free webpage hit counter

Blogs

Brit tennis star who is earning pennies at Wimbledon ‘has to find £70,000 of expenses’ as he says ‘tennis is expensive’

ACE student Oliver Tarvet is swotting up for the biggest exam of his life – and aiming to bring down Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.

But even if Tarvet topples the king of SW19 tomorrow, he will pocket barely any of the £152,000 on offer.

Oliver Tarvet of Great Britain celebrates a match point at Wimbledon.
Getty
Oliver Tarvet booked his place in the second round of Wimbledon[/caption]

British No33 Tarvet – at 733, the lowest-ranked player in the singles field – earned his shot at glory as he destroyed Swiss Leandro Riedi, barely giving his opponent a sniff of a chance as he cantered to a straight-sets win.

Tarvet, still a student amateur at the University of San Diego, had to wait nearly five hours for Alcaraz to finally get past veteran Fabio Fognini to set up the showdown.

It gave him plenty of time to fill in the “journal” he carried on to Court 4 to keep his mind focused under the blazing sunshine.

And yet 21-year-old Tarvet will not be coining it in at SW19.

Anyone reaching the second round is guaranteed £99,000 but his amateur status – plus American college rules – means he will get only a sliver of the prize money on offer.

Yet Tarvet, who has never before played in front of more than a few hundred spectators, can look forward to walking out in front of nearly 15,000 fans on Centre Court.

The St Albans-born Tarvet admitted: “As a kid, it’s what you dream of and work for. But for it to happen so suddenly is really special. For me, though, nothing has really changed.

“I’m quietly confident that I can win against anyone and Alcaraz is no exception to that.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

“Obviously, he’s done an incredible amount in the tennis world. He’s a difficult guy not to respect.

“But I’ve got to just go out there and treat it like another match, play the ball, not the player, even if it is going to be pretty special.”

For a student playing his first Grand Slam – having come through three tough rounds of qualifying last week – Tarvet was pretty special as he won 6-4 6-4 6-4 without facing a break point.

He embraced his team, family and friends in a huge courtside huddle after Riedi hit his backhand long on match point – a huge smile across his face.

Riedi, who got into a row with German umpire Miriam Bley after suggesting she allowed the Brit to take too long between points – and then apologised – admitted he simply had no chance.

He said: “Oliver was a wall, a huge wall, who moved unbelievably.

“I thought that he might get nervous at some point and give me a chance but he just didn’t miss at all.

“He looked like a top-50 player out there and if he can play like that against Alcaraz, it will be tough to beat him.”

That would have seemed an unlikely prediction before Alcaraz took more than four-and-a-half hours to finally see off Fognini 7-5 6-7 7-5 2-6 6-1, the five-time Major winner at times looking almost lost for inspiration.

Wimbledon 2025 LIVE – follow all the latest scores and updates from a thrilling fortnight at SW19

Alcaraz rushed to the support of a spectator who keeled over, leading to a 15-minute delay in the final set.

And the Spaniard conceded: “The heat was brutal, really difficult to deal with. I felt really nervous to start with – because Wimbledon is just different to any other tournament.

“I need to improve a lot but I know how to deal with tough situations. Champions always find a way to win.”

Quizzed over his next opponent, Alcaraz admitted: “I hadn’t even heard his name until he qualified.

“But I watched a bit of his match before I went on court and he played some great tennis.

“I cannot think I’m going to win easily because if I don’t play my best, I can lose. If he is in the second round he deserves to be here, whatever his ranking.”

Tarvet’s student status in the US means he cannot earn more than £7,300 in prize money in a calendar year, although he is allowed to discount “expenses” and to have sponsorship deals – he wore a TK Maxx patch against Riedi.

On the SW19 prize money, he added: “I’ve got to find £60,000 or £70,000 of expenses. Tennis is an expensive sport.

“So, maybe I just pay my coaches a little bit extra or fly them business class. But I need to keep humble and make that happen.”

Illustration of Wimbledon singles prize money for 2024 and 2025.

Instead, he will have a priceless adventure against Alcaraz, boosted by his highly personal mental preparation.

Tarvet explained: “My journal is a big thing for me.

“You could see on the court that I have a little notepad and write things that allow me to focus on what makes me good and gives me success.

“Something that gives me comfort is focusing on those things.

“Those little triggers that keep me in the right headspace. That’s given me a lot of success.

“Before or after practice, if there’s a feeling, a thought I like, I write it down so I have it on paper and then can use it.

“When you’re playing, especially in front of crowds, it’s important not to let the moment get too big or lose your focus. It just keeps me grounded.”

Yet if he sends Alcaraz tumbling, you suspect even the journal will make it tough for Tarvet to keep grounded.

Tennis player signing autograph for a young fan.
PA
Tarvet signed autographs for his new fans at the end[/caption]
Oliver Tarvet taking a selfie with a spectator after a Wimbledon match.
PA
The college student cannot claim the prize money[/caption]

Read More »

Terrifying moment naked man ATTACKS driver at roundabout & attempts to get in car his with kids inside in broad daylight

THIS is the shocking moment a naked man attacked a driver and attempted to get in his car with a child inside.

He climbed in the driver’s side of the vehicle at a roundabout before being hauled out and pinned to the ground by brave passersby.

A naked man attacking a car at a roundabout.
Not known, clear with picture desk
Footage showed a naked man attacking the driver of an orange car, kicking him in the torso on Sunday afternoon[/caption]
A naked man attacking a car with children inside.
Not known, clear with picture desk
He was approaching cars on a roundabout in Middleton[/caption]
A naked man attacking a driver near a car with children inside.
Not known, clear with picture desk
Brave passersby tackled the man to the ground after the motorist shouted that there was a kid in the car[/caption]

Witnesses claimed the nude man was “going for any car or person near him” in Middleton, Greater Manchester.

Footage showed him attacking the driver of an orange car, kicking him in the torso on Sunday afternoon.

He appeared to throw a punch as the dad tried to get him to go away.

The nude man lunged at the motorist as he desperately tried to get in his car, pulling him out as his dog leaped out with him.

He then climbed in the driver’s side, before being dragged out.

Shocked people watching from the nearby Aldi ran to help when they realised there was a child in the back on the vehicle.

Shouts of “get the kids out of the car” were heard in the footage.

A woman posted on Facebook to thank the “amazing men who helped from the pub” nearby.

She said her dad and her 11-year-old daughter were in the car.

Cops were called to reports that a naked man was approaching vehicles at random near the Middleton Archer pub that afternoon.

Greater Manchester Police said: “Officers arrested a man in Middleton town centre on suspicion of assault and criminal damage.

“He remains in police custody.”

A naked man attacking a driver's car.
Not known, clear with picture desk
The nude man clambered in the front seat and the driver tried to pull him out[/caption]
A naked man attacking a driver at a roundabout.
Not known, clear with picture desk
A group of men walking past jumped in to help[/caption]

Read More »

Man charged with assault causing death after field confrontation

A 48 year old man reportedly killed a younger man during a confrontation in a field in Non Suwan district on June 30. Police Colonel Kanasnan Suwansap, Police Lieutenant Suthon Krachangjit, investigators, a forensic doctor, and rescue services examined the scene in Bsan Khok Krabueang, Mueang Non Suwan district, after residents reported an assault. They …

The story Man charged with assault causing death after field confrontation as seen on Thaiger News.

Read More »

Las Pinas court orders archiving of murder case vs. ex-BuCor chief

MANILA, Philippines – The Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court has ordered the archiving of the murder case against former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director Gerald Bantag for the death of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa until the authorities find him. “Judge Cesar Huliganga ruled that proceedings against former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Quitaleg

Read More »

Horror moment hundreds storm Turkish magazine wrongly believing it printed forbidden image of Prophet as staff arrested

THIS is the horrifying moment angry protestors storm a Turkish magazine accused of publishing a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

LeMan is facing heated demonstrations over claims it published a forbidden picture of the sacred Islamic figure – as four employees at the satirical magazine are arrested.

Protesters clashing with riot police in Istanbul.
AFP
Angry protesters clash with riot police in Istanbul after accusing a magazine of publishing a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad[/caption]
Islamist protesters clashing with Turkish riot police in Istanbul.
AFP
Up to 300 people lined the streets outside the LeMan offices in protest[/caption]
Protesters clashing with riot police in Istanbul.
AFP
Cops had to fire rubber bullets and use tear gas to break up the angry mob[/caption]

Another four – including the editor-in-chief – were also hit by arrest warrants by Turkish prosecutors.

Turkey’s interior minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the warrants and condemned LeMan’s drawing as “shameless“.

LeMan have denied the cartoon was a caricature of Muhammad as they said on X: “The work does not refer to the Prophet Muhammad in any way.”

But their social media defence did little to calm down up to 300 hundred raging Muslims who took to the streets of Istanbul to protest the magazine.

Fierce demonstrations kicked off outside the LeMan headquarters with riot police being deployed to stop the growing crowd.

Protesters could be heard chanting “tooth for tooth, blood for blood, revenge, revenge” at one point.

As the issues continued on into the evening, cops were forced to use rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds, witnesses claimed.

LeMan’s editor-in-chief Tuncay Akgun said the work had been misinterpreted and the magazine would “never take such a risk”.

Investigations were opened up against the magazine around the June 26, 2025 issue.

The controversial image showed a black-and-white image with two characters hovering in the skies over a city under bombardment from air strikes.

The two men both said their names – Muhammad and Moses – in the cartoon via speech bubbles.

Both names are synonyms with religion with Muhammad being sacred among Muslims and Moses being the most important prophet in Judaism as well as being involved in Christianity and Islam.

A post from LeMan justified the cartoon as they claimed: “The cartoonist wanted to portray the righteousness of the oppressed Muslim people by depicting a Muslim killed by Israel.

“He never intended to belittle religious values.”

Istanbul governor Davut Gul lashed out the cartoonist’s reasoning.

He said “this mentality seeks to provoke society by attacking our sacred values”.

Gul added: “We will not remain silent in the face of any vile act targeting our nation’s faith.”

Founded in 1991, LeMan has long lived on the edge through many of their drawings.

Turkish police officers standing behind a metal fence.
EPA
Turkish police secure the street in front of the headquarters of LeMan Magazine[/caption]
Islamist protesters in Istanbul protesting against a satirical magazine.
AFP
Protesters could be heard chanting ‘tooth for tooth, blood for blood, revenge, revenge’ at one point[/caption]

And Akgun now fears the level of backlash his magazine is experiencing draws worrying “similarities with Charlie Hebdo”.

In 2015, a disturbing attack on a French satirical magazine left 12 people dead after gunmen stormed the publishers after they released a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad.

The heinous attack was carried out by al-Qaeda terrorists who caused three days of carnage in Paris after going on the run.

Many Muslims view any depiction of Muhammad as sacrilege including pictures, cartoons and artist’s interpretations.

They are prohibited due to believers fearing it may encourage the worship of idols.

Others also say any attempt to picture prophets – including Allah – can’t be true and accurate depictions so will therefore be insulting.

There is no specific ban in the Koran on images of the Prophet however.

Two major events have sparked fury among religious believers in recent years – including the Charlie Hebdo attack.

The second saw Swedish artist Lars Vilks draw a sketch of the Prophet Mohammad on a dog’s body in 2007.

This act prompted years of death threats as Vilks was forced to go into police protection for over a decade following two assassination attempts.

In 2021, he was found dead after a mystery car crash.

The Charlie Hebdo terror attack

OVER a decade ago, al-Qaeda terrorists stormed the satirical French newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris and killed 12 people in an act of vengeance.

Brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi, 32 and 34, brutally ambushed the paper’s offices in retaliation for a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad being printed.

On January 7, 2015, the Kouachi brothers shot and killed the caretaker, Frederic Boisseau, before forcing cartoonist Corinne Rey to open the second-floor office where the editorial meeting was happening.

The terrorist brothers stormed the meeting room, killing police officer Franck Brinsolaro, editor Stephane Charbonnier, and cartoonists Jean Cabut, Georges Wolinski, Bernard Verlhac, and Philippe Honore.

Economist and writer Bernard Maris, psychiatrist Elsa Cayat, copy editor Mustapha Ourrad and visitor Michel Renaud were also killed in the heinous attack.

Five minutes after the attacks, the evil Kouachi brothers came onto the street and got into their car to flee the scene.

They attempted to drive north but got into a shootout with a police vehicle where one brave cop, Ahmed Merabet, got wounded before one of the brothers shot him in the head.

The two fled to a printworks in the capital before an eight-hour standoff with cops took place.

In the early evening, smoke was seen rising from the building as a result of explosions and gunfire.

The Kouachi brothers then emerged from the building, firing at police.

The terrorists were killed in the shoot out, while two cops were left injured.

Armed officers surrounding a car on a city street.
Reuters
Gunmen flee the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris in 2015 after an attack on the cartoon[/caption] Map detailing the events of the January 2015 attacks in Paris.

Read More »

John Lewis has slashed the price of Le Creuset by 40% in summer sale including popular casserole pot and oven dishes

JOHN Lewis has slashed the price of Le Creuset in a huge summer sale that offers shoppers up to 40 per cent off the kitchenware.

John Lewis slash prices in summer sale

The popular retailer has commenced its summer sale with top brands being heavily discounted.

Set of two Le Creuset stoneware square oven dishes.
Shoppers can save up to 40 per cent on Le Creuset
John Lewis
Le Creuset stoneware square oven dish set of two.
The popular oven dish set is now on sale for under £40
John Lewis

The sale has seen John Lewis slash the prices of several beloved Le Creuset products.

Shoppers to save 40% on popular dish set

Among the products on offer, is its popular stoneware oven dish, which has seen a whopping 40 per cent knocked off the original price.

The iconic dish is available for just £37.80 in a range of colours, including Le Creuset’s cult orange shade.

With the retail price normally being an eye-watering £63 for a set of two dishes, shoppers can make a huge saving on the cookware.

The product description reads: “Part of Le Creuset’s enduringly popular stoneware range, this pair of square oven dishes nest together to save storage space.

“Try them for pasta bakes, roasted vegetables, gratin and pies and for oven-to-table serving of a main and side presented in matching colours.”

The description also highlighted that the dishes are durable, easy to clean, and oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher friendly.

The product has also received glowing reviews from happy customers.

One wrote: “Aesthetically pleasing, lightweight and most importantly, durable, which essentially ticks off everything you could look for in an oven dish.

“These dishes are fantastic.”

Big-name brands featured in the John Lewis sale

Another Le Creuset item that is up for grabs is their staple Casserole Soup Pot.

The beloved pot is currently reduced to £129 from £215 and available in three of the brand’s iconic colours.

Described as “a great way to start your Le Creuset collection” now is an amazing time to get your hands on this kitchen staple.

Other big names in the John Lewis sale include Nespresso, LSA and Joseph Joseph.

This isn’t the first time John Lewis has heavily discounted Le Creuset kitchen staples.

Its boxing day sale saw shoppers save up to £100 on an array of iconic products.

These sales offer a great opportunity for keen cooks to snap up quality products without the hefty price tag.

Argos has also recently launched its summer sale – offering huge discounts across thousands of products.

The retail giant’s summer deals feature savings of up to 50 per cent and has brought welcome discounts during the peak barbecue and outdoor entertaining season.

Don't miss out...

Visit The Sun’s Deals and Sales hub to discover more savings and discounts.

For more discounts and recommendations from The Sun Shopping team, sign up to our newsletter and join the WhatsApp group.

Set of two teal Le Creuset stoneware square oven dishes.
Le Creuset is one of many popular brands featured in the sale
John Lewis
Set of two Le Creuset stoneware square oven dishes.
Their cult products are available at a heavily discounted price and in an array of colours
John Lewis
Orange Le Creuset casserole dish.
Among the products on offer are the oven dishes and casserole pots
John Lewis

Read More »

Who is Chris Butler and where is the cop turned private investigator, drug dealer and brothel manager now?

DISGRACED former cop Chris Butler promoted the 2010 reality TV concept P.I. Moms before his spectacular fall from grace.

He was later convicted of drug dealing and running a brothel, as well as an array of other crimes — here’s everything we know about him.

Group photo of five people, four women and one man, in front of a building.
Getty
Chris Butler surrounded by his P.I. Moms investigators — (from left to right) Michelle Allen, Denise Antoon, Julia Brazina and Charmagne Peters[/caption]
Three women in dresses investigating; one holds a camcorder, another binoculars.
Paramount
Promo pic from reality shoe P.I. Moms (2010), which came to an end following Butler’s arrest[/caption]

Who is Chris Butler?

Christopher Butler is a former police officer, who worked in Antioch, California.

He became a private investigator and gained notoriety for his involvement in a series of high-profile crimes.

These include drug dealing, operating a brothel and orchestrating fraudulent DUI arrests.

In the mid-2000s, Butler founded a private investigations firm — Butler & Associates Private Investigations — in Concord, California.

He was also known for promoting the 2010 Lifetime show P.I. Moms of San Francisco, featuring female investigators catching cheating husbands red-handed while filming them.

Butler’s criminal activities came to light in 2011 when he and Norman Wielsch — then-commander of the Contra Costa County Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) — were arrested and indicted on multiple felony charges.

The charges included selling confiscated drugs — with Butler’s assistance, Wielsch stole methamphetamine, marijuana and steroids from police evidence lockers and sold them on the street.

Butler also rented office space in Pleasant Hill, California, where he managed a brothel disguised as a massage parlor.

The parlor’s sex workers were required to make weekly payments, which Butler shared with Wielsch, in exchange for Wielsch’s agreement to provide protection from law enforcement.

Butler and Wielsch staged fake police raids, seizing money and possessions under the guise of law enforcement.

In addition, Butler orchestrated stings to frame men for drunk driving at the request of ex-wives.

He used his female investigators to lure targets into drinking with them before notifying police.

Where is he now?

In May 2012, Butler pleaded guilty to seven federal felony charges, including drug offenses, conspiracy, extortion and illegal wiretapping.

His cooperation with federal investigators led to a plea deal, but the severity of his crimes resulted in an eight-year federal prison sentence.

Two women and a man loading a suitcase into the trunk of a vehicle.
Paramount
Butler was sentenced to eight years behind bars after a plea deal[/caption]

Prosecutors noted that Butler’s actions, motivated by a desire for fame and money, caused significant harm to individuals and undermined public trust in law enforcement.

While he was eligible for release by around 2020, there is no recent public information indicating that Butler has returned to public life or resumed any professional activities, as of July 1, 2025.

Netflix’s Trainwreck: P.I. Moms

A new true crime documentary revisits the reality show and the scandal that followed.

The original P.I. Moms show aired in 2010 and was marketed as an inside look at women balancing motherhood and undercover detective work.

The Netflix doc explores how the show unraveled when journalists and producers began to suspect that not everything was as it seemed.

Allegations surfaced that the agency was being used as a front for drug dealing and that a local police officer was involved, leading to a full-blown scandal.

The documentary promises to detail the true story behind the show’s collapse and criminal allegations, as well as the broader impact of the case on reality television and law enforcement

Trainwreck: P.I. Moms drops on Netflix on July 22, 2025.

Read More »

Transport minister takes over as audio scandal topples Paetongtarn

Thailand was thrown into political upheaval today as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was abruptly suspended over a leaked audio scandal, paving the way for Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit to seize the top job — at least for now. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya, a senior figure in the Pheu Thai Party, has …

The story Transport minister takes over as audio scandal topples Paetongtarn as seen on Thaiger News.

Read More »

Blackview Mega 3 Full Specs, Features, Price In Philippines

Here’s The Complete List of Specifications, Features, & Price of the Blackview Mega 3 The Blackview Mega 3 was officially announced in June 2025. The tablet is fueled with a Li-Ion 8800 mAh battery + 33W wired charging. The tablet is available in two colors: Grey and Blue. Body & Display: The dimension of the ... Read more

The post Blackview Mega 3 Full Specs, Features, Price In Philippines appeared first on PhilNews.

Read More »

‘Made it to Disneyland just in time for the European heatwave’ jokes Peter O’Mahony’s wife in sizzling photos

JESSICA O’Mahony joked she’d “Made it to Disneyland just in time for the European heatwave” in a series of scorching shots.

Rugby legend husband Peter doesn’t appear to have joined her and their three children in jetting off to Paris which isn’t surprising given he played in South Africa on Saturday.

Woman at Disneyland during a European heatwave.
@jeskaomahony
Temperatures in the French capital are currently floating around 35 degrees[/caption]
Sleeping Beauty Castle at sunset with a crowd of people in front.
@jeskaomahony
Even as the sun sets it remains extremely warm[/caption]
Disneyland Park hotel with Mickey Mouse shaped topiary.
@jeskaomahony
The extreme heat does at least make for extra aesthetic photos[/caption]

France isn’t the only holiday destination for Irish people to have been placed an urgent weather warning this week.

The widespread alert comes as weather expert Alan O’Reily from Carlow Weather revealed that the majority of the European countries are suffering “real heat” as Ireland and most of the United Kingdom miss out on it.

Taking to social media, he said: “Mild and humid here but we are just missing out the real heat as the temperatures at 5pm Saturday across Europe show with over 40c inland in parts of Spain.”

The map also shows that Italy has reached up to a whopping 36 degrees, while Portugal saw 39 degrees, and France ranged from 20 to 37 degrees.

The majority of European countries experienced hot temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees, with Scandinavia ranging from 15 to 24 degrees.

While the temperatures reach a high of 15 to 20 degrees in Ireland, the southern region of the United Kingdom suffers temperatures between 24 and 30 degrees.

However, the heat wave conditions are expected to worsen.

Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, issued an urgent warning for the country over the major heat wave, which is set to last until Tuesday, July 1.

They revealed that the heat wave originated from the African continent and has extended across their territory, which will lead to a “gradual increase in temperature”.

They added: “This increase will be reinforced by the arrival of a warm, dry mass of Saharan origin across the western peninsula, bringing some haze beginning Sunday afternoon.

“As a result, very high and persistent temperatures are expected, both during the day and at night, which could pose a risk to exposed and/or vulnerable people.”

Today, the temperatures are expected to exceed 38 degrees across the southwest region, across the northern plateau, the eastern part of the southern plateau and the Jucar and Segura valleys.

And temperatures may reach between 40 and 42 degrees in the Guadalquivir, Genil, Guadiana, Tajo, and Ebro valleys.

The warning includes popular sunshine spots in Marbella, Malaga, Sevilla, the Canary Islands, Ibiza and Palma.

WARNINGS FOR PORTUGAL, FRANCE & ITALY

Several warnings have also been issued separately for Portugal, France, and Italy due to the ongoing heat wave, with advice and tips for following.

Portugal urged people to stay in cool or air-conditioned environments for at least two to three hours a day, avoid direct exposure to the sun, especially during midday when it’s at its peak.

Using sunscreen with a factor of 30 or higher is recommended; ensure to reapply it every two hours and after swimming at the beach or pool.

France is expected to reach 35 to 38 degrees locally and up to 39 degrees inland, making the nights even more unsettled.

A severe weather alert has been issued for everyone due to the potential heat stroke.

Elderly people, people who regularly take medicine, those suffering from chronic diseases or those with mental health troubles are at risk.

People are urged to drink water several times a day and continue to eat normally; they are also encouraged to stay indoors during the hottest hours and stay cool in an air-conditioned place for 2-3 hours a day.

Italy issued a major red alert for 21 cities this weekend, including the capital, Rome, and popular cities such as Milan and Venice.

People are also advised not to go outdoors between 11am and 6pm and seek shelter in air-conditioned public places.

In Venice, the temperatures have hit a whopping 31 degrees but have been reported to feel 35 degrees due to the humidity.

Read More »