Mideast Crisis and Russia, Cyberspace, Disinformation; China Fears Weather Station Snooping; Belt and Road Milestone
What We’re Reading, Hearing, and Watching – November 2, 2023
Mideast Conflict: a Poisoned Birthday Gift for Putin?
October 7, 2023 -- the day that Palestinian group Hamas launched a bloody incursion into Israel, sparking a new outbreak of war in the region -- happened to be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 71st birthday. Some commentators referred to the attack as, in effect, a birthday present to Putin. Politico called it a “welcome surprise.” Analysts have said Russia was probably not directly involved in the Hamas attack but nevertheless benefits from it in many ways. However, it may be a poisoned gift; it risks stirring up ethnic strife and political instability in Russia itself and complicates Russia's path through the treacherous shoals of Mideast politics. Natto Thoughts will explore this in more detail in a forthcoming report.
The Hamas-Israel War in Cyberspace
Cybersecurity researchers are keeping an eye on state-sponsored and hacktivist activity on both sides of the conflict. Hackers have been disrupting the websites of both Israeli a…
