Russia said on Sunday that its military had repelled Ukrainian attempts to advance deeper into the Kursk region.
Over the past 24 hours, Russian forces have prevented attempts by the Ukrainian forces to break through deep into Russian territory and struck Ukraine's armored combat vehicles and anti-aircraft missile system in the Kursk region, said the defense ministry. Air defense systems over the Kursk region shot down four Tochka-U tactical missiles and 14 Ukraine-launched drones, the ministry said.
Due to Ukrainian attacks, more than 8,000 people have been evacuated from border areas in the Kursk Region over the past day, and some 6,000 of them have been placed in temporary accommodation centers, according to the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry. Hospitals have admitted 69 injured people, said Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has not observed any movement of Belarusian equipment or personnel near the Ukraine-Belarus border despite Belarus’ claims of bolstering military presence following a drone incident, State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andriy Demchenko said on Saturday. Intelligence units are "actively monitoring what is happening on the territory of Belarus so that Ukraine can respond in a timely manner to all the challenges we face," said Demchenko.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday said that the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense shot down drones from Ukraine over the Belarus border on Friday evening.
According to the presidential press service on Telegram, air and defense forces entered a first-level alert state on Friday evening after Ukrainian air targets entered Belarus' airspace in the eastern Belarusian-Russian border.
Lukashenko has ordered to reinforce troops in Gomel and other border areas.
Russia repels Ukrainian attempt in Kursk
Various high-tech and innovative devices, including artificial intelligence (AI), robot dogs, 3D digital images, and VR shows, enhance visitors' experience across major Chinese tourist attractions during the three-day Qingming holiday, which started on Friday.
An innovative mechanical system helps tourists mitigate their physical limitations during mountain climbing at Mount Tai in Tai'an City, east China's Shandong Province.
The system weighs less than two kilograms and has a battery life of up to five hours.
It's easy to wear and helps conserve 30 to 50 percent of physical energy.
The scenic area has set up rental points at the foot of the mountain and halfway up.
The rental fee is 80 yuan (around 11 U.S. dollars) for three hours, and with over 100 units available, they have quickly become a popular choice.
"It pulls my legs up, like someone is helping me climb. Earlier, I could barely lift my legs, but now, the experience is great," said a tourist.
The tourist spot also provides smart audio guides that can sense their location in real-time through satellite positioning and automatically broadcasts relevant information about the area.
Additionally, the device has an SOS button. If tourists encounter danger or need emergency help, they can press it, and rescue personnel will come to assist them. At the summit of Mount Tai, a robot dog is being tested to help remove waste, reducing the workload for humans.
During peak tourist seasons, the site can host up to 80,000 visitors daily, generating over two tonnes of waste daily. Waste removal used to rely on manual labor with a shoulder pole over numerous steps.
The waste-carrying robot dog weighs only about 40 kilograms but can carry up to 100 kilograms. In contrast, humans with a shoulder pole can only carry 30kg to 40 kg at a time.
Additionally, with its four legs, the robot dog is more stable than a human and can freely ascend and descend steps while carrying heavy loads.
It can operate for six hours to eight hours on a single charge.
Once the testing is completed with improvements to be made, more robot dogs will be deployed to reduce the pressure of manual waste management in the scenic area.
In recent years, immersive spaces created by digital technology have emerged as a new form of cultural tourism, attracting increasing attention with their unique charm.
During this year's Qingming Festival, various cultural heritage venues, scenic spots, and urban districts have launched immersive experiences, offering new digital experiences and consumption opportunities.
At Mount Tai, there are over 1,600 precious stone carvings left by different dynasties.
These treasures are now entering the public's life as 3D-rendered digital images, leading to richer cultural depth.
By scanning a code with smartphones, consumers can access detailed digital archives, including the historical background of the stone carvings and calligraphic interpretations, allowing collectors to experience the depth of Mount Tai's culture in their hands.
VR shows are available in the Chinese literature-inspired theme park "Liaozhaiyuan" in the Zichuan District of Zibo City in Shandong Province.
The park, located in the hometown of the writer of "Liaozhai Zhiyi" (or "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio"), offers visitors virtual reality (VR) glasses to help visitors better experience the stories and characters of the famous Chinese fiction.
Meanwhile, in Beijing’s 798 and 751 art zones, an exhibition featuring 24 artworks by artists across 13 countries blends a variety of art media - painting, installations, photography, and biological devices - with digital technologies, immersing visitors in the groundbreaking fusion of art and technology.
High-tech enhances tourist experiences at China's scenic spots during Qingming holiday
