The Foreign Office has issued travel advice warning UK holidaymakers
Millions of Brits head to Italy each year(Image: Janoka82 via Getty Images)
British holidaymakers are being warned that they risk being slapped with a 500 euro fine when visiting one of the most sought-after destinations in Europe.
Millions of Brits are set to head overseas during the summer months, desperate for some sun, a change of scenery, as well as a well-deserved rest. The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Government’s foreign affairs department, plays a key role in keeping UK citizens informed when travelling abroad – offering travel guidance covering more than 220 countries and territories across the globe.
In its travel advice for Italy, the FCDO cautions that “some Italian towns and cities have specific laws, and you could be fined for breaking them”. This, the FCDO noted, can include activities such as eating and drinking near major churches, historic monuments and public buildings.
It is also against the law to enter or bathe in public fountains across numerous towns and cities, including Florence and Rome, or to swim in the canals of Venice. The island of Capri is enormously popular with tourists and can be accessed by ferry from both Naples and Sorrento.
The stunning island nestled off Italy’s Amalfi Coast is celebrated for its Mediterranean charm and rich ancient heritage. However, visitors are being made aware that bringing any disposable plastic items onto the island – such as bags, cutlery, plates, cups, food packaging, trays and straws – is strictly prohibited.
Should you be caught doing so, you could face a penalty of up to 500 euros. Additional FCDO guidance regarding Italy adds: “Illegal traders operate on the streets of all major Italian cities. It is illegal to buy items from unlicensed street traders. If you do, you could be stopped by the local police and fined.
“It’s illegal to remove sand, shells or pebbles from coastal areas in Italy. You could face a large fine for doing so. It’s also illegal to collect various species of flowers, plants and herbs from mountain and wooded areas. For more information, check with the regional authorities of the area you’re visiting.”
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
On Thursday, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) stood up a new command to speed up reaction times and sustain operations within the anti-access/area denial environments of the Pacific. To help achieve that goal, the commander of this new unit told TWZ he wants to be able to saturate any future adversary with so many drones they have trouble operating.
“We have learned, particularly looking at Ukraine, there really is no sanctuary area that is protected from observation and potential targeting,” Maj. Gen. Bernard J. Harrington told us during a media roundtable to introduce his new command. It’s called the 7th Infantry Division Multi-Domain Command – Pacific (7th ID MDC-PAC). Headquartered at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, it combines the 7th Infantry Division and the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF). The idea is to merge the maneuver capabilities of the 7th ID’s two Stryker brigades with the long-range sensing, fires, cyber, space, electronic warfare, and information capabilities of the MDTF.
US Army Historic Pivot: 7th Infantry Division Becomes Multi-Domain Command – Pacific
“As we look at our employment of drones,” Harrington proffered, “we are looking at a host of not just traditional sense-and-strike drones, but how do we couple that — utilizing an adaptive and agentic C2 [command and control system] — to long-range one-way attack, to be able to overwhelm potential adversarial systems by a volume that is connected from our sensor drone all the way to our long-range one-way attack drone.”
Harrington was referring to an AI-driven system that can make and execute decisions on its own — routing data, repositioning sensors, matching targets to shooters — without requiring a human to manually approve each step. He later described it as being a “soldier-on-the-loop, not in-the-loop” system, meaning that a human monitors and can override the system’s actions.
You can read all about how AI will enable the future of lower-end drone warfare in our deep dive here.
A soldier assigned to 7th Infantry Division pilots a PDW C100 multi-mission small Unmanned Aerial System at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., April 9, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Rickert) Staff Sgt. Brandon Rickert
In another lesson from Ukraine, as well as conflicts in the Middle East, Harrington wants to be able to use decoy drones to “confuse and potentially deceive an adversary.” The goal is to “deplete potential magazine depth.”
We saw this play out in Ukraine, where Russian mass barrages typically use decoy drones to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses, confuse its sensors and force the expenditure of valuable air defense munitions. Ukraine eventually responded in kind, with its own decoy drones, to achieve the same effects.
The need for the U.S. to develop a vast arsenal of long-range one-way attack drones that can also serve as decoys to consume enemy effectors is a topic TWZ has addressed in the past.
You can see one of the Russian decoy drones in the image below.
The “Parodiya” decoy drone that overflew Kyiv during the visit of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier today and triggered an air defence response.
It is an unarmed and relatively simple UAV designed to probe Ukrainian air defences and expend air defence interceptors. pic.twitter.com/DKNxWyNCai
Harrington added that he is also looking at electronic warfare drones “to help isolate, and then enable other drones to be effective. So when we look at the family of systems, it is not just one role for any one of our drones — it’s how do they pair together, and then how do we get sensor to shooter most effectively to target any adversary appropriately.”
Harrington declined to say what kinds of drones the new command aims to field, though it should be noted that U.S. Central Command recently used Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) kamikaze drones, a design reverse-engineered from the Iranian-designed Shahed-136, in the war against Iran. It was the first time those drones were used in combat.
Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones. (CENTCOM)
“There are a host of drones that we are using from multiple vendors, and really what we’re looking at is how do we start bridging the gap — because I would say with the multi-domain task force, we got to a point for the first time that I’ve seen where we could now engage farther than we could sense,” he posited. “So we have worked very, very closely with several vendors in order to close that distance.”
U.S. Army Pvt. Joshua Morrow checks on a Kraus Hamdani Aerospace K1000 Ultra Long-Endurance, solar-powered unmanned aircraft system during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Basco, Philippines, May 4, 2024. (Staff Sgt. Tristan Moore/U.S. Army)
A key to making this all work is getting these drones into the hands of troops to see how these systems actually function across the wide range of environments where the Army operates in the Pacific.
“We’ve got Arctic steppe in Alaska and the high north that are going to require a different type of drone and different types of employment than you would have in a jungle environment in Hawaii or Malaysia, which is different than a desert environment in the Australian Outback,” USARPAC commander, Gen. Ronald Clark, told us.
A soldier assigned to 7th Infantry Division takes notes about the Archer Block 1, hotel variant, one way attack 8-inch FPV drone at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., April 9, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Rickert) Staff Sgt. Brandon Rickert
“It’s challenging, but we’re dealing with the best and brightest that we have — our young troopers out there are very comfortable with having technology in their hands, and very comfortable with giving feedback associated with what works and what does not, because their buddies’ lives depend on it,” Clark posited. “It’s literally a responsibility that every soldier takes on and takes very seriously.”
“The other thing I’d add is the distances we have to operate,” Clark noted. “For instance, if you drew a box that was 2,000 nautical miles in each direction and started in Cambodia — went east to the Philippines, south to Indonesia, and then back west to Malaysia, and then back to Cambodia — that box is roughly the same size as the box you would draw if you placed it over Western Europe, from the UK to Finland to Turkey to Spain.”
7th ID MDC-PAC has a wide area of operations. (Google Earth)
Interestingly, the officials leading this effort declined to name a specific adversary and there was no mention of China at all, even though that nation is the primary pacing threat of the service and by far the biggest challenge in the region.
“The multi-domain command Pacific is not tied to a specific adversary, and it’s not tied to a specific location,” Clark explained when asked about threats from North Korea. “It’s a capability that we have built to counter any threat from any adversary, so it’s not necessarily focused on a specific part of the region or a specific adversary.”
As we noted earlier in this story, this new command is being set up as the Army has struggled to catch up to drone warfare developments abroad. China has invested heavily in lower-end drone warfare at the infantry level up to long-range one-way attack drones. The country’s capacity to mass produce all types of drones rapidly on gigantic scales remains a real concern, too. This is not lost on U.S. Army leadership.
“We are behind on long-range sensing and long-range launched-effect strike,” Maj. Gen. James (Jay) Bartholomees, commanding general of the Hawaii-based 25th Infantry Division, told us last year at the Association of the U.S. Army’s (AUSA) annual symposium. “We absolutely need to build this capability quickly. We need to test it in our region; we also need to work with our allies and partners to do the same.”
The Army, it seems, is still trying to figure this all out.
Given that 7th ID MDC-PAC is essentially only a day old, there is a long way to go before the Army can draw any conclusions about the effectiveness of this concept. There are still many unknowns regarding what kind of drones the division has and is seeking, how many they need and the timelines for procurement. Regardless, setting up a new unit concentrating on melding drone warfare with the maneuver capabilities of Stryker brigades is a clear indication that the Army realizes it has to change how it operates to succeed in a Pacific fight.
Fans want to know if a sixth season of Clarkson’s Farm is in the works after Jeremy Clarkson’s cancer scare
Jeremy Clarkson on Clarkson’s Farm Season 6
Everything you need to know about the latest Clarkson’s Farm update
Jeremy Clarkson has confirmed that Season 6 of Clarkson’s Farm is officially in production at Prime Video.
The announcement comes just days after the former Top Gear star revealed his cancer diagnosis in the fifth season’s penultimate episode.
Speaking on Instagram in front of a Lamborghini tractor, Clarkson said: “I am delighted to tell you that Season 6 of Clarkson’s Farm is currently being filmed.”
Despite being diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer, the presenter has now confirmed he is cancer-free. He urged men to get tested for the disease.
The news has delighted fans who spotted camera crews at Diddly Squat Farm in recent weeks. The upcoming series is expected to be released in summer 2027.
Season 5 proved challenging for the Diddly Squat crew, featuring Jeremy’s emergency heart surgery and the devastating loss of a pregnant cow due to tuberculosis concerns.
However, there were positive moments including the success of an AI-powered tractor and Kaleb Cooper welcoming his third child with fiancée Taya.
There have been dozens of football transfers in Southern California during the offseason, but the one transfer who could make the greatest impact is running back AJ McBean, who announced he was leaving Mira Costa High for Gardena Serra.
McBean, who ran 10.55 seconds in the 100 meters this spring thanks to Mira Costa’s track program and his commitment to getting faster, joins a Serra offense that returns all five starters on the offensive line. He’s got the speed and strength to help the Cavaliers make up for not reaching the Southern Section playoffs last season out of the extremely competitive Mission League.
He’s been a longtime resident of Hermosa Beach, so what would motivate him to leave Mira Costa after recently making a commitment to Stanford? He apparently wants to prepare for college by being used in a more versatile role catching passes out of the backfield to show off his many skills. At least that’s what his family told coach Scott Altenberg. Mira Costa was changing its offense to better feature him, so it’s a tough loss for the Mustangs.
McBean will have to move to become eligible immediately.
Hope at Whittier
Former Garfield coach Lorenzo Hernandez, in his first season at Whittier, has already discovered a talent he can’t wait to develop. Offensive and defensive lineman Joseph Medina from the class of 2028 has made quite a first impression on Hernandez.
Medina didn’t play last season, “and in three months that we have been here, he is off the charts,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez calls him “a great technician and amazing leader.”
Agoura QB depth
Never has coach Dustin Croick of Agoura had more quality depth at quarterback than what he will have this season thanks to two newcomers.
Junior Kris Carranza has transferred from Sierra Canyon to Agoura and is a top candidate to start. The Chargers are also adding incoming freshman quarterback Emerson Andrews, whose father, David, played tight end at Ohio State and was a member of the 2002 national championship team. He is director of athletic performance for UCLA’s men’s basketball program. If anyone has a strength and conditioning question, submit it to Emerson, who knows someone.
Commitments rolling in
With college recruiters headed on vacation, lots of players decided to make commitments to make sure they have a “certain” destination. There’s also a new trend of players announcing on social media posts that they are “shutting down” their recruitment, which is supposed to mean their decision is final. Then how come others keep recruiting them? Because it’s never final in this era of NIL.
Quarterback Chris Fields, the City Section player of the year from Carson, committed to Georgetown. Offensive lineman Micah Butler from Hamilton committed to Sacramento State. Kicker Gabriel Goroyan of Westlake committed to Stanford. Defensive back Wesley Ace from Gardena Serra committed to San Jose State. Safety Jaden Walk-Green from Corona Centennial has committed to Washington and teammate Brett Smith has committed to UNLV. Running back Kamden Tillis of Los Alamitos has committed to San Diego State.
Man among boys
USC recruiters deserve praise for identifying the best in Southern California and pursuing them with great intensity. There’s no doubt that Damien safety Gavin Williams, a USC commit, will be the standard for excellence this coming season. He’s fast and strong and players who don’t adjust to his physical skills are in for a surprise.
Damien won the Chaminade seven-on-seven passing tournament on Saturday, beating Crespi in the final. On the first play, Williams caught a long touchdown pass, sprinting well past the defender who had no idea how fast he runs.
First-year coaches galore
It’s going to be fun tracking the progress of first-year football coaches this season because there are so many at well-known programs. The question of who will have the best record should be debated all summer.
Iggy Porchia became the latest new hire, replacing his mentor, the late Angelo Gasca, at Venice.
There should be a competition on which new private coach will have the best record and which new public school coach will have the best record. There are so many candidates with new coaches at JSerra, Orange Lutheran, Servite, Los Alamitos, St. Francis, St. Bernard, Bishop Montgomery, Oaks Christian, Whittier Christian, Bishop Alemany, Muir, Pasadena, Long Beach Poly, Arroyo, North Hollywood, Sun Valley Poly and on it goes.
Transfer issues coming
It appears the Southern Section will be busy again this fall after last year’s eligibility scandal when it declared 19 transfer students ineligible at Bishop Montgomery, resulting in the varsity season ending after one game and forcing the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to clean up what looked like a preventable mess.
This time, it could be public schools facing scrutiny. The same rumors that started last summer about schools loading up on transfers are circulating again this summer. Principals who don’t act after multiple transfers seemingly out of nowhere start showing up to play football only have themselves to blame.
And schools that delay submitting transfer paperwork until the last minute thinking investigators will be too busy to spot an error don’t understand the process.
City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos has a policy that she immediately schedules a meeting with the administration, athletic director, coach and parents when one school receives multiple transfers to review paperwork. The Southern Section deployed AI last fall to help it catch parents submitting false information.
So prepare for more exciting times. It’s like a cat-and-mouse game. And don’t forget about the anonymous emails identifying parents not living at the official address they put on their transfer paperwork.
The chief of the White House World Cup task force says it’s “pretty amazing” Iran’s football team has been given visas for the tournament. Andrew Giuliani defended the US’s treatment of the team, which has been forced to base itself in Mexico and fly in and out for matches.
DRAGGING your kids away from their screens can be a never-ending battle – but I think I’ve found the solution.
Tucked away in Brean, a short walk from the sea, Unity Beach holiday park in Somerset is a hive of activity.
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King of the sandcastle Jasper on the beachCredit: SuppliedTop of the chops Wilf axe throwingCredit: Supplied
With everything from swimming and football to archery and axe- throwing, the caravan site will make iPads seem dull to young eyes.
I was visiting with my lads Wilf, nine, and Jasper, six, plus their dad Simon — and for the first time ever, it was a doddle finding varied entertainment that suited everybody.
While Jasper and I were sticking coins in the 2p slot machines at the Family Fun Arcade, Wilf and Simon were getting stuck into an energy-burning axe-throwing class.
Wilf had so much fun that he was still proclaiming it as his holiday highlight by the end of the trip.
The staff were excellent, too, giving him lots of tips and hyping him up as he launched the axe at the targets ahead.
The fun doesn’t stop there, though. For young footie fans inspired by the World Cup, there’s a superb football skills class with first-rate coaches.
There are also entertainer-led activities at 11am every morning at Unity Beach’s family pub, Wonky Donkey.
Jasper particularly enjoyed the Wizard’s Workshop, where he created a magic wand and cast lots of silly spells.
The swimming pool is not to be missed, either. It’s large and all one depth, which meant my youngest could swim in safety as his feet always touched the bottom.
Next to the pool, there’s a fun splash park complete with little slides, flumes and equipment, but my kids were too obsessed by the mini inflatable jet skis.
Bookable for little ones aged three to ten, these mini motors look just like the real deal, only smaller, and kids love racing each other up and down the water.
And if that’s not enough water fun for you, come the school summer holidays, families will also have access to a brand new lido and flumes.
Swimming and the site’s soft play area — which my kids were too old for but looked fun — are included in the price of a stay if you book directly with Unity Beach.
Other activities can either be pre-booked or paid for on the day.
If you prefer the beach to a pool, you won’t have to wander far to reach the shores of Brean.
It doesn’t quite have the same clear seas as Devon or Cornwall as it is situated on the Severn Estuary, but the vast golden sands are perfect for playing cricket, tennis, football or frisbee.
It’s game on as the boys play giant JengaCredit: Supplied
GO: UNITY BEACH
STAYING THERE: Four nights’ self-catering in a platinum three-bed caravan, sleeping six, at Unity Beach Brean is from £879 for arrival in July.
A word of caution, though — it is very important to read the beach’s warning signs because as the tide goes out, the sand can get rather muddy and is not safe to walk on.
When we weren’t getting stuck into mini jet ski action or playing games at the beach, our three- bedroom platinum caravan was the perfect place to unwind.
I must admit, I was expecting something a little like the scruffy caravans of my Nineties childhood, but this was smartly decorated and with a very modern feel to it.
It felt like a home away from home and the boys really loved the simplicity of evenings spent indoors gobbling up homemade pasta (the caravan has a well-equipped kitchen) followed by a night of board games.
If you don’t fancy cooking though, there are so many restaurants onsite that you could have a different dinner every night of the week.
Scoop & Swirl was a big hit for ice creams and other sweet treats, plus there are takeaway options for fish and chips, pizza and fried chicken.
Our foodie highlight was breakfast at the Wonky Donkey, where the grown-ups tucked into a huge full English while the kids wolfed down decadent waffles drizzled with maple syrup.
There’s also RJs — a restaurant that dishes up burgers, pizzas and chilli con carne with a side serving of entertainment.
From kids’ discos to energetic magic shows, there’s something on here every night of the week, so you’ll never get bored.
And to top it all off, we didn’t have one single request for the iPad.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
L3Harris wants to demonstrate the ability of the RC-135V/W Rivet Joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft to team up with uncrewed platforms. Drones could soak up additional data and otherwise extend the reach of the airliner-sized Rivet Joints, while also helping keep the prized jets further away from threats. This and other developments underway at L3Harris could open the door to further operational possibilities for the Rivet Joint fleet.
Jason Lambert, President for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) at L3Harris, talked about the crewed-uncrewed teaming capability for the RC-135, and other major developments in a recent interview with our Jamie Hunter. He also spoke about airborne early warning, electronic warfare, and other capabilities the company is pursuing for various special mission aircraft across its portfolio. This includes a version of the airborne early warning and control-optimized Bombardier Global 6500 business jet-based AERIS-X that is now in the works for South Korea.
Jamie Hunter’s full interview with L3Harris’ Jason Lambert can be found below.
RC-135 Rivet Joint Could Control Uncrewed Drones To Soak Up More Data
“The way these planes operate is every four years or so they come out of the field for depot-level maintenance. So we take the aircraft into our operation in Greenville, we take out the electronics gear, we do a full inspection on the airframe, look for any corrosion, [and] do any repairs required,” Lambert explained. “Then we basically build back the aircraft up with the latest antennas, hardware capabilities, processing power, as well as the software that’s currently going and always going, actually on a baseline spiral upgrade.”
“The software development is on a spiral upgrade schedule, so we’re constantly working the development of new updates and new upgrades for the capability set on the aircraft mission set itself,” he continued. “So, while the aircraft were actually birthed in the 60s and 70s from the Boeing line, from a mission system capability, they’re actually the youngest mission system across the entire United States Air Force, and the reason that’s the case is because as they come off the production line or come out of our depot center, every aircraft is leaving with the world’s leading technology, both software and hardware.”
A Rivet Joint seen stripped of its usual paint scheme and undergoing work at L3Harris’ facility in Greenville, Texas. Dylan Phelps
L3Harris “is already provisioned to be able to do quick turn hardware and software upgrades on the aircraft,” Lambert noted. “We can do that from anywhere from a week to a month, and then actually field the aircraft back into operational theater to perform.”
For L3Harris, crewed-uncrewed teaming is one new capability it is already looking to insert into the Rivet Joint fleet using the processes available now.
“We’re currently in discussions right now to actually do demonstrations on that [crewed-uncrewed teaming] with the RC-135,” Lambert said. “So, new technology, new capability set that’s underway. The technology is actually there. It exists today. We just need to go demonstrate it.”
A head-on view of an RC-135V/W Rivet Joint. US Military
Lambert said that L3Harris has been talking with multiple unspecified drone makers about crewed-uncrewed teaming with the Rivet Joint, as well as other special mission aircraft. He also highlighted the company’s own ability to provide the secure datalinks that would be critical for realizing this capability, via the Broadband Communications Systems (BCS) business unit in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“The next question is how we actually go demonstrate that with a connected set of tissue in theater to be able to do that,” he added.
As noted, pairing the RC-135V/Ws with uncrewed teammates would expand their ability to scoop up electronic emissions and other intelligence, and to do so across a larger area. Drones could operate beyond the Rivet Joint’s organic sensor range and the radio horizon. They could carry additional sensor systems to also broaden the types of intelligence the team could gather at any given time. Having multiple assets tied together would also help with geolocation of radio signals via triangulation. Paired with the right tactics, the crewed-uncrewed team could allow for additional tactical flexibility and collection of higher-fidelity data.
The information the drones collect could be passed to the Rivet Joint’s crew for analysis and exploitation, as well as to other intelligence and command and control nodes further to the rear. The aircraft also have the ability to send data to forces at or near the tactical edge. The crew of these planes includes dozens of signals and electronic warfare specialists, as well as linguists, who can immediately begin sifting through the intelligence being collected and help get it where it needs to go.
An unclassified US Air Force briefing slide giving a general overview of the roles and responsibilities of the members of a typical Rivet Joint crew. USAF
RC-135V/Ws are already particularly well known for their role in creating so-called “electronic orders of battle” detailing an opponent’s force posture, especially when it comes to air defense and command and control assets. Drone teammates would fit right into this playbook, offering a new way to stimulate integrated air defense networks, and glean intelligence about capabilities and standard operating procedures as a result.
Crewed-uncrewed teaming could also help keep the Rivet Joints further away from threats. Stealthy drones, in particular, could be sent to collect intelligence in higher-risk areas. Adversary anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) bubbles are only growing in scale and scope, to include ever-longer-ranged anti-air missiles. This, in turn, threatens to push Rivet Joints further and further away from areas they would be tasked to collect on, especially in the midst of a high-end fight, such as one against China in the Pacific. As an aside, the U.S. Army sees air-launched drones as a critical capability for its new ME-11B High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) ISR aircraft, specifically to help keep them as far away from enemy air defenses as possible.
The ability for Rivet Joint to act as airborne drone controllers opens the door to additional operational possibilities beyond ISR, including using those uncrewed teammates to provide localized force protection. The drones could be configured for other missions, including electronic warfare and signal relay, too. A networked swarm of uncrewed teammates in various configurations could offer further flexibility to perform multiple tasks simultaneously across a swath of the battlespace.
An RC-135V/W Rivet Joint seen flying somewhere in the Middle East. USAF
All of this could transform the RC-135V/Ws into more multi-purpose platforms going forward. At the same time, it should also be noted that the Rivet Joints are the definition of a highly in-demand, but low-density asset, and each one of the Air Force’s 17 aircraft can only be in one place at one time. The aging aircraft have also suffered readiness challenges in recent years, further limiting how many are actually available for real-world missions on a day-to-day basis.
In his interview with Jamie Hunter, L3Harris’ Lambert also discussed drone teaming and other capability developments the company is pursuing in the context of what this could mean for AERIS-X.
For AERIS-X, “think of connecting and having this be the command and control unit to be able to operate a set of unmanned aircraft,” Lambert said. It “is essentially the hub-and -spoke system to be able to go operate as a network in theater.”
A rendering of a AERIS-X aircraft in South Korean service. L3Harris
“So, the current [AERIS-X] aircraft is, right now, in a six operators [sic] configuration. It can easily be flexed to eight. We’re also looking at opportunities to take the aircraft to 10,” he added. “The operator count is also a function of the AI [artificial intelligence] evolution. So you think about the effectivity of what that operator can do in terms of their workload that they have in that station. We view AI as not a replacement for that, it’s a supplement to the operator. So, being able to do – take on and process more information with less. So being able to do the job of 10 or more with a group of six is very feasible with an AI technology platform.”
This latter point could factor into directing larger groups of drones, as well as other mission sets. The uncrewed aircraft could themselves be highly autonomous, further helping to reduce the workload of human operators.
“Think of AERIS-X essentially owning the skies, so owning the battle space, and looking at not just what’s in the air, but what’s coming into the air from the ground. It’s got the radar package to be able to go look out,” Lambert also noted in talking about AERIS-X more generally. “We also have the capability set to integrate this with an ISR platform to be able to look downward. So, think SAR/GMTI [synthetic aperture radar/ground moving-target indicator] radar, standoff targeting, to be able to do that.”
AERIS X™ Airborne Early Warning and Control Mission Scenario
“Mentioned the ground connectivity. Of course, we have that not only from line-of-sight, but we can also do through satellite link to be able to have that command and control on the ground, as well as control from the air,” he added. “And we have a program called TOC-L, Tactical Operations Center-Light, which is actually a complementary product and system to this. Because you can have the air bases, and think across maybe an island chain or set of four deployed locations, now you can have essentially a network architecture and infrastructure to be able to do that command and control across the suite of assets.”
In addition to the airborne early warning and control and surface surveillance roles, Lambert highlighted the ability to configure AERIS-X with electronic warfare capabilities, especially to provide additional layers of self-protection. L3Harris’ special mission aircraft portfolio also extends to electronic attack platforms, including the EA-37B Compass Call for the U.S. Air Force. Italy is also now on track to field a version of the EA-37B. L3Harris has already been working with that country on the Joint Airborne Multi-Mission Multi-Sensor System (JAMMS) aircraft program, as well.
A US Air Force EA-37B Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft. USAF
In speaking with Jamie Hunter, Lambert also highlighted how L3Harris had leveraged technology from the Rivet Joint fleet for the MC-55A Peregrine for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The Australians notably describe the MC-55A as an “airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare” platform.
The first MC-55A for the Royal Australian Air Force arrives in that country in January 2026. @airman941
It’s possible that the Rivet Joint fleet could gain electronic warfare capabilities, if they haven’t already. The Air Force has already been openly exploring the capabilities to be gained by teaming crewed Rivet Joint and Compass Call aircraft directly together during operations.
The electronic warfare domain is also an area where the aforementioned comments about rapid upgrade cycles are especially pertinent. Electronic warfare systems have to receive regular updates to ensure their effectiveness in an ecosystem where threats can evolve very quickly by changing waveforms or otherwise modulating the signals they pump out. The data that ISR platforms like the Rivet Joint collect is critical to staying ahead of adversary developments, but getting upgrades to systems in the field as fast as possible is also essential. If updates come too slowly, they could easily be out of date before they even arrive. A vital set of capabilities to further truncate these upgrade processes is now being developed under the umbrella of what is known as cognitive electronic warfare. Major leaps are already being made in shortening the time required to make these updates. The absolute “holy grail” of the concept would be an electronic warfare system that could adapt autonomously by itself in real-time, even in the middle of a mission, based on any new data it is presented with.
For its part now, L3Harris seems very interested in demonstrating how pairing drones with the Rivet Joint, as well as other ISR, early warning and control, and electronic warfare aircraft, could create new powerful airborne teams better suited to tomorrow’s potential conflicts.
Jeremy Clarkson took to Instagram this weekend with an exciting update on his hit Prime Video series
Jeremy Clarkson officially confirms Clarkson’s Farm Season 6
The update comes days after his cancer diagnosis was revealed.
Clarkson’s Farm Season 6 is officially in the works at Prime Video, Jeremy Clarkson has confirmed.
The news comes days after the fifth outing of the former Top Gear star’s hit series concluded with the devastating news that he has been diagnosed with cancer.
Jeremy took to Instagram this weekend with a filmed update in front of a Lamborghini tractor.
“So, bit of a year,” he began. “But, I am delighted to tell you that Season 6 of Clarkson’s Farm is currently being filmed. It’s in production.
“And that’s particularly good news for me because… well, if you know, you know.
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“And, if you don’t know, you need to watch Season 5.”
Despite Jeremy being diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer, which devastated his farming colleagues Kaleb Cooper and Charlie Ireland in the seventh episode of season five, he’s now confirmed to be cancer free.
The presenter took to Instagram just a couple of hours before the Season 6 announcement to assure fans he’s “perfectly fine” and urging men to get tested.
His update also arrives after Jeremy was spotted with camera crews on Diddly Squat Farm, leading to speculation that Season 6 was almost certainly underway.
Fans can now rest assured that the upcoming instalment is officially in the works and is likely to be released in summer 2027.
One of his followers replied: “I love you Jeremy, love the show and the rest of the crew.”
Someone else exclaimed: “Best news of the day!” And another said: “Wonderful news [heart emoji].”
“Absolutely thrilled,” another fan commented. “Thrilled as your show is one of my all time favourites, but even moreso that you’re all clear health wise! Excitedly awaiting season 6.”
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Season 5 was a rocky road for the Diddly Squat crew, which also includes Jeremy’s partner Lisa Hogan and dry stone walling expert Gerald Cooper.
In addition to Jeremy’s cancer diagnosis, the latest instalment kicked off with Jeremy’s emergency heart surgery in late 2024 and saw one of his toughest farming experiences yet as his pregnant cow was slaughtered due to “inconclusive” tuberculosis tests.
However, there were plenty of uplifting moments too as the AI-powered AgBot tractor proved a success and Kaleb welcomed his third child with fiancée Taya.
Clarkson’s Farm is available to stream on Prime Video.
It was Andy Pages’ wife, Alondra, who told the Dodgers’ center fielder on June 3 that MLB All-Star voting had opened.
“I simply just told her, [the ballots] don’t really matter to me,” Pages said through interpreter Juan Dorado, in a conversation with The Times earlier this month. “I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing.”
Doing just that has worked out well for Pages. When MLB released the first All-Star balloting update Monday, Pages led all National League outfielders with 800,496 fan votes, putting him in prime position to claim a starter’s spot.
He has added to his All-Star case against the Baltimore Orioles this weekend, largely with his defense. In the Dodgers’ 3-2 loss Saturday, he authored his third highlight-worthy play of the series. Ranging into right field, Pages tracked down a line drive off Tyler Ward’s bat and made a sliding catch for the first out of the third inning.
The day before, on the first play of the game, Pages cut off Ward’s hit to the right-field gap before it could reach the warning track, spun, and threw a dart to second base to nab him trying to stretch a single into a double.
Dodgers fans chanted Pages’ name in the sixth inning Friday, after he robbed Jeremiah Jackson of a hit with another sliding grab in shallow left-center field.
“He’s going to be in that Gold Glove conversation,” manager Dave Roberts said Saturday. “He’s engaged every pitch. It’s just fun to see a young player value the defense, all the while taking care of business in the batters’ box. He’s a complete player, he really is.”
Phase 1 of All-Star fan voting, which lasts until June 25, determines the starter finalists — two at each position (six outfielders) in each league. Pitchers and reserves are chosen through the player ballot (which includes votes from players, coaches and managers) and commissioner’s office selections.
Pages was one of four Dodgers leading their respective position groups, joined by first baseman Freddie Freeman, third baseman Max Muncy and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who led all players with 1,165,133 votes. Catcher Will Smith and shortstop Mookie Betts were sitting in second place, and Teoscar Hernández was No. 5 among NL outfielders.
The others have all won multiple All-Star nods. This would be Pages’ first.
He entered Saturday with top-five defensive fWAR (4.9) among NL outfielders and a top-nine slugging percentage (.490). He carried the Dodgers’ offense early in the year, while the team’s established stars got off to a slow offensive start.
Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages celebrates in the dugout with Miguel Rojas after hitting a solo home run against the Colorado Rockies on May 27.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“It would mean a lot to me for all the work, and all the things that I do to get ready for the game and to prepare,” Pages said. “It would mean a lot in that sense. But I also know it’s completely out of my control, especially having gone through it last year, where I didn’t really have any chance to dictate whether I was going to make it or if I didn’t make it.”
Going into the All-Star break last year, Pages was on the cusp. Because the outfield pool doesn’t take specific positions into account, it didn’t matter that among qualified National League center fielders he had the second-highest fWAR (2.8) and OPS (.804), behind the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong — while leading that group in batting average (.285).
Pages was instead competing with all NL outfielders. In those same categories he still ranked an impressive eighth and 10th (among qualified hitters).
Fans voted in Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs’ Kyle Tucker and the Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. as All-Star starters. So, Pages’ All-Star fate was in the hands of the player ballot (which includes votes from players, managers and coaches) and the commissioner’s office selection process.
Pages didn’t quite make the cut, with the Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll, the Marlins’ Kyle Stowers, the Padres’ Fernando Tatís Jr. and the Nationals’ James Wood claiming the reserve spots.
This year is already playing out differently.
“He’s been just up the top of the leaderboards, one of our better hitters the whole season,” hitting coach Aaron Bates said earlier this month. “It’s not just a good two or three weeks. So I definitely feel like he’s an All-Star.”
Still, when the ballots first came out, Pages knew better than to make any assumptions. That same focus on controllables, turning the page on from failure, has helped spur Pages’ consistency.
“The work ethic, obviously, those changes, and how I prepare for the games has changed a lot,” Pages said. “But also, I just don’t really focus on anything like I used to. I just focus on getting ready and prepared and do the best I can that day.”
Roberts had seen that shift. He noticed all the work Pages put in over the offseason and through the spring, drilling down on his plate discipline, a soft spot in his game. And Roberts named Pages his pick to click at the end of camp, saying he wouldn’t be surprised if Pages made the All-Star team.
Since then, Roberts, who will also manage the NL All-Star team, has appreciated how diligent Pages has remained in his routine.
“As we all know, he’s not a self-promoter at all,” Roberts said. “He just wants to play baseball, and so for the fans to recognize that, they’re getting it right, as far as the person, the talent, the performance. And so that’s really good to see. So hopefully he can keep playing well, and then solidify that No. 1 spot. That’d be fun. That’ll be fun to have him in Philly with me.”
Dodgers fall to Orioles
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivers against the Orioles in the fourth inning Saturday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Ohtani hit a solo home run in the ninth inning in his first game back after missing Friday’s walk-off win for the birth of his second child, but it wasn’t enough to ignite a ninth-inning comeback in a 3-2 loss to the Orioles.
Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto didn’t put together as dominant of a performance as he did a week ago against the White Sox, when he took a no-hit bid into the ninth inning.
He gave up six hits and issued two walks in six innings. But he managed to hold the Orioles (36-42) to three runs, getting out of jams in the second and fourth innings.
“It took me a little time to get the feel for the splitter,” said Yamamoto through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “And then in the meantime I was trying to grind it out with different options, with other pitches.”
Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run in the ninth inning Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The Dodgers (49-28) wasted the quality start with a four-hit offensive night, which included two from Tommy Edman and one from Betts.
The Dodgers finally recorded their only hit against Orioles starter Trevor Rogers in the fifth inning, when Edman reached on a weak pop fly to center field. Rogers turned the game over to the Orioles’ bullpen after the seventh, and it did enough to maintain the lead, despite shaky defense in the ninth.
“It wasn’t our night,” said Miguel Rojas, whose deep fly out in the seventh inning fell just shy of a two-run homer. “We’ve got to bounce back and come back tomorrow and get the series.”
Blake Treinen placed on injured list
The Dodgers put right-handed reliever Blake Treinen on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.
Treinen was the winning pitcher in the Dodgers’ 6-5 victory Friday, after retiring the side in order in the top of the ninth.
According to Roberts, Treinen felt normal after the game. But when he woke up Saturday morning, he had trouble fully extending his right arm. When he went in for treatment, it became clear the Dodgers would have to put him on the IL.
Dodgers relief pitcher Blake Treinen delivers against the San Francisco Giants on May 11.
(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
Treinen underwent imaging, but Roberts did not have his exact diagnosis.
“He’ll be down for a minute,” Roberts said. “I think it was more of just staying away, getting rest, versus anything more aggressive right now.”
Treinen has a 3.52 ERA after bouncing back from a rocky 2025.
In a corresponding move, the Dodgers recalled right-hander Chayce McDermott. The 27-year-old has only thrown one major-league inning this season, when he limited the Angels to one hit in a scoreless inning.
The Dodgers acquired McDermott from the Orioles in mid-April, after Baltimore designated him for assignment. He’s been a frequent short-term call-up and taxi squad member since.
The Dodgers have more bullpen help coming. They hope to reinstate right-hander Brock Stewart (left foot bone spur) from the injured list Monday, Roberts said. And right-hander Evan Phillips (Tommy John surgery) is expected to return in early July.
Iranian and US officials are set for high stakes talks in Switzerland aimed at reinforcing the Memorandum of Understanding framework. Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid says intense diplomatic efforts have kept negotiations on track, but key disputes remain unresolved.
Machrihanish Holiday Park in Argyll, Scotland has been named the best coastal campsiteCredit: http://www.campsites.co.uk
Money-saving experts at Idealo have ranked the best UK campsites based on several areas including the nightly pitch price and proximity to the beach – read below for the full list.
Machrihanish Holiday Park, Argyll
Coming out on top was Machrihanish Holiday Park in Argyll Scotland.
Sat on the Kintyre Peninsula, the holiday park has non-electric pitches available from £26 per night (working out to £13 each a night).
Machrihanish Beach is less than half a mile away too.
Coming in second place is Beryl’s Campsite in Devon, which is tucked down a lane and sits on a meadow surrounded by trees.
Not too far from Beesands Beach, a pitch costs from £27 per night (or £13.50 each) per night at the campsite without an electrical hookup.
At the site visitors will find hot showers, toilets, an onsite shop and a fire pit area.
Dogs are also allowed at the site, for 50p a night.
If you are lucky enough, you might spot a deer while pitching your tent.
Beesands Beach features shingle and is backed by fields and even a freshwater lake.
The beach has previously won awards as well including a Blue Flag status.
If you fancy taking a dip in the water, it is a great spot for sailing and windsurfing.
The Hollies Leisure Resort, Suffolk
Rounding out the top three was The Hollies Leisure Resort in Suffolk which sits right by the beachCredit: http://www.campsites.co.uk
Rounding out the top three is The Hollies Leisure Resort in Kessingland, Suffolk.
A pitch at the site costs from just £23 per night (£11.50 each) without a hookup, or you can get a pitch with a hookup for £28 per night.
At the site there are also showers, Wi-Fi, a picnic area and an outdoor play area.
If you aren’t the biggest fan of pitching a tent then you could opt for one of the safari tents onsite sleeping up to four people and costing from £365 for four nights.
And Kessingland Beach is just 1.8 miles away, just south of the popular seaside town of Lowestoft.
The sand and shingle beach is backed by cliffs and sand dunes and is known for having fewer crowds than Lowestoft Beach and Southwold, which is also nearby.
Here’s the full list of the top 10 coastal campsites:
Lebanon to top the agenda as US and Iran to hold talks in Switzerland’s Burgenstock mediated by Qatar and Pakistan.
Published On 21 Jun 202621 Jun 2026
United States Vice President JD Vance has arrived in Switzerland for talks with Iran days after they signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the US-Israel war on Iran, which had sent oil prices soaring above $100 per barrel and rattled international markets.
The latest round of talks mediated by Pakistan and Qatar is scheduled on Sunday as Israel has intensified attacks on Lebanon, killing dozens of people on Saturday.
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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Saturday that it was closing the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire in Lebanon. The Iranian delegation, including parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has also arrived in Switzerland.
Here’s what we know about the conflict, which has entered its 114th day:
Diplomacy
The US and Iran are to hold high-level talks in Switzerland’s Burgenstock on Sunday with the US delegation led by Vance. US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are also part of the US delegation. Before departing for the talks, Vance told reporters he hoped to make “progress on the nuclear issue” and “on the Lebanon ceasefire issue”.
Iran’s delegation, led by Ghalibaf and Araghchi, said its main goal is to ensure all parties fully implement the interim deal to end the war.
Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Iranian delegation “will be pressing for implementation” of US commitments outlined in the MoU and “seeking clarity on how exactly the other side intends to carry out those commitments”.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have left for Burgenstock to take part in the talks. “Pakistan will continue to support and advance the implementation of the understandings reached between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States,” the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement posted on X.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is also expected to take part in the key talks as Israel’s Lebanon attacks threaten to unravel the deal signed electronically by Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, on Thursday.
Egypt will host a four-way meeting with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan amid the Iran-US talks. The group first met in Riyadh on March 18, followed by meetings in Islamabad on March 29 and Antalya on April 18, reflecting growing efforts by regional powers to address crises through regional diplomacy rather than external intervention.
In Iran
Mohammad Mokhbar, adviser and assistant to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, warned that Tehran will not accept a paper agreement unless Washington fully implements its commitments. In a post on X, Mokhbar said the US understood pressure in economic terms. “Americans understand the language of economics and cost-benefit better,” he wrote. “When the agreement remains just on paper, the flow of Middle East energy will also come to a halt.”
Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Vall, reporting from Tehran, said the delegation from Tehran is going to drive home the idea that Iran is not going to move forward in the implementation of the MoU unless the Israelis abide by the agreement. “They say the Americans bear the responsibility for that and that the Americans have to guarantee that the Israelis comply,” he said.
Iran’s oil industry will be a key testing ground for any final peace agreement with the US if Western parties remain committed to its spirit, Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad says. The ministry’s Shana news agency quoted Paknejad as saying that in a post-agreement era, Iran’s oil sector would offer the global economy significant investment opportunities and has hundreds of investment projects as well as technical and operational partnership contracts ready to be signed.
Amir Ghalenoei, the coach of Iran’s national football team, has criticised increasingly difficult preparation conditions for the team before Sunday’s World Cup match against Belgium, saying “conditions have become even harder” than before their opening match with New Zealand. Iran have been based in Tijuana, Mexico, for the tournament and have been travelling to the US for Group G matches due to restrictions on their stay, an issue that has drawn scrutiny throughout the World Cup.
In the US
Trump said there will be no tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz unless they are collected by the US. This came after the IRGC said it had closed the waterway, through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed before the war.
David Sacks, Trump’s technology adviser, has defended the US-Iran MoU, calling it “a tremendous achievement” and a better path than prolonged conflict. Speaking on the All-In Podcast on Saturday, Sacks dismissed calls to escalate, arguing a ground invasion of Iran would make no sense, given Iran’s size and could require as many as a million troops. He branded any such attempt a “suicide mission”.
Members of the Democratic Party are continuing to criticise Trump over his handling of the war with Iran. Johnny Olszewski, a Democratic congressman from Maryland, said Trump’s “war of choice” was a “disaster” and argued that the agreement with Iran was already breaking down.
In Lebanon
Five people were killed, among them a child, a woman and two elderly people, in an Israeli raid on the village of Sohmor in Lebanon’s western Bekaa Valley, according to the National News Agency (NNA), citing the Ministry of Public Health. Sunday’s report did not specify when the attack took place. Two people of Palestinian origin were killed in Rashidieh in southern Lebanon’s Tyre district, the NNA reported.
The Times of Israel reported on Sunday that an Israeli soldier has been killed and 13 others wounded when a barrage of rockets and a drone struck the soldiers’ position in Kfar Tebnit in southern Lebanon.
Israeli media reports said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered invading troops to hold fire in Lebanon except for those engaged in a battle raging on the Ali al-Taher Hills near Nabatieh.
IT’S been five years since Britney Spears was released from her conservatorship following the Free Britney campaign, but insiders say the pop superstar is more lost than ever.
Pals fear Britney is more lost than ever five years after being released from her conservatorshipCredit: InstagramThe pop superstar has no plans to return to performingCredit: Mychal Watts
It’s a far cry from the 16-year-old who took over the world in 1998 with her debut single Baby One More Time, which catapulted her to instant worldwide fame.
An insider said: “Some people close to Britney can’t help wondering whether she’s actually happier now than she was then.
“The sad reality is that she seems incredibly isolated. She spends most of her time at home and her world has become smaller and smaller over the years.
She was recently arrested for DUI during which she bizarrely offered to make officers a home-made lasagneCredit: California Highway PatrolBritney split from husband Sam Asghari in 2023Credit: Getty Images for GLAADShe has a famously strained relationship with her sons Sean and JaydenCredit: InstagramThose close to Britney feel like she’s desperately trying to find her place in the worldCredit: Instagram
“Those around her would love to see her thriving, but instead they worry she’s become increasingly detached from everyone else.”
In 2023, Britney split from her third husband Sam Asghari – less than a year after tying the knot – and we’re told the break-up had a huge impact on the mum-of-two.
She shares Sean Preston, 20, and Jayden James, 19, with ex-husband Kevin Federline and has struggled with a strained relationship with her sons for years.
Our source said: “The divorce hit her hard and she hasn’t appeared to find the stability or companionship she craves and desperately needs.
“Her relationship with her sons has also been a source of sadness over the years, and those closest to her know how much that weighs on her.
“People are worried rather than reassured, especially when they see her on social media. The videos and posts leave people concerned and scratching their heads, it looks like we’re seeing someone who is still struggling.”
Despite being one of the best-selling music artists of all time, Britney left fans gutted in 2022 when she insisted she’ll “probably never perform again”.
She said on social media at the time: “I’m pretty traumatized for life and yes I’m p****d as f**k and no I probably won’t perform again just because I’m stubborn and I will make my point.”
And it’s the lack of ambition for performing – something she once thrived on – that has pals seriously concerned and wondering what she’ll do with her life if she doesn’t return to the stage.
“The overwhelming feeling among those who care about her is sadness,” our insider said. “Nobody is questioning her right to live life on her own terms, but there are fears that she’s still searching for happiness and hasn’t found the peace that everyone hoped freedom would bring.
“They look at Britney and see a woman who appears deeply lonely, increasingly disconnected and still trying to find her place in the world all these years later.”
The tour operator will offer both standalone flights and package holidays to the sunny destination, which offers both beautiful beaches plus lots of cultural and historic attractions
Flights will takeoff from May 1 next year(Image: Jet2.com)
Jet2 has announced it’s launching flights and holidays to Tunisia for summer 2027, with the airline opening bookings for holidaymakers looking to get away from May 1 to October 31 next year.
The tour operator will offer new flights from Birmingham, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, London Stansted, and Manchester. Customers who book a package holiday will be able to choose from a range of 3 to 5-star hotels situated in the resorts of Port el Kantaoui, Skanes, Mahdia, Sousse, Yasmine Hammamet, and Hammamet.
All flights will arrive in Enfidha–Hammamet International Airport in the north of the country, close to the capital of Tunis and some of Tunisia’s most popular resorts.
Jet2’s new flight schedule will offer twice-weekly flights on Wednesday and Saturday from Birmingham and London-Stansted, plus two flights a week covering Manchester on Tuesday and Friday. East Midlands and Leeds Bradford airports will get weekly flights.
Once you arrive, there are lots of places to explore, from the vast Medina of Hammamet to the palm-tree lined seaside of Sousse. Take a day trip to the Roman Amphitheatre of El Jem, full of incredible stories about the wild animals caged in its dungeons and its gladiator battles, where 30,000 spectators once cheered on its bloody spectacles.
Further south, you can discover desert landscapes and shimmering salt flats. Explore the filming locations for the original Star Wars trilogy, and visit traditional Berber cave homes carved deep into the mountains.
Visit Tunis for the day and explore the labyrinth of market stalls, mosques, and houses all found in one concentrated, slightly chaotic space. Dating back to 698, this colourful medina is now home to one-tenth of the city’s population. But if you enter, be sure to watch out for landmarks, as it’s easy to get lost within its walls.
You can also visit the Bardo National Museum, home to the largest collection of Roman mosaics in the world, and artefacts found in the city of Carthage from the days when Tunisia was a major trading hub for the Ancient Mediterranean.
This announcement brings the total number of Jet2 destinations for summer 2027 to 70, and the tour operator has recently announced new services to Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt, as well as Kavala in the north of Greece.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2, said: “With year-round sunshine, rich culture and fantastic sunshine, Tunisia has something for everyone and we know how immensely popular it will be.”
Fakhri Khalsi, acting UK Director at the Tunisian National Tourist Office, said: “We are delighted to welcome the launch of Jet2’s holiday and flight programmes to Tunisia starting in summer 2027. This announcement represents a significant milestone in our efforts to strengthen Tunisia’s position as a leading Mediterranean destination and reflects the growing confidence of major travel operators in our tourism offering.”
Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
Melissa Mullins was submitted on her return to the UFC by Brazilian Bia Mesquita as the British fighter suffered more heartbreak in Las Vegas.
Mullins, 34, was fighting four months after she was in tears on the scales at UFC London having narrowly made the weight.
That hometown fight for Mullins was cancelled when her opponent failed to make weight, and it was another diffcult night for the bantamweight as she was submitted in the first round on Saturday.
Mullins started strongly, pressuring Mesquita with some heavy striking, and she caught her with a big left hand that badly wobbled the Brazilian.
It looked like Mullins would be getting a big win against an undefeated fighter.
Mullins, however, let the contest go to the ground and Mesquita – a world champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu – was able to buy time to clear her head before moving herself into an armbar position, forcing Mullins to tap.
Speaking after the loss, Mullins said: “For me I performed like I had never before. Ended up in the game of a female who is the best of what she does.
“I couldn’t be happier with my camp or peformance prior to the result. Hate this game but love fighting.”
Mullins moves to a 7-3 record in the UFC since her debut in 2023.
In the main event of the night, Manuel Kape ended a decade-long wait for revenge when he knocked out Kyoji Horiguchi in the third round of their flyweight contest.
The Angolan-Portuguese, who lost to Horiguchi in 2017, will now be hoping for a title fight against Joshua Van.
“Kyoji’s an amazing fighter, maybe the best fighter I ever fought in my life,” Kape said.
“I want to be like him and if I’m here in this position it’s because of Kyoji.
Two goals from Ayase Ueda, and one each from Daichi Kamada and Junya Ito, keeps Asian giants Japan second in Group F.
Published On 21 Jun 202621 Jun 2026
Japan marked the 1,000th game in the history of the World Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Tunisia on Saturday, to close in on a place in the last 32.
Ayase Ueda scored twice while Daichi Kamada and Junya Ito were also on target as the Asian giants joined the Netherlands on four points at the top of Group F.
Japan’s Junya Ito celebrates scoring their third goal with Ayase Ueda (left) and Daichi Kamada [Daniel Becerril/Reuters]
The Blue Samurai, who held the Netherlands to a 2-2 draw in their Group F opener, were always in control against Tunisia at the Monterrey Stadium.
The result marked a losing start for new Tunisia manager Herve Renard, who was hastily appointed to take over the World Cup campaign after predecessor Sabri Lamouchi was sacked in the wake of the Sweden drubbing.
But Renard’s team never looked like threatening a technically superior Japanese side that were quickly into their trademark, smooth passing game.
Japan’s midfielder #15 Daichi Kamada celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal [Julio Cesar Aguilar/AFP]
Daichi Kamada opened the scoring after just four minutes, finishing from close range after deft interplay from Ao Tanaka and Keito Nakamura.
The Japanese almost scored again moments later, with only a desperate goalline clearance from Dylan Bronn denying the Asian giants a second goal.
Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen was also working overtime, and had to claw away a shot that just went agonisingly short of crossing the goal line.
Japan, though, finally added to their tally in the 31st minute, with striker Ueda taking advantage of some hesitant Tunisian defending to surge forward and thunder a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
The rout continued in the second half, with Junya Ito latching onto a brilliant through ball to calmly finish on 69 minutes before Ueda scored again with a looping header in the 83rd minute.
After suffering their second defeat of the tournament, against Japan on Saturday, Tunisia are out of the 2026 World Cup [Daniel Becerril/Reuters]
As Ecuador forward Enner Valencia raced through on Curacao’s goal inside the opening three minutes, the outcome seemed inevitable.
About 10 yards out and with just the keeper to beat, he looked certain to score. It would give Curacao a mountain to climb – and, as it did in the 7-1 defeat by Germany in their World Cup opener, could well set the tone for what was to come.
But goalkeeper Eloy Room anticipated where Valencia’s shot was headed, stooped low to his left and clawed the ball around the post. It was an improbable, barely believable save.
And the tone was, indeed, set.
By full-time, BBC Sport pundit and former Arsenal defender Martin Keown was joking a calculator might be needed to tot up the number of times Room had bailed his team out.
Yet it was Ecuador who were left counting the cost of their missed chances as World Cup debutants Curacao celebrated their first-ever point in the tournament.
Room, the 37-year-old Miami FC keeper, produced a remarkable and record-equalling performance, making 15 saves to keep his country level and eventually secure a goalless draw which will live long in the memory of the island nation.
Since records began in 1966, no goalkeeper has made more stops in 90 minutes of World Cup action, according to Opta.
Only Tim Howard has made as many in a single game but, unlike Room, he failed to keep a clean sheet after conceding twice in extra-time for the USA against Belgium in 2014.
Room joked after the 0-0 draw that Howard would have been “sweating at home” watching the game and his performance means he “needs a statue in Curacao”.
“Take a bow, Room,” added Keown on BBC One. “Absolutely magnificent.
“The number of saves, you were almost getting a calculator out at the end of the game to count them up.
“It just became a shopping list of saves. His reactions were first class. He seemed destined to keep a clean sheet all night.”
It was a performance that inspired Room’s country to their biggest-ever result.
BAYWATCH reboot star Brooks Nader wears a bejewelled bikini ahead of the show’s upcoming launch.
The 29-year-old American model-turned-actress sported the jewelled two-piece ahead of a Sports Illustrated show in Miami, Florida.
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New Baywatch star Brooks Nader wore a bejewelled bikini at a Sports Illustrated show in MiamiCredit: GettyBrooks will play lead lifeguard Selene in the new Baywatch seriesCredit: Getty
She won fame by winning the publication’s swimsuit model search in 2019.
Since then she has been cast in the new Baywatch as Selene, captain of the lifeguards patrolling Zuma Beach in California’s exclusive Malibu.
The remake of the Nineties favourite – which starred David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson – is set to hit screens next January.
Brooks said putting on the show’s famous red swimsuit brought her to tears.
Brooks said putting on the show’s famous red swimsuit brought her to tearsCredit: GettyThe remake of the Nineties favourite is set to hit screens next JanuaryCredit:
And she said: “We’re going to pay homage to Pam and all of Baywatch to the best of our ability.”
In addition to her modelling career and stint on DWTS, Brooks stars on the new reality TV series, Love Thy Nader, which premiered on Hulu earlier this year.
The show follows Brooks and her sisters, Mary Holland, Grace Ann, and Sarah Jane, as they navigate building careers in the Big Apple.
SACRAMENTO — Walbert Ureña and three relievers combined on a five-hitter and the Angels beat the Athletics 7-0 on Saturday night.
Denzer Guzman hit his second home run of the season, Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel each drove in two runs and the Angels (31-47) improved to 2-4 on their trip.
Samy Matera Jr. retired four batters, Ryan Zeferjahn got five outs and Kirby Yates worked the ninth to complete the Angels’ seventh shutout of the season.
Jo Adell and Donovan Walton each had three hits as the Angels bounced back after blowing a late seven-run lead in the series opener Friday.
Ureña (5-5) yielded four hits in five scoreless innings with six strikeouts and no walks. The 22-year-old rookie has gone five innings and given up three earned runs or fewer in 10 consecutive starts, the longest stretch by an Angels rookie pitcher since Ron Romanick accomplished the feat in 10 games in 1984.
The Angels scored twice in the first inning off A’s starter J.T. Ginn to take an early lead.
After failing to score with the bases loaded in the third, the Angels pulled away with four runs in the sixth. Neto hit a two-run double down the left-field line and Schanuel doubled in two runs with a line drive down the right field line
Guzman hit a solo home run off Geoff Hartlieb in the seventh.
Ginn (5-4), who took a no-hitter into the ninth inning in his previous start against the Angels on May 18, gave up four runs and seven hits in 5⅓ innings. Ginn had five strikeouts and three walks.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department has been fighting a major fire at a warehouse used for cold-storage of food since Wednesday, with Mayor Karen Bass on Saturday declaring a local emergency because of smoke spreading across the city. File Photo by Stuart Palley/EPA
June 20 (UPI) — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Saturday issued a declaration of local emergency as the city continues to fight a major fire at a cold-storage warehouse in the city’s Boyle Heights neighborhood.
The fire erupted on June 17 and has since caused smoke to blanket the surrounding area as the warehouse continues to smolder, leading the city to open 24-hour-per-day smoke relief centers for resident who cannot shelter-in-place.
The fire, which was described by Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jamie Moore as “a very unique challenge,” started around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the 500,000-square-foot building, ABC7 and The Los Angeles Times reported.
Fire officials said that hazardous materials, including ammonia, have been removed from the building, but foam insulation inside of the building’s walls, among other things, continues to burn.
“While the LAFD continues making progress, this is a major, multi-jurisdictional incident,” Bass said in a statement announcing the declaration.
“The City and County have opened spaces for families seeking relief from the smoke, and we will continue working around the clock and doing everything possible to put this fire out completely,” Bass said.
The ammonia at the warehouse has been pumped out and transported elsewhere, Lineage Logistics, which operates the facility, said in a statement.
The company also said that it believes the fire started when a neighboring business tested a solar array on Wednesday.
Aside from the insulation, city officials said that they also concerned about the rooftop solar array and lithium-ion batteries at the warehouse catching fire, as well as eventually clearing out roughly 85 million pounds of decaying — if not also burnt — food products, most of which is meat.
The LAFD has worked since Wednesday to ventilate the building so that firefighters can more safely enter the building to suppress the fire, department spokesperson Lyndsey Lantz said in a series of updates posted on its website this week.
which carried with it warnings for residents in the surrounding area to avoid smoke inhalation.
Although much of the smoke from ventilating the building had started to clear by mid-day on Friday, an anticipated change in the wind on Friday after, which caused the fire to also flare up, made smoke more visible than it had been since Thursday.
“LAFD crews continue to work diligently on the warehouse fire in Boyle Heights,” Lantz said in an update at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.
“The smell of smoke has reached most of the city, and we encourage everyone to limit exposure as much as possible.”
President Donald Trump presents a Medal of Honor to Tom Ripley on behalf of his father, John W. Ripley, during a Medal of Honor award ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Thursday. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo
Just 2km from the Lycian coast, Kastellorizo is much closer to Turkey than mainland Greece. Ferries from the Turkish beach town of Kaş, as well as Rhodes and other Dodecanese neighbours, dock at the island’s tiny harbour, lined with colourful neoclassical houses. One of them, an ochre-painted mansion with pistachio green shutters, is Hotel Mediterraneo, which is so close to the water that you can practically roll out of bed and into the sea from the ground floor suite.
Mediterraneo’s owner, Parisian architect Marie Rivalant, is one of many artists and creatives who have fallen for Kastellorizo’s sleepy charms. She took over the quayside pension 25 years ago, painting the seven bedrooms in sunny colours and layering them with rugs, cushions, antiques and artworks (if you like her bohemian style, there is a small shop at the hotel selling her finds). Breakfasts blend influences from her travels too: flaky Turkish börek pastries, Greek yogurt and freshly baked croissants, served on the terrace. Doubles from €170 B&B, mediterraneokastellorizo.com
A shipshape foodie stay in the Dodecanese
The Old Markets hotel in Symi. Photograph: Laurent Fabre
In the 19th century, the Greek island of Symi grew wealthy on sponge-diving, shipbuilding and seafaring. This brought merchants, with silver, spices and sponges traded in a neoclassical building on the Kali Strata, a stone stairway that connects the harbour of Gialos with the upper village of Chorio.
Today that building, with its high-ceilinged historic grandeur, is The Old Markets hotel. In the bedrooms, antique maps, old globes, nautical paintings and silverware nod to its past life. There are only seven rooms and three suites spread between the old market and the neighbouring Captain’s Mansion, but the hotel has an outsized culinary reputation thanks to its rooftop tasting-menu restaurant, Agora, and huge Greek breakfast feasts of Symi orange blossom akoumia (rice doughnuts) and toasted tsoureki (sweet brioche-like bread). Like many islands, Symi is best explored by boat, bobbing from Agios Nikolaos beach to St George Bay and on to the monastery at Panormitis, before heading back to the pretty horseshoe-shaped harbour. Doubles from £150 B&B, theoldmarkets.com
SPAIN
A ducal palace in northern Spain
Parador de Lerma, near Burgos. Photograph: Jorquera/Paradores Hoteles and Restaurantes
Spain’s paradors – state-run hotels in heritage buildings – are windows into the country’s history, from Moorish castles to medieval monasteries. In the hilltop town of Lerma, in the Castile and León region, the imposing 17th-century Ducal Palace is now Parador de Lerma, a place where royals married, princesses were born and even Napoleon stayed (walk in Bonaparte’s footsteps in room 313).
Several works by the great poet of Spain’s Golden Age, Lope de Vega, were first performed in the central covered courtyard surrounded by colonnaded galleries. The Duke of Lerma was also one of the great collectors of his time, and the parador is lined with moody oil paintings, Flemish tapestries and works by contemporary Spanish artists. The vaulted restaurant dishes up local favourites such as roast suckling lamb and Burgos cheeses. Nearby, the Arlanza wine region turns out muscular reds – try them at Bodega Palacio de Lerma. Doubles from €124 room-only, breakfast €22, paradores.es
A hillside retreat near Barcelona
A terrace at Can Casadella
Set above the Costa del Maresme, the romantic manor of Can Casadella is a peaceful escape from Barcelona’s summer throng and just half an hour away. Magda and Josep allow visitors to have the run of antique-filled sitting rooms, cosy library and colonnaded terraces, where a hammock swings in the breeze. Outside, the old pond has been turned into a natural swimming pool, and there are orchards of orange, lemon, fig and almond trees. Freshly squeezed orange juice is served at breakfast, alongside homemade lemon and rosemary marmalade, breads, local cheese and sausages.
The nine large doubles and twins have original tiled floors and wooden beams, some with sea views and their own terraces. It’s enough to check out of the world for a few days, but Magda can also organise cooking workshops and yoga in the garden, and recommend hikes in the Parc de la Serralada Litoral next door or the best beaches a short drive away. Doubles from €132 room-only, breakfast €12, cancasadella.com
A colourful hideout in Andalucía
Cortijo Genesis, 40 miles west of Marbella
Cortijo Genesis, a reimagined farmhouse, opened its doors last summer outside the whitewashed village of Gaucín, 40 miles west of Marbella. There’s a retro, Palm Springs-esque glamour to the pink scalloped parasols and wrought iron loungers in the garden, and the interior is just as colourful: a rainbow-painted ceiling in the reading room, a yellow-tiled kitchen and five bedrooms inspired by semi-precious stones – citrine, cornaline, morganite, lapis lazuli and aventurine.
Belgian co-owner Valentina Geyer is a reiki practitioner and equine therapist, and there’s a strong wellness focus, with meditation zones, yoga and pilates retreats, reiki healing and equine coaching. Much of the food is homegrown and homemade, with eggs from their hens, honey from their beehives, and herbs, fruit and vegetables from the permaculture plot. Good fuel to explore the hiking and biking routes through the hills nearby, or simply dip in and out of the swimming pool. Doubles from €180 B&B, cortijo-genesis.com
FRANCE
A quieter side of the Côte d’Azur
Lilou Hotel in Hyères. Photograph: Ludovic Balay
Halfway between the hip grit of Marseille and the glitz of Saint-Tropez, Hyères is one of the quieter corners of the Côte d’Azur and known as Hyères-les-Palmiers for the thousands of palm trees that grow along boulevards and gardens. Part of its sleepy charm (and why it has stayed that way) is that its old town lies not on the beach, but a couple of miles inland, looking down on the Med from a hilltop perch.
It’s here that the Lilou Hotelopened a couple of summers ago, giving a Haussmann-esque building a fashionable twist, with cream and ochre paintwork, poplar burr wood furniture and rattan touches. There’s a slip of a pool outside and the restaurant dishes up coastal plates of bouillabaisse croquettes, tuna crudo and langoustine risotto. Down on the coast, l’Almanarre beach is a beautiful curve of sand popular with kite- and windsurfers. And just offshore are the islands of Porquerolles (home to a contemporary art institute and white sand beaches) and Port-Cros (a wild and rugged nature reserve) to explore. Doubles from €145 room-only, breakfast €22, lilouhotel.fr
A seaside spa hotelin Brittany
The Grand Hôtel des Bains. Photograph: i-escape
On the blustery Finistère coast, a 45-minute drive east of Roscoff, the Grand Hôtel des Bains in Locquirec has a timeless New England air with its shiplap panelling and jaunty stripes. The chic decor is thanks to late owner Dominique van Lier, who edited a Belgian interiors magazine and tastefully transformed what had been a stuffy spa resort. The Marine Spa is still a huge draw, with massages, magnesium therapies and beauty treatments from Breton skincare brand Thalion. There’s also a sauna, hammam and warm indoor pool with knock-out views over Baie de Morlaix.
Most bedrooms have sea views, and there are beaches to walk to either side of the hotel’s rocky promontory, from tiny coves to the sweeping sands of the Baie de Locquirec. While the look here is East Coast US, the food and service are decidedly French (oysters, roasted lobster with seaweed butter) and the hotel also owns Brasserie de la Plage on the quayside for a change from the white-tablecloth dining room. Doubles from £198 room-only, i-escape.com
An artist’s resort in Normandy
Le Donjon Domaine Saint Clair in Étretat
Claude Monet painted the luminous cliffs of Étretat more than 50 times during the 1880s, capturing the ever-shifting light on the white rock faces and dramatic sea arches. There are views of those famous chalk beauties from Le Donjon Domaine Saint Clair, which is set high above the Normandy seaside resort. One of the hotel’s bedrooms is named after Monet, while others honour novelists Guy de Maupassant, who lived in Étretat for part of his childhood, and Gustave Flaubert, a frequent visitor.
Less than three hours’ drive from Paris, Étretat is a popular spot with French tourists in the summer, who flock to the Alabaster Coast for locally caught seafood at waterfront bistros and the pebble beach between the cliffs. Built in 1862, Domaine Saint Clair is an imposing castle-style house with an idiosyncratic charm: bedrooms are tucked up and down little staircases and there is an open-air Jacuzzi atop the tower. There’s also a heated outdoor pool, a petit spa and a cocktail bar, which harks back to the town’s golden age. Doubles from €190 room-only, breakfast €25, hoteletretat.com
Basque elegance in Biarritz
Hotel Saint-Julien is a few blocks from the beach
With its imperial palace on the headland overlooking wetsuit-clad surfers catching the waves, Biarritz has a funny duality of belle époque grandeur and salt-crusted beachiness. But it works. A few blocks back from the beach, Hotel Saint-Julienhas a similar mix of elegance and ease. The typical 19th-century Basque house, with a whitewashed facade and painted shutters, has good bones – high ceilings and original wooden floors.
More recent updates have given an easy breeziness to the 26 bedrooms, all slightly different but decorated in muted colours with vintage furniture – the top floor has views over the rooftops to the sea. There’s a homely chambre d’hôte simplicity, and the restaurant has a rotating cast of visiting chefs and pop-up residencies. Restaurant Anema (until October) serves a daily changing menu of whatever is freshest from the fish market – on balmy nights bag one of the tables on the terrace. Doubles from €180 room-only, breakfast €19, hotel-saint-julien-biarritz.fr
Chic Cannes at less haute prices
Hôtel Lepoussin is a short walk from La Croisette. Photograph: Paul Brechu
Cannes turns on the full red-carpet sparkle for the film festival each May, but with its superyacht-filled marina and beach clubs, it is a prime people-watching spot any time of year. The French Riviera town is known for palatial institutions such as the Carlton, Hôtel Martinez and Le Majestic, but a short walk from La Croisette, the newly opened Hôtel Lepoussin gives Haussmann-style glamour at less haute prices. There’s a mid-century feel to bedrooms, with sunny yellow textiles and wide curving wooden headboards; downstairs there’s an honesty bar in the lobby and a dinky plunge pool.
Keep the costs down further by skipping the beach-club fees and head instead to the public Plage Macé or Plage de la Bocca, stocking up on a picnic from the Marché Forville first. Or nip across to the Îles de Lérins on the ferry, exploring quiet coves, coastal walking trails and the fort where the mysterious Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned. Doubles from €135 room-only, breakfast €19, lepoussinhotel.com
PORTUGAL
A royal resort on the Portuguese Riviera
The Pergola Boutique Hotel in Cascais. Photograph: Pedro Goncalves Fotografia
In 1870, King Luís I chose Cascais, 20 miles west of Lisbon, as his official summer residence. Aristocrats followed his lead to the Atlantic coast, building Italianate villas and ornate mansions, and turning the former fishing village into a fashionable resort. The Pergola Boutique Hotelwas Cascais’s first hotel when it opened in 1985, transforming two chalets into an elegant 15-room retreat, the facade decorated with hand-painted tiles. Rooms are filled with art and antiques, and in the garden is a restaurant run by the team behind Lisbon favourite Café de São Bento.
The hotel is only a two-minute walk from the station, and arriving by train is easily the loveliest approach, with the line hugging the coast all the way from Lisbon. While Cascais still has a refined air, the coast is rugged and breezy – walk the boardwalk by the sea to neighbouring Estoril, catch a wave on the sandy stretch between Estoril and Carcavelos, or hike over cliffs to remote Praia da Ursa. Doubles from £199 B&B, mrandmrssmith.com
Rococo grandeur in the Algarve
Pousada Palácio Estoi near Faro
This incredible rose-coloured palace – now Pousada Palácio Estoi – was built in the 19th century by the Viscount of Estoi, with more than a passing nod to Versailles. Outside there are immaculate French-style gardens with clipped parterre hedges, statues and fountains, while inside is full-throttle Louis XV: ceilings frescoed with cherubim, ornate plasterwork, giant gilt mirrors and huge chandeliers. The 63 bedrooms, on the other hand, are a curious minimalist counterpoint, housed in a new wing that flanks the palace – slick and white like a visual palate cleanser from all that bling.
The extension is also home to a spa, with hammam, saunas and treatment rooms, and the restaurant dishes up Portuguese fish stew and Algarve orange tart in the old palace kitchen. From here, it’s a 20-minute drive to Faro, where boat trips depart for the lagoons, pristine beaches, birdlife and barrier islands of the Ria Formosa natural park. Doubles from €122 B&B, pousadas.pt
ITALY
An artist’s guesthouse in Piemonte
La Giardiana near Turin
Italian-Canadian artist Bruno Billio knows hotels – he spent 18 years as resident artist at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto. But now his creativity, which spans installation, sculpture and design, comes to life in a new way at his four-bedroom guesthouse, La Giardina, which opened this spring in the hills outside Turin.
It’s a handsome conversion of a 12th-century convent, and deeply personal too, with rooms named after family members and a wedding picture of his parents in the sitting room. Billio’s sculptural installations (found objects bound in vibrant thread; porcelain figurines dipped in black rubber) and original paintings by other artists grace the guesthouse. There are views towards the tall peak of Monviso and the Alps, with vineyards and hill towns just beyond the estate’s gates. Doubles from €140 B&B, lagiardina.com
A nonna’s house on Lake Como
Cà Spiga has lake views. Photograph: Andrea Butti
Alessandro and Andrea Motti’s grandmother was born in this house in the village of Laglio on Como’s western shore, and when the brothers were little they used to play with the chickens and rabbits in the garden overlooking the water. Now they’ve turned their nonna’s old home (and the neighbouring one) into a charming bed and breakfast, Cà Spiga.All eight bedrooms have lake views, and a breakfast spread from the family’s deli, Da Luciano, is laid out on the terrace each morning. Recently they have started serving Sunday lunches in the garden too, with dishes from local bistro La Piazzetta in Cernobbio.
Alessandro is full of tips to sidestep the Como crowds. Follow his lead and drive to the beach on the northern part of the lake at Domaso, before lunch at Osteria Aquila d’Oro in the Valle del Dosso del Liro, finishing at his favourite cocktail bar, Lo Scalo in Cremia. Doubles from €225 B&B, caspiga.it
Views to the lighthouse in Puglia
Tra Cielo e Mare in Vieste
Jutting out into the Adriatic, the Gargano peninsula, the spur to Italy’s boot, is a place of dramatic white limestone cliffs and sandy beaches, rugged mountains and deep forests – a wilder, quieter alternative to southern Puglia. At its very tip, the whitewashed town of Vieste is a place Italians flock to in summer for its clear waters and medieval centre.
In a historic building overlooking the marina, Tra Cielo e Mare has just six rooms, all decked out in white and wood. Three have balconies overlooking the sea, and breakfast is served on the terrace with views towards the lighthouse, which sits on its own little island. Spiaggia del Castello, a sandy stretch framed by the huge Pizzomunno monolith is 15 minutes’ walk from the hotel. And the whole peninsula is part of the Gargano national park, which is crisscrossed with cycling and hiking trails. Doubles from €190 B&B, welcomebeyond.com
Prices are for late June/early July and were correct at the time of going to press