Humans nearly faced extinction 930,000 years ago, according to researchers The Brighter Side
A copper compound restores memory and eliminates toxic proteins associated with Alzheimer’s Monash University. Paul R:
Recent research, published in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience, demonstrates that the compound Cu(ATSM) repairs a crucial waste-removal pump at the blood-brain barrier. This breakthrough could pave the way for new therapeutic approaches targeting neurovascular dysfunction, a condition linked to one of the leading causes of death globally.
#COVID-19/Pandemics
Insights from COVID-19: What it reveals about the links between viruses and cancer Los Angeles Times
Ebola
Congo sees a significant rise in daily Ebola cases just a month after the outbreak was declared Associated Press
Climate/Environment
Pilot whales struggle to communicate due to ship noise in the Strait of Gibraltar, study finds Mongabay
Current models indicate a record-breaking El Niño this year, with 7 out of 10 predicting its arrival. The intensity of El Niño will affect global temperature spikes and humidity levels in 2026-27, crucial indicators for extreme weather potential. Minor temperature fluctuations can have significant effects. pic.twitter.com/EjjX8keIfX
— Ben Noll (@BenNollWeather) June 11, 2026
NASA identifies a massive ocean swell that could indicate the impending return of El Niño Science Daily (Kevin W)
Experts warn that a ‘Super El Niño’ could have grave economic consequences USA Today
The insurance sector is equipped for extreme weather, but may not handle unexpected climate shifts well Insurance Business
Extreme weather is creating a workforce crisis Forbes
* * * The melting of Earth’s permafrost may soon release significant ‘deep carbon’, accelerating global warming Scientific AmericanScientists alarmed as the Himalayas exhibit signs of climate instability New Indian Express
Water
The looming water crisis in Central Asia: Strategies to avert conflict Caspian Post
Balochistan pushes for the release of its allocated water from Sindh The Nation
Arizona is poised to experience a 77% reduction in Colorado River water amid stalled negotiations Phoenix New Times
Hoover Dam is nearing a critical point in hydropower generation Inside Climate News. It’s reminiscent of challenges faced by Uruguay, which relies heavily on hydropower during dry seasons.
China?
China reports a decline in retail sales, marking the first drop since COVID lockdowns Nikkei
The US-Iran peace agreement is unsettling China’s energy approach and geopolitical strategies Asia Times (Kevin W)
Could China’s export restrictions on tungsten jeopardize Japan’s AI chip production? South China Morning Post
Japan
The Bank of Japan increases interest rates to a 31-year high Reuters
Japan plans to assess rare earth extraction in Greenland to lessen dependence on China Nikkei
BOJ Set to Raise Rates to Highest Level Since 1995 Despite Absence of Ueda Bloomberg
Koreas
Korea witnesses a decline in permanent jobs for the first time since the Asian financial crisis, impacting youth employment Seoul Economic Daily
India
Africa
The Recognition Network: Emerging Pro-Israel Movements in South Africa and Zimbabwe in Response to Their Support for Palestine Global Geopolitics
Sudanese military reports significant casualties among RSF fighters during attacks across the nation Anadolu Agency
Children in South Sudan are surviving on leaves and water lilies as conflict threatens famine Horn Observer
Military juntas in the Sahel are suppressing fundamental freedoms DW
South African businesses face challenges due to rising anti-immigrant sentiment Bloomberg
Research shows climate change is jeopardizing Kenya’s food security amid a worsening hunger crisis People Daily
South of the Border
Venezuelans express discontent with Donald Trump Financial Times (resilc)
A lifeline from Miami to Havana is helping Cuba delay its economic decline Tovimo
Cubans live in fear as deportations by the Trump administration escalate Guardian
European Disunion
US restrictions on AI models are intensifying the EU’s push for technological sovereignty The Register
Europe is facing an unseen heatwave threat that could shatter existing records Earth
Italy’s far-right party faces challenges as it grows in influence Bloomberg
Warm weather leads to early flowering of German vines, pushing harvests closer to August Vinetur
Old Blighty
The UK aligns itself with controversial factions Craig Murray (guurst). Important.
BBC reveals Russia’s involvement in arson attacks targeting the Prime Minister BBC Lordie
A record number of young individuals express concerns about long-term unemployment Guardian
Top health threats facing the UK: Bird flu, extreme heat, and rising incidences of super gonorrhea Telegraph
Clashes between far-right and anti-racist groups erupt in UK cities following unrest in Belfast Guardian
Israel v. The Resistance
Israel threatens to disrupt Trump’s peace arrangement with Iran New Republic (resilc)
Despite the Iran agreement, Israel persists with attacks in Lebanon and Gaza Sam Husseini
Israel broadens its military footprint in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria by 1,000 square kilometers Aljazeera
Iraq aims to manage paramilitary groups while oil sector threats persist Iraq Oil Report
Addressing the October 7th rape hoax yet again Asa Winstanley
Israeli Security Minister Ben-Gvir cancels trip to the U.S. due to visa complications Anadolu Agency. Ben-Gvir was attempting to travel under diplomatic privileges for personal reasons.
New Not-So-Cold War
The head of the German air force states that they are prepared for confrontation with Russia Telegraph
Trump’s actions may be jeopardizing peace negotiations in Ukraine Responsible Statecraft (resilc)
Big Brother is Watching You Watch
Starmer’s proposal for social media restrictions signals a new era of surveillance Reclaim the Net
UK officials engage with Trump to mitigate backlash against bans on social media Guardian (Kevin W)
Imperial Collapse Watch
Global defense spending surpasses investment in peace, which is counterproductive National News
Only 25% of F-35s are fully operational, according to GAO findings Military Times (Kevin W)
The race for hypersonic missiles intensifies Wall Street Journal
The Pentagon advocates for a strategy that expands its arsenal with low-cost missiles Seeking Alpha. Note: “The $600 toilet seat has now increased to $3,400.”
Protests erupt against police ahead of the G7 summit in Geneva BBC
Trump 2.0
BREAKING: A now-deleted post by former MMA fighter Daniel Cormier reveals Eric Trump sought insider information about whether MMA matches at the White House were rigged in hopes of profiting illegally.
Below is the… pic.twitter.com/lj28ipXv8Y
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) June 14, 2026
An insider’s view into White House concerns over the Epstein files New York Times (Chuck L)
Gavin Newsom claims his investigation by Trump’s DOJ affects both him and his wife Politico (Kevin W)
The FBI raid on an Ohio voting rights organization raises serious concerns MomsRising
The quick revelation of Eric Trump’s inquiries about possible fight rigging exposes the collective fraud behind the UFC.
Daniel Cormier posted Eric’s direct messages regarding rigging, which he later deleted in panic. The evidence persists. Eric’s inquiries were motivated by more than fandom. He was acting as the son… https://t.co/2M995puSlg pic.twitter.com/jT1x8zakzm
— Donald J. Gorbachev (@donaldgorbachev) June 15, 2026
Tulsi Gabbard’s disclosure on US-funded Ukrainian biolabs is crucial for national discourse Andrew Korybko
Economy
As of Monday, the average cost of gasoline in the US stands at $4.06, down from over $4.50 during the height of the US-Iran conflict. https://t.co/T8lpvoPVpC
— Business Insider (@BusinessInsider) June 15, 2026
The Strait of Hormuz remains surprisingly quiet as uncertainty lingers over the fragile peace agreement South China Morning Post
Recovery of trade in Hormuz could take considerable time, experts warn Bloomberg
Antitrust
Calls for dismantling major meat corporations Art Cullen (Chuck L)
AI
Research indicates that manipulating AI searches using Reddit is surprisingly straightforward 404 Media
Exploring who will thrive in the evolving hybrid AI-human workforce New York Times (fk)
Could AI rationing signal the imminent decline of the technology bubble? The Times
CRASH IMMINENT: Ed Zitron asserts that AI valuations are inflated YouTube
Has anyone genuinely witnessed AI in action? YouTube (resilc)
⚡️Satya outlines the new balance sheet for companies moving forward.
Previously, companies owned people, processes, software, customer relations, brands, data, and IP.
Now, they’ll rely on an evolving cognitive cycle.
Every task transforms into a training platform. Every decision becomes a… https://t.co/0ptT1tl7TC
— SightBringer (@_The_Prophet__) June 14, 2026
The Bezzle
Tesla faces allegations of exaggerating the safety of its self-driving technology OilPrice
Guillotine Watch
Individual critical of taxes enjoys government assistance Boing Boing (resilc)
Class Warfare
An examination of elitism Black Box Site
Matchmakers command $25,000 to find traditional partners for affluent men Wired (resilc)
Antidote of the Day (John U):
A bonus:
I didn’t see that coming.. 😅 pic.twitter.com/AXixeXuJnw
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) June 13, 2026
A second bonus:
She thought her baby didn’t survive, until a slight movement brought hope.. 🥺 pic.twitter.com/3fNJiAGyVz
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) June 12, 2026
And a third:
A cat contemplating physics.. 😅 pic.twitter.com/i7UbyU7UCf
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) June 15, 2026
For yesterday’s discussions and antidote of the day, click here.
