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● 05.18.23

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● Links 18/05/2023: Util-linux 2.39 and Lutris 0.5.13

Posted in News Roundup at 3:03 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

GNU/Linux

Desktop/Laptop

=> ↺ University of Toronto ☛ (Graphical) Unix has always had desktop environments

• One of the stories that you could tell about the X Window System and by extension graphical Unix is that first came (simple) window managers and xterm. Only later did Unix developed desktop environments like GNOME and KDE. This is certainly more or less the development that happened on open source PC Unixes and to a certain degree it’s the experience many people had earlier on workstation Unix machines running X, but it’s actually not historically accurate. In reality, Unix has had full scale desktop environments of various degrees of complexity more or less from the beginning of serious graphical Unix.

Kernel Space

=> ↺ LWN ☛ Util-linux 2.39 released

• Version 2.39 of the util-linux tool collection has been released. The most significant change, perhaps, is support for the new filesystem-mounting API, which enables a number of new features, including ID-mapped mounts.

Instructionals/Technical

=> ↺ Doug Brown ☛ What happened with ASUS routers this morning?

• When I woke up today around 6:45 AM PDT, I didn’t seem to have internet service available. My phone told me that I was connected to my Wi-Fi network, but it didn’t have connectivity. “Hmm, that’s weird,” I thought. Maybe a fiber cut in the area or something? I looked at my IRC client on my desktop Windows PC, which is nice because it records timestamps of when I lose my connection: [...]

=> ↺ Paul Heinlein ☛ Static Ad

• When you launch a virtual machine on an OpenStack-managed network, the VM generally receives a random address in the active subnet. A researcher at work, however, needed a system for launching instances that have static addresses so he could preconfigure the local /etc/hosts file with all his machines.

• The trick is to use set up some networking ports in OpenStack with pre-assigned IPv4 addresses and then launch the instances with the –port option rather than the –network option.

=> ↺ University of Toronto ☛ Having metrics for something attracts your attention to it

• For reasons beyond the scope of this entry, we didn’t collect any metrics from our Ubuntu 18.04 ZFS fileservers (trying to do so early on led to kernel panics). When we upgraded all of them to Ubuntu 22.04, we changed this, putting various host agents on them and collecting a horde of metrics that go into our Prometheus metrics system, some of which automatically appear on our dashboards. One of the results of this is that we’ve started noticing things about what’s happening on our fileservers. For example, at various times, we’ve noticed significant NFS read volume, significant NFS RPC counts, visible load averages, and specific moments when the ZFS ARC has shrunk. Noticing these things has led us to investigate some of them and pushed me to put together tools to make this easier.

=> ↺ RIPE ☛ Country Codes in the RIPE Database

• The RIPE Database is a public collection of information about who holds particular Internet Number Resources (also called whois records). These records allow network operators to contact each other to troubleshoot routing problems or for other operational needs. Most of the information in the Database is maintained by the resource holders themselves, including the inet(6)num object. However, resources managed by the RIPE NCC also have an associated organisation object, in which the country code attribute is maintained by the RIPE NCC based on the legal registration of the resource holder.

=> ↺ dwaves.de ☛ how to install GNU Linux Debian 11 amd64 on iMac 2016,2

• why? because it would be a shame to put all those intel Macs to the trash not particularly big fan of the aluminum bodies (uses loads of energy to make also not healthy to be touched daily)…

=> ↺ Trend Oceans ☛ How to Create Multiple Files and Directories at Once in a Linux Terminal

• Create multiple files and directories in Linux with just a single command, which will save you from typing for a long time.

=> ↺ Trend Oceans ☛ How to Get Minimize and Maximize Button in GNOME

• You, too are not finding the minimize and maximize buttons in GNOME. Then let’s show how you can find those buttons in any GNOME environment.

=> ↺ Linuxiac ☛ How to Set Up a LAMP Stack with Docker Compose

• Learn how to quickly deploy a LAMP (Apache, MariaDB, PHP) stack using Docker Compose with our easy-to-follow guide.

=> ↺ FOSSLinux ☛ How to use Fdisk to inspect your hard disk in Linux

• The fdisk command in Linux is a powerful tool for disk management, including checking hard disk information. This command-line utility allows you to interact with the partition table, providing a comprehensive view of your hard disk’s structure and status.

=> ↺ How to install Beautifulsoup Python module in Ubuntu Linux

• Learn how to install BeautifulSoup a Python library on Ubuntu 22.04, 20.04, or any other version of this Linux that is used for web scraping and parsing HTML and XML documents.

=> ↺ HowTo Forge ☛ How to Install Magento eCommerce on Ubuntu 22.04 with Nginx and Elasticsearch

• Magento is an open-source e-commerce platform written in PHP. In this tutorial, we will install the Magento open-source community edition. We will also install Elasticsearch for searching through the product catalog, Redis for the session and file cache, and serve it using the Nginx server.

=> ↺ Linux Capable ☛ How to Install Okular on Ubuntu 22.04 | 20.04

• In the vast ocean of open-source software, one multi-platform tool stands out for its versatility and convenience when it comes to document viewing. This is Okular—a universal document viewer developed by KDE, an international free software community.

=> ↺ Linux Capable ☛ How to Install Shotwell on Ubuntu 22.04 | 20.04

• Shotwell is a quintessential tool for any Ubuntu user, especially those who enjoy photography or frequently work with images. It’s a robust digital photo manager that deftly organizes your cherished memories and stunning captures into a streamlined, easily navigable interface.

=> ↺ Linux Capable ☛ How to Install PhotoFlare on Ubuntu 22.04 | 20.04

• PhotoFlare is an easy-to-use, open-source image editor designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind. Tailored for everyday users, it fills the gap between complex software like Adobe Photoshop and basic utilities like MS Paint, providing an optimal balance of features, power, and accessibility.

=> ↺ Linux Capable ☛ How to Install RawTherapee on Ubuntu 22.04 | 20.04

• RawTherapee is an advanced open-source raw image processor available to all photography enthusiasts who are eager to harness the full potential of their photos. Born out of a passion for superior quality photo post-processing, RawTherapee is laden with features that have been meticulously designed to push your image editing workflow to new frontiers.

=> ↺ Linux Capable ☛ How to Install KDE Plasma on Ubuntu 22.04 | 20.04

• The KDE Desktop Environment, a notable open-source project, is a robust, modular, and highly customizable ecosystem tailored to cater to the diverse needs of its users. This environment is primarily known for its Plasma desktop.

=> ↺ Linux Journal ☛ How to Use the Linux Zip Command to Compress and Uncompress Files Quickly

• In the world of Unix-based operating systems like Linux, file packaging and compression utilities play a pivotal role. One such utility is the zip command, an effective tool for compressing files to save disk space and facilitate faster file transfers​. This article provides an in-depth guide to using the Linux zip command, featuring common use cases and practical examples.

Games

=> ↺ GamingOnLinux ☛ Starship Troopers: Extermination is a little janky but so much fun

• A little janky in places as expected from an Early Access game but Starship Troopers: Extermination is a lot of fun to play with friends and even complete strangers. Note: copy provided by Evolve.

=> ↺ GamingOnLinux ☛ This new bundle has multiplayer treats like Borderlands 3 and Generation Zero

• Up for some multiplayer gaming? Humble Bundle has a May Multiplayer Madness bundle up, so here’s what to expect from it on desktop Linux and Steam Deck. Giving you ratings for Deck Verified, ProtonDB and any that have Native Linux builds available.

=> ↺ GamingOnLinux ☛ Realm Architect looks like an awesome modern VTT

• Realm Architect is an attempt to make a next-gen virtual tabletop experience, while also keeping it simpler to get into and keep running. It also looks great and it’s confirmed to get Linux support now too.

=> ↺ GamingOnLinux ☛ Lutris v0.5.13 adds Proton support, itch and battle.net integration

• The latest release of the all-in-one game manager Lutris is here, with v0.5.13 bringing with it some important features like new store integrations. It also adds in support for using Proton directly, although they advise against it, as it’s there for compatibility testing. They said you should stick to the Wine builds Lutris offers directly.

=> ↺ GamingOnLinux ☛ Have you picked up anything during Steam Sports Fest 2023?

• Steam Sports Fest has officially begun (I’m a little late on that) and it runs until May 22nd, so you’ve got plenty of time to check it out. During this time there are demos, discounts, free Steam stickers each day and more.

=> ↺ GamingOnLinux ☛ Immersion Corporation sues Valve over Steam Deck and Valve Index haptics tech

• Immersion Corporation have a history of taking on companies and winning, with Valve being the latest in the firing line over Immersion’s patents. The patents involved are 7,336,260, 8,749,507, 9,430,042, 9,116,546, 10,627,907, 10,665,067, and 11,175,738.

Distributions and Operating Systems

=> ↺ DebugPoint ☛ Deepin 23: Best New Features and Highlights

• Deepin, the popular Linux distribution known for its eye-candy and user-friendly interface, has announced the development release of the Deepin 23 beta, bringing many exciting new features and improvements. Among the highlights are experimental support for the Wayland display server protocol, an upgraded terminal with enhanced functionalities, and a convenient system upgrade tool.

• Deepin 23 is planned for release within a few weeks, and with the beta release out of the door, it’s a good time to check out the new features.

Devices/Embedded

=> ↺ CNX Software ☛ Pocket-sized 2.8-inch mini PC features an Intel N100 processor, 12GB RAM, up to 2TB storage

• A pocket-sized 2.8-inch (72 x 72 x 45mm) mini PC based on an Intel Processor N100 SoC with 12GB LPDDR5, and up to 2TB storage has started to show up on Aliexpress for $154 and up under the names ZX01 Plus and Topton M6S. This is the most compact Alder Lake-N mini PC we’ve seen so far, yet it still comes with two HDMI 2.0 ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, Gigabit Ethernet and WiFi 5 connectivity, and three USB 3.2 ports, plus a non-standard 12V USB-C port that’s now common for this type of mini PC.

Open Hardware/Modding

=> ↺ 5 of the Best Arduino Starter Kits You Can Get

• Arduino starter kits save developers time and money with cut and paste components. Most kits are designed for absolute beginners but support advanced projects with circuit flash cards. If you’re considering buying one,

Leftovers

=> ↺ Federal News Network ☛ Child dead, 23 people missing after hippopotamus capsizes canoe on river in Malawi

• Authorities in southern Malawi say a 1-year-old child died and 23 people are missing and feared dead after a hippopotamus charged into and capsized a canoe. The long wooden canoe was carrying 37 people across the Shire River on their way to neighboring Mozambique when it was hit by the hippo on Monday. The district’s police commissioner says officers saved 13 people with help from World Food Program personnel who were working in the area and provided boats for the rescue operation. Malawi’s minister of water and sanitation says locals told her hippos often caused problems in the area and they want authorities to relocate some of the animals.

Science

=> ↺ Science Alert ☛ New York City Could Be Sinking Under The Weight of Its Skyscrapers

• It’s not the only city, either.

=> ↺ Science Alert ☛ Supermassive Black Holes Can Blow Winds Up to a Third of The Speed of Light

• Galactic engines at work.

=> ↺ Science Alert ☛ Dog Brains Have Unexpectedly Grown Larger, Scientists Discover

• Something has changed.

Education

=> ↺ uni Michigan ☛ Reflections on my first year

• It is a crisp 50 degrees in Ann Arbor today and life feels like a time warp. Campus is in a haze as the last few days of the semester stretch out, with only moments separating us from the budding four months of summer ahead.

=> ↺ Latvia ☛ Latvian pupils’ reading skills on the wane, study suggests

• According to the results of the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), Latvian fourth-grade students’ reading achievements have deteriorated since the previous study carried out in 2016.

Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

=> ↺ Science Alert ☛ Restrictions on Gay Men Donating Blood in The US Lifted by The FDA

• This could save more than a million lives.

=> ↺ Science Alert ☛ Man Identified With Rare Mutation That Protects From Alzheimer’s Disease

• It’s only the second time we’ve seen this.

=> ↺ Science Alert ☛ Too Much Excitement Can Stop Men From Climaxing, But Scientists Have a Fix

• Let it go.

=> ↺ teleSUR ☛ 1st Human Trial of Oral Drug Against Radioactive Contamination

• “…The research team intends to enroll 42 healthy individuals…”

=> ↺ Federal News Network ☛ North Carolina GOP overrides veto of 12-week abortion limit, allowing it to become law

• Legislation banning most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy will become law in North Carolina after the state’s Republican-controlled General Assembly successfully overrode the Democratic governor’s veto. The House completed the second and final part of the override Tuesday night after a similar three-fifths majority voted for the override earlier Tuesday in the Senate. The outcome represents a major victory for Republican legislative leaders who needed every GOP member on board to enact the law over Gov. Roy Cooper’s opposition. The vote comes as abortion rights in the U.S. faced another tectonic shift with lawmakers also debating laws to sharply limit abortion in South Carolina and Nebraska.

=> ↺ Science Alert ☛ Forgotten Antibiotic From Decades Ago Could Be a Superbug Killer

• “It is time to revisit.”

Pseudo-Open Source

Openwashing

=> ↺ Silicon Angle ☛ HPE Ezmeral refresh broadens open-source support and now works with objects and streams [Ed: "open-source tools" with a dash means proprietary software with marketing slant]

Security

=> ↺ LWN ☛ Security updates for Wednesday

• Security updates have been issued by Debian (netatalk), Mageia (connman, firefox/nss/rootcerts, freeimage, golang, indent, kernel, python-django, python-pillow, and thunderbird), Red Hat (apr-util, firefox, java-1.8.0-ibm, libreswan, and thunderbird), SUSE (conmon, curl, java-11-openjdk, and libheif), and Ubuntu (libwebp, linux, linux-aws, linux-aws-5.15, linux-azure, linux-azure-5.15, linux-azure-fde, linux-azure-fde-5.15, linux-hwe-5.15, linux-ibm, linux-kvm, linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15, linux-oracle, linux, linux-aws, linux-aws-hwe, linux-kvm, linux, linux-aws, linux-azure, linux-azure-5.19, linux-kvm, linux-lowlatency, linux-raspi, node-eventsource, and openjdk-8, openjdk-lts, openjdk-17, openjdk-20).

=> ↺ Notice relating to privacy breach

• On Thursday 11 May 2023 Ambulance Victoria (AV) was made aware that documents containing personal information of some current and prospective employees was accessible to other AV employees on the AV intranet.

• The documents contained the alcohol and other drug testing results of approximately 600 job applicants undertaken between May 2017 and October 2018. The documents included first name, last name, date of test, results (negative or non-negative, which meant further testing was required) and, where applicable, the class of drug detected and whether AV standards were met or further lab results required.

=> ↺ North Korea and Russia, notorious for hacking, team up on cybersecurity proposal

• North Korea has thrown its weight behind a Russian effort to shore up global cyber “stability and security,” Moscow announced Tuesday, forming an unlikely coalition of states better known for instigating cyberattacks than stopping them.

=> ↺ The Downs School, hit by possible cyber attack, seeking help from West Berkshire Council, the Department for Education and cyber security experts

• “As I am sure you can appreciate, last week was extremely challenging for the school staff, who had to adapt very quickly to the absence of IT across the school,” wrote headteacher Chris Prosser. “I would like to take this opportunity to commend my staff for their flexibility, courage and determination to ensure the continuation of the education of our students.”

=> ↺ AG Platkin Co-Leads $2.5-Million Multistate Settlement with EyeMed Over Data Breach that Compromised the Personal Information of Millions of Patients

• Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced today that New Jersey is co-leading, with Oregon and Florida, an overall $2.5-million settlement with EyeMed Vision Care (“EyeMed”) that resolves an investigation into a data breach that compromised the personal and medical information of approximately 2.1 million people, including more than 52,000 from New Jersey. Pennsylvania also joined in the multistate settlement.

Integrity/Availability/Authenticity

=> ↺ Trail Of Bits ☛ Real World Crypto 2023 Recap

• Last month, hundreds of cryptographers descended upon Tokyo for the first Real World Crypto Conference in Asia.

=> ↺ SANS ☛ Signals Defense With Faraday Bags & Flipper Zero, (Tue, May 16th)

• There are situations where it is desired to block signals between devices. Commonly scenarios are when traveling, in a location of uncertain safety, or otherwise concerned with data privacy and geolocation. I was curious how well a faraday bags and similar products protected wireless communications. A more common purchase these days are wallets that can help to protect against RFID skimming of credit card data [1].

Privacy/Surveillance

=> ↺ Scoop News Group ☛ Pro-Houthi hacking group linked to spyware operation on Arabian Peninsula

• A group that appears to support the Houthis in Yemen is targeting organizations working in the region with malicious Android-based apps.

=> ↺ Stacey on IoT ☛ How to add smarts to older ceiling fans with remotes

• On a recent Internet of Things Podcast, we took a voicemail from Keith on our podcast hotline. Keith has several ceiling fans that have ‘dumb’ remotes, meaning they’re manual remotes for power and speed. He wants to know if he can add some smarts to those old fans for automations and routines.

Defence/Aggression

=> ↺ RFA ☛ INTERVIEW: Arakan Army to assist aid efforts for cyclone victims in Myanmar’s Rakhine

• The rebel group is even willing to work with the junta on recovery in the region.

=> ↺ Michael West Media ☛ Convicted murderer makes High Court bid for freedom

• A man who has spent nearly four decades in jail for a crime he says he didn’t commit will have an appeal heard by the High Court.

=> ↺ Michael West Media ☛ Family of convicted murderer ‘realistic’ about appeal

• A man who has spent nearly four decades in jail for a crime he says he didn’t commit is feeling calm, confident but realistic about his appeal being heard in the High Court.

=> ↺ LRT ☛ Belarus tightens border controls with Lithuania – media

• Belarus has stepped up controls at its border with Lithuania, subjecting travellers to a very thorough screening process, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) reported on Tuesday.

=> ↺ RFERL ☛ U.S. Charges Chinese National With Providing Weapons Materials To Iran

• The United States has charged a Chinese national with violating U.S. sanctions by providing Iran with materials used to produce ballistic missiles, federal prosecutors in Manhattan said on May 16.

=> ↺ RFA ☛ Biden’s planned visit to Papua New Guinea fuels hope and criticism

• The U.S. president and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet leaders of Pacific island countries

=> ↺ RFA ☛ Thai opposition pulls off a rout, but the loser may take all

• Move Forward and Pheu Thai came out on top in the May 14 vote but face a steep climb to the summit.

=> ↺ JURIST ☛ HRW calls on international community to ‘publicly’ single out violators of Chemical Weapons Convention

• Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a statement on Monday ahead of the UN’s fifth scheduled review conference of the 1993 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (“Chemical Weapons Convention”).

=> ↺ teleSUR ☛ Sudanese Continue to Clash in Khartoum City

• Human rights defenders urged the conflicting parties not to deal with health facilities for military purposes or as military targets.

=> ↺ Defence Web ☛ Sudan is awash with weapons: how the two forces compare and what that means for the war

• Armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has escalated following an outbreak of violence in April 2023. There is intensive fighting in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, neighbouring Omdurman and elsewhere, including Darfur. While mediation efforts continue to stumble, both forces are sufficiently armed to sustain a protracted conflict.

=> ↺ US News And World Report ☛ Taiwan Speaker Hails Japan, South Korea and Philippines for ‘Crescent of Defense’

=> ↺ Latvia ☛ Almost 500 volunteers apply for state defense service

• On Monday, May 15, the application for the first draft into the State Defense Service (VAD) finished, with 488 Latvian citizens volunteering, the Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday.

=> ↺ US News And World Report ☛ North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Inspects Military Satellite Station -KCNA

=> ↺ US News And World Report ☛ North Korea Shows Kim Jong Un Examining a Military Spy Satellite That May Be Launched Soon

• North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has examined a finished military spy satellite that his country is expected to launch soon

=> ↺ The Straits Times ☛ Kim inspects North Korea’s first spy satellite: State media

• Mr Kim has given the go-ahead for the spy satellite’s “future action plan”, state media said.

=> ↺ RFA ☛ Escapee group in South Korea floats bottles of rice and cash to the North

• The practice was made illegal in the South under Moon, but Yoon admin is more lenient.

=> ↺ CS Monitor ☛ Building trust: Japan and South Korea to mend ties at G-7

• The leaders of Japan and South Korea are mending ties after years of animosity and bickering. The recent shift in tone is a shared focus on China’s growing aggressiveness and the threat of North Korea’s fast-improving arsenal of missiles.

=> ↺ US News And World Report ☛ In Taiwan, Former UK PM Truss Warns Against Appeasing China

=> ↺ LRT ☛ Does Europe have a plan for Belarus after Lukashenko?

• Reports about the health of Belarus’ Alexander Lukashenko have sparked speculations: what will happen to the country if its strongman leader leaves the picture and does the Belarusian opposition have a plan?

Environment

=> ↺ Quartz ☛ Get ready to hear a lot more about the proposed UN ban on plastic pollution

• As the environmental consequences of human dependence on single-use plastics become increasingly clear, the United Nations is considering an all-out ban on plastic pollution.

=> ↺ Quartz ☛ Single-use plastics: The message in a bottle

• Everywhere you go, there’s plastic: plastic water bottles, plastic coffee cups, plastic grocery bags… And recycling plastic is notoriously tricky—what do any of those little numbers even mean on the bottom of a container?

=> ↺ France24 ☛ Rohingya community particularly affected as Cyclone Mocha’s death toll rises in Myanmar

• Rohingya families in cyclone-hit Myanmar buried loved ones outside shattered villages and searched the seashore for the missing, expecting little help from a government that denies their identity.

=> ↺ France24 ☛ Homophobic attacks in France rose almost 30 percent last year, LGBTQ group says

• Last year saw an increase in gay and trans people reporting physical attacks in France, an activist group said on Tuesday, warning that anti-LGBTQ sentiment remains “anchored” in society.

Energy/Transportation

=> ↺ Michael West Media ☛ New east coast gas on backburner as costly winter looms

• New gas from the Bass Strait to supply eastern states is on the backburner after a round of price controls to protect households and manufacturers. Price caps and the prospect of a new industry code for fairer supply have spooked leading gas companies and investors, an industry conference has been told.

=> ↺ LRT ☛ New unit of Belarus NPP has no impact on Lithuanian grid, says operator

• The second unit of the Astravyets nuclear power plant in Belarus, which was connected to the power grid last week, has no impact on the Lithuanian electricity transmission system, according to Litgrid.

=> ↺ The Straits Times ☛ Vietnam pledges no new coal plants after 2030

• Vietnam has the world’s third-largest pipeline of new coal power projects after India and China.

=> ↺ France24 ☛ Crypto should be regulated like gambling, say UK lawmakers

• Cryptocurrency investments in Britain should be regulated like the gambling industry, UK lawmakers said Wednesday.

Wildlife/Nature

=> ↺ Science Alert ☛ The World’s Deadliest Mushroom Appears to Have an Antidote

• It’s actually existed for decades.

=> ↺ Latvia ☛ Minister: ‘We cannot leave eastern Latvia to bears’

• It is important to maintain the national network of services in eastern Latvia, otherwise, the territory would be left ‘to the bears’,  the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Māris Sprindžuks, said in an interview with Latvian Television’s broadcast “Morning Panorama” on May 16.

Overpopulation

=> ↺ New York Times ☛ South Korea Wants More Babies, Just Not in These Places

• Hundreds of restaurants, museums, cafes and other public establishments in the country ban children from entering. One lawmaker is pushing to get rid of the policy.

Finance

=> ↺ Michael West Media ☛ Tight jobs market expected to drive strong wages growth

• The competitive jobs market has been delivering solid pay rises but a larger-than-expected wage lift could throw the Reserve Bank off its interest rate course. The March quarter wage price index, scheduled for release on Wednesday, will likely reveal a further acceleration in pay packets driven by the tight labour market.

=> ↺ France24 ☛ Work less, produce more? UK companies embrace four-day week

• The world’s largest trial of a four-day working week has been taking place in the UK since last June with mostly positive results: Of the 61 firms that took part, 56 have stuck with the policy, with most noting a rise in productivity.

=> ↺ Atlantic Council ☛ Not so fast: The case for a new SWIFT

• Imagine a network that combines both messaging and settlement to become a one-stop shop for international payments. It’s time for the US and its allies and partners to make that idea a reality.

=> ↺ Michael West Media ☛ Co-purchasing homes flagged as fix for housing woes

• Would-be homebuyers teaming up with private investors to stump up a deposit has been floated as a possible model to ease Australia’s housing crisis. Under the model, a private third party would co-invest in properties in exchange for a slice of the property’s capital growth.

=> ↺ Michael West Media ☛ Tight jobs market underpins 3.7 per cent wages growth

• Wages have responded to the tight labour market, rising 3.7 per cent annually in the March quarter. On a quarterly basis, the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ wage price index lifted 0.8 per cent.

=> ↺ Michael West Media ☛ UBS flags $A26b hit from Credit Suisse takeover

• UBS expects a financial hit of about $US17 billion ($A26 billion) from the takeover of Credit Suisse, the bank said in a presentation as it prepares to complete the rescue of its struggling Swiss rival. UBS estimates a negative impact of $US13 billion from fair value adjustments of the combined group’s assets and liabilities.

=> ↺ Quartz ☛ Americans are still using credit cards to buy necessities as household debt hit a new record

• US household debt has reached a record $17 trillion, according to new Federal Reserve data—and Americans are continuing to add to it by spending heavily on their credit cards.

=> ↺ Quartz ☛ Your taxes are standing between the US and economic doom

• Your tax payments are preventing the US from teetering over a fiscal cliff into a severe recession—and the difficulty of predicting them gave policymakers less warning than usual for potential debt default that is now ominously close.

=> ↺ France24 ☛ President Biden cuts back Asia tour as hopes rise of debt deal

• Joe Biden and opposition Republican leaders on Tuesday offered hope of a deal that could avoid a catastrophic US debt default, although the president was forced to shorten an upcoming Asia tour for further crisis talks.

=> ↺ France24 ☛ France issues international arrest warrant for Lebanese central bank chief

• A French investigating magistrate on Tuesday issued an international arrest warrant for Lebanon’s central bank chief Riad Salameh, a source close to the case said.

AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

=> ↺ JURIST ☛ Cambodia election committee disqualifies main opposition party from upcoming election

• Cambodia’s National Election Committee (NEC)  announced on Monday that they have disqualified the main opposition party known as the Candlelight Party. The disqualification will effect the national elections, scheduled for July. The NEC claims the Candlelight Party has not provided relevant paperwork needed to register.

=> ↺ JURIST ☛ Thailand voters elect opposition parties over military-backed government in national elections

• Thailand’s two major pro-democracy opposition parties—Move Forward Party and Pheu Thai—won a landslide in national elections on Sunday. The result reflected Thai voters’ rejection of the military-backed government, which has dominated the political scene for nearly a decade.

=> ↺ Quartz ☛ The number of stay-at-home mothers rose dramatically in the US last year

• Nearly a quarter of American mothers now identify as stay-at-home parents—a sharp rise from the 15% in 2022, according to a large survey of US women conducted by Motherly, an advocacy group.

=> ↺ Quartz ☛ Ecuador’s president is threatening to dissolve the legislature over a pending impeachment vote

• The president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, will appear before the country’s National Assembly on May 16 as part of an impeachment trial accusing him of facilitating the embezzlement of state funds.

=> ↺ Quartz ☛ The US Virgin Islands hired a private investigator to subpoena Elon Musk in the Jeffrey Epstein case

• The US Virgin Islands has not been able to find Elon Musk for weeks.

=> ↺ Axios ☛ Rising number of Americans are switching religions, survey says

• Nearly a quarter of Americans say they used to follow a different religious tradition or denomination than the one they practice now — a percentage that keeps growing, a new survey says.

• Why it matters: The jump in religion-switching comes as many Americans say they no longer believe in their initial religion’s teachings — or, in many cases, disagree with a religion’s stance against LGBTQ+ people.

=> ↺ Latvia ☛ Latvia’s ManaBalss wins democracy technology award

• Latvian civic democracy portal ManaBalss (My vote) has been awarded the Democracy Technologies of the Year award at a ceremony in Warsaw, the organization announced May 15.

=> ↺ France24 ☛ Relative of Brigitte Macron assaulted by anti-govt protesters at family shop

• A relative of French first lady Brigitte Macron has been beaten up outside her family’s chocolate shop in an apparent politically motivated assault that sparked widespread condemnation on Tuesday.

=> ↺ Atlantic Council ☛ Chile’s right is in the driver’s seat for creating a new constitution. Can it succeed?

• Chileans just elected members to the council meeting soon to deliberate about a new constitution. Two-thirds of the seats went to center-right and far-right candidates, who now need to agree on a constitution Chileans will vote on in December.

=> ↺ The Strategist ☛ Will the Thai election result change ASEAN’s approach to Myanmar?

• Last week, the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met on the island of Flores, Indonesia, for the annual ASEAN summit and related meetings.

=> ↺ The Strategist ☛ Recruiting Pacific islanders

• The concept of recruiting Pacific islanders into the Australian military is neither a new nor a good idea.

=> ↺ American Oversight ☛ American Oversight Statement on Special Counsel Durham’s Report

=> ↺ Latvia ☛ Anti-graft body penalizes Foreign Ministry officials

• The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has penalized five high-ranking Foreign Ministry officials for handing out monetary awards to themselves, according to information on the Bureau’s home page, LETA reported.

=> ↺ Federal News Network ☛ New Washington law keeps drugs illegal, boosts resources for housing and treatment

• Washington lawmakers approved and Gov. Jay Inslee quickly signed a major new drug policy, saying it strikes a balance between public order and compassion for those struggling with substance abuse. Democratic and Republican leaders reached a compromise between liberals who believe drugs should be decriminalized and conservatives who insist the threat of jail is necessary to force people into treatment. The bill retains criminal penalties for drug possession, but police and prosecutors would be encouraged to divert cases for treatment. The measure provides millions to create new diversion programs and addiction treatment centers. Inslee called lawmakers into the special session that began Tuesday.

=> ↺ JURIST ☛ UK PM Sunak calls for changes to EU law ahead of UK immigration bill’s passage

• UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Tuesday called for changes to international law regarding migration that experts think government will break by allowing UK ministers to ignore rulings from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

=> ↺ Latvia ☛ Latvia ready to take over Council of Europe role from Iceland

• On May 17, Latvia is taking over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, as previously reported by LSM.

=> ↺ JURIST ☛ UK Home Secretary accused of breaching barrister rules with ‘racist’ and ‘discriminatory’ comments

• Nine organizations reported UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman to the Bar Standards Board (BSB) on last Thursday regarding her use of language when speaking about the British Pakistani community and asylum seekers during an April televised interview.

=> ↺ JURIST ☛ US Supreme Court declines request to halt alternative execution method

• The US Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear an appeal from the state of Alabama regarding a death row inmate’s request for an alternative execution method. With the court’s decision, a lower court ruling in favor of the death row inmate stands and the alternative method, as opposed to lethal injection, should be allowed.

=> ↺ RFA ☛ Republicans pummel top officials over China policy at Senate hearing

• Conservative lawmakers use budget review to grill Blinken and Austin on the U.S. approach to China.

=> ↺ RFA ☛ With help from China, Cambodia’s Hun Sen closes ‘win-win’ SEA Games

• But spending millions while offering free housing and food to athletes prompts some complaints.

=> ↺ Atlantic Council ☛ State of the Order: Assessing April 2023

• The State of the Order breaks down the month’s most important events impacting the democratic world order.

=> ↺ Atlantic Council ☛ Alden in Formiche discussing Speaker McCarthy’s visit to Rome

• On May 3, in Formiche, Scowcroft Strategy Initiative nonresident senior fellow Alexander Alden’s commented on Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s visit to Rome, emphasizing the expectation that Italy will rescind its participation in the PRC’s Belt and Road Initiative.

=> ↺ Atlantic Council ☛ Money talks: Here’s what the president’s budget says about the US military edge

• Biden’s $886-billion request for defense-related activities may be insufficient to meet the moment.

=> ↺ The Strategist ☛ Why calls for more US economic engagement in Asia will likely go unheeded

• Over the past year, the Australian government has pulled few punches in urging the US to show economic leadership in the Indo-Pacific.

Censorship/Free Speech

=> ↺ The Straits Times ☛ China’s Baidu confident its AI chatbot won’t make mistakes on ‘sensitive topics’

• The company is waiting for government approval before launching its ChatGPT-like Ernie bot.

=> ↺ RFA ☛ Hong Kong removes hundreds of politically sensitive books from public libraries

• Titles penned by political satirist Zunzi, pro-democracy politicians, protest leaders disappear

=> ↺ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Books removed from Hong Kong public libraries still accessible in shops, says Chief Executive John Lee

• Titles removed from the shelves of Hong Kong public libraries can still be bought from bookstores, Chief Executive John Lee has said, adding that libraries must ensure that books on their shelves do not breach any of the city’s laws.

Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

=> ↺ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Reliability of police testimony questioned in trial against head of Hong Kong press group Ronson Chan

• The defence questioned whether an exchange between the head of Hong Kong’s largest journalists’ group Ronson Chan and a plainclothes police officer could have happened as described, as the trial against Chan began on Tuesday.\

Civil Rights/Policing

=> ↺ uni Michigan ☛ Hey hey, ho ho, humans of GEO

• It wasn’t until March 15 that the news of the then-impending strike truly hit me — just five days before the successful vote to start the strike authorization process. My favorite Graduate Student Instructor suspiciously ended our discussion 10 minutes early to make an “announcement.”

=> ↺ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Criminalise employers who make domestic workers clean unsafe windows, NGO urges Hong Kong gov’t

• An migrant worker advocacy group has urged the Hong Kong government to make it illegal for employers to instruct domestic workers to clean the outside of high-rise windows without grilles. It comes after a domestic worker fell to their death on Monday whilst cleaning windows at a residential apartment.

=> ↺ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ 10 Hong Kong protesters jailed for up to 4 years and 10 months over riot linked to 2019 PolyU siege

• Ten Hong Kong protesters have been jailed for up to four years and 10 months for their roles in a riot linked to the police siege of Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) during the 2019 pro-democracy protests and unrest.

Monopolies

Copyrights

=> ↺ Quartz ☛ Bollywood’s dimming popularity is hurting India’s largest movie theater chain

• Is Bollywood losing its charm? That’s the question raised by the latest financial results for India’s biggest movie theater chain, PVR-INOX. The company, formed by the merger of the country’s top two multiplex operators earlier this year, reported a loss of $40.7 million for the quarter ended March 31.

Gemini* and Gopher

Personal

=> ↺ “#TurnToCold”

• I’ve realized yesterday that those Tide “turn to cold” commercials with has-been celebs is a visual pun:

Technical

Internet/Gemini

=> ↺ NNTP – a great protocol for bridging?

• This gemlog is hosted on ctrl-c.club, a “place for the curious to poke around and play.” It’s a multi-user unix box as a social network. We have public hosting for the web and gemini, email accounts, IRC rooms, command-line games, and a custom bulletin-board software built by a member called iris.

• The original iris client is a pretty bare-bones TUI, pretty much just ruby with readline and some terminal colors. As I started enjoying using it, I was also getting back into usenet newsgroups – which are still around if not exactly thriving. I realized that these systems were functionally really similar, but built on extremely different building blocks. But I wanted access to the relatively mature TUI clients available for newsgroups for browsing iris threads.

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