phone

Those headed to this popular European beach destination this summer need to be careful as social media users warn of an unexpected phone charge which could set you back hundreds of pounds

Brits heading to Corfu have been warned to be the lookout this summer for a hidden network charge – which could hit them before they’ve even left the airport. Worse still, it could even cost them hundreds. Instead of unwinding, tourists have been left confused after receiving a ‘Welcome to Albania’ text message upon arrival at their island destination – despite Corfu being a part of Greece.

As reported by the Daily Mail, an employee from MailOnline recently holidayed at the popular holiday destination. He shared a text he received upon landing, which came from a service named ‘Rate Advice.’

READ MORE: Beautiful city dubbed ‘Venice’s little sister’ has barely any tourists

It reads: “Welcome to Albania! Calls, texts and data in Albania are chargeable and do not come out of your standard allowances or UK data add-ons. Roam Beyond data add-ons for this destination are available in the iD Mobile app for as little as GBP5.00.

“If you haven’t already purchased a Roam Beyond data add-on, it will cost GBP1.50 per MB. Minutes and texts are not included , and will cost GBP0.60 per text to roam. To protect you from excessive charges, a GBP45.00 roaming data cap is in place.”

The issue arises from Corfu’s proximity to Albania. Despite being located in Greece, it lies relatively close (30 miles) to Ksamil, a small beachside village in the Albanian Riviera.

Due to its location, the strength of Albanian mobile phone signals from the coast can cause phones to connect to them automatically. This can occur even when the user is in a completely different country.

Aside from causing confusion, this mix-up can end up costing tourists – which is why unfortunate holidaymakers jumped on social media over the summer to warn others of unexpected charges.

Steve Moore, from Chesterfield, came on to the popular Facebook group, We Love Sidari, to complain about his experience. He wrote: “I arrived Sunday, usual welcome text to Corfu charges just the same as UK – 2 days later message welcome to Albania this is your charges.”

He continued: “Wow what a rip off, phoned company and after 45 mins of conversation was told the network must of changed to a different mast. You need to keep an eye on it otherwise it will cost you a lot.”

A second Facebook user also chimed in, pointing out that appears to happen in specific parts of the island. “Only if you go to the east of the island,” they wrote. “I did that mistake while on a quad. Using google maps. £128 to drive up road lol.” A third added, ‘We got caught out £298 bill when we got home.’

So, how do you avoid these charges? Travellers are urged to either contact their provider regarding the situation, switch off ‘roaming’ or manually select a Greek network in their phone’s settings – rather than relying on automatic network selection.

As one Facebook commenter advised: “All you do is let your phone set it’s paired Greek network automatically when you arrive on the island at the airport. Once it’s selected the correct Greek network, go into your settings and turn OFF ‘automatically select network’.”

They added: “This means your phone will not hunt for or connect to anything else other than your correct Greek network.” Although, they warned users to remember to switch it back once they return to the UK.

To avoid these charges, Georgia Brivida, from the international SIM provider Sim Local, has urged Brits to switch off the ‘autoplay’ feature on their phones before boarding their next flight.

She revealed that the setting could quietly drain data and lead to a significant phone bill, in many cases without users even noticing. She explained: “Autoplay is a feature that automatically plays videos as you scroll through apps like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube, often without you even tapping play.”

MOSCOW — President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Iran, Ukraine and other issues by phone on Thursday, the Kremlin said, in their sixth publicly disclosed chat since Trump returned to the White House.

While discussing the situation around Iran, Putin emphasized the need to resolve all issues by political and diplomatic means, said Yuri Ushakov, his foreign affairs advisor.

The United States struck three sites in Iran on June 22, inserting itself into Israel’s war aimed at destroying Tehran’s nuclear program.

On the conflict in Ukraine, Ushakov said Trump emphasized his push for a quick halt to the fighting, and Putin voiced Moscow’s readiness to pursue talks with Kyiv.

At the same time, the Russian leader emphasized that Moscow will seek to achieve its goals in Ukraine and remove the “root causes” of the conflict, Ushakov said.

Putin has argued he sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022 to fend off a threat to Russia posed by Ukraine’s push to join NATO and protect Russian speakers in Ukraine — arguments rejected by Kyiv and its allies. He insisted that any prospective peace deal must see Ukraine abandon its NATO bid and recognize Russia’s territorial gains.

Thursday’s call follows the Pentagon’s confirmation that it’s pausing shipment of some weapons to Ukraine as it reviews U.S. military stockpiles. The weapons being held up for Ukraine include air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other equipment.

The details on the weapons in some of the paused deliveries were confirmed by a U.S. official and former national security official familiar with the matter. They both requested anonymity to discuss what is being held up as the Pentagon has yet to provide details.

Ushakov said a suspension of some U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine wasn’t discussed in the Trump-Putin call.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Denmark after meeting with major European Union backers that he may talk to Trump in the coming days about the suspension of U.S. weapons deliveries.

“I hope that maybe tomorrow, or close days, these days, I will speak about it with President Trump,” he said.

Asked about his expectations from the Trump-Putin call, he said that “I’m not sure that they have a lot of common ideas, common topics to talk [about], because they are very different people.”

The previous publicly known call between Trump and Putin came June 14, a day after Israel attacked Iran.

The resumed contacts between Trump and Putin appeared to reflect both leaders’ interest in mending U.S.-Russian ties that have plummeted to their lowest point since the Cold War amid the conflict in Ukraine.

On Tuesday, Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron held their first direct telephone call in almost three years.

Isachenkov writes for the Associated Press. AP writers Aamer Madhani in Washington and Lorne Cook in Aarhus, Denmark, contributed to this report.

Thailand’s top court has suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pending an ethics investigation over a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen. She accepted the decision, after being accused of violating the constitution with remarks about a deadly May border clash that sparked protests in Bangkok.

A Thai court has accepted a petition from senators that accuse the PM of dishonesty and breaching ethical standards.

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office pending an ethics investigation over a leaked phone call with a senior Cambodian official, heaping pressure on Thailand’s governing political dynasty.

The court said in a statement that it had accepted a petition from 36 senators, which accuses Paetongtarn of dishonesty and breaching ethical standards, in violation of the constitution, over a leaked telephone conversation with Cambodia’s influential former leader, Hun Sen.

Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit will assume a caretaker role while the court decides the case against Paetongtarn, who has 15 days to respond.

Paetongtarn will remain in the cabinet as the new culture minister following a cabinet reshuffle.

The controversy stems from a June 15 phone call with Cambodia’s influential former leader Hun Sen that was intended to defuse escalating border tensions between the neighbours.

During the call, Paetongtarn, 38, referred to Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticised a Thai army commander, a red line in a country where the military has significant clout. She has apologised and said her remarks were a negotiating tactic.

The leaked call led to domestic outrage and has left Paetongtarn’s coalition with a razor-thin majority, with a key party abandoning the alliance and expected to soon seek a no-confidence vote in parliament, as protest groups demand the premier resign.

Legal perils

Paetongtarn’s battles after only 10 months in power underline the declining strength of the Pheu Thai Party, the populist juggernaut of the billionaire Shinawatra dynasty, which has dominated Thai elections since 2001, enduring military coups and court rulings that have toppled multiple governments and prime ministers.

It has been a baptism of fire for political novice Paetongtarn, who was thrust into power as Thailand’s youngest premier and replacement for Srettha Thavisin, who the Constitutional Court dismissed for violating ethics by appointing a minister who had once been jailed.

Paetongtarn’s government has also been struggling to revive a stuttering economy, and her popularity has declined sharply, with a June 19-25 opinion poll released at the weekend showing her approval rating sinking to 9.2 percent from 30.9 percent in March.

Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin, the 75-year-old family patriarch and billionaire who was twice elected leader in the early 2000s, is also facing legal hurdles.

Divisive tycoon Thaksin, according to his lawyer, appeared at his first hearing at Bangkok’s Criminal Court on Tuesday on charges that he insulted Thailand’s powerful monarchy, a serious offence punishable by up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.

Thaksin denies the allegations and has repeatedly pledged allegiance to the crown.

The case stems from a 2015 media interview Thaksin gave while in self-imposed exile, from which he returned in 2023 after 15 years abroad to serve a prison sentence for conflicts of interest and abuse of power.

Thaksin dodged jail and spent six months in hospital detention on medical grounds before being released on parole in February last year.

The Supreme Court will this month scrutinise that hospital stay and could potentially send him back to jail.

July 1 (UPI) — Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra amid ongoing litigation concerning a telephone conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen that opponents described as evidence of her failure to perform her duty as leader of the country.

The nine-member panel ruled 7-2 in favor of suspending Paetongtarn from her duties as prime minister, effective immediately, until the court issues its final ruling on the controversial phone call.

The ruling comes at the request of 36 senators who signed a petition asking for her to be suspended under charges of violating the Constitution, based on an audio clip of the conversation between her and the Cambodian politician amid border tensions between their two countries.

In the clip, which was made public by local media on June 18, the prime minister is heard referring to the 2nd Army Region Commander, who supervises the Thai border with Cambodia, as an adversary, while seemingly agreeing with Hun Sen.

The phone call sparked protests in Thailand calling for Paetongtarn’s removal.

According to the Tuesday statement from the Constitutional Court, Paetongtarn claimed the conversation was personal and conciliatory, aimed at maintaining peace and protecting Thailand’s sovereignty.

The senators who asked the court to investigate the clip accused Paetongtarn of “seriously violating or failing to comply with ethical standards.”

The two justices who voted against suspending Paetongtarn issued a minority opinion stating that the facts presented by the senators “were not yet clear or conclusive enough to raise reasonable doubt regarding a constitutional violation” and instead suggested the prime minister be prohibited from exercising powers over national security, foreign affairs and fiscal policy amid litigation, in reflection of the seriousness of the accusations.

Paetongtarn will remain in her dual role as minister of culture, while Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit will serve as acting prime minister.

She has 15 days to present her defense in the case.

Before you settle in for a comfortable long-haul flight, there’s one thing you need to do for added peace of mind.

According to one travel expert, incorporating this extra step into your pre-flight routine can save you from an unexpected charge when you return home.

Georgia Brivida, of international SIM provider Sim Local, is advising British holidaymakers to switch off the autoplay feature on their phones before boarding their flight. She says neglecting to disable this setting could lead to a hefty charge. According to Brivida, this unassuming setting can drain data and rack up your phone bill – often without you even realising it.

“Autoplay is a feature that automatically plays videos as you scroll through apps like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube, often without you even tapping play. It’s fine when you’re connected to Wi-Fi at home but when you’re abroad and paying per megabyte, it can quietly burn through your data in no time just from using your phone like you normally would,” says Brivida.

READ MORE: Genius packing hack praised as traveller avoids paying £43 for extra luggage

If you fail to disable the setting you’re likely to scroll quickly through your socials as you normally would – even streaming a short video to kill idle travel time – draining your data all the while.

Streaming a video on platforms like YouTube or Netflix for just 10 minutes can use up to 100MB of data, according to Sim Local. As well, scrolling through TikTok or Instagram uses around 20MB and listening to music or podcasts on Spotify may use around 15MB.

Web browsing uses slightly less at around 10MB in just 10 minutes. But if you spend 30 minutes scrolling through TikTok while waiting for your taxi when you land, that’s roughly 60MB of data gone and watching just a few YouTube videos en route to your hotel will burn through another 200MB.

Over several days of your holiday it is all too easy to rack up several gigabytes of data and if without the right roaming plan, you could be looking at a phone bill in the triple digits.

Thankfully, turning off autoplay is very simple and it’s worth doing to save yourself an expensive bill, plus it’ll give you more control over when your data is used.

How to switch it off

To switch it off on iOS (iPhone), simply go to Settings, then Accessibility and tap on ‘Motion’. Find the toggle switch for Auto-Play Video Previews and turn it off

On Android phones, go to Settings then scroll down and select Google, select All Services, then tap ‘Search, Assistant & Voice’ and select ‘Other Settings’. From here click on Autoplay video previews and select ‘never’.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is suing Fox News for defamation, alleging that the news outlet intentionally manipulated its coverage to give the appearance that the governor lied about a phone call with President Trump.

The governor’s demand for $787 million in punitive damages escalates his aggressive effort to challenge misinformation. The lawsuit, announced Friday, places Newsom at the forefront of the political proxy war between Democrats and Republicans over the press by calling out an outlet that many in his party despise.

“By disregarding basic journalistic ethics in favor of malicious propaganda, Fox continues to play a major role in the further erosion of the bedrock principles of informed representative government,” the suit states. “Setting the record straight and confronting Fox’s dishonest practices are critical to protecting democracy from being overrun by disinformation and lies.”

Newsom, a potential presidential candidate, said he decided to sue in part because Fox failed to change after admitting in a legal settlement two years ago to spreading falsehoods about the 2020 presidential election.

In response to Newsom’s lawsuit, Fox criticized the California governor, accusing him of undercutting the 1st Amendment.

“Gov. Newsom’s transparent publicity stunt is frivolous and designed to chill free speech critical of him. We will defend this case vigorously and look forward to it being dismissed,” Fox News said in a statement Friday morning.

The case stems from comments Trump made about a phone call with Newsom as tensions heated up between the two leaders over immigration raids and the president’s decision to deploy the National Guard to the streets of Los Angeles.

Trump told reporters on June 10 that he spoke with Newsom “a day ago.”

“Called him up to tell him, got to do a better job, he’s doing a bad job,” Trump said. “Causing a lot of death and a lot of potential death.”

Newsom immediately rejected Trump’s timeline on social media.

The governor had already spoken publicly about talking to Trump on the phone late in the night on June 6 in California, which was early June 7 for Trump on the East Coast. Newsom said the National Guard was never discussed during that call. They didn’t talk again, he said.

“There was no call,” Newsom posted on X. “Not even a voicemail. Americans should be alarmed that a President deploying Marines onto our streets doesn’t even know who he’s talking to.”

Newsom’s lawyers allege in the complaint that by making the call seem more recent, Trump could suggest they discussed the deployment of troops to Los Angeles, which they had not.

Trump attempted to fire back at Newsom through Fox and shared a screenshot of his call log with anchor John Roberts. The log showed that a phone call occurred on June 7 and provided no evidence of a call on June 9 as Trump claimed.

“It is impossible to know for certain whether President Trump’s distortion was intentionally deceptive or merely a result of his poor cognitive state, but Fox’s decision to cover up for the President’s false statement cannot be so easily dismissed,” the complaint states.

Newsom’s legal team said Roberts initially misrepresented the situation to viewers “to obscure President Trump’s false statement of fact.”

Then during an evening broadcast on June 10, Fox News host Jesse Watters showed a video of Trump’s comments about the phone call but omitted the president saying that it happened “a day ago.” The edit made it appear that Newsom alleged the two never spoke at all.

“Why would Newsom lie and claim Trump never called him? Why would he do that?” Watters then asked.

A banner at the bottom of the screen during the segment claimed “Gavin lied about Trump’s call.”

Newsom’s lawyers said Fox “willfully distorted the facts” and defamed Newsom to tens of millions of people.

“Fox advanced this lie about Governor Newsom out of a desire to harm him politically,” the complaint states.

Newsom is particularly attuned to his critics on Fox, a conservative-leaning television network that he describes as the epicenter of a right-wing media ecosystem that misleads the public to benefit Trump and his allies. Similar to reports of Trump watching CNN, the governor regularly follows Fox political coverage. He pays close attention to the outlet’s assessment of his leadership.

Fox commentators and opinion hosts, such as Watters, are given a wide berth to express their views, even when they contradict the reporting of its nonpartisan correspondents. They aggressively defend Trump and his policies, while often casting California as a failed state with incompetent leadership.

But Newsom has also benefited from Fox and used his appearances on the network to brandish his image as a brawler for Democrats and his standing as a potential future presidential candidate.

Fox hosted a much talked about debate between Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2023. The California governor also participated in a sit-down interview with Sean Hannity, which drew praise from within and outside of his party.

During a talk on the social media website Substack on Friday, Newsom said he started going on Fox to disrupt propaganda and the network’s narrative about Democrats.

“I have a high threshold for the bulls— on Fox, is the point,” Newsom said. “I wouldn’t do this unless I felt they really did cross the line.”

The amount of the governor’s request for damages was a subtle dig at the outlet.

Fox agreed two years ago to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787 million to drop a lawsuit related to the network’s false claims that voting machines were manipulated to help President Biden win the 2020 election. The news organization settled the case rather than put its executives and on-air talent on the witness stand in a high-profile trial.

Fox faces a similar lawsuit from Smartmatic, a Boca Raton, Fla.-based voting machine company that claims its business had been hurt because of the network’s reporting.

The news outlet has maintained that reporting on Trump’s fraud claims was newsworthy and protected by the 1st Amendment. Barring a settlement, the case could go to trial next year.

In a letter to Fox, Newsom’s lawyers said they will voluntarily dismiss the governor’s suit if the outlet retracts its claims that he lied about speaking to Trump.

“We expect that you will give the same airtime in retracting these falsehoods as you spent presenting and amplifying them,” his lawyers stated. “Further, Mr. Watters and Fox News must issue a formal on-air apology for the lie you have spread about Governor Newsom.”

The governor said any damages he might receive from the lawsuit, punitive or otherwise, would go to charity.

Times staff writer Stephen Battaglio contributed to this report.

A holidaymaker who wanted to visit pals in New York claims a political meme put him in hot water but The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a robust denial

Political memes are hugely popular on the internet but one holidaymaker with a funny picture on his phone claimed he was “made to feel like a terrorist” when he tried to enter the United States.

Tourist Mads Mikkelsen, 21, had arrived at New Jersey’s Newark Airport on June 11 with plans to visit friends in New York City before making his way to Austin, Texas.

Mads said that when immigration officers found a meme of US Vice President JD Vance on the Norwegian’s phone, he wasn’t allowed into the country.

“I was subjected to abuse of power and harassment,” he told Norwegian newspaper Nordlys. “They took me to a room with several armed guards, where I had to hand over my shoes, mobile phone and backpack.”

The tourist claimed he was quizzed about “drug trafficking, terrorist plots, and right-wing extremism… totally without reason” before being thrown in a cell. But The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, operating under the Department of Homeland Security, hit back with a firm denial, saying: “Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons”.

READ MORE: Foreign Office warns 800,000 Brits risk ‘harsh’ detention under new travel rules

Mads said officials threatened him with jail or a $5,000 (£3,600) fine if he didn’t give them access to his phone. He claimed agents then found the Vance meme, which distorted the politician’s face to make it cartoonish, chubby and bald and it was game over.

“The picture had been automatically saved to my camera roll from a chat app but I really didn’t think that these innocent pictures would put a stop to my entry into the country,” said Mads, who claimed he was next forced to give blood samples and supply fingerprints.

“It felt like I was a terrorist suspect where I was sitting,” he added. “I tried to pull myself together several times but in the end, I just wanted to get home.”

But The U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that the story wasn’t quite as Mads had painted it. “Fact Check: FALSE,” they wrote on X. “Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use.”

Mads told Nordlys that he was questioned at the airport about illegal drug use. He admitted to having used cannabis on two occasions – in Germany and in New Mexico. “It’s legal in both places, so in my mind it was irrelevant,” he said.

The tourist also said he never got the impression that the drug-related questions were an issue at the time of questioning.

The Norwegian was flown back to Norway the same day and when his claims reached social media, supporters branded his US ban “authoritarian”. “Remember when JD Vance went to Germany to lecture them about free speech?” said one user on X.

“So much for free speech. Note to visitors: Best not come for a few years,” added another supporter.

Mads’ ban comes after reports last month that an Australian woman was detained and jailed overnight before being deported. Nikki Saroukus, a former police officer from Sydney who was visiting her US military husband, had arrived for a three week holiday with her mum when she was taken in for questioning.

“They were asking me about ice and meth and whether I knew how much was being imported from New Zealand,” said Nikki, who was allegedly forced to sign a document stating she was not a part of a cartel and had no affiliation with gang members.

The Australian claimed she was handcuffed and subjected to an in-depth cavity search before being detained overnight and flown back home.

Brian Gavidia was at work on West Olympic Boulevard in Montebello at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday when he was told immigration agents were outside of his workplace.

Gavidia, 29, was born and raised in East Los Angeles and fixes and sells cars for a living. He said he stepped outside. And saw four to six agents.

Within seconds, he said, one of them — wearing a vest with “Border Patrol Federal Agent” written on the back — approached him.

“Stop right there,” he said the agent told him. Then the agent questioned whether Gavidia was American.

“I’m an American citizen,” Gavidia said he told the agent at least three times.

Despite his responses, the agent pushed him into a metal gate, put his hands behind his back and asked him what hospital he was born in, Gavidia said.

Rattled by the encounter, he said he couldn’t remember the hospital.

Video taken by a friend shows two agents holding Gavidia against a blue fence. He tells them they are twisting his arm.

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“I’m American, bro!” Gavidia said in the video.

“What hospital were you born?” the agent asked again, this time recorded in the video.

“I don’t know dawg!” he said. “East L.A. bro! I can show you: I have my f—ing Real ID.”

His friend, who Gavidia did not name, narrated the video. As the incident continued, he said: “These guys, literally based off of skin color! My homie was born here!” The friend said Gavidia was being questioned “just because of the way he looks. “

Gavidia said he gave the Border Patrol agent his Real ID, but the agent never returned it to him. The agent also took his phone and kept it for 20 minutes, he said, before finally returning it.

Even after the agent saw his ID, Gavidia said, he never apologized.

In a response to questions from the Times, U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not answer questions about the encounter with Gavidia.

The agency said in a statement that it is “conducting targeted immigration enforcement in support of ICE operations across the Los Angeles area. Enforcing immigration law is not optional — it’s essential to protecting America’s national security, public safety, and economic strength.”

The statement continued: “Every removal of an illegal alien helps restore order and reinforce the rule of law.”

Pressed by The Times for answers about that specific encounter, a CBP spokesperson said: “The statement provided is the only info available about the operation at this time.”

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Gavidia said another friend was arrested that afternoon at the same location. His name is Javier Ramirez, and he, too, is an American citizen. Tomas De Jesus, Ramirez’s cousin and his attorney, said immigration agents had entered a private business, “without a warrant without a probable cause, to warrant entering into a place like that.”

De Jesus said his cousin began alerting people to the presence of the agents. He said he only learned of his cousin’s whereabouts on Friday afternoon and said authorities are accusing him of “resisting arrest, assaulting people.”

“We’re still conducting an investigation to really understand and ascertain the facts of the case,” De Jesus said. De Jesus said he called the Metropolitan Detention Center and identified himself as an attorney wishing to speak with his client, but he was told attorneys were not allowed to see their clients at the moment.

“I was not given permission, I was not given access to even speak to him on the phone,” he said.

Montebello Mayor Salvador Melendez, who watched video of the encounter with Gavidia, called the situation “just extremely frustrating.

“It just seems like there’s no due process,” he said. “They’re just getting folks that look like our community and taking them and questioning them.”

Melendez said he got a call from a resident when immigration agents were on Olympic Boulevard. Melendez said he heard they were going out to other locations in the city, too.

“They’re going for a specific look, which is a look of our Latino community, our immigrant community,” he said.

Gavidia said his mother is Colombian and his father is Salvadoran. They are American citizens.

“He violated my rights as an American citizen,” Gavidia said, his voice shaking with anger as he spoke over the phone from his business Friday. “It was the worst experience I ever felt. I felt honestly like I was going to die. He literally racked a chamber in his AR-15.”

Gavidia‘s clothes were dirty from work, and he said he figured that’s partly why agents questioned him.

“I’m legal,” he said. “I speak perfect English. I also speak perfect Spanish. I’m bilingual, but that doesn’t mean that I have to be picked out, like ‘This guys seems Latino; this guy seems a little bit dirty.’ I’m working, guys. I’m an American. We work. I’m Latino. We work.”

He added: “It’s just scary, walking while brown, walking while dirty, coming home from work, there’s a high chance you might get picked up.”

Gavidia said he still doesn’t have his Real ID back. He went to the Department of Motor Vehicles Friday morning and said immigration agents had stolen his ID. He said he was told he would need to reapply for another one.

“He took my ticket to freedom,” Gavidia said.

A BRIDGERTON star has revealed a phone thief threatened to stab her in a cafe attack before she bravely tackled him.

Genevieve Chenneour was sitting in a Joe & The Juice in Kensington, South West London when the terrifying ordeal happened.

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Zacariah Boulares snuck up behind the 27-year-old and swiped her phone on February 8.

Genevieve – who plays Clara Livingston in the hit Netflix show – revealed that the “full on scrap” lasted for about five minutes.

She pinned the 18-year-old thief to the floor but has now said he threatened to stab her.

“I was threatened with being stabbed, so it became a matter of life and death,” she told ITV.

“I remember kicking him back with my leg to create space in case he had a weapon on him.”

She described it as a “life-changing, crazy moment”.

The star said the ordeal has left her feeling scared to venture outside and she has even left her home in the capital to take a “break” from the lawless city.

Astonishing footage from police showed Genevieve grabbing Boulares’ shoulder as she realised her phone had been taken.

She then tackled the serial thief to the ground with the help of another customer.

Genevieve managed to take her phone back from Boulares before repeatedly hitting him with it in the posh cafe.

She previously claimed she suffered a concussion in the horror in February and said even her dog was “traumatised”.

The star added: “They didn’t expect me to stand up for myself – but I did.”

Algerian national Boulares previously pleaded guilty to stealing the phone.

The teen also admitted common assault against fellow Joe and the Juice customer Carlo Kurcishi, who had stepped in to help.

Boulares pleaded guilty to a separate charge of theft after he swiped a black leather hand bag from a diner at a pizza restaurant.

The court heard he has 12 previous convictions for a total of 28 offences – all relating to theft.

His rap sheet includes threatening to cut off Aled Jones’ arm while stealing his £17,000 Rolex.

The Songs of Praise presenter, 52, was out with his son Lucas when he was targeted near their home in Chiswick, South West London.

Boulares – then aged 16 – pulled out 20 inch machete and repeatedly threatened Aled in a bid to steal the luxury timepiece.

He told him: “Give me your f***king Rolex or I will cut your arm off.”

Aled handed over the £17,000 Rolex Daytona watch rather than fight with the armed robber.

He and his son bravely followed the 6ft teen but when he spotted them, he snarled: “Walk the other way or I will cut your head off.”

Boulares was given a two year training and detention order after pleading guilty to robbery at Ealing Youth Court.

But he was released from youth detention early after serving just 14 months of his 24-month sentence. 

He will be sentenced for robbing Genevieve on June 17 at Isleworth Crown Court.

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Travel writer Sophie Law headed to the Amalfi Coast to try out Uber’s new helicopter and boat ride experience that lets you explore one of Italy’s most beautiful coastlines from a different angle.

It’s not every day you get to tick off a bucket-list experience — especially one that has you soaring above one of the most dazzling coastlines in the world.

But thanks to Uber’s latest luxurious offering, I found myself stepping into a helicopter for the very first time, ready to see the Amalfi Coast like never before.

Uber’s new Uber Copter service — launched just in time for what promises to be a bustling summer season — felt like stepping into a scene reserved for the rich and famous.

My nerves were jittery at first — naturally! — but from the moment we lifted off from the exclusive helipad in Sorrento, the experience was astonishingly smooth. Forget the turbulence of your typical commercial flight; this was sheer luxury.

The journey took just 15 minutes to reach Capri, an island in Italy’s Bay of Naples famed for its expensive hotels, crystal-clear waters, and celebrity sightings — Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyoncé, and the Kardashians, to name a few.

As we gracefully soared over the glittering Mediterranean, the dramatic cliffs and sun-soaked villages unfolded below us. One of the area’s most iconic natural wonders is the Blue Grotto — a dark cavern where the sea glows electric blue, thanks to sunlight filtering through an underwater cave.

In summer, the Amalfi Coast’s cove-studded shoreline draws countless yachts — celebrity and billionaire superyachts often anchor in picturesque spots like Marina Piccola in Capri. Our two cheery pilots eagerly pointed out landmarks along the coastline, from ancient Roman ruins to luxurious hotels.

And just like that, we touched down in Capri and were whisked away in a stylish pink convertible jeep (another pinch-me moment). The helicopter experience is one I’ll never forget — and one that’s surprisingly easy to book. The view was mesmerizing: a vibrant, cinematic spectacle made accessible right from your smartphone via the Uber app.

The helicopter ride holds up to six people and costs £210 (€250) per person. While that may sound steep, a typical helicopter tour over the Amalfi Coast usually runs between €1,800 and €2,950 per group — so it’s relatively reasonable.

The round-trip journey includes door-to-door transportation to and from the helipad, with a 9am departure from Sorrento and 5pm return from Capri. But Uber wasn’t done spoiling us yet. Next up: a dreamy boat trip that felt almost too good to be true. And get this — it’s completely free for tourists all summer long.

The stylish boat (straight out of The Talented Mr. Ripley) picked us up from Sorrento Marina for a four-hour cruise along the coastline, stopping at pretty bays for swimming. We were given a guided tour along the way too, passing ruins, hotels, towns, and even a tiny island with a villa that can be rented for an eye-watering £125,000 a week.

Cruising leisurely along the Amalfi Coast in a chic Italian Gozzo 35 boat, we sipped chilled prosecco and ate salty snacks before docking at the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site town of Positano for a lunch of courgette pasta, a regional speciality, and Aperol Spritz.

The view of the pastel-coloured town climbing up the mountainside — one of Amalfi’s most famous vistas — was even more extraordinary from sea level and a great way to avoid the throngs of tourists. I’m told each trip includes a personal skipper, along with complimentary snacks and beverages, but you can bring your own, of course. Each boat can be chartered for up to 12 people.

These unforgettable experiences are part of Uber’s ambitious new initiative to transform travel on Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

From helicopter transfers and luxury sea cruises to seamless ground transportation, Uber’s latest offerings ensure travellers can truly “go anywhere” by land, sea, or air and the summer services will run every Saturday and Sunday from July 26 to August 24.

Starting next month, you can book a helicopter transfer or free luxury boat trip with just a few taps on the Uber Reserve feature.

Trust me — it’s Amalfitani style at its finest, and it’ll leave you feeling like a celebrity.

Book it

Uber Copter rides for up to six people costs £210 (€250) per person. They can be booked on the Uber app by selecting the ‘Uber Copter’ icon from the home screen.

The private helicopter operates every Saturday and Sunday between July 26 and August 23, and includes transportation to and from the helipad, with a 9am departure from Sorrento and 5pm return from Capri.

The Uber Boat can also be booked through the Uber app on your phone and it’s free — select the ‘Uber Boat’ icon from the home screen. Boats depart every Saturday and Sunday from July 26 until August 24 at 10am from Sorrento’s marina.

June 7 (UPI) — South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung spoke for the first time with U.S. President Donald Trump late Friday as both leaders agreed to further strengthen their nations’ alliance.

Lee, who took office Wednesday, talked with Trump in a 20-minute phone call, according to the presidential office of South Korea.

The White House has not confirmed the conversation, and the president, who is in New Jersey this weekend, hasn’t posted about the call on Truth Social.

The two presidents agreed to strive toward reaching a mutually acceptable trade agreement, including on tariffs.

Trump has imposed 10% baseline tariffs on most trading partners. On April 2, Trump said the Republic of Korea would face a 49% duty but one week later he paused it for three months along with the other worst offenders in the trade imbalance.

South Korea’s tariffs on imported agricultural goods average 54%.

Trump congratulated Lee on his election victory, and the new leader expressed his gratitude, according to the office.

Lee noted the importance of the alliance, which forms the foundation of Seoul’s diplomacy.

The phone call was “conducted in a friendly and candid atmosphere,” as they shared anecdotes and experiences from their election campaigns, according to South Korea’s presidential office.

They exchanged views on their assassination attempts last year and political challenges, in addition to discussing their their golf skills and agreed to play a round together.

Trump invited Lee to the White House and the Group of Seven summit in Alberta, Canada, from June 15-17.

South Korea is not a G7 member state, but the nation attended them group’s meetings in 2021 and 2023. Korea’s neighbor, Japan, is a member of the G7.

Yonhap reported the South Korea government is in consultations for Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Chinese President Xi Jinping to speak to their leader.

It has not been decided whether Lee will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders’ summit in the Netherlands on June 24 and 25, according to the presidential office.

Lee, the Democratic Party liberal candidate, won in a landslide over Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party. He was inaugurated the next day on Wednesday.

South Koreans turned out in record numbers in a snap election triggered by the impeachment and removal of Yoon Suk Yeol in April after a botched martial law decree.

Some 35.24 million voters cast a ballot, representing a turnout of 79.4% — the highest mark since an 80.7% turnout in 1997.

A BODY found in a lift shaft in Malaysia has been identified as the missing Brit backpacker Jordan Johnson-Doyle.

Jordan, 25, was last seen at a bar in Kuala Lumpar but then vanished – sparking a desperate plea from his family and a police search.

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Malaysian police confirmed today that a body was found at the base of a lift shaft on Wednesday, and has been identified as Jordan.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.

VLADIMIR Putin has warned Donald Trump he “will have to respond” to Ukraine’s daring drone strike on Russian airfields, the US president revealed.

In a dramatic post on Truth Social, Trump said the Russian tyrant issued the warning during a 75-minute phone call where the pair discussed rising tensions in Ukraine, as well as Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

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“It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace,” Trump wrote.

“President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.”

The call, confirmed by the Kremlin, came after Ukrainian drones targeted Russian warplanes stationed at airbases deep behind enemy lines — a bold assault seen as a major embarrassment for Mad Vlad Putin.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.

Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun

Holidaymakers have been warned against a new ‘hacking’ crime which is particularly rife during the summer months – and can lead to theft ‘within minutes’

The festive season may be in full swing, but it’s also a prime time for scammers to strike, particularly targeting travellers and commuters when they’re distracted.

Con artists are using a particularly sneaky tactic: swiping mobile phones and then convincing network providers to switch the number to a new SIM card they control, allowing them to intercept vital calls and texts, including one-time passcodes used for two-factor authentication. This gives them unparalleled access to everything from bank accounts to cryptocurrency wallets.

Ryan Sweetnam, Director of Crypto Fraud and Financial Litigation at CEL Solicitors, raised the alarm, saying: “SIM swap fraud is one of the fastest-growing cyber threats we’re seeing, particularly affecting people when they’re more relaxed.

“This can be whilst you’re walking around town, to the tube, bus or just along the street, or even when you’re on holiday, be it in the UK or abroad.”

READ MORE: Man, 23, took own life after £10k scam left him ‘stressed and embarrassed’READ MORE: Drug gangs ‘grooming’ young Brits with proven tactic as they flock to ‘booming’ Golden Triangle

He added: “Once a scammer has your phone they can potentially access your banking and crypto accounts within minutes.

“Holidaymakers are often easy targets, with many admitting they don’t regularly monitor their financial accounts while overseas. That, coupled with the use of unsecured public Wi-Fi and international roaming, creates the ideal conditions for these high-tech thieves,” he said.

Mr Sweetnam issued a stark warning about the silent nature of financial crime, cautioning: “The real danger is that people don’t always notice what’s happened until it’s too late.

“You might not see missing funds for hours or even days, giving criminals a huge head start.”, reports the Express.

He further highlighted the risks associated with modern technology, stating: “Even those who have their phones stolen out of their hands will quickly report the theft to law enforcement or their banks, but with the growing number of people with access to stocks, shares and cryptocurrencies on their phones, this is often forgotten until it’s too late.”

In response to these dangers, specialists at CEL Solicitors are calling on Britons to adopt a set of five vital safety measures to safeguard against such crimes:

• Beware of unsolicited requests for information: Never share personal data such as your date of birth, address or account details in response to texts, emails or phone calls—even if they appear to be from your bank or mobile provider.
• Ditch SMS authentication: Opt for app-based two-factor authentication instead. Unlike SMS, these apps don’t rely on your phone number, making them far more secure.
• Keep tabs on your accounts while abroad: Regularly check your banking and crypto platforms for any suspicious activity.
• Strengthen your digital defences: Use robust, unique passwords and consider a password manager. Also, update your security questions to make them harder to guess.
• Act fast if your phone loses signal unexpectedly: This could be an early sign your number has been transferred without your knowledge. Contact your mobile provider and bank immediately.

With cybercriminals becoming increasingly cunning, Mr Sweetnam says vigilance is vital—especially during the holiday season:

“Staying informed, especially when you’re out of your usual routine, is essential. Fraud can happen to anyone but preparation can make all the difference.”

I tested myself if I could go a day without using my phone by participating on an 18-mile hike with nothing but a bottle of water – and what I discovered about myself was unexpectedly rewarding

I’m not the only one who says that I live attached to my phone and that everything I own and treasure is there. Realising that my screen time is higher than the average person’s, I wanted to prove to myself that I could go a day without it. So, when I saw the opportunity to go on a hike in the middle of nowhere with zero phone service, I couldn’t say no to it.

I wouldn’t consider myself a very sporty person, nor do I think I would have ever been interested in completing a hike by choice. With no expectations or preparations, except for a nice kit provided by Columbia Sportswear, I went for it – and let me tell you, it was so worth it.

READ MORE: Europe’s best hiking trails revealed – and two are in UK

Hiking is nature’s therapy

Throughout the year, Columbia Hike Society hosts multiple “Hike Fests” across the world. The whole point is to walk for miles and miles until you reach your destination, where a reward awaits you.

In our case, it was an emerging duo group called Lavender Music and Bombay Bicycle Club, an English indie rock band – and of course, a beautiful beach that looked like the ones in the Almafi Coast.

We walked through fields, along coastal paths and over sand dunes to an isolated area of Anglesey, located in north-western Wales. There was something so therapeutic about listening to the wind, the birds, the waves of the sea, and even the sound of the sole of the shoe touching the rocky ground.

Hiking is an underrated activity that is both engaging and relaxing. I appreciated the silence and being fully present in nature for three hours without using my phone and without listening to music. It’s also a social media trend called ‘rawdogging’, which is a slang term is used when undertaking an activity without any assistance, preparation or comfort.

READ MORE: ‘I’ve visited 18 European countries but these 4 left such a big impression on me’

Living in the moment

Thankfully, my friend joined the trip, which made it much more bearable, with a few laughs in between. We kept stopping to take pictures, but the insane views can’t be as appreciated through the lens as much as they are through your own eyes. Being born and raised in Barcelona, and also being used to the busy London environment, I didn’t think that the UK had the potential to be so beautiful!

Once we arrived at the beach, we sat down to eat our lunch and enjoyed performances from Lavender and Bombay Bicycle Club as the clear blue skies and sunlight graced us. That’s when I realised that I was going to wake up the next morning with a stiff body and that I was so unfit and should probably start going to the gym – but that’s another story.

What started at 10am, ended at 13:46pm, to be exact. During those long hours of non-stop walking, it gave me plenty of time to think about a lot of things, and I learnt to enjoy my own company without wanting to check my phone notifications.

I’ve also learnt to live in the moment, something we sometimes forget to do because we spend most of our time focused on what’s happening on social media and don’t look at what’s right in front of us.

But the one thing that I appreciated the most about this hiking trip was the realisation of how little we actually invest into ourselves and our well-being, and although it was my first time hiking, it will definitely not be the last one.

THIS is the first photo of the homeless man arrested over a vicious random stabbing at a popular Spanish holiday airport.

The victim was stabbed “a few centimetres” from the carotid artery in his neck in the attack at Majorca’s Palma Airport – used by hundreds of thousands of Brits every year.

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The Sun can reveal this picture of the 45-year-old suspect – a Salvadoran man thought to be one of the dozens of homeless people who sleep rough in the airport each night.

It shows Carlos Heriberto Beltran Perdomo being hauled into a police van to be taken to court, where he faces a likely attempted murder charge.

As of Thursday afternoon, Perdomo was under formal investigation but had not been officially charged over the assault.

Police revealed Perdomo had no fixed address after arresting him on Tuesday morning – moments after the stabbing.

They found a weapon in his pocket which they believe was the shank used in the attack.

The airport-sleeper refused to testify in court and was remanded in custody before an investigating judge on Wednesday.

Sources said they believe Perdomo lashed out while high on drugs after his mobile phone disappeared.

They say he became agitated while he was going through his belongings at the airport after getting off a bus.

The victim is Argentinian man who had gone to the airport with a friend who was collecting a relative. 

He told police he was approached by a “scruffy” looking man wearing a green shirt and shorts as he returned to the carpark who asked him: “What do you know about my mobile?”

Chilling CCTV images handed to investigators show the alleged attacker walking among crowds of holidaymakers behind the stab victim.

The attack occurred amid reports about a worrying rough sleeping epidemic plaguing Spanish airports.

These concerns led to night-time restrictions being introduced at Madrid’s Barajas Airport to stop around 400 homeless people bedding down there.

Detectives said in their first comments about the Palma airport attack: “The incident happened at 10.35am on Tuesday outside the airport arrivals area next to the car park.

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“A young man was stabbed in the neck and suffered a wound a few centimetres from the artery which required several stitches.

“The victim was walking with a friend towards the car park after having gone to meet a relative in arrivals when they were approached by a stranger.

“The suspect asked them about his mobile and then pounced on his victim brandishing a knife which he used to stab him in the neck.

“The young man tried to repel the attack and stop his assailant continuing to stab him, asking for help from security guards who were in the area and managed to restrain the knifeman.”

The alleged aggressor is being represented by a Majorcan based lawyer called Ivan Garcia Lopez.

Mr Lopez confirmed yesterday his client had been remanded in jail and was being investigated on suspicion of attempted murder.

He added: “I am working on trying to secure his release on bail.”

The Sun can today reveal that the arrested man was already known to Spanish police following previous detentions i including one in Ibiza last year.

He is thought to work as a chef in a Majorcan tourist resort, even though he has no fixed address.

A source close to the investigation said: “He was claiming after his arrest his mobile had disappeared after he got off a bus at the airport when he took it out for a moment to search for something in his pocket.

“It looks like the victim was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and happened to be the first person the alleged offender came across and asked about his phone.

“It was completely random. The victim could have been anyone of any nationality.”

Police requested a restraining order for the suspect, banning him from Palma Airport, before he was remanded in custody.

The request was on the basis that millions of holidaymakers use the airport facilities every day and attacks on strangers massively impact tourist security.

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The suspect has not been formally charged with any crime at this stage – as is normal in Spain where charges are only laid shortly before trial.

But he has been warned he could be jailed for up to ten years if convicted of attempted murder.

Urgent action is being demanded over the homelessness situation at a number of popular Spanish airports, including the ones in Majorca and Malaga.

The problem is said to be causing not only humanitarian issues but safety and health fears too.

At Madrid’s Barajas airport more than 400 people are reportedly sleeping rough, with many going out to work or beg during the day and returning each night.

That airport also had to be fumigated last week to treat an infestation of bedbugs, fleas and cockroaches.

A Which? travel expert has explained why you should always have your phone nearby when you’re booking a holiday

Most people have a checklist of items they’ll gather before booking a holiday, such as a calendar, a credit card, and a laptop. However, holidaymakers should also make sure they have a phone to hand when searching for deals.

A travel expert has revealed people should never book a holiday without a phone nearby or risk paying more than they need to. The tip was shared on TikTok by a Which? travel expert in a video on the consumer champion’s TikTok page.

In the Which? video, the expert said: “I would never book a hotel on a computer without checking the price on my mobile phone first.” She explained: “We slashed £270 off the price of an apartment in Amsterdam on Booking.com, and we saved almost £100 on a weekend in Florence with Expedia, just by booking a mobile exclusive.”

As such, it could pay off to check for deals using a phone before hitting checkout on a laptop. It wasn’t the only tip the expert shared to benefit holidaymakers. She also said she would never book a flight with an online travel agent without checking the cost with the airline first.

“Although online travel agents appear to be cheaper, they tend to whack up the prices of extras, such as bags and seats,” she reasoned. “If you need those, it might be cheaper just to go with the airline directly.”

Additionally, when making your booking, the expert said not to pay to sit with travel companions when flying with Jet2 or BA. She told viewers: “Jet2 and BA told us that they’ll always try to seat groups together where possible, but Wizz Air and Ryanair are more likely to split you up unless you pay to sit together.”

According to the pro, booking car hire excess insurance with the hire company is another common mistake. Instead, she recommended booking with a third party before you go, which should work out cheaper.

Similarly, she advises against changing money at the airport as the exchange rates are “notoriously terrible.” As such, it pays off to be prepared and change money before departure.

When changing money, Which? recommends shopping around. Advice on the Which? website says: “Not all bureaux de change will use the same money exchange rates or charging structures. Some impose a fee when you buy foreign currency, while others don’t – so you must consider the total cost of changing your cash before handing it over.

“This is simpler than it sounds; just ask exactly how much foreign currency you will get from each outlet in return for the pounds sterling you are seeking to exchange.

“It’s worth comparing the deals on offer from several companies before changing your money, and you may also want to steer clear of high street banks. Which? research shows banks typically fail to offer the best exchange rates and may only offer currency exchange services to existing customers.”

Spain has launched a fresh crackdown on a specific group of pedestrians known as ‘phone zombies’ as it looks to cut down on road accidents in the country

Holidaymakers caught wandering dangerously with their phones in Spain could be slapped with a hefty fine.

Spain has initiated a tough new campaign against careless pedestrian conduct to tackle the surge in street mishaps – and it spells trouble for holidaymakers addicted to their smartphones. The Spanish traffic authority, the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), has delivered a stern caution to those who wander the pavements engrossed in their devices.

Under fresh rules, pedestrians caught using their mobile phones while walking, particularly close to or on streets, could face an €80 (£67) penalty, while graver infractions like jaywalking may incur fines up to €200 (£170).

Officials have identified the growing problem of “phone zombies” – individuals who meander into traffic while engrossed in texting or browsing – as a significant danger not only to themselves but also to other road users.

READ MORE: Five major new railways that will transform European train travel

In a direct message posted on its social media platforms, the DGT stated: “Use the zebra crossings properly, they’re there for a reason. Don’t use your phone while crossing, no, not even for a selfie. Eyes up, feet down, and only step out if it’s safe for you and the drivers.”

The statement continued with clear instructions: “Obey traffic signals. Stay off motorways and dual carriageways, they’re for wheels, not heels,” emphasising that the clampdown is vital for “safe mobility for all.”

Particularly, tourists planning trips to popular destinations like Majorca are being cautioned, reports the Express.

Authorities on the island, which has long been subject to complaints about both local and tourist driving standards, are facing increasing pressure to address traffic chaos and pedestrian risks. The problem is only anticipated to escalate as a proposal is being considered to permit learner drivers to practice with experienced drivers, not just instructors, at the helm.

READ MORE: ‘Stunning’ Anglesey holiday cottage with sea views, hot tub and availability in school holidaysREAD MORE: 15 most dangerous places in the world that no tourist should ever visit

As Spanish roads become increasingly challenging for both drivers and pedestrians, both tourists and locals are being encouraged to pay more attention and look up from their phones, or they could face a substantial fine whilst on holiday.

There are plenty of other laws in place across Spain designed to control behaviour. In Alicante for example there are heavy fines for noisy tourists. Recently the city tightened versions of their 2019 rules placed by the city council. These simple rules against tourist noise pollution, however, could cost Brits over £25,000 if breached.

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The country as a whole has declared that tourists will now be fined as high as £8,000 for not having legal proof of their accommodation whilst travelling. This translates into a booking confirmation letter or email – which is easy enough for hotel stayers, but for those visiting friends and family that reside there, proof becomes a lot more complicated.

Cities like Benidorm have announced a new change to their tourist law: a beach fine for any who steps onto its sandy coasts between midnight and 7 AM. In an effort to preserve its beaches and prevent potential crime, Benidorm’s fines are a significant sum that can land between £640 and £1,030 and will also target romantics opting for a night-time swim or sleeping under the stars.