Latest news for 14 August 2025

NORTH KOREA

Hack the hackers.

A niche hacking magazine has unveiled how two ethical hackers managed to infiltrate a North Korean state-sponsored hacking group (‘Kimsuky’), then dump its secrets online. The trove reveals Kimsuky’s recent hits included the entire source code for South Korea’s foreign ministry email platform. (Phrack 💾)

Comment: Combined with word the US has been placing secret devices to trace AI chip smuggling into China, this tale offers rare insight into Western cyber-manoeuvring.

COSTA RICA

I’ll have what she’s having.

Long considered Central America’s safest nation, Costa Rica has announced it’ll start building a new El Salvador-inspired maximum-security prison to help confront its gang-related wave of violent crime. (Reuters)

Comment: The results of El Salvador’s latest ‘mano dura’ approach have been remarkable, and we’ve long foreshadowed others will follow. We just wonder whether El Salvador’s smaller size and clearer criminal structure might limit the degree to which its lessons can be implemented elsewhere.

CHINA

Dig deeper.

China’s largest lithium producer (Ganfeng) is teaming up with a Swiss-based player to develop one of South America’s largest lithium (saline water) projects, merging three brine operations into one. (SCMP)

Comment: Lithium oversupply (plus easing EV demand) has seen lithium prices collapse ~90% from their wild 2022 highs, placing pressure on all but the lowest-cost producers. More of the above consolidation seems inevitable.

ESTONIA

Persona non grata.

Tallinn has declared one of Russia’s local first secretaries (mid-ranking diplomat) persona non grata, with orders to leave Estonia. (Euronews)

Comment: Rather than the usual broad allegations that this diplomat was actually a spy, Estonia has specifically accused the individual of trying to divide Estonian society and contributing to crimes like sanctions violations. An Estonian national is reportedly facing related charges, so hopefully the courts will reveal more.

INDONESIA

Lending a hand.

Jakarta is deploying 100 army battalions (typically 500-700 troops each) across the country to assist with agriculture projects, after passing new laws in March allowing a bigger government role for the armed forces. (Strait Times)

Comment: President Prabowo (himself a former special forces commander) is already using troops to help roll out his signature free school meals project, but there’ll be lingering unease in a country with such fresh memories of authoritarianism.

BRAZIL

‘Sovereign Brazil’.

That’s the name of Brasilia’s new $5.5B plan to support exporters hit by America’s 50% tariffs on roughly half of Brazil’s exports to the US. (AP)

Comment: President Lula has flagged he’s not yet using Brazil’s reciprocal powers to counter the US tariffs, which ostensibly relate to the prosecution of Lula’s predecessor (Bolsonaro) over alleged coup plotting. Lula might’ve concluded it’s worth awaiting that case’s conclusion (September or October) before making his next move.

CAPE VERDE

Damage control.

The island nation off Africa’s west coast has declared a state of emergency after Tropical Storm Erin left at least nine dead and thousands displaced. (BBC)