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Can AI be held accountable? AI ethicist on tech giants and the AI boom

By in News, World News

What will AI’s future hold and how will efforts to regulate its effects be? Rumman Chowdhury, an AI ethicist, speaks with Marc Lamont Hill.

Tech companies and international organizations are working to create more sophisticated artificial intelligence. There are growing concerns about AI spreading misinformation and being used in government surveillance and war as this technology becomes more widespread in daily life. Where do efforts to control AI now leave room for improvement? And how is global politics being impacted by the growing influence of tech billionaires?

‘Not trying to be men’s team’ – Betts on Wigan rise

By in News, Sports News
SWPix
Jay Freeman
North West, BBC Sport

St Helens vs. Wigan Warriors in the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup final

The Women’s Challenge Cup final earlier this year attracted a lot of attention from Wigan Warriors.

It would be an understatement to say that Leeds Rhinos were thrashed.

The two-time winners were destroyed by Denis Betts’ side 44-14, and Wigan never looked particularly vulnerable in the 80 minutes, despite a late Leeds rally.

With St Helens and York dominating the last few years along with Leeds, it signaled the rise of a new side to the top of the women’s game in England.

What is the cause of Wigan’s recent rise, though? And where did Leeds play in that game?

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Leeds had already defeated Wigan in the semi-final in May.

However, Warriors held on to lead the Super League standings with three victories from three, and finished in the tie.

The key to forging their own path as opposed to imitating their quadruple-winning men’s team is unknown, according to Wigan legend Betts, who claims there is no secret why his side have stooped their way to 2025.

Former Wigan and Great Britain second row Betts, 55, told BBC Sport, “We’ve tried to do as a team that we’re not trying to look like a men’s team.”

We’re just trying to be who we are as a group of young, inspiring women who want to play rugby, pass the ball, and have fun while doing it.

In his nine years with the club, from 1986 to 1995, Betts won seven men’s Challenge Cups out of a slew of titles, including seven championship titles with an all-capiting Wigan side.

He quickly rebuilt Wigan as the women’s head coach in 2024 after serving as a coach for a number of clubs, including Widnes, and quickly began to transform their fortunes.

After losing to eventual champions Leeds Rhinos in the Challenge Cup last year, Betts has seen the progression of his team.

He believes that the team’s current state was a result of their experiences in 2024, despite the outcome, and that their performance was influenced by that loss.

It took a few games and months for things to get going, Betts added, but we did witness a small amount of it in the semi-final [in 2024] when Leeds defeated us at St Helens.

We saw glimpses of it, and over the course of the season, we’ve improved, culminating in a fantastic win over York [Leeds] in the semi-final of 2025.

“We’ve given ourselves a chance in the top four, but we’ve never really taken that chance and put on a performance that, in theory, would give us a real foothold in that elite group.”

Betts knows that Wembley is an accomplishment in itself, so despite their recent advancement, he is not putting pressure on himself to win.

Wigan has never reached the Women’s Challenge Cup final since it was founded in 2012, but they know they must work hard if they want to defeat Saints, who have won the competition for the past four years.

Wembley is a fantastic occasion, but it’s not the end all, “Betts continued.”

This group is improving, and this is just the start, not the end. Nothing is the end, just the beginning.

related subjects

  • Rugby League
  • Wigan Warriors

Massive Attack slam ‘unethical’ Barclays and demand removal of adverts at venue before gig

By in Entertainment News, News

Before a performance at Co-op Live in Manchester, Massive Attack, which consists of bandmates Robert “3D” Del Naja and Grant “Daddy G” Marshall, criticised Barclays in a statement.

Massive Attack criticised Barclays in a statement released ahead of a gig at Co-Op Live today(Image: Getty Images)

Massive Attack have criticised Barclays and shared their views, claiming it is an “unethical corporate identity” ahead of a gig at a venue sponsored by the company this week. The band were set to take to the stage at Co-op Live in Manchester before they made the statement.

It follows the news of a partnership between the indoor arena and Barclays last month. Two weeks ago, it was announced that the bank has become a “founding partner” of Co-op Live, which opened in the city last year.

Massive Attack – comprised of Robert ‘3D’ Del Naja and Grant ‘Daddy G’ Marshall – hit out over the partnership in a statement shared on Instagram just hours before their concert at the venue last night. They referenced both fossil fuel extraction and Palestine, and accused Barclays of being a “profoundly unethical corporate identity”.

The band, which is renowned for songs like Teardrop and Unfinished Sympathy, however, stated that the performance would continue. They informed the audience that the organizers had agreed to take away Barclays advertising material from the arena in exchange for it.

Statement issued by band Massive Attack about Barclays.
Massive Attack issued a statement, across two slides on Instagram, earlier today through which they criticised Barclays(Image: massiveattackofficial/Instagram)

The band stated in a statement shared with their 401, 000 followers, “We’re so happy to be back in Manchester, and we’re playing in this city tonight. We confirmed this performance at Co Op Live Arena in January, not least because of the venue’s strong commitment to sustainability and its ethical sponsorship.

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They continued by writing: “15 days ago, without any advance warning or notification, the arena ownership announced a new corporate sponsorship with Barclays: a commercial identity synonymous with the large-scale financing of new fossil fuel extraction, and billions of dollars of investments in arms companies that supply Israel in its genocidal onslaught of Gaza, and war crimes in the West Bank.

Objectively speaking, Barclays is a deeply unethical corporate identity. We think Barclays should not be involved in any of our cultural or sporting arenas, but rather, we have been taught (with disbelief) about the partnership through a local media story.

Exterior view of the Co-op Live arena in Manchester.
The statement was shared just hours before their show at the Co-Op Live, which announced a partnership with Barclays recently(Image: Getty Images)

Massive Attack continued, “We do not want to disappoint fans who have purchased their hard-earned money in tickets and are anticipating the show, especially on such a short notice. Owners of Co Op Live have consented to us requiring that all Barclays livery and logos, both physically and digital, be completely removed from both the arena and our show page on the arena website. No show tickets will be offered to Barclays, either for sale or for free.

The band’s statement concluded: “At a time when the world works to tackle climate emergency, and watches on in despair and horror at the scenes of civilian slaughter in Gaza, we’re stunned that the arena ownership took this decision to partner with Barclays – especially in a progressive city like Manchester – and then attempted to retroactively apply that sponsorship to artists who would have been deeply uneasy, or refused to align their performances with a venue with Barclays as partner. See you tonight, Manchester. In love and rage, Massive Attack.”

Massive Attack bandmates Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall, stood as part of a group which also included Andy Burnham, holding up a sign for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Massive Attack – consisting of Robert Del Naja (centre left) and Grant Marshall (centre) – later posted that they were promoting the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty alongside the likes of mayor Andy Burnham (left) whilst in Manchester(Image: massiveattackofficial/Instagram)

Massive Attack shared posts promoting the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, an initiative to “accelerate a transition to renewable energy,” shortly after posting their statement. In addition to posting a photo of themselves holding up a sign for it while they were in Manchester, they also posted a photo of themselves.

Among the group of five was Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester. The band wrote in the caption of the photo: “Proud to be part of this story: endorsing the [initiative] with Mayor of Greater Manchester [Andy].”

Co-Op Live previously stated that it was “leading the future of sustainable live entertainment with Massive Attack.” It stated on a page for the show that it would commit to having a “fully plant-based” menu for the show in keeping with the band’s long-standing commitment to environmental activism.

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Does David Beckham deserve to be knighted? Vote in our poll

By in Entertainment News, News

After being in line for the award for more than ten years, David Beckham will finally be knighted next week as part of the King’s birthday celebrations. We want to hear what you think.

David Beckham will be knighted next week(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

David Beckham will finally be awarded with a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours list next week after years of public calls – and we want to hear your thoughts on the news. The Manchester United icon will officially become a Sir and join a host of other football legends who have been honoured by the Royal Family, reports The Sun.

The former England star, who recently turned 50, serves as an ambassador for The King’s Foundation and has continued to make notable donations to charity. He has developed a friendship with the King, who hinted at last month’s Chelsea Flower Show that David’s honour was finally on its way.

Charles responded, “You got it, didn’t you?” Beckham responded, “Thank you, it was incredible. It was very kind. Victoria, his wife, will go by the name Lady Beckham. It comes after David received an OBE in 2003 for his contributions to football.

Becks, who played 115 times for England, was first put forward for a knighthood in 2011 following his role in securing the London 2012 Olympics – but was blocked by the Honours Committee after he became embroiled in a tax avoidance scheme, which he was cleared of four years ago. The now Inter Miami co-owner had been kept waiting in his bid to earn a knighthood, with Beckham narrowly missing out in the New Year Honours List published in December last year, the Sun reports.

Beckham’s anger at the New Years’ honours committee and possible setbacks in his quest for knighthood were revealed in shocking emails released in 2017. The former midfielder has claimed some of the emails leaked were fakes, but the football star is said to have called the committee “unappreciative c***s” and added that he “didn’t care about being knighted.”

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According to the emails that were leaked, the former football player said, “I expected nothing less. To be honest, this is a disgrace, and ten years ago, I would have acquired something like this. Katherine Jenkins, an opera star, was reportedly hit by him after receiving an OBE. What does Katherine Jenkins OBE stand for? attending the rugby and seeing the soldiers. F***ing joke”.

A close friend of Beckham exclusively told The Mirror in 2017: “To be honest, he does feel that he has given so much to his country. And sometimes you say things in private that anyone would say and you don’t really mean it. While he was frustrated in those emails, he was over it the moment he sent them. Getting the knighthood is not what his work is about. He doesn’t care if he gets a knighthood or not.”

Beckham’s appointment as an ambassador for King’s Foundation, which earlier this year was viewed as a positive sign, was welcomed with a new role. He added at the time, “I’m thrilled to be working with The King’s Foundation and have the opportunity to help raise awareness of the charity’s work.”

I’ve always been interested in helping young people broaden their horizons, and I’m particularly interested in supporting the Foundation’s education initiatives and efforts to give young people greater access to nature.

Following the announcement that Beckham will be awarded with a knighthood next week, we want to know if you think the football legend deserves the honour. Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.

Continue reading the article.

The Mirror will also be discussing the topic with you in the comments section below and you can join in! All you have to do is sign up, submit your comment, register your details and then you can take part.

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How the Glazer family cost Manchester United £1.2bn

By in News, Sports News
Wesley Stephenson
BBC Verify

The Glazer family purchased Manchester United Football Club on June 28, 2005, and it was complete.

It loaded the club with debt, and over the next 20 years, BBC Verifyhas found about £1.2bn has been spent on debt interest, debt repayments, dividends and fees to the family.

The Glazers left the club with £604 million in debt as a result of the deal, which they financed by borrowing millions of dollars from hedge funds.

The Florida-based Glazer family’s resumption of control of the Premier League team in June 2025 marked its 20th anniversary.

Due to United’s financial repercussions, it was a very content takeover from the beginning.

The Glazer family paid $ 790 million on June 22 to remove the club from the London stock market and to buy out its exiting shareholders.

However, the club, which had previously had only £50m in borrowings, was primarily funded by borrowings and subsequently incurred £604m in debt.

The club’s board had issued a warning in April 2005 about the dangers of this much debt because it “didn’t have any prudent judgment” and “could lead to a downward spiral in both team and financial performance.”

Fans’ protests following the takeover continue to this day.

Calculations by BBC Verify- based on an analysis of the club’s published accounts and stock market announcements – show that since the Glazer family’s acquisition of the club in June 2005 it has paid out:

This implies that between 2005 and 2024, the club lost an estimated £1.187 billion in cash, which is reasonable to say would not have happened without the Glazer takeover.

Because it does not include various fees to banks, financial advisors, or other financing costs, such as currency hedging, it is also a conservative estimate.

Additionally, it does not include the directors’ fees that have been paid by the club.

The Glazers’ directors have also received £125 million in compensation since the club’s directors re-listed a portion of its shares on the New York Stock Exchange in 2012.

It’s likely that about £63 million of this sum, which included the directors, went to them.

The Glazers added value, right?

The Glazer family can sincerely acknowledge that over the past 20 years, the club’s value has increased significantly.

The club’s implied market value reflects this.

United was purchased by The Glazers for £790 million. In May 2025, the club’s stock market implied value exceeded £3. 2 billion.

And the club’s financial terms, which Sir Jim Ratcliffe sold to him in 2024, suggest a total sale worth of £4.3 billion.

Compared to the total expenditures of the majority of the club’s rivals during that time, this is fair.

Under the Glazers, United have won 15 major league titles, but just five of them have come since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013.

The Premier League finished 15th last season, which is the lowest place they have ever placed in a campaign since 1974-75 when they were in the second tier.

The club’s quarterly accounts, which were released on Friday, acknowledged this.

How much money did the Glazers themselves invest?

In 2005, the Glazers primarily used borrowed funds to purchase the club, but their accounts reveal they also invested £273 million in own funds.

They haven’t, however, since made any initial investments.

The squad’s investments came from the club’s own internal cash resources, as well as from debt secured by the club directly and through the club’s ownership shares.

The investment also added a lot of value to the family.

The Glazer family sold £555 million worth of club shares between 2012 and 2022, including the proceeds from a £150 million listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2012.

What has become of the debt?

Manchester United PLC’s total gross debt was only £50 million in 2005.

The Glazers’ leveraged buyout increased the gross debt in 2006 to £604 million, which was partially secured by the club’s assets and partially by the ownership shares of the Glazer family.

However, the club’s gross debt was still £547 million in 2024. This figure is almost £1 billion, according to other debt-related measures that take the cost of transfers into account.

How have Jim Ratcliffe’s financial affairs been impacted by the club’s finances?

Ratcliffe now has about a 30% ownership stake and control over the football operations after the Glazer family sold £732 million in shares to him in 2024.

Ratcliffe also contributed a further £236 million of his own money to the club as part of the agreement to help pay for the club’s Old Trafford stadium’s infrastructure.

This additional investment was not financed by additional debt.

related subjects

  • Manchester United
  • Football

What has Musk accused Trump of in relation to the Epstein files?

By in News, World News

Elon Musk, the tech tycoon and owner of Tesla and Starlink, has claimed that Donald Trump is one of the names in the still-unreleased Epstein files and that this is the real cause of key documents being kept from the public.

Many of the so-called “Epstein files” compiled by US federal investigators were made available to the public in January 2024. Some did, however, remain sealed.

Musk, who contributed large sums to Trump’s presidential campaign and was appointed to lead a newly established federal agency, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a strong boost to Trump’s presidency.

Following growing public outcry over fiscal policies and a sharp decline in Tesla’s stock, Musk resigned from the position in May 2025.

Since then, Musk has gotten more and more vocal about criticizing Trump, calling his “One Big Beautiful Bill” a “disgusting abomination” for ending subsidies for electric vehicles and increasing the nation’s debt. He also has been accused of having connections to Epstein.

What is known about the allegations made by Musk and the Epstein files.

The Epstein files are what?

The “Epstein files” are a collection of documents that US federal authorities gathered as part of their investigation into former financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was previously convicted of sex abuse.

Flight logs, contact lists, court records, and other materials that document his activities and connections with prominent people are included in these files.

The first significant release of the documents occurred in January 2024 when a federal judge ordered Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate, to stop the records from being released.

Following up with an official declassification of additional documents, many of which had already leaked, including redacted flight logs and contact books, in February 2025, the Department of Justice and the FBI conducted a formal declassification of those documents.

However, many documents are still sealed or heavily redacted, which makes the public want to know exactly what information is.

The FBI is reviewing tens of thousands of documents, according to US Attorney General Pamela Bondi, with additional releases pending necessary redactions to protect victims and ongoing investigations.

What has Musk said about the Epstein-Foxes?

Donald Trump was named in the unreleased Epstein files on Thursday, according to Musk in a public statement.

Musk stated in a post on his social media platform X that “@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files.” That is the real justification for their indiscretion. He disproved this claim with no supporting evidence.

Trump has reacted, or not?

Trump has not directly refuted Musk’s assertions regarding the Epstein files.

Trump, however, said he was “very disappointed” by Musk’s criticism of the fiscal bill during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday and that his opposition to the elimination of electric vehicle subsidies was due to that meeting.

“Elon was “wearing thin,” I asked him to leave, and I took away his EV Mandate, which had made everyone pay for Electric cars that he had known for months that I had planned to buy! He then “went crazy”! Trump&nbsp, wrote in a Thursday social media post.

Trump also threatened to revoke federal contracts and subsidies for Musk’s businesses, including those at Tesla and SpaceX, claiming that this would save the US government billions of dollars.

What are our current understandings of Trump’s relationship with Epstein?

In the 1980s and 1990s, Trump and Epstein frequently appeared together at social gatherings in Palm Beach, Florida and New York. Their interactions were later reported in newspapers and social media, while Epstein’s purchase of a mansion close to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago compound in Palm Beach led to their eventual reconciliation.

Trump and Epstein are seen dancing and socializing at a Mar-a-Lago party, according to a 1992 NBC News video.

Trump was quoted as describing Epstein as a “terrific guy” who liked the company of attractive women “on the younger side” in a 2002 New York Magazine profile.

Jeff and I have been friends for 15 years. Fantastic person. He’s a lot of fun to have around. Trump even claimed that he enjoys attractive women just as much as I do, and that many of them are younger.

According to flight logs obtained during the Maxwell case, Trump frequently traveled with family members on Epstein’s private jet between 1993 and 1997.

The “Black Book,” a contact list created in 2015 by Gawker, a now-defunct US blog covering celebrities and the media, was later used as evidence in court. It included Trump’s office, home, and Mar-a-Lago.

What’s going on now?

Since Musk’s criticism of Trump’s fiscal policy and subsequent allegations about the Epstein files, Musk’s relationship with the president has significantly deteriorated.

Tesla’s stock value dropped 14% as a result of Trump’s threats to terminate its contracts with Musk’s businesses. Since then, Muss has demanded that Trump be replaced with US Vice President JD Vance.