Good news on climate, oceans, cat longevity

Among the items behind the paywall in this edition of Fix the News:

— African cities are using nature to combat floods and climate change, says a World Resource Institute report.

As they absorb a growing share of the world’s urban population, African cities’ development pathways have global implications. Integrating nature into urban planning is a growth model more adaptive to uncertainty, WRI says.

— Up to 90 percent of ocean species still are undiscovered. The Ocean Census Alliance is on a mission to change that and says it’s discovered 1,121 species in the past year.

Why do we care?

“With many species at risk of disappearing before they are even documented, we are in a race against time to understand and protect ocean life. By accelerating discovery and sharing data globally, we are not just finding new life, but generating the evidence needed to drive global science and policy at a critical moment,” says Michelle Taylor, head of science at the Ocean Census.

The Ocean Census is a project of national and philanthropic marine institutes, museums, and universities, backed by governments, philanthropy, business and civil society partners.

— Might the lifespans of house cats soon double?

Most mammals have a blood protein, AIM, that works like a cleanup crew. When kidney cells die and clog the tubules, AIM flags the debris so other cells clear it, says Fix the News. But a cat’s AIM doesn’t do this, which is part of the reason kidney disease affects about a third of cats over the age of 10.

In recent years, Japanese researcher Toru Miyazaki and others have been working to double cat lifespans, making lab-grown AIM to supply what cats lack. A small exploratory trial reported earlier this year found that cats with advanced kidney disease treated with it far outlived untreated ones. A larger trial across 26 Japanese veterinary hospitals now is underway.

https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/en/features/z1304_00039.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023326000018

Note to readers:

Because of the Juneteenth federal holiday on Friday, I’ll be posting next on Monday, June 22. Also, my apologies that the links in this post are funky for the second day.

Fifteen countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, Caribbean, Pacific adopt declaration to combat illegal fishing
https://apnews.com/article/kenya-our-oceans-summit-mombasa-declaration-f6ea7eacb08bbb6c4d45985ca5543f6b

The Guardian: G7 leaders, mediator Pakistan hail Iran deal, views not widely shared in Israel and among U.S. Republicans

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/18/donald-trump-iran-deal-reactions-anger-relief-incredulity

Fox News: ‘Iran deal faces backlash from conservative allies’

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-renege-iran-deal-faces-backlash-conservative-allies

Text of the memorandum of understanding between U.S., Iran

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/text-iran-us-memorandum-understanding-rcna350582

All detainees from immigration facility ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ have been transferred to other facilities, DHS says

https://apnews.com/article/alligator-alcatraz-emptied-a790f04ae0791d17ce72f8c96b66e7b4

Trump administration to buy back another energy firm’s offshore wind leases for 4 more projects, as it seeks to promote fossil fuels

https://apnews.com/article/trump-offshore-wind-energy-climate-interior-invenergy-2809c57fa04b59a21927631b91b4b69f

Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady, hints at rate hike later this year

https://www.npr.org/2026/06/17/nx-s1-5860084/fed-chief-warsh-first-fomc-meeting

Trump kills plan to quickly confirm new intelligence chief, paving way for Bill Pulte to become acting chief on Friday

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/17/trump-delay-jay-clayton-dni-senate-hearing-00964723

Bernie Sanders unveils plan to give the public direct ownership of AI firms

https://apnews.com/article/bernie-sanders-ai-public-ownership-57b9f20d96490083e2749adba0f13977

California billionaire tax qualifies for November ballot

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/17/california-wealth-tax-qualifies-ballot-00906966

Georgia GOP legislative leaders reject governor’s call for 2028 redistricting

https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-georgia-trump-gerrymander-31f6b532e057174e68be183a9d850ec5

WPost financial columnist: ‘Why mailing a paper check has become so risky’

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/06/17/how-protect-yourself-check-washing-widespread-form-fraud/

ProPublica: More than 770,000 children no longer receiving SNAP benefits after Trump changes federal food program

https://www.propublica.org/article/snap-benefits-children-food-stamps

FTC and 4 states sue leading transgender health group

https://apnews.com/article/gender-affirming-care-transgender-health-wpath-ftc-91825f64800a6aadfa4f2da989742124

KFF: Arrests of immigrant parents creating mental health crisis for their children

https://kffhealthnews.org/mental-health/immigrant-parents-ice-detention-deportation-children-mental-health-california/