What We Got Wrong And Right About Ukraine — Business d’Or

 

On the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there has been a lot of commentary and events discussing the war’s implications and speculation about its future.

However, there has been little reflection on how many assessments made since late 2021 were incorrect. One of the most significant lessons of the war is that assessments must be better.

Some of the dominant projections and views made about the war have been proven wrong. For instance, some believed that Russia would not invade Ukraine or that if it did, it would only have minor aims in the Donbas.

Others believed that Western anti-tank weapons would be decisive, but they only helped Ukraine and did not defeat Russia. There were also projections that sanctions and export controls would crush Russia’s economy, but that has not been the case.

Some observers believed that China would not dare to help Russia, but it has in minor ways and could potentially provide more support in 2023.

Others believed that Putin would not risk a broader mobilization of Russia, but he has, and Ukraine has been able to mount a counteroffensive.

Additionally, there were worries that countries in the Middle East and North Africa would starve and Europe would freeze, but fortunately, neither has happened.

Surprises are part of war, but they may be a military-geopolitical myth.

The US and European intelligence communities were prescient in warning that Russia would invade, and some individuals had firsthand knowledge of the Russian military’s capabilities.

However, there have been economic and defense-industrial surprises, such as how Russia’s defense sector has struggled but still managed to incorporate Western microelectronics into its weapons.

There are some current and emerging narratives about the war worth exploring, such as the provision of Western combat aircraft to Ukraine and the belief that no end to the war is in sight.

Ultimately, the war could end with a negotiated armistice or cease-fire, or one of the combatants could suffer a total defeat and collapse.

As the war continues into 2023, there will likely be more surprises that confound dominant narratives.

For latest news visit: https://businessdor.com/category/business/aerospace-defense/

Business d’Or is a place of motivation for the business world. They are making the world’s most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, remodeling organizations and developing a big impact on the world.

Let’s Start A New Journey with Business d’Or — Share Your Successes.

Originally published at https://businessdor.com on February 27, 2023.

US energy dept says COVID probably leaked from Wuhan lab — Business d’Or

 

According to a classified report from the US Department of Energy, COVID-19 may have resulted from a leak from a laboratory, as per the Wall Street Journal.

The report, which was updated, cites new intelligence and makes the judgement with “low confidence.”

Previously, the department had been undecided on how the virus emerged. The report was prepared for the White House and Congress and extends to five pages.

The findings reaffirm a consensus that COVID-19 was not a result of a Chinese biological weapons program, as per people who had read the classified report.

The report joins the FBI in saying that the virus probably spread after a mishap at a laboratory, which the FBI concluded in 2021 with “moderate confidence.”

Four US intelligence agencies believe with “low confidence” that COVID-19 occurred through natural transmission, while two others remain undecided.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has insisted that all hypotheses remain on the table and called on China to provide further access to investigate.

For more latest news visit: https://businessdor.com/category/business/energy/

Business d’Or is a place of motivation for the business world. They are making the world’s most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, remodeling organizations and developing a big impact on the world.

Let’s Start A New Journey with Business d’Or — Share Your Successes.

Darktrace launches AI-driven vulnerability detection, alert system Newsroom — Business d’Or

 

Darktrace, an AI-focused cybersecurity vendor, has unveiled Newsroom, a new system that detects and warns about critical vulnerabilities by utilizing open-source intelligence sources.

The system identifies potential threats that businesses may face by leveraging deep and AI-assisted knowledge of a customer’s external attack surface.

Darktrace claims that Newsroom provides a summary of exploits, affected software, and assets within the organization. In addition, the system provides vulnerability mitigation guidance tailored to the specific needs of businesses.

Early adoption of Newsroom has reportedly identified remote code injection flaws in Citrix Gateway/Citrix ADC, CentOS Web Panel 7 Servers, and Zoho ManageEngine products. Darktrace Newsroom is now available as part of the Darktrace PREVENT product range.

Darktrace Newsroom alleviates slow, manual vulnerability detection

In a press release, Darktrace announced the launch of its Newsroom service, which autonomously monitors threat feeds and open-source intelligence sources for new critical vulnerabilities.

The system then publishes these vulnerabilities on the Darktrace PREVENT dashboard, providing security teams with quick and easy access to potential threats.

According to Pieter Jansen, senior vice president of cyber innovation at Darktrace, Newsroom can alleviate the lengthy and labor-intensive manual processes involved in traditional vulnerability management methods.

These methods often involve regular monitoring of security news feeds and intelligence sources, which can take significant time and effort.

Newsroom’s AI-powered team monitors new sources, public news, underground news, and research communities 24/7, selecting the most critical vulnerabilities to share with security teams. This allows for a more efficient and effective start to the day for security teams.

Deep understanding of an organization’s external attack surface

Pieter Jansen, senior vice president of cyber innovation at Darktrace, explains that Newsroom’s unique ability to build a digital DNA of a customer’s external attack surface sets it apart from other vulnerability management options.

The platform uses AI and brand evidence to learn about an organization’s external attack surface without any user input, allowing it to identify new or critical attack paths that could lead to compromise.

Upon detecting a relevant vulnerability, Newsroom sends an email alert with a list of affected assets and integrates with most ticketing systems, raising tickets automatically with the appropriate teams or personnel.

In addition, the system reevaluates historic vulnerabilities for new exploitation and provides mitigation guidance that links to official patch sites and sources for remediation.

Customers can even opt-in to be notified about vulnerabilities that don’t directly affect their assets, which Jansen refers to as a “true negative.”

Newsroom “cuts through media noise” to reveal cyber risk profile

Darktrace Newsroom is a new detection and warning system for critical vulnerabilities that utilizes open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources to identify threats posed to businesses, according to Darktrace.

The platform learns what an organization is like from an outside perspective, using the brand and AI evidence to build a digital DNA of the customer.

Upon detection of a vulnerability relevant to the client, Newsroom sends an email alert with a list of affected assets and supports integration with most ticketing systems.

Newsroom also reevaluates historic vulnerabilities for new exploitation.

The system has been praised by early adopter Jim Webber, VP enterprise security and fraud management at Direct Federal Credit Union, who said that Newsroom provides clearcut insights about the impact of new vulnerabilities in a way that is timely and bespoke to his organization.

He added that instead of trawling through data logs when the next vulnerability emerges, his team can act on the insights provided by Newsroom.

For more latest news visit: https://businessdor.com/category/innovation/ai/

Business d’Or is a place of motivation for the business world. They are making the world’s most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, remodeling organizations and developing a big impact on the world.

Let’s Start A New Journey with Business d’Or — Share Your Successes.

Damian Lillard Amazes NBA Twitter With 41 First-Half Points for Blazers vs. Rockets — Business d’Or

 

On Sunday, Damian Lillard had an incredible first half against the Houston Rockets, scoring 41 points in just 19 minutes at the Moda Center.

The crowd erupted as Lillard hit eight three-pointers, helping Portland to a 73–58 halftime lead. Lillard tied with Kyrie Irving for the third-most points in a half in NBA history, with only Devin Booker’s 51 in 2017 and Donovan Mitchell’s 42 earlier this season surpassing their total.

Despite playing against the Rockets, who are struggling this season, Lillard’s performance was impressive and has the potential to be historic depending on how he finishes the game. He has already put himself in elite company with his accomplishment in those 19 minutes.

Lillard has been one of the few bright spots for the Blazers this season, as they currently sit 12th in the West, but are only one game out of the play-in spots.

Lillard has been consistently fantastic throughout the season, averaging 31.4 points per game, which is the third-highest in the league.

He has also shot 37.2 percent from beyond the arc and 46.7 percent from the field. Fans are excited to see Lillard’s outstanding performances, which continue to pack the Moda Center every night.

For more latest news visit: https://businessdor.com/category/business/sports/

Business d’Or is a place of motivation for the business world. They are making the world’s most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, remodeling organizations and developing a big impact on the world.

Let’s Start A New Journey with Business d’Or — Share Your Successes.

Originally published at https://businessdor.com on February 27, 2023.

Success Story of Michael Bloomberg — Business d’Or

 

In this success post, we will be discussing the accomplishments of Michael Bloomberg, a renowned business tycoon, and philanthropist. Bloomberg is the majority owner and founder of Bloomberg LP, a global financial media, and data company.

He is one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, with a net worth of approximately $56 billion as of 2020.

Michael Bloomberg was born on February 14th, 1942, in Boston, Massachusetts. After finishing high school, he attended John Hopkins University and graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering.

He then pursued a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School, which he completed in 1966.

After completing his education, Bloomberg began his career at Salomon Brothers, a Wall Street investment bank, in 1966. Over time, he rose through the ranks of the company and became a general partner in 1973.

However, in 1981, the bank was purchased by the Phibro Corporation, and Bloomberg was let go from the company. As part of his severance package, he received $10 million.

With the money he received from his severance package, Bloomberg established his own financial data service company called “Innovative Market Systems” in 1982.

He was able to secure Merrill Lynch, a wealth management division of Bank of America, as his company’s first customer. The company was renamed Bloomberg LP in 1987 and has since grown to include Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Message.

In addition to his business endeavors, Bloomberg has also pursued a political career. He won his first election as the mayor of New York City in 2002 and was re-elected in 2005 and 2009. During his tenure, he implemented policies to increase life expectancy, ban smoking, and prevent poverty in the city.

Bloomberg is known for his socially liberal views and supports causes such as citizenship for illegal immigrants, abortion rights, and same-sex marriage.

He left his position as mayor in 2013 and returned to his business pursuits, with philanthropy as a top priority.

Throughout his career, Bloomberg has taken risks at various points, such as when he established his own company and when he pursued his political career.

His success in both areas has been unparalleled, making him a true leader in the business and political spheres.

For more latest news visit https://businessdor.com/success-stories/

Business d’Or is a place of motivation for the business world. They are making the world’s most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, remodeling organizations and developing a big impact on the world.

Let’s Start A New Journey with Business d’Or — Share Your Successes.

Originally published at https://businessdor.com on February 26, 2023.

Ukraine: what you can do to help

  

The people of the United Kingdom are standing with Ukraine. Across the country, everyone wants to do their bit to support those who have been forced to flee their homes because of the conflict. Here is how you can help #StandWithUkraine.

Financial donations

If you want to donate money, there are a number of charities providing humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

• Donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Appeal

The UK Government matched, pound-for-pound, £25 million of public donations to this appeal.

Make your donation safely

There are lots of organisations across the UK and internationally who have launched appeals, and you may wish to donate through these organisations instead. There are some simple steps you can take to ensure your money is safe and being used effectively:

• Check the charity’s name and registration number using the search the charity register tool
• Most charities with an income of £5,000 or more must be registered, which means they are regulated by The Charity Commission
• Make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information
• If in doubt, ask the charity or organisation for more information

Donating essential supplies

One of the best ways to help is by donating cash through trusted charities and aid organisations, rather than donating goods. Cash can be transferred quickly to areas where it is needed and individuals and aid organisations can use it to buy what is most needed. Unsolicited donations of goods, although well-meant, can obstruct supply chains and delay more urgent life-saving assistance from getting through.

Organisations across the UK are gathering essential supplies, such as clothes, first aid and sanitary products. Many charities and community groups will have lists of items they need.

Charities with experience of responding to disasters are best placed to reach victims on the ground.

Apply to be a sponsor

The government will be launching a new sponsorship scheme to make sure that Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes have a route to safety.

The scheme will match people, charities, businesses and community groups to Ukrainians who do not have family ties to the UK.

More details on the scheme can be found on Homes for Ukraine.

Social media — staying safe online

The UK Government, Ukrainian Government and others have been sharing messages of support on social media using the hashtag #StandForUkraine

Take care what you share! There is a lot of false information about the conflict circulating online — this is often called misinformation and disinformation. You can do your part to stop the spread:

• Ask yourself — does this look right? Does this sound right? Does this information come from a source I recognise?
• The SHARE checklist can help you decide if information can be trusted, before you interact with or share it on your social media channels

Cyber security

The National Cyber Security Centre is not aware of any specific cyber threats to the UK in relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However we strongly encourage organisations and citizens to follow NCSC guidance on steps to take when the cyber threat is heightened. Visit Cyber Security where you find practical steps and tools to help keep you, your family or business more secure online.

For more information visit https://businessdor.com/cause/

Business d’Or is a place of motivation for the business world. They are making the world’s most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, remodeling organizations and developing a big impact on the world.

Let’s Start A New Journey with Business d’Or — Share Your Successes.

How To Donate To Ukraine Relief Efforts

 

Most western powers, including the United States, have imposed heavy economic sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine, hoping that crippling its economy will slow down or end the war. But as the war presses on, Ukrainian citizens face devastating consequences.

Many of us are watching from afar and wondering how we can help Ukrainian people whose homes, cities and lives are being destroyed before our eyes.

In crises like this, acts of compassion and generosity can make a huge difference. There are dozens of organizations working directly in Ukraine or in bordering nations to provide aid to Ukrainian refugees.

If you’re looking to support people affected by the war in Ukraine, consider volunteering or donating money directly to the following organizations.

How to Donate to Organizations in Ukraine

The Ukrainian Red Cross

The Red Cross is often on the front lines of war, serving to help those affected by armed conflict. The Ukrainian Red Cross is assisting people inside the country by aiding with collecting blood, mobilizing volunteers and resources and conducting emergency activities.

World Central Kitchen

World Central Kitchen (WCK), established in 2010, is an organization that deploys chefs directly to disaster areas to provide hot meals to those in need. Since February, WCK has provided over 100 million hot meals and meal kits to those in need in Ukraine and neighboring countries.

Global Giving Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund

Global Giving is raising funds to support locally-led organizations throughout Ukraine. Donations to the fund will provide essentials for refugees, plus health and psychological support as well as access to education and economic assistance. To date, the fund has raised more than $54 million.

Contributors can also donate directly to Global Giving partners for specific projects, including helping Ukrainian children with cancer, providing transport for rescued pets, evacuating orphans and more.

Vostok SOS

Vostok SOS is a Ukraine-based non-governmental organization (NGO) that assists areas of conflict within Ukraine. The organization accepts donations to help aid local people, evacuate the vulnerable and provide trauma support after shelling.

Voices of Children

Created in 2015, the Voices of Children Foundation has been providing psychological support to children affected by war in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine through art therapy, video storytelling, mobile psychology access and more.

According to an August report, the organization has helped hundreds of families since the start of the war, providing financial assistance, psychological support and rehabilitation courses for children with disabilities.

Media Support

Donating directly toward the media in Ukraine can help fight Russian misinformation and keep Ukrainians informed of the latest developments. A GoFundMe has been launched by various organizations to help Ukraine’s media outlets relocate and continue their operations from European Union countries.

Kyiv School of Economics

The Kyiv School of Economics has created an initiative to provide equipment and services to those directly involved in the war through its charitable foundation. This equipment includes supplies for medics, basic necessities and psychological support for civilians, and purchasing and repairing off-road vehicles for the military.

Humanity & Inclusion

Humanity & Inclusion (H&I) is an international nongovernmental organization that works to support people with disabilities in areas of conflict, poverty and disaster. H&I workers have arrived in Ukraine to assess how it can help distribute medical equipment, provide post-operative care for the injured and offer mental health support. Donations go toward supplying emergency kits and rehabilitation and mental health support sessions.

Future for Ukraine

After hiding in bomb shelters and fleeing Ukraine, a group of displaced Ukrainian women founded Future for Ukraine to support those continuing to suffer from the war. Now, they’re organizing efforts to aid displaced Ukrainian children and women coping with the psychological consequences of the war. Future for Ukraine also helps provide prosthetics for wounded Ukrainians abroad, and humanitarian aid to affected regions within Ukraine.

How to Support Ukrainian Refugees

According to a tracker from the United Nations refugee agency, over 7.6 million Ukrainian refugees have been recorded across Europe. Many have fled to neighboring countries, including Poland, Hungary, Moldova and Romania.

Many refugees are in dire need of basic supplies, food and resources as they’re forced to rebuild their lives. You can volunteer or donate to the following organizations to help them do this.

ENGin

ENGin is a nonprofit organization that pairs Ukrainians with English-speaking volunteers for free online conversation practice. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old, fluent in English and can dedicate one hour a week for conversation practice, for at least 10–12 weeks. No teaching experience is required and curriculum is provided for accepted volunteers. (Disclaimer: The author of this article is currently a volunteer with ENGin).

USA for UNHCR

USA for UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, continues to raise funds to provide basic necessities and home repairs in villages across Ukraine. The organization has created a restricted donation fund where 100% of donations go toward supporting Ukrainian refugees. It previously partnered with Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds to match $1 million in donations.

Global Empowerment Mission

This nonprofit has accomplished a variety of assistance to Ukraine since the outbreak of the war. To date, it has assisted in nearly 39,000 relocations of refugees, placed nearly 14,000 individuals in temporary housing, and has repaired hundreds of buildings and homes. Donations continue to support these efforts.

Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE)

Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to immediate crisis response. CORE is working in Poland and Romania to help support Ukrainian refugees. Donations provide cash assistance to displaced families and distribute hygiene kits with soap, hand sanitizer, toothbrushes, thermal blankets and other essential hygiene items.

The International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee is a longstanding organization that provides resources to those fleeing countries in crisis, including cash assistance, medical treatment and more. The organization is on the ground in Poland and Ukraine to support people who have had to flee their homes.

The Polish Red Cross

Most Ukrainian refugees have crossed into the country’s eastern neighbor, Poland. The Polish Red Cross has provided humanitarian aid to over 800,000 refugees since the start of the war, including sending essential supplies such as equipment for hospitals, food, blankets and clothes across the border into Ukraine.

Donate to the Polish Red Cross here. (Note: the website is in Polish, but most browsers have an option to translate pages into English. Donations will be made in local Polish currency, zloty, and will be converted according to your bank or credit card’s current exchange rate. See here for bank transfer donations.)

Malteser International

Malteser International, the humanitarian relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta, is involved in relief efforts for Ukraine. The organization provides food, shelter, emergency medical care and more within Ukraine and neighboring countries. You can donate specifically to its efforts in Ukraine on the donation page; select “Ukraine” in the drop-down box after selecting a donation amount.

For more donations learn more: https://businessdor.com/cause/

Business d’Or is a place of motivation for the business world. They are making the world’s most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, remodeling organizations and developing a big impact on the world.

Let’s Start A New Journey with Business d’Or — Share Your Successes.