliance Breaking Points

The strategic significance of the Strait of Hormuz has remained constant throughout history Indian Punchline (Kevin W)

Humanitarian experts warn that climate-related shocks are pushing Gaza’s fragile systems to the brink of collapse EuroNews

Recent satellite imagery reveals the extensive control Israel is exerting over southern Gaza Aljazeera

After the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, food supplies in Yemen are rapidly diminishing New Arab

A look into how Israeli classrooms promote a narrative of Jewish supremacy +972

Emerging Global Tensions

France and its allies successfully intercepted a sanctioned Russian oil tanker in the Atlantic France24

Russia has accused France and the UK of engaging in piracy over the seizure of a cargo ship RT (Kevin W)

According to a report in Politico’s daily newsletter, the following outlines unfolding developments:

LESS TALK, MORE PRESSURE: As Russia escalates threats toward Europe, the EU is racing to finalize a 21st package of sanctions by next week. New measures are expected to target Russia’s oil revenue, financial institutions, and clandestine operations, as told by three diplomats with knowledge of the situation.

Back to Plan A: Suggested sanctions anticipated to be put forth next week demonstrate that Brussels is committed to exerting pressure on Russia rather than pursuing negotiations—despite calls from various leaders to appoint a “special envoy” for peace talks.

Look closely: The rationale suggests that Ukraine may be in a more advantageous position post-summer. Appointing a special envoy now could undermine efforts to apply pressure on Russia just as Ukrainian forces gain momentum, noted an anonymous official involved in sensitive discussions.

Recent developments reveal a deepening security cooperation between North Korea and Russia UPI

The transformation of Ukraine into an anti-Polish state was not a predetermined outcome Andrew Korybko

Surveillance and Privacy Concerns

ICE has faced criticism over its redaction of crucial information in response to a lawsuit aimed at uncovering its spyware contracts 404 Media

New iPhones running iOS 26 experience freezes during FaceTime calls upon detecting nudity PC Magazine. Paul R comments: “Next, we could see law enforcement intervening if unflattering remarks about Trump are made. This feature was initially intended for children and mistakenly enabled during a beta test, yet I still prefer full encryption for my calls.

Concerns of Decline

A reflective piece detailing the myriad challenges facing Americans today Ian Welsh (Micael T). The current circumstances are disheartening. When asked where I am from (and sometimes I feel compelled to falsely claim Canadian heritage), I share my origins while expressing my deep sense of shame for being American, feeling compelled to elaborate on the reasons why.

Amidst intensifying competition with China, the U.S. Air Force is increasing its budget for the urgently needed F-47 fighter jet by more than 65% Military Watch

The Department of Defense is prohibited from maintaining much of its own equipment. Can you guess who benefits from this situation? Responsible Statecraft (resilc)

Trump 2.0

Hegseth removes female and Black officers from the Navy promotion list New York Times (Kevin W)

a href=”https://sundayguardianlive.com/world/disturbing-graves-vietnam-moves-the-dead-to-make-way-for-trumps-15b-golf-course-198482/” rel=”nofollow”>‘Grave Disturbances’: Vietnam displaces the deceased to clear land for Trump’s $1.5 billion golf course Sunday Guardian (Dr. Kevin)

Trump shares AI-generated visuals of a ‘DronePort’ he envisions on top of the new White House ballroom Yahoo! Kevin W speculates: “How will they manage to transport fuel trucks to that rooftop?”

GOP Challenges

Maine’s lobster crisis may jeopardize Trump’s Senate ambitions Financial Times. Urging success to the lobstermen! I’m proud to have that in my lineage.

Concerns Regarding Press Freedom

An explanation of Australia’s two-tier hate crime laws, highlighting significant issuesThe Noticer (KK). Trust me, you need to read this; it’s worse than you can imagine.

The UK is intensifying its defensive stance towards Israel Caitlin Johnstone (Kevin W)

Economic Outlook

The impacts of Trump’s conflicts are beginning to suffocate the global economic landscape Sydney Morning Herald

A sudden outbreak of wildfires near Canada’s oil sands threatens to disrupt supply amid a global energy crisis Independent

The ongoing aluminum crisis is adversely affecting the global economy Bloomberg

The conflict in Iran is forcing farmers to explore alternatives to traditional fertilizers, including cow dung and compost Associated Press. Resilc quips: “If only they could broadcast the nonsense coming out of D.C.”

Drought conditions may exacerbate complications in this year’s wheat harvest Agriculture.com

Australian wheat farmers project a nearly 50% decrease in harvest as they adapt to the energy crisis Australia Financial Review

This year’s wheat crop could be one of the worst in decades, leading to noticeable effects at grocery stores The Hill

Historic cattle shortages in the U.S. are driving beef prices to unprecedented heights Financial Times

The Market’s Mental Health

AI-driven debt sales are transforming the landscape of global corporate bond markets Reuters

The signs are apparent for those attuned to the bond market’s precarious position South China Morning Post

AI Innovations

The theology surrounding LLMs (Large Language Models) appears to have deeper roots than can be perceived at first glance The Register

Expectations that inference will become a low-cost operational node may be misplaced, as explored in Anthropic and OpenAI IPO discussions Brad DeLong

An AI company is offering $2,000 monthly for individuals willing to generate content Futurism

A fraudulent ChatGPT download site has been found to be infecting Windows and Mac users with malware Malwarebytes

The Bezzle Effect

Cryptocurrency treasuries are turning to equity ventures in an effort to raise funds Financial Times

Critique of GitHub and its detrimental impact on software development Efron Licht. According to our tech expert, “This was once an excellent product.”

New Shifts in Wealth

Trump allocates $4 billion directly to Elon Musk, who heavily invested in Trump’s electoral campaign Futurism

Class Disparities

Young Americans face significant challenges in attaining financial independence as living costs surge Guardian

Graham Platner’s influence fades in Washington Ken Klippenstein

Recent sexting controversy threatens Graham Platner’s campaign for Senate The Hill. This situation brings to mind past issues faced by Schwarzenegger during his political career. Platner may need a contrite public address to salvage his image.

Examination of the home insurance market indicates that nearly half of claims result in no payout Wall Street Journal

West Coast cities are implementing vacancy taxes to address the ongoing housing crisis The Urbanist

Antidote of the Day. Tracie H:

Each time I stroll by, this beautiful Palomino seems eager for attention, its eyes sparkling with curiosity. Yet, two fences separate us, enforcing a boundary that prevents me from answering its silent call.

And here’s a little extra: appears to be an Abyssinian!

A second excerpt:

A third highlight:

For yesterday’s links and antidote, please check here.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Leave a Reply

您的邮箱地址不会被公开。 必填项已用 * 标注

You May Also Like