SpaceX Strikes Deal With Cursor for $60 Billion - The New York Times
The potential acquisition comes as Elon Musk’s rocket and satellite maker, which has been emphasizing artificial intelligence, is preparing to go public.
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| Michael Truell, the chief executive of Cursor, founded the start-up with three others in 2022.Big Event Media/Getty Images |
Rep. David Scott, Longtime Georgia Lawmaker, Dies at 80 - The New York Times
The former Georgia state lawmaker was an advocate for issues that affected Black communities. He drew attention for his refusal to exit politics amid health problems.
Opinion | Putin’s Army of Drones - The New York Times (Thanks to Melanie for this one)
Russia is reshaping the future of warfare in real time, building artificial intelligence-enabled command and control and, it appears, deploying fully autonomous weapons without the ethical constraints that govern Western militaries.
The stakes extend beyond the war in Ukraine, as the United States has learned firsthand during the war with Iran. Iranian Shahed drones being fielded by Tehran with Russian support have struck American equipment and installations in the Middle East. The advances Moscow is making in autonomous warfare will make such drone attacks even more devastating. Understanding Russia’s approach to the future of warfare is urgent for the United States.
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| A Russian kamikaze drone in Kyiv, Ukraine, last week.Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters |
As Fuel Protests Sweep Ireland, the Left Points to Imperialism as the Culprit | Truthout (Thanks to Chris for this one)
Activists in Ireland are refusing the co-optation of fuel protests by the far right and demanding government action.
FBI Director Kash Patel sues The Atlantic for article that alleged excessive drinking | PBS News (Thanks to Sara for this one)
Related: Another Kash Patel defamation lawsuit was just dismissed
A lawsuit FBI Director Kash Patel filed alleging that former FBI official Frank Figliuzzi defamed him has been dismissed.
In the suit, Patel said Figliuzzi defamed him during an MS Now appearance last May by saying Patel had “been visible at nightclubs far more than he has been on the seventh floor” of the FBI’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The Books You Should’ve Read at Every Age
What books, movies, music, or art would you put on the list?
US military seizes Iran-flagged ship trying to pass strait of Hormuz blockade | Strait of Hormuz | The Guardian (Thanks to Graydon for this one)
The Touska, the Iranian-Flagged Ship Seized by U.S. Forces, Was Under Sanctions - The New York Times
Marines are searching thousands of containers aboard the Touska, an Iranian cargo ship that the Navy disabled and seized on Sunday.
California Woman Is Arrested at LAX and Accused of Selling Weapons for Iran - The New York Times
Prosecutors said that Shamim Mafi, a legal permanent resident of the United States, helped facilitate millions of dollars in arms transfers from Iran.
Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz, but threatens to close it again as US maintains its blockade | AP News (Thanks to Sonia for this one)
Trump Says U.S. Officials Will Travel to Pakistan for Talks
Vice President JD Vance will again lead the U.S. delegation for talks mediated by Pakistan, a White House official said. There was no immediate comment from Tehran. The Strait of Hormuz remained largely closed. (Note: JD Vance will not be going to the talks due to security concerns voiced by the Secret Service)
For Iran, Flexing Control Over Waterway Is New Deterrent - The New York Times
Iran’s government could emerge from the conflict with a blueprint to keep adversaries at bay, regardless of any restrictions on its nuclear program.
Earth Day spotlight on water and wildlife | Reuters (Thanks to Chris for this one)
A report last year estimated that over 2.1 billion people lack safe drinking water, and more than 3.4 billion live without adequate sanitation.
Global demand for freshwater is expected to outstrip supply by up to 40% by the end of the decade, the World Bank estimates, with water-related shocks already costing some countries several percentage points of annual economic growth.
Pennsylvania May Soon Designate a New ‘Migratory Bird’
What do you think? Is it okay to have two state birds? Our game bird is the Ruff Grouse
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| The Scarlet Tanager. |
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| The Ruffed Grouse. |
Saudi Arabia says East-West pipeline restored to full capacity (Thanks to Finn for this one)
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| A dehydrator vessel pipe at the Khurais Processing Department in the Khurais oil field in Khurais, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, June 28, 2021. Maya Siddiqui/Bloomberg via Getty Images |
Thousands of Lebanese Try to Head Home After Israel-Lebanon Truce (Thanks to Matte for this one)
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia Israeli forces are battling in Lebanon, avoided mention of the 10-day cease-fire but appeared to be adhering to it. A truce could remove an obstacle in U.S.-Iran peace talks.
She Made Sure Her Baby Was Born an American. Then Federal Agents Separated Them. (Thanks to Haadi for this one)
Diana Acosta Verde, who came into the United States illegally when she was six months pregnant, had to leave her baby at a hospital while she returned to a detention center.
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| Diana Acosta Verde and her baby, Gael, at a farm in Honduras owned by her partner’s family earlier this month.Credit...Daniele Volpe for The New York Times |
Hampshire College Will Close Amid Student Enrollment Declines
Other small private colleges like Hampshire have closed in recent years as financial pressures and competition for students increase. Over 300 colleges have closed since 2008 in the U.S.
More than a quarter of private colleges are at risk of closing, a new projection shows
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| Hampshire College’s campus in Amherst, Mass.Credit...David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe, via Getty Images |
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| LillyAnne Keely holds a newborn lamb in the barn at Sterling College, which focuses on agriculture and related disciplines. Oliver Parini for The Hechinger Report |
Shakespeare’s long-lost London home is finally found
In the past 100 years, the spot has been an architecture firm, carpet wholesaler, and more.
Shakespeare’s ‘missing’ London house mapped with new discovery
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| Shakespeare likely spent the majority of his later life in Stratford-upon-Avon. Credit: Deposit Photos |
| Professor Lucy Munro, Professor of Shakespeare and Early Modern Literature at King's College London. |
Ceasefire in Lebanon goes into effect as Trump voices confidence in Iran deal (Thanks to Graydon for this one)
A pause in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed paramilitary group in Lebanon, could help pave the way for a peace deal with Tehran. It was unclear if the agreement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Lebanese government was being honored. Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia, acknowledged the temporary truce but did not say if it would abide by it.
Despite Cease-Fire, Iran’s Hackers Haven’t Logged Off
Tehran’s digital warriors have continued to seek ways to gain an advantage in the conflict in a new phase of cyberspace operations.
Iran Is Teaching Us Something About the American War Machine
Military superiority doesn't translate to victory in an age of cheap weaponry and asymmetric warfare.
White House Declines to Offer Congress an Estimate of Iran War Cost
Russell T. Vought, the White House budget director, said the fluctuating nature of the U.S.-Israeli war made it difficult to pinpoint expenses.
Pentagon Seeks Help From Ford and G.M.
Concerned about the slow pace and high cost of weapons production, Pentagon officials have begun talks with General Motors and Ford Motor about producing certain parts.
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| Celebratory gunfire illuminated the night sky over Lebanon early Friday after a cease-fire was to have taken effect between Israel and Lebanon.Hassan Ammar/Associated Press |
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| Russell T. Vought, the White House budget director, said he would not give an estimate of the cost of the conflict because he did not want to be inaccurate.Kenny Holston/The New York Times |
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| The Pentagon has met with Ford Motor and General Motors to gauge whether the auto industry may be able to help the military acquire vehicles, munitions and other hardware.Kenny Holston/The New York Times |
Meet Baggs, the Puppy That Could Save Your Life
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| Baggs “likes people, but she also really likes cruising around and sniffing,” said her owner, Rob Brennan, a Jackson Hole ski patroller. |
A.I. Has a Message Problem of Its Own Making
OpenAI’s Sam Altman wants to “de-escalate” the rhetoric around A.I. But if you tell people that your product will upend their way of life, take their jobs, and possibly threaten humanity, they might believe you.
How Project Maven Put A.I. Into the Kill Chain
A new book charts the creation of a secretive system that automates warfare for the military. The progression from target identification to target destruction is four clicks.
Misanthropic: on Mythos, bad human behaviors and systems vulnerabilities (JPMorgan Chase)
Our evaluation of Claude Mythos Preview’s cyber capabilities
We conducted cyber evaluations of Anthropic’s Claude Mythos Preview and found continued improvement in capture-the-flag (CTF) challenges and significant improvement on multi-step cyber-attack simulations.
It’s the End of the Internet as We Know It
Monsters in the Archives by Caroline Bicks review – the writing secrets of Stephen King
A deep dive into the horror novelist’s archives reveals pedantry, penny-pinching, and a total redraft of Carrie
Jury Finds Live Nation Acts as a Monopoly in a Victory for States
In a verdict that could have far-reaching consequences in the music industry, the live colossus that includes Ticketmaster was found to have violated antitrust laws.
Paris man wins $1M Picasso painting with $117 raffle ticket after ‘checking for hoax’ (Thanks to Bernadette for this one)
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| Organizer Peri Cochin talks via video call with Ari Hodara, the winner of the Picasso painting, after the raffle at Christie’s auction house, April 14, 2026. |
Iran Threatens Retaliation Over U.S. Blockade
Iran’s armed forces said they would attempt to expand their influence over sea lanes beyond the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. military continued to block Iranian shipping.
Trump’s Blockade Risks Upending an Emerging Détente With China
In a thinly veiled critique of the war in Iran, China’s leader said the world could not risk reverting “to the law of the jungle.”
How China’s Weapons Transfers to Iran Have Evolved Over Decades
China has denied claims this month by U.S. intelligence that it might have shipped arms to Iran. In recent years, China has supported Iran with dual-use parts.
Ship ‘Spoofing’ in Strait of Hormuz May Compound Confusion
A new pattern of deceptive activity by some vessels around the critical waterway suggests the new American blockade is changing how some ships linked to Iran are behaving.
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| A billboard depicting the Strait of Hormuz with a banner that says “Forever in Iran’s hands” in Tehran on Monday.Credit...Arash Khamooshi for The New York Times |
Mutually Automated Destruction: The Escalating Global A.I. Arms Race
China, the U.S., Russia and others have ramped up their contest over artificial-intelligence-backed weapons and military systems. The buildup has been compared to the dawn of the nuclear weapons age.
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| Anduril’s autonomous air vehicle, Fury, which recently began production at the company’s new factory outside Columbus, Ohio.Kristian Thacker for The New York Times |
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| An unmanned combat aerial vehicle at a parade for the Chinese military in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in September.Kevin Frayer/Getty Images |
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| A drone mother ship that can launch swarms of smaller drones, shown at the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow.Tingshu Wang/Reuters |
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| Palmer Luckey, the founder of Anduril, which developed A.I.-backed sensor towers to be placed at borders.Philip Cheung for The New York Times |
Defeat of Orban Removes Ukraine’s Biggest Nemesis in Europe - The New York Times
The Hungarian leader’s pro-Moscow tilt cemented his reputation in Kyiv as a spoiler. Now, Ukraine hopes a 90 billion euro loan he blocked will be disbursed.
Orban Loss May Ease Hungary’s Tensions with European Union - The New York Times
Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stymied the European Union for years, and particularly in recent months. Peter Magyar’s election could change that.
Who Is Peter Magyar, the Man Who Toppled Hungary’s Orban - The New York Times
Mr. Magyar’s success in the Hungarian election is fueled in large part by widespread public anger at corruption and concern about sluggish economic growth.
Suspect in Hacking of Climate Activists Is Extradited to New York
Prosecutors say Amit Forlit ran a global hacking operation on behalf of a Washington lobbying group that aimed to thwart environmental lawsuits against oil companies.
Emperor Penguins Are Now Endangered, a New Assessment Finds
Populations are declining as climate change causes the sea ice the birds need for survival to retreat, according to researchers.
Related:
Why Investing in Wind and Solar to Avoid Gas Shocks Hasn’t Added Up for Some
Renewable energy is cheaper to run than fossil fuels, especially with war choking oil supply. But it hasn’t turned out that way for some European countries, and the reason is complex.
Garcia breaks driver in frustration at Masters, then carries Rahm’s clubs in eventful early pairing (Thanks to Louden for this one)
Related: In the post-Tiger Woods era, Rory McIlroy is the lion golf needs - The Athletic
Would you go to the moon? Board an alien spacecraft? What nearly 80 years of polls say about US attitudes on space (Thanks to Finn for this one)
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Astronaut Edward H. White II floats outside the Gemini IV spacecraft on June 3, 1965, in the first American spacewalk. |
What to Know About the Strait of Hormuz Under the Cease-Fire (Thanks to Graydon for this one)
Vessels are wary of passing the coast of Iran in the strait, given the fragile agreement, and the number of ships traveling through it has even dropped.
Trump Says U.S. Will ‘Blockade’ Strait of Hormuz After No Peace Deal Reached
Vice President JD Vance said that marathon talks between the United States and Iran had failed to produce a deal to fully reopen the strait and end the war. Iran’s top negotiator suggested further talks were possible.
“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” Mr. Trump said on social media of his planned naval blockade.
President Trump’s announcement of a complete U.S. blockade was his latest effort to pressure Iran to negotiate after direct talks over the weekend did not yield an agreement.
How Iran, Suffering Under Sanctions, Diversified Its Economy - The New York Times
Iran War Live Updates: Oil Climbs Above $100 as U.S. Plans Hormuz Blockade - The New York Times
Related: Chinese Truck Drivers suffer under oil shock
How Tolls in the Strait of Hormuz Would Undercut International Law
Both the U.S. and Iran are now talking about imposing fees on ships using the vital passageway. That could fray a treaty that ended centuries of lawlessness on the high seas.
Climate Change Denial Sees a Resurgence in Trump’s Washington - The New York Times (Thanks to Haadi for this one)
A conference near the White House drew hundreds of people who reject the scientific consensus on climate change. The mood was triumphant.
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| William Happer, a Princeton professor emeritus of physics who has argued that global warming is good for humanity, during a presentation at the Heartland Institute’s International Climate Change Conference in Washington on Wednesday.Caroline Gutman for The New York Times |
Thousands of consumer routers hacked by Russia's military - Ars Technica (Thanks to Ms. Rodriguez for this one)
It also includes advice about how to check to see if your router is compromised.
Are You Using These TP-Link Routers? Russian Hackers Are Targeting Them | PCMag
