The lesson plan is called ”Artificial Unintelligence”, but it is written more like a comic book than a syllabus for a serious computer-science class. ”Singing, dancing and drawing polygons may be nifty, but any self-respecting evil roboticist needs a few more tricks in the repertoire if they are going to take over the world,” read the day’s instructions.
A court in the West African state of Cameroon has sentenced an editor to a six-month suspended sentence for publishing pictures allegedly showing a minister involved in homosexuality, the Cameroon Tribune newspaper said on Friday. He was found guilty of offending public morals and obscene publication.
The Security Council has dropped a direct appeal to the Sudanese government to launch quickly a joint United Nations-African Union force to help restore security in conflict-wracked Darfur, approving instead a watered-down statement on Friday demanding that all parties ”meet their international obligations”.
A Standard Bank automated teller machine (ATM) in Cullinan, east of Pretoria, was blown up in the early hours of Saturday, Pretoria police said. ”Unknown suspects blew up the ATM located within the Spar Centre at about 1.30 am,” said Inspector Paul Ramaloko. He said police found money scattered all over the floor.
Nearly a year after being dropped from the national team, David Beckham looks set to return to the England squad as coach Steve McClaren scrambles to boost his side’s chances of qualifying for the 2008 European Championship. Beckham could be named on Saturday in McClaren’s squad to play Brazil in a friendly at Wembley next Friday.
Italian Marzio Bruseghin of the Lampre team was given widespread congratulations from the Tour of Italy peloton after winning the 13th stage, a hilly, 12,6km time trial at Oropa, Italy, on Friday. However, it was race leader Danilo di Luca, of Liquigas, who shone brightest.
Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen hit centuries on Friday to take England to 366 for five after the first day of the second Test against the West Indies at Headingley. Vaughan scored his 16th 100 in his first Test back after 18 months out. He hit 11 boundaries for 103 and shared in a 163-run third-wicket stand with Pietersen.
Endangered, hunted, smuggled and now abandoned, 5Â 000 of the world’s rarest animals have been found drifting in a deserted boat near the coast of China. The pangolins, Asian giant turtles and lizards were crushed inside crates on a rickety wooden vessel that had lost engine power off Qingzhou island in the southern province of Guangdong.
The Mehdi Army Shi’ite militia vowed on Friday night to conduct revenge attacks on British soldiers in southern Iraq after its Basra leader was killed by Iraqi special forces in an operation supported by British troops. Wissam Abu Qader was described by British officials as responsible for criminal activities and attacks against foreign troops.
Landslides triggered by heavy rains in western China buried a village and knocked a bus off a highway, killing a total of 21 people, news reports said on Saturday. A mudslide late on Friday swept through the village of Heba in Garze, an ethnic Tibetan region of Sichuan province, killing 12 people and injuring 18 others.