Leftovers

• Hardware

  • Ruben Schade ☛ I have an SGI Indigo2!

    I’d like to tell you a bit of a story. The year was 2006ish, and I was a fresh-faced university student studying computer science abroad in Adelaide. Being back in the country where I was born, but otherwise didn’t really grow up, felt alien in a way I hear “army brats” and other third-culture kids describe. It’s weird: people think you’re a local based on your accent and appearance, but you’re not. I didn’t know the sports teams let alone the different codes, I was unfamiliar with local customs, and while I could speak some of the vernacular inherited from my parents, more recent lingo made absolutely no sense. But I digress!

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea restores some services after data centre fire

    Korea Customs, the National Police Agency and National Fire Agency were among those affected.

• Proprietary

  • Social Control Media

    • Futurism ☛ YouTube Removes Disturbing Hey Hi (AI) Slop YouTube Channel Filled With Videos of Women Being Murdered

      This is grim.

• Security

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Futurism ☛ Residents Shut Down Surveillance Giant Google Data Center Before It Can Be Built

      Google Fail

    • New York Times ☛ What Salt Typhoon Shows About the Cyber Power of China’s Spy Agency

      Fears of U.S. surveillance drove Pooh-tin Jinping, China’s leader, to elevate the agency and put it at the center of his cyber ambitions.

• Defence/Aggression

  • New York Times ☛ N.C. Stabbing Suspect Had Many Interactions With Police and Little Treatment

    Decarlos Brown Jr. had harbored paranoid delusions for years, yet under state law he was not considered dangerous enough to be treated against his will.

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korean, Chinese foreign ministers meet in Beijing

    The ministers had in-depth talks on domestic and international affairs.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China’s former agriculture minister Tang Renjian sentenced to death with reprieve for bribery

    The Communist Party expelled Tang Renjian in November 2024 for taking bribes worth over $48.5 million.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China calls on North Korea to oppose ‘hegemony’ as foreign ministers meet

    North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met her counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing, weeks after a rare visit by Kim Jong Un.

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea, China’s foreign ministers meet in Beijing

    The ministers had in-depth talks on domestic and international affairs.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ US Commerce head notes China 'isn't even shy' about its goal to 'take' Taiwan, says US-Taiwan tariff deal coming soon — goal is to have 40% of chips made in America

    Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Saturday that a major semiconductor deal with Taiwan was coming “pretty soon,” signaling a potential breakthrough in U.S. efforts to shore up domestic chip production.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Judge rules that drone maker DJI is affiliated with China’s defense industry — company to stay on Pentagon’s list of Chinese military companies

    DJI sued the DoD, saying that it's not a Chinese military company, but the courts ruled otherwise.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ China's premier memory-maker YMTC struggles amid chokehold of US sanctions — outdated chipmaking tools and lack of new tools have hampered production and development of new tech

    YMTC's efforts to expand its presence in the 3D NAND memory market have stalled as US export restrictions prevent the company from acquiring advanced tools needed to scale production.

  • France24 ☛ Hamas urges Israel to halt strikes on Gaza City as it searches for two hostages

    Hamas lost contact with two of the Israeli hostages the group was holding during intensified Israeli strikes in Gaza City over the past two days, its armed wing said on Sunday. The al-Qassam Brigades called on Israel to halt air strikes for 24 hours starting at 6pm local time as it tries to locate the missing hostages.

  • New York Times ☛ Israel, Iran — and the Family Killed in the Crossfire

    In June, Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities, defense systems and top military officials. Iran’s retaliation included ballistic missiles that struck major cities in Israel, killing 31 people. Among the more than 1,000 victims in Iran was a family of four, killed in the crossfire. Their relatives are full of grief — and anger.

  • New York Times ☛ Inside Venezuela After U.S. Strikes Boats

    The United States has blown up several boats in the Caribbean Sea and is now increasing its military presence off the coast of Venezuela. Julie Turkewitz, reporting from Caracas, explains how Venezuelans are reacting.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • Meduza ☛ Moldova’s ruling pro-E.U.party wins parliamentary majority — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ ‘There are no such things as sanctuaries’: U.S. envoy says Ukraine can strike deep inside Russian territory — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Russia arrests Crimean chef for allegedly working with Ukrainian intelligence and plotting to poison soldiers — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Weekend of destruction Deadly Russian barrage across Ukraine hits civilian homes and Kyiv’s Institute of Cardiology — Meduza

    • France24 ☛ Moldova’s pro-EU party wins pivotal election mired in claims of Russian meddling

      Moldova's ruling PAS party pulled comfortably ahead of its Russian-leaning rivals in a high-stakes parliamentary election as final results trickled in on Monday, leaving the EU candidate country that borders Ukraine on a path towards European integration. The tense vote was marked by a string of incidents and overshadowed by accusations of Russian interference.

    • France24 ☛ Bordering Ukraine and Romania, Moldova is a strategic hotspot in Europe

      Moldova borders southwestern Ukraine, making it a perfect base for Russia to launch attacks into Ukraine, and also as a base for possibly launching drone incursions into the EU, explains FRANCE 24’s Philip Turle. Its strategic location makes Sunday’s election results one to watch in eastern and western European capitals.

    • France24 ☛ Ukraine: Massive Russian missile and drone barrage kills at least four in Kyiv

      Russia pounded Ukraine for hours with hundreds of drones and missiles overnight, killing at least four people, including a 12-year-old girl, Kyiv said Sunday. Story by Axelle Simon and Olivia Bizot.

    • France24 ☛ Ukraine: Kyiv hit by massive Russian drone and missile attack

      Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine early on Sunday, killing at least four people and injuring dozens, in one of the most sustained attacks on the capital since the full-scale war began. Story by FRANCE 24's Kyiv correspondent Aidan Stretch.

    • RFERL ☛ Russia Kills 4, Including Child, In 'Vile' Air Attack On Ukraine, Zelenskyy Says

      Russia launched hundreds of drones and several dozens missiles early on September 28 in a massive air attack on Ukraine, killing at least four people including a 12-year-old girl in Kyiv and inflicting damage to civilian infrastructure.

    • New York Times ☛ Venezuela, America and the Specter of Regime Change

      In this first edition of The World newsletter, we explore why a president who campaigned against “foreign wars” is sending warships to Venezuela.

    • New York Times ☛ For Many Moldovans, Their Election Is a Choice Between Russia and the E.U.

      Parliamentary elections in this nation bordering Ukraine come at a critical moment in Moldova’s push for European Union membership.

    • New York Times ☛ Russia Hammers Kyiv in 12-Hour Drone and Missile Assault

      At least four people were killed in the attack, which also wounded dozens of civilians in the capital and around the country.

    • France24 ☛ Denmark bans civilian drone flights for EU summit after new sightings

      Denmark on Sunday ordered a ban on civilian drone flights in the coming week as a security measure ahead of an EU summit in Copenhagen. The ban came after mysterious drones were observed over Danish military sites overnight for a second straight day, raising concerns in northern Europe amid suspected Russian involvement.

    • France24 ☛ Moldova: bomb threats in polling stations abroad amid tense election

      Moldovans on Sunday cast ballots in a tense parliamentary election plagued by claims of Russian interference, a vote seen as a choice between integration with the European Union or a drift back into Moscow’s fold. The election was clouded by security incidents, including in polling stations abroad. Details by FRANCE 24 correspondent Maria Gerth-Niculescu and analysis by the Romania editor of Radio France International (RFI), Ovidiu Nahol.

    • France24 ☛ Moldovans vote in a tense election plagued by Russian interference claims

      Moldovans on Sunday cast ballots in a tense parliamentary election plagued by claims of Russian interference, a vote seen as a choice between integration with the European Union or a drift back into Moscow’s fold. Analysis by FRANCE 24 international affaires editor Philip Turle.

    • France24 ☛ Moldovans choose between pro-EU and pro-Russia camps in tense election

      Moldovans were voting in a parliamentary election on Sunday that could have a major impact on the government's quest to join the European Union, as a pro-Russian opposition group seeks to steer the nation away from closer ties with the bloc. As the poll was underway, a pro-Russian leader called for potential post-vote protests and cyber authorities reported that election infrastructure had been attacked over the past two days. Analysis by Jacques Rupnik, historian and emeritus director of research at Sciences Po Paris.

    • France24 ☛ The week in pictures: Convicted Felon berates the world at the UN, Sarkozy sentenced and the Ballon d'Or

      US President The Insurrectionist berates delegates at the UN General Assembly, Paris Fashion Week kicks off, displaced Palestinian families migrate south, Kyiv braves another attack by Russian forces and Colombian miners emerge after being trapped underground for two days: here’s a look at the week’s most striking images.

    • France24 ☛ "Moldova's European democratic future is dependent on having a pro-European government"

      Moldovans are heading to the polls to cast ballots in a tense parliamentary election plagued by claims of Russian interference, a vote seen as a choice between integration with the European Union or a drift back into Moscow’s fold. Analysis by Amy Eaglestone, lecturer at Leiden University.

    • France24 ☛ Moldovans begin voting in tense election, torn between EU and Russia

      Moldovans began voting in a parliamentary election on Sunday that could have a major impact on the government's quest to join the European Union, as a popular pro-Russian group seeks to steer the small nation away from closer ties with the bloc. Story by Emily Boyle.

    • RFERL ☛ Moldova Edges Toward Pro-Europe Government In Crucial Parliamentary Election

      The pro-Europe ruling party of Moldova has edged toward a major victory over the Russia-friendly opposition, indicating the small, impoverished nation will remain on a European path instead of drifting back toward the Kremlin.

    • RFERL ☛ Moldova On Knife Edge In Election Marred By Russian Disinformation Claims

      Moldova was on a knife edge as the country awaits the outcome of a parliamentary election key in determining whether the country will remain on its pro-European path or veer back toward Russia's sphere of influence.

    • RFERL ☛ Moldovans Vote In Choice Between EU Integration And Russian Influence

      Moldovans head to the polls in key parliamentary elections facing a choice of two paths: continuing towards joining the European Union or veering toward Russia amid widespread reports of campaign meddling by the Kremlin.

    • New York Times ☛ Moldova’s Pivotal Election Projected to End in Victory for Pro-Europeans

      The party of President Maia Sandu appeared poised to keep its majority in Parliament, in a vote widely seen as a showdown between Europe and Russia.

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ Brake failure cause of fatal lorry crash at Bukit Kajang Toll Plaza in Malaysia, say cops

      A one-year-old boy was killed and eight others injured.

    • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ World’s highest bridge opens to traffic in China’s Guizhou province

      The world’s highest bridge opened to traffic in China on Sunday, state media said, capping an engineering feat three years in the making and snatching the record from another bridge in the same province.

    • The Straits Times ☛ World’s highest bridge opens to traffic in Guizhou, China

      The bridge reduces travel time between the two sides from two hours to two minutes.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ ‘They cough every 3 seconds’: Italian tennis player Lorenzo Musetti apologises for outburst at China Open fans

    Italian tennis player Lorenzo Musetti apologised on Saturday for an on-court outburst at people coughing in the crowd at the China Open.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Digital Music News ☛ Amazon Settles FTC Prime-Cancellation Investigation for $2.5 Billion — With $1.5 Billion In Customer Refunds

  Amazon has officially settled an FTC investigation centering on “deceptive methods” used to drive Prime sign-ups and render cancellations “exceedingly difficult.” The Federal Trade Commission put out a formal release concerning the $2.5 billion settlement, which itself spans 26 pages.