Lesley Mckenzie, Ruby Tui, and Katy Daley-Mclean, from BBC Sport, explain why Canada, who raised crowd funding for the Women’s Rugby World Cup, won the semi-final match against New Zealand, making history.
WATCH MORE: Superb Canada defeated reigning champion New Zealand in the final.
When the paramilitary RSF struck a mosque in Sudan’s El-Fasher in Darfur, killing at least 70 people. The UN issued a warning about the civil war in Sudan, which has already resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of millions.
Published On 19 Sep 2025
TV presenter Stacey Solomon shared a message to her younger self earlier this week. It included her writing about people having said that she was “on a road to failure” as a teenager and how her life has turned out since then.
Stacey, 35, who rose to fame on the X Factor in 2009, has told fans on Instagram that she was written off as not being “smart enough” or “strong enough” when she was younger. She also referenced having become a parent when she was 18, with her eldest child Zachary, now 17, born in 2008.
She then continued to write about her success, including her involvement with the haircare company REHAB, which Vicky Ellis and Anastasia Tozer co-founded. The trio recently held a ceremony to celebrate the trio’s achievement at an award ceremony and the brand is named on FEBE’s Growth 100 list for 2025. At the end of her message, Stacey addressed those who didn’t believe in her growing up and said, “Those people couldn’t have been more wrong.”
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The post included photos of Stacey, Vicky, and Anastasia at the event. It also included photos of the Loose Women star in a photoshoot for jewellery brand Abbott Lyon, which Stacey shared on Instagram yesterday.
A letter to teenage me, Stacey wrote in the post’s title. When you’re a teenage mother, people will say to you, “You’re on the verge of failure, you’re not smart enough, you’re not strong enough, you don’t speak well enough, you’re not talented enough,” and you’ll be one of them.
However, you will eventually own the second-fastest-growing company in the UK. With two boss women who had a dream and a garage to work from at the beginning of the program, “@rehabyourhair” (ad). Today, I got my adorable babies ready for school, drove straight to the awards ceremony, and then shot a campaign for the brand I LOVE @abbottlyon (ad).
She concluded, saying, “A day like this, I could never even dream of growing up.” And I was told it wouldn’t be possible by so many people. Never allow others to set you’s limits. They couldn’t have been more mistaken.
Fans sent the fans cheery messages after the post. Jemma Solomon, Stacey’s sister, responded to the comments section as well. Jemma expressed her support in a letter to her sibling that read, “Forever proud.”
Never underestimate the girl who wore boots to college when the department was shut down completely because of the mouse inside that ran out of them, Jemma continued. Because that girl has “SMASHED every aspect of life one step at a time,” is that emoji “laughing emoji”?
Stacey continued to enjoy where she had left. At the conclusion of her comment, Jemma wrote, “Now enjoy the seeds you have sewn, it’s time for you to breathe and unwind a little because we both know sitting still is not one of our strong points.”
Stacey later responded to her sister by laughing emojis, asking, “Paaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha She continued, “I love you a lot.”
Incredible. Someone wrote in their response to Stacey’s letter. one of the most difficult working women I know. You are entitled to everything and more. She would never believe the adventure she would embark on, wrote another person who responded to the post this week. You ought to be so proud.
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In the past two months, the Imo State Police Command has made significant progress in the fight against crime, including rescuing several abduction and child trafficking victims and arresting 789 suspects.
At a press conference held on Friday at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Owerri, the police commissioner Aboki Danjuma revealed this. He added that the collaboration, which he called “crucial in restoring safety across the state,” was “crucial in restoring safety across the state.
According to Danjuma, the Command has detained a total of 789 criminal suspects for crimes ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, and cultism to terrorism linked to IPOB/ESN, child trafficking, murder, stealing, and receiving stolen property, among others.
READ ALSO: Sara-Igbe claims that the emergency rule in rivers was “flawed From Start.”
He claimed that seven stolen children and nine kidnapped victims had already been rescued, the majority of whom had already been reunited with their families. 17 firearms, including AK-47s and pump-action rifles, 72 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 673 live cartridges, nine stolen motorcycles, explosives, charms, laptops, mobile phones, and what the police called “Biafra currencies” were among the items recovered.
According to Danjuma, one of the Command’s biggest breakthroughs was the arrest of suspected Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members and its armed branch, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Our operatives stormed an IPOB/ESN camp at Obudi Agwa in Oguta LGA on September 16th, using reliable information. The hoodlums attacked our men with vicious gunfire when they saw them, but they were defeated by their superior firepower. He claimed that there were 16 suspects detained, including subcommissars Uzoechi Okechukwu and Paschal Igbuogwu.
Onye Chukwuebuka Eriiriogu, a suspected terrorist kingpin, was also reportedly confessing to carrying out numerous attacks with his gang earlier than planned.
A one-month-old baby was initially declared dead at birth, according to police, and a child trafficking syndicate was discovered in addition to counter-terrorism operations. Two of the suspects have been detained, and two of their accomplices are still at large.
Four alleged Vikings Confraternity cult members were detained in Isiala Mbano LGA in a different operation, along with locally manufactured pistols and live cartridges that had been recovered.
“Permit me to thank the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, for his constant support of our successes, as well as the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodimma,” for her constant support in welfare and logistics.
The Commissioner’s assurances to the public about the safety-focusedness of the Command.
Published On 19 Sep 2025
According to the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France has suspended its cooperation with Mali and ordered two consular staff members to leave.
According to the French government’s foreign ministry, two Malian embassy staff members have been designated persona non grata, while five French embassy staff members have been maligned.
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A Frenchman was detained in Mali last month on suspicion of plotting a coup, and his suspension was announced on Friday.
In their effort to destabilize the nation, the Mali army claimed at the time that some civilians and soldiers had aided “the foreign states.”
General Daoud Aly Mohammedine, the country’s security minister, claimed Vezilier had intervened “on behalf of the French intelligence service, which mobilized political leaders, civil society figures, and military personnel” in Mali.
The accusations were “unfounded,” according to Paris.
According to the French foreign ministry, Vezilier worked for the French government’s embassy in Bamako.
A French diplomat’s source told the AFP news agency that the two Malian diplomats who were being expelled were instructed to leave in response to Vezilier’s arrest. By Saturday, according to French media reports, they had to leave.
If our nation isn’t released quickly, “other measures” will be put into place soon, according to the source.
France stated in August that it was in talks with Mali to “clear up any misunderstandings” and allow the detained envoy to be freed “right away.”
Since soldiers took control of Mali, an ex-French colony, almost four years ago, France’s formerly close ties with the country have deteriorated.
The military administration has distanced itself from France, ejects French forces, and seeks Russian security assistance under President Assimi Goita.
Since 2012, Mali has been plagued by a security crisis, notably brought on by violence by local criminal gangs and armed groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the ISIL (ISIS) group.
Goita resisted earlier assurances from the military government that civilian leadership would resume by March 2024 by extending his rule by another five years in June.
Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final
New Zealand (7) 19
Tries: Kalounivale, Mikaele-Tu’u, Sorensen-McGee Cons: Holmes, Sorensen-McGee
Canada (24) 34
Canada sensationally deposed Women’s Rugby World Cup holders New Zealand, inflicting the Black Ferns’ first defeat in the tournament in 11 years to advance to the final.
It will be only Canada’s second final appearance, after they lost to England in the 2014 showpiece. They could face the Red Roses again with England taking on France in Saturday’s second semi-final.
Whoever the opposition, Canada, who had a million-dollar fund-raising drive entitled Mission: Win Rugby World Cup to cover their preparation costs, will be confident of claiming their first world title after ruthlessly burying the Black Ferns in Bristol.
Six-time champions New Zealand came into the game as slight favourites given their pedigree at the business end of World Cups, but Canada were supreme on both sides of the ball and in every department.
Even their most ardent fans though would not have expected victory by such an emphatic margin.
After first-half tries from scrum-half Justine Pelletier, wing Asia Hogan-Rochester, centre Florence Symonds and second row Sophie de Goede, Canada headed down the tunnel 17 points clear.
Three minutes after the restart, centre Alex Tessier, who plays her club rugby in Exeter, stepped off her right foot and sauntered in to make it 31-7 and all but extinguish Kiwi hopes.
New Zealand won their world title by overhauling England’s double-digit lead at Eden Park three years ago.
After a frantic two-minute opening passage of play in which possession switched sides several times, Canada imposed themselves on the chaos and never really gave up control.
Taking advantage of Renee Holmes’ kick out on the full, Tessier collected a chip-ahead and from the resulting phase Pelletier darted, dummied and danced under the posts.
Shortly after, wing Hogan-Rochester breezed past full-back Holmes to extend the lead to 12 points in as many minutes.
A reeling New Zealand had occasional openings, but Alana Bremner spilled the ball to curtail one promising attack, while Canada’s ground game proved too strong on another.
The excellent De Goede got over the top of a breakdown to win a penalty in midfield, before Symonds was sent over by Tessier’s smart hands for a third unanswered try.
Prop Tanya Kalounivale barged over to belatedly get the Black Ferns on the board, but there was no reeling in Canada. De Goede cantered away for another try off Pelletier’s delicious one-handed offload and her team headed down the tunnel 24-7 to the good.
It was not just the scoreboard where New Zealand were down. They had also conceded five penalties to Canada’s none by the break.
Tessier’s score shortly after the restart was gleefully celebrated by Canada who sensed it was the one that put them out of reach.
They were right.
New Zealand huffed, puffed and improved in the second half, but were never able to inject jeopardy back into the contest.
De Goede ate up the minutes clipping over a gimme of a penalty to take Canada back out beyond two converted scores and could have created another try had she found wing Alysha Corrigan after a late intercept.
It did not matter in the final reckoning.
Canada’s Sophie de Goede: “The Black Ferns are six-time world champions, we knew we had to put in an incredible performance.
“Our tagline is Be-leaf, Belief. We’ve defied the odds time and time again and that propels you forward. We’ve fostered a knowledge in the group that we can overcome anything.
“The defensive focus was huge this week. Our attack has been firing all tournament, but we knew we had to do a big job in defence. We were able to do that and that’s why you saw that result.”
Her message to the fans back at home: “Thank you so much for your support. But I know we have one job left to do for you guys. The dream is to win a World Cup, and getting to the final is a huge part of this. Words can’t express how much your support means to us.”
Canada scrum-half Justine Pelletier: “That was crazy. It was fun to play rugby and we’ve shown what rugby can be.
“A lot of grit, a lot of resilience, a lot of hard work. It’s not just one game, it’s a lot of hustle in the dark. Now we’re in the light. Thanks for everyone’s support.
New Zealand head coach Allan Bunting: “All I can say is our ladies didn’t leave anything out there, they gave their absolute best. Canada were accurate today and we weren’t, and that’s the difference.
“It comes down to the pressure. Our intent and our effort to do our best today (was there), I’m proud of that, they were just more accurate than us.”
Black Ferns captain Kennedy Tukuafu: “Canada were exceptional and it will be a great final.
New Zealand: Holmes; Sorensen-McGee, Waaka, Brunt, Woodman-Wickliffe; Demant, Pouri-Lane; Viliko, Ponsonby, Kalounivale, Roos, A Bremner, Mikaele-Tu’u, Tukuakfu, Olsen-Baker.
Replacements: Lolohea, Henwood, Rule, C Bremner, Sae, Joseph, Setefano, Leti-I’iga.
Canada: Schell; Corrigan, Symonds, Tessier, Hogan-Rochester; Perry, Pelletier; Hunt, Tuttosi, Menin, De Goede, O’Donnell, Crossley, Paquin, Forteza.