They said it: A young survivor’s sorrow
VANCOUVER - Global Affairs Canada is warning Canadians in South Korea to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution after the country's president imposed an hours-long period of martial law. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * VANCOUVER - Global Affairs Canada is warning Canadians in South Korea to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution after the country's president imposed an hours-long period of martial law. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? VANCOUVER – Global Affairs Canada is warning Canadians in South Korea to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution after the country’s president imposed an hours-long period of martial law. The situation in South Korea arose after President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law on Tuesday, vowing to eliminate what he described as “anti-state” forces from the opposition that controls parliament. Yoon’s declaration triggered tense political drama, as troops surrounded the parliament while 190 lawmakers gathered inside to vote to lift the martial law shortly after it was imposed. Global Affairs Canada has not raised the risk level for Canadians in South Korea but did ask those in the country to monitor local media for the latest information, while following authorities’ instructions, such as curfew orders. A Vancouver-based travel agent says the chaos in Seoul is not likely to have a major effect on Canadian visitor numbers to South Korea. Glynnis Chan, owner of Happy Times Travel, says the martial law dissolved quickly and will likely have minimal impact on people’s travel plans, which tend to be made at least two months in advance. “There’s always some sort of impact, but it really depends on what happens with the situation over the long term,” Chan says. “If nothing more happens, people forget after a week or so about what took place.” Chan says she is not expecting any impact on her business, since Japan is a more popular destination among her customers. Several Korean-Canadian travel agencies in Metro Vancouver declined to comment on the political situation in Seoul. After Yoon’s declaration of martial law, hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the national assembly, waving banners and calling for Yoon’s impeachment, while others scuffled with military troops. The South Korean parliamentary members eventually voted to lift the declaration, with national assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declaring it “invalid.” Police and military personnel were then seen leaving the assembly’s grounds after Woo’s call for their withdrawal. Jae-Yeon Lim, vice-president of the Canada Korea Business Association, says seeing military personnel clash with protesters and lawmakers brought back “harrowing” memories of the 1980 student-led demonstrations in Gwangju that were violently suppressed. Yoon’s move was the first declaration of martial law since the country’s democratization in 1987, and South Korea’s last previous martial law was in October 1979. “It has been a very difficult experience to see that,” Lim says of the latest martial law declaration. “But that said, I’m really happy to see that ... the national assembly managed to get the majority vote to repeal this, and they managed to do that at the risk of their own lives, even though military was there. “This is a country that will stand up for democracy.” Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Lim also says there would likely be little impact on bilateral relations or trade between the two countries stemming from the sudden onset of political drama, given how quickly martial law was lifted. “It’s not going to stop business from seeking to expand in Canada,” Lim says. “There’s still a very strong interest to do so from many businesses (in South Korea). “We have yet to see what will happen next, but I think that I’m a little bit reassured in seeing what has transpired ... that people are ready to defend their country and democratic rule-of-law.” — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2024. Advertisement AdvertisementPlenty of players from that heralded 2022 class could indeed be participating in the first 12-team College Football Playoff this month. They just won’t be doing it for the Aggies, who no longer have nearly half their 2022 signees. The list of 2022 recruits now with playoff contenders elsewhere includes Mississippi defensive lineman Walter Nolen, Oregon wide receiver Evan Stewart, Alabama defensive lineman LT Overton, SMU offensive tackle PJ Williams and injured Boise State receiver Chris Marshall. Texas A&M has done all right without them, going 8-4 as transfers filled about half the starting roles. Texas A&M represents perhaps the clearest example of how recruiting and roster construction have changed in the era of loosened transfer restrictions. Coaches must assemble high school classes without always knowing which of their own players are transferring and what players from other schools could be available through the portal. “It used to be you lost 20 seniors, you signed 20 incoming freshmen,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said. “You just had your numbers right. Now you might lose 20 seniors, but you might lose 20 underclassmen. You just don’t know.” Is high school recruiting losing value? Coaches emphasize that high school recruiting remains critical, but recent results suggest it isn’t as vital as before. The last two College Football Playoff runners-up – TCU in 2022 and Washington in 2023 – didn’t sign a single top-15 class in any of the four years leading up their postseason runs, according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports. This year’s contenders have shown there’s more than one way to build a championship-caliber roster. About half of No. 1 Oregon’s usual starters began their college careers elsewhere. No. 5 Georgia, which annually signs one of the nation’s top high school classes, has only a few transfers making major contributions. Colorado’s rise under Deion Sanders exemplifies how a team can win without elite high school recruiting. None of Colorado’s last four classes have ranked higher than 30th in the 247Sports Composite. Three ranked 47th or lower. “If anybody ever did the homework and the statistics of these young men – people have a class that they say is the No. 1 class in the nation – then five of those guys play, or four of those guys play, then the rest go through the spring and then they jump in the portal,” Sanders said. “Don’t give me the number of where you rank (in recruiting standings), because it’s like an NFL team," he added. "You always say who won the draft, then the team gets killed all year (and) you don’t say nothing else about it. Who won the draft last year in the NFL? Nobody cares right now, right?” The busy transfer portal Star quarterback Shedeur Sanders followed his father from Jackson State to Colorado in 2023, and Heisman Trophy front-runner Travis Hunter accompanied them. According to Colorado, this year’s Buffaloes team has 50 transfer newcomers, trailing only North Texas’ 54 among Bowl Subdivision programs. Relying on transfers comes with caveats. Consider Florida State's rise and fall. Florida State posted an unbeaten regular-season record last year with transfers playing leading roles. When those transfers departed and Florida State's portal additions this year didn't work out, the Seminoles went 2-10. “There has to be some type of balance between the transfer portal and high school recruiting,” said Andrew Ivins, the director of scouting for 247Sports. “I compare it to the NFL. The players from the transfer portal are your free agents and high school recruiting is your NFL draft picks.” A look at the composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports for the 2020-22 classes shows at least 40 of the top 100 prospects each of those years ended up leaving their original school. Coaches must decide which positions they’re better off building with high school prospects and which spots might be easier to fill through the portal. “The ones that have a ton of learning to do - tight end, quarterback, interior offensive line, inside linebacker, safety, where they are the communicators - they are the guys that are processing a lot of information,” Florida’s Billy Napier said. “Those are the ones in a perfect world you have around for a while. “It’s easier to play defensive line, edge, corner, receiver, running back, tackle, specialists. Those are a little bit more plug-and-play I’d say, in my opinion," Napier said. "Either way, it’s not necessarily about that. It’s just about we need a certain number at each spot, and we do the best we can to fill those roles.” Transfer portal ripple effects Power Four programs aren’t the only ones facing a balancing act between recruiting high schools and mining the transfer portal. Group of Five schools encounter similar challenges. “We’re recruiting every position and bringing in a high school class,” Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton said. “That’s not going to be maybe 24 scholarship guys like it used to be. It might be more like 16. It’s not four d-linemen necessarily, right? It might be three. It might not be three receivers. It might be two. And it might not be five offensive linemen. It’s two to three.” The extra hurdle Group of Five schools face is the possibility their top performers might leave for a power-conference program with more lucrative name, image and likeness financial opportunities. They sometimes don’t know which players they’ll lose. “We know who they’re trying to steal,” Miami (Ohio) coach Chuck Martin quipped. “We just don’t know who they’re going to steal.” The obstacles facing coaches are only getting steeper as FBS teams prepare for a 105-man roster limit as part of the fallout from a pending $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement. While having 105 players on scholarship seems like an upgrade from the current 85-man scholarship limit, many rosters have about 125 players once walk-ons are included. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said last week his program would probably end up with about 30-50 players in the portal due to the new roster restrictions. Is there college free agency? All the added dimensions to roster construction in the college game have drawn parallels to the NFL, but Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck believes those comparisons are misleading. “When people talk about college football right now, they’re saying, ‘Oh, we have an NFL model,’ or it’s kind of moving toward the NFL,” Fleck said. “First of all, it’s nothing like the NFL. There’s a collective bargaining agreement (in the NFL). There’s a true salary cap for everybody. It’s designed for all 32 fan bases to win the Super Bowl maybe once every 32 years – and I know other people are winning that a lot more than others – but that’s how it’s designed. In college football, it’s not that way.” There does seem to be a bit more competitive balance than before. The emergence of TCU and Washington the last couple of postseasons indicates this new era of college football has produced more unpredictability. Yet it’s also created many more challenges as coaches try to figure out how to put together their rosters. “It’s difficult because we’re just kind of inventing it on the fly, right?” Diaz said.
Rinkside: Business, as usual, I warned you, reduced to three and Beaver bladesAward-Winning Author Patrick Finegan Releases New Novel - Toys in Babylon 11-25-2024 09:40 PM CET | Leisure, Entertainment, Miscellaneous Press release from: ABNewswire What happens when a quirky language app turns sinister? Murder, mayhem, and AI madness ensue in Toys in Babylon. Patrick Finegan is pleased to announce the release of his new novel, Toys in Babylon: A Language App Parody and Whodunnit, a riotously clever satire and murder mystery. This story takes readers on a madcap journey through the inner workings-and hilarious unraveling-of a wildly successful language-learning app. When the mascot and spokes-bear of a popular language app is found dead, chaos ensues. Was the culprit an ambitious executive, a disillusioned employee, a jilted lover, or perhaps one of the app's cartoon instructors-a charmingly animated AI with more intelligence than expected? Toys in Babylon is a satirical look at the intersection of technology, corporate ambition, and human folly, inspired by a chain novel prompt on a language app fan site. Originally serialized online, the story has been expanded into a definitive novel available in both English and German. Perfect for anyone who has ever learned a new language alongside quirky cartoon characters or questioned the rise of AI, Toys in Babylon delivers biting humor, compelling mystery, and a satirical edge that will resonate with fans of modern tech culture. About the Author Patrick Finegan graduated from Northwestern University and the University of Chicago Law School and Graduate School of Business. With over 30 years of experience in law, corporate finance, and management consulting, Finegan brings sharp wit and keen insight into the absurdities of the modern world. An avid language learner and author of three novels, he lives with his wife and grown daughter and continues to delight readers with his inventive storytelling. Follow Patrick Finegan on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.t.finegan X: https://x.com/pat_finegan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patfinegan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patfinegan Toys in Babylon [ https://amzn.to/4fzpQFE ] is available for purchase at: * Amazon [ https://www.amazon.com/Toys-Babylon-Language-Parody-Whodunit-ebook/dp/B0CYDNGNX2 ] * Barnes & Noble [ https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toys-in-babylon-patrick-finegan/1146194187 ] https://www.amazon.com/Toys-Babylon-Language-Parody-Whodunit-ebook/dp/B0CYDNGNX2 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toys-in-babylon-patrick-finegan/1146194187 BookBuzz: https://bookbuzz.net/toys-in-babylon-a-language-app-parody-and-whodunnit-by-patrick-finegan/ Media Contact Company Name: BookBuzz Contact Person: Amanda - PR Manager Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=awardwinning-author-patrick-finegan-releases-new-novel-toys-in-babylon ] Phone: 7065098422 City: New York State: NY Country: United States Website: https://www.bookbuzz.net This release was published on openPR.
Mohd Radzuan delivers his welcoming address. KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 4): The Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA) on Monday hosted the Takaful Leaders and Agents Summit (TLAS) 2024 at the Movenpick Hotel and Convention Centre in Sepang. This landmark event brought together approximately 500 participants, including agency leaders, takaful agents, and representatives from member companies. With the theme ‘Dare to Lead’, the summit provided a platform to celebrate leadership, inspire innovation, and foster professionalism within Malaysia’s Takaful industry marking its 40th anniversary this year. “The Takaful industry contributed approximately 4.5 per cent to Malaysia’s GDP in 2023, with a market share reaching 32 per cent of the overall insurance and Takaful sector in Malaysia,” said MTA chairman Elmie Aman Najas, emphasising the crucial role Takaful agents play in driving the industry forward. He emphasised how the agents play a pivotal role in driving sustainable business quality and raising awareness about financial protection, particularly through Family Takaful, which accounts for 42 per cent of new business premiums. TLAS 2024 was also a platform for strengthening industry partnerships with the signing of two key memorandums of understanding (MoU) with Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS) to enhance education and knowledge-sharing initiatives within the Takaful sector. A second MoU between MTA and Perfect 10 focuses on developing e-educational modules and tools to empower agents with enhanced service capabilities, improving customer experience. The summit featured breakout sessions dedicated to Family Takaful and General Takaful, offering participants tailored insights into navigating the evolving industry landscape. MTA chief executive officer Mohd Radzuan Mohamed in his welcoming speech lauded the contributions of Takaful agents, calling them the backbone of the industry. “Being an agent is not just a career; it is a noble role. Agents bring ease and relief to individuals, families, and businesses during times of hardship, illness, or misfortune. This social impact drives us all to remain committed to this meaningful industry,” he said. He highlighted the summit’s importance in motivating leaders and agents in their mission to promote the value of Takaful protection within the community. With over 120,000 Takaful agents driving outreach and growth, TLAS 2024 reinforced the sector’s critical role in Malaysia’s financial ecosystem. By celebrating its 40-year milestone, the summit not only inspired participants but also laid the foundation for continued collaboration, innovation, and excellence in the Takaful industry.
Riders’ O’Day believes positive steps taken in 2024Alex Jones and Stuart Watson give their video verdict after Ipswich Town's 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Portman Road in the Premier League. The duo discussed the key moments from the game and overall thoughts on the result. You can watch the full video below...High school recruiting isn't the only way to build a winner in the transfer portal era
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iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited Reports 2024 Half-Year Unaudited Financial ResultsAnas Sarwar has been named The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year in recognition of his work securing Scottish Labour’s stunning result at the General Election . The party returned 37 MPs, a huge jump on the one won in 2019. It is the second time Mr Sarwar has won the prize, after first taking the gong home in 2022. It was a unanimous choice for the independent judging panel, who praised the MSP for keeping his party disciplined and focused on winning. It is now the third year in a row Labour has won the main prize at the Scottish Politician Of The Year Awards in association with Scottish Power. READ MORE Scottish Politician Of The Year - winners revealed Bernard Ponsonby: The Herald's Politician of the Year is about real people Scottish Politician of the Year: Who has won in previous years? Mr Sarwar - who saw off competition from John Swinney and Kate Forbes - said: “It is truly an honour to have been named the Herald Scottish Politician of the Year for 2024. Whilst I may have received this award, the reality is that it is a team effort and I’m really lucky to have so many talents alongside me. “This year has been one of seismic change in our politics with the election of a UK Labour government, with Scotland at its heart, seeing us also win the election here in Scotland and return 37 Scottish Labour MPs. “Politics is first and foremost about service. “As we look ahead to the election in 2026, I am committed to working tirelessly with all who recognise the need for a new direction to deliver the public services, economy and standard of living Scots deserve.” (Image: Gordon Terris/NQ) Labour’s Ian Murray won in the Best Scot at Westminster category, with judges recognising his role in the party’s election victory and in making sure the party leadership took Scotland seriously. Also short-listed were SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn and Liberal Democrat chief whip Wendy Chamberlain. Both were nominated for the second year in a row. There was much debate on the judging panel over who should win Committee MSP of the Year Award. In the end, it went to Jackson Carlaw and the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee for their damning inquiry on the A9. They saw off stiff competition from the SNP’s Kenny Gibson, convener of Holyrood’s Finance and Public Administration Committee, and his party colleague Audrey Nicoll, the chair of the Criminal Justice Committee. Former first minister Humza Yousaf picked up the SNP’s first gong of the night, winning the Donald Dewar Debater of the Year Award supported by Aiir Networks. Judges thought his intervention on Gaza at the end of 2023 was one of the standout speeches of the parliamentary year. The Glasgow Pollok MSP could not make the ceremony but took to social media to thank The Herald. Thank you @heraldscotland Sorry I couldn't be there in person to collect it, I have my hands full tonight...! https://t.co/jfsGKiCHIs pic.twitter.com/bIdSsrNtHn — Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) November 21, 2024 Labour MP Kirsty McNeil won the One-to-Watch award in association with Scottish Power. Judges were impressed at the new Midlothian MP’s rapid ascent. She went from making her maiden speech to speaking from the despatch box for the first time as a Scotland Office minister within a matter of hours. There was little disagreement in the judging panel over who the Community MSP of the Year should be, with the Scottish Greens’ Ross Greer winning for his work opposing the Flamingo Land development on the shores of Loch Lomond. The Politics in Business award - supported by Big Partnership - was won by Kate Forbes. The judges were told that she had completely reset the Scottish Government’s relationship with industry. There was a feeling from businesses that the Deputy First Minister understood their importance in growing the economy. The Scottish Power Green Champion Award went to former Scottish Government minister Lorna Slater, who was praised for sticking to her principles and giving her ex-colleagues in St Andrew’s House a hard time over the environment. The Campaigner of the Year went to Linda, Stuart and Scott Allan for their work on prison reform and their campaign to get all children in Polmont Young Offenders Institute transferred to care. It was a tough choice for the judges. The Fornethy Survivors, a group of women who were victims of physical, mental and sexual abuse while attending Fornethy Residential School in Glasgow, were also on the shortlist. So too were the campaigners who saw Emma Caldwell’s killer brought to justice. Fiona Hennebry won the Local Politician Of The Year award. Judges were impressed by the Labour councillor’s charity work. She runs a community pantry and drop in cafe and group called Bags Full Of Love which provides backpacks for vulnerable young people filled with essential items. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Baroness Annabel Goldie. The former Scottish Tory leader played a central part in making Holyrood what it is, leaving in 2015 after 16 years, to dedicate herself to the House of Lords, where she has served in the government of four prime ministers. In her speech, she joked that a lifetime achievement award was for people "on their way to the crematorium." Baroness Goldie told the audience: "When I entered the Scottish Parliament in 1999 I had an overwhelming sense of privilege and obligation. The public had put me there, the taxpayer was keeping me there, and the deal was that I had to serve but I think that's something else in politics we always need to remember. "And I have to say that we've seen tonight some marvellous examples of really stellar political service in many of the undoubtedly discerning winners of awards this evening. "And I think I just want to say to to them and to the parties they represent, thank you. Thank you for being the real representation of what the public wants from its politicians. "And a plea, that if there's anyone in politics who's in it for self, to promote themselves in their own advancement, and most distastefully of all to, through some grotesque sense of entitlement, seek to grab every passing trimming and frill going past, then get them out. "Boot them out your party. They're no use to your party. They are are no use to the public, and there's certainly no use to the reputation of what should be an admired and respected vocation, and that is a privilege of political service. " (Image: Gordon Terris/NQ) Keith Anderson, CEO of ScottishPower, said: “Congratulations to all the worthy winners. Every one of them – and their fellow nominees – has shown their commitment to Scotland and its people through their amazing work. "It’s been an honour to be part of this event again and I look forward to seeing and hearing more from them as we work together to deliver Scotland’s green energy transition.” Hamish Fraser, Director, said: "Congratulations to The Herald and the events team for delivering yet another exceptional Scottish Politician of the Year Awards — truly one of the highlights of the Scottish political calendar. "I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations to the winner of the Donald Dewar Debater of the Year category, to the Politician of the Year, and to all the remarkable winners who were recognised last night. Their dedication and contributions to shaping Scotland’s future are truly inspiring."
SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks activated center Nico Sturm off injured reserve Monday and made room for him on the 23-man roster by assigning defenseman Jack Thompson to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda. The transactions mean that the Sharks currently have 14 forwards, six defensemen, and three goalies: Mackenzie Blackwood, Vitek Vanecek, and rookie Yaroslav Askarov. Sturm’s return to the Sharks’ active roster was believed to be imminent after he showed signs of improvement last week and practiced with the team on Sunday. He also took part in the Sharks’ morning skate on Monday, when he was officially considered a game-time decision by coach Ryan Warsofsky. The Sharks play the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night in the second game of a four-game homestand. Warsofsky did not say who his starting goalie would be. Warsofsky said he had a few players who were “nicked up” and considered game-time decisions, although it would be a surprise not to see Sturm, a mainstay as the Sharks’ fourth-line center, play against the Kings. Sturm, injured in the Sharks’ game earlier this month against the New York Rangers, is the Sharks’ faceoff leader by percentage and is one of the team’s leading penalty-killing forwards. Thompson has been on the Sharks’ roster for almost the entire season and played in 13 of the team’s 23 games. His five points are third-most among all Sharks defensemen, as he’s averaged just under 16 minutes of ice time per game. The Sharks have had three goalies on their roster since Nov. 18, when they recalled Askarov from the Barracuda. At the time, Vanecek was considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but Vanecek backed up Blackwood on Saturday in the Sharks’ 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Askarov made his Sharks debut on Thursday, making 29 saves in a 3-2 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues. It’s unclear how long the Sharks plan to keep three goalies on their active roster. Both Blackwood and Vanecek are pending unrestricted free agents, and speculation is that one could be dealt to another team before the NHL trade deadline on March 7. Kevin Weekes of ESPN and the NHL Network posted on the social media platform X on Monday that the Carolina Hurricanes “are exploring potential goalie options in the market.” Frederik Andersen is out eight to 12 weeks after knee surgery, and Pyotr Kochetkov left Saturday’s game at Columbus after colliding with defenseman Sean Walker. Kochetkov is now in concussion protocol.They said it: A young survivor’s sorrowSubscribe to our newsletter Privacy Policy Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in. Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. Support Hyperallergic We’re funded by readers like you! If you value our reviews and news reporting, we need your support more than ever. Please join us as a member today. Already a member? Sign in here. Support Hyperallergic’s independent arts journalism for as little as $8 per month. Become a Member This August, journalist Moustafa Bayoumi broke the story that the first photo of a detainee in a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) black site had been declassified. It shows an emaciated Ammar al-Baluchi, standing shackled and naked in a starkly white room. Subjected to years of torture, according to CIA protocol, the photo of the Pakistani detainee was meant “to document his physical condition at the time of transfer.” In a recent Hyperallergic opinion piece , Bayoumi reflected on the dark history of various regimes’ use of similar “atrocity photography” — a genre of memories they create for themselves that chronicle violence, but obscure it from public view. While this photograph epitomizes dehumanization, another image shows a different perspective. Through a vortex of colored lines and dots, al-Baluchi illustrated what he saw during a spell of vertigo, which was brought on by a traumatic brain injury caused by this torture. No longer in the media spotlight, it’s all too easy for many to forget that dozens of people are still imprisoned in Guantánamo Bay. The detention camp has incarcerated hundreds of detainees from around the world since it opened in the early 2000s in the wake of 9/11, and al-Baluchi is in the vast minority of those who have been charged with crimes connected to those events. While over half of the men still held there today were cleared for release years ago, they have not been freed, and it’s possible they never will. Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities Over a decade ago, a group of these men began to create art. At first, they used what little material they could find, such as soap scratched on walls or plastic forks scraped on styrofoam cups, even drawing with powdered tea on toilet paper. If these covert artists were discovered, they were punished. But starting in 2010, after Obama-era reforms , detainees were finally allowed to attend art classes. What happened was a brief flowering of the arts in one of the least likely places, and under inhumane conditions. In this episode, we speak with Erin L. Thompson, a Hyperallergic contributor, is a professor of art crime at John Jay College who curated Ode to the Sea , a groundbreaking exhibition of artwork by detainees that debuted in 2018. She recently returned from a week-long trip to the Caribbean military prison in order to view the 9/11 trials that ended up being delayed. Thompson spoke with Editor-in-Chief Hrag Vartanian about witnessing the strict policing of not only embattled art, but also how authorities maintain a tight control on photography taken by the media. Writer and artist Molly Crabapple, on the other hand, found a workaround. She joined us to discuss her 2013 trip to the detention center, when she was granted access to draw this surreal prison and its inhabitants, both the incarcerated men and medics, guards, and other actors that keep the machine running. Her work shows us how the craft of drawing can illuminate truths that censored photographs cannot. And finally, we spoke with writer Mansoor Adayfi, who was confined to Guantánamo Bay for almost 15 years. Like the vast majority of those imprisoned there, he was never charged with a crime. Adayfi gave us a first-hand account of hunger strikes, changes in torture tactics and confinement that came with each presidential administration, bonds formed between the men in the prison, and the flourishing of art through painting, singing, dancing, and writing among the detainees. He explains how such art became a lifeline for their survival. The author of Letters from Guantánamo and Don’t Forget Us Here: Lost and Found at Guantanamo , he works as an activist with CAGE toward the goal of permanently closing Guantánamo Bay. In 2022, eight current and former detainees wrote a letter urging President Biden to end a Trump-era policy that barred their work from leaving Guantánamo . Multiple men, cleared for release just that year, said that they would rather their art be freed than themselves. Adayfi told us that if given that choice, he’d say the same thing. “The art is not just art. It becomes a piece of you. You put your blood, your sweat, your memories, your time there. That art helped you to find yourself. To maintain your sanity, your humanity,” he explained. “Art from Guantánamo, we consider it one of us, like a living being. It went through the same process: the mistreatment, the abuses, the torture, the death, even. Like us, like us prisoners. It’s the same process. It went through everything we have been through.” While the Biden administration lifted the ban on art leaving Guantánamo Bay, they have not fulfilled the promise to close the prison before Donald Trump returns to office in January. His administration could usher in an expansion of similar detention camps, along with a new era of censorship and oppression in many forms. But as long as such injustices continue under any regime, stories like Adayfi’s are critical to hold on to and learn from. Even if a detainee manages to be released from Guantánamo Bay, they still encounter significant challenges. You can donate here to the Guantánamo Survivors Fund, which seeks to provide medical care, housing, and education to those released. Subscribe to Hyperallergic on Apple Podcasts and anywhere else you listen to your favorite shows. Watch the complete video of the conversations with images of the artworks on YouTube . We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn Facebook
The Russian-language ransomware scene isn't all that big. And despite an array of monikers for individual operations, new analysis shows these groups' members are working in close coordination, sharing tactics, botnets, and malware among one another, as well as with the Russian state. And now, a new power player ransomware group brand has emerged — BlackBasta. Since the spectacular law enforcement takedown of Conti's operations in 2022, the Russian-language ransomware landscape has been a bit in flux. Upending usual business operations further was the subsequent August 2023 takedown of Qakbot botnets, long relied upon by these groups to deliver their ransomware. The law enforcement action, called "Operation Duck Hunt," removed Qakbot malware from more than 700,000 infected machines. The Qakbot botnet takedown success would be short lived. Analysts started to see the it pop back up in cyberattacks just a couple of months later. Even so, by January, BlackBasta has already pivoted and was observed using a competing botnet tool called Pikabot, along with an emerging new threat group, Water Curupira, which similarly used Pikabot to drop BlackBasta ransomware . From there BlackBasta diversified into phishing , vishing, and social engineering , as well as buying entry into target networks from initial access brokers. But by last August, the ransomware group was using its own custom-developed malware , Cogscan, used to map victim networks and sniff out the most valuable data, as well as a .NET-based utility called Knotrock, used to execute ransomware. Related: Dark Reading Confidential: Pen-Test Arrests, 5 Years Later In a new report, RedSense cybersecurity analyst Yelisey Bohuslavskiy has provided a detailed look at the evolution of BlackBasta tactics, concluding that the group's requirement to adapt in the wake of large-scale law enforcement has made it a leader in the Russian-language ransomware space. In fact, Bohuslavskiy worries that the group is in a position to become an important partner of the Russian state. In the report, he used the example of the punishing rounds of cyberattacks against the healthcare sector this year and a potential bleak peek at what's to come. "Considering the abnormality of 2024 high-profile attacks against healthcare, I am concerned about the potential liaison between BlackBasta and [Russian nation-state threat actor] Nobelium [Midnight Blizzard] and the Russian security apparatus in general," Bohuslavskiy tells Dark Reading. "While at this point, the connection is mostly MS Teams exploitation and some other TTPs and can not be confirmed, if in the future Russian ransomware groups will develop direct cooperation with the Russian state, this will result in tangible deterioration of the threat landscape." Related: Leaky Cybersecurity Holes Put Water Systems at Risk He predicts that BlackBasta and the hackers in its orbit will get increasingly sophisticated in their attacks in the months to come, namely social engineering attempts at compromising credentials. "I would advise preparing for defending different social engineering against endpoints with a focus on credentials," Bohuslavskiy adds. "Cisco, Fortinet, and Citrix credentials are definitely the main focus of BlackBasta now. I would also look at GitHub repositories and other open repositories that an enterprise may have, as we are seeing these actors hunting for them." This is good news for cyber defenders. Social engineering is a much less efficient way to disseminate ransomware versus a botnet blast, Bohuslavskiy adds. "To my opinion, the most important thing is that law enforcement action is working," he says. "The transition shows a slow but steady movement from botnets to social engineering, even for traditionalists like BlackBasta. And by all means, social engineering is inferior to botnets in dissemination." Related: Going Beyond Secure by Demand Bohuslavskiy points to the Conti group's foray into a massive experiment with call centers filled with people conducting social engineering cyberattacks, adding that it turned out to be a flop. "Trickbot, Emotet, and Qbot were the ultimate sources of ransomware delivery for the entirety of the Russian-speaking domain, and by now, all of them are down due to law enforcement action," he says. "No substitute has come since. However, we should be aware that the leadership of the groups also understands this, and therefore, they will try to double down on developing new botnets. This is why I predict that BlackBasta's plays with social engineering will be short-lived." Expert ransomware negotiator Ed Dubrovsky, COO and partner at Cypfer, isn't sure it's that simple. In his experience, he explains, these Russian RaaS operations are highly decentralized groups of individual hackers with a complex organizational structure. Assigning cooperation between groups and the Russian state implies a level of operational coordination he hasn't seen. When one group is taken down by law enforcement, individual talent easily flows to another brand, in his view. "We tend to bunch them up together into a named group like BlackBasta, which is nothing more than an umbrella structure offering software and infrastructure solutions and some adjacent services," Dubrovsky says. "They are completely dependent on the affiliates, aka franchisees, to actually conduct attacks. So to claim that there is cooperation between nation-state actors and a ransomware 'brand' or 'franchise' is almost equivalent to saying McDonald's is working with state actors because they have a McDonald's in Russia." He suggests it's more likely individuals shuffling around ransomware trade secrets driven purely by return on investment rather than commitment to any specific group or specific fear of law enforcement. It's also important to note that "Russian-speaking" doesn't necessarily mean "Russian threat actors" when it comes to the hackers circulating around these RaaS operations, Ngoc Bui, cyber expert with Menlo Security says. "Many Dark Web forums and illicit communities predominantly use the Russian language, but this doesn’t necessarily mean all participants are Russian," she explains. "This distinction is critical when interpreting predictions about increased coordination." She adds there is a "golden rule" among these adversaries. "As long as operations don’t target Russia or its allies, they are often overlooked," she says. "This tolerance can make Russia an appealing environment for cybercriminals to operate, whether or not direct state coordination is involved." Beyond assigning specific tactics to various brands, Dubrovsky urges cybersecurity teams to focus on protecting their systems from increasingly well-funded and well-trained Russian-speaking ransomware adversaries. The entire threat landscape has been exploding since 2013, and he views its "further deterioration" predicted by Bohuslavskiy as an obvious given. "Could we say that this will accelerate even more due to the resources available to [threat actors] and certainly nation-states? Absolutely," Dubrovsky adds. "Would/could it be directly correlated because of observed TTPs? Not sure this will ever be conclusive. The real question is how do we defend against threat actors with increasing resources and capabilities to cause more impact."