Leftovers

• Digital Music News ☛ Scratch That: Neil Young Says He’s Playing Glastonbury After All

  Neil Young and his band The Chrome Hearts will play Glastonbury 2025 after all, the singer says. He took a public stance against Glastonbury earlier this week, calling it a “corporate turn-off.” Now he’s walked the statement back.

• Hardware

  • Harish Pillay ☛ It is all about the CPU!

    We need to revisit the disparate CPUs, NPUs, GPUs, TPUs that we see today. The answer, I will posit, is to get RISC-V RVA23 to become the baseline from edge to the centre and out to space.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • Off Guardian ☛ The Glaring Hypocrisy and Embedded Deceptions of the Global Food Giants

    Bryce Martinez (18) from Pennsylvania is mounting a legal challenge against major food companies, alleging that their ultra-processed foods (UPFs) led to his development of Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease at the age of 16.

• Defence/Aggression

  • New York Times ☛ Guantánamo Convict Sues to Stop U.S. Plan to Send Him to Prison in Iraq

    A court filing said the prisoner was at risk for abuse and might not be able to get adequate health care if transferred.

  • Did Syria fire all female judges after Bashar al-Assad’s fall?

    Verdict: Lack of evidence

  • France24 ☛ Top European diplomats urge inclusive transition in Syria visit

    The foreign ministers of Germany and France re the first ministers from the EU to visit Syria since rebels seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8 and forced President Bashar al-Assad to flee after more than 13 years of civil war and ending his family's 5 decade-long rule. Jean-Noel Barrot expressed his hope "for a sovereign, stable and peaceful Syria"

  • France24 ☛ European Union leaders seeks path to rebuild ties with Syria

    The top diplomats from Germany and France were in Syria on Friday to send what the German minister called a clear signal that Europe and Syria can have a “political new beginning" after Islamist insurgents ousted Bashar Assad. For more, FRANCE 24's international affairs commentator, Douglas Herbert.

  • France24 ☛ Syria restricts entry for Lebanese citizens, security sources say

    Syria has restricted entry for Lebanese citizens, two security sources from Lebanon said on Friday, after Lebanese soldiers and armed Syrians clashed over the closure of a border crossing.

  • France24 ☛ Chad: Regional security is a key concern of voters in the election

    Chad's President has set January 31st as the deadline for the complete withdrawal of french troops from the country. In November Djamena gave the soldiers just 6 weeks to leave after abrubtly ending the military cooperation between the nations. Some Chadian are worried about how the exit of French troops will impact the pushback to a regional security crisis. The issue was a key concern of voters in the weekend's election. Harold Girard and Ghislain Allahtaroum has more.

  • JURIST ☛ UN expert warns gang attacks threaten Haiti healthcare system

    UN Designated Expert on Human Rights in Haiti William O’Neill warned Friday that armed gangs are systematically targeting the country’s healthcare system and called for the protection of Haitians’ access to health services. According to O’Neill’s assessment, only 37 percent of health facilities in Port-au-Prince remain fully functional, with access severely limited by security concerns.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea stand-off: Who are the guards blocking President Yoon’s arrest?

    The Presidential Security Service is South Korea’s equivalent of the US Secret Service.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Recap: South Korean authorities suspend attempt to arrest President Yoon

    They were blocked by military unit inside presidential residence after being let through heavy security barricades.

  • New York Times ☛ South Korea’s Dueling Protests

    A standoff between the impeached president’s security team and officials seeking to detain him was echoed on the streets outside the presidential residence.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Beijing slams US over potential Chinese drone ban

    It accused Washington of "generalising the concept of national security".

  • The Straits Times ☛ Philippines’ Marcos drops estranged V-P Sara Duterte from security council

    The changes have also excluded former presidents from council membership.

  • CS Monitor ☛ The art of Poland’s diplomacy

    The country at the helm of the European Union for the next six months makes youthful creativity a key part of its focus on regional security.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • RFERL ☛ Zelenskiy: Ukraine Elections Possible This Year If Martial Law Ends

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said presidential and parliamentary elections could happen this year if negotiations bring an end to the "hot phase" of the war with Russia, allowing for the lifting of martial law.

    • RFERL ☛ Moldovans Facing Gas Shortages Are Chopping Wood To Get Through Winter

      Some Moldovans are scrambling to find ways to heat their homes days after gas supplies from Russia were abruptly stopped. As of January 1, Ukraine refused to transit Russian gas, leaving the breakaway Transdniester region and some nearby Moldovan villages cut off. RFE/RL spoke to locals who are now firing up wood stoves, burning biomass, and hoarding gas cylinders.

    • RFERL ☛ Polish Farmers Protest EU Policies As Warsaw Assumes Bloc's Rotating Presidency

      Polish farmers marched in central Warsaw on January 3 to voice their opposition to European Union policies toward imports from Ukraine ahead of a gala to mark Poland taking the rotating EU presidency.

    • RFERL ☛ Russia Launches Drone Attack Against Multiple Regions Of Ukraine

      Russian troops attacked Ukraine with a barrage of strike drones late on January 3, including the north central regions of Zhytomyr and Kyiv far from the front line, the Air Force Command reported.

    • JURIST ☛ Slovakia threatens to cut aid for Ukraine refugees amid gas transit dispute

      Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico issued a warning on Friday regarding potential reductions in financial aid for Ukrainian refugees currently residing in Slovakia. The warning followed Ukraine’s recent decision to halt the transit of Russian natural gas through its territory, a move Slovakia views as economically detrimental.

    • Latvia ☛ Do Russian media operating in Latvia make any difference?

      The editorial offices of Russian independent media have been working in Rīga for more than two years, reporting on the war in Ukraine from a perspective that would put them in prison in Russia.

    • RFERL ☛ Ukraine Can Expect Further U.S. Aid Offers Before Biden Leaves Office, White House Says

      Ukraine can expect more announcements in coming days about additional U.S. security assistance, a White House spokesman said as President Joe Biden’s term in office winds down.

    • Meduza ☛ Slovak prime minister threatens to cut support for Ukrainian refugees after Kyiv halts gas transit — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Breaking the chain What the end of decades-long Russian gas transit through Ukraine means for Moscow, Kyiv, and Europe — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Headlines from an alternate reality A roundup of fake news stories about Ukraine Russian propagandists created and amplified in 2024 — Meduza

    • France24 ☛ Oil slick from Russian tanker spill reaches Crimea

      Oil from two Russian tankers, which sank and ran aground in the Kerch Strait after a storm in December, has spread 250 kilometres to reach the coast of Sevastopol in Crimea, Moscow-installed officials said on Friday.

    • JURIST ☛ Finland court denies release of oil tanker suspected in Baltic Sea cable damage

      A Finnish court denied on Friday the release of the oil tanker Eagle S, which was suspected of damaging undersea cables and a power line in the Baltic Sea. The Finnish authorities are also investigating potential sanctions violations involving its Russian oil cargo.

    • LRT ☛ Court in Lithuania to look into Russian ice skater’s citizenship appeal

      The Constitutional Court will look into whether the laws under which Russian-born ice dancer Margarita Drobiazko was stripped of her Lithuanian citizenship are in line with the constitution.

    • Meduza ☛ Finland upholds seizure of potential Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker suspected of damaging undersea cables — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ A glimpse of home: Many of Meduza’s readers are in exile. We asked those in Russia to grant their holiday wishes by sending photos of the places they miss. — Meduza

    • Latvia ☛ Three weeks with no Latvia-Belarus border crossers detected

      No migrants have been detected trying to cross the Latvian-Belarusian border illegally in Latgale for almost a month, the State Border Guard (VRS) told LETA on January 2.

    • Latvia ☛ Rīga wants to ban Moscow-time New Year fireworks

      This year, as every year, a lot of fireworks started at 23:00, when the New Year begins in Moscow. Some people report these to the police, but it is difficult to prove who did it and whether the aim was to glorify the aggressor state. To change this, the capital is proposing a complete ban on fireworks at 23:00, Latvian Television reported January 2.

• Transparency/Investigative Reporting

  • American Oversight ☛ American Oversight Sues Intelligence Agency for Records About Trump Nominee Kash Patel

    The lawsuit and motion for preliminary injunction seeks records from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that could shed light on whether and to what extent Patel was involved in efforts to politicize and abuse the intelligence agency.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Diplo Revenge Porn Case Takes a New Twist As Judge Rules ‘Jane Doe’ Must Reveal Her Identity

    Diplo’s revenge porn accuser fears harassment if her name is disclosed, but a federal judge rules she must reveal her identity. The woman accusing Diplo of sharing revenge porn against her wishes to remain anonymous, having filed her civil lawsuit against the DJ as a Jane Doe.

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • Federal News Network ☛ How the government ought to about critical minerals security

      "The lithium, the cobalt, the nickel. Those we need for electric vehicles and clean energy technologies," said Gracelin Baskaran.

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Biden’s blocked US Steel deal carries big risks. Here are the top three.

      On January 3, the US president blocked Nippon Steel’s proposed acquisition of the US company on national security grounds. It could have important consequences in the years ahead.

    • France24 ☛ Biden blocks $14.9 billion US-Japan steel deal over national security concerns

      US President Joe Biden on Friday blocked the sale of US Steel to Japan's Nippon Steel, citing concerns that the deal could threaten national security and industrial supply chains. The companies said that the move was a "clear violation of due process and the law" in a joint statement.

    • New York Times ☛ Biden Blocks Takeover Bid of U.S. Steel by Japan’s Nippon

      The president said he was moving to protect national security in deciding the fate of the iconic Pennsylvania-based company, which became a contentious political issue in an election year.

    • JURIST ☛ Biden blocks Nippon bid to buy US Steel over national security concerns

      US President Joe Biden decided on Friday to block Japanese company Nippon Steel Corporation’s bid to purchase US Steel, citing national security concerns. The president emphasized the necessity of maintaining American ownership of companies to ensure the industry’s growth and protect national economic interests.

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • Defence Web ☛ The role of Africa’s Great Lakes and oceans in revitalizing South Africa’s economy

      South Africa faces a crisis of unemployment exacerbated by a stagnating economy that in turn is lowering the tax base and harming the country’s ability to meet its expenses – and pay social grants.

• Finance

  • Bryan Lunduke ☛ H-1B Visa in Tech: Good Idea or Bad Idea?

    Elon Musk is for the H-1B visa. But is it a good thing for the Software Industry?

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • JURIST ☛ Second Circuit revives free speech challenge to New York anti-discrimination labor law

    The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Thursday remitted to reconsideration a lawsuit challenging a provision of New York’s Labor Law as violations of the rights to free speech and religion of a crisis pregnancy center.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Year in Review: 15 times Hong Kong made int’l headlines in 2024

    Hong Kong made the news on several occasions in 2024 whether for passing new security legislation, censorship laws, or the mystery surrounding the deaths of several monkeys at a city-centre zoo. HKFP rounds up 15 headline-making moments from the last 12 months.

  • France24 ☛ Palestinian Authority suspends Qatari channel Al Jazeera in West Bank

    Al Jazeera has condemned the Palestinian Authority's decision to suspend it in the occupied West Bank and shut down its bureau in Ramallah. On New Year's Day, the culture, interior and communications ministers jointly made the decision accusing Al Jazeera of broadcasting material that was "deceiving and stirring strife". The move came after the PA criticised the network over its coverage of an ongoing standoff between Palestinian security forces and militant fighters in the Jenin refugee camp.

  • France24 ☛ In the West Bank, Palestinian Authority clashes with militant groups and suspends Al Jazeera

    The decision by the Palestinian Authority to suspend Al Jazeera broadcasts on Wednesday has put violent clashes between Palestinian security forces and local armed groups in Jenin, a city in the northern occupied West Bank, in the spotlight. Analysts say the decision is a way for the Palestinian Authority to score a win ahead of Donald Trump’s presidency and position itself to control a post-war Gaza.

  • Press Gazette ☛ MP wins complaint against Birmingham Live over UK’s ‘grimmest village’ article

    MP Gavin Williamson previously complained to press regulator IPSO over similar Mail Online article.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • JURIST ☛ Israel court annuls key component of controversial police law

    Israel’s High Court of Justice on Thursday struck down a key component of a controversial 2022 law passed at the behest of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. The court annulled a provision that granted the minister increased powers over police investigative practices.

  • JURIST ☛ UN experts urge respect for human rights ahead of Venezuela presidential inauguration

    An independent UN mission on Thursday urged Venezuelan authorities to respect the rights to life, liberty and personal security of all Venezuelans. The mission also demanded the release of all arbitrarily detained individuals ahead of President Nicolás Maduro’s inauguration to another term on January 10.  

  • EXPLAINED: Why is an internet-famous Vietnamese monk on a trek to India?

    Thich Minh Tue, whose fame drew the apparent ire of authorities, is on 2,700-kilometer barefoot pilgrimage.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • JURIST ☛ US appeals court overturns FCC decision reinstating net neutrality rules

    The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled Thursday that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) did not have legal authority when it reinstated net neutrality rules last May, striking a blow to President Joe Biden’s telecommunications policy.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Trademarks

  • TTAB Blog ☛ TTABlog Quarterly Index: October - December 2024

    E-mail subscriptions to the TTABlog are available. Just enter your e-mail address in the box on the right to receive a daily update via Feedblitz. Please report any broken or inoperative links, as well as any errors and omissions, to the TTABlogger at jwelch at wolfgreenfield.com.

• Copyrights

  • Digital Music News ☛ Discovery Delays Surface in Music Publishers’ NBA Infringement Suits — As Intensifying TuneSat Sub-Dispute Takes Center Stage

    Music publishers’ infringement litigation against more than a dozen NBA teams is still in full swing – though discovery delays appear likely to push the involved showdowns back by multiple months at a minimum. Technically, those showdowns are separate; publishers including but not limited to Kobalt levied the underlying copyright monopoly complaints last summer.