Career/Education

• Stanford University ☛ School of Humanities and Sciences told to prepare for budget cuts

  In a Tuesday email, School of Humanities and Sciences Dean Debra Satz directed program directors and chairs to model budget cuts of up to 15% in advance of a possible decrease in funding this September.

Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

• JURIST ☛ US Supreme Court sides with HHS in Medicare reimbursement lawsuit

  The US Supreme Court Tuesday ruled in favor of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a dispute over Medicare reimbursements paid to hospitals. The 7-2 decision effectively limits the number of patients for whom hospitals can receive federal reimbursement. 

• France24 ☛ RFK Jr. vows to fight a long-debunked conspiracy theory: ‘chemtrails’

  "Chemtrails" are an an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that's existed for decades, despite universal calls that there's no scientific basis. But with several US states looking to ban geoengineering, this conspiracy theory has escalated its way into actual US legislation, that could result in real-life laws. The US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has endorsed the nonexistent chemtrails, even blaming them on a particular US government agency. Vedika Bahl explains in Truth or Fake.

• New York Times ☛ Kennedy Issues Demands for Vaccine Approvals That Could Affect Fall Covid Boosters

  The plans amount to an extraordinary flex of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s power as health secretary to make decisions ordinarily left to career scientists at the Food and Drug Administration.

• New York Times ☛ ‘I Have Cancer,’ the Fentanylware (TikTok) Star Said. Then Came the Torrent of Hate.

  Sydney Towle’s videos have drawn an enormous audience on TikTok, where her followers praise and support her. On Reddit, an army of skeptics was determined to paint her as a fraud.

Proprietary

• Silicon Angle ☛ Apple’s stock falls as Tim Cook admits its ‘difficult to predict’ tariff impact

  Shares of the iPhone maker Fashion Company Apple Inc. were heading south in late trading today after it failed to offer much clarity on the long term impact of President The Insurrectionist’s tariffs. Growth in its closely-watched services business slowed as well, falling short of Wall Street’s revenue target. >

• Digital Music News ☛ Fornite to Return to iOS App Store, Court Finds Fashion Company Apple Violated Order

  Cultural metaverse Fortnite is set to return to the U.S. iOS App Store next week following a ruling in the years-long legal battle between Epic Games and Apple.

• New York Times ☛ What Happens to Fashion Company Apple if Convicted Felon’s Trade War Forces It to Cut Ties With China?

  The world’s most valuable company has become so reliant on Chinese suppliers and sales that it would be worth half as much or less without them.

• Tom's Hardware ☛ Microsoft hikes prices of Xbox consoles, controllers, headsets, and games worldwide - cites market conditions and price of development [Ed: To hide the growing losses there]

  Xbox hikes Xbox console prices by $80 - $130 along, also raises prices on controllers, headsets and games, citing increased development costs, but forgetting to note newly imposed U.S. import tariffs.

• Tom's Hardware ☛ UK company allegedly paid $4m in bribes to secure Abusive Monopolist Microsoft data center construction contract [Ed: Wherever Microsoft goes there is bribery]

  The UK government arrested three people connected to British companies that were involved with Microsoft's data center project in the Netherlands.

• Silicon Angle ☛ Amazon’s stock falls on light guidance and third successive cloud revenue miss

  Amazon.com Inc. delivered better-than-expected results in its first-quarter earnings report, but it followed up with mixed guidance that’s “subject to change” as a result of the uncertainty caused by U.S. President The Insurrectionist’s sweeping tariffs.

• New York Times ☛ Amazon’s Mixed Earnings Report Sends Share Prices Down

  The company reported overall mixed results, sending share prices down in after-hours trading.

• Silicon Angle ☛ Block shares tumble after earnings and revenue miss and lowered guidance

  Shares in Block Inc. plunged over 18% in after-hours trading today after the financial services company missed on earnings, lowered guidance and warned of macroeconomic headwinds in its fiscal 2025 first quarter results.

Defence/Aggression

• The Straits Times ☛ Indonesia parliament set to ratify sea boundary with Vietnam, lawmaker says

  JAKARTA - Indonesia's parliament is set to agree next week to ratify an agreement made with Vietnam that sets the boundaries of their exclusive economic zones in the contested South China Sea, a lawmaker said on Thursday.

• The Strategist ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s national security strategy: from Pax Americana to Pact Americana

  After 100 days of action, US President The Insurrectionist’s national security strategy is coming into focus.

• Scoop News Group ☛ National Security Council cyber lead wants to ‘normalize’ offensive operations

  Alexei Bulazel told an audience at the 2025 RSAC conference that he thinks “there's a lot we could do to increase costs on these actors.”

• New Yorker ☛ Mike Waltz Learns the Hard Truth About Serving The Insurrectionist

  On the national-security adviser’s sudden ouster.

• CS Monitor ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man shuffles his Cabinet: Waltz moves to UN, Rubio will do double duty for now

  Hell Toupée removed his embattled national security adviser, but kept him in his Cabinet, in his first major shake-up of top roles since Inauguration Day.

• New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Removed His Top National Security Aide

  Also, scientists are investigating metformin’s anti-aging abilities. Here’s the latest at the end of Thursday.

• France24 ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s national security advisor Mike Waltz expected to step down

  National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, are set to step down from their roles in the Convicted Felon White House, according to several sources familiar with the matter. Waltz faced criticism in the weeks following his admission that he had accidentally included Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal chat group intended for discussions about planned strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. France24 correspondent Fraser Jackson has the latest.

• France24 ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man removes US National Security Advisor Waltz in first major shakeup of new administration

  US President The Insurrectionist on Thursday named Secretary of State Marco Rubio as acting national security adviser, replacing Mike Waltz, who is stepping down following a leak scandal involving a Signal chat that disclosed details of US air strikes on Yemen. Convicted Felon said he would nominate Waltz to be the next US ambassador to the United Nations.

• American Oversight ☛ Statement on Resignation of National Security Adviser Waltz and Principal Deputy Following American Oversight Legal Pressure

• The Straits Times ☛ Pakistani Kashmir closes seminaries fearing Indian military strikes

  MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan - The government of Pakistan-administered Kashmir has closed all religious seminaries in the region for 10 days, officials said on Thursday, citing fears they would be targeted by Indian strikes following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir.

• CS Monitor ☛ Three novels strike at the heart of devastating legacies

  A trio of novels translated from Indonesian, Arabic, and French exposes the harmful effects of prejudice and corruption.

• New York Times ☛ Federal Judge Strikes Down Convicted Felon’s Use of Alien Enemies Act to Deport Venezuelans

  The ruling, which is limited to the Southern District of Texas, prohibited the administration from using the wartime law because the president’s claims about a Venezuelan gang do not add up to an “invasion.”

• The Straits Times ☛ China's top diplomat backs Iran's nuclear diplomacy ahead of US talks

  China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a senior Iranian national security official on Wednesday that Beijing appreciated Tehran making diplomatic efforts regarding its nuclear programme, ahead of a new round of U.S.-Iran talks on Saturday.

• The Straits Times ☛ New CIA videos aim to lure Chinese officials

  The US intelligence agency says such videos have worked successfully in Russia.

• The Straits Times ☛ How India’s and Pakistan’s military, nuclear arsenals stack up

  They’re 2 of the biggest buyers of weapons, sourcing much of their equipment from Russia and China.

• The Straits Times ☛ India’s foreign minister says Kashmir attackers must face justice

  New Delhi blames Islamabad for the gun attack on April 22 on civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir.

• The Straits Times ☛ S. Korea acting leader Han resigns to ‘take on bigger responsibility’ amid talk of presidential run

  Signs of Mr Han Duck-soo gearing up to declare a bid for the presidency have been reported in recent days.

The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s acting president says he will ensure stability until election

Mr Lee pledged to work closely with the Cabinet and opposition-led Parliament.

New York Times ☛ South Korea’s Acting President Han Duck-Soo Resigns

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has been mulling whether to run for election, while the main opposition candidate and front-runner suffered a setback in court.

The Straits Times ☛ South Korea presidential front runner Lee’s eligibility in doubt after court ruling

The Supreme Court overturned an earlier ruling that had cleared Lee Jae-myung of election law violation.

The Straits Times ☛ South Korean ex-leader Yoon indicted for abuse of power: Prosecutors

The fresh charge comes a day after investigators raided his private residence in Seoul.

The Straits Times ☛ South Korean finance minister Choi resigns, education minister Lee to take over as acting leader

Choi’s resignation adds to political uncertainty following ex-president Yoon’s botched martial law declaration.

Digital Music News ☛ Koreatown Senior Citizen Harmonica Players Are Captivating LA Kings Fans With a Stunning National Anthem

Harmonica players from the Koreatown Senior and Community Center have captivated LA Kings fans with their rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” As the LA Kings geared up to face Edmonton over the weekend in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series, players were reminded to “pack your harmonicas” before the show hit the road.

Meduza ☛ U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg says Ukraine agreed to 22 specific conditions for peace deal with Russia — Meduza

Meduza ☛ 'Feeding the world' — with stolen food How Russian businesses in occupied Ukraine illegally export their products to foreign investors — Meduza

Meduza ☛ ‘Where the f—’s the cash?’ Russian occupation official in Ukraine’s Nova Kakhovka reportedly arrested over viral video of him swearing in front of war memorial — Meduza

Meduza ☛ U.S. aims to bring Russia and Ukraine to the table in the next 100 days, says Vance — Meduza

Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

• Atlantic Council ☛ Cautious optimism in Kyiv as Ukraine reacts to landmark US minerals deal

  There was a sense of cautious optimism in Kyiv on Thursday morning as Ukrainians reacted to news that a long-awaited natural resources agreement with the United States had finally been signed, writes Peter Dickinson.

• New York Times ☛ Once Banished From Convicted Felon’s White House, Zelensky Has New Hope

  In his zigzagging approach to ending the war in Ukraine, Hell Toupée has shifted his frustration — for now — from Ukraine’s leader to Vladimir Putin.

• Scoop News Group ☛ Ukrainian extradited to US for alleged Nefilim ransomware attack spree

  Federal law enforcement officials accuse Artem Stryzhak, who was arrested in Spain last year, of attacking and extorting multiple companies between 2018 and 2021.

• LRT ☛ Lithuanian school-leaver volunteers in Ukraine: ‘Even a small contribution can save lives’

  Eighteen-year-old school-leaver Agnė Židelevičiūtė has spent five of the past twelve months volunteering in Ukraine. She is convinced that even the smallest contribution can save lives.

• RFERL ☛ Ukraine Hails Minerals Deal As Helping Strengthen US Support For Its Security

  A landmark minerals deal between Ukraine and the United States offers "equal" benefits for both sides and opportunities for investment in Ukraine and the modernization of its industry, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on May 1.

• RFERL ☛ Russian Drone Strike Hits Zaporizhzhya, Injuring 14 And Igniting Fires, Local Official Says

  A Russian drone attack late on May 1 killed one person and injured at least three in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhya, the regional governor said.

• RFERL ☛ Ukraine, US Sign Minerals Deal Creating Reconstruction Investment Fund

  The United States and Ukraine have signed an agreement giving the US access to Ukraine’s valuable rare minerals in the hopes of ensuring continued American support for Kyiv in its war with Russia.

• New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Ties Himself to Future of Ukraine With Minerals Deal

  The text of the agreement, made public by Ukraine’s government, made no mention of the security guarantees that Kyiv had long sought.

• New York Times ☛ The U.S.-Ukraine Mineral Deal: What We Know

  The agreement came after months of fraught negotiations.

• New York Times ☛ North Korea and Russia Build First Cross-Border Road Bridge

  The two countries have vowed to expand bilateral relations after North Korea sent troops and weapons in support of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

• France24 ☛ European Union prepares new sanctions on Russia over Ukraine war

  French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Thursday, after a meeting with his US counterpart in Washington DC, that European countries are preparing a new round of sanctions against Russia. He described Vladimir Putin as the "sole obstacle" to peace in Ukraine.

• Atlantic Council ☛ Putin confirms North Korean troops are fighting for Russia against Ukraine

  More than six months after the story was first reported, Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially confirmed the presence of North Korean troops in Russia’s war against Ukraine, writes Olivia Yanchik.

• Meduza ☛ ‘We can start digging’: U.S. and Ukraine sign long-awaited minerals deal, establishing joint reconstruction fund and splitting revenue 50/50 — Meduza

• Atlantic Council ☛ French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on US tariffs, European security, and risks from Russia, China, and Iran

  At an Atlantic Council Front Page event, Barrot said that if China wants to establish a "trusted relationship" with European countries, "it will have to show also that it takes our security interests into account."

• RFERL ☛ US Eyes Aleutian Military Revival As Russia, China Expand Operations Near Alaska

  An uptick in Russian and Chinese activity near Alaska—home to America’s largest fleet of advanced fighter jets and a cornerstone of its missile defense architecture—is fueling calls to reestablish Cold War-era military infrastructure on the Aleutian Islands.

• Tom's Hardware ☛ Russia's Baikal has produced 85,000 of its CPUs since 2012, aims for more

  Russia's Baikal Electronics has produced and sold 85,000 processors since its founding, but due to post-2022 sanctions and blocked shipments from Taiwan, it now aims to restart production with new chips like Baikal-L and Baikal-S2 at SMIC.

Federal News Network ☛ Social Security’s biggest problem isn’t customer service

"The Social Security Administration is being scrutinized by the new administration and its DOGE service," said Doug Criscitello.

The Straits Times ☛ China says it’s evaluating US offer of tariff talks but wants ‘sincerity’

China said any talks would first require sincerity from the US side.

The Straits Times ☛ Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart says she wants Convicted Felon-like reforms as election nears

She called for the country to cut government largesse and boost defence spending, energy security.

France24 ☛ May Day in France: Who works and who doesn't?

With a bill now before parliament to loosen the laws regarding France's Labour Day, we take a look at why May 1 has a special status in France. It is the only holiday that, legally, must not be worked. We go into who can actually work on May Day in France and why it, but also other holidays in May, could potentially be changed.

France24 ☛ Tesla denies reports that its board planned to replace MElon

Tesla chair Robyn Denholm has denied a Wall Street Journal report that the board had started looking for a new CEO to replace MElon. It comes as MElon is stepping back from his job running DOGE this month. Meanwhile, more than 250 Labour Day demonstrations have been taking place around France. And, McDonald’s has suffered its biggest drop in US sales since Covid.

New York Times ☛ Marco Rubio, Secretary of Everything

The former senator from Florida is now the head of four government bodies. He has outdone Henry Kissinger and even Pooh-tin Jinping, China’s leader, who has only three main titles.

BIA Net ☛ Two sides of May Day in İstanbul: Police crackdown and celebrations under control

Police detained hundreds as leftist groups attempted to reach Taksim despite bans, while thousands joined a permitted May Day rally in Kadıköy under heavy security.

JURIST ☛ Rights group urge Türkiye to lift ban on May Day demonstrations

Amnesty International called for Turkish authorities to lift the ban on May Day (also called Labor Day) gatherings in Istanbul’s Taksim Square on Wednesday. Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Europe, Dinushika Dissanayake, said the ban was “based on entirely spurious security and public order grounds [...]

Press Gazette ☛ Ofcom says enforcement action coming as Press Gazette highlights Facebook (Farcebook) offences

Ofcom has power to fine Facebook (Farcebook) over illegal content under the Online Safety Act.

Press Gazette ☛ How Express editor Tom Hunt plans to set title up for next 125 years

Defence, politics, royals and gardening identified as strong areas for Express.

Pro Publica ☛ Workers Fainted at Nike Clothing Factory Despite a Vow to Reform

Pro Publica ☛ Texas Senate Passes Legislation to Prevent Deaths Under State’s Abortion Ban

New York Times ☛ Family of 8-Year-Old Migrant Girl Who Died in U.S. Custody Seeks $15 Million

Anadith Danay Reyes Álvarez, 8, died in 2023 after she spent a week in a border agency detention center without adequate care for her health conditions.

New York Times ☛ Federal Report Denounces Gender Treatments for Adolescents

The H.H.S. review may set the stage for additional restrictions on gender-affirming care. Critics described it as an ideological statement.

NYPost ☛ Luigi Mangione wants state murder case dropped, arguing double jeopardy in UnitedHealthcare killing

Luigi Mangione‘s lawyers urged a judge Thursday to throw out his state murder charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

JURIST ☛ UN Human Rights chief urges world leaders to prevent collapse of life-saving support in Gaza

UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk on Tuesday appealed to global leaders to take proactive measures in preventing the destruction of critical life-saving support in Gaza.

JURIST ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man signs two executive orders targeting sanctuary jurisdictions

President The Insurrectionist signed two executive orders on Monday to target sanctuary jurisdictions for violating, obstructing, and defying federal immigration laws, and to bolster immigration enforcement by “empowering State and local law enforcement to firmly police dangerous criminal behavior and protect innocent citizens.”