Leftovers

• Ruben Schade ☛ Today is the Forth of the Forth

  This is not to be confused with the Firth of Forth, as described in Wikipedia:

  Discover the World of Lviv Croissants

  That’s clearly the wrong article I pasted from my Good News Train. But still, I would LOVE to try that!

• Science

  • Science Alert ☛ Matter vs. Antimatter: LHC Discovery Could Explain How Universe Avoided Obliteration

    We're lucky to even be here.

  • Science Alert ☛ Oxygen Metabolism Emerged on Earth Before The Great Oxidation Event, Study Reveals

    Bacteria got a head start.

  • Science Alert ☛ A Common Sleeping Pill Could Reduce Buildup of Alzheimer's Proteins, Study Finds

    Intriguing...

  • Science Alert ☛ The Mysterious History of a Black Hole Has Been Decoded by Scientists

    Not everything is gone.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • New York Times ☛ Judge Blocks H.H.S. From Terminating $11 Billion in Public Health Grants

    A coalition of states sued over the Convicted Felon administration’s unexpected move to cut off the funds, which they said imperiled everything from childhood vaccination programs to opioid addiction treatment.

  • New York Times ☛ Senate Confirms Dr. Oz to Ovrsee Medicare and Medicaid

    The TV celebrity doctor, a cardiothoracic surgeon, will take the reins at a time when the agency is facing cutbacks, especially for the poor, and scrutiny of its missions.

  • JURIST ☛ US federal prosecutors to seek death penalty in insurance executive murder case

    US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Tuesday that federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Luigi Mangione, the alleged shooter of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Bondi described Mangione’s alleged act as a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination” and suggested the choice to pursue capital punishment appropriately aligns with the Convicted Felon administration’s hard-on-crime agenda.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong records 365 new HIV cases in 2024 – a decline for 9th consecutive year

    Hong Kong recorded 365 new HIV cases in 2024, with the youngest infected individual aged 14, health authorities have said. The Department of Health announced on Thursday that the city saw a decline in the number of new HIV infections for the ninth consecutive year.

  • Pro Publica ☛ Utah Ex-Therapist Scott Owen Sentenced to Prison for Sexually Abusing Patients

  • Latvia ☛ Latvia's hospitals concerned about 'penalties' for poor data entry

    Hospitals are concerned about the National Health Service's plan to "penalise" them for not entering all patient records into the e-Health system by withholding 10% of public funding, as data entry is hampered by the shortcomings of the e-Health system, Latvian Radio reported on 2 April.

  • Science Alert ☛ Artificial Sweetener Can Trick Your Brain Into Feeling More Hungry

    Your brain has a mind of its own.

  • Science Alert ☛ One Simple Strategy For Weight Loss Outperforms Daily Dieting, Study Says

    "It was surprising and exciting to me that it was better."

• Security

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Citizen Lab ☛ The Citizen Lab’s Director Dissects Spyware and the ‘Proliferating’ Market for It (The Record)

      In this Q&A by The Record from Recorded Future News, Citizen Lab director Ron Deibert speaks with cyber security reporter Suzanne Smalley about the technical aspects of the Citizen Lab’s research methods, why there is almost certainly spyware being used that hasn’t yet been discovered, and how spyware companies continue to evolve to evade detection [...]

    • Citizen Lab ☛ The United States is Putting the United States in Danger

      In an opinion piece for the Globe and Mail, Ron Deibert recounts his comments from a recent briefing he delivered to staff of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence about the Citizen Lab’s research on mercenary surveillance.

    • Science Alert ☛ 23andMe Is Bankrupt. Here's What That Means For Your Genetic Data.

      It's not just about your genes though.

• Defence/Aggression

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s President Yoon ousted: What happens next?

    South Korea will have to hold a fresh presidential election within 60 days.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s tariffs hit garment makers in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka hard

    Officials in both countries are scrambling to contain panic among business leaders.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s President Yoon ousted: 4 months of political chaos

    The Constitutional Court delivered a long-awaited ruling on the suspended president’s impeachment on April 4.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s President Yoon ousted: Brash ex-prosecutor loses reckless gamble with martial law

    Mr Yoon, 64, still faces a criminal trial on charges of masterminding insurrection.

  • France24 ☛ South Korea’s constitutional court rules to oust impeached president Yoon

    South Korea's constitutional court has unanimously upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose declaration of martial law last December led to political turmoil. Yoon's powers were suspended in January following a parliamentary vote to impeach him.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Who are the top contenders for South Korea’s presidential election?

    Presidents can serve a single five-year term in South Korea.

  • New York Times ☛ Protesters Amass in Seoul Ahead of Court Ruling on South Korea’s Yoon

    More than 14,000 police officers have been deployed ahead of Friday’s decision by the Constitutional Court in the impeachment case of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s acting President calls for talks with US over tariffs

    Dihydroxyacetone Man has unveiled global reciprocal tariffs that include a 25 per cent rate on South Korea.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Koreans anxious, angry as court to rule on impeached President

    Tens of thousands of demonstrators have poured into the streets every weekend demanding the court remove him.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol won’t appear at April 4 ruling: Legal team

    The decision was made after considering worries about safety, crowd control and congestion.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s impeached President Yoon faces court ruling to decide his fate

    Police are bracing for potential violence and plan to mobilise more than 14,000 officers in the capital.

  • The Straits Times ☛ S. Korea’s Defence Ministry says ‘no military mobilisation’ for 2nd martial law even if Yoon returns

    The reassurance came a day before Constitutional Court announces ruling on Yoon impeachment trial.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ousted

    Mr Yoon had declared martial law in the late hours of Dec 3, 2024, only to be forced to overturn his decision hours later. 

  • The Straits Times ☛ What happens next after South Korea removes President Yoon

    South Korea will have to hold a fresh presidential election within 60 days.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s President Yoon ousted: Four months of political chaos

    The Constitutional Court delivered a long-awaited ruling on the suspended president’s impeachment on April 4.

  • France24 ☛ South Korea’s constitutional court upholds Yoon's impeachment over martial law scandal

    South Korea's constitutional court has unanimously upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose declaration of martial law last December led to political turmoil. Yoon's powers were suspended in January following a parliamentary vote to impeach him.

  • France24 ☛ Fresh Israeli strikes kill 100 Palestinians in Gaza

    Ramping up its renewed offensive in Gaza since the ceasefire broke down last month, Israel's latest airstrikes killed 100 Palestinians across Gaza

    on Thursday, as Israel continued its month-long blockade of humanitarian aid entering Gaza. Israel maintained that its brutal attacks on the enclave are the only way to return the hostages held by Hamas, but both the Palestinian immigrant group and Israel have accused the other of stalling negotiations for a new ceasefire.

  • France24 ☛ Syria accuses Israel of stoking a deadly destabilisation campaign

    Syria on Thursday condemned deadly Israeli strikes across the country as a "flagrant violation" of its sovereignty, after Israel said it struck "military capabilities". The onslaught on military targets and in the southern province of Daraa killed at least 13 people.

  • JURIST ☛ UN deeply concerned over latest Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon

    The UN expressed “deep concern” on Tuesday over the escalation of violence in Lebanon following an Israeli attack in southern Beirut. The airstrike that morning reportedly killed four and injured several civilians. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claim they targeted a Hezbollah official.

  • New York Times ☛ Israeli Strike Kills Dozens at Gaza City Shelter, Officials Say

    The Israeli military said it was looking into reports about the deaths at a school-turned-shelter, which came as Israel was intensifying its offensive in Gaza to pressure Hamas to release hostages.

  • New York Times ☛ Israel Hits Syria With New Strikes and Ground Raid as Tensions Soar

    Israel defended the moves as necessary security measures, but Syria accused it of trying to destabilize the country.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China arrests three Filipinos suspected of spying

    One of those arrested is accused of conducting surveillance of military facilities in China.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • Atlantic Council ☛ The West must stop seeking Putin’s permission for peace in Ukraine

      If Western leaders are serious about achieving a lasting peace in Europe, they must move decisively to provide Ukraine with security guarantees without worrying whether Putin will agree or not, writes Alyona Getmanchuk.

    • New York Times ☛ Putin Envoy Says He’s in U.S. for Talks With Convicted Felon Administration

      The meeting between Kirill Dmitriev and Steve Witkoff was apparently the first time in years that a senior Russian official had traveled to the United States for talks with an American counterpart.

    • Meduza ☛ Putin believes Trump can broker acceptable Ukraine peace deal, but is ready to continue war if talks fail — Bloomberg — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ How NATO ships monitor Putin’s ‘shadow fleet’ in the Baltic Sea

    • Latvia ☛ Non-taxable minimum for Ukrainian refugees to be in line with Latvians

      On Thursday, 3 April, the Saeima approved in its final reading amendments to the law which will increase the personal income non-taxable minimum for non-resident Ukrainians from €250 per month to €510 per month as of 1 May.

    • France24 ☛ Rubio urges NATO allies to boost defense spending, reasserts US commitment

      US Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured nervous NATO allies on Thursday of Washington's commitment but urged them to massively ramp up defense spending. The call comes as The Insurrectionist sows doubt over alliance security, engages Russia on Ukraine, and escalates trade tensions with new tariffs.

    • RFERL ☛ Russian Envoy Says Meeting In Washington Showed 'Positive Dynamic' In Restoring Relations

      Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev said on April 3 that he saw a "positive dynamic" in relations between Moscow and Washington, but differences remain, and several more meetings are needed to resolve them.

    • RFERL ☛ ANALYSIS: How Pro-Kremlin Media Voices Are Spinning The US-Russia Diplomatic Shift

      The United States and Russia are mending fences on the diplomatic front: Kirill Dmitriev, a senior Kremlin adviser, is now in Washington to advance talks on Ukraine, the first time a senior Russian official has visited the US capital since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

    • RFERL ☛ Rubio Reiterates US Commitment To NATO At Foreign Ministers Meeting In Brussels

      US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Convicted Felon administration is committed to remaining in the NATO and urged the military alliance's 32 members to pledge to increase spending to strengthen its defense capabilities.

    • Meduza ☛ Four killed in overnight Russian drone attack on Ukraine

    • Latvia ☛ Latvia extends ban on aggressor state agricultural imports

      The ban on importing agricultural and animal feed products from Russia and Belarus for consumption in Latvia will remain in effect for another year, according to urgent amendments to the Agriculture and Rural Development Law adopted in the final reading by the Saeima on Thursday, April 3rd.

    • France24 ☛ Radio Free Europe says Washington shut off its Russian broadcast despite restraining order

      Washington has switched off a satellite transmitting the US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty into Russia, chief executive Stephen Capus said Thursday. Although the station won a temporary restraining order against US President The Insurrectionist's funding freeze, it is still waiting to receive the $77 million it needs to keep running until October.

    • France24 ☛ EU leaders push for influence at Central Asia summit in Uzbekistan

      EU leaders will meet with Central Asian counterparts in Uzbekistan on Friday at a major summit aiming to enhance ties and expand influence amid intensifying competition from Russia and China. The summit  highlights Europe's keen strategic interest in Central Asia, a region of significant geopolitical and resource importance.

    • Meduza ☛ Latvia to start requiring Russian and Belarusian citizens to provide detailed personal and travel information upon entry — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Two women killed in Russian missile strike remembered for their devotion to community

    • Meduza ☛ Moscow State University launches new ‘Western Studies’ lecture course by Eurasianist philosopher Alexander Dugin — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Zhanna Nemtsova argues why Europe should do more to unfreeze unsanctioned Russian investors’ assets

    • Meduza ☛ Kremlin investment envoy says Trump administration understands Russia, could soon resume direct air travel

    • Meduza ☛ Russian court orders community service for realtor who advised property-seeking women to marry soldiers for death benefits — Meduza

• Environment

  • Science Alert ☛ US Braces For 'Life-Threatening' Flooding After Deadly Storms

    "All modes of severe weather will be possible."

  • Energy/Transportation

    • New York Times ☛ Amtrak Train Strikes and Kills a Person in Pennsylvania

      Amtrak said one of its trains hit three people on the tracks near Bristol Station. Service between New York’s Penn Station and Philadelphia’s main station was temporarily suspended.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia gas pipeline fire: Alleged dashcam footage shows excavation work at site of blaze

      The video showed an excavator not far from the site of excavation work by the roadside.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia suspends search for long-missing Flight MH370

      Despite the largest search in aviation history, the plane has not been found.

• Finance

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia rules out retaliatory tariffs, explores measures to mitigate export impact

    Although the US has a trade deficit in goods with Malaysia, it enjoys a surplus in services.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South-east Asian nations, hit particularly hard by US tariffs, prep for talks with Convicted Felon

    Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia are eager for talks to offer more concessions.

  • NYPost ☛ The average cost of a breakup is almost $4K — here’s where sad single people are spending their money

    It's cheaper to keep her.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • University of Michigan ☛ Weiser Diplomacy Center hosts John Hudson to discuss the differences between Convicted Felon and Biden administrations

    The Ford School of Public Policy’s Weiser Diplomacy Center hosted opinion columnist John Hudson on Wednesday afternoon to discuss national security and recent events concerning immigration, the Russia-Ukraine war, the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza and the challenges he faced as a journalist.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • Stanford University ☛ From the Community | Combating campus ‘antisemitism’ is an outrageous ploy to destroy public research infrastructure

    Alex Jaffe argues that the Convicted Felon administration's threat to cut funding is an attack on higher education and public health.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Trademarks

  • TTAB Blog ☛ Recommended Reading: Dustin Marlan, "Servicing Trade Dress: Demystifying the Tertium Quid"

    In his article, "Servicing Trade Dress: Demystifying the Tertium Quid," 58 U.C. Davis Law Rev. 1513 (February 2025), Dustin Marlan, Assistant Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina School of Law, tackles the elusive term tertium quid that Justice Scalia injected into trademark law in Wal-Mart v. Samara. Justice Scalia posited that this third category of potentially protectable "trade dress" - neither product design nor product packaging - should be treated as "akin" to product packaging and therefore capable of being inherently distinctive. Professor Marlan thinks otherwise.

• Copyrights

  • Digital Music News ☛ Mariah Carey, Universal Music, Sony Music, and Others Demand $185,000+ In Legal Fees After Beating ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ Copyright Case

    Weeks following their “All I Want for Christmas Is You” copyright monopoly case triumph, Mariah Carey, Sony Music, and Universal Music are asking the court to award them a massive pile of legal fees. These and other defendants made that sizable ask yesterday, ahead of a scheduled May 12th hearing on the matter.