🔥 'Overwhelmed with propaganda'

Good Morning. NASA confirmed that an object that crashed into a Florida home was part of the International Space Station.

Jettisoned in March 2021, the 1.6lb piece made of Inconel metal survived atmospheric re-entry and damaged a house in Naples, nearly injuring a resident's son.

Originally part of station hardware discarded after battery updates, it prompted NASA to plan a detailed investigation into how it survived the burn-up.

I’m sure when the brass at NASA requested that their equipment return home, they didn’t mean through someone’s roof!

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

THE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT

French Minister for European Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot on Tuesday warned that France is "being overwhelmed with propaganda and disinformation" as the country approaches the European Union election in June.

Ongoing Disinformation Campaigns

In recent weeks, France has not experienced a single week without a "coordinated disinformation campaign," according to Barrot. The French disinformation watchdog Viginum identified a specific operation named "Portal Kombat" aimed at France, Germany, and Poland, linked to the anniversary of Russia’s Ukraine invasion and the forthcoming EU elections.

Responses and Sanctions

The spread of disinformation has prompted responses from both European and social media authorities. Czech officials recently sanctioned the Prague-based Voice of Europe, accusing it of disseminating Kremlin-backed propaganda.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY & DIPLOMACY

Counterterrorism

• Former US Marine Chance Brannon has been sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to firebombing a California Planned Parenthood clinic in March 2022 and plotting attacks aimed at igniting a "race war" against Jewish people and an LGBT pride event.

• An Afghan migrant on the terrorist watchlist was released by U.S. Border Patrol last year and lived freely until his recent re-arrest, officials say. Mohammad Kharwin, detained again Thursday, had no restrictions on his U.S. movements despite his security threat status.

• The United States has pledged support for Nigeria's fight against terrorism as the country commemorates 10 years since the Chibok schoolgirl abductions, according to a U.S. Embassy statement.

• Federal authorities arrested Idaho teenager Alexander Scott Mercurio, who was allegedly planning an Islamic State-inspired attack on Coeur d’Alene churches using an arsenal of weapons. The investigation led to his capture a day before the planned attack.

Military & Defense

• The Republic of China Army conducted its first test of the land-based Sky Sword II air-defense system in Pingtung County, successfully striking its target, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense announced. The test aimed to validate the system's effectiveness, originally designed for air-to-air combat by Taiwan's fighter aircraft.

• U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart held their first discussion in over 17 months. During the talks, Austin emphasized the importance of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, while the Chinese side reiterated that Taiwan and regional peace are central to their interests.

• A senior Ukrainian official warned that a Russian takeover of Chasiv Yar could threaten the last Ukrainian-held cities in Donetsk, setting the stage for further advances into Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk. Chasiv Yar's strategic location provides commanding heights over the region, making it a critical target for Russian forces aiming for a significant victory by May 9.

Cybersecurity

• Cybersecurity firm Positive Technologies reports that the hacking group TA558 is using steganography to hide malware like Agent Tesla and LokiBot in images and documents, targeting sectors across Latin America and other regions. The group's tactics include phishing emails with infected Excel attachments exploiting a known security flaw to deliver malware, affecting industries from power to construction.

• Authorities in the U.S. and Australia have arrested two individuals linked to the distribution of Hive RAT, a malware that enabled unauthorized access to victim computers and sensitive information. Edmond Chakhmakhchyan, arrested in Los Angeles, allegedly sold the malware and faces trial in June 2024, while an unnamed Australian faces multiple charges related to the creation and sale of Hive RAT.

• Iran and Hezbollah have intensified cyberattacks against Israeli networks, a response linked to ongoing military actions in Gaza, Israeli officials report. Cybersecurity experts highlight the asymmetric nature of the conflict, with various regional actors engaging in cyber warfare as both a primary strategy and a means of projecting power without direct confrontation.

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• North Korea satellite analysis researcher 38 North found that North Korea is intensifying its surveillance efforts by installing cameras in schools and workplaces and collecting biometric data such as fingerprints and photographs of its citizens. These measures are part of a broader attempt to control and monitor the population, although limited by challenges such as poor electricity supply and network connectivity.

• China is keen on seeing a pro-Beijing candidate win the April 17 presidential elections in the Solomon Islands, reflecting its strategic interests. Recently, China has ramped up investments in the island nation, aiming to sway the electoral outcome in its favor.

• Members of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, including prominent politicians, have been accused of receiving funds from Kremlin-linked sources to conduct information operations. These allegations raise concerns about the party's participation in sensitive government meetings, amid increasing evidence of their connections to Moscow.

Transnational Organized Crime

• Two Bishnoi gang members, a criminal group that venerates antelopes as sacred, were arrested for shooting at Bollywood star Salman Khan's Mumbai home in retaliation for his past poaching of two blackbuck Indian antelopes in 1998. The attack occurred early Sunday in the upscale neighborhood of Bandra, with Khan present but unharmed.

• A House Select Committee on China report accuses the Chinese government of using tax rebates to encourage the manufacture and export of fentanyl materials, intensifying the opioid crisis in the U.S. The report underscores a lack of enforcement by China against the export of illicit fentanyl, despite global calls for cooperation to stop the spread of synthetic narcotics.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Russia’s renowned launch industry faces a significant decline, impacted by aging rockets, reduced government funding, and the loss of Western customers due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Despite these challenges, Russian officials, including Roscosmos chief Yuri Borisov, continue to publicly uphold ambitious future launch plans to maintain national pride in Russia's storied space achievements.

Public Statements vs. Reality

During a recent lecture at the Tsiolkovsky State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics, Yuri Borisov attempted to reassure students and visitors by comparing Russia’s future Amur-CNG rocket favorably against SpaceX's Falcon 9. He claimed that the Amur-CNG could be reused up to 100 times, overshadowing Falcon 9's capabilities.

Challenges in Rocket Development

The development of new Russian rockets like the Amur-CNG is plagued by significant delays and resource allocation issues, exacerbated by the country's military commitments in Ukraine. The Angara rocket, another project that took over two decades from approval to its first test flight, serves as a cautionary tale of slow progress and repeated delays.

In other news…

🦾 Boston Dynamics officially retired their humanoid robot Atlas, marking an end to a decade of advancements despite the surge in funding and interest in the humanoid robotics sector. The retirement suggests a strategic shift for the company, potentially clearing the path for new innovations and products in the robotics field, as hinted by recent promotional activities showcasing Atlas' capabilities.

🤖 Baidu's "Ernie Bot," a ChatGPT rival, has reached over 200 million users and its API sees 200 million daily uses, doubling its user base since December, as stated by CEO Robin Li at a conference in Shenzhen. Despite this rapid growth, domestic competitors like Alibaba-backed "Kimi" are quickly catching up, with Kimi's visits increasing by over 321% in March.

DEALS & FUNDING

Lockheed Martin has been selected by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to lead the development of the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI), a major defense project aimed at enhancing the nation’s Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system. The contract will cover various phases including critical design review, qualification, integration, and flight testing, with Lockheed guiding the NGI to its projected initial operational capability by the end of fiscal year 2028.

Contract and Costs

Although the MDA's announcement did not specify the financial details of the contract, estimates from the Pentagon's Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation in 2021 anticipate the NGI program could cost approximately USD 17.7 billion.

Selection Criteria and Decision

The decision to select Lockheed Martin was influenced by several factors including the technical maturity of their proposal, the rigor of their design process, and their ability to meet performance dates, as outlined by the MDA.

In other news…

🌐 Upstage Co. Ltd., an AI startup specializing in document processing, has secured $72 million in Series B funding to enhance its technologies, pushing its total funding to $100 million with support from new and existing investors.

🧬Evolution Equity Partners has launched a $1.1 billion fund focused on cybersecurity and AI investments, named Evolution Technology Fund III, amid signs of recovery in the sector with increased budgets and deal numbers despite a previous downturn.

🪖 The U.S. ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, has called on Tokyo to enhance its role in the development, production, and supply of weapons to bolster collective security amid ongoing global conflicts, including in Ukraine and Gaza.