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Unai Emery has cautioned his Aston Villa side to approach Bologna with respect if they hope to progress in the Europa League with a victory over their Italian opponents. The Aston Villa manager described Bologna as a 'winner team' and emphasized the challenges of competing in Europe's top competitions.“To win in Europe is very, very difficult,” Emery said. “Firstly you must respect this competition. Because if you are not respecting the competition, if you are not focusing 100%, you are close to being out. And I have a lot of experiences with these situations.”Emery, who has won the Europa League a record four times as a manager, acknowledged that Villa could not be considered favorites for the quarter-final tie against Bologna. He highlighted Bologna's recent successes, including their 4-3 win away at Roma in the round of 16, which qualified them for the quarter-finals.“Bologna is a winner team, it’s a team that in the last years are playing fantastic and they are winning finals like last year [in the Coppa Italia],” Emery said. “I have respect for them as well as knowledge about the difficulties and this round for us is a huge challenge. We are ready but we are not going to send the message that we can be favourites because after the Roma tie it is 50-50.”Emery also anticipated a lively atmosphere at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, urging his players to be resilient and prepared for an intense match. “The supporters are always so important and they will create a great atmosphere here, which will be fantastic for them,” he said. “For us, it’s going to be very difficult. Every experience we are having in Europe, playing away, is more difficult than playing at home.”

When Nike unveiled its official 2026 World Cup kit range in March, the designs were widely praised, with the United States' home shirt hailed as the most distinctive in years and other nations such as France, England, Canada and Uruguay receiving positive feedback.However, during the recent international break, a growing chorus of supporters highlighted a recurring problem: a pronounced bulge along the shoulder seam of many of the new jerseys. While the effect was subtle on some kits, it was stark on others – notably the sleek France shirt worn by Kylian Mbappé and the Uruguay jerseys that resembled a cartoon villain’s armor.Fans took to social media to share photos and complaints, with some claiming that steaming or pre‑washing the garments temporarily eased the issue, while others expressed outright frustration, describing the design as “stupid” and unsuitable for broader shoulder widths.Given that the jerseys retail for between $100 and $200, the defect poses a significant concern for both consumers and the national federations that expect their players to look immaculate on football’s biggest stage.In a statement to The Guardian, Nike acknowledged the flaw, noting that the problem was most evident during the recent break and that “performance is unaffected, but the overall aesthetic is not where it needs to be.” The company added that it is reviewing possible solutions in collaboration with partner federations and suppliers.The kits are built around Nike’s Aero‑FIT system, a computational‑design and stitch‑specific knitting process marketed as a way to keep athletes cool in what could be the hottest World Cup ever, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico. A source familiar with the technology confirmed that AI‑driven design data underpins the process.Nevertheless, the shoulder‑seam issue raises questions about the feasibility of a redesign with the tournament less than two months away and millions of jerseys already sold. Nike officials indicated that any corrective action would require a massive logistical effort.“We are a global team of best‑in‑class designers, creators and dreamers who spend every day thinking about how to innovate, challenge ourselves, and take risks that push the beautiful game,” the company said. “We always hold ourselves and our products to the highest standards and this fell short. We’re working quickly to make this right for players and fans, because every kit should reflect the care, precision and pride that the game deserves.”Nike’s partnership with the United States runs until 2033, while England’s agreement with the FA extends to 2030, meaning the brand will continue to supply kits for future tournaments despite this setback.

The recent ceasefire between the US and Iran offers a glimmer of hope for the energy crisis that has been exacerbated by the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. However, the deal's stability is already being questioned, with Iran claiming that Israel's attacks on Lebanon breach the agreement. Even if the ceasefire holds and hundreds of tankers stranded in the Gulf start to transit once more, analysts fear that it will not be enough to return the flow of oil, gas, chemicals, and other vital items to pre-crisis levels. An estimated 2,000 vessels with about 20,000 seafarers onboard have been trapped in the Gulf since the outbreak of the conflict. Shipping analysts and owners have cautioned that even a temporary ceasefire does not provide a sufficient guarantee that it is safe to make the passage, particularly because Iran's foreign minister has stated that transit will be under Iranian military management. Many questions remain for shipowners and their captains over whether it is safe to navigate through the strait. The disruption has been compounded by the forced shutdown of oil and gas production across the Gulf as storage facilities reached capacity. In addition, many key energy production sites have been damaged by drone attacks. Experts have said it could take months or years to fully restore the Gulf's energy production. Energy markets have fallen sharply on the hope that millions of barrels of crude oil and gas trapped in the Gulf could soon help to relieve a crisis that the International Energy Agency has said is more serious than the energy flashpoints in 1973, 1979, and 2022 combined. However, traders are also expected to price in a continuing 'geopolitical risk premium' to reflect uncertainty over whether the ceasefire will hold.

Retail workers in the UK are demanding more robust security measures in stores after a Waitrose employee was sacked for tackling a shoplifter. The incident has highlighted the growing concern over retail crime and the need for enhanced security protocols to protect workers.The employee, Walker Smith, was fired two days after stopping a shoplifter from taking items from an Easter egg display, including Lindt chocolate bunnies. Waitrose has faced criticism for its handling of the situation, with the company stating that it prioritizes employee safety and will not put anyone's life at risk.Joanne Thomas, general secretary of Usdaw, the shop workers' union, emphasized the importance of a physical security presence in stores. According to Usdaw's 2025 annual survey, 59% of members would welcome more security in stores because security guards provide reassurance, act as a deterrent, and have specialist experience to deal with incidents.Richard Walker, chief executive of Iceland, suggested that shop workers need more tools, including AI and potentially batons, to deter thieves. He noted that facial recognition technology is being used in some stores but its effectiveness is limited due to concerns over human rights.The incident has also sparked calls for security guards to be allowed to wear stab-proof vests while on shift. Daniel Garnham, general secretary of the Security Industry Federation, said that assaults on workers are getting worse and becoming an everyday occurrence.Lucy Whing, crime policy lead at the British Retail Consortium, stated that retailers have invested £5bn over the past five years on crime prevention measures, including increased security personnel, body-worn cameras, and anti-theft devices.

Opening new oil and gas fields in the North Sea would send a shock wave around the world, senior climate diplomats warned, saying the move would imperil international climate targets, erode the United Kingdom’s reputation as a climate leader and embolden developing countries to exploit their own fossil‑fuel reserves.The UK government faces intense lobbying from the oil industry, Conservative MPs, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, certain trade unions and factions within the Treasury. Yet research shows that new drilling would do little to lower energy prices and would have almost no impact on gas imports.Two of the remaining large North Sea prospects – the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields – sit in a basin that is over 90% depleted and increasingly costly to develop. Even if fully exploited, they would displace only about 1% and 2% of the UK’s gas imports respectively, according to recent analysis.Senior figures in international climate diplomacy described the prospect of new drilling as dangerous for global emissions‑reduction efforts and a step back from the phase‑out of fossil fuels.Lord Nicolas Stern, professor at the London School of Economics, warned that “new drilling and a slowdown in climate action would be bad for growth and for energy security in the UK, and a damaging signal for the world.” He added that the UK’s pioneering climate legislation and its role as the first G7 nation to commit to net‑zero by 2050 give its actions “extra weight” on the global stage.An anonymous senior African negotiator reacted angrily to the proposal, stating that Africa would “reject any proposal for the UK to expand oil drilling” because it is “fundamentally inconsistent with both the letter and spirit of the Paris Agreement” and would “weaken trust with climate‑vulnerable nations”.Christiana Figueres, former UN climate chief and co‑founder of the Global Optimism think‑tank, argued that true energy independence lies in “scaling clean, domestic energy, not in extending the life of declining industries”. She cautioned that reverting to old‑fashioned oil expansion would lock in infrastructure at odds with the direction of the global energy system.The UK has been a vocal supporter of an upcoming conference in Colombia on the “transition away from fossil fuels”, a pledge made three years ago at COP28 that remains largely unfulfilled. However, the Guardian learned that Ed Miliband, the UK secretary of state for energy security and net‑zero, will not attend; the government’s climate envoy, Rachel Kyte, will travel in his place.Campaigners had urged Miliband’s presence, citing his pivotal role in securing a last‑minute deal at COP30 in Brazil last November.Experts caution that licensing new fields before the Colombian summit could undermine progress in persuading developing nations to forgo fossil‑fuel‑based economies and adopt cleaner energy pathways.Mohamed Adow, director of the Power Shift Africa think‑tank, warned that a UK approval would “send a shock wave around the world that short‑term interests are being prioritised over long‑term responsibility”. He stressed that many African countries are being asked to leapfrog to clean energy with limited financial support, and that wealthy nations continuing to invest in fossil fuels “undermine this message and diminish their credibility”.Several developing‑country officials echoed this concern, asking, “Why shouldn’t we tap into our own fossil‑fuel resources if the UK is doing so?” They argued that leadership on climate must be consistent with actions.An ally of Miliband praised the UK’s stance, calling “no new exploration licences” a “landmark global leadership position” that shows a major oil‑producing country can align policy with climate science to avoid a 3‑4°C warming scenario.A government spokesperson reaffirmed the administration’s commitment, stating that the UK has placed “clean energy and climate at the heart of its agenda”, and that it will continue to “stop issuing licences to explore new fields, in line with the science and in securing a just transition in the North Sea”.

On April 5, 2026, President Donald Trump posted a vulgar warning on Truth Social and X, demanding that Iran "open the f****** Strait" or face the bombing of its bridges and power plants. The post, framed as a blend of threats and profanity, raised global concerns because the Strait of Hormuz is a critical oil chokepoint. Rather than replying in kind, Iranian diplomatic missions across continents responded with a wave of sarcasm and satire. Embassies from London to Pretoria, New Delhi to Moscow, used short quips, memes, and literary references to ridicule the president’s language and question his mental fitness. The most viral exchange began when the Iranian embassy in Zimbabwe replied on X, "We've lost the keys," to Trump’s demand to open the Strait. The joke quickly spread: the South African mission added, "Shh… the key’s under the flowerpot. Just open for friends," while the embassy in Bulgaria referenced the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, writing, "Doors open for friends. Epstein’s friends need keys." These posts coincided with renewed speculation about the Epstein files. Political rivals have suggested that Trump’s aggressive stance serves to distract from the release of millions of documents linking billionaires, academics and politicians to Epstein. Although Trump appears in the files, he denies any wrongdoing, claiming he cut ties with Epstein decades ago. Complicating the political backdrop, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who oversaw the Epstein investigation, was removed from office on April 2. Analysts argue her dismissal reflected growing pressure on the administration over the handling of the files. Many Iranian missions seized the moment to invoke the 25th Amendment, Section 4, urging U.S. officials to consider removing a president deemed mentally unfit. The South African embassy shared a post by broadcaster Piers Morgan calling Trump’s tweet "embarrassing" and suggesting he had "lost his marbles," and added, "Humanity must know what kind of creatures are leading the American people." Similar sentiments were echoed by the Tajikistan and London missions, the latter posting a Rumi poem about a madman wielding a sword alongside a Mark Twain quote warning against reckless speech. Other embassies took a more direct tone. The Indian mission labeled Trump a "sore loser brats" and urged him to "get a grip," while the Austrian embassy overlaid an "18+" warning on a screenshot of the president’s post, condemning the threats as a potential "War Crime" against civilian infrastructure. Visual satire also featured prominently. In Berlin, the Iranian embassy shared a Der Spiegel cartoon depicting Trump staring into a mirror, imagining himself as an emperor. In Moscow, a Russian illustration portrayed Trump as a delusional Don Quixote charging at a windmill, with a sidekick shouting, "Boss, it’s just a windmill!" All of this digital mockery unfolds as the Middle East braces for Trump’s self‑imposed deadline to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz early Wednesday, local time. While geopolitical tensions rise, Iranian diplomatic posts continue to turn the president’s incendiary rhetoric into a global social‑media spectacle, one sarcastic tweet at a time.

Tens of thousands of people have been hired by Scale AI – a firm 49% owned by Meta – to train artificial‑intelligence models by scraping Instagram accounts, harvesting copyrighted artwork and transcribing pornographic soundtracks, according to the Guardian.Scale AI promotes its Outlier platform as a flexible, expert‑driven marketplace, recruiting professionals from medicine, physics and economics to "become the expert that AI learns from."Workers, however, say the reality diverges sharply from high‑level model refinement. They describe tasks that involve massive personal‑data scraping and content that many find morally uncomfortable.Outlier is managed by Scale AI, which holds contracts with the U.S. Pentagon and other defense companies. Its chief executive, Alexandr Wang, is hailed by Forbes as the world’s youngest self‑made billionaire, while former managing director Michael Kratsios served as science adviser to former President Donald Trump.One contractor noted that users of Meta platforms would be shocked to learn their photos and friends’ images are being harvested for AI training, with workers manually reviewing profiles to extract data.The Guardian interviewed ten Outlier contributors – many also journalists, graduate students, teachers or librarians – who took the gig work out of economic desperation. One said, "A lot of us were really desperate" and felt compelled to accept the unstable, low‑pay assignments.These gig workers, dubbed “taskers,” often feel they are training their own replacements, expressing “internalised shame and guilt” over contributing to the automation of creative professions.Law firm Clarkson, representing AI gig workers, estimates that hundreds of thousands of people worldwide now labor on platforms like Outlier. Taskers report bait‑and‑switch recruitment tactics, where advertised high salaries are replaced by lower‑paid projects after onboarding.All contributors are monitored through a tool called Hubstaff, which can screenshot browsers to verify work. While Scale AI claims the software is only for accurate payment, workers describe it as constant surveillance.Assignments have ranged from transcribing pornographic audio and labeling photos of dead animals or dog faeces, to annotating diagrams of infant genitalia and violent police scenarios. One doctoral student recounted being promised “no nudity” only to receive explicit porn clips.Scale AI says it shuts down any task flagged as inappropriate and does not accept projects involving child sexual‑abuse material or pornography, though workers note that publicly available images of minors have been used for training.Social‑media scraping tasks required workers to tag individuals by name, location and age, sometimes pulling data from accounts of users under 18. One task asked contributors to order Facebook photos by the subject’s age, prompting ethical unease.In addition to personal data, taskers were asked to harvest copyrighted artwork, with strict instructions to avoid AI‑generated images and select only hand‑drawn pieces. Scale AI maintains it does not ask workers to violate copyright standards.Scale AI’s client list includes major tech firms such as Google, Meta and OpenAI, as well as the U.S. Department of Defense and the government of Qatar, highlighting the growing demand for labelled data as AI models scale.Some workers reported interacting with ChatGPT and Claude, and speculated they might be training Meta’s upcoming model, code‑named “Avocado.”OpenAI announced it ended its partnership with Scale AI in June 2025, citing its supplier code of conduct that mandates ethical treatment of all workers.Despite irregular pay, occasional mass layoffs and the unsettling nature of many tasks, many taskers remain on the Outlier platform, hoping the AI future will eventually improve conditions. One said, "I have to be positive about AI because the alternative is not great."In response, a Scale AI spokesperson stated, "Outlier provides flexible, project‑based work with transparent pay. Contributors choose when and how they participate, and we regularly hear from highly skilled contributors who value the flexibility and opportunity to apply their expertise on the platform."

The Artemis II crew, fresh from a record‑breaking lunar flyby, received an unexpected call from former President Donald Trump on Monday night. Facilitated by NASA administrator and Trump ally Jared Isaacman, the 12‑minute conversation was punctuated by long silences, anecdotes about Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, and the president’s claim that he had "saved NASA" from closure. Trump’s assertion sparked eyebrows among the astronauts, who had just set a new milestone as the farthest‑traveled humans from Earth. The president recounted a decision he allegedly faced in his first term: whether to revive or shut down the agency. "We’ve spent what we had to do," he said, implying the agency’s survival rested on his judgment. While Trump has publicly championed the Artemis program, his administration has repeatedly pursued deep cuts to NASA’s overall budget. In early 2025, the White House proposed a 24% reduction—bringing the budget down to $18.8 billion, the lowest level in a decade. Experts warned such cuts would constitute "extinction‑level" reductions to critical science programs. Congress, in a rare bipartisan move, rejected the proposed slashing and approved a near‑full budget of $24.4 billion in January. Yet, on 3 April 2026—just two days after Artemis II launched on the first crewed mission beyond low‑Earth orbit in over 50 years—Trump unveiled his FY 2027 budget request, again proposing a steep cut of 23% to NASA’s funding. Democratic leaders denounced the proposal as "morally bankrupt," while Isaacman issued a statement supporting the president’s fiscal stance, urging NASA staff to "leave the politics for the politicians and remain focused on the mission." During the call, Trump praised the crew’s "incredible journey into the stars" and claimed their mission had "inspired the entire world." He reiterated America’s ambition to lead space exploration, promising a permanent lunar base and eventual crewed missions to Mars. The conversation also featured a brief exchange with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who highlighted the United States’ "intentional decision" to lead by example and collaborate with allies like Canada. Trump responded by recalling conversations with Gretzky, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and other Canadian friends, emphasizing national pride. After a minute of awkward silence, Isaacman returned for a "comm‑check," and Trump reiterated his stories about Canadian contacts. The Artemis II commander, Reid Wiseman, acknowledged the president’s remarks with a polite, "Yes, Mr. President, we heard that." Trump concluded by extending an invitation to the four astronauts for an Oval Office reception following their scheduled splashdown in the Pacific on Friday. "I’ll ask Jared to bring you over, and I’ll ask for your autograph, because you deserve that," he said, adding he would "find the time" to salute the crew on behalf of the American people. Pilot Victor Glover responded enthusiastically, "When you want us, we will be there," and thanked the president for what he called a "really special" call. He highlighted the mission’s significance, noting it was made possible by both the American and Canadian peoples.

Glass Lewis, a leading proxy adviser, has advised investors to vote against BP's chair Albert Manifold because the board chose to exclude a climate‑strategy resolution from the upcoming annual general meeting.The resolution, put forward by activist shareholder group Follow This, sought a discussion of BP's long‑term strategy under scenarios of declining oil and gas demand.BP, currently pivoting back to oil and gas after a faltering renewable push, appointed Manifold in October with a promise to help the company “reach its full potential”.In a parallel leadership change, the firm named Meg O’Neill, a former ExxonMobil executive, as chief executive – making her the first woman to lead BP and its fourth CEO since 2023.Glass Lewis argued that the board’s decision to drop the climate proposal raises serious questions about transparency, shareholder communication and responsiveness, according to a note first reported by Reuters.Manifold responded on BP’s website, stating that the board concluded the Follow This proposal was invalid and would be ineffective if passed.Another proxy adviser, ISS, also recommended voting against BP’s request to retire two older climate‑impact reporting resolutions, contending that the proposals remain relevant despite newer reporting frameworks.Follow This disclosed that 12 institutional investors plan to oppose BP’s move to scrap its climate disclosures, and its CEO Mark van Baal warned that more than 25% of shareholders could vote against the resolution, enough to block it.O’Neill, addressing staff, highlighted the “significant complexity” of today’s environment – geopolitical tension, rapid technological change, and shifting global energy demand – and reaffirmed BP’s mission to deliver energy safely, reliably and efficiently.