slapped

British tourists have been warned to be careful in France this summer after new rules were brought in during a heatwave as temperatures rise across the country

British tourists have been warned they could be hit with a fine of up to £129 this summer if they visit France. The ban, which applies to non-Brits as well, is in relation to public decency.

Just like the UK, though to a greater extent, France has been experiencing incredibly high temperatures in recent days. In response, several measures have been put in place to protect the public.

One of the laws brought into place has been a ban on men being topless in public places, resulting in a fine that could be as high as €150 (£129.62). The bans have been brought into force in coastal towns including Narbonne in southern France.

In some cases, the ban has been brought in to maintain respect for urban spaces, whilst others have brought it in for hygiene reasons. In places such as Narbonne, the ban will be in place until the end of September.

Residents have so far, it appears, backed the plan. Speaking to the Times, an Australian living in the town, Anthony Hill, 53, said: “This isn’t something the staff of our café can easily police on their own without getting into arguments with customers.

“So I think it’s a very good thing. Having bare-chested guys on the terrace can put off other customers.”

Meanwhile the local mayor Bertrand Malquier, added: “It’s about hygiene and avoiding exhibitionism.”

The attitude has been reflected in La Grande-Motte where local Marie, 37, expressed her support to the publication. She said: “If I’m out with my kids in the town centre I really don’t want to see guys without shirts. It’s a matter of decency — and there’s also the smell when they walk past you.”

A French Twitter user, Yannick Moreau, agreed: “This is inappropriate behaviour that has an unfortunate tendency to increase year after year. So it’s time to make it clear: it is forbidden to walk around shirtless or in swimwear in Les Sables d’Olonne. A bit of decency, please!”

This isn’t the only ban that has been introduced in France, with the country’s capital Paris also introducing a ban on drinking takeaway alcohol in the street.

The ban began at midday today (June 26) and will run all the way until 7 o’clock France time on Saturday morning. It will then return at midday on Saturday and the end again at seven o’clock on Sunday morning.

Talking about the ban, the city’s police chief Patrice Faure, told BFM TV: “As you know, drinking alcohol with the sun beating down can have a devastating effect. We are reaching a saturation point in hospital facilities.

“I must ensure that the pressure decreases.”

Hospitals in the city have been under increasing pressure as more people have come in after being affected by the heat which has been so high that the city’s LGBTQ+ Pride march has been delayed until September.

KATIE Price’s husband Lee Andrews has broken his social media silence since going missing weeks ago.

The 43-year-old has claimed he was “captured at gunpoint” and “slapped around” before being accused of spying.

He then praised his wife Katie, 48, for her help in getting British authorities involved in his release.

Posting a video of himself on social media with a thicker-looking head of hair, Lee said: “Hi everyone, this is Lee. I’ve been missing now for several weeks. I can tell you I’m now safe and healthy and with my wife.

“I was taken close to the Hattar-Omani border by men at gunpoint and then I was captured by men with assault rifles.

they did slap me around a little bit, little s***s, and I was hand-tied, shackled and also had a hood over my head.

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“From there I was taken to a black site and I had no use of my phone and from what I know it was an extended arm of the National Guard and that’s all I can reveal at the moment.

“I have signed disclaimers now with state security and from there I was put into the system.

“At no point have I faced anything to do with fraud allegations or any criminal activities such as that.”

However, UAE officials debunked his claims he was in jail for spying and confirmed he has spent the past four weeks behind bars on suspicion of fraud.

However, UAE officials challenged his claims he was in jail for spying and said he has spent the past four weeks behind bars on suspicion of fraud.

Lee doubled down on his version of events today, adding: “So I’m sending these messages out to my loved ones and my beautiful wife, who without her help involving all the UK authorities, I don’t think I would have got out of that situation.

“Because of the tensions and things happening in the region, and me being so close to the border, this is why I was suspected of espionage and held in a state security building without the use of a telephone and any right to shower, contact or speak to any of my family, including the embassy or my wife.

“So thank you to Katie for making such a noise where the UAE actually listened and let me go.

“From there, I did have a civil case in Dubai, which led to me going into the mainstream prison during the Arabic holiday Eid and I was able to secure my release.

“I’m here now. So thank you for everyone for listening and loved blessings to everyone.”

Katie appeared to accept his story, sharing Lee’s video on Instagram saying: “My husband is back. I love you.”

The former glamour model’s controversial husband was released from Dubai’s notorious Al Awir prison on Friday.

Katie quickly jetted back to Dubai from the UK over the weekend to see her other half and they shared an emotional reunion on Sunday evening.

Pictures showed Katie jumping into Lee’s arms as he picked her up and hugged her before heading to Vox Dubai, an outdoor rooftop cinema, to catch a World Cup football game.

Lee met Katie via Instagram in January and married in Dubai just nine days later in a whirlwind romance.

Katie told critics who have questioned her decisions: “I know people have been calling me stupid, I see all the trolling, I hear it.

“I am not stupid. Trust me, I am protected in every way. My card has been marked and I have been taking notes.

“There is no way he would mess with me, and in a way I feel protected because I have the nation looking out for me. I’m not a mug and when I finally see Lee, I am going to question him.

“And if the answers I get are not right, that will be it: I’ll be done. That’s it. And I’ll just get on with my life… and not find a man on Instagram and message him….”

Legal documents revealed that Lee was facing multiple legal issues in Dubai.

The court mandated that a total fine of £140,000 would need to be cleared before he could be released.

While imprisoned, Lee requested during a prison phone call that Katie start an online fundraising page to help raise the money, but she told him: “No one will do that for you, Lee, trust me. Everyone hates you.”

During his four weeks at Al Awira, Lee boasted about his accommodation, claiming to have befriended suspected Irish crime boss Daniel Kinahan.

Lee previously served a prison sentence in October for forging Taji’s signature on a £200,000 mortgage document.

ED Sheeran has been dealt another blow in his ongoing struggle to build a rehearsal space near his mega estate “Sheeranville”.

The Shape of You singer faces painfully slow construction on his new rehearsal studio due to eco-rules.

Builders having to begin construction by hand because of the prescence of endangered newts.

And they will be given special “toolbox talks” on what to do if they come across the tiny 15cm critters.

Planning bosses say the tiny 15cm critters could be disturbed by his plans to knock down a historic but dilapidated barn and turn it into a personal rehearsal space.

Council chiefs said the measures were normal for any countryside development – and not “unreasonable”.

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Ed’s builders will have to use hand tools instead of machinery, remove all debris by hand.

The popstar’s problems with amphibians date back as far as 2018 0 when protected great crested newts were found near his Suffolk estate.

Planning permission for the project was granted, but with a string of conditions to protect the species.

Sheeran bought the £1million farm in 20245 – which included a 19th century dilapidated piggery.

The brick and wood debris will also be entirely removed by hand to stop the newts from accessing it.

The ‘Great Crested Newt Method Statement’ filed with Mid-Suffolk District Council states: “The removal of any debris e.g. rubble, wood, will be undertaken by hand as far as possible, and with care, checking beneath all removed items for newts.

“Careful use of machinery will be necessary to lift large debris and to remove the existing concrete building base, with the area beneath checked for the presence of GCN as each section is lifted.”

The method statement also gives a time limit restricting project work to March, April and May when most newts will be in ponds away from construction.

Other eco measures Ed’s having to put in place include creating a “species rich, flowering lawn” with 19 different species of flowers.

Plus he’s got to plant 12 fruit trees, two bat boxes and a triple-house sparrow tower.

A spokesperson for Mid-Suffolk District Council told The Sun: “This is certainly NOT a case of any unreasonable ‘eco-friendly measures’ being demanded by our council – simply normal requirements that would be expected of any countryside developers.”

They explained there had been no conflict between Ed Sheeran and the council at any stage and that he had not complained about the restrictions.