Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/cubas-grid-collapses-hhs-uncovers-3-5-billion-hospice-fraud-ai-to-compete-with-big-pharma/
Geopolitics
Cuba’s national power grid collapsed hours after USA Today published an interview with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, grandson of Fidel Castro, in which he signaled willingness to negotiate directly with President Trump. Cuba’s electrical workers’ union stated that the total disconnection is under investigation. The island recorded 360,000 tourists in the first five months of 2026, down 58% year-over-year. CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials in Havana. Some attributed the crisis primarily to U.S. sanctions exacerbating energy shortages.
Overseas, Hamas announced the dissolution of its Gaza government on Monday, stating that only technical and professional staff would remain to manage daily affairs under a Cairo-based technocratic committee chaired by engineer Ali Shaath. The announcement follows the Trump-brokered ceasefire and precedes the demilitarization and reconstruction phases. Israeli officials stated that the move has no significance, noting that Hamas members remain in their positions. The Board of Peace, chaired by President Trump, said assessments would be based on actions and reiterated its principle of one authority, one law, and one weapon under UN Resolution 2803. Hamas has not indicated whether it will disarm or transfer security responsibilities to an international force. Some observers viewed the development as a potential compromise enabling reconstruction.
Lithuania is considering lifting its constitutional ban on hosting weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases. President Gitanas Nauseda announced a proposed amendment to Article 137, with 50 lawmakers submitting the proposal and nearly unanimous parliamentary support. Russia closed seven railway border checkpoints with Finland, Estonia, and Latvia, effective July 1, halting the movement of people, vehicles, and cargo. France has expressed interest in stationing part of its atomic arsenal in partner countries. Russia warned of political and military-technical countermeasures in response to similar moves by Finland.
On the eve of the NATO summit in Ankara, Russia launched an attack on Kyiv that killed at least 14 people and injured 117, using 68 missiles and 351 drones. Ukrainian air defenses did not intercept any of the ballistic or hypersonic missiles. Reports circulated of a strike on a depleted uranium ammunition depot outside Kyiv, prompting the evacuation of 600 residents from Vyshneve. Ukraine struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, the Kronstadt Naval Base, and Baltic ports at Vysotsk and Ust-Luga, and hit Sevastopol, causing a blackout. Russian sources stated the strikes targeted military bases and energy infrastructure.
A Qatari LNG tanker, the Al Rekayyat, was struck by what EOS Risk Group described as an Iranian suicide drone or missile roughly 8 nautical miles east of Limah, Oman, while transiting the Strait of Hormuz with its transponder off. A second Qatari carrier, the Al Areesh, turned around in the Persian Gulf. Brent crude rose more than 1% to $72.76, and European natural gas rose as much as 6%. US-Iran talks are suspended during funeral ceremonies for the late Supreme Leader Khamenei. Vessel flows through the strait remain below pre-war levels. Iranian state media framed the incident as a response to unauthorized routing.
Energy
Saudi Arabia reduced its August Arab Light OSP by $11 per barrel. ADNOC’s Upper Zakum is offered at $6-$8 below Dubai quotes at Oman’s Sohar port. Combined with weak Chinese demand and a temporary US sanctions waiver for Iranian crude, Saudi barrels remain more expensive than some Gulf alternatives. Saudi efforts to defend market share in Asia were highlighted amid the price cuts.
Meanwhile, the UAE’s June crude output rose to nearly 3.8 million barrels per day. ADNOC has been selling barrels through discounted tenders, with Chinese teapot refineries purchasing some volumes. Some cargoes have also moved to US West Coast refineries. Combined Gulf exports from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran rose to 10.07 million barrels per day in June from May. Brent traded near $72.
In other news, container shipping rates have risen due to peak-season demand. Asia-US West Coast rates rose 8% to $6,175/FEU, while East Coast rates reached $7,998/FEU. Trans-Pacific West Coast prices have increased 120% since mid-May. Freightos attributes the changes to frontloading ahead of tariff deadlines, carrier fuel surcharges, and manufacturer price increases.
Health
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. stated on July 5 that federal investigators shut down 500 Los Angeles County hospices billing Medicare $6,000 per month for nonexistent patients. The network represented 18% of national hospice billing. Estimated fraud totals $3.5 billion. California banned new hospice licenses in 2021, and its State Auditor flagged $105 million in overbilling in 2022. California had previously implemented measures, including a 2021 moratorium on new licenses.
ABC Coding Solutions President Margaret Hampton argued in an opinion piece that the AMA’s monopoly on medical billing codes blocks reimbursement for integrative and non-physician care. She noted that Alaska Medicaid processed over 2 million ABC-coded claims during a 2003-2005 pilot. Hampton stated that pairing ABC codes with expanded Health Savings Account eligibility would increase patient choice.
Artificial Intelligence
Anthropic announced on June 30 that it will launch preclinical drug-discovery programs for rare and neglected diseases and will unveil Claude Science, an AI workbench for researchers. Jonah Cool, head of life sciences partnerships, stated these are conditions that normal drug development economics do not incentivize. Naturalnews.com questioned the initiative, citing Anthropic’s $400 million acquisition of Coefficient Bio and the placement of Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan on its board. The initiative was noted as potentially putting Anthropic in competition with pharmaceutical customers.
Economy
Michael Saylor’s Strategy sold 3,588 bitcoin for $216 million between June 29 and July 5 to fund preferred dividends. Proceeds covered quarterly dividends on STRF, STRE, STRK, and STRD, plus the June payment on STRC. Grayscale’s Zach Pandl estimates the annual dividend load at $1.5 billion. Strategy holds 843,775 bitcoin and $2.55 billion in cash.
Porsche is preparing to eliminate up to 4,000 additional jobs at its Zuffenhausen plant, on top of 3,900 previously agreed cuts, according to Handelsblatt. Capacity at the Weissach development site could be reduced by up to 30%. CEO Michael Leiters stated the company aims to produce fewer cars and generate profit at lower volumes. Parent company Volkswagen has warned of potential job cuts exceeding 100,000. Commentators attributed the cuts to high energy costs and EV competition.
Kirk Assassination
Day one of Tyler Robinson’s preliminary hearing included testimony from Officer Bagley, who located the alleged sniper’s position on the Losee Center roof. Bagley testified that his body camera battery died 1 hour and 44 minutes into an 11 a.m. shift, yielding 27 minutes and 35 seconds of footage. He stated he did not recharge or swap the battery. Bagley also testified he found no spent shell casings or unfired bullets at the prone position and was unaware of bullets reportedly recovered elsewhere on the scene.
Sources
Hamas Dissolves Gaza Gov’t in Name Only, Israel Calls It a Sham
The alleged resignation of the Hamas government, where all of the Hamas members stay in their positions, is a spin that has no significance,
Lithuania Joins Finland in Dropping Nuclear Ban for NATO Sharing
First it was Finland which lifted its ban on the deployment of nuclear weapons, declaring its willingness to host NATO’s arsenal (which is largely provided by the US), and now Lithuania has become the latest European country to move to do the same.
UAE Oil Surge Vindicates OPEC Exit as Chinese Buyers Pounce on Discounts
providing an early vindication of the UAE’s decision to leave OPEC and OPEC+ on May 1 to free production from quota restrictions.
Asia-US Container Rates Top $7,900 as Demand, Not Hormuz, Steers the Market
As crude oil flows from the Persian Gulf resume, surging peak season demand – and not oil prices – are driving elevated container rates.
Saudi Price Cuts Fail to Beat Cheaper Gulf Rivals in Asia
Saudi Arabia’s steepest price reduction for crude oil sold to Asia in more than two decades has failed to make its flagship grade the most competitive in the region.
Russia, Ukraine Trade Massive Strikes on NATO Summit Eve Despite Trump-Putin Talks
Russia & Ukraine Trade Some Of Biggest Strikes Of War On Eve Of NATO Summit
Porsche Eyes 4,000 More German Job Cuts as Demand Slumps
Germany’s top financial newspaper, Handelsblatt, reports that Porsche is preparing another round of deep job cuts at its main factories as the sports car maker grapples with weak demand.
Saylor Breaks “Never Sell” Vow With Record 3,588-Bitcoin Dividend Dump
For years Saylor pledged to never sell. That stance ended in late May 2026.
Cuba Blackout Strikes as Castro Kin Eyes Trump Deal
Cuba’s Entire Power Grid Collapses As Castro’s Grandson Seeks Talks With Trump
AMA Code Monopoly Blocks Health Freedom and Patient Choice
Health freedom is not about rejecting modern medicine. It is about expanding opportunity, encouraging innovation, and restoring the patient to the center of healthcare choices.
Anthropic’s Claude Targets Rare Diseases—But Will It Heal or Just Feed Pharma Profits?
The deeper question remains: Will this super-intelligence be used to genuinely heal, or will it become the most sophisticated tool yet for manufacturing lifelong customers?
Qatari LNG Tanker Struck in Hormuz, Oil Prices Rise on Chokepoint Risks
A fully loaded Qatari LNG tanker was struck by a projectile near the Omani coast while exiting the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh concerns that disruptions across the key energy maritime chokepoint could persist longer than traders had expected.
Bodycam Dies Early, No Casings Found in Kirk Assassination Hearing
The trial hasn’t even started and the questions are already piling up.
RFK Jr. Exposes 500 Phantom Hospices in $3.5B California Fraud Ignored for Years
Hospices in Los Angeles, we’ve shut down 500 of them. We have not gotten one call from a congressperson or one call from a patient. Why? Because those hospices did not exist.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: HarisTheShah, ZettaWire, Military Summary, Iranian state TV, cpopowich, Magedb9h, Naeem Aslam, ProudBrit19, BloomX, Dublin19, Shakthi V, and Sarah Fields.