When someone is having a stroke, every second counts and acting quickly can mean the difference between a full recovery, a long-term disability, or even saving a life.
Watching a loved one go through this experience is incredibly scary, so ahead of Stroke Awareness Month (May) we spoke to some experts who have set out some useful guidelines on what you can do to help in this stressful situation, and what might be best to avoid.
Here are the seven key dos and don’ts to remember when you spot someone having a stroke…
1. Do use the FAST acronym
“The main thing to remember is the FAST test which stands for face, arms, speech and time,” says Emily Heard, public affairs and campaigns manager at Stroke Association. “It’s a simple, easy-to-remember test to help people quickly identify some of the most common signs of stroke.”
Dr Naila Aslam, GP at Central Health London, agrees and suggests asking your loved one a few questions if you suspect that they are having a stroke.
“If you’re unsure whether there’s a facial asymmetry, ask them to smile,” recommends Aslam. “That will allow you to really see their face because smiling engages muscles and helps any asymmetry become more obvious. It’s also a good way of assessing their cognition because sometimes people who are having a stroke can get a bit confused, disorientated and struggle to follow instructions.”
She also recommends asking them to raise their arms for a short period of time.
“A stroke tends to affect one side of the body, so if they really struggle and you notice an asymmetry, that could be a sign of a stroke,” says Aslam. “For the speech part. I would ask ‘Do you understand me?’. If their answers sound like slurs, call 999.”
2. Do act fast and call 999
“If you’re concerned, call 999 as soon as possible because with a stroke, ‘time is brain’,” says Heard. “If you see any of the FAST signs in your loved one, you need to immediately call 999 and don’t need to wait until all three signs show up.
“For every minute a stroke is left untreated, up to two million brain cells can die [according to The Stroke Association] and some of the really effective treatments such as thrombolysis and thrombectomy are much more effective the quicker they’re delivered.”
3. Do try to stay calm and note time of onset
“The most important thing to do is to stay calm, ring 999 and tell them what is going on, which I appreciate is easier said than done,” says Aslam.
“Telling them what time the symptoms started can be really useful because it allows the paramedics to be able to act very quickly and make decisions about whether that patient can have particular treatments, such as thrombolysis which has to be done within four and a half hours, and about which unit to take them to.”
4. Do try to keep them in a comfortable, upright position
“Make sure that you stay with the patient and monitor their deterioration so that you can give all the information to the paramedics,” advises Aslam. “Keep them safe and comfortable, and try to keep them upright and their head elevated rather than flopped down.
“Also, try to keep them awake.”
5. Don’t give them any food, drink and medication
“Don’t give them any food or drink because patients often experience swallowing difficulties during a stroke and there’s a risk of choking and what we call ‘aspirating’, which is when food or liquid goes down into the wrong pathway,” says Aslam.
“It’s also important to not give the patient any medications, particularly aspirin, before they have been assessed by a paramedic.”
6. Don’t delay and wait for symptoms to pass
“Sometimes stroke symptoms can come on and then disappear, but it’s really important to not wait to see if they clear up,” says Heard. “Even if the symptoms seem to have gone away and you start to feel better, it’s still really important to get your loved one assessed urgently.”
7. Don’t drive them to hospital yourself
“Do not drive the patient yourself because they may deteriorate and you might struggle to get them out of the car,” says Aslam. “They need paramedics and professional support so that they can go to the right unit, so always call 999.”
For anyone who wants to find out more about stroke, how to reduce their risk, and to spot the signs in a loved one visit stroke.org.uk and anyone affected by stroke can call the Stroke Support helpline on 0303 3033 100.
British judoka Emma Reid won silver to clinch the first European Championships medal of her career.
Reid, who finished fifth in 2025, was beaten in the- 78kg final by Italy’s Alice Bellandi in Tbilisi, Georgia.
“I’m very happy with my performance, and it’s great to end the day with a medal,” said 30-year-old Reid, who won bronze at the World Championships in 2024.
“It has been a tough and busy block at the start of this year, so it’s nice to see the hard work paying off with my first European Championships medal.”
Reid won her last-16 and quarter-final contests with sankaku-gatame against Ukrainian Anna Kazakova and juji-gatame against Lithuanian Migle Julija Dudenaite respectively.
She then guaranteed herself at least silver by forcing her semi-final opponent, Slovenia’s Metka Lobnik, to submit just one minute into the contest.
New details have emerged surrounding the arrest of former Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch, who is facing two misdemeanor charges following a run-in with law enforcement just days ahead of the NFL Draft.
Branch, who is a projected second-round pick, was arrested early Sunday morning in Athens, Georgia, and charged with two counts of obstructing public sidewalks/streets – prowling and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Zachariah Branch celebrates after a touchdown catch against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Nov. 28, 2025.(Brett Davis/Imagn Images)
He was released after more than two hours in jail after posting $39 in bonds.
The NFL Network obtained the police report from Branch’s arrest, which described an encounter over an alleged sidewalk incident with law enforcement, in which police alleged that the former Bulldogs star failed “to comply with multiple verbal lawful commands.”
“A male, later identified as Zacharia Branch, continued to stand on the sidewalk without making an attempt to move. I continued to give Zacharia Branch verbal commands to move from blocking the sidewalk and advised that if he did not, he would receive a citation for blocking the sidewalk,” the excerpt from the report read.
Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch runs during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Feb. 28, 2026.(Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
“Zacharia Branch smirked, then stepped backwards and to the right, then remained standing upon the public sidewalk, so as to obstruct, hinder, and impede free passage upon the sidewalk as well as impede free ingress/egress to or from the adjacent places of business,” the report continued.
“Due to those actions and Zacharia Branch’s failure to comply with multiple verbal lawful commands, he was placed under arrest for misdemeanor Obstruction of LEO and received a citation for Obstructing Public Sidewalks.”
Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch celebrates with wide receiver Colbie Young after scoring a touchdown against Ole Miss during the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La., on Jan. 1, 2026.(IMAGN)
Branch transferred after two seasons at Southern California and immediately became quarterback Gunner Stockton’s favorite target. He finished the season with a team-high 811 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns.
Baghdad, Iraq – It’s been more than five months since Iraq’s parliamentary elections, but the Coordination Framework – the largest parliamentary bloc of Shia parties – has failed to choose its prime ministerial candidate amid internal power struggles.
The incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who is eyeing a second term, is facing a challenge from the bloc led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki – a pro-Iran divisive figure whose candidacy is being opposed by the United States.
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The Coordination Framework – which commands approximately 185 of 329 seats in parliament – must nominate a prime minister by April 26, as required by the Iraqi constitution, while the country faces the delicate task of balancing its ties between the US and its influential eastern neighbour, Iran.
Baghdad is in a tight diplomatic spot as the US-Israel war on Iran has spilled into Iraq, with pro-Iranian armed groups having carried out attacks on US assets in solidarity with Tehran.
Iran, which wields considerable influence over Iraqi politics, has also been involved in the political crisis. It has cultivated Shia parties following the removal of President Saddam Hussein in the 2003 US-led military invasion.
Ismail Qaani, the head of the Quds Force, the foreign branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), visited Baghdad at the weekend, aiming to break the leadership deadlock, according to sources.
His unannounced visit apparently came at the request of the caretaker Prime Minister al-Sudani to convince the Shia Coordination Framework not to nominate Bassem al-Badri, who is aligned with Maliki, as prime minister, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
Falih al-Fayadh, chairman of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) and a senior figure in al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition, mediated the visit, the source said. The PMF, also known as al-Hashd al-Shaabi, is an umbrella organisation of mostly Shia armed groups, some of whom have close ties to Iran. They are part of “the Axis of Resistance” – a network of political and armed groups allied with Iran across the Middle East.
The US and Israel have been wary of Iran’s influence through its allied groups, such as Yemen’s Houthis and Lebanon’s Hezbollah – the most powerful members of the Network.
Qaani met with Abu Fadak al-Mohammadawi, the PMF’s chief of staff, as well as al-Maliki, al-Sudani, and several other Coordination Framework leaders. A separate source said al-Mohammadawi is leading efforts within the Framework to block al-Sudani’s bid for a second term.
“The Iranians face a bigger existential challenge – the US-Israeli war – and are not interested in settling the Iraqi PM file. They want a weak prime minister through whom they can get what they want,” said Akeel Abbas, a Washington-based researcher.
Political appointments to the top democratic posts have often exposed sectarian and ethnic divisions. Under Iraq’s power-sharing system (Muhasasa), in place since the first government formation after the 2003 US-led invasion, the presidency goes to the Kurds, the speakership to Sunni Arabs and the post of prime minister to Shia Arabs.
On April 11, Nizar Amedi was appointed president after months of political haggling. Now the Coordination Framework must nominate a prime minister within 15 days from the president’s appointment.
The Framework’s general secretariat has called a meeting for Monday at the residence of Ammar al-Hakim, head of the National State Forces Alliance, a core member of the Shia bloc, with a single agenda item: selecting the prime ministerial candidate.
According to a source inside the Framework, the last three meetings on the matter were postponed because leaders could not agree on a name.
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s candidature has been opposed by the US [File: Hadi Mizban/AP Photo]
What does the Framework want?
Framework leaders are seeking a prime minister who cannot compete with the larger Shia bloc. Unlike al-Sudani and al-Maliki, who lead their own political parties, al-Badri is emerging as a preferred option.
Al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition has 46 seats, and Maliki’s Dawa party commands 29 seats in the parliament.
Al-Badri is the current head of the Accountability and Justice Commission, the body responsible for implementing de-Baathification – the system to remove former ruling Baath party members from Iraqi state institutions.
Qais al-Khazali is leader of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq and its political wing, the Sadiqoun bloc within the Framework, which holds 27 parliamentary seats. In a 2022 TV interview, he publicly argued that the prime minister should not monopolise state decisions and must return to the Framework on all political, security, and economic matters.
Al-Badri fits that template. He currently has the backing of seven of the Framework’s 12 leaders. He needs eight – a two-thirds majority required by the bloc’s internal rules – to secure the nomination, according to two sources from different parties within the Framework. It remains unclear whether Qaani’s visit has shifted that equation.
“Al-Maliki knows he cannot pass, especially after US President Trump’s post on X,” said Mehdi Khaz’al, a political analyst and head of the Al-Kalima Foundation for Dialogue and Development. In January, Trump said that Iraq would be making a “very bad choice” should it choose al-Maliki.
“Last time Maliki was in power, the Country descended into poverty and total chaos. That should not be allowed to happen again,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“Because of his insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq,” he said. If we are not there to help, Iraq has ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom. MAKE IRAQ GREAT AGAIN!”
Al-Maliki, who entered the race in January, dubbed Trump’s threats as a “violation of Iraqi sovereignty”. But Iraqi politicians can ill afford to take on Trump at a time when the country’s oil exports have plummeted during the Iran war.
“That is why al-Maliki is backing al-Badri as an alternative candidate. But there is no winning formula inside the Framework yet, and there won’t be one until the results of the Iranian-US negotiations become clear,” Khaz’al told Al Jazeera.
The US position
A US Embassy official in Baghdad said it does not have a preference for any candidate, except for the opposition to al-Maliki.
“We are committed to President Trump’s instructions, which stated clearly that the United States will halt support for Iraq if al-Maliki is elected prime minister. Otherwise, we do not have preferences on who’s going to be the prime minister,” said the American embassy official.
The US administration views al-Maliki as part of Iran’s direct network of influence and fears his return would undermine American efforts to weaken Iran’s reach in Iraq.
During his term as prime between 2006 and 2014, al-Maliki was accused of pursuing policies of exclusion of Sunnis from state institutions under the guise of de-Baathification. His sectarian politics have been blamed for the rise of ISIL (ISIS) in Iraq.
Despite the US stance, al-Maliki’s State of Law Coalition remains publicly committed to his candidacy.
“The Framework’s officially announced candidate for the premiership has not been replaced,” Hisham al-Rekabi, director of Maliki’s office, wrote on X.
“What is needed today is a clear resolution – just as the nomination was made, it can be withdrawn through the same mechanism and a new nomination can proceed without delay.”
But a source inside the State of Law Coalition pointed to the intensity of American pressure. Tom Barrack, the US Ambassador to Turkiye and special envoy to Syria, told al-Maliki that if he steps aside, the United States would accept any candidate of his choosing, the source said. “We are holding on to our right to determine the head of government,” the source told Al Jazeera.
The US position on al-Badri remains unclear. Multiple sources inside the Framework said they have not received any American messages regarding his candidacy, despite al-Badri being a member of al-Maliki’s Dawa party, and facing accusations that the commission he leads has applied de-Baathification selectively.
Before al-Maliki’s nomination, clear American messages rejecting his candidacy had arrived. But if Washington decides to act on Trump’s warnings, it has a broad range of tools at its disposal.
A presidential executive order, originally issued by President George W Bush after the Iraq War, grants legal protection to Iraqi oil revenues held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, shielding them from being frozen by Iraq’s creditors.
The order is expected to expire in May. If Trump chooses not to renew it, creditors could seek to claim their funds and US courts may issue rulings to freeze Iraqi assets – disrupting the transfer of funds needed to pay public salaries and potentially bringing the Iraqi economy to a halt.
Separately, the US Treasury designated seven militia commanders belonging to Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, Kata’ib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada on April 17. The State Department issued its own statement confirming the designations – an unusual step, as Washington typically limits such announcements to the technical details published by the Treasury.
The move suggests the United States intends to continue pursuing Iran-aligned armed factions regardless of the government formation process – and may be prepared to do so unilaterally, without requesting action from Baghdad.
Al-Sudani and the sovereignty question
Al-Sudani is attempting to manage a balance between Iran-backed armed factions and the US government, both of which are influential in his pursuit of a second term – a balancing act that does not appear to be succeeding.
In February, before the US-Israeli war on Iran, al-Sudani’s government awarded contracts to the American oil company Chevron to manage oil fields in Basra, Dhi Qar and Salahuddin. The agreements also included the transfer of management of West Qurna-2 – one of Iraq’s largest oil fields – from Russia’s Lukoil, which had withdrawn following sanctions.
The signing was in the presence of ambassador Barrack and Joshua Harris, the US charge d’affaires in Baghdad. However, these contracts remain legally non-binding, as they were concluded under a caretaker government and require a fully empowered administration to ratify them.
At the same time, al-Sudani authorised the PMF to respond to US strikes targeting its positions and allowed militia personnel to shelter inside Iraqi army installations – facilities the United States had previously avoided targeting.
The US State Department summoned Iraqi Ambassador Nizar al-Khairallah for the first time since 2003 and delivered a formal protest over what it described as the Iraqi government’s failure to protect diplomatic missions.
The summons followed an unsuccessful assassination attempt on a US diplomatic convoy on April 8, for which no group has claimed responsibility. Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE summoned their respective Iraqi ambassadors and issued similar protests.
“There is no legal framework for foreign officials to discuss a sovereign Iraqi matter. The Iraqi political class continuously violates the constitution. They must recommit to the constitutional path: tasking the nominee of the largest bloc within 15 days. As for trying to please the Iranians or the Americans, waiting for the outcome of a regional war to choose an Iraqi prime minister – that is disgraceful,” said Meitham al-Khalkhali, a lawyer and political analyst.
The growing woes for ordinary Iraqis
While Iraq’s political leaders navigate between Tehran and Washington over who will lead the next government, Iraqis have been contending with increasing economic pressures even before the Iran war that require a fully empowered government to address.
New customs tariffs that took effect on January 1, with rates reaching as high as 30 percent on some goods, have sharply increased the cost of imports – from electrical appliances and furniture to vehicles.
A reinstated 20 percent sales tax on mobile phone recharge cards has added to the burden.
In February, traders went on nationwide strike, closing major commercial districts in Baghdad, Basra, Mosul and Kirkuk. Shop owners hung banners reading “customs fees are killing citizens.”
Traders in Mosul reported that the cost of importing a single shipping container had jumped from around five million dinars ($3800) to as much as 60 million ($45,662). Iraq carries more than 90 trillion dinars ($69bn) in debt, and its state budget remains dependent on oil for roughly 90 percent of revenues – all while the country has been without a fully functioning government for over five months.
“The sovereignty discourse adopted by the Coordination Framework loses its meaning when it is met with implicit acceptance – and sometimes direct requests – for Iranian and American influence over government formation,” said Azeez Al-Rubaye, the secretary-general of the opposition National Line movement party.
“The problem is not the existence of international interests, that is an undeniable reality. The problem is the inability of domestic actors to produce an independent national formula that manages these interests without becoming their instrument,” he told Al Jazeera.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice is crouched down, contemplating the defeat, when he looks up to teammate Martin Ødegaard, shakes his head and says, “Eh? It’s not done.”
The inference from the brief snapshot is that Arsenal captain Ødegaard had lost belief in his team’s title hopes and had indicated that to Rice, who responded with the defiant message that, with five games still to play, Arsenal can still emerge as champions.
In his post-match news conference, Arteta echoed Rice’s comments by saying that his players are “more convinced” they can win the league after going so close to securing a positive result at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal did go close. An Eberechi Eze shot which hit the post and a stoppage-time Kai Havertz header over the City crossbar were examples of the fine margins that denied Arsenal a draw, or even a victory, that would have put them firmly in control of the title race.
When the dust settled after the game, the question that will have irked Arteta and his players all the way back to London will have been, “Why did we not play like this when losing at home to Bournemouth last week?”
Those back-to-back league defeats against Bournemouth and City, preceded by a costly 2-2 draw at Wolves, have potentially ruined Arsenal’s title hopes, but there are positives to be drawn from the performance at the Etihad and enough reasons to justify Rice’s assertion to Odegaard that the race for the title really is “not done.”
If Arsenal can replicate the tenacity, confidence and second-half ambition that they displayed against City, the title race will go down to the final day of the season because we now have a goal chase between the two sides, and the Gunners have every reason to be optimistic about that playing out in their favour.
Although Arteta’s side has now lost four of its last six games in all competitions — two in the league, one in the Carabao Cup and one in the FA Cup — the Bournemouth loss last week was their first Premier League defeat since January.
Since that loss to Manchester United, Arsenal’s league form had been on a par with City until losing to Bournemouth and Guardiola’s team. Their longest winning run was four games — the same as City’s best sequence — and both City and Arsenal have scored 20 goals in their last 10 league games.
So the winning machine built by Guardiola in years gone by, when City would surge to the title with a rampant run of victories, is not quite as formidable this time around.
Even though they have lost two and drawn one of their last three league games, Arsenal are still top and will only surrender first place on goal difference if City win their game in hand away to relegation-threatened Burnley on Wednesday.
So Rice and Arteta are right to insist that the title race is not over, but the onus is now on Arsenal to capitalise on the chance that they still have and outscore City during the run-in.
Only three points and one goal separate the two sides after Sunday’s result. Any win for City at Turf Moor would take them top by virtue of scoring more goals than the Gunners, so the hope for Arsenal will be that Guardiola’s players don’t win by an emphatic margin.
But if the goal difference gap is no more than three or four goals in City’s favour after the Burnley game, Arsenal’s remaining fixtures would tilt the odds towards the Premier League trophy heading to the Emirates rather than the Etihad next month.
All five of Arsenal’s remaining league games are in London — three home fixtures against Newcastle, Fulham and Burnley and away games at West Ham and Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, City must travel to Everton and Bournemouth as well as host Brentford, Palace and Aston Villa at the Etihad.
All of Arsenal’s remaining games are against teams in the bottom half of the table, while four of City’s fixtures are against sides still chasing European qualification in the top half, so the schedule facing Guardiola’s players is much tougher.
With both sides chasing the title, it is not unrealistic to assume that they will each win all five of their remaining games, but Arsenal’s fixture list would appear to yield a greater opportunity to score goals.
It may even all come down to which team records the biggest win against Burnley, who have the worst defensive record in the league this season, having conceded 67 goals in 33 games to date.
So, for all those Arsenal supporters now believing the title has gone and that there will be an inevitable City procession to glory, don’t wave the white flag just yet.
The task is simple: five more wins and plenty of goals.
We’ve all seen those massive Indian wedding processions—the music, the dancing, the groom looking like royalty. Usually, once a baraat starts, nothing stops it. But a video currently going viral shows a groom doing something honestly unthinkable: he halted his entire celebration to help a stranger.While the music was blaring and the crowd was dancing, the groom spotted a man on the side of the road struggling with a broken bike. The man was in a panic, trying to get his elderly mother—who was clearly in pain—to the hospital.Without a second thought, the groom hopped down, rolled up his sleeves, and got to work fixing the chain. There he was, dressed in his full wedding finery, getting his hands dirty to make sure a stranger could get his mom to a doctor. It only took a few minutes, but in that moment, he prioritised a stranger’s emergency over his own “big day” schedule.The short clip touched people’s hearts and it quickly went viral on the internet. It has racked up millions of views, and it’s easy to see why. In a culture where weddings are timed down to the minute and being late is a huge deal, this guy didn’t care about the optics or the clock. He just saw someone hurting and stepped in.Social media is usually full of noise, but this is one of those rare moments that actually hits home. It’s a simple, instinctive act of kindness that reminds you that character isn’t about the clothes you wear or the party you throw—it’s about what you do when someone else is in trouble. People are calling him the “ultimate groom,” and honestly, it’s hard to argue with that.Watch video:
The importance of random acts of kindness
Such random acts of kindness humanise us amid the hustle bustle of daily lives, and connect people. They remind us we’re all in this together, no matter what curveball life throws at us. And science backs it up too: Little acts of kindness trigger oxytocin, that “cuddle hormone,” reducing stress and lifting your mood big time. Sonja Lyubomirsky’s studies show that weekly kindness boosts happiness for weeks. The receiver? They feel seen and valued, sparking trust and tighter communities.In our chaotic world, they flip negativity on its head, and help spread positivity. The best part? They’re free, easy, and pack a punch. Try one today—it might just make your day, and someone else’s too!
PARIS — PARIS (AP) — Elon Musk has been summoned to Paris on Monday, where investigators are looking into allegations of misconduct related to the social media platform X, including the spread of child sexual abuse material and deepfake content.
The world’s richest man and Linda Yaccarino — the former CEO of X — have been summoned for “voluntary interviews,” while other employees of the platform are scheduled to be heard as witnesses throughout this week, the Paris prosecutor’s office said.
It remains unclear whether Musk and Yaccarino will travel to Paris. A spokesperson for X did not respond to questions from The Associated Press and Yaccarino’s current company, eMed, did not answer a request sent to the press email.
French prosecutors also suspect that controversy around the platform’s AI system Grok’s deepfakes was concocted to boost the value of Musk-owned companies ahead of a key market listing, and alerted U.S. authorities. Musk welcomed a report that U.S. justice officials refused to help French investigators, posting on X, “This needs to stop.”
Musk was summoned after a search took place in February at the French premises of X as part of an investigation opened in January 2025 by the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office. Musk and Yaccarino have been invited in their capacities as managers of X at the time of the events investigated. Yaccarino was CEO from May 2023 until July 2025.
“These voluntary interviews with the executives are intended to allow them to present their position regarding the facts and, where appropriate, the compliance measures they plan to implement,” prosecutors said. “At this stage, the conduct of this investigation is part of a constructive approach, with the ultimate objective of ensuring that platform X complies with French law, insofar as it operates within the national territory.”
The Paris prosecutor’s office said Musk and Yaccarino’s potential no-show on Monday “is not an obstacle for investigations to continue.”
French authorities opened their investigation after reports from a French lawmaker alleging that biased algorithms on X likely distorted the functioning of an automated data processing system. It expanded after the AI system, Grok, generated posts that allegedly denied the Holocaust, a crime in France, and spread sexually explicit deepfakes.
It’s looking into alleged “complicity” in possessing and spreading pornographic images of minors, sexually explicit deepfakes, denial of crimes against humanity and manipulation of an automated data processing system as part of an organized group, among other charges.
Grok, which was built by xAI and is available through X, sparked global outrage this year after it pumped out a torrent of sexualized nonconsensual deepfake images in response to requests from X users.
Grok also wrote in a widely shared post in French that gas chambers at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp were designed for “disinfection with Zyklon B against typhus” rather than for mass murder — language long associated with Holocaust denial.
In later posts on X, the chatbot reversed itself and acknowledged that its earlier reply was wrong, saying it had been deleted, and pointed to historical evidence that Zyklon B was used to kill more than 1 million people in Auschwitz gas chambers.
In March, the Paris prosecutor’s office alerted the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) — the U.S. federal agency responsible for regulating and overseeing financial markets — suggesting “that the controversy surrounding sexually explicit deepfakes generated by Grok may have been deliberately orchestrated to artificially boost the value of the companies X and xAI — potentially constituting criminal offenses,” prosecutors said.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said this could have been done “ahead of the planned June 2026 stock market listing of the new entity formed by the merger of Space X and xAI, at a time when company X was clearly losing momentum.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department told French law enforcement authorities it wouldn’t facilitate their efforts to investigate Musk’s X. The newspaper reported that the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, in a two-page letter last week, accused the French of inappropriately using its justice system to interfere with an American business.
The letter also said France’s requests for U.S. assistance “constitute an effort to entangle the United States in a politically charged criminal proceeding aimed at wrongfully regulating through prosecution the business activities of a social media platform.”
French judicial authorities didn’t respond to requests for comments.
The cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office has launched in recent years a series of investigations focusing on internet platforms’ suspected illegal activities.
French-language website Coco, which was cited in the landmark trial that turned Gisèle Pelicot into a global icon against sexual violence, closed in 2024 as its manager is accused of complicity in spreading child pornography and trafficking of children for sexual purposes, among other things.
Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, was handed preliminary charges and placed under judicial supervision for allegedly allowing criminal activity on the platform, including child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking.
The Paris prosecutor’s office opened last year an investigation into TikTok over allegations that the platform allows content promoting suicide and that its algorithms may encourage vulnerable young people to take their own lives.
Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said it has lodged a new complaint against X with the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office targeting “the platform’s policies that allow disinformation to flourish.”
___
Associated Press reporter Kelvin Chan in London contributed to this story.
BMW Group has spent years testing automation, but this latest move feels different. Instead of robotic arms locked in cages, the company is now using humanoid robots that move through factories more like people. After a successful pilot in Spartanburg, South Carolina, BMW is bringing that same idea into its Leipzig, Germany, factory, where it is testing robots in real production environments. This time, it is partnering with Hexagon Robotics to introduce a new generation of AI-powered machines. Unlike many robot demos you see online, this one is already being tested inside a real production environment.
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BMW’s new AI-driven robots are now operating inside active factories, marking a shift from traditional automation to flexible, human-like systems.(Christof Rührmair/picture alliance via Getty Images)
How BMW’s humanoid robot pilot built over 30,000 vehicles
BMW’s earlier pilot used Figure 02 humanoid robots for a very specific task. They handled the precise positioning of sheet metal for welding on the BMW X3 production line. That task may seem small, but it plays a key role in keeping production moving smoothly. Precision work like this can easily slow things down or create bottlenecks. According to BMW, those robots helped contribute to building more than 30,000 vehicles. Because of that success, the company now feels confident about expanding the concept. Instead of limiting testing to one plant, BMW is moving forward with its iFACTORY initiative in Leipzig, where EV production is already a major focus.
BMW’s new AI humanoid robots for EV factories
The new robots, called AEON, come from Hexagon Robotics. They are designed to work inside active factory environments without constant human direction. They rely on AI-based motion control, which helps them move through complex spaces. At the same time, built-in sensors allow them to understand their surroundings in real time. Because of that, they can adjust their actions on the fly instead of following fixed instructions. Hexagon refers to this as “Physical AI.” In simple terms, the robot can make decisions based on what it sees around it. As a result, the robot does not stop when something unexpected happens. Instead, it adapts and keeps working. That marks a clear shift from traditional factory automation.
Why BMW is investing in humanoid robots now
BMW executives have made it clear that this is not about replacing people overnight. Instead, the goal is to test what actually works in real production environments. Michael Nikolaides, who oversees BMW’s production network, says these pilot programs help the company refine how AI-powered robots learn on the job. He goes on to point to a broader vision, saying: “Digitalization improves the competitiveness of our production, here in Europe and worldwide. The symbiosis of engineering expertise and artificial intelligence opens up entirely new possibilities in production.” There is also a practical reason for the humanoid design. Factories are already built for human workers. Because of that, a robot that can use the same spaces and tools is much easier to integrate than one that requires a complete redesign.
After a successful U.S. pilot, BMW is deploying humanoid robots in Leipzig to improve efficiency and adaptability in electric vehicle manufacturing.(Christof Rührmair/picture alliance via Getty Images)
How humanoid robots could transform factory work
For years, humanoid robots felt more like something you saw in those social media demo videos than something you would trust on a real factory floor. Yes, they looked impressive, but they struggled in real environments. That is starting to change. Factories are still unpredictable. Parts do not always arrive in the exact same position. Workers move around constantly, and tools and materials shift throughout the day. Because of this, traditional robots often struggle since they rely on tightly controlled conditions. AI-powered humanoid robots can handle that kind of variability. They move around people and equipment without stopping. They adjust when parts are slightly off, and they work in spaces built for human workers. That level of flexibility is what sets this new wave of AI-powered robotics apart from earlier forms of automation.
What this means to you
Even if you never step inside a factory, this shift still matters. For one, it could change how cars are built, whether they are electric or gas. When production speeds up, costs can come down over time, which could affect what you pay for your next vehicle. At the same time, factory jobs are likely to change. Some repetitive or physically demanding work may move to robots. In many cases, that means people shift into roles focused on oversight, maintenance or more skilled tasks. Step back for a second, and you can see this is a sign of where AI is headed next. It is no longer limited to apps on your phone or software on your computer. Now, it is starting to show up in the physical world in ways you can actually see and interact with.
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BMW is expanding its humanoid robot program into a German EV factory, testing AI-powered machines designed to work alongside humans in real production environments.(Christof Rührmair/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Kurt’s key takeaways
BMW is not the only company testing humanoid robots, but it is one of the first to bring them into real production environments. That is a big shift from the testing phase most of us are used to seeing. The fact that these robots are already helping build tens of thousands of vehicles shows that this is moving beyond early trials. It is starting to become part of how factories actually run. Where this goes next is still an open question. If the technology keeps improving, you could see more of these robots show up in factories and warehouses over time.
So here is the bigger question. How do you feel about humanoid robots working alongside people in factories? Would you trust them to help build the car you drive? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.
