00:00Welcome to Daily World Podcast on June 22nd, 2025. I'm Angela, here to bring you today's
00:16key developments in economics, politics and global headlines. Let's dive right in.
00:23President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. has conducted military strikes on three key
00:28Iranian nuclear sites, claiming they were completely obliterated. Iran condemned these
00:33attacks as a dangerous escalation and vowed to resist, while Israel praised the U.S. decision.
00:39The strikes have raised concerns about a broader conflict, prompting international calls for
00:43diplomacy, and an emergency meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog. Representative Alexandria Ocasio
00:50Cortez criticized President Trump's military actions, labeling them a violation of the
00:55constitution, and grounds for impeachment. This has caused division among Democrats,
01:00with some condemning the strikes as unauthorized war escalation, and others supporting them as
01:05necessary for national security. The conflict between Israel and Iran has intensified,
01:11with the U.S. closely allied with Israel. In response to the U.S. airstrikes,
01:16Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of unprecedented retaliation,
01:21urging missile strikes on the U.S. naval fleet and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
01:25Iran's foreign minister condemned the U.S. actions as violations of international law,
01:30asserting the right to defend its sovereignty, while Iran's atomic agency vowed to continue
01:34nuclear activities despite the attacks. Hezbollah has stated it does not plan to
01:40retaliate against Israel or the United States following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear
01:45sites, emphasizing that Iran can defend itself. The situation remains tense with ongoing Israeli
01:51strikes against Hezbollah and Iranian missile attacks on Israel, while diplomatic efforts have
01:55been disrupted by the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on President Trump to
02:02support Ukraine against Russian aggression, warning against making deals with Russia that would harm
02:08Ukraine's interests. He emphasized the importance of continued U.S. military aid and sanctions on
02:13Russia amid the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that
02:21Israeli strikes on Iran comply with international law, defending Israel's actions against existential
02:26threats, while condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a violation of international law.
02:32This distinction highlights the complex geopolitical landscape, where different conflicts are viewed
02:37through varying legal and moral lenses. In the U.S., the State Department has begun evacuating Americans
02:43from Israel amid the escalating conflict, with assisted departure flights carrying around 70 U.S. citizens
02:49and their families to Athens. This follows heightened tensions and missile strikes in the region,
02:54leading to casualties and the closure of Israel's main airport. The FBI has identified the suspect in the
03:01Minnesota shootings as Vance Bolter, a doomsday prepper who targeted Democratic lawmakers. Bolter killed
03:08former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, wounded Senator John Hoffman and his wife, and was found
03:13with a list of about 70 political targets. In Venezuela, the currency is crashing, prompting President
03:20Maduro to detain financial analysts and shut down platforms tracking the U.S. dollar exchange rate. These actions
03:27aim to control the narrative amid worsening economic conditions. OpenAI has secured a $200 million contract
03:36with the U.S. military to develop generative AI capabilities for military applications, marking its
03:42first government partnership focused on enhancing national security and cyber defenses. The Office of the
03:49Director of National Intelligence is planning to create a centralized online marketplace that would allow
03:55law enforcement and intelligence agencies to buy personal digital data from data brokers without a
04:00warrant, raising significant privacy concerns. In Poland, a recount of votes has revealed irregularities
04:08in nine voting stations, raising questions about the integrity of the election process. This may prompt
04:14further investigations to ensure fair voting practices. Germany is set to increase its military
04:21personnel by 11,000 by the end of 2025, including 10,000 soldiers and 1,000 civilian employees, in response
04:30to heightened security concerns regarding Russia. Finally, Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic revealed that
04:38the country has been secretly rearming its military to defend against perceived threats from neighboring countries,
04:44emphasizing ongoing security cooperation among Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia.
04:48A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's policy to cap indirect costs on National Science
04:56Foundation research funding. This ruling protects tens of millions of dollars critical to university
05:02research budgets in fields such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, deeming the policy
05:07change arbitrary and contrary to law. Similar caps on grants from other federal agencies have also faced
05:13legal challenges. In a related academic context, Harvard University has faced scrutiny after lead
05:21researcher Richard Cellini claims he was terminated for uncovering extensive ties to slavery and
05:26identifying numerous descendants of enslaved individuals connected to the institution. Harvard has shifted the
05:32project to a genealogical non-profit, while concerns about transparency and engagement remain among
05:37descendants and researchers. Pope Leo XIV has declared zero tolerance for all forms of abuse within the
05:45Catholic Church, particularly addressing the clergy sex abuse scandal linked to the Peruvian Sotalidium
05:50Christiani Viti group. The Pope emphasized the importance of transparent processes and praised journalists
05:56for their role in exposing abuses, supporting efforts to dismantle the Sotalidium. Concerns have emerged regarding
06:04Madel's plan to integrate ChetGPT technology into its toys, with child welfare experts warning about
06:10potential mental health risks for children. Critics highlight that AI-powered toys may impact children's
06:16social development and safety, urging the company to reconsider this integration, despite initial products
06:22being designed for children over 13. In education, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed House Bill 1481 into
06:31law prohibiting K-12 students from using cell phones during school hours starting in the 2025-26 school year.
06:39This law allows school districts some flexibility in enforcement and exempts certain special education
06:44students. The FBI has issued an urgent warning about a surge in DMV text message scams, advising individuals
06:53to delete such messages immediately to avoid falling victim to these fraudulent attacks.
06:58In health advancements, researchers at MIT and Scripps have developed a promising HIV vaccine
07:05approach that generates a strong immune response with a single dose. This innovative method combines
07:11two adjuvants, allowing the vaccine to persist in lymph nodes, and potentially revolutionizing vaccine
07:17design for various infectious diseases. A study from France's Food Safety Agency has revealed that glass
07:24bottles of soft drinks and other beverages contain significantly more microplastic particles than
07:29plastic bottles or metal cans, raising concerns about contamination sources. Conversely, researchers have
07:36found that extracts from okra and fenugreek can effectively remove over 90% of microplastics from water,
07:42offering a natural solution to this growing environmental issue.
07:45In a significant medical discovery, French scientists have identified a new blood type called
07:52guada negative in a woman from Guadeloupe, marking the 48th recognized blood group system globally.
07:59This breakthrough was achieved through advanced DNA sequencing techniques.
08:04An MIT graduate student has developed a novel method for restoring damaged oil paintings
08:09in a fraction of the time typically required. This technique utilizes a digitally constructed laminate mask
08:16that can be applied and removed without damaging the original artwork.
08:21Researchers at ETH Zurich are pioneering a living material embedded with photosynthetic cyanobacteria
08:27that actively extracts carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, presenting a sustainable approach to reducing
08:33the carbon footprint of buildings. A study published in Nature Neuroscience suggests that Parkinson's disease
08:42may originate in the kidneys rather than the brain, linking chronic kidney disease to an increased risk
08:47of the neuro-generative condition. Turkey has achieved a milestone in renewable energy,
08:54generating over half of its electricity from renewable sources for the first time,
08:57with renewables accounting for 59% of the energy mix as of May 2025. The Cosmos web project has produced the
09:06most comprehensive cosmic map to date, revealing nearly 800,000 galaxies, and providing insights into the
09:13universe's formation and evolution. In breast cancer research, a new MRI radiomix technique shows promise
09:21in predicting lymph node metastases, potentially reducing the need for invasive surgeries.
09:28A recent study highlights the psychological benefits of moderate awe experienced during
09:32ayahuasca retreats, suggesting that optimal emotional intensity can support psychological growth.
09:40A stem cell-based treatment, Zimislisl, has shown promising results in a small trial for severe type 1
09:46diabetes, with 10 out of 12 patients no longer requiring insulin after treatment. Research indicates that
09:54large language models like chat GPT are not suitable replacements for human therapists, as they can
10:00express stigma and provide inappropriate responses in therapeutic contexts. As discussions continue around the
10:08potential for AI in medical diagnostics, the technology's ability to analyze medical data and improve access to
10:14healthcare remains a topic of interest.
10:16That's all for today's edition of Daily World Podcast. On behalf of our team, I'm Angela, wishing you a
10:25thoughtful day ahead.
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