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KAUST Develops Robotic System to Improve Date Palm Harvesting

The robotic arms of the system will be able to move as quickly as a human farmer while precisely picking each date without damage to itself or the fruit - SPA
The robotic arms of the system will be able to move as quickly as a human farmer while precisely picking each date without damage to itself or the fruit - SPA
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KAUST Develops Robotic System to Improve Date Palm Harvesting

The robotic arms of the system will be able to move as quickly as a human farmer while precisely picking each date without damage to itself or the fruit - SPA
The robotic arms of the system will be able to move as quickly as a human farmer while precisely picking each date without damage to itself or the fruit - SPA

The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has been developing a new robotic system designed to automate date palm harvesting, SPA reported.
According to a KAUST press release, the system aims to revolutionize the agriculture industry and establish Saudi Arabia as a leader in agriculture innovation. The research, led by KAUST Assistant Professor Shinkyu Park, focuses on automating key processes in date farming, such as harvesting, pollination, and tree maintenance through AI-powered robotics, and promises to yield larger quantities of more nutritious dates.
Park's "robotic farmers" solution combines robotics for reliable farming and AI for greater efficiency. The robotic arms of the system will be able to move as quickly as a human farmer while precisely picking each date without damage to itself or the fruit. Equipped with high-precision visual sensors, the robotic farmers can identify individual dates, flowers, and tree structures to perform tasks such as harvesting, spraying, and pruning, ensuring tree health, productivity, and longevity while reducing the risk of pest infestations and diseases.
Field trials are scheduled to begin during the 2025 harvest season, with full operational capability expected within three years. Park suggested that a Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model could allow smaller farmers to access the technology without the burden of purchasing the robots outright.
The project is one of many at KAUST that will benefit date farming and food security. Such projects provide Saudi Arabia an advantage not only in agricultural technology but also in agricultural expertise, as leaders in farming and robotics are drawn to the region, while laborers will be the first to engage with the new technologies developed by Park and his team, according to the release.
"I am excited that this initiative extends beyond engineering solutions and cultivates research and development opportunities for local talent, contributing to the long-term sustainable educational and economic growth of the Kingdom," he said.

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Peru Police Disguised as World Cup Mascots Arrest a Suspected Drug Dealer in Lima

Mascots of the World Cup, Maple the Moose (L), Zayu the Jaguar (C) and Clutch the Bald Eagle pose for a picture ahead of the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between South Korea and the Czech Republic at the Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan on June 11, 2026. (AFP)
Mascots of the World Cup, Maple the Moose (L), Zayu the Jaguar (C) and Clutch the Bald Eagle pose for a picture ahead of the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between South Korea and the Czech Republic at the Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan on June 11, 2026. (AFP)
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Peru Police Disguised as World Cup Mascots Arrest a Suspected Drug Dealer in Lima

Mascots of the World Cup, Maple the Moose (L), Zayu the Jaguar (C) and Clutch the Bald Eagle pose for a picture ahead of the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between South Korea and the Czech Republic at the Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan on June 11, 2026. (AFP)
Mascots of the World Cup, Maple the Moose (L), Zayu the Jaguar (C) and Clutch the Bald Eagle pose for a picture ahead of the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between South Korea and the Czech Republic at the Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan on June 11, 2026. (AFP)

Two Peruvian police officers disguised as World Cup mascots Clutch and Maple helped to arrest a suspected drug dealer in Lima.

Colonel Carlos Alcántara, head of the Green Squadron —a unit that combats common crime — said they captured Carlos Cabrera, 48, with the help of the two undercover agents on Thursday during the opening match of the World Cup between Mexico and South Africa.

“Thanks to intelligence work, we realized that this person was a diehard football fan and was caught up in World Cup fever," Alcántara said. "Therefore, we decided to disguise personnel as World Cup mascots so we could approach him without raising suspicion and apprehend him.”

The officers as mascots used a metal sledgehammer to break down a door to enter with colleagues.

For the World Cup, Clutch is a bald eagle representing the United States, while Maple is a moose representing Canada. México is symbolized by a jaguar named Zayu.

Police said 2,524 packets of cocaine base and a gun were found during the operation. In Peru, the micro-trafficking of drugs is punishable by three to seven years in prison when a person is found with five to 50 grams of cocaine base.

In previous operations, Peruvian police have disguised themselves as other fictional movie characters such as the Grinch, Freddy Krueger, Deadpool and Wolverine and even Santa Claus to approach those they are going to arrest without arousing suspicion.

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England Hit by Training Kit Theft Ahead of Kansas City Arrival

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - England Training - Gardens North County District Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, US - June 9, 2026 England's Jude Bellingham, Reece James and Kobbie Mainoo during training. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - England Training - Gardens North County District Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, US - June 9, 2026 England's Jude Bellingham, Reece James and Kobbie Mainoo during training. (Reuters)
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England Hit by Training Kit Theft Ahead of Kansas City Arrival

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - England Training - Gardens North County District Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, US - June 9, 2026 England's Jude Bellingham, Reece James and Kobbie Mainoo during training. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - England Training - Gardens North County District Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, US - June 9, 2026 England's Jude Bellingham, Reece James and Kobbie Mainoo during training. (Reuters)

England have ‌suffered a theft of training equipment ahead of their arrival in Kansas City, local police said, after a vehicle transporting the gear to their World Cup base was broken into.

The incident occurred while equipment was ‌being transferred ‌from England's pre-tournament ‌base ⁠in Florida to ⁠Swope Soccer Village, where it was due to be in place before the squad begin training after their arrival in Kansas City ⁠on Saturday.

"We are investigating ‌a ‌possible theft of equipment from a ‌team vehicle that arrived ‌in Kansas City with items missing this evening," police said.

"The investigation is ongoing. Two subjects ‌of interest were taken into custody pending further investigation."

Balls ⁠and ⁠boots were among the items believed to have been stolen, according to British media reports.

Reuters has contacted the Football Association for comment.

The theft could affect England's preparations for their World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday in Dallas.

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Woman Critically Injured in Shark Attack off Sydney’s Coogee Beach

Lifeguards erect a sign that says "Beach Closed" following a shark attack at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia, June 13, 2026. (Reuters)
Lifeguards erect a sign that says "Beach Closed" following a shark attack at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia, June 13, 2026. (Reuters)
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Woman Critically Injured in Shark Attack off Sydney’s Coogee Beach

Lifeguards erect a sign that says "Beach Closed" following a shark attack at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia, June 13, 2026. (Reuters)
Lifeguards erect a sign that says "Beach Closed" following a shark attack at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia, June 13, 2026. (Reuters)

A woman was critically injured off a popular Sydney beach on Saturday in the latest in a spate of shark attacks in Australia.

The woman, believed to be in her 30s, suffered serious leg and arm injuries in the attack at 11:15 a.m. off Coogee Beach, a police statement said.

Three spearfishing divers have been killed by sharks off the Australian coast since May 16, bringing the total of fatalities in the nation this year to four.

Australia has averaged between two and three fatal shark attacks a year since 2000, according to the Australian Shark Incident Database, a partnership of the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Flinders University and the New South Wales state government.

On Saturday, police said the victim was attacked while swimming. Bystanders pulled her from the water and commenced first aid on the beach before paramedics arrived, the statement said.

The victim was taken to a rugby field near the beach from where she was flown by helicopter to a hospital. Police described her condition as critical.

Last Saturday, a 4.5-meter (15-foot) white shark killed Daniel Turpin, 35, as he was spearfishing with family off Michaelmas Island near the port city of Albany in Western Australia state.

On May 24, 39-year-old spearfishing diver Michael Jensz suffered fatal head injuries in an attack on the Great Barrier Reef off Australia’s northeast coast. Bull sharks had been seen in the vicinity.

A week earlier, on May 16, a four-meter (13-foot) white shark fatally mauled 38-year-old spearfishing diver Steve Mattabonni off the coast of Perth, Western Australia.

Australia’s other fatal shark attack this year occurred in January, when a 12-year-old boy died in a hospital days after he was mauled by a bull shark in Sydney Harbor.

Last year, Australia recorded five fatal shark attacks. Attacks in Australia have become more common over the decades as the population has grown and activities such as surfing and scuba diving have gained in popularity.