1 hour ago Massive Attack remove music from Spotify to protest against CEO Daniel Ek’s investment in AI military

The band cited a ‘moral and ethical burden’ placed on artists by revenue from their work ultimately funding lethal technologiesMassive Attack have become the latest act – and first major-label one – to pull their catalogue from Spotify in protest at founder Daniel Ek investing €600m (£520m) in the military AI company Helsing.In June, Ek’s venture capital firm Prima Materia led the defence tech firm’s latest funding round. Helsing’s software uses AI technology to analyse sensor and weapons system data from battlefields to inform real-time military decisions. It also makes its own military drone, the HX-2. Ek is also chairman of Helsing.Unconnected to this initiative and in light of the (reported) significant investments by its CEO in a company producing military munition drones and AI technology integrated into fighter aircraft, Massive Attack have made a separate request to our label that our music be removed from the Spotify streaming service in all territories.In our view, the his...

Events

2 h. ago Emmerdale Mackenzie Boyd's 'unexpected' fate airs in major John Sugden bombshell

Viewers can finally watch what happened to Mackenzie Boyd after spending weeks held captive by John Sugden

Events

2 h. ago BBC The One Show's Roman Kemp halts show for major career announcement

The One Show presenter Roman Kemp has announced he's joining the cast of BBC series Celebrity Race Across The World with his sister Harley Moon and three other famous duos

Politics

2 h. ago Major rugby tournament development could have big impact on Scotland

World Rugby optimistic Global Series can help Scotland situation

Politics

2 h. ago Jury finds LA protester not guilty of assaulting border patrol agent

Brayan Ramos-Brito acquitted after US immigration officials were accused in court of lying about the incidentA Los Angeles protester charged with assaulting a border patrol agent in June was acquitted on Wednesday after US immigration officials were accused in court of lying about the incident.The not guilty verdict for Brayan Ramos-Brito is a major setback for the Donald Trump-appointed US attorney in southern California and for Gregory Bovino, a border patrol chief who has become a key figure in Trump’s immigration crackdown. The 29-year-old defendant, who is a US citizen, was facing a misdemeanor and was the first protester to go to trial since demonstrations against immigration raids erupted in LA earlier this summer. Continue reading...

Events

3 h. ago SNL Season 51: Amy Poehler, Bad Bunny, and Sabrina Carpenter announced as first hosts

Long-running comedy sketch show recently underwent major cast changes

Politics

3 h. ago Bonnie Blue in major security threat as hotel's location leaked in 'tense' scenes

EXCLUSIVE: Bonnie Blue's team feared for her safety after the location of her hotel was leaked online by a takeaway in Lincoln. Her team said some people turned up to the hotel on Tuesday night

Events

3 h. ago 'Rising star' army major, 36, took his own life because he feared seeking help for work stress would blight his military career, inquest hears

Nick Coles , 36, was found by his wife, Tabitha, hanging in the garage of his home in Andover, Hampshire, in the early hours of August 4, 2023.

Events

4 h. ago Newsom takes down Hannity after he claims no ‘prominent conservative’ wanted Kimmel off

In July, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he hoped he played ‘a major part’ in late-night hosts losing their shows

Politics

4 h. ago Welsh Government promised to tackle longest NHS waits but it isn't happening

A major change in waiting list publication has been criticised by Labour's political opponents

Politics

5 h. ago Ukraine 'close' to signing agreement with NATO country in major blow to Vladimir Putin

Move could deal a significant blow to Putin and Russia's ongoing war in the country

Politics

5 h. ago Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension is an alarming new low for the ongoing culture wars

The late-night show getting pulled ‘indefinitely’ after relatively mild commentary about the right is another worrying sign of where Trump’s America is headingExplainer: What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Charlie Kirk’s killing?These are not the late night wars of old.Back in the 90s and 2000s, much ink was spilled as the major networks grappled for ratings in the now-quaint real estate of post-11PM programming. Johnny Carson retired. David Letterman jumped to CBS. Conan O’Brien was plucked from obscurity, eventually handed The Tonight Show, and then had it essentially clawed back by Jay Leno for a few more years of appalling hackwork. But in retrospect, maybe the most prescient moments were two that seemed decidedly minor at the time: Bill Maher’s Politically Incorrect was yanked off the air by ABC because Maher expressed an unpopular 9/11-related opinion in a highly understandable context, and Jimmy Fallon playfully tousled Donald Trump’s hair. Continue reading...

Events

5 h. ago Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension is an alarming new low for the ongoing culture wars | Jesse Hassenger

The late-night show getting pulled ‘indefinitely’ after relatively mild commentary about the right is another worrying sign of where Trump’s America is headingExplainer: What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Charlie Kirk’s killing?These are not the late-night wars of old.Back in the 90s and 2000s, much ink was spilled as the major networks grappled for ratings in the now-quaint real estate of post-11pm programming. Johnny Carson retired. David Letterman jumped to CBS. Conan O’Brien was plucked from obscurity, eventually handed The Tonight Show, and then had it essentially clawed back by Jay Leno for a few more years of appalling hackwork. But in retrospect, maybe the most prescient moments were two that seemed decidedly minor at the time: Bill Maher’s Politically Incorrect was yanked off the air by ABC because Maher expressed an unpopular 9/11-related opinion in a highly understandable context, and Jimmy Fallon playfully tousled Donald Trump’s hair. Continue reading...

Events

5 h. ago More than 250,000 displaced from Gaza City in past month, UN figures show

Tens of thousands more forced to flee makeshift homes and shelters daily in face of new Israeli offensiveMore than a quarter of a million people have been displaced from Gaza City in the last month, according to figures from the UN, with tens of thousands more forced to flee makeshift homes and shelters daily in the face of a new Israeli offensive.Multiple strikes by Israeli artillery, tanks and warplanes hit Gaza City again on Thursday as a UN official said “new waves of mass displacement” were under way, after about 60,000 fled the new assault in 72 hours earlier this week. Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago The Climate 100 List: The Independent announces its Reader’s Choice winners

Championing the valued and vital work of unsung climate heroes, we asked our eco-conscious readers to nominate deserving candidates for The Independent’s Climate 100 List

Politics

5 h. ago ‘I tried to escape with drugs, pills and alcohol’: Björn Borg on his misery and mayhem after quitting tennis

The sporting superstar walked away from success and adulation at 26 – much to everyone’s bemusement. He opens up about his secret life and the depression, cocaine, overdoses and aggressive cancer that almost killed him‘I’m a person who doesn’t say very much,” Björn Borg says with a wry smile. Which may be the understatement of the century. Borg, the greatest tennis player of his day, has spent 42 years saying nothing since he announced his retirement at the age of 26.When he broke that news in 1983, it was one of the biggest shocks in the history of sport. Not simply because he was at his peak, but also because he was the rock star tennis player – beautiful, mysterious and followed by a flock of teenybopper fans. When Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz triumphed in the US Open earlier this month, aged 22, he became the second youngest player to have won six major tournaments. Borg beat him by four months. Continue reading...

Events

5 h. ago Beethoven: Violin Sonatas Opp 12 no 2 & 96 album review – sheer joie de vivre

(Signum)Viktoria Mullova and Alasdair Beatson end their cycle of Beethoven violin sonatas with energised and immaculate performancesViktoria Mullova began her cycle of the Beethoven violin sonatas partnered by Kristian Bezuidenhout, but Alasdair Beatson has been the pianist for the last three instalments. They end the series with a pairing of the second of the Op 12 set in A major with the last of the sonatas, in G. All of the performances use historical instruments, with Mullova playing her gut-strung 1750 Guadagnini and using a classical bow, while here Beatson plays a different keyboard for each sonata. For the rather Mozartian Op 12 no 2 he uses a copy of a Walter fortepiano made in 1805, seven years after the sonata was composed; while for the much more ambitious keyboard writing of Op 96 it’s a copy of a Graf from 1819.What is common to the performances of both sonatas is the sheer joie de vivre of the playing. Everything seems energised, and if the precision and immaculate en...

Politics

6 h. ago Dodo breakthrough as scientists use pigeon DNA to bring extinct bird back from dead

Dodos could return within a decade according to Colossal Biosciences– which also wants to "de-extinct" the woolly mammoth and sabre toothed tiger

Events

6 h. ago Lionel Messi and Inter Miami near deal to extend contract through at least 2026, AP source says

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are reviewing the final details of a contract extension to keep him with the club until at least 2026, a person with knowledge of the matter tells The Associated Press

Economics

6 h. ago Uncertainty over major Cardiff music event as work begins on St David's Hall

Work is finally under way on fixing St David's Hal, but there is still uncertainty over where Cardiff Singer of the World could take place if it goes ahead in 2027

Politics