Latest news with #Kratos
Newsweek
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Woman Goes to PetSmart for Cat Litter, Then She Sees a Rescue Dog
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A woman has gone viral after revealing how she went into PetSmart to run an errand but ended up leaving with a four-legged best friend instead. In June 2024, Felicia Wells found herself sitting in traffic on her way to pick up some cat litter. She almost didn't go, though, because she knew how busy and chaotic everywhere would be on a Saturday afternoon. But when she pulled into the parking lot, Wells, of Burlington, Vermont, spotted a sign about an adoption event the PetSmart store was hosting that weekend, with multiple dogs from KC Pet Rescue. Indeed, after seeing that, Wells told Newsweek that her first thought was "if there's a shepherd in there, they're coming home." Kratos the rescue dog is seen in a pen inside PetSmart during the adoption event. Kratos the rescue dog is seen in a pen inside PetSmart during the adoption event. @feliciawells666 / TikTok As it turned out, she met an adorable Belgian Malinois and Dutch shepherd mix named Kratos. He was found digging through garbage when KC Pet Rescue saved him. Wells learned that he was merely "skin and bones" back then, and he had spent 10 months waiting for a home. "I had huge reservations about adopting him, and I immediately left the store so I could send the video I took to my mom, expecting her to talk me out of adopting him," Wells said. "But she did the exact opposite, insisting that it was fate. "Another concern was his ability to be adopted into a home with cats. But, as fate would have it, the foster home he was in had cats," Wells added. She adopted Kratos that weekend and was delighted to offer him a second chance. She only went in for cat litter, but she left with a new family member. Watching Kratos adjust to his new normal has been challenging but incredibly rewarding. For the first few weeks, he was "completely shut down" and very nervous. During his first night, Wells said she noticed how he just stood around looking lost and confused. "He had no interest in treats, did not understand toys, tried to escape and run away on walks, and was reluctant to eat the first several meals I offered to him. The first night, I don't think either of us slept a wink," Wells said. As a result, she couldn't resist picking Kratos up and putting him in her bed. He stayed there all night, trembling with fear but cuddling up to her appreciatively. Kratos has come a long way since then. He has been in his home for a year and developed such a strong personality with so much confidence. Wells said she recalls the "breakthrough moment" when she made herself some macaroni and cheese, only to discover that it was also her dog's favorite food, given his reaction. Now, Kratos loves snoozing on the couch with his cat siblings, playing with his toys, and being spoiled by his owner. After reflecting on her impromptu decision to adopt Kratos, Wells shared a video on TikTok (@feliciawells666) showing footage of her pup at the adoption event. The clip went viral with over 342,000 views and more than 63,000 likes on TikTok at the time of writing. The online response is beyond anything Wells expected, although many people misunderstood the viral clip and believed that Kratos was being sold by PetSmart. That, of course, wasn't the case. "The biggest thing I would like to accomplish from sharing his story is to provide support for KC Pet Rescue, who saved him and held onto him for 10 months until I found him," Wells said. She continued: "They are a small, volunteer-based organization that provides rescue for homeless, abused and neglected dogs. He was found just outside of Morrilton, Arkansas, digging through a woman's garbage. "The rescue tested, treated, and paid for his heartworm treatment, which is expensive and lengthy to treat. I am endlessly grateful to KC Pet Rescue for keeping my boy safe and well-cared for." In just a matter of days, the viral TikTok video has generated over 600 comments so far. Plenty of internet users praised Wells for giving Kratos his forever home. One comment reads: "You went home with a best friend." Another TikTok user wrote: "He looks so much healthier now that he's with you." A third person replied: "You'll never regret this save!" Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
XQ-58 Valkyrie Heading To European Market With Kratos-Airbus Team-Up
Airbus Defense and Space has teamed up with Kratos Defense and Security Solutions to provide the stealthy XQ-58A Valkyrie drone to the German Luftwaffe. The development could see the Valkyrie being offered to a range of other European nations, alongside Germany, potentially filling an emerging niche for 'loyal wingman'-type drones, along with other roles, with a number of air forces. The partnership between Airbus and Kratos will see the European firm equip the XQ-58A with a new mission system, details of which otherwise remain scarce, other than the fact that it will feature a 'platform-agnostic system architecture,' meaning that it can be integrated into the U.S.-made drone and others more easily. TWZ approached Kratos for more details on what the changes would involve, as well as the broader aims of the program, and was told that the new partnership aimed to achieve 'an affordable, low-risk, high-capability Collaborative Combat Aircraft optimized for German/European defense applications.' Eric DeMarco, CEO of Kratos, described the new version of the Valkyrie as being 'tuned' for the European mission, suggesting that it will feature specific modifications for operators in the region. In a statement, Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defense and Space, doesn't refer explicitly to a German plan involving the XQ-58A, but notes that 'our customers have expressed an urgent demand for both attritable and non-attritable Collaborative Combat Aircraft.' By teaming up with Kratos, Airbus will be able to 'deliver crucial capabilities for our warfighters in Europe before the end of the decade.' Airbus says that the plan is for the 'Europeanized' drone to be ready for the Luftwaffe by 2029. At this stage, it's not clear if the German Ministry of Defense has a specific requirement to buy the XQ-58A, but there are certainly signs that it wants to introduce a similar platform in the future. It should also be recalled that Kratos has, in the past, said that it was developing two new drone designs, Apollo and Athena, with a particular focus on collaborative operations with other crewed and uncrewed aircraft, and an eye toward sales in Europe. The modular Apollo and Athena designs are smaller than the XQ-58A and could be configured to carry weapons, electronic warfare systems, or additional sensors, as you can read about here. However, Kratos told TWZ that the new partnership with Airbus is not related to Apollo and Athena. Meanwhile, last summer, Airbus unveiled a stealthy CCA-like concept of its own, known as Wingman. At the time, Schoellhorn said that the Luftwaffe had 'expressed a clear need' for a drone that would be able to operate in conjunction with crewed fighters before the arrival in service of the pan-European Future Combat Air System (FCAS). The FCAS program is aiming for service entry in the 2040s, with a crewed New Generation Fighter (NGF) as its centerpiece. Schoellhorn noted that the Wingman would be expected to enter service in the 2030s timeframe. Somewhat larger than the XQ-58A, the Wingman currently exists only as a concept aircraft, while the Valkyrie has been flying since 2019. Potentially, Germany might be looking to acquire the XQ-58A as an interim platform pending the arrival of the Wingman, although the company's plans suggest it will be looking to find a market for the 'Europeanized' drone with NATO members across the continent. Germany, for its part, would certainly seem to be a candidate for a CCA-type drone, especially as an uncrewed companion that it wants to have work alongside its forthcoming Eurofighter EK electronic warfare jets. However, an Airbus official told Breaking Defense that, at this point, the XQ-58A is not being pitched for this Electronic Combat Wingman program. That is somewhat surprising, especially considering the fact that the Valkyrie has previously been tested in an electronic warfare capacity, and an EW version of the drone exists as a program of record for the U.S. Marine Corps. Regardless, the potential of a drone of this kind could also be harnessed by other German Eurofighters, which undertake a range of air defense and air-to-ground missions, as well as the F-35A stealth jets it also has on order. Noteworthy is the fact that the F-35 is slated to work together with CCAs, as well, with the combination of the stealth jet and complementary drones being a key facet of the planned future U.S. Air Force force posture. Airbus describes the XQ-58A as a runway-independent rail-launched drone, which could also be especially interesting for European air forces, allowing them to conduct dispersed operations and to forward-launch the drones close to NATO's eastern border. The drones can even be launched from forward locations out of shipping containers, to maximize range and loiter time, with crewed fighters joining up with them from deeper, more protected bases. At the same time, it remains possible that the new version of the drone might at least be offered with built-in landing gear. Kratos first announced that a version of the drone with tricycle-type wheeled landing gear was in the works last year, and this might present certain advantages over the original runway-independent design. Meanwhile, there also exists the ability to launch the Valkyrie from a wheeled launch trolley, if required. It's notable that, before the Wingman concept, Airbus worked on other advanced uncrewed aircraft programs. Chief among these is the Barracuda, work on which began in 2003, initially as a 'black program.' After six test campaigns, the Barracuda — which has a striking resemblance to the XQ-58A — was retired. Experience and data from the drone have been fed into FCAS, which is also planned to include interaction of crewed and uncrewed aircraft, with 'remote carrier' drones of different sizes being among the latter. Whatever Germany's plans for the Valkyrie, the partnership with Airbus appears very well timed to bring a relatively proven 'loyal wingman'-type drone to the European market. With increasing tensions between NATO and Russia, air forces are paying much more attention to more affordable ways of usefully boosting combat mass. This could be a real boost for the XQ-58A, especially since it was absent from the first tranche of the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. Ultimately, General Atomics and Anduril were selected to build flying prototypes of their designs, now designated YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, respectively, under CCA's Increment 1, but the Valkyrie could well still have a chance for follow-on tranches. Meanwhile, the U.S. Marine Corps has been testing the Valkyrie extensively and, earlier this year, Kratos confirmed that it was close to final configurations of the drone for the service. It's unclear what the Marine Corps variants will be, but Kratos has previously said it was working on at least five XQ-58 variants, including one that was optimized for electronic attack. For many years, defense spending across Europe — and not just in Germany — saw air forces reduced in size and lose some of their previous capabilities. A renewed emphasis on defense and the potential of uncrewed assets could open significant new markets for the XQ-58A, especially as air forces look for lower-cost ways of rebuilding combat mass. Contact the author: thomas@ Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Drones, Hypersonics, and Airbus: Kratos Becomes the Defense Market's Dark Horse
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. (NASDAQ:KTOS) is one of the best space stocks to buy according to hedge funds. On July 8, 2025, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage of the stock with a Buy rating and a bold $60 price target, citing Kratos' leadership in unmanned aerial systems and its central role in hypersonic test infrastructure. The report specifically highlighted the company's expanding portfolio of affordable combat drones, such as the XQ-58A Valkyrie, and its pivotal contracts under the MACH-TB hypersonic testbed program. This comes just days after multiple other firms, including Benchmark, Stifel, and RBC, reaffirmed or upgraded their bullish stances, with price targets ranging between $50 and $54. Analysts appear to be coalescing around Kratos' reputation as a rare defense-tech play: agile, innovation-driven, and deeply embedded in programs that are both high priority and high margin. That confidence got another jolt on July 16, when Airbus announced a partnership with Kratos to supply Valkyrie drones, equipped with Airbus mission systems, to the German Air Force. Deliveries are expected by 2029, but the contract solidifies Kratos' growing international relevance in the unmanned combat space. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in San Diego, Kratos specializes in disruptive defense technologies, including autonomous aircraft, hypersonic test vehicles, missile defense systems, and satellite ground infrastructure. Its customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, NATO allies, and major primes looking for cutting-edge solutions without the legacy bloat. While we acknowledge the potential of KTOS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Drones, Hypersonics, and Airbus: Kratos Becomes the Defense Market's Dark Horse
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. (NASDAQ:KTOS) is one of the best space stocks to buy according to hedge funds. On July 8, 2025, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage of the stock with a Buy rating and a bold $60 price target, citing Kratos' leadership in unmanned aerial systems and its central role in hypersonic test infrastructure. The report specifically highlighted the company's expanding portfolio of affordable combat drones, such as the XQ-58A Valkyrie, and its pivotal contracts under the MACH-TB hypersonic testbed program. This comes just days after multiple other firms, including Benchmark, Stifel, and RBC, reaffirmed or upgraded their bullish stances, with price targets ranging between $50 and $54. Analysts appear to be coalescing around Kratos' reputation as a rare defense-tech play: agile, innovation-driven, and deeply embedded in programs that are both high priority and high margin. That confidence got another jolt on July 16, when Airbus announced a partnership with Kratos to supply Valkyrie drones, equipped with Airbus mission systems, to the German Air Force. Deliveries are expected by 2029, but the contract solidifies Kratos' growing international relevance in the unmanned combat space. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in San Diego, Kratos specializes in disruptive defense technologies, including autonomous aircraft, hypersonic test vehicles, missile defense systems, and satellite ground infrastructure. Its customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, NATO allies, and major primes looking for cutting-edge solutions without the legacy bloat. While we acknowledge the potential of KTOS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. 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
The Irish Sun
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Games DELETED from millions of PlayStation and Xbox consoles in days – last chance to download them free
GAMERS have until midnight tonight to download a series of titles as stores continue with their sweep of closures. Tomorrow is going to be a super busy day for the PlayStation Plus subscription service. 1 A handful of titles such as Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong are getting the boot Credit: Alamy T hat is when new games – including Cyberpunk 2077 – are going to be added. At the same time, a handful of titles such as Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong are getting the boot . The new PS Plus Extra and Premium Games coming on July 15 include: Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden Bluey: The Videogame New World: Aeternum Planet Zoo Risk of Rain 2 Tropico 6 Twisted Metal 3 (Premium only) Twisted Metal 4 (Premium only) Most read in Tech It comes after it was revealed Microsoft took three months to remove a game that was an edited emulation of a PlayStation title. The PlayStation Plus July 2025 Extra and Premium tier updates have been handled a little differently than usual. Instead of all the new games coming on the same day, PS Plus subscribers have been treated to one in advance. Cyberpunk 2077 has been added to the Extra tier of PlayStation Plus as part of the subscription service's 15th anniversary celebration. Most read in Tech Huge addition It is seen as a huge addition to PS Plus and should ensure that Extra tier subscribers get more value from their subscription. Additionally, Abiotic Factor is coming to PlayStation Plus on July 22, a full week after the usual update. Abiotic Factor is a day one release and should make for an exciting addition to the lineup. Get an inside look at the new PS5 30th anniversary edition At least six games are leaving PS Plus Extra and Premium on July 15, including some rather heavy hitters. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion is getting the boot, as is Dying Light 2: Stay Human . PS Plus subscribers also have to say farewell to Job Simulator , Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord , Remnant 2 , and Vampire: The Masquerade - Swan Song . Out of these, Crisis Core , Dying Light 2 , and Remnant 2 will probably sting the most, though PlayStation VR owners will likely be sad to see Job Simulator go as well. Ripped off In other tech news, it was recently discovered that the Xbox storefront was playing host to an edited version of a PlayStation title being run via emulation. The game, which has since been removed by Microsoft , was sold and passed off as a legitimate game , according to The Gamer. As first spotted by TrueAchievements , and as reported on originally by Digital Foundry , Anti-Gravity Racing WipEout was originally released in April and sold for $14.99 but was not an original game. This isn't the first time that a PlayStation title was seemingly Back in 2022, a God of War clone was available, featuring a near-identical version of Kratos. It was promptly removed. Download NOW - the 'heavy hitters' facing the boot At least six games are leaving PS Plus Extra and Premium on July 15, including some rather heavy hitters Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion Dying Light 2: Stay Human Job Simulator Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord Remnant 2 Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong
