Leftovers

• Science

  • Science Alert ☛ Changes to One of The Largest Known Stars May Signal Destruction

    Not everybody is convinced.

  • Science Alert ☛ These 40,000-Year-Old Marks May Be a Precursor to Writing

    Then it disappeared.

  • Science Alert ☛ Meditation And Mindfulness Have a Dark Side We Rarely Talk About

    Adverse effects are not rare.

• Hardware

  • New York Times ☛ The Looming Taiwan Chip Disaster That Silicon Valley Has Long Ignored

    If China invades Taiwan and cuts off its chip exports to American companies, the tech industry and the U.S. economy would be crippled.

  • CNX Software ☛ Silex SX-SDMAX6E tri-band Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth LE module features NXP IW623 SoC, comes in M.2 or LGA package

    Back in August last year, we wrote about NXP’s IW623 tri-band (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz) Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth LE Audio SoC, but at the time, there was no ready-to-use module based on it. Now, NXP has partnered with Silex Technology to launch the SX-SDMAX6E module, available in a surface-mount LGA package or an M.2 2230 Key-E card. The module supports Bluetooth 5.x connectivity via UART and Wi-Fi via SDIO. It operates from a 3.3V supply with 1.8V support on the LGA version. It has an industrial operating temperature range of -40°C to +85°C and is designed for both high-throughput applications, such as video streaming, and low-power, battery-operated devices in harsh environments.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ German data center giant hikes prices up to 37% starting April 1 — Hetzner cites rising hardware costs for price increases

    German data center operator Hetzner announced today that it’s raising prices across its cloud, dedicated server, storage, and load balancer products starting April 1.

  • Ruben Schade ☛ Finding an NZXT tower from 2015

    It seems to be council clean up season in my area of Sydney, with piles of old furniture, clothing, and the occasional rusty appliance stacked by the side of the road for the council trucks to collect. This also means that, occasionally, you may walk past a forlorn looking computer left behind by someone who doesn’t know what ewaste recycling is, or doesn’t care. Naturally, as a tragic retrocomputer enthusiast and a greenie, I feel as though it’s my duty to pick them up, if only to validate for myself that it was thrown away for a reason, and take them to the appropriate places for disposal. If something works, so much the better.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • New Yorker ☛ One Vaccine-Schedule Change That Actually Makes Sense

    Amid R.F.K., Jr.,’s vandalism of the public-health system, there’s shocking good news about a cancer-preventing vaccine.

  • BIA Net ☛ Lawyers' group raises health concerns over concrete plant near Bolu prison

    ÖHD calls on the authorities to take preventive measures in the face of a "serious and foreseeble risk," while authorities maintain that the plant has the necessary permissions.

  • Science Alert ☛ The 'Breaking Bad' Effect From Cancer Is Real, Study Finds

    New evidence links cancer and crime.

  • Science Alert ☛ Lithium Plume in Our Atmosphere Traced Back to Returning SpaceX Rocket

    This could quickly get out of hand.

  • Bridge Michigan ☛ How a sword and SWAT standoff sparked fury over Michigan mental health crisis

    A man with a katana — and a history of mental health issues — sparked a SWAT team response and 30-hour police standoff in southeast Michigan. Critics call it a ‘systemic failure’ that shows how authorities across the state struggle to deal with such situations.

• Proprietary

  • WhichUK ☛ 'How I used Section 75 after Fashion Company Apple refused to repair my MacBook'

    Find out how Section 75 can help with a faulty product

  • Qt ☛ Free QML Beginner Course: Learn QML on YouTube with Qt Academy

    Want to learn QML but don't know where to start? We've made it easier. Qt Academy's QML for Beginners course is now on YouTube, as we're bringing our course videos to a platform developers already use, starting with the complete QML for Beginners playlist. 

  • Microsoft Gaming Gets New Chief Without Traditional Gaming Background [Ed: Unqualified in every other way, too]

    Microsoft is reshuffling the leadership of its gaming division following a period of pressure on the Xbox brand. The decision has sparked debate about the direction the division will now take.

  • The Business Journals ☛ Hunt Valley video game studio to shut down 2 years after launch

    It's the latest tech closure in a struggling local industry.

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) / LLM Slop / Plagiarism

    • New York Times ☛ Canada to Probe What Proprietary Chaffbot Company Knew About Tumbler Ridge Shooter

      The company suspended the killer’s Abusive Monopolist Microsoft Chaffbot account over a policy violation in June, eight months before the attacks in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.

    • Futurism ☛ A Serial Killer Used Abusive Monopolist Microsoft Chaffbot to Plan Murders, Police Say

      Grim.

    • Tom's Hardware ☛ Anthropic accuses DeepSeek, other Chinese Hey Hi (AI) developers of 'industrial-scale' copying — Claims 'distillation' included 24,000 fraudulent accounts and 16 million exchanges to train smaller models [Ed: Sheer hypocrisy in the plagiarism industry]

      Anthropic claims DeepSeek, Moonshot, and MiniMax made 16 million exchanges using 24,000 fraudulent accounts to advance their models using Claude.

    • Digital Music News ☛ Is Sony Overstating Its Hey Hi (AI) Detection Capabilities? Signs Point to Yes

      Just after Sony announces an Hey Hi (AI) detection tool, dance music platform Traxsource puts forth a policy that seems to call such tools into question. Artificial intelligence in music continues to be a hot watercooler topic.

    • Futurism ☛ American Hey Hi (AI) Industry Trembles as Deepseek Prepares to Release New Model

      Things could get ugly.

    • Otto Kekäläinen: Do Hey Hi (AI) models still keep getting better, or have they plateaued?

      The Hey Hi (AI) hype is based on the assumption that the frontier Hey Hi (AI) labs are producing better and better foundational models at an accelerating pace. Is that really true, or are people just in sort of a mass psychosis because Hey Hi (AI) models have become so good at mimicking human behavior that we unconsciously attribute increasing intelligence to them? I decided to conduct a mini-benchmark of my own to find out if the latest and greatest Hey Hi (AI) models are actually really good or not.

  • Social Control Media

    • The Straits Times ☛ Why post on Instagram? 4 in 10 South Koreans use it to boast, survey shows

      Individuals appear to place a strong emphasis on being self-conscious about others’ opinions.

• Linux Foundation

  • Yahoo News ☛ Linux Foundation Showcases Open Collaboration Across AI, 5G, Cloud-Native Telco, and Digital Skills at MWC Barcelona 2026

  • Morningstar US ☛ Linux Foundation Showcases Open Collaboration Across AI, 5G, Cloud-Native Telco, and Digital Skills at MWC Barcelona 2026 [Ed: The foundation connected to trafficking of underage girls for sexual purposes is also providing openwashing services]

• Security

  • Integrity/Availability/Authenticity

    • The Straits Times ☛ K-pop romance scam surge prompts South Korea-Brazil police alliance

      In Brazil, the authorities have reported cases involving fake sales of South Korean travel packages.

    • Security Week ☛ PayPal Data Breach Led to Fraudulent Transactions

      PayPal blamed an application error for the exposure of customer personal information for nearly 6 months. 

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Futurism ☛ Palantir Is Stocking the Wildest Imaginable Item in Its Vending Machines

      Slap on a patch and get back to work.

    • MIT Technology Review ☛ Inside Chicago’s surveillance panopticon

      Early on the morning of September 2, 2024, a Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line train was the scene of a random and horrific mass shooting. Four people were shot and killed on a westbound train as it approached the suburb of Forest Park.

    • Purism ☛ Privacy Under Siege

      Surveillance, Breaches, and Gaps in the Law It has become clear that privacy risks are not isolated incidents. They are part of a larger pattern.  Major organizations continue to experience large scale data breaches. Brightspeed recently suffered a breach affecting around one million customers. 

• Defence/Aggression

  • Digital Music News ☛ Live Nation is Still Battling a Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over 2023 Shooting at Beyond Wonderland—Here’s the Latest

    A judge has denied Live Nation’s bid for summary judgment in the wrongful death suit derived from 2023’s Beyond Wonderland shooting. On February 13, a Washington state judge denied Live Nation’s push for summary judgment in the wrongful death lawsuit tied to 2023’s mass shooting tragedy at the Beyond Wonderland music festival.

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea touts nuclear advances as Kim Jong Un rechosen to lead ruling party

    The military top brass made a “pledge of loyalty” to leader Kim Jong Un.

  • The Straits Times ☛ ‘Welcome to China’ greets Philippine officials on trip to disputed South China Sea

    The Philippines-held Thitu is the largest and most prized feature in the Spratly archipelago.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China targets Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi, over military ties

    Companies can apply to be removed from a “watch list” if they cooperate with Beijing’s verification terms.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Panama wrests control of 2 canal ports from Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison

    Panamanian authorities took control Monday of two ports on the Panama Canal from CK Hutchison after the Hong Kong-based conglomerate’s concession was annulled amid a row between the United States and China.

  • New York Times ☛ C.I.A. Intelligence Helped Lead Mexican Authorities to ‘El Mencho’

    Mexican officials said they had found the elusive cartel kingpin by tracking a romantic partner. The C.I.A. provided some intelligence critical to the operation.

  • New York Times ☛ Mexican Forces Say They Tracked El Mencho to Cabin by Following His Lover

    Top security officials revealed details of the operation that led to the death of Mexico’s most wanted drug cartel leader.

  • France24 ☛ Dozens dead in Mexico violence after drug kingpin 'El Mencho' killed

    Twenty-five Mexican troops died in clashes with cartel gunmen following a raid that led to the death of the country's most-wanted drug lord, a top security official said Monday. Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was wounded Sunday in a shootout with soldiers in the town of Tapalpa, in Jalisco state, and died while being flown to Mexico City, the army said. France 24's correspondent Ioan Grillo has the latest.

  • France24 ☛ 25 Mexican National Guard troops killed amid violence following death of cartel leader 'El Mencho'

    Twenty-five members of the Mexican National Guard were left dead in six separate attacks after special forces killed the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the country’s security secretary said Monday as much of Mexico feared more violence. FRANCE 24's Camille Knight reports.

  • New York Times ☛ Videos Show How Violence Unfolded in Mexico After Killing of Cartel Boss

    Armed groups blocked roads and set fire to supermarkets and banks after the Mexican government killed Mexico’s most-wanted cartel boss.

  • New York Times ☛ Supreme Court Considers Fate of Docks and Other Assets Seized by Cuba in 1960

    Amid rising tensions with Cuba, the Convicted Felon administration is backing lawsuits that would allow Americans to get compensation for property confiscated by Fidel Castro’s regime.

  • ACLU ☛ Congress Must Rein in ICE to Improve the State of the Union

    In times of war and peace, prosperity and depression, American presidents have complied with their constitutional obligation to deliver to Congress an update on the nation.

    It’s a hallowed tradition, but this year, due to President The Insurrectionist’s own actions, the state of this union is bleak. However, the good news is that We the People are showing tremendous courage and pushing back to protect each other.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Says General Caine Sees Easy Victory if U.S. Attacks Iran

    The remarks differ from what Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is said to have told the president in high-level White House meetings.

  • France24 ☛ Iran-US tensions soars

    The US evacuates part of its embassy staff in Lebanon, this as Iran warns of the risk of escalation should Washington strike. A second US aircraft carrier dropping anchor in Crete as both sides prepare for a new round of talks in Geneva on Thursday.François Picard speaks to Captain Tim Hawkins spokesperson for the U-S Military's Central Command that covers the Middle East and Central Asia.

  • The Straits Times ☛ At least 13 civilians killed in Pakistan strikes in Afghanistan, UN says

    At least 13 civilians were killed and seven injured in Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, the United Nations said on Monday, as cross-border tensions escalated following a string of suicide bombings in Pakistan.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • New Yorker ☛ The Migrants in the Ancient Forest

      Five years ago, Belarus began enabling people from high-conflict countries to migrate into Europe. Despite high walls and backlash, they’re still coming.

    • LRT ☛ Poland detains Belarusian man on suspicion of spying for Minsk, including in Lithuania

      Poland has detained a Belarusian citizen suspected of spying for Belarusian military intelligence and carrying out activities in Poland, Germany and Lithuania, prosecutors said Monday.

    • JURIST ☛ Calls for justice for political prisoners after former Belarus presidential candidate released following stroke

      Belarusian prisoner of conscience and opposition politician Mikalai Statkevich was released from imprisonment on Friday after suffering a stroke in January. Following his release, Amnesty International reiterated the need for justice for victims of human rights violations in Belarus.

    • JURIST ☛ Rights groups urge renewal of special procedures in Belarus

      Human Rights Watch, along with 17 rights organizations, on Monday published an open letter to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), urging it to renew and strengthen respective mandates for the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus and the Group of Independent Experts on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus. 

    • Latvia ☛ Thousands still travel from Latvia to Belarus every month

      Every month, thousands of Latvian residents cross the border into Belarus – they visit relatives, go to health resorts, and shop despite the fact that for years, the security services and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been urging them not to do so. LSM.lv spoke with those who travel there, those who organise the trips, and those who have experienced firsthand what it means to end up behind bars in Belarus.

    • New York Times ☛ ‘Mother Russia’ Review: A New Play That’s as Funny as It’s Smart

      A strong cast stars in Lauren Yee’s new play, part of a cycle of works about the collisions between 20th-century communism and pop culture.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuanian FM says EU must not become ‘hostage’ to Hungary over Russia sanctions

      Lithuania’s foreign minister said Monday that the European Union must not become a “hostage” to Hungary as Budapest threatens to block the bloc’s latest sanctions against Russia.

    • RFERL ☛ Ukraine Enters 5th Year Of Russia’s Full-Scale War Amid Both Talks And Fighting

      Ukraine has entered the fifth year of Russia’s all-out invasion, the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II, with its troops holding the line from grinding attacks in frozen trenches while its civilians face nightly mass drone and missile strikes that have cut off energy supplies amid bitter winter weather.

      Estimates of casualty figures vary, but one recent report put the number of killed, wounded, and missing at 1.2 million Russians and 500,000-600,000 Ukrainians.

    • The Strategist ☛ Four years of folly: mired in Ukraine, Putin won’t back down

      President Vladimir Putin’s war of choice against Ukraine has failed to achieve any of the strategic objectives he laid out when he began this disastrous folly. Yet he is compelled to persist in his vainglorious ...

    • Latvia ☛ Latvian Paralympians will not take part in opening ceremony

      In solidarity with Ukraine and in response to the decision by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Ski Federation (FIS) to allow athletes from aggressor countries to compete in the Winter Paralympic Games, a decision has been made not to participate in the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympic Games in Milan-Cortina in any format, reports the Latvian Paralympic Committee (LPC).

    • Latvia ☛ Latvian police help bust fraud network in Ukraine

      On February 17th, the State Police, in cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies, shut down an organised crime network that operated several fraudulent call centres in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.  The criminals carried out investment fraud against many people living in Europe, including Latvian residents. Eleven people were arrested.

    • Latvia ☛ Health a big obstacle for youth military recruitment in Latvia

      Shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Latvia decided to rapidly increase the size of its army. As a result, the State Defence Service (VAD) has been in operation since July 2023. Currently, young people are being selected for conscription in July, A third of volunteers and about half of those conscripted are usually rejected due to health conditions, according to the Latvian Television programme "De Facto" aired on 22nd February.

    • Latvia ☛ Last days to donate to Ukraine in LSM's campaign

      To support the people of Ukraine this winter, when Russia's attacks have destroyed energy infrastructure and left many people without heating, electricity, and light, Latvian Public Media, in cooperation with Ziedot.lv, is organising its fifth support campaign, "Together with Ukraine in thought and deed!"

    • Security Week ☛ Ukrainian Gets 5 Years in US Prison for Aiding North Korean IT Fraud

      Oleksandr Didenko sold the stolen identities of US citizens, allowing North Koreans to get hired using freelance work platforms.

    • NYPost ☛ Ukraine’s morale remains up as it fends of Russia, winter barrage: ‘Still a force to be reckoned with’

      When Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine four years ago, there was never much doubt that Roman Ratushnyi would take up arms.

    • France24 ☛ Live: Ukraine marks four years of war with Russia amid reconstruction challenges

      Ukraine on Tuesday marked the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, with support from its closest allies and no immediate end in sight to Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost, cities and infrastructure remain devastated, and Kyiv faces the monumental task of post-war reconstruction while the frontline impasse continues. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

    • France24 ☛ Four young Ukrainians tell us how they see their future

      Their names are Oleksandr, Sofiia, Bohdan and Angelina. They are between 18 and 28 years old. They are Ukrainians, living in #Ukraine. On the eve of the four year anniversary of #Russia's invasion of their country, we give the floor to their fears, and their goals.

    • France24 ☛ Hungary blocks EU Ukraine loan, Russia sanctions on eve of war anniversary

      Hungary maintained its veto on Monday against a new EU package of sanctions against Russia and a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, while a Ukrainian strike against a Russian pumping station serving the Druzhba oil pipeline threatened to further worsen relations between Kyiv and Budapest.

    • RFERL ☛ Hungary, Slovakia Block New EU Sanctions On Russia

      The European Union has failed to agree on more sanctions on Russia as planned by the fourth anniversary of the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea protests against ‘Victory’ banner hung from Russian embassy in Seoul

      Its appearance has coincided with the four-year anniversary of Russia's Ukraine war.

    • CS Monitor ☛ Committed, but weary? Russia stays the course after four years of war in Ukraine.

      Four years on, Russia has now been engaged in war in Ukraine longer than the Soviet Union fought in World War II, and the cost is starting to wear.

    • CS Monitor ☛ Letter to Pokrovsk, Ukrainian city of roses: Your beautiful spirit isn’t lost

      During visits to the now-ruined and occupied Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a Monitor reporter fell in love with its roses, for the hope and inspiration they provided the city’s warm and welcoming residents in time of war.

    • New York Times ☛ These Ukrainians Don’t Want to Be Traded to Russia for Peace

      Four years into the war, a major sticking point in talks is control of the eastern Donetsk region. Residents could face an agonizing choice if Ukraine gives up the territory.

    • New York Times ☛ How Russia Put Its Future at Risk by Remaking Its Economy for War

      About half of the country’s federal budget goes toward the fight in Ukraine, money that does little to support its long-term development.

    • New York Times ☛ EU Support for Ukraine Stumbles as Hungary Looks to Delay Aid

      Hungary said that it would block both the latest sanctions package on Russia and a financial aid package to Kyiv worth about $106 billion.

    • New York Times ☛ The Ukrainian Bureaucrat Working to Squeeze Russia’s War Machine

      Vladyslav Vlasiuk has spent the past four years pressing Western allies to squeeze the Russian economy through more sanctions. He hopes that 2026 will be the tipping point.

    • New York Times ☛ Europe’s New Way of War

      Can Europe defend itself without the United States? A new strategic vision says yes.

    • Latvia ☛ Latvia continues supporting Ukraine as four years pass since Russia's war

      Four years ago, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The people of Latvia immediately rushed to provide various forms of support, and as of this day, it has exceeded one billion euros, Latvian Radio reports on 24th February.

    • France24 ☛ How Russia’s 'thousand cuts' tactic is straining Ukraine’s frontline forces

      With battle lines essentially frozen after four years of war in Ukraine, Russia has begun to use a new tactic known as a "thousand cuts" – simultaneous attacks by smaller groups that are able to advance deeper into Ukrainian territory by exploiting weaknesses in its defences.

    • France24 ☛ Live: EU chief von der Leyen arrives in Ukraine to mark four years since Russian invasion

      EU chief Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost, cities and infrastructure remain devastated, and Kyiv faces the monumental task of post-war reconstruction while the frontline impasse continues. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

    • LRT ☛ Fake followers and frozen accounts: digital battle around Lithuania’s Nemunas Dawn

      Allegations have surfaced in Lithuania that critics of the political party Nemunas Dawn Aušra are being blocked on Facebook (Farcebook) after sharing posts critical of the party, prompting concerns among experts about the use of inauthentic accounts to influence online debate.

• Transparency/Investigative Reporting

  • American Oversight ☛ The Forrest Dump Administration Is Using a Rare Legal Trick to Avoid Damaging Facts

    Government lawyers are asking courts to strike text from our lawsuits related to issues that have drawn public scrutiny of the Convicted Felon administration.

• Environment

  • Futurism ☛ Scientists Find That Igniting Oil Spills to Create Fire Tornadoes Might Actually Be Good for the Oceans

    "Our goal is to harness the chaotic nature of fire whirls as a powerful, precise restoration tool, to protect coastlines, marine ecosystems and the environment as a whole."

  • New York Times ☛ Supreme Court to Weigh Oil-Industry Effort to End a Major Climate Suit

    The case could have significant bearing on a range of other lawsuits brought against the fossil fuel industry by cities and states across the country.

  • JURIST ☛ Ireland must expand protection of environmental rights, UN expert says

    In a statement Friday, at the conclusion of her visit to Ireland, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment, Astrid Peuntes Riaño, said Ireland should consider human rights in all decisions to protect the environment.

  • The Strategist ☛ Australia can reap the benefits of critical-minerals rivalry

    Accelerating geo‑economic competition to control supply chains for critical minerals is disrupting global markets and threatening security.

  • Energy/Transportation

    • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong gov’t mulls booking system, fees for tourist camping spots after NGO slams inaction on overcrowding

      Hong Kong authorities will consult lawmakers on introducing booking systems and fees for popular tourist camping spots to combat overcrowding, following NGO criticism of government inaction.

• Finance

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea’s Kim says country to develop economy over next 5 years

    Mr Kim called the next five years a “full-scale progress phase”.

  • New York Times ☛ FedEx Sues for Refund of Convicted Felon Tariffs Rejected by Supreme Court

    The company, which did not specify how much it was seeking, is expected to be one of many demanding compensation for levies ruled unlawful.

  • WhichUK ☛ What does the future hold for the state pension?

    In the third episode of our podcast series, we discuss how the state pension works and why this could soon change as a result of rising costs.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • The Straits Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s controversial pick for Malaysia envoy ousted – a career diplomat is coming instead

    Critics say Mr Adams’ exit clears the way for an envoy who understands Malaysia’s cultural complexities.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia mulls over law to curb premiership to two terms

    Malaysia does not currently limit how long a prime minister can serve.

  • The Straits Times ☛ After China, India is next on Canada’s foreign policy reset agenda

    Ottawa is seeking deeper engagement with key regional powers amid a shifting geopolitical landscape.

  • Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda

    • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong privacy watchdog joins 60 overseas authorities warning of AI-generated intimate images

      Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog has joined 60 other overseas authorities in warning against non-consensual AI-generated images depicting individuals, including children and other vulnerable groups. Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) issued a joint statement on Monday, alongside dozens of other privacy and data protection authorities.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • JURIST ☛ North Korea’s Ninth Party Congress signals heightened repression of youth

    North Korea opened the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea on February 20, signaling a tightening of control over youth and access to information.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Court upholds jailing of 12 activists in 'Hong Kong 47' subversion case

    Hong Kong's Court of Appeal rejected an appeal by 12 pro‑democracy activists and upheld their jail terms on Monday in a national security case that critics say highlights the China-ruled city's crackdown on dissent.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ 1,000 CUHK students, staff and alumni petition to reinstate student expelled following nat. sec arrest

    More than a thousand students, staff, and alumni of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have signed a petition calling for the reinstatement of a student who was expelled following his reported arrest by national security police.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • Press Gazette ☛ Post Leveson chill in police-press relations thaws after 15 years with new rulebook

    All officers encouraged to interact with media, plus right to cover public incidents protected.

    /blockquote>

• Civil Rights / Policing / Accessibility

  • BIA Net ☛ Kurdish-dubbed Smurfs to launch on official YouTube channel

    “For us, the greatest reward is seeing Kurdish children laugh and dream in their own language," said the broadcaster.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • Jim Nielsen ☛ Making Icon Sets Easy With Web Origami

    Over the years, I’ve used different icon sets on my blog. Right now I use Heroicons.

  • APNIC ☛ Reflections on a transforming interconnection ecosystem

    Guest Post: Is the peering market in decline? A closer look at global data and operator experience suggests otherwise.

  • Public Knowledge ☛ More Than a Seat: Who Gets To Shape Technology Policy

    Who gets to shape technology policy – and what determines who stays long enough to lead?

  • Public Knowledge ☛ Public Knowledge Launches Report To Help Tech Policy Organizations Support Equity

    Who gets to shape technology policy – and what determines who stays long enough to lead?

  • Public Knowledge ☛ The Telecommunications Act of 1996 at 30: An Analysis of Policy, Power, and the Public Interest

    Join Public Knowledge and the Cathy Hughes School of Communications Department of Communications Studies at Howard University for a landmark discussion on the 30th anniversary of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. As a cornerstone of modern communication policy, this legislation continues to shape how we connect, create, and communicate in the digital age.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Patents

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Parts vs. Whole: Federal Circuit Corrects District Court’s Component-Level Section 101 Analysis in Gene Therapy Case [Ed: Patents must never cover nature; but with enough lobbying (bribery) anything is feasible]

    Federal Circuit reverses § 101 invalidation of gene therapy manufacturing patent, holding recombinant nucleic acids are categorically non-natural under Chakrabarty.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Asus and Acer back online in Germany after patent monopoly dispute took them out — laptops and desktops still not available following injunction

    Following a temporary injunction on sales, Asus and Acer have restored their German websites for sales and support. However, some products are still unavailable.

• Copyrights

  • Digital Music News ☛ Can Salt-N-Pepa Ever Win Back Their Masters? Rap Duo Files Appeal Against Universal Music Group Following Difficult Dismissal

    Salt-N-Pepa file an appeal against Universal Music Group over the dismissal of their copyright monopoly lawsuit with the help of a prominent industry lawyer. Legendary female rap duo Salt-N-Pepa have filed a notice of appeal against the dismissal of their lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) over the rights to their master recordings.