Latest news with #WhiteStork
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
When Google's former CEO Eric Schmidt, whose company builds drones for Ukraine, suggested US Army to give away tanks, and ...
On June 1, 2025, Ukraine launched a sweeping drone offensive, codenamed Operation Spiderweb targeting Russian air bases housing nuclear-capable long-range bombers. Over 100 drones struck facilities across Russia, from Murmansk above the Arctic Circle to the Amur region, 8,000 kilometers from Ukraine. The operation, marked by explosions across multiple time zones, underscored the growing role of drones in modern warfare. Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative in Saudi Arabia, in November 2024, Schmidt urged the U.S. to rethink its military priorities, suggesting it replace traditional tank fleets with advanced drones. 'I read somewhere that the U.S. had thousands of tanks stored somewhere. Give them away. Buy a drone instead,' he said, citing Ukraine's success in using affordable drones to counter Russia's numerical and air superiority. Schmidt's advocacy draws from his leadership of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, which in 2021 concluded that AI would transform warfare across all domains. Building drones for Ukraine to take on Russia The attack highlights a strategic shift advocated by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt , who has emerged as a key figure in integrating AI-driven technology into military strategy. Schmidt, founder of the military startup White Stork, is developing AI-powered " Kamikaze drones " for Ukraine. These drones, designed to loiter and strike targets autonomously, can operate in GPS-denied environments, making them ideal for Ukraine's battlefield needs. Named after a bird common in Ukraine, White Stork's drones aim to counter Russian forces by destroying high-value targets like tanks, which Schmidt notes can be neutralized by a $5,000 drone despite costing millions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo In a 2023 Wall Street Journal op-ed, Schmidt called Kamikaze drones—costing as little as $400 and carrying small explosives—'the most important' innovation for defeating Russia and future adversaries. Ukraine's recent operation exemplifies this vision, showcasing how drones can strike deep into enemy territory, reshaping the battlefield. Since leaving Google in 2018, where he served as CEO from 2001 to 2011 and later as executive chairman of Alphabet, Schmidt has bridged Silicon Valley and the Pentagon, championing AI-driven defense solutions. His work with White Stork and his public statements signal a broader push for militaries worldwide to embrace autonomous technology as the future of warfare. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Knepp: Baby storks born at UK's first 'European Stork Village'
An estate south of Horsham, West Sussex, has become the UK's first 'European Stork Village' as 12 baby birds are born, according to biologist Laura Vaughan-Hirsch, leader of the White Stork chicks are being raised in four ground nests, overseen by Knepp Wilding as part of the nests have been built by non-flying stork parents, who were injured in the wild, rescued by Warsaw Zoo and quarantined at Cotswold Wildlife Park and babies are being "protected in a predator-proof but open-topped pen" where "the young will be free to fly free" and other storks can visit them, said the White Stork Project. Ms Vaughan-Hirsch, who leads the project for Knepp Wildland Foundation, says efforts began in 2016 as part of a wider stork reintroduction project in southern bird species became extinct in the UK more than 600 years ago, with humans disturbing their habitat and causing their numbers to the arrival of the new hatchlings follows nine chicks who fledged from Knepp in 2024."Amazingly, some migrated all the way to Morocco," said a White Stork Project spokesperson."It's proof that even with a different start to life, these young storks are full of the same instinct to explore and journey." 'Their individuality shines through' The project says some mature nests can reach over 1.8 metres (5ft 11in) tall and 2m (6ft 7in) wide."Storks are opportunistic in their nesting choices, making use of whatever is most convenient in their environment," said Becca Bowie, from the White Stork Project."While all nests serve the same purpose, their individuality shines through, giving each nest its own unique flare."The project says that staff and volunteers are keeping a close eye on the chicks and tracking their progress.
Broadcast Pro
25-04-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Miramax strengthens global expansion with key hires in MENA and UK
Miramax continues to strengthen its presence in the MENA region through the Miramax Doha office. Miramax, the film and television studio owned by BeIN Media Group and Paramount Pictures, has taken a significant step in its strategic global expansion by appointing Lucy Dertavitian as Head of Content for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Carissa Hope Lynch as Creative Director for the United Kingdom. These appointments reflect Miramax's commitment to enhancing its international presence and developing intellectual property for global audiences. Alix Jaffe, President, Miramax Television, said: 'We're thrilled to announce the team leading Miramax Television's international expansion, with Carissa helming the UK and Lucy guiding our efforts across MENA. This team will be instrumental in building our global footprint, demonstrating our commitment to reimagining our iconic IP and creating original stories for new audiences around the world. We're excited for the opportunity ahead.' In her new role, Dertavitian will be based in Doha, Qatar, and report to Mirsada Abdool Raman, Senior Vice President of Television. Her responsibilities include collaborating with local producers, writers, and directors to adapt Miramax Library IP into Arabic-language series as well as developing original projects with local talent to sell to buyers throughout the region. Her experience at MBC Studios and OSN positions her well to lead the studio's efforts in the region, particularly through the Miramax Doha office. Meanwhile, Lynch joins the Miramax London office and will report directly to Jaffe. She is tasked with overseeing the studio's UK development and production efforts, further expanding its presence in a key international market. She will collaborate closely with Creative Executive Rosie Collins to transform Miramax's film catalog into television content. Lynch brings a wealth of experience from her time at Eleven Film, where she played a central role in successful projects like Stags (Paramount+, 2024), Red Rose (BBC/Netflix, 2022) and White Stork (Netflix). In addition to her creative work, she is known for her dedication to nurturing emerging talent through initiatives such as the 'Duly Noted' script editor training program with the BBC and Sony. Miramax's television and film portfolio continues to thrive, with recent successes including The Gentleman, which was renewed for a second season on Netflix, and the acquisition of Panoramic's stake in the Robert DeNiro-led Zero Day, which topped Netflix's Most-Watched TV list. On the film side, Miramax recently premiered Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, the fourth installment in the beloved franchise, earning $130m internationally.
The Guardian
17-03-2025
- The Guardian
Storrington in West Sussex named UK's first European stork village
The Saxons knew the West Sussex village of Storrington as Estorchestone, the 'abode of the storks'. But the graceful white birds disappeared from its skies more than 600 years ago, when they became extinct in Britain. Now, after the white stork's successful return, Storrington and the nearby Knepp estate have been designated a 'European stork village'. The accolade means the communities are now part of the European Stork Villages Network, a transnational initiative by the EuroNatur foundation to combat habitat loss for the birds. Together, Storrington and Knepp are the 16th place in Europe to be recognised as a stork village, and the first in the UK. The storks are thriving again on the Knepp wildland, the first major lowland rewilding project in England. A record-breaking 53 white storks fledged from wild nests here in 2024, mostly in the tops of ancient oak trees. The birds line their huge nests with soft, fibrous dung from Knepp's free-roaming ponies. Storks are finding the rewilded former farmland of Knepp ideal habitat, with its insect- and earthworm-rich rough meadows and wetlands providing plenty of food. Pairs are also bonding at another site in Wadhurst, East Sussex, and are frequently seen flying across the region. The scheme to bring white storks back to Britain began in 2016, with the White Stork project, a collaboration between the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, Cotswold Wildlife Park, the Knepp estate and Wadhurst Park. First, a group of birds were introduced from Warsaw zoo to Knepp. These drew in wild birds, and the first free-flying pairs hatched chicks in the wild in 2020. 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 The expanding colony migrates to Morocco for the winter months before returning to Sussex to nest. More than a thousand schoolchildren visit Knepp each year to learn about storks and rewilding. This year, a webcam is also following one of the 15 nests already recorded this breeding season, which is set to be another record-breaker. Isabella Tree, the owner of Knepp with her husband, Charlie Burrell, said: 'I'm hoping we can get the webcam feed into hospital waiting rooms, schools, care homes, prisons and train stations this year. It's the kind of soothing thing we should be watching instead of wall-to-wall news.'
