Munich-based startup OroraTech has secured €25mn in funding to scale up its AI-powered wildfire detection system.
Korys, the investment arm of the Colruyt’s — a Belgian noble family — led the funding round. The EU’s Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) also chipped in, alongside existing investor Bayern Kapital.
OroraTech will use the fresh funding to fuel the next phase of its growth. The company looks to expand into global markets beyond Europe, and keep refining its technology.
OroraTech’s so-called Wildfire Solution collates imagery from its own probes, as well as over 20 other Earth observation satellites. The startup has trained an AI algorithm to scan these images and automatically detect signs of wildfires. The system can also predict how they will spread.
A spin-out from the Technical University of Munich, OroraTech has so far launched two satellites. The most recent of these blasted off into low Earth orbit upon a SpaceXFalcon 9 in June last year.
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Battling the blaze
As climate change accelerates, wildfires are spreading faster, burning longer, and raging more intensely. More than 500,000 hectares of land across the EU burnt last year — an area twice the size of Luxembourg.
Faced with this mounting problem, authorities are increasingly turning to high-tech solutions.
In June, Greece’s Ministry of Digital Governance awarded OroraTech a €20mn contract to build a satellite-based early warning system for wildfires.
The national defence system will consist of four thermal satellites and a network of ground sensors and processing services. OroraTech will develop it in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) and several Greek universities and companies.
Greece’s national wildfire system will go into full operations once OroraTech has got its entire constellation of 100 shoebox-sized satellites in orbit, which is scheduled for 2026.
“However, we will be delivering data to Greece immediately with our current network of thermal platforms, including our Wildfire Solution platform,” a company spokesperson previously told TNW.
OroraTech’s third satellite, FOREST-3 (pictured top), is scheduled to launch next month. The company is currently testing eight new thermal-imaging satellites, which it plans to roll out in early 2025.
OroraTech joins an emerging cohort of “firetech” startups that have popped up in recent years.
Dryad Networks, a German company, has created an “internet of trees” sensor network that “smells” fires in the forest, before they burn out of control. Other ventures includeBurnBot, which has built a robot that performs prescribed burns, and Rain, which wants to deploy autonomous helicopters to fight fires.
In Europe, several fire brigades have been trialling long-range drones like those built by Dutch scaleupAvyto detect wildfires early and help firefighters on the ground track the blaze in real time. Researchers in Portugal are even developing a drone thatdouses flamesfrom above.
As climate change worsens, we’ll likely see all kinds of technologies being deployed to battle the blaze, ultimately saving lives.
When Sheila makes a sudden escape, Deacon will help her, coming up on The Bold and the Beautiful (B&B). Meanwhile, Liam will have to play peacemaker between Steffy and Hope. Plus, Eric will put some pressure on Ridge. Learn more about these storylines and others with B&B spoilers for the week of December 12th, 2022.
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La Salle Green Archers’ Vhoris Marasigan with coach Topex Robinson during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
La Salle is all alone at the top of the standings of Season 87 of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.
But with a title to defend and every team wanting to claim the Green Archers’ collective scalps, there’s no way coach Topex Robinson will keep his charges comfortable.
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“We keep them uncomfortable, and they know it,” Robinson told the Inquirer on Saturday night after the Archers rose to 9-1 with a 70-45 thumping of Adamson.
READ: La Salle snaps NU streak; UST, UE win in Shakey’s Super League
“They know that we want to grow. And part of that growth is getting out of their comfort zone,” Robinson went on. ““We kind of make practices and games exciting. Having small targets during games. Just to keep everybody on their toes.”
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Playing as the solid favorites against Adamson, the Archers never gave the Falcons the chance to soar with small targets like “limiting them to 10 points each quarter,” quite an aim for quite a formidable foe.
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And La Salle almost hit that target.
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“We wanted to limit them to actually 10 points per quarter,” Robinson explained. “But we didn’t get it.”
The tight La Salle defense allowed just one Falcon in Cedrick Manzano to score in twin digits, and that’s a big statement.
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“We keep our standard so high. We’re going to chase that standard. That’s just keeping everybody grounded,” he went on. “Even us coaches, [we try to figure out] what else can we improve. We’re looking at those things.”
Only University of the East was able to prick the bubble of invincibility of the Archers with a 75-71 victory in the first round, which effectively awakened a sleeping giant as La Salle has won six games since, counting a 77-68 payback win at the start of the second round.
Biggest thing to address
Things that La Salle can improve on include valuing each possession as the Archers have turned the ball over 20 or more times in the three games that they played in round two alone, including having 21 against University of Santo Tomas, which almost completed a come-from-behind win more than a week ago.
And Robinson wants something ingrained in his wards moving forward.
“We cannot rest on that [being error-prone] just because we’re winning,” he said. “The 21 turnovers are really going to hurt us in the end. And we don’t want to [say that it’s okay] just because you’re winning. They know that you just have to keep on improving and setting the standard high.
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“That’s what we always do—make sure that these guys know that they cannot be complacent,” he said. “Because there are a lot of stories like that, we keep on reminding them about it.” INQ
For the complete collegiate sports coverage including scores, schedules and stories, visit Inquirer Varsity.
(KRON) – A 22-year-old man has died after a 10-unit apartment fire in Sablo Pablo on Sunday, according to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.
At 2:52 a.m. on Sunday, the Manchester apartment complex fire was reported.
Image provided by Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.
Three people were rescued, however, a 22-year-old man has succumbed to his injuries and has passed away. The other two people rescued were teenagers, who were hospitalized and in critical condition.
According to ConFire, the first crew on the scene extinguished the fire around 6:08 a.m.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned with KRON4 for updates.
Jennifer Garner and John Miller are still going strong despite Ben Affleck’s neediness. However, a source exclusively tells Life & Style that they’re high in contention as the most boring couple in Hollywood, and their date nights are a serious snoozefest.
“They almost never go anywhere, and when they do go on a date it’s usually to the most low-key places. There’s no glitz or glam or excitement,” an insider says. “They really are perfect for each other because they both seem happiest just staying home for their date nights and maybe taking a walk around the neighborhood after dinner.”
The source continues, “They’re like an old married couple, except after their Netflix dates, Jennifer usually sends John home by 10 P.M. so she can get a proper rest. She likes to get her beauty sleep and be there for kids in the morning. Plus, she’s too respectful of her kids to have him do sleepovers when they’re home, which is most of the time.”
The insider says that the Ghosts of Girlfriends Past star, 52, and John, 46, are in a “very predictable routine” and “they seem incredibly happy.”
“You can see why it comes across as pretty dull to most people in their social circle,” the source explains. “They could be at all the best restaurants and movie premieres and parties and instead they’d rather stay home in their sweatpants playing cards. Their friends are all happy for them, but they also think they could stand to add a little spice to things. They’re acting way older than their years.”
Jennifer and John began dating in 2018, but just months after the two got together, she was a source of support for her ex-husband, Ben, 52, as he checked into rehab for alcoholism. The exes have remained close since their divorce in 2015, and Jennifer even had the security code to Ben’s rental home while he was separated from his now-estranged wife, Jennifer Lopez.
Rumors began to swirl that the 13 Going on 30 star and John were taking a break as she helped ex-husband Ben, 52, through his divorce from J. Lo.
Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images
“Jen’s had so much going on with Ben, it just took a toll,” a source explained to Life & Style on August 21, the day after J. Lo officially filed for divorce. “She and John ended up going their separate ways. It wasn’t her choice.”
The insider continued, “Ben’s been turning to Jen [Garner] for advice and support, and that’s been a big source of annoyance for John. He doesn’t enjoy competing with her ex-husband for her attention. John likes Ben and tries to be understanding, but there’s only so much a guy can take.”
“Ben basically made Jen into his personal therapist once he started having issues with J. Lo. She’s who he’d run to. But it got even worse after he left J. Lo. When he moved out, he got so incredibly needy. It was one crisis after another, and when he’s in that state, Jen is always there for him without fail. John has finally had enough,” the source added.
However, the Deadpool & Wolverine actress and John seemingly worked through their rough patch. She proved the naysayers wrong when she and John were spotted holding hands during a casual stroll around in a Brentwood, California, neighborhood on October 8.
AUSTIN, Texas — Charles Leclerc earned Ferrari its first United States Grand Prix victory since 2018 with a clever start and a commanding drive Sunday, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen strengthened his lead in the F1 season championship by finishing third ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Verstappen earned the podium only after Norris was given a five-second penalty for leaving the track to pass Verstappen in the final laps.
Verstappen immediately complained about the move, while Norris insisted Verstappen also left the track. Norris’ pass came after the two drivers had battled for the final podium spot and critical championship points over several laps and Verstappen had stubbornly refused to give ground.
The penalty and fourth-place finish cost Norris valuable points in the title chase. Verstappen stretched his championship lead over Norris from 54 points to 57 with five grand prix and two sprint races left.
Leclerc earned his third win of the season and Ferrari pulled a 1-2 finish with his teammate Carlos Sainz in second. Kimi Raikkonen had been the last Ferrari winner at the Circuit of the Americas in 2018.
But the bigger battle was raging behind them as Verstappen and Norris fought over every inch of the final dozen laps.
Verstappen has not won a grand prix since June and Norris has steadily chipped away at his lead as the Red Bull car has faded. Yet Verstappen still stretched his lead by five points over the weekend by also winning Saturday’s sprint race.
Norris will leave Austin knowing he squandered a big chance to gain ground. He had even earned pole position for Sunday’s race.
Verstappen started right beside him, and it was their battle into the first turn that saw both cars run wide, leaving room for Leclerc to pounce on the opening.
The Ferrari driver jumped from fourth and straight into the lead.
Norris complained Verstappen forced him off the track at the start to begin a battle that would be fought over the entire race.
NASCAR gun Tyler Reddick drove his car back to pit lane after a wild 300km/h flip through the grass at Las Vegas.
Reddick was trying to drive around the outside of Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr on the high-banks of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway when the latter moved up the track, squeezing Elliott up into Reddick.
Both drivers then crashed into the wall and spun towards the infield, collecting an innocent Brad Keselowski along the way.
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As the cars spun through the grass, Reddick’s car became slightly airborne, before it dug into the grass and rolled.
Tyler Reddick drove back to the pit lane after this wild flip through the grass at Las Vegas. NASCAR
Miraculously, the car landed on all four wheels. Incredibly, Reddick was able to drive the car back to his pit box.
Unsurprisingly, the damage was too much and Reddick’s afternoon was done. The cars lap the Vegas oval at an average speed of just under 300km/h.
“You’ve just got to be aggressive on restarts, I just had a split second to make a decision,” Reddick said.
“By the time I realised I was in trouble, it was too late. There was nowhere really to go. Be a little conservative, that’s what we needed to do. We’ll learn from it.”
Reddick landed back on his wheels as Keselowski crashes into the wall. Getty
Reddick was attempting to gain on-track position and misjudged how much room he had.
“I thought the hole was there; it wasn’t. It closed so quickly,” Reddick said on his radio.
Both Reddick and Elliott are among the eight drivers remaining in NASCAR’s ‘Chase for the Cup’, where drivers are steadily eliminated over the final 10 races of the season until four remain for the first-past-the-post finale at Phoenix Raceway next month.
Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.
LOS ANGELES — The New York Mets are down 3-2 to the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, facing two potential elimination games on the road, but they hardly seem fazed.
Been there, done that.
Remember the Mets’ come-from-behind road win to clinch a playoff spot on the Monday before the postseason began? How about the down-to-the-last-out victory they pulled off in the wild-card round, when Pete Alonso took Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams deep in the ninth? New York’s subsequent four-game division series upset over the Philadelphia Phillies seems anticlimactic in comparison.
And then came Game 5 of this series on Friday. The Mets pummeled Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty for eight runs in three innings, keeping their World Series hopes alive after losing Games 3 and 4 at home the previous two nights.
Now comes their toughest test to date. At Dodger Stadium, with its hostile crowd of more than 50,000 fans, the Mets need two wins against the team with the best record in baseball. In other words, the Mets have the Dodgers right where they want them.
“It wouldn’t be our story if it didn’t go this way,” veteran J.D. Martinez said with a smile after the Mets’ 12-6 win in Game 5. “This is how we do things.”
New York is looking to become the ninth postseason team to win Games 6 and 7 on the road — and recent history is on its side: Just last season, the sixth-seeded Arizona Diamondbacks went to the World Series after beating the Phillies twice at Citizens Bank Park.
It can be done. Will it happen is another question. Here are three reasons Mets players believe they can — and will — pull it off.
1. Their starting pitching has ‘carried us all year’
The Mets will have Sean Manaea starting on full rest in Game 6, followed by Luis Severino if they make it to Game 7. Both have come up big this postseason, particularly Manaea. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have a bullpen game scheduled for Sunday, followed by a diminished Walker Buehler, who hasn’t won a game in October yet, in a potential finale. New York could also use Jose Quintana out of the pen in either game.
“You could make a case that one of the big reasons we’re here is because of our starting pitching and their ability to go deep in games,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said this week.
But Manaea, Severino and Quintana haven’t looked sharp in their starts against the Dodgers this series. Combined, they pitched a total of only 13 innings across Games 2, 3 and 4. It was the first sign of fatigue from them this month.
“We also have to understand where we’re at in the season and where they’re at physically,” Mendoza said, “They’re in territory now where nobody expected it.”
Then again, Flaherty seemed to hit a wall in his latest outing, and Buehler needed 90 pitches to get through four innings in Game 3. Both teams might be looking at some gassed pitchers.
All things being equal — workloads included — the Mets think their starting pitchers put them in a good position.
“You have to be able to rise to the occasion and do whatever is asked of you,” outfielder Brandon Nimmo said. “Those guys have done that. Everyone has seen how they’ve pitched. There is so much confidence there.
“It’s carried us all year.”
2. Their lineup ‘broke through the dam’
It’s hard to make a case that any offense can go toe-to-toe with the Dodgers, who scored 30 runs in the first four games of this series, while adding six more in a Game 5 defeat. Even without a healthy Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles has done plenty of damage. But so, too, have the Mets — especially recently.
The Mets view Game 4 as a turning point. They scored just twice in a blowout loss, but had 13 runners reach base. Then in Game 5, they launched a 14-hit attack and scored 12 runs.
“We’re capable of putting together games like this, especially when one through nine, we’re clicking, we’re not chasing,” Mendoza said.
That might be more than manager-speak. For one, the bottom of the Mets’ order is starting to do some damage. Catcher Francisco Alvarez, who has hit in the nine-hole each game this series, credits a conversation he had with Starling Marte as a confidence boost.
“He came to me and he told me, ‘Hey, be happy,'” Alvarez recalled. “‘Play your game. Don’t try to do too much.’ But the real thing from Marte is he doesn’t talk too much, and I feel like he talked to me from the heart, and I appreciate him doing that.”
Alvarez is four for his past five in the series, while Marte has gotten hot as well. Marte, who hit sixth in Game 5, has nine hits over the past four games after going 0-for-4 in Game 1. On Friday, the Mets’ lineup looked as lengthy as the Dodgers’.
“Preventing their starters from going deep in games and getting to their bullpen, that’s huge, especially over this marathon-type of a series,” Alonso said. “And as an offense, that doesn’t happen if you don’t have quality at-bats. We’re having them now.”
Nimmo said: “We broke through the dam.”
3. They have ‘storybook-type stuff’
The “Meme Team,” as some like to call the Mets, doesn’t mind the corny nature of looking to Grimace or a lucky pumpkin for inspiration. It works for them. Some teams give off a buttoned-up attitude when they come to work, while others go with the flow. New York fits firmly in the latter category.
“We’re a frickin’ zoo in here,” Martinez said. “Would we be the Mets if we weren’t?”
No one epitomizes that fun — and belief — more than Alonso. The longtime Met might be in his final days with the team — he’s a free agent after this season — but he won’t let that distract him. In fact, it has kept him grounded and motivated, looking to keep this dream season going for as long as possible.
“This is what we all live for and play for,” Alonso said. “This is such a blast. And I think all of us — we’re just relishing in the moment and we’re looking to capitalize on opportunities.
“It’s storybook-type stuff.”
Alonso arrived in Los Angeles with the team’s Playoff Pumpkin intact, which the slugger seems more intent to talk about than his game-changing home runs this postseason. It’s managed with special care.
“White-glove service,” Alonso told ESPN with a big smile. “The pumpkin is taken care of almost as well as the Stanley Cup.”
Alonso keeps the pumpkin in his luggage, but carefully transports it from plane to hotel, from hotel to bus, from bus to clubhouse.
“On the road I’ve taken it back to the hotel because I don’t want any clubbies or anybody messing with it,” Alonso explained. “It’s kept safe every day.”
Pumpkins, mascots and “OMG” signs won’t be in the batter’s box when the first pitch is thrown in Game 6. But for the Mets, these things are part of who they are. Playing like this, with an unwavering spirit even with their season nearly always on the line, creates a winning atmosphere. Ahead of two win-or-go-home games, New York is banking on it.
“It’s something you learn by being here for a while,” Nimmo said. “You learn to not panic. If any team can do it, we can. We’ve played with our backs against the wall all year. We’ve risen to the occasion. Some might say we’re at our best in this time.”
In a way, in the years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the palace behind, they have been systematically punished for daring to take the step, whether it is in the form of Prince William blocking even the idea of their return or King Charles refusing to lift a finger to solve his son’s rather valid U.K security issues. But his daughter-in-law is choosing to rise above the hate…
… even though she possesses a “potential weapon” that can be unleashed the moment she decides to seek revenge on the royal family.
While it has been over two years since she last mentioned it, no one is in a hurry to forget what she said in 2022 interview with The Cut — that she can say anything and everything about her experience as a royal and no one can lift so much as a finger to stop her since she didn’t sign an NDA. Since her controversial interview with Oprah, Meghan hadn’t really dished any new sordid detail about the royals and that’s a choice, one she made sure to highlight in neon during the chat.
“I think forgiveness is really important. It takes a lot more energy to not forgive. But it takes a lot of effort to forgive. I’ve really made an active effort, especially knowing that I can say anything.
I have a lot to say until I don’t. Do you like that? Sometimes, as they say, the silent part is still part of the song.”
These words, full of meaning and of course, dripping threat of Meghan voluntarily holding on to details that could do a lot of damage have hung in the air like the proverbial sword. Out of sight, but never out of mind as proven by Sunday Times Royal Editor Roya Nikkhah who recently reminded royal fans of Meghan’s “thinly veiled threats”
“I think [she] probably hopes it does [feel threatening] to the Royal Family,” she added. “[But] that phrase, ‘I have a lot to say until I don’t’ and, ‘I’ve never signed anything that restricts me from talking’… there was a very strong inference there.”
True, the words do sound more like a threat, but here is another fact — it has been more than two years since aired that particular sentiment and she hasn’t acted on it since then. In the 2022 interview, she also mentions finding an old journal that holds her memories from her time as a senior royal and that, as royal expert Jennie Bond stated, will “remain a potential weapon in her back pocket if she ever feels the need to seek some sort of revenge.” Still, Bond is against rumors of Meghan using the journal to write a splashy memoir of her own — the Duchess chose peace over drama and dignity over revenge, and she is sticking with the choice, “looking forwards, not backwards and is moving on with her life.”
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