‘Nigel is mad to accept his money’: who is Christopher Harborne, the mystery billionaire bankrolling Reform?
Posted on Saturday April 25, 2026

A crypto tycoon is giving record-breaking amounts to Farage’s party. But little is known about his motives

Shortly before Christmas 2022, Chakrit Sakunkrit, owner of the Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary on the Thai island of Koh Samui, invited 200 guests to spend a few days celebrating his 60th birthday. One sultry afternoon, Sakunkrit and a small group gathered around a table near the shore, surrounded by the burgundy foliage of Good Luck plants. To his right, dressed down in a polo shirt, sat Nigel Farage.

Since Brexit marked the achievement of his life’s work three years earlier, Farage had fizzled. Even some of his supporters had pronounced him finished. Now, with the Conservatives in disarray after Liz Truss’s disastrous budget that September, Farage was hinting at a still more ambitious project: to make himself prime minister.

Read more...

Altman apologizes after OpenAI failed to alert police before fatal Canada shooting
Posted on Saturday April 25, 2026

OpenAI said the company had identified an account using abuse detection efforts, but determined at the time it didn’t meet threshold for legal referral

The head of OpenAI has written a letter apologizing that his company didn’t alert law enforcement about the online behavior of a person who shot and killed eight people in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.

In the letter posted Friday, Sam Altman expressed his deepest condolences to the entire community.

Read more...

New global panel aims to accelerate move away from fossil fuels
Posted on Saturday April 25, 2026

Scientists and economists will help countries develop plans to reduce dependence on oil, gas and coal

A panel of global experts has been launched to provide scientific input for countries that want to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and manage the growing risks of high oil prices, geopolitical conflict and extreme weather damage.

The initiative was announced on the opening day of a groundbreaking climate action meeting in Santa Marta, where the Colombian hosts set out a draft roadmap for their own national energy transition.

Read more...

Unlucky chancellor? Iran shock hits Reeves just as UK seemed to turn corner
Posted on Saturday April 25, 2026

The economy and public finances were on the right path, bond yields were falling, interest rates likely to drop further … then came the US-Israeli attack

Donald Trump’s war on Iran is “folly”; shadow chancellor Mel Stride should be “lined up for the sack”; and the Liberal Democrat Daisy Cooper’s plan for managing fuel shortages is “fundamentally economically illiterate”.

Rachel Reeves has always relished a political fight, but in recent days she has been swinging at her opponents with what looks very much like enjoyment.

Read more...

Officials hugely underestimated impact of AI datacentres on UK carbon emissions
Posted on Friday April 24, 2026

Revised figures increase fears about energy-intensive datacentres worsening climate emergency

The UK government vastly underestimated the climate impact of artificial intelligence, it has emerged, after officials raised their estimate of carbon emissions from AI by a factor of more than 100.

According to new data quietly published this week, energy use by AI datacentres in the UK could cause the emission of up to 123m tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) – about as much as generated by 2.7 million people – over the next 10 years.

Read more...

TikTok and Visa launch debit card to speed payouts to UK creators
Posted on Friday April 24, 2026

Creator card is designed for people making money through TikTok Live, some of whom complain of payment delays

TikTok and Visa have launched a debit card for content creators in the UK which they say will allow people to quickly access their earnings from the platform.

The creator card is designed for the growing numbers of people making money through TikTok Live, a livestreaming feature where creators receive virtual gifts from viewers that are later converted into cash.

Read more...

Fulham v Aston Villa: Premier League – live
Posted on Saturday April 25, 2026

⚽ Premier League updates from the 12.30pm BST kick-off
⚽ Live scores | Table | Follow us on Bluesky | And mail Tim

Marco Silva, who may be wondering why his team have become so toothless, has gone for an attacking bench, with Issa Diop as the only defender bar Antonee Robinson, who loves to bomb forward. But among all the subs, Tammy Abraham still looks like the best bet for a late goal.

Fulham (4-2-3-1) Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon; Lukic, Berge; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Chukwueze; Jimenez.
Subs: Lecomte, Diop, Robinson, Cairney, Reed, King, Bobb, Muniz, Kusi-Asane.

Read more...

FA Cup semi-final buildup, plus crunch games at both ends of the Premier League – matchday live
Posted on Saturday April 25, 2026

⚽ News, discussion and buildup before the day’s action
⚽ Sunderland 0-5 Nottm Forest | Fixtures | Mail us here

At the other end of the table, Arsenal host Newcastle as they look to leapfrog Manchester City and move back to first in the Premier League. The Gunners slipped to second earlier this week after City clinched a 1-0 win over Burnley.

They need a win today to keep some control in the title race.

Read more...