A new COVID-19 variant may be causing “razor blade” sore throats in people who get it

Archived version: archive.is/newest/independent.…

Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

What to know about the COVID variant causing 'razor blade' sore throats

^{Devi Shastri (The Independent)}

MEPs want an 18-month extension to keep financing some projects - the current deadline is August 2026.

Archived version: archive.is/newest/euronews.com…

Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

European Parliament seeks extension to time for spending EU post-covid money

^{Vincenzo Genovese (Euronews.com)}

A video goes viral showing female students being checked to see if they were wearing bras.

Archived version: archive.is/newest/bbc.com/news…

Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

Olabisi Onabanjo university's 'no-bra, no-exam' rule sparks Nigeria outrage

^{Mansur Abubakar (BBC News)}

We urgently need an arms embargo on Israel, and we need as many people as possible to get active in demanding one

Archived version: archive.is/newest/thecanary.co…

Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

Hundreds call for arms embargo in protests at factories complicit in Israel's genocide in Gaza - Canary

^{Ed Sykes (The Canary)}

UK Foreign Office causes confusion as it urges British nationals to register their presence but not to leave

Archived version: archive.is/newest/theguardian.…

Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

Fears voiced as Britons in Israel advised to stay while embassy families depart

^{Aletha Adu (The Guardian)}

Major Areas of Concern:

::: spoiler Restructuring: Analysis of planned changes to the nonprofit's relationship with its for-profit subsidiary

• OpenAI plans to remove limits on investor returns: OpenAI once capped investor profits at a maximum of 100x to ensure that, if the company succeeds in building AI capable of automating all human labor, the proceeds would go to humanity. They have now announced plans to remove that cap.
• OpenAI portrays itself as preserving nonprofit control while potentially disempowering the nonprofit: OpenAI claims to have reversed course on a decision to abandon nonprofit control, but the details suggest that the nonprofit’s board would no longer have all the authority it would need to hold OpenAI accountable to its mission.
• Investors pressured OpenAI to make structural changes: OpenAI has admitted that it is making these changes to appease investors who have made their funding conditional on structural reforms, including allowing unlimited returns—exactly the type of investor influence OpenAI’s original structure was designed to prevent.
  :::

::: spoiler CEO Integrity: Concerns regarding leadership practices and misleading representations from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman

• Senior employees have attempted to remove Altman at each of the three major companies he has run: Senior employees at Altman’s first startup twice urged the board to remove him as CEO over “deceptive and chaotic” behavior, while at Y Combinator, he was forced out and accused of absenteeism and prioritizing personal enrichment.
• Altman claimed ignorance of a scheme to coerce employees into ultra-restrictive NDAs: However, he signed documents giving OpenAI the authority to revoke employees’ vested equity if they didn’t sign the NDAs.
• Altman repeatedly lied to board members: For example, Altman stated that the legal team had approved a safety process exemption when they had not, and he reported that one board member wanted another board member removed when that was not the case.
  :::

::: spoiler Transparency & Safety: Concerns regarding safety processes, transparency, and organizational culture at OpenAI

• OpenAI coerced employees into signing highly restrictive NDAs threatening their vested equity: Former OpenAI employees faced highly restrictive non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements that threatened the loss of all vested equity if they ever criticized the company, even after resigning.
• OpenAI has rushed safety evaluation processes: OpenAI rushed safety evaluations of its AI models to meet product deadlines and significantly cut the time and resources dedicated to safety testing.
• OpenAI insiders described a culture of recklessness and secrecy: OpenAI employees have accused the company of not living up to its commitments and systematically discouraging employees from raising concerns.
  :::

::: spoiler Conflicts of Interest: Documenting potential conflicts of interest of OpenAI board members

• OpenAI’s nonprofit board has multiple seemingly unaddressed conflicts of interest: While OpenAI defines ‘independent’ directors as those without OpenAI equity, the board appears to overlook conflicts from members' external investments in companies that benefit from OpenAI partnerships.
• CEO Sam Altman downplayed his financial interest in OpenAI: Despite once claiming to have no personal financial interest in OpenAI, much of Altman’s $1.6 billion net worth is spread across investments in OpenAI partners including Retro Biosciences and Rewind AI, which stand to benefit from the company’s continued growth.
• No recusals announced for critical restructuring decision: Despite these conflicts, OpenAI has not announced any board recusals for the critical decision of whether they will restructure and remove profit caps, unlocking billions of dollars in new investment.
  :::

The OpenAI Files

The OpenAI Files is the most comprehensive collection to date of documented concerns with governance practices, leadership integrity, and organizational culture at OpenAI.

^{www.openaifiles.org}

When Iranian missiles began raining down on Israel, many residents scrambled for cover. Sirens wailed across the country as people rushed into bomb shelters.

But for some Palestinian citizens of Israel – two million people, or roughly 21 percent of the population – doors were slammed shut, not by the force of the blasts and not by enemies, but by neighbours and fellow citizens.

Mostly living in cities, towns, and villages within Israel’s internationally recognised borders, many Palestinian citizens of Israel found themselves excluded from life-saving infrastructure during the worst nights of the Iran-Israel conflict to date.

Palestinian citizens of Israel have long faced systemic discrimination – in housing, education, employment, and state services. Despite holding Israeli citizenship, they are often treated as second-class citizens, and their loyalty is routinely questioned in public discourse.

‘Not for you’: Israeli shelters exclude Palestinians as bombs rain down

Shelters are a lifeline in Israel from Iranian attacks, but Palestinian citizens of the country have been locked out.

^{Al Jazeera}

cross-posted from: lemmy.sdf.org/post/36967472

Until now, we only had fragments of these cousins. Now we have face. Studying our evolutionary development and our sister-species is one of my favorite aspects of archeology. We’re constantly developing new information.

Side note: look up the initial presentation of Homo naledi. The leading archeologist did a phenomenal talk a couple of years ago (I think in December). It was really an exciting presentation. But I’m also pretty nerdy.

We’ve had a Denisovan skull since the 1930s—only nobody knew

After years of mystery, we now know what at least one Denisovan looked like.

^{Kiona N. Smith (Ars Technica)}

North Korea will deploy thousands of military personnel to Russia’s Kursk Region to aid in demining operations and reconstruction efforts, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu said on Tuesday.

North Korean troops fought alongside Russian forces to liberate Kursk Region from a cross-border Ukrainian incursion that lasted from August 2024 to April 2025. Shoigu described the new deployment as an extension of North Korea’s military support to Russia under the two countries’ strategic partnership treaty.

“[North Korean leader] Kim Jong-un has made the decision to send to Russia 1,000 mine clearance specialists to sweep the Russian territory,” he said. He added that an additional 5,000 military engineers will help “rebuild infrastructure destroyed by the occupants.”

Glad they were able to kick the Nazis out! Hope they can get to rebuilding quickly

North Korea to send military personnel to Russia – senior official

Some 6,000 troops will assist in demining and rebuilding Kursk Region after the Ukrainian incursion, Sergey Shoigu says

^RT

Dopo il successo della prima edizione, il Festival “A Gés!” torna dal 4 al 6 luglio a Borgo Rivola, nel Parco Francesca Tosi, alle porte del Parco della Vena del Gesso Romagnola, Patrimonio UNESCO.

Organizzato dalla Pro Loco di Borgo Rivola con il supporto di associazioni locali e il patrocinio della Regione Emilia-Romagna, dell’Unione della Romagna Faentina, del Comune di Riolo Terme e del Parco della Vena del Gesso, il festival promuove le risorse ambientali, culturali ed enogastronomiche della zona.

Cuore della manifestazione sarà il villaggio “A Gés!”, centro di ritrovo per escursionisti e amanti della Romagna autentica. Il programma unisce escursioni, cultura, sapori, musica e laboratori per tutte le età.

Tra le novità, l’apertura della storica Villa Buldrini, che ospiterà mostre, degustazioni e mercatini nel suo parco. Grande attenzione alla cucina tipica, con piatti preparati dalle Azdòre della Pro Loco usando prodotti stagionali e a km zero. Il Giardino delle Erbe di Casola Valsenio proporrà attività sulle erbe officinali.

Eventi da non perdere:

5 luglio: escursione guidata con Trekking Nasturzio lungo il sentiero del Re Tiberio e il borgo dei Crivellari

6 luglio: corsa di montagna con il Tè bòta Team

7 luglio: raduno MTB e gravel bike con ASD Oriani Casola Valsenio

I percorsi offrono viste spettacolari sulla Vena del Gesso e Monte Tondo.

Il festival ospiterà anche racconti storici dell’ANPI Senio River, esposizioni sui carri allegorici in gesso, momenti culturali sulla “Via dei Gessi e dei Calanchi”, concerti live, DJ set, attività per bambini e una drink area a tema, con cocktail originali a base di erbe e frutti dimenticati, a cura dello Hill Party Staff.

Ingresso gratuito e aperto a tutti.
📲 Programma completo su Instagram e Facebook: ages_borgorivola

Torna “A Gés!”: natura, tradizione e sapori dal 4 al 6 luglio al Parco Tosi di Borgo Rivola (Riolo Terme -Ra) - ViaggieMiraggi

Torna il Festival “A Gés!”: natura, tradizione e sapori nella Valle del Senio Dal 4 al 6 luglio 2025 – Parco Francesca Tosi, Borgo Rivola (Riolo Terme) Dopo l’ottimo riscontro della prima edizione, il Festival “A Gés!” torna dal 4...

^{Redazione (ViaggieMiraggi)}

Dal 30 giugno al 2 luglio 2025, il Polo Tecnologico di Tebano (Faenza) si trasforma in palcoscenico per “Acque e miracoli”, anteprima collinare dell’Arena delle Balle di Paglia. Un evento dove paesaggio, racconto e comunità si incontrano in un’esperienza collettiva tra natura, arte e leggerezza.

Tema 2025: “La follia di fare del bene. Con Don Chisciotte e Sancho Panza”, omaggio alla forza dei visionari e alla tenacia di chi sceglie ogni giorno di costruire bellezza.

Tre giornate dense di appuntamenti:
Lunedì 30 giugno, ore 20: “Pizza in vigna con fisarmonica”, cena su prenotazione (20 euro) con Jakova Bardh all’ex pesa di Tebano.
Martedì 1 luglio, ore 18.30: “Camminata nel panorama dei Miracoli”, 5 km tra i luoghi simbolici del territorio. Dalle 19, street food e vini del Senio. Alle 20, dialogo “Luigi Berardi, una vita da Don Chisciotte” con Marco Sangiorgi. Alle 21, concerto folk-pop de La Compagnia Scapestrati.
Mercoledì 2 luglio, ore 18.30: passeggiata naturalistica dedicata ai gruccioni. Dalle 19, ristoro aperto. Alle 20, “Serata al Vinile con Fonovaligia”. Alle 21, spettacolo comico “Chi ce l’ha fatto fare” con Dondarini e Dalfiume.

Durante le serate: mostra sugli alberi, tavolo delle chiacchiere, libro Racconti del Senio, installazioni di Asia Galeati e Simone Zaccarini, piscina di paglia per bambini, cucina anche vegetariana. Ingresso serate 1 e 2 luglio: offerta minima 2 euro.

Vietato fumare nell’area eventi. Parcheggio gratuito. I percorsi sono accessibili ma si raccomanda buona salute e scarpe adeguate.

Evento promosso da Amici del fiume Senio con il patrocinio dell’Unione della Romagna Faentina, dei Comuni di Castel Bolognese e Faenza, Regione Emilia-Romagna, e il sostegno di vari enti locali.

Dal 30 giugno al 2 luglio “Acque e miracoli a Tebano”: tre giorni di cammino, musica e buonumore - ViaggieMiraggi

“Acque e miracoli a Tebano”: tre giorni di cammino, musica e buonumore aspettando l’Arena delle Balle di Paglia Tre giorni di appuntamenti nella suggestiva cornice di Tebano Dal 30 giugno al 2 luglio 2025, l’area del Polo Tecnologico di Tebano...

^{Redazione (ViaggieMiraggi)}

Shot with my phone just that night, alongside my Rebel T7.

Sometimes it’s nice to sit back and let the phone do the editing.

Thanks for seeing my city!

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced Wednesday that the United States is organizing evacuations of American citizens out of Israel, as the specter of the U.S. potentially striking against Iran looms.

In a post on X, Huckabee wrote that the embassy is “working on evacuation flights and cruise ship departures” for citizens who are “wanting to leave” the country. Americans looking to leave Israel via an evacuation flight or cruise ship departure need to be registered via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, Huckabee added.

But the announcement follows several days of signaling from President Donald Trump and the White House that it is mulling intervening in the ongoing fighting between Israel and Iran to take out Iranian nuclear facilities buried underground.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/18/us-evacuations-israel-iran-00412728

Dr. Fiona Havers is influential among researchers who study immunizations. The wholesale dismissal of the agency’s scientific advisers crossed the line, she said.

In particular, the Trump crime org is trying to make it so thst insurance won't cover vaccines, and the poor die, which prompted this resignation.

RFK Jr. is coming for your vaccines

‘This is going to cost lives. Children are going to suffer.’ 

^{Lauren Leffer (The Verge)}

cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/31892386

from The Wire
[online publication of Jewish Voice For Peace JVP in USA]

Other articles

• Tell Congress: NO WAR WITH IRAN.
• Tell Congress: Block the Bombs to Israel now.
• What we’re doing: JVP-Chicago hunger strikes to say Stop Starving Gaza.

Peter Link

2025-06-18 17:08:11

No war with Iran. - JVP

from The Wire
[online publication of Jewish Voice For Peace JVP in USA]

Other articles

• Tell Congress: NO WAR WITH IRAN.
• Tell Congress: Block the Bombs to Israel now.
• What we’re doing: JVP-Chicago hunger strikes to say Stop Starving Gaza.

No war with Iran. - JVP

Since the Israeli military unilaterally attacked Iran last Thursday night, the Israeli government is once again attempting to pull the entire region — and beyond — into a catastrophic forever war.

^{Sarah Burch (Jewish Voice for Peace)}

from The Wire
[online publication of Jewish Voice For Peace JVP in USA]

Other articles

• Tell Congress: NO WAR WITH IRAN.
• Tell Congress: Block the Bombs to Israel now.
• What we’re doing: JVP-Chicago hunger strikes to say Stop Starving Gaza.

No war with Iran. - JVP

Since the Israeli military unilaterally attacked Iran last Thursday night, the Israeli government is once again attempting to pull the entire region — and beyond — into a catastrophic forever war.

^{Sarah Burch (Jewish Voice for Peace)}

I want to be part of the solution of the problems I see on Lemmy, that is why I opened my alt account at my current server to open new communities while fixing their issues.

I had been informed by the server admin that I should not post more than 5 posts in any local community which is guaranteed to kill my communities on my current server.

I am explaining the backstory here for people to understand my logic for my question.

So, I really appreciate any help here. If anyone can give me good servers to open my communities in.

My current communities:
- News: to lower the load on Lemmy. World server and to improve the Fediverse health.
- Europe: due to less than optimal moderation actions as documented in "power trippin " community.
- Misinformation/ Disinformation: Because there is no community to post research and news about this topic.

Thank you all for your help. I really would appreciate any lead here.

As the G7 issues a statement declaring that Israel has a “right to defend itself”, you have a right to ask if you are losing your mind. Israel launched an unprovoked onslaught on Iran. Its excuse – that Tehran may acquire a nuclear weapon – renders its attack illegal under the UN charter, which forbids wars justified by the claim of a future threat.

“Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror,” declares the G7 statement. Even though Donald Trump’s intelligence chief testified three months ago that the US intelligence community “continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon”. Even though it’s Israel that actually possesses nuclear weapons, while refusing to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and refusing International Atomic Energy Agency inspections. Even though, as progress was being made in nuclear talks between Iran and the US, Israel targeted Iran’s chief negotiator and proceeded to exterminate scientists, including their families, alongside countless other civilians, including children, an athlete, a teacher, a pilates instructor. Even though Israel’s leader is subject to an arrest warrant, accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. And even though Israel has erased Gaza in a genocidal frenzy, and subjected the illegally occupied and colonised West Bank to an escalating pogrom, attacked southern Lebanon and Beirut, and invaded and occupied Syria. No country in the Middle East is as great a source of regional instability and terror as Israel: it’s not even close.

Let's keep it civil, Beeple.

The warmongers were wrong about Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. Now watch them make the same mistake about Iran

Israel is the main source of terror and instability in the Middle East. But the west continually turns away from this reality, says Guardian columnist Owen Jones

^{Owen Jones (The Guardian)}

For any lawyer, this is a professional death sentence. But the court’s decision is not only a devastating blow to Eastman but also to the Trumpist myth that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

The case is unique and momentous because this is the only proceeding where Eastman, along with supporting denialist enthusiasts, testified under oath, cross-examined their critics and presented their full denialism defense. Eastman — assisted by his denialist apostles, who took 19 days to testify, present 7 witnesses and introduce over 180 document exhibits — had more than his day in court. He also presented his stolen election narrative to the public-at-large, with thousands watching by Zoom.

With disbarment decision, John Eastman's downfall continues

California bar proceedings deliver another blow to election denialism

^Salon.com

The U.S. military recently announced that four executives from some of the top tech companies in Silicon Valley have joined the Army Reserve as direct-commissioned officers. The move is part of a push to speed up the adoption of technology in the military, but as the news outlet Task & Purpose points out, it’s pretty unusual.

The Army said in a press release that the four executives are Shyam Sankar, CTO at Palantir; Andrew Bosworth, CTO at Meta; Kevin Weil, Chief Product Officer of OpenAI; and Bob McGrew, an advisor at Thinking Machines Lab and former Chief Research Officer for OpenAI.

The four men are being commissioned at the high rank of lieutenant colonel as part of a program called Detachment 201: The Army’s Executive Innovation Corps. As Task & Purpose notes, the men will get to skip the usual process of taking a Direct Commissioning Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, and they won’t need to complete the Army Fitness Test.

Silicon Valley Execs Join the Army as Officers (But Won't Have to Attend Boot Camp)

The tech industry is fully on board, but the rank and file won't have to do time as grunts.

^{Matt Novak (Gizmodo)}

A Tennessee state law banning gender-affirming care for minors can stand, the US supreme court has ruled, a devastating loss for trans rights supporters in a case that could set a precedent for dozens of other lawsuits involving the rights of transgender children.

The case, United States v Skrmetti, was filed last year by three families of trans children and a provider of gender-affirming care. In oral arguments, the plaintiffs – as well as the US government, then helmed by Joe Biden – argued that Tennessee’s law constituted sex-based discrimination and thus violated the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. Under Tennessee’s law, someone assigned female at birth could not be prescribed testosterone, but someone assigned male at birth could receive those drugs.

US supreme court upholds Tennessee ban on youth gender-affirming care

Ruling is devastating loss for trans rights supporters in case that could set precedent for dozens of other lawsuits

^{Carter Sherman (The Guardian)}

A YouGov poll reveals 55 percent of Britons oppose Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, with 82 percent of these opponents saying the actions amount to genocide. Overall, 45 percent of UK adults view Israel’s actions as genocidal.

Britons overwhelmingly see Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, poll finds

^{Middle East Eye}

Palestinian sources have reported that the Israeli army has occupied a large number of homes in Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah and Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank, and converted them into military barracks after evicting their owners.

This surprise move coincided with the launch of Israel’s attacks on Iran last Friday. Analysts and residents have said that the army is stationing soldiers inside Palestinian homes and neighbourhoods to shield them from being targeted by Iranian missiles aimed at military camps.

Israel army stations soldiers in Palestinian homes to avoid Iranian strikes, residents say

^{Fayha Shalash (Middle East Eye)}