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Crystal Palace 4-0 Man Utd: Olise stars as Red Devils torn apart at Selhurst Park

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Manchester United’s terrible season reached a new low on Monday as Erik ten Hag’s under-fire team were thrashed 4-0 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, piling more pressure on the beleaguered Dutchman.

With their injury problems continuing to mount, United fielded Casemiro alongside Jonny Evans in a makeshift backline and were torn to shreds by Oliver Gasner’s outstanding Eagles.

Aided by two Casemiro mistakes, Michael Olise scored two wonderful goals, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell joining him on the scoresheet on a memorable night for the hosts.

If anything, the scoreline flattered United, who have now won just one of their last seven Premier League games and sit eighth in the table, with their chances of European qualification under severe threat with fixtures against Arsenal, Brighton and Hove Albion and Newcastle United to come.

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Olise put Palace ahead within 12 minutes, turning with ease between the lines before sitting Casemiro down and reaching the edge of the box, then stroking his finish past Andre Onana.

The Palace playmaker almost had a second moments later, but his goalbound shot was inadvertently blocked by Mateta with Onana scrambling.

United thought they had an equaliser midway through the first half as Casemiro’s back-post header looped in with Dean Henderson grounded after a collision with Rasmus Hojlund, but the Dane was penalised for a foul on the former Red Devils goalkeeper.

United then fell two goals behind just before half-time, Mateta easing past Evans in the left-hand channel before blasting his finish in at the near post.

Casemiro saw a second goal disallowed just after the break, heading Christian Eriksen’s free-kick against the post then converting on the rebound only to see the offside flag raised against him.

The game was over as a contest just before the hour mark, with Mitchell on hand to tap home inside the six-yard box after Joachim Andersen kept Adam Wharton’s cross alive at the back post.

Ten Hag’s visitors were further embarrassed nine minutes later, with Daniel Munoz shrugging Casemiro off the ball to find Olise, who lashed his shot past the helpless Onana from range.

Odsonne Edouard shot against the near post in stoppage time as United narrowly avoided conceding a fifth, but that will mean little on another chastening night for the Red Devils, who face three difficult fixtures to end the season before entering their first transfer window under the Jim Ratcliffe regime.

Formula One: Lando Norris says maiden win ‘a long time coming’

Lando Norris says his first Formula One win was “a long time coming” after the Brit took the chequered flag in Miami.

Norris, 24, looked pacey in the McLaren all weekend despite qualifying fifth for the race.

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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen looked to have the race covered as usual but could not pull away from the chasing pack, including Norris’ team-mate Oscar Piastri, who was the closest man to the world champion until the safety car emerged with 27 laps to go.

The 24-year-old from Glastonbury benefitted from a cheap pit stop and emerged in the lead of the race for the restart.

He did not get away very well and had Verstappen all over his gearbox, but managed to keep the charging Bull behind.

In the end, Norris managed to pull out a 7.5-second gap to his rival and send the fans and mechanics dressed in papaya crazy as he finally got to stand on the top step of the podium after 15 races in either third or second.

At the end of this 110th grand prix start and first victory, he said: “A long day, a tough race, but finally on top so I’m over the moon.

“I’m so happy for my whole team, I’ve finally been able to deliver for them.

“What a race, it’s been a long time coming but finally I’ve been able to do it.

“I’m just proud really. I mean, a lot of people doubted me along the way.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes over the last five years, my short career, but today we put it all together so this is all for the team.”

Norris had previously been the sport’s record-holder for a driver that has been on the podium the most times without a win.

But he will now be keen to push on after seeing McLaren’s significant upgrades give them the edge in Miami.

Next up is a trip to Imola in Italy where the Brit will be hoping to be just as competitive and prove his maiden triumph was not just a fluke.

 

Local elections 2024: A summary so far

Labour candidates made major gains in Thursday’s local elections, even winning in the prime minister Rishi Sunak’s “backyard” of North Yorkshire, where he is an MP..

The Conservatives suffered heavy losses throughout England.

Sir Keir Starmer has been urging Sunak to call a general election and could continue to press for one, following the key by-election win in Blackpool South this morning, with a 26% swing.

With five councils still to declare their results, Labour has so far won key councils and regional mayors in England, with the Tories losing 10 councils and more than 400 councillors.

Labour won councils in Hartlepool, Redditch, Milton Keynes and Thurrock, but lost Oldham to no overall control, where two councillors quit the party over Gaza earlier this year.

Sunak said the losses were disappointing but mayoral contests like Tees Valley were a “key battleground.”

The Conservatives have lost control of Gloucester City Council, which is now under no overall control.

But it was Boris Johnson Boris who made the headlines after he forgot to take voter ID to his local polling station.

The former PM, whose government introduced the rules, returned later to vote when he had collected it.

On Thursday, Londoners also chose between 13 candidates for the mayor of London, with votes being counted on Saturday.

George Russell keen for Max Verstappen to join Mercedes

George Russell would relish the challenge of Max Verstappen joining Mercedes.

The Formula 1 world champion has been linked with a move away from Red Bull following chief technical officer Adrian Newey’s departure from the team and the Silver Arrows have been tipped as a potential destination for the Dutchman.

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Mercedes have an open seat for the 2025 season after Lewis Hamilton announced he would be leaving the team after 11 years to join Ferrari alongside Charles Leclerc.

The announcement shocked the paddock and rumours have been circulating ever since about the future of several other drivers.

Kimi Antonelli is another name tipped to make the step into the absent Mercedes car next year, but there are reportedly doubts over whether the 17-year-old would be able to complete straight away having barely started his career in Formula 2.

Russell made the move from Williams in 2022 and has done well to challenge the seven-time world champion in Hamilton and he insists he wants to race alongside the best in order to prove himself.

He said: “Yeah, I’d be all for it, to be honest.

“I think coming into Mercedes in 2022 was off the back of Lewis’ legendary years and victories.

“And that was a huge task for anybody, jumping into a team where he’s been for so long.

“And you need to go against the best, in the same machinery, and show what you’ve got.

“I feel that having Lewis as my teammate for the last three years, he’s been a hell of a teammate, such a great driver. We push each other, every single week. It’s fair to say that.

“I would welcome Max. I want to go against the best – everybody wants to prove what they’ve got. So, yeah, make it happen.”

Verstappen has quashed rumours ahead of the Miami Grand Prix this weekend and insists he only wants to be racing in the best car.

Mercedes have not challenged for the championship in two years since the epic battle between the current champion and Hamilton in 2021.

The 26-year-old added: “My future is within Red Bull at the moment.

“Even if that were to be the case [earning €150m], money would not be the difference to make me go somewhere else.

“I know myself, and if I’m driving for P5 or P6, you get quite grumpy with yourself.

“It’s always about performances at the end of the day, everyone knows that and Toto [Wolff] also knows that.”

Glasner confident Crystal Palace can fend off Manchester United and keep Guehi

Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner has no doubts over the futures of star players Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze.

Both have been linked with moves to Manchester United in recent weeks after impressing for the South London club this season.

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Guehi is just returning from injury and is set to feature in the final few weeks for the Eagles while Eze has been the star man since Glasner replaced Roy Hodgson in February.

Palace are on a four-match unbeaten run and face the Red Devils on Monday night where United fans will get a good look at two of their summer transfer targets.

Speaking ahead of the match, Glasner said: “I’m always optimistic as all these players have contracts with Crystal Palace.

“It’s May and many situations can change. Nothing is 100% but he’s under contract, he’s a good player, he’s our captain so I’m very positive and confident that he plays for Crystal Palace.

“I saw it before, I saw him playing. I mentioned before I saw him working, his working attitude is outstanding.

“He has a lot of quality but also is very professional. We will support him as good as we can that he plays some good games for us and also for England in the Euros.”

Palace’s brilliant run of results started on 14 April when they beat Liverpool at Anfield, denting their title hopes.

Since then, the Eagles have beaten West Ham and Newcastle and drawn to Fulham, lifting themselves to 14th in the Premier League table as a result.

It will be difficult for Glasner’s side to finish in the top half by the end of the campaign but the Selhurst Park faithful will be encouraged by what they have seen in this new era under the former Eintracht Frankfurt manager.

He added: “We hope that we can keep this momentum. It is up to us how we work during the week.

“The players could relax for four days and yesterday we started preparing. They look ready, I could see how focused they are in training.

“We’re four games unbeaten and the goal is staying unbeaten until the end of the season.”

Manchester City: Guardiola plays down the benefit of experience in title race

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Pep Guardiola is not convinced Manchester City’s experience in previous title races will be beneficial in their head to head with Arsenal.

City go into the home game with Wolves tomorrow evening a point behind Mikel Arteta’s men with a game in hand – and the deficit may be four points by kick-off with the Gunners playing Bournemouth at 1230.

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It means City have little room for error as they go in search of an English record fourth successive top-flight title win.

Asked if the know-how gained from their three previous wins would prove a factor, Guardiola replied: “I would love [that], but I don’t know, I don’t have an answer to this question. I would love to say yes but we have to prove it tomorrow against Wovles and in the next games.

“We know that we have to win all 12 points, otherwise it will be difficult because Arsenal are so strong. It depends on us. One at a time and we try to win the games. It’s no more complicated. I would like to say what we have done in the past is going to happen again this season but nobody knows it.”

City will be boosted by the returns of Ruben Dias and Phil Foden, who was this morning named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.

Guardiola said of the England international: “The writers decide this award. Congratulation for the writers and for him. He played really good this season, many players played really good this season and the writers decide for this award so what can I say? Congratulations.

“[He’s done] really good. I have said many times. The impact in the final third is very good, his work ethic…Every year due to the amount of games he is playing and the minutes he is playing he is more mature.

“He understands the game better but he has to keep on improving, he is still young.”

City’s Champions League defeat at the hands of Real Madrid means they have had a rare midweek without a fixture and Guardiola has relished the chance to work with the players on the training pitch.

“Days off, three really good training sessions,” he said. “They always train really good. More fresh in the mind, tactics, little details. That is the stage, not much to talk about tactics. Fresh legs, minds, ready for the game for tomorrow.”

Manchester City duo Foden and Shaw land FWA awards

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Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has been named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.

Foden’s club mate Bunny Shaw took the women’s award.

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England international Foden has scored 22 goals and provided 10 assists for City this season with Pep Guardiola’s men still on course for a domestic league and FA Cup double.

He landed 42 per cent of the vote to edge out Arsenal’s Declan Rice with City’s Rodri coming third.

Foden said: “Being named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year is a huge honour. I’m very, very happy to receive this award but I could not have done it without the help of my team-mates. We have a very special squad of players at City, and I’m privileged to be a part of that group.

“I want to thank all my team-mates as well as Pep and the coaches for all the support and advice they have given me.

“I strive to be the best that I can be every single day and that is all down to the way the manager and my colleagues always seek to improve and get better.

Jamaica international Shaw took the women’s crown ahead of Chelsea’s Lauren James and City’s Alex Greenwood.

Her goals have carried City to the brink of the WSL title although her season is over due to a broken foot.

She said: “I am very proud and privileged to have received this award and to be recognised in this way is a special honour. I want to also thank all of my team-mates. They provide me with the chances to score goals and I could not have won this award without them.

“I also owe such a lot to [manager] Gareth [Taylor], the rest of the coaching team and everyone else here at City. It’s a pleasure to be part of such a special group.

“Many thanks to all who voted for me and to my fellow nominees. It means such a lot to have won this award. Hopefully the side can now finish off the season in style and give everyone special cause to celebrate.”

Luxe Aquatics Unveils One of Manchester’s Largest Private Fish Tank Designs

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Luxe Aquatics, the premier designers of large-scale luxury aquariums, proudly announces the completion and delivery of their latest masterpiece – one of the largest private fish tanks in Manchester’s City Centre. Nestled within the elegant confines of the prestigious Viadux, a soaring 40-storey private residency of luxury apartments, this stunning aquatic installation marks a new pinnacle of opulence in urban living.
Designed and executed by the expert team at Luxe Aquatics, the monumental fish tank stands as a testament to the company’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in aquatic design. Boasting unparalleled grandeur and sophistication, the aquarium serves as a captivating centrepiece, seamlessly blending into the luxurious ambiance of the Viadux.
“We are thrilled to unveil our latest Aquarium at the Viadux, a testament to our dedication to pushing the boundaries of luxury aquarium design,” said Simon Powell, Director at Luxe Aquatics. “This project exemplifies our passion for creating immersive aquatic experiences that elevate the aesthetic appeal and ambiance of prestigious living spaces. It was an honour to work with both Domis & Salboy who are at the forefront of design & development in Manchester”.
Spanning across the expansive lobby of the Viadux, the aquarium offers residents and visitors alike a mesmerizing glimpse into the enchanting world beneath the surface. From vibrant coral reefs teeming with exotic marine life to graceful aquatic creatures gliding effortlessly through crystal-clear waters, every detail has been meticulously crafted to evoke a sense of wonder and tranquillity.
“Luxe Aquatics specialises in the design of large-scale luxury aquariums, and we are immensely proud to have brought this vision to life right here in Manchester,” added Scott Duckworth, Director at Luxe Aquatics “This project underscores our deep-rooted commitment to our hometown and showcases our ability to transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary aquatic sanctuaries.”
The unveiling of one of the largest private fish tanks in Manchester City Centre at the Viadux In April 2024 not only aligns us with architectural ingenuity but also reinforces Luxe Aquatics’ position as a leader in the realm of luxury aquatic design. As the company continues to redefine the boundaries of possibility in the world of aquarium installations, it remains dedicated to delivering unparalleled craftsmanship and elegance to clients within the UK & Europe.

For more information about Luxe Aquatics and its portfolio of bespoke aquarium installations, visit www.luxeaquatics.com

Ortac International Accounting Opens New Dubai Office to Support British Business Relocation

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The United Arab Emirates, increasingly recognised as a prime destination for foreign investment, has seen a significant interest from British businesses. Recent statistics indicate a remarkable 420% increase in British citizens relocating to the UAE over the past five years. Ortac International Accounting has responded by opening a new office in Dubai to offer company establishment services tailored for British and other international clients.

The opening of Ortac International Accounting’s new Dubai office marks a strategic expansion aimed at supporting the growing number of British citizens moving to the UAE. Dubai, in particular, has become a popular destination, with a 45% increase in British relocations in 2023 alone.

Murat Ortac, Founding Partner of Ortac International Accounting, commented on the city’s allure, stating its “flexible procedures and favorable tax advantages” make Dubai an attractive location for entrepreneurs and professionals from around the world.

With over 240 thousand British expatriates residing in Dubai and approximately 5 thousand British companies operating in the UAE, Dubai stands as an increasingly important destination for international business ventures.
Ortac International Accounting offers efficient and seamless company establishment services in Dubai, leveraging its expertise and strategic partnerships. As the authorized professional partner of IFZA, Dubai’s premier free zone, Ortac ensures swift completion of company establishment procedures and banking formalities within just 7 working days, along with the provision of a two-year investor visa.
“The corporate tax rate and the tax system in general are important for business people who plan to establish a company in foreign markets. With its 9% rate, the UAE is almost at the top among the countries with the lowest corporate tax in the world. With the law enacted at the beginning of 2024, it became mandatory to work with an accounting company. With our 27 years of experience in accounting, we are now serving in Dubai,” Murat Ortac said.
Dubai’s competitive edge is its low tax rate and enviable expat lifestyle 
Dubai’s status as a global trade hub is underscored by its investor-friendly policies, including tax exemptions and a zero percent personal income tax. Its removal from the grey list in February 2024 further bolsters its appeal, enhancing operational ease for foreign entities and facilitating global business expansion. Dubai serves as a pivotal gateway connecting East and West, offering entrepreneurs access to investment opportunities in Asia as well.
Positioned as a nexus between continents, Dubai boasts world-class infrastructure and connectivity, facilitating seamless access to international markets. Its strategic location and advanced logistics infrastructure make it particularly attractive to companies operating in Consulting, IT, technology, software, blockchain, trade, logistics, and finance sectors.
Ortac International Accounting helps clients navigate complexity
Murat Ortac comments, “We recommend those who want to establish a company in Dubai to work with an expert business partner like Ortac International Accounting instead of surfing general information on the internet. Choosing an expert partner will save clients both time and cost.”
Navigating the complexities of international trade laws demands specialized expertise. Ortac International Accounting, with its comprehensive knowledge and experience spanning over 27 years, ensures efficient business expansion and compliance with local regulations. Collaborating with local stakeholders and authorities, Ortac minimizes bureaucratic hurdles, enabling swift realization of expansion goals.

Extensive Compensation Available for UK Drivers, Says Get My Claim

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Recent findings indicate that a significant number of UK drivers might be entitled to substantial compensation, having been overcharged when buying new cars. This overcharging issue, while widely reported, is not the only basis for claims.

Get My Claim has identified thousands of instances where finance lenders did not conduct necessary eligibility checks, potentially qualifying many motorists for refunds.

Charles Thompson, director at Get My Claim, commented: “The issue of ‘inflated prices’ is well documented, however, research suggests that a high number of motorists were sold a finance deal that they couldn’t actually afford meaning they too could be entitled compensation.”

He further emphasized, “Our mission at Get My Claim is to ensure that every motorist receives fair treatment and we’re committed to helping drivers reclaim what’s rightfully theirs.”

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is currently investigating whether practices like hire purchase or personal contract purchase have resulted in excessive interest charges.

To check your eligibility for a refund, visit Get My Claim.