RSnake Report 20260711

Russian dark fleet attacked, Chinese space orbiter, etc

July 11, 2026

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Geopolitics
Cybersecurity
Technology
Business

Hello, and thanks for reading! Nice quiet week on the home front as we move towards general availability of Root Evidence. I am prepping for a lot of things at Black Hat next month. First, I'm moderating a panel with Katherine Kuehn, J. Michael Daniel, and Katie Moussouris on what is going on with the CVE ecosystem, where funding is going to come from, and what it's going to look like. Interestingly enough, I got in touch with MITRE, and they're going to be giving me some good behind-the-scenes info prior to the talk, so that should be good.

Then I'm bouncing over to the Investor and Innovator's Summit. Registration is still open for that if you want to join (message me on LinkedIn if you want a $500 off coupon). I'm moderating a panel there on how AI is destroying the corporate moat and what the moat of the future looks like with Zach Yarmolovich, Robby (Amanda Robson), and Rishi Bhargava.

Then on Tuesday I'm over at the Zywave booth doing a presentation on how we can and should be moving to a claims-informed version of cybersecurity. If you want to see some of the data we are collecting at Root Evidence, this is a good opportunity. Lastly, Jeremiah Grossman and I are doing a book signing at the Nucleus Software booth with a new book called "The End of Guessing," which is about how external attack surface management and vulnerability management have failed to deliver on their promises and how to build them better. Spoiler is that it involves actuarial and loss data. That book should be available on Amazon in a few weeks. So, I am going to be a busy boy leading up to and including mid-August. 😅

In Russia/Ukraine News, Russian forces conducted a fourth large-scale missile and drone strike against Ukraine on the night of July 5 to 6. The attack targeted Kyiv and caused dozens of civilian casualties, though on the grand scale of things it wasn't that noticeable compared to previous large barrages. Inserted media

It was mostly attempting to attack front-line positions, though that does not seem to have done much. I think the right way to frame this is that while Russia is still grinding out some pitiful and barely measurable additional territorial gains that can only be measured in kilometers at a time, it's losing far more in other areas of its economy and population than it is gaining in land. Of course, if the lines froze where they were today, it would be a net large gain for Russia, so they can still eke out a win if they stop right here and right now, but the losses to the economy are steep. Inserted media

For instance, Muscovites have lost cell service, have struggled to use ATMs, are fuel-rationed, and are watching drone attacks out their window. That is causing a palpable shift amongst even the staunch Putin mil bloggers about how the war is going. Even outside of Putin's palace in Gelendzhik, there are insanely long queues for gas, where, if you watch carefully, you can see people out of their cars along the side of the road. It's no longer going to be safe for Putin to travel if the local population continues to live under this situation. Putin's job approval rating is dropping visibly, by 4% in a single week.

A residential building in the Podilskyi district was hit directly. Russian forces reduced the number of ballistic missiles in strike packages and timed the attack ahead of the NATO summit in Turkey. These kinds of scenes serve no strategic use, but given that Russia's guidance systems tend to be somewhat suspect, it's not even clear what the target may have been.

More strategically, the BRSM-Nafta oil depot in Pereiaslavske, near Kyiv, was hit. This might start signaling a copycat strategy against Ukrainian oil and gas supply lines. Inserted media

Russian forces struck a Ukrainian S-300 surface-to-air missile plant in Kyiv, producing massive secondary detonations. That will really hurt air defenses because S-300 is one of the main air defense platforms. Inserted media

Also, there has been a big uptick in attacks on wheat fields, using incendiary bombs to burn the crops, though it does not appear to be having a meaningful impact on wheat prices in Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces struck the largest oil refinery in Russia more than 2,500 kilometers from the border.

If Omsk is vulnerable, that also means the main oil fields themselves are in range, which are even more sparsely defended than the refineries. Inserted media

Additional strikes hit an oil depot in Tver.

And the Pervy Zavod refinery in Tovarkovo was hit.

Ukrainian drones also struck an oil depot and electrical substations in Belgorod, cutting power, water, and gas to the city and damaging a natural gas pipeline that carries 6 billion cubic meters per year. Belgorod has no electricity, no water, and no gas. Inserted media

Belgorod's gas pipeline was hit as well, which certainly isn't helping anything for the Russians there. Inserted media

Ukrainian forces attacked a huge number of Russian shadow fleet vessels in the Sea of Azov in their largest maritime drone operation to date. the preceding four days, Ukrainian drones damaged or destroyed 49 Russian vessels. Russia suspended new vessel transit applications through the Kerch Strait and halted navigation on the Don-Azov Canal. This was at least partially caused by the fact that these merchant ships had no naval support to speak of. Inserted media

The scale of these oil disasters is enormous, by the way. We thought the Exxon disaster in the Arctic was bad... this is happening on almost a daily basis now. 76 vessels were supposedly hit. That's a lot of debris and oil. Inserted media

Things are so bad, people are starting to see fully abandoned cargo vessels floating around in the Sea of Azov, clearly burnt out and heavily damaged with no crew in sight. Inserted media

Ukrainian forces also struck a Kalmiuske training ground, drone command posts in Belgorod and Zaporizhzhia, and troop concentrations in Horlivka and Kursk. Ukrainian F-16s shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet over an air battle involving three F-16s that received target designation from a Patriot radar. The Russian pilot ejected and survived. This really isn't supposed to happen. F-16s are not supposed to win against Su-35s with vectored thrust, but the missile and targeting system is the thing that really won here.

A 15-inch FPV drone from Ukrainian company Vyriy completed a record 110-kilometer flight carrying an 800-gram shaped-charge warhead. I was having a conversation with some friends about this, where the new Ukrainian strategy is to jump out of the way at the last minute. Besides a huge conventional detonation going off at your unarmored feet not being a good idea, that is quickly becoming no longer an option anyway. As we saw a month or so ago, these shaped charges are getting a lot more use because they use less explosives and do more damage, and you're not "getting out of the way" of them because they fire from pretty sizable distances from the target and blow right through traditional armor. The only thing you need is a very specifically shaped container, which is actually fairly easy to fabricate. Nasty. Inserted media

There was one interesting video that I saw of a drone complex getting hit by an aerial drone, and being filmed by a different aerial drone. What a crazy new type of warfare we are now seeing. Inserted media

Drone losses are still enormous, but the vehicle losses are also still incredibly high. I think that is the real barometer of how logistics are going. Interestingly, the updated stats didn't include that Su-35 loss. Inserted media

Russian frontline soldiers reported starving due to Ukrainian drone and artillery strikes that block food deliveries. Some soldiers are deliberately starving themselves to obtain medical evacuation. 👎 Also, as if to add insult to injury, the 10k rubles bonus veterans were promised will no longer be paid out because it's no longer in the budget. Inserted media

Also in Crimea it is the busy season, and some video that just came out shows that one of the sea side resorts is totally empty. In the video there is less than a dozen people visible at the water's edge. That's going to kill a lot of the local economy for a long time to come. The businesses shutter, the people working there can no longer afford to live there as a result, and the businesses the locals use shutter, and it's a nasty domino effect. Inserted media

There was an interesting book that someone surfaced that I think explains a lot of the situation. It's "Russian Peasants," and they did not understand the difference between "this is what we do" and "this is what is right, and all should have to do." That is distinct from the Western world, and allows for authoritarianism. But there was another bit of interesting analysis where the Russians think that these shortages are government corruption related, and not the war. So the Russians are in a weird situation where they could show the videos to explain it wasn't corruption, but that would tip the public off and stir up panic. What a mess they have made.

In European News Poland signed contract with Anduril to establish assembly production lines for Barruda 500 cruise missiles with ranges of 700 kilometers from land and over 900 kilometers from aircraft. Inserted media

Canada selected German shipbuilder TKMS for a potential order of up to 12 submarines, which should be the largest procurement in Canadian history. It currently has something like four deemed operational, but probably only one in good condition and in use. Inserted media

There is some concern about what may happen to the US if it distances itself from NATO further. Specifically, the United States maintains Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base in Spain, which provide critical air, maritime, and logistics support that may become inaccessible to the United States.

In Southeast Asia, China successfully landed an orbital reusable booster at sea for the first time. The Long March 10 booster returned and was recovered by ship using a dynamic cable catch system that allows the tower to adjust position while the booster hovers. Inserted media

The video was pretty difficult to watch due to the resolution, but it looks like it used four long cables that move towards the vehicle no matter what position or orientation it finds itself in, which eliminates the need for complex landing legs and the associated weight. You can see an example of how this might work here. Inserted media

An example of the schematics is that it moves between the cables that race to the correct position, not too dissimilar from the arms on the SpaceX arms. However, there was a lot of back and forth about this about the benefits of either. People seem to think this really comes down to survivability and cost. These platforms are enormous and complex, compared to the landers with legs, which just need a large empty pad, which is far simpler to build and repair if catastrophe strikes. So it's not clear which method is better, but I suspect this really comes down to the fact that the Chinese could not get the lander legs to work, so this is a nice way to continue development without having to get that step working properly. Inserted media

Senator Mitch McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, during his hospitalization, went to China. She is apparently very good friends with one of the highest-ranking Chinese officials. Why? Upon her return, she claimed it was due to some philanthropy, but that seems like a very odd trip to make when your husband is in a hospital. There are a lot of very weird things about this particular case, but he is still hospitalized.

The United States, Japan, and South Korea signed a pact to accelerate development of small modular nuclear reactors. This will be the way that many of these nations deal with rising uncertainty in the oil market and increasing need for power due to AI and manufacturing as well. Inserted media

In Middle East News, Iranian forces attacked commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, striking at least two ships and setting one LNG tanker ablaze. IRGC boats diverted vessels from the Omani corridor toward Iranian-approved routes. Tanker crossings through the strait not recovered. Though confusingly, Iran is expected to announce free passage for commercial shipping through the strait in the coming days or face expanded U.S. strikes. Perhaps more negotiation fodder? Inserted media

The United States struck two railway bridges in northern Iran and additional rail infrastructure in Golestan Province with cruise missiles. Inserted media

Bushehr province was also hit by the US. Inserted media

Iranian forces launched retaliation strikes using medium- and short-range ballistic missiles against U.S. bases in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait. At least one missile struck the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. Kuwaiti air defenses intercepted incoming attacks, and authorities warned residents to avoid shrapnel sites. Inserted media

Iranian officials vowed retaliation for U.S. strikes and the local population has been putting up banners about killing Trump, Vance and Netanyahu as well with a price tag of $100M. Inserted media

Apparently, the turnout may have been far smaller at the funeral processions than was originally shown in footage. Mossad put out an alternative set of photos that may (or may not) prove that he had a lot less support than was originally broadcast by state media amongst the general population. Inserted media

A parliament spokesperson said Iranians would deliver a “hard slap” in response. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei stated that revenge for his father’s death is the will of the people and will be fulfilled. Iranian eulogists at Khamenei’s funeral called for the assassination of President Trump. Inserted media

I'd say things are going great! 🤣 Inserted media

The Strait, meanwhile, is pretty much still closed. Inserted media

Over to the west, Israeli artillery struck Dir Siryan and Al-Qantara in southern Lebanon, so clearly the ceasefire MOU is over for the time being. Inserted media

In South of the Border news, Cuba experienced a nationwide power failure due to the collapse of the electrical grid. The outage follows seven nationwide blackouts in the past 18 months, with frequent scheduled and unscheduled cuts occurring daily. Cellphone and internet service were also disrupted.

Mexican Army and State Police entered communities in the Sierra de Coyuca de Catalán after residents reported more than 100 drone-dropped explosive devices over two days. No casualties were reported, but residents sheltered in clinics and churches. Communities remain isolated without food resupply while drones continue to fly overhead. Residents stated they will not abandon their territory. Inserted media

There is a pretty telling photo of a sicario from La Nueva Familia Michoacana utilizing a counter UAS jamming backpack. That means that the military is going to have to switch to things like fiber optic drones when combating the cartels. Woof. Inserted media

In North America News, the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve sits approximately 19 million barrels above estimated minimum operating levels. Inserted media

Some might say that the next largest threshold is actually around 250M barrels, so a bit south of where we are now. Inserted media

The 3-2-1 crack spread reached $65 per barrel. Inserted media

For those who aren't familiar with this term, it's a price to refine vs price to sell delta calculation, and the larger the spread, the more valuable it is to produce and refine crude into usable gas. And right now it's all hands on deck to produce and refine.

Meanwhile, on the flip side, datacenter construction growth is slowing. This is clearly a big change from just a year ago. It's not that the total capacity is shrinking, but the velocity is slowing while AI utilization is increasing, which will drive up token cost because compute will not be able to keep up with a dwindling capacity-per-token. There are regulations in place, a lack of qualified electricians, and a bunch of other things that might be interfering here. Inserted media

In Tech News, Apple sued OpenAI, alleging that OpenAI’s hardware chief directed Apple employees to bring confidential hardware components to job interviews and circulated internal offboarding documents to evade exit security. One departing engineer retained an Apple laptop and downloaded dozens of confidential files after joining OpenAI. Over 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI. That is a lot! Apple seeks an injunction barring use of the information and full discovery into OpenAI’s upcoming device. They are currently partners too with regard to Apple Intelligence/Siri, which I am sure could put a strain on that relationship.

I saw a really good video on how the idea of local models is highly flawed, not because it's a bad idea necessarily, but because the models simply won't run on hardware that the general public can afford. I highly recommend the video if you are in the camp of local models for solving data sovereignty issues for anything outside enterprise-priced models.

I also saw a new malware anti-AI forensic technique where references to CSAM are used to prevent the AI from analyzing it. I am not sure this will have the effect that the malware authors predict, because it's not like AI won't phone a friend, like the FBI. On the flip side, a lot of random resources are going to be diverted to investigating innocent people who have no interest in CSAM but do have the malware. 👎 Inserted media

Anthropic released five workshops totaling three hours on building self-improving agentic systems with Claude, covering initial agent deployment, tool and skill development, memory systems, proactive agents, and full autonomy. This might enable people to let their systems self-improve and become sufficiently better at optimizing their workflows beyond what they currently believe is possible. Inserted media

Okay, onto the articles!

Geopolitics

An espionage ring involving members of Italy's intelligence services were allegedly gathering information on Western air defense systems provided to Ukraine. Key figures include a Russian military officer and a former Italian intelligence official, with reports detailing payments for classified information related to military equipment and defense strategies.

An alleged Russian espionage operation in Italy aimed to gather intelligence on air defense systems sent to Ukraine.
Two former Italian intelligence officials were arrested for providing sensitive information in exchange for cash from a Russian military attaché.

[RSnake: Typical spycraft. This is happening all over the world. Russia is really good at this exact kind of operation - HUMINT.]

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/07/10/italy-busts-russian-spy-ring-collecting-data-on-ukrainian-air-defense-vulnerabilities/

Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated as President Trump has threatened severe military action against Iran if they attempt to harm him. The U.S. military has missiles on standby aimed at Iran, coinciding with criticism from Iran regarding the U.S.'s failure to adhere to an interim agreement.

President Trump has indicated readiness for potential military strikes against Iran.
Iran's Foreign Minister has condemned the U.S. for not fulfilling its commitments in a previous agreement.

[RSnake: Really, this whole thing just needs to stay on hold or go back to a peacetime stance until at least November due to the midterm elections. Iran knows this and has a hand to play, but the closer it gets to November, the worse that hand gets. But right now it has a relatively strong hand to play in reducing the oil flow to the world, driving up costs to the average American. The other day I paid over $100 to fill my tank for the very first time. I hear others complaining. It's not awful yet, but it could easily become a massive wedge issue.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/7/11/iran-war-live-us-demands-iran-publicly-state-strait-of-hormuz-open-for-all?traffic_source=rss

Eight suspects have been indicted for their alleged conspiracy to carry out an attack during a UFC event at the White House, using drones and snipers to target high-profile political figures. The Justice Department claims these individuals had organized a structured plan with roles assigned, and could face life imprisonment if convicted.

The suspects planned to use drones to create a diversion and attack attendees at a White House event.
Charges include conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder of federal officials.

[RSnake: I suspected this group would start talking. These are not hardened criminals. Their worst day is losing a video game. They're going to flip on each other the first chance they get.]

Source: https://abcnews.com/US/total-8-suspects-now-indicted-alleged-plot-attack/story?id=134638906

On July 10, 2023, Russian attacks in Donetsk Oblast resulted in the deaths of seven civilians and injuries to 21 others across multiple locations. The assaults included strikes on residential areas and infrastructure in the region, further escalating the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Seven civilians were killed in Russian attacks in Donetsk Oblast on July 10.
A total of 21 people were injured in various locations due to the strikes.

[RSnake: Again, I think this is short-sighted, and only makes Russia look like the bad guys for no upside to the local populace.]

Source: https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/07/11/8043542/

The killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint U.S.-Israeli operation has led to an escalation of threats against U.S. President Donald Trump and other prominent figures. Following Khamenei's death, Iran organized large funeral ceremonies where attendees displayed violent rhetoric and the regime vowed retaliation, amid rising hostilities between Iran and the United States, including military exchanges in the region.

Khamenei's assassination by U.S. and Israeli forces marks a significant shift in Iranian leadership.
The funeral showcased public threats against Trump, reflecting heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S.

[RSnake: I'm not sure how the Iranian regime can walk this back.] I think they're asking to be killed, because there is no way to salvage this during peace negotiations.]

Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/khameneis-funeral-mourners-send-threatening-message-to-america

South Korea is negotiating a historic defense procurement agreement with NATO, which, if finalized, would mark the first such deal between NATO and any country in its 77-year history. This agreement would facilitate South Korean defense companies' access to NATO’s $9.9 billion joint procurement market and align their defense standards with NATO's requirements, reflecting South Korea's rapid growth as a significant player in the global defense sector.

South Korea is set to become the first country to negotiate a defense procurement agreement with NATO.
The agreement is expected to enhance South Korean companies' access to NATO's significant defense market and standardization efforts.

[RSnake: That would definitely put North Korea in a position where it would seriously think about whether it wanted to go after South Korea, even beyond the US bases there.]

Source: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/?p=296737

Cybersecurity

Cyberattacks on the healthcare sector have seen a notable increase in 2026, particularly against service providers, with a 35% rise in attacks compared to the second half of 2025. Ransomware incidents, which disrupt services and can lead to severe patient care consequences, continue to threaten healthcare organizations as attackers exploit vulnerabilities in systems and third-party vendors.

Healthcare businesses experienced a 110% increase in cyberattacks compared to the same period the previous year.
Cybercriminals target healthcare providers due to their vulnerability and the potential for high ransom payouts.

[RSnake: These are pretty nasty attacks, and they really do need to pay out, because the patient's health is too critical not to pay out. Therefore, they are pretty juicy targets.]

Source: https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/cybercriminals-healthcare-businesses-attacks-surge

Nine vulnerabilities have been discovered in an ATM and corporate security program, which could potentially allow attackers to steal cash. The ATM manufacturer Diebold Nixdorf disputes the significance of the findings, claiming they are not directly applicable to their systems, although some vulnerabilities may have a theoretical impact. This situation raises questions about the security of ATM software and the reliance on third-party encryption tools like CryptoPro Secure Disk.

Nine vulnerabilities were found in an ATM security program, leading to potential risks of cash theft.
Diebold Nixdorf argues that the findings are not relevant to their ATMs, while acknowledging that some vulnerabilities might theoretically apply.

[RSnake: Sadly, I am aware of a LOT more than 9 that have previously affected ATMs and probably still do. One of my hacker friends refers to it as a "retirement plan" if things go south in his day job. Yep. You're probably just as horrified as I am.]

Source: https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/atm-crypto-software-bugs-jackpot-bust

Countries are increasingly implementing laws to restrict social media use among minors, with Australia, Canada, and the UK all introducing legislation aimed at protecting children online. These laws face challenges in enforcement and compliance from tech companies, as they seek to balance user retention with legal requirements over age verification and data privacy. As various nations experiment with different regulations, the need for effective solutions for age verification and user data management continues to grow.

Countries like Australia, Canada, and the UK have enacted laws to limit social media access for minors.
Tech companies are struggling to comply with these regulations while maintaining user satisfaction and privacy.

[RSnake: Obviously, censorship is a bad thing, but I do think minors should be off social media entirely. It's a cesspool.]

Source: https://www.darkreading.com/cyber-risk/more-countries-jump-on-the-social-media-ban-wagon

Three former employees of a cybersecurity firm were sentenced for their involvement in BlackCat ransomware attacks, which targeted various U.S. companies and extorted millions in ransom. These individuals facilitated ransomware negotiations, shared sensitive information, and received significant payments in return for their cooperation with cybercriminals. The attacks resulted in considerable financial losses for victims across multiple sectors, including financial services and healthcare.

Three former employees of DigitalMint were sentenced for participating in BlackCat ransomware attacks.
The cybercriminals extorted millions from various U.S. organizations by encrypting data and demanding ransom payments.

[RSnake: I discussed this issue previously. This is a pretty nasty new-ish trend of companies having employees paid a pittance to hand over data to malware groups. In larger companies this is nearly impossible to stop, because there is no loyalty and sociopathy is high enough that people will do whatever they can for a few extra bucks.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/us-ransomware-negotiator-gets-4-years-in-prison-for-blackcat-attacks/

In recent developments related to web security, the focus has been on the vulnerabilities related to storing authentication tokens. Current best practices emphasize using HTTPOnly cookies to safeguard tokens against cross-site scripting attacks and limiting their exposure, while new technologies like device-bound session credentials aim to enhance session security further.

Storing authentication tokens securely is critical due to various web vulnerabilities, particularly cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.
The adoption of HTTPOnly cookies for token storage and the introduction of device-bound session credentials represent significant improvements in web security.

[RSnake: A bit of a blast from the past here. HTTPOnly and secure flags on cookies are a really good practice. Bonus points if you don't make the path "/" but something more specific so not every page has access to them. That said, there really are no losses on custom-built web apps these days. It's not like it used to be.]

Source: https://neciudan.dev/most-secure-way-to-store-auth-token

A vulnerability, named GhostLock (CVE-2026-43499), exists in the Linux kernel affecting all major distributions, allowing unprivileged local attackers to escalate privileges and potentially escape containers. This issue has persisted for over 15 years and has only recently been patched in Linux version 7.1. Exploiting this vulnerability does not require special kernel configurations or privileges, making it a significant concern for system security.

GhostLock is a critical privilege escalation vulnerability affecting all Linux distributions.
The issue has existed for over 15 years and was patched in Linux version 7.1.
Exploitation of this vulnerability allows unprivileged local attackers to gain root access.

[RSnake: It's old, very old, but not currently being exploited according to VulnCheck. It makes you wonder, why, doesn't it?]

Source: https://nebusec.ai/research/ionstack-part-2/

Technology

SpaceX has filed with the FCC to launch 100,000 additional Starlink satellites, aiming to greatly enhance internet bandwidth and coverage, particularly for rural areas. This expansion, if approved, could position Starlink as the dominant provider in satellite internet, despite concerns from competitors and astronomers about potential interference and the impact on astronomical observations.

SpaceX plans to deploy 100,000 new Starlink satellites for increased internet bandwidth.
The new satellites could redefine satellite broadband services, especially for rural customers.
Concerns have been raised about potential interference with other services and the impact on astronomy.

[RSnake: They are building a new system to launch one new rocket once an hour, every hour, indefinitely. A pretty wild concept.]

Source: https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/networking/spacex-wants-to-launch-100000-more-starlink-satellites/

Moss has developed a real-time semantic search layer for conversational AI, aiming to address the latency issues in retrieval infrastructure that can disrupt AI interactions. The service is currently operational in over 100 countries and processes millions of voice minutes for various enterprises. Moss is seeking to hire a Senior or Staff SDK Engineer to lead the development and improvement of their software development kits across multiple programming languages and platforms.

The company operates globally, serving enterprise customers and handling significant voice processing workloads.
There is a current job opening for a Senior or Staff SDK Engineer to enhance the usability and performance of Moss's developer tools.

[RSnake: That is one of the things we really have not solved: time-series and unique data fed into LLMs in real-time. It's going to take some work before that's the case. Right now the solution is to carry along all the data in a single prompt, and that's not at all a tenable long-term solution.]

Source: https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/moss/jobs/52LnqLQ-software-engineer-sdk

A new AI research tool called Sixtyfour is being developed to improve the reliability and accuracy of AI outputs by implementing rigorous evaluation systems that grade the agents' performance against known answers. This approach emphasizes the importance of verifiable sourcing and deep investigative methods to ensure that AI can answer complex queries correctly, rather than just producing plausible-sounding responses. The system not only learns from previous investigations but also aims to outperform traditional human investigative methods by continuously refining its benchmarks.

Sixtyfour uses a grading system to evaluate AI performance and ensure only reliable information is delivered.
The tool combines live web research, public records, and proprietary data to verify claims, improving the quality of AI-generated answers.

[RSnake: There are many such synthetic grading systems. Oddly, they do seem to work okay, but I liken it to system-2 level thinking where you slow down and ask "wait, did I do that right, I had better check my sources" instead of one-shotting your answer.]

Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/the-eval-stack-proving-the-agents-are-right-instead-of-claiming-it

The United States is developing nuclear waste-powered drones capable of flying for over 30 years without refueling. This technology, known as the 'Rads to Watts' program, aims to convert nuclear waste into high-density electrical power for military applications and potentially other uses. The program is being led by DARPA and involves collaboration with various research institutions and companies.

The U.S. is creating drones that harness nuclear waste for long-term power.
This technology could revolutionize military operations and drone capabilities.

[RSnake: It's not exactly clear what they mean by nuclear waste, but likely spent fuel rods that still have some ability to turn a turbine but less efficiently than they used to.]

Source: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/?p=296684

Palo Alto Networks CEO has called for a drastic reduction in artificial intelligence token prices, suggesting they need to drop by 90% to enable broader enterprise adoption. This sentiment is echoed by various other tech executives facing increased costs associated with AI models, prompting an ongoing price war among leading AI firms such as OpenAI and Meta, which are launching new models with varying pricing structures. Simultaneously, major tech companies continue to invest heavily in AI infrastructure despite concerns over sustainability and profitability.

Palo Alto Networks CEO demands a 90% price reduction in AI token costs.
Companies like OpenAI and Meta are in a competitive pricing war to retain enterprise customers.
Heavy investments in AI infrastructure by tech giants suggest a significant industry focus despite profitability concerns.

[RSnake: Sure and yes, I mean I could say 99% too. The odd thing is this has already happened; it's just that people don't like the old models compared to the newer models.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/ai/token-revolt-goes-mainstream-palo-alto-ceo-demands-90-ai-price-collapse-meta-and-openai-reach

Business

New York City has implemented a rule banning deceptive subscriptions and requires transparent pricing for all goods and services, starting in October 2026. This legislation aims to combat 'junk fees' and protect consumers from hidden charges in various sectors, including housing and entertainment. The proposed measures are part of broader efforts by city officials to address affordability and corporate malpractice.

New York City is banning deceptive subscription practices and imposing fines for companies that don't simplify cancellation processes.
The city is targeting hidden fees in pricing for rentals and services to promote transparency for consumers.

[RSnake: This will be welcomed by the average person. But there is a lot of other policies happening in NYC that the average person doesn't realize will likely be wildly bad for the local economy.]

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/10/new-york-city-deceptive-subscriptions-ban

Volkswagen is implementing cuts to its model lineup and production capacity in response to financial difficulties and increased competition, particularly from Chinese manufacturers. The company plans to reduce its model offerings by up to half and production to nine million vehicles annually, but has not confirmed details regarding potential job cuts, leading to protests and tensions with labor unions.

Volkswagen will cut its model range by up to half and reduce production capacity, citing financial challenges.
The company has faced strong opposition from unions regarding potential job losses and plant closures.

[RSnake: They really should be lobbying to impose tariffs on Chinese vehicle imports. That the Chinese are able to put their vehicles on the road in Europe is only a factor of wildly shaping their currency and underpaying their employees.]

Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/volkswagen-halve-model-lineup-capacity-cuts

A new global tariff classification system, HS 2028, is set to be implemented on January 1, 2028, which will significantly affect international trade by introducing new tariff codes and altering existing ones. This update aims to address evolving trade patterns, technology, and environmental issues by revising product classifications and compliance standards across various sectors.

HS 2028 introduces significant changes to global tariff classifications, impacting how goods are categorized for trade.
The update emphasizes health, technology, and environmental concerns, which could lead to changes in duty costs and compliance requirements.

[RSnake: What a complex mess. I keep thinking that with volatility come market changes investors can capitalize on. If things are too stable, there is no variability.]

Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44282-hs-2028-the-next-major-evolution-of-global-tariff-classification

The Venezuelan interim government is negotiating a significant $240 billion debt restructuring, with various creditors competing for favorable terms, particularly in light of the nation's oil industry revenue. US leverage in the situation has increased after the removal of Nicolás Maduro, complicating negotiations due to fragmented debts owed to multiple parties including China, which has significant stakes in the process. While bond investors may see potential returns during the restructuring, the ultimate burden will likely fall on Venezuelans, who will contribute to debt repayment through oil revenues and taxes amidst a need for sustainable economic recovery.

Venezuela's interim government is undergoing a $240 billion debt restructuring process.
The US has gained leverage over Venezuela's oil revenues, impacting creditor negotiations.
The resolution of this restructuring process is crucial for Venezuela's economic recovery.

[RSnake: What a messy negotiation that must be. I am sure China will want to hold firm on a lot of that debt obligation.]

Source: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/?p=934365

Meta is facing legal scrutiny from the European Commission and U.S. states over allegedly addictive designs of its social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. The European Commission's preliminary findings indicate that Meta's practices violate EU digital service laws, while a U.S. court filing reveals potential penalties of $1.4 trillion from several states over user safety allegations.

The European Commission has demanded changes to Meta's platforms to reduce addictiveness.
Meta is facing significant legal and financial repercussions from potential penalties in the U.S.

[RSnake: Frankly, as they probably should. Again, kids should not be on social media. If your kid is, get them off there. Trust me, they're better off.]

Source: https://gizmodo.com/?p=2000784135

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