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HAVING recalled some 120,000 vehicles last week, a major car brand’s dealer network is now feeling the squeeze – having told drivers to stop using their vehicles immediately.

Several models are involved in the recall, which is related to faulty airbags that could prove lethal when deployed.

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This has meant chaos for the brand’s dealer network, who have become overwhelmed by the scale of the recall[/caption]

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Some customers are being told to wait as long as January for a repair slot[/caption]

The chaos involves Citroen models, including the second-gen Citroen C3 supermini and Citroen DS3 – both sold between 2009 and 2016.

The more recently DS 3, sold between 2016 and 2019, is also flagged for a recall.

However, the sheer volume of vehicles being recalled has left many owners facing difficulties in getting their cars repaired, as the magnitude of the recall is placing significant strain on the Citroen dealer network.

According to the BBC, one DS3 owner said she’s “tried to get the car fixed, but as I didn’t get to know about the recall soon enough, the earliest it can be done is the end of July”.

Worse still, another revealed the soonest they’ve been able to secure a slot is January next year.

The sudden recall follows a fatal accident in Reims, France, last month, when a 37 year-old mother driving a Citroen C3 was struck in the head by pieces of flying metal after a minor collision.

The airbag, which relies on ammonium nitrate gas for rapid inflation, can degrade in hot and humid conditions, potentially causing violent explosions that propel shrapnel towards the driver.

This is part of a two-decade-long scandal involving the now-defunct Japanese manufacturer Takata, whose airbags were fitted by nearly all major car manufacturers worldwide.

It saw the French Transport Ministry order the manufacturer to conduct a recall, with Stellantis deciding to issue a stop-drive order in the UK too, to avoid any safety concerns.

The French Transport Ministry has also issued warnings for owners of Audis, BMWs, Fords, Nissans, Peugeots and even Ferraris – all due to fears over Takata airbags.

Citroen customers affected by the recall are due to receive a letter in the post outlining the next steps.

Stellantis have also listed which cars are affected, and also have a recall helpline (0800 917 9285) set up.

Naturally, the cost of any recall-related work will be covered by Stellantis.

Autoexpress believe the repair work should only take around two hours to complete – although it does mean trying to find a slot at one of dozens of authorised Citroen garages across the country.

DONALD Trump issued a bleak warning that Putin wants to “keep killing people” after Russia launched its largest-yet barrage of drones and missiles at Ukraine.

In a middle finger to the US, the onslaught hit just hours after Putin and Trump had a fruitless 60-minute phone call – which touched on the possibility of fresh American sanctions.

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Trump said he was ‘very unhappy’ with Putin[/caption]

East2West

AP

Putin launched an onslaught against Ukraine hours after putting the phone down to Trump[/caption]

Trump fumed on Friday that he was “very unhappy” about the phone call with Putin and ensuing strikes.

He said: “[Putin] wants to go all the way, just keep killing people, it’s no good.”

Trump revealed the two leaders had spoken “a lot” about sanctions, adding: “He understands that it may be coming.”

The Kremlin said on Friday it was “preferable” to reach its goals of its invasion through political and diplomatic means – despite having just blitzed Ukraine with masses of explosives.

Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov continued: “But as long as that is not possible, we are continuing the special operation.”

Hours after hanging up on Thursday night, Vlad green-lighted the largest volley of missiles and drones since the start of the war.

Fires broke out in multiple locations as almost every district in the capital city was struck, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration.

Dozens of Ukrainians were injured as toxic smoke engulfed the city.

The Svyatoshynskyi and Solomanskyi districts were among the hardest hit, with blazes on rooftops and in courtyards.

Short on air defence systems, Ukraine could only down two of 11 missiles.

Another nine missiles – one Kinzhal [Dagger], two Iskander-K, and six Iskander-M – wreaked havoc in the city.

Trump also spoke to Ukraine’s President Zelensky on Friday – and their chat was much more productive.

The President said: “We talked about different things […] I think it was a very, very strategic call.”

Asked about resuming supplying Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, he said: “Yeah, we might.

“They’re going to need something because they’re being hit pretty hard.”

Zelensky said: “We spoke about opportunities in air defence and agreed that we will work together to strengthen protection of our skies.”

The US Defense Department earlier this week paused deliveries of several critical weapons systems – including Patriot missiles and precision-guided munitions.

Trump has insisted he wants to help Ukraine, but has has not imposed any new sanctions on Russia since taking office.

He also has not approved additional aid packages.

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Firefighters battle a blaze in Kharkiv after Russia’s all-out onslaught[/caption]

AFP

Zelensky also spoke to Trump and again urged stronger sanctions against Russia[/caption]

A YELLOW weather warning has been issued for the South East coast of the UK with Brits told to expect thunderstorms.

The warning will be in effect for 12 hours between 7am and 7pm tomorrow, July 6.

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Heavy rain, hail and even lightning are expected[/caption]

Parts of Eastern England should expect a downpour of 15-25 millimetres of rain.

Brits have also been warned to expect some hail and lightning as thunderstorms roll in.

The Met Office has said that disruption to travel and outdoor activities is possible.

It comes after the UK has experienced bouts of hot sunny weather in recent weeks.

Weather warnings are issued on the Met Office website and social medias.

The Met Office said on social media: “Yellow weather warning issued.

“Thunderstorms across parts of eastern England Sunday 0700 – 1900.

“Stay weather aware.”

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The yellow weather warning will last for 12 hours[/caption]

IRISH people are being warned about a new strain of Covid-19 as cases rise in the country.

The two new strains of the coronavirus, including a “super-contagious Frankenstein” variant, are rapidly spreading across Ireland and the United Kingdom.

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The XFG variant, known as Stratus, is now the dominant strain in England, according to the data issued by the UK Health Security Agency.

And the strain now accounts for 10 per cent of weekly cases in Ireland, according to new data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre recently reported 461 cases and 173 hospitalisations in the week up to June 28, both of which were the highest numbers of 2025 to date.

The new Stratus is understood to be more infectious than the previous Covid-19 strains due to mutations which help evade the immune system.

This can be seen in the UK Covid-19 cases, as it jumped from 10 per cent to almost 40 per cent three weeks later in the middle of June.

The new strain is a descendant of the already extremely virulent Omicron and is referred to as a “recombinant” or Frankenstein strain.

This indicates that it first appeared as a new hybrid variation after an individual contracted two Covid-19 strains simultaneously.

However, there is currently no evidence that Stratus causes more severe illness, and science shows that getting a Covid-19 vaccine is “very likely” to offer protection from severe illness and hospitalisation, according to Mr Young.

Speaking to the Mail Online, virologist Professor Lawrence Young from the University of Warwick said: “Given that immunity to Covid is waning in the population due to a decline in uptake of the spring booster jab and the reduction of Covid infections in recent months, more people will be susceptible to infection with XFG and XFG.3.”

“This could lead to a new wave of infection but it’s difficult to predict the extent of this wave.”

Last month, the World Health Organisation declared that the new strain is currently being monitored, which means that many health authorities globally have been asked to track the variant due to its increased spread.

SIGNS TO WATCH FOR

The symptoms of the variant are similar to other strains of the virus.

It includes shortness of breath, feeling ill or being sick, a loss or change to their smell or taste and a loss of appetite.

Some infections may show symptoms, such as nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, sore throat, headache, muscle or joint pain, skin rash, diarrhoea, chills, or dizziness.

If you are currently experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 and feeling unwell, you are urged to stay at home until 48 hours after your symptoms are mostly or fully gone.

Avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk from Covid-19.

People are urged to call 112 or 999 if they are very short of breath and cannot complete a sentence.

FIGHTING BACK the tears, Emma Raducanu said she will hold showdown talks with coach Mark Petchey about their future working arrangement.

But she claims she will head next month to New York – the scene of her greatest triumph – brimming with confidence she CAN match the world’s best.

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Emma Raducanu was knocked out of Wimbledon on Friday night[/caption]

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Raducanu was respectably beaten by world No1 Aryna Sabalenka[/caption]

Raducanu, 22, ate a KitKat chocolate bar in the locker room after her two-hour two-set slugfest with world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka on Friday night.

For those who had doubted whether the Brit would ever replicate the magical form she showed when lifting the US Open four years ago, this was a demonstration of her abilities.

Though she fell short, and was unable to capitalise on two clutch moments in set two, she earned widespread respect for slugging it out with the three-time Grand Slam champion on Centre Court.

Petchey, who joined her team on a part-time basis in March, has had a transformative impact on her form and demeanour but there is no guarantee that coaching gig will continue.

The former tennis player earns a decent living as a respected TV analyst but has to decide now whether to give that all up to sit in Raducanu’s box.

Raducanu said: “It’s very difficult. He obviously also has his commentating commitments.

“He agreed to help me until the end of Wimbledon and then we kind of see from there.

“Because he gave up some work to work with me here, which I really appreciate and I’m grateful for.

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“That’s a conversation that we need to have after a few days and the dust settles a little bit.”

Clutching a tissue and sniffling constantly, Raducanu had slightly red eyes when she addressed the world’s media following her exit.

It has been an emotional summer for the Kent-based superstar, one in which she has faced security concerns and received “some pretty bad news” during her run in Eastbourne.

But as self-critical as she is about her own displays, she is proud of how she competed toe-for-toe with Sabalenka, 27, especially in a 74-minute opening set under a closed roof.

And that only bodes well for the hard-court swing in North America.

‘IT GIVES ME CONFIDENCE’

Raducanu – who will play the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington later this month – said: “It’s hard to take a loss like that.

“It does give me confidence because I think the problem before was that I felt like I was gulfs away from the very top.

“Having a match like that where I had chances in both sets, it does give me confidence. At the same time, it’s very difficult to take right now.

“It gives me confidence that I’m not as far away as I perhaps thought before the tournament.

“Before when I was playing those top-five players, it was pretty convincing, the loss.

‘IT’S A BIT OF A LEVELLER’

“I feel like grass for me is a great surface. It’s a bit of a leveller in that sense.

“Taking it onto a different surface where it’s a lot more lively in America is another challenge in itself.

“There’s still a lot of things that I want to do better, a lot of things I want to improve to solidify my game, so that in the big moments I can back myself a little bit more.

“I don’t think I’ve really had a loss like this in a long time, where I feel like I maybe had chances and didn’t take them. Usually I’m pretty good at converting.

“In the big moments, Aryna was able to convert. She was able to hit some incredible shots.

“I just need to keep working and get back to the drawing board and improve a lot more.”

WITH Brits set to enjoy glorious sunshine towards the end of next week, many of us will be tempted to spruce up our gardens.

But before you dash to start mowing, a gardening expert has listed five tips that will ensure you have the best lawn in the neighbourhood.

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One expert has come to rescue with five mowing tips that will make your neighbours envious[/caption]

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The whizz also explained why you should stick to the ‘1/3’ rule[/caption]

And according to the pro, only known as TikToker Ifzaal, there’s also a specific time that will give you the best results.

While many green-fingered Brits may think that it doesn’t matter when you give your grass a trim, Ifzaal urged to never mow your lawn early in the morning.

Dropping the knowledge bombs on his TikTok page, the whizz advised to leave the mowing to later in the day.

He said: ”Never cut your grass between 6am and 8am in the morning because the grass might still have dew on it.

”This could lead to uneven cutting and cause your lawn mower to clog up.

”Instead, you should always mow your lawn when the grass is dry,” Ifzaal recommended in the video.

Another pro tip was inspecting what your blades of grass look like after they’ve been cut – as it could easily tell you the lawn mower needs some repairs.

If the blades of grass appear ”jagged”, it’s time to sharped the blades on the mower – or replace them altogether.

In the informative clip, the guru also talked about something called the ”1/3 rule”.

”Never remove more than 1/3 of the grass during any cutting. This will reduce the amount of stress that you put on the grass.”

According to the gardening expert, green-fingered Brits should also mow their lawns in the different directions.

Ifzaal explained that not only will this method ”prevent ruts” but going criss-cross with the mower will also ”encourage upright grow” of the grass.

He elaborated in the comments: ”Mowing in different directions each time helps the grass grow straighter and healthier, prevents ruts, and gives your lawn a more even, professional look.

”I usually go over the lawn with the rollers on the back of the mower at the end to create the stripes.”

Once you’ve finishing mowing, you will be left with a pile of clippings – but what do with them?

Rather than chucking the pile out, Ifzaal claimed that the fresh cutting can be used as ”free mulch that feeds your lawn” – saving you money.

”Stick to these tips and your lawn will thank you.”

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NICOLAS HAMILTON was spotted in the Ferrari garage supporting his brother for the first time since he moved to the Italian team.

Lewis Hamilton’s brother posted a heart-warming snap on Instagram of the pair embracing in the Ferrari garage amid the final practice session at Silverstone on Friday.

Nicolas captioned the picture: “So good to be back, supporting big bro! First time for me with Scuderiaferrari, where I have been made to feel so welcome.”

The Hamiltons have motor racing in their DNA, with Nicolas currently competing in the British Touring Car Championship for Powder Monkey Brewing Co with Esidock.

Nicolas, 33, races with a specially-modified car due to his cerebral palsy.

Nicolas is a huge inspiration to fans across the globe, becoming the first ever disabled driver to compete in BTCC against able-bodied drivers.

Born two months prematurely, Nicolas spent the first six weeks of his life in intensive care and was diagnosed with spastic diplegia – a form of cerebral palsy – at 18 months old, with doctors predicting he would never be able to walk or run.

The two brothers have a close bond and Lewis went incognito to watch Nicolas race at Donnington Park in April 2023.

The seven-time world champion, who is going for a record-extending 10 Silverstone wins on Sunday, watched a best-ever finish of sixth for Nicolas.

Nic said in an interview at the time: “Lewis has never put a penny into my motorsport,

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“There’s people who still don’t believe me when I say that, but that is literally the situation.

“I’ve had a lot of online trolling and bullying where everyone says I’m only in BTCC because of Lewis.

“A lot of the criticism is unjust – I don’t deserve it. But to finally shut the critics up on 23 April was the best thing I could ever wish for. It was a load of relief and a lot of weight off my shoulders.”

Nicolas had competed full-time in the British Touring Car Championship since 2019 but stopped racing part way through the 2023 season.

With the new BTCC campaign beginning in April, it was thought that Nicolas’ 20-month sabbatical would be extended.

But in March it was announced that he would be making a shock return after nearly two years out driving a modified Cupra Leon for Un-Limited Motorsports this year.

Meanwhile, on Saturday Hamilton dropped from P2 in the third qualifying session to qualify fifth for the British Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 40-year-old went too wide in the final sector, with old team-mate George Russell beating his time, as provisional pole-sitter Oscar Piastri bobbled wide too.

But a stunning error-free lap from Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Red Bull star, with Piastri and Lando Norris making up the front row.

Elsewhere, Hamilton‘s beloved French bulldog Roscoe was spotted returning to the Silverstone paddock this week.

The Brit previously told SunSport that “his heart stops” every time he gets a text about Roscoe, with the 12-year-old dog recently recovering from pneumonia.

IF you’re looking for a way to keep your kids entertained in the summer heat, Aldi has just the thing.

This garden buy will provide hours of entertainment during the school holidays.

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Aldi shoppers can pick up a budget buy that will keep their kids cool and entertained in the hot summer weather (stock image)[/caption]

Whether you’re working from home or trying to catch up on chores, this Specialbuy is sure to give you some peace in the hot weather.

Aldi shoppers can pick up a Sandpit for just £7.99 from Thursday, July 10.

This middle aisle buy is described as “multi-functional”, making it a worthwhile investment for parents.

“This Sandpit shell could be used as sandpit or as paddling pool for hours of fun in the sun,” the product description read.

Product details

The blue shell is approximately 18 centimetres deep, making it safe for most children to use.

However, you should never leave smaller children unattended around any pool, even one this shallow.

Simply place this shell in your garden and use your garden hose to fill it up.

Then everyone from your children to your pets can take a dip to cool down.

And you can even park up in your garden chair and soak your feet at the end of a long day.

Sandpit

Alternatively, if the temperature drops a few degrees, you can convert this shell into a sandpit.

Again, avoid leaving young children unaccompanied in this contraption.

Pick up a few buckets, spades, and toy diggers and you can guarantee hours of fun for your little ones.

Just be careful to avoid a viral parenting trend that involves swapping out sand for a more hazardous material in your sandpit.

Other summer buys

Plus, an easy-to-store paddling pool is also available from The Range for just £8.99.

And The Sun tested a variety of paddling pools currently on the market.

The price of a popular paddling pool has been slashed ahead of the summer holidays.

And you can even pick up a paddling pool for just £1.99 this summer season.

Plus, a £5 cooling gadget available from Home Bargains that’s a hot weather must-have.

Five more heatwave gadgets that are currently on sale for £15 or less.

Aldi also has a £15 gadget that keeps your home cool all summer long.

Aldi

The shallow plastic shell from Aldi can be used as a paddling pool or a sandpit[/caption]

MANILA, Philippines — No lucky bettor was able to take home the jackpot prizes for the Grand Lotto 6/55 and Lotto 6/42, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said on Saturday. Based on PCSO’s 9 p.m. draw, nobody won the lucky prize for the Grand Lotto 6/55, which is now carries a P29,700,000 prize pot.

ROY Keane was involved in a tense confrontation at Orlando International Airport last week, according to reports.

The incident apparently came after Keano intercepted a passenger attempting to jump the immigration queue.

The no nonsense Man Utd legend who is known for his fiery temperament, wore a baseball cap and casual gear, yet was unmistakable to fellow passengers.

The former Ireland skipper was en route from Manchester to Florida for punditry duty.

And according to the report, which came from Extra.ie, as the queue slowed, a man from Manchester tried to edge ahead, prompting Keane to step in and call him out.

One passenger claimed to Extra that the man who jumped the line pointed out who the Corkman was before they squared up.

He said: “It’s Roy Keane, it’s Roy Keane everyone,”

“When Roy saw the guy trying to skip everyone he wasn’t one bit happy.”

At one point, Keane supposedly warned the man: “I’ll see you outside.”

Refusing to let the queue skipper get away, and despite no apparent threat of a physical altercation, the man eventually fled through immigration.

But it’s said that Keane once again confronted the man at baggage claim before Keano walked away.

The iconic midfielder is set to cover the Nations Cup as a pundit.