Iran prepared for further conflict with Israel, but remains committed to diplomatic solution: FM

Iran is fully prepared for possible further attacks by Israel, but remains committed to pursue a diplomatic solution, said Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi in an interview with the China Media Group (CMG) aired on Friday.

In the interview, the Iranian foreign minister talked about the recent escalations in the Middle East, including the direct attacks between Israel and Iran.

Araghchi noted that while Iran is fully prepared for further conflict, the country remains committed to pursuing diplomacy and working with both regional and global partners, especially China, to prevent a large-scale war.

"We are fully prepared for the possibility of further attacks by Israel. I hope Israel will refrain from taking such reckless actions as it could lead to a large-scale war. Of course, we will continue to pursue a diplomatic approach, stay in contact with regional countries, and consult with friendly nations like China. We believe that reason will ultimately prevail and prevent actions that could have serious consequences," Araghchi said.

The Iranian Foreign Minister also mentioned his recent meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Dec 28, 2024. At the meeting, the two sides agreed that the Middle East belongs to the people of the region, and it is not an arena for major-power rivalry.

"Unfortunately, the Middle East, or the West Asia region, has long been plagued by foreign interference. In fact, many of the region's problems and crises have been sparked by the interventions of outside powers. Even longer ago, European powers came to the Middle East and caused a lot of problems. Colonial powers arrived, igniting wars and crises. These foreign powers entered the region to pursue their own interests and maintain influence, stirring up tensions and conflicts from time to tim. Apart from conflict, tension, division and war, they offer nothing to the Middle East," Araghchi concluded.

Iran prepared for further conflict with Israel, but remains committed to diplomatic solution: FM

Iran prepared for further conflict with Israel, but remains committed to diplomatic solution: FM

The world's first humanoid robot half-marathon, set to take place in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area next week, will offer a unique platform for robotics companies to test their creations in real-world conditions.

The robots will run a 21.0975-kilometer course alongside human runners, but in a separate lane divided by barriers or greenbelts for safety. Seven aid stations will be positioned along the route.

"The aid stations mainly support participating teams by providing battery replacements, safety equipment, and auxiliary tools," explained Wang Guolin, deputy head of the robot competition group.

Referees and support personnel will follow the robots throughout the race to address any unexpected issues.

While robots are usually evaluated in controlled settings, this half-marathon presents a unique opportunity for developers to test their capabilities in complex real-world scenarios.

"The robot marathon represents a marathon of technology and industry. The robots running on the track symbolize our pursuit of advancement in technology and industry," said Liang Liang, deputy director of the Management Committee of the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area.

The challenging half-marathon course requires robots to navigate long-distance bipedal walking or running, varied terrain, and potential unforeseen situations.

This demands a high level of performance in areas such as sensor accuracy, chip computing speed, and algorithmic intelligence.

Organizers noted that many of the participating robots were not designed for running and endurance, but this competition provides a platform for comprehensive testing.

"The race can evaluate robots' locomotion capabilities, stability, posture, energy efficiency, and control algorithms. We hope that through this exchange we can jointly promote the development of the embodied robotics industry," Wang said.

The participating robots have completed initial track tests and are now undergoing final preparations for the event.

Humanoid robots gear up for real-world test in half-marathon event