
Tank seen on key Gaza road as Israeli forces push deeper into north
Witnesses say a key road to the south was briefly cut, as video seemed to show a tank fire at a car.
2023-10-30 23:22

Gun shop turned Maine suspect away months before mass shooting
The National Guard also flagged the suspect, saying they feared he would "commit a mass shooting".
2023-10-30 23:16

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin and a ‘thoroughly miserable’ decline which could have consequences
Fernando Alonso is not a man often indifferent in his persona. The two-time world champion has made a career, sometimes to his detriment, out of doggedly striving for more, with an insatiable greed that has motivated him to keep racing into his 40s. But for the first time this season – a season which started with so much potential and excitement – the Formula 1 veteran is apathetic. A mood indicative of Aston Martin’s monumental drop-off in performance. “Honestly we are not fighting for anything,” Alonso said, off the back of a weekend to forget in Mexico City and a second retirement in a row. “In the constructors’ championship, we are locked in the position we are. In the drivers championship, we will lose a couple of places.” While Max Verstappen has continued to sail off into the sunset, Alonso’s 2023 optimism has slowly waned away. After six podiums in eight races, the 42-year-old has recorded just one in the last 11 grands prix. Milliseconds from what could have been a win-clinching pole position in Monaco, Alonso’s goal of a first race win in 10 years has inched further and further out of reach. Spanish fans had been dreaming of “Como 33” – a nod to a forthcoming 33rd victory – but with three races to go Aston Martin, in what seems no time at all, have gone from second-strongest to distinctly the fifth best team on the grid. Mexico on Sunday was perhaps a new low. Starting in 13th place, Alonso dropped back rapidly after sustaining suspected floor damage in the aftermath of Sergio Perez’s collision with Charles Leclerc. By the time the mid-race red flag was issued, he was dead-last and even suffered the indignity of being asked to let team-mate Lance Stroll pass. Eventually, over 20 laps from the end, his race was brought to an end by his team. It left Martin Brundle, on commentary for Sky, to describe the Spaniard’s weekend as a “thoroughly miserable event.” It marks quite the turnaround for the sport’s early-season surprise package. Buoyed by an rapid aerodynamic package that was quickly nicknamed “the green Red Bull” and a muti-million pound investment including a new state-of-the-art factory at Silverstone, Lawrence Stroll’s gamble in buying Force India in 2018 looked finally to have paid off following testing and the first race of the season in Bahrain. Technical director Dan Fallows, poached from Red Bull, had designed a car capable of beating Mercedes and Ferrari, while still some way off Adrian Newey’s rocketship. Alonso, like a kid in a candy shop, was beaming in just about every interview he did. That critical qualifying in Monaco is as close as he has come to a victory. With overtaking on-track a near-impossibility in the principality, Alonso looked to have claimed pole until Verstappen – with a final sector for the ages – snatched top spot. And while a second-place in Canada soon followed, Austria at the start of July represented a sea-change in the pecking order. Mercedes were making slow inroads; Ferrari had found pace on Saturdays. But the biggest shock of all was McLaren’s revolutionary upgrades. Suddenly, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were challenging for podiums. And in a matter of months, the papaya have replaced the racing green as a leading contender mixing with the big boys. Put simply, while upgrades have quickened most of the field, Aston’s changes throughout the season have not had the desired effect. Since Zandvoort in August, Alonso has claimed just 15 points and has gone from being settled in third place in the championship behind the leading Red Bull duo to now languishing in fifth. Stroll’s antics – most notably in Qatar, pushing his personal trainer and sulking in the media pen – have not helped the general morale surrounding the team, too. Alonso finishing as low as eighth in the world championship, with George Russell just 32 points behind now, is now very plausible. The demise has been substantial. But in the wider scheme of the F1 arms race, Aston’s significant rise up the rankings was perhaps bound to conclude this season with a decrease in performance. Was it all too much too soon? Perhaps. But while Alonso is keeping his chin just about up for now, the Spaniard is not the sort to accept mediocrity. Rumours on social media on Monday speculated that Alonso could replace Perez at Red Bull next season in what would be an incomprehensible straight swap. Not afraid to ruffle feathers, don’t be surprised if the Spaniard asks the question over the coming weeks. Most of all, Aston Martin need to prove again to their most valuable asset that a reverse of their current slide is on the horizon, heading into 2024. Read More Max Verstappen gives blunt verdict on Sergio Perez’s Mexican Grand Prix crash Christian Horner drops Daniel Ricciardo hint as pressure mounts on Sergio Perez Kevin Magnussen’s car catches fire after high-speed crash in Mexico F1 fan banned for life after attacking Ferrari supporters in Mexico Sergio Perez lasts just 14 seconds in home race as Max Verstappen wins in Mexico ‘A lot of booing!’ Charles Leclerc reacts after jeers from Mexican fans
2023-10-30 21:45

At least three killed in Hamburg scaffolding collapse
Hundreds of people are employed at the construction site in the German city's Uberseequartier.
2023-10-30 20:26

Israel Gaza war: Tanzanian students taken hostage by Hamas named
The two students were taken from a kibbutz where they were on an agriculture internship.
2023-10-30 19:22

Judge reinstates Trump gag order in election subversion case
It prevents him from criticising court staff, prosecutors and possible witnesses between now and his trial.
2023-10-30 18:46

Max Verstappen gives blunt verdict on Sergio Perez’s Mexico Grand Prix crash
Max Verstappen believes his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez crashed out of the Mexican Grand Prix because he was overexcited by the prospect of finishing on the podium at his home race. Perez tried to brake last as he arrived on the inside of the first bend alongside Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the centre and Verstappen on the outside. His Red Bull slammed into Leclerc and leapt into the air before coming down in the run-off area. He managed to crawl round to the pitlane, and Red Bull mechanics soon had him back on the road, but they threw in the towel after only five more laps. Verstappen went on to win his 51st race as Perez watched on from the garage. “I mean, I understand because it’s his home Grand Prix,” Verstappen said, assessing the crash. “You want to be on the podium, I fully understand that. “He went around the outside, and he tried. Looking at the footage, I think he could have left a little bit more space, but at the other end if it would have worked, you know, you look amazing. And of course, I think it’s just more like that excitement of wanting to be on the podium and this time it didn’t work out, unfortunately.” Verstappen added: “At the time, I didn’t really see a lot. At one point, I just saw that a car was a bit flying in the air, but then I saw the footage after the race and then you can comment on it. But while driving it’s a bit hard because I was mainly focusing on Charles, because I couldn’t see what was happening on the outside.” Perez’s position at Red Bull has come under scrutiny in recent weeks and his performance in Mexico will only have added to speculation that his seat may be going to Daniel Ricciardo next season. Perez last won a race in Azerbaijan on 30 April, and his failure to finish at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez leaves his second place in the championship under threat from Hamilton. Indeed, the seven-time world champion reduced the gap from 39 points to 20 with his strong display. TOP-10 - MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX 1) Max Verstappen 2) Lewis Hamilton (+ fastest lap) 3) Charles Leclerc 4) Carlos Sainz 5) Lando Norris 6) George Russell 7) Daniel Ricciardo 8) Oscar Piastri 9) Alex Albon 10) Esteban Ocon Perez told DAZN after the race: “I’m sad without a doubt because today was my opportunity. I had a very good start and I was only thinking of winning the race. I didn’t want to be on the podium. I’ve been on the podium two years in a row. “I saw the opportunity and I went for it. In hindsight, I took a risk, but if I had pulled it off I would have come out of Turn 1 in the lead. I didn’t expect Charles to brake so late since he was the car in the middle. He had a lot less margin than Max, who was on the inside, and I was the one who could brake the latest because I was on the outside.” Read More Christian Horner drops Daniel Ricciardo hint as pressure mounts on Sergio Perez Kevin Magnussen’s car catches fire after high-speed crash in Mexico F1 fan banned for life after attacking Ferrari supporters in Mexico
2023-10-30 18:18

Newtownhamilton: Man charged as officers injured in car ramming
A 21-year-old is to appear in court on charges relating to the alleged incident in County Armagh.
2023-10-30 17:47

Christian Horner lauds Daniel Ricciardo as pressure mounts on Sergio Perez
Christian Horner has left the door ajar for Daniel Ricciardo to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull next season following the Mexican’s retirement at his home grand prix. Perez’s race lasted just 14 seconds after he crashed into Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the opening bend. The 33-year-old had to watch Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen romp to a record 16th win of the season, while Ricciardo – who has already stated his desire to return to Red Bull – out-performed his modest AlphaTauri machinery to finish seventh after qualifying fourth. Although Horner said it is Red Bull’s “intention” to honour Perez’s contract for 2024, he refused to confirm that the Mexican would remain with the world champions beyond this term. Perhaps tellingly, he was also effusive in his praise for Ricciardo, lauding the Australian’s display in just his fourth comeback race as “remarkable”. It is possible that the two drivers could trade seats in 2024. “Sergio has an agreement with us for next year and our intention is for him to be in the car in 2024,” said Horner. “We will give him all the support he needs to ensure he finishes second in the championship. “It was great to see Daniel perform so well and it endorses our decision to bring him back. I thought he was outstanding this weekend and if it was not for the red flag, he would have finished further up the order. “It was a remarkable performance and he is back to his old self. He is relaxed and confident.” Perez went for glory at the opening corner – perhaps sensing this could be his final opportunity to win on home soil – but he misjudged the move and collided with Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton took second to reduce the deficit to Perez to just 20 points in the race for runner-up in the championship. “There is no prerequisite that if he doesn’t finish second, he is out of the team,” added Horner. “It is not as binary as that. You have to look at the circumstances. “It was a tough moment for him in front of his home crowd and he was very emotional, but he wouldn’t be a racing driver if he didn’t go for the lead at his home race. It is a big loss for him in a car that was capable of being on the podium. “He is a tough operator and that is why he is in the car, because mentally he has always been able to bounce back. He will brush himself down and turn it into motivation. He has the full support of the team.” Ricciardo won seven times for Red Bull before taking the surprise decision to move to Renault in 2019. He subsequently joined McLaren, but endured two poor years. Ricciardo’s career looked to be over when he was dumped by the British team at the end of last season. But the 34-year-old has performed admirably – despite being absent for five races with a broken wrist – since being handed a second chance with Red Bull’s junior team. Indeed, his seventh place in Mexico was AlphaTauri’s best result of the year. Ricciardo will be back in action at this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix – the first of three concluding rounds this season. Read More Sergio Perez lasts just 14 seconds in home race as Max Verstappen wins in Mexico Charles Leclerc secures pole position for the Mexican Grand Prix Charles Leclerc leads Ferrari front row at Mexican Grand Prix Essex boy with Italian twang – History-maker Ollie Bearman impresses in Mexico Max Verstappen sets fastest time in Mexican Grand Prix practice Max Verstappen urges fans to show him respect ahead of feisty Mexican Grand Prix
2023-10-30 17:27

Home Office accused of delays to reunite family
Luilana, eight, from Eritrea, spends three years apart from her mum who lives in Birmingham.
2023-10-30 16:59

HSBC May Lift Variable Pay By $300 Million, Costs to Rise
HSBC Holdings Plc said it may increase some variable pay, resulting in higher expenses, after it announced a
2023-10-30 15:16

Levi Davis: Missing rugby player's family say they live in hope
Levi Davis' mum says she "prays he will turn up one day" as she marks a year since his disappearance.
2023-10-30 14:47