Latest news with #TheNational
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Elon Musk's rise and fall at the White House
Author and tech journalist Kara Swisher has covered Silicon Valley and Elon Musk for years. She spoke with The National's Adrienne Arsenault about the tech giant's stint with the U.S. government and what could be next.
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
From the editor: Why we can't 'just ignore' Nigel Farage
Over the last few days and weeks, we've been hearing from readers asking us to "stop giving Nigel Farage publicity" by covering news on his interventions in Hamilton, or reporting on Reform in general. We won't be doing that. No-platforming Farage will only help Reform. There is a difference between freely providing a platform to someone and responsible reporting. Our aim is to provide the latter. Why we'll keep covering Nigel Farage The time for debating whether Farage has had too much media platforming is, unfortunately, over. He did. Undoubtedly. Without the BBC and his endless invitations to Question Time we wouldn't be here now. Farage's ability to get on camera and say whatever he wants without being challenged should, frankly, be studied. The fact is, now it's 2025 and he is going to be the next PM if polling is anything to go by. It's too late to "just ignore him". An SNP figure suggested to me this week that if all UK media agreed to stop covering Farage and Reform, his rhetoric would be defeated. Honestly, having thought about it, I don't know if that would even reduce his reach at this stage. Maybe that would have worked 20 years ago, but more and more people are getting their news from social media. It's a completely different landscape. For instance, everyone knows who Tommy Robinson is, and he has a big influence on UK politics despite the "mainstream media" not inviting him onto panel shows and radio broadcasts. Or think of someone like Andrew Tate. He had an absolutely massive profile, but I'd not once seen him in a traditional paper or news programme until allegations were made against him. Regardless, in what world would all UK media outlets stop covering Farage? The same media that so regularly cheers on his anti-migrant rhetoric is not going to go for that, regardless of any moral pressure. So, maybe, you could argue that The National alone takes a stand and stops reporting on Farage. My response to that is we'd be silencing one of the few critical voices holding him accountable, leaving the friendly titles to cover Farage with no other perspective or fact checking. And who would that benefit? READ MORE: Gerry Adams wins €100k payout after BBC libel trial So what is The National doing about it? Nigel Farage is a person who needs to be held to account. That's exactly how The National plans to cover Reform UK. We won't simply provide them with a platform to say whatever they want unquestioned. I KNOW people are frustrated seeing Farage's face all over the newspaper. People similarly send me emails complaining that Keir Starmer is in the paper too often, or Donald Trump ... the truth is these are people with power. Putting our fingers in our ears and singing "la la la" instead of being informed about their actions and the following consequences doesn't actually stop them, as much as it might provide a false sense of relief. So we'll be covering Reform and Farage, yes. We cannot simply ignore and wish them away. Good reporting that challenges and disproves the right's lies is needed. And that's what we aim to do as we go into next week's Hamilton by-election, and in the future.
The National
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
I've voiced ScotRail trains for 20 years. No one told me AI was replacing me
Fletcher Mathers, a Scottish voiceover artist and actress with credits on Shetland and Taggart, has told The National she was sent a recording of the AI announcer by her friend who asked if she had been replaced. The Government-owned train operator recently rolled out 'Iona', an AI voice on some routes, which replaced older messages recorded by Mathers since 2005. READ MORE: SNP's 2026 candidates 'ignore' grassroots independence campaigners While established Scottish voiceover artist and actress Gayanne Potter is seeking 'an apology from ScotRail and an acknowledgement they have made a mistake' when basing "Iona" on recordings she made in 2021 without her consent, Mathers has revealed she also had no knowledge of the AI rollout. 'I got a WhatsApp message from a friend, an audio message, and she just went, 'listen to this,' and she was on the train. She recorded the voiceover on the train and let me hear it. 'And that's the first I knew that they were looking at changing over to AI,' Mathers shared. 'To be honest, after 20 years, it was a bit hurtful that they hadn't informed me that they were changing. 'I get things are moving in that direction. But I think we have be really careful about it and just let people know. Let people know if their voices are going to be taken over by AI.' Mathers then got in touch with her agent, who went to ScotRail and asked if their client was now out of a contact. ScotRail told Mather's agent which trains the AI has now been rolled out on and contracted the actress for another six months of usage. 'I think that was the compromise that ScotRail and my agent came to: That I would be paid for six months of usage,' Mathers, originally from just outside Perth, explained, adding: 'There's not much I can do. I do the voiceover, and I love that job. 'That's a third of my life I've been the voice on ScotRail. I don't take it for granted. I love the job. I think it's quite a privilege to do that job to be the voice that so many people hear.' Passengers also don't take her for granted. One 21-year-old man wrote to Mathers thanking her 'on behalf of all passengers' for her voice making him feel cared for when his living situation didn't feel safe as a child. A woman also got in touch and thanked her for keeping her company when travelling to her husband who was undergoing chemotherapy in hospital. Mathers shared: 'She said 'I never felt lonely because I felt as if you were with me on the train,' and that's a lovely thing for someone to say. They would no one will say that with an AI voice.' READ MORE: Pat Kane: Language really matters if we're to save ourselves from AI overlords Mathers isn't necessarily upset about the move to AI, but the way in which it has been handled for all involved. She stressed her support for Potter as well as voiceover artist Diane Brooks — a second Scottish woman who has discovered a synthetic version of her voice being used, this time on Edinburgh bus operator Lothian Buses. 'I know I'm not there forever. I thought what might happen is they may go with a male Scots voice after me. I didn't know that it would be so quickly to AI." From what Mathers understands, the AI's possibly not quite ready, and she doubts it's ability to pronounce words in Scots. 'I would like them to wait until it's ready. I haven't heard much of it, but I'm not sure it's good on the 'CH' pronunciation in Scots. Mathers works with Braw Clan, a Scots language theatre company, to create plays in Scots for audiences in Clydesdale and southern Scotland. "We cannot put out an AI system that mispronounces key aspects of the Scots language. And this is a national company — it's important," she said. 'Its intonation pattern doesn't sound quite right. So why not wait until it's ready? 'It feels rushed and feels kind of lurched towards it.' She added: "Let's just stop for a moment and think, take a more considered and careful path moving forward, a path on which which people own their own body and voice, a path in which multinationals pay for their voiceovers in a fair and just manner, a path in which people are informed in advance if their work is being replaced by AI. "Let's simply be human, be thoughtful and respectful to everyone involved. That's surely the answer." The rail operator has told media it does not intend to remove the AI voice from its trains. A sign of changing times Since originally recording announcements two decades ago with the team who rolled out the voiceover on the Hong Kong underground, Mathers has intermittently recorded and re-recorded updated lines. Around 10 years ago, Mathers changed agent and ScotRail struggled to get in touch with her. 'But they sought me out for that continuity,' Mathers stressed, comparing the contrasting treatment she has faced in the last week. 'If I'd been the announcer on them for two years or five years, maybe even seven years, then fair enough, but I've been there for 20 years.' Mathers has still not been contacted by anyone from ScotRail and is in the dark on whether her voice will disappear suddenly from the trains. 'I hope they use both,' she said, referring to human voices and AI, adding: 'I think there's a place for both. I think, for example, when you arrive at a station, I could say, 'you are now arriving in Edinburgh Waverley,' or whatever, and then if there's a delay or something changes, AI could be helpful in updating that.' READ MORE: Labour's migration crackdown will shrink UK economy, expert analysis says 'Even if AI can say the words right, it doesn't have the same feeling. It's that connection that matters." When The National approached ScotRail, a spokesperson said: 'ScotRail has been in contact with Fletcher Mathers' agent and confirmed that her voice would be used on all of the remaining trains in our fleet until at least December 2025.' The voice, 'Iona,' is the same that will be used on a remote real time system currently being developed for future use, the operator shared. They added: 'Place names and words can be entered phonetically. Milngavie is input as Mill-guy, Achnasheen as Akna-sheen for instance. This ensures that ScotRail staff have control over the current pronunciation of stations throughout the country. "It has been used on the class 156 fleet for small additional announcements in relation to East Kilbride, and also on the HST trains for announcements to advise of things like single door operation.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
11 New Albums to Stream Today
The post 11 New Albums to Stream Today appeared first on Consequence. It's New Music Friday, and the weekend brings an exciting batch of new albums to stream. Miley Cyrus is back with her highly-conceptual, Pink Floyd-inspired visual album Something Beautiful, while The National's Matt Berninger returns for his second solo effort, Get Sunk. Plus, there's new releases from yeule, Garbage, and Mt. Joy, as well as a collaborative project between Low's Alan Sparhawk and Trampled by Turtles. Check out our list of the best new albums to stream today. After sharing the experimental White Roses, My God last year, Low's Alan Sparhawk returns today with a collaborative album made with the folk band Trampled by Turtles. It's a fitting combination, as both acts emerged from the Duluth, Minnesota area and have shared the stage together dozens of times over the years. Stream on , , or | Buy on Singer-songwriter Ben Kweller returns to music with Cover the Mirrors, his first project since the tragic passing of his son Dorian Zev in 2023. The new album, releasing on Dorian's 19th birthday, is a raw, emotional journey through grief and loss, with support from Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman, The Flaming Lips, and Coconut Records. Kweller broke down the origins of lead single 'Optimystic' for Consequence here. Stream on , , or | Buy on Vinyl/CD Three years removed their self-titled debut album, London eight-piece band Caroline have returned with the aptly-named Caroline 2. To keep things as 'Caroline' as possible, the group recruited Caroline Polachek for lead single 'Tell me I never knew that' and included a song on the album called 'Coldplay cover' that, in fact, is not a Coldplay cover. Stream on , , or Spotify | Buy on While Garbage are often masters at depicting darkness, Let All That We Imagine Be the Light searches for a more uplifting message. 'This record is about what it means to be alive, and about what it means to face your imminent destruction,' said the band's Shirley Manson. 'It's hopeful. It's very tender towards what it means to be a human being.' They're also supporting the album with their first headlining North American tour in seven years. Stream on , , or | Buy on The National frontman Matt Berninger is back with his sophomore solo album Get Sunk, a rich, sorrowful exploration of the human experience. The single 'Bonnet of Pins' showcases Berninger's knack for storytelling, offering a taste of the hero's journey to the self that Berninger delivers on Get Sunk. Stream on , , or | Buy on Miley Cyrus returns again with Something Beautiful, her ninth studio album. The project was inspired by Pink Floyd's The Wall and high fashion, and features an accompanying music video for each song. Plus, she recruited some exciting collaborators for the album, including Shawn Everett, Brittany Howard, Alvvays' Molly Rankin and Alec O'Hanely, Model/Actriz's Cole Haden, BJ Burton, Ryan Beatty, and many more. Stream on , , or | Buy on The five-piece indie folk and rock outfit Mt. Joy is back with their fourth studio album Hope We Have Fun. The project is a reflection of the fast-paced, chaotic lifestyle that comes with being an artist, which is captured in lead single 'More More More.' They're also heading out on a major 2025 tour in support of the album. Stream on , , or | Buy on Oakland-based rapper and producer Ovrkast. returns with his latest collection of sample-based, jazz-inspired hip-hop. On the newly released WHILE THE IRON IS HOT, he's joined by Vince Staples, MAVI, Samara Cyn, Malaya, and his upcoming tour mate Saba. Stream on , , or This year marks a decade since the release of Sufjan Stevens' beloved, personal album Carrie and Lowell. In honor of the milestone, Asthmatic Kitty is releasing a 10th anniversary edition with 40 minutes of bonus material from the era, including demos for songs like 'Death With Dignity,' 'Should Have Known Better,' and 'The Only Thing.' Read our review for the original record here. Stream on , , or | Buy on Indie rocker Ty Segall continues his prolific output of music with his 16th album Possession, a cinematic romp through the American landscape. The lead single 'Fantastic Tomb' is a tale about an attempted home burglary, backed by a jaunty guitar and a saxophone played by Mikal Cronin. Possession sees Segall once again collaborating with filmmaker Matt Yoka, who brings another level to the narrative arc of the album. Stream on , , or | Buy on Experimental artist yeule is back with Evangelic Girl is a Gun, their fourth full-length project and the follow-up to 2023's acclaimed Softscars. They've already supported the release with a standout appearance on Everybody's Live with John Mulaney this month, where they gave a highly-choreographed performance of lead single 'Skullcrusher.' Stream on , , or | Buy on Popular Posts Billy Joel Diagnosed with Brain Disorder, Cancels All Upcoming Tour Dates Man Wearing Nazi T-Shirt Gets a Beatdown from Fans at Punk Rock Bowling Fest Freddie Mercury's Alleged Child Revealed in New Biography David Lynch's Personal Archive Going Up for Auction Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence Are Now In-Laws Dave Mustaine: Metallica Stole "Enter Sandman" Riff from Another Band Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Glasgow Film Theatre board members quit after Israel boycott decision
On Thursday, The National told how Glasgow Film – the company which runs the GFT – said it would not fully endorse either the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement or the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). Glasgow Film said this was in order to retain "independent decision making" and uphold its "commitment to Cinema For All". READ MORE: 'Do something!': Question Time audience member in fiery row with Labour MP on Israel Now, three members of the GFT board have resigned, raising concerns about the processes leading to the decision. Dr Sarah Wishart, one of the members who quit, claimed the board had not signed off on any letters or statements regarding the decision before they had been sent to staff and the media. On Thursday, Wishart shared a statement on social media, which the three members read out during a board meeting on Tuesday. It reads: "Unfortunately, due to the decision making and processes leading up to this evening, we have no choice but to resign from the board of Glasgow Film Theatre, effective immediately. "This is a decision which we undertook with great thought, care and consideration. "We recognised our responsibility as board members, and wished to see issues related to BDS/PACBI through to their conclusion. "However, we cannot, in good conscience, continue to serve on the board of the GFT. "In addition to our concerns related to governance and decision-making processes, we are also deeply concerned about the attitude the GFT has shown towards our unionised workers. READ MORE: Gaza ceasefire talks continue as Israel issues forced displacement orders "We intend to follow this statement with individual written resignations to formally conclude our time on the board." Earlier this year, front-of-house and cleaning staff at the GFT staged a boycott on handling any goods connected to the BDS movement, which resulted in Coca-Cola products no longer being served. Campaign group Art Workers for Palestine Scotland then published an open letter to the GFT calling for the cinema to adhere to the BDS movement and endorse PACBI. The letter was signed by more than 1400 people and included the likes of Ghassan Abu-Sittah, rector of the University of Glasgow and filmmaker Ken Loach. Glasgow Film has been contacted for comment.
