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'Using technology to change the world!' - Young engineers build future-focused robots at record-breaking WRO 2025

'Using technology to change the world!' - Young engineers build future-focused robots at record-breaking WRO 2025

"The World Robot Olympiad (WRO) International Final concluded in Singapore on Friday, bringing together nearly 1,600 students from more than 90 countries for a showcase of robotics designed to address real-world challenges. Footage from the three-day event shows teams, some with members as young as eight, making final adjustments to their robots before presenting their innovations to judges across four competition categories. “There's a lot of energy, a lot of good vibes and a lot of technology,” said the coach of team Data Raiders as preparations got underway. Among the standout projects was 'Sprout', an intelligent space greenhouse designed to grow plants in orbit. “It has four platforms where we cultivate the plants. What it does is that it rotates and places the plants perpendicular to the base to create what we call centrifugal gravity as it spins," one contestant explained. A team from Zimbabwe presented a project targeting illegal logging and wood poaching, which contribute to the country’s annual loss of around 327,000 hectares of forest and rising CO2 emissions. “We saw that in the long run, this will lead to climate change, global warming, species extinction, and even the destruction of our biodiversity. So we had to develop a solution because this will negatively impact us as human beings in the future,” the team said. Organisers said this year’s theme, 'The Future of Robots', drew a record 600 teams presenting ideas in sustainability, health and accessibility. Established in 2004, the WRO sees students qualify through national heats before advancing to the international stage. A new feature at this year’s competition was 'Expand Space', organised by Space Faculty, aimed at fostering cross-industry collaboration and bringing together visionary concepts from the space, robotics and AI sectors."

'Using technology to change the world!' - Young engineers build future-focused robots at record-breaking WRO 2025

'Using technology to change the world!' - Young engineers build future-focused robots at record-breaking WRO 2025

"The World Robot Olympiad (WRO) International Final concluded in Singapore on Friday, bringing together nearly 1,600 students from more than 90 countries for a showcase of robotics designed to address real-world challenges. Footage from the three-day event shows teams, some with members as young as eight, making final adjustments to their robots before presenting their innovations to judges across four competition categories. “There's a lot of energy, a lot of good vibes and a lot of technology,” said the coach of team Data Raiders as preparations got underway. Among the standout projects was 'Sprout', an intelligent space greenhouse designed to grow plants in orbit. “It has four platforms where we cultivate the plants. What it does is that it rotates and places the plants perpendicular to the base to create what we call centrifugal gravity as it spins," one contestant explained. A team from Zimbabwe presented a project targeting illegal logging and wood poaching, which contribute to the country’s annual loss of around 327,000 hectares of forest and rising CO2 emissions. “We saw that in the long run, this will lead to climate change, global warming, species extinction, and even the destruction of our biodiversity. So we had to develop a solution because this will negatively impact us as human beings in the future,” the team said. Organisers said this year’s theme, 'The Future of Robots', drew a record 600 teams presenting ideas in sustainability, health and accessibility. Established in 2004, the WRO sees students qualify through national heats before advancing to the international stage. A new feature at this year’s competition was 'Expand Space', organised by Space Faculty, aimed at fostering cross-industry collaboration and bringing together visionary concepts from the space, robotics and AI sectors."

'Nothing good will come of this!' - Veterans march in Athens against proposed overhaul of Greece’s armed forces

'Nothing good will come of this!' - Veterans march in Athens against proposed overhaul of Greece’s armed forces

"Hundreds of veterans and serving personnel marched through Athens on Saturday in protest against a draft bill to reform Greece’s military sector, warning that the proposed changes would worsen conditions for troops and undermine the rights of those in uniform. Footage shows demonstrators holding national flags, banners and placards criticising Defence Minister Nikos Dendias as they made their way towards parliament. "We are here today to show our disagreement with the inferiorisation of our profession, to say no to the further devaluation, to struggle for our rights and block all attacks by the government," said Alkis Kostopoulos, a soldier from northern Greece. Others accused the government of deepening its involvement in overseas military missions and urged broader public mobilisation against the bill, calling on citizens to 'resist with every force'. "When the Minister of Defence talks about getting used to the idea of the coffins with the flags on them, he was talking about coffins containing these people here, the servicemen and women," said Nikos Papanastasis, a veteran of the Special Forces and Communist Party MP. "Nothing good will come of this for the Greek people, the workers of Greece," he added. The bill, published for public consultation on November 20 after receiving Cabinet approval in September, would overhaul the ranking and pay system, restructure military education, tighten conscription exemptions and allow voluntary enlistment for women. The proposals have prompted strong backlash from veterans, active-duty personnel and several political parties, who warn the measures could damage morale and impact welfare by reducing pension rights and other benefits."