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Diogo Jota won it all with Liverpool but he was not only a highly gifted footballer – he was also one of the good guys

DIOGO JOTA won every major honour in English football with Liverpool before a car crash cruelly cut short his life.

But the pain of Jota’s death will also be felt particularly hard at Wolves, where he played a key role in the club’s transformation, as well as in his native Portugal.

Diogo Jota of Liverpool playing soccer.
Rex
Diogo Jota tragically died alongside his brother in a car crash in Spain[/caption]
Diogo Jota and Rute Cardoso wedding.
fk.felippekatia
Jota married long-term partner Rute Cardoso on June 22[/caption]
Rute Cardoso and Diogo Jota with their children at their wedding.
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Jota and Rute have three young children[/caption]
Diogo Jota and his brother in FC Porto jerseys at a stadium.
FC Porto
Jota’s brother Andre, pictured together in their younger days at Porto, also died in the crash[/caption]

The versatile forward was part of the squad that won a second Nations League title last month. 

And in the last fortnight, Jota had married long-term partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children.

They were heartbreakingly pictured with their two sons, Dinis and Duarte, and baby daughter, whose name is unknown, at the wedding.

Jota’s sudden death at the age of 28, along with brother and fellow footballer Andre in an horrific accident, is heartbreaking.

Because Jota was not only a highly gifted footballer, he was also one of the good guys.

An intelligent, thoughtful man, who spoke English better than some natives and who dedicated himself to his career and family. 

By helping Liverpool win the Premier League title last season, Jota completed the full set of domestic trophies after the Reds lifted the FA Cup and League Cup in 2021/22.

Although injury and competition for places restricted Jota’s contribution, he still scored key goals as Arne Slot’s side claimed a record-equalling 20th English championship.

Map showing location of fatal car crash in Spain involving Diogo Jota and his brother.

What turned out to be the last of his 65 strikes for the Reds was the only goal in the Merseyside derby at Anfield in February.

It was typical Jota. While Everton defenders hesitated, the small but strong Portuguese forward bustled on to the ball, beat two men and buried the ball in the net.

Jota had bumps in the road before reaching the top of the game with Liverpool and Portugal.

After making his debut for Pacos de Ferreira at the age of 17, he moved to Atletico Madrid at 19.

But he soon went on loan to Porto, where he did well enough to attract the attention of ambitious Wolves, who were then in the Championship.

In his first season in England, he scored 17 league goals to fire the club back into the Premier League as champions.

Jota was a popular member of the dressing room which featured a strong Portuguese contingent.

Illustration of Jota's career statistics, including games played and goals scored for various clubs and the national team, along with a list of honors won.
Diogo Jota of Liverpool lifts the Premier League trophy.
Shutterstock Editorial
Jota won the Premier League with Liverpool last season[/caption]
Diogo Jota holding the UEFA Nations League trophy and medal.
Jota also recently won the Uefa Nations League with Portugal
Getty
Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Jota at a Portugal training session.
PA
Team-mates and fans have been left devastated by the news[/caption]

He held his own in the top flight, but there was some surprise when Liverpool signed him in a deal worth up to £45m.

Yet in his five seasons at Anfield, he played an important role in the Reds’ potent front four as the club claimed English honours and went close to European glory.

Jota scored 21 times as Jurgen Klopp’s side hunted down a Quadruple in 2021/22, winning the domestic cups, taking the title race to the final day and losing the Champions League final to Real Madrid.

His total of 65 goals in 182 appearances does not tell the full story of his contribution on and off the field. After coming close more than once, it was special for Jota finally to lift the Premier League trophy in May.

Jota was not only a highly gifted footballer, he was also one of the good guys. An intelligent, thoughtful man, who spoke English better than some natives and who dedicated himself to his career and family.

For Portugal, Jota was part of a generation that delivered glory.

He was uncapped when selected in the squad for the Nations League final stages on home soil in 2019 and did not feature, making his debut later in the year.

Jota would go on to score 14 in 49 appearances for his country. His last was as an extra-time substitute in last month’s Nations League final against Spain, which Portugal won on penalties.

That triumph was part of what was surely the best year of Jota’s life.

For it to have ended, in such terrible circumstances, is incomprehensible.

Diogo Jota at his wedding reception.
fk.felippekatia
Jota final post before the accident that took his life[/caption]
Diogo Jota celebrating a goal.
Jota will also be fondly remembered at Wolves where he helped transform the club before joining Liverpool in 2020
Reuters

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‘He actually lifted a cheek and let it rip’ – Darts star James Wade in fresh fartgate storm

JAMES WADE’s gassy antics at the oche are still causing quite the stink.

The fan favourite was caught up in yet another fartgate storm during his Players Championship 17 clash with Peter Wright.

James Wade of England at the PDC World Darts Championship.
GETTY
James Wade was embroiled in a mid-match farting scandal last month[/caption]
Peter Wright walking backstage.
X@VIAPLAYNL
Wade let one rip in his Players Championship 17 clash with Peter Wright[/caption]
James Wade at a darts event.
X@VIAPLAYNL
Wade’s releasing of gas is still causing a stir among darts fans[/caption]

Wade let rip during his 6-5 win over Snakebite to reach the quarter-finals of last month’s tournament.

His expelling of gas went viral, so much so that it became the topic of a recent conversation between Dutch hockey stars Ellen Hoog and Naomi van As.

Hoog said in their latest Sportsnieuws.nl podcast: “This was such a strange one. Did you see it?

“I think Wade must’ve been a bit jittery, because right in the middle of the match, he let out an absolutely massive fart.”

“He actually lifted a cheek and let it rip.”

Van As struggled to stay composed as she said: “No, this wasn’t just your average fart – it was a full-on, rattling belter!”

Hoog replied: “Honestly, it was so loud – a proper ripper. I just had to rewind it to make sure I’d heard it right.”

Van As then said: “He was standing there with his back arched, bum out… what did he think was going to happen?”

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James Wade at the Winmau World Masters Darts.
Rex
James Wade was involved in another farting storm last September[/caption]

“You can’t get away with that!” Hoog stated. “Surely that’s not allowed? Wouldn’t your pants get a bit grim after that?”

“Probably,” Hoog replied. “But I doubt he cares. And his opponent — poor bloke — had to keep throwing darts in that stench!”

Wade found himself embroiled in a similar scandal last September when he seemingly let one rip during his Players Championship clash with Callan Rydz.

But the fan favourite insisted his SHOES, not his bowels, were to blame for the noise.

He said in a statement: “I feel I must address a situation following my run to the semi-finals of PC22 today.

“Footage has emerged of me doing what appears to be a “shart” at the end of one of my matches.

“It was actually the velcro on my new trainers.

“I now consider this matter put to bed as don’t wish to talk about it again.”

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Thai sapodilla ice cream scoops top prize at Gourmand Awards 2025

The Thai food industry once again proved its potential on the international stage, with a sapodilla ice cream winning a top prize at the Gourmand Awards 2025. The deputy spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office, Sasikan Wattanachan, announced today, July 3, that the Thai government would like to extend its congratulations to Watsarapong Radomsitthipat after …

The story Thai sapodilla ice cream scoops top prize at Gourmand Awards 2025 as seen on Thaiger News.

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Over P522 million drugs seized, 4,700 nabbed in Central Visayas

MANILA, Philippines — Over P522-million worth of illegal drugs were confiscated and 4,733 individuals were arrested for drug-related charges by authorities in Central Visayas from January to June this year. This was the result of 4,101 operations across the region, the Police Regional Office 7 (PRO 7) said in a statement on Thursday. According to

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I’m a gardening expert – here’s how to create dream outdoor space on a budget & there’s cheapest time to buy plants

AN expert gardener has revealed how even complete beginners can create their dream outdoor space by following three simple steps. 

Cillian McDonald, based in Dublin’s family-run Windyridge Nurseries, said more people are keen to try their hand at planting in the height of summer

Man standing in a plant nursery.
journalist collect
Cillian explained how to grow a garden on a budget or in a small space[/caption]
Assortment of potted plants and flowers in a garden center.
journalist collect
Feeding, watering and deadheading are the three top tips[/caption]

The landscape gardener shared insider tips on how to get the green thumb if you’re a newcomer to the hobby, if you’re on a tight budget, or if you only have a small outdoor space.  

Cillian told The Irish Sun: “I think the biggest mistake people make is they don’t understand their space, so if you just know I get lots of sun in that spot, I get lots of shade in that spot, it’s that simple. 

“But the problem is people arrive and they just grab colours they like, oh I like that, I like that, I like that. 

“So then there’s different areas, some things will only survive in a shady spot, some things love sun, if you know your space or even show someone on Google Maps, they’ll be able to say, ‘okay this is what you’re dealing with, this is your aspect’, and even again some people mix up their aspect and they think they’ve got a south facing garden but it’s small and it’s walled in, so you’re south facing but not full sun. 

“Just understanding your space is the biggest thing.”

Cillian advised those first taking up gardening to ask for advice in a local garden centre before buying. 

He explained: “For complete beginners, come to a garden centre, say this is what I’ve got, this is what I like, that’s the easiest way. 

“The most important thing is to know what your plants do and don’t like, it’s like asking a fish to go in a dog bed, it’s not going to work. 

“If you put a shade loving plant in a sunny spot, it’s dead. 

“A lot of people consider watering plants as far as the can goes, you need to drown plants, all plants.”

And he said the top three tips are “feed, water, and deadhead”. 

Cillian said: “If you do those three things, you’re away. 

“Cut all flowers to encourage new growth, water well, not just a little bit, you need to water deeply, especially in pots. 

“People have this idea, it’s getting loads of water from the rain, the leaf will block off 90 per cent of the water coming in there. 

“Water, feed, deadhead, if it’s feeding, it’s once every two weeks in the growing season, but you don’t need to feed once it’s below 12 degrees. 

SLOW AND STEADY

“Knowing your plants is the biggest one and knowing your compost, a lot of people just think throwing a load of multi purpose in, and a shrub doesn’t like multi purpose, it’s a vast area, but a lot people just say loads of bags of multi purpose, and it’s actually not fit for purpose. 

“Different soils do different things, it’s a vast vast area.”

Cillian advised any new gardeners not to overreach by buying more plants than they can look after. 

He said: “So any beginner, don’t take too much on. You want to go slowly and steadily.”

And he said there’s a common misconception that gardening is an expensive hobby. 

RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT TIME

In reality, a beautiful outdoor space can be created on a budget if gardeners buy the right plants at the right time.  

Cillian explained: “If you’re talking about budget, buy young, so say if you bought lots of plants earlier in the season they’d be a lot cheaper, so buying them in the height of the season they’re in their biggest size, they’re therefore the most expensive. 

“Buy early, buy young plants, they’ll establish better in your garden, they’ll be happier in the long term. 

“There are some plants that are worth investing in like trees, tree ferns, stuff that’s very slow to grow, it’s worth investing in them because they show almost instantly and take a very long time to establish. 

“But annuals, perennials, buy them young. 

Cillian's top tips

Expert plant grower Cillian said to focus on these five things:

  • Feeding the correct food
  • Watering well and regularly
  • Deadheading lifeless flowers
  • Knowing what your plants thrives in
  • Understanding your space
  • Right plant, right place

MONEY SAVER

“If you have a good pair of pruning shears, gloves and a trowel, there’s not much else you essentially need. 

“It’s like any hobby the more you get into it, but you don’t need to buy every tool in the tool shed, a good bypass secreteurs (pruning shears), a trowel, will get you where you need to go. 

“Thinking permanently will always save you money, I would always say that’s the thing, a lot of people do temporary solutions, in gardening you have to think long term, especially in small gardens, that’s the trick really.”

Another top tip is: “Think right plant, right place.

“You buy one plant and put it in the right place and it will go forever, you won’t need to do it again, that’s the real trick to saving money.” 

IMPORTANT RESEARCH

Cillian also explained how those with a balcony or small garden can make the best of their space. 

For those who live in cities or built up areas, thinking outside the box to find what works for your garden is key. 

Cillian said: “Do your research. 

“If you buy young plants that are going to grow into the right size, that’s the real cheat, understanding your garden and buying things to the right scale. 

“If you’ve got a small garden, buy dwarf. 

THRILLER, FILLER, SPILLER

“If you’re in an apartment you need to know that your plants are gong to dry out really really quickly because of wind, not because of sun, even if you’re in a shady spot, the wind will dry them out really quickly. 

“There’s a good rule actually, thriller, filler, spiller, if you’re doing your pots, so one thing is a thriller it’s called, a big kind of showy plant in the centre, a filler, something surrounding it, and a spiller, your ivy, coming out. 

“If you keep that in your head while planting your pots they will always at the very least look interesting. 

“And then water well, think right plant, right place, water well. 

“Small spaces, definitely understanding the scale of your plants when you put them in, you can get into design, mirrors are your friend for sure, hiding boundaries is always a really good idea, if you’ve got four walls and you don’t know where it ends and the plants fill the space, you don’t know that you’re in a small space. 

“Think vertically as well, get climbers, that’s another one in small spaces.” 

Cillian's favourite plant picks

The following plants will work for beginners, in a small space, or on a budget:

  • Mexican fleazebane
  • Facia guponica
  • Seedums
  • Nepeta
  • Heucheras
  • Campanula
Assortment of potted plants on wooden shelving.
JOURNALIST COLLECT
Thousands of people take up gardening in the height of summer[/caption]
Assortment of potted flowers in a garden center.
JOURNALIST COLLECT
Knowing your plants and knowing your garden space is essential[/caption]
Man in a Windridge Nurseries vest standing among plants.
JOURNALIST COLLECT
Cillian shared insider tips on how beginners can create the perfect garden[/caption]

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Pattaya targets Japan: Roadshow in Osaka aims to boost tourism

Pattaya is setting its sights on Japan as a prime tourist market. The city recently hosted the Pattaya Variety Roadshow to Japan 2025 in Osaka, aiming to boost its appeal and showcase its attractions to Japanese travellers. Led by Thitiphan Petchtrakul, Deputy Mayor of Pattaya, the event aimed to showcase the city’s tourism offerings and …

The story Pattaya targets Japan: Roadshow in Osaka aims to boost tourism as seen on Thaiger News.

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Dunnes Stores shoppers set for frenzy over new summer dress with ‘delicate embroidered’ detailing in two colours for €25

DUNNES Stores shoppers are set for a frenzy over a new summer dress – and it’s perfect for any event.

The retailer has been bringing out a range of summer essentials, making sure everyone is ready for the season.

Black eyelet maxi dress with flutter sleeves.
DUNNES STORES
The Embroidered Cotton Poplin Midi Dress is €25[/caption]
White eyelet maxi dress with tiered skirt.
DUNNES STORES
The stunning dress also comes in white[/caption]

The latest addition comes in the form of a beautiful summer dress, that is sure to sell out.

If you’re looking for a summer dress to take you from day to night, and is perfect for a range of events, look no further.

The Embroidered Cotton Poplin Midi Dress is set to be a major hit with fashion fans.

The dress is retailing for just €25, and is available in sizes 8 to 22.

Shoppers can get the dress in two colours – black or white.

The black option would suit any occasion, and could be paired with a number of styling options.

Or, pick up the white option for a pop of colour while on holiday.

The dress features a fitted waist with a flowing skirt, making it perfect to accentuate your figure.

The bottom of the skirt has a beautiful lace detailing to add another bit of style.

But the chest is the real eye-catching area, with an elegant plunging square neckline and a tie in the middle.

The short sleeves are perfect for the summer weather, with lace detailing above the shoulders.

The bottom of the sleeves are open, allowing for some breeze in the hot weather.

In the official item description on the Dunnes Stores website, fashion chiefs said: “Crafted from a lightweight cotton poplin, this midi-length dress features delicate embroidered trims with intricate perforated detailing.

“It is finished with a notch neckline complemented by self-tie accent.”

It is perfect to wear into the office if you have drinks planned after, or to a summer barbecue.

Or, pick it up in either colour to wear on your sun holiday.

It could also be an option for any brides-to-be getting married this summer, offering the perfect wedding dress on a budget.

The dress is available both online and in stores now, but is set to fly off the shelves quick – so shoppers should be fast.

THE HISTORY OF DUNNES STORES

DUNNES Stores opened its first store on Patrick Street in Cork in 1944 - and it was an instant hit.

Shoppers from all over the city rushed to the store to snap up quality clothing at pre-war prices in Ireland’s first ‘shopping frenzy’.

During the excitement, a window was forced in and the police had to be called to help control the crowds hoping to bag founder Ben Dunne’s ‘Better Value’ bargains.

Dunnes later opened more stores in the 1950s and began to sell groceries in 1960 – starting with apples and oranges.

The retailer said: “Fruit was expensive at the time and Ben Dunne yet again offered Better Value than anyone else in town.

“Over time, our food selection has grown and that spirit of good value has remained strong.

“Now we offer a wide range of carefully-sourced foods from both local Irish suppliers and overseas.”

The retailer’s first Dublin store opened its doors in 1957 on Henry Street and a super store on South Great Georges Street was unveiled in 1960.

They added: “In 1971, our first Northern Irish store opened, and many others soon followed.

“Expansion continued in the 1980s in Spain, and later into Scotland and England.”

Dunnes now has 142 stores and employs 15,000 people.

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Woman rushed to hospital after being shot at home as cops launch urgent hunt for gunman

A WOMAN was rushed to hospital today after being shot at home in the early hours.

Cops raced to the scene in Dudley, West Midlands early this morning when reports of two shots came in.

Road closed due to police investigation.
Alamy
Police are investigating a chilling shooting in the West Midlands[/caption]
Police officers investigating a shooting at a house.
Alamy
The shooter is still missing[/caption]
Forensic officer investigating a shooting at a home.
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Police are appealing to neighbours and friends for information[/caption]

The incident occurred in Dudley, West Midlands, on July 3.

A spokesperson West Midlands Police said: “An investigation has been launched after a woman was shot at an address in Dudley.

“We were called to reports of a firearms discharge at an address in Priory Road, Dudley, just after midnight today.

“Two shots were fired at an address, and a woman was hit by one of the shots.

“She was taken to hospital with serious injuries, where she remains.”

The road has been closed by police who will be remaining in the area.

Reassurance patrols will also be deployed in a bid to make residents feel at ease.

Now, cops are appealing to anyone with information about the incident.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Anyone who witnessed the incident, or may have dash cam or doorbell footage, is asked to get in touch with us via 101, quoting log 66 of 3 July.”

They added that Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

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I’d heard brilliant things about Too Good to Go so spent £4.40 on an Asda bag – it was an epic fail, I can’t eat it all

IT’S the food recycling scheme that aims to reduce waste.

And loads of people have had epic wins on their Too Good to Go bags, nabbing hundreds of pounds’ worth of goodies for a fraction of their original price.

Woman holding a large grocery bag of produce.
Florence thought her luck was in when she picked up two bags packed with bits
tiktok/@florence.anja
Woman holding two heads of lettuce in a kitchen.
But then she opened them up, and found they were stuffed to the brim with salad
tiktok/@florence.anja
Woman covering her mouth with her hand, eyes closed.
She couldn’t believe how unlucky she’d been with her £4.40 purchase
tiktok/@florence.anja
Woman overwhelmed by large amount of lettuce from a grocery bag.
And admitted she had no idea how she was going to eat it all
tiktok/@florence.anja

So Florence decided to take a gamble and get one from her local town – although the only options were from Greggs or Asda.

As the Greggs ones were sold out, she went for Asda, and thought it was her lucky day when she was given two massive bags, each of which was packed full to the brim.

“I got two bags for life full of food for £4.40 and I was like, ‘Yeah it’s gonna be amazing. It’s gonna be fabulous!'” Florence said.

However, when she got home, she soon realised that she’d made a mistake.

“It’s ALL salad,” Florence sighed.

She then unpacked the bags in a video on her TikTok page, as she pulled out iceberg lettuce after iceberg lettuce.

There were also some boxes and bags of prepped salads, which Florence joked “made a change”.

While she hoped that the second bag had something other than salad in it, she quickly discovered it did not.

“It’s more salad!” she exclaimed.

Florence concluded her video by sharing a look at her kitchen – which ended up being “just lettuce”.

“I’m actually gonna cry,” she despaired.

She captioned her video by tagging Too Good to Go and adding: “What is this!?”

People in the comments section were quick to advise Florence to complain about the bags, with one writing: “Too Good to Go is supposed to prevent food waste – they can’t possibly imagine you could use all that salad.

“Taking the p**s and making a mockery of the scheme.”

“A lot of that looked vile too, like proper rotten,” another added.

“It’s supposed to be ‘too good to go’, not ‘good riddance’!”

Hacks for Keeping Food Fresh in Your Fridge

IF you want your food to stay fresh, you'll need to try out this useful hacks...

  1. Herbs in Water: Store fresh herbs like parsley and coriander in a glass of water, then cover with a plastic bag to keep them fresh for weeks.
  2. Wrap Greens in Paper Towels: Wrap leafy greens in paper towels before placing them in a plastic bag. The towels absorb excess moisture, preventing wilting.
  3. Use Mason Jars: Store salads, chopped vegetables, and even leftovers in mason jars. They are airtight and keep food fresher for longer.
  4. Revive Stale Bread: Sprinkle a bit of water on stale bread and pop it in the oven for a few minutes to make it fresh again.
  5. Baking Soda for Odours: Place an open box of baking soda in your fridge to absorb odours and keep food tasting fresh.
  6. Freeze Herbs in Olive Oil: Chop herbs and freeze them in olive oil using an ice cube tray. This preserves their flavour and makes them easy to use.
  7. Keep Cheese Fresh: Wrap cheese in wax paper instead of plastic wrap. Wax paper allows the cheese to breathe, preventing it from becoming slimy.
  8. Store Avocados with Onions: Place a cut avocado in an airtight container with a slice of onion. The sulphur compounds in the onion slow down oxidation, keeping the avocado fresh.
  9. Use Vinegar Wash for Berries: Rinse berries in a mixture of water and vinegar (one cup of vinegar to three cups of water) before storing. This kills bacteria and mould spores, extending their shelf life.
  10. Egg Freshness Test: To check if eggs are still fresh, place them in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs will sink, while old ones will float.

Implement these clever hacks to maximise the freshness of your food and make the most of your groceries.

“Completely defeats the point of TGTG, as now 90% of that will go to waste,” a third said.

“Companies shouldn’t use it a glorified waste collection.”

“And you can’t even freeze any of it!” someone else pointed out.

“Cheaper for them to let you dispose of it,” another added.

“And they make a quick pound as well while showing the general public how ‘eco friendly’ they are by preventing food waste,” someone else said

“I live in London and bought a Tesco Too Good to Go bag just after Christmas and it was literally just 5 bags of brussel sprouts and a load of mashed potato – all with an expiration date of TOMORROW,” another sighed.

“I think its just become a way for grocery stores to offload their produce that’s going off on to the customer.”

“I tried Too Good to Go from some bakeries and couple of times hoping for some sweet buns or cakes and ended up with 12 slightly stale bread rolls and a mini baguette,” someone else wrote.

“Never again!”

However, another commented: “It’s not that hard to understand.

“It’s left overs; food before it becomes food waste. You get what you get; if you’re not prepared for that don’t use Too Good to Go.”

“They’re meant to give you a variety of stuff, 2 bags of leafs is a joke,” Florence hit back.

A table laden with bagged salad and lettuce.
Her kitchen table was covered in iceberg lettuce by the end of the TikTok
tiktok/@florence.anja
Pile of pre-packaged salad mixes on a tiled floor.
While there were tonnes of bags and boxes of salad on the floor
tiktok/@florence.anja

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Phetchabun temple dismantles building after decade-long dispute

The committee behind a prominent temple in Phetchabun has dismantled a religious building after a decade-long dispute. The founder of the building offered a different perspective, stating the centre was established today, July 3. A Facebook user posted a video showing an excavator demolishing structures at the religious centre within a temple in Na Chaliang …

The story Phetchabun temple dismantles building after decade-long dispute as seen on Thaiger News.

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