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In changing times, young Germans gun for defence sector jobs
In changing times, young Germans gun for defence sector jobs
by  AFP

In a country with strong pacifist traditions due to its dark World War II history, German student Mika Scheid had never considered working in the arms industry -- until Russia invaded Ukraine. Still, beyond the traditional reluctance of young Germans to work in the defence sector due to the country's past, there are other challenges in recruiting for the industry.

Oil under $65 a boon for consumers, but a burden on producers
Oil under $65 a boon for consumers, but a burden on producers
by  AFP

US President Donald Trump's tariffs, his call to "drill baby drill" and especially a decision by OPEC+ to hike crude output quotas have oil prices trading at lows not seen since the Covid pandemic. Analysts say the hikes have likely been aimed at punishing OPEC members that have failed to meet their quotas, but it also follows pressure from Trump to lower prices.

Recycling contaminated soil from Fukushima: Japan's dilemma
Recycling contaminated soil from Fukushima: Japan's dilemma
by  AFP

To reduce radiation across Japan's northern Fukushima region after the 2011 nuclear disaster, authorities scraped a layer of contaminated soil from swathes of land. - On March 11, 2011, Japan's strongest earthquake on record triggered a huge tsunami that hit the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, causing a devastating meltdown.

Nintendo aims to match Switch success with new console
Nintendo aims to match Switch success with new console
by  AFP

Nintendo hopes to match the runaway success of the Switch when its levelled-up new console hits shelves Thursday, with strong early sales expected despite the gadget's high price. And success is crucial for Nintendo.

'Moving forward': the Gen-Z farmer growing Fukushima kiwis
'Moving forward': the Gen-Z farmer growing Fukushima kiwis
by  AFP

A short drive from the Fukushima nuclear disaster site, novice farmer Takuya Haraguchi tends to his kiwi saplings under the spring sunshine, bringing life back to a former no-go zone. He also met a veteran farmer, who moved away after the disaster and whose kiwis' rich flavour left him stunned.

'The Matrix is everywhere': cinema bets on immersion
'The Matrix is everywhere': cinema bets on immersion
by  AFP

In a Los Angeles theater, a trench coat-wearing Neo bends backwards to dodge bullets that spiral over the viewer's head, as the sound of gunfire erupts from everywhere. There follows much gunfire, lots of martial arts and some mysticism, along with a romance between Neo and Trinity, played by the leather-clad Carrie-Anne Moss.

Silicon Valley VCs navigate uncertain AI future
Silicon Valley VCs navigate uncertain AI future
by  AFP

For Silicon Valley venture capitalists, the world has split into two camps: those with deep enough pockets to invest in artificial intelligence behemoths, and everyone else waiting to see where the AI revolution leads.