Joshlin Smith, her daughter, was abducted and sold to a South African mother for more than a year before she was sentenced to life in prison. The child was sold to a traditional healer for $1,100, according to a witness.
Formula 1 drivers are “too nice” when posed with questions about changing the Monaco Grand Prix, according to Fernando Alonso.
The rule change, which required drivers to make two pit stops at Monaco last weekend, has drawn the attention of several drivers.
The Aston Martin driver, a two-time world champion and double champion in Monaco, said: “There is this constant discussion about how bad something is rather than how good it is.
“This is Monaco,” There may be some ideas between all parties involved in the sport for Monaco, but I don’t believe there is a need to think about anything.
“We only respond to questions because there is a lot of content to be created right now, and drivers are too nice,” the author says.
If you asked Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost about Monaco 40 years ago and they were competing for the title, they would be less polite than we were.
The most successful driver in Formula One history, Fernando Alonso, said that in Monaco, “you see one overtake every ten years.”
He continued, “I’m always a little surprised by the negative remarks from Monaco on Monday.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be going to Monaco next year, and on Wednesday we’ll be so excited, and on Friday we’ll all say it’s the best track of the season, and we’ll all want to win,” and then we’ll all be super-excited and excited on Saturday. And then we’ll all be let down once more on Sunday. It is what it is.
Alex Wurz, the chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GDPA), shared some changes to the track that he thought might improve racing on Instagram, including a slight reorganization of the Loews and Rascasse corners.
The GPDA director, George Russell, a Mercedes driver, added that “Monaco has always been the same.” The solution is beyond me. I believe that we should accept Monaco for who it is.
Monaco being on the calendar makes F1 more appealing. Although the race is boring, qualifying makes us appreciate some of the other races.
Do we need to make every possible effort to make it better on Sunday, asks Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who won in Monaco in 2024 and finished second this year? Without a doubt.
Monaco has always been that way. In contrast to other races, there has always been a Sunday race where there isn’t much action or much less.
Alonso will be 45 by the end of the current season under his Aston Martin contract.
He stated in an interview with BBC Sport that “probably, or at least start,” this will be my final season in Formula One.
He claimed, however, that he was still motivated and competitive the day before the Spanish Grand Prix.
Alonso said, “I need to see how the new year begins and how motivated I am.”
Every year, there is a different outlook on how you perform, how competitive you feel, how determined you are to maintain your fitness level, and how your personal circumstances affect some crucial decisions you make.
“I am aware that a very crucial decision will be made regarding] when I stop racing,” he said.
When I was three years old, I first started a go-kart. I am now 43. I’ve had my hands on the steering wheel for 40 years, and I know that I will need to stop after one year. This is a crucial decision after which I will take some time to consider. I skipped F1 in 2018 and returned because I needed to. I must be certain that the next one is the same.
Alonso hasn’t managed to get a point this year, and he’s making his worst start to a year yet.
Apart from a crash in the wet in Australia, Pierre Gasly’s Alpine’s Alpine threw a lot of gravel on the track in front of him, largely because his car failed in the few races where the Aston Martin has been competitive enough to finish in the top 10.
His engine, for instance, failed last weekend while he was sixth in Monaco.
At a 0.297sec average advantage, he is nine-one ahead of teammate Lance Stroll in qualifying.
Alonso continued, “You need to feel it when you retire.” And I’m yet to feel it.
“I’m so happy to be in the car tomorrow and Sunday, motivated, and doing well.”
The stopwatch will alert me if we continue to be healthy and in good health, but I’m already feeling well.
On day one of the European Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, British Paralympic champion Benjamin Pritchard set a new world record.
Pritchard, 33, clinched gold in the PR1 men’s single sculls in Paris on Thursday night in the final of the competition in Bulgaria with a time of nine minutes, three 84 seconds.
The Welshman’s new world record, set at 8:47.88, beat the previous best of 8.50.38 set by Ukrainian Roman Polianskyi.
Pritchard claimed that his performance was a result of the LA 2028 Games’ “performance reset.”
Once the 2024 season was over, it was back to zero, he said, “we’ve got a mantra back at British Rowing.”
“Yes, I won the Paralympics, but this cycle is entirely different. You have to keep up the training to keep moving forward because you are unaware of what other people have done in the winter and what new athletes are gaining.
To go out there and get the world’s best time, which I still feel like I’m early in my season preparations, shows how much the effort I’m making, including trying to be an athlete, working in the city, and being a father, is worthwhile.
In addition, British record-holder Lauren Henry won the women’s single sculls competition, setting a British record.
The third fastest time Henry has ever won was 7:09.76, which Henry won in Paris last year as part of the quadruple sculls.
On Friday, the Englishwoman will compete in the semi-finals.
For my first senior international single race, the 23-year-old said: “It’s an exciting result.” I’m delighted that my plan has been carried out.
According to LGBTQ adults, a new poll conducted by the Pew Research Center found that transgender people in the United States have less social acceptance than lesbian, gay, or bisexual people.
According to “The Experiences of LGBTQ Americans Today” report released on Thursday, about six out of ten LGBTQ adult respondents in the poll said there is “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of social acceptance in the US for gay and lesbian people.
Only about one in ten people, including transgender people, said the same thing about non-binary people, and about half claimed there was “not much” or “no acceptance at all” for transgender people.
After Donald Trump’s election, the survey of 3,959 LGBTQ adults was conducted in January, just before he took office and began a number of policies that question transgender people’s existence and their place in society.
Trump rejected scientific and empirical claims that gender is a spectrum, in his first day in office by signing an executive order urging the government to recognize people as male or female based on the “biological truth” of their future cells at conception.
Since then, Trump has forbid transgender athletes from competing in female sports events, pushed transgender service members from serving in the military, and attempted to block federal funding for gender-affirming care for transgender people under the age of 19.
About half of US adults are in favor of Trump’s approach to transgender issues, according to a poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research in May.
According to the Pew poll, transgender people are less likely than gay or lesbian adults to say they are accepted by all of their families. Although the proportion of gay or lesbian people said they were accepted by their siblings and friends, the majority of LGBTQ people said they were.
Compared to roughly one-third of transgender people, about half of gay and lesbian people said their parents did. Compared to the three in ten who are gay or lesbian, only about one in ten reported feeling accepted by their extended family.
About two-thirds of LGBTQ adults said the landmark US Supreme Court ruling, which legalized same-sex unions on June 26, 2015, boosted same-sex couples’ acceptance “a lot more” or “somewhat more” than that.
When it comes to gorgeous spring attire, the Chelsea Flower Show is the event to attend. The Flower Show’s guests always impress, whether they’re looking for pastel florals or bold, bold colors. Because Boden pieces are all still available, they’re perfect to add to your spring and summer wardrobe at this year’s event.
Featured on Boden’s official Instagram, various brightly coloured outfits gained the spotlight. Among the spring-ready lineup were this popular Embroidered Item Jacket, alongside this fast-selling Liv Boat Neck Linen T-Shirt and this coveted Marylebone Interest Blazer – and the best news is, they’re all still available in various sizes, though they are selling like hot cakes, so you’ll need to move quickly.
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Over 200 customers have checked out the Embroidered Item Jacket (£228) today, which has been hailed as a must-have. This vibrant piece, which is available in two patterns, has a bold and colorful design that will undoubtedly draw attention. The Islington jacket has bright colors that are appropriate for this time of year and have all-over embroidery. This beauty has a soft cotton lining, making it easy to travel with, and it doesn’t just win for style.
This Liv Boat Neck Linen T-Shirt ($80) from elsewhere at the Chelsea Flower Shower is a strong contender for this spring’s ultimate staple t-shirt. This gem is made of the well-known linen, which keeps it light and airy on warm days, and has a simple striped pattern. The short-sleeved t-shirt has a stylish boat neckline for a fun twist on a casual design and is cool on the skin.
This highly sought-after Marylebone Interest Blazer (£270) was last but not least. This jacket features a vibrant floral embroidery design and is available in a navy colorway. Classic tailoring is given a springy twist by the Stamford blazer. A reverse collar, sleeves, contrast piping, welt pockets, and a semi-fitted cut and simple-breasted design complete the embroidered linen jacket’s welt-pocket design, which gives it a unique tailored look with a fun twist. You’ll need to pick up your size quickly so that it’s gone as well since this item is only available in a limited number of sizes due to its popularity.
French Open 2025
Location: Roland Garros, May 25 – June
As the nation’s interest in the French Open women’s singles ended, British No. 1 Katie Boulter failed to shock American seventh seed Madison Keys.
In the second round, Boulter suffered a number of self-inflicted injuries, including nine double faults in eight service games, beating Australian Open champion Keys 6-1, 6-3.
Boulter, who was broken five times, said, “You’re always under pressure” if you don’t have a great serving day against someone like that.
“I believe I hit a double-fault in almost every service game I play.” You simply can’t afford to do that against someone of that caliber.
Sonay Kartal, a fellow Briton, was also knocked out shortly after Boulter’s exit.
In her first French Open appearance, Kartal struggled for consistency as Marie Bouzkova, a Czech, lost 6-1, 6-4.
After falling to Iga Swiatek, the pair followed Emma Raducanu, who is currently competing in the clay-court Grand Slam tournament, out of the competition.
As their quest for the title of Britain’s top women’s player continues in the grass-court season, all three players are currently ranked in the top 50.
After Boulter, Kartal, and Raducanu’s euphoria of winning their opening matches, no British women have qualified for the third round of Paris.
The trio’s winnings in the first round were among the six British singles players, which was the most successful total since 1973.
The conflict between Boulter and Raducanu was obvious because he had the unenviable task of facing one of the best players in the world on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The 28-year-old had four break points to start off strong, but her momentum lost and her serve began to deteriorate as a result.
Double faults occurred during both of Keys’ breaks in the opening set, with one occurring at break point in the second set’s opening game.
Boulter’s second serve sank as she was 4-1 broken once more, and as a result, Keys, 30, won the match with her second match point.
“It was a really difficult match,” he said. Boulter admitted that he was a little off the mark.
“Granted, she was playing pretty well, but I initially felt a little off base.
It might have been a little easier for myself if I’d perhaps experienced one of those breaks or been held to a tie.
Boulter will enjoy her clay-court season despite the humiliating nature of the defeat.
In the run-up to Roland Garros, she received her first clay title in the French capital after falling into the second-tier of the WTA Tour.
Boulter has struggled with fluidity and confidence in her movement because playing on clay has never been an easy experience.
She can now concentrate on the grass, where her serve and forehand can flourish, despite how she was outclassed by Keys’ methods on the surface.
Kartal, who has climbed more than 200 places in the rankings over the past year, was the first player to participate in the French Open main draw.
After winning her opening match, the British number three now hopes to remain there for the grass season and beyond.
My end of year goal was “the top 50,” Kartal said.
I knew I had to hit it, and given how I had the year off, I knew I could do it sooner than I had anticipated.
The new objective is now to remain there.
The Briton broke in the match’s opening service game, but neither Kartal nor Bouzkova had a fluent beginning.
In the following game, Kartal was unable to convert a break-back point and was quickly led to surrender before serving.
A dubious doubles player named Bouzkova dictated the action, and Kartal’s double fault gave her the first set.
The second set featured a topsy-turvy match between the players, who traded six serve breaks before Bouzkova finally tied the match at 5-4.