#Bank Document Authentication

[hagueapostilleservicesblog]

Get Germany Apostille for Bank Transactions Online

1. What is a Germany Apostille for Bank Transaction Documents? A Germany Apostille for Bank Transaction Documents is an official certification that authenticates the validity of bank-related records issued in Germany for use in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. This certification ensures the documents are legally recognized abroad, often required for financial…

[jcmarchi]

Global Cyber Resilience Report 2024: Overconfidence and Gaps in Cybersecurity Revealed

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/global-cyber-resilience-report-2024-overconfidence-and-gaps-in-cybersecurity-revealed/

Global Cyber Resilience Report 2024: Overconfidence and Gaps in Cybersecurity Revealed

The Global Cyber Resilience Report 2024 presents an in-depth analysis of the current state of cyber resilience across various industries worldwide. Based on a survey conducted by Cohesity and Censuswide, involving 3,139 IT and Security Operations (SecOps) decision-makers from eight countries, this report sheds light on the significant gaps between perceived and actual cyber resilience capabilities.

Survey Demographics and Scope

The survey, conducted in June 2024, covered both public and private organizations across several countries:

United States: ~500 respondents

United Kingdom: ~500 respondents

Australia: ~500 respondents

France: ~400 respondents

Germany: ~400 respondents

Japan: ~300 respondents

Singapore: ~300 respondents

Malaysia: ~200 respondents

Participants were evenly split between IT and SecOps professionals, providing a comprehensive overview of the current cyber resilience landscape.

Key Findings

1. Overestimation of Cyber Resilience

A striking revelation from the survey is the overestimation of cyber resilience capabilities among organizations. Only 2% of respondents indicated that they could recover their data and restore business processes within 24 hours of a cyberattack. This starkly contrasts with the confidence expressed by nearly 4 in 5 (78%) respondents in their organization’s cyber resilience strategy.

2. Ransom Payments: A Growing Concern

The willingness to pay ransoms has become alarmingly common. Approximately 75% of respondents indicated their organization would pay over $1 million to recover data and restore business operations, with 22% willing to pay over $3 million. In the past year, 69% of respondents admitted to paying a ransom, despite 77% having policies against such payments.

Slow Recovery Times

Recovery times reported by organizations reveal significant vulnerabilities:

Only 2% could recover within 24 hours.

18% could recover within 1-3 days.

32% required 4-6 days.

31% needed 1-2 weeks.

16% would need 3+ weeks.

These recovery times fall short of the targeted optimum recovery time objectives (RTO), with 98% aiming for recovery within one day and 45% targeting within two hours.

4. Insufficient Data Privacy Compliance

Just over 2 in 5 (42%) respondents claimed their organization could identify sensitive data and comply with applicable data privacy laws. This indicates a significant gap in necessary IT and security capabilities.

5. Zero Trust Security Deficiencies

Despite the availability of effective security measures, many organizations have not adopted them:

48% have not deployed multifactor authentication (MFA).

Only 52% have implemented MFA.

Quorum controls or administrative rules requiring multiple approvals are used by 49%.

Role-based access controls (RBAC) are deployed by 46%.

These deficiencies leave organizations vulnerable to both external and internal threats.

The Escalating Threat Landscape

The survey underscores the increasing threat of cyberattacks:

In 2022, 74% of respondents felt the threat of ransomware was rising. By 2023, this figure rose to 93%, and in 2024, it reached 96%.

Two-thirds (67%) of respondents reported being victims of ransomware in the past six months.

Industries Most Affected

The report identifies seven industries that have been hardest hit by cyberattacks:

IT & Technology (40%)

Banking & Wealth Management (27%)

Financial Services (27%)

Telecommunications & Media (24%)

Government & Public Services (23%)

Utilities (21%)

Manufacturing (21%)

Areas of Critical Concern

1. Confidence-Capability Paradox

The disparity between confidence in cyber resilience strategies and the actual capability to execute these strategies effectively is evident. While many organizations have a cyber resilience plan, their ability to recover quickly from attacks lags significantly behind their goals.

2.  Rampant Ransom Payments

The prevalence of ransom payments, often in contradiction to organizational policies, highlights a reactive rather than proactive approach to cyber resilience. The financial impact of paying ransoms extends beyond the immediate cost, affecting downtime, lost opportunities, and reputational damage.

3. Zero Trust Security Deficiencies

The failure to implement robust data access controls like MFA and RBAC poses a significant risk to organizations. Effective security measures are essential for protecting critical data and ensuring business continuity.

Recommendations for Improvement

To address these critical issues, the report suggests several actionable strategies:

Engage in rigorous testing, drills, and simulations to ensure the effectiveness of backup and recovery processes.

Sign up for ransomware resilience workshops to enhance cyber incident response capabilities.

Automate testing of backup data to verify integrity and recoverability without manual intervention.

Maintain detailed documentation and recovery playbooks to ensure all stakeholders understand their roles during an incident.

Conclusion

The Global Cyber Resilience Report 2024 that was commissioned by Cohesity highlights the urgent need for organizations to bridge the gap between their perceived and actual cyber resilience capabilities. By identifying and addressing these vulnerabilities, organizations can enhance their ability to recover from cyberattacks and protect critical data, ensuring a more secure and resilient future.

The comprehensive data and insights from this report serve as a crucial resource for IT and SecOp professionals aiming to strengthen their cyber resilience strategies and safeguard their organizations against the evolving threat landscape.

[adviceformefromme]

YOUR RE-SET

So your life isn’t looking and feeling how you envisioned. You see the TikTok and IG girlies living that life. You dream about luxury travel, pilates on a Saturday morning, drinking overpriced green smoothies, driving a sexy car, and living your fullest most authentic life…But in comparison, you’ve grown to mostly hate spending time with your friends, you’ve out grown them and notice how much they complain about life and generally are low vibes, you’ve spent all of this months wages already, and still have 2 weeks left until payday so your bank balance is no way supporting the life you dream of, to add, your dating life is a mess not consisting of your dream guy that provides for you. No, instead it seems too much effort for him to message back, let alone take you to that sexy spa you’re dying to visit. So in short your life is a far cry from what you want. The life you’ve created right now is absolutely not what you would want for yourself for the next year, or even five years. So in order to completely shift from where you are to where you want to be. You need a fucking RE-SET. 

The re-set is basically your metamorphosis. Think of being the caterpillar, heavy, slow sluggish (currently you right now). In order to become a beautiful butterfly you need to completely transform, undo, take time to reorganise so you can re-emerge as nature intended. 

The Re-set might look slightly different for everyone so take what you need from this: 

2-3 months stepping back from the people around you. 

THE CORE ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR RESET - A DAILY PRACTISE  

Meditating daily to clear you mind so you can hear yourself, your own voice and drown out any external noise. (I recommend insight timer app, or mind app both for meditations)

A journal, to document your feelings and emotions, empty your thoughts, and a space where you can become your own best friend and create a connection with yourself. 

Movement. - you need to move your body this is KEY, you might pick up running, stretching at home, pilates, yoga, HIT, whatever it is just fucking do it. Your body needs the movement to replenish its energy and move you out of stagnation. 

Healthy diet. Less alcohol more greens. If it’s processed, if its fizzy, if its sugar, if its cake, if its chocolate, if its ice cream (you get the picture), cut that shit OUT. You need food that supports you, cleanses you, energises you in order to thrive and clear your energy. 

FAITH in something bigger than yourself. If you’re religious, great lean into your faith with prayer, scripture, faith music. If you’re not religious maybe you believe in the universe, the love all around you, faith in something unknown, something guiding you, protecting you, even if you believe this is part of your own psyche - lean into this. Your faith is your support system. Your faith is the unseen that will guide and protect you on this journey. 

The above might seem overwhelming, and it will be if you don’t already incorporate those things into your day already. The worst thing you want to do is try and do everything at once and feel disappointed when you don’t succeed. So start with one thing if that’s all you can manage and focus on doing that one thing consistently and then add from that. 

The purpose of the first 2-3 months is the cleansing. You want to start slowly removing what doesn’t serve you, and start creating space for yourself, your thoughts and visions so you have space to start planting new seeds of the life you want to live. 

What your first steps in your journey might look like: 

Saying no to going out for drinks with friends, instead you go for a long walks in nature listening to an empowering podcast, go home journal and meditate. 

Weekends might look like not seeing friends, maybe even family. Doing exercise, making healthy food, researching recipes, creating a vision board on Pinterest and doing a guiding meditation, affirmations and mirror work. 

Having a prayer practise, reading books/ passages that support you in your journey 

Deleting your social medias or even doing a detox day / weekend so you have a break 

PART 2 - COMING NEXT….(Here)

[darkeagleruins]

This Is How RIGGED The 2024 Election Is Going To Be

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Fake American ID’s, Green Cards & Social Security Cards openly being sold to illegal migrants. Guess what they’ll do with these? They’ll vote

“Counterfeit green cards and social security cards to illegals in Queens. The New York Post observed around 10 men openly selling these fake documents on street corners along Roosevelt Avenue, with prices ranging from $80 to $250.

These forged social security cards could facilitate illegal activities such as opening bank accounts and potentially acquiring authentic driver’s licenses.

[girlactionfigure]

British Intelligence took a dead man's body, gave him a new identity, and planted fake documents on him to deceive the Nazis.

Operation Mincemeat became one of the greatest deceptions in wartime history.

Here’s how they pulled it off: (🧵)

Ahead of the invasion of Sicily in the summer of 1943, the Twenty Committee planned a new covert operation with Section 17M, the section within Naval Intelligence 12 (NID 12) responsible for naval deception and handling of special intelligence from ISOS.

Its head Ewen Montagu served as the NID representative on the Twenty Committee.

The aim of the new major deception was to fool the Germans about the location of the invasion in Southern Europe by floating the dead body of an officer of the Royal Marine off the coast of Spain.

In his briefcase, chained to his wrist, would be papers that included fake invasion plans.

It was a work of total fiction that took some of the most creative minds in intelligence to write the script.

It was codenamed Operation Mincemeat and would be one of the most audacious naval deceptions of the war.

The unknown element was whether the Germans would fall for it...

Section 17M set to work in meticulous detail on Operation Mincemeat to ensure that nothing was left to chance.

By the planning stage, the section had 14 members, two-thirds of whom were women.

The female secretarial team was nicknamed ‘the Beavers’, the youngest of whom was 18-year old Jean Leslie.

The first priority was to acquire a corpse and preserve it until the operation was set to go.

Sir Bernard Spilsbury (British pathologist) and Bentley Purchase (coroner of the St Pancras mortuary) were consulted by Section 17M.

In St Pancras mortuary was the corpse of 34-year-old Glyndwr Michael, an unemployed labourer of no fixed abode who had committed suicide with rat poison.

He was about to be given a new identity and the leading role in Operation Mincemeat.

The details of his new identity were to be worked out by Montagu, Flight Lieutenant Cholmondeley and Joan Saunders.

They decided on ‘Major William Martin of the Royal Marines’, born in 1907.

It was not only a matter of identity but creating a new personality – his likes and dislikes – and his family background to be more convincing to the Germans.

They spent the days discussing and slowly compiling a portfolio of the man.

In the evenings they went off to the Gargoyle, Montagu’s club in Soho, where over drinks they continued to build up their imaginary hero.

Major Martin was given identity papers, and a card to show he was a member of the Naval and Military Club in London, with a history of mounting debts as confirmed in a fake letter from his bank asking him to pay off an overdraft of £27. 19. 2d.

The fictitious paperwork and apparent extravagant lifestyle were necessary to hold his cover.

Joan Saunders noticed that Major Martin had no love life and it would be more realistic for him to have a girlfriend.

The women of Section 17M created ‘Pam’ as the pretty young fiancée.

A photograph of ‘Pam’, whose real name was Jean Leslie, was placed on his body to authenticate the cover story further.

The snapshot black and white holiday photograph was of Jean Leslie, taken by a friend and member of the Grenadier Guards who had fallen in love with her.

Miss Hester Leggett who headed the secretarial team has been credited with writing the fictitious love letters purporting to be from Pam, but in reality it was probably a combined effort by a number of women.

On 3 April 1943, the body of Major Martin was dressed in the battle dress and flashes of the Royal Marines by Montagu and Cholmondeley, with assistance from the coroner.

A briefcase with the forged documents was strapped to the wrist of the corpse, and included invasion plans to deceive the Germans that an Allied assault was soon to take place on Greece and Crete.

The body was placed in a specially manufactured air-tight container to prevent deterioration and loaded onto submarine HMS Seraph.

The submarine left the port of Greenock in Scotland and headed for Spain.

At 04:30hrs on 30 April 1943, the body was launched from HMS Seraph near Huelva, off the coast of Spain.

It was picked up by a Spanish fisherman who passed it to Spanish naval headquarters.

This set off a chain of events that would lead to the invasion plans falling into the hands of the Germans.

The Spanish naval authorities refused to hand over the briefcase to the British consul and instead sent it to Madrid where the three letters were opened and photographed.

The envelopes were then re-sealed to look untouched and passed to the British Naval attaché.

The photographed versions were dispatched to the Germans with a request for strict secrecy.

The German Intelligence Service in Portugal finally heard about the documents and was summoned to a conference on 12 May.

In the interim period between the body’s discovery and the conference, a post mortem by Spanish authorities concluded death by drowning.

On 2 May 1943, Major Martin was buried at Huelva and his funeral attended by Spanish naval and military officers.

On 12 May, at the Admiralty in London, Juliette Ponsonby picked up the day’s decrypts from the teleprinter room.

Bletchley Park had intercepted a wireless message sent by general Alfred Jodl, the chief of the Operations Staff of the German forces, responsible for all planning and strategic operations, and he confirmed that an enemy landing on a large scale was projected in the near future in the Eastern and Western Mediterranean.

Copies of Jodl’s message were dispatched across the German High Command, and Montagu knew that the Germans had been duped by Operation Mincemeat.

It achieved its aim of convincing the Germans that an invasion was planned for Sardinia, rather than Sicily and resulted in the Germans dispersing their troops and sending reinforcements to Sardinia.

A whole Panzer division was moved from France to the Peloppennese and establishing communication headquarters at Tripoli in mid-May 1943.

Verification of this was received back in England via Special Intelligence and Ultra decrypts.

Operation Mincemeat was supported, too, by female Agent Bronx who informed her German handler that an Allied invasion of France was to take place in September 1943.

Her messages were part of Operation Cockade which was a series of deceptions designed to relieve pressure on the Allied landings in Sicily. It had the dual effect of aiding the Russians on the Eastern front by diverting attention towards other alleged attacks by the Allies in Western Europe.

Documents captured by the Allies at the end of the war corroborated the fact that the Germans had fallen for the fictional invasion plans.

Operation Mincemeat was ‘a small classic of deception, brilliantly elaborate in detail, completely successful in operation.’

An appendix to a report on the operation ended with the words: ‘MINCEMEAT swallowed whole.’

The Double Cross System was proving so successful that by the end of 1943, the system was more powerful and better equipped than before.

The Twenty Committee was confident to tackle the biggest deception of all.

Uppermost in the mind of its members was whether a similar ruse as Operation Mincemeat could deceive the Germans ahead of D-Day...

(continued...ending) 

If you enjoyed this thread and love WW2 history, please consider following me @DrHelenFry for more content like this.

[kaiserin-erzsebet]

the modern world restricts ease of movement through tracking and monitoring, yes; but there is something to be said for how travel has only become a mass opportunity - available to virtually all members of the middle and upper classes - within the last ~100 years. not only technology, but caste/estate/class & religion/gender/profession (any living off the land type deal) etc. posed massive obstacles to free travel in the past. for some people in our modern world those material realities still do. it's good to be aware that it's a rather privileged position to hold when the main thing stopping you from going wherever you want is something administrative

Alright, after some thought, I'm going to try to respond to this with some grace, since I think you're trying to make a point about equity which I'm sympathetic to.

And I will first make clear that I am neither in favor of romanticizing the past nor of talking about history as the relentless march of progress.

However, I think you may have mistaken my point about immigration/emigration for a point about leisure travel. I'm traveling for my work, not for tourism. Leisure travel has indeed become more financially viable for a number of people in the last century.

Immigration has not. I assure you that my Polish great great grandfather who (according to my grandfather) was a stowaway on a steamer leaving Russia and showed up in the US with only skills as a shopkeeper was not traveling with great financial privilege. Nor were my Czech ancestors who arrived a generation earlier as farmers. Even outside of my own family experience, I don't find it particularly fair to say that, for example, Irish farmers using their last penny to travel on the lowest deck to take a gamble escaping the famine were traveling with great financial means.

Even going further back, The Return of Martin Guerre (the book I mentioned) is about a peasant who walked from Spain to France to start a new life with an assumed identity.

And this was all fine because immigration was allowed for those of limited means.

I suspect that you think "something administrative" means paperwork. But, even putting aside the cost of that (getting copies of official documents, authentication, background checks, fees etc.), it also includes means testing. Each time I've applied for residence in an EU country, I've had to provide bank statements and proof of income to even be considered for approval. And here I'll give you an acknowledgement of my privilege: I have a strong passport. For those from the global South, proof of means is expected even for tourism purposes. The administrative barriers include built-in measures to prevent poor people entering countries. No pre-existing job and financial assets? No residency permit/visa/green card.

There is no simply walking over a border or spending your last money on a boat ticket and hoping you can make it with just skills. So no, immigration has not become more available to those with limited means. I find that people with strong passports tend to underestimate this because they can enter countries for leisure relatively unimpeded.

And yes, I have the privilege of being from the global North, having a strong passport, and being paid to do intellectual work (which includes grants and fellowships that allow me to pass the means testing). And I'm an unmarried woman who has my own means, which would have not been true half a century ago. That doesn't bar me from commenting on how these barriers impede movement. If anything, someone in my position being put through so much scrutiny to get residence for even a year should show how incredibly difficult it can be for people who have substantially less than me.

[handweavers]

i'm trying to clear out some old work of mine / mostly small handwoven samples partly to clean up my studio and partly to help make ends meet, and they'll all be pay what you want + shipping

no amount too low or high, just tell me what price you want to pay and optionally why you like the piece and it's yours. i'm willing to ship anywhere in the world if you'll cover the shipping cost. i can take e-transfer from canadian bank users and paypal from international, these are the easiest methods for me at the present. all pieces will ship from ontario, canada

all pieces will come mounted to cardstock for ease of display/framing, with a hand written thank you note, an invoice for proof of purchase, and documentation (materials, dimensions, date, signed confirmation of authenticity)

i'm going to post them here first before sharing what remains with my other channels. everything is ready i just need to take photos, so the post will be up within the next day or so 🤎

please do not feel obligated to buy anything from me, there are others who are experiencing greater financial hardship than i am and in more need of your help. put simply, if you like my work and to wish to own something i have made this is a chance to do so - no pressure. love u all

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Qasim Rashid at Let's Address This:

As the genocide of Palestinians rages on, Palestinian families are now suing the US State Department and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Simultaneously, Israeli human rights organizations are sounding the alarm full blast that their government is committing war crimes. And meanwhile, the Biden administration continues to arm Netanyahu despite full awareness that he is committing war crimes. Here are the key updates on Israel’s siege on Gaza that corporate media is ignoring, and what we must do going forward to demand justice. Let’s Address This.

Does the Lawsuit Have Merit?

In a word, yes. Palestinian families have taken an unprecedented step in filing a lawsuit against Antony Blinken and the US State Department for arming Netanyahu despite knowing he is violating the US Leahy Laws and international human rights law. Specifically:

[The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleged that the State Department under Secretary of State Antony Blinken has deliberately circumvented a U.S. human rights law to continue funding and supporting Israeli military units accused of atrocities in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.]

In my opinion as a human rights lawyer who studies this closely, the Palestinian families behind this lawsuit have an extremely strong case. The facts are that Blinken’s and the State Department’s disregard for US and international law is well documented. For example, see the evidence uncovered by ProPublica—a well respected non-profit media organization dedicated to authentic, verifiable, and reliable investigative journalism. Founded in 2007, it has already won six Pulitzer prizes, among numerous other awards. Non-partisan media watch dog organizations consistently rate ProPublica as reliable. I offer this context lest critics attack ProPublica’s reputation and credibility. 

[...] Human Rights Watch, OxFam, Amnesty International, and the UN have all issued similar reports. Antony Blinken, meanwhile, saw the official reports from his own two U.S. State Department agencies—all in full agreement that the Israeli government is committing the war crime of illegally blocking aid to Gaza as Palestinians starved to death—and decided to testify to the opposite effect to U.S. Congress. The only possible logical conclusion is that Blinken knowingly lied. This is why Palestinian families are suing, arguing that Secretary Blinken should be prosecuted for lying to U.S. Congress in contravention to the factual USAID report, and then also prosecuted for illegally approving arms to Netanyahu in violation of the Leahy Laws.

Israeli Media & Human Rights Orgs Document Israeli War Crimes

Haaretz has led so assertively in calling out Israeli war crimes, that the Netanyahu administration has attacked them with the full force of government censorship and sanctions. But that has not stopped Israel’s oldest paper from documenting the Israeli Government’s war crimes against Palestinians. 

Palestinian families sue the State Department for circumventing the Leahy Law on prohibiting the providing of military assistance to foreign security forces that have been accused of gross human rights violations by funding Israel’s war crimes against Palestinians.

[beardedmrbean]

Major protests against Hamas have broken out across Gaza, representing the largest demonstrations against the militant group since the conflict with Israel began in October 2023.

Newsweek has reached out to Hamas officials for comment.

Why It Matters

The rare protests against Hamas reflect growing internal dissent within Gaza, potentially altering the region's political landscape. This shift could have significant implications for both Israel and the United States, who have long regarded Hamas as a major obstacle to peace efforts. The Islamist group is committed to ultimately destroying Israel.

What To Know

Video footage circulating on social media platforms on Tuesday showed Palestinian demonstrators chanting "Hamas must go out! Out Out Out!"

The protests, which media said were by hundreds of people, reportedly took place in Gaza's Beit Lahia and Jabalia neighborhoods, where protesters also called for the end of the "Israeli genocide" and an end to the war.

In one video posted on X by Palestinian journalist Anas Al-Sharif, who reports from Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, protesters are seen holding signs which read "Enough displacement and homelessness," "stop the war," and "we are dying." A protester standing in the middle of the crowd yelled "We are a peaceful people! We want to live! we want to live! We are done!"

Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing broadcast a message through their Telegram channel saying those who take the streets in demonstrations "supporting the occupation, under the name of anti-Hamas protests" are "agents," a term used in Arabic to refer to traitors, particularly in a political context.

Hamas has been increasingly calling for "general mobilization" in Gaza and the West Bank, after Israel renewed airstrikes on Gaza last week, signaling an end to a short ceasefire that was in place since January.

The group's military wing had particularly invited Palestinians to organize sit-ins at Al-Aqsa Mosque and "clash with the occupation and its settler mobs in all places and arenas," according to a Telegram message on their channel sent out on Monday.

Hamas has a documented history of cracking down on protests that challenge its authority in Gaza, according to Palestinian citizens' testimonials and human rights groups.

What People Are Saying

Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib on X: "The massive anti-Hamas, anti-war protests in Gaza are not PLO, PA, or Fatah organized. They are organic, popular-led, and entirely authentic expressions of frustrations, anger, rage, fury, and exhaustion by a people being held hostage by Hamas's ruthless terrorism & criminality."

Palestinian Activist Hamza Al-Masry on Telegram: "Note: We stand against the Zionist occupation but the pressure facing Gaza people is beyond imagination. And unfortunately, Hamas leadership has not come out to reassure the people but to say 'until the last child, we will fight until the last child'. So this is the response from the citizens of Gaza."

What Happens Next

The emergence of internal criticism within Gaza could fuel tensions between supporters and opponents of Hamas. It could also put pressure on Hamas for a ceasefire with Israel.

[darkmaga-returns]

Now, some in Berlin are rethinking that assumption.

“Of course, the question now arises again,” Marco Wanderwitz, an outgoing lawmaker from the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), told the German tabloid Bild (owned by POLITICO’s parent company, Axel Springer) last week. Wanderwitz has long harbored doubts about the wisdom of keeping such a significant portion of the country’s wealth abroad. In 2012, he made an unsuccessful push to personally inspect the gold, urging the Bundesbank to act more transparently – or bring the bullion home.

Fellow CDU member Markus Ferber, a member of the European Parliament, echoed those sentiments, calling for more rigorous oversight. “Official representatives of the Bundesbank must personally count the bars and document their results,” Ferber told the outlet.

These calls come at a time of deepening skepticism toward the institutions that once underpinned Germany’s postwar confidence. The recent decision to discard the so-called “debt brake,” a long-sacrosanct cap on public borrowing, signaled a willingness to rethink long-standing fiscal orthodoxy. The logic behind storing Germany’s gold in New York, once assumed to be self-evident, is now coming under similar scrutiny.

Adding to the speculation is Elon Musk and DOGE, who have questioned the authenticity of stated U.S. gold holdings – recently calling for a formal audit of America’s reserves.

For the Deutsche Bundesbank, which oversees the management of Germany’s reserves, any suggestion of instability is unwelcome. The central bank has maintained a quiet and resolute stance, rebuffing insinuations of risk.

“We have a trustworthy and reliable partner in the Fed in New York for the storage of our gold holdings,” Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said at a press conference in February, a line the bank reiterated when asked for comment on Friday. “It does not keep me awake at night. I have complete confidence in our colleagues at the American central bank.”

Famous last words…

[nareshkumartech]

The Evolution of Secure ID Features in Canadian Licenses

Canadian driver’s licenses have come a long way from being simple paper documents to highly sophisticated forms of identification. Today, they serve not just as proof of driving privileges but also as trusted government-issued IDs for everything from boarding a plane to opening a bank account. One of the key reasons they are so widely accepted is the constant evolution of security features built into them. Let’s take a look at how Canadian licenses have evolved to become some of the most secure forms of ID in the world.

1. Early Days: Basic Paper Licenses

In the early days, Canadian licenses were simple paper documents that included basic information: name, address, date of birth, and a photograph (sometimes stapled separately!). Security was minimal, making licenses easy to forge. At that time, the main concern was just proving that the holder was legally allowed to drive — not preventing identity theft or fraud.

However, as technology advanced and cases of fraud increased, governments realized the need for more sophisticated licenses.

2. Introduction of Plastic Cards and Photos

By the late 20th century, provinces began issuing plastic (PVC) cards with embedded photographs and magnetic strips. This change greatly improved durability and made it harder to tamper with licenses. Adding photographs was a major step toward making the license a true piece of personal identification, as it allowed authorities and businesses to visually verify the holder’s identity.

3. Holograms, Microprinting, and Barcodes

To combat forgery, licenses began to feature holographic overlays, microprinting, and 2D barcodes that store critical information digitally. Holograms, visible when tilted under light, are very difficult to replicate. Microprinting — tiny text only readable with magnification — added another layer of hidden security. Barcodes allowed fast electronic scanning by police and government agencies, making it easier to verify the validity of a license on the spot.

4. Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDLs)

Some provinces, such as Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec, introduced Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDLs). These contain radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips to allow secure land and sea border crossings between Canada and the U.S. An EDL functions both as a driver’s license and a limited travel document, meeting specific international security standards.

5. Smart Technology and Future Innovations

Today, discussions are underway about digital driver’s licenses — licenses you can store on your smartphone with enhanced encryption to prevent misuse. Provinces like Quebec and Ontario are exploring pilot programs for digital ID systems that would tie your license into a broader network of secure government services. Biometric authentication (such as facial recognition) is also being explored to further bolster license security in the future.

The evolution of secure ID features in Canadian licenses shows a commitment to protecting personal identity while enabling smooth access to government and private services. As new technologies emerge, you can expect even more innovation in the years ahead.

Want to stay ahead and understand everything about Canadian licensing? Whether you're applying for your first license or updating an existing one, LicensePrep.ca is your go-to source for detailed guides, practice tests, and the latest updates on ID requirements across Canada!

[hagueapostilleservicesblog]

Apostille Your Proof of Income for International Use

How to Authenticate or Apostille a Proof of Income Proof of income is often required for various international purposes, such as applying for visas, obtaining loans, or fulfilling legal requirements abroad. To use a proof of income document outside the United States, it must first be notarized and then apostilled or authenticated, depending on the destination country. Common Documents Used as…

[applythaivisa]

Business Visa in Thailand

1. Legal Framework and Visa Categories

1.1 Statutory Basis

Governed by Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and subsequent amendments

Implemented through Ministerial Regulations No. 17 (B.E. 2534)

Distinction between Non-Immigrant B (standard business visa) and SMART Visa (for qualified professionals)

1.2 Visa Subcategories

Visa TypeCodePurposeValiditySingle-EntryNon-BBusiness meetings, exploratory visits3 monthsMultiple-EntryNon-BFrequent business travelers1 yearSMART VisaSMTHigh-skill professionals4 yearsLTR VisaLTRBusiness investors10 years

2. Eligibility Criteria and Documentation

2.1 Standard Requirements

Company Sponsorship:

Thai entity registration documents (list of shareholders, business license)

Letter of invitation on company letterhead (notarized)

Personal Documentation:

Passport with 6+ months validity

2 passport photos (4x6 cm, white background)

Completed TM.86 form (for conversion inside Thailand)

2.2 Financial Requirements

Minimum Capitalization:

THB 2 million for wholly foreign-owned companies

THB 1 million for BOI-promoted companies

Salary Thresholds:

THB 50,000/month minimum for foreign employees

THB 200,000/month for SMART Visa applicants

2.3 Special Cases

BOI-Promoted Companies: Expedited processing (7-10 business days)

Regional Headquarters: Additional privileges under RHQ program

Startups: Alternative path through DEPA digital visa program

3. Application Process and Timelines

3.1 Consular Application (Overseas)

Document Preparation (5-10 business days)

Submission to Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate

Processing Time:

Standard: 3-5 business days

Express: 24 hours (additional fee)

3.2 In-Country Conversion

From Tourist Visa:

Must apply within 15 days of entry

Requires TM.87 form and additional documentation

Processing Timeline:

Bangkok Immigration: 10-15 business days

Provincial Offices: 7-10 business days

4. Work Permit Integration

4.1 Legal Requirements

Section 9 Alien Working Act B.E. 2551 mandates work permit for:

Employment contracts

Board of Directors positions

Certain consulting activities

4.2 Application Process

WP3 Quota Approval (3-5 days)

Work Permit Submission (10-15 days)

Issuance (2-3 days after approval)

4.3 Exemptions

BOI Companies: 7-day fast-track processing

SMART Visa Holders: Automatic work authorization

Board Members: Limited activity allowance without full permit

5. Compliance and Reporting Obligations

5.1 90-Day Reporting

Required for stays exceeding 90 consecutive days

Online reporting available through Immigration website

Penalty: THB 2,000-5,000 for late filings

5.2 Tax Implications

Residency Threshold: 180+ days = Thai tax resident

Withholding Tax: 15% on salary for non-residents

Social Security: Optional for foreign employees

6. Visa Renewal and Extension

6.1 Extension Requirements

Employment Verification: Updated company documents

Financial Proof: Recent bank statements

Tax Compliance: Personal income tax receipts

6.2 Processing Timeline

First extension: 5-7 business days

Subsequent extensions: 3-5 business days

7. Common Pitfalls and Risk Mitigation

7.1 Application Rejections

Top Reasons:

Incomplete company documentation (42% of cases)

Insufficient financial proof (28%)

Suspected illegitimate business purpose (19%)

7.2 Compliance Risks

Work Without Permit: Fine up to THB 100,000

Overstay: THB 500/day penalty (max THB 20,000)

7.3 Mitigation Strategies

Pre-Application Review: Engage corporate legal counsel

Document Authentication: Notarize all foreign documents

Continuous Monitoring: Track visa/work permit expiration

8. Emerging Trends and Future Developments

9.1 Digital Nomad Visa (2025 Pilot)

Proposed requirements:

$80,000 annual income

Health insurance coverage

Minimum 3-year contract

9.2 Blockchain Verification

Pilot program for document authentication

Smart contract integration for visa extensions

9.3 Policy Changes

Stricter enforcement of bona fide business requirements

Increased financial thresholds expected

9. Strategic Recommendations

10.1 For New Market Entrants

BOI Promotion: Seek investment privileges first

Professional Employer Organization: Consider PEO solutions

10.2 For Established Businesses

SMART Visa Conversion: For qualifying employees

LTR Visa Application: For C-suite executives

10.3 Crisis Management

Grace Period Applications: For unexpected termination

Exit Visa Planning: Avoid blacklisting risks

Key Resources:

Ministry of Labor: www.mol.go.th

BOI Visa Portal: visa.boi.go.th

Immigration Bureau: www.immigration.go.th

[chiangmailawyer]

Thailand Visa

Thailand's visa framework operates under a three-tier authorization system established by the Immigration Act (1979) and subsequent amendments:

A. Entry Permission (Visa Proper)

Issued by Thai embassies/consulates abroad

Determines initial duration and purpose of stay

Classified as:

Transit (TS)

Tourist (TR)

Non-Immigrant (12 subcategories)

Diplomatic/Official

B. Extension of Stay

Granted by Immigration Bureau within Thailand

Converts temporary entry into long-term residence

Requires specific qualifying conditions (e.g., marriage, retirement)

C. Re-Entry Permits

Maintains status during international travel

Single (THB 1,000) vs. Multiple (THB 3,800) options

2. Non-Immigrant Visa Subtypes: Operational Nuances

A. Business Visa (Non-B)

Approval Mechanics

Standard Path: Thai employer sponsorship + work permit

BOI Fast Track: 15-day processing for promoted companies

Treaty Routes: US Amity or ASEAN agreements

B. Retirement Visa (Non-O-A)

Financial Verification Protocols

Bank Deposit Method:

THB 800K seasoning: 2 months pre-application

Post-approval minimum: THB 400K maintained

Audit Trail: Must show foreign origin of funds

Income Method:

Embassy letters no longer sufficient alone

Requires 12-month Thai bank statements showing transfers

Exchange Rate Risk: Fluctuations may disqualify applicants

C. Education Visa (Non-ED)

Compliance Enforcement

Attendance Tracking:

Biometric check-ins at accredited institutions

Minimum 80% attendance rate enforced

Program Limitations:

Language schools: Max 5 years continuous stay

University programs: Duration of degree + 1 year

3. Special Economic Visas: Technical Specifications

Smart Visa Program

Sector-Specific Requirements

CategoryMinimum SalaryQualification ProofTalent (T)THB 200K/monthPatent filings or PhDStartup (S)N/ASeries A funding or BOI backingInvestor (I)N/ATHB 20M liquid investment

Privileges Matrix

Work permit exemption (Categories T/S)

90-day reporting waiver

Dependent work rights

4. Immigration Enforcement Technologies

Biometric Systems

Facial Recognition: Deployed at major entry points

Fingerprint Database: Linked to Interpol records

Blockchain Verification: Pilot for document authentication

Risk Assessment Algorithms

Visa Run Detection:

Pattern analysis of border crossings

Flagging of "out-in" same-day movements

Financial Scrutiny:

Bank statement anomaly detection

Seasoning period algorithmic validation

5. Judicial Recourse Pathways

Administrative Appeals Process

First Appeal: To originating immigration office (30 days)

Second Appeal: Immigration Commission (60 days)

Judicial Review: Administrative Court (6-18 months)

Precedent-Setting Cases

2018 Supreme Court Ruling: Overturned arbitrary visa denials

2021 Case #4562: Established due process for Elite Visa revocations

6. Emerging Policy Shifts

Digital Nomad Visa (2025 Pilot)

Technical Requirements:

Minimum $80K annual income

Health insurance with $50K coverage

Remote employment verification

ASEAN Harmonization

Single Visa Proposal: Pending implementation

Labor Mobility Framework: Skilled worker exchange

7. Strategic Compliance Planning

Documentation Lifecycle Management

Retention Periods:

Bank statements: 3 years

Tax records: 5 years

Entry/exit stamps: 10 years

Risk Mitigation Framework

Parallel Status Maintenance (e.g., Elite + work permit)

Buffer Capitalization (20% above minimums)

Pre-emptive Legal Opinions for complex cases

8. Expert Advisory

For Corporate Applicants

BOI pre-approval reduces processing by 60%

Treaty structures optimize ownership flexibility

For Individual Investors

Elite + Property Purchase creates residency backup

Multi-entry Non-O provides interim flexibility

For Families

Education visa + Dependent extensions ensure continuity

Interlocking applications prevent status gaps

9. Conclusion: Mastering the System

Thailand's visa regime requires technical precision rather than generic approaches. Successful navigation demands:

Sector-specific strategy alignment

Documentation forensics preparation

Contingency layering for policy shifts

[tiredtrevelyan]

30 for the Rook codex writing prompts <3

Thank you and apologies for the wait! I've only just gotten off a long ass hospital rotation. I did not expect to hurt my own feelings writing this one. Enjoy.

From the Rook Codex Writing Prompts by the lovely @shivunin | 30: A note/letter that Rook never sent

From Rook's Writing Desk: Testamentum

After the tragedy that was Tearstone Island, Neve and Emmrich go through Rook's private quarters, knowing their leader's penchant for detailed notes and plans. Emmrich uncovers a sealed legal document beneath a small stack of scrolls on Rook's desk.

The attached note reads: Copy for Detective Neve Gallus of Minrathous. To help with all the plans we dreamed of together. I hope you never need to see this. -Rook

The document is written on fine vellum bordered by twining snakes in gold leaf, bearing both the wax and dry seals of House Mercar along the bottom left corner; the swirling iridescence of the seals' magic gives evidence to their authenticity. The signature at the end is blurred and streaked in some places, and still damp where drops of water were brushed away. In both High Tevene and Trade Tongue reads:

I, Lady Juno Octavia of the Altus House of Mercar, hereby revoke all previous testamentary dispositions wrought by my hand and declare this to be my Last Testamentum.

Beneath the declaration is a detailed list of instructions, beneficiaries, and conditions, with a Magister Dorian Pavus of Qarinus listed as the executor. Highlighted and underlined near the end of the document is a separate bank account—with a brow-raising number declared as its contents—meant to be divided amongst specific beneficiaries only:

Detective Neve Gallus, Laetan of the Minrathous Circle of Magi Miss Lace Harding, Agent of the Inquisition Miss Bellara of Clan Lutare Mister Lucanis of House Dellamorte of Treviso Sir Davrin, Senior Warden of the Grey Evataash of the Lords of Fortune of Rivain Professor Emmrich Volkarin of the Mourn Watch, Mortalitasi of Nevarra

[thaiattorney]

Thailand SMART Visa

1.1 Statutory Foundations

Established under Royal Decree on SMART Visa B.E. 2561 (2018)

Amended by Ministerial Regulation No. 377 (2021) expanding eligible sectors

Operates within Thailand 4.0 Economic Model under BOI oversight

1.2 Governance Structure

Primary Authority: Board of Investment (BOI)

Interagency Coordination:

Immigration Bureau (visa issuance)

Digital Economy Promotion Agency (tech qualifications)

Ministry of Higher Education (academic validation)

Technical Review Committees:

12 sector-specific panels

Investment verification unit

2. Eligibility Criteria & Qualification Pathways

2.1 SMART-T (Experts)

Compensation Thresholds

Base Salary: Minimum THB 200,000/month (USD 5,800)

Alternative Compensation:

Equity valued at 25% premium

Performance bonuses (capped at 40% of base)

2.2 SMART-E (Entrepreneurs)

Startup Metrics

Revenue Test: THB 10M+ ARR

Traction Test: 50,000 MAU

Funding Test: Series A (THB 25M+)

Accelerator Requirements:

DEPA-certified programs

Minimum 6-month incubation

3. Application Process & Technical Review

3.1 Document Authentication Protocol

Educational Credentials:

WES/IQAS evaluation for foreign degrees

Notarized Thai translations (MFA-certified)

Employment Verification:

Social security cross-check

Three professional references

3.2 Biometric Enrollment

Facial Recognition: 12-point capture system

Fingerprinting: 10-print electronic submission

Iris Scanning: Optional for Diamond tier

4. Privilege Structure & Compliance

4.1 Employment Rights Framework

Permitted Activities:

Primary employment (≥80% time)

Academic collaboration (≤20%)

Advisory roles (max 2 concurrent)

Restrictions:

Local employment outside specialty

Political activities

Unapproved commercial research

4.2 Dependent Provisions

Spousal Work Rights:

General employment permitted

No industry restrictions

Child Education:

25% tuition subsidy

University admission priority

4.3 Mobility Features

Airport Processing:

Dedicated SMART lanes at 6 airports

15-minute clearance guarantee

Re-entry Flexibility:

Unlimited exits

72-hour grace period

5. Sector-Specific Implementations

5.1 Biotechnology

Special Privileges:

Lab equipment duty waivers

Fast-track FDA approval

50% R&D tax deduction

5.2 Advanced Manufacturing

Incentives:

Robotics import tax exemption

Industrial land lease discounts

THB 500K training subsidy

5.3 Digital Infrastructure

Cloud Computing:

VAT exemption on services

30% energy cost reduction

Cybersecurity:

Liability protections

Gov't certification fast-track

6. Compliance & Monitoring

6.1 Continuous Reporting

Quarterly:

Employment verification

Investment maintenance

Annual:

Contribution assessment

Salary benchmarking

6.2 Renewal Process

Documentation:

Updated financials

Health insurance (USD 100K)

Performance metrics

Fees:

THB 10,000 renewal

THB 1,900 visa stamp

7. Emerging Developments

71 2024 Enhancements

Blockchain Specialist Category

Climate Tech Fast-Track

EEC Regional Expansion

7.2 Pending Reforms

Dual Intent Provision

Skills Transfer Mandate

Global Talent Pool

8. Strategic Application Approach

8.1 Pre-Submission Optimization

Compensation Restructuring

Patent Portfolio Development

Professional Endorsements

8.2 Post-Approval Planning

Tax Residence Strategy

Asset Protection

Succession Planning

9. Risk Management

9.1 Common Rejection Reasons

Document Issues (32%)

Qualification Gaps (28%)

Financial Irregularities (19%)

9.2 Operational Challenges

Banking Restrictions

Healthcare Access

Cultural Integration