NuseReal
Headlines for internationalists
Major news
Trump reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug in a historic shift — 23 April 2026 (LINK)
— Most US states now allow medical or recreational consumption of marijuana, though it remains illegal at the federal level.
US Senate Republicans clear go-it-alone path for ICE funding — 23 April 2026 (LINK)
US Senate Republicans approve budget measure, teeing up bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol — 23 April 2026 (LINK)
US: Virginia judge blocks redistricting referendum result that boosted Democrats' election hopes — 22 April 2026 (LINK)
Pete Hegseth fires U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan — 22 April 2026 (LINK)
Intercept: Pentagon erases wounded U.S. troops from Iran war casualty list: "definition of a cover-up" — 22 April 2026 (LINK)
— On the day the ceasefire between the Trump administration and Iran took effect, the tally of U.S. dead and wounded was 385. Despite a pause in hostilities, the number had slowly risen to 428 on Monday, according to Pentagon statistics. Yet on Tuesday, the number of wounded-in-action troops declined by 15 troops without public comment from the War Department, dropping the total to 413. The count held steady on Wednesday, except for one public War Department tally that put the "grand total" of wounded and dead at 411. Two Pentagon spokespersons said they were unable to field questions on the 15 casualties disappeared by the War Department on Tuesday.
Judge tosses Kash Patel's defamation suit against former MSNBC contributor Frank Figliuzzi — 22 April 2026 (LINK)
— "Yeah, well, reportedly, he's been visible at nightclubs far more than he has been on the seventh floor of the Hoover building," Figliuzzi said on "Morning Joe" show last year. Figliuzzi's lawyers argued that "this comment was a sarcastic, hyperbolic remark that receives protection from defamation liability." "A person of reasonable intelligence and learning would not have taken his statement literally," the judge said.
Breaking news
Russian oil to Slovakia resumes flowing through pipeline that crosses Ukraine: expected to unblock a large financial assistance package for Ukraine — 23 April 2026 (LINK)
Trump orders US military to ‘shoot and kill’ Iranian small boats choking Strait of Hormuz — 23 April 2026 (LINK)
AP: More confusion looms over Strait of Hormuz after Iran attacks three ships near waterway — 22 April 2026 (LINK)
Trump gives Iran days to end power struggle, return to peace talks — 21 April 2026 (LINK)
— Axios: IRGC generals now in control of the country and Iran's civilian negotiators are openly at odds over strategy.
Time: Trump says he does not want to extend cease-fire as Iran insists it will 'not negotiate under threat' — 21 April 2026 (LINK)
President Donald Trump said he thinks that the U.S. is "going to end up with a great deal" with Iran to end the war — 21 April 2026 (LINK)
Three ships including an Iranian vessel appear to cross Hormuz Strait as US and Iranian blockades remain in place — 21 April 2026 (LINK)
Scammers cast phishing nets wide in Hormuz with promises of safe passage for ships — 21 April 2026 (LINK)
Japan lifts ban on lethal weapons exports in major shift of pacifist policy: Japanese newspapers said the changes would encompass fighter jets, missiles and warships, which Japan has recently agreed to build for Australia — 21 April 2026 (LINK)
Gunman who fired on tourists at Mexican pyramid carried materials related to 1999 Columbine massacre. Monday marked the 27th anniversary of the massacre in Colorado — 21 April 2026 (LINK)
— The attack killed a Canadian woman and left at least 13 people injured. Taken to hospitals were six people from the U.S., three from Colombia, one from Russia, one from Brazil, one from the Netherlands and one from Canada, the local government said. The youngest person who was hurt was 6; the oldest was 61, Mexican authorities said.
US: Florida Democrat resigns from Congress minutes before House ethics panel was set to weigh her expulsion — 21 April 2026 (LINK)
— Congress previously found Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of a slew of ethics violations, including accusations that she stole millions in pandemic relief funds and used it to bolster her 2021 campaign. Her attorney decried the congressional investigation, arguing that the panel had put the congresswoman — who faces separate federal criminal charges — in an unfair position.
— The Democrat's departure marks the third resignation from the House in the last seven days. Reps. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, and Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, resigned last week amid a torrent of explosive allegations against them and the threat of expulsion votes.
Sacked UK Foreign Office chief, Olly Robbins, describes 'pressure' from No 10 and 'dismissive' attitude to Mandelson vetting to be US ambassador — 21 April 2026 (LINK)
— Robbins was sacked after the prime minister discovered he did not tell him that Mandelson had failed the vetting process to be the US ambassador. Guardian: "Robbins still believes that he and the Foreign Office made the correct decision — the PM's position is the exact opposite."
Airlines, though not in the US, are about to run out of jet fuel because of the Iran war, but costs are rising, and United has cut its previously planned schedule by about 5% over the next six months — 21 April 2026 (LINK)
US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is leaving Trump's Cabinet after abuse of power allegations, including having an affair with a subordinate and drinking alcohol on the job — 20 April 2026 (LINK)
Major news
Trump reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug in a historic shift — 23 April 2026 (LINK)
— Most US states now allow medical or recreational consumption of marijuana, though it remains illegal at the federal level.
US Senate Republicans clear go-it-alone path for ICE funding — 23 April 2026 (LINK)
US Senate Republicans approve budget measure, teeing up bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol — 23 April 2026 (LINK)
US: Virginia judge blocks redistricting referendum result that boosted Democrats' election hopes — 22 April 2026 (LINK)
Pete Hegseth fires U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan — 22 April 2026 (LINK)
Intercept: Pentagon erases wounded U.S. troops from Iran war casualty list: "definition of a cover-up" — 22 April 2026 (LINK)
— On the day the ceasefire between the Trump administration and Iran took effect, the tally of U.S. dead and wounded was 385. Despite a pause in hostilities, the number had slowly risen to 428 on Monday, according to Pentagon statistics. Yet on Tuesday, the number of wounded-in-action troops declined by 15 troops without public comment from the War Department, dropping the total to 413. The count held steady on Wednesday, except for one public War Department tally that put the "grand total" of wounded and dead at 411. Two Pentagon spokespersons said they were unable to field questions on the 15 casualties disappeared by the War Department on Tuesday.
Judge tosses Kash Patel's defamation suit against former MSNBC contributor Frank Figliuzzi — 22 April 2026 (LINK)
— "Yeah, well, reportedly, he's been visible at nightclubs far more than he has been on the seventh floor of the Hoover building," Figliuzzi said on "Morning Joe" show last year. Figliuzzi's lawyers argued that "this comment was a sarcastic, hyperbolic remark that receives protection from defamation liability." "A person of reasonable intelligence and learning would not have taken his statement literally," the judge said.
Miscellaneous
Warner Bros Discovery shareholders approve sale to Paramount Skydance but cast an advisory vote against executive compensation plans tied to the deal. — 23 April 2026 (LINK)
— Al Jazeera: HBO Max, valuable titles like Harry Potter and even CNN could soon find themselves under the same roof with CBS, Top Gun and the Paramount+ streaming service. Attention now turns to regulatory authorities, with both Washington and London expected to examine the merger's impact on competition. Paramount triumphed over Netflix in a months-long bidding war. The merger has faced considerable opposition from actors, filmmakers and theatre groups that have raised concerns about the loss of a major studio and its impact on the creative community, theatre owners and moviegoers.
International Finance Bank confirms XRP as a payment rail within ILP stream protocol — 22 April 2026 (LINK)
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