RSnake Report 20241212

Table of Contents

• Geopolitical

• Technology

• Cybersecurity

• Business

Hello, and thanks for reading! The presents are stacking up under the tree, and if you haven’t started buying some already, you should. A few random points: if you’re sick this holiday season, you should check out this video for a completely homeopathic way of clearing your sinuses without the red nose, especially if you are low on meds or don’t enjoy taking them. I’ve been using this technique for years, and it works great. It costs nothing, and you can even do it quietly, during meetings, etc, when the alternatives just aren’t great.

Let’s start with the Russian/Ukraine conflict, where in Donetsk, Sergey Evsukov, the infamous Olenivka prison director, met his end in a fiery car bombing. For context, this is the same Olenivka where, in 2022, over 50 Ukrainian POWs were killed in a barracks blast that Russia absurdly blamed on a Ukrainian missile strike. Spoiler: the UN investigation fizzled out like a cheap sparkler. I am slightly shocked that Ukraine is using assassinations so frequently, given that Russia can and will and has done the same.

Ever heard of sea drones equipped with AA guns? Neither had I until this week. Enter Ukraine’s "Sea Babies," now packing large-caliber machine guns with precision targeting. The video sucks, but it does show that these drones clashed with Russian patrol boats and helicopters, leaving the latter limping back for repairs. Meanwhile, a tracked gun drone called Droid TW 12.7 has officially entered the battlefield, a tablet-controlled mini tank. It is interesting that there is an increase in the use of guns on these platforms, which previously hadn’t worked out so great - likely because they were too small to handle recoil and sufficient ammunition. If you watch the video of the Droid, you can tell it’s smooth running with no obvious recoil effecting the platform itself.

There was some fairly high-tech stuff afoot, with rumors that there are now EW resistant Starlink enabled drones being used by Ukraine, with evidence of one that was downed by unknown means. There is also a new “Hitchhiker” drone that uses a lot of coordination and automation to allow it to act as air defense, tracking targets and even able to automatically launch itself, which may be a big deal for reducing the threats nearby and by nearby, I mean 125-mile ranges. That, coupled with a change that will make it jet-powered, will mean interdictions of Iranian-built, Russian-launched Shahed drones will become much more likely.

The Russians are attempting to find drones aloft using triangulation of low-cost frequency analyzers, so the Starlink option and the Hitchhiker, which likely uses traditional frequencies, might not work that well if the emissions are “loud” enough to be picked up by these systems and they work as advertised. The one thing I will say about the Hitchhiker is that it likely can be eventually trained to be fully autonomous, not just partially, so it wouldn’t even necessarily need a signal that was loud enough to detect, save whatever it used to detect the inbound targets, and that could be located elsewhere and connected via laser or fiber optic.

That’s the high end. On the low end are Ukrainian kamikaze drones made of literal water pipes and plastic bottles obliterated Russian equipment and a dock in Kherson. DIY destruction, anyone? Whoever built those crappy drones must be pretty stoked.

The Russian version of the DIY drone world is handmade heavy-lift drones which look hilariously bad, and the reasons they exist really come down to the fact that Russia has no heavy drone in its military arsenal competitive with the Ukrainian Vampire drone and is reluctant to work with the Chinese on any drones. I have a feeling there is more to that story.

If you remember, I talked about drone vs drone standoff. Here is the second video of that happening, but this time, it's with one of the two drones being fiber optic. I can honestly believe that both sides cheered when they hit the opposing drones. That’s such an odd paradigm shift when mutual losses count for individual wins. Both sides hate the drones, so killing them off is a good thing. We can all agree they’re awful, and so the destruction of one, even if it means killing our own, will be good. There is a lot to be said about this in terms of game theory, but I think you get the drift. If you want to get better at game theory, check out this free game/tutorial - I send it to anyone I know who is having a rough time with external actors/forces.

There were a few big pieces of notable destruction on the Russian side. First was an airplane plant in Taganrog, that was purportedly hit by an ATACAMS. The second was an oil depot in the Bryansk Oblast. More infrastructure was destroyed. I am amazed at how much of it Russia has!

On the Russian politics side, Former deputy mayor of Krasnoyarsk, Alexey Davydov (39), fell out of an 11th-floor window this week. Don’t worry; this time, it wasn’t deemed an accident; it was during interrogation. So maybe not so much fell as “was flung”. Whew, I just thought the construction codes in Russia were that bad. 😉 

Despite desperate attempts to prop up the ruble—including forcing Rosneft to liquidate foreign currency reserves—Russia's currency was temporarily back to its freefall, plummeting over 5% in six hours. The problem is that it seems that the Ruble should not be tied to anything foreign now, so the volatility shows that much of this is coming from within Russia now, not external sentiment, which is likely far, far worse. That said, it did recover a bit, so it’s unclear what keeps propping it back up; my speculation is that whatever that is has limited cash reserves to keep doing so. No later than late spring and the bulk of the Russian commercial markets will be bankrupt or selling off for pennies to the government to keep them running.

Onto a little European news where Denmark is done playing nice, announcing the deportation of all criminal migrants, irrespective of sentence length or tenure in the country. This mirrors what the US is thinking about starting with - the deportation of criminals in the lead-up to a greater deportation effort. The wording here, at least in the US, is a little interesting because all migrants are criminal if they are illegal immigrants who didn’t come through a sanctioned port of entry with a visa or are seeking political asylum. It’s not clear how Denmark will handle that or if they’ll just stick to people who have been incarcerated and presumably not just at the border when they are picked up by border patrol.

Moldova, on the other hand, is bracing for an economic slowdown in Transnistria, where Russian gas lifelines are running dry. Ukrainian defiance in pipeline renewals may finally force Moscow’s hand, and the Moldovans might be able to come to terms with that region. Moldova might have a big change on their eastern border, with economics changing for the Russian-held part of the country

Both the UK and as we make our way over to the South Pacific, the South Koreans are racing to perfect laser drone defenses. Both systems, the UK drone destroyer, and the Block-II South Korean system, have the advantage of being fully mobile, making them much more useful for combat operations where the front line might be evolving. It’s not sure when they’ll be deployed or where, and that is kind of the point.

Okay and on with the main event which is happening in Syria. I have been trying to think how I can explain this in the easiest way possible since the map is changing rapidly (here is a very slowed-down version). It’s a confusing mess. But here’s, as best I can tell, what’s going on…

Assad’s regime, the same brutal dictator who purportedly used chemical weapons on his own people and supported Russia and Iran, has been crushed. That was done by an ISIS offshoot now referred to as Syrian opposition forces Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). They may change their name tomorrow (not kidding) to be more in line with a regional government, but for now, let’s just call them HTS. HTS is a named terrorist organization. When they took over, they crushed not just Assad but a lot of Russian military and Wagner contractor forces. You might remember the Wagner guys when they tried to storm into Moscow, and then their leader got shot down in an airplane, and it all went away… Those Wagners. So Assad is out, HTS is in, and former Assad troops are fleeing to Iraq.

But oops, what’s happening now? Kurdish SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces), backed by the United States, has started fighting against the HTS forces. The HTS forces, which are also dubbed the Syrian National Forces, are backed/trained by Turkey and Ukraine. Keep in mind that Turkish Muslims and Kurds have a long-term hatred for one another.

The HTS is winning a lot of favor partly because of the atrocities that the former Assad regime is now being outed for in their prisons. Oh, dear reader, but this whole thing gets worse. Now Israel steps in and decides they don’t want a heavily armed ISIS offshoot on their back door, so they take over Mt Hermon and the entire Golan Heights in little more than a day, giving them overwatch and strategic height advantage to lob shells directly into Damascus if they want.

Israel also does a huge bombing campaign, taking out most of the heavy equipment, the weapons depots, the air defense, the ships, and the fighters, leaving HTS to have to arm itself largely from scratch.

Refugee policies in Europe, particularly Germany, are already being reconsidered as former exiles prepare to return to Syria. Huge convoys are being created as people flood back to the country. Alcohol is getting smashed, but it turns out that it was likely Hezbollah that was using the alcohol sales to finance military operations against Israel.

The new Syrian regime has now declared their intent to take over Jerusalem and Mecca and declared war on Israel and Saudi Arabia. So now they are surrounded by heavily armed adversaries in each direction.

Feel caught up? Oh, when the Muslim Uyghurs have entered the chat. They have a thing to say about the genocide against them that the CCP has been enacting for the last decade or so, and now that they have access to BM-21 Grad missiles left over from Assad’s quick retreat, they are issuing a warning to the CCP.

So, for those trying to play along, the US is backing the Kurdish forces, we are backing Israel, and we are financially backing NATO, which Turkey is a member of, who is backing HTS, and we are backing Ukraine, which is arming and training HTS. Your tax dollars and mine are paying for tons of this on both sides. We have Turkey, the United States, Russia, China, and Israel all involved in some way or another in the same conflict, and ALL of them are currently nuclear-armed, and Iran is close behind. ☢️ 

What. A. Mess. (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

So the normal every day issues of Israel taking out three buildings at a time in Rafah or a potential ceasefire being negotiated with Hamas seems like a yawn by comparison. Wow. Just wow.

In what seems very minor by comparison and onto Domestic news, Luigi Mangione, the suspected UHC shooter, was caught and revealed to be a Unabomber fanboy who spiraled after his back surgery, resulting in a bizarre manifesto, fraudulent IDs, and a DIY suppressed franken-glock and a dead healthcare CEO. His peculiar fascination with Peter Thiel and Japanese sex toys adds yet another layer to this strange story. I think it will be a while before the Made for TV story comes out, but I suspect it was a lot of things happening a lot to him, involving chronic pain, bad reads and drugs.

Oh, and about those drones launched from the "Iranian mothership "? Pentagon officials are debunking claims, clarifying that the IRIS Shahid Bagheri remains safely in Iranian waters - for now. So, there is very likely a different source. My only comment on this is about why we aren’t blowing them out of the sky we may not be able to detect them, which is bad easily, and we may not be able to discern if they are legit air traffic or not, which is bad, and/or we don’t have sufficient air defense along the coast, which is bad. It could be a US project, too, but I suspect it isn’t the way everyone is acting around the Whitehouse. More than likely, it is either drug smugglers or a foreign adversary making an extreme point about US defenses along the coastline. Point taken. Now, what will we do about it?

Lastly, for all you entrepreneurial spirits in Economic News, a16z, and Y Combinator have released their latest requests for startups. It’s worth a skim if you’re chasing that next billion-dollar idea. Best of luck to all of you entrepreneurs out there! God speed!

Okay, onto the articles!

Geopolitical

The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly passed resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and expressing support for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. The votes came amid ongoing conflict in the region, with significant civilian casualties reported and calls for humanitarian assistance.

• The UN General Assembly voted 158-9 in favor of a resolution demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

• The resolutions reflect widespread global calls for an end to the ongoing conflict and support for humanitarian aid efforts.

[RSnake: Thank you, UN, for your sage wisdom. It will be filed along with your resolution on ignoring the CCP-led Uyghur genocide. 🙄 ]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/12/un-general-assembly-demands-immediate-ceasefire-in-gaza-supports-unrwa?traffic_source=rss

Over the weekend, at least 110 people were killed in Cite Soleil, Haiti, as a local gang carried out a massacre in response to witchcraft accusations linked to the death of a gang leader's child. The killings were perpetrated primarily against elderly residents, with the gang's operations in the area restricted by tight control and ongoing violence. Haiti is currently facing a severe security crisis with high mortality rates and a significant number of people displaced due to gang-related conflicts.

• Gang violence in Haiti has escalated, leading to the massacre of over 110 individuals.

• A significant number of residents are displaced due to ongoing conflicts and inadequate security measures.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/9/haiti-gang-killed-110-people-over-witchcraft-accusation-rights-group-says?traffic_source=rss

Recent developments in Syria have led to the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, marking the end of his family's 50-year rule. The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Abu Mohammad al-Jowlani, has claimed control of Damascus, raising questions about the future political landscape amidst a backdrop of regional concerns and shifting power dynamics among local forces.

• Bashar al-Assad's regime has collapsed, leading to notable changes in Syria's governance.

• HTS, formerly affiliated with Al-Qaeda, is asserting itself as a key player in Syria's new order.

[RSnake: I’m telling you, this is a mess. Not that Assad was some angel, but woof. This is going to have a lot of ripple effects and I don’t get the impression many of them will be positive. The only obvious upside is that Israeli forces have Golan Heights for now, which can help them control the region. They would be unwise to give it back.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0kv582lpnro

South Korean police are considering a travel ban for President Yoon Suk Yeol as they investigate the legality of his recent martial law declaration. The inquiry has escalated, with police expanding their investigative team and conducting searches related to high-level officials involved in the martial law decision.

• Investigators are looking into the decision-making process behind the martial law declaration.

• The investigation has included searches of the homes and offices of key officials.

[RSnake: I’d flee if I were him too. Makes sense.]

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/south-korean-police-travel-ban-president-yoon-amid/story?id=116587477

Russian military forces are evacuating their bases in Syria due to the fall of Bashar Assad's regime, as opposition forces gain control of key locations including Damascus. This evacuation includes the departure of Russian naval ships from Tartus and emergency airlifts of military equipment from Khmeimim airbase, marking a significant setback for Russia in the region as they face potential loss of strategic assets.

• Russian military bases in Syria are being evacuated as Assad's regime collapses.

• Opposition forces have captured significant locations in Damascus, escalating the threat to Russian assets.

[RSnake: The good news is this greatly reduces the power structure for Russia in that region, and they lose an ally that previously allowed them to run operations in Libya and beyond, which they were using to smuggle diamonds and other rare earth from in places around North Africa. The bad news is this frees up a lot of military forces in the region to use elsewhere. Libya is Russia’s new best friend, whether they want to be or not.]

Source: https://euromaidanpress.com/?p=308238

Iran is set to significantly increase its stockpile of 60-percent enriched uranium, which is near weapons-grade. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that Iran plans to activate advanced centrifuges to boost production, potentially enabling it to produce nuclear weapons quickly.

• Iran intends to dramatically enhance its near weapons-grade enriched uranium stockpile.

• The IAEA indicates that Iran's production capabilities may increase seven to eight times the current levels.

[RSnake: Here we go. Same story. Expect their scientists to get close, but then all die from bombs and missiles… again. Iran cannot possess the bomb from the Israeli perspective, but so too the Saudis and the Turks. Russia could give it to them, but they haven’t, which gives you some sense of how the Russians feel about Iran, too.]

Source: https://www.jewishpress.com/?p=718382

US President Joe Biden speaks with leaders from the Group of Seven nations in person for the first time, as part of efforts to address global chip shortages and supply chain disruptions.

• The US has awarded a $6.2 billion contract to Micron Technology to build a new plant in New York state.

• This move aims to increase domestic chip production and address the global shortage of semiconductors.

[RSnake: We need at least a few more… at least! Supply chains are unstable and will only worsen if the CCP invades Taiwan.]

Source: https://fortune.com/2024/12/10/micron-gets-6-2-billion-chips-award-to-spur-plant-expansion/

The United States is facing multiple geopolitical challenges, including increased threats from China regarding Taiwan, ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and tensions in the Middle East with Iran's aggression towards Israel. Additionally, there are concerns about Germany's dependence on Russia and China, which may impact NATO's strategic coherence and the U.S.'s ability to effectively manage its resources across Europe and Asia.

• The U.S. may need to reassess its NATO strategy to effectively deal with Russian aggression.

• China's influence and military threat in Asia are growing, complicating U.S. defense priorities.

• Germany's reliance on Russian energy and trade with China poses significant strategic challenges for NATO.

[RSnake: I will be curious how the Trump administration handles NATO. Getting them to put up more skin in the game or simply walk away? I really don’t have a great sense of what’s about to happen, but if I were forced to make a bet, he would use threats to get more European funds committed and actually paid. Walking away from NATO also means we have no partners, but it does mean we need to corral the NATO parties so we don’t end up financing wars we don’t intend to or that don’t strengthen NATO’s mission. I think we lucked out with Ukraine in a lot of ways so far. We have severely degraded Russia’s conventional warfare capabilities, but it could have gone a very different way.]

Source: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2024/12/16/washington_needs_a_new_approach_to_nato_1077255.html

Japan is rapidly enhancing its military capabilities in response to perceived threats from China, notably through the co-development of a sixth-generation fighter jet and advanced drones with the UK and Italy. The Japanese government has allocated a record budget to defense, emphasizing the urgency of countering China's military advancements and activities in the region.

• Japan is developing next-generation military technologies to address security challenges from China.

• Record defense spending demonstrates Japan's commitment to enhancing its military capabilities in response to regional tensions.

[RSnake: Good. Japan will need every last person working on this if China does decide to start getting aggressive.]

Source: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/?p=221807

Technology

Google has developed a new quantum computer capable of performing calculations that would take traditional supercomputers over 10 septillion years, signaling a significant advancement in quantum computing technology. This breakthrough could lead to major innovations in fields such as drug discovery and artificial intelligence.

• Google unveiled a new quantum computer, the Willow chip, that can perform in minutes tasks taking traditional supercomputers an extraordinarily long time.

• This achievement may signify a turning point for quantum computing and its potential applications in various advanced scientific fields.

[RSnake: Without getting too far into this, be wary of the claims Google is making here. If you dig into the tests they are performing to quantify their massive speed-ups in computing, the tests are rigged to work in the quantum computer’s favor and aren’t provably correct answers. Meaning there is no right answer from which to prove that the answer provided is correct or not correct, only correct seeming. Their claims are dubious at best. It may have done something, sure, but I have no faith at all that it was a useful something. They did conclude by saying this brings them closer to a useful quantum computer, meaning Willow isn’t one.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/technology/google-quantum-computing.html

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted new rules to expand very low power device operations in the 6 GHz band, allowing for enhanced usage in various technologies like wearable devices and augmented reality. This is aimed at fostering innovation, increasing capacity for emerging applications, and ultimately benefiting economic growth.

• The FCC expanded very low power device operations across 350 megahertz of the 6 GHz band.

• This expansion supports innovative technologies such as augmented reality, wearable devices, and healthcare monitoring.

[RSnake: Good - more spectrum means less congestion, and older devices can’t update anyway, so only newer devices will use these newly available spectrums.]

Source: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-408129A1.txt

The European Space Agency launched two satellites as part of the Proba-3 mission from India to create artificial solar eclipses for scientific study of the sun's corona, which is significantly hotter than the sun's surface. This mission aims to demonstrate new technology for precise formation flying and enhance understanding of solar phenomena that can impact space weather and Earth-based systems.

• The Proba-3 mission involves two spacecraft that will create artificial solar eclipses to study the sun's corona.

• Scientists aim to understand why the corona is much hotter than the surface of the sun.

[RSnake: Neat - not sure how they’ll use the information when they have it, but it might help with plasma/fusion reactor research in the long run.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/12/artificial-solar-eclipse-why-are-satellites-trying-to-block-the-sun?traffic_source=rss

Intel has faced significant challenges under CEO Pat Gelsinger, particularly regarding the perceived failure to innovate and respond to competitive pressures from companies like AMD and NVIDIA. The company's culture has been criticized for lacking responsiveness to internal and external feedback, contributing to the cancellation of key developments like the Tofino project and raising doubts about its future direction.

• Intel's leadership under Pat Gelsinger has been marked by a combination of innovation and significant missteps.

• The cancellation of the Tofino project exemplifies broader concerns about Intel's ability to adapt and compete in a changing technology landscape.

[RSnake: Public companies have a hard time innovating. Read the Innovator’s Dilemma.]

Source: https://bcantrill.dtrace.org/2024/12/08/why-gelsinger-was-wrong-for-intel/

Facial recognition technology is becoming more widespread, leading to concerns about privacy and biometric data protection. Experts indicate that as algorithms advance, evading these systems may become increasingly difficult, with effective concealment requiring more than superficial changes to appearance. Current techniques to defeat these systems are mostly impractical as they depend on multiple variables, including the method of recognition in use.

• Facial recognition algorithms are evolving, making it harder for individuals to evade detection.

• Experts recommend avoiding areas with high surveillance as the most practical method of protecting one's identity.

[RSnake: That ship has sailed. But great that we’re not starting to get concerned! Look at Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc., and ask yourself how many photos they have of you.]

Source: https://gizmodo.com/how-much-do-i-need-to-change-my-face-to-avoid-facial-recognition-2000533755

Artificial intelligence poses risks to democratic processes, as analysts express concerns about its impact on election integrity ahead of the U.S. elections. Experts warn that without proper governance, the technology may undermine democracy and further vulnerabilities such as misinformation could arise, especially during electoral periods.

• AI could potentially disrupt election integrity in democratic societies.

• Without governance, AI technology opens pathways that could undermine democratic processes.

[RSnake: It’s people, not the LLMs. But yes.]

Source: https://foreignpolicy.com/?p=1180983

Victims of child sexual abuse have filed a lawsuit against Apple seeking over $1.2 billion in damages, claiming the company failed to protect them by abandoning a system designed to detect abusive material on its iCloud service. The lawsuit alleges that Apple's actions allowed harmful content to proliferate, impacting thousands of victims who are part of the case.

• Victims are suing Apple for over $1.2 billion, claiming neglect in protecting against child sexual abuse material.

• The lawsuit states that Apple abandoned the implementation of a tool meant to detect and eliminate abusive content.

[RSnake: Obviously protecting the kids is important, but scanning people’s images for whatever reason always felt like a bridge too far. What is legal one day or in one place may not be another day or in another place. This is one authoritarian regime’s wet dream if Apple does implement it. As gross as it sounds, I side with Apple on this one.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/08/technology/apple-child-sexual-abuse-material-lawsuit.html

Scientists have observed a quasar for the first time with unprecedented detail, revealing mysterious objects near the black hole at its center.

• Astronomers used the Hubble Space Telescope to study the surroundings of quasar 3C 273, finding mysterious blobs and a jet of material emerging from the black hole.

• The research team discovered that the farther the jet traveled from the black hole, the faster it moved, which may challenge current theories about black holes.

[RSnake: Interesting photos; check it out if you’re a space nerd like me.]

Source: https://mashable.com/article/nasa-hubble-quasar-black-hole-details-discovered

General Motors has decided to cease funding its robotaxi service Cruise, reallocating resources to focus on personal autonomous vehicles. This decision follows setbacks in Cruise's operations, including the suspension of its permit in California after safety incidents, and reflects GM's shift in strategy due to the high costs and risks associated with the robotaxi business.

• GM has invested over $8 billion in Cruise for robotaxi development.

• Cruise's operations were halted due to safety concerns and regulatory issues.

[RSnake: Ouch - that’s a big gamble and loss. I wonder if they’ll revisit this later when their tech is further along or partner with someone else.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/general-motors-cuts-funding-to-cruise-robotaxis/

Cybersecurity

Researchers identified a critical vulnerability in Microsoft's Azure multi-factor authentication (MFA) that permitted unauthorized access to approximately 400 million Microsoft 365 accounts. The flaw arose from inadequate rate limiting on failed sign-in attempts, enabling attackers to bypass MFA within an hour and exposing significant security risks until Microsoft implemented a fix.

• A critical flaw allowed unauthorized access to user accounts through Microsoft Azure's MFA system.

• The vulnerability exposed over 400 million Microsoft 365 accounts to potential takeover before being patched.

[RSnake: Perfect. This is hard to get right, so I don’t totally blame them, but still.]

Source: https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/researchers-crack-microsoft-azure-mfa-hour

The U.S. sanctioned a Chinese cybersecurity company and one of its employees for exploiting a zero-day vulnerability to compromise thousands of firewalls, affecting U.S. organizations, including government agencies and critical infrastructure. The hacking campaign in 2020 targeted approximately 81,000 firewalls, potentially risking significant loss of life due to infections attempted with ransomware.

• A Chinese cybersecurity firm and its employee were sanctioned by the U.S. for a major cyberattack.

• The attack compromised over 23,000 firewalls in the U.S., some of which were used in critical sectors such as energy.

[RSnake: It was, and I am not making this up here, “Sichuan Silence”. Lol. Dark Reading’s take on it is here.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=2928630

North Korean hackers, referred to as Citrine Sleet or UNC4736, have stolen $50 million from the decentralized finance platform Radiant by exploiting sophisticated malware. The breach, which bypassed multiple security measures, involved tricking developers into downloading malicious files, enabling unauthorized transactions that appeared normal during standard checks.

• North Korean threat actors targeted Radiant Capital, a DeFi platform, resulting in a significant financial loss.

• The attack used sophisticated techniques to evade security measures and execute unauthorized cryptocurrency transactions.

[RSnake: The North Koreans are pretty sophisticated at this. We could learn a thing or two from them. Reminds me of conversations I’ve had about empowering U.S. hackers with letters of Marque.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/radiant-links-50-million-crypto-heist-to-north-korean-hackers/

A newly discovered zero-day vulnerability in the Hunk Companion WordPress plugin is actively being exploited, allowing attackers to install outdated plugins and execute malicious code on affected sites. Despite a security patch being released, over 8,000 sites remain vulnerable as many users have not yet updated to the latest version.

• Hackers are exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in the Hunk Companion WordPress plugin.

• The vulnerability allows for the arbitrary installation of outdated plugins, leading to potential remote code execution.

[RSnake: It is almost always the plugins, not WordPress core.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hunk-companion-wordpress-plugin-exploited-to-install-vulnerable-plugins/

Business

The FCC has announced that over 2,400 voice service providers failed to comply with required filings in the Robocall Mitigation Database, risking their removal from the system, which is crucial for preventing illegal robocalls. In addition, new proposed rules aim to enhance accountability and impose fines for inaccurate reporting, as part of ongoing efforts by the FCC and a coalition of state attorneys general to combat robocall scams affecting consumers.

• Over 2,400 voice service providers are facing removal from the Robocall Mitigation Database due to non-compliance.

• New rules are proposed to strengthen accountability and impose fines on service providers that submit false information regarding robocall mitigation.

[RSnake: Finally something we can all agree on! Go get ‘em, boys!🤠]

Source: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-408083A1.txt

A U.S. appeals court has upheld a law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok, resulting in a potential ban of the app by January 19. Influencers on TikTok are now evaluating alternative social media platforms as they prepare for a possible loss of income, with significant financial implications for creators who depend on TikTok for revenue and brand sponsorships.

• A court ruling mandates ByteDance to divest TikTok in the U.S. by early next year.

• Influencers are exploring alternatives as the looming ban could result in substantial financial losses.

[RSnake: We shall see what happens. I suspect they’ll fight it to the last.]

Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91243389/tiktok-influencers-are-pitching-other-platforms-to-their-followers-as-a-ban-looms

The cattle industry in the United States is experiencing a severe crisis, with the beef cow inventory at its lowest level in 64 years, driven by factors such as drought, high interest rates, and rising feed costs. The combination of these conditions and potential new tariffs under President-elect Trump could exacerbate food inflation and consumer prices for beef over the next several years.

• America's beef cow inventory has reached its lowest levels since 1961.

• High interest rates and environmental factors contribute to a cattle herd decline.

• Potential tariffs could affect beef prices and the cattle industry's recovery timeline.

[RSnake: That is one thing Trump cannot allow to happen - food shortages. At whatever cost, a population cannot go hungry, or it will turn on him instantly. It’s not like we won’t have any food, but even if the cost skyrockets for commodities and people have to adjust, they’ll notice and get disgruntled.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/us-cattle-crisis-worsens-nations-herd-size-continues-alarming-side-abyss

Volkswagen workers are threatening extensive strikes unless management compromises on wage cuts and plant closures due to ongoing negotiations about cost reductions needed to compete with Asian rivals. With current strikes affecting nine German sites and a potential escalation on the horizon, the situation has gained political attention as the German economy faces uncertainty.

• Workers have gone on strike at nine sites in Germany as talks with management over wage cuts and factory closures continue.

• The strikes could escalate to unprecedented levels if management fails to negotiate effectively with the unions.

[RSnake: We shall see. At this point, I kinda hope they attempt it, just to show the automotive industry the issues with unionization and why collective bargaining is ultimately bad news for big companies, even when they’re just trying to save the company.]

Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91243210/vw-workers-strike-escalation

Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, has been ordered by a judge to reverse several actions it took against WP Engine, including the removal of a controversial login requirement that forced users to disassociate from WP Engine. Additionally, Automattic must restore WP Engine's access to WordPress.org and various plugins amid a legal battle over alleged misconduct and competitive practices. As a result of this legal ruling, tensions continue to rise within the WordPress community regarding the ecosystem's governance and access issues.

• A judge ordered Automattic to remove a login checkbox that compelled users to deny affiliation with WP Engine and restore access to WP Engine's resources.

• Matt Mullenweg expressed discontent with the legal ruling and the current state of the WordPress community in response.

[RSnake: Wow. Matt must be furious. He was petulant about the whole thing and definitely in the wrong, and only he couldn’t see that.]

Source: https://www.404media.co/wordpress-wp-engine-preliminary-injunction/

Luigi Mangione is facing murder charges in New York related to the killing of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, with police presenting forensic evidence that allegedly links him to the crime. Mangione is currently contesting extradition from Pennsylvania, where he was arrested after a multi-state manhunt, and his legal options include pleading not guilty or raising issues related to his mental status. The case has drawn attention to potential threats against healthcare executives after the murder, as concerns about copycat incidents arise.

• Luigi Mangione is charged with the murder of healthcare executive Brian Thompson and is fighting extradition to New York.

• Forensic evidence ties Mangione to the crime scene, complicating his defense strategy.

[RSnake: I really wondered if he would be heralded as a hero in prison amongst the inmates. Apparently, I didn’t have to wait long to find out.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgm987p8xz3o

Jaguar Land Rover is undergoing a £250 million transformation of its Halewood factory to produce electric vehicles, integrating advanced technology such as AI-powered robots and cloud-based systems. The factory's expansion includes new assembly lines, calibration rigs for advanced driver-assistance systems, and compliance with the UK government's zero emission vehicle mandate set for 2024, aiming for 22% of all new car sales to be zero emission. This upgrade is part of JLR's broader goal to be carbon-net zero by 2039, with plans for significant investments in renewable energy sources and infrastructure enhancements.

• Jaguar Land Rover is redefining its Halewood factory to accommodate electric vehicle production and autonomous technologies.

• The UK government mandates a significant reduction in emissions from vehicles by 2024, prompting industries to accelerate electric vehicle implementations.

[RSnake: And it’s all so tacky. But who knows? Even ugly cars end up being big hits sometimes. How anyone bought the Nissan “Cube” is still beyond me.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/jlr-jaguar-land-rover-electric-vehicle-factory-halewood/

A significant financial phenomenon referred to as 'the mother of all bubbles' in the U.S. is impacting global markets by diverting capital from other regions. This situation is contributing to an imbalance as funds flow heavily towards the U.S., affecting international economic stability.

• The U.S. is experiencing a bubble that is affecting capital flows globally.

• Resource distribution is becoming increasingly imbalanced due to this financial phenomenon.

[RSnake: Yep, recession is the most likely outcome. Trump is in for some bad weather. The question is, can he punt it for a while, or will it happen quickly? People cannot pay their debts.]

Source: https://fortune.com/2024/12/08/mother-of-all-bubbles-us-markets-american-exceptionalism-stock-outlook/

The Federal Trade Commission is distributing over $72 million in refunds to Fortnite players following a settlement with Epic Games related to deceptive purchasing practices. The settlement addresses allegations that players were misled into making unwanted purchases, resulting in unauthorized charges, particularly impacting children.

• FTC is refunding players due to deceptive practices by Epic Games.

• Players can submit claims for future refunds until January 2025.

[RSnake: That’s a lot of items purchased! 72 million is a lot. Wow.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/gaming/ftc-distributes-72-million-in-fortnite-refunds-from-epic-games/

A US bankruptcy judge rejected the sale of Alex Jones' Infowars website to The Onion, determining the auction did not yield the best bids. The ruling follows a defamation judgment against Jones related to his false claims regarding the Sandy Hook shooting, which has heavily impacted his financial situation and led to the liquidation of his assets.

• The auction for Infowars was deemed flawed by the court because it did not foster competitive bidding.

• Jones faces significant financial repercussions due to legal judgments related to his conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook tragedy.

[RSnake: Hm! Will be curious if there are any other bidders out there. It is a bit odd that the judge gets to decide this vs Alex Jones himself. If his debts are paid less or more by the sale it would seem it would be up to him, but I guess not.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20w1qnewjjo

Rupert Murdoch's attempt to amend a family trust for his media empire was denied by a Nevada court, a decision rooted in concerns about his and his son's motivations. This ruling comes as Murdoch's children have begun discussing the future control of their father's media legacy amidst a backdrop of familial disputes over power and political differences.

• A Nevada court denied Rupert Murdoch's bid to change a family trust that determines control over News Corp and Fox News.

• The ruling is significant as it reflects ongoing tensions among Murdoch's children regarding their future roles in the media empire.

[RSnake: Interesting. It does seem like the government is spending a little too much time and our taxpaying resources deciding what people get to do with their own money, no?]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2ld084z8jjo

A federal judge has blocked the $25 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons, citing concerns over competition. This decision was followed by a similar ruling from a Washington State judge, further complicating the companies' efforts to consolidate in the grocery sector.

• Federal judges ruled against the merger due to potential loss of competition.

• Kroger and Albertsons argue that the merger is necessary to compete with larger companies like Walmart and Amazon.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/10/business/kroger-albertsons-merger-ftc.html

The US stock market saw a historic surge in November, driven by strong post-election sentiment and significant investments in equity ETFs, particularly from European investors. Concurrently, there was a notable decline in interest towards European and other non-US equity markets amidst concerns over economic performance and geopolitical factors.

• US equity markets experienced record inflows, with $149 billion into ETFs, primarily as a result of voter turnout and the presidential election outcome.

• European investors moved significant funds into US listed equity ETFs as net outflows were observed in non-US equity markets, indicating a shift in investment strategy.

[RSnake: Let’s hope that buys us some time to allow people to pay down some debt before that bubble bursts.]

Source: https://www.ft.com/content/d312e5e6-e988-4125-9607-ca34e1bbcde6

Boeing has laid off approximately 2,600 workers in Washington as part of plans to reduce its workforce by 10%, or about 17,000 employees nationwide. The layoffs are part of a larger restructuring effort in response to the company's financial challenges and are impacting various job levels across multiple locations in the state.

• Boeing is executing significant workforce reductions as a strategy to realign with its financial realities.

• The layoffs affect various locations in Washington and are part of planned cuts that impact nearly 17,000 positions across the country.

[RSnake: Ouch. Deep cuts, but necessary. In fact they could probably get another 10% out of there pretty easily.]

Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/12/09/boeing-lays-off-another-400-workers-second-round-of-cuts.html

A potential port strike in January 2025 and anticipated tariffs from President-elect Trump are leading to an increase in import volumes at U.S. container ports. The National Retail Federation reports a significant surge in container handling, with year-over-year growth expected to continue in early 2025 as retailers rush to mitigate possible economic impacts.

• A port strike and new tariffs may significantly impact U.S. import activity.

• Container handling at U.S. ports is experiencing substantial growth with revised forecasts showing upward trends.

[RSnake: Good - that may be some of the last big shipments we get in if the tariffs end up being real. I’m glad the US is stocking up. The CCP could fix this if they really wanted to… or if they even wanted it more than Taiwan. We shall see.]

Source: https://gcaptain.com/?p=218699

Omnicom and Interpublic Group have announced a merger that will create the world's largest advertising agency, valued at over $30 billion, pending shareholder approval. The merger aims to leverage new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance advertising capabilities amidst increasing competition from tech giants. This strategic move highlights ongoing consolidation in the advertising industry as companies seek to adapt to changing market dynamics.

• Omnicom is acquiring Interpublic Group in a stock-for-stock deal.

• The combined agency will have an annual revenue of almost $26 billion.

• The merger is designed to enhance client offerings through innovation and new technologies.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/12/9/nyc-ad-agencies-omnicom-interpublic-to-form-30bn-marketing-powerhouse?traffic_source=rss

The Teamsters Union is prepared to escalate actions against Amazon if the company does not engage in negotiations for a union contract with delivery drivers and warehouse workers. The union is advocating for a national contract proposal and has accused Amazon of illegal union-busting activities across various facilities in the U.S.

• The Teamsters Union represents 1.3 million members and is actively organizing for a national contract proposal.

• Amazon has faced accusations of illegal union-busting tactics in multiple locations.

[RSnake: More need for more automation is what I just heard. Robotic drivers are coming fast already. This might push that need even faster.]

Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/40801-teamsters-give-amazon-ultimatum

Mondelez is reportedly exploring an acquisition of Hershey, driven by the potential for acquiring drugs like Ozempic, due to challenges facing both companies including growth in GLP-1 drugs and increasing scrutiny on unhealthy food.

• Mondelez is reportedly exploring an acquisition of Hershey.

• The potential for acquiring drugs like Ozempic could justify a deal due to challenges facing both companies including growth in GLP-1 drugs and increasing scrutiny on unhealthy food.

[RSnake: It really is amazing how that drug has taken the world by storm. I’m not on it nor do I plan to be, but it is fascinating to watch.]

Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/mondelez-is-reportedly-exploring-buying-hershey-ozempic-and-other-factors-could-help-justify-a-sale-analyst-says-9826337b?mod=mw_rss_topstories

The United States is considering removing capital gains taxes on Bitcoin in response to a growing global trend where many countries are eliminating or reducing such taxes to promote economic growth. This potential policy shift is being discussed in the context of making the U.S. a leading hub for Bitcoin and digital asset innovation, amidst concerns about maintaining economic strength and competitiveness in the global financial landscape.

• The U.S. administration is contemplating the elimination of capital gains taxes on Bitcoin.

• Several countries have already adopted favorable tax policies for Bitcoin to foster economic growth.

[RSnake: That would shift a huge amount of assets into that currency. The only issue is - there is no way to unwind it if you lose your key. So enjoy the headlines to come when some huge company loses billions by accident, and the money is just gone for good, forever.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/why-trump-must-end-capital-gains-tax-bitcoin

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