Chinese android Lightning completes half-marathon faster than human world record
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Lightning, a running robot developed by Chinese smartphone maker Honor, completed a 21-kilometer half-marathon in Beijing in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. This time surpasses the human world record of 57 minutes and 20 seconds, held by Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo, by over six minutes. The 169cm tall humanoid robot, which uses its forearms for balance, demonstrated autonomous navigation and burst power, which were key to its victory. This achievement highlights China's advancements in humanoid robotics, a sector the government identified as a "new frontier in technological competition" in a 2023 policy document, aiming for mass production and secure supply chains by 2025. China's robot industry has seen accelerated growth since 2015, with a focus on upgrading industries and fostering technological innovation. The humanoid half-marathon in Beijing saw over 100 teams participate this year, a significant increase from its debut last year. Human winners in the men's and women's categories, Zhao Haijie and Wang Qiaoxia, both completed the race in over an hour.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
Private legal practitioner Justice Abdulai has highlighted the need for increased investment in Ghana's justice system, citing shortages of judges, court facilities, staff, and logistics as major impediments to justice delivery. Speaking on TV3's KeyPoints, Abdulai noted that over 50 courts currently lack resident judges, necessitating judges from other courts to preside over cases. He also stated that some courts are managing more than 500 cases each, leading to substantial backlogs. Abdulai described delays in the justice system, indicating that concluding a case within two years is uncommon. He recalled a case he inherited that had been in the courts for decades.
James Agbey, an operative of the ruling National Democratic Congress NDC, has called on supporters of President John Dramani Mahama to stop advocating for a third presidential term. Agbey stated that President Mahama has made his position clear, citing the President's remarks during the Resetting Ghana Tour in Ho where he said, "The people of Ghana gave me one additional term. My job is to work and deliver on that trust, not to look for a third term. The matter is settled." Agbey emphasized that promoting a third term risks undermining President Mahama's political legacy and distracts the party from its objectives. He urged "sycophantic allies" to desist from such actions, which he described as self-sabotage. Agbey also maintained that the NDC has capable leaders to build on President Mahama's achievements and called for the party to prepare for a transparent process to elect its next leader, ensuring a smooth transition and protecting the President's legacy.
Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, announced that no plea agreement has been reached in the criminal case involving New Patriotic Party Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, and two others. The statutory 30-day period for concluding plea bargain negotiations in the case is set to expire next week. Dr Srem-Sai confirmed this on his Facebook page on Saturday, July 18, 2026, stating that despite the ongoing process, an agreement has not been finalized. He did not provide further details on the negotiations or the next steps if no agreement is reached by the deadline. Wontumi and two others face charges related to an alleged scheme that caused significant financial loss to the Ghana Export-Import Bank. Court documents indicate the accused are alleged to have defrauded the bank of approximately GH垄14.3 million to GH垄30 million through actions including presenting a forged receipt, fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to a public institution. Wontumi's legal team initiated the plea-bargaining process, which was formally communicated to the court in June 2026. Both parties sought time to explore a potential settlement under Ghana's plea-bargaining framework. Wontumi, Wontumi Farms Limited, and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case stems from events around 2018 involving a loan or facility from EXIM Bank. The court had previously adjourned the matter to allo