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A FIRE has broken out on a busy London shopping street, forcing a Tube station to close as 70 firefighters tackle the blaze.

Firefighters were called to a fire in south London, where thick smoke was seen billowing over a shopping street.

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Firefighters at the scene on Electric Avenue in Brixton, London[/caption]

PA

A large plume of smoke could be seen rising above the buildings[/caption]

PA

Firefighters could be seen heading in and out of several shops on Electric Avenue[/caption]

Ten fire engines are tackling the blaze on Electric Avenue in Brixton, which is believed to have started in a storage area behind the busy shopping street.

Brixton Tube station was temporarily closed on Monday morning due to the fire.

Metropolitan Police officers were at the scene, blocking access to the street with police tape while the London Fire Brigade tackled the blaze.

Firefighters could be seen heading in and out of several shops on Electric Avenue, trying to access a back area where the fire started.

A large plume of smoke could be seen rising above the buildings on Monday morning.

A fire engine with a long ladder could meanwhile be seen in use on Electric Lane, a small back alley behind the street which hosts Brixton market.

No injuries have been reported as a result of the fire on Electric Avenue, Brixton, London Fire Brigade said.

The fire on the busy south London shopping street appears to have been mostly extinguished.

However, smoke can be seen billowing out of the doorway of one shop, while firefighters continue to work on Electric Avenue and a police cordon remains in place.

IRISH holidaymakers heading for Spain are being warned of sizzling temperatures and thunderstorms set to blast the country.  

Temperatures soared as high as 46.6C across Europe last week as a blistering heatwave shut schools and workplaces and recorded multiple deaths last week.

EPA/MORELL

meteologix.com

A number of holiday hotspots in Spain are expecting severely high temperatures of 40C this week, while other areas will be hit with thunderstorms. 

Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, has warnings in place for a number of popular holiday spots including Seville, Alicante, Mallorca, Madrid and Girona. 

A “severe high-temperature warning” has been issued for Seville, the Córdoba Countryside, Guadalquivir, Morena and Condada. 

Weather chiefs at meteoalarm said: “Be prepared. Take precautions and keep up to date with the latest weather forecast. 

“Severe damages to people and properties may occur, especially to those vulnerable or in exposed areas.”

The mercury is expected to reach a scorching 40C. 

A “moderate high-temperature warning” is in place in Valle del Tajo, with temperatures hitting 38C. 

Meteoalarm said: “Be aware, keep up to date with the latest weather forecast. 

“Moderate damages to people and properties may occur, especially to those vulnerable or in exposed areas.

Thunderstorms with 20mm rain expected to accumulate in one hour are set to hit other areas today. 

This means that Irish jetsetters hoping to escape to the sun might find themselves disappointed.

The thunderstorm alert has been issued for Mallorca, Alicante, Valencia, Tarragona and the Barcelona coastline.

Jetsetters are advised to take caution in severe weather, especially with the extreme heat, and follow the authority guidelines.

Using sunscreen with a factor of 30 or higher is recommended.

And ensure to reapply it every two hours and after swimming at the beach or pool.

IRELAND HEAT SPELL

Meanwhile, a number of weather alerts have been issued for parts of Portugal with temperatures reaching 38C. 

A yellow high-temperature warning has been issued for Sardinia, Italy.

In Greece, an “orange max temperature” alert is in place with a “yellow high-temperature” warning issued for other areas. 

Here in Ireland, Met Eireann has confirmed that temperatures could hit a sizzling 28C in just a few days.

Cathal Nolan from Ireland’s Weather Channel warned people to brace for the “hottest spell of weather since 2022” as Met Eireann confirmed temperatures will skyrocket this week.

Nolan said warm temperatures will return with isolated light showers in some parts of the country this week, starting from today.

AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti

EPA/MORELL

FORGET innocent piña coladas by the pool and cheeky glances at topless barmen – now sun-seeking, sex-loving Brit grans are boarding planes in search of far more risky adventures.

Wealthy older women are jetting off this summer for one reason only: to romp with men decades younger – and substantially poorer – than themselves. And this week the beaches are set to be more rampant than ever.

Simon Jones

The country is a popular holiday destination for Brits – and not just for the cheap package deals[/caption]

Simon Jones

Thousands of Western women now travel to the region’s resorts every year[/caption]

Simon Jones

Senegambia strip, where many of the dubious relationships unfold[/caption]

Promiscuous pensioners are heading in their droves to The Gambia, the west African country where exotic food is far from the spiciest thing on the menu.

Despite a plea made by The Gambia Tourist Board asking elderly Brits to go elsewhere to look for young lovers, the problem has only got worse.

Sex tourism is said to be “rampant” in the nation dubbed ‘The Gran-bia’ – a real-life Tinder for geriatrics.

Promiscuous pensioners

The practice is so common there that gigolos known as ‘bumsters’ are rife on every beach and in every bar and restaurant on the country’s popular Senegambia Strip.

And authorities have become increasingly desperate to put a stop to it and clean up the country’s image.

The Sun last visited The Gambia three years ago at a time when the government was promising a crackdown on the grab-a-granny culture – proposing to bring in laws to make it easier to arrest local beach boys and older women engaged in suspect relationships.

Abubacarr Camara, director of the country’s office of tourism, said: “What we want is quality tourists. We want tourists that come to enjoy the country and the culture, but not tourists who come for sex.”

However, we found that – despite pleas for them to stay away – scores of lusty, middle-aged women were back on the hunt for muscular young men.

Since then, locals tell us the situation has reached new lows and that the popular Kololi beach resort is regularly swarming with women from Sweden, Russia, Germany, Holland and the UK.

One male beach worker claims randy holidaymakers initiate contact by asking for massages.

Hit new lows

The man, who called himself Nana, said: “The rich women, but also sometimes the men, come up to you and ask for a massage. That’s how it all begins.”

For a lot of these British ladies looking for a bit of fun, there’s only one thing on their minds – and it’s not a long term commitment.

Barbara, 65, from Dartford, Kent, who declined to give her surname, told us: “I don’t know what all the fuss is about. I’m not doing anything illegal. If you go to somewhere like Thailand you see loads of old men with young girls, but no one talks about that.

“The minute a woman gets together with a younger man, there’s an uproar and we’re called cougars and sex tourists. I came here for a bit of fun and I’m not harming anyone. If I want to take a good-looking bloke to my hotel room it’s no one’s business but my own.”

While prostitution is illegal in The Gambia, the fact that Western women rarely pay for sex – but tend to foot all their lover’s bills during the holiday then send them financial gifts when they return home – means arrests are rarely made.

And it’s not clear how many of the thousands of women who travel there every year are actually sex tourists.

Prostitution is illegal

Many would insist they are not, saying they only take on a toyboy after genuinely falling in love.

Glen Minikin - The Sun

British mum-of-nine Heidi Hepworth, 51, converted to Islam so she could marry her Gambian fiancé Mamadou Salieu Jallow, 14 years her junior, back in 2018.

She said: “No-one imagined this would last but we love each other and are making plans to marry. I’ve never been happier.”

Mum-of-one Alainna Nichol, 43, from York, is not a sex tourist. But it did not take long for her to see why the country is dubbed ‘the Gran-bia’ when she visited with her husband on a TUI package holiday last December.

She said: “My husband did see a middle-aged woman from Leeds marrying a local man at one of the beach bars. He said it was a really nice wedding. They were both all in white and her daughters, who were in their late teens or early 20s, were there to see the ceremony. The woman was in her 50s and the man in his 30s so I guess that’s not a big age gap given the Granbia’s reputation!”

Simon Jones

The women rarely pay for sex but instead pick up their partner’s bills during the holiday romances[/caption]

Simon Jones

Marriages like this are not a rarity. Posts on social media show that huge numbers of British women have married Gambian men.

However, it’s not always a happy union.

One Reddit user claimed she used to issue marriage visas and said she couldn’t count “the number of times we would get calls from the wives asking us to rescind the visa as the husband had run off after reaching the UK.”

Other comments warned that Gambian men are notorious for ‘love bombing’, the practice of showering someone with excessive attention and affection to make them fall for you.

But it all paints a picture of a culture so poor, men would do anything to get out.

People are dying at sea in the search of a better life… Many of those left behind have little choice but to go out and look for Westerners that can support them.

Ali Cham

Ali Cham, 39, plays at music venues along the notorious Senegambia Strip, where gyrating OAPs sip £1 bottles of beer and the sound of reggae music clashes with the grind of walking frames scraping against the floor.

He says poverty here is so dire that many young men feel they have no choice but to sleep with older people.

Dad-of-five Ali, who performs under the name Killa Ace, said: “When you go to the strip or the tourist resorts, it’s happening in plain sight. For me, with my principles, it’s not something I would want to do, but there are people here that are desperate for a better life.”

Hotel boss Lamin Touray, 35, says even a short-lived romance with a Westerner can be life-changing for poor Gambians.

He told The Sun: “You have to remember these women are trying to get a man, because they can’t find one in their own country. They know that if they come to The Gambia they can use their money to have a young guy. I don’t see it as a bad thing because for these boys, it changes their life. It can help them buy a car or a compound (house) and open a business.

“Some of them want to travel to the UK or US and once they are married they want to help them, but that happens less now because the women prefer to live in The Gambia or send money here.

“The women do this because they know that if they take the boys home they will betray them. Once they get to Europe, they will find their way out, or they won’t want to work and the woman will be the one doing everything for the boy.”

Despite such desperation for a new, more prosperous life, it appears many Gambians are frustrated with the practice and long for a change.

In fact, social entrepreneur Olimatta Taal says locals have had enough of tourists dubbed ‘Dirty Sarahs’ and ‘Dirty Harrys’ coming to their country.

She said: “At the end of the day, if a family is poor – they are making 1,000 dalasi (£10.77) a month. All of a sudden this white European male or female comes with thousands of pounds, offers to take their child to Europe, gives them a visa, give them a better life, they turn a blind eye.”

Without the option of a rich Western woman, life can look incredibly bleak for many in The Gambia.

EU statistics show that 9,000 Gambians took a perilous 600 mile journey to the Canary Islands in Spain, a route known as ‘the backway’ to land illegally in Europe in 2023.

Musician Ali added: “There still isn’t much opportunity and the cost of living keeps going up, so just buying food for your family can put you in debt. It makes people frustrated about the system. Many of those left behind have little choice but to go out and look for Westerners that can support them.”

Remittances, or international money transfers, sent from abroad now account for 50 per cent of The Gambia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Tourism makes up 15.5 per cent of GDP and more than half of The Gambia’s 2.5 million residents live in poverty, according to a 2021 report by the World Bank.

The average wage is just £181.25 a month and 41 per cent of young people are out of work, which means the £50 a day the average tourist will spend holidaying in The Gambia makes them seem rich.

The Gambia – a former British colony – took off as a tourist destination when Thomas Cook started selling budget package holidays including cheap flights in the 1990s. Package holiday deals now cost as little as £529, clearly a huge draw for tourists – not to mention lusty ladies of a certain age.

THE search for a 55-year-old man who was missing for over a year has been stood down following the discovery of a body.

Ray Hosty was last seen in Headford, County Galway, on April 1st of 2024 and a huge search operation was launched in an effort to locate him after he went missing.

However, the massive operation was stood down on June 21 following the discovery of a body.

Gardai confirmed today that the remains are those of Ray Hosty.

A spokesperson said: “Following the discovery of human remains, the missing person appeal for 55-year-old Ray Hosty, who was reported missing from Headford, County Galway, on Monday 1st April 2024, has been stood down.

“No further action is required. An Garda Siochana would like to thank the media and public for their assistance.”

Ray’s heartbroken family has been involved in multiple searches for the beloved man since his disappearance 15 months ago and yesterday told how the recovery of his remains is a “bittersweet relief”.

In a heartbreaking social media post, Ray’s sister said: “On the 21st of June after 14 long months our brother Rays body was finally recovered from the water, it is a bitter sweet relief to finally have him home and at last we can lay him to rest, this has given us measure of peace.

“Words cannot express the depth of our grief or the complexity of emotions we are feeling, this has been a heartbreaking journey

“We wish to thank each and every single person who supported us, shared Rays story, but most of all the prayers that were said, they have now been answered.

“Your kindness has carried us through an unimaginable time. Funeral arrangements to follow.”

AN GARDA SIOCHANA

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has assured the public that the Department of Health (DOH) has sufficient funds to settle the claims of private hospitals for services and treatments provided to indigent and financially incapacitated patients. In a press briefing on Monday, Palace Press officer Claire Castro clarified reports that some health facilities have stopped accepting

ANOTHER busy London street is set to be pedestrianised as part of a big city overhaul.

Proposals have been put forward to pedestrianise Regent Street St James’s – the road in the West End that runs between Piccadilly Circus and St James’s Park.

Westminster City Council

Streets around Piccadilly Circus will ban cars to make way for pedestrians[/caption]

Westminster City Council

The busiest streets in Central London will be affected by the new plans[/caption]

Lots of popular London streets have proposals to become greener, and the latest is Piccadilly Circus.

The famous street is the gateway to the London’s West End known for its illuminated ad display, huge fountain and neighbouring shopping streets.

The ambitious proposal is to create over 35,000 metres of traffic-free public space in one of the busiest parts of London, which is the equivalent to five football pitches.

The road that’s set to ban cars is Regent Street St James, which currently sees northbound traffic to Piccadilly, while the parallel road, Haymarket sees southbound.

As part of the proposal, Regent Street St James would be prioritised for pedestrians, and Haymarket would become a two-way street for motors.

Some surrounding side streets would be restricted for vehicles too in order to make space for pedestrians, and possibly outdoor cafes too.

It will introduce safer cycling routes, better pedestrian crossings and the removal of the central island on Regent Street itself.

The council is currently seeking public opinion on the proposal from now until 10 August from people who live, work and visit the area.

Decisions on the proposal will be made next year.

The news comes after plans were put forward to regenerate Oxford Street at a cost of £150million.

Alamy

The Mayor of London revealed the most famous street in central London is set to be pedestrianised with the main shopping road banning cars.

Sadiq Khan said: “We want to rejuvenate Oxford Street; establish it as a global leader for shopping, leisure and outdoor events with a world-class, accessible, pedestrianised avenue.

“This will help to attract more international visitors, and act as a magnet for new investment and job creation, driving growth and economic prosperity for decades to come.”

These aren’t the only streets to be pedestrianised, there plans for Camden High Street to enter a trial of banning cars too.

The high street that is a punk’s playground with famous boozers and lots of market stalls can see up to 40,000 visitors in one day.

Motor vehicles will be banned on the high street from the junction with Parkway and Kentish Town Road, there won’t be any in front of Camden Town Underground station up to the junction of Jamestown Road and Hawley Crescent either.

Buses towards Chalk Farm will be rerouted, travelling along Kentish Town Road and Hawley Crescent before continuing north.

TfL has provided £130,000 for the development of the trial.

The Mayor also revealed that different areas in London will be able to open later this summer with certain al fresco dining hours – this includes Brixton, Leyton, Shoreditch and the West End.

In Brixton, there will be 80 extra tables, and 400 extra seats for business in Atlantic Road and Brixton Station Road with cars banned on certain days.

Over in Shoreditch, independent bars and restaurants on Rivington Street and Redchurch Street will offer outdoor dining and drinking until midnight for the very first time.

Those two streets will be car-free on Fridays and Saturdays too.

In Leyton, Francis Road will extend its car-free hours and boast seating, outdoor games, late events and a weekend market.

The £300,000 Summer Streets Fund will ultimately enable areas across the city to open-up to more guests across longer hours this summer.

Camden High Street, also known as the UK’s ‘coolest neighbourhood’ is getting a trendy new shopping attraction.

And the busy London train station with new development plans after ditching a rooftop pool.

Alamy

Regent Street St James could soon be pedestrian only[/caption]

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories: Aside from Taal Lake, PNP looks at other sites in search of ‘sabungeros Apart from Taal Lake in Batangas, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is “examining” other sites, where the 34 missing sabungeros (cockfighting aficionados) might be located, according to PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III. Torre revealed this

HEARTBREAKING video shows girls having fun at Camp Mystic just days before flooding would tragically kill five.

Dozens were evacuated after the disaster with video filmed by a nurse catching them singing through tears fleeing the deadly floods on a bus.

Devon Paige

Campers played games just hours before disaster struck[/caption]

Devon Paige

A Camp Mystic nurse captured the campers singing as they are evacauted[/caption]

Devon Paige

The bus evacuating the girls drone through a flooded river[/caption]

The young girls sing worship songs as they drive through the devastated zone – with trees torn up, fences pushed over, and cars pushed on top of each other.

At least 10 girls and one councillor remain missing from the camp which sat on the bank of the Guadalupe River in central Texas.

Video shows girls laughing and playing games at the historic all-girls Christian camp – which is nearly a century old.

They include running around the dining room with trays above their head, carrying another girl in a team game, and a sport on a field.

But hours later they would be evacuated in the horrific tragedy.

The Guadalupe River rose 26ft in just 45 minutes after heavy rain hit central Texas at around 4am on Friday.

Younger girls slept in cabins just 500ft from the river on a small flat area of land off a bend in the watercourse.

At least 28 children died in Kerr County – where Camp Mystic is located.

Tragically, three girls confirmed to have died at Mystic River were aged 8 and 9 years old.

Older girls slept in cabins further away from the flooding.

As the water quickly rose the girls were forced to flee, with adults at the camp desperately trying to save them.

But the flooding was too strong and at least 30 adults, like the camp’s beloved director Dick Eastland, were killed.

Camp Mystic said in a statement: “This tragedy has devastated us and our entire community.

“Our hearts are broken alongside the families that are enduring this tragedy, and we share their hope and prayers.”

X/Keenan Willard

AFP

Floodwater rose into the cabins in the disaster[/caption]

Rescuers are now scouring the devastated landscape as they search for survivors.

A total of 41 people remain missing, according to Governor Greg Abbott.

Camper Lila Bonner tragically was one of those killed with her family releasing a statement confirming her death.

They wrote: “In the midst of our unimaginable grief, we ask for privacy and are unable to confirm any details at this time.

“We ache with all who loved her and are praying endlessly.”

Lila shared a cabin with her best friend Eloise Peck, 8, who also lost her life.

Devon Paige

Devon Paige

Her mom, Missy Peck, told Fox4: “Eloise was literally friends with everyone. She loved spaghetti but not more than she loved dogs and animals.

“She passed away with her cabinmate and best friend Lila Bonner who also died.

“Eloise had a family who loved her fiercely for the 8 years she was with us. Especially her Mommy.”

A total of 41 people remain missing, according to Governor Greg Abbott.

It comes as Donald Trump announced he signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County to help search efforts in response to the “unimaginable tragedy” in Texas.

WITH some now in full force, millions of Brits are rushing to enjoy the glorious weather outdoors.

But if your garden could do with some TLC, you may wish to plan a trip to the nearest Aldi, where thrifty shoppers have spotted an epic deal.

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The mega retailer has sent shoppers into a frenzy with their latest offer[/caption]

facebook/aldi shoppers

Thrifty Brits can now save an eye-watering £75 thanks to the epic deal[/caption]

The popular discount store has long been the go-to for many cash-savvy Brits when it comes to food – and the German retailer has now also stepped up its garden range.

According to one fan of the supermarket, Aldi has slashed the price of stunning outdoor furniture – and you can save a whopping £75.

Taking to Facebook to inform fellow bargain-mad shoppers about the epic deal, Chris Thomson revealed that Aldi is now selling an outdoor furniture set for a mere £24.99.

The set – which includes two gorgeous chairs to relax in, as well as a smaller table – was originally going for an eye-watering £100.

The stylish chairs come with light grey cushions that are ideal for providing that extra comfort when you’re enjoying your morning coffee outdoors – or soaking up the sun whilst reading.

The light grey style goes perfectly with the mini table, which is large enough for an outdoor candle and a bottle of your favourite tipple.

If you want an extra pop of colour, you could also chuck on some bright patterned cushions – or a vibrant throw to keep you toasty during the chilly evenings.

Given the epic price, it’s advised to best race to the local Aldi as soon as possible to avoid disappointment on missing out.

However, it’s worth remembering that each location has varying stock – so some Aldi stores may not have this bargain.

In his post, Chris revealed that he had bagged the gorgeous buy in Carlisle.

At just £24.99, Aldi’s cut-price version is significantly cheaper than at rival stores, where similar versions could cost you hundreds more.

John Lewis shoppers, for instance, will have to fork out an eye-watering £299 – while furniture retailer Daals is charging customers an astronomical £729.

Amazed by the epic deal, Chris wrote in the caption: ”Bargain from aldi…down to £24.99 from £100….madness.”

It comes as no surprise that the post soon racked up more than 360 likes, with dozens flooding to comments.

One said: ”Looks good Chris.”

”Loving this set,” chimed in another, tagging their pal.

”wish I saw these today!! What a barg,” someone else was upset they had missed out.

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Thailand’s tourism sector is grappling with a sharp decline in Chinese arrivals, forcing tourism agencies to lower expectations and step up efforts to attract more visitors. In the first half of 2025, Chinese tourist numbers fell by 34% compared to last year, with only 2,265,556 arrivals recorded. This downturn has pushed China into second place …

The story Thailand struggles to revive Chinese tourism as arrivals drop 34% as seen on Thaiger News.