China's humanoid robots generate more soccer excitement than their human counterparts

BEIJING (AP) — Humanoid robots have captivated fans in Beijing with a fully autonomous soccer match powered by artificial intelligence. On Saturday, four teams of robots competed in a 3-on-3 tournament, marking a first in China and previewing the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games. Organizers highlighted that the robots operated independently, using AI-driven strategies without human intervention. Equipped with advanced sensors, they navigated the field and even stood up after falling, though some needed assistance. Tsinghua University’s team won the final match, defeating China Agricultural University 5–3. The event reflects China’s push to develop AI-powered robots, using sports as a testing ground.

What's that in the sky? We're not sure, but the fireball was very bright

McDONOUGH, Ga. (AP) — An object bright enough to be seen streaking across the midday sky has fallen across parts of the Southeast U.S. The National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Georgia, says the object was likely either a meteor or space junk. Most of the reports of sightings came from Georgia and South Carolina around 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Authorities say someone in Henry County, Georgia, reported a rock came through their roof about the time they heard the sonic boom from the fireball. The weather service posted photos of a hole in the ceiling about the size of a golf ball and reported a crack in a laminate floor.

An Alaska brown bear has a new shiny smile after getting a huge metal crown for a canine tooth

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — An Alaska brown bear at the Lake Superior Zoo in northeastern Minnesota has a gleaming new silver-colored canine tooth after a first-of-its-kind procedure. The 800-pound bear named Tundra was put under sedation Monday and fitted with a new titanium alloy crown. The zoo says it's the largest dental crown ever created. The hour-long procedure was done by Dr. Grace Brown, a board-certified veterinary dentist who helped perform a root canal on the same tooth two years ago. Brown plans to publish a paper on the procedure in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry later this year.

Volunteers play music to soothe shelter animals

DENVER (AP) — It's often said music is the universal language of humanity. Now a 12-year-old Houston boy is putting that to the test for an unlikely audience — man’s best friend. Yuvi Agarwal started playing keyboard when he was 4 and several years ago noticed his playing soothed his family’s restless dog, Bozo. He grew curious if it also could help stressed, homeless animals. With help from his parents, he founded the nonprofit Wild Tunes to recruit musicians to play in animal shelters. He says after a few minutes of playing, most animals calm down and some even go to sleep.

Colombian waste pickers inundate iconic Bogota square with plastic bottles to protest falling wages

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Dozens of Colombian waste pickers have inundated one of Bogota’s most iconic squares with about 15 tons of recyclable goods. It's part of a protest against decreasing income and tougher conditions for scavengers who collect trash from homes, factories and office buildings, and sell it to local recycling plants. The demonstration was organized by 14 waste pickers associations in Bogota, a city where there are approximately 20,000 scavengers who work long hours gathering items like plastic bottles, scrap metal and cardboard boxes.

Czech family of 3 is accused of running a fake dental clinic

PRAGUE (AP) — Czech police say they have detained three suspects who allegedly treated patients in a fake dental clinic without a proper licence or professional training. The three have pleaded guilty to charges including running an illegal business and attempted bodily harm. They face up to eight years in prison. Police say the 22-year-old son consulted the internet to do procedures, including extractions. They say his mother, a nurse by profession, worked as his assistant and his father made prosthetic devices. Police say they opened the clinic two years ago and made $185,000 before they were detained earlier this month.

A Michigan bear roamed the woods for two years with an awful lid on his neck. Not anymore.

A Michigan bear is feeling much, much better. Wildlife experts finally were able to trap a black bear and remove a large lid that was stuck around his neck for two years. Michigan bear specialist Cody Norton said Wednesday that it's “pretty incredible” the bear survived and was able to feed himself. The bear first turned up on a trail camera as a cub in 2023. After that, the Department of Natural Resources was on the lookout. The bear was safely trapped and the lid removed on June 3.

A wild bear enters Lithuania's capital. Hunters refuse a government request to shoot the animal

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Lithuanian hunters have refused to shoot a wild bear that was spotted roaming around the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius and criticized the government for issuing a permit to kill a member of the protected species. The Lithuanian Association of Hunters and Fishermen says in a statement it is shocked by the decision of the Environment Ministry to shoot the bear. The bear now seems to be out of danger as it was spotted on Wednesday walking through forested areas well outside the city. A government official has defended the authorities' stance and says the kill permit was issued purely as a precaution in case the bear posed a threat.

Women's tackle football gives female athletes opportunities in a game dominated by men

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Women have been playing tackle football for decades, mostly under the radar. Two leagues have raised their profile enough to have women competing for championships on ESPN2 in high-end venues. The Women’s National Football Conference will have its title game on the network for the first time. The game will be broadcast live on Saturday from the Dallas Cowboys’ Ford Center, a roughly 12,000-seat venue in Frisco, Texas. The Women’s Football Alliance will be back on the network for its championship game on July 26 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, where MVP jerseys from previous title games are on display.