British Museum delays Jewish Culture Month talk amid disruption fears—sparks free-speech firestorm. Simon Schama, historian at Columbia.
The British Museum has postponed a lecture on ancient Israel and Judah as part of Jewish Culture Month, citing information that a significant portion of registered attendees planned to disrupt the event. The talk by Dr Paul Collins is rescheduled for a later date and will be livestreamed; the museum emphasizes its commitment to free expression while safeguarding participants.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has used an 82nd D‑Day commemoration speech in Normandy to liken migration to an "invasion," saying "boats and men arrive" on European beaches. His remarks have provoked condemnation from historians, UK ministers and local residents in Langrune‑sur‑Mer, who had urged the cancellation of his visit. European officials and rights groups have criticised the politicisation of the ceremony.
Prominent British artist David Hockney has died at his London home, aged 88. Over a seven-decade career he explored portraiture, landscapes and pop art, shaping modern painting across multiple media. He rose to fame in the 1960s and remained a defining figure in British art until his death.