The Black Death by Thomas Asbridge Review – a Medieval Horror Story
Thomas Asbridge’s new book, The Black Death, offers a sweeping survey of the 14th‑century pandemic, estimating roughly 100 million deaths and a 50% mortality rate in many regions. The work emphasizes the plague’s truly global reach, stretching from Sicily to West Africa and the Middle East, and draws striking parallels to modern Covid‑19 responses. By weaving micro‑histories of individuals—from royalty to artisans—Asbridge illustrates how societies coped, adapted, and sometimes collapsed. He also links the pandemic to lasting social upheavals, including labor shortages, the decline of serfdom, and waves of antisemitic violence.
‘A Surrender to Special Interests’: Alarm as Utah Shields Fossil-Fuel Companies
Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed HB 222, a climate‑liability shield that bars most civil and criminal actions against fossil‑fuel producers unless a court finds a specific permit violation. The bill, drafted by Rep. Carl Albrecht and modeled on the Energy Freedom...
Worker for US Defense Contractor Killed in Iraq as Colleagues Say They Are Pressured to Stay
A Kenyan employee of US defense contractor V2X was killed and five others injured in a night drone attack on Erbil airbase on March 24. Workers say V2X is pressuring staff to remain in Iraq, threatening termination and blacklisting for...
#MilitaryTok Reactions to Iran War Stray From White House Messaging: ‘Now I’m Regretting Everything’
TikTok’s #MilitaryTok community is posting candid, often humorous videos that reveal anxiety and skepticism about the U.S.‑Israel‑Iran conflict, directly contradicting the White House’s upbeat, video‑game‑style rhetoric. Service members use the platform to share personal concerns, meme‑ified reactions, and real‑time speculation...
Six Great Reads: The OnlyFans Legacy, Stolen Cargo and Meta’s ‘Creepy’ Glasses
The Guardian’s roundup highlights six diverse stories: the death of OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky raises questions about the platform’s future revenue model; a harrowing interview reveals a cult leader’s abusive control over her family; the UK faces a surge in...
Republican Leaders Agree to Advance Funding Deal to End DHS Shutdown
Republican leaders House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune agreed to move forward with legislation that funds most Department of Homeland Security operations while excluding immigration enforcement agencies such as ICE and parts of Customs and Border...
Trump Says He Is ‘Absolutely’ Considering Withdrawing US From Nato
President Donald Trump announced he is "absolutely" considering withdrawing the United States from NATO after European allies declined to join the US‑Israeli war against Iran. The stance marks the most aggressive anti‑NATO rhetoric of his administration and has sparked warnings...
‘Vaginal Estrogen as a Face Filler? I Think Not’: Experts Critique the New Skincare Trend
A viral TikTok trend is encouraging users to apply vaginal estrogen cream as a facial filler, citing its purported collagen‑boosting effects. Dermatology experts caution that the practice is off‑label, lacks robust clinical evidence, and may lead to systemic hormone absorption...
‘Death Hunted Him Since He Was a Kid’: How Lamar Odom Survived to Become a Villain in His Own Tale
Netflix’s Untold series releases *The Death & Life of Lamar Odom*, a 90‑minute documentary that revisits the former NBA champion’s 2015 overdose at a Nevada brothel and his subsequent medical coma. The film features Odom’s unvarnished reflections on addiction, family...
How Could US Forcibly Reopen Strait of Hormuz and What Are the Risks?
President Donald Trump is leveraging a newly deployed U.S. ground force to consider a forcible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that handles roughly 20% of global oil shipments. Iran’s threat to bomb its own territory and the...
Malnourished Children and Desperate Mothers: The Healthcare Facility on the Frontline of Nigeria’s Hunger Crisis
A frontline health centre in Kaita, Katsina state, run by the Alliance for International Medical Action (Alima), is treating thousands of children suffering acute malnutrition as Nigeria’s hunger crisis deepens. The Red Cross warns up to 33 million Nigerians could face...
Motherhood, Makeup and Zumba: The Rehabilitation of One of Mexico’s Most Dangerous Prisons
The high‑security Cereso prison in Cancún, once deemed one of Mexico’s most dangerous facilities, has undergone a government‑led overhaul that emphasizes rehabilitation for its 284 female inmates. New infrastructure, a military‑backed administration, and programs such as Zumba, crafts, and psychology...
The Delusion of Easy Victory From the Air May Have Seduced the US Into Another War
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “Epic Fury” air campaign against Iran echoes a century‑old doctrine that champions massive aerial bombardment to break civilian morale. The article traces the lineage from Giulio Douhet’s 1921 treatise through World War II firebombing, Desert Storm, Kosovo,...
Influencers Are Drinking Shots of Olive Oil and Lemon Juice. Should You?
Influencers on TikTok and Instagram are promoting daily shots of olive oil and lemon juice, claiming benefits for skin, digestion, and detox. Experts note the olive oil’s monounsaturated fats and polyphenols support heart health, while lemon juice offers vitamin C for...
‘Bit of Treachery’: US Attack on IRIS Dena Undermines Indian Security Ties
A U.S. nuclear‑powered submarine fired a Mark 48 torpedo that sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in international waters near Sri Lanka, killing at least 84 crew members. The vessel was returning from an Indian‑hosted fleet review, a diplomatic event that also...
CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen on Being the only Western Journalist in Iran: ‘It’s Obviously a Big Responsibility’
CNN senior correspondent Frederik Pleitgen spent a week as the sole Western television journalist with a visa inside war‑torn Iran, navigating active combat zones and government‑imposed movement restrictions. He and producer Claudia Otto narrowly escaped anti‑aircraft fire and explosions while...
Former NBA Star Chris Washburn Reflects on Drugs, Downfall and Second Chances
Former NBA No. 3 overall pick Chris Washburn recounts his rapid rise and fall in a new memoir, detailing how cocaine addiction derailed a promising career that lasted just two seasons and 72 games. He describes the isolation, homelessness, multiple arrests...
Senate Again Fails to Pass Homeland Security Funding as Department Shutdown Nears One Month – Live
The Senate again failed to pass a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, leaving a partial shutdown approaching one month after a 51‑46 vote and only one Democrat breaking ranks. The impasse stalls immigration enforcement, TSA staffing and...
Israeli Military Drops Charges Against Soldiers Accused of Gaza Detainee Abuse
Israel’s military attorney general, Itay Offir, announced the dismissal of all charges against five soldiers accused of violently abusing and raping a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman detention centre. Prosecutors said the victim’s return to Gaza under the October 2025 cease‑fire...
Try Small Steps and Set the Bar Low: How to Find the Meaning of Life
Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, former Apple engineers, apply design‑thinking principles to personal purpose in their new book *How to Live a Meaningful Life*. They argue that the current meaning crisis—exacerbated by the pandemic, AI‑driven job fears, and economic slowdown—can...
Two Plasma Donors Die at Private Canadian Clinics Under Federal Investigation
Two plasma donors died while donating at Grifols clinics in Winnipeg, prompting a federal investigation by Health Canada. The agency disclosed fatal adverse reactions reported in October 2025 and January 2026 and noted multiple compliance deficiencies at Grifols facilities, including...
Colon Cancer Now Leading Cause of Cancer Deaths Under 50 in US
A new American Cancer Society analysis shows colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death for Americans under 50, overtaking all other malignancies. Roughly three‑quarters of these young patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage because routine colonoscopies...
‘We All Want to Know What He Was Doing in the Bedroom’: Kerouac’s Unseen Archive Goes on Show in New...
"Running Through Heaven: Visions of Jack Kerouac" at New York’s Grolier Club showcases never‑before‑seen letters, personal objects, and a copy of Dostoevsky that inspired the show’s title. Curated by collector Jacob Loewentheil, the exhibition highlights early drafts of Kerouac’s spontaneous prose, his...
A War Foretold: How the CIA and MI6 Got Hold of Putin’s Ukraine Plans and Why Nobody Believed Them
In late 2021 CIA Director William Burns warned Vladimir Putin of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine, based on extensive U.S. and British intelligence that accurately mapped Putin’s plans. Despite detailed satellite imagery, intercepted communications and human sources, many European intelligence...
Republicans and Democrats Unite to Condemn Trump’s Attacks on Allies
At the Munich Security Conference, both Republicans and Democrats openly condemned President Donald Trump’s tariff agenda, unpredictable foreign‑policy moves, and his claim over Greenland. High‑profile figures such as Hillary Clinton, Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Elissa Slotkin and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez...
Ukrainian Civilian Casualties Surged by 26% in 2025, Say Researchers
Researchers at Action on Armed Violence reported a 26% increase in Ukrainian civilian casualties in 2025, with 2,248 deaths and 12,493 injuries attributed to Russian explosive attacks. The average strike wounded or killed 4.8 civilians, 33% higher than the previous...
ICE Director Refuses to Commit to Pausing Operations for 2026 World Cup
Acting ICE director Todd Lyons told a House Homeland Security committee that ICE will remain fully operational during the 2026 World Cup, refusing to pledge a pause around match venues. The tournament will draw up to 10 million visitors to 11...
