Asia in 3 minutes: South Korea’s avatar robot and the Philippines’ future as ‘the next Hawaii’
Questions over huge South Korean robot’s role in Demilitarised Zone
A giant South Korean-built manned robot that makes the ground shake under its weight has taken its first steps. The four-metre-tall, 1.5-tonne and human-like Method-2 bears a striking resemblance to the military robots in the movie Avatar. Hankook Mirae Technology, a South Korean robotics company, said it’s the world’s first manned bipedal robot built to work in hazardous areas.
WHAT NEXT? It is unclear how Method-2 will be used. A company spokesman said they received inquiries from manufacturing, construction and entertainment industries. There have even been questions about its possible deployment along the fortified Demilitarised Zone with North Korea.
Social media backlash after Chinese tourists and police brawl at airport
A melee broke out at Hokkaido’s New Chitose Airport last weekend between about 100 Chinese tourists, airport staff and police after heavy snowfall forced the cancellation of some 280 flights. Footage of the incident was broadcast on Japan’s TBS News channel and widely shared on social media, prompting a fierce public response. “They are very, very savage,” a poster named Kato wrote on YouTube about the Chinese tourists.
WHAT NEXT? Police said there were no arrests. A commentator on dng65.com said the scuffle began because only Chinese flights had been grounded and tourists accused Japanese authorities of discrimination.
WHAT'S REALLY BEHIND THAILAND'S HOSTILITY TOWARDS CHINESE TOURISTS?
