Penneys launch new belly-friendly dress that’s ‘packed with personality’ – and perfect for all summer events
PENNEYS has launched a new belly-friendly dress that is “packed with personality” – and it’s perfect for all summer events.
Rita Ora has released her newest collection with the retailer and items range from chic skirts to basic everyday essentials.


Get the hottest looks this year with the latest styles from the large retailer.
The new Rita Ora Puffball Mini Dress is “playful, bold, and packed with personality” at only €28.
Stand out this summer in a red and white gingham check pattern look complete with a stretchy smocked belly-friendly bodice.
The round neckline and puffed short sleeves allow for a snug but comfy fit – perfect for long summer events.
Penneys has said, “The puffball skirt adds serious volume (and fun), while the elasticated cuffs and zip-up back keep things easy to wear.”
Style the print with a white platform flip flop and matching pashmina for an elegant holiday look.
Take this dress from sandy beaches to mucky fields as it doubles up as the ultimate concert fit this year.
Get the classic festival look with knee-high wellies and socks with a black cross body bag – perfect for dancing all night.
Sizes range from six up to 20 in this ultimate summer look.
And all sizes are still available online and in stores now.
Meanwhile, other fashion fans were getting ruffle ready with the newest set from the retailer.
Get a break from the dresses with this unique look that is a must have for your wardrobe this summer.
Add a little texture to your rotation with this tiered short sleeve t-shirt for just €20.
Everyone can stun in ruffles this summer as sizes range from XS to XL.
The soft ruffle sleeves and layered hem add shape and dimension, while the back button makes for easy fastening.
Pair this stunning new top with white wide leg jeans with a leather slider for an ‘effortlessly chic’ look.
Or set the look with the matching tiered ruffle skirt at only €22.
Choose from a stunning teal or pink, as these latest summer staples come in two different colours.
Pick your favourite, with both colours available online and in stores across the country.
THE HISTORY OF PENNEYS

THE Penneys brand grew from humble beginnings on Dublin's Mary Street, where it opened its first store in 1969.
Known as Primark outside Ireland, the company was the brainchild of Garfield Weston, who hired Dubliner Arthur Ryan to make his vision reality.
Penneys branched into the UK in 1973 with its first store opening in Derby. The UK now has 191 Primark stores in total.
However, the Penneys name could not travel to Britain as the American retailer JC Penney had the right to use the name in the region.
And in 2006, the expansion into Europe began with an opening in Spain, followed by the Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Austria, France and Italy.
Primark went Stateside for the first time in September 2015, with the opening of a store in Boston. There are now 27 stores in America with branches in Florida, Brooklyn, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The retailer’s opened its largest store in Birmingham in 2019.
It spans five floors and features Primark’s biggest beauty studio to date, a barbers and three restaurants.
Thailand and Cambodia relax border rules amid tensions
In a significant move to ease tensions, the Royal Thai Army (RTA) has temporarily relaxed regulations at four border checkpoints in Sa Kaeo province, allowing Thais and Cambodians to cross the border after days of strict closures. The announcement, made by the Burapha Task Force today, June 26, comes amid increasing calls for a relaxation …
The story Thailand and Cambodia relax border rules amid tensions as seen on Thaiger News.
Daily Million player has just HOURS to claim €500k prize as Lotto bosses keeping ‘fingers crossed’
A DAILY Million player has just hours to claim a life-changing €500k prize – and Lotto bosses are keeping their “fingers crossed” that the winner will come forward.
Time is ticketing for the punter as the they have until 5pm today to collect their winnings.


As €500,000 is yet to be claimed from the 2pm draw on Friday, 28 March.
The winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased at Tesco, Stillorgan Shopping Centre, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, on the day of the draw.
The winning numbers were: 17, 22, 23, 25, 30, 37 with the bonus being 32.
National Lottery spokesperson Emma Monaghan has urged Dublin punters to carefully check their old tickets from late March to ensure they do not miss out on claiming this life-changing prize.
“With just hours left to go until the claim deadline for the €500,000 Daily Million Plus prize,
“We urge everyone who bought a ticket at Tesco in Stillorgan Shopping Centre to immediately check their old tickets very carefully.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed that the winner contacts us very soon.”
Ticketholders have 90 days from the date of the draw to claim their prize.
The ticket holder is advised to sign the back of their ticket and make contact with the Prize Claims Team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, another lucky punter has managed to win half a million euro in the latest draw.
Their win comes after they successfully matched the five correct numbers in the Lotto plus.
The numbers were 16, 20, 38, 41, and 50.
The player, who has yet to be revealed, will be able to claim a life changing €500,000.
And Lotto bosses revealed that the golden ticket was sold in Dublin, although the exact location has not yet been named.
There were also multiple winners of the second draw, in which players need to match four winning numbers.
The prize is worth a tidy €2,000 and there were 46 winners.
The third tier, won by matching three of the right numbers, is worth €20.
And 1,615 people won that draw and can now claim their handy prize.

Two dead including child as France smashed by storms with Paris swamped by floods & 39k lightning bolts across country
AT least two people including a child have died after a violent storm battered Paris last night.
Fierce winds sent Parisians rushing for cover as 39,000 lightning bolts eerily flashed in the sky before the French capital was swamped with floodwater.





After several days of sweltering heat, violent rain and gusty winds hit the streets of Paris, causing absolute carnage.
Footage showed streaks of lightning turning the sky into an eerie yellow hue across the capital.
Metro stations and some streets in the capital were left under water as torrential rain and lightning swept.
Locals were seen walking down the streets flooded with rainwater.
In the Dordogne, huge hailstones tore through the roofs of the buildings during the peak of the storms.
Some than 70 buildings were damaged in the commune of Belvès alone, The Telegraph reports.
Aftermath of the violent storm showed fallen trees on the streets, while cars were left stranded in deep water.
In southern France, a falling tree tragically killed a 12-year-old boy.
Meanwhile, a man on a quad bike died after crashing into another fallen tree that was downed by the storm.
The violent downpour late Wednesday injured 17 others, including one seriously, France‘s emergency services said.
And rain also leaked through the roof of the lower house of parliament, forcing lawmakers to suspend talks on the conflict in the Middle East.
“It’s raining in the chamber… I repeat: it’s raining in the chamber,” wrote MP Maud Petit on her X account.
The storms followed a sweltering heatwave with temperatures passing 35 degrees Celsius.
It brought gusts of wind exceeding 62 miles per hour that damaged property.
Nearly 100,000 homes were still without electricity on Thursday, mainly in central France, emergency services said.
“Trees blocking roads, damage to infrastructure and homes, flooding, and power outages have been reported,” it reported.
Firefighters responded to some 40 reports of fallen trees.




According to Lightning Maps, a weather-tracking website, more than 39,000 lightning strikes were recorded across France – and some in Belgium.
It comes after three people were killed in thunderstorms that battered southern France last month.
Downpours flooded entire streets, causing power and water outages and widespread destruction – as hundreds of rescuers rushed to the region famous for seeing 300 days of sunshine.
A couple in their eighties died after their car was swept away by floodwaters in the seaside town of Le Lavandou, France 24 reported.
The woman’s body was found trapped inside the wreck, a public prosecutor in Toulon said.
A third person drowned in their vehicle in the commune of Vidauban, according to cops.
There were reportedly power and water outages in the town of Cavaliere, where 25cm of rain fell in the space of one hour.
A car park also collapsed in the town, leading to dozens of people needing to be rescued.
Around 200 firefighters and 35 gendarmes have reportedly been deployed in Var.
Two seriously injured as 14 homes evacuated after huge explosion rips through SIX houses in Halifax
TWO people have been seriously injured and 14 homes evacuated following a huge explosion in Halifax last night.
The blast occurred just after midnight on Thursday, with six of the homes in Spring Hall Grove, near the town centre, affected.

Five fire crews attended the scene, as well as the technical rescue and command unit.
A West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “Crews used large jets and an aerial ladder to extinguish the fire.
“Three people were taken to hospital.”
Two of them were also seriously injured, and the third received treatment for minor injuries.
West Yorkshire police added: “Officers at the scene assisted with closing the road and evacuating the occupants of 14 houses.
“The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.”
The explosion is not thought to be related to a gas network fault.
Northern Gas Networks said: “We are working closely with the emergency services to support the incident, which is not suspected to be related to our network.”
Sam Thompson and Samie Elishi SPLIT after just two months of dating
SAM Thompson and Samie Elishi have SPLIT after dating for just two months.
The Sun can exclusively reveal the pair have decided to go their separate ways weeks after first being spotted together on a cosy date.

A source close to the former couple said: “It was a mutual thing and there is no bad blood between them.
“They both just have really busy schedules and it was really hard to make it work. They’re still good mates.”
Axed Love Island bombshells break silence after mass dumping and say TWO couples in the villa ‘won’t last’
IT WAS an explosive night on Love Island, which saw FOUR Islanders get dumped from the villa.
Now two bombshells have had their say on the current couples in the villa, and have claimed TWO of them “won’t last”.




The foursome were dumped after Helena, Dejon, Emily and Remell had to decide whether to couple up with one of the bombshells or stick with their villa couple.
Sadly this meant four people were sent packing, and they were new Islanders Poppy, Caprice, and Will – Shea in the main villa was also dumped as Helena chose new boy Giorgio.
Now the axed Islanders have been having their say, following their shock exit.
Dumped Will, who was one of the new bombshells, gave his take on how he thought Helena and his pal Giorgio will work out in the villa.
Speaking to ITV, he said: “I think they get on well, it’s early days but I’d be surprised if they were to last.”
Shea then echoed this when he was asked the same question about Dejon and Meg, after he chose to stay with her in last night’s recoupling.
“It’s a bit different with them, I’m not too sure if it’s going to last,” the dumped hunk said.
“Just from what I was seeing it’s a bit one sided from Meg’s side.
“Only time will tell.”
BRUTAL DUMPING
Last night’s nail biting episode saw Maya Jama enter the sleepover villa and reveal that four Islanders faced the chop.
In a shock twist, the stunning host told Helena, Dejon, Emily and Remell that they had to decide if they wanted to stick in their current couple or recouple with a bombshell.
In the end, only Helena decided to recouple and opted to go back with Giorgio.
Dejon decided to stick with Meg, despite kissing Caprice during his time at the sleepover villa.

Remell hesitated but chose to stick with Alima, even though he told Poppy earlier he felt different with her and they shared a snog.
That left Emily, who opted to stay with Conor- unaware of his growing connection with Megan back in the main villa – over new boy Will.
As a result, Shea, Poppy, Caprice and Will were all sent home.
Love Island continues at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
Love Island 2025 full lineup
- Harry Cooksley: A 30-year-old footballer with charm to spare.
- Shakira Khan: A 22-year-old Manchester-based model, ready to turn heads.
- Megan Moore: A payroll specialist from Southampton, looking for someone tall and stylish.
- Alima Gagigo: International business graduate with brains and ambition.
- Tommy Bradley: A gym enthusiast with a big heart.
- Helena Ford: A Londoner with celebrity connections, aiming to find someone funny or Northern.
- Ben Holbrough: A model ready to make waves.
- Megan Clarke: An Irish actress already drawing comparisons to Maura Higgins.
- Dejon Noel-Williams: A personal trainer and semi-pro footballer, following in his footballer father’s footsteps.
- Aaron Buckett: A towering 6’5” personal trainer.
- Conor Phillips: A 25-year-old Irish rugby pro.
- Antonia Laites: Love Island’s first bombshell revealed as sexy Las Vegas pool party waitress.
- Yasmin Pettet: The 24-year-old bombshell hails from London and works as a commercial banking executive.
- Malisha Jordan: A teaching assistant from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, who entered Love Island 2025 as a bombshell.
- Emily Moran: Bombshell Welsh brunette from the same town as Love Island 2024 alumni Nicole Samuel.
- Shea Mannings: Works as a scaffolder day-to-day and plays semi-pro football on the side.
- Remell Mullins: Boasts over 18million likes and 500k followers on TikTok thanks to his sizzling body transformation videos.
- Harrison Solomon: Pro footballer and model entering Love Island 2025 as a bombshell.
Departures:
- Kyle Ashman: Axed after an arrest over a machete attack emerged. He was released with no further action taken and denies any wrongdoing.
- Sophie Lee: A model and motivational speaker who has overcome adversity after suffering life-changing burns in an accident.
- Blu Chegini: A boxer with striking model looks, seeking love in the villa.
Orlando Pirates new coach eye’s former player amid Mofokeng drama
I was so bloated I looked 5 months pregnant – then a sharp pain like cold metal scrapping my insides revealed the truth
WHEN Tamsyn Gerrits woke up one morning with a swollen belly, she assumed it was just bloating.
But what started as mild discomfort quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal that would change the 28-year-old’s life forever.



At first, Tamsyn looked like she was about four of five months pregnant – but she wasn’t.
She also thought it didn’t feel like regular bloating.
“Every morning, my stomach looked round and hard. Not soft or squishy like normal bloating. I just knew something wasn’t right,” she said.
Tamsyn, whose son Elan is only a year old, had ultrasounds but doctors struggled to pinpoint the problem.
“All they could see was a large fluid-filled mass pressing on my bladder,” she said.
“They weren’t sure if it was a cyst, a hernia, or something else entirely.”
They also made her take five pregnancy tests – all of which came back negative.
“I knew it wasn’t a baby, but it was frustrating having to constantly prove it,” she added.
Then, over Easter weekend, Tamsyn’s condition took a dramatic turn for the worse.
At 4am she was woken by a sharp, shooting pain in her lower back and left abdomen.
“It felt like cold metal scraping the inside of my body. I was nauseous and scared,” she said.
“It was a public holiday and my medical aid wouldn’t approve a scan or surgery. No one answered their phones. I was lying there in pain, knowing something was growing inside me, and I couldn’t do a thing about it.”
Eventually a gynaecologist examined her and made a chilling discovery, an ovarian tumour growing very rapidly.
“I went in on Friday, and the mass was 12cm. By Monday, it was 17cm. That’s how fast it grew,” Tamsyn, from Cape Town, South Africa, said.
“The doctor said we had to operate immediately or I could lose my ovary.”
‘Extremely lucky’
Surgeons found a massive dermoid cyst – a type of tumour that can contain tissue like hair, skin, and even teeth.
“It was right on the verge of bursting,” Tamsyn said.
“In fact, it did burst the moment they removed it.
“This was extremely lucky, because if it had burst inside my body, I likely would have progressed straight to Stage 3 or 4 cancer. The fact that it was intact when removed played a crucial role in catching it early.”
Doctors were able to save her ovary and used her C-section scar to minimise additional scarring. But the real shock came days later, when her biopsy results confirmed the tumour was Grade 2 – high-grade and cancerous.
“I went numb,” Tamsyn admitted.
You never think it’s going to be you…especially when you’re young and healthy, and have a child to raise
Tamsyn Gerrits
“You never think it’s going to be you. Especially when your blood work was all clear.
“Especially when you’re young and healthy, and have a child to raise.”
Tamsyn has had aggressive chemotherapy, which has left her physically and emotionally drained.
“I gained 1st 8lbs (10 kilos) in just five days from all the steroids, fluids, and hormones they pumped into me,” she said.
“Then I dropped 1st 12lbs (12kg) in a weekend. My body didn’t recognise itself. I didn’t recognise myself.
“My hair started falling out in clumps by day 16. So I decided to take back some control and shaved it all off. A bold chop. My way of saying: ‘You don’t get to take this from me too.’”
‘This is a rollercoaster’
Just as Tamsyn began to find a rhythm in her treatment regime, she was rushed to hospital with an infected chemo port and dangerously low white blood cells.
“My body was shaking uncontrollably. I was freezing, nauseous, and scared. The infection was winning because my immune system was too weak to fight it,” she said.
Doctors paused her chemo and began IV antibiotics, plus painful injections to stimulate her bone marrow.
“I’ve been told I’ll probably be in hospital for another 10 days,” she says.
“It feels excessive, but they want to be sure I’m strong enough to continue treatment.”
Despite it all, Tamsyn remains defiant.
“This is a rollercoaster, but I’m holding on,” she said.
“I’m grateful we caught it early. I’m grateful for my support system – my husband, Jaco, who’s my best friend, and our beautiful one-year-old son, Elan, who gives me a reason to keep going.”




She hopes her story will encourage other women to trust their instincts.
“We’re told we’re overreacting, being dramatic, or hormonal. But if your body is screaming that something is wrong, listen. There are no medals for being tough,” she said.
Tamsyn, an entrepreneur and beauty queen who is a former Miss South Africa Top 5 finalist, shares her experiences on social media @tamsyn_gerrits and through her own marketing agency Jane Doe Media.
“I’ve been discharged from hospital, and my body has miraculously and thankfully managed to overcome the infection,” she said.
“I’m scheduled to resume chemotherapy – just two more rounds to go.
“I’m not hiding. This is part of my life now. And if I can help one woman avoid being dismissed, if I can make one mum feel seen – then it’s worth every post, every chemo drip, every tear.”
What are the signs of ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancers affects the ovaries – the organs that store the eggs needed to make babies.
It mostly affects women over the age of 50 and can sometimes run in families, according to the NHS.
Symptoms of the cancer can be vague, particularly in its early stages, Cancer Research UK SAYS.
The charity advises you speak to a GP if you have the following symptoms:
- Feeling full quickly
- Loss of appetite
- Pain in your abdomen or lower part of your abdomen that doesn’t go away
- Bloating or an increase in the size of your abdomen
- Needing to wee more often
- Tiredness that is unexplained
- Weight loss that is unexplained
- Changes in your bowel habit or symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, especially if this starts after the age of 50
The NHS added that bleeding from the vagina after the menopause could be another possible symptom of ovarian cancer.