Leftovers

• Ruben Schade ☛ The chestnut-naped antpitta

  It’s been a while since I’ve shared a Wikipedia picture of the day when a cute bird is featured. This is the chestnut-naped antpitta, taken by Sharp Photography. It sure is!

• Ruben Schade ☛ Seeing the NSWGR 3576 steam locomotive!

  Transport Heritage NSW did another steam train event this weekend, ferrying Edwardian-era engineering fans from Central Station in Sydney up to leafy Hornsby in the northern suburbs. We met up with her at Hornsby Station to say hi.

  What a gorgeous machine! The tireless Transport Heritage team—many of whom are volunteers—did a spectacular job restoring 3576 with a handsome green colour scheme. Am I sufficiently imparting my enthusiasm with all these embellishments!?

• Science

  • Science Alert ☛ Antarctic Iceberg Breaks Away to Reveal a Never-Before-Seen Ecosystem

    A hidden world was just revealed.

  • Science Alert ☛ World's Most Common Pain Relief Drug May Induce Risky Behavior, Study Finds

    Wait, what?

  • Science Alert ☛ Everybody's Heard of Repressed Memories. But What if They Don't Exist?

    A huge debate in science.

  • Science Alert ☛ This Brain Mechanism Explains Why Teens Love Risk More Than You

    It's all in your head.

  • Science Alert ☛ Quantum Computer Generates Truly Random Number in Scientific First

    "A pivotal milestone."

  • Science Alert ☛ A Huge Discovery in Morocco Could Rewrite The History of Africa

    A breakthrough for archaeology.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • University of Michigan ☛ The terrors of ‘Adolescence’

    Netflix’s “Adolescence” is a brilliant four-part miniseries that delves into the complexities of teenage life in the age of the misogynistically laced internet.

  • Science Alert ☛ Sometimes Alzheimer's Strikes Early. This Experimental Drug May Help.

    It could slow cognitive decline in younger people affected.

  • Science Alert ☛ Dangerous Fungal Infection Sees a Dramatic Increase in US Hospitals

    The surge is continuing.

  • Hackaday ☛ Automatically Crack Safes With This Autodialer

    When attempting to secure something, whether it’s a computer, sensitive data, or valuables, there’s always going to be a way to break that security. It might be impossibly hard, like taking centuries to brute-force an encryption algorithm, but it’s weakness is still there. And, like the future might make certain encryption obsolete, modern electronics has made security of the past somewhat obsolete as well. [Startup Chuck] has been using tools the creators of safes from the late 1800s could probably not have imagined.

• Proprietary

  • Social Control Media

    • University of Michigan ☛ Stop giving creators like Ash Trevino your attention

      One of my online guilty pleasures is watching messy influencer drama. In 2018, I was all over James Charles and Tati Westbrook’s viral crash out. In 2020, you bet I had a front row seat to Shane Dawson’s public internet execution.

• Defence/Aggression

  • France24 ☛ Live: Myanmar junta still bombing despite earthquake crisis, rebels say

    Rescuers are still scouring the rubble in Myanmar after a massive earthquake killed at least 1,700 people. Foreign rescue teams have arrived to help with the search. An armed resistance movement against Myanmar's military junta criticised the government on Sunday for conducting airstrikes on villages even as the country reels from Friday's earthquake. Read our blog to see how the day's events unfolded.

  • France24 ☛ Myanmar junta accused of aerial attacks even after quake as 7 fighters were killed by strike

    Myanmar's junta has pressed ahead with its campaign of airstrikes despite the country's devastating earthquake, with a rebel group reporting on Sunday that seven of its fighters were killed in an aerial attack shortly after the tremors hit. France24 Senior Reporter Cyril Payen joins us.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Amid earthquake crisis, Myanmar military still bombs towns

    Military jets launched airstrikes and drone attacks in Karen state, where the junta was locked in civil war with armed rebels.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Myanmar junta accused of air strike even after quake, killing seven rebels

    A rebel group said it came under an aerial attack soon after the tremors hit.

  • New York Times ☛ In Myanmar, Earthquake Aftershocks and Airstrikes Terrorize Residents

    New tremors rattled survivors of Friday’s earthquake, which killed more than 1,600 people, while the government continued its bombing campaign elsewhere in the country.

  • France24 ☛ Hamas agrees to new Gaza truce as Israel keeps up offensive

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is maintaining pressure on Hamas despite agreeing to a ceasefire proposal from mediators in Egypt and Qatar. Netanyahu stated that the militant group's leaders can leave the Gaza Strip only if they agree to lay down their arms. Hamas has shown some willingness to relinquish control over the territory.

  • France24 ☛ 5 children killed in Israeli airstrike on house and tent sheltering displaced people

    Gaza's civil defense agency reported that an Israeli airstrike on Sunday hit a house and a tent sheltering displaced people, killing at least eight, including five children, as Palestinians marked the first day of Eid Al-Fitr. The strike took place as both Hamas and Israel confirmed receiving a new truce proposal from mediators aimed at halting hostilities in Gaza during the holiday. United Nations at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs spokesperson, Olga Cherevko, joins us.

  • JURIST ☛ Federal court partially blocks Convicted Felon’s order targeting prominent law firm

    A federal court partially granted Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP’s (“WilmerHale,” “plaintiff”) request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and injunctive relief on Friday, blocking §§ 3 and 5 of President The Insurrectionist’s executive order titled “Addressing Risks from WilmerHale.”

  • France24 ☛ US will not 'get' Greenland, island's new PM says in response to Convicted Felon comments

    The United States will not get Greenland, newly elected Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Sunday in a post on Facebook (Farcebook) in response to The Insurrectionist's statements he wants to take control of the vast Arctic country. Convicted Felon said he had "absolutely" had real conversations about annexing the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

  • France24 ☛ Syria's first Eid al-Fitr holiday since the collapse of the Assad regime

    After nearly a month-long delay, the composition of Syria's new government has finally been revealed and sworn in. This new government will replace the interim administration established following Bashar al-Assad's removal from power, marking the first official government of the country's five-year transitional period. The 23-member cabinet is religiously and ethnically diverse, though it is largely dominated by close allies of interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa.

    This Sunday also marks Syria's first Eid al-Fitr holiday since the end of over half a century of Assad family rule. Vedika Ba-hel reports on how the nation plans to celebrate.

  • New York Times ☛ Hegseth Pledges to Step Up Military Cooperation With Japan and Deter China

    The U.S. defense secretary sought to reassure its ally over security ties and vowed to speed up the creation of a joint “war-fighting headquarters” to deter China.

  • The Straits Times ☛ ‘America First does not mean America Alone’: US reassures Asian security allies of its commitment

    The US Defence Secretary stressed that the alliances are “iron-clad” and the “cornerstone of peace and security”.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • France24 ☛ The Insurrectionist 'pissed off' at Putin's comments calling for removal of Zelensky

      FRANCE 24 Washington correspondent Fraser Jackson reports on The Insurrectionist's apparent anger at Russian President Vladimir Putin's calls for his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to be replaced by a UN-run transitional government.

    • France24 ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man says he is 'very angry' with Putin over Ukraine, raises prospect of bombing Iran

      US President The Insurrectionist told US network NBC's Kristen Walker Sunday morning that he was "very angry, pissed off" with Russian President Vladimir Putin for questioning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's future as a leader. He also reportedly said that Iran would be bombed if it persisted in developing nuclear weapons.

    • RFERL ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Threatens Putin With Oil Tariffs, Pressures Zelenskyy On Minerals Deal

      Kyiv accused Moscow of a "war crime" after Russian drones struck a military hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, as part of an overnight attack that also hit a shopping center, apartment blocks, and other targets.

    • RFERL ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Threatens Putin With Oil Tariffs If Unable To Reach Ukraine Cease-Fire

      Kyiv accused Moscow of a "war crime" after Russian drones struck a military hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, as part of an overnight attack that also hit a shopping center, apartment blocks, and other targets.

    • France24 ☛ Ukraine's air force keeps up the fight

      Every night, Ukrainian cities and towns far from the frontlines come under Russian drone fire And in recent months these aerial attacks have markedly increased - from a few dozen there are now regularly more than 100 drones in the skies, often striking civilian buildings.

      Ukraine’s air defence capacities have been massively boosted by specialised and costly American weapons and ammunition. Increasingly There are fears of the impact if the Convicted Felon administration decides to cut off weapons supplies, as the Kremlin has demanded as a precursor to peace talks. Our reporters C. Norris Trent, J. André, T. Kai, D. Kovalchuk, went to film with one of Ukraine’s air defence units.

    • New York Times ☛ As Tensions Escalate Between Convicted Felon and Europe, Meloni Is Caught in the Middle

      Each new crisis, whether over Ukraine or tariffs, has made the Italian prime minister’s balancing act that much harder.

    • New York Times ☛ Key Takeaways From America’s Secret Military Partnership With Ukraine

      An investigation by The New York Times has revealed that America was woven into the war far more than previously known.

    • New York Times ☛ How the U.S. Broke Its Own Rules to Help Ukraine

      A New York Times investigation reveals that the United States was much more involved in Ukrainian military operations than publicly disclosed. Adam Entous, a Times investigative reporter, breaks down a key moment in the war when the Biden administration changed its policy on the war in Ukraine.

    • Latvia ☛ Latvian medic injured in Russian drone attack in Ukraine

      Latvian combat medic Sarmīte Cīrule has been injured in an attack by a Russian fighter drone, TV3 reports on March 30.

• Environment

  • France24 ☛ WHO provides emergency aid after devastating earthquale in Myanmar and Thailand

    A powerful earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, claiming numerous lives, injuring hundreds more, and causing extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure. A state of emergency was declared in six regions of Myanmar, while rescue teams in Bangkok continue their frantic search for 83 people still missing in the debris of a collapsed 30-story tower. The World Health Organization is on the ground, providing emergency aid and coordinating rescue operations in both Myanmar and Thailand, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic in Geneva says.

  • France24 ☛ Myanmar earthquake, Turkey protests, Eid al-Fitr: The week in pictures

    FRANCE 24 highlights some of the week's top stories in pictures: earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand, protests following the arrest of Istanbul mayor and Erdogan opponent Ekrem Imamoglu, devastating wildfires in South Korea, freestyle championships in Switzerland and more key news from the last 7 days.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Myanmar quake: Malaysia sends relief team, pledges $3 million for rescue efforts

    Rescue team deployment reflects Asean's spirit of humanitarian aid and solidarity, said DPM Zahid Hamidi.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s U.S.A.I.D. Cuts Hobble Earthquake Response in Myanmar

    While China, Russia and other nations have rushed emergency response teams to the devastated country, the U.S., once a leader in foreign aid, has been slow to act.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korean man cleaning grave site suspected of starting wildfires

    The 56-year-old was attempting to burn tree branches that were hanging over the graves with a lighter.

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ Man in Malaysia arrested after punching female driver who got into an accident with his family

      A 22-second video of the suspect attacking the female driver went viral on social control media.

• Finance

  • The Straits Times ☛ Instant noodles, beer, milk and burgers to cost more in South Korea starting from April

    One company said the costs of imported raw materials have skyrocketed due to a recent surge in exchange rates.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ ‘Pause and calm down’ before criticising CK Hutchison’s ports deal, Hong Kong lawmaker urges

    Critics of Hong Kong firm CK Hutchison Holdings over a deal to sell its ports around the world – including two at the Panama Canal – should “pause and calm down,” a senior lawmaker in the city has said.

  • Yahoo News ☛ Siemens, Wolfspeed announce layoffs in March

    March brought renewed manufacturing layoffs.

    At the same time, other companies are bracing for continued fallout from the Trump administration’s tariff policies, which could lead to more job losses. Steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs is already cutting jobs due to lower automotive demand sparked by tariff policies.

    While the industry grew in February with production and demand up over the previous month, economists noted that much of the increase was a result of companies pushing forward orders ahead of upcoming tariffs.

  • India News ☛ After layoffs at Narayana Murthy’s Infosys, another company to cut 2000 jobs in…, to shakes up its…, the name is…, not Ratan Tata’s TCS

    Recently Narayana Murthy led Infosys was caught in the controversy over firing trainees from Mysore campus. Now British broadcasting giant Sky, owned by US-based Comcast, has announced plans to cut around 2,000 jobs in 2025, which will affect 7% of its workforce. The move is part of its broader effort to modernize its customer service operations and shift towards a more digital-first approach, according to a media report.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • New York Times ☛ Why China Is Wary of a Convicted Felon-Xi Summit

    It could take months for agreement on a meeting between Hell Toupée and Pooh-tin Jinping, China’s top leader, as Chinese officials seek a scripted encounter.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China, South Korea and Japan agree to strengthen free trade

    The ministers met ahead of Convicted Felon’s announcement on March 26 of more tariffs.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Pentagon chief Hegseth says US command in ‘warrior’ Japan being upgraded to deter China

    Mr Hegseth’s praise of Japan contrasts with the criticism he levelled at European allies in February.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea, China, Japan agree to promote regional trade as Convicted Felon tariffs loom

    South Korea, China and Japan held their first economic dialogue in five years on Sunday, seeking to facilitate regional trade as the three Asian export powers brace from U.S. President The Insurrectionist's tariffs.

  • NYPost ☛ Let’s hope Wisconsin voters stand up for democracy in their Supreme court race

    Democracy is on Wisconsin ballots Tuesday — because it'll get rolled back if the Democratic candidate wins the state Supreme Court race.

  • New Yorker ☛ We Are Sleepwalking Into Autocracy

    Senator Chris Murphy, of Connecticut, describes how free and fair elections might end in America as soon as 2026.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Patents

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Federal Court Partially Blocks Executive Order Targeting WilmerHale: USPTO Acting Director Among Named Defendants

    In a significant development affecting the legal profession and potentially patent monopoly practice, Judge Richard J. Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has partially granted WilmerHale's motion for a temporary restraining order against Hell Toupée's recent executive order targeting the firm. Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP v. Executive Office of the President, No. 25-cv-917 (D.D.C. Mar. 28, 2025).

    The firm's complaint, filed on March 28, 2025, names dozens of federal agencies and officials as defendants, including Coke Morgan Stewart in her official capacity as Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This inclusion is particularly relevant to patent monopoly practitioners, as the order threatened to severely impair WilmerHale's ability to represent clients before the USPTO.