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PSG’s Dembele tipped to beat Lamine Yamal for Ballon d’Or award

By in News, World News

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele is tipped to hold off Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal and win the men’s Ballon d’Or football prize, while Spain’s Aitana Bonmati could win a third consecutive women’s prize.

Here’s what you need to know about the Ballon d’Or 2025:

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What’s the Ballon d’Or?

The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual prize in football, presented in recognition of outstanding achievements and exceptional talent.

It has been presented annually by France Football since 1956.

What time does the Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony start?

The glitzy award ceremony – often considered the Oscars of football – is scheduled for a Monday start at 19:00 GMT.

Where will the Ballon d’Or ceremony be held?

The ceremony will be held at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.

Who is likely to win the men’s Ballon d’Or in 2025?

France’s 28-year-old Dembele has emerged as the top favourite from a list of nominees dominated by Champions League winners PSG.

Nine members of the PSG team that won the European crown for the first time in a 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan feature among the 30 nominees.

Yamal, still just 18, stands out among the other nominees, having emerged as a superstar on the wing at Barcelona, where he is seen as the successor to legendary Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi.

Other notable nominees include Viktor Gyokeres, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Cole Palmer, and the key duo from Liverpool’s 2024-25 Premier League triumph, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior are on the list too, a year after Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony, outraged that the latter had been overlooked for the prize.

Why are Dembele and Yamal favourites to win the men’s Ballon d’Or 2025?

Dembele appears to have the edge after a magnificent season in which he filled the void left in Paris by the departed Kylian Mbappe, scoring 35 goals.

That contribution helped PSG to complete a domestic clean sweep and also reach the final of the FIFA Club World Cup.

It was a spectacular campaign for the French club and an even more extraordinary one for Dembele, the winger turned centre-forward.

Many of the PSG nominees will have to miss the ceremony after their Ligue 1 match against Marseille was postponed on Sunday by 24 hours due to storms in southern France. Though Dembele is injured, he could attend.

Meanwhile, Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best player aged below 21 at last year’s Ballon d’Or gala, fresh from having helped Spain to European Championship glory.

He scored 18 goals in 55 games in all competitions last season as Barcelona won La Liga and the Spanish Copa del Rey, but they lost in the Champions League semifinal to Inter.

What has Dembele said about his Ballon d’Or nomination?

“It is nice after what was a wonderful season with PSG,” Dembele told Le Monde when asked what it meant to be a leading contender for the prize.

“I think it’s true that I am one of the favourites, but we will see what happens.”

What has Yamal said about the Ballon d’Or?

“I don’t dream of winning one Ballon d’Or, I dream of winning lots,” Yamal said recently.

Who’s nominated for the men’s Ballon d’Or 2025?

  • Ousmane Dembele (France/PSG)
  • Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy/PSG)
  • Jude Bellingham (England/Real Madrid)
  • Desire Doue (France/PSG)
  • Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands/Inter Milan)
  • Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund)
  • Erling Haaland (Norway/Manchester City)
  • Viktor Gyokeres (Sweden/Arsenal)
  • Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/PSG)
  • Harry Kane (England/Bayern Munich)
  • Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia/PSG)
  • Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Barcelona)
  • Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina/Liverpool)
  • Lautaro Martinez (Argentina/Inter Milan)
  • Scott McTominay (Scotland/Naples)
  • Kylian Mbappe (France/Real Madrid)
  • Nuno Mendes (Portugal/PSG)
  • Joao Neves (Portugal/PSG)
  • Pedri (Spain/Barcelona)
  • Cole Palmer (England/Chelsea)
  • Michael Olise (France/Bayern Munich)
  • Raphinha (Brazil/Barcelona)
  • Declan Rice (England/Arsenal)
  • Fabian Ruiz (Scotland/PSG)
  • Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool)
  • Vinicius (Brazil/Real Madrid)
  • Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool)
  • Florian Wirtz (Germany/Liverpool)
  • Vitinha (Portugal/PSG)
  • Lamine Yamal (Spain/Barcelona)

How is the Ballon d’Or voting carried out?

The award is voted for on the basis of achievements during the last season, rather than over a calendar year as in the past. A panel of journalists, one from each of the top 100 countries in the FIFA world rankings, cast their votes for the winner.

Each juror selects 10 players in descending order of merit from the list of 30 nominees. The 10 selected players are awarded 15, 12, 10, eight, seven, five, four, three, two, and one point, respectively.

Who are the favourites to win the women’s Ballon d’Or 2025?

Barcelona and Spain star Bonmati will aim for a treble in the women’s category.

Bonmati, 27, is an exceptional talent and was named player of the tournament at the UEFA Women’s Euro in July.

Yet Spain lost the final of that tournament to England on penalties, and Barcelona also lost the Champions League final to Arsenal in May.

What may work either in her favour, or that of teammate and two-time former winner Alexia Putellas, is that there is no obvious standout from the England team that triumphed at the Euros.

Lucy Bronze, goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, Alessia Russo and captain Leah Williamson are all nominated from that side, as is Chloe Kelly, who scored the decisive penalty in the final.

Who has won the most Ballon d’Or prizes?

The award was dominated for long by Messi, who is a record eight-time winner, and Cristiano Ronaldo. That duo won the Ballon d’Or 13 times between them from 2008 to 2023.

Messi won the last of his eight awards in 2023, while five-time winner Ronaldo’s last Ballon d’Or came in 2017.

What are the other categories for the Ballon d’Or?

  • Men’s Kopa Trophy for the best young player
  • Women’s Kopa Trophy for the best young player
  • Men’s Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper
  • Women’s Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper
  • Men’s Gerd Muller Trophy for top scorer
  • Women’s Gerd Muller Trophy for top scorer
  • Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy for best coach
  • Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy for best coach
  • Men’s Club of the Year Trophy
  • Women’s Club of the Year Trophy
  • Socrates Award for humanitarian work

Pro-Palestinian protests, strikes and port blockades held across Italy

By in News, World News
by news organizations

In response to demands from trade unions to “denounce the genocide in Gaza” and impose diplomatic and economic sanctions against Israel, cities all over Italy have organized pro-Palestinian protests, strikes, and blockades.

Following the recognition by the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada on Sunday, France’s intention on Monday coincided with that of several other nations at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Italy, however, has taken a more cautious stance and won’t initially recognize a Palestinian state.

In Rome, hundreds of secondary school students gathered outside the Termini Railway Station to chant “Free Palestine” and wave Palestinian flags.

In addition, protests took place in Milan and Turin, Florence’s central city, and Naples, Bari, and Palermo, both of which are in the north.

According to Italian news reports, port workers in Genoa and Livorno, in the center-north, obliterated the ports.

Although Giorgia Meloni has repeatedly expressed her “concern” over the Israeli offensive, her ultra-conservative government is ideologically close to American President Donald Trump and has a cautious approach to the conflict in Gaza.

Horner formally leaves Red Bull with £52m pay-off

By in News, Sports News
Images courtesy of Getty

Andrew Benson

F1 Correspondent

Christian Horner, who was fired as the team’s principal in July, has accepted a severance deal and officially signed a deal with Red Bull.

Horner received a pay-off of 60 million euros (£52 million), according to a source close to Red Bull, according to a source close to the company.

Since its founding in 2005, the 51-year-old has led the Formula 1 team to eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ championship victories.

Horner was “released from his operational duties,” the team announced on July 9.

After a contentious 18-month investigation that allegedly began with a female employee’s accusation of sexual harassment, which was made public in February of this year, he was fired.

Horner’s lawyer conducted an internal investigation, which turned up a second time, and that lawyer dismissed the complainant’s appeal.

Horner was praised for his “exceptional work,” according to Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s corporate projects and investments, in a statement released on Monday.

He continued, “He has contributed greatly to Red Bull Racing becoming one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula 1 with his tireless commitment, experience, expertise, and innovative thinking.”

In the same statement, Horner claimed that it was “an honor and a privilege” to lead Red Bull.

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Where to buy Amy Dowden’s cute and cosy high-street cardigan as fans demand to know

By in Entertainment News, News

Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Amy Dowden is back on the show for 2025 – and fans can’t get enough of this cute bow-print knit she’s been spotted wearing

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

We’ve found out where Amy’s pretty cardigan is from(Image: Instagram: @amy_dowden)

Strictly Come Dancing 2025 kicked off on Saturday night with the new cast of celebrity contestants and their professional partners revealed, and fans of the show are thrilled to see that pro dancer Amy Dowden is back and competing this year, after having to pull out last year after suffering a foot injury.

Revealing that she’s partnered with The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, Amy will be back sharing their Strictly experience on social media this autumn, kicking off with a short message on TikTok.

While fans were thrilled that she’s back, lots of them were also especially taken with what she was wearing in the video: a cute cream knitted cardigan embroidered with bows – and we’ve found out exactly where you can buy it too.

READ MORE: Amy Dowden credits ‘ amazing ‘ serum for impressive hair growth following chemotherapy

READ MORE: Dani Dyer’s name necklace is the perfect tribute to her children ahead of Strictly Come Dancing

Amy Dowden
Amy wears the cardigan in a short TikTok video(Image: TikTok: @amy_dowdenmbe)

“Love the cardigan”, several people commented under her TikTok video, with one also asking where it’s from – and it’s from one of our favourite high street stores.

Amy’s exact knit is the Cream Knitted Bow Cardigan from River Island, where it’s currently trending on the website. Priced at £52, it’s made of cream, chunky-knit acrylic material and features big 3D pink and red knitted bows over it, as well as bow-shaped buttons.

If that wasn’t all cute enough, it also comes in a mini version for girls aged 12 months up to five years, so you can match with your daughter (it also makes a gorgeous gift for any young girl).

River Island cardigan
It also comes in a version for young girls(Image: River Island)

Both Amy and the model on the River Island website have paired this item with classic dark blue jeans, If you’re browsing the site then River Island does this stylish pair of wide leg jeans for £46, or else we also love this timeless pair from Mango, and Levi’s 90s Straight Jeans, now £47.

Following on from her battle with breast cancer two years ago, Amy also recently shared one beauty product she’s been using recently to help her to look and feel her best.

In a sponsored Instagram post, Amy shows off impressed hair growth following on from her chemotherapy treatment, with shoulder-length blonde hair that Amy says she’s “very proud to say is all]her] own”. Describing how “thick and full it’s feeling”, Amy credits this to using a particular hair growth serum: UKLASH UKHAIR Hair Growth Serum.

Article continues below

Amy explained how she uses this serum and how it “helped greatly boost]her] confidence.” Amy uses the UKHAIR Scalp Massager, which helps boost circulation, to apply one or two drops of the serum to her scalp in the video, which claims to only take five seconds of her day.

Where to buy Amy Dowden’s cute and cosy high-street cardigan as fans demand to know

By in Entertainment News, News

Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Amy Dowden is back on the show for 2025 – and fans can’t get enough of this cute bow-print knit she’s been spotted wearing

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

We’ve found out where Amy’s pretty cardigan is from(Image: Instagram: @amy_dowden)

Strictly Come Dancing 2025 kicked off on Saturday night with the new cast of celebrity contestants and their professional partners revealed, and fans of the show are thrilled to see that pro dancer Amy Dowden is back and competing this year, after having to pull out last year after suffering a foot injury.

Revealing that she’s partnered with The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, Amy will be back sharing their Strictly experience on social media this autumn, kicking off with a short message on TikTok.

While fans were thrilled that she’s back, lots of them were also especially taken with what she was wearing in the video: a cute cream knitted cardigan embroidered with bows – and we’ve found out exactly where you can buy it too.

READ MORE: Amy Dowden credits ‘amazing’ serum for impressive hair growth following chemotherapy

READ MORE: Dani Dyer’s name necklace is the perfect tribute to her children ahead of Strictly Come Dancing

Amy Dowden
Amy wears the cardigan in a short TikTok video(Image: TikTok: @amy_dowdenmbe)

“Love the cardigan,” several people commented under her TikTok video, with one also asking where it’s from – and it’s from one of our favourite high street stores.

Amy’s exact knit is the Cream Knitted Bow Cardigan from River Island, where it’s currently trending on the website. Priced at £52, it’s made of cream, chunky-knit acrylic material and features big 3D pink and red knitted bows over it, as well as bow-shaped buttons.

If that wasn’t all cute enough, it also comes in a mini version for girls aged 12 months up to five years, so you can match with your daughter (it also makes a gorgeous gift for any young girl).

River Island cardigan
It also comes in a version for young girls(Image: River Island)

Both Amy and the model on the River Island website have paired this item with classic dark blue jeans; If you’re browsing the site then River Island does this stylish pair of wide leg jeans for £46, or else we also love this timeless pair from Mango, and Levi’s 90s Straight Jeans, now £47.

Following on from her battle with breast cancer two years ago, Amy also recently shared one beauty product she’s been using recently to help her to look and feel her best.

In a sponsored Instagram post, Amy shows off impressed hair growth following on from her chemotherapy treatment, with shoulder-length blonde hair that Amy says she’s “very proud to say is all [her] own”. Describing how “thick and full it’s feeling”, Amy credits this to using a particular hair growth serum: UKLASH UKHAIR Hair Growth Serum.

Article continues below

Amy has shared how she uses this serum and how it has “helped boost [her] confidence massively”. Explaining that “it only takes five seconds of my day”, in the clip Amy demonstrates how she applies one or two drops of the serum to her scalp, also using the UKHAIR Scalp Massager, which helps to boost circulation.

Tinubu Has No Plans To Extend Tenure Beyond 2031, Presidency Replies El-Rufai

By in News, sport-news

If re-elected in 2027, President Bola Tinubu will not be in office after May 28, 2031, the Presidency has stated, confirming his commitment to democratic principles.

The speculation that the President wants to stay in power after his election as governor by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is “baseless and absurd,” according to the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga.

El-Rufai compared Cameroon’s Paul Biya to the Tinubu administration, who has been in power since 1982, during a solidarity visit from former vice president Atiku Abubakar over the weekend, making the claim that the government is veering toward authoritarianism.

Read more about El Rufai, a military regime in Nigeria, and the Tinubu government, which is worse than any other.

He also criticized the current administration for limiting federal principles, citing a threat to Nigeria’s democratic foundation.

“Sorry, sir, it’s even a disgrace,” I thought. It means that all the years of making claims like we are fighting for democracy and NADECO, and other things were just a fake again, for people to behave the way they are behaving. Because this government (Tinubu’s administration) is attempting to centralize everything rather than shifting authority to lower levels.

If we don’t work together to put an end to this Tinubu administration by 2027, Tinubu will try to be our Paul Biya, according to the article’s summary. This is how Paul Biya got its start, El-Rufai said.

However, Onanuga claimed that Tinubu’s claims are “unfounded” in his response to El-Rufai.

According to him, El-Rufai claims that the ADC’s plan to defeat Tinubu in 2027 is proving to be a mission that will never be realized.

According to his statement, “Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai appears to need some assistance, especially given his recent unfounded assertions and rumors about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” El-Rufai’s associates’ attempts to thwart President Tinubu’s likely re-election in 2027 have become increasingly apparent. This mission is destined to fail because the plot is becoming impossible to follow.

El-Rufai was undoubtedly surprised by the level of support the President continues to enjoy in the North after hearing about President Tinubu’s lavish reception last Friday in Kaduna. His claim that the area has abandoned the President is stark in contrast to this.

He then resorted to spreading more absurd and untrue stories, including the claim that President Tinubu plans to become a “life president” after 2027, which is nonsense and absurd.

“President Tinubu is a democrat who, when re-elected in 2027, does not intend to remain in office after May 28, 2031.”