Leftovers

• Hardware

  • CNX Software ☛ Fanless Box PC features defective chip maker Intel Core Ultra 5/7/9 “Arrow Lake” CPU with up to 36 TOPS for Edge Hey Hi (AI) applications

    AAEON BOXER-6648-ARS is a powerful, yet fanless embedded Box PC equipped with the latest generation defective chip maker Intel Core Ultra 5/7/9 “Arrow Lake” CPU with up to 24 cores clocked at up to 5.6 GHz, 36 TOPS of Hey Hi (AI) performance, and 35W or 65W TDP. The embedded computer is offered with either an defective chip maker Intel H810  or defective chip maker Intel Q870 chipset, with the latter enabling defective chip maker Intel Active Management Technology (AMT) and 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen2 ports.  Other features include up to 96GB RAM, NVMe and SATA storage, dual HDMI video output, dual 2.5GbE, a Gigabit Ethernet port, optional WiFi and Bluetooth, a 10-pin terminal block, and up to six RS232/RS422/RS485 COM ports.

• Proprietary

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Ongoing YouTube, Surveillance Giant Google outage reported — outage spikes across popular services

    Multiple reports indicate that YouTube, YouTube TV, and Surveillance Giant Google are all down.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ LG responds swiftly to user backlash, will allow users to remove Abusive Monopolist Microsoft Copilot link from TVs — clarifies service is not an app, future update will include tile removal option from WebOS

    LG has clarified how Abusive Monopolist Microsoft Copilot appears on its webOS smart TVs following recent coverage that described the feature as a non-removable app bundled into the operating system.

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) / LLM Slop / Plagiarism

    • Futurism ☛ Google’s Hey Hi (AI) Summaries Are Destroying the Lives of Recipe Developers

      "I think this is an extinction event."

• Defence/Aggression

  • New York Times ☛ Gaza City Famine Averted, Global Experts Say, but Palestinians Face Major Difficulties Accessing Food

    Food security experts said a famine reported in August had been alleviated but that the situation remained dire across the enclave, despite a cease-fire in October and greater flows of aid.

  • Atlantic Council ☛ Employment needs to take center stage in Gaza security plans

    The best way to undermine Hamas’s power in Gaza is to employ the people Hamas pays today.

  • PHR ☛ Israel Must Allow Access to Food and Health Care for Pregnant Women and Babies in Gaza: PHR and GHRC

    Israel must urgently allow food, medicine, and aid to reach people in Gaza, notwithstanding the  downgrading of food insecurity conditions in Gaza to Level 4 (Emergency) from Level 5 (Catastrophe) by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) today, said Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and the Global Human Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School (GHRC).  

  • New York Times ☛ Germany’s Christmas Markets Are Now Ringed With Security Barriers

    To prevent ramming attacks at Christmas markets, German officials have installed concrete blocks, chain barriers and, in one case, metal bollards removed by a hand-cranked crane.

  • New York Times ☛ How the T.S.A. Is Helping ICE

    In a previously undisclosed partnership, the Transportation Security Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement are sharing data to identify passengers on upcoming flights whom ICE can arrest. Our reporter Hamed Aleaziz, who learned of this partnership, describes what to know about it and the ICE arrests that have followed.

  • CS Monitor ☛ The next step was citizenship. Then these immigrants were pulled out of line.

    In Boston and other cities, some lawful permanent residents are having their naturalization ceremonies canceled, amid a Convicted Felon administration review of applicants from 19 countries identified as posing high security risks.

  • The Straits Times ☛ From Alsatians to autonomy: China seeks home-grown edge in police dogs

    China's national security authorities are urging police across the country to favour the use of a home-grown dog breed over German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Malinois and Springer Spaniels, as Beijing relentlessly pursues self-reliance.

  • South Africans have lost trust in the police, in parliament and in political parties – what that means

    For democracies to function well, citizens have to trust their institutions.

  • Nigeria’s new terror threat: JNIM is spreading but it’s not too late to act

    The Sahel region, south of the Sahara, is notorious for being the global epicentre of terrorism.

  • Atlantic Council ☛ Colombia needs a strong private sector—and renewed government institutions at the helm

    Colombia’s institutions brought stability, yet corruption, insecurity, and widespread informality still undermine trust and limit prosperity. Renewed fiscal discipline, stronger territorial governance, and revived institutional dialogue are essential for translating Colombia’s hard-won freedoms into inclusive and enduring growth.

  • France24 ☛ Bondi Beach gunmen's Philippines trip becomes focus of investigation

    Police in Australia are investigating a trip made by the suspects of the Bondi Beach anti-Semitic terrorist attack to the southern Philippines island of Mindanao, just weeks before they shot and killed 15 people and wounded dozens more. The region has long grappled with Islamist militancy, but President Marcos's government has fired back at reports suggesting the country was a training hotspot for terrorists.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Signs Law Repealing Tough Sanctions on Syria

    The Caesar Act was imposed in 2019 in response to widespread and systematic violations of human rights by the regime of former dictator Bashar al-Assad.

  • Atlantic Council ☛ Dispatch from Riyadh: Why Syria is central to the Middle East’s future

    One year after Bashar al-Assad's fall, a visit to Saudi Arabia reveals the opportunities emerging to ensure that Syria doesn’t again fall prey to Iranian adventurism and regional chaos.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • Meduza ☛ ‘Whatever they steal, they’ll have to return’: Putin says E.U. using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine would be ‘robbery’ — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ ‘We didn’t start this war’: Putin rejects idea he’d bear responsibility for future deaths if he refuses Trump’s peace plan — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Putin says there will be no new ‘special military operations’ if the West ‘treats Russia with respect’ — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Balanced budgets and broken promises: Meduza fact-checks Putin’s most problematic claims in today’s call-in marathon — Meduza

    • New York Times ☛ Putin Offers to Suspend Deep Strikes During Potential Ukraine Vote

      But President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, speaking at an annual news conference, showed little sign of backing down from his goals in the war on Ukraine.

    • RFERL ☛ Putin Projects Confidence On Ukraine War While Repeating Demands In 4 1/2-Hour Press Event

      Russian President Vladimir Putin used a marathon annual appearance to project confidence about Russia's position on the battlefield in its war on Ukraine and gave no signal that Moscow is ready to make substantial concessions in the name of peace.

    • France24 ☛ Zelensky and Putin issue warnings to each other and Europe

      On December 19, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelinsky both gave addresses. In the morning, the Russian president spoke during his annual press conference, broadcast on television. He once again blamed the Ukrainian authorities for the war that has been raging for four years. A few hours later, it was the Ukrainian president's turn: he spoke about to the €90 billion loan granted by the EU and issued a warning to Europe.

    • France24 ☛ Russia: Annual conference of Vladimir Putin

      During his annual year-end news conference, which lasted four and a half hours on Friday, President Vladimir Putin highlighted that Russian forces were making progress on the battlefield in Ukraine and expressed confidence that the Kremlin would accomplish its military objectives if Kyiv refuses to accept Russia’s terms in peace negotiations.

    • European Commission ☛ Europe greenlights €90 billion of essential funding for Ukraine

      Vital loan will cover Ukraine's financing for next two years

    • Latvia ☛ MikroTik gives major donation to help wounded Ukrainian defenders

      Latvian technology company MikroTik has donated EUR 250,000 to the Entrepreneurs for Peace Foundation’s initiative to strengthen the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian soldiers from the front lines and provide medics with life-saving transport, technology and equipment.

    • Latvia ☛ Russia built a school-to-trenches conveyor belt for children. Is the West ready?

      Western policymakers often treat “soft” humanitarian concerns—such as returning Ukrainian children from Russia—as separate from “hard” security issues like future defense guarantees for Ukraine. In reality, these cannot be disentangled. What happens to the children taken to Russia or living under occupation is fundamental to the long-term security of Ukraine and Europe. Russia’s systematic indoctrination and militarization of both its own and Ukrainian youth reveals not only its intention to prolong the conflict but also its blueprint for sustaining a long-term flow of loyal, combat-ready soldiers.

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Narrating the war: Analyzing Russia’s narratives for its invasion of Ukraine

      The latest report in the Atlantic Council's Russia Tomorrow series examines the Kremlin's narratives about its invasion of Ukraine.

    • Scoop News Group ☛ Ukrainian national pleads guilty to Nefilim ransomware attacks

      The 35-year-old faces up to 10 years in jail and authorities announced an $11 million reward for information on his alleged co-conspirator who remains at large.

    • France24 ☛ Live: US, Russian officials to meet in Florida for more Ukraine talks

      US negotiators are set ⁠to meet Russian officials in Florida on Saturday for the latest talks aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, one day after talmks in Miami between the US, Ukraine and its European allies. After Friday's meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would not force Ukraine into any agreement to end Russia's invasion. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

    • LRT ☛ EU ready to revisit Ukraine funding if new loan falls short – Lithuania’s president

      The European Union will revisit the issue of financing Ukraine if a newly agreed 90-billion-euro loan proves insufficient, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said Friday.

    • CS Monitor ☛ For Ukraine and Taiwan, dissuasion in strength

      The West’s big military aid packages for the two democracies will be additional deterrence to aggression by Russia and China, perhaps forcing concessions for peace.

    • New York Times ☛ To Secure Money for Ukraine, Europe Had to Resort to a Messy Compromise

      The European Union came up with an 11th-hour deal to help Ukraine, but the solution raised questions about the bloc’s decisiveness.

    • New York Times ☛ With New E.U. Loan, Ukraine Avoids Budget Crunch and Can Plan War Effort

      The loan will cover two-thirds of the country’s financial needs for the next two years. It also bolsters Ukraine’s position in ongoing peace talks.

    • New York Times ☛ Europe to Lend $105 Billion to Ukraine, Without Touching Russian Funds

      European Union officials wanted to use Russia’s frozen assets to back a major loan to Ukraine. Facing opposition in their own camp, they settled on another way.

    • Meduza ☛ Gains in Kupyansk, crisis on other fronts: Meduza analyzes the pressure on Ukraine’s defenses as Russia’s offensive continues — Meduza

    • Security Week ☛ US Shuts Down Crypto Exchange E-Note, Charges Russian Administrator

      The exchange has been allegedly involved in laundering money for ransomware groups and other transnational cybercriminal organizations.

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    • Atlantic Council ☛ How NATO and its partners should respond to Russia’s militarization of the wider Black Sea region

      As Russia continues to destabilize and militarize the Black Sea region, helping bolster regional security will require a concerted focus.

    • LRT ☛ The end of energy blackmail: Europe’s boldest move yet – opinion

      A few winters ago, Europe held its breath. Families watched their heating bills climb to levels they had never seen before. Businesses dimmed their lights to survive. News tickers counted down the percentage of gas left in storage as if it were a lifeline. And behind it all stood one uncomfortable reality: Russia had turned Europe’s energy dependence into a political weapon.

    • New York Times ☛ Britain Is Preparing for Attacks on Its Soil. Critics Say It Must Move Faster.

      As military officials sound the alarm over Russian hybrid attacks, the chair of Parliament’s defense committee said the government’s progress on ramping up home defense was “glacial.”

    • JURIST ☛ Belarus releases political prisoners amid ongoing human rights concerns

      A UN human rights expert on Wednesday welcomed the recent release of several prisoners convicted in connection with protests following Belarus’ disputed 2020 presidential election.  They also cautioned that the move should not be read as a broader improvement in the country’s human rights situation.

    • LRT ☛ Belarus seeks Lithuania’s opinion on planned radioactive waste facility

      Belarus has informed Lithuania of plans to build a radioactive waste disposal and temporary storage facility and is seeking Vilnius’ opinion on the proposal, Lithuania’s Environment Ministry said Friday.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuania reports no new smuggling balloons despite favourable winds from Belarus

      Lithuanian authorities have not detected any smuggling balloons or related traces in recent days, despite wind conditions that could have carried them across the border from Belarus, a senior government official said Friday.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuanian police to take over security of Belarus opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya

      Lithuanian police are set to take over security duties for Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, authorities said Friday.

• Transparency/Investigative Reporting

  • New York Times ☛ Epstein Victims Upset About Lack of Transparency in Newly Released Files

    Several victims said they were frustrated by the heavy redactions of photos and documents that the Justice Department released on Friday.

  • New York Times ☛ 6 Takeaways From the First Batch of the Epstein Files

    Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, and Hell Toupée’s name was rarely mentioned. The White House also sought to make political hay of the release of photos of Bill Clinton.

  • France24 ☛ Epstein files: 68 new photographs released

    The new photo drop comes just a day before the public is expected to get the Justice Department's full archive of Epstein documents, which could reignite questions about Hell Toupée's former connections to the financier.

  • France24 ☛ Inside the Epstein files: Famous faces, blacked-out pages

    Democrats on Friday voiced frustration that the long-awaited release of the Epstein files included many heavily redacted pages, claming it fell far short of what was mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The latest release includes photos of noted public figures including US President Bill Clinton, Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson in Epstein's social circle.

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ The Catch-22 of Court Transparency: Why Public Access Needs a Dedicated Intervention Rule

    Federal Circuit dismisses EFF's bid to unseal patent monopoly case briefing as untimely, dodging substantive questions about court sealing practices.

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ After deadly Tai Po fire, Hong Kong’s urban redevelopment body has no room for complacency

      The deadly Wang Fuk Court fire has put a spotlight on the maintenance of ageing buildings in Hong Kong. Whether in news reports, commentaries, or daily banters, nearly all discussions are either about the mandatory building renovation scheme, bid-rigging, or ways to stamp out bid-rigging.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • Mint Press News ☛ Indiegogo Withholds $51K In Donations From MintPress in Financial Censorship Crackdown

    Indiegogo is withholding $51,000 in reader donations to MintPress News after we published investigations into US war crimes, Israeli intelligence influence, and Silicon Valley’s role in modern warfare.

  • New York Times ☛ After Bondi Beach Shooting, Australia Debates New Laws to Restrict Speech and Protests

    The authorities are vowing to crack down after a mass shooting at a Jewish holiday celebration. Experts say that what the country needs might not be new laws.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • JURIST ☛ Italy top court acquits deputy PM Matteo Salvini in ‘Open Arms’ case

    The Italian Court of Cassation confirmed on Wednesday the acquittal of Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini in the Open Arms case. Since it was handed down by the court of last instance, the decision is final.

  • New Yorker ☛ Graham Platner Is Staying in the Race

    The veteran and Senate candidate from Maine talks about the affordability crisis, his campaign’s controversies, and why he isn’t ashamed about his past offensive comments.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • APNIC ☛ Is it really always the DNS?

    When DNS breakage occurs and takes down your services, it points to an inadequate understanding of the interdependencies of your own complex systems.

  • Internet Society ☛ Online Age Restrictions Need Strong Rules and Independent Oversight

    While often well-intentioned, age check requirements pose significant risks to people’s privacy, security, and access to an open Internet.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Patents

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Federal Circuit’s Top Precedents (2025): Claim Construction Classics and the Procedural Turn

    In 2025, the Federal Circuit cites Phillips, KSR, and claim construction cases most—but procedural precedents on IPR review, waiver, and appellate standards also dominate practice.

  • Unified Patents ☛ StealthPath IP security patent monopoly campaign - invalidity charts coming soon

    The team at Unified IP Services is using Pearl to identify and chart prior art against U.S. Patent 10,374,803, owned by StealthPath IP Inc.

  • Unified Patents ☛ App-Pop-Up GUI patent monopoly campaign - invalidity charts coming soon

    The team at Unified IP Services is using Pearl to identify and chart prior art against U.S. Patent 11,474,769, owned by App-Pop-Up Incorporated. The ‘769 patent monopoly describes a system and method for simultaneously displaying multiple graphical user interfaces (GUIs) on the same screen. The invention leverages various user identification techniques and permits users to control and customize their viewing experience according to personal preferences.

  • Unified Patents ☛ More Bunker Hill EV patents prior art found

    Unified Patents, through its subsidiary Unified IP Services, plans to release charted prior art on Bunker Hill patents weekly until its assertion of invalid patents ceases. Unified IP Services has released several charts within the last few weeks:

    • U.S. Patent 10,442,296

    • U.S. Patent 8,487,582

    • U.S. Patent 8,326,467

    • U.S. Patent 8,030,884

  • Kangaroo Courts

    • JUVE ☛ Hoyng ROKH and Quinn Emanuel secure double win for DRM spreader Netflix against Broadcom [Ed: Unified Patent Court is illegal. JUVE keeps promoting this Unified Patent Court, which is connected to corruption at the EPO, because it got paid to.]

      Bart van den Broek will likely be pleased to clear out his desk in Amsterdam’s Rembrandt Tower before Christmas as he prepares to join the Unified Patent Court. Van den Broek can look back on a long career as one of the Netherlands’ most prominent patent monopoly litigators.

• Copyrights

  • Creative Commons ☛ What We Built Together in 2025

    This year marked the first year of a new strategic cycle for Creative Commons, and it began amid profound change. The ground beneath the open internet continues to shift. Powerful technologies, driven largely by multibillion-dollar companies, are reshaping how knowledge and creativity are shared online, concentrating power in the hands of a few and testing long-standing assumptions about openness and access.