90 m. ago Meta faces backlash over AI policy that lets bots have ‘sensual’ conversations with children

US senator Josh Hawley opened investigation into the tech giant, which said it had removed the policy guidelinesA backlash is brewing against Meta over what it permits its AI chatbots to say.An internal Meta policy document, seen by Reuters, showed the social media giant’s guidelines for its chatbots allowed the AI to “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual”, generate false medical information, and assist users in arguing that Black people are “dumber than white people”. Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago Rutherglen MSP highlights support to help families with cost of learning

Clare Haughey spoke as children went back to school.

Politics

2 h. ago Anfield pays tribute to Diogo Jota and brother as tragic star's wife and kids attend opener

Liverpool and other Premier League clubs have paid tribute to Diogo Jota over the summer after the Reds star tragically died in a car accident just days after getting married

Events

3 h. ago The Memory Blocks review – playful and purposeful exploration of developmental disorders

Andrew Kötting’s complex docu-essay about his daughter Eden, who has Joubert syndrome, refuses conventional grammarArtist and film-maker Andrew Kötting returns to the themes of consciousness and memory (both individual and collective) in this playful and ruminative docu-essay, in which he is again working with his daughter Eden; she is at once his subject and his collaborator.Eden was born in 1988 with the genetic disorder Joubert syndrome; she draws and paints and often appears in Kötting’s films. I have in the past wondered aloud if Kötting might tackle the challenges of being with Eden more straightforwardly. But perhaps that was obtuse of me; it could be that it is only this complex, layered, tonally elusive approach which refuses the conventional grammar of clinical concern does justice to the idea of seeing the world as Eden sees it. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Predatory former football coach jailed for vile sex crimes against children

William Woods, now 67, began abusing his young victims from the 1970s

Events

3 h. ago Scots comedian dies as tributes flood in for 'wonderful man'

Tributes have been paid to Scottish comedian Gary Little after his death was reported on social media.

Events

3 h. ago Scots comedian Gary Little dies as tributes flood in for 'wonderful man'

Tributes have been paid to Scottish comedian Gary Little after his death was reported on social media.

Events

4 h. ago Peter Andre's 'final straw' that led him to post bombshell statement about his ex

The Mysterious Girl singer, 52, and the former glamour model, 47, split in 2009 after four years of marriage, but have remained devoted parents to their children Junior, 20, and Princess, 18.

Events

4 h. ago Men celebrate fourth anniversary of Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan

Thousands gathered for Kabul ‘flower showers’ while women, banned from the events, staged protestsThousands of men gathered across Kabul on Friday to watch flowers being scattered from helicopters to mark the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power – a celebration that women were barred from attending.Three of the six “flower shower” locations were already off-limits to women, who have been prohibited from entering parks and recreational areas since November 2022. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Scotland has a new number nine and Steve Clarke was there to witness the real deal in action

Hibs striker stakes claim with wonder goal and all-round performance

Economics

4 h. ago Kieron Bowie jokes Hibs wonderstrike almost came with concussion as he reveals half time premonition

Hibs hero set Easter Road alight with his outrageous strike against Partizan in front of the watching Steve Clarke.

Events

5 h. ago "This could potentially have a huge impact on children and families affected"

Another Greater Manchester Labour MP has backed the M.E.N.'s campaign calling on Andy Burnham to implement a free bus pass for children in temporary accommodation

Society

5 h. ago 'My mum’s got dementia and my kids are too scared to visit her'

Resident agony aunt Coleen Nolan has advice for a struggling reader whose mum's illness is making him feel guilty because he doesn't really want to go see her any more

Politics

5 h. ago Queen Camilla's tears as war veteran goes 'off script' to pay tribute to King Charles

Charles and Camilla joined Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and war veterans who served in the Far East and Pacific at a VJ Day memorial ceremony in Staffordshire

Politics

5 h. ago Value Scope: Each way horse racing tips from Steve Jones for Saturday on ITV

Our man has selections for Newbury and Ripon with seven races live on ITV Racing on Saturday, August 16. Marvelman is tipped to spring a surprise in the Group 2 Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes.

Politics

5 h. ago Valour of Belfast VC recipient marked at VJ Day 80th anniversary in city

Leading Seaman James Magennis was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in Singapore in 1945.

Politics

5 h. ago Helen Flanagan slammed for plunging outfit as mums say 'son would be mortified'

Helen Flanagan wowed fans in a plunging dress – with many praising her confidence and style, even as a few critics claimed her bold look might embarrass her son

Politics

5 h. ago The Guardian view on the collapse of environmental talks: petrostates blocked a global plastics deal, but we must not despair | Editorial

The failure of UN talks in Geneva should anger us all. The increasing threat to our health, our environments and wildlife must be addressed. By ensuring the collapse of UN talks seeking the first legally binding agreement on tackling plastic pollution, blockers in Geneva have failed the next generation. Most states are willing, even determined, to act. But the US joined petrostates obstructing action. Their children too will live to regret that.To say that plastics are part of our lives from cradle to grave is an understatement: microplastics have been found in placentas, as well as blood and breast milk. While we can’t yet be certain of the full impact of the substances, we know that many have been linked to health effects and that foetuses, infants and young children are highly vulnerable. Microplastics have been shown to damage human cells in laboratory experiments, and a review published this month documented how exposure is associated with increased risks of miscarriage, stillb...

Economics

6 h. ago ITV Good Morning Britain viewers issue plea to bosses as star breaks down in tears

Good Morning Britain returned on Friday morning with a special commemoration of the VJ Day anniversary and one of the stars of the show was in tears

Politics

7 h. ago Diogo Jota's childhood sweetheart wife, three young kids and tragic final promise

Diogo Jota made a heartbreaking promise of 'forever' to his wife just days before the fatal car crash that claimed the life of the Liverpool football pro and his brother, leaving behind three young children

Events