FANCY grabbing a last-minute break during May half-term?
There are lots of late deals offering adventures and attractions galore.

Cruise on a fabulous liner, escape to the countryside, explore a city or bed down in a zoo. Trisha Harbord selects ten top getaways for all budgets, at home and abroad.

FRENCH FANCY

OOH la la! The French seaside resort of Le Touquet will be holding a British Week from May 25 to 31.

There will be a host of activities delivered in English, such as guided horse rides, while the seven miles of coastline and dunes make Le Touquet perfect for sand-yachting.

The resort, an hour’s drive from Calais, has over 70 restaurants, for all tastes and budgets.

GO: Two nights’ room-only at the 3* ibis Styles, for two adults and two children, is from £366. See all.accor.com. Return ferry from Dover costs from £118. See irishferries.com.

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CRUISE CONTROL

YOU can’t beat a cruise for having everything on tap, and we really rate the no-fly MSC voyages on super-modern Virtuosa.

Enjoy five pools, a waterpark, clubs for kids, superb shows and an indoor promenade with restaurants, bars and shops.

The ship, sailing from Southampton, also has the first humanoid robotic bartender at sea, who shakes and stirs cocktails.

GO: Two nights’ full-board from May 23 costs from £265pp. Five nights from May 25, visiting four ports including Bruges and Rotterdam, costs from £541pp. See cruise.co.uk.

MINT IMPERIAL

SPOIL yourself at the 5* Imperial Island Resort in Paphos, which reopened this week. Everything has been upgraded, from the rooms to the food, spa and kids’ clubs.

There are new outdoor play areas at the Cyprus hotel and numerous sports on offer.

Soak up the sun on the adjacent beach or head to Paphos Archaeological Museum and the medieval fort that overlooks the harbour.

GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive, based on two adults and two children sharing a superior family room, plus Gatwick flights on May 24, is from £1,072pp. See easyjet.com/en/holidays.

ITALIAN JOB

THERE aren’t many kids who don’t like pizza, pasta and ice cream – and they can have all those on a cultural trip to Rome.

The Vatican museums, beautiful Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica and the Colosseum amphitheatre are all must-sees.

There are also many children’s attractions, including interactive museums about everything from video games to illusions.

GO: Three nights’ B&B at the 3* Hotel Morgana, including flights from Birmingham on May 25, costs from £469pp, based on a family of four. See jet2holidays.com.

STAR PLAYA

MENORCA may be one of the quieter Balearic Islands, but you won’t be bored here.

Choose from lying on the beach or going hiking, cycling or horse riding.

The 3H Vibra Caleta Playa apartments, surrounding a pool with kids’ area, all have air-con, kitchenettes and a balcony or terrace.

They are close to a sandy cove in Santandria and the historic former capital, Ciutadella.

GO: Five nights’ self-catering in a one-bed apartment for two adults and children, including flights from Gatwick on May 24, costs from £442 per person. See firstchoice.co.uk.

GO FOR ’BROKE

THERE’S a great deal from Pembrokeshire’s 4* Ty Hotel Milford Waterfront, with kids staying free during half-term.

The offer at the hotel, which overlooks the Milford Haven marina, runs rom May 22 to 31.

If the children love dinosaurs, be there on May 27 when Dinomania comes to town.

You can also rent kayaks from the beach activity centre, visit the maritime heritage museum, go hiking or enjoy ten-pin bowling.

GO: A family room for two adults and two children, including breakfast, is from £104. See ty-hotels.com and milfordwaterfront.co.uk.

RURAL SAVINGS

GET back to nature with up to 30 per cent off countryside breaks with Landal, which has resorts in areas including Yorkshire, Cumbria, Northamptonshire and Scotland.

Woodland Lakes, near Thirsk, North Yorks, has indoor pool, kids’ play areas, archery, fishing and a wellness centre.

It’s close to the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales and only a half-hour drive from the historic city of York.

GO: Four nights’ self-catering in a lodge sleeping four people from May 25 costs from £639. See landal.co.uk.

PIER WE GO

IT should be a great week in Great Yarmouth, with plenty to do in the Norfolk resort.

A pantomime of The Wizard Of Oz is being performed at Britannia Pier’s theatre between May 28 and 31, and the town has a festival of circus and arts from May 28 to 30.

Stay at Richardson’s Hemsby Beach holiday park and you’ll be spoiled for family-friendly activities, too.

GO: Four nights’ self-catering in a two- bedroom chalet from May 25 costs from £419. Details at richardsonsholidayparks.co.uk and visitgreatyarmouth.co.uk.

SHOW STOPPERS

TELLY favourites are appearing at Butlin’s, and there are three-night late deals from £48pp. Headline acts include The Masked Singer Live and the new Maximum Pro Wrestling show.

The resorts – in Skegness, Lincs, Somerset’s Minehead and Bognor Regis in West Sussex – also boast Splash Waterworld pools with slides, unlimited fairground rides and soft-play areas for kids.

GO: Three nights for four people sharing a two-bedroom Comfort room in Minehead from May 29 costs from £192. For more information or to book, see butlins.com.

WHERE THE ART IS

HELP Whipsnade Zoo roar into the Guinness World Records book as one of more than 14,000 people taking part in a paint-by- numbers challenge from May 23 to 31.

The masterpiece featuring 200 animals will celebrate the 200th birthday of ZLS – the conservation charity behind the Bedfordshire zoo.

Families picking up a brush will need to register on the GWR Verify app. Stay overnight in one of the zoo’s lodges and enjoy zoo tickets, private tours, breakfast and dinner.

GO: A lodge for two adults and two children is from £520. See whipsnadezoo.org.

France and England will battle it out for the Six Nations title in the final match next weekend and, even though Ireland aren’t pushing those heavyweights, they now established themselves as a young, upcoming squad.

Their victory over Wales is their second of this campaign after an impressive 57-20 win over Italy, who occupy fourth spot.

“We’re starting to handle bigger occasions and bigger pressure more, and with that comes more expectation. But that’s the cool thing, that’s where we want to be,” he continued.

“Our next thing now is we’re going to start converting that belief, that confidence, that understanding and that we’re quite good into results.

“We’ll get there, the trajectory is still up and we’re still hungry to get better. So no doubt we’ll get there and as quick as we can get there, the quicker the better.

Despite their progress, Bemand also acknowledged they still have room to improve.

Ireland have never beaten France nor England with the head coach adding that this must be an aim of the side.

“We do want to be in games where we’re in a position to beat an England and a France.

“Are we getting there? Well, with this competition, we’ve proved that we haven’t as yet.

“So, we’ll take that, but unfortunately it means we have to sit on it for 12 months before we get another crack at them, a top four team.

“Our job now is to get as good as we can in the next year so that when we get them over here, we can condense that scoreline even further.”

Ireland finish their Six Nations campaign with a home match against Scotland on 17 May at the Aviva Stadium.

May 8 (UPI) — The Department of Government Efficiency illegally canceled roughly $100 million in grants that Congress had approved the National Endowment for the Humanities to award, a judge ruled.

U.S. District Court Judge Colleen McMahon said Thursday in a 143-page decision that DOGE and the Trump administration had “no constitutional authority to block, amend, subvert or delay spending appropriations based on the president’s own policy preferences,” CBS News and The Washington Post reported.

DOGE used ChatGPT to revoke grants the NEH had already awarded that it thought were related to diversity, equity and inclusion programs the administration sought to rapidly eliminate throughout the federal government in 2025.

The NEH was one of 16 “small agencies” that President Donald Trump last May marked for elimination in his 2026 budget proposal, which the DOGE effort, as spearheaded by Elon Musk, had already started culling expenditures from.

“The termination of NEH grants challenged in this action was unlawful because it was undertaken in violation of the First Amendment, in violation of the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment and without statutory authority,” McMahon wrote in the decision.

The lawsuit was brought by the American Council of Learned Societies, the American Historical Association and the Modern Language Association of America after DOGE cut more than 1,400 grants that had been awarded to scholars, research institutions and humanities organizations.

McMahon said that because Congress had not given DOGE the authority to “identify, select or direct the termination of the grants,” she permanently enjoined the government from terminating all of the grants referenced in the lawsuit, as well as from cutting any others using the arguments rejected in the ruling.

Representatives of the three organizations hailed the ruling and said they would continue to push for the full restoration of all the NEH grants, which includes “staff, programs and capacity to serve the public it was created to support.”

“This ruling is an important achievement in our effort to restore the NEH’s ability to fulfill the vital mission with which Congress charged it,” Sarah Weicksel, executive director of the American Historical Association, said in a press release.

“From history exhibitions and path breaking scholarship to library programs and professional development opportunities, the humanities help us understand our past and ourselves, providing all of us with the essential tools for our future,” she said.

More than 30 Global Sumud Flotilla vessels have reached Marmaris on Turkiye’s coast, preparing for the final leg of their mission to break Israel’s siege of Gaza. At the end of April, Israel intercepted 22 boats off Greece and detained activists.

HAILEY Bieber left little to the imagination as she stripped down totally naked for a sizzling new fashion shoot.

The model, 29, sent pulses racing after putting on a risqué display in the sultry pics, wearing nothing except a pair of $990 mesh shoes.

In one racy snap for the French boutique ALAIA, Hailey can be seen showing off a pair of their premium mesh ballet flats in black. 

The mom-of-one and wife of singer Justin was shot in an editorial pose which showed her with her legs crossed and knees covering her modesty. 

Hailey stunned with a natural no makeup look and slicked her hair into a ponytail, which highlighted her fresh-faced glow.

The model is snapped seductively gazing into the camera, including one pic which featured her lying on the floor in a pink bandage top and skirt.

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In another photo the billionaire businesswoman dons a striking blue coat with a high slit, seemingly wearing nothing underneath, which showed off the side of her bottom.

Hailey shared the same sentiment in another shot, which featured her bending over in a high-neck bodysuit complete with nothing but pink tights, heels and fringe tassels at the thigh area.

The star also posed on a glass chair in a floral and white body suit, in a striking series of dynamic positions.

Hailey uploaded the shots to her Instagram page, where she was met with a barrage of comments from fans and her celeb pals. 

Kar-Jenner and bestie Kylie simply penned: “omg,” and DWTS host Julianne Hough wrote: “Magic (fire emoji).”

Fellow models Ashley Graham and Candice Swanepoel commented a flurry of heart eye and star emojis. 

Hailey is continuing to make her mark in the fashion and beauty world, with the sizzling shoot coming after she featured on the cover of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential Companies edition.

The publication singled her out as one of the business world’s leaders for her work with her cosmetics company Rhode.

Hailey launched the brand in 2022 and last year it turned over £150million in sales.

The mum of one said of her business: “We focus on creating a world that fits into your lifestyle.”

And speaking of living in the spotlight, she said: “There’s a lot of judgment… every single thing is looked at and picked apart.

“I need to live my life and continue to move forward regardless.”

WHEN booking a holiday to Italy, most will head to the likes of Naples, Sicily or Rome.

But if you’re looking for a lesser-known spot that still has beautiful beaches and a unique fortress, the port city of Crotone could be one for you.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

Crotone in Italy‘s region of Calabria was revealed to be one of the best ‘under-the-radar’ destinations for 2026 by Conde Nast Traveller.

It came just below Turku in Finland and Thunder Bay in Canada – but for Brits, Crotone is much easier and cheaper to get to.

The publication said: “A little lower down from Bari, on the heel of the “boot” of Italy, lies Crotone: a port city overlooking the Ionian Sea.

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“Surrounded by luscious hills and littered with ancient remnants of the acropolis built in the mid-16th century, Crotone is also known for its floating fortress – Capo Rizzuto – that protrudes out on a small peninsula.”

The port city, which is sometimes referred to as the ‘pearl of Calabria’ sits on the boot of Italy in the south of the country.

The seaside spot was also once a Greek colony that was the home of Pythagoras.

Now, the city is home to around 58,000 people – meaning it’s much quieter than other popular spots like Rome which is home to millions.

As for what to do there, Crotone’s harbour is central to the city where visitors will discover a lively spot for local seafood markets and restaurants, or you can explore the history of the Old Town.

The Old Town is the spot for nightlife too, with plenty of bars and a pint can be picked up for only €3 (£2.59).

If lazing about on the beach is what you want to do, there are lots of pretty ones to see in Crotone along the Ionian coast like Le Castella and Marinella.

Further down the coast at Capo Colonna, snorkelling and diving is popular as swimmers are likely to see parrotfish, and potentially loggerhead turtles.

While it might not be the most-visited place, it is popular amongst those who have.

On Tripadvisor, one person described it as an “indescribable place, almost every year I visit and always bring people who have never seen our Calabrian beauties and it is always a discovery.”

During peak summer Crotone can be as high as 35C – ideal if you’re looking for a hot holiday.

One draw back to Crotone is that Brits can’t fly there directly – with Ryanair, you can get to Crotone by flying via airports at Milan or Bologna.

But this does keep flights affodable though – the cheapest average price of flights are around £62 return.

His approach should not come as a surprise.

Trippier admitted it will be “emotional” to leave Newcastle at the end of his contract, after spending longer at the club than anywhere else in his senior career.

He is determined to end his four-and-a-half-year spell on a high, and could even come back into the side for a final run following injuries to Lewis Miley and Tino Livramento.

There is likely to be a familiar look to the team which lines up against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, as a result.

Nick Pope, Trippier, Dan Burn, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Joe Willock and Jacob Murphy could start. They all featured when Newcastle ended a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by winning the EFL Cup last season.

It was Trippier who set up Burn’s opener in the 2-1 win against Liverpool in the final, before he went on to lift the trophy alongside skipper Guimaraes and previous club captain Jamaal Lascelles at Wembley.

But that had not necessarily been part of Trippier’s “selfless” plan, as former team-mate Callum Wilson explained.

“He was not interested in lifting the trophy,” said the striker, who is now at West Ham.

“It took myself and a few other senior players to say, ‘Go on, get your hands on the trophy and lift it with everybody – all three of you do it together because it’s a team effort’.

“Ultimately, he played a big part in that as well so I felt like that moment really summed him up as a character.”

Such a prospect felt a long way off when the pair spoke on FaceTime to discuss relegation-threatened Newcastle‘s plight – several weeks before Trippier joined the club from Atletico Madrid in January 2022.

The right-back proved a catalyst, as the first signing in the aftermath of the club’s Saudi-led takeover, and convinced others like Guimaraes to follow in the mid-season window.

Yet Trippier’s decision to swap life in the Champions League for an immediate survival battle led to accusations of greed externally.

The reality was a little different.

The Bury native wanted to return to the north of England for personal reasons and took a pay cut to reunite with head coach Eddie Howe, who he previously worked with at Burnley.

There was not even a relegation release clause in his contract.

Rather than being a mercenary, the La Liga title winner’s standards, approach to training and desire to help lifted a group which had only recorded a single victory up to that point.

Trippier’s presence behind the scenes quickly struck former team-mate Jonjo Shelvey.

“He’s a natural leader,” the ex-Newcastle midfielder said.

“He made a move at a time when the club was struggling and came in with his know-how and knowledge, and helped us massively.”

May 8 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s Navy will deploy the destroyer Wang Geon to the Gulf of Aden next week with newly upgraded anti-drone defense systems, following heightened security concerns after an explosion aboard a South Korean-operated vessel near the Strait of Hormuz.

Defense Ministry officials said the 4,400-ton destroyer, assigned to the Cheonghae anti-piracy unit, is scheduled to depart from the naval port in Jinhae on May 15.

The deployment comes 10 days after an explosion and fire aboard the HMM Namu cargo vessel near the United Arab Emirates in waters close to the Strait of Hormuz. While South Korean officials later said it remains unclear whether the ship was attacked, the incident intensified concerns over growing threats to commercial shipping in the region.

The Wang Geon is expected to replace the destroyer Dae Jo Yeong in early June as part of the Navy’s regular six-month rotation in the Gulf of Aden.

Military officials and defense analysts said the latest deployment reflects a broader shift in South Korea’s maritime security posture as regional tensions escalate across the Middle East.

The destroyer has reportedly been equipped with enhanced counter-unmanned aerial systems designed to respond to drone and missile threats increasingly seen in the Red Sea and Gulf region.

According to defense industry experts, the upgrades include electronic jamming systems capable of disrupting hostile drones, along with improved integration between the ship’s close-in weapon systems and Rolling Airframe Missile interceptors.

The destroyer’s upgraded combat system is also expected to improve simultaneous threat detection and response capabilities against drone swarm attacks and low-cost unmanned systems.

South Korean officials have closely monitored attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have used drones and cruise missiles to target more than 100 vessels since late 2023, according to international assessments.

The Wang Geon is the fourth Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer operated by the South Korean Navy. The vessel previously served in anti-piracy missions and is now undertaking its 10th overseas deployment.

The ship carries a Korean vertical launch system, anti-submarine missiles and Hyunmoo-3 cruise missiles designed for precision strike operations.

The deployment also follows remarks by President Lee Jae-myung last month supporting multinational efforts to secure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

During a virtual summit hosted by France and Britain on April 17, Lee said South Korea was a “key stakeholder” in Hormuz security and pledged to make a “practical contribution” to protecting maritime navigation.

Government officials later confirmed the comments signaled Seoul’s willingness to expand the operational scope of the Cheonghae unit beyond the Gulf of Aden.

Military planners are reportedly considering broader operations near the Strait of Hormuz, though officials said any expanded multinational mission could require parliamentary approval.

Lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties have argued that participation in multinational military operations during wartime conditions would need National Assembly consent under South Korean law.

The Cheonghae unit was originally established in 2009 to combat Somali piracy, but defense analysts say its mission has increasingly evolved toward countering asymmetric threats from state-backed groups and regional militias.

Since its creation, the unit has supported the safe passage of more than 40,000 vessels and gained international attention during the 2011 rescue of the Samho Jewelry crew from Somali pirates.

Officials say the Wang Geon’s upcoming deployment marks a turning point as South Korea expands its role in global maritime security operations amid rising instability in the Middle East.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260508010001759

WE’VE searched high and low to find holiday parks across the UK where you can stay this summer for the price of a cinema ticket.

And we’ve found a range of deals that ALL work out to £10 per person, per night or less.

In 2026, £10 barely buys you lunch – but at these holiday parks, it gets you four nights of sea air and sunshine.

And given the uncertainty over the fuel crisis caused by the Iran War, plenty of Brits are looking to stay closer to home this summer.

By making the most of current sales and saving events at holiday park companies like Haven and Parkdean Resorts, you can still lock in a staycation this summer for ridiculously cheap.

From action-packed family mega resorts to quiet coastal retreats, here’s a range of UK seaside holidays you can book in for this summer for bargain prices.

Cleethorpes Beach, Lincolnshire – £2.88pp a night

This Haven holiday park is in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, often considered a quieter and prettier alternative to nearby Skegness, with clean beaches and traditional attractions.

The holiday park has all the typical top-quality Haven goodies, like a children’s Adventure Village, a glamorous bar and stage for live entertainment, a nine-hole golf course and a fishing lake.

Plus, this park even has its own Wetherspoons on site, so you can enjoy an affordable pint or share a cocktail pitcher among friends.

Out in the town, Cleethorpes has a large promenade lined with family-friendly activities like crazy golf, arcades, bowling and more.

One of the town’s highlights is the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, where you can enjoy a two-mile-long scenic journey with sea views in a diesel or steam train.

The train also makes a stop at the Signal Box Inn, the smallest pub on the planet! A return journey costs £5.75 per adult and £5.25 per child.

Sunnydale Holiday Park, Saltfleet – £8.06pp a night

This small and peaceful holiday park is one of Parkdean’s real hidden gems. On site you’ll find a heated indoor pool, a huge fishing lake, and plenty for kids, including soft play, a kids club and an adventure playground.

The resort sits on Lincolnshire‘s coast in the seaside town of Saltfleet, where you’ll find coastal walks beside quiet marshlands and calm seas.

Once you’ve had your fill of relaxing sea air, you’ll find lots of excitement in nearby Mablethorpe, just a 15 minutes’ drive. There you will find a huge, award-winning sandy beach, plus a sand train which drops you off by a seal sanctuary, and traditional donkey rides.

The train costs £2pp each way, with under 3’s going free.

Craig Tara, Scotland – £2.29pp a night

This massive, action-packed holiday park in Ayr is perfect if you want a full-on family holiday with plenty of activities.

For starters, Splashaway Bay may be the most exciting water park of them all.

The on-site park is one of the largest in Scotland, with a water complex that spans multiple floors. There’s a multi-lane water slide, lazy river, illuminated flume slide, a giant tipping bucket, toddler pool and lots more.

When it comes to other activities, there’s plenty you’re unlikely to find elsewhere. There’s a NERF Training Camp, Crazy Pool (pool’s answer to crazy golf) and a brand new Tiger Club Show for evening entertainment.

There’s also batting cages, a climbing wall, karting, segways and archery, whilst adrenaline junkies of the family will love ‘The Jump’ and ‘The Extreme Drop’.

For food and drink, enjoy everything from Chopstix noodles to Burger King meals or Papa John’s pizza. You can even end your meals with a sweet treat from Millie’s Cookies.

If you can tear yourself away from this action-packed park, there’s a friendly farm park Heads of Ayr just 5 minutes’ drive away.

Plus, the impressive National Trust Culzean Castle which looks out to sea atop a dramatic cliff is 20 minutes away.

Carmarthen Bay Holiday Park, Wales – £8.94pp a night

Set on the sunny coast of Kidwelly in South Wales, Carmarthen Bay is a holiday park that comes with some seriously stunning scenery. Here you’re just steps from the vast St Ishmael beach, plus the spectacular Kidwelly Castle is only eight minutes away.

And if you take a trip into the nearby Pembrey Country Park, you can take part in activities from toboggan racing through the trees (£3.50pp) to hopping on board a miniature railway (£1.50pp).

On site, there’s a large indoor pool with a flume slide, as well as soft play, crazy golf, amusements and a multi-sports court. When it comes to food and drink, you can enjoy everything from a Costa Coffee, to late-night takeaway options like pizza and burgers.

This affordable holiday park is even cheaper if you visit as a group of adults or with children not of school age, as we’ve found a bargain deal that’ll have you catching the last of the August heat as it turns to September.

Orchards Holiday Village, Essex – £2.88pp a night

This exciting holiday village in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex is perfect for sporty and outdoors-y groups – or those that just want to be close to one of the UK’s most exciting seaside piers.

This AA four-star award-winning site offers both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a golf course, archery coaching and Footgolf to name just a few of the activities.

Plus this summer is set to be even more sporty at Haven parks such as this one, with live screenings of England and Scotland football games. There’s also a Football Fun Factory event popping up across the parks, too.

Visitors can expect new Haven entertainment shows, such as the Seaside Squad adventures for older children and the Electric Nights 80’s show for grown-ups.

Drive just 17 minutes to Clacton Pier and you’ll have even more activities to dive into, with everything from classics like the Helter Skelter and Dodgems to a Jurassic Pier experience that dinosaur fans will love.

Lower Hyde Holiday Park, Shanklin, Isle of Wight – £8.06pp a night

A favourite of our holiday park expert, Lower Hyde in the Isle of Wight is an all-singing, all-dancing resort.

This lively site has top-quality entertainment, including classic kids discos and costume character meets, as well as dance shows and comedy acts.

Whizz down the water flume into the outdoor pool on hot days, or warm up in the indoor pool when it gets chilly out in the evenings.

One of the top perks about this park is that it is paired with a nearby sister park, Parkdean Landguard, meaning that guests can access the facilities of both sites during their stay.

Both parks are located in Shanklin, a quaint town in the Isle of Wight with traditional thatched roof houses and a fairytale feel.

Plus, you’re not far from the sea here, either. Shanklin beach is just 4 minutes away, decorated with colourful deck chairs and beach huts, plus there’s even a Pirate-themed adventure park.

Kessingland Beach, Lowestoft – £10pp a night

Head to East Anglia for a traditional bucket-and-spade summer holiday at Parkdean’s Kessingland Beach Holiday Park.

Directly on the beach, this resort is surrounded by unspoilt nature, calm waves and soft golden sands, perfect for letting little ones roam and get used to the water.

This site makes for a great base to explore top family attractions like Pleasurewood Hills theme park, Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens and the fascinating Merrivale Model Village.

Meanwhile, on site there are sports courts, an adventure playground, and a dazzling Showbar with entertainment like Starland Krazy for kids and all-ages bingo. Tuck into food like loaded fries and hot dogs at the takeaway stand, or enjoy juicy ribs and steak at the park’s new restaurant, Joe’s American Grill.

The cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak has arrived near the Port of Granadilla in Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius arrived at the Spanish port early on Sunday, escorted by a Civil Guard vessel, according to data from the maritime tracking service VesselFinder.

The ship had left for Tenerife on Wednesday from the coast of Cape Verde after the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Union asked Spain to manage the evacuation of its passengers after the hantavirus outbreak was detected.

The WHO said on Friday that at least eight people on the ship had fallen ill, including three who died – a Dutch couple and a German national. Six of these people are confirmed to have contracted the virus with another two suspected cases, the WHO said.

All passengers on the luxury cruise ship are being considered high-risk contacts as a precautionary measure, Europe’s public health agency said late on Saturday as part of its rapid scientific advice.

In Tenerife, the passengers will be tested by Spanish health authorities to ensure they remain asymptomatic and will then be transported to land in small boats, according to Spanish officials.

Sealed-off buses will take the passengers to the Spanish island’s main airport about 10 minutes away, where they will board planes heading to their respective countries.

The evacuation is expected to begin between 7:30am and 8:30am (06:30 and 07:00 GMT), according to Spanish authorities.

Spanish nationals are set to disembark first with other nationalities to follow in groups, government officials said. Thirty crew members will remain on board and will sail to the Netherlands, where the ship will be disinfected.

‘This is not another Covid’

Hantavirus is usually spread by rodents but can in rare cases be transmitted person to person.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived on Saturday evening in Tenerife with Spain’s interior and health ministers and its minister for territorial policy to coordinate the arrival of the ship.

He gave people in Tenerife assurances and thanked them for their solidarity.

“I need you to hear me clearly,” Tedros wrote in an open letter to the people of Tenerife on Saturday: “This is not another Covid.”

WHO’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention director, Maria Van Kerkhove, said that while everybody on board will be classified as “a high-risk contact”, the risk to the general public and the people of the Canaries remained low.

In the city of Granadilla de Abona early on Sunday, life appeared largely normal. Some people were swimming, others shopping at the market or sitting at cafe terraces.

“There are worries there could be a danger, but honestly, I don’t see people being very concerned,” David Parada, a lottery vendor, told the AFP news agency.

Tracking and tracing around the world

The MV Hondius left Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 for a cruise across the Atlantic Ocean to Cape Verde.

Argentinian provincial health official Juan Petrina said there was an “almost zero chance” the Dutch man linked to the outbreak contracted the disease in Ushuaia based on the virus’s incubation period, among other factors.

Health authorities in several countries have been tracking passengers who had already disembarked and anyone who may have come into contact with them.

A flight attendant on the Dutch airline KLM, who came into contact with an infected passenger from the cruise ship and later showed mild symptoms, tested negative for the hantavirus, the WHO said on Friday.

The passenger, the wife of the first person to die in the outbreak, had briefly been on a plane bound from Johannesburg to the Netherlands on April 25 but was removed before takeoff. She died the following day in a Johannesburg hospital.

Spanish authorities said a woman on that flight was also being tested for the hantavirus after having developed symptoms at home in eastern Spain. She is in isolation in hospital, Secretary of State for Health Javier Padilla said.

Two Singapore residents who had been on the ship tested negative for the disease but will remain in quarantine, the city-state’s authorities said on Friday.

British health authorities also said on Friday that there was a suspected case on Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic, one of the world’s most isolated settlements with about 220 residents. The MV Hondius had stopped there on April15.

Saturday Night Live UK’s cold open featured Peter Serafinowicz in a guest cameo as Nigel Farage, spoofing the Reform UK leader as Prime Minister in 2046 following the party’s sweeping local election wins.

Shaun Of The Dead actor Peter Serafinowicz made a surprise appearance playing Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as prime minister in an SNL UK sketch set in the year 2046.

The comedy programme kicked off on Saturday evening with a political skit depicting Mr Farage occupying Number 10, pulling pints at his desk while US President Donald Trump has seized control as the nation’s king.

The sketch took aim at the party’s landslide victories during this week’s local council and Scottish and Welsh elections. It began with ‘Mr Farage’ recording a personalised 120th birthday message for much-loved naturalist Sir David Attenborough, before Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch (Ayoade Bamgboye) appeared as his deputy.

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“Big news day, Prime Minister. Thanks to our deportations, the population of London is finally down to single fingers,” she said, drawing uproarious laughter from Mr Farage.

Taking a swipe at the continuing tensions between the US and Iran, she went on: “One last thing, King Trump assures us he has almost negotiated a ceasefire over the Strait of Hormuz.”

Mr Farage responds: “Phew, for a minute there, it felt like we were on the brink of World War Four.”

The pair jest that since their parties joined forces, they have been “unstoppable”, drawing a comparison to the spreading hantavirus, referencing the outbreak that has dominated news coverage in recent days. After checking the weather forecast – which shows London engulfed in flames, satirising climate change – the pair head out for a stroll before Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner emerge from behind a bookshelf, which turns out to be a time machine.

The former deputy leader, portrayed by Celeste Dring, warns Sir Keir (George Fouracres) that unless he allows her to run the government, “this future will come to pass”, to which he replies he will “seize every moment” as Prime Minister.

When Mr Farage returns to the office accompanied by Mrs Badenoch, he queries who Sir Keir is, declaring himself the “big chungus” of the “great United Kingdom and the middle part of Wales”.

They warn they’ll have the Labour party leaders removed from the building by security guards, but Mrs Badenoch jokes: “We deported security.”

The sketch concluded with Al Nash emerging through the prime ministerial time machine portal dressed as Sir Winston Churchill to launch the show, leading into Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham’s opening monologue.

The award-winning actress made light of the “glamorous characters” she has portrayed throughout her career, before displaying pictures of less flattering parts such as her “sexy little turn as the shame nun” in hit TV series Game Of Thrones.

Throughout the episode, Waddingham took part in numerous sketches alongside the show’s inaugural cast, and was accompanied by Stargazing singer Myles Smith as the musical guest. The programme also marked Sir David’s landmark 100th birthday in its weekend news segment, with hosts Ania Magliano and Paddy Young sitting down to interview a rhino (Hammed Animashaun) for their take on the much-loved broadcaster.

The skit descended into mayhem when Sir David (Fouracres) burst onto the scene to grapple with the wild beast after it dared to criticise him.

The Sky Original production is filmed live in London, featuring a rotating guest host each week alongside the show’s regular cast, which comprises actor Hammed Animashaun and comedian Ania Magliano.

SNL UK returns to Sky and Now TV on May 16 for its series finale, with Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa taking the hosting duties, accompanied by musical guest Holly Humberstone.

Saturday Night Live UK is available to watch on Sky and Now TV on Saturdays at 10pm.

This top destination combines a great European city break with stunning nature trails through parks, woodlands and historic districts

Summer holidays are fast approaching, yet countless travellers return home feeling utterly drained, having crammed far too much into their getaway. If you’re weary of needing a break to recover from your break, perhaps it’s time to embrace the slow travel movement.

One of the finest ways to adopt slow travel is by selecting destinations that promote rest and reconnection with the natural world, making walking holidays a superb option.

Dave Mills, Chief Commercial Officer at Iglu Cruise said: “Walking holidays offer flexibility and adventure, teaching travellers to enjoy the present moment and savour their travel experiences. You can still see the sights, but a more leisurely pace can offer a more rewarding trip.”

To assist travellers in striking the ideal balance, travel specialists from Iglu have put together a list of the finest European city breaks that also feature genuinely stunning walking trails.

They examined data from the outdoor app AllTrails to pinpoint cities boasting the greatest number of walking routes within a 15-minute radius of the city centre.

One of the finest spots to immerse yourself in nature while still making the most of your city break is Vienna in Austria.

Celebrated for its natural splendour, the city offers 250 walking trails and 12 official hiking routes, all readily accessible via public transport.

These 12 paths are conveniently numbered, making them simple to locate. For those seeking stunning vistas and a relaxing glass of wine, City Hiking Trail 1 is ideal. Beginning in Kahlenberg, this seven-mile route offers sweeping views of the Danube River.

The path meanders through expansive vineyards — some of which feature pop-up stalls where visitors can sample a glass.

Another favourite is City Hiking Trail 9, which threads through verdant woodlands and meadows before leading walkers along the boulevard in Leopoldstadt, where numerous cafés offer the perfect spot for a delightful snack or meal.

City Hiking Trail 5 is also highly regarded, situated in Floridsdorf. This route is beloved by locals and lies away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Stretching six miles, it showcases open fields and abundant wildlife, including deer.

One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “We just returned from a week in Vienna. Absolutely magical city. It looks like a city of fairy tales. I think it’s more beautiful than Paris, and Prague. Gorgeous. It’s clean and well-kept, and there is an incredible amount of beautiful architecture and art. Trip of a lifetime.”

The top 10 best city breaks for walkers

1. Berlin, Germany
2. Vienna, Austria
3. Munich, Germany
4. Oslo, Norway
5. Prague, Czech Republic
6. Stockholm, Sweden
7. Madrid, Spain
8. Zurich, Switzerland
9. Dublin, Ireland

Plane etiquette can be a contentious topic but one flight attendant has shared five of the “basic” passenger habits she always “absolutely loves” to see people doing on board

A flight attendant has shared her top five “basic” habits she “absolutely loves” to see passengers doing while flying. Plane etiquette can be a hot topic, with many passengers holding strong opinions on what’s appropriate and polite behaviour – be it whether it’s acceptable to recline your seat or not, whether you’re obligated to swap seats if asked to by a stranger with a small child, and much more.

Playing loud audio, kicking the seat of the passenger in front of you, or ignoring the instructions of the flight crew are all seen by reasonable people as unacceptable ways to act while on board. Still, some passengers are guilty of engaging in unpleasant and unwanted behaviour.

Keen to shed some light on the positives displayed by people when travelling on a plane, one flight attendant took to TikTok with a simple video showing her working behind the scenes and sorting food and drinks out while on a flight.

In overlay text written over the top of the footage, she penned: “My top five favourite things passengers do on a plane”.

In the caption, she elaborated on this and said: “Top 5 things passengers do that I absolutely love:

• “1. When you take your headphones out as I walk up to your row

“Instant respect. You see me. I see you. We’re already besties.

• 2. When you actually pay attention during announcements

“I promise I’m not just talking to hear my own voice.

• 3. When you give a smile and a genuine ‘thank you’

“You have no idea how far that goes at 30,000 feet

• 4. When you keep your shoes on

“Especially in the lavatory. We all know that floor is not holy water.

• 5. When you treat the plane like it’s not your personal living room

“It’s someone’s workplace. And someone else’s ride home.”

She added: “It’s really that simple. Kindness + awareness + basic hygiene = elite passenger status.”

In the comments section, people were keen to share their thoughts. One person said: “Soooo actually basics and human behaviour”.

To which, another replied: “So sad so many people are selfish, rude and ignorant”.

A third said: “Blows my mind people don’t genuinely thank the crew when getting off a flight or after they bring you something”.

And a fourth commented: “When I’m getting off the plane and looking at people’s mess they leave, it makes me mad so I can only imagine how you feel”.

While the majority of TikTok users agreed with the flight attendant’s views, some did take issue with one point – the contentious issue of taking shoes off on a plane.

One TikTok user said: “I’m down for everything except shoes on at my seat. I’m so sorry I have to take them off”.

Another agreed: “Anymore than a four hour flight and the shoes are coming off and slippers going on”.

And someone else added: “I think shoes off is okay as long as you’re not barefoot and put them back on when you leave your seat. And if you travel a lot, nobody is listening to that nonsense – sorry. Everything else 1000%”.

Others stressed the importance of showing your appreciation to flight attendants.

Alex Fitzpatrick hit a sparkling seven-under-par 64 to seize a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow.

The 27-year-old younger brother of former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick produced an inspired display, carding eight birdies to move to 14 under par and put himself in pole position for a maiden individual PGA Tour title.

Fitzpatrick leads Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan, who also posted a 64, by a single stroke.

It is just a fortnight since the Fitzpatrick brothers won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans pairs event, which secured a two-year tour card for Alex, who is ranked 120th in the world.

World number two Rory McIlroy, a four-time winner at this venue, suffered a frustrating Saturday, carding a four-over-par 75 to fall out of contention.

Starting the day two shots off the lead, Fitzpatrick surged forward with five birdies on the front nine.

Despite a stumble with a bogey at the 16th, he responded immediately by sinking an eight-foot putt for birdie at the par-three 17th to regain his narrow advantage.

“The one thing that I kind of did a really good job today was embracing everything that’s going on,” Fitzpatrick said.

“I had so much support out there, which was amazing.

“I would love to win. I would give a lot to win. But also if winning doesn’t happen, I would hope it would happen at some point. As long as I can go out and enjoy it, that’s all I can do.”

In contrast, McIlroy’s bid for another victory – following his triumph at The Masters last month – collapsed on a difficult afternoon in Charlotte for the man from Northern Ireland.

Six bogeys meant he slid down the leaderboard to one under par, leaving him 13 shots adrift of the leader.

American Cameron Young carded the lowest round of the day, a sensational eight-under 63, to sit alone in third at 12 under. Young, who won last week’s Cadillac Championship, had his only dropped shot at 18, where a wayward tee shot proved costly.

South Korea’s Sungjae Im, the halfway leader, sits at 10 under after a 70, alongside Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard whose 67 put him firmly in contention.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood remains in the hunt after a 70, sitting in a tie for sixth at nine under par alongside two-time major winner Justin Thomas.

From castles and coastlines to moorland views, we drove the Northumberland 250 in an electric car to see how easy it was to manage the rural route

‘We’re driving the Northumberland 250,’ I told my husband. He looked at me cautiously.

‘It’s the most spectacular route in England, past more than 20 castles, up the Northumberland coast and over the Lindisfarne causeway – which you can only drive at low tide. Then it nips over to Scotland, to a town where Mary Queen of Scots stayed, and back down through England’s biggest forest and the UK Dark Sky Reserve, and along Hadrian’s Wall.’

‘That does actually sound brilliant,’ he said.

‘We’re doing it in an electric car so we can see how easy it is.’

‘Oh no,’ he said.

With petrol prices rocketing, a road trip feels like a luxury too far at the moment, and I liked the environmental appeal of not bringing our exhaust fumes all the way north with us. But we don’t actually have an electric car so – confident that we would find enough charging points – we borrowed one.

Our Škoda Enyaq was a nippy SUV, that made short work of brine-soaked causeways, forest track off-roading and 20% hills, even with junctions at the top (oh, hill starts with an electric engine – where have you been all my life?). It promised as much as 300 miles on a full charge but, bearing in mind that most road trips end up at at least double the loop mileage, we plotted two charging points every day, and kept our fingers crossed that they would a) be working, and b) not have petrol cars parked in them.

Electric car charging on a UK road trip: what to expect

Charging electric cars is still a bit of a lottery – slightly different at every machine. You never rock up at a petrol station forecourt and wonder, ‘how does this pump work, then?’ – but you do with chargers. Most have an app you have to download to use them, so there are moments standing in the rain trying to get signal. A saving grace is other electric car users who are amazingly helpful. Less helpful are petrol drivers who park on the charging spaces.

Charging anxiety got me once, as I poured over the map on our way to Jedburgh, where only one charger showed as working, and nothing else was reachable, but it turned out fine – it was a fast charger so we only had to wait 15 minutes for the previous car to top up before we could.

The Northumberland 250 route: castles, coast and countryside

Northumberland has so many castles. One could get castle-fatigue if they weren’t so incredibly impressive. Bamburgh makes a play for Most Spectacular Castle Anywhere. Alnwick is where Harry Potter learns to fly his Nimbus 2000. Lindisfarne is so remote it becomes an island twice a day. Most deserve at least half a day to do them (and their entrance fee) justice, so my advice is pick one or two and see the rest in passing.

Dunstanburgh was my favourite – a mighty, atmospheric ruin we saw on a sunset walk from the fishing village of Craster. It felt like going back in time – there wasn’t another soul about. But I also loved smaller, free-to-visit places like Edlingham and Twizzel. In Alnwick we skipped the castle in favour of super-sized cherry scones at the Strawberry Lounge café and at Bamburgh we marvelled at the fortress from the beach, but visited The Potted Lobster for lunch instead (one of my best decisions: the Smoked Haddock Chowder).

Holy Island (Lindisfarne) took a little planning around tide times and we arrived in a rainstorm (a rare letdown in a sunny trip). Too wet to even leave the car, we returned the next day to see it in sunshine – the causeway was worth driving four times.

Leaving the coast at Berwick-upon-Tweed I worried the best was behind us, but the drive only got more beautiful. We skipped back and forth over the Scottish border, and headed through Kielder Forest along the 12-mile off-road track, Forest Drive, then down to the wide horizons of the North Pennines.

Where to stay on the Northumberland 250: hotels, lodges and pubs

Picking our pitstops was one of the highlights of the trip. I favoured places with EV charging, but in the end, we only plugged-in for one overnight, fast-charging instead in towns where we lunched. There is a charger on Holy Island, for instance, and one at Kielder Castle – remoteness is no obstacle. I loved the pace this brought to the trip, forcing stops in places we’d normally have driven straight through. It meant we discovered little gems, like Fountain Cottage Café in Bellingham.

We stayed in the lakeside lodge at Blossom Plantation (no EV charging), and drank cava in the hot tub under the stars. The Most Northerly Hotel in England, Marshall Meadows just beyond Berwick, is a ritzy venue and country house hotel. The Pheasant Inn at Kielder Water is everything you could want from a cosy fireside pub, family run with home cooking by Robin, favouring local ingredients – some from their own garden.

I finished the trip with three revelatory resolutions. One, that Northumberland was an epic holiday destination, offering far more than you can pack into five days. Two, that driving the route in an electric car is not only possible, but adds something unexpected – a more thoughtful way to travel. And three, that my next car will be electric.

The Northumberland 250 Itinerary: 5-day trip breakdown

Day 1

Newcastle to Dunstanburgh, via Alnwick, Warksworth and Craster

Highlights and stops: Edlingham Castle (free), Alnwick town for cream tea at The Strawberry Louge, Warkworth Castle, Alnmouth village and beach, Caster village and walk to Dunstanburgh Castle.

Overnight: Zambezi Lodge at Blossom Plantation, near Fallodon

Day 2

Dunstanburgh to Berwick-up-Tweed, via Bamburgh and Lindisfarne

Highlights and stops: Holy Island causeway / Lindisfarne (first thing, due to tide times), Bamburgh Castle, beach and lighthouse, lunch at The Potted Lobster. Berwick-up-Tweed for fish and chips.

Overnight: Marshall Meadows Manor House Hotel, Scottish Border

Day 3

Berwick to Kielder Water, via Twizel, Jedburgh and the Kielder Forest Drive (with a quick return visit to Lindisfarne first thing)

Highlights and stops: Norham Castle, Kirk O’Steil church, Twizel Caslte and river walk to Twizel Viaduct, Jedburgh town, Hindhope Linn waterfall, Kielder Forest Drive

Overnight: The Pheasant Inn, Kielder

Day 4

Kielder to Blanchland, via Hadrian’s Wall and Allenheads

Highlights and stops: Kielder Water and Northumberland National Park, Hadrian’s Wall, Sycamore Gap Tree Memorial, North Pennines National Landscape

Overnight: The Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland

Day 5

Blanchland to Newcastle, to get the train home

Highlights and stops: Hexham (with its Abbey) Corbridge town, Prudhoe Castle

We drove the route – a total of 530 miles including all our detours and extras – in a fully electric Škoda Enyaq

Paris seeks to repair economic and security ties while countering rising anti-French sentiment across Africa.

French President Emmanuel Macron has started a tour of East Africa as Paris seeks to rebuild its influence on the continent after a series of setbacks, especially in its former West African colonies.

Macron began the three-country tour in Egypt on Saturday, which will also take him to Kenya and Ethiopia.

He will cohost a summit in English-speaking Kenya on Monday and Tuesday as France seeks to redefine its role in Africa, moving away from its postcolonial role towards closer cooperation.

The summit will bring together African leaders and business executives, with several agreements between French and Kenyan companies set to be signed during the visit to boost economic and commercial cooperation.

The “Africa Forward” summit will be the first in an Anglophone country attended by Macron since he took office in 2017.

The French president will wrap up his tour in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, where he will hold meetings with Ethiopian officials and take part in talks at the African Union headquarters on peace and security in Africa.

The tour is widely seen as a bid by Paris to repair economic and security ties and counter rising anti-French sentiment across parts of Africa.

Africa’s changing balance

France colonised large parts of West and Central Africa, and maintained excessive political and economic influence long after independence.

France, once widely accused of supporting unpopular leaders for strategic gain, is no longer the dominant foreign power it once was in Francophone Africa.

Across the continent, there is a growing push for more equal, win-win partnerships, tighter control over natural resources and broader alliances beyond traditional Western partners.

Sahel turning point

Anti-French sentiment has generally grown alongside political instability, military coups and rising competition from other international powers.

The sharpest rupture has come in the Sahel region, where Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have seen coups followed by rapidly deteriorating relations with France.

French forces were subsequently expelled after years of military operations against armed groups that many local governments and segments of the public viewed as ineffective.

In the vacuum, the region’s military rulers have turned to new security partners, particularly Russia, highlighting France’s declining influence in the region.

Russian influence, including through the Wagner Group and its successor networks, expanded in part by exploiting anti-French sentiment.

Can Macron succeed in reshaping France’s Africa policy?

Macron is seeking to reshape France’s Africa policy, replacing traditional influence with what he calls partnerships.

He is also pushing for deeper cultural and educational cooperation focused on entrepreneurship, climate and youth engagement.

Such efforts are seen as France’s attempt to reinvent its postcolonial relationship with African states and compete with powers like China and Russia.

Paris is, in fact, trying to shift its Africa policy; questions over its influence on the continent, however, persist.

Daniel Dubois recovered from two knockdowns to win a second world heavyweight title with a stoppage of Fabio Wardley.

Daniel Dubois ⁠came back from two ⁠knockdowns to deal Fabio Wardley a brutal and bloody first defeat as a professional and take the WBO heavyweight title in a thunderous all-British clash in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Referee ⁠Howard Foster finally stepped in at the start of the 11th round to signal the end of the fight at the Co-Op Live Arena on Saturday. Wardley was bleeding heavily from the bridge of the nose, with his right ⁠eye almost closed .

Dubois rose twice from the canvas, including being dropped by a right hook in the first 10 seconds of the fight, to pulverise Wardley and become a world heavyweight champion for the second time in his career.

“It was a war. We came through the sticky moments. Thank you Fabio for that,” ‌said Dubois, who was previously IBF champion after the belt was vacated by Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, with the Ukrainian winning it back in July 2025.

“What a great fight. What a great battle, man”.

The win was Dubois’s 23rd as a professional in 26 fights while Wardley now has a 20-1-1 record.

Veteran promoter Frank Warren, who manages both men, said it was the best heavyweight fight he had ever put on and confirmed there was a rematch clause in the contract.

For ⁠some viewers, however, it was also an uncomfortable watch that could have ⁠been stopped earlier.

The 31-year-old Wardley, who was promoted to WBO champion last November after Usyk vacated the title, was making his first defence and showed immense heart as he took a tremendous beating yet refused to capitulate.

He had his opponent ⁠on the floor, a blow Dubois, 28, later dismissed as a ‘flash knockdown’, almost with the opening bell still sounding.

Dubois was back on one knee in ⁠round three but came close to a stoppage in the ⁠sixth with the reigning champion bleeding heavily and on the ropes.

The Londoner continued to land blow after blow on Wardley, who wobbled but refused to give up.

His corner inspected the facial wounds after the eighth and doctors and the referee took a ‌look in rounds nine and 10 but still the fight continued, with Wardley increasingly struggling to stay on his feet and fighting on instinct.

“You witnessed something special tonight,” Warren told the BBC. “Two men baring ‌their ‌hearts and souls in the ring, gave everything, didn’t leave one bit outside the ring.

“They were getting hit with bombs that would take people out and they stood it.”

Love may not be all you need these days, but a picture with it might help. This you can get beginning later this year when the Huntington installs its newly acquired “LOVE” sculpture by Robert Indiana near the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art.

Indiana first unveiled the iconic sculpture almost 60 years ago — also just a few days before Mother’s Day — as part of his 1966 solo exhibition at Stable Gallery in New York. While this early version measured only 12 inches high, the Huntington’s edition is 12 feet tall and 12 feet wide, making it an ideal vessel for you and your, ahem, loved ones to snap a pic with.

The polychromed aluminum sculpture is third in an edition of five, with two artist’s proofs, and will be the only “LOVE” sculpture in Southern California available to the public. It arrives at the museum’s San Marino campus as a gift of Terri and Jerry Kohl, who also provided funding for installation and long-term care.

“LOVE” is one of the most recognizable pieces of Pop art ever created — a ubiquitous symbol associated with a variety of social causes, movements and groups, including the LGBTQ+ community during the height of the AIDS crisis.

Indiana’s design for “LOVE,” featuring an L and slightly askew O stacked atop a V and E, first appeared on the Museum of Modern Art’s annual holiday card in 1965, and was apparently among the institution’s most popular holiday cards of all time. The artist completed his first monumental love sculpture, made from steel, in 1970. That sculpture is part of the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s collection.

In a news release, Huntington President Karen R. Lawrence said that Jerry Kohl believed that “LOVE,” “belonged in a place where it would be seen and experienced by millions of visitors in the years leading up to the Los Angeles Olympics, during the games, and far beyond. He recognized The Huntington as a cultural destination uniquely positioned to steward the work and share it with a broad public audience.”

“LOVE” will join a number of other outdoor installations across the Huntington’s expansive grounds and gardens, including two recently acquired sculptures by the Cuban-born artist Enrique Martínez Celaya, in addition to pieces by Sam Francis, Tony Smith and Harry Bertoia.

The sculpture also serves to expand the Huntington’s collection of American art dating from the mid-20th century on, joining works by Andy Warhol, Betye Saar, Elizabeth Catlett, Isamu Noguchi, Paul Manship, Gaston Lachaise, Elie Nadelman, Daniel Chester French, Sargent Claude Johnson, Richmond Barthé and Wilhelm Hunt Diederich.

If you’re planning a Mother’s Day jaunt to the picturesque Huntington, you won’t see the sculpture just yet, but you should still go. (This is where I wish all who celebrate a very happy Mother’s Day. Hi, hardworking, selfless moms everywhere: I see you.)

I’m Arts editor Jessica Gelt and I choose LOVE. This is your arts and culture news for the week.

The week ahead: A curated calendar

FRIDAY

Freeways 2026
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra fellows Alejandro Lombo, flute, Eder Rivera, oboe, and Nicolás Valencia, viola, and other emerging musicians perform works by Dranishnikova, Piazzolla, Mozart, Dvořák, Gaubert, Julia Moss and Ravel.
7:30 p.m. Colburn School, Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. laco.org

My Birthday Party
Based on stories by Carl Sandburg and Viggo Mortensen, this immersive theatrical experience includes acrobats, aerialists and clowns from Cirque du Soleil and features surprise guests, with music by Veronika Krausas. Opening night performance by Thelma Houston.
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday, through May 7. Fais Do-Do, 5257 W. Adams Place, L.A. playwithsprung.com

Lorenzo Viotti in Milan, Italy.

(Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images)

Rachmaninoff’s ‘Second Symphony’
In his L.A. Phil debut, flamboyant Italian-Swiss conductor Lorenzo Viotti and violinist Lisa Batiashvili join the orchestra for a fiery program of late-Romantic works.
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. laphil.com

Picasso: Le Monstre Sacré
Peter Tate’s solo performance piece, adapted by the actor and director Guy Masterson from Terri D’Alfonso‘s “The Loves of Picasso,” explores the complicated artist’s legacy from within.
8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday, through May 17. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. odysseytheatre.com

TJ Shin’s solo exhibition “Delta” is at Ehrlich Steinberg through June 11.

(Ehrlich Steinberg)

TJ Shin
The L.A.-based artist’s solo exhibition “Delta,” rooted in game theory, consists of a multi-channel video installation, drawings and a newly commissioned text by writer and professor Sunny Xiang.
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, through June 11. Ehrlich Steinberg, 5540 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. ehrlichsteinberg.com

The Sound of Music
The Hollywood Hills (and San Diego and Costa Mesa) are alive with the sound of Rodgers & Hammerstein on this tour of the latest revival of the classic romantic musical set in Austria as Nazi Germany moves to annex it.
Through May 24. Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd.; May 26-31. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave.; June 2-14. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. soundofmusicontour.com

SATURDAY

Ascent
This world premiere of a play by the late Henry Ong details the true story of aerospace engineer and cyberneticist Qian Xuesen, who co-founded Jet Propulsion Laboratory and was instrumental in United States’ World War II efforts before being unjustly forced to return to China. Direction and dramaturgy by Diana Wyenn.
8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays, through June 14. Skylight Theatre Company, 1816 ½ N. Vermont Ave, L.A. skylighttheatre.org

Maintenance Artist
The Laemmle “Culture Vulture” series continues with a 2025 documentary about Mierle Laderman Ukeles, who, inspired by Marcel Duchamp, inaugurated the idea that routine activities could be seen as performance art. Directed by Toby Perl Freilich.
10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday; 7 p.m. Monday. Laemmle Glendale, 207 N. Maryland Ave.; Laemmle Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino; Laemmle Monica Film Center, 1332 2nd St. laemmle.com 6 p.m. May 16. Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, L.A. getty.edu

Wild Up: The Center Is Between Us
The eclectic ensemble performs Robert Ashley’s “The Park” and “The Backyard,” narrated live by Christopher Rountree, from the 1978 avant-garde spoken work album “Private Parts,” before being joined by the santoor and tabla duo of Kamaljeet and Jas Ahluwalia, along with cellist Chris Votek, for new work.
8 p.m. UCLA Nimoy Theater, 1262 Westwood Blvd. cap.ucla.edu

SUNDAY

Los Angeles Children’s Chorus
LACC presents two spring concerts: Sunday, featuring the Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir and Chorale; and May 17 with the Concert Choir, Young Men’s Ensemble and Chamber Singers.
7 p.m. Sunday and May 17. Pasadena Presbyterian Church, 585 E. Colorado Blvd. lachildrenschorus.org

MOMentum Place
Celebrate Mother’s Day in the great outdoors with aerial and circus performers, dancers and musicians, preceded by a brunch from chef David Gussin and Prose Restaurant.
Brunch, noon; performance, 2 p.m.; Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. theatricum.com

Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger and Jack Nicholson in James L. Brooks’ 1983 hit “Terms of Endearment,” which won five Oscars.

(Paramount Pictures)

Terms of Endearment
James L. Brooks won Academy Awards for writing, producing and directing this adaptation of Larry McMurty’s novel, which should resonate with anyone who has or had a challenging relationship with their own mother on this Mother’s Day. Featuring a stacked cast including Oscar winners Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson, and nominees Debra Winger and John Lithgow, as well as Jeff Daniels and Danny DeVito. Presented in 35mm.
2 p.m. Academy Museum, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. academymuseum.org

MONDAY

ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop
Three new musicals presented as live readings with musical accompaniment and expert feedback panels: “Lilyville” by Antonius Anand Nazareth (Monday); “The Waiting” by Maria Isabella Andreoli and EmmaLee Kidwell (Tuesday); and “Legendary” by Cheeyang Ng (Wednesday).
7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday. The Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. thewallis.org

TUESDAY

Rachel Ward, left, and Jason Patric in “After Dark My Sweet.”

(Kino Lorber)

After Dark My Sweet
Actor Jason Patric presents a screening of his personal 35mm print of director James Foley’s 1990 neo-noir adapted from the Jim Thompson novel. Introduced by Alex Winter and followed by a Q&A with Patric and writer/film critic Travis Woods.
7:30 p.m. Vidiots, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd. vidiotsfoundation.org

Sarah Andon
“Eclectic Engagement: Explorations in Sound, Space, and Collaboration” features the L.A.-based flutist and an all-star ensemble, including percussionist Nick Terry, pianists Todd Moellenberg, Bryan Pezzone and Aron Kallay, flutist Sarah Wass, violinist Shalini Vijayan and electronicist Cristina Lord performing works by Toru Takemitsu, Sungji Hong, Gabriela Lena Frank, Nicolás Lell Benavides, Herman Beeftink, Jerry Goldsmith, Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota.
8 p.m. Monk Space, 4414 W. 2nd St., L.A. brightworknewmusic.com

WEDNESDAY

Alexandra Silber adapted a new book for Lerner & Loewe’s classic “Brigadoon.”

(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Brigadoon
Tyne Daly headlines this new adaptation by Alexandra Silber of the classic Lerne & Loewe musical about a mysterious Scottish village that only appears once a century. Directed by Katie Spelman, with original dances created by Agnes Demille.
Through June 14. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molina Ave. pasadenaplayhouse.org

A Sea Symphony
Pasadena Chorale performs Walt Whitman’s words with Vaughan Williams’ music, featuring solos by sopranos Rachel Adcock and Asha Srikantiah and baritones Eric Werner and Tobin Sparfeld.
7:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church Pasadena, 500 E. Colorado Blvd. pasadenachorale.org

THURSDAY

Camerata Pacifica
The ensemble performs a program that includes works by Beethoven, De Mey and Bunch, and concludes with Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 15 for Piano Trio and Percussion,” arranged by Viktor Derevianko.
8 p.m. Thursday. Colburn School, Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.; 7 p.m. May 15. Academy of the West, 1070 Fairway Road, Santa Barbara. 8 p.m.; 3 p.m. May 17. Bank of America Performing Arts Center, Scherr Forum, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.; 7:30 p.m. May 19. The Huntington, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. cameratapacifica.org

Arts anywhere

New and recent releases of arts-related media.

Open-Door Playhouse
Playwright Bernadette Armstrong launched this online venture during the pandemic to help other authors get their work heard by audiences. The endeavor has continued, producing dozens of audio versions of 10-minute and one-act plays delivered as podcasts. The latest release, “Holy Hell,” written by Barbara Lindsay, features a man (played by Gary Lamb, who also directed) and a woman (Elaine Mello) separately recounting the tragedy that united them. Open Door Playhouse is free, relying on listener donations.
opendoorplayhouse.org

“Rupert García: The Making of an American Artist, a Testimonio” by Mario T. García.

(Rutgers University Press)

Rupert García: The Making of an American Artist, a Testimonio
An oral history 30 years in the making, the book chronicles the life and career of the American Chicano visual artist and activist, whose work as a painter, pastellist and screen printer both documented and galvanized cultural movements from the 1960s onward. The book’s author, historian Mario T. Garcia of UC Santa Barbara, will be in town for a book signing at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. vromansbookstore.com
Rutgers University Press: $35, 215 pages.

Arturo Sandoval, who frequently performs in Los Angeles, has a new album, “Sangú.”

(The Wallis)

Sangú
Trumpeter, bandleader and composer Arturo Sandoval’s latest album — the title is a malapropism of “sounds good” made during the studio sessions — features 12 tracks of Afro-Cuban funk, blending bebop, fiery jazz fusion and batá-inspired rhythms. Sandoval will perform June 4-7 at Blue Note Los Angeles.
Self-released: digital download, $9.50. arturosandoval.com

— Kevin Crust

Culture news and the SoCal scene

Maria Wirries and LJ Benet in “The Lost Boys,” from left; Sara Chase and Brad Oscar appear onstage during curtain call of “Schmigadoon!” on opening night, and Joshua Henry and the cast of “Ragtime.”

(Matthew Murphy, left and right; Valerie Terranova / WireImage, center.)

Tony Award nominations were announced early this week with musicals “The Lost Boys” and “Schmigadoon!” leading nominations with 12 each, followed by “Ragtime” with 11. Malia Mendez has the full list, here, and Times theater critic Charles McNulty followed up with a story on 10 standout Broadway performances and shows worth celebrating, including Laurie Metcalf in both Samuel D. Hunter’s “Little Bear Ridge Road” and this spring’s revival of “Death of a Salesman.”

The Pulitzer Prizes were announced the day before the Tony nominations, and Bess Wohl’s play “Liberation” took home the 2026 Pulitzer for drama. The win foreshadowed what would come next: “Liberation” was nominated for five Tonys, including best play and director.

McNulty also rounded up three major Broadway musicals in one handy, sweeping review: “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” “The Lost Boys” and “Titanique.” “Cats,” notes McNulty, has managed to distance itself from its kitschy reputation and checkered past to become “one of the hottest tickets of the Broadway season. It didn’t take a miracle, only a complete conceptual overhaul.” Happily, “The Lost Boys” also won McNulty over despite his “antipathy to vampire schlock.” “Titanique” was not McNulty’s favorite, but he noticed that his fellow theatergoers couldn’t get enough.

Joe Mantello at his home in New York on Friday, April 3, 2026.

(Evelyn Freja / For The Times)

There was not one free moment in McNulty’s New York itinerary in early March. While attending a flurry of shows, our critic also sat down to a brunch interview with director Joe Mantello during rehearsals for the new Broadway revival of “Death of a Salesman.” “A two-time Tony-winning director (‘Assassins,’ ‘Take Me Out’), Mantello has a résumé so extensive that it can be startling to recall that he’s the original Broadway director of “Wicked,” the blockbuster that has allowed him to write his own ticket. There aren’t many theater directors who can pick and choose their projects without worrying about their next paycheck, but he has become the Mike Nichols of our era in terms of the breadth and consistency of his theatrical success,” writes McNulty,

The Times got the scoop that Holocaust Museum LA will reopen June 14 as part of the new $70-million, 70,000-square-foot Goldrich Cultural Center. The center doubles the museum’s original 35,000-square-foot footprint and broadens the institution’s “focus on inclusion and community, with a diverse range of events and ramped-up educational offerings,” writes Times contributor Solvej Schou.

Composer John Williams, 94, attended the dedication ceremony of the new John Williams Performing Arts Center at North Hollywood High on April 29, 2026.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Times contributor Tim Greiving, who is also the author of a biography on John Williams, covered a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new John Williams Performing Arts Center at North Hollywood High — the famed film composer’s alma mater. Williams, 94, was in attendance and gave a few brief remarks in front of a crowd filled with other notable school alumni and friends including Kathleen Kennedy.

The Times published an exclusive on Pasadena Playhouse’s new 2026-27 season, which includes the post-Broadway debut of “Real Women Have Curves: The Musical.” Other offerings include a new production of Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s tragicomedy “The Visit,” the L.A. premiere of “Passing Strange,” and a revival of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.”

Comedian Kathy Griffin in 2019.

(Matt Licari / Invision Associated Press)

Comedian Kathy Griffin is staging her first-ever residency at the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs. “Can You Handle This Heat? The Kathy Griffin Palm Springs Residency,” is scheduled to run from Jan. 31 to Feb. 26, 2027. Tickets go on sale today.

The Soraya has announced it 2026-27 season featuring eight noteworthy debuts and 45 performances, including Sutton Foster with Chris Walden and the Pacific Jazz Orchestra; the eclectic band Snarky Puppy; Majo Aguilar con Mariachi y Banda; Dance Theatre of Harlem; National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine; Los Angeles Philharmonic; Audra McDonald; and the National Symphony Orchestra. The new lineup also introduces Chad Hilligus as the Soraya’s new executive and artistic director.

Grand Performances announced its 40th annual Summer Concert Series featuring free outdoor shows in downtown L.A.’s California Plaza from June 6–Aug. 29. Highlights include a June 13 anniversary celebration with Jungle Fire, Healing Gems and DJ Liza Richardson; a tribute to the music of Stevie Wonder with DJ Spinna, Monalisa and MC Cognito; and a tribute to Roy Ayers led by composer Sly5thAve with a 12-piece ensemble including drummer Kassa Overall.

This week, IATSE filed unfair labor practice charges against management at the beleaguered John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, alleging the center broke its union contract by permanently eliminating union jobs ahead of its controversial temporary closure.

— Jessica Gelt

And last but not least

Looking for a great classic diner? Me too! This Food story will help.

Dudinha had a goal and an assist to lead the San Diego Wave to a 2-1 victory over rival Angel City on Saturday at BMO Stadium.

Dudinha beat multiple Angel City defenders before firing a shot that was deflected off defender Sarah Gorden for the opening goal in the 49th minute.

Angel City’s Emily Sams scored in the 54th minute to even the score.

San Diego (6-0-3) took the lead for good when Dudinha’s cross found the head of rookie defender Mimi Van Zanten in the 81st minute. Dudinha’s fourth assist tied her for the league lead with Portland’s Olivia Moultrie.

Angel City (3-0-4) started the 2026 season with three straight wins but it has lost its last four games.

Former Angel City head coach and current Wave assistant Becki Tweed led the club with Jonas Eidevall suspended because of a red card in last week’s 1-0 home loss to Bay FC.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that his country’s war on Ukraine may be “coming to an end” and expressed a willingness to meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a third country if a peace deal is finalised.

Putin made the comments to reporters on Saturday, hours after promising victory in Ukraine at Russia’s most scaled-back Victory Day parade in years.

The remarks came as Russia and Ukraine began a three-day ceasefire and agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners, in developments that raised cautious hopes of renewed diplomatic progress.

At the parade, Putin praised Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, framing their mission as a “just cause” against “an aggressive force armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc”.

“Victory has always been and will be ours,” he added, as columns of troops lined up on Moscow’s Red Square.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Putin blamed Western “globalist elites” for the war, saying they had promised NATO would not expand eastward after the 1989 fall of ‌the Berlin Wall, but then tried to draw Ukraine into the European Union’s orbit.

He then declared, “I think the matter is coming to an end.”

Russia’s annual Victory Day holiday marks the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II and honours the 27 million Soviet citizens who died in the conflict.

This year’s parade was more subdued than usual, with videos of military hardware shown on giant screens rather than tanks and missile systems rolling through Red Square.

For the first time, Saturday’s parade featured troops from North Korea, a tribute to Pyongyang that sent its soldiers to fight alongside Moscow’s forces to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.

Russia had declared a unilateral ceasefire for the holiday on Friday and Saturday, while Zelenskyy announced a truce that was supposed to begin on May 6, but neither held, and the parties traded blame for the continuing attacks.

Fears for the festivities eased on Friday, when US President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had bowed to his request for a ceasefire running Saturday through Monday and an exchange of prisoners.

“This Ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each Country,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social Post on Friday.

“Talks are continuing” on ending the war, Trump said, adding that “we are getting closer and closer every day”.

“Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War,” he said.

Zelenskyy followed up on Trump’s statement with a decree mockingly permitting Russia to hold its Victory Day celebrations, declaring Red Square temporarily off-limits for Ukrainian strikes.

The Kremlin shrugged off the comments as a “silly joke”.

Zelenskyy has previously proposed to meet with Putin to negotiate a peace deal, but has dismissed the Russian leader’s suggestion that he come to Moscow. On Saturday, Putin told reporters he could meet with Zelenskyy in another country, but only to endorse a comprehensive accord.

“A meeting in a third country is also possible, but only after a peace treaty aimed at a long-term historic perspective is finalised,” Putin said. “This should be a final deal, not the negotiations.”

Putin, who has governed Russia as president or prime minister since the last day of 1999, faces a ⁠wave of anxiety in Moscow about the war in Ukraine, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people, left swaths of Ukraine ⁠in ruins, and drained Russia’s $3 trillion economy.

Russian troops have been fighting in Ukraine for more than four years. That is longer than Soviet forces fought in World War II, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45.

But Russian forces have so far been unable to take the whole of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where Kyiv’s forces have been pushed back to a line of fortress cities. Russian advances have slowed this year, though Moscow controls just under one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.

European Council President Antonio Costa said last week that there was potential for talks between Europe and Russia on the continent’s future security architecture.

Asked on Saturday if he was willing to ‌engage in talks with the Europeans, Putin said the preferable figure for him was Germany’s former Chancellor Gerhard Schroder.

“For me personally, the former chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr Schroder, is preferable,” Putin said.

A Frontier Airlines plane has hit and killed a person at Denver’s international airport, prompting the evacuation of passengers. Authorities say the man jumped a perimeter fence and ran in front of the plane as it was taking off to Los Angeles.

Just weeks after Justin Bieber’s well-received Coachella headline gig, the singer played a small private event for tech, entertainment and defense industry moguls. Executives at controversial firms, such as surveillance tech giant Palantir, were also on the bill.

Bieber was a headliner at WNDR, entertainment executive Jeffrey Katzenberg’s invitation-only confab at the Rosewood Miramar in Montecito last week. The programming for the event was first reported by Puck.

The ultra A-list talks and guests included director James Cameron and former Disney CEO Bob Iger, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Oprah Winfrey and Julia Roberts, comedians Chris Rock and Trevor Noah and artist Jeff Koons on a panel discussion with LACMA chief Michael Govan.

Bieber, meanwhile, performed a Wednesday poolside set for attendees at the Rosewood. The “Swag” singer reportedly became the highest-paid headliner in Coachella history last month, and its most lucrative merch seller.

Representatives for Bieber did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

While there was lighter programming (like a karaoke party with pop producers StarGate and a talk about snacks with chef Nancy Silverton), the bill included talks and cameos from major weapons and surveillance technology firms noted for their support for — or deep engagement with — the Trump administration.

One panel featured Anduril Industries’ Palmer Luckey, who recently welcomed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to its Southern California headquarters. “We are rebuilding the Arsenal of Freedom,” Hegseth said after the Anduril visit.

Palantir Chief Executive Alex Karp led another talk. Palantir’s AI-driven defense and surveillance software has faced scrutiny around how tech like its Maven Smart System may have been used to target civilians in the Iran war.

Karp also published a recent book, “The Technological Republic,” where he wrote that “We must resist the shallow temptation of a vacant and hollow pluralism. We, in America and more broadly the West, have for the past half century resisted defining national cultures in the name of inclusivity. But inclusion into what?”

Katzenberg’s WNDR conference is one of several recent multi-discipline, ultra-elite gatherings hosted by CEOs, including Jeff Bezos and Eric Schmidt. Katzenberg founded his investment firm WndrCo in 2017.