Breaking AI & Tech News Analyzed

Arsenal manager Thomas Tuchel has defended Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka over their withdrawals from the England squad, citing '100% trust' in their integrity. The players were absent due to discomfort after the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.Rice and Saka reported for training but continued to feel discomfort, prompting them to stand down. Tuchel emphasized that the pair wanted to be involved but were clearly uncomfortable. He understands the optics of multiple Arsenal players being unavailable or withdrawing from international duty but stressed his trust in Rice and Saka's honesty.The withdrawals come amid a busy schedule for Premier League clubs, which Tuchel sees as a threat to England's World Cup hopes due to player fatigue. He noted that scans on Noni Madueke's knee were 'slightly better than his feeling but he will be out for some days'.Jude Bellingham will not play against Japan as he recovers from a hamstring injury, while Jordan Henderson is unlikely to feature after following an individual program.

Israel's parliament has passed a law that makes the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank found guilty of intentionally carrying out deadly attacks deemed acts of terrorism by a military court.The legislation, initiated by the far-right Otzma Yehudit party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, has drawn sharp criticism from opponents who warned it would mark a significant escalation in Israel's penal policy and potentially breach international law.According to the bill, those sentenced to death will be held in a separate facility with no visits except for from authorised personnel, with legal consultations conducted only by video link. Executions will be carried out within 90 days of sentencing.Israel has rarely used the death penalty, applying it only in exceptional cases. The Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was the last person to be executed, in 1962.The measure will allow courts to impose the death penalty without a request from prosecutors and without requiring unanimity, instead permitting a simple majority decision. Military courts in the occupied West Bank will also be empowered to hand down death sentences.For Palestinians under occupation, the bill closes off avenues for appeal or clemency, while prisoners tried inside Israel could have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.The legislation has been condemned by UN experts, the EU's diplomatic service, Amnesty International, and several countries, including Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, who expressed 'deep concern' over the legislation.The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the legislation as a breach of international law and a doomed bid meant to intimidate Palestinians.

Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, the company behind the popular online game Fortnite, has issued an apology after facing backlash for laying off an employee with terminal brain cancer. The layoff not only resulted in the loss of income for the employee's family but also meant they would lose their life insurance. The controversy began when Jenni Griffin, the wife of Mike Prinke, a laid-off employee, shared their story on social media. She revealed that her husband was fighting terminal brain cancer and that the layoff meant they would lose his life insurance. Griffin expressed her concerns about the financial burden they would face, including the cost of a funeral and burial. Sweeney responded to Griffin's post, apologizing for not recognizing the situation earlier and promising that Epic Games would solve the insurance issue for the family. He stated that the company would provide a solution to ensure the family receives the necessary support. Epic Games announced the mass layoffs on March 24, citing a downturn in Fortnite engagement and a need to make major cuts to keep the company funded. Sweeney justified the layoffs by saying that the company was spending significantly more than it was making. Affected employees were offered a severance package, including at least four months of base pay, along with other benefits tied to tenure at the company. The layoffs have sparked controversy, with many questioning the decision to let go of over 1,000 employees despite the company's annual profits of $4 billion. Fortnite is the world's fourth most-played PC game, and the company's financial situation has raised concerns about the impact of the layoffs on employees and their families. Griffin's post, which included a picture of her husband's brain scan, quickly went viral, prompting Sweeney to respond and offer support to the family. The incident has highlighted the human impact of corporate decisions and the need for companies to consider the well-being of their employees.

Mauricio Pochettino has distanced himself from speculation linking him to a return to Tottenham Hotspur, stating his full focus is on leading the US men's national team at the upcoming World Cup. Despite being linked to the Spurs managerial role, Pochettino emphasized his commitment to his current position.Pochettino, who led Spurs to significant successes during his tenure from 2014-2019, expressed confidence that his former club will avoid relegation, despite their challenging season. He cited the team's talented players and passionate fans as key factors in their likely survival.With Tottenham hovering just above the relegation zone and seven matches remaining, Pochettino's comments offer a boost to the club's morale. The team is reportedly close to appointing Roberto De Zerbi as their new manager, with a long-term contract on the table.Pochettino also left open the possibility of extending his stay with the US men's national team, stating that discussions about his future will take place after the World Cup. For now, his priority remains the team's upcoming friendly against Portugal.

The UK government is poised to fully nationalize British Steel within weeks, a significant move that would mark a major shift in the country's steel industry. British Steel, which employs 3,500 people at its Scunthorpe plant, has been under government control since last April, when the Chinese owner, Jingye, threatened to shut down the site. The steelmaker operates the last two remaining blast furnaces in the UK, crucial for producing steel from scratch. The government's decision to nationalize the company is driven by the need to maintain domestic steel production, which is considered vital for national security and economic growth. Ministers had offered Jingye £100m for British Steel earlier this month, but the offer was rejected. The Chinese company had initially demanded over £1bn. The government may now set Jingye a deadline to reach a deal or proceed with nationalization. The cost of keeping British Steel running has ballooned to £377m by the end of January, with projections suggesting it could exceed £1.5bn by 2028 if current trends continue. The National Audit Office has highlighted the need for a swift resolution to the ownership issue. Gareth Stace, director general of UK Steel, has expressed support for nationalization, stating it would provide vital certainty for the workforce, customers, and supply chain. The sector has seen significant interest from potential buyers, including Miami-based investor Michael Flacks. The UK government's move to protect the steel industry comes as part of broader efforts to counter cheap Chinese imports. Earlier in March, ministers announced plans to double tariffs on imported steel and reduce the amount of steel that can be bought from abroad.

Gary Woodland has emerged victorious at the Houston Open, a triumph that seemed improbable just 30 months ago when he underwent brain surgery. His journey to this moment was further complicated by his recent struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Woodland's win, secured with a closing three-under 67, was a dominant performance that saw him finish five shots ahead of Nicolai Hojgaard. This victory is not only his fifth career win but also his first since the 2019 US Open at Pebble Beach, making it a significant milestone in his career. The emotional weight of Woodland's journey was palpable as he described the moment of victory. The gallery's chant of his name fell silent as he prepared to roll in the winning putt, a moment he described as 'a good day' after a long and challenging period. Woodland's struggles began in 2023 when he discovered a lesion on his brain that caused unfounded fears about his mortality. Surgery in September 2023 removed much of the lesion, but he continued to face challenges with PTSD. Just two weeks ago, he opened up about his struggles in a Golf Channel interview, sharing that he often felt like he was 'living a lie' and that he was 'dying' inside. His decision to go public with his struggles has had a profoundly positive impact, allowing him to feel '1,000lbs lighter'. Despite ongoing challenges, Woodland expressed hope and gratitude for the support of his loved ones, particularly his wife, Gabby Granado, who was instrumental in his recovery. This victory not only marks a personal triumph for Woodland but also a professional one, as it secures his eligibility for the Masters in two weeks and moves him up to No 51 in the world ranking, his highest in five years. The win also underscores his standing on the PGA Tour, with Hojgaard and Min Woo Lee choosing to let him have the moment to himself on the 18th green. Woodland's resilience and determination serve as a powerful reminder to anyone struggling with their own challenges, as he poignantly noted, 'We play an individual sport out here, but I wasn’t alone today.'

Dayton Webber, a quadruple amputee cornhole champion, has been arrested on suspicion of murder after allegedly shooting and killing his friend, Bradrick Wells, in a suburban Washington DC area. Webber's ex-girlfriend, Tori Mattingly, claims he had a 'dark side' and was prone to anger and control during their four-year relationship.Mattingly shared a video with TMZ that allegedly shows Webber shouting at her and demanding she leave his property. She also made allegations of abuse and claimed she was not surprised by the murder charge against him.According to the sheriff's office in Charles county, Maryland, Webber was driving three passengers in his car on the night of March 22 when he began arguing with his front-seat passenger, Wells, and shot him twice in the head. Webber allegedly asked his other passengers to help him remove Wells's body from the car, but they refused and fled the vehicle.Police later found Wells's body in a local yard and tracked Webber down about 150 miles away in Virginia, where he had allegedly sought treatment at a hospital for an unspecified medical issue. Webber faces charges of murder, assault, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.Despite his disabilities, Webber became a budding wrestler and football player, then became a champion in the sport of cornhole, recording numerous tournament wins in the American Cornhole League (ACL). His former doubles partner, Mike Hoffman, expressed shock and sadness at Webber's arrest, saying 'If the allegations are true, he's made some terrible decisions'.

Actor Corey Feldman, known for his role in Stand By Me, has spoken out about being omitted from the Oscars tribute to Rob Reiner earlier this month. Reiner, along with his wife Michele, was remembered during the Academy Awards' in memoriam section. Feldman expressed his feelings of being snubbed, likening it to 'a family reunion I wasn’t invited to.' He mentioned that his co-stars from Stand By Me, Jerry O'Connell and Wil Wheaton, were present at the tribute. “I think Jerry and Wil did what had to be done,” Feldman said. “It was a fleeting moment, so I don’t feel like I missed much at all. Although they did a wonderful job, I would’ve liked to have heard from Wil and Jerry and a few other people up there.” Feldman also noted that plans for events to mark the 40th anniversary of Stand By Me have been scaled down following Reiner's death. “We all would’ve loved to be able to say goodbye in our own ways. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen,” he said. “The best way we can say goodbye is honouring him and his work … and hopefully going out there to celebrate him one last time on a big screen where it deserves to be seen.” The Reiners were found dead at their home on December 14. Their son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

A sexual assault survivor has spoken out against Travelodge's decision to cancel a meeting with MPs, calling it 'shocking'. The meeting was intended to discuss the hotel chain's security processes and procedures that allowed the assault to occur.The survivor, who was attacked by Kyran Smith in December 2022, expressed her disappointment and frustration with Travelodge's handling of the incident. More than 20 MPs had demanded the meeting to discuss the matter, including details of the chain's security processes and procedures that led to it offering the victim an 'insulting' £30 refund after the incident.Prime Minister Keir Starmer had written to Travelodge's CEO, Jo Boydell, saying he was 'very concerned' about the meeting's cancellation. He pressed the hotel chain to 'seriously engage' with MPs over the 'utterly appalling' assault.The survivor told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'I think if you are the CEO of a company, then you have a responsibility to answer these questions and engage in that situation, and say how you're going to now improve.' She also expressed her skepticism about Boydell's claims that the hotel rooms had deadbolts, saying it was 'deflection'.Boydell has apologized to the survivor and said the company had made immediate changes to its door key policy. However, the survivor is taking legal action against the hotel chain.