Latest news with #BrazilianNavy
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Inside the terrifying island where only soldiers and scientists are allowed to visit
This deadly island is swarming with 4,000 of the world's most lethal snakes and is deemed so dangerous that visiting it was been banned by the Brazilian government. Ilha de Queimada Grande sits 20 miles (32 km) off the coast of Sao Paolo, and is home to the golden lancehead viper. Understandably nicknamed 'Snake Island', the piece of land 4.6 million square feet (430,000 square metres) in size is the only place on Earth where Bothrops insularis, also known as the golden lancehead viper, is known to inhabit. The island is devoid of almost any human visitors, expect for a few scientists who are granted permission to study the snakes each year. It is also visited on occasion by the Brazilian navy, who tend to the autonomous lighthouse that was built back in 1909 before scampering clear. The island has come to be known as Snake Island with it being claimed there is one snake for every square metre. And it's also thought that poachers have been known to visit the island and claim a golden lancehead viper for their own, with their price fetching as high as £17,500 ($30,000) on the black market. The viper has been been evolving in isolation since rising sea levels cut the island off from the mainland 11,000 years ago, leaving the snakes on the island with limited sources of food. Migrating birds became the viper's main prey but the problem was, though, that most venoms take a while to act - sometimes as much as a few days. By the time the snake's venom killed the birds they would have moved elsewhere, so instead the snakes evolved an incredibly strong venom that can kill prey almost instantly. It is five times more potent than other snakes and can even melt human flesh. In humans, the bite from a golden lancehead viper carried a seven per cent chance of death. And before the island was deemed off-limits there were several stories of people succumbing to the deadly predators. One story tells of a fisherman who lost power in the engines of his boat. After drifting to the island he ventured inland, unaware of the terrors that lay in wait. When his boat was eventually discovered, he was found dead in a pool of blood covered in snake bites. The island has come to be known as Snake Island with it being claimed there is one snake for every square metr Another story is of the last lighthouse keeper to inhabit the island with his family. Rumour has it they ran in terror when snakes crawled in through their windows; their bodies were later found scattered across the island. The name of the island itself tells of its troubled history. Ilha de Queimada Grande roughly translates as 'the island of the slash-and-burn fire', so-called because of a failed attempt to develop a banana plantation on it. However, in the last 15 years the population of snakes on the island as reduced by as much as 15 per cent, due to a combination of vegetation removal and disease. And on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List the snakes are currently listed as critically endangered. With thousands of snakes remaining, however, it's probably still not the ideal holiday destination.
Mid East Info
04-04-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
EDGE Group Advances Anti-Drone Cooperation with the Brazilian Navy - Middle East Business News and Information
Agreement aims to develop and deploy counter- drone systems tailored to naval defence requirements, with a focus on autonomous surface and aerial systems Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: EDGE, one of the world's leading advanced technology companies and defence groups, has announced the signing of a strategic letter of intent with the Brazilian Navy, through the Navy's Weapons Systems Directorate, detailing the joint development of anti-drone systems. The next phase will involve establishing a joint working group, comprising technical experts from both parties, to advance the established partnership. The objective of this cooperation is to develop and deploy counter-drone systems tailored to naval defence needs, with a focus on autonomous surface and aerial technologies. These systems will incorporate advanced sensors, such as radars and electro-optical technologies, combined with signal jamming capabilities to effectively neutralise threats from autonomous air and surface vehicles. The document was signed at LAAD Defence & Security 2025, currently being held at the Riocentro Exhibition & Convention Center in Rio de Janeiro. This milestone represents a continued commitment to strengthening technical, operational, and logistical cooperation with the Brazilian Navy, with a shared focus on advancing sophisticated anti-drone systems for naval applications. About EDGE: Launched in November 2019, the UAE's EDGE is one of the world's leading advanced technology groups, established to develop agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond, and to be a catalyst for change and transformation. It is dedicated to bringing breakthrough innovations, products, and services to market with greater speed and efficiency, to position the UAE as a leading global hub for future industries, and to creating clear paths within the sector for the next generation of highly-skilled talent to thrive. With a focus on the adoption of 4IR technologies, EDGE is driving the development of sovereign capabilities for global export and for the preservation of national security, working with front-line operators, international partners, and adopting advanced technologies such as autonomous capabilities, cyber-physical systems, advanced propulsion systems, robotics and smart materials. EDGE converges R&D, emerging technologies, digital transformation, and commercial market innovations with military capabilities to develop disruptive solutions tailored to the specific requirements of its customers. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, EDGE consolidates more than 35 entities into six core clusters: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Space & Cyber Technologies, Trading & Mission Support, Technology & Innovation, and Homeland Security.
Trade Arabia
04-04-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
EDGE Group advances anti-drone co-operation with Brazilian Navy
EDGE, one of the world's leading advanced technology companies and defence groups, has announced the signing of a strategic letter of intent with the Brazilian Navy, through the Navy's Weapons Systems Directorate, detailing the joint development of anti-drone systems. The next phase will involve establishing a joint working group, comprising technical experts from both parties, to advance the established partnership. The objective of this cooperation is to develop and deploy counter-drone systems tailored to naval defence needs, with a focus on autonomous surface and aerial technologies, said EDGE in a statement. These systems will incorporate advanced sensors, such as radars and electro-optical technologies, combined with signal jamming capabilities to effectively neutralise threats from autonomous air and surface vehicles, it stated. The document was signed at LAAD Defence & Security 2025, currently being held at the Riocentro Exhibition & Convention Center in Rio de Janeiro.
Sky News
04-04-2025
- Business
- Sky News
UK in talks with Brazil over 'potential sale' of two Royal Navy amphibious assault ships
The UK is in talks with Brazil over the "potential sale" of the Royal Navy's two amphibious assault ships that are being ditched to cut costs, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. Defence experts said the fact HMS Bulwark - which has only just received an expensive refit - and HMS Albion are being flogged off underlines the pressure on the defence budget even though Sir Keir Starmer keeps talking up his promises to boost expenditure. The two warships can be used to deploy Royal Marines to shore - a vital capability at a time of growing global threats. News of the possible sale was first revealed in Latin American media. One report said the Royal Navy and Brazilian Navy had signed an agreement that would see the UK giving information to the Brazilians on the state of the two ships prior to any purchase. Asked about the claim that the UK would sell the assault ships to Brazil, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "We can confirm we have entered discussions with the Brazilian Navy over the potential sale of HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion. "As announced in November, both ships are being decommissioned from the Royal Navy. Neither were planned to go back to sea before their out of service dates in the 2030s." James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, appeared to question the wisdom of the move. "At Defence orals [House of Commons questions] on January 6th Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion were not genuine capabilities'," Mr Cartlidge wrote in a post on social media. "They've just been sold to Brazil." Matthew Savill, the director of military science at the Royal United Services Institute, said the plan to sell the vessels demonstrates there "is still life in both these ships". He said: "The fact that the UK is prepared to sell off useful amphibious capability - which could be used in evacuation operations or other cases where air transport is difficult - shows just how tight finances are even with the promised budget increase. "The replacements for these ships are still several years away and won't be available until the 2030s." Mr Savill added: "As an aside, Brazil will probably have greater amphibious capacity than the UK, having previously bought HMS Ocean, the UK's helicopter assault ship." HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark entered service two decades ago. Both are currently held at lower readiness having not been to sea since 2023 and 2017 respectively. HMS Ocean, a helicopter-landing vessel and once the largest warship in the Royal Navy, was sold to the Brazilian Navy in 2018 after 20 years in service.
Al Etihad
03-04-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
EDGE Group advances anti-drone cooperation with Brazilian Navy
3 Apr 2025 19:01 RIO DE JANEIRO (WAM)EDGE, one of the world's leading advanced technology companies and defence groups, has announced the signing of a strategic letter of intent with the Brazilian Navy, through the Navy's Weapons Systems Directorate, detailing the joint development of anti-drone next phase will involve establishing a joint working group, comprising technical experts from both parties, to advance the established objective of this cooperation is to develop and deploy counter-drone systems tailored to naval defence needs, with a focus on autonomous surface and aerial systems will incorporate advanced sensors, such as radars and electro-optical technologies, combined with signal jamming capabilities to effectively neutralise threats from autonomous air and surface document was signed at LAAD Defence & Security 2025, currently being held at the Riocentro Exhibition & Convention Centre in Rio de Janeiro. This milestone represents a continued commitment to strengthening technical, operational, and logistical cooperation with the Brazilian Navy, with a shared focus on advancing sophisticated anti-drone systems for naval applications.
