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EATEN in consecutive weeks by their own ‘nursery club’, Chelsea’s season is threatening to implode.

In the early part of Todd Boehly’s Stamford Bridge reign, the American signed off almost a quarter of a billion pounds on recruiting members of Brighton and Hove Albion’s staff.

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Kaoru Mitoma scored a spectacular goal as Brighton beat Chelsea[/caption]

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AP

Todd Boehly has spent a fortune on recruiting players at Chelsea[/caption]

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From the British-record signing of Moises Caicedo to the poaching of Graham Potter and his entire backroom team.

From the eye-watering £62million fee agreed for full-back Marc Cucurella to the unconvincing goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to sporting director Paul Winstanley, there seemed an obsession with all things Brighton.

So it seemed particularly galling that after all that headhunting, Chelsea should be knocked out of the FA Cup, then handed their heaviest defeat of the Premier League season by the club they had supposedly gutted.

Throw in Enzo Maresca’s spat with Brighton’s spiky German child-boss Fabian Hurzeler and those two trips to good old Sussex by the sea have sent Chelsea’s campaign into a tailspin.

Now Chelsea are after Brighton’s Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma, who scored my goal of the season against them in Friday’s 3-0 drubbing at the Amex.

Mitoma, who famously wrote a university thesis on the art of dribbling, must have been indulging in more footballing intellectualism before he scored it.

A practical exam question: “Imagine what sort of goal Dimitar Berbatov could have scored if he’d been blessed with pace.”

Well that was it. And Chelsea only have seven senior wingers either in the building, out on loan or, in the case of £62m Mykhailo Mudryk, idling having failed a drug test.

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Maybe they need another one. Or two. Yankuba Minteh of Brighton looks pretty good.

Maresca, a curious appointment to replace Mauricio Pochettino in the summer, diminished his standing with Blues fans by claiming the Cup defeat would allow his team to concentrate on the league and the Conference League.

Some of us can remember Jose Mourinho mocking old sparring partner Rafa Benitez for winning the Europa League while Chelsea’s interim boss.

Mourinho claimed the club should never have been in Uefa’s second-tier competition.

What the old Special One would think of a Stamford Bridge boss concentrating on the third-class Conference League — in which Chelsea have so far, from memory, beaten Noah and the Whale, Mumford and Sons and Camper Van Beethoven — is anyone’s guess.

Who do Chelsea think they are? West Ham or something?

The back-to-back defeats are part of an 11-match run during which Chelsea have beaten only Morecambe, Wolves and,  fortuitously, Potter’s Hammers.

During this time they have increasingly resembled a bunch of talented youngsters in dire need of guidance from some grown-ups.

Boehly’s Chelsea project is based on the ‘genius’ idea of signing up dozens of young prospects on vastly lengthy contracts. And so this was always likely to happen.

Alan Hansen was lampooned for insisting “You can’t win anything with kids,” when  Manchester United’s Class of ’92 began to emerge at the start of the 1995-96 campaign — a season when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side went on to win the Double.

But that United squad included  seasoned campaigners such as Eric Cantona, Peter Schmeichel, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin and Brian McClair

Chelsea do not have a single outfield player over 30.

Even the outstanding 22-year-old Cole Palmer is showing the strain of having carried Chelsea for 18 months.

In April, Palmer missed a visit to Arsenal and Pochettino urged his players to prove ‘they are not Cole Palmer FC’. Chelsea lost 5-0.

Maresca correctly claimed his side were not ready for a title challenge when things looked rosy earlier in the season.

Yet he now faces the prospect of failing to qualify for the Champions League.

Fifth should be good enough. Chelsea are sixth and shot of confidence.

Is Maresca under threat? Maybe but what good would a sixth manager in 2½ seasons be when Boehly’s entire project looks so flawed.

Not even Brighton try to win solely with kids.

AN EFFIN’ BIG DEAL

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Jude Bellingham was sent off in Real Madrid’s draw with Osasuna[/caption]

AS THE only manager to have won the title in all five major European leagues, Carlo Ancelotti can swear proficiently in five different languages.

So when Jude Bellingham was sent off for using foul and abusive language at a referee during Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Osasuna on Saturday, Ancelotti, 65, played the cunning linguist card.

The Real boss claimed: “I think the referee did not understand Jude Bellingham’s English. He said ‘f*** off’, not ‘f*** you’ . . . that’s way different.”

This opens up an entire can of foul-mouthed worms.

Firstly, is ‘f*** you’ really significantly stronger than ‘f*** off’?

Given that ‘f***’ is the most versatile word in the English language, should Spanish referees really be expected to understand the nuances of its myriad uses?

Are Premier League refs trained to understand the usage of foreign swear words so as to weigh up whether any specific instance merits a red card?

And if not, does this give overseas players an advantage over native English speakers in our top flight?

Or maybe Bellingham should simply stop swearing at officials all the time.

MIGHTY MOUSH

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Omar Marmoush netted a stunning hat-trick against Newcastle[/caption]

MANCHESTER CITY clearly signed a couple of seriously good players in January.

So why didn’t boss Pep Guardiola have the nerve to start either Omar Marmoush or Nico Gonzalez in the first leg of City’s Champions League play-off against Real Madrid?

In Saturday afternoon’s 4-0 humping of Newcastle, Marmoush bagged a hat-trick, while midfield anchor-man Gonzalez was dubbed ‘mini-Rodri’ by his manager.

Guardiola reckons his side have just a one per cent chance of overturning a 3-2 deficit in the second leg at the Bernabeu tomorrow night.

But with those two in the team, City’s chances should be a whole lot better.

OLIVER’S TWIST

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Oliver Glasner often wears a knitted jumper on the touchline[/caption]

MANAGERIAL touchline fashions have become fascinating in recent years.

From Roberto Mancini’s Man City scarf to Pep Guardiola’s roll-necks to Scott Parker’s entire wardrobe,  fashionistas have often salivated.

Yet for me, a middle-aged man who spends a lot of winter evenings out in the cold watching football, there is a clear winner.

Which is why I hope that I’ll soon be able to choose from the Oliver Glasner Alpine Knitwear Collection at the Crystal Palace club shop.

START TO AD UP

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Adama Traore impressed against Nottingham Forest[/caption]

SINCE Adama Traore arrived in England a decade ago, the Spaniard has had the potential to be the most fearsome winger in football.

Built like a bull but blessed with Speedy Gonzalez pace, there has been a tendency to watch Traore and say: “Imagine if he could cross a ball.”

Well, under Fulham’s hugely underrated boss Marco Silva, Traore has learned how to at the age of 29 — as exemplified in his man-of-the-match display against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The prospect for Premier League left-backs is terrifying.

HEADING SOUTH

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Matt Le Tissier watched on as Southampton were beaten by Bournemouth[/caption]

WHILE Southampton’s death march towards relegation continued with a home loss to Bournemouth, cameras panned to their greatest Premier League player — the wild conspiracy theorist Matt Le Tissier.

“I wonder if he’s got his boots,” said the Match of the Day commentator.

“I wonder if he believes Southampton’s disastrous season is down to the malign influence of a shady international cartel run by an evil reptile overlord,” said me.

ITS A SIN

The Mega Agency

Jannik Sinner has accepted a three-month ban[/caption]

WORLD tennis No.1 Jannik Sinner has accepted a three-month ban for failing a doping test — conveniently scheduled so that the Italian misses precisely NO Grand Slam events.

That’ll teach him.

PEEL off lip liner has become all the rage for perfecting the perfect pout.

One woman decided to see if the make-up product would have the same effect for creating a blushing glow.

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TikTok user Rachel Alexandra tried a unique beauty hack to give her cheeks a semi-permanent blush[/caption]

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Love Island’s Elma Pazar applied lip stain liner during her appearance on the All Stars series[/caption]

In her viral video, TikTok user Rachel Alexandra (@rachelalexandra) tried out the unique beauty hack.

She filmed the entire process for her followers, showing them the striking results.

“Blush would have been just fine but [I] saw someone put the viral peel off lip stain all over her face so [I] had to try,” Rachel explained.

Love Island’s Elma Pazar is one of many celebrity fans of a lip stain look.

The 32-year-old, who placed fifth in the reality show alongside Sammy Root, is said to have smuggled her go-to WONDERSKIN Wonder Blading Lip Stain Masque into the villa.

Given Boots is the official supplier for the series, Elma had to be subtle when it came to the £18 buy, which is not available at the high-street retailer.

Available from Amazon or Beauty Bay, the item is designed to give you fuller-looking lips with a hyper-stain.

The waterproof colour doesn’t transfer, fade, feather, or need touching up.

Some beauty fanatics decided to test if the product could be used to create a low maintenance blush look.

Rachel applied the lip stain to her upper cheeks as well as the bridge of her nose.

After leaving the product to set, she carefully peeled it off and gave the camera a panicked look as she took in the harsh contrast.

The TikToker decided to use a face cloth to attempt to blend out the lip stain.

She rubbed vigorously, pausing a few times to show her stress to her audience.

Rachel gave a sarcastic thumbs up as she removed the product from her nose to reveal what looked like a bloody scrape.

“Sometimes the beauty hacks work and sometimes they aren’t worth the effort,” she concluded in the clip’s caption.

Rachel revealed that she planned to “stick to” her trusted liquid blush in the future.

TikTok users shared their thoughts on the hack in the comments section.

“A lil bit of road rash didn’t hurt no one,” joked one viewer.

“You know what, I saw your vision though and that’s what counts,” said another follower.

“It’s cute but the process of even watching this stressed me out,” commented a third person.

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Rachel showed her followers the rash-like look the lip stain created on the bridge of her nose[/caption]

LUKE LITTLER has pencilled in 13 money-spinning exhibitions across Britain this year as he capitalises on his worldwide fame.

Since turning 18 last month, The Nuke has been able to sign up for the nightly events which take place away from the PDC and off TV cameras.

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Luke Littler has capitalised on his popularity by signing up for several exhibition events[/caption]

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The 18-year-old could earn around £10,000-a-night[/caption]

Punters can pay £300 for platinum tickets, which often includes exclusive player meet-and-greet opportunities, involvement in a nine-darts challenge, signed shirts and stage-side reserved table seats.

Littler‘s first exhibition appearance will be in Kelso, Scotland, on April 25 – which is sold out – the night after the Premier League has been staged in Liverpool.

And then it is an afternoon-evening double-header on April 26 at Ayr racecourse.

About 1500 tickets have been sold for the ‘Armageddon’ exhibition in Leicester on May 16, which has Phil Taylor, Luke Humphries and Raymond van Barneveld on the bill.

Yet the day before, the two Lukes will be in Aberdeen – 440 miles away – for night 15 of the 17-week Premier League road show.

Later this year, Littler will throw non-competitive darts in front of loyal fans in Blackpool, Skegness, Derby (on Halloween), Northampton, his home town of Warrington, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and lastly in Portsmouth.

Elite stars can normally expect to earn more than £10,000 a night when they rock up for exhibitions – it is also a great opportunity to sell merchandise and shirts.

Humphries and Littler battled it out in the Prem final last Thursday in Glasgow – the world champion won 6-5 – and they will be in Dublin this week for night three.

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Yet the world No.1 and world No.2 have both pulled out of the Players Championship double-header on Monday and Tuesday in the Dutch town of Rosmalen.

Littler recently opened up about how busy his life has become over the last 14 months, telling the Daily Star: “The schedule is tight!

“So I just want to be in bed all day, but when we go out, we go and have a look around.”

He added: “It depends where we stay. Some places, we go to Germany quite a lot.

“But usually it’s hotel, food, and then you’re off to the venue to play darts… We finish very late.

“And then you can’t just go to a salad place, but most of the time I won’t eat because it’s not a good time to eat at 11pm/12am.

“Most of the time you just want to go to bed!”

A MAJOR retailer has kicked off a massive closing-down sale, offering up to 70% off at more stores set to shut their doors for good.

Homebase is set to close two more stores in the coming weeks, following its collapse into administration several months ago.

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Homebase crashed into administration in November, but it was partially rescued by billionaire Chris Dawson, the owner of The Range and Wilko[/caption]

The beleaguered DIY retailer has announced a mega clearance sale at its branch on Easlea Road, Bury St Edmunds, which is scheduled to shut its doors for the final time on Friday, 28 February.

Signs have littered the frontage of the shop in recent days stating: “Store Closing. Everything Must Go!”

A spokesperson for administrators Teneo said: “All employee wages and benefits will be paid for their period of employment.

“The joint administrators’ priority is working closely with government agencies to provide support to affected employees.”

This is not the only Homebase store holding a closing-down sale. Shoppers at the Maidenhead branch, located on Stafferton Way, have also been taking advantage of discounts of up to 90%.

However, the exact closure date for this location has yet to be confirmed.

Homebase’s most recent closure took place on February 16, when its store in Selby, North Yorkshire, shut its doors for the final time.

Homebase crashed into administration in November, but it was partially rescued by billionaire Chris Dawson, the owner of The Range and Wilko.

Dawson’s intervention looked to retain “up to” 70 stores and save 1,600 jobs as well as the Homebase brand, leaving 74 branches and roughly 2,000 employees at risk.

Just a week later, Teneo, Homebase’s administrators placed the 74 stores up for sale.

Although the company established a deadline of November 29 for potential buyers to acquire these branches, it’s become clear that not all stores have been saved.

Several Homebase stores, including those in Morecambe, Winchester, Selby, and Derby Kingsway, have displayed unexpected closure notices in recent months, as they were never listed for sale.

It could have been assumed these locations might have been earmarked for rescue by CDS Superstores, the owner of The Range and Wilko.

However, the status of these stores remains uncertain.

Analysis by The Sun reveals that just 57 stores were excluded from being listed for sale and could potentially have been part of CDS’s rescue plan.

Yet, CDS has only confirmed the rescue of 12 stores so far, leaving the total number of saved locations unclear.

In January, Homebase closed 20 stores, seven of which had already been acquired by supermarket giant Sainsbury’s in August 2024.

A further 35 stores are due to close by the end of February, including two more purchased by Sainsbury’s last year in Glenrothes and Inverurie.

Last month, B&Q agreed to buy five of the chain’s branches that were for sale.

Currently, 26 Homebase stores remain on the market, while the future of another 43 stores that were never listed for sale remains uncertain.

Both Teneo and CDS Superstores have declined to comment on the matter.

What is happening to the stores bought by CDS?

CDS Superstores previously said it would buy up to 70 Homebase shops.

It has also taken on the Homebase brand and relaunched its website with thousands of products up for sale.

It is re-purposing and opening some of the former Homebase stores under its The Range brand.

The new stores will feature products usually found in The Range but some will also contain “Garden Centres by Homebase”.

Others will feature “Kitchens by Homebase” spaces.

The hybrid branches have already started opening with CDS saying it wants to open three a week over the coming months.

The company plans to open at least 50 before the end of April.

Stores have opened in Birmingham, Felixstowe and Blyth.

Pictures of one of the new stores in Bournemouth were revealed when it opened in January.

CDS said the move to take on up to 70 Homebase sites would see 1,600 staff keep their jobs.

Why are DIY chains struggling?

It has been a tricky time for home improvement chains, both large and small.

It comes as shoppers have been cutting back on spending following the pandemic.

Plus, the recent turmoil in the housing market has meant that homeowners aren’t as focused on DIY projects as they once were.

In the spring, Kingfisher, which owns B&Q and Screwfix, revealed that annual profits had slumped by more than a quarter.

The company reported a 25.1% drop in underlying pre-tax profits to £568million for the year to January 31, 2024.

Window and door specialist Everest called in administrators in April, leaving customers in the dark about their orders.

Last year, the group had previously cautioned profits would slip after a 36% drop in pre-tax profits from £1billion to £611million in the 12 months to January 2023.

Rival Wickes also reported a 31% fall in profits to £52million on flat revenues of £1.55billion for 2023.

Windows and doors company Safestyle collapsed into administration in October last year.

The company has a manufacturing site in Wombwell, near Barnsley and 42 sales branches and depots across the country.

Flooring retailer Tapi recently struck a multimillion-pound rescue deal to save the Carpetright brand and dozens of stores last month.

Tapi purchased 54 of the chain’s stores and two warehouses in a pre-pack administration deal that saved 300 jobs.

However, the deal did not include 200 other stores which all closed their doors.

STRUGGLING British Gas customers urged to check for letters offering to wipe debts as 600,000 landing on doormats.

The UK’s biggest energy supplier has announced an extension to its “You Pay We Pay” support scheme.

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British Gas has announced it will extend its support scheme[/caption]

The initiative, which first launched in June 2024, matches customers’ energy debt repayments to help customers pay off their bills.

For instance, if a customer pays £100, British Gas will pay off £100, too, effectively wiping half the amount owed and getting them back on track sooner.

British Gas will also introduce a new feature so that customers can take payment breaks.

That means if you can’t afford to make regular payments you can still benefit from this help.

The firm said it is now writing to 600,000 customers this month whom they think might be eligible for support.

It has also written an open letter encouraging those who are struggling to see what help is available. 

It has a total of £10million to help households in need and the scheme is expected to end this summer.

You must be a British Gas customer for at least six months to be considered.

The help will be available to anyone considered to be in fuel poverty or who has sought debt advice, and the scheme is for those on prepayment meters as well as those who are billed.

Customers can also still access other hardship grants at the same time as this support.

Chris O’Shea, group chief executive of Centrica, parent company of British Gas said: “We know this winter has been particularly tough for many households, and it’s not always easy to keep on top of growing bills.

“We want to make sure as many customers as possible get the support they need and that’s why we’re extending our ‘You Pay We Pay’ scheme.”

It comes as many households are struggling with rising energy costs.

Ofgem’s latest price cap means the average bill for those not on a fixed deal has risen by £1,717 a year to £1,738.

This cap will be in place until April and then experts predict the figure will increase again to £1,785.

Who’s eligible for the help?

British Gas said that tens of thousands of customers are eligible for the help.

These customers will be identified “proactively” and receive the support after an assessment by one of its specifically trained advisors.

This means customers do not need to contact British Gas to apply.

A detailed assessment would be made to determine if customers qualify for the scheme but broadly, they must:

• Be in or facing fuel poverty
• Must have obtained or will obtain debt advice. 
• Have been a British Gas customer for at least six months
• Pre-agree a payment amount following the assessment

Applications are open now and you can apply for the help on the British Gas website by searching www.britishgas.co.uk/energy/help-with-bills/.

How does it work in practice?

If British Gas contacts you and tells you you’re eligible to receive support under its “You Pay: We Pay” scheme, you’ll need to agree to repay your debt.

For example, if you have a £1,000 debt on your British Gas account, you may be able to agree to pay it off over six months from June.

In this scenario, you could agree to repay £83 a month for the period.

British Gas would then top up these payments by another £83.

This means, in total, you’d be paying off £166 of your debt each month.

Multiply this by six monthly payments, and you’ll have paid off the £1,000 of arrears by December.

What should I do if I fall into debt?

You should contact your supplier as early as possible to let them know if you’re struggling.

Energy debts are priority debts, which means there can be more severe consequences to not paying than with other types of debt.

Failing to engage with your supplier about your debt could also see them apply for a court warrant to forcibly install a prepayment meter in your home.

Once you’ve contacted your supplier about your debt problems, ask for an affordable repayment plan.

Your supplier should work with you to figure out a sensible amount you can pay towards your debts each month.

Your supplier may also allow you to apply for an energy grant.

These could be delivered as energy credits to help cover your debt, or your supplier might agree to wipe your outstanding balance.

Ask your supplier what’s on offer and how to apply.

NEIL ROBERTSON has landed a £150,000 windfall – without even having to pick up his snooker cue.

The Australian bagged the cash after Mark Selby beat Luca Brecel on his way to the Welsh Open crown.

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Neil Robertson bagged a £150,000 bonus – despite being knocked out in round two of the Welsh Open[/caption]

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Mark Selby beat Stephen Maguire to win the crowd in Llandudno[/caption]

Selby saw off the Belgian Bullet before overcoming Stephen Maguire 9-6 in the final.

The player with the highest earnings in the Home Nations Series bags a £150k bonus.

Robertson, 43, led the standings going into last week’s tournament in Llandudno.

He was knocked out in the second round by Tom Ford – and therefore needed a favour from Selby.

Brecel was the only man who could reel in Robertson in the race for the cash.

But defeat in the semi-final for the 2023 world champion meant the Aussie walked away with the jackpot.

Taking to X, Robertson showed his appreciation for Selby’s efforts.

He penned a short tweet putting Selby’s name alongside a love heart emoji.

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Ex-pro Neal Foulds declared Robertson had been lucky to walk away with the bonus.

Speaking to Eurosport, he said: “He’s kind of won it by default in a way.

“I mean, he’s obviously picked up more money than anyone else, but the amount of people that were queueing up to take it off him, and none of them did.

“It’s happened like that a couple of times now. So congratulations to him. He’s the rightful winner.”

Brecel’s defeat to Selby means he misses out on the Grand Prix in Hong Kong.

He needed a triumph in Llandudno to move into the top 32 of the one-year rankings.

Brecel said: “I’m a bit disappointed. Obviously, I wanted to go to Hong Kong for the Grand Prix.

” But maybe it’s a bit of karma for not entering all the tournaments this year. I think I maybe skipped five or six tournaments.

“It is what it is. I had my chances I guess; I didn’t take them well. It’s all about building up the game for the World Championship, I guess, this season. It’s the only one I’ve got left.

“So for me, that’s the big one and I’m happy to be going there with a bit of confidence and some results.”

EUROPEAN leaders are at war with one another over if peacekeeping troops should be deployed on the ground in Ukraine.

The continental debates come as the US and Russia sat down in Saudi Arabia to begin crucial peace talks today – with no sign of Ukraine at the negotiating table.

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Europe has been thrown into turmoil over Keir Starmer’s plan to send European peacekeepers to Ukraine to help out Volodymyr Zelensky’s men[/caption]

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Starmer has made a rallying cry to Europe urging them to ‘step up’ and deploy peacekeeping troops to Ukraine[/caption]

Europe has been plunged into chaos in recent days ever since US President Donald Trump stepped up efforts to bring an end to the bloody Ukraine war.

Trump has urged both Kyiv and Moscow representatives to achieve peace quickly but in doing so has raised fears over what any deal could mean for Ukraine in the future.

Washington has largely dominated the talks so far with Trump holding a phone call with both presidents and hearing their key requirements to bring about a resolution.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has even announced that Vladimir Putin is ready to talk to Volodymyr Zelensky “if necessary”.

European leaders have since tried to muscle their way into the talks to try and make sure stability in the continent can continue even if Vladimir Putin succeeds in winning the negotiations.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made a rallying cry to Europe urging them to “step up” and deploy peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.

The PM vowed the UK will “do our bit” to try and enforce a peace deal.

The bold move put pressure on Britain’s allies to also publicly back the idea of a European peacekeeping force in war-torn Ukraine.

France and Sweden spoke out in favour of the plan at a crisis summit in Paris on Monday but didn’t go as far as Starmer who said he is willing to deploy British troops.

But the idea was dramatically rejected by a number of other fellow leaders.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described Starmer’s pleas as “premature” and “highly inappropriate”.

He then stormed out of the meeting adding that the shear thought of making decisions seemingly on behalf of Ukraine was “irritating”.

A fuming Scholz said: “The discussion is being held over Ukraine’s head, over the outcome of peace talks that have not taken place and to which Ukraine has not said yes.

“This is highly inappropriate, to put it bluntly, and honestly: we don’t even know what the outcome will be.”

The soured debates over Europe’s future took took place during a three-hour chat at the Elysee Palace.

Despite the meeting being set up to try and help Europe have a voice in any peace negotiations it just seemed to open up even more fractures between the rest of the leaders.

Key players expected to use their vast military’s to help put boots on the ground have also raised doubts.

Poland, Spain and Italy all joined Germany in scrutinising Starmer’s plan.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, right, next to foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov in Saudi today[/caption]

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The peacekeeping topic even caused German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to storm out of the meeting[/caption]

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Ukrainian troops are continuing to fight against Russia[/caption]

Sources close to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the chats were “useful” as a whole but the deployment of peacekeeping troops is still far off from being a reality.

The sources close to Meloni’s office quoted her as saying: “The one that foresees the deployment of European soldiers in Ukraine seems to me to be the most complex and perhaps the least effective, and on this too I voiced Italy‘s doubts.”

Poland‘s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has also said he would not send Polish troops to Ukraine.

He told reporters before jetting off to Paris that he would continue to support Kyiv through economical, humanitarian and military aid.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez added any peace agreement would need to have the EU and Ukraine actively involved.

Also present at the emergency meeting was the Netherlands, Denmark, Nato and representatives from the European Union.

SAUDI PEACE TALKS

The emergency European summit came just hours before representatives from Washington and Moscow met in Saudi Arabia.

A team of top diplomats from Russia and the US spoke about negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.

The talks – which were quickly drawn up – represent the rapidly growing ties between the two nations.

It marks a major change since Trump took to office with previous leader Joe Biden firmly rejecting Russia and supporting Ukraine as much as possible.

Today’s talks saw US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz all sit down for talks in Riyadh’s Diriyah Palace.

They were joined by outspoken Putin cronies Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushako.

The goal of the chat is seen as opening up for the possibility of Trump and Putin meeting together soon.

Trump has already said the pair will speak in person soon as he offered up Saudi Arabia as a likely first spot.

Despot Putin is also said to be ready for talks as he has even offered the US president to come to Moscow.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud and National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban hosted the talks.

No official statements have been made yet over the crunch Saudi talks from either side – leaving Ukraine and Europe in the dark.

One notable exception from the talks saw Ukraine excluded from the table.

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French President Emmanuel Macron is among the few leaders who are yet to chastise Starmer’s plan[/caption]

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Ukrainian soldiers fire a D-30 artillery gun[/caption]

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the decision to not be included was uncomfortable but his country won’t accept any outcome from this week’s talks.

European allies have also expressed concerns over a feeling they are being sidelined.

Prime Minister Starmer has emphasised that Ukraine must be included at peace negotiations, warning that other nations risk validating Putin’s position that Ukraine is “not a real nation”.

President Zelensky has also issued a red line on the peace deal, saying Ukraine must be involved in any negotiations or he would not accept any deal they strike.

Speaking on Sunday, President Trump said “we’re moving along, we’re trying to get a peace with Russia and Ukraine and we’re working very hard on it” and he promised that Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky “will be involved”.

US President Donald Trump and his allies have suggested that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky will have to concede some of his lost territory to Russia.

But Zelensky said: “I will never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine, never.”

He added: “This is the war in Ukraine, against us, and it’s our human losses.”

Ukrainian officials and other European leaders have claimed they were not informed bilateral meetings were taking place between the US and Russia.

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Fears are looming that Vladimir Putin’s Russia may hold many of the cards over Ukraine[/caption]

IF you want your clothes to smell fresh, you’ve come to the right place.

Lynsey Crombie, aka the Queen of Clean, has revealed the cheap buy you need to get your hands on if you want to ditch musky smells on your laundry.

Lynsey Crombie

The Queen of Clean has revealed the £3 M&S buy you need to get your hands on if you want your clothes to smell fresh[/caption]

TikTok/@lynsey_queenofclean

Lynsey Crombie took to social media to show off the brilliant buy[/caption]

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You can also use it on sofas and even as a room spray too[/caption]

Ocado

It’s only £3 and according to shoppers, has a beautiful spa-like scent[/caption]

According to this cleaning whizz, who is also a best-selling author and columnist, there’s a viral M&S product that you’ll need to snap up quickly.

And if you’re on a budget, fear not, as this high-street find is super affordable.

Posting on social media, the content creator, who recently shared her favourite buys from Home Bargains, uploaded a short clip when she spotted that the popular M&S buy back on shelves, leaving many open-mouthed.

Alongside the video, Lynsey penned: “When you pop into M&S and see your fave fabric refresher spray is BACK! 

“It’s the little things that make your day! Cue the happy dance.” 

Lynsey was thrilled when she got her hands on the M&S French Lavender & Peony Fabric Freshener Spray, which you can order online from Ocado now for only £3.

Thanks to the plant based product, which contains biodegradable ingredients, your fabrics will smell beautiful without needing to break the bank on expensive laundry detergents.

Not only can you use it on your clothes, but it’s also great on furniture, or even as a room spray too. 

Lynsey’s much-loved buy is available in the scent French Lavender and Peony and according to the chain, you’ll capture the essence of tranquillity with every spritz of this purse-friendly product.

Not only this, but you’ll be pleased to know that it’s infused with botanical essential oils and is safe for use around pets.

The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @lynsey_queenofclean, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 311,300 views.

Social media users eagerly flocked to the comments, desperate to share their rave reviews of the cheap spray.  

One person said: “I use this on bedding most days.” 

Another added: “Smells amazing, like a spa.”

A third commented: “I use this, it’s gorgeous.”

Rave reviews

Not only this, but M&S shoppers also raced to the Ocado website to express their gushing thoughts on the “gorgeous” spray. 

It has a strong scent but it lasts and covers any nasty smells. I much prefer this to Febreze

Ocado shopper

One shopper beamed: “This is so much better than the popular well known brand. Smells fresh, clean and really makes a lasting difference to clothes. I use on coats mainly in between washes!” 

A second chimed in: “Much better value than Febreze and it smells great! This one though has a very nice and special scent, very clean and uplifting, upmarket type. 

“Will be my regular now, so happy to have found it. I spray everywhere especially after cooking when one has open plan living areas but don’t want food smells lingering!”

As well as this, another bargain hunter praised the “fresh, long lasting scent” and explained: “I love using this to freshen up fabrics such as the sofa or in between bed sheet washes. 

“It has a strong scent but it lasts and covers any nasty smells. I much prefer this to Febreze. It is very good value.” 

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AN ULTRA-rare 95-year-old Alfa Romeo with a unique engine supercharger has gone up for sale – and it’s worth £2.7million.

Images show the restored 1930s Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Testa Fissa in red glossy paint with a black interior.

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It has a four-speed manual gearbox, semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension and a 2920mm wheelbase.

Plus a 102 hp, 1752 cc dual overhead cam six-cylinder engine with a Memini supercharger.

This model is one of twelve Testa Fissa specification Alfas believed to have been constructed and famously piloted by Tazio Nuvolari in the 1930 Tourist Trophy race.

The car was also displayed at the 1930 London Motor Show.

Angela Cherrett, an Alfa Romeo historian, noted: “The three new 1750 GS chassis were eventually released by the factory and were fitted with the regulation four-seater bodywork.”

The car’s restoration was a meticulous process, involving extensive research and the use of original materials.

The car is being sold by Vintage and Prestige of Northampton Ltd on eBay.

“The body is based on the Hoyal design from the 1930 Double Twelve car, with front-end parts reused from the original racing body,” reads the listing.

“The Testa Fissa engine, rebuilt in 2011 to original specifications, provides 102 horsepower, and the complete mechanics were overhauled by Gianni Torelli.

“The engine retains its original parts, including the crankcase, gearbox, and supercharger.

“After passing through several owners, including Prince Aly Khan and racing driver Whitney Straight, the car was acquired by Royston Halladay in 1968 and later restored by Reg Chappel.

“The restoration continued at Carrozzeria Nova Rinascente, ensuring the car remains true to its 1930s racing origins.

“Now available for purchase, the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Testa Fissa is a unique opportunity to own a piece of automotive history, combining racing heritage with classic luxury.”

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A DAD-of-two passed away on Father’s Day just months after discovering the true cause of this backache.

Toby Bevans struggled with a backache, fatigue and chest pain after a bout of the flu.

PA Real Life

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Pictured with wife Ali Bevans, 42, and children Freddie, 10, and Tilda, 9[/caption]

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Toby running a marathon in 2010 – he passed away just 5 months after receiving his diagnosis, on Father’s Day[/caption]

Realising he was struggling to get well, the dad spoke to his GP – and received a shocking diagnosis.

Despite experiencing “very few” symptoms, Toby was told he had stage 4 bowel cancer in January 2024, his wife Ali Bevans, 42, said.

Typical symptoms of bowel cancer include blood in your faeces, a change in bowel habits and weight loss, but Toby hadn’t experienced these so his diagnosis hit the family like “a bullet train”.

The dad underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but doctors soon informed the couple in May that there was “nothing else” they could do.

He died peacefully at home aged just 43, on June 16, 2024, which happened to be Father’s Day.

Before he died, Ali was inspired to “take a challenge on” and she decided to launch a JustGiving page to run the 2025 TCS London Marathon on April 27.

With friends, family and colleagues taking on their own fundraising challenges in support of Team Toby, Ali has since received more than £85,000 in donations for Bowel Cancer UK.

Ali said: “Toby’s diagnosis came with very few symptoms and none of the traditional bowel cancer flags and was a huge shock.

“It was literally like a bullet train and the bullet train crashed.

“None of us know what’s around the corner, but we can do our best to live our life today.”

Ali – a development manager at Marks and Spencer who lives in Windsor – and Toby first met at university and were married in 2011 before having their two children Freddie, now 10, and Tilda, nine.

She described him as “thoughtful and loving with a zest for life”.

Towards the end of 2023, Ali said Toby was experiencing some fatigue and backache.

However, it was not until he developed the flu in December 2023 that he knew something was wrong, as his chest was hurting and he “wasn’t recovering”.

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Ali will be running the 2025 TCS London Marathon to raise funds for Bowel Cancer UK[/caption]

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She said the family’s world ‘stopped in an instant’ after Toby’s diagnosis[/caption]

He spoke to a GP and, after further tests and examinations, Ali said doctors “hit [them] with the horrendous diagnosis”.

In January 2024, they were told Toby had stage 4 bowel cancer and it had spread to his liver and bones.

“Your world just stops in an instant,” Ali said.

“Your life is never the same from that moment.”

Ali said she then entered “fight stage” as she wanted to do everything in her power to “make life as good as [she] could for Toby” as he underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Despite the “brutal” diagnosis, Ali said she and Toby enjoyed spending time together and found comfort in the small moments, such as making each other smile or getting outside.

“I think it puts everything into perspective and it gives you so much clarity,” Ali said.

“In the end, from his diagnosis to the day that he died, it was just under five months and, at the end of May, we knew that he was going to die.”

By May, the family was told that Toby’s cancer had progressed and there were no further treatment options.

This meant Ali just focused on “making him comfortable” in his final days, with “incredible” support from Thames Hospice.

Ali said: “He died on Father’s Day, which was very poignant, very Toby.

“I don’t think it’s something you can ever prepare yourself for… but I was with him at the end and I was very grateful for that.”

‘Life is a gift’

While Toby was in hospital, Ali talked to him about running the 2025 TCS London Marathon and she decided to launch a fundraiser which received more than £6,000 in donations in 24 hours.

Just before Toby died, Ali said the donations had reached £22,000 and he told her: “Double your target, go for £50,000, you’ll get there.”

Ali and Toby’s children and friends have since taken on their own challenges, and work colleagues have even hosted quizzes, bake sales, 24-hour danceathons and a silent auction, taking the current total to £85,446.

Ali’s sister Vicky Plenderleith is swimming the distance of a marathon in 10 days, and the donations have allowed for Ali and Toby’s friends and her other sister Caroline Divitt to join her and run the marathon.

Reflecting on the support, Ali said: “It’s just amazing because the one thing that Toby was always big on was his friendships.

“Even Freddie summed it up and said, ‘Mummy, if we make a difference to just one person’s life, it will be worth it’.”

Following Toby’s death, Ali said the marathon has given her “something positive to focus on” and she wants to continue “living for [herself] and the kids”, with Toby always in their hearts.

She said crossing the finish line with her friends will be “hugely emotional” on April 27 and hopes she can reach her latest fundraising target of £100,000.

She hopes Toby’s story raises more awareness of bowel cancer and helps other families “avoid going through what [they’ve] gone through”.

“For Toby at the end, he genuinely said, ‘I’ve got no regrets’, and I think for somebody at 43 to say that is incredible,” Ali said.

“He said: ‘Life is a gift. Do the things that make you feel alive’.

“Toby made the most of every opportunity, and I think living in that way, ultimately, is all you can do.”

Pascale Harvie, president and general manager of JustGiving, said: “Through hard work and determination, Team Toby has raised both important awareness and vital funds for Bowel Cancer UK.

“Their story is a powerful reminder of the incredible impact communities can have when they come together.”

To donate or find out more, visit Ali’s fundraising here.