Leftovers

• Hong Kong Free Press ☛ ‘Indispensable’ Xiaohongshu app fuels Chinese tourism

  Competition is fierce for professional photographers at Beijing’s tourist hotspots, including a scenic lake where women in flowy traditional robes pose for snaps to share on Xiaohongshu, China’s massively popular lifestyle app.

• Science / Mathematics / Computer Science

  • Science Alert ☛ Ancient Roman Concrete Keeps Getting Stronger, And The Secret Was Hiding in Hadrian's 2,000-Year-Old Toilet

    There's more to the story than we thought.

  • Science Alert ☛ A Giant Structure Is Towering Over The Milky Way. After 40 Years, Scientists Have Worked Out What It Is

    Mind. Blown.

  • Science Alert ☛ Bad News: All This Summer Sun Likely Won't Fix Your Vitamin D Levels, Study Finds

    For some groups, relying on sunshine alone simply isn't enough.

  • Science Alert ☛ This Week in Science: Tiny T. Rexes, a New Monkey Species, And More!

    Our weekly science news roundup.

  • Science Alert ☛ A Major Ocean Current Is On The Verge of Collapse. Scientists Say The Effects May Reach California

    The AMOC is slowing down.

• Career/Education

  • Futurism ☛ Law School Bans Laptops and Phones as Hey Hi (AI) Cheating Scandal Grows

    No Abusive Monopolist Microsoft Chaffbot for the freshmen.

• Hardware

  • Futurism ☛ Striking Workers Bring Car Factory to a Screeching Halt Over Humanoid Robots

    "We have to prepare to ensure there are safeguards in place."

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • Futurism ☛ US Hospitals Are Outsourcing In-Person Nursing to Remote Health Workers in the Philippines

    The country is "a premier global hub for supporting overstressed international healthcare systems."

  • Science Alert ☛ Scientists Spent 55 Years Studying Centenarians to Reveal The Secret to Living to 100

    It's complicated.

  • Federal News Network ☛ The VA is reporting record-high rates for suicide risk screening and follow-up

    "Our success has really been driven by implementing standardized screening processes across multiple clinical settings," said Dr. Steven Dobscha.

  • Science Alert ☛ Too Much Happiness Sent A Woman To The Emergency Room In an Incredibly Rare Case

    Ever heard of happy heart syndrome?

    [...] The name for this bizarre syndrome is called takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTS), a rare and overlooked condition that closely mimics an acute myocardial infarction, or heart attack.

• Proprietary / SaaS

  • Social Control Media

    • France24 ☛ Ethiopian Drill explodes on the streets of Addis Ababa

      Last year, the aggressive genre of Drill could only be heard on social control media in Ethiopia. But over the last few months the fast-paced, often matched with violent lyrics, style of hip hop has exploded on the streets of Addis Ababa, taking over mainstream bars and nightclubs. For some, its rapid popularity is due to Gen Z's lack of political and economic certainty. But Ethiopia remains a very conservative country, and not everyone is a fan of Drill. This report by our correspondent Tom Canetti.

    • Digital Music News ☛ After Less Than a Week, Meta Shuts Down Controversial Instagram Hey Hi (AI) Image Feature

      Meta pulls its controversial Instagram Hey Hi (AI) image tool, which automatically opted in photos from all public accounts, just days after its launch. Following intense backlash over privacy concerns, Meta has already pulled the plug on its new Instagram Hey Hi (AI) image feature, less than a week after launching it.

• Security

  • Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt/Fear-mongering/Dramatisation

    • LWN ☛ "Half a Second" — a book on the XZ backdoor

      Adrian Mastronardi has released a book called Half a Second; it is a

      detailed look into the XZ backdoor attempt

      of 2024. The book is freely available under a (non-free) noncommercial,

      no-derivatives CC license.

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • New Yorker ☛ The Voice of Google

      I rose at Surveillance Giant Google by amplifying the company’s lofty rhetoric of humane innovation. Then I used my marketing skills as a tool for internal dissent.

    • ADF ☛ Chinese Surveillance Tech a Threat to Privacy

      China is exporting surveillance technology to African countries that experts say is designed to monitor and control populations with little or no oversight or concern for privacy, personal security and human rights.

    • Futurism ☛ Top Meta Exec Describes Controversial Facial Recognition Feature in Detail After the Company Claimed It Didn’t Exist

      "Meta didn't answer several questions about how this will work. How could we? The feature doesn't exist!"

• Defence/Aggression

  • Site36 ☛ Suppressed summit protests 2001: Heavy repression against activists in Gothenburg and Genoa, but no police officer served a sentence

    With protests across Europe, international left-wing radicals wanted to build on Seattle and Prague in 2001.

  • ADF ☛ Mali Attacks Carry Warnings for Nigeria

    When two armed groups launched coordinated attacks across Mali on April 25, including a stunning assault on the capital, Bamako, Saheed Babajide Owonikoko thought of Nigeria.

  • Marcy Wheeler ☛ Jeanine Pirro Fights to Force-Feed Someone She Wants to Execute

    Jeanine Pirro is fighting to oversee the force feeding by torture of Ramanullah Lakwanal so she can keep him alive for a death penalty trial for the murder of Sarah Beckstrom.

  • New York Times ☛ UK Links Iran to Antisemitic Attacks and Calls IRGC Terrorist Group

    The designation gives the government additional national security powers to tackle foreign threats under a new law.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Thailand reportedly blocks activist, wanted by Hong Kong nat. security police, from flying to Canada for resettlement

    An activist wanted by Hong Kong’s national security police has reportedly been blocked by Thai authorities from flying to Canada for resettlement, according to local media.

  • Defence Web ☛ US Assistant Secretary Garcia visits Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali amid Sahel security shift

    US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia’s first official trip to Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali is [...]

  • PHR ☛ Widespread Misuse of Crowd-Control Weapons by Law Enforcement at Immigration Enforcement Protests, New Report Finds

    New York, N.Y. / Berkeley, California — Law enforcement agents misused crowd-control weapons during protests against the Convicted Felon administration’s immigration enforcement operations in 412 verified incidents across 16 U.S. cities from when immigration enforcement protests escalated in Los Angeles in June 2025 until May 2026, according to Charting the Crackdown [...]

  • ADF ☛ JNIM’s Coordinated Attacks in Mali Reveal Deadly Doctrine

    Synchronized April terror attacks in Mali targeted military bases, an airport and a public official’s home. Strikes by the terror group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the separatist Azawad Liberation Front included swarms of motorcycles, indirect fire and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs).

  • France24 ☛ Power, desalination plants hit in Kuwait

    The United States and Iran continued exchanging strikes on Saturday as tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz escalated. US Central Command carried out a seventh consecutive night of attacks, targeting military infrastructure and maritime capabilities, while Iran launched strikes on neighbouring Gulf states. The most significant damage was reported at a water desalination plant in Kuwait. The Gulf Cooperation Council has condemned Tehran's attacks on civilian sites, describing them as war crimes. Clemence Waller has the latest.

  • New York Times ☛ Kuwait accuses Iran of targeting civilian sites after attacks spark fires.

  • France24 ☛ Gulf council blasts "war crimes" by Iran

    The United States and Iran continued exchanging strikes on Saturday as tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz escalated. US Central Command carried out a seventh consecutive night of attacks, targeting military infrastructure and maritime capabilities, while Iran launched strikes on neighbouring Gulf states. The most significant damage was reported at a water desalination plant in Kuwait. The Gulf Cooperation Council has condemned Tehran's attacks on civilian sites, describing them as war crimes.

  • France24 ☛ Indian police shift Cockroach Party activist on hunger strike to hospital against his wish

    Indian police on Saturday forcibly moved environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk to hospital after his health deteriorated during a weeks-long hunger strike in New Delhi. Wangchuk, a prominent activist tied to the viral, opposition Cockroach Janata Party, is seeking education reforms. His family has denounced the “lack of transparency" and trust in Indian authorities.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Police move fasting Indian activist to hospital against his will

    It was the 21st day of his hunger strike to demand the resignation of the federal education minister.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ US ends its state of emergency over Hong Kong security threat

    The United States has chosen not to extend its state of emergency over what it deemed threats posed by Beijing’s hardline national security law in Hong Kong, US officials confirmed Friday.

  • The Strategist ☛ South Korea needs to plan for a Taiwan conflict

    Lessons from the US–Iran war will be long analysed, but as neighbouring Gulf states grapple with the fallout, one clear message is that countries close to a conflict cannot choose the effect it has [...]

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • New York Times ☛ Russia Bill Broadens Sanctions but Could Fuel Fears Over the Dollar

      The Forrest Dump administration has recently sought to scale back sanctions as adversaries develop workarounds that some believe could erode the U.S. dollar’s supremacy.

    • The Straits Times ☛ North Korean foreign minister on official visit to Russia: State media

      Choe Son Hui and her party left Pyongyang for Russia on July 18.

    • New York Times ☛ Ukraine’s Top General Becomes a Target of Protesters’ Anger

      Demonstrators supporting Ukraine’s ousted defense minister have begun denouncing the commander he clashed with in office, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi.

    • LRT ☛ Civic initiative turns old phones into drone detectors as Lithuania fixates on air defence

      As Lithuania steps up preparations for potential aerial threats, a new civic initiative is encouraging residents to turn unused Android smartphones into acoustic drone detectors that could help identify low-flying aircraft.

    • France24 ☛ 'The facts are there': Macron salutes fulfilling pledge to boost defence spending

      Emmanuel Macron has vowed France, and Europe, will defend freedom at all costs -- and with blood, if necessary. The French President made the call to action as he gave his traditional speech to the armed forces on the eve of the July 14 military parade to mark France's national holiday. Macron also praised a fulfilled 'commitment to rearm'.

• Transparency/Investigative Reporting

  • New York Times ☛ Vance Remarks on Epstein and Israel Echo Conspiracy Theories

    The vice president’s comment that there were ties between Mr. Epstein and the “highest levels” of Israeli intelligence troubled some in his party.

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • Futurism ☛ Decrepit Oscar Mayer Hot Dog Factory Is Getting a Major Fusion Reactor Facelift

      "From sausages to fusion."

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • Futurism ☛ As Much of the East Coast Is Choking on Wildfire Smoke, Texas Is Drowning in Life-Threatening Floods

      It's the perfect storm of extreme weather events.

• Finance

  • The Straits Times ☛ Cash for quiet? Apartment residents in South Korea turn to paid noise settlements

    Disputes over interfloor noise have been on the rise in South Korea.

  • The Straits Times ☛ ‘Four years isn’t enough’: South Korean students shaken by new US stay policy

    The US on July 16 finalised a rule setting a four-year limit on the stay of foreign students.

  • WhichUK ☛ Does your pension provider know how to contact you?

    Less than half of schemes are keeping member details fully up to date

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • The Strategist ☛ Modi’s visit: Australia, India seek to gain strength from each other

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day visit to Australia last week delivered substantial outcomes, especially in the defence and security sector.

  • New York Times ☛ Boosie Lobbied for a Convicted Felon Pardon. It Never Came. He Wants a Refund.

    The Southern rapper paid $600,000 to two right-wing operatives. Now, they’re in a dispute over a contract the rapper believes entitles him to at least half his money back.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • France24 ☛ Fight or Flight: Convicted Felon administration subpoenas journalists over Air Force One reporting

    This week France 24's media show "Scoop" looks at The Insurrectionist's latest attempt to intimidate the press. The New York Times broke the story that the Qatari-donated Air Force One had security concerns. It was clearly newsworthy: the US President flying on a plane that was less secure than another that was available to him. The administration responded by issuing subpoenas to the journalists who wrote the article. Our guest is Will Creeley from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

• Civil Rights / Policing / Accessibility

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ ‘We are X’: Hong Kong moves to reform its archaic sex laws, but victims of prolonged child sexual abuse feel left out

    When police asked Mui to recall every sexual abuse incident she suffered, she found it incredibly painful. She had been abused by her stepfather for seven years, beginning when she was just 13 and lasting until she turned 20.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • APNIC ☛ Life on the Internet adoption curve

    The technology adoption curve has not changed, our position on it has. As the Internet and BGP move into later stages of adoption, rapid growth is giving way to saturation, changing how we plan, invest, and operate.

  • APNIC ☛ Data synchronization

    Distributed systems depend on synchronization, but every approach has tradeoffs. From full copies to delta updates, how do you choose the right method?

• Monopolies/Monopsonies

  • Patents

    • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ The Filing Clock: Hour-of-Day Patterns in USPTO Electronic Submissions

      USPTO e-filings peak at 3pm Eastern, with a quarter arriving after 5. New applications cluster Friday; office action responses cluster Monday.

    • Futurism ☛ Meta Patents Technology to Detect Your Mood by Constantly Analyzing Your Tone of Voice

      Burn it with fire.

    • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Looking Forward: Why Completed Conduct Often Cannot Support a Preliminary Injunction

      Federal Circuit reverses the Ridge v. Kirk NationaLease preliminary injunction: past conduct and speculative harm cannot support forward-looking relief.

    • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Locked In or Left Open: A Decision Matrix for PTAB Fact Findings After Appeal

      Fed. Cir.: PTAB findings unnecessary to an appealed judgment fall outside the mandate and stay open on remand. Intellectual Pixels v. Sony.

    • Unified Patents ☛ $2,000 awarded for Hey Hi (AI) 3D imaging patent monopoly prior art

      Unified is pleased to announce PATROLL crowdsourcing contest winners, Umesh Kumar and Guddu Yadav, who split an award of $2,000 for their prior art submissions on claim 17 of U.S. Patent 10,979,693, owned by the Artificial Intelligence Imaging Association Inc., an NPE and entity of R. Hewen & Co., LLC. The '693 patent monopoly relates to a stereoscopic imaging device for capturing 3D images and video with a wide field of view. The disclosed system is designed to support virtual reality use by immersing a user in a simulated environment created from the captured 3D content. The patent monopoly has been in a complaint seeking declaratory judgments of noninfringement, invalidity, and unenforceability filed by Plus One Robotics.

    • Unified Patents ☛ Validity of Athena Security patent monopoly being investigated

      The team at Unified is using Pearl to identify and chart prior art against a patent monopoly owned by Athena Security, LLP, an NPE.

    • JUVE ☛ Colin Birss takes on further administrative duties

      The Master of the Rolls presides over the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and serves as Head of Civil Justice. The role is second in judicial importance only to the Lady or Lord Chief Justice.

    • JUVE ☛ Munich court bans AorticLab’s embolic protection device in dispute with Emboline

      The dispute concerns embolic protection devices used for chronic embolic protection and is playing out at the UPC and in national courts. At Munich Regional Court, Emboline had brought proceedings concerning its German utility model DE 20 2016 009 224.

  • Copyrights

    • Digital Music News ☛ ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus Says We Might Be Doing Hey Hi (AI) Licensing Deals Wrong

      CISAC President and ABBA co-founder Björn Ulvaeus gave a detailed speech about creators’ relationship with Hey Hi (AI) at the UN’s Hey Hi (AI) for Good Summit in Geneva, while questioning the approach of some licensing dealmakers.