As the world speeds toward AI-managed airfares, state-mandated news, and brain-tuned medicine, the currents of policy, paranoia, and progress surge faster than ever. From Shanghai shipyards to London sewers, and Neuralink chips to fog nets in Morocco — here’s your distilled briefing of what truly matters. Compact, connected, and unphased by flash.
Let’s wire in.
FIDO KEYS BYPASSED BY PHISHING GROUP
Hackers use cross-device QR trick to sidestep FIDO key protections.
Reston, July 18 – Expel; PoisonSeed; Yubico
🟢 Phishing mimicked MFA, granting full app access via QR relay.
📊 One attack exposed sessions without triggering alerts.
💬 “Not a flaw in FIDO itself,” said Yubico.
Cross-device sign-ins can defeat even phishing-resistant keys.
Can any login method remain unphishable?
FIDO is strong—but not foolproof.
(Source: https://www.darkreading.com/identity-access-management-security/unprotected-session-tokens-can-undermine-fido2-security)
SS7 HACK TRICKS NETWORKS INTO REVEALING LOCATIONS
Surveillance firm tracked phones to towers using SS7 bypass.
Middle East, July 18 – Enea; surveillance vendor; Cathal Mc Daid
🟢 Carrier defenses failed to stop tower-level geolocation.
📊 Locations traced to hundreds of meters via tower proximity.
💬 “More will be found and used,” warned Enea’s Mc Daid.
SS7 flaws endure despite years of patchwork telecom upgrades.
How do we defend against attacks we can’t detect?
Phone location isn’t private anymore.
(Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/18/ss7-phone-tracking-attack)
NETWORKS PAY TRUMP IN LEGAL SURRENDER
CBS, ABC settlements raise fear of newsroom self-censorship.
New York, July 2 – Trump; Paramount; FCC
🟢 $31M paid to end two lawsuits over 2024 election coverage.
📊 CBS paid $16M, ABC $15M, both to Trump Library.
💬 “Can you hold power to account?” asked CBS’s Dickerson.
Broadcast deals now intersect with editorial independence.
Will legal fear erase critical reporting?
Newsrooms can’t pay to stay credible.
(Source: https://theconversation.com/abcs-and-cbss-settlements-with-trump-are-a-dangerous-step-toward-the-commander-in-chief-becoming-the-editor-in-chief-233991)
CHINA DUMPS TREASURIES AMID FINANCIAL STRESS
Beijing trims U.S. debt stake to 16-year low.
Beijing, July 18 – Treasury Dept.; Lian Ping
🟢 Third consecutive cut signals fiscal mistrust and leverage flex.
📊 Holdings fell to $756.3B, lowest since March 2009.
💬 “Finance could become a new battleground,” said Lian Ping.
Diplomacy stalls as fiscal exits pressure U.S. markets.
Will China keep unwinding its U.S. investments?
Debt holdings are now geopolitical tools.
(Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317588)
SHANGHAI PORT EXPANDS TO BUILD HI-TECH SHIPS
China accelerates LNG vessel production with shipyard upgrade.
Shanghai, July 18 – Changxing Island; Yangshan Port
🟢 New hub targets LNG and dual-fuel container ships.
📊 Output forecast at US$16.7B by 2028.
💬 “[Goal is] globally leading hi-tech vessel development,” said Shanghai officials.
Marine manufacturing becomes next frontier in China’s tech rise.
Can rivals match China’s shipbuilding scale?
Shanghai bets big on ocean tech supremacy.
(Source: https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3283396)
CHINA UNVEILS SUPER RAIL GUN UPGRADE
Army scientists propose doubled firepower with X-rail tech.
Shijiazhuang, July 19 – PLA Army Engineering Univ.; Prof. Lyu Qingao
🟢 New design boosts projectile mass to 30kg at Mach 7.
📊 Navy model capped at 15kg shells, limiting combat use.
💬 “Current gun falls short of targets,” wrote Lyu’s team.
Dual-bore layout may overcome navy’s power ceiling.
Could this weapon redefine naval deterrence?
China’s rail guns just got twice as deadly.
(Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3330051)
CRUSHFTP HIT BY EXPLOITED ZERO-DAY
Hackers gain admin access via web interface bug.
July 18 – CrushFTP; Ben Spink; BleepingComputer
🟢 Pre-patch servers exploited to alter admin configurations.
📊 Affected builds date before July 1, 2025.
💬 “Default user modified in invalid ways,” said CEO Spink.
Enterprise DMZ instances likely spared in attack.
How often do your systems get patched?
Late updates open doors to intruders.
(Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/crushftp-zero-day-exploited-to-gain-admin-access-on-servers)
DELTA USES AI TO SET INDIVIDUAL TICKET PRICES
Dynamic fares adapt to each traveler’s willingness to pay.
Atlanta, July 18 – Delta; Glen Hauenstein; Fetcherr
🟢 AI drives 3% of ticket pricing, aiming for 20% by year-end.
📊 Solo fares reversed after May backlash.
💬 “Amazingly favorable results,” said Delta’s Hauenstein.
AI reshapes pricing logic on a per-person basis.
Is personalized pricing fair—or just manipulation?
Your airfare may be AI-calculated.
(Source: https://www.theverge.com/2025/07/18/delta-airlines-ai-ticket-pricing)
US-BACKED KOBOLD SIGNS DRC MINING DEAL
Congo grants lithium exploration rights to AI-powered firm.
Kinshasa, July 18 – KoBold Metals; Félix Tshisekedi
🟢 $1B+ pledged for tech-driven mineral mapping.
📊 Permits to cover 1,600 sq km sought by July 31.
💬 “Major investment opportunity,” said DRC officials.
Manono lithium deposit anchors exploration push.
Will this bring prosperity—or history’s repeat?
Foreign deals spark hopes and fears in DRC.
(Source: https://www.africanews.com/2025/07/19/drc-signs-major-mining-deal-with-us-backed-kobold-metals)
AI WANTS YOUR DATA—AND EVERYTHING ELSE
Experts warn about aggressive AI permission creep.
July 19 – TechCrunch; Zack Whittaker; Meredith Whittaker
🟢 Apps request email, contacts, calendars—sometimes whole directories.
📊 One browser asked to send emails and download contacts.
💬 “It’s like putting your brain in a jar,” said Signal’s Whittaker.
Popular apps normalize invasive access for small conveniences.
Are you handing over too much in return for AI help?
Think twice before linking AI to your life.
(Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/19/for-privacy-and-security-think-twice-before-granting-ai-access-to-your-personal-data)
GERMANY’S STRAWBERRY AND ASPARAGUS CROPS SHRINK
Rising costs push farmers to abandon beloved seasonal staples.
Berlin, July 18 – Destatis; AMI; Karsten Schmal
🟢 Open-field strawberry harvest hit 30-year low, asparagus lowest since 2010.
📊 Strawberry self-sufficiency dropped to 50%, down from 68% in 2015.
💬 “If risk’s too great, we stop,” said Hessian Farmers’ Schmal.
Protected cultivation may be strawberries’ last refuge.
Will these crops become luxuries in Germany?
Farms shrink while prices spike.
(Source: https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-asparagus-season-shrinking/a-72123100)
GERMANY DEPORTS 81 AFGHANS UNDER NEW MIGRATION RULES
Flight coordinated with Qatar sparks human rights concerns.
Berlin, July 18 – Interior Ministry; Chancellor Merz; Pro Asyl
🟢 Deportees had criminal records and received €1,000 each.
📊 Asylum applications fell to 229,751 in 2024.
💬 “Afghanistan is not safe,” warned Pro Asyl.
Deportations expand under tougher border controls.
Can legal removal coexist with humanitarian duty?
Merz enforces firm migration shift.
(Source: https://www.euronews.com/2025/07/18/germany-deports-81-afghan-nationals-under-tougher-migration-policy)
ESTONIA DIGITIZES GOVERNMENT—EVERY LAST BIT
Country leads Europe by eliminating bureaucracy through tech.
Tallinn, July 18 – Luukas Ilves; e-Estonia
🟢 Over 90% use e-IDs; all public services now online.
📊 Divorce filings can start in 45 seconds.
💬 “Why should government be different?” asked Ilves.
Once-only data principle reduces cost and duplication.
Can others catch Estonia’s digital tiger?
e-Government done right looks like this.
(Source: https://www.dw.com/en/how-estonia-outpaced-the-rest-of-europe-at-digitalization/a-73098771)
ISRAEL SIGNALS POSSIBILITY OF ENDING WAR IN GAZA
Ceasefire talks broaden scope beyond hostages.
Tel Aviv, July 19 – Israeli official; Haaretz
🟢 Ceasefire deal includes war-ending clauses and mutual additions.
📊 Proposed truce spans 60 days of negotiations.
💬 “This deal touches on ending the war,” said Israeli official.
New framework reshapes dialogue with Hamas.
Will complex diplomacy finally deliver peace?
Ceasefire talks shift to war’s endgame.
(Source: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-07-19)
JAPAN’S FAR-RIGHT SURGES ON NATIONALIST MESSAGE
Sanseito party gains seats by rejecting globalism and immigration.
Tokyo, July 20 – Sohei Kamiya; NHK; Al Jazeera
🟢 Projected to win 22 upper house seats, up from one.
📊 Foreigners make up just 3% of Japan’s population.
💬 “Rebuild livelihoods by resisting globalism,” said Sanseito’s Kamiya.
Populism taps economic and cultural anxiety.
Will Japan go the way of Europe’s far-right?
Sanseito mainstreams fringe rhetoric.
(Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/20/japan-votes-in-election-seen-as-key-test-for-prime-minister-shigeru-ishiba)
KANSAI ELECTRIC PLANS NEW REACTOR IN FUKUI
Japan eyes next-gen nuclear tech amid energy shift.
Osaka, July 19 – Kansai Electric; NRA; METI
🟢 New reactor would replace decommissioned Mihama units 1 and 2.
📊 Japan aims to raise nuclear share to 20% by 2040.
💬 “There’s strong opposition,” sources noted.
Post-Fukushima nuclear builds now resume after 13-year freeze.
Will public resistance stop the reactor reboot?
Japan restarts its nuclear ambition.
(Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/19/business/kansai-electric-next-gen-reactor/)
MALARIA DEATHS TRIPLE IN ZIMBABWE AFTER US AID CUTS
Net shortages and research loss blamed for disease resurgence.
Harare, July 19 – ZENTO; Ministry of Health; Africa University
🟢 Cases rose 180% to 119,648; deaths up 218% this year.
📊 143 deaths reported Jan–Apr 2025, up from 45 in 2024.
💬 “It was back with a vengeance,” said Prof. Mharakurwa.
US cuts halted nets, meds, and mosquito tracking.
Is this a preview of global aid fragility?
Funding gaps cost lives—fast.
(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/19/zimbabwe-malaria-deaths-triple-us-aid-cuts)
RIOTERS STORM LIMOGES IN NIGHT OF URBAN VIOLENCE
Masked mob clashes with police after motorist ambush.
Limoges, July 20 – Interior Ministry; Mayor Lombertie; FRANCE 24
🟢 Nine police injured by 100+ rioters with firebombs.
📊 No civilian injuries reported; several cars attacked.
💬 “Urban guerrilla group,” said Mayor Lombertie.
Riot police deployed amid suspected turf war.
What fuels this fire beyond grievances?
Limoges shaken by orchestrated street chaos.
(Source: https://www.france24.com/en/france/2025/07/20/limoges-riots-masked-attackers-police)
META SNUBS EU’S AI CODE OF PRACTICE
Facebook parent opposes compliance with upcoming AI rules.
Brussels, July 18 – Meta; Joel Kaplan; EU Commission
🟢 Code bans pirated training data, mandates risk logs.
📊 Rules apply to general-purpose models with systemic risk.
💬 “Europe’s on the wrong path,” Kaplan wrote.
Meta claims overreach; EU says timeline stays.
Who defines safe AI—governments or Big Tech?
Regulators and giants brace for AI clash.
(Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/18/meta-refuses-to-sign-eus-ai-code-of-practice)
RUSSIA OUTLAWS ‘DANGEROUS’ INTERNET SEARCHES
New law penalizes users for merely viewing banned content.
Moscow, July 19 – State Duma; Liza Kaminov
🟢 Law expands criminal liability to search behavior.
📊 No post/publication required for prosecution.
💬 “Just viewing can now trigger penalties,” said analysts.
Online access in Russia enters new censorship phase.
Will curiosity soon be a crime?
Russia criminalizes looking, not just speaking.
(Source: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/2025/07/19/russia-criminalizes-online-searches-for-banned-content)
UK UNVEILS WATER OMBUDSMAN AMID PUBLIC OUTCRY
New watchdog to address billing errors, leaks, sewage overflows.
London, July 20 – Defra; Steve Reed; CCW
🟢 Consumers to gain single-point recourse for water complaints.
📊 £104B planned investment could raise bills by £123/year.
💬 “This sector is broken,” said Environment Secretary Reed.
Ombudsman joins effort to reform a widely distrusted industry.
Can one office clean up the UK’s water mess?
Water watchdog takes the plunge.
(Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g8m8r6grzo)
NORTH KOREA SHUTS FOREIGN ACCESS TO NEW BEACH RESORT
Wonsan-Kalma tourist hopes dim weeks after grand opening.
Wonsan, July 18 – DPR Korea Tour; Lavrov; Oh Gyeong-seob
🟢 Resort stopped taking foreigners after Russian media criticism.
📊 Complex can host 20,000 guests, but only locals remain.
💬 “Tourists seemed staged,” said a Russian report.
Tourism aims now clash with optics and control.
Will Pyongyang reopen or retreat from tourism?
Beach dreams meet state paranoia.
(Source: https://www.euronews.com/travel/2025/07/18/north-korea-halts-foreign-tourism-at-wonsan-kalma)
REALPAGE TIGHTENS RENT CONTROL BY COLLECTING PAYMENTS TOO
Software firm accused of fixing prices adds collection service.
Dallas, July 18 – RealPage; DOJ; Emma Roth
🟢 Acquired Livble to split rent into four monthly parts.
📊 Installment fees range $30–$40 per tenant.
💬 “All collections now handled by RealPage,” said the company.
Critics say move deepens market manipulation fears.
Can one firm manage rent—from price to payment?
RealPage deepens grip on renters.
(Source: https://www.theverge.com/2025/07/18/realpage-rent-payment-livble-acquisition)
NEOM GIGA-PROJECT MAY CUT 1,000 JOBS
Saudi megacity faces budget pressure, investor doubts.
Neom, July 18 – PIF; Semafor; MEE
🟢 Up to 20% of full-time staff could be laid off.
📊 Oil still funds 61% of Saudi budget as prices dip.
💬 “The Line” feasibility is under review.
Ambition meets austerity on Red Sea sands.
Will Neom’s vision survive the cuts?
Dream city hits cost reality.
(Source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-arabia-neom-executives-accused-racism-misogyny-corruption)
SINGAPORE HIT BY CHINA-LINKED CYBER ESPIONAGE GROUP
Critical infrastructure under attack by advanced threat actor UNC3886.
Singapore, July 19 – Mandiant; CSA; K. Shanmugam
🟢 Ongoing attacks target healthcare, utilities, banking.
📊 APT incidents rose 4x since 2021.
💬 “This is serious and ongoing,” warned Minister Shanmugam.
China denies link, calls it smear.
Can tiny Singapore withstand stealth cyberwarfare?
State hackers escalate digital conflict.
(Source: https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/2025/07/19/singapore-faces-major-cyberattack-linked-to-china)
BRAIN TECH REDEFINES NEUROCARE, NOT JUST SCI-FI
Adaptive implants, smart visors, and thought cursors reshape treatment.
Global, July 19 – Vox; FDA; Neuralink; Medtronic
🟢 Patients walked farther, moved better, and spoke faster with neurodevices.
📊 New implants decode up to 78 words/min for speech-impaired users.
💬 “I multitask constantly,” said Neuralink’s Arbaugh.
Advances now treat depression, paralysis, and more — without craniotomy.
Can we embrace brain tech without fearing dystopia?
Neurotech tunes minds, not hijacks them.
(Source: https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2025/07/19/brain-tech-neuralink-neurotechnology-health)
TRINIDAD DECLARES SECOND EMERGENCY OVER GANG THREAT
Officials cite organized prison-linked crime plans.
Port of Spain, July 18 – Police Commissioner Guevarro; AG Jeremie
🟢 Gang leaders moved after assassination and riot plots surfaced.
📊 624 homicides reported in 2024; up again in 2025.
💬 “An organized syndicate is forming,” said Guevarro.
Law grants police warrantless entry and surveillance powers.
Is preemptive force always justified?
Trinidad trades liberty for security—again.
(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/18/trinidad-tobago-second-state-of-emergency)
MOROCCAN SCIENTISTS BOTTLE FOG FOR DRINKING WATER
High-altitude nets capture water vapor for drought-struck villages.
Anti-Atlas Mountains, July 19 – Morocco; France24
🟢 Fog nets gather 37,000 liters/day at 1,200 meters.
📊 Nearly 1,000 villagers served by the system.
💬 “An innovative, sustainable, and unique project,” France2 reported.
Drought-hit regions adapt with science, not pipes.
Can mist solve desert thirst?
Fog is Morocco’s new water pipeline.
(Source: https://www.france24.com/en/environment/2025/07/19/morocco-scientists-harvest-fog-water)
US CONSULATE IN CHINA STOPS VISAS OVER EXTREME HEAT
Officials blame unsafe temperatures, delayed AC.
Wuhan, July 18 – US Consulate; SCMP
🟢 Temperatures reached 33°C indoors as peak visa season began.
📊 Wuhan typically handles 200,000 visa interviews/year.
💬 “We must ensure safety,” said consular statement.
Applicants waited outside in 40°C weather.
Is this heatwave diplomacy—or a building glitch?
Climate meets consular chaos.
(Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317302)
US REJECTS WHO PANDEMIC RULES, PLANS EXIT IN 2026
Cites sovereignty, digital health fears in pulling out.
Washington, DC, July 18 – Rubio; RFK Jr.; WHO
🟢 Trump administration scrapped 2024 reforms for international coordination.
📊 COVID killed ~70 million globally.
💬 “We won’t tolerate global interference,” said Kennedy.
US to leave WHO entirely by 2026.
Do pandemics respect national borders?
America opts out of global health pact.
(Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/07/18/us-withdraws-from-who-pandemic-reforms)
RUSSIA MAY BAN WHATSAPP UNDER NEW RESTRICTIONS
Officials target Meta’s app as “unfriendly” foreign software.
Moscow, July 18 – Anton Gorelkin; Duma; Meta
🟢 Ban aligns with Putin’s September deadline for software crackdowns.
📊 Meta already banned from Facebook and Instagram in Russia.
💬 “WhatsApp should prepare to stop operating,” said Gorelkin.
Russia pushes for domestic messaging alternatives.
Can users switch before the state pulls the plug?
WhatsApp on Russia’s digital chopping block.
(Source: https://www.engadget.com/how-whatsapp-became-the-worlds-default-communication-app-144520113.html)
WHITE HOUSE + PRAGERU DEBUT AI-FOUNDERS MUSEUM
Controversial partnership draws backlash over historical “slop.”
Washington, July 18 – PragerU; Linda McMahon; DOE
🟢 AI-generated videos feature Founders quoting modern conservatives.
📊 PragerU brought in $70M last year.
💬 “Facts don’t care about feelings,” says AI John Adams.
AI puppets now frame U.S. history for classrooms.
What happens when civics gets deepfaked?
Revolutionary history, re-skinned and rebranded.
(Source: https://www.404media.co/white-house-prageru-ai-founding-fathers)
XI JINPING WARNS AGAINST TECH INVESTMENT FRENZY
China’s leader questions blind faith in EVs, AI, and GDP.
Beijing, July 18 – Xi Jinping; People’s Daily; Central Urban Work Conf.
🟢 Xi told officials to weigh debt, not just project counts.
📊 China holds $8B in unshipped NVIDIA AI chip orders.
💬 “Don’t pass the buck to future generations,” Xi said.
Overheating sectors spark strategic course correction.
Is China’s growth sprint becoming a stumble?
Xi says: slow down, think long-term.
(Source: https://www.engadget.com/xi-jinping-warns-overinvestment-evs-ai-2025-07-18)
–Ohmbudsman