Barclays CEO ‘shocked’ by Epstein revelations as bank deals with Staley fallout

The chief executive of Barclays has said he is “deeply dismayed and shocked” at the “depravity and the corruption” revealed in the Epstein files, as the bank deals with the fallout of its ex-boss Jes Staley’s ties to the convicted child sex offender.In his first public comments on the matter since the US Department of Justice began publishing documents related to Jeffrey Epstein in December, CS Venkatakrishnan said his thoughts went out to the victims of Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting child sex trafficking charges.“I’m very, very deeply dismayed and shocked by the moral depravity and the corruption that you’re reading about in the latest set of instalments. You know, my heart really goes out to victims of this scandal and these crimes,” he said.However, the Barclays boss – speaking as the bank reported annual profits – stopped short of commenting directly on allegations against his predecessor, Staley

UK backs biggest English onshore windfarm in a decade among 190 green energy projects

The largest onshore windfarm in England in a decade has been awarded a government subsidy among 190 contracts for renewable energy projects, as Labour attempts to hit a goal of creating a virtually zero carbon power grid within four years.The government said it would offer contracts to a record number of solar projects alongside support for onshore windfarms including the huge Imerys project near St Austell in Cornwall.The project will be the largest to be built in England since Labour lifted an almost decade-long de facto ban on new onshore windfarms after returning to power in 2024.The ban caused England’s onshore wind industry to collapse, and the Imerys project – developed by Clean Earth Energy – at 20 megawatts is dwarfed by many Scottish onshore windfarms that won contracts in the latest auction, the largest of which is 186 MW.It will generate a fraction of the electricity of the 480MW West Burton solar farm, which also won a contract in the auction and will be the largest solar project ever supported by the UK government

Beats Powerbeats Fit review: Apple’s compact workout earbuds revamped

Apple’s revamped compact workout Beats earbuds stick to a winning formula, while slimming down and improving comfort.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.The new Powerbeats Fit are the direct successors to 2022’s popular Beats Fit Pro, costing £200 (€230/$200/A$330)

EU threatens to act over Meta blocking rival AI chatbots from WhatsApp

The EU has threatened to take action against the social media company Meta, arguing it has blocked rival chatbots from using its WhatsApp messaging platform.The European Commission said on Monday that WhatsApp Business – which is designed to be used by businesses to interact with customers – appears to be in breach of EU antitrust rules.An upgrade to the messaging platform last October means the only AI assistant available to use on WhatsApp is Meta AI, the agent developed by the US tech group, which also owns Facebook and Instagram.The European Commission said Meta was the dominant player for messaging in the EU market and was “abusing” this position by “refusing access to WhatsApp to other businesses”.That position may cause “serious and irreparable harm on the market”, the commission added

Norwegian biathlete wins Winter Olympics bronze and then tells TV interview of affair

The Norwegian Sturla Holm Lægreid broke down in tears after winning bronze in the men’s 20km biathlon, apologising for having an affair and saying: “It has been the worst week of my life.”Johan-Olav Botn won gold, with the Frenchman Éric Perrot in second, but it was Lægreid who stunned television viewers in Norway after opening up to the broadcaster NRK about his private life over the past six months.“There is something I want to share with someone who may not be watching today,” he said. “Half a year ago I met the love of my life. The world’s most beautiful and nicest person

Team GB’s Winter Olympics medal wait goes on after agonising curling defeat

Great Britain are still searching for their first medal of the Winter Olympics after Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds were defeated in a nail-biting curling mixed doubles bronze medal game by Italy.The match went down to the final end before defeat by the 2022 curling champions with Stefania Constantini making sure of victory with her final throw.Italy had led throughout the match but the British pair had given themselves a chance before ending in fourth place, the same position they obtained – again without a medal – at the Beijing Games.Mouat and Dodds were both fighting back tears when speaking to the BBC reporter afterwards. “So close but yet so far – it hurts as much as it did four years ago