Automotive

Thousands of car dealerships hacked

If you wanted a new car, now probably isn’t the time. Dealers were sent back to using pen and paper after a massive cyberattack targeted one of the auto industry’s most popular softwares.

Car industry technology provider CDK Global, which has its systems used by over 15,000 dealerships, suffered back-to-back cyberattacks on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, forcing the provider to shut down its systems and throw car dealerships back to the stone age.

Technological muffler

After discovering the initial hack, CDK shut down its systems in fear of customer data being compromised. Many dealerships reported keeping business open, although sales have declined for some and been more tedious for all.

• The cyberattack lessened the dealerships’ ability to use any related software, manage payroll, operations, sales, and essentially everything else they need to sell cars.

  • Some dealerships still can’t even pay their employees, look up parts, or receive calls on work phones.

• They also couldn’t access customer information or ongoing deals.

One user on Reddit that claims to be a dealership employee said the typical work atmosphere turned into “everyone freaking out and writing sh*t down on sticky notes.” So I’d say it seems pretty chill.

Who hacked them? No one is really sure. Bloomberg reported that the attack is believed to be from Eastern Europe, and that the group is demanding tens of millions of dollars. CDK said they plan to pay the ransom, per the report.

However, things are looking up: The auto retail technology and software provider said yesterday that had began taking steps to restore its systems, expecting the process will “take days not weeks,” according to a statement.

Government

The Treasury Department plans to get rid of a widely used tax loophole

If you actively use shell companies to transfer wealth, you may want to preemptively take an ibuprofen. The Treasury Department and the IRS announced a new initiative that could possibly raise $50 billion in tax revenue by closing a tax loophole known as “partnership basis shifting,” in an effort to cut down on tax abuse.

In 2022, the IRS received $80 billion from Congress to increase its range of enforcement and enhance customer service. Basis shifting and other loopholes can now be investigated thanks to the financial inflow, the agency said.

What is basis shifting?

Essentially, it's transferring assets (or one's tax basis) between various entities—that is, shell companies—for no other purpose than to skip out on taxes. By transferring assets, the tax basis gets lower each time, resulting in the loophole.

• According to the IRS, the number of filings for the same large pass-through business used for the kind of tax evasion covered by the guidelines grew from 174,100 in 2010 to 297,400 in 2019.

• Over the same period, however, these businesses' audit rates decreased from 3.8% to 0.1%.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo claims that the IRS intends to ramp up tax audits and guidelines in order to disrupt what Adeyemo calls “a shell game.” The measures could result in an additional $50 billion in tax collection over the course of the next ten years.

Environment

Just Stop Oil activists keep painting things orange

I personally like purple better but I suppose it’s a matter of preference. After a series of controversial demonstrations by Just Stop Oil (JSO) protestors, two were arrested at a London airport after trespassing and vandalizing several planes.

According to a JSO post on X, the two activists seemed to be intent on targeting Taylor Swift's jet (which has come under fire for having record-high carbon emissions) by cutting through a fence leading to the private airstrip.

• However, Essex police later confirmed the pop star’s jet was not at the airstrip where the vandalism occurred.

Orange all around

Less than a day before the activists targeted Swift’s jet, other protestors took to the 5,000-year-old Stonehenge, where they sprayed the ancient monument with, of course, orange paint.

• Two people had been arrested on suspicion of damaging the landmark by Wiltshire police.

• Members of the public who witnessed the act were heard shouting “Stop them!” and running to intervene as the protestors ran up to the Unesco world heritage site (see video).

JSO has received a lot of attention (and criticism) from its demonstrations, where protestors have interrupted sporting events, splattered food and paint on renowned works of art, and obstructed traffic on major roadways.

Are these demonstrations doing anything? 

While they do garner attention, they haven’t necessarily resulted in anything constructive. JSO is based in Europe and demands “the UK Government stop licensing all new oil, gas and coal projects,” according to its website.

• However, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak allowed 100 North Sea oil and gas licenses last year and called the recent demonstrations “disgraceful.”

Oil seems to be popular everywhere: Even in America, President Biden has approved almost 50% more oil and gas drilling permits since taking office than former President Donald Trump did in his first three years, according to newly released data from the Interior Department.

Grab Bag

These astronauts are stuck in space

After Boeing finally did something good… it went wrong. Shouldn’t we have seen it coming? NASA officials said Friday the return of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft would be delayed indefinitely after issues with the spacecraft were discovered, leaving astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stuck in space.

ICYMI: After a series of launch delays and technological failures, Boeing had finally launched Starliner on June 5, marking the first successful launch into space for the company. Considering its struggles with planes, many were relieved a door plug didn’t fly off the craft.

An extended vacation

After engineers reviewed data from the flight Wilmore and Williams took to the International Space Station, a number of small helium leaks and the failure of five thrusters was discovered.

While the NASA astronauts may be aboard the ISS until further notice, NASA did say Starliner could return immediately in case of an emergency but wants to be 100% sure everything is functioning properly before they decent back down to Earth.

• Prior to the helium leak and engine problems, Wilmore and Williams were only expected to be aboard the space station for a little over a week, returning home on June 14 (eleven days ago).

• NASA announced on Friday that their journey back home wouldn’t take place until July after repeatedly pushing back its return date.

So what now?

Since Wilmore and Williams are already up there, they might as well be productive… or not. The pair of astronauts were scheduled to perform a 6.5 hour spacewalk outside the ISS yesterday, but after a coolant leak in one of the spacesuits, NASA cancelled it. Another one is set to happen on July 2nd.

They can’t be up there forever: The countdown on Starliner's 45-day stay (the maximum amount of time it can be docked) started as soon as the spacecraft arrived at the space station. The crew's 45th day aboard the ISS is July 21st, so NASA needs to get its marbles in a jar sometime before then.

US imports of avocados and mangos were halted

Looks like your morning avocado toast will have to wait a little longer. The US put a weeklong pause on avocado and mango imports after Department of Agriculture inspectors were attacked last week during a local protest.

Almost all avocados in America are imported from Mexico, but as demand has increased, so has the presence of Mexican cartels in the industry.

Pause on produce

Following reports of US agents being detained and beat during a labor demonstration in Michoacán, where the avocado industry has experienced significant growth alongside the rise of organized crime, officials paused the imports.

• The country won’t be able to allow any exports on avocados or mangos during the pause.

• Almost 75% of Mexico’s avocados are grown in Michoacán.

According to the USDA, of the 2.78 billion pounds of avocados that the US imported in 2023, 89% came from Mexico. The country also accounts for more than 63% of US mango imports on average.

Your avocado toast might be saved: US Ambassador Ken Salazar announced Friday that the imports would gradually resume, as long as “inspectors are safe and can resume inspections.” About as straightforward as it gets… thanks Ken.

Fast Facts

MacDon’s Meal: McDonald’s announced that its $5 meal deal (a McDouble or McChicken sandwich, small fries, four-piece Chicken McNuggets, and small soft drink) will launch today for a limited time.

Rain Rescue: Torrential rain in the US Midwest caused flooding that prompted rescues and evacuations in multiple states. 

Pricey Property: Last month, the median price for an existing home in the US rose to $419,300, the highest it’s been since the National Association of Realtors started keeping track in 1999.

Book Brain: Why there’s a voice in your head when you read to yourself.

Plastic Protrusion: Scientists have discovered microplastics in male genitalia for the first time, as experts continue to raise concerns about the small particles’ health impacts. Check your Willies.