Latest news with #TAF
Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Indian Express
What are Turkish Songar drones, used by Pak to attack India?
Pakistan's attempted drone incursion in 36 military and civilian sites between the intervening night of Thursday (May 8) and Friday (May 9) likely involved Turkish-made Asisguard Songar drones, India said on Friday. In a press briefing, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said, 'A forensic examination of the drone debris is currently underway. Preliminary reports indicate that the drones are Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models.' Designed and manufactured by Turkey-based defence company Asisguard, Songar drones were first launched in April 2019, and delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) after successful completion of their testing in February 2020. They are Turkey's first indigenous armed drones. Design and features The drone has a width of 140 cm from rotor to rotor, and a maximum take-off weight of 45 kg. It has the ability to perform 35 minutes of duty without a payload. The portable unmanned aerial system (UAS) broadcasts real-time video, and operates within a radius of up to 5 km. It can ascend to an altitude of up to 3,000 m above mean sea level and 300 m above ground level. The drone can be used for both day and night military operations. Songar consists of a pilot camera for surveillance and exploration purposes, and a gun-mounted camera. The drone comes with autonomous and manual flight control modes. It also comprises features such as returning home in case there is a loss of connection between the drone and its remote controller. Songar drones use both Global Positioning System (GPS) and GLONASS navigation systems for communications during operations. The armaments There are different types of Songar drone systems based on the weapons they feature. The website of Asisguard lists five types of Songar drones: Songar 5.56 x 45 mm Assault Rifle, Songar 2×40 mm Grenade Launcher, Songar 6×40 mm Drum Type Grenade Launcher, Songar 3×81 mm Mortar Gripper, Songar 8 x Tear/Smoke Grenade Launcher. Each one of them comes with multi-layered firing safety measures until the operator's authorisation is received. Songar's assault rifle carries 5.56×45 mm cartridges, the standard cartridge used by guns made for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) militaries. It comes with a recoil force-damping mechanism which reduces the impact of recoil on the drone. The grenade launcher type Songar can fire up to two grenades within the range of 400-450 metres. For firing more grenades, there is the Drum Type Grenade Launcher which can launch up to six grenades within the same range as the Songar 2×40 mm Grenade Launcher. The tear or smoke grenade launcher can fire up to 8 grenades, and 'executes direct impact on target through controlled free-fall deployment (controlled descent through the air),' according to Asisguard. Performance Songar drones are designed for coordinated attacks with other military assets, such as troops or other drones. It also offers versatility during land, maritime and special operations. The UAS can be deployed stealthily, allowing forces to launch a surprise attack without revealing their location or presence. The drones can be used for reconnaissance and surveillance, providing real-time intelligence on enemy movements.
Gulf Business
05-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Tariq Al Futtaim Foundation donates Dhs3m to Fathers' Endowment
Credit for the images: Supplied, WAM The Tariq Al Futtaim Foundation (TAF), an investment management foundation based in the Dubai International Financial Centre, has contributed Dhs3m to the Fathers' Endowment campaign. This initiative, launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum—Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai—aims to establish a sustainable endowment fund that provides healthcare for the less fortunate, while promoting values of compassion, respect, and family honour. At the Tariq Al Futtaim Foundation, this contribution reflects the core values that guide our work. Strong families, led with clarity and care, are essential to building communities rooted in stability, accountability, and shared purpose. The principles behind the Fathers' Endowment—responsibility, generosity, and long-term commitment—mirror the same values that define our mission: to protect, grow, and manage wealth with intention. This is also a meaningful opportunity to honour my late father, Majid Al Futtaim, and the principles he lived by. His values continue to shape how I think about purpose, legacy, and responsibility. Through the Tariq Al Futtaim Foundation, I am committed to carrying those values forward and contributing to a future where wealth is managed with ambition, care, and a deep sense of service to future generations,' said Tariq Al Futtaim. Honouring l egacy, b uilding for the f uture The contribution to the Fathers' Endowment campaign reflects TAF's commitment to creating lasting impact by ensuring financial decisions are guided by responsibility and purpose. The Foundation remains dedicated to supporting initiatives that strengthen community welfare while upholding the principles of responsible wealth management for generations to come.
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
NiMet strike: Why airports dey depend on meteorological agencies?
Nigeria airports see kasala after di country meteorological agency NiMet go on strike over unpaid wages. Flight delays and cancellations happen for Lagos, Abuja and Kano airports. Workers from NiMet march for di street of Lagos, wit placards wey read: "No weather, no flight; fly at your own risk." While one airline, United Nigeria Airlines, say dem bin dey find alternative sources for weather information, anoda airline, Air Peace, bin announce di suspension of all flight operations on Thursday. Di strike now don dey called off for two weeks after Nigeria Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo meet with NiMet unions on Thursday. Dis na three key reasons why meteorology dey important to aviation: Safety While e dey safe to fly inside bad weather, meteorological agencies fit alert pilots to any significant weather hazards, like thunderstorms, icing or low visibility caused by low clouds or fog. Turbulence for flight dey very common, however thunderstorms fit make am more serious, putting passengers safety at risk. While turbulence dey highly unlikely to make plane crash, e dey known to cause severe injuries to passengers – and even death. Aviation forecasts fit also identify areas of Clear Air Turbulence (CAT), wey be wen temperature change create different wind speeds and direction. Pilots fit use dis weather information to den fly around areas of turbulence to minimise any danger or to cancel flight altogether. For Nigeria, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms dey more common at certain times of di year – e make weather information all modire important. "Any time you get widespread thunderstorm outbreak, e fit dey dangerous," George Delanjian, one aviation meteorologist based in US tok. "Lightening fit strike di aircraft and serious turbulence fit happen. In most cases, meteorologists know wen and wia thunderstorms go happen." Weather information dey also become more important for flight safety, sake of say some studies show say instances of serious turbulence dey increase, wey fit be due to climate change. Efficiency Information about di weather dey crucial for pilots wey dey prepare a flight plan. Di temperature, humidity, pressure and wind fit impact di ability to maintain a safe flying altitude and di ability to reach di destination with enough fuel. Information about jet streams – wey be strong bands of winds – fit help di plane to arrive more quickly at im destination. Flight plan fit also include alternate airports wey di plane fit divert too if change in weather conditions happen. "Meteorological agencies go provide information to airport as part of Meteorological Aerodrome Report [METAR] - wey be hourly reports wey show di current weather and Terminal Aerodrome Forecast [TAF] - wey give di forecast throughout di day," Simon King, BBC meteorologist tok. "Any pilot absolutely suppose get am to plan dia flights. For example, if di weather for di airport wia plane dey due to land no dey favourable, pilots fit dey aware of oda airports to divert to - while making sure say enough fuel dey to do so." So, weather reports no dey just about safety, dem dey also help airlines to save time, fuel and money. Ground operations Weather information dey just as important on di ground as e dey for di pilots in di sky. Meteorological agencies provide airports with information wey dey prepare dem for conditions wey fit affect di runway visibility and di ability to take off and land safely. In particular, pilots go dey look di forecasts for di speed and direction of di wind. Dis go affect di runway di pilot go use. Weather information fit also help make decisions on de-icing procedures, di loading and unloading of aircraft and re-fuelling. "If thunderstorm dey, planes no dey allowed to refuel in case of lightening," King add.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Merck Plans Regulatory Submission For Two-Drug Regime For HIV Infection By Mid-2025
On Wednesday, Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK) announced the presentation of results from two Phase 3 trials of doravirine/islatravir (DOR/ISL) in adults with HIV-1 infection that is virologically suppressed on bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamidei (BIC/FTC/TAF) in trial MK-8591A-052) or antiretroviral therapy (bART) in trial MK-8591A-051. In both trials, DOR/ISL met the primary efficacy success criterion for non-inferiority to comparator antiretroviral therapies and primary safety objectives at Week 48. The company released the topline data from both studies in December 2024. Also Read: Merck plans to begin submitting applications for marketing authorization to regulatory agencies by mid-2025. In the trial MK-8591A-052, results for the primary endpoint (HIV-1 RNA ≥50 copies/mL) showed that 1.5% of participants who switched to DOR/ISL had a viral load of ≥50 copies/mL at Week 48, compared to 0.6% on BIC/FTC/TAF. At Week 48, 91.5% of participants who switched to DOR/ISL maintained viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL) compared to 94.2% of participants who continued receiving BIC/FTC/TAF. In the trial MK-8591A-051, results for the primary endpoint showed that 1.4% of participants who received DOR/ISL had a viral load of ≥50 copies/mL at Week 48, compared to 4.9% on bART. At Week 48, 95.6% of participants who switched to DOR/ISL maintained viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL) compared to 91.9% of participants who continued on bART. Price Action: MRK stock is down 0.65% at $94.11 at the last check Wednesday. Read Next:Photo Courtesy of Merck Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? MERCK & CO (MRK): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Merck Plans Regulatory Submission For Two-Drug Regime For HIV Infection By Mid-2025 originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Shooting for the stars: OHS teacher lands STEM grant
Feb. 28—Zachariah Haverly's dream for his Odessa High School students to not only view but also photograph the heavens is coming into clearer focus with a $6,500 STEM grant from the Toshiba America Foundation (TAF) that will allow him to purchase a new 9.25" equatorial telescope for his Astronomy classes. Haverly's grant is 1 of 23 innovative classroom projects announced by TAF this month totaling more than $105,000. The grant for OHS is one of the largest awarded in this cycle, a news release said. "It has become second nature to think of space as an unobtainable, fantasy driven, outlet that may not actually be real," Haverly said in the release. "But then students put their eye up to the eyepiece of a telescope, and they see the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter, and that all falls away to nothing. Space becomes real all over again." Haverly pursued this grant to bring the planets, stars and galaxies to life for his students. Toshiba America Foundation's grants fund projects designed by individual classroom teachers. This "direct-to-teacher" approach brings immediate results. Teachers are able to change the way they teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects because the grant supports equipment for hands-on experiments and inquiry-based approaches to the curriculum. Haverly said this project will provide students with a much more powerful, accurate, and dependable means of monitoring the night sky in real time through visual astronomy and astrophotography. An equatorial telescope tracks the motion of the earth and its rotation down to fractions of a degree. "It's imperative for students to get out from behind a computer screen and get behind a telescope to experience the wonders of the cosmos for themselves," Haverly added. "OHS learners will be able to take images of celestial objects and become involved in 'real time' study with professional astronomers and other scientists." "Mr Haverly is clearly passionate about astronomy," said OHS Principal Hector Limon. "It is incredibly inspiring to see him share that passion with his students. The grants he has been awarded will allow him to spread that enthusiasm and skill to an exponentially." This grant fits nicely with a unique asset at OHS: a retractable observatory, built in 1969. Refurbished in 2021, the observatory offers a unique opportunity to study astronomy using new smart telescopes and photography equipment. "STEM occupations are vital to the long-term growth and stability of the U.S. economy," said John Anderson, President of TAF. "STEM education is key to cultivating the critical thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators that will drive our country forward. Through these grants, TAF is empowering teachers to create more dynamic and engaging STEM classrooms that inspire and challenge students to pursue careers in these essential fields. By investing in the next generation of STEM leaders, we are laying the foundation for a brighter, more prosperous future for all."
