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In a scorching afternoon at Bilbao’s San Mamés, defending champions Bordeaux confirmed their supremacy by overwhelming Leinster 35‑7 to secure a second consecutive Champions Cup.The decisive final at San Mamés: Bordeaux vs LeinsterThe match unfolded under clear skies, with Bordeaux displaying relentless attacking flair. Early pressure from Leinster produced a try by Tommy O’Brien, but Bordeaux quickly responded, exploiting gaps created by Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert. A controversial disallowed try for Leinster’s Cameron Woki further shifted momentum.First half: Bordeaux led 21‑7.Second half: Bordeaux added two more tries and two penalties.Key performers: Louis Bielle-Biarrey (2 tries), Pablo Uberti, Yoram Moefana (Leinster).Scoreline and key statisticsThe final tally highlighted the gulf between the sides:35 points for Bordeaux vs 7 for Leinster.5 tries for Bordeaux, 3 for Leinster.34 tries scored by Bielle‑Biarrey this season (30 games).Penalty conversion rate: 2 successful kicks by Lucu.French dominance in European club rugbyThis victory marks the sixth straight Champions Cup won by a French club, underscoring the growing gap between French Top 14 sides and their British‑Irish rivals. France’s national team also captured the Six Nations this year, reinforcing the nation’s current rugby ascendancy.Six consecutive French club titles (2021‑2026).Top 14 clubs now regularly feature in the latter stages of European competition.Leinster’s last European triumph was in 2022, highlighting a shift in power.What the victory means for Bordeaux’s futureRetaining the Cup cements Bordeaux’s status as the benchmark for modern European rugby. With a potent back‑line and a disciplined defense, the club is poised to chase a third straight title, while rivals will need to overhaul tactics and recruitment to close the widening gap.Potential recruitment focus on reinforcing the forward pack.Increased commercial appeal and sponsorship opportunities.Strategic emphasis on maintaining player fitness in high‑temperature venues.

The Call for Free Champions League Final Keir Starmer has written to broadcaster TNT Sports asking it to make next weekend’s Champions League final free to view. The move is the latest measure that appears designed to appeal directly to voters, after the government announced earlier this week that it would cut VAT on entry to some attractions – such as theme parks, zoos and museums – during the school summer holidays. Starmer's Letter to TNT Sports Starmer, who has a season ticket for recently crowned Premier League champions Arsenal, told TNT Sports on Friday that he was “saddened” that the club’s match with Paris Saint-Germain would not be free to watch for supporters in the UK. The fixture is due to be played in Budapest next Saturday evening and will mark the first time British viewers will be unable to watch the final free of charge. It will be streamed by TNT Sports on HBO Max, where the cheapest subscription package costs £4.99 per month. In his letter, Starmer said: “The Champions League is the biggest club football competition in the world and rightly means a lot to fans in this country – the home of football. I am a firm believer that the final of this competition should remain free to watch, whether Arsenal have made it or not. The Data Analysis Cheapest subscription package to HBO Max: £4.99 per month First time British viewers will have to pay to watch the Champions League final The Impact Analysis The prime minister is fighting for his political life after disastrous local election results earlier this month. He is widely expected to face a leadership challenge from Andy Burnham if the Greater Manchester mayor wins the Makerfield byelection next month. Labour MPs have long feared that the party faces heavy losses should Starmer lead it into the next election amid a sharp increase in support for Reform UK. The Prediction Starmer's move to make the Champions League final free to view is seen as an attempt to appeal directly to voters and boost his leadership credentials. However, it remains to be seen whether this move will have a significant impact on the polls.

The Security VulnerabilityTrump Mobile, a phone company launched by Donald Trump's family business, is investigating a potential security flaw on its website that appears to have exposed the personal details of an estimated 27,000 people who sought to buy a gold-coloured smartphone. The company stated it is investigating the issue "with the assistance of independent cybersecurity professionals" in which the full names, addresses and phone numbers of people who filled out preorder forms appeared to be exposed.Based on the available information, Trump Mobile has not identified evidence that its systems, infrastructure, or network were directly compromised. The investigation remains ongoing. At this time, the incident does not appear to involve Trump Mobile payment card information, banking information, Social Security numbers, call records, text messages, or other highly sensitive financial data. The impacted information appears to be limited to certain customer details, including names, email addresses, mailing addresses, order identifiers and mobile phone numbers.The Technical DetailsAn Australian programmer, who has been working in IT for nearly 20 years, incidentally discovered the site's possible security flaws and reported them to Trump Mobile. Jonathan Soma, a programmer and professor at New York's Columbia University, reviewed the code that the Australian had uncovered and copied from the Trump Mobile website. Soma said the website used a common e-commerce model, in which every potential order added another "1" to a list, the total of which had reached 27,224 possible pre-orders on the available information.However, the code reflected the last step before payment, meaning those who didn't proceed with the purchase were also recorded in the data, even those people who have abandoned their carts without paying the deposit. The true number of preorders was likely to be even lower than the initial count.Customer Impact and Company ResponseTrump Mobile has stated that additional safeguards and monitoring measures are now in place, and it is "also evaluating any applicable notification obligations." The company advised customers to remain alert for any suspicious emails, calls or text messages regarding their orders, and emphasized that "Trump Mobile will not ask customers to provide payment information, passwords, or other sensitive information through unsolicited communications."Context of the Trump Mobile LaunchThe discovery coincided with Trump Mobile beginning to distribute its bespoke T1 smartphones after an almost 10-month delay and an about-face on the company's initial promise to manufacture the phones in the US. The Trump Mobile website now says the phones are "designed with American values in mind." Last week, the company's chief executive, Pat O'Brien, said the first T1 phones were assembled in the US and, moving forward, would use components "primarily manufactured" locally.O'Brien would not confirm how many preorders there had been and told USA Today that Trump Mobile was "incredibly pleased" with the interest in its products. He said the T1 phones were starting to be shipped to customers.

Jonas Vingegaard claimed the Giro d’Italia pink jersey for the first time after a solo victory on the demanding summit finish of stage 14, cementing his status as the race favourite.Vingegaard’s Decisive Attack on the Aosta‑Pila ClimbFrom the 133 km route between Aosta and Pila, the Visma‑Lease a Bike rider launched his attack with under 5 km to go, breaking away from the peloton and holding off all challengers to the summit.Stage 14 Time Gaps and New General ClassificationJonas Vingegaard – stage winner, now leaderFelix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) – 49 seconds behindJai Hindley – third place on the dayAfonso Eulalio (Bahrain Victorious) – dropped to second overall, 2 min 26 s behind VingegaardImplications for the Giro d’Italia ContestThe victory gives Vingegaard a substantial buffer ahead of the remaining mountain stages, while his rivals must now chase a growing deficit. His performance on the earlier summit finishes (stages 7 and 9) and now on stage 14 demonstrates superior climbing form and tactical acumen.What Lies Ahead for the Pink JerseyWith several high‑altitude stages still to run, Vingegaard will aim to defend his lead against attacks from Gall, Hindley and other climbers. The next key battlegrounds are expected on the Dolomites and the final time trial, where any time loss could reshuffle the podium.

The Goalkeeping Masterclass That Sealed Charlton's WSL FutureSophie Whitehouse etched her name into Charlton folklore as she saved four penalties in the shootout to win her side promotion to the Women's Super League and relegated Leicester in the process. The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper's heroics gave Charlton a 2-1 victory on penalties to settle the nerviest playoff tie you could imagine after a goalless 120 minutes. The result capped off a dismal season for Leicester, who have lost every match they have played in 2026, while for Charlton the joy was unbridled and it was a case of 'second-time lucky' after they had lost a decisive game on the regular season's final day that had seen them miss out on automatic promotion.The Historic Playoff Drama at The ValleyThe first time such a playoff tie has been seen in the WSL, this fixture was introduced by the league partly with the idea of having a showcase game to draw in interest for broadcasters and create a climax to the season. They certainly got the drama they were hoping for at the very end but most of the match was remarkably cagey, lacking quality and low on chances.Leicester arrived in south-east London on a dismal run, winless since the middle of December, having lost 11 consecutive league games and 12 in a row in all competitions. Charlton were similarly low on confidence after ending the regular league campaign with a disappointing run of just one win and four defeats in their final seven league matches, which saw them surrender an automatic promotion spot. Charlton had been nine points clear in mid-March, and missed a chance to go 12 points clear earlier that month, but were eventually overtaken by both Crystal Palace and Birmingham, who won the title with a pivotal victory at Charlton on the season's final day.The Financial Stakes of Women's Football PromotionCompared to the £205m that was on the line about 15 miles away, for the men's playoff decider between Hull and Middlesbrough, the financial prize on offer for securing a top-flight place in the WSL was rather more negligible in comparison, with one club source estimating to the Guardian that the winner would stand to benefit from a boost in the 'hundreds of thousands of pounds' through a greater share of central distribution money compared to WSL2. The greater value in top-flight WSL football lies in the potential increase in club-specific commercial deals that can be negotiated as a result of the greater exposure offered with live games on the BBC and Sky Sports, with another source with knowledge of a WSL club's finances estimating that could be worth more than a million pounds per season, or more, depending on each club's voracity in sponsorship negotiations.How This Reshapes the Women's Football LandscapeBut try telling any of the players or staff – or the 3,979 fans in attendance who set a new club record for a Charlton women's home match at The Valley, surpassing the previous record that had stood for 23 years – that this was any less important. The passionate turnout demonstrates the growing interest in women's football and the significance of promotion to the top tier. Charlton's elevation to the WSL brings another competitive London-based team to the league, potentially increasing local rivalries and drawing more media attention to the sport in the capital. Meanwhile, Leicester's relegation marks a significant downturn for a club that had previously invested in their women's team, highlighting the competitive volatility in the lower tiers of women's football.What's Next for Charlton and LeicesterFor Charlton, the focus now shifts to preparing for life in the WSL, where they will face established top-tier teams and likely need to strengthen their squad to compete at the higher level. Their goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse has already proven her worth with the Golden Glove award in WSL2 and her heroics in the playoff, but the team as a whole will need to adapt to the increased pace and physicality of the top division. For Leicester, the challenge is to regroup immediately and build a squad capable of winning promotion back to the WSL at the first attempt, learning from their dismal 2026 campaign that saw them lose every match. Both clubs will now be navigating the complex financial landscape of women's football, with Charlton seeking to capitalize on their new top-tier status through commercial opportunities, while Leicester must find ways to maintain investment despite being in the second tier.

The Stage is Set for the CAF Champions League Final South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns will defend a 1-0 lead over Moroccan hosts AS FAR Rabat on Sunday in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final, a match that will be broadcast in more than 100 countries. The Pressure on Sundowns Coach Miguel Cardoso It is also a game that has Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso under pressure, having lost the last two finals, and who is now leading the team into the most valuable club match staged in African football history. The Stakes are High in the CAF Champions League Final The aggregate winners of the marquee African club competition pocket a record $6m plus the chance to bank a further $500,000 by winning a CAF Super Cup match. On top of that, whichever club is crowned champions at the 70,000-seat Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium is set for a minimum $9.5m payout as 2029 FIFA Club World Cup qualifiers. Sundowns' Form in the South African Premiership A day before Sundowns face AS FAR, Orlando Pirates won the South African Premiership by beating Orbit College, whose relegation was confirmed by the 2-0 defeat. With the Pirates crowned champions, it ends an incredible run by Sundowns, who won the last eight editions of the richest African national league. Cardoso's Thoughts on Sundowns' Form The 53-year-old Portuguese admitted to reporters that Sundowns should have won the first leg by a wider margin last Sunday. “We could have scored one more goal and created a greater advantage,” said Cardoso. He might have been referring to Brayan Leon missing a sitter or a Teboho Mokoena free-kick hitting the post. The Contrast Between the Coaches In the AS FAR dugout will be another Portuguese coach, Alexandre Santos, four years younger than Cardoso. He is seeking his first African trophy. The contrast between the coaches is sharp. Cardoso moves up and down his technical area constantly, issuing instructions. Can a South African Side End North Africa's CAF Dominance? Victory for Sundowns would end a run of nine straight Champions League titles for North African clubs, including two for Moroccan outfit Wydad Casablanca, since Sundowns triumphed in 2016. History offers few clues to the likely outcome, as six clubs have taken 1-0 first-leg leads in finals, with three going on to become champions and three failing.

The Influence of Big Tech on Trump's AI Executive Order Only hours before Donald Trump was set to sign a long-awaited executive order on Thursday that would have called for a government safety review of new artificial intelligence models before their release, the president abruptly backed out. Despite growing public backlash to the technology and experts warning new models will pose critical security risks, Trump vowed the US government would not slow down the AI race. The Event Details During a meeting with reporters on Thursday, Trump cited both American dominance and competition with China and as his reasoning behind the reversal. "I didn’t like certain aspects of it, I postponed it," Trump said of the executive order in the Oval Office. "We’re leading China, we’re leaving everybody, and I don’t want to do anything that’s gonna get in the way of that lead." The Data Analysis Trump’s postponing of the order was a victory for tech leaders who have long opposed AI regulation and spent millions lobbying against it. The decision was also the direct result of their influence, according to reports from multiple news outlets, with tech billionaires including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and former White House “AI czar” David Sacks personally urging Trump to reverse course in private phone calls. The Impact Analysis The AI industry has greatly benefitted from Trump’s anti-regulation stance. The president has publicly embraced industry leaders including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman while appointing others such as Musk and Sacks to prominent government positions. In December the president signed an executive order seeking to block any state attempts on regulating AI, giving well-worn tech industry talking points about opposing bureaucracy and combating China as his rationale. The Prediction Less than a month after the first reports that the White House was considering vetting AI models, the prospect of the Trump administration creating any stringent AI regulations once again appears extremely unlikely. The threat of a global breakdown in cybersecurity joins disinformation, mass surveillance, as concerns that are not being addressed.

French police have temporarily suspended the extra EU border checks at Dover, allowing thousands of holidaymakers to move more quickly amid scorching temperatures and queues exceeding two hours for the cross‑Channel ferry to France. The move, triggered under article 9 of the EU entry‑exit system (EES) regulations, aims to ease congestion during the first peak period since the digital system went live.Temporary Suspension of Extra EU Entry‑Exit Checks at DoverThe port of Dover announced that the Police Aux Frontières (PAF) invoked the article 9 clause, permitting a short‑term relaxation of the new digital checks while maintaining conventional passport controls. The port emphasized cooperation with PAF and partners to clear traffic and keep local roads open.Heat Wave and Queue Times Exacerbate Travel DisruptionWaiting times reported: more than two hours at the terminal.Temperatures forecast: up to 29°C in parts of England on Saturday, rising to 33°C (91°F) over the bank‑holiday weekend.Met Office amber heat health alerts covering East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London and South‑East until 5 pm Wednesday.These conditions compounded the operational challenges of the newly‑implemented EES, which replaces passport stamps with a digital registration and became fully operational last month.Implications for EU Border Policy and UK Tourism Post‑BrexitThe suspension underscores tensions between EU security objectives and the practicalities of cross‑Channel travel for a post‑Brexit United Kingdom. EasyJet CEO Kenton Jarvis urged EU states, especially Spain, to reconsider the rollout, warning that prolonged checks could deter holidaymakers. Non‑EU passengers and transport providers have already voiced concerns about the system’s impact on British travelers.What the Next Peak Period May Hold for Cross‑Channel TravelAnalysts expect the following developments:Increased pressure on Dover to negotiate further temporary relaxations during future peak periods.Potential revisions to the EES implementation timetable to accommodate seasonal spikes and heat‑related delays.Heightened scrutiny from EU officials on the balance between security and efficiency, especially as more member states adopt the system.Stakeholders are advised to monitor EU Commission statements and UK port authority updates ahead of the upcoming summer travel surge.

The Injury Blow England's top-order batter Jacob Bethell will return to the UK to be "fully assessed" on the finger injury he picked up playing in the Indian Premier League. Bethell's IPL Absence Bethell was missing from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru side which lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday, with the captain, Rajat Patidar, confirming the 22-year-old had damaged his finger. The Impact on England's Test Squad The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed on Saturday afternoon Bethell would have further checks once he had returned home. A statement read: "The England and Wales Cricket Board has agreed with Royal Challengers Bangalore that top-order batter Jacob Bethell will return to the UK after sustaining a left ring finger injury while playing in the Indian Premier League. Possible Replacement and Future Tests Should Bethell not be fit to face New Zealand, then Somerset's James Rew would be in line for his debut, having been included in the squad as batting and wicketkeeping cover. Jofra Archer is already missing the Lord's Test against New Zealand due to his stint with Rajasthan Royals.