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Tehran Tech Execs Accused of Smuggling U.S. Drone Parts to Iranian Military, Brooklyn's Own Tech Fabricated in Foreign Skies
April 02, 2025
Two Iranian nationals and a Tehran-based company have found themselves in hot water with U.S. authorities, standing accused of conspiring to smuggle American technology to power Iranian drones, in what is perceived as a bolstering effort for a foreign terrorist organization.
Unsealed charges in a Brooklyn federal court tagged three key players: Hossein Akbari, CEO of Rah Roshd, Reza Amidi, a commercial manager for the company, and Rah Roshd itself, for their alleged roles in procuring parts in violation of export controls and funneling them to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
This case, unfolding amidst rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran, sketches a picture of a sophisticated operation aimed at circumventing sanctions put in place by Washington.
According to a statement by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, the defendants used a variety of underhanded tactics, including front companies and spoofed emails to make their purchases seem legit, when in reality, they were allegedly feeding into the Iranian military's ambitions.
Amidst the catalog of charges is an instance that hits close to home: a Brooklyn-based company, identified as Company-1, found its manufactured parts in a downed Iranian drone in Ukraine, pointing to the reach and implications of this plot touching both local grounds and international battlefields.
“The charges filed today demonstrate the commitment by my Office and our law enforcement partners to dismantle illicit supply chains and prosecute those who unlawfully procure U.S. technology in support of a foreign terrorist organization.
The IRGC and Qods Aviation Industries have been core players in the Iranian military regime’s production of drones, which threaten the lives of civilians, U.S. personnel, and our country’s allies.
These charges should serve as a warning to those who violate U.S. export control laws and who unlawfully seek to aid Iran’s drone program,” stated U.S. Attorney John J. Durham, as noted by the same press release.
The scheme struck at the heart of American security, with the IRGC, previously designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S., reportedly at the receiving end of these contraband military goods.
The breadth of the conspiracy is vast, charged with accessory parts for drones, such as "servo motors," and "pneumatic masts," both essential in drone operations.
"Hossein Akbari and Reza Amidi allegedly engaged in a multi-year conspiracy to obtain U.S. technology for use in Iranian made drones in violation of export laws and to provide material support to the IRGC—a designated terrorist organization," FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia explained, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office's release.
The U.S. Department of Justice is actively pursuing accountability in a case led by the National Security and Cybercrime Section, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nina C. Gupta and Lindsey R. Oken overseeing the prosecution.
This effort is part of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, aimed at safeguarding U.S. technological leadership and preventing critical tech from reaching adversaries. The accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
https://hoodline.com/2025/04/tehran-tech-execs-accused-of-smuggling-u-s-drone-parts-to-iranian-military-brooklyn-s-own-tech-fabricated-in-foreign-skies/
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/iranian-company-and-two-iranian-nationals-charged-conspiring-provide-material-support
Reports: Spain arrests suspects accused of buying drone parts for Hezbollah
April 2, 2025
The Spanish Civil Guard has carried out an operation against a group of individuals accused of joining a Hezbollah logistics structure in Spain, Spanish media reports said.
The operation focused on a faction facilitating the procurement of spare parts for drone assembly, according to Spanish media.
This operation was part of ongoing investigations launched in July in Barcelona, which were carried out in cooperation with German authorities to dismantle “Hezbollah logistics networks responsible for manufacturing drones,” the reports said.
https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/311953-reports-spain-arrests-suspects-accused-of-buying-drone-parts-for-hezbollah
HMS Dauntless proves she's a sharpshooter as she downs swarm of drones in live-fire exercise
2nd April 2025 at 1:34pm
A Royal Navy warship has shot down a swarm of drones in a live-fire exercise off the Welsh coast.
HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 destroyer, took part in Exercise Sharpshooter before she heads to the Indo-Pacific region with the UK's Carrier Strike Group deployment.
The vessel was tasked with stopping hundreds of Banshee, Hammerhead and virtual drone attacks in a situation that simulated real-world threats over five days.
The exercise comes after HMS Diamond repelled seven attack drones from the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea with her Sea Viper missiles and guns in January last year.
"The speed and skill shown by the crew of HMS Dauntless in defending the ship against a complex and sustained series of drone attacks was incredibly impressive," said Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard, who saw the exercise firsthand.
"This test shows how the Royal Navy is adapting to face evolving threats, including from drone attacks in the Red Sea, as well as how we are working closely with industry to harness the latest technology to keep the UK secure at home and strong abroad," he said.
QinetiQ's Banshee Whirlwind target is an aerial drone that can fly at more than 200mph, and the Hammerhead is an uncrewed surface vehicle that replicates realistic threats.
The 7,350-tonne warship fired her Phalanx Automated Gun, 4.5-inch and 30mm guns at the drones. Meanwhile, a Wildcat helicopter launched Martlet missiles, which can obliterate targets nearly 6km away.
More than 350 personnel were involved in training drills, which were created by the Royal Navy's Fleet Operational Standards and Training's (FOST) instructors and QinetiQ.
Commander Ben Dorrington, HMS Dauntless's Commanding Officer, said: "The realism of the exercise and training delivered provided a unique opportunity for the ship's company to demonstrate they are ready to defend, ready to fight and ready to win.
"As we reach the pinnacle of our comprehensive training package with the conclusion of Exercise Sharpshooter, we look forward to some well-deserved Easter leave before deploying as part of the Carrier Strike Group in the spring."
Several static drones were also dropped in the sea in the style of other threats.
https://www.forcesnews.com/services/navy/royal-navy-warship-shoots-down-swarms-drones-live-fire-exercise-coast-wales
Drone views of a cloudy day in Mont Saint-Michel
Updated Wed, April 2, 2025 at 4:27 AM PDT
:: The abbey was founded in 966, it's now a World Heritage Site visited by two million people every year
Tourists began flocking to the abbey and the village that arose in the shadows of its walls in the 1980s after it was designated a World Heritage Site.
Tourists reach the village by a crossing a bridge or by kayak. When the tide allows, visitors can walk on the sand.
The bay of Mont Saint-Michel - shared between Normandy and Brittany - has the highest tides in continental Europe, and the shifting tides are also a draw for tourists.
When the tide exceeds 110, meaning there is a large amplitude between high tide and low tide, the Mont Saint-Michel becomes an island again for a few hours and access to it is cut off.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/drone-views-cloudy-day-mont-112749275.html
https://news.clearancejobs.com/2025/04/02/chinese-espionage-in-the-philippines-drone-surveillance-of-u-s-warships-leads-to-arrests/
Chinese Espionage in the Philippines: Drone Surveillance of U.S. Warships Leads to Arrests
Apr 2, 2025
Five Chinese nationals and a Cambodian citizen were arrested and charged with espionage in the Philippines recently after the individuals allegedly collected intelligence on U.S. Navy warships as well as critical infrastructure at Subic Bay Freeport Zone, northwest of Manila Bay. This is the latest in what has been reported to be a string of incidents involving suspected Chinese espionage.
The Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), working with local law enforcement and the Philippine Navy SEALS, arrested the five Chinese nationals and the Cambodian, along with a Filipino citizen, on Grande Island, which is located near the entrance to the bay.
According to a report from Marine Insight, citing NBI Director, Jaime Santiago, the arrested Chinese nationals had been identified as Nan Ke, Xu Xining, Ye Xiaocan, Dick Ang, Su Anlong, and Qui Feng (also known as Quing Feng); while Filipino citizen, Melvin Aguillon, had acted as their bodyguard. He was taken into custody for carrying an unregistered firearm.
According to immigration records, all six of the nationals frequently traveled to the Philippines. They were disguised as fishermen and tourists while they gathered data on naval operations, including the location of U.S. warships.
They had been spotted by locals as flying drones that also monitored U.S. and Filipino military assets. The individuals were found with photos of the U.S. Navy’s Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Savannah (LCS-28) and a Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oiler.
History of Naval Activity at Subic Bay
Though it is now a Freeport Zone, it was established as a naval facility by Spain in 1885 during its colonial rule of the Philippines, and captured by the U.S. during the Spanish-American War.
It was greatly expanded by the U.S. military as U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay. Occupied by the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Second World War, it was liberated in 1945, and further expanded during the Cold War.
After Clark Air Base in Angeles City in the Philippines was closed in 1991, Naval Base Subic Bay was briefly the largest U.S. overseas military installation until it was also closed in 1992, following the 1991 Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruption.
It was subsequently transformed into the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
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Following the 2022 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between Washington and Manila, plans were drafted to reopen a portion of the base due to heightened tensions with China.
In addition, U.S. ships have employed the facilities as a resupply port. It was announced last month that a new United States Marine Corps prepositioning program began as the service leased a 57,000-square-foot warehouse.
It will be used for humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts as needed.
Just the Latest Arrests Involving Espionage
The arrest of the seven individuals follows another in January in the Philippines of a Chinese national and two Filipino associates, who are accused of gathering intelligence on a military installation; and that of Alice Guo, a former Filipino mayor who is believed to have ties to Chinese criminal syndicates linked to human trafficking. Guo has pleaded not guilty.
In June 2024, three Chinese students were arrested after employing a small drone to illegally record a video of the United States Navy’s Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) while the warship was docked at the South Korean Naval Operations Command (NOC) in the southeastern city of Busan. The Chinese nationals were accused of violating the Enforcement Decree of the Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act.
It was a year ago, in April 2024, that a video and photos of the Nimitz-class carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) circulated on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, while the warship was in port at Yokosuka, Japan.
Multiple photos seen online further showed details about the U.S. Navy’s amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), multiple destroyers, and much of the base’s port facilities.
The U.S. Navy has speculated, but never confirmed, that a civilian drone was involved. It was further believed that a Chinese citizen recorded the video.
Another Chinese drone was also suspected of recording the JMSDF’s JS Izumo, a helicopter carrier currently being modified to operate as an aircraft carrier with the short/vertical takeoff and landing F-35B Lightning II multirole fighter.
Flying a drone over JMSDF-related facilities, including the Yokosuka base, and surrounding areas, is prohibited by law. Drone flights are also restricted above key public and diplomatic areas, as well as nuclear power facilities in Japan.
Another Chinese citizen, Yinpiao Zhou, was arrested in December for allegedly flying a drone and taking pictures of Vandenberg Space Force Base (SFB), California.
Multiple U.S. Navy sailors have also been arrested and charged with sharing military secrets with China, highlighting the efforts Beijing has gone to in attempting to gain access to the U.S. Navy’s capabilities.
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Korean Air, U.S. defense company Anduril join hands for aerial drone development
02 Apr. 2025, 18:13
Korean Air, Korea's flagship air carrier, said Wednesday it has signed an initial agreement with U.S. defense technology company Anduril Industries to jointly develop autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs).
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) calls for jointly developing AAVs in Korea and the United States and collaborating to enhance manned-unmanned teaming capabilities, Korean Air said.
Korean Air said it has been actively advancing AAV technology, including producing medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles for the Korean military.
The partnership with Anduril is expected to support Korea's defense sector while opening opportunities for domestic firms in the global unmanned vehicle market, the company added.
Founded in 2017, Anduril is a U.S. defense contractor specializing in AI, drone development and data analytics. Its corporate value is estimated at US$28 billion.
The latest agreement follows Korean Air's recent $32.7 billion deal to purchase 20 aircraft from Boeing and procure spare engines from GE Aerospace, signaling the airline's broader push to strengthen its presence in the United States.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-02/business/industry/Korean-Air-US-defense-company-Anduril-join-hands-for-aerial-drone-development/2276293
Sinclair Becomes First U.S. Broadcaster Approved to Fly Drones Over People Without FAA Waiver
April 2, 2025 by Miriam McNabb Leave a Comment
Partnership with Virginia Tech Enables Safer, More Dynamic Aerial Newsgathering
Sinclair, a major U.S. media company, has reached a new milestone in drone journalism. On April 2, 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accepted Sinclair’s Declaration of Compliance for Operations Over People.
With this approval, Sinclair becomes the first broadcast media company authorized to fly drones over people and moving vehicles for news coverage—without needing a special FAA waiver.
The approval allows Sinclair to use specially modified drones that meet FAA safety standards. This means the company can now expand its aerial coverage of news events while following strict procedures designed to keep people safe.
“This approval represents a significant step forward in our ability to deliver high-quality, innovative journalism,” said Scott Livingston, Senior Vice President of News for Sinclair.
“By incorporating expanded drone footage, we enhance our coverage of breaking news, local events, weather, and community stories—offering our audiences more compelling and dynamic storytelling.
Our ongoing partnership with Virginia Tech has been instrumental in ensuring the highest safety and training standards.”
A Nationwide Drone Program
Sinclair’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) program began in 2016. It now spans 50 newsrooms across the country. The team has completed more than 40,000 drone flights. The program includes 148 FAA-certified drone pilots and 540 trained visual observers.
All drone operators receive training through the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP), one of the FAA’s designated test sites. This partnership helps Sinclair meet strict federal safety standards while growing its use of drones in journalism.
“Our dedication to safety is paramount and this achievement is the result of more than a year of extensive preparation, testing, and collaboration with industry and government partners,” said Jeff Rose, Sinclair’s UAS Chief Pilot.
“We’ve also conducted community outreach meetings in each market where we operate drones, engaging with first responders, Homeland Security, education officials, local government agencies, and the FAA.”
A Partnership Built on Safety
Virginia Tech’s MAAP played a key role in Sinclair’s success. The organization helped test a modified drone using FAA-approved methods, making it possible to meet the requirements for safe operations over people.
“We have worked for years with Sinclair, helping to train their pilots, and I have always been impressed with their professionalism and commitment to safety,” said Tombo Jones, Director for the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership.
“We were proud to build on that theme by using our FAA-approved test method to test a modified drone that allows Sinclair’s pilots to meet the FAA’s stringent safety requirements for operating over people or traffic.”
This FAA approval strengthens Sinclair’s leadership in using drones to enhance broadcast news. The company’s trained pilots and upgraded drone fleet are now fully equipped to capture aerial footage in ways that are both safe and compliant.
https://dronelife.com/2025/04/02/sinclair-becomes-first-u-s-broadcaster-approved-to-fly-drones-over-people-without-faa-waiver/
https://sbgi.net/
Ukraine drone attack forces evacuation of 60 in Russia's Kursk, regional official says
UPDATED Apr 02, 2025, 12:11 PM
A Ukrainian overnight drone attack forced the evacuation of at least 60 people when falling drone debris hit their apartment building in the Russian city of Kursk, not far from the border with Ukraine, a regional official said on Wednesday.
"As a result of the attack of enemy drones on Kursk, there is damage to an apartment building in the city centre," the acting governor of the Kursk region, Alexander Khinshtein, said on the Telegram messaging app.
"Fortunately, there are no casualties."
The size of the attack was not clear. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
The attack came as both sides accuse each other of breaking a U.S.-brokered partial ceasefire on strikes on energy and Black Sea infrastructure in the three-year-old war that started with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/ukraine-drone-attack-forces-evacuation-of-60-in-russias-kursk-regional-official-says
HUR releases video of drone attack on Russian landing craft, air defense system in Crimea
April 2, 2025 2:45 PM
Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) on April 1 released a video of a drone operation in Russian-occupied Crimea in which it claims to have struck two Russian military boats and an air defense system.
HUR claimed drones operated by its "Prymary" special unit struck a Tor M2 short-range air defense system and two Russian landing craft operating at sea.
HUR did not say in its post when the operation took place, but an HUR source initially told the Kyiv Independent on April 2 that the video was "new, about 10 days (old)," but later clarified that it was actually from January.
According to a post on Telegram, the drones "skillfully" evaded air defenses — and at least one seagull — before hitting their targets.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify the authenticity of the video.
The U.S., Russia, and Ukraine agreed to a partial ceasefire and to "eliminate the use of force" and prevent commercial vessels from being used for military purposes in the Black Sea, the White House announced on March 25 — eight days ago.
Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian military and industrial targets in Sevastopol and elsewhere in Crimea during the full-scale war.
According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi, Kyiv understands that the Black Sea ceasefire applies to civilian shipping and Ukrainian ports and does not apply to Russian warships.
https://kyivindependent.com/hur-releases-video-of-drone-attack-on-russian-landing-craft-air-defense-system-in-crimea/
Meet the Harpies: Ukraine’s all-female drone pilots ready for battle
April 2, 2025, 05:43 AM
Ukraine’s Drone Systems Forces have opened recruitment for a new all-female drone unit named the Harpies, the service announced on March 2.
While the unit will include men in support roles, drone pilot positions will be reserved exclusively for women.
The Harpies are led by a soldier identified as Dariia (callsign DShK), a veteran of the Revolution of Dignity who has been fighting against Russian forces in multiple special operations units since 2022.
“The Harpies are a space for women who seek revenge against the enemy, who want to protect their children, their families, and their country using unmanned and robotic systems,” the Drone Systems Forces said in a statement.
Those accepted into the unit will undergo 45 days of basic military training, followed by more than 30 days of specialized instruction. Additional time will be allocated for crew coordination before deployment.
Pilots in the unit will be trained to operate FPV drones, heavy bombers, strike UAVs such as wing-type drones, and ground-based robotic platforms.
The Harpies are open to both active-duty servicewomen and reservists.
https://english.nv.ua/nation/ukraine-launches-all-female-drone-unit-harpies-to-fight-russian-forces-50502932.html
Russian Strike on Ukrainian Leader’s Home City Kills 4
April 2, 2025
A Russian ballistic missile strike killed at least four people and wounded nine others in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's home city of Kryvyi Rih on Wednesday, authorities said.
The strike followed an overnight drone barrage on the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv, which killed one and wounded a dozen others, according to officials.
The head of Kryvyi Rih's military administration, Oleksandr Vikul, said Russia attacked civilian infrastructure with a ballistic missile, sparking a large fire, and that a rescue operation was underway.
An unverified social media video from the scene showed fire and smoke rising from a damaged industrial building and debris lying around.
"The death toll in Kryvyi Rih has risen to four," Dnipropetrovsk regional Governor Serhiy Lysak said.
Among the wounded were a 29-year-old woman and men aged 35 and 41, he added.
Russia and Ukraine have stepped up aerial attacks even as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes the Kremlin and Kyiv to agree to a ceasefire after more than three years of costly fighting.
Earlier Wednesday, a 45-year-old man was killed when a Russian strike hit cars parked outside a house in Zaporizhzhia, the head of the Ukrainian region's military administration Ivan Federov said on Telegram.
In Kharkiv, five people were wounded in drone strikes, the head of the Kharkiv regional administration Oleh Syniehubov said.
An AFP reporter saw firefighters hosing down smoke from a building in Kharkiv, where a blaze was raging and black smoke billowed from windows.
Zelensky said earlier Russia had launched 74 drones in total at targets across Ukraine.
The "systemic" Russian attacks, he added, showed the Kremlin "despises the diplomatic efforts" to halt the war.
"Putin does not even want to ensure a partial ceasefire. What's needed is new and tangible pressure on Russia to put this war on a path towards ending," he added.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/02/russian-strike-on-ukrainian-leaders-home-city-kills-4-a88586
Russia ‘Cannot’ Accept U.S. Ceasefire Proposal in Ukraine, Deputy FM Says
April 1, 2025
Moscow cannot accept U.S. proposals for a ceasefire in Ukraine without addressing what it considers the “root causes” of the war, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Tuesday.
“We take the Americans’ proposed models and solutions very seriously, but we also cannot accept them as is,” Ryabkov said in an interview excerpt published by the Russian Foreign Ministry’s journal International Affairs.
U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for a swift end to the more than three-year war since taking office in January, but his team’s negotiations with Russia and Ukraine have yet to produce any breakthroughs.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a joint U.S.-Ukrainian plan for a broad 30-day ceasefire and last month suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should be removed from office as part of the peace process.
On Sunday, Trump told NBC News he was “pissed off” at Putin for questioning Zelensky’s credibility as a negotiating partner and calling for new leadership in Ukraine.
The Kremlin said Monday that Putin remained open to speaking with Trump, who later told reporters he expects the Russian leader to “fulfill his part” of a peace deal.
But Ryabkov warned that Moscow sees no signals from either Trump or Ukraine that could bring an end to the war beyond the 30-day ceasefire proposal.
“There’s no place [in the U.S. plans] for our main demand today, which is resolving problems related to the root causes of this conflict,” he said.
Russian officials have repeatedly invoked the term “root causes,” which Putin said last June include Ukraine withdrawing from the partially Ukrainian regions and abandoning its NATO bid.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/01/russia-cannot-accept-us-ceasefire-proposal-in-ukraine-deputy-fm-says-a88564
Mass Cyberattack Disrupts Online Services for Russian Railways
April 1, 2025
Russian Railways said Tuesday its website and mobile app were knocked offline by a cyberattack, the first such incident since last summer.
The state-owned rail company said ticket offices were unaffected, and sales at train stations continued as usual.
“Our website and mobile application have been subjected to a mass DDoS attack,” Russian Railways said on Telegram. “We’re working to restore access as soon as possible.”
The attack comes a day after Moscow’s Transportation Department reported “technical work” disruptions with the Moscow Metro app.
However, Russian media reported that the Metro app and website may have also been hit by a denial-of-service attack, with a Ukrainian-language message from Ukrainian Railways briefly appearing on the Metro website.
Separately on Monday, the governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, near the border with Ukraine, claimed a DDoS attack on the Rostelecom provider disrupted the regional administration’s weekly livestream.
Russian Railways previously reported large-scale cyberattacks in July 2024 and February 2022, with services restored within hours.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/01/mass-cyberattack-disrupts-online-services-for-russian-railways-a88556
https://t.me/telerzd/6258
31 Russian Motorcycle Troops Got Massacred By Drones. What Hope Does A Solitary Bike Have?
Updated Apr 2, 2025, 02:36am EDT
A truck from 1952. An open-top off-road vehicle that’s only slightly younger—and turquoise. A compact car with an anti-tank mine in the back, just waiting to cook off.
After losing 20,000 armored vehicles and other heavy equipment, far more than they can replace with similar combat-ready vehicles, Russian forces in Ukraine increasingly ride into battle in civilian-style vehicles that are highly vulnerable to Ukrainian mines, artillery and drones.
One Russian drone unit’s pink motorcycle is, in this remarkable context, tragically unremarkable.
A Russian soldier showed off his pink bike and its crude, handmade sidecar in a video translated by the Estonian analyst WarTranslated.
“I’d like to show you our warhorse,” the soldier said. “On which we also ride out to the task.”
The bike, an ex-Ukrainian trophy the Russians captured or stole, carries drone operators on reconnaissance missions, the soldier said.
Presumably, the operators ride out to positions close to the front line in order to launch their short-range drones.
“This vehicle is a beast,” the soldier insisted, pointing out the sidecar with its spare gas can and attached box of smoke grenades for obscuring the bike and its riders from Ukrainian drones. “Just in case,” the soldier said ominously.
But the soldier admitted the bike is an expedient—and a desperate one, at that. “There’s nothing else for us to ride,” he said.
Armored bikes
When they first deployed modern war bikes on a large scale last year, some Russian troops tried adding armor.
But as armies repeatedly learned in the roughly 100-year history of armored motorcycles, “the high mass of the vehicle made steering difficult,” according to Tanks Encyclopedia. “Cross-country mobility was minimal.”
Today it’s rare to see up-armored motorcycles in service with Russian regiments in Ukraine. It’s all too common to see unarmored motorcycles.
One recent failed assault on Ukrainian lines involved a staggering 31 bikes, few of which survived the attack as Ukrainian artillery and explosive drones rained down.
The ongoing de-mechanization of the Russian military—from one of the world’s leading users of heavy armored vehicles to a force that routinely sends troops into battle in compact cars—is one of the major factors in the slowing pace of Russian advances on the most important battlefields in eastern Ukraine.
Russia still has a manpower and firepower advantage over Ukraine, a country with a third of Russia’s population. But this advantage erodes by the day as more Russians roll into battle in the same vehicles civilians ride to work.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2025/04/01/one-russian-drone-teams-warhorse-is-a-pink-motorcycle-with-a-handmade-sidecar/
UFOs Dismissed as 'Absurd' by Renowned Astronomer at Chilean Congressional Hearing
April 01, 2025
An unexpected question about UFOs at a Chilean Congressional hearing prompted a stern response from a renowned astronomer who dismissed the idea of aliens visiting the Earth as "absurd."
According to a local media report, the interesting exchange (seen below) occurred late last month during a gathering of the country's Chamber of Deputies Committee on the Environment.
During the hearing, which examined how a planned industrial project might impact a nearby observatory, member Cristóbal Martínez seized the opportunity to ask one of the invited speakers, famed Chilean astronomer José Maza, about the UFO phenomenon.
Acknowledging that his question might evoke some chuckles from those in attendance, the politician somewhat nervously explained that the astronomer's considerable expertise compelled him to ask "have you ever seen, I don't know how to say it, a flying saucer?"
While the question was put forward with a laugh and the observation that "everyone wants to know" the answer to the UFO mystery, it quickly became apparent that Maza was not as amused by the unexpected inquiry.
"We have never seen anything," the astronomer replied, calling the concept of visitors from another world "a joke."
Ever the educator, Maza noted the enormous distances between planets and indicated that it would take a staggering 40,000 years to travel to the relatively close Alpha Centauri star system that is a 'mere' four light-years from Earth.
Further diminishing the possibility of extraterrestrial visitors, the astronomer mused that "it's absurd" that aliens would make such an arduous journey simply to "scare someone and leave."
Lest there were any doubts about where Maza stood on UFOs, he ultimately compared the phenomenon to the fantastical tales of Santa Claus' flying reindeer and Peter Pan.
The astronomer's strongly worded response to the unusual question subsequently became a viral moment on social media in Chile, where the nature of UFOs is as hotly debated as it is here in America.
Reflecting on the exchange that made him someone of a meme, Maza later asserted that he was not angry about the inquiry, but "was a little surprised that in the formality of a meeting of a committee of the Chamber of Deputies, they asked me the question," which would have been "absolutely natural" to pose in a more casual setting. That said, the astronomer did not change his stance on UFOs, and seemed to appreciate, in retrospect, being able to address the issue as he did.
"You actually see so much, so much, both in all the media about UFOs, tarot, numerology," he lamented, "for me it was an opportunity, being able to be in a very important place to make us see that we don't really know anything about UFOs, because they don't exist, period."
https://www.coasttocoastam.com/article/ufos-dismissed-as-absurd-by-renowned-astronomer-at-chilean-congressional-hearing/
https://www.publimetro.cl/deportes/2025/03/26/me-sorprendio-jose-maza-reconoce-incomodidad-con-pregunta-de-un-diputado-por-la-existencia-de-los-ovni-durante-sesion-de-la-comision-de-medio-ambiente/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIW53IVfJ0w
Professors are Secretly Aliens
April 2, 2025
What your professors aren’t telling you
This article is satirical and fake. It is a part of our annual Rectum special April Fools edition.
Do you ever feel like your professors are out of this world? Do they use big words that you just can’t comprehend?
Do you ever wonder why they just don’t seem to understand their students? Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s because your professor is most likely an alien.
First of all, do you ever notice how professors just seem to have a secret language between each other.
They use big words like “academia” and “psychoanalysis”. What average human knows what those words mean? Beyond just their language that they use, why is it that we can barely ever read their handwriting?
It’s like they’re writing in a secret code that goes along with their incomprehensible language. Coincidence? I think not!
Ever notice how professors are brainwashing us under the guise of “education”? They claim they are just “educating” us, but are they really?
They may just be trying to lure us into their alien ways of life. They’re just trying to see how gullible humans are. How is it that they have all this information that they’re able to give us?
Their intelligence just outrivals humans. Only aliens could have this level of intelligence.
Professors are performing literal experiments and tests on us. I mean, why else would they assign so many exams or assignments?
They’re testing our intelligence to make sure that we humans are not overthrowing them. They assign us these “tests” to keep us in line and to know our place.
They claim these tests are for our grades, but what are grades really? They’re an arbitrary system that was set up by none other than…professionals in “academia,” that coded word that only aliens would know.
So, this secret society of aliens literally invented grades as a way to experiment on us humans.
How about the professors who are actually performing experiments on us under the name “psychological study”? It’s highly suspicious.
Have you ever wondered why professors always seem to be so interested in students’ lives or behavior? It’s like they are trying to figure out how humans think and operate in order to control us even more.
What about their activities off campus? Why is it that they are rarely seen off campus? Maybe it’s because they aren’t on our earth anymore.
I suspect that once they are done “teaching” us, professors get up in their spaceship to discuss the results of their daily experiments. That’s why we rarely see them outside of classes.
Professors are just an enigma here on campus. They don’t seem to be like us at all, which can only mean one thing…they are secretly aliens who are performing experiments on us humans.
I don’t know what happens after we “graduate” from their experiment, but I’d warn any student to be wary of trusting what their professors are saying.
Don’t listen to their lectures. Don’t read their texts. I’d say don’t even make eye contact with them.
https://ndsuspectrum.com/professors-are-secretly-aliens/