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Economic woes persist in Syria as new government faces mounting challenges

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      China

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      Economic woes persist in Syria as new government faces mounting challenges

      2025-03-15 21:57 Last Updated At:22:57

      Syrians remain burdened by economic instability and security challenges following the ousting of Assad's government and the establishment of a new administration in December last year.

      Saturday marks 14 years since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. Even with a new government established in December, Syrians continue to grapple with deep economic challenges, including unemployment and soaring inflation.

      Amid a worsening economic crisis and soaring unemployment, the new government has struggled to revive the economy, leaving vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly, in extreme poverty.

      To mitigate the crisis, the government has introduced bank withdrawal limits, but the policy has only added to residents' woes. In a country with limited alternative payment options, people are forced to spend hours in line just to secure enough cash for their daily needs.

      "I have not been paid for four months. Recently the government issued a decision to give us our payments, so I came here today. It is too difficult for a retiree to live four months without any income," said Adham Malek, a Syrian Retiree.

      Many Syrians have resorted to purchasing large quantities of bread during Ramadan and reselling it on roadsides to earn a modest daily income, as job opportunities remain scarce.

      "The economic situation in Syria is bad. Items are abundant, but there is no purchasing power and no money, so how can I buy things? If I want to shop then I need like one million. I do not have that amount of money, and that is why most people are turning into street vendors to sell whatever," said Zeina Hawa, a local resident.

      Entering the first Ramadan since the fall of the Assad government, residents are facing strict measures from the new administration, which has ordered the closure of all restaurants and cafes during daylight hours. Violators risk up to three months in custody, leaving the catering industry in a state of stagnation.

      After inheriting an economy ravaged by years of conflict and sanctions, the new government is struggling to identify a short-term strategy to revive the country's financial stability.

      "Unfortunately, Syria now has no economic approach. It is not a socialist economy, or a social market economy, nor a capitalist economic system. So, the market approach of the Syrian economy is rather vague," said economist Ammar Yousef.

      As Syrians remember the 14th anniversary of the war, nonfunctional economic management and unrest in many spots across the country have cast doubt on the country's future.

      Economic woes persist in Syria as new government faces mounting challenges

      Economic woes persist in Syria as new government faces mounting challenges

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      Humanoid robot set to run Beijing half-marathon

      2025-03-16 02:40 Last Updated At:07:17

      Tiangong Ultra, an upgraded version of the China-made "Tiangong" humanoid robot, is currently undergoing tests in preparation for a half-marathon next month in Beijing.

      The race, set for April 13 in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area in the capital city's southeast, will feature both robotic and human athletes competing on the same route but on separate tracks to ensure safety for all participants.

      The competition is open to global robot companies, research institutes, robot clubs and universities. So far, 23 organizations have signed up for the competition.

      Developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, Tiangong Ultra has a bigger size, longer legs, and a stronger hip compared to its old version. In addition, unlike Tiangong, which has two iron sheets as feet, Tiangong Ultra wears a pair of "shoes" to minimize impact on its feet and ankle joints from running, according to engineers at the center.

      "Aside from upgrades to Tiangong's body and structure, we have also greatly improved its motion algorithm, strengthening its capabilities for gait planning, body coordination, and motion control," said Wei Jiaxing, director of branding and public relations at the center.

      In a race between Tiangong and Tiangong Ultra, the upgraded version demonstrated larger strides, a more stable running form, and a significantly higher speed.

      "Its highest speed can reach 12 kilometers per hour. Considering the stability and endurance of the Tiangong robot when running outdoors, we may slightly reduce the speed. But we are still very confident that it can complete the half marathon," Wei said.

      Bolstered by strong capital investment, China' robotics industry is growing rapidly, with versatile applications becoming increasingly prominent across a wide range of fields, including industrial automation, healthcare and service industries.

      According to a report on the humanoid robot industry released at the 2024 World AI Conference in Shanghai, China's humanoid robot market scale was approximately 2.76 billion yuan (about 381.28 million U.S. dollars) last year.

      By 2029, it is expected to expand to 75 billion yuan (about 10.36 billion U.S. dollars), which would account for 32.7 percent of the global market.

      Humanoid robot set to run Beijing half-marathon

      Humanoid robot set to run Beijing half-marathon

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