tourists

If you’re planning on going away any time soon, there are some things you need to know about visiting the airport. A travel expert has warned against wearing certain items

As the holiday season fast approaches, many are eagerly making plans for airport travel, daydreaming of sun-soaked getaways and much-needed downtime. However, if you’re gearing up to head out soon, pay attention, as your trip through the airport could be smoother with some insider knowledge.

Heed the advice of travel gurus who warn that certain accessories might set you back due to unexpected delays. The fashion stakes are high when flying – it’s not just about comfort, as it’s also about ensuring a hassle-free journey, with your attire having the potential to make or break your airport experience.

Jetpac‘s very own travel expert Pearlyn Yeo, with a hefty Instagram following of over 20,000 on the company platform, has given pointers on what not to don at the airport. Take this guidance from Pearlyn – offered exclusively to us – to heart, as it could vastly improve your globetrotting this year.

The expert explained: “Keeping sunglasses on or wearing headphones through passport control can cause unnecessary delays and stress. These accessories can make it harder for border agents and automated systems to confirm your identity or get your attention.

“Both facial recognition gates and human officers rely on clear eye contact and unobstructed facial features. Sunglasses can interfere with the technology and an officer’s ability to assess your behaviour and demeanour.

“Headphones, on the other hand, can distract you and mean you miss important instructions – both of which can slow down the process. As well as removing the above accessories before heading through security and passport control, it’s important that travellers are prepared.

“At Jetpac, we advise all travellers to keep their documents digitally and ensure they are easy to access. eSIMs can help to organise everything you need. But it’s also wise to know when to put your devices and any other distractions away.

“For example, when going through immigration. Removing accessories and putting devices away shows that you’re ready and also that you respect certain protocols.”

Pearlyn added: “Most security staff will ask you to remove these items or stop using devices, so it will only add to your journey time and stress if you’re not prepared.

“With this in mind, it’s best to remove headphones, pack away phones and tablets and pop your sunglasses safely away before you reach security, passport control or immigration.

“In doing so, you’re more likely to breeze through border control and you won’t have to worry about unnecessary delays or stress.”

When it comes to choosing an outfit for travelling, there are a few golden rules that one should typically adhere to. The focus should primarily be on practicality and comfort.

The general advice is to opt for layered clothing, breathable materials and comfy footwear. It’s also wise to steer clear of tight-fitting garments, bulky items and anything with an excess of metal that could potentially delay security checks.

By sticking to these guidelines, you’re likely to breeze through security checks. It’s always beneficial to have a few travel tips up your sleeve.

A below-par performance from England saw India seal a four-wicket win in the first one-day international in Southampton.

Chasing 259 to win, India all-rounder Deepti Sharma’s unbeaten 62 saw the tourists reach their target with 10 balls to spare.

The dismissals of Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh in quick succession, with 24 runs still needed from 27 balls, gave England a glimmer of hope and the prospect of a tense finale but Amanjot Kaur held her nerve with 20 not out to see India to their second-highest successful chase in ODIs.

Amid a sloppy fielding effort, England also paid the price for failing to review an lbw against Sharma when she was on 40.

It is a crucial series for England, who are looking to gain confidence from their final three matches in the format before the autumn’s World Cup in India.

The positives included Sophia Dunkley’s well-paced 83 from 92 balls, and Alice Davidson-Richards made 53 as they rescued an innings that was teetering at 97-4.

Openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones both fell cheaply to young seamer Kranti Goud, before Nat Sciver-Brunt and Emma Lamb fell in consecutive Sneh Rana overs, having added 71 for the third wicket.

Dunkley and Davidson-Richards dropped anchor with a steady and sensible stand of 106, and despite scoring 36 from the final three overs, it proved that England left it too late to accelerate with five wickets still in hand.

The three-match series continues at Lord’s on Saturday.

A couple shared their experience visiting a popular tourist attraction in Capri, Italy, that’s great for thrill-seekers – but is panic-inducing for those looking for a more tranquil getaway

A holidaymaker has filmed the exhilarating moment they visited the Blue Grotto, a sea cave in Capri in southern Italy. A TikTok clip by The Rojos, a couple who frequently document their travel escapades, captures a boatman navigating a tiny rowing boat through the cavern’s cramped, low-arched opening.

The first-person footage shows the tourists lying flat as they confront the claustrophobic passage, with the tour guide crying out: “Oh my God, mamma mia.” After entering the grotto, the vessel’s front tip almost grazes the craggy ceiling overhead. The boatman carefully uses a metal chain to manoeuvre the craft through the cave, forced to crouch beneath a massive boulder alongside him.

After this, he tells The Rojos to sit up to take in shimmering azure waters set against the cavern’s shadowy walls.

According to Capri.com, the vivid blue colour of the water is caused by sunlight passing through an underwater opening located directly beneath the entrance to the cave.

The TikTok post’s caption reads: “Getting into the Blue Grotto is not for the faint hearted!!” At the time of writing, the clip has racked up a staggering 23.2 million views, 1.4million likes and 12,300 comments.

Several viewers admitted the video left them feeling ‘panicked’, with one declaring: “My claustrophobic self had a panic attack through the screen.”

Another chimed in: “Absolute panic rising inside me.” A third confessed: “Ok I might be too claustrophobic even for this video let alone the real experience.”

However, others were more intrigued by the cave. One person said: “My claustrophobia could never but this is lowkey cool.” Another simply called it “beautiful but scary.”

The Blue Grotto, a stunning natural sea cavern spanning 60m in length and 25m across, can only be visited when the sea is calm enough.

The entrance to the cave is a mere two metres wide and just about a metre high.

Visitors are ferried in by small rowboats that carry no more than four people at a time, who must lie flat as the boatmen navigate them into the grotto.

Adverse weather conditions like choppy waters and gusty winds often mean the grotto is off-limits.

The spectacle of light reflecting from the water, casting an electric blue illumination, is a major draw for tourists.

The cave’s famous silver reflections seen in the water are created by tiny bubbles that cling to the surfaces of objects beneath the surface.

Entry to the Blue Grotto will set you back 18EUR (£15.60), with tickets available at the ticket booth.

Capri.com suggests that the cavern’s renowned glow is most vivid between noon and 2pm.

The site also notes that after 3pm, there may be shorter queues, though the risk of rough seas increases, potentially leading to closure.

Visitors are advised to check the sea conditions before purchasing tickets.

A British man living in Benidorm has claimed the party city may be ‘finished’ after witnessing its surprising ’emptiness’ this summer, and people claim it’s all down to cost

A British expat living in Benidorm has claimed the renowned party city is “finished” as tourists are being “priced out,” with some claiming they are instead flocking to a more affordable destination. Harry Poulton, a TikTok influencer known for sharing his travel advice on the Spanish resort, suggested in a recent video that Benidorm might be “finished” after noting the streets this summer appeared more empty than usual.

In a clip which has racked up over 125,000 views, hints at the city’s rising costs as a potential reason for its decline. “[Is] Benidorm finished? Where is everybody? It’s the middle of July, and it’s absolutely dead,” he noted.

The 24-year-old, originally from Brighton, remarked: “Normally at this time of year, Benidorm’s mentality – it’s busy, there are people absolutely everywhere,” according to Luxury Travel Daily. Harry added that he’d just been down to the beach, and there was simply nobody around.

“I’ve been down the Benidorm strip; hardly anyone there. Bars [aren’t] even that busy – what’s going on? Is everyone going to Tenerife now? I’ve only been away a week.”

Harry also expressed his astonishment at the lack of crowds, noting that even during usual peak hours around 7pm, the streets remain deserted.

His observations have sparked a flurry of theories among TikTok viewers, one of whom commented: “Have to say hotels are getting more and more expensive. Crazy prices.”

Meanwhile, a different user suggested where all the missing tourists might be. “Everyone is going to Salou, Spain,” they said. A third person agreed: “It’s got too expensive.”

A fourth individual lamented: “People are fed up with being robbed, mate [sic].”

Meanwhile a fifth TikTok user expressed: “Getting too expensive. Used to be my go-to holiday. However, I cannot afford Benidorm this year. Other Spanish places half the price.”

In a separate video, meanwhile, Harry reiterated his frustration with the rising costs in the city. The content creator asserted: “Benidorm is getting expensive. Everything this year has gone so much more than last year. I’m not the only one that feels this way.”

Reacting to a follower who had spent nearly £1,000 for a week’s stay in a single room, Harry sympathised: “Ouch, that’s got to hurt. Don’t get me wrong – eating out, drinking, all those sorts of things are still very reasonable, especially price-wise compared to the UK.

“Everything has got really expensive; not just in Benidorm, but in general.”

And he concluded, reflecting: “Is Benidorm falling off? Or is it just the world in general? Mad, really – what are holidays? What’s a cheap holiday now?”

Brits abroad have been warned to brace for more summer holiday protests from anti-tourists, meanwhile.

The Southern European Network Against Touristification (SET) group, already revelling in the widespread disruptions caused on a Europe-wide day of action on June 15, is threatening there is more disruption to come. In a strong statement they said: “Common sense is changing.

“The myth of tourism as economic salvation is over. Touristification is no longer a problem perceived by a few. It has become a widespread concern across generations, social classes, cities and regions. And this is just the beginning.”

The group added: “Given the situations we are witnessing everywhere, there is no doubt that more actions and mobilizations will take place here and there this summer, much like there might be more anti-touristification actions on 27th September for World Tourism Day. The struggle against touristification is growing, expanding, and is being organized. Because our lives are worth more than their profits.”

Visitors to the town of Portofino, on the Italian Riviera, will have to abide by new local ordnance that prohobits several common activities enjoyed by holidaymaking Brits

A sun-drenched holiday hotspot could fine rulebreaking Brits more than £400 after it introduced sweeping bans restricting a slew of typical summer activities.

Italian officials in Portofino, a stunning coastal town on the country’s Riviera in Liguria typically swimming with thousands of tourists at a time, have introduced bans after growing weary of the massive activity. From today, new ordinance will prevent the up to 100,000 people who travel there a year from walking barefoot, enjoying picnics, and drinking booze on the community’s streets.

The ordnance, which has been introduced to protect the “peace and quiet of residents and tourists”, also introduces a series of other bans.

READ MORE: Brits abroad warned to brace for more summer holiday protests from anti-tourists

Signed by Mayor Matteo Viacava, it prevents people from walking through the town barefoot, topless, or while wearing nothing more than swimwear.

Per the rules, alcohol can only be consumed in restaurants, bars and designated areas, with begging and lying on the streets, walls, sidewalks and in local parks also banned. The new rules come into effect immediately, and will last throughout the summer season, when thousands of Brits will be mingling with the roughly 400 locals during a picturesque summer break.

Those who break the rules will risk a potential hefty fine, with penalties ranging from as low as £22 to up to £433 as Italian officials try to discourage unruly tourists.

Portofino has jostled with problem visitors for years, with the increasingly popular town having hit headlines years ago for similar restrictive measures. In 2023, officials banned tourists from visiting several local vantage points, officially citing concerns over local pedestrian footfall.

The earlier crackdown led to the creation of “no-waiting zones” in which tourists were prevented from pausing at locations – usually the most popular ones – deemed especially crowded or prone to bottlenecking.

Much like the latest raft of bans, rule flouters were threatened with hefty – although less pricey – fines. Anyone caught on the wrong side of the ordnance was ordered to pay up €275 (£242), with town administrators stressing at the time that, again like the latest rules, they were meant to protect the local quality of life.

Mayor Viacava told news outlet Leggo the rules were placed after select areas of the Portofino borough became so crowded that police were called in to “control pedestrians”.

He said: “The ordinance prohibits gatherings in certain areas of the borough where getting around is so difficult that police must be called in to control pedestrians. This is a common sense safety measure.” He added in a statement to Il Secolo XIX.: “Our goal is not to drive tourists away or discourage them from visiting.

“Everyone must do their part to contribute to the beauty of Portofino by behaving properly.”

Brits cruising around a popular set of European islands this summer have been warned over a new tourist tax, that slaps holidaymakers with charges of up to €20 (around £17) for entering the port

Brits flocking to an insatiably popular set of European destinations this summer have been warned over hefty charges.

Last year, a whopping 40.7 million tourists headed over to Greece and its cluster of picturesque islands, marking a 12.8 per cent spike compared to the year before. While the huge influx is believed to have generated a staggering €21.6 billion (around £18.6bn) in tourism revenue, officials argue local people aren’t seeing the benefit.

In fact, many residents argue the surge in holidaymakers is pricing them out of the property market – and wrecking the country’s environmental beauty. As a result, many hotspots have started to introduce a tourist tax – with profits designed to support local infrastructure and ‘promote’ sustainable tourism levels.

READ MORE: Beautiful Greek island with world’s clearest waters but hardly any tourists

Cruise ships are a huge issue in Greece, often flooding tiny islands with thousands of tourists in one big hit. This stretches the island’s amenities, creating sudden surges of demand in cafes and restaurants, and results in insufferable crowds and queues.

This is why cruise passengers will be charged a hefty tourist tax when entering Greek ports. The fee, which comes into effect on July 21, 2025, until September – is €20 for hotspots like Mykonos and Santorini, and a much lower €5 in less popular ports. This works out at around £17 and £4.31, respectively.

“Please note that this mandatory fee applies to all guests, regardless of age, who transit through a Greek port – including ports of call as well as the port of disembarkation,” MSC Cruises reportedly told its customers. Rather than having to carry cash with you, the tourist tax is added to passengers’ onboard accounts.

The cruise line will then pay the tax directly to the port authorities. “If you choose to stay onboard and not go ashore, the expense will be automatically removed from your account within 24 hours,” the firm added.

In the shoulder seasons (April, May, and October), the tax is lowered to €12 (£10) for visits to Santorini and Mykonos and €4 (£3.43) to other ports. In Winter, when tourism levels are at their lowest, this goes down to €4 (£3.43) and €1 (86p).

Over on the mainland, Greece has implemented an accommodation tax that charges tourists staying overnight. This ranges from €0.50 (43p) per night, per room, to €4 (£3.45) depending on the star-rating of your hotel. For a couple spending a week in a luxury five-star hotel, this adds €28 (£24.13) to their overall hotel costs.

Do you agree with the cruise tax? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below

The stunning Balearic island of Majorca has been named the European destination where British tourists are most likely to be targeted by anti-tourism protesters

The stunning island of Majorca, a favourite amongst millions of holidaymakers, has been dubbed the European destination where Brits are least welcome. The picturesque Balearic island received an ‘unfriendliness rating’ of 8/10 in a list of Europe’s most unwelcoming spots for British tourists.

This follows massive protests in mainland Spain, with thousands marching on Barcelona’s La Rambla, brandishing signs such as “Tourism kills the city” and “Tourists out of our neighbourhoods. Some protesters took things further – attacking tourists dining at restaurants on La Rambla with water pistols.

READ MORE: ‘I’m a beauty writer – the new ghd curling wand gave me perfect waves in 15 mins’

However, pretty Majorca has seen similar protests on pretty much a weekly basis. And the island topped The Telegraph’s list of holiday destinations where British tourists are least wanted.

It comes after last year more than 10,000 people marched in Palma de Majorca to protest against tourism.

Some demonstrators escalated their actions, targeting tourists dining at La Rambla restaurants with water pistols. However, beautiful Majorca has experienced similar protests almost weekly.

The island topped The Telegraph’s list of holiday destinations where British tourists are least desired. This comes after more than 10,000 people marched in Palma de Majorca in May to protest against tourism.

This was followed by “occupations” at St Rapita Beach and Caló des Moro cove in June, where protesters encouraged tourists to depart. More anti-tourism protests are planned in Palma de Majorca later this month, on July 21 – just as UK schools break up and families jet off for their summer holidays.

Protest groups have discussed potentially blockading Palma Airport and surrounding roads, which could cause significant disruption for tourists this summer, reports the Express.

Ibiza’s Balearic sister, Majorca, may bask in the sun unhindered, but The White Isle has been suffering from such severe anti-tourism sentiments that hospitality workers are resorting to living in cars due to sky-high rents.

Yet it seems Barcelona is even less hospitable towards Brit holidaymakers, with The Telegraph assigning it a frosty hostility rating of 7/10. The city bears scars from intense protests against crowds of tourists overwhelming local life.

In a shockingly violent display against tourism, a band of masked assailants targeted a tour bus in Barcelona back in 2017, slashing tyres and spraying graffiti, an ordeal passengers mistook for a terrorist ambush at first.

Matching Barcelona’s chilly reception, Amsterdam’s dislike for tourists also scored 7/10 from The Telegraph. Interestingly, resistance there isn’t just from disgruntled locals; even the official channels are asking rowdy British revellers to veer off course.

Amsterdam’s municipal powers that be have publicly discouraged British party animals with their no-nonsense “Stay Away” campaign, specifically aiming at those who flock for weekends awash with stag dos and raucous parties.

Venice pitches in slightly friendlier than its counterparts, yet still touches a lukewarm 6/10 according to The Telegraph, while Croatia’s age-old gem, Split, stands on par with Venice on the hospitality thermometer.

On the sunny side of things, The Telegraph sings praises for Provence and Corfu, suggesting that these picturesque spots not only boast balmy climates but also where you’re likely to be met with open arms and warm smiles.

Boats look like they’re hovering in mid-air due to how clear the waters are on this tranquil Greek island that has incredibly managed to avoid the tourist limelight – but getting here isn’t easy

Escape the crowds of bustling tourists by visiting this breathtakingly beautiful Greek island that has somehow managed to avoid the limelight.

If you’re dreaming of stunning beaches, turquoise waters, cobbled streets and balmy temperatures – Greece is probably already on your bucket list. However, in recent years, many of the country’s hotspots have become too popular for their own good.

Take Santorini, for example, a tiny island with just 15,000 residents that begrudgingly welcomed a staggering 3.4 million tourists last year. The result? Coach loads of selfie-stick-waving holidaymakers queuing for hours just to take a snap of the sunset, and fed-up locals threatening to protest against over-tourism.

However, tucked away in the western part of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea lies the idyllic island of Kimolos. Once referred to as the land of Silver due to its constant shimmer – boats look like they’re hovering in mid-air due to how clear the water is. In fact, the Greek Reporter recently found that Kimolos has the most pristine waters in the entire world, after analysing more than 2.4 million traveller reviews that mentioned ‘clear water’.

There are 11 beaches on the island, including the famous Prassa – known for its sugar-like sand and shallow cobalt waters. This is one of the few stretches of coast that has amenities like a beach bar and loungers nearby, but if you’re wanting to get off the beaten track – there are plenty more secluded coves to explore.

Plage De Monastiria is a beautiful alternative that offers a more laid-back vibe. However, tourists say the road to get there is ‘long and in very bad condition’, meaning you’ll have to put in the effort before soaking up the rays.

Inland, you’ll find quaint cobblestone alleys, whitewashed houses with blue windows, and cosy eateries serving up fresh seafood and local delicacies. It’s a similar vibe to Santorini, but with hardly any tourists in comparison.

Getting to Kimolos isn’t such a breeze, which could explain its low levels of tourism. First, Brits will have to fly to Athens on the mainland – which takes an average of three hours and 55 minutes. In the summer months, you can take this route directly from London Luton, Gatwick or Heathrow.

If you’re flexible with flights, you can grab return fares for as little as £93 in August. A great way to keep costs super low is by checking if it’s cheaper to fly home to a different airport than the one you departed from – but this may not work if you’re wanting to park your car nearby. After touching down in Greece, you’ll have to take a six hour ferry over to Kimolos. Adult tickets start from around £41.46 in the summer months.

Accommodation on Kimolos can be hard to find due to its small size, especially during the peak summer months. For example, on Booking.com – the only property available for a week in August (Monday, 4-11) is Pigados Beach House Kimolos, with all other listings being booked out.

This stunning one-bedroom holiday home boasts a private beach area and terrace with incredible sea views, as well as a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, and free WiFi. However, it’ll also set you back a whopping £3,674 for the week. If this is way out of your price range, it might be worth visiting Kimolos in the shoulder seasons – or visiting as part of a day trip from the nearby island of Milos.

*Prices based on Skyscanner and Booking.com listings at the time of writing.

Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured.

Hosts New Zealand thumped France 43-17 to win the second Test in Wellington and clinch the series with a game to spare.

The All Blacks laboured to a 31-27 win over France in Dunedin last week but were comfortable winners on Saturday, running in six tries at Sky Stadium.

Scott Robertson’s side led 29-3 at half-time before Six Nations champions France, who travelled south without most of their first-choice players, claimed two tries in the second half.

Fly-half Beauden Barrett kicked an early penalty for the All Blacks before the first three tries came from attacking line-outs, with scrum-half Cam Roigard flashing down the blind-side to open the scoring on 14 minutes.

Barrett was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on but the hosts continued to attack and captain Ardie Savea pounced on a line-out ball to wrestle his way over for his 29th Test try, meaning he has overtaken Richie McCaw as New Zealand’s most prolific try-scoring forward.

Hooker Codie Taylor crossed on 29 minutes on the back of a more traditional rolling maul, with France’s pack short-handed after debutant lock Josh Brennan – the Toulouse-raised son of former Ireland forward Trevor Brennan – had been sin-binned for a tip tackle.

Offloads by Savea, Rieko Ioane and Netherlands-born lock Fabian Holland then set flanker Tupou Vaa’i free up the middle to score the pick of the tries and put the hosts firmly in charge at the break.

France replied with full-back Leo Barre taking advantage of an All Blacks error to score a 47th-minute try, although New Zealand full-back Will Jordan produced a similar score shortly after for his 41st try from 43 Tests.

The All Blacks extended their lead to 43-10 when winger Ioane dived over in the corner on 62 minutes before Brennan crossed for the tourists with three minutes left.

The series concludes with the third Test at Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium on 19 July.

Japan: Ichigo Nakakusu; Kippei Ishida, Dylan Riley, Shogo Nakano, Halatoa Vailea; Seungsin Lee, Naito Sato; Yota Kamimori, Mamoru Harada, Keijiro Tamefusa, Epineri Uluiviti, Warner Deans, Michael Leitch (capt), Jack Cornelsen, Faulua Makisi.

Sin-bin: Makisi 28

Replacements: Hayate Era, Sena Kimura, Shuhei Takeuchi, Waisake Raratubua, Ben Gunter, Shinobu Fujiwara, Sam Greene, Kazema Ueda.

Wales: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake (capt), Archie Griffin, Freddie Thomas, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: Liam Belcher, Gareth Thomas, Chris Coleman, James Ratti, Taine Plumtree, Tommy Reffell, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Keelan Giles.

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)

Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Damian Schneider (UAR)

Television Match Official (TMO): Glenn Newman (NZR).

One of India’s greatest adversaries has shown up at Lord’s and given England the edge on the first day of the third Test.

As England’s best batter, Joe Root has had a middling impact on the tied Test series so far. But grafting for more than five hours on a roasting pitch on Thursday earned him an unbeaten 99 that was easily beaconed in a total of 251-4 at stumps.

Root fought for almost the entire first day to vindicate captain Ben Stokes’s decision to bat first. Stokes was with him at stumps, on 39, but struggling with a groin or adductor issue that may affect whether he bowls. He had a chance in the last over to run a second single to give Root his century but declined.

Root’s grit typified an approach by England that was more caution than aggression, unconventional in the team’s three years under coach Brendon McCullum and Stokes, the “Bazball” era.

“Slightly different to the way we usually put together an innings but we’ll take it,” batter Ollie Pope told the BBC radio broadcast. “We want to be a team that is positive and entertaining, but we want to play to the situation. Our order is pretty fast scoring on our good days. We all know we can score hundreds off 120 balls, but we need to dig in off this sort of surface.”

Bazball takes a break at Lord’s

Despite hardly a cloud in the sky over Lord’s, usually a template for a great batting day, England displayed its slowest scoring in the first session of a Test and reached 100 at its second slowest pace under Bazball. The run rate dropped to 2.75 in the afternoon.

India’s fearsome pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj squeezed the scoring. India’s fielding was tight, and the green-tinged pitch became sluggish enough for spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to bowl 20 of the day’s 83 overs and take one wicket.

Root was slow but steadfast without offering India a single chance.

In the process, he became the first batter to hit 3,000 Test runs against India. He reached his 23rd half-century in 33 Tests against India – he’s averaging 58 – and was one run away from his 11th Test hundred against India, which would tie Steve Smith’s record.

His only previous half-century in the series held together the successful last day run chase in the Leeds opener when England was four down and still 118 runs behind.

This time, he fought for almost the entire day to glue England’s first innings in two big partnerships of 109 with Pope and an unbeaten 79 with Stokes. Root has set the platform for England to rack a big total on Friday while India will be pleased it has not been “Bazballed”.

“Joe Root has inspired everyone in the changing room and in this country,” Pope said. “Fingers crossed he can make it a massive one tomorrow.”

England was more “Bazbore” for a long time in the afternoon as Root and Pope grinded out a sleepy wicketless session, including 28 straight dot balls.

There also was a lengthy delay to treat India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant’s index finger, which was damaged while half-stopping leg byes. He didn’t return for the last half of the day.

Pant’s replacement, Dhruv Jurel, excelled, however.

After Root and Pope scored only 70 runs in 24 overs in the middle session, the tea interval broke Pope’s focus. In the first ball after tea, Pope went after Jadeja, and Jurel produced a brilliant reflex catch at the stumps. Pope left for 44 off 104 balls.

Harry Brook was then castled on 11 by Bumrah, who grabbed his first wicket in 35 overs stretching back to the Leeds Test. He was rested at Edgbaston.

England captain hit by leg injury

Stokes joined Root and was playing fluidly until he called for the England medic. He has 39 off 102 balls. Root has 99 off 191, including nine boundaries.

Root came into the game just after the first drinks break in the morning.

Opening batters Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley wobbled during the first hour when the pitch was at its most wicked. But they survived even Bumrah, who found more movement off the pitch than anyone else in the series so far and got a breather at the drinks break. And then they were gone.

The unassuming Nitish Kumar Reddy came into the series only in the second Test for his batting and bowled six expensive overs at Edgbaston. On Thursday, he changed in for Bumrah, and his medium pace lulled Duckett, Crawley and Pope into errors in the same over.

Duckett pulled, Crawley drove and both edged behind. Pope edged to gully, but India captain Shubman Gill couldn’t pull off a stunning one-handed catch.

England were 44-2, but Pope and Root came together and led England safely to lunch and tea.

Influencer Harry Poulton, who lives full-time in the Spanish holiday hotspot of Benidorm, said conmen are targeting tourists at the side of main roads and his issued a call to action

A British expat has warned that tourists are getting robbed in Benidorm.

Happily, there is one thing holidaymakers can do to avoid the same fate. Harry Poulton, known on TikTok as @harrytokky, claims that the robberies are going underreported and should be taken more seriously.

The influencer, who lives full-time in the Spanish holiday hotspot, said conmen are targeting tourists at the side of main roads.

“If you’re renting a car, if you’re driving to Spain on the motorways — do not pull over,” Harry said in a video.

“Not for someone that is on the side of the motorway with their hazards on, trying to flag you down. There are signposts in Spain at the moment, all the way from Barcelona up to Valencia and Alicante, saying ‘Be warned: highway robberies.’

Have you been targetted by highway robbers while on holiday? Email [email protected]

“People are being flagged down — there are normally two people in these cars. One will try to ask for help while the other distracts you. They then rob all of your valuables out of your car.

“This scam is happening all the time in Spain and in parts of France. But no one seems to be speaking about it. Has anything like this ever happened to you before? This is a warning. It is not worth it. Do not pull over.

“You might be doing a good favour, you might think you’re helping someone out. But next thing you know, you could have all of your valuables stolen.”

The British Embassy in Madrid has previously issued a similar warning, urging holidaymakers to “watch out for ruthless gangs of modern-day highway robbers who are preying on people driving foreign-registered vehicles and hire cars.”

In a two-year period, police in the Catalonia region of Spain dealt with 126 British victims of robbery on the AP-7 motorway between the French border and the Valencia region.

British consulates across mainland Spain said they receive regular reports of roadside robberies occurring along the coast between Barcelona and Alicante, across Andalucía in the south, and in the Madrid region. Consular staff estimate that one in 20 of all emergency passports issued last year due to theft were following motorway robberies.

Earlier this year, Moggy McIntyre told The Times how she and her husband Greg were victims of ‘highway pirates’. They stopped on a motorway on the outskirts of Barcelona after being flagged down by a driver who spoke to them in fast Spanish they couldn’t understand.

“After a few minutes, he gestured for us to wait and walked back to his car as if he was going to get something. Then he suddenly drove off,” Moggy explained.

“We were like, ‘What was that?’ It was so weird, because we couldn’t see anything wrong with the car. So we got back in, and only then did we realise that my handbag was gone.

“It had been in the footwell of the passenger seat, so the person I saw in the back of their car must have sneaked out and taken whatever they could. We didn’t see or hear a thing.

“Thank God I had picked up our phones and credit cards. But they got our passports — both my British and Australian ones — and also lots of inconvenient things like my Australian medical card, make-up, and glasses.”

WASHINGTON — Foreign tourists are trickling back to China after the country loosened its visa policy to unprecedented levels. Citizens from 74 countries can now enter China for up to 30 days without a visa, a big jump from previous regulations.

The government has been steadily expanding visa-free entry in a bid to boost tourism, the economy and its soft power. More than 20 million foreign visitors entered without a visa in 2024 — almost one-third of the total and more than double from the previous year, according to the National Immigration Administration.

“This really helps people to travel because it is such a hassle to apply for a visa and go through the process,” Georgi Shavadze, a Georgian living in Austria, said on a recent visit to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

While most tourist sites are still packed with far more domestic tourists than foreigners, travel companies and tour guides are now bracing for a bigger influx in anticipation of summer holiday goers coming to China.

“I’m practically overwhelmed with tours and struggling to keep up,” says Gao Jun, a veteran English-speaking tour guide with over 20 years of experience. To meet growing demand, he launched a new business to train anyone interested in becoming an English-speaking tour guide. “I just can’t handle them all on my own,” he said.

After lifting tough COVID-19 restrictions, China reopened its borders to tourists in early 2023, but only 13.8 million people visited in that year, less than half the 31.9 million in 2019, the last year before the pandemic.

30 days for many in Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Mideast

In December 2023, China announced visa-free entry for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. Almost all of Europe has been added since then. Travelers from five Latin American countries and Uzbekistan became eligible last month, followed by four in the Middle East. The total will grow to 75 on July 16 with the addition of Azerbaijan.

About two-thirds of the countries have been granted visa-free entry on a one-year trial basis.

For Norwegian traveler Øystein Sporsheim, this means his family would no longer need to make two round-trip visits to the Chinese embassy in Oslo to apply for a tourist visa, a time-consuming and costly process with two children in tow. “They don’t very often open, so it was much harder,” he said.

“The new visa policies are 100% beneficial to us,” said Jenny Zhao, a managing director of WildChina, which specializes in boutique and luxury routes for international travelers. She said business is up 50% compared with before the pandemic.

While the U.S. remains their largest source market, accounting for around 30% of their current business, European travelers now make up 15% to 20% of their clients, a sharp increase from less than 5% before 2019, according to Zhao. “We’re quite optimistic,” Zhao said, “we hope these benefits will continue.”

Trip.com Group, a Shanghai-based online travel agency, said the visa-free policy has significantly boosted tourism. Air, hotel and other bookings on their website for travel to China doubled in the first three months of this year compared with the same period last year, with 75% of the visitors from visa-free regions.

No major African country is eligible for visa-free entry, despite the continent’s relatively close ties with China.

North Americans and some others in transit can enter for 10 days

Those from 10 countries not in the visa-free scheme have another option: entering China for up to 10 days if they depart for a different country than the one they came from. The policy is limited to 60 ports of entry, according to the country’s National Immigration Administration.

The transit policy applies to 55 countries, but most are also on the 30-day visa-free entry list. It does offer a more restrictive option for citizens of the 10 countries that aren’t: the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Indonesia, Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

Aside from the U.K., Sweden is the only other high-income European country that didn’t make the 30-day list. Ties with China have frayed since the ruling Chinese Communist Party sentenced a Swedish book seller, Gui Minhai, to prison for 10 years in 2020. Gui disappeared in 2015 from his seaside home in Thailand but turned up months later in police custody in mainland China.

Ting writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Ken Moritsugu and video producer Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report.

The president of the local health services union, José Manuel Maroto, told elDiario.es that club owners must start forking out for private ambulances to help ease the burden on the service

Services have been pushed to the brink in Ibiza due to partying holidaymakers.

The ambulance service on the Spanish island is facing collapse, a union has warned, due to the huge number of clubbers falling ill after taking drugs. A third of all call-outs the ambulance service makes are to clubs, some of which can hold as many as 10,000 ravers.

It is the latest strain on the Balearic island, which attracts around 3.4 million tourists a year—many times more than its 160,000 permanent residents.

The president of the local health services union, José Manuel Maroto, told elDiario.es that club owners must start forking out for private ambulances to help ease the burden on the service.

“It’s inconceivable that businesses with an income of millions of euros a year can’t provide this service, which is saturating the emergency services at the expense of the local population,” he said.

Do you have experience of this side of clubbing in Ibiza? Email [email protected]

“The clubs are obliged to employ nurses and other health workers, but not ambulances—the cost of which is borne by public services.” According to Maroto, only one major club, DC-10, uses a private service.

Although the dealing of recreational drugs such as MDMA is illegal on Ibiza, as it is in the rest of Spain, many dealers operate on the island. The high cost of drinks in many of the superclubs means taking illicit substances is often cheaper.

The Hollywood star Will Smith was at the inauguration last month of UNVRS, the island’s biggest club, where the cheapest entry is €100 (£86) and drinks can cost €25.

A study by the local paper El Diario de Ibiza showed that the island is the third most expensive destination in the Mediterranean after Saint-Tropez and Capri.

“Sadly or not, drugs are the cheaper option. Not trying to vouch for them, just saying. Drinks are crazy expensive—a vodka soda should be around €22–25, but even a beer is €16–18. Club entry is €50–100,” one Reddit user recently wrote on a forum about the costs of clubbing in Ibiza.

Unlike in the UK, where venues that serve alcohol are legally obliged to provide free water to customers, clubs in Ibiza make a huge amount of money from selling it bottled and canned to dehydrated drug takers. According to one person on Ibiza Spotlight, they were charged €13 for a 330ml can of water in the superclub Pacha.

Data on the number of recent drug deaths in Ibiza is hard to come by. However, a 2017 study in European Psychiatry found that 58 drug-related fatalities were recorded in Ibiza from 2010 to 2016. Of those, 87% were men, while more than a third were Brits—by far the biggest single group.

Jamie Smith offers admirable final-day resistance but India’s superb bowlers complete a thumping 336-run victory over England in the second Test at Edgbaston to level the series at 1-1.

Report: England swept aside as India level series at 1-1

Available to UK users only.

The oppressive conditions – with the temperature above 30 degrees Celsius as well as high humidity – meant a three-minute water break in each half and an extended interval of 20 minutes were introduced.

Wales faded badly in the second half as Japan scored 19 unanswered points but Sherratt refused to blame the heat and humidity for the tourists’ demise.

“I would be making excuses if I said that [conditions played a part],” said Sherratt.

“If you look at the game, we took pretty much every chance we got bar one in their 22.

“Every ball that hit the floor bounced for us and we were on the right side of the penalty count.

“In the second half there were some big moments. We had a lineout around 45 minutes to take the game to three scores and it was a tough call by the referee to penalise us.

“We have a young group, we have not had a win for a while and those little scars can start to run deep.

“In the second half every bounce went for them, we had some key lineout positions we did not make the most of and the penalty decisions went away from us.

“Maybe the conditions added to that also but my instinct is not so much.”

Lake says Wales will look at themselves first.

“Conditions are going to play a factor but we’re not blaming that,” said Lake.

“We weren’t clinical enough in the 22 and we didn’t come away with points.”

Jones was proved right when he said before the match the team that coped with conditions would win the game, but the Australian also praised his opposition.

“For Wales to come from the northern hemisphere into those conditions is difficult,” said Jones.

“Like every Wales team, they were always tough to beat. They’re a proud rugby nation and produce tough, good players.”

Japan: Takuro Matsunaga; Kippei Ishida, Dylan Riley, Shogo Nakano, Malo Tuitama; Seungsin Lee, Shinobu Fujiwara; Yota Kamimori, Mamoru Harada, Shuhei Takeuchi, Epineri Uluiviti, Warner Deans, Michael Leitch (capt), Jack Cornelsen, Amato Fakatava.

Replacements: Hayate Era, Sena Kimura, Keijiro Tamefusa, Waisake Raratubua, Ben Gunter, Shuntaro Kitamura, Ichigo Nakakusu, Halatoa Vailea.

Wales: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Sam Costelow, Kieran Hardy; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake (capt), Keiron Assiratti, Ben Carter, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Liam Belcher, Gareth Thomas, Archie Griffin, James Ratti, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Rhodri Williams, Joe Roberts.

Referee: Damian Schneider (Argentina)

Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England) & Luke Pearce (England)

Television match official (TMO): Ian Tempest (England).

A creepy island surrounded by mystery and ghostly myths is just 10 miles from an insatiably popular tourist destination – but visitors are strictly banned from visiting it

A spooky island enveloped by its own grim history and ghostly tales has long prohibited tourists from visiting.

Last year, a whopping 30 million visitors flocked to the canal-divided city of Venice, lured in by its enchanting romance, beautiful architecture and delicious food. The influx resulted in Italian officials extending its tourist tax, which can be as steep as €10 for day-trippers, into 2025 – but even that hasn’t stopped the insane crowds that queue up for attractions such as Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica.

However, just 10 miles away from the chaos lies an abandoned island that has been left to rot for decades. Poveglia, which is technically a cluster of three tiny islands in the Venetian Lagoon, was once a ‘peaceful little community’ that first welcomed inhabitants back in the 7th century. Throughout the years, it managed to avoid invasions occurring on the mainland, and benefited from trading with the nearby island of Pellestrina.

READ MORE: Abandoned £800m UK theme park set for huge overhaul but not everyone’s happy

However, in the 14th century it is believed the Battle of Chioggia near Venice resulted in residents fleeing the island. Many relocated to Giudecca, a popular island now saturated with tourists.

“It wasn’t until the 18th century that it was put to use again as a storage location for the Republic of Venice,” states Walks of Italy. “Subsequently, in 1776, it came under the jurisdiction of the local Public Health Office.”

But, in 1793 two ships that stopped for a check were believed to have several cases of the plague, which saw the island rapidly transform itself into a plague quarantine site. Legend has it that the island is now made up of 50 per cent ash due to thousands of victims who were left to die in so-called ‘plague pits’.

“In the 20th century, the island transformed into the site of a psychiatric hospital,” Walks of Italy added. “Another version of the story says that the asylum’s director went crazy and jumped off the clock tower. But according to legend, it wasn’t the jump that caused his death—it was a mysterious fog. This doctor was known for being a bit ‘mad’ and for doing experiments on patients, including performing several lobotomies.”

Poveglia, which is now owned by the government, has long banned tourists from visiting. This is likely due to safety concerns around the hospital, psychiatric ward, prison, and San Vitale Church, which have all been left to crumble.

According to reports, you can seek special permission from the Municipality to visit. However, this tends to be for film crews or researchers, not tourists. However, if you head down to Lido di Venezia near Malamocco – you can catch a glimpse of the island and its ancient church on a clear day.

Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured

Australia won the first Test in Barbados by 159 runs on day three, in a game where neither team passed 200 in the first three innings, and this match also looks set to be heading to an early conclusion as batters on both teams continue to struggle.

Teenage opener Konstas has now failed to make it into double figures in three of his four outings in the series, and veteran partner Khawaja hasn’t passed 20 in three innings.

Jayden Seales, who took six wickets in the first Test and one in the first innings in Grenada, blew away the two openers inside three overs as Australia failed to navigate a short spell prior to close of play.

The West Indies have a struggling opener of their own, with former captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who made four in both innings in Barbados, caught and bowled by Hazlewood in the second over of the day.

Keacy Carty was then removed for six by Cummins with the same method of dismissal, but King warded off a collapse, adding steady runs alongside Campbell, Roston Chase and Shai Hope.

Having made his maiden Test half-century in his second game in the format, he was dismissed between Chase and Justin Greaves in a flurry of wickets that left West Indies at 174-7 and at risk of a significant first innings deficit.

But the two Josephs frustrated the Australian bowlers with their stand for the eighth wicket, before Seales caused chaos in the final overs of the evening session.

El Alamin, a town built to house cotton and tobacco workers in the 1950s, was meant to be a utopia

Located just a short drive from the bustling Madrid, lies the forsaken village of El Alamin, which stands in stark contrast to the busy Spanish capital that boasts a population exceeding three million.

El Alamin, translating to “the world” in Arabic, was conceived in the 1950s as an idyllic settlement to accommodate cotton and tobacco workers. Heralded as a utopia for its 150 pioneers, the town comprised only three streets, adorned with 40 houses, a tavern, post office, and a church reflecting Communist architectural design, where inhabitants lived rent-free, paying solely for their electricity.

The vision for this secluded town sprang from the fourth Marquis de Comillas, Juan Claudio Güell y Churruca’s mind, who aligned himself with Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War.

However, the local farmland suffered overexploitation “to the point of exhaustion”, leading to the degradation and fall of the village, as reported by the travel blog Madrid No Frills.

As time went on, the residents slowly deserted the village, and by the turn of the millennium, El Alamin had been completely vacated, reports the Express.

Presently, it attracts the attention of dark tourism enthusiasts keen to delve into its neglected edifices and discover the essence of life as it was roughly 75 years ago.

Nevertheless, since 2021 gaining access to wander the ghostly lanes of El Alamin has grown more challenging, now requiring the consent of the property owners.

Tamar Shemesh of Madrid No Frills shared that on December 18, 1957, the sister of the Marquis tied the knot in El Alamin’s church amidst a gathering of Spain’s crème de la crème families.

Lately, El Alamin has been shrouded with increasingly “darker mysteries”, she continued.

One eerie myth offers an account of the “real” cause behind the desertion of the town, detailing how one shepherd led his livestock to a nearby hill.

By dawn, the sheep and their guardian were found deceased, inciting terror throughout El Alamin and prompting its inhabitants to escape.

Dr Philip Stone, who heads the Institute for Dark Tourism Research at the University of Central Lancashire, told the Express that enigmatic spots like El Alamin stir a longing for bygone days.

“These ghost towns give us a sense of the people coming before us, but also of our own fast-moving world. When we see places that have literally stopped, it can bring a sense of nostalgia.”