Leftovers

• Science

  • New York Times ☛ A Fungi Pioneer’s Lifelong Work on Exhibit

    Mushrooms in 19th-century watercolors: The paintings of a self-taught female mycologist are featured at the New York State Museum.

  • Science Alert ☛ A 'Star Grinder' Swarm of Black Holes Could Lurk in Our Galaxy's Dusty Core

    The horror.

  • Science Alert ☛ There's a Surprisingly Simple Way to Remove Microplastics From Drinking Water

    You may already be doing it.

  • Science Alert ☛ A Morning Dose of Blue Light Can Help Us Sleep Better in Old Age

    Soak it up.

  • Science Alert ☛ Study Uncovers Trove of Hormones That Could Freeze Time on Aging Skin

    That's not all they could do.

  • Science Alert ☛ How Psychopaths Process Pain Could Explain Their Lack of Empathy

    This makes sense.

  • Science Alert ☛ 'Little Red Dots' in Early Universe Might Be Black Holes Running at Maximum

    They grow up so fast.

• Career/Education

  • New York Times ☛ As Convicted Felon Administration Cuts Funding, Researchers Turn to European Universities

    European universities have begun recruiting researchers who lost their jobs in the administration’s cost-cutting efforts, or are anxious over perceived threats to academic freedom.

  • University of Michigan ☛ In response to ‘The University of Severance’

    In her op-ed published March 12, Professor Silke-Maria Weineck writes that the University of Michigan is “a truth-seeking enterprise” and that debating and discoursing with ideologically-diverse colleagues is at best secondary to that fundamental goal.

• Hardware

  • Hackaday ☛ Designing A Portable Mac Mini

    When Apple first launched the Macintosh, it created a new sort of “Lunchbox” form factor that was relatively portable and very, very cool. Reminiscent of that is this neat portable Macintosh Mini, created by [Scott Yu-Jan].

  • Hackaday ☛ LED Filaments Become Attractive Time Piece

    There are a million ways to use LEDs to make a clock. [sjm4306] chose to go a relatively conventional route, making something that approximates a traditional analog timepiece. However, he did it using LED filaments to create a striking and unique design. Thus the name—FilamenTIME!

  • Hackaday ☛ Brazilian Modders Upgrade NVidia Geforce GTX 970 To 8 GB Of VRAM

    Although NVidia’s current disastrous RTX 50-series is getting all the attention right now, this wasn’t the first misstep by NVidia. Back in 2014 when NVidia released the GTX 970 users were quickly dismayed to find that their ‘4 GB VRAM’ GPU had actually just 3.5 GB, with the remaining 512 MB being used in a much slower way at just 1/7th of the normal speed. Back then NVidia was subject to a $30/card settlement with disgruntled customers, but there’s a way to at least partially fix these GPUs, as demonstrated by a group of Brazilian modders (original video with horrid English auto-dub).

  • CNX Software ☛ SOMDEVICES µSMARC RZ/V2N system-on-module packs Renesas RZ/V2N MPU in a 82x30mm “micro SMARC” form factor

    SOMDEVICES µSMARC RZ/V2N is a system-on-module powered by the Renesas RZ/V2N Hey Hi (AI) MPU and offered in a micro SMARC (µSMARC) form factor that’s quite smaller at 82x30mm than standard 82x50mm SMARC modules. The company told CNX Software it’s still 100% compatible with SMARC 2.1 with a 314-pin MXM 3.0 edge connector.

  • CNX Software ☛ LaserPecker LP5 fiber and diode laser engraver review – Part 1: Unboxing and assembly with rotary extension and safety enclosure

    We’ve just received the LaserPecker LP5 20W Fiber Laser + Diode Laser engraver for review as part of a kit that includes a rotary extension to engrave cylindrical objects like bottles and glasses and a safety enclosure to engrave or cut workpieces with maximum safety in a fully-enclosed chassis.

  • CNX Software ☛ $23 ArmSoM Forge1 industrial SBC is powered by Rockchip RK3506J SoC

    ArmSoM Forge1 is an industrial SBC (single board computer) powered by the Rockchip RK3506J triple-core Cortex-A7 processor designed for Smart Audio, HMI, and factory automation applications. The Forge1 is equipped with 512MB RAM, 512MB NAND flash, two Fast Ethernet ports, a MIPI DSI display connector,  USB Type-A and Type-C ports, an audio jack, a 40-pin GPIO header partially compatible with Raspberry Pi HATs, and a 16-pin header with speaker output, microphone input, RS-485, and CAN Bus.

  • Hackaday ☛ The Vectrex Home Computer You Never Had

    The Vectrex console from the early 1980s holds a special place in retrocomputing lore thanks to its vector display — uniquely for a home system, it painted its graphics to the screen by drawing them with an electron beam, instead of scanning across a raster as a TV screen would. It thus came with its own CRT, and a distinctive vertical screen form factor.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong to hike public hospital charges next year as part of sweeping healthcare subsidy reform

    Hong Kong will increase public hospital fees starting from next year, the city’s government has said – part of sweeping subsidy reforms set to affect its emergency, outpatient, and inpatient services.

  • Science Alert ☛ Freckle, Sunspot, or Mole? An Expert Explains How to Tell The Difference.

    It could save your life.

  • New York Times ☛ At This Clinic in Hawaii, Nature Is the Medicine

    A neglected parcel of land was restored by volunteers and patients at a community medical center. Along the way, their health also improved.

  • New York Times ☛ For Some Measles Patients, Vitamin A Remedy Supported by RFK Jr. Leaves Them More Ill

    After the health secretary promoted vitamin A as a cure, parents in West Texas began giving their children high doses, sometimes to prevent infection.

  • University of Michigan ☛ Weather emergencies affect older adults’ views on climate, health

    Findings from the National Poll on Healthy Aging show that 59% of people age 50 and older are concerned about how climate change could affect their health.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong health authorities launch probe after examination lamp falls on doctor, hospital staff member

    Health authorities have launched an investigation after an examination lamp at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital in Tsuen Wan fell on a doctor and another hospital staff member on Monday evening.

  • Latvia ☛ 10 cases of E. coli infection in Latvia

    Ten people have been infected with dangerous E. coli bacteria in the last few days, and nine of them are in hospital, reported Latvian Television March 24.

  • European Commission ☛ Statement by the Commissioner Lahbib on the attacks on health personnel, hospitals and aid workers in Gaza

    European Commission Statement Brussels, 25 Mar 2025 I am concerned by the alarming reports emerging from Gaza, where health personnel, ambulances, and hospitals have come under Israeli attack – yet again.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Growth-hormone injection spending soars as South Korean parents ‘invest’ in kids’ height

    The number of growth hormone prescriptions almost doubled in just three years.

  • Science Alert ☛ The Weight Loss Paradox: Shedding Significant Pounds Can Be Deadly For Some

    A new study raises important questions.

  • Science Alert ☛ How You Make Your Coffee Could Affect Your Cholesterol Levels

    Don't talk to me until I've had my morning cafestol.

• Proprietary

  • Social Control Media

    • Digital Music News ☛ TikTok’s Ole Obermann Jumped Ship Last Month — Now There’s Another Big Departure Ahead of the April 5th Ban

      What do these guys know that we don’t? Perhaps the question answers itself: now TikTok’s Global Business Solutions Head, Blake Chandlee, is leaving the company, according to an internal memo. The move comes just a month after Global Head of Music, Ole Obermann, departed the company for Fashion Company Apple Music.

• Security

  • Integrity/Availability/Authenticity

    • Latvia ☛ Election email message causes glitch on Latvia's state internet portal

      On Tuesday, March 25, disruptions have been observed in the operation of the unified state and local government data portal "Latvija.lv".

    • ADF ☛ Nigeria Arrests Dozens of Chinese Nationals in Crackdown on Internet Scams

      Rowland Turaki was a cybersecurity student in Lagos, Nigeria, when he answered an advertisement seeking customer service representatives for a Chinese-owned company called Genting International Co. Ltd. Turaki’s interview focused on his typing skills instead of his computer skills.

    • Latvia ☛ State Security Service warns of scam taking its name in vain

      The State Security Service (VDD) is warning the public about fraudulent phone calls in which people are misled into believing that they have been sent a letter from the security service.

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Pro Publica ☛ The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram: ProPublica, FRONTLINE Investigate an Online Terror Network

    • Pro Publica ☛ Secret Life of Matthew Allison: Goofy DJ, Accused Terrorgram Leader

    • Scoop News Group ☛ Privacy-boosting tech could prevent breaches, data misuse with government aid, report says

      The New America Open Technology Institute report comes amid DOGE access to sensitive government agency information that has alarmed experts.

    • Former political prisoner in Vietnam says police installed cameras in his home

      The 2 surveillance cameras were installed while he was hospitalized, Vu Quang Thuan says.

• Defence/Aggression

  • ADF ☛ Ghana Opens Skills House to Train for Sahel Terror Threats

    The Ghana Armed Forces showcased its new skills house where personnel will be trained to combat terrorism. The facility, which opened in February at the Ghana Army’s Special Operations Training School in Daboya will help troops refine skills in house-clearing tactics, cross-border operations and urban warfare.

  • New York Times ☛ India Said to Have Meddled in Canada Party Election

    Indian agents raised money and helped organize support in 2022 for Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative leader, news outlets reported, citing intelligence officials.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Downplays Signal Leak, Backing Waltz and Pointing Finger at Journalist

    Democrats denounced the country’s top intelligence officials for “sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior” for discussing secret military plans in a group chat.

  • France24 ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man brands chat leak journalist as 'total sleazebag'

    The Insurrectionist stepped up his criticism of a journalist who was accidentally added to a group chat about air strikes on Yemen, while denying that classified information was shared by US officials. "The guy's a total sleazebag," Convicted Felon said of The Atlantic magazine's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, adding that "nobody gives a damn" about the story that has sparked a major row in Washington. FRANCE 24's James Vasina reports.

  • Scoop News Group ☛ Senators criticize Convicted Felon officials’ discussion of war plans over Signal, but administration answers don’t come easily

    An Intelligence Committee hearing focused on the security risks of a cabinet-level group chat that included a reporter from The Atlantic.

  • France24 ☛ Back to Khartoum: Turning point for Sudan's civil war?

    Nearly two years on and it’s back to Khartoum for Sudan’s civil war. The forces of junta leader Abdelfattah al-Buhran ousting those of ally-turned-foe Mohammed Hamdam Daglo. For the leader of the RSF militia, it’s win some, lose some with gains instead in North Darfur province.

  • Federal News Network ☛ DoD shepherds CMMC through Convicted Felon deregulatory initiative

    The Forrest Dump administration has a '10 out, one in' rule for new regulations, but DoD officials are confident they can finalize the CMMC requirements soon.

  • ADF ☛ Nigeria Counter Terrorism Center Reviews Strategy as New Threats Emerge

    Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) is reviewing its strategy as terror organizations launch fresh attacks. The NCTC, the Office of the National Security Advisor and other stakeholders discussed the strategy during a two-day workshop in February. It was held amid a surge in terror attacks near the country’s northern border with Niger.

  • New York Times ☛ What Is Signal, the App Involved in a War Plans Security Breach?

    The app, which was introduced in 2014 and has hundreds of millions of users, is widely viewed as the safest messaging tool because of its encryption technology.

  • New York Times ☛ The Worst Part of Pete Hegseth’s Group Chat Debacle

    And why the careless secretary of defense should resign.

  • New York Times ☛ What Is the Secrecy Power Convicted Felon’s Aides Are Using to Stonewall a Federal Judge?

    The administration is invoking an extraordinary national security power, the state secrets privilege, under highly unusual circumstances.

  • JURIST ☛ UK sanctions former Sri Lanka military commanders for serious human rights abuses

    The UK government imposed sanctions Monday on four individuals responsible for serious human rights abuses during Sri Lanka’s civil war. The 26-year conflict, which ended in May 2009, claimed an estimated 80,000-100,000 lives according to UN figures, with an estimated 40,000 Tamil civilians killed during the final stages of the war.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Chinese influencer leaves Taiwan after unification remarks draw fire

    Known as “Yaya in Taiwan” on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, Ms Liu Zhenya has more than 400,000 followers.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Chinese influencer promoting unification by force leaves Taiwan

    A Chinese influencer left Taiwan on Tuesday after her residency permit was revoked for advocating that China unify the island by military means. Her departure comes after President Lai Ching-te called China a “foreign hostile force” and proposed measures to combat Chinese espionage, infiltration and efforts to weaken Taiwanese people’s sense of identity.

  • Chinese influencer Yaya ordered to leave Taiwan after posting pro-China video

    Liu Zhenya had posted video praising China’s 2024 military exercises.

  • Pentagon chief Hegseth heads to Philippines amid South China Sea tensions

    Beijing, meanwhile, cautions Manila against security arrangements that target “any third party.”

  • The Straits Times ☛ Japan backs close security ties with India, South Korea in Indo-Pacific

    Japan has said that it backed close security cooperation with South Korea and India in the Indo-Pacific, days after the Philippines' military chief said a U.S.-backed security group wanted both nations to join to counter China in the region.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Video: University of Hong Kong calls police and ejects anti-war activists protesting talk by pro-Israel group CEO

    Over a dozen University of Hong Kong (HKU) security personnel and staff escorted a small group of anti-war protesters from campus on Tuesday after calling the police to the scene.

  • France24 ☛ US VP Vance to visit Greenland military base as Convicted Felon eyes territory

    US Vice President JD Vance will visit Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on Friday to discuss Arctic security and meet US troops, amid President The Insurrectionist's interest in the territory, his office stated Tuesday. Vance, a key foreign policy voice for Convicted Felon, will be accompanied by his wife, Usha.

  • France24 ☛ Israel says Al Jazeera journalist it killed in Gaza was Hamas 'sniper'

    Israel on Tuesday said it had killed an Al Jazeera employee in the Gaza Strip, accusing the journalist, Hussam Shabat, of being a "sniper terrorist" for Hamas. The network said Shabat was killed Monday in an Israeli strike on his vehicle in northern Gaza. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks to Jodie Ginsberg from the Committee to Protect Journalists. She says Israel frequently smears journalists and produces no credible evidence to suggest that they are terrorists.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • Meduza ☛ Alexander Genis on RFE/RL, Trump cuts, and Putin’s Russia

    • France24 ☛ 🔴 Russia, Ukraine agree to halt strikes in Black Sea, White House says

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Experts react: What to know about the US-led Black Sea cease-fire deal with Russia and Ukraine

      Atlantic Council experts plumb the depths of the new US agreements with Moscow and Kyiv to end hostilities on the Black Sea.

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Ukraine’s growing military strength is an underrated factor in peace talks

      Any discussion on the future course of the war against Russia and the terms of any peace deal must take into account the fact that Ukraine is a now major military power in its own right, writes Serhii Kuzan.

    • France24 ☛ Odesa residents voice doubt any ceasefire with Russia can hold

      The U.S. said it had reached separate agreements with Ukraine and Russia to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and to implement a ban on attacks by the two countries on each other's energy facilities. Speaking in Ukraine's Black Sea city, residents said they feared the agreement with Russia would be fragile. FRANCE 24's August Hakansson reports.

    • RFERL ☛ Russia, Ukraine Agree Separately With US To Halt Military Force In Black Sea

      Ukraine and Russia have separately agreed at talks with the United States in Saudi Arabia that they will stop using military force in the Black Sea and to develop measures to ban strikes against energy facilities in the two countries.

    • New York Times ☛ Ukraine and Russia Agree to Cease Fighting in the Black Sea, White House Says

      The deal was limited, and it was not clear when or how it would start. The Kremlin also demanded some Western sanctions be lifted first.

    • France24 ☛ US intel chiefs face Senate grilling over Yemen chat breach

      The Forrest Dump administration's top intelligence officials stressed to Congress the threat they said was posed by international criminal gangs, drug cartels and human smuggling, testifying in a hearing Tuesday that unfolded against the backdrop of a security breach involving the mistaken leak of attack plans to a journalist. FRANCE 24's Antonia Kerrigan reports.

    • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Downplayed the Leak of Military Plans

      Also, Ukraine and Russia agreed to stop fighting in the Black Sea. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.

    • New York Times ☛ How a Cheap Drone Punctured Chernobyl’s Steel Shield During the Ukraine War

      The steel shell that encloses the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster was built to endure for a century. But war was a scenario its engineers never envisioned.

    • New York Times ☛ Russia and Ukraine Hold U.S.-Mediated Talks in Riyadh: What to Know

      Kyiv and Moscow have had separate discussions with Washington about a temporary pause on strikes on energy sites and a cease-fire in the Black Sea.

    • Meduza ☛ Russia state media employees killed in occupied Ukraine

    • Meduza ☛ U.S. and Ukraine meet again in Saudi Arabia

    • Meduza ☛ The aftermath of Moscow’s strike on Sumy, which injured over 100 civilians

    • Meduza ☛ The White House on U.S. talks with Ukraine and Russia

    • Meduza ☛ Kremlin lists energy infrastructure included in new partial ceasefire with Ukraine

    • LRT ☛ ‘Don’t build an iron curtain,’ Belarus opposition leader pleads with Lithuanian lawmakers

      Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is residing in Vilnius, warns against “building an iron curtain”, as conservative MPs propose tightening residence rules for Russian and Belarusian citizens.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Russian Navy submarine launches missiles in Sea of Japan drills, TASS agency reports

      A submarine of Russia's Pacific Fleet conducted drills in the Sea of Japan, launching cruise missiles at sea and coastal targets, the Russian state TASS news agency reported on Wednesday.

    • Meduza ☛ U.S. and Russia discussed resumption of Black Sea grain deal at Riyadh meeting, Lavrov says — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ VK to introduce Russian WeChat analogue in 2025

    • RFERL ☛ Lukashenko Sworn In For Seventh Term As Rights Groups Decry 'Unconstitutional' Rule

      Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenko was sworn in for a seventh time on March 25 as human rights groups said the authoritarian leader’s rule was unlawful.

    • Meduza ☛ U.S. senators urge Trump administration to use frozen Russian assets

    • Meduza ☛ Kremlin says details of U.S.-Russia meeting won’t be publicized

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Peace requires more than a handshake: Misreading Russia’s war aims will prolong Putin’s aggression

      Understanding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ideological motivations for invading Ukraine is essential to negotiating a lasting peace.

    • France24 ☛ 'Putin is feeling very confident he can continue playing The Insurrectionist for a fool', analyst says

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday welcomed US-brokered agreements towards Ukraine and Russia halting strikes in the Black Sea and on energy infrastructure, but criticised Washington for agreeing to ease restrictions on Russian exports. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks to Peter Zalmayev of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative. He says that following the deal, 'Putin is feeling very confident he can continue playing The Insurrectionist for a fool'.

    • France24 ☛ 'Putin has no interest in an overall ceasefire, he wants to continue his war on land'

      Russia has insisted that a US-brokered agreement to halt military activity in the Black Sea would only take effect once certain sanctions were lifted, including those targeting its state-owned agricultural lender. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on the US push towards a ceasefire, FRANCE 24's Delano D'Souza welcomes John E. Herbst, Former United States Ambassador to Ukraine and Senior Director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center.

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea hosts Alaska governor, energy team amid talk of gas pipeline

      Energy-scarce South Korea is the world’s third-largest buyer of liquefied natural gas.

    • New York Times ☛ A Journey on South Africa’s Blue Train

      On a trip from Cape Town to Pretoria, a reporter grapples with the whiplash of traveling through South Africa’s two worlds, from majestic mountains to struggling shantytowns.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Two Vietnamese airlines ban power banks over explosion fears

      Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air announced that passengers are not allowed to use power banks on the plane.

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • European Commission ☛ Commissioner Roswall's speech at an event, '30 years in the EU: Austria, Finland, and Sweden – front runners for sustainable agriculture and forestry'

      I am really pleased to be here. As a European Commissioner. But also as a Swedish national.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Strong winds fan South Korea wildfires as death toll climbs to 18

      Many of those who died in the wildfires were in their 60s and 70s.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Deadly wildfires kill at least 18 in South Korea

      Thousands of residents were forced to flee their homes in South Korea's south-eastern region.

    • France24 ☛ Deadly wildfires sweep across South Korea, killing at least 18 people

      South Korea's deadliest wildfires have claimed 18 lives, causing widespread devastation. The government declared the highest crisis alert, mobilising a national response as fires ravaged villages and a historic temple, the acting president announced.

    • Science Alert ☛ Hear The First-Ever Recordings of Sharks Actively Making Noises

      Catchy.

• Finance

  • Federal News Network ☛ Self-professed ‘DOGE person’ Frank Bisignano gets his confirmation hearing to lead Social Security

    The nominee to lead the Social Security Administration faced tough questions at his confirmation hearing about efforts by DOGE to shut down field offices.

  • New York Times ☛ U.S. Adds Export Restrictions to More Chinese Tech Firms Over Security Concerns [Ed: Expect GNU/Linux to Rise Sharply in China]

    The Trump administration on Tuesday added 80 companies and organizations to a list of companies that are barred from buying American technology and other exports because of national security concerns.

    The move, which targeted primarily Chinese firms, cracks down on companies that have been big buyers of American chips from Nvidia, Intel and AMD. It also closed loopholes that Trump administration officials have long criticized as allowing Chinese firms to continue to advance technologically despite U.S. restrictions.

    One company added to the list, Nettrix Information Industry, was the focus of a 2024 investigation by The New York Times that showed how some Chinese executives had bypassed U.S. restrictions aimed at cutting China off from advanced chips to make artificial intelligence.

    [...]

    After Sugon was singled out and restricted by the United States, its longtime partners — Nvidia, Intel and Microsoft — quickly formed ties with Nettrix, the investigation found.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China says Canada ‘seriously damaging’ interests in escalating trade spat

    China on Tuesday accused Canada of “seriously damaging” its interests, defending its tariffs against the country after Ottawa launched a dispute against Beijing at the World Trade Organization. Beijing this month slapped a 100 percent surcharge on rapeseed oil, oil cakes — a type of animal feed — and peas imported from Canada.

  • Inkl ☛ Activision user research workers form union under Microsoft [Ed: They know many more layoffs are coming]

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong to boost funding for elite athletes by 8.3%; senior squad to receive HK$10,000 per month

    Funding for elite athletes in Hong Kong will increase by 8.3 per cent starting on April 1, the city’s sports minister has announced.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • The Straits Times ☛ China seeks stronger ties with Europe, it says in meeting with Portugal's foreign minister

    Chinese foreign minister met with his Portuguese counterpart in Beijing on Tuesday, calling for closer ties with Europe as Chinese and European leaders navigate intensifying global trade tensions.

  • The Straits Times ☛ DPM Heng kicks off China visit, meets diplomat Liu Jianchao in Beijing

    Singapore and China will mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China swoops in to replace Asian USAID projects axed by Convicted Felon

    Chinese aid projects are seeking to provide school supplies and hand-washing materials, among other goals.

  • China frees staff of US consulting firm after 2-year detention

    The release comes as China seeks to stabilize foreign investment amid US tariff impacts.

  • Anonymous letters call on Australians to turn in wanted Hong Kongers

    Foreign Minister Penny Wong raises concerns with Beijing, is accused of 'interference' in Hong Kong legal matters.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Pakistan, China in talks about security for Chinese nationals

    Pakistan and China's discussions about security measures to protect Chinese nationals working in the South Asian country are a work in progress, Islamabad's ambassador to Beijing said on Wednesday.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • The Straits Times ☛ Pakistani YouTube star charged with blasphemy over perfume

    In both cases against him, Rajab Butt risks up to 10 years in prison.

  • New York Times ☛ Judge Orders U.S. to Stop Attempts to Deport Columbia Undergraduate

    The administration has been seeking to arrest and deport Yunseo Chung, who immigrated from South Korea as a child, after she participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

  • New York Times ☛ Columbia Planned Tighter Protest Rules Even Before Convicted Felon Demanded Them

    Students sued to stop Columbia from giving their disciplinary records to the federal government, which has demanded that the university rein in demonstrations.

  • JURIST ☛ Academic groups sue Convicted Felon administration over deportation policy

    A group of academic associations filed a lawsuit on Tuesday accusing the administration of US President The Insurrectionist of pursuing an illegal “ideological-deportation policy” targeting non-citizen students and faculty who participate in pro-Palestine protests.

  • BIA Net ☛ İstanbul governor restricts entries to city as protests continue

    Mayor İmamoğlu was transferred to the courthouse amid heightened security measures in the area.

  • Disney beefed up security for Gal Gadot after ‘Snow White’ star received death threats over pro-Israeli comments

    The actress reportedly received an influx in death threats after her co-star Rachel Zegler expressed her support for Palestine amid the Hamas-Israel war.

  • NYPost ☛ Disney forced to beef up Gal Gadot’s security after ‘Snow White’ star got death threats over pro-Israeli comments: report

    “She didn’t understand the repercussions of her actions," an insider said of Rachel Zegler.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • OPINION: Tibetans' voices will be silenced if RFA, VOA are shut down

    The services have been a lifeline to Tibetans stuck behind China’s 'Great Firewall.'

  • New York Times ☛ Israeli Police Release Palestinian Director Hamdan Ballal After West Bank Incident

    Hamdan Ballal said he was struck as he guarded his home during an attack by settlers. The Israeli authorities said he had been detained on suspicion of throwing stones, which he denied.

  • Press Gazette ☛ Google news revenue research ‘self serving’, ‘pure propaganda’ say industry experts

    Search giant hits back to defend research claiming news is worth zero revenue to it.

  • YLE ☛ Yle cuts programmes amid change negotiations

    The Finnish Broadcasting Corporation Yle has announced a series of organisational changes and programme reductions following extensive restructuring negotiations. The changes aim to streamline operations, reduce costs and simplify management structures.

    "This is one of the most significant and comprehensive changes in the company's recent history," said Yle's CEO, Merja Ylä-Anttila.

    "Despite cost-saving measures, we will ensure that we continue to produce diverse and high-quality content for all Finns and fulfil our important mission," she added.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • The Straits Times ☛ Japan awards world’s longest-serving death row inmate record $1.87m after exoneration

    Mr Iwao Hakamada, now 89, was exonerated in 2024 of a 1966 quadruple murder after a retrial.

  • New York Times ☛ Appeals Court Lets Convicted Felon Pause New Refugee Admissions Amid Lawsuit

    A court order requires thousands of refugees to be admitted to the United States. But funding for organizations that assist them after arrival remains uncertain.

  • Pro Publica ☛ ICE Ramps Up Warrantless, Legally Dubious Arrests

    The Gregorio brothers had just begun their daybreak commute to work assembling wooden pallets in late January when federal officers in SUVs pulled them over in a Chicago suburb. Jhony and Bayron were in one car. A third brother, Marco, was traveling separately, in another car behind them.

    After Jhony Gregorio handed over his identification, an officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement opened his door and pulled him out. Before long, more than a dozen other officers had arrived. Gregorio could see they had also stopped his brother Marco.

  • ACLU ☛ Five State and Local Entities Safeguarding Our Civil Rights

    State and local officials play direct and crucial roles in shaping and safeguarding our civil rights and civil liberties, especially amid the Convicted Felon administration’s ongoing attacks. These offices and officials – governors, state legislatures, attorneys general, and mayors – influence countless parts of our daily lives but, most importantly, their decisions can determine voter access, life-saving healthcare, gender-affirming care, and other vital rights the Convicted Felon administration has threatened.

  • Pro Publica ☛ HUD Undermines Two Texas Housing Discrimination Cases

    The findings were stark. In one investigation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development concluded that a Texas state agency had steered $1 billion in disaster mitigation money away from Houston and nearby communities of color after Hurricane Harvey inundated the region in 2017. In another investigation, HUD found that a homeowners association outside of Dallas had created rules to kick poor Black people out of their neighborhood.

    The episodes amounted to egregious violations of civil rights laws, officials at the housing agency believed — enough to warrant litigation against the alleged culprits. That, at least, was the view during the presidency of Joe Biden. After the Trump administration took over, HUD quietly took steps that will likely kill both cases, according to three officials familiar with the matter.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • APNIC ☛ Automating ISP networks with Ansible and phpIPAM

    Guest Post: How ISPs can leverage IP Address Management (IPAM) systems as a Source of Truth (SoT) for automation workflows driven by Ansible.

  • dwaves.de ☛ Starlink bandwidth dropping massively bottlenecks?

    After Tesla (stock it has recovered a bit) took a hit because of Elon’s catastrophic conduct: also Starlink has been going downhill it seems to be a known (?) issue: Starlink is overloading it’s satellites and ground stations [...]

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Digital Music News ☛ Live Nation Settles Investor Class Action for $20 Million as DOJ Antitrust Action Lumbers Onward

  Live Nation settles a lawsuit filed by investors claiming the company failed to warn them about its antitrust activity that led to the DOJ’s case. Live Nation has agreed to pay $20 million to settle the dispute, which alleged the company misled investors about its “compliance with antitrust laws.”

• Patents

  • To Reverse The Progress: The Restoration of Fintiv

    In 2022, USPTO Director Kathi Vidal released a guidance memo titled “Interim Procedure for Discretionary Denials in AIA Post-Grant Proceedings with Parallel District Court Litigation.”  The memo made adjustments to the NHK–Fintiv rule, outlining three scenarios in which the PTAB would not issue discretionary denials.

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ The OxyContin Conundrum: Can a Creator of Crisis Patent Its Solution?

    By Dennis Crouch

    There is an almost ritualistic moment anytime I teach property and estates law.  The hand shoots up and a student asks what happens when those listed in a will - murder their benefactors to accelerate inheritance.  There tends to be some nervous laughter as well as genuine curiosity.  Virtually all jurisdictions have created some "slayer rule" stemming from the common law principle that "no one shall profit from their own wrong," preventing killers from inheriting from their victims.

  • NZ Patent Law Amendments Target Extinction of 82 ‘Dinosaur’ Applications

    At the time of writing, there are 26,111 patent monopoly applications pending and not yet accepted (i.e. awaiting examination, or under examination) at the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ).  Of these, 26,029 are subject to the provisions of the current law, the New Zealand Patents Act 2013, which came into effect on 13 September 2014.  The remaining 82 applications are what we might regard as ‘dinosaurs’ – they ultimately claim an effective filing date prior to 13 September 2014, and remain subject to the former provisions of the Patents Act 1953.

  • Unified Patents ☛ $2,000 awarded for Empire IP entity, Dynamic Data Innovations, dataset patent monopoly prior art

    Unified is pleased to announce PATROLL crowdsourcing contest winners, Dinesh Swami, Andrei Gilya, and Calvin Zhong, who split a cash prize of $2,000 for their prior art submissions on U.S. Patent 9,632,676, asserted by Dynamic Data Innovations LLC, an NPE and entity of Empire IP LLC.

• Trademarks

  • TTAB Blog ☛ PANERA Fails to Prove Fame Before Applicant's First Use Date, TTAB Dismisses Opposition to PANERALUX for Unrelated Products

    In an 83-page opinion, the Board dismissed this three-pronged opposition to registration of the mark PANERALUX for various goods in class 9 (e.g., database management software) and class 11 (including cooking ranges), ruling that Opposer Pumpernickel Associates, owner of the registered mark PANERA for restaurant services and food products, failed to prove its claims of likelihood of dilution (Section 43(c)), likelihood of confusion (Section 2(d)), and false suggestion of a connection (Section 2(a)). One might be tempted to call this opposition "half-baked," but I will refrain from doing so. Pumpernickel Associates, LLC v. Ningbo Panera Lighting Co., Ltd., Opposition No. 91272857 (March 18, 2025) [not precedential] (Opinion by Judge Christopher C. Larkin).

• Copyrights

  • Digital Music News ☛ Limp Bizkit Fires Off State Court Lawsuit Against Universal Music, Doubling Down on Allegations of ‘Blatant Fraud’

    Right on cue, Limp Bizkit has fired off another lawsuit, this time in state court, against Universal Music Group (UMG). Limp Bizkit, frontman Fred Durst, and Durst’s Flawless Records yesterday submitted their latest complaint to the Los Angeles County Superior Court.