Are you ready for the apocalypse? You might want to pack a little treat, Mother Jones.
New research reveals that pathogenic viruses infect human cells and structurally rearrange them University of Essen
#New Coronavirus Infection/Pandemic
A major breakthrough could finally explain the long duration of COVID-19 and provide concrete evidence that it is an actual biologically caused condition, rather than just a psychological or lingering effect.
In a 2025 study, researchers detected persistent fragments of hidden SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins… pic.twitter.com/XokJFX7IYP
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) March 9, 2026
19 people have died from coronavirus in the past week, 50 have been hospitalized #NZ According to Health NZ, it equates to around 1000 deaths a year, twice as many as the flu
If in doubt, self-isolate #nzpol #kiwi pic.twitter.com/EVOWvRe6eT
— Mountain_Tui (@Mountain_Tui) March 8, 2026
Climate/Environment
Balayage for biodiversity: Are Europe’s hairdressers the secret weapon to combat climate change? euro news
Another study backs it up: Global warming is accelerating E&E News
Climate or biodiversity? Global study reveals tree-planting dilemma Mongabay
Can green fuels clean up the aviation environment? Scientists say the math doesn’t add up Independent
Migratory bird species face increased risk of extinction, new UN update warns Ocean News
On the farm, the hidden climate costs of a broken U.S. health care system Inside Climate News
A salient mystery: ‘It looks strange’: Sweden reports uptake of three times more carbon in its soil compared to Finland. Machine translation of Aftonbladet (Micael T)
toilet
From the Tigris-Euphrates to the Nile: increasing water challenges raise regional tensions as Shia wave
Pakistan rejects India’s water weaponization and terrorism News
Water and security in the Middle East: Lessons from resilience from the Iranian crisis
China?
China claimed to have ended poverty. Was it? Financial Times. important. We had time to talk.
China’s exports surge nearly 22% in first two months of 2026 Nikkei Shimbun
What’s wrong with G2? Wang Yi explains China’s insistence on great power conflict South China Morning Post
Why is China about to approve a new law promoting ‘ethnic reunification’? BBC
Japan
Prime Minister Takaichi says Japan is considering measures to ease the economy caused by the Iran conflict ARAB NEWS
South Korea
Oil shock causes South Korea to impose cap on fuel prices for the first time in 30 years CNBC (Kevin W) We quoted Bloomberg yesterday saying this is likely to happen.
India
The oil shock pushed the rupee to an all-time low. Central bank support slows Reuters
Southeast Asia
Thailand faces energy shock Coffee Parliament. We have received rumors from sources that Russia is sending LNG, but if true, the government may be reluctant to make this public in order not to embarrass the United States, which is a major arms supplier to Thailand. But oil supply is a bigger problem.
Thailand rushes to modernize artillery to counter Cambodia Intelligence Online
Africa
Sudan’s devastating civil war could get worse – and the world’s Times
Egyptian pound falls to lowest level in official history as foreign capital outflows National News
discord in europe
Iran war is latest blow to Europe’s battered industrial backbone Bloomberg
Culture Minister Merz uses domestic intelligence services against independent bookstores The Guardian (Paul R)
Dutch military ‘rehearses’ defense against Russian forces in Norway NL Times
Middle East wars are already impacting shipping – and Europe won’t be spared Politico
The stupid people of Baden-Württemberg can hand over a landslide electoral victory to the Greens and continue sacrificing their industry to Oegippius, the weather god.
old blighty
Britain must stockpile food for climate change and war, experts warn Guardian
Britain only has two days’ worth of gas stored, but war with Iran threatens to disrupt supply The Guardian
The UK hay crisis: how extreme weather is redefining feed, welfare and costs for horse owners Your Horse
israel vs resistance
No World Order: Meir Kahane, Netanyahu, Trump, and the War Beyond Iran. Sarah Kendzior (Lucy K.). important
Russia accuses Israel of intentionally destroying cultural center in south Lebanon Andrew Korybko
Poisoning of Daniel Larison in Tehran
Trump and Netanyahu need to stop bombing before the world is destroyed Ian Proud
Foreign Minister Lavrov clarifies Russia’s official position on the third Gulf War Andrew Korybko
We’re going to make a ton of money’: U.S. Sen. Graham (Kevin W.) on the U.S. war against Iran, Al Jazeera.
A new war that’s not so cold war
Russia gains advantage over Ukraine in Iran war
Hal Freeman (Anthony L.) settles in Russia and watches America from afar
imperial collapse watch
Trump’s obsession with and limits to the strategy of “energy domination” in the world Written by Zhang Rui and Yue Fengli China Issues+
Trump 2.0
Trump’s approval rating dips in new poll The Hill
Trump says ‘war is completely over’, considering occupying Strait of Hormuz CBS
South Dakota will soon be able to challenge other voters’ citizenship Sun (resilc)
economy
As the war intensifies, agricultural prices soar, trade becomes tighter, and there is a risk that finances will become tighter.
Tungsten prices soar nearly six-fold amid China’s export restrictions and geopolitical tensions with Japan DigiTimes
Mr. Market is in a bad mood.
Oil prices decline further as investors assess President Trump’s comments on Iran war and Strait of Hormuz CNBC
The causes of the next global market crash are hiding in plain sight South China Morning Post
A.I.
How to talk to someone experiencing “AI psychosis 404” Media
Anthropic sues Trump administration over ‘supply chain risk’ classification Quartz
basil
blockquote>BlackRock Fund restricts withdrawals due to private credit concerns City AM
McDonald’s CEO brutally mocks viral video of Big Arch Burger tasting: ‘The most unnatural thing I’ve ever seen’ New York Post (resilc)
Aging Antidote (Ann M):
Click here for yesterday’s link and Antidote du Jour.
