Hundreds of homes, hotels, and businesses in Phuket’s Bang Tao area are set to be plunged into darkness this Friday, July 4, as part of a planned power cut to upgrade the local grid. The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) Thalang Branch says the blackout, scheduled from 9am to 4.30pm, is needed to safely carry out …
The story Lights out in Bang Tao: Friday blackout warning for Phuket locals as seen on Thaiger News.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos Posts Birthday Greeting for Mom Imelda as she Turns 96 BONGBONG MARCOS – The President expressed his immense gratitude to his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, on her 96th birthday. With the 2022 Presidential Elections victory of now Pres. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., there are now three (3) political clans with ... Read more
The post Bongbong Marcos To Mom Imelda on her 96th Birthday: “We are so grateful for you” appeared first on PhilNews.
WIMBLEDON is underway at the All England Club – and there has been plenty of drama and thrills already!
Emma Raducanu features on Centre Court today as she faces Marketa Vondrousova in round two this evening.
Before that, reigning men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz takes on British star Oliver Tarvet.
While the likes of Cameron Norrie, Katie Boutler and Taylor Fritz are also in action on a star-studded Day Three.
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GARDENING enthusiasts will find plenty of jobs to do in July to prepare for the autumn.
With temperatures soaring, many Brits will be outdoors and now is the perfect time to get on with some gardening tasks.
When it is 35C degrees outside, autumn might seem like a distant future.
But a gardening expert has revealed that July is when you should start planting flowers for the colder seasons.
Jamie Shipley, managing director of Hedges Direct, suggested that people plant bulbs that bloom in the autumn, such as pretty-in-pink nerine, to get ahead of the game.
She told GB: “These flowers love a sun-baked spot at the base of a sunny wall.”
Nerine has a long-lasting bloom, with its bright pink flower adding colour to your garden.
According to The Royal Horticultural Society, nerines are “great for adding a splash of glamour to the autumn garden” as they produce “flowerheads in particularly vivid shades of pink, as well as bright white and red.”
Before planting, make sure to pick a warm, protected location, such a bed next to a sunny wall, in soil that drains well and holds moisture for hardy nerines.
Nerine bulbs should be planted 10cm apart, with the neck of the bulb visible above ground.
Ideally, spread a coating of grit around them.
They prefer to be planted alone in clusters as opposed to being mixed up with perennials.
You can leave bulbs undisturbed in the ground to grow and flower.
The only time you need to tend to nerines is when lumps get crowded and flowering starts to wane.
At this time, you might want to split and replant them.
Nerine can become extremely dry if planted at the base of a wall since they are protected from the rain.
Water them once a week during dry weather throughout April to July.
The foliage naturally fading is a good indication to stop watering.
Jamie also added: “There are plenty of gardening jobs to get done during July.
“Weeding, deadheading, and tying in will help plants look their best, plus being on the lookout for pests and keeping sustainability in mind when it comes to watering and mowing.”
According to the expert, this time of year is a good opportunity to tie in young growth on all your vertically growing plants that require a support.
Jamie also urged gardeners to remove faded or spent flowers from their plants.
Last but not least, gardeners should mow the lawn in July, making sure to increase the cutting height.
Gardening experts at Barnsdale Gardens has shared the top gardening trends of 2025.
Matrix planting
It seems that a top planting trend for this year is going to be Matrix Planting.
In essence, planting in groups or blocks to give an effect of being wild whilst actually being carefully managed.
Selection of the plants is essential, to give year-round interest either with flowers, seed heads or frosted/snowy spent flower heads. Some recommend using plants that seed around, but this could make managing your matrix planting harder to keep under control.
Chrysanthemum comeback
I hope that the humble Chrysanthemum makes as much of a comeback this year as Dahlias have over recent years, because the simple single flowered types, such as ‘Innocence’ and ‘Cottage Apricot’ would be spectacular within a matrix scheme.
The hardy varieties are so easy to grow in a sunny spot and give such a valuable burst of late summer and autumn colour that would lift any dull- looking border.
Blended borders
For some time now we have been promoting the growing of veg within ornamental borders and I think this could really take off this year.
The choice of ornamental-looking varieties available in seed catalogues is phenomenal and, if managed correctly, visitors to your garden will not even realise that you have veg growing!
Must-have tool
My secret is out. I discovered the Hori Hori a couple of years ago and now it seems so is everyone else.
It is such a well-made, adaptable tool that can be used as a trowel or weeding tool in the garden that and everyone I speak to who have used it absolutely would not now be without it. Enough said!
BEAUTY fans are thrilled as Aldi’s viral setting spray is back on shelves – and it’s causing a stir all over again.
Shoppers are already racing to get their hands on the Lacura Setting Spray, which flew off the shelves during its last drop thanks to its impressive glow-boosting formula and budget-friendly price tag.
At just £4.49, it’s being hailed as a makeup bag must-have – locking in your glam for hours while keeping your skin feeling fresh and dewy.
At just a fraction of the price of Charlotte Tilbury’s version – £27.51 cheaper, to be exact – this bargain buy promises a glowing finish and a refreshing cool-down on hot summer days.
Fans have even dubbed it a “dupe of dreams,” claiming it rivals high-end sprays that cost six times the price.
But as with all Aldi Specialbuys, once it’s gone – it’s gone!
Aldi’s Lacura Shimmer Setting Spray comes in two hues of bronze and champagne.
It is cruelty free, suitable for all skin types and can last up to 16 hours.
The shimmer spray can be used in the exact same way as the £32 Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray.
That is, to prep skin before applying make-up, to set your glam in place or to simply give you a radiant gloss when your face is looking lacklustre.
Both sprays have extracts of chamomile and green tea to help condition your skin and save you from dullness.
Aldi bosses said: “Add this Lacura Shimmer Setting Spray to your routine to bring a summer glow to your skin.
“Helping to set your makeup for the day whilst adding a glowing finish for a summer look even on those dull days.
“Choose from two shades or treat yourself to both for a varied choice each day.”
Shoppers raced to get their hands on the Specialbuy bargain last summer and took to Instagram to brag about the find.
One said: “This product is unreal. I use mine everyday and it’s good to cool you down in this heat with some extra shimmer.”
Another added: “Run to the middle aisle for this little bottle of stardust.”
A third penned: “I bought mine yesterday, really good product.”
The Lacura Facial Tanning Mist is in stores now as one of the discount supermarket’s Specialbuys.
It’s a bargain £2.99, making it one of the cheapest facial tanning mists you can get.
The beauty buy will be perfect for keeping your tan topped up over the summer and while you’re on holiday.
Its 100ml bottle also means you can pack it in your cabin luggage.
The tanning mist comes in two versions, Day Glimmer and Night Shine, so you can choose whether you want it to develop during the day or overnight.
Also, the Lacura Watermelon Bronzing Serum will give you that bronze glow even on a dull day.
With a watermelon flavour, the brightening and bronzing serum is an “essential” for your skincare routine, as it has a lightweight formulation.
It is formulated with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to give your complexion a dewy glow.
ALDI has become well-known for its affordable beauty dupes that often rival high-end brands in terms of quality and effectiveness.
Here are some of the best Aldi beauty dupes that have garnered rave reviews:
Lacura Healthy Glow Exfoliating Tonic
Dupe for: Pixi Glow Tonic
Price: £3.99 (compared to Pixi’s £18)
Description: This exfoliating tonic contains glycolic acid and works to gently exfoliate and brighten the skin. It’s a fantastic, budget-friendly alternative to the popular Pixi Glow Tonic.
Lacura Q10 Renew Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream
Dupe for: Nivea Q10 Plus Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream
Price: £1.45 (compared to Nivea’s £10)
Lacura Caviar Illumination Day Cream
Dupe for: La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream
Price: £6.99 (compared to La Prairie’s £292)
Lacura Hot Cloth Cleanser
Dupe for: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser
Price: £3.99 (compared to Liz Earle’s £17.50)
Lacura Snapshot Ready Foundation Primer
Dupe for: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
Price: £5.99 (compared to Smashbox’s £26)
Lacura Miracle Cream
Dupe for: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
Price: £3.99 (compared to Elizabeth Arden’s £28)
Lacura Ebony Rose Face Mask
Dupe for: Fresh Rose Face Mask
Price: £6.99 (compared to Fresh’s £52)
Lacura Charcoal Clearing Mudmask
Dupe for: GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment
Price: £5.99 (compared to GlamGlow’s £42)
Lacura Velvet Touch Foundation
Dupe for: Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation
Price: £5.99 (compared to Estée Lauder’s £34)
Lacura Tinted Lip Oils
Dupe for: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Oil
Price: £3.99 (compared to Rare Beauty’s £20)
A South Korean taxi driver sparked outrage online after harassing a female tourist from Thailand with inappropriate comments during a ride. The incident, which has since gone viral, has drawn anger from both Thai and South Korean netizens, calling for justice and better protections for women. On June 19, a woman posted a disturbing video …
The story Taxi horror: Thai tourist harassed by cab driver in South Korea as seen on Thaiger News.
Authorities Arrest Construction Worker in Antipolo for Breaking Into NBI Agent’s House A construction worker was arrested after breaking into the home of a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent in Antipolo City, Rizal. The 28-year-old suspect admitted to the crime and said that his main goal was to steal a firearm from the house. ... Read more
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SIPPING a glass of cold white wine and looking out over the sparkling sea just moments from her new home, Wendy Williams thought all her dreams had come true.
The glamorous gran had fled chilly Wiltshire for the sunkissed shores of Kusadasi in Turkey, hoping for a better life to see out her retirement.
But five years later her dream has become a nightmare – and she’s been forced back to Britain, where she finds herself homeless and penniless.
And Wendy, 67, warns there’s a hidden danger to living abroad she hadn’t budgeted for – which has ruined her retirement.
She says: “I never imagined I’d be this skint in my sixties.
“Instead of sunbathing on the beach, I’m sofa surfing and relying on food banks.
“I am the living breathing warning every retiree or pensioner should read about before choosing to leave Britain for sunshine and sangria.”
Former interior decorator Wendy fell in love with Kusadasi almost two decades ago after visiting a friend who lived there.
The coastal resort on the Aegean Sea, south of Izmir, is famed for its sandy beaches and Roman ruins.
Wendy says: “I took one look at the white sand beaches, met the locals, tasted the food and knew it was my dream retirement location.”
The town had such an impact on Wendy – who is mum to two sons aged 50 and 46, and a daughter who tragically passed away at the age of 40 – that she snapped up a botlhole there in 2009.
She says: “I bought a two-bedroom villa for £28,000, two hundred metres from the beach, with a shared pool. I nabbed a bargain before the town became popular with tourists.”
At first Wendy – a grandmother of eight and great-grandmother of six – used her new pad for holidays, then when she retired in 2014 aged 56 she moved there, planning to see out the rest of her days in the sun.
But the keen cyclist’s hopes for a peaceful old age came crashing down in 2019, when she was hit by an uninsured drunk driver while cycling on a road near her Turkish home.
And as her medical bills spiralled, she discovered she didn’t have the correct health insurance to cover them – and was hit with a bill of more than £150,000.
Wendy recalls: “My right leg was shattered. An artery in the leg was severed and there were five serious breaks.
“When I arrived at the hospital, the doctors thought I was dead.”
Wendy had to undergo multiple surgeries to save her leg and was unable to walk or leave hospital for 12 months.
But there was worse news to come. She says: “As the driver had been drunk and was not insured, I had no way of making a claim against him.
“I was offered £18 for the accident. My medical bills would be over £150,000.”
When I arrived at the hospital, the doctors thought I was dead
Wendy Williams
Turkey isn’t part of the EU or EEA; this means that Turkey and the UK do not have reciprocal healthcare agreements.
European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs) and Global Health Insurance Cards (GHICs) are not valid in Turkey.
Instead, people retiring there are encouraged to take out private health insurance or pay into Turkey’s State Scheme known as the SGK.
“I couldn’t afford to pay the full fee which is 24 per cent of the national gross minimum wage,” Wendy says.
“Private health insurance would have cost me up to £150 a month, and that wasn’t in my budget.”
Wendy was finally able to leave hospital in September 2020 – but by then was unable to travel back to the UK because of the Covid pandemic.
She was forced to remain in Turkey and fork out yet more cash for rehab, costing £15,000, as she learned to walk again.
A fall during a rehab led her to break her arm, which cost another £10,000 in expensive surgery to insert a metal plate, followed by £10,000 in occupational therapy.
She says: “I was alone and scared. All I could think about was getting back to England and finding work.”
I was alone and scared. All I could think about was getting back to England and finding work
Wendy Williams
When Wendy planned her Turkish retirement she thought she would never have to worry about money again.
The cost of living in Kusadasi is half that of Britain – making it a popular retirement spot for OAPs from across Europe.
But while there are approximately 34,000 Brits living in Turkey, only about 1,000 of those are thought to be retirees.
Experts say Turkey’s decision to not offer a dedicated retirement visa, the cost of private healthcare, and the fact the country is not an EU member means it is not as popular as countries like France or Spain.
Wendy says: “I bought my Kusadasi cottage before these issues became a problem.
“I was working part-time organising holidays and special events abroad for British tourists and was careful with my savings.
“I was fit, healthy and active – I’d done my budgets and knew I could afford to live.”
Having never had any medical issues, Wendy didn’t factor in comprehensive health insurance.
It was a decision she came to regret when staff at the Turkish hospital presented her with eye-watering bills.
She says: “I was horrified. I’d been made to sign a document saying I’d cover the cost of my treatment when I was bleeding in the ER.
“It was either that or die in the hospital. I barely remember that day, but it was my only option.”
Before Wendy moved to Turkey she rented out her three-bedroom home in Moredon in the hope of one day selling it and upgrading her Turkish home.
Now she was forced to sell it to cover her costs.
I was horrified. I’d been made to sign a document saying I’d cover the cost of my treatment when I was bleeding in the ER. It was either that or die in the hospital
Wendy Williams
She says: “As I lay alone in a foreign hospital, I realised the only way I could pay my medical bills was to sell my home in Turkey for £28,000 and my three-bedroom house in Britain for £200,000.
“It was gut wrenching. I had to do this during Covid. The isolation and depression were awful.”
By the time Wendy covered estate agent fees, taxes, hospital bills and rehab costs she was left with less than £5,000 to her name.
She was finally able to return to Moredon in October 2021, but was still reliant on a walking stick, had minimal use of her right arm and no income.
With her state pension still three years away, she survived on an £81-a-week carers allowance as she nursed her elderly mum who suffers from dementia.
She was offered temporary accommodation in a hostel but was unable to manage the stairs with her injuries.
Now on a long waiting list for council housing, she relies on friends who let her sofa surf.
Wendy says: “I usually arrive with a bag of groceries from the food bank, and we share a cup of tea, and I get pillows, sheets and a duvet so I can make a bed on their sofa.
“I feel like a burden.”
Wendy – who divorced her first husband in 1985 and lost her second to a heart attack in 1998 – says it is a million miles away from how she imagined she would spend her retirement.
Having run a successful business, she was counting on the equity in her house to support her in her old age, alongside the state pension.
She says: “When I retired a decade ago, I thought I’d never have to work again or worry about money. Now everything has changed – I can’t even afford a trip to the supermarket.
“I am calling the local council daily begging for emergency housing and relying on food banks and charity handouts to get by.”
Sadly Wendy’s shock return to Britain is not unique.
About 30 per cent of retired expats come home within three years – often for family or healthcare reasons.
And there are more than 1.4m over 65s still working despite hitting state pension age – just like Wendy, who says she will take any part time work she can get.
She says: “The only way I can survive is work until I die. There are no holidays, world cruises or long lunches in my future.
When I retired a decade ago, I thought I’d never have to work again or worry about money. Now everything has changed – I can’t even afford a trip to the supermarket
Wendy Williams
“The best I can hope for is being able to afford to rent a room in a shared house.”
Wendy hopes her story will act as a warning to other OAPs dreaming of a new life in the sun.
She says: “I am begging anyone aged 50 or over who moves overseas to factor in the cost of private health cover.
“I didn’t think I’d be the victim of a worst-case scenario.
“I just hope my story will help other people realise moving abroad can come at a cost and it takes just seconds for your dream life abroad to be destroyed.”
A MUM left “black and blue” trying to care for her three autistic children says she’s had “no help” from the State.
Louise Lawlor hit out at the lack of adequate support for her kids Aidan, 11, Charlie, eight, and Matthew, six.
The Dublin mum told how she’s still searching for help six months after she spoke out in the Irish Sun about being “abandoned” by the HSE.
And while fighting to get support for her three sons, Louise revealed that Charlie has become a danger to himself and others.
She told The Irish Sun: “Everything is aggravating him and upsetting him and causing him to hurt himself.
“He literally has himself, and me, black and blue.
“From December to April, Charlie self-harming went through the roof.
“I couldn’t be in a car on my own with Charlie because he would jump in the front, or he’d headbutt me, bite me. . . or he’d basically do something that could cause an accident.
“Then he might drift off to sleep, and then he’d suddenly jolt up and he’d attack me.”
In February, Charlie put his head through the bathroom window.
On April 7, little Charlie was hospitalised for self-harming.
Louise explained: “He has actually become a danger to himself and to other people.”
After being left in triage for two days, the mum-of-four was sent home and informed that Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services would be in touch in two weeks.
But Louise revealed: “I was home two hours. Charlie tried lifting up a chest of drawers in his room and throwing it at me.”
An ambulance brought the eight-year-old straight back to hospital.
Louise recalled: “So we went back to the hospital and the child walked the length and breadth of the triage area for six hours, just trying to regulate himself.
“He fell asleep at 6pm and woke up at 9pm. He had an extremely violent meltdown, tried basically trashing and destroying the small triage room.
“Then eventually the doctor came down and they had to give him an injection.
“At eight years old, he had the equivalent of a mental breakdown.”
Louise recalled how Charlie was moved to “four different places in the space of one day”.
And the 43-year-old confirmed she has had no assistance from the State.
She said: “I’ve had absolutely nothing, no help. The social worker might check in on me once every three weeks.”
Doctors promised Louise home help but she’s “still waiting on that call”.
Charlie is now on antipsychotic medication to help the violent tendencies.
“I couldn’t be in a car on my own with Charlie because he would jump in the front, or he’d headbutt me, bite me. . . or he’d basically do something that could cause an accident.”
Louise Lawlor
Louise said: “CAMHS have been very good to us. But it’s very difficult with the doctors only working two days a week.
“Last Monday I drove Charlie home from school. He put his head through my car window. Can you imagine what he’d be like at 18?”
Louise revealed she is still waiting for assessments for Charlie and his brother Matthew, with Charlie’s paperwork with the HSE since 2021.
Her oldest lad Aidan, who has limited speech and struggles with sensory overload, was only diagnosed by the HSE two years after approaching the HSE for an assessment.
Her youngest son Matthew has trouble managing his emotions and is quite prone to frequent meltdowns.
Louise said: “Matthew is good. Matthew is more Asperger’s than ASD.
“I do feel a huge amount of guilt because Charlie’s needs are so severe.”
While Matthew “adores his big brother” Charlie, Louise wants to do all she can for her boys to protect their relationship with each other.
Louise said: “If this continues, Charlie lashing out and destroying the house, that’s going to psychologically damage Matthew.
“Now, granted, since the medication, he doesn’t lash out at Matthew. He doesn’t lash out at his brothers, which is a good thing. But he will still try with me.”
While feeling totally abandoned by the HSE, Louise praised Charlie’s schoolteachers for their help.
“I’ve had absolutely nothing, no help. The social worker might check in on me once every three weeks.”
Louise Lawlor
She said: “Charlie’s schools have been fantastic. They have been the only ones that have not only cared for me, but for Charlie.
“Thanks to the principal in Charlie’s school Vivienne Wynne, Vice Principal Sarah Lynch and all the teachers.”
Louise is now fundraising to build a sensory shed in her garden in Ballyfermot in a bid to help her boys.
She said: “We are currently trying to raise money to put a roof on the sensory shed and have it plastered, insulated and electrics put into it.”
Doctors have advised a good sensory diet will help reduce her son’s self-harming and lashing out.
The HSE were contacted for comment on the matter.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help fund the sensory room with €3.7k raised of the €5.5K target.
