Latest news with #Bondar
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hempalta Provides Strategic Update Regarding Equipment Sale and FCC Agreement
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2025) - Hempalta Corp. (TSXV: HEMP) ("Hempalta" or the "Company"), a Canadian-based provider of nature-based carbon credit solutions, today issued a corporate update outlining recent developments in its strategic transition. Equipment Sale Update On May 22, 2025, Hempalta announced its wholly owned subsidiary, Hempalta Processing Inc. ("HPI"), had entered into a US$1.15 million agreement to sell its hemp processing and biochar equipment (the "Transaction"). Despite follow up discussions and repeated assurances, the purchase price has not been paid to HPI; accordingly, HPI has retained ownership of all equipment and associated intellectual property and has reinitiated the asset sale process. Interested parties may contact the Company for additional details. FCC Forbearance Agreement In connection with the termination of the Transaction, HPI, has entered into a forbearance agreement with Farm Credit Canada ("FCC") dated effective June 2, 2025. This agreement extends protection through June 30, 2025, providing HPI time to complete a revised monetization plan for its processing assets while maintaining transparency and compliance with its senior lender. Carbon Credit Market Momentum Continues The Company's 2024 carbon credits now total 29,448 tonnes of CO₂ removal across 12,669 acres under the Hemp Carbon Standard. These credits are available for purchase via the Company's Cloverly storefront ( and discussions with corporate buyers are ongoing. CEO to Speak at Canadian Climate Investor Conference Hempalta President and CEO Darren Bondar will be speaking at the 2025 Canadian Climate Investor Conference hosted by the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX and TSXV) on June 11, 2025, at the Arcadian Court in Toronto. Mr. Bondar will outline Hempalta's strategic pivot to nature-based carbon credit markets and showcase the scalable growth opportunity through its Hemp Carbon Standard platform. About Hempalta Corp. Hempalta Corp. (TSXV: HEMP) is a Canadian clean-tech company focused on high-integrity carbon removal credits derived from industrial hemp. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Hemp Carbon Standard Inc., the Company supports regenerative agriculture, biochar deployment, and AI-powered MRV to deliver transparent, verifiable carbon credits aligned with global climate goals. Learn more at or contact Investor Relations at invest@ For more information, please contact: Investor RelationsHempalta info@ Hempalta Corp. Web: Email: info@ Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains statements and information that, to the extent they are not historical fact, may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is typically, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "expects," "plans," "continues," "intends," "anticipates," "potential," "aims," "will," and similar expressions, including negatives thereof. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding: the Company's ability to complete the sale of its hemp processing and biochar equipment; the resolution of the outstanding forbearance with Farm Credit Canada (FCC); negative cash flow from operations and the Company's ability to operate as a going concern; the anticipated proceeds and timing of any asset sales; the scaling of the Hemp Carbon Standard platform; the sale of verified carbon credits; the development of new corporate offtake agreements; and the Company's broader growth initiatives under Hempalta carbon credit platform. Such forward-looking information is based on assumptions and expectations, including but not limited to: the Company's ability to remarket and sell the equipment; continued support from major shareholders and new investors; demand for nature-based carbon removal credits; successful onboarding of additional farmers; favorable regulatory conditions; and Hempalta's ability to execute its strategic plan and secure necessary financing on reasonable terms. Although the Company believes the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them, as actual results may differ materially due to known and unknown risks. These risks include, but are not limited to: economic conditions and capital market volatility; failure to close the asset sale or private placement; changes in carbon credit market demand or pricing; regulatory changes; inability to retain key personnel; weather-related challenges impacting hemp cultivation; and those risks set forth in the Company's public disclosure documents available on SEDAR+ at Forward-looking information in this news release is provided as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake to update such information except as required by applicable securities laws. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR OVER U.S. NEWSWIRES To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
![2025 Roland Garros: Siegemund [97th] vs. Bondar [87th] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gannett-cdn.com%2Fauthoring%2Fimages%2FDataSkriveSportsbookWire%2F2025%2F04%2F16%2FSSBK%2F83117401007-16686351.jpeg%3Fauto%3Dwebp%26crop%3D1199%2C675%2Cx0%2Cy0%26format%3Dpjpg%26width%3D1200&w=3840&q=100)
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USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 Roland Garros: Siegemund [97th] vs. Bondar [87th] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview
2025 Roland Garros: Siegemund [97th] vs. Bondar [87th] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview In a match slated for Sunday, Anna Bondar (No. 87 in rankings) will meet Laura Siegemund (No. 97) in the Round of 128 at the Roland Garros. Bondar is favored (-165) in this match against Siegemund (+130). Looking for this match? Tennis Channel will show it, and more coverage during the Roland Garros. Tennis odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Thursday at 10:36 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Laura Siegemund vs. Anna Bondar matchup info Tournament: Roland Garros Roland Garros Round: Round of 128 Round of 128 Date: Sunday, May 25 Sunday, May 25 TV Channel: Tennis Channel Tennis Channel Live Stream: Fubo Fubo Court Surface: Clay Watch the Tennis Channel and more sports on Fubo! Siegemund vs. Bondar Prediction Based on the implied probility from the moneyline, Siegemund has a 62.3% to win. Siegemund vs. Bondar Betting Odds Siegemund's odds to win match: +130 +130 Bondar's odds to win match: -165 -165 Siegemund's odds to win tournament: +50000 +50000 Bondar's odds to win tournament: +50000 Siegemund vs. Bondar matchup performance & stats Siegemund is 2-8 on clay over the past year. Siegemund has won 60.2% of her service games on clay over the past year and 28.0% of her return games. Siegemund has converted 25 of 63 break points on clay (39.7%) over the past 12 months and is 129th in break points won. Bondar has taken part in four tournaments on clay over the past year, putting up a 5-4 match record on that surface. Bondar has a 71.6% winning percentage in service games on clay courts, and a 29.6% winning percentage in return games. On clay Bondar is 117th in break point win percentage (44.4%) after going 28-for-63. In the Round of 128 of her most recent tournament (the Internazionali BNL d'Italia) on May 7, Bondar was beaten by No. 37-ranked Ashlyn Krueger 6-4, 2-6, 1-6.
Forbes
18-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How Ukraine Is Replacing Human Soldiers With A Robot Army
Ironclad, one of many types of combat Uncrewed Ground Vehicle fielded by Ukrainian forces. Last month, Ukrainian officials announced plans to field 15,000 ground robots – Uncrewed Ground Vehicles or UGVs -- in 2025. That is a huge scaling up, and for obvious reasons. 'It's no secret that Ukraine is facing a severe shortage of personnel,' Kateryna Bondar, Fellow at Wadhwani AI Center, at the thinktank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) told me. 'This creates an urgent, existential need to substitute human roles with robotic systems.' Ukraine has scaled up drone production at pace, going from a few thousand in 2022 to 200,000 in 2024 to 2 million last year. But putting thousands of metal boots on the ground to replace humans is a far more challenging prospect, as Bondar explains. The figure of 15,000 combat robots came from Hlib Kanevskyi, head of the Ukraine's Ministry of Defense quoted in Economichna Pravda. Kanevskyi says they signed contracts for $2.5 million of UGVs in the last half of 2024, in the first quarter of this year that surged to $150 million. This suggests a roughly hundred-fold increase. There is certainly plenty of optimism about military robotics, and no shortage of Ukrainian UGV designs, with developers unveiling a new model every week or so. These are wheeled and tracked machines of various shapes and sizes, with roles from minelaying and mine clearing to logistics, casualty evacuation and direct combat either with explosive payloads or machine guns. Recent trials by the BRAVE1 defense technology incubator involved 70 different types. But there is much less sign of these machines at the front. Out of 50 types approved for military use, only 10 to 15 are in regular service according to . Much if this is due to the practicalities, which are more challenging than with shoebox-sized FPVs. 'Imagine bringing a 1,000-kilogram machine to the front line,' says Bondar. 'It's a logistics issue. If it runs on fuel you have to transport that as well, if it runs on batteries they will be big and heavy and require generators to recharge.' Then there is the cost. While small drones are literally expendable items costing a few hundred dollars apiece, UGVs are not so affordable. 'Even a small one with a small payload starts at around $2,000-$3,000,' says Bondar. 'The more expensive ones are $10,000 and up. This is partly because they are much harder to manufacture -- you cannot just make a body on a 3D printer.' At those prices, UGVs are only worthwhile if they can do things which aerial drones cannot. And given that drones are excellent for scouting and hitting targets many miles away with precision strikes, UGVs tend to be confined to more niche roles. 'Logistics are an interesting use case,' says Bondar. 'UGVs are now conducting way more missions and replacing people. Using a UGV removes a person from physical risk.' Zmiy - "Snake" — is a typical logistics UGV, a remote-controlled vehicle able to carry 1,100 pounds ... More of cargo The last few miles to the front line are within the strike range of Russian FPV drones, and trucks and vans are easier to attack than dug in positions. 'Going there and coming back is a super high-risk mission,' says Bondar. 'A UGV which can carry 60 kilos can resupply a troop position for four or five days. That's very efficient.' Casualty evacuation going the other way is equally vital, though few are willing to trust a wounded soldier to a machine which may break down on the way and evacuation by UGV is seen as a last resort. Ukrainian news sources described a UGV evacuation last month, in which three wounded soldiers were transported more than 10 miles through an area covered by Russian mortar and artillery fire. The operation was a success, but it required more than 50 people to carry out, including the UGV operator, drone operators to track the UGVs progress, electronic warfare support and others. This highlights another issue with UGVs: they may be uncrewed, but it takes a lot of people to operate them. And while driving up and down well-defined roads is difficult enough, it is even harder for combat robots which have to go off road. These typically require a driver plus as weapon operator to control the UGV, as well as a two-person drone team to provide aerial overwatch and guide the team on the ground. That's four people plus a load of hardware to replace one soldier. A Russian drone operator shares his display with a colleague operating a UGV on the ground, giving ... More the UGV operator an overhead view to drive his robot. An image of a Russian UGV team in action from a TV news report illustrates this problem well. The UGV is in long grass, and the operator cannot see where he is going. The drone operator shares his display, so the UGV operator gets a bird's-eye view of his position – but the drone operator still needs the display to fly his own machine. Better software and machines which can direct themselves will greatly ease the workload. 'The future is all about autonomy and AI,' says Bondar. Smart software would allow the UGV to navigate for itself, using imagery from an autonomous drone flying overhead. The operator then becomes a mission commander, ordering the UGV where to go, and selecting and approving targets for the weapons. But achieving this is far more difficult than autonomous flight. 'Even in civilian contexts, autonomous ground navigation remains unsolved; self-driving cars still struggle with edge cases on paved roads despite years of investment and defined traffic rules,' says Bondar. And of course, things are much more difficult in a military context. 'The system must be able to perceive its environment in real time, make context-aware decisions, avoid obstacles, and control the vehicle's complex mechanical systems—all under conditions of GPS denial, degraded comms, and electronic warfare,' says Bondar. 'While some promising prototypes exist in research labs, widespread battlefield deployment—especially where a single human serves as a mission commander for multiple UGVs—will likely take several more years to mature, even in high-urgency environments like Ukraine.' But while the software is still maturing, with plenty of human assistance the hardware can already take on carry out useful missions. 'Ukraine has already carried out their first robot-only assault,' says Bondar. 'The whole thing was completely remote-controlled.' This was a successful attack on Russian positions involving a mix of scout drones, bombers, FPVs and dozens of UGVs on the ground carried out by the 13th National Guard Brigade at the end of last year. Bondar notes that as soon as the UGVs had done their job, soldiers moved in to secure the position. The Ukrainians call this approach 'assault without assault' because the soldiers themselves are not involved in the action. 'It looks like Ukraine's main goal in this operation was to collect experience, then create guidelines and standards in term of tactics so this knowledge can be distributed,' says Bondar. 'But I'm pretty sure we will see more of those.' Defensive operations are more straightforward. Ukraine has many robotic weapon systems and automated turrets. The simplest of them, are little more than a machine gun on a tripod with a video camera and a servo motor. Operators using these can co-ordinate with aerial scouts and FPV operators to blunt Russian attacks without anyone in the trenches. 'At this point I think they could hold a defensive position fairly well,' says Bondar. Looking forward, many companies are starting to produce humanoid robots which, in theory, could take on a role as soldiers. However, even tracked machines designed for the terrain have mobility issues. 'Our robot got stuck in the mud while performing a task and we sent another robot with a winch to rescue it,' runs a typical complaint cited in a Ukrainian report on UGV operations. 'As a result, the Russians destroyed the robot with the winch.' Mud, snow, sand and grass are frequently mentioned as major obstacles to UGVs. 'Robot dog' being tested in Ukraine. These have not yet found a battlefield role Legged robots, which are supposed to provide superior mobility over all sorts of terrain are not necessarily the answer. Ukraine has deployed quadrupeds – 'robot dogs' – but Bondar reports the results have been poor. 'Operators complained that ploughed fields are a problem for quadrupeds,' says Bondar. 'And they get stuck in the mud. And they can't hide. At this point they are a nice toy, with no application on the front line yet.' In principle, a humanoid robot would be far more mobile and could cross ground as easily as a human. Machines like Tesla's much-hyped Optimus and Unitree's Humanoid G1 could be useful – when the AI that drives them is smart enough. Elon Musk suggests that Optimus will start from around $30k and will drop in price. But flashy demonstration videos are one thing, practicality – as with the robot dots – is another. Machines like Tesla's Core Technology Optimus humanoid robot could in theory offer a low-cost, ... More mobile platform for military applications. 'While in theory they offer human-like mobility and could eventually move, hide, and take cover like a soldier, their real utility will only become clear through practical battlefield testing,' says Bondar. Battery life of a couple of hours could be more than enough for a robotic unit to carry out an assault, and take a position which could then be occupied by human back-up. This is only a small tactical step from actions from assaults with tracked UGVs, with the difference that humanoids might advance faster and enter trenches and dugouts to clear them. In theory, at least. 'Ultimately, the affordability and effectiveness of humanoid robots will depend entirely on the type of missions they're tasked with and how reliably they can be reused,' says Bondar. 'Until those use cases are tested and proven, their true value remains speculative.' Ukraine's 15,000 robots will be working alongside over 800,000 humans, and for the time being the machines will be in a supporting role rather than taking over combat. 'UGVs are likely to carve out an essential role in performing the most dangerous support tasks, where they can reduce risk to human soldiers without being lost in unsustainable numbers,' says Bondar. Bondar's CSIS paper Ukraine's Future Vision and Current Capabilities for Waging AI-Enabled Autonomous Warfare can be read here. The ratio of robots to humans may change rapidly in Ukraine as it has with drones. And over time AI in particular is likely to transform clumsy UGVs into more mobile, efficient fighting machines. It may not be happening yet, but removing humans from the front lines may be simply a matter of time.
USA Today
18-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
How to Watch Caroline Garcia vs. Anna Bondar at the 2025 Miami Open presented by Itau: Live Stream, TV Channel
How to Watch Caroline Garcia vs. Anna Bondar at the 2025 Miami Open presented by Itau: Live Stream, TV Channel On Wednesday, Anna Bondar (No. 94 in the world) takes on Caroline Garcia (No. 74) in the Round of 128 at the Miami Open presented by Itau. In Garcia's most recent action, she fell to Iga Swiatek 2-6, 0-6 in the Round of 64 at the BNP Paribas Open on March 7, 2025. Bondar's most recent match on Monday was a three-set win over Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 in the qualifying round. Watch Tennis Channel on Fubo! Caroline Garcia vs. Anna Bondar: live stream info & TV channel Tournament: Miami Open presented by Itau Miami Open presented by Itau Round: Round of 128 Round of 128 Date: Wednesday, March 19 Wednesday, March 19 Live Stream: Watch Tennis Channel on Fubo Watch Tennis Channel on Fubo Court Surface: Hard Caroline Garcia vs. Anna Bondar matchup stats In eight hard-court tournaments over the past 12 months, Garcia is 7-8 in matches. Garcia has won 24.1% of her return games on hard courts over the past 12 months, and 67.4% of her service games. Garcia has converted 30 of 78 break points on hard courts (38.5%) over the past year and is 174th in break points won. Garcia was defeated by Swiatek (2-6, 0-6) on March 7 in the Round of 64 of her previous tournament, the BNP Paribas Open. Bondar has failed to win a title on hard courts over the past 12 months, putting up a 12-16 record on that surface. Bondar has 217 wins in 326 service games while playing on hard courts (66.6%), and 95 wins in 325 return games (29.2%). On hard courts Bondar ranks 78th in break point winning percentage (40.5%) after going 89-for-220. In her last tournament (the BNP Paribas Open) on March 2, Bondar played Maddison Inglis in the Qualification and lost 5-7, 4-6. Garcia vs. Bondar futures odds Tennis odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds updated Tuesday at 6:56 AM ET. Garcia Odds to Win the 2025 Miami Open presented by Itau: +40000 +40000 Bondar Odds to Win the 2025 Miami Open presented by Itau: +50000 Tennis odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Tuesday at 6:56 AM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
Artificial intelligence is going to make drone wars much more deadly. It's already started.
A new report details how artificial intelligence is changing drone warfare. With AI enhancements, the chances of a successful strike improve dramatically. Ukrainian drone operators have said that this technology has the potential to be a game-changer. Drones equipped with AI are flying into battle in Ukraine and are three to four times more likely to hit their target than drones piloted solely by humans, a Ukraine war researcher reports. Although artificial intelligence-enhanced drones are not fully autonomous, Ukraine sees them as potential game-changers. The technology is rapidly evolving as Kyiv aims to replace soldiers on the battlefield with uncrewed systems, reducing the cost of war in human lives. AI-enabled autonomous drones are a priority. Last September, a Ukrainian drone unit commander said developments in autonomy might soon eliminate the need for drone pilots altogether. Kateryna Bondar, Center for Strategic and International Studies Wadhwani AI Center fellow, wrote in a new report published Thursday that, as of now, the "deployment of AI is partial in scope, enhancing certain functions and addressing some operational challenges rather than enabling full system autonomy." Autonomy in drone navigation and targeting is making a major impact, improving drone strikes and making them three to four times more likely to succeed, or an increase from 10 to 20 percent to around 70 to 80 percent, Bondar said. Ukraine purchased roughly 10,000 AI-enhanced drones in 2024. Overall, it acquired about 2 million drones, meaning that most of the drones Ukraine is using to fight off the Russians are still entirely controlled by human operators. The AI drones are largely limited to final-approach navigation, but they're proving their worth. These systems demand far less skill from pilots, can bypass electronic warfare that could sever the drone's connection to the operator, and reduce the number of drones necessary for mission success. Bondar said only two drones could do what might otherwise take eight or nine. All of this is being expedited by Ukraine's drone developers, who are constantly working on new adaptations in both software and hardware to problems seen on the battlefield. Operations like Ukraine's special drone unit, Typhoon, are also helping to push drone innovation forward across the armed forces. Kyiv's government, too, is pushing for a wider adoption of autonomy and AI, which would allow for continued development and additional purchases. Ukraine has seen particular success in adapting small- and medium-sized first-person-view drones for diverse missions thanks to interchangeable equipment and flexible designs. This ultimately means these drones can shift from surveillance operations to strikes. Interchangeability in hardware and software is key, Ukrainian drone companies have said, in order to make the systems cheap, scalable, and flexible to countermeasures. Bondar noted that Ukraine has been training small AI models on small datasets to avoid overloading the limited processing power available from small, inexpensive chips. Doing so offers the flexibility to adapt quickly to an ever-changing battlespace. There are opportunities in AI. In her report, Bondar said that advancements in AI-enabled automated target recognition have led to drones with the ability to lock onto targets up to two kilometers away in optimal conditions. Unfazed by fatigue or stress, AI also has the potential ability to see through evasion tactics, such as camouflage and decoys that might trick a human eye. These developments will make drone warfare significantly more deadly as the technology advances, making it easier to field and operate at scale for greater effect. True autonomy and artificial intelligence in weapons technology are of interest to top militaries. The US, for instance, has been taking notes on drone warfare in Ukraine, spurring developments in integrating AI and drone technologies. But there are real concerns in this space, ethical worries and fears of creating so-called "killer robots." Bondar wrote that although the Ukrainians seek autonomy to improve operational effectiveness, "engagement decisions remain squarely in the human domain." She said that the "current human-in-the-loop practices allow operators to override autonomous functions, ensuring critical ethical and strategic judgments remain under human control. Read the original article on Business Insider
