#Active Protection System Market Report

[globalaviationanddefense]

[quicksilvrxx]

Regressor!Izuku Midoriya x Caregiver!Katsuki Bakugo

Echoes of SHIMMER---Chapter One

This is an idea that came to me after watching Arcane and then watching MHA Season 1 for the first time. I was already familiar with some of the characters, having seen them in artworks before, but then I started the season and I feel obliged to create agere content following it.

This AU ultimately remains the same except for the fact regressors are known and the incorporation of Arcane subplots/plot devices.

@egotank I adhered, I've tagged you my interpretation of the request!

You don't have to know about Arcane to read this story, the main concept is explained this first chapter!

CONTENT WARNING:

Drug Usage and Addiction [Shimmer]

Physical and Mental Health deterioration [effects from Shimmer and Izuku's struggles]

Bullying and Judgement [Katsuki's nicknames for others and lack of understanding to those desperate for Shimmer]

Emotional Distress, Fear, Trauma, and PTSD [Izuku doesn't want Katsuki injured and Izuku's history with Shimmer]

Conflict and Aggression [Verbal altercation between Katsuki and Kyoka]

Vulgar Language [Swearing will be involved]

If there are any other warnings you believe should be on this list, please let me know! I want to make sure people know what they are delving into.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

In a world filled with superheroes patrolling the streets and age-regression a common worldwide phenomenon, one might expect a society built on empathy and protection—a world safer and kinder than any before it. However, reality rarely aligns with expectations. The existence of quirks created new heights of power but also depths of inequality, and age-regression, despite the understanding of vulnerability, did not receive universal compassion. Those who regress were often met with mixed reactions between support and judgment, treated as either fragile treasures or burdens to be managed.

The belief that these powers and systems would create an entirely safe world proved naïve. Not all heroes were as noble as they appeared, the promise of safety a lie upon the power-hungry outbursts. While heroes were busy protecting civilians and teaching teenagers to become pro heroes, a dangerous, covert industry thrived in the shadows of poorer districts—Shimmer, a synthetic drug designed to grant superhuman abilities, usually at a devastating cost, was produced and sold in hushed corners, preying on those forgotten, quirkless, or surviving in poverty.

The underground Shimmer trade was meant to be a forgotten part of Izuku Midoriya's past—a nightmare buried beneath layers of fear and silence. However, has anything gone right in his life? Whispers of the drug had begun circulating again, murmurs of its reappearance in districts not far from U.A. High School. What had once been a desperate attempt to grant power to the powerless had evolved into a thriving illicit market. News reports spoke of sudden surges of crime, with suspects displaying unnatural physical abilities with bulging purple veins.

At U.A., Principal Nezu informed the teachers to warn the students about the circulation of Shimmer and recommend them to remain on campus grounds and stay alert with a group if they decide to venture. Aizawa wasn't impressed, more asleep than anything against Yamada from patrolling the previous night. A quick and cheerful goodbye from Yamada made him sigh as he begrudgingly walked to his classroom.

The classroom was unusually silent, a tension hanging in the air as Aizawa entered the room. He knew that the students of the academy knew about the recent revelation of Shimmer. His tired eyes swept over the students, ensuring he had their attention bar the exception of a few regressors doing their own thing. He sighed before speaking.

"Listen up," he began, his voice low and firm. "There's been an increase in activity related to a substance called Shimmer. I'm sure some of you have heard rumours about it, but let me make this clear—it's not just another street drug. It's a synthetic substance that grants superhuman abilities to anyone, quirked or quirkless, for a limited time. The cost? Your body, your sanity, or your life."

The students exchanged uneasy glances, murmurs rippling through the room. It was obvious they were more nervous than before. Aizawa held up a hand, effectively silencing them.

"Shimmer isn't new," he continued. "It's been around for decades, circulating in the black market and evolving, preying on the desperate—those who feel powerless in a society built around quirks. The recent cause for concern is that recent reports suggest its making it's way into areas where it hasn't been seen before, including ones close to U.A. Some of you may think this doesn't concern you. You're wrong."

Aizawa's gaze sharpened, narrowing his eyes as his tone turned colder. "Villains have used Shimmer to enhance their abilities, and even civilians, primarily those quirkless, have turned to it. The consequences are catastrophic. Enhanced strength, speed, or quirks might seem like an easy solution, but the drug destroys you from the inside out. Organs fail, tumor growths on the body, minds break, and for most users, there's no coming back."

Katsuki snorted from his seat, rolling his eyes as he leaned back against his seat with his arms crossed. "Sounds like it really only affects the quirkless losers trying to find shortcuts into becoming a hero." He looked at Izuku, who was sitting at his desk playing with his fingers nervously while staring fearfully at Aizawa. He sneered at him and looked back to the front. "Damn wannabes.."

Aizawa's eyes narrowed at him. "And should one of those prescribed 'losers' attack someone you care about while hopped up on Shimmer? Or perhaps a friend turns to it, believing there are no alternative options? Power doesn't make people immune to desperation, Bakugo. You'd do well to remember that."

He sighed while the room fell silent, Katsuki grumbling to himself as he remained quiet.

"Shimmer isn't just a threat because of the people who use it. It's because of what it represents," Aizawa continued. "The gaps in society—the cracks people fall through when quirks don't solve their problems. You're training to be heroes, and that means protecting everyone, not just those who fit into neat little categories. This isn't just a lesson; it's a warning. Stay vigilant. If you see or hear anything related or involving Shimmer, report it immediately. That last thing we need is one of your asses getting involved and suffering from it. That's all for now, I'll be back, I have to report this back to Principal Nezu."

Upon the conclusion of Aizawa's speech, the room buzzed with hushed voices. However, Izuku sat rigid in his chair, his hands trembling slightly before he clambered underneath his desk. It was common for him to hide whenever he regressed, the class and Aizawa had learnt that pretty early on. It never stopped Aizawa from being concerned and attempting to speak to him about his fear. He pulled his legs up to his chest, burrowing his head into them to escape the reality that Shimmer had been revived from the dead. His eyes flickered between green and purple as he whimpered quietly to himself, hoping none of his other classmates heard him.

As Aizawa disappeared from the room, the tension and curiosity lingered like a fog. Most of the class huddled into small groups, whispering about the Shimmer and its potential dangers, sharing their own thoughts about the drug. Katsuki, however, remained in his seat, an irritated scowl plastered on his face.

"It's just a damn drug," he muttered, loud enough for a few people to overhear. "Weaklings use it because they're too pathetic to get strong on their own and the quirkless want to replicate a quirk for themselves."

Kyoka, who had been leaning on her desk and chatting with Mina, turned her head sharply. "You're unbelievable, Bakugo. Did you not hear what Aizawa just said? It's not just about the people using it, it's what pushes them to that point."

Katsuki snorted, his crimson eyes narrowing. "Oh, I heard it loud and clear. It doesn't change the fact that anyone who takes it is just asking for their own destruction. If they're too weak and useless to handle life without shortcuts, that's on them."

"That's rich coming from someone who acts like being strong is the only thing that matters. Not everyone has the same advantages as you, Bakugo. You have a powerful quirk that can protect you from so much, what about the people who don't?" Kyoka replied, straightening up, her eyes flashing with annoyance.

The room went quiet, the other students turning to watch the brewing argument. Kirishima noticed Izuku's trembling figure underneath the desk, watching the argument with fear. "Guys... maybe you should knock it off," He interjected, trying to de-escalate the situation. "This isn't the time to be arguing, you're scari—"

"Stay out of it, Shitty Hair!" Katsuki barked, standing abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "You think I don't get it? You think I've had everything handed to me? I've worked for every damn thing I've got, and I'm not gonna sit here and pretend like people who take the easy way out deserve sympathy!"

Kyoka didn't back down, stepping closer to him. "It's not about sympathy, it's about understanding! Not everyone has the luxury of working their way up like you did. Some people are desperate, some don't see another way!"

The two were nose-to-nose now, voices rising with every word. Around them, the class murmured nervously, some suggesting to find Aizawa.

"What, you think I'm supposed to feel sorry for them? For people who screw themselves over and then cry about it?" Katsuki glared, his gaze fixed on Kyoka who had the same amount of fiery determination and passion.

"Maybe you should!" Kyoka shot back. "Maybe if you stop acting like the whole world is some contest, you'd actually understand what Aizawa was talking about!"

Underneath his desk, Izuku sat frozen. His heart pounded as the argument grew louder, the intensity of their voices forcing him to cover his ears. The flickering in his eyes started again—green to purple, purple to green—his mind breaking itself to understand the difference between his classmates and villains. The Shimmer had appeared and he was fighting for control that wouldn't come easily.

And then it happened. Katsuki's voice hit a sharp crescendo and Izuku moved without thinking. He scrambled from underneath the desk as he stood, his legs unsteady but his resolve ironclad;

Katsuki was in DANGER.

[just-horrible-things]

On The Amnestic Issue

The issue of strong amnestic drugs is not a highly publicized one. It is not a polarizing topic of debate like immigration, reproductive rights, or the human pet industry. Most people do not even have a strong opinion on amnestics. They are not front and center in the public view. The pharmaceutical industry and its supporters have done an excellent job of suppressing debate.

This is not an issue to take up lightly as a bit of collegiate activism to soothe the soul. Even to write about the topic is to invite lawsuit, defamation, and harassment. You probably haven’t heard much about anti-amnestic activists, not because we don’t exist but because that is how effectively we are silenced. I have friends who have been jailed for speaking out, and many more who have been publicly targeted, harassed, accused, and made into laughing stocks.

This is not an issue to take up unless you truly feel passionately about it.

But I am passionate, and I think you should be too. I think we all should be. 

Detractors will attempt to paint anti-amnestic discourse as radical left wing pet-lib propaganda. They will attempt to paint us as far right anti-vaxxer paranoids lashing out against the medical industry. But the amnestic issue ought to concern you regardless of your political alignment.#

Whatever your stance on the human pet industry, whatever your stance on pharmacological reform, the amnestic issue goes far further than either of those. This is not about criminals or contractees, although they form part of the picture. This is primarily about the effects of strong amnestic drugs in the general population, the failure of our government and regulators to protect us from unregulated use, and the complete lack of unbiased, verifiable information about amnestic safety even in a medical context.

Use of prescription amnestics has more than doubled in just the last three years, despite the complete lack of any independent studies demonstrating benefits in the vast majority of use cases. Un-monitored, un-reported “home use” is estimated at anywhere between half as many people again, and three times as many, and in many cases these unprescribed drugs are being used to “medicate” entirely non-medical issues such as domestic quarrels.

Crime involving the forced administration of strong amnestics to unconsenting victims is estimated to have increased twenty-fold since these substances were first approved for prescription. The volume of illegal amnestics circulating in the black market is completely unknown, and the lack of separation between the markets for aggressive criminal use and for unregulated “self-medication” is bringing naive would-be patients into contact with hardened drug dealers and organized crime.

In the context of our progressively failing criminal justice system, some victims are even administering the “cover up pills” to themselves rather than face the traumatic experience of trying to push a report through to court. In a recent survey, 20% of university students said that if they were victims of “date rape” they would rather take a pill and forget, than take the issue to the police. Cited reasons included shame, fear of stigmatization, fear that the police would do nothing, and, conversely, fear that the police would respond with excessive force.

Perhaps most troubling of all, the second most popular reason given was simply that taking an amnestic would be “less effort”. The same attitude is reflected in a growing media trend towards portraying drug-induced forgetting as the “easy option” : a quick, effortless, and effective solution to any and all of life’s problems. 

Needless to say there is no evidence to support the idea that amnestic abuse actually improves happiness, health, or any other measure of wellbeing. And it should be beyond obvious that choosing to forget certain problems such as unpaid bills, unsettled debts, or an angry spouse will not actually cause these problems to go away.

Even industry giants such as Santex Pharma and WRU have recently put out statements advising against unregulated, unsupervised home use. These statements describe the medical applications and the use in the pet industry (respectively) as highly controlled, carefully monitored use cases and not comparable to the growing trend of unlicensed use. Santex state, both in their recent statement and elsewhere, that every approved use of their strong amnestics has been rigorously safety tested and found both safe and effective. They cite a number of published studies, in addition to an undisclosed quantity of private, internal investigation.

Every single published study involving strong amnestics was either conducted or funded by a manufacturer of strong amnestics, a business that uses strong amnestics as a core part of their business model (i.e. the human pet industry), or a subsidiary of one of these businesses.

There are no published independent studies. All attempts at independent studies have been heavily suppressed by the above industries, or else taken over by these business interests long before completion. It has long been well known – if rarely successfully prosecuted – that pharmaceutical companies regularly misuse statistics, massage data, and even outright fabricate results to produce conclusions that are favorable to their bottom line.

Even those few independent investigators who have resisted the pressure exerted by the industry have found that no reputable publication – scientific or otherwise – will take on the risk of publishing their results if they fail to corroborate the claims of safety. When such studies are made publically available on the internet they are invariably taken down within weeks or even days, and the authors – if remotely identifiable ��� can expect a slew of life-ruining lawsuits. In many cases even criminal charges have been leveled against such investigators.

Consequently it is extremely difficult to form an accurate picture of the extent and form of the risks posed by the use of strong amnestics. However, certain themes come up over and over in these vanished studies. The use of strong amnestics, especially but not exclusively long term or at high doses, has been associated with any or all of the following:

cognitive decline or impairment

anterograde amnesia (loss of the ability to reliably form new long term memories)

anxiety and depression

emotional instability and dysregulation

intrusive thoughts

increased rates of suicide

increased mortality (all causes)

false recall (remembering fictive events as if they were real, or events that happened to other people as if they happened to oneself)

nightmares, night terrors, insomnia and other sleep disturbances

migraines, cluster headaches, and other forms of headache

increased impulsivity

increases vulnerability to addiction

impaired executive function (difficulty making and adhering to plans, reduced decision-making ability)

While none of the above symptoms have been conclusively linked to amnestics on account of the industry stranglehold on data, it is worth noting that the incidence of all of the above problems in the general population has increased sharply over the last few years, with no other obvious explanation for the increase.

Some of the most striking evidence has come from the study of parents who made the choice to forget a child when that child entered into the human pet industry. The fact that WRU discontinued this as an official service after only a year and a half speaks volumes. But small numbers of parents (and an unknown number of other friends and relatives of new human pets) continue to seek out this option either under the supervision of a medical professional or independently “at home” with illicitly procured amnestics.

While the desire to forget is perhaps an understandable response to the loss of a child or loved one, the outcomes of such a choice are rarely happy. Suicide rates in this group are extremely high, as are rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses. 

Testimonials can be found on parenting boards across the web urging other parents not to make the same decision. They describe intense feelings of guilt, crushing anxiety, dread and/or a sense of “impending doom”, and a constant, gnawing awareness of the period of “lost time”. Feelings of hopelessness, futility and lack of purpose or fulfillment are extremely common.

One mother described the feeling as not only having lost her now-unremembered child, but also having lost herself.

The wider societal impact of amnestic abuse is also making itself felt as the prevalence rises year on year. Courts have already agreed that forgetting a crime or other offense does not absolve the perpetrator of any guilt or responsibility, but how exactly to handle such cases is far from settled. 

Detractors of pharmacological reform are quick to point out the double standard here. Amnesia can be enforced by the state in the name of correcting entrenched behavioral patterns and preventing reoffense, but those who have already self-administered this treatment are still considered just as guilty and just as likely to reoffend as if they had not forgotten.

Neither is it clear how to help or compensate victims of amnestic-related crimes. The use of amnestics to cover up crimes – most commonly date rape – is nothing new. Even prior to the invention of the modern drug class, weak amnestics such as alcohol and benzodiazepines have long been used for this purpose. However, the rise of the strong amnestic has both expanded the criminal’s toolkit for cover-ups and opened entire new spheres of crime.

Every month it seems that allegations of a new kind of crime hit the courts, from corporate espionage cases in which corporate agents are accused of using amnestics to wipe ideas, trade secrets, or experience in the field from their competitors, to domestic abuse allegations involving the long term use of amnestics to keep the victim ignorant of their own abuse. While some of these cases are clearly less plausible than others, there can be no doubt that criminal elements are hard at work finding new ways to abuse these substances.

If you follow the mainstream news cycle, you are also doubtless already aware of the rise of “perpetual amnesiacs” – a small but highly visible minority of amnestic “addicts” who take the drugs repeatedly in high doses to forget practically everything. 

(While strong amnestics are not physiologically addictive drugs like heroin or cocaine, phenomena such as gambling addiction and pornography addiction have long taught us that people can become addicted to all manner of things that are not physiologically addictive drugs.)

These “perpetual amnesiacs” usually have substantial problems before the amnestic abuse. They may be homeless, in debt, stuck in abusive relationships, or addicted to other substances. They begin taking the amnestics to forget their very real troubles. What separates the addict from other “home users” is the very high doses involved, and the taking of additional doses as soon as further difficulties arise. 

These afflicted individuals become increasingly disengaged from life, drifting from one short term pleasure (often other substances of abuse) to another, and taking additional amnestics whenever consequences threaten to disrupt their existence in the moment.

Most become homeless if they were not already, and over time almost all develop severe symptoms from the list above. Reporting has focused particularly on impulsivity, cognitive decline, and anterograde amnesia. We hear of the violent deaths of addicts killed attempting the wildly ill-conceived crimes that their impulsivity leads them into.

Eventually the “perpetual amnesiac” needs no further doses of the amnestics, because their ability to form new memories has been completely destroyed. 

Despite industry insistence that these sobering results are only a result of the extremely high doses taken by the addicts, the recent news coverage has awoken public fears regarding the safety of strong amnestics. 

However, reporting of these concerns has been notably muted and seems to have almost ceased as I write these words. All major news agencies seem to now prefer to parrot the company line that it is the quantity and the frequency that is the problem, not the drugs themselves. One can only imagine that money or favors have changed hands to facilitate this shift in focus.

One can only hope that the public will remember nonetheless, and that the plight of these most severely affected “perpetual amnesiacs” will prompt at least a few to look into the effect that amnestic drugs are having on us as individuals and as a society, and that we might start to look beyond the horizon of the company line.

-- A. Correspondent

[covid-safer-hotties]

In the U.S. Response to Avian Influenza, Echoes of Covid-19 - Published Sept 2, 2024

By Joshua Cohen

It’s been about five months since the Texas Department of State Health Services announced that a worker on a dairy farm had tested positive for avian influenza A (H5N1) virus after being exposed to apparently infected cattle. Since then, the U.S. public health response has been slow and disjointed, bringing back memories of how the federal government responded during the early phase of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite having a pandemic playbook in early 2020, the U.S. appeared flat-footed in its response to Covid-19, including inadequate testing and unavailable personal protective equipment. And throughout the pandemic, mixed messaging on masks and later vaccines set back public health efforts.

As H5N1 circulates, it seems that lessons from Covid-19 remain unlearned. It appears that missteps are being made regarding testing, surveillance, transparency, and failure of communication and coordination throughout the health care system, the same kinds of things that hurt the response to Covid-19.

“The World Health Organization,” according to NPR, “considers the virus a public health concern because of its potential to cause a pandemic.” What may be concerning is that the genetic sequence of the Spanish flu that killed between 50 and 100 million people from 1918 to 1919 was later found to be an H1N1 virus that originated in birds and then somehow adapted to humans. And based on confirmed cases, the case fatality rate could be as high as 50 percent, as over the past two decades roughly half of about 900 people around the globe known to have contracted bird flu died from it. (There are two caveats, however: Due to limited testing, there were likely more cases that were undetected which would lower the mortality rate. And in the last two years, the global case fatality rate seems to have decreased.)

As of Aug. 30, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that 196 dairy cow herds in 14 U.S. states have confirmed cases of avian influenza.

There have been 14 reported cases in humans since 2022, all of whom were exposed to cattle or poultry, and reports suggest that there may be even more sick farm workers who haven’t been tested. There’s no evidence the virus has started to spread among people, but that could change as the situation evolves. The possibility of spillover is always of concern to experts. One of two main competing theories of coronavirus origins and how it evolved into a human-to-human transmissible infection is zoonotic transfer from mammals sold at a wet market in Wuhan, China, to humans.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack declared at a press conference in June that his department “is trying to corner the virus,” while releasing a report that human activity is a conduit to bird flu being transmitted between animals when workers, cows, vehicles and equipment move between farms.

But experts have voiced sharp criticism of the U.S. government’s response, especially around the lack of comprehensive surveillance efforts to ascertain the extent of the outbreak. When interviewed by KFF Health News, Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health said, “We’re flying blind.” Without sufficient testing, it’s impossible to know how many animals and humans have been infected or whether the virus has begun to spread between people.

As could have been learned from the Covid-19 experience, integral to conventional approaches to curbing transmission of infectious diseases is a comprehensive set of track, isolate, and contact trace policies. These have not been systematically implemented.

"Without a collective effort across all states, there’s nothing to stop avian flu from spreading around the country."

Michigan stands out as a state with a robust policy to track human and animal infections and investigate which activities pose the most risk. First, the state’s chief medical executive told STAT, Michigan tested more individuals this spring than any other state. And then the Department of Health and Human Services in Michigan launched a pioneering effort to detect asymptomatic (silent) bird flu infections among farmworkers. Furthermore, a press release from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development notes that under state rules dairy and commercial poultry producers must implement biosecurity practices, which include establishing cleaning and disinfection protocols at access points for individuals and vehicles.

Investigators believe the virus may have begun to spread in Michigan when workers operating multiple dairy and poultry operations came in close contact with infected cows and moved from one farm to another.

In April, the USDA issued a federal order requiring testing before lactating dairy cattle can be moved across state lines. Michigan, along with nearly two dozen other states, has also issued its own restrictions. But without a collective effort across all states, there’s nothing to stop avian flu from spreading around the country.

Furthermore, how effective can containment be when the USDA’s order only requires testing for bird flu in lactating cows prior to interstate movement, and no other types of animals?

One of the challenges in managing any major outbreak is the question of who’s in charge to coordinate across departments, such as Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and Commerce. For the purpose of inter-department coordination, the Biden administration launched an Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy in 2023.

Among federal agencies, the CDC (housed within the Department of Health and Human Services) appears to be the most actively involved in coordinating state efforts. It has provided assistance for a seroprevalence study in Michigan, to assess whether asymptomatic infections are present in people, for example.

But despite these efforts, there’s lack of clarity around who has jurisdictional authority over what and where. Rick Bright, a virologist and immunologist and former head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, explained to CNN why he thinks that a more transparent and comprehensive approach to testing and genetic sequencing is needed. He’s concerned that viral adaptations can occur if there are enough opportunities through uncontrolled spread.

The CDC does now have a roadmap, which it announced for preventing and understanding human infection with bird flu and a plan to develop countermeasures. The roadmap’s main objectives include infection prevention by deploying PPE; examination of primary modes of transmission and estimates of incubation periods, duration of infection and severity; monitoring of genetic changes in the virus; and evaluating vaccines and antivirals. CDC Director Mandy Cohen said lessons from Covid-19 have been learned and that CDC is building upon them, for instance, through its wastewater surveillance efforts.

The CDC’s ability to implement these lofty goals may be hampered, however, by seemingly limited resources. The federal government has pledged only modest new funds this year of approximately $200 million to help track and contain H5N1. Separately, the government is allocating $176 million in Moderna to develop an mRNA vaccine against H5N1.

And conspicuously absent are concrete plans, such as how to deploy the stockpile of 10 million doses of avian flu vaccines the federal government currently has as well as the inventory of the antiviral Tamiflu (oseltamivir). By contrast, Finland is now offering vaccines to farmworkers.

"The CDC’s ability to implement these lofty goals may be hampered, however, by seemingly limited resources."

Aside from inadequate funding and preparation, there’s a problem of overcoming public distrust. A survey published in Health Affairs suggests that about 42 percent of American adult respondents in early 2022 said they had confidence in the CDC to provide quality health information during the Covid-19 pandemic, while about a third said they trusted state and local health departments. This may partly explain why the CDC is now having trouble getting farmers to cooperate with even rudimentary tracking and mitigation efforts regarding H5N1.

Lessons from the history of how Covid-19 unfolded underscore the importance of not being complacent in the face of a potential future bird flu pandemic. It would seem imperative to take proactive measures such as systematic testing of animals and humans exposed to the virus, mitigate transmission risk in the dairy and poultry industries, and coordinate federal and state responses.

[tieflingkisser]

Israel is creating a power vacuum in Gaza by backing armed looters — and killing anyone who tries to stop them

Growing reports show that Israel has been fomenting armed gangs to loot food supplies in Gaza and sow chaos — and it's killing those who attempt to stop it. But this strategy isn't new: Israel has waged a war on Gaza's civil government from the start.

from the article:

Israel has been waging a war on Gaza’s ability to govern itself and maintain law and order as a part of its 18-month-long genocidal campaign. The broad objective of this strategy has been to create a civil and humanitarian vacuum in Gaza that would lead to chaos and lawlessness. The intended effect, in Israel’s eyes, is either total social collapse, the spread of criminality, or the emergence of an alternative “clan”-based leadership in Gaza instead of Hamas. Israel stands to gain from any of those scenarios.

To make sure this administrative vacuum is maintained, Israel has launched periodic assassination campaigns targeting members of Gaza’s civil government — the police force, the security forces, the Civil Defense, and the healthcare system.

Israel has instrumentalized the fact that all these civil branches of government in Gaza, by definition, fall under Hamas control, given that it is the ruling faction in the strip. Consequently, it labels any Gaza civil servant as a “Hamas operative,” an association that has allowed Israel to legitimize the targeting of an entire category of civilian workers. They have included firefighters, medics, nurses, doctors, first responders, police officers, and other civil servants who were killed in the line of duty.

[...]

[G]rowing evidence from local reports shows that Israel is actively fomenting and possibly arming them as they loot scarce food resources — and then targets and kills those who attempt to stop the robberies. Some of those killed by Israel are community volunteers, according to local sources, while many others are police officers and security personnel in the civilian branch of Gaza’s government.

The most recent of these attacks came just last week when Israeli airstrikes killed a number of police officers and civilians who were protecting markets and food warehouses in Gaza City. One police officer, killed on May 2 while on duty in the al-Nasr area of Gaza City, was identified as As’ad Yahya Kafarneh. According to one family member, Kafarneh was in charge of a police patrol leading efforts to “confront gangs collaborating with the Israeli occupation, which work to rob food storage facilities.”

According to several reports from eyewitnesses and local journalists, compiled in a thread by Drop Site News, many of these gangs seem to be doing the looting with Israeli air support from quadcopter drones, with some eyewitnesses saying that it is part of a “coordinated effort to spread insecurity” in Gaza. Drop Site contributor Abubaker Abed also cited local reports indicating the existence of undercover Israeli operatives posing as Gazans who supply weapons and arm local gangs to carry out robberies. “The timing of their crimes is exactly in line with the appearance of warplanes in the sky,” Abed added.

[...]

When Israel broke the ceasefire on March 18, it killed 400 people in one night, including 130 children. Among the civil service leaders targeted were the coordinator of government action in Gaza, Isam Da’alis, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Mahmoud Hatteh, the Deputy Minister of Interior, Ahmad Abu Watfeh, and the head of the Security Service, Bahjat Abu Sultan. 

At the time, Haaretz published a report giving the impression that the targeting of civil leaders was new. A source “familiar with cabinet discussions” told the Israeli newspaper that Netanyahu “believes the mode of fighting in Gaza needs to change, and Israel should target not only the military leadership of Hamas, but also its civil leadership.” According to Haaretz, “the government hopes that armed gangs not loyal to the organization, so-called ‘clans,’ will take over if Hamas’s domestic control weakens.”

[...]

According to the UN memo, Abu Shabab and other gangs were likely “benefiting from a passive if not active benevolence,” or “protection,” by the Israeli army. The continuous thefts led to a plummeting in aid delivery and skyrocketing prices as a result of looted aid being sold on the black market. 

Aid delivery became so dangerous that it got to the point that UNRWA suspended deliveries through the Karam Abu Salem crossing in December 2024.

“The biggest problem is not only the theft of goods but the fact that whoever shoots at the truck or the driver means to destroy and vandalize the truck,” said Merenda Barakat at the time, UNRWA’s Deputy Chief Area Officer, explaining the organization’s decision to suspend aid delivery. “He not only wants to steal; he doesn’t want the truck to return to work at the Karam Abu Salem crossing.”

[...]

Much of the recent surge in banditry in Gaza City can be seen as a continuation of previous looting activity, but there are aspects of it that are new. Some of these looting efforts are growing bolder and more organized, according to local reports, in part due to Israel’s suspected assistance of these groups. In addition, since the majority of the Gaza police force and security forces have either gone underground or now operate clandestinely, it has become far more challenging to deal with these gangs. A security vacuum has been created that the civil government is struggling to fill.

[mariacallous]

As AI tools become increasingly sophisticated and accessible, so too has one of its worst applications: non-consensual deepfake pornography. While much of this content is hosted on dedicated sites, more and more it’s finding its way onto social platforms. Today, the Meta Oversight Board announced that it was taking on cases that could force the company to reckon with how it deals with deepfake porn.

The board, which is an independent body that can issue both binding decisions and recommendations to Meta, will focus on two deepfake porn cases, both regarding celebrities who had their images altered to create explicit content. In one case about an unnamed American celebrity, deepfake porn depicting the celebrity was removed from Facebook after it had already been flagged elsewhere on the platform. The post was also added to Meta’s Media Matching Service Bank, an automated system that finds and removes images that have already been flagged as violating Meta’s policies, to keep it off the platform.

In the other case, a deepfake image of an unnamed Indian celebrity remained up on Instagram, even after users reported it for violating Meta’s policies on pornography. The deepfake of the Indian celebrity was removed once the board took up the case, according to the announcement.

In both cases, the images were removed for violating Meta’s policies on bullying and harassment, and did not fall under Meta’s policies on porn. Meta, however, prohibits “content that depicts, threatens or promotes sexual violence, sexual assault or sexual exploitation” and does not allow porn or sexually explicit ads on its platforms. In a blog post released in tandem with the announcement of the cases, Meta said it removed the posts for violating the “derogatory sexualized photoshops or drawings” portion of its bullying and harassment policy, and that it also “determined that it violated [Meta's] adult nudity and sexual activity policy.”

The board hopes to use these cases to examine Meta’s policies and systems to detect and remove nonconsensual deepfake pornography, according to Julie Owono, an Oversight Board member. “I can tentatively already say that the main problem is probably detection,” she says. “Detection is not as perfect or at least is not as efficient as we would wish.”

Meta has also long faced criticism for its approach to moderating content outside the US and Western Europe. For this case, the board already voiced concerns that the American celebrity and Indian celebrity received different treatment in response to their deepfakes appearing on the platform.

“We know that Meta is quicker and more effective at moderating content in some markets and languages than others. By taking one case from the United States and one from India, we want to see if Meta is protecting all women globally in a fair way,” says Oversight Board cochair Helle Thorning-Schmidt. “It’s critical that this matter is addressed, and the board looks forward to exploring whether Meta’s policies and enforcement practices are effective at addressing this problem.”

The board declined to name the Indian and American celebrities whose images spurred the complaints, but pornographic deepfakes of celebrities have become rampant. A recent Channel 4 investigation found deepfakes of more than 4,000 celebrities. In January, a nonconsensual deepfake of Taylor Swift went viral on Facebook, Instagram, and especially X, where one post garnered more than 45 million views. X resorted to restricting the singer’s name from its search function, but posts continued to circulate. And while platforms struggled to remove that content, it was Swift’s fans who reportedly took to reporting and blocking the accounts that shared the image. In March, NBC News reported that ads for a deepfake app that ran on Facebook and Instagram featured the images of an undressed, underaged Jenna Ortega. In India, deepfakes have targeted major Bollywood actresses including Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt, and Rashmika Mandann.

Ever since deepfakes emerged half a decade ago, research has found that nonconsensual deepfake pornography overwhelmingly targets women—and it has continued to explode. Last year, reporting from WIRED found that 244,625 videos had been uploaded to the top 35 deepfake porn hosting sites—more than any previous year. And it doesn’t take much to make a deepfake. In 2019, VICE found that just 15 seconds of an Instagram story is enough to create a reliable deepfake, and the technology has only gotten more accessible. Last month, a school in Beverly Hills expelled five students who had made nonconsensual deepfakes of 16 of their classmates.

“Deepfake pornography is a growing cause of gender-based harassment online and is increasingly used to target, silence, and intimidate women on- and offline,” says Thorning-Schmidt. “Multiple studies show that deepfake pornography overwhelmingly targets women. This content can be extremely harmful for victims, and the tools used for creating it are becoming more sophisticated and accessible.”

In January, legislators introduced the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits, or DEFIANCE Act, that would allow people whose images were used in deepfake porn to sue if they could show that it was made without their consent. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who sponsored the bill, was herself the target of deepfake pornography earlier this year.

“Victims of nonconsensual pornographic deepfakes have waited too long for federal legislation to hold perpetrators accountable,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement at the time. “As deepfakes become easier to access and create—96 percent of deepfake videos circulating online are nonconsensual pornography—Congress needs to act to show victims that they won’t be left behind.”

[nismunc-ipc]

Shaping the future of gene editing - WHO calls for Global oversight and Ethical standards.

by The Star Reporter

WHO - Discussion about world gene editing regulations and ethical considerations is currently underway in the World Health Organisation. Member nations, especially Australia, France and China, announced proposals for the establishment of the Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA). IGRA will oversee compliance and ethical standards for gene research. Key offerings included the establishment of a global regulatory framework, measures to protect workers for gene research and mechanisms to ensure ethical compliance from various cultural and religious backgrounds. 

The discussions also addressed concerns about ‘designer babies’ and the need for comprehensive education on gene editing technologies. The delegates emphasized the importance of international cooperation and the need for a standardized pricing system for gene technology.

The major solution proposed by Canada was aimed at establishing the IGRA which oversees gene editing practices globally. Malaysia supported Canada’s amendment, but suggested that the businesses should be controlled by the government arguing that abuse caused by profit seeking should be prevented. 

However, Israel expressed the amendment's concern about the lack of specificity about rule violations and the punishments. Also, the United Kingdom (UK) opposed the amendment and argued that the business’s break up could negatively impact market competition and future innovation. 

The IGRA, a monitoring organization to ensure compliance with ethical genetic research modeled after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), therefore consisting of global regulators, advisory committees and laboratories to oversee international genetic research activities. 

The key countries mentioned the importance of developing educational programs at various levels from secondary and high school to universities to ensure the comprehensive understanding of genetic editing and ethical considerations. 

Moreover, they require the creation of a comprehensive framework that respects diverse cultural and religious perspectives while implementing global genetic research criteria. 

[govindhtech]

Benefits Of Conversational AI & How It Works With Examples

What Is Conversational AI?

Conversational AI mimics human speech. It’s made possible by Google’s foundation models, which underlie new generative AI capabilities, and NLP, which helps computers understand and interpret human language.

How Conversational AI works

Natural language processing (NLP), foundation models, and machine learning (ML) are all used in conversational AI.

Large volumes of speech and text data are used to train conversational AI systems. The machine is trained to comprehend and analyze human language using this data. The machine then engages in normal human interaction using this information. Over time, it improves the quality of its responses by continuously learning from its interactions.

Conversational AI For Customer Service

With IBM Watsonx Assistant, a next-generation conversational AI solution, anyone in your company can easily create generative AI assistants that provide customers with frictionless self-service experiences across all devices and channels, increase employee productivity, and expand your company.

User-friendly: Easy-to-use UI including pre-made themes and a drag-and-drop chat builder.

Out-of-the-box: Unconventional To better comprehend the context of each natural language communication, use large language models, large speech models, intelligent context gathering, and natural language processing and understanding (NLP, NLU).

Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG): It based on your company’s knowledge base, provides conversational responses that are correct, relevant, and current at all times.

Use cases

Watsonx Assistant may be easily set up to accommodate your department’s unique requirements.

Customer service

Strong client support With quick and precise responses, chatbots boost sales while saving contact center funds.

Human resources

All of your employees may save time and have a better work experience with HR automation. Questions can be answered by staff members at any time.

Marketing

With quick, individualized customer service, powerful AI chatbot marketing software lets you increase lead generation and enhance client experiences.

Features

Examine ways to increase production, enhance customer communications, and increase your bottom line.

Artificial Intelligence

Strong Watsonx Large Language Models (LLMs) that are tailored for specific commercial applications.

The Visual Builder

Building generative AI assistants using to user-friendly interface doesn’t require any coding knowledge.

Integrations

Pre-established links with a large number of channels, third-party apps, and corporate systems.

Security

Additional protection to prevent hackers and improper use of consumer information.

Analytics

Comprehensive reports and a strong analytics dashboard to monitor the effectiveness of conversations.

Self-service accessibility

For a consistent client experience, intelligent virtual assistants offer self-service responses and activities during off-peak hours.

Benfits of Conversational AI

Automation may save expenses while boosting output and operational effectiveness.

Conversational AI, for instance, may minimize human error and expenses by automating operations that are presently completed by people. Increase client happiness and engagement by providing a better customer experience.

Conversational AI, for instance, may offer a more engaging and customized experience by remembering client preferences and assisting consumers around-the-clock when human agents are not present.

Conversational AI Examples

Here are some instances of conversational AI technology in action:

Virtual agents that employ generative AI to support voice or text conversations are known as generative AI agents.

Chatbots are frequently utilized in customer care applications to respond to inquiries and offer assistance.

Virtual assistants are frequently voice-activated and compatible with smart speakers and mobile devices.

Software that converts text to speech is used to produce spoken instructions or audiobooks.

Software for speech recognition is used to transcribe phone conversations, lectures, subtitles, and more.

Applications Of Conversational AI

Customer service: Virtual assistants and chatbots may solve problems, respond to frequently asked questions, and offer product details.

E-commerce: Chatbots driven by AI can help customers make judgments about what to buy and propose products.

Healthcare: Virtual health assistants are able to make appointments, check patient health, and offer medical advice.

Education: AI-powered tutors may respond to student inquiries and offer individualized learning experiences.

In summary

The way to communicate with robots might be completely changed by the formidable technology known as conversational AI. Also can use its potential to produce more effective, interesting, and customized experiences if it comprehend its essential elements, advantages, and uses.

Read more on Govindhech.com

[xettle-technologies]

What are the key features of fintech solutions for business banking?

In today’s fast-paced and technology-driven world, fintech solutions have revolutionized the way businesses handle their banking needs. Fintech business banking is designed to streamline financial processes, enhance efficiency, and provide tailored solutions for businesses of all sizes. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, fintech companies are transforming traditional banking into a more dynamic, accessible, and customer-centric experience. Here, we explore the key features of fintech solutions for business banking, highlighting the impact of fintech payment systems, global reach, and the role of providers like Xettle Technologies in shaping this transformative sector.

1. Seamless Account Management

One of the primary features of fintech business banking is seamless account management. Fintech platforms offer intuitive dashboards and user-friendly interfaces that allow businesses to monitor their accounts in real-time. Features such as automated reconciliation, instant notifications, and integrated reporting tools make managing finances more efficient and less time-consuming. Business owners can track expenses, revenues, and cash flow from a single platform, ensuring they stay on top of their financial health.

2. Advanced Fintech Payment Systems

Fintech solutions are renowned for their innovative payment systems. A fintech payment system enables businesses to send and receive payments swiftly and securely. These systems often support multiple payment methods, including bank transfers, credit and debit cards, mobile wallets, and international payments. Additionally, advanced features such as recurring billing, payment reminders, and instant settlements simplify financial transactions for businesses.

Payment gateways offered by fintech companies are designed with robust security measures, including encryption and tokenization, to protect sensitive data. This level of security builds trust and ensures compliance with global financial regulations, making it easier for businesses to operate across borders.

3. Global Accessibility

Fintech global solutions provide businesses with the ability to operate seamlessly across international markets. This is particularly beneficial for businesses involved in cross-border trade. Fintech platforms facilitate currency conversions, international payments, and global compliance, reducing the complexities of managing finances in a globalized economy.

For instance, businesses can leverage fintech platforms to access multi-currency accounts, enabling them to hold and transact in various currencies without incurring high conversion fees. This global reach empowers businesses to expand their operations and cater to international clients with ease.

4. Tailored Financial Products

Fintech business banking solutions are highly customizable, offering tailored financial products that meet specific business needs. Whether it’s working capital loans, invoice financing, or expense management tools, fintech platforms provide solutions that cater to diverse industries and business models. This personalization ensures that businesses receive the support they need to grow and thrive in a competitive market.

Moreover, fintech platforms use data-driven insights to assess the financial health of businesses, enabling them to offer customized credit solutions and better interest rates compared to traditional banks.

5. Enhanced Security and Fraud Prevention

Security is a top priority in fintech business banking. Advanced fintech platforms incorporate state-of-the-art technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and blockchain to detect and prevent fraudulent activities. Features like two-factor authentication (2FA), biometric verification, and real-time fraud alerts provide businesses with peace of mind.

By leveraging AI and ML algorithms, fintech platforms can identify unusual transaction patterns and flag suspicious activities, minimizing the risk of financial fraud. This proactive approach to security helps businesses safeguard their assets and maintain trust with their stakeholders.

6. Integration with Business Tools

Fintech business banking solutions integrate seamlessly with other business tools, such as accounting software, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms. This integration streamlines operations and reduces manual effort, enabling businesses to focus on core activities.

For example, automated synchronization between fintech banking platforms and accounting tools ensures that financial data is always up-to-date, reducing errors and saving time during audits and financial reporting.

7. Real-Time Data and Analytics

Access to real-time data and analytics is a game-changer for businesses. Fintech solutions provide detailed insights into financial performance, helping businesses make informed decisions. Features like cash flow forecasting, expense categorization, and trend analysis empower businesses to plan strategically and optimize their financial resources.

8. Scalability and Flexibility

Fintech platforms are designed to grow with businesses. Whether a business is a startup, SME, or large enterprise, fintech solutions offer scalability and flexibility to adapt to changing needs. As businesses expand, they can access additional features and services without facing the limitations often associated with traditional banking systems.

9. Cost-Effective Solutions

Fintech business banking is typically more cost-effective than traditional banking. By automating processes and leveraging technology, fintech platforms reduce operational costs, which translates into lower fees for businesses. Features such as free transactions, minimal account maintenance charges, and competitive interest rates make fintech solutions an attractive option for businesses looking to optimize their financial operations.

10. Support for SMEs and Startups

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups often face challenges in accessing traditional banking services. Fintech solutions bridge this gap by offering accessible and inclusive banking options. Features like quick account setup, simplified loan applications, and dedicated customer support make fintech platforms a go-to choice for emerging businesses.

Xettle Technologies: A Pioneer in Fintech Business Banking

Among the many players in the fintech sector, Xettle Technologies stands out as a pioneer in delivering comprehensive fintech business banking solutions. By combining advanced technology with a customer-centric approach, Xettle Technologies empowers businesses to manage their finances effectively. Their innovative fintech payment system and global capabilities ensure that businesses can operate seamlessly in today’s interconnected world.

Conclusion

Fintech business banking has transformed the financial landscape, offering a plethora of features that cater to the evolving needs of businesses. From advanced fintech payment systems and global accessibility to enhanced security and tailored financial products, fintech solutions provide the tools necessary for businesses to thrive in a competitive market. Companies like Xettle Technologies exemplify the potential of fintech solutions to drive innovation and efficiency in business banking. As fintech global solutions continue to evolve, businesses can look forward to even more robust and dynamic banking experiences in the future.

[theculturedmarxist]

China’s path to reducing carbon emissions should be determined by China and not controlled by anyone else, President Xi Jinping told dozens of officials, at the same time as US climate envoy John Kerry is in Beijing seeking consensus on global warming.

Xi was speaking at a two-day national conference on ecological and environmental protection that started on Monday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported on Tuesday night.

“China’s commitments are unswerving, but the path towards the goals as well as the manner, pace and intensity of efforts to achieve them should and must be determined by the country itself, rather than swayed by others,” he said.

“[We should] actively and steadily work toward carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, foster a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system, accelerate the formation of a new power system and strengthen the country’s capability of guaranteeing oil and gas security.”

Xi also urged the country to safeguard ecological security and nuclear and radiation safety to “ensure that the natural environment and conditions, which are the foundation of survival and development, are not threatened or damaged”.

He asked for a concerted legal, market, technological and policy effort to achieve his goals.

The conference was attended by all seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the pinnacle of the party’s decision-making apparatus, as well as a wide range of party and government bodies.

Kerry, whose four-day visit concludes on Wednesday, has met Premier Li Qiang and top diplomat Wang Yi, as he seeks consensus on the fight against climate change.

There are also hopes his trip will add positive momentum to US-China relations, in their worst shape in decades.

Kerry tweeted on Tuesday that he appreciated the opportunity to have “an important discussion” with Li on how the US and China can work together to keep the pledge to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius about pre-industrial levels – a commitment of the 2015 Paris agreement – alive.

Li called for both sides to stick to climate commitments made in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.

Xi promised in September 2020 that China’s carbon emissions would peak by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060. In 2021, he said China would tightly control coal consumption and gradually reduce it after 2025.

China has repeatedly emphasised the need to secure its energy security and deliver on its climate commitments.

The most recent government work report to address the issue – submitted to the National People’s Congress, China’s legislature, in March by the previous premier Li Keqiang – said research and development of clean energy was a priority for 2023.

In April, the National Energy Administration announced plans to add 160 million kilowatts of installed wind and solar capacity by the end of this year, boosting the share of wind and solar electricity to 15.3 per cent of society’s energy use.

“Three years after making its carbon-reduction pledge, China’s energy and industrial transitions are still far from complete,” said Ma Jun, director of the Institute for Public and Environmental Affairs, a non-profit environmental research firm.

While China’s renewable energy is increasing, China has approved more coal projects recently, noted Ma. “Due to complex geopolitical changes, China has shifted its focus to energy security,” he said.

A major stumbling block to an agreement between the US and China on climate issues is China’s use of coal power. Washington wants China to reduce its domestic reliance on coal to cut more methane emissions. But Xi has reiterated many times that it is a matter of “energy security”.

There has been a significant increase in approvals for coal power projects within China since last summer’s extreme heatwave, which led to power supply crunches in several southern provinces. The rise in domestic approvals has sparked international concern about China’s ability to deliver on its climate promise.

On Kerry’s last visit to China in August 2021, he asked Beijing to stop funding coal power projects outside its borders. A month later, at the UN General Assembly, Xi announced that China would no longer build new coal power overseas.

Regarding China and US’s differences in climate issues and carbon reduction, Ma said, “What we have to see is what kind of cooperation the two sides are going to go for, and whether they can achieve a win-win situation on what each side is good at.”

[digitalworldvision]

Cyber Security Threat For Local Businesses

In this article learn the cyber security risks for Australian small businesses and how to protect your business future.

Australian local businesses face an ever-growing threat from cybercriminals. While many small business owners believe they're too insignificant to attract hackers, the reality is quite different. Cybercriminals often target smaller enterprises precisely because they tend to have weaker security measures in place. This blog post will explore the cyber dangers that small businesses in Australia may face and offer some practical advice on how to protect your livelihood.

The Growing Menace of Cyber Attacks

Why Small Businesses Are Targets

You might think your local shop or service isn't worth a hacker's time, but you'd be wrong. Cybercriminals often view small businesses as low-hanging fruit. Here's why:

1. Limited resources for cybersecurity

2. Less sophisticated defence systems

3. Valuable customer data

4. Potential gateway to larger partner companies

Common Cyber Threats to Watch Out For

Ransomware Blackcat Ransomware Gang.

Ransomware attacks have skyrocketed in recent years. These nasty pieces of software encrypt your data and demand payment for its release. For a small business, this can be devastating. Imagine losing access to your customer database or financial records overnight!

Phishing Scams

Phishing remains one of the most common ways cybercriminals gain access to your systems. They send seemingly legitimate emails that trick you or your staff into revealing sensitive information or downloading malware.

Data Breaches

Small businesses often store valuable customer data, making them prime targets for data breaches. A breach can result in hefty fines under Australian privacy laws and irreparable damage to your reputation.

Protecting Your Business from Cyber Threats

Essential Security Measures

1. **Use strong, unique passwords**: Implement a password policy that requires complex passwords and regular changes.

2. **Keep software updated**: Regularly update your operating systems, applications, and security software to patch vulnerabilities.

3. **Educate your staff**: Your employees are your first line of defence. Train them to recognise and report suspicious emails or activities.

Invest in Cybersecurity

While it might seem costly, investing in cybersecurity is far cheaper than dealing with the aftermath of an attack. Consider these steps:

1. **Install and maintain firewalls**: These act as a barrier between your internal network and external threats.

2. **Use encryption**: Encrypt sensitive data, especially if you store customer information.

3. **Implement multi-factor authentication**: This adds an extra layer of security beyond just passwords.

Create a Cybersecurity Plan

Don't wait for an attack to happen before you start thinking about cybersecurity. Develop a plan that includes:

1. Regular risk assessments

2. Incident response procedures

3. Data backup and recovery strategies

The Cost of Ignoring Cybersecurity

Failing to address cybersecurity can have dire consequences for your business:

1. Financial losses from theft or ransom payments

2. Damage to your reputation and loss of customer trust

3. Legal consequences for failing to protect customer data

4. Potential business closure due to inability to recover from an attack

Don't become another statistic in the growing list of small businesses crippled by cyber attacks. Take action today to protect your business, your customers, and your future.

Remember, in the digital age, cybersecurity isn't just an IT issue—it's a critical business concern that demands your attention and investment.

Kelly Hector creator of YouTube channel focused on cyber security risks and local marketing

[margbooks]

What is the best web-based enterprise accounting software?

In the fast-paced and ever-evolving landscape of business, staying on top of your finances is crucial. As enterprises expand their operations, managing accounts efficiently becomes a daunting task. Thankfully, with the advent of technology, businesses now have access to a plethora of web-based enterprise accounting software options to streamline their financial processes. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the ins and outs of web-based enterprise accounting software, helping you make an informed decision on the best solution for your business needs.

Understanding Web-Based Enterprise Accounting Software

Web-based enterprise accounting software, often referred to as cloud accounting software, is a digital solution that allows businesses to manage their financial activities online. Unlike traditional accounting systems that rely on on-premise software, web-based accounting tools operate in the cloud, offering users the flexibility to access their financial data from anywhere with an internet connection.

Advantages of Web-Based Enterprise Accounting Software

1. Accessibility

One of the primary advantages of web-based accounting software is accessibility. With data stored securely in the cloud, users can access their financial information anytime, anywhere. This proves especially beneficial for enterprises with multiple locations or remote teams, fostering collaboration and efficiency.

2. Cost Efficiency

Web-based accounting solutions often follow a subscription-based model, eliminating the need for costly upfront investments in software and hardware. This cost-effective approach makes it easier for businesses to scale their accounting infrastructure according to their needs without breaking the bank.

3. Real-Time Updates

In the dynamic world of business, real-time data is invaluable. Web-based accounting software provides instant updates, ensuring that users have access to the most recent financial information. This feature is crucial for making informed decisions and adapting to market changes promptly.

4. Automatic Updates and Maintenance

Gone are the days of manual software updates and maintenance. With web-based accounting solutions, updates are automatic, and maintenance is handled by the service provider. This frees up valuable time for businesses to focus on core operations rather than managing software updates.

Features to Look for in Web-Based Enterprise Accounting Software

1. User-Friendly Interface

A user-friendly interface is essential for ensuring that your team can navigate the software seamlessly. Look for solutions with intuitive dashboards and easy-to-understand features to minimize the learning curve for your staff.

2. Scalability

As your enterprise grows, so do your accounting needs. Choose a web-based accounting solution that can scale with your business, accommodating increased transaction volumes and additional users without compromising performance.

3. Integration Capabilities

Efficient accounting doesn't happen in isolation. Ensure that the web-based accounting software you choose integrates seamlessly with other essential business tools, such as CRM systems, project management software, and e-commerce platforms.

4. Security

The security of your financial data should be a top priority. Opt for web-based accounting software that employs robust encryption protocols and follows industry best practices for data protection. Additionally, check for features such as multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security.

Top Contenders in the Web-Based Enterprise Accounting Software Market

1. MargBooks

MargBooks Online is a India's popular online accounting solution known for its user-friendly interface and robust features. It offers a range of plans to suit businesses of all sizes and provides tools for invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting.

2. Xero

Xero is another cloud accounting software that caters to small and medium-sized enterprises. With features like bank reconciliation, inventory management, and payroll integration, Xero is a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to streamline their financial processes.

3. NetSuite

NetSuite, owned by Oracle, is a cloud-based ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution that includes robust accounting functionalities. It is suitable for larger enterprises with complex financial needs and offers features such as financial planning, revenue recognition, and multi-currency support.

4. Zoho Books

Zoho Books is part of the Zoho suite of business applications and is designed for small and medium-sized enterprises. It provides features such as automated workflows, project billing, and collaborative client portals, making it a versatile choice for businesses with diverse needs.

Making the Right Choice for Your Business

Choosing the best web-based enterprise accounting software for your business requires careful consideration of your specific needs and objectives. Here are some steps to guide you through the decision-making process:

1. Assess Your Business Requirements

Start by identifying your business's specific accounting requirements. Consider factors such as the number of users, the complexity of your financial transactions, and the need for integration with other business applications.

2. Set a Budget

Determine a realistic budget for your accounting software. While web-based solutions often offer cost savings compared to traditional software, it's essential to choose a solution that aligns with your financial resources.

3. Explore Free Trials

Many web-based accounting software providers offer free trials of their platforms. Take advantage of these trials to explore the features and functionalities of different solutions before making a commitment.

4. Seek Recommendations and Reviews

Consult with other businesses in your industry or network to gather recommendations and insights. Additionally, read reviews from reputable sources to gain a better understanding of the user experiences with different accounting software options.

The Evolution of Web-Based Enterprise Accounting Software

As technology continues to advance, so does the landscape of web-based enterprise accounting software. The evolution of these platforms is driven by the ever-changing needs of businesses and the ongoing developments in cloud technology. Let's delve deeper into the evolving trends shaping the future of web-based accounting solutions.

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation

The integration of artificial intelligence and automation is revolutionizing how businesses handle their financial processes. Modern web-based accounting software is incorporating AI algorithms to automate repetitive tasks, such as data entry and invoice categorization. This not only increases efficiency but also minimizes the risk of human error.

2. Enhanced Data Analytics

In the age of big data, the ability to derive meaningful insights from financial data is paramount. Advanced web-based accounting solutions are now equipped with powerful data analytics tools. These tools help businesses analyze trends, forecast future financial scenarios, and make data-driven decisions.

3. Mobile Accessibility

The shift towards mobile accessibility is a notable trend in web-based enterprise accounting software. Businesses are increasingly relying on mobile devices for day-to-day operations, and accounting software providers are responding by offering mobile-friendly applications. This allows users to manage their finances on the go, providing unparalleled flexibility.

4. Integration with E-Commerce Platforms

As e-commerce continues to thrive, businesses are looking for accounting solutions that seamlessly integrate with their online sales platforms. Modern web-based accounting software often includes features tailored for e-commerce, such as automated transaction reconciliation with online sales channels and inventory management.

5. Blockchain Technology

Blockchain technology is making waves in various industries, and accounting is no exception. Some web-based accounting solutions are exploring the integration of blockchain for enhanced security and transparency in financial transactions. This could revolutionize how businesses handle aspects like auditing and transaction verification.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

While web-based enterprise accounting software offers numerous benefits, it's important to be aware of potential challenges and how to overcome them. Here are some common issues businesses may face:

1. Security Concerns

The sensitive nature of financial data raises concerns about security in the cloud. To address this, choose a web-based accounting solution that employs robust encryption protocols and complies with industry security standards. Additionally, educate your team about best practices for secure online behavior.

2. Connectivity Issues

Reliable internet connectivity is crucial for accessing web-based accounting software. In regions with unstable internet connections, businesses may face challenges in real-time collaboration and data accessibility. Consider implementing backup solutions for offline access or explore accounting software with offline capabilities.

3. Customization Needs

Every business has unique accounting requirements. Some businesses may find that certain web-based accounting solutions lack the level of customization they need. In such cases, explore platforms that offer extensive customization options or consider integrating additional specialized accounting tools.

4. Data Ownership and Control

Understanding the terms of service and data ownership is essential when using web-based accounting software. Ensure that the chosen platform allows you to retain control over your financial data and provides mechanisms for data export in case of migration to a different system.

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice for Long-Term Success

In the fast-paced world of business, the right web-based enterprise accounting software can be a game-changer. Whether you're a small startup or a large enterprise, the key is to stay informed about the latest advancements in accounting technology and align your choice with the long-term goals of your business.

As you navigate the vast landscape of web-based accounting solutions, remember that the best choice is the one that seamlessly integrates with your business processes, enhances efficiency, and adapts to the evolving needs of your enterprise. If you have any specific questions or need further guidance on a particular aspect of web-based accounting software, feel free to ask for more information!

Also read- Online billing and accounting software to manage your business

[teamarcstechnologies]

What features you should have in your panel management platform for market research?

A panel management platform for market research should encompass various features to efficiently manage and engage with participants while gathering valuable insights. Here are some essential features:

Panel Recruitment and Profile Management: Capability to recruit, onboard, and manage panelists, including profile creation and segmentation based on demographics, preferences, behavior, etc.

Communication Tools: Integrated email, SMS, or push notification systems for sending invitations, reminders, and updates to panel members about surveys, studies, or events.

Survey Creation and Management: User-friendly tools for creating diverse types of surveys (e.g., multiple-choice, open-ended, rating scales) with branching logic and scheduling capabilities.

Incentive Management: Ability to manage and distribute incentives or rewards to panelists, ensuring fairness and accuracy in reward allocation.

Data Security and Privacy: Robust security measures to protect panelist data, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).

Analytics and Reporting: Tools for real-time tracking, monitoring survey responses, and generating comprehensive reports with actionable insights.

Panelist Engagement and Feedback: Features to foster engagement, such as forums, communities, or feedback mechanisms to encourage discussions and gather qualitative insights.

Mobile Compatibility: Responsive design or dedicated mobile apps to facilitate participation and engagement across various devices.

Integration Capabilities: Ability to integrate with other systems or tools, such as CRM software, analytics platforms, or social media, for seamless data flow and analysis.

Panelist Experience Enhancement: Constant improvements based on panelist feedback, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience while participating in surveys or studies.

Panel Health Monitoring: Tools to track panelist activity, prevent survey fatigue, and maintain the health and quality of the panel.

Customization and Branding: Options to customize the platform's look and feel to align with the branding of the research organization or client.

Panelist Support and Helpdesk: Accessible support channels for panelists to address queries, technical issues, or provide assistance when needed.

APIs and Scalability: APIs for scalability and flexibility, allowing for future enhancements or integrations with evolving technologies.

By incorporating these features into a panel management platform, market research organizations can effectively manage their panels, gather high-quality data, and maintain strong engagement with participants, leading to more accurate and insightful research outcomes.

Online Community Management Software

Online Project Management Platform

fraud detection and reporting tool

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Decoding Cybersecurity: Unveiling the Future of US Digital Forensics Excellence

What is the Size of US Digital forensics Industry?

US Digital forensics Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of ~% between 2022-2028 and is expected to reach ~USD Mn by 2028.

Escalating cyberattacks targeting individuals, organizations, and critical infrastructure underscore the need for robust digital forensics capabilities. The increasing frequency and sophistication of these attacks drive the demand for advanced tools and expertise to investigate and respond effectively.

Rapid technological advancements, including IoT, cloud computing, AI, and blockchain, introduce new avenues for cyber threats. Digital forensics services are crucial to understanding these emerging technologies' vulnerabilities and mitigating associated risks.

Furthermore, stricter data protection regulations and compliance mandates necessitate thorough digital evidence collection, preservation, and analysis.

Organizations across industries has invested in digital forensics to ensure adherence to legal requirements and regulatory frameworks.

Additionally Legal proceedings increasingly rely on digital evidence. Law enforcement, legal firms, and corporations require robust digital forensics services to gather, analyze, and present evidence in a court of law, driving market expansion.

Us Digital Forensics Market By Type

The US Digital forensics market is segmented by Computer Forensics, Network Forensics, Mobile Device forensics and Cloud forensics. Based on type, Computer Forensics type segment is emerged as the dominant segment in US Digital forensics market in 2022.

Computers are ubiquitous in modern society, utilized across industries, organizations, and households. As a result, a significant portion of digital evidence related to cybercrimes and incidents is generated from computer systems, driving the demand for specialized computer forensics expertise. Computers and their software environments evolve rapidly.

Us Digital Forensics Market By End User Application

US Digital forensics market is segmented by Government and Defence, BFSI, Telecom and IT, Retail, Healthcare and Other Government and Defence market is dominant in end user application segment in Digital forensics market in 2022.

Government and defense agencies handle highly sensitive information related to national security and intelligence. The increasing sophistication of cyber threats targeting these entities necessitates robust digital forensics capabilities to investigate and respond to cyber incidents effectively.

Government and defense entities are prime targets for cyberattacks due to their critical roles. Effective incident response through digital forensics helps in containing and mitigating cyber incidents swiftly, minimizing damage and preventing further breaches.

US Digital forensics by Region

The US Digital forensics market is segmented by Region into North, East, West, South.  In 2022, the dominance region is East region in US Digital forensics market.

The East region has a dense population and a well-established digital infrastructure, making it a hotspot for cybercriminal activity. The higher frequency of cyber threats and incidents necessitates a strong emphasis on digital forensics to investigate and mitigate these risks effectively. Additionally, the East region often sees a proactive approach from regulatory and legal bodies, reinforcing the demand for digital forensics services to ensure compliance and assist in investigations. The proximity of key players in law enforcement, government agencies, legal firms, and corporate headquarters further fuels the need for robust digital forensics capabilities.

Download a Sample Report of US digital forensics Solution Market

Competition Scenario in US Digital forensics Market

The US digital forensics market is characterized by a competitive landscape with several key players competing for market share. Prominent companies offering a range of digital forensics solutions and services contribute to the market's dynamism.

The competitive landscape also includes smaller, specialized firms and start-ups that focus on niche areas of digital forensics, such as cloud forensics, memory forensics, and industrial control systems forensics.

The competition is further intensified by the continuous evolution of technology, leading to the emergence of new players and innovative solutions. As the demand for digital forensics continues to grow, companies in this market are likely to invest in research and development to stay ahead of the curve, leading to a consistently competitive environment.

What is the Expected Future Outlook for the Overall US Digital forensics Market?

Download a Custom Report of US digital forensics market Growth

The US Digital forensics market was valued at USD ~Million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD ~ Million by the end of 2028, witnessing a CAGR of ~% during the forecast period 2022- 2028.

The US digital forensics market is poised for robust expansion due to the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, technological advancements, and regulatory pressures. Organizations across industries will increasingly recognize the necessity of investing in digital forensics to safeguard their digital assets and ensure compliance.

 As long as cyber threats continue to evolve, the demand for sophisticated digital forensic tools, services, and expertise will remain on an upward trajectory.

The US digital forensics market appears promising, characterized by a confluence of technological advancements, increasing cyber threats, and growing legal and regulatory requirements. As technology continues to evolve rapidly, so does the nature of cybercrimes, creating a persistent demand for digital forensics solutions and services.

Additionally, the escalating frequency and complexity of cyberattacks. As more critical operations and personal information are digitized, the potential attack surface expands, leading to a higher likelihood of security breaches. This dynamic compels organizations and law enforcement agencies to enhance their digital forensic capabilities to investigate, mitigate, and prevent cyber incidents effectively.

Furthermore, the rise of emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain presents both opportunities and challenges. These technologies bring new possibilities for efficiency and connectivity but also introduce novel avenues for cyber threats. Consequently, the demand for digital forensics services is expected to surge as organizations seek expertise in unraveling incidents involving these cutting-edge technologies.

The market is also likely to see increased adoption of cloud-based digital forensics solutions. As more data is stored and processed in the cloud, digital forensic providers will need to develop tools and methodologies to effectively gather evidence from virtual environments, remote servers, and distributed systems.

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To do a modest bit of good while doing nothing about the larger system is to keep the painting. You are chewing on the fruit of an injustice. You may be working on a prison education program, but you are choosing not to prioritize the pursuit of wage and labor laws that would make people’s lives more stable and perhaps keep some of them out of jail. You may be sponsoring a loan forgiveness initiative for law school students, but you are choosing not to prioritize seeking a tax code that would take more from you and cut their debts. Your management consulting firm may be writing reports about unlocking trillions of dollars’ worth of women’s potential, but it is choosing not to advise its clients to stop lobbying against the social programs that have been shown in other societies to help women achieve the equality fantasized about in consultants’ reports. Economistic reasoning dominates our age, and we may be tempted to focus on the first half of each of the above sentences—a marginal contribution you can see and touch—and to ignore the second half, involving a vaguer thing called complicity. But Cordelli was challenging elites to view what they allow to be done in their name, what they refuse to resist, as being as much of a moral action as the initiatives they actively promote. Her argument is not that every bad thing that happens in the world is your fault if you fail to stop it. Her claim, rather, is that citizens of a democracy are collectively responsible for what their society foreseeably and persistently allows; that they have a special duty toward those it systematically fails; and that this burden falls most heavily on those most amply rewarded by the same, ultimately arbitrary set of arrangements. “If you are an elite who has campaigned for or supported the right policies, or let’s suppose that you are not causally complicit in any direct sense,” she said, “still, it seems to me that you might owe a responsibility or duty to return to others what they have been unfairly deprived of by your common institutions.” The winners bear responsibility for the state of those institutions, and for the effects they have on others’ lives, for two reasons, Cordelli said: “because you’re worth nothing without society, and also because we would all be dominated by others without political institutions that protect our rights.” To take each of those in turn: She says you are worth nothing without society because there can be no hedge fund managers, nor violinists, nor technology entrepreneurs, in the absence of a civilizational infrastructure that we take for granted. “Your life, your talents, what you do could not be possible if they weren’t for common institutions,” Cordelli says. If the streets weren’t safe or the stock markets weren’t regulated, it would be harder to make use of one’s talents. If banks weren’t forced to offer a guarantee of guarding your money, making money would be pointless. Even if your children attended private school, public schools very likely trained some of their teachers, and publicly financed roads connected that island of a school to the grid of the society. Then there is the fact that absent a political system of shared institutions, anyone could dominate anyone. Every person with anything precious to protect would be at constant risk of plunder by everybody else. To live in a society without laws and shared institutions that applied equally to all would be, Cordelli says, to live “dependent on the arbitrary will of another. It would be like a form of servitude.” Think of the person who seeks to “change the world” by doing what can be done within a bad system, but who is relatively silent about that system. Think of the person who runs an impact investing fund aimed at helping the poor, but is unwilling to make the connection, in his own head or out loud, between poverty and the business practices of the financiers on his advisory board. Think of a hundred variations of this example. Such a person, for Cordelli, is putting himself in the difficult moral position of the kindhearted slave master.

Anand Giriharadhas