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Cops Can Force Suspects to Unlock Phone With Thumbprint, US Court Rules (Maria)
The author writes, “The US Constitution’s Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination does not prohibit police officers from forcing a suspect to unlock a phone with a thumbprint scan, a federal appeals court ruled yesterday. The ruling does not apply to all cases in which biometrics are used to unlock an electronic device but is a significant decision in an unsettled area of the law. The US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit had to grapple with the question of ‘whether the compelled use of Payne’s thumb to unlock his phone was testimonial,’ the ruling in United States v. Jeremy Travis Payne said. … A three-judge panel at the 9th Circuit ruled unanimously against Payne, affirming a US District Court’s denial of Payne’s motion to suppress evidence.”
Doing ‘The Right Thing’ May Cost Johnson His Speaker’s Gavel (Sean)
From CNN: “Now, as Johnson tries to pass billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan — vital to protecting US allies from Russian, Iranian, and Chinese totalitarianism and preserving US power and prestige – he’s having to put his own job on the line to confront GOP extremists who accuse him of betraying the party’s base. ‘When you do the right thing, you let the chips fall where they may,’ Johnson said in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on Wednesday ahead of three critical days that could decide whether he can cling to his gavel.”
Dubai’s Record Rainfall Floods Homes, Halts Flights (Reader Jim)
From Bloomberg: “The United Arab Emirates experienced its heaviest downpour since records began in 1949, Dubai’s media office said in a statement. It caused chaos for residents as water entered the city’s expensive homes and underground car parks, left some buildings without power, and resulted in widespread flooding even a day later. One person died after being swept away by flash floods in the north of the country, the National newspaper reported. In neighboring Oman, at least 18 people have died in recent days as the heavy rains caused flooding, AP reported, citing a statement from the country’s National Committee for Emergency Management.”
Boeing Whistleblowers Describe ‘Criminal Cover-Up,’ Safety Risks to Senate (Reader Steve)
From The Seattle Times: “In sworn testimony before a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee, Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour reiterated his accusation that Boeing has hidden safety risks on the 787 Dreamliner and the 777 widebody jets, rejecting the account Boeing offered Monday in an effort to reassure the public. He provided a trove of Boeing documents to the subcommittee. These included his own internal technical presentations, data, and emails detailing for managers how the gaps at major joints of the 787 fuselage sections exceeded specification.”
Mexico’s Likely Next President Is a Scientist. Politics Has Her Mostly Quiet on Climate Threats (Laura)
The author writes, “Sheinbaum is often seen as the mentee of López Obrador, who is restricted by law to one term. As president, he has pumped billions of dollars into Mexico’s indebted state oil company and has been pushing an overhaul of the country’s energy sector that has boosted fossil fuel production and stymied investment in renewable energy projects. That has resulted in Sheinbaum, who until last June was Mexico City’s mayor, having largely gone quiet on global warming in Mexico, the world’s 11th-largest oil producer.”
The AI Revolution Is Already Here (Sean)
From Defense One: “In just the last few months, the battlefield has undergone a transformation like never before, with visions from science fiction finally coming true. Robotic systems have been set free, authorized to destroy targets on their own. Artificial intelligence systems are determining which individual humans are to be killed in war, and even how many civilians are to die along with them. And making all this the more challenging, this frontier has been crossed by America’s allies.”
