AI In-brief 16 Sept 00:00

A criminal gamble? Why Thailand’s push to legalise casinos could backfire

Thailand is actively considering legalizing entertainment complexes with casinos, with former PM Srettha Thavisin and influential figure Thaksin Shinawatra supporting the move to boost tourism, formalize the grey gambling economy, and generate significant tax revenue.
Despite a regional boom in legal casinos across Southeast Asia, Thailand remains the only mainland country without them, leading many Thai gamblers to frequent border casinos and prompting calls to redirect this revenue domestically.
While proponents highlight potential economic benefits like job creation and increased state income, critics warn of severe social consequences, including a rise in gambling addiction, associated crimes, and a high risk of organized crime infiltration and money laundering, as emphasized by the UNODC in the region.

AI In-brief Today 13:40

Supermarket freezers in several European countries hit by apparent cyberattacks

Supermarkets across Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, and Estonia reported widespread freezer and fridge malfunctions due to apparent cyberattacks.
The attacks caused refrigeration systems to overheat, with temperatures soaring to 50 degrees Celsius (122 F), forcing stores to discard spoiled food and limit fresh/frozen product availability.
Major chains like ICA Group, Coop, Delhaize, Carrefour, and SuperValu confirmed impacts, with some incidents quickly resolved, while others experienced temporary disruptions.
These incidents follow a similar pattern to a cyberattack last month in France that targeted older refrigeration systems in hundreds of stores, suggesting a coordinated effort.