Latest news with #MarinaHyde


The Guardian
10-07-2025
- The Guardian
Self-serving Post Office bosses deserve nothing short of prison
So now we know – the Post Office Horizon scandal has not been about senior management's incompetence and their struggles to recognise that an expensive software programme might not have been all that it was cracked up to be. It has been a fundamental illustration of man's inhumanity to man, or, more precisely, it has shown just how self-serving and lacking in regard for employees senior managers have been and continue to be. Marina Hyde (Innocent subpostmasters went to jail, but now it is clear: the Post Office boss class belong there instead, 8 July) chilled my blood to the bone in describing how a postmistress made 256 calls to the helpdesk, but was still prosecuted and incarcerated, and missed her daughter's 18th birthday while in prison. She then had to endure her daughter's death a year later. Who on earth was so uninterested in the reason for so many calls, was so callous that they sat by while the postmistress was prosecuted? Hyde says the Post Office bosses should go to jail. This one example of their failure to question why so many employees were experiencing serious Horizon problems, their callous indifference, the industrial-scale cover-up, not to mention their collective amnesia of events during the inquiry, leads to only one conclusion – those bosses must be prosecuted and RobinsonLichfield Commentary on the Horizon scandal has focused on the shortcomings of Fujitsu and of the Post Office. I suggest the British judiciary must also take some responsibility. Something like 1,000 people were brought before the courts, charged with stealing huge sums of money. There was no direct evidence against them. No one could show where the money had gone; there was no sign of the accused people developing an expensive lifestyle – most could not even afford lawyers to defend them. The only evidence came from a software system that could not be cross-examined. Why did the judges allow these cases to proceed? They must, or should, have known about the hundreds of almost identical cases being prosecuted across the country. What has become of the principle of being judged guilty beyond reasonable doubt?Alan RobinsonGriffydam, Leicestershire This debacle has ruined so many lives and the perpetrators have yet to face any meaningful sanctions beyond public ignominy. Do we really have to wait for completion of the public inquiry before criminal proceedings can be started? The government should be ashamed at dragging its feet and further punishing the victims with the snail's pace of agreeing compensation. David FeltonWistaston, Cheshire Wasn't there at least one person in the Post Office hierarchy who thought, 'Hang on a minute, aren't there a disproportionate number of people suddenly apparently stealing?' Or were they all so in thrall to new technology, and being courted by Fujitsu, that common sense flew out the window?Terry StoneSouthend-on-Sea, Essex Marina Hyde's review of the scandal was, again, upsetting. A year or so ago, I felt it necessary to email Fujitsu's CEO, Takahito Tokita. I said his company should provide immediate and substantial compensation as a matter of honour, but primarily because it was at fault. I'm still awaiting a reply. Paul GarrodSouthsea, Hampshire What we didn't learn from the inquiry report – where did the money go (Post Office Horizon IT scandal: five things we learned from the report, 8 July)?Sarah Walker and Barrie de LaraNorwich Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.


The Guardian
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Israel's actions offend us more than Bob Vylan
I do appreciate Marina Hyde's irony and dry humour, I really do (Glastonbury chanters or the Southport hate-tweeter – throw the book at one, you must throw it at them all, 1 July). However, whether the Glastonbury incident constituted a criminal offence or not, her lumping together of Bob Vylan and Lucy Connolly is a case of intellectual apples and pears. During last year's riots, people were actually attacking and attempting to burn alive asylum seekers in hotels. No one is in a position to attack the Israel Defense Forces, who are the ones allegedly committing war crimes – eg burning and blasting people to death in cafes populated by students on the shores of the Mediterranean – and a military force that our own government is still giving arms and intelligence assistance to. But I do take her point about how the criminalisation of these incidents sets 50% of the population against the other 50% – and I've probably just proved her HewittMarlborough, Wiltshire Marina Hyde is right. If this is still supposed to be a liberal democracy we must be very reluctant to lock people up for what they say, however hateful and offensive we find it. It is tragic that progressives have conceded the cause of free speech to their reactionary rivals, whose insincerity is breathtaking. Jonathan Allum Amersham, Buckinghamshire Ephraim Mirvis, the UK's chief rabbi, said Bob Vylan's appearance at Glastonbury was a 'national shame' (Allies of BBC chief Tim Davie fear latest controversy may damage his leadership, 1 July). I think that the Israeli government's treatment of the people of Gaza is a national shame for Israel. To echo Owen Jones (1 July), all the people getting aerated over Bob Vylan and not over the senseless, barbaric killing of civilians in Gaza have become detached from reality. Let's call it what it is – genocide. My mother, a Holocaust survivor, would be turning in her GripaiosHovingham, North Yorkshire There is much ado about 'appalling hate speech', as Keir Starmer put it. What troubles me more is the appalling hate SimpsonDurham Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pro-doping Enhanced Games to debut in Las Vegas with Trump Jr backing
A controversial new Olympics-style sporting event where athletes will be permitted – and even encouraged – to use performance-enhancing drugs is set to debut in Las Vegas next May, organizers announced on Wednesday. The inaugural Enhanced Games will take place 21–24 May 2026 at Resorts World on the Las Vegas Strip. Over four days, competitors will race, lift and swim with full access to drugs and therapies banned in virtually every other elite athletic setting. Related: On your marks, get set, dope! Welcome to the Enhanced Games – the sporting event no one wants | Marina Hyde Billed as a revolution in sport and science, the event aims to embrace what organizers call 'superhumanity' – a future where pharmaceutical and technological enhancement is normalized in elite competition. But while promoters cast it as a bold break from the past, critics are already raising alarms about safety, fairness and the fundamental integrity of sport. 'We are creating a new category of human excellence,' the Enhanced Games' promotional materials declare. 'A world where performance-enhancing drugs are used safely, openly, and under medical supervision.' The pitch is simple but radical: rather than penalize athletes for using banned substances, normalize and study their use in a medically supervised environment. Under the Enhanced model, athletes can either compete naturally, follow independent enhancement protocols, or participate in a clinical trial using FDA-approved drugs designated as 'Investigational Medicinal Products'. The event's founder, the London-based Australian entrepreneur Aron D'Souza, argues that current anti-doping policies are outdated and hypocritical. 'The Enhanced Games is renovating the Olympic model for the 21st century,' he said. 'In the era of accelerating technological and scientific change, the world needs a sporting event that embraces the future – particularly advances in medical science.' Organizers promise extensive medical screening, individualized health profiling and oversight by independent scientific and ethics boards. But athletes will not be subject to traditional anti-doping tests. Instead, they must disclose what substances they're using – a model that some critics warn resembles 'don't ask, don't tell' for doping in sport. The first Games will be held at Resorts World in Las Vegas and feature sprinting, swimming and weightlifting. Prize money is substantial: up to $500,000 per event, including a $1m bonus for breaking the 100m sprint or 50m freestyle world records. That may not be a theoretical reward. In February, Greek-Bulgarian swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev recorded a time of 20.89sec in the 50m freestyle – 0.02sec faster than the official world record, which has stood since 2009 – reportedly while following an enhancement protocol for the first time. The swim, held at a certified pool under Olympic-level oversight, was filmed for a forthcoming promotional documentary. Yet even this demonstration comes with caveats. Gkolomeev wore a full-body polyurethane suit not approved by Fina, swimming's international governing body. Organizers claim the suit was commercially available and not decisive in the performance – but its inclusion underscores the ethical gray areas the Enhanced Games are poised to explore. More fundamentally, many observers are uneasy with the concept itself. 'As we have seen through history, performance-enhancing drugs have taken a terrible physical and mental toll on many athletes. Some have died,' the World Anti-Doping Agency said in a statement. 'Clearly this event would jeopardize [athletes' health and well-being] by promoting the abuse of powerful substances and methods that should only be prescribed, if at all, for specific therapeutic needs.' Travis Tygart, CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency, was even more blunt. 'It's a dangerous clown show, not real sport,' he said. Related: 'Imagine if a 60-year-old broke Usain Bolt's record': the story behind the Enhanced Games, the Olympics where everyone dopes The Enhanced Games are also attracting attention, and controversy, due to the event's supporters. The latest funding round, reportedly in the millions, includes investment from 1789 Capital, a firm led by Donald Trump Jr, Omeed Malik and Chris Buskirk. Other co-leads include Apeiron Investment Group and Karatage, a hedge fund with stakes in cryptocurrency and AI ventures. A video announcing the funding suggests Donald Trump's endorsement. D'Souza described the involvement of Trump-aligned investors as a natural fit. 'I've had the great fortune of working alongside many members of the administration and other prominent figures of the Trump movement over the years,' he said in February. 'To know that some of the most significant figures in American social and political life support the Enhanced Games is more important to us than any investment.' Peter Thiel, the tech billionaire known for his libertarian politics and backing of controversial biotech ventures, is also listed as a major investor and 'close advisor', according to D'Souza. The participation of such figures has drawn further scrutiny from critics who view the Enhanced Games as not only a break from the Olympic model, but a calculated provocation – a challenge to elite sporting institutions, anti-doping agencies and what D'Souza has called the 'anti-science' bent of legacy sports governance. Organizers maintain they are not trying to overwrite Olympic records or discredit traditional sport. Instead, they frame the Enhanced Games as a parallel category, akin to the professionalization of sport in the 20th century. The goal, they argue, is to explore the boundaries of human potential while provoking a broader cultural conversation. It's an ambitious vision – and a high-stakes gamble. Athletes from around the world are being recruited, including some who felt alienated by anti-doping regimes. Former swimming world champion James Magnussen is among them, though the Australian's recent enhanced attempts fell short of record times. The organizers, now headquartered in New York, say they will not tolerate abuse of illicit substances. Drugs must be legally prescribed and athletes must be medically fit to compete. Still, enforcement appears to rely more on partnership than oversight – a feature, not a bug, according to the Enhanced team. 'There are always risks in elite sport,' reads one of the Games' internal FAQs. 'We believe the greater risk is pretending those risks don't exist.' Whether the public buys into that logic remains to be seen. Organizers say they are in talks with major sponsors and streaming platforms, but have not confirmed any broadcast partners or marquee athletes beyond a handful of early adopters. If backlash builds – from federations, governments or regulators – it's unclear whether the model will survive its first test. For now, though, the Enhanced Games are moving ahead, armed with a defiant slogan: Live Enhanced. Whether the world embraces that vision or recoils from it may determine not just the future of one event, but the ethical limits of sport itself.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pro-doping Enhanced Games to debut in Las Vegas with Trump Jr backing
A controversial new Olympics-style sporting event where athletes will be permitted – and even encouraged – to use performance-enhancing drugs is set to debut in Las Vegas next May, organizers announced on Wednesday. The inaugural Enhanced Games will take place 21–24 May 2026 at Resorts World on the Las Vegas Strip. Over four days, competitors will race, lift and swim with full access to drugs and therapies banned in virtually every other elite athletic setting. Advertisement Related: On your marks, get set, dope! Welcome to the Enhanced Games – the sporting event no one wants | Marina Hyde Billed as a revolution in sport and science, the event aims to embrace what organizers call 'superhumanity' – a future where pharmaceutical and technological enhancement is normalized in elite competition. But while promoters cast it as a bold break from the past, critics are already raising alarms about safety, fairness and the fundamental integrity of sport. 'We are creating a new category of human excellence,' the Enhanced Games' promotional materials declare. 'A world where performance-enhancing drugs are used safely, openly, and under medical supervision.' The pitch is simple but radical: rather than penalize athletes for using banned substances, normalize and study their use in a medically supervised environment. Under the Enhanced model, athletes can either compete naturally, follow independent enhancement protocols, or participate in a clinical trial using FDA-approved drugs designated as 'Investigational Medicinal Products'. Advertisement The event's founder, the London-based Australian entrepreneur Aron D'Souza, argues that current anti-doping policies are outdated and hypocritical. 'The Enhanced Games is renovating the Olympic model for the 21st century,' he said. 'In the era of accelerating technological and scientific change, the world needs a sporting event that embraces the future – particularly advances in medical science.' Organizers promise extensive medical screening, individualized health profiling and oversight by independent scientific and ethics boards. But athletes will not be subject to traditional anti-doping tests. Instead, they must disclose what substances they're using – a model that some critics warn resembles 'don't ask, don't tell' for doping in sport. The first Games will be held at Resorts World in Las Vegas and feature sprinting, swimming and weightlifting. Prize money is substantial: up to $500,000 per event, including a $1m bonus for breaking the 100m sprint or 50m freestyle world records. That may not be a theoretical reward. In February, Greek-Bulgarian swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev recorded a time of 20.89sec in the 50m freestyle – 0.02sec faster than the official world record, which has stood since 2009 – reportedly while following an enhancement protocol for the first time. The swim, held at a certified pool under Olympic-level oversight, was filmed for a forthcoming promotional documentary. Advertisement Yet even this demonstration comes with caveats. Gkolomeev wore a full-body polyurethane suit not approved by Fina, swimming's international governing body. Organizers claim the suit was commercially available and not decisive in the performance – but its inclusion underscores the ethical gray areas the Enhanced Games are poised to explore. More fundamentally, many observers are uneasy with the concept itself. 'As we have seen through history, performance-enhancing drugs have taken a terrible physical and mental toll on many athletes. Some have died,' the World Anti-Doping Agency said in a statement. 'Clearly this event would jeopardize [athletes' health and well-being] by promoting the abuse of powerful substances and methods that should only be prescribed, if at all, for specific therapeutic needs.' Travis Tygart, CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency, was even more blunt. 'It's a dangerous clown show, not real sport,' he said. Advertisement Related: 'Imagine if a 60-year-old broke Usain Bolt's record': the story behind the Enhanced Games, the Olympics where everyone dopes The Enhanced Games are also attracting attention, and controversy, due to the event's supporters. The latest funding round, reportedly in the millions, includes investment from 1789 Capital, a firm led by Donald Trump Jr, Omeed Malik, and Chris Buskirk. Other co-leads include Apeiron Investment Group and Karatage, a hedge fund with stakes in cryptocurrency and AI ventures. A video announcing the funding suggests Donald Trump's endorsement. D'Souza described the involvement of Trump-aligned investors as a natural fit. 'I've had the great fortune of working alongside many members of the administration and other prominent figures of the Trump movement over the years,' he said in February. 'To know that some of the most significant figures in American social and political life support the Enhanced Games is more important to us than any investment.' Peter Thiel, the tech billionaire known for his libertarian politics and backing of controversial biotech ventures, is also listed as a major investor and 'close advisor', according to D'Souza. Advertisement The participation of such figures has drawn further scrutiny from critics who view the Enhanced Games as not only a break from the Olympic model, but a calculated provocation – a challenge to elite sporting institutions, anti-doping agencies and what D'Souza has called the 'anti-science' bent of legacy sports governance. Organizers maintain they are not trying to overwrite Olympic records or discredit traditional sport. Instead, they frame the Enhanced Games as a parallel category, akin to the professionalization of sport in the 20th century. The goal, they argue, is to explore the boundaries of human potential while provoking a broader cultural conversation. It's an ambitious vision – and a high-stakes gamble. Athletes from around the world are being recruited, including some who felt alienated by anti-doping regimes. Former swimming world champion James Magnussen is among them, though the Australian's recent enhanced attempts fell short of record times. Advertisement The organizers, now headquartered in New York, say they will not tolerate abuse of illicit substances. Drugs must be legally prescribed, and athletes must be medically fit to compete. Still, enforcement appears to rely more on partnership than oversight – a feature, not a bug, according to the Enhanced team. 'There are always risks in elite sport,' reads one of the Games' internal FAQs. 'We believe the greater risk is pretending those risks don't exist.' Whether the public buys into that logic remains to be seen. Organizers say they are in talks with major sponsors and streaming platforms, but have not confirmed any broadcast partners or marquee athletes beyond a handful of early adopters. If backlash builds – from federations, governments or regulators – it's unclear whether the model will survive its first test. For now, though, the Enhanced Games are moving ahead, armed with a defiant slogan: Live Enhanced. Whether the world embraces that vision or recoils from it may determine not just the future of one event, but the ethical limits of sport itself.


The Irish Sun
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Door remains open', RTE show bosses say as presenter turns down role on highly-anticipated series over ‘anxiety dream'
BOSSES at Traitors Ireland have confirmed podcaster Marina Hyde turned the show down. The 2 Marina Hyde turned down a role on Traitors Ireland Credit: Rex Features Discussing the upcoming celebrity version of 'But my anxiety dream is that I am on reality TV, which I think is very very exposing.' Contacted by us, Traitors Ireland confirmed that an offer was indeed made to the journalist to be a contestant. Darren Smith, MD of Kite Entertainment, told Read more on RTE 'Alas despite her very smart children thinking it was a great idea, Marina decided against pursuing this offer. 'Marina should know that our door remains open as we believe the key to a happy home life and shaping your kids into becoming incredible adults is taking their advice on all career-related matters.' Despite the snub, Traitors Ireland is due to hit Irish TV screens later this year with Filming has already been completed which was Most read in The Irish Sun Project manager Jake Brown and former soldier Leanne Quigley won the most The nail-biting psychological reality competition sees a group of strangers asked to play the ultimate game of deception, betrayal and trust, all in the hope of winning up to €50,000. Celebrity Traitors 2025: Meet the Full Cast Line-up But, hidden amongst them are the Traitors, who will attempt to secretly murder a player every night, without getting caught. It's up to the others, the Faithfuls, to try to detect who the Traitors are, and banish them from the game, before they become their next victim. The Traitors Ireland will air on RTE One and RTE Player later in this year. 2 Marina co-hosts the Rest Is Entertainment podcast alongside Richard Osman