Techrights
Links 21/09/2024: Nokia Still Attacking Linux Devices Using Software Patents From the EPO
Posted by Roy Schestowitz on Sep 21, 2024,
updated Sep 21, 2024
GNOME bluefish
Contents
=> https://techrights.org/#m2119434909 HTTPS: Defence/Aggression
Leftovers
New York Times ☛ Nelson DeMille, Blockbuster Author Who Thrilled Millions, Dies at 81
In best seller after best seller, world-weary investigators tackled military malfeasance and Russian spies, cracking jokes and beers to the delight of legions of devoted fans.
New Yorker ☛ “The Pornographer” Reissue, Reviewed: John McGahern Mined the Pain and Perks of Mid-Century Masculinity
Years after John McGahern became the center of a national censorship debate, his novel “The Pornographer” cast an impassive eye on death, sex, and patriarchal repression.
Science
New York Times ☛ Earth Might Have Had a Ring 466 Million Years Ago
Impact craters found around the Earth that were made around the same time could be linked to debris falling from a ring, a new study suggests.
Education
Sahilister ☛ Sahil Dhiman: Educational and Research Institutions With Own ASN in India
Another one of the ASN list. This turned out longer than I expected (which is good).
Hardware
Tedium ☛ Moore’s Flinch
The rumor mill is picking up steam that defective chip maker Intel might become the target of a takeover by Qualcomm. Which, honestly, would be the most dramatic shift in the history of the PC industry.
Mobile Systems/Mobile Applications
Matt Birchler ☛ The “nobody buys a new iPhone every year” lie
Consumer Affairs has some data on smartphone use and ownership in the United States that’s interesting, and SellCell has some good data on how often people around the world upgrade their phone. While the most common upgrade cycle is 2-3 years (40%), and a similar amount (39%) upgrade in 4 or more year cycles, a full 21% of people upgrade their phone at least once per year. Given an estimated 316 million smartphone owners in the US today, that’s 66 million Americans who buy a new phone every year.
Health/Nutrition/Agriculture
New York Times ☛ Nasal Flu Vaccine Is Approved for At-Home Use
The F.D.A. authorized AstraZeneca’s treatment to be given outside a health care setting, although it will still need a prescription.
Federal News Network ☛ Veterans Affairs has work to do on its clean environment plan
"Health care in the United States apparently contributes to about 10% of greenhouse gases," Jennifer Baptiste said.
New York Times ☛ China To ‘Gradually’ Resume Imports of Japanese Seafood
China imposed a ban last year after Japan began releasing treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea. They have agreed to expand monitoring of the water.
RFA ☛ China to ‘gradually’ lift ban on Japanese seafood imports
It imposed the ban in August last year after Japan started releasing treated radioactive wastewater.
Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China to ‘gradually resume’ Japanese seafood imports banned after Fukushima waste water release
China said Friday that it would “gradually resume” importing seafood from Japan after imposing a blanket ban in August last year over the release of water from the disabled Fukushima nuclear plant.
Security
Privacy/Surveillance
Privacy International ☛ Privacy International will be hosting a screening of 'Preconceived'
Defence/Aggression
RFERL ☛ 9 Killed, Thousands Wounded In Simultaneous Explosion Of Pagers In Lebanon, Minister Says
At least eight people were killed and 2,750 were wounded when pagers exploded simultaneously in Lebanon, the health minister said on September 17 after the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group said two of its members and a girl were among those killed in the "mysterious" explosions.
New York Times ☛ A North Korean Trash Balloon Hits a Seoul Government Compound, Again
Debris was found more than a day after the North’s latest balloon launch. South Korea says it’s essentially impossible to track every balloon.
RFA ☛ ‘No need for own nuclear weapon’ against North Korea: South Korean president
Yoon Suk Yeol stressed cooperation with the US as key to deterring North Korea’s nuclear threat.
RFA ☛ North Koreans are getting sick of propaganda song “Friendly Father”
People must sing it at public events and hear loudspeakers blaring it in their neighborhoods.
Defence Web ☛ Y-20 strategic airlifter makes AAD 2024 debut
The Xian Y-20A, China’s home-grown strategic military transport aircraft, is making a significant appearance at AAD 2024.
France24 ☛ Israel says it killed Hezbollah commander in Beirut strike
The Israeli military on Friday said its air strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut killed top Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil and other senior commanders of the movement's Radwan special forces. Hezbollah has not confirmed the killing. The massive strike in the Hezbollah stronghold in the Lebanese capital killed 14 people and wounded 66, including nine in critical condition, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
RFERL ☛ Iran Says Israel 'Lost Deterrent Power' After Hezbollah Attack
Israel has reportedly launched new strikes at Hezbollah, which has been designated at terrorist organization by the United States, just inside Lebanon a day after a heavy exchange of missile and drone attacks between the two foes that Iran claimed showed a shift in the balance of power.
CS Monitor ☛ Hezbollah and Israel exchange hundreds of missiles in worst conflict since 2006 war
Israel hit a Beirut suburb with an airstrike Sept. 20, not long after Hezbollah pounded northern Israel with 140 rockets. This follows Israel striking hundreds of Hezbollah rocket launchers on Sept. 19, and a mass bombing attack against Hezbollah this week.
New York Times ☛ Senior Hezbollah Leader Is Killed in Beirut in Israeli Airstrike
The attack, which Lebanese officials said killed at least 14 and injured more than 60, stoked fears Israel is driving toward a full-blown war on its northern border, even as the fight in Gaza goes on.
New York Times ☛ The 1983 Beirut Bombings Explained
One of Hezbollah’s top military commanders, who was accused of helping plan the blasts four decades ago, was killed on Friday in an Israeli airstrike.
New York Times ☛ Live Updates: Hezbollah Confirms Death of Senior Leader in Israeli Airstrike in Beirut
Israel said Ibrahim Aqeel was meeting with other senior Hezbollah commanders at the time of Friday’s airstrike. The United States had accused Aqeel of being involved in bombings that killed more than 200 U.S. Marines and many others in Beirut in 1983.
France24 ☛ 🔴Live: Hezbollah confirms death of top commander in Israeli strike on Beirut
Hezbollah confirmed the death of its senior commander Ibrahim Aqil, though no specifics were given regarding the circumstances of his death. Earlier in the day, the Israeli military said Aqil was killed during a large-scale strike in Beirut, which resulted in 14 deaths and dozens more wounded, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Atlantic Council ☛ Toward a financial inclusion agenda for the global majority
Policymakers, investors, and innovators must advance a new financial inclusion agenda designed for the global majority.
Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine
The Kent Stater ☛ Europe will loan war-torn Ukraine up to $39 billion as part of G7 pledge
London (CNN) — The European Union will lend Ukraine up to €35 billion ($39 billion), providing the lion’s share of a $50 billion loan agreed by G7 nations earlier this year. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the loan Friday in a post on X as part of her visit to Kyiv.
Security Week ☛ Ukraine Bans Telegram Messenger App on State-Issued Devices Because of Russian Security Threat
Ukraine issued the Telegram ban for the official devices of government employees, military personnel, security and defense workers, and critical infrastructure employees.
European Commission ☛ Commission proposes up to €35 billion MFA loan for Ukraine as the EU's contribution to the EU-G7 support of up to €45 billion
European Commission Press release Brussels, 20 Sep 2024 The European Commission today took a decisive step in reinforcing support for Ukraine by proposing a comprehensive financial assistance package, consisting of a Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism of up to €45 billion, and an exceptional Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) loan of up to €35 billion.
European Commission ☛ Questions and Answers on the Commission's proposal of an up to €35 billion MFA loan for Ukraine as the EU's contribution to the EU-G7 support of up to €45 billion
European Commission Questions and answers Brussels, 20 Sep 2024 What has the Commission proposed today?
Mint Press News ☛ Red and African Stream Latest Media to Face US Bans Over Alleged Russia Ties
With accusations of Russian ties and inciting pro-Palestine protests, Red Media and African Stream are the latest targets in the West’s crackdown on media critical of Israel.
RFERL ☛ 30 Held Over Deadly Shooting Outside Moscow Office Of Online Retailer
The Basmanny district court in Moscow has sent 30 people to pretrial detention over a shoot-out earlier this week in central Moscow at the offices of Wildberries, the country's largest online retailer, that left two people dead.
RFERL ☛ 2 Russians Set Record For Longest Single Stay On International Space Station
Two Russians on September 20 set a record for the longest continuous stay on the International Space Station (ISS), according to Russian space agency Roskosmos.
RFERL ☛ Russia Rejects Crimean Tatars' Appeals Against Sentences
Russia's Supreme Court rejected appeals filed by four Crimean Tatars against lengthy prison terms they were handed on extremism charges they have rejected, lawyer Emil Kurbedinov said on September 20.
RFERL ☛ Bashkir Activist Who Fled Russia Allowed To Stay In U.S.
Bashkir activist Zagir Mukhamedyarov, who fled Russia fearing arrest, has been allowed to stay in the United States.
RFERL ☛ Poland Reportedly Arrests Ex-Lawyer Of Late Russian Oligarch
Polish authorities have arrested the former lawyer of late Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky in an investigation related to attacks on Russian opposition figures, Polish radio reported on September 20.
RFERL ☛ 2 Dead From Russian Mortar Shelling In Kharkiv Region
Russian shelling in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on September 20 killed two people and injured five, while a missile strike in Dnipro caused at least one injury, Ukrainian officials said.
JURIST ☛ UN report says Russia strikes on Ukraine facilities possibly violated international law
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) said in a report on Thursday that Russian armed forces’ attacks on energy facilities in Ukraine had devastating effects on the country’s infrastructure and possibly violated international humanitarian law.
LRT ☛ Belarusian fertiliser exporter fails to overturn EU sanctions in court
The EU General Court last Wednesday rejected the request of Belaruskaya Kaliynaya Kompaniya (Belarusian Potash Company, BKK), an export subsidiary of Belarus’ potash giant Belaruskali, to lift the bloc’s sanctions against it.
LRT ☛ Lithuanian man sentenced to 9 years in prison over spying for Belarus
The Vilnius Regional Court on Friday found Lithuanian lawyer Mantas Danielius guilty of spying for Belarus and sentenced him to nine years in prison.
RFERL ☛ U.S. Condemns Belarusian TV For Airing 'Repentance' By Jailed American
The U.S. Chargé d’Affaires at the embassy in Minsk on September 20 condemned a video broadcast on Belarusian state television that showed imprisoned U.S.-Belarusian citizen Yuras Zyankovich begging, likely under duress, for help from U.S. presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
RFERL ☛ Lithuanian Lawyer Imprisoned For Spying For Belarus
The Vilnius regional court on September 20 found Lithuanian lawyer Mantas Danielius guilty of spying for Belarus and sentenced him to nine years in prison.
JURIST ☛ Sweden indicts woman over genocide and crimes against humanity in Syria
Swedish prosecutors indicted a 52-year-old woman for crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes over accusations of enslaving Yazidi women in Syria between August 2014 and December 2016. The defendant, Lina Ishaq, has denied the charges.
New York Times ☛ E.U. Will Offer $39 Billion Loan for Ukraine Without U.S. Help
Plans for a larger sum collapsed when Hungary blocked changes requested by Washington as the price for a joint initiative.
New York Times ☛ Europe’s New Defense Chief: ‘A King Without a Kingdom’?
The European Union has vowed to enhance its military capability. But money is scarce, responsibilities overlap and the new job is less about soldiers than arms manufacturers.
Latvia ☛ Baltic, Polish parliamentarians speak out against Russian LNG imports
The Chairs of the European Union Affairs Committees of the parliaments of the Baltic States and Poland say in a joint communication September 16 that the European Union must cease importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia as swiftly as possible.
Latvia ☛ Russian to disappear from Latvian ATMs as language reset continues
The amendments to the Law on Credit Institutions adopted by the Saeima on Thursday, September 20 include a stipulation that the Russian language will no longer be available as an option on the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) more commonly referred to as 'bankomats' or 'cashpoints' of Latvian commercial banks.
RFERL ☛ Russian Soldiers Charged With Involvement In American's Death
Russell Bentley, a Texas man who as the "Donbas Cowboy" gained notoriety for joining Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine, was tortured before being killed in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Donetsk, Russian authorities said.
RFERL ☛ Russian Gets 6 Years In Prison Over Anti-War Posts Online
A court in Russia's western exclave of Kaliningrad sentenced a resident of the town of Svetlogorsk to six years in prison on September 19 for online posts criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
RFERL ☛ Ukraine Bans Telegram Use For State, Military Officials
Ukraine's National Coordination Center for Cyber Security on September 20 banned the usage of the Telegram messenger app for state officials, military personnel, and employees of key infrastructure, citing security issues.
Finance
Latvia ☛ Largest banks will have to provide accessibility across Latvia
Large banks will have new requirements starting in 2026 to provide on-site services and maintain a network of ATMs in the regions outside the big cities, according to amendments to the Credit Institution Law approved by the Saeima in the third reading on September 19.
New York Times ☛ Security Firm Linked to Top Adams Aide Won Millions in N.Y.C. Business
The company received a $154 million contract to provide “emergency fire watch services” to the New York City Housing Authority. The firm was once owned by the deputy mayor for public safety.
AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics
The Straits Times ☛ Malaysian King weeps when talking about late son during meeting with China’s Pooh-tin Jinping
Sultan Ibrahim thanked China for helping his late son undergo a liver transplant at a Chinese hospital.
JURIST ☛ US lawmakers urge Biden administration to secure release of unjustly detained citizens in China
US lawmakers urged the Biden administration in a hearing on Wednesday to intensify efforts to secure the release of Americans allegedly unjustly detained in China.
The Straits Times ☛ China’s underground tuition industry raises concerns of high costs, quality among parents
Parents say the demand for one-on-one tutoring has gone up, resulting in a further shortage of teachers.
Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Same-sex Taiwanese-Chinese couples now able to legally register marriages in Taiwan
Same-sex Taiwanese-Chinese couples are now legally able to register their marriages in Taiwan, Taipei said Thursday, recognising cross-strait unions for the first time. Taiwan has long been at the forefront of Asia’s burgeoning LGBTQ rights movement, becoming in 2019 the first place in the region to legalise marriage equality.
New York Times ☛ Rallying in Two Key States, Harris Presses Her Case on Abortion Rights
Visiting Wisconsin after giving a speech in Georgia, the vice president signaled she would focus on the life-or-death risks of abortion bans in the final weeks of the race.
ACLU ☛ How Border Policing Harms Undocumented People Seeking Abortion Care
For many of Texas’ 3 million border residents, going through federal interior checkpoints – where Border Patrol agents are permitted to screen vehicles for suspected noncitizens and can ask passengers about their citizenship and travel plans – can be an intimidating but predictable part of daily life. But for undocumented or mixed-status families, these checkpoints are literal barriers to their ability to access basic services and to leave the state for essential medical care like abortion. A new report from the ACLU details how these federal checkpoints – and the additional layer of anti-immigrant state policing – create a web of unnecessary, stressful, and dangerous barriers for people living in border communities isolated from abortion care.
BIA Net ☛ Kurdish patient denied audiological test for not understanding Turkish
An elderly woman in Siirt could not undergo a speech recognition threshold test at a state hospital.
Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda
RFA ☛ Has China not launched a war since 1949?
Verdict: Misleading
Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press
Press Gazette ☛ Gary Jones, editor credited with detoxifying Express, bows out
Express editor Gary Jones, who revived reputation of brand, exits after six years in the job.
Press Gazette ☛ Who are the UK’s national newspaper editors?
Civil Rights/Policing
RFERL ☛ Elderly Tajik Oppositionist Moved Back To Prison Despite Ill-Health, Family Says
Zubaidulloh Roziq, an 80-year-old former member of Tajikistan's banned Islamic Renaissance Party, has been moved from a prison hospital back to jail despite his ill-health and advanced age, relatives say.
The Straits Times ☛ South Korean Bill proposes stricter limits on work hours for child idols, actors
The revision would cap weekly working hours of those aged 15 to 18 at 40 hours.
The Straits Times ☛ New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens freed from captivity in Indonesia’s Papua
Mr Mehrtens is undergoing health check-ups and a physiological examination.
NYPost ☛ US Army soldier Travis King, who fled to North Korea, is ‘now free’ after pleading guilty to desertion
King bolted across the heavily fortified border from South Korea in July 2023 and became the first American detained in North Korea in nearly five years.
The Straits Times ☛ Child abuse cases shine light on Malaysia’s secretive GISB sect with its string of businesses
Police remanded the group leader and 18 others, and is investigating GISB as an organised crime syndicate.
The Straits Times ☛ Several individuals inspected, detained in Malaysia’s GISB sect raid by police
The authorities also inspected five houses believed to be where GISB members were residing.
Citizen Lab ☛ New Book “Chasing Shadows” Coming Soon
We are excited to announce a new book, Chasing Shadows: Cyber Espionage, Subversion, and the Global Fight for Democracy, by Ronald Deibert, director and founder of The Citizen Lab, will hit shelves on February 4, 2025.
Monopolies/Monopsonies
Patents
JUVE ☛ Nokia lands first blow against Amazon at Munich Regional Court [Ed: Nokia uses patents from the corrupt EPO to go after Linux-based projects]
Amazon is not permitted to sell its streaming devices in Germany. This includes 13 Fire Sticks from Amazon of different generations. Munich Regional Court under presiding judge Oliver Schön ruled yesterday that Amazon infringed Nokia’s EP 2 375 749.
Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Eligibility, IPRs, and Diversity: The Faces of 2024 Patent Reform
Although the committee markup was set for September 19, it has now been postponed until the 26th. It appears that a number of Senate committee members have taken issue with the proposals and an extra week is needed to negotiate through those. Sen. Whitehouse mentioned that he, along with a number of colleagues, have been hearing from constituents opposed to the legislation. I expect lobbying will be high.
Trademarks
TTAB Blog ☛ TTAB Dismisses Section 2(d) Opposition to NOMAD for Barbecue Grills due to Lack of Proof of Relatedness with Electronic Goods
The Board dismissed this opposition to registration of the mark NOMAD in the form shown below, for "barbecue grills," concluding that, although the marks are "very similar," opposer failed to prove likelihood of confusion with its mark NOMAD in standard characters for a variety of goods, including power cables, battery chargers, watch bands, wallets, mouse pads, and key chains (but not for barbecue grills). Nomad Goods, Inc. v. Nomad Grill LLC, Opposition No. 91273170 (September 18, 2024) [not precedential] (Opinion by Judge Thomas L. Casagrande).