Weekly World News

Anne Merriman’s Palliative Legacy

Dr. Anne Merriman, revered as "The Mother of Palliative Care in Africa," died at 90 on May 18, 2025, in Kampala, Uganda. Her passing marks the end of a compassionate crusade that began in 1993 with Hospice Africa Uganda. Merriman’s affordable oral morphine and home-based care model alleviated the suffering of over 40,000 patients, spreading palliative care to 37 African nations. Her gentle touch and fierce advocacy transformed end-of-life care, offering dignity amid pain. As a nurse, she trained and tended to her final days with the same morphine she pioneered. Merriman’s legacy of empathy endures. Her work, a beacon for the terminally ill, continues to guide Africa toward a more humane farewell.

Air India Crash Investigation

Investigators probing the fatal crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad, India, suspect the Boeing 787’s emergency ram air turbine (RAT) was active, suggesting potential engine or hydraulic failure during takeoff. The plane, which reached 625 feet before crashing 50 seconds after departure, killed at least 270 people, including ground victims. The sole survivor, Viswashkumar Ramesh, described the plane freezing midair before green lights appeared, and it struck a dormitory. The investigation is ongoing with no confirmed cause. Investigators are examining black box data and wreckage, which showed takeoff-configured flight controls. This marks the first fatal incident for the 787 Dreamliner, raising concerns about its advanced safety systems.

Koreas Boombox Battle Hits Pause

In a bizarre twist of international relations, North and South Korea have finally hit the mute button on their year-long "sound war" at the border. South Korea’s new president, Lee Jaemyung, decided that blasting K-pop and news wasn’t winning any hearts, so he axed the loudspeakers. Meanwhile, North Korea quit serenading the South with what sounded like a zoo’s worth of animal noises. This audio feud flared up in 2024 when North Korea ditched peaceful reunification dreams and turned into that grumpy neighbor who hates your tunes. Now, the only thing crossing the border is a confused bird, probably wondering where the weird party went. Peace, it turns out, sounds a lot like silence.

Transgender Ban Upheld

In a major decision on June 18, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's law banning gender-affirming care, like puberty blockers and hormone therapy, for minors. The 6-3 ruling in United States v. Skrmetti found the law does not violate the Constitution’s equal protection rights, allowing states to regulate such treatments. Chief Justice John Roberts said the law is about age and medical safety, not discrimination, leaving decisions to state lawmakers. The ruling could impact similar bans in 26 other states, affecting transgender youth nationwide. Critics, including dissenting justices, argue it harms transgender kids by limiting vital care, citing studies linking bans to higher suicide risks. Supporters say it protects minors from unproven treatments. The decision highlights deep divides over transgender rights and may shape future laws.

Da-DUM, Da-DUM, Da-DUM, Da-DUM

On June 20, 1975, Steven Spielberg’s Jaws premiered, becoming the first summer blockbuster and reshaping Hollywood. Starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss, the gripping shark thriller grossed over $470 million worldwide, despite production delays. Its intense suspense and iconic score by John Williams captivated audiences, sparking widespread fear of sharks. The film revolutionized film marketing, release strategies, and audience expectations, cementing Spielberg’s legacy as a visionary director and establishing a new era of high-stakes, high-grossing summer cinema.

Just Another Breach

Aflac disclosed a cybersecurity incident on June 12, 2025, potentially compromising customer personal information, including Social Security numbers and health data. The attack, attributed to a sophisticated cybercrime group, targeted Aflac’s U.S. network. The company halted the intrusion within hours and engaged third-party cybersecurity experts to investigate. Aflac’s operations remain unaffected, but the extent of the data breach is still under review. Shares fell 1.6% in premarket trading.

Weekly Social Trends

Who had the Better American Dream?

Emmy-winning independent journalist, Johnny Harris, explores who had the most fruitful American Dream from 1955 to 2025.

Watch Mount Etna Erupt

Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson star in the remake of Naked Gun, slated to come out in theaters on August 1st. See the trailer below.

The Dark Side of Internet Fame

The video discusses the dark side of those lucky or unlucky few who have captured their 15 minutes of fame.

Air India Video Passenger Video

A video suspected of being recorded by a passenger killed on the Air India flight shows a malfunctioning plane prior to take-off.

@dailymail

An Air India passenger has shared a video claiming to show electrical fittings, including air conditioning and TV screens, not working on ... See more

Cutness Overload

Watch a Corgi ride a skateboard down a few flights of stairs.

zhao2miss

336K followers

View more on Instagram

This Week in History

• June 16th

  • In 1858, Abraham Lincoln gave his famous "House Divided" speech at the Illinois Republican Convention, warning of national division over slavery, foreshadowing his presidency and the Civil War.

• June 17th

  • The Statue of Liberty 🗽arrived in New York Harbor in 1855, symbolizing freedom and democracy.

• June 18th

  • In 1940, during World War II, Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered his iconic “This was their finest hour” speech to the House of Commons, rallying the British public after France’s fall to Germany.

  • Astronaut Sally Ride made history as the first American woman to travel to space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger during 1983’s STS-7 mission.

  • The 1984 assassination of talk radio host Alan Berg was outside his home in Denver, Colorado, by members of a white supremacist group, highlighted the dangers of extremist ideologies and sparked discussions on media safety. Alan Berg was known for his liberal views and confrontational style on KOA radio.

  • In 2023, the experimental submersible Titan, operated by OceanGate, imploded during a dive to the Titanic wreck, killing all five aboard, including CEO Stockton Rush.

• June 19th

  • Born this day in 1983, Macklemore, an American rapper and songwriter, is known for hits like “Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us” with Ryan Lewis. He won four Grammy Awards in 2014.

• June 20th

  • On June 20, 1975, Steven Spielberg’s Jaws premiered, redefining Hollywood as the first summer blockbuster.

  • Brian Wilson, American musician and Beach Boys founder, known for hits like “Good Vibrations would have been 83 today. He died June 11th, 2025.

• June 21st

  • On this day in 2009, Greenland gained self-governance under an agreement with Denmark, taking control of law enforcement, judicial affairs, and natural resources after a 2008 referendum.

  • In 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Texas v. Johnson that flag burning as a form of protest is protected under the First Amendment, a landmark free speech decision.

Notable Quotes

“The bravest thing I ever did was continuing my life when I wanted to die.”- Juliette Lewis.

“Being a patriot doesn’t mean agreeing with everything the government does. It means standing up when you see it’s doing something wrong.”- Edward Snowden.

Market Snapshot

Major Indicies

• S&P 500 $SPX ( ▼ 0.22% ) - ⬇️ -0.9%

• NASDAQ $NASDAQ ( 0.0% ) - ⬇️ -0.07%

• Dow Jones $DJI ( ▲ 0.08% ) - ⬇️ -0.12%

• Russell 2000 $RUT ( 0.0% ) - ⬇️ -0.37%

Crypto

• Bitcoin $BTC ( ▼ 0.59% ) - ⬇️ -2.37% 

That’s it for this week.

If you like the newsletter and want to see more, please subscribe or consider a small CashApp donation to $TheBorg4President

If you would like to drop the author a message or tell him that he sucks at newsletters, please feel free to reach out to [email protected].

$