Archive July 30, 2025

At least 22 killed at Angola fuel price hike protests, authorities say

By in News, World News

The Angolai government has claimed that during protests against a fuel price increase this week, at least 22 people were killed and 197 others were hurt in violence.

The minibus taxi associations launched a three-day strike on Monday to protest a government decision to increase diesel by one-third as part of an effort to rein in expensive subsidies and stabilize public finances.

Luanda, the capital, saw the beginning of looting, vandalism, and police clashes, which spread to six other provinces.

On Monday and Tuesday, loud gunfire was heard in Luanda and several other cities as people looted stores and clashed with police.

On Wednesday, the cabinet of president Joao Lourenco met to discuss the police response and security situation.

22 people died, 197 were hurt, and 1,214 were arrested, according to a presidency statement. According to the statement, 76 stores and 25 vehicles had been vandalized, and some warehouses and supermarkets had been looted.

The army was dispatched, according to the statement, to restore order after the riots “declared a climate of widespread insecurity.”

A police officer was one of the 22 people killed, according to Interior Minister Manuel Homem.

On Wednesday, there were some queues outside petrol stations and some shops, but the streets of Luanda were tense and largely empty. Security forces were frequently present.

After a two-day standstill, many shops continued to be closed, but slowly public transportation resumed.

Human Rights Watch accused the police of using excessive force in what was a largely peaceful demonstration when the most recent wave of protests first started two weeks ago. According to the US-based rights organization, police used tear gas, rubber bullets, and assaulted protesters during those demonstrations.

Since 2023, Angola has been gradually phasing out fuel subsidies, which was encouraged by the International Monetary Fund, among others.

Angola, an oil-rich nation on Africa’s Atlantic coast where the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola party has been in power for 50 years, has frequently been accused of using force against protests to silence dissent.

The opposition UNITA and Bloco Democratico parties said Angola was experiencing a “severe economic and social crisis” as a result of government policies that were “disconnected from the country’s reality” in a joint statement on Wednesday.

Chelsea agree deal for Ajax defender Hato

By in News, Sports News
Images courtesy of Getty
Nizaar Kinsella
Football newscaster for BBC Sport

Jorrel Hato’s initial fee at Chelsea will be £37 million, subject to the Dutch club’s approval by the supervisory board.

After receiving the green light to travel to west London, the 19-year-old Dutchman is expected to agree to a seven-year contract that will run until 2032. He will also have the opportunity to get a medical.

Hato is regarded as a talented young option to challenge the backline, where he can play either at left-back or in central defense.

Hato, who was only 16 years and 335 days old when he made his senior debut for Ajax, became the club’s third-youngest player ever to play in an Eredivisie game in February 2023.

In 2023, he made his senior debut for the Netherlands and has made 75 appearances for the Eredivisie side.

After a two-year break from the Champions League’s significant revenues, Ajax have made the decision to sell him. This year, they’ll make a top-tier return to Europe’s top competition.

Chelsea are reportedly close to wrapping up their summer contract, but they are still looking for a replacement after speaking with RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons’ representatives without making a formal offer.

With Christopher Nkunku likely to leave, and with an openness to sell striker Nicolas Jackson for the right price, they are also trying to increase player sales.

This summer, who has Chelsea signed?

With their spending totaling more than £250 million, which is balanced by more than £150 million in player sales, Hato would make Chelsea’s eighth summer addition to the squad.

  • Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, £48 million. The Bundesliga-born England youth international has a growing reputation as a direct, quick winger capable of breaking down defenses.
  • Brighton-based Joao Pedro, £55 million. The Brazilian forward impressed in the Premier League with his creativity, link-up play, and finishing prowess.
  • Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, worth £30 million. Delap, a powerful striker with Premier League experience, gives Chelsea’s attacking options a different profile.
  • £12 million from Lyon to Mamadou Sarr. After graduating from Lyon’s academy, the 19-year-old center-back joins as one for the future, providing strength and calm in the field.
  • Sporting CP’s Dario Essugo, worth £18 million. Essugo, a highly regarded Portuguese midfielder, made his debut in Liga Portugal at the age of 16 and is renowned for his tenacity and maturity.
  • Estevao Willian, a Brazilian winger who left Palmeiras for the Blues this summer, signed for them for £29 million in May 2024.
  • Kendry Paez, an Ecuadorian teenager, signed for £17 million in 2023, but he has since made a summer deal with Chelsea after turning 18 in May.

related subjects

  • Chelsea
  • Premier League
  • Football

Vanessa Feltz’s wedding guest-ready floral maxi dress is now 50% off as she scoops reality TV award

By in Entertainment News, News

Before winning an award at the National Reality Television Awards, Vanessa Feltz looked stunning in the floral maxi dress from River Island, which we found for half price.

We may link to affiliate links in this article, but we will make money off of any purchases we make. more information

Vanessa Feltz scoop an award at the NRTAs (Image: Getty Images)

One of the night’s winners of the National Reality Television Awards was Vanessa Feltz, who won the award for her show Vanessa. Although Vanessa was seen at the awards ceremony wearing a stunning glittering gown, another of her dresses, which featured a stunning floral maxi dress for her chat show, has recently caught our attention.

Although it’s currently sold out online (as a size 10 in the petite length version), we did manage to find it elsewhere for half the price. Vanessa’s exact dress is from high street favorite River Island. The River Island Purple Floral Ruffle Maxi Dress, which was hidden away on Secret Sales, has been reduced from £85 to £42.50, and unlike other dresses, it is still available in all 6 to 18-inch sizes.

In advance of the Reality TV Awards, Holly Willoughby swaps out her fake tan for a £33 blurring body makeup.

Shop Rochelle Hume’s flattering butter yellow top as she makes her return as This Morning host.

It should come as no surprise that the dress has already sold out because the design was a limited edition. You’ll still be able to get a bargain if you visit Secret Sales quickly, though.

Vanessa Feltz floral dress
Vanessa wore the River Island dress on her chat show (Image: Vanessa Feltz/Instagram)

If you’re attending a summer wedding and can’t seem to decide what to wear, Vanessa’s floral maxi dress would be the perfect option. It has a low-profile hemline with a mini-length that is carefully hidden by numerous trailing ruffles to keep it modest and appropriate for more formal settings.

The sleeveless design and pink and purple print give off that summery vibe, and the higher neckline prevents too much skin from being visible if you prefer to keep it a little covered up.

The River Island Maxi Dress‘s shift-style silhouette, combined with chiffon-style material that keeps you cool in the summer and allows you to move freely, is also ideal for keeping you comfortable without feeling too clingy.

River Island floral maxi dress
Secret Sales has 50% off the River Island dress(Image: Secret Sales)

Topshop’s Ruffle Cami Slip Maxi Dress in Pink Based Floral (£72) has a more figure-hugging slip dress shape but retains some ruffle details like Vanessa’s River Island dress for a more streamlined silhouette. For that summery vibe, the ruffles have been carefully placed to create a flattering illusion of curves.

With Mango’s Floral Dress With Ruffle Detail, which is also available on sale for less than £89.99, you can make your look even more sophisticated. It has fluttery ruffles on the shoulders and a lighter watercolour floral print with a ribbon detail around the waist.

Continue reading the article.

However, you can get the River Island Purple Floral Ruffle Maxi Dress at Secret Sales right away if you’ve been inspired by Vanessa’s outfit.

Man Utd’s number one target – is this finally the summer of Sesko?

By in News, Sports News
Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

He excels in front of the goal, he says. He is positive all the time. He is relentless”.

You can see why Premier League clubs are interested in Benjamin Sesko, a £70 million striker from Leipzig.

The Slovenia international has been linked to English football for years, despite only being 22; could that be the summer he decides to move?

Manchester United have made him their top striker target, while Newcastle United also want him – if Alexander Isak leaves.

Before they signed Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres, he had a long-standing relationship with Arsenal. Plus, Chelsea (who isn’t, though?)? ).

Sesko has been compared to Erling Haaland in terms of size, strength, speed, air play, and finishers, and not just because they both played for Salzburg.

‘ The quality to play in one of Europe’s best sides ‘

Sesko has scored goals. No one in his era’s age has allowed more goals in the last two seasons (more on that later).

But last season he became more of an all-rounder, with 9.7% of his touches coming in the opposition box – compared with 17% the season before.

He expanded his involvement in midfield and on both wings.

He had the best aerial success rate of all strikers in at least 60 of them and was one of the Bundesliga’s fastest at 35.7 km/h.

A recruitment specialist working at the highest level recently spoke to BBC Sport reporter Alex Howell about Sesko, who stands at 6ft 5in tall.

The source who spoke to the public described him as “so athletic, big, physical, and strong.”

“I don’t think he’ll be overawed by the Premier League’s physicality,” he said.

” When you look at some players in Europe, where the tempo is slower, you see them struggle to transition to bigger leagues.

Getty Images

And what are some other qualities of Sesko, who idolised former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic when he was younger?

The hiring expert said, “He is clinical, he can drop in into space.”

“His ability to get the ball quickly is one of his strengths.” He can hold it, hold defenders off, he can give it to the winger, he can give it to the 10.

He excels in front of the goal, he says. He is positive all the time. He is relentless”.

You wouldn’t expect him to immediately hit the ground running, but you can expect him to be fine in six to twelve months.

Lukas Vrablik, a renowned expert on central European football, said: “I believe Sesko has the talent to play for one of Europe’s best sides.” He can be a big asset. He is also a player who will grow.

So how prolific is he then?

Sesko joined Leipzig from sister club Salzburg in 2023 after spending the previous two seasons there.

That was a deal that had been agreed and announced in the summer of 2022 – making him unavailable for any English sides.

In those two seasons, he has scored 39 goals (plus eight assists) in all 87 games, including a league-high 27 in 64.

In the Champions League, six of those goals were scored.

Since moving to Germany, Sesko is the top goalscorer currently aged under 23 in all competitions, of players who are based in Europe’s top five leagues.

Florian Wirtz, who left Bayer Leverkusen for £100m this summer, is one step ahead of Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and is five clear of him.

Vrablik remarked, “I don’t think he was as good as he was last year, but that was also influenced by Leipzig’s poor team performance.”

“There are big expectations for him as a striker. He is causing a lot of hype.

Sesko also demonstrated clinical finishing in his time in Germany.

Only six forwards have scored more goals in the Bundesliga in the past two seasons, even though Sesko is 16th for expected goals, 14th on shots and 22nd on touches in the opposition box.

Where it all started for ‘ confident ‘ Sesko

Sesko has already played senior football for Red Bull teams in Europe, leaving home at age 16 for Salzburg.

He scored 22 goals in 44 games for Salzburg’s feeder club, Liefering, in Austria’s second tier, while also scoring 22 goals in two seasons.

Some 21 goals of those came in 2020-21, having only netted once the season before.

And from there, he joined Salzburg, scoring 29 goals in 79 games over the course of his two-year playing career. In the final victory over Ried, he scored, winning the league twice, as well as the Austrian Cup.

Slovenian journalist Miran Zore said in 2024: “We kind of expected his success but no-one knew he was so special, except his agent, Elvis Basanovic, who tried to convince people about his potential.

He used to tell scouts and directors, “This is the next goal machine,” in messages.

Benjamin SeskoGetty Images

Sesko himself was quoted as saying in 2022, “My team-mates at the club tell me that Haaland and I are very similar, especially in terms of speed.” The majority of them even claim to be superior to him.

Manchester City striker Haaland (who left Salzburg before Sesko’s debut) netted the same amount of goals for the Austrian club as Sesko – but the Norwegian only needed 27 matches, 34% of the amount Sesko played.

Perhaps his team-mates were just being nice, then?

Even so, that comment would provide some assurance from oneself.

“I hear from people in Slovenia who worked with him that he’s a really hard-working guy – and really confident”, said Vrablik.

He “has a healthy sense of self-assurance,” according to the striker.

Sesko has featured for his country at Euro 2024 and scored 16 goals in 41 games. Only three players have ever scored more for the former Yugoslav nation.

Former Slovenian international Miran Pavlin stated in a 2024 interview that: “He needs to focus on playing well and the transfer will come, if not this year, then in one or two years.”

Man Utd lead the chase – but where will he actually go?

Sesko’s departure from Leipzig is a definite possibility.

However, they have started a summer rebuild under new manager Ole Werner after failing to make it to Europe this year.

BBC Sport was told Sesko has an informal agreement with his club that he can leave if an elite team offer about £70m.

Sesko had a release clause of £55 million when he left Salzburg for Leipzig in 2023, but he changed his mind and signed a new long-term deal last summer.

That also has a release clause, according to reports, which has increased.

That begs the question of who could afford him? There are only a few teams, aside from Saudi clubs and Premier League clubs.

He is “ideally positioned to make a difference at a top club.” It’s just a matter of time until he moves, “said Vrablik”. Maybe not this summer.

“I think the price paid [for his delay] is what I believe.” There are not many clubs who can afford him right now, which is a problem if he wants to move on.

He continued, “I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw him stay at Leipzig for another season.” If he can play the same season before Euro 2024, it might be beneficial for his development.

Before signing Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal had an interest in Sesko, which was still significant but slightly less expensive.

Manchester United had put Sesko and Aston Villa’s England striker Ollie Watkins at the top of their list, but are now focusing on the Slovenian and have spoken to Leipzig.

Although United have already made a summer transfer investment of £130 million, they still have money to spend.

United’s other striker is Rasmus Hojlund.

But Newcastle also want Sesko – if their own star striker leaves.

Swede Isak was unable to participate in their Asia-bound pre-season tour, but BBC Sport was informed that he was considering his options.

That fee would, in turn, leave Newcastle able to afford Sesko.

William Osula, 21, would become St James’ Park’s only senior striker if Isak did leave, as Callum Wilson did this summer on a free transfer.

A move to the Magpies would allow Sesko to participate in the Champions League next season, unlike Manchester United.

As would Chelsea – who have also been linked.

The Blues would need to sell Nicolas Jackson and perhaps others because they have already done so for a combined £90 million this summer.

Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, and AC Milan are just a few examples of the elite teams in Europe that have reportedly been interested in playing in the past.

But those links have gone cold.

related subjects

  • European Football
  • Football

Hezbollah rejects calls to disarm, says demands serve Israel

By in News, World News

In response to American pressure on Beirut to take these steps, Hazbollah leader Naim Qassem has stated that calls for the Lebanese group’s disarmament only benefit Israel.

In a televised address on Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of the senior commander’s intentional killing by Israel, Qassem said, “We will not submit to Israel. … We will not submit to Israel.”

Hezbollah’s leadership was severely damaged in a conflict with Israel last year, which resulted in the death of tens of thousands of its fighters, and the displacement of tens of thousands of its supporters from their destroyed homes.

According to sources, the US is urging Lebanon to pass a formal cabinet resolution committing to disarming Hezbollah, which is necessary before talks can resume regarding a stop to Israeli military operations in the country, which were finalized in November of last year.

The Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers were the only armed parties in the region of the truce, which Hezbollah had to withdraw its fighters from north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border.

Hezbollah has privately weighed lowering its arsenal in comparison to publicly declining to give it up entirely.

Qassem remarked that those who call for disarmament on a national, international, or global scale benefit the Israeli project.

He also claimed that the US was requesting the destruction of Hezbollah’s drones and missiles because they “scare” Israel, and that US special envoy Tom Barrack had claimed that he had called for disarmament for the sake of Israel and not the security of Lebanon.

He continued, “Israel will not be able to take Lebanon hostage, and it will not be able to defeat us.”

Israeli aggression must end, according to the statement.

Barrack and Lebanese officials met in Beirut to discuss the disarmament plan in the first few days of July. In exchange for the resumption of Israeli airstrikes against several posts in south Lebanon and the cessation of Israeli airstrikes, which have so far claimed the lives of thousands of Lebanese citizens, would Hezbollah be completely disarmed in four months.

In recent months, Hezbollah has been under pressure from both Washington and Lebanon.

Qassem claimed in his speech that the ceasefire agreement “exclusively applies south of the Litani River.”

“Woods are an internal Lebanese affair that has no relationship to the Israeli enemy,” I say to those who associate them with the agreement.

Israel was supposed to have taken all of its troops out of Lebanon under the truce, but it has since maintained them in five strategic areas.

In response to ongoing Israeli attacks aimed at various areas of Lebanon, Qassem said, “The imminent danger is the Israeli aggression… this aggression must stop.” The country’s entire political discourse must focus on halting the aggression rather than granting Israel weapons.

According to a Lebanese official who spoke on condition of anonymity, “Lebanese authorities are currently under international and regional pressure, with demands that they formally commit to disarm Hezbollah at a cabinet meeting.”

A Lebanese source with knowledge of the situation told AFP that Lebanon’s request for Israel to end its military repression was rejected by the US.

Nawaf Salam, the prime minister of Lebanon, convened a cabinet meeting for the week to discuss “the granting of state sovereignty to all of its territories by its own forces only.” A state monopoly on the supply of weapons was promised by leaders who took office after Israel and Hezbollah were at war for a year.

According to reports, the meeting will also be interested in “arrangements for the ceasefire,” which take inspiration from Ambassador Barrack’s suggestions for how to implement it.