RSnake Report 20250426

Hello, and thanks for reading! It’s been a great week, and I'm looking forward to the next one. It’s supposed to be zero percent chance of rain today in Austin, so of course it’s pouring. So much for AI predictive weather models! ⛈️ 

Let’s start with the Ukraine/Russia conflict. Three years have passed since the sinking of the cruiser Moskva, and it appears the Russian Navy was harboring more than just regrets. A leaked report suggests the ship was in a lamentable state when it departed Sevastopol, with rumors swirling that its radar systems may have been slapped with a radio-opaque paint that was purely decorative and non-functional.

In other news, there was an enormous explosion at the 51st Arsenal near Moscow. This arsenal was crammed with artillery shells, anti-tank guided missiles, and various surface-to-air missiles. By a few different metrics, it was somewhere between 250k tons and 270k tons of munitions destroyed—pretty intense explosion.

There was a nice graph produced by Euromaiden showing the various large attacks over the last few months. But this brings up an interesting point that Ukraine may be ignoring the mid-range in favor of long-range, leaving a lot of juicy targets in the mid-range for the “show” of these very long-range strikes. That said, something is humiliating to the Russians that can hurt morale, so perhaps there is more going on here than the stunts at 1000 km+ ranges.

Trent Telenko made a somewhat similar point, that very long-range howitzers and field guns aren’t able to strike at nearby distances when there is a large “dead space”, but this is where drones excel. So we could start seeing a lot more of drones for this very reason and a lot less indirect fire in the future, making the need for large production 155mm shells potentially a lot less interesting, in favor of drones. The same goes for Russia’s indiscriminate hypersonic and ballistic missiles that seem to be unable to hit anything of strategic value at a distance. Math in battle matters!

In the meantime, the artillery landscape in Europe is seeing a seismic shift in light of shortages and the US being wishy-washy about protecting Ukraine. A plethora of defense firms have ramped up production to meet Ukraine's needs. It's the EU that's now at the center of the ammunition explosion. British defense giant BAE Systems is set to crank out 500,000 shells a year, while others like Germany's Rheinmetall and Denmark's Nammo are on a similar production spree. It can now support 5,500 rounds daily, vs. Russia’s 12,000 rounds, which is purportedly in large part being supplied by North Korea.

One interesting change I saw this week was a new radio repeater drone, which can adjust antenna angles to enhance signal integrity and fix itself to the horizon so it keeps a stable connection. This bad boy allows for better communication, increasing range as far as they want to, by daisy-chaining these things.

Meanwhile, the production of Ukraine’s 155mm 2S22 Bohdana self-propelled howitzer has hit a robust 36 units per month. That’s a lot of firepower geared to change the rules of engagement on the battlefield. If they can keep their losses to one a day, they will gradually increase their firepower. But, as I said before, I think the future lies with drones. They’re both more accurate, cheaper, have similar ranges, and it’s far less likely to lose anything critical.

Reports have surfaced of a potential assassination of Major General Yaroslav Moskalik in the Moscow region. Unconfirmed, but definitely speculated to be a situation worth following. We saw a similar thing happen with the car of Evgeny Ritikov, a leading Russian designer of Krasukha Electronic Warfare Systems, who was killed by a car bomb in Bryansk, Russia. Guess the message is, if you work in the military-industrial complex, you’re fair game.

Ukrainian CBRNE sensors have detected traces of the notorious Novichok nerve agent on the battlefield. This same stuff was found to have been used in an assassination in the UK, which injured a number of emergency responders later at the hospital, while doing the checks. The idea that we're back to using World War I tactics is disturbing, to say the least. Not only is nerve gas prohibited, but it also makes the battlefield even worse for both sides. That said, this is only one report I saw and only one former drone pilot. So perhaps it was an isolated incident, or an incident where a canister that was not intended for use got hit and spread the nerve agent. Also, there was no timestamp associated with the image. Either way, not great.

Let’s talk about Southeast Asia, and let’s start with Taiwan, where there’s a belligerent assertion being made against the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Taiwanese forces are touting the capabilities of high-precision Javelins, which are, in fact, quite awesome, let’s be honest. They are confidently vowing to eliminate any PLA waterborne vehicles that dare to approach their shores. The nice thing about Javelins, beyond precision, is that they are man-portable and therefore difficult to stop. It gives me some sense that they might have a workable defense plan, which has a lot to do with small squads armed with a handful of javelins that can lay waste to a large number of inbound ships without necessarily being a big target themselves.

China has further complicated the already fraught relationships in Southeast Asia by seizing Vietnam’s Sand Cay, part of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Occupying uninhabited territory and raising the Chinese flag is maybe not the best move when they are trying to gain the trust of the countries around them and the Europeans to keep their export businesses afloat.

Things are heating with regard to India and Pakistan. India has officially shut off the flow of the Indus River water towards Pakistan, a provocative move that also seems a bit short-sighted. The closure of sluice gates at four major dams does indeed block the flow, but they don’t have enough cisterns to hold all the water, so I am a bit confused why they made this move, to be honest. However, when Pakistan calls this an “Act of War,” they’re not throwing around phrases lightly. Agriculture represents approximately 21% of Pakistan’s GDP and a lifeline for 45% of its workforce.

As the water tensions rise, Pakistan isn’t sitting idly by. Reports confirm that the Pakistan Army is repositioning M110 203mm self-propelled howitzers along the eastern border in a show of military readiness. The border is getting louder with sporadic gunfire. The peace is over, but will it escalate? is the big question. I hope there aren’t fireworks. Remember, both of these countries are nuclear-capable. China will likely side with the Pakistanis… which is odd… because of the whole killing the Uyghur muslim population and the fact that Pakistan is predominantly Muslim. I guess Allah won’t mind. 🙏 

In the Middle East, the Houthis have now issued threats against India's INS Vikrant aircraft carrier, fully backing Pakistan in the escalating tensions along the border. Though let’s be honest, they have shown no capacity to hit anything other than unarmed ships to date.

On a lighter note, this would be hilarious if these guys weren’t serious, but the Houthi rebels have dropped a new music video that seems to take aim at their adversaries with some sweet singing and a montage of attacks they’ve undertaken. The track, titled "Spearhead," showcases a mix of propaganda and morale-boosting theatrics and… I'm wrong, it’s actually funnier because these guys are serious. But that said, there was a lot of footage I hadn’t seen in the video that might be worth parsing apart for those who want to sit through this abomination.

In Syria, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have executed an incursion into southern Syria, targeting former officers of the Assad regime in a calculated assassination campaign. Among the chaos, reports indicate that six former members of the regime were recently eliminated, with a significant operation that included the arrest and field execution of a known “Shabiha” member in the Lattakia region. It does make me wonder how the new (prior ISIS) Syrian regime is working with Israel. They know this is happening and have a common enemy with the former Assad forces. So maybe there is cooperation going on behind the scenes. There’d have to be, right? Otherwise, where is the outrage?

In Iran, a massive explosion rocked the port city of Bandar Abbas, purportedly attributed to ammonium nitrate. This substance has a regrettable track record for causing devastating blasts, as evidenced by the infamous Beirut explosion. Casualty estimates are grim, with over 400 injuries and likely more than 700 reported, and a death toll that may yet rise. Not only that, the fires are still raging and appear to be nowhere near contained. The Iranians were not prepared for this sort of fire.

In the Domestic arena, things are shaking up, and not in a good way. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is stirring the pot by inadvertently (giving them the benefit of the doubt there) aiding drug cartels by making it simpler to identify how the U.S. secures its borders and detects illegal crossings. I will assume good intent here, but even if it is, what an incredible lack of self-awareness. One thing I can say about the EFF is that they have managed to lose most of the most important cases they have taken on from what I recall, so chalk this one up to another fail.

A judge has been arrested for harboring illegal immigrants, sending a loud and clear message that no one is above the law—at least, that's the hope. Kash Patel got some hate about his comment that “No one is above the law,” given that Trump has indeed pardoned people in the past. This was him reiterating a Biden post, and probably a joke, but it could have been worded a bit differently to be “Judges should not be above the law.” The specific law isn’t a widely cited one, but it’s 8 U.S.C. § 1324.

Speaking of not being above the law… Epstein is back in the news because of the tragic death of Virginia Giuffre, a key figure in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Giuffre found herself at the center of the accusations against Prince Andrew, claiming he coerced her into sexual relations when she was a teenager. Sadly, news has surfaced that she died by suicide at the age of 41.

Now this very same woman, five years ago, tweeted that she was not suicidal, a nod to the fact that Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell after the cameras were shut off. So… I am not a conspiracy theorist, but the public does need to know the truth of what the government knows. Pam Bondi’s turn.

Briefly in Tech news, T-Mobile, the telecom giant, has slashed the price of its Starlink-powered “T-Satellite” service to just $10 a month, making satellite communication accessible to everyone with a modern cell phone, even those who aren't subscribers to T-Mobile. This service allows users to send texts via Starlink satellites, even when they’re off the grid. With over 560 satellites already in orbit, T-Mobile aims to leapfrog competitors like AT&T and Verizon. The anticipated launch this July could redefine how folks stay connected during various grid-down scenarios, and also just when you’re at a festival or F1 race, etc. It could also be a really useful service for some types of IOT that don’t have great range to cellular base stations.

Lastly, a brief note about Economic news, the financial climate is looking decidedly gloomy, particularly for those looking to refinance their mortgages. Current statistics show that a staggering 42% of mortgage refinance applications are being denied—the highest rejection rate in over a decade. Ouch. Remember last time that happened? Pepperidge Farm remembers—the 2008 financial crisis.

Okay, onto the articles!

Afghans who aided the U.S. military during the two-decade war in Afghanistan are at risk of deportation as the Trump administration moves to end their legal protections, specifically the temporary protected status that has allowed them to remain in the U.S. The administration has begun notifying some individuals of a revocation of their status, causing widespread fear and confusion among the affected population and among veterans advocating for their safety.

• Afghans who assisted U.S. forces now face potential deportation as legal protections are set to expire.

• The Trump administration's decision is causing significant anxiety among Afghan allies and U.S. veterans.

[RSnake: That is a clear situation where they would make sense to keep here in the US. We want to protect people who have aided us during war in their own countries.]

Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/04/25/were-breaking-our-promises-afghans-who-helped-us-risk-of-deportation-trump-ends-protections.html

Houthi rebels in Yemen have shot down seven U.S. Reaper drones, resulting in a loss exceeding $200 million, amid ongoing military operations by the U.S. against the Iran-backed group. The U.S. has increased its military response, conducting over 800 strikes against Houthi targets while facing scrutiny over potential civilian casualties from its operations.

• Houthi rebels have shot down multiple U.S. Reaper drones in a span of weeks, prompting significant military responses.

• The U.S. military has escalated its operations against the Houthis, with daily strikes and increased naval presence in the region.

[RSnake: I am not terribly surprised by this. Those drones have no stealth, are huge, are slow, loiter for long durations, aren’t designed to take evasive action, and fly within range of SAMs.]

Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/04/25/houthi-rebels-have-shot-down-7-us-reaper-drones-worth-200-million-recent-weeks.html

On April 25, 2025, Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik was killed in a car bomb attack in Balashikha, near Moscow. Russian authorities have labeled the incident a 'terror attack' and initiated a murder investigation while significant unrest follows high-profile targeted killings of military officials amidst ongoing peace talks regarding the conflict with Ukraine.

• Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik was assassinated in a car bomb explosion as he approached his vehicle.

• The attack has been labeled a 'terror attack' by Russian authorities, who are investigating possible ties to Ukraine.

• This incident raises questions about Russian military security and coincides with U.S. peace talks in Moscow.

[RSnake: This is the very definition of terroristic attacks, except it’s not, because he is a military target. Now, the civilian who just designed a radar system that was also killed in a car bomb - that I am less thrilled about. Killing civilians really should be off limits. Does that apply to people who build military equipment? How about those who design it? Or finance it? Or transport parts for it? Where’s the line?]

Source: https://sofrep.com/?p=214680

Tensions escalate in the Russia-Ukraine conflict as attacks on civilians and military personnel increase, while diplomatic efforts to end the war continue with US President Donald Trump's involvement.

• Russia has increased drone strikes on Ukrainian regions, causing damage to civilian infrastructure but no casualties.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the site of a Russian attack in Kyiv, which killed at least 12 people, and stated that components manufactured by US companies were found in the missile used in the attack.

[RSnake: The Russians, on the other hand, really do not care about civilians. Beyond the fact that it is a PR nightmare and they are losing hearts and minds elsewhere in the world, it means nothing at all. So the question is, do we play by their rules, which is to say none at all, or do we keep some sense of battlefield honor? I would say the Nuremberg trials give us some sense of how history will treat the losers.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/26/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-1157?traffic_source=rss

The United Nations World Food Programme has exhausted its food supplies in Gaza amid a seven-week blockade by Israel, leaving community kitchens that provide essential meals at risk of running out of food. This situation is exacerbated by skyrocketing food prices and severe shortages of medicine and medical supplies, contributing to increasing malnutrition among the population, which includes vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women.

• Gaza's humanitarian situation has reached a breaking point due to a seven-week blockade.

• Malnutrition rates are rising rapidly, affecting vulnerable populations.

• The UN has stated that over 116,000 tonnes of food assistance is ready to be delivered if border crossings reopen.

[RSnake: That is not good. I do wonder if the Houthis in Yemen or Iran will ever open their borders to these poor people.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4wvvnzp39o

A group of gunmen has killed at least 28 tourists in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir. Authorities are currently investigating the incident to identify and apprehend the assailants.

• At least 28 tourists were killed in an attack by gunmen in Pahalgam, Kashmir.

• Police are actively investigating to track down the gunmen responsible for the attack.

[RSnake: Let’s hope that it wasn’t a group of Pakistanis. That certainly would not help relations. More on it here.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2025/4/22/video-tourists-killed-in-indian-administered-kashmir-attack?traffic_source=rss

The United States Army has opened a new facility in Camden, Arkansas, to significantly boost the production of 155mm artillery munitions. This expansion aims to meet the increased demand for ammunition due to ongoing military support for Ukraine and to ensure adequate stockpiles for potential future conflicts.

• A new facility in Camden, Arkansas, will enhance the production of 155mm artillery shells.

• The U.S. is increasing artillery output to support Ukraine and prepare for future conflicts.

• Production capacity is set to reach 100,000 rounds per month, up from 40,000.

[RSnake: Good. But from what this newsletter is telling me, while I am glad for this, what we really need is a lot more drones. Way more. Way way more. Ideally, with interchangeable parts so as new tech comes online, it is easy to upgrade.]

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-army/2025/04/23/us-army-ups-ammo-output-with-new-155mm-loading-packing-plant/

Container shipping between China and the United States is facing significant disruptions due to new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, leading to a dramatic decline in imports and canceled shipments. Industry leaders predict that these changes could result in severe supply chain impacts, potential mass shortages, and significant economic consequences that may rival those seen during the pandemic.

• New Trump tariffs have resulted in a 60% drop in container bookings from China to the U.S.

• Forecasts suggest a potential 15% decline in U.S. imports for the full year of 2025.

[RSnake: 60% of 20% means China is getting more than 10% of a hit to their GDP as a result of this… so far. If Trump’s negotiations to isolate China work, it is not inconceivable that the number could get to 30-40%, which would have huge ripples in their economy.]

Source: https://gcaptain.com/?p=226370

The United States has increased its military presence in the Middle East to address Houthi attacks on American ships and forces. President Trump has directed strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, aiming to mitigate the threats posed to U.S. interests in the region, while the Houthis have been using surface-to-air missiles to down U.S. drones, which could potentially benefit U.S. adversaries. Support from Congress has been acknowledged for these military actions intended to protect navigational rights and U.S. national security.

• The U.S. military is responding to Houthi attacks by increasing forces and conducting strikes in Yemen.

• Houthi actions pose a significant threat to American shipping and military operations in a crucial shipping area.

[RSnake: This really needs to have an end game in sight. We can’t keep bombing people back into the Stone Age when they already live there. Eventually, a golden bullet will hit one of our ships, and then what?]

Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-orders-troops-to-middle-east-to-counter-houthi-attacks

President Trump has ordered the US government to take a major step toward mining vast tracts of the ocean floor, a move opposed by nearly all other nations.

• The executive order would circumvent a decades-old treaty that every major coastal nation except the United States has ratified.

• Mining companies are interested in the mineral-rich seabed of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone due to valuable minerals like nickel, cobalt, and manganese.

[RSnake: Bad for the ocean, but at this point, I think it really is the right choice. We need to protect the US from being cut off from rare earth minerals, and this is one path to get there. That said, those mining ships will be easy targets for subs and long-range anti-ship missiles if things get hot.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/climate/trump-seabed-mining.html

A former U.S. Army intelligence officer was sentenced for selling military secrets to an individual believed to be linked to the Chinese government. The officer conspired to transmit sensitive national defense information over a three-year period, receiving $42,000 for the documents that included details on U.S. military technology and operations.

• A U.S. Army officer sold classified military information to a person connected to China.

• The leaked information included sensitive details on military technology and operations, posing a significant threat to national security.

[RSnake: Once due process is over, I really do think we need to bring back capital offense in cases of treason. Otherwise, it is too tempting to go along with blackmail or bribery schemes.]

Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-army-intel-officer-sentenced-after-selling-u-s-military-secrets-to-china

Luigi Mangione is facing serious federal and state charges, including murder, following the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. The case raises significant questions about violence tied to frustrations with the healthcare system and has led to a polarized public response, with some portraying Mangione as a folk hero. The legal proceedings could result in the death penalty or life imprisonment, focusing attention on issues of corporate accountability and radical actions in response to systemic failures.

• Luigi Mangione is accused of murdering CEO Brian Thompson, which has sparked widespread dialogue about the healthcare system.

• The legal implications of the case include charges of terrorism and the potential for the death penalty, stirring public and political debates.

[RSnake: I am sure there will be cheerleaders there. 🤸‍♀️ ]

Source: https://sofrep.com/?p=214686

China has significantly increased its military presence along the Indian border, deploying around 20,000 to 25,000 troops and enhancing its operational infrastructure. In response, India has also bolstered its military readiness in the region, maintaining a troop presence of approximately 90,000-120,000 and completing extensive border infrastructure to support operations.

• China has deployed up to 25,000 troops near the Indian border, supported by advanced logistics and infrastructure.

• India maintains a larger troop presence and has enhanced its border infrastructure in response.

[RSnake: This is likely nothing at all, but it could be in case a war with Pakistan starts requiring their support and the war spills over towards China. 😅 ]

Source: https://geopoliticalfutures.com/?p=401487

SAP has released emergency updates to address a critical zero-day vulnerability in its NetWeaver software, which has been actively exploited in attacks to gain unauthorized access to systems. This flaw allows unauthenticated file uploads that can result in remote code execution, posing significant risks to compromised systems. Along with this patch, SAP has also addressed two additional critical vulnerabilities in its software ecosystem.

• A critical zero-day vulnerability in SAP NetWeaver allows attackers to execute malicious code without authentication.

• Emergency updates have been released due to active exploitation of the vulnerability, affecting multiple customers.

[RSnake: Interesting, but looks like they supplied a patch, so that’s good at least.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/sap-fixes-suspected-netweaver-zero-day-exploited-in-attacks/

Five dating apps have compromised over 1.5 million private and explicit images due to inadequate cloud storage security, affecting approximately 800,000 to 900,000 users who may be vulnerable to blackmail and extortion. The developer of these apps was notified of the issue in January 2025 but did not rectify the problem until late March 2025 after researchers publicized the breach.

• Dating apps exposed a large number of private images due to unsecured cloud storage.

• Vulnerable users face risks of blackmail and extortion.

[RSnake: These are gnarly attacks, almost worse than any others, because as a nation state, I’m going to look at this as a target list of people who can be easily blackmailed and turned into assets. That’s why, when Grinder was sold to a Chinese company, I warned all of my friends, whom I even suspected might be gay, that they should be extremely careful with what they share on those apps. Also, keep in mind that they also know your location and usage habits, etc.]

Source: https://cybersecurityventures.com/?p=33467

Hackers are using Zoom's remote control feature to trick users into granting them access to their machines, allowing them to steal sensitive data or initiate crypto transactions.

• A hacking group called Elusive Comet is targeting cryptocurrency users in social engineering attacks that exploit Zoom's remote control feature.

• The attackers send fake invitations via Calendly links to schedule a Zoom meeting, making it appear as a legitimate request from the app.

[RSnake: Not terribly surprising. I hope Zoom comes up with some better guidance for that.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-zoom-remote-control-feature-for-crypto-theft-attacks/

The U.S. Department of Justice is pursuing an antitrust case against Google, seeking to compel the company to sell its Chrome web browser. The case alleges that Google holds a monopoly over internet search and has engaged in practices that harm competition and consumers.

• The DOJ argues that Google's dominance in the search market harms both consumers and advertisers.

• Forty-nine states and two territories support the DOJ's case against Google to challenge its monopolistic practices.

[RSnake: I do hope this happens, but if it does, I am not convinced whoever might want it is going to be any better than Google.]

Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/trumps-doj-targets-google-urges-judge-to-force-sale-of-chrome-browser

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gained access to sensitive systems within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including financial and personal information databases critical to federal health programs. A court filing reveals that this access was granted without proper security training in some cases, raising significant legal and ethical issues regarding data privacy and security in government agencies.

• DOGE affiliates have access to 19 HHS systems, including vital financial and health data.

• The access was granted amid ongoing litigation questioning the appropriateness of such data handling.

• Concerns are raised about the ability of these affiliates to affect federal payments and information privacy.

[RSnake: This story will keep repeating itself, I think. Not great, but if you move fast and break stuff, you will get hacked occasionally.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/doge-data-access-hhs/

A newly identified attack vector called 'Cookie Bite' exploits two Azure authentication tokens, enabling threat actors to gain persistent access to cloud services like Microsoft 365. This attack allows for continuous extraction of session cookies, posing a significant risk to organizations that rely on Azure Entra ID for their identity access management.

• The 'Cookie Bite' attack can hijack user sessions to perform malicious activities, including data exfiltration.

• Organizations need to enhance their security measures to detect and prevent these types of session hijacking attacks.

[RSnake: Not great. Office 365 is looking more and more dangerous the more I talk to insurance and DFIR people. Even when you try to use 2FA, it is very easy to misconfigure it and accidentally disable it.]

Source: https://www.darkreading.com/remote-workforce/cookie-bite-entra-id-attack-exposes-microsoft-365

GigaIO has launched Gryf, the world's first portable AI supercomputer, designed for rapid deployment in various sectors such as defense, sports, media, and energy. This suitcase-sized device delivers powerful computing capabilities directly in the field, facilitating real-time analytics and processing without the need for extensive infrastructure.

• Gryf is designed for immediate use by the U.S. Department of Defense and intelligence communities.

• It allows organizations to conduct high-performance computing tasks in remote and rugged locations, enhancing operational efficiency across multiple industries.

[RSnake: I didn’t see a photo of this thing, so it’s hard to know how it works, or if it’s even real, but it's worth keeping your eye on. Not so much that it is portable, exactly, but that it CAN be ported, which could make working on the road a lot more interesting and safer, if you don’t have to do transport over the network.]

Source: https://thereadable.co/gigaio-announces-general-availability-for-gryf-the-worlds-first-portable-ai-supercomputer/

A new open-source, 3D-printed humanoid robot called Berkeley Humanoid Lite is being developed to promote democratization in humanoid robotics and make it more accessible and customizable.

• The robot is designed to be made from widely available components and fabricated using standard desktop 3D printers, with a total hardware cost under $5,000.

• The design emphasizes modularity and ease of fabrication, and the platform aims to serve as a pivotal step toward democratizing the development of humanoid robotics.

[RSnake: Wow, $5k isn’t bad. This wouldn’t make a particularly good companion robot, but it might be programmable enough to allow for all kinds of research and development or fabrication/warehouse work. I hadn’t really thought about it, but whoever can make the cheapest and most modular robot might actually win this race on the low end. The high end needs to be perfect in every way. The haves and the have-nots. But also the tinkerers and those who just want something that works more or less exactly as advertised.]

Source: https://lite.berkeley-humanoid.org/

The US Army has successfully launched a conventional hypersonic missile from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and the system has been named 'Dark Eagle' due to its speed, stealth, and agility.

• The system is designed to disintegrate adversary capabilities, including anti-access/area-denial systems, communications capacity, long-range fires, and other high-payoff/time-critical targets.

• Hypersonic missiles travel at more than five times the speed of sound, making them a difficult weapon to counter after launch.

[RSnake: It’s good that we are starting to experiment more in this space.]

Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/04/25/secretive-dark-eagle-hypersonic-missile-launches-cape-canaveral.html

General Atomics is developing an airborne laser system for the U.S. military's MQ-9 drone fleet, intended to counter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This system aims to enhance the capabilities of the MQ-9 by providing 24/7 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance while executing counter-UAS missions.

• General Atomics is working on a 25 kilowatt airborne laser system for MQ-9 drones.

• The new laser technology will enable persistent counter-UAS operations in various environments.

[RSnake: This might solve, or at least partially solve, the issue of the reapers getting shot down by the Houthis. Of course, counter-lasers are an issue.]

Source: https://www.navalnews.com/?p=71693

Baykar's Bayraktar TB3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle has successfully completed autonomous flight tests aboard the TCG Anadolu, demonstrating advanced capabilities in takeoff and landing without assistance. The UCAV logged significant flight hours and achieved long-endurance operations, while also successfully striking naval targets during live-fire tests, showcasing its integration with other unmanned systems.

• Bayraktar TB3 completed autonomous flight tests aboard TCG Anadolu.

• The UCAV successfully demonstrated long-endurance flight and live-fire capabilities.

[RSnake: The autonomous nature of these Turkish drones is kinda haunting. Skynet…?]

Source: https://www.navalnews.com/?p=71629

Google's AI-powered search capabilities are experiencing significant growth, with features like AI Overviews and Circle to Search being actively used by billions of people worldwide. This expansion comes amid scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice over potential anti-competitive practices in the search market.

• AI Overviews compiles web results to provide answers to user queries and has over 1.5 billion monthly users.

• Google Lens usage has increased by 5 billion searches since October, indicating growing engagement with visual and multimodal search.

[RSnake: I am going to spend a lot of time with a big group of SEOs next week, so we shall see what they say. I suspect they’ll see it as highly competitive with the SERPs and killing traffic to their news and information-based brands.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=2999047

US eases safety rules for self-driving cars to compete with China, automakers can apply for exemptions from certain federal safety rules for testing purposes, new national rules will be introduced.

• The Trump administration is loosening rules to help US automakers develop self-driving cars to compete with China.

• US companies developing self-driving cars will be allowed exemptions from certain federal safety rules for testing purposes.

• A single set of national rules for self-driving technology will be introduced to replace a patchwork of state regulations.

[RSnake: That’s good. It will cause issues, but honestly, we need to get over the hangup that these things are worse than humans. I drove in a fully autonomous Cybertruck owned by a friend of mine the other day. It’s astonishing how well it did in busy, complicated traffic with random obstacles, construction, and crazy Austin drivers.]

Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91323672/us-loosens-rules-self-driving-cars-tesla-byd-china

ClickHouse has introduced a new feature called lazy materialization, which optimizes data retrieval by delaying the reading of column data until it is needed during query execution. This method significantly improves query performance, resulting in substantial reductions in processing time and memory usage, as demonstrated in benchmark tests. Overall, these advancements aim to improve the efficiency of data analytics for real-time applications.

• Lazy materialization defers data reading until it is necessary, leading to faster query execution.

• The implementation of this feature can dramatically reduce query processing time and memory usage.

[RSnake: Interesting, not sure how that would increase speed. I could see how it would slow things down, but save memory and caching needed. Cool. I have been hearing more and more good things about Clickhouse.]

Source: https://clickhouse.com/blog/clickhouse-gets-lazier-and-faster-introducing-lazy-materialization

Tesla is facing a significant decline in its financial performance, with a 71% drop in net income in Q1 2025 compared to the previous year and a decrease in vehicle sales. The company's struggles are attributed to a combination of stagnation in design and technology, as well as increasing competition from other automakers, particularly in markets like China and Europe.

• Tesla's Q1 2025 vehicle sales saw a drastic decline, leading to a substantial drop in net income.

• The company's lack of innovation in design and technology has contributed to its loss of market share.

[RSnake: And yet, the Tesla stock is up over the last year. It’s down from a few months ago, but the long-term trendline is still doing rather well.]

Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91321377/elon-musk-made-tesla-household-name-his-presence-tanking-company

A new electric pickup truck called the Slate Truck is set to launch in the U.S. at a price of under $20,000 after federal incentives. This vehicle is distinctive for its minimalist design, lack of paint, and traditional infotainment systems, and a focus on customization and DIY-friendly features.

• The Slate Truck aims to appeal to consumers looking for an affordable and customizable electric vehicle.

• Its manufacturing process eliminates costly paint jobs and complicated metal bodywork to reduce expenses.

• The vehicle is designed with future upgrades in mind, supporting DIY maintenance and enhancements.

[RSnake: I have heard it is closer to $15k with a 150-mile range. Not an amazing range, compared to say the Model Y, which is over 400 miles, but not terrible, and the truck aesthetic appeals to a lot of people. Minimalistic trucks definitely have a market, especially for a very low price point.]

Source: https://www.theverge.com/electric-cars/655527/slate-electric-truck-price-paint-radio-bezos

Apple plans to relocate the assembly of all iPhones sold in the U.S. to India by next year, reducing its reliance on China amid ongoing trade tensions. This shift aims to mitigate the impact of tariffs and is part of Apple's strategy to diversify its supply chain, with an increasing portion of iPhones now being manufactured in India.

• Apple is shifting the assembly of iPhones to India to avoid tariffs associated with imports from China.

• The company has seen significant growth in iPhone production in India, shipping nearly $2 billion worth to the U.S. recently.

[RSnake: Let’s hope India isn’t at war by then. It might just be better off bringing it back to the US at some point.]

Source: https://gcaptain.com/?p=226430

California's economy has now surpassed Japan's, making it the fourth-largest global economic force, primarily driven by its manufacturing, agricultural production, and technological innovation. Meanwhile, trade tensions escalate with recent tariff policies imposed by the U.S. administration, leading to concerns about the potential impact on California's economic growth and stability.

• California's GDP reached $4.10 trillion in 2024, surpassing Japan.

• The U.S. has imposed significant tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada.

[RSnake: And still nearly bankrupt. That said most of what California made in the last year that it counted as a surge in taxes was related to stock market movement and nothing sustainable, so this may drop again..]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly80zlk1lyo

International travelers are avoiding the United States, which may lead to an estimated economic loss of $90 billion for the country. The travel and tourism sector significantly contributes to the U.S. economy, providing around 9.5 million jobs.

• International travelers are skipping the U.S.

• Potential economic loss of $90 billion.

• Travel and tourism support 9.5 million American jobs.

[RSnake: That is nothing to sneeze at. Not that it matters much for this article, but I bet international travel is way down out of the US as well. The only benefit there is that US consumers might vacation and spend more within the US itself. The airlines, however, might get hit.]

Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/international-travelers-are-avoiding-the-u-s-why-american-jobs-will-take-a-hit-b8740757?mod=mw_rss_topstories

Significant mislabeling of Chinese vape products is allowing companies to bypass FDA regulations and tariffs, leading to a massive discrepancy in import data. In 2024, over $3.7 billion worth of vapes and e-cigarettes were exported from China to the U.S., but only around $318 million were officially recorded, prompting calls for increased enforcement against fraudulent import practices.

• Chinese companies are mislabeling vape products to avoid U.S. duties and regulations.

• There is growing pressure from U.S. officials to increase inspections and enforcement against smuggling.

[RSnake: Mislabeling should be heavily sanctioned. Not slightly, but full-scale sanctioning. It is the only thing that might slow this kind of behavior.]

Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/china-is-flooding-america-with-illegal-vapes-and-more-than-90-fly-under-the-radar

Meta's antitrust trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is examining past acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp to determine whether these actions stifled competition in the tech industry. The trial features testimonies from former executives and showcases a nostalgic look at the early days of social media innovations and competition.

• The trial investigates Meta's acquisitions and their impact on competition.

• Key witnesses include former executives and personal emails from a decade ago.

[RSnake: We shall see. I think Meta has a lot more issues to deal with in the coming months and years with regard to allegedly lying to Congress. We shall see.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/technology/meta-trial-silicon-valley-social-apps.html