Latest news with #Maxar
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First Post
a day ago
- Business
- First Post
How ex-Google CEO emerged as Ukraine's unlikely friend & helped take down Russian drones
Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google and co-founder of Swift Beat, has emerged as an unlikely friend of Ukraine. While tech giants like Elon Musk's SpaceX and Maxar have emerged as unreliable partners, Schmidt's company's interceptor drones have helped the country take down Russian drones. Here's how. read more Eric Schmidt speaks onstage during the 2024 TIME100 Summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2024 in New York City. (Photo:via AFP) Even as Western technology giants like SpaceX and Maxar have emerged as unreliable partners, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has emerged as a key partner of Ukraine in the war with Russia. Earlier this month, Schmidt met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Denmark and signed a deal for the joint production of artificially intelligence (AI)-driven interceptor drones. Schmidt's company Swift Beat has provided three types of interceptor drones to Ukraine that have taken down up to 90 per cent of Russian drones that they have encountered, according to Ukrainian-language outlet Ekonomichna Pravda (EP). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'These drones are highly accurate' A source told EP that Swift Beat's interceptor drones are 'are extremely accurate in identifying Russian drones in the night sky'. In recent months, Russia has ramped up attacks on Ukraine with near-daily assaults with hundreds of drones and missiles. Officials told the outlet that Swift Beats' three types of interceptor drones have taken down roughly 90 per cent of Russia's Iranian-origin Shahed drones. Swift Beat's drones are said to be equipped with advanced AI targeting technology and a secure communication system that has so far proven resistant to Russian electronic warfare, the report said. The collaboration between Schmidt's Swift Beat and Ukraine has presented a win-win situation where both sides have benefitted — as opposed to the likes of satellite internet-provider SpaceX-owned Starlink and satellite imagery-provider Maxar that led to Ukraine's dependency. Under the arrangement with Swift Beat, while Ukraine has got interceptor drones with high precision, Swift Beat has had an opportunity for the testing and fine-tuning of its products. Contrary to such a mutually-beneficial arrangement, Ukraine's dependence on other Western tech giants meant that when Elon Musk ordered the shutdown of Starlink in Ukraine's Kherson region in 2022, it compromised Ukraine's ongoing counter-offensive. Similarly, earlier this year, after US President Donald Trump suspended military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine, Maxar was ordered to stop providing satellite imagery to Ukraine.
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First Post
22-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
6 months of Trump: Has US really become ‘hottest and most respected' country? 6 facts
Six months into his second term, far from the 'hottest and most respected country' that he had promised, President Donald Trump has made the United States an untrustworthy partner, an expansionist regime that threatens allies with invasions and forced annexation, ushered in geopolitical instability with his patchy policies, and has also failed to end the wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. read more US President Donald Trump came to office with the promise to end ongoing wars, smoothen geopolitical tussles, and make America great again. Six months later, however, Trump has not just failed to end a war but has plunged the United States into a new one. Instead of smoothening geopolitics, he has launched a trade war and turned allies into adversaries. Instead of making America great again, he has driven country towards stagflation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While his Make America Great Agan (Maga) base cheers him on regardless, allies and adversaries defy him alike. While Benjamin Netanyahu of Isreal bombs Syria, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip at will in defiance of the White House's positions, Vladimir Putin of Russia continues to wage war on Ukraine by refusing all peace proposals and pleadings from Trump to end the conflict. Trump's approval (or rather disapproval) rating sums up his term so far: 54 per cent Americans disapprove of his term and just 44 per cent approve it. The state of affairs is such that he has miffed people even on immigration, which has been his strongest domain for a long time. Trump's failure in Ukraine Nowhere are Trump's failure more visible than in Ukraine. Trump came to office with the promise of ending the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. Six months later, the war is nowhere close to an end. Even after Trump has floated sops after sops to Putin, ranging from renewed trade and dismantling US intelligence operations directed at Russia, Putin has refused to budge from his maximalist demands. Instead, empowered from Trump's appeasement, Putin has not just doubled down on his maximalist term but has expanded them. He has also rejected all three ceasefire proposals floated by Trump — Ukraine has accepted all of them. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The result is that even though Trump has reset generations of US foreign policy by aligning himself with Putin, the Russian leader has not offered any reciprocity and has left Trump red-faced at the world stage. With his de facto alliance with Trump, he has also alienated European partners, who are now not just on a rearmament spree but are also looking forward to replace US companies in strategic areas with alternative. For example, Poland has sought to replace the likes of Starlink and Maxar with alternatives and the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan are making a fifth-generation fighter plane without US involvement. Israel attacks countries after countries Just like Ukraine, Trump has failed to end the war in Gaza. He has also faltered on his top promise of not starting a war. However, just months into the first term, Trump plunged the United States into a new war when he joined Israel in the war on Iran last month. Even though Israel started the war, the United States delivered the most decisive blows to Iran's nuclear sites. Even though Trump has struck a ceasefire with Yemen's Houthis and is reaching out to Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa, Netanyahu has continued to attack Houthis, the regime in Syria, and even carry out strikes inside Lebanon despite a ceasefire. Netanyahu has also expanded the war in Gaza that has complicated peace talks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The CNN has reported that Trump was caught off-guard last week with Israeli strikes in Syria and Gaza. To sum it up, far from ending the war in Gaza, Trump not just plunged the United States into a new war with Iran but also failed to rein in Netanyahu who continue to bomb a different country in the region every week. Trump's crackdown on free speech — after championing it For much of the campaign, Trump and his Maga base accused the mainstream media and internet giants for curbing social media. When social media platforms and media fact-checked Trump and his extremist supporters' false claims or blocked their hate speech, they accused the media and social media platforms of bias and censorship. After assuming office, however, the Trump administration has sought to crush descent. Intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard has fired analysts whose assessments she did not like, woman and black leaders have been fired over their gender and race, and people have been denied entry into the United States over memes. Moreover, the new visa policy seeks to review people's social media and anything critical of Trump or Maga is set to ban you from entering the country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After Elon Musk's ownership, X (formerly Twitter) has become a far-right bastion. Under Musk's control, X has promoted the far-right agenda much more openly than Trump and his supporters accused the mainstream media of pushing the Democratic Party's agenda. Trump's assaults on independent institutions While Trump's authoritarian tendencies were not a secret in his first term, the second term has seen a complete transition from a president into an emperor. While he had independent-thinking advisers checking his impulses and Congress pressuring him in his first term, Trump has a total control of the government now: both the Senate and House of Representatives have Republican majorities and the Supreme Court is in his pocket with a 6:3 conservative majority. Trump has also captured all institutions: he has fired watchdogs, turned the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into his personal sword-arms, and attacked the independence of the Federal Reserve. Trump has also fired entire departments and removed entire offices doing critical roles at the defence and state departments. Trump is not winning trade war Trump's signature tariff war on the world appears to have backfired. Trump expected to raise $6 trillion in revenues a year from tariffs. Six years later, he has only raised $47 billion. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For context, there are 1,000 billion in 1 trillion. On the back of near-monopoly in rare earths supply, China has already forced Trump to blink. Under pressure from China, whose hold on rare earths threatened to choke virtually every industry across the world, Trump relaxed export controls related to China's access to semiconductors and chip designing. Moreover, tariffs coupled with mass-firing have led to fears that stagflation might be on the horizon. Trump turns allies into adversaries Trump has turned traditional allies into enemies whereas he has sought friends in traditional adversaries. Consider this: Trump has threatened to invade and annex Denmark's Greenland island. He has slapped high tariffs on allies like South Korea and Japan but has completely spared Russia and imposed minimal tariffs on Iran. He has also vowed to annex Canada. He has also withdrawn from Europe and made Asia anxious. While Trump has long been skeptical of Nato, he has now put Aulkus pact with Australia and the UK at risk as well. Trump has also aligned himself with a band of jihadist and Islamist regimes from West Asia to Central Asia that have long found a common foe in India. He has constantly repeated Pakistan's position in the India-Pakistan conflict in May.
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First Post
21-07-2025
- Business
- First Post
Amid growing Russian threat, Poland eyes stake in satellite firm that helped Ukraine fight back
Amid growing threat to Europe from Russia, Poland is planning to acquire a stake in satellite imagery company that has been providing applications to Ukraine that have helped it plan the defences against the Russian invasion. read more Servicemen of the 24th Mechanized brigade, named after King Danylo, of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fire a BM-21 Grad multiple-launch rocket system toward Russian troops, on a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region, Ukraine February 15, 2025. (Photo: Reuters) Amid fears that Vladimir Putin wants to expand his aggression on Europe, Poland has planned to acquire a stake in a satellite company that has helped Ukraine in the war with Russia. The satellite company Iceye, founded by CEO Rafał Modrzewski and his partner Pekka Laurila, has tracked Russian troop deployment. Ahead of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Iceye supplied Ukraine with images of Russian troop movements that helped plan the defences better. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Financial Times has reported that Poland is in the final stages to acquire a stake in Iceye. The size of the stake has not been disclosed. In recent years, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, satellite imagery and satellite internet have emerged highly strategic assets for nations. As most of these organisations are based in the United States, and European nations are no longer assured that President Donald Trump will allow European nations to maintain access to these companies. Notably, after the spat at the White House, the Trump administration blocked Ukraine from accessing Maxar. From Arctic shipping to Ukraine war Iceye was founded in 2014 to provide radar imagery of moving ice blocks to Arctic shipping companies. However, as tensions raged in Europe as Russia prepared to invade Ukraine, Iceye pivoted to providing satellite imagery related to the war in Ukraine. It has now become a provider of military applications and is one of the many firms trying to capitalise on Trump dictating US firms' dealings with European nations, such as Maxar or Starlink. Modrzewski told the FT they set up Iceye with backing from Aalto University's Center for Entrepreneurship when they were students and now want to expand its production capacity at least fourfold to meet surging demand for its satellites. They currently manufacture up to 25 satellites and raise it to 100-150 a year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Poland will invest in the company via the country's nation's development bank and follows the defence ministry's $230 million purchase in May of six satellites. In recent years, as European nations have found their access to US-based tech giants' blocked or disrupted by politics, they have sought to develop alternatives. At times, access to Elon Musk-owned Starlink has also been compromised because of politics. As a result, European nations have explored alternative satellite internet services providers.
Newsweek
16-07-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
US Satellites Capture China's Space Activities
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. United States satellites recently captured "crystal-clear" images revealing increased Chinese activity in space, as both powers race to dominate this domain beyond Earth's atmosphere. Maxar Technologies, a Colorado-based satellite imagery company, told Newsweek that its non-Earth imaging (NEI) capability provides what it describes as "advanced visual intelligence" of any object in Earth's orbit by capturing "very high-resolution" images. Newsweek reached out to the China National Space Administration for comment via email. Why It Matters China is advancing several programs as the East Asian power pushes for supremacy in space, including building a network of 16 space-enabling facilities in Latin America, operating the Tiangong Space Station, and planning to send astronauts to the moon by 2030. Facing growing challenges from China, the U.S. Space Force was established in 2019 to maintain American superiority in space. In April, a U.S. military satellite capable of maneuvering near objects in orbit was tracked buzzing a pair of Chinese satellites. What To Know Earlier this month, Maxar Technologies shared images of the Tiangong Space Station and the International Space Station, captured by one of its WorldView Legion satellites, on social media, saying that it is "unleashing a new era of high-fidelity, space-to-space imaging." The level of resolution and structural clarity in these images opens new possibilities for monitoring orbital activities, the company said. "This isn't just a technical achievement; it's a critical capability for space domain awareness and monitoring activity beyond Earth." These images of the ISS and China's Tiangong Space Station were collected by one of Maxar's WorldView Legion satellites—showcasing our ability to image mid-inclination orbits with unmatched clarity. With sub-10 cm SSD and rapid tasking, we're unlocking new capabilities in space… — Maxar Technologies (@Maxar) July 1, 2025 Susanne Hake, general manager of Maxar Intelligence's U.S. Government business, later shared on social media what she described as a "crystal-clear picture" of the Chinese optical remote sensing satellite ShiJian-26, captured on June 3 by the company's WorldView Legion satellites. "This type of resolution is revolutionary for space situational awareness," said Hake, adding that ShiJian-26 is one of China's latest-generation optical reconnaissance satellites, and that the ability to photograph it this clearly marks a new era in satellite-to-satellite observation. According to Chinese state media, the ShiJian-26—reportedly "mainly used" to provide information services supporting national economic development—was launched aboard a rocket on May 29, a few days before it was photographed in orbit by Maxar Technologies. Marco Langbroek, a lecturer at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, explained to Newsweek that space domain awareness, or space situational awareness, refers to "keeping an eye on what is happening in space." This includes activities ranging from tracking active payloads and space debris to analyzing collision avoidance, predicting reentries, and characterizing objects—the latter providing information about "satellite function, behavioral intent, and predicting future behavior." "We have to keep a close eye on what is happening in space to avoid problems, and to keep active parties in space accountable for what they are doing," said Langbroek, when asked about the importance of space situational awareness amid increasing space activities. Regarding the "clearest NEI" Maxar Technologies has ever collected, the images provide clues about the function and capabilities of the Chinese satellite, Langbroek said, and that differences from previously launched satellites may hint at upgrades in its capacity and technology. A Chinese Long March 2C rocket carrying the SJ-11-02 experimental orbiter of China's ShiJian satellite series blasts off from the Jiuquan satellite launch center in Jiuquan in northwest China's Gansu province on July 29, 2011. A Chinese Long March 2C rocket carrying the SJ-11-02 experimental orbiter of China's ShiJian satellite series blasts off from the Jiuquan satellite launch center in Jiuquan in northwest China's Gansu province on July 29, 2011. Liang Jie/Color China Photo/AP Images What People Are Saying Susanne Hake, general manager of Maxar Intelligence's U.S. Government business, wrote on LinkedIn: "As space becomes increasingly crowded with thousands of new satellites from multiple nations, we can now monitor satellite operations, detect modifications or threats, and provide near real-time intelligence on space-based assets in unprecedented detail." Maxar Technologies told Newsweek: "NEI supports critical missions such as satellite commissioning, anomaly resolution, orbital threat assessments, and rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO)." According to the U.S. Space Force, RPO enables the space vehicle to maneuver near a space object, allowing for characterization of anomalies and enhanced surveillance. Marco Langbroek, lecturer at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology, told Newsweek: "Space technology has become increasingly vital for both the military and civil society. Our modern society and economies could not function without, nor can the modern military. Both military and as a society, we have therefore become very vulnerable to anything going wrong in the space domain." What Happens Next China's increasing space activity remains under close observation. Recently, two Chinese satellites reportedly docked in high orbit for the first time to allow refueling and servicing, extending their operational lifespan and supporting sustainable long-term operations.
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Israel admits some of Iran's underground uranium stockpile SURVIVED Trump's blitz and threatens to strike bases again
ISRAEL says some of Iran's highly-enriched near weapons-grade uranium stockpile survived US bombings during the 12-Day War last month. Doubts remained about whether Iran quietly removed 408.6 kgs of uranium from its most sensitive sites before the strikes - potentially hiding nuclear material elsewhere in the country. 4 Construction activity post-bombing at Fordow as of June 27; annotations by The Sun Credit: Maxar via Reuters 4 A satellite overview shows earthmoving at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Facility on June 27; annotations by The Sun 4 A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex after the US bombings on June 21 Credit: Reuters 4 The uranium in question is enriched to 60 per cent - way above levels for civilian usage but slightly below weapons-grade. That material, if further refined to 90 per cent, would An Israeli official said some of the uranium stockpile survived the US and Israeli bombings last month, according to The New York Times. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, did not express concern about the remaining stockpile and said any attempt to recover it would be detected by the Israeli intelligence. They also said that Israel would have enough time to attack Iran's nuclear facilities again if the regime tries to recover it. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos . Like us on Facebook at
