🔥 Netanyahu Visits Washington Amid Aftermath of Biden Election Exit

Good Morning. 

Researchers have successfully tested a novel navigation system that uses cellphone signals instead of GPS to track aircraft positions, demonstrating accuracy within single-digit meters over long distances and high altitudes.

This radio SLAM system could serve as a crucial backup for GPS, which is vulnerable to various threats including jamming and spoofing attacks that have disrupted aviation in recent years.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

THE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a visit to Washington on July 22, 2024, and is in Washington for a 3-day visit making a diplomatic house call amid a time of fraught relations between Israel and America, as the United States grapples with political upheaval following President Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race.

During this visit, Netanyahu seeks to secure bipartisan support for Israel amid an intensifying conflict between Israel, Gaza, and regional neighbors. The Times of Israel described the conditions Netanyahu visits under as a political "tempest".

The visit follows Israel's retaliation strike on Houthis and comes as Hamas and Fatah sign a unity government in Gaza.

Analysts suggest the trip also aims to bolster Netanyahu's domestic political standing during precarious times at home.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY & DIPLOMACY

Counterterrorism

• The UN envoy for Syria warns of a resurging terrorism threat with increased Islamic State attacks, amid ongoing regional conflicts, humanitarian crises, and political stagnation in the country.

• The Indian-administered region of Jammu and Kashmir is experiencing a surge in militant attacks, particularly in the previously calmer Jammu area, raising concerns about the spread of insurgency and challenging India's security apparatus.

• ECOWAS announced a standby counterterrorism force, but analysts doubt its readiness due to lack of details and the recent exit of 3 key member states from the bloc.

• Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned following bipartisan outrage over the agency's failure to prevent an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

Military & Defense

• China and Russia rebuff U.S. warnings about their growing military and economic collaboration in the Arctic, asserting their activities are legitimate as climate change increases accessibility and competition in the region.

• The U.S. Department of Defense outlined its approach to engagement with African nations, emphasizing collaboration, support for African-led initiatives, and protection of U.S. interests amid diverse regional challenges and increasing global competition on the continent.

• The new head of the British Army warns that the UK must be prepared for potential war within 3 years due to various global threats, emphasizing the need to rapidly modernize and increase the Army's fighting power.

• Secretary of State Blinken and Defense Secretary Austin are heading to Asia to reinforce U.S. commitments to allies, amid domestic political uncertainty following Biden's decision not to seek reelection.

• Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah signed a declaration in China to form a unity government for Gaza and the West Bank after the Israel-Hamas war ends, though significant challenges and opposition from Israel remain.

Cybersecurity

• A cyber-espionage campaign targeting Ukraine's scientific institutions has been linked to the Russian-backed hacking group APT28, using malware strains Hatvibe and Cherryspy to infiltrate systems.

• Hackers used a new malware called FrostyGoop to shut down heating systems in Lviv, Ukraine, affecting over 600 apartment buildings for 48 hours in January 2024.

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was convicted in a secret Russian trial and sentenced to 6.5 years in prison on charges of spreading false information about the Russian army, prompting international condemnation and calls for her release.

Transnational Organized Crime

• Ugandan police arrested dozens of youth protesters marching toward parliament in Kampala to demand the resignation of the Speaker and other officials over corruption allegations, despite heavy security presence in the city.

• The Taliban claims success in curbing illegal drug production in Afghanistan but expresses frustration over the lack of international support and recognition, despite their efforts to address global challenges and establish security in the country.

• Iran's Revolutionary Guards intercepted a UAE-managed tanker carrying 1.5 tons of marine gas oil, claiming it was engaged in fuel smuggling, and detained its 12-member crew from India and Sri Lanka.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

China has become increasingly secretive about its supercomputing capabilities amid growing technological tensions with the United States.

Chinese scientists have stopped participating in a prominent international supercomputing forum, making it difficult for Western experts to assess China's progress. Despite official rankings showing U.S. dominance, experts believe China may possess faster supercomputers.

This secrecy has implications for the development of AI, weapons, and other technologies, as supercomputers play a crucial role in these fields. The lack of transparency has led some researchers to hunt for clues about Chinese advancements through scientific papers and conference interactions, highlighting the ongoing technological Cold War between the two nations.

In other news…

Meta released Llama 3.1 405B, its largest open-source AI model yet, featuring improved capabilities and a larger context window, as part ofsn aggressive strategy to compete with rival AI companies and expand its influence in the generative AI landscape.

The world recorded its hottest day ever on July 21, 2024, with a global average surface air temperature of 17.09°C (62.76°F), according to preliminary data from the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Rosotics, an Arizona-based startup, reveals plans to manufacture large orbital structures using 3D printing technology and a fleet of autonomous spacecraft, aiming to revolutionize space infrastructure construction.

NASA's core stage booster for the Artemis II moon mission arrived at Kennedy Space Center, marking a significant step towards the planned September 2025 launch that will send astronauts around the moon for the first time since 1972.

The World Health Organization expresses extreme concern about a potential polio outbreak in Gaza after detecting traces in wastewater.

DEALS & FUNDING

Harvey, an AI-powered legal assistant startup backed by OpenAI, has raised $100M in a Series C round led by Google's GV, with participation from Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital, and others, valuing the company at $1.5B.

The startup, which uses OpenAI's GPT-4 model to power its legal copilot, plans to use the funds to develop domain-specific AI models, expand its team, and grow its services globally.

In other news…

BAE Systems has won a $22M contract to develop and deliver advanced chiplet prototypes for the U.S. defense industrial base, aiming to enhance warfighting capabilities through innovative microelectronics technology.

The U.S. Army has contracted SandboxAQ, an Alphabet spinoff, to explore how AI can accelerate the discovery of new materials for lighter vehicles, advanced batteries, and potentially localized manufacturing, aiming to reduce development time and address supply chain vulnerabilities.

Google's $23B acquisition talks with cybersecurity startup Wiz have collapsed, with Wiz now planning to pursue an IPO instead.

GM's self-driving subsidiary Cruise is abandoning its purpose-built Origin robotaxi in favor of using the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt, resulting in a $583M charge and signaling a shift in strategy amid regulatory challenges and financial pressures.

Waymo has started testing a new, custom-built robotaxi from Chinese automaker Zeekr in San Francisco featuring its latest autonomous driving technology, despite potential concerns over Chinese-connected vehicles in the U.S.

Raytheon is seeking a third U.S. supplier of solid rocket motors to meet increasing missile production demands, particularly for interceptors like Patriot and NASAMS, as current suppliers struggle to keep up with orders.

Cyabra, an Israeli startup that detects online disinformation, plans to go public through a SPAC merger, valuing the company at $70M.