Leftovers

• Science

  • Science Alert ☛ Scientists Reveal The Ideal Number of Daily Steps to Offset Sitting Down

    "An important public health message."

  • Science Alert ☛ Children With High IQs Get ADHD Diagnosed Later, Study Reveals

    There's something we're missing.

  • Science Alert ☛ Global Measles Cases Rise by 20% as WHO Blames One Key Factor

    "Far too many children are still dying from this preventable disease."

  • Science Alert ☛ Not Just Weight Loss: 8 Conditions Drugs Like Wegovy Might Treat

    One handy medication.

  • Science Alert ☛ Study Finds Eggs Might Protect Brain Health And Lower Cholesterol

    Cracking the myths.

  • Science Alert ☛ Stunningly Preserved Saber-Toothed Kitten Studied in World First

    Even its precious prehistoric toe-beans are there.

  • Science Alert ☛ New Thermal Material Could Slash Data Center Cooling Demands

    Seriously cool.

• Career/Education

  • The Straits Times ☛ Debate in South Korea if police should go beyond call of duty for college entrance exam takers

    Police ferried 154 students to test sites and delivered forgotten ID slips for nine students this year.

• Hardware

  • Silicon Angle ☛ US finalizes $11.6B CHIPS Act financing agreement with TSMC

    The Biden administration has finalized an agreement that will give Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. access to $11.6 billion in federal financing for fab construction. The White House and Commerce Department announced the milestone today.

  • Hackaday ☛ It’s A Soldering Iron! It’s A Multimeter! Relax! It’s Both!

    Imagine this. A young person comes to you wanting to get started in the electronic hobby. They ask what five things should they buy to get started. Make your list. We’ll wait. We bet we can guess at least two of your items: a multimeter, and a soldering iron. [LearnElectroncsRepair] recently showed us a review of the Zotek Zoyi ZT-N2 which is a soldering iron and a multimeter in one unit. You can watch the video review below.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysian preschooler sets record by naming 47 dialling codes in 60 secs

    Aaryn Eliseus Ng was diagnosed with a speech delay.

  • New York Times ☛ Can America’s Health Survive Robert F. Kennedy Jr.?

    What Kennedy gets right.

  • New York Times ☛ Why Kennedy Sees an ‘Epidemic’ of Chronic Disease Among Children

    Trends in child health are in fact worrisome, and scientists welcome a renewed focus on foods and environmental toxins. But vaccines and fluoride are not the cause.

  • TwinCities Pioneer Press ☛ Here’s how Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promised to remake the nation’s top health agencies

    If confirmed, Kennedy will control the world’s largest public health agency, and its $1.7 trillion budget.

  • France24 ☛ Known for 'incredibly dangerous ideas': Robert Kennedy Jr tapped to head US Health Department

    Trump is laying down a gauntlet even before taking office challenging the Senate, in particular, to dare defy him over the nominations of Matt Gaetz, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other controversial choices for his Cabinet and administration positions. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on Trump's highly controversial cabinet nominations, FRANCE 24's William Hilderbrandt welcomes Dr. Natasha Lindstaedt, Author, Professor of Government at the University of Essex and the Deputy Dean of Education in Social Sciences.

  • New York Times ☛ RFK Jr.'s Vow to Take On Big Food Could Face Resistance

    Processed foods are in the cross hairs of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but battling major companies could collide with President-elect Donald J. Trump’s corporate-friendly goals.

  • TwinCities Pioneer Press ☛ State health officials warn of hamburgers at local restaurants contaminated with E.coli

    Officials urge people to contact health care providers if they exhibit symptoms.

  • RFERL ☛ Pakistan Province Declares Health Emergency Due To Smog

    A Pakistani province declared a health emergency on November 15 due to smog and imposed a shutdown in two major cities.

  • France24 ☛ French territory Guadeloupe declares epidemic of dengue driven by uncommon strain

    Authorities in the Caribbean archipelago of Guadeloupe on Thursday declared a dengue epidemic driven by a virus strain that had a limited circulation for two decades. Health officials in the overseas French territory warned of a "high number" of "severe forms" of the disease.

  • Latvia ☛ Latvia's healthcare expenditure still low by EU standards

    In 2022, an average of €3,685 per inhabitant was spent on current healthcare expenditure in the EU, an increase of 38.6% compared with 2014 (€2,658).

  • Federal News Network ☛ And old health network is about to get a shot in the arm

    "We have set some real records in terms of how quickly we've been able to move forward here," said Carole Johnson.

• Proprietary/Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  • Mobile Systems/Mobile Applications

    • Techdirt ☛ Apple Snuck In Code That Automatically Reboots Idle IPhones And Cops Are Not Happy About It

      Detroit law enforcement officials got a bit of shock last week when some seized iPhones rebooted themselves, despite being in airplane mode and, in one case, stored inside a Faraday bag. Panic — albeit highly localized — ensued. It was covered by Joseph Cox for 404 Media, who detailed not only the initial panic, but the subsequent responses to this unexpected development.

• Defence/Aggression

  • The Straits Times ☛ China says Philippines sent supplies to beached warship at disputed shoal

    China claims much of the South China Sea despite overlapping claims by other countries.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China’s new J-35 fighter jet thrills at air show, but can it sell?

    China’s answer to the American F-35 is the most advanced series in operation today.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China tests building moon base with lunar soil bricks

    China aims to build a permanent base on the moon by 2035.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s Yoon tells China’s Pooh-tin cooperation for peace needed, Yonhap says

    Mr Pooh-tin and Mr Yoon held a summit for the first time in two years on the sidelines of the Apec summit in Peru.

  • The Straits Times ☛ All eyes on Indonesia’s next move after ‘overlapping claims’ used in China-Indonesia deal

    Asean nations in territorial disputes with China are watching if Indonesia use the term again.

  • The Strategist ☛ Three concessions after three weeks: Prabowo leans China’s way

    Indonesia’s new president, Prabowo Subianto, needed only three weeks in office to make three big concessions to China.

  • The Straits Times ☛ ST Picks: The guardians of China’s Great Wall

  • The Straits Times ☛ The guardians of China’s Great Wall

    They follow in the footsteps of three men who led the way in preserving the legacy of the iconic landmark.

  • The Straits Times ☛ As Trump return looms, China’s Pooh-tin at Apec criticises protectionism

    LIMA - With Donald Trump’s imminent return to the US presidency looming over the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Lima, Chinese President Pooh-tin Jinping said on Nov 15 that unilateralism and protectionism needed to be rejected in favour of economic globalisation.

  • Vietnam’s leader visits island in Tonkin Gulf near China

    To Lam urged the district government to make Bach Long Vi a ‘fortress’ to defend sovereignty.

  • Rubio as US top diplomat could be a win for Southeast Asian human rights

    He could temper isolationism and pursue a muscular foreign policy against China while upholding US values.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s opposition leader Lee Jae-myung convicted of violating election law

    Lee Jae-myung may lose his seat in Parliament and faces a five-year ban from politics.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Biden meets South Korea, Japan leaders for pre-Trump huddle on risk

    They are announcing the creation of a “secretariat” for the three countries to formalise the relationship.

  • France24 ☛ Biden warns of era of 'significant political change' in last meeting with key Asian allies

    US President Joe Biden said the world had reached "a moment of significant change" during his final meeting with the leaders of South Korea and Japan at an Asia-Pacific summit in Lima Friday. The US president sought to shore up the trilateral alliance he had fostered with the two Asian countries as a bulwark against North Korea.

  • RFERL ☛ Seoul Detains Man Over 'Attempted Murder' Of Politician Close To Uzbek President's Daughter

    Independent sources in South Korea and Uzbekistan told RFE/RL on November 14 that South Korean authorities detained Uzbek citizen Javlon Yunusov, on suspicion of involvement into an attempted murder of Komil Allamjonov, a close associate of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev's family.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea permits undercover investigations of digital sex crimes targeting adults

    Bill expands range of undercover police investigations from those targeting children or juveniles to women of all ages.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • New York Times ☛ Why North Korea Is Building Drones

      Analysts say the low-cost weapons are attractive to Mr. Kim, who is intent on modernizing North Korea’s military.

    • New York Times ☛ Putin Talks With German Chancellor, Breaking Ice With the West

      The hourlong call centered on what German officials said was a push to end the war in Ukraine. It was the first in two years between Mr. Putin and Chancellor Olaf Scholz

    • Meduza ☛ Vladimir Putin and Germany’s Scholz hold first phone call in nearly two years — Meduza

    • France24 ☛ Scholz-Putin call opens 'Pandora's box', Zelensky says

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday opened "Pandora's box" by undermining efforts to isolate the Russian leader.

    • RFERL ☛ Scholz Speaks To Putin About Ukraine War, Drawing Concern From Kyiv

      Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by telephone on November 15, urging the Kremlin leader to end the war against Ukraine and negotiate with Kyiv for a "just and lasting peace," the chancellor's office said.

    • RFERL ☛ Anti-War Russian Chef Found Dead In Belgrade

      Russian celebrity chef and restaurateur Aleksei Zimin, an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine who ran a restaurant in central London, has been found dead in Belgrade.

    • New Yorker ☛ What Russia and Ukraine Want from a Second Trump Presidency

      The Trump Administration will likely take the lead in any negotiations to end the war—a development that Vladimir Putin would welcome.

    • North Koreans in Russia in place but not in combat: Ukraine official

      This contradicts US, South Korean reports that North Korean forces were engaged in combat against Ukraine in Kursk.

    • RFERL ☛ Russian Forces Reportedly Start All-Out Assault On Key Ukrainian City Of Kupyansk

      Russian forces have reportedly opened an all-out assault on Kupyansk in northeastern Ukraine, days after partially breaching Ukrainian defenses to the north of the city.

    • New York Times ☛ Ukraine Is Running Out of Optimists

      There is safety in simply trusting that the worst will happen. To dare to hope has always been the risk.

    • European Commission ☛ Factsheet - EU solidarity with Ukraine

    • Latvia ☛ Re:Baltica investigation links Latvian company to Russian drones

      A new investigation by the Baltic Center for Investigative Journalism, Re:Baltica, and Buro Media, alleges that a Latvian company based in Daugavpils has questionable connections to the Russian war machine in Ukraine.

    • Latvia ☛ Plans for missile production in Latvia

      The company Frankenburg Technologies, which produces air missiles, is active in Estonia, Ukraine, and Latvia, with first tests carried out and prototypes under construction. It is confident that production of commercial missiles could start within the next year in Latvia, Latvian Television reported on November 14.

    • Latvia ☛ More Russian citizens added to Latvia's entry blacklist

      On Thursday, November 14, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže (New Unity), added 10 citizens of the Russian Federation to the list of persons undesirable for Latvia for supporting Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

    • France24 ☛ EU enlargement put to the test: Georgia, Moldova votes shake Brussels

      The EU likes to underline that enlargement towards the east is a security priority. And indeed, since the war in Ukraine started, accession negotiations have begun with several countries, most of them in the Balkans. But in a shock referendum result, barely over 50 percent of voters in Moldova said Yes to pro-EU constitutional changes. And in another shock for Brussels, Georgian Dream beat the staunchly pro-European opposition in the parliamentary election in Georgia; a vote whose integrity the EU has called into question.

    • Meduza ☛ Exiled opposition, unite? Yulia Navalnaya, Vladimir Kara-Murza, and Ilya Yashin join forces to hold anti-war demonstration in Berlin — Meduza

    • France24 ☛ Protesters storm parliament in Georgia separatist region Abkhazia over deal with Russia

      Protesters stormed the parliament of Georgia's Russia-backed breakaway region of Abkhazia on Friday while the government was set to discuss a real-estate investment agreement with Russia. Some Abkhaz fear the deal would price them out of the property market and boost Moscow's control in the region.

    • RFERL ☛ Russia Restricts Enriched Uranium Exports To The U.S.

      Russia, the world's largest supplier of enriched uranium, said on November 15 that it had imposed temporary restrictions on the export of enriched uranium to the United States, a symbolic tit-for-tat move after the United States banned Russian uranium imports.

    • RFERL ☛ Russian-American Sentenced To 5 Years In Prison For Massive Bitcoin Theft

      A Russian-American man whose theft of thousands of bitcoins was one of the largest in history has been sentenced to five years in a U.S. prison.

    • RFERL ☛ Abkhaz Opposition Says Talks Under Way After Storming Of Parliament Over Russia Deal

      Opposition leaders in Georgia's Moscow-backed breakaway region of Abkhazia claimed late on November 15 that lawmakers were mediating as a dispute continued with the region's leadership after opposition supporters stormed the local parliament over a controversial proposed deal with Moscow.

    • New York Times ☛ Biden Discusses With Allies ‘Dangerous’ Cooperation Between Russia and North Korea

      The president said stronger ties with South Korea and Japan are working, but did not address whether President-elect Donald J. Trump would continue his approach when he takes office in January.

    • New York Times ☛ In Moscow, Trump’s Victory Is Welcomed, But Warily

      Donald Trump’s re-election victory has dominated media coverage in Russia, where there is restrained optimism about the prospect for better relations.

    • Meduza ☛ Clashes erupt outside parliament in Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region as hundreds protest Russian investment deal — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Her: ‘Finally, a decent man.’ Him: ‘Show me your boobs.’ The Russian soldiers and civilian women looking for love online — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Fire at Moscow women’s shelter lands five in hospital — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Citing ‘fire safety violations,’ Russia shutters its only state-funded museum dedicated to Soviet-era repressions — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Zelensky says he expects war with Russia to ‘end more quickly’ with Trump replacing Biden — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Abkhazia’s separatist president refuses to resign amid violent protests against investment agreement with Russia — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Opposition leader claims Abkhazia’s separatist president has fled to Russian military base amid protests — Meduza

• Environment

  • European Commission ☛ Opening speech by Commissioner Simson at a side event on Ukraine's recovery towards a green, sustainable and resilient energy system on the margins of COP29

    Let me start by recognising the extraordinary courage of the Ukrainian people.

  • European Commission ☛ Speech by Commissioner Simson at the Global Methane Pledge Ministerial at COP29

    I'm delighted to be opening this year's Global Methane Pledge Ministerial.

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • New York Times ☛ Can These Ex-Hollywood Chimps Find a Place Among the Apes?

      Behind the scenes at a Chicago zoo, chimpanzees who spent years entertaining humans are learning to befriend their own kind.

• Finance

  • CS Monitor ☛ Trump prepares for ‘economic warfare’ with China

    President-elect Donald Trump readies for a new tariff war with China, making balanced trade books, not free trade, the leitmotif of his presidency.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China to retaliate if Trump boosts tariff, says ex-PBOC official

    Trump has threatened to increase the levies on Chinese goods to as high as 60 per cent.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China retail sales beat October forecasts, an encouraging sign for Beijing and its ailing economy

    China’s retail sales last month grew at their fastest clip since the start of the year, official figures showed Friday, an encouraging sign for Beijing as it looks to boost sluggish consumption.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Starting Latin America trip, Pooh-tin Jinping opens huge port in Peru funded by China

    The Chancay deep-water port is one of Beijing's most ambitious infrastructure investments in Latin America.

  • Atlantic Council ☛ Biden’s first presidential visit to South America comes too late and with China gaining momentum

    To compete with Beijing in the Western Hemisphere, Washington should follow a four-part plan to prioritize, invest, message, and align.

  • European Commission ☛ Autumn 2024 Economic Forecast: A gradual rebound in an adverse environment

    European Commission Press release Brussels, 15 Nov 2024 After a prolonged period of stagnation, the EU economy is returning to modest growth, while the disinflation process continues.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • France24 ☛ Immigrants struggle as cracks deepen in Canada's pro-immigration 'consensus'

    As public opinion in Canada shows growing scepticism toward immigration, the South Asian Women's Rights Organization in Ontario is working to support immigrant women as they establish their lives in Canada. Daniel Bernhard, chief executive of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, warns that while Canada has historically been welcoming, narratives around housing and healthcare pressures are now challenging the nation’s long-standing immigration consensus.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China's Communist Party expels former agriculture minister for corruption

    China's Communist Party has expelled former agriculture minister Tang Renjian, state media reported on Friday, six months after he was placed under investigation by the country's anti-graft watchdog and removed from his post.

  • Residents in Myanmar feel the crunch as trade with China shuts down

    The three border gates controlled by the junta in Shan state are closed to road traffic, causing prices hikes.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • University of Michigan ☛ Speaker highlights risks to extramural speech protections

    Recent measures to impede campus protests around the country are a threat to academic freedom and extramural speech, says Judith Butler, a philosopher and gender studies scholar.

  • Stanford University ☛ Speaker event on Gaza crisis sparks controversy over image censorship

    Two physicians with ties to Gaza argued that approaching the crisis solely as a humanitarian issue overlooks its moral implications.

  • TwinCities Pioneer Press ☛ Ben & Jerry’s lawsuit accuses parent company of censorship over Gaza

    When Ben & Jerry’s was sold, the companies agreed that the ice cream maker’s independent board would be free to pursue its social mission.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ How China sought to censor news of deadly Zhuhai car attack

    By Mary Yang At least 35 people were killed and dozens more injured when a man ploughed his car into pedestrians exercising around a sports centre in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai on Monday night.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia’s Islamic council declares GISB teachings deviant

    The public is banned from, among others, downloading and spreading materials related to GISB.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • Press Gazette ☛ Prince Harry and Tom Watson only remaining claimants against Sun publisher

    The trial is expected to be held in January.

  • Press Gazette ☛ News media job cuts 2024 tracked: Dotdash Meredith lays off 53 people, mostly in print

  • Press Gazette ☛ Scott Trust appoints new member as it nears crucial Observer sale decision

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • CS Monitor ☛ A bulldozer turned up an ancient Indigenous site. Now a forester fights to save it.

    A U.S. Forest Service archeologist has sent a letter to federal officials detailing illegal behavior by North Carolina forest managers, the latest development in a whistleblower case. He alleges they have damaged Native American historic sites for years.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • Hackaday ☛ WiFi Status Indicator Keeps Eye On The Network

    These days, most of us take the instant availability of a high-speed link to the Internet for granted. But despite all of the latest technology, things still occasionally go pear-shaped — meaning that blistering fiber optic connection you’ve got to the world’s collected knowledge (not to mention, memes) can still go down when you need it the most.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Trademarks

  • TTAB Blog ☛ PICKWELL FARMS Confusable with PICTSWEET FARMS for Frozen Vegetables, Says TTAB

    [Caveat: the petitioner was represented by Tonia Sayour and Kira-Khanh McCarthy of Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, PC, home of the TTABlogger]. The Board granted a petition for cancellation of a registration for the mark PICKWELL FARMS for, inter alia, frozen vegetable, finding confusion likely with the registered mark PICTSWEET FARMS for “Frozen vegetables; frozen vegetable-based entrees." [FARMS disclaimed in both marks]. This blog post will attempt to hit the high points of the decision. The Pictsweet Company v. Moran Foods, LLC, Cancellation No. 92078530 (November 7, 2024) [not precedential] (Opinion by Judge Elizabeth K. Brock).