Oxford University Press to stop publishing China-sponsored science journal amid concerns of unethical standards on DNA collection
Oxford University Press (OUP) will no longer publish a controversial academic journal sponsored by China’s Ministry of Justice after years of concerns that several papers in the publication did not meet ethical standards about DNA collection.
A statement published on the website of Forensic Sciences Research (FSR) states that OUP will stop publishing the quarterly journal after this year.
FSR is a journal that comes from China’s Academy of Forensic Science, an agency that sits under the Ministry of Justice. The academy describes FSR as “the only English quarterly journal in the field of forensic science in China that focuses on forensic medicine”. It has been published by OUP since 2023.
Several papers published in FSR have attracted criticism because they study genetic data from Uyghurs and other heavily surveilled ethnic minorities in China. Critics say subjects in the studies may not have freely consented to their DNA samples being used in the research and that the studies could help to enhance the mass surveillance of those populations.
One study, published in 2020, analysed blood samples from 264 Uyghurs in Ürümqi, the capital of the Xinjiang region in north-west China. The paper states that the people giving the samples consented to the research and that their data was anonymised.
The lead author on the study is affiliated with China’s state security apparatus via the Xinjiang Police College, which provided a research grant.
[...]
Yves Moreau, a professor of engineering at the University of Leuven in Belgium who focuses on DNA analysis, first raised concerns about OUP’s relationship with FSR and about several studies. He said he was grateful for OUP’s decision but that the brief public statement on the matter “fails to address the important issues at stake”.
[...]
In recent years there has been increasing scrutiny about the ethical standards of genetic research papers from China. Last year, a genetics journal from a leading scientific publisher retracted 18 papers from China due to concerns about human rights.
The concerns centre on whether or not vulnerable populations in China can freely refuse to participate, especially when researchers come from organisations, such as the police, affiliated with state security. There are also concerns that this kind of forensic DNA sampling could produce research that enhances the mass surveillance of those populations.
Moreau said: “Forensic genetics is an area where specific caution is needed because this is the research that powers police DNA identification and databases. While DNA identification is a valuable technique to help solve crimes, it can raise privacy and ethical issues.” He added that the mass surveillance of minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet made China a particularly challenging country to enforce international norms about ethical research and human rights.
[...]
Oxford University Press to stop publishing China-sponsored science journal
Move follows concerns about papers in Forensic Sciences Research not meeting ethical standards on DNA collectionAmy Hawkins (The Guardian)
How to Choose Between Flats in Gunnersbury and Wembley Park
London is an expansive city with countless neighborhoods, each offering a unique lifestyle and atmosphere. Whether you're a young professional, a student, or relocating with family, choosing the right area to rent a flat is a crucial decision. Two increasingly popular districts among renters are Gunnersbury and Wembley Park. Both offer distinct advantages and appeal to different tastes and needs. This article aims to guide you through a detailed comparison of these areas so you can confidently decide which one aligns better with your lifestyle and priorities.
A Closer Look at Gunnersbury
Gunnersbury, located in West London, offers a charming blend of urban accessibility and suburban tranquility. The neighborhood is characterized by tree-lined streets, Victorian architecture, and an overall relaxed vibe that many Londoners find appealing. It's especially popular among professionals and families looking for a quieter, more residential environment. Despite its peaceful demeanor, Gunnersbury provides excellent connectivity to central London, making it a convenient yet calm place to call home.
The Allure of Wembley Park
On the other side of the city, Wembley Park stands as a beacon of modern redevelopment. Known worldwide for Wembley Stadium, this North West London neighborhood has transformed into a vibrant urban hub. It's bursting with contemporary architecture, shopping destinations, and entertainment options. With a strong community feel and a youthful energy, Wembley Park attracts a diverse crowd, including students, young professionals, and international residents. Its appeal lies in its dynamic atmosphere and cutting-edge residential developments. For those who thrive in dynamic settings, flats to rent Wembley park offer the perfect blend of excitement and convenience.
Location and Connectivity
When it comes to location, both Gunnersbury and Wembley Park are well-connected. Gunnersbury is serviced by both the District Line and London Overground, making travel into the city swift and hassle-free. Wembley Park, on the other hand, benefits from the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines, providing rapid access to key areas like Canary Wharf and Baker Street. If proximity to Central London is a top priority, both neighborhoods offer commendable options, though Wembley Park might have a slight edge in terms of direct transit routes.
Lifestyle and Atmosphere
Lifestyle is often the defining factor in choosing where to live. Gunnersbury is laid-back, with its appeal rooted in parks, quiet cafes, and a strong community spirit. If you're looking for a peaceful escape from the city's hustle, this might be your ideal spot. Conversely, Wembley Park is energetic and ever-evolving. Its lifestyle revolves around concerts, shopping sprees, and food festivals.
Rental Costs and Housing Options
Rental costs can vary significantly depending on the type of property and its location within each neighborhood. Gunnersbury tends to have more traditional housing, including period flats and terraced homes, often commanding slightly higher rents due to their charm and heritage. Wembley Park, with its newer developments and high-rise apartments, offers a range of pricing and more modern amenities. If contemporary living spaces with built-in facilities appeal to you, Wembley Park could be more enticing. On the flip side, flats in Gunnersbury might attract those with a preference for character and historical appeal.
Amenities and Local Attractions
Gunnersbury is known for its green spaces like Gunnersbury Park, and its proximity to Chiswick gives residents access to upscale dining, boutique shopping, and riverside walks. Wembley Park, meanwhile, is almost a mini-city in itself. The London Designer Outlet, Boxpark, and a rotating lineup of events at the stadium and SSE Arena keep the area buzzing year-round. The variety of attractions ensures residents are never short on things to do.
Community and Demographics
Gunnersbury's community leans toward families and established professionals. Its schools, safety, and serene environment make it ideal for long-term living. Wembley Park draws a younger, more transient crowd, including students and first-time renters. The ongoing developments and influx of amenities have created a more diverse and international demographic. Depending on your stage in life, one community may feel more like home than the other.
Flexibility and Furnishing Options
One significant consideration when renting is whether the flat comes furnished. Both areas offer furnished and unfurnished options, but Wembley Park developments tend to include fully-furnished apartments as standard. This makes moving in much easier, especially for newcomers to London.
Value for Money
In evaluating value, it’s essential to weigh not just the rent but also what you’re getting in return. Wembley Park offers modern amenities, communal spaces, and integrated tech features. Gunnersbury counters with charm, location, and a peaceful ambiance. Ultimately, it depends on what you value more: modern convenience or classic comfort. Both provide solid investment in lifestyle, but the decision hinges on your personal priorities.
Future Prospects
Wembley Park continues to see significant investment and expansion, suggesting property values and desirability may rise over time. Gunnersbury, while more established, remains a steady favorite and is less susceptible to rapid change. If you're thinking long-term, this could influence your decision. Wembley Park might offer more growth potential, while Gunnersbury provides stability and timeless appeal.
Convenience of Fully Furnished Living
In a fast-paced city like London, moving into a fully furnished apartment can be a game changer. These ready-to-live-in options reduce stress and save time. For renters seeking such ease and simplicity, platforms offering fully furnished apartments to rent London make the process seamless and convenient, especially for those settling in vibrant neighborhoods like Wembley Park.
Conclusion
Choosing between Gunnersbury and Wembley Park isn’t a matter of better or worse—it’s about alignment with your lifestyle, priorities, and future plans. Gunnersbury offers serene, traditional London living, while Wembley Park delivers a contemporary, high-energy experience. By considering factors like connectivity, atmosphere, housing type, and community, you can determine which area best suits your needs. Whichever you choose, both neighborhoods present compelling reasons to call them home in one of the world's most dynamic cities.
Co-Living: beautifully designed urban living spaces by Vonder
Vonder is a technology-focused lifestyle platform for extended stay. We revolutionise the real estate sector by offering our members a one-stop living solution for all their needs: a place to live, a community to thrive in and a variety of value-adde…www.vondereurope.com
July Quiz Answers
Here are the answers to this month’s six quiz questions. If in doubt, all should be able to be easily verified online.
Biology
- What is the fastest land animal? The cheetah
- How many hearts does an octopus have? 3
- Gentoo, Adelie and Macaroni are all species of what? Penguin
- What comic strip’s joke name for the row of spikes on a stegosaurus’s tail, the “thagomizer,” ended up becoming the official name? The Far Side
- Which fruit did many people in the Western world think was poisonous until 1820? Tomatoes
- What is the natural compound present in green plants that gives them their colour? Chlorophyll
Answers were correct when questions were compiled in late 2024.
Symbian: The forgotten FOSS phone OS
Open, free, and completely ignored: The strange afterlife of Symbian
: It did get sourced, but nobody caredLiam Proven (The Register)
Addio a Enrico Valenti, il creatore di Uan
Addio a Enrico Valenti, il creatore di Uan
Nato a Milano nel 1954, è stato il creatore di Uan, il celebre pupazzo rosa che ha animato i pomeriggi di intere generazioni di ragazzi tra gli anni ’80 e ’90Gayburg
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Paolo Borsellino: un eroe di ieri di cui l’oggi ne ha bisogno impellente
Indice dei contenuti
Toggle
- Come la mafia coinvolge i giovani oggi
- Cosa attira i giovani verso la mafia
- Come si potrebbe contrastare il fenomeno
- Paolo Borsellino: un eroe di ieri, di cui l’oggi ne ha bisogno impellente
- Chi era Paolo Borsellino?
- Collaboratori di giustizia fondamentali:
- Perché fu un processo storico?
- Le sentenze
- Le conseguenze
- Eredità
- L’attentato di via D’Amelio
- L’attentato: cosa accadde il 19 luglio 1992
- Le vittime:
- La dinamica e i misteri
- I misteri irrisolti:
- Ipotesi sulla trattativa Stato-Mafia
- Conseguenze e memoria
- Simbolo di coraggio
“Se la gioventù le negherà il consenso, anche l’onnipotente e misteriosa mafia svanirà come un incubo. ”
Il rapporto tra la mafia contemporanea e i giovani è un tema complesso e di grande attualità. Oggi le organizzazioni mafiose (come Cosa Nostra, ‘Ndrangheta, Camorra, Sacra Corona Unita, e altre realtà emergenti) continuano ad adattarsi ai cambiamenti sociali, economici e culturali, e purtroppo riescono ancora a coinvolgere i giovani in vari modi.
Come la mafia coinvolge i giovani oggi
1. Reclutamento nei quartieri disagiati
In molte aree ad alta marginalità sociale, la mafia offre ai giovani una “scorciatoia” per ottenere soldi, status e potere. Viene sfruttata la mancanza di opportunità lavorative e l’assenza dello Stato.
2. Lavori illegali e microcriminalità
I ragazzi possono essere coinvolti in attività come spaccio di droga, estorsioni, furti, e usura. Spesso iniziano con piccoli incarichi, per poi essere progressivamente integrati nella struttura mafiosa.
3. Uso dei social media
Alcune mafie stanno usando TikTok, Instagram e Facebook per mostrare una vita di lusso, ostentare ricchezza e potere, e attrarre giovani in cerca di riconoscimento o rispetto.
4. Coinvolgimento indiretto
Altri giovani, pur non essendo affiliati, sono “consumatori” del sistema mafioso: comprano droga, frequentano locali controllati dalla mafia, oppure accettano “favori” in cambio di silenzio.
Cosa attira i giovani verso la mafia
Mancanza di alternative: lavoro, cultura, tempo libero
Modelli negativi: l’idea del “boss” come vincente
Assenza di fiducia nelle istituzioni
Fascinazione per il potere e il denaro facile
Come si potrebbe contrastare il fenomeno
1. Educazione alla legalità
Progetti scolastici, testimonianze di vittime o pentiti, iniziative di antimafia sociale e culturale sono fondamentali per formare coscienze critiche.
2. Lavoro e inclusione sociale
Offrire vere opportunità (borse di studio, sport, cultura, impresa giovanile) è il modo migliore per togliere manodopera alla criminalità.
3. Esempi positivi
Testimoni come don Luigi Ciotti (Libera), associazioni, cooperative sui beni confiscati dimostrano che un’alternativa è possibile.
Paolo Borsellino: un eroe di ieri, di cui l’oggi ne ha bisogno impellente
Paolo Borsellino è stato un magistrato italiano, nato a Palermo il 19 gennaio 1940 e assassinato dalla mafia il 19 luglio 1992 in via D’Amelio, sempre a Palermo. È considerato, insieme a Giovanni Falcone, uno dei simboli più importanti della lotta alla mafia in Italia.
Chi era Paolo Borsellino?
Professione
Magistrato, giudice istruttore, poi procuratore aggiunto presso la Procura di Palermo.
Impegno: Si è dedicato con determinazione al contrasto di Cosa Nostra, l’organizzazione mafiosa siciliana.
Collaborazione con Falcone: Faceva parte del cosiddetto “pool antimafia”, insieme a Falcone e altri magistrati, che avviò importanti indagini sui vertici mafiosi.
La vita privata di Paolo Borsellino era semplice, riservata e profondamente segnata dal senso del dovere, dalla famiglia e dalla fede. Nonostante fosse un uomo pubblico per il suo impegno contro la mafia, nella sfera personale rimase sempre molto discreto e legato agli affetti più intimi.
Famiglia
Moglie: Paolo Borsellino era sposato con Agnese Piraino Leto, figlia di un magistrato. I due si conobbero da giovani e si sposarono nel 1968.
Figli: Ebbero tre figli: Lucia Borsellino, ex assessore alla Sanità in Sicilia, oggi impegnata in progetti legati alla legalità.
Manfredi Borsellino, funzionario di Polizia, oggi Dirigente della Polizia di Stato. Fiammetta Borsellino, attivista per la verità sulle stragi del ’92, molto impegnata nella memoria del padre.
Vita quotidiana
Borsellino viveva a Palermo, in una condizione di grande pressione: la sua vita era sotto costante sorveglianza a causa delle minacce della mafia.
Era molto legato alla madre, che abitava in via D’Amelio – proprio dove avvenne l’attentato.
Nonostante il lavoro impegnativo, cercava di preservare momenti di normalità con la sua famiglia, spesso anche con ironia e umanità.
Fede e valori
Paolo Borsellino era una persona di profonda moralità e valori cattolici. Aveva un forte senso dello Stato, della giustizia, della responsabilità. Si dichiarava credente e viveva il proprio lavoro come una missione civile e morale.
Credeva nella forza dell’esempio, soprattutto verso i giovani.
Era descritto da chi lo conosceva come: Gentile, educato, molto riflessivo. Dotato di ironia sottile e forte autocontrollo. Un uomo di pochi amici intimi, ma fedeli.
Aveva una passione per la lettura e la storia, in particolare quella del Risorgimento e della Costituzione italiana.
Vita sotto scorta
Dopo l’assassinio di Falcone (maggio 1992), la sua vita cambiò radicalmente: Dormiva poco. Era consapevole di essere “un morto che cammina”, come disse ad amici e familiari.
Continuava comunque a lavorare con determinazione e coraggio, dicendo:
“Chi ha paura muore ogni giorno, chi non ha paura muore una volta sola.”
Il Maxi Processo
Tra i principali risultati del suo lavoro c’è il Maxi Processo di Palermo (1986-1992), il più grande processo penale mai celebrato contro la mafia, che portò a centinaia di condanne.
Il processo si basava anche sulle rivelazioni di Tommaso Buscetta, primo grande “pentito” di Cosa Nostra.
Il Maxi Processo di Palermo (1986–1992) è stato il più grande processo penale della storia italiana contro la mafia, in particolare contro Cosa Nostra, l’organizzazione criminale siciliana. È considerato una pietra miliare nella lotta alla mafia e un capolavoro di diritto e coraggio, voluto e portato avanti da magistrati come Giovanni Falcone, Paolo Borsellino, e altri membri del pool antimafia.
Cos’è stato il Maxi Processo?
Luogo: Palermo, all’interno dell’aula bunker del carcere dell’Ucciardone, costruita appositamente per motivi di sicurezza.
Inizio: 10 febbraio 1986
Fine: 30 gennaio 1992 (con la sentenza definitiva della Cassazione)
Durata: 6 anni
Imputati: 475 mafiosi
Capi d’accusa: Omicidio, traffico di droga, estorsione, associazione mafiosa, e altri reati gravi.
Protagonisti principali
Magistrati del pool antimafia: Giovanni Falcone, Paolo Borsellino, Antonino Caponnetto, Giuseppe Di Lello, Leonardo Guarnotta
Collaboratori di giustizia fondamentali:
Tommaso Buscetta, il primo vero “pentito” di Cosa Nostra, che rivelò l’organizzazione piramidale della mafia e i rapporti interni tra le famiglie.
Salvatore Contorno, altro pentito che confermò le rivelazioni di Buscetta.
Perché fu un processo storico?
Per la prima volta, la mafia fu trattata come un’organizzazione unica e strutturata, non come sommatoria di singoli reati. Si applicò l’articolo 416-bis del codice penale, introdotto nel 1982, che riconosce l’associazione mafiosa come reato specifico. Venne accertata l’esistenza della “Cupola”, cioè una struttura di vertice di Cosa Nostra.
Le sentenze
Primo grado (1987): 19 ergastoli
2665 anni di carcere complessivi
Appello (1990): alcune condanne ridotte
Cassazione (30 gennaio 1992):
Conferma quasi totale delle condanne
Presidente della Corte: Corrado Carnevale, inizialmente sostituito per sospette simpatie verso ambienti mafiosi
Il Maxi Processo si concluse con la conferma definitiva della sentenza: fu una vittoria storica dello Stato contro la mafia.
Le conseguenze
Totò Riina e i boss di Cosa Nostra non accettarono la sconfitta.
Pochi mesi dopo la sentenza definitiva, nel 1992, Falcone e Borsellino furono assassinati.
Le stragi furono viste come vendetta e intimidazione verso lo Stato.
Eredità
Il Maxi Processo dimostrò che la mafia si può combattere con le leggi e la giustizia. Ha ispirato nuove generazioni di magistrati, studenti e cittadini a credere nella legalità. Ancora oggi è un esempio studiato in tutto il mondo per come è stato organizzato, difeso e concluso.
L’attentato di via D’Amelio
Il 19 luglio 1992, Paolo Borsellino fu ucciso da un’autobomba parcheggiata sotto casa della madre. Nell’attentato morirono anche cinque agenti della scorta: Agostino Catalano, Emanuela Loi, Vincenzo Li Muli, Walter Eddie Cosina e Claudio Traina.
Solo 57 giorni prima, anche Falcone era stato assassinato con la moglie Francesca Morvillo e tre agenti della scorta nella strage di Capaci.
L’attentato di via D’Amelio, in cui fu assassinato Paolo Borsellino, è uno degli episodi più tragici e controversi della storia della lotta alla mafia in Italia. Avvenne il 19 luglio 1992, a Palermo, 57 giorni dopo la strage di Capaci, in cui era stato ucciso l’amico e collega Giovanni Falcone.
L’attentato: cosa accadde il 19 luglio 1992
Alle ore 16:58, una Fiat 126 imbottita con circa 100 kg di esplosivo saltò in aria in via Mariano D’Amelio, sotto casa della madre del magistrato. Paolo Borsellino stava andando a trovare la madre, accompagnato dalla sua scorta. L’esplosione fu devastante: il magistrato morì sul colpo, insieme a 5 agenti della scorta.
Le vittime:
Paolo Borsellino, 52 anni, Agostino Catalano, capo scorta, Emanuela Loi, 24 anni (prima donna della Polizia di Stato a cadere in servizio), Walter Eddie Cosina, Claudio Traina, Vincenzo Li Muli
L’unico agente sopravvissuto fu Antonio Vullo, che era rimasto in macchina.
La dinamica e i misteri
Come fu organizzato: La mafia fece parcheggiare la Fiat 126 sotto casa della madre di Borsellino giorni prima. L’auto fu rubata e preparata a Palermo con un telecomando a distanza. L’attentato fu pianificato con cura e precisione da Cosa Nostra, in particolare dal boss Totò Riina.
I misteri irrisolti:
Chi sapeva i movimenti di Borsellino? Solo pochi conoscevano i suoi spostamenti.
La sparizione dell’agenda rossa: nella borsa di Borsellino ritrovata integra non c’era il suo diario personale, sparito misteriosamente (vedi sopra).
Presenze “anomale” sulla scena del crimine: diversi testimoni parlarono di uomini in abiti civili o divise che presero oggetti dalla macchina.
Ipotesi sulla trattativa Stato-Mafia
Negli anni successivi, molti hanno ipotizzato che Borsellino fu ucciso perché sapeva troppo su una presunta “trattativa” tra pezzi dello Stato e Cosa Nostra, in cui si cercava un accordo per fermare le stragi in cambio di benefici per i mafiosi detenuti. Borsellino forse aveva scoperto qualcosa, e stava indagando. Questo potrebbe averlo reso ancora più pericoloso agli occhi della mafia – e forse anche di settori deviati delle istituzioni.
Conseguenze e memoria
Lo shock dell’attentato spinse migliaia di cittadini a scendere in piazza, specialmente i giovani. Nacquero movimenti antimafia, come quello delle Agende Rosse fondato dal fratello Salvatore Borsellino.
Ancora oggi, la verità completa su via D’Amelio non è mai stata chiarita del tutto
Simbolo di coraggio
La strage di via D’Amelio ha trasformato Paolo Borsellino in un simbolo eterno della legalità e della lotta alla mafia. Le sue parole, le sue azioni e il suo sacrificio continuano a ispirare generazioni.
Oggi Paolo Borsellino è considerato un eroe nazionale.
Viene ricordato ogni anno, specialmente il 19 luglio, in eventi pubblici, scuole e manifestazioni civili.
A lui sono intitolate scuole, piazze, vie, e biblioteche in tutta Italia.
La sua figura è centrale nel racconto dell’Italia contro la mafia.
Libri consigliati:
“Gomorra” di Roberto Saviano
“Io non ho paura” Ammaniti
“La mafia spiegata ai bambini: l’invasione degli scarafaggi” di Marco Rizzo
“La mafia spiegati ai ragazzi” di Antonio Nicasio
#Borsellino #capaci #mafia #strage
Paolo Borsellino: un eroe di ieri di cui l’oggi ne ha bisogno impellente
Paolo Borsellino: un eroe di ieri di cui l’oggi ne ha bisogno impellente - Controinformazione - Il Mago di OzCristina Desideri (Magozine.it)
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Antony And The Johnsons – Cut The World (2012)
Antony Hegarty, un artista unico, come la sua voce malinconica, primo e più appariscente elemento di una personalità musicale sfaccettata e poliedrica, capace di far entrare l’ascoltatore nella sua sfera più intima e umana, con una naturalezza commovente, che va ben al di la del mero timbro vocale, per quanto esclusivo ed eccezionale... Leggi e ascolta...
Antony And The Johnsons – Cut The World (2012)
Antony Hegarty, un artista unico, come la sua voce malinconica, primo e più appariscente elemento di una personalità musicale sfaccettata e poliedrica, capace di far entrare l’ascoltatore nella sua sfera più intima e umana, con una naturalezza commovente, che va ben al di la del mero timbro vocale, per quanto esclusivo ed eccezionale. “Cut The World” è un album che raccoglie le registrazioni effettuate da Antony e i suoi The Johnsons, assieme all’Orchestra sinfonica nazionale di Copenhagen, grazie alla quale i brani editi sui quattro precedenti lavori in studio si rivestono di nuove atmosfere, suscitando nuove sensazioni... impattosonoro.it/2012/09/04/re…
Ascolta: album.link/i/531336560
Home – Identità DigitaleSono su: Mastodon.uno - Pixelfed - Feddit
Cut the World by Antony & The Johnsons
Listen now on your favorite streaming service. Powered by Songlink/Odesli, an on-demand, customizable smart link service to help you share songs, albums, podcasts and more.Songlink/Odesli
La Chiesa d’Inghilterra risarcirà un sopravvissuto alle cosiddette "terapie di conversione"
La Chiesa d’Inghilterra risarcirà un sopravvissuto alle cosiddette "terapie di conversione"
Per la prima volta nella storia, la Chiesa d'Inghilterra risarcirà una persona sopravvissuta ad una terapia di conversione.Gayburg
How TikTok, AliExpress & WeChat ignore your GDPR rights
Today, noyb has filed GDPR complaints against AliExpress, TikTok and WeChat. All three tech companies have failed to comply with access requests under Article 15 GDPR. This makes it impossible for European users to exercise their fundamental right to privacy, to find out how their personal data is being processed – and if the companies actually comply with other GDPR provisions, for example regarding data transfers. EU law usually allows users to get a full copy of their data.
How TikTok, AliExpress & WeChat ignore your GDPR rights
All three companies failed to adequately answer the complainants' access requestsnoyb.eu
Wikimedia Foundation Challenges UK Online Safety Act Regulations
Wikimedia Foundation Challenges UK Online Safety Act Regulations – Wikimedia Foundation
Next week, on 22 and 23 July 2025, the High Court of Justice in London will hear the Wikimedia Foundation's legal challenge to the Categorisation Regulations of the United Kingdom (UK)'s Online Safety Act (OSA).Wikimedia Foundation
This “smart coach” helps LLMs switch between text and code
This “smart coach” helps LLMs switch between text and code
CodeSteer is a smart assistant from MIT that automatically guides large language models to switch between generating text and code, and to refine its response, until it answers a query correctly.MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Initramfs: What is it and how to abuse it
cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/33275115
According to my statistics that I look at, my second largest group are those who are on some Linux distribution (it just shows up as "Linux" there for me). Why did I write this? Because this group of people indirectly start their system through something called initramfs. Let's take a look at what it is and how to use it to our advantage.Use the translator in the sidebar to translate the page.
Gary’s Videos: A Relatable Journey of Discovery (and Frustration!)
Every time a new video from Gary – @garyhtech – comes out, regardless of the topic (which is mainly about BSDs, but not only), I already know I’ll have to take the time to watch it. The reason is very simple: his videos are fantastic. He records himself and comments while doing things, and in many situations, it feels like I’m watching myself. I tackle something new, and it doesn’t work, or I realize I’ve made a mistake and start reprimanding myself. Gary does all this on camera. Sometimes he succeeds, sometimes he doesn’t, but that’s not what matters… what really matters is the process and how he approaches it.
The latest video, published yesterday, is “FreeBSD User tries NetBSD! Is it much Different?”. And, in my opinion, it’s worth watching just for the title alone.
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China school expels woman for sex with Ukraine man that ‘hurts national dignity’
China university expels woman for casual sex with Ukraine man that ‘hurts national dignity’
21-year-old woman has one-night stand with Eastern European gamer, endures what many say is ‘excessive’ punishment.Fran Lu (South China Morning Post)
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Best Andar Bahar game development company
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Delta moves toward eliminating set prices in favor of AI that determines how much you personally will pay for a ticket
Delta moves toward eliminating set prices in favor of AI that determines how much you personally will pay for a ticket
The airline touted a partnership with an AI-enabled revenue system as a step on the road to fully personalized ticket pricing, part of its goal to raise profit margins long-term.Irina Ivanova (Fortune)
adhocfungus likes this.
Trump has the best foreign policy, in terms of making sense.
/s
Not like the Dems were much better, but yeah, the Trump regime is even worse.
As opposed to Biden merely calling their decisions "outrageous" and strongly condemning them while supporting Netanyahu after they issued a warrant for his arrest.
I'm not sure how that's connected to Syria, tbh.
Well, its... kind of hard to totally disentangle Syria from Israel and Iran... and Palestine, and Iraq, and Lebanon, and the Kurds, and Russia... and Trump recently just directly, very publically, bombed Iranian nuclear facilities...
I am reasonably confident this would not have happened in a Dem regime.
They are genocide enabling and duplicitous assholes, but Trump and his cabinet turned that situation up to 11 by sending in B2s with GBU 57s, and being very, very public, antagonistic about this.
...
Regardless of the strike actually being effective or not, it completely slams the door shut on basically ever doing another nuclear deal with Iran (again, done under Obama/Dems, revoked by Trump)....
... barring something like a complete 180 in some theoretical future Dem regime that totally 180s on basically everything connected to Israel. No clue how likely that is or isn't at this point, but it is at least theoretically possible.
...
Dropping morality from the equation, massively directly aggroing against Iran, with is a player in Syria, is just incompetent on its face at being any kind of sensible policy.
Like, I guess just even more full throatedly going against Iran does remove a significant amount of their influence in Syria (maybe?)... but the cost is looking like a completely insane mad man at the international level...
...not to mention pissing off a significant domestic chunk of Trump's own base, the ones stupid enough to somehow believe Trump was the 'peace candidate'.
...
US foreign policy irt Syria in particular has been a shitshow for about 2 decades now, simply on its own terms of theoretically 'promoting American security interests.'
Trump has accelerated this from 'a clusterfuck' to 'a paradigm ending disaster that has totally ended the US as the dominant world hegemon'.
It has totally destroyed any remaining remnant of plausibly being a morally justified 'World Police'.
The US is now just obviously a rogue state, by its own definition of a rogue state from 10 years ago.
This is what I mean by 'making sense', or really the complete absence of that.
Foreign policy kinda involves having allies.
Not many people wanna ally with a beligerent mad man.
...
Maybe a shorter version of my viewpoint could be:
Pete Hegseth is the Secretary of Defense.
More or less agree with your take, but:
I am reasonably confident this would not have happened in a Dem regime.
I'm fairly confident in my memory that Israel attacked Syria under Biden, taking advantage of the instability to expand it's illegal settlements in the Golan Heights. Am I wrong?
I believe you are correct, but I was perhaps not clear enough there.
What I meant was, had Kamala won, I doubt she would have sent B2s to bomb Natanz, Fordow and Ishfahar.
She maybe, might have agreed to some kind of support role in a much, much more limited version of that kind of a strike, but it likely would have been at least given the Blinken treatment of a veneer of plausible deniability.
Which is fucking awful, but is at least more competent in terms of staying on messsge and presenting an official 'stance'... in neoliberal ghoul logic, which does unfortunately convince many people.
EDIT: Or, maybe, now being President, she could have actually broken from the seemingly very Biden driven deference to Israel, and actually drawn a line at at least... maybe no Israel, you shouldn't bomb Iran that provocatively, we will actually stop giving you some kind of weapon if you do that... maybe even abstain from some UN vote on whether or not you're doing a genocide, instead of voting no.
Hypotheticals, but....seemingly at least possible, to me.
Il rischio spesso sottovalutato dell'albero di palma con gli aghi dentro - Il blog di Jacopo Ranieri
Il rischio spesso sottovalutato dell'albero di palma con gli aghi dentro - Il blog di Jacopo Ranieri
Frequentando certi spazi multimediali di Internet, diventa gradualmente più facile determinare la natura spettacolare o esorbitante di determinati contenuti online. Talvolta per la qualità delle immagini mostrate. Certe altre è l’argomento.Jacopo (Il blog di Jacopo Ranieri)
Giovedì 17 luglio, dalle 21:30, presso il Parco delle Ginestre in via Salita di Oriolo a Faenza, torna la Binocular Classroom: lezioni di astronomia pratica svolte all'aperto, osservando il cielo col binocolo. Spesso ignorato e sottovalutato, un buon binocolo può dare soddisfazioni osservando la Via Lattea, la Luna e altri oggetti celesti, e per gli appassionati di astronomia dovrebbe essere il primo strumento a cui approcciarsi, e non il telescopio, come alcuni possono pensare.
Ad ogni partecipante verrà affidato in prestito un binocolo 8x40, una torcia a luce rossa e un astrolabio. I partecipanti verranno guidati, da astrofili esperti, nell'osservazione autonoma del cielo con il binocolo, ricevendo nozioni base di astronomia, e osservando vari oggetti celesti interessanti. A fine serata verrà consegnata una dispensa.
Indicato per adulti di tutte le età, e ragazzi sopra i 12 anni.
I posti sono limitati, ed è necessaria la prenotazione attraverso i contatti disponibili sul sito www.astrofaenza.it
In caso di maltempo, l'incontro sarà rimandato alla prima data utile, che verrà comunicata a coloro che hanno prenotato.
Per chi è impossibilitato a partecipare in questa data, si consiglia di contattare il Gruppo Astrofili Faenza, che raccoglierà adesioni e preferenze per eventuali date alternative o future.
E' previsto un contributo spese (a serata, per persona) di 10€ per le dispense e la manutenzione dei binocoli, ridotto a 8€ per i minori di 16 anni, e gratuito per i soci ARAR e Gruppo Astrofili Faenza.
L'incontro è organizzato dal Gruppo Astrofili Faenza in collaborazione con ARAR (Associazione Ravennate Astrofili Rheyta), UAI (Unione Astrofili Italiani), Foto Flash e Nital.
Si ricorda che nonostante il caldo diurno, di notte la temperatura può abbassarsi notevolmente rispetto al giorno, specialmente in aperta campagna. Per passare una serata piacevole, si consiglia di portare un giacchetto e/o qualcosa per coprirsi all'occorrenza
The ruins of imperialism w/ Kit Klarenberg and Alexander Mckay
- YouTube
Profitez des vidéos et de la musique que vous aimez, mettez en ligne des contenus originaux, et partagez-les avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier.www.youtube.com
Anyhoo. It's the fairy tale they'd like to believe.
God should smite the child rapists.
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Syrian Health Ministry says ‘dozens of bodies’ discovered at hospital in Suwayda
Syrian Health Ministry says ‘dozens of bodies’ discovered at hospital in Suwayda
Syrian Health Minister Musaab al-Ali told the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that a convoy of 15 ambulances was unable to enter the province of Suwayda, impeded by Israeli aircraftTASS
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Hey CM, just so you know, this is why we consider you one of the dumbest, most useless motherfuckers alive. You accuse me of not reading TASS critically regularly, but here you are unable to distinguish between the following
- my statement about what I heard re: Druze hospital massacre
- TASS reiterating the statement of the new ISIS government which allegedly committed the massacre
- TASS statements about the event themselves
How does it feel to be so obsessed with making your stupid little comments that you can't even read? Maybe consider doing something with your life. Any mental image I form of your behaviors makes me ill. I can't even pity you
Inside Trump's Frantic, Failing Mission to Crush the Epstein 'MAGA Rebellion'
Inside Trump's Failing Mission to Crush the MAGA Revolt Over Epstein
President Donald Trump and his administration are doing everything they can to make MAGA forget about Jeffrey Epstein. They are failing.Ryan Bort (Rolling Stone)
Three people killed, 34 injured in Israeli strikes on Damascus — Syrian Health Ministry
Three people killed, 34 injured in Israeli strikes on Damascus — Syrian Health Ministry
Earlier, Israel launched several airstrikes on DamascusTASS
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FBI's Video Game Piracy Crackdown Leads to Domain Confusion
Late last week, the FBI seized the domain names of several gaming piracy websites, including NSW2U.com. The sites in question were used to download more than a million games per month, according to a press release, which inadvertently identified a nonexistent domain. The FBI eventually seized the correct domain, and the investigation continues. Meanwhile, opportunists are moving in to lure displaced pirates to new "NSW2U" domains.
FBI's Video Game Piracy Crackdown Leads to Domain Confusion * TorrentFreak
The FBI's gaming piracy crackdown on NSW2U is complicated by a domain error and the appearance of new, potentially troubling domains.Ernesto Van der Sar (TF Publishing)
Google Keeps Making Smartphones Worse
Google’s Android, the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, started life as open-source software. In its quest for ever-greater profits, the tech giant has been gradually eroding Android’s open-source nature over the last decade.
Originally published on The Lever, but that one asks you to sign up.
How Google Ruined Your Phone
Google has sabotaged its phones’ open-source technology in order to stamp out its competitors and intensify surveillance of its customers.The Lever
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feat: Traffic data
### What problem would this feature help solve? There is currently no traffic data in the map download, making travel time estimates inaccurate when there is traffic, which makes it not possible to rely on the app for arrival time.Codeberg.org
Zuckerberg and former Meta execs sued for billions over user data
Meta has been accused of harvesting user data without consent in a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit by company shareholders against chief executive Mark Zuckerberg.The case dates back to a 2018 scandal, which saw the data of millions of Facebook users accessed by a now-defunct political consulting firm.
The firm, Cambridge Analytica, worked for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
Now, Meta shareholders are suing Mr Zuckerberg and several current and former company executives, claiming they violated a 2012 agreement to protect user data.
They want Mr Zuckerberg and his co-defendants to reimburse the company for more than $US8 billion ($12.2 billion) in fines and other costs Meta paid following the controversy.
Mr Zuckerberg has dismissed the allegations in court filings as "extreme claims".
Jeannie Paterson, who specialises in consumer protection and AI regulation, said the lawsuit was "unusual".
"This is an action by some minority shareholders against the company they hold shares on, and they're saying that the bad behaviour of the company … would have caused them loss, for which they should be compensated for by the directors," Professor Paterson, from the University of Melbourne, said.
ABC News
ABC News provides the latest news and headlines in Australia and around the world.Ahmed Yussuf (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
adhocfungus likes this.
Can AI really code? Study maps the roadblocks to autonomous software engineering
Can AI really code? Study maps the roadblocks to autonomous software engineering
Researchers led by computer scientists at MIT have mapped the challenges of AI in software development, and outlined a research agenda to move the field forward.MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Almost.
github.com/helix-editor/helix/…
Add Steel as an optional plugin system by mattwparas · Pull Request #8675 · helix-editor/helix
Notes: I still need to rebase up with the latest master changes, however doing so causes some headache with the lock file, so I'll do it after some initial feedback. Also, this depends on the ...GitHub
China's Tianzhou-9 Docks with Tiangong Space Station in Just 3 Hours
China's Tianzhou-9 Docks with Tiangong Space Station in Just 3 Hours
Instance PeerTube généraliste francophone. General French-speaking PeerTube instance.Mes Numériques
Iran’s Parliament rejects US talks without preconditions, citing deception
Iran’s Parliament rejects US talks without preconditions, citing deception
Iran’s Parliament has issued a statement declaring that the country cannot engage in talks with the United States as it did before the recent aggression and that no new negotiations with the United States should take place unless preconditions are me…PressTV
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Donbass on the Brink: Russia’s Summer Offensive is Shattering Ukraine’s Defenses
Donbass on the Brink: Russia’s Summer Offensive is Shattering Ukraine’s Defenses
The war in Ukraine has entered its new phase in the summer of 2025, with Russian forces intensifying offensives across...Anonymous103 (South Front)
Germany invaded Poland, and in response, the USSR went into Poland to keep Germany from occupying all of Poland, which would have broken the agreement regarding “spheres of influence.” In fact, Germany did break that agreement, and the “parade” was about Germany withdrawing from its overreach into the USSR’s “sphere.”
It marked the withdrawal of German troops to the demarcation line secretly agreed to in the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, and the handover of the city and its fortress to the Soviet Red Army.
Once Germany entered Poland, all of Poland would have been occupied by the Nazis if the USSR did nothing, and that would have put the German forces right on the USSR’s border.
And why did generous general Stalin agree to that whole spheres of influence thing in the first place? If he wanted to protect poor Poland from the evil Germanz, surely telling the world about Hitler's evil plans would have been even better? Or at least warning Poland.
But hm, strange, nothing of the sort was done. One could get the impression generous general Stalin didn't care for the plight of the common polish citizen that was just to be unleashed on them.
If he wanted to protect poor Poland from the evil Germanz, surely telling the world about Hitler’s evil plans would have been even better? Or at least warning Poland.
This assumes that 1) Poland was somehow unaware of what its neighbor was up to and 2) the USSR was aware and chose not to tell them. Those are some big assumptions.
That Germany was very likely going to invade Poland was hardly a secret. Why else would the USSR have two weeks before offered Britain & France to send in a million of its troops to kill the baby while it was still in the crib? And why did they wait until that offer was refused before signing a non-aggression pact with Germany, a week before Germany invaded?
"Had the British, French and their European ally Poland, taken this offer seriously then together we could have put some 300 or more divisions into the field on two fronts against Germany - double the number Hitler had at the time," said [Major General] Lev Sotskov, who joined the Soviet intelligence service in 1956. "This was a chance to save the world or at least stop the wolf in its tracks.""It was clear that the Soviet Union stood alone and had to turn to Germany and sign a non-aggression pact to gain some time to prepare ourselves for the conflict that was clearly coming," said Gen Sotskov.
It was only two years later, following Hitler's Blitzkreig attack on Russia in June 1941, that the alliance with the West which Stalin had sought finally came about - by which time France, Poland and much of the rest of Europe were already under German occupation.
The USSR had known for years that Nazi Germany was going to eventually try to destroy it. The Anti-Comintern pact had been signed six years before. Destroying communism was one of Nazi Germany’s primary goals, which is why first they came for the Communists. The USSR agreed to the Pact in order to buy itself time to built up its military for the inevitable invasion attempt by Germany.
First They Came - by Pastor Martin Niemöller - Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
Download a copy of First They Came by Pastor Martin Niemöller First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist Then they c…Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
On March 17 [1939] the British Government suddenly remembered the existence of the Soviet Union and inquired what its attitude would be toward the Hitler threat in Eastern Europe. Moscow replied promptly and proposed an immediate conference between Britain, France, the U.S.S.R., Poland, Rumania and Turkey to consider how to resist German aggression. This was exactly and obviously what was urgently needed. Nothing less than a drawing together of all the threatened states could be of any avail. Rumania was under intense pressure to turn over her economy to Germany and the quickest action was needed.
However, the Chamberlain clique could not make the shift. Knowing that they wanted to solve the Nazi menace on the plains of Russia, they ascribed to Russia the very same design of which they were guilty, as devious men so often do. They had a “deep seated conviction,” shared also by the French Rightists, that Russia wished to destroy the capitalist system in Europe by provoking a war from which she would remain aloof.5 The entire diplomatic record of the past five years belied this self-justifying suspicion. It showed that Russia was desperately anxious to avoid war, but also that on every occasion, without exception, she had sought to avoid war for herself by combining with others to prevent aggression or nip it in the bud. It was Russia which had incessantly pleaded that “peace is indivisible,” warning that if war came all would be engulfed in it.
All this had meant nothing to conservative men bent on making terms with fascism and preserving it. Now, therefore, Chamberlain hesitated a week until Rumania capitulated and on March 18 notified Russia that her conference proposal was “premature.” This was the same rebuff given to Russia when she had proposed a conference a year earlier, at the time of Hitler’s conquest of Austria. Again there was no hurry, but this time Chamberlain did propose a substitute plan whereby Britain, France, Russia and Poland would consult if any further acts of aggression were believed to be imminent, but even this proposal was abortive, since it was at once learned, says Chamberlain’s biographer, that “Poland would refuse contact with the Soviet, which alone was enough to prevent us from taking up the Russian proposal for a six-power conference.” Chamberlain did not blame the Polish Government. He confided to his diary, on March 26: “I must confess to the most profound distrust of Russia,”6
The Cold War And Its Origins, 1917–1960. Vol. I, 1917–1950 By Denna Frank Fleming, Chapter 5
He literally did try to warn about the fascist threat repeatedly and was constantly rebuked by the west due to anti-communism and "appeasement" politics.
They also weren't in a position to go on an offensive against Germany all alone if that's what you're gonna suggest next.
Their only option was a deal along these lines to buy time for themselves to build up productive forces.
He literally did try to warn about the fascist threat repeatedly and was constantly rebuked by the west due to anti-communism and "appeasement" politics.
They also weren't in a position to go on an offensive against Germany all alone if that's what you're gonna suggest next.
Their only option was a deal along these lines to buy time for themselves to build up productive forces.
FundMECFS
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