Rampaging raccoons add to Airbus factory headaches
MONTREAL/PARIS May 30 (Reuters) - A family of raccoons recently broke into an Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab factory in Canada, adding an unusual headache to the planemaker's more familiar troubles with parts shortages and supply chain snags.
Five of the baby mammals were found inside the plant near Montreal, which produces A220 airliners, sources told Reuters, after their mother was spotted climbing the landing gear of a jet being produced for a European airline.
"A guy came face to face with the raccoon, after having entered the plane," a factory worker said.
A second source said damage included urine and chewed wires.
Workers on the overstretched assembly line had to be pulled off normal jobs to undertake the time-consuming task of quarantining the first jet and inspecting for damage from the furry intruders, which are known for foraging in trash cans for food.
Airbus confirmed the discovery of a family of raccoons on one plane but declined to say whether they had further delayed production or caused any damage.
"The aircraft is pursuing its assembly process," a spokesperson said, adding measures had been put in place to ensure safety and quality.
While the incident is only a temporary headache, it comes as Airbus is scrambling to speed up production, having warned airlines that it faces another three years of delivery delays as it works through a backlog of supply-chain problems.
Recent snags include missing engines, late arrivals of components and delayed interiors, Airbus has said. But rarely have its contingency plans had to deal with stray omnivores at the rural plant.
"We had to open everything back up to inspect," explained the second source.
Airbus said the animals had been removed to a safe location.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
39 minutes ago
- Reuters
Trump administration approves coal mine expansion to boost Asia exports
WASHINGTON, June 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Interior Department approved a plan by Signal Peak Energy to expand coal mining, providing exports for Japan and South Korea, the agency said on Friday, as it responded to President Donald Trump's energy emergency directives. The approval authorizes the Montana-based coal company to recover 22.8 million metric tons of federal coal and 34.5 million tons of adjacent non-federal coal and extend the life of the Bull Mountains mine by nine years. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who is also co-chair of Trump's Energy Dominance Council, said unlocking more federal coal enables the U.S. to bolster ties with U.S. allies abroad. "President Trump's leadership in declaring a national energy emergency is allowing us to act decisively, cut bureaucratic delays and secure America's future through energy independence and strategic exports," he said. Signal Peak had initially sent its plan to expand its mining operations to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement in 2020 but it has been under federal review and subjet to litigation since then. The Interior Department completed the environmental impact statement for the mine expansion according to its new policy to speed such reviews to a maximum of 28 days. Burgum this week joined Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin in Alaska to promote an LNG project, as well as other energy exports, destined for Asian markets that was attended by Japanese and Korean officals. The Bull Mountains mine, located in Musselshell and Yellowstone counties, employs over 250 workers and primarily supplies Japan and South Korea. Environmental groups have tried to block the expansion of the mine over concerns about its water usage and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Film Festival showcases what artificial intelligence can do on the big screen
Artificial intelligence 's use in movie making is exploding. And a young film festival, now in its junior year, is showcasing what this technology can do on screen today. The annual AI Film Festival organized by Runway, a company that specializes in AI-generated video, kicked off in New York Thursday night with ten short films from around the world making their debut on the big screen. 'Three years ago, this was such a crazy idea,' Runway CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela told the crowd. 'Today, millions of people are making billions of videos using tools we only dreamed of.' The film festival itself has grown significantly since its 2023 debut. About 300 people submitted films when it first began, Valenzuela said, compared to about 6,000 submissions received this year. The one and half-hour lineup stretched across a range of creative styles and ambitious themes — with Jacob Alder's ' Total Pixel Space " taking home the festival's top prize. The 9-minute and 28-second film questions how many possible images — real or not — exist in the digital space, and uses math to calculate a colossal number. A stunning series of images, ranging from the familiar life moments to those that completely bend reality, gives viewers a glimpse of what's out there. Meanwhile, Andrew Salter's 'Jailbird," which snagged second place, chronicles a chicken's journey — from the bird's perspective — to a human prison in the United Kingdom to take part in a joint-rehabilitation program. And 'One,' a futuristic story by Ricardo Villavicencio and Edward Saatchi about interplanetary travel followed in third place. The 10 films shown were finalists selected from thousands submitted to Runway's AI Film Festival this year. The shorts will also be shown at screenings held in Los Angeles and Paris next week. How AI is used and executed is a factor judges evaluate when determining festival winners. But not every film entered was made entirely using AI. While submission criteria requires each movie include the use of AI-generated video, there's no set threshold, meaning some films can take a more 'mixed media' approach — such as combining live shots of actors or real-life images and sounds with AI-generated elements. 'We're trying to encourage people to explore and experiment with it,' Valenzuela said in an interview prior to Thursday's screening. Creating a coherent film using generative AI is no easy feat. It can take a long list of directions and numerous, detailed prompts to get even a short scene to make sense and look consistent. Still, the scope of what this kind of technology can do has grown significantly since Runway's first AI Film Festival in 2023 — and Valenzuela says that's reflected in today's submissions. While there are still limits, AI-generated video is becoming more and more life-like and realistic. Runway encourages the use of its own AI tools for films entered into its festival, but creators are also allowed to turn to other resources and tools as they put together the films — and across the industry, tools that use AI to create videos spanning from text, image and/or audio prompts have rapidly improved over recent years, while becoming increasingly available. 'The way (this technology) has lived within film and media culture, and pop culture, has really accelerated,' said Joshua Glick, an associate professor of film and electronic arts at Bard College. He adds that Runway's film fest, which is among a handful of showcases aimed at spotlighting AI's creative capabilities, arrives as companies in this space are searching for heightened 'legitimacy and recognition' for the tools they are creating — with aims to cement partnerships in Hollywood as a result. AI's presence in Hollywood is already far-reaching, and perhaps more expansive than many moviegoers realize. Beyond 'headline-grabbing' (and at times controversial) applications that big-budget films have done to 'de-age' actors or create eye-catching stunts, Glick notes, this technology is often incorporated in an array of post-production editing, digital touch-ups and additional behind-the-scenes work like sorting footage. Industry executives repeatedly point to how AI can improve efficiency in the movie making process — allowing creatives to perform a task that once took hours, for example, in a matter of minutes — and foster further innovation. Still, AI's rapid growth and adoption has also heightened anxieties around the burgeoning technology — notably its implications for workers. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees — which represents behind-the-scenes entertainment workers in the U.S. and Canada — has 'long embraced new technologies that enhance storytelling,' Vanessa Holtgrewe, IATSE's international vice president, said in an emailed statement. 'But we've also been clear: AI must not be used to undermine workers' rights or livelihoods.' IATSE and other unions have continued to meet with major studios and establish provisions in efforts to provide guardrails around the use of AI. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists has also been vocal about AI protections for its members, a key sticking point in recent labor actions. For Runway's AI Film Festival, Valenzuela hopes screening films that incorporate AI-generated video can showcase what's possible — and how he says this technology can help, not hurt, creatives in the work they do today. 'It's natural to fear change ... (But) it's important to understand what you can do with it," Valenzuela said. Even filmmaking, he adds, was born 'because of scientific breakthroughs that at the time were very uncomfortable for many people."
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The new 'zebra-striping' trend that's changing your favorite restaurants' menus
Young Americans are going wild for the 'zebra-striping' trend, and restaurants and bars are having to adapt their menus. Popular among Gen Z, the trend involves alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages - hence the name inspired by the black and white pattern of a zebra's stripes. Chains like Applebee's and Buffalo Wild Wings are known for offering can't-miss drink deals, and Chili's has been dubbed by some as America's margarita king. However, an abundance of beer and cocktails has slowly become a thing of the past in the eyes of restaurant goers. About 48 percent of alcohol drinkers are actively choosing to drink less, according to IWSR, a global leader in beverage alcohol data. And a study conducted by Restaurant Business' sister brand Technomic showed that among guests who had recently ordered a drink from a bar, 30 percent reported they'd also ordered a non-alcoholic alternative. Restaurants are taking note. Mentions of mocktails on menus are up 37.4 percent since 2019, including a 9.6 percent jump last year alone, according to Technomic. Participants ages 18 to 34 were the ones who were most interested in drinks with zero alcohol, but older consumers were not far behind them. Drinkers may occasionally enjoy Bloody Marys or Mimosas during brunch. Daytime hours are usually when people can find diners paring their alcohol with regular drinks. 'Gen Z and younger millennials are most likely to engage in both alcohol and non-alcohol bar drinks during the same restaurant occasion — to a significant degree — and mocktails/alcohol-free cocktails are the top items paired with beverage alcohol,' said Robert Byrne, senior director, consumer research at Technomic. 'Everything is expensive in the current inflationary environment, but that is likely a small part of the reason behind the trend.' 'I would suggest it is a combination of increased interest in moderation as an important component of an overall healthy lifestyle and experience-seeking behavior,' Byrne added. Barry Thomas, senior global thought leader for Kantar, believes cultural shifts leaning towards a 'sober-curious mindset' is the biggest reason for the change. 'In my generation, Gen X, you'd often say you were going out for a night to forget. Well, not Gen Z. It's about having a night to remember,' Thomas told The Food Institute. Places famous for drink deals like On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina and Hooters filed for bankruptcy this year. However, significant menu shakeups could increase their chances of restaurants' survival. Gen Z restaurant goers may appreciate a new drinks menu that include various non-alcoholic beverages. Mocktails, designed to mimic alcoholic drinks, can help provide a shakeup to a menu suitable for guests looking to enjoy their night. Businesses can also offer different brunch, lunch, and happy hour deals at certain times during the day, with a twist. A possible drink special restaurants can offer would require guests to purchase a mocktail or hand-pressed juice to get an alcoholic beverage for 50 percent off. Both of those beverages could also be paired with food, making it easier for customers to be aware of their surroundings. Diners can also skip the restaurant and mix alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages on flights. According to Byrne, travelers who pair beer and non-alcoholic beer together can have a unique experience while capitalizing on the current trend.
