Hormuz Traffic Remains At Standstill, U.S. Seizes Iranian Ship
April 20th, 2026Via: ZeroHedge:
Traffic through the strait on Sunday and Monday was reduced to a trickle following a Saturday surge, after Tehran rejected a continuing US naval blockade and moved to seal the waterway again. The reduced movement underscores just how quickly hopes unraveled that cargoes could once again resume.
Insider Trading on Iran War
April 18th, 2026From 2008: They Made a Killing: The Use of Knowledge of Covert Operations in the Stock Market
Via: Guardian:
Sixteen bets made $100,000 each accurately predicting the timing of the US airstrikes against Iran on 27 February. Later, a single user would make over $550,000 after betting that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would topple, just moments before his assassination by Israeli forces. On 7 April, right before Donald Trump announced a temporary ceasefire with Iran, traders bet $950m that oil prices would come down. They did.
These bets and other well-timed wagers accurately predicted the precise timing of major developments in the US-Israel war with Iran, creating huge windfalls and raising concerns among lawmakers and experts over potential insider trading.
Betting – once largely siloed to sporting events – has now spread to include contracts on news events where insider information could give some traders an advantage.
The proliferation of online betting markets like Polymarket and Kalshi has allowed bets on virtually any news event. It’s also easier than ever to buy commodity derivatives like oil futures, where traders gamble on what the price of oil will be in the future.
The One About Trump Disclosing Information About Aliens and UFOs
April 18th, 2026*eye roll*
Via: ZeroHedge:
President Donald Trump announced April 17 that he expects his administration to begin releasing documents “very soon” related to extraterrestrial life and unexplained phenomena.
“As you remember, I recently directed the Secretary of War … to begin releasing government files relating to UFOs and unexplained aerial phenomena,” Trump told an audience in Phoenix, Arizona. “I’m pleased to report today … that this process is well underway and we’ve found many very interesting documents, I must say. And, the first releases will begin very, very soon.”
IRAN OPENS FIRE ON SHIPS AFTER STRAIT OF HORMUZ CLOSURE
April 18th, 2026Via: Daily Mail:
Iran has opened fire on ships trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz after shutting the key waterway again, according to reports citing maritime sources, as tankers turned around and ran for cover.
At least two Indian merchant vessels reported being hit by gunfire as they attempted to pass through the narrow waterway on Saturday, three shipping and security sources told Reuters.
The extent of the damage was not immediately clear. One of the vessels was carrying 2million barrels of Iraqi oil.
Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran’s navy was ready to inflict ‘new bitter defeats’ on its enemies in a message posted on Telegram.
The convoy that had begun moving through the strait quickly scattered, with vessel tracking data showing ships dispersing after what had been the first major movement since the start of the war.
It came after Iran moved to re-start the blockade, saying the Strait of Hormuz had been shut once more after the US refused to lift what Tehran describes as a naval blockade of its ports.
Donald Trump warned he could ‘start dropping bombs again’ if the fragile ceasefire collapses.
Iran Declares Hormuz ‘Completely Open,’ Citing Lebanon Ceasefire Update: Closed Again
April 17th, 2026
Update: Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Again Over U.S. Blockade
Via: DW:
Iran has reversed its decision of reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, as the US maintains a blockade on the Islamic republic’s ports.
Iran’s military announced the decision in a statement carried by Iranian media.
The strait, through which a fifth of crude oil and petroleum products pass, was reopened on Friday after remaining mostly closed amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, effectively creating among the worst energy crises in modern history.
—
Via: USA Today:
Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz “completely open” to all commercial vessels, the country’s foreign minister said, meeting a central demand of the U.S. as the two countries tease another round of peace talks and the clock winds down on a delicate two-week ceasefire.
In his announcement on Friday, Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the declaration was made possible by a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, which appeared to be holding on Friday.
Iran had maintained that Israel must stop attacking Lebanon before Iranian leaders would continue peace talks with the U.S.
President Donald Trump said shortly after the ceasefire announcement on Thursday that he may travel to Pakistan to approve a peace deal.
Both Iranian and U.S. officials said another round of negotiations could soon occur, though no timetable has been set. Trump on Thursday said talks could pick up as soon as this weekend.
Ivermectin and Mebendazole vs Cancer
April 16th, 2026The design of this is a bit of a mess, which is acknowledged in the paper. Self reporting. Various other therapies also used.
But…
Still interesting, in my opinion.
Via: Dr. John Campbell:
Trump Announces 10-Day Ceasefire Between Israel and Lebanon
April 16th, 2026Via: Daily Mail:
President Donald Trump announced a ten–day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, describing the truce as an initial step toward a permanent end to hostilities between the two nations.
He also mentioned an invitation he sent to the prime minister of Israel and the Lebanese president for further talks at the White House.
The announcement, made via Trump’s Truth Social platform, follows high–level discussions held in Washington earlier this week. The ceasefire is scheduled to take effect today at 5pm EST.
The President stated that the agreement was reached following personal conversations with the Israeli and Lebanese leaders, noting that representatives from both countries met in Washington on Tuesday, marking the first such diplomatic encounter in 34 years.
Europe Has Only Six Weeks Supply of Jet Fuel Left
April 16th, 2026Via: The Guardian:
Europe has only six weeks’ supply of jet fuel left before shortages will hit because of the Iran war, according to the head of a global energy watchdog.
Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, said there would be flight cancellations “soon” if oil supplies from the Middle East were not restored within the coming weeks.
“I can tell you soon we will hear the news that some of the flights from city A to city B might be cancelled as a result of lack of jet fuel,” he told the Associated Press.
Pentagon Approaches Automakers, Manufacturers to Boost Weapons Production
April 16th, 2026Via: Reuters:
Senior U.S. defense officials ?have ?held talks about producing weapons ?and other military supplies with top executives of ?companies including General Motors and Ford Motor, the Wall Street Journal reported on ?Wednesday, citing people familiar with ?the discussions.
The preliminary and wide-ranging talks, which started before the war ?in ?Iran, come as the Trump administration wants automakers and other ?American manufacturers to play a larger role in weapons production, the Journal said.
Defense officials told the newspaper that American manufacturers might be needed to backstop traditional ?defense contractors and asked whether the companies could rapidly shift to ?defense work.
GE ?Aerospace and vehicle and ?machinery ?maker Oshkosh were among the companies involved in the talks with defense ?officials, the Journal added.
Is Cuba Next?
April 15th, 2026Via: USA Today:
Military planning for a possible Pentagon-led operation in Cuba is quietly ramping up, in case President Donald Trump gives an order to intervene there, USA TODAY has learned.
Two sources familiar with the order spoke to USA TODAY on condition of anonymity because they’re not authorized to speak to media.
The directives appear to be an escalation of recent tensions between the U.S. and Cuba that began in January when the Trump administration curbed oil shipments to Cuba as part of a broader campaign to force sweeping political changes on the communist-run island.
