The Wire - August 22, 2024

S2 Underground

//The Wire//2200Z August 22, 2024//

//ROUTINE//

//BLUF: LABOR UNION LOCKOUT HALTS USA/CAN RAIL TRAFFIC. RIOTS BREAK OUT IN INDONESIA. HALLIBURTON VICTIM OF CYBERATTACK.//

-----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

Indonesia: Mass protesting and rioting broke out overnight following a controversial proposed change to election law. Indonesians began demonstrating in response to a proposed rule change to lower the minimum age required to run for public office. AC: The proposed change would have lowered the age limit by five years…just enough to allow the outgoing President’s son to be eligible to run. In response to the riots, this proposed rule change has reportedly been scrapped for now, however unrest continues nonetheless.

United Kingdom: Yesterday a man was stabbed in Bristol, resulting in the death of the unidentified man. Three men have been arrested in conjunction with this attack. In Southampton, a 15-year-old boy was stabbed in the face by another 15-year-old. The assailant was arrested at the scene and the victim remains hospitalized.

-HomeFront-

North America: All cross-border rail traffic between the United States and Canada halted this morning due to an ongoing labor union dispute. CPKC and Canadian National railroads began a lockout of their workers at midnight, due to the inability to reach agreements during contract negotiations.

USA: Halliburton reported being targeted by a significant cyberattack yesterday evening. AC: Not many details have been made public regarding the attack, but a few sites in Texas have reported unspecified impacts to their operations.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: Labor disputes involving rail logistics are not uncommon, however as with any potential halting of trade the impacts could be wide-ranging, especially as this labor dispute comes at peak cargo handling season. Due to the nature of supply chain logistics, even a short interruption of trade will likely cause backlogs lasting weeks, or even months.

Analyst: S2A1

//END REPORT//