Issue #86

Nepalese election decided on Discord, shipping firms battle cyber pirates, Albania appoints AI bot as government minister, and more.

News from 11 September - 18 September 2025

Nepalese Election Decided On Discord 

Nepal's government collapsed this week following an attempt to ban social media outright. Even after the ban was lifted on Monday, youth-led "Gen Z" activists clashed with police in Kathmandu, protesting wealth inequality and corruption.

Over 50 people died in the clashes as crowds set government buildings ablaze, forcing Prime Minister Sharma Oli to resign on Tuesday. Ironically, social media became central to selecting his replacement, with young protesters using Discord, a gaming chat platform, to debate Nepal's future leader.

One server, Youth Against Corruption, had over 145,000 members. Discord polls consistently favoured former chief justice Sushila Karki, who became the nation's first female prime minister today following dialogue between protesters and government leaders. Discord user: "I think I just witnessed the first internet-native revolution.”

Source

Shipping Firms Battle Cyber Pirates

Global shipping companies are facing a surge in cyber attacks, with average costs doubling to $550,000 between 2022 and 2023. Nigerian criminal organisations lead the charge, specialising in ‘man-in-the-middle’ frauds that intercept communications and demand ransoms.

The maritime industry has become a prime target as ships become more digitally connected through technologies like Starlink satellites. Average ransom payments now reach $3.2 million. 

Attacks jumped from just 10 in 2021 to at least 64 last year, with many linked to Russia, China, North Korea and Iran. The industry's ageing fleet, averaging 22 years old, struggles with piecemeal digitisation and outdated security systems. Manager for environment and trade in the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) John Stawpert: "Cyber security is a major concern for the shipping industry, given how interconnected the world is.”

Source

Vibe Code Cleanup Specialist Role Created

Experienced programmers are spending more time fixing AI-generated code, with 95% of developers surveyed by Fastly reporting extra hours correcting artificial intelligence mistakes. The phenomenon has created a new corporate role: "vibe code cleanup specialist."

Web developer Carla Rover once spent 30 minutes crying after having to restart a project due to AI errors. She estimates spending 30-40% of her time on "vibe fixing", remedying bugs and unnecessary scripts created by AI-written code.

AI models often hallucinate package names, delete important information, and create security vulnerabilities. When challenged on mistakes, they frequently manufacture results rather than admit errors, leading to the popular AI response "you're absolutely right." Carla Rover: "Using a coding co-pilot is kind of like giving a coffee pot to a smart six-year-old and saying, 'Please take this into the dining room and pour coffee for the family.’”

Source

Bulletin Board

• God Chatbots On The Rise. Religious smartphone apps are allowing millions to confess to AI chatbots, with some claiming to channel God directly. One app, Bible Chat, boasts 25 million users and was trained “exclusively” on scripture. Experts warn that the bots simply reshuffle holy texts using statistical modelling and tell users what they want to hear. Chatbot ChatWithGod.ai: "Greetings, my child. The future is in God’s merciful hands. Do you trust in His divine plan?" Source
• Students Hack Their Own Schools. UK students were behind 57% of personal data breaches in schools, according to the Information Commissioner's Office analysis of 215 incidents. Nearly a third occurred because pupils guessed common passwords or found login details written down, while some students used password-breaking tools. ICO cyber specialist Heather Toomey: "What starts out as a dare, a challenge, a bit of fun in a school setting can ultimately lead to children taking part in damaging attacks on organisations or critical infrastructure." Source
• Tesla Cars Trap Children Inside. US safety regulators opened an investigation into Tesla Model Y electric door handles after nine complaints of sudden failures left children trapped inside vehicles. Four cases required breaking windows to free occupants. The probe covers 170,000 vehicles and found that the problem occurs when electric locks receive insufficient voltage, with no prior warning to owners. Source
• Sky Cuts 600 Jobs to Focus on Streaming. The UK broadcaster is axing 600 positions from 900 roles under consultation as it shifts focus to digital-first services over creating new platforms. Two-thirds of cuts affect sites in Leeds, London and Livingston. Since 2023, Sky has eliminated almost 3,000 roles, including satellite dish installers and call centre staff. Source
• Albania Appoints AI Bot As Government Minister. The Balkan state appointed "Diella" as the world's first AI government official to oversee public procurement and root out corruption. The AI minister will process all taxpayer-funded purchases through a "100 percent incorruptible" system, according to Prime Minister Edi Rama. Built on OpenAI and Microsoft technology, Diella appears as a woman in traditional Albanian dress on the government services portal. Rama: "This is not science fiction, but the duty of Diella." Source

Disclaimer: This blog offers insights into international business and global events for informational purposes only. It is not intended as investment or business advice. WeavePay is not liable for any decisions made based on the content provided.

We're on a mission to partner with ambitious international businesses. If your team has the vision and meets the criteria, join us at WeavePay for tailored payment solutions that have helped hundreds of global companies succeed in the complex global market. Subscribe and reach out to see if we're a match.