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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has given the green light to develop a prediction market app, according to the New York Times, as Meta moves to capitalise on one of the fastest-growing sectors in tech and finance.
The app is currently being referred to as Arena internally and would let users earn points for correctly predicting the outcomes of events such as sports results, political developments and stock market moves but without any real money changing hands, at least initially.
It would operate independently of Meta’s existing social platforms, though those could funnel users towards it, according to the reporting.
A prediction market is essentially a financial exchange where people buy and sell contracts or bets tied to the outcome of real-world events.
Each contract is a simple yes-or-no question, such as whether a certain candidate will win an election, a team will come out first in a championship or if a major political figure will pass by a certain date.
On Polymarket and Kalshi, the two most popular prediction market platforms, users buy contracts that pay out $1 if they are right and nothing if they are wrong.
As more people trade those contracts, the price reflects the market’s probability of the event occurring. If a bet is worth 40 cents, there’s a 40% chance of it happening, according to the people who have placed bets.
Fans of prediction markets argue the mechanism produces more accurate forecasts than polls or political analysts because participants have real money on the line.
The two dominant platforms in the space are Polymarket and Kalshi, which together generated around 85–90% of the roughly $44 billion (€40bn) in total trading volume recorded in 2025.
Polymarket, founded in 2020 by New York University dropout Shayne Coplan, operates globally on the blockchain. In October 2025, the New York Stock Exchange’s parent company invested $2 billion (€1.8bn) in the platform, in a major sign that Wall Street was taking the sector seriously.
Kalshi, founded in 2018 by two MIT graduates, spent years winning regulatory approval before launching as the first prediction market sanctioned by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
The turning point came in October 2024, when a US court ruled Kalshi could legally offer election contracts 32 days before the presidential election. Monthly trading volume has since surged from less than $5 billion (€4.6bn) in September 2025 to around $24 billion (€21.8bn) in April 2026, overtaking the roughly $14 billion (€12.7bn) wagered monthly through legal or traditional US sportsbooks.
Donald Trump Jr. becoming an investor in Polymarket and a paid adviser to Kalshi, while federal regulators adopted a more permissive stance, also helped fuel the boom.
The boom has not come without controversy and legal cases have mounted, with a former special forces soldier getting arrested over allegations he used insider knowledge of a US operation to capture Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro to place a winning trade on Polymarket worth around $400,000 (€365,000).
Some US states have begun suing the platforms, arguing they are running illegal gambling operations without proper licences. The Trump administration has responded by suing the states that have moved to ban prediction markets, creating a messy legal standoff between federal and state authority.
A New York Times review found that Polymarket published hundreds of false and misleading social media posts, while Politico uncovered a campaign to pay influencers to praise the platform’s supposed accuracy.
Whether Meta’s gamified, cashless version of the concept can avoid those pitfalls or will simply serve as a gateway to them remains unclear.
EASYJET is launching a new international flight route from a UK airport for the first time.
The new route will begin operating flights in 2027.
EasyJet will launch its first international route out of Newquay Airport in Cornwall next year.
Flying between Newquay Airport and Geneva Airport in Switzerland, the route is expected to launch on January 16, 2027.
The seasonal route will then operate once a week on Saturdays until February 27, 2027.
Currently, EasyJet only provides regional and domestic flights from the coastal airport, so the new flight path will be the first international destination for the airline.
A further 12 routes are also being launched by EasyJet over the next year, including new routes from London Luton to Kittilä in Finland, beginning on November 24, and from Strasbourg in France launching on November 29.
The airline will be operating flights to Kittilä twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and fly to Strasbourg four times a week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.
New flights from London Southend to Edinburgh, Scotland, will launch on October 25 from £23.99 per person.
The flights will operate twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays between the two cities.
From Birmingham, travellers will be able to fly to Copenhagen, Denmark, from November 16.
Costing from £31.99 per person, the flights will head out twice a week on Mondays and Fridays.
Those living near Manchester can head to Cairo, Egypt from November 9 – the only direct route from the city to the ‘Sphinx’ airport.
Flights will set you back from £131.99 per person and the route operates twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays.
Two new routes are launching from Liverpool Airport to Kittilä in Finland and Reykjavik in Iceland.
Costing from £30.99 per person, flights to Kittilä will begin on November 25 and operate out of the airport twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Flights to Reykjavik will launch even earlier, starting on November 2 and will take off twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, costing from £43.99 per person.
Newcastle is set to get several new destinations by the end of the year, including Barcelona in Spain, Berlin in Germany, Copenhagen in Denmark, Hurghada in Egypt and Rovaniemi in Finland.
First to launch will be the flights to Barcelona on October 25, costing from £28.99 per person and operating twice weekly on Fridays and Sundays.
On October 27, flights to Hurghada will launch heading out on Tuesdays and Saturdays and costing from £121.99 per person.
Copenhagen flights are set to begin on November 5, followed by Berlin on November 20 and finally Rovaniemi on November 25.
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Seeking Alpha’s Disclaimer: This article was automatically generated by an AI tool based on content available on the Seeking Alpha website, and has not been curated or reviewed by humans. Due to inherent limitations in using AI-based tools, the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of such articles cannot be guaranteed. This article is intended for informational purposes only. Seeking Alpha does not take account of your objectives or your financial situation and does not offer any personalized investment advice. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank.
Historic negotiations between Iran and the United States are officially underway, marking the start of what mediators describe as a crucial 60-day process.
Published On 21 Jun 202621 Jun 2026
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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.
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.
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.
She has been dating actor Taron Egerton, who starred in Rocketman and Apple TV+ prison drama Black Bird.
EASYJET is launching 13 new routes from the UK including to lesser-known destinations.
The routes include the airline’s first international destination from a tiny UK airport.
EasyJet will launch a route between Newquay Airport in Cornwall and Geneva in Switzerland – which will be its first international route from the airport.
The route will launch on January 16, 2027 and operate once a week on Saturdays until February 27, 2027.
Among the 12 other routes being launched are new routes from London Luton to Kittila in Finland launching on November 24 and Strasbourg in France launching on November 29.
Flights to Kittila will operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays whereas flights to Strasbourg will operate four times a week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Read more on travel inspo
London Southend will get new flights to Edinburgh, Scotland operating twice a week from October 25 on Thursdays and Sundays from £23.99 per person.
From Birmingham you will be able to fly to Copenhagen in Denmark, twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, launching on November 16 and costing from £31.99 per person.
Or if you live near Manchester, you can head to Cairo in Egypt from November 9 – the only direct route from Manchester to the ‘Sphinx’ airport.
The route will operate twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, with flights costing from £131.99 per person.
Liverpool will get two new routes including to Kittilä in Finland and Reykjavik in Iceland.
Flights to Kittila will start on November 25, departing twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays with tickets costing from £30.99 per person.
On the other hand, flights will head to Reykjavik from November 2, taking off on Mondays and Fridays, with flights costing from £43.99 per person.
And Newcastle will get several new destinations including Barcelona in Spain, Berlin in Germany, Copenhagen in Denmark, Hurghada in Egypt and Rovaniemi in Finland.
Flights to Barcelona will be the first to launch on October 25, operating twice a week on Fridays and Sundays and costing from £28.99 per person.
Hurghada flights will then start on October 27 twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays, costing from £121.99 per person.
Copenhagen flights will launch on November 5, followed by Berlin on November 20 and then Rovaniemi on November 25.
This composite photo, taken Tuesday, shows Rep. Cheon Jun-ho (L), deputy floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, and Rep. Kim Seung-soo, deputy floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party, prior to their talks at the National Assembly in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap
The rival parties agreed Tuesday to conduct a 45-day parliamentary investigation into the National Election Commission (NEC) over ballot shortages reported during the recent local elections, party officials said.
In a meeting of their deputy floor leaders at the National Assembly, the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) agreed to put the plan to a vote at a parliamentary plenary session on Thursday.
“We agreed to launch the parliamentary probe to swiftly uncover the truth behind the alleged infringement of voting rights of the citizens caused by the ballot shortages and to lay the groundwork for sweeping reforms of the NEC,” Rep. Cheon Jun-ho of the DP told reporters after the meeting.
According to officials from both parties, the special parliamentary committee will be chaired by the PPP and comprise 18 members — nine from the ruling party, seven from the PPP and two from non-negotiating parties.
Rep. Kim Seung-soo of the main opposition PPP said the rival parties agreed to set the investigation period at 45 days in an effort to conduct the probe as swiftly as possible, while leaving open the possibility of an extension if further investigation becomes necessary.
Ballot shortages were reported at more than a dozen polling stations in Seoul during the June 3 local elections, temporarily disrupting voting and prompting protests.
Last week, the DP and the PPP separately submitted requests for a parliamentary probe, though they differed over the scope of the investigation and the number of seats to be allotted to each party on the committee.
Copyright (c) Yonhap News Agency prohibits its content from being redistributed or reprinted without consent, and forbids the content from being learned and used by artificial intelligence systems.
The TWZ Newsletter
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
In a significant development for Europe’s future air combat ambitions, Airbus is trying to restart the program to develop a sixth-generation combat jet, now under German and Spanish leadership. This comes less than a week after the Franco-German-led New Generation Fighter (NGF) effort effectively collapsed in its original form, amid acrimony between Paris and Berlin. The NGF was planned as the crewed centerpiece of the pan-European Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which Airbus, as the leading European aerospace corporation, now hopes to get back on track.
An exciting step for European sovereignty at ILA Berlin: “Team Gen 6”, a group of eight leading German defence and aviation companies signed a strategic positioning paper. The German and French governments have announced a realignment of the European Future Combat Air System… pic.twitter.com/aZcjAaO6dE
— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) June 11, 2026
Airbus’s Defense and Space unit launched the ‘Team Gen 6’ initiative today with a message on X, declaring that it was “an exciting step for European sovereignty.” So far, eight German defense and aerospace contractors have signed a strategic positioning paper as part of the effort. Those firms are Autoflug, Diehl Defense, Hensoldt, Liebherr, MBDA Germany, MTU Aero Engines, and Rohde and Schwarz.
Reflecting the German-Spanish nature of the new program, those companies are now “closely integrated” with firms from Spain, comprising GMV, Grupo Oesia, Indra, ITP Aero, and Sener.
“While the development of the overarching [FCAS] ‘system of systems’ is progressing as before, the sixth-generation fighter aircraft integrated within it requires a new, agile industrial setup,” Airbus said.
“As Team Gen 6, we have the capabilities and the capacities. Now, we are looking for close alignment with policymakers and the air force[s] to drive forward a superior European air combat system for collective security,” the X post stated.
Airbus also presented a video showing a notional concept aircraft flying with multiple uncrewed platforms. While not too much (as in not much at all) should be read into this, the crewed aircraft features canard foreplanes, a chin intake, and an unusual cranked wing.
Speaking just ahead of the announcement, at the ILA Berlin airshow today, where TWZ was in attendance, Jean-Brice Dumont, head of air power at Airbus Defense and Space, said the company remains committed to delivering a sixth-generation combat jet. “There is a need for a bit of a reshaping and reconsidering the reality of today,” Dumont added.
Dumont explained that the now-abandoned NGF was one of seven separate “pillars” of technology development being worked on under FCAS. As well as the crewed jet, pillars include powerplant, remote carrier vehicles, precision-guided weapons, and data connectivity.
“We have to consider safeguarding areas where it works, and how we reshape,” he added. “At the moment, we are going to seek guidance from our governments [on] what they want us to do. There has to be demonstrated an industrial feasibility of what is being asked — not only technical. That’s probably a lesson now,” Dumont added.
Dumont continued: “The world in 2026 is very different to the world of 2017 when the [FCAS] programme was launched. We have to accept that fact and reshape it — we need another way to get to the same goal, with faster milestones.”
“The problem we had is that we had drawn a line to 2040, and new technologies for everything,” Dumont added, referring to the goal of having the FCAS, including the NGF, in service by that date. “Today, you see demonstrations of connectivity, systems of systems and unmanned vehicles all around the world. The need is there, and in the countries that we are competing with, they are using it already.”
According to Dumont, the company has “put a number of options on the desk of our ministers and ministries of defense,” and is now awaiting further guidance from officials.
As the centerpiece of FCAS, in its original form, the NGF element was the most high-profile and challenging component of the project. However, it had long been dogged by disagreements over industrial workshare and leadership between Airbus and Dassault Aviation, which were the prime contractors for Germany and Spain, and France, respectively.
Dassault had demanded that it play the defining role in NGF, reflecting key requirements for the jet driven by the French Armed Forces. These included the ability to operate from aircraft carriers, and provision to deliver nuclear weapons. Germany or Spain needed neither of these functions.
Despite the disagreements that derailed NGF, Dumont argued that there had still been useful lessons learned from the FCAS program.
“What Phase 1A and 1B [of the program] have given is a very thorough analysis of the repartition of the work between the crewed and uncrewed platforms, and this remains. That kind of shapes what the manned aircraft will have to do.”
As an example of this work, Dumont pointed to ongoing work that will involve trials of a Eurofighter operating as a “command fighter” — a crewed jet that can operate in collaboration with drones, or what Airbus now refers to as uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft (UCCAs). The tests will see a Eurofighter fitted with a Rafael Litening 5 targeting pod modified to serve as the interface between the crewed jet and UCCAs. This should pave the way toward an in-service command fighter capability being introduced to the Eurofighter, something that will be incorporated in the sixth-generation combat jet from the outset.
Initial trials will involve a Learjet test configured as a surrogate command fighter and flying with drones in an “enhanced teaming” mode. Airbus hopes to have the command fighter-configured Eurofighter ready for operational service in 2029.
“The demand from the customers is: be ready early,” Dumont explained. “This is not a contradiction to the Future Combat Air System challenge — it is the need to have our platforms evolved earlier than we had traditionally planned.”
The termination of NGF and the launch of Team Gen 6 leaves plenty of questions over the future of Europe’s air combat landscape.
TWZ spoke to Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for military aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) research institute in London, for his take on what might happen next.
On the matter of Germany and Spain now teaming up under the Airbus umbrella, Barrie said that the relationship makes a lot of sense, but its success is far from certain. On the one hand, the two countries already work together within Airbus, and both Germany and Spain are seeking a replacement for their Eurofighter fleets.
“In terms of Team Gen 6, I do wonder if there’s an element of trying to kind of scramble to recover something from the wreckage of NGF, as it were, that the collapse of NGF doesn’t signal the end of Spanish industrial interest in next-gen combat aircraft development,” Barrie said. “But if somebody asked me, do I think between Germany and Spain, they can put together a credible program if nobody else is involved? I think that the numbers would be very difficult to stack up.”
Putting the German and Spanish future fighter requirements together, the two countries might, at best, need to build 300 new combat jets, with a figure of 250 more likely, Barrie contended. Team Gen 6 would then face a real struggle to break even.
This reality will, Barrie believes, force Germany and Spain to look for other partners, which will likely come down to a choice between the British-led Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) and the Swedish next-generation combat aircraft program, led by Saab. Of these, GCAP has the Tempest crewed fighter as its centerpiece, and also involves Italy and Japan. Sweden’s crewed fighter requirements are less clear at this point.
Building a role for Airbus in GCAP would be difficult at this point. With the industrial architecture already in place, bringing not one, but two more partners into that program would be disruptive, particularly in terms of timeline. Already, the Japanese in particular are concerned about the pace of the program, especially since the United Kingdom has not yet fully committed to it in terms of funding.
“My own view is that the United Kingdom remains committed to the program, but there are financial pressures elsewhere,” Barrie noted. “I think that the more likely outcome in all of this is a kind of German, Spanish, Swedish tie-up. The kind of requirements in some ways are aligned a bit better.”
This extends to the size of the aircraft, Barrie observed.
“The kind of aircraft that the Swedes seem to be thinking about, the crewed element is probably more of a bigger Gripen E/F, heading towards Typhoon, in terms of size. This is more in keeping with what the Germans and the Spanish seem to be looking for. Obviously, the United Kingdom and Japan, in particular, need something with longer legs and bigger internal payload, hence GCAP.”
“GCAP will be highly capable,” Barrie continued. “That will come with a unit cost to go with it. Maybe what the Swedes, the Germans, and the Spanish might do will be cheaper.”
Provided a German, Spanish, Swedish teaming arrangement could work, the resulting combat jet could still enter a space where it would face competition for important export orders from France, which looks set to continue the development of the Rafale, especially now that NGF has collapsed. Further competition could be provided by South Korea with further developments of its KF-21 and Turkey with the TF Kaan, although these are notably less-ambitious fifth-generation designs.
The Tempest, as currently envisaged, with its very different set of requirements, would not necessarily be a direct competitor to Team Gen 6, Barrie argued, since it would be a closer match to the F-47 in terms of size, capabilities, and cost. While the potential size of this market would be more limited, probably U.S. reluctance to export the F-47 would play in the Tempest’s favor.
As to the possibility of the United States offering a ‘watered-down’ export model of the F-47, Barrie considers this unlikely to generate much interest.
“Yeah, you can have a downgraded version of my super airplane — as a kind of marketing slug that hardly sells, does it?” Barrie continued. “Even if it’s 10 percent less capable, even if it’s 10 percent less expensive, it’s still a likely unit cost of $250 million or more, which is eye-watering.”
This leaves us with the French, and what they might be able to recover from NGF.
If France goes it alone with a sixth-generation combat jet, Dassault will likely be strongly backed by the French government, and the company has traditionally punched well above its weight.
In the medium term, Dassault has a healthy backlog of orders for the Rafale and is very much at the right end of the cost curve. Barrie considers that the Rafale will remain a profitable airplane for the foreseeable future, but at some point, France will need to think about a successor based on an all-new airframe. Industrially, France has the capability to go alone with this, but they would likely look to a partner or partners to come on board. The likelihood of those partners coming from Europe has now been reduced, but other possibilities might be found in the Gulf states.
Then there is the question of India, which may still buy more Rafales but which, in the fullness of time, is likely to look for a new-generation fighter, and could be a potential partner for France.
“I don’t see the Indians ever being fully committed to only one country,” Barrie continued. India has already hinted that it might want to try and join the pan-European FCAS or GCAP. Meanwhile, Russia has been a long-term military partner for India, and Barrie thinks that the recent appearance of a two-seat version of the Su-57 Felon may well indicate another effort to sell that fighter to India.
Were India to continue its pattern of buying Russian combat aircraft, that would give any potential European partner serious pause for thought, based on the security implications. Meanwhile, India also remains committed to developing its own next-generation fighter.
What the NGF debacle has demonstrated is that any potential partner with France on its next-generation combat aircraft program will likely have to be happy taking a junior role, with Dassault calling the shots.
The collapse of the New Generation Fighter could well be a pivotal moment for European defense cooperation, but it does not signal the end of Europe’s sixth-generation combat aircraft ambitions.
Airbus’s Team Gen 6 announcement marks the start of a German-Spanish-led industrial approach that its backers hope will be more agile and less contested than its Franco-German-led predecessor. However, significant political, financial, and industrial challenges remain, including the search for a reliable partner, or partners. As with NGF, the success of Team Gen 6 will ultimately depend on whether European governments can align their strategic priorities and industrial interests to deliver a sovereign future air combat capability.
Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
Progress for Kyiv’s membership bid given the green light after Hungary’s new government lifts Budapest’s veto.
Published On 12 Jun 202612 Jun 2026
The European Union has announced that the accession process for Ukraine and Moldova will launch next week.
At a meeting in Brussels on Friday, ambassadors from the 27 EU nations agreed to officially recommence negotiations with the two countries in Luxembourg on Monday.
list of 3 itemsend of list
EU leaders agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova in December 2023. However, negotiations were paused due to opposition from Hungary, led at the time by pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, to Kyiv’s membership bid.
Both Kyiv and Chisinau view EU membership as additional security against Russian aggression. Moscow insists that maintaining control over its “near abroad” – its term for the post-Soviet states – is key to its national security.
“All member states agreed to open the first accession negotiations cluster with Ukraine and Moldova,” European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint social media post.
Hungary’s new government, which took power in May, agreed last week to drop Orban’s veto, allowing the accession process to resume.
“This is a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges,” Costa and von der Leyen said.
“Enlargement is a strategic choice,” they said, adding, “In a world marked by growing uncertainty, a larger European Union is in our common interest.”
Entry negotiations with Kyiv were formally opened in June 2024, kickstarting a complex process that usually takes years and involves negotiations on everything from agriculture to the rule of law.
The move was largely symbolic, intended as a powerful show of support for Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
New Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar struck a deal with Kyiv on the rights of Ukraine’s Hungarian ethnic minority last week. The issue has long been a sticking point between the neighbouring countries.
But Magyar has said Hungary does not support a fast-track procedure for Ukraine to join the EU.
He said Budapest will hold a referendum on Ukraine’s membership, should it “succeed in closing all 33 accession chapters within the next 10 to 15 years”.
Talks will begin on Monday with the opening of the “fundamentals” section of the process, Costa and van der Leyen said in their statement.
This covers basic principles such as rule of law that the two candidate countries will be expected to adhere to.
An artisanal miner in Bolívar state with an “Uncle Sam” t-shirt. (AFP)
Caracas, June 12, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) have launched a large-scale operation on Tuesday in Bolívar state, one of the country’s main mineral-rich regions in the southeast and also one with a heavy presence of criminal organizations.
Local media outlets and non-governmental organizations reported helicopter overflights, explosions, and the displacements of hundreds of people leaving gold extraction zones in Las Claritas and the area known as Kilometer 88, two key locations within the Orinoco Mining Arc.
According to Bloomberg, the military actions targeted illegal mining operations controlled by armed groups. Former opposition lawmaker for Bolívar state Américo De Grazia claimed that military forces attacked several gold-mining enclaves through aerial bombardments and gunfire.
The Venezuelan government, led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, and the armed forces have offered no official information regarding the operations, as well as casualties, arrests, or official goals. Rodríguez met with military leaders on Wednesday to discuss a “100-Day Plan” to optimize the functioning of the armed forces but did not comment on the reported Bolívar deployment.
The operation took place in a region where the state has struggled to assert authority in the face of a proliferation of armed groups that control and administer mines, run artisanal mining activities, and regulate economic activity linked to gold extraction.
At the same time, local reports indicated that the military operation could be aimed at capturing Yohan José Romero, known as “Yohan Petrica,” a founding member of the Tren de Aragua criminal outfit, who reportedly operates in the area alongside Juan Gabriel Rivas Núñez, alias “El Negro Juancho,” and a third figure known as “Humbertico.”
Some sources have also not ruled out the presence of Héctor Guerrero, alias “Niño Guerrero,” the top leader of the large-scale criminal group that emerged inside Tocorón prison in Aragua state.
In September 2023, the Venezuelan government deployed “Operation Gran Cacique Guaicaipuro,” with more than 11,000 security personnel, to intervene in Tocorón prison. However, multiple reports indicated that “Niño Guerrero” and other senior gang leaders were warned in advance and escaped through a network of secret tunnels.
Guerrero is currently the subject of an Interpol Red Notice on charges related to transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering, and arms trafficking. The US State Department is offering a reward of up to US $5 million for information leading to his capture.
For its part, the media platform Miraflores al Momento denied separate reports alleging the presence of US military contingents in El Callao, another major gold-mining area in Bolívar state. Likewise, fact-checking outlets Cazadores de Fake News and CotejoInfo confirmed that images circulating were generated by artificial intelligence.
However, local outlets confirmed that, though without any military presence, US officials and business executives have conducted visits to gold-processing facilities belonging to the state-owned Venezuelan Mining Corporation (Minerven) in El Callao.
Last April, Venezuela approved a new mining law granting expanded incentives for private corporations to exploit gold and other “strategic minerals.” Concessions will last up to 30 years and may be renewed for two additional ten-year periods. The new law
The legislation additionally introduced provisions for international arbitration in dispute resolution, a safeguard sought by investors, and a reduction of royalties and taxes at the Venezuelan government’s discretion.
Among the companies expressing interest are Canadian firms Gold Reserve and Augusta Capital Corporation, which seek to revive the large-scale gold and strategic minerals project known as “Siembra Minera.” Likewise, Roland Mineral Enterprises Corp. has already begun procedures to explore and develop gold, copper, and silver deposits. Swiss commodities giant Trafigura is also advancing a responsible sourcing program in partnership with state-owned Minerven.
There have additionally been corporate initiatives and feasibility studies by US companies—including mining firms such as Hartree, Peabody Energy, Ivanhoe, and TechMet—to enter the sector, though security concerns reportedly remain an obstacle.
Mining municipalities in southern Venezuela report some of the country’s highest rates of homicide, as well as reports of forced labor and widespread sexual violence. The gold extracting activities are mostly unregulated. According to former opposition lawmaker Américo De Grazia, only the gold processed by Minerven enters official records, while the rest circulates through parallel channels.
Similarly, Transparency Venezuela estimates that just 14 percent of the revenues generated by the gold sector reach the Central Bank and public coffers through royalties and export-related payments.
Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.
EVER looked at an airport runway and thought how cool it would be to walk it?
Well, now you can as later this summer an abandoned airport in the UK will be hosting a huge music festival, that you can even camp at.
Love on the Runway music festival will take place across two days between August 29 and 31 at Manston Airport in Ramsgate, Kent.
There will be house, techno and DnB music across two stages for guests to enjoy.
The festival will also have food and drink stalls, for when you need a bite to eat or drink between dancing.
To add some fun, there will also be a fairground ideal for families.
Read more on travel inspo
Other features of the festival include chill out zones and a number of VIP areas.
Little other details have been revealed about the festival yet.
Visitors can book camping passes for £103, which allow for a pitch with up to 10 people (so £10.30 per person) or a camper van.
And with each camping pass, one weekend festival pass is included (so other guests camping at the pitch will need to purchase their own festival ticket).
A regular weekend pass costs from £37 per person or you can get four for £112.50.
If you fancy heading to the festival for just one day, you can do so for £22 and kids go free.
And the festival will have a cheap shuttle bus from Thanet Parkway Station if travelling to the festival via train.
Manston Airport closed back in 2014 and was used as a former RAF base and a regional hub, flying Brits abroad from the 1960s.
Airlines that used the airport included Monarch Airlines, KLM and Flybe.
However, there are current talks to see if the airport could reopen, with the return of flights scheduled for 2029 – however this will be for cargo aircraft only.
Initially, the airport planned to reopen in 2025, but this has been pushed back.
A MULTI award-winning airline has revealed it will be adding premium economy seats to its aircraft.
The boss of Turkish Airlines has said that it will bring back the seats for its passengers despite discontinuing them in 2013.
Talking to Skift, chairman of the airline, Murat Şeker said: “We are going to have premium economy.
“Our thinking is as early as 2028 – at the beginning of 2028 – we will be able to introduce a premium economy class in our Airbus A350s.”
These are expected to be rolled out later on the Boeing 787.
The hope is that it will be extended to all of the long-haul aircraft for Turkish Airlines.
This isn’t the first time that Turkish Airlines has offered premium-style seats onboard.
It used to offer Comfort Class on some of its routes on Boeing 777 aircraft – but these were withdrawn in 2013.
On the subject, Murat Şeker added that the previous offerings were “not the right time” or “the right configuration”.
Currently, Turkish Airlines has economy seats which have adjustable headrests and arms as well as entertainment screens and USB ports in the seats.
The other are in business class which have lie-flat seats with a massage feature, a cocktail table, touchscreen media screens and adjustable head rests.
Turkish Airlines is considered one of the best in the world, and picked up the Skytrax Award for the ‘Best Airline in Europe’ last year.
This isn’t the first time either, in fact that award marked the tenth win in a row for the airline.
At the same awards, it scooped up eight accolades in total and placed sixth in the rankings for ‘World’s Best Airline’.
Turkish Airlines also won the ‘Best Economy Class in Europe‘, ‘Best Economy Class Onboard Catering in Europe’, ‘Best Business Class Onboard Catering’.
It also was awarded the ‘Best Business Class in Europe’, ‘Best Business Class in Southern Europe’, ‘Best Business Class Onboard Catering in Europe’, and ‘Best Airline in Southern Europe.’
Turkish Airlines also offers cheap flights from the UK to destinations like Istanbul, Antalya, and other Turkish cities, as well as other destinations like New York, Sharm El Sheikh, and Cape Town.
Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang, left, and Naver founder and board Chairman Lee Hae-jin greet attendees at Naver’s 1784 headquarters in Seongnam, south of Seoul, on Monday. Photo by Asia Today
June 8 (Asia Today) — Naver said Monday it will work with Nvidia to build a gigawatt-scale artificial intelligence factory, starting from its hyperscale data center in Sejong.
Naver founder and board Chairman Lee Hae-jin and Chief Executive Choi Soo-yeon met Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang at Naver’s 1784 headquarters in Seongnam, south of Seoul, to discuss a joint business road map and global expansion strategy.
Huang greeted employees and visitors at the building, saying, “I love Naver.” He also joined a Naver Webtoon event and wrote, “Don’t worry! I have GPUs!” in a blank space on a display.
Naver and Nvidia said they agreed to pursue a joint project to build a large-scale global AI factory. The partnership goes beyond technology cooperation, covering demand development, investment and infrastructure construction across the value chain.
Naver will participate as a core partner sharing business results and risks.
The project will be based at Gak Sejong, Naver’s hyperscale data center. Naver plans to begin operating 55 megawatts of infrastructure in the first half of 2027, expand to 100 megawatts later that year and reach 200 megawatts in 2028. The company ultimately aims to build gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure.
Naver plans to use Gak Sejong to serve AI demand not only in South Korea but also in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
The cooperation centers on combining Naver’s data-center and GPU cluster operation capabilities with Nvidia’s DSX platform. Nvidia DSX integrates chips, servers, software and data-center operating technologies for AI factories. The platform is designed to lower AI model training and inference costs and speed up infrastructure deployment.
Naver plans to use the technology to expand AI infrastructure services for companies, governments and industrial clients.
The companies also plan to broaden technical cooperation. Naver has been improving its HyperCLOVA X AI model by using Nvidia’s open large language model Nemotron. It is also working to develop a “Seoul world model” by combining Nvidia’s Cosmos world foundation model with Naver’s street-view and spatial modeling technologies.
The cooperation is expected to expand into physical AI, robotics and digital twins.
The meeting marked another step in the companies’ existing partnership. Lee and Huang met last year during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju to discuss cooperation on physical AI platforms.
Naver 1784 is considered a showcase for robotics, digital twins and cloud technologies. Huang was expected to review areas for expanded cooperation during his visit.
Naver is seeking to move beyond its role as an internet services company and become a global AI infrastructure provider. Huang recently introduced Naver Cloud as a key partner in the global AI ecosystem during Nvidia GTC Taipei 2026. Naver said it plans to accelerate its sovereign AI and AI data-center businesses through cooperation with Nvidia.
Naver shares also rose Monday. The stock closed at 279,000 won, or about $181, up 9.20% from the previous trading session, according to the Korea Exchange. Market analysts attributed the gain to investor expectations for the large-scale AI factory project and Naver’s global AI infrastructure expansion.
— 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=20260608010002635
JET2 is launching two new flights to Greece next year – and one of them has the longest beach in Europe.
One of the new routes is from Leeds Bradford Airport to Preveza which starts next summer.
The city is home to Monolithi Beach, stretching on for around 15.5 miles – making it Europe’s longest.
It runs along the Ionian Sea from villages Mytikas to Kastrosykia and, thanks to its length, the beach has everything holidaymakers look for whether that’s a sunbed, beach bars, and taverna.
One visitor to the beach said on Tripadvisor: “It’s one of the best beaches I have ever visited! Small pebbles and sand, and blue-green clear waters, and it’s length… I don’t know!”
Another said: “One of the most beautiful beaches I have seen and swum in. Great waters, amazing location. I could live there forever.”
Away from the beach is Preveza Harbour which a highly popular sailing and yachting destination.
The nearby marina is lined with restaurants, cafes, and tavernas where holidaymakers can sit and watch the boats.
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Another popular place in Preveza includes Parga Town.
The region is home to the huge ancient ruins of Nikopolis which have Roman walls, Byzantine basilicas, a stadium, and two theatres.
Another spot worth discovering is Saitan Bazar, a historic lane with tiny independent shops that are covered in vines and known for having lively atmospheres.
It is the ideal destination for reaching Lefkada, meaning travellers can experience two destinations in one trip.
Visitors can take a bus directly from Preveza to Lefkada takes just 45minutes.
Flights to Preveza will be weekly on Sundays until October 10.
From Leeds Bradford Airport, Jet2 will also fly to the beautiful island of Santorini.
Santorini will be served with weekly Thursday flights until October 7, 2027.
Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy said: “We are seeing continued demand for our award-winning flights and holidays and many people wanting to book ahead for summer 2027, so we are delighted to respond with this expanded programme from Leeds Bradford Airport.
“With two stunning, brand-new routes being announced today, our summer 2027 programme gives holidaymakers exactly what they want – more choice and flexibility.”
Jet2 recently revealed it would be adding 30 new routes next summer including to Hurghada and Sharm El Sheik from Leeds Bradford.
A BRAND-NEW train service has been halted just a week after its launch due to a mechanical fault.
The new route promises low prices and faster, direct services to London.
Lumo services between London Euston and Stirling have been cancelled in both directions due to a mechanical fault on the service’s sole train.
The journey was set to depart from Stirling at 8:50am this morning, travelling on the West Coast Main Line to get to London Euston by 3pm.
Passengers have been encouraged to check Lumo’s website for updates, and will face no extra cost for using alternative train services.
In a post on X, Lumo said Stirling and Larbert passengers would receive a taxi or road transport service to Motherwell to join an Avanti West Coast service.
Greenfaulds and Whifflet passengers expected to travel by ScotRail to get there.
Passengers travelling from Carlisle, Preston, Crewe, Nuneaton and Milton Keynes were told to join either Avanti West Coast or London Northwestern services to get to Euston.
A spokesperson for Lumo said: “Since launch, the vast majority of our services have operated as planned, however, a few services have been cancelled with alternative travel offered to customers.
“We apologise for the inconvenience and are working closely with Alstom who maintain the trains to ensure minimal disruption to customer journeys.”
Only launched last week, the new route offers budget travel routes betwen London and Stirling, costing £29.90.
For some Scottish towns, this service became the first direct rail route to London.
The faulty train is said to be a refurbised Class 222 Meridian train, previously used by East Midlands Railway.
Lumo hopes to increase its schedule to four daily services, plus an additional journey between Euston and Preston, as early as late July using more new trains.
It is unknown what caused the train fault, but rail services on the London Euston to Stirling route are expected to resume on Tuesday.
May 27 (UPI) — The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday ordered SpaceX to investigate why a booster for its Starship rocket system failed during a test flight Friday, grounding the megarocket for a time.
The FAA declared the incident a “mishap” that involved the Super Heavy first-stage booster as it separated from the main ship and returned to the Gulf of Mexico after launch. The booster was supposed to perform a sustained burn to a controlled landing in the gulf, but a possible engine failure meant it fell back to Earth instead in a “hard splashdown,” SpaceX said in its launch report. The FAA said there were no reports of public injury or damage to public property from the mishap.
“The FAA will oversee the SpaceX-led investigation, be involved in every step in the process, and approve SpaceX’s final report, including any corrective actions,” the agency statement said.
“A mishap investigation is designed to enhance public safety, determine the root cause of the event, and identify corrective actions to avoid it from happening again,” the statement continued. “A return to flight of the Starship-Super Heavy vehicle is based on the FAA determining that any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap does not effect public safety.”
This means that another launch is less likely before the company’s planned initial public offering in June, TechCrunch reported.
The Starship system has two parts: the Super Heavy booster and the spacecraft itself, also called Starship. This was the first launch of the third version of the system, which is the first capable of deep-space flight. Plans call for Starship to carry Artemis 4 astronauts to the surface of the moon in a mission set for late 2028.
The Starship portion of the overall system did make it to space during this test launch, although it also lost one of its Raptor 3 vacuum engines there. Overall, this and other portions of the launch, including deployment of satellites and simulators, were considered a success.
Authorities managed to take control of the situation and transfer hundreds of inmates to other detention centers. (Reuters)
Caracas, May 26, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuelan Attorney General Larry Devoe announced on Monday a formal investigation into recent unrest at the Barinas Judicial Detention Center (INJUBA).
The prison began to make headlines last week when inmates seized control of the facility to denounce ill-treatment and physical abuse from authorities. The investigation followed the dismissal of prison director Elvis Macuare Guerrero, who had held the post for less than a week before the revolt.
“The Attorney General’s Office announces the launch of a criminal investigation into the events that took place on May 24, 2026, at INJUBA, where inmates staged a protest,” read the official statement. The investigation will focus on accusations of “cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment” allegedly carried out by security personnel inside the facility.
The probe followed dramatic scenes in which prisoners climbed onto the roof, burned mattresses, and held up banners demanding an end to what they described as a regime of terror.
According to testimonies gathered by local journalists on the ground, the inmates accused prison authorities of recurring violence and torture, including systematic beatings and forced “ice-cold baths with electric currents.”
The riot was sparked after guards reportedly confiscated belongings and subjected a group of prisoners to violent searches.
In response to the unrest, authorities transferred over 100 female inmates out of the Barinas facility to reduce tensions. On Tuesday, General Giuseppe Cacioppo, head of the Barinas governorship security office, told press that the situation at INJUBA was calm and under control, with a further 818 male prisoners transferred to other penitentiary centers throughout the country.
The Barinas inmate unrest coincided with the Venezuelan government announcing the impending release of hundreds of prisoners. On Friday, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced that 500 prisoners would be liberated “in the coming hours.”
Three officers from the former Metropolitan Police were among those already confirmed free. Héctor Rovaín, Erasmo Bolívar, and Luis Molina were serving 30-year sentences for their involvement in the violence leading up to the brief 2002 coup against then-president Hugo Chávez. They had been arrested in 2003 and convicted in 2009.
According to official figures provided by the presidency, since the February approval of the Amnesty Law, a total of 8,740 people have received amnesty. Of these, 8,426 were still facing trial or under probation-type measures and had their cases dropped.
However, the government announcements have also drawn criticism. The Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón (JEP) NGO cautioned that “this type of public pronouncement [announcing more releases] generates enormous expectations,” warning that any failure to comply would represent a “new and cruel affront to human dignity.”
Rodríguez explained that the latest freed individuals had their cases and sentences reviewed through a “different mechanism,” evaluated via the Commission for Judicial Revolution and the Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence, as opposed to the Amnesty Law.
During a televised working session on Saturday, the acting president framed the ongoing releases and the investigation into the Barinas prison riot as part of a broader transformation of the penal system. She likewise enacted a reform to the Organic Law of the Supreme Court (TSJ), expanding the number of magistrates from 20 to 32.
Rodríguez acknowledged prison overcrowding as one of the main issues plaguing the Venezuelan penitentiary system. She claimed that, according to official statistics, 68% of the incarcerated population in Venezuela comes from the poorest economic strata and vowed to advance judicial reforms that tackle the “criminalization of poverty.”
The Venezuelan leader went on to announce the beginning of the National Consultation for Penal Justice Reform on June 1. The public consultation aims to address what she identified as the “three great challenges” of the current system: procedural delays, judicial corruption, and the criminalization of poverty.
Rodríguez went on to denounce the “partisan and political” manipulation of the justice system.
The commission tasked with the consultation, headed by Attorney General Devoe, will hold meetings with academics, NGOs, judicial system workers, and other relevant actors.
Venezuela’s justice system came under the spotlight recently with the case of Victor Quero, who had an amnesty request denied despite having died in state custody months earlier. Authorities did not inform his mother, Carmen Navas, who continued to visit the prison in search of information. Navas passed away days after her son’s death was publicly acknowledged. The Attorney General opened an investigation into the case.
In recent years, human rights NGOs and prisoner relatives have denounced systematic due process violations and poor incarceration conditions.
Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.
May 22 (UPI) — SpaceX successfully launched an updated version of its Starship on Friday evening, meeting all goals the company said it was aiming for.
The launch was the first of the company’s V3 version of both the booster rocket and “Ship” upper stage, which is a key part of NASA’s Artemis series of missions to the moon and, potentially, to Mars.
SpaceX commentators said during the company’s official broadcast that the updated Starship, which delivered 22 simulator Starlink satellites into orbit and converted flight adjustments it will need when it lands instead splashing down in water, “delivered.”
The company had scrubbed the first attempted launch of the megarocket, the largest ever built, on Thursday because of an engineering issue that could not be fixed in time to make the scheduled launch window.
The mission for the 408-foot-tall Super Heavy rocket, which is powered by 33 newly redesigned Raptor engines, the same as Starship, was to successfully launch, ascend, separate from the second stage — Starship — and then perform boost back and landing burns before splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico.
After separation, Starship’s goals were to light its engines, enter a sub-orbital path and release a series of dummy Starlink satellites before performing a series of maneuvers and testing its newly designed heat shield.
When Starship splashed down in the Indian Ocean after its tests, SpaceX commentators said during the broadcast that the fireball when it hit the Indian Ocean was the goal, “as weird as that sounds.”
This version of Starship is not the final one, but rather is a prototype of one of several that are planned for NASA’s return of Americans to the moon.
NASA’s planned Artemis III mission in 2028 is expected to test connecting the Orion crew capsule — which was tested on its first crew mission earlier this year — to both Starship and Blue Origin‘s Blue Moon space vessel, which has yet to take its first flight.
EASYJET will launch a loyalty program in 2027, to reward repeat bookers of both its flights and holidays.
Customers will be able to accrue points based on how much they’ve spent, which they’ll then be able to use for discounts on future bookings.
Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.
The airline said that it benefits from a “local customer base” with lots of “returning” flyers and essentially wants to reward them for it.
Not many details about the scheme have been announced, but talking to the Financial Times, easyJet CEO Kenton Jarvis said that it would have “broad appeal”.
He added: “Not only do we have commuters… but also people who book holidays accumulate value that they can redeem either on a flight or on holiday.”
Reading between the lines, it doesn’t seem that easyJet will be replacing its easyJet Plus scheme, which is already in place and designed for frequent flyers.
easyJet Plus is available for an annual fee of £249, where passengers benefit from ‘Plus’ bag drop, speedy boarding, inclusive allocated seating and fast track security – and other ‘exclusive benefits’.
Many other airlines operate loyalty schemes, and recently British Airways made a change to the way its tier points count towards silver or gold membership.
As of April 2026, members of the British Airways Club started earning points based on the money they spend with the airline, rather than based on distance they have flown.
For every £1 they spend, they will earn one tier point, which makes it tougher for flyers to earn the top status.
According to the Financial Times, Virgin Atlantic said more than 10,000 BA members had switched to its programme after offering to match the status of any customers booking a flight.
Earlier this year, easyJet announced it would be launching new routes from the UK – some of which are from Newcastle International Airport, its newest base which it opened in March.
In October, the airline will begin flights from Newcastle to Fuerteventura providing a winter sun escape to the Canary Island.
Anyone wanting to visit Reykjavik, Iceland, can travel from Newcastle from October 27 twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
May 21 (UPI) — SpaceX on Thursday scrubbed the planned first test flight for its redesigned Super Heavy megarocket, the largest rocket ever built, from its new Texas launch pad.
Following several delays of the countdown at 40 seconds remaining, SpaceX spokesman Dan Huot announced the launch would be delayed due to engineering issues which could not be immediately remedied.
“We are expecting to be able to make another flight attempt tomorrow, but obviously stay tuned to our social media,” he said.
In addition to trying out the redesigned Super Heavy propulsion system, the launch is meant to assess upgraded systems on Starship, including the deployment of 22 Starlink satellite simulators, intentionally stressing its new flight control flaps and attempting the “dynamic banking maneuver” that it eventually will use to land back on its pad.
When it takes off, the uncrewed mission will be the 12th flight for Starship as SpaceX develops what is expected to be a primary vehicle for NASA’s Artemis missions to the moon.
“The flight test’s primary goal will be to demonstrate each of these new pieces in the flight environment for the first time, with each element of the Starship architecture featuring significant redesigns to enable full and rapid reuse that incorporate learnings from years of development and testing,” SpaceX said on its website.
The V3, which is 408 feet tall and more powerful than previous Super Heavy rockets, includes 33 redesigned Raptor engines — Starship has six of its own — will take off from South Texas for a round of primary tests similar to previous launches.
The rocket, SpaceX said, is hoped to successfully launch, ascend, separate from the second stage — Starship — and then perform boostback and landing burns in the Gulf of Mexico.
“As this is the first flight test of a significantly redesigned vehicle, the booster will not attempt a return to the launch site for catch,” the company said.
During the hot-stage separation, Starship will light its engines to enter a sub-orbital path, performing tests and then splashing down in the Indian Ocean.
Tests of the space vessel are important as NASA’s Artemis III mission in 2028 is expected to test connecting the Orion crew capsule to both Starship and Blue Origin‘s Blue Moon, although Blue Moon has yet to be launched for its first test flight.
Starship also is expected to be the ship that delivers Americans back to the moon in the next several years.
Netflix subscribers will wake up to a video livestream of “The Breakfast Club” starting next month, marking the platform’s first daily live podcast.
The deal is part of the streaming platform’s ongoing focus on live programming, and the latest video podcast offering through its partnership with iHeartRadio, the company said on Thursday. The nearly three-hour show will include a live video feed exclusive to Netflix and will air every weekday morning.
“Taking this show live every day to a global audience on Netflix is a powerful example of how we’re expanding the reach of our biggest brands while giving audiences entirely new ways to experience them,” Bob Pittman, iHeartMedia’s chairman and chief executive, said in a statement. “Whether it’s morning in NYC or the afternoon in London, the conversation is live and reaching the world in real time.”
“The Breakfast Club” will air simultaneously on Netflix, the iHeartRadio app and it will continue to be syndicated by Premiere Networks on more than 100 broadcast radio stations nationwide. Netflix’s video feed is meant to provide more behind-the-scenes content, as radio formats will still need to include commercial breaks. Instead of pausing the program, Netflix watchers will get an uninterrupted stream, where those traditional breaks will be filled with exclusive segments and extended discussions.
“The media landscape will always evolve, but one thing consistently cuts through: live programming,” Charlamagne tha God said in a statement. “That’s a big reason ‘The Breakfast Club’ has sustained its reign for so long. We’re building something powerful — real‑time conversation, real community, on a global scale. The future belongs to those who can see what’s possible — and trust me, the vision for ‘The Breakfast Club’ and Netflix is crystal clear.”
The radio program first got its start in 2010 on WWPR-FM in New York. Over the years, it has become one of the most popular morning shows, rooted in Hip-Hop and R&B culture and known for its lively interviews and entertaining commentary from hosts Charlamagne Tha God, DJ Envy and Jess Hilarious. The show has welcomed guests like former President Barack Obama, and artists like Kendrick Lamar and Cardi B. In 2020, the talk show was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.
Netflix has heavily invested in its live programming in the worlds of sports, comedy and podcasting in recent years. In the past month, the Los Gatos-based company livestreamed “The Roast of Kevin Hart” and its latest fight between MMA fighters Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. This weekend, the F1 Canadian Grand Prix is also set to air on Netflix. These tentpole events are in addition to some of the weekly live programming Netflix offers, including “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” which airs every Sunday.
JET2 has added nearly 20 new routes to its 2027 roster, in case you’re an early bird who likes to catch a holiday well ahead of time.
The airline is heading to the Greek islands, a pretty French town, and a Channel Island that ‘looks like the Caribbean‘.
Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.
Jet2 is adding shorter and ‘more convenient’ trips to its rota for 2027 in order to meet demand – and Birmingham Airport will have three new routes.
One is to Bergerac, a pretty medieval town in France‘s Dordogne – a region known for having magnificent castles and tasty food.
The town was previously one of the routes cut by Ryanair – but was later brought back for the summer season.
Jet2 will begin flying to Bergerac from May 22, 2026 with one weekly service.
A Bergerac route is also being introduced from Manchester Airport starting on May 22.
Birmingham Airport, along with Bristol and Manchester is adding routes to Jersey, the Channel Island that during the summertime has been compared to the Caribbean.
When Head of Sun Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire visited she said: “When my family and I visited, every beach was outstanding, the weather glorious, the food a fantastic hybrid of French and English tastes.
“Jersey has many epic beaches, often next to free car parks and regularly featuring fabulous cafes serving both generous portions of food and cold beers.”
Jet2 will also begin flights to the Greek destination of Kavala which is nicknamed the ‘Blue City’.
It earned its name from its turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea – and for holidaymakers it has long stretches of beach and plenty of clubs and bars.
Brits will also be able to fly to Kavala from Birmingham, London Stansted and Manchester Airport.
Bournemouth Airport is adding a one-weekly service to Spain’s Reus from May 2, 2027.
Found in Catalonia, the city has little alleyways filled with cafes and small boutiques.
But, if you’re looking for beaches, Reus is a 20-minute drive and train journey to the beach city of Tarragona.
Tarragona considered a quiet alternative to Barcelona as it’s mostly visited by locals who want to escape the busy city centre.
The airline will start new routes to Paris too from East Midlands, London Stansted and Manchester Airport.
In most cases these services will take under an hour and a half offering a speedy gateway to the city full of landmarks, foodie spots, galleries and art museums.
If you want to avoid the tourist heavy landmarks, check out what Travel Reporter Alice Penwill did during a daytrip to the city from markets to Seine River walks.
Or take advice from Head of Sun Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire to have lunch at Brasserie Lipp and spend time at 18th arrondissement – a less-touristy area.
Locals to Edinburgh Airport will be able to jet off to not one but two Greek Islands next summer.
The airline will begin one-weekly services to Chania on the beautiful island of Crete.
Crete is Greece’s biggest island offering ancient culture, tasty cuisine and incredible swimming spots in the Mediterranean Sea.
Chania itself is a Venetian port with lots of tavernas – the area is a hub of activity, with food, drink and shopping all overlooking the blue sea.
The second location is Skiathos, an island in the northwest Aegean Sea and part of the Sporades archipelago.
One Sun Writer who visited stayed at the Skiathos Palace Hotel, spending days on Koukounaries Beach which is renowned for watersports and diving.
One-weekly flights from Edinburgh Airport to Croatia’s city of Pula will begin on May 2.
The city is said to have the “perfect summer temperatures”, according to a group of travel experts – with highs of 27C in July and August.
Pula has its very own Colosseum, and it’s the only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have four side towers entirely preserved.
It’s even said to be more intact than its famous counterpart in Rome.
Of course, the seaside city has incredible beaches too like Galebove stijene and Jamica Beach.
From London Gatwick, the airline will fly to Mytilene (Lesvos) – a city found on the third largest Greek island.
In the city, visitors can explore Mytilene Castle, take a stroll around Ermou Street Market and enjoy seafood at the tavernas along the waterfront.
At London Stansted, the airline will start flying to Almeria once a week from May 1, 2027.
The city in southeast Spain has an abundance of tapas bars – thanks to its tapeo culture, if you order a drink then you usually get a free tapa dish too.
The city is very close to the Tabernas Desert which has been used as a filming location for famous Westerns, including The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, A Fistful of Dollars, and For a Few Dollars More, starring Clint Eastwood.
Birmingham – Bergerac (begins May 22) – one weekly flight
Birmingham – Jersey (begins May 2) – two weekly flights
Birmingham – Kavala (begins May 12) – one weekly flight
Bournemouth – Reus (begins May 2) – one weekly flight
Bristol – Jersey (begins May 14) – two weekly flights
East Midlands – Paris Charles de Gaulle (begins May 16) – two weekly flights
Edinburgh – Chania (Crete) (begins May 5) – one weekly flight
Edinburgh – Pula (begins May 2) – one weekly flight
Edinburgh – Skiathos (begins May 6) – one weekly flight
London Gatwick – Mytilene (Lesvos) (begins May 2) – one weekly flight
London Stansted – Almeria (begins May 1) – one weekly flight
London Stansted – Kavala (begins May 11) – one weekly flight
London Stansted – Paris Charles de Gaulle (begins April 30) – four weekly flights
Manchester – Bergerac (begins May 22) – one weekly flight
Manchester – Jersey (begins May 2) – two weekly flights
Manchester – Kavala (begins May 11) – one weekly flight
Manchester – Paris Charles de Gaulle (begins March 25) – four weekly flights
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We are delighted to be significantly expanding our Jersey programme for Summer 2027, with a great choice of flights now departing from six UK airports as a result.
“Thanks to the addition of the new routes and the existing programme, we are offering fantastic choice to Jersey.”
