FBI Seizes RAMP, a Notorious Online Criminal Forum
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seized the dark web and clear web sites of RAMP, a predominantly Russian-language online bazaar that billed itself as the only place ransomware was allowed, on Wednesday. The agency's action aims to combat the growing threat of ransomware attacks targeting critical infrastructure and organizations worldwide, according to Ars Technica.
RAMP had become one of the leading online crime forums, operating with relative impunity after the takedown of other forums like XSS, whose leader was arrested last year by Europol, Ars Technica reported. Visits to the RAMP sites now display pages indicating the FBI's control of the domains, which mirrored each other.
In other news, the US Federal Reserve decided to hold steady on interest rate cuts, maintaining its key rate at around 3.6% on Wednesday, Euronews reported. This decision follows three rate cuts implemented last year. The central bank cited signs of stabilization in the job market and "solid" economic growth, an upgrade from last month's characterization of "modest" growth, according to a statement released by the Fed. While rate cuts tend to lower borrowing costs for mortgages, car loans, and business borrowing, these rates are also influenced by market forces, Euronews noted.
Meanwhile, Tesla's financial results for 2025 revealed a challenging year for the electric automaker. For the first time in the company's history, revenues fell year-over-year, Ars Technica reported. Automotive revenues declined by 11% to $17.7 billion. However, double-digit growth in Tesla's energy storage business (up 25% to $3.8 billion) and services (up 18% to $3.4 billion) partially offset the shortfall.
Separately, changes to federal nuclear safety policies under the Trump administration are raising concerns. According to a report from NPR, the Department of Energy has quietly loosened its oversight of safety and security at nuclear power plants built on its properties, TechCrunch reported. About a third of the rulebook has been eliminated, and several sections have been heavily revised. Previous requirements aimed at limiting groundwater and environmental contamination are now suggestions.
Furthermore, data centers are driving a surge in demand for gas-fired power in the US, Wired reported. New research released Wednesday indicates that over a third of this new demand is explicitly linked to gas projects powering data centers, equivalent to the energy needed for tens of millions of US homes. The findings from Global Energy Monitor, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, coincide with the Trump administration's encouragement of data center development and its rollback of pollution regulations on power plants and oil and gas extraction. This trend is expected to lead to an increase in US greenhouse gas emissions, even with some projects tracked by Global Energy Monitor.
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