Anyone who doesn’t think that Stephen A. Smith doesn’t ruffle any feathers is living under a rock. On Thursday, he issued a stark warning about the NBA All-Star game and its new format. Beginning next year, the All-Star game will feature Team USA vs the World. But Smith contended that if this doesn’t jive, the […]
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AN F1 boss has revealed insider information on Michael Schumacher’s inner circle – like who “regularly” visits him and his shock at one pal who won’t.
Schumacher hasn’t been in the public eye since a devastating skiing accident 12 years ago and is cared for by medical staff and his wife Corinna at their home in Lake Geneva.
The F1 legend’s family have remained very protective of his privacy, with little known about his condition since the 2013 accident.
Now ex-Red Bull chief Richard Hopkins has spoken out about the star – and revealed who regularly him.
He told Wette.de: “Jean Todt, that’s well known. Jean and Michael had an extraordinarily close relationship.
“I believe Luca Badoer, who is a close family friend, visits him.
“If there is a third, I don’t know who that would be.”
But Hopkins also spoke of a pal who won’t visit Schumacher – Flavio Briatore.
He added: “Flavio is, as we know, a flamboyant character. I would have thought he would have probably been the first person who would have wanted to see Michael in whatever way that was. But you have to respect that decision.
“That’s down to the individual. Not necessarily shared by all. I know there are close friends that go and see Schumacher and that’s their own choice and for their own reasons.
“But Flavio has obviously got his and it’s very deep and personal how we remember people, and how we want to remember people.
“I think we all have to respect that one.”
In 2020 Briatore’s former wife Elisabetta Gregoraci claimed that: “Michael doesn’t speak, he communicates with his eyes.”
Addressing this rumour, Hopkins said: “I’m not in that circle to know the absolute facts about Schumacher. Not many people are. Does he communicate through his eyes? Quite possibly.
“There is rumour he does watch Grand Prixs. But this is just speculation and perhaps unfair for anyone to make assumptions and guesses.
“Any remark I make will be unqualified as well in that sense, so it’s difficult to be drawn on it.”
In April, Schumacher signed a charity helmet belonging to fellow F1 icon Sir Jackie Stewart with help from Corinna.
The helmet will be auctioned to raise money for Stewart’s charity Race Against Dementia.
But Hopkins has described the signing as potentially being a “one-off”.
He said: “I suspect that [Jackie Stewart helmet signature] gesture was a one-off. There was a lot of media around that and maybe for the family too much media.
“They try to keep everything quiet and private, so I’d hazard a guess that it was a one-off.
“It was a great gesture from the family to organise that.”
Yilmaz Tozturkan, 53, and his son Daniel Lins, 30, had threatened to publish videos and pictures of Schumacher unless they were given £12million.
Security guard Markus Fritsche had copied the private material while working for the Schumachers and sold it to the two men.
In February the trio were found guilty of their part in the blackmail plot.
Fritsche was given a two-year suspended sentence, while Tozturkan was jailed for three years and Lins was given a six-month suspended prison sentence by a German court.
Schumacher’s wife Corinna wanted a harsher sentence for Fritsche.
She said: “What still shocks me most is the massive breach of trust.
“He should receive a punishment for this that deters others from potentially doing the same.”
When Schumacher’s head hit a boulder in the skiing accident 12 years ago, it split his helmet in two.
The brain injury was so serious that he spent 250 days in a coma.
The best medical treatment that money could buy brought the sporting great, who is worth £468million, back to consciousness.
There had been rumours that further treatment in Paris had allowed Schumacher to take some small steps, but that was later dismissed.
MICHAEL Schumacher’s life changed forever on December 29, 2013, when a skiing accident left the seven-time F1 champion with a severe brain injury.
Since then, his family has protected his privacy, with only a select few remaining in contact with the racing legend.
December 29, 2013 – The skiing accident: Schumacher suffers a life-threatening head injury while skiing off-piste in Méribel, France. He falls and hits his head on a rock, causing severe brain trauma despite wearing a helmet. He is airlifted to a hospital in Grenoble, where he undergoes two emergency surgeries. Doctors place him in a medically induced coma to reduce swelling in his brain.
January 2014 – Schumacher fights for his life: Schumacher remains in a coma. Doctors describe his condition as “critical but stable”. His family, led by wife Corinna, remains at his bedside. The world’s F1 community rallies behind him, with fans holding vigils outside the hospital.
June 2014 – Schumacher brought out of his coma: After nearly six months, Schumacher is brought out of his coma. His family confirms he is no longer in a coma but gives no further health details. He is transferred from Grenoble to a rehabilitation facility in Lausanne, Switzerland.
September 2014 – Back home: Schumacher is moved to his family home near Lake Geneva. Corinna announces he will continue his recovery at home, with a dedicated medical team.
2015–2018 – Mystery surrounding his health: Reports suggest Schumacher is receiving round-the-clock medical care at home, costing £50,000 per week. Jean Todt reveals he still visits Schumacher and that they watch F1 races together.
May 2017 – German magazine sued by Schumacher’s family: The magazine Bunte has to pay Michael Schumacher €50,000 (£42,000) in damages after claiming in 2015 that Schumacher would walk again. The Hamburg regional court determined that the statement was false and infringed upon Schumacher’s right to privacy.
September 2019 – Schumacher secretly transferred to Paris: French media reports that Schumacher is taken to Paris for stem cell therapy at the Georges-Pompidou Hospital. The procedure is led by renowned surgeon Dr. Philippe Menasché. Details of the treatment remain undisclosed.
December 2019 – Manager issues rare statement: Schumacher’s longtime manager Sabine Kehm says his condition will remain private. She dismisses speculation and false reports about his health.
September 2021 – Netflix documentary “Schumacher” released: A new Netflix documentary, Schumacher, provides rare insights into his life. Corinna speaks publicly about his condition for the first time, saying: “Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength.”
December 2023 – 10 years since the accident: Schumacher turns 55. The anniversary of his accident is marked by tributes from the F1 world. Jean Todt confirms he still sees Schumacher regularly and describes his visits as “full of affection”.
September 2024 – Daughter Gina’s wedding: Gina Schumacher, 27, marries longtime boyfriend Iain Bethke at the family’s £27million Majorca villa. Reports claim Schumacher attends the wedding, but close friend Johnny Herbert later calls it “A1 fake news”. Guests are reportedly required to hand over their phones to prevent leaks.
December 2024 – Schumacher to become a grandfather: Gina announces she is pregnant, three months after her wedding. She shares the news on Instagram, writing: “Impatiently awaiting the arrival of our little girl.”
SHANE Lowry continued his fine form in Canada this week as he shot a second round 68 at TPC Toronto.
The Irishman added to his opening round 64 with a solid second-round card that consisted of three birdies and just a single bogey in tougher conditions on Friday.
Clara star Lowry made the turn in one under par before tallying the same on the back-nine in Canada.
Yesterday, the 2019 runner-up, posted seven birdies, with his only dropped shot of the day coming on 13.
He’s four-strokes behind overnight leader Cameron Champ, who fired a second-round 66 to continued his fire form with a total of -12.
Two-time Canadian open champion Rory McIlroy was far from his best as his Masters hangover continued after a one-over 71 during his opening round on Thursday.
Starting on the back nine at TPC Toronto, the Grand Slam winner began with a couple of pars but made bogey on 12.
The world number two then dropped another on 17 as he failed to hole a 20-foot put for par.
His response was to make birdies at the next three holes, which included rolling in an 11-foot putt at the second.
McIlroy then followed a run of five pars with bogeys on the closing two holes.
He must now aim to go low in the second round as he’s one of the evening starters in Canada.
The Down ace gets his round underway at 5:55pm Irish time on Friday.
Currently the cut-line is at -2, the course nearly played 1.5 strokes better for afternoon starters on Thursday.
Waterford ace Seamus Power withdrew from the event after nine holes.
Ginny & Georgia isn’t just about wild secrets, small-town drama, or coming-of-age chaos, it’s also low-key one of the few shows that actually takes mental health seriously. While many series throw around anxiety and depression like trendy buzzwords, G&G dives deep, especially through Ginny’s struggles. And they don’t just show it, they explore it with […]
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THE Nordic Darts Masters is now UNDERWAY – and some of the best throwers feature in Copenhagen!
Luke Littler will make his tournament debut this evening as he faces Swedish newcomer Viktor Tingstrom.
Gerwyn Price begins his title defence against Cor Dekker, while Premier League winner Luke Humphries returns to the oche for the first time since he was crowned champion.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
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A YOUNG woman has shared how she gave her bland decking a mega makeover, without having to break the bank.
So if you want to spruce up your outside space but don’t have much cash to splash, then you’ve come to the right place.
Amy Betsie, a content creator from the UK, was able to transform her decking thanks to a bargain buy from Temu.
And while she paid £50 for the luxe product, it has now been reduced down to less than £9 – yes, you heard that correctly.
Posting on social media, Amy gave her followers a close-up look at her garden, before and after its makeover.
Not only did she hoover her decking to get rid of leaves in an instant, but she also added colour with a huge geometric rug.
She said: “So as per usual, I have to go in and tidy up the garden like I have to do weekly, because that tree is the bane of my life.
“I am so not ready for the bee loving people to come into my comments and tell me how much they love nature and bees.
“You might love nature, but I don’t love that tree – I love it to look at, I don’t love it to tidy up every single week.
“Honestly, it sheds all year round – summer, winter, spring and autumn. It is a joke.”
Amy then questioned: “Does anybody else hoover their garden by the way? I feel like if you’ve got decking, it’s a necessity to hoover your garden.”
Following this, the brunette held up her purse-friendly find as she beamed: “So this is the rug. I got it from Temu.
“It was between £50 and £60 which I think was a bargain because the size of it is absolutely huge.
“It takes up the majority of my garden and I just feel like with my garden, because it’s completely decked, it’s so bland.”
Nick Hamilton owner of Barnsdale Gardens has shared his favourite plants and flowers you should consider adding to your garden, borders and pots.
Tricyrtis
A spectacular plant that gives a real exotic feel to any garden with its orchid-like, spotted flowers giving the impression that this plant should be tender but it is “as tough as old boots!”.
Penstemon
I love this plants genus of because most will flower all summer and autumn. They’ll grow in sun or semi-shade in a well drained soil and produce a non-stop display of tubular flowers in an array of colours and colour combination to suit all tastes.
Luzula sylvatica ‘Marginata’
With the evergreen leaves edged with yellow it’s great asset is that it
will grow in sun or shade in any type of soil and is great as groundcover in the hardest spot to fill – dry shade.
Eryngium x zabelii ‘Big Blue’
A stunning, nectar-rich plant that will feed the beneficial insects in your
garden. Leave the flowerheads once they have turned brown because they look stunning with winter frost and snow, extending the plant’s interest period.
Sarcococca hookeriana ‘Winter Gem’
If you need winter scent then look no further than this compact, evergreen shrub. The scent is stunning and the evergreen leaves create an excellent backdrop for the summer flowers.
Cornus sanguinea ‘Anny’s Winter Orange’
A dwarf version of ‘Midwinter Fire’ the very colourful stems create a stunning winter display, particularly on sunny days.
Rosa ‘Noisette Carnee’
A very well-behaved climbing rose that is perfect for training over an arch, pergola or gazebo. The small, “noisette” flowers are blush-pink and produce the most amazing clove scent constantly from June to November.
Sanguisorba hakusanensis ‘Lilac Squirrel’
I’ve never seen a squirrel with a drooping, shaggy lilac tail, but this variety will give your garden an unusual and different look throughout summer. It does need a moisture retentive soil but will grow in sun or semi-shade.
As she showed off her garden, which she completed with some rattan furniture, she continued: “So I decided to get this just to spruce it up and give it that little bit of a va-va-voom, which I think it absolutely did.”
Thrilled with her rug, the gardening enthusiast shared: “It is stunning.”
Whilst the exact rug Amy bought has now been discontinued, there are a number of strikingly similar geometric rugs that have been reduced on the Temu website.
That rug is gorgeous
TikTok user
While some of the reversible outdoor rugs were once priced at £151, £50, £44 and £21, the cheapest option is now just £8.91, which we think is a real bargain.
Such rugs are great for adding style to a decking or patio, without breaking the bank.
The outdoor rugs are said to be “lightweight and portable”, “easy to clean” and are even suitable for picnics in the park too.
Not only does Amy’s decking now look fabulous, but it’s perfect for hosting events with friends and family – and we’re sure any eagle-eyed neighbours will love it too.
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @amy_betsie, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed 40,900 views, 356 likes and 24 comments.
Social media users were impressed with Amy’s bargain buy and many eagerly raced to the comments to express this.
A well-kept garden can add anywhere between 5-20% to the value of a property.
Sellhousefast.uk carried out a study and consulted 36 estate agents, garden designers and property professionals from across the UK.
And the experts revealed the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed.
One person said: “Love it.”
Another added: “That rug is gorgeous.”
Whilst a third commented: “Always hoovering my deck and outdoor rugs!”
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PHEOBE Bishop mysteriously vanished over three weeks ago in a gripping disappearance case which puzzled the world.
The shocking story has been plagued by grim twists and heartbreaking pleas after the 17-year-old teenager went missing near an airport on May 15.
Before she disappeared, Pheobe had been living in the town of Gin Gin, which is north of Brisbane in Australia.
The sleepy neighbourhood has a population of about 1,100 people.
The teenager had been living in a derelict pad – which had a foul smell and was very noisy according to neighbours.
She lived there with two housemates: James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33.
On the day she went missing, Pheobe was meant to board a flight to see her boyfriend in Western Australia.
Her housemates drove her to Bundaberg airport, but police said CCTV there never even saw her enter the terminal and she never actually checked in.
She was on her way to Perth to visit her “high-school sweetheart” boyfriend.
Pheobe reportedly made a last minute call to him at 8:30am mere moments before she was set to get on the flight to Western Australia.
A family member said: “She didn’t check in for her flight to visit her boyfriend who she spoke to on the phone at 8.30am.”
According to the Daily Mail, Wood said the couple had an explosive argument in the car with Pheobe over whether she could do her makeup before arriving at the airport.
He said they pulled over just under a kilometre from their destination.
Wood and Bromley then allegedly walked off and were away from Pheobe and the car for five minutes, according to the 34-year-old.
A missing person’s report was issued for her one day later on May 16.
Her worried sick sister, Kaylea Bishop, sent Wood and Bromley a simple text, demanding to know the whereabouts of her sibling.
She said: “Where is my sister?”
On the following weekend, her desperate mum Kylie Johnson made emotional pleas for anyone with information to come forward.
By May 18, over 400 missing person posters with Pheobe’s photo had been plastered across the Wide Bay region.
The next week, on Monday May 19, police launched their search for Pheobe.
It covered land along Bundaberg’s Airport Drive and the surrounding areas.
But mysteriously, police didn’t find any sign of the teen or her belongings.
Police, along with Pheobe’s mum, described her disappearance as out of character on May 20.
They also asked the public for information about the 2011 grey Hyundai ix35 hatch, owned by Bromley, that had been seen around Airport Drive at the time of Pheoebe’s disappearance.
The next day, police updated the case and said they were treating Pheobe’s disappearance as a suspicious.
They also declared two crime scenes – one being the run-down home she was living at, and the other being the infamous Hyundai she was driven to the airport in.
After inspecting the foul-smelling home, police found four dead dogs rotting inside.
But it was later understood that these four pups died of natural causes.
Airport Drive, Samuels Road and Gin Gin were also named as locations of interest.
On May 22, Detective Acting Inspector Ryan Thompson stressed the importance of public information.
In a chilling plea, he said: “People don’t vanish.”
The day after that, police revealed they were searching through bushland and waterways at Good Night Scrub National Park, near to where Pheobe was last seen.
This scan went on for the next two days, during which police dogs joined the hunt.
On May 25 Bromley was arrested in a major twist after police allegedly found weapons in her silver Hyundai.
On May 26, the search area was expanded – before cops made a harrowing revelation.
They believed evidence had been moved from the Good Night Scrub area before they arrived there.
And on this same day, a new number plate was discovered to have been suspiciously painted and taped over the notorious Hyundai’s original plate.
The gruelling search effort in Good Night Scrub National Park then continued from May 27 for five more days.
Disturbingly, the search appeared to lose hope as police said they would no longer be doing any more physical scans for Pheobe on Wednesday, June 4.
They said they would restart any searches only when they had relevant information.
But in a dramatic twist on the very same day – Pheobe’s housemate Wood was arrested.
However, no charges were made and he was released a day later on June 5.
And in yet another turn in the tale – Wood and Bromley were then both arrested and charged with murder on the same day Wood was released – exactly three weeks after Pheobe went missing.
They were each charged with one count of murder and two counts of interfering with a corpse.
Shocking footage released on Friday showed the moment police arrested Wood and escorted him out of an RV for the “homicide of Pheobe Bishop”.
Both Wood and Bromley appeared at Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday morning.
Outside the building, Pheobe’s heartbroken sister Kaylea Bishop said her sibling was “loved and missed” dearly.
Kaylea and Pheobe had a close relationship and were planning to move in together last year.
And in the latest heartbreaking update, human remains were found during a search for Pheobe.
They are yet to be identified, but police have spoken to Pheobe’s family regarding the harrowing discovery.
The body was found close to Good Night Scrub National Park, near Gin Gin, on Friday, June 6 at around 2:30pm.
Pheobe’s mum then made a heartbreaking statement.
She said: “I didn’t think my heart could break anymore than it did when you went missing, or when the charges were laid but this.
“This is ripping me apart.”
Pheobe had previously said online that she wasn’t living with her mum, and that she had been “in and out” of home for years.
Cops are now set to allege that Wood, Bromley and Pheobe were all in the car when it arrived at Airport Drive near Bundaberg Airport in the morning of May 15.
They believe that the trio never actually left the car.
Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield said: “Our evidence will outline the fact that three people arrived near to the airport, and three people never exited that vehicle.”
Wood and Bromley will appear in court on August 11.