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Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Terrifying footage unveils America's new suicide bomber drone that creates its own kill list
The US military may soon have an army of faceless suicide bombers at their disposal, as an American defense contractor has revealed their newest war-fighting drone. AeroVironment unveiled the Red Dragon in a video on their YouTube page, the first in a new line of 'one-way attack drones.' This new suicide drone can reach speeds up to 100 mph and can travel nearly 250 miles. The new drone takes just 10 minutes to set up and launch and weighs just 45 pounds. Once the small tripod the Red Dragon takes off from is set up, AeroVironment said soldiers would be able to launch up to five per minute. After the weapon selects its target, AeroVironment video revealed that the Red Dragon goes into dive-bomb, slamming into the target like a missile. Although the damage of the drone's explosive payload will likely vary based on what it hits, AeroVironment showed Red Dragon striking everything from tanks and military vehicles to enemy encampments and small buildings. Red Dragon arrives as military officials have openly said the country is in a fight to maintain 'air superiority' as drones have changed the entire landscape of the battlefield - flying remote-controlled bombs into targets all over the world. However, the new one-way attack drone is raising some moral issues. Since the suicide robot can choose its own target in the air, the US military may soon be taking life-and-death decisions out of the hands of humans. US defense contractor AeroVironment said in a video that their new 'suicide drone' is ready for mass production AeroVironment said that this autonomous and intelligent weapon is ready for mass production. Simply put, the US military will soon have swarms of bombs with brains that don't land until they've chosen a target and crash into it. The AI-powered drone also carries up to 22 pounds of explosives and can strike targets on land, in the air, and at sea. Unlike other US military drones, which can carry their own missiles, Red Dragon is the missiles, with its manufacturers saying it's been built 'for scale, speed, and operational relevance.' The lightweight drone was designed for quick deployment and flexibility on the battlefield, allowing smaller military units to deploy Red Dragon from almost anywhere. Once airborne, its AVACORE software architecture functions as the drone's brain, managing all its systems and enabling quick customization. Red Dragon's SPOTR-Edge perception system acts like smart eyes, using AI to find and identify targets independently. Despite Red Dragon's ability to choose a target with 'limited operator involvement,' the Department of Defense (DoD) has said it's against the military's policy to allow such a thing to happen. In 2024, Craig Martell, the DoD's Chief Digital and AI Officer, said: 'There will always be a responsible party who understands the boundaries of the technology, who when deploying the technology takes responsibility for deploying that technology.' Additionally, the DoD updated its own directives to mandate that 'autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon systems' always have the built-in ability to allow humans to control the device. Red Dragon can carry is similar to the Hellfire missiles carried and launched by larger US drones. These drones typically strike the same kind of targets as Red Dragon, but since it requires precise targeting and guidance for the missiles to hit their target, the simplicity of the suicide attack by a swarm of Red Dragons removes many high-tech complications. The US Marine Corps have become heavily involved in the evolution of drone warfare in recent years. Lieutenant General Benjamin Watson said in April that, because of the widespread use of drones by America's allies and enemies, 'we may never fight again with air superiority in the way we have traditionally come to appreciate it.' While the US is keeping a tight leash on AI-powered weapons, other nations and militant groups have allegedly ignored the ethical issues in recent years, including terror groups like ISIS and the Houthi rebels. In 2020, the Centre for International Governance Innovation noted that both Russia and China were pursuing AI-driven military hardware with fewer ethical restrictions than the US. As for Red Dragon, AeroVironment said that the suicide drone uses a 'new generation of autonomous systems' which allow it to make its own decisions once the operator launches it. The drone's ability to rely on its own advanced computer systems without remote control guidance means Red Dragon is able to fly in areas where GPS and other communications don't work. However, the drone still comes equipped with an advanced radio system, ensuring US soldiers can stay in contact with the weapon once it's airborne. On their website, AeroVironment called Red Dragon 'a significant step forward in autonomous lethality.'
Pembrokeshire Herald
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Father and son from Wales deliver truck to Ukrainian frontline
Vehicle painted with Red Dragon and 'With Love from Wales' message A PEMBROKESHIRE man and his son have donated a pick-up truck to Ukrainian soldiers and personally delivered it to the frontline in Donetsk. Ashley Hawkins, aged 60, from Little Haven, and his 28-year-old son James, who lives in Abergavenny, set off in February to drive their old Ford Ranger some 1,500 miles across Europe to the city of Lviv. The vehicle, which is 15 years old, was reinforced and repainted at a workshop run by the charity Car4Ukraine. It now proudly displays a Welsh dragon and the message 'With Love from Wales.' Ashley returned to Ukraine at the end of March to complete the journey himself—driving a further 600 miles east to Donetsk, where he handed over the truck to soldiers from Ukraine's 46th Airmobile Brigade. He told The Herald: 'It was an incredible experience to drive the truck all the way across Ukraine and an honour to meet the brave men who will be using it.' Ashley was escorted through a series of military checkpoints into a heavily damaged region that had previously been under Russian control. There, he was shown the destruction left behind before Ukrainian forces pushed the Russians out. 'One of the soldiers I met used to be a civil lawyer before the war,' he said. 'He told me he no longer knows if he'll ever be able to return to his former life. His only goal now is to survive. It's a desperate situation, especially with the US stepping back its support, but the Ukrainian people are courageous and united. They're determined to resist, whatever it takes.' As well as delivering the Ford Ranger, Ashley transported a second donated vehicle to Lviv on his return trip in March, and he plans to deliver more in June and July. The charity Car4Ukraine, which organised the modifications, has now sent more than 600 vehicles from the UK and other countries to support troops on the frontlines.
News18
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Good Bad Ugly Box Office Collection Day 11: Ajith Kumar's Film Earns Rs 137 Crore On Easter Sunday
Last Updated: Ajith Kumar's Good Bad Ugly earned Rs 137 crore by Day 11, boosted by Easter Sunday. It surpassed Rs 200 crore worldwide, becoming the first Tamil movie to do so. Ajith Kumar's Good Bad Ugly isn't slowing down anytime soon. On Day 11, the film raked in a solid Rs 137 crore, with Easter Sunday giving it a nice boost. Fans are still flocking to theaters to watch their favourite superstar pack a few punches on the big screen. Helmed by Adhik Ravichandran, Good Bad Ugly was released on April 10 and it registered a massive Rs 29.25 crore on its debut day, becoming South superstar Ajith Kumar's biggest opener of his career. The film also stars Trisha Krishnan. Worldwide, Good Bad Ugly has already stormed past the Rs 200-crore mark, making it the first Tamil movie to achieve this feat. On Easter Sunday, April 20, the film made a strong Rs 6.75 crore at the box office, a whopping Rs 2 crore more than its daily average earnings in the past few days. Before its Easter bounce, Good Bad Ugly saw a slight dip in earnings during its second week. Even with the Good Friday holiday, the Ajith starrer managed Rs 5.75 crore on Friday, April 18. For the days leading up to that, the film's average earnings had been around Rs 5.55 crore, according to data from Sacnilk. Good Bad Ugly follows the gritty and emotional journey of Red Dragon (played by Ajith Kumar), a feared gangster trying to turn over a new leaf. His wife, Ramya (Trisha), draws a firm line—he won't be allowed to see their son, Vihaan, unless he cleans up his act. Determined to make amends, Red Dragon sets out to change, but just as he's trying to right his wrongs, his dark past comes crashing back. When his son is kidnapped, the stakes skyrocket, and he's forced to dive back into the world he tried to leave behind. The film boasts a stellar ensemble including Arjun Das, Sunil, Karthikeya Dev, Priya Prakash Varrier, Prabhu, Prasanna, Tinnu Anand, and Raghu Ram. First Published: April 21, 2025, 09:59 IST
Miami Herald
08-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Surprising China news sends stock market reeling
The stock market found its footing on Monday April 7 after the S&P 500 fell 10% following President Trump's tariff announcement last week, but bullishness flipped to bearishness again on Tuesday afternoon. Related: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink shares bad recession news The S&P 500 gained 4% early on Tuesday after encouraging comments from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggesting President Trump is open to negotiating lower tariffs. Unfortunately, market optimism in the afternoon when it became clear that stiffer tariffs on China would be imposed at midnight after the 'Red Dragon' showed an unwillingness to come to the negotiating table. As a result, the S&P 500 closed down 1.5%, Bloomberg/Getty Images The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite have reacted poorly to the emerging trade tensions. Investors went into President Trump's "Liberation Day" announcement hoping that tariffs would be measured, and manageable. However, controversy over the method of calculating reciprocal tariffs quickly emerged when the tariffs unveiled came in substantially higher than predictions. Related: Mark Cuban makes shocking trade war prediction The White House had indicated that tariffs would be set to offset tariffs and other trade restrictions in place overseas. Instead, the tariff calculation was based on each country's trade imbalance with the United States, divided by American imports from that nation. The result were tariffs significantly higher than actual tariffs charged on U.S. imports by countries worldwide, including in Europe and Asia. The proposed import taxes rocked stocks because they will cause companies to increase prices to consumers or reduce profit margins. Given sales could slow if inflation accelerates and profit could slip if companies absorb the new costs, investors reset their models to reflect a growing risk of recession and lower earnings. The stock market's sharp selloff on Thursday and Friday triggered oversold indicators, setting up a potential rally. On Tuesday, Secretary Bessent said roughly 70 countries had contacted the administration to negotiate tariffs, and the first negotiations would begin soon with Japan, which faces tariffs of 24%. Optimism that a hardline on tariffs may ease fueled an early-day rally, but momentum reversed when the White House confirmed it would substantially increase its proposed tariffs on China after Chinese leaders unveiled their own retaliatory tariffs over the weekend, vowing to "fight to the end." Related: Rare event could send S&P 500 surging soon China's retaliation drew a sharp rebuke from President Trump, who responded by threatening an additional 50% tariff if China didn't back down. The administration confirmed that China had not rolled back its tariffs, making the new increased tariff effective on Wednesday. The tariff imposed on China is incredibly high, given it comes on top of previous tariffs announced this year totaling 54%. Altogether, Chinese imports face a 104% levy, a significant barrier that's likely to impact everything from clothing to car parts. Renewed inflation worries caused already antsy investors to hit the sell button again, sending shares reeling. After being up The S&P 500 closed down 1.5% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 2.2%. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince William Spoke Fluent Welsh in a Surprise Video Appearance with Kate Middleton
Prince William is celebrating St. David's Day by flexing his bilingual language abilities. To celebrate the Welsh holiday, which recognizes Welsh culture and achievements, the Prince of Wales made a special appearance–and showed off his Welsh speaking skills–in a surprise March 1 video alongside Kate Middleton. 'Today, on St. David's Day, we come together to celebrate Wales—its history, its culture, and its incredible people,' Prince William addressed viewers in Welsh in the video, which was shared on the Kensington Palace X (formerly Twitter) account. Wearing a navy blue blazer paired with a maroon sweater, a light blue button up, and a yellow daffodil–the national flower of Wales–William continued, 'From its breathtaking landscapes to its language, Wales continues to inspire. Today, we will celebrate everything that is magical about Wales. To the people of Wales and everybody around the world, Happy St David's Day.' Kate also made a cameo in the video, as the clip appeared to show footage from the couple's February 26 visit to South Wales. The Princess of Wales stunned in a red double-breasted Alexander McQueen coat–a seeming nod to the Red Dragon on the Welsh flag–as she could be seen mingling with the crowd. She also wore a yellow daffodil on her lapel. While People reports that William's Welsh skills are more on the conversational side, the heir to the British throne has a pretty impressive roster of languages. He can reportedly speak seven different languages, including English, French, German, Welsh, Gaelic, Spanish, as well as Swahili–a language he reportedly taught himself while he was attending university, per OK! Magazine. It's unknown whether Kate and William's kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are following in their dad's language footsteps (although it's likely that they've picked up some Spanish from their former longtime nanny's Maria Turrion Borrallo's native tongue), but the princess previously joked that she isn't the best with other languages. While meeting an Italian fan in 2018, she said, "It's very nice to meet you. Shall we she said after a long pause as she tried to remember the phrase. "I have to practice my languages. They are so bad,' she explained. 'My language is so bad. I have to make sure my children are better than me." Read the original article on InStyle
