Leftovers

• Hackaday ☛ Is This The Oldest HD Video Online?

  Take a look at this video from [Reely Interesting], showing scenes from traditional Japanese festivals. It’s well filmed, and as with any HD video, you can see real detail. But as you watch, you may see something a little out of the ordinary. It’s got noise, a little bit of distortion, and looking closely at the surroundings, it’s clearly from the 1980s. Something doesn’t add up, as surely we’d expect a video like this to be shot in glorious 525 line NTSC. In fact, what we’re seeing is a very rare demo reel from 1985, and it’s showing off the first commercial HDTV system. This is analogue video in 1035i, and its background as listed below the video makes for a very interesting story.

• Hackaday ☛ Haptic Displays Bring Sports To The Vision Impaired

  When it comes to the majority of sports broadcasting, it’s all about the visual. The commentators call the plays, of course, but everything you’re being shown at home is on a screen. Similarly, if you’re in the stadium, it’s all about getting the best possible view from the best seats in the house.

• Science Alert ☛ Discovery of 1.5-Million-Year-Old Bone Tools Rewrites Early Human History

  This is HUGE.

• Science

  • NOAA ☛ NOAA’s National Ocean Service: Working for you!

    NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) has a unique mission that includes some of the most interesting parts of government! NOS is America’s leader in coastal and ocean science, technology, and management. We balance economic and environmental needs and deliver tools and services that directly support national security and the public.

  • Science Alert ☛ Intuitive Machines Is Set For Lunar Landing – With Hopping Drone, Ice Drill, And 4G

    "It’s not déjà vu – there’s another Moon landing this week!"

  • Science Alert ☛ Radio Telescopes Are Revealing a Trove of Faint Circular Objects in The Sky

    Near-perfect circles in our messy Universe.

  • Science Alert ☛ Sunken Continents Near Earth's Core Could Unbalance Our Magnetic Field

    A churning world.

  • Science Alert ☛ Scrolling Through Social Media Has a Unique Effect on Your Body

    It sticks with you.

• Hardware

  • The Straits Times ☛ Private sector, cutting-edge tech in focus as China prepares to take on the US

    Emphasis on the private sector and advanced technologies is in line with China’s strategy as rivalry with the US heats up.

  • Hackaday ☛ Piggyback Board Brings Touch Sensing To USB Soldering Iron

    The current generation of USB-powered soldering irons have a lot going for them, chief among them being portability and automatic start and stop. But an iron that turns off in the middle of soldering a joint is a problem, one that this capacitive-touch replacement control module aims to fix.

  • Hackaday ☛ Designing A Toy Conveyor Belt For Fun And Profit

    [Hope This Works] wants to someday build a tiny factory line in the garage, with the intent of producing some simple widget down the line. But what is a tiny factory without tiny conveyor belts? Not a very productive one, that’s for sure.

  • Hackaday ☛ Ptychography For High Resolution Microscopy

    Nowadays, if you have a microscope, you probably have a camera of some sort attached. [Applied Science] shows how you can add an array of tiny LEDs and some compute power to produce high-resolution images — higher than you can get with the microscope on its own. The idea is to illuminate each LED in the array individually and take a picture. Then, an algorithm constructs a higher-resolution image from the collected images. You can see the results and an explanation in the video below.

  • Hackaday ☛ A TV With Contrast You Haven’t Seen For Years

    It’s something of a surprise, should you own a CRT TV to go with your retrocomputers, when you use it to view a film or a TV show. The resolution may be old-fashioned, but the colors jump out at you, in a way you’d forgotten CRTs could do. You’re seeing black levels that LCD screens can’t match, and which you’ll only find comparable on a modern OLED TVs. Can an LCD screen achieve decent black levels? [DIY Perks] is here with a modified screen that does just that.

  • Silicon Angle ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man calls on lawmakers to scrap CHIPS Act in congressional address

    U.S. President The Insurrectionist called on lawmakers to repeal the CHIPS Act in a Tuesday evening speech to Congress. “Your CHIPS Act is a horrible, horrible thing,” Convicted Felon said. “We give hundreds of billions of dollars and it doesn’t mean a thing. They take our money and they don’t spend it.”

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • New York Times ☛ Aging Women’s Brain Mysteries Are Tested in Trio of Studies

    Researchers identified a gene that seems to help slow brain aging in women, and studied links between hormone therapy, menopause and Alzheimer’s.

  • New York Times ☛ A Skeptical G.O.P. Senator Makes His Peace With Kennedy

    After voting to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, Senator Bill Cassidy, a doctor and Republican of Louisiana, is embracing the “gestalt” of Kennedy’s measles response.

  • France24 ☛ Well-being in the modern world: Stéphanie Brillant on why listening to your body is key

    In this edition of Entre Nous, we talk to health and well-being expert Stéphanie Brillant, who has a new book coming out in France entitled "Quand le corps n'est plus d'accord," which can be roughly translated as "Why is my body crashing?" She tells us about the modern-day challenges to healthy living and the importance of listening to one's body.

  • France24 ☛ US shutdown of HIV/aids funding : cuts send HIV treatment "off a cliff"

    South Africa has also been racing to pivot its HIV treatment plans in the wake of the US withdrawal of global aid. Determined not to be undercut by Convicted Felon and to keep its hands on the tiller, the Department of Health has set its sights on increasing the number of people on treatment by one million by the end of the year.

  • Federal News Network ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man administration plans to cut 80,000 employees from Veterans Affairs, according to internal memo

    The Department of Veterans Affairs is planning an “aggressive” reorganization that includes cutting 80,000 jobs from the sprawling agency that provides health care for millions of veterans. That's according to an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press. The VA’s chief of staff, Christopher Syrek, told top level officials at the agency that it had an objective to cut enough employees to return to 2019 staffing levels of just under 400,000.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s Seoul to encourage seniors to return driver’s licenses

    Drivers aged 70 and older can surrender their licenses and receive a 200,000 won (S$185) prepaid transit pass.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China to spend $24.3 billion stockpiling agricultural products in 2025

    China is the world’s largest agricultural product importer.

  • Science Alert ☛ Misdiagnosis of Chronic Conditions as 'In Your Head' Causes Lasting Damage

    "I still can’t forget these words."

  • Science Alert ☛ Common Infection May in Fact Be World's Most Prevalent STI

    How did we miss it?

  • Science Alert ☛ FDA Outlawed a Soda Ingredient Banned Around The World. Here's Why.

    It was time.

  • Science Alert ☛ Could a Tattoo Raise Your Risk of Skin Cancer? Twin Studies Suggest a Link.

    Something to consider.

  • Science Alert ☛ The ISS Has a Hygiene Problem, But It's Not What You'd Think

    We might need a new approach.

  • Science Alert ☛ Violence Leaves Its Mark on Our Genes For Generations, Study Finds

    Traumatic stress can be inherited.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China to ‘refine’ centralised medicine procurement policies

    This follows a probe into quality concerns over off-patent medicines distributed at public hospitals.

• Proprietary

  • New York Times ☛ Discord in Early Talks With Bankers for Potential I.P.O.

    The app has become a mainstay of the video game community and young internet users.

  • New York Times ☛ Judge Denies MElon’s Request to Block OpenAI’s For-Profit Plan

    The court said that MElon could proceed with other parts of a lawsuit he brought against Proprietary Chaffbot Company last year.

• Pseudo-Open Source

  • Openwashing

    • Silicon Angle ☛ MongoDB finally turns a profit but its shares plunge on weak guidance

      MongoDB Inc. finally delivered a quarterly profit as it posted its fiscal 2025 fourth-quarter results, crushing the Street’s targets on earnings and revenue. However, its outlook for the new fiscal year was a big disappointment, sending investors running for the hills as the value of its stock plummeted in late trading.

• Security

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Ali Reza Hayati ☛ Privacy has never been more important

      As technology is advancing every day, specially today, in the age of so-called artificial intelligence, privacy becomes more and more important. Today, everything we do and everywhere we go is recorded somewhere.

    • EDRI ☛ Poland searches for silver bullet for CSA Regulation

      The Polish Council Presidency attempts to break the deadlock on the controversial 'Chat Control' proposal. We analyse the new approach and what could happen if Member States approve it.

    • EDRI ☛ Why the new Europol regulation is a Trojan Horse for surveillance

      The EU Commission’s proposal for a new Europol Regulation as part of the recast of the ‘Facilitator’s Package’ is a pretext for unchecked expansion of power and resources for Europol, the EU’s policing agency, at the expense of those they claim to protect.

    • EDRI ☛ EDRi-gram, 5 March 2025

      What has the EDRis network been up to over the past two weeks? Find out the latest digital rights news in our bi-weekly newsletter. In this edition: Our call to reject the Europol reform, UK and France launch fresh attacks on encryption, & more!

• Defence/Aggression

  • Eight hurt as South Korean jets bomb civilian area in exercise with US

    The military is investigating the cause of the accident.

  • NYPost ☛ South Korean fighter jet accidentally drops bombs during training, reportedly injuring 7 people

    The MK-82 bombs “abnormally” released by the KF-16 fighter jet fell outside a firing range, causing unspecified civilian damages, the air force said in a statement.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea fighter jet accidentally drops bombs on civilian village, injuring 7

    The shell is thought to have come from joint military exercises between South Korea and the US.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China will work to ‘firmly advance’ reunification with Taiwan

    “We will… work with our fellow Chinese in Taiwan to realise” the “rejuvenation” of the nation, China’s Premier wrote.

  • China announces 7.2% defense budget hike, reaffirms opposition to Taiwan independence

    China’s military spending remains the world’s second largest behind the US.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China monitored Philippine supply run to grounded warship on disputed shoal

    Both countries claim the territory and frequently clash in its surrounding waters.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China and the US – mapping out different paths to greatness

    This comes at a time when both nations are engaged in a strategic competition with each other.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Penang event to honour majie who helped Malaysian and Singaporean families

    In pre-independence Malaya and Singapore, these women from China raised children and managed households.

  • Letters call on UK residents to hand Hong Kongers over to China for reward

    The denunciations fuel growing calls for stronger government action, fears over Beijing's mega-embassy plan.

  • Myanmar childhoods upended by civil war

    Kids are being forced to grow up too fast, uprooted from their homes and living in fear of airstrikes and clashes.

  • Defence Web ☛ UN sanctions extended against al-Shabaab in Somalia as Africom air strikes continue

    “al-Shabaab and other actors intent on undermining peace and security in Somalia” have had sanctions against them extended as one of nine United States (US) military commands continues air strikes for the Somali government.

  • France24 ☛ Germany's Merz proposes overhaul of debt-brake system to boost defence, infrastructure spending

    Germany's political parties hoping to form the next government have agreed to loosen the country's strict "debt brake" system which constitutionally limits new government borrowing to 0.35% of GDP.  Conservative leader Friedrich Merz says extraordinary efforts are needed to boost the country's defence capabilities given the current security uncertainty. Plus, a day after imposing 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, The Insurrectionist has agreed to give a one-month exemption to cars.

  • Defence Web ☛ Interpol, SAPS, and SADC partner to tackle growing threat of organised crime

    On Sunday 02 March, senior law enforcement officials, industry leaders, and regional partners gathered to address the growing threat of transnational organised crime (TOC).

  • The Strategist ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s upending of US intelligence: implications for Australia

    Australia has no room for complacency as it watches the second Convicted Felon Administration upend the US Intelligence Community (USIC).

  • New York Times ☛ Why the Philippines Is Confident of Defense Ties With Convicted Felon Administration

    Officials in the Philippines say that Hell Toupée will not pull back from defense commitments because Manila and Washington have a common adversary.

  • France24 ☛ Macron issues ‘strong’ message to mobilise the French amid European security fears

    Reporting from the Élysée presidential palace shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron’s Wednesday night address to the nation, FRANCE 24’s James Andre says the speech focused on the “need for independence and sovereignty when it comes to European defence”.

  • France24 ☛ The end of shared values? Europeans grapple with Convicted Felon's America

    Can Europeans and Americans still speak of shared values? The longest-ever speech by a US president to a joint session of Congress doubling down on an America First vision of foreign policy that's heavy on sticks, light on carrots. In the past critics of the U-S would dismiss talk of exporting democracy by pointing to Vietnam, Latin America and Iraq the velvet glove but the United States has also put its might behind international institutions for brokering peace and norms for doing business that the whole world could trust.

  • France24 ☛ Greenland: 'we're going to get it' says Convicted Felon in his congress speech

    President The Insurrectionist urged Greenland to choose to join the United States but vowed to take the Danish-ruled island "one way or the other" a bid Denmark swiftly rejected on Wednesday. "That won't happen," Danish Defence Minister Trouls Lund Poulsen told public broadcaster DR.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Said the U.S. Will ‘Get’ Greenland. Greenlanders Aren’t Impressed.

    Or enthused by Mr. Convicted Felon’s promise that “we will make you rich.”

  • The Strategist ☛ Indonesia steps up defence relationships, but stays non-aligned

    Indonesia has recognised that security affairs in its region are no longer business as usual, though it hasn’t completely given up its commitment to strategic autonomy.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • France24 ☛ Macron will discuss extending French nuclear protection to Europe with allies

      French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday he will open talks with European allies about using France’s nuclear arsenal to help protect the continent, warning that Europe can no longer rely solely on the United States for its security as Russia escalates its military threats.

    • France24 ☛ Macron says to discuss with European partners extending French nuclear deterrence

      French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that he wanted to open a debate on extending France's nuclear deterrent to other European nations, as security risks rise in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Macron also said that European military forces could be sent to Ukraine if a peace deal is signed to ensure that Russia does not invade its neighbour again. FRANCE 24's James Andre reports from the Elysée Palace.

    • France24 ☛ US pauses intelligence sharing with Ukraine

      The United States has "paused" intelligence sharing with Ukraine after a dramatic breakdown in relations between Kyiv and the White House, CIA director John Ratcliffe said Wednesday. President The Insurrectionist and Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky had a public falling-out in the Oval Office last week, followed by Ukraine's top ally suspending crucial US military aid. FRANCE 24's Selina Sykes reports.

    • France24 ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man administration pauses flow of intelligence to Ukraine

      The U.S. has paused its intelligence sharing with Ukraine, cutting off the flow of vital information that has helped the war-torn nation target Russian invaders, but Convicted Felon administration officials said Wednesday that positive talks between Washington and Kyiv mean it may only be a short suspension. FRANCE 24's Fraser Jackson reports from Washington.

    • France24 ☛ What will Emmanuel Macron to try to do in his speech tonight?

      French President Emmanuel Macron said he would address the nation Wednesday over the current global uncertainty in the wake of the radical change in US policy on Ukraine under The Insurrectionist. FRANCE 24's International affairs editor, Angela Diffley has more.

    • France24 ☛ French President Emmanuel Macron to deliver speech on global 'uncertainty'

      The French president due to deliver a prime time tonight. Emmanuel Macron's speech is expected to focus on the war in Ukraine and the threat of a transatlantic trade war. FRANCE 24's French politic editor, Marc Perelman has more.

    • JURIST ☛ Human rights group issues report on Russia’s ‘war crimes’ and ‘crimes against humanity’ against Ukrainians

      Amnesty International published a report on Tuesday exposing Russia’s mistreatment of both Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) and civilian captives currently held in detention within Ukraine and Russia.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuanian officials expect US stance on Ukraine to improve after Convicted Felon’s speech

      Lithuanian officials are hopeful that the United States’ approach to Ukraine will take a positive turn after President The Insurrectionist’s speech in Congress on Tuesday.

    • LRT ☛ EU has a chance to prove it can make decisions – Lithuanian president

      Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has described this week’s special European Council summit as an opportunity for the European Union to show that it can make decisions on the security of the bloc and Ukraine.

    • ‘Family, a home and basic rights’ – North Korean POW in Ukraine dreams of new life

      Seoul reaffirmed that it would accept captured North Korean soldiers if they chose to defect to South Korea.

    • RFERL ☛ Macron Suggests Extending French Nuclear Umbrella To European Allies In Face Of Russian Aggression

      French President Emmanuel Macron said it would be “madness” to ignore the threat Russia has become for Europe and said he is open to discussing the extension of France's nuclear deterrence to Paris's European allies.

    • RFERL ☛ US Hits Pause On Intelligence-Sharing With Ukraine

      The United States has restricted intelligence-sharing with Ukraine in addition to enforcing a pause in U.S military assistance to the country trying to stave off Russia's three-year full-scale invasion, the director of CIA confirmed.

    • RFERL ☛ European Leaders Look To Seize Opportunity After Convicted Felon Cites Zelenskyy Letter On Minerals Deal

      European leaders jumped to renew a push for an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine after The Insurrectionist said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote a letter stating he's ready for talks with Moscow while also offering to sign a deal on Ukraine's mineral resources "at any time."

    • The Straits Times ☛ Taiwan turns to companies in Ukraine for China contingency planning

      Taiwan is also revamping its air-raid alert and shelter systems in response to the Chinese threat.

    • CS Monitor ☛ Redefining security in a hostile world

      As big powers grow aggressive, Taiwan and Ukraine find defense can be more than bombs and bullets

    • New York Times ☛ Europe Races to Craft a Convicted Felon-Era Plan for Ukraine and Defense

      European leaders are gathering in Brussels Thursday to discuss how to support Ukraine and fend more for themselves on defense.

    • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s Decision to Halt Aid to Ukraine Could Reorder the Battlefield

      Officials have suggested that the pause in weapons shipments and intelligence sharing could be relatively short-lived if Ukraine’s president bends to White House demands.

    • New York Times ☛ After Days of Coaching, Zelensky Seeks a Path to Convicted Felon’s Good Graces

      Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain and President Emmanuel Macron of France have been prodding and counseling Volodymyr Zelensky on how to deal with Hell Toupée.

    • New York Times ☛ America Became Great Because of the Things Convicted Felon Hates

      “Shock and awe” didn’t end well in Iraq and it won’t end well in the United States.

    • New York Times ☛ How Soon Could Ukraine’s Forces ‘Start to Buckle’ Without U.S. Weapons?

      It could be as little as four months, say analysts, as Europe scrambles to plug the hole in support left by Hell Toupée’s suspension of military aid.

    • New York Times ☛ King Charles III, a Quiet Diplomat, is Stepping Up

      As he welcomed the leaders of Ukraine and Canada to his country estate this week, the king was sending a message to the world.

    • New York Times ☛ Thursday Briefing: How Convicted Felon’s Aid Halt May Affect Ukraine

      Plus, the return of moviegoing in France.

    • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Administration Pauses Intelligence Sharing With Ukraine

      Officials say the halt in assistance is a warning to the Ukrainians of the consequences of not cooperating with the president.

    • France24 ☛ Live: Zelensky to attend EU summit on Ukraine in Brussels

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will join EU leaders for a Brussels summit on Thursday aimed at cementing the bloc's support for Kyiv's three-year fight against Russia's invasion. Follow our liveblog for all the latest.

    • Meduza ☛ ‘She couldn’t walk on her own’ Documentary reveals torture Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna suffered before her death in Russian captivity — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ U.S. stops sharing intelligence with Ukraine — Financial Times — Meduza

    • Latvia ☛ Saeima committee proposes banning officials to travel to Russia, Belarus

      The Saeima National Security Committee proposes to ban travel to Russia and Belarus for employees of the state administration, the Saeima Press Service said on March 5.

    • France24 ☛ Watch the full address: Macron calls for major European rearmament

      In a primetime speech on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron called for a major European rearmament and said he will confer with European allies on the idea of using France's nuclear deterrent to protect the continent in the face of threats from Russia.

    • The Straits Times ☛ New Zealand sacks ambassador to UK after he questions Convicted Felon’s grasp of history

      He had contrasted the US leader's attempts to thaw relations with Russia with the actions of Winston Churchill.

    • The Straits Times ☛ US, South Korea drills to reflect North Korea-Russia threat

      The joint field training that will involve various units from land to cyberspace.

    • New York Times ☛ France Open to Discussing Extension of Nuclear Deterrence, Macron Says

      In a televised address, President Emmanuel Macron warned that Europe needed to deal with a retreating America and a bellicose Russia.

    • Meduza ☛ A ruble rebound Trump’s tariffs have wiped out all post-election U.S. stock market gains — but for Russia’s economy, his return has been a boon — Meduza

    • France24 ☛ 🔴Live: Europe can’t ‘live off dividends of peace’, Macron says in speech calling for major rearmament

    • New Yorker ☛ What Putin Wants Now

      Dihydroxyacetone Man has suspended all military aid to Ukraine in an apparent attempt to bring the country to the negotiating table. But does Russia need to negotiate?

    • France24 ☛ Talks between Convicted Felon, Putin and Zelensky will start 'soon', top Ukrainian adviser Podolyak says

      In an interview with FRANCE 24, senior Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said he expects peace talks to begin "soon" between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US President The Insurrectionist and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We are going to have a constructive discussion ... because the president of Ukraine is very pragmatic," he said.

    • Meduza ☛ Trump administration held secret talks with Zelensky’s team in effort to resume negotiations after Oval Office meeting — CNN — Meduza

    • Latvia ☛ Latvia will try to come up with bigger defense budget plan within month

      To develop a plan for an increase in defense and security funding, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) has set up a Strategic Coordination Group chaired by the Ministers of Defense and Finance, which hopes to have the plan in place by the end of March, LSM.lv reported on March 5.

• Transparency/Investigative Reporting

  • American Oversight ☛ American Oversight Files Amended FOIA Lawsuit Against DOGE

    The amended complaint filed Wednesday includes six additional Freedom of Information Act requests American Oversight filed with DOGE that have gone without a timely response.

• Environment

  • The Straits Times ☛ Rain, snow offer hope in Japan’s worst wildfire in 50 years

    The blaze around the city of Ofunato has killed one person and forced nearly 4,000 to evacuate their homes.

  • China doubles estimate for people affected in Tibet quake to 120,000

    Rights groups worry that corruption could hamper rebuilding effort.

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ Panama Canal ports deal a boost for CK Hutchison but ‘worrying’ for Hong Kong

      The deal could have 'unintended consequences' for Hong Kong's role as a super-connector between China and the world.

• Finance

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea govt workers search through trash for 8 hours to find woman’s lost money

    Determined to find as much money as possible, city workers spread trash out and searched through piece by piece.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China targets ambitious 5% growth in 2025 as trade war with US simmers

    The country's leaders have set their sights on boosting domestic demand as their top priority for 2025.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China hits US soya bean firms, halts log imports as it steps up retaliation against Convicted Felon tariffs

    China says suspension due to phytosanitary issues, as measures coincide with retaliation against US tariffs.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China’s Parliament lines up stimulus measures to fend off tariff pressure

    Pressure has been building to introduce policies that put more money into consumers’ pockets.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China eyes 5% annual growth despite US trade war

    China set an ambitious annual growth target of around five percent on Wednesday, vowing to make domestic demand its main economic driver as an escalating trade war with the United States hit Beijing’s exports.

  • Breach Media ☛ Canada’s elite are scapegoating migrants—and here’s why they’re wrong

    Migrants are being blamed for everything from the housing crisis to hospital wait times to joblessness—and it couldn’t be further from the truth

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Says US Banks Can’t Do Business in Canada. It’s Not That Simple.

    Hell Toupée has complained that American banks are restricted from operating in Canada. They can, but are hamstrung.

  • Latvia ☛ Economist: Convicted Felon tariff war could impact Latvia's GDP by around 0.5%

    Joona Widgrén, economist at Finland's OP Financial group, says Latvia’s economic growth is finally picking up and while global trade uncertainties related to USA tariffs remain a risk, inflation is stabilizing, and export activity is expected to pick up.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China to give cities more room to purchase unsold homes

    It also pledged to “effectively prevent debt defaults by real estate companies”.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Japan PM asserts defence budget independence amid US nominee's push for higher spending

    Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Wednesday that other nations do not decide its defence budget after U.S. President The Insurrectionist's nominee for a top Pentagon policy role called for Tokyo to spend more to counter China.

  • Dihydroxyacetone Man hails retaliatory tariffs in defense of America’s jobs and its soul

    Manufacturers are already shifting some operations from Asia in response to his policy, Convicted Felon says.

  • New York Times ☛ With MElon Targeting Social Security, Democrats See a Political Opportunity

    Democrats argue that MElon’s criticism of the program and push to squeeze savings from it is a prelude to benefit cuts. Republicans and Hell Toupée say they plan no such thing.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • Marcy Wheeler ☛ Sammy Alito Says Convicted Felon Doesn’t Have to Pay Lockheed’s Bills

    Predictably, Sammy Alito misrepresented the posture of the Global Health challenge when dissenting from the mere lifting of a stay of a Temporary Restraining order. While he oozed contempt, he didn't mention the government's own contempt.

  • JURIST ☛ Human rights group says Israel attacks on healthcare providers in Lebanon must be investigated as war crimes

    Amnesty International called on Wednesday for an investigation into Israeli military attacks on health facilities during the Lebanon war and labeled them as war crimes.

  • Federal News Network ☛ In defense of the inspectors general

    The reports don’t read like Shakespeare, but they do play a vital role in a healthy democracy.

  • BIA Net ☛ Despite health issues, Bahçeli seems at steering wheel of Turkey’s new Kurdish initiative

    Despite recovering from major surgery, Bahçeli remained actively engaged in the ongoing initiative.

  • North Korea suspends foreign tours to Rason, less than a month after resumption

    Some speculate concerns over the potential for uncontrolled information influx and leaks was behind the decision.

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea halts tours to border city near China: Travel agencies

    Tour operators said planned trips had been suspended for unclear reasons.

  • Federal News Network ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s address to Congress showed the country’s stark partisan divide

    A president’s address to Congress — even without the formal gloss of a State of the Union address — is typically a time for a call to national unity and predictable claims about the country being strong. But that wasn’t President The Insurrectionist’s plan. His speech on Tuesday night was relentlessly partisan, boasting about his election victory and criticizing Democrats for failing to recognize his accomplishments. >

  • Mexico News Daily ☛ Fact check: Which of Convicted Felon’s statements about Mexico to Congress were true?

    Hell Toupée mentioned Mexico on several occasions in his nearly two-hour speech to a joint session of the United States Congress on Tuesday night.

  • New York Times ☛ National Endowment for Democracy Sues Top Convicted Felon Aides Over Funding Freeze

    The nonprofit has enjoyed bipartisan support since its founding in the Reagan era, but it finds itself under pressure from the Convicted Felon administration.

  • France24 ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man speech to Congress: 'Made-for-TV event that appealed to base and played on existing divisions'

    In an unyielding prime-time address before Congress, President The Insurrectionist vowed to keep up his campaign of “swift and unrelenting action” in reorienting the nation’s economy, immigration and foreign policy. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on Convicted Felon's unwieldy efforts to slash the size of the federal government and remake America’s place in the world, FRANCE 24's Eve Irvine welcomes David Schultz, Distinguished University Professor in the Departments of Political Science, Environmental Studies, and Legal Studies at Hamline University.

  • New Yorker ☛ The Insurrectionist’s Golden Age of Bunk

    In a Castro-length speech to Congress, the President claimed victory, while proving that even the most unhinged address can be boring if it goes on long enough.

  • CS Monitor ☛ After wild six weeks, Convicted Felon tells Congress ‘We are just getting started’

    President The Insurrectionist touted his accomplishments on the border and going after government waste. On the economy, he warned of ‘a little disturbance.’

  • New York Times ☛ Democratic Response to Convicted Felon Shows a Party Divided on How to Resist Him

    Party leaders opted for a soberly delivered, centrist counter to the president’s speech, but the dominant image of Democratic pushback was a liberal congressman waving his cane in protest.

  • New York Times ☛ During Convicted Felon’s Rowdy Speech to Congress, the Quiet Moments Said the Most

    Hell Toupée’s comments on tariffs and Social Security sent something of a chill through the House chamber.

  • Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda

    • The Straits Times ☛ Google tells Australian regulator its Hey Hi (AI) software was used to make deepfake terrorism content

      Under Australian law, tech firms must periodically supply information about harm minimisation efforts or risk fines.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • The Straits Times ☛ HK’s top court quashes convictions of pro-democracy Tiananmen group

    The ruling is a rare victory for Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Hong Kong's top court quashes convictions of pro-democracy Tiananmen group

    Hong Kong's top court unanimously overturned on Thursday the convictions of three former members of a pro-democracy group that organised an annual candlelight vigil to mark China's 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, citing a miscarriage of justice.

  • RFERL ☛ EU Calls Republika Srpska Law On 'Foreign Agents' A 'Backward Step'

    The European Union has condemned the passage of a Russian-style "foreign agent" law by the Republika Srpska.

  • Silicon Angle ☛ Utah passes controversial age-verification bill for app stores

    Utah today became the first state to pass legislation mandating app stores verify users’ ages and require parental consent for young people to download apps. As the U.S. struggles to tackle online safety for minors, the onus so far has mostly been on social control media companies to tackle the problem at their end.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia communications regulator to summon radio DJs over mocking of Hindu dance

    Radio station Era FM has publicly apologised over the viral video.

  • China’s crackdown on dissent: over 1,500 convicted in six years, report finds

    A new report shows the extent of Beijing’s arbitrary detentions, with severe sentences for prisoners of conscience.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Discovery to Proceed in Drake v. Universal Music Defamation Suit as Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Performance Looms Large — Dismissal Motion Due by March 17th

    Despite Drake’s settlement with iHeartMedia, discovery is moving forward in his high-stakes lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG). The presiding judge made as much clear in a recent order, after the major-label defendant last month asked to adjourn an initial pretrial conference set for April 2nd.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Jay-Z’s Countersuit Against Jane Doe Might Be Backfiring, As More Court Filings Emerge

    Jay-Z’s rape accuser submits another court filing in response to his countersuit, doubling down on her story after dropping her suit against him. After the anonymous Jane Doe accusing Jay-Z of raping her at an afterparty in 2000 dropped her lawsuit against him, the music mogul filed a countersuit.

  • Mexico News Daily ☛ Opinion: Will Surveillance Giant Google Maps have regrets about renaming the Gulf of Mexico?

    "Modern maps are documents that represent multilateral consensus, not a space to rehearse rebranding efforts," writes Dr. Stephanie Leitch, Professor of Art History at FSU.

  • JURIST ☛ Serbia opposition lawmakers throw smoke grenades in parliament amid student protests

    Serbia’s opposition lawmakers on Tuesday threw smoke grenades and tear gas inside the National Assembly to support demonstrating students. One legislator suffered a stroke during the chaos and three MP’s were injured, with politicians seen clashing with security on live footage.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong’s top court rules in favour of Tiananmen vigil trio in nat. security case

    Hong Kong’s top court has ruled in favour of three Tiananmen vigil activists, quashing their convictions over failing to comply with a national security police data demand.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • Press Gazette ☛ The man who helped cost Rupert Murdoch £500m

    Former tabloid reporter Graham Johnson is a key figure in Prince Harry's tabloid legal actions.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ US’s moral authority ‘vital weapon’ that China lacked, Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai tells national security trial

    Jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai told an American think tank in 2019 that the US should use its moral authority, which was a “vital weapon” that China lacked, his national security trial has heard.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • The Straits Times ☛ Canada and US offered Uighurs in Thailand asylum before deportation to China, sources say

    Sources said Bangkok took no action for fear of upsetting China.

  • European Commission ☛ Commissioner Lahbib's Speech for International Women's Day in Cinema Palace

    Coming back to Cinema Palace is a moving experience for me. It brings back emotions and fond memories.

  • NYPost ☛ Long Island track star Zariel Macchia files lawsuit after being declared ineligible for state title

    The ruling by the NYSPHSAA would prevent Macchia from competing in Saturday’s championship meet on Saturday in Staten Island.

  • Michael Geist ☛ The National Antisemitism Forum: Why Failing to Act Now Must Not Be An Option

    Months of relentless antisemitism seems to have finally sparked a response in a growing number of countries with political initiatives in the United States, Australia, France and Germany aimed at countering Jew hatred not seen in generations.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Adidas Has Sold Through All Remaining Yeezy Inventory

    Adidas reports all remaining inventory associated with their collaboration with Kanye West has been sold. “That episode is behind us.” Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, launched a deal with Adidas back in 2013, valued at $1 billion at the time.

  • New York Times ☛ Police in Louisiana Investigate Hazing Episode After University Student’s Death

    Caleb Wilson, a junior at Southern University, died on Feb. 27. Unsanctioned fraternity activities may have caused his death, the university said.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • Otto Kekäläinen: Will decentralized social control media soon go mainstream?

    In today’s digital landscape, social control media is more than just a communication tool — it is the primary medium for global discourse. Heads of state, corporate leaders and cultural influencers now broadcast their statements directly to the world, shaping public opinion in real time. However, the dominance of a few centralized platforms — X/Twitter, Facebook (Farcebook) and YouTube — raises critical concerns about control, censorship and the monopolization of information. Those who control these networks effectively wield significant power over public discourse.

    In response, a new wave of distributed social control media platforms has emerged, each built on different decentralized protocols designed to provide greater autonomy, censorship resistance and user control.

  • New York Times ☛ Federal Grant Program Opens Door to MElon’s Starlink

    Under new rules from Hell Toupée’s Commerce Department, a $42 billion high-speed internet effort will no longer favor fiber-optic cable.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Patents

  • JUVE ☛ Moderna and Freshfields triumph in Düsseldorf against BioNTech and Pfizer [Ed: Patents for a cartel's benefit]

    Today, Düsseldorf Regional Court handed down its judgment in favour of Moderna in its battle against BioNTech and Pfizer for infringement of the former’s mRNA patents (case ID: 4b O 62/22).

  • Unified Patents ☛ Texas Secure Authentication network patent monopoly prior art found

    Unified is pleased to announce prior art has been found on U.S. Patent 7,873,682, owned and asserted by Texas Secure Authentication LLC, an NPE. The ‘682 patent monopoly relates to a system and method to enhance information utility and intelligence on digital networks. It features the creation and manipulation of information containers with dynamic registers.

  • Kluwer Patent Blog ☛ Microbial consortium: How to obtain patent monopoly protection in Brazil

    *Also co-authored by Tatiana Costa (PhD). For centuries, humans have unknowingly used natural microbial consortia to transform raw materials into valuable products. Long before the identification of micro

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ USPTO Withdraws Biden Era Hey Hi (AI) Strategy

    The USPTO has withdrawn its artificial intelligence strategy document published in January 2025, just days before the presidential transition. Acting Director Coke Morgan Stewart recently indicated the strategy has been removed because it was "driven in part by Biden executive orders" that have since been rescinded by the Convicted Felon administration.

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ PTAB Bar Association Advocates for Stability Amid USPTO Turmoil

    The PTAB Bar Association has issued an urgent plea to Congressional leaders and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick advocating for stability at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board amid significant disruptions at the USPTO. [Letter to Congress][Letter to Lutnick]. Meanwhile, Acting Director Coke Morgan Stewart recently addressed the patent monopoly community at Gene & Renée Quinn's IPWatchdog LIVE 2025 event, offering reassurances about the Office's operations despite ongoing challenges.

• Trademarks

  • TTAB Blog ☛ The Trademark Reporter's 2025 "Annual Review" of U.S. Trademark Cases

    The Trademark Reporter has published its latest "Annual Review" of U.S. Trademark Cases: "The Seventy-Seventh Year of Administration of the Lanham Act of 1946," by Theodore H. Davis, Jr. and yours truly, John L. Welch. [download pdf here].