Italian police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters in Milan on Friday, as clashes erupted during a demonstration against the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, according to Euronews. The confrontation occurred in the Corvetto neighborhood at the end of a peaceful march, where protesters voiced concerns about the environmental impact of the Games and the presence of US agents in Italy.
Meanwhile, in the world of sports and finance, NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo announced Friday that he had become a shareholder in the prediction market Kalshi, as reported by TechCrunch. This move makes him the first NBA player to invest directly in the company. Antetokounmpo stated in a social media post, "The internet is full of opinions. I decided it was time to make some of my own. Today, I'm joining Kalshi as a shareholder. We all on Kalshi now." However, the announcement was met with criticism on social media, with some users raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. The NBA's recent collective bargaining agreement allows players to advertise and take stakes of up to 1% in sports betting companies, provided they are not directly involved in the betting operations.
In other news, New York lawmakers introduced a bill that would impose a moratorium of at least three years on permits for the construction and operation of new data centers, as reported by TechCrunch. This move comes amid growing concerns from both Democrats and Republicans about the impact of data centers on surrounding communities, including increased home electricity bills. According to Wired, New York is at least the sixth state to consider pausing the construction of new data centers.
Also in the news, an AI startup founder is planning a "March for Billionaires" in San Francisco to protest California's proposed wealth tax, as revealed by TechCrunch. The event, scheduled for this coming Saturday, has sparked controversy and incredulity. The website advertising the event features the tagline: "Vilifying billionaires is popular. Losing them is expensive."
Finally, the Super Bowl is set to take place in Silicon Valley this Sunday, with the Patriots-Seahawks game at Levi's Stadium expected to be packed with tech industry figures, according to TechCrunch. Apple's Tim Cook and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan are expected to attend. Menlo Ventures' Venky Ganesan commented on the event, saying it's "tech billionaires who got picked last in gym class paying 50,000 to pretend they're friends with the guys who got picked first."
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment