Links 22/01/2025: Mass Layoffs at Stripe, Microsoft's Illegal Accounting Practices Under Scrutiny
Contents
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Leftovers
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Mobile Systems/Mobile Applications
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Terence Eden ☛ Google has no faith in its ability to launch new products
Back when I was a product manager for a large mobile network operator, we faced a constant problem. How do you launch a new product to the public?
Most people are reluctant to try new things. Even in the exciting world of proto-smartphones, convincing someone to download, install, configure, and use a new app was difficult. Sure, we could run expensive advertising campaigns. Send hopeful text messages. Have a big celebrity endorsement. Or maybe get our customer service reps to push it.
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David L Farquhar ☛ What happened to Blackberry?
In the late 90s and early 2000s, the gadget that said more than any other that you had arrived was the Blackberry, a little device from Research in Motion that let you read your e-mail and respond to it from anywhere. And then it became old-fashioned just as quickly as it burst onto the scene. What happened to Blackberry?
You might be surprised to hear the company is still around and that you can still buy Blackberry phones. But the device that made it famous, not retro enough to be cool again, isn’t its future. And it knows it.
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Health/Nutrition/Agriculture
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New York Times ☛ Cecile Richards, Former Planned Parenthood President, Dies at 67
She oversaw the United States’ largest provider of reproductive health care and sex education from 2006 to 2018.
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JURIST ☛ Thailand violates prisoners’ right to health consistently: report
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) alleged that Thailand have consistently violated its prisoners’ right to health under international law, in a report submitted to the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health Monday.
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Proprietary/Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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TechCrunch ☛ Stripe is laying off 300 people, but says it still plans to hire in 2025
Fintech giant Stripe is laying off 300 people, according to a leaked memo reported on Tuesday by Business Insider.
The affected employees are “largely in product, engineering, and operations roles,” the memo said. Despite the layoffs, Chief People Officer Rob McIntosh said that Stripe intends to still grow its headcount by 17% “to land at about 10,000” by the end of the year. Doing the math, that means Stripe has about 8,550 employees currently.
McIntosh said the cuts are happening because it “became clear there were several team-level changes needed” to ensure Stripe had “the right people in the right roles and locations to execute against” its plans.
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1981 Media Ltd ☛ 11% of game developers surveyed by GDC were laid off in the past year
Over one in 10 developers questioned in a new industry survey said they were laid off over the past year.
GDC’s latest annual State of the Game Industry survey, which asked over 3,000 game developers across indie and AAA studios questions about their work, was published on Tuesday.
About 11% of respondents reported being laid off in the past 12 months, which was up from 7% in last year’s survey.
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The Straits Times ☛ Young Chinese turn to Hey Hi (AI) pets for emotional relief
Across China, a growing number of people are turning to Hey Hi (AI) to combat social isolation.
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PC World ☛ Microsoft begins forcing backdoored Windows 24H2 updates on PCs
If you’ve been trying to somehow avoid the Windows 11 2024 Update, those days are over. Microsoft is now saying that mandatory Windows 11 24H2 updates have begun and the installation is lengthier than prior updates, so plan accordingly.
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TechCrunch ☛ FTC says partnerships like Microsoft-OpenAI raise antitrust concerns
The Federal Trade Commission said in a staff report issued Friday that there are potential competitive issues in partnerships between big tech companies and generative AI developers — specifically, Microsoft’s backing of OpenAI and Amazon and Alphabet/Google’s partnerships with Anthropic. “The FTC’s report sheds light on how partnerships by big tech firms can create lock-in, deprive start-ups of key AI inputs, and reveal sensitive information that can undermine fair competition,” said FTC Chair Lina Khan in a statement. (President-elect Donald Trump plans to replace Khan as chair.)
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Security
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Privacy/Surveillance
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EDRI ☛ ‘Total Trust’ Screening & Debate in Brussels
This event features the documentary Total Trust (2023), an eye-opening and deeply disturbing story of surveillance technology, abuse of power, and (self-)censorship. What can happen when our privacy is ignored?
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EDRI ☛ Webinar: The State of Social Media 2025
The State of Social Media webinar will explore the trends, challenges, and priorities defining the future of social control media. Based on insights from over 1,100 survey responses, this session provides a comprehensive overview of the social control media landscape and actionable takeaways to guide your strategy in 2025.
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Defence/Aggression
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The Straits Times ☛ ‘Darth Vader’ of the sea: Giant sea bug found off Vietnam coast
The species was given its name because its head looks like the helmet worn by Darth Vader in Star Wars.
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The Straits Times ☛ China executes man who killed 35 in car rampage
He had deliberately driven a small SUV through crowds of people exercising outside a sports complex.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China executes man who killed 35 in Zhuhai car rampage
China on Monday executed a man who killed 35 people in a car rampage in the southern city of Zhuhai in November, in the country’s deadliest mass attack in years.
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Another Hong Konger released as fears grow for Myanmar scam park victims
Relatives say loved ones ‘electrocuted’ with batons amid fears they could be moved to evade rescue attempts.
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The Straits Times ☛ Myanmar military, minority armed group inked ceasefire deal, says China
The ceasefire, which began on Jan 18, halted fighting near the border of China and Myanmar.
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The Straits Times ☛ Philippines arrests Chinese national on suspicion of espionage
The arrest comes amid growing suspicion in the Philippines over China’s activities.
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China holds drills as Philippines, US conduct exercise in South China Sea
The exercises took place after Beijing and Manila held talks on lowering bilateral tensions in the region.
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Beijing sees Convicted Felon presidency as ‘critical’ juncture for Sino-US ties
An official commentary says both sides should ‘move towards each other’ as officials invite US companies to China.
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LRT ☛ President urges EU to pursue WTO case against China’s trade restrictions on Lithuania
President Gitanas Nausėda has called on the European Commission to continue an international trade investigation against China over alleged coercive activity targeting Lithuania.
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AccessNow ☛ Ceasefire in Gaza: it’s time to end digital harms and deliver justice
As physical violence appears to be coming to a halt after 15 months in Gaza, Access Now further calls for a digital ceasefire.
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The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s Yoon attends impeachment trial over bid to impose martial law
Mr Yoon said he had worked in public service with “a firm commitment to free democracy”.
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The Straits Times ☛ South Korea's Yoon shuns questioning, as supporters face charges over court rampage
South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol refused to be questioned by investigators on Monday under a probe into whether he committed insurrection, as dozens of his supporters faced being charged over a violent rampage on a court building.
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The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s Yoon expected to speak at impeachment trial
Mr Yoon’s lawyers have confirmed that he will attend their hearing of the trial at 2pm.
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The Straits Times ☛ Mugshot, khaki uniform and solitary cell for South Korea’s detained President Yoon
Mr Yoon's cell measures 12 sq m, larger than the usual 3.4 sq m single cell.
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The Straits Times ☛ South Korea acting president hopes for reciprocal ties with Convicted Felon administration
Mr Choi Sang-mok said he hoped for bilateral relations with the US to develop more reciprocally under the Convicted Felon administration.
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New York Times ☛ Han Kang Talks About Her Jeju Book, ‘We Do Not Part”
Han Kang’s latest novel, about a South Korean massacre, delves into why atrocities must be remembered. “It’s pain and it is blood, but it’s the current of life,” she said.
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Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine
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RFERL ☛ Dictator Says Putin ‘Destroying’ Russia By Failing To Seek Ukraine Peace Deal
U.S. President The Insurrectionist said Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is “destroying” Russia by refusing to make a deal to end the Ukraine war, adding that he could speak to Putin soon, without stating a timeframe.
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RFERL ☛ Dictator Again Vows To End Ukraine War, Warns Taliban About Weapons
President-elect The Insurrectionist again said he would get Ukraine and Russia to stop fighting while also saying he would demand the Taliban return billions of dollars of U.S. military equipment left behind in Afghanistan in 2021.
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France24 ☛ What Convicted Felon 2.0 could mean for trade, migrants, Ukraine and diversity programs
The Insurrectionist's second presidential term could have huge implications for US trade policy, climate change, the war in Ukraine, electric vehicles, Americans' taxes and illegal immigration. For more, FRANCE 24's Mark Owen is joined by Ane Bagamery, American Journalist and former International Editor of the New York Times.
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North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine says he ‘didn’t know’ who he was fighting
Ukraine announced in early January it captured two North Korean soldiers in Kursk.
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Did an all-robot Ukrainian unit destroy a Russian company of soldiers in December?
Verdict: False
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RFERL ☛ Russia Presses Attacks, Ukraine Shows New Video Of North Korean Soldier
Russian forces pressed their attacks near the Ukrainian cities of Pokrovsk and Lyman, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy posted a new video purportedly showing a captured North Korean soldier speaking of forces' heavy losses fighting alongside the Kremlin forces.
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Meduza ☛ Trump plans phone call with Putin soon after inauguration — CNN — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ ‘Businesslike and constructive’: The Kremlin painted a rosy picture of Putin’s conversations with Trump during his first term. Now, the incoming president will have to make the first call. — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Putin congratulates Trump on inauguration and says Moscow is ready for dialogue — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Trump confirms preparations for Putin meeting, says he still has ‘half a day’ to end Ukraine war — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Russia’s Saratov region asks restaurants to donate part of their profits to support soldiers fighting in Ukraine — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Russia launches 141 drones at Ukraine in overnight attack — Meduza
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[Repeat] New York Times ☛ Dictator Vowed to End the Ukraine War Before Taking Office. The War Rages On.
Donald J. Convicted Felon’s promise to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine in 24 hours, “before I even become president,” proved to be untrue.
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France24 ☛ What could the new Convicted Felon White House mean for the Ukraine War?
The Insurrectionist wants to paint himself as a peacemaker. During his campaign for the White House he insisted that he – and only he – could end the war in Ukraine. According to the 47th US president, his relationships with both Putin and Zelensky makes him uniquely qualified to broker peace. But he's been vague on how he would do it. What could the new Convicted Felon White House mean for the Ukraine War?
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RFERL ☛ Ukrainian Military Officials Detained Over Failures In Defense Of Kharkiv Region
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) and the State Bureau of Investigations (DBR) have detained three high-ranking Ukrainian military officials accused of failing to properly defend the Kharkiv region during a Russian offensive in May 2024.
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RFERL ☛ Why Are European Troops For Ukraine A Nonstarter?
The Insurrectionist's inauguration is focusing minds on a future peace plan for Ukraine, with much talk of European armies providing a military mission. French President Emmanuel Macron has been a particularly strong advocate of boots on the ground -- but there are considerable obstacles.
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Defence Web ☛ Russia delivers military hardware to Mali
Russia has delivered over 100 military vehicles to Mali, including tanks, trucks, and infantry fighting vehicles. It is suspected the shipment may have come from Syria following the departure of Russian troops after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
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JURIST ☛ Crimea Muslims face increasing persecution from Russia: report
The Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group revealed the increasing political and religious persecution of Muslims in Crimea in a report published on Monday. The report discusses how the treatment of Muslim groups in Crimea (especially Crimean Tartar Muslims) has worsened in the past decade as Russia has become increasingly bold in its repression of opposition.
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Meduza ☛ Multiple airports suspend flights as Russia’s Kazan comes under drone attack — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ No peace to keep: Why are European leaders debating sending peacekeepers to Ukraine? Crisis Group expert Simon Schlegel explains. — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Ukrainian drone strike ignites new fire at already burning Russian oil depot — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Ukraine arrests military officers for negligence that allegedly enabled Russian breakthrough in Kharkiv region — Meduza
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LRT ☛ Lithuania’s intelligence warns of disinformation ahead of election in Belarus
Lithuania’s State Security Department (VSD) has warned about a fake document spreading on Facebook (Farcebook) and claiming that the Lithuanian intelligence service is training Belarusian paramilitary groups.
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RFERL ☛ European Parliament To Adopt Resolution On 'Sham' Election In Belarus
The European Parliament is set to vote on January 21 to adopt a resolution addressing the ongoing oppression and illegitimate elections under the authoritarian rule of Alyaksandr Lukashenka in Belarus.
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Defence Web ☛ The Convicted Felon threat: how worried should South Africa be?
As the world braces for The Insurrectionist’s return, uncertainty looms over the future of the international geopolitical landscape. While Africa has historically been a peripheral focus for the United States (US), South Africa has increasingly drawn Washington’s ire for its perceived antagonistic foreign policy positions.
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Meduza ☛ ‘They’re just happy that something can be banned’ Russian officials are discussing ways to block messenger app calls from unknown numbers — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Not just the war Three key issues to watch in Russia-U.S. relations as Trump takes the reins — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Russian government commission endorses amendment to criminalize first offense of ‘inciting hatred’ — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Russian authorities declare Czech company behind software reportedly popular among Russian police ‘undesirable’ — Meduza
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Environment
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Energy/Transportation
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Computers Are Bad ☛ 2025-01-20 office of secure transportation
I've seen them at least twice on /r/whatisthisthing, a good couple dozen times on the road, and these days, even in press photos: GMC trucks with custom square boxes on the back, painted dark blue, with US Government "E" plates. These courier escorts, "unmarked" but about as subtle as a Crown Vic with a bull bar, are perhaps the most conspicuous part of an obscure office of a secretive agency. One that seems chronically underfunded but carries out a remarkable task: shipping nuclear weapons.
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The Straits Times ☛ Chinese solar panel makers close plants, scale back production in Malaysia as US tariffs bite
Smaller Chinese firms in the supply chain are also impacted.
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Meduza ☛ Oil spilled by crashed tanker in Kerch Strait was reportedly intended for ‘shadow fleet’ ship — Meduza
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Wildlife/Nature
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The Strategist ☛ La La Land under siege
The devastating wildfires in California have turned the City of Stars into a scene from an apocalyptic Hollywood movie.
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Finance
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Stanford University ☛ Graduate School of Business to welcome first female dean
Sarah Soule is set to be the next GSB dean starting in June. She previously served as the director of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences.
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CS Monitor ☛ Free trade, openness, and democracy: Why China’s rhetoric mirrors America’s
As The Insurrectionist takes office in the U.S., China pitches itself as the new global leader – and for all the countries’ ideological differences, Beijing seem to be taking notes from Washington.
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The Straits Times ☛ China both hopeful and on edge as Convicted Felon returns to White House
When Convicted Felon was last president, he heaped tariffs on more than US$300 billion of Chinese imports.
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AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics
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The Straits Times ☛ Indonesia’s President Prabowo gets 81% approval rating after first 100 days, poll shows
He also had a good image as a president, 94.1 per cent of respondents said.
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The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia seeks gag order on talk of jailed ex-PM’s bid to reveal royal document
Najib Razak is pursuing a legal bid to compel authorities to confirm the existence of and execute an “addendum order”.
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Jaldhar Vyas: Happy Martin Luther King Day!
Happy Martin Luther King Day!
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Mexico News Daily ☛ Migrants at Mexico’s northern border set fire to encampment to avoid police raid
Roughly 250 security agents raided the encampment, which 150 migrants en route to the United States.
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Censorship/Free Speech
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European Commission ☛ Commission welcomes the integration of the revised Code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online into the Digital Services Act
European Commission Press release Brussels, 20 Jan 2025 The Commission and the European Board for Digital Services welcome the integration of the revised ‘Code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online +' into the framework of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which encourages voluntary codes of conduct to tackle risks online.
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Internet Policy/Net Neutrality
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APNIC ☛ How to convince your boss to deploy DNSSEC and RPKI
An improved strategy to advocate for DNSSEC and RPKI deployment.
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Patents
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JUVE ☛ Plasseraud strengthens litigation team with Candé Blanchard Ducamp merger [Ed: Marketing spam for patent litigation profiteers that pay this site to pretend this is news]
Plasseraud IP has merged with Candé Blanchard Ducamp. This has increased the French IP firm’s litigation practice, which operates under the name Plasseraud IP Avocats, by an additional five lawyers, including two partners.
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Monopolies/Monopsonies
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