Latest news with #USF
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces replaced
Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi has been dismissed from his position as commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), according to a decree signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 3. Sukharevskyi will be replaced by Major Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, commander of the elite drone unit "Birds of Magyar." The Unmanned Systems Forces were established as a separate branch of Ukraine's military in June 2024. The USF works to improve Ukraine's drone operations, creating drone-specific units, ramping up training, increasing drone production, and pushing innovation. The USF has also carried out hundreds of operations deep within Russian territory. "I am proud to have had the honor of leading the USF during its first and most difficult year of formation," Sukharevskyi said in a post commenting on his dismissal. "This year, although incomplete, has been spent productively. We have formed and immediately put into practice the principles on which this unique force operates. ... At the same time, at this stage, our vision for the further development of the USF differs from that of the leadership. I believe that the honest and professional decision in this situation is to end my term as commander of the USF. I am leaving my position with deep faith in everyone who continues to carry this idea forward." Read also: As Ukraine's fate hangs in the balance, 'Soviet' command culture damages war effort Sukharevskyi, previously deputy commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, was named the first commander of the newly-created USF on June 10, 2024. According to military personnel who spoke anonymously to the Ukrainian news outlet Suspilne, Sukharevskyi's relationship with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi was tense from the beginning of the USF's formation. Sukharevskyi's appointment was a decision from the president, not Syrskyi, sources said. People close to both Syrskyi and Sukharevskyi also claimed the two men avoided face-to-face interactions. According to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Sukharevskyi has now been appointed deputy commander of Ukraine's Eastern Operational Command, where he is expected to implement reforms and lead modernization efforts. Regarding the decision to appoint Brovdi as the new USF commander, Umerov said that Brovdi's "experience with one of the best units should be expanded to the entire command." Along with Sukharevskyi's dismissal and replacement, Ukraine's leadership announced a number of military personnel decisions on June 3, including the appointment of Mykhailo Drapatyi as Commander of the Joint Forces. Drapatyi previously resigned from his position as Ground Forces Commander on June 1 following a deadly Russian missile strike that killed at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers at a training camp in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast that day. We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
USF football set for afternoon kickoffs vs. Gators, ‘Canes
One of the most unrelenting non-conference football schedules in USF history also will be one of the most humid. The school announced Thursday the Bulls' games at Florida (Sept. 6) and Miami (Sept. 13) will kick off at 4:15 and 4:30 p.m., respectively. SEC Network will televise the USF-Gators contest, while the Bulls-Canes will be carried on The CW. Advertisement The sauna-like conditions won't stop there. USF's final non-conference game, Sept. 20 at home vs. South Carolina State, will kick off at noon and will be available on ESPN+. Kickoff times, and some dates, are determined by schools' respective network partners. At this point, USF — which launched nearly 30 years ago behind the premise of bringing Saturday night college football back to the bay area — has no Saturday evening home contests slated. However, kickoff times of two home games (Oct. 18 vs. FAU, Nov. 29 vs. Rice) have yet to be determined. Three home games (Aug. 28 vs. Boise State, Oct. 3 vs. Charlotte, Nov. 6 vs. UTSA) are weeknight contests. Contact Joey Knight at jknight@ Follow @TBTimes_Bulls 2025 USF slate (Non-Saturday games noted) Advertisement Aug. 28 (Thu) vs. Boise State, 5:30, ESPN Sept. 6 at Florida, 4:15, SEC Network Sept. 13 at Miami, 4:30, The CW Sept. 20 vs. South Carolina State, noon, ESPN+ Oct. 3 (Fri) vs. Charlotte, 7, ESPN2 Oct. 10 (Fri) at North Texas, 7:30, ESPN2 Oct. 18 vs. FAU, TBD Oct. 25 at Memphis, TBD Nov. 6 (Thu) vs. UTSA, 7:30 or 8, ESPN or ESPN2 Nov. 15 at Navy, noon, TBD Nov. 22 at UAB, TBD Nov. 29 vs. Rice, TBD • • • Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida. Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports. Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X and Facebook.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Online survey focuses on Bay Area residents decision to evacuate or not during Helene, Milton
The Brief Researchers with the University of South Florida want to know why people did or did not evacuate during Hurricanes Helene and Milton last year. They're conducting an online survey that will be key to helping local government officials better share storm messaging. If you'd like to fill out USF's online survey, it runs through June 15. TAMPA, Fla. - With the 2025 hurricane season just days away, researchers with the University of South Florida want to know why people did or did not evacuate during Hurricanes Helene and Milton last year. They're conducting an online survey that will be key to helping local government officials better share storm messaging. "While we're hoping that we do not have a repeat of that this season, we are preparing for it," said Dave Connor, the interim director of communications of Pinellas County government. "We're encouraging residents to finish their preparations for hurricane season now, their hurricane kits, their evacuation plans etc." Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Big picture view Connor said thousands of new residents are calling the area home after Helene and Milton, adding more eyes and ears to reach if storm warnings go out this year. "So, here's the crazy thing. Helene and Milton hit Pinellas County, caused billions of dollars of damage, killed almost 20 people, thousands of people are still out of their homes. It shut down traffic and electricity for weeks afterward, and neither of those storms was really a direct hit," said Connor. But not everyone followed the evacuation orders that went out. USF researchers are conducting an online survey, asking questions to find out why and what local governments can do better. READ: New TECO trailer will be used for community demonstrations on dangers of live power lines What they're saying "It does need to be as easy as possible. People love their pets like children, so facilities need to be available to people for their pets otherwise they might just not go," said Jennifer Collins, the survey's lead researcher at University of South Florida in 2022, following a survey at that time. USF first switched to online surveys in 2021 to see how the pandemic impacted behavior, then researchers gathered more responses after Hurricane Ian in 2022 to share with local governments. So far, it's helped. "One of the things we found that one of the biggest factors preventing people from evacuating were a fear of traffic on the route and also concern about their pets or that they couldn't take their pets with them," said Connor. And they've learned not everyone watches TV or listens to the radio, instead tuning into social media and influencers for information. MORE: St. Pete unveils $159.8M 'Sunrise' plan for hurricane recovery and resilience "So, over the past two years, we've partnered with more of those local influencers, as well as posting everything on our Facebook page, as well as updating as well as working with members of the local media," said Connor. It's a big deal for planning backed by scientific data. "We ask that not that our residents live in fear, because we don't want to live in fear because we live happily in Florida. But just take it seriously, be prepared for it and pay attention," Connor said. What you can do If you'd like to fill out USF's online survey, it runs through June 15. Click here. The Source The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Briona Arradondo. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists seek to save Florida's dying reefs with hardy nursery-grown coral
A taskforce of experts looking into the mass bleaching and decline of Florida's delicate coral reefs is planting more than 1,000 nursery-grown juveniles from the reef-building elkhorn species in a new effort to reverse the tide of destruction. Record ocean heat in 2023 hastened the death spiral for reefs in the Florida Keys, which have lost 90% of their healthy coral cover over the last 40 years, largely because of the climate emergency, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa). Marine biologists from the Keys Marine Laboratory of the University of South Florida (USF) partnered with scientists from Tampa's Florida Aquarium to develop a large-scale restoration project involving elkhorn coral, which is critically endangered but also one of the fastest-growing and most resilient species. Earlier this month, the USF facility in Long Key, halfway along the ecologically fragile Florida Keys island chain, took delivery of 1,050 young elkhorn corals spawned between 2022 and 2023 at the aquarium's conservation and research center in Apollo Beach. The corals are acclimatizing in temperature-regulated seawater beds in Long Key. They will be distributed to research partners including the Coral Restoration Foundation, the Mote Marine Laboratory, Reef Renewal USA, and Sustainable Oceans and Reefs for planting at seven designated offshore sites around the Keys during the next two months. Teams will monitor their progress over the following months and years. While project managers say not all will survive, they hope some of the juveniles will thrive and grow, and the knowledge gleaned will help better inform future recovery efforts. 'Maybe there will only be 100 out there a year from now, but even if it's only one out of a hundred that survives that's particularly tough, we can propagate that one,' said Cindy Lewis, director of the Keys Marine Laboratory. 'We hope there will be some resistant babies in that batch. What I do know is that if we do nothing, we'll have done nothing, and nothing will happen.' Noaa says elkhorn branches can grow up to almost 4in (10cm) a year, and the species is particularly resilient to high wave action. They grow on larger, foundation coral species such as boulder star coral and brain coral to provide what Lewis calls a 'jungle gym' for fish and other marine life. Their planting along the Keys will also represent the closing of a circle, because the parent corals from which they were spawned were 'rescued' from the ocean ahead of the 2023 mass bleaching event. Biologists at the Florida Aquarium served as de facto matchmakers for the elkhorn corals, which were spawned to be as genetically diverse as possible. 'The coral juveniles we just transferred are made up of many new mother and father combinations that we hope will be more resilient to future stressors,' Keri O'Neil, director of the aquarium's coral conservation program, said. 'Without human intervention, these parent corals would not be able to breed due to the extent of the loss. They're a sign that, even during a crisis, we can make a difference. By working together we're protecting a reef that's essential to our environment, our economy and the thousands of species that call it home.' Lewis said the elkhorn project was a small component of a vast wider effort by numerous universities, environmental groups, and state and federal partners to try to restore as much lost coral as possible. 'Elkhorn is just one species of coral. Our partners are doing this for staghorn coral and others – the brain corals, star corals and boulder corals, the massive corals that build the mountains of reefs that these elkhorn and staghorn live on,' she said. 'All these different organizations produced over 25,000 pieces of coral this winter to put out on the reef that are going to make a difference, along with our elkhorn. 'Even though it seems dismal and depressing, the ray of hope is that we can produce these corals, we can get these corals out there, and that everybody has banded together to work together. No one organization is going to do it all. We need everybody, and we need everybody's ideas.'
The Guardian
24-05-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Scientists seek to save Florida's dying reefs with hardy nursery-grown coral
A taskforce of experts looking into the mass bleaching and decline of Florida's delicate coral reefs is planting more than 1,000 nursery-grown juveniles from the reef-building elkhorn species in a new effort to reverse the tide of destruction. Record ocean heat in 2023 hastened the death spiral for reefs in the Florida Keys, which have lost 90% of their healthy coral cover over the last 40 years, largely because of the climate emergency, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa). Marine biologists from the Keys Marine Laboratory of the University of South Florida (USF) partnered with scientists from Tampa's Florida Aquarium to develop a large-scale restoration project involving elkhorn coral, which is critically endangered but also one of the fastest-growing and most resilient species. Earlier this month, the USF facility in Long Key, halfway along the ecologically fragile Florida Keys island chain, took delivery of 1,050 young elkhorn corals spawned between 2022 and 2023 at the aquarium's conservation and research center in Apollo Beach. The corals are acclimatizing in temperature-regulated seawater beds in Long Key. They will be distributed to research partners including the Coral Restoration Foundation, the Mote Marine Laboratory, Reef Renewal USA, and Sustainable Oceans and Reefs for planting at seven designated offshore sites around the Keys during the next two months. Teams will monitor their progress over the following months and years. While project managers say not all will survive, they hope some of the juveniles will thrive and grow, and the knowledge gleaned will help better inform future recovery efforts. 'Maybe there will only be 100 out there a year from now, but even if it's only one out of a hundred that survives that's particularly tough, we can propagate that one,' said Cindy Lewis, director of the Keys Marine Laboratory. 'We hope there will be some resistant babies in that batch. What I do know is that if we do nothing, we'll have done nothing, and nothing will happen.' Noaa says elkhorn branches can grow up to almost 4in (10cm) a year, and the species is particularly resilient to high wave action. They grow on larger, foundation coral species such as boulder star coral and brain coral to provide what Lewis calls a 'jungle gym' for fish and other marine life. Their planting along the Keys will also represent the closing of a circle, because the parent corals from which they were spawned were 'rescued' from the ocean ahead of the 2023 mass bleaching event. Biologists at the Florida Aquarium served as de facto matchmakers for the elkhorn corals, which were spawned to be as genetically diverse as possible. 'The coral juveniles we just transferred are made up of many new mother and father combinations that we hope will be more resilient to future stressors,' Keri O'Neil, director of the aquarium's coral conservation program, said. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion 'Without human intervention, these parent corals would not be able to breed due to the extent of the loss. They're a sign that, even during a crisis, we can make a difference. By working together we're protecting a reef that's essential to our environment, our economy and the thousands of species that call it home.' Lewis said the elkhorn project was a small component of a vast wider effort by numerous universities, environmental groups, and state and federal partners to try to restore as much lost coral as possible. 'Elkhorn is just one species of coral. Our partners are doing this for staghorn coral and others – the brain corals, star corals and boulder corals, the massive corals that build the mountains of reefs that these elkhorn and staghorn live on,' she said. 'All these different organizations produced over 25,000 pieces of coral this winter to put out on the reef that are going to make a difference, along with our elkhorn. 'Even though it seems dismal and depressing, the ray of hope is that we can produce these corals, we can get these corals out there, and that everybody has banded together to work together. No one organization is going to do it all. We need everybody, and we need everybody's ideas.'
