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BOSTON — A federal judge on Wednesday permanently barred President Trump’s administration from implementing most of his first executive order on elections, part of which sought to require people to show documentary proof of citizenship when they register to vote.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Denise Casper in Boston in effect converts a preliminary injunction she issued a year ago, in which she temporarily blocked many of Trump’s efforts to overhaul elections, into a permanent ban.

Casper rejected the administration’s argument that the lawsuit to block the changes brought by Democratic state attorneys general was premature because the rules had yet to be implemented. Instead, she agreed that the Constitution gives states and Congress the authority to regulate elections, and that Trump’s requirements violated the separation of powers.

The Constitution “does not grant the President any specific powers over elections,” she wrote.

Among other proposed changes, Trump’s order would have required people to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote, prevented mail ballots from being counted if they arrive after election day, even if they were postmarked by then, and punished states that failed to comply by withholding certain federal money.

In a statement, New York Atty. Gen. Letitia James said she was grateful the court had blocked Trump’s “unconstitutional attempt to seize control of our elections” and would continue to defend voting rights in this year’s midterm elections.

“Generations of Americans fought tirelessly for the right to vote, and we honor their legacy by protecting that right against anyone who tries to undermine it,” she said.

Requests for comment sent to the White House and Department of Justice were not immediately returned.

It was the latest in a string of rulings against the elections executive order Trump signed just months after taking office for his second term. He has since signed another executive order on elections, seeking to create a national voter list and limit mail balloting. That directive also faces multiple legal challenges.

In the fall, a federal judge in Washington overseeing a separate challenge to the first election executive order by civil rights and Democratic Party-aligned groups blocked the government from taking steps to include the proof-of-citizenship requirement on the federal voter registration form. That judge later barred the secretary of Defense from requiring documentary proof of citizenship when military personnel register to vote or request ballots.

In an apparent nod to the difficulty of implementing a proof-of-citizen requirement by executive order, Trump is pushing legislation in the Republican-controlled Congress to create such a mandate. The SAVE America Act has passed the House but has stalled in the Senate, leading Trump to advocate for eliminating the filibuster that is blocking the legislation.

On Wednesday, he abruptly canceled the expected signing of a bipartisan housing bill, saying he won’t do so until Congress passes his proof of citizenship requirement for voting.

The president and many of his Republican allies have been promoting the narrative that voting by noncitizens is a major problem, when in fact it’s quite rare. The federal voter registration form already requires people to attest that they are U.S. citizens, and violating that is punishable as a felony that can lead to prison or deportation.

In another major voting case, the U.S. Supreme Court is due to issue an opinion soon on whether mail ballots must arrive by election day. That could immediately change the rules in 14 states that allow grace periods ranging from days to weeks if the ballots are postmarked by election day.

Smyth and Casey write for the Associated Press.

The Latin Quarter’s cobblestone Rue Mouffetard is a walking street lined with fishmongers, bakeries, cheese shops, produce stands and cafes. Once you’ve talked triple-cream Brillat-Savarin with the cheese pros at Androuet and admired displays of glistening seafood along Mouffetard (Poissonnerie Quoniam sells fresh oysters that you eat standing with an inexpensive glass of wine), there is lunch or dinner to consider. A wonderful choice is Otto, a modern izakaya-style project with MOF chef Eric Trochon, who provided menu guidance to proprietors Stéphane Offner and Tony Alvarez-Parage plus occasional turns at the binchotan-fueled grill when he’s not running his Michelin one-star restaurant Solstice 700 meters away. Observe the action in the open kitchen from your bar seat or find an intimate corner to enjoy Otto’s small plates — maybe “fish no chips” with black curry mayonnaise, razor clams with garlic butter or celery root beignets. Oh, and at lunch you can choose three dishes for €22. A terrific deal.

5 Rue Mouffetard, 75005 Paris

Among coffee geeks, “pilgrimage” isn’t too strong a word to describe visiting the Collingwood neighborhood cafe owned by barista/roaster/industry visionary Nolan Hirte and his wife, Shari. Nolan was one of the leaders who built on Melbourne’s early coffee culture, established by Italian immigrants and their daily espresso habits in the mid-20th century. After Nolan took a tour of America’s burgeoning third-wave coffee shops in the mid-2000s, he returned to Melbourne determined to push the expressive possibilities of filter coffee even further.

At the cafe, the drink menu — whether drip, espresso drinks or pour-overs — includes flavor descriptions that can resemble wine-tasting notes, but there’s nothing fussy about the experience, or the easygoing breakfast and lunch options. Pour-over freaks looking for the highbrow deep dive should walk two blocks to Aunty Peg’s, the Hirtes’ laboratory/counter/roasting facility, for two or three rounds of Panamanian geishas.

Proud Mary —172 Oxford St., Collingwood
Aunty Peg’s — 200 Wellington St., Collingwood

L.A. bars offer something for everyone. Want to sip amaro cocktails in a moody Echo Park bar? We’ve got the spot for you. Or maybe you prefer a beachside tiki haunt with frozen Dole Whip and crab rangoons. What about a sprawling West Hollywood rooftop overlooking the hills, or a destination for locally produced sake in Sawtelle Japantown? Much like the drinks that flow from these newly established institutions, the options are endless.

A neighborhood favorite dive relaunched in its former Echo Park location, while a new gastropub brings Korean bar culture to Highland Park. In West Hollywood, a karaoke lounge elevates the art with luxurious surroundings, and just next door, a lesbian-owned LGBTQ+ club debuted just in time for Pride Month. Tapas seemingly is taking the city by storm, with two Spanish cafes on opposite sides of the city offering pintxos and bocaditos alongside vermouth and Tempranillo wines.

Nonalcoholic options are more thoughtful than ever, presenting those of us who aren’t drinkers with smart and layered concoctions that prove just as complex as their boozy counterparts. In Los Feliz, a veteran bar team launched a cocktail destination that puts the focus on L.A.’s seasonal produce, and in Beverly Hills, a three-Michelin-starred chef is behind a stylish new restaurant and lounge in a luxury retail shop. Here are 23 of L.A.’s best new bars to visit this summer and beyond. — Danielle Dorsey

THE most beautiful pubs in the UK have been revealed – ranging from historic inns to more modern upgrades.

The winners were named in Camra’s Pub Design Awards, across a number of different categories.

The Historic England Conservation Award was given to the pub which “carefully preserved the pub’s historical architectural features“.

Coming out on top is Woodman in Birmingham, which dates back to 1897 when it was a public house for Ansells Brewery,

Since then, it has undergone a £300k renovation back in 2024, which saw the restoration of the Victorian tile walls as well as the woodwork throughout.

It is also right by Old Curzon Street Station, part of the new HS2 line which will open in 2030.

Two winners were named for the Conversion to Pub Use award, which is for buildings that were not originally built as pubs.

One of the winners is Blue Stoops in London, which used to be a wine bar.

Found near Notting Hill Gate Station, it has been turned into a pub by Allsopp’s Brewery and since its opening, people have raved about the food menu as well as the atmosphere.

The pub is a joint winner with St Peter’s Tavern in Liverpool, which is a converted Roman Catholic Church.

Much of the grand interiors remain, including the Lady Chapel and original alter.

The Leyton Engineer pub in London won the Refurbishment Award.

It originally opened in 2012 as a pop up pub for the Olympics, taking over Leyton Town Hall, and reopened in 2024 after a huge revamp.

And the Community Local Award went to Lord Southampton in London, which was praised for being a space for local groups.

Pub Design Awards judging panel chair Andrew Davison said: “In these troubled times, the pub still has a key role to play in our communities, and those who are working to conserve, repair and renovate them should rightfully be applauded.

“The Pub Design Awards recognise the extraordinary amount of effort, the imagination and design, plus high-quality craftsmanship which have gone into all of these projects”

Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, co-CEOs of Historic England, added: “Pubs continue to be cherished historic spaces for people across the country.

“Each pub is distinct, telling the story of the community they stand within and continue to serve.”

When it’s sunny outside, there’s nothing better than relaxing on a spacious rooftop overlooking the downtown skyline, Hollywood Hills or the Pacific Coast.

Recently, a spate of alfresco terraces have opened across Los Angeles, giving us new views of neighborhoods we rarely glimpse from on high, like Old Pasadena and the San Gabriel Mountains, Beverly Hills mansions and the Long Beach harbor with the historic Queen Mary glinting under the sun.

With globe-trotting menus, nightly DJs and sippable cocktails that beg one more round, these seven new L.A. rooftops are all vying for a spot in your summer rotation.

OUR Spotlight ON column takes an in-depth look at the best things to see and do in popular holiday destinations, as well as shining a light on some lesser-known spots.

This week we’re focusing on Folkestone, the newly-revived Kentish coastal town.

The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey, who lives there, has shared some of her best kept secrets.

She said: “Being just 52 minutes from London, Folkestone is one of the easiest beach towns to get to by train in the country.

“It hopes to reopen the funicular again this summer after years, and you can find live music most weekends at the harbour too.

“My favourite spot? Gaia Studios for a huge cocktail list (and they’re branching out into brunch too).”

MUST SEE / DO

Who says art only belongs in a gallery? The UK’s largest outdoor art trail winds through Folkestone and is completely free.

There are contributions from 46 artists including Antony Gormley, Tracey Emin and Yoko Ono. See if you can spot the Banksy too!

HIDDEN GEM

A picturesque zig zag path from the clifftops leads down to the Lower Leas Coastal Park.

The linear coastal gardens feel tucked away under the cliffs and are well-maintained with impressive planting and a prime spot right alongside the beach.

If that wasn’t enough there’s also the South East’s largest free adventure playground which is being rebuilt and will open in the summer.

BEST VIEW

There’s nothing like enjoying the view of the sea, particularly at the end of the Harbour Arm sipping a glass of something bubbly at the Lighthouse Champagne bar.

Pick up a bite to eat from the many food stalls and restaurants on the arm or indulge in some independent shopping.

The Harbour Arm also boasts the UK’s largest beach spa so the best view might just be from the sauna, hot tub or a cold plunge barrel!

RATED RESTAURANT

The award-winning Rocksalt, a two-rosette restaurant overlooking the harbour, is where you will find the best seafood in town.

Make sure to try the seared Folkestone scallops, alongside a chunky piece of fresh bread made by Docker brewery just down the road.

A short drive away in Saltwood the only two star Michelin restaurant in the whole of Kent.

Hide & Fox serves modern British cuisine in an intimate and relaxed environment.

BEST BAR

The Radnor Arms came fifth in the Good Food Guide’s list of 100 best pubs in Britain.

It’s a cosy, renovated Victorian pub in the Bouverie district  serving a locally-sourced menu with roasts, brunches and  themed evenings including flatbreads, Asian night and steak night.

Prohibition-inspired speakeasy The Potting Shed only opens on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Obtain the password to slip into the backroom and be rewarded with a carefully crafted cocktail menu inspired by the underground culture of the speakeasy bars of the 1920s.

HOTEL PICK

Voco The Clifton is a traditional Victorian hotel with rooms decorated by local artists and views of the Channel, as well as Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill. 

Rooms from  £100 per night.

Or try the Burlington Best Western, a Victorian 4* hotel overlooking the famous Leas Promenade and the English Channel. 

Rooms from £75 per room per night.

THE World Cup is dominating England this summer, so why not up your footie game and swap the pub garden for the beach when England plays?

This beautiful spot in Cornwall is letting footie fans watch matches right on the beach with plenty of drinks on hand, from beer jugs to cocktail pitchers.

Shoreside on Carlyon Bay near St Austell is a coastal hangout with street-food pop ups, bars, live music and now, World Cup screenings.

On Instagram, Shoreside said: “Cornwall’s biggest World Cup Fan Zone & the best spot to watch the World Cup this Summer!

“With live pre-match entertainment, 4 dedicated bars, and a host of street food just a throw-in away, Shoreside is your definitive home for the World Cup.”

It will show “every England match” and other selected games on the big screen which is under a sheltered marquee so it won’t matter if it’s raining.

It adds “entry is free & tables are first come first served”.

For the first England game tomorrow there’s a live DJ to get everyone in the spirit before kick-off at 9PM.

From the four bars, visitors can order beer jugs, cocktail pitchers and enjoy snacks like chicken wings and burgers.

One Hidden Gems website described Shoreside as a “sleek beach shack that looks like it could have been plucked from California.”

For those who aren’t football fans, there’s plenty of other things to do and watch over summer at Shoreside.

Every Friday night, it hosts a line-up of live rock bands which take to the stage.

There are also silent discos, karaoke evenings, and quiz nights – all of which are completely free.

It’s not just Shoreside that has set up on Carlyon Bay, there are plenty of other food stops open throughout the day.

The Beach Cafe is open year-round serving soft drinks, coffee, tea and cakes.

Frooth offers smoothie bowls and matcha, Jasper’s Kitchen makes fresh stone baked pizzas.

When it’s really hot, Callestick Farm is the place to grab an ice cream with plenty of flavours from clotted cream vanilla to salted caramel.

There’s also OGY1 Pasty Shop, Crinnis Crib Hut, Herd, Stevie G’s Doghouse, Fry Buoys and a souvenir shop.

Carlyon Bay itself is two-miles long which visitors have called ‘beautiful’ and ‘unspoilt’.

It’s a popular spot for swimmers and lovers of watersports.

You can hire out wave runners, standup paddleboards, jet skis and kayaks and get out onto the waves.

Back on the sand, there’s also weekly sunrise yoga on Wednesdays and beach yoga every Saturday.

WATER slides, themed saunas, pool bars and a spa – could somewhere be more fun?

Suntago Water Park in Poland is the biggest indoor waterpark in Europe, offering enough fun for a multi-day visit.

And now, it is even easier for tourists to head to the park as a new bus service runs directly from Warsaw Chopin Airport to the park.

Having launched on June 1, the bus service will run until the end of the season on August 31.

The service from the airport takes around 45 minutes, runs a few times a day in each direction and costs around £13.20 return.

Visitors can also hop on a bus from Warsaw taking about 55 minutes and running each hour for £9.14 return.

Or catch one from Żyrardów taking about 20 minutes and running several times a day for £4.06 return.

Inside, the park really is huge with 18 pools, 35 slides and numerous saunas.

When it comes to the pools there are several featuring different minerals or chemical elements that have different health benefits.

For example, you could take a dip in the magnesium pool (34C), which is rumoured to help skin disorders as well as relax muscles.

On the other hand, if you want to soothe dry skin then head to the calcium pool (34C).

Other mineral pools include a lithium pool to reduce stress, a potassium pool which can help with reducing blood pressure and a sulphur pool ideal for visitors who suffer with joint issues.

If you’re not into mineral pools though and would rather go for a swim, then you can head to the outdoor pool instead, with a swim-up bar for a tipple.

Another outdoor pool even has a hot tub and – instead of a lazy river – a ‘crazy river’.

Back inside, there’s a bubbling spring pool (32C) and a wave pool, both ideal for relaxing and having a splash.

Though for a bit more fun, make sure to head on the Mamba Adventure River that’s a 130-metre long pool through a cave-like area with glowing green lights.

Little ones aren’t left out either as there is a baby pool right next to a Pirates’ Playground.

But there is more fun for kids than this, with 35 different waterslides across five floors.

These include three snake-themed rides where you even come out of a snake’s mouth.

On Anaconda, for example, you’ll be launched nearly 20 metres before racing through a number of twists and bends.

If you are brave enough there is another waterslide called Teleport, which features a fast and unexpected drop.

Families wanting to stick together can try out Toucan and Arara in four-person rafts or get competitive on racing waterslides.

If all those pools and slides weren’t enough, there’s also more than 13 different heated rooms, including saunas and a frigidarium.

There’s a classic wooden sauna with a viking-themed twist, heated to a near-boiling 95C and an Egyptian Village where there are five saunas themed around different areas of Egypt including the Sahara Desert.

If you like the idea of a sauna but don’t want it too hot, head to the Korean Sauna, that is 38C and also plays calming music.

Or for something more exciting, head into the Aquarium Sauna with a number of fish tanks to watch.

You could also be transported to the Maldives in the Paradise Beach sauna or to Mont Blanc in the chilly frigidarium which is -7C.

Last but not least, there is a salt grotto which has a “seaside-like microclimate” and blocks upon blocks of salt ideal for helping your nervous system.

If you want to level up your wellness experience, there is a spa onsite too.

After all the splashing about and relaxing, if you want a bite to eat there are a number of restaurants and cafes onsite.

You can make even it a whole weekend event by staying at the Suntago Village, just five minutes from the park.

Kids can only access the Jamango zone where you’ll find pools and the slides, costing from £20.10 a day.

On the other hand adults can access the Jamango zones, as well as the Relax and Saunaria zones from £33.30 a day.

The Delhi High Court grants bail to Kashmiri rights activist Khurram Parvez, jailed in India for nearly five years.

New Delhi, India — A prominent Kashmiri human rights activist who has been imprisoned for nearly five years has won a partial legal victory after being granted bail in a “terror funding” case, but remains in jail over a second case.

The Delhi High Court granted Khurram Parvez, 49, bail in a November 2021 case on Wednesday, according to legal website LiveLaw. However, he will remain in jail in a separate case from March 2023.

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Parvez was first arrested about five years ago by India’s main counterterrorism law enforcement bureau, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), over accusations of “terror funding”, recruitment of rebels in Indian-administered Kashmir and mobilising protesters during a civilian uprising. The second case is also related to alleged “terror funding”.

International rights groups have widely condemned Parvez’s arrest and continued imprisonment.

His lawyer, Swati Khanna, said she hoped Parvez could be freed from jail soon if there was a “positive result” in the second case.

“We are hoping, in a month or two, he could be out,” she told reporters.

The trial has not begun in either of the cases – an issue highlighted by international rights organisations, which say the process becomes the punishment for political prisoners in India who have to wait years behind bars before even facing trial.

The conviction rate in the counterterror law, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), remains low at 5 percent nationally. It dips further, to less than 1 percent, when it comes to Indian-administered Kashmir.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government has been criticised for persecuting dissent and criminalising expression in Kashmir, the country’s only Muslim-majority region.

“Khurram’s arrest proved to be the last nail in the coffin of any meaningful rights activism in Kashmir, one of the world’s most militarised zones,” said a political analyst based in Srinagar, Kashmir, who requested anonymity fearing repercussions from the authorities.

“This bail comes in a completely shallow, and nearly fictitious, trumped-up case after years in jail, and Khurram would still not walk free.”

Kashmir remains disputed between India, Pakistan, and China, which control parts of the region. Pakistan controls the northern and western portions – Azad Kashmir; and Gilgit and Baltistan. India controls the southern and southeastern parts – the Kashmir valley, including its biggest city, Srinagar; Jammu; and Ladakh. China controls the Aksai Chin area in the northeast.

The two neighbours have fought three major wars over Kashmir since the end of British colonial rule and their partition in 1947 led to the creation of Muslim-majority Pakistan and Hindu-majority India. Both countries continue to assert claims to the entire region of Kashmir.

David J. Rush, a former CIA officer who was arrested in May for stealing millions of dollars in gold bars and $2 million cash, allegedly set up a fake operation in order to convince a colleague to transfer the money to him. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo

June 6 (UPI) — A former Central Intelligence Agency officer who was caught with $40 million in gold bars allegedly created a fake intelligence program in order to steal the money.

David J. Rush was arrested in May and charged with theft of public funds after he lied to the agency about his military history, education and pilot license, and was then accused of stealing the gold bars and $2 million in cash that was found in his home.

U.S. officials have now said that Rush created a fake intelligence operation, or “special access program,” related to the “continuity of government operations” that he used to convince another agent to transfer the money to his operation, The New York Times and The Washington Post reported.

“He made up a contract,” one of the officials told The Post.

Rush allegedly read in two CIA colleagues on the fraudulent operation, which he claimed was related to keeping the government running in the event of a catastrophic event, such as destructive weather or a military attack.

It is not clear how the former officer was able to create a secret program and obtain the funds without involving superiors in the agency, but he managed to convince one of the colleagues to purchase the gold and transfer it to him.

The fact that Rush managed to apply to and was hired by the CIA using false credentials has raised questions about the agency’s background checks and security when hiring, the Times and the Post reported.

Additionally, several former U.S. officials question how somebody could be hired and then assigned to a significantly sensitive intelligence-gathering program that is classified.

Rush was caught and charged after the agency conducted a review of expenses and could not locate the gold or cash he had requested.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A former senior CIA official accused of stashing more than $40 million worth of gold bars from the federal government at his Virginia home was ordered to remain jailed until his trial after a hearing Friday where a defense attorney accused prosecutors of smearing the official with “sensational,” irrelevant allegations.

The defendant, David J. Rush, has both the means and motive to flee while the case against him is pending, U.S. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick ruled, citing Rush’s professional experience.

“He’s in a different position than most people to flee and avoid detection by law enforcement,” Fitzpatrick said.

Rush is charged with fraudulently claiming tens of thousands of dollars in compensation for military leave after he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 2015. He was arrested last month after investigators searched his home and seized more than 300 gold bars, roughly $2 million in U.S. currency and about 35 luxury watches, according to an FBI agent’s affidavit.

Rush’s attorney, Jessica Carmichael, noted that Rush isn’t charged with any crimes related to the discovery of the gold bars, which she referred to as “basically a non-issue” and “nothing more than a sensational tidbit.” She said Rush properly obtained the gold bars and kept them locked in a safe in his basement.

“Mr. Rush never claimed they were his,” she said.

Between last November and March, Rush requested and received a “significant quantity” of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for “work-related expenses,” according to the FBI affidavit. Justice Department prosecutor Gavin Tisdale said Rush wasn’t supposed to have the gold bars at his home.

“That’s the issue — his skirting of rules and regulations,” he said.

Tisdale briefly summarized the case against Rush in open court after a portion of the hearing was sealed from the public. The evidence against Rush “grows stronger by the day,” Tisdale told the magistrate judge.

“Mr. Rush simply cannot be trusted to abide by this court’s conditions,” he said.

Rush enlisted in the Navy in 1997 and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy Reserves as a lieutenant in 2015, according to the affidavit.

Authorities claim Rush lied about his education and military background on job applications, falsely claiming to be a former Navy pilot who graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University in South Carolina and a master’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York.

Investigators determined that he didn’t serve as a Navy pilot and didn’t attend either school.

Kunzelman writes for the Associated Press.

L.A. will soon explode in color as Angelenos and tourists alike don jerseys and wave flags representing their favorite soccer teams playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with some of the matches taking place at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium.

The action kicks off with Mexico vs. South Africa on June 11 and will continue through July 19, with later matches determined by which teams advance. Forty-eight countries are represented in the tournament, including heavyweights like Brazil and Argentina with multiple titles under their belts, and hopeful underdogs like Haiti, whose men’s team qualified for the competition for the first time in 52 years.

Local restaurants, sports bars, coffee shops and breweries are getting in on the action with World Cup viewing parties, complete with big-screen TVs, extended hours, food and drink specials, games, giveaways and live performances. Some require tickets or a reservation, but many are free, family-friendly and open to all.

Some spots are committed to screening every game throughout the tournament, while others are focused on championing the countries their cuisines hail from, including an Argentinian bistro in South L.A. offering discounted empanadas, a German beer garden in Eagle Rock serving vegan sausages and schnitzel and a Panamanian restaurant in Long Beach where you can watch the Central American team play while you sip soursop lemonade alongside jerk mac and cheese.

From Hawthorne to Sherman Oaks, here are 31 restaurants and bars screening World Cup matches this summer:

Media freedom advocates condemn move as latest effort to curtail independent reporting on the US military.

The United States Department of Defense has barred journalists from its press office, the latest move by the Pentagon to restrict media access since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

Acting Pentagon Press Secretary Joel Valdez said on Monday that the administration had re-designated the office as a “Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility” due to its use by speechwriters with access to classified government information.

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“These speechwriters routinely handle classified material and require SIPRNet access,” Valdez said in a statement provided to Al Jazeera, referring to the secure computer network used by the Pentagon to share classified information.

“As a result, journalists will no longer be permitted to enter the office space. Access to the office of the Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs and to the Press Secretary remains available by appointment only,” Valdez added, using the Trump administration’s preferred title for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The Washington Post first reported the change.

The move follows a slew of steps by the Trump administration to curtail the ability of US media outlets to report on the military and other areas of the government.

In March, the Defense Department said it would no longer allow media outlets to maintain offices at the Pentagon after a judge sided with The New York Times in a lawsuit challenging the imposition of new rules for obtaining press credentials.

The Pentagon also announced that journalists would require an official escort while inside the complex, a policy that The New York Times is seeking to overturn in a separate lawsuit filed in May.

The National Press Club, the main professional organisation for journalists in the US, condemned the latest restrictions as a “troubling escalation” in the Trump administration’s efforts to curtail media scrutiny of the Pentagon.

“Independent reporting on the US military is not optional,” National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr said in a statement.

“When journalists are pushed farther from the institutions they cover, the American people are left with less information, less transparency, and less oversight. Any effort to restrict that access should alarm everyone who values a free and informed society.”

The Freedom of the Press Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy organisation, also criticised the move.

“It’s rare for anything other than disingenuous spin and outright lies to come out of the Pentagon’s press office these days, so it’s hard to imagine what basis they have to call the space classified,” Seth Stern, chief of advocacy at the organisation, told Al Jazeera.

“The only thing sensitive or confidential about the information released by Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon is that it’s not true.”

May 28 (UPI) — A former CIA agent is accused of stealing nearly $40 million worth of gold bars and about $2 million in cash from the agency, and lying to the agency about his education, military history and pilot license.

David J. Rush of Virginia, who is described in a criminal complaint as a former senior executive with a top secret clearance, was arrested last week and charged with theft of public funds, The Washington Post, USA Today and NBC News. He also claimed about $77,000 of paid military leave for which he wasn’t entitled.

The FBI searched Rush’s home last week and found 303 gold bars that weighed 2.2 pounds each and are estimated to be worth about $40 million, according to an affidavit written by Special Agent Matthew Johnson, USA Today reported.

The FBI seized the gold from the home along with about $2 million in cash and 35 luxury watches, many of which were Rolexes.

From November 2025 and March 2026, Rush requested and received “a significant quantity of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for work-related expenses,” the affidavit said. When the government visited the storage facility where it was supposed to be stored, most of it was missing. The documents don’t list the reason he needed so much money and gold.

Rush had been in the Navy and was honorably discharged in 2015. But he allegedly told the agency that he was in the reserves for 10 years and took 744 hours of military leave during that time adding up to about $77,000, the affidavit said.

The affidavit alleges that Rush claimed to have a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University and a master’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. An FBI investigation found no record of him attending either school. He also claimed to have been a Navy pilot, but the investigation found no record of that, and the Federal Aviation Administration has no pilot’s license registered to Rush.

Rush is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and a detention hearing is set for June 5.

OUR Spotlight On column this week is chatting all things UK – this time the seaside town of Deal.

Based in Kent, the town has boomed in popularity in recent years as ex-Londoners ditch the city for the more laid-back life by the sea.

The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey, who lives near Deal said: “I’m seriously impressed with the food scene – and that’s coming from someone who wouldn’t even class herself as a foodie.

“Some of the restaurants rival or even surpass London, yet retain it’s traditional, laidback ambience.

“Sure, you can get your arcade hit and fish and chips, but it has a great family feel too – and a beach so big you will never run be fighting for space”.

Here are some of her other top tips from bars to shops if deciding to visit Deal.

MUST SEE/DO

The brutalist Deal Pier has been through three iterations – one in 1838, destroyed by a storm, followed by one in 1864 which lasted until World War II.

The current surviving structure was opened by the then-Duke of Edinburgh in 1957.

It is worth the windy walk to the end where you can stroll past men fishing over the walls, or to grab a coffee at Deal Kitchen Pier.

Otherwise save some time for exploring the pretty high street littered with independent shops and galleries – head into Hoxton Store for the best trinkets, or Don’t Walk Walk (intentional repetition) for some unique artwork.

HIDDEN GEM

Visit on Saturday mornings to catch the bustling market that takes over Union Road car park.

It dates back to 1699 and is the kind of market that is impossible to leave without picking up something.

From flowers and soaps to groceries and sweet treats, or just your classic antiques and bric a brac, it truly has it all.

Visit early – it opens at 8am in the summer – to avoid the crowds (and get the freshest cinnamon buns).

BEST VIEW

Where better for a view of the ocean than from Deal Castle?

Built by Henry VII as a sea defence system, walk up the steps to the bastions for uninterrupted seascapes.

Send any fussy kids to the underground passageways, where they can pretend to fight off invaders with wooden muskets.

English Heritage members visit for free (non-member adults pay £9.00, while kids between 5-17 pay £5. See english-heritage.org.uk)

RATED RESTAURANT

The Pelican is the place to be for the best food in town, where English seaside meets Japanese cuisine.

Skip the tables for one of the 10 bar stools surrounding the open kitchen to watch the chefs at work.

And come with an empty stomach so you can gorge on crab croquettes, pork katsu and bowls of freshly steamed rice.

Pop in on Thursdays and Sundays for their ramen menu, or nurse a sake martini downstairs in their Cellar Bar.

BEST BAR

Recently renovated, Le Pinardier will transport you straight to France.

The wine bar-cum-shop is one for taking pictures in, from the dusky pink striped cushions to the chequered tiles.

It has some of the best local wines and beers on tap, best chased by some oysters or charcuterie.

Fancy something more low key? Head to The Port Arms pub for traditional boozer vibes, and live music in the front beer garden in summer.

HOTEL PICK

The Rose hotel has won multiple awards since it opened in 2018.

With just eight rooms, it is stylish granny chic with floral wallpaper, grand velvet headboards and some even having rolltop baths.

Take advantage of the complimentary brandy nightcap as well as the free-to-use tandem bike for getting around town.

Or book a package that includes a spot of yoga and a massage at the sister The Pelicans Room.

Wake up to the sound of church bells before heading downstairs for a slap up breakfast at the restaurant – make sure to try the smoked salmon crumpet.

Rooms cost from £110 per night. See therosedeal.com

Holiday park’s across the UK have been ranked by the best for child-friendliness and the top 10 showcases sites with incredible facilities from outdoor heated pools to highly rated kids’ club

Fresh rankings have unveiled the top family campsites across the UK, and their locations hidden in the most peaceful corners of the countryside make them a tempting treat.

As more families ditch overseas holidays in favour of budget-friendly breaks closer to home, outdoor getaways have surged in popularity. But with young children in mind, not just any campsite will do — parents often seek out sites with top-notch facilities and plenty of entertainment to make the trip that little bit smoother.

A standout site in Pembrokeshire has been crowned Britain’s finest, according to new data from Pitchup.com, which analysed nearly 200,000 verified customer reviews to compile its top ten list.

The rankings reveal that the highest-scoring site for ‘child-friendliness’ is Trefach Holiday Park in Mynachlog-ddu, Clunderwen, Pembrokeshire, which earned an impressive 9.3/10 from guest reviews.

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One delighted visitor wrote: “I was recommended this site by a friend and we were not disappointed. It has a heated pool which we all thoroughly enjoyed on our stay. Fantastic food there. The whole site was so clean and tidy, and it was a very peaceful site. I would highly recommend it, and we will definitely be returning next year for a stay.”

What sets the park apart as a premier destination is its outdoor heated pool, where parents can unwind on the terrace with a cold drink while watching the kids splash about. For those looking to keep little ones occupied, there is also a highly regarded kids’ club alongside a wealth of entertainment facilities, including a play area and games room.

Also featuring on the list of the UK’s finest family-friendly campsites is Jubilee Camping in Hampshire at number two, and Panoramic Camping and Glamping in Swansea at number three. The Swansea site is a peaceful, rural retreat just a 10-minute stroll from a local pub, offering a back-to-basics camping experience. It also features its own bar and pizza oven on site.

Another standout, on the other end of the UK to the winners, is Riverside Holiday Village in Somerset at number 10, with a score of 8.7 for its child-friendliness.

The campsite is beloved for its tranquil setting along the river’s bend in Bleadon, and its convenient location, set a mere 10 minute drive from the bustling seaside town of Weston-super-Mare. Another being the huge amount of fun and entertainment for children with a games arcade and a heated indoor swimming pool on site.

It’s evident that the UK is brimming with outstanding camping destinations, with family-friendly sites spanning the length and breadth of the country — from Somerset and Devon to Swansea, Cheshire and Wiltshire.

Dan Yates, founder of Pitchup.com, said: “Camping and glamping holidays continue to be a popular choice for families looking to spend quality time together outdoors, particularly as more people seek flexible and affordable UK breaks. The sites featured in these rankings stood out for creating welcoming, family-friendly experiences that give children the freedom to explore while helping parents relax and unwind.

“We’re seeing families place increasing value on outdoor space, nature and simple shared experiences, whether that’s wildlife watching, campfires or easy access to beaches and walking routes. The variety of sites featured across the UK also shows there’s strong demand for family-friendly stays in every corner of Great Britain.”

The UK’s best family friendly campsites

• Trefach Holiday Park, Pembrokeshire
• Jubilee Camping, Hampshire
• Panoramic Camping and Glamping, Swansea
• Little Thornham Holidays, Wiltshire
• Magical Malpas PYO Farm, Cheshire
• Auchingarrich Wildlife Park, Perthshire
• Puddleduck Glamping, Lancashire
• South Ford Farm Camping, Devon
• Poplar Grove Farm Caravan Park, Lancashire
• Riverside Holiday Village, Somerset

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes suspends use of law to reduce prison sentences, pending further review.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has barred the implementation of a law that could dramatically reduce the prison sentence of former President Jair Bolsonaro for involvement in a coup plot after his loss in the 2022 election.

De Moraes ordered the law’s suspension on Saturday until the Supreme Court can convene a full hearing to consider appeals challenging its constitutionality.

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Bolsonaro’s conviction for involvement in a plot to remain in office after losing to left-wing rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2022 has become a cause celebre for the country’s political right, which has pushed for Bolsonaro’s release from prison.

The Supreme Court sentenced the former far-right president to 27 years in prison in September, but a law passed by Brazil’s conservative-majority Congress in December would apply to Bolsonaro and others convicted in the plot, paving the way for reductions in their sentences.

President Lula vetoed the bill in January, but a vote led by Bolsonaro’s allies in Congress overrode the veto in late April.

Plaintiffs have subsequently asked the Supreme Court to overturn the bill, stating it is unconstitutional.

Lawyers for those convicted must file individual requests for sentence reduction. The ruling by de Moraes essentially suspends such requests until the court has had the opportunity to decide on the law’s constitutionality.

Lawyers for the 71-year-old Bolsonaro filed a new appeal to the Supreme Court on Friday, asking it to overturn what they called a “miscarriage of justice”.

Bolsonaro’s conviction and sentencing remain a matter of controversy in Brazil, where his allies have decried it as a political witch-hunt.

Opponents have welcomed it as a necessary form of accountability, from which not even former presidents are exempt.

SPAIN

Tamarindos, Es Grau, Menorca

On Menorca’s north-east coast, Es Grau is a low-key village with a crescent of dark sand in a fan-shaped bay, behind which is the s’Albufera des Grau nature reserve. Tamarindos is actually two places: as you reach the Mediterranean, look left to see the bar, with shady tables under the trees; look right for the restaurant, with a terrace on stilts over the duck-egg-blue water.

At the bar, I go for the grilled brioche stuffed with sobrasada sausage, punchy Mahón cheese and local honey with a glass of local merluzo white wine. In the restaurant, my favourite is the paella with Menorcan red prawns, but the artichoke and seaweed version is good, too. Later on, you’ll find me back under the trees with a pomada – Xoriguer gin mixed with lemonade and crushed ice.
Paella from €26 per person
Annie Bennett

La Mar de Fondo, Playa de Frexulfe, Asturias

On one of the least developed stretches of the Spanish coast sits the stunning Playa de Frexulfe. It forms part of a protected landscape of dunes, cliffs and rare coastal flora between the fishing towns of Navia and Puerto de Vega. It’s a rare glimpse of what Spain looked like before tourism; there is virtually no development – except for the best beach bar ever.

La Mar de Fondo is a creaky wooden structure perched on a hill overlooking the near kilometre-long beach. The vibe is as laid-back and wild as the landscape. It serves food and drinks, and though I’ve never stayed for a meal, it holds a special place in my heart as the spot where I spilled out of my first sleepless night of van life. The contrast between a smelly mosquito-filled vehicle and a quiet morning coffee, watching the water sparkle through the eucalyptus trees, goes down as one of my favourite travel moments.
Meal about €30
Alyssa McMurtry

Restaurant La Isleta, La Isleta del Moro, Almería

Teetering on a rocky peninsula on the Cabo de Gata coast, jutting out into the Mediterranean, is a tiny, white-washed fishing village, La Isleta del Moro: population 200. Sleepy and remote, it shot to fame briefly in 2018 when Arnold Schwarzenegger arrived in town to shoot scenes for Terminator: Dark Fate. Its few buildings are clustered on the waterfront, with Restaurant La Isleta in prime position, perched on the rocks by the jetty. Sitting on the terrace under a palm-thatched roof, you can hear the waves lapping beneath you, and watch the fishers haul their boats up the beach.

My arrival was more low-key than Arnie’s, arriving on foot while walking the coast, but the timing was perfect for a sundowner – an ice-cold beer as the sky turned Technicolor over the cliffs. As they say in these parts: I’ll be back.
Average meal €50
Lois Pryce

El Refugio, Zahara de los Atunes, Costa de la Luz

With perfectly framed views of grassy dunes, a sweep of white sand and a sapphire horizon of rippling Atlantic waves, El Refugio is an understated bar-restaurant in the village of Zahara de los Atunes. Wrapped around the simple whitewashed restaurant, a terrace shaded by an immense fig tree offers sun or shadow as well as salty breezes, which sometimes whip up wildly. Later, flamboyant sunsets paint the sky.

Food leans heavily on atun rojo (bluefin tuna), rich and buttery, the much-prized speciality of this coast ever since the Phoenicians introduced the almadraba fishing technique 3,000 years ago. Another local classic is tender, low-fat retinto steak, while salads, gazpacho and affordable Spanish wines help propel the mainly hipster clientele through long, lazy afternoons. No bookings though – El Refugio’s burgeoning popularity has led to a waiting-list system at the door.
Three-course lunch about €35, plus wine
Fiona Dunlop

FRANCE

Le Cabanon, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Provence

You can smell the steaming clams and freshly baked focaccia well before you reach the bottom of the 100 steps down to Le Cabanon on the Plage du Buse. The bar-restaurant has had several management changes since I first visited a decade ago, but is always a fabulous place for a summertime drink overlooking the protected bay and headland where designer Eileen Gray built her modernist villa, E-1027, and Le Corbusier his wooden beach hut.

Le Cabanon reopened this April with a new side-hatch serving coffees, sublime gelato and goblets of Aperol spritz to beachgoers. It looks like a beachside conservatory with an open kitchen and a dozen tables upstairs on a shaded terrace. I always sit on its huge trunk of blanched driftwood to watch the cormorants, kayakers and distant super yachts.
Mains €20-30
Jon Bryant

Le Cabanon de Paulette, Marseille

Le Cabanon de Paulette is a seaside watering hole that hooks you in from the first sip. It hugs a stone wall above the Plage de l’Abricotier, a small, sandy cove, and every stool has a front-row view of the Mediterranean and nearby Frioul islands. Though trendy, the bar has a convivial vibe, and the staff exude the warmth of the south.

I recommend the fried squid, octopus salad and famous moules frites de Mamie Paulette (garlic-cream mussels named for the owner’s grandmother). Bottles of rosé mirror the blushing sky at sunset, the golden hour that bathes revellers in a gorgeous glow while being serenaded by guitars. In the distance, ferries head towards Corsica.
Meals €15-20, cash only
Alexis Steinman

Le France, Saint-Marc-sur-Mer, Loire

There’s a beach on France’s Atlantic coast that remains dear to many French people’s hearts thanks to its role in the classic 1953 Jacques Tati film, Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot. The film follows Tati’s much-loved character as he leaves chaos at every turn of his summer holiday.

I love that Monsieur Hulot is celebrated at the quiet beach with a bronze statue leaning over the railings in his characteristic hands-on-hips style. Beneath, Le France restaurant opens out on to the golden sand, with sun umbrellas and deckchairs giving it a suitably retro feel. The menu features seafood platters and moules-frites, and the service is laid-back – in keeping with the vibe of Tati’s dreamy film.
Mains from €17
Carolyn Boyd

La Cale, Blainville-sur-Mer, Normandy

France’s northern coast, with its stiff breeze and broad sandy beaches, will feel familiar to a British audience – until lunchtime rolls around. Starchy, white-tableclothed restaurants serving up elegant platters of fruit de mer are lovely things, but sometimes on holiday you just want chips on the beach. Enter La Cale, a seaside shack on Normandy’s Cotentin peninsula, where you can enjoy good French cooking with your feet literally in the sand.

It serves all the classics, including platters of oysters and pots of moules with crispy frites, plus sausages and gigots of lamb cooked on the open fire, out on a ramshackle terrace that’s all but falling into the dunes. Don’t expect formality – the owner is a character, the bathrooms rustic – and don’t miss the local ciders, or tergoule, a sweetly spiced, very Normande, rice pudding.
Average meal €20-30
Felicity Cloake

L’Oasis, Plomodiern, Brittany

I stopped off at L’Oasis by chance, but this brilliant beachside restaurant on Brittany’s wild Finistère coastline immediately went to the top of my list of favourite discoveries. A striking yellow stone manor house looks out over the Plage de Pors Ar Vag (Breton for “boat cove”), the beginning of a 2-mile stretch of sandy beach. Chilling out on a manicured lawn above the lapping waves, diners sip glasses of chilled muscadet wine or artisan cider.

At sunset, the last surfers and family holidaymakers slowly leave the beach, while the restaurant offers memorable local seafood at affordable prices. Oysters and langoustines are a must, but more surprising are the signature juicy palourde clams grilled with garlic and parsley. And the profiteroles topped with hot chocolate sauce and Chantilly cream are to-die-for.
Three-course menu €27 at lunch, €32 for dinner
John Brunton

Le Marinella, L’Île-Rousse, Corsica

There’s something deeply relaxing about sliding your toes into the sand while having a lazy lunch and drinking Corsican rosé by the sea. Le Marinella sprawls across the wide expanse of L’Île-Rousse’s beach on Corsica’s northern Balagne coast, where there’s also a lovely morning food market worth visiting. While you can sit on one of Le Marinella’s covered terraces, it’s more pleasurable to kick off your flip-flops and linger over a moreish Corsican take on tapas under the shade of a parasol.

Fried balls of brocciu cheese, saucisson, anchovy beignets and tapenade remind me that Corsican cuisine historically leans more inland than towards the sea – piracy made living on the coast too dangerous. But then along comes a bowl of mussels in a sea urchin sauce to take me firmly back to the Mediterranean and, eventually, to one of the restaurant’s sunloungers.
Tapas €22, mussels €20
Mary Novakovich

ITALY

Trattoria Da Patrizia, Naples

Trattoria Da Patrizia is easy to miss, tucked between the smarter restaurants on the peninsula of Megaride, on the Naples seafront. The plastic chairs, chequered paper tablecloths and handwritten menu disguise what I believe to be the best (in all its simplicity) seaside lunch spot in the city. One sweltering August, when most Neapolitans had decamped somewhere cooler, I found myself there almost every day seeking refuge: tomato bruschetta to start, a big bowl of spaghetti alle vongole, and a carafe of cold falanghina white wine.

After lunch, the nearby boulders that line the fringes of the promenade make for a perfect sunbed, a lazy doze in the shadow of the majestic Castel dell’Ovo, and then a dip in the sea alongside the raucous scugnizzi – Naples’ beloved street urchins – terrifying anyone who cares to watch as they jump from the footbridge into the warm shallow water of the Borgo Marinari marina.
Meal from €20
Sophia Seymour

Il Pirata, Termoli, Adriatic coast

From Termoli, capital of Italy’s south-eastern Molise region, the sandy beach stretches for miles, lined with a paved cycle track and footpath. About 15 minutes’ walk from town is a “free” beach called Il Fratino, after the plovers that nest there. The September I was there the water was clear and inviting, the sand golden and warm. But the real triumph came at lunchtime. About 100 metres up the beach, looking like an overgrown shepherd’s hut, is restaurant Il Pirata.

Staff settled us on a balcony table and proceeded to wow us with dish after memorable dish. Mussels pepata (with lemon and black pepper), great pasta (fish bolognese and masterful linguine with shrimps, lime and pistachio) and roast octopus on broccoli rabe and burrata all went beautifully with chilled local trebbiano (white wine). The meal became a family benchmark for beachside lunches. Now, “nearly as good as Il Pirata” is praise indeed.
Two courses about €25
Liz Boulter

Bar Piero, Lavagna, Liguria

It’s not Rapallo, seven miles to the north, nor Sestri Levante, five to the south. In short, it’s not chic. In Italian, Lavagna means slate, which they were quarrying in Roman times. The beach is shale, shelving steeply, but the sea is a dazzling summery blue.

Right above the sea wall, on the promenade, is Bar Piero, a kiosk with white tables under white sunshades. It serves delicious fresh brioches that tend to run out after 10am. By 11am, there’s the sound of ice being vigorously shaken for cocktails, the smell of focaccia wafting from the oven. Then all the standard Italian fare at lunch, afternoon beer and spritz, and meat sizzling in the seaside dusk, with the gentle ebb and flow of strollers along the promenade and the sun melting into sea. Hard to beat.
Panini about €6
Tim Parks

GREECE

Bardis, Loutraki Bay, Crete

The best table I know is perched over shifting Greek seas and backed by lush green hillsides. Bardis is a taverna-cum-organic farm in Loutraki Bay, western Crete (population: three families). This is where I take visitors and Greek friends alike, and all invariably leave raving about it. Husband and wife Theo and Vasiliki serve up traditional food, cooked with great technical skill. Their focus is on freshly caught fish and seafood (try the fish soup), homegrown vegetables and meat classics.

It slopes down to a pebble beach on a gulf where turtles and dolphins can be seen. Stare to sea, the source of that seafood; lie in hammocks among shade-giving trees. Go early, have breakfast, stay the day (or night by arrangement). Lounge, lunch, swim, shower. Do not leave before dinner.
Meal €25-€30
Susan Smillie

Aperanto Galazio, Varkiza, Athens

Greeks are spoilt for choice when it comes to beach cafes and tavernas – even in the capital’s seaside suburbs. Aperanto Galazio (The Big Blue – like the Luc Besson film) began as the canteen for the Varkiza Sea Sports Club (which produces Olympic athletes) and morphed into a popular, unpretentious taverna. It is perfect for sunny off-season lunches; on blustery days, the waves surge across the broad sandy bay and windsurfers speed by. It is also a breezy evening refuge in a heatwave, when tables with oil lamps are placed on the shingle and Athenians cool off in the shallows. As you sip cold beer or an iced ouzo and look out to sea, you feel you’re on an island. The food is reliable rather than gourmet, with a traditional seafood menu: filleted sardines, calamari, fresh salads and vegetables, and homemade tzatziki.
Meal with wine around €30
Sofka Zinovieff

PORTUGAL

Camaleão Beach Bar, Ilha da Armona, Algarve

There’s a fork on the boardwalk on the island of Armona, giving you the choice to head to the Atlantic beach, or to the one along the edge of the Ria Formosa. Choose the left path and you will find a bar with low chairs in the sand and views out over the dunes to the sea.

To my mind, Camaleão has one of the best beach bar locations in the world. So much so that I bought a house on this tiny island, just a five-minute walk from this very spot. It’s the place to drink ice-cold Super Bock, a caipirinha or a pick-me-up espresso martini. The music is a bit cheesy lounge-core, but when you can hear the sea and nip down to it to cool off, it’s a small price to pay. Ilha da Armona is a 15-minute ferry ride from the town of Olhão; Camaleão Beach Bar is a 20-minute walk from the ferry.
Audrey Gillan

Few beach restaurants balance Atlantic views and passionately prepared, good-value seafood as well as Chá com Água Salgada, perched on stilts above the eastern Algarve’s dunes. My first mouthful at this place – wine-sizzled clams hand-harvested from the nearby Ria Formosa natural park’s barrier islands – prompted instant devotion.

Then there is Thai-style tuna tartare with kiwi granita and samphire-infused cataplana, a fish stew steamed in the Algarve’s signature copper cooking pot. To finish, the goat’s cheese ice-cream, carob jam and fig leaf gourd is perfection. Post-lunch, paddle west to the peninsula beach where fishing boats bob beneath a diminutive clifftop fortress at the village of Cacela Velha.
Meals from about €20
Daniel James Clarke

Cal Arrifana, Praia da Arrifana, Algarve

Naming a favourite restaurant when in Portuguese company is a tense business for expats – only raising Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement carries more risk. So it was a great relief to find a circle of locals nodding with approval recently as I pledged my devotion to Cal Arrifana on the Algarve’s wild, western Costa Vicentina.

Embracing every sunset from its clifftop perch above the vast golden amphitheatre of Praia da Arrifana, Cal is a trendy upstart in a fishing village famous for its seafood, catering to a boho crowd with cocktails and playful small plates since it opened in 2022. The mezcal-laced oyster platter, roasted octopus on soft hunks of Algarvian Lira sweet potato and goat’s cheese cheesecake with berry sorbet live on in the memory. I love how Cal’s shaded terraces pull in board-riders fresh off the point break and hikers traversing the 140-mile Fisherman’s Trail; it feels like a laid-back staging post for everyone paying their respects to the Atlantic at one of its most dramatic addresses.
Meals from about €20
Amelia Duggan

Bar Francemar, Praia de Francemar, Porto

The broad, handsome beach at Miramar, with its seaside shops and iconic chapel on the shore, is a natural draw for locals and visitors alike. But for a quieter, wilder beach experience, head 10 minutes on foot northwards along the wooden boardwalk to Praia de Francemar. Rare for the string of beaches just to the south of Porto, its shallows are free of rocks and stones, offering bathers a relaxed – albeit still chilly – entry into the sea.

The family-owned Bar Francemar, the only restaurant on this stretch of sandy dunes, is a local favourite for its old-style simplicity. Housed in a blue-painted shack, with an ample adjoining eating area, it offers a no-frills menu of seafood classics – best is the bream or, when in season (May-October), the sardines, which are grilled on a rustic barbecue. No need to book, but go early for lunch to guarantee a seat.
Meals from about €25
Oliver Balch

CROATIA

Banova Villa, Rab, Croatia

On little Sveti Ivan beach and under the shade of Aleppo pines sits the wilfully ramshackle Banova Villa beach bar, its muslin-draped pergola roof blending into the forest behind it. What looks like someone’s laundry hangs whimsically from the pergola’s beams, above distressed furniture and chunky, wooden tables.

In front is a pebbly beach with sunloungers to rent. When the sun sets over Rab’s magnificent Renaissance architecture, the soft golden light bringing more than a hint of magic, it’s time for me to settle in with an Aperol spritz.
Mary Novakovich

TURKEY

İncekum Beach, near Marmaris, Turkey

You’ve really got to want to get to İncekum; it’s about 5 miles off the main road to Marmaris, through winding country lanes. Once at the shady car park, an open-sided shuttle-tractor rumbles through more woodland to the beach. But it is well worth the effort; an isolated curve of fine golden sand and warm, clear water, loungers beneath the trees and cabanas dotted along the rocky shoreline.

Inevitably, a spot this beautiful does get busy. The restaurant does a nice line in classic Turkish dishes; freshly made gozleme stuffed with cheese or spinach, grilled kofte and tangy chicken doner kebabs.
Lunch for two from about 910 Turkish lira (£25)
Annabelle Thorpe

IRELAND

Linnane’s Lobster Bar, New Quay, County Clare

In the minuscule village of New Quay, Linnane’s Lobster Bar is housed in a centuries-old cottage and former post office at the end of a pier. From the jetty, a small, bone-white sandy cove gives way to the pale limestone slabs of the Flaggy Shore and wide, open water that shifts from steel grey to turquoise depending on the season. Inside, the bar is low-ceilinged and warm, with pints of Guinness settling on the bar. A terrace along the shoreline looks straight out to the ocean, where you can sit and watch the seascape that was the muse of Seamus Heaney’s poetry.

The menu leans on what is landed nearby. Local lobster is the headline act, served simply with butter or folded into salads and sandwiches. There are also mussels, oysters, crab claws and chowder – or a slab of Irish Hereford striploin for dedicated carnivores.
Mains €20–€30, more for lobster or steak
Vic O’Sullivan

UK

Goat Ledge, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex

A trio of brightly coloured huts named for the farmers who used to bring their goats to graze on the seaweed that covered a rocky reef, Goat Ledge is set right on the long stretch of shingle beach, with the town’s Regency terraces unfolding behind. But its shabby-chic vibe belies superb food and service.

We came first for sunset cocktails – perched on sherbet-hued deckchairs, while Bob Marley oozed out of the speakers – and have returned for dinners of salmon hash, or glasses of its own-label pale ale with a side of katsu fries. But for me, there’s nothing to beat the Decimus Burton Breakfast Bap (bacon, egg, chilli jam, mayo and rocket) straight after a summer dip. Just make sure you have plenty of napkins to hand.
Beers and dinner from about £40
Annabelle Thorpe

Cwt Tatws, Llŷn peninsula, Gwynedd, Wales

The finest beachside cafe I ever knew, sadly long disappeared, was salvaged entirely from driftwood and old fishing nets, the tables an assortment of rickety constructions where you could balance a tin mug. Cwt Tatws on Porth Towyn beach has a little bit of that salty style, although thankfully backed by a fully modern and professional kitchen, plus a decent shop and vintage clothing section, too.

Owned and run by S4C presenter Daloni Metcalfe and her husband, Will, this is a place deeply grounded in the local community – Will’s family have farmed here for five generations. A couple of hundred metres away is Porth Towyn beach, a short and sweet curve of golden sand with a few rocks to hide behind should the wind blow (let’s not pretend that it does not). It’s a kid-friendly spot and popular with families, but when you’re ready for refreshments, head back to the cafe for a great range of homemade sandwiches, salads and cakes with an emphasis on local and Welsh produce.
Sandwich with salad £7.95
Kevin Rushby

Driftwood Cafe, Archirondel, Jersey

Hiking Jersey’s east shore, rounding another crinkle, I spied the next bay ahead. And for a hot and hungry coast walker, Archirondel was the perfect scene. The clear blue sea – looking more like the Mediterranean than the Channel – swished up to fingers of craggy rock and scoops of flaxen sand. A squabble of gulls dazzled white in the shallows while a candy-striped tower (built 1792) stood guard.

Tucked behind was the Driftwood Cafe, run by Gabby Mason and her partner Leyton Hunnisett, both Jersey-born, both fishers. They deal in sustainably caught fish and seafood from Jersey waters, plenty of which make it on to the menu. I flopped on to the terrace with a crab sandwich (£16.50), thick-cut, fresh and delicious.
Sarah Baxter

Drift Cafe, Cresswell, Northumberland, England

My first visit to the long, empty sands of Cresswell beach, at the start of the 62-mile Northumberland Coast Path, was memorable for coastal wildlife – and for homemade food at the Drift Cafe. Since autumn 2025, it has been owned by Matt Bishop and Reece Gilkes, who were the first people to drive round the world by scooter and sidecar. They offer sidecar passenger tours, sometimes including afternoon tea at the Drift, as well as punchy coffee, pies and fry-ups.

There are toasties with slaw, chorizo brunch, gammon broth and everything is cooked on-site, from cheese scones to rum-raisin brownies. The cafe building was once the entrance to Blakemore drift mine, closed in the 1950s. The beach is steps away, through flowering dunes.
Chorizo brunch £12.95
Phoebe Taplin

Namaka, Broadstairs, Kent

The quiet man of the Thanet coast, wedged between trendy Margate and regal Ramsgate, Broadstairs has more than its fair share of good places to eat, but those majestic cliffs mean there aren’t many on its magnificent beaches. In Stone Bay, Namaka, the beach-hut sister to Salt on the High Street, is a little piece of California in Kent, right down to the surfboard on top.

Don’t come expecting fish and chips – Namaka’s menu is heavy on açai bowls and avocado, plus excellent banana bread, smoothies and coffee to enjoy on sun loungers on the sand of what, in my opinion, is the best beach in the area – wide and spacious and perfect for swimming. Popular with early-morning dog walkers grabbing a coffee, it graduates to serving cocktails and cakes to sunbathers and sandcastlers as the sun rises higher in the sky … because as locals rarely fail to mention, Thanet is officially “the sunniest coastal destination in the UK”.
Breakfast about £15
Felicity Cloake

Roll with the lobsters near Derek Jarman’s house in Dungeness, Kent

Dungeness is a place of wild beauty, a stretch of coast that knows fierce winds. Artist and gardener Derek Jarman’s cottage roof blew off at least once and the wind regularly wreaked havoc with his planting. Stubborn plants survive on this vast shingle beach and just as stubborn is the Snack Shack, with its opening times dependent on the weather, as its website says. On fair weather days it’s an ideal place to have lunch as you explore the peninsula. If you’re in luck they will not have run out of lobster rolls among other freshly caught seafood delights. Paying homage to Jarman and eating outdoors here replenishes the soul.
Charlotte

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Guardian Travel readers’ tips

Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers’ tips homepage

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Captain’s tables on the Brittany coast

Captain Marée, a 30-minute cycle from Vannes in Brittany, is a collection of mismatched tables and chairs beside two shacks on a shellfish farm on the Gulf of Morbihan. Here, you’ll find a simple menu featuring fresh oysters and mussels, all served by welcoming staff. The place offers wonderful views of the gulf and if you are really into your seafood, few places could offer better quality or a friendlier atmosphere.
Kelvin Atkins

Watch for seals on the Isle of Arran

Cladach Beach House is tucked away at the end of the strand in Brodick, on Arran. Outdoor cocktails (with a large dinosaur sculpture) if its sunny, a cosy fire inside the shack by the big windows if the weather closes in. It’s an adorable mix of homemade and glamorous as you watch for seals.
Clara

Select your fish from the daily catch near Narbonne, France

La Perle Gruissanaise lies at the end of the reclaimed wild end of Chalets beach not far from Narbonne in the south of France. Select your fish from the daily catch, and it’ll be expertly cooked by the chefs along with a selection of homemade sides. Then, grab a carafe of local chilled wine and take your seat on the wooden benches. There’s no table service and no reservations, just great food and drink – and uninterrupted views over the Mediterranean to the horizon. Alternatively, they’ll put together a fantastic platter to take away and enjoy at home or on the beach.
Doug

A thatched classic in County Sligo, Ireland

The west of Ireland is a rugged place full of nooks and crannies. In one of them is the Beach Bar at Aughris head, Templeboy. Follow the handmade signs that direct you off the main N59 Sligo road. Eventually, the road peters out at the curving beach overlooked by the thatched Beach Bar. There you can enjoy a bowl of chowder, local seafood and meaty classics, alongside friendly locals. On a fine day, you can sit outside and take in the majestic view across the sea to Sligo and beyond.
Tony Moon

Watch the sunset over the Libyan Sea in Crete

Perched above Matala’s legendary bay in southern Crete, Petra & Votsalo (on Facebook) is a gorgeous beachside taverna. Harris, the owner, greets everyone like family and sets an easy, unhurried tone. Two courses and a cold beer cost about €20. The terrace glows as the sun sets into the Libyan Sea. Order a starter of creamy, flaky tiropita cheese pastries followed by rich, tender stifado and an ice-cold Mythos. Finish with complimentary family-produced raki as waves roll in and light fades over the bay.
James Merriman

Cocktails in a medieval tower on the Adriatic in Croatia

Massimo cocktail bar (on Instagram) is the place to experience sunset on Korčula, Croatia. Space is limited so get there early. And if you don’t like heights or struggle with steep ladders, give it a miss! Your drinks will arrive by pulley from the bar below and, as you sit at your table on top of the medieval tower, you can see for miles across the sea to the neighbouring islands. The margaritas are highly recommended but remember you have to get back down the same way, so best to stick to one or two.
Gill

A beach bar for all seasons near Lisbon

The Bar do Guincho in Cascais near Lisbon is that rare thing, a beach bar for all seasons. It’s perfectly positioned for stunning Atlantic views and combines a rustic, welcoming vibe with a lively atmosphere. I have enjoyed the sunshine and a cocktail on the terrace there after lazing on the beach, but I’ve also cozied up by its blazing log fire in autumn with a warming bowl of fish soup. It’s an easy day trip from Lisbon, too – there are trains every 30 minutes from Cais do Sodré and the journey takes 40 minutes. Then you get the regular No 15 bus or a taxi to beautiful Praia do Guincho, which takes about 20 minutes.
Nicoletta

Seafood shack on the Black Sea, Bulgaria

Where Bulgaria meets Turkey on the Black Sea, you’ll find the sleepy resort of Sinemorets. The place has an eccentric feel, but nowhere more so than the seafood shack Taliana (on Instagram), which sits right on the rugged coastline. Mussels are a must-try, but everything is as fresh as you’d expect from the location – and incredible value. After driving halfway across the country on a slightly ill-advised trek, we arrived a little desperate, bedraggled and starved so it was great to receive a warm welcome and probably the tastiest meal of our whole trip.
Tim Alderson

Winning tip: Puglia perfection, near Gallipoli, Italy

Visible from the wide sandy beach at Lido Conchiglie, near Gallipoli in Puglia, Scapricciatiello (on Facebook) perches on a rocky spur reaching out into the sea. With its plastic chairs and paper tablecloths (which double as menus), it could certainly never be accused of being all style over substance. Yet what it offers instead is hard to beat: delicious, fresh local seafood, enjoyed beside turquoise waters. Adventurous diners can follow local tradition and sample the cozze crude (raw mussels), while other choices include spaghetti with mussels or clams, followed by fritto misto or grilled swordfish.
Katharine

FANCY holiday abroad vibes without actually leaving the country?

There’s some great hotels across the UK that feel like you’re somewhere like the Med or even Miami – so we’ve rounded up some of the best.

Roslin Beach Hotel, Southend -on-Sea

Roslin Beach Hotel is on the sandy beach of Thorpe Bay Beach is often compared to places in the US.

One previous guest said: “We could have been staying on the Florida Keys”.

It’s not the first time Southend-on-Sea has been compared to the US either.

In 2023, Tory councillor Daniel Nelson told the Southend Echo that tourism events played an important role “in the reinvigoration of the city and that Southend has the potential to become a Miami-on-Thames.”

The Gallivant, Sussex

The Hamptons is known for its white wooden buildings and sandy beaches. And The Gallivant in Camber Sands is often said to be similar.

The American comparison to the Essex seaside is because of the shaker style it’s built in – and you can even book a room called the ‘Large Hampton’.

Not only that, but the dune-backed beaches of Camber Sands are a spitting image of the ones in Montauk, a hamlet in East Hampton.

The Times said “think New York’s Hamptons by way of Camber Sands” while House & Garden added it “brings a bit of the Hamptons and Scandi-vibe to Sussex”.

The Nici, Bournemouth

If you’ve ever wanted a slice of Miami without wanting to leave the country, then why not head to… Bournemouth?

The Nici Hotel, found on the seafront of the seaside town, opened in 2022.

There’s the South Beach Restaurant, which serves “champagne afternoon teas and classics with a Miami twist”.

Otherwise other nods include retro cocktail cabinets in the rooms, faux palm trees throughout and even art of Che Guevara.

Previous guests have raved about it too – one said: “Beautiful setting and very cool decor. Feels like Miami!”

Gara Rock, Devon

A rarity in the UK, Gara Rock has its own private swimming pool overlooking the ocean more comment in the Med.

Grab some pizza and a glass of rose wine and you’ll feel like you’re hundreds of miles away.

It even has a private beach too, if you fancy an ocean dip, or plash out on a “beach butler” and you can get unlimited cocktails delivered straight to you.

Hotel Tresanton, Cornwall

In St Mawes is Hotel Tresanton and at first glance may not look much like Italy, but head down to the hotel’s own Beach Club which overlooks the cliffs and, with the blue and white striped umbrellas, will transport you straight to the Italian Riviera.

The website states: “The Mediterranean style brings a feel of the Amalfi coast, with blue and white striped umbrellas and semi-tropical planting.”

Or, splash out on the classic Italian sailing yacht–Pinuccia where you can spend the night onboard with dinner and breakfast – and a bottle of champagne.

One person even said:  “It’s like a perfectly decorated small Italian hotel on the Amalfi Coast but further north on the sea in Cornwall.”

Art’otel, London

One of the new hotels to open in the Battersea Power Station, Art’otel has some of the best views from the top.

The rooftop infinity pool could even double for Dubai, with its luxury sunloungers and skyscraper views.

Of course, it is usually only open to hotel guests although they do have some open events to non-guests.

This includes as aqua aerobics, aqua board pilates and yoga, all of which come with breakfast and start from £25.

OUR Spotlight On Column shines a light on both the little known and the much loved holiday destinations.

This week we’re talking Singapore, including some hidden gems and new hotels.

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

The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey recently visited.

She explained: “I didn’t expect to love the city as much as I did, but I loved how safe and clean it felt compared to other major cities.

“It’s the kind of place where you’ll never struggle to find amazing food, no matter what your budget it.

“Make sure to look up too – most buildings have living walls or rooftop gardens as strict rules mean any new structures must replace greenery it builds on.”

Here are some of our other top tips if you fancy a trip to the stopover city.

MUST SEE/DO:

The most fun way to get around the city is with a Singapore Sidecar (sideways.sg) where you are driven around by experienced riders.

With options of different tours, one of the best takes you everywhere from the finance district to the huge murals of Yip Yew Chong, who depicts scenes of traditional Singapore.

The tours include numerous photo stops, and the guides know all the answers to any questions you might have too.

Wait for night to fall and then hop over to Garden by The Bay to watch the light show of the famous trees.

HIDDEN GEM

The neighbourhood of Joo Chiat is no longer a hidden gem, after being named one of the world’s coolest neighborhoods.

But tourists often skip over Tin Yeang Restaurant, despite it being a great place to mingle with the locals.

It’s loud, its busy, but you can learn a lot about the culture while enjoying prata (crispy pancakes) with fish curry for just a few pounds.

It’s right by the multicoloured Peranakan houses too, so you can explore the mix of Chinese and Malay heritages afterwards.

BEST VIEW

When it comes to gardens, Singapore goes up by putting them on top of skyscrapers. 

And the best free view is found at Henderson Wave Bridge, the highest footbridge in the city,

Join the other joggers and dog walkers to get views of both the city and nature, without paying a penny.

RATED RESTAURANT

Keng Eng Kee is an institution of a restaurant.

Family-run for more than 50 years, sibling Paul, Wayne and Jia Min are joined by the rest of their relatives when it gets busy.

Plastic bibs are supplied (and needed) for the most popular dishes, the chilli crab, a well as the marmite chicken. Unusual, but salty and delicious.

Make sure to book, as they can easily serve up to 800 tables a weekend.

On a budget? Don’t forget Hawker Chan, an indoor market food hall where you can get Michelin meals for less than a fiver.

BEST BAR

If you only go to one bar, it has to be Jigger + Pony, often named one of the best in the world.

Think speakeasy interiors and pretend magazines that disguise the menu, peppered with articles of the bar’s history.

The Clover Club is a must but staff are also on hand if nothing takes your fancy, to mix something up for you.

You’ll find yourself spending hours there, with fantastic music and service encouraging you to stay late into the night.

HOTEL PICK

Mama Shelter‘s first hotel in Asia, the new opening last year is bringing French flair to Singapore.

The 115 rooms include an unusual two-person bunk option, the perfect option if staying with friends.

Mama’s restaurant is just as fun with eclectic interiors and live music. Try the Szechuan Crispy Chicken and a Ms Violet cocktail (followed by a hungover coffee at Mama Kiss cafe).

Rooms cost from £120 per night. See mamashelter.com.