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Poland becomes top importer of Taiwanese drones, skirting China

The Japan Times

Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz speaks after signing a contract for the delivery of mobile communication centers in Zegrze, Poland, on Wednesday. Poland has become the biggest buyer of drones from Taiwan as the Eastern European country, on Russia's doorstep, bolsters its defense capabilities and seeks to reduce its reliance on Chinese parts. Poland is now absorbing almost 60% of Taiwan's drone exports, which expanded this year to about $32 million through August, from almost nothing in the previous years. The next-largest importer of Taiwan's drones is the U.S., to which Taiwan sold roughly $7 million worth in the same period. Taiwanese drone maker Ahamani said Polish demand was so great it was planning to open a factory there, and that other foreign companies, including a large South Korean drone company, had approached it about buying non-Chinese motors.


Italy, Spain send navy ships to protect Gaza flotilla after drone attacks

Al Jazeera

Can Israel survive economic isolation? Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said his country's navy will join Italy in sending warships to protect the Global Sumud Flotilla, which has come under drone attack in international waters en route to deliver aid to Gaza. Speaking to reporters in New York on Wednesday, where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Sanchez said international law must be respected and the citizens of 45 nations participating in the aid mission had every right to sail in the Mediterranean unharmed. "Tomorrow we will dispatch a naval vessel from Cartagena with all necessary resources in case it is necessary to assist the flotilla and carry out a rescue operation." On Wednesday night, activists described a wave of attacks by Israeli drones and other aircraft which targeted vessels in the small fleet in what flotilla organisers described as "an alarmingly dangerous escalation".


Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,309

Al Jazeera

Can Ukraine restore its pre-war borders? How is Russia replenishing its military? At least two people were killed by a daytime Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian city of Novorossiysk on Wednesday, according to The Moscow Times. Among those injured were employees of a Russian-Kazakh oil project. Russia's Ministry of Defence on Wednesday said 1,495 Ukrainian troops were killed in the past 24 hours of fighting, according to Russia's state news agency TASS.


U.N. calls for probe after alleged drone attack on Gaza-bound aid flotilla

The Japan Times

U.N. calls for probe after alleged drone attack on Gaza-bound aid flotilla Activists wave Palestinian flags as they gather to support a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid in Ajaccio, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica, on Sept 12. | AFP-JIJI Rome - The United Nations called Wednesday for an investigation into alleged drone attacks against a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that prompted Italy and Spain to send naval ships to help. The Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying activists including Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg, blamed Israel for more than a dozen explosions heard around its vessels off Greece late on Tuesday. U.N. Human Rights Office spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said anyone responsible for the violations should be held accountable, and called for an independent, impartial and thorough investigation. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories.


Drone activity confirmed at multiple Denmark airports

BBC News

Denmark's Aalborg airport in the country's north has been closed after unauthorised drones were seen in its airspace, according to local authorities. Three other smaller airports in the country's southern region - Esbjerg, Sรธnderborg and Skrydstrup - also reported drone activity, but were not closed. The incident comes after the country's Copenhagen airport was forced to close earlier this week due to a drone incursion, which the prime minister described as the most severe attack on Danish infrastructure so far. Police said the devices could be seen from the ground, adding they couldn't rule out the activity being a prank. They were investigating who was controlling them and their motive.


Techno-Economic analysis for Smart Hangar inspection operations through Sensing and Localisation at scale

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

The accuracy, resilience, and affordability of localisation are fundamental to autonomous robotic inspection within aircraft maintenance and overhaul (MRO) hangars. Hangars typically feature tall ceilings and are often made of materials such as metal. Due to its nature, it is considered a GPS-denied environment, with extensive multipath effects and stringent operational constraints that collectively create a uniquely challenging environment. This persistent gap highlights the need for domain-specific comparative studies, including rigorous cost, accuracy, and integration assessments, to inform a reliable and scalable deployment of a localisation system in the Smart Hangar. This paper presents the first techno-economic roadmap that benchmarks motion capture (MoCap), ultra-wideband (UWB), and a ceiling-mounted camera network across three operational scenarios: robot localisation, asset tracking, and surface defect detection within a 40 50 m hangar bay. A dual-layer optimisation for camera selection and positioning framework is introduced, which couples market-based camera-lens selection with an optimisation solver, producing camera layouts that minimise hardware while meeting accuracy targets. The roadmap equips MRO planners with an actionable method to balance accuracy, coverage, and budget, demonstrating that an optimised vision architecture has the potential to unlock robust and cost-effective sensing for next-generation Smart Hangars.


Houthi drone strike hits Israeli city of Eilat, injuring 22

Al Jazeera

Is recognising Palestine a way to'save face' for Western leaders? This is the moment a drone launched by Yemen's Houthis exploded in the Israeli city of Eilat. Footage shows it over the southern port city before bursting into flames in a residential neighbourhood, injuring at least 22 people, after Israeli military failed to intercept it. Finland's president hails rise of global south at UNGA Estonia calls Russian jets violating its airspace a'hostile act'


Spain to join Italy in deploying naval ship to escort Gaza flotilla

Al Jazeera

Is recognising Palestine a way to'save face' for Western leaders? A Spanish naval vessel will join the Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza to provide assistance and, if necessary, conduct rescues, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said. Italy earlier announced it was dispatching a frigate after a night of drone attacks on the humanitarian flotilla opposed by the Israeli government. Finland's president hails rise of global south at UNGA Estonia calls Russian jets violating its airspace a'hostile act'


Twenty injured in Yemen drone attack on Israel, rescuers and military say

BBC News

Rescuers say 20 people have been injured in southern Israel after the Israeli military said a drone was launched from Yemen. The Israel Defense Forces said the drone struck the town of Eilat on the Red Sea coast, with attempts made to intercept it. The Magen David Adom emergency medical service said 20 people were taken to Yoseftal Hospital - two with serious limb injuries. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.


Aid Flotilla Headed for Gaza Says It's Under Drone Attack

NYT > Middle East

We are witnessing these psychological operations firsthand, right now, but we will not be intimidated,