Registration for World Humanoid Robot Games opens

The 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games (WHRG), which will take place in Beijing from August 15 to 17, opened for registration on Friday.

The WHRG, the world's first multi-sport competition for humanoid robots, will be held at the National Stadium, also known as the "Bird's Nest", and the National Speed Skating Oval, dubbed the "Ice Ribbon", featuring both main and peripheral events.

The main events comprise three categories: competitive events, exhibition matches, and scenario-based events, covering a total of 19 disciplines. They will test the athletic and functional skills of robots in track and field, soccer, dance, material handling, and medical sorting.

Peripheral events such as badminton, table tennis, and basketball will emphasize entertainment and audience interaction.

The Games are open for registration to Chinese and international enterprises, universities, research institutes, innovation teams, clubs, and other organizations through the official website. Each team may enter multiple categories and use different robots for various events, but robot substitutions during events are prohibited.

The WHRG will be co-hosted by the People's Government of Beijing Municipality and China Media Group (CMG), with CMG Beijing Station serving as a co-organizer.

Registration for World Humanoid Robot Games opens

A small volcano in a scenic lake south of Manila erupted on Thursday evening, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

According to the institute, a "minor phreatomagmatic eruption" occurred at Taal Volcano in Batangas province, over 60 km south of Manila, at 6:06 p.m. local time Thursday. The eruption lasted for five minutes.

The institute said the event generated a dark gray plume that rose 4,000 meters above the crater. The ashfall is expected to affect nearby southwestern regions.

Alert Level 1 is maintained over Taal Volcano, with Level 5 the highest in scale.

Taal Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. An eruption in January 2020 displaced nearly 380,000 villagers and destroyed many farms, houses, and roads in the province.

The Philippine archipelago straddles the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Small volcano near Philippine capital erupts