RSnake Report 20260516
What's In the News
Hello, and thanks for reading! I'm going to spend a bit more time at the top here than I normally do. It's been an interesting week where I pushed out two things: one semi-serious and the other a joke. The first was Lib-Theseus, a skill used with software development to remove CVEs by removing the old 3rd party code and replacing it with first-party code. I came up with the idea for it after talking to a guy at OpenAI.
The second was a silly webpage refuting the feared Vulnpocalypse by showing that everything is, in fact, business as usual. It shows, as it always does, that nothing has changed at all, and Anthropic's media blitz about Mythos is but another hype cycle. That said, a friend of mine said their company is spending "deep 7 figures a day" on Mythos. Let's call that $7M a day for a rough number. For those bad at math, that means they are on track to spend roughly $2.5B a year... just one company, just to find vulnerabilities. That's not even counting the remediation/QA cost and the opportunity costs.
At some point, the CFO of a company using Mythos is going to have to ask what all this spending is for exactly, and the sad part is it won't have gotten these companies to "vuln zero". Worse yet, this is before the institutionalized subsidization of tokens end, which means this could end up costing companies a lot more than it already is. At what point do we switch from the possible to probable? I'm guessing it's going to happen when companies reach $0 in profitability because they're handing Anthropic all their profits and are still getting compromised by the VPN that isn't using MFA. If I were a CFO, I would be extremely wary of what's happening right now.
As an aside, at some point, the musical chairs have to end. Anthropic's investors need an offramp, and the way to do that is IPO. When they do, all the retail investors will flood in, while the institutional investors bail out, leaving the street to hold the bag. If this whole AI boom is starting to feel a lot like HODLing Bitcoin and the massive pump and dump era of the NFT to you, well... it does to me too.
When the subsidization of tokens ends, the average company will have to stop and rethink how it does all this work, because the economics will no longer make sense. It also further exacerbates the "security poverty line," where many companies simply won't be able to play in this new world at all. I think the future is local models, and "good enough" models, with great orchestration. But I fully expect Anthropic and/or OpenAI to do another big security-related announcement right before Black Hat to suck the oxygen out of the room. I'll discuss this a bit more in the Tech section.
Speaking of Black Hat, I also found out I will be moderating two panels at Black Hat in Vegas this summer. One panel is at the CISO summit on the future of the CVE program in light of the MITRE funding kerfuffle and NVD stepping back from rating vulnerabilities aside from things the government cares about. The second panel is at the Investor and Innovator's summit, and it's called "RIP the Moat; Long Live the Mo” a deep dive into what constitutes a moat in the post-LLM age, since software no longer seems to matter. Should be fun. Okay, enough about me... on with the news!
In Russia/Ukraine news, Russia has stated that it will deploy the new Sarmat strategic nuclear missile at the end of this year, President Vladimir Putin said, calling it the most powerful in the world. The deployment comes after years of setbacks and delays. Kyrylo Budanov has said that Ukraine is confident that Putin is not readying its nuclear stockpile, though, so this is more saber rattling than it is a direct provocation. The fact that Ukraine can say that is pretty telling of the operational visibility they must have. Kyrylo Budanov also stated that he's confident negotiations could bring the war between Kyiv and Moscow to an end. For his part, Putin asked if Gerhard Schroder could serve as Europe’s representative for future talks with Russia, which seems unlikely and desperate. That said, Ukrainian intelligence reported to President Zelenskyy that Russia may be preparing a military provocation against a NATO state from Belarus.
Ukrainian forces struck the Nevinnomyssky Azot chemical plant in Russia’s Stavropol Krai with long-range drones. The plant produces nitrogen-based chemicals, including acetic acid and nitric acid, used to manufacture explosives such as HMX and RDX for shells and missile warheads.
Ukrainian drone operators from the SBSU Steel Border brigade crossed into Russian airspace over Kursk and North-Slobozhansk, destroying two shelters and knocking out two vehicles, an antenna, and an ATV. These aren't impressive strikes in the context of the actual war, but it got me thinking that these drones are so cheap they can send waves of them after targets that are barely worth thinking about. A crappy vehicle here, a few troops that probably weren't a meaningful threat? Why not when there is virtually no cost to eliminating them?
Similarly, I spotted another video where the main armor of a tank may have been too much to overcome, but they were able to navigate around until they found an open port. That means they can defeat otherwise really good armor simply by being patient and waiting to hit the exact right position. Not that these cope cages work that well to begin with, but it makes it a lot easier when the drone operator doesn't even have to defeat the armor at all.
Ukrainian forces advanced in the Slovyansk direction while Russian forces conducted two days of nearly continuous strikes with over 1,600 long-range drones and missiles, heavily targeting Kyiv and causing quite a lot of civilian casualties. I still think that's a relatively bad move, mostly because it's a waste of firepower that could be aimed at actual legitimate military targets and help Russia in useful ways. Bombing Kyiv, other than a bit of a demoralizing factor, has no real benefit in impacting the front lines. That said, they apparently have a great pipeline of low-cost drones and missiles because it looks relatively steady for the last year, with normal ebbs and flows. So while Russian armor is almost nonexistent, drones and missiles are plentiful.
Ukraine can now strike targets roughly 20 kilometers behind Russian front lines nearly 5,000 times per month, disrupting logistics and frontline support. Even things like gas stations that are being used by passing troops are getting targeted.
Ukrainian drones struck the Ryazan refinery and targets in Krasnodar Krai and Bryansk. This is only possible because air defenses have more or less evaporated in the rear. It's mostly positioned as far as I can tell at the front and only in very strategic static positions, and sparsely at that.
I spotted a fairly interesting IR video of a ground AA defense system engaging a Shahed. It looks like it really has a fairly difficult time engaging, partly due to the lack of a strong IR signal reflection, but also because it's gotta lead the target pretty significantly. This is where systems that can gauge direction, speed, and attitude from the target could be used to significantly improve the chances of interception.
I saw this article about Ukrainian aerostats, too, that I thought was interesting. I’m just going to show you the whole tweet. Decoys, forward operating drone motherships, and ISR… what a cool idea for when the winds are in your favor. Maybe just deserts for their handling of the fallout from Chernobyl?
Russians in occupied Crimea have begun setting up beach defenses for the tourist season. These "Dragon Teeth" are a pretty strong signal to the local populace that they are embattled, expect a possible ground invasion via an amphibious landing, and need to buy time.
In European news, the United States will pull 5,000 troops from Germany and station a permanent armored brigade in Poland equipped with 80 Abrams tanks and 125 Bradleys, with equipment already stored in Powidz and Poland covering infrastructure costs. The US Army canceled an armored brigade deployment to Poland. There was a lot of talk about this because it is seen by some as an embarrassment to the House Armed Services Committee that we didn't tell Poland. But the counterpoint is that having a team permanently stationed there is operationally quite similar to having one brigade rotating in, one on recovery, and one on duty, but cheaper and possibly better. Remains to be seen.
Turkish company, ASELSAN, displayed its Korkut air defense system at the EFES 2026 exercise. This looks tough enough for Ukrainian swamps to me.
Also from Turkey, Roketsan unveiled a new anti-drone version of its Cirit laser-guided 70mm rockets designed for cost-effective interception of Shahed long-range kamikaze UAVs. These are cheapo missiles that only need enough sensors to follow line of sight navigation, and it has enough of them to take out a small volley of UAVs. The trouble is that this is still line of sight, and the total capacity is quite small.
In South East Asian news, there was an interesting write-up on how China fields a military in which 70 to 80 percent of soldiers are only children, a demographic reality that shapes Xi Jinping’s strategic calculations. I, too, am an only child and wonder how much this translates universally. "[T]hose who grew up as only children as a consequence of the policy are found to be less trusting, less trustworthy, less likely to take risks, and less competitive than if they had had siblings. They are also less optimistic, less conscientious." It also means that by hitting one soldier, the bloodline is lost, which will have moral implications... not that Xi cares.
President Trump arrived in Beijing on May 13 for the first US presidential visit to China in nearly a decade, accompanied by Boeing’s CEO, Apple’s Tim Cook, and Elon Musk. The visit comes amid US efforts to pressure China over Iranian oil purchases and the broader strategic competition over energy chokepoints like Iran, the Panama canal, and Venezuela, China's economy, the war in Ukraine, rare earths, and Taiwan. Trump warned Taiwan to avoid saying anything provocative immediately after his departure, but that didn't work. Taiwan, for its part, immediately said they are an independent democratic country as a direct slap in the face of China and a rebuke of any deals that Trump may have made for China's takeover of Taiwan.
Keep in mind, Trump has already intimated that he feels that the US's chip industry was screwed over by Taiwan, so these latest statements by Taiwan likely won't go over well.
Unitree unveiled the GD01, a manned transformable mecha priced from $650,000 that can convert between modes and weighs roughly 500 kilograms with the operator inside. This is mostly just stupid. Their demo shows it converting into a quadruped, but it has a seat. So you'd be lying on your back with your head pointed forward if you were in this thing. Dumb. But it looks kinda like an anime mech, so there is some utility there for the imagination, I suppose.
China has also started policing its population with drones with loudspeakers. For obvious reasons, these things have no real capabilities other than to annoy people with loudspeakers and capture them on camera, messing with their social credit score (Sesame Credit) or fining them. But that alone is likely enough for most people to comply. The picture is crap; you kinda have to see the video to get the idea.
In African news, the US carried out a strike mission in Nigeria, which means they are still hunting ISIS members regardless of location. ISIS West Africa Province operations across Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon are coordinated through Maktab al-Furqan, headed by Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Mainuki, not the global operations director as previously reported. So it's not quite clear who was killed.
Talks between Somalia’s federal government and the main opposition coalition collapsed after President Hassan Sheik Mohamud’s term extension took effect on May 15, leaving the two sides at an institutional impasse that is expected to produce clashes between their affiliated forces. I still have some faith that we will see an autonomous Somaliland rise in the north, especially with the help of the UAE.
In Middle East news, the Iranian regime's state media aired a presenter firing at an Emirati flag live on air. So if you are in the UAE, you're going to likely have a pretty strong reaction to this. This is typical behavior limited to Israel and the United States. But it also gives you some sense of how little the Arab countries think of Iran at this point, too. This could be the signaling of the beginning of a long-term regional conflict, though. One that has existed for a while but not in public. Also, who is bringing a live gun on the set of a TV station? 🤣 🤡
The US Navy blockade of Iran remains in force, with CENTCOM forces having redirected 58 commercial vessels and disabled four since April 13. Three large crude carriers were observed burning in East Jask Bay near the IRGC naval base. It's not clear what's happening with these ships, but it's clear enough that the IRGC cannot move fuel over the ocean.
Saudi Arabia has floated a regional non-aggression pact with Iran. I had to stop and think about this, but from the Saudi's perspective, this may seem like a win-win. They can hold all the same relations they have with the US and Israel, sign a mutual non-aggression treaty with Iran, and poof, they are done with the conflict. At least for a minute, while they sit back and wait for Iran to fire first, showing the Iranians it's their fault before resuming hostilities, while still getting the missiles to stop at least temporarily. So we shall see how Iran takes that.
The Israeli Air Force and 91st Division struck two Hezbollah fighters operating from a structure in southern Lebanon after rockets were launched toward IDF forces. There was also a lot of damage recorded after airstrikes against Al-Shahabiyeh in southern Lebanon. It still seems to be a hotbed with no end in sight.
Hezbollah released footage of a fiber-optic FPV drone striking an IDF Namer armored personnel carrier in Bint Jbeil. No word on injuries, or if it even penetrated the armor, but it was a precise hit nonetheless.
In what appears to be new malware that has been identified, it appears someone released code into Iran that targeted software that produces spherical implosion simulations. On the right is what happens when you run the software without the malware, and on the left is what happens when you run the software with the malware. This likely was written specifically to limit the ability for Iranians to develop certain types of munitions where superheated material turns into a plasma, and fluid dynamics shapes how the plasma and rapidly liquifying core intermix with itself, giving maximum chance to fully and completely mix the superheated fast-moving exterior while maintaining the highest pressure possible to force the material to compress the cold interior to give a maximal detonation. Or that's my theory anyway! What do I know! 🤷
In South of the border news, Cuba faces severe blackouts that could lead to the collapse of food production and basic services if unresolved. Peter Zeihan has been pretty good about predicting the effects of degraded shipping, and sure enough, we're seeing that Cuba may fall without a shot being fired. At some point, it may become a huge humanitarian issue that needs to be resolved, but for now, it can wait for the people to decide they're tired of the incumbent socialists and render aid only when there is a groundswell of support from the local population.
It is rumored that the US armed forces and the Bolivian police are preparing a joint operation to detain Evo Morales, according to allegedly leaked police documents. The local population has surrounded him as a massive human shield. It's not clear what the next step is here, but it could be a pretty big operation. It's not clear to me why we care about this washed-up, disgraced socialist politician.
In North American news, the mayor of Arcadia, California, was charged with acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China. I have a feeling we're going to start seeing a lot more of these types of revelations from leftist politicians, in part to make a point leading up to the November elections, but also to start putting pressure on Beijing that we know is happening.
The CIA assessed that COVID-19 most likely originated from a lab leak and described the most recent congressional hearings on the issue as political theater. While I do think the CIA has a point, Senator Rand Paul needed to bring it back into public scrutiny because it preceded the next step, which is to question the validity of Biden’s autopen pardon, in particular, of Anthony Fauci, and suggested charging Fauci to test the pardon’s legality. To do that, he needs it to be front and center to the public that they were wronged by Fauci's research, and his actions after COVID broke containment, not that it wasn't known. So yes, theater, I agree, especially after hearing his speech on C-SPAN, but it was more than that, because this is an explanation to the American people of what he intends to do next: test the foundations of the autopen, examine Biden's mental capacity in his waning political years, and get some accountability for the lies to and deaths of the American people.
Speaking of political theatre, Bernie Sanders and AOC introduced legislation to pause all AI data center construction. To say this is laughable is an understatement. Of course, this will get voted down, and of course, it had no chance of happening. There is no stopping this AI spending spree.
An improvised explosive device was discovered underwater at the Converse Reservoir dam supplying drinking water to Mobile, Alabama, and was safely detonated by a multi-agency team. It was safely detonated, and so far I can't find any information on who they think placed it. A direct threat to critical infrastructure is not good.
The US Army tested the Flowcopter FC-100 drone as a potential replacement for battlefield MEDEVAC helicopters during a NATO exercise. This is the answer to drones that present a real threat to manned helicopters, which is especially present on today's battlefield. That said, I would much prefer it if these things had five or six rotors in case there is damage to one. Three working rotors with no overlap aren't going to be very survivable.
Adoption of directed-energy high-energy laser weapon systems across the joint force remains slow due to structural and budgetary challenges rather than purely technical limits. But there was a good write-up on this about where they fit, and the more I think about it, the more I think this was correct. It's really a matter of where they fit operationally, and the only thing they provide that existing systems cannot is a near-endless magazine, meaning they can handle extremely large or persistent swarms.
In Tech news, Mythos identified one confirmed low-severity vulnerability in cURL, along with three false positives and one issue classified as a bug. But then the next day, the lead developer said other models found 17 issues. So that means to me that Mythos is nowhere close to being able to get to vuln zero. Sad for those companies who seem to be spending every spare dollar on this, because it will leave them broke and vulnerable, and worse yet, the issues that do matter most won't get fixed because they'll be overwhelmed with noise. "This is not the vulnpocalypse that I was promised," as one friend put it.
A hacker installed a dead-man’s switch that wipes a victim’s computer if the stolen GitHub token is revoked. Of course, yours truly went hunting for this thing, but couldn't find it, so I think I'm safe, but if you are installing a lot of skills, you may want to look for this IoC.
Southwest Airlines banned robots from flights after a humanoid robot flew as a passenger using a custom lithium battery pack. It does seem a little silly to deny access to the plane if the battery meets the requirements, but it does bring up a good point about robot nannies of the future, and how we'll have to learn how to travel differently or remote their personality into physical bodies of robots wherever we land, etc. Weird thought!
Speaking of the future, dozens of empty Waymo vehicles circled an Atlanta cul-de-sac for hours with no passengers. Then they blocked the road with a little kid-crossing sign, and they all got jammed up onto the road, unable to move. The future is now, and it is stupid. 😆
Okay, onto the articles!
Geopolitics
The dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has led to significant increases in violence across Africa, particularly in regions that depended heavily on its support. The cessation of aid has resulted in a rise in conflict events and fatalities, and the long-term implications include heightened insecurity that may affect both regional stability and U.S. national security interests.
Dismantling USAID is associated with a sharp rise in violent conflicts in dependent regions of Africa.
Estimated preventable deaths due to the cuts include a significant number of children, with long-term security implications for the U.S. and allies.
[RSnake: Nigeria, as we covered above, is one example of this. But it’s not like these regions were conflict-free before. I think the real thing we are experiencing is a power vacuum. Was that worth the billions we were spending previously? Especially when in many cases both sides are designated terrorists… It’s hard to say.]
Source: https://www.404media.co/doge-cuts-unleashed-a-deadly-wave-of-violence-across-africa-study-finds/
Atrocities have been reported in Uvira, DR Congo, where the M23 rebel group and Rwandan soldiers are accused of executing civilians and committing sexual violence during their occupation of the city. An investigation detailed evidence of war crimes, prompting accusations against Rwanda for supporting the M23, which they deny. The ongoing conflict continues to displace tens of thousands in eastern DR Congo.
The M23 rebel group is accused of killing 53 civilians in Uvira, including children.
Human Rights Watch documented instances of sexual violence by both M23 fighters and Rwandan soldiers.
The conflict in eastern DR Congo has led to massive displacement and ongoing humanitarian crises.
[RSnake: This is an example of where we are seeing an increase in regional violence. The fact that we are seeing mass rape is a weapon of terrorism, and gives you some sense of why I don’t think there’s a graceful “out” for the US, but staying in wasn’t working well either. We can stop one side, but is the other side going to build a civil society or grab more power in that wake? It’s a mess.]
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy42dgj0x32o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
A Russian military strike in Kyiv resulted in the collapse of a building, potentially trapping residents under the debris. Officials reported that the attack involved drones and missiles, causing damage to several structures in the capital.
A building in Kyiv has partially collapsed due to a Russian drone and missile strike.
Residents are likely trapped under the rubble as a result of the attack.
[RSnake: Once again, I do not get why Russia is bothering with these strikes. Perhaps their ISR or military intelligence apparatus isn’t really that great, and they simply need to hit random targets? Because I do not see this being a big enough morale hit to cause the general population to push for negotiations. Maybe if anything, the opposite.]
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/5/14/aje-onl-nf_clip-kyiv-building-collapses-after-strike-140526?traffic_source=rss
The Canada-led NATO brigade in Latvia has transitioned from a deterrence posture to actively preparing for defensive operations against potential military threats from Russia. This shift includes the establishment of forward operating locations and an increased troop presence, reflecting NATO's evolving strategy in response to geopolitical tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The Canadian brigade is now positioned to provide a credible defense in Latvia rather than merely serving as a tripwire.
NATO's doctrine has evolved to ensure readiness and local support following heightened security concerns in Eastern Europe.
[RSnake: I think there is a lot more concern that Russia is eyeing their western border. But frankly, they are already spread pretty thin, and galvanizing all of Europe against them seems unwise. It would surely make it harder on the Chinese, who would surely be sanctioned by Europe for supporting Russia at a time when their economy is already pretty shaky. I have a hard time visualizing a real war breaking out beyond Ukraine as a result.]
Source: https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/05/15/canada-led-brigade-in-latvia-moves-beyond-tripwire-role-commander-says/
Significant redistricting efforts by Republican-controlled state legislatures in the South are threatening the electoral prospects of many members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Following a Supreme Court ruling, states like Alabama, Louisiana, and South Carolina are moving to redraw congressional maps that could diminish Black representation in the House of Representatives ahead of the 2028 elections.
Almost a third of the Congressional Black Caucus is at risk of losing seats due to redistricting.
Republicans are targeting Black-majority districts in several southern states to maintain control of the House.
[RSnake: This is a huge boost to the Republicans, who picked up a number of seats. The Democrats, too, will pick up a couple, but not the same as the Republicans. So if the Republicans win the midterms or don’t lose anything significant, it appears likely that Republicans will retain control for at least the next handful of years, barring some major catastrophe/scandal within the party.]
Source: https://abcnews.com/Politics/congressional-black-caucus-lose-seats-amid-redistricting-fight/story?id=132965013
Poland is increasing its military capabilities amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly through the acquisition of advanced weaponry and missile systems from both the U.S. and European partners. The Polish government is pushing for domestic production of military equipment in response to reliance on foreign technology and ongoing global conflicts that could impact supply chains.
Poland is modernizing its military by ramping up production of air defense and precision strike missiles.
The country is focusing on domestic production to reduce reliance on foreign military technology.
[RSnake: Good for them. If something does kick off in Russia, they’ll take the brunt of it. Fortunately for the rest of Europe/NATO, they have not been slacking off in terms of defense capabilities.]
Source: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2026/05/14/equipping_polish_forces_for_the_front_lines_today_1182591.html
Cybersecurity
North Korean hackers executed two significant attacks on decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms in April 2026, resulting in the theft of nearly $600 million. These hacks, attributed to the advanced use of artificial intelligence by the attackers, have exposed vulnerabilities in the DeFi ecosystem, leading to massive financial repercussions and a crisis of confidence among investors and users.
North Korea-linked hackers exploited DeFi protocols to steal roughly $600 million.
The attacks demonstrated a sophisticated use of AI in targeting and executing crypto heists.
The incidents triggered significant financial outflows from major DeFi platforms, revealing systemic vulnerabilities.
[RSnake: I have heard rumblings that the government is still toying with the idea of letters of marque that would allow cybersecurity experts to go after these funds and repatriate them without fear of retribution from the US authorities. Still waiting for my letter in the mail! 😉 ]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/ai-crypto-hacking-defi-north-korea-april-exploits
During a visit to China, President Trump’s delegation took extensive precautions against potential Chinese espionage by ensuring no items from China were brought onto Air Force One. The U.S. State Department also warns travelers about the risks of detainment and interrogation by Chinese authorities, as well as ongoing concerns regarding China's cyber operations, including recent hacking incidents targeting U.S. government and private entities.
Trump's staff removed all Chinese items from Air Force One to prevent espionage.
The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory due to risks of detainment by Chinese authorities.
[RSnake: This is always a good plan. Whenever traveling to and from China, people should avoid carrying anything they don’t want compromised and definitely not bringing anything back. But if the President’s team knows that the CCP cannot be trusted with their electronics, it begs the question why we are shipping untold tonnage of Chinese electronics every year into virtually every home in the US?]
Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-chinese-gifts-tossed-before-boarding-air-force-one
A zero-day exploit named YellowKey has been discovered, allowing unauthorized access to encrypted drives on Windows 11 systems with default BitLocker protections. The exploit can be executed by individuals with physical access to a device, raising significant security implications for the protection of sensitive data. Microsoft is currently investigating this vulnerability.
The YellowKey exploit bypasses BitLocker protections, compromising encrypted drives.
Individuals with physical access to Windows 11 systems can execute the exploit to gain unauthorized access.
[RSnake: This will only affect you if your adversary is local or has already got some malware on your device, so not quite as bad as it sounds, but not great either.]
Source: https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/05/zero-day-exploit-completely-defeats-default-windows-11-bitlocker-protections/
Foxconn, a major electronics manufacturer for companies like Apple, Google, and Nvidia, reported a cyberattack by a ransomware group known as Nitrogen. The attackers claim to have stolen over 11 million files, including sensitive customer information, and have threatened to leak this data if their demands are not met.
Foxconn confirmed a cyberattack affecting its North American facilities.
The ransomware group Nitrogen claimed responsibility and threatened to leak stolen data unless paid.
[RSnake: Interesting - there is no way to really recover from this if you are one of those big companies, but it may make you rethink why you aren’t in-house for these manufacturing efforts. I wonder if this came up with Tim Cook while he was in China.]
Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=3122176
Elon Musk's platform X has committed to reviewing illegal hate and terrorism posts within an average of 24 hours and to restricting access to accounts linked to UK-proscribed groups as part of an agreement with UK regulator Ofcom. This comes amid ongoing investigations and heightened scrutiny regarding the platform's handling of hate speech following a series of hate-motivated incidents in the UK, particularly affecting the Jewish community.
X has agreed to review illegal hate and terrorism posts within 24 hours on average.
The platform will restrict access to accounts associated with organizations banned under British terrorism law.
[RSnake: So some terms have been met. I wondered how this would end up. Musk has been thumbing his nose at UK regulators for some time. I’m glad it came to a decent resolution, but I still don’t know what the UK thinks terrorism is. I’m not even sure they do!]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/x-ofcom-hate-speech-terror-takedown-uk
Technology
Elon Musk is involved in a lawsuit against OpenAI and its leadership, alleging that they have strayed from their charitable mission to prioritize profit. The trial's closing arguments took place recently, with Musk's attorney claiming breaches of trust, while OpenAI's defense counters that Musk's allegations are unfounded. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for OpenAI's upcoming IPO and the broader landscape of artificial intelligence.
Elon Musk is suing OpenAI for allegedly breaching its charitable trust.
The lawsuit could impact OpenAI's potential initial public offering.
[RSnake: On this one, I am rooting for Musk, largely because I think he would not have funded them at all if he had known they were going to take his money, do the opposite of what he asked - make it open - and then proceed to turn it into a for-profit company. That said, without good contracts in place to prevent that, it will be interesting to see what legal standing he has.]
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/5/14/closing-arguments-begin-in-elon-musks-landmark-lawsuit-against-openai?traffic_source=rss
Recent advancements in speech brain-computer interfaces have introduced a new end-to-end framework that translates neural activity into coherent sentences, significantly improving the accuracy of speech decoding for individuals with paralysis. This framework utilizes a cross-species pretrained neural encoder, which enables joint optimization of neural decoding processes and achieves a remarkable reduction in word error rates compared to previous methods.
Introduction of an end-to-end BraIn-to-Text (BIT) framework for speech decoding.
Notable reduction in word error rate from 24.69% to 10.22%.
Integration of audio large language models enhances end-to-end decoding performance.
[RSnake: How awesome. I can see this helping the people with physical trauma as much as people with issues such as arthritis.]
Source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.21740
Anthropic and the Gates Foundation have announced a $200 million partnership aimed at deploying AI technology in global health, education, and agriculture over the next four years. Key initiatives include accelerating vaccine research for neglected diseases, developing AI tutoring tools, and improving agricultural practices for smallholder farmers. This collaboration emphasizes the commitment to making AI resources open and accessible, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Anthropic is partnering with the Gates Foundation to fund AI programs in global health and education.
The initiative aims to enhance health outcomes, develop educational tools, and improve agricultural practices in developing regions.
[RSnake: Odd partnership. Given the recent Epstein revelations with regard to Bill Gates, I am surprised anyone wants their name attached to the Gates foundation at this point. I think Anthropic is doing anything they can to get their name out and get some token utilization at this point, which is really what is going on here.]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/anthropic-gates-foundation-ai-health-education-partnership
HII and MetalCraft Marine have successfully delivered and tested ROMULUS-25 unmanned surface vessels for the U.S. Marine Corps, marking a significant advancement in autonomous maritime technology. These vessels are designed to enhance naval operations with advanced mission capabilities and a long operational range powered by an AI-based autonomy system.
ROMULUS-25 USVs are 27-foot autonomous vessels capable of carrying substantial payloads and operating over long distances.
The vessels utilize HII's Odyssey AI autonomy system for enhanced coordination in maritime operations.
[RSnake: We have seen something similar to this guy before. But it’s clear these things aren’t slow. This looks like it is designed to move quickly through littoral areas. I wonder what sort of payloads they have in mind for it. It doesn’t look like a great candidate for being a mine layer, but it may be for providing supplies to inland troops. I can’t help but think a deck-mounted mini-gun could provide a lot of close-in fire suppression as well.]
A 15-year-old from Canada has developed a robotic turtle that can accurately detect underwater environmental threats, boasting a 96% accuracy rate. This invention utilizes advanced sensors and machine learning to monitor delicate ecosystems while minimizing disturbances to marine life. The project's design emphasizes affordability and accessibility, promoting broader participation in environmental conservation efforts.
The Bionic Underwater Robotic Turtle (BURT) uses biomimetic principles inspired by snapping turtles to navigate aquatic environments.
It can detect issues like coral bleaching and invasive species, providing valuable data for conservationists.
The project showcases how young innovators can create impactful solutions for environmental challenges.
[RSnake: There’s no photo, but apparently it swims making no noise and without propellers to avoid harming marine life.]
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/15-year-old-canadian-boy-built-a-robotic-turtle-that-can-detect-underwater-environmental-threats-with-96-accuracy/articleshow/131118012.cms
Business
Power prices in the Eastern U.S. have surged by nearly 76% due to the increasing demand from AI data centers. The capacity of the existing power supply is insufficient to meet the load, leading to higher costs and an irreversible impact on electricity prices for the region's consumers.
Wholesale electricity prices in the Eastern U.S. rose to an average of $136.53 per megawatt-hour in early 2026.
A significant portion of the population, approximately 20%, is affected by the increased power prices resulting from data center demand.
Public opinion is largely opposed to new data center constructions.
[RSnake: Oh, sweet summer child - this is only the beginning! I wonder if this will increase the tax incentives for solar again, though. Adding more decentralized capacity to the grid seems like a wise choice. We have solar and 4x Tesla battery packs at the house, and that’s gotten us through every single outage since we installed them a few years back. Texas has pretty flaky power, and I’ve never noticed a single minute of power outage since, despite having several outages in the neighborhood.]
Source: https://gizmodo.com/?p=2000759230
Minnesota state agencies are implicated in enabling the misuse of over $9 billion in taxpayer funds due to a pervasive culture of fraud. A legislative report detailed failures in oversight and the absence of accountability within government programs, prompting federal investigations into various Medicaid and other benefit programs.
Minnesota state agencies mismanaged over $9 billion in taxpayer funds due to fraud.
A legislative report revealed failures in oversight and accountability, leading to extensive fraud across multiple programs.
[RSnake: As I have said multiple times, you will continue to see these articles popping up the closer we get to November. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!]
Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/minnesota-culture-fraud-enabled-more-9-billion-misused-taxpayer-funds-panel-says
The Pentagon has initiated a new program called Deal Team Six aimed at reforming defense contractor operations, mandating that contractors fund their own factory expansions in exchange for long-term contracts at fixed prices. This initiative is designed to address decades of cost overruns and production failures, with the expectation that firms can no longer rely on taxpayer-funded bailouts for inefficiency. The move reflects a shift in the Pentagon's approach, applying the same accountability to defense spending as to private-sector investments to enhance military capability.
The Pentagon is requiring defense contractors to finance their own factory expansions.
Contractors who fail to meet production standards risk being replaced.
The initiative aims to improve efficiency and accountability in defense spending.
[RSnake: Interesting. I have had a similar theory with roads. Right now, we just let road construction go on forever and deal with overruns. What if we said they had to pony up the entire cost of production and put it in escrow, and then we pay them? If they fail to meet their obligations, it’s taken from the money they have in escrow. Then we leave a sizeable chunk for failures of the road itself, which is paid out each year as the road proves survivable under normal usage conditions. That way, they are highly incentivized to ensure the road is completed well and on time. I could see something similar working for all kinds of government contracts.]
Source: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2026/05/15/deal_team_six_finally_the_pentagon_makes_defense_contractors_an_offer_they_cant_refuse_1182849.html
Paul Parmar, an Indian-origin investor, has been sentenced to five years in prison for securities fraud involving over $212 million. He misled investors and inflated revenues while serving as CEO of a publicly traded healthcare services company, which led to significant financial losses for several stakeholders.
Paul Parmar was once celebrated for his extravagant lifestyle, including a lavish mansion in New Jersey.
He was convicted of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, misleading investors, and inflating company revenues.
[RSnake: That is a sizable amount of money. But it’s never enough, is it?]
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/super-rich-nri-who-called-himself-recession-proof-in-2008-sent-to-jail-his-new-jersey-mansion-had-salt-water-pool-surrounded-by-imported-sand/articleshow/131127492.cms
RJ Scaringe, the founder of Rivian, has successfully raised over $12.3 billion for his startups, including new ventures in electric micromobility and industrial AI. Despite challenges in the electric vehicle sector, his companies continue to attract significant investment, reflecting a broader trend of high funding for innovative tech startups in recent years.
RJ Scaringe has raised over $12.3 billion for Rivian and his other startups.
His ventures include an electric micromobility startup and an industrial AI company.
[RSnake: Good for them. I hope they do well. They did have a pretty big recall a few years back, and I was worried it would bankrupt them, but they’ve pulled through! Visually, they’ve built what the Cybertruck should have looked like - a tough SUV.]
Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=3122332
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Full Disclosure: None of this is advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and my opinions. Please be careful, do your own research, and consult a professional before taking any action based on anything posted here.