Posts by Riah Stelmack
Protest action delays start of German far-right AfD rally in Saxony
Protests organized on Saturday by an alliance of activists against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) have delayed the start of the party’s conference in the eastern German state of Saxony. The protests come as three of Germany’s major political parties are holding gatherings on the same day to finalize their election platforms and candidate…
Read MoreScientists just excavated an unprecedented specimen from Antarctica
At an extremely remote Antarctic outpost, scientists have unearthed a pristine sample of our planet’s history. It’s an ice core 2,800 meters, or some 1.7 miles, long. But it’s not just the length that’s so significant. The ice contains preserved pockets of Earth‘s air from some 1.2 million years ago, if not more. Previous ice…
Read MoreGermany’s Merz: Teaming up with AfD would ‘sell the soul’ of party
Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), firmly rejected any cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in an interview with public broadcaster ARD on Friday evening. “Let me repeat it here for the record. There will be no cooperation with the CDU in Germany under my leadership,” said…
Read MoreGerman armed forces to form new homeland security unit
Germany’s Bundeswehr will establish a major new land forces unit dedicated to securing critical infrastructure and key military facilities across the country, an army spokesman said on Saturday. The new homeland defence division will consist of reservists and active soldiers under a unified command and will be partially active, the spokesman told dpa. The unit…
Read MoreGermany’s Bundeswehr to establish new homeland security unit
Germany’s armed forces plan to establish a fourth major branch dedicated to securing critical infrastructure and key military facilities across the country, an army spokesman said on Saturday. The new homeland defence division will consist of reservists and active soldiers under a unified command and will be partially active, the spokesman told dpa. Last year,…
Read MoreProtests begin ahead of far-right AfD rally in eastern Germany
Planned protests organized by an alliance of activists have begun ahead of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) two-day party conference, which kicks off Saturday morning in the eastern German town of Riesa in Saxony. Three of Germany’s major parties are holding gatherings on Saturday to firm up their programmes and candidates ahead of the…
Read MoreSpacecraft makes final flyby of smallest planet in solar system
A spacecraft operated by the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has made its final flyby of Mercury, as scientists now work to guide BepiColombo into the planet’s orbit. During the sixth flyby, the ESA expected the spacecraft would fly less than 200 miles above the Swift Planet, while conducting measurements of…
Read MoreDisabled oil tanker adrift in Baltic Sea being towed eastwards
A loaded oil tanker that lost the ability to manoeuvre in the Baltic Sea near the German island of Rügen was being towed almost 25 kilometres eastwards by three tugs. The towing operation was proceeding very slowly at one to two knots (1.85-3.7 kilometres per hour), explained a spokesperson for Germany’s Central Command for Maritime…
Read MoreThe Maths Queen with a quantum mission to mentor girls
Known in Ghana as the Maths Queen, Dr Angela Tabiri is the first African to win The Big Internet Math Off competition – quite an achievement for someone who almost did not even do mathematics. The 35-year-old Ghanaian “finds joy in solving puzzles and mathematical questions” and hopes her 2024 win will open up the…
Read MoreWinter storm delays Piedmont cardiologists’ lifesaving mission to Ethiopia
The Brief A team of Piedmont cardiologists, part of Heart Attack Ethiopia, has been delayed in Atlanta due to a winter storm, affecting their mission to perform lifesaving surgeries in Ethiopia. The team, including Dr. Tesfaye Telila, was ready to depart when their flight was grounded, with over 1,200 flights canceled at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International…
Read MoreChina turns to humanoid robots to support its expanding elderly population
In order to address demographic challenges, China has announced the inclusion of humanoid robots in its elderly care services. The announcement by the Chinese State Council on Tuesday is part of the country’s policy measures aimed at integrating advanced technologies into elderly care. Issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State…
Read MoreNATO turned to elite divers to test sabotage protections for critical undersea cables increasingly at risk
NATO pit elite divers against new sensors to protect undersea cables from sabotage. Foreign adversaries have increasingly targeted undersea cables and underwater infrastructure. The training marks another shift in how NATO countries are preparing for future warfare. NATO sent special operations divers to test new systems designed to help shield critical underwater infrastructure from damage…
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