Using an Indian-made launcher, India claims to have lifted the heaviest satellite ever from the nation. The largest commercial communications satellite in orbit, the BlueBird Block-2, is designed to provide smartphones with space-based cellular broadband.
Published On 24 Dec 2025
Every transfer window, there is a player whose future becomes the defining saga of the month. This January, it looks set to be Antoine Semenyo.
Manchester City are in advanced talks to sign the 25-year-old Bournemouth forward, who has a £65m release clause which expires on 10 January.
BBC Sport understands four other Premier League clubs – Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea – have made enquiries.
It marks the latest step in a rapid rise for London-born Semenyo, who represents Ghana internationally through his father’s heritage.
He was rejected by Arsenal, Spurs and Millwall as a youngster before ending up in a West Country academy run by former Leeds and Forest Green manager Dave Hockaday.
Bristol City signed him in 2017, but he needed loan spells at Bath, Newport and Sunderland before breaking into the Robins’ first team in 2020-21.
In January 2023, he made a £10m move to Bournemouth – and he has been improving ever since.
What it says about the state of the transfer market aside, £65m is a cut price fee for a Premier League winger approaching the prime of his career.
So, it is no surprise that Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are pushing hard for Semenyo now – even if his stats suggest he wouldn’t be a huge improvement on the wide options they already have.
Semenyo has created fewer chances per 90 minutes this season than Rayan Cherki or Jeremy Doku, and his dribble success rate is only better than Savinho among the dedicated wing men in the City senior squad.
But his product catches the eye, with a better goal and assist per game rate than Doku, Savinho, Phil Foden and Omar Marmoush – he has scored four goals and assisted two directly following a carry, the joint most of any Premier League player since the beginning of April.
Plus, his style of play would offer a new dimension to City as they aim to catch Premier League leaders Arsenal.
“He can drive forward with the ball vertically, rather than Doku who comes in and out,” former England goalkeeper Rob Green told BBC 5 Live.
“He can do that something different Pep is looking for. Short term they have their own injury problems, with Oscar Bobb out, Doku out, Marmoush away [at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) with Egypt], so he can help short term and long term.
“It does raise the question what future someone like Savinho has though.”
The Afcon issue is no problem for Semenyo, with Ghana having surprisingly failed to qualify.
And Guardiola was already confirmed as a fan of him earlier this season, before the transfer talk intensified.
“He’s an extraordinary, extraordinary, extraordinary player,” the Spaniard insisted.
“His energy, his confidence, his movement – unbelievable. He doesn’t stop running, he attacks space so well, and when he has the ball, you feel something will happen.
“He’s improving every game. Players like him make this league special – always hungry, always brave.”
He has scored 12 league goals during this period, second only to Haaland, while he has overperformed his expected goals tally more than any player other than West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen.
Semenyo has been directly involved in 20 Premier League goals in 2025, with 14 goals and six assists – making him only the second Ghana international to do so, after Tony Yeboah at Leeds in 1995.
If he is involved with one more against either Brentford on 27 December or Chelsea three days later, his tally will surpass Dominic Solanke’s club record for goal involvements in a calendar year.
With Semenyo having contributed to 11 of Bournemouth’s 26 goals this season, Andoni Iraola would love to keep him – especially with the Cherries on a seven-match winless league run stretching back to October, which has seen them fall to 15th in the table.
Despite this poor form, there remains a positive feeling around Bournemouth. Points-wise, they are closer to the top four than the bottom three.
Iraola is regarded as one of the most tactically astute managers in the Premier League, who has got the best out of Semenyo to the point that almost every English giant wants to sign him.
Add in new training facilities at Bournemouth and the promise of a new ground, and there is more for the Cherries to offer.
Former Bournemouth striker Sam Vokes told BBC Solent: “I don’t know why you’d want to leave that setup. I understand when so-called ‘bigger’ clubs come knocking, it’s hard sometimes.
“But with the way he’s performing and the way that Bournemouth have been doing – it looks like he’s enjoying his football.
“I don’t know why he’d want to do that anywhere else at the moment.”
Bournemouth have only lost two games in which Semenyo has scored since his debut in 2023.
Manchester City spent vast sums last January because of an injury crisis and look set to add big-money signing Semenyo this time around in very different circumstances.
City are chasing Arsenal in the Premier League title race, one of four fronts both teams are competing in, and boss Pep Guardiola has decided to strengthen the right-hand side of his attack.
The Ghanaian offers pace and direct running from that flank, and it will be of great satisfaction to Guardiola that he chose City over the other options he had.
But one in means one may now leave, with Savinho or Oscar Bobb being possibly moved on to accommodate him.
Semenyo’s profile is a unique one and at the reported price point, it feels like a no-brainer.
Stylistically we have seen City lean into attacking in transition with more pace this season than previously under Guardiola, who has played on the strengths of Haaland, Foden, Tijjani Reijnders and Doku – attacking quickly over big distances.
As a result, City have scored from more fast breaks this season than during the entire 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons combined.
Bournemouth’s direct style of attack means Semenyo’s pace, good hold-up play, smart decision-making and two-footed ball-striking are more easily transferred to this City side.
These are dangerous traits, especially when going long against teams that attempt to press high up the pitch.
Guardiola likes versatile players too, given they provide solutions to injury crises.
With Doku out injured, Reijnders has come in and shifted Foden out to the left. Semenyo would provide Premier League proven quality on both wings.
“The years we were successful, not just the strikers [were scoring], especially the wingers, attacking midfielders. We need that,” said Guardiola earlier this month.
City’s over-reliance on Haaland’s 19 goals will be something he wants to address. Foden has scored the second most with seven but has been moved away from the number 10 position, where he scores often from distance.
The signing of Semenyo would help get Foden back in the areas Guardiola feels he is most dangerous.
Semenyo has the added benefit of providing goals himself while starting as a winger. With eight in the league this season, only Igor Thiago and Haaland have more.
While the newly released Epstein files have raised plenty of questions, one mystery figure in particular has sparked huge speculation.
Bombshell emails, revealed in the latest tranche of documents, show someone called ‘The Invisible Man’ corresponded with disgraced Ghislaine Maxwell on various occasions, asking her questions such as “Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”
Speculation is now mounting that this cryptic person could be Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The former prince has faced fierce scrutiny over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in recent months, with a photo of Andrew lying on laps of women at Sandringham emerging in the bombshell file release. In the snap, convicted sex trafficker Maxwell lingers in the background, smiling at the ex duke. Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing and there is no suggestion of misconduct. In October, he said of claims about his connections with Epstein: “I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking minors and conspiracy charges, and sentenced to 20 years in prison, with a projected release date of 2037. Here we look at all the key details found in the emails…
READ MORE: Latest Epstein files bombshells in full as email signed ‘A’ asks for ‘inappropriate friends’
Many are speculating that the mysterious ‘A’ sign-off stands for Andrew, but the email addresses used by ‘The Invisible Man’ are potentially even more telling. The alias is attached to two email accounts in the Epstein files. The second – aace@dial.pipex.com, is listed in Epstein’s phonebook under a contact labelled “Duke of York”, the BBC and Sky News reports.
The emails, sent in February 2002, show discussions about a trip to Peru. Sex trafficker Maxwell initially forwarded an email to ‘The Invisible Man’ at abx17@dial.pipex.com, with information about plans for the visit. She asked: “What do you think [?]”.
The email comes from an address titled ‘Juanesteban Ganoza’ with reference to possible activities including a lunch and horse riding. It also reads: “About the girls… how old is he? I doubt it that he will find someone here, but we can try.”
A reply from ‘The Invisible Man’ is then sent to Maxwell via the other email address – aace@dial.pipex.com – with correspondance including: “As far as food is concerned I am very easy and will fit in with whatever he plans […] As for girls well I leave that entirely to you and Juan Estoban!”
Maxwell also said in the emails: “Some sight seeing some 2 legged sight seeing (read intelligent pretty fun and from good families) and he will be very happy. I know I can rely on you to show him a wonderful time and that you will only introduce him to friends that you can trust and rely on to be friendly and discreet and fun.”
Then still a working member of the Royal family and UK trade envoy, it’s understood that Andrew had visited Peru in March 2002, where he was photographed in locations such as Lima.
In one of the emails from ‘abx17@dial.pipex.com’, dated August 16, 2001, ‘A’ shared: “I am up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family. Activities take place all day and I am totally exhausted at the end of each day.”
The anonymous sender also writes: “How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends? Let me know when you are coming over as I am free from 25th August until 2nd Sept and want to go somewhere hot and sunny with some fun people before having to put my nose firmly to the grindstone for the Fall.” The email concludes: “Any ideas gratefully received! See ya A xxx”
Each summer, the Royal Family gathers together at their Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, following a tradition that began back in 1852 with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Away from their usual public duties, the royals will throw themselves into outdoor activities, from hunting to salmon fishing and BBQs. Andrew had been at Balmoral that summer, according to reports from that time.
In his Balmoral Summer Camp email, ‘A’ also made reference to ‘the girls’, which some have taken to mean Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, the now-adult daughters Andrew shares with ex wife Sarah Ferguson.
‘The Invisible Man’ wrote: “The Girls are completely shattered and I will have to give them an early night today as it is getting tiring splitting them up!” The princesses would have been 13 and 11 years old respectively in the summer of 2001.
The York princesses had been holidaying at Balmoral at the time of this email exchange, The Guardian reports. Accounts from that summer show that the sisters had been breakfasting with the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip when there was a “fire scare” after a nurse preparing Princess Margaret’ breakfast burnt some toast.
In one email dated August 18, 2001, the anonymous sender uses the abbreviation RN, which appears to refer the Royal Navy. The figure opens up about the death of his long-standing valet, which had left them “distraught”.
‘A’, who remarked that the valet had been with them since they were two-years-old, wrote: “I am a little off balance as not only has my office been restructured, I have left the RN and now my whole life is in turmoil as I have no one to look after me.”
The email added: “He was a real rock and almost part of the family.” Andrew ended his active service in July 2001, one month before this email was sent. It’s believed the valet in question was Michael Perry, who suffered a fatal heart attack that same year.
Andrew started out in the Royal Navy in 1979, when he commenced officer training at Dartmouth’s Britannia Royal Naval College. A 22 year career followed, during which Andrew served as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War, being part of the task force deployed to retake the Falklands after the 1982 Argentinian invasion. The former prince also commanded the mine countermeasures vessel HMS Cottesmore.
By the time he reached the end of his active naval career, Andrew had risen to the rank of commander. He would however receive honorary promotions which have since been stripped from him alongside his royal titles, including the rank of vice-admiral, which was bestowed upon him in 2015.
The Mirror has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com
READ MORE: Ghislaine Maxwell tried to set ‘Andrew’ up with ‘fun girls’ in Peru
Captain Ben Stokes said protecting England players’ welfare was his top concern amid claims of excessive drinking on a mid-Ashes beach break, without directly addressing the allegations.
Stokes was peppered with questions on Wednesday ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne about the team’s behaviour at Noosa between the second and third Tests after British media reports compared it with a “stag-do”.
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Unverified social media footage appeared to show opener Ben Duckett drunk and disoriented.
Their disastrous five-Test tour, which has seen Australia take an unassailable 3-0 lead, took another hit on Wednesday when pace spearhead Jofra Archer was ruled out of the rest of the series with a side strain.
England cricket chief Rob Key on Tuesday pledged to investigate the drinking claims, while the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement it was intent on establishing the facts.
Stokes, whose team have already lost the Ashes, said his main concern was the players’ mental welfare and to ensure they were ready for the Melbourne Test starting Friday.
“I’m obviously aware of the reports and everything circulating around right now,” Stokes said.
“My main concern is my players, and how I handle this moment is the most important thing to me.
“The welfare of everyone in there, and probably some certain individuals as well, is the most important thing to me right now as England captain.
“It’s never a nice place to be in when not only the media world, but also the social media world, is piling on top of you,” he added.
“It’s a very tough place to be in as an individual. As an individual, when you know you’ve got the support of the people who are sort of leaders, in a sense, it’s very good to know that you’ve got that support.”
Asked directly whether his teammates had “done anything wrong in Noosa”, Stokes replied: “I’ve just answered everything there.”
England went to Queensland tourist resort Noosa after losing the first two Tests in Perth and Brisbane heavily.
They spent several days on the sand and around restaurants and bars before travelling to Adelaide, where they lost the third Test as Australia retained the Ashes.
Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported that “after drowning their sorrows after the Brisbane Test, it is no exaggeration to say some, certainly not all, players drank for five or six days”.
It added that players “did nothing outrageous in Noosa” but there was concern over the level of drinking, with England’s professionalism already under the microscope after their limited preparations.
Stokes conceded that when a side was losing, there would be scrutiny, and “rightly so”.
“When you are 3-0 down you don’t really have a leg to stand on but we’ve got two games of cricket to play. That’s what we have to focus on,” he said.
“We haven’t won a game in Australia for a long, long time.”
England have gone 18 Tests since winning a match in Australia, dating back to their last series victory there in 2010-11.
Their capitulation in this series in 11 days of play is the joint second quickest in more than a century, since the 1921 Ashes was completed in eight days.
Making matters worse, Archer will take no further part in the tour, with Gus Atkinson replacing him in Melbourne.
The under-performing Ollie Pope paid for his poor form at number three, with Jacob Bethell taking over in the only other change.
Bowling with the wicketkeeper standing up to the stumps can bruise a fast bowler’s ego, but Australia paceman Scott Boland said Alex Carey’s stellar glovework in the ongoing Ashes series has helped him grow comfortable with it.
Carey’s wicketkeeping masterclass has been a key factor in Australia’s unassailable lead in the five-match series, and the 34-year-old was particularly impressive in the second Test at the Gabba, where he stood up to Boland and Michael Neser.
With the wicketkeeper breathing down their necks, English batters were pretty much confined to the crease, which meant the home bowlers did not really need to vary their length.
“I’ve just never really bowled to the keeper up to the stumps before,” Boland told reporters ahead of the fourth Test.
“Everyone wants to be a fast bowler, and you don’t really like the keeper up to the stumps.
“But I’ve seen over the last month how effective it is and how still I can keep their batters by Alex being up to the stumps.”
Wicketkeepers typically stand farther back from the stumps when facing fast bowlers to give themselves more time to react to the high speed and bounce of the ball, reducing the risk of missed catches.
Even from close range, Carey showed tremendous reflexes to pouch a thick edge from Ben Stokes after the England captain had nicked a Neser delivery in the second innings.
Dismissals like that gave confidence to Boland that he could continue bowling his edge-inducing length balls regardless of where Carey stood.
“I just need to trust that the length balls I bowl to try and nick guys off is the same length I bowl when he’s up to the stumps or back,” the 36-year-old said.
“The Gabba was pretty bouncy and he was up to the stumps for a bit of it and catching balls above waist-high and I bowled a bouncer and he caught that, so I have full trust in him up there.”
After a less-than-stellar opening victory over Tanzania at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has urged calm and calm. He claims that the most crucial goal, which is three crucial points, has been achieved.
Ndidi characterized the first game of a major tournament as a test of rhythm, fitness, and mentality, as well as the well-known difficulties that accompany it.
After the Super Eagles beat the Taifa Stars on Tuesday, the midfielder said, “It was a good game.”
The tournament’s opening game always goes this way, with momentum and all, but it was really, really good. Which three points are the most crucial to us?
In the 2-1 victory, Nigeria set the tone and displayed signs of the attacking intent they had hoped for.
The Six Key Takeaways From The Nigeria vs. Tanzania Game can be found HERE.
The Super Eagles were under pressure and struggling to maintain their previous dominance in the second half, which turned out to be more demanding. However, the three-time African champions were assured of taking all three points at stake by their performance on the night.
Ndidi was open about the game’s outcome, apologizing for the team’s performance after the break but offering his condolences.
“The pace was good, and the first half was good. Maybe we were a little worn out in the second half or something. Although it didn’t go as planned, we did a very, very well react. The Besiktas midfielder praised the team, saying, “I’m proud of them.
Questions have been raised about the team’s defensive resilience as a result of Nigeria’s record of 13 straight games without a clean sheet. However, the former Leicester City player has shied away from panic.
Ndidi firmly stated, “I’m not worried at all.” The three points are ours. That is crucial.
When asked whether the current team could match or even surpass Nigeria’s 2023 AFCON record, Ndidi expressed optimism.
The Peltzs and Beckhams will undoubtedly celebrate Christmas in style. They will be dispersed for the duration of their special occasion, though, due to their ongoing family feud.
Although neither of the two families has disclosed the details of their Christmas celebrations, they are renowned for throwing lavish parties. Celebrating lavish holidays with lavish presents and meals are what the millionaire and billionaire families are known for.
According to his brother, who made the revelation on Instagram earlier this week, eldest son Brooklyn had taken matters into his own hands and decided to block his parents and siblings.