Is the oldest human story really from 100,000 years ago? ZME Science
Who knew? 1 in 5 Americans are convinced they are psychic, study finds
Waiting for the Apocalypse Hickman’s hinterland
Climate/Environment
Florida is on fire, Montana is erecting stilts, and a severe drought continues. hotshot wake up
The Trump administration is taking an ax to the East’s last great forest.
How ‘national security’ became the new justification for Atmos drilling
toilet
Rusty River: Increased vigilance over rising waters in the acidic Arctic Ocean Yale Environment 360
Japan
Japan withdraws groundbreaking policy allowing export of lethal weapons Asahi Shimbun
China?
Liquidating the “Empire”: China’s strategy to exploit US hegemonic tensions | Sinicization by Wu Xinbo
China’s chess scandal wipes out 10-year champion amid match-fixing investigation Caixin
Southeast Asia
UN warns of worsening famine as Myanmar runs out of fertilizer to fuel the Irrawaddy
syrakistan
Sexual violence and forced deportation at the Norwegian Refugee Council in the West Bank
Arson by Israeli occupiers sparks panic and bloodshed at Palestinian school this morning Anadolu News Agency
Israel Defense Forces orders fire on civilians in southern Lebanon. dissident
Settlers raise Israeli flags in Al-Aqsa, soldiers wave flags amid ruins of Lebanese village New Arab
“Zionism is not reformable” – Israel’s “moral injury” and moral collapse Conflict Forum
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Nerve agent, murder plot: What a US nuclear scientist told an undercover journalist NDTV
President Trump implements TACO on Tuesday, but still blocks exit ramps… JCPOA 2 Larry Johnson
Mr. Trump, who has only a gimmick left, receives another bluff call from the confident Iranian Simplicius.
U.S. Central Command says troops will “re-arm” and “reorganize” during ceasefire – Live UpdatesDawn
Iran’s Shadow Fleet tankers break through US blockade The Telegraph
US emphasizes effectiveness of blockade based on impact on Iranian economy Lloyd’s List
US naval blockade has little impact on food supplies: Today in the Gulf of Iran
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President Donald Trump considers bailing out UAE, says he’s shocked, “They’re really wealthy” WION
discord in europe
EU fuel prices record fastest rise since 2022 — Eurostat TASS
EU tries to beat Iran rollercoaster with emergency energy plan Politico
Charles Michel accuses von der Leyen of ‘power grab’ Brussels Times
Timmy the whale can’t resist taking refuge off the coast of Germany, and in doing so he becomes a powerful metaphor for the politics of the Federated Republic of Jugippius.
old blighty
Fuel prices soar due to Iran war, UK inflation rate soars to 3.3% in March CNBC
UK military test drone swarm technology developed with European allies The Canary
Starmer has led a massive cover-up over Mandelson’s appointment Ian Proud
A new war that’s not so cold war
Ukraine restarts damaged Druzhva pipeline, cancels €90bn EU loan France 24
Ukrainian drone attacks Druzhba pipeline base producing crude oil for export – Ukraineska Pravda news agency
The grid is a Globe News loan frame. “How Russia built nuclear dependence across the Global South while the West sanctioned everything else.”
Ukrainian billionaire buys luxury mansion in Monaco for $550 million Kiev independence
Rinat Akhmetov, President Zelensky’s favorite oligarch, famously bought his own yacht for $500 million, and also did an interesting act, setting a new record.
He bought an apartment in Monaco for 550 million euros.
Let me remind you what an oligarchy is… pic.twitter.com/YhhEOIN55H
— Anatoliisharii (@anatoliisharii) April 21, 2026
imperial collapse watch
The US is at risk of running out of missiles if Iran’s operational stockpile is depleted and another war breaks out, CNN reports. “Breakout”
Trump trade secretary urges US allies to pay more for critical minerals FT
ChinaTalk solving GaN problems
immigration
Trump officials consider sending 1,100 Afghans who helped US to Congo al-Mayadeen
south of the border
Rare survivor of Pacific boat attack claims she was abducted and tortured by US forces at drop-off site
U.S. military personnel killed in Mexico worked for CIA, sources say
Trump 2.0
NASA breaks silence on deaths and disappearances of scientists connected to space technology Gizmodo
Dr. Oz releases audit of Medicaid program oversight in 50 states AP
Trump’s Justice Department sues over campaign to collect data on millions of voters Stateline
Republican senators weighing whether to publicly bless President Trump for war with Iran – Responsible Nation Strategy
unity party
Biden official: Biden was preparing to bomb Iran if Caitlin Johnston was re-elected
police state surveillance
ICE plans new fast-track construction contract project “Saltbox”
big brother is watching you
Is Your Pasta Sauce Hearing? Prego Debuts Recording Device for Hot Dinner Table Hardware
When Lina Khan was in charge of the FTC, she discovered this “exact” scenario and began investigating.
The first thing Trump’s FTC chairman did when he took office was kill it https://t.co/sPOJSfd85B pic.twitter.com/9C3ArYFlC4
— Sarah Miller (@sarahmillerdc) April 21, 2026
Maryland defiantly opposes dynamic pricing: First state to ban monitor-based food pricing Captain Compliance
Maha
RFK Jr. Won’t Commit to Following Truth in Vaccine Guidance for New CDC Candidates
A.I.
Florida opens criminal investigation into ChatGPT in FSU shooting NPR
How to teach children to evaluate information (before AI teaches them not to evaluate information) Card Catalog
This is the most satisfying plot twist in the history of technology. pic.twitter.com/4Hn8XkYM8s
— Grace (@straceX) April 20, 2026
economy
Lufthansa cancels 20,000 short-haul flights, merging routes DPA International
As the Iran war puts a strain on its supply chain, “The Star,” Karex significantly increases its prices. The world’s top condom producer.
ECB President Christine Lagarde warns of potential food rationing due to fertilizer disruption
“One-third of fertilizer is transported through the Strait of Hormuz, which is at risk.” pic.twitter.com/soiJEQaXyy
— Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) April 21, 2026
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A wave of fires and explosions sweeps through the world’s strained energy infrastructure. Here’s what you need to know about TRT World
Now, things are getting weird. A large explosion has reportedly occurred on an oil rig in Etoile, Texas. In the past 24 hours, a massive fire broke out at an oil refinery in India, and a massive explosion in Myanmar left 10 fuel tankers ablaze.
That’s… https://t.co/0VWm1zAbln pic.twitter.com/miRX9hj0Ux
—Open-minded approach (@OMApproach) April 21, 2026
Mr. Market’s YOLO Adventure
A new approach to stock market valuation FT
Iran says it has received signs that the U.S. is lifting its blockade, causing oil to fall Bloomberg
basil
OpenAI in talks to invest up to $1.5 billion in private equity joint venture FT
class war
It’s All a Fraud: A Working Class Story
When does breaking the law become moral courage?Cultural Explorer
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