The Daily Record joins the Tartan Army in asking The Donald to step in and do the right thing.

Only Trump can make it happen

The United States President is a man who likes to trumpet his Scottish roots. So surely he would be angry to hear that hundreds of Scotland fans are being denied a chance to go the World Cup due to red tape.

They are on the brink of missing out on the World Cup finals altogether, even after spending tens of thousands of pounds on trips. The cancellation of Esta travel waivers has come so late in the day that many fans cannot get full visa applications sorted in time to make their flights.

Tartan Army stalwart Kenny Smith tells his story in the Daily Record today – and has begged Trump to step in. The US and Fifa have crowed about hosting the biggest sports event in world history.

And fans have been in raptures since the night Scotland qualified in a glory night at Hampden last November. That’s why it’s a travesty that travel plans all look like going up in smoke for some unfortunate fans.

Immigration rules are not known for their flexibility. But for the World Cup surely common sense can be applied.

Any fan, holding World Cup tickets and hotel bookings, who was granted an Esta in previous months should have that vital permission restored. The Daily Record joins the Tartan Army in asking The Donald to step in and do the right thing.

Starmer legacy

Sir Keir Starmer’s time as Prime Minister has not been easy – and it could be his party is ready to dump him for a more punter friendly leader. But if he wants to leave a legacy, his promise to force big tech giants into shielding kids from harmful content is a winner.

These mega-corporations make vast sums of cash – some of it from exposing young people to images of sex and violence that they should not be seeing. The Daily Record’s Our Kids… Our Future campaign has long highlighted the terrible damage done from the sharing of violent videos of attacks on teens.

Sexualised images on smartphones can have an equally devastating impact on young minds. Now Starmer has promised that the UK will become the first country in the world to make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude photos on their smartphones.

He wants the social media giants to take measures to make it happen. If they don’t, government will step in to force the issue.

That change can’t come soon enough – and every parent in Scotland will thank Starmer if he makes good on his promise.

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ChatGPT maker OpenAI filed preliminary paperwork that would open the door to it becoming a publicly traded company, the third in a powerhouse trio of artificial intelligence companies racing to Wall Street debuts.

The San Francisco-based company said Monday it has filed confidential paperwork with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“We expect it to leak so we’re just announcing it,” the company said in a statement. “We have not decided on timing yet; it may be a while because there are things we want to do that are likely easier as a private company. But it’s a complicated set of tradeoffs and this gives us the option to go public sooner if that ends up being best.”

OpenAI’s move follows its rival Anthropic’s June 1 disclosure that it is also moving toward an initial public offering of shares. Both are now following Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX, which has started an IPO roadshow pitching itself as an AI-focused space company.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman first publicly floated the possibility of an IPO last fall, describing it as the “most likely path” for the company given its size and the need for vast amounts of capital to advance its technology.

OpenAI began in 2015 as a nonprofit dedicated to developing AI for the common good and is now a company valued at $852 billion.

The filing comes at a “precarious moment” for OpenAI as it appears to be losing ChatGPT’s strong early leads with consumers and businesses to Google and Anthropic, said Emarketer analyst Nate Elliott.

“But OpenAI doesn’t have a lot of other places to look for the enormous capital required to support its costs,” Elliott said.

Paving the way for going public was OpenAI’s decision last year to reorganize its business structure and convert itself into a public benefit corporation even as it remains technically under the control of a nonprofit.

OpenAI cleared another obstacle last month with its victory against Musk in a federal jury trial. Musk, an OpenAI co-founder and early donor, had sued the company seeking to oust Altman from its leadership and unravel its conversion to a for-profit business. A judge dismissed the case after the jury found Musk filed his lawsuit too late.

OpenAI has not yet publicly disclosed how much money it is making or when it plans to turn a profit. Much like Anthropic and SpaceX, the company has been losing more money than it makes because of the huge costs of building out the venture. OpenAI faces fierce competition from Anthropic, maker of the increasingly popular chatbot Claude, and Google’s AI assistant Gemini.

The remarks follow Altman’s visit last week with Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is pushing a plan for the public to take a 50% ownership stake in AI companies such as OpenAI, as well as comments from President Donald Trump embracing giving the public a stake in AI’s growth.

___

AP Technology Writer Kaitlyn Huamani contributed to this report.

The warning comes as more Britons than ever prepare to jet off for a summer break. More than half of UK adults are expected to travel abroad in 2026, despite concerns that new travel requirements could lead to disruption at airports across Europe.

Searches for “summer holiday deals” have also surged by 123% in the past three months as families rush to book trips during the peak holiday season.

One of the biggest concerns is the rollout of the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires British travellers and other non-EU visitors to provide biometric data, including fingerprints and facial scans, when entering the Schengen Area.

Airline industry leaders have warned the new checks could dramatically increase processing times at passport control.

Rafael Schvartzman, vice-president for Europe at Iata, said the system increases passenger processing times from around 20-25 seconds to as much as 90 seconds per traveller, creating a “hard risk” of lengthy queues and missed flights.

Reports have suggested waits could stretch to as much as six hours at some airports and border crossings during the busiest summer travel periods.

As a result, airlines including Wizz Air are advising passengers to arrive at airports at least three hours before departure.

Nicole Kerr, chief executive of transport platform Mozio, said holidaymakers should be prepared for potential disruption.

“UK searches for ‘summer holiday deals’ have increased by 123% in the past three months, as Brits look to secure their travel plans ahead of peak season,” she said.

“While a holiday is meant to be a relaxing and stress-free experience, experts have warned that changes to the travel industry could cause delays and confusion.”

She said the new Entry/Exit System was likely to be one of the biggest challenges facing travellers this summer.

“Passengers travelling to European airports will now have to use the new European Entry/Exit System, which requires biometric data, such as fingerprints and a facial image.

“While the new system is expected to reduce wait times at passport control in the future, Brits have already experienced long delays as the rollout continues.”

Other travel changes Brits need to know about

The EES is not the only change affecting travellers.

Britons have also been warned to prepare for the introduction of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), expected to launch later in 2026.

Under the scheme, visa-exempt travellers, including UK passport holders, will need permission to enter 30 European countries for short stays.

Applications will cost €20, although under-18s and over-70s will be exempt from the fee.

Meanwhile, travellers heading to the United States are being encouraged to use the Mobile Passport Control app, which allows passengers to complete border information digitally before arriving at passport control.

Recommended reading:

How families can avoid airport stress this summer

Travel expert Gianni Leone, senior product director at Away Holidays says preparation is key, particularly for families travelling with children.

Parents are advised to:

• Arrive at airports earlier than usual
• Keep passports and travel documents easily accessible
• Pack extra snacks, drinks and activities for children
• Download any required travel apps before departure
• Allow additional time for passport control and security checks
• Pre-book airport transfers where possible

Nicole Kerr warned that delays may not end when passengers leave the terminal.

“Alongside these procedures, travellers will inevitably be met with other challenges which could cause delays, such as airport strikes and long taxi queues when leaving the terminal,” she said.

“In 2025, travellers reported long taxi queues at airports across popular tourist destinations, including the Canary Islands.”

She added: “With experts predicting another busy summer for airports across Europe, long taxi waits could follow similar patterns to last year.”

For travellers looking to avoid further delays after landing, she recommends booking airport transfers in advance. There’s also often an option to use metro and train systems, and even regular buses – but if often needs pre-planning.

Manchester City are on the cusp of the summer transfer window with plenty of question marks surrounding their next steps

In his final transfer window as Manchester City head coach, Pep Guardiola made some significant signings. Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo’s arrivals from Crystal Palace and Bournemouth respectively were statements of intent.

They automatically made City stronger and future proofed them. Both should be key players for the foreseeable and, particularly in Guehi’s case, ticked off summer transfer priorities early. That makes this window intriguing. While City will always want to work quickly to secure signings, the focus could be on convincing players to stay, rather than join the cause.

With this in mind, MEN Sport has taken a look at what a dream summer transfer window could look like for the Blues.

Click here to find out the latest Manchester City news in our daily newsletter

Elliot Anderson signs

Yes, the focus could be on retaining players but City still need to replace Bernardo Silva this summer. The long term target to fill his boots is Anderson. The Nottingham Forest midfielder has been top of the Blues’ wishlist and the feeling is he would prefer a move to the Etihad Stadium.

City will be wary of overpaying for the 23-year-old but a deal is there to be done. Forest know they will likely need to sell one of their best players this summer after a disappointing 2025/26 campaign and Anderson is the man in demand. If City can get this deal over the line, they will have secured another piece in their puzzle for next season.

Rodri timeline set

In one of City’s wildest dreams, Rodri would sign a contract extension and eventually retire with the Blues. But a more realistic, yet still positive outcome for City, would be for Rodri to commit to one final year at the Etihad Stadium before moving on.

This would allow City a full 12 months to plot their replacement for the Spaniard and offer him a fitting send off at the end of next season. For Rodri, a full season under his belt could also be beneficial, especially after his recent injury issues. Ending the speculation and setting a timeline on his departure would be beneficial for all concerned.

James Trafford stays

If Rodri was to commit to one more year, the next dream agreement would be for Trafford to stay too. The 23-year-old was the strongest second choice goalkeeper in the Premier League last season.

City benefitted from the luxury of having Trafford as their cup goalkeeper last season and undoubtedly he played a massive role as the Blues won the FA and Carabao Cups. Unfortunately, having a player of his quality as a back-up is rarely plausible long term.

But should Trafford decide to stick it out at City and provide competition to Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Blues would have one of the strongest goalkeeping departments in world football. That would only strengthen their push next season.

Savinho leaves

City always know when it is the right time for a player to leave and, in Savinho’s case, that moment may have come. It would be disappointing for the City Football Group to see a player depart having funnelled him through their feeder clubs.

However, he has been at City for two years and has struggled to make an impact. Like Oscar Bobb before him, Savinho has struggled to become a serious alternative to the Blues’ vast array of attacking talent.

It seems the Brazilian is also open to moving too with Tottenham keen. Should a deal of £50m plus be agreed, as well as a healthy sell-on clause, all parties will be pleased.

Over the last decade, podcasts have become big business, with more than a fifth of UK adults listening to podcasts each week. The format particularly resonates with men, who are more likely than women to identify as podcast fans. Men are also overrepresented as podcast hosts.

In a society where the political divide between men and women is deepening, this influential form of media is shaping expectations and experiences of gender. There is a perception among some that podcasts aimed at men are hosted strictly by “alpha males” presenting anti-feminist rhetoric and rigid ideas of masculinity.

But the world of podcasts contains both traditional and shifting ideas of masculinity. Some podcasts, including pro-feminist podcasts and those focused on men’s mental health, communicate inclusive and flexible ideas of masculinity.

In a recent study, we examined what men gain from listening to a men’s mental health podcast. Research suggests that podcasts can offer men a low-barrier option to engage with their mental health. This is important considering the current high rates of mental distress and suicide among men.

We interviewed listeners of a podcast produced by a UK-based men’s mental health support service. The service has around 300 users who engage with online content, some of whom also attend in-person support. The podcast’s long-form episodes feature conversations between men who have some connection to the service, as well as the podcast host. They discuss their personal experiences of helping others, breaking taboos around mental health and offering exposure to emotive conversations between men. They openly discuss topics such as bereavement, interpersonal relationships, anger, substance misuse and suicide.

À lire aussi :
Is today’s political climate making dating harder for young people?

We found that this type of content encouraged listeners to reflect on, and challenge, rigid ideas around masculinity. Several of the men we interviewed described how the podcast demonstrated a culture of positive masculinity. One man said that the kindness between men, communicated through the podcast, led him to feel that the version of masculinity he had previously internalised had not been helpful.

The men we interviewed reported feeling more understood and less isolated. The podcasts provided a catalyst for discussing difficult issues, as well as exposing them to emotional vulnerability.

Men’s mental health can be affected by deeply-ingrained, gendered values, attitudes and expectations placed upon boys from a young age. Self-sufficiency and stoicism, for example, are qualities that young boys in particular are encouraged to possess.

These constraints can act as barriers to men accessing traditional mental health support services such as counselling and psychotherapy. For men who do not feel ready to attend more traditional forms of help-seeking, mental health podcasts can provide a point of entry to informational support.

It is clear from our study that podcasts wield a power that can affect their audience. When it comes to issues like masculinity, this power must be used in a responsible manner.

The regressive side of men’s podcasts

Podcasts can also be a vessel for the normalisation and mainstreaming of ideas which are popular with the manosphere. This is an ecosystem of online communities united by anti-feminist values and the promotion of men’s dominance over women. This type of content is often appealing to men who are navigating social isolation and personal challenges.

Many podcasts targeting a male audience discuss themes of status, physical appeal and romantic connection, often in a problematic way. They may offer self-improvement “hacks” for men, attracting younger listeners who are lacking in confidence and searching for role models. Self-improvement to boost one’s “sexual market value” is a recurring theme in the manosphere. This can lead to young men having a reductive view of themselves, and of women.

À lire aussi :
From ‘market value’ to levelling up, the manosphere is shaped by a financial mindset

While not the overtly offensive content created by some manosphere figures, similar, underlying tropes can be weaved into reasonable conversations through popular, mainstream, podcasts. Humour and irony can make regressive ideas seem palatable to audiences – subtly reinforcing sexism while framing it as “banter”.

Often, these conversations are underpinned by justifications of biological essentialism. This is the idea that men’s power over women is a natural and fixed social order based on biological sex differences.

This was behind a recent controversy around an episode of Steven Bartlett’s popular podcast, The Diary of a CEO. In it, Bartlett interviews psychiatrist Dr Alok Kanojia. The pair discuss declining birth rates and male loneliness.

Bartlett asks if there should be systemic intervention to ensure lonely men can reproduce with women. Critics argued that this framing gave the suggestion that men are the victims of a political injustice – and that that “injustice” is women’s bodily autonomy.

Amid major social media backlash to the episode, a spokesperson for the podcast rejected claims that the podcast promotes manosphere ideologies. They noted that “Steven Bartlett does not adopt the opinions of his guests, nor is the format intended to pass judgment on personal viewpoints.”

Our research shows how podcasts can lead to positive conversations around masculinity. For example, by sharing vulnerable discussions of how men experience the weight of traditional masculinity and changing societal roles.

Podcasts can encourage men to challenge restrictive beliefs about gender, help them improve interpersonal relationships and even encourage them to seek further help.

In our research, we recommend tactics for podcast creators who want to make content which supports men’s mental health. They must first ask how their content helps men reflect on versions of masculinity that don’t rely on the subordination of others. This approach can offer a counter-narrative to soft-manosphere content: critical self-awareness, vulnerability instead of irony, and avoiding a narrative of blame.

Police were called to a house on Hummersknott Avenue just after 7am on March 18 following reports that a woman in her 70s had been attacked.

Colin Finch was arrested and later charged with attempted murder.

The 78-year-old was due to be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court today (Monday, June 8) but the case was put off until Wednesday.

The victim, Laura Finch, was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough for treatment.

Judge Francis Laird KC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, remanded the pensioner in custody after he delayed sentencing until later this week.

The court heard how a pre-sentence report and psychiatric reports had been carried out in preparation of the pensioner’s sentencing.

Pictures taken at the scene in March showed a police van stationed outside a detached home as officers carried out enquiries.

Paramedics from the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) and the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) also attended the incident.

After the year she’s had on Coronation Street, Betsy Swain (Sydney Martin) is due some good news. Trouble is, her mum DS Lisa Connor-Swain (Vicky Myers) might not see it that way…

Poor Betsy has been through enough drama to make the most seasoned resident of the Cobbles balk, and she’s not even twenty yet.

First she suffered the tragic death of her mother Betsy Swain, and then caught entangled with She blackmailed future step-mum, Carla Connor (Alison King) and later found herself deeply entangled with creepy acid-throwing stalker Joel Deering (Calum Lill).

After her boyfriend Mason Radcliffe (Luca Toolan) was stabbed to death by his brother, she caught a stray bullet from her own mum during a terrifying stand-off with escaped killer Rob Donovan (Marc Baylis).

Then came the reunion with her supposedly dead mum Becky Swain (Amy Cudden). Unfortunately, Becky turned out to be a certified bunny boiler on an absolute bonkers mission to give Carla Connor-Swain(Alison King) the old cuckoo in the nest treatment so she could be with Lisa, culminating in poor Besty being trapped in a deadly car chase before the raving loon was finally brought to justice.

Even then, the drama wasn’t over for Betsy. On the night of Lisa and Carla’s wedding, Betsy was horrified to discover the body of abuser Theo Silverton (James Cartwright), murdered by a mystery attacker.

It’s been a harrowing ordeal for Betsy, so much so that Lisa and Carla agreed to postpone their honeymoon just so they could properly look after their daughter.

Now for the first time in a while, Betsy’s future looks bright as she’s loved up with Sean Tully’s (Antony Cotton) tearaway son Dylan Wilson (Liam McCheyne) for a sweet coming of age story in which her mum Lisa will be ‘massively involved’.

Upcoming scenes of Coronation Street will see Betsy becoming a bit of a tearaway herself, as she, Dylan and Brody Michaelis (Ryan Mulvey)  get refused service by Sean in the Rovers. so head to the precinct with some cans instead.

However, just when you think Betsy’s future is all getting a bit Shameless, she gets some news that may change her life forever.

Betsy confides in Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton) that she’s been offered a place at the London College of Fashion. But she’s worried about leaving Dylan. How will he react to the news?

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Surprisingly, Dylan tells Betsy he’s really proud and will visit regularly. But while Dylan takes it well, Lisa might be another story as Betsy admits she’s yet to break the news to her Mum.

Summoning up the courage, Betsy breaks the news to Lisa and Carla that she’s been offered a place at the London College of Fashion. Carla’s delighted.

But after everything Betsy has been through, will Lisa have the courage to let her go?

MORE: Gun horror confirmed for Kevin and Carl as a shot rings out in Coronation Street

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Omar Artan, who was set to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals, has been dropped from the list of officials after he was denied entry to the United States.

Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) men’s referee of the year, was barred from entering the country at Miami International Airport and is currently in Turkey.

No reason for Artan’s repatriation has been issued by US immigration authorities, but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration.

After speaking to the US authorities, world governing body Fifa said Artan will miss the tournament.

“Fifa can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the Fifa World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States,” read a statement.

“Fifa is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present.

“In line with previous Fifa events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”

A senior adviser to Somalia’s ministry of youth and sports confirmed the denial of entry to the BBC and said Artan had been travelling with valid documents.

A Somali embassy official in Nairobi told the BBC that Artan’s diplomatic passport had been issued specifically to ease his travel after earlier visa difficulties.

The Somali Football Federation (SFF) has contacted Fifa seeking urgent clarification.

Speaking to BBC World Service, Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, said: “While I can’t go into the derog [derogatory information] on that I can tell you it was the right decision by customs and border patrol and I support that decision.”

Artan was among the 52 referees announced by Fifa to officiate at the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States, which runs from 11 June to 19 July.

An official in the Somali national football league championships, Artan became a Fifa referee in 2018 and has officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

The BBC’s North America Editor Sarah Smith spoke with President Donald Trump in a brief phone call on Monday about his conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leading up to strikes on Iran.

When asked if Netanyahu defied him by firing at Iran on Sunday, Trump said the missiles were “already on their way” when he spoke with the Israeli prime minister. He added, “if I tell him to do something, he does it.” The call lasted just under a minute.