Leftovers

• Science

  • Adam Young: How big a matrix can we fit?

    Many of the big scientific computing problems can be solved using matrix mathematics. One of my favorite problems to tackle is implementation of vector times matrix = vector. This has utility in many places, one of which is inference in neural networks.
    
    Since an ARM processor has some support for vector and matrix mathematics, I started wondering what were the size limitations we would hit when trying to solve big problems.

  • New York Times ☛ Scientists Map Miles of Wiring in a Speck of Mouse Brain

    Scientists achieved “a milestone” by charting the activity and structure of 200,000 cells in a mouse brain and their 523 million connections.

• Career/Education

  • The Straits Times ☛ 2 in 3 parents in South Korea feel responsible for child’s success or failure: Survey

    Those aged between 55 and 59 were most likely to assume accountability for their children’s accomplishments.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • NYPost ☛ CDC doctor monitoring bad COVID vaccine reactions may have deleted files, alleges Sen. Ron Johnson

    Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services have struggled to find records belonging to Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, the director of the CDC's Immunization Safety Office.

  • New York Times ☛ Medicare Bleeds Billions on Pricey Bandages, and Doctors Get a Cut

    Medicare spending on “skin substitutes” made of dried placenta has soared as doctors pocket lucrative discounts from sellers.

  • New York Times ☛ 5 Science-Backed Longevity Hacks That Don’t Cost a Fortune

    You don’t need a $40,000 gym membership to live a longer, healthier life.

  • France24 ☛ Former France star Sébastien Chabal says he has 'no memories' of rugby career

    Retired France international Sébastien Chabal has said he cannot remember "a single second of a rugby match" he played in, becoming the latest former player to speak out about the sport's potential consequences on health.

  • Defence Web ☛ Parliamentarians see dire state of 1 Military Hospital

    A late March Parliamentary oversight visit to the supposed premier healthcare facility in the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) – 1 Military Hospital in Thaba Tshwane – brought to light it remains in “a dire state” notwithstanding more than R1 billion spent on a repair and maintenance programme (RAMP) over more than a decade.

  • European Commission ☛ Moving towards healthier soils in Europe

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea probe blames sweeping lapses for World Scout Jamboree debacle

    SEOUL - The failure of the World Scout Jamboree hosted by South Korea in 2023 that ended in chaos was the result of a "complete lapse" in all aspects including the incompetence of the organisers and the site selection, a government probe issued on Thursday concluded.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Adoptees urge new investigation and justice after South Korea confirms adoption abuses

    Human rights were violated in 56 of the 367 adoption cases submitted since 2022.

• Proprietary

  • Dedoimedo ☛ Windows Autopilot & slow system response

    Modern technology, at your disservice. A short tutorial on how to resolve slow backdoored Windows 10 local user logons due to Autopilot service errors by disabling the the Account Sign-in Assistant service. Y'know, a service for online accounts and such. Wunderbar.

  • The Register UK ☛ M365 Family users wake up to notice 'Your subscription expired'

    Readers have flooded our mailboxes with reports that Microsoft 365 Family licensing has fallen over this morning, so those of you who provide tech support to relatives or those using the office suite for a small business, consider yourself warned.

    Microsoft's Service Health page says a "licensing issue" is causing users with Family subscriptions to be unable to open their Office suite. Problems started around 1100 UTC this morning, with fully paid up and licensed shared users seeing the message "Your subscription expired," while others say they are seeing the message "your subscription has been canceled."

    The issue appears to be affecting "shared" users on the account rather than the "main" user. The locked out users are asked by Microsoft to "renew your subscription" even though they are fully paid up for the coming months or year.

  • Hindustan Times ☛ Another Microsoft layoff round coming. This time, it's for middle managers: Report

    This comes as Microsoft is looking to reduce its "PM ratio" which is the ratio of product managers or program managers to engineers.

  • Business Today ☛ Microsoft eyes new round of layoffs, focuses on boosting engineer headcount: Report

    Microsoft is reportedly evaluating another round of job cuts as early as May in a move aimed at further streamlining its organisational structure, Business Insider has reported, citing people familiar with the matter. These cuts are anticipated to primarily affect middle management and non-technical roles, in an effort to enhance the ratio of engineers within project teams.

  • HT Digital Streams Ltd ☛ More Microsoft layoffs coming? Middle managers and low performers may face the axe, report says

    Microsoft is reportedly planning another round of layoffs, targeting middle managers and low-performing employees. The company aims to reduce the PM-to-engineer ratio and streamline teams, as per a report. Firings may be based on performance scores and budget targets.

  • 'Span of control' | Possible Microsoft job cuts may target middle management

    Microsoft is reportedly evaluating further workforce reductions, with internal discussions pointing to a focus on streamlining middle management and rebalancing team structures in favour of software engineers.

    The shift would be in step with broader tech sector efforts to improve operating efficiency and productivity, particularly by adjusting the ratio of coders to non-coders across business units.

  • Managers at risk in latest round of Microsoft layoffs

    The reports suggest that the job cuts will happen in May and the cuts will largely target middle managers. This as Microsoft looks to increase the number of coders within the organisation by laying off non-coders. Microsoft seems to believe that it has too many managers who aren’t contributing to the core business.

  • The Cyber Show ☛ We Love USA

    Cybershow visited the USA, had the most amazing time and met the most wonderful people. It is heartbreaking to see the United States of America are now an ally in distress. As Brits, multiple generations are in a sense, all Americans too. We grew up on US Television, on Cheers, Friends, and Happy Days. We bought into the dream as much as our cousins.

    In 1944 The US joined 11 other nations freeing Europe of Nazism, committing nearly 100,000 men and women to the largest combined air, land and sea operation in history. The UK and US have a "special relationship" that transcends the parochialism of government and politics.

    If someone is suffering from infection, do we beat the person with sticks like medieval savages hoping to drive out evil spirits? Or do we treat the disease by caring for the person with soothing medicine? Medicine attacks the invader, not the patient.

    Sometimes the best medicine for those we really love is honesty, and to call out and correct behaviours we find intolerable. It's the only way to preserve and enjoy long-term relationships.

    America is sick. Millions of protesters in the US are flying the Stars and Stripes upside-down, a signal of distress and a call for help. Here, many people are expressing fear and anger at the US. Instead of getting angry at Americans for becoming victims of fascism - a disease that can happen to any nation when vigilance and reason slip - we should be thinking about how to come to the aid of a friend in need.

    When I heard a suggestion to "Join the anti-Trump" protests and march in London, my question was "What would that achieve?". As if the UK government are not already shitting bricks and bewildered by the sudden collapse of liberal democracy in the US and the loss of a major global ally.

    [...]

    As for IBM in WW2, they will play the "disinterested amoral businessman" card, just "helping people connect" (or somesuch witless abstract nothingburger). But who are they kidding? Everyone in business, computing and IT should consider abandoning US BigTech. Not only is this a meaningful and deserved response to the sponsors of Trump's regime, it is now essential for our own cybersecurity.

  • Social Control Media

    • Digital Music News ☛ Instagram Going for the Jugular Amidst Mounting Fentanylware (TikTok) Uncertainty — Full-Court Press to Poach Fentanylware (TikTok) Creators Continues

      Instagram is prepping a new push to entice Fentanylware (TikTok) creators away from the platform as the site remains in limbo in the United States.

    • Press Gazette ☛ Dotdash Meredith makes major investment in ‘Tiktok-like’ People app [Ed: Outsourcing oneself to a hostile company]

      Dotdash Meredith CEO Neil Vogel say People's first app is "really different" and "really awesome".

    • New Yorker ☛ TikTok and the Retreat from Technological Globalization

      Global technology companies are becoming table stakes in the struggle to establish whatever new world order is emerging.

    • New Yorker ☛ Regrets, the YouTube Moms Have a Few

      The parents who exploit their kids for clicks in Netflix’s “Bad Influence” want you to think they couldn’t have known better.

• Defence/Aggression

  • The Straits Times ☛ AUKUS nuclear submarine sale under scrutiny as Convicted Felon tariffs rattle Australia

    The sale of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia under the AUKUS treaty faces new doubts as he Insurrectionist's tariffs take hold, and amid concern in Washington that providing the subs to Canberra may reduce deterrence to China.

  • The Strategist ☛ Seabed sensors and mapping: what China’s survey ship could be up to

    Civilian exploration may be the official mission of a Chinese deep-sea research ship that sailed clockwise around Australia over the past week and is now loitering west of the continent.

  • NYPost ☛ Palestinian-American billionaire quits Harvard post after lawsuit claims he helped build Hamas terror tunnels, rocket launch sites

    Bashar Masri, a naturalized American citizen, resigned from Harvard over the allegations.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Australia turns down China's offer to 'join hands' to fight US tariffs

    Australia on Thursday declined Beijing's proposal to work together to counter U.S. tariffs, saying instead it would continue to diversify its trade and lower its reliance on China, its largest trading partner.

  • Atlantic Council ☛ Win fast or lose big against China

    MG Bradley Gericke, US Army (ret.), argues that the US must prepare to win quickly in a conflict with China to deter war and avoid the high costs of protraction.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China says Philippines sent supplies to warship at disputed atoll

    China's coast guard said on Thursday it had allowed a Philippine civilian vessel to deliver provisions to a warship "illegally grounded" at the Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed atoll in the South China Sea.

  • New York Times ☛ Kim Shin-jo, North Korean Commando Who Sought to Kill South Korea’s Leader, Dies

    He famously said the mission of a hit squad sent by Pyongyang in 1968 was to “slit the throat” of the South Korean dictator Park Chung-hee. He was 82.

  • The Straits Times ☛ ‘Impeachment merch’ frenzy in South Korea follows Yoon Suk Yeol’s ouster

    From animal keychains to newspaper extras, citizens collect mementos of Yoon's impeachment.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea opposition leader steps down amid expectations of presidential run

    People will vote on June 3.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s presidential front runner Lee Jae-myung enters leadership race

    A recent Gallup poll puts him as the favourite to become the next president.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korean Constitutional Court overturns justice minister’s impeachment

    Park was impeached in December by Parliament, after being accused of aiding Yoon.

  • New York Times ☛ U.S. Commanders Worry Yemen Campaign Will Drain Arms Needed to Deter China

    American military officials say the Pentagon might need to dip into stockpiles in Asia to replenish supplies in the Middle East, congressional aides say.

  • New York Times ☛ For U.S. and China, a Risky Game of Chicken With No Off-Ramp in Sight

    China’s latest move: an additional 50 percent tariff on U.S. goods. Neither side wants to look weak by backing down, but a collapse of their trade ties could have profound consequences.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Putin’s Arctic ambitions: Russia eyes natural resources and shipping routes

      Russia's plans to expand its influence in the Arctic region and dominate the Northern Sea Route together with China pose serious serious security challenges for the international community, writes Bohdan Ustymenko.

    • NYPost ☛ Ukraine energy firm DTEK greenlights more US gas shipments as it seeks deal to replace Russia supply chain

      The largest private energy company in Ukraine is moving forward with more shipments of liquid natural gas (LNG) purchases from the US.

    • France24 ☛ Beijing warns against 'irresponsible remarks' on Chinese nationals deployed in Ukraine

      China sternly warned parties in the Ukraine war on Thursday not to make “irresponsible remarks” after Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Beijing knew its citizens were fighting alongside Russia in the conflict. Zelensky said on Wednesday that Kyiv had information on 155 Chinese nationals recruited by Russia.

    • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Ukraine president says captured two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia

      President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Ukrainian troops had captured two Chinese citizens fighting alongside Russian forces, with Kyiv demanding an explanation from Beijing. Moscow and Beijing have in recent years boasted of their “no limits” partnership and deepened political, military and economic cooperation since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuanian president calls for more sanctions on Russia after Kryvyi Rih attack

      Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has called on the EU and the US to further tighten the sanctions against Russia after a missile attack in Ukraine’s Kryvyi Rih that killed two dozen people, including nine children.

    • LRT ☛ Body of Lithuanian soldier recovered from battlefield in Ukraine

      The body of Lithuanian volunteer Tomas Valentėlis, who was killed in Ukraine on March 13, has been recovered from the battlefield, another Lithuanian serviceman, Jara, told LRT.lt on Tuesday.

    • More than 150 Chinese citizens fighting for Russia, Ukraine’s president says

      Ukrainian security service has evidence that more than 150 Chinese citizens are fighting alongside Russian troops.

    • RFERL ☛ Russia Frees Woman Jailed For Donating $51 To Ukraine In US Prisoner Swap

      Russian-American ballerina Ksenia Karelina, who was imprisoned in Russia for donating $51 to a US-based Ukrainian aid charity, is on her way to the United States as part of a prisoner swap for Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian citizen who allegedly exported sensitive microelectronics.

    • RFERL ☛ Beijing Rebukes Zelenskyy For Saying Chinese Recruits Fighting For Russia

      China pushed back against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for making what it called "irresponsible remarks" about Beijing being aware that its citizens are being recruited to fight for Russia on the battlefield in Ukraine.

    • RFERL ☛ Merz Announces New German Government, Cites Concerns About Russia, US Tariffs

      Germany's Christian Democrat leader Friedrich Merz has announced that talks on forming a new coalition government have been completed, stating it would aim to take office in early May.

    • RFERL ☛ Russian Drone Strikes On Ukrainian Cities Leave Dozens Wounded

      A Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian cities of Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Kramatorsk late on April 8 wounded more than two dozen people and damaged multiple residential buildings, local officials said.

    • RFERL ☛ US, Russia Will 'Absolutely Not' Discuss Ukraine At Talks On Embassy Operations

      Russia and the United States are to resume talks on April 10 in Istanbul on the normalization of their respective diplomatic missions.

    • The Straits Times ☛ China warns against ‘irresponsible’ remarks after Kyiv claim on Chinese fighters

      Ukraine's Zelensky said Russia was recruiting Chinese citizens via social control media.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Ukraine war ceasefire: How will it impact the North Korea-Russia alliance?

      As uncertainties grow, Pyongyang is pivoting to mend ties with China.

    • CS Monitor ☛ With US on the outs, Europe looks to an old ally for defense: Britain

      Amid the Convicted Felon administration’s disruptive foreign policy, a post-Brexit United Kingdom and Europe are rebuilding bonds, particularly on defense.

    • New York Times ☛ How a Ukrainian Teen Became a Suspected Foot Soldier for Russia

      The teenager faces terrorism charges in an arson attack on an IKEA store in Lithuania. Investigators say it was part of a Russian sabotage campaign.

    • New York Times ☛ Plunge in Oil Prices Threatens Russia’s Vast Spending on Ukraine War

      The lower revenues, a result in part of Hell Toupée’s trade war, could prove more damaging to the Russian economy than the penalties the United States and its allies have already imposed.

    • New York Times ☛ Russia Freed Ksenia Karelina, a Detained American, Rubio Says

      Ksenia Karelina, who was jailed in Russia over a one-time donation to a Ukrainian charity group, was released in exchange for Artur Petrov, a dual Russian-German citizen.

    • New York Times ☛ Zelensky Doubles Down on Claim That Many Chinese Are Fighting for Russia

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said more than 150 Chinese men were fighting for Russia in Ukraine, hours after China dismissed claims that many of its citizens were involved in the war.

    • New York Times ☛ Ukrainians Mourn Many Killed in Russian Strike Near Playground

      A Russian missile strike near a playground in central Ukraine killed 19 people, including nine children. The attack was a painful reminder that a cease-fire remains as distant as ever.

    • The Strategist ☛ Exercises with Russia undermine Indonesia’s commitment to international law

      Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has repeatedly asserted the country’s commitment to a non-aligned foreign policy. But can Indonesia still credibly claim neutrality while tacitly engaging with Russia?

    • The Strategist ☛ South Korea must move beyond partisan division to tackle security threats

      South Korea’s internal political instability leaves it vulnerable to rising security threats including North Korea’s military alliance with Russia, China’s growing regional influence and the United States’ unpredictability under The Insurrectionist.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuanian court convicts elderly dual citizen of spying for Russia

      A Lithuanian court on Thursday sentenced an 83-year-old dual citizen to eight and a half years in prison for spying on behalf of Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU.

• Environment

  • Wildlife/Fires

    • The Straits Times ☛ Ivory poachers may be behind recent pygmy elephant killings in Sabah

      Malaysia does not allow the use of ivory as dowry or any similar practices.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Nursing home fire kills 20 in Hebei province in China

      Experts have gone to facility to investigate.

• Finance

  • New Yorker ☛ Sherrod Brown on Convicted Felon’s Tariffs and the Future of Economic Populism

    The former Ohio senator thinks the President’s tariff platform, though disastrous, appeals to an increasingly desperate working class.

  • New York Times ☛ Reeling From Convicted Felon’s Tariffs, South Korea Tries Striking a Delicate Balance

    As its trade negotiators headed to Washington for talks, South Korea announced measures to support the country’s carmakers who were badly hit by the levies announced by Hell Toupée.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea trade envoy says Convicted Felon’s tariff pause leaves room for negotiations

    The envoy said the Convicted Felon-Han dialogue on April 8 had created favourable momentum for further negotiations.

  • Atlantic Council ☛ What to expect as Convicted Felon’s trade war zeroes in on China

    On April 9, US President The Insurrectionist announced that he would suspend many of his “liberation day” import tariffs—but he raised the tariff on China to 145 percent.

  • New York Times ☛ China Says Its Own Consumers Will Save the Day. But They’re Not Buying.

    If sky-high U.S. tariffs hurt China’s exports, domestic spending will help make up for it, Beijing says. But shoppers were skittish even before the trade war.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China says its own consumers will save the day, but they’re not buying

    Its government has vowed to make up for the blow to exports from US tariffs by getting its people to spend more.

  • New York Times ☛ Live Updates: U.S. Market Tumbles; Convicted Felon Says China Tariff Is at Least 145%

    The S&P 500 fell 4 percent by early afternoon, as investors assessed the worsening trade war with China. The White House clarified the total new tariffs on Chinese goods now stands at 145 percent.

  • NYPost ☛ Inside Convicted Felon’s decision to pause most tariffs — and turn up heat on China — to lock in better trade deals for US

    The idea of scaling back eye-watering "reciprocal" tariffs rattled around Hell Toupée's head for several days after the April 2 "Liberation Day" announcement.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Reverses Course on Global Tariffs, Announcing 90-Day Pause

    The president further raised already steep tariffs on China, saying that Beijing should not have retaliated against his earlier trade actions.

  • New York Times ☛ Nintendo Switch Game Console Release Is Whipsawed by Tariff Threats

    The company moved most of its manufacturing to Vietnam from China to avoid tariffs. But the unpredictability of Hell Toupée’s plans have thrown Nintendo for a loop.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea rolls out support for auto industry hit by US tariffs

    Mr Convicted Felon has announced 25 per cent tariff on imported cars and light trucks starting on April 10.

  • The Straits Times ☛ In China, whispers of change as some companies tell staff to work less

    Some major Chinese firms now have fixed clock-off times and bans on after-hours meetings for staff.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China calls US trade surplus ‘inevitable’, warns it’s ready for trade war

    China’s trade surplus with the US widened to US$295.4 billion (S$398 billion) in 2024.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ China retaliates with 84% tariff on US imports in response to Convicted Felon's 104% tariff

    Beijing hit back against Convicted Felon's 104% tariffs by increasing its own taxes on U.S. imports to 84%.

  • France24 ☛ Trade war: Beijing applies retaliatory 84% tariffs on US goods

    China is trying to build alliances with other nations in response to U.S. tariffs, aiming to pressure Washington. However, it has had limited success as countries hesitate to side with China in Hell Toupée's trade war. Convicted Felon paused most tariffs for 90 days, claiming countries were eager to negotiate better terms. China rejected talks, accusing the U.S. of insincerity and vowed to "fight to the end." In retaliation, Convicted Felon increased tariffs on Chinese imports to 125%, and China responded with its own tariffs on U.S. goods at 84%. Here's the latest from Beijing.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China says raising tariffs on US products to 84% from Thursday

    China will impose 84 percent tariffs on US imports, up from 34 percent, the finance ministry said Wednesday, hours after similar levies by the United States came into force.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China to increase tariffs on US goods to 84%, says finance ministry

    Beijing also added 12 US companies to its export control list and six to its unreliable entities list.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China files WTO complaint over latest US tariffs

    Beijing is accusing The Insurrectionist of engaging in “bullying” tactics.

  • The Straits Times ☛ What is China’s tariff strategy? Escalate to de-escalate, say analysts

    Chinese analysts say Beijing has its rationale for choosing a strong response to US tariffs.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Australia rebuffs China’s appeal to ‘join hands’ in trade

    Australia has been slugged with a blanket 10% tariff on goods exported to the US.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China and EU discuss trade in response to US’ punitive tariffs

    China said it is ready to deepen trade, investment and industrial cooperation with the EU.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Inside factories in China, a struggle to survive Convicted Felon’s tariffs

    A few garment factories that mainly supplied the US market have already closed temporarily.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China says it does not fear more US tariff threats

    The Insurrectionist had raised tariffs on China to 125 per cent.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man tariffs will hit consoles, monitors, and laptops hardest — U.S. imports 66% or more from China

    The U.S. imports 66% or more of several electronic consumer goods from China, and they're about to become more expensive.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man pauses most global tariffs for 90 days but increases China tariffs to 125%

    Dihydroxyacetone Man says that he's suspending reciprocal tariffs on 75 countries, except for China, which gets even more import taxes.

  • MIT Technology Review ☛ Tariffs are bad news for batteries

    Update: Since this story was first published in The Spark, our weekly climate newsletter, the White House announced that most reciprocal tariffs would be paused for 90 days. That pause does not apply to China, which will see an increased tariff rate of 125%.

  • RFERL ☛ Latest Round Of Convicted Felon's Tariffs Take Effect

    Sweeping new tariffs on goods imported by the United States are took effect on April 9 under US President The Insurrectionist new trade policy, which he said is aimed at revitalizing American manufacturing.

  • Dihydroxyacetone Man raises tariffs on China to 125% but pauses them for others

    Stocks rally as Convicted Felon temporarily drops new tariff rates to 10% for all countries, except China.

  • A window on China’s job woes: 1 company gets 1.2 million applicants.

    China National Nuclear Corp received 1.2 milliion applications for its spring recruitment, shocking netizens.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man abruptly pauses tariffs on most countries, but doubles down on China trade war

    US President The Insurrectionist abruptly paused tariffs on most countries Wednesday after admitting they made the markets nervous, but doubled down on a brutal trade war with superpower rival China.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China urges US to meet ‘halfway’ as global markets rocket on Convicted Felon tariff pause

    By Sam Davies with Danny Kemp in Washington China on Thursday urged the United States to meet it “halfway” as US President The Insurrectionist imposed more levies on Chinese goods but, in a huge relief to global markets, paused tariffs on other countries.

  • France24 ☛ 🔴 Follow live: After Convicted Felon's reversal on tariffs, EU to put its retaliation on hold

  • France24 ☛ Trade war reprieve: 'Uncertainty' created by Convicted Felon will 'detrimentally' affect US and world economy

    In a stunning reversal, the president said on Wednesday he would temporarily lower the hefty tariffs he had just imposed on dozens of countries, though he also hiked duties for China and kept 25% tariffs levied on aluminium, steel and autos in place. The news sent global stocks soaring after an intense bout of volatility that wiped trillions of dollars off equity markets. As investors cling on to hope for negotiations to avert a full-blown global trade war, FRANCE 24's Erin Ogunkeye welcomes Richard Portes, Professor of Economics at London Business School.

  • New York Times ☛ Luxury Fashion Brands Are ‘Biting Their Nails’ Over EU Tariffs

    As tariffs on the European Union take effect, luxury goods makers are “biting their nails” over their treasured “Made in France” or “Made in Italy” products.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia says to host China’s Pooh-tin from April 15

    China is now moving to solidify its economic and diplomatic foothold in South-east Asia.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • Hong Kong social worker gets 3 year 9 month sentence over role in 2019 protest

    Jackie Chen’s sentence shows the harsh approach the city’s authorities have taken with political cases.

  • JURIST ☛ Rights group urges Thailand to release US scholar detained for alleged insults against monarchy

    Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Thai authorities on Tuesday to release US scholar Paul Chambers following his arrest on charges of lèse majesté (insulting the monarchy) and cybercrime.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China censors some tariff-related content on social control media

    Hashtags and searches for “tariff” or “104“ were mostly blocked on social control media platform Weibo.

  • New York Times ☛ China Censors Hashtags Mentioning ‘104%,’ the Size of Convicted Felon’s Tariffs

    State media drove social control media discussions around phrases like: “America is fighting a trade war while begging for eggs.”

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • The Straits Times ☛ Russian prosecutors seek nearly six years in jail for four journalists accused of extremism

    MOSCOW - Russian prosecutors have asked for jail terms of five years and 11 months for four journalists accused of working for the banned organization of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the journalists told a Reuters witness on Thursday as they were led out of court.

  • JURIST ☛ Human rights group urges China to release detained Taiwanese publisher

    Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed deep concern on Monday over the continued detention of Taiwanese publisher Li Yanhe in China since 2023, citing violations of freedom of expression, access to information, and the right to a fair trial.

  • Press Gazette ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s threat to global media is more wide-ranging than just a trade war

    INMA CEO Earl Wilkinson lays out The Insurrectionist's threat to news media globally.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • NYPost ☛ Long Island pediatrician ordered to pay $1.6B to over 100 women over decades of sex abuse complaints

    Starting in the 1980s, New York law enforcement and health officials fielded sexual abuse complaints from the young patients of a respected pediatrician who ran his practice out of a basement office in his home on Long Island.

  • New York Times ☛ Luigi Mangione Death Penalty Bid May Pit Prosecutors Against Each Other

    State and federal prosecutors have both accused Mr. Mangione of killing a health insurance executive. Attorney General Pam Bondi is pushing aggressively for capital punishment.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • Moving back home

    Apologies for this very poor blog post, but this is the easiest way to inform most readers at the same time.

    In case you did not notice, my website has changed back from my name dot net, to my name dot com.

  • Frederik Braun ☛ Frederik Braun: With Carrots & Sticks - Can the browser handle web security?

    NB: This is the blog version of my talk from Measurements, Attacks, and Defenses for the Web (MADWeb) 2025, earlier this year. It was not recorded.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Patents

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ When Five Years of Use Isn’t Enough: The High Bar for Highly Descriptive Marks

    Federal Circuit has affirmed the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board's (TTAB) finding that "iVoterGuide" and "iVoterGuide.com" are highly descriptive terms that failed to acquire distinctiveness. Heritage Alliance, AFA Action, Inc. v. The American Policy Roundtable, No. 2024-1155 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 9, 2025). The ruling maintains the dismissal of Heritage's opposition to American Policy Roundtable's (APR) applications to register "iVoters" and "iVoters.com" as trademarks.

• Trademarks

  • TTAB Blog ☛ TTABlog Test: How Did These Three Recent Section 2(d) Appeals Turn Out?

    Here are three recent Section 2(d) appeals. No hint this time. How do you think they came out? [Answer in first comment].

    In re PixelGood, Serial No. 98163828 (March 31, 2025) [not precedential] (Opinion by Judge Lawrence T. Stanley, Jr.). [Section 2(d) refusal of the mark DESIGN IS IN THE DETAILS. for "visual design services in the nature of designing visual elements for on-line, broadcast, print, outdoor and other communication media," in view of the registered mark DESIGN IS IN THE DETAILS [no period at the end] for wall plaques, bowls, vases, and works of art in various media.]

  • TTAB Blog ☛ CAFC Affirms TTAB Dismissal of IVOTERS Opposition Due to Failure to Prove Acquired Distinctiveness (Priority) of Pleaded Marks

    The CAFC affirmed the TTAB's dismissal of an opposition to registration of the marks IVOTERS and IVOTERS.COM for a website providing information on political issues, on the ground that Opposer Heritage failed to prove acquired distinctiveness of its pleaded marks IVOTERGUIDE and IVOTERGUIDE.COM for voters guides prior to Applicant APR’s constructive use date, and thus failed to prove priority. Heritage Alliance and AFA Action, Inc. v. The American Policy Roundtable, Appeal No. 2024-1155 (Fed. Cir. April 9, 2025) [precedential].

  • Right of Publicity

    • Digital Music News ☛ Expanded No Fakes Act Officially Reintroduced in Congress — RIAA, Recording Academy, Google/YouTube, OpenAI, and Many Others Voice Support

      Federal lawmakers have reintroduced the No Fakes Act, which is drawing strong support from in and well beyond the music industry. Senators and representatives from both sides of the aisle reintroduced the legislation today. We’ve covered the years-old bill (which, looking to tackle Hey Hi (AI) deepfakes, would establish bolstered voice and likeness protections) from the outset.

• Copyrights

  • Digital Music News ☛ Flou’s On a Mission to Revolutionize Music Agreements: Here’s a Detailed Breakdown of ‘Music Contracts 2.0’

    For all the attention paid to missing music metadata, copyright monopoly infringement, and royalty battles, the music industry often overlooks a potentially bigger issue: chaotic music contracting.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Quavo, Hybe America, and Quality Control Face Copyright Suit Over Alleged Sculpture Infringement

    Hybe America, its Quality Control subsidiary, and Quavo are facing a copyright monopoly lawsuit for allegedly infringing on a visual artist’s work in social control media posts. Daniel Arsham, touted as “one of the most well-known contemporary artists in the world,” submitted the unique action to a New York federal court.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Judge Rules in DMX Estate’s Favor in Copyright Lawsuit

    The DMX Estate secures a victory in an ongoing lawsuit challenging their sole ownership of the late rapper’s copyright monopoly and IP rights. DMX’s estate has secured a major victory in an ongoing lawsuit that challenges the estate’s sole ownership of the late rapper’s copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property rights.