Breaking AI & Tech News Analyzed

A commercial court in France has dismissed Cardiff City's claim for £106m in compensation following the death of Emiliano Sala in a plane crash seven years ago. The court found that Nantes, Sala's former team, was not at fault in relation to the flight that resulted in Sala's death.The 28-year-old Argentine player was traveling from France to begin his career with Cardiff City when the single-engine Piper Malibu aircraft crashed into the sea near Guernsey, killing both Sala and pilot David Ibbotson. Cardiff had sought €122m (£106m) for loss of income and other damages from Nantes, claiming the French club was responsible because the flight was organized by an intermediary, Willie McKay.However, the court rejected Cardiff's contention, finding that McKay served as an agent for Nantes but did not organize the flight and was not aware of its illegality. The court also ruled that Nantes suffered moral damage and ordered Cardiff to pay €300,000 to the French club.Cardiff's lawyer, Céline Jones, expressed disappointment with the decision, stating that the club had initiated the process to uncover the truth and show respect for Sala's memory. In contrast, Nantes welcomed the decision, with their lawyer Jérôme Marsaudon saying the club was not responsible for the incident.This ruling follows previous decisions by Fifa and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), which have also gone against Cardiff in their legal dispute with Nantes. In 2022, Cas ruled that Sala's transfer had been finalized at the time of his death, and Fifa ordered Cardiff to pay Nantes the balance of Sala's transfer fee, amounting to just over €11m out of a total of €17m.

The Adelaide 36ers have taken a significant step by filing a formal complaint with the National Basketball League (NBL) against Andrew Bogut, co-owner and assistant coach of the Sydney Kings. The complaint alleges that Bogut made persistent and repeated personal attacks on 36ers owner Grant Kelley, specifically targeting his weight.According to reports, the tension between Bogut and Kelley escalated after Adelaide’s victory in game two of the championship series. Kelley claimed that Bogut made comments about his weight in the tunnel, which Bogut has since disputed. In response, Kelley addressed the issue publicly, stating, “Let’s just say I’m the size of Akebono the sumo wrestler, that’s my journey, that’s my issue.”Kelley also suggested that Bogut’s behavior could be attributed to a power trip, given his stature as a three-time Olympian and former NBA player. The 36ers organization took these allegations seriously, emphasizing that body shaming is not a joke but a real source of anxiety and emotional distress.The Sydney Kings did not directly address the allegations but released a statement through their chief executive, Mark Thompson, emphasizing that the club does not support commentary that goes beyond the court. The NBL championship series has been highly competitive, with the 36ers needing a win in game four to keep their hopes of a first title since 2002 alive.

Mercedes' dominant performance in the Formula One world championship has led to a unique situation where teammates Kimi Antonelli and George Russell are free to race each other without team orders. Team principal Toto Wolff confirmed that the two drivers are 'absolutely off the leash' to compete against one another, with the goal of continuing to provide them with a competitive car.Antonelli, 19, has taken the lead in the championship after winning the Japanese Grand Prix, his second consecutive victory. He now leads Russell by nine points, with Russell managing only fourth place in the recent race. Despite this, Wolff emphasized that there is no plan to implement team orders unless necessary towards the end of the season.Wolff explained, 'We're three races in, the car is good so we need to continue to do our job and give them a tool that they can continue to win or fight for the positions.' He added that the team will reassess the situation towards the end of the season to determine if any action needs to be taken.Russell, who won the opening round in Australia, has faced some challenges in the subsequent races. He cited mechanical issues and bad luck, including a safety car timing that didn't favor him. However, he remains optimistic about bouncing back stronger in the next race in Miami.Russell stated, 'At the moment, it is just one thing after the other. Racing can go for you, but it can also go against you too.' He expressed confidence in his abilities, saying, 'I know I have got what it takes to bounce back. I won't dwell on it.'

For the second consecutive year, US Vice President JD Vance has emerged as the leading candidate in the straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), a prominent right-wing gathering in the United States. The poll, which is not necessarily an accurate predictor of the Republican nominee, saw Vance secure 53 percent of the votes from nearly 1,600 attendees. This significant lead highlights Vance's strong support within the conservative base. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, another senior official under President Donald Trump, showed a notable improvement from last year's poll, where he tied for fourth place. Rubio garnered 35 percent of the vote, indicating a rising popularity among CPAC attendees. The straw poll results were announced on stage at the conference, which took place over four days and featured speakers such as Senator Ted Cruz, Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi, and Eduardo and Flavio Bolsonaro, sons of Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro. CPAC's annual conference tends to attract attendees from the political right, and this year's event was no exception. The poll results come at a critical time for the Republican Party, with less than eight months until the midterm elections in the US. The party is hoping to defend its congressional majorities amid challenges such as the ongoing war in Iran and rising gas prices. Vance, a veteran and former single-term senator from Ohio, is seen as representing a more isolationist branch of Trump's 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) base. He has been critical of US involvement in foreign conflicts but has defended Trump's decision to join Israel in joint strikes on Iran. Rubio, on the other hand, has a longer political resume and is viewed as more hawkish towards regime change, particularly in Cuba. Both Vance and Rubio had previously criticized Trump before joining his administration. While the CPAC straw poll has historically shown a realignment in the Republican Party around Trump's politics, it is not always an accurate predictor of future election outcomes. The party's consolidation around Trump's agenda has led to the marginalization of moderate and critical voices.

Jocelyn Bioh's Jaja's African Hair Braiding is a comedy that follows a day in the life of a Harlem braiding salon, owned by Jaja, who is on the cusp of marrying a white American and gaining citizenship. The play, directed by Monique Touko, has captivated audiences on Broadway with its infectious energy, humor, and charm.The story centers around the salon's staff, a diverse and lovable group of characters, each with their own story to tell. From Bea, the judgmental old-timer, to Ndidi, the no-nonsense newcomer, and Miriam, the sweet-natured optimist, the characters are skilfully drawn and larger than life, bringing the salon to life.The play tackles themes of identity, community, and the American Dream, highlighting the contrasts between the west African immigrants who work at the salon and their middle-class Black American customers. Through the characters' experiences, Bioh lays bare the gulf between them, revealing the complexities of citizenship, privilege, and belonging.Touko's direction and the performances of the cast, including Zainab Jah and Sewa Zamba, have been praised for their expert comic timing and charisma. The play's use of music and dance, featuring African pop numbers, adds to its vibrant and energetic atmosphere.Ultimately, Jaja's African Hair Braiding is a story about the strength and resilience of women and the power of community, making it a joyful and uplifting experience for audiences.

Max Verstappen, the Dutch Formula One driver and four-time world champion, expressed his frustration with his Red Bull car after qualifying 11th for the Japanese Grand Prix. The car has been struggling with new regulations that split power 50-50 between conventional and electrical sources.Verstappen described the car as 'undriveable', citing issues with turning mid-corner and oversteering on entry. 'The car never turns mid-corner, but at the same time this weekend, it's just oversteering a lot on entry. It's really difficult, unpredictable,' he told Sky Sports F1.In contrast, Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes secured pole position with a fastest lap of 1min 28.778sec, followed by teammate George Russell and McLaren's Oscar Piastri. Antonelli, 19, became the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history two weeks ago in China and has now secured back-to-back poles.Russell, who leads the early championship standings, was 0.298sec behind Antonelli and acknowledged struggling with his car during qualifying. 'I've been really comfortable with the car this whole weekend, it's just in qualifying something didn't quite feel right,' he said.The Japanese Grand Prix promises to be an exciting race, with Mercedes showing dominant form in dry conditions at Suzuka. Verstappen, who has won at Suzuka for the past four years, will look to bounce back from a difficult start to the season.

Jeepney driver Arturo Modelo of Manila says his daily earnings have collapsed to roughly one‑third of the usual 600 pesos after fuel costs surged, leaving him unable even to afford his child’s lunch money.Modelo joined a two‑day transport strike on Thursday and Friday, hoping to make a “deaf government” listen to the plight of drivers who can no longer earn a living on the road.The iconic jeepney, born from repurposed U.S. military vehicles after World War II, remains the most affordable commuter option in the Philippines, yet its operators are now bearing the brunt of a global oil shock.Last week, jeepney owners walked out, and this week the protest expanded to include bus, taxi, minibus and motorcycle‑taxi drivers. Nearly a dozen national transport groups marched to the Presidential Palace demanding price caps on petrol and diesel, the removal of fuel taxes, and stricter regulation of the oil sector.Organised under the No to Oil Price Hike Coalition, the demonstrators also blamed “American aggression” against Iran for the domestic economic distress, with union chair Jerome Adonis likening the impact to “a bomb dropped on us”.In response, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared a national energy emergency on Tuesday night – the first such declaration in the country’s history. The emergency, set to last one year, grants the government powers to accelerate fuel procurement, curb hoarding and curb profiteering.Fuel prices remain among the highest in Southeast Asia: diesel is now about $2.3 per litre and petrol close to $2 per litre in the Philippines, versus $2.7 and $2.35 respectively in Singapore, while Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand report roughly half those prices.To alleviate the burden, the administration has introduced a 5,000‑peso ($83) subsidy for motorcycle‑taxi drivers and other public‑transport workers, and disbursed 2.5 billion pesos (≈$414 million) in fuel subsidies to roughly 300,000 transport employees. Unions claim the sector employs about two million people, leaving many without aid.During the strike, picket lines appeared at 85 commuter terminals, and jeepneys were scarce on Manila’s usually congested streets. Authorities, however, argued that the action did not cripple the city’s transport network.Union leader Mody Floranda of the Piston group accused President Marcos of favouring oil companies, saying the president could issue an executive order to cap prices but has yet to act decisively.Energy officials note that 98 % of the Philippines’ crude oil is imported and that the country’s high 12 % value‑added tax, excise duties and a deregulated market – shaped by the Oil Industry Deregulation Law of 1998 – amplify price volatility. Professor Krista Yu of De La Salle University highlighted the nation’s limited refining capacity as a structural weakness.Chief economist Emmanuel Leyco warned that the law allowing industry‑driven price adjustments “is the main culprit”, especially as “half the population is poor”.Amid mounting pressure, Marcos signed legislation permitting the temporary suspension of fuel excise taxes when crude oil prices exceed a set threshold. Opposition lawmaker Renee Co urged that the 12 % VAT also be removed, calling both taxes “regressive” burdens on ordinary Filipinos.Co and other lawmakers have also filed a resolution demanding an immediate end to the U.S.‑Israel‑Iran conflict, linking regional geopolitics to the domestic fuel crisis.

Spain cruised to a 3-0 win over Serbia in a pre-World Cup friendly on Friday, thanks to a stellar performance from striker Mikel Oyarzabal. Oyarzabal scored two superb first-half goals, with the first coming in the 16th minute after a series of pinpoint passes led to a well-struck effort.Oyarzabal sealed his double with a tremendous shot from the edge of the box in the 44th minute. Despite dominating for most of the game, Spain's third goal did not come until the 72nd minute, when substitute Victor Munoz scored on his senior international debut after being set up by a brilliant back-heel from Ferran Torres.Spain will compete in Group H of the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, starting against Cape Verde on June 15, followed by matches against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. The Spanish team, who face Egypt next week, have also announced a final World Cup warm-up game against Peru.

The US Treasury Department has taken a strong stance against the Financial Times (FT), formally requesting a retraction of a report that suggested Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had discussed increasing oversight of the Federal Reserve in a manner similar to the Bank of England's model. In a detailed email to senior editors at the FT and its parent company, Nikkei Inc., Treasury officials disputed multiple claims in the story, criticizing the headline as misrepresenting the underlying reporting. The FT had reported on March 26 that Bessent had discussed adopting practices similar to the Bank of England, including regular communication between the Fed governor and the US Treasury Secretary over inflation targets. Treasury officials denied that Bessent had endorsed such views or discussed adopting similar practices in Washington. They also took issue with the headline, which stated that Bessent had 'praised' the Bank of England model for tighter oversight, a claim that did not appear in the text of the story. “The Secretary has never made any of the above statements in public or private,” Elliott Hulse, the acting assistant secretary for public affairs, wrote in the email. “At no time has the secretary ‘discussed tightening the US Treasury’s oversight of the Federal Reserve by adopting elements of the Bank of England’s model in a step that would shake up the central bank’s relationship with government.’” The FT responded by stating they were confident in the accuracy of their story, including US Treasury responses in the article. This incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding the Federal Reserve's political independence, especially following Donald Trump's repeated threats to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell for not reducing borrowing costs as requested. Investors prioritize the Fed's independence in making policy decisions, as political pressure could lead to rapid inflation and subsequent sharp rate increases. The Treasury's actions mark an effort to discredit the FT report, with Bessent himself denying the claims on social media.