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14 Dec 2024 — 5 min read

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The U.S. Department of Justice has charged Leonardo Ayala, a former employee of Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD), with conspiracy to launder money. Ayala, 24, worked at a TD branch in Doral, Florida, between February and November 2023. Prosecutors say he helped a money-laundering scheme by issuing debit cards for accounts opened under fake business names by another employee. These accounts were used to withdraw millions of dollars in drug money from Colombian ATMs. Ayala appeared in court in Miami on Tuesday.
This case is part of a larger investigation into TD Bank’s failures to stop money laundering. Two months ago, TD agreed to pay $3.1 billion in fines and penalties after U.S. regulators found the bank had allowed money laundering by drug cartels and criminals. At least five TD employees were allegedly involved in the schemes, including two who were previously charged. This particular operation, highlights how insiders at banks help launder money in exchange for payment.

Economics & Markets:

Law Enforcement Updates:

Environment & Weather:

Yesterday, central Chile was shaken by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake at 7:38 p.m. local time (23:38 GMT). The USGS pinpointed the epicenter 41 kilometers east-southeast of Molina at a depth of 110 kilometers. The tremor was widely felt across central and northern Chile, including the capital, Santiago. Despite its intensity, there were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage, and officials confirmed there was no risk of a tsunami.

Chile, located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, is one of the most seismically active regions in the world due to the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate. The country has a long history of significant earthquakes, including the largest ever recorded—a magnitude 9.5 in 1960. Its strong infrastructure and preparedness have helped mitigate the effects of frequent seismic activity, as seen in this latest event.

Space:

Yesterday, two important rocket launches showcased advancements in space technology. Rocket Lab launched its HASTE vehicle, nicknamed “Stonehenge,” from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia at 8:00 PM EST. Built from the Electron rocket, HASTE is designed for hypersonic and suborbital testing, demonstrating Rocket Lab’s ability to deliver cost-effective solutions for advanced aerospace technology.

Earlier, at 4:55 PM EST, SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying 22 Starlink V2 Mini satellites to expand its global broadband network. The Falcon 9’s first stage completed its ninth flight and successfully landed on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean. Other launches originally scheduled for yesterday have been delayed until next week.
Today, a Long March 2D rocket is scheduled to launch from Launch Complex 9 at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in China at 6:00 PM UTC. The payload for this mission remains undisclosed, which is common for some Chinese launches. The Long March 2D is a two-stage rocket designed to deploy satellites into low Earth and sun-synchronous orbits.
This week, SpaceX renewed its proposal to transform its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, into an official city called “Starbase.” The goal is to support the rapid development of Starship rockets by building a community around the primary spaceport of Earth. The proposed city would include local governance and infrastructure to accommodate over 3,400 employees and contractors, establishing South Texas as a key hub for space exploration.

Science & Technology:

Yesterday, OpenAI introduced a new “Projects” feature in ChatGPT to help users stay more organized. With Projects, users can create folders to group chats, add files, and give specific instructions for better AI responses. Each folder can be customized with a name and color, making it easier to manage tasks and keep track of different workflows. This tool is designed to simplify work on multiple projects and is currently available for Plus, Pro, and Teams users, with plans to expand access to free, Enterprise, and Edu users soon.

Statistic:

Earth Intelligence System Update:

New data updates have been added to display more news and global events. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be mapping the largest ports, airports, energy plants, and Earth space ports for infrastructure overwatch.
Click image below to enter the Earth Intelligence System (EIS):