Whether you're logging into your bank, health insurance, or even your email, most services today do not live by passwords alone. Now commonplace, multifactor authentication (MFA) requires users to enter a second or third proof of identity. However, not all forms of MFA are created equal, and the one-time passwords orgs send to your phone have holes so big you could drive a truck through them.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday, aiming to boost trade with the top buyer of Russia's arms and seaborne oil as Western sanctions squeeze their decades-old ties. read more
An erupting volcano may have kicked off a chain of events that led to the swift dance of the Black Plague across Europe in the 14th century, in a pandemic that killed tens of millions of people. read more
The organization's Iceberg Index' is designed to track the different types of AI agents now doing work once conducted by people. read more
This month will bring some striking celestial sights, including one of the year's best meteor showers and a glowing Saturn-moon pairing. read more
@#11 ... Probably not. ...
Time will tell. But I do not envy PM Modi's position that he finds himself in. (but I guess that is why he is a PM, and I am just some random person with a keyboard ...)
Putin says Russia ready to supply 'uninterrupted' fuel to India
www.bbc.com
... Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow is ready to provide "uninterrupted shipments" of fuel to India, as Delhi faces pressure from the US to stop buying Russian oil.
Putin, speaking alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, questioned earlier why India should be punished for buying oil when the US itself buys nuclear fuel from Moscow. ...
On Thursday, Putin told India Today that Russia was working on a "peaceful solution" to ending the war - warning that Ukraine must withdraw from the Donbas or Russia would seize it.
"Either we liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories," he said.
Modi repeated India's stance that it was not neutral on the war in Ukraine and stood on "the side of peace", welcoming efforts to find a "lasting" solution to end the war.
He highlighted that increasing the "connectivity" of Russia and India was a "major priority" for India.
In recent months, India-US ties have hit an all-time low as the two countries have failed to resolve the tariff deadlock. ...
Hegseth defends strikes on alleged cartel boats, says Trump can order use of force as he sees fit'
apnews.com
... Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended strikes on alleged drug cartel boats during remarks Saturday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, saying President Donald Trump has the power to take military action "as he sees fit" to defend the nation.
Hegseth dismissed criticism of the strikes, which have killed more than 80 people and now face intense scrutiny over concerns that they violated international law. Saying the strikes are justified to protect Americans, Hegseth likened the fight to the war on terror following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
"If you're working for a designated terrorist organization and you bring drugs to this country in a boat, we will find you and we will sink you. Let there be no doubt about it," Hegseth said during his keynote address at the Reagan National Defense Forum. "President Trump can and will take decisive military action as he sees fit to defend our nation's interests. Let no country on earth doubt that for a moment." ...
@#129 ... That's a cop out.
Culture is also established by leadership. ...
For the most part (let's say, 80-85%) I agree.
But I think the problem is that ~culture~ has evolved via social media far more quickly than "culture" was able to be managed.
We are (finally) seeing push-back against the addiction of social media.
Understanding Social Media Addiction: A Deep Dive (October 2024)
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
... Social media, integral to contemporary life, offers significant connectivity and entertainment benefits. However, its pervasive use has given rise to social media addiction, particularly among teenagers, characterized by excessive screen time, compulsive checking, and detrimental effects on real-life relationships and responsibilities.
This addiction is driven by a combination of psychological factors, such as low self-esteem and mental health issues, technological mechanisms like infinite scrolling and personalized notifications, and social influences, including peer pressure and exposure to idealized content. Effective management of social media addiction requires a multifaceted approach. ...
An aside to madbomber ...
When I had posted an article about Sec Hegseth's use of Signal, you noted that such usage may be more widespread than just Sec Hegseth. That comment drove my curiosity.
It was a while, but I eventually found something and posted this thread ...
Insecure use of Signal app part of wider DoD problem
drudge.com
Thanks for the pointer.
Judy Collins - Amazing Grace (1970)
www.youtube.com