Top World News

Footage of three-a-side game shows humanoids struggling to kick the ball or stay uprightThey think it’s all over … for human footballers at least.The pitch wasn’t the only artificial element on display at a football match in China on Saturday. Four teams of humanoid robots took on each other in Beijing, in games of three-a-side powered by artificial intelligence. Continue reading...

Federal judges have found a way to get under the skin of Tom Homan, President Donald Trump's "border czar." And it involves protecting the rights of migrants that Homan wants to deport. On Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes agreed to keep Kilmar Abrego Garcia in federal custody until at least mid-July over fears that he could be deported again. Abrego Garcia was deported to the infamous Salvadoran prison CECOT in March, even though an immigration judge granted him the legal right to remain in the United States in 2019 because of a well-founded fear of persecution if he returned to El Salvador. Abrego Garcia was returned to the United States in June after months of wrangling between the Trump administration and federal courts. The judge's decision irked Homan, and he appeared on Fox News' "The Will Cain Show" to voice his displeasure. "It's just another disgusting story," Homan said. "These judges are telling us, 'I don't want you to abide by federal court orders issued by two judges that say this person needs to be deported.'"The situation between federal officials and Abrego Garcia came to a head last week. Holmes granted Abrego Garcia's request for a pre-trial release while he fights federal human trafficking charges. He has pleaded not guilty to charges. However, Abrego Garcia's lawyers told Holmes there was a high probability that immigration officials would detain Abrego Garcia again if he were released. The Department of Justice acknowledged this possibility in court, which caused Holmes to delay issuing her ruling on Abrego Garcia's release. Homan described Holmes delaying her order to release Abrego Garcia as a "radical, independent decision." He said the Justice Department and Attorney General Pam Bondi are "on top of this" recent ruling, and that they will "take this fight all the way." "Bottom line is, there is no place in this country for this man," Homan said. You can watch the entire exchange here.

Fashion house acknowledges work of traditional artisans after accusations of cultural appropriationPrada has acknowledged that its new leather sandal design was inspired by India’s famous Kolhapuri “chappals” – handcrafted shoes known for their toe-loop design – after facing criticism over its failure to credit the footwear’s origins.“We acknowledge the sandals … are inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage,” Lorenzo Bertelli, the corporate social responsibility chief at the Italian fashion house, said in a letter to the Maharashtra chamber of commerce. Continue reading...

Tšolo Thakeli had long campaigned on youth joblessness, but a post questioning Sam Maketane’s promises on work creation landed him in prisonIt took a single video complaining about Lesotho’s unemployment rate to turn Tšolo Thakeli into the prime minister’s enemy. Within a day of posting there were armed police at his door.It was Father’s Day, and the 31-year-old father of two was in his pyjamas when they arrived. He had no idea his post would land him in trouble; after all, he had campaigned for a long time, under different governments, for action on jobs for young people. Continue reading...

Thousands of fans gathered in Seoul on Saturday to celebrate the final "Squid Game" season, ending a global Netflix hit that is seen as a symbol of South Korea's cultural clout.The third and final season was released Friday, concluding the series that sees desperate people compete in deadly versions of traditional children's games for a massive cash prize.Director Hwang Dong-hyuk said he had "poured everything" into the series, which launched nearly four years ago."So while it's sentimental to see it end," he said, "there's also a sense of relief".Fans gathered near Seoul's Gyeongbokgung Palace, led by marchers dressed in the bright pink uniforms worn by the show's mysterious masked agents.They were followed by others carrying oversize toys from one of the games featured in the series, along with the show's flag.Park Sang-gyu, a fan who stayed up all night watching the final season, said the dystopian drama was "ultimately a story about people"."As you watch, you realise it's not just about the games -- it reflects many aspects of real life."The walls of the Seoul Metropolitan Library were lit up with key scenes, including Young-hee -- the giant motion-sensing animatronic doll featured in one of its brutal games.Lee Byung-hun, who played the masked Front Man overseeing the competition, said the show had become "something of a cultural phenomenon"."One that has drawn one of the boldest lines in the history of Korean content," he said. The first two seasons of the series are among Netflix's most-watched shows, and in 2022, Hwang and the show's leading actor, Lee Jung-jae, became the first Asian men to win Emmy Awards. The final season follows its hero Gi-hun, played by Lee, as he returns to the ultra-violent games to dismantle them from within after surviving the first round. Along with filmmaker Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning 2019 thriller "Parasite" and K-pop sensation BTS, "Squid Game" is considered one of the most powerful examples of South Korea's rise as a global cultural force.

CNN conservative Scott Jennings saw his defense of Donald Trump's continuing Iran attack claims of "total obliteration" dismantled piece by piece by "Table for Five" host Abby Phillip on Saturday morning.After complaining about leaks that suggest the mission was far from the success the Trump administration is insisting upon, Jennings offered that the reports were designed to make Trump look bad."I mean, that's your opinion," host Phillip countered. "I think that's fine. But the reality is, when Trump says the Iran nuclear program has been eliminated, he basically said, 'It's done, it's it's ended.' There's a real legitimate question about whether that's a factual statement.""Just this week, he was asked, 'What are you going to do if Iran is able to enrich uranium again?' and he said, 'Well, we'll bomb them again.' Does that sound like a nuclear program that he thinks is completely gone? " she asked."So, I mean, clearly there is a factual question here about whether or not the threat has been eliminated," she added before pointing out, "Even Republican senators like Lindsey Graham have acknowledged and others the threat has not been eliminated and that is something that American people need to know and understand."You can watch below or at the link. - YouTube youtu.be

Family dies in Swat River, with witnesses saying they waited to be rescued for more than an hourAt least 32 people have been killed in Pakistan in recent flash flooding caused by heavy rains, including a family of tourists who died after being swept away by flood waters while apparently awaiting rescue.Videos of the family stranded on a small piece of land as the raging Swat River in northern Pakistan swept them away were shared widely on social media, prompting anger towards the provincial government as witnesses said the family waited helplessly for more than an hour. Continue reading...

Agreement aims to end decades-old conflict rooted in the 1994 Rwandan genocide but critics have described it as vague and opaqueRwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have signed a peace deal in Washington to end fighting in eastern DRC, although questions remain over what the agreement means and who stands to benefit – with Donald Trump using the occasion to boast that the US had secured lucrative mineral rights.At a ceremony with US secretary of state Marco Rubio in Washington, the two African countries’ foreign ministers signed the agreement pledging to implement a 2024 deal that would see Rwandan troops withdraw from eastern Congo within 90 days. Continue reading...