A new campaign led by South African citrus growers aims to reposition grapefruit as a vibrant summer fruit.
Read More »
How SA growers are making grapefruit cool again, starting in Europe
Why Vincent Tshituka and his family fled Congo
The journey to green and gold was for Springbok newbie Vincent Tshituka and his brother Emmanuel began in Congo...
Read More »
Woman ‘sexually assaulted’ in near beach in seaside town centre as cops release CCTV of man
POLICE have launched a manhunt after a woman was sexually assaulted.
The incident occurred in the Claremont area of Blackpool at around 4.45am on Saturday, June 28.
Blackpool Police has now released CCTV images of a man they want to speak to in relation to the assault.
Cops believe he may have been in the town centre area throughout Friday evening and Saturday morning.
In addition to the manhunt, they are also appealing for CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage between the town centre and Claremont area.
In a statement to Lancashire Live, Blackpool Police said: “We’re asking if you recognise this man after an incident over the weekend.
“At around 4:45am on the morning of Saturday 28th June, we received a report of a sexual assault in Blackpool.
“It was reported that a man sexually assaulted a woman in the Claremont area of North Blackpool.
“An investigation is underway, and the woman is being supported.”
Anyone that recognises the man, has information, or footage that could assist the investigation should contact 101 quoting log 0270 of 28th June.
‘Victory dance in the piazza’ – Inside Jacqui Hurley’s Switzerland trip representing Ireland on global stage
JACQUI Hurley has been living the baller lifestyle on and off the court while representing Ireland in Lugano, Switzerland.
She’s part of an Over-40s women’s team that have already qualified for the last-16 of the the FIMBA Maxibasketball World Championship.
At the time of writing they still have hopes of going all the way, having booked their spot in the tournament’s last-16 by topping their pool.
That mini-achievement was duly celebrated by the whole squad with Hurley convincing everyone to take part in a TikTok-style dance trend.
She captioned that particularly fun bit of holiday social media content: “Victory dance in the piazza.”
Despite her hectic broadcasting schedule, she has kept up her playing commitments over the years in basketball in addition to going back playing ladies football after a decade-long break.
The 41-year-old represented Ireland internationally in basketball in her 20s before having to focus on her budding career with RTE.
Understandably, this made last week’s milestone of being presented with her official Team Ireland kit all the more meaningful.
She reflected on Instagram: “Full circle moment to be heading off to play for Ireland again this week at @ticino2025.
“A real privilege to be able to do it at this stage of our lives & so special to get to play with so many former teammates again.
“Looking forward to making more memories with an incredible group at Basketball Ireland Masters!
“And never fear, there’s more tik-toks on the way in our downtime!!”
Earlier this year Hurley conducted an interview with RTE where she spoke about how her passion for playing the sport hasn’t waned over the years.
She remarked: “I turned 41 very recently and I reckon the football will have to go. I’ll move into a coaching role in that respect. But the basketball is something I’d like to play into my 50s.
“There are so many former Irish internationals that I’ve known down the years, and they are still playing. I’d love to play on an Irish Masters team and travel with them. Someday, hopefully.”
As if that wasn’t enough of a packed playing CV with which to boast of, she also played camogie for Cork in her 20s.
In that same interview she delved into how she has to be mindful of her natural biases when covering Gaelic Games.
She laughed: “Ah no, when Cork was playing in the All-Ireland hurling final last year, I was sitting beside Anthony Daly and we almost had to be separated.
“We did have great craic, but I’m emotionally invested in the GAA, and it can be very hard to detach myself.
“But you must keep bias separate. When the Cork camogie team won down the years – I would have played with a lot of them.
“But you must keep your emotions in check on air, because you’re a broadcaster and journalist first and foremost and have a job to do.”
I visited European city that’s world’s happiest for family break and it was perfect with swims, sauna and sunshine
WHAT’S the first thing you think of when you think of a family trip to Finland?
Snow and Santa, right? Well, let me change your mind.
I took my family of four to the gorgeous capital of Finland, Helsinki, and couldn’t recommend it highly enough as a family-friendly destination.
Forget Santa and festivities and snowball fights, this trip was all about saunas and foraging and outdoor swimming for myself, my husband James and our daughters Lily, 7, and Rosie, 4.
The city might not be the first place you think of for a family break, but it has it all.
From gorgeous nature parks and sea views to daily saunas and delicious fare, you begin to see why the Finns are so happy.
Flying from Dublin takes around three hours and the airport is about 30 minutes from the city centre. You can get a taxi at the airport for a fixed rate or a train directly there.
We stayed at Hotel Scandic Park Helsinki, where room rates start from €204 per night, in a family room with pull out couch for the girls.
The hotel was family-friendly with a playroom right by the restaurant, perfect for the kids to jump around in while James and I enjoyed a leisurely dinner or breakfast.
They loved it and made firm friends during the week there. It really should be a must for every hotel.
CULTURE VULTURE
On the first day we met with our guide Karin, who couldn’t have been warmer or more informative, and off we trotted to the impressive Helsinki Central Library Oodi, a modern architectural marvel designed by Finnish firm ALA Architects.
More than just a library, Oodi offers visitors a wealth of knowledge, creative resources, and a space to engage with the city’s diverse urban life.
And for the girls there are several playgrounds around the library which is also close to the picturesque Töölö Lake.
BACK TO NATURE
Another highlight of the trip was a Foraging Walk on Seurasaari Island.
Guided by Anna Nyman – a biologist, forager and herbalist- she unveiled to us a world of wild edible plants and herbs.
We nibbled on heart’s ease pansies, ground elder, wood sorrel, and even the kids munched on some flora. Rosie particularly liked the flowers of the blueberry plant.
The island itself is a tranquil retreat, popular with walkers, sunbathers, and outdoors enthusiasts and there we got to feed some local wildlife too before snacking on a gorgeous picnic provided by Anna in the sunshine. Highly recommended.
THRILLS AND SPILLS
Then, in contrast to the relaxing morning spent being at one with nature, we set off to do something a bit more high-octane.
Linnanmaki Amusement Park is Finland’s oldest and most popular amusement park, located in the Alppila district of Helsinki and it’s celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
The park features over 40 rides, a wide variety of games, and numerous restaurants and cafés.
The girls are still too young, and short, to go on some of the park’s wildest spins and most exciting rides like Swingi – which swings visitors from side to side at nearly 100 kilometres per hour, or the rollercoaster Taiga – that throws you upside down four times per ride with a top speed of 106 km/h.
But we did go on some more of the sedate rides and the girls enjoyed being budding truck drivers on Rekkaralli, and spinning around on Propelli amongst loads of other fun attractions.
I SEE THE SEA
While in Helsinki we also took the ferry across to Suomenlinna, the historic Sea Fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site, steeped in maritime history and charm.
We met our very informative guide Kasper at the pier and he talked us all around the island, while the girls loved exploring.
The entire area of Suomenlinna has about 200 buildings from different eras spread over 80 hectares of land.
The fortress alone has about 6km of walls and over a hundred cannons remaining.
It is a must when you visit Helsinki. You can enjoy Suomenlinna with just the price of a ferry or water bus ticket, as there is no entrance fee to the fortress.
One of the main routes runs through the fortress from north to south.
The Blue Route starts at the main pier in front of the pink Jetty Barracks and the Visitor Center and ends at the King’s Gate. It’s about 1.5km long and marked with blue signs on signposts and a blue line on maps.
Along the route, you’ll find information boards in the Russian Merchant Quarter, by the Church Park, in the Great Courtyard, at the Dry Dock viewing platform, in Piper’s Park, and at Kustaanmiekka, the southernmost part of the fortress.
And there are plenty of museums, cafés and restaurants along this route too.
SWEAT IT OUT
Capping off our cultural adventure we immersed ourselves in Finnish wellness traditions with a sauna and swim at Allas Pool, a popular waterfront spa with stunning views – tickets available for €18.
So good we went twice in the five days we spent in Helsinki, Allas Pool is a marine spa and an oasis of urban culture right at the heart of the city.
It’s open all year round and offers new ways of enjoying the Baltic Sea, just a stone’s throw away from the Market Square and other main attractions.
It has three saunas, two warm water pools and one sea water pool, to which the water is pumped from nearby streams and filtered clean.
One of the pools is perfect for kids, with tummy height water for them and floaties and pool noodles are available from the lifeguards.
In addition to these, an outdoor gym, restaurant & café services, guided wellness & sports lessons and culture events are on offer.
We spent hours there on both visits and had dinner and cocktails in the Seagrill beach house restaurant on the second floor one evening.
The beach house noodles were delicious and chock full of fresh, crunchy veggies and the girls devoured a watermelon, pineapple, grapes and strawberry fresh fruit platter.
Speaking of saunas, they’re really a must for visitors to Finland.
Finland actually has more saunas than cars — roughly one sauna for every 1.67 people.
But the real question is – is everyone nude? And the answer is – kinda. It actually depends on where you go.
Check the dress code and remember wearing a towel is always ok.
Just one minute in cold water after the sauna boosts your happy hormones.
When you alternate the heat of the sauna with a 30–60 second dip in the sea, lake, or cold shower, your body responds with a rush of feel-good hormones.
And I was so surprised when Lily and Rosie loved the sauna at Allas pool.
The two mini pros popped in and out several times relaxing in the heat until their cheeks went pink, then they were back in the pool for another bit until they fancied another session.
SAUNA TIPS FOR NEWBIES
Don't sweat it
- There are no strict rules — but how you feel is a good guide.
- All are welcome: kids, elders, locals, visitors.
- Check if there is a dress code in the sauna you’re entering – in public mixed saunas you often wear a swimsuit, meanwhile in a swimming pool you usually don’t. Wearing a towel is always ok.
- Hydration is key. Drink water, and sit on whichever bench level feels right for you.
- There are no rules on how long you should be inside the sauna. Head out to cool off when you feel hot.
- The felt hat some people wear? It helps regulate body temperature.
- Ask a local. Most are happy to share their approach.
DELICIOUS FARE
Right across from the pool is the funky restaurant Toppa. Toppa is on the top floor of the historic and outstanding ‘Sugar Cube’ building
designed by Alvar Aalto.
Food here is meant to be shared and we feasted on Bo ssam, a fresh and crunchy Korean classic made for sharing.
The centrepiece of Bo ssam is succulent pork, marinated and slow-roasted to melt-in-the-mouth perfection that you add to a wrap of crisp green lettuce along with some kimchi, spiced tomatoes, pickled carrots and cucumber.
We also munched on Chorizo Pan, Piri Piri Pulpo and the kids enjoyed the corndog consisting of battered sausage with honey mustard and Korean ketchup. The cocktails were also delicious.
WHERE TO STAY & HOW TO GET THERE
Come to happy Helsinki
Fiona was a guest of Visit Finland (www.visitfinland.com) and Helsinki Partners (www.myhelsinki.fi).
Where to Stay:
Stay at the Hotel Scandic Park Helsinki, where room rates start from €204 / £172 per night. There’s a good kids’ menu in the dining room, and a playroom.
What to do:
Visit: Helsinki Central Library Oodi, a modern architectural marvel designed by Finnish firm ALA Architects.
Venture into nature with a Foraging Walk on Seurasaari Island.
Enjoy the thrills and spills of Linnanmaki Amusement Park.
Take the ferry across to Suomenlinna, the historic Sea Fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site, stepped in maritime history and charm.
Sauna and swim at Allas Pool, a popular waterfront spa with stunning views – tickets available for €18.
How to Get There:
This year Finnair is celebrating a decade of direct flights between Dublin and Helsinki. Finnair (www.finnair.com) flies from Dublin to Helsinki up to ten times a week, year-round. A return flight from Dublin to Helsinki, starts from €170 Economy Class and €567 in Business Class. Fares include all taxes and charges.
For more details and to book, visit www.finnair.com or call 0330 8081188.
STAY ACTIVE
And it’s so easy to be active in Helsinki. The city has 34 public beaches, 21 winter swimming locations, 13 ice rinks, 16 indoor swimming pools and outdoor pools, 812 indoor sports facilities, and 92 dog parks.
Phew. It also has an extensive 1,300 km network of cycling paths, meaning there is literally something for everyone.
Children were warmly welcomed wherever we went and Finnish people are warm and friendly.
In all, the trip was a massive success and a wonderful family adventure.
It was our second visit to Helsinki, where James and I got engaged 10 years ago, and we’ll definitely return – hopefully we won’t wait another decade to experience it all.
UK’s best and biggest inflatable water parks to beat the heatwave as a family
YOU can beat the heat and have an incredible time at these inflatable waterparks around the UK.
With slides, inflatable blast bags, family-friendly obstacle courses and the huge free fall slides from just £20 entry too.
Cliff Lakes Aqualand, Staffordshire
Go big or go home at Cliff Lakes Aqualand in Staffordshire, which is the biggest aqua park in the UK.
Across the lake are six separate courses with various challenges such as climbing walls, tunnels, trampolines, and high ropes.
The general admission price is £24 per person for an 80-minute session.
The price includes a shortie wetsuit (3mm or 5mm) and a buoyancy aid.
One happy visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “Great day out! So much fun with all the different courses, quite a workout but so worth it.
“Would recommend to anyone, best time to go is in summer as you do jump into the lake.”
Aqua Park Group, Rutland Water
Aqua Park Group has three sites across the UK and features the largest collection of bespoke, high-impact water obstacles.
The biggest inflatable is at its water park in Rutland Water and it’s called the Rutland Mammoth.
The giant slide has a 5.5 metre free-fall drop – and is the tallest of its kind in the UK.
Across the waterpark is also Tornado Tower, a 3.5 metre inflatable that you can jump off into the lake water below.
There are blast bags, slides, trampolines and inflatable climbing frames.
Visitors must book online before going to Rutland Water and a one hour session costs £21, or, you can book two hours for £31.
Other Aqua Parks across the UK include Aqua Park Lakeside and Cosmeston Lake.
Aqua Action, Essex
Aqua Action is a floating aqua park in Ilford, Essex which you can get to via the Elizabeth Line which goes between Shenfield and London Paddington.
It’s open until September 28, 2025 and on the lake is a 3.5 metre climbing tower and the two metre high balance beam.
There’s the highly anticipated and hilarious blast bag, the jumping platforms, and thrilling drop slides and entry is £20 for a one hour session.
For the younger ones aged one to eight, there’s a puddle park too called Aqua Tots.
Kids can jump on the giant turtle, hop on the inflatable swans, and have a good old splash about.
Entry to Aqua Tots for children cost £12 and an extra £2 for their accompanying adult.
Thorpe Lakes, Surrey
Thorpe Lakes is known as London’s Ultimate Watersports Resort, and is set across 150 acres of lakes – and it has a huge inflatable too.
It has wobbly balance beams, towering slides, bouncy trampolines, and climbing walls.
The only downside to this inflatable waterpark is that it’s only open on weekends.
Entry cost £20 for 55 minutes of fun, and you get a life jacket included with the option to hire a wetsuit.
At Thorpe Lakes, you can also try wakeboarding and water-skiing, with options for lessons for beginners.
WHAT IS A HEATWAVE?
Since 1960, UK temperatures in June have surpassed 34C in only three years, with the hottest being 35.6C, recorded on June 28 1976.
A heatwave in the UK is met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days, with temperature values meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature thresholds.
Across the north and west of the UK this is 25C, and across Greater London and the Home Counties, 28C.
Bewl Water Aqua Park, Tunbridge Wells
Bewl Water Aqua Park just outside Tunbridge Wells has an enormous Witbit inflatable.
It has a floating obstacle course with room for jumping, sliding and balancing.
Individual tickets cost £25 each for children (between 6-12 years old), teenagers and adults – for 50 minutes.
Also on the lake are pedalos for hire, paddleboarding and canoeing are also options.
One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “The Aqua Park was AMAZING! The kids loved it and my partner loved it even more. Swimming in the reservoir was just lovely, it was warm and the cool water was so refreshing.”
Here are the lidos in the UK mapped – with water slides, cocktail bars and some are even FREE to enter.
Three of the UK’s biggest indoor waterparks with tropical climates and heated infinity pools.
Dramatic moment Russians run for their lives from fireballs as Ukrainian kamikaze drone wave blitzes Putin’s ‘gun city’
THIS is the dramatic moment Russians sprinted in terror as Ukrainian kamikaze drones blitzed one of Vladimir Putin’s weapons strongholds.
Explosive footage showed the Lyutyi drones striking the Kupol Electromechanical Plant in Izhevsk, sparking a deafening blast and towering flames.
The plant was known to be one of the crown jewels in Russia’s military-industrial complex before it was engulfed by a fireball.
Residents can be seen fleeing for their lives, their shouts echoing through the city, as gunfire rang out in a futile attempt to repel the incoming strike.
In a flash, the skyline of Russia’s so-called “City of Gunsmiths” was blackened by choking smoke as fire engulfed the key arms facility.
The plant, located more than 750 miles from the Ukrainian border, produces the deadly Tor-M2E surface-to-air missile systems and Harpiya-A1 attack drones – critical weapons in Putin’s arsenal.
Two Lyutyi drones smashed into the facility in a five-minute window with devastating accuracy.
Incredibly, there was no air raid warning — a factor officials say contributed to the high number of casualties.
Russian officials said three people were killed and at least 31 others injured in the attack.
“There are explosions in Izhevsk, Russia,” said Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Centre for Counteracting Disinformation.
“The Kupol Electromechanical Plant is located there. It is one of the main producers of the Tor missile systems and Harpiya-A1 attack drones for the Russian army.”
The head of Udmurtia, Igor Brechalov, confirmed the strike had left victims and chaos in its wake.
“All the emergency services are working. Medical services, psychologists. There are casualties. The firemen are putting out the fires,” he said.
The strike targeted not just Kupol — located in the heart of Izhevsk, also home to the iconic Kalashnikov arms conglomerate — but the very symbol of Russia’s war machine.
The powerful drone blitz came as Ukraine unleashed a new wave of vengeance across occupied regions – including a British-made Storm Shadow missile strike that reportedly killed Russian officers “in droves”.
Dramatic footage from Donetsk showed the aftermath of the strike, which Ukrainian sources say devastated the headquarters of Russia’s 8th Combined Arms Army, killing scores of military personnel.
“The building is penetrated to the basement. [The dead] are being taken out in batches,” reported Ukrainian channel Supernova+.
If confirmed, it marks the first Storm Shadow strike in months, reigniting fears among Putin’s inner circle.
Journalist Ivan Yakovina said: “Clear results of the recent NATO summit — cruise missiles supplied by the UK and France today destroyed the headquarters of the 8th Combined Arms Army in Donetsk and a massive depot with an oil terminal in Luhansk.
“There were massive casualties among Russian officers at the HQ.
“They were confident that Ukraine no longer had the means to strike at such depth, so they didn’t even bother to go down to the shelter during the alert. Dozens killed and wounded — an entire army has been crippled.”
Both Russian and Ukrainian sources confirmed the use of Britain’s bunker-busting Storm Shadow missiles in the strike.
The £800,000, GPS-guided missiles can travel at 600mph and evade air defences.
Russian officials, red-faced, admitted only that one woman had died and three others were injured. But the real toll is believed to be far higher.
Major fires were also reported in Russian-occupied Luhansk, where an oil terminal was hit, and in Rostov and near the Crimean Bridge, which was briefly closed.
Elsewhere, explosions rocked Saratov and Engels, key strategic sites including Russia’s strategic bomber bases, while Russia retaliated with attacks in the Zaporizhzhia region, hitting homes and businesses.
Car dealership closes after ‘many years of business’ leaving customers to travel 13 miles to nearest branch
A FAMILY-run car dealership group has been forced to close a long-standing Citroen outlet.
Daler group Wilmoths has said “every effort is being made to minimise disruption” after the firm took the decision to shut up shop at their location on Bar End Road, Winchester, Hampshire.
According to the Hampshire Chronicle, the Wilmoths Citroen has served the local community for “many years of business” with the future of the site now left “unclear”.
Their report states the location ceased trading on 20 June, following a review as its lease was nearing expiry.
Sunil Joshi, managing director, said: “We can confirm that the Wilmoths Winchester Bar End branch is closing.
“The lease for the site was due for renewal, and after careful consideration, we have made the decision not to extend it.
“This choice reflects our ongoing efforts to streamline operations while continuing to provide excellent service to our customers, many of whom are also able to access our nearby Wilmoths Southampton branch.
“We are committed to keeping our customers informed and ensuring a smooth transition.
“Every effort is being made to minimise disruption and maintain the high level of service our customers expect.”
The aforementioned Wilmoths Southampton branch is located some 13 miles away.
The brand, which also trades as Jarretts, represents Citroen, DS, Fiat, Abarth and Peugeot, with sites found across Kent, Hampshire, Berskhire, Sussex and Surrey.
HIT THE BRAKES
After a problem-strewn period of months, Nissan has confirmed it will be axing hundreds of jobs at one of its Sunderland factory.
The move comes after the firm reported £4 billion losses in the last financial year.
250 jobs will be cut under a “voluntary leave scheme” letting employees choose to leave their roles with support from the company.
It comes just weeks after the Japanese firm announced the new Nissan Leaf would be made at the Sunderland site.
The job losses will hit non-manufacturing positions with around 250 staff to be made redundant.
Nissan has announced the cuts amid a desperate bid to balance the books and support a global effort to become a more “resilient business.”
The attempts to save the brand were ramped up after merger talks with Honda fell through.
Earlier this year the firm announced 20,000 job losses, seven factory closures and a pause on all post-2026 new car development.
The closures of seven of its factories would see the brand limited to just 10 sites.
Watch moment Brit has £43k watch snatched off wrist by e-scooter bandits while sitting in traffic in £250k Lamborghini
THIS is the shocking moment a British Lamborghini driver stuck in traffic has his £43,000 watch stolen by e-scooter bandits.
Scott and Simone Mariella were sat in a lime green £250,000 Aventador when a group of thieves pulled off the brazen snatch and grab.
Scottish-born Scott, 33, was taking part in a luxury supercar rally in Barcelona alongside his partner when disaster struck.
Two crooks took advantage of standstill traffic to whizz past the row of pricey motors on an electric scooter and pick an unsuspecting target.
Footage shows how one of the thieves went up to the Lambo Aventador – which can do 0-60mph in 2.8 seconds – and appeared to ask to take a picture of the car.
As he leaned in to get the snap he started to speak to Scott before gesturing for what looked like a high-five.
Seconds later, the man grabbed at Scott’s arm and managed to remove his watch in one quick movement.
He then hopped on the back of his accomplices scooter who was waiting on the other side of the road just feet away.
The pair sped away as a desperate Scott tried to chase after them in his supercar only to find himself boxed in due to the traffic.
Scott, who now lives in Dubai, was taking part in the Modball Rally in Spain on Monday, June 23.
Simone, from Germany, said they reported the theft to the police after failing to track down the culprits.
She said: “My partner went to all the nearby shops and cafes to ask for CCTV images on the same day but nobody helped him.”
After a gruelling day, the couple finally found some evidence to help as an onlooker had filmed the entire altercation.
They sent the footage to cops who are now investigating the theft.
Simone, 28, added: “We posted it on social media to put pressure on the Spanish police and maybe get some information.
“But unfortunately, there hasn’t been any update.”
The TikTok post has already gained over six million views with thousand sof comments.
It follows a growing concern over street crime in Barcelona.
At the start of May, footage captured the moment a thief was wrestled to the ground and placed into a suffocating chokehold by a tourist after he tried to nick his camera.
The suspected robber picked the wrong target – as the brave photographer managed to floor the man and submit him with ease.
Last August, British sailing legend Sir Ben Ainslie was robbed at knifepoint for his £17,000 Rolex in Barcelona.
Ainslie, 47, recalled the horrifying ordeal as a gang mugged him as he went out for a meal.
The Olympian was the second athlete to be targeted after Barcelona FC star Robert Lewandowski was forced to chase a thief who stole his £59,000 watch as he signed autographs in 2022.
Before an evening training session, the Poland striker stopped to greet fans outside the club’s Ciutat Esportiva complex.
But one crafty thief used the distraction to open Lewandowski’s car door and make off with the high-end timepiece.
It’s going to be a long season, Teko Modise warns Sundowns
Teko Modise feels Mamelodi Sundowns players will not have enough pre-season training thanks to their tight schedule next month.
Read More »