US appeals court denies bid from families of Boeing 737 Max crash victims to reopen criminal case

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

“A federal appeals court has denied a request from dozens of families to reopen a criminal case against Boeing over two fatal 737 Max crashes more than seven years ago. Lawyers for the families had argued that the U.S. Department of Justice failed to properly consult them before reaching a deal last year with Boeing that led a lower court to dismiss a criminal conspiracy charge against the company. The charge stemmed from allegations that Boeing misled federal regulators about a flight-control system linked to the crashes, which killed 346 people. In a unanimous decision released Tuesday, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it disagreed with the families’ claims that federal prosecutors had violated their rights under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act and therefore could not revive the case.” (04/01/26)

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/04/01/boeing-justice-department-criminal-case-appeal/

Thomas L. Knapp

EU and Canada lean into a new world role

Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff

“At the start of this week, a four-day gathering of the World Trade Organization ended in deadlock over a disagreement between just two of its 166 member countries. The United States sought a 10-year extension to existing duty-free digital purchasing rules (for items such as software, music, and movies); Brazil would only agree to a two-year extension. Nevertheless, working on the sidelines, 66 other members – from Asia, Europe, and the Americas – forged their own agreement on the issue. The recent increase in such ‘minilateral’ solutions to global obstacles signifies more than mere impatience with time-consuming multilateral processes. Rather, it highlights the impetus and realization among the world’s middle powers about their changing role – and responsibility – in shaping a world order amid major geopolitical shifts.” (03/31/26)

https://www.csmonitor.com/Editorials/the-monitors-view/2026/0331/EU-and-Canada-lean-into-a-new-world-role

Steve Trinward

US private sector hiring totaled 62,000 in March, better than expected

Source: CNBC

“Private sector employment growth was a bit better than expected in March, but health care and construction continued to provide nearly all the momentum, payrolls processing company ADP reported Wednesday. Job growth totaled 62,000 for the month, down just 4,000 from February’s upwardly revised level but above the Dow Jones consensus for 39,000. ADP’s report does not include government employees. Like February’s report, two sectors essentially provided all the gains. Education and health services contributed 58,000 — identical to the February total — while construction added 30,000. The health services total was held back in the prior month due to a since-resolved strike at Kaiser Permanente that sidelined more than 30,000 workers in Hawaii and California.” (04/01/26)

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/01/private-sector-hiring-totaled-62000-in-march-better-than-expected-adp-says.html

Thomas L. Knapp

The Iran war and the death of the global maritime commons

Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Logan McMillen

“The rules-based international order, a system America largely built and championed after World War II, was predicated on the belief that global maritime and trade norms were foundational, applying equally to the weak and the strong. In the Middle East, memories of the Suez Crisis, combined with the threat of Soviet influence in the Persian Gulf, precipitated the creation of the Carter Doctrine to ensure this framework was upheld. The tanker wars of the 1980s challenged this doctrine, but the U.S. and Iraq emerged victorious, and, following a few years of international fighting, the United Nations’ ‘Law of the Sea’ was finally instituted in 1994. … Under Trump, however, status quo international agreements are being cast aside the moment they constrain his political impulses.” (04/01/26)

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/iran-war-oil/

Thomas L. Knapp

Crimea: Russian military plane crash kills 29

Source: BBC News [UK State Media]

“A Russian military plane has crashed in [Crimea], killing 29 people on board, the Russian defence ministry has said. Wreckage of the An-26 aircraft was found on Tuesday after the plane lost contact with authorities during ‘a routine flight,’ according to the ministry. It blamed ‘a technical failure’ and reported no external damage to the aircraft, implying that missiles, drones or birds are not suspected of causing the crash. Seven crew members and 23 passengers had been on board as it flew over the … Crimean peninsula …. Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed the crash and said it had opened an inquiry into a flight safety violation. News agency Tass reported that communication with the plane was lost at about 18:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, and the wreckage was found following a search and rescue effort. Ukraine has not commented on the crash.” (04/01/26)

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly6387xgqxo

Steve Trinward