Leftovers

• Science

  • Federal News Network ☛ Lawmakers boost funding for NIST after proposed cuts

    House and Senate lawmakers rejected the Convicted Felon administration's proposed cuts to NIST, instead boosting funding for areas including artificial intelligence.

  • Hackaday ☛ Close-Up Look Reveals That Raindrops Are More Erosive Than Assumed

    Whenever it rains, people generally don’t look too closely at what the drops do exactly when they hit a surface. We generally assume that stuff will get wet and depending on the slope of the surface it’ll run off downhill at some point, probably in a nice, neat flow. Of course, reality doesn’t work that way, as Swiss researchers recently found when they pointed high-speed cameras at simulated raindrops. Their findings were published recently in Applied Physical Sciences, which is sadly paywalled, but the summary article over at phys.org provides some details, including a video.

  • Hackaday ☛ Tying Up Loose Ends On A Rope-based Robot Actuator

    One of the perennial challenges of building robots is minimizing the size and weight of drive systems while preserving power. One established way to do this, at least on robots with joints, is to fit each joint with a quasi-direct-drive motor integrating a brushless motor and gearbox in one device. [The 5439 Workshop] wanted to take this approach with his own robot project, but since commercial drives were beyond his budget, he designed his own powerful, printable actuator.

  • Science Alert ☛ Jurassic Park Was Right: Mosquitoes Really Can Carry Libraries of Animal DNA

    Sometimes life imitates fiction.

  • Science Alert ☛ Impossibly Hot Object Discovered 1.4 Billion Years After The Big Bang

    Defying all expectations.

  • Science Alert ☛ Helping Others May Be an Easy Way to Keep Your Brain Young, Study Finds

    Howdy neighbor!

  • Science Alert ☛ An Early Warning Sign of Dementia Risk May Be Keeping You Up at Night

    Sleep tight.

  • Science Alert ☛ An Ingredient in Toothpaste Makes Orange Juice Taste Vile. Here's How.

    It's not the mint flavoring.

  • Science Alert ☛ Millions of Your Mother's Cells Persist Inside You, And Now We Know How

    Identity is complicated.

  • Science Alert ☛ Common Sign of Heart Attack in Marathon Runners Is No Need For Concern

    Context is everything.

  • Science Alert ☛ 2026 May Be The Year Coral Reefs Around The World Finally Collapse

    Is this a point of no return?

• Career/Education

  • Futurism ☛ Tech Giants Pushing Hey Hi (AI) Into Schools Is a Huge, Ethically Bankrupt Experiment on Innocent Children That Will Likely End in Disaster

    Awful.

• Hardware

  • CNX Software ☛ Qualcomm Dragonwing Q‑7790 and Q‑8750 AIoT SoCs target AI-enhanced drones, cameras, TVs and media hubs

    Qualcomm has made a range of announcements at CES 2026, and notably introduced the Dragonwing Q‑7790 and Q‑8750 processors supporting on‑device Hey Hi (AI) for drones, smart cameras & industrial vision, Hey Hi (AI) TVs/media hubs, and video collaboration systems. The mid-range Dragonwing Q-7790 targets both consumer and industrial IoT devices, and offers up to 24 TOPS of on-device AI, 4K video outputs and camera inputs, and AV1 hardware video decode.

  • CNX Software ☛ GL.iNet Comet 5G – A KVM over IP solution with 5G RedCap Cellular connectivity, 3.69-inch touchscreen display

    GL.inet Comet 5G (GL-RM10RC) is an upcoming KVM over IP solution with a 3.69-inch touchscreen display and 5G RedCap (Reduced Capacity) IoT cellular connectivity, enabling remote access even when your regular Internet connection is down. The design builds upon the GL.iNet Comet Pro introduced last year, featuring a larger design and display, and adding 5G cellular connectivity on top of WiFi 6 and Gigabit Ethernet.

  • Hackaday ☛ Commodore Disk Drive Becomes General Purpose Computer

    The Commodore 1541 was built to do one job—to save and load data from 5.25″ diskettes. [Commodore History] decided to see whether the drive could be put to other purposes, though. Namely, operating as a standalone computer in its own right!

  • Hackaday ☛ Putting The M In A UNI-T MSO

    [Kerry Wong] points out that the Uni-T MSO oscilloscopes have a logic analyzer built in — that’s the MSO, or Mixed Signal Oscilloscope, part — but you have to add the probes. He shows you how it works in a recent video below.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong prosecutors drop charges against surgeon with dementia in Botox death case

    Hong Kong prosecutors have dropped 21 charges against a nonagenarian plastic surgeon after a court granted him an unconditional release for the unlawful killing of a patient due to his advanced dementia.

• Proprietary

  • Microsoft set for major job cuts in January 2026, impacting up to 22,000 employees

    Reports indicate that Microsoft is preparing for significant workforce reductions in January 2026, with estimates suggesting that between 11,000 and 22,000 employees—representing 5-10% of its approximately 220,000-strong workforce—could be affected. These anticipated layoffs follow a turbulent year in 2025, during which the tech giant eliminated over 15,000 positions across multiple rounds.

  • Microsoft to turn some Hisense Smart TVs into an Xbox [Ed: XBox the console is dead, so they redefine the brand]

    The company said the move is about giving consumers more 'freedom and flexibility.'

• Security

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Digital Music News ☛ Judge Rejects Royel Otis Guitarist Bid to Reveal Redditors’ Identities

      Aussie pop-rock duo Royel Otis’ guitarist was denied his request to reveal the identities of several Reddit users so he could sue them for defamation.

    • Press Gazette ☛ Cash for witnesses: Prince Harry legal team’s tactics revealed ahead of Mail privacy trial

      'Blackmail' allegation and use of journalism to further lucrative legal claims revealed.

    • Federal News Network ☛ After judge’s ruling, HHS authorized to resume sharing some Medicaid data with deportation officers

      While the lawsuit plays out, HHS and CMS aren't allowed to give detailed, sensitive medical information about enrollees to DHS or ICE, Chhabria wrote.

    • New York Times ☛ Hilton ‘Maliciously Canceled’ Immigration Agents’ Reservations, DHS Says

      As the U.S. ramps up deportation efforts in Minnesota, the Department of Homeland Security claimed on social control media that a Hampton Inn had canceled agents’ bookings.

  • Confidentiality

    • Security Week ☛ Researcher Spotlights WhatsApp Metadata Leak as Meta Begins Rolling Out Fixes

      WhatsApp device fingerprinting can be useful in the delivery of sophisticated spyware, but impact is very limited without a zero-day.

• Defence/Aggression

  • JURIST ☛ Rights group alerts to Uganda police violence toward opposition rallies

    Amnesty International reported on Monday that Ugandan security forces unlawfully targeted opposition rallies with excessive force and arbitrary arrests, with some attendees subject to torture and other mistreatment. Documented incidents included the use of tear gas, pepper spray, and beatings directed at peaceful crowds in Kawempe and Iganga in November.

  • US air strikes in northern Nigeria: possible windfalls, as well as dangers

    A month before the US carried out its Christmas day attack on militants linked to the Islamic State group (IS) [...]

  • New York Times ☛ After Christmas Day Strikes, Fear Grips Muslims in Rural Nigeria

    A small town set amid a smattering of baobab trees is grappling with the aftermath of a bombing ordered by Hell Toupée.

  • France24 ☛ Nigeria urges civilians to avoid debris from US-backed strikes on Islamists

    In tonight's edition, Nigeria warns its communities near sites of US military airstrikes to watch out for unexploded ordnance. Also, The Pharaohs rise to the occasion in AFCON beating Benin in the opening game of the knockout phase in Marrakech. And hundreds of thousands of rural Tunisians struggle to get access to essential utilities such as drinking water.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Thai army says Cambodia border strike wounds soldier, violates truce

    The two countries agreed a truce on Dec 27, ending three weeks of clashes.

  • JURIST ☛ Wisconsin judge resigns after felony conviction of obstructing ICE agents

    Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan submitted a letter of resignation to Governor Tony Evers on Saturday following her conviction of obstructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. In her letter, Dugan stated: As you know, I am the subject of unprecedented federal legal proceedings, which are far from concluded but which present immense and complex challenges [...]

  • New York Times ☛ Cuban Deaths in U.S. Venezuela Strikes Confirm Ties Between Countries

    The Maduro regime was long propped up by Cuba’s armed forces and intelligence agencies. Many Cubans were reported killed in the American military action.

  • New York Times ☛ Maduro Laywer Is Barry Pollack, Who Also Defended Assange

    Mr. Pollack has also represented Julian Assange and an official of Enron.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysian Armed Forces to probe alleged unauthorised entry and immoral activities in military camp

    The Defence Ministry said the military's culture is founded on discipline and professionalism.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire ‘gradually’ being implemented, says China

    Beijing says it hopes both sides will ensure a “comprehensive” and “lasting” ceasefire.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China, Pakistan reaffirm ties as US outreach to Islamabad deepens

    Both sides called for more “visible and verifiable actions to dismantle and eliminate all terrorist organisations”.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Japan PM Takaichi seeks dialogue with China as tensions remain

    She said Japan is open to various opportunities for dialogue with China and has never closed the door.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung in Beijing, sees full restoration of China ties in 2026

    The two countries signed 15 agreements at the summit, reported South Korean and Chinese media.

  • The Straits Times ☛ US capture of Maduro could prompt caution in China’s courtship of Latin America

    But Beijing will persist in its outreach and possibly build closer ties with like-minded states.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Xi and Lee reaffirm China-Korea ties at second summit in two months

    Lee Jae Myung became the first sitting South Korean president to visit China since 2019.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ South Korea’s Lee to meet China’s Pooh-tin with trade, Pyongyang on the agenda

    South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will meet Monday with Chinese counterpart Pooh-tin Jinping in Beijing, with closer economic ties as well as the recalcitrant North on the agenda.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ China’s top chip foundries move to consolidate as Beijing pushes semiconductor self-sufficiency — SMIC and Hua Hong Semiconductor deals pave the path to unified power

    China’s two largest pure-play foundries, SMIC and Hua Hong Semiconductor, are in the middle of significant consolidation efforts that demonstrate how industrial policy is reshaping the country’s chip sector.

  • RFERL ☛ Live Blog: Deadly Protests Rock Iran

    Driven by soaring prices, inflation, and a plunging currency, Iranians have taken to the streets in what is the biggest threat to the Islamic regime in years. Journalists from RFE/RL’s Iranian service, Radio Farda, bring you the latest developments, analysis, and reporting from on the ground.

  • Scoop News Group ☛ AI, voting machine conspiracies fill information vacuum around Venezuela operation

    After the U.S. capture of Nicholas Maduro, fake AI-driven media quickly flooded the internet, while Convicted Felon allies revived debunked theories of rigged voting machines.  

  • New York Times ☛ Why Convicted Felon Refused to Back Venezuela’s Machado: Fears of Chaos, and Fraying Ties

    U.S. intelligence suggested María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s opposition leader, would struggle to lead the government. But her relationship with Convicted Felon officials had been souring for months.

  • New York Times ☛ The C.I.A. assessed Venezuela’s future without Maduro ahead of the U.S. operation.

    The assessment aided Hell Toupée and other officials in concluding that Delcy Rodríguez, then Venezuela’s vice president, was Nicolás Maduro’s best short-term successor, according to people briefed on the matter.

  • NYPost ☛ Anxious Venezuelan security forces open fire on drones flying near presidential palace, situation ‘under control’

    Drones flying near Venezuela’s presidential palace set off a hail of bullets and anti-aircraft fire in Caracas Monday night, days after US forces deposed and captured dictator Nicolas Maduro.

  • New York Times ☛ James Luckey-Lange, American Detained in Venezuela, Is Being Held by Country’s Counterintelligence

    The location of James Luckey-Lange of New York City, who went missing in Venezuela in early December, was previously unknown.

  • New York Times ☛ Israel’s Stinging Retort to Mamdani Was Meant as Retaliation in Kind

    After Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York scrapped two executive orders on antisemitism and boycotts, the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued an aggressive response to what it saw as an aggressive act.

  • New York Times ☛ At the U.N., Even Allies Condemn U.S. Action in Venezuela

    The deputy French U.N. ambassador said it chipped “away at the very foundation of international order.”

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s Threat of Force Against Colombia Draws Rebuke From Its Leader

    President Gustavo Petro said that he had asked the Colombian people to defend him “against any illegitimate violent act.” His defense minister emphasized that security cooperation with Washington continued.

  • New York Times ☛ Why Convicted Felon Wants Greenland

    Hell Toupée has reiterated his interest in annexing Denmark’s semiautonomous territory, saying it is vital for America’s national security.

  • France24 ☛ Europe's reaction muted as Convicted Felon repeats threats of Greenland annexation

    Denmark's prime minister warned Monday that any US move to take Greenland by force would destroy 80 years of transatlantic security links, after President The Insurrectionist repeated his desire to annex the mineral-rich Arctic territory. FRANCE 24's Dave Keating reports.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • Meduza ☛ ‘The Kremlin will open the champagne’ Zelensky replaces SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk amid intelligence shake-up — Meduza

• Environment

  • The Straits Times ☛ Flash floods in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi kill 14; four still missing

    Eighteen people have been injured so far.

  • The Strategist ☛ An appeal for climate action in Australia’s next National Defence Strategy

    In the 2026 National Defence Strategy (NDS), Australia should outline credible objectives to combat climate insecurity. This would help protect Australia’s long-term defence capabilities, support regional balance and prepare for intersecting security risks.

  • Energy/Transportation

    • Security Week ☛ Cyberattack Unlikely in Communications Failure That Grounded Flights in Greece

      Flights across Greece were impacted for several hours after noise was reported on multiple air traffic communication channels.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Cashing in on illegal copper trade: Higher prices lead to more brazen thefts in Malaysia

      Rising copper prices are sparking a surge in theft and vandalism in Malaysia

  • Overpopulation

    • The Straits Times ☛ China’s push to boost birth rate sputters as couples stay child-free

      More young people have either sworn against having children at all or are putting it off for the next few years.

    • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ ‘Not about condoms’: Chinese shrug off new contraceptive tax

      China has made condoms and other contraceptives more expensive as it tries to boost birth rates, but residents in Beijing and analysts say the measure will have little impact. Consumers must now pay a 13 percent value-added tax for contraception including condoms, after Beijing removed exemptions on the products from January 1.

    • Mexico News Daily ☛ Mexico’s population will soon enter a new era of accelerated aging

      Soon after 2030, Mexicans over 60 will outnumber those under 15, initiating an aging population structure that will affect the country's economy, healthcare and social security systems.

• Finance

  • BIA Net ☛ Turkey’s annual inflation at 30.89% in December, housing costs up nearly 50%

    Among the three main expenditure groups with the highest weight in the CPI basket, food and non-alcoholic beverages saw a 28.31% annual increase. Transportation costs rose by 28.44%, while housing expenses jumped by 49.45%.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Ex-Indonesian minister faces graft charges over Surveillance Giant Google laptop procurement

    The charges against Nadiem Makarim carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ South Korea’s Lee snaps selfie with China’s Pooh-tin using gifted ‘backdoor’ phone

    South Korean President Lee Jae Myung snapped a selfie with Pooh-tin Jinping using a smartphone gifted to him by the Chinese leader, who had joked at their last meeting that the device might be capable of spying.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Is ‘TikTok USA’ Really a Done Deal? Chinese Officials’ New Comments Raise Questions About the Divestment’s Status

    Is “TikTok USA” really a done deal? The video-sharing giant’s stateside divestment appeared imminent last month, but new comments are raising questions about the transaction’s precise status.

  • The Straits Times ☛ 10-year, two-term limit for Malaysia PMs: Anwar announces reforms to win back votes ahead of next GE

    He said leaders should implement reforms during their term and not overstay their welcome.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia’s ex-PM Mahathir admitted to National Heart Institute after fall

    He was admitted on Jan 6 after a fall at his residence.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Irish PM aims for deeper trade talks with China in Beijing

    Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin is set to have more in-depth talks on trade with China's No. 2 official on Tuesday, working to strengthen strategic ties with the world's second-largest economy amid frosty China-European Union relations.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China seeks to enhance ties with Ireland to boost relations with EU

    Mr Pooh-tin positioned stronger bilateral ties as a way to also boost relations with the European Union.

  • New York Times ☛ David R. Young, 89, Is Dead; Nixon Aide Helped Steer the ‘Plumbers’

    He took part in White House machinations to stop leaks of classified information by overseeing an investigative unit that resorted to burglary. He then cooperated with Watergate investigators.

  • France24 ☛ Central African Republic President Touadera re-elected with over 76% of vote

    Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera has secured a third term after the December 28 election, consolidating his rule in a country long plagued by instability. The vote was marked by low turnout and opposition claims of fraud, while analysts warn that security gains remain fragile despite peace deals with rebel groups.

  • Textron awarded Aerosonde UAV contract from Nigeria’s Tantita Security Services

  • Can evidence-based policing become routine across South Africa?

    South Africa currently faces an urgent and grave violent crime problem. To tackle the crisis, law enforcement agencies are increasingly [...]

  • The rise of cyber security in modern warfare

    As was highlighted at the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for Defence & Security conference last year [...]

  • Mexico News Daily ☛ Sheinbaum ends first full year with 69% approval; social programs shine, security plan struggles

    Sheinbaum's approval rating, though very good for a sitting president, is down a full 16 percentage points from her sky-high 85% rating in February 2025, with persistent cartel crime being the most evident factor.

  • Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda

    • Futurism ☛ That Video of Happy Crying Venezuelans After Maduro’s Kidnapping? It’s Hey Hi (AI) Slop

      "The people cry for their freedom, thanks to the United States for freeing us."

    • France24 ☛ AI photos fuel fake news about Nicolas Maduro’s capture

      After President The Insurrectionist announced Nicolas Maduro’s capture in a social control media post, AI-generated images claiming to show the incident flooded social control media. These fake images were even used by some news sites and reposted by the official White House X account. Vedika Bahl talks us through what she’s seen online, and how misleading they may have been in Truth or Fake.

    • Futurism ☛ Google’s Hey Hi (AI) Overviews Caught Giving Dangerous “Health” Advice

      "If the information they receive is inaccurate or out of context, it can seriously harm their health."

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • The Straits Times ☛ Netflix withdraws Chinese drama in Vietnam over nine-dash line map

    The South-east Asian nation said scenes showing the map misrepresent and violate national sovereignty.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Indonesia’s new criminal code takes effect, stirring concerns over civil rights and free speech

    The new code officially came into force on Jan 2.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • APNIC ☛ Nominations to the APNIC EC now open

    Nominations are open for three positions on the APNIC EC. The deadline to submit a nomination is 20 January 2026.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Patents

  • JUVE ☛ The Hague upholds sales ban on Vivanta’s generic safinamide product

    At a November hearing, the District Court The Hague issued a provisional injunction ordering the Czech company Vivanta to cease distribution of its generic safinamide products in the Netherlands and announced penalties for non-compliance. Vivanta complied and withdrew its products from the Dutch market.

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ When the Director Can Do Anything: Fashion Company Apple v. Squires and the Limits of APA Process

    Apple v. Squires tests whether PTAB precedent can trigger APA rulemaking when institution authority rests entirely with the USPTO Director.