Crypto Crime Is the Future. Bank Heists Are History.
With Bitcoin reaching a new record, it shows more investors are getting swept up in the dream of 'being their own bank' via tokens that can be transferred instantly and anonymously outside the traditional financial system. Yet at the same time, there seems to be too little awareness of the cost of being your own bank security guard in a cashless world.
A recent double-digit rise in crypto-exchange hacks and a wave of brazen crypto-executive kidnapping attempts — with the latest taking place in broad daylight on the streets of Paris — has put the industry on edge and ramped up interest in security, according to Bloomberg News, with 23 such attacks recorded this year by one database (up from six over the same period last year). They have resulted in grisly mutilations, like severed fingers, and have pressured the French government to do more to stop them, even if statistically France scores relatively well on crimes like homicide.
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UK police assess footage of Glastonbury acts over anti-Israel chants
British police say they are reviewing comments made on stage by rap punk duo Bob Vylan and hip hop trio Kneecap at this year's Glastonbury Festival. Rapper Bobby Vylan took to the festival's third-biggest West Holts Stage on Saturday shouting 'Free, free Palestine,' before leading crowds to chants against the Israeli military. Video showed the rapper shouting into the mic, 'Alright, but have you heard this one though? Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).' The artist also performed in front of a screen that displayed a message which read: 'United Nations have called it a genocide. The BBC calls it a 'conflict,'' referring to the UK's public broadcaster that has been showing the festival live. The Israeli Embassy in the UK said it was 'deeply disturbed' by what it called 'inflammatory and hateful' rhetoric at the festival. It said that when chants such as 'Death to the IDF' are said in front of tens of thousands of festivalgoers, 'it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence.' 'We call on Glastonbury Festival organisers, artists, and public leaders in the UK to denounce this rhetoric and reject of all forms of hatred,' it added. Glastonbury Festival said in a statement that it was 'appalled' by Vylan's remarks. 'Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence,' organizers said. Ahead of the five-day music festival, all eyes were on Irish-language hip hop trio Kneecap after band member Liam O'Hanna – who performs under the stage name Mo Chara – was charged last month with a terrorism offense following an investigation by London's Metropolitan Police. The charge, which he has denied, relates to a London gig in November 2024 where he allegedly displayed a flag of Hezbollah – a proscribed terrorist organization banned under UK law. Ahead of the festival at Worthy Farm, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was not 'appropriate' for the group to perform. Kneecap have been vocal critics of Israel's war in Gaza but have previously said it has never supported Hamas or Hezbollah. During the set, Mo Chara told the crowds that recent events had been 'stressful' but that it was nothing in comparison to 'what the Palestinian people are going through.' Kneecap rapper Naoise O Caireallain, who goes by the stage name Móglaí Bap, hit back at Starmer's comment during Saturday's set: 'The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f**k Keir Starmer.' In reference to his bandmate's forthcoming court date, O Caireallain also said they would 'start a riot outside the courts,' before adding: 'I don't want anybody to start a riot. No riots just love and support, and more importantly support for Palestine.' Police in Somerset, where the festival is held, said the force was 'aware of the comments made by acts' and that 'video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.' UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting slammed the performance as 'appalling' in an interview with Sky News on Sunday morning. He said that the BBC, which broadcast the set live, and Glastonbury 'have got questions to answer.' A BBC spokesperson said that some of the comments made during Vylan's performance were 'deeply offensive,' and added it had no plans to make the performance available on demand through its iPlayer streaming platform.
Yahoo
an hour ago
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Taiwan VP says not intimidated after alleged China plot
Taiwan's vice president said she would not be intimidated by Beijing after the government accused Chinese embassy staff of planning to ram her car during an official visit to Europe. Taiwan's top China policy body, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), on Friday said Hsiao Bi-khim's motorcade was surveilled and followed in a ploy to be rammed during a visit to the Czech Republic in March 2024. Citing a Czech intelligence agency report, the council said staff from the Chinese Embassy in Prague were behind the incident. Czech military intelligence spokesman Jan Pejsek told AFP on Sunday that Hsiao was targeted by "persons legalised in diplomatic positions at the Chinese Embassy in Prague". He said they tailed her and sought information about Hsiao's programme and meetings with Czech officials. "We even recorded attempts by the Chinese civil secret service to create conditions for a demonstrative kinetic action against a protected person, which, however, did not go beyond the preparatory stage," Pejsek added. Hsiao, who was vice president-elect at the time of the trip, posted on social media on Saturday, that she "had a great visit to Prague & thank the Czech authorities for their hospitality & ensuring my safety". "The CCP's unlawful activities will NOT intimidate me from voicing Taiwan's interests in the international community," she said. "Taiwan will not be isolated by intimidation," she added. - 'Violent nature' - Like most countries, Prague does not have official diplomatic relations with Taipei. China claims Taiwan as its territory and in recent years, has ramped up the deployment of fighter jets and warships around the self-ruled island. It has also sought to erase Taiwan from the international stage by poaching its diplomatic allies and blocking it from global forums. Taipei said on Friday that "the Chinese Embassy in the Czech Republic followed, conducted surveillance on, and even attempted to ram the motorcade, seriously threatening the personal safety of Vice President Hsiao and her entourage". It added the incident exposed CCP's "violent nature" and lack of "sincerity" in communication. A Taiwan security official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said it was a "typical case" of China's "transnational repression" against dissidents or those who criticise China. "China uses legal grey areas to harass, threaten or oppress their targets," the official said. The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), an international group that has challenged Beijing's human rights record, said in a statement signed by 51 lawmakers from nearly 30 countries that it supported Hsiao and "Taiwanese citizens who may be subject to coercion by the Chinese state while travelling abroad". China's foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Friday that Prague had violated the "One-China principle" and its political commitments to China by allowing Hsaio, who it called a diehard "Taiwan independence" activist, to visit. "Chinese diplomats always abide by the laws and regulations of host countries," he said. He urged other countries not to be exploited by "Taiwan independence" separatists to "stir up troubles" and undermine the relations with China. joy-frj/jza/giv
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Russia Tries Again to Boost LNG Exports Upended by Sanctions
(Bloomberg) -- Russia is taking another crack at expanding exports of liquefied natural gas after US sanctions stalled efforts last year. Philadelphia Transit System Votes to Cut Service by 45%, Hike Fares Squeezed by Crowds, the Roads of Central Park Are Being Reimagined Sprawl Is Still Not the Answer Sao Paulo Pushes Out Favela Residents, Drug Users to Revive Its City Center Mapping the Architectural History of New York's Chinatown An LNG vessel has docked and then left the Arctic LNG 2 export facility for the first time since October, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg and satellite images. The facility was supposed to be a cornerstone of Moscow's goal to triple LNG exports by 2030, but has been idle for months after struggling to find buyers willing to break Western restrictions. Russia has the pieces in place to meaningfully boost LNG exports as it expands its shadow fleet. Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russian gas pipeline exports to Europe have dwindled, and shipping more fuel via seaborne LNG tankers provides an attractive revenue stream to fill Moscow's coffers. Shadow Fleet At least 13 ships, including those that can navigate icy waters, have been marshaled to potentially service Arctic LNG 2, with some changing management companies several times to help obfuscate the actual owners. According to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg they include: Four ice-class vessels that can navigate the frozen waters around Arctic LNG 2. Three are currently idled in the Barents Sea, while another is the tanker currently docked at Arctic LNG 2 Three more traditional LNG vessels are in the Barents sea Two vessels are under repair in China, with another that appears to be on the way One vessel near a floating storage in Russia's Far East Two vessels are idled in the the Gulf of Finland. They had served another Russian facility called Portovaya, which was sanctioned by the US in January 'Russia does have more vessels at its disposal compared to the summer/fall of 2024,' Malte Humpert, founder of the Arctic Institute, a Washington-based think-tank, said in an email. 'If it can find buyers, this small fleet should be sufficient to lift cargoes.' Eight shipments were exported from Arctic LNG 2 between August and October 2024, but never docked on foreign shores. Instead, the gas was offloaded into two Russian storage units in the Barents Sea and its Far East region. Large-scale production halted in October after ice built up around the facility and made transport by traditional vessels challenging. Russia's first domestically built ice-class LNG tanker may come online in the second half of this year if it passes remaining sea trials, Interfax reported Wednesday, citing Sovcomflot Chief Executive Officer Igor Tonkovidov. Willing Buyers? Now, the market will be closely monitoring whether Arctic LNG 2 can find willing buyers. Exporting more would be a boon for consumers, as it would put pressure on global gas prices. The Biden administration was diligent in sanctioning ships and companies connected with exporting fuel from Arctic LNG 2 last year. It isn't clear if the Trump administration will be as strict, or if the government will slap restrictions on ports that accept the fuel. The threat of retaliation from the US kept buyers at bay last year. Officials related to the Arctic LNG 2 joint venture have never stopped trying to sell the fuel, traveling to potential buyers in India and China over the last year, according to traders with knowledge of the matter. However, it isn't clear if they have been able to secure any sales. 'The biggest obstacle remains finding a buyer and shipping capacity,' Jan-Eric Fahnrich, a senior analyst at Rystad Energy, said by email. 'They will then circle around looking for buyers in Asia and Novatek will offer a discount.' Majority shareholder Novatek PJSC and the operating venture Arctic LNG 2 did not respond to emails seeking comment. Iris, the tanker that recently left Arctic LNG 2, is now heading toward the northern port of Murmansk, according to ship-tracking data. The vessel could be traveling there to offload fuel into a nearby floating storage unit or another vessel in a ship-to-ship transfer. It's not immediately clear if any LNG was loaded on the vessel. The tanker's draft level — which the crew inputs manually — didn't change after leaving the plant, the data shows, signaling it may not have loaded LNG cargo. The Iris is expected to reach Murmansk on July 1, according to the data. 'The fact that more than one million cubic meters of LNG loaded last year remains unsold, and in floating storage, does not bode well for renewed attempts to market additional volumes this summer,' said the Arctic Institute's Humpert. 'China would appear to be the most likely candidate, but with consistently declining Chinese demand for the past eight months this won't be an easy task.' Iris is also a so-called Arc4 vessel, with a reinforced hull that allows it to navigate icy waters. That would allow the ship to take the shorter Arctic route to Asia when conditions allow in the summer. Loading vessels at Arctic LNG 2 could also be necessary to ease brimming gas tanks. Satellite images taken June 25 indicate that two production trains at the facility are flaring, which indicates they could be operating or cooling down equipment. Without steady exports, the plant's storage will quickly fill up, and lack of space was one of the reasons why Arctic LNG 2 stopped large-scale production in October. Meanwhile, traders will wait to see if US or European officials further tighten restrictions on the facility as exports resume. 'Now is the time for increased pressure' on Russia's energy revenues, said Geoffrey Pyatt, distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center and a former US assistant secretary of state who helped craft Arctic LNG 2 sanctions under the Biden administration. 'European leaders have expressed new determination to end all imports of Russian gas, making it even more important that the United States maintains our pressure on Novatek.' --With assistance from Anna Shiryaevskaya. (Updates with latest ship-tracking data in the second, 13th and 14th paragraphs.) 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