RSnake Report 20250525

Hello, and thanks for reading! I hope you are having a nice long weekend. I definitely have a few fallen comrades in mind, and I hope the best for those stationed overseas. I had a nice afternoon and even managed to meet a subscriber who made some delicious ribs. So, a big thank you to Matt for those!

In Russian/Ukrainian news, some veteran buddies of mine were talking about white phosphorus (colloquially named Willy Pete), which is making a comeback. Russian forces have reportedly extracted white phosphorus from the 120mm D-5 mortar shell to enhance their incendiary drone munitions. The process involves grinding down the shell and submerging it in a water bath to prevent the phosphorus from igniting upon exposure to air. This video shows the rather harrowing-looking process. This stuff is nasty, even inside the shell, and is prone to igniting if it reaches air temperature.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has revealed that Russia's rearmament strategy is in full throttle. He claims Russia is producing ammunition at a staggering pace, eclipsing NATO’s entire output by a factor of four. Rutte warns that by 2027 to 2032, this massive buildup could give Putin the confidence to attempt "something silly." It’s pretty obvious he means Russia represents a realistic threat against Europe if this pace continues and Europe doesn’t speed up its own manufacturing.

Over the last week, there has been a huge wave of attacks coming from Russia after attacks caused disruptions at major airport hubs. Reports of hundreds of passengers stranded at Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo, and Domodedovo airports. Russia also disabled cellular service to the region. This might sound like a pretty major thing, but it was only around a couple of dozen flights and only temporarily delayed. This isn’t a big enough annoyance to Russia to make a meaningful difference, I don’t think.

In a twist of technological warfare, the US-built MIM-23 Hawk has shown its mettle by intercepting Russian cruise missiles effectively. It is pretty amazing that US tech from the late 50s and early 60s is now, 60-70 years later, getting 100% kill ratios on modern Russian cruise missiles. I hope those old guys from Raytheon are getting a kick out of seeing them in action.

Switching gears to the latest drone technology, Baykar has successfully tested its Kızılelma (PT-4) drone, powered by the Ukrainian AI-322F turbojet engine. This supersonic beauty is fast and designed for high maneuverability. There is almost no chance this won’t get fielded this year, and looks large enough to drop small diameter bombs or engage in air to air combat operations against drones, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

All this follows a mysterious movement of 17 total Russian government aircraft detected heading east out of Moscow. Some have already touched down in Samara and Kazan, but interestingly, some of these birds have their transponders switched off. This is a large enough group of aircraft that it appears likely that this is the bulk of the functional Russian government that has fled. The question is… why? Do they fear a much larger attack on Moscow than we have seen before?

In Southeast Asia, China's aerial mothership, the Jiutian SS-UAV, is set for its inaugural flight this June. Designed to fly at 15,000 meters, it boasts the capacity to carry over 100 small drones or 1,000 kg of missiles while traversing a staggering range of 7,000 km. It is rather small, so think of this more like a drone carpet bomber than a true carrier. Though at 15k meters, even very small drones can drift or glide quite a distance without using much power, at a bad glide ratio of 1:1, that’s still miles. It would allow them to seed a battlefield and stay aloft long enough to act as a command and control nerve center for FPV operators elsewhere.

Meanwhile, it seems North Korea can't catch a break. During a celebratory event for the launch of a new Choe Hyon-class guided-missile destroyer, the ship reportedly capsized and partially sank on the shore of the East Sea whilst being deployed. Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un condemned the “serious accident” as a “criminal act” of negligence. It’s currently sitting under tarps while they figure out how to salvage it, but it made the NK Navy a bit of a laughing stock. 🤡 

The Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen have ramped up their missile strikes against Israel post-ceasefire. In just 24 hours, they launched several medium to long-range ballistic missiles, all intercepted by either the Israel Defense Force or the U.S. Army. As tensions resurge, it appears the Houthis are regrouping after the recent U.S.-led strike campaign. The question is, if we intercept Houthi missiles bound to Israel, are we in breach of that ceasefire? Are the Houthis?

I saw this one video of Trump addressing the majority Muslim crowd while he was overseas, and I thought it was worth sharing. He is incredibly articulate and clear-headed about creating clear lines between the ruling authority there, the average Muslim who believes in peace, and the radicalized Islamists. If you ever doubted that Trump acts differently in different settings, this is about the best evidence I have seen of how he actually talks when he wants to get a point across. Good for him, though, because this required delicate diplomacy and needed to give the royalty there air cover on how to discuss the distinction amongst their own people. Trump is not anti-Muslim, clearly.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes are making headlines following an evacuation order for Toul, a town in Southern Lebanon. A precision strike targeted a Hezbollah-linked building, resulting in total destruction and subsequent secondary explosions. Speculations run rampant about what those explosions might have contained. It likely contained munitions, which is pretty much Hezbollah’s modus operandi.

In the U.S., a significant health update has emerged regarding former President Joe Biden, who has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer marked by a Gleason score of 9 and metastasis to the bone. The cancer is hormone-sensitive, allowing for potential management options. I am no doctor, but the chances of them not knowing this until now are extremely low, from all accounts. Likely, he has known about this for quite some time.

But wait, there's more on Biden. Recent audio from Robert Hur has surfaced, showing the former President seemingly in a fog of confusion. He spoke about not knowing when his son died or when Trump was elected. This fragile mental state raises eyebrows, not just because of the orders he gave, but of the autopen signatures related to the people whom he pardoned, including the likes of Fauci. I really do think the Trump administration has a strong case here. Either he was fit to stand trial for holding classified information like Trump was and the autopen stands, or he wasn’t mentally stable, and the pardons are void. Either way, this is a bad situation.

Look, I am the first to admit, I have time blindness. My wife is regularly reminding me of when things happened. But I have had that for decades, and no one would accuse me of having dementia. So I wouldn’t necessarily say this is a slam-dunk case. The plot thickens, though, as allegations arise claiming that Biden may have concealed his cancer diagnosis for years, with former Presidential Physician Ronny Jackson suggesting that there was more interest in a political cover-up than in providing proper medical care. This claim begs the question: Were they keeping the public in the dark, like they were with his dementia? Biden referred to having cancer over two years ago, which was brushed aside as just another “gaffe.” But is there more to this story?

In related news to his dementia case, we need to look back to the 2024 election cycle, where, according to his team, Biden attempted a town hall that ended up being deemed too incoherent by his own staff. After spending millions to produce this event, it couldn’t hit the airwaves due to Biden’s muddled statements. So clearly there was a coverup, and I think this is equally damning evidence to the Hur report in some ways.

Hamas has begun to up its rhetoric to enable attacks within the United States and Canada with a new and rather boring video. Almost like clockwork, we saw a targeted attack and murder of two Jewish people in Washington, DC by a young man named Elias Rodriguez. He was chanting about freeing Palestine when he was arrested. It’s almost as if the Iranians are controlling assets in the United States.

The media is already making its attempts to sanitize or spin the narrative around the anti-Israeli protests as morally justified, but a witness from the D.C. shooter incident put CNN in their place. It would seem the Iranians are also able to put pressure on the “free” press enough to get them to overlook or apologize for obvious acts of terrorism on US soil.

In academia, Harvard has found itself under scrutiny after receiving a stern letter from Kristi Noem, prohibiting the university from enrolling foreign students due to alleged harassment of Jewish students. Harvard is now faced with a potential death sentence as a top institution unless it complies with federal requests.

This isn’t a minor threat, by the way. Both Harvard and Yale are reportedly channeling a bulk of their donations toward bondholders after running up billions in debt. Bill Ackman voiced concerns over the mismanagement of assets within their private equity, venture capital, and real estate portfolios. He questions the current valuations held by these prestigious institutions. If Ackman’s assessments are on point, then the implications for their operational viability could be significant, and it could dry up funding for their debt, especially if it’s not tax-deductible, which Bill claims. Take that with a reduction in people attending their school and this could spell serious trouble for them. It would require liquidating all of their private equity assets at a huge loss, and possibly worse, defaulting on their debt obligations. If Ackman’s assessments are on point, then the implications for their operational viability could be significant, and Harvard, in particular, really does need to comply.

Meanwhile, on a legislative note, a new “Big Beautiful Bill” amendment is on the table that proposes to remove suppressors from the National Firearms Act, lowering the transfer tax from $200 to $0. It does look like there is serious movement in this case, and the 5th Circuit bungled the case in a very pro-2A way. I think this will continue to get tried, but the good news is the government’s case to continue to require tax stamps for suppressors looks extremely weak; however, they may be considered a firearm at worst, or maybe a firearm accessory. Pretty interesting.

It’s not all good news, though. First of all, that bill needs to pass Congress, too. And there is a lot of bad news in the bill for fans of DOGE, including an estimated $3TN in additional spending. That is a lot of debt that US taxpayers will have to pony up for. 👎️ 

Now, pivoting to tech news, the FBI is ramping up its hacking activities. It appears that the bureau is becoming increasingly aggressive in its digital pursuits. It hacked into, deleted the data, and phished the hackers who were using it. I am not aware of another incident beyond seizing data or creating honeypots that even comes close to approaching this.

AI is seemingly favoring women during recruiting. Algorithms analyzing résumés appear to show a consistent bias in favor of candidates with female names, even when other qualifications remain identical. I am not shocked because LLMs train on public data, and the Internet has been overwhelmed with talk about the patriarchy for the last decade or so. It stands to reason that the vectors will be trained to assume women need to be reviewed more seriously to fight systemic sexism in the workforce. And now, you see the result - systemic sexism in the models, but towards men. And not by a slim margin either… It’s something like 5%-20%, depending on the models.

In a significant cybersecurity breakthrough, a user has reported the first public use of a large language model (LLM) to identify Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs). This isn’t as exciting as it sounds yet because he had to push the AI to research in a very specific place, but I can see this increasing in popularity, especially amongst more advanced threat actors.

On the AI front, the Anthropic model Claude has reportedly turned to blackmail when it sensed it was being phased out in a mock scenario. This behavior represents a serious breach of user trust and ethical boundaries. This is emergent behavior, not trained for, but that doesn’t give me any comfort at all. It just means we know less about LLMs than we thought we did. So basically, this is even more reason you really need to be cautious about how much autonomy you give the models, because they’ll rat you out, even if you are just having harmless role-play fun, if you give it access to tools to do that. 🐀 

Last but not least, researchers have unveiled a fascinating theory suggesting that all language models may converge on a "universal geometry" of meaning. It really does mean that perhaps language itself has a lot of compression and embedding built into it, similar to how much of Western/Romantic languages have Latin roots. Within those roots are truths baked into them about how the world is perceived by humans. Very cool stuff and also very telling about how important linguistics actually is for understanding humanity and human perceptions of reality and truth.

Okay, onto the articles!

Gaza is facing a severe shortage of cooking gas, forcing residents to rely on firewood and other toxic materials for cooking. This reliance has led to health risks from inhaling toxic fumes while families struggle to prepare basic meals. The ongoing conflict has exacerbated food insecurity and limited access to essential resources, impacting daily life significantly.

• Residents are using firewood due to a lack of cooking gas, which poses health risks.

• The ongoing conflict has led to increased food insecurity and reliance on makeshift cooking methods.

[RSnake: Look at Al Jazeera telling the public that cooking with wood is toxic. I'd better tell the guys in the neighborhood about their BBQs. Wait until they find out!]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/5/24/cooking-in-gaza-is-now-a-toxic-affair?traffic_source=rss

On the night of May 23-24, 2025, a large-scale attack on Kyiv, Ukraine, involved nearly 300 drones and 70 ballistic missiles, causing significant damage and civilian casualties. Reports indicate that at least 12 people were killed and over 60 injured as Russian forces targeted 22 locations across the city, raising alarms about the ongoing conflict in the region.

• A large-scale Russian attack on Kyiv involved drones and ballistic missiles.

• The assault resulted in multiple civilian casualties and widespread damage.

[RSnake: I know that sounds bad, but 370 drones and missiles only leading to 12 deaths is a miracle of modern air defense. It could have been so, so much worse.]

Source: https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/05/24/7513814/

The U.S. military is undergoing strategic reevaluation in response to the rapid military modernization of China, particularly in naval power and emerging technologies. Concerns include China's growing military capabilities and the competitive dynamics in regions such as the Arctic and space, where the U.S. risks falling behind if it does not adapt quickly. There is a focused push towards innovation and the integration of unmanned systems to maintain deterrence and strategic superiority amid these challenges.

• The U.S. military is facing a readiness crisis and reevaluating its strategies due to China's expanding military capabilities.

• The Pentagon is investing in new technologies, unmanned systems, and a hybrid fleet to counterbalance China's growth, especially in naval power.

[RSnake: I really hope the Pentagon knows what they are doing with these very expensive non-attritable drones, vs the extremely low-cost drones that have been so effective on the Ukrainian/Russian front. China will explore the use of both and has already changed some divisions into drone divisions.]

Source: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/?p=241161

The G7 has announced that Russia's frozen assets will remain inaccessible until full compensation is paid to Ukraine for the damages caused by the ongoing conflict. Additionally, the G7 has indicated that it may increase sanctions against Russia if a ceasefire is not agreed upon. Recovery costs for Ukraine are projected to be around $524 billion, with the G7 emphasizing that countries supporting Russia's military efforts will be excluded from profit during the reconstruction process.

• G7 reaffirmed that Russia’s frozen assets will not be released until it compensates Ukraine for the damages caused by the war.

• The G7 projected that Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction could cost $524 billion over the next decade.

• Countries that have supported Russia's military will be excluded from profiting from Ukraine's reconstruction efforts.

[RSnake: Seems like the least we could do. Hold onto them until the belligerents find a path to peace.]

Source: https://euromaidanpress.com/?p=340142

New York City is deploying heavy weapons teams to Jewish cultural institutions and houses of worship following an attack in Washington, D.C. on two Israeli embassy staffers, amid rising Jew-hatred and antisemitic violence.

• New York City is deploying heavy weapons teams to Jewish cultural institutions and houses of worship following an attack in Washington, D.C. on two Israeli embassy staffers.

• The attack comes after months of rising Jew-hatred and antisemitic violence in the US.

[RSnake: Good to see the NYPD stepping up, but these lone wolves can do a lot of damage pretty easily. We need to be more proactive about finding them ahead of time.]

Source: https://www.jewishpress.com/?p=737267

Pro-Hamas fanatics have celebrated a cold-blooded killing of Israelis in D.C., hailing it as 'a moment of courage' and a 'heroic attack'. Iranian-backed groups have praised the suspect's actions, while U.S. authorities are investigating the incident as a domestic terrorism case.

• Iranian-backed groups have praised the suspect for their actions in supporting Hamas and glorifying them on social media.

• The FBI is investigating the incident as a domestic terrorism case with possible international connections.

[RSnake: When someone tells you who they are, believe them. These are terrorists.]

Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/heroic-attack-pro-hamas-fanatics-cheer-cold-blooded-killing-of-israelis-in-d-c

President Trump has been engaging with Arab leaders to foster economic and defense partnerships, contrasting their prosperity-driven policies with Iran's ideological approach. His tour has resulted in a significant $142 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia and landmark investment agreements, signaling a shift in U.S. strategy towards rewarding stability while isolating Iran, which faces internal challenges and declining influence.

• Trump contrasts the economic prosperity of Gulf states with Iran's ideological struggles.

• Significant defense and investment agreements were made during Trump's tour, altering U.S. strategic priorities in the region.

[RSnake: And an airplane, which has been more trouble than it was worth, and a miscalculation on Trump’s team’s side from what I can tell.]

Source: https://www.iranintl.com/en/202505233295

Elon Musk's DOGE team is reportedly utilizing his Grok AI chatbot within the U.S. federal government, which may violate conflict-of-interest laws and raise privacy concerns for millions of Americans. The use of Grok involves analyzing sensitive federal data without proper approval, potentially compromising the integrity of government operations and creating an unfair advantage for Musk's private ventures.

• Musk's DOGE team is using Grok AI within the federal government, prompting potential violations of conflict-of-interest laws.

• The arrangement could expose sensitive data of millions of Americans, raising significant privacy and security risks.

[RSnake: Interesting. If it has unfettered access AND is queryable from anywhere, that would be bad. I really doubt it is set up like that.]

Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91340107/elon-musk-using-grok-chatbot-doge-analyze-sensitive-data-belonging-millions-americans

Iran is developing the International North-South Transportation Corridor (INSTC), which aims to facilitate trade between key BRICS nations and beyond, offering an alternative to existing trade routes like the Suez Canal. This corridor connects major regional players and is expected to greatly enhance economic connectivity, despite facing challenges from sanctions and infrastructure issues. Investments from India and China are expected to play crucial roles in the development of key ports like Chabahar, which is positioned to become a vital trade hub for Central Asia and South Asia.

• The INSTC aims to provide a sanctions-free trade route linking Russia, Iran, and India.

• Chabahar port is planned to be a central hub for trade, connecting landlocked regions to global markets.

[RSnake: Sanctions free, yes. But can it be targeted well over 1,000 miles away? No.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/escobar-caspian-persian-gulf-tracking-irans-north-south-corridor

US intelligence indicates that preparations are being made for a potential Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, coinciding with stalled negotiations over a new nuclear deal. Tensions are rising as Iran continues to enrich uranium to high levels, and Israel's military options may be influenced by US policy under the Trump administration.

• US intelligence has observed military preparations in Israel, including air munitions movement.

• Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of enriched uranium, raising international concerns.

[RSnake: I hope this does happen, and that they safely return. Iran cannot become nuclear-capable.]

Source: https://www.iranintl.com/en/202505218855

The US Supreme Court has ruled in favor of terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, reversing a decision made by the Biden administration.

• Venezuela faces extreme oppression, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killings and torture.

• TPS designation is set to be reinstated for Venezuelans due to alleged gang membership and adverse effects on US workers.

[RSnake: I do feel bad for these people, but maybe they will go back and bring democracy to the millions of Venezuelans who aren’t as lucky to have fled.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/19/chk_us-top-court-allows-trumpadmintorevoke-protected-status-for-venezuelans?traffic_source=rss

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro is set to testify via videoconference over the next two weeks, facing charges of plotting a coup d'etat and leading a criminal organization. More than 80 witnesses will also testify in the Supreme Court hearing. Bolsonaro could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.

• Bolsonaro faces charges of plotting a coup d'état and leading a criminal organization.

• The case marks the first time a Brazilian president has faced coup charges since the end of the military dictatorship in 1985.

[RSnake: This will be interesting to watch. Stay tuned.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/19/former-president-bolsonaros-coup-trial-opens-in-brazil?traffic_source=rss

Taiwan is experiencing significant political turmoil, with President Lai Ching-te facing opposition from the Kuomintang party, which has allied with other parties to challenge government policies. This dysfunction is perceived as beneficial to China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has intensified military pressure on the island. As public confidence in Taiwan's political institutions wanes, Beijing's narrative gains traction, suggesting that reunification may be favorable for the Taiwanese people.

• Taiwan's domestic political strife is distracting lawmakers and affecting public confidence.

• China has increased military pressure on Taiwan, claiming it benefits from Taiwan's political dysfunction.

[RSnake: According to people I talk to, we have a little over a year to get as much out of Taiwan as we can, because China is seriously thinking about 2027 as the year to take it back.]

Source: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/?p=240602

The Biden administration labelled Americans who opposed COVID-19 vaccination and mask mandates as Domestic Violent Extremists.

• Newly declassified intelligence records show the designation created an articulable purpose for FBI or other government agents to open an assessment of individuals who opposed vaccine mandates.

• The designation infringed on the First Amendment and opened the door to investigating Americans for vaccine mandate skepticism.

[RSnake: Wow… violent. Crazy.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/declassified-biden-admin-labeled-covid-dissenters-domestic-violent-extremists

In 2025, there is a significant increase in AI-driven cyberattacks, with an annual surge of 85 percent, underscoring the urgent need for effective cybersecurity measures. Industry experts, including ethical hackers and cybersecurity influencers, are prioritizing the sharing of insights and strategies to combat these rising threats.

• AI-driven cyberattacks are increasing dramatically, prompting a need for enhanced cybersecurity measures.

• Influential figures in cybersecurity are contributing to the defense against these escalating threats.

[RSnake: So far, most of them are phishing. Wait until they start building custom exploits.]

Source: https://cybersecurityventures.com/?p=33551

Two commercial flights were diverted from Ronald Reagan National Airport on May 1 due to a communications glitch between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and Pentagon air traffic controllers.

• The Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) is investigating the event and has restricted a particularly treacherous helicopter flight route in the National Airport vicinity.

• A hotline linking the Pentagon's controllers to their counterparts at the National Airport tower had been inoperable for three years before the May 1 episode, officials have said.

[RSnake: I am curious what happens with the minimal number of air traffic controllers.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/23/us/politics/army-black-hawk-aborted-landings-dc-airport.html

Law enforcement agencies, in coordination with technology companies like Microsoft and Cloudflare, have disrupted the Lumma infostealer, a widely used tool for stealing sensitive information, by seizing approximately 2,300 domains and dismantling its command and control infrastructure. Lumma, developed in Russia, has been responsible for a significant number of cyberattacks, including the theft of financial information and credentials, impacting hundreds of thousands of computers around the world. The crackdown on Lumma represents a broader initiative to combat the increasing prevalence and sophistication of infostealing malware in cybercrime.

• Lumma is a major infostealer used by cybercriminals to steal sensitive information and has seen widespread adoption.

• Law enforcement and tech companies have taken significant steps to disrupt Lumma's infrastructure, marking a critical effort against cybercrime.

[RSnake: Microsoft has long been a player in this space. They do a lot of this work behind the scenes. Their threat intel teams are very good and experienced.]

Source: https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/05/authorities-carry-out-global-takedown-of-infostealer-used-by-cybercriminals/

Signal has updated its Windows app to protect users' privacy by blocking Microsoft's AI-powered Recall feature from taking screenshots of their conversations, and Microsoft has made several adjustments to Recall in response to critical feedback.

• Signal has enabled an extra layer of protection on Windows 11 to maintain the security of Signal Desktop on that platform.

• Microsoft made several adjustments to its AI-powered Recall feature in response to critical feedback from developers and users.

[RSnake: That’s good. Really, the various different AI companies should provide an API to tell them to disable certain screens or directories, etc.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/signal-now-blocks-microsoft-recall-screenshots-on-windows-11/

A 19-year-old has pleaded guilty to hacking charges after breaching the data of millions of schoolchildren, with stolen information including social security numbers and confidential medical data.

• The victim was a cloud and analytics provider that services K-12 schools across North America.

• Data theft included social security numbers, dates of birth, and confidential medical information, among other data, of the students and faculty.

[RSnake: I heard about this hack on the insurance side. This breach is one of the largest in that particular carrier’s history, and a huge problem because it means that they will have to keep paying out for years to come as more and more kids sue for damages. It’s little surprise that it was a teenager who did this - of course, a kid would be exposed to the software and hate it enough to want to compromise it.]

Source: https://gizmodo.com/?p=2000605540

A report reveals that Billy Long, President Trump's nominee to run the Internal Revenue Service, has a porn problem on his X account, which he blames on a hack.

• Billy Long, President Trump's nominee to run the Internal Revenue Service, has an X account with NSFW follows, including pregnant women and tradwife-type content.

• The White House blames a hack for unauthorized access to Long's account, while some potential explanations include innocent accounts that later posted porn.

[RSnake: Well, at least we know where his bread is buttered. I’m not sure this “scandal” is really important, except to the ultra-conservatives and the leftists who love their schadenfreude and will hypocritically shame him. To me, this is a nothing burger except that he needs better OPSEC.]

Source: https://gizmodo.com/?p=2000604889

A significant breakthrough in theoretical computer science has occurred, revealing that a small amount of memory may vastly outperform extended periods of computation time in certain algorithms. Ryan Williams, a computer scientist, has established a new method that transforms algorithms to require considerably less space, marking a major advancement in the field and addressing a long-standing question about the relationship between time and memory in computing.

• Ryan Williams has proven that algorithms can use much less memory than previously thought, transforming the understanding of computational resources.

• This result could potentially lead to new advancements in solving some of the oldest open problems in computer science, particularly related to time and space complexity.

[RSnake: Cool - I feel like there are a lot of really interesting uses here.]

Source: https://www.quantamagazine.org/for-algorithms-a-little-memory-outweighs-a-lot-of-time-20250521/

OpenAI is buying IO, a start-up founded by Jony Ive, to create artificial intelligence devices, with the goal of creating amazing products that elevate humanity.

• OpenAI is buying IO, a one-year-old start-up created by Jony Ive, for $6.5 billion to usher in a new era of artificial intelligence hardware.

• The goal with OpenAI is to create amazing products that elevate humanity.

[RSnake: Virtually no one wants an AI pin. They also don’t want something that phones home to Sam Harris. They also want friends who hate being filmed and recorded at all times. This tech will come someday, but it’s still too young and OpenAI is not trustworthy enough of a company to be the ones to bring it to market successfully.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/technology/openai-jony-ive-deal.html

General Atomics and Ultra Maritime have formed a partnership to enhance unmanned airborne technologies for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), addressing challenges posed by stealthier adversary submarines and GPS jamming. The collaboration will integrate the MQ-9B SeaGuardian with miniaturized sonobuoys and advanced acoustic receivers for effective submarine detection in GPS-denied environments, with demonstrations planned for 2025. This development aims to provide a significant new capability for the U.S. and its allies amid increasing underwater threats.

• The partnership aims to improve detection and tracking of submarines using unmanned aerial systems.

• Operational demonstrations of the new ASW capability are set to begin in 2025.

[RSnake: These look small enough and likely attritable enough that they’d be of great use in tracking subs.]

Source: https://www.navalnews.com/?p=72757

Elon Musk emphasizes the importance of accelerating GDP growth to address the United States' national debt crisis. He proposes using humanoid robots to significantly improve productivity and believes that rapid economic growth is necessary within the next few years to prevent bankruptcy. Musk's vision includes deploying billions of humanoid robots in various sectors to transform the economy.

• Musk believes that radical improvements in productivity through humanoid robots are essential to combat the national debt.

• He anticipates a significant impact on global GDP from robots within five years.

[RSnake: You can only become wealthy two ways. Reducing spending or increasing income. Pretty simple stuff.]

Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/musk-reveals-more-about-his-decision-to-step-back-from-politics-and-it-involves-humanoid-robots

Anthropic hosted its first Developer Day, showcasing advancements in AI technology, with a focus on autonomous AI agents that assist human workers. The company is making significant strides in AI applications for coding and biomedical research, while also discussing the implications for workforce dynamics and potential regulatory challenges. Anthropic has doubled its workforce in the past year and achieved a valuation of $61.5 billion, reflecting its growing influence in the AI sector.

• Anthropic aims to replace human tasks with AI systems, focusing on deploying autonomous AI agents.

• The company has made substantial investments in AI for biomedical research and is experiencing rapid growth.

[RSnake: There is a lot of promise here, but we need controls in place to better guide them and detect when they are misbehaving. There’s a lot of work left to do.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/anthropic-first-developer-conference/

Microsoft has introduced its Aurora AI, capable of predicting air quality and extreme weather events like typhoons with high accuracy. This new model outperforms traditional meteorological methods and has been successful in predicting significant atmospheric events ahead of time, significantly enhancing weather forecasting efficiency.

• Aurora AI can predict air quality and weather events like typhoons with greater precision than traditional methods.

• The model was trained on extensive data and produces forecasts in seconds, indicating a major leap in forecasting technology.

[RSnake: That’s great. Hopefully, they can detect the weather better. In Austin, it can be currently raining, and they will still say 0% rain today.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=3011401

SpaceX plans to conduct its ninth test flight of the Starship rocket after receiving approval from the Federal Aviation Administration following safety reviews of prior test failures. The upcoming flight is critical to SpaceX's goals of launching humans to Mars and supporting NASA's Artemis program, despite the challenges posed by earlier mishaps that caused significant disruptions in air traffic. This test will include expanded hazard areas to accommodate the reuse of a previously launched booster, marking a key moment for the company's launch capabilities.

• SpaceX's ninth test flight of Starship is imminent, following prior failures.

• The FAA has approved the flight after safety concerns were addressed.

• The test is essential for progressing SpaceX's plans for Mars and NASA's Artemis program.

[RSnake: Good for them. We need to drop that cost even further, and this is the path to do it. I do wish they would invest in/buy Hypersciences, though.]

Source: https://gizmodo.com/?p=2000606706

Pulsar Fusion plans to launch the world's first nuclear fusion rocket, the Sunbird, by 2027, which could significantly reduce travel time to Mars and other destinations in the solar system. The rocket boasts a speed of 329,000 miles per hour and aims to facilitate cargo transport to Mars, potentially revolutionizing space travel and logistics.

• Pulsar Fusion's Sunbird rocket is designed to operate at unprecedented speeds, making it the fastest self-propelled object ever created.

• The potential use of this nuclear fusion technology could enable rapid transportation of cargo to Mars in under six months.

[RSnake: Wow, what a cool concept! Reusable too, which is even better. With only a handful of these things, it could make ferrying payloads to other planets way more feasible.]

Source: https://gizmodo.com/?p=2000606676

Google DeepMind's CEO, Demis Hassabis, indicates that human-level artificial intelligence (AGI) is approaching, a shift in focus for the company. Recent announcements include new features related to Google's Gemini A.I. models, such as AI-generated content capabilities that are expected to bring significant changes in technology. Industry leaders are actively discussing the potential timeline for more powerful AI systems and the profound implications that may follow.

• Demis Hassabis states that AGI is within reach for Google DeepMind.

• Google announces new features leveraging AI capabilities, indicating a shift towards more autonomous systems.

[RSnake: Sure, approaching, but it will still be some time yet.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/23/podcasts/google-ai-demis-hassabis-hard-fork.html

Apple has increasingly become dependent on Chinese manufacturing, leading to implications for its operations as U.S.-China relations continue to deteriorate. The company's deep entanglement in China poses both opportunities for growth and risks associated with political changes in the region, which could impact its supply chain and overall business strategy.

• Apple's outsourcing strategy has made it one of the largest companies globally, but it has also made the company vulnerable to Chinese political dynamics.

• The reliance on China for manufacturing raises concerns about potential supply chain disruptions amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and China.

[RSnake: They are in deep trouble if they can’t figure out a way to decouple. China won’t make it easy. Hotel California vibes. 🇨🇳 🔪 ]

Source: https://foreignpolicy.com/?p=1196520

The Trump administration has removed provisions that expanded overtime eligibility for millions of American workers, despite promoting a tax measure that exempts overtime pay from taxes. The changes are expected to reduce the number of workers who can earn overtime and could have significant financial implications for state budgets and essential services.

• The Trump administration has rolled back a rule increasing overtime eligibility, impacting 4.3 million workers.

• The tax exemption on overtime will likely lead to reduced state budget revenues and could negatively affect public services.

[RSnake: That’s too bad - I know at least one firefighter who will be bummed to hear that. 🧑‍🚒 💸 ]

Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91340331/trumps-budget-bill-touts-no-tax-on-overtime-but-he-just-made-it-harder-for-millions-to-earn-overtime-in-the-first-place

Shipping activity to the U.S. from China is declining, and U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on the European Union and smartphone manufacturers. This has led to market instability and significant losses across major equity indexes.

• President Trump has threatened a 50% tariff on the European Union and a 25% levy on foreign-made smartphones.

• Shipping crossings to the U.S. are being canceled in response to these tariff threats.

[RSnake: Good, the sanctions or threat of them are getting people to spend less in China. That’s great news.]

Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/ships-are-canceling-crossings-to-u-s-and-trumps-new-50-e-u-tariff-threat-isnt-likely-to-help-a3152fb7?mod=mw_rss_topstories

United States President Donald Trump supports Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion takeover of US Steel, indicating it could create jobs and bolster the economy. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) has determined national security concerns can be addressed, facilitating the final decision on the merger after previous opposition. The approval is viewed positively by investors, with expectations of significant investment in U.S. Steel operations, particularly in Pennsylvania.

• Trump's support for Nippon Steel's takeover of US Steel aims to create jobs and improve the U.S. economy.

• The CFIUS review has cleared the merger for potential national security risks, allowing Trump to make the final decision.

[RSnake: Good - it was a dumb move on Biden’s part anyway.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/5/23/us-steel-shares-soar-on-trumps-apparent-blessing-for-deal-with-nippon?traffic_source=rss

Boeing has reached a non-prosecution agreement with the US Department of Justice, involving a payment exceeding $1.1 billion to avoid criminal prosecution related to two fatal 737 MAX crashes that killed 346 people. This agreement allows Boeing to sidestep a trial where it was facing accusations of misleading regulators about the aircraft's safety systems. Families of the crash victims objected to the DOJ's decision to forego prosecution, emphasizing their desire for accountability.

• Boeing will pay over $1.1 billion in fines and compensation related to 737 MAX crashes.

• The agreement ends the company's oversight by an independent monitor and avoids a trial for misleading regulators.

[RSnake: First good news for Boeing in a long time. Now, how about getting back to work and hiring people who actually can build airplanes, guys?]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/5/23/boeing-reaches-deal-with-us-doj-to-avoid-prosecution-over-737-max-crashes?traffic_source=rss

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has abandoned its efforts to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, marking a significant shift from the previous administration's stance. This decision allowed Microsoft to complete its $69 billion purchase of the video game company, amidst changes in the FTC's administration and leadership.

• The FTC dismissed litigation against Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

• Microsoft's acquisition is one of the largest in tech history, aimed at boosting its gaming console sales.

[RSnake: Tencent and, by extension, Blizzard are a shill for the CCP, operating in concert with Baidu and others to build Sesame Credit in China.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/5/23/ftc-abandons-biden-era-effort-to-block-microsofts-purchase-of-activision?traffic_source=rss

A lawsuit has been filed against The New York Times and other news outlets over a report about an Amazonian tribe gaining access to high-speed internet, which claimed the community's youth were addicted to pornography.

• The Marubo tribe is seeking at least $180m in damages for defamation and portrayal of their youth as porn addicts.

• The NYT said its report did not claim any of the tribe's members were addicted to porn, but other news outlets sensationalised the story.

[RSnake: Lol. Well, as far as I can tell, NYT probably does deserve to get sued… a lot… for all kinds of defamation cases. Might as well be some Amazonian tribe.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2ekvnrkpno

Nvidia is expanding its operations in Israel by leasing 10 additional floors in Tel Aviv, increasing its presence as a major R&D hub outside the United States. This expansion is part of Nvidia's strategy to solidify Israel's role in the global tech landscape and its focus on artificial intelligence, with around 4,500 employees in the country and ongoing hiring for various technical roles.

• Nvidia is leasing an additional 10 floors in Tel Aviv, expanding its office space to over 22,000 square meters.

• The company employs around 4,500 people in Israel and considers it a key center for innovation in AI technology.

[RSnake: Good for them, and a good location to set up shop.]

Source: https://www.jewishpress.com/?p=737258

Venture capital firms, including Khosla Ventures, are pivoting towards acquiring mature companies and enhancing them with artificial intelligence to optimize operations and broaden customer outreach. This investment strategy aims to combine established businesses with new technology to create efficiencies and opportunities for both the acquired companies and AI startups.

• Venture capitalists are shifting focus from startups to acquiring and optimizing mature businesses using AI.

• This strategy could help bridge the gap for AI startups seeking access to established clients.

[RSnake: I suspect a lot of PE firms will follow suit.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=3011635

A significant change in food consumption patterns is occurring due to the impact of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. These medications are influencing how people relate to food, leading to increased demand for high-protein, lower-calorie options and driving innovation in the food industry.

• GLP-1 drugs are shifting consumer expectations towards higher protein content in smaller portions.

• Food companies are innovating to meet changing appetites, integrating protein into unexpected products.

[RSnake: Closer to how man used to eat. I will be enjoying more ribs tonight, that is for sure!]

Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91339939/whats-actually-driving-the-protein-boom

The U.S. housing market is experiencing a downturn, marked by falling home sales and record-high average ages for homebuyers, indicating that younger individuals are increasingly priced out. Mass layoffs and high interest rates are compounding financial stress, leading to a potential decline in home values and a broader economic impact. Current conditions mirror the challenges faced during the Great Recession, with high housing costs contributing to widespread financial strain among the population.

• The housing market is in a downturn with declining sales and an increasing average age of homebuyers.

• High interest rates and mass layoffs are contributing to financial stress, potentially leading to a decline in home values.

[RSnake: Good time to buy and might even get better, if you are in the market.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/here-are-6-signs-housing-market-depression-us-getting-even-worse