• Casper PoC4 has been released. This includes an implementation of the fork choice rule, the Casper contract, and a complete pyethereum library, though not yet a full node that can connect to the network.
• A “testing language” has been implemented that allows us to quickly implement tests for the Casper chain. This can also theoretically be used for the proof of work chain, and an extension to sharding is in progress.
• Implementation of a proof of concept for sharding is in progress.
• Implementation of the account redesign in the sharding PoC is in progress.
• The Casper papers continue to be in progress.
• The number of message types in Casper FFG has been reduced from 2 to 1, which will also simplify the incentive structure. A formal proof of the safety property has been written. This will be incorporated in PoC5.
• The fork choice rule has also been simplified.
• Pyethapp now supports python 3.
• The “scalable light client data availability verification” note has been edited with an improved scheme

The research team has added one full-time new developer and one part-time to Viper, and there is an increasing number of community contributors. Features being worked on include:
…

Source/ Full Article: https://blog.ethereum.org