Russia and China have vetoed a US draft resolution at the United Nations calling for an “immediate and lasting” ceasefire in Gaza.

The resolution called for a cessation of hostilities for approximately six weeks to protect civilians and allow humanitarian assistance.

Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, said this was highly politicized and represented an effective green light for Israel to mount a military operation in Rafah.

Eleven countries voted in favor of the US-backed resolution, which declared “the need for an immediate and lasting ceasefire.”

The vote came amid deteriorating conditions in Gaza, where local officials say more than 30,000 people have been killed since Israel began its war against Hamas following the October 7 attack in Israel.

During three previous UN votes demanding an end to fighting, the US exercised its veto through its permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Friday, amid ongoing talks, to try to negotiate a temporary ceasefire.

He met Arab diplomats in Cairo, where he said an Israeli attack on Rafah, where more than a million people have gathered in Gaza, would be a “mistake.” He also calls for an increase in humanitarian aid.

He is meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet amid tensions with the Biden administration. Netanyahu called a Senate lunch meeting of Republican senators this week, but Senate Democrats did not invite him following Minority Leader Charles Schumer’s speech calling for new elections in Israel and saying that Netanyahu was “the was lost’.

“Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah,” Schumer said in a speech that President Biden called “good.”

The talks are aimed at bringing about a lull in the fighting and the return of an estimated 200 hostages seized by Hamas in the October 7 attack, with negotiations focusing on Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

Amid reports of widespread hunger and even famine amid continued attacks and struggles to organize aid distribution, European leaders released a statement calling for “an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a lasting ceasefire -firing, the unconditional release of all hostages and the provision of humanitarian aid.’

The latest wording in the resolution reflects growing concern within the government and abroad about the situation in Gaza.

An earlier version circulating last month called for a ceasefire “as soon as practicable,” and President Biden and top security aides have defended Israel’s right to defend itself by hitting back against Hamas.

With the US-backed resolution rejected, France is stepping in to try to revive efforts.

“Following the veto by Russia and China a few minutes ago, we will resume work on the basis of the French draft resolution in the Security Council and work with our American, European and Arab partners to reach an agreement,” French President Emmanuel Macron said . Friday.

There is also a domestic political component, amid concerns that Israel’s war in Gaza could last the entire summer of a US election year if Netanyahu goes ahead with plans for an operation in Rafah.

A new CNN poll released Friday showed Biden trailing predecessor Donald Trump by eight points in battleground Michigan, home to the country’s largest Muslim population.

Netanyahu said after a meeting with Blinken on Friday that Israel would continue its operation in Rafah even without US support.

“I underlined our commitment to evacuating civilians from conflict areas and meeting humanitarian needs. However, I underlined the need to enter the Gaza Strip and neutralize the remaining militias to defeat Hamas,” Netanyahu said.

“While I expressed hope for American support, I made it clear that we would move forward independently if necessary,” he added.

HUMANOID robots could be brought to ordinary people’s homes “soon,” according to a new robotics center in Beijing.

The robots, which use AI and resemble human bodies in shape, are expected to help China advance in its technology war with the US.

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Month-old robotics center Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center has so far provided minimal details about its latest project to release a prototype humanoid robot for general use.

But it assured that the robot will be created “soon.” South China Morning Mail reports.

The machines are expected to replenish China’s shrinking workforce as the vast economy looks to upgrade its growth engines with new technology-led “productive forces.”

An unnamed source from the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center told the Beijing Youth Daily: “It is the dream of every humanoid robot company to bring humanoid robots into thousands of households.”

It comes amid China’s fierce ongoing technology war with the United States, and as China faces serious demographic challenges – including a rapidly aging population – and a real estate market crisis.

The center was reportedly established late last year and includes both private and state-owned robot manufacturers.

A source described as a “responsible person” said leading robotics industry experts and researchers at the center were seeking “a common technological platform, public service platform and regulatory standards for the humanoid robot industry.”

They added: “In the future, humanoid robots may enter the automotive industry, 3C manufacturing (computer, communications and consumer electronics) and other fields, further improving the industrial production level.”

There are fears that humanoid robots could be yet another kind of “disruptive innovation” like computers, smartphones and new energy vehicles.

But China hopes to turn the humanoid robot sector into “a major new engine of economic growth” by 2027, according to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

The center’s humanoid robots are intended to be a technological convergence of artificial intelligence and new materials, and China hopes to make the country more self-reliant – and competitive with the US.

American companies such as Tesla and OpenAI-backed Figure are already working on humanoid robots.

Tesla’s $20,000 (£16,000) Optimus robot, the prototype of which was unveiled in September 2022, was expected to be mass produced within three to five years.

According to a November report from the Research Institute of People’s Daily Online, China is currently the second-largest holder of patents on humanoid robots, with 1,699, after Japan.

The MIIT announced last year its plans to mass-produce humanoid robots by 2025 – about 500 robots per 10,000 employees.

The company believes the robots will be useful for industries such as healthcare, agriculture and logistics.

New plans suggest that China could soon replace human soldiers with robots in future war scenarios.

Advanced robotic soldiers and high-tech drones are expected to be sent to complex overseas missions within the United States next one 10 years.

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Chinese state media have seized on Paul Keating’s much-criticized meeting with the country’s top foreign affairs official, praising the Labor hero as an “insightful Australian”.

Mr Keating has become a prominent critic of Australia’s approach to the United States and China, speaking with the economic powerhouse’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, in Sydney during a diplomatic visit on Thursday.

Pictures of the pair’s meeting at the Chinese consulate were published last night, with the Chinese government claiming Mr Keating said ‘China’s development and revitalization cannot be stopped’.

“Keating said that China’s huge economic volume and vast space for development do not pose a threat to other countries and are conducive to regional peace and stability,” said a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.

“He expressed his full confidence in the prospect of Australia-China relations.”

In the footage, Mr Wang placed his hand comfortably on Mr Keating’s back and led the former prime minister into the meeting room.

Mr Wang described Mr Keating as a “world-renowned statesman” as the pair sat opposite each other in oversized armchairs with cups of tea.

In a separate article published by Global Times, China’s state-run newspaper, Keating was described as an “insightful Australian” for his vehement criticism of the AUKUS deal.

“Some insightful Australians have already realized that Australia is surrendering its sovereignty to the US,” the article reads.

‘Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating recently criticized the AUKUS deal as the ‘worst international decision’. Hopefully, such words can sound the alarm for countries interested in joining AUKUS, regardless of which pillar it may be.”

After the meeting, Mr Keating issued a statement praising the “very pleasant and engaging event” and accepting that Mr Wang’s meetings with government officials were productive.

‘Mr Wang Yi emphasized China’s ability to continue to grow strong and strong, pointing out that China is still only 55 percent urbanized – another 20 percent to go.

‘Mainly [it was] a major discussion about the geostrategic balances and influences in the world.

“He said the world will continue to benefit from China’s ability to provide relatively low-priced, high-quality goods, which will help raise living standards in the West.”

Mr Keating has repeatedly criticized the Albanian government’s approach to China, claiming Foreign Minister Wong had been co-opted into taking a “foolish pro-American stance”.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who has faced much of Keating’s criticism, released a statement noting that the former prime minister does not represent Australia or speak for Australia.

‘Mr Keating is entitled to his opinion. He does not speak for the government or the country,” Senator Wong said in an earlier statement to The Australian.

And opposition Foreign Affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham raised questions earlier this week about the format of Keating’s meeting.

‘Look what Paul Keating had to say about Penny Wong and the Albanian government. And he has been very critical of them,” Mr. Birmingham noted.

On Friday he doubled down on his position, describing Mr Keating’s “attitude towards the way we view regional security issues” as “misguided, ill-considered and downright dangerous”.

“In terms of what Paul Keating has to say and how this affects Australia, it is critical that Australian governments reject much of his vision and approach as it gives far too much gloss and ignores the real strategic challenges.

“Frankly, it was quite pointed of the Chinese embassy to seek and request that meeting, and somewhat insulting to Penny Wong and the Albanian government, of whom Paul Keating has been such a critic.”

At the opening of the Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue, Ms Wong reiterated her pledge to confront Chinese leaders on key issues.

She said she “looks forward to speaking candidly about Australians detained in China, human rights, maritime security and regional and international issues.”

Ms Wong spoke of China’s “unsafe conduct” in the South China Sea and urged the nation to adhere to international law.

Her input on the subject in the past has angered Mr Keating, who has emerged as an outspoken supporter of China and critic of the AUKUS deal.

Speaking at the ASEAN Summit, Ms Wong said: “We are facing destabilizing, provocative and coercive actions, including unsafe behavior at sea and in the air and militarization of contested features.

“We know that military power is expanding, but measures to limit military conflict are not – and there are few concrete mechanisms to avert this.”

Just a day later, Mr Keating criticized her comments, claiming that ‘it doesn’t take much to encourage Penny Wong, with her ‘deeply concerned’ frown, to rattle the China can.’

These comments prompted a swift response from Mr Albanese, who considers Ms Wong one of his closest confidantes.

‘Penny Wong is someone who gives Australia a lot of respect. “She is someone who is diligent, she is someone who is committed, she is someone who ticks all the boxes,” he said.

‘Paul is responsible for what he says, he knows that. But as far as Penny Wong is concerned, I think he is clearly wrong.”

Mr Albanese attended Ms Wong’s wedding to her long-time partner Sophie Allouache at the Bird in Hand Winery in the Adelaide Hills on Saturday.

Animal-to-human transplant science took a major step forward this week after surgeons transplanted a kidney and liver from pigs into humans.

In Boston, a sick 62-year-old man received a genetically modified kidney from a pig in a world first.

The new organ began producing urine almost immediately, Mass General doctors said, and the patient is already walking the hospital hallways. He may be fired soon.

At the same time, in China, a 50-year-old man became the first person to receive a genetically engineered pig liver – which was kept in his body for ten days.

Surgeons say the organ’s color and texture appeared “normal” when extracted, and it even secreted bile – a fluid that aids digestion – as a sign that it was working.

Both breakthroughs could offer hope for new ways to supply hospitals with organs for transplants, as the waiting list has been growing for years.

There are more than 100,000 patients on the waiting list for a new kidney in the US, while almost 12,000 are waiting for a new liver.

Patients on the kidney transplant list – such as those with kidney failure and advanced kidney disease – often have to wait three to five years.

During this time, many are in pain and need to use dialysis – a machine that filters waste products from the blood when the kidneys stop working.

For liver transplant patients – including those with liver failure or cirrhosis or scarring of the liver – patients may have to wait up to five years.

Every year, approximately 5,000 people on the kidney waiting list die before receiving the organ, while one in ten patients on the liver waiting list dies before their transplant.

It is hoped that animal transplants – medically called xenotransplantation – can help fill the gap and provide more organs to waiting patients.

Doctors say the patient who received the kidney transplant – named Richard “Rick” Slayman – was back to “his own self” just days after the operation.

“It’s remarkable,” said Dr. Winfred Williams, head of the hospital’s nephrology department. New York Times.

Mr Slayman has now come off dialysis and tests show that the new kidney also produces creatinine, a waste product.

He said in a statement: “I saw it not just as a way to help me, but as a way to offer hope to thousands of people who need a transplant to survive.”

Mr Slayman – who also has diabetes and high blood pressure – had been a regular patient at the hospital for 11 years before he was given the genetically modified pig kidney.

He was on dialysis for seven years after suffering from kidney failure before receiving a new human kidney in 2018.

But this failed within five years, after which Mr Slayman had to undergo dialysis again and was told he would have to wait five to six years for another organ.

But fears grew that he would not make it as he developed serious complications from dialysis, such as blood clots.

It was at this point that doctors offered the man, who worked in the state transport, the opportunity to undergo a pig kidney transplant.

“He became despondent,” Dr. Williams said. ‘He said, ‘I just can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep doing this.’

‘He would have to wait five to six years for a human kidney. He couldn’t have survived.’

After Dr. Williams had suggested the surgery, the couple had a lengthy discussion about the pros and cons before Mr. Slayman agreed to the procedure.

The pig kidney was developed by biotech company eGenesis. To edit the organ, they deleted three genes involved in the organ’s possible rejection. The scientists also inserted seven human genes to make it more compatible.

Penny Wong has issued some cautionary advice to China’s top foreign affairs official, in a move likely to further infuriate former Labor hero Paul Keating.

Australia’s foreign minister – hailed as the country’s most popular politician – drew Mr Keating’s ire over her handling of Australia’s relationship with China.

Mr Keating has repeatedly criticized Anthony Albanese’s government’s approach to China, claiming Foreign Secretary Wong had been co-opted into taking a “foolish pro-American stance”.

She met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday, but the official has also sought a meeting with Mr Keating, which will take place on Thursday.

‘Mr Keating is entitled to his opinion. He does not speak for the government or the country,” Senator Wong said in a statement to The Australian.

At the opening of the Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue, Ms Wong reiterated her pledge to confront Chinese leaders on key issues.

She said she “looks forward to speaking candidly about Australians detained in China, human rights, maritime security and regional and international issues.”

Ms Wong referred in particular to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the troubles in the Pacific and the conflict in the Middle East.

“I have emphasized that it is in all our interests to commit to preventive architecture to reduce the risk of conflict, and that communication should never be withheld as a punishment or offered as a reward,” she said.

‘Dialogue allows us to manage our differences; we both know it doesn’t eliminate them. Australia will always be Australia and China will always be China.”

Ms Wong spoke of China’s “unsafe conduct” in the South China Sea and urged the nation to adhere to international law.

Her input on the subject in the past has angered Mr Keating, who has emerged as an outspoken supporter of China and critic of the AUKUS deal.

Speaking at the ASEAN Summit, Ms Wong said: “We are facing destabilizing, provocative and coercive actions, including unsafe behavior at sea and in the air and militarization of contested features.

“We know that military power is expanding, but measures to limit military conflict are not – and there are few concrete mechanisms to avert this.”

Just a day later, Mr Keating reflected on her comments – which were widely praised – and claimed that ‘it wouldn’t take much to encourage Penny Wong, with her ‘deeply concerned’ frown, to rattle the Chinese tin can.’

Speaking to Sky on Tuesday morning, Opposition spokesman for foreign affairs Simon Birmingham asked questions about the optics of that meeting.

‘Look what Paul Keating had to say about Penny Wong and the Albanian government. And he has been very critical of them,” Mr. Birmingham noted.

He said that while the opposition “welcomes Wang Yi’s visit” and can recognize its importance, he considers the meeting with Mr Keating “pointed”.

“It is quite pointed and somewhat insulting to Penny Wong that the Chinese Embassy has sought this meeting with such an outspoken critic of Penny Wong.”

Mr Wang is the most senior Chinese official to visit Australia in seven years, a sign that tensions between the two countries are thawing after contact was lost during Covid-19.

He met with Ms Wong in Canberra on Wednesday, where they jointly held the China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue.

Ms Wong then gave a solo press conference, despite inviting Mr Wang to join her.

The meeting was followed by a planned sit-down with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The Australian newspaper reported on Monday that Keating will hold an “unofficial” meeting with Wang, likely in Sydney on Thursday.

Mr Keating has been highly critical of the Federal Government’s AUKUS nuclear submarine deal and has taken personal aim at Ms Wong.

These comments prompted a swift response from Mr Albanese, who considers Ms Wong one of his closest confidantes.

‘Penny Wong is someone who gives Australia a lot of respect. “She is someone who is diligent, she is someone who is committed, she is someone who ticks all the boxes,” he said.

‘Paul is responsible for what he says, he knows that. But as far as Penny Wong is concerned, I think he is clearly wrong.”

Mr Albanese attended Ms Wong’s wedding to her long-time partner Sophie Allouache at the Bird in Hand Winery in the Adelaide Hills on Saturday.

CHINA has built a twenty-story-tall nuclear space engine to power a mission to Mars.

Boffins have reportedly been tasked with “innovating” the project “or dying” as the country paves the way for a new era in the global space race.

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After a collaboration of more than ten research institutes and universities, China believes it has made tremendous progress in interplanetary travel.

According to a report from the South China Morning MailThe research team has confirmed that the prototype lithium-cooled nuclear reactor system has passed initial ground tests.

The 1.5-megawatt-class fission reactor, which is seven times more powerful than a competing system being built by NASA, has shrunk to an unprecedented size.

An article published by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ peer-reviewed journal Scientia Sinica Technologica explains how the lithium-cooled system is also designed to dramatically expand in space.

By using liquid lithium, they can also make the reactor smaller, thanks to the element’s high thermal conductivity and low weight.

Starting as a container-sized volume, once fully deployed the structure can grow to the size of a 20-story building, including the 1.5-megawatt reactor’s heat sink.

But on the ground it folds neatly into a container-sized volume that weighs less than eight tons, the paper said.

Additionally, the design will allow the reactor system to be “easily loaded and launched by rocket,” while also being able to maintain stable operations for extended periods in the harsh conditions of space.

The article adds that the Chinese reactor will generate up to 1,276 degrees Celsius from the fission of uranium fuel, which is much higher than the operating temperature of most commercial nuclear power plants.

The intense heat then expands liquid forms of the inert elements helium and xenon into gases, driving a generator.

The paper adds that high-mass return transport will be possible for both crewed and cargo spaceflights.

As a result, the powerful energy source will pave the way for China’s large-scale exploration of the moon and Mars.

China’s determination to lead the race for nuclear-powered spaceflight is further implemented with a slogan hanging above the reactor prototype that reads: “Innovate or perish. No excuses.”

While spacecraft like the Starship, which is being developed by US company SpaceX, could take at least seven months to reach Mars, China’s nuclear-powered spacecraft could complete a round trip in just three months.

The Starship rocket is central to NASA’s plans to land astronauts on the moon later this decade, as well as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s hopes to colonize Mars.

But even a single trip to the red planet requires a massive life support system.

NASA confirmed that the first Blue Origin New Glenn rocket will send two scientific spacecraft to Mars in late 2024, while Musk sees 2026 as the earliest year SpaceX will launch its own unmanned mission.

The new timeline comes after Musk’s Starship mega-rocket – the spacecraft he hopes will land on the moon and eventually Mars – exploded during a second launch attempt.

NASA has also called for volunteers to live in a simulated Mars colony for an entire year to boost preparations for future life on the red planet.

The Earth mission will launch in early 2025 and will see a crew of four living in a 1,700-square-foot facility – just like one would be built on Mars.

NASA says it “simulates a realistic Martian habitat” with the aim of supporting long-duration space exploration missions.

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Is this the world’s most incredible public bathroom?

Some believe so, with publications calling it a “bathroom experience like no other” and a “palatial retreat.” And – after scrolling through the photos of it below – you can have your say in our poll at the end.

The luxurious bathroom is tucked away on the sixth floor of the Deji Plaza shopping center in Nanjing, East China.

From an opulent hallway with a flower-speckled fountain to papered walls decorated with champagne gold grilles, never mind that it contradicts the concept of a public toilet, its design could even be considered over the top in a five-star hotel.

Other standout features include a decadent dressing area with vanity mirrors fit for a movie star and a fashionable sitting area, furnished with velvety sofas and a statement accent chair.

The plump cushions, with delicate shades of soft pink, mauve and orange, help create a welcoming oasis where shoppers can plop down and rest in style, despite the proximity to the toilet.

Visitors can also admire the glossy black and white floor, the sprawling plants and even the bathroom ceiling, which is gilded with bee-like gold ornaments.

The architectural firm behind the design, Shanghai-based X+Living, said the bathroom has become so popular that tourists flock to the mall just to see it.

Brand director Cecilia Huang told MailOnline Travel: ‘Many people come to the mall specifically to visit the mall, take photos and share them on social media, making it a phenomenal tourist attraction.

‘The high level of discussion has also attracted the attention of some top brands, such as Jo Malone, Maison Margiela and Burberry.’

X+Living was initially commissioned to design ‘a simple sanitary upgrade’.

Cecilia said: ‘The client wanted to upgrade and renovate the space and configuration to match the luxury positioning of the Deji Plaza shopping centre.’

What followed, however, was the company’s more ambitious idea to create a “functional public space” that “combines art appreciation and leisure experience,” she explained.

Shoppers are welcomed into the facilities through a long corridor that divides into three separate areas, consisting of the “art experience hall,” the “rest room” and the “washroom,” Cecilia said.

“Furniture, sinks and other functional items are designed as art installations,” she added.

The green wallpaper and curved grilles, together with the greenery, create a ‘lively atmosphere with an insect-inspired structure’.

Natural wood veneer in the toilet area is designed to complement the champagne-gold ‘artistic grilles’ and the fountain’s spreading flowers, creating an ‘elegant and fresh’ style based on the concept of a ‘sanctuary garden’.

It’s no wonder the bathroom gets a lot of praise.

Business insider said the “chic washroom” is “like a whimsical garden straight out of a fairy tale” and a “restroom experience like no other.”

While Architectural summary said it ‘transports weary shoppers to a palatial sanctuary filled with plants’, with strip lighting around the ceiling also helping to create a ‘calming atmosphere’.

Functionality has not been forgotten: in addition to the regular bathroom sanitary facilities, there is also a nursing room, an accessible toilet and a parent-child room.