Links 18/01/2025: Restoring the Great Wall of China and Economic Expansion in China
Contents
-
Leftovers
-
Hackaday ☛ No Crystal Earpiece? No Problem!
A staple of starting off in electronics ion years past was the crystal set radio, an extremely simple AM radio receiver with little more than a tuned circuit and a point contact diode as its components. Point contact diodes have become difficult to find but can be replaced with a cats whisker type detector, but what about listening to the resulting audio? These circuits require a very high impedance headphone, which was often supplied by a piezoelectric crystal earpiece. [Tsbrownie] takes a moment to build a replacement for this increasingly hard to find part.
-
The Straits Times ☛ Malaysian police force ties promotions to BMI as it tackles officers’ bulging waistlines
Officers will now have to keep their BMI at 28 or less if they hope to climb the ranks.
-
Ruben Schade ☛ Voting with our wallets
A rigged ballot that’s always won by the people with the thickest wallet.
-
Ruben Schade ☛ Lightbulbs, and two types of people in this world
You know that quip about there being ten types of people in this world: those who understand binary, and those who are sick of this joke? Well I have some additional classifiers.
For example, there are people who like crunchy peanut butter, and there are those who like extra crunchy. There are early risers and late risers. There are people who care, and people who don’t. There are those who understand UNIX, and those condemned to reinvent it, poorly. Something something containers.
-
The Straits Times ☛ Restoring the Great Wall of China - and keeping it authentic
The Great Wall of China was built for protection, but now it's in need of guardians to preserve the 2,000-year-old structure.
-
Hardware
-
Hackaday ☛ Trinteract Mini Space Mouse Does It In 3D
We’re not sure how we managed to miss this one, but better late than never, right? This is Trinteract, a 3-DOF input device that’s both open-source and Arduino compatible. There’s even a neat 3D-printed clip to add it to the side of your laptop.
-
Tom's Hardware ☛ GlobalFoundries to expand New York fab — announces new $575 million advanced packaging and photonics facility
GlobalFoundries is investing around $575 million to construct an advanced packaging and silicon photonics facility at its Malta, New York site.
-
-
Proprietary/Artificial Intelligence (AI)
-
New York Times ☛ When the Word Is Not Just Flesh: Reporting on Hey Hi (AI) in Religion
A technology reporter came across a Facebook (Farcebook) group called “A.I. for Church Leaders and Pastors,” and his interest was piqued.
-
-
Defence/Aggression
-
New York Times ☛ Trump Picks Ex-Congressman to Manage U.S. Nuclear Arsenal
Brandon Williams served aboard a nuclear submarine and represented a New York congressional district for one term, but has said little about his experience in the management of atomic weapons.
-
New York Times ☛ Israel Prepares for Return of Hostages Held in Gaza for Over a Year
Hospitals and health officials have been preparing isolated areas where the hostages can begin recuperating, and there are concerns that the returning captives may be malnourished.
-
The Straits Times ☛ China, Thai police jointly arrest suspects in missing people cases
12 domestic and foreign criminal suspects were nabbed.
-
The Straits Times ☛ China ‘gives face’ by sending V-P to Trump’s inauguration, but it may not matter much
Expectations are low that this would be a game changer for the strategic rivalry.
-
The Straits Times ☛ Philippine navy holds exercise near disputed shoal amid standoff with China
MANILA - The Philippine navy said on Friday its ships were holding drills near a contested shoal in the South China Sea, a day after Manila and Beijing agreed to seek common ground and find ways to cooperate despite ongoing disputes.
-
Defence Web ☛ INS Tushil visiting Nigeria on homeward voyage
INS Tushil, the Indian Navy’s latest guided missile stealth frigate, has arrived in Lagos, Nigeria, while on her maiden voyage home from Russia.
-
The Straits Times ☛ Yoon’s arrest fuels massive earnings for South Korean political YouTubers
Progressive channels, which largely oppose Mr Yoon, led the earnings.
-
The Straits Times ☛ South Korea investigators file request to extend President Yoon’s detention
The embattled leader again refused to be questioned by investigators.
-
The Straits Times ☛ ‘It starts now’: South Korea’s President Yoon defiant as police closed in
Yoon cited the support of thousands who have taken to the streets to defend him.
-
The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s impeached President Yoon refuses questioning again
Mr Yoon threw the nation into chaos on Dec 3 when he attempted to impose martial law.
-
The Straits Times ☛ South Korea investigators seek to extend President Yoon’s detention
Mr Yoon threw the nation into chaos on Dec 3 when he attempted to impose martial law.
-
The Straits Times ☛ Pro-Yoon supporters fuel wild speculation of Chinese influence in S. Korea’s political crisis
These allegations are seen by analysts as attempts by the PPP to deflect attention from its woes.
-
The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s President Yoon to attend court hearing on extending detention
Mr Yoon plans to fight a request by investigators to extend his detention, his lawyer said.
-
JURIST ☛ South Korea investigators seek arrest warrant for impeached president
South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office for High Ranking Officials (CIO) on Friday filed a formal arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol with the Seoul Western District Court, according to local media.
-
Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine
-
New York Times ☛ Russia and Iran Sign Cooperation Treaty in the Kremlin
The agreement is focused more on trade than military issues, but it will bring two countries with a shared desire to challenge the West closer together.
-
RFERL ☛ Belarusian State TV Shows Fourth Part Of Propaganda Film Targeting RFE/RL Journalists, Activists
Belarusian state broadcaster ONT on January 17 aired the fourth part of a propaganda film called Svaboda Slova (Freedom of Speech) that accused RFE/RL's journalists of trying to "set Belarus on fire."
-
RFERL ☛ Blinken Says Upcoming Election In Belarus Cannot Be Credible In Current 'Repressive Environment'
The presidential election in Belarus later this month cannot be free or fair because of a "repressive environment" in the country, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on January 17 in a statement.
-
CS Monitor ☛ Trump promises a quick end to the war in Ukraine. Russia is not convinced.
Many assume Donald Trump’s policies mirror those of Vladimir Putin. But there is a yawning gulf between the two men’s outlooks for the war in Ukraine.
-
RFERL ☛ Drones Strike On Industrial Site In Russia's Kaluga Region Sparks Fire
A fire broke out late on January 17 at an industrial site in Russia's Kaluga region south of Moscow after it was hit by drones.
-
RFERL ☛ Russian Missile Strikes Kill 4 In Ukraine's Kryviy Rih
Four people were killed and seven others were wounded in a Russian missile strike deep in the heart of Ukraine, partially destroying an educational facility in the city of Kryviy Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's home town.
-
New Yorker ☛ The Dangerous Work of Clearing Russia’s Deadly Mines from Ukrainian Lands
Donald Trump has promised to bring a swift end to the war in Ukraine, but Russian troops have already booby-trapped the country with thousands of mines that will take years to remove.
-
New York Times ☛ Explosions Heard in Ukraine’s Capital
A countrywide alert warned of incoming ballistic missiles.
-
LRT ☛ Lithuania debates landmine ban exit amidst regional security concerns
Lithuania’s politicians have begun discussions about withdrawing from a convention banning anti-personnel mines. Proponents argue they are necessary for effectively defending NATO’s border with Russia, although the implications of renouncing an international arms control treaty go beyond the purely military.
-
New York Times ☛ Russian Court Sentences Lawyers for Navalny for Passing Along His Letters
A Russian court said the lawyers for Aleksei Navalny, the country’s top opposition figure before his death in a penal colony last year, were guilty of involvement in an extremist group.
-
RFERL ☛ Supporters Chant 'Heroes!' As Russian Court Jails Navalny's Lawyers
A Russian court sentenced three lawyers of Aleksei Navalny to lengthy prison sentences for carrying correspondence from the late anti-corruption crusader out of prison, prompting his supporters at the hearing to erupt into chants of "heroes."
-
RFERL ☛ Amid Biting Sanctions, Russia And Iran Sign Pact To Deepen Ties
Iran and Russia, two of the most-sanctioned nations in the world, have signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty as Moscow and Tehran deepen cooperation that has steadily increased since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
-
-
-
Environment
-
Energy/Transportation
-
The Straits Times ☛ Pakistan launches first home-made observation satellite
Pakistan launched its first home-made observation satellite on Friday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northern China, Pakistan's space agency said.
-
New York Times ☛ What to Know About Plane Maintenance After the South Korean Crash
Airlines have been increasingly outsourcing repair and upkeep work to other countries, but experts and consumer groups disagree about its impact on safety.
-
-
Overpopulation
-
Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China’s population fell for 3rd year in a row in 2024, even as birth rate ticked up
China said on Friday its population fell for the third year running in 2024, extending a downward streak after more than six decades of growth as the country faces a rapidly ageing population and persistently low birth rates.
-
-
-
Finance
-
The Straits Times ☛ China Vanke CEO's reported detention deepens property sector concerns
HONG KONG - Reports about the alleged detention and release of China Vanke's CEO over the past 18 hours have sparked wild speculation about the future of the developer and its $45 billion debt, fuelling concerns about China's embattled property sector.
-
The Straits Times ☛ No plans to raise tourist fees for hotel stays: Penang Chief Minister
As of 2023, the fees collected were channelled directly into state coffers.
-
The Straits Times ☛ China meets growth target in 2024, but uncertainties loom
It saw 5.4% expansion in the 4th quarter, but trade tensions could hit exports, a key economic driver, in 2025.
-
Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China logs 5% economic growth for 2024, lowest rate recorded in years
By Peter Catterall China recorded one of its slowest rates of economic growth in decades last year, data showed Friday, as leaders nervously eye a potential trade standoff with incoming US president Donald Trump.
-
-
AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics
-
LRT ☛ Lithuania’s former President Adamkus discharged after 2 weeks in hospital
Lithuania’s former President Valdas Adamkus has been discharged home after spending two weeks in hospital due to deteriorating health.
-
France24 ☛ Maha Kumbh Mela festival: India's soft power on display
The Maha Kumbh Mela has got underway in northern India, with organisers expecting over 400 million visitors throughout the festival. In this week's show, we speak to India's permanent representative to UNESCO, who discusses how the Hindu festival is being used as a soft-power tool by New Delhi. Plus, we bring you a report on how Afghan migrants in Pakistan fear deportation. Finally, we see how the political chaos in South Korea is driving young women and men apart.
-
The Straits Times ☛ Xi says China, Vietnam to build community with shared future of strategic significance
Chinese President Pooh-tin Jinping said Beijing is ready to work with Hanoi to build a community with a shared future of strategic significance, China's official Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.
-
In bilateral talks, Philippines complains about China’s ‘monster’ ship in EEZ waters
Rival South China Sea claimants also agreed to continue the implementation of Manila’s resupply missions to a disp
-
China to resume Taiwan tour groups amid blame game
Beijing accused Taiwan of stalling cross-strait tourism, which Taipei denied.
-
-
Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press
-
Press Gazette ☛ Alamy sends journalist £460 bill for posting link to their own story
Agency reporter Barry Keevins says letter is ludicrous attempt to make money.
-
-
Civil Rights/Policing
-
New York Times ☛ How Doctors and Nurses Can Protect Undocumented Immigrants
Doctors have a responsibility to reassure their patients, regardless of immigration status, that they are welcome and protected.
-
France24 ☛ There is a 'backlash against gender balance everywhere': EU Commissioner for equality
For our first Talking Europe interview with the new crop of EU Commissioners, we host Hadja Lahbib, who is in charge of preparedness and crisis management, as well as equality. Lahbib, a former foreign minister of Belgium, talks about the challenges of her extremely broad portfolio, covering Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, Afghanistan and Sudan. A common thread is the difficulties faced by women and girls in crisis situations around the world – something that links up with Lahbib's efforts to promote gender balance and women's rights in the EU itself.
-
Hong Kong Free Press ☛ A word of advice to Hong Kong’s policy secretaries: Don’t complain about the workload
A word of advice for policy secretaries: Do not, in your laudable efforts to communicate with the general public over social control media, tell us all how tough your job is.
-
France24 ☛ In China, rare voices seek to break taboo over 'comfort women' raped by Japanese army
During World War II, the Japanese imperial authorities abducted, coerced, tricked and sometimes recruited hundreds of thousands of women from Japan's colonial empire to become sexual slaves for soldiers. Sometimes minors, these women were called "comfort women" and were raped repeatedly in brothels near the front lines. With only a handful of survivors still alive in China, our correspondents met one of them: 95-year-old Peng Zhuying. She is determined to share her story in a country where the subject remains taboo.
-
-
Internet Policy/Net Neutrality
-
Ruben Schade ☛ The current state of my drafts folder
Admittedlly, that folder is also now twenty years old. Most of those drafts are also just a title or a topic sentence. Some are full-blown posts, with images, diagrams, and regret, while others are simply not timely anymore, are perhaps NSFW/blue in some way, or I decided against posting them. Oh well.
I bring this up, becuase a few people on Masto and email have admitted they often struggle to get their thoughts out of drafts, implying that people like me have their acts together in such regards. Not at all!
-
-
Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ The Extraterritorial Reach of Trade Secret Law
by Dennis Crouch
A new petition for certiorari asks the Supreme Court to resolve a critical question about the global reach of U.S. trade secret law: Does the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) allow American companies to recover damages for trade secret misappropriation that occurs outside the United States? The case, Hytera Communications Corp. v. Motorola Solutions, Inc., stems from a massive jury verdict against Chinese radio manufacturer Hytera for stealing Motorola's trade secrets and source code. [Read the Petition]. The district court awarded damages for both copyright monopoly infringement and trade secret misappropriation -- with most of the money coming from Hytera's foreign sales.
-
Gemini* and Gopher
-
Personal/Opinions
-
🔤SpellBinding — ATMORSD Wordo: BULKS
-
Lynch
My daughter had texted me earlier this morning letting me know that David Lynch had passed. There was sadness. She knew that I enjoyed his art. I had a meeting to attend to so I set my thoughts aside regarding his passing for the moment.
After my meeting, I decided to head on over to one of my favorite places to get a slice of cherry pie and a damn fine cup of coffee. This was at the House of Pies, which is where I am at now.[1]
A friend of mine and I had been talking about Twin Peaks just the other day and I mentioned that I would like to revisit. It looks like I am m0ar inclined to do so.
-
Multi Generation
I burnt my foot while fixing the woodstove while it was running. A piece came out and landed on my naked foot.
It made me cry, not so much from the pain of the burnt, but from life giving me these lessons that I have a hard time understanding.
I'm tired of suffering. I'm tired of my demons. I'm tired of not knowing where I am going.
-
-
Monopolies/Monopsonies
-
* Gemini (Primer) links can be opened using Gemini software. It's like the World Wide Web but a lot lighter.