Saturday☕️

21 Dec 2024 — 5 min read

Economics & Markets:

Geopolitics & Conflicts:

On December 19, 2024, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out a precision airstrike in Syria’s Dayr az Zawr province, targeting and killing an ISIS leader, Abu Yusif (also known as Mahmud), along with another ISIS member. This operation is part of the ongoing efforts to stop ISIS from planning or launching attacks against civilians and military forces in the region and beyond.

The airstrike took place in a former Syrian regime and Russian-controlled area, showing the strategic importance of maintaining pressure on ISIS. CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla stressed that the U.S. and its allies are determined to prevent ISIS from regrouping, including stopping their attempts to free over 8,000 detained fighters in Syria. He reiterated the commitment to targeting ISIS leaders and operatives to ensure the group cannot rebuild or carry out external operations.

Environment & Weather:

Australia is currently experiencing a severe heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40°C across multiple regions, including highs of 47°C in northern Victoria and record-breaking 45°C in parts of New South Wales. Melbourne is facing its hottest December day since 2019. The heatwave has increased fire risks, with an out-of-control bushfire in Victoria’s Grampians National Park prompting emergency alerts. Infrastructure is strained, with power outages reported in some areas, while health authorities urge residents to stay cool, hydrated, and vigilant.

Security:

In September 2024, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) and its El Paso campus were targeted in a ransomware attack that exposed the personal and medical information of 1.4 million individuals. Sensitive data such as names, addresses, Social Security numbers, financial details, and medical records were accessed and stolen. The attack, attributed to the ransomware group Interlock, took place between September 17 and 29, with some of the 2.6 terabytes of stolen data leaked online. The breach was publicly disclosed in December 2024 after investigations and reporting to federal authorities.
In response, TTUHSC has provided affected individuals with free credit monitoring and reported the incident to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The attack caused disruptions to university operations, including communication systems and patient services. This breach underscores the vulnerability of educational and healthcare institutions to ransomware attacks and the critical importance of enhancing cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive information from malicious actors.

Space:

Business:

FedEx has announced it will spin off its less-than-truckload freight division, meaning it will separate the division into an independent company. This move allows FedEx to focus more on its core package delivery business while giving the freight division, known as FedEx Freight, the flexibility to operate on its own.
FedEx Freight, the largest U.S. provider of less-than-truckload services, moves shipments from multiple customers on the same truck and routes them through service centers. The spinoff is expected to create up to $20 billion in shareholder value and improve growth for both businesses.

Science & Technology:

Yesterday, December 20, 2024, OpenAI announced its newest AI models, o3 and o3-mini, which represent major improvements in problem-solving and reasoning. The o3 model is designed to handle complex tasks such as advanced coding, mathematics, and scientific problems. It also achieved a historic milestone by scoring at human levels on the ARC-AGI benchmark, a challenging test of visual reasoning that has remained unbeaten since 2019. Meanwhile, the o3-mini version offers similar capabilities in a smaller, more efficient package that requires less computing power.

Both models are currently in testing and not yet available to the public. OpenAI has invited researchers to test them and ensure their safety and effectiveness before releasing them widely. The full release is planned for mid-2025, giving OpenAI time to refine the models and address any issues. These developments highlight OpenAI’s efforts to advance AI technology and meet growing competition from other companies, like Google, which recently launched its own advanced AI systems.

Earth Intelligence System Update:

Spaceports and World Wonders are live on the Earth Intelligence system! Starting next week, each spaceport location will update with daily space launches to have an overwatch view of launch activity. Next up; the Sentry AI, a global search engine, predictive analysis, and all global data visualized into one, powerful system. Let us know if you have any questions or suggestions. The system is free to use, no signup/sign in required!
Click image to enter the Earth Intelligence System (EIS):