At 1,000 years old, Sherwood Forest’s Major Oak finally dies Nottingham Post (Micael T)
Defining Commentary on Christian Humanism (Robin K)
Byzantine & Medieval Art Doesn’t Have to Look “Real” The Sacred Images Project (Micael T)
Forget Stoicism. Skepticism is an ancient philosophy that we need today. Big Think
Ghost Roads of Ireland’s Great Famine JSTOR (Micael T)
The Cult of the Enhanced Self Derek Thompson (Micael T)
Ebola
🇨🇩 The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread to 33 health centers in three states, with 896 confirmed cases and 232 deaths reported one month after the disease was declared.
The WHO official warned that the virus may spread unnoticed,… pic.twitter.com/LM99VBh2pq
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) June 19, 2026
Climate/Environment
The ocean has protected us from the worst of climate change. Now running Fever Guardian
It’s not just that Nino 3.4 is getting warmer because of the growing El Nino – the entire ocean is seeing record ocean temperatures every day. Yesterday was a new daily record for the 14th in a row.
Here are the daily updated color lines: pic.twitter.com/bvGShRndkT
– Prof. Eliot Jacobson (@EliotJacobson) June 16, 2026
El Niño is triggered by a Kelvin wave that has moved a lot of warm water from west to east across the Pacific Ocean since April.
And now, a new wave of Kelvin is being created.
However, more warm water will move into the eastern Pacific and El Niño forecasts may become even stronger. pic.twitter.com/Me2Y8sItWd
— Ben Noll (@BenNollWeather) June 17, 2026
Sour oceans: Ocean acidification threatens global food supply Oceanographic
The combined drought has affected plant growth much more severely than Earth’s scientists expected
Russia Sends Emergency Workers to Siberia as Krasnoyarsk Wildfires Nearly Double the Size of Moscow Times
Water
Nairobi: Residents of Eastlands are struggling to cope with water shortages
Rising temperatures could increase the risk of river ‘whiplash’ floods, study finds Guardian
China?
China raises ‘deep concern’ over US-Japan ‘extended nuclear ban’ Anadolu Agency
Taiwan pressures Washington with billions in weapons as tensions with China grow on independence
First Close Look at China’s Unique Submarine Launched with Advanced Stealth Military Watch
Japan
Yen near 40-year low, pound firms Reuters
Japan raids ice cream giants over BBC price-buying allegations
The Koreans
North Korea says accord with Russia ‘important legal weapon’ for stability Korea Herald
Southeast Asia
Myanmar military airstrikes kill seven people in Rakhine state Aljazeera
South of the Border
Churches in Cuba forced to give out cakes for Holy Communion CathNews
Bolivia embargo strangles economy, pressures centre-right leader Financial Times
A broken silence: Inside Colombia’s endless drug war San Juan Daily Star
Ecuadorian troops to be deployed in Guayas to strengthen security operations against criminal groups Reuters
Africa
Multipolar GIS reports for Africa
An attack by armed men at the airport in Niger’s capital killed 11 soldiers and two civilians, authorities said, five months after a major attack on Aljazeera.
Ethiopia’s 2026 elections: Tigray is out and on the edge DW
The West warns of brutality, the imminent expansion of the RSF in Sudan al-Obeid Reuters
Somalia warns Israel against interfering in Somaliland Aljazeera
The breakup of Europe
‘We are living in an unending crisis,’ former ECB president Trichet told TrustNet
Hegseth announces US military review in Europe as he dismisses NATO allies in Brussels at Euronews conference
Old Blighty
UK Posts Highest Budget Deficit of Any May Since Pandemic Bloomberg
The number of armed robbers is on the rise The Telegraph
NHS patients are facing the worst drug shortage in history, pharmacists and GPs have told the Guardian
Despite jailing four Palestine Action activists last week with sentences totaling 32 years, Mr Justice Johnson is still hunting their lead lawyer Mr Menon, who was summoned to the High Court this morning to face a fresh contempt of court claim. Rajiv… pic.twitter.com/JieAw1h0fV
— Real Media (@RealMediaGB) June 19, 2026
Hollow State End Game John Robb (Micael T)
Authoritarian Babyism All Solid (Micael T)
Israel v. The Resistance
Tanker owners are still reluctant to ship through the Strait of Hormuz TradeWinds
Political deals could lead to Israel-Iran escalation, ex-Navy commander warns Jerusalem Post
Syracistan
Syria reports new Israeli incursion into Quneitra valley amid ongoing tensions Arab News
The New Cold War
Stanislav Krapivnik: Russia’s Attack Gains Speed and Fury Grows in Moscow Glenn Diesen
Zelensky Gives Belarus 7-Day Ultimatum on Unexpected Threat Simplcius
Finnish parliament passes bill to support complete lifting of nuclear ban Euronews
A new Arctic-class gas carrier has begun operations in Russia
▪At the “Zvezda” shipyard, the gas carrier “Konstantin Posiet” started operating. The vessel is designed for year-round transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the Arctic, – said Sovcomflot… pic.twitter.com/RJM6xu40Pv
— Sprinter Press (@SprinterPress) June 18, 2026
Big Brother Watching Watching
If you thought Flock cameras were concerning, meet the following.
A company called Leonardo has developed a program called ELSAG SignalTrace. It entered public awareness a few days ago and is already being marketed to law enforcement agencies across the country. It does… pic.twitter.com/3LZRr2EfCF
— 0️⃣BlackBetty ⚓️ (@BabyD1111229) June 18, 2026
>
Imperial Collapse Watch
Ghosts of the ‘rules-based world order’ CounterFire
Trade Wars Breed ‘Open Plurilateralism’ Bloomberg
See this part of the tweet:
Every time you drive past one of these advanced cameras, the sensor scans the unique electronic identifiers of all the devices in your car. Your cell phone. Your smart watch. Your wireless headphones. Your fitness tracker. Your laptop. Your tablet. Your car’s infotainment system. Your tire pressure sensors. Bluetooth hotspot for your car.
Scoop: FulcrumSec Leaks Novo Nordisk Data After $25M Demand Goes Unpaid DataBreaches.Net (Micael T)
Trump 2.0
Trump says there are ‘no limits’ to his powers The Hill. Um, Trump is asking God to beat him.
What Americans think about Trump’s Iran administration, according to a new AP-NORC poll by The Associated Press.
Israel’s NDAA Provision ‘Section 219’ Faces Bipartisan Strike From House Lawmakers Military.com
Italy ends US ambassador’s visit as leader Meloni “surprised” by Trump comments: “I am not persuading Italy or me” CBS.
The GOP Clown Car
‘Joint effort’: Kansas Republican leaders have plan to cancel 2026 US Senate election Kansas Reflector. If this conspiracy continues in Kansas, the same is sure to continue in other states
The upper ones
Supreme Court limits federal government’s power to confiscate drug users CNN
The economy
Fertilizer price shocks can have ‘lasting effects’ on GTR food production
Global fertilizer trade is down 30% for ANBA
From human urine to worm manure: unconventional fertilizer fueled by conflict Gulf Financial Times
Exports decline deepens in May as war hits S&P Global services trade
Insurers want to explain ‘war’ as risk of global power conflict rises Financial Times
Major banks return Vzglayd gold bars with machine translation (Micael T)
Mr. Market Needs A Healer
For warning signs of the next global financial crisis, watch the activities of both banks and nonbanks Atlantic Council
The AI
‘We’ve created a monster’: companies are retooling AI as costs squeeze budgets Financial Times
Norway severely limits use of AI in primary school Reuters
Exclusive: Neuroscience journal editor resigns over automation anxiety Transmitter (timotheus)
The New Geopolitics of AI: Water, Energy, and the War of Computational Power Modern Diplomacy
Guillotine Watch
Turns Out, There Really Is A Cabal Of Elite Crazies Trying To Control The World Esquire (Ann)
Antidote du jour. Tracie H: “This is a male Costa bird. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it, but it sits on this branch whenever there’s a lot of wind. It seems to like balancing and fighting against the wind – avian aerobics, I guess”:
And a bonus:
The speed of a merganser running through the water.pic.twitter.com/HD4rTpyx7j
— Wonder of Science (@wonderofscience) June 14, 2026
Second bonus:
🤣😅 Which Parrot is the best character? pic.twitter.com/nAGn1vWFiD
— Amazing Nature (@AmazingNature00) June 14, 2026
Third:
How it started vs how it goes pic.twitter.com/niYv78tQ9I
— Puppies & Positivity (@Puppieslover) June 14, 2026
And a different kind of bonus:
When a family in Vermont contacted Baltimore restaurant owner Steve Chu for a recipe for a favorite dish enjoyed by their terminally ill loved one, he waited for instructions.
Instead, they found something even more meaningful.
Steve Chu, co-owner of Ekiben,… pic.twitter.com/u9BTRrOCNE
— Wolf of X (@WolfofX) June 14, 2026
See yesterday’s links and the Antidote du Jour here.
