Latest news with #Scooter
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine's special operators used to dodge artillery shells. Now they're trying to survive Russian drones.
Small exploding drones have emerged as the main battlefield killer in Ukraine. Ukraine's special operators were once focused on artillery, but now they train to survive drones. An American instructor said he teaches soldiers to hide, move smart, and use their guns if needed. Ukraine's special operators used to focus their training on surviving intense Russian artillery fire. Now, their attention has shifted to drones — the main battlefield killer. "Things have changed drastically," an American instructor with the 4th Ranger Regiment of Ukraine's Special Operations Forces told Business Insider. He could only be identified by his call sign Scooter for security reasons. "One of the main differences we see today is the prevalence of drones," he said. "In 2022, it was primarily artillery fire. There was a lot more of it." The Ukrainian Rangers are now learning better concealment tactics and how to shoot down drones with their service weapons as a last resort. Artillery, long described as the "king of battle," has played a central role in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, especially during the early years of the conflict, with both sides using the towed cannons and multiple launch rocket systems to attack the enemy. The scale of the artillery duels could be seen in satellite imagery of the battlefield, where hundreds of craters peppered huge swaths of land and reduced buildings to rubble. However, amid strained ammunition stockpiles and as the war transitioned from a maneuver-oriented conflict to one of attrition, with relatively static front lines, drones have emerged as the dominant battlefield threat, with some recent estimates suggesting that they are causing around 70% of Russian and Ukrainian casualties. Scooter attributed the rise of drones to what has been called "shell hunger," explaining that Russia exhausted its stocks of artillery ammunition and began to rely on small quadcopter drones — known as first-person view, or FPV, drones — to fill the gaps. Ukraine also experienced a shortage of artillery rounds, turning to drones as an alternative. "In 2022, we were trained to utilize terrain and structures to counter artillery fire," said Scooter, speaking to BI via video chat from an undisclosed location in central Ukraine. "Now, we have to train people with the mentality that they are going to constantly be targeted by a loitering munition piloted by a human operator," he said. 'Move fast — don't move too fast' FPV drones have emerged as a cheap way to deliver precision strikes against enemy trenches, personnel, and vehicles. Above Ukraine, these weapons are everywhere, with their tiny cameras giving human operators near-constant battlefield surveillance. Russia and Ukraine have made the FPV drones even more of an issue over the past year by using fiber-optic cables to connect them to their operators, making the small aircraft resistant to most electronic warfare tactics. "We have had to change our mentality with training completely," Scooter said. "How do I deal with FPVs? Not so much 'how do I deal with artillery fire?" He said the first thing that he teaches Ukraine's special operators is how to blend in with their surroundings and practice better camouflage techniques. This means that every shiny object needs to be painted, removed, or taped over, with paint covering the hands and face. Soldiers are also taught how to stay hidden using tree lines or thick forests to their advantage and to find heat sources, such as a car or generator, if they can, to blend in with their surroundings. A Russian drone operator piloting a surveillance drone may not be able to spot the difference between two white blobs on the screen. Scooter said he trains soldiers in many of the same ways he would snipers or reconnaissance personnel. "Move fast — don't move too fast," he said. "Don't draw unnecessary attention. The human eye sees movement, shape, and color — in that order. So move carefully, blend in with your surroundings." "Basically, the same way you might hide from an enemy helicopter is the way you're going to hide from a drone," he added. Instructors are also teaching Ukraine's special operators to fight the FPV drones with their service weapons — specifically shotguns — as a last resort. However, these small targets are extremely difficult to hit, and if the drone is close enough, a direct impact could set off its explosive payload, and its forward momentum could spell trouble. "Small arms fire is seldom effective" against an FPV drone, Scooter said. "But our mentality is that if I can do nothing else, something is better than nothing." Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Business Insider
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Ukraine's special operators used to dodge artillery shells. Now they're trying to survive Russian drones.
Ukraine's special operators used to focus their training on surviving intense Russian artillery fire. Now, their attention has shifted to drones — the main battlefield killer. "Things have changed drastically," an American instructor with the 4th Ranger Regiment of Ukraine's Special Operations Forces told Business Insider. He could only be identified by his call sign Scooter for security reasons. "One of the main differences we see today is the prevalence of drones," he said. "In 2022, it was primarily artillery fire. There was a lot more of it." The Ukrainian Rangers are now learning better concealment tactics and how to shoot down drones with their service weapons as a last resort. Artillery, long described as the "king of battle," has played a central role in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, especially during the early years of the conflict, with both sides using the towed cannons and multiple launch rocket systems to attack the enemy. The scale of the artillery duels could be seen in satellite imagery of the battlefield, where hundreds of craters peppered huge swaths of land and reduced buildings to rubble. However, amid strained ammunition stockpiles and as the war transitioned from a maneuver-oriented conflict to one of attrition, with relatively static front lines, drones have emerged as the dominant battlefield threat, with some recent estimates suggesting that they are causing around 70% of Russian and Ukrainian casualties. Scooter attributed the rise of drones to what has been called "shell hunger," explaining that Russia exhausted its stocks of artillery ammunition and began to rely on small quadcopter drones — known as first-person view, or FPV, drones — to fill the gaps. Ukraine also experienced a shortage of artillery rounds, turning to drones as an alternative. "In 2022, we were trained to utilize terrain and structures to counter artillery fire," said Scooter, speaking to BI via video chat from an undisclosed location in central Ukraine. "Now, we have to train people with the mentality that they are going to constantly be targeted by a loitering munition piloted by a human operator," he said. 'Move fast — don't move too fast' FPV drones have emerged as a cheap way to deliver precision strikes against enemy trenches, personnel, and vehicles. Above Ukraine, these weapons are everywhere, with their tiny cameras giving human operators near-constant battlefield surveillance. Russia and Ukraine have made the FPV drones even more of an issue over the past year by using fiber-optic cables to connect them to their operators, making the small aircraft resistant to most electronic warfare tactics. "We have had to change our mentality with training completely," Scooter said. "How do I deal with FPVs? Not so much 'how do I deal with artillery fire?" He said the first thing that he teaches Ukraine's special operators is how to blend in with their surroundings and practice better camouflage techniques. This means that every shiny object needs to be painted, removed, or taped over, with paint covering the hands and face. Soldiers are also taught how to stay hidden using tree lines or thick forests to their advantage and to find heat sources, such as a car or generator, if they can, to blend in with their surroundings. A Russian drone operator piloting a surveillance drone may not be able to spot the difference between two white blobs on the screen. Scooter said he trains soldiers in many of the same ways he would snipers or reconnaissance personnel. "Move fast — don't move too fast," he said. "Don't draw unnecessary attention. The human eye sees movement, shape, and color — in that order. So move carefully, blend in with your surroundings." "Basically, the same way you might hide from an enemy helicopter is the way you're going to hide from a drone," he added. Instructors are also teaching Ukraine's special operators to fight the FPV drones with their service weapons — specifically shotguns — as a last resort. However, these small targets are extremely difficult to hit, and if the drone is close enough, a direct impact could set off its explosive payload, and its forward momentum could spell trouble. "Small arms fire is seldom effective" against an FPV drone, Scooter said. "But our mentality is that if I can do nothing else, something is better than nothing."
Daily Mirror
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Scooter Braun sparks ridicule as he claims feud with Taylor Swift boosted her career
Music mogul Scooter Braun has provoked a bitter backlash from Taylor Swift's fans by suggesting his highly publicised feud with her helped to boost her astronomical career Scooter Braun has raised eyebrows with a claim that his infamous feud with Taylor Swift helped improve her career. The 44-year-old music producer and the 35-year-old Wildest Dreams singer clashed in 2019 when he bought her old record label, Big Machine Label Group. The deal included the master recordings of Taylor's first six records, leading her to bitterly lash out at the businessman. She then went on to re-record her albums and re-release them to huge financial reward. This year, Taylor successfully bought back the rights to her own music after re-releasing four of the six albums in question, leading her to hint she may no longer re-record her debut and Reputation albums. Having enjoyed renewed success for the four albums she re-recorded, Scooter is now hinting that the feud that provoked the re-release of the records helped Taylor achieve a degree of success she would not otherwise have reached. Fans of the star, however, have made it clear they do not agree with Scooter's theory - and they have ruthlessly mocked him for his comment. While Taylor's fans have bitterly reacted to Scooter's comments, he has praised the Lavender Haze singer while sharing his opinions. Scooter appeared on Danielle Robay's Question Everything podcast, where they discussed his history with the chart-topping star. Discussing her re-recorded albums, he said: "She did incredibly well and basically had the biggest moment of her career, reinvigorating her career with each one. It was previously reported that Scooter bought the Big Machine Records and Taylor's masters in 2019 for $300 million (£220 million). He later sold the records to an investment firm called Shamrock Holdings for $405 million (£300 million) - and then Swift herself reacquired the music in May for a reported $360 million (£268 million). Scooter gushed: "It was brilliant on her part. But also, each time she released one, you saw a spike in the original catalog." He continued: "Funny enough, everyone involved in the saga, from a business standpoint, won. "She's the biggest she's ever been, biggest artist of all time. We did really well with the asset. The people who bought the asset did really well because of those spikes. "I wish kids and people out there understood that, like, there are scenarios in life where there doesn't need to be an oppressor and oppressed, there are scenarios in life where it's a misunderstanding, yet everyone can succeed." His comments sparked a backlash among Taylor's fans, however, who took to social media to pan the businessman. One wrote on X: "She lives rent free in his little head." And another typed: "Man takes credit for woman's success a tale as old as time." And a third wrote: "Is he obsessed or is he obsessed?" Scooter is famous for helping discover Canadian pop star Justin Bieber - and the two famously parted ways, on a business level, in 2023. Earlier this month, Justin released his seventh studio album - which was his first since he ended his partnership with Scooter. The businessman took to social media to praise the 31-year-old singer, however, writing ia Instagram Stories: 'Been having a beautiful start to the weekend and been getting a lot of texts about how I feel about Justin's new album. "So I will just leave this here. This is without a doubt, the most authentically Justin Bieber album to date. It's beautiful, raw, and truly him. And that matters.' He continued: 'I've had the privilege of witnessing his growth for almost two decades. Along every journey, there comes a time when an artist fully steps into their own — and that's what he's done here. He's poured his soul into this project, and you can feel it in every single run. 'The way he chose to release it is just as intentional as the music itself — and I'm happy to see him do it this way. I have played no roll in this one, but as someone who's always believed in him, I'm incredibly proud and impressed and genuinely enjoying the music."
Newsweek
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Cat Owners Are Revealing Nicknames for Their Pets—and Internet Can't Cope
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 Reddit post asking users to share the nicknames they call their cats has gone viral, sparking thousands of responses and a wave of amusement. In the original thread shared on Thursday under the username u/Aged_Goodness1, the poster asks fellow users on the platform, "What nicknames do you call your cats?" before proceeding to list all those they call their orange feline. "His names: Milo (his real name), Milosh, Baby, Mr. Baby, Mr. Meh, Mr. Mrreh, Mr. Moo, Mr. Milo, Mr. Handsome, Mr. Eh Eh, Mr. Oo Oo, Mr. Oo Oo Ah Ah, Mr. Baum Baum, Mr. Grumpidy Bumpidy, Mr. Ping, Mr. Pink Pitty Pads, Mr. Orange, Mr. Punchy, Mr. Puffy Pants, Mr. Pretty Pants, Mr. Princess." The post immediately drew the attention of users across the platform, receiving over 17,000 upvotes and more than 4,300 comments. One user, Inside_Term_6900, said: "His name is technically Igor, but I call him: Iggy, Pig, Piggy, Big-Pig, Baby, Baby Boy, Angel, Sweetheart, My Little Monster, My Little Freak." Another user, Sheffieldsvc, added: "Scooter/Scootie/Scooter McDooter/Dootily Doot/Scootiepants/Scootarino etc. etc. etc. He answers to any of these about the same, which is to say not at all." Many cat owners have multiple affectionate nicknames for their pets, but do the felines know them? Do they even know their names? Dr. Julie Hunt, veterinarian at Embrace Pet Insurance, told Newsweek that cats do indeed know their names and, if used enough, they can learn their nicknames, too. "If the nickname is frequently used, it is reasonable to expect that the cat would know their nickname in addition to their full name," Hunt said. She added that felines can also learn the names of humans who are familiar to them. Cats are very intelligent creatures and can learn our language in the same way that dogs or young children do. They may even be able to understand as many as 20 to 40 words. "Some experts have reported that their cats can demonstrate an understanding of 10 to 15 cue words, but it's likely that a cat may understand more words than they are able to actively demonstrate an understanding of—they are cats, after all," Hunt added. Stock image: An orange cat gets cuddles from his owner on the bed. Stock image: An orange cat gets cuddles from his owner on the bed. getty images Newsweek reached out to u/Aged_Goodness1 for comment via Reddit messages. We could not verify the details of the case. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Hailey Bieber facing health issue due to 'stress' amid Justin Bieber financial dispute
Hailey Bieber took to social media to tell her followers her stress levels have contributed to another health issue flare up amid her husband's financial battles Hailey Bieber has admitted stress is causing her to have a health issue, with the news coming after her husband's financial disputes. The 28-year-old Rhode founder seemed to candidly reveal the effect Justin's money worries are having on her. She explained how stressful times have had an impact on her well-being and admitted certain situations cause "flare ups" of her condition. The mum-of-one recently responded to rumours her singer husband could use her Rhode millions in order to fund Scooter Braun. And on Thursday, she took to Instagram Stories to give fans a further update. She explained how she suffers from 'perioral dermatitis flares'. Sharing a close-up of her face, Hailey showed her fans the redness around her face. According to the British Association of Dermatologists, perioral dermatitis sufferers usually notice a recurrent red rash around the mouth which feels sore and may be persistent. It says: "Peri-oral dermatitis can cause burning and irritation of the skin. It is usually on the lower face, around the mouth and may occasionally involve areas around the eyes and nose. It usually does not affect the cheeks and forehead." Hailey said on her post her flare ups happen when "I'm traveling a lot, sleep deprived, hormones, the wrong SPF, new products, stress". She then explained she takes "minimal" steps to try to help during a flare up. "What I use when I have a flare: so minimal. rinse my face with water, prescription Azelaic, Hypochlorous acid, Clindamycin, Glazing Milk," she wrote. Her health update comes after Justin released his seventh studio album last week. Justin and ex manager Scooter are said to have also finally settled their financial dispute to the tune of almost $30million. It was said to have been money Justin owed as part of an advance he got from AEG for the "Justice" tour. Following the settlement, though, Scooter shared his thoughts on the new album, two years after the duo stopped working together. Taking to social media on Saturday, the music manager lavished praise on his protégé before later urging fans to give the album a listen. In his glowing Instagram Stories upload, Scooter wrote: 'Been having a beautiful start to the weekend and been getting a lot of texts about how I feel about Justin's new album. 'So I will just leave this here.. This is without a doubt, the most authentically Justin Bieber album to date. It's beautiful, raw, and truly him. And that matters.' He continued: 'I've had the privilege of witnessing his growth for almost two decades. Along every journey, there comes a time when an artist fully steps into their own — and that's what he's done here. He's poured his soul into this project, and you can feel it in every single run. 'The way he chose to release it is just as intentional as the music itself — and I'm happy to see him do it this way. I have played no role in this one, but as someone who's always believed in him, I'm incredibly proud and impressed and genuinely enjoying the music." Scooter, 44, had helped discover Justin, 31, when he was just a 13-year-old boy singing songs on YouTube. Over the years, Scooter helped craft Justin's career - which included smash hits such as Baby, What Do You Mean?, and Sorry. But the boys went their separate ways in 2023 following the release of Justin's album, Justice, which topped the charts in 2021.
