On a night when Arsenal ended the game with four left-backs on the pitch, this may not have been the biggest stage of Raheem Sterling’s illustrious career. But after a dismal loan spell from Chelsea during which the former England forward failed to live up to his reputation, he will be relieved to have finally made a contribution as Mikel Arteta’s side eased into the quarter-finals.
He provided two assists in the first half as goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko and Declan Rice ensured that Arsenal were never in danger of surrendering their record-breaking 7-1 advantage from the first leg. This time PSV Eindhoven proved more of a challenge and deserved to come away with a draw on the night thanks to equalisers from Ivan Perisic and then a sublime chip from Couhaib Driouech that denied Arteta’s side a place in the history books for the biggest aggregate victory in the knockout stages.
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© Photograph: David Klein/Reuters
© Photograph: David Klein/Reuters
When Unai Emery accepted the challenge of reviving Aston Villa at a time when the club was fretting about relegation to the Championship, he voiced his desire to return to European competition.
It was punchy, part of a grand plan and, for supporters, a particularly exciting soundbite, but back then the prospect of a Champions League quarter-final date with Paris Saint-Germain, one of Emery’s former clubs, felt fanciful. The Villa manager has unequivocally delivered on his wish. The Champions League furniture: the oversized badges, the giant tifos and 3D signage will get at least another outing this season. “Paris away, olé olé,” a delirious Holte End sang.
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© Photograph: Jacob King/PA
© Photograph: Jacob King/PA
I think of AI as alternative intelligence – and its capacity to be ‘other’ is just what the human race needs
I think of AI as alternative intelligence. John McCarthy’s 1956 definition of artificial (distinct from natural) intelligence is old fashioned in a world where most things are either artificial or unnatural. Ultraprocessed food, flying, web-dating, fabrics, make your own list. Physicist and AI commentator, Max Tegmark, told the AI Action Summit in Paris, in February, that he prefers “autonomous intelligence”.
I prefer “alternative” because in all the fear and anger foaming around AI just now, its capacity to be “other” is what the human race needs. Our thinking is getting us nowhere fast, except towards extinction, via planetary collapse or global war.
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© Photograph: Antonio Olmos/The Observer
© Photograph: Antonio Olmos/The Observer
US president said of Senate minority leader: ‘He’s not Jewish any more. He’s a Palestinian’
Donald Trump has been condemned by a leading US Muslim civil rights group for seeking to use the word “Palestinian” as an insult when he attacked the Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, as “not Jewish any more”.
“President Trump’s use of the term ‘Palestinian’ as a racial slur is offensive and beneath the dignity of his office,” said Nihad Awad, the national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or Cair.
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© Photograph: Bonnie Cash/EPA
© Photograph: Bonnie Cash/EPA
On third day of cross-examination, the actor claimed accusers voluntarily engaged in sexual conversation
Noel Clarke is trying to create “moral equivalence” between his alleged sexual misconduct and the behaviour of his accusers, the high court has heard.
Giving evidence in his libel claim against the Guardian, the 49-year-old actorclaimed that some of his accusers voluntarily engaged in or initiated sexually loaded banter, were promiscuous and bragged about their sexual exploits.
Touched her on her thighs including between her legs.
Said they should go to the mezzanine floor above to have sex.
Rated women out of 10 for their sexual attractiveness.
Said of a pregnant woman that he would “bang that” because she could not get pregnant again.
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© Photograph: Carl Court/Getty Images
© Photograph: Carl Court/Getty Images
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