Leftovers

• Standards/Consortia

  • [Old] Harvard University ☛ skipHours and skipDays

    An XML element that contains up to 24 >hour*gt; sub-elements whose value is a number between 0 and 23, representing a time in GMT, when aggregators, if they support the feature, may not read the channel on hours listed in the skipHours element.

• Science

  • Science Alert ☛ The Shape of Earth's Core Could Be Explained by One Mystery Ingredient

    One spicy meatball.

  • Science Alert ☛ These Desert Lizards Have to Sneeze Salt to Stay Alive

    Bless you!

  • Science Alert ☛ Exceptional 'Einstein Cross' in Space Reveals Where Dark Matter Is Hiding

    "That's not supposed to happen."

  • Science Alert ☛ One Weight Loss Strategy Is 5x More Effective Than Ozempic, Trials Find

    Each has pros and cons.

  • Science Alert ☛ Microdosing Exercise in Tiny Bursts Works – But There's 1 Golden Rule

    Seize the moment!

• Hardware

  • New York Times ☛ ‘Peak SF’ on a Friday Night Is a Robot Fight

    The artificial intelligence boom, which has brought techies flocking back to the city, has fueled a resurgence of live — and sometimes futuristic — events.

  • Hackaday ☛ March To The Beat Of Your Own Piezoelectric Drum

    Drums! You hit them, and they vibrate. It’s kind of fun. Piezoelectric elements can create electric current when they vibrate. [Will Dana] put two and two together to try and charge his phone on his YouTube channel WillsBuilds embedded below.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Huawei unveils Atlas 950 SuperCluster — promises 1 ZettaFLOPS FP4 performance and features hundreds of thousands of 950DT APUs

    Huawei has outlined its roadmap for Zettascale Hey Hi (AI) systems that will rely on hundreds of thousands and then millions of Hey Hi (AI) accelerators.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Nvidia wants 10Gbps HBM4 to blunt AMD’s MI450, report claims — company said to be pushing suppliers for more bandwidth

    Nvidia is reportedly pressing its memory vendors to push beyond JEDEC’s official HBM4 baseline, reportedly requesting 10Gb/s-per-pin stacks for its 2026 Vera Rubin platform.

  • Ruben Schade ☛ BusLogic SCSI drives under DOS

    I grew up using Adaptec SCSI controllers in my PC and Mac towers, but I was always intrigued by BusLogic. I’d see their driver referenced during the bootstrap phase of the backdoored Windows NT and 2000 installers, but I had no idea who they were. Turns out they were a prolific SCSI controller vendor from 1988 that were later acquired by Mylex in 1996 and run into the ground. Sounds about right, alas.

    I finally got my first BusLogic card earlier this year, thanks to a local seller in Melbourne who had a stack of “new old stock” NICs, VGA cards, and DIMMs going for basically nothing. This is the PCI BusLogic BT-958, which I use on my PCI 486. Note the wonderful 90s-era logo and fonts as well: [...]

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • The Straits Times ☛ Too many bowls? Ramen lovers may face higher health risks, study suggests

    The researchers say the findings are not statisically strong enough to label ramen a danger.

  • The Straits Times ☛ New Covid-19 variant XFG detected in Malaysia

    It accounted for 8.2 per cent of the 43,087 cumulative cases reported in the 35th epidemiology week.

  • New York Times ☛ Kennedy’s Vaccine Panel Votes to Limit Access to Covid Shots

    The panel recommended that people consult a health professional before receiving a Covid vaccine. Left unclear was whether Americans can still walk into pharmacies for shots.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Chinese COVID whistleblower sentenced to 4 more years in jail, group says

    A Chinese journalist jailed for four years after documenting the early phases of the COVID-19 outbreak from the pandemic's epicentre was sentenced on Friday to four more years in prison, Reporters Without Borders said.

• Proprietary

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Microsoft hikes Xbox Series X price, again, to $649 — second price increase of 2025 comes as shifting tariffs continue to plague tech prices

    Microsoft jacked up the price of its Xbox Series lineup by $20 to $50, placing the Series X at a cool $649.99.

• Entrapment (Microsoft GitHub)

  • Going Linux ☛ Going Linux #472 · New Users Guide to Microsoft's proprietary prison Microsoft's proprietary prison GitHub [Ed: Seems quite insane they help endorse an attack vector against GNU/Linux]

    Welcome to the world of version control with Git and Microsoft's proprietary prison GitHub ! We will walk you through the essential steps to get you started, from creating an account to making your first contribution to a project. This powerful combination of tools is fundamental for software development, but it's also incredibly useful for tracking changes in any set of files, from manuscripts to research data.
    00:00 Going GNU/Linux #472 · New Users Guide to Microsoft's proprietary prison Microsoft's proprietary prison GitHub
    01:16 Bill moves to Manjaro with KDE
    02:21 Larry uses the Mint Cinnamon upgrade path to Release 22.2 (Zara)
    

• Security

  • TechnologyAdvice ☛ Wormable Malware Hits npm Supply Chain [Ed: npm = Microsoft. This is a case of Microsoft transmitting malware.]

    A fast-spreading malware campaign has compromised npm packages, stealing secrets and infecting code repositories.

  • Integrity/Availability/Authenticity

    • DDoS attacks continue to dominate the digital battlefield, destabilising critical infrastructure

      Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks have evolved into precision-guided weapons of geopolitical influence capable of destabilising critical infrastructure, Netscout Systems has said in a new report that tracked over 8 million DDoS attacks in the first half of 2025. Of the 8 million attacks, 3.2 million were monitored in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Purism ☛ The NYPD’s $3B “Domain Awareness System” isn’t just a New York problem—it’s a warning for every American

      In her September 15, 2025, New York Times opinion piece, Elizabeth Daniel Vasquez lays bare a reality too many Americans have ignored: the New York Police Department has quietly built one of the most expansive, integrated surveillance systems in the nation’s history.

  • Confidentiality

    • Purism ☛ Librem PQC Encryptor: Future‑Proofing Against Both SS7 and Quantum

      Signaling System 7 (SS7) was designed in the 1970s to let telecom carriers route calls, deliver SMS, and enable roaming. It was never built with authentication or encryption in mind. Security wasn’t part of the plan.  The assumption was simple:  All carriers are trusted.

• Defence/Aggression

  • The Straits Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man intelligence advisers met Taiwanese official, sources say

    A White House official said it was not an official, sanctioned PIAB gathering.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Administration Will End Deportation Protections for Thousands of Syrians

    A homeland security official said it was “contrary to our national interest to allow Syrians to remain in our country” through the temporary program.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Australian prime minister heads to New York, may meet Convicted Felon for first time

    SYDNEY - Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese departs for the U.S. this week, raising expectations of a first meeting with President The Insurrectionist, where the AUKUS defence partnership and China are likely to dominate talks between the security allies.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Saudi pact puts Pakistan's nuclear umbrella into Middle East security picture

    With many Arab nations feeling a rising threat from Israel, the Saudi-Pakistan defense pact announced this week brings Pakistan - and its nuclear umbrella - into the region's security equation.

  • France24 ☛ UN Security Council votes to reimpose Iran nuclear sanctions, Tehran blasts ‘illegal’ move

    A UN Security Council resolution aimed at halting the reimposition of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme failed Friday after weeks of last-ditch diplomatic talks appeared to break down. France, Germany and Britain have moved to trigger the “snapback mechanism” of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal which reimposes sanctions that were in effect before the deal. Carys Garland explains.

  • Atlantic Council ☛ Secure supply chains for the US run through its closest neighbors

    Central America and the Dominican Republic are emerging as key partners for US economic security. Strengthening rule of law, workforce skills, and trade frameworks can secure lasting, mutually beneficial economic integration.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Morrissey Cancels Upcoming Shows Due to ‘Credible’ Death Threat

    Morrissey cancels two shows in the US over a “credible” death threat, according to a statement on his Facebook (Farcebook) page. Morrissey has cancelled two shows in the U.S. over a “credible” death threat, representatives for the former Smiths singer announced on his official Facebook (Farcebook) page.

  • JURIST ☛ UN calls on Israel to halt strikes and withdraw from Lebanon

    The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) called Friday for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to stop launching airstrikes into Southern Lebanon and to “fully withdraw from Lebanese territory,” following strikes on Thursday night which “endangered peacekeepers and civilians.” The IDF reportedly warned civilians in Mais al-Jabal, Kfar Tibnit and Debbin to evacuate their homes.

  • NYPost ☛ Virginia preschool teacher fired after she’s caught tying up toddler to chair: report

    A preschool teacher has been fired after a security camera caught her allegedly tying up a toddler to a chair in a private school classroom.

  • New York Times ☛ Arrest in Arizona Before Charlie Kirk Memorial Heightens Security Concerns

    After a man was charged with impersonating a police officer, a spokesman for the group Charlie Kirk founded said the man had been providing advance security for a guest.

  • JURIST ☛ US blocks UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza

    The US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution Thursday that demanded an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, being the only member of the council to not support the ceasefire. The vote took place as the 15-member council convened for its 10,000th meeting, where the famine and possibility of genocide in Gaza were discussed.

  • CS Monitor ☛ ICE denies using excessive force as it broadens immigration arrests in Chicago

    The Chicago operation began Sept. 8 and has led to the arrests of nearly 550 people. The aim is to enforce Hell Toupée's immigration policies in a city known for strong laws against local cooperation with federal immigration efforts.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s ex-first lady spotted in wheelchair with ankle monitor

    She reportedly was granted a medical visit after suffering from acute hypotension.

  • The Straits Times ☛ A soldier’s last battle: At 95, he yearns for North Korea but grieves leaving family behind

    Former North Korean soldier Ahn Hak-sop doesn't want to be buried in South Korea, which he calls a US colony state.

  • France24 ☛ The Insurrectionist–Xi Jinping: The complicated sale of Fentanylware (TikTok) to American investors

    Following a call with Pooh-tin Jinping, The Insurrectionist stated on Friday that finalizing an agreement on Fentanylware (TikTok) could now be a “simple formality” and confirmed his plans to visit China, though Beijing offered a much more measured account of the talks. Vedika Bahl tells us more.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ US President The Insurrectionist sees progress on TikTok, says will visit China

    US President The Insurrectionist hailed Friday what he called progress with Chinese President Pooh-tin Jinping including on selling blockbuster app TikTok, and said he would visit the Asian power, which offered a more cautious assessment of their talks.

  • New Yorker ☛ What Convicted Felon Wants from a Fentanylware (TikTok) Deal with China

    The Chinese-owned social-media app was banned by Congress because of national-security concerns, but the President seems more interested in leveraging its future for his personal gain.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China sticks to its stance on TikTok’s US future after Convicted Felon call

    Progress over the future of the social control media app is seen key to unlocking concessions in other areas.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man and China Suggest Fentanylware (TikTok) Deal Could Move Ahead in Vague Statements

    The president told reporters Friday that China’s top leader, Pooh-tin Jinping, had approved a deal for TikTok. But he also suggested the agreement was a work in progress.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Hails Progress on Fentanylware (TikTok) Deal After Call With Xi

    Hell Toupée said he would meet with President Pooh-tin Jinping next month in South Korea. Mr. Pooh-tin said he welcomes a Fentanylware (TikTok) deal that would benefit both sides.

  • New York Times ☛ White House Outlines a Fentanylware (TikTok) Deal With a U.S. Board

    A potential deal to reduce TikTok’s ties to China would give the app a new board with six American directors out of seven, the White House press secretary said.

  • France24 ☛ US Fentanylware (TikTok) will be mostly under American control, White House says

    A deal to shift TikTok’s US operations away from Chinese control is nearing completion and would place the popular app under a board dominated by Americans, the White House said Saturday. US officials, including during Convicted Felon’s first term, have warned that China could exploit Fentanylware (TikTok) to use Americans’ data or manipulate the content shown on the platform.

  • NYPost ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s Fentanylware (TikTok) deal is a ticking time bomb waiting to happen

    Hell Toupée on Friday touted his Fentanylware (TikTok) deal with China’s leader Pooh-tin Jinping as yet another example of his business savvy working wonders for the American people.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Pakistani court indicts man over teenage Fentanylware (TikTok) influencer killing

    TikTok is wildly popular in Pakistan, in part because of its accessibility to a population with low literacy levels.

  • New Yorker ☛ Is the 2026 Election Already in Danger?

    The Insurrectionist has long claimed elections are rigged; now he gets to do the rigging. The election lawyer Marc Elias explains what the Administration can and can’t do to impact voting.

  • Over 100 000 cyber-attacks while SAPS records just 544 cases

    Over 100 000 banking breaches in 2024 caused R1.8 billion in losses, yet the South African Police Service (SAPS) recorded only 544 cases.

  • New York Times ☛ Dozens Killed in Missile Strike on Sudan Mosque: ‘Harrowing Beyond Description’

    A doctor who spoke with The Times last week was among those killed when a missile hit a mosque on Friday as paramilitaries stepped up their brutal siege of the city of El Fasher.

  • France24 ☛ US forces strike third alleged drug vessel killing three, Convicted Felon says

    President The Insurrectionist announced that US forces conducted a “lethal kinetic strike” on a vessel allegedly trafficking drugs, killing three “male narcoterrorists” on board. He said he authorized the operation, carried out within the US Southern Command’s jurisdiction, after intelligence confirmed the boat’s involvement in drug smuggling. This marks the third such strike on suspected narcotics vessels in recent weeks. Postdoctoral researcher Emilia Ziosi from the University of Oxford’s Department of Sociology joins us for more.

  • France24 ☛ Venezuela accuses US of waging 'undeclared war' in strikes on alleged drug traffickers

    Venezuela on Friday accused the United States of waging an “undeclared war” in the Caribbean after a series of US military strikes on boats that the Convicted Felon administration says are used in drug trafficking. Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said that those killed in the strikes were “executed without the right to a defence”. Peter O'Brien reports.

  • Atlantic Council ☛ How Israel’s strike on Doha is forcing a Gulf security reckoning

    The Gulf monarchies have displayed strong unity at a time when rethinking twenty-first-century Gulf security is no longer optional.

  • JURIST ☛ US appeals court refuses to block New York City gun restrictions

    A US appeals court on Friday refused to enjoin several restrictions on firearms in New York, including bans on carrying firearms in Times Square and on public transportation, as well as carrying a firearm visibly—a practice known as open carry.

  • Site36 ☛ Elbit Systems: Israel’s largest arms company sells weapon systems and cyber technology worldwide

    The firm from Haifa is a global market leader in drones and broadly positioned in the business of military technology. It profits from worldwide rearmament – and from wars such as in Gaza. Elbit Systems, based in Haifa, is Israel’s largest arms company and firmly anchored in the global trade in military technology.

  • Site36 ☛ Protest camp in Ulm: ‘Elbit Systems enables the genocide in Gaza’

    Jackie Andres on the policy of the Israeli arms company, the campaign ‘Shut Elbit Down Germany’ and criticism of it Why are there protests again this week in front of Elbit Systems in Ulm? Because Elbit Systems is one of the main producers for the Israeli military.

  • Site36 ☛ Don’t insure with Allianz: Campaign against Gaza war calls to withdraw from deals with Israel

    With multi-billion investments, insurers such as Allianz and Axa fuel Israel’s war in Gaza – and the climate crisis. The UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine has also drawn attention to this.

  • Site36 ☛ Activist arrested for research on police spies: Jorge Jiménez from Madrid exposed undercover investigators

    The Spanish activist Jorge Jiménez has been researching undercover investigators in social movements for years.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • France24 ☛ Zelensky to meet Convicted Felon on sidelines of UN assembly as Russian strikes persist

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday he will meet US President The Insurrectionist next week at the UN General Assembly, after Russia launched overnight attacks across Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader said he would discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and new sanctions on Russia in the upcoming talks.

    • RFERL ☛ Zelenskyy Calls For 'Strong' US Measures Against Russia As Tensions Rise In NATO's Eastern Flank

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Washington to impose “strong” measures against Russia after the European Union moved closer to enhanced sanctions on the Kremlin and amid surging tensions in the skies above NATO’s eastern flank.

    • France24 ☛ Estonia seeks Nato consultation after Russian jets violate airspace

      Estonia has called for consultations with NATO allies after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace over the Gulf of Finland for 12 minutes on Friday without authorization. In response, Italy, Finland, and Sweden scrambled jets as part of NATO’s mission to strengthen its eastern flank. A NATO spokesperson condemned the incident as another display of “reckless Russian behaviour” and highlighted the alliance’s readiness to react. While Russia denied the violation, the event comes amid rising tensions, with Poland and Romania recently reporting incursions by Russian drones into their airspace. Estonian ambassador to France, Viljar Lubi, joins us for more, together with Alexandre Vautravers, Editor-in-chief of the Revue militaire Suisse, from Geneva.

    • France24 ☛ The comeback of a Soviet-era tradition: Russia hosts Intervision, Eurovision-rival song contest

      Intervision revives the name of a music contest that Moscow used to stage in the Soviet era with its Eastern European satellite states. The new version will feature acts from countries Russia now considers friendly, including Belarus, Cuba, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the UAE and Venezuela. FRANCE 24 International Affairs editor Leela Jacinto tells us more.

    • LRT ☛ Three Russian jets breached Estonian airspace for 12 minutes

      Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland on Friday, remaining there for 12 minutes, Tallinn has said.

    • Scoop News Group ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man administration planning expansion of U.S. quantum strategy

      Multiple sources tell CyberScoop that options under consideration include executive orders or a national action plan, similar to the one the administration released for Hey Hi (AI) in July.

    • RFERL ☛ Russia's Latest Airspace Violation Raises Alarms With NATO, Allies

      NATO and Western allies condemned Russia's violation of Estonia's airspace -- the third provocative intrusion by Kremlin air assets in recent days -- with the Western military alliance scheduling a meeting of its North Atlantic Council to discuss the deepening crisis.

    • France24 ☛ Ukraine develops its drone industry as it seeks to triple production

      Ukrainian troops are pressing on with the counteroffensive in the east. President Zelensky says they have managed to push back some Russian drones. Ukraine continues to rely on weapons from its Western allies but is also investing in its own defense industry, particularly in the production of drones. Solange Mougin and Axelle Simon report.

    • France24 ☛ Soft power: Russia revives the Intervision song contest, Cold War rival to Eurovision

      Russia on Saturday hosts Intervision, an international song contest that was a regular fixture in Soviet states in the 1960s and ’70s. The revival follows Russia’s exclusion from Eurovision since its full-scale 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

    • France24 ☛ Live: Zelensky set to meet Convicted Felon next week as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday announced he would meet US counterpart The Insurrectionist on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next week as Russia intensified attacks across his country. In its latest overnight aerial assault on Ukraine, Russia fired 40 missiles and some 580 drones, killing at least three people and wounding dozens. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuania opens Kyiv office to coordinate reconstruction aid

      Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys on Friday inaugurated the Lithuanian Central Project Management Agency’s (CPMA) office in Kyiv, saying the move would strengthen Lithuania’s contribution to Ukraine.

    • RFERL ☛ NATO Jets Scramble Amid Mass Russian Attack On Ukraine

      Polish and other NATO jets scrambled on September 20 as Russia launched another massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine.

    • RFERL ☛ Estonia Seeks To Invoke NATO Article 4, As EU Plans New Round Of Russian Sanctions

      Estonia said that three Russian MiG-31 fighter aircraft entered its airspace on September 19, hours after the European Commission proposed a 19th package of sanctions on Moscow over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    • New York Times ☛ Oil Sanctions Have Made Russia’s Shadow Fleet Swell

      Restrictions have made it costlier for Russia to ship oil by sea. But they have also expanded the illicit shipping economy, with lasting consequences.

    • New York Times ☛ Europe Announces New Sanctions to Ramp Up Pressure on Russia

      The latest set of European Union restrictions are aimed at chipping away at Russia’s energy profits and ability to do business globally.

    • RFERL ☛ Russia Launches Mass Attack On Ukraine As NATO Jets Scramble

      Polish and other NATO jets scrambled on September 20 as Russia launched another massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine.

    • European Commission ☛ Statement by High Representative / Vice-President Kallas on the 19th package of sanctions against Russia

      Today we proposed to Member States the 19th package of sanctions against Russia. In it, we target key sectors sustaining Russia's war effort.

    • Atlantic Council ☛ The EU won’t tariff China and India to please Convicted Felon. But it is working on a counteroffer.

      European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a nineteenth package of sanctions against Russia on September 19.

    • France24 ☛ Estonia seeks urgent NATO consultation after Russian airspace violation

      Three Russian military jets violated NATO member Estonia's airspace for 12 minutes in an "unprecedentedly brazen"incursion, the country's foreign ministry said Friday. Estonia is set to request urgent NATO talks over the incident, which the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas called an "extremely dangerous provocation". Professor of US and International Politics at the UCD Clinton Institute, Scott Lucas, deepen the question.

    • France24 ☛ Russian jets cross into Nato territory

      Three Russian military jets violated NATO member Estonia's airspace for 12 minutes in an "unprecedentedly brazen"incursion, the country's foreign ministry said Friday. Estonia is set to request urgent NATO talks over the incident, which the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas called an "extremely dangerous provocation". For more, Former Vice Chief of Staff at Shape Nato, Michel Yakovieff spoke on France24.

    • France24 ☛ Estonia, NATO slam ‘brazen’ Russian air incursion, Moscow denies claim

      Estonia has accused Russia of breaching its airspace, alleging that three supersonic Russian fighter jets carried out an “unprecedented and brazen” incursion. The accusation, made on Friday, drew swift condemnation from NATO and several European nations, which described the incident as a “reckless” and “dangerous provocation.” Russia’s Ministry of Defence, however, rejected the claim. Simon Moritz has the latest.

    • JURIST ☛ Russia files appeal against UN Aviation Council MH17 decision

      Russia has filed an appeal against Australia and the Netherlands at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday, challenging the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) decision in May 2025 that found Russia in violation of international aviation law in the shoot-down of MH17 that left no survivors on board the flight.

    • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea’s Kim oversees drone test, orders Hey Hi (AI) development

      Experts have warned North Korea's new capability in this area could be linked to its alliance with Russia.

    • CS Monitor ☛ Russia hopes its Intervision song contest will be Eurovision without the ‘woke’

      Russia’s latest effort to build an alternative to Western institutions is Intervision, which looks to be a more international – if less liberal – version of the Eurovision Song Contest.

    • New York Times ☛ A Polish Soldier, an Unusual Radar Dot and Then NATO Jets

      After Russian drones entered Poland, the country scrambled to shoot them down. Western officials concluded that the incursion was to probe their defenses.

    • New York Times ☛ Russian Fighter Jets Enter Airspace of Estonia, a NATO Member

      Estonia’s foreign minister described the flights, which lasted for an unusually long 12 minutes, as an “unprecedentedly brazen” intrusion.

    • New York Times ☛ Autocrats Move Quickly to Fill Void as Convicted Felon Retreats From U.N.

      As Hell Toupée pulls back U.S. funding of the United Nations, countries like China, Russia and Qatar are seeking to influence the body’s work on human rights and labor.

    • New York Times ☛ Drones vs. Lasers

      We explore the math problem facing NATO — and one possible solution.

    • JURIST ☛ Belarus journalist sentenced on extremism charges amid international condemnation

      The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has strongly condemned the sentencing of Belarusian journalist Ihar Ilyash to four years in prison and a fine of 4,200 rubles (about US$1,240), handed down by the Minsk City Court on September 16, on charges including promoting “extremist activities” and “discrediting the Republic of Belarus.”

    • LRT ☛ In last call with wife, Belarus political prisoner Statkevich rejects freedom in exile

      Mikola Statkevich, one of the most prominent opposition leaders in Belarus and a former presidential candidate, was released along with 51 other political prisoners. However, he refused to cross the border into Lithuania. In an interview with LRT.lt, his wife Marina Adamovich recounts why he chose not to leave the country.

• Environment

  • Hackaday ☛ Venus Climate Orbiter Akatsuki’s Mission Has Ended

    Japan’s Venus Climate Orbiter Akatsuki was launched on May 21, 2010, and started its active mission in 2015 after an initial orbital insertion failure. Since that time, Akatsuki has continuously observed Venus from orbit until issues began to crop up in 2024 when contact was lost in April of that year due to attitude control issues. Japan’s space agency, JAXA, has now announced that the mission has officially ended on September 18, 2025, after a period of trying to coax the spacecraft back into some level of functionality again.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong Originals: HK Timberbank gives typhoon-damaged trees second life as sustainable bespoke furniture

    Words by Hillary Leung. As Hong Kong’s economic boom faded and manufacturing moved to China, some long-established, family-run companies preserved their traditions as others innovated to survive. In our new series, HKFP documents the craftsmanship and spirit behind the goods that are still proudly “Made in Hong Kong,” as local firms navigate the US-China trade war.

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • New York Times ☛ She’s Starting a Blood Bank for Zoos

      Captive animals sometimes need a transfusion, but the typical approach to blood banking isn’t practical for zoos and aquariums. One veterinarian is testing a solution.

    • European Commission ☛ Global ocean conservation treaty enters into force

      European Commission Press release New York, 20 Sep 2025 Yesterday marks a historic milestone for ocean conservation as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement reached 60 ratifications, triggering its entry into force in early 2026.

      This landmark agreement, the result of over a decade of international collaboration, represents a transformative step toward safeguarding marine ecosystems and addressing the urgent threats posed by climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.

• Finance

  • New York Times ☛ Leaders of Canada and Mexico Talk Trade and Security Without Convicted Felon

    Looming over the discussions was the desire to preserve the countries’ free-trade agreement with the United States.

  • WhichUK ☛ Sweet treats hit the hardest as inflation continues to bite

    The cost of some groceries has almost doubled in a year, Which?'s inflation tracker has revealed

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • The Straits Times ☛ Who’s to blame for Hong Kong’s civil service blunders? Chief Executive John Lee has a plan

    His proposal of an accountability system comes after recent scandals put the spotlight on the bureaucracy's flaws.

  • JURIST ☛ US federal judge tosses Convicted Felon’s $15B defamation lawsuit against New York Times

    A US federal judge in Florida on Friday dismissed President Donald J. Convicted Felon’s defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and others, ruling that the 85-page complaint was “improper and impermissible” under federal court rules and resembled a political manifesto more than a legal filing.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Canada Bans Kneecap for ‘Advocating Violence & Glorifying Terrorist Organizations’

    Canadian authorities have barred the Irish rap trio Kneecap from entering the country, sparking legal threats and further controversy for the Belfast-based band. Kneecap were set to play four Canadian shows in October—those are off the table now.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • Defence Web ☛ Mozambique deploys lawfare against the political opposition

    The Mozambican Attorney-General’s Office has indicted leading opposition figure Venâncio Mondlane for instigating and inciting terrorism. The charges relate to his role in post-election protests against the country’s highly fraudulent 2024 general election results.

  • New York Times ☛ With Calls for Retribution Over Kirk, Some See Rise of a ‘Woke Right’

    Conservatives have pressed for consequences for those who make negative comments about Charlie Kirk. But a few on the right say they worry about limits on speech.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Escalates Attack on Free Speech

    Zolan Kanno-Youngs, a White House correspondent for The New York Times, describes how the Convicted Felon administration’s pressuring of ABC to take action against Jimmy Kimmel is part of a broader crackdown by the administration since the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

  • The Straits Times ☛ New directive sets dress, conduct rules for concerts in Malaysia

    Acts, such as shouting offensive slogans or throwing objects, could lead to removal from the venue.

  • New York Times ☛ Being a High-Profile Comedian Right Now Is No Joke

    With the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel on the heels of the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show, the landscape has unquestionably shifted for comics and hosts.

  • New York Times ☛ ‘We’re in the Most Dangerous Point for Free Speech in America’

    Jimmy Kimmel’s removal looks more like a red scare than a culture clash.

  • New York Times ☛ He Wrote a Biting Post About Charlie Kirk. The Fury Came Fast.

    Residents of Palmetto Bay, Fla., have demanded the resignation of Councilman Stephen Cody, who wrote a post mocking Charlie Kirk’s support for gun rights.

  • New Yorker ☛ The Grave Threat Posed by The Insurrectionist’s Attack on Jimmy Kimmel

    The President and his allies are using the power of the state to silence speech they dislike.

  • France24 ☛ US: Fallout continues after Charlie Kirk's assassination

    The fallout continues after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In recent days, there have also been freedom of speech protests following the removal of Jimmy Kimmel Live from ABC’s schedule over Kirk’s comments. Kirk’s funeral is scheduled for Sunday in Arizona, with Hell Toupée expected to attend. Peter O’Brian has the latest.

  • New Yorker ☛ Seeing Enemies Everywhere

    The government’s working definition of “hate speech” now seems to include anything that offends The Insurrectionist personally—including late-night comedy.

  • France24 ☛ 'Many of us knew that the second term of The Insurrectionist would be much more dangerous than the first'

    Reed Brody, former New York Assistant Attorney General, and renowned human rights lawyer known for holding dictators accountable, is now sounding the alarm at home. He describes what he sees as an “unprecedented attack on freedom of expression” in the United States: A broad, systematic effort to silence any dissent (in the media, at law firms, NGOs, universities) using all of the levers of government. And this goes far beyond censorship, Brody tells us. “It’s a litmus test of obedience to The Insurrectionist", enforced through corporate pressure and regulatory threats. He points to recent cases like the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show, and CBS’s announcement it will be ending The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May 2026, during high-stakes billion-dollar merger talks with federal regulators. From late-night television to elite universities, Brody argues that dissenting voices are being squeezed through indirect but deliberate means, not by violating the First Amendment, but by exploiting every possible loophole in the law, accompanied by the vast levers of power. “What’s happening is much more pernicious, and dangerous," than violating freedom of speech, he warns. It’s targeted, sophisticated, and cloaked in legality.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • JURIST ☛ Rights group says UK immigrant compensation scheme mismanagement contributes to further harm

    Human Rights Watch on Thursday asserted that the British Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s findings of severe issues with the Home Office’s management of the Windrush Compensation Scheme has “wider implications” for everyone seeking compensation.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • Public Knowledge ☛ Can the FCC Preempt State Laws on AI? No – Especially Not With Broadband As Title I

    Recent claims from the agency regarding its authority over Hey Hi (AI) have been nothing short of confusing.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Returning to the World of Digital Ads: A Primer on the Surveillance Giant Google – DOJ Case Ahead of the Remedies Phase

• Press Gazette ☛ German media groups file complaint against Surveillance Giant Google Hey Hi (AI) Overviews

  Latest Hey Hi (AI) Overviews complaint comes as Surveillance Giant Google continues Hey Hi (AI) Mode rollout.

• Patents

  • Unified Patents ☛ International Semiconductor Group Wi-Fi 6 patent monopoly challenged

    On September 19, 2025, Unified Patents filed an ex parte reexamination proceeding against U.S. Patent 12,137,063, owned and asserted by the International Semiconductor Group, an NPE.

  • Mexico News Daily ☛ Canada and Mexico agree to deepen ties ahead of USMCA trade deal review

    Sheinbaum announced a new comprehensive partnership and security dialogue after meeting with Canada PM Carney in Mexico City.

  • Unified Patents ☛ Dialect natural language patent monopoly challenge instituted

    On September 19, 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 8,015,006, owned and asserted by Dialect, LLC, an NPE.

  • Unified Patents ☛ Two SVV Technology display patents challenged

    On September 19, 2025, Unified filed two ex parte reexamination proceedings against U.S. Patent 8,740,397 and U.S. Patent 10,613,306, owned and asserted by SVV Technology Innovations, Inc.

    The '397 patent monopoly generally relates to a light distribution system for display devices, more specifically drawn to a light guide member including a corrugated surface with transparent optical windows.

  • JUVE ☛ Dutch firm Arnold & Siedsma joins private-equity-backed IP group Rouse

    Dutch firms dominated by patent monopoly attorneys are seeking connections to international networks. The Benelux firm Arnold & Siedsma has joined Rouse. Arnold & Siedsma is particularly well established in the Netherlands, where it has eight offices.

• Trademarks

  • TTAB Blog ☛ Morgan & Morgan Claims Fair Use of Steamboat Willie Cartoon Adaptation in its Advertisement

    In its recent OSWALD THE RABBIT decision [TTABlogged here], the Board side-stepped the issue of "fair use" arising out of the public domain status of Disney's "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit' cartoon. Now, the Morgan & Morgan law firm has commenced a declaratory judgment action in Florida, seeking a ruling that it may use "certain visual elements" from Disney's "Steamboat Willie" cartoon (now in the public domain), in a proposed advertisement. Morgan Global, PLLC v. Disney Enterprises, Inc., Case 6:25-cv-01795 (M.D. Florida September 17, 2025). [Complaint here].

  • Digital Music News ☛ Prince Estate Fires Back Against Apollonia, Clarifying She May Use the Name—But Not Register Trademarks

    The Prince estate says of course Apollonia may use her name, but her registration for a trademark conflicts with the estate’s own for “Apollonia 6.” The trademark battle between the Prince estate and the late singer’s Purple Rain co-star Apollonia Kotero is heating up.

• Copyrights

  • Digital Music News ☛ Meta Moves to Dismiss Eminem Publisher’s Copyright Suit, Pointing to ‘The Absence of Virtually Any Specific Allegations’

    Meta has officially moved to dismiss the infringement suit filed against it by Eminem publisher Eight Mile Style (EMS), claiming, among other things, that the action “is remarkably short on specifics.” The Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp parent just recently fired off its dismissal motion, with the complaint itself having arrived at May’s end.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Settlement Talks Stall Between X and Music Publishers — Litigants ‘Will Continue Their Discussions’ as the Case Resumes

    Back in June, X and several major music publishers moved to pause their copyright monopoly infringement battle to explore settlement discussions. Now, the parties have revealed that the talks failed to produce a resolution. The social platform and the NMPA-corralled plaintiffs relayed as much to the court in a brief notice.