Leftovers

• Science

  • New York Times ☛ California’s $23 Billion Plan to Restore Federal Cuts to Scientific Research

    Democrats are calling for the creation of a state equivalent of the National Institutes of Health, but first state lawmakers and then voters would need to approve it.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Greenpeace finds a third of Hong Kong heat shelters not air-conditioned, urges gov’t to set minimum standards

    Greenpeace in Hong Kong has urged the city’s authorities to set minimum standards for its heat shelters after the NGO found that a third of the shelters it visited were not equipped with air conditioners.

• Security

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Trustworthy digital identities can set the standards for secure benefits provision in the US

      The proliferation of online services necessitates verifiable digital IDs globally. While they can improve convenience and reduce fraud in benefits provision, they raise privacy concerns and surveillance risks. This paper examines US digital identity challenges, analyzes EU and Japan implementations, and provides policy recommendations for responsible digital ID development in the US.

    • The Straits Times ☛ China pilots village surveillance in Solomon Islands, seeks stability

      The move has stirred human rights concerns.

    • ACLU ☛ “Surveillance Pricing” Hurts Consumers, Incentivizes More Corporate Spying on Them

      Imagine this: a family member has died, and attending their funeral is very important to you. Somehow — you don’t know how — the airlines know this about you, so when you go to buy a ticket they jack up their prices, forcing you to pay more for the same flight than other people.

      This is an example of what’s being called “surveillance pricing” — basically, using data and knowledge about consumers to treat us differently from other customers and squeeze more money out of us. A lot of people are talking and worrying about this right now — and given the enormous amount of unethical spying on consumers that is taking place today, there is good reason to worry. If these strategies are allowed to succeed, it’s likely that companies will adopt them not just in aviation but across a variety of markets, from telecommunications to grocery stores.

• Defence/Aggression

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • Meduza ☛ Crossing denied Over 1,500 vehicles get stuck in Belarus after Polish border closure catches residents and travelers off guard — Meduza

    • RFERL ☛ 'People Are Simply Being Destroyed': Freed Belarusian Prisoners Describe Brutal Conditions

      A total of 52 people were freed and ordered to leave Belarus on September 11, shortly after a top US envoy met personally with longtime strongman leader Aleksandr Lukashenko in Minsk.

    • JURIST ☛ Belarus frees 8 more journalists as US eases sanctions on state airline

      The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) celebrated on Thursday the release of at least eight Belarusian journalists, part of a group of 52 political prisoners freed as the US eased sanctions on Belarus’ state airline Belavia.

    • The Strategist ☛ Stop the World: Exiled Belarusian democracy leader urges Convicted Felon to help free political prisoners, pressure dictator Lukashenko

    • Latvia ☛ Large amount of cash found with Belarus-Latvia border crosser

      On 10 September this year, the Customs Administration of the State Revenue Service (VID) prevented an attempt by a border crosser from Belarus to undeclaredly import cash amounting to EUR 44,115 at the customs checkpoint in Pāternieki, the VID said.

    • LRT ☛ US lifting sanctions on Belavia is a test for EU sanctions policy – Lithuanian FM

      The United States’ decision to lift sanctions on Belarus’s state airline Belavia will be a major test of the backbone of the European Union’s sanctions policy, Lithuania’s foreign minister-designate Kęstutis Budrys has said.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuania could shut Belarus border immediately in case of provocation – minister

      Lithuania will keep its remaining border crossings with Belarus open for now to avoid creating difficulties for EU citizens in the country, but the State Border Guard chief has authority to shut them immediately in the event of a provocation, incoming Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovič told LRT radio on Friday.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuania to remain firm on Belarusian fertilizer sanctions – PM-designate

      Vilnius will maintain a firm stance on sanctions against Belarus, including restrictions on the transit of Belarusian potash fertilizers, despite possible international pressure, Prime Minister-designate Inga Ruginienė has said.

    • LRT ☛ Tsikhanouskaya: release of prisoners is not real freedom, it is also forced deportation

      The release of more than 50 prisoners from Belarus, including several Western citizens, does not represent real freedom but amounts to forced deportation, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has said.

    • Meduza ☛ Prince Harry goes to Kyiv for the first time in surprise visit — Meduza

    • New York Times ☛ Prince Harry Meets War Veterans in Surprise Visit to Ukraine

      The prince arrived in Kyiv on his second trip to the country this year. The visit comes after his charity supporting wounded soldiers said it would expand post-conflict rehabilitation.

    • Meduza ☛ Zapad-2025 Russia and Belarus begin military exercises near NATO borders, including simulated nuclear strike planning — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Russian Central Bank lowers interest rate to 17 percent in third consecutive cut — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Russia’s former deputy defense minister charged with accepting $15.5 million in bribes from major contractor — Meduza

    • France24 ☛ NATO bulks up defence on eastern flank after Russian drone incursion in Poland

      NATO launched a new defence mission on Friday to reinforce Europe’s eastern flank with equipment from France, Denmark, Germany and the UK, following Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace earlier this week. Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the new mission was a response to the “reckless and unacceptable” breach of allied territory.

    • New York Times ☛ 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Russia’s Far East

      The quake briefly triggered tsunami alerts at nearby coastlines, less than two months after a larger earthquake sent tsunami waves across the Pacific.

    • New York Times ☛ NATO Steps Up Defenses After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace

      Increased air patrols, air defense systems and other protections will be mobilized over Eastern Europe.

    • LRT ☛ Longer truck queues expected in Lithuania after Poland shuts Belarus border

      Traffic at Lithuania’s border with Belarus is expected to rise after Poland fully closed its border with Belarus ahead of the active phase of the Zapad 2025 Russia-Belarus military exercise, which begins on Friday, the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service (SBGS) has said.

    • France24 ☛ Drone incursions in Poland: 'A provocation and a test from Russia'

      Russia's firing of drones over Poland is "absolutely unacceptable", the French foreign minister said Friday, adding that the Russian ambassador would be summoned over the incident in the latest stern rebuke from European and NATO allies. Wednesday’s multiple Russian drone strike on Polish soil rattled Europe’s leaders who saw it as a deliberate provocation, but the incident was also likely a test of NATO's defences, says France 24's SHirli Sitbon.

    • France24 ☛ NATO launches 'Eastern Sentry' defence mission after Russian drone incursion in Poland

      NATO launched a new defense mission on Friday to reinforce Europe’s eastern flank, following Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace earlier this week. Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the new mission was a response to the “reckless and unacceptable” breach of allied territory.

    • RFERL ☛ Allies Rally To Poland's Defense After Russian Drones Violate Airspace

      France and Germany said they were helping to strengthen NATO ally Poland’s air defense after at least 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace on September 10, severely raising tensions between the Western military alliance and Moscow.

    • RFERL ☛ NATO Launches 'Eastern Sentry' To Bolster Defenses Near Russia

      The NATO military alliance, led by Europe, said it was bolstering its defenses on its eastern flank following a tension-raising Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace.

    • Latvia ☛ 'Zapad' exercises start in Russia and Belarus, provocations possible

      The military exercises "Zapad 2025" have begun today involving aggressor states Russia and Belarus, both of which border Latvia.

    • Meduza ☛ ‘Everything they earn by killing, they throw away on prostitutes’: How Russian soldiers returning from Ukraine are reshaping St. Petersburg’s sex trade — Meduza

    • New York Times ☛ Supporters of Ukraine Anti-Corruption Investigator Call His Jailing Absurd

      The case of a detective who activists say was investigating close associates of President Volodymyr Zelensky is seen as a bellwether.

    • CS Monitor ☛ Moscow ignores war in Ukraine to celebrate summer

      While Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities are facing Russian drone and missile attacks, it’s been a festive summer in Moscow, where war feels far away.

    • New Yorker ☛ Pause at One Hundred Miles per Hour

      Can liminal-space therapy be a thing? I think many Ukrainians need that.

    • RFERL ☛ Compromise Reached As EU Approves Blacklist Rollover For 6 Months

      The European Union has agreed to prolong visa bans and asset freezes on the over 2,600 people and entities the bloc deems are responsible for the undermining of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

    • European Commission ☛ EU releases €40 million to shield Ukraine's civilians from the winter cold

      The European Commission is allocating an extra €40 million in humanitarian funding to help Ukrainians endure a fourth winter of Russia's war of aggression.

    • Defence Web ☛ What next for Mali as Wagner fails to defeat insurgents?

      Last month The Sentry, a United States (US) organisation that exposes ‘multinational predatory networks that benefit from violent conflict, repression, and kleptocracy’, issued a report asserting that Wagner had failed in Mali. The report’s conclusions made waves in Africa and beyond – especially Europe.

    • New York Times ☛ Opposition to Putin Pulls Up European Leaders Dragged Down at Home

      The foreign policy successes of Keir Starmer of Britain, Emmanuel Macron of France and Friedrich Merz of Germany are in contrast with their dismal domestic performances.

    • France24 ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man says patience with Putin 'running out fast' over Ukraine war

      US President The Insurrectionist warned Friday that his patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine is “running out fast”. The US would come down "very, very strong" on Russia with sanctions on banks and oil a possibility, Convicted Felon added.

    • France24 ☛ Putin’s French soldiers: A lot of noise over a handful of fighters

      Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed in April that there were French soldiers fighting for Russia on the Ukrainian frontlines in a unit dubbed "Normandie-Niemen". Our investigation showed these fighters are, in fact, just a handful of individuals whose presence is amplified by pro-Russian propaganda in a war that is as much about images as it is about words.

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ South Korean airport workers to strike from Sept 19 to Oct 9, sparking concerns for travellers

      Workers are demanding a rotating schedule divided into four teams for more rest after night shifts.

• Finance

  • Rlang ☛ How much can Hell Toupée’s Tariffs Impact Canadian Households?

  • Mauricio “Pachá” Vargas S ☛ How much can President Trump’s Tariffs Impact Canadian Households? – pacha.dev/blog

    Now I can use the Tidyverse for efficient filtering and analysis of my data: [...]

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • Marcy Wheeler ☛ Investigate POTUS’ Health Cover-Up

    Has Convicted Felon had one or more major neurological events which could affect his ability to fulfill his duties as president? When is Congress going to investigate this immediate concern?

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Patents

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Forgetting the Evidence: How Sherman Lost on Obviousness Before and After LKQ

    Dynamite Marketing, Inc. v. The WowLine, Inc., 2024-1523, 2024-1525 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 12, 2025) (non-precedential)

    This case involves design patent monopoly infringement claims over the "Wallet Ninja," a credit-card-sized multi-tool covered by U.S. Patent No. D751,877.   Patentee Dynamite Marketing sued Sherman Specialty (d/b/a The WowLine, Inc.).  The case was complicated by inventorship disputes involving LaErik Cooper, a mechanical engineer who assisted in developing the design but was not named as an inventor on the patent. A jury ultimately found that Cooper was not entitled to co-inventor status, that Sherman willfully infringed the valid patent monopoly through its competing "TOL4" product line, and awarded Dynamite $1,850,000 in lost profits damages. The district court then awarded $1.54 million in attorney fees, bringing the total judgment to over $3.5 million.

  • JUVE ☛ ToolGen and BarentsKrans step up CRISPR battle against Vertex [Ed: EPO grants patents on life]

    The lawsuit alleges that Lonza’s production of Vertex’s Casgevy at its Dutch facility infringes ToolGen’s EP 4 357 457 patent monopoly covering CRISPR-Cas9 RNP technology. EP 457 is a divisional patent monopoly of EP 4 397 759. Vertex, for whom Lonza manufactures the drug, had apparently anticipated this move.

  • Kangaroo Courts

    • Strategic missteps and legal lessons: how Alexion’s eculizumab patent fared in the UK and UPC [Ed: Illegal patent court, which needs to be abolished ASAP or EU will look little better than Russia]

    • Substantiating Infringement (or Risk Thereof) at the UPC: Divide & Conquer or One To Rule Them All? [Ed: Those are not rights and this is an illegal "court"]

• Trademarks

  • Digital Music News ☛ Luxury Brand Chrome Hearts Files Trademark Suit Against Neil Young Over New Backing Band Name

    A Chrome Hearts legal battle is officially underway: The luxury goods company has accused Neil Young of infringing on its trademarks with his new backing band of the same name.