Dancing robots bring support, company to Barcelona elderly
The Straits Times
BARCELONA, Feb 27 - Barcelona resident Irene Veglison had not danced for more than two decades until a robot moved into her home three months ago. Read more at straitstimes.com.
BARCELONA, Feb 27 - Barcelona resident Irene Veglison had not danced for more than two decades until a robot moved into her home three months ago.
The 67-year-old received the 1.35-metre-tall device in November as part of a government project to support people in the early stages of cognitive decline.
"We're developing this pilot project to improve tele-assistance," said Marta Villanueva Cendán, a councillor for Barcelona's municipal council.
Like many countries, Spain faces rising life expectancy and falling birth rates, increasing pressure on its care sector to support an ageing population.
"In the future, we want the robots to detect risk and alert professionals, like if the person has fallen and cannot respond," the councillor added.
Barcelona has deployed 600 such bots to private homes and care centres, under a programme backed by a 3.8 million euro ($4.47 million) grant from the European Union's COVID recovery funds.
The ships had been at sea for quite some time due to military operations. Read more at straitstimes.com.
She also spoke on the diversification of crude oil procurement sources. Read more at straitstimes.com.
LONDON, March 25 - Britain should cap how much donors who are living overseas can give to political parties and pause cryptocurrency donations, an independent review said on Wednesday, a move that could hurt Nigel Farage's populist Reform UK party. Read more at straitstimes.com.
March 25 - Libya’s coast guard has begun towing away a damaged liquefied natural gas tanker that several Mediterranean countries warned posed an environmental risk after drifting unmanned for weeks, the Tripoli‑based Government of National Unity (GNU) said. Read more at straitstimes.com.
WASHINGTON, March 25 - The Pentagon said on Wednesday it had reached framework agreements with BAE, Lockheed and Honeywell to boost production of defense systems and munitions as part of its shift to \"wartime footing.\" Read more at straitstimes.com.
Tan Ruisong was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for corruption. Read more at straitstimes.com.
KYIV, March 25 - Ukraine will aim to repel Russia's new springtime offensive along the front line during a breakdown in U.S.-backed peace talks by building on recent tactical successes and battlefield innovations like mid-range strikes. Read more at straitstimes.com.
BERLIN, March 25 - The German army is working to accelerate wartime decision-making through artificial intelligence tools capable of analysing battlefield data more rapidly than humans, drawing lessons from Ukrainian and other forces, its commander told Reuters. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The federal government is accused of allegedly blocking access to evidence in the shootings. Read more at straitstimes.com.
BUDAPEST, March 25 - Hungary will gradually stop sending natural gas to Ukraine until crude oil flows on the Druzhba pipeline resume, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Wednesday, escalating a standoff with Kyiv over energy supplies disrupted by the war. Read more at straitstimes.com.
GENEVA, March 25 - Gulf Arab states told the U.N. Human Rights Council on Wednesday they face an existential threat from Iran as they condemned Iranian attacks on their infrastructure, which the U.N. rights chief said might constitute war crimes. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The shiny balloon first appeared around Valentine’s Day, quickly becoming a social media darling. Read more at straitstimes.com.
ISTANBUL, March 25 - Turkey \"is playing a role passing messages\" between Iran and the U.S. to encourage de-escalation and direct negotiations, Harun Armagan, vice chair of foreign affairs for President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, told Reuters on Wednesday. Read more at straitstimes.com.