free html hit counter USA Update – Page 953 – My Blog

USA Update

Category Added in a WPeMatico Campaign

French trawlers must be BANNED from UK waters until there is visible evidence of them stopping the dinghies

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows French fishing trawler at Calais port during a protest

So Gauling

YOU know you’re in trouble when you have to rely on the French.

So it has proved with Britain’s plans to get French cops to intercept illegal migrants in shallow waters before they set sail for the Channel.

Yesterday, France’s Interior Ministry said gendarmes would be wading out within weeks — only for unions to refuse to allow it.

It makes another mockery of our £480million deal with France to tackle Channel crossings which have seen numbers go up.

The time for supine begging is surely now over.

Keir Starmer may have sold out our fishing fleet to the French as part of his Brexit reset deal with the EU.

But why should we let them catch our fish when they do precious little to net the migrant boats?

The PM should now tell President Emanuel Macron to get stuffed.

And ban French trawlers from our waters — until there is visible evidence of them stopping the dinghies.

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows French fishing trawler at Calais port during a protest
Britain’s wants to get French cops to intercept illegal migrants in shallow waters before they set sail for the Channel

Winter fools

LABOUR is giving every impression its policy on winter fuel payments to pensioners is being made up on the hoof.

Two weeks of chaos has followed the PM’s U-turn when he said more older folk would have the money restored.

Minister Torsten Bell says there will be NO return to universal payments.

And the Chancellor says the payments will be made in time for this winter — but with no indication of who would qualify, what they would get or, crucially, how much it would cost taxpayers.

One of the main claims against scrapping payments to richer OAPs was that it costs less to pay everyone — even millionaires — than to means-test them.

Will that now be introduced? We still don’t know and Labour is giving the impression it hasn’t yet decided either.

The Government must get its act together and ease anxiety for worried pensioners.

Grim blue line

TOP cops have issued a dire warning that threatened cuts to Government funding mean some crimes will have to be ignored.

To which a weary public may well say: “We thought they already were.”

Burglary and shoplifting cases now have so little prospect of prosecution that they have effectively been decriminalised.

Meanwhile, police chiefs have poured millions into diversity projects and investigating hurt feelings on social media.

Chief constables should know taxpayers’ money needs to be earned.

Ideally, by a major overhaul of their current crime-fighting efforts.

Read More »

Chelsea CONFIRM signing of Liam Delap after beating Man Utd to £30m transfer for Ipswich star

CHELSEA have confirmed the signing of Liam Delap after beating Manchester United to the £30million Ipswich star.

Delap, 22, has joined the Blues on a six-year contract after his release clause was met following Ipswich’s relegation to the Championship.

Liam Delap of Ipswich Town celebrating a goal.
Getty
Liam Delap has joined Chelsea from Ipswich in a £30million deal[/caption]

The striker emerged as Enzo Maresca’s preferred attacking target after netting 12 Premier League goals for the Tractor Boys.

And their time together at Manchester City also played a pivotal role in Delap’s decision to snub fellow suitors United.

The forward is now set to make an immediate debut for his new side at the Club World Cup.

In a statement on the club’s website, he said: “I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach.

“It’s going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.”

Delap will battle Nicolas Jackson for a spot up front, with the England U21s star hoping to become Chelsea’s starting hitman for the new Premier League season.

The former Stoke, Preston and Hull loanee has also been reunited with several of his City youth team-mates in Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia.

Their relationship through the centre of the park could play a pivotal role in any future Chelsea success.

BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS

And Delap will be eager to help the Blues seal some silverware after Maresca’s men won last week’s Conference League final against Real Betis.

The two-time Premier League winner with Man City had initially looked destined for a move to their rivals United.

Liam Delap's 2024-25 Ipswich Town season statistics.

The Red Devils are keen on attacking reinforcements, having already shelled out £62.5m on Wolves’ Matheus Cunha.

But the prospect of linking up with some familiar faces, plus the pull of Champions League football, swung the decision in Chelsea’s favour.

The Blues are expected to continue their major squad rebuild with more incomings and outgoings this summer.

They have already welcomed Kendry Paez, Estevao Willian and Dario Essugo to Stamford Bridge.

While a new winger and centre-back are also highly desired by Maresca.

Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi are among those on his wishlist.

And Chelsea also remain in talks with Jadon Sancho’s representatives over a permanent move from Manchester United.

In terms of outgoings, the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix and even Noni Madueke could be heading out.

Misfits including Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell will also be moved on.

And with £1.2billion already spent under Todd Boehly, Chelsea fans will be hoping to finally challenge for the title next season.

Read More »

TV’s Aldo Zilli tries all the supermarket cods – the delicious, authentic winner costs just 85p a piece

Chef holding plate of fish and chips with various frozen fish product boxes.

IT’S National Fish and Chip Day tomorrow – and last week the classic combo was also named our top dish to order in the pub.

But while a chippy tea remains a favourite, rising costs means many of us are forced to skip it.

Chef holding plate of breaded fish, chips, and salad.
Darren Fletcher
Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli rates a selection of battered cods[/caption]

Luckily, there are plenty of similar fish fillets available in the supermarkets to give you all the taste without the higher cost.

Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli, who is a Scottish Fish and Chip Awards judge and head chef at Elaine’s Restaurant in London, tucks into a selection of battered portions.

Tesco Battered Cod Fillet Portions

4 pieces, 500g, £3.39, 52% fish

Box of Tesco battered cod fillet portions.
Darren Fletcher
I don’t know how they make this cod so cheap[/caption]

THESE frozen portions are Atlantic cod, which is sustainable and a good source, so I don’t know how they make it so cheap.

It’s an excellent price for four pieces.

For those nights when you want a chippy tea, you could absolutely cook an alternative with this box on standby in the freezer.

With some chunky homemade or oven chips, it’s perfect for a takeaway taste.

It is not quite authentic in flavour as the batter is a bit soft.

But the fish tastes fresh, with a good, firm texture and it’s flaking and moist.

The size of each piece is generous, too.

RATING: 4/5

Sainsbury’s Battered Cod Fillets

4 pieces, 500g, £3.39, 58% fish

Box of Sainsbury's battered chunky cod fillets.
Darren Fletcher
When picking up this Sainsbury’s fish, be prepared for something more like a canape[/caption]

ONE of the higher ratios of fish but they do not seem plentiful.

The pieces of cod have been cut in a meagre way and look like offcuts. I suppose that’s how you keep the price down, and it doesn’t affect the taste.

The batter is a bit uneven and thicker around the edges.

It looks like it has a batter crust, which is quite strange.

But the fish tastes decent, is flaking and plump and appears and smells very fresh for a frozen piece of cod.

Not oily at all.

It’s less than a pound for a portion but size-wise, be prepared for something more like a canape.

Good for small appetites.

RATING: 3/5

Asda Battered Cod Fillets

4 pieces, 440g, £3.75, 55% fish

Package of ASDA frozen battered cod fillets with chips and peas.
Darren Fletcher
Asda battered cod looks more like a biscuit[/caption]

AFTER cooking, I already don’t much like the look of it and I’m not excited to tuck in.

The batter is an odd, nutty brown colour.

It should be a rich golden amber.

It looks more like a biscuit than a piece of fish and the coating is so crunchy you could crack your teeth.

There’s a huge amount of batter that is so solid it’s breaking away in shards, plus the cod is chewy and tasteless.

This resembles something that has been sitting under a canteen hotplate for hours drying out.

Not exactly a treat to replace a takeaway.

RATING: 2/5

M&S Battered Cod Fillets

2 pieces, 300g, £4.50, 58% fish

Package of two breaded cod fillets.
Darren Fletcher
M&S cod fillets are a bit more expensive[/caption]

THE fish inside are fresh, not pre-cooked, which means the luxury level has been upped here – along with the price tag.

It is very good quality.

You get good chunky pieces of cod and can tell from the shape it is a proper, bouncy, fish fillet inside.

On the downside, there are only two pieces for the higher price, so great for couples but not for families.

And it took longer to cook than the packet said.

They taste very nice but the batter- to-fish ratio is off and the coating is too thick.

But it does taste like chip shop batter and the cod is moist.

RATING: 3/5

Aldi Battered Cod

4 pieces, 500g, £3.39, 52% fish

Package of The Fishmonger 4 Battered Cod.
Darren Fletcher
This Aldi cod is my winner![/caption]

THE ingredients are pretty minimal, which is good, and as a freezer-friendly batter goes, it’s a fairly authentic recipe.

I really liked the look of these.

Four chunky pieces of cod that will fill you up.

The fish in the batter is the right proportion to allow you to enjoy both flavours without either overwhelming the other.

And they both taste delicious.

Excellent flaking fish and the golden coating is crispy, tasty and exactly the right texture.

Frozen batter is hard to get right because it often goes soggy when you warm it back up.

RATING: 5/5

Lidl Battered White Fish Fillets

4 pieces, 500g, £2.50, 53% fish

Package of four battered white fish fillets.
Darren Fletcher
Lidl offer cheaper pollock instead[/caption]

LABELLED as “battered white fish”, inside the batter you get pollock.

Not one you’ll see on the board at your local chippy but it’s not a bad alternative.

The firm texture is similar to a piece of cod, so it works well even if it’s not as flavoursome and moist.

The main difference is price.

Pollock is much cheaper, which is why these portions are more budget friendly.

But if you are going to add ketchup, mushy peas and all the other trimmings, you probably won’t notice it’s not cod.

Great as a kids’ meal option to save you money.

The batter had a strange texture though.

RATING: 3/5

Iceland Battered Skinless Cod

4 pieces, 440g, £3.50, 52% fish

Box of Iceland 4 cod fillets with battered fish and chips.
Darren Fletcher
Iceland’s option has a dense coating[/caption]

SADLY, these were not good at all. They were a decent size and the batter looked thick.

But after I heated it up I realised just how dense the coating was.

In fact, there was hardly any fish inside at all.

When I pulled off all the outer layer, I was left with a teeny tiny amount of white fish.

That wouldn’t be so bad if the golden casing was incredible, but it was not great.

It’s not crispy and it dried out when cooking, so it sticks in your mouth.

Altogether, tasteless, watery and lacks flavour.

Not like battered fish at all.

RATING: 2/5

Young’s Chip Shop

2 pieces, 300g, £4.50 (was £5.75) Ocado.com, 54% fish

Package of Young's Chip Shop extra large cod fillets.
Darren Fletcher
Young’s Chip Shop fillets are in an exceptionally crumbly, yet still light, crispy batter[/caption]

PROMISES to have bubbly batter just like you’d get fresh from the fryer.

In fairness, even when still frozen, this looks like a genuine chippy piece.

You get two really big pieces of cod and they’ve used the tail cut of fish like the longer, thinner pieces you are served in takeaways.

They are in an exceptionally crumbly, yet still light, crispy batter made with sodium bicarbonate for a golden chip shop texture and flavour.

Moist and tasty and there’s more fish and less batter, which works well.

It looks, smells and tastes incredibly like a chippy offering.

RATING: 4/5

Read More »

Fury as unions could STOP plans to force French cops to intercept UK-bound migrants as it’s ‘too dangerous’

PLANS to force police in France to intercept migrants on the beaches before they board boats for Britain have been rejected by powerful unions across the Channel.

They claim it would be too dangerous to try to tackle overcrowded dinghies at sea.

Migrants wade into the water to board a small boat.
PA
Last Saturday, 1,195 migrants arrived on 19 small boats — the highest number for a single day this year.[/caption]

And their opposition is threatening to scupper efforts to close a loophole that means officers in France cannot stop boats once they are already in the water.

As a result, smugglers launch dinghies from inland canals and act as taxis to pick up migrants who wade into the sea, while law enforcement officials watch on from the shore.

France Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau wants to change the law so officers can intervene up to 300m from the coastline but progress has been slow.

A new strategy is being drawn up to coincide with President Emmanuel Macron’s State visit to Britain in July. But unions in France are opposed to the plan.

A senior source at Alliance — the largest police union in the country — said: “People don’t seem to realise how dangerous it is to try to carry out arrests at sea, while trying to force a boat to change course.

“If there are 80 people on an overcrowded boat, including women and children, then it is extremely dangerous to try to stop them.

“The potential for disaster, including further deaths, is immense. Turning us into sea police is not the way forward.”

A source at the maritime branch of the General Confederation of Labour, which represents seamen across France, told The Sun: “If a potentially vulnerable boat is stable then it should not be interfered with until it reaches a safe place on the shore.

“Such boats should only be interfered with at sea if they are in serious trouble.”

Frédéric Okonek, coastal delegate for the Un1té union, said previously: “If the police intervene in the water, the boat sinks with a hundred people on board. It’s too dangerous.

“We also have orders: When the boat is in the water, we no longer have the right to intervene. It’s to prevent tragedies.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has told Mr Retailleau she wants the law changed as swiftly as possible.

Last Saturday, 1,195 migrants arrived on 19 small boats — the highest number for a single day this year.

Fewer than 40 per cent of boats have been turned back despite a £480million deal with France to combat crossings.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “Belgium has been very successfully intercepting returning boats at sea and has almost entirely stopped embarkations.

Trade unions and the Left have no interest in stopping illegal immigration.”

French police officers on a beach watching a group of people board a small boat.
PA
Plans to force police in France to intercept migrants on the beaches before they board boats for Britain have been rejected by powerful unions[/caption]

Read More »

PC sacked for arresting teen scrote with knife is everything that’s wrong with this country – criminals have more rights

IF you want a very quick insight into what is wrong with this country, just take a look at the case of Police Constable Lorne Castle.

Lorne, 46, worked for the plod in Bournemouth. Twice decorated for bravery. A popular policeman with the public and within the force.

Photo of a police officer receiving an award.
BNPS
Police Constable Lorne Castle, twice decorated for bravery, was sacked over his aggressive arrest of a knife-carrying teen[/caption]
Video still of a police officer making an arrest.
This is the moment PC Lorne Castle pinned the teen down
Dorset Police

And then, one day, his career was over. Sacked for “gross misconduct”.

What happened was this. Lorne was called to make an arrest of a teenager suspected of assaulting two people.

He turned up and the 15-year-old resisted arrest. He continued to resist even when the PC had hold of him.

This scrote was carrying a knife, by the way.

Lorne shouted at the boy to stop screaming and resisting arrest. He pushed him to the floor and put a hand over his face. He swore at him. Swearing is of course very rude. None of us should swear.

The result was that after a 16-month inquiry, during which he was suspended from his duties, Lorne was sacked.

He was placed on the police debarred list, which stops him ever working with the police again.

His life has been ruined. The panel that sacked him claimed he had failed to treat the suspect with “respect and courtesy”. Incredible, no? “Hello old chap! I hope you are living your best life! I ­wonder if I could ask you . . . Oh, OK, goodbye then.”

The panel also said that Lorne’s behaviour made the boy feel “frightened and intimidated”. Good! How was he meant to feel? Elated and relaxed? Warm and comfortable?

A whip-round among officers has ­provided him with some of his wages. And a retired Chief Inspector has spoken in his favour.

DID HIS JOB

But what did his boss have to say? Dorset police’s deputy chief Rachel Farrell said the sacking was right.

She added: “(Officers) do a tough job and when their actions are proportionate, necessary and reasonable they will always be supported.”

That, it turns out, was a lie. The ­constabulary even issued footage of the arrest in an attempt to make Lorne look more aggressive. Stripped out of context, the film is quite brutal.

But here’s the point. The boy was not hurt. And an armed suspect was arrested. Maybe Lorne shouldn’t have called him a bitch. We can argue over that.

But the truth is that Lorne did a wholly effective job in what was a very dangerous situation. And then got dragged through the mire for doing what he thought was his duty.

To keep the public safe from hoodied scrotes carrying knives.

But today our society is on the side of the skanks and the scrotes. They have their Yuman Roights which must not be transgressed. Doesn’t matter what they do. They must be respected.

The truth is that Castle did a wholly effective job in what was a very dangerous situation.

Rod Liddle

And so we let shoplifters go free, cos they’re poor innit.

Almost no burglars are caught because society today doesn’t think crimes against property are terribly important.

Judges and tribunals tell asylum seekers they can remain here no matter what heinous crimes they have committed.

Because their rights trump our right not to be raped or stabbed or burgled.

And the few people who try to do the right thing? Like Lorne Castle, they end up being sacked.

TAXING FUTURE FOR US

ONE way or another we’re about to get clobbered with a tax rise.

It’s the only way Rachel from Accounts can get the books to tally.

And my guess – based upon observing her previous interventions in the economy – is that she will raise precisely the wrong taxes.

There will be taxes on the very people who might otherwise spend money and get the economy moving.

Her Budget last autumn sent the British economy into a sharp downward spiral.

She had stressed that her priority was for growth.

And then she went and slapped National Insurance on the very people who should be responsible for that growth – the small and medium businesses.

How long before Sir Keir Starmer has had enough of Reeves?

We’ve all had it up to here.

An E.T. solution for gloomy-moon mob

Illustration of an alien observing Earth from space.
Getty
A psychic American man called Ingo Swann claims a colony of aliens are on the dark side of the moon[/caption]
Portrait of Ingo Swann, visionary painter and psychic.
Supplied
He also claims the CIA got him to train his powers on the moon’s far side[/caption]

APPARENTLY there’s a colony of aliens living secretly on the dark side of the moon.

The Americans know all about it, but have been sworn to secrecy.

They look like us and have built a tower bigger than the Empire State Building. (The aliens, I mean. But the Americans too I suppose).

This all comes from the diaries released by a psychic American man called Ingo Swann, who claims the CIA got him to train his powers on the moon’s far side.

And what I want to know is did these spies do this exercise for a laugh in their lunch hour?

And if not, shouldn’t we point out to the aliens that the other side of the moon is far nicer?

BIAS AT BEEB IS CLEAR

GOOD for Karoline Leavitt.

Donald Trump’s communications chief may spell her name funny, but she can also spot bad journalism from a mile away.

And so she turned her attention to the BBC. Which had filed a report blaming Israel for an attack. When it wasn’t Israel.

As Leavitt said, the Beeb just took the word of Hamas at face value. No querying or fact checking.

If the lovely little squirrels of Hamas say something happened, then something happened.

Karoline, we’ve had to put up with this standard of reporting ever since Hamas invaded.

Thank you for noticing.

ONE LAW FOR ISLAM?

HAMIT Coskun burned a copy of the Koran outside the Turkish embassy.

Hamit was protesting about the increasing Islamisation of the country of his birth.

Hamit Coskun giving a thumbs up outside Westminster Magistrates' Court.
PA
Hamit Coskun was found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence and fined £240 for burning a Koran[/caption]

While he was making his protest he was attacked by a man with a knife.

A delivery driver then kicked him in the back as he lay on the ground.

Remarkably, the fact he was attacked was used by the judge to support his guilty sentence to the crime of “using disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress.”

The judge is, I think, an idiot. And no matter how they try to word it, we now have a blasphemy law in this country – but only for Islam.

Burn a Bible and nobody will turn a hair.

GUB GRIPE IS DAFT

LET’S hear it for a proper old English moaner.

Susan, aged 69, went to Corfu on holiday. And she wasn’t having it.

No English food, you see. In Greece.

She moaned that it was all just “sardines and rice”.

She didn’t mind the chips. But everything else was awful.

No sausages, no bacon.

“One night there was a Greek night and they had kebabs, I couldn’t eat that”, she carped.

Also, the beach was too far away and the land sloped down to the sea so she had to walk uphill sometimes.

Susan is a Geordie. Try Whitley Bay next year.

The problem with foreign places is that they are full of bloody foreigners.


Illustration of HMS Astute, a Royal Navy submarine, at sea.
Getty
A dozen new attack submarines are planned as Britain moves to a war footing[/caption]

DOES anybody, anywhere, understand when the UK is to raise its defence spending to three per cent of GDP?

Sir Keir Starmer, who made the announce­ment, clearly doesn’t have a clue.

It looks very much like it won’t be by the end of this Parliament, for a start.

There is talk of the UK needing to raise defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2034.

But it wouldn’t surprise me if 2034 is far too late.

Starmer was strong on defence for a while. But that interest now seems to have deserted him. Meanwhile, our enemies are looking on and sniggering.

Read More »

Inside Michael Schumacher’s tragic health battle in Majorca hideaway – as pal makes heartbreaking prediction for future

WITH fists pumping and arms aloft, racing great Michael Schumacher celebrated his many victories with the same energy as his driving.

And that is how the Formula One team boss who helped turn the German legend into a champion three decades ago prefers to think of him.

Michael Schumacher walking through a Formula One pit area.
AP:Associated Press
Michael Schumacher in his prime competing for Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix in 2004[/caption]
Rescue scene of Michael Schumacher's skiing accident.
Pictures show the helicopter rescue operation in 2013 following Michael’s skiing accident in the French resort of Meribel
Nick Haley
Michael Schumacher's family in a home video.
Michael with wife Corinna and their children Gina-Maria and Mick in 2021 Netflix documentary
Netflix

Not as the incapacitated survivor of a horrific skiing accident that Schumacher is said to have become.

Italian businessman Flavio Briatore said this week: “If I close my eyes. I see him smiling after a victory.

“I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed.”

Flavio’s comments reveal the day-to-day struggles faced by the now-reclusive sporting hero, who once epitomised the swashbuckling spirit of adrenaline sport.

Schumacher, 56, would go wheel-to-wheel with rivals at extreme speeds on the scariest of bends en route to a record-breaking seven Formula One world championships.

Off the track he would party with pals, smoke big cigars, sky dive, scuba dive and fly helicopters.

‘Michael communicates with his eyes’

But nothing has been seen of Michael since his near-fatal crash on Alpine slopes in France on December 29, 2013.

Rumours of some medical miracles, appearances, fresh photos and interviews frequently spread online.

But a Formula One insider tells The Sun that like Flavio, the world needs to get used to not seeing Michael’s beaming smile any more.

Craig Scarborough, who has been covering the sport for around 25 years and interviewed Michael many times, reveals: “I spoke to someone who is very, very close to him and they just explained we’re not going to hear any more from him.

“He’s in a comfortable position as far as he can be with his state of health.”

It has also been reported that only three people see Michael at his secluded home on the Spanish holiday island of Majorca.

Even Flavio, 75, who has been a close friend of Michael since they began working together at the Benetton racing team in 1991, has not seen him for a while.

But the Italian says he “often” speaks to Michael’s wife Corinna, 56.

Much of her time is said to be consumed by maintaining her husband’s care and keeping the exact details of his current health condition a secret.

And Corinna has also had to cope with all the distress of dealing with a blackmail plot.

Yilmaz Tozturkan, 53, and his son Daniel Lins, 30, had threatened to publish videos and pictures of Michael 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.

Michael Schumacher skiing.
Michael on the slopes in Italy in 2003
Rex Features
Corinna Schumacher and her daughter Gina at an award ceremony.
Corinna and Gina accepting a German lifetime achievement award on Michael’s behalf in 2022 in Cologne
Rex

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.

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.”

And last October stories emerged claiming that Michael had attended the wedding of his daughter Gina, 27, in Majorca.

Guests and staff had to hand over their mobile phones, while security guards made sure no one could snoop on the ceremony or party.

But Michael’s former Benetton teammate Johnny Herbert said: “From what I understand, that was all fake news.

We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable.

Corinna Schumacher

While it remains possible that Schumacher did attend the wedding in a wheelchair, another story was definitely made up.

Last year Corinna successfully sued German magazine Die Aktuelle for claiming on its cover “Michael Schumacher, the first interview!”

In fact the quotes had been generated by artificial intelligence.

What no outsider can be sure about is whether Michael could give an interview if he wanted to.

There have been conflicting accounts of his health condition.

When Michael’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 Michael to take some small steps, but that was later dismissed.

Michael Schumacher celebrating a Formula One victory.
Getty
Michael won a record-breaking seven Formula One world championships[/caption]
Flavio Briatore at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Getty
Flavio Briatore, seen here at Monaco GP last month, spoke about his former Benetton driver[/caption]

Most people in the know indicate that he is unable to talk, although it is possible he could use eye movements to send messages like the late scientist Stephen Hawking did.

In 2020 Flavio’s former wife Elisabetta Gregoraci claimed that: “Michael doesn’t speak, he communicates with his eyes.”

Friends do visit and he still follows sports.

Former Ferrari F1 chief Jean Todt said: “I can see him but of course, what I miss is what we used to do together.

“I watch Grand Prix with Michael.”

Corinna also indicated there was an attempt to maintain normality in difficult circumstances.

She said in a 2021 Netflix documentary: “We’re together.

“We live together at home.

“We do therapy.

“We’re trying to carry on as a family’

“We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond.

“And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will.

“We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does.”

I hope they can find happiness in the situation they find themselves in.

Craig Scarborough

It was reported by German media, ahead of the ten-year anniversary of his skiing accident in 2023, that Schumacher receives 24-hour care from a team of up to 15 people.

He has been driven in a Mercedes road car, and played sounds from the F1 track, to stimulate his brain with familiar noises.

There has been some good family news to lift Michael’s spirits.

Last month he became a grandfather for the first time when Gina gave birth to her daughter Millie.

His son, 26-year-old Mick, who spent two years as a F1 driver, was only 14 when his dad suffered the debilitating head injury.

In the Netflix documentary he admitted he would give “anything” to talk to him about the sport again.

Mick said: “I think dad and I would understand each other in a different way now, simply because we speak a similar language, the language of motorsport, and we would have a lot to talk about.

“That’s where my head is at most of the time, thinking that would be so cool. I’d give anything just for that.”

Mick found love with Danish model Laila Hasanovic, 26, in 2023 — and although they have recently been rumoured to have split   up, she was reportedly trusted enough by the family to be one of the few people to have visited Michael.

Craig reckons having close personal time with Mick and other family members is vital for the stricken motorsports star.

Physical workload

He says: “I think a lot of people demand stuff from him and I think that’s wrong.

“He is himself, and his family have a lot to contend with.

“Until you’ve cared for somebody, I don’t think anyone realises the emotion and the physical workload.

“The fact that they have been bold enough to withdraw from public life and not be tempted to do exclusives out there to various people, I think, is noble, and I hope that continues.

“I hope they can find happiness in the situation they find themselves in.”

Like Flavio, Craig is more comfortable talking about the Michael people knew before the ski tragedy.

He says: “He was a guy who enjoyed his personal time.

“He loved his family.

“He did lots of lovely things.

“He clearly liked a drink and he loved a big cigar.

“But he had lots of time to bring up his son.”

While it is understandable that Michael’s army of fans want to hear from him again, they may have to make do with recalling his past glories.

There were certainly more than enough of them for Flavio and others to remember.

Read More »

1000-Lb. Sisters star Tammy Slaton’s new girlfriend Andrea Dalton looks miserable in mugshots after TWO recent arrests

1000-LB. SISTERS star Tammy Slaton’s new girlfriend Andrea Dalton looks miserable in two mugshots after being arrested twice in recent years. 

The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal that Tammy’s girlfriend who was introduced to fans for the first time this season, was arrested first in 2021 and then again just a year later. 

Two women sit at a table in a bowling alley, talking.
Instagram/TLC
1000-Lb. Sisters fans got to meet Tammy Slaton’s new girlfriend Andrea during the second episode this season[/caption]
Mugshot of Andrea Dalton.
Andrea Dalton was arrested for marijuana possession and reckless driving in 2021
MADISONVILLE POLICE DEPT.
Mugshot of Andrea Dalton.
In 2022, Andrea was arrested again for failing to appear in court on her charges from the previous year
MADISONVILLE POLICE DEPT

Andrea, 44, was arrested in October of 2021 and was hit with a slew of charges during the traffic-related incident. 

A court clerk confirmed that the TLC star’s new girlfriend was charged with careless driving, possession of marijuana, no operator license for a moped, disregarding a traffic control device, careless driving, and failure to produce an insurance card.

In her 2021 mugshot, Tammy‘s girlfriend looked downcast in a classic black and white jail uniform with a mask slung around her chin.

Less than a year later, when Andrea allegedly missed a court date on those charges, she was re-arrested for failing to appear in court. 

In that mugshot, she was seen in a similar black and white striped jail uniform, this time without the mask.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to Andrea for comment.

Fans met Tammy’s new girlfriend during the second episode of the current season of 1000-Lb. Sisters

Speaking to a confessional camera, Tammy, 38, said “Tonight I have a date with Andrea, my girlfriend.

“Embarrassing enough, this is technically, like, one of my first dates. My very first, like, real date out in public.”

Fans got to see the new couple try bowling for both of their first times since childhood. 

HOW TAMMY AND ANDREA MET

According to Andrea, she and Tammy met on a dating app. 

“I had just got on there, I wasn’t on there very long. And I saw her, and she saw me, and we just started talking. And it’s been, like, every day since.”

Meanwhile, Tammy gushed “Andrea is beautiful. I like everything about her.”

As The U.S. Sun previously reported, Tammy was married to Caleb Willingham, who she met at a rehab center in Ohio back in November of 2022, but they had split before his death in July 2023

Tammy has undergone yet another major transformation after losing around 500 lbs.

STUNNING NEW LOOK 

Reality star Tammy Slaton, 38, underwent skin removal surgery specifically targeting her chin, leaving her looking dramatically different.

The 1000-Lb. Sisters star has been proudly showing off her impressive 500-pound weight loss, and her transformation continues with her newly slimmed-down appearance following the procedure.

After facing delays, Tammy was finally approved for the surgery and has since revealed her refined jawline and loose-skin-free look on social media.

Tammy shared a series of affectionate TikTok clips featuring Andrea, where she appeared completely smitten.

While fans admired Tammy’s loved-up vibe, it was her noticeably slimmer face and jawline that had fans taking notice. 

“You neck looks amazing, Tammy,” pointed out one person.

“Tammy! You had skin removal on your face! You look so good! Love it! So proud of you and your accomplishments,” said a second.

She previously opened up to E! News about the skin surgery before she had it done. 

Tammy told the outlet: “I’m so used to seeing all this hanging [from] my arms and now when I wake up Sunday or Saturday, I’m not going to have this anymore.”

“I’m going to look halfway normal from [the] face down.

“It’s scary but rewarding at the same time.”

Tammy Slaton and her girlfriend in a selfie.
TikTok/tammy.l.slaton
Tammy took to TikTok to show off her new relationship, but fans zeroed in on the star’s noticeably different appearance[/caption]
Close-up video of Tammy Slaton.
TikTok/tammy.l.slaton
Since losing 500 pounds, Tammy was finally able to get surgery to remove the excess skin around her neck[/caption]
Woman in denim overalls standing by a car.
TikTok/tammyslaton2020
At Tammy’s heaviest, she weighed 725 lbs[/caption]

Read More »

Stunning Dallas Cowboys cheerleader turns heads with ‘intensive’ outfit routine ahead of new NFL season

A DALLAS COWBOYS cheerleader has turned heads with her “intensive” outfit routine.

Ava Lahey, a cheerleader for the NFL franchise, revealed the arduous process she undergoes to keep the squad’s iconic blue and white uniform looking as good as new.

Woman in floral bikini and sunglasses.
instagram @avamarielahey
Ava Lahey has revealed her ‘crazy ‘intensive’ outfit routine[/caption]
Three Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in uniform.
instagram @avamarielahey
Lahey is a cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys[/caption]
Cleaning a white garment with a toothbrush.
TikTok @avalahey
On TikTok she revealed how she keeps the uniform looking fresh[/caption]
Close-up of a white shirt collar and a royal blue shirt.
TikTok @avalahey
She explained the multi-step process to fans[/caption]
Woman adding laundry detergent to a washing machine.
TikTok @avalahey
The video racked up more than three millions views on TikTok within five days[/caption]
Ava Lahey, Rookie Candidate for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
instagram @avamarielahey
Lahey has worked with the Cowboys since the start of last season[/caption]

Taking to her TikTok social media page, Lahey took viewers through the “long process” of washing her kit.

In a voiceover at the beginning of the clip, she is heard saying: “Clean my DCC uniform with me.

“If you’ve ever wondered how we keep these clean or how we wash them, this is the video for you.

“I start by removing all of my velcro stars. Yes, they’re on with velcro. That typically shocks people.

“And we can also remove the big belt buckle.

“Another little fun fact is that we pin the lapels down, but you have to remove the safety pins before you wash it so you don’t leave any rust on the uniform.”

Despite the odd video subject it seemed to go down well with fans, as the 92-second clip racked up more than three million views and almost 264,000 likes within five days of posting.

She then grabbed her stain spray which she said she uses to remove any dirt from the field or self-tanner that might have rubbed off onto the uniform.

Lahey, a graduate from the University of Kentucky, continued: “This is a stain spray that I use to get out any dirt and tanner.

“There are certain ingredients that we are not allowed to use on the uniform — and surprisingly, this material is very forgiving and easy to clean.

“The blouse is a much simpler process. You just turn the sleeves wrong-side out, use a free and clear detergent and put it on gentle wash.”

Lahey then finally gets on to the stars of the uniform, explaining: “I put them in a Tupperware with warm water and Dawn dish soap.

“After the white pieces of my uniform have soaked for a little bit, I tied them in pillowcases and put them in a gentle wash with free and clear detergent as well.”

After removing them from the washing machine, she concluded: “It’s time to put the stars back on — and there’s a little hack.

“Each star has a little pink dot of marker at the tip of the star. This ensures that the same tip of the star is getting dirty, so it’s easier to clean.

“Now everything’s good as new!”

Lahey, who first joined the DCC for the 2024-25 NFL season, has more than 65,000 followers on the platform.

Woman in black corset top and cargo pants.
instagram @avamarielahey
Lahey has just shy of 66,000 followers on TikTok[/caption]
Woman with blonde hair and a gingham dress.
instagram @avamarielahey
Lahey has more than 1.7 millions likes on the platform[/caption]
Woman in floral bikini standing by palm trees.
instagram @avamarielahey
She is a graduate from the University of Kentucky[/caption]

Read More »

Passengers at major airlines warned they could LOSE frequent flyer rewards under new law

FREQUENT fliers may have a turbulent time ahead of them as new legislation threatens airline loyalty programs.

Major US airlines, as well as labor unions and manufacturers, wrote to senators on Monday, warning that the bill could damage the aviation industry.

Long security line at a busy airport.
Getty
New legislation may effect frequent fliers[/caption]
Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas speaking at a White House event.
AP
Republican Senator Roger Marshall is one of the legislators responsible for the new bill[/caption]
Senator Dick Durbin speaking at a Senate hearing.
AFP
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin supported the bill with Marshall[/caption]

United, American, and Southwest Airlines are among the significant players fighting back against legislation proposed by Republican Kansas Senator Roger Marshall and Democratic Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, Business Insider reported.

The proposed bill would amend the GENIUS Act, which focuses on regulating cryptocurrency.

The amendment aims to expand competition among credit card providers and reduce card fees.

Airlines previously overturned the government’s attempts to control credit card fees in the past, but this may be a more challenging feat.

Marshall and Durbin’s bill has been supported by key players such as the National Retail Federation, but has faced major backlash from airlines and financial institutions.

“A lot of people call airlines credit card companies with wings,” points guru and Prince of Travel editor, TJ Dunn, previously told BI.

The letter cited a study by Airlines for America, which revealed that airline travel rewards cards generated $25 billion in economic activity in 2023.

Over 31 million Americans owned airline rewards cards.

In 2023, travel rewards cards accounted for 57% of the frequent flyer miles or points earned that year.

Loyalty programs for Delta, United and American were each valued at over $20 billion in 2023, USA Today reported.

“Americans value and enjoy credit card rewards programs because they reward consumers for dollars that they would be spending no matter what,” the letter said. 

“Many may be unpleasantly surprised if Congress disrupts those programs.”

Airlines argue that this bill could prevent travel from being accessible.

The letter states that the amendment could cause travel rewards programs to stop completely. 

Unions representing pilots, flight attendants, and Boeing workers have all signed the letter.

The unions argue that a reduction in loyalty programs could also cause “a contraction in airline activity and jobs.”

How can the legislation effect loyalty programs?

The new legislation may lead to the end of airline loyalty programs, according to a letter sent to the US Senate. The amendment will restrict the fees that credit card companies can charge.

“Americans value and enjoy credit card rewards programs because they reward consumers for dollars that they would be spending no matter what,” the letter said. 

“Many may be unpleasantly surprised if Congress disrupts those programs.”

Unions wrote that lost revenue would “certainly complicate existing or future collective bargaining negotiations.”

As a result of the loss of revenue, the letter argues that airlines wouldn’t have as much money to invest in new planes.

Dublin and Marshall believe that the new amendment could help small businesses.

In total, sellers and consumers may save $15 billion in annual transaction fees.

Read More »