Foreign
Humanoid robots clock in for work
By Hu Jian, Cheng Yuanzhou, People’s Daily
Standing 1.72 meters tall in sleek silver shells, humanoid robots now execute precision tasks on production lines, sorting materials, carrying crates, assembling components. This technological leap transforms once-futuristic visions into industrial reality.
These advanced machines, known as Walker S1 industrial humanoids, are developed by UBTECH Robotics headquartered in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong province. A full fleet has now officially commenced operational deployment at a 5G smart factory of Zeekr, a brand under Chinese carmaker Geely, in Qianwan New Area, Ningbo, east China’s Zhejiang province.
“The Walker S series is currently undergoing trials at facilities of Geely, BYD, Foxconn, and SF Express,” said UBTECH founder Zhou Jian. “After more than a decade of exploration, we’re entering a new phase of development, with over 500 units in the pipeline as intended orders.”
While robotic arms and automated machinery on assembly lines have long been labeled “robots,” Zhou believes humanoid robots represent the paradigm of the truest form of robotics – the ultimate realization of embodied intelligence.
On April 19, the world’s first half-marathon for humanoid robots was held in Beijing. The Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid RobotInnovation Center, which was initiated by UBTECH, crossed the finish line first and claimed the championship.
In July 2024, UBTECH’s industrial humanoid robot, the Walker S Lite, started a 21-day operational trial at the Zeekr smart factory, designated for autonomous material transportation tasks. Unfortunately, its performance fell short. Its speed was slow, and its efficiency reached only about 20 percent of human labor equivalency.
Three months later, after significant technical improvements, the upgraded Walker S1 debuted. Roughly the size of an average adult, it operated within a 30%expanded workspace. With in-house developed technology, the robot’s walking stability and manual dexterity were significantly enhanced.
Beyond basic material handling, Walker S1, equipped with intelligent cameras and deep learning models, can also perform precise, non-destructive inspections of car logos and headlights, with an accuracy rate exceeding 99 percent.
To achieve true human-like functionality, humanoid robots must extend beyond task executiontoincorporate interactive and collaborative capabilities. According to Jiao Jichao, vice president of UBTECH and executive dean of UBTECH Research Institute, developing swarm intelligence for humanoid robots represents a critical pathway to achieving scalable industrial applications.
In March this year, UBTECH launched its first multi-robotcollaborative trial involving coordinated operations across diversescenarios and task sets.
In one test, two Walker S1 units walked steadily to a crate, lifted it together in perfect sync, then followed a self-planned delivery route, navigating around other moving robots along the way.
How do they coordinate?
“Similar to humans, we’ve given robots a ‘cerebrum’ and a ‘cerebellum.'” Jiao explained. The “cerebrum,” powered by a multimodal embodied reasoning model based on DeepSeek-R1, enables common-sense inference. The “‘cerebellum,” integrating perception and distributed control technologies, allows parallel distributed learning, speeding up skill development and transfer.
During cooperative tasks, the “cerebrum” handles route planning, process breakdown, and on-site coordination, while the “cerebrum” manages limb movements, posture adjustments, and grip strength. Each robot’s brain system interfaces with a centralized humanoid intelligent network, which enables synchronized swarm behavior rather than fragmented individual action.
When processing mixed-sizes crates, the robots rely on the cloud-based brain to divide tasks. Each unit adapts workflows in real time while executing millisecond-level command responses.
At BYD’s facility, the Walker S1’s work efficiency has doubled, and the robot is scheduled for scaled deployment in the second quarter. At Foxconn’s Longhua facility in Shenzhen, its application in logistics has been successfully validated. At the Audi-FAW production base in Changchun, northeast China’s Jilin province, the Walker S1 is undergoing pilot trials for air-conditioning leak detection. These trials represent significant breakthroughs in the industrial adoption of humanoid robots.
“For widespread integration into production lines, robots must evolve from ‘functional’ to ‘highly practical’, and the cost must come down,” said Zhou.
According to him, UBTECHallocates nearly 50% of its revenue to R&D investment. As of the end of 2024, the company holds 2,680 valid patents worldwide and has led or participated in the formulation of nearly 40 global standards related to intelligent robotics, ranking among the global leaders in humanoid robot patent filings.
How close are we to mass production?
“We’ve already entered the stage of small-scale pilot production, but it will take another one to two years to reach full industrial-grade mass production capacity,” Jiao said. He noted that the industry is now at a crucial turning point, with intelligent manufacturing poised to become the first major application field for humanoid robots.
Foreign
BREAKING: Trump Orders Investigation into Reported Christian Killings in Nigeria
By: Fabian Apechihin
U.S. President Donald J. Trump has directed lawmakers to launch an immediate investigation into reports of widespread killings of Christians in Nigeria, describing the situation as a “Christian genocide.”
In a statement released Friday evening via his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed grave concern over the violence, blaming radical Islamist groups for what he called a “mass slaughter.”
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” he wrote.
The U.S. President announced that he is designating Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing alarming figures of killings within the country compared to global totals.
“When Christians, or any such group, are slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria — something must be done! I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter and report back to me,” Trump stated.
He added that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening,” pledging that his administration remains ready “to protect Christian populations around the world.”
Defence/Security
Polish MEP Raises Alarm Over Killings of Christians in Nigeria
By: Fabian Apechihin
Polish Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Dominik Tarczyński, has once again drawn global attention to what he described as the ongoing persecution and killings of Christians in Nigeria.
In a post on his verified 𝕏 account on Monday, Tarczyński shared an image of a blood-stained Nigerian flag alongside a viral video showing a pastor conducting a burial ceremony for victims of violence.
In the video, the pastor lamented the frequent killings, saying:
“We are tired of performing burial every day, and they expect us to remain silent. It has become an order, and the Nigerian government came out to deny the massacre, saying there is no genocide of Christians in Nigeria. United Nations, you’re watching me. The American Parliament is aware of what we are doing now. My special request is to President Trump to save our lives in Nigeria. They are killing more Christians. If they say they kill Muslims, the Muslims are killed by who? Muslims are killed by Muslims.”
Tarczyński’s post quickly went viral, sparking widespread reactions and renewed calls for the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to combat banditry and terrorism.
However, the Federal Government has repeatedly rejected claims of a religiously targeted genocide. In a recent statement, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described such allegations as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.”
Idris maintained that Nigeria’s security challenges are complex and not driven by religious motives, warning that framing the fight against terrorism as an anti-Christian campaign could deepen existing social and religious divides.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting all Nigerians, regardless of faith or ethnicity, and called on international partners and media outlets to “refrain from narratives that distort the country’s security realities.”
Foreign
Two Dead After Cargo Plane Skids Off Hong Kong Runway Into Sea
By: Fabian Apechihin
Two airport security officers were killed early Monday after a cargo plane skidded off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport, struck their patrol vehicle, and plunged into the sea.

The incident involved Emirates flight EK9788, a Boeing 747 arriving from Dubai around 03:50 local time (19:50 GMT Sunday). The aircraft veered off the north runway, crashed through perimeter fencing, and collided with the patrol vehicle, pushing it into the water. Both occupants of the vehicle died, while the plane’s four crew members survived.
According to officials, the plane ended up partially submerged, making it one of Hong Kong Airport’s deadliest aviation accidents in years. Two other runways remain operational as investigations continue.
Airport operations executive director Steven Yiu said the patrol vehicle had been travelling on a service road outside the runway’s perimeter at a “safe distance” when the plane suddenly turned off course.
“Normally, the plane is not supposed to turn towards the sea,” Yiu said during a press briefing. He emphasized that the patrol car “definitely did not enter the runway” and that the aircraft had not sent a distress signal before landing.
Divers later recovered the bodies of the victims—two men aged 30 and 41—about five meters from the shore and seven meters underwater. One was confirmed dead at the scene, and the other died in hospital.
Hong Kong’s transport bureau expressed condolences to the victims’ families, describing the event as “deeply saddening.”
Emirates confirmed the accident, saying the cargo plane “sustained damage on landing in Hong Kong.” The airline noted there was no cargo onboard and that the aircraft had been wet-leased—meaning operated with crew and insurance—from Turkish carrier ACT Airlines.
Firefighters reached the scene within two minutes, rescuing all four crew members who had escaped via the aircraft’s emergency slides. Photos from the crash site show the plane broken in half, with part of its fuselage submerged in water.
Authorities are now searching for the plane’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders (“black boxes”). A police spokesperson said criminal investigations have not been ruled out.
The affected runway will remain closed pending the outcome of the investigation. At least 11 incoming cargo flights were cancelled on Monday, according to airport authorities.
This is only the second fatal aviation accident at Hong Kong International Airport since it relocated to Chek Lap Kok in 1998. The previous one occurred in 1999, when a China Airlines jet crash-landed during a typhoon, killing three people.
-
Uncategorized5 years agoFG, states urged to harness flooding for ranching, others with technology – Agbaje
-
Headlines10 years agoBreaking: EFCC seals Borno House of Assembly, as Hon members take to their heels
-
News11 years agoNigeria Security Operatives Stage Manhunt For Homosexual Perpetrator
-
News9 years agoHow 21-year-old Girl fled community over accusation of lesbianism
-
News10 years agoYobe Gov Moves Against Deputy
-
Opinion7 years ago7 signs she has friend zoned you
-
Technology4 years ago
Online job placement company headhunts women
-
Headlines10 years agoBorno Dep Gov Abducts Another Church Leader
