Latest news with #ValerieMacon
Scotsman
27-05-2025
- Science
- Scotsman
Why we (probably) shouldn't fear new giant leap forward for robot-kind
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... From R2-D2 to WALL-E and the Terminator, robots have captured our imagination for years but, in the real world, such machines have proved pretty thin on the ground. However scientists at Edinburgh University have apparently made a giant leap forward for robot-kind by inventing ones that can walk straight out of the 3D printer that made them. The printer costs less than £400 and first-time users can begin cranking out bots within days. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lead engineer Maks Gepner said: 'Using our new platform, anyone can now easily print things which were previously thought to be impossible. This is a game-changer for engineers and artists alike... we believe soft robotics is ready to make a major real-world impact.' R2-D2 and C-3PO from the Star Wars films have fascinated generations for more than 40 years (Picture: Valerie Macon) | AFP via Getty Images Potential uses include in nuclear decommissioning, the biomedical sector and space. However, we suspect it won't be too long until a science fiction writer uses them to conjure up a dystopian tale of the world under attack by a robot army churned out from some wannabe Bond villain's basement.
Extra.ie
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Kneecap deny support for terrorism groups and apologises to families of murdered MPs
Belfast Irish rap trio Kneecap have released a new statement after calls for the band to clarify their rumoured comments on the likes of Hamas, Hezbollah and UK politicians. Taoiseach Micheál Martin even got involved by sharing the need for 'urgent clarity' surrounding clips from two of their gigs which are now being investigated by the UK's counter terrorism department. The band has now released a new statement to address these claims, saying they 'unequivocally' do not support Hamas or Hezbollah, and 'condemn all attacks on civilians.' Mo Chara and Moglai Bap from Irish Hip Hop trio Kneecap perform onstage during the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Pic: Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images The statement on social media reads: 'They want you to believe words are more harmful than genocide. Establishment figures, desperate to silence us, have combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral hysteria. 'Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history. 'We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever. An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action. This distortion is not only absurd — it is a transparent effort to derail the real conversation. Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap from Kneecap performing at Coachella. Pic: Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images 'All two million Palestinian people in Gaza are currently being starved to death by Israel. At least 20,000 children in Gaza have been killed. The British government continues to supply arms to Israel, even after scores of NHS doctors warned Keir Starmer in August that children were being systematically executed with sniper shots to the head. 'Instead of defending innocent people or the principles of international law, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine. This is where real anger and outrage should be directed towards. 'To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt. Kneecap's message has always been — and remains — one of love, inclusion, and hope. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KNEECAP (@kneecap32) 'This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs. No smear campaign will change that. 'Suddenly, days after calling out the US administration at Coachella to applause and solidarity, there is an avalanche of outrage and condemnation by the political classes of Britain. 'The real crimes are not in our performances; the real crimes are the silence and complicity of those in power. Shame on them.' Kneecap performing at Coachella. Pic:for Coachella The statement comes after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called for a member of the group to be prosecuted after a video emerged from a November 2023 gig, appearing to show him saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' The official spokesperson for British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer added that the Government leader believes the comments were 'completely unacceptable' and 'condemns them in the strongest possible terms'. The inclusion of an apology to the Amess and Cox families comes after relations of the murdered politicians, Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, spoke out against the band and their supposed encouragement of violence against MPs. Mo Chara aka Naoise O Caireallain, Moglai Bap aka Liam Og O Hannaidh, Rich Peppiatt and DJ Provai of Kneecap at the 2025 EE BAFTA Film Awards Pic: Max Cisotti/Conservative MP Sir David was stabbed to death while meeting constituents in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, in 2021, and his daughter Katie recently spoke to BBC's Good Morning Ulster about how 'dangerous' the band's words could be. She explained: 'It is just beyond belief that human beings would speak like that in this day and age, and it is extremely dangerous,' adding that the band saying 'to kill anybody – what on Earth are they thinking', warning there are 'absolute nutters' who could try to act upon the comments allegedly made by Kneecap. Meanwhile, Labour MP David Taylor has written to the organisers of the Glastonbury Festival, urging them to remove Kneecap from this year's line-up, with the band currently slated to appear on the West Holts stage on the Saturday of the festival. DJ Provaí from Kneecap performing at Coachella. Pic: Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images In a letter addressed to founder Sir Michel Eavis and posted on X, the Hemel Hempstead MP said: 'By hosting such a group, Glastonbury Festival risks undermining its proud tradition of promoting peace, unity and social responsibility. 'It would be deeply troubling to see the festival provide a platform to individuals who advocate hatred and violence, especially at a time when politcal and social tensions are already high. '[Removing Kneecap from the lineup] would send a clear message that Glastonbury stands firm against violence, terrorism and political extremism in all its forms.' Kneecap Pic: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu via Getty Images The festival team nor Sir Michel Eavis have responded to the calls yet, but its not the only festival under fire for having the band on their lineup. The Hurricane Festival in the north of Germany and its sister event, the Southside Festival in south of the country, have both cancelled planned appearances from Keecap this summer. There have also been calls to have them axed from TRNSMT festival in Scotland, and for the USA to remove, or not issue, visas to the trio for their scheduled concerts this October.
Extra.ie
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Kneecap gig footage to be assessed by police over alleged 'kill MP' call
Footage of Northern Irish rap trio Kneecap allegedly calling for the death of British MPs is being assessed by counter-terrorism police. Video emerged of the band at a November 2023 gig, appearing to show one person from Kneecap saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' Earlier in the week, footage emerged of another gig last year in November, which seemed to show a band member shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a performance at the Kentish Town Forum, and a Hezbollah flag being displayed. Footage of Northern Irish rap trio Kneecap allegedly calling for the death of British MPs is being assessed by counter-terrorism police. Pic: Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images Both Hamas and Hezbollah are banned in the UK, and it is a crime to express support for them. On Sunday, a Met Police spokesman said: 'We were made aware of a video on April 22, believed to be from an event in November 2024, and it has been referred to the counter terrorism internet referral unit for assessment and to determine whether any further police investigation may be required. 'We have also been made aware of another video believed to be from an event in November 2023.' He also said the force 'are assessing both to determine whether further police investigation is required'. The visas held by the band members are understood to no longer be valid, and they are in the process of securing a new sponsor ahead of its sellout October tour in North America. The Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) is a national counter-terrorism policing unit based within the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, dedicated to identifying terrorist and extremist material online. Police will carry out an investigation if the material breaches UK law. Following former The X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne calling for Kneecap's US work visas to be revoked over their support for Palestine amid the Gaza war at US festival Coachella, the band was dropped by its now-former sponsor and booking agent, Independent Artist Group (IAG). The visas held by the band members are understood to no longer be valid, and they are in the process of securing a new sponsor ahead of its sellout October tour in North America. At Coachella, Kneecap displayed messages which read: 'Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people', 'It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes' and 'F*** Israel. Free Palestine'. On Tuesday, Osbourne called the images at Coachella 'projections of anti-Israel messages and hate speech'. Pic: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock On Tuesday, Osbourne called the images at Coachella 'projections of anti-Israel messages and hate speech'. The music manager and wife of Black Sabbath star Ozzy Osbourne wrote on X: 'As someone of both Irish Catholic on my mother's side and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage on her father's side and extensive experience in the music industry, I understand the complexities involved. 'I urge you to join me in advocating for the revocation of Kneecap's work visa.' Kneecap, made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, alleged on social media that they have 'faced a co-ordinated smear campaign', saying their shows have previously 'called out' the conflict in Gaza. They also appeared to suggest they would be taking legal action against the 'malicious efforts'. Earlier in the week, Kneecap's manager, Daniel Lambert, said the band had received 'severe' death threats after Coachella.
Extra.ie
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Kneecap and booking agent IAG part ways
It has been announced that the Irish group Kneecap have split from their booking agency Independent Artist Group. The news was confirmed by the agency themselves when asked by The Hollywood Reporter, but they declined to give a reason for the decision. The split comes after a controversial few weeks for the trio, with their Coachella sets being mired in controversy and an investigation being opened in the UK with the anti-terror police set to examine footage from a recent gig in London, but it is not confirmed if these two incidents are linked to IAG's announcement. Moglai Bap from Irish Hip Hop trio Kneecap performs onstage during the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 11, 2025 in Indio, California Pic: Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images The Belfast trio consists of DJ Próvaí, Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap, and their two Coachella appearances caused uproar in the US. On the first weekend, the livestream of their set was cut after they started a chant surrounding the death of Margaret Thatcher. In the second weekend, the group displayed messages on a large screen during their performance. Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap from Kneecap performing at Coachella. Pic: Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images The messaging included: 'Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people', 'It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes' and 'F*** Israel. Free Palestine'. It also recently emerged that footage of the Irish rappers performing at a London venue in November is being assessed by counter-terrorism police in the UK. The investigation was spurred on after clips were posted online that appear to show one member of the group shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a performance at the Kentish Town Forum, and a Hezbollah flag being displayed. Kneecap performing at Coachella. Pic:for Coachella Both Hamas and Hezbollah are banned in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them. However, Kneecap still has the backing of their manager Daniel Lambert, who praised the group for showing 'bravery and conviction' in using their platform to showcase matters that are important to them. He said on Drivetime: 'If somebody is hurt by the truth, that's something for them to be hurt by, but it's really important to speak truth. Thankfully the lads are not afraid to do that.'
