Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has introduced she has break up from her husband, Peter Murrell.
Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell met by way of the SNP in 1988 and first turned a pair in 2003. They later married in July 2010 at Oran Mor in Glasgow.
Picture: Ms Sturgeon with Mr Murrell following their wedding ceremony service at Oran Mor in Glasgow in 2010. Pic PA
Picture: Mr Murrell giving Ms Sturgeon a kiss after she was voted in as first minister in 2014. Pic: PA
In a press release posted on her Instagram story, she wrote: “With a heavy coronary heart I’m confirming that Peter and I’ve determined to finish our marriage.
“To all intents and functions now we have been separated for a while now and really feel it’s time to carry others in control with the place we’re.
“It goes with out saying that we nonetheless care deeply for one another, and all the time will.
“We shall be making no additional remark.”
Picture: Ms Sturgeon saying the break up on Instagram
The couple haven’t any youngsters, although Ms Sturgeon revealed in 2016 that she had suffered a miscarriage in 2011, shortly earlier than the Holyrood election marketing campaign, saying it was “clearly a painful expertise for Peter and I”.
Ms Sturgeon introduced she was stepping down as Scotland’s first minister and SNP chief in February 2023 after succeeding Alex Salmond following the independence referendum in 2014.
Mr Murrell, who had been SNP chief govt since 1999, resigned from his publish the next month after taking accountability for deceptive the media over social gathering membership numbers amid the management race, which Humza Yousaf went on to win.
On the time, he mentioned: “Whereas there was no intent to mislead, I settle for that this has been the end result.”
Picture: Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon on the official opening of the Queensferry Crossing in 2017. Pic: PA
Picture: Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell in 2019. Pic Reuters
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In April 2023, Mr Murrell was arrested as a part of a probe into the SNP’s funding and funds. He was later charged with embezzling SNP funds in April final 12 months.
Ms Sturgeon and ex-party treasurer MSP Colin Beattie have additionally been arrested and launched with out cost as a part of Police Scotland’s long-running Operation Branchform.
The probe, which has been ongoing since July 2021, is linked to the spending of round £600,000 raised by SNP supporters to be earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning.
In September, it emerged senior officers had contacted the Crown Workplace and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) the month earlier than for “recommendation and steering” on the following steps within the investigation.
Meantime, Ms Sturgeon continues to disclaim any wrongdoing.
In an interview final month, the Glasgow Southside MSP mentioned she knew “nothing extra” in regards to the inquiry and was getting on with life “as greatest I can in the intervening time”.
We exited the FA Cup on penalties, after a dramatic afternoon at Emirates Stadium.
After a lacklustre, disjointed, opening 45 minutes, the sport burst into life early within the second-half. Bruno Fernandes fired the guests forward on the counter, however on the hour they have been lowered to 10 males when Diogo Dalot was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
We took benefit immediately, when Gabriel fired us degree with an improvised end. However Martin Odegaard then noticed his penalty saved, and additional missed possibilities – from Kai Havertz and Declan Rice amongst others – despatched the sport to extra-time.
We couldn’t make our numerical benefit depend within the additional half-hour although, and so the 2 groups with probably the most FA Cup wins in historical past needed to be separated by penalties within the third spherical.
Havertz noticed his penalty saved by Altay Bayindir, and with each different spot kick scored, we have been knocked out on the first hurdle.
First-half of few possibilities
We began on the entrance foot, eager to bounce again from Tuesday evening’s Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle. For the fourth 12 months in a row at this stage of the FA Cup, we lined up in our all-white ‘No Extra Pink’ package, highlighting the struggle in opposition to knife crime in London.
We loved a lot of the possession within the opening half hour or so, albeit with out working Altay Bayindir within the United objective.
We did have the ball within the internet on 20 minutes, however belatedly the flag went up for offside in opposition to Gabriel Martinelli. Martin Odehaard began the transfer with a beautiful flick, Gabriel Jesus then slid the ball by to Martinelli, by way of a deflection from Harry Maguire. The flag stayed down as Martinelli tucked house, however after United protests, the assistant referee dominated out the objective. There isn’t any VAR at this stage of the competitors, although it seemed as if the officers arrived on the proper resolution on the pitch.
United’s first try was a low shot from 25 yards by Kobbie Mainoo that David Raya comfortably obtained all the way down to.
Odegaard discovered Martinelli with a tremendous go, however the Brazilian was compelled large, took a contact and his shot was charged down within the field.
Persistent stoppages
Jesus was stretchered off late within the first half. He collided with Bruno Fernandes on the sting of our personal field whereas he was monitoring again, and appeared to go down awkwardly. Raheem Sterling got here on to switch him.
It had been a stop-start half. There have been way more fouls than pictures within the opening 45 minutes – 12 conceded by the guests, leading to two yellow playing cards, and the sport struggled to have any circulate.
Our remaining try of the opening half was a free-kick from Odegaard, that the skipper despatched over the bar.
Learn extra
Each phrase from Arteta’s post-Man United presser
Sparking into life
Early within the second-half United broke the impasse. They seized upon a slip on the midway line by Gabriel and Garnacho pounced on the unfastened ball. He raced forwards earlier than teeing up the coming Fernandes, who gave Raya no likelihood with an emphatic end.
The 8,000 United followers within the Clock Finish discovered their voice, it was time for us to discover a response on the pitch.
Virtually instantly Mikel Merino had a shot blocked at shut quarters earlier than Kai Havertz sliced a shot large when properly positioned.
On the different finish United streamed away on the break, when Saliba gave the impression to be fouled on the midway line. Gabriel obtained again properly to intercept.
Then a few minutes that actually introduced the sport to life. Dalot dived in recklessly on Martinelli and was proven his second yellow card to scale back the guests to 10 males.
From the ensuing free-kick we carved out the possibility for Gabriel’s equaliser. The cross from the left was solely half-cleared, and there was our Brazilian defender to acrobatically rating, by way of a deflection. There 100 seconds between the United purple card and our leveller. Sport on.
Odegaard denied
With 20 minutes left we had the possibility to take the lead from the penalty spot. Havertz was fouled within the space by Harry Maguire, and the referee had no hesitation in awarding the spot kick. After a bit if pushing and shoving among the many two units of gamers, order was restored, and Odegaard struck his shot low to the keeper’s left, however Bayindir obtained throughout properly to palm it away.
The Turkish keeper then made one other flying save to disclaim substitute Declan Rice. His header from Odegaard’s cross was tipped over after he’d eluded his markers.
The momentum was firmly with us after the equaliser, however there’s little question the penalty save checked our progress.
We stored creating possibilities although, and Havertz ought to have bulged the web when he managed a cross in entrance of the keeper, however he stabbed over from underneath the bar.
Rice had an opportunity to win it deep in injury-time, shifting the ball onto his left foot inside the realm, and driving low in the direction of the nook, however Bayindir once more denied him, pushing away for a nook.
Learn extra
Odegaard – ‘It’s not ok’
Further-time
And so to the additional half hour. Rice had our first effort, arrange by Jorginho within the space, however his shot was blocked.
Havertz was subsequent to get in behind the defence. He crossed for Leandro Trossard arriving within the center, however Matthijs de Ligt hooked the hazard away from on the goalline.
The final motion of the first-half was a Rice header that simply didn’t drop for Havertz.
Raya got here to our rescue firstly of the second interval. Joshua Zirkzee had time to measure a shot from simply inside the realm, and disguised his try into the close to publish. Our keeper learn it excellently although, and obtained simply sufficient on it to tip it large.
Partey had a shot deflected over proper on the finish, however full-time signalled a penalty shootout.
Penalties
The spot kicks have been taken in entrance of the away followers, with United going first…
The third in a run of 5 consecutive house video games is that this Wednesday, in opposition to Tottenham within the Premier League. We then host Aston Villa subsequent weekend, additionally within the league, earlier than resuming our Champions League marketing campaign at house to Dinamo Zagreb.
Learn extra
Arteta – ‘We have now to do extra’
Copyright 2025 The Arsenal Soccer Membership Restricted. Permission to make use of quotations from this text is granted topic to acceptable credit score being given to www.arsenal.com because the supply.
Nicola Sturgeon says she and Peter Murrell have been separated for “a while”
Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and ex-SNP chief govt Peter Murrell have “determined to finish” their marriage.
In a social media submit, Sturgeon mentioned the pair had been separated for a while.
Murrell was charged with embezzling SNP funds in April as a part of a police investigation into the social gathering’s funds.
Sturgeon was arrested and launched with out cost in June 2023. She insists she has executed nothing improper.
The previous first minister mentioned the choice to finish the wedding had been made “with a heavy coronary heart”.
She posted on Instagram: “To all intents and functions we’ve got been separated for a while now and really feel it’s time to convey others up to the mark with the place we’re.
“It goes with out saying that we nonetheless care deeply for one another, and all the time will.”
Sturgeon mentioned the pair wouldn’t remark additional.
PA Media
Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell have been married for nearly 15 years
Operation Branchform
Police Scotland has spent greater than two years trying into what occurred to £660,000 of donations given to the SNP by independence activists.
Sturgeon and Murrell’s Glasgow residence was searched by officers in April 2023.
Police additionally searched the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh and confiscated a luxurious motorhome parked within the driveway of Murrell’s mom in Fife.
In September final yr it emerged that officers had despatched prosecutors particulars of what that they had uncovered in an “recommendation and steering report” and have been searching for formal recommendation on what they need to do subsequent.
The replace was understood to be about Sturgeon and ex-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie, who’ve each remained underneath investigation after being arrested and launched with out cost in 2023.
On the time, the Crown Workplace and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) mentioned the police report was into account.
Police Scotland has mentioned it’s awaiting path from COPFS “on what additional motion must be taken”.
They have been Scotland’s political energy couple for nearly a decade.
Whereas Nicola Sturgeon ran the Scottish authorities, her husband Peter Murrell ran the social gathering of which she was chief – the SNP.
Ms Sturgeon’s predecessor, Alex Salmond, as soon as instructed me he privately warned the couple in 2014 towards concentrating a lot energy in a single family.
I’ve not been capable of confirm his account however within the years since then others within the SNP have publicly questioned the arrange.
In latest days, the previous first minister was quoted within the Monetary Occasions, apparently describing her work/life preparations as having been “all consuming for an extended, very long time”.
There’s been renewed scrutiny of any crossover between the political and private lives of Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell because the police started investigating the SNP’s funds.
Regardless of the final result of that ongoing case, it’s clear that the facility couple on the centre of it are actually dwelling separate lives.
Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury introduced his newest retirement from boxing Monday, one month after shedding a rematch with Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury has known as it a profession on a number of events beforehand, most lately in April 2022 after his win over Dillian Whyte. Nevertheless, the Brit returned to motion in December that 12 months.
“I will make this quick and candy, I might prefer to announce my retirement from boxing,” Fury mentioned in a video posted to social media.
“It has been a blast, I’ve cherished each single minute of it and I will finish with this. Dick Turpin wore a masks. God bless all people, see you on the opposite aspect.”
It was unclear why Fury made a reference to Turpin, a famed 18th century English freeway robber and horse thief. Fury additionally retired in 2013 and 2017 in social media posts, with each statements proving to be short-lived.
His newest announcement caught his promoter Frank Warren without warning. However Warren instructed TNT Sports activities that nobody within the boxing world ought to affect Fury.
“God bless him. If that is what he desires to do, that is what he ought to do,” mentioned Warren. “He is made some huge cash. He is had a unbelievable profession. He is the perfect British heavyweight … he has been in some magnificent fights. He has proven what he is about. He has been thrilling, you recognize, to be round him. I’ve cherished each minute of it, and I hope all of the followers have as properly.”
The 36-year-old Fury was crushed for a second time by Usyk in December as he appeared to regain his heavyweight world championship belts.
An extended-touted battle with Anthony Joshua had been rumored for this 12 months with each fighters within the latter phases of their respective careers. British sports activities promoter Eddie Hearn, who mentioned he reserved Wembley Stadium this summer time for a possible Fury-Joshua battle, expressed doubts Fury is asking it quits, hinting that it is likely to be a technique for the heavyweight to retire to entice an even bigger purse for the battle.
“I am not going to accuse him of it not being real, however I feel you get a greater deal popping out of retirement,” mentioned Hearn. “Or possibly he simply hasn’t acquired the abdomen for it anymore. Beat twice and had sufficient. [I] doubt it. Who is aware of?”
Fury was upset with the unanimous determination when he misplaced the Dec. 21 rematch with Usyk in Saudi Arabia. Usyk landed 179 of 423 punches thrown (42%), whereas Fury landed 144 of his 509 punches, a 28% clip.
Fury had acknowledged making errors, notably by showboating an excessive amount of, when shedding their first battle in Riyadh in Could by break up determination. His profession document is 34-2-1, with 24 KOs.
The losses to Usyk have been the one defeats in Fury’s profession, which started in 2008 and included one draw in opposition to American boxer Deontay Wilder in 2018.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Bo Nix’s first style of the NFL playoffs rapidly turned bitter after a candy begin.
Denver’s rookie quarterback threw a 43-yard landing cross to his former school teammate Troy Franklin on the opening drive of Sunday’s wild-card playoff recreation. However the Broncos by no means scored once more in a 31-7 loss to the Payments.
“So much to develop from, loads to study from,” Nix stated.
If there’s a vivid aspect, the 24-year-old first-round decide now has a reference level to construct from after Nix performed a serious function in main the Broncos to their first playoff look since their 2015 Tremendous Bowl-winning season.
“I haven’t been within the league lengthy sufficient to understand how far off we’re,” stated Nix, whose 29 landing passes have been two shy of the NFL rookie regular-season file.
“I simply know we competed towards some actually good groups this 12 months. Subsequent 12 months’s going to be a brand new 12 months and we simply acquired to go and compete like we did this 12 months,” he added. “To make the playoffs was a particular second for this group. It’s one thing we are able to construct off of. … Our targets are altering.”
Nix completed 13 of twenty-two for 144 yards passing, and led the Broncos with 43 yards speeding whereas failing to maintain any momentum from the opening drive.
Denver mixed for 154 yards on its remaining seven drives, 4 ending with punts, two on being stopped on fourth down, and Wil Lutz lacking a 50-yard field-goal try that might have tied the sport at 10 at halftime.
Coach Sean Payton stated the subsequent step for the Broncos is to safe house playoff video games by successful the AFC West.
“We acquired beat as we speak. Particularly within the postseason, it’s at all times a bitter capsule to swallow,” Payton stated. “It’s acquired to gasoline you and light-weight a hearth within the path we have to go. One of many issues we realized early on is we acquired to discover a method to play these video games at house.”
The Broncos dropped to 2-7 within the wild-card spherical, with all seven losses approaching the highway. And Denver has misplaced 5 straight highway playoff video games.
With the offense sputtering, Denver’s attacking protection was ineffective in sacking Josh Allen simply twice. And the Broncos finally wore down with Buffalo having fun with a 23-minute edge in time of possession.
“We by no means actually had a solution to cease their working recreation,” Payton stated. “And while you’re enjoying a recreation like that, you’re not speeding the passer almost as a lot as you’ve been accustomed to.”
The Broncos transformed simply 2 of 9 third downs towards a Payments protection that ranked twenty ninth in that class.
A kind of third down conversations got here on the opening collection when Nix discovered Courtland Sutton for a 19-yard acquire on third-and-8, two performs earlier than Nix linked with Franklin 2:24 into the sport.
“You go to a brand new degree, you get to the NFL, I anticipated it to be powerful,” Nix stated. “However I used to be happy how on the finish of the day, it’s simply soccer.”
That’s the mindset Nix plans to deliver into his subsequent playoff look.
“The most important factor is that we are able to make all of the hype we wish about playoff soccer. Nevertheless it’s simply one other recreation. It’s simply one other AFC recreation,” Nix stated. “So I feel sooner or later, it’s deal with it like simply one other recreation, prefer it’s the subsequent one in your schedule. You go on the market and play. There’s nothing completely different. There’s no particular factor as a result of it’s a playoff. It’s only a soccer recreation. That’s encouraging to know.”
Fury’s choice to retire denies followers the prospect to see a long-anticipated conflict with fellow Briton Anthony Joshua.
On Saturday, Joshua mentioned a battle with Fury “has to occur this yr” when talking on the Ring Journal awards.
Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, who promotes Joshua, has nonetheless questioned the legitimacy of Fury’s announcement.
“We have been right here earlier than. If that’s the finish, congratulations on an excellent profession,” Hearn advised BBC Sport.
“Among the finest heavyweights of this technology and made a bucket load of cash. In case your hearts not in it, if the battle has been punched out of you, it is positively time to name it quits.
“A number of individuals will all the time counsel that he may very well be calling a bluff, however I do not know him effectively sufficient to provide you a solution. If you don’t need it anymore, in case your hearts not in it anymore, should you’ve had the battle punched out of you – it is a harmful recreation.”
Joshua and Fury have been main figures within the heavyweight division over the previous decade however each want to bounce again from losses.
Joshua suffered the fourth defeat of his profession in opposition to IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in September, whereas Fury’s final two journeys to the ring have resulted in losses in opposition to Usyk.
“You don’t want to get within the ring with Anthony Joshua should you’re doing it for cash,” Hearn added.
“You have to need it. You have to need to present the British public with the most important battle within the historical past of the game. You have to need to go to struggle with AJ and get that victory. If it is only a cash factor, you have obtained sufficient cash.
“I am all the time an optimist. For me when that battle with AJ is a battle that may be made in two minutes in a room, I’m all the time hopeful. However Tyson Fury’s earned the correct to make his personal choices. If he is finished, he is finished. If not, then we make the most important battle within the historical past of the game. Solely time will inform.
The Broncos entered halftime going through a 10-7 deficit, however their short-lived drives on offense endured within the second half. With two three-and-outs within the third quarter and the Payments placing collectively lengthy, fruitful drives, the Broncos had six performs to point out for getting into the ultimate body. That compelled Denver to go for it on fourth-and-long on their solely red-zone possession of the sport within the fourth quarter, down 21-7, and after forcing a cease, the Payments proceeded to take almost seven minutes off the clock on the following possession to make it a three-score recreation and basically ice the consequence.
“We obtained beat right now and, particularly within the postseason, that is at all times a bitter capsule to swallow,” Payton stated. “And but, it would go down, and it is obtained to gasoline you and lightweight a fireplace within the path we have to go. One of many issues we realized early on is we obtained to discover a approach to play these video games at residence. That is one other factor that is necessary.”
Nix completed 13-of-22 passing for 144 yards and a TD with no turnovers and led this workforce with 43 speeding yards, manufacturing usually derived from damaged performs influenced by the Payments’ cross rush. Whereas his errors have been restricted, Nix could not get the Broncos shifting constantly together with his arm, and it made for an extended day because the offense watched a lot of the one-sided affair from the sideline.
Nonetheless, the Broncos can maintain their heads excessive figuring out they’ve a younger QB to construct off, and bettering on the inspiration laid in 2024 begins now.
“It is loads to develop from, loads to construct from,” Nix stated. “I am excited to be right here right now as a result of our trajectory goes up. I am excited for lots of issues we have now out in entrance of us. Now we have loads to stay up for that I am pumped about.”
As the solar rose on the west coast on Tuesday, earlier than the wildfires started, and as Mark Zuckerberg made an announcement that would change the political panorama perpetually, a military of robots have been getting ready to trundle round a Las Vegas lodge. Therapeutic massage robots, pool cleansing robots, exoskeleton robots, backflipping robotic canines; that they had assembled from world wide to reveal the longer term.
They have been in Las Vegas – alongside some 140,000 precise individuals from the tech business – for the Shopper Electronics Present, or CES, in all probability the world’s most vital tech convention. Know-how corporations convey their newest choices in an try to excite the world and its patrons, displaying off all the things from new merchandise to speculative ideas. Now almost 60 years outdated, CES has served because the introduction of lots of the world’s most well-known tech merchandise: the primary CD participant, for example, and all the things from Pong to the Xbox.
In recent times, nonetheless, the genuinely thrilling merchandise have been joined by an array of options to non-existing issues, and a stunning array of tech for tech’s sake. More and more, and this 12 months with clear certainty, the present has develop into about one thing extra vital: the query of what know-how truly is for.
***
Even amid the glitzy scale of Las Vegas buildings – the place a lodge complicated could be themed round a complete civilisation and home sufficient individuals and leisure choices for a complete metropolis – town’s conference centre is huge. Its dimension is such that, starting in 2019, Elon Musk’s The Boring Firm drilled an enormous warren of tunnels by which Teslas carry attendees. However rising even above that conference centre this week was a query, posed within the type of an advert for BMW.
“TECH HAS NO SOUL,” it shouted. “OR DOES IT?”
Does it? The query gave the impression to be haunting lots of the merchandise that have been proven off through the week.
(Andrew Griffin)
LG, for example, appeared to embrace the rising apathy and antipathy in direction of AI by rebranding it as “affectionate intelligence”. “Good moments form an excellent day,” its promoting copy learn. “Higher days result in a greater life. Wherever you’re – at residence, at work or on the go – LG ensures everybody can expertise a greater life past bounds and limits, bringing smiles and empathy to our AI.”
The corporate’s imaginative and prescient gave the impression to be about giving tech a soul by permitting it to see ours a bit of higher. The house robots had soothing voices, for example, and if its in-car leisure system noticed that you simply have been stressed and your coronary heart charge was excessive, it could placed on stress-free music. If that didn’t soothe your soul sufficient, then you definitely may go for one of many many egg-shaped robotic therapeutic massage chairs that have been on supply all through the convention, or you would undertake a robotic canine, “shut the gap” with internet-enabled intercourse toys, or just envelop your self in a digital actuality system to tune all of it out. (The business’s deal with stress could be partly a mirrored image of how anxious many inside it are about the specter of upcoming tariffs from Donald Trump.)
The Ropet AI robotic pet with object recognition is demonstrated throughout CES Unveiled forward of the Shopper Electronics Present (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 5, 2025 (AFP through Getty Photographs)
Most of those concepts are conceptual, and as such exist largely for advertising. The true substance is essentially about TVs, in line with CES’s origins as an audio and visible convention, and tv producers got here with a wide range of new choices: enormous, flexible, shiny, clear. In recent times, nonetheless, TV advertising has moved away from what truly exhibits on the display to what’s inside it; corporations comparable to Samsung need you to be as within the smarts and software program because the light-up panel itself. Know-how is more and more about deciding what you see, not the way you see it.
Among the promoting round Las Vegas by the week of the convention appeared to take intention at know-how itself, or not less than the specter of it subsuming the remainder of the world. As travellers left the convention by the Las Vegas airport, they noticed huge screens from Delta Air Traces that appeared to advertise the concept of getting away from a pc. “The world’s greatest search engine will all the time be you,” they learn, alongside spectacular footage of travellers seeing the actual world.
“We consider we’re within the humanity enterprise. Actually,” says Ranjan Goswami, Delta’s senior vice chairman for shopper expertise design, shortly after the corporate had held the primary ever keynote within the Sphere. “What we additionally know is that at this scale, even after we carry 500,000-700,000 individuals a day, individuals need connection. In fact they need to get there on time, however in addition they need connection.”
(Andrew Griffin)
Delta was in all probability the headlining occasion of the world’s most vital tech convention, holding its keynote on the earth’s most superior venue. However the message it portrayed was clear: know-how is all effectively and good, however it’s individuals and experiences that really matter.
***
On Tuesday morning – earlier than Delta had lit up the sphere, and earlier than the wildfires had begun – Mark Zuckerberg made probably the most consequential and important know-how announcement of the week. He stated that Meta can be dramatically stress-free its guidelines round hateful content material, eliminating reality checkers and asking customers to do it as a substitute, and signalling a shift in direction of Trump-favouring insurance policies that had been lengthy mentioned however but to be realised. It was a reminder, not that it have been wanted, that probably the most substantial components of the know-how business don’t must do with the chips and motors that have been on the coronary heart of CES, however the brand new world of media and politics that has develop into entwined with the tech world. Much less battery powered, extra actual energy.
Meta did have some presence on the convention – its leaders in synthetic intelligence and augmented actuality appeared – however Zuckerberg’s video overshadowed all of them. And whereas he didn’t seem through the occasion, the video assertion forged a shadow over all of that Tuesday and past.
Hours after his assertion, Linda Yaccarino – the nominal chief govt of X, although it’s not clear how a lot govt energy she has over proprietor Elon Musk – appeared on stage and hailed Zuckerberg’s determination to embrace a “neighborhood notes” model of reality checking, which has lengthy been used on her personal platform. “We are saying, Mark, Meta: welcome to the get together.”
However, earlier than she may communicate, the Shopper Know-how Affiliation – which levels the convention – started with an introductory video that hailed the chances supplied by know-how. “What’s doable and when know-how and humanity intersect, the reply is something. That is as a result of tech does not simply resolve challenges, it transforms them into alternatives. It helps us transfer smarter, stay more healthy, and expertise the world in methods we by no means thought doable,” the video learn.
“Tech isn’t simply advancing, it’s uniting,” a disembodied voice stated.
Then Yaccarino took to the stage and attacked legacy information as being “designed to make you assume a sure means” and in a seeming try to clarify Elon Musk’s inflammatory posts round baby sexual exploitation claimed that X was answerable for exposing grooming gangs. The one point out of unity was when she claimed that Elon Musk’s Division of Authorities Effectivity, or DOGE, “can be talked about as in all probability one of many single greatest unifiers that may convey this nation collectively, and it is one thing we must always all be rooting for and actually cheering for its success”.
Social media corporations have all the time been accused of fomenting division, in fact. However till now that was largely a structural critique that prompt the division itself was an accident: what social networks actually needed to do was hold individuals engaged, and the easiest way to do this simply occurred by amplifying inflammatory content material. That philosophy could be traced again to an replace to Fb in 2018, which was geared toward retaining individuals on the information feed by selling posts that promoted conversations, however truly ended up highlighting posts that made individuals argue. By 2021, the world was bored with the type of arguments that change had promoted, and Meta platforms together with Instagram and Fb each made the choice to deprioritise political content material.
Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X Corp., previously Twitter, speaks with Catherine Herridge throughout a keynote on the Shopper Electronics Present (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 7, 2025 (AFP through Getty Photographs)
However whether or not it’s was intentional or not, know-how shortly turned politics: information feeds have been more and more the place information occurred, and it turned more durable to differentiate chief executives from politicians. Know-how was not the type of factor that occurred at CES, and was made out of chips and wires; it’s now primarily a system of feeds and algorithms that determine what individuals see and what they know, and the battle to determine that.
The world has little selection over any of this. At the same time as Zuckerberg introduced the brand new adjustments, he appeared to recognise that folks didn’t essentially need them: Meta’s coverage head Joel Kaplan recognised that it was finished in response to suggestions, however stated that it had been a “blunt strategy”. He pointed to the “individuals who need to see extra” politics of their feeds, and that they now may, however it’s unclear what number of of these there are.
However that sense of what individuals may need out of their know-how – and if they need that know-how in any respect – was not often current as a priority. At Meta, it’s about giving individuals politics whether or not they need it or not; at CES, it was about giving individuals robots, AI, and different new methods of doing outdated issues, even when they haven’t requested for it.
***
(Andrew Griffin)
Midway by the convention, a lot of Los Angeles was set alight. It’s a almost 300 mile drive between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and they’re divided by a mountain vary, however the concern unfold shortly amongst attendees. The thread of catastrophe reshaped how the exhibitions seemed: the promoting from private temperature tracker Core that confirmed the way it could be helpful in a heating world turned prescient, the superior know-how for police forces and militaries to quell civil unrest prompt dystopias to return, these individuals mendacity of their therapeutic massage eggs seemed extra like lotus eaters.
The world over, on social media, among the concern turned particularly to AI. Matthew Bernstein, a web based social activist who makes simply shareable political infographics for Instagram, posted one such picture that linked the emissions of synthetic intelligence with the catastrophe.
“Someplace, the lads who construct AI chatbots are choosing the interiors for the rocketships they are going to use to go away Earth and all of us burning with it,” it learn, over an image of a forest in flames. It pointed to statistics in regards to the huge quantity of carbon produced by utilizing or coaching AI fashions. It has since been favored virtually half one million instances.
Mr Haddock right here, the London based mostly Nottingham Forest fan.
A superb pal launched me to The Magazine and I’ve learn some actually good articles on it.
Lots of you could have observed {that a} sure contributor’s articles practically all the time have a dig at Forest, in some form or type.
What introduced me to jot down this text, was the truth that our golf equipment have loads in widespread for the time being with PSR and the enforced horse-trading, but in addition there’s a little bit of historical past between us.
I lately noticed a graphic on the BBC Sport web site that offers the share chance of groups making Champions League – it put you lot at 44.6% and making fifth, whereas it offers Forest at 33.6%, making sixth.
I’m after all going to plant my flag and say I reckon we are able to do you at St James’ Park, as we’ve received Woody and your Geordie Maradona, Elliot Anderson – each have been unbelievable for us, whereas you’ve received Odysseas Vlachodimos, someplace.
You’ve received a distracting two legged cup semi and regardless of your despotic bottomless pit of wealth, you’re going to must flog Bruno to Man Metropolis, Isak to Arsenal and Betfred needs to go house to Italy (the Wetherspoons gag has backfired now).
Speaking of shared gamers.
James Perch (I’m anticipating fish puns within the feedback, don’t disappoint please) has simply retired after taking part in for Ilkeston City. Now Perch is an effective instance of how far we’ve each come within the final decade or so. He was our solely sellable participant/prospect, that’s how garbage we had been again then and you obtain him!
There’s a very good record of gamers between us. Really this displays our shared industrial previous. While you had pits and work you attracted people to Newcastle.
People like Stuart Pearce, Jermaine Jenas, Karl Darlow, Jamaal Lascelles, and the legendary James Perch. Andrew Cole was from Nottingham (depressing sod, that’s what occurs while you transfer to Newcastle too younger).
Nevertheless, occasions change and like when Nottingham nonetheless had viable pits and jobs (who talked about scabs???), you lot got here down in numbers and even settled right here, chasing our nurses and hosiery staff – identical to Frank Clark.
We loved the ginger Pirlo who helped us get promotion and hated that Shelvey lad (reckon you may need taken Odysseas off us out of guilt over Shelvey).
Olive Haddock with Jack Colback
Now we now have Woody and the Midland Messi, who can be taught his craft taking part in alongside our Yates.
The League Cup will do to you what Champions League did to you final season and ‘Notts’ Forest can be on the pi.. with Nuno in Europe.
In a transfer that was extensively anticipated throughout the NFL, the New England Patriots employed Mike Vrabel as head coach every week after firing Jerod Mayo.
Vrabel’s prior teaching expertise — wherein he went 54-45 over six seasons with the Tennessee Titans with a 2-3 file within the playoffs — was interesting to the Patriots, as was proprietor Robert Kraft’s background with Vrabel from his taking part in profession as a linebacker in New England (2001-2008).
That is the fourth head coach that Kraft has employed since buying the group in 1994, the others being Pete Carroll (1997-1999), Invoice Belichick (2000-2023) and Mayo (2024).
Taking a more in-depth look, ESPN Patriots reporter Mike Reiss solutions 4 huge questions concerning the Vrabel hiring, together with what comes subsequent. Nationwide reporter Dan Graziano dishes on what he is listening to concerning the rent, and draft analyst Matt Miller spins it ahead to the draft. Lastly, analyst Ben Solak grades the rent.
What makes Vrabel the correct rent for the Patriots?
Vrabel has proved he can construct a successful tradition, which has added worth for the franchise after Kraft miscalculated that Mayo, 38, was prepared for the job following 5 years as an assistant coach.
Vrabel, 49, will convey order and construction, in addition to a mastery of recreation administration that was fashioned, partly, by what he realized from Belichick as a participant. Belichick usually famous how Vrabel was one of many smartest gamers he had coached. Moreover, the Patriots want a commanding chief to unify all points of their soccer operation, one thing that acquired away from them in recent times.
Kraft had a front-row seat to Vrabel’s management throughout his taking part in profession after which as an opposing coach who had success in opposition to New England. It would not damage that Vrabel is a Patriots Corridor of Famer who spoke glowingly concerning the group at his group induction. — Reiss
Did the Patriots have their sights set on Vrabel from the start?
The potential for Vrabel turning into the Patriots’ coach traces again to final yr. New England had language in Mayo’s contract to change into Belichick’s successor, however group sources stated Vrabel’s surprising availability in January 2024 after being fired by the Titans made some throughout the group wonder if these plans must be shelved in favor of Vrabel. They finally had been satisfied sufficient in Mayo to stay with the unique plan. That Vrabel remained out there in 2025, and was interviewing with the AFC East rival New York Jets, provides a layer of context to the choice. — Reiss
How does this impression quarterback Drake Maye?
One of many high questions is what Vrabel’s imaginative and prescient for the offense seems to be like, and whom he plans to convey with him as offensive coordinator.
So Maye will probably be taking part in in a special system than the one carried out in his rookie season by coordinator Alex Van Pelt, and he will even have new place coaches. That is important as many credited Van Pelt and quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney for Maye’s improvement and serving to refine his footwork after beginning simply 26 video games in school.
Maye acquired a style for among the NFL’s totally different offensive techniques within the pre-draft course of when he met with numerous groups and has famous that some have the next diploma of problem than others when it comes to accountability positioned on the quarterback. — Reiss
What is the subsequent factor the Patriots ought to do?
Rent a normal supervisor who shares Vrabel’s imaginative and prescient so it’s aligned throughout all departments of the group, corresponding to Ryan Cowden, who was a high aide for his closing seasons in Tennessee. The Patriots have by no means had a normal supervisor in Kraft’s 31-year tenure, as a substitute preferring for an government vp of participant personnel alongside the top coach as the highest two staffers on the masthead.
This might be the correct time to alter that strategy, as organizations such because the Patriots have grown exponentially because the Nineteen Nineties, and a GM-type rent to enhance the top coach is as necessary as ever. — Reiss
What are you listening to across the league on the rent?
Nobody is shocked. It felt like this case was pointing this fashion all week, with the group’s curiosity in Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson the one factor that gave anybody pause. However Vrabel interviewed in particular person, not on Zoom, and naturally, the prior relationship with the group was an enormous issue.
Lots of people I discuss to have rolled their eyes a bit on the rent. The Patriots had Belichick for twenty-four years, let him go, did no search in any respect earlier than hiring Mayo, fired Mayo after one season after which rushed their search earlier than hiring Vrabel. Vrabel is an impressive coach and certain the correct rent, nevertheless it appears the Patriots might have benefited from in search of a wider vary of views earlier than leaping on the apparent candidate. — Graziano
How can Vrabel enhance this roster with the No. 4 decide?
The Patriots’ resolution must be about enhancing the general group and never targeted totally on offense or protection. There will likely be strain from outdoors voices to construct round a stellar younger quarterback in Maye, and enhancing the offensive line and vast receiver corps have to be an offseason focus. But it surely would not need to occur at No. 4. Reaching in Spherical 1 for wants is how unhealthy groups keep unhealthy.
As an alternative, the “finest participant out there” strategy could be the very best guess for a group that misplaced 13 video games and has holes everywhere in the roster. That places gamers like Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter on the board. He is my high general participant within the class and could be an ideal addition for a protection that already has vivid spots in Christian Gonzalez and Keion White. Each place outdoors of quarterback must be in play for New England, however my decide could be Carter if the QB-needy groups in line for the highest three picks depart him on the board for New England. — Miller
How would you grade this rent?
B+. There is no such thing as a doubt Vrabel is a stable head coach. His sturdy defenses and general roster power throughout his time in Tennessee are a testomony to that. His return to New England additionally comes with rosy emotions, as he was a profitable participant there and is aware of easy methods to emulate Belichick’s system (whereas additionally including his personal spin from his time outdoors of the nucleus). I’ve questions on how Vrabel will fill out his offensive employees and whether or not he can mesh with the group’s personnel executives, however his hiring dramatically raises the ground for a Patriots group seeking to get again into competition. — Solak
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