2 days ago
Focus on Cyber Warfare and Fraud-
How do multinational companies protect themselves from state-sponsored cyber espionage?
Multinational companies face a unique and elevated threat from state-sponsored cyber espionage due to their vast intellectual property, critical infrastructure dependencies, global reach, and often, involvement in strategic industries.
Protecting themselves requires a comprehensive, multi-layered, and continuously evolving cybersecurity strategy that goes beyond standard defenses.
Here are the key ways multinational companies protect themselves:
1. Robust Foundational Cybersecurity:
Before anything else, strong basic cybersecurity hygiene is paramount. State-sponsored actors often exploit common weaknesses.
Patch Management: Aggressive and immediate patching of all software, operating systems, and network devices, especially for known exploited vulnerabilities (N-day exploits). This includes out-of-band updates.
Strong Access Controls:
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Mandatory MFA for all employees, especially for remote access, cloud services, and privileged accounts. Hardware tokens are often preferred for highly sensitive access.
Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP): Granting users and systems only the minimum access rights necessary to perform their functions.
Privileged Access Management (PAM): Solutions to secure, manage, and monitor privileged accounts.
Network Segmentation: Dividing the network into isolated zones to limit lateral movement if a part of the network is compromised. Critical data and operational technology (OT) networks should be completely segregated.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) / Extended Detection and Response (XDR): Deploying advanced solutions to continuously monitor, detect, and respond to threats on endpoints (laptops, servers) and across the broader IT ecosystem.
Data Encryption: Encrypting data at rest and in transit, especially sensitive intellectual property and customer data.
2. Advanced Threat Detection and Intelligence:
State-sponsored groups are stealthy; proactive detection is crucial.
Behavioral Analytics & Anomaly Detection: Implementing tools that use AI and machine learning to establish baselines of "normal" user and network behavior, and then flag deviations that could indicate a compromise.
Threat Hunting Teams (Red Teaming/Blue Teaming): Employing internal or external teams to proactively search for hidden threats within the network, rather than just reacting to alerts. This includes simulating attacks (red teaming) to test defenses.
Comprehensive Logging and Monitoring: Centralized collection and analysis of logs from all systems, applications, and network devices to identify suspicious activity.
Threat Intelligence Integration: Subscribing to and actively consuming high-quality threat intelligence feeds from government agencies (like CISA, NCSC), cybersecurity vendors, and industry-specific ISACs (Information Sharing and Analysis Centers). This intelligence provides insights into the latest TTPs of state-sponsored actors, enabling proactive defense.
Dark Web Monitoring: Monitoring for mentions of the company, its employees, or stolen data on underground forums.
3. Supply Chain and Third-Party Risk Management:
State-sponsored actors often target weaker links in the supply chain.
Thorough Vendor Due Diligence: Rigorous cybersecurity assessments of all third-party vendors, suppliers, and partners, especially those with access to sensitive systems or data. This includes contractual security requirements.
Continuous Monitoring of Third-Parties: Not just a one-time assessment, but ongoing monitoring of third-party security postures and potential vulnerabilities in their products or services.
Supply Chain Visibility: Mapping the entire digital supply chain to understand dependencies and identify potential weak points.
Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs): Requiring SBOMs from software vendors to understand all components (including open-source) in their products and track potential vulnerabilities.
4. Human Element and Insider Threat Mitigation:
Employees are often the primary target for initial access.
Security Awareness Training: Regular, up-to-date, and engaging training for all employees on phishing, social engineering tactics, safe Browse, and reporting suspicious activity. Tailored training for executives and high-value targets (HVT) is essential.
Phishing Simulations: Conducting frequent and varied phishing simulations to test employee vigilance and reinforce training.
Insider Threat Programs: Establishing programs to detect and mitigate risks from malicious or unwitting insiders, including monitoring user behavior and data access patterns.
5. Incident Response and Resilience:
Assuming compromise is inevitable, preparation is key.
Well-Defined Incident Response Plan: A detailed, tested, and regularly updated plan for how to detect, contain, eradicate, and recover from a state-sponsored cyberattack. This includes clear roles, responsibilities, and communication protocols.
Secure Backups: Regular, encrypted, and offline backups of critical data and systems to ensure recovery from destructive attacks.
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) Plans: Comprehensive plans to maintain essential business operations even during and after a significant cyber incident.
Post-Incident Analysis: Conducting thorough post-mortem analyses after any incident to learn lessons and improve defenses.
6. Collaboration with Government and Intelligence Agencies:
Governments often have unique insights into nation-state threats.
Information Sharing: Actively participating in information-sharing initiatives with government cybersecurity agencies (e.g., CISA in the US, NCSC in the UK), industry-specific ISACs, and threat intelligence alliances.
Trusted Relationships: Building direct, trusted relationships with relevant government cyber defense and intelligence agencies to facilitate rapid two-way sharing of classified or sensitive threat intelligence.
Reporting Incidents: Urgently reporting suspected state-sponsored cyberattacks to relevant government authorities to aid in national defense and enable coordinated responses.
By implementing these advanced and comprehensive measures, multinational companies can significantly enhance their resilience against state-sponsored cyber espionage, protect their valuable assets, and maintain their competitive edge in a contested digital landscape.
How do multinational companies protect themselves from state-sponsored cyber espionage?
Multinational companies face a unique and elevated threat from state-sponsored cyber espionage due to their vast intellectual property, critical infrastructure dependencies, global reach, and often, involvement in strategic industries.
Protecting themselves requires a comprehensive, multi-layered, and continuously evolving cybersecurity strategy that goes beyond standard defenses.
Here are the key ways multinational companies protect themselves:
1. Robust Foundational Cybersecurity:
Before anything else, strong basic cybersecurity hygiene is paramount. State-sponsored actors often exploit common weaknesses.
Patch Management: Aggressive and immediate patching of all software, operating systems, and network devices, especially for known exploited vulnerabilities (N-day exploits). This includes out-of-band updates.
Strong Access Controls:
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Mandatory MFA for all employees, especially for remote access, cloud services, and privileged accounts. Hardware tokens are often preferred for highly sensitive access.
Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP): Granting users and systems only the minimum access rights necessary to perform their functions.
Privileged Access Management (PAM): Solutions to secure, manage, and monitor privileged accounts.
Network Segmentation: Dividing the network into isolated zones to limit lateral movement if a part of the network is compromised. Critical data and operational technology (OT) networks should be completely segregated.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) / Extended Detection and Response (XDR): Deploying advanced solutions to continuously monitor, detect, and respond to threats on endpoints (laptops, servers) and across the broader IT ecosystem.
Data Encryption: Encrypting data at rest and in transit, especially sensitive intellectual property and customer data.
2. Advanced Threat Detection and Intelligence:
State-sponsored groups are stealthy; proactive detection is crucial.
Behavioral Analytics & Anomaly Detection: Implementing tools that use AI and machine learning to establish baselines of "normal" user and network behavior, and then flag deviations that could indicate a compromise.
Threat Hunting Teams (Red Teaming/Blue Teaming): Employing internal or external teams to proactively search for hidden threats within the network, rather than just reacting to alerts. This includes simulating attacks (red teaming) to test defenses.
Comprehensive Logging and Monitoring: Centralized collection and analysis of logs from all systems, applications, and network devices to identify suspicious activity.
Threat Intelligence Integration: Subscribing to and actively consuming high-quality threat intelligence feeds from government agencies (like CISA, NCSC), cybersecurity vendors, and industry-specific ISACs (Information Sharing and Analysis Centers). This intelligence provides insights into the latest TTPs of state-sponsored actors, enabling proactive defense.
Dark Web Monitoring: Monitoring for mentions of the company, its employees, or stolen data on underground forums.
3. Supply Chain and Third-Party Risk Management:
State-sponsored actors often target weaker links in the supply chain.
Thorough Vendor Due Diligence: Rigorous cybersecurity assessments of all third-party vendors, suppliers, and partners, especially those with access to sensitive systems or data. This includes contractual security requirements.
Continuous Monitoring of Third-Parties: Not just a one-time assessment, but ongoing monitoring of third-party security postures and potential vulnerabilities in their products or services.
Supply Chain Visibility: Mapping the entire digital supply chain to understand dependencies and identify potential weak points.
Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs): Requiring SBOMs from software vendors to understand all components (including open-source) in their products and track potential vulnerabilities.
4. Human Element and Insider Threat Mitigation:
Employees are often the primary target for initial access.
Security Awareness Training: Regular, up-to-date, and engaging training for all employees on phishing, social engineering tactics, safe Browse, and reporting suspicious activity. Tailored training for executives and high-value targets (HVT) is essential.
Phishing Simulations: Conducting frequent and varied phishing simulations to test employee vigilance and reinforce training.
Insider Threat Programs: Establishing programs to detect and mitigate risks from malicious or unwitting insiders, including monitoring user behavior and data access patterns.
5. Incident Response and Resilience:
Assuming compromise is inevitable, preparation is key.
Well-Defined Incident Response Plan: A detailed, tested, and regularly updated plan for how to detect, contain, eradicate, and recover from a state-sponsored cyberattack. This includes clear roles, responsibilities, and communication protocols.
Secure Backups: Regular, encrypted, and offline backups of critical data and systems to ensure recovery from destructive attacks.
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) Plans: Comprehensive plans to maintain essential business operations even during and after a significant cyber incident.
Post-Incident Analysis: Conducting thorough post-mortem analyses after any incident to learn lessons and improve defenses.
6. Collaboration with Government and Intelligence Agencies:
Governments often have unique insights into nation-state threats.
Information Sharing: Actively participating in information-sharing initiatives with government cybersecurity agencies (e.g., CISA in the US, NCSC in the UK), industry-specific ISACs, and threat intelligence alliances.
Trusted Relationships: Building direct, trusted relationships with relevant government cyber defense and intelligence agencies to facilitate rapid two-way sharing of classified or sensitive threat intelligence.
Reporting Incidents: Urgently reporting suspected state-sponsored cyberattacks to relevant government authorities to aid in national defense and enable coordinated responses.
By implementing these advanced and comprehensive measures, multinational companies can significantly enhance their resilience against state-sponsored cyber espionage, protect their valuable assets, and maintain their competitive edge in a contested digital landscape.
2 days ago
Former Google exec says AI's going to lead to a 'short-term dystopia' because the idea it will create new jobs for the ones it's replacing is '100% crap'.
Something funny happened as I was watching Google X's former chief business officer Mo Gawdat, on the Google-owned platform YouTube, outline his exact take on the AI dystopia he thinks is coming. The host began to ask Gawdat about the idea AI will create new jobs, then the video halted while Google ads served me a 15-second clip showing someone using Microsoft CoPilot to do their job.
When Gawdat returns, he begins his answer by talking about the idea of the West transitioning into service or knowledge economies: people, as he puts it, who "type on a keyboard and use a mouse." Oh dear. Gawdat's economics lesson concludes that "all we produce in the West is words [...] and designs. All of these things can be produced by AI."
One thing is impossible to deny: the business world is very interested in the idea of replacing humans with AI and, where it can be done, will not hesitate to do so. There's also the fact that every big tech company is pushing AI into their products and our lives.
The AI industry has something of a stock line about its technology replacing existing careers: AI will simultaneously create new jobs we can't even imagine, and people will start working in those fields. But Gawdat doesn't buy that line, and in straightforward language calls the whole idea "100% crap" (thanks, Windows Central).
Gawdat left Google to form an AI startup, Emma.love, and cites this company as an example of what he's talking about: the app was apparently built with only two other developers, a job that Gawdat reckons would have taken "over 350 developers" without AI assistance.
"Artificial general intelligence is going to be better than humans at everything, including being a CEO," says Gawdat, referring to the idea that the industry will eventually produce an AI model capable of reasoning and more intelligent than humans. "There will be a time where most incompetent CEOs will be replaced.”
https://youtu.be/S9a1nLw70...
Gawdat's spin on this, however, is that society has to undergo a paradigm shift in how we think about our lives: "We were never made to wake up every morning and just occupy 20 hours of our day with work. We’re not made for that. We defined our purpose as work. That’s a capitalist lie."
Tell me more, comrade! Gawdat generally seems to hold a rather low view of executives and their priorities, pointing out that the AI future is subject to human "hunger for power, greed, and ego” because the tools themselves will be controlled by "stupid leaders." I'm not sure I'd characterise Elon Musk as stupid, but I doubt I'm alone in thinking I'd rather not have him in charge of re-arranging society.
"There is no doubt that lots of jobs will be lost," says Gawdat. "Are we prepared to tell our governments, this is an ideological shift similar to socialism, similar to Communism, and are we ready from a budget point of view? Instead of spending a trillion dollars a year on arms and explosives and autonomous weapons to suppress people because we can't feed them."
Gawdat runs through some beermat maths, offering an estimate that $2.4-2.7 dollars is spent on military hardware every year, a fraction of which could solve a problem like world hunger, or lift the global population out of extreme poverty. Then we get into the truly starry-eyed stuff like universal healthcare worldwide and the end of war, with Gawdat saying for AI these things would be "simple decisions."
Hmm. I'll have some of what he's smoking.
Gawdat's take on AI starts out more persuasive than many others I've seen, but when it gets onto the more fantastical ramifications the caveat is simply enormous. If the singularity happens and AI just takes over running the planet then, sure, all bets are off: who knows whether we'll end up with dystopia or utopia. But that day may never come and, until then, there will still be human beings somewhere pulling all the levers. And as history shows, time and again, humans can be horrendous at making simple decisions: and that's rarely good for the rest of us.
Something funny happened as I was watching Google X's former chief business officer Mo Gawdat, on the Google-owned platform YouTube, outline his exact take on the AI dystopia he thinks is coming. The host began to ask Gawdat about the idea AI will create new jobs, then the video halted while Google ads served me a 15-second clip showing someone using Microsoft CoPilot to do their job.
When Gawdat returns, he begins his answer by talking about the idea of the West transitioning into service or knowledge economies: people, as he puts it, who "type on a keyboard and use a mouse." Oh dear. Gawdat's economics lesson concludes that "all we produce in the West is words [...] and designs. All of these things can be produced by AI."
One thing is impossible to deny: the business world is very interested in the idea of replacing humans with AI and, where it can be done, will not hesitate to do so. There's also the fact that every big tech company is pushing AI into their products and our lives.
The AI industry has something of a stock line about its technology replacing existing careers: AI will simultaneously create new jobs we can't even imagine, and people will start working in those fields. But Gawdat doesn't buy that line, and in straightforward language calls the whole idea "100% crap" (thanks, Windows Central).
Gawdat left Google to form an AI startup, Emma.love, and cites this company as an example of what he's talking about: the app was apparently built with only two other developers, a job that Gawdat reckons would have taken "over 350 developers" without AI assistance.
"Artificial general intelligence is going to be better than humans at everything, including being a CEO," says Gawdat, referring to the idea that the industry will eventually produce an AI model capable of reasoning and more intelligent than humans. "There will be a time where most incompetent CEOs will be replaced.”
https://youtu.be/S9a1nLw70...
Gawdat's spin on this, however, is that society has to undergo a paradigm shift in how we think about our lives: "We were never made to wake up every morning and just occupy 20 hours of our day with work. We’re not made for that. We defined our purpose as work. That’s a capitalist lie."
Tell me more, comrade! Gawdat generally seems to hold a rather low view of executives and their priorities, pointing out that the AI future is subject to human "hunger for power, greed, and ego” because the tools themselves will be controlled by "stupid leaders." I'm not sure I'd characterise Elon Musk as stupid, but I doubt I'm alone in thinking I'd rather not have him in charge of re-arranging society.
"There is no doubt that lots of jobs will be lost," says Gawdat. "Are we prepared to tell our governments, this is an ideological shift similar to socialism, similar to Communism, and are we ready from a budget point of view? Instead of spending a trillion dollars a year on arms and explosives and autonomous weapons to suppress people because we can't feed them."
Gawdat runs through some beermat maths, offering an estimate that $2.4-2.7 dollars is spent on military hardware every year, a fraction of which could solve a problem like world hunger, or lift the global population out of extreme poverty. Then we get into the truly starry-eyed stuff like universal healthcare worldwide and the end of war, with Gawdat saying for AI these things would be "simple decisions."
Hmm. I'll have some of what he's smoking.
Gawdat's take on AI starts out more persuasive than many others I've seen, but when it gets onto the more fantastical ramifications the caveat is simply enormous. If the singularity happens and AI just takes over running the planet then, sure, all bets are off: who knows whether we'll end up with dystopia or utopia. But that day may never come and, until then, there will still be human beings somewhere pulling all the levers. And as history shows, time and again, humans can be horrendous at making simple decisions: and that's rarely good for the rest of us.
2 days ago
Israel, Hamas and other Islamic terror groups- All at fault.
Stop The Senseless Slaughter and Starvation in Gaza.
While the world waits and watches for a settlement of the Central European crisis, Gazans die from starvation and from wounds inflicted by Israeli bombs. Much of the world has ignored the suffering there in the same way nations did during the 1930s and 1940s when the United States and its allies were indifferent to the Nazi slaughter of millions of Jews in Europe.
The Gaza Health Ministry run by Hamas estimates that since the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, 2023, the number of dead Palestinian men, women and children comes to more than 60,000, with 80 percent of them civilians. The Reuters news agency reports that food supplies are at an all-time low and starvation is at a record high. Parents are watching their children suffer horribly, slowly waste away and eventually die a painful death. Enough already.
Israel claims that it’s military goes to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties. If that is true, military officials are doing a horrible job. Israel has already decapitated Hamas leadership and killed thousands of their soldiers. The nation’s renewed aggression is an attempt to kill a mosquito with a sledgehammer. Things are so horrible in Gaza that even diehard conservatives like Tucker Carlson and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) have complained about Israeli policies there.
Irish support for Palestinians comes naturally and runs deep. My ancestral homeland was the first member of the European Union to endorse Palestinian statehood. The Irish fully appreciate the horrors of starvation.
The great Irish famine in the 1840s was a product of deliberate state sanctioned starvation. The Bannon and Ryan families came to America in the 19th century because of English starvation policies. There was actually plenty of food in Ireland but the Brits exported everything back home except for potatoes. When the potato blight hit and the crop failed, approximately one million Irish men, women and children died from starvation and sickness and another million left their cherished homeland to settle in America and around the world.
To make the lot of the Palestinians worse, if that’s even possible, Israel wants to launch an another offensive in Gaza City and turn it into a military enclave by removing the native population. The big difference between the Irish diaspora and the natives of Gaza is they have nowhere to go to begin a new life like my family did. Trump’s crusade to deport Mexicans and Muslims doesn’t allow any opportunities here for displaced Arabs. Even the European nations sympathetic to the Palestinian cause are under pressure from anti-immigration groups.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cruel policies create more problems than it solves with military aggression and starvation in Gaza. Israeli government policies will produce short-term gain of territory for long-term pain.
Israeli’s actions will create a new generation of terrorists which will plague the nation and its allies for a generation. Clear out Gaza for the valuable real estate that may one day house a luxury Trump casino and resort on the Mediterranean. The new lavish coastal resorts inevitably will become a target for attacks by a new generation of displaced Gazans.
Israel is a small nation surrounded by danger. Survival requires friends and allies abroad. But the country’s draconian actions have eroded the respect of Europeans and Americans who have stood by the nation in the past.
Trump broke with Netanyahu who denied the existence of starvation in the strip. But the president hasn’t done anything to follow up on his pledge to feed the hungry. Napoleon said that an army marches on its stomach. Terrorists attack on empty stomachs.
Trump’s former national security advisor John Bolton believes that more than anything else his former boss wants a Nobel Peace Prize. Give the devil his due and let him have the honor if he’s brave and caring enough to send massive supplies of food and medicine there, to stop the Israeli military offensive and to force Hamas to release the Israeli hostages. If he alleviates the crisis, the world will see him in a much brighter light.
If Trump really wants to stop the senseless civilian slaughter and starvation and earn the great honor, he must turn the screws on Netanyahu. The ball is in Trump’s court.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
South Sudan ‘approves’ Israeli plan to send Gazans to country-
South Sudan’s cabinet has agreed to receive Palestinians from the Gaza Strip following a request from Israel, The Telegraph has learnt.
A foreign ministry official in Juba said the government had approved the request as part of a deal which also involved the US and United Arab Emirates.
The move comes as Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, is attempting to revive the controversial idea of “voluntary” resettlement of civilians from the enclave.
On Wednesday, South Sudan described claims of a deal as “baseless” and not reflective of official government policy.
However, it has been claimed that the government has in fact agreed to work with Israel, raising the potential of a serious row from countries who oppose any suggestion of resettlement of Gazans.
The UAE would provide accompanying funding, which would be an economic lifeline for one of the poorest countries on Earth, the foreign ministry official said.
Meanwhile, America would lift sanctions on South Sudan, and Israel would invest in health and education.
“The South Sudanese land is enough to host more people from different nations, and also it’s good for the South Sudanese to open wide the window for external business to grow the economy,” the official said.
He added that the deal had been agreed by the cabinet but faced stiff opposition elsewhere, meaning the government was unwilling to acknowledge it.
“This kind of deal is not easy for South Sudanese to understand right now and also we have a very complex political situation in South Sudan,” he said.
One MP told The Telegraph that the matter had been discussed in Parliament but rejected by a majority of parliamentarians.
He said: “I myself reject it because South Sudan is a very young country. We are not able to feed ourselves, how can we get more people to live with us?
“In the next meeting we are going to reject it again from the Parliament. This idea is unacceptable to us.”
The debate came as Sharren Haskel, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, arrived in Juba to sign a “memorandum of understanding on bilateral consultations”.
Moving them from one land already ravaged by war and famine to another would only amplify that concern.
‘Voluntary’ relocation
News of the possible South Sudan deal broke after Mr Netanyahu appeared on Israeli television to revive discussion about relocating civilians from the Strip.
The idea was first proposed by Donald Trump, the US president, in February. He said the population should be removed and Gaza completely redeveloped to become part of what he envisaged as a “riviera” in the Middle East.
The Israeli government has floated the idea of relocation, but always said that it should be voluntary.
“Give them the opportunity to leave, first of all, combat zones, and generally to leave the territory, if they want,” said Mr Netanyahu on Tuesday, in comments that did not mention South Sudan.
“We will allow this, first of all within Gaza during the fighting, and we will certainly allow them to leave Gaza as well.”
Numerous foreign capitals and international bodies have previously warned against the plan, with some questioning if resettlement from Gaza could be considered genuinely voluntary, given the catastrophic damage to infrastructure and the dire humanitarian situation.
They have also voiced fears that voluntarily displaced Palestinians would not be allowed to return, citing comments made by Mr Netanyahu’s ultra-nationalist coalition partners calling for the re-establishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza.
A feature of the recent Operation Gideon’s Chariots, Israel’s new ground offensive, has been the wide-scale demolition of residential buildings. It is likely the same tactic will be used in the upcoming assault on Gaza City, confirmed last week.
Forcibly displacing a population could be considered a war crime.
Investigating feasibility
The Associated Press reported multiple sources as confirming the current talks between Israel and South Sudan.
Joe Szlavik, founder of a US lobbying company working for South Sudan, also said that he had been briefed by officials on the talks.
He said an Israeli delegation planned to visit the country to investigate the feasibility of setting up camps.
Ms Haskel’s trip is the first official visit to South Sudan by an Israeli government representative.
In a statement, she said: “While the international community is focused solely on Gaza, South Sudan is facing a real humanitarian crisis and the threat of genuine famine.”
Obvious destinations
As neighbours with formal relations with Israel, Egypt and Jordan would be the most obvious destinations for any departing Palestinians.
However, both have staunchly opposed any such scheme, despite significant pressure from Mr Trump.
Israel is said to have held talks with Indonesia, Libya, Ethiopia, Somalia and Somaliland about the possibility of accepting Gazans, but it was reported that these had not borne fruit.
South Sudan is in desperate need of foreign cash to help itself rebuild after years of instability and war with Sudan, its Arab-dominated neighbor.
It has been reported that they accepted help from Israel’s Mossad spy agency during their civil war with Khartoum.
Emigration inevitable
South Sudan also wants Mr Trump to lift the US travel ban on the country.
But Egypt has reportedly lobbied South Sudan not to co
Stop The Senseless Slaughter and Starvation in Gaza.
While the world waits and watches for a settlement of the Central European crisis, Gazans die from starvation and from wounds inflicted by Israeli bombs. Much of the world has ignored the suffering there in the same way nations did during the 1930s and 1940s when the United States and its allies were indifferent to the Nazi slaughter of millions of Jews in Europe.
The Gaza Health Ministry run by Hamas estimates that since the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, 2023, the number of dead Palestinian men, women and children comes to more than 60,000, with 80 percent of them civilians. The Reuters news agency reports that food supplies are at an all-time low and starvation is at a record high. Parents are watching their children suffer horribly, slowly waste away and eventually die a painful death. Enough already.
Israel claims that it’s military goes to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties. If that is true, military officials are doing a horrible job. Israel has already decapitated Hamas leadership and killed thousands of their soldiers. The nation’s renewed aggression is an attempt to kill a mosquito with a sledgehammer. Things are so horrible in Gaza that even diehard conservatives like Tucker Carlson and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) have complained about Israeli policies there.
Irish support for Palestinians comes naturally and runs deep. My ancestral homeland was the first member of the European Union to endorse Palestinian statehood. The Irish fully appreciate the horrors of starvation.
The great Irish famine in the 1840s was a product of deliberate state sanctioned starvation. The Bannon and Ryan families came to America in the 19th century because of English starvation policies. There was actually plenty of food in Ireland but the Brits exported everything back home except for potatoes. When the potato blight hit and the crop failed, approximately one million Irish men, women and children died from starvation and sickness and another million left their cherished homeland to settle in America and around the world.
To make the lot of the Palestinians worse, if that’s even possible, Israel wants to launch an another offensive in Gaza City and turn it into a military enclave by removing the native population. The big difference between the Irish diaspora and the natives of Gaza is they have nowhere to go to begin a new life like my family did. Trump’s crusade to deport Mexicans and Muslims doesn’t allow any opportunities here for displaced Arabs. Even the European nations sympathetic to the Palestinian cause are under pressure from anti-immigration groups.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cruel policies create more problems than it solves with military aggression and starvation in Gaza. Israeli government policies will produce short-term gain of territory for long-term pain.
Israeli’s actions will create a new generation of terrorists which will plague the nation and its allies for a generation. Clear out Gaza for the valuable real estate that may one day house a luxury Trump casino and resort on the Mediterranean. The new lavish coastal resorts inevitably will become a target for attacks by a new generation of displaced Gazans.
Israel is a small nation surrounded by danger. Survival requires friends and allies abroad. But the country’s draconian actions have eroded the respect of Europeans and Americans who have stood by the nation in the past.
Trump broke with Netanyahu who denied the existence of starvation in the strip. But the president hasn’t done anything to follow up on his pledge to feed the hungry. Napoleon said that an army marches on its stomach. Terrorists attack on empty stomachs.
Trump’s former national security advisor John Bolton believes that more than anything else his former boss wants a Nobel Peace Prize. Give the devil his due and let him have the honor if he’s brave and caring enough to send massive supplies of food and medicine there, to stop the Israeli military offensive and to force Hamas to release the Israeli hostages. If he alleviates the crisis, the world will see him in a much brighter light.
If Trump really wants to stop the senseless civilian slaughter and starvation and earn the great honor, he must turn the screws on Netanyahu. The ball is in Trump’s court.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
South Sudan ‘approves’ Israeli plan to send Gazans to country-
South Sudan’s cabinet has agreed to receive Palestinians from the Gaza Strip following a request from Israel, The Telegraph has learnt.
A foreign ministry official in Juba said the government had approved the request as part of a deal which also involved the US and United Arab Emirates.
The move comes as Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, is attempting to revive the controversial idea of “voluntary” resettlement of civilians from the enclave.
On Wednesday, South Sudan described claims of a deal as “baseless” and not reflective of official government policy.
However, it has been claimed that the government has in fact agreed to work with Israel, raising the potential of a serious row from countries who oppose any suggestion of resettlement of Gazans.
The UAE would provide accompanying funding, which would be an economic lifeline for one of the poorest countries on Earth, the foreign ministry official said.
Meanwhile, America would lift sanctions on South Sudan, and Israel would invest in health and education.
“The South Sudanese land is enough to host more people from different nations, and also it’s good for the South Sudanese to open wide the window for external business to grow the economy,” the official said.
He added that the deal had been agreed by the cabinet but faced stiff opposition elsewhere, meaning the government was unwilling to acknowledge it.
“This kind of deal is not easy for South Sudanese to understand right now and also we have a very complex political situation in South Sudan,” he said.
One MP told The Telegraph that the matter had been discussed in Parliament but rejected by a majority of parliamentarians.
He said: “I myself reject it because South Sudan is a very young country. We are not able to feed ourselves, how can we get more people to live with us?
“In the next meeting we are going to reject it again from the Parliament. This idea is unacceptable to us.”
The debate came as Sharren Haskel, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, arrived in Juba to sign a “memorandum of understanding on bilateral consultations”.
Moving them from one land already ravaged by war and famine to another would only amplify that concern.
‘Voluntary’ relocation
News of the possible South Sudan deal broke after Mr Netanyahu appeared on Israeli television to revive discussion about relocating civilians from the Strip.
The idea was first proposed by Donald Trump, the US president, in February. He said the population should be removed and Gaza completely redeveloped to become part of what he envisaged as a “riviera” in the Middle East.
The Israeli government has floated the idea of relocation, but always said that it should be voluntary.
“Give them the opportunity to leave, first of all, combat zones, and generally to leave the territory, if they want,” said Mr Netanyahu on Tuesday, in comments that did not mention South Sudan.
“We will allow this, first of all within Gaza during the fighting, and we will certainly allow them to leave Gaza as well.”
Numerous foreign capitals and international bodies have previously warned against the plan, with some questioning if resettlement from Gaza could be considered genuinely voluntary, given the catastrophic damage to infrastructure and the dire humanitarian situation.
They have also voiced fears that voluntarily displaced Palestinians would not be allowed to return, citing comments made by Mr Netanyahu’s ultra-nationalist coalition partners calling for the re-establishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza.
A feature of the recent Operation Gideon’s Chariots, Israel’s new ground offensive, has been the wide-scale demolition of residential buildings. It is likely the same tactic will be used in the upcoming assault on Gaza City, confirmed last week.
Forcibly displacing a population could be considered a war crime.
Investigating feasibility
The Associated Press reported multiple sources as confirming the current talks between Israel and South Sudan.
Joe Szlavik, founder of a US lobbying company working for South Sudan, also said that he had been briefed by officials on the talks.
He said an Israeli delegation planned to visit the country to investigate the feasibility of setting up camps.
Ms Haskel’s trip is the first official visit to South Sudan by an Israeli government representative.
In a statement, she said: “While the international community is focused solely on Gaza, South Sudan is facing a real humanitarian crisis and the threat of genuine famine.”
Obvious destinations
As neighbours with formal relations with Israel, Egypt and Jordan would be the most obvious destinations for any departing Palestinians.
However, both have staunchly opposed any such scheme, despite significant pressure from Mr Trump.
Israel is said to have held talks with Indonesia, Libya, Ethiopia, Somalia and Somaliland about the possibility of accepting Gazans, but it was reported that these had not borne fruit.
South Sudan is in desperate need of foreign cash to help itself rebuild after years of instability and war with Sudan, its Arab-dominated neighbor.
It has been reported that they accepted help from Israel’s Mossad spy agency during their civil war with Khartoum.
Emigration inevitable
South Sudan also wants Mr Trump to lift the US travel ban on the country.
But Egypt has reportedly lobbied South Sudan not to co
3 days ago
Secure Your Code and Protect Your Project - Beleaf Technologies
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A single flaw in your smart contract can cost everything. Our Smart Contract Audit ensures your code is clean, secure, and ready for the real world. We help you earn user trust, protect assets, and launch with zero doubts.
Our Services Include
• Advanced manual and automated code review
• Detection of bugs, loopholes, and exploits
• Gas and logic optimization
• Clear, actionable audit reports
• Free re-audit after fixes
Secure your project from the inside out. Audit smart, deploy with confidence.
Get a Free Consultation !
Got Question ?
Visit Us >>>> https://beleaftechnologies...
Let’s Talk >>>> WhatsApp: +91 7904323274
Telegram: BeleafSoftTech
Email: businessbeleaftechnologies.com
3 days ago
How do cyber operations from groups in Iran and Vietnam compare in tactics and targets?
While both Iranian and Vietnamese cyber groups engage in state-sponsored cyber operations, their primary motivations, geopolitical contexts, and consequently, their tactics and targets, differ significantly.
Iranian Cyber Groups (e.g., APT33/Elfin, APT34/OilRig, APT35/Charming Kitten, MuddyWater)
Main Motives:
Iran's cyber activities are strongly driven by its geopolitical aspirations, regional rivalries (especially with Saudi Arabia and Israel), and desire to counter international sanctions. Their motivations include:
Espionage: Gathering intelligence on political, military, and economic developments, particularly in the Middle East, U.S., Europe, and Israel.
Disruption and Retaliation: Disrupting critical infrastructure, especially against perceived adversaries (e.g., in response to sanctions or political actions). They are willing to engage in destructive attacks.
Influence Operations: Spreading propaganda, manipulating public opinion, and sowing discord in rival nations.
Intellectual Property Theft (Secondary): While they do engage in this, it's often more opportunistic or tied to specific military/dual-use technologies rather than broad economic development.
Internal Control: Surveillance and repression of dissidents, both domestically and abroad.
Tactics:
Iranian groups often leverage a blend of technical sophistication and social engineering.
Aggressive Spear-Phishing & Social Engineering: Highly sophisticated and persistent phishing campaigns are a hallmark. They often impersonate legitimate entities (journalists, academics, government officials, recruiters) to build trust and trick targets into revealing credentials or downloading malware. They're known for using compromised accounts for further phishing.
Exploitation of Known Vulnerabilities: They are quick to exploit newly disclosed vulnerabilities (N-days) in widely used software and internet-facing systems (VPNs, firewalls, Exchange servers) to gain initial access.
Living Off The Land (LotL) & OSINT: They frequently use legitimate system tools (PowerShell, RDP, Mimikatz) and open-source intelligence (OSINT) to evade detection and understand victim networks.
Web Shells & Backdoors: Deployment of web shells for persistent access and custom backdoors.
Destructive Malware/Wipers: Iranian groups have a history of deploying destructive malware (e.g., Shamoon, ZeroCleare) to wipe data and disable systems, particularly against targets in the energy and industrial sectors.
Hybrid Operations: Increasingly, they combine hacking and data theft with information operations, leaking stolen data online, and using social media for amplification and harassment.
Ransomware (Collaborative/Opportunistic): While not their primary goal like North Korea, some Iranian groups have been observed collaborating with cybercriminal ransomware affiliates or directly deploying ransomware for financial gain or disruption.
Targets:
Middle East Region: Heavily focused on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (especially Saudi Arabia, UAE), Israel, and other regional rivals.
Government & Military: Foreign ministries, defense contractors, intelligence agencies, and government officials, particularly those involved in nuclear policy, sanctions, or regional security.
Energy Sector (Oil & Gas): A long-standing target for both espionage and potential disruption, reflecting Iran's strategic interests.
Critical Infrastructure (OT/ICS): Increasing focus on industrial control systems and operational technology, potentially for pre-positioning or disruptive attacks.
Telecommunications & Financial Services: For intelligence gathering and network access.
Journalists, Academics, Dissidents, Human Rights Activists: Both within Iran and among the diaspora, for surveillance and repression.
Vietnamese Cyber Groups (e.g., APT32/OceanLotus, APT30/Naikon)
Main Motives:
Vietnamese cyber operations are strongly linked to national economic development, protecting sovereignty claims (especially in the South China Sea), and maintaining political stability.
Economic Espionage: Stealing intellectual property, trade secrets, and competitive intelligence to support Vietnamese industries and accelerate economic growth. This is a very significant motivation.
Political Espionage: Gathering intelligence on foreign governments, political organizations, and diplomats relevant to Vietnam's geopolitical interests, particularly concerning regional rivals and partners.
Surveillance and Monitoring: Tracking and monitoring political dissidents, journalists, NGOs, and foreign entities perceived as a threat to the ruling party or national stability.
South China Sea Disputes: Gaining intelligence on rival claimants and international actors involved in the South China Sea disputes.
Tactics:
Vietnamese groups often demonstrate high levels of sophistication and persistence, with a focus on long-term access and stealth.
Sophisticated Spear-Phishing: Highly customized and contextualized spear-phishing emails, often impersonating trusted contacts or organizations, are a primary initial access vector.
Watering Hole Attacks: Compromising websites frequented by specific targets and implanting malware to infect visitors.
Custom Malware and Backdoors: Development and use of sophisticated custom malware (Remote Access Trojans, info-stealers) designed for covert data exfiltration and persistent access.
Exploitation of Zero-Day and N-Day Vulnerabilities: While less frequent than Iranian groups' aggressive N-day exploitation, they are capable of exploiting zero-days.
Supply Chain Attacks: There have been instances where Vietnamese groups have targeted software or hardware vendors to compromise their clients downstream.
Leveraging Cloud Services: Using legitimate cloud services for command and control (C2) or data exfiltration to blend in with normal network traffic.
Evasion Techniques: Employing various techniques to avoid detection by security software, including code obfuscation and anti-analysis checks.
Targets:
Southeast Asian Governments: Particularly those involved in the South China Sea disputes, for political intelligence.
Foreign Businesses & Multinational Corporations: Across various sectors (e.g., automotive, media, hospitality, manufacturing, technology, healthcare, e-commerce) for economic espionage and IP theft.
Political Dissidents & Human Rights Activists: Both domestic and international, for surveillance and control.
Journalists and NGOs: Especially those reporting on Vietnam or human rights issues.
Critical Infrastructure (Limited Public Reporting): While less publicly highlighted than Iranian or Chinese groups, there have been some reports of Vietnamese groups targeting critical infrastructure, but often for intelligence gathering rather than overt disruption.
Comparison Summary:
Feature- Iranian Cyber Groups----
Primary Motive- Geopolitical influence, regional rivalries, countering sanctions, disruption, espionage, retaliation.
Willingness for Disruption- High – known for destructive attacks/wipers.
Key Regions of Focus- Middle East (GCC, Israel), U.S., Europe.
Tactics Emphasis- Aggressive spear-phishing, N-day exploitation, LotL, web shells, destructive malware, information operations.
Financial Crime- Opportunistic ransomware or collaboration with criminals.
Vietnamese Cyber Groups-
Primary Motive-
Economic development (IP theft), political espionage (Sovereignty, South China Sea), internal control.
Willingness for Disruption-
Lower – focus on stealth, long-term access, and data exfiltration, less on overt disruption.
Key Regions of Focus-
Southeast Asia (ASEAN), U.S. (related to economic/political ties).
Tactics Emphasis-
Sophisticated spear-phishing, custom malware, watering holes, supply chain (less common), long-term stealth, cloud usage.
Financial Crime-Less prominent, but some engagement in cybercrime for revenue.
Export to Sheets-
In essence, Iranian groups are more overt and willing to engage in destructive actions driven by immediate geopolitical tensions, while Vietnamese groups are generally more focused on stealthy, long-term espionage and IP theft to support national development and strategic interests in their region.
While both Iranian and Vietnamese cyber groups engage in state-sponsored cyber operations, their primary motivations, geopolitical contexts, and consequently, their tactics and targets, differ significantly.
Iranian Cyber Groups (e.g., APT33/Elfin, APT34/OilRig, APT35/Charming Kitten, MuddyWater)
Main Motives:
Iran's cyber activities are strongly driven by its geopolitical aspirations, regional rivalries (especially with Saudi Arabia and Israel), and desire to counter international sanctions. Their motivations include:
Espionage: Gathering intelligence on political, military, and economic developments, particularly in the Middle East, U.S., Europe, and Israel.
Disruption and Retaliation: Disrupting critical infrastructure, especially against perceived adversaries (e.g., in response to sanctions or political actions). They are willing to engage in destructive attacks.
Influence Operations: Spreading propaganda, manipulating public opinion, and sowing discord in rival nations.
Intellectual Property Theft (Secondary): While they do engage in this, it's often more opportunistic or tied to specific military/dual-use technologies rather than broad economic development.
Internal Control: Surveillance and repression of dissidents, both domestically and abroad.
Tactics:
Iranian groups often leverage a blend of technical sophistication and social engineering.
Aggressive Spear-Phishing & Social Engineering: Highly sophisticated and persistent phishing campaigns are a hallmark. They often impersonate legitimate entities (journalists, academics, government officials, recruiters) to build trust and trick targets into revealing credentials or downloading malware. They're known for using compromised accounts for further phishing.
Exploitation of Known Vulnerabilities: They are quick to exploit newly disclosed vulnerabilities (N-days) in widely used software and internet-facing systems (VPNs, firewalls, Exchange servers) to gain initial access.
Living Off The Land (LotL) & OSINT: They frequently use legitimate system tools (PowerShell, RDP, Mimikatz) and open-source intelligence (OSINT) to evade detection and understand victim networks.
Web Shells & Backdoors: Deployment of web shells for persistent access and custom backdoors.
Destructive Malware/Wipers: Iranian groups have a history of deploying destructive malware (e.g., Shamoon, ZeroCleare) to wipe data and disable systems, particularly against targets in the energy and industrial sectors.
Hybrid Operations: Increasingly, they combine hacking and data theft with information operations, leaking stolen data online, and using social media for amplification and harassment.
Ransomware (Collaborative/Opportunistic): While not their primary goal like North Korea, some Iranian groups have been observed collaborating with cybercriminal ransomware affiliates or directly deploying ransomware for financial gain or disruption.
Targets:
Middle East Region: Heavily focused on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (especially Saudi Arabia, UAE), Israel, and other regional rivals.
Government & Military: Foreign ministries, defense contractors, intelligence agencies, and government officials, particularly those involved in nuclear policy, sanctions, or regional security.
Energy Sector (Oil & Gas): A long-standing target for both espionage and potential disruption, reflecting Iran's strategic interests.
Critical Infrastructure (OT/ICS): Increasing focus on industrial control systems and operational technology, potentially for pre-positioning or disruptive attacks.
Telecommunications & Financial Services: For intelligence gathering and network access.
Journalists, Academics, Dissidents, Human Rights Activists: Both within Iran and among the diaspora, for surveillance and repression.
Vietnamese Cyber Groups (e.g., APT32/OceanLotus, APT30/Naikon)
Main Motives:
Vietnamese cyber operations are strongly linked to national economic development, protecting sovereignty claims (especially in the South China Sea), and maintaining political stability.
Economic Espionage: Stealing intellectual property, trade secrets, and competitive intelligence to support Vietnamese industries and accelerate economic growth. This is a very significant motivation.
Political Espionage: Gathering intelligence on foreign governments, political organizations, and diplomats relevant to Vietnam's geopolitical interests, particularly concerning regional rivals and partners.
Surveillance and Monitoring: Tracking and monitoring political dissidents, journalists, NGOs, and foreign entities perceived as a threat to the ruling party or national stability.
South China Sea Disputes: Gaining intelligence on rival claimants and international actors involved in the South China Sea disputes.
Tactics:
Vietnamese groups often demonstrate high levels of sophistication and persistence, with a focus on long-term access and stealth.
Sophisticated Spear-Phishing: Highly customized and contextualized spear-phishing emails, often impersonating trusted contacts or organizations, are a primary initial access vector.
Watering Hole Attacks: Compromising websites frequented by specific targets and implanting malware to infect visitors.
Custom Malware and Backdoors: Development and use of sophisticated custom malware (Remote Access Trojans, info-stealers) designed for covert data exfiltration and persistent access.
Exploitation of Zero-Day and N-Day Vulnerabilities: While less frequent than Iranian groups' aggressive N-day exploitation, they are capable of exploiting zero-days.
Supply Chain Attacks: There have been instances where Vietnamese groups have targeted software or hardware vendors to compromise their clients downstream.
Leveraging Cloud Services: Using legitimate cloud services for command and control (C2) or data exfiltration to blend in with normal network traffic.
Evasion Techniques: Employing various techniques to avoid detection by security software, including code obfuscation and anti-analysis checks.
Targets:
Southeast Asian Governments: Particularly those involved in the South China Sea disputes, for political intelligence.
Foreign Businesses & Multinational Corporations: Across various sectors (e.g., automotive, media, hospitality, manufacturing, technology, healthcare, e-commerce) for economic espionage and IP theft.
Political Dissidents & Human Rights Activists: Both domestic and international, for surveillance and control.
Journalists and NGOs: Especially those reporting on Vietnam or human rights issues.
Critical Infrastructure (Limited Public Reporting): While less publicly highlighted than Iranian or Chinese groups, there have been some reports of Vietnamese groups targeting critical infrastructure, but often for intelligence gathering rather than overt disruption.
Comparison Summary:
Feature- Iranian Cyber Groups----
Primary Motive- Geopolitical influence, regional rivalries, countering sanctions, disruption, espionage, retaliation.
Willingness for Disruption- High – known for destructive attacks/wipers.
Key Regions of Focus- Middle East (GCC, Israel), U.S., Europe.
Tactics Emphasis- Aggressive spear-phishing, N-day exploitation, LotL, web shells, destructive malware, information operations.
Financial Crime- Opportunistic ransomware or collaboration with criminals.
Vietnamese Cyber Groups-
Primary Motive-
Economic development (IP theft), political espionage (Sovereignty, South China Sea), internal control.
Willingness for Disruption-
Lower – focus on stealth, long-term access, and data exfiltration, less on overt disruption.
Key Regions of Focus-
Southeast Asia (ASEAN), U.S. (related to economic/political ties).
Tactics Emphasis-
Sophisticated spear-phishing, custom malware, watering holes, supply chain (less common), long-term stealth, cloud usage.
Financial Crime-Less prominent, but some engagement in cybercrime for revenue.
Export to Sheets-
In essence, Iranian groups are more overt and willing to engage in destructive actions driven by immediate geopolitical tensions, while Vietnamese groups are generally more focused on stealthy, long-term espionage and IP theft to support national development and strategic interests in their region.
3 days ago
Focus Africa-
How does reliance on imports limit opportunities for youth entrepreneurship, innovation, and skills development?
Reliance on imports significantly limits opportunities for youth entrepreneurship, innovation, and skills development by eliminating the very sectors where these opportunities would naturally arise.
Instead of being creators and producers, young people are relegated to roles in retail and distribution, with far less potential for growth and advancement.
Impact on Entrepreneurship
A flood of cheap imports makes it incredibly difficult for young entrepreneurs to start businesses in manufacturing and production. The capital required to set up a factory or workshop can't compete with the massive economies of scale enjoyed by foreign producers. This discourages young people from even attempting to enter these sectors, as the risk of failure is too high. Instead, they are pushed into less productive sectors, like becoming distributors or retailers for the very goods that are undercutting local production.
Hindrance to Innovation
Innovation often stems from the practical challenges and opportunities within a production process. When there's no local manufacturing base, there are fewer problems to solve and fewer products to improve. This creates a knowledge gap, as young people don't get the hands-on experience of designing, building, and refining goods. The entire ecosystem for innovation—from product development to marketing—is outsourced, leaving little room for local creativity or technological advancement.
Stifled Skills Development
A strong industrial sector is a key driver of skills development. It provides opportunities for apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and the acquisition of technical skills like engineering, welding, and electronics repair. When these industries disappear due to import competition, so do the opportunities for young people to acquire these valuable skills. This creates a vicious cycle where a lack of skilled labor makes local production even less competitive, further reinforcing the reliance on imports.
How does reliance on imports limit opportunities for youth entrepreneurship, innovation, and skills development?
Reliance on imports significantly limits opportunities for youth entrepreneurship, innovation, and skills development by eliminating the very sectors where these opportunities would naturally arise.
Instead of being creators and producers, young people are relegated to roles in retail and distribution, with far less potential for growth and advancement.
Impact on Entrepreneurship
A flood of cheap imports makes it incredibly difficult for young entrepreneurs to start businesses in manufacturing and production. The capital required to set up a factory or workshop can't compete with the massive economies of scale enjoyed by foreign producers. This discourages young people from even attempting to enter these sectors, as the risk of failure is too high. Instead, they are pushed into less productive sectors, like becoming distributors or retailers for the very goods that are undercutting local production.
Hindrance to Innovation
Innovation often stems from the practical challenges and opportunities within a production process. When there's no local manufacturing base, there are fewer problems to solve and fewer products to improve. This creates a knowledge gap, as young people don't get the hands-on experience of designing, building, and refining goods. The entire ecosystem for innovation—from product development to marketing—is outsourced, leaving little room for local creativity or technological advancement.
Stifled Skills Development
A strong industrial sector is a key driver of skills development. It provides opportunities for apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and the acquisition of technical skills like engineering, welding, and electronics repair. When these industries disappear due to import competition, so do the opportunities for young people to acquire these valuable skills. This creates a vicious cycle where a lack of skilled labor makes local production even less competitive, further reinforcing the reliance on imports.
4 days ago
How to Implement AI‑Powered Product Recommendations in an Amazon clone app
What if your app could predict what users want, before they even type in a search? That’s the power of AI recommendations. Do you want to know how to implement AI-powered product recommendations in your Amazon clone? Here are some steps. Let's dive in.
What is AI-Powered Recommendation?
An artificially intelligent system that makes real-time product recommendations to consumers based on their interests, behaviour, and previous purchases is known as an AI-powered recommendation system in e-commerce. AI customises the shopping experience to boost sales, engagement, and customer satisfaction rather than displaying the same product list to every user.
Types of recommendation strategies:
1. Collaborative Filtering
Collaborative Filtering is a recommendation strategy that recommends products based on user activity and preferences rather than product information in an Amazon-like app.
User-based collaborative filtering detects folks who share similar interests. If a user likes a product, it will be recommended to another person who shares their interests.
Item-based collaborative filtering: This type of filtering shows recommendations based on similarities. For example, it recommends a phone case to the people who purchased New phones.
2. Content-based Filtering:
Content-based filtering recommends products based on the traits or features that the customer has previously purchased. For example, if you frequently buy or see bags, the algorithm would suggest alternatives or products with comparable characteristics such as brand, style, price range, or material.
3. Hybrid Filtering:
Hybrid filtering blends collaborative filtering, which proposes products based on the preferences of other users, with content-based filtering, which recommends items similar to those a user has previously liked. This strategy takes advantage of both methods' strengths while correcting their faults, yielding more accurate and personalised recommendations.
4. Trending and popular items:
In an Amazon clone website, Trending or Popular Items recommendations highlight things that are currently best-sellers, most viewed, or highly rated throughout the platform or within a category. Helping consumers find popular, in-demand items while increasing interaction and revenue.
5. Personalized rankings:
Personalized rankings reorder the search results or other lists of items based on users' preferences and behaviour. Instead of showing the same products to every user, it improves the user experience and increases the platform engagement.
Implementing AI-powered recommendations in an Amazon clone app:
Implement AI-powered suggestions in your Amazon clone. You should concentrate on collecting data, selecting the best AI solution, and optimising recommendations.
1. Data Collection and analysis:
Collect vast data: Gather the users' purchase history, product preferences, browsing habits, and product interactions such as clicks, add to cart, and reviews. Collecting these diverse data points provides a detailed picture of each customer's interests and habits.
2. Choosing the Right AI Solution:
Utilise data points: Analyse individual consumer preferences, detect bigger trends across users, and create dynamic customer profiles that evolve as new data is received.
Ensure data privacy: When developing AI-powered product suggestions, you must protect the privacy and security of user data. Encryption, secure servers, and access controls can all help to protect user data from unauthorised access. This is especially important when dealing with sensitive information such as purchasing history, behaviour, or personal details.
Consider Your Needs: Before deciding on an AI recommendation, you should first understand your business goals, budget, and technical resources.
Investigate diverse AI models: There are several recommendation models, each with a unique function. There are three types of filtering: collaborative, content-based, and hybrid.
Look for user-friendly options: If you're not ready to start from scratch with an Amazon clone website, look for choices that are easy to use. Many e-commerce platforms have built-in AI recommendation algorithms or third-party applications.
3. Implementing and optimizing recommendations:
Integrate cross-platform: Ensure that your recommendations are consistent and personalised across all platforms, including the website, email marketing, mobile app, and even customer support chat. This will improve the user experience and maintain personalisation seamlessly.
Use various formats: Use several recommendation styles, such as pop-ups and inline sections, to keep shoppers' attention at different phases of their purchasing journey.
A/B testing and optimisation: Continuously monitor the performance of the recommendations and make improvements depending on data and user input.
Focus on user experience: Make sure that recommendations are not only appropriate but also easy to navigate, quick to load, and visually integrated on mobile sites.
Prioritise Explainability: Be open about how recommendations are made, and give users control over their preferences.
Begin small, then scale: Start with a pilot or test group to validate performance and get feedback. Use this feedback to develop and expand your recommendation system throughout the platform.
Benefits of AI-powered recommendations:
1. Improved conversion performance:
The AI algorithm examines clients' browsing histories and purchasing habits to help them get what they want without using their hands. This will boost your Amazon clone conversion rate.
2. Enhanced user experience:
This AI-powered customised suggestion saves users time and effort by guiding them to the proper products. The end outcome is customer satisfaction and a good purchasing experience.
3. Increased average order value:
AI-powered suggestions in your Amazon clone app encourage customers to buy complementary, upsell, and cross-sell items, which raises the overall order value.
4. Insights based on data:
Artificial intelligence (AI) recommendation systems gather and analyse consumer data to learn about preferences and purchasing habits. Businesses can use this to enhance their marketing, select better products to sell, and more effectively manage their inventory.
5. Improved customer retention:
When users consistently receive relevant product recommendations, they are more likely to return to the platform. This strengthens brand presence and generates recurring sales.
6. Enhanced marketing strategies:
AI-powered recommendations customize marketing strategies based on each customer’s individual preferences and behaviors. This personalized approach results in more relevant and engaging marketing campaigns that resonate better with customers, ultimately increasing their interest and likelihood to respond positively.
7. Reduced cart abandonment:
AI-powered recommendations lower cart abandonment by using personalized recommendations, timely reminders, and providing discounts or free shipping. These strategies help users complete their purchases and increase the overall sales rates in your Amazon clone website.
8. Real-time discovery:
This enables AI to make real-time product recommendations to users based on their interests, assisting consumers in finding things they may not have previously found. It is most helpful in vast product catalogues where customers may find manual searching daunting. AI speeds up, simplifies, and enhances the pleasure of shopping by providing timely and pertinent recommendations.
Summing up:
I hope this blog helps you understand the importance of Artificial Intelligence in product recommendations for your Amazon clone app.
It covers the implementation of AI-powered recommendation systems, different types of recommendation strategies, and their benefits.
Now is the perfect time to launch AI-powered recommendations in your Amazon clone app.
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#EcommercePlatform #TechForBusiness #AmazonCloneScript #USAeCommerce #EcommerceLondon #MiddleEastEcommerce #SAOnlineStore # OnlineMarketplace
#MultiVendorMarketplace #DigitalRetailUSA #UAEStartupScene #MarketplaceTrends
What if your app could predict what users want, before they even type in a search? That’s the power of AI recommendations. Do you want to know how to implement AI-powered product recommendations in your Amazon clone? Here are some steps. Let's dive in.
What is AI-Powered Recommendation?
An artificially intelligent system that makes real-time product recommendations to consumers based on their interests, behaviour, and previous purchases is known as an AI-powered recommendation system in e-commerce. AI customises the shopping experience to boost sales, engagement, and customer satisfaction rather than displaying the same product list to every user.
Types of recommendation strategies:
1. Collaborative Filtering
Collaborative Filtering is a recommendation strategy that recommends products based on user activity and preferences rather than product information in an Amazon-like app.
User-based collaborative filtering detects folks who share similar interests. If a user likes a product, it will be recommended to another person who shares their interests.
Item-based collaborative filtering: This type of filtering shows recommendations based on similarities. For example, it recommends a phone case to the people who purchased New phones.
2. Content-based Filtering:
Content-based filtering recommends products based on the traits or features that the customer has previously purchased. For example, if you frequently buy or see bags, the algorithm would suggest alternatives or products with comparable characteristics such as brand, style, price range, or material.
3. Hybrid Filtering:
Hybrid filtering blends collaborative filtering, which proposes products based on the preferences of other users, with content-based filtering, which recommends items similar to those a user has previously liked. This strategy takes advantage of both methods' strengths while correcting their faults, yielding more accurate and personalised recommendations.
4. Trending and popular items:
In an Amazon clone website, Trending or Popular Items recommendations highlight things that are currently best-sellers, most viewed, or highly rated throughout the platform or within a category. Helping consumers find popular, in-demand items while increasing interaction and revenue.
5. Personalized rankings:
Personalized rankings reorder the search results or other lists of items based on users' preferences and behaviour. Instead of showing the same products to every user, it improves the user experience and increases the platform engagement.
Implementing AI-powered recommendations in an Amazon clone app:
Implement AI-powered suggestions in your Amazon clone. You should concentrate on collecting data, selecting the best AI solution, and optimising recommendations.
1. Data Collection and analysis:
Collect vast data: Gather the users' purchase history, product preferences, browsing habits, and product interactions such as clicks, add to cart, and reviews. Collecting these diverse data points provides a detailed picture of each customer's interests and habits.
2. Choosing the Right AI Solution:
Utilise data points: Analyse individual consumer preferences, detect bigger trends across users, and create dynamic customer profiles that evolve as new data is received.
Ensure data privacy: When developing AI-powered product suggestions, you must protect the privacy and security of user data. Encryption, secure servers, and access controls can all help to protect user data from unauthorised access. This is especially important when dealing with sensitive information such as purchasing history, behaviour, or personal details.
Consider Your Needs: Before deciding on an AI recommendation, you should first understand your business goals, budget, and technical resources.
Investigate diverse AI models: There are several recommendation models, each with a unique function. There are three types of filtering: collaborative, content-based, and hybrid.
Look for user-friendly options: If you're not ready to start from scratch with an Amazon clone website, look for choices that are easy to use. Many e-commerce platforms have built-in AI recommendation algorithms or third-party applications.
3. Implementing and optimizing recommendations:
Integrate cross-platform: Ensure that your recommendations are consistent and personalised across all platforms, including the website, email marketing, mobile app, and even customer support chat. This will improve the user experience and maintain personalisation seamlessly.
Use various formats: Use several recommendation styles, such as pop-ups and inline sections, to keep shoppers' attention at different phases of their purchasing journey.
A/B testing and optimisation: Continuously monitor the performance of the recommendations and make improvements depending on data and user input.
Focus on user experience: Make sure that recommendations are not only appropriate but also easy to navigate, quick to load, and visually integrated on mobile sites.
Prioritise Explainability: Be open about how recommendations are made, and give users control over their preferences.
Begin small, then scale: Start with a pilot or test group to validate performance and get feedback. Use this feedback to develop and expand your recommendation system throughout the platform.
Benefits of AI-powered recommendations:
1. Improved conversion performance:
The AI algorithm examines clients' browsing histories and purchasing habits to help them get what they want without using their hands. This will boost your Amazon clone conversion rate.
2. Enhanced user experience:
This AI-powered customised suggestion saves users time and effort by guiding them to the proper products. The end outcome is customer satisfaction and a good purchasing experience.
3. Increased average order value:
AI-powered suggestions in your Amazon clone app encourage customers to buy complementary, upsell, and cross-sell items, which raises the overall order value.
4. Insights based on data:
Artificial intelligence (AI) recommendation systems gather and analyse consumer data to learn about preferences and purchasing habits. Businesses can use this to enhance their marketing, select better products to sell, and more effectively manage their inventory.
5. Improved customer retention:
When users consistently receive relevant product recommendations, they are more likely to return to the platform. This strengthens brand presence and generates recurring sales.
6. Enhanced marketing strategies:
AI-powered recommendations customize marketing strategies based on each customer’s individual preferences and behaviors. This personalized approach results in more relevant and engaging marketing campaigns that resonate better with customers, ultimately increasing their interest and likelihood to respond positively.
7. Reduced cart abandonment:
AI-powered recommendations lower cart abandonment by using personalized recommendations, timely reminders, and providing discounts or free shipping. These strategies help users complete their purchases and increase the overall sales rates in your Amazon clone website.
8. Real-time discovery:
This enables AI to make real-time product recommendations to users based on their interests, assisting consumers in finding things they may not have previously found. It is most helpful in vast product catalogues where customers may find manual searching daunting. AI speeds up, simplifies, and enhances the pleasure of shopping by providing timely and pertinent recommendations.
Summing up:
I hope this blog helps you understand the importance of Artificial Intelligence in product recommendations for your Amazon clone app.
It covers the implementation of AI-powered recommendation systems, different types of recommendation strategies, and their benefits.
Now is the perfect time to launch AI-powered recommendations in your Amazon clone app.
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4 days ago
"Now I know that sustainability isn't just an ethical choice for businesses; it's becoming an economic imperative, influencing consumer behavior and investor confidence."
4 days ago
Data, Dollars, and Drones: Who Controls Tomorrow’s Tools?
“He who controls the data, programs the future. He who owns the drones, defends—or dictates—it. And he who prints the dollars, plays God with the global economy.”
The 21st century won’t be ruled by empires of land—it will be ruled by empires of data, capital, and surveillance technology. In this new world, algorithms shape minds, money moves faster than people, and drones fly where diplomacy dares not go.
But who truly owns these tools? Who benefits? And who is being left behind—or watched from above?
Data: The New Oil or the New Chains?
4.6 billion people are now online—most on mobile phones
Africa contributes a massive stream of digital behavior—but stores little of it locally
American and Chinese tech giants own 90% of global data traffic and storage
While data is harvested from Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, it’s analyzed in Silicon Valley, processed in Shenzhen, and monetized without consent.
“We are not just users—we are the unpaid labor feeding AI.”
Even worse: data colonialism is rising—where nations are reduced to mere sources of behavioral raw material.
Dollars: Still King of a Decaying Kingdom
Despite talk of "de-dollarization":
The US dollar dominates 88% of global trade
Countries like Ghana, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka still face currency collapse based on Fed decisions
Dollar scarcity creates austerity, debt dependency, and policy handcuffs for many Global South nations
The IMF and World Bank, still largely Western-controlled, act as gatekeepers to emergency funds—often in exchange for structural reforms that weaken local industries and sovereignty.
“When Washington sneezes, African currencies catch pneumonia.”
Meanwhile, crypto and fintechs try to provide escape routes—but they face crackdowns or co-option.
Drones: From Warfare to Watchdogs
Once a futuristic fantasy, drones are now:
Weapons in proxy wars (Libya, Ethiopia, Ukraine)
Surveillance tools for regimes monitoring protests
Delivery agents for aid and vaccines in hard-to-reach zones
Business tools for agriculture and logistics
But who owns the skies?
China’s DJI controls over 70% of the global commercial drone market
US and Israeli military drones dominate combat zones
African countries import rather than manufacture—despite strong use cases
Drones may save lives—or spy on them. Liberate farmers—or be used to suppress dissent.
Who’s Really in Control?
Let’s break it down:
Tool Controlled By Impact on Global South
Data Big Tech (US, China) Extracted, not owned
Dollars US Federal Reserve Externalized pain
Drones China, US, Israel Imported, rarely made
In all three, the Global South is a consumer, not a controller. And Africa, in particular, risks becoming the testing ground, resource mine, and data farm for tomorrow’s tech empires.
The Risks of Dependency
Surveillance authoritarianism (via foreign-built tech)
Digital dictatorships (where information flow is centralized)
Economic instability (due to external financial control)
Policy blackmail (based on foreign data or financial leverage)
If tomorrow’s tools are not domestically owned or ethically governed, Africa and other regions may end up technologically colonized—even as they go digital.
What Can Be Done?
-Data Sovereignty
-Build local data centers
-Enact data protection laws
Push for digital commons and open-source alternatives
Financial Autonomy
Explore pan-African payment systems and stable coins
Create sovereign wealth tech funds
Reduce dependency on external aid tied to conditionalities
Drone & Tech Manufacturing
Invest in STEM education and hardware innovation
Support tech hubs and partnerships with ethical manufacturers
Use drones for development, not just surveillance
Conclusion: Tools Are Not Neutral
Data, dollars, and drones will define this century. But they are not just neutral instruments—they are extensions of power, control, and ideology.
Africa and the rest of the Global South must ask:
Will we own the tools of tomorrow—or be owned by them?
This is not just a tech question.
It’s a question of sovereignty, freedom, and the shape of the future.
“He who controls the data, programs the future. He who owns the drones, defends—or dictates—it. And he who prints the dollars, plays God with the global economy.”
The 21st century won’t be ruled by empires of land—it will be ruled by empires of data, capital, and surveillance technology. In this new world, algorithms shape minds, money moves faster than people, and drones fly where diplomacy dares not go.
But who truly owns these tools? Who benefits? And who is being left behind—or watched from above?
Data: The New Oil or the New Chains?
4.6 billion people are now online—most on mobile phones
Africa contributes a massive stream of digital behavior—but stores little of it locally
American and Chinese tech giants own 90% of global data traffic and storage
While data is harvested from Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, it’s analyzed in Silicon Valley, processed in Shenzhen, and monetized without consent.
“We are not just users—we are the unpaid labor feeding AI.”
Even worse: data colonialism is rising—where nations are reduced to mere sources of behavioral raw material.
Dollars: Still King of a Decaying Kingdom
Despite talk of "de-dollarization":
The US dollar dominates 88% of global trade
Countries like Ghana, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka still face currency collapse based on Fed decisions
Dollar scarcity creates austerity, debt dependency, and policy handcuffs for many Global South nations
The IMF and World Bank, still largely Western-controlled, act as gatekeepers to emergency funds—often in exchange for structural reforms that weaken local industries and sovereignty.
“When Washington sneezes, African currencies catch pneumonia.”
Meanwhile, crypto and fintechs try to provide escape routes—but they face crackdowns or co-option.
Drones: From Warfare to Watchdogs
Once a futuristic fantasy, drones are now:
Weapons in proxy wars (Libya, Ethiopia, Ukraine)
Surveillance tools for regimes monitoring protests
Delivery agents for aid and vaccines in hard-to-reach zones
Business tools for agriculture and logistics
But who owns the skies?
China’s DJI controls over 70% of the global commercial drone market
US and Israeli military drones dominate combat zones
African countries import rather than manufacture—despite strong use cases
Drones may save lives—or spy on them. Liberate farmers—or be used to suppress dissent.
Who’s Really in Control?
Let’s break it down:
Tool Controlled By Impact on Global South
Data Big Tech (US, China) Extracted, not owned
Dollars US Federal Reserve Externalized pain
Drones China, US, Israel Imported, rarely made
In all three, the Global South is a consumer, not a controller. And Africa, in particular, risks becoming the testing ground, resource mine, and data farm for tomorrow’s tech empires.
The Risks of Dependency
Surveillance authoritarianism (via foreign-built tech)
Digital dictatorships (where information flow is centralized)
Economic instability (due to external financial control)
Policy blackmail (based on foreign data or financial leverage)
If tomorrow’s tools are not domestically owned or ethically governed, Africa and other regions may end up technologically colonized—even as they go digital.
What Can Be Done?
-Data Sovereignty
-Build local data centers
-Enact data protection laws
Push for digital commons and open-source alternatives
Financial Autonomy
Explore pan-African payment systems and stable coins
Create sovereign wealth tech funds
Reduce dependency on external aid tied to conditionalities
Drone & Tech Manufacturing
Invest in STEM education and hardware innovation
Support tech hubs and partnerships with ethical manufacturers
Use drones for development, not just surveillance
Conclusion: Tools Are Not Neutral
Data, dollars, and drones will define this century. But they are not just neutral instruments—they are extensions of power, control, and ideology.
Africa and the rest of the Global South must ask:
Will we own the tools of tomorrow—or be owned by them?
This is not just a tech question.
It’s a question of sovereignty, freedom, and the shape of the future.
4 days ago
How has North Korea allegedly used cybercrime (crypto theft, ransomware) to fund its regime?
North Korea has allegedly leveraged cybercrime, particularly cryptocurrency theft and ransomware, as a crucial and increasingly preferred method to fund its regime and, specifically, its illicit weapons programs.
This strategy is a direct response to the crippling international sanctions imposed on the country.
Here's how they've allegedly done it:
1. Circumventing Sanctions for Hard Currency:
Financial Isolation: North Korea faces severe international sanctions that cut off its access to traditional global financial systems. This makes it extremely difficult for the regime to acquire the foreign currency (like U.S. dollars or Euros) needed to import goods, technology, and components for its military and luxury items for its elite.
Cryptocurrency as an Alternative: Cryptocurrencies operate largely outside traditional banking regulations and centralized financial institutions. This makes them an attractive alternative for a sanctioned state. By stealing crypto, North Korea effectively generates hard currency that is harder to trace and block.
Funding WMD Programs: UN reports, U.S. government assessments, and cybersecurity firm analyses consistently state that the proceeds from these cybercrimes directly fund North Korea's prohibited weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, including nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Some estimates suggest cybercrime accounts for a significant portion, potentially 40% to 50% or more, of the regime's foreign currency income.
2. Cryptocurrency Theft: The Primary Goldmine
Massive Scale: North Korean hacking groups, notably the Lazarus Group and its sub-units like BlueNoroff, have stolen billions of dollars in cryptocurrency. For example, UN experts reported investigating 58 suspected North Korean cyberattacks between 2017 and 2023, valued at approximately $3 billion. The FBI recently attributed a single $1.5 billion hack against Bybit in February 2025 to North Korean actors.
Targeting Crypto Exchanges and DeFi Platforms:
Direct Hacks: They target centralized cryptocurrency exchanges, exploiting vulnerabilities in their security systems to steal large amounts of various cryptocurrencies.
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Exploits: As the crypto landscape evolved, North Korean hackers shifted to more vulnerable DeFi platforms and "bridges" (which facilitate asset transfer between different blockchains). Notorious examples include the Harmony Horizon Bridge ($100 million+) and the Sky Mavis Ronin Bridge ($600 million+). DeFi platforms often have less stringent security and regulatory oversight, making them "softer targets."
Sophisticated Social Engineering: They employ elaborate social engineering tactics to gain initial access:
Fake Job Offers: Creating fake companies, LinkedIn profiles, and seemingly legitimate job opportunities to trick employees of crypto firms into downloading malicious software or revealing credentials.
Impersonation: Impersonating venture capitalists, recruiters, or other legitimate business contacts.
Deepfake Technology: Increasingly, they use AI-enabled deepfake technologies in video calls to disguise their appearance and build trust with targets.
Laundering Stolen Funds: After stealing the cryptocurrency, they employ sophisticated laundering techniques to convert it into fiat currency (like USD). This involves:
Mixing Services: Using "crypto mixers" like Tornado Cash (which was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for its role in laundering North Korean funds) to obscure the origin of the stolen assets.
Chain Hopping: Moving funds across multiple different blockchains to complicate tracing efforts.
Dispersing Funds: Spreading stolen assets across thousands of addresses to make tracking harder.
Conversion to Fiat: Eventually converting the "cleaned" crypto into traditional currencies through various brokers, often in countries with weaker anti-money laundering regulations.
3. Ransomware Attacks: Another Revenue Stream
Extortion and Disruption: Groups like Andariel, a Lazarus sub-group, have deployed ransomware (e.g., Maui ransomware) against a range of targets, including U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers.
Demanding Crypto Payments: Ransomware payments are typically demanded in cryptocurrency, providing another direct avenue for generating funds that are difficult to trace.
Double Extortion: Beyond just encrypting data, some groups engage in "double extortion," threatening to leak stolen sensitive data if the ransom isn't paid, increasing pressure on victims.
4. Illicit IT Worker Schemes:
While not strictly "cybercrime" in the hacking sense, this is a related and significant revenue stream that leverages North Korea's cyber talent.
Disguised Workers: North Korean IT workers, often highly skilled in programming and software development, fraudulently obtain remote freelance jobs globally, using false identities and documentation.
Funneling Wages: The wages earned from these legitimate-looking jobs are then funneled back to the North Korean regime, providing another source of foreign currency. Some reports indicate these workers also insert backdoors or malware into corporate systems they work on, potentially enabling future cybercrime or espionage.
In essence, North Korea has become an innovator in state-sponsored cybercrime out of necessity. Facing stringent sanctions, its regime has adapted by exploiting the nascent and less-regulated cryptocurrency ecosystem to generate a consistent and substantial stream of revenue, directly funding its strategic weapons programs and circumventing international efforts to curb its proliferation activities.
North Korea has allegedly leveraged cybercrime, particularly cryptocurrency theft and ransomware, as a crucial and increasingly preferred method to fund its regime and, specifically, its illicit weapons programs.
This strategy is a direct response to the crippling international sanctions imposed on the country.
Here's how they've allegedly done it:
1. Circumventing Sanctions for Hard Currency:
Financial Isolation: North Korea faces severe international sanctions that cut off its access to traditional global financial systems. This makes it extremely difficult for the regime to acquire the foreign currency (like U.S. dollars or Euros) needed to import goods, technology, and components for its military and luxury items for its elite.
Cryptocurrency as an Alternative: Cryptocurrencies operate largely outside traditional banking regulations and centralized financial institutions. This makes them an attractive alternative for a sanctioned state. By stealing crypto, North Korea effectively generates hard currency that is harder to trace and block.
Funding WMD Programs: UN reports, U.S. government assessments, and cybersecurity firm analyses consistently state that the proceeds from these cybercrimes directly fund North Korea's prohibited weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, including nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Some estimates suggest cybercrime accounts for a significant portion, potentially 40% to 50% or more, of the regime's foreign currency income.
2. Cryptocurrency Theft: The Primary Goldmine
Massive Scale: North Korean hacking groups, notably the Lazarus Group and its sub-units like BlueNoroff, have stolen billions of dollars in cryptocurrency. For example, UN experts reported investigating 58 suspected North Korean cyberattacks between 2017 and 2023, valued at approximately $3 billion. The FBI recently attributed a single $1.5 billion hack against Bybit in February 2025 to North Korean actors.
Targeting Crypto Exchanges and DeFi Platforms:
Direct Hacks: They target centralized cryptocurrency exchanges, exploiting vulnerabilities in their security systems to steal large amounts of various cryptocurrencies.
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Exploits: As the crypto landscape evolved, North Korean hackers shifted to more vulnerable DeFi platforms and "bridges" (which facilitate asset transfer between different blockchains). Notorious examples include the Harmony Horizon Bridge ($100 million+) and the Sky Mavis Ronin Bridge ($600 million+). DeFi platforms often have less stringent security and regulatory oversight, making them "softer targets."
Sophisticated Social Engineering: They employ elaborate social engineering tactics to gain initial access:
Fake Job Offers: Creating fake companies, LinkedIn profiles, and seemingly legitimate job opportunities to trick employees of crypto firms into downloading malicious software or revealing credentials.
Impersonation: Impersonating venture capitalists, recruiters, or other legitimate business contacts.
Deepfake Technology: Increasingly, they use AI-enabled deepfake technologies in video calls to disguise their appearance and build trust with targets.
Laundering Stolen Funds: After stealing the cryptocurrency, they employ sophisticated laundering techniques to convert it into fiat currency (like USD). This involves:
Mixing Services: Using "crypto mixers" like Tornado Cash (which was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for its role in laundering North Korean funds) to obscure the origin of the stolen assets.
Chain Hopping: Moving funds across multiple different blockchains to complicate tracing efforts.
Dispersing Funds: Spreading stolen assets across thousands of addresses to make tracking harder.
Conversion to Fiat: Eventually converting the "cleaned" crypto into traditional currencies through various brokers, often in countries with weaker anti-money laundering regulations.
3. Ransomware Attacks: Another Revenue Stream
Extortion and Disruption: Groups like Andariel, a Lazarus sub-group, have deployed ransomware (e.g., Maui ransomware) against a range of targets, including U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers.
Demanding Crypto Payments: Ransomware payments are typically demanded in cryptocurrency, providing another direct avenue for generating funds that are difficult to trace.
Double Extortion: Beyond just encrypting data, some groups engage in "double extortion," threatening to leak stolen sensitive data if the ransom isn't paid, increasing pressure on victims.
4. Illicit IT Worker Schemes:
While not strictly "cybercrime" in the hacking sense, this is a related and significant revenue stream that leverages North Korea's cyber talent.
Disguised Workers: North Korean IT workers, often highly skilled in programming and software development, fraudulently obtain remote freelance jobs globally, using false identities and documentation.
Funneling Wages: The wages earned from these legitimate-looking jobs are then funneled back to the North Korean regime, providing another source of foreign currency. Some reports indicate these workers also insert backdoors or malware into corporate systems they work on, potentially enabling future cybercrime or espionage.
In essence, North Korea has become an innovator in state-sponsored cybercrime out of necessity. Facing stringent sanctions, its regime has adapted by exploiting the nascent and less-regulated cryptocurrency ecosystem to generate a consistent and substantial stream of revenue, directly funding its strategic weapons programs and circumventing international efforts to curb its proliferation activities.
4 days ago
What are the effects of constant ASUU strikes on students and the economy?
Constant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Nigeria have profoundly negative effects on both students and the broader economy. These disruptions, primarily stemming from disputes over funding, staff welfare, and university autonomy, cripple the educational system and hinder national development.
Effects on Students
1. Prolonged Academic Calendars
Students often spend more years than stipulated to complete their degrees. A four-year course might stretch to five, six, or even more, leading to significant delays in their lives and career plans.
2. Disrupted Learning and Poor Academic Performance
Learning Loss: Extended breaks from academic activities lead to a decline in students' engagement and knowledge retention.
Rushed Curricula: Upon resumption, lecturers may rush to complete syllabi, compromising the depth of teaching and learning. This can result in "half-baked" graduates who lack a comprehensive understanding of their fields.
Reduced Practical Skills: Strikes often limit access to laboratories and practical sessions, essential for skill development, especially in science, engineering, and medical fields.
3. Mental Health and Psychological Impact
Frustration and Demotivation: Students experience significant frustration, anxiety, and depression due to the uncertainty surrounding their academic future. Many lose interest in their studies.
Increased Vulnerability to Vices: Idleness during prolonged strikes can lead some students to engage in social vices like drug abuse, online betting, cybercrime, cultism, and even armed robbery or kidnapping, posing a threat to societal peace.
4. Financial Burden
Wasted Resources: Students living off-campus often pay annual accommodation fees, which go to waste during extended strike periods. Other recurring expenses like electricity and transportation also accumulate.
Increased Cost of Education: The extended duration of studies means higher overall living costs and tuition where applicable.
5. Erosion of Trust and Brain Drain
Loss of Faith: Students and parents lose faith in the Nigerian public university system.
Japa Syndrome (Emigration): Many who can afford it opt for private universities or, more increasingly, seek educational opportunities abroad, leading to a significant brain drain of Nigeria's youth and future workforce.
Effects on the Economy
1. Human Capital Development Setback
Reduced Quality of Graduates: The compromised quality of education due to strikes leads to a less skilled and less competent workforce. This directly impacts productivity, innovation, and competitiveness across all sectors of the economy.
Skills Gap: Graduates often lack the practical skills and knowledge required by industries, increasing the cost of training for employers or forcing them to hire foreign expertise.
Brain Drain of Academics: ASUU strikes contribute to the exodus of highly qualified lecturers and researchers seeking better working conditions and research opportunities elsewhere. This depletes the intellectual capital necessary for national development.
2. Economic Stagnation and Reduced Productivity
Lost Man-Hours: The time lost during strikes represents lost potential productivity from millions of students and thousands of academic staff.
Impact on Local Economies: University towns and host communities suffer economically during strikes as businesses (accommodation, food vendors, transport, stationery shops) that rely on students and staff experience massive downturns.
Delayed Innovation and Research: Universities are supposed to be hubs of research and innovation that can drive economic growth. Strikes paralyze these activities, hindering the development of solutions to national problems and new products/services.
3. Increased Unemployment and Social Instability
Delayed Entry into Workforce: Prolonged graduation means a delayed entry into the workforce for millions of young people, exacerbating the already high youth unemployment rate.
Social Unrest: A large pool of idle, frustrated, and unemployed youth can be a source of social instability, potentially contributing to crime and other forms of unrest.
4. Reduced Foreign Investment
A unstable and unreliable education system signals a lack of human capital development and an uncertain future workforce, deterring foreign direct investment. Investors prefer countries with a stable, skilled, and readily available talent pool.
5. Erosion of National Development Plans
The educational sector is fundamental to national development. Constant strikes undermine the foundational pillars of any long-term economic or social development plan, making it difficult for Nigeria to achieve its potential.
In conclusion, the recurring ASUU strikes are not merely an academic issue; they represent a significant socio-economic crisis that mortgages Nigeria's future by compromising its most valuable asset: its human capital.
Constant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Nigeria have profoundly negative effects on both students and the broader economy. These disruptions, primarily stemming from disputes over funding, staff welfare, and university autonomy, cripple the educational system and hinder national development.
Effects on Students
1. Prolonged Academic Calendars
Students often spend more years than stipulated to complete their degrees. A four-year course might stretch to five, six, or even more, leading to significant delays in their lives and career plans.
2. Disrupted Learning and Poor Academic Performance
Learning Loss: Extended breaks from academic activities lead to a decline in students' engagement and knowledge retention.
Rushed Curricula: Upon resumption, lecturers may rush to complete syllabi, compromising the depth of teaching and learning. This can result in "half-baked" graduates who lack a comprehensive understanding of their fields.
Reduced Practical Skills: Strikes often limit access to laboratories and practical sessions, essential for skill development, especially in science, engineering, and medical fields.
3. Mental Health and Psychological Impact
Frustration and Demotivation: Students experience significant frustration, anxiety, and depression due to the uncertainty surrounding their academic future. Many lose interest in their studies.
Increased Vulnerability to Vices: Idleness during prolonged strikes can lead some students to engage in social vices like drug abuse, online betting, cybercrime, cultism, and even armed robbery or kidnapping, posing a threat to societal peace.
4. Financial Burden
Wasted Resources: Students living off-campus often pay annual accommodation fees, which go to waste during extended strike periods. Other recurring expenses like electricity and transportation also accumulate.
Increased Cost of Education: The extended duration of studies means higher overall living costs and tuition where applicable.
5. Erosion of Trust and Brain Drain
Loss of Faith: Students and parents lose faith in the Nigerian public university system.
Japa Syndrome (Emigration): Many who can afford it opt for private universities or, more increasingly, seek educational opportunities abroad, leading to a significant brain drain of Nigeria's youth and future workforce.
Effects on the Economy
1. Human Capital Development Setback
Reduced Quality of Graduates: The compromised quality of education due to strikes leads to a less skilled and less competent workforce. This directly impacts productivity, innovation, and competitiveness across all sectors of the economy.
Skills Gap: Graduates often lack the practical skills and knowledge required by industries, increasing the cost of training for employers or forcing them to hire foreign expertise.
Brain Drain of Academics: ASUU strikes contribute to the exodus of highly qualified lecturers and researchers seeking better working conditions and research opportunities elsewhere. This depletes the intellectual capital necessary for national development.
2. Economic Stagnation and Reduced Productivity
Lost Man-Hours: The time lost during strikes represents lost potential productivity from millions of students and thousands of academic staff.
Impact on Local Economies: University towns and host communities suffer economically during strikes as businesses (accommodation, food vendors, transport, stationery shops) that rely on students and staff experience massive downturns.
Delayed Innovation and Research: Universities are supposed to be hubs of research and innovation that can drive economic growth. Strikes paralyze these activities, hindering the development of solutions to national problems and new products/services.
3. Increased Unemployment and Social Instability
Delayed Entry into Workforce: Prolonged graduation means a delayed entry into the workforce for millions of young people, exacerbating the already high youth unemployment rate.
Social Unrest: A large pool of idle, frustrated, and unemployed youth can be a source of social instability, potentially contributing to crime and other forms of unrest.
4. Reduced Foreign Investment
A unstable and unreliable education system signals a lack of human capital development and an uncertain future workforce, deterring foreign direct investment. Investors prefer countries with a stable, skilled, and readily available talent pool.
5. Erosion of National Development Plans
The educational sector is fundamental to national development. Constant strikes undermine the foundational pillars of any long-term economic or social development plan, making it difficult for Nigeria to achieve its potential.
In conclusion, the recurring ASUU strikes are not merely an academic issue; they represent a significant socio-economic crisis that mortgages Nigeria's future by compromising its most valuable asset: its human capital.
4 days ago
How can Nigeria bridge the gap between education and employable skills?
Bridging the gap between education and employable skills in Nigeria is a critical challenge that requires a holistic and multi-pronged approach involving government, educational institutions, the private sector, and civil society.
The current system often produces graduates ill-equipped for the demands of the modern job market, leading to high youth unemployment.
Here's how Nigeria can effectively bridge this gap:
I. Curriculum Reform & Relevance:
Industry-Driven Curriculum Development:
Regular Review & Updates: Curricula at all levels (primary, secondary, tertiary, and TVET) must be regularly reviewed and updated in close collaboration with industry experts, employers, and professional bodies. This ensures that what is taught aligns directly with the skills demanded by the job market.
Competency-Based Learning: Shift the focus from rote memorization and theoretical knowledge to competency-based education. This means assessing students on their ability to apply knowledge and skills to real-world problems.
Inclusion of 21st-Century Skills: Integrate critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, communication, collaboration, digital literacy, and data analysis across all disciplines. These "soft skills" are highly valued by employers.
Emphasis on STEM and Digital Skills:
Strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education: Invest heavily in STEM education from an early age, ensuring adequate laboratories, equipment, and qualified teachers.
Digital Literacy: Make digital literacy a foundational skill across all levels of education. Introduce coding, data analytics, cybersecurity, and AI/Machine Learning at appropriate stages. Initiatives like NITDA's 3MTT (Three Million Technical Talent) are good starts but need massive scaling.
Mandatory Entrepreneurship Education:
Integrate practical entrepreneurship education into all tertiary curricula. This should go beyond theoretical concepts to include business plan development, mentorship, access to seed funding (even if small), and incubation support. The goal is to produce job creators, not just job seekers.
II. Strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET):
Rebranding and Destigmatization:
Launch nationwide campaigns to change the societal perception of TVET. Highlight successful TVET graduates, showcase the lucrative nature of skilled trades (e.g., plumbing, welding, carpentry, ICT repairs), and emphasize their vital role in economic development. Combat the notion that TVET is for "school dropouts."
Increased Investment and Modernization:
Adequately fund TVET institutions with modern tools, equipment, workshops, and technology that reflect current industry standards.
Upgrade and maintain existing polytechnics, technical colleges, and vocational centers.
Industry-Led TVET:
Ensure that TVET programs are directly developed and run in partnership with industries. Companies should be involved in curriculum design, practical training, and certification.
Promote apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs, where students learn practical skills directly in a workplace setting.
III. Enhance Industry-Academia Collaboration:
Structured Partnerships:
MOU and Joint Projects: Facilitate Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between universities/polytechnics and industries for joint research projects, curriculum development, and student internships.
Research & Development (R&D): Encourage industries to fund university research that addresses their specific needs and challenges, creating a symbiotic relationship.
Advisory Boards: Establish industry advisory boards for academic departments to provide direct input on curriculum, necessary skills, and emerging trends.
Internship and Apprenticeship Programs:
Make internships (Industrial Attachment) mandatory, well-structured, and adequately supervised. Ensure students gain relevant, hands-on experience that aligns with their studies.
Incentivize companies (e.g., through tax breaks) to offer quality internships and apprenticeships.
Guest Lecturers and Adjunct Faculty:
Invite industry professionals to serve as guest lecturers, adjunct faculty, or mentors, bringing real-world experience into the classroom.
IV. Teacher Training and Professional Development:-
Skills-Focused Pedagogy:
Train educators at all levels to adopt practical, problem-solving, and project-based teaching methodologies that foster skill development rather than rote learning.
Equip teachers with the skills to integrate technology effectively into their teaching.
Continuous Professional Development:
Provide ongoing training for teachers and lecturers to keep them updated on industry trends, new technologies, and modern pedagogical approaches.
Encourage lecturers to undertake sabbaticals in relevant industries to gain practical experience.
Industry Experience for Educators:
Implement programs that allow academic staff to spend time in relevant industries, gaining practical experience that they can then bring back to the classroom.
V. Leverage Technology and Digital Learning:
E-Learning Platforms:
Invest in robust e-learning platforms and digital resources to complement traditional classroom learning, making education more accessible and flexible.
Promote blended learning models that combine online and in-person instruction.
Access to ICT Infrastructure:
Address the challenges of internet connectivity and reliable power supply, especially in rural areas, to ensure equitable access to digital learning tools.
Provide affordable digital devices to students and educators.
Virtual Labs and Simulations:
Utilize virtual laboratories and simulation software to provide practical experience where physical equipment is limited or too expensive.
VI. Government Policies & Funding:
Increased and Targeted Funding:
Significantly increase the budget allocation to education, specifically earmarking funds for curriculum reform, TVET modernization, industry collaboration initiatives, and teacher training.
Ensure transparent and accountable use of these funds.
Policy Cohesion:
Develop a coherent national education policy that links educational outcomes directly to labor market needs, with clear implementation strategies and monitoring mechanisms.
Avoid frequent policy changes that disrupt progress.
Incentives for Private Sector Engagement:
Offer tax incentives, grants, or subsidies to private companies that invest in skills development, apprenticeships, or collaborate with educational institutions.
Strengthen Career Guidance & Counseling:
Implement effective career guidance and counseling services in schools and universities to help students make informed choices about their academic and career paths, aligning their interests with market demands.
By addressing these areas comprehensively, Nigeria can transform its educational system into a powerful engine for skill development, producing a workforce that is not only educated but also highly employable and capable of driving economic growth and innovation.
Bridging the gap between education and employable skills in Nigeria is a critical challenge that requires a holistic and multi-pronged approach involving government, educational institutions, the private sector, and civil society.
The current system often produces graduates ill-equipped for the demands of the modern job market, leading to high youth unemployment.
Here's how Nigeria can effectively bridge this gap:
I. Curriculum Reform & Relevance:
Industry-Driven Curriculum Development:
Regular Review & Updates: Curricula at all levels (primary, secondary, tertiary, and TVET) must be regularly reviewed and updated in close collaboration with industry experts, employers, and professional bodies. This ensures that what is taught aligns directly with the skills demanded by the job market.
Competency-Based Learning: Shift the focus from rote memorization and theoretical knowledge to competency-based education. This means assessing students on their ability to apply knowledge and skills to real-world problems.
Inclusion of 21st-Century Skills: Integrate critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, communication, collaboration, digital literacy, and data analysis across all disciplines. These "soft skills" are highly valued by employers.
Emphasis on STEM and Digital Skills:
Strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education: Invest heavily in STEM education from an early age, ensuring adequate laboratories, equipment, and qualified teachers.
Digital Literacy: Make digital literacy a foundational skill across all levels of education. Introduce coding, data analytics, cybersecurity, and AI/Machine Learning at appropriate stages. Initiatives like NITDA's 3MTT (Three Million Technical Talent) are good starts but need massive scaling.
Mandatory Entrepreneurship Education:
Integrate practical entrepreneurship education into all tertiary curricula. This should go beyond theoretical concepts to include business plan development, mentorship, access to seed funding (even if small), and incubation support. The goal is to produce job creators, not just job seekers.
II. Strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET):
Rebranding and Destigmatization:
Launch nationwide campaigns to change the societal perception of TVET. Highlight successful TVET graduates, showcase the lucrative nature of skilled trades (e.g., plumbing, welding, carpentry, ICT repairs), and emphasize their vital role in economic development. Combat the notion that TVET is for "school dropouts."
Increased Investment and Modernization:
Adequately fund TVET institutions with modern tools, equipment, workshops, and technology that reflect current industry standards.
Upgrade and maintain existing polytechnics, technical colleges, and vocational centers.
Industry-Led TVET:
Ensure that TVET programs are directly developed and run in partnership with industries. Companies should be involved in curriculum design, practical training, and certification.
Promote apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs, where students learn practical skills directly in a workplace setting.
III. Enhance Industry-Academia Collaboration:
Structured Partnerships:
MOU and Joint Projects: Facilitate Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between universities/polytechnics and industries for joint research projects, curriculum development, and student internships.
Research & Development (R&D): Encourage industries to fund university research that addresses their specific needs and challenges, creating a symbiotic relationship.
Advisory Boards: Establish industry advisory boards for academic departments to provide direct input on curriculum, necessary skills, and emerging trends.
Internship and Apprenticeship Programs:
Make internships (Industrial Attachment) mandatory, well-structured, and adequately supervised. Ensure students gain relevant, hands-on experience that aligns with their studies.
Incentivize companies (e.g., through tax breaks) to offer quality internships and apprenticeships.
Guest Lecturers and Adjunct Faculty:
Invite industry professionals to serve as guest lecturers, adjunct faculty, or mentors, bringing real-world experience into the classroom.
IV. Teacher Training and Professional Development:-
Skills-Focused Pedagogy:
Train educators at all levels to adopt practical, problem-solving, and project-based teaching methodologies that foster skill development rather than rote learning.
Equip teachers with the skills to integrate technology effectively into their teaching.
Continuous Professional Development:
Provide ongoing training for teachers and lecturers to keep them updated on industry trends, new technologies, and modern pedagogical approaches.
Encourage lecturers to undertake sabbaticals in relevant industries to gain practical experience.
Industry Experience for Educators:
Implement programs that allow academic staff to spend time in relevant industries, gaining practical experience that they can then bring back to the classroom.
V. Leverage Technology and Digital Learning:
E-Learning Platforms:
Invest in robust e-learning platforms and digital resources to complement traditional classroom learning, making education more accessible and flexible.
Promote blended learning models that combine online and in-person instruction.
Access to ICT Infrastructure:
Address the challenges of internet connectivity and reliable power supply, especially in rural areas, to ensure equitable access to digital learning tools.
Provide affordable digital devices to students and educators.
Virtual Labs and Simulations:
Utilize virtual laboratories and simulation software to provide practical experience where physical equipment is limited or too expensive.
VI. Government Policies & Funding:
Increased and Targeted Funding:
Significantly increase the budget allocation to education, specifically earmarking funds for curriculum reform, TVET modernization, industry collaboration initiatives, and teacher training.
Ensure transparent and accountable use of these funds.
Policy Cohesion:
Develop a coherent national education policy that links educational outcomes directly to labor market needs, with clear implementation strategies and monitoring mechanisms.
Avoid frequent policy changes that disrupt progress.
Incentives for Private Sector Engagement:
Offer tax incentives, grants, or subsidies to private companies that invest in skills development, apprenticeships, or collaborate with educational institutions.
Strengthen Career Guidance & Counseling:
Implement effective career guidance and counseling services in schools and universities to help students make informed choices about their academic and career paths, aligning their interests with market demands.
By addressing these areas comprehensively, Nigeria can transform its educational system into a powerful engine for skill development, producing a workforce that is not only educated but also highly employable and capable of driving economic growth and innovation.
4 days ago
How do trade imbalances caused by over-importation affect our currency, inflation, and economic stability?
Trade imbalances from over-importation can have a significant negative impact on a country's currency, inflation, and economic stability. A persistent trade deficit, where imports far exceed exports, often leads to a weaker currency, higher inflation, and a more fragile economy.
Currency and Exchange Rates
A country's currency value is a reflection of international demand for its goods and services. When a nation imports more than it exports, it needs to sell its own currency to buy foreign currency to pay for those imports. This creates a high supply of the domestic currency on the global market and a high demand for foreign currency. According to the principles of supply and demand, this drives down the value of the domestic currency.
Depreciation: A weaker currency means it takes more of the local currency to buy the same amount of a foreign currency (e.g., the US dollar). This makes all imports, from raw materials to finished consumer goods, more expensive.
Inflation
The depreciation of a country's currency directly contributes to inflation. As imports become more expensive, the cost of goods and services for businesses and consumers rises. This is known as imported inflation.
Rising Costs: Businesses that rely on imported raw materials or machinery will see their production costs increase. They often pass these costs on to consumers in the form of higher prices.
Cost of Living: For consumers, the price of imported goods like electronics, cars, and even food staples will rise. This reduces their purchasing power and increases the overall cost of living.
Economic Stability
A persistent trade imbalance can undermine a country's long-term economic stability.
Foreign Debt: To finance a trade deficit, a country often has to borrow from abroad. This increases its foreign debt and makes the economy more vulnerable to shifts in global financial markets. If foreign investors suddenly lose confidence, they could pull their capital out, potentially triggering a financial crisis.
Loss of Industrial Base: The flow of cheap imports can destroy local industries, leading to factory closures and job losses. This makes the economy less diversified and more reliant on a narrow range of sectors, often primary commodities. This over-reliance leaves the country highly susceptible to fluctuations in global commodity prices.
Reduced Sovereignty: A heavy economic dependence on foreign countries for essential goods can weaken a nation's ability to make independent policy decisions. It may be pressured to align its political and foreign policy with its main trading partners to maintain access to critical imports.
Trade imbalances from over-importation can have a significant negative impact on a country's currency, inflation, and economic stability. A persistent trade deficit, where imports far exceed exports, often leads to a weaker currency, higher inflation, and a more fragile economy.
Currency and Exchange Rates
A country's currency value is a reflection of international demand for its goods and services. When a nation imports more than it exports, it needs to sell its own currency to buy foreign currency to pay for those imports. This creates a high supply of the domestic currency on the global market and a high demand for foreign currency. According to the principles of supply and demand, this drives down the value of the domestic currency.
Depreciation: A weaker currency means it takes more of the local currency to buy the same amount of a foreign currency (e.g., the US dollar). This makes all imports, from raw materials to finished consumer goods, more expensive.
Inflation
The depreciation of a country's currency directly contributes to inflation. As imports become more expensive, the cost of goods and services for businesses and consumers rises. This is known as imported inflation.
Rising Costs: Businesses that rely on imported raw materials or machinery will see their production costs increase. They often pass these costs on to consumers in the form of higher prices.
Cost of Living: For consumers, the price of imported goods like electronics, cars, and even food staples will rise. This reduces their purchasing power and increases the overall cost of living.
Economic Stability
A persistent trade imbalance can undermine a country's long-term economic stability.
Foreign Debt: To finance a trade deficit, a country often has to borrow from abroad. This increases its foreign debt and makes the economy more vulnerable to shifts in global financial markets. If foreign investors suddenly lose confidence, they could pull their capital out, potentially triggering a financial crisis.
Loss of Industrial Base: The flow of cheap imports can destroy local industries, leading to factory closures and job losses. This makes the economy less diversified and more reliant on a narrow range of sectors, often primary commodities. This over-reliance leaves the country highly susceptible to fluctuations in global commodity prices.
Reduced Sovereignty: A heavy economic dependence on foreign countries for essential goods can weaken a nation's ability to make independent policy decisions. It may be pressured to align its political and foreign policy with its main trading partners to maintain access to critical imports.
4 days ago
Is it possible to build quality local alternatives, and if so, what’s stopping us?
lt's absolutely possible to build quality local alternatives to cheap imports. What's stopping us is a combination of systemic barriers, policy gaps, and economic disadvantages that make it incredibly difficult for local industries to compete. The challenge isn't a lack of ability or ideas, but rather a lack of a strong enabling environment.
Key Barriers to Local Manufacturing
The primary reasons local industries struggle to take root and thrive can be grouped into several key areas:
Infrastructure Deficiencies: A fundamental issue is the lack of reliable and affordable infrastructure. In many places, manufacturers face frequent power outages, poor road and rail networks, and high logistics costs. These challenges make it more expensive and less efficient to produce and transport goods locally compared to importing finished products from countries with superior infrastructure.
Lack of Capital and Finance: Local businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), often have limited access to the large amounts of capital needed to build modern factories, purchase machinery, and invest in technology. Financial institutions may be hesitant to lend to new or smaller businesses, making it difficult to scale operations and achieve the economies of scale needed to compete on price with mass-produced imports.
Skills Gaps and Technology: African manufacturers often lag behind in technology adoption and have a shortage of skilled labor, particularly in technical and managerial roles. Without access to modern technology and a well-trained workforce, productivity remains low, and it's difficult to produce goods that meet international quality standards.
Policy and Regulatory Hurdles: While governments have a role to play, inconsistent or poorly implemented industrial policies can create a hostile environment for local businesses. This includes bureaucratic red tape, high taxes on raw materials, and a lack of harmonized trade regulations, which make it difficult for businesses to operate and trade across borders.
Competition from a Single Market: The fragmented nature of many local markets makes it hard for businesses to grow. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a step toward creating a larger, integrated market, but its full implementation is a work in progress. This fragmentation means local firms often don't have a large enough consumer base to justify the investment in mass production.
lt's absolutely possible to build quality local alternatives to cheap imports. What's stopping us is a combination of systemic barriers, policy gaps, and economic disadvantages that make it incredibly difficult for local industries to compete. The challenge isn't a lack of ability or ideas, but rather a lack of a strong enabling environment.
Key Barriers to Local Manufacturing
The primary reasons local industries struggle to take root and thrive can be grouped into several key areas:
Infrastructure Deficiencies: A fundamental issue is the lack of reliable and affordable infrastructure. In many places, manufacturers face frequent power outages, poor road and rail networks, and high logistics costs. These challenges make it more expensive and less efficient to produce and transport goods locally compared to importing finished products from countries with superior infrastructure.
Lack of Capital and Finance: Local businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), often have limited access to the large amounts of capital needed to build modern factories, purchase machinery, and invest in technology. Financial institutions may be hesitant to lend to new or smaller businesses, making it difficult to scale operations and achieve the economies of scale needed to compete on price with mass-produced imports.
Skills Gaps and Technology: African manufacturers often lag behind in technology adoption and have a shortage of skilled labor, particularly in technical and managerial roles. Without access to modern technology and a well-trained workforce, productivity remains low, and it's difficult to produce goods that meet international quality standards.
Policy and Regulatory Hurdles: While governments have a role to play, inconsistent or poorly implemented industrial policies can create a hostile environment for local businesses. This includes bureaucratic red tape, high taxes on raw materials, and a lack of harmonized trade regulations, which make it difficult for businesses to operate and trade across borders.
Competition from a Single Market: The fragmented nature of many local markets makes it hard for businesses to grow. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a step toward creating a larger, integrated market, but its full implementation is a work in progress. This fragmentation means local firms often don't have a large enough consumer base to justify the investment in mass production.
4 days ago
What incentives or policies could protect and grow local manufacturing in the face of cheap imports?
To protect and grow local manufacturing against cheap imports, governments can implement a mix of protectionist policies and incentives for domestic industries. These strategies aim to either make imports less competitive or boost the capabilities and competitiveness of local businesses.
Protectionist Policies
These policies directly address the challenge of low-priced imports by raising their cost or limiting their quantity.
Tariffs: A tariff is a tax on imported goods. By increasing the price of imports, tariffs make locally produced goods more attractive to consumers. Governments can use specific tariffs (a fixed fee per unit) or ad valorem tariffs (a percentage of the item's value).
Import Quotas: This is a non-tax barrier that sets a strict limit on the volume of a specific good that can be imported over a given period. Quotas reduce the supply of foreign goods, which drives up their price and creates a market for domestic producers to fill the gap.
Anti-Dumping Duties: "Dumping" occurs when a foreign company sells its products in an export market at a price below its production cost to gain market share. Governments can impose special tariffs, known as anti-dumping duties, on these goods to level the playing field and prevent predatory pricing that could destroy local industries.
Local Content Requirements: This policy mandates that a certain percentage of a product's components or labor must be sourced locally. This measure is often used in sectors like automotive manufacturing or electronics to build a domestic supply chain and foster related industries.
Incentives and Support for Local Industry
Beyond restricting imports, governments can also take proactive steps to make local businesses more competitive.
Subsidies and Financial Support: Governments can provide financial assistance to local manufacturers through cash grants, low-interest loans, or tax breaks. These subsidies help reduce the cost of production, making local products more affordable and competitive without directly raising consumer prices.
Investment in Infrastructure and Technology: Improving a nation's infrastructure, such as power grids, transportation networks, and ports, can significantly lower the operational costs for local businesses. Governments can also fund research and development or offer tax credits for businesses that invest in new technology to improve efficiency and productivity.
Export Promotion: Policies that support local firms in selling their products abroad can help them achieve economies of scale. This includes government-sponsored trade missions, export subsidies, and assistance with marketing and logistics. A larger market allows companies to grow, become more efficient, and better withstand foreign competition at home.
"Buy Local" Campaigns: These are public awareness campaigns that encourage consumers and government agencies to prioritize purchasing locally made goods. For example, a "Buy Local" program for government procurement can guarantee a steady market for domestic producers, providing a stable foundation for growth.
To protect and grow local manufacturing against cheap imports, governments can implement a mix of protectionist policies and incentives for domestic industries. These strategies aim to either make imports less competitive or boost the capabilities and competitiveness of local businesses.
Protectionist Policies
These policies directly address the challenge of low-priced imports by raising their cost or limiting their quantity.
Tariffs: A tariff is a tax on imported goods. By increasing the price of imports, tariffs make locally produced goods more attractive to consumers. Governments can use specific tariffs (a fixed fee per unit) or ad valorem tariffs (a percentage of the item's value).
Import Quotas: This is a non-tax barrier that sets a strict limit on the volume of a specific good that can be imported over a given period. Quotas reduce the supply of foreign goods, which drives up their price and creates a market for domestic producers to fill the gap.
Anti-Dumping Duties: "Dumping" occurs when a foreign company sells its products in an export market at a price below its production cost to gain market share. Governments can impose special tariffs, known as anti-dumping duties, on these goods to level the playing field and prevent predatory pricing that could destroy local industries.
Local Content Requirements: This policy mandates that a certain percentage of a product's components or labor must be sourced locally. This measure is often used in sectors like automotive manufacturing or electronics to build a domestic supply chain and foster related industries.
Incentives and Support for Local Industry
Beyond restricting imports, governments can also take proactive steps to make local businesses more competitive.
Subsidies and Financial Support: Governments can provide financial assistance to local manufacturers through cash grants, low-interest loans, or tax breaks. These subsidies help reduce the cost of production, making local products more affordable and competitive without directly raising consumer prices.
Investment in Infrastructure and Technology: Improving a nation's infrastructure, such as power grids, transportation networks, and ports, can significantly lower the operational costs for local businesses. Governments can also fund research and development or offer tax credits for businesses that invest in new technology to improve efficiency and productivity.
Export Promotion: Policies that support local firms in selling their products abroad can help them achieve economies of scale. This includes government-sponsored trade missions, export subsidies, and assistance with marketing and logistics. A larger market allows companies to grow, become more efficient, and better withstand foreign competition at home.
"Buy Local" Campaigns: These are public awareness campaigns that encourage consumers and government agencies to prioritize purchasing locally made goods. For example, a "Buy Local" program for government procurement can guarantee a steady market for domestic producers, providing a stable foundation for growth.
4 days ago
China’s Darwin Port Control: Trump’s ‘New Appointee’ Fuels Australia’s Plan To End Landbridge‘s 99-Year Lease?
Is the appointment of Stephen Andrew Feinberg, an American businessman and investor, as the 36th United States deputy secretary of defense by President Donald Trump, the prime reason for Australia considering terminating the Chinese-owned company Landbridge‘s 99-year lease for the strategically important Darwin port?
“Not exactly” could be the answer, though Feinberg’s private equity group Cerberus (he is the founder and co-CEO, but had to resign from the post for joining the Pentagon) is reported to be one of the bidders, along with the Japanese logistics company Toll Group, to buy back the lease from Landbridge.
If done, it will be on the pattern of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s proposed sale of Panama Canal ports to Swiss-Italian Mediterranean Shipping Co and BlackRock, following pressure from the Trump Administration over alleged Chinese influence at the vital waterway.
There is also the possibility of Australia not leasing the port to any other country after taking it back from the Landbridge, based on recent statements by Australian politicians. The country will manage the port itself.
Landbridge’s lease has been a controversial issue in Australian politics ever since it was signed on November 15, 2015.
In fact, the debate surrounding the port predates the Trump Presidency. The lease was opposed by even President Barack Obama. But the then Liberal government led by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gave the go-ahead for the lease. The Labor Party, then in opposition, had opposed the move.
Now in power, Labor has not changed its position, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanes, who got reelected in May this year, asserting during his election-campaign, “ “Obviously we live in an uncertain world at the moment, the idea that you would have the major port in northern Australia owned by any foreign interest is not in Australia’s national interest”.
The Liberals, now in opposition, have also changed their position. They are now against the lease. Thus, there is now a more or less political consensus in Australia against the Darwin port remaining in Chinese hands.
It may be noted that Darwin Port, located in Australia’s Northern Territories (NT), was leased for $506 million by the Landbridge, which is controlled by Chinese billionaire Ye Cheng, who was a member of the national committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a political advisory body, from 2013 to 2018.
The Labor Party, then, had alleged that Landbridge had “extensive connections” to the Chinese Communist Party and People’s Liberation Army, warning that the lease “compromised Australia’s long-term strategic security”.
However, it is also noteworthy that Australia’s Defence Department had in 2015 reviewed the strategic and operational risks of the deal, including cyberattacks, intellectual property theft, infrastructure degradation, and port shutdowns, and okayed it. Likewise, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) was equally satisfied with the level of due diligence conducted before the lease was approved.
Reconsideration Of The Lease
So, why is security a factor now in the demands behind the reconsideration of the lease?
It is because the geopolitical considerations in 2015 of the Australian security elites have changed. The optimistic perception of China in Australia in 2014 seems to be no longer there today, thanks to Beijing’s increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region in recent years.
After all, so runs the argument, every civilian Chinese farm, state-owned or not, and the Landbridge being no exception, has to comply with the ruling Communist Party’s mandates on matters relating to national security. Businesses do constitute a geopolitical cudgel for Beijing.
And that being the case, Darwin’s strategic location is significant as it is Australia’s northernmost maritime facility, situated on the edge of Southeast Asia and the South China Sea.
Maritime forces stationed there can always enjoy a central position just outside the southerly arc of Asia’s first island chain, which runs from Japan through Taiwan, the Philippines, and the Indonesian archipelago before terminating at the Strait of Malacca.
The Sunda and Lombok straits, key alternatives to the Malacca Strait, are within Darwin’s reach. Amid China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, U.S. Marine forces, allies of Australia, have direct access from Darwin, with approximately 2,500 Marines from the I Marine Expeditionary Force rotating through the port annually.
Among other functions, these Marines are also said to be honing tactics for “access denial” while helping beleaguered allies and partners like the Philippines and Taiwan.
In other words, with Darwin occupying such a strategic position, it is argued that Australia and its allies cannot afford to leave the port in Chinese hands.
As James Holmes of the U.S. Naval War College fears, Chinese observers at the port could gather intelligence on the Australian Defense Force and allied comings and goings while abetting net assessment of allied capabilities, tactics, techniques, and procedures.
“In so doing, they help acquaint the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) with potential foes, the first step toward defeating them. Nor is it far-fetched to imagine Chinese port operators slow-rolling—or, more likely, actively hampering—allied military movements and resupply in wartime”.
All these apprehensions, when fitted in the overall framework of China outpacing the developed Western countries in general and the United States in particular in investing in “the port infrastructure around the world”, have further sharpened the geopolitical focus on Darwin.
Incidentally, as per the latest available data, China operates or has ownership in at least one port on every continent except Antarctica. Of the 129 projects, 115 are active, whereas the remaining 14 port projects have become inactive due to cancellation or suspension over environmental concerns, souring of political relations, financial problems, and security issues raised domestically and internationally.
It is said that China has ownership of 91 active port projects across the globe, where military use is a possibility, providing it with a foothold on every continent except Antarctica.
These projects are part of its Maritime Silk Road (MSR). If the American military analysts are to be believed, China’s position of control and influence over the majority of port infrastructure globally poses a significant economic and military security threat to the United States and its allies.
It is feared that China could always use its power to interfere with operations that rely on port access—including military and economic operations that are vital to American interests and those of its allies and partners.
In fact, according to a study, out of the 70 commercial port projects that China has in the “Global South,” which includes Australia, an estimated 55 projects have the potential for naval use as well.
In addition to commercial and military use, China is believed to be using port infrastructure for spying and intelligence gathering. Apparently, a U.S. Congressional probe in 2024 showed communications equipment in Chinese-made cranes at U.S. ports, suggesting vulnerabilities to supply chains, trade data, and other sensitive information.
It is also said that China has secured a commanding position through Logink (also known as the National Transportation and Logistics Public Information Platform), a Chinese state-owned digital logistics platform.
At least 24 ports worldwide reportedly have adopted the Logink system, which could allow China to access significant amounts of confidential information related to transportation, pricing, and management of goods (including military equipment), threatening its rivals’ security.
Given all this, the United States would obviously like Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to keep up his election promise of taking back Darwin from the Chinese hands. But then, it is easier said than done.
Albanese had avoided giving a definite answer when questioned on this during his six-day trip to China, one of Australia’s “strategic partners”, last month.
In any case, China is speaking out vehemently opposing the termination of the lease, terming the move as “ethically questionable.”
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for his country’s companies to be treated properly, saying, “We hope that the Australian side can provide a fair, open, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises in Australia”.
But the point is that gone are the days when China was seen in Australia as a benign trade partner. China’s lease of the port is no longer an issue limited to trade; it has become the battleground over Beijing’s overall geopolitical ambitions, something Australia’s ally, the United States, is trying to keep limited.
Is the appointment of Stephen Andrew Feinberg, an American businessman and investor, as the 36th United States deputy secretary of defense by President Donald Trump, the prime reason for Australia considering terminating the Chinese-owned company Landbridge‘s 99-year lease for the strategically important Darwin port?
“Not exactly” could be the answer, though Feinberg’s private equity group Cerberus (he is the founder and co-CEO, but had to resign from the post for joining the Pentagon) is reported to be one of the bidders, along with the Japanese logistics company Toll Group, to buy back the lease from Landbridge.
If done, it will be on the pattern of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s proposed sale of Panama Canal ports to Swiss-Italian Mediterranean Shipping Co and BlackRock, following pressure from the Trump Administration over alleged Chinese influence at the vital waterway.
There is also the possibility of Australia not leasing the port to any other country after taking it back from the Landbridge, based on recent statements by Australian politicians. The country will manage the port itself.
Landbridge’s lease has been a controversial issue in Australian politics ever since it was signed on November 15, 2015.
In fact, the debate surrounding the port predates the Trump Presidency. The lease was opposed by even President Barack Obama. But the then Liberal government led by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gave the go-ahead for the lease. The Labor Party, then in opposition, had opposed the move.
Now in power, Labor has not changed its position, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanes, who got reelected in May this year, asserting during his election-campaign, “ “Obviously we live in an uncertain world at the moment, the idea that you would have the major port in northern Australia owned by any foreign interest is not in Australia’s national interest”.
The Liberals, now in opposition, have also changed their position. They are now against the lease. Thus, there is now a more or less political consensus in Australia against the Darwin port remaining in Chinese hands.
It may be noted that Darwin Port, located in Australia’s Northern Territories (NT), was leased for $506 million by the Landbridge, which is controlled by Chinese billionaire Ye Cheng, who was a member of the national committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a political advisory body, from 2013 to 2018.
The Labor Party, then, had alleged that Landbridge had “extensive connections” to the Chinese Communist Party and People’s Liberation Army, warning that the lease “compromised Australia’s long-term strategic security”.
However, it is also noteworthy that Australia’s Defence Department had in 2015 reviewed the strategic and operational risks of the deal, including cyberattacks, intellectual property theft, infrastructure degradation, and port shutdowns, and okayed it. Likewise, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) was equally satisfied with the level of due diligence conducted before the lease was approved.
Reconsideration Of The Lease
So, why is security a factor now in the demands behind the reconsideration of the lease?
It is because the geopolitical considerations in 2015 of the Australian security elites have changed. The optimistic perception of China in Australia in 2014 seems to be no longer there today, thanks to Beijing’s increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region in recent years.
After all, so runs the argument, every civilian Chinese farm, state-owned or not, and the Landbridge being no exception, has to comply with the ruling Communist Party’s mandates on matters relating to national security. Businesses do constitute a geopolitical cudgel for Beijing.
And that being the case, Darwin’s strategic location is significant as it is Australia’s northernmost maritime facility, situated on the edge of Southeast Asia and the South China Sea.
Maritime forces stationed there can always enjoy a central position just outside the southerly arc of Asia’s first island chain, which runs from Japan through Taiwan, the Philippines, and the Indonesian archipelago before terminating at the Strait of Malacca.
The Sunda and Lombok straits, key alternatives to the Malacca Strait, are within Darwin’s reach. Amid China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, U.S. Marine forces, allies of Australia, have direct access from Darwin, with approximately 2,500 Marines from the I Marine Expeditionary Force rotating through the port annually.
Among other functions, these Marines are also said to be honing tactics for “access denial” while helping beleaguered allies and partners like the Philippines and Taiwan.
In other words, with Darwin occupying such a strategic position, it is argued that Australia and its allies cannot afford to leave the port in Chinese hands.
As James Holmes of the U.S. Naval War College fears, Chinese observers at the port could gather intelligence on the Australian Defense Force and allied comings and goings while abetting net assessment of allied capabilities, tactics, techniques, and procedures.
“In so doing, they help acquaint the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) with potential foes, the first step toward defeating them. Nor is it far-fetched to imagine Chinese port operators slow-rolling—or, more likely, actively hampering—allied military movements and resupply in wartime”.
All these apprehensions, when fitted in the overall framework of China outpacing the developed Western countries in general and the United States in particular in investing in “the port infrastructure around the world”, have further sharpened the geopolitical focus on Darwin.
Incidentally, as per the latest available data, China operates or has ownership in at least one port on every continent except Antarctica. Of the 129 projects, 115 are active, whereas the remaining 14 port projects have become inactive due to cancellation or suspension over environmental concerns, souring of political relations, financial problems, and security issues raised domestically and internationally.
It is said that China has ownership of 91 active port projects across the globe, where military use is a possibility, providing it with a foothold on every continent except Antarctica.
These projects are part of its Maritime Silk Road (MSR). If the American military analysts are to be believed, China’s position of control and influence over the majority of port infrastructure globally poses a significant economic and military security threat to the United States and its allies.
It is feared that China could always use its power to interfere with operations that rely on port access—including military and economic operations that are vital to American interests and those of its allies and partners.
In fact, according to a study, out of the 70 commercial port projects that China has in the “Global South,” which includes Australia, an estimated 55 projects have the potential for naval use as well.
In addition to commercial and military use, China is believed to be using port infrastructure for spying and intelligence gathering. Apparently, a U.S. Congressional probe in 2024 showed communications equipment in Chinese-made cranes at U.S. ports, suggesting vulnerabilities to supply chains, trade data, and other sensitive information.
It is also said that China has secured a commanding position through Logink (also known as the National Transportation and Logistics Public Information Platform), a Chinese state-owned digital logistics platform.
At least 24 ports worldwide reportedly have adopted the Logink system, which could allow China to access significant amounts of confidential information related to transportation, pricing, and management of goods (including military equipment), threatening its rivals’ security.
Given all this, the United States would obviously like Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to keep up his election promise of taking back Darwin from the Chinese hands. But then, it is easier said than done.
Albanese had avoided giving a definite answer when questioned on this during his six-day trip to China, one of Australia’s “strategic partners”, last month.
In any case, China is speaking out vehemently opposing the termination of the lease, terming the move as “ethically questionable.”
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for his country’s companies to be treated properly, saying, “We hope that the Australian side can provide a fair, open, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises in Australia”.
But the point is that gone are the days when China was seen in Australia as a benign trade partner. China’s lease of the port is no longer an issue limited to trade; it has become the battleground over Beijing’s overall geopolitical ambitions, something Australia’s ally, the United States, is trying to keep limited.
4 days ago
Al Jazeera: Terrorists Or Journalists? All You Want To Know About Qatar’s Global Media Organization.
Al Jazeera said on Sunday that five of its journalists were killed in an Israeli strike, including a renowned reporter.
The Israeli military acknowledged in a statement targeting correspondent Anas al-Sharif, accusing him of being a “terrorist” affiliated with Hamas.
Al Jazeera said four others had been killed: correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa.
Here are five things to know about the Arab media giant, which has been at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration since well before Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza started on October 7.
Founded By Decree
Al Jazeera was launched in Doha in 1996 by a decree issued by the former emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
While stipulating that the channel should be “totally independent of all influences”, the decree also provided a $150-million government loan for “setting it up and covering its operating costs for five years”.
Though Al Jazeera Media Network is a private business, the broadcaster has retained some Qatari government funding, which its critics often cite when questioning its editorial independence from Doha.
The broadcaster immediately emerged as a rival to international media giants but its no-holds-barred coverage as the self-described “first independent news channel in the Arab world” also sparked a series of legal disputes in the region in its early years.
Global Reach
The channel says it operates in 95 countries with 70 bureaus and a staff of 3,000 employees, with a global audience of more than 430 million homes.
Al Jazeera, the network’s initial Arabic-language news channel, was joined in 2006 by an English service.
Al Jazeera and Al Jazeera English, the network’s flagship channels, have distinct editorial lines, with the Arabic-language channel more frequently facing criticism from within the region.
The network also includes a live public affairs channel, Al Jazeera Mubasher, and its digital-only AJ+ channel, which targets young audiences.
Airtime For Dissidents
When a wave of popular uprisings swept the Middle East and North Africa in 2011, Al Jazeera was seen as a key shaper of public opinion because it gave unprecedented airtime to opposition groups, most notably the Muslim Brotherhood.
The network has repeatedly rejected any accusation of bias in its coverage.
Al Jazeera faced pressure from governments across the region and became the focus of a feud between Cairo and Doha after the 2013 military ouster of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood president, Mohamed Morsi.
Cairo considered it a mouthpiece for Morsi’s Islamist movement and Egyptian authorities arrested three Al Jazeera journalists, including Australian Peter Greste, provoking international condemnation.
Regional Blockade
In 2017, Qatar’s neighbours, led by Saudi Arabia, imposed a three-year diplomatic and economic blockade on the Gulf monarchy.
As well as demanding Qatar cut ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and its sister organisation Hamas, and downgrade relations with Iran, the boycotting states also called for the closure of Al Jazeera and all its affiliates.
The channel called the pressure an attempt to “silence freedom of expression”.
On The Ground In Gaza
Since war broke out in the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, triggered by Hamas’s attack on Israel, Al Jazeera has aired continuous on-the-ground reporting of Israel’s military campaign and its consequences.
Its broadcasts have been among the most watched in the Middle East amid widespread disenchantment with Western media coverage regarded as skewed in Israel’s favour.
In April 2024, Netanyahu called Al Jazeera a “terrorist channel”, saying he would “act immediately” to halt its activities after parliament passed a law allowing the banning of media broadcasts deemed harmful to national security.
The law was used to ban Al Jazeera from broadcasting from Israel as of May 5, 2024, and to close its offices in the country in a temporary but renewable measure. Israel later moved to revoke the press credentials of some Al Jazeera journalists.
The network has decried a “criminal” violation of “the human right to access information”.
Since the start of the Gaza war, Al Jazeera’s office in the besieged Palestinian territory has been bombed, and a number of its staff have been killed.
Israel has repeatedly accused Al Jazeera journalists, including those killed or injured in strikes, of “terrorism” links or collaborating with Hamas.
Al Jazeera has fiercely denied the allegations and accused Israel of systematically targeting its employees in the Gaza Strip.
Al Jazeera said on Sunday that five of its journalists were killed in an Israeli strike, including a renowned reporter.
The Israeli military acknowledged in a statement targeting correspondent Anas al-Sharif, accusing him of being a “terrorist” affiliated with Hamas.
Al Jazeera said four others had been killed: correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa.
Here are five things to know about the Arab media giant, which has been at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration since well before Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza started on October 7.
Founded By Decree
Al Jazeera was launched in Doha in 1996 by a decree issued by the former emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
While stipulating that the channel should be “totally independent of all influences”, the decree also provided a $150-million government loan for “setting it up and covering its operating costs for five years”.
Though Al Jazeera Media Network is a private business, the broadcaster has retained some Qatari government funding, which its critics often cite when questioning its editorial independence from Doha.
The broadcaster immediately emerged as a rival to international media giants but its no-holds-barred coverage as the self-described “first independent news channel in the Arab world” also sparked a series of legal disputes in the region in its early years.
Global Reach
The channel says it operates in 95 countries with 70 bureaus and a staff of 3,000 employees, with a global audience of more than 430 million homes.
Al Jazeera, the network’s initial Arabic-language news channel, was joined in 2006 by an English service.
Al Jazeera and Al Jazeera English, the network’s flagship channels, have distinct editorial lines, with the Arabic-language channel more frequently facing criticism from within the region.
The network also includes a live public affairs channel, Al Jazeera Mubasher, and its digital-only AJ+ channel, which targets young audiences.
Airtime For Dissidents
When a wave of popular uprisings swept the Middle East and North Africa in 2011, Al Jazeera was seen as a key shaper of public opinion because it gave unprecedented airtime to opposition groups, most notably the Muslim Brotherhood.
The network has repeatedly rejected any accusation of bias in its coverage.
Al Jazeera faced pressure from governments across the region and became the focus of a feud between Cairo and Doha after the 2013 military ouster of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood president, Mohamed Morsi.
Cairo considered it a mouthpiece for Morsi’s Islamist movement and Egyptian authorities arrested three Al Jazeera journalists, including Australian Peter Greste, provoking international condemnation.
Regional Blockade
In 2017, Qatar’s neighbours, led by Saudi Arabia, imposed a three-year diplomatic and economic blockade on the Gulf monarchy.
As well as demanding Qatar cut ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and its sister organisation Hamas, and downgrade relations with Iran, the boycotting states also called for the closure of Al Jazeera and all its affiliates.
The channel called the pressure an attempt to “silence freedom of expression”.
On The Ground In Gaza
Since war broke out in the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, triggered by Hamas’s attack on Israel, Al Jazeera has aired continuous on-the-ground reporting of Israel’s military campaign and its consequences.
Its broadcasts have been among the most watched in the Middle East amid widespread disenchantment with Western media coverage regarded as skewed in Israel’s favour.
In April 2024, Netanyahu called Al Jazeera a “terrorist channel”, saying he would “act immediately” to halt its activities after parliament passed a law allowing the banning of media broadcasts deemed harmful to national security.
The law was used to ban Al Jazeera from broadcasting from Israel as of May 5, 2024, and to close its offices in the country in a temporary but renewable measure. Israel later moved to revoke the press credentials of some Al Jazeera journalists.
The network has decried a “criminal” violation of “the human right to access information”.
Since the start of the Gaza war, Al Jazeera’s office in the besieged Palestinian territory has been bombed, and a number of its staff have been killed.
Israel has repeatedly accused Al Jazeera journalists, including those killed or injured in strikes, of “terrorism” links or collaborating with Hamas.
Al Jazeera has fiercely denied the allegations and accused Israel of systematically targeting its employees in the Gaza Strip.
4 days ago
Evils of private lenders to poor countries.....
Private lenders can be a major source of financial hardship for developing countries, creating a vicious cycle of debt that hinders economic growth and social progress. Unlike loans from international institutions or other governments, private loans often come with less favorable terms, which can be particularly damaging to vulnerable nations.
Unsustainable Debt and Economic Instability
Private loans often carry high interest rates and short repayment periods, which can quickly become unmanageable for countries with limited resources and unstable economies. When governments spend a large portion of their national budget on debt servicing, it leaves little room for essential public services like healthcare and education. This can lead to a decline in living standards and a further entrenchment of poverty. The need to service this debt can also force a country to cut social spending and public investments, which has a devastating impact on its citizens.
Crowding Out Effect: High government debt can "crowd out" private investment. When a government has to borrow heavily to service its existing debt, it competes with private companies for available capital. This drives up interest rates, making it more expensive for businesses to borrow, invest, and create jobs.
Fiscal Space Reduction: The large sums spent on interest payments on private debt significantly reduce a country's "fiscal space" – the flexibility it has to use its budget for public spending. This can leave a nation unprepared to respond to crises, such as natural disasters, pandemics, or economic shocks.
Lack of Transparency and Accountability
Private lending often lacks the transparency and oversight of public institutions. This can create opportunities for corruption and poor governance. The terms of private loans may be kept secret, making it difficult for the public to scrutinize how the money is being used and whether the terms are fair. This lack of accountability can lead to funds being mismanaged or siphoned off by corrupt officials, with the public ultimately left to bear the burden of repayment.
Vulnerability to Currency Fluctuations: Many private loans to developing countries are denominated in foreign currencies, like the U.S. dollar. This makes a country's debt burden highly vulnerable to changes in exchange rates. If the local currency depreciates against the foreign currency, the cost of repaying the debt can skyrocket, even if the original loan amount hasn't changed.
Complex Restructuring: In the event a country defaults on its debt, restructuring private loans can be a complex and lengthy process. There's no single body to negotiate with, as a country might owe money to numerous private creditors, each with its own interests. This can lead to protracted legal battles and further delay a country's economic recovery.
Eroding Sovereignty
In some cases, private lenders can exert significant influence over a country's economic policies, effectively eroding its sovereignty. To secure a loan or avoid default, a country might be pressured to adopt certain economic reforms, such as privatization of state-owned assets or austerity measures.
These conditions may not be in the best interest of the nation's people and can lead to a loss of control over its own resources and strategic decisions. For example, a country might have to privatize a public utility, leading to higher costs for its citizens, just to satisfy the conditions of a private loan.
Private lenders can be a major source of financial hardship for developing countries, creating a vicious cycle of debt that hinders economic growth and social progress. Unlike loans from international institutions or other governments, private loans often come with less favorable terms, which can be particularly damaging to vulnerable nations.
Unsustainable Debt and Economic Instability
Private loans often carry high interest rates and short repayment periods, which can quickly become unmanageable for countries with limited resources and unstable economies. When governments spend a large portion of their national budget on debt servicing, it leaves little room for essential public services like healthcare and education. This can lead to a decline in living standards and a further entrenchment of poverty. The need to service this debt can also force a country to cut social spending and public investments, which has a devastating impact on its citizens.
Crowding Out Effect: High government debt can "crowd out" private investment. When a government has to borrow heavily to service its existing debt, it competes with private companies for available capital. This drives up interest rates, making it more expensive for businesses to borrow, invest, and create jobs.
Fiscal Space Reduction: The large sums spent on interest payments on private debt significantly reduce a country's "fiscal space" – the flexibility it has to use its budget for public spending. This can leave a nation unprepared to respond to crises, such as natural disasters, pandemics, or economic shocks.
Lack of Transparency and Accountability
Private lending often lacks the transparency and oversight of public institutions. This can create opportunities for corruption and poor governance. The terms of private loans may be kept secret, making it difficult for the public to scrutinize how the money is being used and whether the terms are fair. This lack of accountability can lead to funds being mismanaged or siphoned off by corrupt officials, with the public ultimately left to bear the burden of repayment.
Vulnerability to Currency Fluctuations: Many private loans to developing countries are denominated in foreign currencies, like the U.S. dollar. This makes a country's debt burden highly vulnerable to changes in exchange rates. If the local currency depreciates against the foreign currency, the cost of repaying the debt can skyrocket, even if the original loan amount hasn't changed.
Complex Restructuring: In the event a country defaults on its debt, restructuring private loans can be a complex and lengthy process. There's no single body to negotiate with, as a country might owe money to numerous private creditors, each with its own interests. This can lead to protracted legal battles and further delay a country's economic recovery.
Eroding Sovereignty
In some cases, private lenders can exert significant influence over a country's economic policies, effectively eroding its sovereignty. To secure a loan or avoid default, a country might be pressured to adopt certain economic reforms, such as privatization of state-owned assets or austerity measures.
These conditions may not be in the best interest of the nation's people and can lead to a loss of control over its own resources and strategic decisions. For example, a country might have to privatize a public utility, leading to higher costs for its citizens, just to satisfy the conditions of a private loan.
5 days ago
Are you ready to ditch the mess of phone calls and manual bookings? It's time to prepare with advanced technology that works smarter, not harder. Taxi dispatch software is your launchpad to smoother taxi operations, happier riders, and significant growth.
Taxi dispatch software is a digital system that helps manage and coordinate taxi operations more efficiently. It simplifies the process of allocating trips, tracking vehicles, managing reservations, and increasing driver productivity, all from a single platform.
We’ve reached the end, and it’s clear that taxi dispatch software is essential to running a smart, efficient, and scalable taxi business. Also, you can strengthen your taxi business and deliver a competitive service in today’s market.
Want more insights like this? Subscribe now to access the latest blogs, tips, and trends to help grow your taxi business faster and smarter.
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Taxi dispatch software is a digital system that helps manage and coordinate taxi operations more efficiently. It simplifies the process of allocating trips, tracking vehicles, managing reservations, and increasing driver productivity, all from a single platform.
We’ve reached the end, and it’s clear that taxi dispatch software is essential to running a smart, efficient, and scalable taxi business. Also, you can strengthen your taxi business and deliver a competitive service in today’s market.
Want more insights like this? Subscribe now to access the latest blogs, tips, and trends to help grow your taxi business faster and smarter.
https://www.trioangle.com/...
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7 days ago
From Joke to Jackpot — Turn Ideas into Powerful Meme Coins
The right meme coin can capture attention, grow a loyal community, and create real value. We combine secure blockchain technology, smart tokenomics, and eye-catching branding to bring your vision to life.
Every step is managed with precision so your coin is ready for the market and built for trust.
Our Services Include:
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Email: businessbeleaftechnologies.com
The right meme coin can capture attention, grow a loyal community, and create real value. We combine secure blockchain technology, smart tokenomics, and eye-catching branding to bring your vision to life.
Every step is managed with precision so your coin is ready for the market and built for trust.
Our Services Include:
Custom meme coin development
Smart contract creation
Tokenomics strategy
Creative branding and visuals
Exchange listing support
Long-term technical assistance
Visit Us >>>> https://www.beleaftechnolo...
Let’s Talk >>>> WhatsApp: +91 7904323274
Telegram: BeleafSoftTech
Email: businessbeleaftechnologies.com
10 days ago
Why Choose Tow Truck Software to Grow Your Towing Startup?
You’ve probably noticed that industries like taxi services, e-commerce, delivery, and rentals are getting a lot of attention. But here’s something you might not have realized, towing businesses are also gaining serious traction.
The global towing software market is projected to reach $2.5 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 9.1% from 2026. These projections indicate consistent growth in the years ahead.
As the on-demand roadside assistance service market continues to grow, now is the perfect time to launch your startup in this niche.
Ready to power your towing business? Connect with an experienced development team or explore more about how tow truck software can drive your success!
https://www.trioangle.com/...
#TowSoftware #TowSoftwareUSA #TowSoftwareUAE #FleetTechDubai #RoadsideAppUAE #TowingAppAmerica #TowSoftwareUK #RoadsideRecoveryUK #TowSoftwareSA
You’ve probably noticed that industries like taxi services, e-commerce, delivery, and rentals are getting a lot of attention. But here’s something you might not have realized, towing businesses are also gaining serious traction.
The global towing software market is projected to reach $2.5 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 9.1% from 2026. These projections indicate consistent growth in the years ahead.
As the on-demand roadside assistance service market continues to grow, now is the perfect time to launch your startup in this niche.
Ready to power your towing business? Connect with an experienced development team or explore more about how tow truck software can drive your success!
https://www.trioangle.com/...
#TowSoftware #TowSoftwareUSA #TowSoftwareUAE #FleetTechDubai #RoadsideAppUAE #TowingAppAmerica #TowSoftwareUK #RoadsideRecoveryUK #TowSoftwareSA
15 days ago
Taxi App Development Solution
Nowadays, traditional taxi services are being replaced with tech-enabled ride-hailing systems.
Car Rental App
Create a taxi app that allows consumers to select a diverse range of vehicles and book their rental on an hourly, daily, or weekly basis.
Fleet Management App
A fleet management app can help you streamline diverse fleet operations. It meets all of your particular service requirements.
Corporate Taxi App
Provide a dedicated corporate taxi app for employee transportation with scheduled rides, expense tracking, and billing management for businesses of any size.
Wrapping Up
Trioangle offers a robust taxi app development solution with advanced features, easy navigation, intuitive design, and scalable architecture. It's aimed to fulfil modern mobility demands while streamlining operations.
https://www.trioangle.com/...
#TaxiAppUSA #CabAppUK #RideHailingAfrica #GulfTaxiApp #TaxiAppDevelopment #UberLik
Nowadays, traditional taxi services are being replaced with tech-enabled ride-hailing systems.
Car Rental App
Create a taxi app that allows consumers to select a diverse range of vehicles and book their rental on an hourly, daily, or weekly basis.
Fleet Management App
A fleet management app can help you streamline diverse fleet operations. It meets all of your particular service requirements.
Corporate Taxi App
Provide a dedicated corporate taxi app for employee transportation with scheduled rides, expense tracking, and billing management for businesses of any size.
Wrapping Up
Trioangle offers a robust taxi app development solution with advanced features, easy navigation, intuitive design, and scalable architecture. It's aimed to fulfil modern mobility demands while streamlining operations.
https://www.trioangle.com/...
#TaxiAppUSA #CabAppUK #RideHailingAfrica #GulfTaxiApp #TaxiAppDevelopment #UberLik
15 days ago
Launch Your Ride-Hailing Startup with a Built-In Revenue Model
Our Uber Clone App isn’t just a software solution—it’s a ready-made business framework built for profitability. From the moment you launch, the platform enables revenue through ride transactions, driver services, advanced pricing strategies, and promotional upgrades. Designed for flexibility and scalability, it supports expansion into multiple markets while keeping your income streams active and automated. It’s the ideal choice for anyone serious about turning a ride-booking app into a real business.
https://www.trioangle.com/...
Take the next step—book a free demo today and explore the revenue possibilities.
E-mail: salestrioangle.com
#ubercloneapp #TaxiBusiness #RevenueModelScript #CloneAppStartup #MonetizeYourApp
Our Uber Clone App isn’t just a software solution—it’s a ready-made business framework built for profitability. From the moment you launch, the platform enables revenue through ride transactions, driver services, advanced pricing strategies, and promotional upgrades. Designed for flexibility and scalability, it supports expansion into multiple markets while keeping your income streams active and automated. It’s the ideal choice for anyone serious about turning a ride-booking app into a real business.
https://www.trioangle.com/...
Take the next step—book a free demo today and explore the revenue possibilities.
E-mail: salestrioangle.com
#ubercloneapp #TaxiBusiness #RevenueModelScript #CloneAppStartup #MonetizeYourApp
16 days ago
Start Your Own Revenue-Driven Ride-Hailing Business Today
Our Uber Clone App is designed to help you generate income from the moment you launch. With a built-in revenue model, the platform allows you to earn through commissions on rides, premium driver subscriptions, and peak-hour dynamic pricing. The app also supports monetization through in-app advertising and promotional upgrades for drivers, making it a scalable business solution. Whether you're entering a local market or targeting multiple cities, the app is fully customizable and built for growth.
Take the first step toward building a profitable ride-hailing startup. Request your free demo now and start earning from day one. - https://www.trioangle.com/...
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E-mail: salestrioangle.com
Our Uber Clone App is designed to help you generate income from the moment you launch. With a built-in revenue model, the platform allows you to earn through commissions on rides, premium driver subscriptions, and peak-hour dynamic pricing. The app also supports monetization through in-app advertising and promotional upgrades for drivers, making it a scalable business solution. Whether you're entering a local market or targeting multiple cities, the app is fully customizable and built for growth.
Take the first step toward building a profitable ride-hailing startup. Request your free demo now and start earning from day one. - https://www.trioangle.com/...
#uberclone #uberclonescript #ubercloneapp #uberclonebusiness #ondemanduberclonescript
#business #Entrepreneur #cloneapp #business #moneymaking #startup #businessidea
E-mail: salestrioangle.com
17 days ago
(E)
Still unsure how to integrate crypto payments into your business? You don’t need to start from zero.
With our CoinPayments Clone Script, you get a plug-and-play crypto payment gateway that’s secure, scalable, and ready to launch.
No technical stress. No delays.
✅ Accept 100+ cryptocurrencies
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Whether you're a startup or scaling brand, we provide the tools to launch quickly, look professional, and stay competitive in the crypto space.
Go live in days, not months.
Let us handle the backend while you focus on growth.
Book your free Consultation !
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Whatsapp: +91 7904323274
Telegram: BeleafSoftTech
Mail to: businessbeleaftechnologies.com
With our CoinPayments Clone Script, you get a plug-and-play crypto payment gateway that’s secure, scalable, and ready to launch.
No technical stress. No delays.
✅ Accept 100+ cryptocurrencies
✅ Built-in merchant dashboard
✅ Instant global payments
✅ Full branding and API support
Whether you're a startup or scaling brand, we provide the tools to launch quickly, look professional, and stay competitive in the crypto space.
Go live in days, not months.
Let us handle the backend while you focus on growth.
Book your free Consultation !
Got Questions? Let’s Talk.
https://www.beleaftechnolo...
Whatsapp: +91 7904323274
Telegram: BeleafSoftTech
Mail to: businessbeleaftechnologies.com
17 days ago
How to Build a Super Clone App in 2025: The Ultimate Guide
In 2025, super app development is a tremendous opportunity for startups and businesses seeking to dominate the digital multi-service industry.
To Know More: https://medium.com/rosyam...
WhatsApp: +91 6379630152
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#gojekclone #allinoneapp #multiservice #OnDemandApp #ondemandappdevelopment #ondemandserviceapp
In 2025, super app development is a tremendous opportunity for startups and businesses seeking to dominate the digital multi-service industry.
To Know More: https://medium.com/rosyam...
WhatsApp: +91 6379630152
Mail: salestrioangle.com
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How to Build a Super Clone App in 2025: The Ultimate Guide | by Rosyamra | Jul, 2025 | Medium
In a world where convenience defines success, super apps are revolutionizing on-demand services by streamlining user experiences and unlocking higher profits and operational efficiency for…
https://medium.com/@rosyamra9/how-to-build-a-super-clone-app-in-2025-the-ultimate-guide-3d692ddd5b54
22 days ago
Skip the Struggles, Go Live Faster with White Label Crypto Exchange Development - Beleaf Technologies
Stuck with a big crypto vision but no clue how to turn it into a working exchange?
It’s a common struggle—but the solution is simpler than you think.
With White Label Crypto Exchange Development , you get a fully customizable, ready-to-go platform built by experts who understand the tech, the security, and the speed the market demands.
✅ No coding headaches
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We help you skip the complicated backend development and go live with a sleek, high-performing exchange that your users will trust.
Whether it’s spot trading, wallets, or admin dashboards . you get it all, built-in and branded as your own.
Don’t spend months or money building everything from scratch.
Let our proven solutions handle the heavy tech, while you focus on growing your brand and dominating the crypto space.
Stuck with a big crypto vision but no clue how to turn it into a working exchange?
It’s a common struggle—but the solution is simpler than you think.
With White Label Crypto Exchange Development , you get a fully customizable, ready-to-go platform built by experts who understand the tech, the security, and the speed the market demands.
✅ No coding headaches
✅ Bank-level security features
✅ Faster time to market
✅ Scalable to your business goals
We help you skip the complicated backend development and go live with a sleek, high-performing exchange that your users will trust.
Whether it’s spot trading, wallets, or admin dashboards . you get it all, built-in and branded as your own.
Don’t spend months or money building everything from scratch.
Let our proven solutions handle the heavy tech, while you focus on growing your brand and dominating the crypto space.
22 days ago
Why Cab Booking Software Is Essential For Taxi App Development?
The emergence of ride-hailing services has reshaped urban transportation, with on-demand apps becoming the go-to solution for taxi services. A cab booking software is at the core of any successful taxi app. It enables everything from booking management to driver dispatching.
Final Notes
From this blog, you now understand that cab booking software is essential for taxi app development.
The features stated above demonstrate the way it streamlines ride-hailing operations, improves user experience, and promotes business scalability.
Get Ready to Build Your Taxi App Today!.
https://www.trioangle.com/...
#TaxiStartup #DigitalTaxiBusiness #UKRideHailing #CabBookingSoftwareUK #USATaxiTech #OnlineCabBooking #TaxiSoftware #OnDemandTaxiSA
#CabBookingSoftwareSA
The emergence of ride-hailing services has reshaped urban transportation, with on-demand apps becoming the go-to solution for taxi services. A cab booking software is at the core of any successful taxi app. It enables everything from booking management to driver dispatching.
Final Notes
From this blog, you now understand that cab booking software is essential for taxi app development.
The features stated above demonstrate the way it streamlines ride-hailing operations, improves user experience, and promotes business scalability.
Get Ready to Build Your Taxi App Today!.
https://www.trioangle.com/...
#TaxiStartup #DigitalTaxiBusiness #UKRideHailing #CabBookingSoftwareUK #USATaxiTech #OnlineCabBooking #TaxiSoftware #OnDemandTaxiSA
#CabBookingSoftwareSA
29 days ago
Boat Rental Software: What Is It, and Why Do You Need One?
Learn what boat rental software is and how it can simplify bookings, optimize fleet management, and improve the customer experience for your rental business.
To Know More: https://www.trioangle.com/...
WhatsApp - +91 63796 30152
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#Boatrentalsoftware #boatrental, #boatsrental , #yachtrental #Boatrentalbusiness #boatlife #boating #yachtlife #RentalSoftware #bookingsoftware #business
Learn what boat rental software is and how it can simplify bookings, optimize fleet management, and improve the customer experience for your rental business.
To Know More: https://www.trioangle.com/...
WhatsApp - +91 63796 30152
Email ID - salestrioangle.com
Telegram- https://t.me/Trioangle_Tec...
#Boatrentalsoftware #boatrental, #boatsrental , #yachtrental #Boatrentalbusiness #boatlife #boating #yachtlife #RentalSoftware #bookingsoftware #business
30 days ago
Smart Space Rental Software Simplifies Bookings Today
Smart Space Rental Software makes booking venues easy and efficient. Manage spaces, schedules, and payments all in one platform—perfect for businesses in 2025.
To Know More: https://www.trioangle.com/...
WhatsApp - +91 63796 30152
Email ID - salestrioangle.com
Telegram- https://t.me/Trioangle_Tec...
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Smart Space Rental Software makes booking venues easy and efficient. Manage spaces, schedules, and payments all in one platform—perfect for businesses in 2025.
To Know More: https://www.trioangle.com/...
WhatsApp - +91 63796 30152
Email ID - salestrioangle.com
Telegram- https://t.me/Trioangle_Tec...
#Spacerentalsoftware #VenueBookingSystem#CoworkingManagement#EventSpaceBooking#SpaceManagement#RentalAutomation#BookSpacesOnline#WorkspaceRental#RentalSoftware2025#Spacerentalbusiness#eventrentalssoftware#entrepreneur#Business
