Giant prehistoric kangaroos preferred to ‘chill at home’ and didn’t like to go out much, scientists say The Guardian
New analysis casts doubt on ‘biosignatures’ found on planet K2-18b NPR
Climate/Environment
India is a global warming ‘hole,’ and scientists aren’t sure why Science
A Review of Massively Scalable Enhanced Rock Weathering Austin Vernon
Water
The sun might be spitting out particles that create water on the moon Space.com
Pandemics
Covid Worsened Shortages of Doctors and Nurses. Five Years On, Rural Hospitals Still Struggle. Iowa Public Radio
Studies detail high rates of long COVID among healthcare, dental workers CIDRAP
N95 Masks Will Save Your Life. Wear Them. The Sentinel-Intelligence
Japan
Japan to resist Trump efforts to form trade bloc against China The Japan Times
China?
Double-edged swords in the US-China Cold War High Capacity.
April Politburo Study Session on AI is bad news for Nvidia Sinocism
Global BYD Phenomenal World
Apple aims to source all US iPhones from India in pivot away from China FT
European Disunion
Beijing to Brussels: Trade diversion concerns unnecessary Pekingnology
EU executive says it could target apps using China’s DeepSeek AI Euractiv
As China eases up on EU lawmakers, Brussels stays the course on Xinjiang sanctions South China Morning Post
Von der Leyen and Trump agree to arrange bilateral meeting after Rome encounter Ukrainska Pravda
Patrick Lawrence: Germany in Crisis Part 3: A Culture of Submission Scheerpost
India-Pakistan
Despite SC Ruling, J&K Authorities Demolish Homes of Pahalgam Suspects, Others, Without Notice The Wire
Pak takes ’emergency’ steps to secure drug supplies after India trade halt Business Standard
The Dastardly Attack in Kashmir Points to a Deliberate Campaign of Proxy Warfare Waged Against India Madras Courier
‘Jihad was created by the West’ – Pakistani defense minister RT
Syraqistan
Many Injured and Killed in Huge Explosion in Iran’s Bandar Abbas Port Maritime Executive
Iran probes massive explosion at strategic port, focus on Chinese rocket fuel shipments Ynet
There is still no evidence yet as to whether the explosion in Bandar Abbas, Iran, that has left at least 500 people injured, was an accident, or whether it was an act of sabotage, and if the latter, by whom.
But it is happening in a context in which many of us had predicted… pic.twitter.com/94HLw37KAO
— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) April 26, 2025
Theory that today’s awful explosion in Bandar Abbas was caused by missile propellant shipped from China doesn’t square with the fact that it occurred at a busy commercial port.
Sensitive weapons components would almost certainly be moved via a closed port under military control.
— Gregory Brew (@gbrew24) April 26, 2025
3rd round of Iran-US nuclear talks ends, with Tehran describing negotiations ‘more serious’ Anadolu Agency
***
Israel Is Using Suicide Drones to Target Displaced Palestinian Families Sheltering in Tents Drop Site
The Genocide in Palestine is Powered by Zionism, Not “AI” The Anti-Empire Project
“the only thing that gives me some joy is that while all the zios were celebrating and laughing at me im over here thinking yall hit a Jew w. a damn israhelli passport!!! great job”
A NY woman shares on Instagram in a post that she is Jewish and has an Israeli passport and was… https://t.co/scYrqVaWdz pic.twitter.com/LzqbpVJQoo
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) April 26, 2025
Africa
Making sense of Scott Bessent’s critique of the IMF and World Bank Grieve Chelwa
New Not-So-Cold War
Zelensky UK/EU Leaders Chase Trump In Rome; Starmer Coalition Disintegrates; US Russia Moscow Talks Alexander Mercouris (video)
Trump floats tougher Russia sanctions, meets Zelenskyy for first time since Oval Office blowup CNBC
Yes, More Cowbell, Please. Andrei Martyanov
Read between the lines News Forensics
Documents expose differences over U.S. peace drive for Ukraine Reuters
***
Russia confirms North Korean troops are in Ukraine and claims Kursk region is retaken NBC News
‘Ukrainian agent’ involved in Russian general’s assassination detained – FSB RT
CIA official’s son killed while fighting in Ukraine, spy agency says NBC News
Finland invests in future rail link to Norwegian Sea The Barents Observer. For the transportation of NATO equipment.
Berlin to ban Russian flags on Victory Day Al Mayadeen
Chokepoints
Trump Says US Ships Need Free Travel Through Panama, Suez Canals gCaptain
L’affaire Epstein
Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent abuse survivors, dies by suicide NBC News
Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre previously said “in no way, shape or form am I suicidal…”
“Too many evil people want to see me quieted.”
Today, her death was ruled a suicide. pic.twitter.com/Q69ZDOwNQa
— Remarks (@remarks) April 26, 2025
After Virginia Giuffre’s reported “suicide”, other Epstein survivors are stepping forward, making it clear to the world that they are not suicidal.
Juliette Bryant, who says she was kidnapped by Jeffrey Epstein over two decades ago, claims she met Epstein in Africa while he was… pic.twitter.com/lIMC4mgJyJ
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) April 26, 2025
Trump 2.0
The Untold Story of How Ed Martin Ghostwrote Online Attacks Against a Judge — and Still Became a Top Trump Prosecutor ProPublica
Republicans propose shutting down US audit regulator PCAOB Cryptopolitan
“Liberation Day”
REPORT: Walmart and Other U.S. Retailers Reportedly Notify Chinese Suppliers to Resume Shipments But Tariffs Cost Will be on U.S. Firms.
Several Chinese exporters said that major U.S. retailers, including Walmart, have informed some Chinese suppliers to resume shipments after…
— Ray Wang (@rwang07) April 26, 2025
DOGE
THE CRISIS AT SOCIAL SECURITY ILLUSTRATES ELON MUSK AND DOGE’S PLAN: EXPLODE THE NUMBER AND SEVERITY OF IMPROPER PAYMENTS. Notes on the Crises
DOGE Worker’s Code Supports NLRB Whistleblower Krebs on Security
MAHA
USDA withdraws proposal to reduce Salmonella in poultry CIDRAP
Police State Watch
DOJ Memo Shows Trump Admin Ordered ICE to Conduct Warrantless Home Invasions Common Dreams
Trump administration lawyers admit they seized Mahmoud Khalil without a warrant WSWS
Judge says 2-year-old US citizen appears to have been deported with ‘no meaningful process’ Politico
TEXAS POLICE ARE SLOWLY JOINING WHAT COULD BE A ‘GIANT ICE ARMY’ Texas Observer
***
“Deranged” Milwaukee judge’s arrest a warning to others, Bondi says Axios
Judge Hannah Dugan’s Arrest Is ‘Not Unprecedented’ Newsweek
Wisconsin Judge Monica Isham Threatens Not to Hold Court Over Hannah Dugan Arrest Wisconsin Right Now
ICE’S FAKE WARRANT: WHY JUDGE HANNAH DUGAN’S ARREST IS A POLITICAL STUNT FOR TRUMP’S AUTOCRATIC AGENDA Milwaukee Independent
Read the charges against Judge Dugan, arrested by FBI in ICE case Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
What to know about Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, the man who appeared in judge Hannah Dugan’s Milwaukee courtroom Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Healthcare?
Would You Rather Get Care in the U.S. or Abroad? MedPage Today
The Friendly Skies
A flight carrying hundreds had to divert after someone’s tablet got stuck in a business class seat Insider
Our Famously Free Press
Trump DOJ goon threatens Wikipedia The Verge
Trump’s aggressive actions against free speech speak a lot louder than his words defending it Kansas Reflector
Imperial Collapse Watch
How to Lose a Tech War ChinaTalk
Class Warfare
More Americans are financing groceries with buy now, pay later loans — and more are paying those bills late, survey says CNBC
Largest federal employee union, a leading Trump opponent, to lay off more than half of staff AP
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
