The first 4×100 meters relay of robots kicked off on Sunday morning in Beijing at the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games.
The Games sees 280 teams from 16 countries, including the United States, Germany and Italy, compete from Friday to Sunday at the National Speed Skating Oval. Competitors take part in 26 events, spanning athletic challenges such as running, long jump, free exercises and football, as well as skills-based tasks like moving materials, sorting drugs and cleaning across different scenarios.
Different from human, the relay among robots doesn't require batons. It only needs two robots in the same team to finish lateral overlap of their bodies.
Divided into heats, semi-finals and final, the competition is quite fierce. Those who have entered the semi-finals can run very fast and show a really steady performance.
Such exciting races were warmly welcomed by the spectators who gave rounds of hearty applauds.
The final of this 4×100 meters relay will take place Sunday afternoon when the world's first 4×100 meters relay champion will be crowned.
Robots compete in 4×100 meters relay at 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games
Both Gold and silver prices hit record highs on Monday, driven by geopolitical tensions and market expectations for further U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Spot gold prices breached 4,420 U.S. dollars per ounce during the intraday trading on Monday, while gold futures contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) briefly surpassed 4,450 U.S. dollars per ounce, both hitting all-time highs.
In addition, the silver futures contract on NYMEX climbed above 69.5 U.S. dollars per ounce on Monday, surging nearly three percent, also reaching a record high.
Bloomberg News reported that escalating geopolitical tensions and market expectations for further Fed rate cuts were the primary drivers behind the soaring gold prices.
Traders anticipate the Fed will cut rates twice in 2026 following last week's release of a series of U.S. economic data.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has consistently advocated more accommodative monetary policies.
Persistent geopolitical tensions in recent weeks have also heightened the safe-haven appeal of gold and silver.
Bloomberg projected on Monday that both gold and silver are poised for their strongest annual gains since 1979.
Due to purchases of central banks and inflows into exchange traded funds (ETFs), gold prices have surged by about two-thirds this year.
Gold-backed ETFs have recorded five consecutive weeks of increased inflows.
World Gold Council data shows that, except for May, the total holdings of these funds have increased month on month this year.
Beyond central banks, investors have also played a significant role in the gold price rally.
Fueled by concerns over the value of sovereign bonds and their denominating currencies, investors have been fleeing these assets.
The Wall Street Journal reported in October that investors who were concerned about the outlook for currencies like the U.S. dollar were aggressively buying alternative assets such as gold.
Goldman Sachs released a research report on December 18, forecasting that gold prices would rise to 4,900 U.S. dollars per ounce by the end of 2026.
Gold, silver prices soar to new record highs as investors hunt for safety
