February 2025 - cypherpunks - lists.cpunks.org

All roads lead to Rome: Delegates from the U.N. Biodiversity Conference, aka COP16, are meeting tomorrow in the eternal city to tie up the loose ends from the last gathering in Cali, Colombia.
by Gunnar Larson 24 Feb '25

24 Feb '25

Let’s shift gears from Washington and Kyiv to Rome, where a major conference on nature loss isn’t grabbing international headlines — *but is highly consequential to the global south and the planet* for that matter. Delegates from the U.N. Biodiversity Conference, aka COP16, are meeting tomorrow in the eternal city to tie up the loose ends from the last gathering in Cali, Colombia <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POoixSUS6VEsTDFKugZeUZKHuvc4RNAem…> . Many of the disagreements that bedevil all COP negotiations are sure to rear their head again: unfulfilled financial promises; the push from developing countries to get their wealthier counterparts to pay up; the reluctance of wealthier countries to do so; talks on the toughest topics saved to the last possible minute, etc. Still, there’s a positive vibe at this COP, writes my colleague Jesse Chase-Lubitz, who has a cheat sheet on what to expect <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POga9-9HSPjvqqkdP9RcuOdxACFiqsb8P…>. While the three days in Rome this week won’t have the same pomp and circumstance as Colombia, that means the discussions will be far more concentrated on the meaty stuff right away. “I think we're all feeling fairly optimistic that we'll be able to come together and set out a road map for how the post-2030 resource mobilization architecture will look and so I'm feeling pretty hopeful,” says Linda Krueger of The Nature Conservancy. *Read:* At COP16 take two, delegates aim to finalize funding for biodiversity <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POga9-9HSPjvqqkdP9RcuOdxACFiqsb8P…>

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EU better work
by Gunnar Larson 24 Feb '25

24 Feb '25

EU better work With Trump’s voice currently the loudest on Ukraine, the EU will need to speak up and chip in if it wants to have a seat at the negotiating table <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POhclVMjy-fPC1nQx1DZzXLm3x_9Ws7Ml…>. That means not just security guarantees, but development assistance, argues Julian Bergmann of the German Institute of Development and Sustainability in an opinion piece for Devex. “As the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 report indicates, the U.S. administration will *likely leave it completely to Europeans ‘to address Ukraine’s economic needs,’”* he writes. “The EU needs to prepare for such a scenario.” *Opinion:* Amid US fallout, time for the EU to step up assistance to Ukraine <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POhclVMjy-fPC1nQx1DZzXLm3x_9Ws7Ml…>

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From Russia, probably not with love: "... Anticipating that potential cutoff, the Biden administration tried to Trump-proof billions in assistance to Ukraine via a newly created World Bank fund. Former U.S. President Joe Biden put $20 billion in U.S. contributions into the fund as part of a plan among the world’s biggest economies to use the interest from Russia’s frozen assets to provide $50 billion in loans for Ukraine, Jen Kirby writes for Devex."
by Gunnar Larson 24 Feb '25

24 Feb '25

From Russia, probably not with love If it wasn’t clear on the campaign trail, it’s crystal clear now: Trump ain’t giving Ukraine a dime any time soon, if ever. As he sides with Russian President Vladimir Putin and calls Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator,”* Trump has loudly telegraphed that the spigot of U.S. assistance is closed*. Anticipating that potential cutoff, *the Biden administration tried to Trump-proof billions in assistance to Ukraine* via a newly created World Bank <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGY1tFxzzWPE-SvlDBcwNwaH6PYO4rra_HtHc-…> fund. Former U.S. President Joe Biden put $20 billion in U.S. contributions into the fund <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POsOu8-V3XC2wqJP1JI_OWCtNEQ750yrW…> as part of a plan among the world’s biggest economies to use the interest from Russia’s frozen assets to provide $50 billion in loans for Ukraine, Jen Kirby writes for Devex. “Frankly, what we came up with is something that wasn't that novel. It's what lots of rich people in the United States do every day,” a former Biden official said. After disbursing $16 billion weeks before Trump took over Washington, D.C., *about $4 billion in U.S. money remains in the fund, yet to be allocated* — a decision that the next Trump administration can influence, but likely cannot fully block. As the senior Biden Treasury official stated: “We wanted to give some certainty that some of the money would be in the hands of the Ukrainians.” *Read:* How the US helped protect a $20B promise to Ukraine ahead of Trump <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POsOu8-V3XC2wqJP1JI_OWCt0PhK5nIrp…>

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Unpause: "...Over the weekend, staff members started to receive letters indicating their employment was terminated. My colleague Sara Jerving obtained copies of termination notices — including to someone stationed abroad — in which Peter Marocco, USAID’s acting deputy administrator, said they were “being released” from their “competitive level” because that “competitive area is being eliminated.”
by Gunnar Larson 24 Feb '25

24 Feb '25

Unpause That didn’t take long. After a court order Friday paved the way for thousands of USAID staffers to be placed on administrative leave (more on that below), employees received a notice Sunday alerting them that not only will most USAID direct hires worldwide be placed on leave, but that 1,600 personnel in the U.S. will be fired <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POlEl9RSRUZlYbrmNpaBWzbOpU-jtGmM6…> — or, in government speak, *subject to a “reduction-in-force.”* “As of 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 23, *all USAID direct hire personnel*, with the exception of designation personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and/or specially designated programs, *will be placed on administrative leave globally*,” the notice stated. It isn’t clear which staff at USAID will be affected by the 1,600 firings, my colleague Elissa Miolene reports. *“Is this civil service? Foreign service? All?”* asks one USAID staffer. “No clarity.” “There’s more order and yet they still are producing chaos,” the staffer says. “We keep getting these big, scary emails on weekends. There’s *no day free of the scare tactics and mental torture.”* Over the weekend, staff members started to receive letters indicating their employment was terminated <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POlEl9RSRUZlYbrmNpaBWzbMJpzFzneHJ…>. My colleague Sara Jerving obtained copies of termination notices — including to someone stationed abroad — in which Peter Marocco, USAID’s acting deputy administrator, said they were *“being released” from their “competitive level”* because that “competitive area is being eliminated.” USAID employees also received more details over the weekend about the State Department <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGY1tFx0Cu3ppBk47Shu8OM5ckHaUoOVX8Dnh6…> team tasked with recalling staff members abroad. One USAID employee abroad tells Sara that while this new coordination team may be able to handle simple logistics, *it doesn’t have a clear mandate for families with complicated situations.* Sara was informed of one case where USAID’s finance team called a staff member's child’s school abroad to inquire about refunding the tuition already paid — for a child with special needs. “It’s inhumane and humiliating,” the USAID employee abroad tells Sara. *Read:* USAID to cut 1,600 staff, place nearly all direct hires on leave <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POlEl9RSRUZlYbrmNpaBWzbOpU-jtGmM6…> *Read more:* USAID staff start receiving termination letters <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POlEl9RSRUZlYbrmNpaBWzbMJpzFzneHJ…>

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Payday Lender Says CFPB Uncertainty Should Pause Suit
by Gunnar Larson 24 Feb '25

24 Feb '25

Payday Lender Says CFPB Uncertainty Should Pause Suit <https://www.law360.com/banking/articles/2301321?nl_pk=e602c558-f520-472e-90…> By Katryna Perera ACE Cash Express has asked a Texas federal judge to pause a case launched by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accusing the payday lender of concealing free repayment plans from struggling borrowers, saying it is unclear how the agency will move forward with the action now that the Trump administration has effectively shut it down. Motion attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/banking/articles/2301321?nl_pk=e602c558-f520-472e-90…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/banking/articles/2301321?nl_pk=e602c558-f520-472e-90…>

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Lenovo CLO Announces Retirement, Successor Named
by Gunnar Larson 24 Feb '25

24 Feb '25

Lenovo CLO Announces Retirement, Successor Named <https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/2301225?nl_pk=b6acf8b6-b37c-4b07…> By James Boyle Consumer technology company Lenovo will be shaking up its leadership team with retirement plans for its chief legal officer and chief financial officer, announced Friday. Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/2301225?nl_pk=b6acf8b6-b37c-4b07…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/2301225?nl_pk=b6acf8b6-b37c-4b07…>

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Ga. Provider Bashes FCC Over Subsidy Verification Rules
by Gunnar Larson 24 Feb '25

24 Feb '25

Ga. Provider Bashes FCC Over Subsidy Verification Rules <https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/2300782?nl_pk=b6acf8b6-b37c-4b07…> By Jared Foretek A Georgia-based phone and internet provider is appealing a $429,000 recovery order from the Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau over the company's alleged failure to verify subscribers qualified for pandemic-era subsidies, arguing that it is being punished for using the eligibility verification system that the commission itself requires them to use. 1 document attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/2300782?nl_pk=b6acf8b6-b37c-4b07…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/2300782?nl_pk=b6acf8b6-b37c-4b07…>

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2nd Circ. Sides With Cops Over 'Sense-Enhancing' IPhone
by Gunnar Larson 24 Feb '25

24 Feb '25

2nd Circ. Sides With Cops Over 'Sense-Enhancing' IPhone <https://www.law360.com/cybersecurity-privacy/articles/2300598?nl_pk=fb10114…> By Brian Steele Police in Connecticut did not "search" a suspect's parked car when using the Apple iPhone's camera function to peer through his tinted windows because they did not violate his reasonable expectation of privacy, a Second Circuit panel ruled in upholding a trial court's evidence decision. Opinion attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/cybersecurity-privacy/articles/2300598?nl_pk=fb10114…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/cybersecurity-privacy/articles/2300598?nl_pk=fb10114…>

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Kim Kardashian Accused Of Misidentifying Death Row Inmate
by Gunnar Larson 24 Feb '25

24 Feb '25

Kim Kardashian Accused Of Misidentifying Death Row Inmate <https://www.law360.com/newyork/articles/2300937?nl_pk=b53aa520-5013-4a8d-a5…> By Andrea Keckley Kim Kardashian was sued Thursday in California state court one year after a photo the reality television star posted in an Instagram story allegedly identified the wrong man as a Texas prisoner on death row. Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/newyork/articles/2300937?nl_pk=b53aa520-5013-4a8d-a5…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/newyork/articles/2300937?nl_pk=b53aa520-5013-4a8d-a5…>

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Diddy Atty Says No Way He Can Continue As Defense Counsel
by Gunnar Larson 24 Feb '25

24 Feb '25

Diddy Atty Says No Way He Can Continue As Defense Counsel <https://www.law360.com/newyork/articles/2301274?nl_pk=b53aa520-5013-4a8d-a5…> By Y. Peter Kang A defense attorney representing Sean "Diddy" Combs' in his criminal sex-trafficking case on Friday asked a Manhattan federal judge to allow him to quit, saying in a carefully worded court filing that "under no circumstances" could he continue to represent the disgraced hip-hop mogul. 3 documents attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/newyork/articles/2301274?nl_pk=b53aa520-5013-4a8d-a5…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/newyork/articles/2301274?nl_pk=b53aa520-5013-4a8d-a5…>

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