FlashFeed

Full text

Rocket Lab will launch a Japanese Earth-observing radar satellite to orbit tonight (June 30), and you can watch the action live.

An Electron rocket carrying the QPS-SAR-13 satellite is scheduled to lift off from Rocket Lab 's New Zealand site tonight at 9 p.m. EDT (0100 GMT and 1 p.m. local New Zealand time on July 1).

You can watch the launch live via Rocket Lab , with coverage beginning about 30 minutes before liftoff. Space.com will carry the stream as well, if the company makes it available.

Japan-based iQPS is building a constellation of 36 satellites in low Earth orbit that study Earth using high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR). SAR spacecraft can peer through clouds and gather data at night as well as during the day.

Tonight's launch, which Rocket Lab calls "The Grain Goddess Provides," will be the eighth, out of a total of 15, that it will perform to assemble iQPS' constellation.

If all goes according to plan tonight, Electron will deploy the iQPS satellite — which is nicknamed Mikura-I , after a Japanese goddess associated with abundance and prosperity — about 50 minutes after liftoff, into a circular orbit 357 miles (575 kilometers) above Earth.

The patch for Rocket Lab's "The Grain Goddess Provides" mission, which is scheduled to launch on June 30, 2026. (Image credit: Rocket Lab) "The Grain Goddess Provides" will be Rocket Lab's 92nd mission to date and its 13th of 2026 already. The vast majority of these launches have involved the 59-foot-tall (18-meter-tall) Electron, which gives small satellites dedicated rides to orbit. A small number have been performed by HASTE , a suborbital version of Electron that helps customers test hypersonic technologies.

Tonight's launch will come just a day after Rocket Lab made a big business move: On Monday (June 29), Rocket Lab announced that it's acquiring the communications company Iridium for $8 billion.

"By combining our launch capability and satellite manufacturing with @IridiumComm’s global satellite communications network and rare spectrum, Rocket Lab becomes a fully integrated, self-launching, tier-1 space power, delivering critical communications capability to millions of users worldwide," Rocket Lab said via X on Monday .

Full text

Sometime in the next few weeks, the decommissioned Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser ex- USS Mobile Bay , the 7th example of her class built, will be sent to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean by friendly forces, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune . The Tarawa class ex-USS Peleliu (LHA-5) amphibious assault ship will also be pummeled to its doom by friendly fire. These are two very high-profile and vastly different targets, which will make for a uniquely interesting pair of SINKEX drills. The event will take place during the 30th Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) biennial international maritime exercise.

RIMPAC 2026 began June 24 and runs through July 31; however, the date and manner of the sinking are not yet known. The sinking exercise (SINKEX) is the capstone event at each RIMPAC , though the type of surplus ship used varies.

The guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) cutting through the Pacific Ocean, Feb. 5, 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jake Greenberg) Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob L. Greenberg

Mobile Bay was decommissioned in 2023 and determined ineligible to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places a year later, sealing its fate.

Commissioned on Feb. 27, 1987, Mobile Bay took part in a number of major events during its 36 years in service.

“The ship’s operational history includes the 1989 evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon; launching 22 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) in support of Operation Desert Storm and the evacuation of thousands of people displaced by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the vicinity of Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines during Operation Fiery Vigil in 1991,” according to the Navy . It also participated in the “U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (CGLED) seizure of 10.5 metric tons of cocaine approximately 800 miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, and launching TLAMS in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.”

In addition to the date of its sinking being so far unknown, we also do not know how Mobile Bay will be struck. These events are used to test out a variety of weapons systems and crews to see how they perform. This often includes the ship being hit by many different kinds of weapons.

In the most recent SINKEX, for instance, we wrote that a U.S. Air Force B-2A Spirit bomber fired an AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) at the ex-USS Juneau during Valiant Shield 2026 in the Western Pacific. You can read more about that in our story about that here . Often times everything from torpedoes to short-range missiles to rocket artillery to airborne gunfire is used to maximize the sacrifice of the retired hull.

A U.S. Air Force B-2A Spirit bomber launched an AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) at the ex-USS Juneau during a SINKEX at Valiant Shield 2026. (USAF) USAF

Mobile Bay , which took part in RIMPAC 2022, is one of four Ticonderoga class cruisers set to be disposed of by a SINKEX. In addition, the ex-USS Vella Gulf , the ex-USS Antietam and the ex-USS Port Royal are all facing the same fate, according to Navy records.

The ex-USS Valley Forge was the first of the decommissioned Ticonderogas to be sunk, during target practice in Hawaii in November 2006 .

Crewmembers prepare to say farewell to their ship during the decommissioning ceremony of Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54). (U.S. Navy photo by Ens. Paula Hackbart/Released) Ensign Paula Hackbart

The Ticonderogas carry Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) and serve as air and missile defense batteries and command and control platforms. They are also equipped with Harpoon anti-ship missiles and MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters, and execute anti-submarine warfare operations.

Built in the 1980s and early 1990s, these cruisers primarily provide the backbone of a carrier strike group’s air warfare capabilities.

There are nine ships in this class still serving in the Navy. Of those, a half dozen are slated to be decommissioned in the coming years, while the remainder — USS Gettysburg , USS Chosin and USS Cape St. George — have been modernized or are close to finishing modernization and will serve out toward the end of the decade .

USS Gettysburg . (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kaitlin Young)

The effort to keep these ships afloat has been costly and controversial, which you can read more about in our story about the process here .

The Navy is billing RIMPAC 2026 as the largest in the history of these exercises.

PHILIPPINE SEA (Oct. 22, 2014) – The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) sails into open water as part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (PELARG). (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Joshua Hammond/Released) MC1 Joshua Hammond

“Thirty nations, over 30 surface ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 206 aircraft and 30,000 personnel will train and operate in and around the Hawaiian Islands during the exercise,” the Navy said in a release . “RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants that are critical to ensuring the security of sea lanes and stability across the region.”

It will be interesting to see how the ex- Mobile Bay is ultimately disposed of. We will provide an update when more information is available.

Contact the author: howard@twz.com

The post Ticonderoga Class Cruiser Set To Be Sunk During RIMPAC Wargames appeared first on TWZ .

Full text

I'm the type of traveler who will plan an entire trip around great meals.

I love experiencing destinations and cultures through their food, so whether I'm at home or on the road, dining out is one of my biggest expenses.

Dining out has only gotten more expensive in recent years. Fortunately, several of the travel rewards cards I carry offer dining statement credits that not only save me money on meals throughout the year but also help offset their annual fees.

Here are some of the cards I keep in my wallet specifically for their dining statement credits (among other reasons) and how I make sure to maximize them.

For upscale date nights: Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees ) gets a lot of attention for its numerous travel perks , but it also has an extremely valuable dining benefit .

Cardholders can earn up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year split into two biannual credits of up to $150 each from January-June and July-December when using their card to pay for meals at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants on OpenTable (no prepayment, payment or reservation through OpenTable is required).

CHASE The program just started last year, but there are already eligible restaurants in dozens of U.S. cities .

My husband and I used one of these credits last fall at the fancy French-Californian bistro, Jeune et Jolie, in the coastal hamlet of Carlsbad, just north of San Diego. We used our first credit of 2026 at the one-Michelin-star Thai restaurant, Anajak, near our home in L.A.

Both were fabulous, and the $150 statement credit made the experience even sweeter.

I also make a point of using this benefit for restaurants I'd already planned to visit, rather than choosing one simply because it's eligible. That's how I make sure the credit saves me real money instead of encouraging extra spending.

Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve review: A premium card for power travelers

Delicious savings for foodies: The Amex Gold

The American Express® Gold Card charges a considerable annual fee of $325 (see rates and fees ), but I make up for that value just from the card's dining perks .

Specifically, the card offers:

Up to $100 in annual statement credits on dining at eligible U.S. Resy restaurants when you use your card to pay; up to $50 from January-June and up to $50 from July-December.

Up to $120 in annual statement credits (up to $10 per month) at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory and Wonder.

Up to $120 in Uber Cash ($10 per month) for U.S. Uber and Uber Eats orders†

Up to $84 per calendar year (up to $7 per month) in statement credits for U.S. Dunkin' purchases.

Also, in celebration of the Amex Gold's 60th anniversary, Amex is including a one-time statement credit of up to $96 for an annual Uber One membership (enroll by Oct. 30).

Those four benefits alone amount to $424 in annual value I can use, $520 if you include the one-time Uber One membership.

Enrollment is required for all benefits.

†Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Gold as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card.

EUGENE GOLOGURSKY/RESY I live in Los Angeles and regularly book restaurants through Resy , so that credit comes and goes before I even realize it most of the time. Most recently, I used it at an Italian restaurant, Funke in Beverly Hills, for my husband's birthday. Because I knew we were getting $50 off the final tally, we splurged on a few desserts.

My husband and I also regularly order from our favorite local Thai and Mediterranean restaurants on Grubhub and get up to $10 in statement credits every month.

I'll admit, I don't always get to a Dunkin' to use that credit, but I do love popping in for a coffee when I see one.

Finally, although I sometimes use the card's Uber credit for rides, more often than not, I'll actually just put it toward an order from a great sandwich shop near me called Ggiata, which serves heaping subs. The bonus is that my order is usually delivered by a cute robot!

Related: American Express Gold Card review: The best card for foodies

Modest savings month after month: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex

I recently applied for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card during a recent limited-time elevated welcome offer (no longer available). I was wowed by the bonus points I could earn as well as the card's robust set of benefits, which just happen to include up to $300 in dining statement credits each year.

ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY This is one of the easiest credits for me to maximize because I simply leave the card in my wallet and use it for one inexpensive restaurant purchase every month. I don't have to change my spending habits; I just have to remember which card to use.

Cardholders can earn up to $25 in statement credits toward eligible restaurant purchases worldwide each calendar month . That's up to $300 in annual statement credits over 12 months, which is nearly half the card's $695 annual fee (see rates and fees ).

Best part is I plan to get even more value than that thanks to the perks I'll receive with the automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status .

Related: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex review: Marriott's most premium card

Takeout and dining in: Citi/AAdvantage Executive

I love the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees ) specifically because it provides complimentary Admirals Club membership and opportunities to boost your elite status .

PHOTO COURTESY OF GRUBHUB But even I sometimes forget that this card also offers a statement credit of up to $10 per monthly billing statement on eligible Grubhub purchases, totaling up to $120 per year.

Fortunately, because we already order through Grubhub regularly, remembering to use the credit usually doesn't require changing our routine. Combined with my Amex Gold's up to $10 monthly dining statement credit (which can be used with Grubhub), we receive up to $240 each year toward food delivery we'd be ordering anyway.

Related: Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard review: Complimentary Admirals Club membership

One card I'm considering for even bigger dining savings

While I don't currently carry the American Express Platinum Card® , I'm thinking about getting it because of its benefits bonanza , one of which is up to $400 in statement credits per year when dining at eligible U.S. Resy restaurants.

AMERICAN EXPRESS Cardholders get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when using their card to pay at eligible U.S. restaurants affiliated with Resy (enrollment required). Simply pay with your Amex Platinum at an eligible U.S. Resy restaurant; no reservation is required.

So if you dine out at Resy restaurants, this can be a huge savings.

I'm personally considering whether I'll maximize this card's other benefits before applying, but the Resy credit alone has me thinking about it.

Related: Amex Platinum Card review: Steep annual fee but loads of new perks to match

Bottom line

There's no doubt that dining out has gotten more expensive lately. Fortunately, I save more than $1,000 each year on restaurants and food delivery without changing my habits.

While some credits are easy to use, others require monthly tracking. Still, given the value these perks offer for my specific needs, as well as the other benefits these cards offer, I plan to keep them in my wallet for the time being.

If you're considering a card with dining credits, I'd recommend focusing less on the dollar amount and more on whether you'll actually use the benefit. The best statement credit is the one you don't have to go out of your way to redeem.

Related: Monthly checklist: Credit card perks and benefits you should be using

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, click here .

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, click here .

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Full text

US Secret Service personnel are using personal devices while conducting official business

Personal devices are not secured against the threats faced by Secret Service members

But government-issued devices aren't equipped for the needs of Secret Service members either

The Department of Homeland Security inspector general has released a new report which claims the US Secret Service is refusing to use government-furnished equipment (GFE), such as smartphones, because they are not suitable for mission operations.

The report states GFE fails to “ensure real-time, continuous protection from cyberattacks by foreign adversaries or individuals” with the equipment found to contain multiple third-party apps with security vulnerabilities that could expose communications.

In order to be able to perform effectively, Secret Service members are using personal devices to communicate with law enforcement and each other during missions, but many personal devices are not secured against the threats faced during the protection of America’s VIPs.

US government struggles to secure issued phones

But using personal devices in professional operations is also highly unsecure. These devices often contain the whereabouts of Secret Service personnel and the targets they are protecting during missions at home and abroad.

Furthermore, the devices only have the consumer level of cyber protections. As they are not managed or operated by the US government, there is very little protection against commercially available spyware or malware.

In some cases, personnel used their personal devices as a hotspot for their GFE, or used their personal devices to access websites otherwise blocked on their GFE.

The report explains: “If a personal device is jailbroken, infected with malicious code, or not up to date on security software, an adversary could intercept device communication. Outdated and vulnerable apps could enable malicious actors to conduct surveillance, track locations, or record employees’ communications. Connecting to unsecured networks may also allow cybercriminals to access data or install malware.”

The main culprit behind Secret Service personnel choosing not to use GFEs was found to be the Secret Service’s Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). According to the report, “GFE mobile devices lacked mission-critical capabilities because Secret Service OCIO’s process for assessing and approving requests did not always correctly identify operational needs.”

Additionally, the expected protocol for most Secret Service members was to use personal devices, so many avoided navigating the bureaucracy of requesting access to communications apps on their GFE, which in return created a blindspot for the OCIO who were not aware these apps were already being used at such a scale.

The report further found that no Secret Service GFE was equipped with Mobile Threat Defense software until August 2025, leaving them exposed to “malicious software,

cyberattacks, and other vulnerabilities.” Critical data was also retained on GFE devices after operatives returned from missions abroad, despite policy stating that devices should be wiped within 24 hours of returning to the US.

Ultimately, the report makes five key recommendations to the Secret Service in order to improve the security of its operators:

Introduce a formal policy that ensures all GFE are issued with the required capabilities and software for each mission

Ensure all employees complete the required cybersecurity training

Ensure the Secret Service OCIO clearly communicates its guidance that personal devices are forbidden from use during official business

Ensure controls are implemented to wipe devices in line with OCIO policy for returning personnel

Subject all GFE mobile app code to an updated vulnerability testing policy

Full text

Blue Origin has started rebuilding the launch pad damaged by an explosive accident last month, but the company is working from a very different blueprint this time around.

The company's huge New Glenn rocket exploded on May 28 during a routine engine test at Launch Complex 36A (LC-36A) at Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station . The rocket was destroyed, as were some important pieces of pad infrastructure, including the lightning tower and the transporter-erector, which hauled New Glenn from its integration facility to the pad and raised it vertical upon arrival.

Blue Origin has vowed to bounce back quickly, aiming to fly the 320-foot-tall (98-meter) New Glenn again by the end of the year. Getting LC-36A rebuilt is a high priority, for the pad is currently New Glenn's only jumping-off point. And Blue Origin has made significant progress on this front the company announced today (June 30).

"Hardware recovery and debris removal operations are complete, and reconstruction of the pad has started," the company's CEO, Dave Limp, said in a statement today .

Reconstruction will not create a facsimile of the original LC-36A, however. Blue Origin is building a new version of the pad, one that lines up with a new concept of operations (ConOps) for New Glenn launches.

"We're moving to a horizontal/vertical hybrid configuration to get us flying again this year at 36A," Limp said via X today . "Let me explain what that means. We mate the stages horizontally in the Integration Facility (IF). Then we bring the integrated vehicle out to the pad, use a crane to perform the vertical breakover, and mate the payload once New Glenn is vertical. This new ConOps has the added benefit of increasing our flight cadence as well."

So the refurbished LC-36A will have a crane rather than a transporter-erector, and payload mating will occur at the pad rather than inside the IF.

According to Limp, Blue Origin had already been planning to employ this "hybrid" ConOps for the super-heavy version of New Glenn that it's developing, called the 9X4 . That name references the engine configuration of the coming vehicle: nine of Blue Origin's BE-4s on its first stage and four BE-3Us in its upper stage.

The current version of New Glenn is a 7X2. It can haul about 50 tons (45 metric tons) of payload to low Earth orbit . The 9X4 will be able to carry 77 tons (70 metric tons) to LEO and will also feature a bigger payload fairing — one that's 28.5 feet (8.7 meters) wide rather than 23 feet (7 m).

Blue Origin had already been developing another Cape Canaveral pad, LC-36B, to accommodate 9X4 launches. That pad is being readied for the "hybrid" ConOps as well, according to Limp.

Artist's illustration of Blue Origin's New Glenn launching from the reconstructed Pad 36A at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. (Image credit: Blue Origin) Today's update also let us know that Blue Origin has made some progress in its investigation into the May 28 anomaly, though more work needs to be done.

"The vehicle is highly instrumented with extensive data from multiple camera angles and sensors, giving us confidence in our ability to identify and correct the root cause," Limp wrote. "Early analysis points to the aft section of the first stage."