First Google, now Microsoft, are trying impose patent obstacles on use of Jarosław Duda's ANS compression system.

This illustrates how the US Patent Office has been deeply corrupted by envisioning its job as serving patent applicants. However, even a well-run patent system would do harm if it issues patents that restrict running software on computers.

The officials of Austin, Texas, are fighting in court to maintain their mask requirement against the all-out efforts of Covidist state officials who persistently seek to spread the virus wherever they can.

It is our country's sad fate that Covid-19 and a mind-virus are spreading in tandem.

A proposed giant mine in Papua New Guinea includes a big dam to hold toxic mine waste, plus lots of water. The rock there would not safely support the dam structure, and if the dam breaks it would pollute the important Sepik river.

Bolivia's "interim president" who took over when the military ousted Evo Morales faces criminal charges.

The right-wing accusation that Morales rigged the election was bogus all along. This does not, in itself, imply that Añez and the various officials now charged are guilty of crimes. That we will have to see.

The London thug department broke up a vigil for Sarah Everard, a woman who was murdered on the street.

The thugs do little to pursue men that rape or kill women, but when women hold a carefully harmless protest, they think they must not allow it to go ahead. Apparently they are upholding the principle of "No protests!" Not even carefully planned harmless nonviolent protests may be tolerated.

Meanwhile, the Tories want to give thugs additional permanent power to suppress protests even after Covid-19 is gone.

That the man arrested for murdering her is a thug, acting as a private citizen, adds to the irony of this situation.