Leftovers

• Sahilister ☛ Sahil Dhiman: Weekly Notes

  Weekly notes is a genre where people chronicle their week on their blogs. Weekly notes are like a window. I love going through these, as they’re a steady stream of week on week happenings and progress in people’s lives. It shows people making efforts to improve: from basic things like learning to swim or drive, to planning long-term goals such as vacations, moving house, states, or even countries — and, in some cases, internal monologues, thoughts, and anxieties. These are like a constant nudge for me to work on myself, like them.

  These are the weekly notes I read nowadays: [...]

• BIA Net ☛ Two-meter Athena statue discovered in Laodikeia West Theater

  The work, which reflects the classical style of the Augustus Period, draws attention with its high artistic quality.

• Science

  • Futurism ☛ Scientists Say They’ve Figured Out a Way to Get to Alpha Centauri in Just 20 Years

    Unfathomable speed.

  • New York Times ☛ Chevy Humphrey Is Running Experiments at the Griffin Science Museum in Chicago

    Chevy Humphrey explains why the scientific method matters in business.

  • Science Alert ☛ 40 Years After Chernobyl, Wolves May Be Adapting to Live With Radiation

    They could hold clues to fighting cancer.

  • Science Alert ☛ The Next Ozempic? This Unapproved Peptide Comes With a Big Catch

    It could bring more risks than rewards.

  • Science Alert ☛ Coffee May Boost Your Mood And Brainpower, Even Without Caffeine

    A pep in your step.

  • Science Alert ☛ Scientists Need Your Help to Find Galaxies Bending Light in Space

    You don't need a telescope or a physics degree to take part.

• Hardware

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Intel reportedly says it boosted yields by selling what would normally be 'scrap' or 'low-expectation' CPUs — customers more willing to accept lesser chips due to overwhelming CPU demand

    Intel’s Investor relations team confirmed that customers are sweeping up the lower-quality chips, bringing in tangible revenue for the company.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • Futurism ☛ Top Medical Journal Publishes Searing Article Warning Against Medical AI

    "Evidence that Hey Hi (AI) tools create value for patients, providers or health systems remains scarce."

  • The Straits Times ☛ From massages to cinema naps: China’s ‘lunch-break economy’ takes off as workers find healing window

    More urban professionals in China are actively spending to use their mid-day breaks for wellness.

• Proprietary

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) / LLM Slop / Plagiarism

    • France24 ☛ Slop is already getting boring

      It could end white-collar work. It could end poverty. It could end humanity. From Slop's boosters and doomers alike, bumptious predictions abound. But in workplaces, the technology, like so many before it, is becoming mundane. Are things really different this time?

    • France24 ☛ MElon’s lawsuit against Proprietary Chaffbot Company heads to trial over nonprofit claims

      MElon’s lawsuit accusing OpenAI of abandoning its non-profit mission heads to trial on Monday with jury selection in California. The case pits the world’s richest person against a startup he once backed and now rivals through xAI and its chatbot Grok. The feud also involves Scam Altman.

    • Futurism ☛ New Browser Plugin Adds Typos to Your AI-Generated Emails to Make Them Look Real

      "Mess up your emails with AI."

    • Futurism ☛ Prestigious Wall Street Law Firm Humiliated When Its Hey Hi (AI) Use Is Discovered in Court

      Rookie mistake.

• Security

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Chernobyl virus turned 27 today, and it could brick your PC in ways modern malware can't by overwriting BIOS firmware

    27 years ago today, on April 26, 1999, a 1 KB virus called CIH detonated its payload on hundreds of thousands of backdoored Windows 9x machines worldwide.

  • Bitdefender ☛ Introducing Proactive Hardening and Attack Surface Reduction (PHASR) for Linux and macOS

    As Linux dominates cloud-native infrastructure and macOS becomes the standard for high-value targets in development and executive leadership, the attack surface is no longer Windows-centric. Modern attack playbooks weaponize Living off the Land (LOTL) binaries–pre-installed, legitimate system tools–to blend malicious activity with normal operations and bypass standard detection telemetry.

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Tom's Hardware ☛ Mobile SMS blasters in vehicles prowled Canadian streets, causing 13 million network disruptions and infiltrating tens of thousands of devices — blaster blocked 911 calls, stole cellphone data

      The authorities say that the three individuals used the SMS blasters to send thousands of smishing messages.

  • Confidentiality

    • The Straits Times ☛ Data of 100,000 leaked from golf club; North Korean hackers suspected

      Leaked data includes names, dates of birth, gender, user IDs, passwords, numbers and addresses.

• Defence/Aggression

  • The Straits Times ☛ Indonesia calls for stronger protection for peacekeepers in Lebanon

    Chief Pte Rico Pramudia died on April 24 from his wounds sustained during an Israeli strike on March 29.

  • New York Times ☛ The Hard Life of an Immigrant Whose Killing Became a Symbol for Convicted Felon

    Hell Toupée posted surveillance footage of Nilufa Easmin’s brutal killing by another immigrant to advance his agenda. Behind the rhetoric was a more nuanced story.

  • New York Times ☛ Israel and Hezbollah Trade Strikes in Lebanon, as Iran Talks Remain on Hold

    Cease-fires in Lebanon and Iran are on shaky ground, with military attacks flaring and direct talks between Washington and Tehran to end their war stalled.

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea strengthens nuclear push as US flails in Middle East

    Since US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb 28, North Korea has conducted five missile launches, including four in April.

  • RFERL ☛ Lebanese Authorities Say At Least 14 Killed In Israeli Air Strikes

    As the US-Israeli war with Iran continues to impact and shape the region, journalists from RFE/RL deliver ongoing updates and analysis.

  • France24 ☛ Deadly Israeli strikes hit Lebanon despite ceasefire extension

    Lebanese state media reported a series of new Israeli strikes in at least four different locations in the country's south late Saturday, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his military to attack Hezbollah following alleged ceasefire breaches. Attacks earlier in the day reportedly killed six people, despite a recently extended ceasefire.

  • France24 ☛ Syria begins first trial of Bashar al-Assad and allies after his ouster

    A Syrian court held its first hearing on Sunday in the trial of ousted president Bashar al-Assad and senior officials from his former government, state media said. Assad and his brother Maher al-Assad, who fled Syria, are being tried in absentia, while former security official Atif Najib appeared in court in handcuffs.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • France24 ☛ Middle East war live: Putin receives Iran’s foreign minister amid stalled US-Iran talks

      Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday, Russian state media reported. Russia and Tehran, who are both subject to fierce Western sanctions, have developed an increasingly close relationship in recent years. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

    • RFERL ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Says Tehran 'Can Call Us' If It Wants To Talk, While Iran's Araqchi Arrives In Russia

      US President The Insurrectionist said that Tehran "can call us" if it wants to talk, but he added that it must give up any plans to build a nuclear weapon or "there's no reason to meet."

    • France24 ☛ Chernobyl 40th anniversary: A zone that must be sheltered

      Emmanuelle Chaze is live from Ukraine.

    • France24 ☛ Chernobyl: Two Takes, Then & Now. On the Ground 40 years on

      Forty years ago, one reactor in the Chernobyl power plant, in Ukraine, exploded, leading to the worst-ever nuclear catastrophe.

    • RFERL ☛ Ukraine's President Accuses Russia Of 'Nuclear Terrorism' On Chernobyl Anniversary

      Ukraine’s president lashed out at Russia, accusing it of “nuclear terrorism,” as Kyiv observed the 40th anniversary of the explosion at the Chernobyl power plant, the world’s worst civilian atomic disaster.

    • France24 ☛ 40 years since Chernobyl disaster: Soviet Union's 'top-down culture' partly to blame

      Ukraine marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on Sunday. FRANCE 24 spoke with Michael Bluck, Director of the Centre for Nuclear Engineering at Imperial College London, to look back at the tragic event that marked history. Pointing to various factors that caused the explosion at Chernobyl, Bluck said that the Soviet Union's culting of top-down rule was also at blame.

    • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea’s Kim Jong Un says he will continue to support Russia’s policies: KCNA

      Pyongyang sent an estimated 14,000 troops to fight with Russian forces in their war against Ukraine.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Fertiliser plant in Russia's Vologda region damaged in Ukrainian drone attack, governor says

      MOSCOW, April 26 - A fertiliser plant in Russia's Vologda region was damaged in a Ukrainian drone attack on Sunday, local governor Georgy Filimonov said.

    • France24 ☛ Global military spending hits record $2.9 trillion in 2025 amid growing insecurity

      Global military spending climbed to nearly $2.9 trillion in 2025, marking an 11th straight year of growth as rising insecurity and rearmament boosted defence budgets, researchers said on Monday. The United States, China and Russia accounted for $1.48 trillion, over half the total, SIPRI said.

    • France24 ☛ Iran’s top diplomat leaves Pakistan for Russia, Convicted Felon says Tehran can talk by phone

      Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday squeezed in a trip to Oman before returning to Pakistan and then heading to Moscow for talks in a frantic diplomatic shuffle as mediators pressed to reignite talks between Tehran and the US. But President The Insurrectionist stuck with his decision to scrap a planned trip by this envoys to Pakistan, saying Iran and the US could talk by phone instead.

    • France24 ☛ Malian Defence Minister Sadio Camara killed by rebels

      Mali’s Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in coordinated attacks targeting military sites, officials said, marking a major blow to the ruling junta. The killing comes amid a surge in violence by jihadist and rebel groups, raising fresh concerns over security in the West African nation. FRANCE 24's Justice Baidoo reports

    • France24 ☛ Russian mercenaries in Mali: Limited gains, reports of abuse

      Russian paramilitary forces deployed in Mali have achieved limited gains in the fight against jihadist groups, according to Philip Obaji, Nigerian journalist and Daily Beast correspondent. Obaji pointed to ongoing insecurity and mounting allegations of abuses, raising questions over the effectiveness of Moscow-backed forces supporting the country’s military rulers.

    • European Commission ☛ Remarks by Commissioner Dombrovskis at International Conference on Chornobyl Recovery and Nuclear Safety

    • The Straits Times ☛ Russian defence minister visits North Korea

      The minister is the second senior Russian official to visit Pyongyang in recent days.

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ Australia’s Foreign Minister to visit Japan, China, South Korea to discuss energy security

      Australia has experienced localised shortages during the Middle East conflict.

    • The Straits Times ☛ AirAsia posts videos of staff speaking Mandarin after clip of passenger scolding cabin crew draws attention

      A passenger scolds the airline's cabin crew for not speaking Mandarin in the viral video.

    • Futurism ☛ America Trembles as Transportation Secretary Announces Plans for Air Traffic Controllers to Lean on Hey Hi (AI) Tools

      Someone's got their head in the clowns.

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • New York Times ☛ Targeted Hunts Were Supposed to Curb ‘Zombie Deer Disease.’ Now What?

      In Illinois and other states, officials hoped that culls could halt the progress of chronic wasting disease. Now they are losing hope.

• Finance

  • WhichUK ☛ More people are looking for affordable life insurance – but what does it actually cost?

    What you pay depends on your health and the type of cover you choose

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • Barry Kauler ☛ "Heartbreaking" decline of Australia

    "Heartbreaking" is the word used by Peter Costello, who was Federal Government Treasurer 20 years ago: [...]

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia’s jailed ex-PM Najib withdraws appeal on house arrest, local media reports

    The withdrawal of his appeal for home detention would mark yet another setback for Najib.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Exiled Tibetans to elect government in vote condemned by China

    Tibetans outside Chinese control vote on Sunday for a government-in-exile, an election of heightened significance as they brace for an inevitable, eventual, future without their revered spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Taiwan says China sanctions on European arms makers will not hit weapons sourcing

    Taiwan's defence minister downplayed on Monday the impact of Chinese sanctions on seven European companies over arms sales to the island, saying it was not the first time China had taken such action and it would not affect Taipei's ability to source weapons.

  • The Straits Times ☛ How China has expanded its economic toolkit during its trade truce with the US

    China has used its trade truce with the United States to broaden its legal leverage, supply chain and critical technology controls, and expand its toolkit of retaliatory economic measures ahead of a summit between the nations next month.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Under cover of trade truce with Convicted Felon, China expands economic pressure toolkit

    When U.S. President The Insurrectionist met Chinese President Pooh-tin Jinping last October, he rated the summit a \"12 out of 10,\" and the White House said China would "effectively eliminate" rare earth export controls and cease retaliation against U.S. firms.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China formalises labour rules for gig workers on online platforms

    Platforms must increase transparency, consult worker representatives, according to new guidelines.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Taiwan foreign minister arrives in Eswatini after President Lai’s trip was blocked

    Taiwan accused China of pressuring African states to block overflight permission for its leader.

  • France24 ☛ China warns EU over ‘Made in Europe’ plan, vows countermeasures

    China on Monday criticised European Union plans to shield key industries from Chinese competition, warning it would take countermeasures if the measures are adopted. The EU’s proposed “Made in Europe” rules would require companies seeking public funds in sectors including cars, green technology and steel to meet local content thresholds.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China vows countermeasures if EU enacts ‘Made in Europe’ plan

    Beijing had submitted comments to the European Commission, expressing China’s “serious concerns” regarding the act.

  • Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda

    • Futurism ☛ Experts Warn of Hey Hi (AI) Swarms Hijacking Democracy With Fake Citizens

      "These systems are capable of coordinating autonomously, infiltrating communities, and fabricating consensus efficiently."

• Civil Rights / Policing / Accessibility

  • SRA must ‘regain the trust’ of the profession and get back to the basics of regulation says new CEO [Ed: A fake regulator, tall promises (made to the industry it has been protecting from the public)]

    New Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) chief executive Sarah Rapson says the organisation needs to “regain the trust of solicitors, law firms and the wider public”.

  • Law Society Gazette ☛ BSB reveals multiple live investigations into Post Office barristers

    The Bar Standards Board has revealed for the first time that it has 10 open investigations related to the Post Office Horizon scandal. The regulator has previously said that it is looking into the conduct of barristers who advised the Post Office, but never stated how many investigations were live. The Solicitors Regulation Authority has 20 live investigations into solicitors and firms.

    The BSB figure appeared in an update in the Legal Services Board papers for its meeting next week and has been confirmed to the Gazette by the bar regulator.

  • MP rails at “dishonest” solicitors involved in ad-spoofing

    An MP has branded law firms that benefit from so-called ad-spoofing as “dishonest” and unethical, and called for action against them in a parliamentary debate last week.

    Ad-spoofing involves scammers who use fake websites to appear at the top of search engines to trick drivers into thinking they will be directed to the website of the genuine insurer after they have had an accident.

    Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat MP who secured the debate on car insurance fraud, said the organisation behind the ad would sort out all the elements of the accident.

• Monopolies/Monopsonies

  • Copyrights

    • Futurism ☛ Devious New Hey Hi (AI) Tool “Clones” Software So That the Original Creator Doesn’t Hold a Copyright Over the New Version

      "I don’t think there’s any putting the genie back in the bottle at this point."