Roger Federer will be the first player to be inducted into the world’s tennis hall of fame.
Federer, 44, won 103 ATP titles in the Open era, coming in second only to Jimmy Connors (99).
The Swiss legend became the first man to win 20 Grand Slam titles, surpassing Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (24) in the process.
Federer, one of only eight men to win a career Grand Slam, was welcomed by some of the 270 current Hall of Famers during a video call at Swiss Tennis, where he once played when he was a young player.
Federer praised Federer’s inclusion in the International Tennis Hall of Fame and his standing alongside the great players of the sport.
“Throughout my career, I have always valued the lessons of the past and those who came before me.”
It is extremely humbling to be recognized by the sport and my peers. In order to celebrate this special moment with the tennis community in Newport in August, I look forward to making the trip there.
The ceremony will take place in Newport, Rhode Island, in the United States, on August 27 and August 29, following the ceremony.
Federer won an unprecedented eight men’s singles titles at Wimbledon, one of his 20 major victories.
He held the position of world leader for 310 weeks, including a record 237 consecutive weeks.
Mary Carillo, a journalist and broadcaster, was also chosen for the contributor category.
Last week, 42 migrants were presumed to have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea after their dinghy set sail off the Libyan coast.
At least 29 of them were Sudanese refugees who fled the catastrophic civil war in their country between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the regular army known as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
Since erupting in April 2023, the Sudan war has caused the largest displacement crisis in the world.
Nearly 13 million people have been uprooted from their homes and more than four million have fled to neighbouring countries, such as Chad, Egypt and Libya.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than 86, 000 Sudanese nationals are registered as asylum seekers or refugees in Libya – a 60, 000 uptick compared with before the war.
As more Sudanese attempt to reach Europe from Libya, this is everything you need to know about their plight.
How many Sudanese asylum seekers have reached Europe since the war started?
From April 2023 to January 2024, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) registered nearly 10, 000 asylum applications from Sudanese nationals across the European Union – nearly twice as high as the previous year.
While figures for 2025 have not yet been published, the growing number of Sudanese nationals arriving in Libya suggests that more people are aiming to reach Europe as their final destination.
“I hope to soon take the journey across the sea to Europe”, Hamid, a Sudanese refugee from Khartoum, told Al Jazeera from Libya, where he arrived earlier this year.
“Hopefully, God will make the journey safe”, he added with resignation.
How are Sudanese asylum seekers treated in Europe?
Only a minority of the 10, 000 Sudanese asylum seekers have been granted protection so far, with the rest either rejected or waiting for a ruling.
In general, life has not been easy for many young Sudanese men after reaching Europe.
Some EU states are using anti-smuggling laws to criminalise young men for steering the small and overcrowded boats that smugglers put them in.
In Greece, more than 200 Sudanese minors and young men between the ages of 15 and 21 are facing smuggling charges.
Some have already been convicted and sentenced to decades or life in prison, pushing their lawyers to appeal.
Migration experts have long explained that vulnerable youth often agree to “steer” boats in exchange for a discounted price from smugglers, who often charge thousands of dollars from destitute asylum seekers looking for safety.
Does Europe bear responsibility for Sudan’s crisis?
The Nomadic “Arab” government-linked Popular Defence Forces, known as the Janjaweed militias, that spearheaded a brutal campaign in the far western region of Darfur at the turn of the millennium, have created the RSF, which has committed countless atrocities throughout the war.
Later, those militias were accused of committing numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity against primarily sedentary “non-Arab” communities.
According to a number of legal scholars and human rights organizations, the atrocities may have been equivalent to genocide.
However, Sudan’s then-President Omar al-Bashir converted many of the Popular Defense Forces militias into the RSF in 2013.
The RSF quickly touted itself as a potential partner in the Sahel and Horn of Africa’s “manage migration” mission in a bid to gain international legitimacy.
The “Khartoum Process,” an initiative that increased cooperation between the EU and East African countries to combat irregular migration, was announced by the EU in 2014.
Over the course of five years, Sudan received about $200 million in this endeavor.
Suliman Baldo, a researcher in Sudan, discovered that some of this money had been used to improve the judiciary and law enforcement, and that it may have been used to fund the RSF.
The EU has long denied that any entity provided funding for the RSF.
The EU suspended all migration cooperation after the Sudanese security forces, including the RSF, killed more than 120 pro-democracy protesters in Khartoum on June 3.
The BRIT Awards have unveiled the glistening trophy for next year’s ceremony, which will also mark the first time the awards have been held outside of London
Daniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor
View 6 Images
The BRIT Awards will take place in Manchester next year
The BRIT Awards have finally revealed the prestigious trophy for the 2026 ceremony. The trophy for 2026 features a sweet nod to Manchester, with the designer being “proud” to honour his hometown.
Next year, the ceremony will be held in Manchester – the first time it has left London since its launch in 1977, when it was known as The British Record Industry Britannia Awards. This year, the trophy has been designed by Manchester-based Matthew Williamson.
Williamson has expressed his pride in creating the award for the ceremony set to take place in his hometown of Manchester. Drawing inspiration from his Manchester roots and the city’s worker bee mascot, the trophy features an amber figure atop a globe, symbolising the global influence of British music.
READ MORE: ‘I’m a chart-topping musician – BRIT Awards leaving London is right move’READ MORE: Ex NHS doctor names exact time to get perfect skin for Christmas and New Year’s Eve
Speaking to the PA news agency about the honour of designing the award, Williamson said: “It means a huge amount, personally, it means a lot, professionally, it means a lot.” He added: “I think overall, I’m just really honoured to be in this position, I feel it’s quite a weighty project, and I’m fully aware of the designers that have gone before me, these icons of design, so I’m carrying quite a sort of heavy torch, so to speak, but very proud.”
The Manchester-born designer further shared his love for his city, stating: “Personally, I’m from Manchester, I love everything about the city, so it has an extra resonance, because it’s going to be here, it’s a real milestone moment.”
Williamson, who has a background in fashion, home and lifestyle design, reminisced about watching the awards ceremony with his family every year during his childhood. The 54-year-old designer recalled: “I remember watching it and feeling that I probably shouldn’t be watching it, so I was pretty young.
“I remember it being a little bit spicy at times, and my parents were quite liberal parents, but it was a little past the watershed and all of that, so I don’t know, (I was watching it) early probably (as a) teenager, slightly earlier.
“That was many moons ago, but I still watch it now, and I’m going to be watching it with my daughter next year, so it feels like a full circle moment in so many ways.” Williamson, who witnessed one of his catwalk creations featured in the music video for Prince’s 2007 track Chelsea Rodgers, revealed he was careful to honour the award’s original blueprint whilst crafting its fresh iteration.
He continued: “There was a certain understanding that this is the trophy, we want to keep the silhouette, the structure, so they don’t want us to turn it into a different form, because then it wouldn’t be a Brit Award. I think that was central to the project, respect what’s there, and be like the Oscars, you kind of want to see that mask, you don’t really want to see something else.”
Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music U,K said: “The BRITs’ move to Manchester has enabled us to think about how we do things in such a brilliant and different way, so I am delighted that Matthew accepted the invitation to design the award for next year’s show.
“As a creative from Manchester, he’s brought a unique perspective to the design process, developing a simple, sophisticated and striking concept that embodies the spirit and values of the city and is also a visual statement for the show, supporting our ambition to put British music on the global stage. We couldn’t be more pleased with what Matthew has created, and to have him be part of such a historic show in BRITs history”
Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, Glyn Aikins added: “I”m thrilled to welcome Matthew Williamson as the designer of the 2026 BRIT Award trophy. Matthew’s bold, expressive creativity has shaped British fashion for over two decades, and his work has always stood at the intersection of art, style and cultural imagination.
“His vision for this year’s trophy draws inspiration from the iconic worker bee, a powerful symbol of Manchester’s resilience, community and creative spirit. The result brings a new sense of colour, optimism and individuality to the BRITs, perfectly capturing the energy of British music today. I couldn’t be more excited to unveil his design to artists, fans and the wider creative community.”
The prestigious gong has previously been crafted by luminaries including Dame Vivienne Westwood, Sir Peter Blake and Dame Tracey Emin.
The BRIT Awards will take place on Saturday, February 28, at Manchester’s Co-op Live.
The glistening trophy for the ceremony will be unveiled by the BRIT Awards next year. This will also mark the first time the awards have been held outside of London.
Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor, Daniel Bird
View 6 Images
Manchester will host the BRIT Awards the following year.
The prestigious trophy from the 2026 ceremony has finally been revealed thanks to the BRIT Awards. Manchester is a sweet nod to the designer, who is “proud” to honor his hometown in the 2026 trophy.
The ceremony will take place in Manchester next year, marking the first time the city has departed from London since its founding in 1977, when it was known as The British Record Industry Britannia Awards. Matthew Williamson, a native of Manchester, designed the trophy this year.
Williamson has expressed his pride in creating the award for the ceremony set to take place in his hometown of Manchester. Drawing inspiration from his Manchester roots and the city’s worker bee mascot, the trophy features an amber figure atop a globe, symbolising the global influence of British music.
READ MORE: ‘I’m a chart-topping musician – BRIT Awards leaving London is right move’READ MORE: Ex NHS doctor names exact time to get perfect skin for Christmas and New Year’s Eve
Williamson, who was given the honor of designing the award, said: “It means a lot, personally, it means a lot, and professionally, it means a lot.” He continued, “I feel very proud to be in this position and I think it’s a really significant project because I’m carrying a lot of a heavy torch, so to speak, but I’m very proud.”
The Manchester-born designer added that his city’s affinity for him is further expressed in an additional way, saying, “Personally, I’m from Manchester, I love everything about the city, so it has an extra resonance because it’s going to be here, it’s a real milestone moment.”
Williamson, who was born in Chicago and specializes in fashion, home, and lifestyle design, recalls a time when he and his family attended the awards ceremony every year. The designer, 54, said, “I remember watching it and feeling like I probably shouldn’t be watching it, so I was pretty young.”
I don’t know, but I remember it being a little bit spicy at times because my parents were quite liberal when they raised me, but it was a little past the watershed and all that. I don’t recall being a teenager watching it until much earlier, perhaps.
It was many moons ago, but I still watch it now and will be doing it with my daughter the following year, which is a complete circle. Williamson revealed he was careful to follow the award’s original formula while maintaining its fresh iteration after witnessing one of his catwalk creations featured in the music video for Prince’s 2007 track Chelsea Rodgers.
He continued: “There was a certain understanding that this is the trophy, we want to keep the silhouette, the structure, so they don’t want us to turn it into a different form, because then it wouldn’t be a Brit Award. I think that was central to the project, respect what’s there, and be like the Oscars, you kind of want to see that mask, you don’t really want to see something else.”
The BRITs’ move to Manchester has inspired us to consider how we do things in such a brilliant and unique way, according to Stacey Tang, chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and co-president of RCA Records at Sony Music U.K. I’m delighted that Matthew accepted the invitation to design the award for the show’s upcoming year.
He “has a unique perspective on the design process, creating a straightforward, sophisticated, and striking concept that embodies the spirit and values of the city and serves as a visual statement for the show,” supporting our goal to bring British music to the global stage. We couldn’t be happier for what Matthew has produced and for having him play a crucial role in BRITs history.
Glyn Aikins, co-president of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, stated, “I’m thrilled to welcome Matthew Williamson as the designer of the 2026 BRIT Award trophy. For more than 20 years, Matthew’s bold, expressive style has been the defining feature of British fashion, and his pieces have always been at the intersection of art, style, and cultural imagination.
The iconic worker bee, a powerful representation of Manchester’s resilience, community, and creative spirit, is what inspired his vision for this year’s trophy. The end result perfectly captures the energy of contemporary British music, giving the BRITs a new sense of color, optimism, and individuality. I’m beyond excited to show his artwork to artists, fans, and the rest of the creative industry.
The prestigious gong has previously been crafted by luminaries including Dame Vivienne Westwood, Sir Peter Blake and Dame Tracey Emin.
The BRIT Awards will take place on Saturday, February 28, at Manchester’s Co-op Live.
When Victoria Beckham and son Cruz Beckham performed Mamma Mima, Victoria Beckham reminisced of their time as a Spice Girl on a video that she posted of their duet.
Victoria Beckham has made no secret of the fact that her time as a Spice Girl is a thing of the past as she focuses on her fashion and beauty empire. But she recently sent fans wild after posting a video of her singing the famous track Mamma, which was a top hit for the nineties girl band at the time.
And this has led many to speculate whether she has since changed her mind on wanting to resume her role as Posh Spice in a possible reunion. Sat crossed legged on her sprawling sofa with a blanket over her legs to stave off the winter chill, the 51 year old designer, belted out the pop classic. Meanwhile her youngest son Cruz Beckham accompanied her vocals by playing the guitar.
While Cruz was sitting strumming the guitar while wearing a casual white t-shirt, Victoria made a fresh-faced appearance.
And it appeared to be a touching experience shared by the two of them. However, her many followers included her, as well as her son and mother, who undoubtedly enjoyed their jam session.
Fans wasted no time in rushing to the comment section of her Instagram post. One person wrote: “I love this so much. See, Posh CAN sing.” Another said: “This is such a beautiful and sweet memory to share.” A third wrote: “Practising for the tour mama.”
A fourth person continued, “THIS IS EVERYTHING! We’ll forever be in love with you, Victoria Beckham! Another person wrote, “Everything is a result of seeing Victoria sing her best song again. That caused me to shed tears.
When asked if she would consider reuniting with her former girl band, she reportedly responded that she was “absolutely not.” She continued, “I won’t be touring.”
She continued, “People keep asking me about a Spice Girls reunion, but I’m so focused on my family and the business.”
In her Netflix documentary, Victoria, explained to viewers her struggle o be taken seriously by the fashion industry as she attempted to launch a career within the field.
She claimed that Roland Mouret, a well-known designer at the time, helped her with the development of her line of clothing. However, at the time, both the public and critics assumed she had just sworn her name to a line he’d made.
So in a bid to shed her Spice Girl persona, she transformed her appearance and slowly built her now multi-million pound fashion and beauty brand, titled Victoria Beckham.
The former pop star recently showcased her spring/summer collection in Paris during fashion week. Surrounded by the good and the great of the fashion world, Victoria’s collection was adored by all.
Along with her daughter Harper, husband David, sons Romeo and Cruz, and her daughter. Victoria was obviously taken aback by all the love that had been shown to her as she made her way down the catwalk. She leant over and kissed David’s lips.
Continue reading the article.
READ MORE: Best teen skincare gift sets 2025: From Byoma, P.Louise, Soap & Glory, Sephora and more
When Victoria Beckham and son Cruz Beckham performed Mamma Mima, Victoria Beckham reminisced of their time as a Spice Girl on a video that she posted of their duet.
Victoria Beckham has made no secret of the fact that her time as a Spice Girl is a thing of the past as she focuses on her fashion and beauty empire. But she recently sent fans wild after posting a video of her singing the famous track Mamma, which was a top hit for the nineties girl band at the time.
And this has led many to speculate whether she has since changed her mind on wanting to resume her role as Posh Spice in a possible reunion. Sat crossed legged on her sprawling sofa with a blanket over her legs to stave off the winter chill, the 51 year old designer, belted out the pop classic. Meanwhile her youngest son Cruz Beckham accompanied her vocals by playing the guitar.
While Cruz was sitting strumming the guitar while wearing a casual white t-shirt, Victoria made a fresh-faced appearance.
And it appeared to be a touching experience shared by the two of them. However, her many followers included her, as well as her son and mother, who undoubtedly enjoyed their jam session.
Fans wasted no time in rushing to the comment section of her Instagram post. One person wrote: “I love this so much. See, Posh CAN sing.” Another said: “This is such a beautiful and sweet memory to share.” A third wrote: “Practising for the tour mama.”
A fourth person continued, “THIS IS EVERYTHING! We’ll forever be in love with you, Victoria Beckham! Another person wrote, “Everything is a result of seeing Victoria sing her best song again. That caused me to shed tears.
When asked if she would consider reuniting with her former girl band, she reportedly responded that she was “absolutely not.” She continued, “I won’t be touring.”
She continued, “People keep asking me about a Spice Girls reunion, but I’m so focused on my family and the business.”
In her Netflix documentary, Victoria, explained to viewers her struggle o be taken seriously by the fashion industry as she attempted to launch a career within the field.
She claimed that Roland Mouret, a well-known designer at the time, helped her with the development of her line of clothing. However, at the time, both the public and critics assumed she had just sworn her name to a line he’d made.
So in a bid to shed her Spice Girl persona, she transformed her appearance and slowly built her now multi-million pound fashion and beauty brand, titled Victoria Beckham.
The former pop star recently showcased her spring/summer collection in Paris during fashion week. Surrounded by the good and the great of the fashion world, Victoria’s collection was adored by all.
Along with her daughter Harper, husband David, sons Romeo and Cruz, and her daughter. Victoria was obviously taken aback by all the love that had been shown to her as she made her way down the catwalk. She leant over and kissed David’s lips.
Continue reading the article.
READ MORE: Best teen skincare gift sets 2025: From Byoma, P.Louise, Soap & Glory, Sephora and more
