Humanity Unplugged Podcast

A 28-year-old researcher at an anti-plague laboratory in Russia has died after developing severe pneumonia, prompting quarantine and medical monitoring of nearly 200 people who may have come into contact with her. Russian authorities say there is no confirmed plague outbreak and have described the illness as pneumonia of unknown origin. But questions about possible laboratory exposure, conflicting reports, and concerns about transparency have fuelled speculation. Here is what we know, and what remains unconfirmed.

The U.S. is closely monitoring a potential case of pneumonic plague in Russia after a laboratory worker who studied the disease fell ill and died. Russian authorities insist there is no cause for alarm, but officials have imposed quarantines and other measures at several medical facilities in Siberia. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Annie Jacobsen, author of "Biological War: A Scenario."

You asked; we are here to answer. With many of our news desk reporters and editors working remotely because of floodwaters or wading through inundated streets to reach the newsroom, we are working nonstop to deliver real-time updates as the situation develops.

Here is what we know about the flood crisis in the capital:

What does a disaster declaration allow? 

The disaster zone declaration is a legal mechanism that allows national and local authorities quicker access to emergency funds and equipment. Part of Thailand’s broader disaster management framework, it is intended to ensure affected residents receive timely assistance and relief operations are coordinated efficiently to minimise damage.

Which Bangkok districts are worst affected?

Eastern fringe areas remain severely inundated, with many residents stranded in their homes with limited access to essential supplies. The hardest hit part of the capital is Lat Krabang, where there are up to 40,000 victims. Districts such as Bang Kapi, Khannayao, Lak Si and Saphan Sung continue to face high water levels. By contrast, central business corridors like Sukhumvit and Silom-Sathorn sit on higher, better-drained ground

Indonesia is facing a major volcanic emergency after reports said at least six volcanoes were erupting at the same time. Ash has risen as high as 50,000 feet and drifted roughly 150 kilometres, affecting areas as far as Jakarta. Eight airports have been shut down, and more than 2,000 flights have been delayed or cancelled. Ash has also blanketed roads and vehicles, forcing some schools to close and residents to wear masks. The largest eruption is coming from Anak Krakatau, in the Sunda Strait.

Southern Ohio is facing a major 5-day flood disaster after days of relentless rainfall, with up to 7 inches of rain triggering dangerous flash flooding. Multiple water rescues were reported, a hospital was surrounded by floodwaters, and major roads and highways were closed across the region. Watch for the latest Southern Ohio flood updates, road closures, flood warnings, and weather conditions.

On August 11, 2026, a severe derecho storm caused a massive two-week blackout in Gary, Indiana. Thousands of residents were left without power until most of the service was restored by August 26, 2026.

The storm brought straight-line winds of 70 to 100 mph, striking northwest Indiana and causing power outages for over 370,000 NIPSCO customers. While nearby towns quickly regained power, Gary remained in the dark for a significantly longer period.

Officials and residents attributed the prolonged blackout to aging equipment, inadequate maintenance, and historical underfunding of the power infrastructure.

The impact on residents was profound. Grocery stores closed, gas stations ran out of fuel, and schools had to shut down. People who relied on medical equipment, such as breathing machines and oxygen, faced significant health risks. Additionally, families lost hundreds of dollars in spoiled food due to the hot summer weather.

In response to the blackout, authorities launched an investigation to determine the root causes and implement measures to prevent future occurrences.

Public outrage erupted as Mayor Eddie Melton and community members expressed their frustration with the utility company’s slow response and poor communication. In response to the mounting concerns, Indiana Governor Mike Braun called for an official investigation into the power company’s equipment and repair schedules. By late August, crews managed to restore the data. Electricity was restored to 99% of customers, but discussions on recovery and repairs are still ongoing.

Nepal Floods LIVE Coverage: Nepal continues to battle a devastating flood crisis, with rescue and relief operations underway across several affected regions. CNN-News18 is on the ground, bringing you the latest visuals and updates from the flood-affected areas.

The disaster has caused widespread destruction, damaging homes, roads, and bridges and cutting off several communities. Rescue teams and security forces are working to evacuate stranded people and reach areas that remain difficult to access.

Nepal police said Friday morning that the country’s death toll had risen to 538, up from 390 a day earlier, with 1,500 people missing, including 90 Americans. 

Global food inflation is expected to accelerate to roughly 5% in early 2027, driven by a compounding mix of extreme weather, geopolitical conflict, and fertilizer shortages. Severe empty-shelf shortages are expected to primarily affect vulnerable, import-dependent emerging markets rather than the United States.

Major Drivers for 2027

• The Super El Niño: A historically strong El Niño climate pattern is underway, bringing severe heat, drought, and flooding that threaten global crop yields. [1, 2, 3]

• Fertilizer and Energy Disruptions: Ongoing geopolitical conflict and shipping constraints around the Council on Foreign Relations Analysis choke point in the Strait of Hormuz have severely restricted the international trade of fertilizers and natural gas inputs. [1, 2]

• Climateflation: Extreme heatwaves in Europe and other key agricultural regions have already erased millions of tonnes of grain from baseline forecasts, shifting macroeconomic pressures directly onto harvest yields

Regional Impacts

• Global South & Emerging Markets: Regions in South Asia, East Africa, and parts of Latin America face acute food insecurity risks and heightened vulnerability to price volatility.

• United States: Agricultural buffers, large domestic production, and existing stock reserves make widespread physical shortages unlikely. However, consumers will likely face sticky, elevated grocery bills and persistent food inflation.

Global food inflation could climb to around 5% in the first half of 2027, driven by compounding fertilizer shortages, extreme weather, and geopolitical disruptions.

Core Drivers

• Fertilizer Shortages: Middle East conflicts have restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off a major conduit for the global trade of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur fertilizers. Unlike oil, there are no strategic reserves for fertilizer.
• El Niño and Climate Impacts: A strong El Niño pattern, alongside severe heatwaves and droughts ("climateflation"), is threatening staple crop yields in vulnerable regions like South Asia, southern Africa, and Central America.
• Financial Pressures on Farmers: High fertilizer input costs are forcing farmers to either reduce usage—resulting in thinner harvests—or absorb significant financial losses. [1]

Regional and Market Outlook

• Price Increases: Organizations like JPMorgan and institutions tracking agricultural data warn that pantry staples, fresh produce, and beverages (such as coffee and cocoa-derived sweets) face ongoing price pressures.
• Vulnerable Populations: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warns that acute food insecurity could impact tens of millions of people globally, particularly in import-dependent low-income nations and regions experiencing prolonged dry spells.

In northern Michigan, a gunman killed five people on Friday, prompting a manhunt that ended when the shooter was found dead beside one of his victims. Separately, police in Petersburg, Virginia, arrested a 19-year-old suspect on Saturday after an overnight shooting at Virginia State University that left five people injured — one of them critically — just hours after officials welcomed freshmen to campus. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the U.S. has seen at least 305 mass shootings since the start of the year.

According to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Dave Sunday, the high-level drug operation was centered around two off-campus fraternities: Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon.

The operation relied on a continuous pipeline of narcotics brought to State College from New York and Philadelphia. Abbatiello, an accounting major who had previously made the dean's list, allegedly used Snapchat to coordinate multi-kilo deals and launder the proceeds. The grand jury investigation revealed that the operation sold bulk quantities primarily to other students, fraternity brothers, and acquaintances at off-campus parties.

Literacy is the ability to read, write, and use printed and written information to function in society. Today, it also includes understanding digital media, numbers, and specialized text.

Types of Literacy

• Basic Literacy: The simple skill of reading and writing words.
• Functional Literacy: Using reading and writing skills for daily life tasks, like reading a bill or job form.
• Digital Literacy: Finding, using, and creating information safely on computers and phones.
• Media Literacy: Judging if news and online information are true or false.

Why Literacy Matters

• Helps people get better jobs and earn more money.
• Lets citizens understand laws and vote wisely.
• Improves health because people can read medicine and safety rules.
• Connects communities and lowers poverty

Frederick Douglass said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” This was true in the 19th century, when he was decrying the notion that enslaved people lacked the intellectual capacity to function as American citizens, and that statement still carries weight today. There is currently a literacy crisis happening in the U.S., one that disproportionately affects students of color, and that cannot be ignored. Literacy is one of the major civil rights issues of our time, and our children’s future — and our nation’s democracy — depends on us addressing it now.

There is overwhelming evidence that nearly all children can learn to read. But in schools across the country, many students — especially students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities — are not yet skillful readers. Last year, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), “the nation’s report card,” showed that not even half (43%) of fourth graders in the U.S. scored at or above a proficient level in reading. And for marginalized students, the numbers are much worse: just 17% of Black students, 21% of Latino students, 11% of students with disabilities, and 10% of multilingual learners can read proficiently by fourth grade.

That any child, let alone the majority of children, goes to school without being taught to read is deeply concerning — and also completely preventable. There are five widely accepted components that are essential to reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Decades of research show that when students receive explicit and systematic instruction across all of these domains, they will learn to read. And when students are given access to texts with rich, diverse characters and cultures and see people like themselves fully represented in school materials, they will become more engaged readers.