The Theodore Roosevelt, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, anchored in Busan, South Korea.
Song Kyung-Seok/Pool Photo via AP
A US aircraft carrier has arrived in South Korea for military exercises.
Its arrival comes days after Russia and North Korea agreed to an unprecedented defense pact.
The carrier group sends a message to Russia and North Korea and projects US power in the region.
A US Navy aircraft carrier has arrived in South Korea at an opportune moment.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group arrived in Busan on Saturday, days after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed to a defense pact during a high-profile summit in Pyongyang.
The South Korean Navy said the nuclear-powered carrier "demonstrates the strong combined defense posture of the South Korea-US alliance and their firm resolve to respond to the escalating threats from North Korea."
Its mere presence projects US power and reach across the region.
The Roosevelt is the first US carrier to dock in South Korea since the USS Carl Vinson visited in November last year. Along with the Roosevelt, the destroyers USS Halsey and USS Daniel Inouye are also in South Korea as part of the carrier's strike group, the South Korean Navy said.
While in South Korea, the Roosevelt is expected to participate in joint exercises with its host and Japan to improve cooperation between the three countries' navies amid growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the South China Sea.
U.S. Navy photo illustration by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Aaron Haro Gonzalez
At Putin and Kim's meeting in Pyongyang, the two leaders displayed warm relations and agreed to support each other should one be attacked, similar to Article Five of the NATO doctrine. Putin also suggested he could send weapons to North Korea, which would have major repercussions for relations on the peninsula and beyond.
The pact between Russia and North Korea compelled a swift response from South Korea, which threatened to increase its support for Ukraine's war effort by directly sending lethal aid to Kyiv — a change from its current policy of only sending ammunition via the United States.
After the aircraft carrier finishes its exercises, it'll depart for the Middle East, where it will replace the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group. The Eisenhower left the region on Saturday after a relentless battle against Yemen's Houthis, who have been attacking shipping lanes in the Red Sea in support of Palestinians.
Before his death on June 20, Donald Sutherland only worked with his son Kiefer once.
They played an estranged father and son in the film "Forsaken."
Here are 20 other examples of father-and-son duos teaming up on-screen.
It feels like nepo babies are everywhere — and sometimes, when both a parent and a child are actors, they work together. But playing a father-and-son duo on screen takes the relationship to a whole new level.
Before his death on June 20, Donald Sutherland worked with his son Kiefer on the Western film "Forsaken." Kiefer played an outlaw trying to change his ways, while his father played a stern reverend.
"Working with him is something I have wanted to do for 30 years," Kiefer told People in 2016. Donald, in turn, called Kiefer a "wonderful actor."
Here are some of Hollywood's most famous fathers and sons who also played father and son on-screen.
Donald and Kiefer Sutherland starred in 2016's "Forsaken" as father and son.
"Forsaken."
Momentum Pictures
In "Forsaken," Kiefer Sutherland played a retired criminal and quick-draw killer John Henry Clayton in the late 1800s. After abandoning his old ways, he returns home to try and repair his relationship with his estranged father, Reverend Samuel Clayton, played by Kiefer's real father, Donald.
"As much as I planned as an actor that this is what I want to do with the character, I was not expecting how powerful it was going to be when I looked into my father's eyes," Kiefer told the Los Angeles Times in 2016.
Dominic West joined the cast of "The Crown" for season five as Prince Charles. West's real son, Senan West, played Prince William.
"The Crown."
Netflix
Dominic replaced Josh O'Connor as Prince Charles in seasons five and six of Netflix's royal drama "The Crown," which concluded its run in 2023.
Charles, of course, has two sons: Prince William and Prince Harry. And there was no more perfect person to play Prince William than Dominic's real-life son Senan, 14, who was in three episodes of season five, according to IMDb.
"It was very moving actually, he'd never acted before because COVID stopped any school plays or anything so I'd never seen him act," Dominic told Yahoo UK in November 2022 of working with his son. "He had this amazing innocence to him that was extraordinary to watch as well as the fact that obviously he's my boy. It's very difficult when you act with children to have a physical intimacy, but with him that's obviously not a question which made it much easier."
Tom and Colin Hanks played father and son in "The Great Buck Howard" in 2008.
"The Great Buck Howard."
Magnolia Pictures
"The Great Buck Howard" follows John Malkovich as Buck Howard, a mentalist who is at the tail end of his career. His assistant, Troy, is played by Colin, who goes against the wishes of his father, Mr. Gable (played by Tom), who wants him to become a lawyer.
"He has always been really supportive of everything that I've done," Colin told NPR's Terry Gross of his father in 2009.
Will and Jaden Smith have played father and son twice. First, in 2006's "The Pursuit of Happyness."
"The Pursuit of Happyness."
Columbia Pictures Corporation
In "The Pursuit of Happyness," a true story, Smith starred as Chris Gardner, a homeless medical salesman turned wildly successful stockbroker. His son, Jaden, played Gardner's son, Christopher Gardner Jr.
"Little Jaden is a chip off the old block, uncommonly at ease before the cameras. Their real-life bond is an inestimable asset to the onscreen characters' relationship," wrote Steve Persall of the St. Petersburg Times.
They teamed up again seven years later in "After Earth."
"After Earth."
Sony Pictures
"After Earth" takes place in a future in which humans had to evacuate Earth after a cataclysmic event — 1,000 years later, Kitai and his father, Cypher, are marooned on the planet after their spaceship collapses. When Cypher's legs are broken, he instructs his teenage son on how to contact their home planet and get them home via a communicator while Kitai journeys through the now-perilous Earth.
The movie got disastrous reviews, and the elder Smith has discussed how "After Earth" strained his relationship with his son.
"'After Earth' was an abysmal box office and critical failure," Smith wrote in his 2021 memoir, "Will." "And what was worse was that Jaden took the hit. Fans and the press were absolutely vicious; they said and printed things about Jaden that I refuse to repeat. Jaden had faithfully done everything that I'd instructed him to do, and I had coached him into the worst public mauling he'd ever experienced."
"He felt misled, and he lost his trust in my leadership," Smith wrote. "At 15 years old, when Jaden asked about being an emancipated minor, my heart shattered. He ultimately decided against it, but it sucks to feel like you've hurt your kids," he added.
Eugene and Dan Levy played father and son Johnny and David Rose on "Schitt's Creek" for six seasons from 2015 to 2020.
"Schitt's Creek."
ITV Studios Global Entertainment
The Levys also co-created "Schitt's Creek," so it was a no-brainer that they would play two of the leads: patriarch Johnny, a former video store tycoon, and his spoiled (yet lovable) son, David.
By the end of the series' six seasons, both Levys would take home Emmys for their acting and for producing, as the show won outstanding comedy series — they became the first father-son duo to win Emmys in the same year, according to the Los Angeles Times.
"I think what I learned from [my dad], just from a comedy standpoint, is that … there's so much generosity, I think, to great comedy," Levy told the "Today" show in 2021. "You have to just give people space. There's just such a joy in knowing that you have each other's back."
Jerry and Ben Stiller played father and son in 2007's "The Heartbreak Kid."
"The Heartbreak Kid."
Paramount Pictures
The Stillers are one of the most legendary father-and-son duos in Hollywood. They acted together quite a bit before Jerry's death in 2020, although they didn't always play relatives.
In the 2007 remake of "The Heartbreak Kid," Ben played a commitment-phobic man named Eddie who decides to propose to a woman he barely knows to get her to stay in the US. Jerry played his father, Doc.
"My dad is so funny. Like, I've never, ever thought I was funny like my dad. Or as funny as my dad. I've never really felt a competition, because I would lose, hands down," Stiller told The New Yorker after his father's death in May 2020.
Twenty years earlier, they also played father and son in 1987's "Hot Pursuit."
"Hot Pursuit."
Paramount Pictures
In "Hot Pursuit," they played Victor and Chris Honeywell, two side characters in the film.
The Stillers also both appeared in "Zoolander" and "Heavyweights," though not as father and son.
Kirk Douglas, his son Michael, and his grandson Cameron all appeared in "It Runs in the Family" as three generations of the Gromberg family in 2003.
"It Runs in the Family."
MGM Distribution Co.
In "It Runs in the Family," each generation of Gromberg men is dealing with their own issues — Kirk's character, Mitchell, is struggling with health complications after a stroke; his son Michael's character, Alex, is trying to manage marital issues andcareer doubts; and his son Cameron's character, Asher, is feeling lost while away at college.
To add even more Douglas genes to the film, Michael's mother and Kirk's ex-wife, Diana, also appeared in the film as Mitchell's wife, Evelyn.
Diana died in 2015, while Kirk died in 2021. After his father's death, Michael posted a tribute on Instagram, "To the world he was a legend, an actor from the golden age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to."
"But to me and my brothers Joel and Peter he was simply Dad, to Catherine, a wonderful father-in-law, to his grandchildren and great grandchild their loving grandfather, and to his wife Anne, a wonderful husband," he continued.
Brian Gleeson plays the teenage son of his father Brendan's character in the 2006 film "The Tiger's Tail."
Brendan and Brian Gleeson in 2014.
NurPhoto/Corbis via Getty Images
The Gleesons have acted together multiple times in various permutations — for example, Brian played the younger version of his father Brendan's character in "Assassin's Creed."
But in "The Tiger's Tail," Brian plays the son of his father Brendan's character Liam, as Liam deals with his life heading in a downward spiral.
Brendan also plays Brian's dad in a sitcom Brian co-created with his real-life brother Domnhall: "Frank of Ireland" in 2021.
"Frank of Ireland."
Amazon
Both of Brendan's sons appear in "Frank of Ireland," though they do not play brothers — so, when Brendan shows up, he's only the father of Brian's character, Frank.
"Dad was amazing and brought an incredible energy on set," Domhnall told What to Watch. "He was so up for it and so willing to be stupid. It was brilliant!"
Domnhall and Brendan also starred in the "Harry Potter" films, albeit not as relatives (Domnhall played the eldest son of the Weasley family, Bill, while Brendan played the legendary auror Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody).
Emilio Estevez played the deceased son of his father Martin Sheen's character in "The Way" in 2010.
"The Way."
Producers Distribution Agency
Since Estevez wrote and directed the film, of course he'd make it a family affair by casting his Emmy-winning father.
In the film, Sheen's character, Thomas, grieves the death of his son, Daniel, played by Estevez, in flashbacks and at the beginning of the film by continuing Daniel's journey of walking the Camino de Santiago (or The Way) in Europe.
"I had to keep reminding [my dad] that his character was not a friendly man, that he was suspicious of people, because that is not his nature," Estevez told The New York Times in 2011 when describing what it was like to work with his father.
Martin has acted with another of his sons, Charlie, too. In 1987's "Wall Street," Charlie played Bud Fox, while his dad played Carl Fox.
"Wall Street."
20th Century Fox
In one of the biggest roles of Charlie's early career, he played stockbroker-in-training Bud Fox, who idolizes the sleazy (yet powerful) Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas. But his actual father in the film is played by his real dad.
Martin Sheen played Carl Fox, an airline employee and union leader.
"I adore him," Martin Sheen said of his son in 2021, according to People. "I've always, always adored him. His recovery and his life is a miracle and he's an extraordinary man."
Martin and Charlie also played father and son in 1998 crime thriller "No Code of Conduct."
"No Code of Conduct."
Nu Image Films
In "No Code of Conduct," the Sheens played Bill and Jake Peterson, a father-and-son duo who are both police officers. They uncover a huge drug-running operation from Mexico into Arizona while investigating the death of their coworker.
The two also acted together in "Hot Shots! Part Deux," but not as father and son.
Scott and James Caan played father and son in 1995's "A Boy Called Hate."
James Caan and Scott Caan.
Chris Polk/Getty Images
Scott is the star of "A Boy Called Hate," in which he plays teenager Steve, who renames himself Hate. He ends up witnessing an attempted rape committed by an assistant district attorney.
His real dad, James, played Steve's father, who is too busy running a workers' compensation fraud scheme to really help his son in any meaningful way.
Fourteen years later, the Caans teamed up again for "Mercy" in 2009.
James Caan and Scott Caan in 2010.
Jonathan Leibson/FilmMagic/Getty Images
The younger Caan also wrote the film, in which he plays Johnny Ryan, a novelist who doesn't know exactly what he wants to do with his life. James plays Johnny's father, Gerry.
"You don't want to fail for your kid. United Artists or Warner Bros. or Coppola, I can mess up. I don't want to do it, but for your kid, that's the worst thing," James told the Los Angeles Times in 2010.
The two reunited on-screen for an episode of "Hawaii Five-O" in 2012, but James didn't play Scott's character's father. This was their last on-screen collaboration before James' death in 2022.
Father and son Dustin and Jake Hoffman actually played grandfather and son in "Barney's Version" in 2010.
Jake and Dustin Hoffman.
Andrew Toth/FilmMagic/Getty Images
In "Barney's Version," based on the 1997 novel of the same name, Paul Giamatti plays the main character, Barney. Dustin plays Barney's eccentric father, while Jake plays the older version of Barney's son.
They acted together again in the 2022 film "Sam & Kate."
In "Rocky V," Sylvester Stallone cast his real-life son Sage to play Rocky's son, Rocky Jr.
"Rocky V."
MGM/UA Communications Company
Sylvester cast his son Sage, who died in 2012, to play the son of his iconic boxing creation, Rocky Balboa, in the fifth film of the series.
For the 2006 film "Rocky Balboa" and the 2018 film "Creed II," the character of Rocky Jr. was taken over by Milo Ventimiglia.
Patrick Stewart's son, Daniel, played the son of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in a 1992 episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
"Star Trek: The Next Generation."
Paramount Domestic Television
In "The Inner Light," one of the best episodes of "The Next Generation," an energy beam strikes Picard (Patrick Stewart), which allows him to live an entire lifetime while just minutes pass for the rest of the crew.
In the episode, his son, Daniel, played Batai, the son of Picard who exists in this reality.
"It was a spec script, you know. That's something that not many people know: It was a spec script. One of the tiny few that actually got made. And, of course, my son was in it, and it was the first time I'd ever worked professionally with my son, so that's another reason why it's special to me," the legendary actor told Bullz Eye in 2010.
The Stewarts once again played father and son during the Starz series "Blunt Talk" in 2015.
"Blunt Talk."
Starz Distribution
Daniel appeared in the first season of "Blunt Talk," which saw his father star as Walter Blunt, a cable news journalist. Daniel played Walter's son Rafe, a professional boxer.
"Daniel has a wonderful talent for comedy, particularly wacky comedy. So we shared an episode. Hopefully we'll be sharing many more," the "Star Trek" star told USA Today in 2015. "I think it's a great thing that we're both in the same profession. It has so brought so much into both our lives that we can share and enjoy talking about. It's terrific."
In 1978, Jake Busey had a small role in "Straight Time" as the son of his real-life father, Gary Busey's character.
Jake and Gary Busey in 1983.
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
In "Straight Time," Gary played Willy, a heroin addict and friend of the main character Max (Dustin Hoffman), who also acted as an accomplice to Max's crimes. Jake had a small part as Willy's son, Darin.
Ray is the father of Talia Ray, one of the undergrads in question, and was already an ex-convict at the time. He pleaded guilty to securities fraud in the early aughts and was sentenced to five years probation.
As The Cut investigation recounts, he later spent six months in jail after refusing a court order to surrender custody of his two children. Ray was arrested again in 2006, per the magazine, after a domestic violence incident with his then-girlfriend. Both were violations of his probation, which led to more jail time.
But shortly after being released in 2010, Ray moved into his daughter's on-campus dorm and took control of the roommates' home life, manipulating teenagers who later characterized themselves as "directionless" and "fragile" in conversations with The Cut.
Several of Talia's former roommates told The Cut that Ray psychologically, physically, and sexually abused them for years, corroborated by friends and family members.
Their accounts of Ray's tactics align with the typical structure of a cult, including sexual coercion, threats of violence, humiliation, and sleep deprivation paired with one-on-one "therapy sessions" — during which Ray would convince the teens they were schizophrenic, for example, or survivors of child abuse, without any medical training. Those who spoke to The Cut said Ray methodically severed their tethers to reality and connections to their loved ones.
Ray also convinced the group of kids to pay him money — approximately $1 million over the years, according to his federal indictment viewed by Business Insider — for fabricated property damage and trivial mistakes, which he painted as intentional acts of sabotage. Sources who had known Ray earlier in life described him to The Cut as highly paranoid and a "psychotic con man," despite close ties to law enforcement officials and past work as a federal informant.
Ray's convoluted story captivated the nation, inspiring last year's Hulu docuseries "Stolen Youth" and the new Lifetime movie, "Devil on Campus," which premieres on Sunday. Here's where he is now.
Ray was arrested, convicted on all counts, and sentenced to 60 years in prison
During The Cut's reporting process, Talia was still in constant contact with Ray. Two of her former roommates, both young women, were living with him in New Jersey.
Other victims had disappeared, either by intentionally escaping Ray's influence or because his actions had triggered a downward spiral. One of Talia's former roommates, Santos Rosario, had most recently been seen in a homeless shelter at the time of the investigation.
After "The Stolen Kids of Sarah Lawrence" was published in April 2019, a joint FBI and NYPD task force began investigating the allegations. Less than one year later, Ray was arrested.
Ray (born Lawrence Grecco) was indicted on charges including sex trafficking, forced labor, conspiracy, racketeering, tax evasion, and exploitation.
Prosecutors said Ray had exploited the group of undergrads for personal and financial gain. They also said he forced one of the students, Claudia Drury, into prostitution. (Ray admitted to The Cut that he took the money Drury made from sex work, describing it as restitution.)
"For the better part of the last 10 years, Ray has continued to mentally and physically torture his victims," FBI investigator William F. Sweeney Jr. said at a news conference, per The New York Times.
Palmer Luckey founded the virtual reality company Oculus and sold it to Meta for $2 billion.
He was fired from Meta two years later.
Luckey went on to become the founder of defense-tech startup Anduril Industries, a company that will "save Western civilization."
Palmer Luckey was 20 years old when he founded the virtual reality company Oculus VR in 2012.
Just two years later, he sold it to Meta for $2 billion in cash and stock. Since then he's founded Anduril, a defense tech company that's snapping up government contracts and changing the future of war.
The billionaire tech founder grew up in Long Beach, California. His father was a car salesman and his mother homeschooled him. Luckey began attending college courses when he was about 15, building VR headsets on the side as a hobby.
He started a journalism major at California State University, Long Beach but, after developing a prototype for a virtual reality headset in his parents' garage, Luckey dropped out to found Oculus.
He has told friends that reading Donald Trump's book "The Art of the Deal" at age 13 inspired him as an entrepreneur, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Oculus
Luckey's Oculus Rift headset, which was later rebranded as Meta Quest, was hailed as a game-changer for technology fans everywhere. He raised $16 million in Series A funding in June 2013, and $75 million in a Series B round six months later.
In 2014, the company was snapped up by Meta, then Facebook, for $2 billion.
But in 2016, the young innovator was fired from Meta after his political contribution to a pro-Donald Trump group drew criticism from colleagues. Meta has denied that his departure had anything to do with his politics.
"I'm actually not nearly as political of a person as people think I am," Luckey told Bloomberg's Emily Chang on "The Circuit," saying that it was a $9,000 donation that got him kicked out of Silicon Valley.
Luckey recently co-hosted a fundraiser for Trump in Newport Beach, the LA Times reported.
VR is still a key focus for Meta, which continues to invest in the metaverse despite losses of nearly $50 billion. Since leaving Meta, Luckey has been critical of its metaverse product, for which Oculus is a key component.
"I don't think it's a good product," he said, adding that it could be "amazing in the future."
Anduril
A year after being fired from Meta, Luckey founded Anduril Industries, a security and defense technology startup.
The company is striving to modernize the US military — building autonomous weapons, vehicles, and surveillance devices that the company claims "will save Western civilization." Anduril's tech runs on its AI platform, Lattice, which acts as an intelligent command center on which a human operator can control autonomous devices.
Anduril's drone, the Altius-600 UAS, has been confirmed to be being supplied to Ukraine by the DoD; its Sentry surveillance towers sit along the US border; and the Australian Navy is deploying Ghost Shark, Anduril's autonomous underwater submarine.
The Anduril Long Range Sentry Tower uses AI to provide autonomous surveillance.
Anduril
Anduril is not quite at the level of companies like SpaceX or Palantir in its business with the government but is far ahead of the new wave of smaller defense startups. It recently beat out legacy defense contractors Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrup Grumman to win a multimillion-dollar Air Force contract; and this week announced a new $18.6 million contract with the US Navy for its Dive AUVs.
Next, Anduril is aiming to scale up its manufacturing capabilities.
The company was valued at $8.5 billion in a funding round in December 2022, and is seeking $1.5 billion in another round of funding in 2024 that would bring its valuation to at least $12.5 billion, according to The Information.
While some say AI will make war worse, Luckey has spoken up about his belief that the technology will help everyone make better decisions on the battlefield.
VR headset that can kill users
In 2022, Luckey appeared to merge his careers into one with the creation of a VR headset that he had modified to explode when the wearer loses in a video game, killing them in real life, too.
In a blog post, titled "If you die in the game, you die in real life," Luckey said he was inspired to create the deadly gaming device by a fictional VR headset called "NerveGear" featured in an anime television series called Sword Art Online.
Palmer Luckey's NerveGear headset
Palmer Luckey
"When an appropriate game-over screen is displayed, the charges fire, instantly destroying the brain of the user," Luckey wrote. "Only the threat of serious consequences can make a game feel real to you and every other person in the game."
Luckey said it's just a piece of office art — for now.
"It is also, as far as I know, the first non-fiction example of a VR device that can actually kill the user. It won't be the last," Luckey wrote.
'A caricature'
Luckey may have been made an outlier in Silicon Valley after being fired from Meta, but he's held on to his eccentric image and, by his own admission, is "a little bit of a caricature."
Renowned for his mullet hairstyle and love of Hawaiian shirts, Luckey owns a personal collection of military-grade vehicles and a coffee table mapping out his Dungeons and Dragons campaign.
The Anduril founder is also known to keep the world's largest collection of video games 200 feet underground in one of his missile bases, which is in an undisclosed location.
Luckey's net worth is $2.3 billion, according to Forbes. He ranks No. 1,438 on the media company's list of billionaires for 2024.
Luckey has stayed true to his roots and still runs ModRetro, a company he founded in 2009 that modifies vintage gaming devices, primarily Gameboys, with new technology.
Samantha Delouya contributed to an earlier version of this story.
Correction: An earlier version of this story's headline referred to Luckey as the CEO of Anduril. He is the founder of Anduril. This story was updated with information clarifying military uses of Anduril tech.
Romania's Mihail Kogălniceanu airbase is set to become NATO's largest base in Europe.
The $2.7 billion expansion will enable the base to support 10,000 NATO personnel and their families.
It comes as Putin vowed to go "to the end" in the war in Ukraine.
An airbase located only around 12 miles from the Black Sea coast and 180 miles from the war-torn city of Odesa in southwestern Ukraine is poised to become NATO's largest base in Europe.
A $2.7 billion project to transform Mihail Kogălniceanu airbase in Romania began earlier this year.
The base, which has been used by the US military since 1999, is set to become the size of a small city, with the capacity to host 10,000 NATO personnel and their families, Euro News Romania previously reported.
Nicolae Crețu, the commander of the air base, told the outlet that the expanded facility would require "maintenance hangars, fuel stores, ammunition, equipment, aviation technical materials, simulators, feeding facilities, accommodation."
"Everything that is needed to support the operation and missions of a base of this size," he said.
A fleet of Romanian F-16 fighter jets recently bought from Norway, as well as MQ-9 Reaper drones, will also soon arrive at the base, the BBC reported.
NATO announced earlier this month that seven Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets had landed at the base on June 3 to carry out "training and real-world sorties along the eastern flank on the Black Sea coast."
"For two months the Finnish jets are joining a Royal Air Force Typhoon detachment and will be doing quick-reaction alert duty and flying alongside them and Romanian F-16s collectively securing NATO airspace and assuring the Romanian population," Lt Cl Rami Lindström, the first commander of the Finnish detachment at the base, said.
"Our objective here in Romania is to enhance our integration into NATO Air Power by honing and deepening our cooperation with the Royal Air Force and the Romanian Air Force", he added.
Romanian air force F-16 fighter planes.
AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru
US presence at the base is also stepping up, Royal Air Force pilot Flt Lt Charlie Tagg told the BBC, adding that there was "a lot more infrastructure, accommodation, people, and equipment."
Dorin Popescu, a geopolitical analyst, previously told Euronews: "The Mihail Kogălniceanu base will become the most important permanent NATO military structure in the immediate vicinity of the conflict in southern Ukraine."
"Let's not imagine that this conflict will end this year in 2025 or in 2026," he said. "It's a long-term conflict."
However, Russian politicians have issued stark warnings over the project, with Andrey Klimov, deputy chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, previously warning that it was a "threat" to Bucharest.
"If the Romanians like it, it's their business, of course, but the NATO suicide club drags ordinary civilians into such adventures that can end very badly for their families and children," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
ALEXANDER NEMENOV via Getty
Russian President Vladimir Putin justified his full-scale invasion of Ukraine by saying that NATO had been aggressively expanding ever closer toward Russia over the last few decades, and he has long warned against further expansion.
In spite of his rhetoric, NATO has continued to creep further eastwards, with Finland joining NATO in April 2023 and Sweden joining in March 2024.
Nevertheless, Putin this week reiterated his threats to the West, vowing to go "to the end" in the war with Ukraine.
Defeat in Ukraine, Putin said, would mean "the end of the 1,000-year history of the Russian state. I think this is clear to everyone… Isn't it better to go all the way, until the end?" he said.
Trader Joe's is one of the biggest supermarket chains in the US, and the typical shopper spends just under $42 per trip. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of that budget goes to the retailer's impressive selection of crackers, sweets, and nuts.
Bamba is a lighter alternative to some chips and cheese puffs.
These Trader Joe's Bamba snacks come dipped in dark chocolate.
Christine Craven
These puffed peanut and corn snacks are light and airy. They contain a touch of dark chocolate for added minerals like magnesium, zinc, and iron.
This snack has a serving size of about 16 pieces, which I'd say is a reasonable few handfuls. With a bit of fiber (2 grams per serving) and protein (3 grams per serving), they're a great choice for a chocolate fix.
Fill up your chip-and-dip platters with papadums crisps.
Trader Joe's papadums pair well with guacamole.
Christine Craven
These lentil and chickpea crisps from Trader Joe's are a solid snacking option. Chips made out of legumes are usually a good choice because of their increased protein and fiber content.
Each 14-crisp serving contains 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of dietary fiber.
If you don't mind dipping chickpeas in chickpeas you could pair these with hummus, but I'd probably opt for some guacamole.
Trader Joe's apple-and-mango bars have two ingredients.
Fruit bars can be a good on-the-go snack.
Christine Craven
These fruit bars from Trader Joe's are truly just apples and mango mushed up together, but they're much tastier than they sound.
They're easy to throw in a bag if you need a boost of vitamin C, which is found in apples and mangoes. I've also seen these bars in a few other varieties, such as apple and banana, apple and coconut, and apple and strawberry.
The sour-cream-and-onion-flavored rings are a good choice.
Trader Joe's sour-cream-and-onion-flavored rings are made with red lentils.
Christine Craven
Trader Joe's flavored rings made of lentils and rice are tastier and higher in protein than typical sour-cream-and-onion potato chips.
They're baked rather than fried, so they're also a bit lower in fat. Each serving of about 24 pieces has 4 grams of protein.
Enjoy some sparkling strawberry juice this summer.
Trader Joe's usually has a few types of sparkling beverages available.
Christine Craven
Trader Joe's sparkling strawberry juice beverages are a great option if you want a refreshing summer drink.
Strawberry juice is the first ingredient in these, meaning it is the most prominent ingredient by weight. Plus, the drinks are 60 calories per can and have no added sugars.
Trader Joe's also sells Barebells protein bars.
Barebells protein pars come in a few flavors.
Christine Craven
Protein bars are an easy way to consume more protein without having to do much prep. Most Barebells bars have 15 to 20 grams of protein.
Most of the bar's protein source comes from whey protein, which is the protein from the liquid that separates from curds during cheese production. It's been shown to be very effective in helping build muscle mass.
This could be a great snack to have on hand before or after workouts if you can't eat a full meal within a decent timeframe.
I enjoy the Mini (Almost) Everything Bagel Sandwich Crackers with cream-cheese filling.
Trader Joe's has some snacks that incorporate its Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend.
Christine Craven
The Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend is a Trader Joe's classic, and I'm glad it found its way into the snack aisle.
These tiny bagel bites are low in sugar (3 grams of added sugar per serving) and even contain a bit of protein (2 grams per serving).
I like the crackers with Everything but the Bagel seasoning, too.
I had to pick another snack with Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend
Christine Craven
Similar to the bagel bites, these crackers are low in sugar (2 grams of added sugar per serving) and are slightly higher in protein (3 grams per serving) and fiber (2 grams per serving).
These would pair nicely with cheese, peanut butter, or a bit of cream cheese to make them more satisfying.
For a post-meal fix, grab the chocolate-coated peanut-butter crispy-rice bites.
Peanut butter can make a snack more filling.
Christine Craven
I tend to gravitate toward snacks with peanut butter because they can be more satisfying.
Each of these bites is pretty big, and I like to have one as a post-dinner treat. I also keep mine in the freezer because I love cold chocolate, which adds another layer of texture to the snack.
I always grab popcorn at Trader Joe's.
Popcorn is a great snack to keep on hand and it often comes in many flavors and varieties.
Christine Craven
Popcorn is a whole grain, so it's a higher-fiber snack that you can enjoy on its own and still feel satisfied.
Trader Joe's has a lot of popcorn varieties, but I like the one with extra-virgin olive oil because it's ao versatile. I use it to make a trail mix with things like nuts, seeds, pretzels, dried fruit, and peanut-butter chips.
Trader Joe's crunchy chili-onion peanuts are high in fiber.
Trader Joe's crunchy chili-onion peanuts are packed with flavor.
Christine Craven
The crunchy chili-onion peanuts have a ton of flavor and can be a great snack to grab a handful of when you're feeling peckish.
High in fiber, protein, and healthy fats, these bags are super satisfying to dig into and easy to grab on the go.
Each ¼-cup serving contains 3 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein.
I stayed in an overwater lodge in the Amazon rainforest.
Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
I spent about three days at an all-inclusive lodge in the Amazon rainforest for $270.
I had to take a two-hour bus and a two-hour canoe ride to get to my overwater lodge.
I spent my time spotting animals, hiking, swimming, and taking in the peaceful setting.
As a child, I dreamed of visiting the Amazon rainforest, but I always envisioned it being wildly inaccessible.
Traveling, especially internationally, is expensive. Looking at lodging alone, hotel prices shot up by 1.7% between April and May, according to NerdWallet's Travel Price Index.
So when I found a three-day, all-inclusive tour of the Amazon rainforest at Green Forest Ecolodge for just $270, I knew I had to go.
The package included all my meals, bus and canoe transfers, a private lodge, and up to four activities a day.
Here's what it was like.
It was a bit of a hike to get there
After landing in Ecuador, I hopped on an overnight shuttle from Quito to Lago Agrio. Still slightly sleepy, I splurged and spent a few dollars on a taxi from the bus station to Magic Hostal, the designated meeting spot.
From there, a driver met me for a complimentary transfer to the canoe launch. The drive took about two hours, winding through suburbs and navigating a mixture of tarmac and grit roads.
After jumping off the minibus, the real adventure started. I was ushered toward the river, where a guide placed my luggage in a thick plastic bag on a canoe to keep it dry.
I had to take a two-hour canoe ride to the lodges.
Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
He then helped me board the precariously wobbling vessel and gave me a green poncho (it's not called the rainforest for nothing).
With that, we were on our way to the lodge
A driver steered the vessel while a tour guide kept a sharp eye out for wildlife. They seemed to understand that time was of the essence in my short three-day stay.
I spotted plenty of wildlife on the way, including lots of monkeys.
Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
The most exciting sighting was squirrel monkeys — sociable little primates that leaped along overwater branches. But by the time the two-hour canoe ride was over, I'd already seen multiple monkey species, birds, and a sloth.
It started raining as the canoe navigated the last few bends of the Cuyabeno River. I was dry under my fancy green poncho, but not wearing waterproof mascara was definitely a poor choice.
The overwater lodges were connected by a green boardwalk
I had a private lodge with a bed, terrace, hammock, and bathroom.
Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
I was ecstatic as we approached the wooden dock and I got my first glimpse of the lodge I'd be staying in.
I opted for a private overwater bungalow with a terrace and hammock. The double bed inside came equipped with a mosquito net, and the bathroom was semi-open and overlooked the jungle.
It was truly beautiful.
I didn't see too many mosquitoes there, but I liked having the bug net.
Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
Meals were a sociable and elaborate occasion with the other guests
Lunch was served right away. Everyone staying here ate together three times a day in the main lodge, and a bell rang to announce each meal.
Meals consisted of three courses of traditional Ecuadorian cuisine.
There was a starter, main, and dessert at lunch and dinner, and breakfast was a mixture of fruit, toast, and a hot meal. Unlimited hot drinks and bottled water were also available 24/7.
I'm vegetarian, and I was a little worried about the food and drink situation, but I didn't have any issues during my stay. The staff were very conscious of food quality and water safety, so I wasn't worried about getting sick.
I experienced so many excursions as part of my all-inclusive package
On the first day alone, I saw caimans (alligatorid species) and took a guided night hike.
The second day was busier, starting with a hike through the thick jungle.
While treading through the wet soil — that's almost orange from the high levels of clay — I saw a snake and owl monkeys before crossing some swamp terrain.
Along the way, our guide, Elvis, taught us about the rainforest. I learned poisonous snakes in the Amazon have a triangular head and that indigenous Cuyabeno communities believe copal resin wards off negativity.
I'd been nervous about swimming in the Amazon, but it was surprisingly warm
Later on the second day, I'd scheduled a sunset lagoon swim.
On the way, we saw pink dolphins and woolly monkeys and heard roaring howler monkeys.
Swimming at sunset was such a peaceful activity.
Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
I wasn't sure what to expect, and I was a little nervous about swimming (it wasn't exactly balmy). But after diving into the lagoon from the canoe, everything was peaceful.
It was a refreshing bit of solitude as Elvis played music from a speaker.
On the boat ride back, we spotted adult caimans that looked straight out of "Jurassic Park." Their unnerving yellow eyes were shuddering but impressive.
The third day was short and sweet but still amazing
My final morning started with a quick birdwatching excursion. I spotted toucans, macaws, and a nesting red heron.
But after breakfast, it was time to head back out on the canoe to transfer to Lago Agrio.
I couldn't believe the value I got for my money
I highly recommend this all-inclusive trip.
Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
Visiting the Amazon rainforest was the opposite of what I expected. It was budget-friendly and serene, not expensive and uncomfortable.
After my stay, I realized $270 for three days of food, lodging, and activities was a ridiculously good deal — especially since I got to see caimans, pink river dolphins, five species of monkeys, and hundreds of insects and birds.
I'd definitely recommend the experience, even for the squeamish or those who don't think they're outdoorsy.
(Clockwise): Hannah New as Lady Tilley Arnold, Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington, Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, and Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton on season three, episode five of "Bridgerton."
Liam Daniel/Netflix
Season three of "Bridgerton" wrapped up Colin and Penelope's story, but left fans with even more questions.
Despite resolving major conflicts, several loose threads remain left to be addressed on season four.
Business Insider rounded up the biggest burning questions we had after watching the season three finale.
Warning: There are major spoilers ahead for season three of "Bridgerton."
The latest season of Netflix's hit drama series concluded on June 13, wrapping up Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington's (Nicola Coughlan) friends-to-lovers romance and appearing to set up Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) as the next leading man.
Even though part two resolved the biggest conflicts of the season, several loose threads remain to be addressed.
Here are all the burning questions we had after watching the season three finale of "Bridgerton."
Will we see Kanthony in India in season four?
Simone Ashley as Kate Bridgerton (née Sharma) and Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton on season three, episode five of "Bridgerton."
Liam Daniel/Netflix
After hearing how much Kate (Simone Ashley) misses India, Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) decides that he'd like to visit her home country and wants their future child to grow up knowing their identity as a Sharma. Anthony then suggests that they head to India immediately so that they can arrive in time for the birth of their first baby.
Details about season four of "Bridgerton" are sparse, so it's unclear if Bailey and Ashley will return in any capacity next time. However, at a special screening of part two in London, Ashley told reporter Josh Rom that she'll be back for season four.
"Absolutely," she said. "Kate Sharma is here to stay."
Who's going to be head of the Bridgerton house now that Anthony and Kate are moving to India?
Simone Ashley as Kate Bridgerton (née Sharma) and Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton on season three, episode five of "Bridgerton."
Liam Daniel/Netflix
It's unlikely that the viscount and viscountess will be able to run the Bridgerton household from India, which means another sibling will have to step up and take on the responsibilities.
Benedict is the most obvious choice, considering that he took care of the estate while Anthony was on his honeymoon and apparently did a good job.
Who did Edwina Sharma marry?
Edwina on "Bridgerton" season two.
Liam Daniel/Netflix
Charithra Chandran doesn't return as Edwina on season three, but the show hints at her whereabouts.
During episode two, Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) tells Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), "I hear my choice last year, Miss Edwina, has made a splendid match abroad."
Then during episode seven, Anthony asks Kate about the last letter she received from her younger sister.
"She writes that her new husband is not only a reader but has cultivated in her a love for the outdoors," Kate says. "She's even been riding with him."
Now that Lady Whistledown has been unmasked, what is Queen Charlotte going to be up to during season four?
Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte on season three, episode seven of "Bridgerton."
Liam Daniel/Netflix
Most of her storyline so far has revolved around her games with Lady Whistledown and trying to figure out who the writer is. Now that Penelope has come forward and spilled her secret to the town, Queen Charlotte will have to find some other source of entertainment.
Season three of "Bridgerton" is set in 1815 and in real life, Queen Charlotte died in 1818. When it comes to the Netflix version of Queen Charlotte, creative liberties are taken. But fans have been theorizing that perhaps the show may kill off the queen.
Is Cressida Cowper gone for good?
Jessica Madsen as Cressida Cowper on season three, episode six of "Bridgerton."
Liam Daniel/Netflix
Cressida (Jessica Madsen), the town's resident mean girl, is shown to be a complex antagonist that fans could feel sympathy for.
Initially, Cressida comes forward claiming to be Lady Whistledown because she's desperate to avoid being forced into marriage with an old, repugnant man named Lord Greer. However, he rescinds the offer because of her tarnished reputation. As punishment, Cressida's cruel father Lord Cowper says he's going to send her to live in Wales with her Aunt Joanna.
Eventually, Cressida learns that Penelope is Lady Whistledown and attempts to blackmail her so she can use the money to set up a better life for herself abroad. Cressida's plan doesn't work, and instead, she's last seen reluctantly being sent away in a carriage.
It would be strange for "Bridgerton" to write the character off after she played such a pivotal role in this season's events. Perhaps there's hope for Cressida to return to town once the drama and controversy has died down. Showrunner Jess Brownell has said that it's her intention to bring the character back.
Are we going to see Francesca and John's life in Scotland during season four?
Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton and Victor Alli as John Stirling on season three, episode six of "Bridgerton."
Liam Daniel/Netflix
When Francesca decides to move to Scotland with John after their wedding, she reassures Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) that she'll return to town; she just needs space to learn more about who she is.
In Julia Quinn's "Bridgerton" book series, Francesca's love story is the focal point of the sixth installment, "When He Was Wicked." Fans who read the book (or looked up the spoilers) already know that John dies two years into their marriage and his cousin Michael becomes the new Earl of Kilmartin. Years later, Francesca and Michael reconnect and get married.
The show has already made a huge change in Franceca's story by introducing a gender-flipped version of John's cousin, named Michaela (played by Masali Baduza).
Season four is expected to focus on Benedict (though there hasn't been an official lead announcement yet), so it remains to be seen how heavily the episodes will show the development between Francesca, John, and Michaela in Scotland.
While we're at it, how is the show going to deal with Michaela's story?
Masali Baduza as Michaela Stirling on the season three finale of "Bridgerton."
Netflix
In "When He Was Wicked," Michael is extremely reluctant to take over his cousin's title as the Earl of Kilmartin. But now that Michael is Michaela, there's another concern to contend with: She can't assume his title at all because she is a woman.
In the book, Francesca is pregnant with her and John's first child when he dies, but the title passes to Michael after she miscarries. Four years later, she only pursues a second marriage so that she can have children.
Of course, nothing is set in stone: "Bridgerton" could decide not to kill John after all. But the finale fairly plainly set up a romance between Francesca and Michaela, so it's safe to assume we'll see more of them in the future. What remains is to see how the show handles the details of their story.
How quickly is Benedict going to renounce his newfound drive for sexual exploration?
Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton on season three, episode seven of "Bridgerton."
Liam Daniel/Netflix
"Bridgerton" finally established Benedict's long-hinted-at queerness by setting him up in an apparently very long threesome with Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New) and her other friend with benefits, Paul. The encounter — specifically, seeing Benedict with another person — made Lady Tilley realize her true feelings for him. Unfortunately for her, it makes Benedict realize that he's not ready to commit to a serious relationship.
That's all well and good, but a bit inconvenient when it's probably about to be Benedict's turn to get married. His story — and that of his wife, Sophie — would have occurred in season three if the show had followed the books. But showrunner Jess Brownell told Entertainment Weekly that the show's team didn't feel like it was Benedict's time yet.
"He's such a fun character and such a fan favorite that we are really excited to play with him for a little bit more and let him have more fun before he settles down," Brownell said.
Benedict definitely did have fun in season three. But we're curious to see how his approach to romance has changed by the time season four rolls around.
What's the name of Colin and Penelope's son?
Polly Walker as Portia Featherington, Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton, and Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Bridgerton (née Featherington).
Netflix
The TV series strayed from Quinn's novels in several ways throughout season three. One of these changes occurs in the epilogue scene, which shows Penelope and Colin's baby boy, who becomes the heir and new Lord Featherington since her sisters gave birth to daughters.
None of the characters mention the Polin baby by name, but in the book series, Colin and Penelope have four kids: Agatha, Thomas, Jane, and George.
Why didn't the epilogue show Kanthony's baby?
Simone Ashley as Kate Bridgerton and Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton on season three, episode seven of "Bridgerton."
Liam Daniel/Netflix
The epilogue takes place at least nine months later, considering that Penelope has already given birth to her and Colin's first child. But Kate was already pregnant before Penelope, meaning that she and Anthony had their baby by the time the show skips ahead several months.
Throughout season three, part one, Kanthony's primary focus was enjoying marital bliss and trying to get pregnant. Wouldn't it have made sense to complete their season three arc by including a scene showing the couple and their baby in India?
Is Julie Andrews' role on "Bridgerton" officially over?
Julie Andrews in Los Angeles in March 2023.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Since the start of "Bridgerton," Andrews has voiced Lady Whistledown. Her immediately recognizable, warm voice is so synonymous with the show that it's difficult to hear anyone else saying "dearest gentle reader" — even Whistledown herself, Penelope.
The season three finale ends with Penelope writing her final sentence as Lady Whistledown and signing her name as "Penelope Bridgerton."
Does that mean Andrews' work on the show is finished?
How prominent will Penelope's column be on the show now that her main arc has been completed?
Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington on season three, episode six of "Bridgerton."
Liam Daniel/Netflix
In the epilogue, Penelope retires her literary persona but continues her work as a columnist under her own name.
"And hopefully, dear reader, you will stay on to enjoy them with me as we begin the next part of our journey," she writes, as Coughlan takes over the narration from Andrews.
Lady Whistledown has always been a key component of the series, even before Penelope's storyline took the spotlight on season three. But with another character leading season four, Polin will likely have less screen time, as is the pattern for all the main couples once they've completed their seasons.
Coughlan and Newton already confirmed that they'll return next season. Fans will probably have to wait a while before getting any solid details about what the future holds for Polin, but Newton told Teen Vogue that he's sticking around because "there's still stuff to get sorted in season four."
Will there be a multi-year gap between seasons?
Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton and Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton in season three of "Bridgerton."
Liam Daniel/Netflix
Although each season of "Bridgerton" comes out every two years, only a year passes within the show. It may not be easy to keep that momentum forever.
For starters, the younger Bridgerton actors, Will Tilston and Florence Hunt, will be growing much older than the characters they play, which may make them look out of place in later years.
In addition, some of the love stories from the "Bridgerton" books just work better with multi-year gaps between them. In "An Offer From a Gentleman," there is a two-year gap between the time Benedict meets his lover, Sophie, and when they find each other again to fall in love.
A key element in both "To Sir Phillip, With Love" and "Romancing Mister Bridgerton" is that Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) and Penelope are in their late 20s and definite spinsters, which makes their desperation for marriage more believable.
If "Bridgerton" is going to adapt every Bridgerton book, the writers may have to start changing their timeline.
What is Will and Alice Mondrich's next goal after losing the club?
Emma Naomi as Alice Mondrich and Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich in "Bridgerton" season three.
Liam Daniel / Netflix
A prominent storyline in season three, part one, is Will (Martins Imhangbe) and Alice (Emma Naomi) Mondrich's promotion to nobility. But the promotion means Will must give up the Gentleman's club he built up in the previous season.
Will resists this for all of season three, part one. But in episode five, Alice tells Will that his family matters more than the club, so he gives it up. Later in the episode, the pair host a ball to integrate into society properly.
However, after this, the pair are forced to the sidelines again and not given much to do for the rest of the season.
Does this mean Will and Alice's arc is officially over, or will the "Bridgerton" writers come up with a new storyline for the couple?
It's worth noting that these characters were created specifically for the show, so the book series won't give any clues as to where they may end up. Fans will have to wait for season four.
Will we finally get a full love story for Violet Bridgerton in season four?
Daniel Francis as Lord Anderson, Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, and Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton on season three, episode four of "Bridgerton."
Liam Daniel/Netflix
In "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story," Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) says she is ready to find a new lover after conversing with Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh). Her first husband, Edmund, died before the series began.
In season three, Violet meets Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis), Lady Danbury's widowed younger brother. They bond over losing a partner. Marcus tries to court Violet, but obstacles keep getting in their way.
Lady Danbury and Marcus must first settle a family dispute. Violet is too busy solving her children's love lives. The pair don't even get a chance to dance together before the season ends.
Although we will likely have another Bridgerton on the marriage mart in season four, there might be more space for Violet to sort out her own love life, too.
All episodes of "Bridgerton" season three are streaming on Netflix.
The billionaire has long touted the technology's potentially catastrophic risks, often likening AI to destructive forces like nuclear weapons. Last year, Musk even backed a letter demanding a six-month pause on AI development.
Yet, in a Wednesday interview with WPP CEO Mark Read at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the Tesla CEO sounded much more chipper about the tech he's been outspoken about.
"It'll most likely be good, but we want to be careful about a potential downside," he said of AI development. "Technology will help you do anything that you want to do, and more of it."
While Musk reiterated that his position was similar to that of AI godfather Geoffrey Hinton — who has been vocal about AI safety — he also encouraged the audience to "look on the bright side."
Hinton has issued several warnings about AI's potential extinction-level threat, including the risk that it could eventually learn to manipulate humans.
While Musk warned there was still a 20% chance AI would lead to something terrible happening, he also quipped that the glass was still "80% full."
"In the positive scenario, the AI will be doing its best to make you happy. So that might work out pretty well," Musk said.
"I think the most likely outcome is one where the abundance of goods and services are available to anyone; there's no shortage of goods and services for anyone on Earth," he continued. "It wouldn't be universal basic income; it would be universal high income."
xAI has released Grok, an AI product to rival chatbots like Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT. Musk has previously criticized Google and OpenAI's offerings as "woke."
He's attempted to distinguish xAI's efforts, allowing Grok to respond to users with vulgar language, humor, and sarcasm. Musk has previously said the company aims for Grok to be "maximally truth-seeking" and "maximally curious."
Musk acknowledged some of these products' potential effects on the labor force during the Cannes Lion interview, suggesting that the rise of AI could make work optional for people.
He said this shift could provoke a "crisis of meaning" and spark societal existential concerns.
Nonetheless, Musk appears to be taking his own advice about looking on the bright side. He told an audience member: "This is the most interesting time in all of history. So, enjoy the ride."
In the 1970s, a real-estate developer proposed a futuristic tower with a giant stock-trading floor.
Pei Cobb Freed & Partners and Getty Images/Tony Shi Photography
A new book, "The Atlas of Never Built Architecture," explores the world as it could've been.
Authors Sam Lubell and Greg Goldin explore never-built designs from over 300 global architects.
Here's what Wall Street, Jakarta's skyline, and Ethiopia's Rift Valley could have looked like.
All buildings begin as ideas — but not all of them make it off the page.
Unfortunately, some architects' dreamy ideas are shelved due to a lack of funds, complex political maneuvering, or the death of a major financial supporter.
It was this lost library — a collection of buildings that offer glimpses into how some corners of the world could have looked — that inspired Los Angeles-based writers Sam Lubell and Greg Goldin to write the recently released book "Atlas of Never Built Architecture."
"As we unearthed each treasure, shaking off the dust clouds of memory and the inscrutability of faded ink, we were reminded that our reality is far less fixed than we think," Lubell and Goldin wrote in the introduction. "Every decision could have resulted in something different."
Lubell and Goldin assembled the sketches for and stories behind more than 300 lost skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, government buildings, cemeteries, and even a "floating theater boat that resembles a UFO," according to a press release. The proposed structures span over 100 years and 80 countries.
Below are five building designs once proposed for sites across the world, alongside a breakdown of what currently stands where they were set to rise.
Are we better off? You decide.
In 1975, an investment group called the Xanadu Corporation proposed a new hotel on the Las Vegas Strip modeled after Shangri-La, the mythical Himalayan paradise.
The proposed Xanadu hotel for the Las Vegas Strip.
Special Collections and Archives / University of Nevada, Las Vegas
The fantastical design for the proposed Xanadu hotel included a circular bar suspended in the air. It would have been supported by tucked-away columns to appear like it was floating.
Though the Xanadu hotel's original plan was approved by Las Vegas authorities, disputes over utilities and sewer lines kept it from being built.
The Excalibur hotel in Las Vegas.
Sergii Figurnyi
The site intended for Xanadu is now occupied by the Excalibur Hotel & Casino. The medieval-inspired property, which opened in 1990, was once the largest hotel in the world.
In 1961, real-estate developer William Zeckendorf acquired Manhattan's historic Singer Tower, planning to knock it down and build a new home for the New York Stock Exchange.
Illustration of Finance Place, 1963.
Pei Cobb Freed & Partners
The proposed 45-story tower, called Finance Place, was described as a "beautifully tapered Mayan temple," with a massive trading floor dominating the bottom of the tower.
Designer Henry Cobb ingeniously drew a steel structure with floors suspended from the roof, allowing the trading floor to be entirely free of columns.
Zeckendorf claimed he had the support of the stock exchange, but the building never materialized.
An aerial view of One Liberty Plaza in Manhattan's Financial District.
Getty/Tony Shi Photography
Today, the square block is occupied by One Liberty Plaza, the black structure in the left foreground of the photo above.
Tenants of the 54-story building include law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, New York City's Economic Development Corporation — and Business Insider.
In the densely populated Indonesian capital of Jakarta, Indonesia, plans were unveiled in 2012 for an 88-story tower that made the most of vertical space.
Illustration of Peruri 88.
Courtesy of MVRDV
A complex of Tetris-like structures, Peruri 88 included spaces for offices, townhouses, a luxury hotel, movie theaters, a wedding chapel, and a mosque.
Plans for a mall included designs for escalators spanning 15 stories.
But funding never materialized for Jakarta's "city in the sky."
Present-day Jakarta, Indonesia.
Shutterstock/Toto Santiko Budi
Instead, the space is occupied by much smaller commercial buildings in the Kebayoran Baru neighborhood of South Jakarta.
The photo above is from the neighborhood proposed for Peruri 88.
Kenyan paleontologist Richard Leakey announced plans for a "Museum of Humankind" in 2019 to honor his discovery of the most complete skeleton of an early human.
Architect Daniel Libeskind's designs for the museum were inspired by hand axes, tools used by human predecessors over 1.8 million years ago.
Unfortunately, Leakey died in 2022 and the museum's proposed site in Kenya's Great Rift Valley was deemed no longer suitable.
Great Rift Valley, Kenya
Shutterstock/Roger de la Harpe
The design was pulled and no new plans have been announced.
In 2007, Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid was announced as the designer for the first opera house in the Persian Gulf.
Illustration of the Dubai Opera House, proposed by Zaha Hadid.
Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects
Hadid's rendering for the futuristic complex in Dubai included the 2,500-seat opera house, a smaller 800-seat theater, an art gallery, and a performing arts school.
The swooping peaks were inspired by the shape of sand dunes.
The global financial crisis in 2009 thwarted plans for Hadid's Dubai Opera House complex. Hadid died suddenly in 2016.
The Dubai Opera House, designed by Janus Rostock, was completed the same year Zaha Hadid died.
Shutterstock/Efired
New designs were instead completed by Janus Rostock, who took inspiration for his version of the building from a dhow, a traditional Arabic sailing boat.