Step by mechanical step, dozens of humanoid robots took to the streets of Beijing early on Saturday, joining thousands of their flesh-and-blood counterparts in a world-first half marathon showcasing China’s drive to lead the global race in cutting-edge technology.

The 21-kilometre (13-mile) event held in the Chinese capital’s E-Town — a state-backed high-tech manufacturing hub — was billed as a groundbreaking effort to test the limits of bipedal robots in real-world conditions.

At the crack of the starter’s gun, the robots began taking their first tentative steps as the Chinese pop song “I Believe” blared out from loudspeakers.

Curious human runners lined the roadside, phones in hand ready to photograph each machine as it began the race.

One smaller-sized android fell over and lay on the ground for several minutes, before getting up by itself to loud cheers.

Another, powered by propellers, veered across the starting line before crashing into a barrier and knocking over an engineer.

Crossing the finish line first despite a mid-race fall was the tallest droid and one of the heaviest in the competition. At 180 centimetres (5.9 feet) tall and weighing 52 kilograms (114.6 pounds), the metallic black “Tiangong Ultra” finished in two hours, 40 minutes and 42 seconds.

The men’s and women’s winners, both from Ethiopia, finished in one hour, two minutes and 36 seconds, and in one hour, 11 minutes and seven seconds respectively, according to state media.

Tang Jian, chief technology officer of the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center which developed “Tiangong”, told reporters the company was “very happy with the results”.

“We had set three goals for ourselves: first, to win the championship; second, to complete the entire half marathon with a single robot — a very important goal for us; and third, to finish the race in under three hours,” he said.

“We collected real-world running data from professional athletes and trained the robot so that its gait, cadence, stride length, and various postures could match those of professional runners as closely as possible.”

The Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, first established by the government, is now owned by Chinese tech firms Xiaomi Robotics and UBTech Robotics as well as two state-owned companies, according to business data provider Tianyancha.

Enthusiastic onlookers cheered the robots on from the sidelines.

“My daughter… got up really early and asked to come watch the robot marathon,” spectator Huang Xiaoyu told AFP, holding her child.

“It was quite a breathtaking experience — we were able to see some of the most cutting-edge robots in our country.”

Tech race

Around 20 teams from across China participated in the competition, with robots ranging from 75 to 180 centimetres tall and weighing up to 88 kilograms.

Some jogged autonomously, while others were guided remotely by their engineers. Robots and human participants ran on separate tracks.

“Getting onto the race track might seem like a small step for humans, but it’s a giant leap for humanoid robots,” Liang Liang, Beijing E-Town’s management committee deputy director, told AFP.

Engineers said the goal was to test the performance and reliability of the androids — emphasising that finishing the race, not winning it, was the main objective.

“There are very few opportunities for the whole industry to run at full speed over such a long distance or duration,” Cui Wenhao, a 28-year-old engineer at Noetix Robotics, told AFP.

“It’s a serious test for the battery, the motors, the structure — even the algorithms.”

Kong Yichang, a 25-year-old engineer from DroidUp, said the race would help to “lay a foundation for a whole series of future activities involving humanoid robots”.

China, the world’s second-largest economy, has sought to assert its dominance in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics, positioning itself as a direct challenger to the United States.

In January, Chinese start-up DeepSeek drew attention with a chatbot it claimed was developed more cost-effectively than its US counterparts.

Dancing humanoid robots also captivated audiences during a televised Chinese New Year gala.

AFP

The former Vice Presidential Candidate, Labour Party, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has called on President Bola Tinubu to give up contesting in the 2027 presidential election, advising that his time is up as Nigerians would demand for true democracy in 2027.

He stated this on Arise Television on Friday.

“I expect Tinubu to throw in the towel. If he is that smart a politician, I expect him to be. You know that I always tell the truth. For someone to have organised in 2007, culminating in his electoral heist in 2023, that person must be super smart, and I am not praising him at all.

“If he is that smart, everything is there to show that he is going to lose in 2027. There are two possible candidates that I cannot mention, and they are the nemesis of Tinubu. It is proven that APC is a lying party, because Buhari did not fight corruption or provide security, nor will Tinubu do this.

“So going forward, I see APC losing this election and I see Nigerians somehow uniting and seeing someone like me saying look, if you cannot practice this democracy, then Nigeria is not for you and they will decide for the first time to practice giving no room for bad leadership in Nigeria and gradually, we will begin to heal our land. We will begin to recover, unite, and take each other as brothers and sisters. Their time is up,” he added.

Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Badmus Okikiola, better known as Portable, has knocked out his rival, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, in the bout tagged ‘Chaos in the Rings’.

Naija News reports that Portable displayed incredible boxing skills and defeated Darlington by technical knockout in a fight to the finish, which was held on Saturday morning at the Balmoral Events Centre in Lagos State.

The two celebrities threw punches at each other in the ring, and the zazoo-zeh crooner emerged victorious after knocking out and leaving Speed Darlington with an injured right wrist.

Naija News reports that Portable regained his freedom after veteran fuji musician, Okunola Saheed, popularly called Osupa, withdrew his petition against him on Tuesday.

Osupa had petitioned the police, accusing Portable of criminal defamation, criminal intimidation, inciting public disturbance and cyberstalking.

Portable was unable to perfect his bail condition on Monday and was remanded at the federal correctional facility, Oke Kura, Ilorin.

Respite came the way of Portable on Tuesday when Osupa, through his solicitor, Opalekunde Ahmed, filed for withdrawal of the case.

However, a report by the Punch has revealed that Osupa also prevented Portable from being re-arrested by Managing Director of Starwood Hotels, Ilorin after allegedly collecting the sum of ₦6.3m for a show that he did not perform.

In the new development, Managing Director of the hotel, Yemi George, said on Tuesday that Osupa prevailed on him not to re-arrest Portable after collecting the sum of ₦6.3m for a show that he did not perform.

The Nigeria Police Force has explained why it arrested Quadri Alabi, the 19-year-old campaign poster boy for the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The spokesperson for the Lagos command, Benjamin Hundeyin in a post on X said Alabi’s arrest and subsequent incarceration were linked to a violent street fight in the Amukoko area of Lagos earlier this year.

He stated that the fight occurred on January 22, 2025, after some youth in the area caused panic during the chaos that left several people injured and property destroyed.

According to Hundeyin, some passersby were also robbed during the incident

“The Lagos State Police Command is aware of public concerns surrounding the case of Alabi Quadri, an 18-year-old who was remanded to correctional service following his involvement in violent attacks, public disturbance, causing extensive damage to public and private properties, and injuries to persons standing by in the Amukoko area of Lagos State earlier this year,” Hundeyin wrote.

He further said that an investigation into the matter led to residents and victims of the robbery providing the police with useful information

Hundeyin said that, with the information gathered, Alabi and four others were arrested, charged to court, and later remanded in custody following the court’s orders.

“The suspects were remanded by the court to a correctional facility pending the conclusion of legal proceedings in the matter.

“The Lagos State Police Command undoubtedly reiterates its commitment to upholding the rule of law to ensure justice in all matters and also ensuring the safety and security of all residents.

“All police actions taken in this case have been in the laid-down processes and accordance with due process, procedures, and based on credible evidence gathered during the investigation,” Hundeyin added.

He further urged members of the public to remain calm and allow the the law to take its course on the matter.

“The command remains open to engaging with the general public, opinion groups, and community stakeholders to transparently clarify every concern and ensure justice is served fairly and transparently.

“It’s the statutory procedure in the Criminal Justice System and codes that police actions terminate where matters are taken to court,” he noted.

In a bid to enhance accessibility and flexibility for viewers, MultiChoice has unveiled a new range of affordable weekly subscription packages for both DStv and GOtv users under a campaign dubbed ‘Ka Weekie’.

Announced on Thursday, the new packages are designed to cater to customers who prefer short-term payment options, with prices starting as low as UGX 5,000. The DStv Lumba and GOtv Lite packages mark the lowest price points, making the pay-TV services more accessible to a broader audience in Uganda.

Speaking at the launch, Rinaldi Jamugisa, PR and Communications Manager for MultiChoice Uganda, said the initiative was part of the company’s continued effort to align with customer needs.

“We understand that our subscribers require affordable and flexible options to keep up with their favorite shows and programs,” Jamugisa said. “The launch of Ka Weekie reflects our commitment to delivering value while ensuring entertainment remains accessible to all.”

He emphasised that the short-term plans offer viewers the freedom to manage their subscriptions according to their budgets and lifestyles.

The newly introduced 7-day subscription packages cover a range of viewing preferences and budgets:

For DStv Weekly Packages, Lumba package costs UGX 5,000, Access costs UGX 14,000, Family package costs UGX 22,000 and Compact package costs UGX 37,000

For GOtv Weekly Packages, Lite coats UGX 5,000, Valuepack costs UGX 7,000 and Plus pack costs UGX 11,000 .

Other packages are Max, UGX 17,000, Supa – UGX 22,000 and Supa Plus – UGX 37,000

According to Colin Asiimwe, Head of Marketing at MultiChoice Uganda, the “Ka Weekie” campaign is a direct response to consistent feedback from subscribers.

“You Asked, We Listened! And we believe this is a step in the right direction in offering subscribers the best in entertainment at affordable price points, allowing them to pay and watch at their own convenience,” Asiimwe stated.

He further noted that the campaign is particularly tailored for daily and weekly earners, frequent travelers, and customers who prefer on-demand viewing.

The new packages can be accessed via the MyDStv and MyGOtv mobile apps, by dialing *206#, or through mobile money platforms such as Airtel Money and MTN MoMo. They are also available through partner banks and selected agents across the country.

Jamugisa added that users can switch back to monthly, quarterly, or annual subscriptions at any time by making a full payment or maintaining sufficient account credit. The cost of any active weekly plan will be deducted from the new subscription.

Established in 1994, MultiChoice Uganda is a subsidiary of MultiChoice Africa Holdings, offering a variety of entertainment channels via DStv satellite and GOtv digital terrestrial services.

Nigerian Afrobeats star, Davido, has revealed that he began life in a one-room apartment within a public housing compound, popularly known as face-me-I-face-you.

The singer shared this personal story in “CFMF,” a track off his fifth studio album, 5ive, released on Friday.
According to Davido, his rise to fame and wealth is a result of divine intervention.

“Take a step and walk into my life…
Started all the way from face me I face you
Face me I face you
And now, I am living real large, all thanks to Jesu
All thanks to Jesu oh,” he sings.

His claim has sparked widespread skepticism, particularly on social media, where many users questioned the narrative, citing Davido’s well-known background as the son of billionaire businessman Deji Adeleke.

This isn’t the first time the singer has attempted to craft a grass-to-grace storyline in his music. In his 2011 debut single Back When, Davido claimed that women ignored him when he was broke but began chasing him after he found fame and fortune. However, the song saw limited commercial success—partly because of public doubts about his claims of a modest upbringing, given his affluent family background.

Davido eventually embraced his elite status in his 2012 breakout hit Dami Duro, where he boldly declared himself unstoppable as the son of a wealthy man—a move that resonated more with fans and helped catapult him to national prominence.

A four-storey building under construction has collapsed in Ojodu Berger area of Lagos State, trapping dozens of occupants on Saturday.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the ill-fated building sited on Oremeta Street, Ojodu Berger, with an already completed section, was being used for commercial purposes before it caved in on Saturday morning.

Eyewitnesses, who spoke at separate interviews, said the building caved in on the occupants, including staff and customers, who came to patronise the popular EqualRight Restaurant in Ojodu Berger.

As of the time of filing this report, Good Samarithans were making frantic efforts to rescue people trapped in the rubble, while awaiting officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

Details Later…

The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the death of two yet-to-be-identified actors in Owerri, the state capital after eating rice and drinking wine on Friday.

Police Public Relations Officer for Imo State Command, DSP Henry Okoye said investigations had begun to unravel how the two actors died.

Confirming the incident, Okoye said, “Yes, the Command is aware of the unfortunate incident of unnatural death. I can confirm that two people were pronounced dead while two were hospitalised.

“As I speak with you, the Commissioner of Police for Imo State, CP Aboki Danjuma has directed the Pathologist to conduct tests on the two deceased persons to ascertain the cause of their deaths.

“The results will determine the next line of action on the matter”, Okoye said. 

News broke out on Friday night that four actors were rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri during which two were pronounced dead on arrival.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the two deceased persons and others had after shooting a movie, ate rice and drank wine that was provided by the unnamed movie director, during a house party.

Two of them were discovered dead in the wee hours of Friday.

A source, Kaito Karisia had said the movie director who provided the meal and drinks was said to have gone to bed early, leaving the four actors and three ladies partying.

He, however, woke up in the early hours of Friday to turn off power generator and return to public power supply to discover the two already dead and the other two gasping for their lives.

Karisia who notified people about the incident via his Facebook handle, said the two other male survivors were responding to treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri where they were rushed to.

According to him, one of the survivors told him that, “Their host (the movie director) offered them rice and everybody ate. He later presented them with a bottle of Calypso and wine. But they only took a sip and never drank again. However, the two other guys who are now dead finished the drink”.

LEADERSHIP reports that the movie director and the three girls in the apartment have been arrested and answering questions, while investigation continues.

For those who are willing to relocate to United States of America legally and effectively, it is important to ascertain their eligibility for an immigrant visa. 

If you do not have a family member and you want to permanently move to the United States of America, here are seven ways you can relocate to America the right way.

1. Student Visa

If you have no one to sponsor you and you have good grades, search for universities in the U.S to see which ones offer a scholarship to international students, and you can apply to these schools and relocate.

If you get it, you can study in the US and later find a US employer who can hire you to work in the US. Depending on the category, they may file a green card for you, and you can stay there.

2. Already in the US on a visitor’s visa

If you are already in the US on a visitor’s visa and have a credible fear that you will be harmed in your country or you think someone will hurt you, you can apply for asylum. With this, you do not need a family member, you just need to have a credible fear.

3. Already acquired a Bachelor’s Degree or a Master’s Degree in the STEM category

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. You can reach out to the U.S employer and see if they will hire you during the H1B forthcoming process.

4. PHD Degree or Extraordinary Ability Green Card

If you have a PHD Degree and you have good scholarly writings, you can apply for a National Interest Waiver, that also gives you a green card. There are a lot of geniuses who do not know how to use this, seemingly ignorant of the opportunity, but you can leverage it if you are qualified.

Similarly, if you are a star in your country and you have received an award or a medal, there is something called the Extraordinary Ability Green Card.

5. U-Visa

If you are in America on a Visitor’s visa or on a student’s visa, and you witness a crime or you are a victim of a crime not committed by a spouse, just by anybody, you may qualify for the U-Visa.

6. VAWA

 If you are in the United States and your spouse is stopping all filings for you and you are being abused, you can actually, because of the abuse, file for VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) and get a green card.

7. Religious Visa

If you are in the United States via a visitor’s visa, you can also apply for a religious visa. With this, you go from obtaining a visitor’s visa to a religious visa. Eventually, after a while on the visitor’s visa, you get a green card, but for the religious visa, be careful because you have to work for a religious entity outside of the country and one inside the United States.