fined

Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid has been fined $50,000 (£38,000) by the NBA, external for what the league determined to be a “lewd gesture” on the court.

The incident occurred during Philadelphia’s 109-108 loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday when Embiid, 31, scored while getting fouled and then made a chopping gesture to his groin.

Embiid has been fined for the gesture on multiple previous occasions.

In a post on X,, external which also contained the NBA’s social media post detailing his sanction, Embiid appeared to suggest the gesture was similar to a signal that officials make when calling a foul for blocking.

He said: “Yall better start fining the refs for doing the ‘lewd’, ‘blocking foul’ gesture since I’m not allowed to do it.”

Cameroon-born Embiid did not play in Sunday’s 129-105 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, sitting out the match as he continues to manage his recovery from a knee injury which required surgery earlier this year.

NEW YORK — Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball was fined $35,000 by the NBA on Thursday for making an obscene gesture on Tuesday night.

Ball was assessed a technical foul for making the gesture with 4:02 to play in the fourth quarter of a 144-117 loss to Miami. He finished the game with 20 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

Ball leads the Hornets in all three categories through their first four games with averages of 26.3 points, 9.5 assists and 8.3 rebounds.

Charlotte hosts the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.

A viral video showing a woman freezing her açaí bowl to get it past security has sparked a warning from experts, who say the hack could lead to a £5,000 fine for UK travellers

Social media, particularly TikTok, has emerged as a breeding ground for so-called “travel hacks.” Holidaymakers frequently rely on content creators for guidance on maximising their flights and hotel experiences.

Nevertheless, much of the guidance discovered online should be approached with considerable scepticism, particularly when it doesn’t originate from a qualified professional. This has proven true with one passenger’s footage, which has captured the attention of travellers and has now been viewed more than a million times.

In the footage, she demonstrates how she smuggles her açaí bowl through airport security: by freezing it before placing it in her hand luggage, reports the Express.

The post sparked confusion in the comments section, with one viewer questioning: “Wait, how did you get this through security?”, and another cautioning: “Pretty sure this is still considered a liquid.”

Now, travel specialists are offering their verdict – and they have one stark warning.

According to Amanda Parker, spokesperson for Netflights, freezing açaí bowls or similar liquids to stop security screening isn’t merely ineffective – it could lead to your snack being seized or, worse still, a substantial penalty.

“According to official government guidelines, you’re not allowed to carry frozen items in your hand luggage,” the travel expert clarified.

“Even though this açaí bowl is frozen, it’s still considered a liquid and security will treat it as a liquid.

“Your treat may start to thaw when you pass through airport security, and if it exceeds the 100 ml liquid limit, it’ll be going straight in the bin. Plus, the spillage while you carry it, not worth the hassle.”

And the danger doesn’t stop at security checks, as travellers jetting back to the UK could find their bowl’s contents triggering alarm bells with customs officials.

Numerous favourite toppings and ingredients – from dairy products to seeds and fresh fruit – violate UK border regulations.

“There are restrictions on bringing food back to the UK, too. Meat, dairy, fish, fruit, veg, nuts and seeds are all no-nos,” Amanda cautioned. “You could face a £5,000 fine if you break these rules.

“As açaí bowls are normally topped with nuts and seeds, plus they’re dairy, it’s important not to freeze your açaí bowl for your flight home to the UK, as you could pay the price.”

After 12 years on the Los Angeles City Council, Curren Price will be term-limited out of the legislative body this coming year.

The candidate he hopes will replace him comes from his staff, his deputy chief of staff, Jose Ugarte, who has been referred to in the past as Price’s “right-hand man.”

But with many months to go before ballots are cast, Ugarte is already in hot water with the city’s Ethics Commission.

According to documents released by the commission, Ugarte has agreed to pay a $17,500 fine for repeatedly failing to disclose outside income he made from his lobbying and consulting firm while also working as a council staffer.

A commission investigation found that Ugarte failed to report outside income from his consulting firm, Ugarte & Associates, for the years 2021, 2022 and 2023, according to the documents.

The Ugarte proposed settlement is set to go before the Ethics Commission on Wednesday.

“This was an unintentional clerical reporting error on my part. As soon as I was made aware, I took full responsibility and corrected them,” Ugarte said in a statement emailed to The Times. “I take disclosure seriously. Moving forward, I have implemented steps to ensure nothing is missed.”

Ugarte said his work with Ugarte & Associates never overlapped with his time in Price’s office. He started working for Price in 2013, but left the office in 2019. He returned in 2021. Ugarte & Associates was formed in 2018 and still conducts business. He co-owns the company with his sister.

The settlement comes as Ugarte’s boss faces his own ethics quandary.

Price was indicted two years ago on 10 counts of grand theft by embezzlement after his wife’s consulting firm received payments of more than $150,000 between 2019 and 2021 from developers before Price voted to approve projects.

Prosecutors also said Price failed to list his wife’s income on his ethics disclosure forms.

Prosecutors have since filed additional charges against Price saying his wife, Del Richardson, was paid hundreds of thousands by the city housing authority while Price voted in favor of millions in grants to the agency. He also wrote a motion to give $30 million to the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority from 2020 to 2021, a time frame in which Richardson was paid more than $200,000 by the agency.

Price said he supports Ugarte despite the ethics violation.

“This matter dates back to 2021, when he was not employed by the city, and is clerical in nature,” Price said in a statement texted to The Times. “I wholeheartedly support Jose Ugarte, alongside an unprecedented coalition of elected officials, labor groups, and community leaders who stand behind his character, leadership and proven record of results.”

Ugarte is one of the leading candidates running to represent Council District 9, which covers South Los Angeles. He raised $211,206 in the first reporting cycle of the election, far outpacing his rivals.

One of Ugarte’s opponents, Estuardo Mazariegos, called the Ethics Commission findings “very disturbing.”

The Ethics Commission also alleged that Ugarte’s documents about outside income, known as Form 700s, failed to report clients who gave $10,000 or more to Ugarte & Associates.

Those clients were mostly independent expenditures for local candidates.

His firm was paid $128,050 to help with the reelection campaign of Congressman Jimmy Gomez (D-California). It was also paid $222,000 by Elect California to help with the reelection campaign of Mitch O’Farrell among other clients.

“This proposed settlement raises more questions than it answers: Are these the only payments Ugarte hid? Why was he concealing them from the public? And above all, how did these massive payments in outside interests affect Jose Ugarte’s work as a city employee?” Mazariegos said in a statement to The Times.

USC was down to two walk-ons in its battered backfield, when Trojans coach Lincoln Riley decided to dress injured sophomore running back Bryan Jackson for the second half of Saturday’s win over Michigan, despite the fact Jackson was listed by the team as out on the Big Ten’s pregame availability report.

Riley explained the decision to play Jackson after the game, describing it as “a unique situation” and “a wellness issue.” But on Monday, the Big Ten chose to slap USC with a fine of $5,000 for violating conference rules regarding its availability reports.

“Although these circumstances were unfortunate, it is critical for availability reports to be accurate,” a Big Ten spokesperson said. “Consequently, the conference is imposing a $5,000 fine and admonishes all institutions to use the “out” designation only if there are no circumstances under which a student-athlete could participate in a game. The conference considers the matter closed and will have no further comment.”

Jackson hadn’t suited up since Week 1 while dealing with a lingering turf toe issue. Coming into the game, Riley said that Jackson was unlikely to play “outside of a near catastrophe.” But when one back, Eli Sanders, suffered a potential season-ending injury in the first quarter, and another, Waymond Jordan, seriously injured his ankle in the second, plans changed quickly.

Riley said on Saturday night that USC was in communication with the league office at the time and explained the situation to conference officials beforehand.

Jackson was medically cleared by USC and entered the game in the fourth quarter. He rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown in five carries.

“The kid was ready to go and stepped up,” Riley said. “That’s what you gotta have, man. You gotta have tough guys to play through stuff if you want to win at this level.”

It is generally not allowed to take a child on holiday during term time in the UK and can result in a fine of up to 160 – but there may be exceptions

If you’re planning a winter getaway to escape the UK’s chilly temperatures, be warned – you could face a £160 fine if you pick the wrong time. In the UK, taking children out of school for a holiday during term time is generally not permitted and can result in a penalty.

This follows last year’s confirmation from the Department for Education that UK schools must consider issuing a fine if a child misses 10 or more sessions without authorisation. Remember, 10 sessions equate to five school days, as each day is split into two sessions – morning and afternoon.

When a fine is handed out, parents are only required to pay £80 if they settle it within 21 days of receipt. However, if payment is made within 28 days, the fine doubles to £160.

If a parent has previously been fined for the same child within a three-year period, the higher rate of £160 is automatically applied. Moreover, parents could find themselves in deeper hot water if they exceed the limit of two fines within any three-year period. This could lead to a parenting order or even prosecution.

If you end up in court due to your child’s absence, you could be hit with a fine of up to £2,500 or even face up to three months behind bars. Government guidance reveals that approximately 89% of unauthorised absence fines are due to children being taken on holiday during term time.

Reasons why your child can miss school and avoid a fine

According to the Department for Education, you can only allow your child not to be in school when it’s open for the following reasons:

• Your child cannot attend school on that day because it is a day you are taking part in religious observance.
• You are a gypsy/traveller family with no fixed abode, and you are required to travel for work that day meaning your child cannot attend their usual school.
• Your child is too ill to attend that day.
• You have asked in advance and been given permission by the school for your child to be absent on that day due to exceptional circumstances.
• Your local authority is responsible for arranging your child’s transport to school and it is not available on that day or has not been provided yet.

Further guidance on school attendance and ascences during term time can be found here.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been fined, external $250,000 (£186,000) by the National Football League for making an obscene gesture towards fans on Sunday.

The 82-year-old was caught on camera raising his middle figure at the crowd during the Cowboys’ 37-22 win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

But Jones says he intended to put his thumb up instead, and was signalling to his own supporters – not those of the Jets.

“That was unfortunate. That was kind of an exchange with our fans out in front of us,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan.

“There was a swarm of Cowboys fans out in front – not Jets fans, Cowboys fans.

“There wasn’t any antagonistic issue or anything like that. I just put up the wrong show on the hand. That was inadvertently done.

“I’m not kidding. If you want to call it accidental, you can call it accidental. But it got straightened around pretty quick.

“The intention was ‘thumbs up’, and basically pointing at our fans because everybody was jumping up and down.”

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper was fined $300,000 (£223,000) for throwing a drink on fans during the 2023 season, while then Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams was fined $250,000 (£186,000) in 2009 for gesturing at Buffalo Bills fans.

Brits heading to Turkey could be fined before they even get off the plane

Brits planning a holiday to Turkey could be slapped with a £60 fine before they even leave the plane due to a new law many may not yet be aware of. The penalty is linked to legislation that fines passengers for unbuckling their seatbelts too early.

The law came into effect at the beginning of May 2025, following complaints made to the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation. It’s expected to be enforced through on-site inspections, as confirmed by the aviation body.

The aim of the law is to prevent people from unbuckling and grabbing their luggage before the captain has switched off the seatbelt sign. This practice is already prohibited in many countries, but a surge in complaints has reportedly led to this legislation.

READ MORE: ‘I was dumped in Turkey by Jet2 after suffering an allergic reaction on flight’READ MORE: Brit couple left facing £20,000 bill on European holiday after moped accident

Airlines will now have to remind passengers to keep their seatbelts fastened during and after landing until the plane reaches its parking position. They must also explicitly warn passengers that any violation will be reported to the aviation authority and a fine will be imposed, according to HospitalityInside.

The exact amount of the fine hasn’t been officially confirmed, but Turkish broadcaster Halk TV suggests it’s likely to be around 2,603 liras – roughly £60. Reports also indicate that similar fines could be issued to those caught rushing towards the exits while disembarking the plane.

Turkey continues to be a popular holiday spot for Brits, with over 4.4 million UK visitors in 2024, as per recent statistics. This marked a significant 16.6 per cent rise from 2023. On average, international tourists spent around 10.7 days in the country, contributing an average of £784 each to the local economy.

Italian media reports that the pair, one of whom is from the UK and one from Romania, were fined £390 each and were ordered by authorities to leave the World Heritage city for 48 hours

A British couple has been kicked out of Venice and fined after they were caught jumping into the Grand Canal, local media has reported.

The 35-year-old man and his 25-year-old Romanian partner, both of whom live in the UK, launched themselves into the famous waterway on the final day of their holiday, it has been reported.

Gondoliers spotted the canal-clad couple and reported them to the police. Italian media reports that the pair were then fined £390 each and were ordered by authorities to leave the World Heritage city for 48 hours.

Security councillor Elisabetta Pesce told Il Gazzettino: “I thank the gondoliers for their cooperation and timely reporting.”

READ MORE: Doctors’ top five tips for eczema sufferers who love to travelREAD MORE: Are Poland holidays safe after Foreign Office issues travel warning

Swimming in Venice’s 150 canals is strictly prohibited, in large part due to the dangers of the gondolas and motorboats that pass through the water. The floating city is crisscrossed by more than 150 canals and 400 bridges. Many of these were inlets that were turned into canals in the 5th century when inhabitants from the mainland first settled there.

While it might be possible to hop into the drink for a quick dip in one of the smaller waterways on the outskirts of the city, launching yourself into the Grand Canal – or Canalasso, as the locals call it – is going to be a little harder.

The central canal runs for 3km, forming a giant ‘S’ from the Santa Lucia train station to St. Mark’s Square and the beautiful church of Santa Maria della Salute. It’s also a major traffic artery lined with more than 170 buildings, including many of Venice’s architectural landmarks.

Swimming is also prohibited to protect people from pollution. Venice doesn’t have sewage pipes or conduits, as installing them would require raising the entire city by half a meter. While many houses are now equipped with septic tanks, most of the wastewater still ends up in the canals. The tides flush it out into the sea twice a day.

The case has sparked anger from supporters of the action group Venice is not Disneyland. Some locals are demanding higher fines for those who break the swimming rules and a permanent ban from the city for transgressors.

This is not the first time that tourists have been caught jumping into Venice’s canals. In 2023, the mayor of Venice tweeted a video of a man jumping from a three-storey building into the water. The public official branded him an “idiot”.

Five years earlier, tourists jumped from the Rialto Bridge late at night, cheered on by their friends. In 2016 a New Zealand man received treatment in hospital when he hit a water taxi after diving off a bridge.

Two German tourists were filmed swimming in the Grand Canal under the iconic Rialto Bridge in 2020, just as the Italian city was taken out of lockdown.

Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev has been fined $42,500 by the U.S. Open for his actions during and immediately after his first-round loss to France’s Benjamin Bonzi on Sunday night in New York.

The total fines, issued by tournament referee Jake Garner, included $30,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and another $12,500 for racket abuse.

With Medvedev facing match point in the third set, Bonzi missed on his first serve and was preparing for the second when a photographer appeared to mistakenly step onto the court.

Chair umpire Greg Allensworth announced that Bonzi would be given another chance at his first serve “because of the delay caused by an outside interference.”

Medvedev was not happy. The 2021 U.S. Open champion berated Allensworth at the chair and insulted him while leaning into a microphone to address the crowd. Even as he was walking back onto the court, Medvedev used arm gestures to encourage the crowd to continue expressing its displeasure with the decision, although he eventually motioned for the fans to calm down.

“I just expressed my emotions, my unhappiness with the decision,” Medvedev said later. “And then the crowd did what they did without me, without me asking them too much. And it was fun to witness.”

The disruption lasted for roughly six minutes. Medvedev ended up winning that point and set, then won the next set as well. Bonzi recovered in the fifth set for a 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4 win, after which Medvedev was seen repeated destroying a racket by smashing it on the court and against a sideline chair.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

George Nathanel was found guilty of illegally using the properties in North Finchley, north London, for short-term rental bookings, Barnet Council said in a statement

A rogue landlord has been hit with a hefty £75k fine for unlawfully renting out two flats on Airbnb and Booking.com to unruly revellers.

Neighbours of properties leased out to partygoers by George Nathanel were subject to banging parties and chaos.

A court heard that the properties were being booked through holiday platforms for brief stays by large groups, often using them for raucous parties. Neighbours reported significant noise disruptions due to lack of soundproofing and antisocial hours, with boisterous parties continuing into the small hours of the morning.

Victim statements presented in court included one from a local resident who described the rentals as “stressful and devastating.” He said that they had a “detrimental impact on his life, his work and mental health” and it “had severely impacted his ability to sleep and has made living in the property unbearable.”

Have you been badly impacted by a holiday let? Maybe we can help. Email [email protected]

Mr Nathanel was convicted of illicitly utilising the North Finchley properties in north London for short-term lettings, according to Barnet Council.

The landlord, who oversaw the flats on behalf of Zenobia properties, was served a notice by the council in November 2023 to halt the use of the flats following grievances from local residents.

The Grove Road residences were scrutinised for potential planning control breaches as the properties only had permission to be used as self-contained single households. Nathanel failed to attend court hearings, telling the court that he was residing in Russia with his children and awaiting surgery.

The landlord claimed ignorance about the short-term lets on Airbnb and Booking.com, yet was hailed as “an amazing, attentive and responsive host” in Airbnb reviews.

The court heard that the two flats had been occupied for at least 220 days within the first ten months of 2024, according to evidence from the prosecution.

On June 26, 2025, Nathanel faced justice at Willesden Magistrates’ Court, where he was convicted for not adhering to a Breach of Condition Notice from the council. He received a hefty fine of £75,000, was ordered to cover council costs amounting to £5,400, and pay a victim surcharge of £2,000.

Cllr Ross Houston, Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, commented: “We gave Mr Nathanel ample opportunity to stop using the properties as short term rentals, but were left with no alternative but to take him to court when he didn’t stop.

“Barnet Council clamps down hard on rogue landlords and where they don’t cooperate, we will always bring them to justice. We would like to thank the residents who brought this case to our attention. This is a great result for the neighbours whose lives were made a misery by the illegal letting of these flats on Airbnb and Booking.com.

“The prosecution and huge fine highlights the seriousness of the case and will be a strong deterrent to other rogue landlords from breaking the rules in the borough of Barnet.”

A Booking.com representative said: “When accommodation providers sign up to list on Booking.com, they agree to our terms and conditions, where we ask them to verify that they are operating in full compliance with local laws and are legally permitted to rent out their property on a short-term basis.

“If we are ever made aware that a property on our site may not be operating in compliance with local regulations, we investigate and take further action as needed.

“At Booking.com, we remain committed to collaborating with the Government and local authorities to help deliver sustainable, measured legislative solutions for short-term-lets in the UK.”

Airbnb was contacted for comment.

A milestone court case came to a close in Spain earlier this month, ruling that ten holiday lets all located in the same block must close down due to “the illicit and unsanitary activities” that had taken place there.

Vomiting and sex in the communal areas, as well as drunken, destructive, and lewd guest behaviour, had caused one family stress, anxiety, and sleepless nights. This was judged to have inflicted psychological damage on the family, which includes two children, and violated their fundamental right to privacy.

Madrid’s 44th Court of First Instance ruling—that the flats must stop being used as holiday lets—is a significant one, as the properties were registered legally but their presence was judged to infringe on the family’s rights.

In the ruling, the judge noted “the constant noise, the breaking of shared fixtures, the filling of the lobby with suitcases at all hours, and the presence of shopping trolleys filled with towels,” before the family were awarded €37,000 in damages.

Hanging laundry on balconies or windows without using designated drying areas is prohibited in Singapore, so make sure you think twice before you get those garments up there

Tourists visiting popular destinations should always familiarise themselves with local regulations, especially when it comes to seemingly harmless habits like drying laundry.

In Singapore, hanging clothes outside windows or on balconies in public housing estates, known as HDB flats, can lead to unwitting visitors being slapped with fines. Hanging laundry on balconies or windows without using designated drying areas is prohibited. This applies to both residents and tourists staying in such accommodation. The aim is to prevent cluttered façades and avoid safety hazards caused by falling items.

First-time violations typically result in warnings or fines of up to SGD 300 — roughly £180. Repeat offenders risk heavier penalties and further enforcement measures, such as the removal of unauthorised drying racks.

READ MORE: Spain travel warning for Brit as little-known rule could land them £520 fine

Ski Vertigo, a travel expert, recently highlighted the importance of understanding these rules before travelling. A statement from the company read: “These rules are designed to prevent safety hazards, such as items falling from heights, and to maintain the city’s clean, orderly environment. Improper laundry drying can cause damage to buildings and obstruct views, which is why enforcement is strict.

“In places like Singapore, it is crucial to read accommodation rules carefully. Small details, such as laundry drying, can have big consequences. Tourists should respect local customs and regulations to ensure a smooth stay.”

Laundry habits may seem trivial when travelling, but local laws vary widely, and breaking them can result in unexpected penalties. Improperly hung laundry can also cause disputes with neighbours or building management, potentially spoiling a holiday.

There have been cases where tourists were fined or warned simply because they were unaware of local rules. Disputes arising from laundry drying in prohibited areas have led to complaints to housing authorities, creating avoidable conflict.

A separate piece of research by Ski Vertigo found that nearly 30% of British holidaymakers receive at least one fine during their trip each year. Often caused by unfamiliar local rules or simple mistakes, these fines can quickly turn an enjoyable holiday into an expensive ordeal.

READ MORE: Spanish holiday island loved by Brits overwhelmed by piles of stinking rubbishREAD MORE: Foreign Office warning Brits face prison for common game in holiday hotspot

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the number of Brits who head there each year and the country’s love of rules, Spain is the place where UK tourists are currently getting fined the most.

Fines in Spain often relate to issues such as littering, smoking in prohibited areas, parking violations, and failure to follow beach rules. Many tourists unintentionally break these regulations because they differ significantly from what is allowed in the UK.

Here are some of the laws in Spain you might find yourself accidentally breaking, and the fines you’ll face if you do:

• Leaving rubbish in public spaces: fines up to €600 (£520)
• Smoking near children or in no-smoking zones: fines range from €30 to €600 (£26 to £520)
• Parking in restricted areas or without proper permits: fines start at €80 (£70)
• Ignoring local signage about behaviour on beaches or in parks: fines vary, but can be as much as €200 (£175)
• Throwing away bus tickets before reaching the destination: €100 (£87) in destinations such as Madrid and Barcelona
• Drinking in public places: fines vary based on location, but can reach €600 (£521)
• Pet restrictions: many public spaces have limitations on pets; fines can exceed €500 (£430) for violations
• Wildlife protection: disturbing wildlife or disrupting protected areas can also result in substantial penalties

Chelsea and Barca top a list of European teams fined by the continent’s governing body for breaches in financial rules.

Chelsea have been fined 31 million euros ($36.5m) by European football’s governing body UEFA for breaches of its financial rules, while Aston Villa, Barcelona and Olympique Lyonnais were also levied with large fines.

The punishments come with the potential for far harsher fines down the road, with Chelsea, who agreed to a four-year settlement with UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB), risking being hit with a further 60 million euros ($71m) if they do not get their finances in order.

Barcelona must pay a 15 million euro fine ($17.7m), but could potentially face 60 million in total, with UEFA fining Lyon 12.5 million and Aston Villa 11 million.

Chelsea’s fines were split into 20 million for not complying with the football earnings rule and 11 million for breaching the squad cost rule, while Aston Villa were fined five million and six million for their respective rule violations.

The clubs are also subject to a restriction on the registration of new players on their List A for UEFA club competitions such as the Champions League and Europa League.

Lyon’s four-year agreement with UEFA’s financial control body, the club’s ownership group said on Friday, would enable them to play in the Europa League next season, subject to a favourable outcome of their appeal with the DNCG, the French football financial watchdog.

Lyon’s demotion to Ligue 2 was provisionally announced by the DNCG in November due to financial irregularities and was confirmed last week.

They risk exclusion from European competitions, however, if they fail to meet the agreed targets.

The teams accepted settlement agreements which cover periods of two, three or four years, with the clubs’ final targets to be fully compliant with the football earnings rule by the end of their specific settlement period.

Chelsea sold their women’s team for 235 million euros ($277m) to a parent company, Blueco, which helped to balance their spending and avoid huge losses, despite their lavish spending in the transfer market under owner Todd Boehly. UEFA, however, refused to count the sale of the team as an asset.

The club also sold two hotels to a ­sister company in a deal that appears to have helped the club remain compliant with profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).

Premier League clubs are not permitted to have losses of more than 105 million pounds ($143.29m) over a three-year period.

The initiative is in place at more than 20 UK airports

Holidaymakers have been warned their trips could be “ruined”, as part of a campaign in place at over 20 British airports. The government-backed One Too Many initiative is reminding travellers to “fly responsibly” or face the consequences.

Ahead of what is set to be a hugely busy summer for international travel, London Stansted bosses have issued an alert, reminding passengers not to fall foul of an important airport rule. The update, issued on X on Friday, reads: “Did you know that if you are deemed unfit to fly, you may be denied boarding and you could face up to two years in jail for disrupting a flight?”

Text on an accompanying image adds: “One too many is all it takes to ruin a holiday, cause a delay, land YOU in jail, cancel a flight, [and/or] divert a plane”. Passengers who drink too much at the airport could find themselves denied boarding, banned permanently by the airline, or hit with hefty fines reaching up to £80,000 if their behaviour causes a flight to be diverted.

As well as Stansted, the One Too Many campaign is in operation at other leading airports, such as London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Manchester and Liverpool John Lennon. Karen Dee, Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association, said: “UK airports are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable travel experience for all passengers. We urge travellers to enjoy their journeys responsibly and not ruin their holidays or the holidays of others.”

She further added that airports will persistently monitor and take action against any unruly behaviour to guarantee everyone’s safety. The government, including the Department for Transport and the Home Office, has been supporting the One Too Many campaign since it first launched in 2018.

ROYAL Ascot jockey Gary Carroll has been banned and fined – days after winning the biggest race of his life.

Carroll steered home 33-1 roughie Cercene in a shock finish to the Coronation Stakes last Friday.

1

Trainer Joseph Murphy said the unlikely victory – worth just shy of £500,000 – was the culmination of his life’s work and there were emotional scenes in the winner’s enclosure afterwards.

But the superstar filly will need a new jockey for her intended run in the Irish Oaks next month after Carroll was hit with a big ban.

He has been whacked with a two-week suspension and fined £5,800 for using his whip twice above the limit of six in the mile race.

More to follow.

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Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

A man who burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London has been found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence.

Hamit Coskun, 50, shouted abusive comments about Islam as he held the flaming book aloft in Rutland Gardens in Knightsbridge on 13 February.

On Monday he was found guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court of the offence and of using disorderly behaviour, and fined £240 with a statutory surcharge of £96.

District Judge John McGarva said Coskun’s conduct was “provocative and taunting” and told him “you have a deep-seated hatred of Islam and its followers”.

Turkey-born Coskun, who is half Kurdish and half Armenian, travelled from his home in Derby and set fire to the Quran at around 14:00 GMT, the court heard.

The judge said Coskun’s hatred of Islam had stemmed from his experiences in Turkey “and the experiences of your family”.

He said: “It’s not possible to separate your views about the religion to your views about the followers.

“Your actions in burning the Quran where you did were highly provocative, and your actions were accompanied by bad language in some cases directed toward the religion and were motivated at least in part by hatred of followers of the religion.”

Judge McGarva said he “did not accept” Coskun’s claim that his criticism was of Islam in general and not its adherents.

Coskun had posted on social media that he was protesting against the “Islamist government” of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who the defendant allegedly said had “made Turkey a base for radical Islamists and is trying to establish a Sharia regime”, prosecutors said.

Coskun said in a statement that his conviction was “an assault on free speech and will deter others from exercising their democratic rights”.

A Humanists UK spokesperson has said the case does “raise concerns” and the bar for prosecutions is too low.

They said: “When blasphemy laws were repealed in 2008, it was a victory for freedom of expression.

“We must make sure that public order legislation is not used to disproportionately target speech – even offensive speech – on religious matters, thereby chilling legitimate criticism and expression.”

Judge McGarva said he did not view the case as an attempt to expand blasphemy laws.

He said that burning a religious book, although offensive to some, was not necessarily disorderly, but that other factors (including Islamophobic comments made in police interviews) made it so on this occasion.

Coskun’s legal fees are being paid for by the National Secular Society and the Free Speech Union (FSU). Both organisations have said they intend to appeal against the verdict “and keep on appealing it until it’s overturned”.

An FSU spokesperson said: “If that means taking it all the way to the European Court of Human Rights, we will do so.

“Religious tolerance is an important British value, but it doesn’t require non-believers to respect the blasphemy codes of believers.”

May 27 (UPI) — Retailer Walmart will pay a $16,000 fine for shipping realistic toy guns to New York buyers in violation of state law, state Attorney General Letitia James announced on Tuesday.

New York law bans retailers from selling or shipping toy guns that are black, dark blue, silver or aluminum-colored and resemble real firearms.

“Realistic-looking toy guns can put communities in serious danger,” James said in a news release. “That is why they are banned.”

She said realistic-looking toy guns can be used to engage in unlawful activity and have led to several deaths and shootings across the state and Walmart’s third-party sellers sold them to New York buyers.

“Walmart failed to prevent its third-party sellers from selling realistic-looking toy guns to New York addresses, violating our laws and putting people at risk,” James said.

“The ban on realistic-looking toy guns is meant to keep New Yorkers safe,” she added. “My office will not hesitate to hold any business that violates that law accountable.”

A state investigation showed third-party retailers used Walmart’s online store to sell non-compliant toy guns that they shipped to New York addresses via Walmart’s fulfillment services.

Investigators bought a realistic-looking toy gun that violated New York’s general business law’s ban on such toys and had it shipped to an address within the state.

The violations netted a $16,000 fine that Walmart paid to settle the matter.

A Walmart official said the retailer does its best to comply with respective state and federal laws and ensure third-party retailers do, too.

“We are committed to complying with all laws, and we have processes in place to ensure products offered for sale by third-party sellers on our marketplace comply with all applicable laws as well,” Walmart global communications senior manager Kelly Hellbusch told UPI in an emailed statement.

James said New York consumers can report non-compliant toy guns by reporting them in an online complaint.