Links 09/03/2024: China and Japan Offer Grants to TSMC
Contents
- Leftovers
- Science
- Education
- Hardware
- Health/Nutrition/Agriculture
- Proprietary/Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Security
- Defence/Aggression
- Environment
- Finance
- AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics
- Censorship/Free Speech
- Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press
- Civil Rights/Policing
- Internet Policy/Net Neutrality
- Gemini Monopolies/Monopsonies
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Leftovers
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Chris ☛ Deliberate Abstraction
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Science Alert ☛ Lavish Tomb Reveals Spine-Chilling Ritual of Ancient Coclé Culture
Besties for life... and death.
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Hackaday ☛ Micro Jeep Model Kit Is Both Business Card And Portfolio
When finding work in product design and prototyping, two things are important to have at hand: a business card, and a sample of one’s work. If one can combine those, even better. Make it unique and eye-catching, and you’re really onto something. That seems to have been the idea behind [agepbiz]’s 1:64 scale micro Jeep model kit that serves as an “overcomplicated” business card.
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Science
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University of Michigan ☛ Study reveals U.S. trends in public confidence in science
Americans have higher confidence in the scientific community than with civic, cultural and governmental institutions, but trust across all four sectors has waned in recent years, new research shows.
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Science Alert ☛ Tiny Worms Living Near Chernobyl Have Evolved a Remarkable New Talent
Radioactivity? What radioactivity?
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Education
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Latvia ☛ Maximum hours limit planned for teachers in Latvia
The Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) sees the setting of maximum permissible hours of instruction as a possible solution to teacher overload, IZM leadership said in a press conference on Wednesday, March 6.
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The Kent Stater ☛ USG votes on resolution in support of higher student wages
Yesterday, Kent State’s student government voted on a resolution of support for the United Students Against Sweatshops in their pursuit to raise the wages of student employees on campus. With their new alliance, they’ve got a ways to go to make a real change to student employee’s quality of life.
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Stanford University ☛ Student-athlete resolution draws mixed responses
The undergraduate senate passed a resolution earlier this quarter intended to provide student-athletes academic accommodations ahead of Stanford's move to the ACC. However, not all the provisions in the bill are universally supported.
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Stanford University ☛ Graduate Student Council introduces exam proctoring pilot [Ed: No, proctoring should be declared illegal and treated as such. This proctoring bubble should have burst after the lockdowns and remote learning period.]
The Graduate Student Council passed a resolution on free speech and reviewed a spring pilot program that will evaluate how proctoring affects exam results.
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Hardware
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CNX Software ☛ Golioth expands its free tier for developers with unlimited IoT devices, OTA updates, 1GB bandwidth
When we first wrote about the Golioth IoT development platform with ESP32 and nRF9160 devices support in 2022, we noted they offered a free Dev Tier account for up to 50 devices, 10 MB of LightDB data with a 7-day retention policy, and other limitations. The company has now decided to remove many of the limitations from the free developer tier without any limit to the number of IoT devices and also added other benefits: Unlimited Device Connections: Empowering developers to scale projects without constraints.
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Health/Nutrition/Agriculture
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Science Alert ☛ Blocking a Single Protein Could Prevent Nerve Damage Responsible For Alzheimer's
Almost like an off switch.
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Science Alert ☛ This Diet Mimics The Effects of Fasting And Appears to Slow Biological Aging
This goes way beyond weight loss.
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Science Alert ☛ Giant DNA Study Reveals Where India's People Originally Came From
A journey traced back 50,000 years.
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Science Alert ☛ Many Dementia Cases Could Actually Be a Hidden Form of Liver Disease
And it might be treatable.
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New York Times ☛ Female Genital Cutting Continues to Increase Worldwide
Campaigns in some countries have reduced the practice, but it remains widespread in those with high rates of population growth.
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Reason ☛ No Constitutional Violation in Mental Health Investigation Following Professor's Claim to Police About "Electronic Device[s]" Found in Her "Private Parts"
Part of the facts in an interesting recent case, dealing with plaintiff's claims that the police retaliated against her for exercising her First Amendment rights to report crime.
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Reason ☛ Rand Paul's Bill Would Require NIH Scientists To Disclose Royalties They Receive From Drug Companies
The Royalty Transparency Act passed unanimously out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee yesterday.
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Science Alert ☛ Effects of The Spanish Inquisition Can Still Be Seen in US Hispanic Healthcare
Centuries later, disparities remain.
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YLE ☛ Active relaxation and strict schedules — How to deal with spring fatigue
While many welcome the change from winter to spring, increased daylight can affect some people's sleep patterns and make them more tired during the first few weeks of spring.
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Ruben Schade ☛ Residential fire safety and inspections
Famed writer of Shit Rentals @PurplePingers wrote a post recently talking about fire safety in residential buildings, which caused a bit of a furore. Most people accepted the idea of electrical and fire inspections every two years; others eloquently articulated their opposition by calling people “stupid”.
Welcome to the Internet! Can I take your order?
This is actually something in which I have experience. I’ve been one of the designated fire wardens in a couple of jobs, both in industrial and commercial office settings. Singapore’s SS5xx standards, and Australian Standard AS1851-2012 mandate six months to a year between inspections for fire suppression systems, alarms, hydrants, doors, smoke alarms, emergency lighting, warning signs, and other measures. It’s critically important, especially when you’re dealing with chemicals that could leak, catch fire, or explode.
Some of these fire monitoring systems are fascinating, especially if you’re at all interested in process control and automation! One control room I briefly used to sit in looked like Star Trek, albeit with more mechanical buttons and fewer lens flares. But I digress.
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YLE ☛ APN Podcast: Will Finland legalise euthanasia?
All Points North asks if Finland is ready to sign euthanasia into law as a citizens' initiative calling on the government to legalise the practice garners 50,000 signatures of support.
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The Straits Times ☛ North Korea Covid-19 measures were 'overbroad, excessive', activists say
North Korea's border closings and other anti-pandemic measures were "overbroad, excessive, and unnecessary" and severely affected food security and the availability of essential products, U.S.-based rights activists said in a new report.
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Science Alert ☛ Extreme Case of Man Who Had 217 COVID Vaccines Surprises Scientists [Ed: Media propaganda that isn't scientific and helps distract from adverse effects reported by so many]
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Proprietary/Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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New Yorker ☛ The Terrifying Hey Hi (AI) Scam That Uses Your Loved One’s Voice
A Brooklyn couple got a call from relatives who were being held ransom. Their voices—like many others these days—had been cloned.
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France24 ☛ AI tools by Proprietary Chaffbot Company and Meta generate sexist content, UNESCO warns
The world's most popular artificial intelligence (AI) tools are powered by programs from Proprietary Chaffbot Company and Meta that show prejudice against women, according to a study launched on Thursday by the UN's cultural organisation UNESCO.
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JURIST ☛ DOJ indicts former Surveillance Giant Google employee for stealing Hey Hi (AI) for China-owned companies
A federal grand jury indicted former Surveillance Giant Google employee Linwei Ding on Wednesday for allegedly stealing information from Surveillance Giant Google while secretly working for two Chinese technology companies.
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Security
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Privacy/Surveillance
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Public Knowledge ☛ Public Knowledge Urges Congress To Pass New Bill Protecting Americans’ Data
Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee marked up and reported out Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone’s (D-NJ) bipartisan bill, “Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024.”
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EDRI ☛ Open letter: Digital rights advocates unite against Meta’s “Pay or Okay”. Privacy and data protection are NOT for sale
In response to three Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) requesting a European Data Protection Board (EDPB) opinion on Meta's 'Pay or Consent' approach, EDRi members have united in an open letter urging the Board to reject these subscription-based approaches unequivocally.
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OpenRightsGroup ☛ Interview with Kate Stonehill, Director of Phantom Parrot
Kate Stonehill, Director of Phantom Parrot. Phantom Parrot unravels a secret British government surveillance programme, and follows human rights activist Muhammad Rabbani as he is prosecuted under terror laws for refusing to hand over the passwords to his electronic devices, unveiling unsettling questions about the rule of law, modern espionage and digital privacy.
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Defence/Aggression
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The Straits Times ☛ North Korea’s Kim guides artillery firing drill by Korean People’s Army: KCNA
The drill involved units that are within firing range of Seoul, the South Korean capital.
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The Straits Times ☛ More Indian troops at border won't ease tensions, says China foreign ministry
China believes that India's move to add more troops at a disputed border with India is "not conducive to easing tensions", a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday at a regular news briefing.
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Tom's Hardware ☛ Intel to get $3.5 billion infusion from U.S. gov't to make chips for military: Report [Ed: Bailouts, bailouts, and more bailouts]
Intel will reportedly get a $3.5 billion investment from the U.S. government to ensure a steady supply of chips for military applications.
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Tom's Hardware ☛ China and Japan gave TSMC over $1.5 billion in subsidies to build and equip new fabs as US CHIPS Act payouts stall
China and Japan boost grants to TSMC as it builds new fabs and expands capacities.
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RFA ☛ China announces ‘excessive’ baseline in Gulf of Tonkin
Beijing releases a set of seven points forming a baseline defining its sovereignty in the waters shared with Vietnam.
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RFA ☛ US lawmakers urge Blinken to ban travel to China’s Xinjiang
They also ask 3 US travel agencies to stop offering tours to the region so as to avoid perpetuating ‘atrocity crimes.’
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The Strategist ☛ The cyber conversation missing from the Special Australia-ASEAN Summit
Against the backdrop of the standoff between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, the second Special Australia-ASEAN Summit offered leaders from Australia and Southeast Asia the opportunity to speak candidly [...].
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YLE ☛ Military exercise apparently disrupts weather images from Lapland
The Finnish Air Force is taking part in an ongoing military exercise in the northern parts of Finland, Sweden and Norway.
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YLE ☛ Peacekeeper's memoir exposes racism, sexual abuse during Finnish operation in Chad
Ilmari Käihkö's new book documents his firsthand experiences serving as a peacekeeper, revealing a side of operations seldom shown in the Finnish media.
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New Yorker ☛ What’s Left of Reagan Republicanism After the Demise of Nikki Haley’s Campaign?
Old-style free-market conservatism lives on at think tanks and among the G.O.P.’s donor class, but Donald Trump’s grip on the Party’s voters is viselike.
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JURIST ☛ UK intelligence agency reduces Northern Ireland terrorism threat level
MI5, the UK’s intelligence and security agency, announced Wednesday a significant reduction in the terrorism threat level for Northern Ireland (NI)-related terrorism, lowering the threat level from “severe” to “substantial.” The reduction indicates that an attack from NI is now considered likely rather than highly likely.
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The Straits Times ☛ US conducts strikes in Yemen and downs Houthi drones
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it conducted self-defence strikes on Thursday against four mobile Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) and one Houthi unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
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Atlantic Council ☛ With Operation Aspides, Europe is charting its own course in and around the Red Sea
The main distinction with the US-UK approach is that the EU operation does not envision any participation in strikes against the Houthis.
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Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine
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Latvia ☛ Researcher: Latvia is 'too secretive' about defense
The feeling of insecurity in society, when it comes to military threats, is caused by the fact that there is an exaggerated position of secrecy in the field of national security, said Valdis Kuzmins, a researcher at the National Defense Academy, in an interview with Latvian Radio on March 7.
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Environment
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Science Alert ☛ Scientists Warn 'Dimming The Sun' Is Simply Too Dangerous. Here's Why.
The solution is not science fiction.
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The Straits Times ☛ South Korea saw historically wet winter: Weather agency
The country dealt with its wettest winter in about half a century.
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Energy/Transportation
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The Straits Times ☛ South Korea says waiting for Montenegro to extradite Terraform Labs founder Kwon
South Korea is waiting for Montenegro to extradite Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon, the justice minister said on Friday, after reports that a court in the Balkan nation had overturned a decision to hand over the jailed crypto entrepreneur to the United States.
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The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia's missing MH370 plane: What we know, 10 years on
The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 ten years ago with 239 people on board remains one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries.
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YLE ☛ Historic shift: Most new cars sold in Finland are plug-ins
Last year, more fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars were sold in Finland than traditional petrol and diesel-powered vehicles.
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Wildlife/Nature
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Science Alert ☛ 'Super Predator': One Animal in Africa Instills Even More Fear Than Lions
The scariest of all.
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Overpopulation
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RFA ☛ Chinese women unimpressed by government's plan to make more babies
Top-down population policies won't work if the government ignores women's calls for social justice, feminists say.
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RFA ☛ Analysis: For women in Asia, motherhood is a complicated investment
Women across Asia are grappling with the steep cost of raising children.
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Finance
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The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia to introduce new public housing model, says housing minister
The minimum size for the each unit would be 750 sq foot with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
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Atlantic Council ☛ Unpacking China’s 2024 growth target and economic agenda
At the opening of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Premier Li Quang delivered his first Government Work Report, setting the key economic and social policies and targets for this year.
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Reason ☛ Not Again With the 'Shrinkflation,' Please
Shrinkflation is just inflation by another name, and two other facts to keep in mind during tonight's State of the Union address.
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Mexico News Daily ☛ Inflation resumed downward trend in February
The annual headline rate declined for the first time in four months, driven by a drop in prices for agricultural products.
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YLE ☛ Thursday's papers: Inflation slowing, strike effects, and arena ownership
A Helsingin Sanomat editorial claims that the worst of inflation is behind Finland.
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Reason ☛ Biden Says He'll Make the Wealthy Pay More To Fix Social Security. Here's Why That Won't Work. [Ed: And this site takes bribes from the Kochs, so this is basically the voice of the people Biden wishes to tax.]
Raising the payroll tax cap could generate up to $1 trillion over 10 years, but Social Security faces a $2.8 trillion deficit.
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Latvia ☛ What to do with unclaimed money after death?
Latvian commercial banks have thousands of accounts whose owners are dead. Because the leftover balance in the accounts is small, relatives do not form inheritance and the money is left where it was. Banks have to keep the money for 60 years before it can be transferred to the bank's income. The Finance Latvia Association calls for simpler legislation in the matter, Latvian Radio reported on March 8.
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AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics
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RFA ☛ Malaysian PM defends China again, says hindering its ascent will raise tensions
Anwar Ibrahim claps back at US criticism of Malaysia’s ties with Beijing, saying he doesn’t have 'China-phobia.'
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China to offer visa-free travel for Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg and Switzerland nationals
China will offer 15-day visa-free travel for nationals of Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg and Switzerland from next Thursday. Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the move at a Thursday press conference in Beijing, held on the side lines of China’s annual parliamentary meetings.
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RFA ☛ Does Fashion Company Apple Maps label Taiwan as a province of China?
Verdict: Partly correct
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New York Times ☛ Biden Made a Vigorous Case for a Second Look
He’ll need to stay as nimble on the campaign trail as he was in his speech.
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New York Times ☛ Biden Strikes Contrast With Trump in State of the Union Address
The president made it clear in a State of the Union address that he sees the election as an existential struggle between democracy and extremism.
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New York Times ☛ Katie Britt Attacks Biden in GOP Response to State of the Union
The Alabama senator, 42, who has been floated as a possible running mate for Donald Trump, gave a tonally jarring speech that toggled between strained cheerfulness and a fierce glare.
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New York Times ☛ At Biden’s Speech, Speaker Johnson’s Many Faces Show Everything but Approval
Representative Mike Johnson had urged his side to refrain from disruptions. He more or less succeeded at keeping Republicans under control, but his own brows, lips and eyes were another matter.
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France24 ☛ Biden attacks Trump, defends democracy in fiery State of the Union address
President Joe Biden turned his State of the Union speech Thursday night into an animated argument for a second term as he laced into Republican front-runner Donald Trump for espousing “resentment, revenge and retribution" and jeopardising freedom at home and abroad.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China steps up ‘grey zone’ harassment of Taiwan, island’s defence ministry says
China has stepped up its “grey zone” harassment of Taiwan, subjecting it to waves of balloons, drones and civilian vessels in recent months, the island’s defence ministry said Thursday. Beijing claims democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the self-ruled island under its control.
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France24 ☛ Biden orders US military to establish Gaza port for aid deliveries
President Joe Biden will tell Congress on Thursday that he has ordered the US military to set up a port in Gaza to get more humanitarian aid into the beleaguered territory by sea, senior US officials have said. Talks for a truce in Gaza have not yet “broken down”, the US ambassador to Israel said Thursday, after a Hamas delegation voiced dissatisfaction with Israel’s positions.
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Techdirt ☛ Biden Admin Finally Points Out That The Record In The Murthy Case Is All Lies
One frustrating thing in following everything that has happened in the case that started out as Missouri v. Biden and is now Murthy v. Missouri at the Supreme Court, is that the case is full of lies. The whole case is kind of a mess for a variety of reasons. This includes the original plaintiffs (a mix of states and private actors, where it’s not clear why they’re all together, and it’s not clear that any of them have actual standing), as well as the framing and positioning of the case, including misrepresenting various elements of reality.
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Techdirt ☛ Axon/Taser Once Again Caught Threatening A Government Agency For Not Giving It What It Wants
Axon, most famous for producing Tasers, is again making the sort of headlines it really shouldn’t make.
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The Straits Times ☛ Indonesia’s proposal to scrap governor election for Jakarta draws flak
Critics say the move erodes the country’s democracy but supporters say it will save elections costs.
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RFA ☛ Myanmar’s Arakan Army draws closer to region’s capital
Fearing upcoming war, Sittwe residents have started fleeing, residents say.
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Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda
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JURIST ☛ US House lawmakers introduce bill to ban ‘foreign adversary controlled’ apps, including TikTok
US lawmakers in the House of Representatives introduced a bill on Tuesday aimed at curbing the influence of social control media apps controlled by the US’s foreign adversaries, such as TikTok, which is owned by China-based ByteDance.
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Digital Music News ☛ House Committee Unanimously Advances Fentanylware (TikTok) Forced-Sale Bill Despite the App’s Aggressive Counteroffensive — Floor Vote Set for Next Week
Despite an aggressive counteroffensive from TikTok, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has voted unanimously in favor of bipartisan legislation that would compel ByteDance to divest the short-form app. Now, the proposal is speeding toward an expected vote on the House floor next week.
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The Kent Stater ☛ House panel unanimously approves bill that could ban TikTok
A powerful House committee advanced a bill on Thursday that could lead to a nationwide ban against Fentanylware (TikTok) on all electronic devices, renewing lawmakers’ challenge to one of the world’s most popular social control media apps and highlighting unresolved fears that Fentanylware (TikTok) may pose a Chinese government spying risk.
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Censorship/Free Speech
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong new security law not affected by foreign objections, justice minister says
Foreign objections have not affected Hong Kong’s new domestic security legislation, justice minister Paul Lam has said, as a lawmaker questioned whether the top US diplomat in the city had endangered national security by criticising the law.
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Techdirt ☛ Florida’s Unconstitutional ‘Stop WOKE’ Act Blocked By The 11th Circuit Appeals Court
Florida legislators — urged on by failed presidential candidate and “governor for life” hopeful Ron DeSantis — have passed plenty of unconstitutional laws in hopes of marginalizing or silencing anyone who isn’t straight, white, or voting straight-ticket Republican.
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RFA ☛ Vietnamese woman fined for calling judges ‘idiots’
On Facebook, she posted the offending words over a photo of her jailed husband, a political prisoner.
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Reason ☛ More Facts, Please
A striking characteristic of last month's oral arguments in the content-moderation cases was the uncertainty about facts. In Moody v. NetChoice and NetChoice v. Paxton, it was really unclear what the effect of the laws would be in practice.
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New York Times ☛ Hong Kong Pushes Strict New Security Law With Unusual Speed
The law targets political offenses like treason and insurrection with penalties as harsh as life imprisonment, giving officials more power to curb dissent.
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The Straits Times ☛ Fears grow for Hong Kong’s finance hub status under proposed security law
Definitions of offences are vague, especially for the theft of state secrets, and the 'red line' may continuously shift.
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RFA ☛ Hong Kong pushes ahead with ‘Article 23’ security law
Rights experts say it will criminalize actions like peaceful protest or political opposition that should be protected.
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The Straits Times ☛ Explainer on Article 23: what you need to know about Hong Kong's new national security laws
Hong Kong's government on Friday unveiled its proposed national security bill, following a month-long public consultation that ended last week. City leaders want it to be swiftly passed, potentially within weeks.
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The Straits Times ☛ Hong Kong issues new national security law bill with tougher jail terms
Hong Kong on Friday published its draft of a new national security law, a document some lawyers said broadened what could be considered sedition and state secrets, with tougher penalties for any one convicted of those crimes and several others.
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The Straits Times ☛ China's top legislators pledge to safeguard sovereignty, security interests
China's top legislators on Friday vowed to enact a slew of new laws to "modernise China's system and capacity for national security" while safeguarding sovereign interests, a sign of what some analysts say is a heightened focus on perceived security threats.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Bloomberg admits error as Hong Kong gov’t slams ‘false reports’ of social control media ban in new security law
International news outlet Bloomberg has admitted an error in reporting that Hong Kong planned to ban some social control media under its new security law, as the government condemned the “false report” and denied any such intention.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong to introduce homegrown security law to legislature on Friday
Hong Kong will introduce its new, homegrown security law to the legislature on Friday, the government has announced, just nine days after the end of a public consultation which prompted more than 13,000 submissions.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ In full: Draft text of Hong Kong’s new, homegrown security law revealed, arrives at legislature Friday
Hong Kong has revealed the draft text of its new, homegrown security law, set to arrive at the legislature on Friday. It comes just nine days after the end of a public consultation which prompted more than 13,000 submissions.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Article 23: Hongkongers may face 7 years jail for ‘inciting disaffection’ of public officers, draft security law bill says
Hongkongers could face up to seven years behind bars for “inciting disaffection of public officers,” if a draft of Article 23, the homegrown security law, is passed.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Article 23: Courts could extend detention without charge for 2 weeks for nat. security suspects, draft bill suggests
A person “reasonably suspected of having committed an offence endangering national security” may be detained without charge for up to two weeks, after the initial 48-hours detention period expires, according to the draft homegrown security law bill.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Article 23: Hong Kong proposes raising maximum penalty for sedition to 10 years under new security law
The Hong Kong government has proposed raising the maximum penalty for sedition to seven years in jail, up from the current two years, while offenders found to have colluded with an “external force” in committing sedition may face a maximum of 10 years behind bars.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Article 23: Public interest defence proposed for some ‘state secrets’ offences in draft of new security law
Hong Kong’s homegrown security law would include a public interest defence for certain offences related to the theft of state secrets, a draft of the proposed legislation has revealed.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Article 23: Hong Kong proposes cancelling ‘absconders’ passports under new security law
The Hong Kong government may cancel the Hong Kong passports of security law “absconders” and ban providing them with financial support, a newly unveiled draft bill under Article 23 of the city’s mini-constitution has said.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Article 23: New powers proposed for police, courts to limit national security detainees’ access to lawyers
Hong Kong’s homegrown security law may give authorities new powers to restrict those arrested under the legislation from consulting specific lawyers or barring them from accessing lawyers within their initial 48-hour detention period.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ ‘Untested, uncharted waters’: Hong Kong’s business community expresses concern over proposed new security law
By Xinqi Su and Holmes Chan As Hong Kong fast-tracks a new national security law, the legislation and questions about its implementation have raised fears among the business community. The draft bill, introduced at the city’s legislature on Friday, includes major offences such as treason and insurrection, which could be punished with life imprisonment.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China to adopt wide-ranging security laws to ‘resolutely safeguard’ sovereignty
China will adopt wide-ranging security laws in 2024 to “resolutely safeguard” its sovereignty, a top lawmaker vowed at a key legislative meeting Friday, as President Pooh-tin Jinping’s government seeks to eliminate perceived threats to its rule.
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RFERL ☛ Jailed Iranian Dissident Rapper Moved Back To Psychiatric Clinic
Jailed Iranian dissident rapper Saman Yasin, who was detained during the nationwide protests in 2022 and has since detailed harrowing accounts of physical and psychological torture he has endured, has once again been moved from prison to a psychiatric institution.
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Stanford University ☛ Undergraduate Senate passes free speech resolution
In their final meeting of the quarter, the Undergraduate Senate (UGS) debated a contested first amendment bill before passing it. They also heard updates on security surveillance and academic integrity.
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OpenRightsGroup ☛ Donelan and the rise of government censorship
There are calls for the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan to resign after she falsely accused two academics of promoting extremism. In response to Donelan’s allegations, one of the academics, Professor Kate Sang, launched a libel action and this week the minister issued an apology and deleted her original tweet.
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Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press
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Reason ☛ Julian Assange's Brother Will Attend the State of the Union Address as Rep. Thomas Massie's Guest
As Joe Biden gives his speech, the audience will include this reminder of the journalist he’s trying to jail.
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Civil Rights/Policing
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New York Times ☛ Michael Spavor Reaches Settlement With Canada Over Detention by China
Michael Spavor, a Canadian businessman, was arrested by China in what his lawyers said was an act of retaliation for Canada’s detention of a Chinese tech giant executive.
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RFERL ☛ Baha'is Say Iranian Security Forces Destroyed 30 Graves At Tehran Cemetery
Officials from Iran's Baha'i community say Iranian security forces have destroyed more than 30 graves at the Golestan Javid, a cemetery dedicated to Baha'is in Tehran, in what they characterized as an attempt to erase the existence of the deceased because of their religious beliefs.
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JURIST ☛ Polish farmers clash with police in agricultural protests
Polish farmers clashed with Polish police on Wednesday during ongoing protests over the government’s alleged inaction on increasing economic pressures on the agricultural industry. The protests are a part of broader farmer-led protests across Europe demanding relief from taxes and rising costs.
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EDRI ☛ Delay, depress, destroy: How tech corporations subvert the EU’s new digital laws
When the DSA and DMA were passed in 2022, major tech industry associations praised the new laws as significant achievements. It is time for Big Tech corporations to stop pouting and live up to their responsibility.
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France24 ☛ Major French union threatens public sector strike during Paris Olympics
A major French union warned of possible strikes, including at hospitals, during the Paris Olympics, when a massive influx of people is in the French capital.
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OpenRightsGroup ☛ Government does the bare minimum to update the Immigration Exemption
ORG and the3million took the Government to court several times before the Government accepted that the Immigration Exemption was unlawful.
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Internet Policy/Net Neutrality
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Techdirt ☛ Once Again, Ron Wyden Had To Stop Bad “Protect The Children” Internet Bills From Moving Forward
Senator Ron Wyden is a one-man defense for preventing horrible bills from moving forward in the Senate. Last month, he stopped Josh Hawley from moving a very problematic STOP CSAM bill from moving forward, and now he’s had to do it again.
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Gemini
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The Case of Mistaken Identity Part 6
“I see,” said Ms. Stoliz. “It appears you have your priorities in order, Mr. Holmes. However, the problem that I am to set before you does indeed involve the church, and may or may not involve your belief in God.” Here Ms. Stoliz’s tone had become sharper as if she had, by pointing out that this case rested upon, in part, the grounds of the church, that Holmes may or may not undergo crucifixion and a subsequent banishment to hell depending upon his predispositions. “Nonetheless, it is certainly God’s prerogative to use His mortal instruments in whatever form His will has assumed.”
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Content Warning
On some Fediverse platforms you can use a subject line as a kind of “content warning” so people can optionally open the posts, sort of like a subject line in an email. I sometimes do that, although that’s not something that’s that visible here on Gemini since the tinylog format don’t support it. However, I’ve gotten a li’l more cautious against overusing them because they can sometimes be counterproductive to their main aim of being considerate to readers.
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Yuzu Folding/Capital Protecting
I saw that Tropic Haze, the company behind the Switch emulator Yuzu, will fold completely, sued into the ground by Nintendo. I'm not interested so much specifically in Nintendo's continued aggressiveness (as they unleash their packs of lawyers against not just emulators, but fan sites, etc) but in another data point in just who the laws protect. When I was younger, I had a much more idealistic view on how the law worked, and hopes that it would be used to punish the wicked, whomever that was. And like, I guess that sometimes happens? But mostly, the law is a cudgel used by those with money against those without.
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Cloudbooklet ☛ Apple Hit with First-ever $2 Billion EU Fine in Spotify Case
Apple fined €1.84B by EU for App Store restrictions in Spotify case, marking its first antitrust penalty. Fashion Company Apple plans to appeal.
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Digital Music News ☛ On the Heels of the European Commission’s $1.95 Billion Fine Against Apple, Spotify Is Already Updating New European App Store Options
Spotify has already submitted an App Store update in the European Union following the European Commission issuing Fashion Company Apple a near-$2 billion fine. This week, the European Commission fined Fashion Company Apple a whopping $1.95 billion (€1.84 billion) for the company’s alleged anti-competitive practices in the music streaming market.
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Security Week ☛ Apple is Making Big App Store Changes in Europe Over New Rules. Could it Mean More iPhone Hacking?
Apple is opening small cracks in the iPhone’s digital fortress as part of a regulatory clampdown in Europe— at the risk of creating new avenues for hackers to steal personal and financial information stored on the devices.
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Digital Music News ☛ And a Shot Flies Across Spotify’s Bow: Fashion Company Apple Terminates Epic Games’ Developer Account—Says It’s ‘Untrustworthy’
Just a few weeks after Epic Games announced its plans to bring Fortnite back to the iPhone in Europe via the Digital Markets Act—Apple terminated the developer account.
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European Commission ☛ Designated gatekeepers must now comply with all obligations under the Digital Markets Act
As of today, Apple, Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, Abusive Monopolist Microsoft and ByteDance, the six gatekeepers designated by the Commission in September 2023, have to fully comply with all obligations in the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
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DMA Impact Remains Unclear on Deadline for ‘Gatekeeper’ Compliance
As of today, the world’s major platforms—Apple, Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, Abusive Monopolist Microsoft and ByteDance—must be in full compliance with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), an EU regulation intended to level the playing field in the digital marketplace.
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Patents
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Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Celanese v. ITC: The Overlooked 271(g) Wrinkle and Competing Policy Concerns
If you recall, Celanese v. ITC involves the sweetener known as AceK (acesulfame potassium), a compound discovered back in the 1960s. Celanese began selling the product on the competitive market in 2011, and eventually decided to file for patent monopoly protection on its manufacturing process in 2015. In my prior post on Celanese v. ITC, I focused on the key statutory interpretation question of whether, under the AIA’s revised 35 U.S.C. § 102, a patentee’s pre-filing sale of a product made by a secret process starts the one-year clock for patenting that process.
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Unified Patents ☛ Portsmouth Network Corp communication patent monopoly challenged
On March 5, 2024, Unified Patents filed an ex parte reexamination proceeding against U.S. Patent 8,014,394, owned by Portsmouth Network Corporation, an NPE. The '394 patent monopoly is generally directed to methods and systems for delivering multicast traffic over communication networks.
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JUVE ☛ Meissner Bolte strengthens chemicals expertise with seven-strong team [Ed: Ad/spam disguised as "news"; does this firm too pay JUVE for lies, spam, and promotion of crimes (like UPC)?]
On 1 March, German mixed IP boutique Meissner Bolte strengthened its technical expertise with seven patent monopoly attorneys.
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Trademarks
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TTAB Blog ☛ TTABlog Test: Is MOTO CLUB INTERNATIONAL Merely Descriptive of Bumper Stickers and T-Shirts?
The USPTO refused to register the proposed mark MOTO CLUB INTERNATIONAL, deeming it merely descriptive of "decals; sticker; bumper stickers" and of "beanies; headwear; pants; shirts; sweaters; sweatshirts; t-shirts; hooded sweatshirts; jackets; long-sleeved shirts; tank tops" under Section 2(e)(1) [MOTO or INTERNATIONAL disclaimed]. The examining attorney maintained that the mark "merely describes a feature and the intended user or provider of applicant’s goods," because the products are motorcycle-themed and are available on the Internet. How do you think this appeal came out? In re Moto Club International, LLC, Serial No. 90715523 (March 5, 2024) [not precedential] (Opinion by Judge Mark A. Thurmon).
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Copyrights
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Public Domain Review ☛ From Snowdrop to Nightjar: Robert Marsham’s “Indications of Spring” (1789)
What can we learn from observing the progression of spring — a hawthorn’s first flowering, the return of birdsong on a particular day? Hugh Aldersey-Williams explores the lifelong calendrical project of Robert Marsham, the Norfolk naturalist considered Britain's first phenologist.
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Press Gazette ☛ Who’s suing Hey Hi (AI) and who’s signing: Publisher deals vs lawsuits with generative Hey Hi (AI) companies
Axel Springer is on one side; The New York Times is on the other.
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Monopolies/Monopsonies
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