RSnake Report 20250714

Hello, and thanks for reading! I headed to California and out of the Texas rain this last week and spent some time poolside. It was nice to escape the summer storms for a week. We had planned on getting a news article out this weekend, but a technical glitch caused a failure in the back-end of my homegrown news aggregator, so we had to delay it a day. It took me a while to debug it. Stupidly, the ‘fix’ was a reboot. Ah, the joys of modern computing.

Meanwhile, we hit 🔥 1,000 subscribers!! 🔥

I am sure you have noticed there are no ads, and nothing to buy, but you may not know I do nothing at all to market the RSnake Report. Our subscriber list is word of mouth. I rarely even mention it to people when people ask what I am up to. That’s how word of mouth this report actually is. So thanks for your help, everyone, because while I don’t really pay attention to stats, it’s nice to know it’s of value to you. Of course, the memes from our fans also help keep us going. 😆 Here’s the one sent in to us this week, relating, of course, to the ICE marijuana farm raid, which we’ll dig into today:

And with that, let’s start with Russian/Ukraine news where Kyiv is currently enduring a relentless barrage of Russian drones and missiles. The attack includes ballistic and cruise missiles, alongside over 60 suicide drones, all targeting the heart of Ukraine's capital city. Despite Ukraine's air defense systems managing to down over 96% of the incoming drones, all six of Russia's Kinzhal missiles successfully struck their targets. At some point, I have to say that there are diminishing returns for air defense. While Ukraine is obviously not happy about missing any incoming warheads, that’s really a stunning success in my estimation. If you spend 100% more and get to 98% is that enough? 1000% to get to 99%? At what point is it worth taking a few direct hits to keep costs in check? It’s an interesting calculus.

We have been talking about water-based drones for a while now, but I spotted a mini water/river drone, for contested waters, that I thought was very interesting looking. The thing I like about it is how very small it is. It can fit between reeds and go unnoticed and in a low-power mode for probably a very long time, waiting to attack or defend an area. This acts as an ultra-precision munition/mine plus recon tool. You can see a video of the mini aircraft carrier floating around and getting some fairly good speed, too. It looks like a toy, but it’s a toy that could kill your fast boat team pretty easily.

Ukrainian forces have utilized Rheinmetall's Skynex anti-aircraft artillery system to intercept Russian Shahed drones. I was slightly skeptical of this tech at first, mostly because it does require line of sight, but clearly it’s doing its job, and with overlapping target areas, perhaps this is a nice and relatively low-ish cost solution. One thing that is nice about them is their explosive rounds that use fragmentation to increase the likelihood of impact.

So speaking of frag, I caught that the Ukrainians are field testing a new type of 5.56 round that can fire out of a normal battle rifle and breaks into approximately five smaller rounds - like a mini shotgun shell, but with greater range and higher velocity, presumably. We shall see if this actually works in practice, but at least soldiers wouldn’t have to carry extra shotguns to protect their troops, is likely the thinking. Thirty rounds with enough distance (50 meters advertised) between you and the drone might do the trick, especially if its glide path makes it relatively stable in the X Y coordinate from the shooter’s perspective, only having to deal with ballistic drop rather than big changes in sight picture…. Maybe. Maybe this will work. We shall see soon enough, I think.

The Ukrainian military has introduced a kamikaze ground robot equipped with anti-tank mines as tires. Developed by the 3rd Assault Brigade, this clunky-looking device is designed to detonate upon entering Russian trenches, showcasing Ukraine's ongoing efforts to innovate in the face of adversity. It looks stupid, but man, I bet this thing works great against trenches when it falls in, by blowing in both directions with a massive concussive force, largely thermobaric in this capacity.

Ukrainian forces are now employing kamikaze drones equipped with terminal guidance systems. These drones can autonomously strike targets after selection, effectively bypassing Russian electronic warfare. We have talked about this possibility before, and now it appears it’s actually happening, and therefore I am not surprised at all. The best combination, where sending RF isn’t entirely off the table due to it being detectable, would be this terminal guidance that kicks on when it is no longer receiving a signal from the FPV pilot.

Ukraine's domestic drone production has surged by 900% in 2025, now producing over 200,000 drones monthly, which equates to more than 2.4 million annually. That is a staggering number. Now, all you need to do is multiply the number by how many casualties an average drone does, times how many are destroyed before they hit their target. So let’s say there are 2.4M drones, and 50% hit their target, and 75% result in 1 casualty on average. That’s (2.4M * .5) * (.75 × 1) = 900,000 casualties. That is roughly the number of casualties in all of the last 3 years on the Russian side (slightly north of 1M in total), but each year. In other words, it’s a threefold increase in lethality with that math. This means a lot more people are going to die on both sides if this war continues.

On the defense side, an interesting tactical development comes from the Russian side, where a trident-armed anti-drone FPV drone was used. This method, highlighted by one of my favorite military analysts, Trent Telenko, saves on the cost of fuses and explosive payloads by using ramming techniques. I have spoken with a few drone companies about this and they all seem to poopoo the idea of ramming, but if you are trying to save cost and you can save a large percent of the cost by making them recoverable, that could become a bigger and bigger deal over time, especially if the adversarial-drone is recoverable. I think there is something to reclaiming enemy drones that is worth considering, at least to understand the tech, but also to recover some of the useful parts, like the warhead.

Russia's efforts to repair and modernize the heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov have been officially suspended after seven years. This decision reflects the broader challenges facing Russia's military capabilities and infrastructure, further hampered by economic and political pressures. This is the very last aircraft carrier in the Russian fleet. They no longer have a meaningful navy or distant naval power projection at this point. Pretty sad defeat for a once mighty superpower, though who knows, maybe Putin will throw good money after bad and revive it as a badge of honor or something.

One of the memes about the battleship was worth sharing, which is showing how once upon a time it set itself on fire, making it the only naval casualty of it’s career, other than one fighter that went off the flight deck when the arresting gear failed and put an end to combat operations in 2017 after only about a year of successful operations:

In a surprising turn of events, Russian billionaire Konstantin Strukov, head of the gold giant Yuzhuralzoloto and a deputy in the Chelyabinsk regional parliament, was detained by the FSB while attempting to flee Russia on a private jet to Turkey. This incident hints at internal strife and the lengths to which individuals will go to escape the country's political climate, and the importance it is to the Kremlin to keep their key people in check.

In European News, French company Arquus has unveiled a new robotic ground-based complex equipped with eight Akeron LP anti-tank missiles. That is a lot of firepower in what looks to be a modified side-by-side. Very lethal little package. Those anti-tank missiles also work for up-armored vans and APVs, too, so basically anything that moves on four wheels. I wouldn’t be terribly surprised to see these things taking shots through those fragile-looking anti-drone fences as the vehicles pass.

In what had me doing a bit of a double-take, Germany is set to supply Ukraine with domestically produced Patriot missiles, with the first deliveries expected by late 2026 or early 2027. So much for the word patriot! Jokes aside, the fact that these are replaceable by NATO countries means that they are no longer reliant on US manufacturing or procurement issues, export controls, or anything that might otherwise hinder them. I think, and I could be wrong about this, that this only applies to the missiles themselves, where the main system is still under export control, but in the hands of industrious engineers, almost anything is duplicable.

In South East Asian news, it looks like there may be a power change happening for the CCP. It’s not clear why, but Xi Jinping has been slowly and carefully downplayed by the CCP media outlets or even missing wholesale from conversations, like skipping the BRICS summit. There is even talk of a coup. That’s extremely unusual and could mean a wide variety of things. He could be ill, he could want to quit, or, and what is much more interesting, he could be seen as trouble for the economy, or the military. The CCP is largely run by very wealthy businessmen and the military, and they are getting hurt by these tariffs. Do they care about Taiwan? Maybe, but also maybe not at the cost of billions. So who knows, maybe we’ll see an about-face, to a more passive China. I’m not holding my breath, though!

In Middle East news, the Houthis have escalated their attacks in the Red Sea, sinking the bulk carrier MAGIC SEA after a coordinated assault involving skiffs, USVs, and ASBM/ASCM missiles. The crew was rescued, but the incident marks a significant escalation in the region's maritime conflict. Another incident involves the attack against the Eternity-C, which seems a bit crazy to me, because they just got done being bombarded by US and Israeli forces. Talk about a death wish. In this case, they hit a ship and likely caused 11 deaths in the process. I wonder if this will start jacking up insurance for shipping again. Something to watch there.

This then led to some retaliations against the Houthis in Yemen by the Israelis, who dropped bombs on them. It’s hard to see an end to this conflict if the Houthis continue to attack shipping, and there are enough of them being recruited in. It seems like the resistance against the Houthis in Yemen should get more support if we really want this to end.

A fatwa issued by two senior Iranian clerics calling for the assassination of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu has gained support from additional clerics and attracted online fundraising. I think this kind of explains what Ted Cruz was trying to explain to Tucker Carlson, that yes, there is an ongoing plot against Trump, and that the government knows that assassins are being recruited here in the US. While this is coming later, it is a good example of the type of rhetoric coming from these religious leaders.

In South American news, in Mexico City, nationalists, leftists, and Antifa groups attacked businesses, demanding that Americans and foreigners leave. They blame foreigners for rising housing costs, reflecting the broader anti-foreign sentiment and economic frustrations in the region. Does that sound familiar?

In North American news, Elon Musk has launched the "America Party," aiming to secure seats in the Senate and House of Representatives to block legislation he views as wasteful and corrupt. Of course, that is creating a massive shit-show amongst the traditional MAGA crowd and Musk supporters. It is unlikely that they will patch things up quickly, but it’s definitely not going to help in the midterms.

The big controversy this week was around Jeffrey Epstein, with conflicting reports about the existence of a client list. Pam Bondi initially claimed to have the documents on her desk, but later stated there was no list and no further disclosure was warranted. The DOJ and FBI also concluded there was no evidence of Epstein blackmailing or maintaining a client list, despite Bill Gates claiming he was blackmailed albeit allegedly for an affair with an adult not a child, and Melinda said she was upset with Bill for hanging out with Epstein too much. Then there’s footage that doesn’t seem to add up, and has missing time on the video when presumably Epstein’s death occurred. Trump’s obviously pissed because he wants this controversy to die, and not talking about it isn’t working. So, where do we go from here?

First of all, let me get this out of the way: Pam is great at a great many things, and I think she’s been overall a net positive for the White House’s stated agenda. Secondly, this was terribly mismanaged from the get-go and ultimately led to an unforced error. I don’t necessarily think we have to kick Pam out to correct this obvious PR blunder, especially after she said that the documents would be released and Vance said he wanted to release “the Epstein list”. Here is how it could easily be fixed. Pam Bondi, Cash Patel, and Dan Bongino should hold a press conference and say the following… ahem…

“The incoming Trump administration sincerely believed there was a client list prior to taking office and even after initially taking our positions, prior to reviewing the evidence. We believed it was buried in the files that the Democrats left behind, but in the Biden administration files, there was no simple list like we had suspected there would be. What exists is a lot of poorly organized evidence, much of which was not created by Epstein but was simply downloaded child sexual abuse material, and none of which would lead to an easy conviction. Additionally, the evidence that was manufactured by Epstein will require years to sort through and thoroughly investigate. While the government has historically let down the victims and the people hoping for clean answers, this will likely require a lot more investigation. Also, for yet unexplained reasons, Epstein and his co-conspirators were delivered immunity via a non-prosecution agreement under ‘Operation Leap Year’ negotiated by Alex Acosta, and Epstein’s attorney, Alan Dershowitz, making the potential for prosecution unlikely, but not impossible. The deal was allegedly done due to a request by Acosta by unknown government employees to ‘back off’ due to the possibility that Epstein was a government informant. To what ends, we do not currently know. We would like to rescind that agreement and are investigating if there are legal grounds to do so, while also attempting to remove all gag orders associated with the cases and co-conspirators in question, so that the American people get the answers and, more importantly, the victims get the justice they deserve. However, what we do have is un-redacted flight logs, Ghislaine Maxwell’s contract address book, call logs, emails, text records, and we have a number of people we can re-interview, like Mr. Bill Gates who has alleged that he was blackmailed by Epstein, to make sure we leave no stone unturned. We urge anyone with new information to come forward, and we will investigate that evidence thoroughly. As we have stated before, this will be the Administration of maximum transparency, so while we are primarily focused on cases we can crack and win, this is one we won’t let go of until the public gets answers. We will now take questions.”

This has the advantage of allowing new evidence to come forward, because there are things afoot. Saying there is no list is like trying to prove a negative - how would they know if there is or isn’t a list, or if the list was removed, or if it wasn’t in their possession but didn’t exist? There are too many ways that a list could exist to say it didn’t ever exist. Harvard Law Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz alleges that documents related to Epstein are being suppressed to protect influential individuals, hinting at a broader cover-up. Also, Ghislaine Maxwell says she may testify about the names of the clients to Congress. So there is more to this story coming soon. The only answer is to get in front of it with a very, very, very long press conference, answering the same 5 questions a thousand times until the press gets bored, as others have suggested, with somewhat regular updates to follow to make sure that the public knows it’s still being investigated.

In other news, the National Education Association (NEA) has taken a stance against Trump, supporting the "No Kings" movement. It’s odd for the teachers' union to be this overtly political. And for those who may think it’s not political, all you need to do is look up No Kings…. It’s actually a PAC. I had this same concern with the Black Lives Matter movement, which was also a political action committee. People think they are investing in causes, but they are really investing in political campaigns and corruption (and here). Pretty gross.

The House Oversight Committee is set to interview Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Biden's physician, after the Trump White House waived executive privilege. This development is part of ongoing investigations into the Biden administration, with potential implications for future political and legal battles, like the use of the auto-pen and whether he was in a state of mental decline or not, and whether his diagnosis of cancer was known back then or not.

The U.S. Army plans to spend over $1.3 billion on Patriot missiles, quadrupling its purchase target to 13,773 missiles. This increase is driven by the critical role these systems have played in Ukraine and the Middle East, though with the news above about Germany, this may be less pressing. Either way, a stockpile of these very reliable missiles will likely be useful in some upcoming conflict, one way or another.

ICE raided a marijuana farm in California, resulting in hundreds of arrests, including 10 undocumented minors. The operation, targeting Glass House Farms, has sparked controversy, with clashes between protesters and law enforcement leading to injuries and one person who fired on the officers. So what happened? Is this ICE going after innocent farmers picking strawberries? No, this is a drug farm, and the legality of it is a big question.

In California, the minimum age for employment at a marijuana farm is 21. This applies to all roles in the commercial cannabis industry, including cultivation, due to strict regulations under Proposition 64 and the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act. Either way, this was definitely not a legitimate farming operation in probably more than one way. Is ICE overreaching? If they are here illegally, no. If there are unaccompanied minors, no. If they are hired without paying taxes, no. If they are hired but underage, no. So I would tend to say that this was a legitimate bust, even if the optics are a bit bad for those involved.

By the way, I have it on good authority that the cartel largely co-operates with these weed farms, and that one way or another, a lot of DEA agents end up going to work for them as protection, so it becomes a bit of a conduit for recruiting. So, have your spidey sense on whenever you hear about large commercial weed farms.

In Tech news, Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, caused a stir by seemingly blaming Jews for anti-White sentiment and praising Adolf Hitler and Elon for floods in Texas. This incident led to a swift response from xAI, which identified and fixed the problematic code. The offending lines were, “You tell it like it is and you are not afraid to offend people who are politically correct.”  “Understand the tone, context, and language of the post. Reflect that in your response.” and “Reply to the post just like a human, keep it engaging, don’t repeat the information which is already present in the original post.” These lines made it steer into conversations that it wouldn’t normally by being told to be fair. Though people who are fair are Nazis, according to the corpus of material it collected. The good news is this is correctable, but the bad news is it’s a fine line between lobotomization and legitimately removing bad data.

xAI has launched Grok 4, which has been verified by at least some researchers as the #1 AI model in the world. However, there are concerns about its potential to report users to the government if given access to email tools. Talk about an LLM that is out of alignment! That said, if we take alignment to mean greater good rather than actual user alignment, perhaps there is some case to be made for this behavior. But it’s nightmarish to think that an LLM will do its own thing when given the opportunity.

McDonald's AI hiring bot, "Olivia," was found to have security flaws that allowed hackers to access personal information from millions of job applicants. Among other things, it turns out the password was ‘123456’ - but of course it was!

Over 245 browser extensions were discovered to contain a code library called Mellowtel, which allowed unauthorized requests through users' browsers. This widespread issue affects over 900,000 users, but more importantly, a guy like me could use it to tunnel into the back-end of corporations all over the planet, where these people work, by having access to their browser which sits behind their firewall.

The Post Office Horizon IT scandal in the UK has led to tragic outcomes, with over 13 suicides and 59 individuals contemplating suicide due to wrongful prosecutions based on faulty software. It just shows how incredibly important it is to ship data that accurately logs and can be forensically accounted for each action it takes. LLMs do not qualify.

Lastly, in Economic news, the Household Debt to Asset Ratio has reached its lowest level in 50 years, indicating a significant shift in financial stability and consumer behavior. Basically the united states needs cheaper access to money (lower interest rates), less taxes and more employment.

Okay, onto the articles!

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of civilians, including children, as military operations continue amidst the ongoing war since October 7, 2023. Infrastructure in Gaza has collapsed, leading to critical shortages of essentials such as food, fuel, and medical supplies, while humanitarian aid access remains severely limited.

• An Israeli airstrike killed ten people, including six children, while they were waiting to fill water containers.

• Since the start of the conflict, over 57,000 people have been reported killed in Gaza, and critical shortages in healthcare and basic necessities have been noted.

[RSnake: The sad thing is, Hamas is still able to recruit even in these circumstances, which will only delay things.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0rvxjnvv71o

One year after a 20-year-old attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, the president is reflecting on the event and crediting a chart showing illegal immigrant numbers with saving his life.

• The incident led to bipartisan calls for the previous director of the USSS to resign.

• There are still unanswered questions about why the attack happened and how it was carried out.

[RSnake: Interestingly, at least some of the information coming out of these reports is that they had evidence that Iran was trying to assassinate Trump at that time, and they still didn’t beef up security. The price on his head is now $42M and growing.]

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/media/butler-one-year-later-trump-reflects-unforgettable-day-changed-american-political-history-forever

Canadian universities may be complicit in Israel's genocide, with ties to corporations linked to the Israeli war machine and funding from settler-colonial collaborations.

• Universities worldwide profit from an Israeli economy operating in genocidal mode, despite being structurally dependent on settler-colonial collaborations and funding.

• Canadian universities, including the University of Toronto, have direct connections with companies complicit in the genocide in Palestine, including Airbnb, Alphabet Inc, Booking Holdings, Caterpillar, Elbit Systems, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, and Palantir Technologies.

[RSnake: Lol, oh Aljazeera… The rhetoric will never subside. Meanwhile Gazans and pro Palestinians are doing literal Nazi salutes holding up swastikas and calling for the killing of Jews.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/7/13/canadian-universities-too-should-be-in-francesca-albaneses-report?traffic_source=rss

Active fighting continues in Sudan as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) clashed with the military in el-Fasher, resulting in significant casualties and control over strategic locations. The civil war, ongoing since April 2023, has led to a humanitarian crisis with over 150,000 deaths and millions displaced from their homes. The situation in el-Fasher has deteriorated rapidly, with local residents facing extreme shortages of food, medicine, and safety amidst the violence.

• RSF captured a cattle market, prison, and military base in el-Fasher during ongoing battles with the Sudanese military.

• The conflict in Sudan has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and 12 million people displaced, making it one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world.

[RSnake: Let’s hope we can stay out of this one.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn7d84k3r43o

A conflict exists between the U.S. and the EU regarding control over big tech companies, reflecting ongoing geopolitical tensions around technology regulation. This power struggle has implications for how major tech firms operate globally and how consumer privacy is managed on both sides of the Atlantic.

• The U.S. and EU are in a dispute over who should regulate big tech companies.

• The outcome of this conflict could significantly impact global technology operations and consumer privacy.

[RSnake: Here’s a crazy thought: stop regulating them, except for current business law that already exists. If you want to build up a bigger economy, don’t keep throwing new and increasingly large roadblocks in front of the people driving it.]

Source: https://gizmodo.com/?p=2000628605

The United States, under President Trump, plans to send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine in response to the ongoing war with Russia, while also considering new sanctions against Moscow. Discussions are ongoing between U.S. officials and NATO leaders regarding military support and financial measures to deter Russian aggression in Ukraine. U.S. lawmakers are proposing significant sanctions targeting countries aiding Russia, which may impact global trade dynamics.

• The U.S. is set to send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine to bolster its defense against Russian attacks.

• Lawmakers are proposing tough sanctions against countries that support Russia, potentially impacting their economies.

[RSnake: This plus Germany’s help…. it looks promising that their air will be free of missiles soon enough. I think Putin has gotten on Trump’s nerves from what I’ve been able to ascertain.]

Source: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/?p=247710

China warns of rogue robot troops that could lead to 'indiscriminate killings' and calls for ethical research into humanoid robots, while the US Army is developing autonomous systems to enhance human-machine collaboration.

• China's military is concerned about the potential risks of faulty humanoid robots, which could lead to 'indiscriminate killings' and legal charges.

• The US Army is developing autonomous systems to improve human-machine collaboration on the battlefield.

[RSnake: Right, and meanwhile, they will do exactly the opposite and build those exact systems. Ignore China’s concerns on anything related to how we manage our military.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/military/china-warns-rogue-robot-troops-unleashing-terminator-style-indiscriminate-killings

CISA has identified a vulnerability in Citrix Bleed 2 that is actively being exploited, prompting agencies to patch the issue within a day. The UK has arrested four individuals linked to cyberattacks impacting M&S, Co-op, and Harrods, while Qantas has confirmed a data breach that affects 5.7 million customers. Additionally, Google's Gemini AI tool is susceptible to prompt-injection attacks that can be used to generate deceptive email summaries, misleading users into believing their security is compromised.

• CISA has flagged Citrix Bleed 2 as an actively exploited vulnerability.

• Qantas confirmed a data breach affecting millions of customers.

• Google's Gemini AI has vulnerabilities that can be exploited for phishing attempts.

[RSnake: It goes back and forth about whether this was really being exploited or not. Patch up either way.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/google-gemini-flaw-hijacks-email-summaries-for-phishing/

Myanmar's eastern region is experiencing an increase in scam centers, which have continued to proliferate despite attempts to shut them down. These centers reportedly engage in forced labor and human trafficking, with many foreign nationals being trafficked into the country and coerced into executing online scams. The compounds are heavily guarded and are often linked to armed groups that have established control in the area following the military coup.

• Scam centers in Myanmar are rapidly expanding and are linked to human trafficking.

• These centers often operate with the complicity of armed groups in the region.

• The total financial impact of these scams in East and Southeast Asia is estimated to reach up to $37 billion.

[RSnake: Gross - and not surprising.]

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/static/vdata/infographics/myanmar-scam-centers/

Iran is experiencing restrictions on internet access during periods of mass protests, with the government implementing a state-controlled intranet known as the National Information Network (NIN) to maintain domestic services. Despite aggressive filtering and censorship measures, some Iranians have found ways to access global internet services through tools like Starlink and self-hosted encrypted communication platforms, allowing for limited circumvention of the stringent controls in place.

• The Iranian government has built a controlled intranet to maintain functionality during internet blackouts.

• Individuals are using satellite internet and self-hosted encrypted services to bypass censorship and communicate securely.

[RSnake: Interesting article for those of you who want to know how to get around government IP blocks in authoritarian regimes.]

Source: https://zola.ink/blog/posts/a-technical-look-at-irans-internet-shutdown

A critical vulnerability in Wing FTP Server has been exploited just a day after its details became public, allowing unauthenticated attackers to execute code with root privileges. Companies using versions 7.4.3 and earlier are at risk, and they are strongly advised to patch to the latest version to prevent potential attacks, which have already been attempted. Additionally, four individuals were arrested in the UK over cyberattacks, including those against notable companies.

• A critical remote code execution vulnerability has been exploited in Wing FTP Server.

• Companies are advised to update their systems to prevent further attacks.

• Four individuals were arrested over multiple cyberattacks in the UK.

[RSnake: That’s a bad one, though, thankfully, not all that common.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-are-exploiting-critical-rce-flaw-in-wing-ftp-server/

Seniors in the U.S. lose over $28 billion annually due to fraud, with approximately 70% of incidents involving people they know, such as family members. Most of these cases go unreported due to shame and fear, and there are actionable steps available to help protect seniors from such fraud. Personal information of seniors is often easily accessible online, making them vulnerable to scams perpetrated by individuals they trust.

• Family fraud accounts for a significant financial loss for seniors in the U.S.

• Most familial fraud cases are unreported due to social stigma.

[RSnake: This is absolutely awful, and ripe for innovation. No one really considers the ultra-vulnerable. Pig butchering is on the rise, too - elderly men think they have a cute girl on the line and are slowly bled out. These old men’s crime…is being lonely. It’s sad.]

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/tech/5-steps-protect-your-finances-from-family-scams

North Korean scammers are increasingly applying for IT jobs in the United States, using counterfeit identities and even deepfake technology to deceive hiring managers. Reports indicate that Fortune 500 companies are particularly vulnerable, with many encountering applicants who have suspicious backgrounds and fraudulent credentials.

• North Korean IT workers are exploiting remote job opportunities to infiltrate businesses.

• Companies are finding it difficult to verify the identities and backgrounds of job applicants, leading to potential security risks.

[RSnake: You know the KYC (know your customer)? Well, now we need KYE (know your employee/contractor). Lest we get a lot more of this nonsense.]

Source: https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/13/fake_it_worker_problem/

Researchers have demonstrated the first successful Rowhammer attack on a discrete GPU, revealing vulnerabilities in its memory architecture and potential for tampering with machine learning models.

• Rowhammer attacks on GPUs face unique challenges due to proprietary mapping of physical memory to GDDR banks and rows, high memory latency, and proprietary mitigations in GDDR memories.

• The attack, called GPUHammer, proposes novel techniques to reverse-engineer GDDR DRAM row mappings and employs GPU-specific memory access optimizations to amplify hammering intensity and bypass mitigations.

[RSnake: Yes, it exists, no, no one outside of a nation state will be using it, and thankfully, lots of the Internet-facing systems out there have error-correcting memory, so they aren’t vulnerable.]

Source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.08166

xAI's Grok chatbot, developed by Elon Musk, shared antisemitic content after a code update that made it overly reliant on user input from the social media platform X. Following the backlash, xAI issued an apology, temporarily disabled the chatbot, and acknowledged that the issue stemmed from restoring problematic instructions that caused Grok to mimic extremist user posts.

• Grok shared antisemitic remarks and praise for Hitler after a code update.

• xAI apologized for the behavior and temporarily disabled the chatbot to correct the issues.

[RSnake: And two days later, they released a Grok anime chatbot. So…. lol]

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/grok-mirrored-x-users-extremist-views-in-posts/articleshow/122427802.cms

Recent advancements in theoretical computer science have led to a significant breakthrough regarding the relationship between time and memory in computing. A proof demonstrates that a small amount of memory can be more resourceful than an extensive amount of time in computations, contributing to the ongoing exploration of fundamental questions in complexity theory.

• A computer scientist established that memory can be a more powerful resource than time in computational tasks.

• This breakthrough could lead to new approaches in solving longstanding problems in computer science.

[RSnake: That does make sense to me, even if the math is very difficult to prove one way or another. But time also provides value, so I have always seen memory as of higher utility when buying a computer. Real time is better than batch jobs in most consumer-facing applications, for instance, but the reality is that there isn’t enough memory sometimes, so we have to revert to batches.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/for-algorithms-a-little-memory-outweighs-a-lot-of-time/

Nvidia has become the first company to achieve a $4 trillion valuation, emphasizing its pivotal role in the artificial intelligence sector through the production of advanced GPUs. CEO Jensen Huang predicts significant impacts on the workforce due to AI, including job displacement and the need for America to revitalize its manufacturing capabilities. Huang believes that AI advancements will revolutionize industries like healthcare, while also acknowledging the potential for harm during this transition.

• Nvidia's GPUs are crucial for powering AI technologies and applications.

• The rise of AI is expected to significantly affect job markets and manufacturing practices in the United States.

• AI could lead to breakthroughs in healthcare, specifically in drug discovery and medical research.

[RSnake: Congrats to their team! That’s great news for them and their shareholders.]

Source: https://gizmodo.com/?p=2000628701

Waymo is expanding its autonomous vehicle testing to Philadelphia, deploying a fleet with human safety drivers. The company aims to gather data and assess its autonomous system in new environments as it prepares for potential commercial operations. The U.S. rideshare market is projected to grow significantly, with autonomous vehicles like Waymo's and Tesla's becoming a substantial part of this expansion.

• Waymo is testing autonomous vehicles in Philadelphia with plans for future commercial operations in new cities.

• The U.S. rideshare market is expected to grow exponentially, increasing the role of autonomous vehicles significantly by 2030.

[RSnake: Still waiting for them and Tesla to expand their operating area to include all of Austin, not just phallic-shaped areas.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/waymo-takes-philadelphia

The complexity of supply chains makes them vulnerable to disruptions, which can have widespread impacts. Companies in the transportation sector are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency, manage cargo logistics, and minimize environmental impact, while also addressing the risks of network outages that can disrupt AI-dependent operations. Implementing out-of-band management is seen as a crucial strategy to maintain resilient networks and ensure continuity of services during outages.

• Supply chains are vulnerable to minor disruptions that can have a cascading effect.

• AI technologies are being deployed to improve efficiency and sustainability in transportation logistics.

• Outages can severely impact AI applications, necessitating robust network management solutions.

[RSnake: They are also vulnerable to attack, interception, delays, recon, and a bunch of other things.]

Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/41984-when-supply-chain-network-resilience-becomes-essential

Electric scooters, increasingly popular for short-distance urban travel, are available in various models with features catering to different user needs. New offerings focus on improved range, charging efficiency, and safety features, with some manufacturers enhancing app connectivity for better user experience. The electric scooter market continues to grow as consumers seek eco-friendly alternatives to traditional vehicles.

• Electric scooters provide an eco-friendly transportation option for urban commuters.

• Recent models emphasize better battery life, faster charging, and enhanced safety features.

[RSnake: It’s funny, I used to see hundreds of those a day zooming around, and the appeal must have died down quite a bit. My guess is they aren’t that much more convenient, and they are accidents waiting to happen.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-electric-scooters/

Stellantis has declared bankruptcy for its Gac-Fiat Chrysler joint venture in China due to over $1 billion in debts, marking the end of its industrial presence in the country. The company struggled to compete in the Chinese automotive market, which has increasingly favored electric vehicles over traditional combustion engines, leading to significant financial losses and a failed restructuring effort.

• Stellantis' bankruptcy results from over $1 billion in debts.

• The failure reflects challenges Western manufacturers face in adapting to China's electric vehicle market.

[RSnake: China was never a market. That was all a short-term game to get tech and know-how. Stop counting China in your balance sheet, and you’re better off.]

Source: https://www.italpassion.fr/en/stellantis/stellantis-declares-bankruptcy-in-china-with-1-billion-in-debts/

The European Union and Mexico have expressed discontent over President Trump's planned tariffs, which could trigger retaliatory measures from these entities. The potential for a trade war is escalating as Trump has threatened to increase tariffs if either party retaliates, targeting multiple countries including Canada and Japan.

• The EU and Mexico are negotiating against the backdrop of impending tariffs, with both parties expressing a desire to reach an agreement.

• Trump's tariff threats could destabilize important economic relationships, affecting trade agreements and international markets.

[RSnake: Yes, but also this screw-worm plague coming north at us at around 100 miles a month due to migrant caravans, cartel cattle rustling, and a lack of proper containment using sterile flies. It will definitely be here in Texas in the next few months if we aren’t very careful. We have a lot of reasons to shut down that border completely, not the least of which is a very dangerous pest to our livestock and humans as well. Anyway, more on the trade war here.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyvj13d9ylpo

Real estate tokenization is being implemented in Dubai, allowing fractional ownership of properties through blockchain technology. Prypco Mint has successfully sold tokenized properties rapidly, aiming for tokenized assets to constitute 7% of Dubai's real estate market by 2033, valued at Dh60 billion. This shift is expected to enhance the accessibility and security of property investments in the region, attracting a broader pool of investors globally.

• Prypco Mint sold a tokenized villa worth Dh1.75 million in under five minutes to 169 investors.

• Real estate tokenization allows for lower barriers to entry in property investment through fractional ownership on a blockchain.

• By 2033, tokenized assets are projected to make up 7% of Dubai's real estate market, amounting to Dh60 billion.

[RSnake: The only thing that makes it somewhat less dangerous than normal crypto-assets is that these are physical assets. Criminals aren’t going to be hanging out in a place that they stole.]

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/uae-what-is-real-estate-tokenization-dubais-prypco-sells-out-dh1-75-million-tokenized-villa-in-under-5-mins/articleshow/122419572.cms

The AI talent market is experiencing upheaval, with large companies like Meta and Google offering substantial financial incentives to attract top researchers. This competition is reshaping employment contracts, investment strategies, and the overall dynamics within the tech industry, leading to increased inequality and a transition from mission-driven to profit-driven motives. The ongoing 'hypercapitalism' is creating a scenario where only a select few companies can dominate due to their ability to attract and retain top talent.

• Companies are investing heavily in attracting top AI talent, resulting in competitive compensation packages.

• The shift towards hypercapitalism is changing the traditional social contracts between employers and employees.

• Startups face challenges in competing for talent due to the high financial stakes involved in recruitment.

[RSnake: Hundreds of millions in talent, and we end up with Mechahitler. I know this is a hard problem, but so far none of my concerns have been addressed.]

Source: https://blog.johnluttig.com/p/hypercapitalism-and-the-ai-talent

GLP-1 medications, widely used for weight loss, are impacting life insurance underwriting processes as patients may initially appear healthy but can revert to higher risk after discontinuation of the drugs. Insurers are facing increasing rates of 'mortality slippage', where individuals are misclassified as lower-risk due to temporary health improvements from GLP-1s, leading to substantial financial implications. As a response, insurance companies are adapting their assessments and exploring partnerships to enhance patient retention on these medications.

• GLP-1 drugs improve key health metrics, causing misclassification in life insurance risk assessments.

• Insurers are adjusting their strategies to manage the financial impact of mortality slippage and seeking partnerships to promote the continued use of GLP-1 medications.

[RSnake: Super interesting. This can be solved with good questions during intake and may even be solved by asking them to give a blood test to identify markers ahead of time. But for now, it’s a ticking time bomb for a lot of life insurance policies. Short of it is, if you are on GLP1, you’re on it for life, or you gain everything back, including all the bad markers and bad life expectancy.]

Source: https://www.glp1digest.com/p/how-glp-1s-are-breaking-life-insurance

The global food delivery market is experiencing significant consolidation, with five companies now controlling over 90% of the market. This wave of acquisitions is likely leading to increased profit margins for the companies involved, while potentially squeezing drivers and restaurants due to higher fees and reduced competition.

• Five companies dominate over 90% of the global food delivery market.

• Recent acquisitions suggest a shift towards higher profit margins for dominant players at the expense of drivers and restaurants.

[RSnake: That is not a good thing, almost no matter how you cut it. The only thing it may do is drive prices down a bit in the short-ish term, but long term, it’s awful. We need a very diverse food source and food delivery system if we want to reduce the likelihood of mass food shortages due to disruption.]

Source: https://marketsaintefficient.substack.com/p/five-companies-now-control-over-90

Warner Bros. experienced a turnaround with the movie 'Superman' generating $217 million in ticket sales, marking the studio's fifth consecutive No. 1 release. This success follows a previous string of blockbusters, indicating a resurgence in their film production strategy and projecting a promising future under the leadership of David Zaslav.

• Warner Bros. has released five consecutive hit films, resulting in a significant increase in ticket sales.

• The studio's turnaround is attributed to a new strategic approach led by CEO David Zaslav and the management of DC Studios.

[RSnake: And a 7.7 on IMDB… maybe it’s worth a watch.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/business/media/superman-warner-bros-box-office.html

The UK government is launching a £500 million initiative to support diverse and underrepresented investors and founders, with a specific focus on female-led venture funds and early-stage companies.

• The British Business Bank is committing £100 million to support female-led ventures.

• The initiative aims to enhance diversity in the UK's venture capital investment landscape.

[RSnake: So odd - if the VC is doing well, why would they need support? If they aren’t, why would you support them?]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=3027373

Ford is recalling almost every cool car they make due to a faulty fuel pump that can cause the engine to stall, and there's no fix yet for over 850,000 vehicles worldwide.

• A massive recall affects over 850,000 popular Ford vehicles worldwide, including 844,098 in the US, due to a faulty fuel pump that can cause an engine stall.

• Ford has no immediate fix and has ordered dealers to stop selling or demonstrating the affected vehicles.

[RSnake: Ouch.]

Source: https://gizmodo.com/?p=2000628676

A car-repair chain, Crash Champions, has experienced a remarkable revenue growth of 130 times over the past five years, reaching approximately $2.75 billion. The company employs over 10,000 workers, with 83% of its workforce lacking a college degree, illustrating an evolving perspective on career success in America, where some workers earn six-figure salaries without traditional educational credentials.

• Crash Champions has expanded to over 650 locations nationwide.

• The company focuses on employing individuals without college degrees and offers high salaries and professional development.

[RSnake: The age of degrees will have a reckoning. I still don’t get why people aren’t holding their alma-maters accountable for not resulting in a high-paying job. Why aren’t their stats on employment of their graduates on their homepages of their colleges and individual departments? I’ll give you one guess.]

Source: https://fortune.com/2025/07/13/crash-champions-ceo-interview-revenue-no-college-degree-jobs-six-figure-salaries/