Landmark ancient-genome study shows surprise acceleration of human evolution Nature
Conflict Has Memory: Why Local Wars Follow Distinct Trajectories Irregular Warfare Initiative
Climate/Environment
Scores of Forest Service plans could be upended after Boundary Waters mining vote Stateline
A newly recognized pollutant is widely present in the atmosphere Phys.org
March 2026 was the third-worst month for drought in observed history for the United States.
The only two worse months were July and August 1934, during the infamous Dust Bowl. pic.twitter.com/iBt50BW8Y9
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) April 16, 2026
The ocean off California keeps breaking heat records Los Angeles Times
Judges overseeing Louisiana’s landmark oil cases have financial stakes in defendants Floodlight
Pandemics
Burials of unclaimed people in NYC soared early in COVID pandemic, suggesting worsened disparities CIDRAP
Researchers draw parallels between plague victims and COVID-19 pandemic CTV News
‘It’s a powder keg’: Romania leads EU measles cases as vaccination rates collapse The Guardian
The Koreas
S. Korea explores crude oil, naphtha supply with Algeria, Libya amid Mideast conflict Yonhap
Japan
Japan-NATO cooperation enters new ‘concrete’ phase, Tokyo’s envoy to alliance says The Japan Times
China?
Should the US Buy from CXMT? ChinaTalk
Map of Chongqing’s metro system in 3D.
Chongqing is called the “mountain city”. Building metro here is more difficult than in plain cities.
Chongqing’s metro total length ranks 7th in the world, with over 550 km. pic.twitter.com/J3MJLqjlyJ
— Li Zexin 李泽欣 (@XH_Lee23) April 17, 2026
Southeast Asia
Indonesia, US forge defence partnership Intellinews
U.S. to Create High-Tech Manufacturing Zone in Philippines WSJ
High debt ties Philippines’ hands in response to energy crisis: IMF The Star
India
“Machines are standing still”: Fuel shortages disrupt wheat harvest in Uttar Pradesh Down to Earth
Interview: Why India and other Asian powers need to fundamentally rethink their Gulf strategy India Inside Out by Rohan Venkat
Syraqistan
As world focuses on Iran, Israel ‘engineering starvation policy’ in Gaza Al Jazeera
All they will find is sand London Review of Books
***
Drone Kills Lebanon Man Minutes After Trump Said Israel Prohibited From Striking Antiwar
What happened in Islamabad regarding Lebanon? Conflicts Forum
***
Iran says reasserted control over Strait of Hormuz amid US ‘piracy, blockade’ Press TV. And before that…
Trump claims Iran has agreed to indefinitely suspend its nuclear program ANadolu Agency
Trump says Strait of Hormuz ‘completely open’ as US blockade on Iranian ports continues Fox News
Iran Requiring IRGC Coordination for Hormuz Transits Reuters
Personally, I believe Trump is probably saying all this nonsense about agreements with Iran so that he can later claim, “Iran didn’t keep its promises” – promises Iran never made. The chances of renewed murderous aggression from Trump and Netanyahu are high.
Iran is ready.
— Seyed Mohammad Marandi (@s_m_marandi) April 17, 2026
Iran hardliners attack Araghchi’s Hormuz tweet as ‘incomplete and misleading’ Intellinews
Africa
Israel appoints first ambassador to Somaliland after recognition Geeska
US Launches Airstrike in Somalia as US-Backed Government Claims Major Al-Shabaab Casualties Antiwar
IMF Tells Nigerians to Suffer in Silence as War Drives Oil Prices Past 113 Dollars West Africa Weekly
Nigeria’s forest bandits and the geography of governance Review of African Political Economy
European Disunion
Brussels to propose ‘voluntary’ jet fuel sharing as shortages loom Euractiv
Old Blighty
Starmer’s go-to excuse: ‘I was in the dark’. Don’t believe it. He’s deeply in the loop Jonathan Cook
New Not-So-Cold War
War: better late than never Julian MacFarlane
Budanov – Russian agent? Events in Ukraine
South of the Border
US will help Peru ‘take back’ Chancay port from China, Congress chair says South China Morning Post
Soy Republics Phenomenal World
Trump 2.0
Trump puts the FBI on case of missing NASA and nuclear research scientists: ‘No stone will be unturned’ The Independent
White House Wants a Nuclear Reactor Orbiting the Moon by 2028 OilPrice
***
New DoD leader connected to firm that trained Khashoggi’s killers Responsible Statecraft
MAGA Is Increasingly Convinced the Trump Assassination Attempt Was Staged Wired
Democrats Suck
Imperial Collapse Watch
The Epstein Cabal Wants ALL of the Americas, as Iran Craftily Maneuvers an Unsteady Ceasefire—The War Is Not Over. Fiorella Isabel and Vanessa Beeley
They Needed a Recession Savage Minds
How did the US run out of missiles in Iran? Doomsday Scenario
Big Brother Is Watching You Watch
SOLD OUT AT 2AM – Part 1 The Leah Files
The Shocking Secrets of Madison Square Garden’s Surveillance Machine Wired
Home Depot Shareholders to Vote on Whether Parking Lot Cameras Are Helping ICE Find Customers Migrant Insider
Agriculture
Optimism Wanes for Hard Winter Wheat Progressive Farmer
High-tech robotic dogs now on patrol guarding valuable corn crops The Fence Post
Groves of Academe
A place I once called home Synergies
Florida’s Billionaires Want More Private Schools. So They’re Building Their Own. WSJ
Our Famously Free Press
Online Personalities and Comedians Overtake TV and Newspapers as Primary News Sources Hollywood Reporter
Antitrust
Newly unsealed records reveal Amazon’s price-fixing tactics, California attorney general claims The Guardian
Mr. Market
$760M short on oil. Placed 20 minutes before the Hormuz announcement.
This is the 3rd time.
March 23: $500M short — 15 minutes before Trump delayed Iran strikes. Oil dropped 15%.
April 7: $950M short — hours before the US-Iran ceasefire.
April 17: $760M short — 20 minutes before…— Qasem Al-Ali (@AlaliQasem) April 17, 2026
Economy
Hold the Champagne: Oil Recovery Faces Weeks of Delay as Supply Chain Shocks Deepen gCaptain. “Weeks”?
Loss of energy output in Middle East due to Iran war will take about 2 years to recover: IEA chief Business Times
Guillotine Watch
The alternative reality of Lauren Sanchez Bezos Oligarch Watch
AI
Spotify AI Hijacking Crisis Intensifies: High-Profile Jazz Musicians Are Now Waking Up to Fake Album Releases and Artist Page Takeovers Digital Music News
How Angine de Poitrine’s Intricate Math Rock Defies Generative AI Formulas for Text-Prompted Music Laughing Squid
Class Warfare
If only more restaurants would do this pic.twitter.com/S2QU7WuP59
— 👑 (@coffeededo_o) April 17, 2026
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
