For almost three years, the Russian civil aviation industry has been largely cut off from the outside world, and now it appears to be warping backward in time. Historians are often quick to point out that not all technological change over time is more sophisticated and advanced - sometimes it goes backward. The same may be said for the current trajectory of Russian commercial aircraft. This appears to be driven by at least four factors - putting obsolete Soviet aircraft back into production, substituting Western parts for less-able Russian parts , bringing previously retired airframes back into service, and retiring the newest Airbus and Boeing jets Russia has first. Russia's stated goal of producing around 1,000 passenger aircraft by 2030 is looking evermore like a flight of fancy . Almost three years into that timeline and no passenger jets have been delivered or appear set to be delivered. All modern passenger jets are built with Western parts Quite simply, no country in the world can produce a modern passenger jet without Western components. This is partly why Russia can't purchase the Chinese COMAC C919 or any Brazilian Embraer aircraft . Look at the engines, flight control systems, and avionics of any modern airliner, and one will find many of the components are provided by Western companies like Safran, GE, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney, Collins, Rolls-Royce, and others. Russia's post-sanctions passenger aircraft production: Ilyushin Il-96-400M: 1 (Used for testing) Ilyushing Il-114: 1 (Used for testing) Sukhoi Superjet: 7 (built with pre-sanction stocks) Tu-204/2014: 0 Yakolev MC-21: 0 Production target (2022-2024): 108 (of all types) Even though China and Brazil do not participate in Western-led sanctions on Russia, they are in little position to help Russia in the commercial aviation sector. Perhaps warningly for China, the US may already be close to sanctioning COMAC which could shut the production of the C919 down almost overnight. The sad tale of the Superjet and MC-21 As 2022 rolled around the Superjet was in production and being adopted by airlines across Russia. It was even getting some interest on the export market. The Yakolev MC-21 was also about to go into production and there were high hopes for Russia's commercial aircraft. Then Russia began its "special military operation" that attracted Western sanctions and brought these programs to an end essentially overnight. Other than seven Superjets completed with parts in store before the sanctions, no passenger jets have been produced - none (excluding a single Il-90-400M and Il-114 - both used for testing). The Superjet was meant to resume deliveries in 2024. Instead, Russia has fired the heads of the departments for the "failure of the civil aviation program." It is unclear when Russia will be able to resume deliveries of the Russified aircraft. Example % of foreign parts on Russian passenger jets: Sukhoi Superjet: 80% Yakolev MC-21: 60% Tupolev Tu-214: 13% (Soviet-era aircraft) According to the BBC, the once-touted domestic Russian Sukhoi Superjet was made up of around 80% foreign parts. Meanwhile, the Yakolev MC-21 (a Boeing 737 challenger) has around 60% foreign parts. Most of these parts are from European and US companies. However, while Russia is trying to substitute imported components with domestic components, the end result is hardly the same aircraft. For example, the Russian MC-21 is expected to be six tons heavy, slower, and underpowered. While the C919 airframe is Chinese-built, the engines and much of its avionics and flight control systems are Western-built. Producing older variants of obsolete aircraft Russia is considering restarting production of its Soviet-era passenger jets. Although Russia may possess the legacy of the Soviet Union, it does not possess the engineers and industrial power of the Soviet Union. The two Soviet-era passenger aircraft Russia wants to put back into production are the Ilyushin Il-96 and the Tu-204. These Soviet aircraft were out-competed by Western aircraft 30 years ago—let alone today. There is a reason why the only countries still operating Soviet-era commercial passenger jets are countries with no choice (like North Korea and Cuba). The older Ilyushin Il-96 The Ilyushin Il-96 is a four-engined long-haul widebody airliner that first flew in 1988 (only around 32 of the aircraft have been produced). The aircraft is powered by four Aviadvigatel PS-90 two-shaft turbofan engines (it is used as the main Russian presidential aircraft - the Russian answer to Air Force One). The only remaining commercial passenger operator of the type is Cuba's flag carrier, Cubana de Aviación . The Ilyushin Il-96-400 is the aircraft's more modern version ( it comes with updated avionics and a crew of two). However, according to the BBC , Russia is considering the older Il-96-300 version, the initial Soviet version, to be the more likely candidate to be placed back into production . Tupolev Tu-204/Tu-214 The other Soviet-era passenger jet that Russia is looking to dust off is the Tupolev Tu-204 (broadly the counterpart to the Boeing 757). This is a twin-engined medium-range narrow-body aircraft (able to carry around 210 passengers). The Tu-204 first flew in 1989 but was already considered obsolete in the 2000s. Like the older Il-96, the Tu-214 has a crew of three and a very low level of automation (meaning that everything needs to be done manually). The pilots need to track things like making sure the right wing used the same amount of fuel as the left wing. To fly these aircraft, Russia will need to reopen a school to train pilots how to operate these antiquated systems (Russia doesn't even have these schools anymore). “There is such low automation that everything has to be done manually, all these switches, buttons to switch and monitor everything so that the right wing produces the same amount of fuel as the left wing, so that there is no imbalance. That is, you need a separate person. Given that we don’t train them anymore, we don’t even have schools where these people would be trained.” - Russian aircraft engineer quoted by BBC However, the Tu-204/214 does have a more modern variant - the Tu-204SM (it comes with updated equipment, is lighter, can fly longer distances, and has a crew of two). However, "updated" is often another way of saying that Russia put Western components into its old aircraft. That is why Russia wants to put the older variant back into production. Even so, its simplicity and comparative lack of imported parts (around 13%) does not mean it is easy for Russia to restart production. The BBC stated none of the experts they talked to dared to suggest when it could be placed back into production (or, indeed, if it would happen at all). Another issue is that the Aviaster plant where it was once produced is now busy building the Ilyushin Il-76 strategic airlifter for the Russian military. Herein lies yet another issue. Russian civil aviation is competing with military aviation for limited resources at a time when Russia is in its largest conflict since WWII. Unable to buy new passenger jets internationally, Russia is forced to build its own domestic jets and keep its existing fleet in service for longer. Bringing Boeing 747s back into service Russia is also trying to bring some retired aircraft back into service. The Aeroflot CEO Sergei Aleksandrovsky announced in September that it plans to once again start flying Boeing 747-400 Jumbo jets in 2025 (these are to fly with Aeroflot's subsidiary, Rossiya). On 3rd December 2024, Aeroroutes reported , " Aeroflot Russian Airlines since November 2024 added Boeing 747-400 aircraft service, operated by Rossiya Airlines. Since 08NOV24, the 747-400 has been scheduled on Moscow Sheremetyevo – Sochi route on Sundays " Russian passenger aircraft: Foreign aircraft in Russia: 738 in 2022 Forecast foreign aircraft in Russia: 319 by 2030 Planned Russian production of aircraft by 2030: 1,000 Delivered Russian aircraft 2022-2024: 0 (apart from 7 Superjets completed with parts on hand) Planned annual production: 140-270 Realistic annual production: 50-60 (per Kommersant ) These Boeing 747s were retired because of their low efficiency (in 2023, Aeroflot had eight of them). It is unknown what condition they are in and how many Aeroflot will be able to restore. It is also unclear if Russia will try to bring any other previously retired aircraft back into service. Retiring the newest aircraft first At first, it may seem counter-intuitive, but Russia is retiring many of its newest Airbus and Boeing aircraft first. In November 2024, the Russian news outlet, Kommersant reported that half of Russia's fleets of Airbus A321neo and A320neo fleets have been grounded . Half of the grounded aircraft are grounded to preserve their remaining engine lives, while the remaining grounded aircraft are not expected to fly again. The issue for Russia is maintaining its new and complex CFM International LEAP engines produced by General Electric and Safran. Another problematic aircraft type for Russia is the Airbus A350 . There are normally ways to break sanctions, but this is much easier for older, widely used aircraft (there may be plenty of places to shop for Boeing 737 parts). However, the same is not true of new long-range aircraft like the A350 which still only exists in small numbers (and few airframes are likely being striped for parts worldwide). This enables the movement of spare parts to be controlled much more easily and enforce sanctions. That is why Russia is doing a better job maintaining other long-haul aircraft that have been in production for some time (like the A330 and Boeing 777). It is just easier to find spare parts for these aircraft.how to play nuebe gaming 。

LONDON , Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Strictly Money Ltd, the London -based fintech, has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube to invite European investors to fuel its next phase of growth. Crowdcube, Europe's largest private market investment platform, has powered success stories like Revolut, Qonto, and Monzo. Regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Crowdcube provides a trusted and innovative platform for investors to participate in transformative ventures. Strictly Money's primary objective with this campaign is to accelerate its growth, fuel product development, and expand its shareholder base. The funding will enable Strictly Money to launch its payment card and banking app in early 2025 and to strengthen its market presence in Scandinavia, the UK, and Ireland . The company plans to introduce hedge fund returns products, broadening investment options for consumers by the end of 2025. Discover how you can be part of Strictly Money's growth journey by visiting our Crowdcube campaign at https://crowdcube.getstrictlymoney.com . Will Povey, CEO and Co-Founder of Strictly Money, said: " At Strictly Money, our vision is to empower everyday investors with access to wealth-building tools and opportunities that were previously reserved for high-net-worth individuals. With this crowdfunding campaign, we aim to bring together a diverse community of investors who share our passion for financial innovation and inclusivity. This funding will not only help us launch our innovative debit card and app but also drive the development of new products that deliver real value to our users ." About Strictly Money: Strictly Money is a UK-based financial technology company set to launch a debit card and a cutting-edge banking app in early 2025. The company aims to democratize access to high-performing hedge fund returns, providing innovative investment strategies and financial solutions tailored to investors, savers, and entrepreneurs. Strictly Money's mission is to open up premium investment opportunities traditionally limited to high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). For more information, visit https://strictly-money.com . For media inquiries contact: Mary Prendergast Email: ir@getstrictlymoney.com Important Notice: Investing in startups and early-stage businesses involves risks, including illiquidity, lack of dividends, loss of investment and dilution. It should be done only as part of a diversified portfolio. Crowdcube is targeted exclusively at investors who are sufficiently sophisticated to understand these risks and make their own investment decisions. Please read the full Risk Warning on Crowdcube's website before deciding to invest. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2588210/Strictly_Money_Logo.jpgA 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says

Scottie Scheffler fires 63, repeats at Hero World ChallengeNagpur: The permission granted by the state govt allowing wine, beer shops and country liquor outlets to operate till 1am, and bar and permit rooms to serve customers till 5am for New Year's celebrations has presented a challenge for the city police who now need to step up anti-accident measures on the road. The extension in timing for wine, beer shops and beer bars is not only expected to bring cheers among revellers but also generate crores in revenue for the state exchequer overnight. CP Ravinder Singal has prepared a security blueprint for New Year's Eve. The traffic police would play a key role and plan to intensify the drive against drunk driving. SP (state excise), Surajkumar Ramod, stated that revellers organising ‘social gatherings' also need to seek permits for holding such celebrations, even if they are not on a commercial scale and are limited to a small group. "The state excise department is appealing to revellers to procure liquor permits to avoid legal hassles in case there is a check or raid. Commercial ventures and celebrations venue are required to procure permits for stocking, selling and consuming liquor, as per the various norms, before the New Year's celebration. Similarly, groups engaging in social gatherings with smaller numbers of revellers are also required to do the same," said Ramod. Registration and permit services are available online. DCP (Traffic) Archit Chandak said that around 450 cops from his unit will man the city along with the local police. "We are setting up anti-liquor checks at around 30 places in the city. Around 30 breath analysers have been procured to check drunk driving," said Chandak, adding that the cops will also be equipped with body cameras, and any unruly behaviour will be captured directly for stringent actions. "We will also ensure that violators pay the Rs10,000 fine for drunk driving," said Chandak.

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What would the U.S. look like without daylight saving time? One graphicJaffa Power (Image credit Eco Wave Power) The Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality and the municipal company Atarim, in collaboration with and , launched Israel’s first pilot station for generating electricity from sea waves at Warehouse 2 at the Jaffa Port. This project is a step towards a greener future. Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality is leading the charge in fighting . By embracing innovative technologies, the city is taking bold action to reduce emissions and create a more sustainable environment. This new facility is proof of their commitment. The launch marks a significant step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing sustainable energy, reinforcing Tel Aviv’s status as a global innovation leader. The event will begin with a formal inauguration by investors, strategic partners, and senior energy officials, followed by remarks from Tel Aviv-Yafo Mayor Ron Huldai and the official unveiling of the station. Developed by the Israeli company Eco Wave Power, the station was built in collaboration with EDF Renewables Israel, supported by the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Energy and Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality. The power station is recognized as “pioneering technology” by the Ministry of Energy. For the first time, electricity generated from sea waves will power Israel’s national grid—a historic milestone in the country’s renewable energy progress. Located at the Atarim Blue Economy Innovation Hub in Jaffa Port, this pioneering facility operates alongside other advanced marine technologies. Eco Wave Power is a NASDAQ-listed company (ticker: WAVE) holding 18 patents for innovative wave energy technologies. In addition to the Jaffa pilot station, the company is planning projects in the Port of Los Angeles with Shell and in Porto, Portugal, where its first commercial station will be built. The company’s technology connects floaters to existing marine structures like breakwaters and piers. These floaters rise and fall with the waves, powering a hydraulic motor and generator located onshore. The system includes smart controls that lift the floaters out of the water during storms to prevent damage.WASHINGTON (AP) — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday. Biden administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies , as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China's hacking sophistication. The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals." Though the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose whose communications were accessed. Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but a “large number" were in the Washington-Virginia area. Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said. The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are "primarily involved in government or political activity.” Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month. “We know that voluntary cyber security practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking.

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Once a year, Buffalo Bills defensive back Cam Lewis gathers around a computer with his mom, Yvonne, and his brother, Brandon. The three get together to read personal essays by students at the high school Lewis attended. Lewis grew up around the 7 Mile Area of Detroit and went to Consortium College Prep, which is now called Voyageur College Prep. A couple of years ago, Lewis started a scholarship: the Cam Lewis Voyage to Success Scholarship. Bills cornerback Cam Lewis celebrates a play during a game in Seattle on Oct. 27. “I always wanted to give back in any certain way,” Lewis said. “I was able to get a scholarship coming out of high school, but not a lot of people are able to do that, so just any amount of money that I can give can help them in their college experience.” Every year, he awards $2,000 to five different graduating students, doling out $10,000 total per year. Applications revolve around five different criteria, including an essay that Lewis reads and judges himself, alongside Yvonne and Brandon. The prompt revolves around what students have overcome in their high school career. “It's cool,” Lewis said. “It's a glimpse into all these kids' lives. You never know what they're going through. Everybody goes through different things.” ‘He gives so much back’ This weekend, Lewis will return to Detroit as the Bills head to a major tilt with the 12-1 Lions. It’s an exciting homecoming for Lewis. “It shaped me a lot of different ways, but I’m just glad I grew up in Detroit,” Lewis said. Lewis gets back to Detroit a few times a year. When he does, he always catches up with his high school football coach, John Pittman. Pittman is so proud of how far Lewis has gone in football, and how much he gives when he returns. “Cam, he’s just such a hard worker, and he gives so much back,” Pittman said. “When he comes and talks to a lot of the students, he definitely gives a lot to each program.” Lewis doesn’t just visit Voyageur since Pittman has switched schools a couple of times. Lewis always goes wherever Pittman goes. “Every program I’m a part of, he always comes back, talks to the players, telling them how you know you can make it no matter where you go,” Pittman said. After high school, Lewis went on to play at University at Buffalo. There, he caught the eyes of the Bills. Lewis joined the Bills in 2019 as an undrafted free agent, and he worked his way up from the practice squad to cement a Swiss-army-knife role for the Bills' defense. “I never thought I'd be at this level playing for this long and stuff like that,” Lewis said. “So, anytime I can go back and see and then give some kids some knowledge and stuff like that, I always do that.” His advice takes on the flavor of the city that raised him. “Being from Detroit, you have a mentality that, I guess what we call it, like a hustler's mentality,” Yvonne said. “A hustler's mentality means you always have to go get it, just be a go-getter. So that's like a staple phrase, a hustler mentality for the city. And he's always had that. ... He’s a self motivator.” ‘Let’s just give it a shot’ Yvonne Lewis had her sons play all sorts of sports growing up. Baseball was a favorite for Cam, and he got involved early. When Cam was 5, older brother Brandon had an 8U game, coached by their dad. “We were short a player, and we needed somebody to go in the game,” Yvonne said. “So, they stuck Cameron in here. He was five years old. I was like, ‘Okay, you really going to let him play?’” Yvonne says Cam only came up to about the shoulders of his teammates. He recalls his legs being so much shorter that teammates caught up to him on the base paths. But he didn’t let that stop him. When he got older, Lewis transferred to Voyageur, so he couldn’t play his first year there. He also had a mindset slightly surprising for a player who would go on to play in the NFL. “His sophomore year, when he came in, he told me, he was like, ‘I’m a baseball player,’ ” Pittman said. “I was like, ‘What?’ ” But with Pittman’s encouragement, Lewis began to put more work into football. “ ‘If you think I’m good, then OK, let’s just give it a shot,’ ” Pittman recalls Lewis saying. “ ‘Let’s work at it.’ And it just went from there.” Yvonne had seen how Cam’s determination played out in the past. “Once he put his mind to it, he really says he gets stuck on it,” she said. “It's like his tunnel vision at that point.” Lewis was evolving as the program did, too. “When Cameron got there, that was actually our second season, going into our third season,” Pittman said. “We were actually building the program. So, he actually built the foundation of the program to where it is now today.” The team didn’t have a practice field or even a home field. Lewis remembers it being challenging. He embraced that. “We always go by the saying, ‘Embrace every struggle and live the grind,’ ” Pittman said. “So, we knew it was gonna be a struggle, just having the kids having some way to practice, building a weight room, and just giving them just belief in themselves. Like, ‘Hey, if you guys believe in yourself, sky’s the limit.’ And then they just bought in. It was just brotherhood.” The brotherhood was small. Pittman estimates there were around 24 players on the team. Lewis played all over the field except offensive line, Pittman said. “Relentless,” Pittman said. “He wanted to do it all. I mean, his senior year, we were struggling. We were questioning quarterbacks. He’s like, ‘Coach, give me the ball. I’m the quarterback.’ ” So, play quarterback he did. Lewis said he didn’t throw the ball a ton, but he was ready to step in. “We needed somebody on offense,” he said. “At the time, I was playing both ways, but the majority was just on offense. I was like I need somebody to hand me the ball, at least. I need to make some plays. But it was cool, though.” Bills cornerback Cam Lewis trips up 49ers tight end George Kittle during a game at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 1. An emotional return Lewis’ ability to play anywhere on the field has served him well at football’s highest level. “He can do it all, especially in the secondary,” Pittman said. “He’s not scared to go up against bigger and taller. He’s always been pretty much a smaller guy on the field. But I mean, heart is like a lion.” Now, it’s helping the Bills. Lewis has played a career-high 49% of defensive snaps this season (403 snaps). His previous high was 22% in 2020. “Position flexibility,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said when asked what Lewis means to the team. “Just incredibly valuable for us: playing nickel, playing dime, playing special teams, playing safety. He’s just done a phenomenal job, and fun to watch him grow.” Lewis sees the uptick in both as a reflection of his determination to improve his game and his coaches’ trust in him. On Sunday at Ford Field, Lewis will have a chance to show his growth in front of a massive crowd of family and friends. “Fifty-five total,” Lewis said on expected attendance. “Yeah, it’s gonna be a lot.” Lewis said that number is about normal for when he plays in Detroit. He expects he’ll be a little emotional before the game. It's part of the journey. “I’m just happy to come from such a hustle city, grind city,” he said. “It did shape me to the guy I am today, molded me in the right direction to have my good mindset, my motivation of what I want to do. So yeah, I’m just glad to be from there.” Injury report The Bills’ secondary could be quite depleted Sunday. Cornerback Rasul Douglas (knee) has been ruled out of Sunday’s game. Douglas injured his knee against the Rams, and he did not practice all week. McDermott said ahead of practice that he was not yet ready to name who would start in Douglas’ place. The following Bills players are questionable: tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee), safety Taylor Rapp (neck/shoulder), safety Damar Hamlin (back/ribs), defensive end Casey Toohill (ribs), tight end Quintin Morris (shoulder/groin), offensive lineman Tylan Grable (groin), defensive end Dawuane Smoot (wrist) and linebacker Baylon Spector (calf). Rapp, Hamlin and Toohill were in red noncontact jerseys during the portion of practice open to media. Those three players were limited Friday. For the Lions, linebacker Trevor Nowaske (concussion) has been ruled out. No other Detroit players carry an injury designation. Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sports reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.