Posts by Riah Stelmack
China 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…
Read MoreThousands protest in Slovakia against government’s Ukraine policy
Thousands of people protested in cities across Slovakia on Friday evening against the Ukraine policy of Slovakian left-wing populist Prime Minister Robert Fico. The demonstrators accused Fico of following a pro-Russian course and of “betraying” Western allies and neighbouring Ukraine. The rallies were initiated by the citizens’ initiative “Mier Ukrajine” (Peace for Ukraine), which advocates…
Read MoreGerman foreign minister says Syrians have a right to visit homeland
Syrian refugees living in Germany should have the right to visit their homeland before deciding whether to return, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Friday. Speaking at a reception for the Green parliamentary group in the northern German city of Hamburg, Baerbock said that Syrians should be allowed to see for themselves whether it…
Read MoreGerman tug secures ‘shadow fleet’ oil tanker adrift in Baltic Sea
German rescue teams have managed to secure towing lines to a loaded oil tanker that lost the ability to manoeuvre in the Baltic Sea near the German island of Rügen, authorities said on Friday. The stricken tanker Eventin, loaded with 99,000 tons of oil, will now be towed to an as-yet undetermined port by the…
Read MoreMore than 100,000 people displaced in eastern Congo since the start of the year, UN says
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — More than 100,000 people have been displaced since the start of the year in eastern Congo as a result of a new rebel offensive, according to a United Nations report released Friday. M23 rebels captured the town of Masisi on Monday, leading to a mass exodus of people in the face…
Read MoreNATO naval unit to monitor critical infrastructure in Baltic Sea
NATO’s standing maritime group is to set off from its base in the German port of Kiel for the Baltic Sea to monitor critical underwater infrastructure following several suspected acts of sabotage, the group’s commander said on Friday. The group had been concentrating on the North Sea, but recent tensions in the Baltic Sea have…
Read MoreChina has ample fiscal space to bolster growth this year
BEIJING (Reuters) – China has ample fiscal policy space and tools to support economic growth this year and it will step up spending to spur investment, Vice Finance Minister Liao Min said on Friday. More proactive fiscal policy can be expected in 2025, in terms of its strength, efficiency and timing, Liao said at a…
Read MoreA woman says her boyfriend tricked her into a wedding, convincing her it was a prank for Instagram
A couple in Australia had their marriage annulled after the bride said she didn’t genuinely consent. The woman said she believed the ceremony was a “prank” being filmed for Instagram. A judge ruled in her favor, saying it was likely the applicant believed she was just acting. A couple in Australia had their marriage annulled…
Read MorePlane crash-lands and bursts into flames in Kenya, killing 3 on the ground
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A light aircraft crash-landed Friday in Kenya ‘s coastal Malindi County, killing three people on the ground, a local police official said. The three fatalities included a motorcycle taxi driver who was killed when the plane burst into flames on impact in the town of Kwachocha along the Malindi-Mombasa highway, Sub-County…
Read MoreSerbia cancels Russian arms deals amid Ukraine war, Western sanctions
WARSAW, Poland — Serbia, one of Moscow’s staunchest allies in Europe, has been forced to cancel a number of contracts to purchase Russian weapons, according to Gen. Milan Mojsilović, the chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces. As international sanctions continue to pressure Moscow, Belgrade is now shopping for military gear in…
Read MoreUK gas reserves ‘concerningly low’: Biggest supplier
Britain’s biggest gas supplier said Friday UK storage levels are “concerningly low” owing to high demand caused by freezing weather and after Ukraine ended Russian gas transit to Europe. “Ongoing colder-than-usual conditions in the UK combined with the end of Russian gas pipeline supplies through Ukraine… has meant that gas inventory levels across the UK…
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