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Picture this: a sunny day off the dazzling coast of Koh Samui is brought to a sudden, dramatic halt as hopes of a leisurely voyage turn into a heart-thumping rescue mission. In an incident that sounds straight from an action-packed movie but, thankfully, with a feel-good ending, a Spanish family of four found themselves caught in the middle of a nautical nightmare when their tourist boat capsize. It was just a regular Thursday, as the clock ticked toward 11:30 am on July 1st, when the caper began. A long-tailed boat, charmingly christened the Phet Daorung 7, embarked on an adventure with four eager tourists and an experienced Thai boat driver steering the ship. Little did they know, the vast azure sea had a surprise in store for them. The passengers, an energetic Spanish family accompanied by 45-year-old Ursula Diaz Perez, 42-year-old Pandit Garcia Hurtado, 14-year-old Naomi Karak Diaz, and 11-year-old…

In a gripping tale reminiscent of a caper movie, yet underscored by the harsh realities of life, ten Thai construction workers found themselves in a precarious situation today at the Thai-Cambodian border. Their saga began with promises of prosperity in Cambodia, but quickly unraveled into a grueling ordeal reminiscent of a Hollywood plot twist. It all started innocently enough—lured by enticing offers on social media, our unsuspecting heroes boarded their metaphorical wagons, chasing dreams of a hefty daily wage of 300 baht, about 9 U.S. dollars, thanks to a slick Facebook recruiter. These were no ordinary wanderers; these were industrious souls ready to brave the unknown for a shot at a better life in Phnom Penh. But alas, reality soon eclipsed their aspirations. After toiling without recompense for a month, their enigmatic employer pulled a vanishing act worthy of a magician, leaving them stranded in the border town of Poipet.…

In a stirring tale of compassion and resilience, four Rottweilers found themselves at the heart of a rescue operation after being abandoned in the thriving jungles of Chiang Mai province, a picturesque region in Thailand. These majestic dogs, who were seemingly forsaken by their former owners, were discovered by innocent villagers seeking forest-borne sustenance in Mae Kam Pong Village—a spot renowned for its idyllic stares and serene atmosphere. The plight of these dogs, particularly heart-wrenching, didn’t go unnoticed. The pounding rains had left them drenched, their ribs showing signs of hunger as they lay beneath a canopy of trees, adding a somber note to the otherwise vibrant forest. The heart of this humanitarian effort was none other than Odd, the wise abbot of the Chedi Luang Temple, a man whose compassion matched his commitment to his spiritual duties. After receiving the villagers’ fervent pleas, Odd knew exactly where to turn…

In an electrifying twist at Thailand’s illustrious Weed Boxing Championship, Russian MMA combatant Ivan Parshikov not only scored an unforgettable victory but also managed to light up the crowd in an unexpected way. Known for its unique rule allowing fighters to indulge in some pre-bout cannabis relaxation, the championship witnessed a truly hair-raising incident when Parshikov, a past contender in the revered ONE Lumpinee, decided to celebrate his triumph in a way nobody saw coming. After defeating his opponent under the vibrant lights of the Thai ring, Parshikov ascended the ropes, waving triumphantly to an enthusiastic audience. Intent on savoring the moment, he reached for a nearby spotlight as if seeking to draw its power into his victory dance. But instead of basking in the warm glow of victory, Parshikov was met with a startling jolt, leaving him frozen for a brief, surreal second. The videographer capturing this moment hit…

A travel agency in the northern province of Chiang Mai caused panic in the local community with a bizarre advertising tactic: posters featuring the love scandal of James and Olivia along with a QR code. A Thai man, Wirawat Buranarom, spotted several paper posters with QR codes attached to streetlights and electricity poles in central …

The story Chiang Mai locals fear scam as love scandal posters pop up across province as seen on Thaiger News.

DITCH the classic European escapes for these lesser-known gems – that’s the advice from experienced Wizz Air flight attendant, Niko.

She’s not a regular cabin crew, though as Niko has been with the airline since the very first flight in 2004.

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Niko (right) has been flying with Wizz Air for over 20 years[/caption]

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One of her recommendations for Eastern Europe is Albania[/caption]

Niko told Sun Travel: “Tirana, the capital of Albania, is an overlooked destination.

“The beaches are beautiful – it’s even been called the European Maldives. You can hire paddleboards and go into secret sea caves on the clear water.

“The food is great too, and the price of accommodation is very low.”

Albania is extremely cheap for Brits, with coffees costing around 167Lek (£1.47).

Pints of local beer around 250 Lek (£2.11) and small imported beer bottles costing 350 Lek (£3.07).

As for where to stay, you can find a room at a 4-star hotel for an average of £76 per night.

But for anyone on a budget, we found stays for as little as £7.20 per night on Booking.com.

Another affordable activity in Albania is heading to the spa.

The highly rated Ritual Spa in the capital has 60-minute massage services for as little as 4000 lek (around £35).

The average price in the UK is between £55 to £90.

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Niko first flew with Wizz Air on the very first flight in 2004[/caption]

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Albania is home to white sandy beaches with clear blue waters[/caption]

Now, for the beaches, there are plenty near Tirana, from Spille to Durrës and Lalez Beach.

But if you want the Maldives experience, you’ll have to head further south.

This seaside village of Ksamil is where you’ll find crystal-clear turquoise waters and white sandy beaches.

Travellers on Tripadvisor have advised that you’ll likely need to hire out sunbeds on the beach, but this is relatively cheap.

One reported going to the Orange Beach Club where they paid €10 (£8.60) for two sunbeds and access to the infinity pool.

Ksamil is four hours from the capital of Albania and can be reached by bus or taxi.

Check out more tips about Albania from locals who live there – including 40p dishes.

With Wizz Air, you can fly from London Luton to Tirana from £19.99 in August.

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Sibiu in Transylvania is another must-see city[/caption]

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One popular spot is The Bridge of Lies[/caption]

Another top Eastern European destination Niko recommends visiting is Sibiu in Transylvania.

The city is landlocked so there are no beaches nearby, but there is still plenty to see.

Niko added: “I’ve been to Sibiu in Romania several times already.

“You have the mountains, so there’s lots of nature, the food is amazing, everything is cheap and the people are so friendly.

“And you should try Papanasi. It’s a Romanian dessert that’s like a doughnut. It tastes amazing, but not good if you’re on a diet.”

A Papanasi is a fried or boiled cheese doughnut, typically served with sour cream and jam. It’s soft on the inside and crispy on the outside – and you can pick one up for around £4 in Romania.

Everything is cheap and the people are so friendly

According to Wise, the cost of a three course meal for two in Sibiu costs an average of 175lei (£30).

Beer can cost as little as 5lei, which translates to just 85p. And the price of an average Cappuccino is 12lei (£2).

The city is known for its charming and colourful old town and there are still lots of medieval walls and towers to have a look at.

While in Sibiu, take a look at The Bridge of Lies which has lots of legends and myths behind it – and when lit up at night, can make for a great picture spot too.

According to Tripadvisor, another must-see spot in Sibiu is Muzeul Astra, the largest open air museum in Europe.

The Big Square, which is historic and filled with market stalls, cafes, restaurants and shops.

Flights from Birmingham to Sibiu with Wizz Air start from £35.99.

Niko really knows her stuff on where to visit, as she’s been flying with Wizz Air from the very beginning – including its very first flight in 2004.

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At the time, Wizz Air had just one aircraft which had no luggage compartments, just shelves, and there wasn’t a built-in oxygen system either.

Thanks to her 26-year-long cabin crew career, there aren’t many places Niko hasn’t been yet, but there is one on her list – Tromso.

The city in Norway is dubbed the Arctic Circle capital.

Niko added: “I want to go to Tromso to see the Northern Lights. I’ve never seen them, even flying as cabin crew – that’s next on my list.”

One Travel Writer visited Tromso where they went on a boat trip and even spotted wild orcas.

You can fly from London Luton to Tromso from £49.99 with flights starting in October 2025.

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Albania has some beautiful beaches and has even been called the ‘European Maldives’[/caption]

Court of Appeals (CA) junks the petition of Cassandra Ong due to lack of merit. Businesswoman Cassandra Ong submitted a petition challenging the qualified human trafficking charges filed, but it was junked by the Court of Appeals (CA). Filipino-Chinese businesswoman Cassandra Ong was arrested for charges of qualified trafficking with over 50 others. It is non-bailable, but ... Read more

The post Cassandra Ong Petition Challenging Human Trafficking Raps Junked By CA appeared first on PhilNews.

LOTS of fan favourite BBC shows are facing schedule shake-ups over the next few weeks as Wimbledon continues to dominate the Beeb.

The BBC’s coverage of the famous tennis tournament kicked off on Monday (June 30) and will end on July 13.

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Wimbledon has caused lots of your favourite daytime shows to be taken off air[/caption]

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Popular series Escape To The Country is one of the shows affected[/caption]

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Pointless has also been taken off air while Wimbledon is on[/caption]

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EastEnders is now off air for eight days after being rocked by schedule chaos[/caption]

Every year, as Wimbledon is aired on the BBC, regular shows find themselves either bumped or subject to a schedule change.

If you are wondering how this affects some of your daytime shows, it’s been revealed that BBC One shows Escape to the Country, Garden Rescue, Bridge of Lies, and Pointless have been taken off air while the competition continues.

Over on BBC Two, The Edge, Lightning, Unbeatable, and Murder, Mystery and My Family have been also cancelled.

Weatherman Walking, Hidden Treasures of the National Trust, Flog It, Richard Osman’s House of Games and Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes, have all also be pulled to make way for Wimbledon.

All of the above BBC shows will return on Monday, July 14, once the tennis tournament has concluded.

The One Show, which typically airs at 7pm on weeknights, is also off air to coincide with Wimbledon and the show’s summer break.

The popular evening show has been off air since June 30, and is expected to return on July 28.

Revealing the news, host Alex Jones said: “We are taking a bit of a break for the next four weeks.

“We’ll be back on Monday, July 28th, but there’s plenty to enjoy like Wimbledon and the Euros.”

EASTENDERS SCHEDULE

The Sun previously revealed how EastEnders is being majorly affected during Wimbledon.

This week, the long running soap was switched from its regular BBC One slot onto sister channel, BBC Two.

Despite usually airing Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on the main BBC channel, fans instead were given two episodes on Monday and Tuesday.

Following yesterday’s double-bill (July 1), fans will now have to go a whole eight days before getting their next fix of Albert Square action.

EastEnders won’t air again until July 9.

IRISH car owners of a popular motor brand have been warned to “stop driving their vehicle” – as a major recall has been issued.

Citroen C3 and DS 3 cars have been issued a recall notice.

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Citroën has issued a recall notice of its C3 and DS 3 models[/caption]

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Both models have safety issues surrounding their air bags[/caption]

The Road Safety Authority shared the warning on X after Gowan Distributors Limited, which imports Citroen and DS vehicles, issued an urgent stop-drive recall.

The recall affects certain Citroen C3, C-Zero and DS 3 models as their Takata airbags could burst with excessive force if they deploy in a crash.

The RSA said: “Important notice for owners of a Citroen C3 and DS 3.

“Citroen/DS Ireland have asked vehicle owners of certain Citroen C3 and DS 3 models to stop driving their vehicle until the airbags have been replaced by a dealership.”

Safety bosses explained that chemicals inside these airbags can deteriorate over time, especially when the cars are exposed to warm and humid conditions.

This deterioration could make the inflator explode more violently than intended, leading to pieces of metal striking the driver or passengers.

The RSA said this fault can cause serious or even fatal injuries if the airbag goes off during an accident.

They said: “Takata airbags may deteriorate over time, particularly in warm, humid climates.

“This could cause the airbag to burst with too much force in the event of an accident, which could lead to serious or even fatal injuries in the worst-case scenario.”

Citroen Ireland confirmed that all 1,162 Citroen vehicles produced between 2008 and 2017 are impacted by this recall.

DS Ireland also said there are 707 DS 3 cars affected, which were built between 2016 and 2019.

Both companies have requested that all owners stop driving these vehicles immediately and arrange for the airbags to be replaced by an authorised dealership.

The recall applies only to specific models and years, so drivers should check carefully using their Vehicle Identification Number.

Anyone who has already replaced their airbags in the past should still confirm that their car is safe to drive as the RSA said it should not be ignored under any circumstances.

Safety bosses have warned that even if a car seems to be working fine, the airbags could fail unpredictably if there is an impact.

Citroen and DS owners are now advising motorists not to drive the vehicles to the dealership themselves, but instead to contact their dealer to discuss safe transport arrangements.

Anyone who thinks their car might be included in the recall can phone DS Automobiles Ireland on 01 409 2400 for help and instructions.

Gowan Distributors will also be sending letters directly to owners with details on how to book a free repair appointment.

The RSA added: “Gowan Distributors Limited (DS Automobiles Ireland) will be writing directly to those consumers affected by this recall.

“If you believe your vehicle may be affected by this recall, you can contact DS Automobiles Ireland on 01 409 2400.”

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An urgent recall alert has been issued to Irish drivers[/caption]

The Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) is expressing concern over a decline in student enrolment across Thailand, which may exacerbate the challenges faced by small schools under the current per-head funding system. Efforts are also underway to tackle the long-standing problem of excessive teacher workloads. A strategic proposal aimed at alleviating these burdens …

The story Thailand faces student enrolment drop, small schools struggle as seen on Thaiger News.