The second World Humanoid Robot Games will kick off Saturday evening in Beijing, bringing more than 2,000 robots from 600 teams to compete in 51 events that push the limits of humanoid technology.
The event, jointly hosted by the Beijing municipal government and China Media Group (CMG), will be held at the National Speed Skating Oval, also known as the "Ice Ribbon," and will run through August 26.
This year's athletic competitions have introduced new high-intensity events, including long jump, weightlifting, tug-of-war and table tennis, all of which serve as ultimate tests of a robot's "brain," "cerebellum," physical structure and core components.
In addition to athletic events, the Games also feature scenario-based competitions spanning nine fields, including home services, hospitality and logistics, demonstrating the application potential of humanoid robots in everyday production and life.
The first World Humanoid Robot Games, held in August 2025, attracted 280 teams and over 500 humanoid robots from 16 countries.
2nd World Humanoid Robot Games set to kick off in Beijing
The European Union (EU) is preparing to impose a comprehensive package of sanctions on Israel in response to the latter's advancement of settlement construction in the E1 area of the West Bank, according to a report by Israel's Channel 13 on Thursday, which cited two diplomatic sources.
The proposed measures under consideration by the EU would span commercial, academic, and security domains. Among the initial steps being drafted are mandatory labeling requirements for goods imported from Israel, a reduction in academic cooperation between European and Israeli institutions, and the suspension of certain security and diplomatic engagements with the Israeli government.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday that the Israeli government's decision to issue construction tenders for the E1 settlement project is "unacceptable". She emphasized that the European Union has consistently opposed the initiative, arguing that the development would sever the West Bank, "breaking the territorial continuity of the Palestinian territories", and ultimately undermine the prospect of a two-state solution.
Israel on Tuesday advanced plans for the controversial E1 settlement project in the West Bank, publishing a tender for 1,234 housing units.
The tender, published online by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, covers part of a wider plan for 3,401 housing units in E1, an area east of Jerusalem.
Leaders of seven nations including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Canada on Thursday condemned the Israeli government's decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project in the West Bank, calling on Israel to immediately retract the plans.
In a joint statement, the leaders described the move as "unacceptable", warning that it will sever the West Bank, harm the territorial contiguity of the Palestinian territories, and undermine the prospects of a two-state solution.
EU readies sanctions against Israel over West Bank E1 settlement project
