Blogs

HOTEL workers are planning to blockade Majorca’s airport in a major protest over pay and conditions that could throw holidays into chaos.

It comes as over 180,000 workers in the Balearic Islands announced plans to strike on multiple dates throughout July.

Alamy

Hotel workers are planning a blockade on Majorca’s airport on the first day of strikes[/caption]

AP

People march during a protest against overtourism in the Balearic Island of Majorca[/caption]

Rex

Hotel workers in the Balearics earn less than the average hospitality worker in Spain[/caption]

Unions say the goal of the airport blockade is to prevent entry and access points to the Balearics, which include Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca.

The blockade is scheduled for July 10 – the first day of the Balearics’ anti-tourism strikes.

Walkouts will be repeated on July 18, 19, 25 and 31, with each one lasting the full 24 hours.

A general strike in the hospitality sector, along with demonstrations across the Balearics’ three main islands, was officially announced by the UGT union on Monday.

The measure – carried out jointly with the CCOO union (Workers’ Commissions) – will affect hotels, tourist accommodation, bars, restaurants, catering services, nightclubs and nightclubs.

Both the Government Delegation and tourism bosses are reportedly aware of the looming strikes and protests.

On July 10, marches in Majorca will begin at the Paseo Marítimo de Palma (at the height of Titos) and the Son Sant Joan Airport.

Access points for arrivals and departures at Playa de Palma (Las Maravillas), Alcudia, Magaluf and Cala Millor will be blocked.

The UGT is calling on nearly 180,000 workers to join these strikes.

The goal is to put pressure on the hospitality sector to improve pay and working conditions.

Workers in the Balearics are paid less than the average hospitality worker in Spain, according to the CCOO.

The strike alert was triggered on June 26 after unions walked out of talks over disagreements on pay raises and better working conditions.

The UGT rejected an offer for an 11 percent salary increase, saying the gap between their demands and the employers’ proposal was still “too great”.

José García Relucio, General Secretary of the Federation of Services, Mobility and Consumption of UGT, said the talks “could not have gone worse” and condemned employers’ inflexibility around pay.

Meanwhile, Javier Vich, President of the Hotel Business Federation of Majorca, blamed unions for failing to meet a compromise.

But he added that employers were making “all the necessary efforts” to reach a “fair” agreement with workers.

The union CCOO says that it will not sign below a 15 percent wage increase.

Employers also rejected the UGT’s proposal to reduce workers’ hours to 35 per week.

The UGT representatives left the meeting without signing the minutes of the session, while those from the CCOO signed the document.

It comes as the streets of Majorca have seen a number of protests against overtourism since the start of the year.

In June, anti-tourist protestors swarmed a table of dining Brits and chanted “go home” and “go to hell”.

Officers were called to the scene in central Palma.

Meanwhile, one Majorcan resident revealed a new, more insidious tactic deployed by locals to keep tourists out of popular beaches.

Explaining the trick in a video online, she said locals are making up names for “secret” coves that are actually “dangerous” parts of the city located miles away from the coast.

Reuters

Protests against overtourism have erupted across Spain since April 2024[/caption]

Reuters

Demonstrators gather during an anti-tourist protest in Barcelona[/caption]

A NEW Chitty Chitty Bang Bang exhibition will be launching in Hampshire next month to celebrate Ian Fleming’s tale turning 60-years-old.

The immersive experience will have playful displays where Chitty ‘flies’ across the walls, a selfie station and an outdoor trail inspired by the book’s characters.

Alamy

A new Chitty Chitty Bang Bang exhibition will be launching in Hampshire next month[/caption]

Alamy

The immersive experience will have playful displays where Chitty ‘flies’ across the walls, a selfie station and an outdoor trail[/caption]

In addition, the exhibition will include over 80 original illustrations.

This will include – for the first time – a complete set by artist John Burningham, the illustrator of the original 1964 story.

New artwork for teen and young audiences by author Steve Antony and illustrator Thomas Gilbert will also be presented.

For older fans, the story behind the story can be explored including Ian Fleming’s writing process, rare typescripts, newspaper clippings and personal letters including what inspired the flying car.

Located at The National Trust’s Mottisfont House, the exhibition will run from July 19 to November 2, 2025.

The event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue, which is £22 per adult and £11 per child.

And for those who want to do the outdoor trail, it will be £3 per person.

Mottisfont House is located in Romsey, Hampshire and is home to picturesque riverside gardens.

The 18th-century house boasts a medieval priory, which was later turned into a Neo-classical home in the 1930s.

The house also has a permanent collection of 20th-century art on display, with changing exhibitions on the second floor.

In the garden, there are riverside walkways and an ancient spring for visitors to explore.

If you want a bite to eat, there are a couple of spots where you can grab a hot drink or light lunch.

And for those who are a sucker for a gift shop, there is a Plant Centre, and Welcome Centre with a selection of local products.

There is a second-hand bookstore too.

And for little ones, the house has an adventure playground and play area called The Wild Play – which boasts three large wooden structures which can be climbed and explored.

Over the summer months the house is also hosting guided riverside walks.

A first-of-its-kind Titanic attraction is also coming to England this summer and will make guests feel like they’re actually on the ship.

Plus, the world’s deepest bar is to open in the UK as part of huge new £120million attraction.

Alamy

The event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue, which is £22 per adult and £11 per child[/caption]

A NEPO-BABY with a Hollywood A-lister dad looked a chip off the old block as he made a stylish appearance at the Dior runway show in Paris. 

The 16-year-old was completely unfazed by the cameras, posing for snaps in a blue Dior pullover and white cargo shorts. 

Getty

Getty

Getty

He showed off the looks that come with having a movie star hunk dad and supermodel mum – looking right at home in the spotlight. 

The budding star on the red carpet was Levi McConaughey, the son of Oscar winner Matthew, 55, and Camila Alves, 42. 

Matthew and Camila – who tied the knot in 2012 after getting together in 2006 – are also parents to Vida, 15, and 12-year-old Livingston. 

Levi is following in his famous dad’s footsteps by pursuing an acting career and has landed a role alongside Chris Pratt in upcoming movie Way of the Warrior Kid. 

Matthew – who has starred in films including Dallas Buyers Club and The Gentlemen – recently shared the advice he gave his son as he attempts to break Hollywood. 

He told People: “Don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself – I did it plenty of times, and it’s a lot easier to go big and come back down to reality than it is to come in under and push it to more energy later. 

“It’s a lot easier to go big, make a fool of yourself, get embarrassed, and then bring it down to reality than it is to start with low energy and go, hey, we need more.”

Matthew also told the publication how having kids has helped him in his own career, saying becoming a dad made him a better actor. 

He said: “Having children I know has made me a better artist and has made me a better actor, because kids see things for the first time all the time. Their questions are innocent.

“I become a better storyteller because I have kids, meaning, I come home from work on something like True Detective, and my 4-year-old kid goes, ‘What’d you do today?’

“I cannot tell them what the show’s really about, it’s not age-appropriate. So I have to go into a parable for them.”

ROYAL fans have spotted a bizarre detail in Meghan Markle’s latest Instagram post where she is “picking” fresh fruit from her garden.

The seemingly candid image of the Duchess of Sussex, 43, is captioned “Weekend plans: pick, snack, repeat”, along with a peach emoji.

However, wild conspiracy theories have emerged from users on social media questioning what has actually been captured in the photo posted to Meghan’s lifestyle brand As Ever Instagram account.

The mother-of-two can be seen reaching up to a tree full of fruits, but the apricot she has between her fingers is the only one that looks ripe.

The intention behind the photo appears to be Meghan freshly pulling a newly ripe apricot from the branch.

However, people have noticed the contrast in colour between the fruit she is holding in comparison to rest of the one’s on the tree which are green.

One Reddit user asked: “I’d like to know, in what parallel universe does a single apricot ripen on a tree when the rest are still green?”

Another responded sarcastically: “Yes, amazing isn’t it, despite all the other fruit being green, plus she’s ‘picking’ from inside the tree, where the fruit often take slightly longer to ripen, she’s found a perfect, glowing, ripe apricot.”

Others have pointed to the way the apricot is not even connected to the tree, and The Duchess appears even to be holding the fruit upside down.

“Is it just me or is that fruit not even attached to the tree and she’s just holding it in place to make it like she’s picking it fresh off the tree?”

Another stated: “She can’t even fake plucking fruit from a tree properly.

“At least photo-shop the fruit on the tree to make them orange.”

A third speculated: “Holding a store bought ripe apricot up to the tree, upside down…”

In defence, one person wrote: “She never explicitly said that she picked that one!

“She’s simply noting that the Whole Foods one happens to be similar to hers.”

The colour difference may also be due to the lighting, or editing in the photograph.

Apricots are current in season in Santa Barbara, where Meghan and Harry currently live.

This is not the first time perfectly captured shots posted by The Duchess of Sussex have been questioned by royal fans.

Last month, she posted a image of their family beagle, Mia, sniffing a basket of fresh vegetables that were supposedly homegrown.

People were suspicious, however, as they had no mud on them which is characteristic of produce grown at that time of the year after just being picked.

At the beginning of the year, Meghan teased a new project by writing a near-perfect cursive digits of 2025, which also consisted of a blunder.

But eagle-eyed fans also here noticed a clue that revealed it was not the first time The Duchess had attempted to write the numbers, as she walked past another 2025 written in the sand.

A mistake in another of Meghan’s As Ever posts, where a small black mouse cursor could be seen on the left edge of the image.

Instagram/@meghan

Footprints shown in a video of Meghan launching her new project reveal several takes were needed to achieve the final, polished version.[/caption]

Instagram

Image of the Sussexes’ dog Mia, captioned: “Wishing everyone a beautiful day! Pups included.”[/caption]

Not known, clear with picture desk

Meghan launched her lifestyle brand As Ever as a “curated collection of promises”[/caption]

A NEW rooftop bar has opened up on top of a historic UK train station.

Located eight floors above Holborn station in London, La-Yam is a bar with panoramic views of the city, serving up expertly-crafted cocktails.

instagram/@la_yam.london

A new rooftop bar has opened up on top of a historic UK train station[/caption]

instagram/@la_yam.london

Located eight floors above Holborn station, La-Yam is a bar with panoramic views of the city, serving up expertly-crafted cocktails[/caption]

instagram/@la_yam.london

The bar features a “coastal-inspired” design with a Greek-style menu that include a Sunday roast, slow-cooked ribs and fresh fish dishes.

The Beach Roast is on every Sunday from 11am to 3pm and a bottomless BBQ is also available from 11:20am to 1:30pm for £42 per person.

Visitors can also get a mezze platter with six small dishes for £25, with options including hummus, roasted cauliflower, pickles and olives, baba ganoush, tzatziki and lahanosalata (coleslaw).

All the dishes have been created by chef Eran Shachaf and have Ottolenghi-inspired presentation.

Drinks include a range of classic cocktails and wines, as well as soft drinks.

Also each week, La-Yam also hosts ‘Fridays Above’ from 6pm to 11pm featuring golden hour views and music by local artists.

At other times there will also be DJ sets and rooftop yoga sessions.

La-Yam is also dog friendly and available for private hire.

The rooftop bar is open Monday to Friday from 11am to 11pm and from 11am to 3:30pm on Sundays.

A new cultural destination with a Vegas-like dome is also coming to the Holborn area in London.

The Holborn Dome will be home to office spaces, a cultural space and a 300-person auditorium in central London.

The venue will be located next to Chancery Lane tube station and will also feature a number of retail shops on the ground floor.

One of the main parts of the project includes an auditorium with a double-height domed ceiling.

The auditorium will be used for exhibitions and provide an immersive experience.

Plus, the world’s deepest bar is set to open in London, as part of a huge new £120million attraction.

instagram/@la_yam.london

Also each week, La-Yam also hosts ‘Fridays Above’ from 6pm to 11pm featuring golden hour views and music by local artists[/caption]

TV STAR Ophelia Lovibond has revealed she’s pregnant, sharing a picture of her huge baby bump.

Ophelia, 39, best known for her roles in Guardians of the Galaxy and the BBC’s W1A, is expecting her first baby with her actor husband Henry Pettigrew, 41.

Instagram

Ophelia Lovibond and her husband Henry Pettigrew are expecting their first baby[/caption]

Instagram

The TV star shared a gorgeous picture of her bump[/caption]

The actress, who met Henry while playing his lover on stage, shared the news on Instagram today, posting a black-and-white photo that revealed her growing tummy.

In the beachside snap, Ophelia is seen barefoot in a bikini and open shirt, smiling as she gently cradles her belly, her face partly shaded by oversized sunglasses.

She wrote in her caption: “Baby on the way!”

The couple were quickly flooded with congratulatory messages from friends and fans.

Pixie Lott commented: “congratulations!” while Sophie Ellis-Bextor added: “Woo! Congratulations! Happy news xxxx.”

Laura Whitmore also wrote: “Congrats lovely. The best x.”

The pair first met in 2015 during their joint appearance in Lucy Prebble’s play The Effect, where they played characters who fall in love.

At the time, Ophelia was dating actor Tom Hughes, who later became romantically involved with Jenna Coleman after the pair starred as husband and wife in ITV’s Victoria.

The couple later tied the knot in 2022.

Who is Ophelia Lovibond?

Ophelia grew up in Shepherd’s Bush, in London.

She grew up with her single mother, who worked as a psychologist at Wormwood Scrubs Prison.

Lovibond was schooled at Latymer Upper on a scholarship and went on to study English at the University of Sussex, graduating with a first class degree.

She landed her first ever acting job at the age of just 12 in the Channel 4 sitcom The Wilsons.

Lovibond is now based in Hornsey, North London, where she lives with her sausage dog, Frank. 

Lovibond was also close friends with the late TV presenter Caroline Flack.

What TV programmes has Ophelia Lovibond starred in?

Ophelia is known for her role as Binky in comedy-drama television series Feel Good.

She is also known for playing Erica in Andy Wolton’s TV show Trying and Twenty Twelve spin-off W1A as Izzy Gould.

Lovibond also played Kitty Winter in the US sitcom, Elementary – based on Sherlock Holmes.

On the big screen, Ophelia played Carina in Thor: The Dark World and picked up the role for cult-favourite Guardians of the Galaxy.

She also featured in Roman Polanski’s Oliver Twist in 2005. 

The actress has also had some high-profile roles on stage, starring in The Bay at Nice alongside Penelope Wilton and in The Libertine at Theatre Royal Haymarket alongside Dominic Cooper.

Instagram

The couple tied the knot in 2022[/caption]

Disney/Marvel

Ophelia is best known for her role in Guardians of the Galaxy[/caption]

Handout

She also starred in the BBC’s W1A[/caption]

ONE GP has revealed the dos and don’ts on holiday for anyone wanting to stay healthy – and it’s mostly avoiding certain food and drinks.

Dr Masarat Jilani is a resident doctor at Jude whose expertise is about gut health and here’s how to avoid falling ill on your next break.

Alamy

It can be hard to stay healthy during a holiday – but food and drink plays a big part[/caption]

Alamy

Avoid certain bits of the buffet, especially anything that’s been sitting out[/caption]

Millions of Brits will soon be jetting off on their summer holidays, and if you want to stay in tip top health, abide by these simple rules.

The first, be wary of the all-inclusive buffet.

Plates upon plates of enticing foods might look tempting, but they can come with health risks.

If you do want to eat from the buffet, choose carefully. For example any lukewarm food, especially meat, fish, eggs, and dairy-heavy dishes may have been sitting out for a while will come with a health risk.

Avoid other items like unpasteurised local cheese, cream-based desserts that haven’t been properly refrigerated, and ice cream that has started to melt.

Anything that looks like it should be chilled or frozen but has been left out is also a red flag.

As for seafood, only eat it if it’s very fresh, and thoroughly cooked, Dr Masarat Jilani also urged caution to those tempted to try sushi for the first time.

Finally, don’t overload your plate just because it’s “free” as overeating in the heat is likely to leave you feeling unwell.

Generally speaking, it’s safer to stick with bottled water abroad when it comes to keeping hydrated – and for brushing your teeth too.

Also avoid ice in drinks unless it’s definitely from purified water – and you can just ask at the bar about this.

Alamy

Take supplements to keep your gut healthy[/caption]

Alamy

Avoid overdoing it with alcohol and opt for something else instead[/caption]

When it comes to drinks, check the seals on bottled drinks to ensure they haven’t been refilled or tampered with.

Another source of water to watch is at the salad bar.

Unless you’re confident the vegetables have been washed in safe, bottled water, assume they haven’t.

Everyone should have good hygiene, but it’s important when away to wash hands more frequently, and it’s recommended to use hand sanitiser.

Make sure little ones are washing hands properly as well and not just rushing back to the pool or beach.

To keep your gut ticking along, consider taking a probiotic supplement before and during your trip.

This is especially good for travellers with sensitive stomachs because they can help strengthen your gut’s natural defences ahead of any disruption – like travelling.

The effectiveness does vary, so the GP warns that it’s not a “licence to eat anything and everything”.

Including natural sources of probiotics such as kefir, yoghurt with live cultures, and fermented foods like kimchi or sauerkraut, may offer a more consistent benefit.

Most holidaymakers like a drink on holiday, but excess alcohol can lower resistance to stomach bugs.

Alamy

Wash and sanitise hands even more regularly whilst on holiday[/caption]

While it can be tempting to make the most of the all-inclusive bar, remember to pace yourself, especially in hot climates.

Heat exhaustion or dehydration can have similar symptoms to food poisoning, and alcohol poisoning can be even more serious.

Even if drinks are poured from branded bottles, they may have been refilled with stronger, unregulated local versions.

That means you could be drinking a higher percentage of alcohol than you realise – so go slow and stay hydrated by drinking lots of bottled water throughout the day.

Dr Masarat Jilani added: “First of all, it’s worth remembering that not all gut problems abroad are caused by food poisoning. 

“Our digestive systems thrive on routine, and the disruption of travel can change the way they behave.”

She continued to suggest easing yourself in slowly to the holiday routine and not dive straight in with over-eating.

“Having an upset stomach while on holiday is unpleasant, but will usually pass within a couple of days.

“If symptoms persist or worsen ask the hotel to contact a doctor, especially if you’ve got a fever or signs of dehydration.”

Plus, our Sun-approved booking tips, plane hacks and travel products.

And these are the 11 most common illnesses you can catch on holiday.

Alamy

Stay healthy on holiday with these tips from a GP[/caption]

KATY Perry fans were left with their hearts in their mouths after she “almost fell” from a giant ball while on stage.

The pop star, 40, had climbed into the huge metal sphere during a show when it began tilting dramatically at a strange angle.

Twitter

Katy Perry was filmed as she ‘almost fell’ out of a giant prop[/caption]

Twitter

The singer clung to the giant sphere as crew members rushed to help[/caption]

Twitter

Fans said Katy handled the incident ‘like a queen’[/caption]

X/boyoncegarden

It came after Beyoncé almost fell out of a flying car while on tour[/caption]

An army of quick-thinking backstage crew members raced onto the set in Australia to steady the massive prop so Katy – who was clinging on to the sides – could climb down safely.

With the backing music stopped, the crowd could be heard applauding the star and shouting “go, Katy!” as she made her way out and onto the floor.

The incident came just one day after Beyoncé sparked panic as a flying car she was riding on during her Cowboy Carter Tour malfunctioned.

The red Cadillac began tilting to one side as Beyoncé repeatedly said “stop” into the microphone and the music cut out.

Katy was also left hanging in the air during her Lifetimes Tour show at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Adelaide.

Sharing a video on X, one fan who was in the crowd said, “Wait not katy perry almost falling from the giant ball.. this is scary asf.

“Omg it’s scarier than it looked.”

The clip was captioned with, “Katy Perry handled it like a queen.”

Fans were quick to reply to the footage, with many comparing Katy’s lucky escape to Beyoncé’s.

“Main Pop girlies literally risking life to put on a show!” one said.

Another added, “She thinks she’s beyonce!”

A third chimed in, “Beyonce almost fell in her car prop and now Katy with this.”

And someone else wrote, “Thankgod it didn’t happen when she was up in air.”

Beyoncé’s brush with danger came just 24 hours earlier while she was performing at the NRG Stadium in her native Texas.

Towards the end of the show, and after an appearance from her daughter Blue Ivy, things took a turn for the worse.

During her performance of 16 Carriages, the superstar hopped into a red car which was then lifted high into the air using cables.

She pulled on a silver cowboy hat and waved an American flag for her in-air adventures, yet was forced to halt the song as the vehicle leaned dangerously to one side.

The crowd paused when she stopped singing and signaled for help, before erupting into cheers as the vehicle was lowered to solid ground.

Like a pro, Beyonce continued the song then told her adoring fans: “I wanna thank y’all, for loving me.

“If ever I fall, I know y’all will catch me.”

GOING SILENT

Meanwhile, Katy had turned off her social media notifications in the lead up to her gig in Australia.

It came after The Sun revealed she has told friends her relationship with actor Orlando Bloom is over.

Katy has been in Australia with their four-year-old daughter Daisy, while Orlando jetted to Italy for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s wedding.

British actor Orlando was seen cozying up to Kim Kardashian at the extravagant event before being spotted with Sydney Sweeney in Venice.

Katy and Orlando were in a relationship for nine years.

Getty

Katy is currently on her Lifetimes Tour in Australia[/caption]

Getty

The Sun revealed how she has split with Orlando Bloom[/caption]

Getty

The pair have a four-year-old daughter together called Daisy[/caption]

PLAYSTATION 5 owners have been warned that a new game may be overheating their consoles.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, which launched earlier this month, has been hyped up over the game’s “stunning” graphics.

Kojima Productions

Death Streanding 2: On the Beach was released on June 9[/caption]

But the high-definition game is launching people’s consoles into overdrive, players have reported on social media.

“I’ve been playing the game on a base PS5 and overall it runs great – the graphics are stunning and I’ve had no issues during regular gameplay,” one player wrote on Reddit.

“But as soon as I pause the game and the map screen comes up, the fan suddenly goes into overdrive and I get an overheat warning.

“It’s strange because everything else runs smoothly, even during long gameplay sessions.

“But the moment I bring up the map and start planning a route, the fan suddenly goes crazy and I get an overheating warning.”

Consoles routinely overheat if they are kept in crowded spots, or are left to get dusty.

However, the overheating issue is even happening with well-ventilated and freshly cleaned consoles, the player claimed.

While the game’s creators rushed to fix the problem with a new update, it doesn’t appear to have worked, PushSquare reported.

“I’ve got the exact same problem,” another player said.

“I’m using an original PS5 digital version. Fans start screaming only on map menu.”

The issue is isolated to the base PS5, according to PushSquare, with PS5 Pro players reportedly spared the problem.

Gaming consoles may be more susceptible to overheating at the moment as warm weather spikes in parts of the UK, Europe and the US.

Though it’s worth noting that there may be more to the overheating issue, such as a memory leak.

JAMES Abankwah has joined Watford on a loan for a second time.

Abankwah, 21, impressed in his 19 appearances after linking up with the Hornets in January, earning a first call-up to the Ireland senior squad in March.

Watfordfc on x

He is clearly held at a high regard at Vicarage Road[/caption]

And Udinese have agreed to send the defender back to their sister club for the entire campaign this time around as new boss Paulo Pezzolano eyes up a promotion challenge.

Sporting director Gian Luca Nani said: “We saw the impact James had during his last loan period with us and we know that he can have a similar impact on the team.

“Paulo was impressed with his performances and was very keen to work with James.

“The relationship with Udinese has always been a powerful one that has benefitted both clubs overall and we are happy that it has allowed us to bring James back.

“We are content with our work so far in this window but there is still much to do and our immediate concern is strengthening our attacking options in line with Paulo’s input.”

Udinese signed Abankwah in January 2022 after he had shone for St Pat’s, helping them to win the FAI Cup a couple of months previously.

He was loaned back to the Inchicore outfit to enable him to complete his Leaving Cert before moving to Italy that summer.

Abankwah signed for Udinese in 2022 from Irish side St Patrick’s Athletic, who he then returned to on loan.

He has made eight Serie A appearances for them, either side of an unsuccessful stint with Charlton, and was handed a new contract which runs until the summer of 2029.