Leftovers

• Science

  • Science Alert ☛ Curiosity Drilled Into a Rock on Mars And Gave Scientists a Big Surprise

    Whoops!

  • Science Alert ☛ The Moon's Mysterious Origins Still Stump Astronomers

    The details don't all make sense.

  • Science Alert ☛ Falls After 40 May Warn of Future Dementia, Major Review Finds

    An early signal?

  • Science Alert ☛ Scientists Reveal How Exercise Benefits Every Part of Your Body

    Your muscles may be more powerful than you realize.

  • Science Alert ☛ A Common Blood Pressure Medicine Could Help Fight a Deadly Superbug

    "One of the most exciting agents that we have found."

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • Science Alert ☛ Movement Triggers a Hidden 'Brain Cleaning' Mechanism, Study Shows

    "It could make such a difference for your brain health."

  • Science Alert ☛ World First Transplant: Man Regains Viable Sperm From His Childhood Testicle Tissue

    "In reality, it's still amazing."

  • Science Alert ☛ A Common Workday Feeling Could Be Fueling Your Headaches, Research Says

    Here's what you can do.

  • New York Times ☛ Health Authorities Monitor Hantavirus Cruise Passengers in United States

    People in at least three states are being monitored after being on the ship. None have shown symptoms, officials said.

  • France24 ☛ 3 patients are being evacuated to Europe from ship with hantavirus outbreak

    Three patients with suspected hantavirus infections were being evacuated from a cruise ship to the Netherlands on Wednesday, the U.N. health agency said, as the vessel at the center of a deadly outbreak remained off Cape Verde with nearly 150 people on board waiting to head to Spain’s Canary Islands.

  • Latvia ☛ Ogre hospital introduces prepayments for services

    The Ogre Municipal Hospital has introduced a 100% prepayment policy for fee-based services to reduce the number of patients who fail to show up for their appointments, Zemgale Regional Television reported on th May.

  • Bridge Michigan ☛ Michigan’s aging fast, but many seniors unaware of services, poll finds

    A new poll finds that 2-in-5 older Michiganders don’t know about the programs and services available to them. Despite that, older residents rate the state ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ as a place to age.

  • JURIST ☛ UN experts condemn attacks on Sudan healthcare system

    UN experts on Monday decried the ongoing attacks on Sudan’s hospitals and medical personnel, calling on the international community to take concrete action to protect the country’s collapsing health care system. The UN experts highlighted that systematic attacks on Sudan’s health care system have been ongoing.

  • France24 ☛ Who is Narges Mohammadi, Iranian Nobel laureate at risk of dying in custody?

    Jailed Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi could die in prison unless she is urgently given proper health care after suffering two suspected heart attacks in recent weeks.

  • New York Times ☛ Giuliani Seeks to Have Health Care Covered by 9/11 Program

    The former New York City mayor, who is improving after a serious case of pneumonia, suffers from a respiratory condition linked to his exposure to toxins at ground zero, his spokesman says.

• Proprietary

  • Futurism ☛ Gamers Cheer as Abusive Monopolist Microsoft Pulls Copilot Hey Hi (AI) Out of Xbox Entirely

    "Everybody likes that."

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Xbox CEO Asha Sharma kills Copilot for Gaming — overhauls leadership with CoreAI veterans

    Sharma took over as Xbox CEO in February after Phil Spencer retired following 38 years at Microsoft.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Apple quietly axes 128GB Mac Studio amid supply constraints and local Hey Hi (AI) frenzy — highest memory capacity reduced to 96GB, two months after discontinuation of 512GB model

    Apple quietly pulls high Unified Memory capacity Mac Studios and Mac minis from the Fashion Company Apple store as the memory crunch continues to affect consumer products.

  • So-Called 'Artificial Intelligence' ('AI') / LLM Slop / Plagiarism

    • New Yorker ☛ A Lo-Fi Rebellion Against A.I.

      As slick, machine-generated visuals become ubiquitous, artists and designers are embracing a style of handmade imperfection.

    • Futurism ☛ Ordinary People Fear AI, While the Tech Leaders Working to Create a Permanent Underclass Say They’re Extremely Psyched About It

      A major gulf in expectations.

    • Futurism ☛ FBI Director Kash Patel Says Hey Hi (AI) Has Stopped Numerous Violent Attacks Against America. We’d Love to See a Single Whiff of Evidence

      "I'm using it everywhere."

    • The Straits Times ☛ AI disinformation tests South Korean laws ahead of local elections

      The government has hired hundreds of staff to track and counter manipulated content ahead of local ballots.

    • Futurism ☛ Marc Andreessen Mocked for Accidentally Revealing That He Seems to Have a Deep Misunderstanding of How Hey Hi (AI) Actually Works

      "He is scripting his own psychotic break."

• Security

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • The Straits Times ☛ Free eSIM, transit cards among month-long rail booking perks for tourists in South Korea

      The campaign will run through June 3.

    • Privacy International ☛ From Big Oil to Big Algorithm: Public Money in Private Models

• Defence/Aggression

  • France24 ☛ Middle East war live: source close to Hezbollah says top commander killed in Israeli strike

    A senior commander from Hezbollah's elite force was killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, the first on the area in nearly a month, a source close to the group said. At least 11 other people were killed in strikes across the south and east, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Meanwhile US President The Insurrectionist said Wednesday he believed a deal with Iran was 'very possible', but threatened to resume his bombardment of the country if negotiations fell apart. Follow our liveblog for all the latest updates.

  • France24 ☛ Middle East war live: Convicted Felon says Iran war will be 'over quickly'

    US President The Insurrectionist said Wednesday evening that he believed the war in Iran would be "over quickly" but threatened to resume his bombardment of the country if negotiations fell apart. Earlier that day the US military said it had shot at an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman as it tried to breach the US blockade of Iranian ports. Follow our liveblog for all the latest updates.

  • New Yorker ☛ How the Iran War Is Shifting Power Toward China

    As the U.S.’s credibility and military capacity are tested abroad, China has gained leverage by staying out of the fight and learning from it.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Iranian embassy denies armed forces struck South Korean ship in Hormuz

    The blast and fire occurred on May 4 on a cargo ship carrying 24 crew members.

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea drops references to unification with South from Constitution

    The revised Constitution also includes a new clause delineating North Korea’s territory.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea suspends review of Convicted Felon’s call to participate in ‘Project Freedom’

    South Korea ⁠has been cautious about becoming too directly embroiled in the Middle East conflict.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea to seek peace despite North’s revised Constitution

    North Korea deleted all references to uniting the divided peninsula from its Constitution.

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea says it is not bound by nuclear non-proliferation treaty

    Its UN envoy said external pressure would not change its status as a nuclear-armed state.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea appeals court cuts jail term for ex-PM Han to 15 years in martial law case

    A South Korean appeals court on Thursday cut the jail sentence for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to 15 years from 23 years over his role in ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law in 2024.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia to seek clarity on Norway missile deal

    The country's Defence Minister said the move aims to safeguard Malaysia's interests.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Japan fires missile in joint drill with US, allies in northern Philippines, facing South China Sea

    The drill took place as Manila and Tokyo began talks on a potential defence equipment transfer.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China condemns Eswatini for being ‘kept and fed’ by Taiwan in travel row

    Former Swaziland is one of just 12 countries with formal diplomatic ties to Taiwan.

  • France24 ☛ G7 trade ministers seek common ground on minerals

    Trade ministers from the Group of 7 industrialized nations have tried to find common ground, amid geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainty. In a clear swipe at China, they pledged to cooperate on securing supply chains of critical minerals. Also in the show - France's finance minister says airlines have enough jet fuel for May and June, and the US FDA makes a u-turn in approving flavored vapes.

  • France24 ☛ China's 'key priorities': Open Hormuz, get oil flowing, avoid 'getting dragged into conflicts'

    Amid China’s balancing act in the Middle East, Nadia Massih is pleased to welcome Professor Astrid Nordin, Lau Chair of Chinese International Relations at King's College London. Professor Nordin describes a Chinese leadership attempting to navigate between two imperatives: safeguarding critical regional energy flows while resisting what Beijing sees as “U.S. violent interference.” China, she argues, wants influence without entanglement, stability without military overreach, and diplomatic leverage without assuming the burdens of American-style global policing. “Beijing has a big, strong interest in getting that oil flowing out of the region,” she explains, “but again, not at any price.”

  • The Strategist ☛ Australia’s security ecosystem needs diversity, not just more data

    Every system operating under finite resources – seemingly every system now – needs to compress its environment: simplify, filter, decide what to pay attention to and what to let go.

  • ADF ☛ Al-Shabaab’s Tactics Evolving

    A security specialist says that the terrorist group al-Shabaab and other extremist organizations are learning to move faster as they refine their efforts to target communities and security forces.

  • Site36 ☛ Germany expands risk level for Libyan SAR zone after repeated attacks by “coast guard” militias – especially targetting NGOs

    Germany has expanded its maritime risk warning for Libyan waters to the countries’ the search and rescue zone. The move comes after repeated attacks by militias linked to the so-called Libyan coastguard. NGOs are demanding concrete protection for their rescue ships.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • Facing waves of attacks, Ukraine deploys the new interceptor drone Terra A1 designed by a Japanese company

      The Ukrainian army is currently deploying the Terra A1 interceptor drone.

    • France24 ☛ Russia warns foreign diplomats to leave Kyiv in case of strike

      Russia warned foreign diplomats in Kyiv on Wednesday to evacuate the city ahead of Moscow's World War II Victory Day celebrations, threatening retaliatory strikes if Ukraine disrupts commemorations tied to the May 9 military parade in Red Square.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuania opens national pavilion at Venice Biennale, stresses solidarity with Ukraine

      Lithuania has opened its national pavilion at the Venice Biennale, the Culture Ministry said Wednesday, using the occasion to underscore its support of Ukraine amid controversy over Russia’s participation in the exhibition.

    • RFERL ☛ Russia Warns Kyiv-Based Diplomats Of 'Massive Attack' If Ukraine Disrupts May 9 Ceremonies

      Russia warned Kyiv-based diplomats and representatives of international organizations to prepare to evacuate the Ukrainian capital, saying its forces would launch a "massive" missile attack against the city if Ukraine disrupted its May 9 World War II commemorations.

    • RFERL ☛ Russian Drone Hits Ukrainian Kindergarten; Kyiv Accuses Moscow Of Flouting Cease-Fire

      A Russian drone hit a kindergarten in northern Ukraine, and Moscow launched scores of drones and missiles across the country, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of ignoring a Kyiv-proposed cease-fire.

    • New York Times ☛ In Romania, Living With Weapons of War Spilling Into NATO Territory

      Four years of battle in Ukraine is taking a toll on neighboring Romanians. Even if the war has not crossed the border, drones have done so.

    • ADF ☛ Ugandans Tricked Into Fighting for Russia in Ukraine

      Two Ugandans recently were killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine, adding to the mounting toll of African casualties in that conflict. The two men, Michael Atuhaire and Ashiraf Damulira, are among nearly 1,500 Africans fighting for Russia, often after being lured to the country with promises of lucrative work or higher education.

    • Latvia ☛ Baltic states protest in Venice against Russia's artistic rehabilitation

      Two separate protests against Russia's shameful participation in the 61st Venice Biennale international art fair took place in La Serenissima on May 6th.

    • France24 ☛ Armenia: EU 'isn't poking the bear' enforcing ties with Russian-allied Yerevan

      “Europeans are not poking the bear.”Thorniké Gordadze tells #F24Debate Armenia and the EU aren’t provoking Russia, but reacting to Moscow’s threats on the region ➡️ https://go.france24.com/xHhc

    • JURIST ☛ Sweden arrests Chinese captain of suspected Russia shadow fleet tanker

      Swedish authorities arrested the Chinese captain of a suspected Russia-linked oil tanker on Monday over suspicion of using forged documents and violating maritime law in the Baltic Sea, according to local media.

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia to impose new rules on imports of electric vehicles assembled overseas from July

      The government had previously granted a full import and excise duty exemption from January 2022 to December 2025.

    • New York Times ☛ War and Energy Shortages Boost China’s Influence in Asia

      The war in Iran has left China’s neighbors appealing for help, handing Beijing the kind of sway it has long sought.

    • The Straits Times ☛ China to probe deadly fireworks factory blast

      Smoke still billowed from the plant two days after a powerful explosion on May 4.

    • The Straits Times ☛ US report China Eastern jet fuel supply was off ahead of deadly 2022 crash

      WASHINGTON/SHANGHAI, May 6 - The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board released data this week indicating the fuel supply was switched off to both engines of a China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737 jet before the aircraft plunged into a hillside in southern China in March 2022, killing all 132 people on board.

    • Tom's Hardware ☛ Denmark presses pause on new data center grid connections as total requests hit 60 GW — Nordic nation is the latest to put the brakes on Hey Hi (AI) buildouts

      Denmark's Energinet grid operator has pressed pause on new connection requests in the country as potential new data centers and other installations put total demands of up to 60 GW on its docket.

    • Tom's Hardware ☛ Survey shows that nearly half of Americans don't want new data centers built near their homes — 47% oppose the construction of new Hey Hi (AI) data centers in their neighborhood [iophk: such a small number? the other half probably are unaware]

      According to a new survey conducted by Ipsos at the end of last year, almost half of all queried Americans said they would oppose an Hey Hi (AI) data center being built near their community.

    • Futurism ☛ SpaceX Bombarded With Lawsuits to Accusing Starship of Damaging Homes

      "A relentless, daily bombardment."

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • New York Times ☛ New Study Shows Risks of Amazon Deforestation. And Rewards of Protection.

      Researchers examined the combined effects of tree loss and global warming in an effort to better understand how and when an ecosystem collapse could unfold.

    • New York Times ☛ A Landslide in Alaska Set Off a Tsunami. There May Be More to Come.

      Scientists say as glaciers retreat in a warming climate, landslide-generated tsunamis are likely to become more frequent.

• Finance

  • New York Times ☛ The ‘Perfect Storm’ Hanging Over Britain’s Public Debt

    Bond investors are expected to scrutinize the results of critical local elections on Thursday as the war in the Middle East adds inflation pressure on the government.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Drink driving suspect caught on video jogging away from car crash in S. Korea

    Witnesses said the man changed into sportswear and fled the scene by pretending to go for a jog.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • CS Monitor ☛ How the White House ballroom became emblematic of the Convicted Felon presidency

    Congress may now put $1 billion toward the ballroom project, which has so far been funded through private donations. It reflects The Insurrectionist’s effort to leave a physical legacy as well as meet a genuine need.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • ADF ☛ Internet Shutdowns Spread in Africa

    Fifteen African countries shut down their citizens’ internet access a total of 36 times in 2025. The shutdowns were often in response to political unrest, national exams or armed conflict, according to a report by internet advocacy groups #KeepItOn Coalition and Access Now.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • New Yorker ☛ Kash Patel’s Strategic, Frivolous Lawsuit Against The Atlantic

    A recent wave of legal challenges is putting renewed pressure on journalists and raising concerns about the future of investigative reporting.

  • Press Gazette ☛ Why Barnie Choudhury case is blow to public’s right to know

    Punitive costs bill for freelance comes amid plans to curb Freedom of Information Act.

  • Press Gazette ☛ Beyond websites: People Inc grows digital revenue despite Surveillance Giant Google traffic collapse

    US publisher's "inversion" strategy finds revenue outside website ads and subscriptions.

• Civil Rights / Policing / Accessibility

  • JURIST ☛ Rights group says online hate speech is escalating in Canada

    Amnesty International released a report on Monday outlining the rising level of online hate speech towards women, visible minorities, and the 2SLGBTQI+ community in Canada. The report details the increase of xenophobia, misogyny, and racism in Canada.

  • European Commission ☛ Remarks by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu on an ambitious social plan aimed at eradicating poverty and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities across the EU

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • APNIC ☛ Direct‑to‑device and the return of LEO ambitions

    LEO satellite networks are returning to the mobile market, this time shaped by lower launch costs and changing industry economics, with lessons from Iridium still looming.

• Monopolies/Monopsonies

  • Futurism ☛ Video Shows Amazon Drone Dropping Package Into Pond

    Splash!

  • Patents

    • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Jurisdiction-If-We-Win: T-Mobile v. KAIFI and the Gunn Boundary Line

      At oral argument in T-Mobile v. KAIFI, the Federal Circuit grapples with whether a Texas contract dispute over an EPR settlement arises under the patent monopoly laws.

    • Unified Patents ☛ Innovation Technologies advertisement patent monopoly challenged

      On April 27, 2026, Unified Patents filed an ex parte reexamination proceeding against U.S. Patent 12,125,070, owned and asserted by Innovation Technologies Partners LP, an NPE and entity of MVRE LLC. The ’070 patent monopoly relates to a method for distributing an electronic content item for consumption with advertisements. It has been asserted against Hulu.

    • Unified Patents ☛ OptimNet cloud patent monopoly challenge granted

      On May 4, 2026, five weeks after Unified filed an ex parte reexamination, the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) granted Unified’s request, finding substantial new questions of patentability on claims 1-12 of U.S. Patent 9,112,934, owned and asserted by OptimNet LLC, an NPE.

    • Kangaroo Courts

      • JUVE ☛ UPC revokes Chinese military medical research institute’s remdesivir patent [Ed: Illegal tribunal making decisions on stuff that should be outside its control. Corruption-dominated facility created for and by the litigation 'industry']

        According to the judgment, the value of the patent monopoly dispute is €20 million. However, following the defeat, the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences (AMMS) only has to pay €800,000, which it had previously agreed with Gilead.

  • Copyrights

    • The Straits Times ☛ Vietnam launches fresh crackdown on online piracy under threat of US tariffs [Ed: Blackmail tactics by Hollywood]

      Ministries were told to boost detection of copyright monopoly infringement by at least 20 per cent in May.

    • Digital Music News ☛ Kapo-berg Personally Authorized Massive Copyright Infringement to Train AI, Multiple Publishers Allege

      Five book publishers and an author allege that Meta CEO Mark Kapo-berg personally authorized mass copyright monopoly infringement to train the company’s AI. Now, they’re suing.

    • Digital Music News ☛ Universal Music Fires Back Against Salt-N-Pepa Appeal in High-Stakes Copyright Termination Legal Battle

      Universal Music Group (UMG) has fired back against Salt-N-Pepa’s appeal in a high-stakes rights-reversion case involving “Push It” and a number of other well-known works. DMN’s been covering that courtroom confrontation since May 2025, when Salt-N-Pepa sued the major label for allegedly failing to honor a legitimate 2022 termination notice.