Taiwan invasion soon? China unveils drone 'mothership' Jiu Tian that can carry 100 attack drones
China is set to unveil the world's first drone 'mothership'—the Jiu Tian carrier—designed to launch up to 100 AI-guided kamikaze drones. With a range of 7,000 km and advanced swarm-launch capabilities, Jiu Tian could change the rules of aerial warfare. Unveiled at the Zhuhai Air Show 2024, it mirrors and surpasses Western systems like the MQ-9 Reaper and the RQ-4 Global Hawk. As China escalates threats to Taiwan, this new technology signals a major shift in military power. Watch to learn how Jiu Tian could impact the Taiwan Strait and global security.
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Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Shy, secretive world of bees
Incredible India houses a dazzling richness of bee diversity. Of the 20,925 species recognised globally, India hosts 755. Further, of the nine traditional honey bee species of the world, India is the home to four of them. Many of the world's prominent land masses such as North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa and Australia have only one honey bee species, the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera). These hard-working insects which play a foundational role in pollination and some yield nature's incredible amrit or nectar in the guise of honey. Despite India fortuitously sporting such an array of bees, these insects are under increasing threat from varied quarters. Apis cerena in a wall and (right) hollow in tree roots, PU. (Arun Bansal) The diversity of bee existence in India was underscored by observations by the naturalist, Arun Bansal, of these insects 'unusually' pouring out of dark hollows in the roots of a tree at the Panjab University's (PU) Dr PN Mehra Botanical Gardens and from a secretive hole in a reddish wall at the Teachers' Flats. The entrance to the cavity nests was small and thus easier guarded against predators such as ants, hornets, wasps, birds and humans. There were multiple hives within. These were not the typical, huge hives one associates hanging in the open from trees, underneath the eaves of buildings and ceilings of tall water tanks etc, and which are formed by the famous Rock honey bee (Apis dorsata). These big Rock bees are the ones infamous for delivering dreaded stings when disturbed. On the other hand, the honey bees coming out of the PU tree and wall cavity were smaller than the Rock bees. I sought their identification from professor Pardeep Chhuneja, an award-winning apiculture scientist and former head, department of entomology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. 'It is the native species, Apis cerena cerena (Asian honey bee), in the tree roots and wall of PU. Along with the Apis mellifera (Western honey bee), which is an imported bee for apiculture, these two species are cavity-dwelling ones. These two species are the ones used for beekeeping in India,' Chhuneja told this writer. Scientific research has established that the Apis cerena can forage as far as 1.5-2.5 km from the hive. They gather nectar and pollen from the flowers. Nectar is turned into honey by these 'flying Lilliputians of the natural world' and is stored to provide energy in the guise of carbohydrates for adults and larvae of the bee colony. Honey-making is not an enterprise that nature has predestined for human lip-smacking but is actually for the benefit of the bees themselves. Some forest department employees criminally smoke out, destroy and displace hives of wild Rock honey bees under their protection in wildlife sanctuaries. They steal honey from the mouths of the hungry little ones to oblige senior officers/VIPs by delivering honey jars to official residences. Bees are remarkable, cooperative creatures but we know little of them more vaguely as pollinators. Honey bees are able to maintain temperatures with tolerable limits even when the outside temperatures range from freezing point to searing heat. This task is carried out by the fanning bees which stand at the 'doorway to their hive and produce a current of air by beating their wings, which serves to air condition the hive'. The Apis cerena (AC) resorts to various colony defensive behaviours to ward off predators, such as abdomen shaking, hissing (through wing vibrations) and group defence (including grasping, pulling, and biting, killing by overheating). 'Heat balling is a unique defence of AC to kill predatory hornets. Several hundred bees surround the hornet in a tight ball and vibrate their thoracic muscles to produce heat. The AC workers are able to raise the temperature inside the ball to an average of 46°C for approximately 20 minutes. This is high enough to kill the hornet inside, but not high enough to kill the bees, who can tolerate temperatures up to 48°C and 50°C,' states a research paper, Comparative Study of Apis cerena and Apis mellifera, by DR Katuwal, Alina Pokhrel and Dipak Khanal. vjswild2@
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
‘Traditional eating habits being sidelined'
Kozhikode-based Paristhithi Samrakshana Samithi organised a discussion on 'The Chemistry of Food' at the Police Club on Friday ( June 20, 2025). Deliberating on the topic, Unnikrishnan Nambeesan, a retired professor, said that traditional eating habits had been sidelined. 'The Western world has historically set the standards,' he explained, citing how traditional ingredients like coconut oil were once labelled unhealthy. His lecture also explored the chemical composition of food. 'Phytochemicals are naturally occurring compounds that provide nutritive benefits,' said Mr. Nambeesan, highlighting the scientific links between food and disease prevention.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Why China is fighting internet war with it 'friend' Russia
Despite public displays of strategic partnerships and mutual non-aggression in cyberspace, China has reportedly been engaged in hacking campaigns against Russia. As reported by the New York Times, some Beijing-backed hacking groups are targeting Russian government agencies and defense firms in order to extract military and defense secrets. This intelligence collecting drive aims to gather information about Russian military operations, particularly its ongoing war in Ukraine, as well as advancements in defense technology and broader geopolitical strategies. One noticeable breach involved a Chinese group posing as a Russian engineering firm to gather data on nuclear submarines. Another attack by Chinese hackers was on Russia's powerful state-owned defense conglomerate, seeking information on radar and electronic warfare systems. The revelations underscore a pragmatic and often ruthless approach to national interests, even among ostensible allies. While both nations have consistently presented a united front against Western influence and have pledged not to engage in cyber espionage against each other, China appears to view Russia as a vulnerable yet valuable target for intelligence acquisition . As per the report cyberanalysts suggest that China's aim is to collect information about Russia's capabilities and intentions, particularly in light of its military engagement in Ukraine. This kind of information will offer strategic advantages to Beijing and help it in enhancing its own defense planning, technological development and international relations. Along with this, the hacking activities also indicate clear prioritisation of national intelligence over the stated principles of their partnership. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em São Paulo (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo This covert digital intrusion stands in contrast to the public narrative of a "no-limits" friendship between Beijing and Moscow, casting a shadow of distrust over their proclaimed solidarity. While there is no indication of a full-blown "internet war" between the two, the continuous efforts by China to penetrate Russian systems for espionage purposes reveal a hidden layer of competition and suspicion beneath the surface of their cooperative alliance.
