Leftovers

• France24 ☛ Former world heavyweight champion Fury announces retirement from boxing – again

  British heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury said Monday he was retiring from boxing after having suffered a second straight defeat at the hands of Ukrainian rival Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia in December. Fury previously announced his retirement in 2022 before returning to the ring later that year.

• Science

  • New York Times ☛ After a Naming Contest, Cardea Joins the Celestial Ranks as a Quasi-Moon

    The W.N.Y.C. science program “Radiolab” partnered with the International Astronomical Union to solicit nearly 3,000 submissions. The Roman goddess of doorways and transitions won out.

• Career/Education

  • APNIC ☛ How networking technology enables cheating in online exams

    Guest Post: How might a student cheat during a supervised in-person online exam in a BYOD environment?

• Hardware

  • Mobile Systems/Mobile Applications

    • Tech Central (South Africa) ☛ iPhone lost ground to Android in 2024

      The iPhone slipped a point to 18% market share in 2024, according to Counterpoint Research data. Archrival Samsung Electronics also gave up share to faster-growing Android device makers from China, led by Xiaomi and Vivo. Apple marked a 2% sales decline for the full year, according to the research, at a time that the wider market grew 4% globally.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • New York Times ☛ How Lagging Vaccination Could Lead to a Polio Resurgence

    In its original form, the virus survives in just two countries. But a type linked to an oral vaccine used in other nations has already turned up in the West.

  • Stanford University ☛ Her POV: ‘Madeline’s Madeline’ artfully breaks down the parent-child bond

    Josephine Decker's film depicts a Black teenage girl’s struggle with mental health as she navigates thorny relationships with her mother and her director. The film is a provocative character study that shows how putting on an act makes it hard to sustain genuine connections, Cleveland writes.

  • Latvia ☛ Signatures collected to abolish new pharmacy service fee

    More than 10,000 signatures have been collected overnight on the public initiative portal "manabalss.lv" to abolish the 75-cent service surcharge on prescription medicines, LETA reported.

  • Stanford University ☛ From the Community | Stanford may defund a pillar of mental health on campus. We need your help to save it.

    The Bridge provides essential, 24/7 mental health support to the Stanford community — yet University administrators are threatening to defund it.

  • Stanford University ☛ Stanford students release Sharotonin, a new app to gamify mental health

    Oliver Lee has the latest scoop on the best app for making you feel your best. Positivity has never been so addicting (literally)!

  • U-M develops new blood test for head and neck cancer

    A Michigan Medicine lab has begun providing MyHPVscore, a first-of-its-kind highly accurate blood test that can detect human papilloma virus-related head and neck cancer.

• Proprietary/Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  • France24 ☛ Biden administration announces new rules to govern AI's global spread

    As it embarked on its final week, the Biden administration has announced sweeping new rules to control the export of US-made advanced Hey Hi (AI) chips.  The new curbs are not just aimed at China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, but most of the world - with the exception of just 18 of its closest allies. Plus, global oil prices continued to rise and shipping data showed dozens of tankers had dropped anchor, following the latest round of US sanctions targeting Russia's shadow fleet.

• Security

  • Integrity/Availability/Authenticity

    • Hong Kong officials in bid to rescue Myanmar scam park victims

      Chinese officials say the scale of cross-border scam operations is still ‘huge’ despite ongoing crackdown.

• Defence/Aggression

  • Thailand urged not to deport 48 Uyghurs to China

    The Uyghurs have been held for more than a decade after fleeing from China.

  • Chinese rights lawyer Xie Yang ‘won’t bow' despite 3 years of pretrial detention

    Xie pens note saying he’d rather have his head ‘cut off’ than give in to the authorities.

  • New York Times ☛ With South Korea in Crisis, Eight Justices Will Decide President’s Fate

    The Constitutional Court, an arbiter in a polarized nation, is about to consider whether Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment for declaring martial law was justified.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Impeachment trial of South Korean President Yoon over failed martial law bid to begin

    The Constitutional Court will decide whether to strip him of his presidential duties.

  • South Korea, Japan stress importance of trilateral ties with US

    Call for cooperation followed a foreign ministers' meeting in Seoul a week before the US swears in a new president.

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea fires suspected short-range ballistic missiles

    Experts said the latest launch on Jan 14 could be sending a message to the incoming Trump administration.

  • North Korea conducts missile tests days before Trump takes office

    Trump launched an unprecedented diplomatic effort with North Korea during his first term.

  • France24 ☛ North Korea fires several suspected short-range ballistic missiles

    South Korea's military reported that North Korea launched several suspected short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Tuesday around 09:30 AM local time. This incident follows Pyongyang's test of a new hypersonic missile system last week and occurs amid strengthening ties between Japan and South Korea.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Japan, Philippines, US vow to deepen cooperation in face of China’s behaviour

    The three countries agreed to enhance and deepen economic, maritime and technology cooperation.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Japan PM Ishiba tells Biden of ‘strong’ concerns over blocked steel deal

    The comments came during a three-way call with the Philippine President.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Philippines files protest over Beijing’s ‘escalatory actions’ in South China Sea

    The protest stems from the presence of two vessels on Jan 5 and Jan 10 in and around Scarborough Shoal.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Chinese military delegation to visit Japan in mid-January

    Representatives from China's military will visit Japan in mid-January as agreed by both countries, to enhance mutual \"understanding and trust\", the Chinese defence ministry said on Monday.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Indian PM Modi opens strategic tunnel to China border zones

    The Z-Morh tunnel was the site of an attack in October 2024 in which gunmen killed seven workers.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China planning to extend visa-free entry to more countries

    Tourists still are not coming in the numbers the government had hoped.

  • US, Canadian warships conduct joint drills in South China Sea

    The HMCS Ottawa sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal during exercise Noble Wolverine.

  • France24 ☛ Biden says US is 'stronger' on world stage in farewell speech

    Outgoing US President Joe Biden said Monday that the US was "winning the worldwide competition" in his final policy speech before the inauguration of Donald Trump. Biden sought to portray his efforts to strengthen the US's global alliances as a core part of his international legacy.

  • New York Times ☛ Biden Will Deliver Final Foreign Policy Speech on Monday

    The president argued in a speech that he strengthened U.S. alliances during his four years in office and that America’s adversaries are weaker than when he took over.

  • MIT Technology Review ☛ Mark Zuckerberg and the power of the media

    This article first appeared in The Debrief, MIT Technology Review’s weekly newsletter from our editor in chief Mat Honan. To receive it in your inbox every Friday,  sign up here. On Tuesday last week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg released a blog post and video titled “More Speech and Fewer Mistakes.”

  • France24 ☛ 'Syrian above all': The Alawite community refuses to pay for Assad's crimes

    A month after Bashar al-Assad's regime collapsed, Syria's Alawite minority, which served as the regime's backbone, fears a witch hunt. In their stronghold of Tartus, members of the community recount that they too suffered under the former dictator's bloody tyranny.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • European Commission ☛ New €148 million EU humanitarian aid package for Ukraine

      As Russia's war of aggression continues to devastate Ukraine, approximately 12.7 million people are in need of urgent assistance.

    • France24 ☛ Zelensky says he discussed idea of Western troops in Ukraine with Macron

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had discussed the idea of Western "contingents" being deployed in Ukraine with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday. Zelensky did not give further details about what these "partner contingents" might entail.

    • JURIST ☛ Serbia students protest for civil rights in front of Supreme Court

      Thousands of Serbia’s striking university students protested in front of the country’s Supreme Court on Sunday to highlight what they claim are violations of civil rights under the populist government, including intimidation and threats.

    • RFERL ☛ Slovak Prime Minister Criticizes End Of Russian Gas Transit, Demands Meeting With Zelenskiy

      Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico sharply criticized Ukraine in an open letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for his decision to let a contract for the transit of Russian natural gas through Ukrainian territory expire on January 1.

    • RFERL ☛ Ukraine Must Be In Position Of Strength Before Beginning Peace Talks, NATO Chief Says

      Ukraine is currently not in a position to begin peace talks with Russia, NATO chief Mark Rutte told members of the European Parliament on January 13 as Russian forces concentrate their main offensive efforts around the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region and in the Russian region of Kursk.

    • RFERL ☛ Ukraine Gaining 'Useful' Intel From Captured North Korean Soldiers, Kyiv Says

      Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR) says two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia continue to be interrogated with Kyiv ready to swap them for Ukrainian troops held by Moscow if North Korean leader Kim Jong-un can arrange such an exchange.

    • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea says 300 North Korean soldiers killed fighting Ukraine

      The soldiers have been ordered to kill themselves rather than be taken prisoner, said a South Korean lawmaker.

    • New York Times ☛ Russia and Ukraine Battle Inside Kursk, With Waves of Tanks, Drones and North Koreans

      Ukrainian soldiers are describing fierce clashes as Russian forces try to retake territory in the Kursk region that could be key in eventual cease-fire talks.

    • New York Times ☛ Troops Detained in Ukraine Give Rare Glimpse Into North Korea’s Military

      Ukraine’s president released a video of the two soldiers being interrogated, revealing they knew little about the war they were sent to fight in.

    • Meduza ☛ Heavy losses all around As the new year begins, Russia and Ukraine are locked in bloody battles in the Kursk region, while Moscow pushes forward in Donbas — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Fire at Russian oil depot sparked by Ukrainian drone strike extinguished after five days, governor says — Meduza

    • Latvia ☛ Russian citizen detained for illegally crossing Latvian border

      On Friday, January 10, border guards detained a Russian citizen who illegally crossed the state border in Liepna parish, the Border Guard said in a press release.

    • Scoop News Group ☛ Fancy Bear spotted using real Kazak government documents in spearpishing campaign

      The malware-laced files include draft versions of diplomatic statements, correspondence letters, internal administrative notes and other documents.

    • RFERL ☛ Biden Says U.S. Stronger Versus Russia, China As He Prepares To Depart

      President Joe Biden told the nation that the United States is stronger economically and militarily and has more allies today compared with four years ago as he prepares to leave office later this month.

    • Meduza ☛ Russian official goes on expletive-filled rant at bird rescue volunteers — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Tankers carrying Russian oil stuck idling off Chinese coast after new U.S. sanctions — Bloomberg — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Iran sending covert missions to Russia for help developing nuclear program — The Times — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ ‘Little pieces in a big game’: Moldova’s former reintegration minister, Alexandru Flenchea, explains what losing Russian gas means for breakaway Transnistria — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ ‘I’m the only one that’s stood in the center of Kyiv’: Biden defends his foreign policy legacy in speech to State Department, emphasizing America’s alliances and success in weakening Russia and other U.S. adversaries — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ In the wrong hands Millions of users gave their data to an American ‘travel assistant’ app. Then its creator sold it to a Russian businessman with close ties to Putin. — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ ‘I feel so sorry for Putin’ Kremlin youth movement icon Vasily Yakemenko admits to lucrative government work and political repressions, questions president’s grip on current events — Meduza

    • New York Times ☛ Biden Aides Warned Putin as Russia’s Shadow War Threatened Air Disaster

      The White House scrambled to get a message to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia last year after U.S. intelligence agencies said a Russian military unit was preparing to send explosive packages on cargo planes.

• Environment

  • The Straits Times ☛ Candidates of national exam in Sarawak transported to school by civil defence force due to flood

    The road to the school has been accessible only by heavy vehicles since Jan 12 due to flooding.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China's coastal water temperatures hit record high in 2024

    HONG KONG - The average temperature in China's coastal waters rose for a second consecutive year in 2024 to a record 21.50 degrees Celsius (70.7 degrees Fahrenheit), authorities said, in a year that was the world's hottest since records began.

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea plans to overhaul airport structures after fatal Jeju Air crash

      Seven domestic airports were found to have embankments or foundations made of concrete or steel that needed to be changed.

• Finance

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysian grandmother cleans bean sprouts for $3 daily to raise 9 grandkids

    It’s painstaking work for a 62-year-old who suffers from diabetes and has had one toe amputated due to the illness.

  • France24 ☛ French PM to lay out pension deal for budget support in key policy speech

    French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is set to outline a deal in his Tuesday speech to modify pension reforms, aiming for leftist support to pass the 2025 budget. This follows a politically volatile 2024, leading to a new government attempting to secure backing after previous budget rejections and a government collapse.

  • Axios ☛ Meta to cut 5% of staff based on performance

    Meta notified employees Tuesday that it plans to lay off the lowest-performing 5% of its staff, or roughly 3600 people.

  • Notebook Check ☛ Godfall Devs latest victims of industry layoffs, among three studios to shut down in 2025

    Counterplay Games, the creators of PS5 launch exclusive Godfall, have been reportedly shut down. Counterplay joins Freejam and Toadman Interactive as the latest victims of a continued wave of closures in the industry.

  • India Times ☛ Elon Musk gets US government support in what he called “illegal” conversion from Microsoft and ChatGPT maker OpenAI - Times of India

    US antitrust regulators support Elon Musk's claims against OpenAI and Microsoft, arguing overlapping board memberships can harm competition.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia government to seek gag order on ex-PM Najib house arrest bid

    It would prohibit even the Malaysian Parliament from discussing the issue.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • ACLU ☛ The ACLU’s Historic Fight for Our Freedoms

    January 20th will be a pivotal day in U.S. history. On the day we honor the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a global human rights hero, we will also witness the inauguration of a president who has vowed to undermine so many of our most cherished civil rights and civil liberties. Just one day prior on January 19th, the ACLU will mark the 105th anniversary of our founding.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Patents

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Chinese university applies for undersea cable cutter patent monopoly — device developed by coastal university located across the sea from Taiwan

    Chinese patents for tools to cut undersea cables have been discovered.

  • Kluwer Patent Blog ☛ Brazil: Understanding the New Bioinputs Regulation and Patent Landscape

    The Brazilian agricultural sector has long been a driving force in the global economy, contributing significantly to international and domestic markets. In 2022, for instance, Brazil was the world’s fourth largest grain producer and second largest exporter, and in 2024, agribusiness products accounted for almost half of the country’s total exports.

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Federal Circuit: State Law Conversion Claim Preempted Where Pleading Seeks Patent-Like Protection

    On January 13, 2025, the Federal Circuit issued a notable opinion on federal preemption of state law conversion (theft) claims and correction of inventorship. In BearBox LLC v. Lancium LLC, No. 2023-1922 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 13, 2025), the court affirmed the District of Delaware’s grant of summary judgment, holding that federal patent monopoly law preempted BearBox’s Louisiana state law conversion claim.

  • Kangaroo Courts

    • Examining a Potential ‘Counterclaim Gap’ at the Unified Patent Court [Ed: The Unified Patent Court is illegal and unconstitutional; it was created by and for the litigation industry by breaking all the rules. Its sheer illegality destabilises and delegitimises the EU.]

      In June 2023, as is widely known, more than 50 years of efforts to create a pan-European patent monopoly jurisdiction were finally successful and the Unified Patent Court opened its doors.