● 03.24.23

Gemini version available ♊︎

● Links 24/03/2023: GNU Grep 3.10 and Microsoft Accenture in a Freefall

Posted in News Roundup at 4:03 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

GNU/Linux

Desktop/Laptop

=> ↺ Framework presents new DIY upgradeable laptops

• Framework introduced today their Framework Laptop 13 DIY Edition compatible with the AMD Ryzen 7040 Series processors and 13th Gen Intel processors. These highly customizable laptops are available to pre-order starting at $849.00.

=> ↺ The Quality Assurance Process with Levi

• Curious about our quality assurance process? Levi, our QA Lead, takes you through a general overview of how QA approaches a new product, from testing firmware to acoustics and everything in between.

Kernel Space

=> ↺ Teleport brings kernel-level observability to identity/access management and compliance

Graphics Stack

=> ↺ 2023 X.Org Board of Directors Elections timeline extended, request for nominations

Applications

=> ↺ Komikku is a Feature-Packed Manga Reader for Linux

• Manga-loving members of the Linux community wanting to read their favorite manga at their desktop should check out Komikku.

Instructionals/Technical

=> ↺ How to Easily Run a Vulnerability Scan Using Nmap

• Nmap (network mapper) can be used for vulnerability scanning to identify known vulnerabilities. While Nmap is not primarily a vulnerability scanner,

=> ↺ RPKI ROA for IP resources in the IX segment

• Guest Post: The status of ROA registration in the IX segment, and the way forward.

=> ↺ Understanding 2>&1 in Bash: A Beginner’s Guide

• Bash is a popular shell used in most Linux distributions. It provides various I/O redirection techniques that allow users to control how input and output are processed in their commands and scripts. One of the most commonly used I/O redirection techniques is 2>&1, which redirects standard error (stderr) to standard output (stdout).

=> ↺ Understanding the difference between ‘git pull’ and ‘git fetch’

• Git is a powerful version control system that helps developers manage code efficiently and collaborate with their teams. Two essential Git commands for working with remote repositories are “git pull” and “git fetch”. Although they seem similar, understanding their differences is crucial for streamlining your Git workflow and maintaining a clean project history.

=> ↺ How To Install OpenCart on Ubuntu 20.04 | 22.04 LTS

• In this article, we will guide you on how to install OpenCart on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. OpenCart is a popular open-source e-commerce platform that allows users to create online stores and sell products.

=> ↺ How to Check if a Program Exists in Linux

• A shell script is a powerful tool for automating tasks on Unix-based systems. One common requirement when writing shell scripts is checking if a particular program or command exists on the system. This article will guide you through different methods to perform this check, allowing you to make your script more robust and reliable.

=> ↺ How to Choose the Best Shebang (#!) for Your Shell Scripts

• The shebang, also known as a “hashbang” or “sharpbang”, is an essential part of Bash scripts and other executable scripts in Unix-based systems.

=> ↺ User-Friendly SSH Clients for Windows with Advanced Functionality

• Remote access to servers and other devices is a critical task for many professionals, including system administrators, developers, and IT technicians. SSH (Secure Shell) is a popular protocol used to connect to remote devices securely, and SSH clients are used to establish these connections.

=> ↺ How To Install Printrun on Ubuntu 20.04 | 22.04 LTS

• In this guide, we will show you how to install Printrun on Ubuntu systems Printrun is a comprehensive and versatile 3D printing software that is highly recommended for managing and monitoring 3D printing tasks.

=> ↺ How To Install HardInfo on Ubuntu 20.04 | 22.04 LTS

• HardInfo is a system profiler and benchmark tool for Linux systems that provides detailed information about hardware and software components installed on a computer.

=> ↺ How To Install Concrete5 CMS on Ubuntu 20.04 | 22.04 LTS

• In this guide, we will show you how to install Concrete5 CMS on Ubuntu systems Concrete5 is a free, open-source Content Management System (CMS) used for building and managing websites. It is written in PHP and uses the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern.

=> ↺ How to install ProcessWire CMS on Ubuntu 22.04

• ProcessWire is a free open-source content management system which is developed in PHP language. It is a powerful CMS that allows you to upload content easily over the internet.

=> ↺ Terminal Basics #6: Delete Files and Folders in Linux

• You have learned to create files and directories. Now it is time to learn about deleting files and folders in the command line.

Games

=> ↺ Reviewing Linux Gaming Predictions for 2022: Mark from Linux Gaming Central

• We continue in our ongoing personal evaluations of last year’s predictions of what would happen in the magical world of Linux Gaming.

Distributions and Operating Systems

=> ↺ Endless Sky outer-space adventure game

• Just starting to add more AppImages to the Installer. Endless Sky

=> ↺ OpenEmbedded version 4.0.8 revision-1 compile

• I posted about progressing from the Dunfell-series to the Kirkstone-series back on December 5, 2022:

• https://bkhome.org/news/202212/easyos-advancing-to-kirkstone-series.html

• That was using OpenEmbedded/Yocto version 4.0.5. The 4.0.* releases are codenamed “Kirkstone”:

• https://wiki.yoctoproject.org/wiki/Releases

• OE/Yocto has now reached version 4.0.8, so decided to sync with that and do a recompile. In particular, I want the latest Chromium.

• I posted this morning about how surprisingly fast the compile was: [...]

Fedora Family / IBM

=> ↺ 8 tips to upskill your IT team with data literacy

• The past decade has been driven by rapid technology innovation and immense business pressure to increase revenue and improve customer and employee experiences. Yet McKinsey research shows 70 percent of digital transformation efforts during that era failed to meet their goals.

• Why did so many of these initiatives fail? Did leaders set the wrong goals?

=> ↺ 3 must-have skills for software developers

• Leaders must start reassessing the desired skills they seek in developers. Amid an already tight talent market, 51 percent of developers are considering quitting their jobs or finding a new one in the next 12 months, opening the door to a new way of thinking about the talent landscape.

Canonical/Ubuntu Family

=> ↺ Ubuntu 20.04.6 LTS Released

• The Ubuntu team is pleased to announce the release of Ubuntu 20.04.6 LTS (Long-Term Support) for its Desktop and Server products. Unlike previous point releases, 20.04.6 is a refresh of the amd64 installer media after recent key revocations, re-enabling their usage on Secure Boot enabled systems.

=> ↺ The Fridge: Ubuntu 20.04.6 LTS Released

• The Ubuntu team is pleased to announce the release of Ubuntu 20.04.6 LTS (Long-Term Support) for its Desktop and Server products.

• Unlike previous point releases, 20.04.6 is a refresh of the amd64 installer media after recent key revocations, re-enabling their usage on Secure Boot enabled systems.

• Many other security updates for additional high-impact bug fixes are also included, with a focus on maintaining stability and compatibility with Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.

• Maintenance updates will be provided for 5 years for Ubuntu Desktop, Ubuntu Server, Ubuntu Cloud, and Ubuntu Base.

• In order to download Ubuntu 20.04.6, visit:

• https://ubuntu.com/download/alternative-downloads

• Users of Ubuntu 18.04 LTS will be offered an automatic upgrade to 20.04.6 via Update Manager. For further information about upgrading, see:

• https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FocalUpgrades

• As always, upgrades to the latest version of Ubuntu are entirely free of charge.

• We recommend that all users read the 20.04.6 release notes, which document caveats and workarounds for known issues, as well as more in-depth notes on the release itself. They are available at:

• https://wiki.ubuntu.com/FocalFossa/ReleaseNotes

• If you have a question, or if you think you may have found a bug but aren’t sure, you can try asking in any of the following places:

• #ubuntu on irc.libera.chathttps://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-usershttps://ubuntuforums.orghttps://askubuntu.com

• If you would like to help shape Ubuntu, take a look at the list of ways you can participate at:

• https://discourse.ubuntu.com/contribute

• Ubuntu is a full-featured Linux distribution for desktops, laptops, clouds and servers, with a fast and easy installation and regular releases. A tightly-integrated selection of excellent applications is included, and an incredible variety of add-on software is just a few clicks away.

• Professional services including support are available from Canonical and hundreds of other companies around the world. For more information about support, visit:

• https://ubuntu.com/support

• You can learn more about Ubuntu and about this release on our website listed below:

• https://ubuntu.com/

• To sign up for future Ubuntu announcements, please subscribe to Ubuntu’s very low volume announcement list at:

• http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-announce

• Originally posted to the ubuntu-announce mailing list on Thu Mar 23 14:21:41 UTC 2023 by Graham Inggs, on behalf of the Ubuntu Release Team

Ubuntu ☛ Snapping out of Docker: a robotics guide for migrating Docker to SnapIn this blog post, we are going to see when and how to migrate a ROS application currently deployed with Docker to Snap.[...]During the development and testing stage, the use of Docker containers is a good way to reproduce the application environment consistently, reducing the risk of unexpected behaviour. Just like Docker, you could do the same with other container technologies like LXD, reducing issues with missing dependencies or differences in system configurations. When transitioning from development to deployment and maintenance, Docker’s limitations in the robotics field become apparent. Docker lacks dedicated high-level interfaces for accessing low-level hardware. It also lacks a robust update system and state transactionality. Docker containers are also not integrated in terms of network. All of these limitations require the user to implement workarounds that can be challenging, and expose our application to security issues.

Open Hardware/Modding

=> ↺ This remote sensor system determines if water is good for drinking

• The public often hears from various media outlets and documentaries that many regions in the world lack consistent access to quality drinking water. But what does exactly does that mean? It is more than water that is clear and free of parasites.

=> ↺ An experimental low-cost ultrasonic drone positioning system

• Drone shows have become a big trend over the past few years, with some shows containing thousands of individual drones. Those shows are wildly expensive, because the drones can easily cost a couple thousand dollars each.

Mobile Systems/Mobile Applications

=> ↺ Google is Enabling Automatic Android Apps Sync in the Play Store | NextPit

=> ↺ PayPal’s bringing its passkey logins to Android – The Verge

=> ↺ Google app testing navigation rail for Android tablets again [U]

=> ↺ Lucid Air CarPlay and Android Auto support launches – 9to5Mac

Free, Libre, and Open Source Software

=> ↺ FOSS Weekly #23.12: GNOME 44 Released, New carbonOS Distro, LUKS and More Linux Stuff

• A new independent Linux distro named carbonOS is the highlight of this week, along with GNOME 44 releases.

Events

=> ↺ Fedora Community Blog: Fedora at SoCal Linux Expo 20x

• The Southern California Linux Expo (SCaLE) returned to Pasadena, CA and Fedora came back as an exhibitor. It was a very successful year for Fedora: attendees voted us “Most Memorable Booth”!

=> ↺ foss-north – Just one month left

• As I blogged about earlier, life has been challenging the past months, but now things are getting back to normal. This means that some things are late, but also that I really want to do some things. foss-north is among these things.

• [...]

• In one month, April 23-25, foss-north 2023 will take place at Chalmers Conference Centre, in Gothenburg, Sweden.

SaaS/Back End/Databases

=> ↺ Oracle’s MySQL HeatWave gets embedded machine learning capabilities

Productivity Software/LibreOffice/Calligra

=> ↺ How your donations helped LibreOffice and TDF in 2022

• Donations to The Document Foundation help us to grow our community, run our infrastructure, organise events and share knowledge. And as a result, LibreOffice keeps on improving for all users! Many thanks to all of our supporters. Here’s a quick infographic showing how we used your donations in 2022: [...]

GNU Projects

=> ↺ grep @ Savannah: grep-3.10 released [stable]

Programming/Development

=> ↺ Update: oledump.py Version 0.0.73

• A small update to plugin_msi_info to provide extra info on streams. Indicator ! marks PE and CAB files. Indicator ? marks files that are not images (and are not marked with !). The idea is to first inspect streams marked with ! and ?.

=> ↺ Pimpl for Small Classes

• The familiar solution for thick value classes that want to preserve binary compatibility is to use the pimpl pattern (private implementation), also known as d-pointer (pointer to data). In future versions of our class, we can freely change the contents of the pimpl (i.e. adding, removing, and/or modifying data members) but the binary compatibility of the public class gets preserved.

• There’s a minor variation of the pimpl pattern that can enable some performance improvements by not allocating the private data in all cases. The idea is pretty simple: move (some of) the data members in the public class, while still keeping a d-pointer data member.

• This optimization makes a lot of sense, if the class that we’re pimpling does not hold a lot of state. In general, there are multiple reasons why one may want to conditionally allocate the private data: [...]

=> ↺ Christian Hergert: libpeas-2

• Now that GNOME 44 is out the door, I took some time to do a bunch of the refactoring I’ve wanted in libpeas for quite some time. For those not in the know, libpeas is the plugin engine behind applications like Gedit and Builder.

• This does include an ABI break but libpeas-1.0 and libpeas-2 can be installed side-by-side.

• In particular, I wanted to remove a bunch of deprecated API that is well over a decade old. It wasn’t used for very long and causes libpeas to unnecessarily link against gobject-introspection-1.0.

• Additionally, there is no need for the libpeas-gtk library anymore. With GTK 4 came much more powerful list widgets. Combine that with radically different plugin UI designs, the “one stop plugin configuration widget” in libpeas-gtk just isn’t cutting it.

• Now that there is just the single library, using subdirectories in includes does not make sense. Just #include <libpeas.h> now.

Leftovers

=> ↺ I want to redo or stop using categories

• There’s an Evangelion joke in there somewhere, but I digress. Back in 2008, I had too many categories. I condensed them into fewer than a dozen, which I’ve mostly retained since.

Hardware

=> ↺ My new ISA/PCI PC diagnostic card

• I’ve been sitting on a surface-mounted AMD 386-SX motherboard since 2002, and it’s never powered up properly. Maybe if I stood on it, I’d have better success. Recently I decided to try fixing it with a known-good power supply and peripherals, but beyond ascertaining that it indeed powers on, I haven’t got any futher.

• I’m not sure which YouTuber I first saw using one of these cards, but I searched eBay and bought one. Here it is next to Shinri from Holostars, because the three of us are of a similar vintage :’).

=> ↺ Chip designer Arm plans to increase profits by refining its business model

=> ↺ Avi Alkalay: New products featuring old USB connectors

• 22 years into 21st century but new products still feature connectors from previous century. Precisely 1996, when this very old USB connector was released.Product designers, please upgrade to USB-C, which is already 8 years old. It’s about time!

Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

=> ↺ Analysis: 42% of Americans are living with obesity

• More than 4 in 10 U.S. adults are obese, with states in the South and Midwest showing some of the highest prevalence, a new analysis from NORC at the University of Chicago shows.

=> ↺ The Outs and Ins of Self-Care

• Sedentary movement is actually good for you.

=> ↺ Why Do I Feel More Anxious at Night?

• The quiet hours can bring a lot of internal chatter. Here’s how to deal.

=> ↺ Health insurer concerned by stampede for Novo Nordisk’s new weight loss medicine

• Simply too many customers of Sygeforsikringen Danmark are interested in a prescription to Wegovy.

=> ↺ PFAS/PFCs: where to shop to avoid the forever chemicals in waterproof clothing

• Find out what PFAS/PFCs are, which clothing retailers have eliminated them from their supply chains and which are lagging behind in tackling the issue

Proprietary

=> ↺ Tech consulting firm Accenture announces 19,000 layoffs

Linux Foundation

=> ↺ How do you monetize free tech? OpenFaaS founder weighs in

=> ↺ Finleap goes cloud-native with the help of CockroachDB

=> ↺ Sensors provide security tracking for Kubernetes environments

=> ↺ Real-time platforms change the game for on-prem, cloud and edge data services

=> ↺ Container infrastructure continues to progress for application developers

=> ↺ Applications are expanding and evolving security for Kubernetes, says containers interface developer

=> ↺ Cortex works to streamline quality in microservices

• One of the main things engineering teams within organizations need constant reassurance on – while they work their magic – is the quality of their software. As the adoption of microservices soars, the ability for organizations to maintain visibility into the status and quality of their microservices has never been more pertinent

Security

=> ↺ Dole confirms employee details were stolen in ransomware attack

• Multinational agricultural giant Dole plc has disclosed that those behind a ransomware attack that shut down production facilities in the U.S. last month accessed employee information. First reported today by Bleeping Computer, the disclosure was made in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Privacy/Surveillance

=> ↺ The Accidental Truthtellers of the Post-Privacy Era

• In “Bottoms Up and the Devil Laughs,” Kerry Howley searches for hidden links among whistle-blowers, conspiracy theorists, targets of the surveillance state, and the rest of us.

=> ↺ On Joshua Schulte’s Alleged Substantial Amount of CSAM … and Other Contraband

Defence/Aggression

=> ↺ North Korea says it tested new nuclear underwater attack drone

• The drone system is intended to make sneak attacks in enemy waters.

=> ↺ ‘Politics of hate’ fuelling religion-based majoritarianism across South Asia, writers warn

• Such majoritarianism raises questions about the strength of democracy and nation states.

=> ↺ Denmark votes to join European Defence Agency

• A majority of Parliament voted in favour in wake of Denmark moving to abolish the EU defence reservation last summer

=> ↺ Justice chancellor: Finland can decide on Ukraine military aid during post-election interim

• The chancellor noted that Ukraine is quite dependent on military aid from the EU and other Western countries. “In that sense, it’s about continuing the political commitments that Europe has already made,” Tuomas Pöysti says.

=> ↺ Minister questions 30-year-old fighter jets’ usefulness to Ukraine

• Haavisto’s comments follow a Helsingin Sanomat report that Kyiv has requested the matter concerning Hornet jets be discussed between Ukraine, Finland and the US.

=> ↺ The Cold War With China Is Changing Everything

• Both sides are spending lots of money on technological elites.

=> ↺ Prince William Visits Poland to Thank Troops Supporting Ukraine

• He met with President Andrzej Duda on the second day of his visit to Poland.

=> ↺ West African Commandos Train to Battle Terrorists by Land and Sea

• As terrorists move south through the Sahel, the Pentagon’s annual Flintlock exercise reinforced the rule of law in a region roiled by coups.

=> ↺ Shooting at Denver High School Focuses Attention on School Safety Plans

• A 17-year-old student who shot two administrators and later killed himself had to be patted down every day at East High School because of past behavior, the police said.

=> ↺ Slovakia Makes Its First Delivery of Pledged Soviet-Era Fighter Jets to Ukraine

• The arrival of the aging MIG-29s is not expected to significantly change battlefield dynamics, and the planes will likely be used for spare parts for Ukraine’s own Soviet-era jets.

=> ↺ Spain’s Prime Minister to Visit Xi in China to Discuss Ukraine

• China has been trying to build support for its proposal to start peace talks, but Ukraine’s allies hold that its call for an immediate cease-fire would only help Russia consolidate territorial gains.

=> ↺ Track and Field Keeps Ban on Russia and Belarus, Adding to Debate on Olympics

• Another similar ban by the council that oversees ice hockey shows the issue has not waned.

=> ↺ Finland’s Nato bid progresses in final parliamentary stages

• The Turkish and Hungarian Parliaments are moving towards ratification of Finland’s Nato bid.

=> ↺ Finland begins international cooperation on domestic airspace surveillance

• Details about the flights are not being disclosed on grounds of national security.

=> ↺ Why Kurds are the biggest beneficiaries 20 years after Iraq War

• Irbil, a Kurdish city in northern Iraq, has transformed in the past 20 years with wide U.S.-style highways lined with fast-food restaurants and real estate offices. The conflict between the U.S. and Baghdad benefitted the Kurds more than anyone else.

=> ↺ Zelensky Tours Kherson as Allies Send More Arms

• For a second day, the Ukrainian president toured devastated cities near the front lines, while European Union leaders gave final approval to a plan to provide Kyiv a million artillery shells.

=> ↺ President Niinistö signs Finland’s national Nato legislation

• The law was signed ahead of Turkey and Hungary’s ratification of Finland’s accession, which is expected to happen soon.

Environment

=> ↺ U-M launches effort to support student climate education

• Students, staff and faculty representing an array of U-M units and disciplines collaborated recently at a Provost’s Seminar on Teaching to advance climate education for all students on the Ann Arbor campus.

Energy/Transportation

=> ↺ Ford’s $3B EV loss shows gas cars are still the profit engine

• Gas-powered cars, trucks and SUVs are still paying the bills for automakers as they pile money into electric vehicles.

• Why it matters: EVs are the future, but getting to that future will be expensive.

Overpopulation

=> ↺ Only 80 days of drinking water left in Bursa

• Turkey’s fourth most populated city is not the only one facing this problem. A recent UN report shows that apart from climate change, population growth, rapid urbanization, and construction in Turkey’s wetlands, freshwater basins, and forests plunged the country into water stress.

=> ↺ Canada Grew by a Record 1 Million People From Immigration

• The country’s growth was fueled almost entirely by newcomers, as the federal government pushes more immigration to plug labor shortages.

=> ↺ Migration Tops Agenda as Biden Meets With Trudeau During Canada Visit

• As migration has swelled at the U.S.-Canada border, the two countries plan to announce a deal to allow them both to turn back asylum seekers.

=> ↺ U.S. and Canada Reach an Agreement on Diverting Asylum Seekers

• The deal, reached just before President Biden arrived in Canada for an official visit, allows both countries to reduce a surge in migration.

=> ↺ How Manhattan Hotels Became Refuges for Thousands of Migrants

• The city has spent millions to convert upscale hotels, humble motels and even office buildings into housing for an influx of migrants.

=> ↺ What Does All This Rain Mean for California’s Drought?

• Despite all the rain, experts are hesitant to say the drought is over.

Finance

=> ↺ Rail strike ends, service resumes Friday

• Railway workers’ wages will see an increase of four percent this year followed by a two percent bump next year, according to employer’s group Palta.

=> ↺ New Day of Strikes in France as Pension Anger Persists

• The tensions started when President Emmanuel Macron raised the retirement age to 64, and the anger shows no sign of abating.

=> ↺ Moderate French Union Chief Points to Possible Exit From Pension Crisis

=> ↺ Hundreds of protests across France against pension changes

• More than 250 demonstrations across France against pension reforms.

=> ↺ Low-wage workers’ income soared over the past three years

• Pay rose at historically fast rates for low-wage workers in the U.S. between 2019 and 2022, even after adjusting for inflation, according to an analysis from the Economic Policy Institute released Thursday morning.

=> ↺ The U.K.’s Wave of Strikes Explained: Why Is It Ending?

• For months, labor disputes rattled Britain, disrupting transportation, the mail and even medical procedures. Now, tensions seem to have eased.

=> ↺ Republicans Say Spending Is Fueling Inflation. The Fed Chair Disagrees.

• Jerome H. Powell has said that snarled supply chains, an oil shock following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and shifts among American consumers are primarily behind rapid price growth.

=> ↺ Valmet Automotive to sack around 500 at assembly plant in Uusikaupunki

• VALMET AUTOMOTIVE, an automotive contract manufacturer based in Uusikaupunki, Finland, on Monday announced it will sack about 500 employees at its assembly plant.

• The Finnish company said it will need to reduce at most 940 employees in response to a drop in production volumes, adding that about half of the reductions would be carried out by lay-offs and half by temporary lay-offs of an indefinite duration.

=> ↺ RAU and Palta weigh up deal that could end railway strike in Finland

• THE NATIONAL CONCILIATOR has brokered a provisional agreement in the labour dispute over the terms and conditions of employment of locomotive drivers.

• YLE on Wednesday reported that the agreement will be considered later today by the boards of directors of the two labour market organisations embroiled in the dispute, Railway Union Finland (RAU) and Service Sector Employers (Palta).

=> ↺ Stifel poaches trio of SVB bankers

• Silicon Valley Bank remains for sale, in whole or in pieces, with bids reportedly due tomorrow. But some of SVB’s top bankers are already gone.

=> ↺ Why markets don’t believe the Fed on rate cuts

• On Wednesday afternoon, the Federal Reserve didn’t just raise interest rates for the ninth straight time in the face of a banking crisis. It also affirmed that its plans for the year remain more or less intact, and that nearly all of its leaders expect at least one more rate increase to come.

=> ↺ Banks Are Borrowing More From the Fed: What to Know

• As turmoil sweeps the United States financial system, banks are turning to the Federal Reserve for loans to get them through the squeeze.

=> ↺ Stocks Are Turbulent as Wall St. Weighs Fed’s Future Moves

• Investors remain preoccupied with the health of banks as interest rates rise, putting balance sheets under pressure.

=> ↺ As Zelensky Visits Kherson, World Bank Says Ukraine Needs $411 Billion to Rebuild

• The bank released a significantly higher figure as European Union leaders approved plans to provide Kyiv with one million artillery shells over the next 12 months.

=> ↺ Finnish businessman makes surprise bid for Manchester United

• The bid would see Thomas Zilliacus purchase half the club with fans purchasing the other half.

=> ↺ A good life: The reason we have become so well off

• The driver behind much of our prosperity has been government and the taxes it has imposed.

=> ↺ Tesco to reduce value of points with Clubcard reward partners

• The supermarket has more than 100 reward partners including Legoland and Pizza

• Express

=> ↺ Can your energy company force you to have a prepayment meter?

• Energy firms have agreed to stop installing prepayment meters in vulnerable

• customers’ homes by force. But that doesn’t mean that prepayment is off the cards completely.

=> ↺ Bank of England raises base rate to 4.25%: what it means for your mortgage and savings

• 11th consecutive rise sees interest rates grow yet again

AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

=> ↺ Israel’s democracy fight: Why Biden is getting off the sidelines

• Can the United States afford to treat the Israeli battle over judicial reform as just an internal matter? Not, the latest White House thinking holds, if it undercuts a pillar of the two democracies’ ties.

=> ↺ Pharma lobby paid StatCan for reports then used in industry PR push

• A series of Statistics Canada reports painted a flattering image of pharmaceutical investments without disclosing they were paid for—and vetted—by an industry lobby group

=> ↺ The Threat of TikTok

• U.S. officials say TikTok is a national security risk. They’re trying to turn it into their advantage.

=> ↺ TikTok Stars Visit D.C. as Creators Turn into Temporary Lobbyists

• On the bus, off the bus and all over Capitol Hill with creators turned temporary lobbyists. Wait, does anybody need a bathroom break?

=> ↺ Hostile TikTok hearing likely to deepen push for U.S. ban

• TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew joined the illustrious club of Big Tech CEOs paraded before Congress for a public flogging, producing a viral spectacle that has hardened lawmakers’ animus toward the Chinese-owned app.

=> ↺ TikTokers on edge as Congress grills CEO

• It was a near-perfect split screen: As lawmakers ripped TikTok in a congressional hearing with the company’s CEO on Thursday, the app’s users took to the platform to defend it.

=> ↺ Lawmakers urge TikTok ban in hearing with app’s CEO

• TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew defended the company Thursday from charges that it poses a national security threat in a hearing before lawmakers who fiercely advocated for banning the popular short-video app.

• Why it matters: The White House and TikTok’s critics in Congress say the app, which has 150 million U.S. users, puts their data at risk because TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company.

=> ↺ With Beijing Opposing a TikTok Sale, the Biden Administration’s Options Narrow

• If the White House can’t force a sale, that would effectively leave it with two options to resolve concerns about the company.

=> ↺ China Says It Will ‘Firmly Oppose’ Forced Sale of TikTok

• China’s commerce ministry publicly rebuked the Biden administration’s efforts to push TikTok’s Chinese ownership to sell the app or face a possible ban in the United States.

=> ↺ Who Is the TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew?

=> ↺ What to Know About Today’s Congressional Hearing on TikTok

• The Chinese-owned video app has become a battleground as the U.S. and China duel for tech leadership.

=> ↺ Team Biden to TikTok’s owners: Just sell it

• The Biden administration has a simple response to the army of TikTok influencers who swarmed Capitol Hill yesterday: The app can stay — if ByteDance agrees to sell it.

• Why it matters: The White House is under intense pressure from Republicans — and President Biden’s fellow Democrats — to protect the nation from potential security threats posed by the Chinese ownership of TikTok, the wildly popular app with 150 million active users in the U.S.

=> ↺ Congress grills TikTok CEO. Will a ban follow?

• The question over whether to ban TikTok sits at the nexus of two broader debates: how to regulate increasingly influential social media platforms, and how to foster U.S. interests as China’s economic and military power grows.

=> ↺ TikTok CEO grilled on China links and data protection efforts

=> ↺ Lawmakers Blast TikTok’s CEO for App’s Ties to China, Escalating Tensions

• Lawmakers grilled Shou Chew, TikTok’s chief executive, over the app’s ties to its Chinese parent company and its effects on children, as Chinese officials said they opposed a sale of the platform.

=> ↺ Biden’s Options on TikTok Narrow After China Pushes Back

• China’s opposition to a sale of the app leaves the president to challenge that stand or consider seeking a ban, which would face its own obstacles.

=> ↺ Utah Law Could Curb Use of TikTok and Instagram by Children and Teens

• The law, which prohibits social networks from allowing minors to have accounts without parental consent, may come as welcome news to many families even as it raises privacy concerns.

=> ↺ TikTok’s CEO has a plan to prove to Congress the app poses no danger to Americans

=> ↺ House GOP widens probe into Manhattan DA by seeking testimony from prosecutors who resigned

• House Republicans are expanding their investigation into Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s probe of former President Trump by seeking testimony from two prosecutors who resigned from the D.A.’s office last year.

=> ↺ Judge temporarily blocks new Wyoming abortion law amid legal challenge

• A U.S. District Court judge in Wyoming on Wednesday temporarily blocked a statewide abortion ban that came into effect over the weekend, according to multiple reports.

=> ↺ Antisemitic Incidents Reach New High in U.S., Anti-Defamation League Says

• The report from the advocacy group included online harassment and speech as well as physical attacks, and mirrored similar data from the federal government and another study.

=> ↺ Antisemitic incidents hit record in 2022, ADL says

• Antisemitic incidents in the U.S. jumped to a record level in 2022, up 36% from the year before, an annual audit by the Anti-Defamation League shows.

=> ↺ Remember: DOJ May Still Suspect Trump Is Hoarding Classified Documents

• Donald Trump demonstrably played a shell game in advance of Evan Corcoran’s search for classified documents last summer. DOJ’s effort to get his crime-fraud excepted testimony may help to understand all the other shell games Trump has played with subpoena responses.

Censorship/Free Speech

=> ↺ Stanford Law Dean Jennifer Martinez’s Excellent Defense of Free Speech and Civility

• After a more ambiguous initial reaction to student disruption of Judge Kyle Duncan’s speech, sponsored by the Stanford Federalist Society, Dean Jennifer Martinez has issued a passionate, well-argued, and occasionally blistering letter explaining why the students behaved inappropriately…

=> ↺ Book ban attempts reach “unparalleled” 20-year high in 2022

• Attempted book bans in 2022 nearly doubled from 2021, hitting an “unparalleled” 20-year record, according to new data from the American Library Association (ALA).

=> ↺ Rahul Gandhi Is Sentenced in Defamation Case

• Rahul Gandhi, who leads the main opposition party, received a two-year sentence for a comment in 2019 criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

=> ↺ Biggest year in book bans leaves librarians exhausted, frustrated

• More than 1,200 challenges to bookshelves were recorded in 2022, nearly double from 2021, according to a report released by the American Library Association. “The last two years have been exhausting, frightening, outrage-inducing,” said an ALA director.

=> ↺ Free Speech Doesn’t Mean Free Rein to Shout Down Others

• When protests amount to mob censorship.

Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

=> ↺ Five major TV outlets fined by RTÜK

• The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) penalized TV channels Halk TV, TELE1, SHOW TV and FOX TV.

Civil Rights/Policing

=> ↺ The Secret Joke at the Heart of the Harvard Affirmative-Action Case

• A federal official wrote a parody of Harvard’s attitude toward Asian Americans and shared it with the dean of admissions. Why did a judge try to hide that from the public?

=> ↺ ECtHR convicts Turkey for violating Peace Academics’ rights

• Three academics had been dismissed from their posts and their passports had been revoked. Their right to education and right to respect for one’s private life were violated, the European court has concluded.

=> ↺ HRW called on Turkey to open investigation into killing of four in Newroz in Jinderis

• Human Rights Watch issued a statement on three members of an armed faction of the Syrian National Army killing four civilians from the same family during the Newroz celebrations in Jinderis, Afrin. HRW called on Ankara to open an independent and transparent investigation into the event.

=> ↺ Police torture child in Lice

• A 14-year-old in Lice, Diyarbakır was forced to say that he is Turkish, memorize the National Anthem, and then beaten and tortured on March 21. The child still receiving treatment in the hospital risks losing his eye.

=> ↺ “Meagre compromise” on occupational well-being ends railway strike

• Railway Union Finland (RAU) and Service Sector Employers (Palta) on Thursday approved a proposal to settle their differences over the terms and conditions of employment of locomotive drivers, signalling the end of the driver strike that had halted virtually all rail services in Finland since Monday.

=> ↺ Strike in cleaning and property maintenance services expanded at midnight

• A STRIKE by cleaning and property maintenance professionals was expanded at midnight from 2,500 to 25,000 employees following the collapse of collective bargaining negotiations between Service Union United (PAM) and Real Estate Employers (KITA), reports YLE.

=> ↺ Uyghur author Gulchehra Hoja: ‘We are going to bloom again’

• Journalist Gulchehra Hoja shares her powerful story of defiance and hope amid what she calls China’s “genocide” of its Uyghur Muslim population.

=> ↺ Why is a California caste discrimination bill drawing mixed reviews?

• A bill proposed in California would add caste as a protected anti-discrimination category. People of South Asian descent have advocated for such legislation, though opponents say it might draw attention to groups already facing discrimination.

=> ↺ Amazon Union Prevails in Ruling on Warehouse Access for Organizing

• Federal labor regulators said that Amazon had illegally barred off-duty employees from work sites and that the policy was aimed at union backers.

Monopolies

Patents

=> ↺ European qualifying examination 2023 completed

• 2 148 candidates of 58 nationalities participated in this year’s European qualifying examination (EQE).

=> ↺ The Fintiv Rule Heads Back to District Court

• A ruling last week by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Apple v. Vidal throws the future of the Patent and Trademark Office’s (PTO) controversial NHK-Fintiv rule into even greater uncertainty.

=> ↺ $469 Million: There and Gone

• Nutter concluded that the patentee had not shown either literal infringement or infringement by equivalents.  The court ordered DISH to prepare a draft order for his signature that adopts the rational from its briefing.

=> ↺ Venue Transfer and Witness Credibility

• IOEngine sued Roku for patent infringement back in 2021. As is common with large corporate defendants sued in Waco, Roku asked Judge Albright to transfer the case to N.D. California on convenience grounds under 28 U.S.C. 1404.  Judge Albright refused — noting that Roku’s corporate witness lacked credibility and his testimony was “either misleading or based on an inadequate investigation of the facts.

=> ↺ Skinny label in Brazil: drug authority seeking to implement new regulations

• The Brazilian healthcare legislation establishes in the legal definitions of generic drugs (article 3, items XX and XXI, Statute #6,360 of 1976[1]) that their labels must have all and the same therapeutic indications of the reference-listed drug. The law only allow differentiation in characteristics like product’s size and shape, shelf life, package, and excipients[2].

Trademarks

=> ↺ TTABlog Test: Is CAMP WALDO for Summer Camps Confusable with THE WALDO SCHOOL for Primary Schools?

• The USPTO refused to register the proposed mark CAMP WALDO for “summer camps” [CAMP disclaimed] on the ground of likely confusion with the registered mark THE WALDO SCHOOL for “educational services in the nature of primary schools” [SCHOOL disclaimed]. Evidence of third-party registration and use by entities that offer both summer camps and educational services convinced the Board that the involved services are related. As to the marks, applicant argued that “Waldo” is a weak formative, pointing to twenty or so schools with names that include the word “Waldo,” including schools in Waldo, Maine and Waldo, Florida. How do you think this came out? In re Appalachian Headwaters, Inc., Application Serial No. 90448759 (March 21, 2023) [not precedential] (Opinion by Judge Marc A. Bergsman).

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