Kim Chiu Receives Public Praise from Comedienne Pokwang POKWANG – Veteran comedienne Pokwang warmed hearts online as she expressed genuine admiration and love for Kim Chiu in a touching post on social media. Pokwang recently expressed her admiration for Kapamilya star Kim Chiu in a heartwarming post on X (formerly Twitter), drawing praise and positive ... Read more
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HIDDEN away from a bustling town centre in Zone 4 of London, I discovered an urban oasis that felt more like California than the UK.
Eel Pie Island, located in Twickenham, has an illustrious history.
While many know the destination for hosting a number of live music events (with notable names such as The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd), the island actually has a further stretching history.
Originally, the tranquil spot was thought to be a monastic site before later transforming into a popular day-tripper spot.
Then, in the 19th century, it became a popular resort with steamboats and the Eel Pie Island Hotel.
When the hotel later closed in 1967, the island became a hippie commune and evolved as a creative community.
Today, the island still boasts marks of its past, while the people who live there include a number of artists.
It’s one of London’s best-kept secrets as it is only open to the public twice a year.
And this past weekend I wandered over the footbridge that separates the island from the mainland, to explore the jungle on the island.
Full of giant palm leaves looming overhead, the island doesn’t take too long to explore and can be done in just an hour.
And standing at the entrance way to the island, I felt like I was exploring Little Venice in Los Angeles.
To get to the artists’ workshops, I followed a meandering path taking me past wood-panelled homes – many decorated with enamel signs, American-style mailboxes and odd treasures.
The names of places also fitted the Californian vibe with names including ‘Palm Beach’, ‘Copper Beach’ and ‘Love Shack’.
Reaching the end of the path is an operational boatyard like felt something out of a movie.
On the other side of the slipway is where you’ll find the workshops of the island’s 26 artists, selling a range of art, sculptures and ceramics.
The workshops are all found nestled in the thick greenery and are surrounded by random abandoned items like water fountains and traffic cones.
Whilst essentially a junk yard, the eclectic items mixed with the jungle felt more like a set from Pirates of the Caribbean.
It is worth noting, however, that all the workshops are rather snug and may require some shuffling around other people to see all the items available for purchase.
On the plus side, though, some of the workshops sell handmade tipples too, like Pimms, for just a fiver.
You can explore the island and workshops for as long as you like on the day you have a ticket for, but everything can be visited in just an hour if you wish.
Tickets to visit the island are also free.
It takes less than 25 minutes to reach Twickenham via train from London Waterloo, and then Eel Pie Island is roughly a 10-minute walk from the station.
After exploring the island, you can venture back to Twickenham high street, which boasts a number of independent shops and vibrant pubs.
There is also a hidden island in the English Channel that had an exotic climate and some of the best sunsets in Europe.
Plus, the ‘secret’ UK island surrounded by the country’s deadliest footpath.
GAA president Jarlath Burns defended the GAA’s decision of scheduling a split-season and challenged critics of the decision.
In the programme notes of Tipperary’s semi-final win against Kilkenny, Burns defended a number of GAA decisions which have come under scrutiny recently.
Some fans, pundits, players and managers alike have criticised the current GAA calendar. However the Association’s president believes the current calendar is best placed to suit both club and inter-county players.
He said: “Our schedule and our season do not suit some vested interests who would prefer the inter-county calendar to dominate with no regard at all for your clubs who supply 100% of our players.
“We’ve made some hard choices on the structure of our season. It is significantly shorter, but the games have not suffered.
“The players at county level enjoy the system, and our club players have a structure and certainty that they crave.
The president’s address seems to contradict a talk he gave at the launch of the All-Ireland SHC at the Faithful Fields in Offaly last month.
The former Armagh captain said: “I’m certainly open to the first and third weeks in August from 2027 on.”
With Croke Park’s schedule for summer 2026 already being finalised, there will be no space for All-Ireland finals next August. But Burns claimed he would be interested in future seasons having finals in August.
However his programme notes in yesterday’s programme suggests otherwise, as he comes across very defensive of the GAA scheduling.
In the notes he also addresses criticisms of the thrilling Limerick and Cork Munster final going to penalties rather than a traditional replay.
The 1999 Ulster championship winner added: “I can accept that using penalties to decide this year’s epic Munster final was a jolt and not to everyone’s satisfaction.
“But here’s the thing, a replay would have seen the loser have to play three weeks in-a-row or if a window was created for replays, the winner could have been idle for five weeks.
“The GAA decided that this scenario was not desirable – even though a replay would have been worth a significant return in gate receipts.
“But again, that doesn’t suit the narrative that the GAA is only interested in money.
“Some people have an issue with how the GAA conducts it’s affairs, and that is their right in a democratic organisation.
“But no one as of yet has offered a solution to how we might conduct our business in a competitive environment with limited resources.
“And how we are able to run the Association and ensure that Gaelic games retains it pre-eminent place in Irish life.
His statement on the penalty shoot-out debate also contradicts the speech he made just a month previous.
Burnes stated: “You don’t have to talk to me above anybody else about replays and provincial finals.
“We’ve (Armagh) lost three now, two quarter-finals, on penalties. I would be very much in favour of replays where at all possible.”
LOVE Island’s Casa Amor descended into chaos last night after a raunchy game of Truth or Dare sparked a full-on snog fest.
Viewers were horrified by the non-stop “saliva swapping” in what they called the “most unhygienic game yet”.
The Islanders were told to take a dare or tell the truth, but it turned into Islanders locking lips all over the place.
Ben was told to snog the two Casa Amor islanders he was most attracted to in a “three way kiss” and fans called it a “germ-filled snogathon”.
Ben picked Andrada as well as Harry’s ex, Emma, for the raunchy moment.
The racy kiss comes moments after Andrada chose Ben to help her demonstrate her favourite sex position in front of the whole group.
Dejon then dived straight in for a kiss with bombshell Andrada.
“Just mixing saliva omg yuck,” one viewer wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“This is disgusting – let’s END it!!” another said, while many called the game “a biohazard” and “genuinely stomach-churning”.
Another said: “So much exchange of saliva from different people, omg,” one wrote.
After reuniting with his ex in Casa Amor, Emma was quick to slam his behaviour as “snakey” and “disgusting”.
During a one-to-one conversation, Harry asked his ex of three year: “Well welcome to the mad house. Are you just… you’re looking for some fun? I mean, what are you thinking?”
Emma explained: “Well I’m here for the same reason as everyone else. I’m here to find someone.”
He then tried to turn on the flirty banter but Emma quickly shut him down and insisted he “drop the act”.
He asked her: “Why are you trying to be all wholesome? You little freak.”
But Emma fired back: “Don’t use that language with me. Drop the act. No, drop the act real quick. That chat, you can save that for Helena.”
Emma then delivered some harsh truths, saying: “But your behaviour Harry…”
He interjected and said: “No, I don’t need you to come and tell me off.”
But Emma went on to brand her ex and Helena “two snakes”, while saying she thought Shakira was “too good” for him.
Emma hit out: “It’s disgraceful though… like, how are you still doing the same thing? The way you’ve been moving with Helena honestly… You two deserve each other, I think you’re a great couple… two snakes.”
Now viewers are desperate for Emma to make it into the main villa and for her to win the whole show.
One wrote: “Give Emma the 50k, honestly been here five seconds and already put him in his place.”
A second said: “Emma, you know what I like you! Talking absolute facts.”
A third commented: “‘You deserve each other, you’re a great couple, two snakes’, EMMA YOUR WORK WILL BE CELEBRATED.”
“Emma is my new winner guys. I love her,” a fourth said.
Another added: “‘You two deserve each other, two snakes’ oh Emma we will be getting you into the main villa.”
ALEX DE MINAUR will take on Novak Djokovic on Centre Court this afternoon after coming through the “not nice” situation of seeing fiancee Katie Boulter suffer a devastating defeat in round two.
De Minaur and British No1 Boulter are in a long-term relationship and got engaged last December.
The Aussie star, 26, was sat in Boulter’s player box on No1 Court as she was beaten by lucky loser Solana Sierra in the second round.
Asked about how he coped with the result amid his own Wimbledon campaign, De Minaur said: “There’s no real rule book that you can go on, but it’s not ideal. It’s not nice.
“I felt for Katie yesterday, and I’ve been in those positions myself. It’s not easy by any means to forget about it. It’s something that stays with you.
“On my side there’s obviously the part of doing my best to comfort her and try to be there for her the same way she is there for me through the good stuff and the bad stuff.
“It definitely does have a little bit of impact on yourself, and you’ve got to do your best to try and have a mental reset and shift your focus towards yourself and realising that you do have a match the following day that you’ve got to prepare for, it’s not going to be an easy one, it’s going to be a battle.”
De Minaur has since managed to navigate his way through the draw, beating qualifier August Holmgren in straight sets to book a Centre Court date with Djokovic.
The match will be a poignant one for the No11 seed, who was robbed of a quarter-final outing against the legendary Serbian last year after suffering an injury during match point of his victory over Arthur Fils.
Boulter, 28, has stuck around SW19 since her loss and has been supporting De Minaur from his player box.
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The Aussie can expect brilliant British support this afternoon, given his relationship with Boulter.
On the Wimbledon crowd, De Minaur said last week: “I’ve felt an amazing shift of support the last three or four years, and spending a lot more time here in the UK, it’s been quite special. It feels like I’m growing roots here.
As I said before, I’ve been fortunate enough to be around the grounds in Wimbledon when the tournament is not on.
“I’ve been able to train here. I’ve been able to be here with Katie. So I’ve kind of been able to see shift between it being a club into a Grand Slam.
“All those aspects all the way from spending some time together, being at home, knowing the location a lot better, it definitely gives you an overall better feeling as you go into this tournament.”
On Djokovic, De Minaur added: “Novak has completed the game, right? He’s broken all the records.
“It’s amazing for him to still be showing up and still showing that fire and desire to win more.
“He’s a player that can find motivation and fire from anything, and that’s extremely dangerous.
“You don’t want to give him something to get motivated about because then you’ll definitely see his absolute best side.”
Wimbledon 2025 LIVE – follow all the latest scores and updates from a thrilling fortnight at SW19
TJ Reid’s wife Niamh De Brún-Reid shared a photo of the heartbroken ace being consoled by daughter Harper after Sunday’s painful loss.
Kilkenny came up just short of making the All-Ireland final in a tussle with Tipperary that was in doubt right until the final whistle.
Despite turning 37 in November, Reid still remains a force to be reckoned with as evidenced by his haul of 0-11 yesterday.
While eight of those points did come frees he still demonstrated an ability to win ball out in front of his marker whenever he was supplied with decent passes to work with.
The Ballyhale Shamrocks icon did look particularly devastated at coming out second-best yesterday.
However, only three months ago he indicated that retirement from the inter-county scene is far from his mind.
Derek Lyng’s oldest Cat joined the senior panel in 2007 when he was only 19, and is one of the all-time greats.
Plenty of global sporting icons have continued to perform no matter how old they are.
Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo is still going at 40, and his Argentine rival Lionel Messi turned 38 last month.
Italian AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini played until he was 41, and the NBA’s all-time scorer Lebron James is still lighting it up for the LA Lakers at 40.
Dublin stopper Stephen Cluxton is 43, and Cork great Christy Ring hurled for his beloved Cloyne Glen Rovers club until he was 46.
Speculation over Reid’s inter-county future spreads when each campaign passes, but their stalwart spoke about feeling as fresh as ever ahead of his 19th championship campaign.
He said in April: “It’s mind over matter. If you allow age to dictate your life, you’re on a losing battlefield straight away.
“I never think of my age, I always think of how am I performing, how am I moving, how am I feeling, what’s my mindset like, do I want this anymore?
“Do I want to be going training three or four nights a week? That’s the big thing. If that want isn’t there, that willingness isn’t there, then that’s the time to go.
“Most of those guys who are over 35, prolonging their career, they still have that willingness to give it everything. That’s the big thing. You look at the likes of Maldini from AC Milan, Lebron, Ronaldo, Messi.
“I look at all those top, top class players, they’re still dedicating their life to it, and you have to. If you want to reach those barriers, you have to be willing to put in the effort.
“Most people think that psychologically you have to get older to reduce things, but you don’t. The time you do reduce it, that’s when you get left behind.”
A lot has changed for inter-county hurlers since Reid joined Brian Cody’s squad 18 years ago.
Recovery and nutrition are huge, science around athletic performance has developed hugely and gyms have replaced the pub.
Reid runs his own fitness centre on the outskirts of Kilkenny city and admits owning business in the sector has been a massive help.
He said: “I’m whatever age I am, I’m still doing as much as I was 10 years ago, or even more. Obviously, my job is to inspire people to be fitter and healthier. So look, that’s a given for myself.
“And look, it is easier when you know the industry and you’re a professional in that regard. So look, you’re tipping away yourself anyway.
“And the way modern hurling is, the majority of people have access to gyms now. I know years ago, going back, we used to come back and we used to be two or three stone overweight back in January.
“Now lads are coming back in better shape than they were when they were hurling, because just in modern life, the gym is more of a social thing now, which is great.
“That’s where they go and meet instead of going drinking, they go into the gym together. The modern day GAA players, they’re looking after themselves way better than they were.”
IKEA is set to open another Irish store, in a huge boost to shoppers.
The latest outlet will be the largest store outside of Dublin across all of Ireland.
It represents a significant milestone in IKEA’s expansion throughout Ireland, creating 15 local jobs for the area.
This is it’s seventh Plan and Order Point in Ireland, located at Tramore Road Business Park on Tramore Rd in Priorsknock, Waterford.
The new Waterford site is set to open at 10am on July 17.
It’s set to be the largest IKEA store outside of Dublin, with 100 products available to purchase on site.
The enhanced Plan and Order Point experience is a first for the brand in Ireland, and is designed to offer unparalleled convenience and choice.
The store will still focus on bespoke kitchen, wardrobe and living room storage planning, but will also have a dedicated section with 100 products for immediate purchase.
Products range from popular accessories like KALLAX units and RÅSKOG trolleys to essential home items and products for €5 or less.
Or, choose the Click and Collect option which allows shoppers to order any IKEA item online and pick it up in store for free.
The new store will also serve as an in-store returns location.
The shop will be cashless, accepting both card and digital payments only.
Spanning 840 square metres, the store is slightly smaller than IKEA’s Carrickmines store in South Dublin, which is approximately 1,393 square metres.
But it is over eight times bigger than all other Plan and Order Points in Ireland, which typically range from 70-100 square metres.
The increase in size will allow for a more expansive and immersive customer experience, with different affordable kitchen ideas and an appliance studio on site.
This will open up 15 new jobs in the Waterford area, in a huge boost to the local economy.
Jayne Owen Gauld, Market Manager, IKEA Ireland said: “We are incredibly excited to bring this IKEA experience to Waterford.
“This new Plan and Order Point is not just our largest store outside of Dublin; it’s a testament to our commitment to making IKEA more accessible and convenient.
“We’re really looking forward to becoming a part of the vibrant Waterford retail landscape and community.”
The Plan and Order Point is just 1.5km from Waterford City Centre, making it easy for customers to get to.
As part of IKEA’s expansion plan for Ireland, there are three more locations set to open within the next year.
IF you’re heading abroad this summer, packing some preventative medicines might seem like the sensible thing to do.
But be warned, some common drugs, including antihistamines and painkillers, could land you with hefty fines or even jail time in certain countries.
While these meds are legal to buy over the counter in the UK, they’re banned or tightly restricted in several countries.
And being caught with them, even by accident, can mean your dream holiday turns into a nightmare.
Here’s what to watch out for:
1. Antihistamines
Hay fever sufferers, take note.
Japan has some of the strictest anti-stimulant drug laws in the world – and that includes antihistamines, the Foreign Office has previously warned.
Popular allergy treatments like Vicks inhalers and Sudafed are banned and could get you arrested at the airport.
Anyone caught bringing them in risks detention or deportation.
2. Codeine
The opioid painkiller, codeine, is banned in over 25 countries, including several in Europe.
Yet in the UK, you don’t even need a prescription – codeine is available over the counter in pharmacies as co-codamol, which combines codeine with paracetamol.
Even bringing small amounts of the stuff abroad to certain places can get you into serious trouble.
In Hungary, it carries up to five years in jail. In Slovakia, it’s three.
Other risky destinations include:
Even in countries like Greece or Cyprus, you’ll need a valid prescription to carry codeine.
Always check the rules for your destination online before you travel, and speak to your GP in advance to get any necessary paperwork.
3. Sleeping pills
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have a zero tolerance on an array of over-the-counter medications that are sold daily in the UK.
Sleeping pills like temazepam, which are legal here, are strictly banned in the Emirates, and getting caught with them could land you behind bars.
Even if you have a prescription from your GP, you’ll need to apply for approval from the UAE Ministry of Health before travelling.
4. Cannabis-related products
Even CBD oil with zero THC is illegal in countries like Singapore, the UAE, and Japan, among others.
It doesn’t matter if it’s for anxiety or pain, all cannabis products are banned in these regions.
Getting caught with CBD at the airport could lead to arrest, detention, or even deportation.
For example, in China, it is illegal to bring CBD into the country, with possession carrying a potential jail time of seven years.
This is because in some places, possession is treated the same way as carrying hard drugs.
It’s generally not recommended to travel abroad with any CBD based products.
5. ADHD medicines
Stimulants used to treat ADHD are a major red flag in some countries.
In Japan, they are completely banned, even with a prescription.
To bring them in legally, you’ll need special clearance from the Japanese government, including medical proof – a process that takes weeks.
You can check which medications you can take in and out of the UK here.
The UK government also recommends checking with the relevant embassies before travelling to make sure that you don’t break any rules.
You can find the full list for embassy contacts here.
British prescriptions are not accepted at international pharmacies, so you’ll need to take enough medicine with you for your entire trip.
Ensure that you take your prescription and doctor’s letter wherever you are travelling.
Consider having the doctor’s letter translated into your destination’s language to make the journey easier.
The strict rules are designed to keep travellers safe and to prevent drug tourism.
WHEN you’re travelling overseas, it’s important that you get all the packing done properly.
If you require medication, you may be curious about whether you can bring it along on your flight.
The short answer is yes – it is recommended that you put any medication in your hand luggage.
The main reason being that if the luggage in the hold gets lost, you would still have your medicine to hand.
Before travelling, you should check the airline’s regulations, but most of them will allow it.
Make sure to pack your medicines and any equipment such as needles, syringes, and others in their original and correctly labelled packages.
You should also carry the prescription from your doctor, just in case you are questioned about the medication.
Before packing your medication make sure that the expiry date will be valid for as long as you’re abroad and also check how it needs to be stored.
And be sure to check that your drugs are not banned in the country you are travelling to.
TV CHEF Gino D’Acampo has come under fire from followers after posting an ‘alarming’ video involving two live quails.
Ex This Morning star Gino has been slammed for his lack of sensitivity and ‘anthropocentric exhibitionism’ while preparing the meal.
Gino can be seen kissing live quails in one shot then dangling their corpses in another – alongside Bob Marley’s hit Three Little Birds.
The unapologetic star wrote alongside the video: “And that’s how it’s done!!!… Chargrilled Quails with zucchine and garlic vinaigrette.
“The perfect summer’s dish… Ask your butcher for quails, try it and let me know.”
One follower commented: “Bit sad that to watch sorry love u but that was a no no for me to watch sorry.”
Another follower wrote: “It’s a matter of sensitivity! Place a living human being, pet it, kiss it and then pull out two corpses.
“I’m not a vegan, but this anthropocentric exhibitionism disgusts me. You can comment all the nasty things possible, silence me heavily, I will not reply.”
Another commented: “Disturbing and upsetting. It’s like showing a cute puppy and then showing it euthanized.”
“Sick video. So you put two live quails next to two dead plucked ones… or time lapse of same.
“Either way, all I saw was two spreadeagled chicks on the plate with some highly inappropriate music – for them! Most unappetising. NO GRAZIE,” remarked a user.
“Jesus Christ, Gino…” simply wrote another.
One fan pondered: “I think if I had animals or had a farm, I’d have to be a veggie. This is a reality unfortunately. I just feel numb and thinking now about becoming a vegetarian tbh. At least they are raised with love, looked after and stuff. But I couldn’t do this myself.”
“I don’t think we needed to see the first bit of the video,” admitted a fan.
“That’s cruel,” noted a user.
“After kissing ’em too, savage!” agreed a follower.
The colourful chef is set for a TV return with a show named An Italian In Malta after he was accused of sexually inappropriate behaviour.
ITV has vowed not to use him in future. However, the married dad of three denies any claims.
Gino told ITV News previously that he “firmly denied” all the allegations, which he called “deeply upsetting”.
His social media quail stunt comes after he made a smutty return to the public eye — by making lewd comments about women.
The Italian said during a recent radio interview that men do not like skinny women — as they want to have “things to grab”.
LORENZO SONEGO is a four-time ATP singles title winner who reached an impressive career-high world ranking of 21.
Here we get to know the Italian tennis pro’s girlfriend, who will no doubt be cheering her man on as he aims for the quarter-finals at Wimbledon 2025.
In round three of Wimbledon 2025, Lorenzo Sonego defeated Brandon Nakashima in a five-set epic that lasted more than five hours.
Before the match, he told Gazzetta dello Sport: “I know that I am lucky to have this opportunity to play the tournament every season and so I always try to do my best to stay as long as possible.
“I came with the idea of having fun on the court, being comfortable, fighting on every point.
“It is the most beautiful tournament in the world. As children, we watched it on television inspired by the great players.
“Then when you are in it, you realise that everything has another light, another magic”.
Next up he’s taking on rising star and world No.10 Ben Shelton on Court No.1 on July 7, 2025.
WIMBLEDON 2025 LIVE: LATEST UPDATES FROM SW19
Alice Petruccioli is the longtime girlfriend of Lorenzo Sonego.
They have been in a relationship since around 2019, after being introduced by a friend of fellow Italian tennis player Matteo Berrettini.
The couple met in Miami during the 2019 Masters 1000 tournament in the city, where Lorenzo was competing and Alice was on a break from university.
Alice hails from Turin — the same place Lorenzo is originally from.
She is a professional nutrition biologist with a strong academic background.
Alice graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Superior in biological sciences.
She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Human Nutrition Sciences from the University of Pisa, Italy.
During her studies, she traveled extensively to places including Singapore, South Africa and Indonesia, which helped to cultivate her passion for international food and nutrition.
Living in his world is exciting because I love travelling — tournaments, events, acquaintances
While she was initially interested in marine biology, Alice shifted her career focus to become a nutritionist.
Outside of work, she loves being on tour with Lorenzo.
In a 2021 edition of the Turin version of La Stampa, Alice said: “Living in his world is exciting because I love travelling — tournaments, events, acquaintances.
“As soon as we get home I immediately ask him what the next destination will be.”
But she also fully grasps what it takes to be the partner of a top-level athlete.
Alice added: “I understand when I have to leave him alone and put selfishness aside.”