A humanoid robot sprints to victory in Beijing, beating the human half-marathon world record
BEIJING (AP) — A humanoid robot has won a half-marathon race for robots in Beijing, running faster than the human record. The robot from the Honor team completed the 13-mile race in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, surpassing Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo's human record of about 57 minutes. The event took place Sunday, with the robot using autonomous navigation to secure the win. This year's race featured over 300 robots from more than 100 teams, including international participants. The competition highlights China's advancements in a technological competition with the U.S. Speeding up the development of products like humanoid robots and their applications is part of the 2026-2030 plan by Beijing for the world’s second-largest economy.
California bear-suit luxury car scam ends in insurance fraud sentences for 3
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Three people in California have been sentenced for insurance fraud involving a person in a bear costume damaging high-end cars. The California Insurance Department says they staged fake attacks on a Rolls-Royce and two Mercedes. They submitted fraudulent claims in 2024 seeking nearly $142,000. The scheme, called “Operation Bear Claw,” involved two Los Angeles-area men and a woman, who pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud. They were sentenced to a weekend jail program and probation. Two must pay over $50,000 in restitution. A fourth person faces a court hearing in September. A biologist confirmed the footage showed a human in a bear suit.
Mounted New York police officer and his horse corner suspected purse snatcher in Manhattan
NEW YORK (AP) — A suspected purse snatcher was rounded up after being chased through the streets of Manhattan by a mounted New York police office and his horse. The late Wednesday morning pursuit began when the victim reported the theft. The unidentified officer and his horse quickly took up the chase that was captured on his bodycam and also by a television news crew that happened to be in the area for an unrelated story. The brief chase went along sidewalks, under scaffolding, between parked cars and across streets before the woman was stopped by a pedestrian and then detained by the officer. Authorities say the woman had been convicted of murder in the April 2000 fatal shooting and is currently on lifetime parole.
1 million bees make for bumper-to-buzzer traffic on a Tennessee highway ramp
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — About 1 million bees temporarily took over an interstate exit ramp in East Tennessee after a beekeepers’ truck crashed and set them loose. On social media, Tennessee Department of Transportation regional spokesperson Mark Nagi said the swarm Friday had shut down an exit of Interstate 40 in Knoxville. He says no one was injured. Later in the morning, Nagi confirmed that all of the bees had been removed from the area. He said there were no injuries.
Meet Yuji, the Mexican baby monkey finding comfort in a plush companion
GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Yuji, a 6-week-old patas monkey, wakes up every day clinging to a stuffed dog. This plush companion acts as a surrogate mom after he was rejected by his own mother, Kamaria, a first-time parent who was unable to form a maternal bond. Yuji represents the most recent case of assisted rearing at the Guadalajara Zoo in Mexico. Unlike Punch, a Japanese macaque who went viral, Yuji has not yet had physical contact with other monkeys. A date has not been set for Yuji’s transfer to the habitat shared by other patas monkeys. His move will depend on when he transitions to an adult monkey’s diet.
Prosecutors say makeup, wigs helped former Alabama tackle impersonate NFL players in $20M fraud
ATLANTA (AP) — A former defensive tackle at the University of Alabama is accused of wearing makeup and wigs to impersonate NFL players in a fraud scheme that bilked investors of $20 million. Federal prosecutors in Atlanta charged Luther Davis last month with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. An email and call to his attorney, Gabe Banks, on Friday were not immediately returned. According to a court filing, Davis is expected to plead guilty later this month. In a criminal complaint, prosecutors say Davis impersonated three separate NFL players. The complaint only identifies the NFL players by their initials.
Men caught competing in the women's category of a prestigious South African marathon
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Two male runners in South Africa who were discovered fraudulently competing on behalf of female colleagues in a top marathon have been disqualified. They could face two-year bans from the event, along with the two women who swapped their bibs with the two men. The two men both finished within the top 10 in the women’s marathon at the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town last Sunday, initially denying those slots to two female runners. But marathon board member Stuart Mann says the deception was discovered, and the men were disqualified from their 7th and 10th place finishes.
Popular NYC SantaCon charity fundraiser was more con than Claus, authorities say
NEW YORK (AP) — Federal authorities say a SantaCon charity fundraiser that flooded New York City with inebriated young people in red and white Santa costumes every holiday season was a con. Authorities have charged a man who promoted the charity event with wire fraud, saying he pocketed over $1 million of nearly $3 million raised from 2019 to 2024. Stefan Pildes was arrested and charged with wire fraud in an indictment unsealed on Wednesday in Manhattan federal court. He was freed on $300,000 bail. He did not comment as he left the courthouse.
Hot dogs and steaks and bacon, oh my! Meat raffles keep a beloved Midwest tradition alive
WACONIA, Minn. (AP) — They're called meat raffles, and they're a tradition in a few pockets of the U.S. They're featured mainly at neighborhood bars or at American Legion or VFW posts in Minnesota, Wisconsin and New York state. Players enter for a chance to win a pack of ground beef, hot dogs, chicken breasts or steaks. The profits go to charity. But the games are under pressure in Minnesota due to rising meat prices. Minnesota’s prize limit was set at $70 total per event nearly 40 years ago. So there’s a move afoot at the state Capitol to raise the cap to $200.
Mount Holyoke’s corpse flower blooms again, drawing crowds to its ‘rotting flesh’ stench
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (AP) — Crowds gathered at Mount Holyoke College’s Talcott Greenhouse to witness the rare bloom of “Pangy,” a corpse flower known for its powerful odor resembling decaying flesh. The tropical plant, native to Sumatra, blooms infrequently and emits the pungent scent to attract pollinating flies and beetles. Visitors described the smell as everything from rotting eggs and compost to stinky diapers, while others traveled hours to experience the fleeting spectacle. Pangy first bloomed at the college in 2023. Botanic garden director Tom Clark said the dramatic plant offers a unique opportunity to engage the public with the diversity and adaptations of the plant world.
