Latest news with #Eyre
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Gen Z History Buff Stunned To Find Wartime Message in Jane Austen Novel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A 26-year-old history enthusiast's unique find has sparked a wave of online fascination after she showed off the World War I-era message she discovered tucked inside a book. Meg, from the U.K., who would prefer to keep her full name private, had shared the worn edition of the Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice to Instagram on November 10, 2024. She flipped open the front page to show two poignant handwritten notes. One was addressed to the recipient of the gift and was signed off, "with love, from Eyre, Christmas 1915." The second, written below in a different hand, adds a somber footnote: "Eyre was reported missing on the Battle of Somme." The short clip, posted under @historywithmegs, has been liked almost 100,000 times to date. The discovery—likely missed by countless hands that handled the book over the decades—has captivated viewers, many commenting in awe at the glimpse into a personal story from a war now more than a century past. "I was actually shown the copy by one of my colleagues at my old place of work, Bookends bookshop in Carlisle, England," Meg told Newsweek. "The store is run alongside Bookcase, an antiquarian and secondhand bookshop, and we would often marvel at the many treasures held there during quiet times or on our breaks. Meg looks into the camera lens, left, and shares the inside of the book with viewers, right. Meg looks into the camera lens, left, and shares the inside of the book with viewers, right. @historywithmegs "I believe it had come into the store either through a donated collection, or as stock bought at an estate sale or auction," Meg said. Her video struck a chord with her audience, many of whom expressed admiration for the simple act of love preserved in the fragile pages of the book. In her caption, Meg wrote: "Lest we forget … This amazing little piece of social history has survived over 100 years and two world wars and continues to speak of kindness and humanity in its legacy … Today is an important time to reflect, remember and commemorate." Meg's caption, paired with the emotional nature of the find, helped the video resonate widely, turning the artifact into a symbol of remembrance ahead of Veterans Day. "It has been amazing to see the way that people online have connected with the post and the story behind the book," Meg said. "I think it is wonderful that this simple act of kindness, the Christmas gift of a book, is still inspiring people and touching lives over a hundred years later." Meg poses inside two British historical attractions. Meg poses inside two British historical attractions. @historywithmegs For Meg, the find is more than a moment of historical curiosity—it is a personal tribute to the humanity behind the war and the young lives lost. "Of course, the poignant inscription, referencing the fact that Eyre was declared missing in action at the Battle of the Somme, adds a whole new dimension, too," she said. "I hope that, by sharing the book on social media, I have contributed in some small way to preserving Eyre's legacy of kindness." The Battle of the Somme, which began in July 1916, remains one of the bloodiest campaigns in British military history, with more than 1 million men wounded or killed over the course of the monthslong offensive. The brief message in the book—spared by time and fate—offers a rare and intimate window into the individual stories lost in the scale of war. "As the First World War becomes evermore distant, it is incredibly important that we remember the lives of young people like Eyre who were involved in the conflict," Meg said. "Eyre was not just a soldier; he was a human being, with his own dreams and loves and hopes. "I think that this little book does a beautiful job of reflecting this," the finder added.
Euronews
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Iran regime to change but not towards democracy, veteran diplomat says
A former US diplomat who helped negotiate the Iran nuclear deal said regime change in Iran remains unlikely despite the recent Israel-Iran conflict, warning that the 12-day strikes may have strengthened hardline elements within the Iranian government instead. Ellen Eyre, who served on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiating team under US President Barack Obama, told a virtual Middle East Institute meeting Tuesday that while political changes have begun following the most recent Israel-Iran conflict, they would not result in Western-style government replacement. Eyre said the recent conflict's consequences "are likely to make the current regime more militarised, isolated and security-focused," contrary to expectations that reformist factions, including President Masoud Pezeshkian would gain influence. When asked whether the Trump administration could leverage current conditions for diplomatic progress, Eyre expressed scepticism about the US's capabilities for such interventions. "Even in the best case scenario, the US has not been very successful in carrying out such subtle manipulations of the power structures of other countries," she said. The former diplomat noted that Iranian reformists "play a marginal role" and suggested that Washington lacks both the expertise and the political will to boost their chances from outside. Does IRGC hold all the cards? Iran's current regime shows no signs of immediate change, with military commanders and politicians still publicly pledging loyalty to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Furthermore, calls for a nationwide uprising by Israel and opposition groups abroad have not materialised since the conflict ended. Meanwhile, Eyre said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is the most likely actor to exploit any future succession proceedings. Notably, according to her, Khamenei initially held limited power but gradually expanded his authority through appointing loyalists and gatekeeping access to resources. "Whoever succeeds Khamenei has to go through the same process. But the new leader will be very weak in the short term and will inevitably follow Khamenei's policy. The IRGC will play a leading role in this power vacuum," Eyre said. She suggested that if Khamenei's successor fails to establish sufficient authority, "it is likely that the leadership position will become a ceremonial and demonstrative position and the real power will be in the hands of the Corps." Following US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, President Donald Trump has indicated that nuclear negotiations with Iran might resume, but that there was no urgency to restart discussions. "They want to have a conversation. I'm in no hurry to have a conversation because we've taken down their facilities," he said on Tuesday. Although Tehran has put its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, on hold, Pezeshkian has hinted at possible openness to resume talks on Monday, stating in a social media post that "the window for diplomacy is open and we are pursuing this peaceful path seriously." Tehran has maintained it will not abandon uranium enrichment under any circumstances.
Newsweek
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Iran Regime Change Is Underway, But Not in Trump's Favor—Former US Diplomat
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. A former U.S. diplomat involved in the last nuclear deal reached between Iran and major world powers has argued that the Islamic Republic was already undergoing a significant internal shift, although not in a manner likely to be beneficial to President Donald Trump's administration. Speaking during a virtual briefing held by the Middle East Institute on Tuesday, Alan Eyre, a veteran foreign service officer who served on the negotiating team that resulted in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement in 2015, argued that "regime change" had already begun in Iran in the wake of the 12-day war fought with Israel. Yet he said that "regime change in the sense that people in the West think about it, which is an alternative form of government that's more pro-West," was "unlikely" to unfold. Rather than empowering Iran's reformist bloc, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, who renewed calls for diplomacy with the United States despite its unprecedented direct attack on Iranian nuclear facilities last month, Eyre stated that the recent conflict was "more likely making this regime more militaristic, more isolationist, emphasizing also the security aspect of it." Asked by Newsweek if there was a way he felt the Trump administration might be able to take advantage of the situation to advance the diplomatic solution still sought by the White House, Eyre remained doubtful. "The U.S., at its best, was not good at this sort of subtle manipulation of other polities that would derive some form of government that was pro-West or pro-U.S., and especially now with the current U.S. administration, we just don't have the expertise, or necessarily even the desire to engage in these sorts of intricacies," Eyre said. "Democracy these days is a very blunt tool that's rusting." "First of all, I think the reformists are of minor importance in Iran, and even if they were stronger, I don't think the U.S. has the ability to interface with it in a way to strengthen [them], at least in a way that's practical," he said. "I mean, the U.S. has tremendous ability to positively affect change in Iran and to strengthen reformists by lifting sanctions on Iran. But that's not going to happen." Newsweek reached out to the Iranian Mission to the United Nations and the U.S. State Department for comment. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a mourning ceremony commemorating the death anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Hussein, in Tehran on July 6, 2025. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a mourning ceremony commemorating the death anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Hussein, in Tehran on July 6, 2025. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP Changing Tides in Tehran The U.S. has a troubled history of interference in Iranian politics in pursuit of Washington's interests. The CIA-backed coup that helped reinstall the pro-Western shah in 1953 was followed by the 1979 Islamic Revolution that ultimately ousted the monarchy and put in place the current theocracy. Publicly, there has been little to suggest any new disruptions to Iran's ruling system taking place imminently. All major players, including military leaders from both the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the conventional Iranian Army, as well as reformist politicians, continue to swear loyalty to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who assumed power in 1989 following the death of his predecessor, revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Calls for mass uprisings by both Israel and an array of Iranian dissident groups, mostly based abroad, have also thus far gone unrealized in the wake of the 12-day war. Newsweek recently spoke with several analysts who have insider sources in Iran who identified a gradual shift in domestic power mechanisms that predated the current conflict and may be accelerated by it. Among the most common views expressed by experts was that Khamenei's position appeared to be weakening. The 86-year-old cleric wields absolute authority in Iran, though the IRGC has steadily consolidated influence over key mechanisms of power, including the economy, throughout his 36-year rule. As speculation mounts over his successor, set to be decided by the 88-member Assembly of Experts, many feel the next supreme leader will likely take a backseat to other forces. However, debate persists as to whether the potential shift would result in a more pragmatic path or even a harder-line direction for Tehran. Eyre, for his part, viewed the IRGC as the most likely actor to capitalize on any scenario involving the succession of the supreme leader. "That position is strong over long periods of time," Eyre said. "When Khamenei was originally picked, he had no power whatsoever functionally, but his power came from installing his people in key positions, in accessing revenue streams, and over time, building up a network of people beneath him who relied on him and whom he could rely on." "Whomever replaces Khamenei will have to do that same thing," he added. "But in the short term, whoever it is will be very weak and will be bound to more or less follow what he perceives to be the Khamenei line, and that means, since power abhors a vacuum, that the institution of the play a dominant role." If Khamenei's successor fails to establish sufficient authority, Eyre said that "the next supreme leader could, in fact, become a ceremonial, vestigial, performative position, with the real power being held by the IRGC." A Tough Path to Talks After launching a massive campaign of direct strikes last month, Israel targeted both facilities and personnel, killing scores of top IRGC commanders in particular. Iran retaliated with hundreds of missile and drone strikes against Israel, also targeting a U.S. base in Qatar after Trump ordered the first-ever direct strikes on Iran. Both Iran and Israel declared victory following the June 24 ceasefire announced by Trump, putting an end to the most intensive battle between the two arch-foes to date. Meanwhile, Trump, who abandoned the JCPOA during his first term in 2018, has continued to express his desire to resume negotiations toward striking a new nuclear deal with Iran. However, uncertainties surround the possibility of rekindling diplomacy, as the Iranian Foreign Ministry denied Trump's claim last week that Tehran had sent him a request to return to the table. Since then, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that Tehran would be willing to re-enter nuclear talks, but only on the condition that the White House provide a guarantee that it would pursue no additional military action against Iran. Pezeshkian's latest remarks on Tuesday appeared to emphasize Iran's openness to diplomacy, but neither Washington nor Tehran has confirmed any return to negotiations. "I think Iran fears that when the U.S. says it wants to negotiate, it means that it wants to accept Iran's surrender, because one of the things that Israel has done is now normalize new red lines where [there would be] no domestic enrichment, no missile program, no support for proxies," Eyre said. "So, the sort of terms that allow Iran to go forward that are inside the strategic air are much more punitive on Iran than they used to be, and I think much more punitive than Iran is willing to accept," he added. "So, while the U.S. is the final destination for Iranian diplomacy, I don't think they're upbeat at all." Eyre argued that "the real question is: What is the U.S. vision for diplomacy with Iran? Is it essentially punitive and maximalist or is there going to be a good-faith effort, which there wasn't before the war, to see if they can find a modus vivendi that modifies not just Iran's capabilities but also its intentions, which is going to be hard."
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wimbledon technology change ‘has turned officials into glorified butlers'
A former Wimbledon line judge said the tournament has 'de-skilled' her ex-colleagues and turned them into 'glorified butlers' by replacing their expertise with technology. Pauline Eyre, 58, officiated at 16 Wimbledon tournaments between 1988 and 2003 including Centre Court finals and high-profile matches such as Serena Williams playing her sister, Venus. Ms Eyre, who is from north London, said she felt 'some of the joy has been lost' from the tournament after it replaced line judges with an electronic line-calling system this year. Some former line judges have returned to this year's tournament in the role of 'match assistants', who sit either side behind the chair umpire and assist with ball changes. Discussing the new role, Ms Eyre told the PA news agency: 'Rather than being very skilled professionals who were wearing this fancy uniform, which was a nice bit of advertising for Ralph Lauren, you've now got a few of them just sitting and doing nothing. 'They look like glorified butlers. They're taking players to the toilet, they're standing and watching ball kids changing the balls. 'They've been completely de-skilled, which seems to be what happens when you get machines to do things – you just de-skill people who are perfectly capable of doing the job and you then don't give them roles that are as well-paid.' Ms Eyre said spectators liked to see players 'not arguing against a machine, but dealing with adversity', adding: 'Those lovely moments are part of the joy of Wimbledon.' Discussing the rise of AI and electronic systems in wider society, Ms Eyre said: 'It's just people losing their livelihoods. 'It's not that they are being replaced with another livelihood that's as good, you just need fewer people and more of the machines.' Wimbledon's electronic line-call system faltered again in Taylor Fritz's semi-final on Tuesday. Swedish umpire Louise Azemar-Engzell called 'stop' in the opening game of the fourth set on Court One when 'fault' was incorrectly announced after a Fritz forehand landed well inside the baseline. Responding to the incident, Wimbledon organisers said: 'The player's service motion began while the BBG (ball boy or girl) was still crossing the net and therefore the system didn't recognise the start of the point. As such the chair umpire instructed the point be replayed.' Discussing the role of chair umpires, Ms Eyre said of the officials: 'If you just had a machine calling the score – there's nothing then for the players to rail against, there's nobody there to explain things to players. 'There's nobody there to show compassion to a player.' Ms Eyre is taking a comedy show, called Anyone For Tennis, about her experiences of being a line judge for 20 years to the Edinburgh Fringe. The former line judge, who officiated at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the US Open, added: 'I was a little girl who dreamed of playing at Wimbledon and I got to be part of it. 'I didn't have the talent to play at Wimbledon, but I did get a chance to be really key to its success.' Wimbledon organisers said on Sunday they were confident of avoiding further issues with the technology after a major error in Sonay Kartal's fourth-round defeat to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the women's draw. On that occasion, the new system failed to call 'out' when a shot by Kartal bounced well behind the baseline. After an investigation, organisers admitted the technology was turned off in error on a section of the court. Britain's leading duo Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu have each complained about the accuracy of the system, which is widely used on the tour but has only just been introduced in SW19.
Global News
15-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Ex-military chief welcomes defence boost amid growing ‘chaos' around world
Canada's former chief of the defence staff says he's glad to see a renewed urgency in Ottawa to boost defence spending given the ever-increasing global threat environment, which he describes as 'unpredictable' and even 'crazy.' Retired general Wayne Eyre, in his first interview since leaving the top military post last year, says the 'sheer number of conflicts and wars around the world' has made the need for Canada to invest in its national defence ever more critical. 'The rules-based international order that for so long provided the guardrails against large-scale international conflict — those have been eroded, and what's emerging we don't know yet, but it is much more dangerous and this transition period is rife for miscalculation,' he told Mercedes Stephenson in the interview, which aired Sunday on The West Block. 'We have chaos reigning around the world. It's crazy out there.' Story continues below advertisement Eyre made the comments shortly after Israel launched strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities and killed Iranian military commanders in an attack late last week. Iran soon retaliated by striking the Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv. That conflict is unfolding amid Israel's ongoing military offensive in Gaza, while Russia continues to ignore international efforts to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine. Fighting is also raging in other parts of the Middle East and Africa. Eyre said he remains most concerned about the alignment between Russia and China, both of which have sought to gain entry into the Arctic. He said the 'disregard for sovereignty' and the proliferation of nuclear technologies by hostile actors are threats that 'we need to be very worried about.' 2:07 How will Canada meet its defence spending targets? Eyre was replaced as leader of the Canadian Armed Forces by Gen. Jennie Carignan, who stood next to Prime Minister Mark Carney last week as he announced the federal government will invest over $9 billion in defence this fiscal year. Story continues below advertisement Carney said the investment will ensure Canada meets NATO's defence spending target of at least two per cent of GDP — a goal Carney had previously said wouldn't be met until 2030. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Defending the country is the top role of a government. Everything else is secondary,' Eyre said. 'The realization of that, given the increasingly dangerous world that we're in, that was excellent to see.' The new defence spending plan will focus immediately on boosting pay and benefits for Canadian military members, as well as the restoration of bases and existing equipment. Eyre, who warned while serving as chief of the defence staff about Canada's military readiness, said focusing on people and infrastructure was particularly important to restore that capability. 'You can buy all the nice, new, shiny equipment you want, but if you don't have the people, the infrastructure, the components of readiness that go into making a capability work, it's useless,' he said. He added that 'it's going to take some time' to restore that readiness, however, 'because we have had decades of hollowing out of the Canadian military, and you can't just fix that overnight.' 'What we need, and I am detecting it, is a sense of urgency to get us ready to face this increasingly dangerous world.' Story continues below advertisement Carignan has said her top priority is boosting recruitment to the armed forces. Nearly 7,000 people joined Canada's military over the last year, the government said last week, exceeding recruitment goals and marking a 10-year high in enrolment. 2:08 Carney vows to meet 2% NATO defence target this fiscal year Canada will face further pressure to ratchet up its defence spending at this month's NATO summit, where allies will be asked to agree to a new target of 3.5 per cent of GDP with an additional 1.5 per cent on broader security-related investments, for a total of five per cent. U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed NATO members to boost defence spending to five per cent and take on more burden-sharing for the military alliance. Eyre said the entire federal government and all political parties must remain committed to ensuring Canada's renewed defence investments are sustained into the future, as well as educating Canadians on why they are needed. Story continues below advertisement 'We've got to be in this for the long run,' he said. 'We can't just be doing it because our allies berate us. We have to be doing it for the right reason, and that's to defend Canada against some very, very real threats.' Ottawa also says the procurement of new equipment will prioritize Canadian defence manufacturers as well as partners in Europe in a bid to diversify away from reliance on the United States. 0:27 Canada should no longer send 75% of defence capital spending to the U.S., Carney says In an interview that also aired Sunday on The West Block, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc said talks with the U.S. on securing a new security and economic partnership include the recent defence investments. Yet he stressed that any co-operation with the Americans is contingent on removing tariffs on the Canadian economy. Story continues below advertisement 'Our obvious desire is to work on that partnership with the Americans,' he said. 'At the same time, as they're hammering our automobile, steel and aluminium sectors, those border tariffs (related to issues of) fentanyl and illegal migration — which has, thank God, been massively, massively reduced if not resolved — why would those tariffs and the threat of those tariffs still remain in place?' Eyre said a 'mesh' between investments in U.S., European and Asia-Pacific defence partnerships is in Canada's national security interest given the unpredictability in Washington. 'Alliances are predicated on certainty, and if there is uncertainty, that raises the question as to how reliable an ally is,' he said. 'In my belief, we need to hedge. We need to have a diverse group of allies, partners and friends … because we just don't know what the future is going to bring.'
