Study: California’s $20 minimum wage barely raised prices—and proved economists wrong about job loss | Fortune “The results are nowhere as dire as predicted,” Berkeley’s Michael Reich told Fortune.

Now it's time for the federal minimum wage to be addressed...

#Lebanon ceasefire: Humanitarian scale-up urgently needed. We continue to call for an urgent scale-up of humanitarian aid and unhindered access of aid to people in need across the country.

Read our full statement: www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/lebanon-huma...

Europol: 45 Ukrainian children traced after being forcibly transferred to Russia and #Belarus.

Let's not pretend Lukashenka is a bystander. He is complicit in war crimes.

Overall, at least 19,500 children deported to Russia. Thousands were sent to Belarus.

Screenshot from the linked report reading "Former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson’s 1969 vision was for Canada to contribute 0.7 per cent of its Gross National Income (GNI) to international assistance. This goal, adopted in 1970 by the UN for all developed countries, defined Canada as a “helpful fixer” on the global stage. This analysis examines how the November 2025 budget cuts dismantle that legacy. Setting the clock back six decades: By 2029, Canada’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) relative to the size of our economy (Gross National Income–GNI) is projected to fall to 0.17 per cent—the lowest since 1964, five years before Pearson laid out his challenge. The $3.8 billion funding cliff: Total ODA will plummet from $9.9 billion in 2024-25 to $6.1 billion in 2028-29, even as Canada’s economy grows. The “Dollar for Dollar” swap to defence: Cuts in ODA and almost every other department are being diverted to fund much higher defence spending. While ODA falls to 0.17 per cent, Canada has already hit the two per cent NATO target and committed to reaching five per cent in the coming decades."

👀Grim report on just how far Canada's aid cuts turn back the clock:
"The end of Pearson’s dream: The devastating impact of federal cuts on international aid"
from @davidmaccdn.bsky.social / @policyalternatives.ca
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...

Flight 507 was able to land after the go-around and Flight 1152 continued to its destination in Knoxville.

“We are engaged with the FAA as part of the investigation. Southwest appreciates the professionalism of its Pilots and Flight Crews in responding to the event.

The FAA is launching an investigation into two planes nearly colliding in Nashville. The NFL refuses to investigate the collision involving Mike Vrabel.

Excited to share some good news for Illinois families — we’ve reached over 100,000 children in our state receiving books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Let’s keep reading.

At least 4 people killed, including suspect and his family members, in shooting and standoff at Adair County, Kentucky home. - WKYT

I've always admired Governor Moore's dedication to service and his willingness to stand up resolutely especially in the face of adversity (this administration thinking that they call bully Maryland into submission.) Great to be in St Mary's County. Im running be your next fighter in Congress!

Idaho farmers grapple with surging fertilizer prices Conflict in the Middle East means 65% of Idaho farmers can’t afford the fertilizer they need.

Conflict in the Middle East means 65% of Idaho farmers can’t afford the fertilizer they need.

China & Taiwan Update, April 17, 2026 KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun reiterated standard PRC rhetoric during her April 10 meeting with CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping.

ISW/Taiwan NSB reporting PLA infiltrations of Taiwan via small craft during PLA exercises.

understandingwar.org/research/chi...

President Lai honors Taiwan’s democracy pioneers - Taipei Times Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan

President Lai honors Taiwan’s democracy pioneers

Gil Duran tweet: TLDR: Fascism in response to Palantir's long fascists screed on X.

"Your Account is Suspended" Message on X

The CEO of Palantir posted a fascist manifesto on X.

I pointed out that it was fascist—which resulted in a permanent suspension from X (my second time!).

So, when you hear the tweeters complaining that BlueSky is intolerant, remember why many of us came here in the first place.

Investigative image: migrant workers coerced into Russian military service

🚨 INVESTIGATION: Russia is systematically coercing Central Asian migrants into frontline assault units.

Life expectancy at the front: 4 months.

This is not recruitment. This is state-organized human trafficking.

#Russia #Ukraine #HumanRights #WarCrimes

🟡 MilitaryMobilization | 6/10
🇷🇺

Russia intensifies recruitment of students into the army
The Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education has circulated a directive urging universities to more actively expel students and encourage them to sign military contracts, including with drone units […]

Join us again tomorrow Tuesday at Independence Ave and New Jersey by Longworth House Office building from 12pm-5pm.
The Ukraine Action Summit is this week.
Keep calling your members of Congress and tell them to support a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
#CrimeaIsUkraine 🇺🇸🇺🇦

Slave labor and Russian recruitment.

“Russia owes its recruitment success to strong financial support and propaganda campaigns”

Propaganda indeed. That and a loads of support from China with more slave labor from NK. Probably put Russian prisoners and NK ones out front with the “red army” aiming at their backs looking for deserters.

Actually my great uncle was murdered in a Russian slave labor camp

The Confederacy Still Pays Slave Wages: Axios’ morning email thingie alerts us that about half of the states are increasing minimum wage: The 21 states are Alaska, Arizona, California,… https://crooksandlia

They came to build China’s EV future. Investigators found conditions akin to ‘slavery.’ Few Chinese laborers have spoken out about the abuses they allegedly suffered while toiling abroad. Until now.

China is exporting slave labor.

Trump’s unconstitutional war was not authorized by Congress, was started without a plan or an exit strategy, and has achieved none of the contradictory objectives used to justify it.

Oh, and it cost taxpayers at least $40 billion.

Once again, Trump is threatening to commit a war crime.

No more Russian plants. We are busy with our democracy 💙

These people need some time off.

NEW: Rep.-elect Analilia Mejia (D-NJ) will be sworn in as U.S. House member within the hour.

Further narrowing GOP majority

All in all, 32 states are holding supreme court elections in 2026. These races will decide over 60 seats. Two states already resolved their contests—conservatives won in Arkansas, and liberals in Wisconsin. Nineteen states are holding regular elections for their supreme courts this year, meaning races where candidates can challenge incumbent judges or run for an open seat. How those work is straightforward; think of what you’re used to seeing for Congress or governor. But 13 states are holding retention elections, which are simple up-or-down votes, with no challengers, where voters decide if a judge who is already on the court should stay in office.

All in all, 32 states are holding supreme court elections this year, deciding over 60 seats. These courts could determine key issues including abortion access and redistricting across the country.

Our new guide explores what’s at stake in each state:

boltsmag.org/your-st...

The Forces of Scarcity Hitting Asia May Soon Spread Across the World

The Forces of Scarcity Hitting Asia May Soon Spread Across the World www.nytimes.com/2026/04/20/w...

The #Iranwar is not good. "By year’s end, in the most dire projections by the United Nations and others, millions across Asia could be pushed into poverty."

⚡️'This is not rewarding Russia' — US official defends extension of sanctions waiver on Russian oil.

"This is not rewarding Russia. That's ridiculous," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told NBC's "Meet the Press" with Kristen Welker on April 19.

- bullshit, Russia is making billions

French soldier killed in attack on UN mission in southern Lebanon

A FRENCH soldier was killed and three others wounded while clearing a road in southern Lebanon in an attack that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) peacekeepers and French officials said on Saturday was likely carried out by Iran-backed Hezbollah.

READ more: https://mrf.lu/HHPd