Tedium.co: So, Bluesky Has An Extortion Problem
Bluesky, until now, has had a reputation as being a more moderation-friendly alternative to X, Threads, Mastodon, and other social networks.
But what happens when the pedal is put to the metal, and shady figures attempt to test the network’s ground rules?
You may not find the results to your liking. That was a realization I made this week after getting an up-close view of an extortion attempt involving a prominent journalist and a well-known entrepreneur.
NYT: Honda and Nissan Are in Talks to Deepen Ties and Possibly Merge
The merger talks between Japan’s second- and third-largest automakers highlight the intense upheaval within the world’s auto industry.
Wired: CDC Confirms First US Case of Severe Bird Flu
A severe case is significant because bird flu has previously been associated with severe illness in other countries, including outbreaks that resulted in death in up to 50 percent of cases. From 2003 to 2023, of the 878 people who tested positive for the virus, 458 deaths were reported.
The virus has decimated poultry flocks and wild birds across the country and has infected more than 800 dairy herds in 16 states. Infected animals have been spreading the virus to people who come into contact with them. Since April, the US has seen a total of 61 reported human cases of bird flu in eight states. Of those, 37 had exposure to sick or infected dairy cows, while 21 had exposure to poultry farms and culling operations. In those cases, people developed conjunctivitis and mild respiratory symptoms and fully recovered.
MacRumors: Apple Says Meta is Making Unreasonable Interoperability Requests Under Europe’s DMA Requirements
In a statement provided to Reuters, Apple said that Meta is asking for changes that could compromise user security and privacy.
In many cases, Meta is seeking to alter functionality in a way that raises concerns about the privacy and security of users, and that appears to be completely unrelated to the actual use of Meta external devices, such as Meta smart glasses and Meta Quest.
If Apple were to have to grant all of these requests, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp could enable Meta to read on a user’s device all of their messages and emails, see every phone call they make or receive, track every app that they use, scan all of their photos, look at their files and calendar events, log all of their passwords, and more.
Guardian: Two-inch long ‘murder hornets’ eradicated from US, agriculture department says
World’s largest hornet, which killed 42 people in China in 2013, has been wiped out in US five years after first being spotted
The world’s largest hornet, an invasive breed nicknamed the “murder hornet” for its dangerous sting and ability to slaughter a hive of honeybees in as little as 90 minutes, has been declared eradicated in the US, five years after being spotted for the first time in Washington state near the Canadian border.
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DNA evidence suggested the populations found in British Columbia and Washington were not related and appeared to originate from different countries. There also have been no confirmed reports in British Columbia since 2021, and the nonprofit Invasive Species Centre in Canada has said the hornet is also considered eradicated there.
BBC: Montana Supreme Court upholds landmark youth climate ruling
Montana’s Supreme Court has upheld a lower court’s decision that had sided with 16 young activists who argued that the state violated their right to a clean environment.
The lawsuit was brought by students arguing that a state law banning the consideration of climate when choosing energy policy was unconstitutional.
In a 6-to-1 ruling, the top court found that the plaintiffs, between ages five and 22, had a “fundamental constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment”.
Last Updated: 18.Dec.2024 23:03 EST
