Autonomous Vehicles
Russia says more than 600 drones targeted Moscow region
Is the war entering a new phase? Russian officials have reported more than 620 overnight drones targeting Moscow, in what appears to be one of Ukraine's largest attacks on the Russian capital in years. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian defences shot down 180 drones over the capital region between Monday evening and 5am (02:00 GMT) on Tuesday. He said 17 more drones were shot down en route to the capital later. The drone attack wounded three people, including a 10-year-old girl, Moscow region's Governor Andrey Vorobyov said on Telegram.
German drone maker Helsing enlists Rakuten to broker Japan military deal
German drone maker Helsing has enlisted Japanese e-commerce and finance firm Rakuten to help finalize a deal to sell its unmanned systems to Japan's army, a spokesperson for Rakuten said on Monday. Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force is currently testing Helsing's HX-2 strike drone, as Tokyo looks to modernize its military and counter an increasingly assertive China. The field tests will run until the end of September, the spokesperson said. Helsing struck an "initial agreement" for the Japanese government to use its systems earlier this year, a spokesperson for the Munich-based company said, adding that the move was made possible by an unnamed "local brokerage partner." Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Russia warns UK over supplying drones to Ukraine
Russia has accused the UK of deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis following confirmation that British-made drones had been used in strikes on targets in Russia. In doing so, the United Kingdom is acting as an accomplice and co-perpetrator of the bloody crimes and terrorist attacks, the Russian Embassy to the UK wrote in a statement. London's actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer, it said, adding that the deeper its involvement in the conflict, the higher the price it will pay. In response, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) told BBC News that Britain stood shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this Government to stand against Russian aggression, in Ukraine and against the UK and our allies, said the spokesperson in a statement.
The Antigravity A1 360 drone bundle just dipped to a new record-low price at Amazon
Look Up Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Say More Safety Net Creator Hub Versus Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Mashable Selects Switch Off Trending Now In My Bag VidCon with Mashable All Series Take $400 off one of Mashable's favorite immersive drones. Lauren Allain is a freelance journalist covering deals at Mashable. She graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. in journalism and holds an M.B.A from Webster Leiden. You can find more of her work online from publications including Reader's Digest, U.S. News & World Report, Seattle Refined, and more. When she's not writing, Lauren prefers to be outside hiking, bouldering, swimming, or searching for the perfect location for all three.
Uber aims for 1 million daily drone deliveries with Zipline partnership
You could soon get your Uber Eats order delivered by a Zipline drone thanks to the latest partnership between the two companies. As detailed in an Uber press release, the company is targeting a goal of one million drone deliveries each day by end of 2029. The partnering companies also announced that the first deployments are scheduled for later this year, with drone deliveries first becoming available in Zipline's existing US markets, including Pea Ridge, Ark. and the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, before expanding to dozens of more cities. On top of the combination of Uber's network and Zipline's drone fleet, Uber made a strategic investment into Zipline but didn't disclose the financial details. Before this partnership, Zipline teamed up with Walmart and Chipotle to make food and retail deliveries.
Yemen's drone war: Rivals flex growing aerial muscle
After the Houthi armed group in Yemen launched attacks on government military camps and gatherings last week using one-way attack drones, it killed and injured dozens of government soldiers. But the internationally recognised Yemeni government was quick to retaliate by employing remotely operated drones to attack Houthi fighters on the front lines. That development is significant in Yemen's decadelong conflict because it highlights the growing use of drones on the battlefield. Government military units have repeatedly broadcast video footage showing drones tracking their targets, dropping bombs, killing fighters, destroying armoured vehicles and damaging hideouts. "The government side is now acquiring a potentially important tactical capability of its own," said Marius Bales, a doctoral researcher at the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies.
Iraqi Kurdish PM Barzani's office targeted in drone attack
Iraqi Kurdish PM Barzani's office targeted in drone attack The office of the prime minister of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been targeted in a drone attack, the region's security agency said, adding that there were no reports of casualties. The statement said the home of the head of the semi-autonomous Iraqi region's security and intelligence agency had also been targeted by drones early on Monday. "Two Hadid-110 drones targeted the private office of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government and the residence of the Security Directorate", the Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Service said in a statement cited by Iraq's state news agency. The statement confirmed that no casualties were reported. In a post on X, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani condemned the attack as "illegitimate and unacceptable".
Between cartel threats and U.S. airstrikes, Ecuador fishers have nowhere to hide
Between cartel threats and U.S. airstrikes, Ecuador fishers have nowhere to hide Fishers unload their fresh catch near a market in Manta, Ecuador, on June 4. JARAMIJO/SAN MATEO, ECUADOR - At first light on Ecuador's Pacific coast, small fishing boats fan out from the villages of San Mateo and Jaramijo, their bows pointed toward deeper waters and the promise of a good catch. Other boats come in from the rolling surf to battered coves, where crews unload baskets of tuna and swordfish and traders rush to inspect the day's haul. The scene belies the dangers some fishers face pushing out into these waters. Onshore, drug cartels have turned the small ports of Ecuador's Manabi province into a cocaine-trafficking hub, extorting local fishers who are prized for their navigation skills. The cartels present an impossible choice: earn more than a year's legal income smuggling drugs, or face extortion, threats and violence.