GNOME Desktop/GTK

• TheEvilSkeleton ☛ Hari Rana: Please Fund My Continued Accessibility Work on GNOME!

  Hey, I have been under distress lately due to personal circumstances that are outside my control. I cannot find a permanent job that allows me to function, I am not eligible for government benefits, my grant proposals to work on free and open-source projects got rejected, paid internships are quite difficult to find, especially when many of them prioritize new contributors.

CNX Software ☛ tinySA is a low-cost handheld spectrum analyzer with built-in signal generator

The tinySA is a compact, low-cost handheld spectrum analyzer and RF signal generator designed for hobbyists, radio amateurs, educators, and engineers. It comes in three different variants and can be used for RF debugging, signal inspection, interference hunting, filter testing, antenna-related measurements, and basic RF education, both in the field and on the bench.

Hackaday ☛ Debugging The AMD GPU

Although Robert F. Kennedy gets the credit for popularizing it, George Bernard Shaw said: “Some men see things as they are and say, ‘Why?’ I dream of things that never were and say, ‘Why not?'” Well, [Hadz] didn’t wonder why there weren’t many GPU debuggers. Instead, [Hadz] decided to create one.

Hackaday ☛ Keebin’ With Kristina: The One With The Curious Keyboards

I love first builds! They say so much about a person, because you see what’s paramount to them in a keyboard. You can almost feel their frustration at other keyboards come through their design choices. And the Lobo by [no-restarts] is no exception to any of this.

Hackaday ☛ Memory At The Speed Of Light

Look inside a science fiction computer, and you’ll probably see tubes and cubes that emit light. Of course, it’s for effect, but the truth is, people do think light computing may be the final frontier of classical computing power. Engineers at the University of Southern California Information Sciences Institute and the University of Wisconsin-Madison are showing off a workable photonic latch — a memory element that uses light.

Hackaday ☛ Building A Granular Sampler Synth

Synthesizing sounds from scratch is all well and good, you just use a bit of maths. However, the latest build from [Daisy] eschews such boring concepts as additive or subtractive synthesis, instead going for a sample-based approach.

Hackaday ☛ Make Your Own Tires For RC Cars

You can buy a wide range of RC car tires off the shelf. Still, sometimes it can be hard to find exactly what you’re looking for, particularly if you want weird sizes, strange treads, or something that is very specifically scale-accurate. In any of these cases, you might like to make your own tires. [Build It Better] shows us how to do just that!

JURIST ☛ US Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to federal marijuana laws

The US Supreme Court announced Monday that it will not hear a case challenging the federal illegality of marijuana. The case, Canna Provisions v. Bondi, was brought by four Massachusetts commercial cannabis growers.

Science Alert ☛ 'Zap-And-Freeze' Brain Imaging Could Reveal The Secrets of Parkinson's

Revealing details too small and too fast to study otherwise.

Science Alert ☛ One Weight Loss Strategy Is 5x More Effective Than Ozempic, Study Finds

Each has pros and cons.

Science Alert ☛ A Simple Blood Test Could Reveal Your Chances of Dying in The Next Decade

The signs are there.

New York Times ☛ Heart Association Revives Theory That Light Drinking May Be Good for You

The American Heart Association report runs contrary to recent studies — and the group’s own guidelines — that found any amount of alcohol to be harmful.

Bridge Michigan ☛ Michigan set to lose millions under Convicted Felon SNAP reforms

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says “significant” changes are occurring as the federal government prepares to penalize states for food assistance error rates.

Mexico News Daily ☛ Health officials report the first case of ‘superflu’ in Mexico

The variant is highly contagious but Mexican health officials say they have the resources to keep it under control and that patients respond well to the usual flu treatments.

European Commission ☛ New measures to make EU health sector more innovative, competitive and resilient

The European Commission has today proposed an ambitious package of measures to improve the health of EU citizens, while ensuring the long-term resilience and competitiveness of the health sector.

European Commission ☛ Simpler food and feed safety rules while upholding high health standards and boosting competitiveness of EU producers

European Commission Press release Brussels, 16 Dec 2025 The European Commission has today proposed a package of measures to streamline and simplify EU food and feed safety legislation.

The Straits Times ☛ Hair loss should be under greater national health insurance coverage: South Korean president

Mr Lee said that bringing such treatments into state health coverage should be considered.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) / LLM Slop / Plagiarism

• Futurism ☛ As Controversy Grows, Mattel Scraps Plans for Proprietary Chaffbot Company Reveal This Year

  "We don't have anything planned for the holiday season."

• Futurism ☛ Washington Post Says It Will Continue AI-Generating Error Filled Podcasts as Its Own Editors Groan in Embarrassment

  "This is how products get built and developed."

Social Control Media

• The Straits Times ☛ Social media giants to be subject to Malaysian laws from 2026

  It is part of a government push to shield children from online harms and strengthen platform accountability.

• Ali Reza Hayati ☛ Please use social networks [Ed: He seems not to understand those interfere with free speech and are usually controlled by autocrats]

  While politicians and ruling powers continue their efforts to restrict social networks and control the free flow of information, it is our responsibility to speak out, share the truth, and defend our right to freedom of speech and expression.

Openwashing

• Security Week ☛ From Open Source to OpenAI: The Evolution of Third-Party Risk [Ed: "OpenAI" is proprietary and very malicious; OSI, bribed by Microsoft, does not mind misuse of such brands; OSI was in fact bribed to act as a 'hype agent' for Microsoft OpenAI]

  From open source libraries to AI-powered coding assistants, speed-driven development is introducing new third-party risks that threat actors are increasingly exploiting.

• Unicorn Media ☛ From Brussels to Bengaluru: Amanda Brock on Hey Hi (AI) Openness and Digital Sovereignty [Ed: Sounds like the OSI nonsense that Microsoft paid OSI to spout out]

  As Europe flirts with “reliable proprietary technologies” and India rolls out open source healthcare AI, Amanda Brock is drawing a sharp line between genuine openness, marketing spin, and outright control.

Privacy/Surveillance

• Scoop News Group ☛ Key lawmaker says Congress likely to kick can down road on cyber information sharing law

  House Homeland Security Chairman Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., also discussed Salt Typhoon, regulations and the cyber workforce Tuesday.

Hong Kong Free Press ☛ 2 charged with subversion after earlier arrests over illegal weapons training

Two men have been charged with subversion under Hong Kong’s national security legislation following their arrests over an alleged illegal weapons training programme.

New York Times ☛ US Boat Strikes Shift to Pacific, Placing Colombia on Watch

All the strikes in recent weeks have taken place in the Pacific, reflecting Colombia’s role in the drug trade and the feuding between Bogotá and Washington.

New York Times ☛ Hegseth Declines to Show Lawmakers Boat Strike Video

The defense secretary joined the secretary of state on Capitol Hill to deliver the first classified briefings to include all members of the House and Senate on the maritime attacks.

New York Times ☛ Australian Leaders Promise to Tighten Gun Laws After Bondi Beach Attack

The prime minister’s office said officials agreed that Australia needed “immediate” reform, including new restrictions on who is allowed to own firearms.

New York Times ☛ Albanese Vows to Toughen Gun Laws After Deadly Bondi Shooting

The police said on Monday that they expected to bring criminal charges against the surviving suspect, who is in a coma after being shot by the police.

JURIST ☛ Australia authorities to toughen gun laws after Bondi Beach shooting

Australian authorities announced on Monday plans to heighten firearms restrictions after two gunmen killed 15 people at a Jewish festival on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, a mass shooting national authorities have called “an act of pure evil, an act of terror, an act of antisemitism.” 

New York Times ☛ ISIS and the Bondi Beach Attack

Australian officials say the suspects were motivated by ISIS. It suggests the group may still have the ability to inspire acts of terrorism.

New York Times ☛ A Look at Australia’s Gun Laws

We examine how the country responds to mass shootings.

The Straits Times ☛ Bondi shooting hero bystander draws nearly $2.6m in donations

Mr Ahmed Al Ahmed grabbed the shooter from behind and wrestled the weapon from his hands.

New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s Post Attacking Rob Reiner After Stabbing Death Draws Immediate Outrage

The president attributed the killing to “Dihydroxyacetone Man derangement syndrome,” but his disparaging comments drew backlash even from conservative allies who said they were inappropriate.

The Straits Times ☛ Taiwan’s global credibility on the line with disputed laws: President Lai

The opposition has slammed President Lai Ching-te for ignoring the will of the people.

CS Monitor ☛ Attack on US forces in Syria tests anti-ISIS mission and warming ties

Syria’s need to rapidly reconstitute its security forces has left them vulnerable to infiltration by former rebels with jihadist sympathies at the very time that President Ahmed al-Sharaa has been cultivating ties with the U.S.

LRT ☛ Lithuanian MOD ignored intelligence warnings over firm linked to social democrat leader

Lithuania’s Defence Ministry ignored warnings by the State Security Department (VSD) and awarded a multi-million-euro contract to the company Fegda, which has links to the social democrat leader, the Delfi news website reported on Monday.

Boko Haram’s intelligence networks fuel its deadly resurgence

The Strategist ☛ Security starts with behaviour, even in the devices we wear

Australia’s political leaders should model basic cyber hygiene by following the guidance of their own security agencies, including by avoiding Bluetooth headphones and wearable devices. Visible behaviour matters in national security.

France24 ☛ French court jails DR Congo ex-rebel leader Lumbala for 30 years over crimes against humanity

A French court handed ex-rebel leader Roger Lumbala a 30-year jail term on December 15 over complicity in crimes against humanity during the Second Congo War in what activists hailed a "historic" verdict. He was found guilty of being the mastermind of atrocities including rape and torture in the country from 2002 to 2003. according to rights groups, the verdict is the first such conviction by a national court under the principle of universal jurisdiction.

CentOS ☛ CentOS Board Meeting Recap, December 2025 [Ed: It's a zombie project at this point, due to what IBM did]

The recording of the December CentOS Board meeting is now available. View the recording Read the minutes The recording has timestamps so you can skip to the parts that interest you. Here are a few highlights of the meeting: Hey Hi (AI) policy, particularly in light of Fedora's recent policy approval.

France24 ☛ The battle for Marseille: how to win back streets as drug trade soars?

One month after the stunning assassination of the brother of an anti-gangland activist, French president Emmanuel Macron returning to the Mediterranean port for an update on the government’s xx-euro plan to win back the streets and offer hope to fed-up citizens of France’s second largest city. The whole reason Ahmed Kessaci became an activist was the earlier murder of his older brother… who got mixed up with the wrong crowd.

The Straits Times ☛ Life in limbo: Meet the Myanmar refugees living in Thai camps

Refugees can now work outside camps but still face food, healthcare shortages.

The Strategist ☛ Honduras exposes the limits of China’s diplomatic leverage over Taiwan

While the results of Honduras’s 30 November elections have not yet been finalised, both presidential candidates Salvador Nasralla and Nasry Asfura have signalled openness to restoring diplomatic relations with Taiwan. After years in which Beijing ...

ADF ☛ Ghana Boosts Maritime Security Capacity Amid Surging Sahel Violence

As Sahelian insecurity continues its westward and southward surge, Ghana is beefing up its maritime security to address sea crimes such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, piracy, and illicit weapons trafficking. Many illegal weapons pass through Ghana on their way to the Sahel.

ADF ☛ Nigeria Offers Blueprint for Counterterrorism Online

Abubakar Adamu began his military career with the Nigerian Army in 1987, years before the World Wide Web was invented and long before any place in the world had heard of, much less connected to, the internet. In 35 years of service, he watched as his career evolved alongside the digital revolution.

ADF ☛ China Uses Privateers to Expand Influence in African Waters

Chinese private security companies operate in at least 14 African countries, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya and Somalia, where Beijing’s activities in East African coastal waters are coming under greater scrutiny.

ADF ☛ Côte d’Ivoire Tightens Borders as Refugees Flow in From Mali

In the wake of a surge of refugees from neighboring Mali, Côte d’Ivoire is adding security forces along its northern border. The refugees are fleeing terrorist attacks and economic blockades in their home country. Côte d’Ivoire’s National Security Council said it was beefing up border security, including taking steps to register all Malians seeking asylum.

Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

• Meduza ☛ Teen fatally stabs 10-year-old at Moscow-area school after asking students about their ethnicity — Meduza

• Meduza ☛ How Russians are keeping their foreign cars running despite sanctions — Meduza

• New York Times ☛ 10-Year-Old Killed in Russia School Stabbing

  The attack appeared to have been inspired by white supremacist ideology, Telegram channels close to intelligence agencies reported.

• France24 ☛ Defence of Europe's eastern flank an 'immediate' priority: eight EU leaders

  Defending Europe's eastern flank should be an "immediate" priority for the European Union in the face of the threat posed by Russia, eight EU leaders meeting in Helsinki said Tuesday. "Russia remains a threat today, tomorrow and in the foreseeable future for the whole of Europe," Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told reporters. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Commentator Douglas Herbert explains.

• New York Times ☛ Ukraine Plan Calls For Enhanced Military, With U.S. and European Backup

  The latest proposal is designed to deter future Russian aggression. But Russia is not part of the talks and has shown little willingness to negotiate.

• France24 ☛ Europe to launch international commission for Ukraine war damages

  Ukraine and 34 other countries approved compensation body for damages from Russia's invasion. The plan would help finance the Ukraine government and its battlefield needs for the next two years. For Europe, it is a "matter of survival to show it deserves a place at the negotiating table", says FRANCE 24's Douglas Herbert. It also comes at a time where public opinion regarding financial help to Ukraine starts to cool in certain European countries.

• France24 ☛ Reparations for Ukraine: new European body set up

  Top European officials including President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed Tuesday to set up an international body to decide on tens of billions of euros of eventual reparations to compensate Ukraine over Russia's invasion. The International Claims Commission for Ukraine, signed by 35 countries, will assess and decide on claims for reparations, including any amount to be paid out. FRANCE 24's Eliza Herbert reports.

• Atlantic Council ☛ Europe’s battle over Russia’s blocked assets is nearing its endgame

  EU heads of state and government meet this week to discuss and vote on a “reparations loan” plan that would use blocked Russian assets to aid Ukraine.

• Atlantic Council ☛ How Europe can strengthen its own defenses and rebalance transatlantic relations

  Europe should advance a new security architecture aimed at strengthening its own defense while continuing to cooperate with the United States in areas of mutual interest.

• Atlantic Council ☛ The only winner from Ukrainian wartime elections would be Putin

  Ukrainians are fighting to defend their democracy against Kremlin authoritarianism, but they are also in no rush to hold wartime elections amid relentless Russian bombardment and with millions of Ukrainians displaced, writes Yuriy Boyechko.

• Scoop News Group ☛ Amazon warns that Russia’s Sandworm has shifted its tactics

  Researchers said attackers linked to Russia’s military intelligence agency have moved from vulnerability exploits to focus on poorly configured network edge devices to keep its access to target networks.

• Meduza ☛ Trump offered Kyiv ‘platinum’ NATO-style security guarantees. Does that mean the U.S. is prepared to go war for Ukraine? — Meduza

• Meduza ☛ Historian Marci Shore reflects on the promise of Ukraine’s Maidan Revolution and the nihilism of Russia’s war — Meduza

• Meduza ☛ Russia rejects Christmas truce with Ukraine as Trump continues push for peace deal — Meduza

Energy/Transportation

• Scoop News Group ☛ Illusory Systems settles with FTC over 2022 cryptocurrency hack

  The company was charged with materially misrepresenting the cybersecurity of its Token Bridge software as executives failed to implement reasonable security.

• Science Alert ☛ A Single Solar Storm Could Trigger an End to Space Travel. Here's How.

  It's looking like rush hour up there.

• Tom's Hardware ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man secures deal with Korea Zinc to build rare earths processing facility in Tennessee — facility expected to have annual output of 540,000 tons of gallium, germanium, indium, and other resources

  U.S. President The Insurrectionist secures an investment from a South Korean firm to build a rare earth refinery in Tennessee.

Wildlife/Nature

• New York Times ☛ How the Pandemic Lockdowns Changed a Songbird’s Beak

  For ecologists, the Covid-19 pandemic has presented a remarkable natural experiment in what can happen to wild animals when humans stay home.

• New York Times ☛ Penguins Become Prey for the Pumas of Patagonia

  In Argentina, the return of pumas brought top predators back to the landscape — much to penguins’ dismay.

France24 ☛ Mbappé wins legal battle against PSG

After months of legal wrangling, the Paris labour court found on December 16 that the Paris St Germain football club failed to pay Kylian Mbappe for three months, ordering 60 million euros in unpaid salary and bonuses. The French striker took PSG to court over earnings he said were withheld for April, May and June 2024, shortly before he left to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.

New York Times ☛ Remixing Convicted Felon’s Economy Speech, Vance Strikes a Different Tone

Vice President JD Vance pleaded with everybody to just hang in there a little longer, saying the economy would improve.

New York Times ☛ Uber and DoorDash Try to Halt N.Y.C. Law That Encourages Tipping

The two food-delivery app companies filed a lawsuit against new rules, starting in January, that require food-delivery apps to provide a tipping option at checkout.

The Strategist ☛ Pax Silica can reshape supply chains for greater economic security

Pax Silica sounds like the future because, in many respects, it is.

CS Monitor ☛ Among palm trees and luxury malls, China launches an ambitious experiment

A large tropical island off China’s southern coast will gain independent customs status on Dec. 18 – a move Chinese leaders hope will jump-start development in Hainan and pioneer new levels of openness for the rest of the country, despite the rise of protectionism.

France24 ☛ French lawmakers adopt 2026 social security budget, suspend Macron's flagship pension reform

French lawmakers on Tuesday adopted the 2026 social security budget, which includes the suspension of President Emmanuel Macron's unpopular pension reform, as Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu races to finalise a 2026 spending plan by year's end.

France24 ☛ French lawmakers adopt social security budget, suspend pension reform

French lawmakers on Tuesday adopted a social security budget, which includes the suspension of an unpopular pension reform, as Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu races to finalise a 2026 spending plan by year-end. FRANCE 24's Antonia Kerrigan reports from the French National Assembly.

Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong 47: Activist released early from jail appears on TVB expressing remorse, vows to be ‘role model’

Hong Kong activist Andrew Chiu has said in a televised interview that he is deeply remorseful for his past activism. In October, he became the first person to be granted early release from prison among those convicted in the landmark subversion case against 47 opposition figures.

France24 ☛ Hollywood and beyond pay tribute to Rob and Michele Reiner following murder

Following the murder of studio director Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Reiner on December 14, tribute has been pouring in from actors, directors and politicians, all expressing their shock and sympathy. In the meantime, The Insurrectionist came under fire from his own party after his suggested without proof that the director had brought on his own murder by criticising Convicted Felon.

New York Times ☛ U.S. Threatens Penalties Against European Tech Firms Amid Regulatory Fight

The Forrest Dump administration singled out European tech firms by name and promised economic consequences Tuesday unless the E.U. rolls back tech regulation and lawsuits.

Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda

• France24 ☛ Lumpy skin disease: Storm-1516 spreads disinformation about French farmers’ protests

  As France battles an outbreak of lumpy skin disease among livestock, some farmers are protesting government measures such as the culling of entire herds. Online, videos claiming to support them have gone viral… but some are AI-generated. In this edition of Truth or Fake, we take a closer look at how a Russian-linked influence network, known as Storm-1516, is amplifying misleading narratives around real-life protests.

• Futurism ☛ Liberals Are Falling for Extremely Obvious Hey Hi (AI) Fakes

  "Why are Democrats using the same Hey Hi (AI) slop that Republicans started using in the fall?"

• Futurism ☛ CoreWeave Has Lost a Staggering Amount of Stock Value Over the Past Six Months

  "There is no scaling going on here."

New York Times ☛ To China, Jimmy Lai Was an Arch Villain. To His Supporters, He Was Their Hope.

Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong publisher and democracy campaigner, was convicted of national security charges in a city where even minor dissent is now whispered.

New York Times ☛ Hong Kong Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai’s Conviction Was Years in the Making

Jimmy Lai spent decades criticizing China’s rulers. He faces up to life in prison after a court found him guilty of national security crimes.

Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Jimmy Lai verdict: Gov’t slams journalist union for ‘whitewashing’ media tycoon, as foreign press club silent

The Hong Kong government has condemned a local press union for “whitewashing” media mogul Jimmy Lai in a now-removed statement. The tycoon faces life imprisonment after being found guilty in a landmark national security trial.

Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Nobody ‘was forced to vote,’ Hong Kong minister says after record number of invalid ballots in 2025 legislative polls

No one was forced to vote, a Hong Kong minister has said, after a record number of invalid ballots were logged during this year’s “patriots only” legislative elections more than a week ago.

New York Times ☛ Here’s how Jimmy Lai became a politically outspoken tycoon.

Mr. Lai, who was found guilty on Monday in a landmark national security trial, has for decades been a rare figure in Hong Kong: A politically outspoken tycoon.

Press Gazette ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man files lawsuit against BillBC over ‘deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory’ editing

BBC accused of "intentionally" misrepresenting Convicted Felon in the editing of a speech for Panorama.

France24 ☛ The Insurrectionist sues BillBC over misleading video editing of speech [Ed: Too bad they didn't pay attention to how horrible UK libel law is... until an overseas criminal leveraged it with huge sums]

Dihydroxyacetone Man has followed through on his threat to sue the BillBC over a misleading video edit of a speech he made on January 6th, 2021 and filed a lawsuit against the media corporation on December 15. He will be seeking 10 billion dollars in damages. The BillBC apologised to the US president in November for the edit but has said it would refuse to pay compensation.

APNIC ☛ Strengthening regional cooperation for an open and interoperable Internet

APNIC Director General Jia Rong Low and staff visited Beijing for CNIRC 2025, engaging with operators, research networks, and government partners to advance practical cooperation on IPv6, routing security, and regional Internet development across the Asia Pacific.

Steinar H Gunderson ☛ Steinar H. Gunderson: Lichess

I wish more pages on the Internet were like Lichess. It's fast. It feels like it only does one thing (even though it's really more like seven or eight)...well, perhaps except for the weird blogs. It does not feel like it's trying to sell me anything; in fact, it feels like it hardly even wants my money. (I've bought two T-shirts from their Spreadshirt, to support them.)