Four Corners: From Russia's Armored Taxi to India's 600 Million Toilet Problem

In the weekly program 'Four Corners', interesting news from various countries around the world is gathered in fields such as science, social issues, politics, and the environment. 'Four Corners' airs every Thursday at 7:30 PM Iran time on Radio Farda, with repeats available every Friday at 12:30 AM, 6 AM, and 1 PM Iran time. An armored patrol vehicle from the era of the Soviet Union has finally received permission to operate as a taxi in the streets of St. Petersburg, Russia, after prolonged negotiations with city officials, albeit at a high fare of around $100. This vehicle, known as BRDM (Battlefield Reconnaissance Vehicle), was manufactured in the USSR from 1963 to 1989. It is equipped with a Vladimirov machine gun and a Kalashnikov tank machine gun. The newly converted taxi has retained its original form, with passengers required to enter from the top, as the hatch is mounted on the roof. According to Reuters, this unusual taxi has both advantages and disadvantages. Its weight prohibits it from entering central streets and historic neighborhoods of St. Petersburg, but its dual capability to move on land and water aids in attracting tourists. For instance, during the famous White Nights in St. Petersburg, when bridges are raised for large ships, the BRDM taxi can transport passengers across the river. Meanwhile, India's Prime Minister is launching a national online program to assess public use of toilets. Starting next month, Indian officials will visit rural areas with mobile devices to record their findings on a website. The World Bank reports that neglecting sanitation issues has made India the highest spender on sanitation among Asian countries, with a lack of toilets leading to hygiene-related diseases and premature deaths, costing the country $50 billion annually. A 2012 WHO report indicated that the number of people defecating in the open in India is vastly higher than in China, with over 600 million in India compared to 14 million in China. Narendra Modi, who became Prime Minister about seven months ago, has criticized the poor public health situation and pledged to resolve this issue within five years, doubling the budget for toilet construction and seeking financial support from major Indian companies. The Indian government has stated that previously only the construction of toilets was considered, but now the usage rates are also important. Additionally, about two months ago, Modi instructed officials to report for duty to clean toilets during a national holiday. Fifty-two years ago, three prisoners escaped from the notorious Alcatraz prison in the southwestern United States using a boat, and no trace of them has ever been found. A film starring Clint Eastwood was made about this incident. Now, after half a century, research suggests that if these bank robbers had launched their boat at a specific time, they likely survived. Sky News even published a photo of the three prisoners from that time alongside their possible appearances after 52 years. Dutch researchers, using computer simulation software and tidal data from the date of the escape, concluded that if the escapees had left Alcatraz at 11:30 PM, they could have reached the Golden Gate Strait and survived. Reporters estimate that if this scenario is accurate, the water would have carried remnants of their boat to Angel Island in San Francisco Bay, where one of their paddles and personal items were indeed found. Conversely, if the prisoners had entered the water before 11:30 PM, the waves would have taken them out to sea, leaving no chance for survival. Dutch scientists were studying the effects of rising sea levels in San Francisco Bay when they discovered this could shed light on one of America's most mysterious cases. These prisoners sharpened the edges of their spoons to dig a tunnel from their cells and used raincoats to construct a raft. It is worth noting that Alcatraz Island, which includes the Alcatraz prison, is located in San Francisco Bay in the southwestern United States. Additionally, visiting Alcatraz is currently possible as a national historic site for the public. A German citizen has used over 450,000 lights to decorate his home for Christmas. The idea came to him 15 years ago during a visit to a winter amusement park in the U.S. Now, his home has become a tourist attraction, drawing visitors every night. According to Sky News, this German citizen begins decorating his house in late July, about five months before Christmas, and changes the decoration style each year to keep it fresh for visitors. An American company plans to launch the first human-sized robot capable of performing daily tasks soon. The Luna robot, approximately 1.5 meters tall with two arms, can perform various tasks, including walking dogs, serving drinks, and caring for the elderly at home. The company's goal is to have a Luna in every household by 2021, transforming people's lives. The designers of this robot have launched a campaign to secure funding for mass production. One project manager told the media that believing humans and robots can coexist inspired them to create Luna. The first buyers of Luna will receive a special discount, allowing them to purchase the humanoid robot for $999 instead of $1500 in December 2015.