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Robots Take Care of Elderly in Japan

Residents follow moves made by humanoid robot during an afternoon exercise routine at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo, Japan. (Reuters)
Residents follow moves made by humanoid robot during an afternoon exercise routine at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo, Japan. (Reuters)
    Tokyo, London - Asharq Al-Awsat
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Robots Take Care of Elderly in Japan

Residents follow moves made by humanoid robot during an afternoon exercise routine at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo, Japan. (Reuters)
Residents follow moves made by humanoid robot during an afternoon exercise routine at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo, Japan. (Reuters)

Allowing robots to help care for the elderly, a job typically seen as requiring a human touch, may be an unfamiliar idea in the West, however, many Japanese see them positively, largely because they are depicted in popular media as friendly and helpful.

Robots have the run of Tokyo's Shin-Tomi nursing home, which uses 20 different models to care for its residents.

The Japanese government hopes it will be a model for the future, for harnessing the country's robotics expertise to help cope with a swelling elderly population and dwindling workforce.

After the exercise session with SoftBank Robotics Corp's Pepper, a talkative robot, Kazuko Yamada, 84, said: “These robots are wonderful. More people live alone these days, and a robot can be a conversation partner for them. It will make life more fun.”

Plenty of obstacles may hinder a rapid proliferation of elder care robots: high costs, safety issues and doubts about how useful and user-friendly they will be.

The Japanese government has been funding development of elder care robots to help fill a projected shortfall of 380,000 specialized workers by 2025.

Director of the robotic policy office at the Ministry of Economy expects other countries to follow the same trend, which will open the door for a lucrative export industry.

According to estimates, Germany, China and Italy are among the countries, which based on their population structure, will be facing the same challenge soon.

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British Baker’s Criticism of Mexican ‘Ugly’ Bread Triggers Social Media Outrage

Bolillos, a traditional Mexican bread, sit for sale at a street stand in Mexico City, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
Bolillos, a traditional Mexican bread, sit for sale at a street stand in Mexico City, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
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British Baker’s Criticism of Mexican ‘Ugly’ Bread Triggers Social Media Outrage

Bolillos, a traditional Mexican bread, sit for sale at a street stand in Mexico City, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
Bolillos, a traditional Mexican bread, sit for sale at a street stand in Mexico City, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

A blunt critique of Mexican bread by a British baker sparked a cascade of social media outrage, ultimately leading to a public apology.

In an interview for a food-themed podcast that resurfaced online, Richard Hart, the co-founder of Green Rhino bakery in Mexico City and a well-known figure in international baking circles, said Mexicans “don’t really have much of a bread culture,” adding that “they make sandwiches on these white, ugly rolls that are pretty cheap and industrially made.”

His comments quickly rippled across Instagram, TikTok and X, with many Mexicans accusing him of being dismissive and insulting of Mexico’s traditional breads.

What began as a dispute over bread soon ignited a national debate over food identity — not only over who defines Mexican culinary traditions, but also over the growing influence of foreigners in a capital already tense from a surge of US expatriates and tourists, according to AP.

Social media was soon flooded with memes, reaction videos, and passionate defenses of Mexican bread.

Users took to social media to praise everyday staples — from the crusty bolillos used for tortas to the iconic conchas found in neighborhood bakeries.

In many cases, these simple street foods act as a uniting factor across social groups and classes, and often cut to the core of the country’s cultural identity.

While wheat bread was introduced to Mexico during the colonial period, the classic food staple evolved into a distinct national tradition, blending European techniques with local tastes and ingredients. Today, small neighborhood bakeries remain central to daily life in cities and towns, serving as social hubs as well as food sources.

The incident prompted many to question why a foreign entrepreneur would publicly disparage a staple so deeply embedded in Mexican life. For many, Hart’s remarks echoed long-standing frustrations over foreign chefs and restaurateurs receiving disproportionate prestige, as well as concerns over gentrification in the capital.

“Don’t mess with the bolillo,” warned one viral post on X.

As criticism mounted, Hart issued a public apology on Instagram, saying his comments were poorly phrased and did not show respect for Mexico and its people. He acknowledged the emotional response and said he didn’t behave as a “guest.”

“I made a mistake,” Hart said in his statement. “I regret it deeply.”

Varieties

High-speed Passenger Train Kills 7 Elephants in India

Elephants are used to clear logs and debris in a village affected by flooding in Pidie Jaya, Aceh province, Indonesia, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahyar Tarmizi)
Elephants are used to clear logs and debris in a village affected by flooding in Pidie Jaya, Aceh province, Indonesia, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahyar Tarmizi)
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High-speed Passenger Train Kills 7 Elephants in India

Elephants are used to clear logs and debris in a village affected by flooding in Pidie Jaya, Aceh province, Indonesia, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahyar Tarmizi)
Elephants are used to clear logs and debris in a village affected by flooding in Pidie Jaya, Aceh province, Indonesia, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahyar Tarmizi)

Seven wild Asiatic elephants were killed and a calf was injured when a high-speed passenger train collided with a herd crossing the tracks in India's northeastern state of Assam early Saturday, local authorities said.

The train driver spotted the herd of about 100 elephants and used the emergency brakes, but the train still hit some of the animals, Indian Railways spokesman Kapinjal Kishore Sharma told The Associated Press.

Five train coaches and the engine derailed following the impact, but there were no human casualties, Sharma said.

Veterinarians carried out autopsies on the dead elephants, which were to be buried later in the day.

The accident site is a forested area around 125 kilometers southeast of Assam’s capital city of Guwahati. Railway tracks in the state are frequented by elephants, but Indian Railways said in a statement the accident location wasn't a designated elephant corridor.

The Rajdhani Express train, traveling from Sairang in Mizoram state bordering Myanmar, was bound for the national capital of New Delhi with 650 passengers onboard when it hit with elephants.

“We delinked the coaches which were not derailed, and the train resumed its journey for New Delhi. Around 200 passengers who were in the five derailed coaches have been moved to Guwahati in a different train,” Sharma said.

Speeding trains hitting wild elephants is not rare in Assam, which is home to an estimated 7,000 wild Asiatic elephants, one of the highest concentrations of the pachyderm in India. Since 2020, at least a dozen elephants have been killed by speeding trains across the state.

Wild elephants often stray into human habitations this time of year, when rice fields are ready for harvesting.

Varieties

Winter at Tantora Festival Kicks Off in AlUla

The 2025–2026 season features a diverse array of immersive experiences - SPA
The 2025–2026 season features a diverse array of immersive experiences - SPA
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Winter at Tantora Festival Kicks Off in AlUla

The 2025–2026 season features a diverse array of immersive experiences - SPA
The 2025–2026 season features a diverse array of immersive experiences - SPA

The Winter at Tantora Festival launched yesterday in AlUla Governorate and will run until January 10, 2026, marking the beginning of the winter season with a rich program that celebrates the region’s deep-rooted agricultural and historical heritage.

The festival derives its name from the Tantora, a traditional mudbrick sundial located in the heart of AlUla’s Old Town. For centuries, local farmers and residents relied on this stone marker to tell time, manage water distribution rights, and signal the start of the winter planting season, SPA reported.

The 2025–2026 season features a diverse array of immersive experiences. "Old Town Nights" offers an atmospheric evening of heritage storytelling and fine dining at the historic AlUla Fort, while the "AlManshiyah Carnival" creates a festive space for families with traditional games and parades.

Music remains a central pillar of the festival, with performances set against AlUla’s most iconic backdrops. The "Shorfat Tantora" (Tantora Balconies) series brings live music to the rooftops of the AlJadidah Arts District, while major concerts are scheduled at the Maraya mirrored hall and the Thanaya open-air amphitheater.

These events are part of the broader AlUla Moments calendar, supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to highlight the Kingdom's heritage and establish AlUla as a premier global destination.