The father of one of the Afghan girls who caught the world's attention when trying to attend a robotics contest in the United States was killed on Tuesday in an ISIL-claimed attack at a mosque in Herat. Fatemah Qaderyan, the 14-year-old Afghan robotics team captain, is "angry and grieving" following the deadly attack on Shia worshippers, the team's coach, Ali Reza Mehrban, told Al Jazeera. "Fatemah's father could not survive the injuries and lost his life," Ali Reza Mehrban, the team's director, told Al Jazeera. At least 32 people were killed in the attack, and more than 60 were wounded. "[Fatemah] is very angry and is not eating or speaking to anyone, she is going through a very difficult time," Mehrban said.

The US Army is developing sympathetic avatars to communicate meaningfully and sympathetically with humans. Research is well underway that aims to help humans and robots speak the same language and boost communication in the unpredictable and upsetting situations that war brings. Scientists are honing interactive virtual humans that serve as mentors and role players to soldiers, to teach them leadership skills and act as counsellors. The US Army is developing virtual humans to train and help its soldiers. This image shows virtual Staff Sgt.