The Atlanta Braves are off to a dismal 0-4 start to their season, and now things have gone from bad to worse. Starting outfielder Jurickson Profar has been hit with an 80-game suspension for violating the MLB’s performance-enhancing drug policy, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. “Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar is being suspended for 80 […]
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A NEW Formula 1 season is here and the battle for contending drivers to claim the sought-after World Championship is excepted to deliver once more.
Many are gunning for an elusive first title with a record SIX rookies on the grid – but there are a handful of experienced vets looking to add to their trophy cabinets.
One of the two Formula 1 world championships that are contested is the Drivers’ Championship.
The world champion is the Formula One driver who finishes the season with the most championship points.
Although Grand Prix racing has been around since the invention of the vehicle, the championship has been contested annually since 1950.
There have been 34 different drivers to have been crowned world drivers’ champion – and three of them will race this year.
Of course, reigning champion Max Verstappen will look to add to his streak of four consecutive championships.
The Red Bull superstar has won every title since 2021, and a triumph this year would put him on par with the legendary Michael Schumacher.
They would be the only drivers to have won FIVE consecutive championship.
As for Verstappen’s dominant predecessor, Lewis Hamilton will look to overtake Schumacher’s total of seven titles.
Hamilton, level on seven, has closed off his illustrious chapter at Mercedes and switched the Brackley-base team for the red of Ferrari.
The Brit has been striving for his eight since his last in 2020 – also winning in 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Lastly, 43-year old Fernando Alonso is still going.
The Spainard’s championship-winning years are probably behind him – champion in 2005 and 2006 – but the wily race craft can still snatch the odd race podium even in the Aston Martin AMR.
FAILED asylum seekers could be deported to safe countries under plans being considered by Labour.
PM Sir Keir Starmer was asked by reporters if he was looking at such schemes at Britain’s illegal migration summit yesterday.
Sir Keir said his government is “considering anything that works” in the battle against small boat crossings.
Return hubs would take in those who have exhausted all appeals processes but cannot return to home countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, or Syria.
But Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp slammed Sir Keir for his “catastrophic mistake” of cancelling the Rwanda deportation scheme soon after taking office.
Italian PM Giorgia Meloni has touted plans to process her own refugee rejects in Albania.
Earlier in the month, The Sun reported that £1million had been wasted on old planes to be used in the failed Rwanda migrants scheme.
Home Office chiefs splashed out £671,000 on fuselages to be used in training for removals.
Since the controversial scheme was axed, taxpayers face another £268,000 bill for having them kept in storage — by the firm that originally supplied them.
The total bill for just this part of the doomed plan, scrapped by Labour last July, is £939,000.
Three old Airbus fuselages were bought for Border Force officers to practice getting migrants on flights to Africa.
They were set up in a film studio hangar — used for Netflix competition show Squid Game: The Challenge, Batman blockbusters and a Rihanna video.
The hangar at Cardington Airfield, Beds, was hired for training for 15 months until the end of last year at a cost of £6,425,285 — meaning the facility was unused for at least six months.
The plane bodies were briefly used for training but have been kept at Cotswold Airport, Gloucs, since November.
PREGNANT Kelsey Parker has dropped a major hint at her baby’s gender, as her daughter Aurelia revealed her favourite names.
Kelsey, 34, was with Tom for 13 years until he tragically passed away in 2022 from brain cancer.
They share two children together, daughter Aurelia, five, and son Bodhi, four.
And now, she’s expecting her first baby with boyfriend Will Lindsay, after Tom’s tragic passing.
Kelsey hasn’t revealed the gender of her unborn baby, but she did drop a big hint during her recent podcast.
The podcast host was speaking to her listeners when she said her daughter Aurelia went to school for World Book Day, and picked up a book that said ‘this is for a little girl who is going to be a big sister to a little sister very soon.’
Kelsey said: “Anyone who listens to this podcast knows I think she’s been here before. You’re a little witch aren’t you?” referring to her daughter.
She added: “Am I having a girl? Because Aurelia has picked this book that I’m having a girl. You could be right, or are you just putting it out to the universe that you want a sister so badly?”
Kelsey then spoke about calling a little girl ‘baby Annabelle,’ before saying it could well be a boy too.
But it was clear that her daughter was hoping for a sister.
The star also spoke about her due date, which she previously revealed is June 30th.
Kelsey revealed she was expecting her first baby with tree surgeon Will in January.
She said: “Tom and I always said we wanted four – but life had other plans. So yes, this is amazing but also bittersweet.
“I’ve felt every emotion under the sun.
“I’m still getting my head around it but I’m so excited. I just want everyone to be as happy as I am.”
In September of last year she revealed she was in a new relationship with Will, 27, after posting a loved-up snap of the pair of them together.
Kelsey discovered she was pregnant again in October and admitted: “I was shocked but so happy. Will cried his eyes out.”
Will, who is now living in the home Kelsey shared with Tom, said: “I’m over the moon. This is something I’ve wanted for a long time.
“I couldn’t be happier and I know Kelsey is going to be an amazing mum, as she already is.”
THE iconic 1965 Ford Racer that starred in Top Gear is heading up for auction, and it could be yours.
The eye-catching racing car has been dubbed one of the most “historically significant” GT40s to ever go under the hammer.
The P1018 has been meticulously restored to its striking maroon design, and features a contrasting white stripe detail along the side panels.
Its interior is in excellent condition – with an impressive dashboard filled with dials and switches.
And if you want to know how the racer is powered you only have to lift up the back of the car to reveal its spectacular engine.
But what makes this car extra special is that it is one of just two GT40s constructed to this spec.
It was also the first to feature the three-hole chassis panel – which later became standard.
And what’s more – the car up for grabs is one of only two GT40s driven by racing legend Carroll Shelby.
Specified by Shelby himself, the vehicle was built as a race car and kept by Shelby and Ford for promotional purposes.
The Ford starred in an iconic promotional photo shoot in 1965 with on its press tour.
Carroll was pictured behind the wheel with a beaming Miss Santa Monica in the passenger seat.
It was housed alongside the retired Daytona Coupes at Shelby’s Los Angeles premises.
The auction listing reminisces on the car’s history: “This was the heart and soul of Shelby American that ushered in the GT40’s heyday.”
The listing adds that Less than a year after its arrival, Ford and Shelby celebrated their first Le Mans victory in 1966.
And Shelby loaned the vehicle to the MGM Grand, where it became an essential test camera car for the Grand Prix.
The motor enthusiasts among you may also recognise this legendary car from Top Gear.
The Ford GT40 appeared in an episode of Top Gear, where it outperformed a modern Noble in a head-to-head battle against none other than The Stig.
But that’s not where its fame stops.
The racer shot to Hollywood fame after it appeared in the classic TV show The Man from U.N.C.L.E in 1967.
Its cameo appearance was in an episode titled The THRUSH Roulette Affair, where a charming agent Napoleon Solo uncovers the secrets of a private life-or-death roulette game.
The car has had a number of owners since Shelby.
Racing legend David Piper owned the car from 1971 to 1973.
It was then exported to Australia where it was looked after by motor enthusiast Laurie O’Neil, before heading to Japan under the ownership of Yojiro Nakamura and Saguro Kato.
In 1989, the car returned to the United States, remaining in American hands for another ten years.
In 2001, it was acquired by endurance racing champion Ray Bellm.
The car went on to become a dominant force in historic racing, securing 11 wins from 13 starts at Le Mans Classic and claiming victory in the 2007 Goodwood Revival Whitsun Trophy.
In 2012, it was demonstrated by five-time Le Mans winner Emanuele Pirro, while Sam Hancock piloted it to a third-place finish in the Whitsun Trophy at the 75th Members Meeting.
More recently, it was exhibited at the 2022 Heveningham Concours and featured in the Carroll Shelby Parade at the 2023 Goodwood Revival.
It now makes annual appearances at prestigious events such as the Le Mans Classic, Tour Auto, and Daytona Classic 24 Hours.
The Ford is for sale with Fiskens Historic Automobiles based in London, England, for an undisclosed price.
The seller gushed about the car’s Hollywood glamour and motorsport pedigree.
The listing reads: “Freshly restored to its original specification, this GT40 is a truly significant piece of motorsport and Hollywood history.”
SIR Alex Ferguson showed he’s still keeping his eye out for future stars as he watched Manchester United’s U18s take on Aston Villa in the FA Youth Cup semi-final.
The legendary boss, 83, was at Villa Park on Monday night to watch Adam Lawrence’s side battle it out for the chance to face Man City or Watford in the final.
United started Chido Obi in a signal of intent that means the striker will not feature in the Premier League clash at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
Also in the starting line-up were Tyler and Jack Fletcher, the twin sons of Reds legend and current coach Darren Fletcher.
Lawrence’s youngsters had beaten Coventry City, Preston North End and Chelsea on their way to the quarter-finals, where they came back from 2-1 down against Arsenal to win 3-2.
More than 1,000 United fans bought tickets for the semi, knowing a win would earn them the right to host the final at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex was among those to make the trip, but he did not look too happy when Trai-Varn Mulley opened the scoring for the Villans after just four minutes.
The Scot, famed for bringing through youngsters including the Class of ’92, had a fiery look on his face as he watched from the executive boxes.
He would have been relieved when left winger James Scanlon equalised for United, who are also coached by former defender Phil Jones, following good work from Tyler Fletcher after 23 minutes.
It was the Gibraltar international’s third goal in the Youth Cup this season and his 19th in all competitions.
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Scanlon’s leveller proved to be the final goal of the game, with the tie going to extra time and penalties.
But it was heartache for Fergie and the United kids as they crashed out 3-1 in the shootout.
Rubin Amorim’s first team will be hoping for better luck in the Midlands when they face Forest.
They will have had more than two weeks off since their last game.