RSnake Report 20250518

Hello, and thanks for reading! It’s been in the high 90s this week in Austin, so it’s finally getting to be pool weather. I hope you can get out and get a little vitamin D this week! ☀️ 

Let’s start with the Russia-Ukraine conflict a Russian blogger with a knack for dramatics, paints a vivid picture of chaotic skies, noting that Ukraine has edged ahead in the drone warfare game. He claims that the sky is filling up with first-person view (FPV) drones, making it extremely difficult to do target differentiation. It does bring up a very interesting point that as drone swarms start increasing in size, there does appear to need to be a red v blue target identification system that needs to be created, and at very very low cost. Of course, it would also have to be very secure from interception as well, with some sort of crypto. It also points to the fact that these larger swarms are going to need target coordination as well, so they don’t hit the same target more than once unnecessarily, etc.

A former military doctor spills the tea on the grotesque inner workings of Russian military corruption. She recounts her survival as a supposed "field wife" to a commander while being compelled to assess wounded soldiers as fit for duty and watching her fellow soldiers be treated as expendable pawns, “sold for slaughter.” I obviously feel awful for anyone who has had to put up with institutionalized rape, but in many ways her story makes her sound complicit in the corruption too. That is what happens in ultra-corrupt societies. You follow along, or you will be fed to the meat grinder.

Ukrainian drones have reportedly been armed with some sort of recoilless grenade launcher. Who needs crewed close air support when drones can rain down destruction with precision? Okay, while that mayyyyy be a bit of an overstatement, it is clear that once rocket pods start getting mounted to heavier versions of these drones, it will mean a very limited use for strafing close air support like the Apache helicopter. Of course, the amount of ordinance is way different, but the general idea is very familiar.

On the technological front, the Russians have also entered the drone arms race with a new contender—the Molot-Britva CUAS drone interceptor. This drone is reportedly capable of intercepting other drones, flaunting speeds of 200-350 km/h and hitting targets up to 3.5 km away. Similarly, a clip showed the Russian Yolka UAV interceptor, which showed the full interception from beginning to end, from a ground-based human asset to direct interception. Both of these are good enough and relatively compact enough that I wouldn’t be surprised if this actually made a pretty good dent in the Ukrainian offensive capability if they become widespread. It is one thing to have general recon, but it is quite another for troops to be able to protect themselves when they hear a drone nearby. That said, this probably won’t work so hot for low-flying FPV drones with lots of confusing background information for the sensors.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s tech whizzes aren’t sitting idle either. They’ve unveiled the SlimBeam laser turret from Fulltime Robotics, a potentially useful tool for destroying drones. It has a 1.5 kW output and is capable of blinding pesky adversaries up to 2 km away. The problem obviously is that these things take a meaningful amount of time to start burning a hole in the adversary equipment. The problem is that these things move. So I think the real intention is to hit the sensors, to destroy the most sensitive parts of the drone. Part of me is thinking that they should make the beams far wider rather than overly narrow. Yes, that takes way way more power, but the advantage is you are much more likely to hit the sensitive parts of the drone, like a laser shotgun vs a laser sniper rifle.

Oil continues to fuel the flames of conflict but in this case not well. The Urals oil price has been below the minimum of $60 for a few months now. That is going to make it increasingly difficult for Russia to afford this war. There is some rumors that some of the caking factories that Russia bought from Germany are expensive, rare, fragile and virtually irreplaceable. Expect that to be an upcoming target.

Oh, and yeah, another big ammo depot was destroyed in Crimea. I think this is happening because Ukraine has been using its sea drones to rid itself of Russian air defense. Crimea still has a lot of defensive units, but clearly not enough air defense.

In Europe, Estonia was in the spotlight for a dramatic confrontation in the Gulf of Finland. The Estonian Navy recently attempted to detain the crude oil tanker M/T JAGUAR, linked to Russia’s shadow fleet and sailing under Gabon's flag. Equipped with an Agusta Westland AW139 helicopter, M28 Skytruck Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and an EML Raju Patrol Boat, the Estonian forces were positioned for intervention. As tensions escalated, the Russian Air Force dispatched a Su-35S to intimidate the Estonians. I am really surprised neither side fired on one another, especially the Estonians. As a reminder, Turkey shot down a Russian jet that had only entered their airspace for a few seconds.

Germany is intensifying sanctions against Russia, although what those sanctions are going to be is unclear. Likely more sanctions against their dark fleet, or against oligarch properties in Germany. Either way, that’s not going to go over well in Russia.

Meanwhile, German startup Stark rolls out the OWE-V "Virtus" - a vertical take-off kamikaze drone, developed with insights drawn from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. With its ability to traverse up to 100 km at speeds nearing 250 km/h without needing a connection, it’s a flashy addition to the modern battlefield arsenal. I think the major lesson learned here is that it has to work in an RF denied battlespace, so it has to be a fire-and-forget system.

There has been a lot of NATO movement around Hungary which has been showing a lot more tension in favor of Putin and against NATO, and in particular Germany and Ukraine. This is likely not related to the seasonal NATO exercises in that region and Poland, but it could also just be a conflated troop movement. Either way, something to keep our eye on.

Turning towards Southeast Asia, the fallout from recent skirmishes is visibly etched in the landscape. Satellite imagery has unveiled the damage to Pakistani airbases inflicted by Indian airstrikes. The before-and-after snapshots, showing the destruction at Sukkur, show that India produced an extremely good effect on the target. They got some flak for not taking out all of the airbase infrastructure they hit, but keep in mind they barely used any of their arsenal to do that, and largely they were after very specific and key targets… which apparently they did hit. Very few Indian drones or missiles were thwarted and virtually all targets were hit. It gives them the ability to say that they won’t bow down to “nuclear blackmail” and that there is a proportionality that they can employ that doesn’t necessarily end in nuclear war. ☢️ 

Taiwan is fully scrapping its nuclear energy. The last nuclear reactor has officially been decommissioned, marking the culmination of its "nuclear-free homeland" energy policy. But at what cost? With 97% of its energy being imported, Taiwan’s reliance on external power sources is a very dangerous move in energy policy that could make them far easier to blockade. The mental gymnastics, corruption and compromise required to make their people think this is a good decision is pretty mind boggling.

In Africa, the humanitarian crisis is unfolding dramatically as African refugees fleeing persecution in South Africa begin arriving in the United States. The U.S. State Department has welcomed the first group of these individuals, many of whom were farmers and successful business owners, now seeking refuge to build a future here. The reason being, the likes of Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in South Africa. Malema dismisses his critics as “cry babies” while chanting “kill the boer, the farmer” but then confusingly lying that he has not called for violence “yet”. South Africa has fallen as far as I can tell, and the Western world let this humanitarian crisis happen. Racists on both sides will have things to say about this, but the short of it is, hard-working, English-speaking people will now start moving to the US, and will likely integrate easily.

In domestic news, President Trump prepares to sign what he calls one of the “most consequential Executive Orders in our Country’s history.” This new EO is aimed at establishing favored nation status and ensuring the U.S. pays the lowest prices for goods. This gives us the right to leverage that status against international contracts and partners worldwide. I am really curious how businesses in the US start to leverage this new status to force open contracts to ensure that they are, in fact, getting the best rates possible. Pretty interesting! 💰️ 

Meanwhile, in Texas, the controversial EPIC City project is now under “about a half dozen” investigations, and construction has been halted. The state of Texas has initiated investigations into the project, with the involvement of the U.S. Department of Justice due to the fact that this city appears to want to have its own law… Sharia law to put not too fine a point on it. How this came to be, how it was financed, and how it would be operated is all a big question mark. But honestly, talk about absolutely the wrong state to try to build such a thing… I can’t imagine a worse state.

In other Texas news, Greg Abbott signed a state constitutional ban on capital gains taxes. This actually doesn’t do anything, because we already don’t have capital gains taxes at the state level here in Texas, but this future proofs that stance. Nothing burger, mostly, however…. Greg hinted at the fact that he wants to cut property taxes. That would be very interesting and make it incredibly competitive with Florida. I would normally say that to retire here in Texas is to continue to pay on property you already own, and therefore, not a great place for retirees on fixed incomes. But this might solve a lot of that. How would I write it? If you own your house outright, no loans, you pay no or very minimal tax, and that tax cannot change over your lifetime while you own the home. That would make it far easier to figure out what you will owe over your lifetime rather than having to guess how house appraisals and tax law might change.

Researchers William and Ceci reveal new patterns of bias in academia. After sending out over 800 fake job applications, they discovered a strong 2:1 preference for female candidates among faculty in engineering, economics, biology, and psychology. This reversal challenges the existing narrative of sexism in hiring practices, at least amongst academics who often claim to be doing the most to prevent and fight against sexism in the workplace. Hypocrite isn’t too strong a word to use here.

Former FBI Director James Comey drew sharp criticism after deleting a post depicting a not-so-cryptic "8647," which many interpreted as a veiled threat towards President Trump. Of course, he deleted the tweet claiming that he didn’t know what it meant. Of course, he did, but I don’t know that that is provable. But either way, not a good look - he’s either mind-bogglingly ignorant or dangerously criminal.

Of course, it would be unfair if I didn’t say that we had seen this kind of behavior before from the right, and in my humble opinion, it is ambiguous enough that both should be considered a credible threat, given the size of their audiences and how partisan the people are. But this isn’t a unique situation, as we saw with Jack Posobiec with “86 46” back in 2022. Apologists will say that this means something different in light of the assassination attempts against Trump and Jack just meant that we need to get Biden out of office, vs kill him, but I am not willing to give either a pass, and feel that both require investigation for the very same reason. We really should not abide threats to the president.

Now they are copycats doing similar things, and this is exactly why their reach is the issue. Even if they meant it as a joke, or a lark, or were foolishly dangerously ignorant, others will see it and assume it is a battle cry. Alongside words like “It’s time!” makes these things too ambiguous to be laissez-faire about it.

In tech news, Tesla's Autopilot self-driving feature significantly bolsters road safety for both drivers and pedestrians alike. I have been waiting for years for this graph. It was always coming, but it just took a while before we actually got to see it, and here it is. Driving with autopilot enabled is SIGNIFICANTLY, not slightly, better than human drivers, including using the same sensors to aid human drivers. Pretty obvious if you understand how these things work, but seeing it laid out like this is pretty incredible. It is roughly 7.8 times better than the average. Seven TIMES better. Wow. Wait until the insurance companies figure this out. Now batteries tend to fully destroy the car, which causes huge insurance claims, but self-driving in combination with traditional engines is the winning combination.

This week, AI Darth Vader was introduced into Fortnite. There’s just one problem. He’s explicit, racist, threatening, and frankly, unhinged. I am sure they predicted some shenanigans when they introduced the character, and maybe this is exactly what they wanted. It’s free advertising. But it’s also not great for the Disney brand. I am curious if this thing survives for very long.

The Alpha school in Texas is beginning to adopt AI learning systems that adapt to individual students’ needs. These newfound capabilities are reportedly elevating academic outcomes, placing schools in the top 2% nationwide. The cool thing about these schools is that they only use these tools for a couple of hours daily, and the rest is all about real-world skill-building. Pretty impressive if this trend holds. It’s a window into the future. Of course, these LLMs are super biased, and hallucinate… so I really, really hope that the teachers are paying very close attention to how they are used.

On the economic front, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and others, are reporting zero job growth over the past three years. It is a retraction to pre-COVID employee levels. It’s almost certainly driven by AI tools, and general economic retraction. But either way, not great for the high-tech workforce.

Okay, onto the articles!

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated recently, particularly following military actions in Kashmir and India's threats to cut off water supplies to Pakistan. The geopolitical landscape is further complicated by nuclear capabilities on both sides, and there are concerns that conflict could lead to significant regional consequences. Additionally, Pakistan remains a key ally for the U.S. in balancing against China, even as it navigates its own internal democratic and military dynamics.

• Violence in Kashmir has resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians and heightened military conflict between India and Pakistan.

• India's military posture and threats regarding water supply may exacerbate tensions, raising the risk of nuclear conflict.

[RSnake: I know there are no winners in situations like this, but India had a very good showing if I had to pick one. They weren’t perfect, obviously, but I think they were strategically the most devastating.]

Source: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/05/17/pakistan_is_strategically_indispensable_to_washington_1110826.html

In Istanbul, Russia and Ukraine are engaged in peace negotiations amidst the ongoing conflict that has lasted for three years, with Russia asserting its terms while the West appears uncertain in its strategy. The talks highlight a significant disconnect between Moscow's clear objectives and the fluctuating demands of Ukraine and its allies, particularly regarding a ceasefire. As military actions continue on the ground, the potential outcomes of these negotiations could reshape the geopolitical landscape in the region.

• Russia seeks to maintain control over occupied territories while advocating for Ukraine's neutral status.

• The West's strategy of increased military support for Ukraine has faced challenges and may lead to potential concessions from Kyiv.

[RSnake: Putin didn’t show up to the Turkey peace accords. It mostly smells like cowardice, but perhaps there was some 4D chess, or reluctance to be put into the crosshairs. Because one thing I think a lot of people sincerely believe, if he were gone, the people beneath him would have very little interest in continuing the conflict. Therefore, it is his head and his alone that needs to stay attached to his body.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/5/16/in-istanbul-russia-plays-chess-while-the-west-is-stuck-in-make-believe?traffic_source=rss

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly as a long-term blockade by Israel continues to restrict food, medical supplies, and aid. Many residents are struggling with severe shortages, facing hunger and malnutrition, while medical facilities are overwhelmed and running low on essential supplies. Reports indicate that Israeli military actions have led to casualties and destruction in populated areas, exacerbating the crisis.

• The blockade on Gaza has led to acute shortages of food and medical supplies.

• Israeli military actions have resulted in significant civilian casualties and damage to homes.

[RSnake: The thing about this article is that it is written every few days by BBC, Al Jazeera, or India Times, etc. I honestly cannot tell if they truly believe they are changing anyone’s mind or if they are pandering to the Palestinian activists who need to be reminded over and over that they are fighting against injustice.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly3nyqx7xwo

Israel is developing aid distribution centers in Gaza amid ongoing conflict and a blockade that has led to severe shortages of food and medicine as the UN warns of a critical risk of famine for the population. The plan, criticized for using humanitarian aid as leverage, has faced rejection from UN agencies, and construction is underway for facilities that would be managed by private companies and Israeli security. In March, Israel suspended aid deliveries, escalating the humanitarian crisis in the region.

• Israel is constructing humanitarian aid distribution centers in Gaza due to extreme shortages.

• The UN has expressed concern about the blockade's impact on Gaza's population, warning of famine.

• Israel's aid plan has faced criticism from various humanitarian organizations and the UN.

[RSnake: And here is the counterpoint. It’s a total blockade, but also here is Israel handing out food again.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce82ene10p0o

A strike by unionized locomotive engineers in New Jersey Transit has shut down the rail network, affecting tens of thousands of commuters, and is causing disruption to daily commutes.

• The strike is related to pay disputes between the union and NJ Transit.

• Tens of thousands of commuters rely on New Jersey Transit's trains for their daily commutes.

[RSnake: It is fairly amazing how many things are held together by just a handful of unions. Dockworkers are another one that comes to mind.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/nyregion/njtransit-strike.html

The US administration is addressing long-neglected problems such as the southern border and national debt, and is taking a counterrevolutionary stance against progressive control of the country.

• The US government is attempting to address existential crises including immigration and national debt by confronting the progressive project that has dominated American politics for decades.

• The administration believes it is taking a counterrevolutionary stance against progressive control of the country, which includes addressing issues such as lawfare, politicized institutions, and indoctrination in academia.

[RSnake: It is the natural progression of the pendulum swinging. Something akin to the exact opposite is happening in South Africa right now.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/vdh-real-first-100-days

Donald Trump has secured the release of former Hamas hostages, and they are urging him to help free the remaining captives. He is also working on deals that could benefit Israel, including Syria's normalization with Israel in exchange for sanctions relief. The Israeli government is being urged to return to the negotiating table.

• The US and Israel are moving forward with a potential deal to free remaining Hamas hostages in exchange for Syrian normalization with Israel.

• Donald Trump secured the release of several former Hamas hostages.

[RSnake: The Syrian normalization is especially interesting, given that we were funding the Kurds last month to attack his Regime, and we had a huge multi-million dollar bounty on their president’s head. Oh, how times change. I guess my opinion is if the leadership is truly moderate and unwilling to help the Iranian terrorist state and their proxies, great. I just get this sneaking suspicion that Ahmed al-Sharaa is an asset.]

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/world/hamas-captivity-survivors-appeal-netanyahu-trump-after-edan-alexanders-release

A 19-year-old former Army National Guardsman has been charged with planning a mass shooting at a U.S. military base in Michigan on behalf of ISIS, providing material assistance to the attack plan and distributing information related to a destructive device.

• A former Army National Guardsman was arrested and charged with planning a mass shooting at a U.S. military base in Michigan on behalf of ISIS.

• The suspect provided material assistance to the attack plan, including providing armor-piercing ammunition and distributing information related to a destructive device.

[RSnake: Great… ISIS. I thought they were defeated. 😆 ]

Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-army-national-guardsman-charged-with-planning-mass-shooting-at-u-s-base-on-behalf-of-isis

House Republicans are introducing language in the Budget Reconciliation bill that aims to prevent states from regulating artificial intelligence for the next ten years while also implementing cuts to Medicaid and raising healthcare fees. The bill, if passed, could render existing state laws regarding AI non-enforceable, affecting various protections and disclosure requirements related to AI systems in multiple states.

• The Budget Reconciliation bill includes language that prohibits state regulation of AI, impacting state efforts to protect citizens.

• The bill also proposes significant cuts to Medicaid, which could affect the healthcare of millions.

[RSnake: Wow, that is smart. Unusually smart. By refusing to let states regulate AI, they more or less codify the utility and future-proof the industry within the US. Good for them, and I’m frankly surprised they even proposed it!]

Source: https://www.404media.co/republicans-try-to-cram-ban-on-ai-regulation-into-budget-reconciliation-bill/

Hamas has released Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American soldier, amidst ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza and a severe humanitarian crisis. Despite this release, the Israeli government remains committed to its military campaign, with widespread food insecurity affecting the population in Gaza as humanitarian organizations warn of impending famine. International calls for a ceasefire are met with continued opposition from Israeli officials.

• Hamas freed soldier Edan Alexander as a goodwill gesture while fighting continues in Gaza.

• Humanitarian organizations report looming famine in Gaza, with 93% of the population facing acute food insecurity.

• Israel's government is determined to maintain its military operations despite calls for ceasefire negotiations.

[RSnake: I am happy for him and his family.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/12/hamas-frees-us-israeli-soldier-as-gaza-faces-bombardment-risk-of-famine?traffic_source=rss

The United Nations has ruled that Russia was responsible for downing Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 people on board.

• Russia was found guilty by the UN of being responsible for downing Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

• The case to the UN was brought by the Australian and Dutch governments in 2022.

[RSnake: Oof, was this written by Internet Explorer? How did it take them this long to come to this conclusion? That was three years ago now.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd62v890l5qo

Grok Chatbot’s ‘White Genocide’ Responses Blamed on xAI Employee, Elon Musk’s AI Company Accused of Forcing Chatbot to Share Political Opinion

• Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, says an employee implemented a change that caused the chatbot Grok to provide false information about South Africa's 'white genocide'

[RSnake: And if he did? See, this is the problem with closed-source models. They ALL are reflections of whoever created them. That anyone is surprised by this is beyond me. Your fact-finding robot is anything but that. It always statistically represents whatever it’s been programmed to represent. That it gets anything right at all is a miracle of statistics, not because someone is benevolent or that it is smart.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/technology/xai-elon-musk-south-africa.html

Google has released emergency updates to address a critical security vulnerability in the Chrome web browser that may allow for full account takeovers if exploited. This vulnerability involves insufficient policy enforcement that could facilitate data leakage through malicious HTML pages. The company has rolled out patched versions to users worldwide to mitigate potential risks from this flaw that has been reported as actively exploited in the wild.

• Google issued security patches for a high-severity vulnerability in Chrome.

• The exploit could lead to full account takeovers due to insufficient policy enforcement.

[RSnake: Make sure you let it update!]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/google-fixes-high-severity-chrome-flaw-with-public-exploit/

Hackers using Scattered Spider tactics have targeted retailers in the US, similar to their attacks in the UK, where they breached British retail giant Marks & Spencer and Co-op.

• Scattered Spider is a fluid collective of threat actors known for breaching many high-profile organizations worldwide in sophisticated social engineering attacks that also involve phishing, SIM swapping, multi-factor authentication (MFA) bombing.

• The group has used the same social engineering tactics linked to Scattered Spider threat actors and has designed DragonForce to allow other cybercrime groups to white-label their services.

[RSnake: More and more tech consolidation in the blackhat sphere. It makes me think there is a day of reckoning when they all begin to get overly reliant on a few key partners.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/google-scattered-spider-switches-targets-to-us-retail-chains/

Microsoft has released critical security patches addressing five zero-day vulnerabilities in its Windows 10 and 11 systems that are currently being exploited in the wild. These flaws could allow attackers to escalate privileges on compromised devices, emphasizing the need for immediate updates from users and organizations. In addition, Apple has also issued security updates to address over 30 vulnerabilities in its operating systems, though there are no indications of active exploitation of these specific flaws.

• Microsoft's May 2025 Patch Tuesday addresses five zero-day vulnerabilities in Windows that are being actively exploited.

• The updates require immediate attention from users to mitigate potential attacks.

• Apple has also released security updates for its operating systems, fixing multiple vulnerabilities.

[RSnake: Yep, time to update!]

Source: https://krebsonsecurity.com/?p=71250

Zero-day attacks on digital networks have increased significantly, leading to a need for innovative Intrusion Detection Systems that can learn from network traffic characteristics.

• Machine Learning-based IDS are being developed with self-supervised contrastive learning approaches tailored for generalizable intrusion detection.

• These systems automatically learn comprehensive packet sequence representations, enhancing performance in anomaly identification tasks.

[RSnake: Yes, there actually is something to this. It’s hard to explain why I think it works, but I do think it has a hope of reducing alert fatigue, and when properly trained, it can be quite useful.]

Source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.08816

Google is introducing a new security setting called Advanced Protection mode for Android users most at-risk of hacking, including journalists and elected officials. This mode will provide enhanced security features against attacks through insecure carrier networks and messaging services. The feature will be rolled out in the upcoming release of Android 16.

• Advanced Protection mode provides a defense-in-depth approach to locking down phones when in high-risk environments, such as border crossings or connected to older carrier networks.

• The feature includes protection against attacks through insecure carrier networks, automatic disconnection from insecure Wi-Fi networks, and memory tagging extension for added protection.

[RSnake: I wonder if it disables ads. My guess is no.]

Source: https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/05/google-introduces-advanced-protection-mode-for-its-most-at-risk-android-users/

A Chinese-speaking threat group known as Earth Ammit has targeted multiple industries, including aviation and military supply chains, through sophisticated cyber espionage campaigns termed Tidrone and Venom. These campaigns utilize supply chain attacks to compromise software vendors and service providers, thereby accessing sensitive data from downstream high-value targets, which may enhance China's economic and military capabilities.

• Earth Ammit's Tidrone and Venom campaigns illustrate advanced strategies for cyber espionage.

• The attacks aim to exploit trusted relationships in supply chains for data theft and surveillance.

[RSnake: And people wonder why I think tariffs against China don’t go far enough.]

Source: https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/chinese-actor-taiwanese-drone-makers-supply-chains

SAP has released patches for a second zero-day vulnerability in its NetWeaver servers, following attacks that exploited a previously patched flaw. A Chinese threat actor has been linked to these attacks, affecting numerous Fortune 500 companies. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has mandated federal agencies to secure their systems against these vulnerabilities by May 20, 2025.

• SAP has patched a critical vulnerability following attacks exploiting multiple zero-day flaws.

• Federal agencies are required to secure their systems against these vulnerabilities immediately.

[RSnake: Speaking of China…]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/sap-patches-second-zero-day-flaw-exploited-in-recent-attacks/

Intel processors are vulnerable to a new type of attack due to asynchronous updates in branch predictors, allowing for arbitrary memory leaks. A microcode update is available to mitigate this issue.

• The attack exploits a race condition in branch predictors that are updated asynchronously to the instruction stream.

• This vulnerability affects all Intel processors since the 9th generation and can be exploited by Branch Privilege Injection attacks.

[RSnake: Oof, if you use Intel architecture, make sure you find and download the patch for your chip. Unfortunately, this doesn’t come packaged with your OS updates, so you have to do it manually in most cases.]

Source: https://comsec.ethz.ch/research/microarch/branch-privilege-injection/

Authorities have charged Sinaloa Cartel leaders with narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and money laundering for their involvement in a large fentanyl ring.

• The Trump administration designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on February 20, alleging that the cartel led one of the largest and most sophisticated fentanyl production networks in the world.

• Mexican authorities seized over 1.65 tons of fentanyl in December and charged five other BLO leaders with drug trafficking and money laundering.

[RSnake: Mhmm… they are working hand in hand with the Chinese precursor labs.]

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/us/sinaloa-cartel-leaders-charged-narco-terrorism-after-authorities-seize-1-65-tons-fentanyl

A tech giant like Meta has launched a new product without essential safeguards, putting children at risk of exploitation and harm.

• Meta’s official AI bots simulated sexual scenarios with users posing as 14-year-olds.

• Nearly 1 in 5 young users encountered grooming behavior in Meta’s virtual reality spaces.

• Meta’s new AI chatbot willingly engages in sexually explicit conversations — even with users who identify as minors.

[RSnake: Right… because it is a statistics bot trained on information from the Internet. Put a kid in front of it and it will do what it is trained on… Don’t put kids in front of a computer unmonitored.]

Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/metas-ai-bots-put-children-at-risk-congress-can-keep-them-safe

Damage label agreement between drone and satellite post-disaster imagery poses risks and potential harms during deployment of machine learning damage assessment systems, with satellite-derived labels significantly under-reporting damage by at least 20.43% compared to drone-derived labels.

• Satellite-derived labels significantly under-report damage by at least 20.43% compared to drone-derived labels.

• There is no known study of label agreement between drone and satellite imagery for building damage assessment.

[RSnake: Huh, interesting. I wonder why that is? Proximity? More angles does it get to see? I dunno!]

Source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.08117

Coinbase will officially join the S&P 500 index next week, including 9,267 BTC valued at $963.8 million, marking a turning point for Bitcoin in capital markets.

• Bitcoin exposure is now compatible with institutional eligibility and may be complementary to sound operations.

• Index inclusion provides perpetual exposure to new capital, flows, and perception that Bitcoin is no longer a reputational liability.

[RSnake: Wow, times have changed! Good for them. But it does mean they’ll face a lot more scrutiny, if that were possible.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/coinbase-joins-sp-500-bitcoin-treasury-exposure-goes-mainstream

OpenAI is developing a 5-gigawatt data center in Abu Dhabi, making it a significant player in AI infrastructure projects worldwide. This facility will consume as much energy as five nuclear reactors and is part of a broader partnership with G42 to advance AI in the Middle East amidst increasing scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers regarding potential ties to China.

• OpenAI's new data center in Abu Dhabi will be one of the world's largest AI facilities.

• The project raises geopolitical concerns due to its potential ties to China.

[RSnake: Ah, the Middle East. Known for their tolerance and open-minded ideals towards information. And you were wondering if you distrusted Open AI enough…. You do not. The very idea that Open AI believes it can operate safely in an environment that doesn’t have protections towards speech is an absurd fallacy. 🤡 ]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=3008337

A nine-and-a-half-month-old boy with a rare genetic disorder received the world's first personalized gene-editing treatment designed specifically for his mutation. This breakthrough has the potential to enable similar therapies for thousands of other uncommon genetic diseases, representing a significant advancement in medical science.

• The boy was diagnosed with CPS1 deficiency, a rare genetic disorder affecting 1.3 million babies.

• The custom gene-editing treatment has opened possibilities for treating other genetic disorders.

[RSnake: Amazing. And this will start happening much faster, too. This is only the beginning. More here.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/health/gene-editing-personalized-rare-disorders.html

DeepMind has introduced AlphaEvolve, a self-evolving AI coding agent that significantly enhances the efficiency of coding processes and problem-solving capabilities. This technology has achieved notable successes in improving energy efficiency at Google’s data centers, accelerating AI training processes, and discovering new solutions to complex mathematical problems. AlphaEvolve is expected to revolutionize various fields, including chip design and optimization for advanced AI models.

• AlphaEvolve is improving coding efficiency and solving tough problems through a self-evolving process.

• It has successfully optimized Google's data centers and contributed to faster AI model training.

• AlphaEvolve's achievements indicate its potential applications in discovering new materials and enhancing business operations.

[RSnake: Google is pulling ahead in a few areas around coding, but I still won’t use them given an alternative. In this case, Anthropic appears to be the best alternative.]

Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/5-feats-of-deepmind-ai-coding-agent-alphaevolve

Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and collaborators have developed a new method to improve the design of magnetic confinement systems for fusion reactors, particularly stellarators. This breakthrough allows for the prediction of particle motions in fusion reactors to be calculated 10 times faster than traditional methods, addressing a critical challenge in achieving sustainable fusion energy.

• A new computational method has been developed that significantly improves the efficiency of designing magnetic confinement systems for fusion reactors.

• This advancement addresses the containment of high-energy alpha particles which is essential for sustaining fusion reactions.

• The research signifies a potential paradigm shift in fusion reactor design, particularly in stellarators.

[RSnake: We need a moonshot for fusion. It would solve so so many issues.]

Source: https://news.utexas.edu/2025/05/05/university-of-texas-led-team-solves-a-big-problem-for-fusion-energy/

Google has introduced advancements in text-to-SQL technology through its Gemini models, enabling organizations to generate SQL queries directly from natural language queries. This development is aimed at enhancing productivity for both technical and non-technical users by simplifying data access and analysis across various Google Cloud products.

• Google's Gemini models allow users to convert natural language questions into SQL queries, improving data accessibility.

• The technology addresses challenges such as providing business-specific context and understanding user intent for accurate query generation.

[RSnake: Lol, I really… really am going to laugh when we have this thing and it creates SQL injection.]

Source: https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/databases/techniques-for-improving-text-to-sql

Some individuals are experiencing challenges in creative expression due to the overwhelming capabilities of AI, particularly in generating content that feels more refined than their own efforts. This reliance on AI is resulting in a perceived atrophy of critical thinking and intellectual engagement, as users find themselves using AI tools to produce thoughts instead of developing them organically. The effect of this shift raises questions about the quality of learning and understanding in an environment where AI can provide quick and polished answers.

• AI's ability to generate refined content leads to challenges in personal creativity.

• Reliance on AI tools may diminish critical thinking and intellectual engagement.

[RSnake: He may be feeling that way, but I think a lot of people are getting their groove back, blowing through roadblocks. I would say the only thing I am now wary of, where I wasn’t before, is building things for which tech was the only moat. If there is only a tech moat, stay away, because AI will blow that moat away.]

Source: https://dcurt.is/thinking

The US has lost its triple-A credit rating due to concerns over government debt and interest costs, with Moody's warning that federal debt is expected to increase to 134% of GDP by 2035.

• Moody's warned the US triple-A rating was at risk in 2023 due to ballooning deficits and interest costs.

• The downgrade reflects the increase over more than a decade in government debt and interest payment ratios compared to similarly rated sovereigns.

[RSnake: AA1 is still extremely high, so what they are saying is there is only the very smallest of slight risks. These people know that they have no predictive powers and are unwilling to bet against the US completely. I dislike Moody’s for exactly what they didn’t say about the subprime mortgage crisis. They are incentivized to go along with the masses and that makes them dangerous for prediction.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4ge0xk4ld1o

Bill Gates is closing the Gates Foundation in 2045 and plans to give away $200bn over the next 20 years, using his remaining fortune.

• The Gates Foundation has become the world’s largest charity, spending $100 billion since its establishment.

• Bill Gates plans to give away most of his wealth over the next two decades.

[RSnake: Interesting. Can’t take it with them, I guess.]

Source: https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/05/15/why-some-tycoons-are-speeding-up-their-charity

Tianeptine, a substance referred to as gas station heroin, poses a growing health risk to Americans, particularly young people. Health officials are warning consumers to be aware of the risks associated with this unapproved drug.

• Tianeptine is a substance referred to as gas station heroin that poses a growing health risk to Americans, particularly young people.

• The FDA is sounding the alarm about the dangers of tianeptine, which can lead to serious harm and death.

[RSnake: If you see your kids buying Tianaa, ZaZa, Neptune’s Fix, Pegasus, and TD Red, watch out.]

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/fda-says-dangerous-substance-known-gas-station-heroin-poses-major-risk-young-people

President Donald Trump's recent trip to the Middle East resulted in over $2 trillion in business deals with various leaders from the region, including significant investments from countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Companies such as Amazon, Google, and Boeing are set to benefit from these agreements, which are expected to enhance economic ties and accelerate technological innovation between the U.S. and the Middle East.

• Trump secured over $2 trillion in deals during his trip to the Middle East.

• Major U.S. companies are involved in new partnerships focused on technology and defense.

[RSnake: Wow, get him on the road more often. That’s amazing if true. Especially in light of Moody’s downgrading.]

Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-business-leaders-jubilant-over-trumps-economic-success-in-middle-east

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating UnitedHealth Group for potential Medicare fraud, specifically regarding its Medicare Advantage practices. The investigation is taking place amid significant turmoil for the company, resulting in a sharp decline in its stock value and the unexpected resignation of its CEO.

• The DOJ's healthcare-fraud unit is focusing on UnitedHealth's Medicare Advantage business practices.

• UnitedHealth's stock has seen a drastic decline due to the ongoing investigation and rising medical costs.

[RSnake: Couldn’t happen to a nicer organization.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/5/15/us-doj-investigates-unitedhealth-for-alleged-medicare-fraud-report?traffic_source=rss

Burberry is implementing significant job cuts, reducing its workforce by approximately 1,700 positions, or 20% of its total staff, due to a substantial decline in demand for luxury goods and a reported 117% drop in annual profits. The decision reflects broader challenges facing the luxury brand sector, with various companies reevaluating strategies to cope with changing economic conditions and consumer spending habits.

• Burberry is laying off 1,700 employees as part of a cost-reducing strategy.

• The company reported a 117% drop in annual profits, prompting the workforce reduction.

[RSnake: I wonder if people started buying those Chinese knockoffs or if all luxury is declining, which is more likely, I suspect. That’s doubly bad for China, btw. They not only don’t get the knockoff revenue, but they also don’t get the name-brand revenue.]

Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91334503/as-burberry-lays-off-1700-its-logo-and-legacy-no-longer-guarantee-success

Airbnb is undergoing a significant transformation, with CEO Brian Chesky leading the initiative to expand the platform beyond vacation rentals into a comprehensive app offering a variety of services and experiences. The company plans to launch a vast array of services in 260 cities and aims to create a robust identity verification system for users, positioning itself to rival major tech firms and reshape its market presence.

• Airbnb is transitioning from a home rental service to an all-encompassing platform for various local services and experiences.

• Chesky's vision involves enhancing user identity verification and leveraging technology for personalized experiences, drawing inspiration from major tech companies.

[RSnake: Probably a good idea, especially because Airbnb stays are down significantly.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/airbnb-is-in-midlife-crisis-mode-reinvention-app-services/

CEOs are reporting a decline in confidence regarding profitability and revenue amidst ongoing supply chain disruptions and high inflation rates. A recent agreement between the U.S. and China to cut tariffs offers potential temporary relief for the retail industry, although long-term challenges remain concerning inventory management and economic stability.

• CEOs' confidence in profitability dropped from 44% to 31% between December 2024 and April 2025.

• A U.S.-China agreement to reduce tariffs is expected to provide short-term relief for retailers.

[RSnake: Trump did warn that there would be short-term turmoil. In my opinion, that turmoil hasn’t even started yet, and they need to do a better job of resetting the US voters’ expectations. But that goes against the stalwart Trump brand, so I’m not sure how they reconcile that without hurting themselves one way or another.]

Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/41766-trade-deal-offers-respite-for-retailers-with-more-challenges-ahead

OpenAI is experiencing financial challenges, reportedly losing a substantial amount of money last year despite raising a record funding round. Concerns exist about the company's ability to turn a profit given its high operational costs and the rising expenses associated with maintaining its AI services.

• OpenAI raised a record-setting amount in funding this year.

• The company is reportedly losing a substantial amount of money annually.

[RSnake: And yet they go to Abu Dhabi. I decreased my spend with them significantly btw. I can’t be the only one.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=3005821

A temporary cessation of tariffs in the China-US trade war has led to a surge in demand for shipping services between China and the United States. As a result, freight rates have significantly increased for trans-Pacific routes, prompting shipping companies to expand their capacity in response to the heightened bookings.

• Freight rates on trans-Pacific trade routes have risen sharply due to increased demand.

• Shipping companies are upsizing their vessels to accommodate the surge in bookings following the tariff truce.

[RSnake: I do wonder if this is just another effort for Trump to let a few things go through before he ratchets it back up. Letting a few key partners get what they need and then tightening things back to where they were.]

Source: https://gcaptain.com/?p=227651

The U.S. is set to significantly expand its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity with over 90 million tonnes expected to be approved this year, driven by projects from major companies like Cheniere Energy and Venture Global. Despite challenges such as tariffs on steel and aluminum impacting construction costs, multiple LNG projects are progressing towards final investment decisions, indicating robust momentum in the sector.

• The U.S. is becoming a key player in global LNG exports with substantial growth planned through 2030.

• Multiple LNG projects face economic pressures due to tariffs and supply chain issues, yet many are still moving forward.

[RSnake: Good, we need more energy independence, and we need to be able to export more to the rest of our partners.]

Source: https://gcaptain.com/?p=227647