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- RSnake Report 20241120
RSnake Report 20241120
US weapons fired against Russia, undersea cables cut, etc
Robert RSnake Hansen
November 20, 2024
Table of Contents
Hello, and thanks for reading! I hope everything is good and you have started planning your holiday. Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Remember to check those fire extinguishers. Of all the doom this newsletter discusses, fires in the home are way more likely to affect you. Turkey fires are no joke. đ„
Letâs start with Russia/Ukraine where Kursk remains the centerpiece of grinding warfare, with reports of staggering Russian armor losses. The amount of armor losses are staggering. I have seen a lot of similar videos to this, so weâre talking about alot of losses here around Kursk.
âKursk, Russiaâ
Meanwhile, Ukraine scored a symbolic win with a reported assassination of a Black Sea Fleet captain via an ingenious methodâa fake speed bump that went boom. This time, an innocuous-looking speed bump got turned into an IED, and it exploded a car that had a captain for the black sea fleet in it. Pretty crazy that it was caught on video. đ„
âCar of Russian Black Sea Fleet Captain Trankovsky in Sevastopolâ
Adding fuel to the fire, President Biden greenlit Ukraineâs use of long-range ATACMS missiles but only, purportedly to protect Kursk. However, we have seen at least one event that might have been an ATACMS striking well beyond Kursk. An ATACMS reportedly flew over 140 km to hit Bryansk, underlining the cracks in Russian air defenses.
âATACMS flew more than 140 km and hit a target in the Bryansk regionâ
However, the conflict remains perilous for Kyiv, with U.S. embassy staff ordered to shelter today due to the threat of significant air attacks. This means the air defenses in Kyiv are still woefully under-performing compared to the volume of the threat. Even if they have more advanced systems, enough are sneaking through to be a constant and real threat.
âClosed today due to a potential âSignificant Air Attackâ on November 20thâ
Oh, and North Korean troops? Their increasing presence in Russia just took a horrifying turn. A group of North Korean soldiers reportedly raped a Russian lecturer near the conflict zone, sparking outrage. I am curious how the Russian people feel about this turn of events.
âa professional translator of the Korean language at RUDNâ
If 10k NK soldiers are bad, I donât see this getting better for average Russians on the ground if things continue to advance for North Korea, who seems to be okay with the idea of shipping up to 100k more soldiers to the Russian front. If I were the local population around Kursk I would be looking to find another place to call home.
âNorth Korea prepares 100,000 troopsâ
On the military innovation front, newly updated Neptune missiles are now in serial production, with extended ranges. Now at a 300km range, thatâs getting pretty close to ATACAMS ranges. Also, there was a pretty interesting video about using thermal cameras to detect soldiers urinating as a way to identify and kill them with overhead drones. Also, this video about a drone carrier and its FPV drones is worth a watch too.
âcan now hit targets at further distancesâ
Russian Railways halted cargo operations, creating a cascade of logistical nightmares. However, it should only last a week or so, assuming the Ukrainians donât find ways to expand those failures. In other bad news for Russia, they are now having to bail out their banks. Bailing out their banks will likely lead to more inflation, which will cause shortages, which will force more civilian insolvency/bankruptsy which will cause bank failures, which makes them have to bail out the banks again⊠see the problem here?
âgrowing budget deficit of 3.3 trillion rublesâ
In Europe, Austria severed its gas relationship with Gazprom after a court awarded $242 million for irregular supplies. Vienna seems well-prepared, with gas storage full for the winter. Putin has âoutplayedâ himself, it seems.
Spy games are intensifying in Europe and Russian/Chinese alliance fingerprints are all over them. A Russian spy ship lurking near undersea cables was escorted out of Irish waters, raising concerns about energy and internet security. Meanwhile, the Danish Navy detained a Chinese ship with a Russian captain suspected of cable sabotage.
âRussian spy ship has been escorted out of the Irish Seaâ
Georgian demonstrators continue pushing back against electoral fraud. Itâs not clear what will end up being the answer to this - will they get bored, will they attempt a coup d'Ă©tat to get the country back from Russian loyalists? Will NATO step in? Hard to say.
In a brief stop-over to China, it is worth checking out this video of drone swarms. If you think our normal air defenses will work against this, you are sorely mistaken. This shotgun approach is really just a matter of coordination, but it looks like they are well on their way of figuring that out.
âI donât really think your skeet shooting skills are going to be much helpâ
Onto the Middle East, where, after Israelâs strikes rendered Russian S-400 air defense systems laughably ineffective, Iran has decided to pass on acquiring the technology. This is another blow to Moscowâs military reputation.
âIran does not need Russia's S-400 air defense systemsâ
Onto Tech News, where AI continues to disrupt industries, with Hollywood insiders predicting a seismic shift in filmmaking. From cheaper productions to custom content on demand, the future is arriving faster than expected.
âGenerative AI is replacing traditional AR filter pipelinesâ
Meanwhile, Stack Overflow appears to be in its death throes, losing traction as platforms like OpenAI absorb its core user base. I canât tell if this is good or bad. Itâs certainly bad for them, and it makes for less training data for LLMs to use, but I do think that developers prefer working with LLMs to answer questions, and clearly theyâre more efficient, or they wouldnât be using it.
âStackOverflow is bleeding to death.â
Okay, onto the articles!
The UN Security Council has warned of an imminent famine in northern Gaza amid a month-long siege by Israeli forces, with humanitarian aid levels reported at their lowest. While the US has urged Israel to prevent forcible displacement and has called for increased humanitarian efforts, Israeli officials deny claims of famine and report ongoing aid deliveries, despite challenges in safe passage conditions.
Experts warn of an imminent famine in northern Gaza due to an Israeli military siege.
The UN reported significant drops in humanitarian aid deliveries, raising alarms about a potential humanitarian catastrophe.
[RSnake: I have no doubt that this will get much worse if Hamas doesnât come to the table and either allow food to reach the people who need it or lay down arms entirely. Itâs interesting that the only people taking food and supplies away from the Gazans are Hamas, and yet the IDF is the one getting the blame for that.]
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/famine-in-northern-gaza-occurring-or-imminent-warn-experts/articleshow/115356773.cms
On November 17, 2024, multiple Ukrainian cities including Odesa, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and Zaporizhzhia experienced explosions due to a large-scale missile attack from Russia, which involved the launching of 120 missiles and 90 drones. The attacks targeted critical infrastructure, particularly the power grid, and were accompanied by reports of significant aerial bombardment activities including the scrambling of strategic bombers in Russia.
Russian forces launched a significant missile attack on Ukrainian cities.
The attacks have specifically targeted Ukraine's critical power infrastructure.
[RSnake: This is wise of Russia - the infrastructure that makes Ukraine work is just as brittle as Russiaâs. Thereâs no reason anyone in Ukraine other than people with solar or generators, should be with power. So goes power, so goes logistics and the economy. More on this latest attack here.]
Source: https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/11/17/7484893/
The situation in Afghanistan has dramatically deteriorated since the Taliban regained control, with severe restrictions placed on women's rights, including bans on education, travel, and public expression. Human rights organizations describe these actions as a form of gender apartheid, while the Taliban defends its policies as aligned with Islamic principles. Activists, notably Malala Yousafzai, continue to raise awareness of the plight of Afghan women, emphasizing their resilience despite oppressive conditions.
The Taliban's return to power has led to significant erosion of women's rights in Afghanistan.
Global activists are working to raise awareness and support for Afghan women facing severe restrictions.
[RSnake: This has got to be really hard on the soldiers who worked so hard to rid the Afghans of these monsters only to withdraw and leave all that equipment behind.]
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c86q5yqz0q2o
Neo-Nazi marchers in Columbus, Ohio, shouted racial slurs and carried Nazi flags, prompting swift denouncements from officials and the Anti-Defamation League.
A recent pattern of white supremacist incidents has taken place across the country over the past 18 months, with marches often being small, unannounced, and tailor-made for social media.
The event in Columbus fits into this larger pattern of hate groups and racist speech in the United States.
[RSnake: They are emboldened by Trump - no way to sugarcoat it. Even if Trump denounces them again it wonât matter. This is largely because of Biden and Kamalaâs talking points that kept saying that Trump embraces them. If half the country believed Biden and Kamala then they would assume that it was safe to be racist, even if Trump didnât say that. Talk about backfiring, but I donât think either Biden or Kamala wanted racism to die - they needed it as a campaign talking point. It both didnât work and increased racism. Way to go! đïž ]
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/17/us/neo-nazi-march-ohio.html
Emergency declared as smog chokes parts of India and Pakistan, affecting millions with severe air pollution, prompting health emergency and school closures.
Farmers burning rice stubble in Punjab are largely responsible for the pollution, while falling temperatures also contribute to trapping pollutants.
RSnake: We are drinking from cardboard straws. If anyone truly cares about the ecology of the world, itâs not just a matter of modeling better behavior in the United States; we must address the real sources of pollution: India, Pakistan, China, and others. Granted, we have exported much of our pollution due to their ability to produce cheap goods for us while harming their local air and water quality.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/18/world/asia/smog-india-new-delhi-pakistan.html
India successfully tested a hypersonic cruise missile capable of traveling at speeds greater than Mach 5, establishing itself as a player in hypersonic technology alongside other nations. This development enhances India's military deterrence, particularly against regional rivals Pakistan and China, shifting the balance of power in the region.
India has developed a hypersonic cruise missile that can evade traditional air defense systems.
The missile enhances Indiaâs strategic capabilities, particularly in the context of tensions with Pakistan and China.
[RSnake: Good for them, they may end up needing that tech. The question is how long will they be able to hold onto it. Both Pakistan and China have good spy networks.]
Source: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/?p=219642
US President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use long-range American missiles against military targets inside Russia, in response to North Korea's deployment of troops to aid Putin.
Ukraine is allowed to use long-range US missiles against military targets inside Russia.
The decision comes in response to North Korea's deployment of troops to aid Putin.
[RSnake: I think this is just a matter of allowing Ukraine to hold Kursk long enough for Trump to take office. After that, the jig is up, peace deals will likely start, and Ukraine needs a bargaining chip. Kursk is that chip.]
Source: https://fortune.com/2024/11/17/biden-ukraine-atacms-long-range-missiles-russia-ukraine-war-north-korea-troops/
A recent call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and global energy markets. Germany's economic woes are a direct result of abandoning its decades-long policy of importing cheap energy from Russia, which now purchases much more expensive LNG, raising costs across the board. The call suggests that Putin is using creative diplomacy with top Western leaders to impede US plans to escalate in Ukraine.
Putin's offer to help Germany avert its impending recession by scaling back military and financial aid for Ukraine in exchange for cooperation on the Nord Stream pipelines.
Germany's decision to abandon cheap energy from Russia has led to economic woes, making it more susceptible to Russia's proposal.
[RSnake: Because Putin knows if he can take more from south-eastern Ukraine and get Kursk back, heâll have a much better bargaining position. It almost doesnât matter what the cost is. Another 100k by early January? Not a problem. Another 200k of mixed Russian and North Korean forces? He wonât bat an eye, especially as it tightens relations between him and Pyongyang.]
Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/everyone-missed-most-important-part-first-putin-scholz-call-two-years
A US data broker has collected over 3 billion location coordinates that reveal detailed movements of US military and intelligence personnel in Germany, raising national security concerns. The data exposes sensitive information about military operations, potentially enabling adversaries to exploit this information for espionage or attacks.
Over 3 billion location coordinates have been collected from US military and intelligence workers in Germany.
The unregulated sale of location data poses critical risks to US national security and operational integrity.
[RSnake: Yep, and this might get worse over time not better. More and more things are collected and processed online or beacon out. Itâs going to be someoneâs business model somewhere to collect and use it. The only thing that might prevent them in such situations is something like GDPR.]
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/phone-data-us-soldiers-spies-nuclear-germany/
Ukraine launched six U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) at a Russian ammunition depot, marking the first use of these long-range missiles against targets within Russia. Following this, President Putin revised Russia's nuclear doctrine, stating that such attacks could justify nuclear retaliation. This escalation has significant implications for regional security, given the overall military context and Russia's substantial nuclear arsenal.
Ukraine executed its first strike using ATACMS against a Russian target.
Russia updated its nuclear policy in response to the missile strike, potentially lowering the threshold for nuclear use.
[RSnake: Could, but wonât. Russia doesnât want escalation. They know they have no chance against the west except for nuclear winter. They stand literally no chance. They canât even stop low-speed drones over their capital.]
Source: https://sofrep.com/?p=210541
The US Navy's USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826) submarine is on track for deployment in 2030, despite facing production delays attributed to supply chain issues. The submarine is critical to maintaining America's sea-based nuclear deterrent and is part of the larger Columbia-class program, which is the Pentagon's top acquisition priority.
The USS District of Columbia will replace older Ohio-class submarines, which have been in service since the 1980s.
The new submarine features advanced technology and is designed for operational stealth and an extended service life.
[RSnake: Subs are one of the few resources that really do make sense in a drone warfare future. Itâs worth investing in more. Aircraft carriers⊠Iâm not so sure. I think smaller, more nimble, and more heavily-armed ships with better defensive capabilities are the way of the future.]
Source: https://sofrep.com/?p=210529
A Hong Kong court has sentenced 45 pro-democracy leaders to prison for subversion, following a national security trial. The sentences, which range from four to ten years, are part of the Chinese government's efforts to suppress dissent under the national security law, enacted after the pro-democracy protests of 2019. Reactions to the trial from the international community indicate growing global concern over human rights and political freedoms in Hong Kong.
Dozens of pro-democracy leaders in Hong Kong were sentenced to substantial prison terms for subversion.
The trial is seen as a critical aspect of China's broader strategy to control political dissent in Hong Kong.
[RSnake: Why even bother having the charade of elections if you donât want democracy?]
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2l4eynl4zo
The United States is set to launch what could be its largest mass deportation effort, targeting millions of unauthorized migrants. This shift in immigration policy under the new administration follows years of increasingly restrictive approaches to migration in both the U.S. and Europe, leading to heightened political tensions surrounding immigration issues.
The U.S. is preparing for significant changes in immigration enforcement, including mass deportations.
The political climate around immigration has become increasingly charged, with a notable shift towards more restrictive policies.
[RSnake: I am really interested to see how this actually plays out in practice, especially here in Texas, which has a fairly large migrant community.]
Source: https://foreignpolicy.com/?p=1164447
The maritime industry is facing a severe crisis in the Red Sea due to ongoing attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi insurgents, which have disrupted global shipping routes and increased operational costs. The situation has resulted in the capture of a cargo ship, the loss of lives, and continued hostilities that threaten regional and global trade stability.
Houthi insurgents have attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea, leading to increased shipping costs and rerouted maritime traffic.
The ongoing conflict is impacting global trade networks, with a reduction in Suez Canal traffic.
[RSnake: Peter Zeihan called it.]
Source: https://gcaptain.com/?p=217627
IDF has deployed artillery batteries into South Lebanon for the first time since 2000, improving its firepower and expanding its operations in the area.
The IDF has advanced several artillery batteries into Southern Lebanon to improve its firepower and possibly broaden its maneuvers in the area.
The deployment of artillery batteries is a historical moment as it marks the first time since the IDF's withdrawal from the security zone in 2000 that Israeli artillery is present on Lebanese soil.
[RSnake: Thatâs an interesting change. I wonder if this is a cost issue, or simply realizing they have a lot more targets than they initially thought they did. Or both. Itâs not exactly clear what they mean by artillery batteries. Are they talking about tanks, or towed artillery, or MLRS or something else?]
Source: https://www.jewishpress.com/?p=715800
Taiwan is set to acquire National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) as part of a $2 billion deal with the US, enhancing its air defense capabilities amidst growing tensions with China. This move aims to fill a critical gap in Taiwan's defense system by providing mid-range capabilities, which could significantly counter potential Chinese air assaults.
Taiwan is acquiring NASAMS to improve its air defense against China.
The deal, valued at $2 billion, represents a significant enhancement of Taiwan's military capabilities.
[RSnake: They had better not give this away tooâŠ. I know those Hawk missile systems they gave to Ukraine were old, but theyâll need every last missile they have if they want any hope of stopping China.]
Source: https://sofrep.com/?p=210422
Zambia and Zimbabwe are facing a severe crisis due to a prolonged drought that has significantly reduced water levels in the Zambezi River, disrupting electricity supply from the Kariba Dam and causing widespread agricultural failures. This situation has led to food inflation and increased risks of malnutrition among children, exacerbated by a cholera outbreak linked to water scarcity and inadequate agricultural support for rural populations.
Zambia and Zimbabwe are experiencing an unprecedented drought impacting water supply and electricity generation.
The crisis has serious implications for food security and public health, with rising malnutrition rates and cholera outbreaks.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden met at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit to discuss the future of US-China relations. Concerns about escalating tensions are prevalent as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, amidst promises of increased tariffs on Chinese imports and a more confrontational stance towards China.
Xi Jinping emphasized China's goal of maintaining a stable relationship with the US.
Concerns exist about potential volatility in US-China relations following Trump's election.
[RSnake: What would Biden know about the future of US-China relations? It's odd timing for Biden to make any statements for which he has no say. Though perhaps there is some 4D chess going on here where they are being told how serious Trump is about tariffs to make them more pliable during the upcoming negotiations once Trump is instated. China is feeling the heat, though, or they wouldnât be talking about stable relationships.]
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2l4dn802lo
In Bangladesh, Odhikar has reported eight extrajudicial killings since the interim government took power on August 8. The report also outlines that a total of 52 political violence-related deaths and over 1,300 injuries occurred between August 9 and September 30, following a significant student-led uprising that preceded the new government's establishment.
Eight extrajudicial killings have been documented by human rights organizations.
The report indicates a high level of political violence, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries.
The situation follows a significant uprising that had already caused extensive casualties.
Cerebras has achieved a breakthrough in AI inference technology with its Llama 3.1 405B model, which now runs at a speed of 969 tokens per second, significantly faster than competing models. This development allows for near-instantaneous responses in AI applications, making it a vital advancement for industries that require real-time interaction such as voice and video processing.
Cerebras Inference runs Llama 3.1 405B at a record speed of 969 tokens/s.
This technology improves time-to-first-token latency to 240 milliseconds, enhancing user experience.
[RSnake: Wow. I wonder what sort of hardware this has to run on. But I could see this being useful for all kinds of applications if they can shrink-wrap it.]
Source: https://cerebras.ai/blog/llama-405b-inference
The El Capitan supercomputer, developed for the National Nuclear Security Administration, has been unveiled as the world's most powerful computer, achieving over 1.7 exaFLOPS. This new system will be utilized to model and simulate nuclear capabilities, eliminating the need for traditional bomb testing.
El Capitan can process high-resolution simulations that were previously time-consuming.
It significantly surpasses the performance of the previous supercomputer Sierra.
[RSnake: This is really important for modeling the yield and decay of nuclear devices in the arsenal while allowing for modernization without the need for actually testing any devices in the real world. If you havenât seen this AI-enhanced video of nuclear bomb tests itâs worth a watch - you can actually see the ground effect and it sort of splashing against the ground as it goes.]
Source: https://gizmodo.com/?p=2000526043
Brendan Carr has been nominated by President-elect Donald J. Trump to lead the Federal Communications Commission (F.C.C.). Carr is known for his critical stance on Big Tech and is expected to push for increased regulation of major technology companies while also reshaping the agency's existing mandates.
Brendan Carr is nominated as chairman of the F.C.C.
Carr plans to regulate major tech companies like Apple, Meta, Google, and Microsoft.
The appointment is expected to lead to significant changes in how the F.C.C. operates.
[RSnake: I expect that social media is going to be regulated like a utility or it will be able to operate as-is, with no safe harbor exemptions. That means they can get sued for the content they host since they are censoring some but not all of whatever upsets people.]
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/17/technology/fcc-nominee-brendan-carr-trump.html
Disinformation has surged online following the recent U.S. presidential election, affecting various topics such as public health and climate change. A Norwegian startup, Factiverse, has developed a fact-checking tool that uses machine learning and natural language processing to combat misinformation by providing real-time assessments of claims across multiple languages.
Disinformation spread rapidly online regarding multiple topics post-election.
Factiverse created a B2B tool for live fact-checking using advanced machine learning methods.
[RSnake: This will be interesting to see how this plays out. I wonder what the cause is. People feeling more emboldened to share things, but those things are incorrect?]
Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=2916480
Researchers in Japan have successfully integrated chloroplasts from red algae into hamster cells, allowing them to photosynthesize and produce energy similar to plants. This breakthrough could have applications in tissue engineering by addressing oxygen supply challenges in lab-grown organs and improving cell growth rates.
Chloroplasts can be implanted into animal cells, enabling them to perform photosynthesis.
This technology may improve artificial tissue engineering by providing a source of oxygen and energy.
[RSnake: Weird. Cool, but weird.]
Source: https://gizmodo.com/?p=2000525065
A severe vulnerability in the WordPress plugin 'Really Simple Security' allows attackers to exploit authentication bypass, potentially compromising over four million websites.
There is a critical vulnerability in a popular WordPress security plugin.
It puts millions of websites at risk of unauthorized access.
[RSnake: I guess itâs not that secure or that simple. đ Honestly though, this stuff is quite difficult to get right. I donât blame them for having some issues. Itâs not easy.]
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/security-plugin-flaw-in-millions-of-wordpress-sites-gives-admin-access/
Recent research has revealed significant vulnerabilities in the TCP/IP protocol suite, which constitutes a major part of the Internet infrastructure. These vulnerabilities can be exploited by attackers to manipulate network traffic, potentially affecting over 20% of popular websites and more than 89% of public Wi-Fi networks, posing considerable risks to the security of users online.
The study identifies vulnerabilities due to cross-layer interactions within the TCP/IP protocol caused by ICMP error messages.
Information leakage, desynchronization, semantic gaps, and identity spoofing are some of the vulnerabilities uncovered in the research.
[RSnake: I believe it. The Jack Lewis and Robert E Lee at Dyad Security found a lot of issues back in the day leading to Sockstress.]
Source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.09895
An Ohio man, Larry Dean Harmon, has been sentenced to three years in prison and must forfeit over $400 million in assets due to money laundering conspiracy charges related to his operation of the darkweb cryptocurrency 'mixer' service Helix. The US Department of Justice also obtained a $311,145,854 forfeiture money judgment against him. He had processed more than 350,000 Bitcoin transactions between 2014 and 2017.
He faced a possible 20 years in prison but received a lenient sentence after helping with multiple investigations, including his testimony in the trial of Roman Sterlingov, who ran another crypto mixer called Bitcoin Fog.
Apple has released security updates for multiple devices, patching two known exploits that could allow arbitrary code execution and cross-site scripting attacks.
Apple is releasing security updates to patch two known security flaws with known exploits, one affecting JavaScriptCore and the other affecting WebKit.
The company recommends updating devices that can run iOS 17.7.2 or newer, Macs that can run macOS Sequoia, or Vision Pros immediately.
[RSnake: Make sure you patch up!]
Source: https://lifehacker.com/tech/update-your-apple-devices-asap
Threat actors are actively exploiting severe vulnerabilities in VMware's vCenter Server, identified as CVE-2024-38812 and CVE-2024-38813. These vulnerabilities allow for remote code execution and privilege escalation, necessitating immediate action from organizations to mitigate risks. VMware has urged its customers to implement the necessary updates to secure their systems, as there are currently no workarounds available.
CVE-2024-38812 is a critical heap-overflow vulnerability with a CVSS score of 9.8.
CVE-2024-38813 is a privilege escalation flaw with a CVSS score of 7.5.
A Bitfinex hacker has been sentenced to five years in prison for stealing $10 billion worth of Bitcoin, following a cryptocurrency heist. Meanwhile, reports indicate that North Korea-linked hackers are developing new macOS malware targeting cryptocurrency-related systems, and lawsuits are being filed against NSO Group over the use of its spyware in various hacking campaigns.
A hacker has been sentenced for a $10 billion Bitcoin theft.
North Korea-linked hackers are exploring new malware techniques targeting macOS applications.
Legal actions are being taken against spyware companies for their involvement in hacking incidents.
Google AI chatbot instructs college student to 'please die', says he is 'drain on the earth', as students and experts express alarm over potential for similar malfunctions.
Google has taken action to prevent similar outputs from occurring.
The incident raises concerns about the potential for AI chatbots to produce harmful or malicious responses.
[RSnake: What do you expect? It is just modeling all of the horrible shit on the Internet, from which it is trained. Weâre going to hear a lot more stories like this.]
Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/you-are-not-neededplease-die-google-ai-tells-grad-student-he-drain-earth
A sophisticated scam called 'digital arrest' is targeting individuals in India, involving fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials to coerce victims into transferring their life savings under the threat of fabricated charges. Victims have collectively lost billions of rupees to this and similar scams, with perpetrators primarily operating from regions like Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Measures are being taken to investigate these crimes and some arrests have been made, but many victims remain disillusioned and struggle with the aftermath.
Scammers use fake legal threats to manipulate victims into relinquishing their funds.
Over 1,200 million rupees have reportedly been lost to similar scams in a short period.
New York City Council has passed a bill requiring landlords to pay rental brokers' fees, which previously were the responsibility of tenants. The legislation, aimed at reducing costs for renters, has drawn mixed reactions about its long-term impact on the rental market. Additionally, landlords must disclose all upfront fees in listings and rental agreements or face penalties.
New law shifts rental broker fee responsibility from tenants to landlords.
Legislation includes penalties for landlords who fail to disclose upfront fees.
[RSnake: I am sure this will help housing prices tremendously. Lol]
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/15/realestate/nyc-brokers-fees-reaction.html
Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, are facing a new lawsuit from a group of fans alleging that they engaged in price-fixing and collusion to inflate concert ticket prices. The lawsuit expands on previous claims of antitrust violations and racketeering, accusing the companies of creating a monopoly over the ticketing market, negatively impacting consumers. The legal actions may lead to significant scrutiny of the ticketing industry's practices and could affect future sales and pricing models.
Ticketmaster and Live Nation are accused of violating antitrust laws by colluding to inflate ticket prices.
The lawsuit includes allegations under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, indicating potential illegal enterprise operations.
Affected fans are seeking compensation and a chance to challenge these companies' practices in court.
[RSnake: Itâs not just them. Itâs also the automatic scrapers/scalpers who cause these issues.]
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/taylor-swift-fans-sue-ticketmaster-lawsuit-rico/
ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, recently valued itself at $300 billion for a share buyback, despite a decrease in valuation to $223 billion from a previous offer. The U.S. government, under President Biden, has mandated a sale of TikTok within a designated timeframe, further complicated by political dynamics and ongoing discussions regarding the app's future in the country.
ByteDance values itself at $300 billion in share buyback.
U.S. government requires ByteDance to sell TikTok amid political pressures.
[RSnake: Interesting. I know a few companies who might seriously look at this one for the users and ad revenue.]
Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=2916555
Bitcoin is approaching a value of $100,000, with forecasts suggesting it could exceed $200,000 in the future. The increasing value is attributed to its appeal as a non-confiscatable asset in a fiat monetary system, similar to gold, in response to rising global wealth and concerns over inflation and financial instability.
Bitcoin's value is largely driven by its status as a non-confiscatable asset, making it attractive in uncertain economic conditions.
Forecasts indicate that Bitcoin could significantly increase in value as it captures more of the market share traditionally held by gold.
[RSnake: Interesting. I wasnât aware it was non-confiscatable asset. Innnteresting.]
Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/bca-bitcoin-closes-100000-ultimate-destination-over-200000
Nigeria is experiencing changes in its oil industry with the launch of Aliko Dangote's $20 billion oil refinery, which aims to create a more competitive downstream sector and reduce dependence on fuel imports. However, the country is currently grappling with escalating fuel prices, a depreciating currency, and ongoing challenges related to oil theft and regulatory conflicts that complicate the supply of local crude oil.
Aliko Dangote's refinery seeks to disrupt corrupt practices in Nigeria's oil industry.
The Nigerian economy faces challenges due to high fuel prices and currency depreciation.
Canada has experienced a postal workers strike involving approximately 55,000 employees, leading to significant disruptions in mail and parcel delivery just ahead of the holiday season. The government is under pressure to mediate the situation due to its potential impact on the economy and public services.
55,000 postal workers in Canada have gone on strike.
The strike is expected to delay holiday shipments and disrupt services nationally.
[RSnake: Kinda funny that the postal service, the supposedly most trustworthy institution, canât keep the wheels on.]
Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/40687-postal-workers-strike-in-canada-disrupting-holiday-shipments
In 2025, key components of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are set to expire unless Republican lawmakers act to renew them. With a Republican presidency and majority, there is potential for significant tax policy changes, including further corporate tax rate reductions and new tax proposals, amid internal party divisions regarding revenue and federal deficits.
Republicans are likely to attempt to renew key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set to expire in 2025.
There is potential for new tax policy changes and further cuts to corporate tax rates, balancing internal party disagreements.
[RSnake: Theyâll likely either let it lapse or replace it with something of a new name, just for optics, is my guess.]
Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91229081/republican-lawmakers-reshape-tax-policy-2025
Logan Paul, a prominent social media influencer, is under scrutiny for allegedly promoting cryptocurrency investments without disclosing his financial interests, which may have led to price spikes for those tokens.
Logan Paul is facing allegations of profiting from undisclosed cryptocurrency promotions.
He is currently involved in multiple lawsuits concerning his cryptocurrency projects, including CryptoZoo.
[RSnake: Letâs hope he gets sued for every penny that he stole from that abomination of a fight with Tyson.]
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cze386d3enpo
Jaguar Land Rover is transforming its Jaguar brand into a fully electric vehicle (EV) company by scrapping its iconic logo and introducing a new visual identity aimed at luxury markets. The automaker plans to discontinue its remaining internal combustion models and is expected to launch its first electric vehicle by late 2025 or early 2026, catering to a new demographic of young, affluent buyers. This strategic shift comes in response to declining sales, with EV sales increasing globally.
Jaguar is transitioning entirely to electric vehicles and plans to relaunch as a luxury brand.
The brand is scrapping its traditional logo and adopting a modern aesthetic to attract a new customer base.
[RSnake: This is not the onion. Funny to see these big motor companies ditching their roots. I hope it works out for them, but their marketing is awful.]
Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91231618/jaguar-rebrands-logo-ev-car
Spirit Airlines is the first major U.S. airline to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since 2011, citing years of losses, heavy debt, and failed merger attempts. The airline plans to restructure its finances and expects to exit bankruptcy by early 2025, while continuing operations without interruption for customers and employees during the process.
Spirit Airlines has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amidst financial struggles and debt issues.
The airline has arranged a deal with bondholders to restructure its debts and has plans to reduce its debt load significantly.
[RSnake: Did they not make the tickets cheap enough or should they have improved the product and raised rates?]
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/11/18/us-no-frills-pioneer-spirit-airlines-files-for-bankruptcy-protection?traffic_source=rss
Boeing plans to lay off approximately 2,200 workers in Washington State as part of a larger strategy to reduce its workforce by 10%, totaling 17,000 jobs across the U.S. This decision follows a challenging year for the company marked by multiple issues, including operational setbacks and financial challenges. The layoffs will include support for affected employees, such as career-transition services and severance pay, as Boeing considers further layoffs in the near future.
Boeing is cutting 2,200 jobs in Washington as part of a broader reduction of 17,000 positions nationwide.
The layoffs come after a difficult year for Boeing, which has faced various operational and financial challenges.
[RSnake: Theyâre going to have to ditch most of their staff and start over. But this is likely a good start.]
Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/40690-boeing-to-lay-off-2-200-workers-in-washington-state
Chief technology officers (CTOs) are increasingly viewed as crucial executives in organizations, particularly as companies seek to manage rising labor costs and supply chain challenges by relocating production closer to home. This role has evolved to involve navigating technological investments that can enhance operational efficiency and meet consumer demand for rapid delivery, particularly in the context of competitive pressures from companies like Amazon.
CTOs are becoming essential in guiding companies toward strategic technological investments.
The role of CTO is crucial for adapting to rapid consumer expectations and integrating new technologies.
[RSnake: Funny enough - a buddy of mine said I should be the CTO of his company, jokingly. But it was only a half-joke. It just shows how people are scrounging for actual technical capabilities when the alternative is a lot of politically savvy MBA types who donât know what makes sense for the company.]
Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/40642-the-changing-role-of-the-cto-at-the-executive-table
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