California bear suit luxury car scam ends with three Associated Press companies found guilty of insurance fraud
FAA orders investigation into Blue Origin New Glenn crash TechCrunch
Bacteria move around using molecular machines called flagellar motors that spin faster than the flywheel of a race car engine and change direction instantly. After 50 years, scientists have finally figured out how it works. “My lifelong quest has now been fulfilled.” Link ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/AGiwOGOGXY
— Natalie Walchover (@nattyover) April 20, 2026
Climate/Environment
Nordic capsizes increase as AMOC weakens in response to global warming European Geosciences Union
Global extreme drought in 2025 Nature Reviews Earth & Environmental
toilet
Corpus Christi plans emergency water restrictions in September for large industrial users and 500,000 customers Climate News
#Snowpack News April 20, 2026 Coyote Gulch
Egyptian archaeologists discover perfect circular temple linked to ancient water cult Gizmodo
China?
President Xi says normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz should be maintained Xinhua News Agency
Raid that resulted in China’s largest food safety fine and compliance meltdown that worsened the situation in China
Southeast Asia
Indonesia suspends diesel imports and switches to palm oil fuel ANTARA
India
The US wants to expand energy exports to India. It must be difficult. crude oil price
#breaking news: A fire broke out at the Pacchapadra refinery in Balotra ahead of the inauguration ceremony scheduled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow.#Rajasthan #balotra #Pachadra Refinery#narendramodi #IndiaNews #fire incident #refinery pic.twitter.com/YngiyJs7ln
— Upuk News (@upuknews1) April 20, 2026
syrakistan
Gaza: Reconstruction costs rise to $71 billion, human development set back 77 years UN News
Replay: Israel’s slow ethnic cleansing of Christians from the Holy Land Jonathan Cook
Jewish fundamentalists increase attempts to smuggle animals into Al-Aqsa Mosque for sacrifice
Israel claims ownership of Lebanese gas fields after installing Gaza-style ‘Yellow Line’ near border The Cradle
***
The moment the world realized Iran was a world power Robert Pape. Well, not everyone in the world…
🏴☠️⚔️ How things got worse
Once CSG-10 arrives, the U.S. Navy will have as many as 17 destroyers in the Arabian Sea.
I don’t think the admirals are as ignorant as they are often made out to be, so they will decide that they need to use at least a dozen weapons… https://t.co/D2bfW2nLbo
— Will Shriver (@imetatronink) April 20, 2026
Is Trump aiming for Armageddon? larry johnson
***
US government blocks flow of US dollars to Iraq’s central bank until ‘acceptable’ government is established The Cradle
Iraq reopens Syria border route, expanding trade and fuel exports Iraq News
US asks Iraqi nationals to leave Iraq News
There are two purposes I know of. It is led by ISIS and supported by AQ through its military committees.
(1) If necessary, use force to release detainees from Iraqi prisons.
(2) Iraq blitzkrieg similar to Syria is planned
And at least on the terrorist side…
—Sarah Adams (@sarahadams) April 19, 2026
discord in europe
European power rebalances amid political upheaval Simplicius
A 10,000 kW transformer containing around 30 tons of oil has exploded at the Western District Heating Plant (CET) in Bucharest, Romania, local media reported.
Contributor @AZ_Intel_. pic.twitter.com/GNKXePDqsQ
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 20, 2026
EU/Israel: More than 60 organizations call for suspension of EU-Israel Association Agreement World Organization Against Torture
Spain’s call to suspend EU-Israel deal fails due to widespread opposition Euronews
European Union expands Iranian sanctions on Hormuz blockaders Reuters
old blighty
Starmer to investigate whether Mandelson leaked secrets in US Telegraph
Palantir’s NHS future is in doubt after ministers cancel contract
British university funds security firm to ‘spy’ on pro-Palestinian students Al Jazeera
Signs of panic in UK over Hormuz blockade, PM summons five bank executives for negotiations New Arab
A new war that’s not so cold war
EU aims to approve €90 billion Ukraine loan on Wednesday Politico
south of the border
Cuba confirms meeting with US delegation, demands lifting of energy blockade TeleSur
Trump 2.0
President Trump pardons nursing home owner who owed nearly $19 million to grieving families ProPublica
‘Scandal-ridden’ Chavez Delemer resigns from Common Dreams, Trump loses yet another Cabinet member
Veterans arrested for protesting ‘war machine’ at US Capitol as Trump threatens Iran Common Dreams
Insider trading allegations looming over Trump’s inauguration BBC
Issue 104 – World Tyranny Finance Quote Needed
Media control over Jared Kushner’s historic and ongoing corruption scandal
5 Trump Scandals You Probably Missed Doomsday Scenarios
“Liberation Day”
$166 Billion Tariff Refund Portal Opens: How Your Business Can File a Claim Today Inc.
🚨 This is insane.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s sons could earn three to five times more for every dollar they spend buying duty refund rights.
Cantor Fitzgerald, now run by Lutnick’s sons Brandon and Kyle, was buying duty refund claims from companies for 20 to 30 cents. pic.twitter.com/DmOnNp7vn7
— Bull Theory (@Bull Theoryio) April 20, 2026
Democrats are the worst
Pro-Israel candidate booed at Michigan Democratic convention Michigan Chronicle
How cute! They need to sing: Wheels on the Bus are bombing Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, and Pakistan.
Mamdani is the “South Asian” equivalent of Obama. https://t.co/eNRsskxNlC
— Fiorella Isabel (@FiorellaIsabelM) April 20, 2026
Why Democrats with hopes for 2028 are calling Lina Khan – and what she has to say about fixing the economy CNN
Will AI take your job? New York state lawmaker proposes “AI dividend” Stimmy Decrypt
police state surveillance
Security is not a police issue. It’s a political and economic issue. william murphy
big brother is watching you
Limited edition: ICE Glasses Ken Krippenstein. “The Department of Homeland Security is manufacturing ‘smart glasses’ to collect information about American citizens.”
agriculture
Middle East conflict reignites concerns about U.S., Brazil’s dependence on fertilizer Farmdoc Daily
US to introduce tariff fund to tackle high fertilizer prices Morning Ag Clip
supply chain
The Kit Kat heist case exposed the confectionery crime crisis Food Navigator
Certification
What the John Ternas era means for Apple Gizmodo
economy
Kuwait declares force majeure as unrest in Hormuz halts oil export flow Bloomberg
The oil market has just passed a breaking point.
And it doesn’t matter whether the Strait of Hormuz opens tomorrow or not.
Here’s why the damage has already been done 🧵
— Qassem Al Ali (@AlaliQasem) April 20, 2026
Summer plans have been cancelled. pic.twitter.com/QgHbxP0qjt
— Alex Turnbull (@alexbhturnbull) April 20, 2026
Spirit Airlines seeks relief, what to do if you have a trip booked USA Today
guillotine watch
How Australia’s other half will heal: All aboard a superyacht whose rehabilitation costs $600,000 a week The Guardian
A.I.
Real questions about AI Future Project Syndicate
basil
Anthropic receives $5 billion from Amazon, promises $100 billion in cloud spending in return techCrunch
Nation Casino
Forbes magazine lets readers bet on the futurism of gun control in article about horrific shooting that killed eight children
class war
Emails show Amazon colluding with other companies to raise prices, California authorities allege to the Guardian
Can good people survive a corrupt society?Cultural Explorer
“We must learn to disobey.” Patrick Lawrence, The Serpentine
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