Leftovers

• Ben Congdon ☛ Fifty Bits of Career Advice

  As my team’s summer interns finished up their rotations this week, I had my usual end-of-internship “AMA” 1:1s. It’s something I enjoy doing, but I realized I was covering a lot of the same topics I’ve discussed with other previous interns and early-career engineers over the years.

  So I thought it’d be useful to collect these recurring bits of advice into a single place, both for my own reference and for anyone else who might find them helpful.

• Science

  • The Straits Times ☛ China’s Gen Z women embrace centuries-old script

    The script emerged around 400 years ago and was used in communication through letters and songs.

• Hardware

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ CT scan peels back the layers of time to reveal the engineering within Intel’s iconic 386 CPU — exposing intricate pin mapping, hidden power planes, and more

    A high-resolution CT scan of Intel’s legendary 386 processor reveals its hidden inner world without breaking it open. See the complete 3D map of gold bond wires, detailed pin connections, and the layered power planes that powered one of computing’s most influential CPUs.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • Federal News Network ☛ Federal employees’ COVID vaccine statuses to be removed from personnel documents

    The Office of Personnel Management says no information related to vaccines can be used in decisions on hiring, promotions, discipline or terminations.

  • Federal News Network ☛ CDC union condemns vaccine misinformation after shooter blamed COVID vaccine for depression

    A Georgia man who had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal has been identified as the shooter who opened fire late Friday [...]

  • France24 ☛ South Sudan: Clinics offering mental health support scarce and at risk of shutting down

    Authorities in South Sudan are sounding the alarm over the state of the country's mental health. Just last month, 12 suicides were reported in Juba in a single week. Clinics offering mental health support are scarce and at risk of closing down. In 2022, eight centres opened nationwide with the aim of serving over 20,000 people for the first time. However, with funding from Italy and Greece set to expire, their future is uncertain.

  • New York Times ☛ Are Samosas Unhealthy? Some Indians Find Official Advice Hard to Swallow.

    A government advisory noting the high fat and sugar levels in many popular snacks was seen by some as an attack on India’s beloved street food.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Summer nights in Hong Kong subdivided flats can feel like 44°C, survey finds

    Summer nights in Hong Kong’s subdivided flats can feel as hot as 44°C during the sweltering month of July, a survey by local concern groups has found.

  • Federal News Network ☛ Strengthening federal healthcare through smarter pharmaceutical procurement

    To modernize procurement and strengthen the federal healthcare system, the VA should update its policies to reflect today’s supply chain realities.

  • Latvia ☛ How many healthy life years can a Latvian expect? Not that many

    Latvia comes rank bottom of the latest Eurostat data on how many healthy years EU citizens can expect to enjoy during their lives.

  • The Straits Times ☛ 6 in 10 Malaysians upbeat about ageing, survey finds

    In developed countries, a longer life expectancy does not translate into positive sentiment, said a market research company.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Battle of the bulge: Will China’s home-grown obesity drugs reshape global weight loss market?

    Chinese drugmakers are racing to roll out cheaper or more innovative alternatives.

• Proprietary

  • Windows TCO / Windows Bot Nets

    • Security Week ☛ Russian Hackers Exploited WinRAR Zero-Day in Attacks on Europe, Canada

      WinRAR has patched CVE-2025-8088, a zero-day exploited by Russia’s RomCom in attacks on financial, defense, manufacturing and logistics companies.

• Pseudo-Open Source

  • Openwashing

    • TechRepublic ☛ Dia’s Paid Plan Marks New Phase in AI-Powered Web Browsing

      Dia, an AI-powered browser from The Browser Company, launches a $20 Pro plan billed as “unlimited” Hey Hi (AI) access, but subject to Terms that can curb heavy use.

• Security

  • Scoop News Group ☛ SonicWall pins firewall attack spree on year-old vulnerability

    The vendor ruled out a zero-day vulnerability as the root cause, disputing initial assessments from third-party researchers. Fewer than 40 organizations have been impacted since mid-July.

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Federal News Network ☛ Passport demand is ‘magnitudes’ higher, but State Dept isn’t seeing backlogs

      The State Department is working on more updates to the online passport renewal system, including a version optimized for mobile browsers on smartphones.

    • New York Times ☛ Why Hey Hi (AI) Should Make Parents Rethink Posting Photos of Their Children Online

      Artificial intelligence apps generating fake nudes, amid other privacy concerns, make “sharenting” far riskier than it was just a few years ago.

• Defence/Aggression

  • France24 ☛ Colombian presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe dies 2 months after being shot during a rally

    A Colombian senator and presidential hopeful whose shooting at a political rally in June recalled some of the darkest chapters of the country's drug-fueled violence died Monday. The family of Miguel Uribe Turbay said the politician died at a hospital in the capital, Bogota. Uribe, 39, was shot three times, twice in the head, while giving a campaign speech in a park and had since remained in an intensive care unit in serious condition with episodes of slight improvement. Details by Patricio Peralta, FRANCE 24 Espanol journalist in Bogota.

  • Unicorn Media ☛ Your Country’s Digital Sovereignty Index Score — and Why It Matters

    Think your country’s got its digital act together? The Digital Sovereignty Index might have a few surprises for you.

  • Scoop News Group ☛ House lawmakers seek better tech for Commerce in fight against foreign powers

    A bipartisan bill from Reps. Crow and Kean would give the Bureau of Industry and Security IT upgrades to help keep U.S. dual-use technologies away from Russia, China and others.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Brazil's Lula, China's Pooh-tin discuss BRICS, bilateral opportunities

    BRASILIA/BEIJING - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Chinese President Pooh-tin Jinping have discussed the role of the BRICS group of states and bilateral business over a phone call, according to Lula's office and Chinese state media said.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Extends China Tariff Truce by Three Months

    Hell Toupée’s order continues a reprieve from the threat of escalating tariffs and export controls, which rocked the global economy earlier this year.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man's trade war with China in 2025

    U.S. President The Insurrectionist has targeted top economic rival China with a cascade of tariff orders on billions of dollars of imported goods aimed at narrowing a wide trade deficit, bringing back lost manufacturing and crippling the fentanyl trade.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Philippines’ Marcos says China ‘misinterpreted’ his comments on Taiwan

    He said Manila will be inevitably drawn into a conflict between China and Taiwan should one erupt.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Chinese vessels collide while pursuing Philippine boat in South China Sea

    The incident occurred near the contested Scarborough Shoal.

  • Chinese vessels collide while chasing Philippine boat near disputed Scarborough Shoal

    A Chinese coast guard ship hit a much larger Chinese vessel while pursuing a Philippine boat in the South China Sea

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Chinese vessels collide while pursuing Philippine boat in South China Sea

    A Chinese navy vessel collided with one from its own coast guard while chasing a Philippine patrol boat in the South China Sea on Monday, Manila said, releasing dramatic video footage of the confrontation.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • LRT ☛ Deal is better than tariffs war: Lithuanian ambassador took part in EU-US trade talks

      A political trade agreement reached in late July between the European Union and the United States is a positive outcome, especially considering what the alternative could have been, says Jovita Neliupšienė, the EU Ambassador to the US, who personally took part in the negotiations.

    • The Strategist ☛ The other side of service: divorce, duty and the Defence-family myth

      ‘We thank the families for their service.’ It’s a familiar line in Defence speeches, ceremonies and public messaging. It’s a nod to the essential, often unseen role that families play in enabling Australia’s military capability.

    • France24 ☛ Finland charges captain of Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker over Baltic Sea cable sabotage

      Finnish prosecutors have charged the captain and two officers of a tanker believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet" with sabotage on Monday, accusing them of dragging an anchor along the Gulf of Finland seabed last December and cutting five undersea cables, causing tens of millions of euros in damage.

    • LRT ☛ 80 years since Hiroshima and Nagasaki: what if an atomic bomb fell on Lithuania?

      With the world marking 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the threat of nuclear weapons remains a stark reality. Russia’s arsenal now includes missiles capable of unleashing blasts tens of times more powerful than those historic attacks. What would happen if one of these modern warheads struck a city like Vilnius?

    • New York Times ☛ Finland Charges Ship’s Crew Members in Slashing of Undersea Cables

      The tanker, the Eagle S, was detained last December.

    • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Wields Tariffs as a Force in Diplomacy, to Questionable Effect

      The president has threatened more tariffs on Russia and its trading partners and has imposed harsh ones on India and Brazil to try to sway matters of war and politics.

    • Meduza ☛ Moscow court convicts Kaliningrad doctors in controversial newborn murder case — Meduza

    • LRT ☛ Belarusians mark protests anniversary in Lithuania amid sense of simmering hostility

      Belarusians living in Lithuania on Saturday marked the fifth anniversary of mass protests against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country for more than two decades. While the participants expressed gratitude to Lithuania for sheltering them, some noted a growing hostility from the locals.

    • Latvia ☛ Nordics and Baltics: 'Path to peace cannot be charted without Ukraine’s voice'

      The eight Nordic and Baltic countries issued a joint statement on August 10th in the context of the latest U.S.-brokered talks about resolving Russia's illegal war on Ukraine and a possible upcoming meeting between Presidents Convicted Felon of America and Putin of Russia. The statement is reproduced in full below.

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Alaska Summit: Convicted Felon must press Putin over future Ukrainian security

      Dihydroxyacetone Man-Putin Alaska Summit: If Moscow insists on the acceptance of Russian control over Ukrainian land for a ceasefire, it must accept strong measures to bolster Ukrainian security as well, writes John E. Herbst.

    • RFERL ☛ EU Leaders Preparing Statement Supporting Ukraine's Territorial Integrity, RFE/RL Learns

      European Union leaders are preparing a joint statement underlining the bloc's support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the need for Kyiv to be at the table of any talks on its future ahead of a meeting between US President The Insurrectionist and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska.

    • RFERL ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Seeks 'Constructive' Talks With Putin Amid EU's Push To Include Zelenskyy

      US President The Insurrectionist said he expects a “constructive conversation” with Russian President Vladimir Putin on ending the war in Ukraine, as Brussels seeks to forge a role for Kyiv at the summit.

    • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Says He’s Going to Alaska to See What Putin ‘Has in Mind’

      Hell Toupée set a low bar for his summit with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, saying he was ready to walk away if no deal was forthcoming.

    • New York Times ☛ A Sidelined Zelensky Warns That Russia Will Try to Deceive the U.S.

      Ukraine fears that the Kremlin will try to convince Hell Toupée at U.S.-Russian talks in Alaska that Ukraine, not Russia, is the obstacle to peace.

    • Meduza ☛ Russian advances in Ukraine accelerate ahead of Putin–Trump Alaska summit — Meduza

    • Latvia ☛ Latvian citizen included on Ukrainian sanctions list

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree imposing sanctions on several hundred individuals and companies from around the world, and the list includes Latvian citizen Aleksejs Haļavins, who is linked to Russia's "shadow fleet" of sanctions-busting oil tankers.

    • LRT ☛ Ukraine’s borders are non-negotiable, says Lithuanian FM ahead of Alaska meeting

      As the US and Russian president are gearing up for talks in Alaska, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys insists that Ukraine’s borders are “non-negotiable”, following comments from The Insurrectionist that “some swapping of territories” may be expected.

    • France24 ☛ Russian strikes pound Ukraine, Kyiv targets Moscow

      Russian strikes continue to pound Ukraine. Six people were killed by drones or artillery fire in the eastern region of Donetsk and in the southern regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, according to local authorities. A Russian glide bomb also hit a busy central bus station in Zaporizhzhia, injuring 20 people. Story by Carys Garland and Sophie Samaille.

    • New York Times ☛ Foreign Recruits in Ukraine Military Are Killed in Russian Missile Strike

      Russia has repeatedly targeted soldiers assembled at military academies, barracks and parade grounds.

    • Meduza ☛ Russia says Ukrainian intelligence scammed elderly women to coerce them into attacking soldiers — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Ukrainian drones reportedly hit synthetic sapphire plant in Russia’s Stavropol — Meduza

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ China’s automakers taking shortcut to European markets

      Other automakers are shipping cars from Asia by way of a much longer trip around Africa.

• Finance

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea, Vietnam leaders pledge deeper ties as US tariffs shake up trade

    The countries plan to sign at least 10 memoranda of understanding at the upcoming summit meeting.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea court to rule on bid to arrest former first lady

    Ms Kim did not answer reporters’ questions or make a statement.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korean President Lee pardons ex-minister Cho Kuk over fraud, abuse of power scandals

    He was convicted of forging academic credentials for his children's college admissions, among others.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • Opinion | An example of bipartisanship our lawmakers should follow

    Data on Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics shows that a bipartisan program can serve communities without either side having to give up anything. They both just have to agree on the fact that it works.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • The Straits Times ☛ China says Thai art show 'distorts' its policies on Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong

    China on Monday accused organisers of an exhibition in Thailand of distorting Chinese policies on Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong after the show's co-curator said artworks were removed or altered at Beijing's request.

  • China pressures Bangkok gallery to remove Uyghur, Tibetan, Hong Kong artwork

    Removed was a multimedia installation by a Tibetan artist, the words “Hong Kong”, “Tibet” and “Uyghur” redacted.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • France24 ☛ Killing of Al Jazeera journalists is '100% a war crime', CPJ Regional Director says

    Media advocacy group the Committee to Protect Journalists on Monday slammed an Israeli strike that killed several Al Jazeera staff in Gaza overnight, saying journalists should never be targeted in war. The CPJ in July called for the protection of Anas al-Sharif, one of the journalists killed in the Israeli strike, after an Israeli military spokesman claimed he was a militant. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks to Sara Qudah, Regional Director, MENA, at the CPJ.

  • France24 ☛ 'Israel has a pattern of murdering journalists in Gaza and the West Bank and then lying about it'

    A deadly Israeli strike on a tent outside the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City has killed five staff members of Qatari news channel Al Jazeera and a Palestinian freelance journalist. The victims included prominent reporter Anas al-Sharif. The Israeli government has accused Mr. al-Sharif of being a Hamas operative, something Al-Jazeera vehemently denies. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24's Stuart Norval welcomes Professor William Schabas, prominent author and Professor of International Law at Middlesex University, specialising in international human rights law and criminal law.

  • JURIST ☛ Al Jazeera journalists killed in targeted Israeli airstrike

    Five Al Jazeera staff correspondents were reportedly killed late Sunday in a targeted Israeli strike on a press tent outside Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital. The reported strike killed journalists Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa.

  • New York Times ☛ What to Know About Al Jazeera, the Broadcaster Israel Accuses of Supporting Hamas

    Al Jazeera, five of whose reporters the broadcaster said were killed by an Israeli strike, has angered governments across the region that claim it gives voice to terrorists. The outlet denies that.

  • New York Times ☛ Who Were the Al Jazeera Journalists Killed in an Israeli Strike in Gaza?

    Officials accused Anas al-Sharif of being a Hamas operative posing as a reporter. Al Jazeera says he and the other four victims all worked for the network.

  • New York Times ☛ Israeli Strike Kills 5 Al Jazeera Journalists, Network Says

    Anas al-Sharif, a well-known correspondent, was among those killed. Israel said it had targeted Mr. al-Sharif, claiming he worked for Hamas, which he had denied.

  • France24 ☛ UN, EU, media groups condemn Israeli strike that killed Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza

    The United Nations, European Union and press freedom groups condemned an Israeli strike that killed six journalists, including five from Al Jazeera, in Gaza on Sunday. Israel has offered no evidence to back its claims that one of the journalists was a Hamas militant.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • APNIC ☛ Event Wrap: IDNOG 10

    Makito Lay conducted training on network automation, and presented on RPKI at IDNOG 10, held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 21 to 24 July 2025.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Patents

  • JUVE ☛ mRNA patent monopoly wars kick into higher gear during dog days of summer

    After BioNTech announced its plans to acquire German competitor CureVac, a settlement seemed inevitable. Last Friday, CureVac, BioNTech and its cooperation partner Pfizer announced they would end their patent monopoly dispute in the USA. Subject to the successful completion of the acquisition, all other proceedings between the parties concerning mRNA-based vaccines will also conclude.

  • Unified Patents ☛ Blue Wave IP entity, Edge Networking, SaaS patent monopoly challenge instituted

    On July 22, 2025, after Unified filed an ex parte reexamination, the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) granted Unified’s request, finding substantial new questions of patentability on the challenged claims of U.S. Patent 11,695,823, owned and asserted by Edge Networking Systems, LLC, an NPE and entity of Blue Wave IP.

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let Down Your Generic Hair (and Let the Supreme Court In)!

    Rebecca Curtin, an IP-focused Suffolk law professor and a parent who purchases princess dolls, is setting up to file her petition for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court on her pending trademark case.  In Curtin v. United Trademark Holdings, Inc., No. 23-2140 (Fed. Cir. May 22, 2025), the Federal Circuit affirmed the TTAB dismissal of Curtin’s opposition to United Trademark Holdings’ application to register “RAPUNZEL” for dolls and toy figures under International Class 28. Curtin had challenged the mark as generic, merely descriptive, and failing to function as a trademark – arguing that registration refusal is necessary to protect the public’s right to use common language to describe categories of goods. The Federal Circuit’s ruling, however, concluded that consumers like Curtin lack statutory standing to bring such challenges under 15 U.S.C. § 1063, effectively limiting opposition proceedings to commercial actors with competitive interests in the marketplace.

  • Kangaroo Courts

    • JUVE ☛ Carpmaels and A&O Shearman file first SPC suit at UPC for Merz against Viatris [Ed: UPC is illegal]

      The UPC moves quickly. On 31 July, Merz Therapeutics, the US subsidiary of German pharmaceutical company Merz, revoked the opt-out from the UPC system for its EP 2 377 536.

• Trademarks

  • TTAB Blog ☛ TTABlog Test: Is MAYELA Confusable with MAYA for Wine?

    Oakville Hill Cellar opposed an application to register the mark MAYELA for wines, claiming likely confusion with its registered mark MAYA for wine. Applicant Peninsula started behind the 8-ball because the goods are identical, there are no limitations as to price, and the Board must presume that the goods travel in the same, normal channels of trade to the same classes of consumers. But what about the marks? Oakville Hills Cellar, Inc. dba Dalla Valle Vineyards v. Peninsula Vinicultores, S.L., Opposition No. 91287178 (August 4, 2025) [not precedential] (Opinion by Judge Catherine Dugan O'Connor).

• Copyrights

  • Digital Music News ☛ US Copyright Office Skirmishes Intensify, Though Time Isn’t On Perlmutter’s Side

    Another day, another round of back-and-forth in the Perlmutter v. Blanche lawsuit, where dueling summary judgement motions are taking center stage. Both sides just recently filed a proposed schedule for that summary judgement sub-dispute, and the presiding judge signed off on the timetable soon thereafter.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Kevin Woo Leverages OpenWav for Direct Fan Engagement During KCON, Demonstrating New Artist Centric Model

    K-pop star Kevin Woo, the celebrated voice behind ‘Saja Boys’ in the DRM spreader Netflix streaming hit KPop Demon Hunters, took center stage to host a fan meet-up during KCON weekend in Los Angeles.