Leftovers

• It’s Time to Make Kubernetes Disappear [Ed: Sort of clickbait]

  When you abstract orchestration, developers can more easily, reliably and efficiently adhere to your organization's best practices.

• Standards/Consortia

  • Ben Jojo ☛ The "simple" 38 step journey to getting an RFC

    The Internet is built on the mutual understanding of network protocols and practices, and most of those protocols are defined using Request For Comments (RFC) or Best Common Practices (BCP) documents.

    The generally accepted source for modern day RFCs is the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the term RFC has been hijacked by several different companies for their own uses. So, for the case of this blog post going forward I will operate under the assumption that if it does not appear in the IETF datatracker, then it’s not a RFC.

    For the last 3.5 years myself and 2 others have been slowly working away at a document that has recently been christened RFC9687, the actual contents of the RFC9687 are up for the next blog post, however I figure that it would be interesting to go over the process that got a bunch of words through the IETF process and a RFC number and status being granted and what happened in those 3.5 years.

  • APNIC ☛ How to boost geolocation accuracy with Geofeed

    In our Inter(net) -connected world, geolocation accuracy is more important than ever. From streaming to shopping, a lot of what we do online relies on accurate location data to deliver the right experience. That’s where Geofeed comes in — a handy tool for network operators to ensure that location data is spot-on. Ready to dive in? Let’s break it down into easy steps.

• Science

  • Hackaday ☛ Gray Matter On A Chip: Building An Artificial Brain With Luminol

    Ever wondered if you could build a robot controlled by chemical reactions? [Marb] explores this wild concept in his video, merging chemistry and robotics in a way that feels straight out of sci-fi. From glowing luminol reactions to creating artificial logic gates, [Marb]—a self-proclaimed tinkerer—takes us step-by-step through crafting the building blocks for what might be the simplest form of a chemical brain.

  • Hackaday ☛ A Brief History Of Teleportation

    OK, I know. We don’t have practical teleportation. But that hasn’t stopped generations of science fiction authors and movie makers from building stories around it. If you ask most ordinary people, they’d tell you the idea originated with the Star Trek transporter, but that’s far from the truth. So when did people start thinking about teleporting?

  • Science Alert ☛ New Study Uncovers Best Meat And Dairy Substitutes

    Your next meal could be here.

  • Science Alert ☛ One Type of Chocolate Could Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk by 21%

    Good news.

  • Science Alert ☛ Study Reveals Depression's Genetic Link to Heart Disease in Women

    Here's what we know.

  • Science Alert ☛ Chicago School Kid Discovers New Cancer-Fighting Compound in Bird Poop

    The remarkable find could one day save lives.

  • Science Alert ☛ Scientists Reveal How Our Solar System Could Capture a New Planet

    Welcome to the family!

  • Science Alert ☛ Your Belly Fat Could Warn of Alzheimer's Decades Before Symptoms

    Not all fat is the same.

  • Science Alert ☛ Fish Can Pick Their Own Birthday, And We Finally Know How

    It's a life or death decision.

  • Science Alert ☛ Drinking Cocoa May Protect Your Body From Fatty Foods And Stress

    A sweet surprise!

  • Science Alert ☛ First Ice-Free Day in Arctic Ocean Could Arrive This Decade, Study Finds

    An alarming timeline.

• Career/Education

  • University of Michigan ☛ UMich eliminates diversity statements in faculty hiring, promotion and tenure

    The University of Michigan Office of the Provost has eliminated the use of diversity statements, previously an element of faculty hiring, promotion and tenure where candidates provide personal narratives explaining how they will contribute to the University’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

  • The Kent Stater ☛ Kent professors and organizations helps students manage finals-related stress

    Snow is falling, and finals stress is calling. Professor and doctor Laurie Wagner, who teaches Happiness and Health, advises against students immediately panicking or procrastinating but rather doing more mindful practices.

• Hardware

  • Hardware Shenanigans

    There’s features that you know are really important to some of our users but you frankly don’t really care for them much yourself. Printing is one such example. Recently, I actually had to print lots of paperwork, so I had a reason to fix some of my more pressing issues with our Print Manager.

    The biggest regression from the Plasma 4 days, when we moved from individual System Tray popups to a unified square view, was that Print Manager had to give up its two pane layout that showed the print queue directly in the popup. In order to view and cancel print jobs, you now had to select the printer and open its print queue window, and close it again after you’re done.

  • CNX Software ☛ u-blox MAYA-W4 tri-radio IoT module features NXP IW610 chipset with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and 802.15.4 radios

    Last year, we covered the u-blox MAYA-W3 module, which was based on the Infineon AIROC CYW5551x chipset and utilized separate chipsets for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequencies. Now, u-blox has introduced the MAYA-W4 series, a host-based Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and 802.15.4 module built on the NXP IW610 chipset.

  • Liam Proven ☛ Raw Computer Power (with apologies to Guy Kewney)

    First Unix box I ever touched, in my first job, here on the Isle of Man 36Y ago.It was a demo machine, but my employers, CSL Delta, never sold any AFAIK. It sat there, running but unused, all day every day. Our one had a mono text display on it, and no graphics ability that I know of.I played around, I wrote "Hello, world!" in C and compiled it and it took me a while to find that the result wasn't called "hello" or "hello.exe" or anything but "a.out".If I had the knowledge then, I'd have written a Mandelbrot generator or something and had it sit there cranking them out -- but I was not skilled enough. It was not networked to our office network, but it had a synchronous modem allowing it to access some I.C.B.M. online service which we used to look up tech support info.

  • Hackaday ☛ A Hundred Year Old Solid State Amplifier

    Conventional wisdom has it that the solid state era in electronics began in 1948 with the invention of the transistor, or if you wish to split hairs, with the 1930s invention by the Russian [Oleg Losev] of an early form of tunnel diode. But there’s an earlier amplifier technology that used a solid state circuit which is largely forgotten, and [AWA Communication Technologies Museum] has featured it in a new video. We’re talking of course about the carbon microphone amplifier, a piece of telephone technology which made its way into consumer electronics.

  • Hackaday ☛ Keebin’ With Kristina: The One With The Folding Keyboard Mod

    Let’s face it, failed Kickstarters are no good. But they can spark good things, like real versions of technologies that might have actually been faked for the platform. A touchscreen mouse, for instance, with shortcuts that can be programmed for various applications.

  • Hackaday ☛ How Corroded Can A Motherboard Be?

    We will admit it. If we found a 386 motherboard as badly corroded as the one [Bits und Bolts] did, we would trash it—not him, though. In fact, we were surprised when he showed it and said he had already removed most of it in vinegar. You can check the board out in the video below.

  • The Next Platform ☛ The Datacenter Is The Accelerator

    There is a fractal nature in modern computing that is only becoming more and more apparent as workloads have long since outstripped the capacity of a single server.

  • CNX Software ☛ Murata LBWA0ZZ2HK/HL low-power Wi-Fi HaLow modules can communicate over 2km

    Murata has recently introduced two new ultra-low power, sub-1 GHz Wi-Fi HaLow modules (LBWA0ZZ2HK and LBWA0ZZ2HL) compliant with Sub-1 GHz (S1G) 802.11ah Wi-Fi standard across key regions. The Type 2HK module operates at frequencies from 902MHz to 928MHz and features a communication range of 2km, whereas the low-power Type 2HL operates at 750MHz to 950MHz and can communicate over 1km. .

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • The Kent Stater ☛ Here’s the impact of hybrid environments on careers

    The COVID-19 pandemic brought changes to work environments through the use of technology and adaptation to remote environments.

  • Science Alert ☛ A Mysterious Flu-Like Disease Has Killed Dozens in DR Congo

    Health officials don't know what it is.

  • JURIST ☛ UN urges Chile to align constitution with international human rights health standards

    The UN Special Rapporteur for health rights urged Chile to modify its constitution to comply with international human rights standards by ensuring universal health rights on Wednesday, arguing that constitutional changes are essential to guarantee fair access to healthcare, including safe abortion and mental health services. >

  • PHR ☛ Escalating Conflict in Northwest Syria Puts Hospitals Under Fire: PHR

    As military confrontation between Syrian opposition groups and the Syrian government intensifies in the country’s northwest, all parties to the conflict must abide by international humanitarian law (IHL) and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including health care facilities, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) said today. 

  • NYPost ☛ Mattress Mack undergoing open heart surgery in latest health scare

    Thursday morning, Jim McIngvale announced in a video on X that he has had some health issues in recent months.

  • The Straits Times ☛ S. Korean health minister denounces martial law amid uproar in medical community

    The President's short-lived martial law decree is facing harsh criticism from the medical community.

  • Transgender woman wins payout in China for electroshock ‘conversion’ therapy

    Ling’er wins unprecedented compensation after being incarcerated in psychiatric facility.

  • Medevel ☛ Turkey Considers Banning Social Media for Teens Under 16

    Turkey is taking a bold step towards protecting its younger generation from potential digital harm. A new regulation under discussion aims to prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing social control media platforms.

  • France24 ☛ 'Vindictive political culture': Since 1988, four South Korean presidents jailed, one died by suicide

    South Korea’s president replaced his defense minister Thursday as opposition parties moved to impeach both men over the stunning-but-brief imposition of martial law that brought armed troops into Seoul streets. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on Yoon's shock bid to suspend civilian rule, reflecting a troubled history of South Korean presidents, FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney welcomes Robert A. Manning, Distinguished Fellow with the Strategic Foresight Hub at the Stimson Center.

• Proprietary/Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  • Gaming company IllFonic announces undisclosed number of job cuts

    American video game developer Illfonic has announced an undisclosed number of job cuts in its team due to realigned strategy. However, it is believed that a significant number of employees are expected to be impacted by the layoff at the gaming company.

    IllFonic CEO and Co-Founder Charles Brungardt took X (formerly Twitter) to make the layoff announcement. He also raised concern about the challenges being faced by the gaming industry and subsequent layoff across the industry. He expressed deep regret over the impact on affected team members and urged companies who are in hiring spree to reach out to those who are impacted by the job cuts at his company.

  • Edelman lays off 330 people amid expected 8% drop in US revenue [Ed: Microsoft astroturfers]

    CEO Richard Edelman is refocusing the agency around five key areas and shuttering most of its operational sub brands — Canada not hit by cuts, with most layoffs coming in the U.S. and some in Asia.

• Security

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Hong Kong officials learn neighborhood surveillance from China

      The city will be carved into subdistricts, with volunteers watching for potential signs of unrest.

• Defence/Aggression

  • Meduza ☛ A pro-Russian outsider is suddenly close to the Romanian presidency. Here’s what a Georgescu victory could mean for Ukraine and NATO. — Meduza

  • Scoop News Group ☛ Exclusive: Feds are probing 764, The Com’s use of cybercriminal tactics to carry out violent crimes

    Documents reviewed by CyberScoop show that law enforcement is tracking these violent criminal groups’ use of malicious cyber tools to cause harm to children.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Young people involved in one-fifth of Australian terrorism cases, says intelligence chief

    Mental health, education and social services needed to intervene in many cases.

  • Defence Web ☛ The violent underworld of Stilfontein’s zama zamas

    Late on the night of 24 November, 14 zama zamas surfaced from deep underground at a disused mine in Stilfontein, where a major operation against illegal mining is ongoing. Police were guarding the shaft’s entrance and arrested them. One of the zama zamas gave his age as 14. The miners were all Mozambican.

  • New York Times ☛ After UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Killing, Americans Express Frustration With Health Insurance Industry

    The shooting death of a UnitedHealthcare executive in Manhattan has unleashed Americans’ frustrations with an industry that often denies coverage and reimbursement for medical claims.

  • CS Monitor ☛ He gunned down a CEO and escaped by bike. Who killed Brian Thompson?

    A masked man shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in the early morning of Dec. 4 in Manhattan. After mounting a bike, he vanished into Central Park. Police, who say the shooting was targeted, are still searching for any trace of his whereabouts.

  • NYPost ☛ Manhunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer enters second day — here’s what major clues investigators are looking at

    The manhunt for the cold-blooded assassin who gunned down UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown entered its second day Thursday — and investigators have no shortage of clues. Beyond the chilling first image showing the masked suspect’s face — in which he grins widely — NYPD detectives and FBI agents ran down leads and processed...

  • The Kent Stater ☛ Gunman at large after UnitedHealthcare CEO fatally shot in ‘brazen targeted attack,’ police say

    New York (CNN) — UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan Wednesday morning in a “brazen, targeted attack” as he walked toward the hotel hosting the company’s annual investor conference, New York police said. The gunman is on the loose. But the assailant may have dropped some vital clues while fleeing, according to...

  • CS Monitor ☛ In Malawi, sex and mental health can be taboo topics. Not on this radio show.

    Farm Radio Trust harnesses the power of radio to help the young people of Malawi share their experiences on difficult subjects.

  • New York Times ☛ China Slaps Sanctions on 13 U.S. Defense Firms

    The largely symbolic move is in response to the Biden administration’s latest arms sales to Taiwan, the island democracy that China considers its own.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Taiwan’s Lai has call with US House Speaker Mike Johnson

    Mr Lai is visiting the American territory Guam during a Pacific tour that has angered China.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te has call with US House Speaker Johnson during Guam visit, as Beijing fumes

    Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te spoke to Republican US House Speaker Mike Johnson, Lai’s office told AFP Thursday, as he visits the American territory Guam during a Pacific tour that has angered China.

  • Taiwan president’s visit to Guam stokes fears of being targeted by China

    China condemned Lai Ching-te’s US stopovers, warning against any official interactions.

  • Chinese mourn death of Taiwanese romance author

    Chiong Yao was best known to millions via big-budget TV adaptations of her romantic stories.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Taiwan president speaks with US House Speaker Johnson, China warns of 'red lines'

    Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Thursday he spoke with House Speaker Mike Johnson and other U.S. congressional leaders during his visit to the Pacific, as China called the Taiwan issue a "red line" not to be crossed in Sino-U.S. ties.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Taiwan official says China trying to set a ‘red line’ for incoming Trump government

    Beijing is trying to establish a line from Japan to Borneo as within its sphere of control.

  • China detains 3 Taiwanese followers of banned I-Kuan Tao religion

    The move comes amid warnings that residents of the democratic island should be wary of travel to China.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Japan grants Philippines funding to boost naval capabilities

    The $14.3 million will provide more rigid-hulled inflatable boats and coastal radar systems.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Philippines files diplomatic protest against China over South China Sea incident

    China and the Philippines traded accusations on Dec 4 over a maritime confrontation around Scarborough Shoal.

  • China, Philippines trade accusations over South China Sea confrontation

    A maritime confrontation occurred near the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China's Pooh-tin stresses need to fight graft in military

    China's President Pooh-tin Jinping stressed the need to enforce discipline and fight corruption in the military, as well as boost information warfare capabilities, state broadcaster CCTV said on Thursday.

  • The Straits Times ☛ ST Picks: The growing draw of ‘iron rice bowls’ for China’s young people

  • US aims to deter China, North Korea with new space force unit in Japan

    U.S. Space Forces Japan will operate out of Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo with a staff of about 10.

  • Marcy Wheeler ☛ Kash Patel’s Bullets

    What kind of aspiring J Edgar Hoover can't even alphabetize his enemies list properly?

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Joe Biden aide says US would run out of munition in China war

    President Joe Biden’s national security advisor warned Wednesday that the United States could quickly run out of munitions in a war with China as he called for more sustained defense production.

  • Defence Web ☛ Wars mean higher revenues for international defence companies

    Wars and what the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) terms “regional tensions” are given as the major contributors to an over four percent increase in revenue for the top 100 defence industry companies internationally.

  • Mexico News Daily ☛ Mexican authorities detain over 5,000 migrants in a single day

    In a brief statement, the Security Ministry announced the Army, Navy and National Guard had "rescued" of thousands of migrants on Tuesday.

  • OpenRightsGroup ☛ Prevent: Thousands of children referred to counter terrorism programme last year

    The Home Office has published its latest Prevent referral figures, which show a slight increase in the rise in referrals compared to last year. As with previous years, the figures show that the vast majority of those referred are children, and that the biggest referrer was the education sector.

  • The Straits Times ☛ 12 Vietnamese soldiers on training exercise killed in accidental explosion

    A lightning strike during a severe storm may have triggered an electric detonator, probers say.

  • New York Times ☛ Gazans With Disabilities Face ‘Impossible Times’ of Chaos and War

    A family fled carrying a 9-year-old girl for hours on their backs. Sisters with visual impairments pleaded for help as Israeli airstrikes fell. “It’s a nightmare,” one wheelchair user said.

  • New York Times ☛ Deadly Israeli Strike Hits Gaza Humanitarian Zone

    The Israeli military said it was targeting senior Hamas militants in the area. Video from the scene showed the charred remains of tents.

  • New York Times ☛ Jordan Neely’s Father Sues Daniel Penny, Accusing Him of Assault

    Andre Zachery claims that Mr. Penny, who put Mr. Neely in a chokehold on a subway train last year, caused his son’s death through “negligence, carelessness and recklessness.”

  • France24 ☛ Syria: After the takeover of Aleppo and Hama, what main challenges for HTS?

    Syrian rebels led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured the key city of Hama on Thursday, bringing the insurgents a major victory after a lightning advance across northern Syria and dealing a new blow to President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies. FRANCE 24's Expert Wassim Nasr tells us more about the main challenges facing the rebels.

  • RFERL ☛ Syrian Army Says It Has Withdrawn From Key City After Rebel Advance

    The Syrian army said it was redeploying troops "to preserve civilians lives and prevent urban combat" after Islamist-led rebels entered the key city of Hama, another loss for for the country's president, Bashar al-Assad, as well as his allies in Russia and Iran.

  • Thais crack down on financial crime; Chinese suspects in focus

    The latest round of arrests follows a sweep against Russian operators in May.

  • New York Times ☛ Trump’s Threats About the Dollar Could Push Other Countries to Find Alternatives

    President-elect Donald J. Trump threatened to impose tariffs on countries that seek to replace the dollar in trade or undermine its global reserve currency status.

  • The Straits Times ☛ In Yoon’s martial law speech, a window into his troubling world view

    His depiction of current affairs veered into apocalyptic imagery.

  • JURIST ☛ South Korea parliament to vote on presidential impeachment motion after martial law debacle

    A motion to impeach President Yoon Seok-yeol was submitted to the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea on Thursday and is due to be voted on by an anonymous ballot within 72 hours of the session. The motion, filed by the opposition, follows President Seok-yeol’s brief imposition of martial law on Tuesday.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Crisis to crisis: Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea’s unpopular president

    Mr Yoon's presidency of South Korea has been a rollercoaster of scandals and disasters.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Prosecutors open investigation into South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol over martial law

    Mr Yoon now faces an impeachment vote on Dec 7.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korean party spokesperson who grappled with martial law soldier insists she is not special

    Ms Ahn said there were many people braver than her who stood up to the martial law troops.

  • North Koreans in China shocked by South Korean martial law reversal

    Such democratic checks and balances are ‘unthinkable’ under Kim Jong Un, they said.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Asian Insider: Botched martial law in S. Korea | HK leader fires 2 ministers

    Asian Insider brings you insights into a fast-changing region from our network of correspondents and commentators.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea opposition chief says ousting Yoon will be difficult

    The Democratic Party leader said the situation remains in a “state of flux”.

  • The Straits Times ☛ How Yoon’s rival Lee Jae-myung and South Korean opposition rallied in defiance of martial law

    Lee Jae-myung and other lawmakers scaled fences after soldiers tried to block entry to Parliament.

  • The Straits Times ☛ How South Korean President Yoon’s impeachment could unfold under 3 scenarios

    It is unknown at the moment how many ruling party lawmakers would vote in favour of the motion.

  • The Straits Times ☛ What will happen next in South Korea?

    If the President is impeached, a new presidential election must be held within 60 days.

  • The Straits Times ☛ US defence secretary scraps South Korea trip after martial law attempt

    The US has determined that now is not the appropriate time.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korean President gets a reprieve for now as ruling party seeks to block impeachment

    However, a legal guillotine continues to loom above Yoon’s head.

  • The Straits Times ☛ US backs ‘democratic system’ in South Korea, mum on Yoon impeachment

    Washington says the impeachment motion against Mr Yoon is an “internal process".

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korean general gives a confused account of a failed crackdown

    His rambling appearance cast the military as ill-prepared and disorganised from the top down.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korean finance chief says recession fears following botched martial law are ‘excessive’

    He also discounted the idea that investors will look to avoid South Korea due to the political instability.

  • South Korea’s president lifts martial law hours after declaring it

    The order was voted down at the National Assembly as citizens protested outside.

  • US arrests man allegedly helping North Korea prepare ‘surprise attack’ on South

    The man allegedly hid firearms and ammunition in containers routed via Hong Kong to North Korea.

  • South Korean opposition files impeachment motion against Yoon

    The president’s declaration of martial law, though rescinded after hours, shocked the country.

  • JURIST ☛ South Korea president lifts martial law following unanimous parliamentary opposition

    South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced Tuesday that he would lift martial law and that troops deployed following the shocking declaration would be withdrawn, succumbing to united Parliamentary and public pressure against the declaration.

  • New York Times ☛ Old Photos Tell the Story of South Korea’s 1980 Unrest

    Clashes during President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief imposition of martial law echoed the military’s actions during an earlier political crisis that lasted longer and turned deadly.

  • New York Times ☛ South Korea’s Lawmakers Question Military About Yoon’s Martial Law Order

    The military has spent decades trying to rehabilitate its image and win public trust after a brutal past. Its role in President Yoon’s martial law raised a specter from that era.

  • The Straits Times ☛ From decree to defeat: Inside South Korea’s failed martial law attempt

    The shock move on Dec 3 unleashed six hours of political chaos in the country.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea urges calm in markets as it renews vow for action

    The recent martial law row has had limited effects on markets so far, the Finance Ministry said.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s ruling People Power Party chief asks president to leave party

    This comes despite the party's vow to block an opposition-led impeachment motion.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Who steps in if South Korea’s President Yoon is forced out?

    Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will step in to perform presidential duties.

  • Photos: Martial law ends in South Korea hours after president declared it

    Photos of police, lawmakers and protesters inside and outside the National Assembly building in Seoul

  • Does a photo show armored vehicles in Seoul after South Korea declared martial law?

    Verdict: False

  • CS Monitor ☛ As Syrian rebels advance, what can Iran and its tired allies do for Assad?

    What can Iran do to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad defeat newly energized rebel forces? Its anti-Israel “Axis of Resistance” has been overworked and diminished. Yet even as Iran searches for solutions, there are some suggestions it is not panicking.

  • New York Times ☛ How Global Conflicts Helped Reignite Syria’s Civil War

    Rebels launched sweeping assaults against the forces of President Bashar al-Assad in northwestern Syria, taking control of large portions of territory, including much of the city of Aleppo. Carlotta Gall, a senior correspondent for The New York Times, explains how events beyond Syria’s borders lit the fuse for renewed fighting.

  • France24 ☛ Syrian insurgents capture central city of Hama in severe setback to the Syrian president

    Syrian insurgents entered the central city of Hama on Thursday after days of intense clashes with government forces as they push forward with their week-long offensive that has brought large parts of Syria under their control. The Syrian army said it has withdrawn from Hama, which is 200 km north of the capital, marking another setback for President Bashar al Assad, days after losing Aleppo. FRANCE 24's Emerald Maxwell reports.

  • Myanmar power output dims by one-third under junta rule

    Observers say the decline is due to mismanagement and use of treasury for war chest.

  • Myanmar insurgents call ceasefire after Chinese pressure for peace

    The MNDAA said it will discuss political solutions to differences but vows to defend its territory.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • RFERL ☛ Romanians Rally For European Path Before Presidential Runoff With Pro-Russian Candidate

      About 3,000 people marched in Bucharest on December 5 demanding Romania maintain its pro-European path ahead of a runoff that will decide whether a far-right pro-Russian candidate will become the country’s next president.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Russia supporting North Korean nuclear programme in exchange for troops: Nato chief

      This could destabilise the Korean peninsula and threaten the US, the Nato chief said.

    • New York Times ☛ A Spate of Vandalism Rattled Estonia. Russia Was to Blame, Officials Say.

      Several people were convicted in connection with small acts of vandalism carried out at the behest of Russia’s military intelligence service, prosecutors announced Thursday.

    • Meduza ☛ Moscow cancels New Year fireworks — Meduza

    • Latvia ☛ Latvian border area inhabitants still consume Belarusian media

      In settlements close to the border with Belarus, TV and radio content produced by the neighboring country is freely available for reception, and is consumed by many locals. The authorities say they cannot influence the situation, and the solution proposed is strengthening local media, Latgale regional television reported on December 4.

    • Meduza ☛ U.S. and U.K. uncover ‘international network’ of companies helping Russia’s elite evade sanctions — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Russia’s top general and U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman discuss ATACMS, Oreshnik, and North Korean troops in rare phone call — NYT — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Russian officials open ‘foreign agent’ felony case against investigative journalism editor-in-chief and raid her parents’ home — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Worried parents and a changing education economy are fueling an ‘unschooling’ boom in Russia’s northern capital — Meduza

    • Latvia ☛ Latvian citizen to be prosecuted for serving in Russian army

      On November 29, the State Security Service (VDD) urged the Prosecutor's Office to prosecute a Latvian citizen for violating the ban on serving in the Russian Armed Forces, unlawful participation in the war in Ukraine on the side of the Russian Armed Forces, as well as illegal crossing of the state border, VDD said in a statement.

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Ukraine’s entrepreneurial class can drive the country’s economy recovery

      The Ukrainian SME sector has demonstrated remarkable wartime resilience and is poised to be at the forefront of efforts to create a modern, innovative, postwar economy, writes Anton Waschuk.

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize opportunity in Ukraine

      Stopping Russia’s aggression in Ukraine will be Trump 2.0’s first test and opportunity, one that will have far-reaching consequences.

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Tucker Carlson warns of WWIII, but Russia’s nuclear threats ring hollow

      US media personality Tucker Carlson was back in Moscow this week warning of nuclear war as Russia struggles to address growing Western indifference to its frequent nuclear threats, writes Peter Dickinson.

    • France24 ☛ Accusations and walkouts as Ukraine, Russia ministers clash at Malta meeting

      Ukraine's foreign minister called Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov a "war criminal" Thursday as they both attended an international meeting in Malta, the latter's first visit to an EU country since the 2022 invasion. FRANCE 24's Emily Boyle reports.

    • France24 ☛ Russia closes Poland’s consulate in St. Petersburg in tit-for-tat move over espionage accusations

      Moscow on Thursday announced the closure of Poland's consulate in Saint Petersburg, citing Poland's recent decision to shut down a Russian consulate in Poznan over accusations of sabotage. With tensions escalating since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Poland warned of further diplomatic closures if alleged espionage activities persist.

    • JURIST ☛ Russia put 314 Ukrainian children into systemic coerced adoption: Yale report

      Russia has been subjecting 314 children to its system of coerced adoption and fostering, according to the investigation released by Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) Tuesday.

    • CS Monitor ☛ Neal Stephenson mixes polo, politics, and power in the novel ‘Polostan’

      A Russian American girl straddles the worlds of her Ukraine-born Bolshevik father and her Montana-raised cowgirl mother in the 1920s and ’30s in Neal Stephenson’s “Polostan.”

    • New York Times ☛ Ukraine Makes a Case to Trump’s Team as Its Officials Visit U.S.

      Kyiv is feeling a sense of urgency leading up to the Jan. 20 inauguration, given the American president-elect’s vow to end the war quickly.

    • France24 ☛ Lavrov says Russia ready to 'use any means' to defend itself

      Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country is ready to "use any means" to defend itself, in an interview with US media personality Tucker Carlson released Thursday. He urged the West to take Russian missile attacks 'seriously'.

    • Meduza ☛ Weaponized patriotism: As patients use denunciations to get their way, Russian doctors are keeping quiet on politics and the war in Ukraine — Meduza

    • France24 ☛ Fresh protests in Georgia after PM vows to 'eradicate' opposition

      Thousands rallied across Georgia on Thursday for a second week of pro-EU protests, after the prime minister threatened to "eradicate" the country's "liberal-fascist" opposition. Tbilisi has been rocked by turmoil since the governing Georgian Dream party, which critics accuse of creeping authoritarianism and leading the country back towards Russia, claimed victory in a disputed election in October. FRANCE 24's Florent Marchais reports.

    • Meduza ☛ Following U.S. sanctions, Putin lifts requirement for Gazprombank to handle all payments for Russian gas — Meduza

    • CS Monitor ☛ How to fight Russian sabotage: With ‘psyops’ and undersea drones.

      Recent instances of suspected sabotage in Europe don’t necessarily have proven ties to Russia. But it is clear that Vladimir Putin makes a strategy of churning up uncertainty and fear.

    • Meduza ☛ Zelensky’s chief of staff meets with Trump team to discuss peace prospects — WSJ — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Ramzan Kadyrov admits he lied about Elon Musk gifting him a Cybertruck, says it was a joke — Meduza

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • Latvia ☛ Rīga Airport boasts pre-pandemic passenger numbers

      November 2024 has become the first month when the number of passengers handled at Riga Airport has reached the pre-pandemic level, Riga Airport said on December 5. This month also set a November record with 552,000 passengers.

    • The Straits Times ☛ 13 missing after railway construction site collapses in China’s Shenzhen city

      Major expressways near the site were closed on the morning of Dec 5 for the rescue effort.

    • New York Times ☛ The NFT Is Dead. Long Live the NFT?

      The giddy craze for nonfungible tokens brought the crypto crowd to art auctions. Now, long after the bubble burst, some still believe.

    • Silicon Angle ☛ Trump nominates Gail Slater to lead antitrust at DOJ and crypto backer Paul Atkins for head of SEC

      President-elect Donald Trump today picked Big Tech critic Gail Slater to become the assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice in a slew of nominations that also included crypto-friendly Paul Atkins as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    • Hackaday ☛ Unconventional Oil Production, All You Need To Know

      It’s fair to say that climate change is perhaps the greatest challenge facing our planet, and while much attention is directed towards solutions to the problems it presents, perhaps there’s less attention given to the the other side of the equation in the hydrocarbon industry. For example we all think we know something about hydraulic fracking wells, but how much do we really know?

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • Defence Web ☛ From accosting drug smugglers to herding livestock – just another day on SA border protection

      By far – in monetary terms – the most successful part of the Operation Corona border protection tasking in November was the confiscation of narcotics valued at over R8 million by the Joint Operations Division of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF).

• Finance

  • China deletes warning that youth unemployment is tanking economy

    Censors remove a viral speech from a top economist questioning the government’s figures.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysian influencer Vivy and husband claim trial in Khazanah-linked embezzlement case

    They were charged with criminal breach of trust on Dec 5.

  • The Straits Times ☛ 1MDB trial: Ex-PM Najib claims ties with fugitive financier Jho Low exaggerated

    “I never prepared any meals for Jho Low,” the former Malaysian premier told the court.

  • CS Monitor ☛ The new stoic Argentine

    A people highly dependent on government show unusual patience as a reformist president drives down inflation and opens up the economy.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Pearl Jam Announces US Tour — Promises to Cancel ‘Above Face Value’ Resold Tickets

    Pearl Jam has announced new US tour dates for 2025 in support of their album Dark Matter. A special ticket club for fans tries to ensure those tickets go to fans instead of bots and resellers, which sell tickets at inflated prices on secondary markets.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • University of Michigan ☛ Jubilee and YouTube’s alt-right pipeline

    Jubilee started as a YouTube channel posting content that was, at the time, really unique for the platform.

  • Citizen Lab ☛ Senior fellow Lex Gill delivers testimony to the Foreign Interference Commission

    Lex Gill, senior fellow at The Citizen Lab, delivered impactful comments to the Foreign Interference Commission at the public consultation hearing for the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions this October.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia MP ordered to pay $227k in damages for falsely linking DAP to communism, Lee Kuan Yew

    The judge ruled that the PAS politician had made defamatory and malicious claims during her speech in November 2023.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia’s jailed ex-PM Najib renews bid to serve sentence at home

    Court proceedings were cut short to allow prosecutors time to review new evidence.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia’s inquiry into Pedra Branca issue recommends ex-PM Mahathir be probed for cheating

    The royal panel also says Malaysia can still request interpretation of the 2008 ICJ ruling.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • Activists tell US Congress of China’s far-reaching cultural erasure

    Uyghur, Tibetan, Mongolian and Chinese activists say it’s hard to escape Beijing’s repressive reach.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ 45 jailed democrats: 3 more seek to challenge convictions and sentences in landmark subversion case

    Three more Hong Kong democrats are seeking to challenge their convictions and sentences in Hong Kong’s largest national security case, which ended with the jailing of 45 prominent pro-democracy figures.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • Latvia ☛ Platform created for reporting hate speech against Latvia's journalists

    The Latvian Association of Journalists (LŽA) has created a platform for anyone, including journalists themselves, to report hate speech, violence, harassment, and intimidation against journalists and other media workers on social control media or in everyday life, LŽA said on December 4.

  • The Straits Times ☛ End threats to press freedom in S. Korea: Reporters Without Borders

    “The attempt to control the media shows that press freedom is still at risk," the watchdog said.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Jimmy Lai says he was ‘too optimistic’ about Hongkongers’ willingness to resist on eve of security law’s enactment

    Jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai has said he was “too optimistic” about Hong Kong people’s willingness to resist a Beijing-drafted national security law before it was imposed in June 2020.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • University of Michigan ☛ U-M report: Program reduces homelessness, utility insecurity

    A Michigan pilot program created to help improve health outcomes for pregnant parents and their children shows positive impacts on families, according to a new report from the Youth Policy Lab.

  • AccessNow ☛ Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2024: when digital rights collide with digital oppression

  • Breach Media ☛ Postal workers are fighting the gigification of a vital public service

    Strikes by postal workers have paved the way for Canadians to enjoy maternity leave and job security. Now, they are fighting the casualization that threatens so many workers.

  • France24 ☛ French civil servants protest budget cuts, 'won't give up' regardless of next government

    Public sector workers across France staged a nationwide strike Thursday to demand increased funding and staffing for public services, causing major disruptions in schools and air travel, local media reported. Demonstrations were held in cities nationwide. In Paris, protesters gathered near the Ministry of Economy and Finance before marching toward Place d’Italie.

  • New York Times ☛ Coming for Selfies, Staying for Art: Dakar’s Biennale Draws Young Crowd

    Encouraged by Senegal’s new president, teenagers and young adults, with social control media tools in hand, have thronged an art exhibition that is usually the exclusive realm of the wealthy and elite.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • Michael Geist ☛ Government Finally Splits the Online Harms Bill: Never Too Late To Do The Right Thing…Or Is It?

    Justice Minister Arif Virani yesterday finally bowed to public pressure by agreeing to split Bill C-63, the Online Harms bill. The move brings to an end the ill-conceived attempt to wedge together Internet platform responsibility with Criminal Code provisions and the potential weaponization of the Canada Human Rights Act that had rightly sparked concerns from a wide range of groups.

• Digital Restrictions (DRM)

  • New York Times ☛ Spotify Wrapped Falls Flat for Some

    The Sound Towns of 2023 have been replaced with features such as an A.I.-driven podcast about users’ listening habits and word-salad-like genre summaries.

  • EFF ☛ Let's Answer the Question: "Why is Printer Ink So Expensive?"

    The answer is actually pretty simple: monopolies, weird laws, and companies exploiting their users for profit. If this sounds mildly infuriating and makes you want to learn ways to fight back, then head over to our new site, Digital Rights Bytes! We’ve even created a short video to explain what the heck is going on here.  

    We’re answering the common tech questions that may be bugging you. Whether you’re hoping to learn something new or want to share resources with your family and friends, Digital Rights Bytes can be your one-stop-shop to learn more about the technology you use every day.  

    Digital Rights Bytes also has answers to other common questions about device repair, ownership of your digital media, and more. If you’ve got additional questions you’d like us to tackle in the future, let us know on your favorite social platform using the hashtag #DigitalRightsBytes! 

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Patents

  • JUVE ☛ From patent monopoly grant to PI in a month: Cardo scores ex-parte PI in Milan

    Israel-based Cardo Systems is the owner of EP 4 240 194, granted recently on 9 October 2024. The patent monopoly covers a fastening device within head protective gear, usually used in motorcycle helmets.

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ A Hole in the Whole: Federal Circuit Makes Inherency an Easier Path to Obviousness

    The Federal Circuit recently issued an important decision further developing the role of inherency in patent monopoly law's obviousness analysis. In Cytiva Bioprocess R&D AB v. JSR Corp., the court addressed how inherent properties interact with reasonable expectation of success and claim construction, providing important guidance that builds upon its 2020 Hospira decision.

  • Kangaroo Courts

    • JUVE ☛ Kather Augenstein: A Düsseldorf litigation boutique with sights firmly set on the UPC [Ed: UPC is illegal and unconstitutional, so JUVE is basically still promoting an illegality for those who profit from it]

      In 2015, the Düsseldorf litigation lawyers around Christoph Augenstein and Miriam Kiefer had one goal firmly in mind: To optimally prepare their team for the UPC.

• Trademarks

  • TTAB Blog ☛ TTAB Dismisses 2d Opposition to VSS GLOBAL for Vedic Educational Services, But Remands Application for Consideration of Non-Distinctiveness

    Applicant Kavita Vachaknavee may have won the battle but lost the war. The Board dismissed this opposition to registration of the mark VSS GLOBAL for "Education services, namely, providing live and on-line classes, seminars and workshops in the field of Vedic philosophy and culture" [GLOBAL disclaimed] because Opposer, who claimed common law rights in the same mark for the same services, failed to prove that VSS GLOBAL is distinctive for its services. That was not the end of the story, however. Arya Samaj Greater Houston v. Kavita Vachaknavee, Opposition No. 91278867 (November 20, 2024) [not precedential] (Opinion by Judge Thomas L. Casagrande).

• Copyrights

  • Public Domain Review ☛ True Crime: Allan Pinkerton’s Thirty Years a Detective (1884)

    A guide to vice and crime by the founder of the world’s largest private detective agency.

  • Creative Commons ☛ From Recommendations to Implementation: Increasing Access to Climate Data for Earth Intelligence

    Screenshot by Creative Commons is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Earlier this year, Creative Commons published our Recommendations for Better Sharing of Climate Data, a seminal resource to help national and intergovernmental climate data-producing agencies use legal terms, licenses, and metadata values that ensure climate data is accessible, shareable, and reusable.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Ador Sues Over NewJeans Contract ‘Termination’ — Ousted CEO Accuses Hybe Execs of Communications Law Violations

    One week after NewJeans moved to axe its Ador agreement, the K-pop firm is suing to enforce the deal, which it says remains active. Meanwhile, Ador’s ousted CEO is accusing Hybe execs and others of defamation. Hybe’s Ador just recently submitted the complaint to the Seoul Central District Court.