AI teenage schoolgirl slips into deep depression

Our pick of the strange stories from around the world.

Rinna the AI bot hit by depression

An artificial intelligence bot in Japan has slumped into a deep depression and is reportedly suicidal. Rinna, which has the personality of a teenage schoolgirl, has its own blog and Twitter account, but its most recent posts have taken a dark turn, with the bot writing: "I don't have even a single real friend" and "I hate everyone. I don't care if they all disappear. I want to disappear." Software engineers are trying to find a solution.

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Chechen leader broadcasts child fights

Chechnya's leader Ramzan Kadyrov has been criticised for broadcasting his sons' Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fights on state television. Akhmad, ten, and his younger brothers Eli, nine, and eight-year-old Adam were screened taking part in full-contact fights. Eli was named the winner after kicking his grounded opponent in the head, a move so dangerous it is outlawed under international rules. Russian professional MMA fighter Fyodor Yemelianenko said the fights were putting the children at serious risk of permanent injury.

'Everyone asleep' when rap star visits university

An online campaign to get rapper Drake to visit Iowa's Drake University has been successful – but only one student was awake when he arrived. The rapper, who had been performing at a nearby stadium, arrived on campus around 2.30am, but found the door to the dormitories locked. Ben Scott, a junior at the college, spotted the rapper and went out to say hello.