Good morning. It's Tuesday, June 17, and we're covering the largest settlement over the opioid epidemic, tourism concerns at the world's most-visited museum, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.5 million intellectually curious readers. Sign up here.
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Israel struck the headquarters of Iranian state television in northern Tehran yesterday, setting fire to the facility during a live broadcast hours after issuing evacuation warnings to residents in the capital. Israel said the building was being used to hide military infrastructure; the claim has not been verified independently. See updates here.
Earlier in the day, Israel said it had also attacked the headquarters of Iran’s Quds Force—an elite branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (see overview). The strikes came on the fourth day of missile exchanges between Israel and Iran. Since Israel began its military operation Thursday, at least 224 people have been killed and over 1,400 wounded in Iran, and at least 24 people have been killed and around 600 wounded in Israel as of this writing. See nuclear sites in Iran before and after Israel's attacks here (w/maps).
Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he wouldn't rule out targeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, while the US State Department raised its travel advisory for Israel to its highest level of "do not travel." |
All 50 states and US territories agreed to a $7.4B settlement with Purdue Pharma and its owners yesterday over the company's role in the opioid crisis. If approved, the payout will resolve thousands of outstanding lawsuits but still allow future litigation. It is the largest settlement of its kind surrounding the decadeslong epidemic.
Purdue released OxyContin, a powerful prescription painkiller, in the 1990s. The drug has since been blamed for fueling the opioid epidemic, resulting in over 645,000 US deaths since 1999. Purdue filed for bankruptcy in 2019 to settle lawsuits accusing it of downplaying the drug's addictive nature.
Last year, the Supreme Court overturned a $6B settlement on the grounds that bankruptcy courts cannot prevent future lawsuits. By removing that stipulation, the new deal clears the way for Purdue to complete bankruptcy proceedings. The money will be used to fund state-run addiction treatment and prevention programs.
Learn about the history of opioids—and how they work—from 1440 Topics here. |
Thousands of confused visitors waited outside the Louvre in Paris yesterday after a staff strike abruptly shut down the world’s most-visited museum. The employees’ protest against overwhelming crowds, understaffing, and deteriorating infrastructure follows mounting frustrations over mass tourism across Europe.
The Louvre walkout comes roughly six months after French President Emmanuel Macron announced a decadelong renovation plan, estimated to cost $730M to $830M. In January, a leaked memo from the museum’s president warned water leaks, temperature fluctuations, and overcrowding threatened both the artwork and visitor experience. Employees have long expressed concerns about foot traffic, staging a similar walkout in 2019 when the museum saw up to 45,000 visitors daily. Daily visitorship was capped at 30,000 in 2022, but the Louvre still hosted 8.7 million people last year—more than double its designed capacity. Museum operations are expected to resume tomorrow.
The oldest areas of the Louvre date to the Middle Ages, with the last major renovation in 1989. See the history of the museum's architecture here. |
Editor's note: In yesterday's digest, we wrote border encounters are down 175% from April 2024, from over 179,737 to 12,035. We meant to write border encounters are down 93%. Thanks to readers for flagging the error! |
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In partnership with Timeline |
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A Scientific Breakthrough in Human Aging |
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The first signs of aging start deep inside your cells, long before you notice them. By your 30s, the mitochondria that fuel 90% of your body’s energy begin breaking down. As your cells lose their ability to keep up, energy levels drop, and physical strength fades.
Now, Swiss scientists have found a way to help reverse this decline. Mitopure®, a clinically proven breakthrough, replaces worn-out mitochondria and supports new growth, restoring energy at the source. Studies show participants felt stronger and more energized, without changing their workouts.*
Take aging into your own hands. 1440 readers can take 30% off Mitopure, while supplies last. |
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Sports, Entertainment, & Culture |
> Florida Panthers will look to win their second straight Stanley Cup tonight (8 pm ET, TNT) in Game 6 with a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven final series against the Edmonton Oilers (More) |
> "Grey's Anatomy" star Eric Dane reveals ALS diagnosis has left him experiencing paralysis in his right arm (More) | Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, fashion designer and "Project Runway" contestant, identified as protester who was shot and killed during "No Kings" protest in Salt Lake City (More) |
> Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit that alleged Ed Sheeran's hit "Thinking Out Loud" infringed on the copyright of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" (More) |
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> Astronomers discover roughly three-quarters of the universe's unaccounted-for ordinary matter—which makes up 5% of the universe's matter and energy—is in thin gases located between galaxies (More) | ... and tomorrow's 1440 Science & Technology newsletter explores the life and work of Stephen Hawking (Sign up here) |
> Federal judge rules Trump administration's cuts to diversity-related grants at the National Institutes of Health were illegal; awards amount to around $1B in funding, decision likely to be appealed (More) |
> Researchers develop technique to target specific cells affected by ALS, a key step in delivering effective treatments; neurodegenerative disease affects around 30,000 people in the US, has no current cure (More) |
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In partnership with hear.com |
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> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +1.0%, Dow +0.8%, Nasdaq +1.5%) on hopes Israel-Iran conflict remains contained (More) | The US and the UK say they have reached a trade deal, expected to cut tariffs on goods from both countries; details have not been made public (More) |
> Crypto billionaire Justin Sun to take Tron Group public through a reverse merger with Nasdaq-listed toy manufacturer SRM Entertainment; SRM will rebrand as Tron Inc. (More) | What is a reverse merger? (More) |
> WhatsApp to introduce ads to some parts of its messaging app as well as a subscription model for the first time (More) | Trump Organization to launch $47.45-per-month mobile phone plan and $499 smartphone in September (More) |
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> President Donald Trump calls on the G7 to readmit Russia, suggesting its 2014 ouster paved the way for the current conflict in Ukraine; also calls on the group to consider adding China (More) | See previous write-up (More) |
> Suspected gunman in attack on Minnesota lawmakers faces state, federal charges, including second-degree murder and attempted murder; authorities say he traveled to two other lawmakers’ homes during the spree, but they were not home (More) | See previous write-up (More) |
> Federal judge extends restraining order on Trump administration's effort to block Harvard University from enrolling foreign students; hearing scheduled for June 23 (More) |
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> 'We'll Make It Home Together'
France 24 | Stéphanie Trouillard, Claire Paccalin. A story of the friendship between Suzanne Bouvard and Simone Séailles, two Resistance operatives who met in Ravensbrück—the largest concentration camp for women in World War II. (Read) |
> The Mozart of the Attention Economy
The Guardian | Mark O’Connell. Jimmy Donaldson, known colloquially as MrBeast, is the world's most popular YouTuber, boasting more than 400 million subscribers. How did he do it? (Read) |
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In partnership with Timeline |
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Is Cellular Health the New Gut Health? |
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Science says yes. You’ve heard mitochondria are the "powerhouses of your cells," but their role goes far beyond energy production. These microscopic structures regulate everything from muscle strength to overall vitality. But by your 30s, they start to wear down, draining energy and accelerating aging.
That’s where Mitopure® comes in. Clinically proven, this breakthrough formula helps rebuild mitochondria, increasing energy and muscle strength in as little as 4 months—no extra exercise required.* Start your journey to more energy and stronger muscles today. 1440 readers get 30% off, while supplies last. |
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*Disclosure: 500mg Mitopure® have been shown to (1) induce gene expression related to mitochondria function and metabolism and (2) increase the strength of the hamstring leg muscle in measures of knee extension and flexion after 4 months in overweight 40-65 year olds. |
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