The enchanting island of Phuket, known for its pristine beaches and vibrant nightlife, is taking a new turn in its tourist narrative. As the aromatically charged wave of cannabis legalization washes over Thailand, Phuket’s officials find themselves navigating not just the tropical tides but a sea of green controversy. Picture this: an island that wants to leisurely embrace the cannabis culture yet is scrambling to retain its family-friendly allure, all while ensuring that the air remains as fresh as a coconut salad. Enter Governor Sophon Suwannarat, the man on a mission to map out middle ground. On a not-so-ordinary Tuesday, June 17, amid an assembly of earnest officials at the gleaming halls of Phuket City Hall, a decisive word was spoken: “green zones.” These sought-after sanctuaries are envisioned as designated areas where cannabis aficionados can indulge without crossing the quaint borders of tranquility the island upholds. Consider this an ambitious…

Hong Kong police coordinated with Suvarnabhumi Immigration to apprehend a suspect involved in a 10 million baht luxury brand theft, following his flight to Thailand. Yesterday, June 18, Police Major General Choengron Rimpadee, commander of Immigration Division 2, announced the arrest of Su Kai, a suspect in a high-profile robbery case. This operation was part …

The story Thai police nab suspect in 10 million baht luxury theft as seen on Thaiger News.

Singer R. Kelly has been hospitalised after an alleged attempt on his life while in prison. The Aryan Brotherhood might be to blame.

AN AIR India boss has revealed a major update on the deadly crash in Ahmedabad – as he detailed how the Boeing aircraft had “recently been serviced”.

The airline’s chair said that the doomed jet had a “clean history” as well as two recently serviced engines, before it smashed into a doctors’ hostel and exploded into a huge fireball last week.

Reuters

The Air India chair revealed a huge update on the crash[/caption]

A dramatic moment caught on TikTok has gone viral after a tyre unexpectedly exploded during a routine inspection, with the shop owner narrowly dodging disaster in the nick of time. Posted by user @chonkanyang, the video shows the terrifying near-miss at a tyre shop yesterday, June 18. The CCTV footage captures the calm before the …

The story Bangkok mechanic dodges tyre explosion in viral TikTok shocker (video) as seen on Thaiger News.

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is open to discussions on the Philippines rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC), a Palace official said on Thursday. At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro was asked to comment on the call of Irene Khan, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection

LUKE LITTLER has teamed up with McDonald’s to launch a brand new burger.

The Nuke has created a wide-reaching portfolio to profit from his success in darts.

Instagram @lukethenukelittler

Luke Littler has teamed up with McDonald’s to advertise a new burger[/caption]

Instagram @lukethenukelittler

He is seen entering the Warrington branch to cheers[/caption]

Instagram @lukethenukelittler

His appearance stuns patrons and staff alike[/caption]

Instagram @lukethenukelittler

Littler lands a bullseye on his order[/caption]

Instagram @lukethenukelittler

He collects after Order 180 is called out[/caption]

Instagram @lukethenukelittler

He then finally tucks into the new burger, known as the Big Arch[/caption]

And the 18-year-old’s latest partnership has seen him swap his old fast-food treat kebabs for a signature burger.

Taking to Instagram, Littler shared a video of the ad campaign for the new “Big Arch”.

The video starts out with Littler about to tuck into a burger with the caption: “POV: when you have Big McDonald’s hunger there’s only one thing that will suffice.”

Littler is then seen walking into the Warrington McDonald’s to a high-octane backing track and cheers and shock from customers and workers in the store.

The video plays on his darts acumen by showing him shape up in a darts-throwing posture, only for him to actually be hitting order on a self-order checkout machine.

Steps taken to prepare the burger are then shown before it is put on a tray and given to Littler, who collects following the call of “Order 180”.

The reigning darts world champion then sits down and tucks into the burger.

It is one of five new additions to the McDonald’s summer menu launched on Wednesday.

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The never-before-seen Big Arch has two beef patties, topped with white cheddar cheese slices, crispy onions, fresh onions, shredded lettuce, crunchy pickles, and Big Arch sauce.

It will cost £7.99 for the burger on its own or £9.99 for a medium meal.

Customers will also be able to get their hands on its Cheesy McCrispy burger from today.

Meanwhile, Halloumi Fries will also make a return alongside the Toffee Crisp McFlurry and the Toffee Apple Pie.

Littler has landed a number of lucrative brand deals since bursting on to the scene.

Among them are BoohooMAN, Target Darts and Xbox, while he previously teamed up with the Sidemen for a flavour on their Sides menu.

The teen has earned £1.3million in ranked PDC career earnings, not to mention his earnings from his last two outings in Premier League Darts where he has won it and been runner-up.

One team-up that didn’t work for Littler came alongside World No.1 Luke Humphries as they crashed out in the first round of the World Cup of Darts – eventually won by Northern Ireland.

Littler’s next major event will see him return to the oche at the US Darts Masters on June 27-28.

BRIAN O’Driscoll and Amy Huberman rubbed shoulders with royalty while savouring a day out at Ascot’s famed horse racing festival.

The five-day showpiece began on Tuesday with temperatures in Berkshire adding the cherry on top of what’s always a meet bursting with glamour.

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Amy joked that her spouse looked like ‘The Artful Dodger’[/caption]

@amy_huberman

They met up with Royal Zara Tindall and husband Mike who won the 2003 Rugby World Cup with England[/caption]

@amy_huberman

Each day’s racing begins at 2.30pm whilst the last one starts at 6.10[/caption]

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Amy thanked Hyperion Insurance CEO David Howden and his wife Fiona for having them over[/caption]

Ireland’s golden couple added a splash of their own as Brian went all out in an outfit that Amy likened to a beloved Charles Dickens character.

Recapping their day as a whole on Instagram, she quipped: “Well that was something different.

“A lovely date with The Artful Dodger AND won four quid which is at least four euro sixty eight (minus currency converter charge).

“Thank you Howden for inviting us over I honestly felt like I was in Bridgerton for the day.

“Dear gentle reader I don’t think I’d been to the races since 1987 up in Leopardstown with my Dad where I almost passed out on too much Scór cola and Postman Pat sweets.

“Had to leg it straight to the airport, no time to change, so headed home in FULL kit.

“Good thing my hat wasn’t bigger/wasn’t a Ryanair flight or I might have had to dunk my head into the carry on measurement bin.”

It’s no wonder they dressed to the nines for the occasion, as each year the Royal Family flocks to Ascot to witness the action. 

It was announced yesterday, however, that the Princess of Wales has pulled out of this year’s edition as she continues her cancer recovery.

It is understood the Princess of Wales “was disappointed” not to go but “has to find the right balance” on returning to full time duty.

Kate, 43, was previously listed by Royal Ascot as arriving in the carriage procession with Prince William – who is still attending.

She attended Trooping the Colour and Order of the Garter in recent days plus a visit to V&A East Storehouse last week.

While Kate has skipped Ascot, her mum Carole Middleton is in attendance, with daughter-in-law Alizée Thevenet, who is married to Kate’s brother James. 

OTHER FAMOUS FACES

A number of celebrities have been seen at the Berkshire racecourse, including Made In Chelsea alum Georgia Toffolo, who was back for a second day.

Meanwhile, Lucy Mecklenburgh looked elegant in a blue dress as she enjoyed a date day with husband Ryan Thomas.

The Royal Ascot dress code varies across different enclosures, with the Royal Enclosure asking guests to stick to top hats and tails for the men.

Women must wear a dress or skirt falling just above the knee or longer, with shoulder straps a minimum width of 1 inch and hats are compulsory.

The Queen Anne Enclosure offers a more relaxed dress code, while the Windsor Enclosure is the most relaxed, with no formal dress code but smart attire is encouraged.

Royal Ascot was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne who, when riding out from Windsor Castle, came across a piece of land “ideal for horses to gallop at full stretch” and thus Ascot Racecourse was born.

The first Royal Meeting took place at Ascot in 1768 and it is now Britain’s most popular race meeting, welcoming in excess of 250,000 racegoers across five days.

IRELAND is set to bask in sizzling temperatures this week as forecasters have predicted a 29C heat blast to hit in some areas.

And the scorcher will leave Ireland hotter than Canary Islands, with the holiday hotspot only enjoying heat in the low 20s.

Meteologix

Today and tomorrow will see the past of the heat[/caption]

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Met Eireann have promised temps are set pass out holiday hotspots[/caption]

Today “very warm sunshine” is set to hit with 26C expected in some areas across the country today.

Meteorologist Cathal Nolan from Ireland’s Weather Channel revealed we will experience a “very warm or hot weather” until Sunday.

He said: “Temperatures are on the rise right the way across the country today, with values by this afternoon reaching up to 25C over the southern half of the country where skies will clear early and long spells of warm summer sunshine develop.

“Temperatures will continue to climb tomorrow with long spells of sunshine developing once again after some initial cloud in a few spots.

“Friday remains warm or very warm with highs again reaching up to 27C or possibly 28C in one or two favoured locations with plenty of sunshine developing once again across the country.”

Meanwhile, Met Eireann have promised temperatures are set to reach 20C to 29C countrywide on Friday with spells of “high summer sunshine.”

They said: “Friday, will be a very warm or hot day overall, dry with spells of high summer sunshine, but the odd heavy shower may break out.

“Pretty humid as well with top values of 20C to 29C in mostly moderate southeast breezes with the hottest conditions likely towards the north of Ireland.”

Saturday brings some warm sunshine but also a scattering of heavy showers, most of those in across the western half of Ireland.

Highs of 23C to 24C are expected but there’s also the risk of the showery spells of rain.

Met Eireann added: “Winds change though on Sunday with fresher breezier conditions with showery spells of rain.

“Some heavy bursts here and there with top values of 15C to 20C with best values towards the east and that comes with brisk westerly winds.

“And early next week bringing similar conditions with sunny spells and scattered blustery showers for Monday and Tuesday.

“And possibly wet weather following for Wednesday and Thursday to though brief and misty foggy start, but with warm sunshine developing widely.”

Meteorologist Nolan added that early indications suggest that the weather next week will be more unsettled.

He said: “Early indications suggest that next week will be more unsettled with low pressure to our west or northwest, high pressure to our south or southeast and a warm, humid southwesterly airflow covering Ireland with some rain forecast, but also some warmer, drier interludes in what is likely to be rather typical Irish summer conditions.”

SWITCH TO COME

Forecaster Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather added that there’s a huge “uncertainty” for Wednesday and beyond.

He said: “There is a chance that we could see some low pressure systems for a little while before high pressure hopefully builds back.

“But enjoy that warm sunshine, don’t forget the sunscreen and be careful around water.”

Getty Images - Getty

FANS are concerned about the 2026 World Cup after a Club World Cup match was suspended due to adverse weather conditions.

Red Bull Salzburg’s clash with Mexican side Pachuca was suspended as torrential rain hit the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.

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Adverse weather conditions delayed Salzburg’s win over Pachuca[/caption]

Salzburg were 1-0 up when the referee called a halt to proceedings in the 54th minute.

Officials were concerned about the conditions with electrical activity forcing them to stop the match.

US safety protocols mandate sporting events are suspended for at least 30 minutes if there is thunder and lightning.

Salzburg beat Pachuca 2-1 but the match took more than three hours to complete, sparking worries for the World Cup next year.

It comes after kick-off was delayed for another Club World Cup clash between Mamelodi Sundown and Ulsan HD.

Fans were a little taken aback by the incident and some thought about the implications for the World Cup, which takes place between June and July next year.

One reacted saying: “Can’t be having this in the World Cup next year.”

Another added: “Doesn’t look fun.”

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A third wrote: “And these have the next World Cup pft.”

And another commented: “Thats crazy…”