Sri Lanka will host matches at this year’s Women’s World Cup as part of ongoing arrangements surrounding fixtures involving India and Pakistan.
India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the men’s Champions Trophy earlier this year prompted the International Cricket Council (ICC) to introduce neutral venues to tournaments hosted by either nation.
As part of the plans, announced in December, neither country will travel to the other for an ICC event.
The Sri Lankan city of Colombo will join Indian cities Bengaluru, Guwahati, Indore and Visakhapatnam in staging the Women’s World Cup, which runs from 30 September until 2 November.
Bengaluru will stage the opening match, involving India, and the final if Pakistan are not involved. The full list of fixtures for the eight-team tournament is still to be announced.
Australia are the defending World Cup champions, having beaten England in the final of the previous tournament in New Zealand, delayed until 2022 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
One potential problem with the logistical switch could be the weather, with October one of the wetter months of the year in Sri Lanka.
India and Pakistan were not playing each other outside of major tournaments even before the conflict between the two nations last month.
The cricketing tension between the two countries escalated over the Champions Trophy. Even though Pakistan travelled to India for the men’s 50-over World Cup in 2023, India did not make a reciprocal journey earlier this year.
As part of the ICC arrangements, India played their matches in Dubai, going on to win the trophy after playing every fixture at the same venue.
In May, amid cross-border military strikes between the two nations, both the Indian Premier League and Pakistan Super League were suspended before resuming. The delayed IPL final will be played on Tuesday.
It remains to be seen whether the government of either country will allow their team to take part in a fixture against the other.
It has also been announced the opening game of next year’s Women’s T20 World Cup in England will be played at Edgbaston on 12 June.
Aliyu Audu, the senior special assistant to the president’s head of public affairs, claims that patience from the people is required to move Nigeria’s economy from poverty to prosperity.
Audu made the claim during a Monday interview on The Beam on Channels Television that Nigeria can speed up development if its citizens and leaders commit to challenging but necessary reforms.
Processes that transition from being underdevelopment to being developed. Throughout the world, there are examples. Singapore took 35 years on average, India took 50, and a few more. However, we are different because we are Nigerians. He claimed that it shouldn’t take that long.
He acknowledged the country’s political inclinations while examining the country’s progress.
It’s our collective past, even though the PDP did a very poor job in their 16 years of power. The All-Party Congress (APC) chieftain said on the program that we must own it.
We are still connected, regardless of how well you would rate each party and leader who has led this nation. We are establishing a nation. ”
Additionally, Moody’s raises Nigeria’s rating to ‘B3+.
Audu praised Nigeria’s 25 years of uninterrupted democracy and expressed optimism for the upcoming years, particularly given the administration’s reform initiatives led by President Bola Tinubu.
Incredibly, he said, “I believe there will be a lot of jobs created in the next four to six years.”
The president recently established the Nigerian Credit Guarantee Scheme with a $100 billion initial funding. The average Nigerian’s spending power is improved by doing so, he explained.
He argued that the cost of living is more important than the price of goods in the market because it is related to the citizen’s purchasing power. Life improves if one’s purchasing power rises. Life improves if there are jobs created. ”
He also emphasized the value of confronting corruption head-on, saying, “We will have more money available for job creation if we can remove corruption from our identities. We must intentionally put a stop to corruption in place. ”
Money is not exchange, it is just. A million naira exchanged in 10 hands is not the same as a million naira sitting in one place, Audu explained.
The composer Alfred Clausen, who is best known for his 27-year tenure on The Simpsons, passed away at the age of 84. After battling a contagious illness, the film composer lost his life on Thursday at his Valley Village, Los Angeles, home.
In his mid-seventies, the star had been given a diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). The condition, which affects speech, movement, balance, and vision, is still untreated.
After joining the show in 1990, one year after the renowned production’s groundbreaking debut, Clausen composed some of the show’s most well-known melodies. He remained a part of The Simpsons until its 28th season in 2017. For his songs We Put the Spring in Springfield and You’re Checkin’ In (A Musical Tribute to the Betty Ford Center), he received Emmy Awards in 1997 and 1998.
Alf Clausen passed away at his Los Angeles residence (FilmMagic).
The actor’s role on the hit TV program earned him 30 Emmy nominations overall, compared to just 21 overall. Clausen has a number of TV credits, including Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Naked Gun, and Moonlighting.
Online tributes have been pouring in for the star as Al Jean, one of The Simpsons’ longest-serving writers, wrote on X, where he previously said, “Clausen was an incredibly talented man who did so much for The Simpsons.”
The star, who once claimed he almost turned down the show because he was more interested in making longform feature films, could have had a completely different story.
Clausen served as a consultant for the network for 27 years (WireImage).
Clausen recalled that in a 2015 conversation for the Television Academy Foundation website The Interviews, the question “Would you like to score an animated show?” He then revealed that he initially said no before saying that.
I said, “I’ve only been working on Moonlighting for four years, and I really want to write drama music.” I’m more interested in producing long-form feature films.
Matt Groening, the show’s creator, persuaded him to sign up, who explained that the show wasn’t a cartoon. We view our show as a drama where the characters are drawn, Groening said Clausen. “And we want it to be scored in that manner. Could you do that, please? Clausen responded, “Yes, I could do that,” he said.
Sally Clausen’s wife, Kaarin, Scott, and Kyle, his stepchildren Josh and Emily, and 11 grandchildren remain.
Which of the UK’s five Eurovision Song Contest victories, with the most recent one coming in 1997, is the most popular among Brits?
This year Remember Monday are representing the UK with the song “What The Hell Just Happened?”(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The British public have had their say on the top UK Eurovision entries of all time. Despite many Brits hoping for Ed Sheeran, Adele or Harry Styles to represent the UK in the annual song contest, there’s a wave of optimism this year among Eurovision enthusiasts that Remember Monday could break the UK’s 28-year losing streak.
According to a survey, 38% of Brits tune in to Eurovision every year or every other year. With the final on Saturday in store for the UK, Brits have shared their rankings of previous UK entries. Lulu’s “Boom Bang-a-Bang” from 1969, as well as Sonia’s “Better the Devil You Know,” both of whom came in second place in 1993, are noteworthy mentions in the list of top UK Eurovision songs.
Sonia just missed out on the top spot in 1993(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
In the poll of 2,000 adults, Cliff Richard’s 1968 debut Eurovision entry, “Congratulations,” and Katrina and the Waves’ “Love Shine a Light,” which marked the UK’s final Eurovision victory in 1997, placed in the top five.
However, Brotherhood of Man’s “Save Your Kisses for Me,” Sam Ryder’s “Space Man,” and Bucks Fizz’s “Making Your Mind Up” are the nation’s favorite past releases.
The Eurovision champion, Cheryl Baker, who won the title with Bucks Fizz in 1981, expressed her joy at being voted the greatest of all time: “That’s fantastic! It’s amazing that we won 44 years ago. “
Continue reading the article below.
I was so excited when I met Sandie Shaw, who was my favorite, in “Puppet on a String.” The Eurovision entries Brotherhood of Man sold six million records, according to me, making them the biggest selling! However, it’s a privilege and a total honor that people regard our entry as the best British work.
“I’ve heard so many excellent songs from the UK over the years, and it’s amazing that people think of Bucks Fizz when they think of Eurovision. “
Bucks Fizz won the competition in 1981(Image: Getty Images)
Cheryl, who was a frequent attendee of the WhichBingo Awards, also shared her thoughts on Remember Monday, a UK entry this year. I haven’t yet chosen a winning song, Cheryl said. The song is really good, and the girls are fantastic.
You never know, though, even though the bookmakers are only giving it a 1% chance. The girls’ attire is almost theatrical and historically accurate; it could be something from Bridgerton. “
However, she acknowledged that this might not be sufficient, especially in light of Sweden: “They put everything in; it’s all in the production. “
“I think they could possibly nick it, which would make them the most successful Eurovision country ever, and they’d love to take that crown – but we’ll give them a good run for their money.”
Hopeful that Bucks Fizz’s song “Making Your Mind Up will still be popular in another 44 years” will remain that way in the future. The scene that they always play on television is when the skirts come off, as it was when the performance was made, and that moment is what has stayed with viewers forever. “
A catchy, memorable chorus (38%), an unforgettable strong hook melody (34%), and an emotional or powerful vocal performance (24%) are the study’s findings. A charismatic performer (20%) and a sense of fun and chaos are other necessary traits.
“We’re backing Remember Monday to go all the way, but how cool would it be if Ed Sheeran left for Britain for a year,” Shakespeare said. There are a few different factors that go into a stellar Eurovision performance, as our research demonstrates. There is no reason Britain can’t go all the way if they can stick close to them.
“This week’s award ceremony was fantastic because we had so many stars there.” Everyone is chatting and having a great time together, and the place is really buzzing. “
The Ballon d’Or, the most prestigious individual prize in football, is awarded annually by France Football magazine to the player perceived to be the best in the world.
The winner is chosen through a dual system of voting.
Firstly, journalists from France Football and fellow French publication L’Equipe work together to produce a combined list of 30 official nominees, based on players’ performances in the previous season. This initial selection process sometimes also includes a small number of former players.
Then, one football journalist from each of the top 100 Fifa-ranked nations is invited to cast votes for their top 10 players in order from that shortlist. The 10 players are awarded 15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 point based on ranking.
Once all journalists have submitted their top 10s, points are tallied and the winner of the Ballon d’Or is the player who accrued the most points in the voting, while the rest are ranked from second to 30th.
If players are tied on points, they are separated by the number of first place votes they received. If they are still level, the number of second place votes are used, and so on.
Journalists taking part in the vote are encouraged to consider three factors:
Has the Ballon d’Or ever worked in a different way?
The way in which the Ballon d’Or is awarded has changed significantly since it was first created in 1956.
Until 1995, only European footballers were eligible for the award. Then, for the next 12 years, players of any origin playing for a club in Europe were eligible. Only from 2007 onwards have all players worldwide been included.
Between 2007 and 2015, the captain and manager of each Fifa-recognised international team was invited to participate in the final vote, but both prior to that period and since then, only journalists have contributed.
From 2010 to 2015, Fifa collaborated with France Football on the award, which was known as the Fifa Ballon d’Or.
Fifa now give out their own separate prize, called the Fifa Best player award, but its lack of long-term history means the Ballon d’Or is generally considered more prestigious.
What about the women’s Ballon d’Or?
The women’s award, known as the Ballon d’or Feminine, was first created in 2018.
It has been won twice by Spain internationals Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, as well as once each by Norway’s Ada Hegerberg and the USA’s Megan Rapinoe.
There is a slight nuance in the way the women’s award is voted for – the same system of pre-selection followed by a jury of journalists is used, but only 50 journalists from the top-ranked nations are invited to take part, rather than 100.
Getty Images
Who has won the most Ballon d’Or trophies?
Having taken home the trophy eight times, Lionel Messi has won more the Ballon d’Or more often than any other player.
Perennial rival Cristiano Ronaldo is second with five titles, while Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten won three each.
Why is the Ballon d’Or sometimes criticised?
The awarding of the Ballon d’Or sometimes draws criticism from fans and pundits.
In the past, complaints have focused on the fact that the award has historically favoured attacking midfielders and forwards over more defensive players.
Only two centre-backs (Beckenbauer and Fabio Cannavaro) and one goalkeeper (Lev Yashin) have ever won the award.
The jury’s tendency to vote for players whose teams have won the biggest prizes in the game that year, like the World Cup and Champions League, has also caused controversy in the past.
Some believe collective achievement should not impact voting, and that a player who has performed highly as an individual should not miss out because his team was less successful.
Furthermore, the fact that the main award is voted form by journalists, rather than players, coaches, or ex-professionals, has occasionally led to criticism.
Getty Images
When will the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner be announced?
The 2025 Ballon d’Or winner will be announced on 22 September 2025 during a ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in central Paris.
A variety of other awards are given out during the ceremony, including:
Who are the Ballon d’Or contenders in 2025?
The following players are considered among the main contenders for the 2025 men’s Ballon d’Or, based on their performances since 1 August 2024 with one more international window of fixtures and the Club World Cup before 31 July 2025.
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With a stunning victory in the fourth round against third-seeded Jessica Pegula, world number 361 Lois Boisson delivered the biggest surprise of the French Open this year.
The Frenchwoman triumphed 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 against the US Open runner-up, who was given a wildcard into the main draw after torn her knee last year.
Boisson is making her Grand Slam debut, having previously played a player who is ranked among the top 50 in the world.
The 22-year-old served the match for five to six and won it with a thumping forehand winner after serving for it at five to six in the third set.
Boisson sang “Lois” while Boisson was sung! from the enthralling Court Philippe Chatrier crowd as the moment passed.
“I’m not sure what to say,” she said. She said, “Playing on this court, with this atmosphere, was amazing.”
“I gave it all up, and I ultimately prevailed,” the statement says. I’m hoping to “win it all”!
For Boisson, things were radically different a year ago.
Boisson won her home Grand Slam after a strong run of performances on the third rung of the women’s tennis tour.
However, Boisson tore her left knee ACL a week before the clay-court competition began. She missed nine months of the season because she couldn’t bring herself to watch the French Open last year.
Boisson received neurovisual training to speed up her recovery, including using virtual reality headsets and sight tests to monitor her reactions.
At the April Rouen Open against Harriet Dart, the Briton apologized to the umpire for telling her opponent to use deodorant. She made her WTA Tour return.
Later, Boisson made light of the situation by sharing a modified version of her holding some deodorant with Dove, which she claimed “apparently needs a collab.”
Boisson defeated 24th seed Elise Mertens in her opening match and overcame a second-set “bagel” to defeat compatriot Elsa Jacquemot in the third round, using the wildcard that injury denied her last year.
On Boisson’s right elbow, the word “resilience” is tattooed to remind her that her perseverance is worth it, and that victory over Pegula provides conclusive evidence of this.
A superb backhand winner in the second set gave the Frenchwoman a crucial break after being outplayed and overawed in the first set.
Boisson and Pegula broke up quickly in the third half before returning with a quick break.
Pegula, however, blinked once more at 4-4. Boisson won the match by combining deft touch with devastating power to save break points.
As she won, she roared a cheer as her arms were raised above the court to soak in the atmosphere.
Boisson is the lowest-ranked player to reach the fourth round of the French Open since Serena Williams, who was then world number 451 when she took a break in 2018 to reclaim her position.
