NAIROBI, Kenya — A company that was sued by Facebook content moderators in Kenya over poor working conditions said Thursday that more than 1,000 workers will be laid off after Meta, Facebook’s parent company, ended its contract.
Meta and its local contractor Sama have been in court since 2022 after former content moderators accused them of paying low wages and not offering sufficient mental health support. Sama has since changed its business model and stopped offering content moderation services to Meta, but has remained focused on services such as AI data labeling for the tech giant.
Sama said in a statement Thursday that it received formal notice from Meta to end a “major engagement at its Nairobi office.” Sama said it has issued a formal layoff notice that would affect 1,108 staffers, adding that it was “actively supporting affected employees with care and respect.”
In 2023 some 200 former content moderators sued Sama over the exploitation of workers by offering low pay, little mental health support for the grueling work they do, and long working hours.
The group was employed at the social media giant’s outsourced hub for content moderation in Nairobi, where workers screen posts, videos, messages and other content from users across Africa, removing any illegal or harmful material that breaches its community standards and terms of service.
They described watching videos of children being molested and women being killed, among many other distressing videos, which they moderated for hours on end without sufficient access to counselors.
The moderators, from several African countries, are seeking $1.6 billion in compensation. The case is ongoing.
Sama has previously defended its practices and said it was offering four times the local minimum wage and unlimited mental health support to its workers.
Facebook parent Meta said its contractors are obliged to pay their employees above the industry standard in the markets they operate and provide on-site support by trained practitioners.
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday night that a key suspect in a corruption scandal that has sparked public outrage in the Philippines has been arrested in the Czech Republic and that efforts were underway to repatriate the former lawmaker.
Zaldy Co, who resigned from the House of Representatives in September after being implicated in financial anomalies involving flood control projects, was detained by authorities in Prague after crossing into the Central European country without proper documentation, Marcos said without elaborating.
“We are in close coordination with the Czech government to ensure that all legal processes are followed and to arrange for his return to the Philippines at the soonest possible time,” Marcos said in a statement.
The Philippines has no extradition treaty with the Czech Republic and Marcos did not say how his government would seek the custody of Co. Philippine officials have cancelled Co’s passport and sought Interpol’s help to locate and arrest the wealthy former legislator.
Co is one of several powerful legislators, including former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Senate President Francis Escudero, who were accused of pocketing huge kickbacks from flood control projects in an Asian archipelago prone to deadly floodings and typhoons.
Co, Romualdez, Escudero and other legislators have denied any wrongdoing but have come under investigation. Several former government engineers and public works officials, wealthy construction company executives and a former senator have been detained while facing trial on corruption charges.
At least 9,855 flood control projects worth more than 545 billion pesos ($9 billion) that were supposed to have been undertaken since Marcos took office in mid-2022 came under scrutiny. Many were found to be substandard, overpriced or were not built at all.
In September, then Finance Secretary Ralph Recto told a congressional hearing that up to 118.5 billion pesos (nearly $2 billion) intended for flood control projects may have been lost to corruption since 2023.
The scale of the anomalies and news reports that showed the lavish lifestyles and fleets of expensive European cars of some of the suspects sparked huge anti-corruption protests last year in a country where millions still live in appalling poverty.
FIFA responded strongly to New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherill after she posted a critical video saying that FIFA should pay for fans’ NJ Transit tickets to World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium this summer.
In her video, a response to “headlines” about reports of $100 train tickets, Sherill said FIFA “should pay for the rides” since NJ Transit is getting billed $48 million, while FIFA will make $11 billion.
FIFA said it was “quite surprised” by Sherill’s “approach…on fan transportation” before outlining “Host City Agreements.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the 2026 Semafor World Economy conference in Washington, D.C., on April 15, 2026.(Kent Nishimura/AFP)
“The original FIFA World Cup 2026 Host City Agreements signed in 2018 required free transportation for fans to all matches. Recognizing the financial strain this placed on the host cities, back in 2023 FIFA adjusted the Host Agreement requirements across all host cities as follows: All Match Ticket holders and accredited individuals shall be able to access transport (public or additionally planned transport) at cost to allow travel to Stadiums on match days,” the statement began.
“FIFA worked for years with host cities on transportation and mobility plans, including advocating for millions of dollars in federal funding to support host cities for transportation.
“FIFA World Cup will bring millions of fans to North America along with related economic impact. Many fans will travel to NYNJ to enjoy the eight matches scheduled. FIFA is not aware of any other major event previously held at NYNJ Stadium, including other major sports, global concert tours, etc., where organizers were required to pay for fan transportation.”
A general view of MetLife Stadium and the Meadowlands Train Station is seen from a NJ Transit train before the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semi-final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 9, 2025.(Luke Hales/Getty Images)
MetLife Stadium will host eight matches, including the July 19 final. Penn Station will also have severe restrictions on game days, when only game attendees will be permitted to enter the NJ Transit portion of the Manhattan station.
Parking has also been banned at MetLife Stadium despite thousands of spots in the Meadowlands Sports Complex because the lots will be used for fan activation and security.
Current prices from East Rutherford to Penn Station are just under $13.
U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) questions witnesses in a hearing of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, in the Cannon House Office Building on February 28, 2023 in Washington, DC. The committee is investigating economic, technological and security competition between the U.S. and China. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Last week, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced $80 tickets from Boston to Gillette Stadium, and the Boston Host Committee announced Tuesday that there will be $95 Yankee Line bus tickets to Foxborough.
A 6-month-old mixed breed puppy is gaining viral attention online after viewers couldn’t get past one thing—”those paws.”
Owners Emilie and Sam were initially searching for a “good-natured family” companion, but with many dog breeds fitting the description, narrowing it down proved difficult. Emilie told Newsweek via email that friends eventually referred them to a breeder with over 20 years of experience, who specializes in crossing two popular breeds: golden retrievers and Bernese mountain dogs. They were immediately intrigued.
“We were impressed by both her knowledge of the breeds, how genetics plays a role with the mixes, as well as her care to ensure each pup was matched with owners who could provide for their needs best,” Emilie said. “We got him at 2 months old, so we have had him for four months now.”
Now 6 months old, the golden mountain dog is already growing into a giant. In an April 5 Instagram video posted to @big.red.gmd, his owners show off the unique mix, a clip that has since racked up more than 10 million views. As in real life, many couldn’t help but focus on one thing—his oversized paws.
The video drew a wave of reactions from TikTok viewers who couldn’t get past Alfie’s look and size.
“That’s gonna be a big boy,” one commenter wrote, while another added: “Very cute and handsome, beautiful mix and yes, big paws.”
Someone else joked: “He looks like a golden that dressed up as a Bernese for Halloween.”
Alongside praise for Alfie’s appearance, some viewers raised broader questions about breeding practices. “Let’s stop breeding dogs until we clear the shelters,” said a user. Another expressed concern, writing: “Just another designer mutt with a bunch of uncertain genetics. So disappointing and sad to see yet another backyard breeder supporter.”
While oversized paws are often used as a rough indicator that a puppy will grow into a larger dog, experts say the connection is far from reliable, according to the Institute for Environmental Research and Education. Puppies often go through uneven growth stages, where their paws may appear disproportionately large before the rest of their bodies catch up. Ultimately, genetics and breed play a far greater role in determining how big a dog will become than paw size alone.
For Alfie, however, those early observations of his paws haven’t been far off. He’s already tipping the scales at around 53 pounds and still growing. Emilie expects Alfie to reach between 80 and 100 pounds when fully grown.
But Alfie isn’t just about size. According to Emilie and Sam, he’s the definition of a gentle giant in the making.
“He’s a very friendly and cuddly pup,” she said. “He wants to say hi to everyone and everything and absolutely loves a cuddle on the couch.”
Given that both golden retrievers and Bernese mountain dogs are known for their warm personalities, Emilie said it is hard to tell which side is more prominent in Alfie. He loves to swim, has webbed feet and is food-motivated—all traits that suggest he is “definitely Golden.”
But Alfie also has a stubborn side. Emilie said he’ll sometimes decide he doesn’t want to go on a walk, which she thinks reflects his Bernese mountain dog side. Although she joked it could be both breeds shining through.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
From an advertisement for an herbal remedy that promises to cure all to a video featuring a voice that sounds just like a movie star, you’ve surely encountered spam and scam advertisements online. And they have likely been created with artificial intelligence.
The accessibility of generative AI tools has exacerbated the perennial issue of online spam and scams that’s persisted since the advent of the internet. And while creators of such content have access to this ever-evolving technology, tech giants are also honing their internal AI systems to fight the deluge.
“It’s not that this is a new problem. It is an old problem, supercharged,” said Nate Elliott, a principal analyst at Emarketer. “The biggest difference is the speed and the scale that AI offers both the good actors and the bad actors.”
Google released its annual ads safety report Thursday, acknowledging that scammers are increasingly trying to run sophisticated, malicious ads but emphasizing that its AI-powered tools are strong defenders.
Google’s generative AI technology known as Gemini was able to catch over 99% of policy-violating ads before they ever reached an audience last year.
In 2025, the company blocked or removed more than 8.3 billion ads, including 602 million ads with policy violations that are most closely associated with scams. More than 4 million advertiser accounts were suspended for scam-related activity.
Google has long been a dominant force in the digital advertising world. The company saw more than $200 billion in net worldwide ad revenues last year according to data from Emarketer, but the research firm predicts Meta will outperform Google in 2026.
Google said it has a team of thousands of people working to create and enforce its advertising policies at scale. Keerat Sharma, Google’s vice president and general manager of ads privacy and safety, said the advancement of generative AI as a part of Google’s defense system has led to more powerful results in combatting problematic content.
Gemini now allows the team to analyze hundreds of billions of signals — including account age, behavioral cues and campaign patterns — to better understand the “nuance of what an advertisers intent actually is,” Sharma said. This means they’re able to largely determine legitimacy or whether an advertiser’s intent could be malicious. Reaching that nuance has also helped keep real businesses’ ads online, with the report detailing that incorrect advertiser suspensions were reduced by 80% last year.
Gemini has also helped with speed, Sharma said. Analyzing the digital assets in an ad used to take anywhere from a few seconds to minutes or even longer, but now, Sharma said that can happen in milliseconds. That “allows us to stop things right at the front door,” he said. Google also relies on several other defense mechanisms, like an expansive advertiser verification program, that work together to fortify protections.
The kind of content that Google is aiming to block and remove is vast and varied. Bad ads could take shape as “all the forms of spam and scam that have always existed, just people are able to produce them faster and at higher volume,” Elliott said.
Experts who spoke with The Associated Press said the push and pull between AI-powered scams and AI-powered defense mechanisms will endure as the technology advances.
“We’re already close, but it’s going to be heading even more to (where) it’s just AI versus AI,” said Matt Seitz, the director of the AI Hub at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “The volume of this problem is so large that it can’t be managed directly through humans.”
Video footage showed the Brazil forward on the pitch at the end of the game, gesturing to the home fans that they are “going out” in the next round.
He had not actually featured in the match, missing out due to a hamstring injury, but had travelled to Madrid to be with his teammates.
“I want to apologise for my gesture,” Raphinha said in a comment on a DAZN Instagram post that showed him rowing with the crowd.
“It does not reflect my values or character. It was an act in a moment of tension, in response to a fan who was disrespecting me.”
Barça lost the tie 3-2 on aggregate despite winning 2-1 on Tuesday, with Atlético advancing to a semifinal against Premier League side Arsenal.
Raphinha could also find himself in hot water with UEFA after accusing the match officials of “robbing” Barça over the two legs.
His comments will be analysed — as is due process — to see if they are in breach of Article 11 of UEFA’s Disciplinary Regulations, which require “persons to respect the Laws of the Game, regulations, directives and decisions, and comply with the principles of ethical conduct, loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship.”
He could face a ban of up to three games, which would be carried out in next season’s Champions League.
Raphinha has not featured for Barça since the March international break, when he re-injured his hamstring in Brazil’s loss to France, but he hopes to be back by May, with the Clásico against Real Madrid on May 10 the target.
Average mortgage rates appear to have reached a plateau, according to a financial information website, with several high street lenders making reductions this week.
HSBC UK is poised to make a wave of reductions on Friday, including for first-time buyers, home movers and people remortgaging.
Halifax Intermediaries has also signalled plans for product changes from Friday, with rate decreases of up to 0.35 percentage points on fixed-rate products, while BM Solutions will also make some reductions.
Amanda Bryden, head of Halifax Intermediaries and Scottish Widows Bank, said: “Swap rates, which play a significant role in the price of mortgages, continue to be volatile, but while they are falling, we are taking the opportunity to pass that on to home buyers.”
Santander said it is passing on a reduction in borrowing costs after a fall in swap rates, which are used by lenders to price loans.
Adam French, head of consumer finance at Moneyfacts, said average mortgage rates have held steady since Easter, adding: “Rising mortgage rates seem to have plateaued for now.
“Product numbers have also been steadily improving; 809 deals have returned to the market since it hit a low of 5,856 available products on 24 March.
“However, this is still 973 (12.7%) fewer than before the conflict in Iran began.
“Money markets are now pricing for fewer base rate hikes than they were a few weeks ago and swap rates have fallen back towards 4% from highs of around 4.4%.
“This has given several lenders, such as Santander, Atom Bank and Skipton Building Society, the headroom to make a few meaningful cuts over the last few days.
“However, mortgage pricing is driven more by expectations than current rates and borrowers are still exposed to sudden shifts. Ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East and the looming threat of ‘Trumpflation’ mean the path to cheaper borrowing remains fragile.”
Nicholas Mendes, mortgage technical manager at John Charcol, said of HSBC’s plans to cut mortgage rates: “When a lender of that size starts repricing, it does tend to give the wider market a nudge and adds to the sense that this could help kick-start further reductions from other big names over the coming days.
“That is especially encouraging after the volatility of the last few weeks, where lenders were far more focused on protecting margins and managing risk than competing hard on price.
“It is also a broader move, covering areas including first-time buyer, home mover, remortgage and buy-to-let business, which makes it more meaningful than a small, isolated tweak to one corner of the range.
“For borrowers, the message is still not to sit back and wait for the perfect moment.
“Anyone buying, remortgaging or coming off a fixed rate in the next three to six months should be using this window to get prepared now.”
Parenting influencer Kelly Hopton-Jones has opened up about accidentally running over her young son, Henry, with her car, calling the incident a “true nightmare” for a mother.
The mother of two children — whom she shares with husband Brian Hopton-Jones — posted an emotional statement about the car accident Wednesday on Instagram. Her post included photos of herself holding her nearly two-year-old son’s hand while he was in the hospital.
“Today has been the worst day of our lives. Life can change in the literal blink of an eye,” she wrote, while recalling the details of her day with her daughter, Lily, minutes before the car accident. “A true nightmare for a parent happened to us today. It started like any normal day. I was taking Lily to get donuts before her dance performance.
“Brian was staying home with Henry and was going to meet us there,” she continued. “He helped Lily into the car and was waving goodbye between our car and Henry, who was in the garage. In a matter of seconds, our son was run over by our car. I was driving.”
Hopton-Jones noted that her neighbors then “stepped in immediately and took Lily,” while the influencer and her husband rushed to take Henry to the emergency room.
Influencer Kelly Hopton-Jones says her son had ‘no signs of head injury’ after she accidentally ran him over with her car (Getty Images)
Henry received a series of X-rays of his legs, chest, and neck, which all came back normal. A CT scan showed there were no injuries to organs or spinal cord, while a neurological exam showed “no signs of head injury or impairment.”
However, according to Hopton-Jones — who frequently posts videos on Instagram about raising toddlers — her son has “fractures to his pelvis that will take time to heal, as well as a few abrasions.”
“What stays with me is the doctor saying: ‘He is hurt, but this is something he can recover from.’ A true miracle,” she continued. “We are in shock. We are so sad. But we are so incredibly grateful…We keep replaying it, trying to understand how this could have happened when we were right there. I don’t have the answer.”
However, Hopton-Jones said the accident has changed her family, explaining it’s now a “non-negotiable” to hold her kids’ hands around vehicles, and she cannot assume that her kids will stay where she saw them last. “Even when you are not distracted. Even when you are not rushing. It can still happen in the blink of an eye.”
In the caption, she confessed how easy it’s been for her to “start questioning everything,” including things she could have done differently before the accident happened. “Why weren’t we holding him. Why didn’t I double check before pulling out,” she added. “We could drive ourselves crazy with the what ifs, and honestly, we are a little bit.
“And I keep coming back to what I would tell my own kids one day if this happened to them. It would be a lot kinder than the things we’re telling ourselves right now. Accidents happen, and the only mistakes are the ones we don’t learn from,” she concluded. “We’re on the lucky side of a very tragic accident.”
Hopton-Jones’s friends and followers sent her messages of support in the comments, while praising how open she was about the terrifying accident.
“Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing – it’s a learning opportunity for all us parents and not something I could have even thought of happening!!!” one wrote while another said, “Thanks for sharing this. Accidents happen and you deserve compassion and I hope that’s all you’re receiving. If not-sending love your way.”
