The special offer is for one day only tomorrow in honour of the legendary natural history broadcaster.

A spokesman said: “As Sir David reaches this incredible milestone, we’re honouring the impact he’s had on wildlife conservation, education and inspiring generations to care about the natural world.

“For decades, Sir David Attenborough has brought the wonders of the natural world into homes across the globe, inspiring millions to better understand and protect wildlife.

“At Knowsley Safari, those same values are at the heart of everything we do — from supporting endangered species breeding programmes to educating future conservationists through immersive learning experiences.

“Many of our own team members were inspired by Sir David’s work to pursue careers in conservation and animal care.”

How to Claim Your Free Ticket

Your name, or one of your party’s name, must have the first name David.

1. Pre-book the rest of your group online (all the non-Davids)
2. Bring valid photo ID showing your name with you
3. Show at the pay lanes when you scan the rest of your group’s ticket

James Holder, 54, had gone back to the woman’s home, went to the toilet and then promptly fell asleep on her bed snoring.

The multi-millionaire fashion boss then woke up and beckoned the woman, who was trying to sleep in the lounge, into her bedroom and raped her.

Holder had denied charges of assault by penetration and rape and said what sexual activity took place between them was consensual.

A jury at Gloucester Crown Court, sitting in Cirencester, acquitted Holder of assault by penetration but found him guilty of rape after deliberating for four hours.

The defendant, of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, was remanded into custody ahead of sentencing at Bristol Crown Court today (May 7).

At Bristol Crown Court today, Recorder David Chidgey told Holder that he had committed a “despicable piece of sexual violence”, reports the BBC.

Holder appeared via video link from prison and was said to have shown no reaction when the sentence was given.

Holder’s victim said, in a statement read to the court, he had taken her “choice, dignity and body”.

She added: “What you did that day has followed me, it has cast shadows where there should be light.”

In his 1873 book On War, the great Prussian military strategist Carl von Clausewitz wrote that: “War is the realm of uncertainty.” He would have been at home in Washington this week where Clausewitz’s “fog of war” appears to have descended on the White House, at times obscuring reality.

On Tuesday, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, briefed reporters that the US plan was to get the Strait of Hormuz “back to the way it was: anyone can use it, no mines in the water, nobody paying tolls”.

This was, of course, the way things were before the war actually started.

But uncertainty about what this war was actually all about has been a hallmark of the past two months. When the conflict began on the last day of February, the US said it was about preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Although the US president, Donald Trump, added a layer of complexity by saying it was also about regime change.

Trump’s closest ally, the Israeli prime minister, added another later by insisting this was also about getting rid of Iran’s ballistic missiles and launchers and neutralising its proxies in the region.

Christian Emery, an expert in international relations at University College London – who specialises in US-Iranian affairs – sees this lack of coherence about what the war is for as underscoring “that this entire enterprise has been a colossal strategic failure”.

As things stand it now appears possible that an interim deal could well open the Strait of Hormuz to allow the global economy to return to something like normal. But the main reasons the US and Israel launched the war are unlikely to be resolved any time soon and the episode has proved to Tehran – and the rest of the world – that Iran can use its geography to its strategic advantage whenever it chooses.

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For Bamo Nouri and Inderjeet Parmar, experts in international security at City St George’s Unversity of London – who have been regular contributors to our coverage of the conflict – the episode has been an object lesson in the limits of power. The US and Israel exercised considerable military superiority to Iran and have used it to devastating effect. But this is not how conflict works in the 21st century.

The US and Israel were chasing different outcomes so there was no strategic coherence to their war aims. And they underestimated Iran’s durability under pressure. Iran didn’t need to win, just to endure. “As the war progressed” they write, “the fantasy of decisive victory collapsed under the weight of economic, political and strategic reality”.

À lire aussi :
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Interestingly, the Trump administration is now saying that Operation Epic Fury finished about a month ago. US forces are now engaged in Project Freedom, a humanitarian operation to help ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz to transit the waterway.

As Andrew Gawthorpe, an expert in US foreign policy from Leiden University, notes, this change of emphasis appeared to emerge as Republicans in Congress were insisting that the administration was legally obliged under the War Powers Act to seek authorisation for the conflict.

Gawthorpe believes the war’s unpopularity is allowing Congress to claw back some of the influence it had over the way the US uses its military.

À lire aussi :
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As we’ve noted before, the main theme of the past few weeks, since the US launched its blockade of Iranian ports to match Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, is which side can absorb more pain and pressure. US consumers are facing increased prices at the gas pumps which has fed through to a higher inflation rate generally.

But the headline US CPI increase of 3.3% last month is dwarfed by inflation in Iran which is reported to have hit 50%. It’s worth noting that it was inflation and the general economic malaise which kicked off the huge protests that wracked Iran in January.

More pressingly, Iran’s inability to export its oil thanks to the US blockade means that sooner of later it will need to close down its oil production. As engineers and oil production experts Nima Shokri and Martin J Blunt explain, this can be done, but it’s by no means easy and risks seriously damaging the wells.

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Shutting Iran’s oil wells may be straightforward – but the consequences are not

Global affair

They’ll be watching this all very closely in Beijing of course. The US president is due to visit Beijing next week to meet Xi Jinping for the first time since the two met on the sidelines of the Apec conference in South Korea last October.

So it was interesting to see that Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, visited Beijing this week to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. In normal times, China buys between 80% and 90% of Iran’s seaborne oil exports – and it has been very clear that it wants to see the Strait of Hormuz opened and “a complete cessation of fighting…without delay”.

But China-watcher Tom Harper of the University of East London, believes that Beijing can see advantages in the US getting bogged down in a fullscale war in the Middle East and might go as far as to offer military support to Tehran if that happens. While China has denied providing shoulder-launched Manpad missiles to Iran, Tehran is using its BeiDou satellite navigational system (a sort of Chinese GPS) to aim its missiles.

If you find these expert takes on an increasingly dangerous world useful, please consider supporting us with a donation.

Wang also said that China recognises Iran’s “legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy” – something it sees as a sovereignty issue. Which should all make for an interesting encounter between Trump and the Chinese president, Xi Jinping (if the trip goes ahead, that is).

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The surprise player in all this has been Pakistan, writes Natasha Lindstaedt, an international affairs expert at the University of Essex. But as Lindstaedt points out, Pakistan has a long diplomatic track record with both the US and Iran. In 1981, two years after Washington and Tehran severed relations in the wake of the revolution that brought the Islamic Republic into being, Pakistan established a dedicated section of its Washington embassy to handling Iranian affairs in the US.

Washington and Islamabad have had their ups and downs, but things have grown closer with Trump in the White House – and Pakistan has tried to do all the right things to court Trump, including nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize and joining his board of peace. Lindstaedt walks us through this intriguing ménage à trois.

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There are some who suggest the World Seniors Snooker Championship should not be held at the Crucible, but Jimmy White tells those people: ‘Get a life.’

The Seniors event began on Wednesday night at the iconic theatre in Sheffield, just two days after Wu Yize won the World Snooker Championship in the same building.

It is a chance for players who have formerly walked out at the Crucible to do so again, while some who have never come close to gracing the venue in the World Championship have the opportunity to do so at Seniors level.

The World Seniors Championship has been held at the Crucible since 2019, but world number 31 Dave Gilbert is not on board with it.

The Angry Farmer feels the venue is snooker’s hallowed ground and should be kept for the pinnacle of the sport alone.

‘It’s a special place,’ he said. ‘It’s brilliant that it’s staying there, you know.

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‘It’s a travesty for any professional that doesn’t get to play there, it is a special place. I hate that they play the Seniors there. I think that’s shocking.

‘The only people that should play at the Crucible are people that go through this qualifying school or a top 16 professional. It’s not for hacking around in exhibitions. It’s the Mecca of snooker.

‘I’ve played all around the world, in Saudi and that, but to me they’re absolutely boring and rubbish.

‘I’m old, you see, so I’m not into it all the time, but the Crucible’s the one.

‘The aura about the place and how unique it is, you know. You find out, you either sink or swim and that’s it, you know what I mean?’

White has won the World Seniors Championship four times, more than any other player, and he has no sympathy for Gilbert’s point of view.

On how he would respond to the opinion, the Whirlwind told Metro: ‘Get a life! Listen, this is why we’re here. Why not?

‘It’s a World Championship, the World Seniors. I don’t know why people would say that. It don’t make any sense.’

Ken Doherty has been to two World Seniors finals, and along with White is playing in this year’s tournament again.

The Darlin of Dublin does understand where Gilbert is coming from but still feels the Crucible can host the Seniors as well as the elite professionals.

Not least because it allows fans to experience the theatre who could not get hold of tickets or possibly could not afford the ones on sale at the World Championship.

‘I know what he means, but listen, why not?’ Doherty told Metro. ‘I know it’s the home of the World Championship, but it can be the home of the World Seniors Championship as well.

‘It’s a special event, so why not? It’s hard to get tickets for the World Championship. It’s a little bit easier for this, but still, there’s been great crowds and the atmosphere is electric. No, I think it’s a great idea to have it here.’

White opened his Seniors campaign with a win over Daniel Ward on Thursday afternoon, saying ahead of the match of a return to the Crucible: ‘I’m absolutely buzzing.

‘This is why you play. The Seniors is a big event for us because the winner gets in the Champion of Champions.

‘Also, you’re playing in the Crucible Theatre. You know, I’m so lucky to still be playing.’

MORE: Why is Ronnie O’Sullivan playing in the World Seniors Snooker Championship?

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MORE: Shaun Murphy has message for UK snooker hopefuls as rise of China accelerates

The theatre has been closed since April 2025

A theatre that was forced to close because of reinforced autoclave aerated concrete (RAAC) being found in the building is set to reopen this month. Key Theatre in Peterborough has confirmed its reopening following essential roof works carried out over the last year.

According to Landmark Theatres, the company which runs the theatre, a small number of “unforeseen” issues have resulted in a short delay to the reopening of the main auditorium. The theatre is now set to officially reopen on Friday, May 22.

Due to the delay, a number of schedules performances have been affected including Physic Sally, on Friday, May 8, Tom Brace Saws Himself in Half on Saturday, May 9, High School Musical on Saturday, May 16, Country Hits Live on Sunday, May 17 and The Comedy Network on Thursday, May 21. All customers are due to be contacted via email to advise of any changes. The Studio Theatre and the Chalkboard cafe remain open during the work.

RAAC deteriorates over time, which leads to structural and safety issues with the building. The improvements aim to safeguard the building and enhance the experience for future audiences, artists and the wider community.

Head of Content and Business Development at Landmark Theatres Natalie Phillips said: “While this revised timeline reflects the complexities of completing major building works within a live performance venue, the Key Theatre looks forward to celebrating its return as a vibrant cultural hub for audiences, artists and the wider community

“As the team works to reschedule performances or arrange refunds, phone lines are expected to be exceptionally busy. Customers are kindly asked for patience during this time, with reassurance that every effort is being made to contact anyone affected as quickly as possible”.

The pleated shorts would be a great addition to your summer wardrobe

If you are not a fan of wearing denim shorts throughout the summer, there are plenty of alternative options that might be more comfortable. Tesco’s clothing brand F&F has lots of skirts and shorts in stock for the new season that you might prefer to regular denim.

The brand has just launched the F&F Pure Linen Pleated Shorts in Blue, which could be worn with the matching F&F Pure Linen Button Front Cropped Waistcoat in Blue. The two items together could be a great option for a summer party or can easily be styled with other pieces in your wardrobe.

The shorts have been “designed with pleated accents and belt loops” and have side pockets for extra utility. The pleated shorts cost £22.50 while the waistcoat is being sold for £19.50.

The smart shorts were shared to the Tesco F&F Instagram page, which currently has 890K followers. The post was captioned: “Something blue. The three -piece suit your wardrobe needs this season. Waistcoat, £19.50. Shorts, £22.50. Blazer, £42.00. #FandFClothing #StyleItOut.”

If you want to get your hands on the pleated shorts or the waistcoat, you can go to the Tesco website to browse all of its clothes. You can also go in person to a Tesco store with a clothing department.

If these shorts are not quite inline with your style, Boden has some other choices for the summer. There are these Crochet Shorts, which would look cute with a plain vest top, or these Islington Linen Shorts that reviews say are “great”.

New Look also has plenty of options in stock. There are these Stone Crinkle Texture Drawstring Shorts, which come in a range of different colours, or Light Yellow Crinkled Drawstring Beach Shorts that would be easy to slip over a swimsuit.

The allegations first surfaced on Hulton Estate Area Residents Together Facebook page last week and now Peel Land have issued a statement after being approached by The Bolton News.

The post stated that members of Bolton’s Hulton Estate were served with section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction notices.

The post was put up on Thursday, April 30, shortly before the new Renters Rights Act banned no-fault evictions from May 1.

Computer generate image of the golf course (Image: NQ)

Peel Land is hoping to develop the area into a Ryder Cup-ready golf course with its Hulton Park plan, which coincides with Peel Land’s planned 1450-home Lee Hall development.

The Bolton News put the claims to Peel Land, about Section 21 eviction notices being served tenants on the Hulton Estate in Bolton.”

A spokesperson for Peel Land Group responded: “The aspiration of securing the Ryder Cup at Hulton Park is well known and as this moves forward, we continue to ensure the site is available for development in line with these aspirations whilst keeping all occupiers aware of the timing.”

Michael Smith, Westhoughton resident and golfer, is sceptical that the planned course will be able to secure the Ryder Cup (Image: Dan Dougherty)

Peel Land’s Hulton Park development plans to develop an 18-hole golf course created on the grounds of the historic Hulton Hall estate, owned for 800 years by Bolton’s wealthy Hulton family.

The business purchased the land from the Hulton family in 2010.

The development is closely linked to Lee Hall, Peel Land’s plan for up to 1,450 new houses near Westhoughton.

The plans were originally considered together, with plans for the houses dependent on Peel Land’s ability to secure the Ryder Cup for its planned golf course.

The notoriously congested Chequerbent roundabout (Image: LDRS)

But the plans are now separate, with the golf course handled by Peel Retail and Leisure, and the Lee Hall homes handled by Peel Land.

The developments are not without controversy, with residents concerned that Westhoughton has neither the amenities nor capacity to handle such an influx of people.

Hulton Estate is where the new golf course is planned.

The plans were recently boosted following Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s announcement of £420m for building projects in the area.

Separate ‘Good Growth’ funding also included £69.8m for the Park Avenue link road west of Bolton, the first phase of the wider 18‑kilometre M61–M6 Northfold east‑west link road from Bolton to Wigan.

Emmanuel Petit says Bukayo Saka’s timely return could be what proves the difference if Arsenal are to go on and enjoy success in the Premier League and Champions League.

Saka was sidelined for around a month with an Achilles problem, his third separate injury of the season, meaning he was forced to miss five matches in all competitions as Arsenal’s campaign threatened to come off the rails.

It’s been a somewhat frustrating season for the England international from a personal perspective, with a combination of form and fitness limiting his effectiveness for the Gunners.

But Saka returned to action in the side’s 1-0 victory over Newcastle, coming on as a late replacement for Noni Madueke and making an immediate impact at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta has been cautious with Saka’s transition back into the team, eager not to risk further injury. The 24-year-old was again used as a substitute in Arsenal’s semi-final first leg with Atletico Madrid before coming off at half-time against Fulham.

It was on Tuesday night that Saka well and truly announced his return to the fold, though, as he found himself in the right place at the right time to score what proved to be the decisive goal to send Arsenal through to this year’s Champions League final.

He will be looking to pick up where he left off at West Ham this weekend, with Arsenal switching their focus back to Premier League matters in the wake of Manchester City’s slip-up at Everton.

‘Viktor Gyokeres was missing Bukayo Saka; he was out for months, while Martin Odegaard spent long periods on the bench. Can you imagine where Arsenal would’ve been if those players had been fit all season?’ ex-Arsenal midfielder wrote in his BOYLE Sports column.

‘We can see now how badly Saka was missed; his return might be what wins Arsenal the Premier League and the Champions League.

‘Without him, it could’ve been nothing. I think he’s mentally and physically fresh. He’s got some life in his legs; Arteta is managing him carefully because you cannot take any risks with him.

‘They still have four games to play, three in the Premier League and one Champions League final.

‘So, don’t rush him. They are winning games, and he’s been important in the last few.

‘The next game against West Ham will be very important for both teams. I presume Saka will be crucial. Saka and Odegaard have been among their best players for years. They were missing those guys.

‘It’s like asking Pep Guardiola playing without Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva.’

Petit is convinced it will be Arsenal’s year in the Premier League and believes the fanbase should be satisfied if that turns out to be the only trophy they get their hands on this season.

‘Arsenal could win both trophies, but after what they have been through over the last few seasons, the Premier League would be enough,’ the 1998 France World Cup winner explained.

‘What I would say is that it’s not a coincidence that they can win the Champions League for the first time and end their Premier League drought in the same season; things happen for a reason. 

‘Arsenal are going to win the Premier League. Even after losing at City 2-1 and dropping the nine-point advantage they had, I was always confident because I knew those guys were going to come back.

‘I didn’t see City winning every single game. And this is exactly what happened against Everton, but it could still go down to goal difference.

‘The last three games for Arsenal are West Ham, Burnley, and Crystal Palace. Two derbies and one against Burnley, who are already down. You could say it’s nine points, but West Ham will probably play like it’s a final.

‘But if you look at City ‘s schedule, they play against top teams who are very confident, actually. They have to go to Bournemouth . Look at Bournemouth ; they have been one of the best teams in the Premier League for weeks now.

‘The same with Brighton , and City play Aston Villa in the last game. Aston Villa are struggling to keep their position on the table. So I wish City good luck as well, but as I said, I see Arsenal winning the Premier League.

‘I’m not sure about the Champions League final, but I think if you ask me to decide, I will take both. But if I have to make a choice, I will say the Premier League first.’

According to Petit, nobody will remember how Arsenal reached the Champions League final – and Arteta’s squad should try to block out any ‘noise’ and criticism surrounding their style of play.

He added: ‘Arsenal controlled the tie against Atletico, but again we heard the same critics again, a lot of people are complaining about the level of display, the way both teams were playing, very tactically, very strong structure defensively.

‘Arsenal did what it takes to go to the Champions League final. So I think it’s a huge improvement.

‘The critics talk about how Arsenal play, the fact that they struggle to score goals, but they’ve been in almost every single competition until the end, except the FA Cup .

‘This is the only team in Europe who has done that. And despite the fact that they are struggling to score goals, they still win games. And I think this is the most important.

‘History will remember the trophies for a couple of years. Who cares about how Arsenal reached the final? To be honest with you, let the noises spread and stay focused on the Premier League and the Champions League final.’

Asked if Arsenal would have preferred PSG or Bayern Munich in the final, Petit replied: ‘I don’t think Arsenal would prefer either PSG or Bayern in the final.

‘They play similar types of explosive attacking football, and Arsenal play more tactically. 

‘PSG and Bayern have been the most impressive teams in the Champions League this season, with a DNA of scoring goals; Arsenal have been the best defensive team.

‘I think either way, Arsenal would be underdogs, but if they play their tactical game, they have a real chance of winning the Champions League for the first time.’

Petit, who won the Premier League with Arsenal in 1998, has been mightily impressed by the way in which Gyokeres has managed to turn his fortunes around after a rocky start to his Gunners career.

And though Petit acknowledges that Gyokeres ‘is not the most gifted’ centre-forward, he believes the Swede’s ‘100 per cent’ commitment has made him a ‘nightmare’ for opposition defences in recent matches.

‘Viktor Gyokeres is not a romantic player, nor is he the most gifted player. But honestly, I was thinking about the central defenders of Atletico Madrid,’ he continued.

‘Robin Le Normand was substituted, and the others found it so difficult for them to mark him.

‘Gyokeres gives 100 per cent every time he’s on the pitch. I know that it’s not enough when you play for Arsenal, you want something more romantic after the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry.

‘You could say that Arsenal deserves a striker like that. But this guy, despite the critics, despite the pressure, is trying everything he can on the pitch to make a difference.

‘Recently, he has been a nightmare for defenders. He ran the channels; he held up the ball.

‘He missed this great opportunity in the second half. He should have done better, but it was quite difficult technically. He was very important in both games.’

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Three silver salvers awarded to legendary goalkeeper Peter Shilton will appear in Ryedale Auctioneers ‘Country House Sale: The Yorkshire Collection’ on Friday June, 12.

The silver salvers were given to Peter for being the most capped England player, his 1000th football league appearance, and for his MBE.

Peter made his debut in November 1970 at Wembley Stadium in a friendly between East Germany and England, where he stepped in for World Cup winning keeper, Gordon Banks, at 21-years-old.

This truly kickstarted his career as he went on to become England’s most capped player with a record 125 appearances, his last one being the world cup finals in 1990s World Cup, Italy. The IFFHS ranked Shilton among the Top 10 Keepers of the 20th Century.

The Nottingham Forest player earned these Silver Salver’s for: commemorating his 100th appearance for England 1988, to mark his 1,000th Football League appearance, and a merit award (1990) for his ‘outstanding contribution to professional football’.

Each Salver will appear as a single lot, all having their own estimates: Merit Award estimated £5,000-£7,000, 1000th Football League Appearance estimated £7,000-£10,000, and the 100th Cap £,7000-£10,000, all, plus auction fees, are definitely going to catch the eye of England football fans.

Auctioneer and owner of Kirkbymoorside-based Ryedale Auctioneers, Angus Ashworth, said: “We are incredibly honoured to be given the opportunity to sell these silver salvers, especially as they are owned by one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.”.

The Country House Sale: The Yorkshire Collection, will be held on Friday, June 12 at Ryedale Auctioneers, Kirkbymoorside,

For more information go to www.ryedaleauctioneers.com