President Prabowo inaugurates 8 Indonesian ambassadors

 Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated eight Indonesian Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (LBPP) to friendly countries and Indonesian representatives in international organizations in a ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday.

The eight Indonesian ambassadors were inaugurated by the President based on Presidential Decree Number 75/P of 2025 concerning the Appointment of Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia, read by the Deputy for Administrative Affairs of the Ministry of State Secretariat, Nanik Purwanti.

The inauguration ceremony began with the singing of the national anthem, Indonesia Raya, followed by the reading of the presidential decree on the appointment of the Indonesian ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary.

President Prabowo then led the oath-taking ceremony, which was attended by the newly inaugurated officials.

"That I will be loyal to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia and will strictly implement all laws and regulations in the service of my nation and state. That in carrying out my official duties, I will uphold the ethics of office, work to the best of my ability, and with a full sense of responsibility," said the President, as the officials followed.

The ceremony then continued with the signing of the minutes by the new ambassadors, witnessed in person by President Prabowo Subianto.

The following are the names of the Indonesian Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary appointed by President Prabowo.

1. Toferry Primada Soetikno, as the Indonesian Ambassador to the United States of Mexico, concurrently to Belize, the Republic of El Salvador, and the Republic of Guatemala

2. Dwisuryo Indroyono Soesilo, as the Indonesian Ambassador to the United States

3. Andhika Chrisnayudhanto, as the Indonesian Ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil

4. Abdul Kadir Jailani, as the Indonesian Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany

5. Judha Nugraha, as the Indonesian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates

6. Imam As'ari, as the Indonesian Ambassador to the Republic of Ecuador

7. Umar Hadi, as the Indonesian Ambassador to the United Nations, other International Organizations in New York, and the International Seabed Authority (ISA)

8. Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, as the Indonesian Ambassador to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and Other International Organizations in Geneva

Several officials and ministers from the Red and White Cabinet attended the inauguration ceremony, including Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar, and Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.

Indonesia's agriculture remains solid amid global turmoil: Minister

 Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan emphasized that Indonesian citizens should be proud and grateful for the country’s success in keeping its agriculture sector strong despite the ever-evolving global challenges and uncertainties.

Speaking as Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), he remarked that Indonesia’s agricultural output has continued to grow solidly even as the international landscape becomes increasingly unstable, marked by armed conflicts and tensions between nations.

“Amid this grim situation, we must be grateful for the fact that our food and agriculture sector recorded a favorable growth rate of 13.53 percent in the second quarter of 2025,” Hasan stated during the PAN Awards event in Jakarta on Sunday night (August 24).

The minister cited data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) indicating that businesses in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors grew 13.53 percent quarter-to-quarter in the second quarter of 2025, up from the 9.74 percent recorded in the previous quarter.

He underlined that this performance proves the resilience of Indonesia’s food sector even in the face of global turmoil.

Hasan contrasted the country’s positive trajectory with the instability arising from souring relations between Pakistan and India in South Asia and between Thailand and Cambodia in Southeast Asia, asserting that the Indonesian government has successfully kept the country on track despite such alarming issues.

Turning to broader economic growth, he recalled that Indonesia had once achieved a remarkable growth rate of around 7.5 percent, a level he believes can be reached again in the future.

“We must be grateful for what we have, for our success in sustaining economic growth above five percent amid global headwinds. However, we are still lagging behind China,” he noted.

He went on to affirm that both the government and PAN are working solely for national interests and the welfare of the people, not for personal gain.

On that note, he also called on PAN cadres to continue working hard for the greater good even outside of electoral seasons.

Israeli tourist 'beaten unconscious' by group shouting 'kill the Jews' while paintballing

 Two Israeli tourists have been hospitalised after being beaten by a group who were allegedly shouting "kill the Jews" while paintballing at a Center Parcs in the Netherlands, with one left unconscious.

A witness who took part in the paintball game has claimed that the group were "Dutch people of Arab origin" and shouted "Free Palestine" alongside telling the Israelis that "we will get to your children".

The incident occurred at the Center Parcs De Kempervennen in the southern village of Westerhoven on Thursday evening.

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The incident occurred at the Center Parcs De Kempervennen in the southern village of Westerhoven

In total, four Israeli tourists had been left injured during the incident at the paintballing game, which started after the "family of ten" allegedly threw stones and sand at them.

Dutch police have confirmed that a 15-year-old boy from Utrecht has been arrested with an investigation into the incident continuing.

Center Parcs claimed that there were no cameras which captured the violent attack, however a witness told the Israeli media outlet Ynet that "from the first moment they were violent" when describing the alleged perpetrators.

An Israeli tourist is believed to have left bleeding and unconscious after being punched, kicked and pinned down to the floor after asking the family to stop being violent.

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Dutch police have confirmed that a 15-year-old boy from Utrecht has been arrested

Two of the tourists' family members were attacked when attempting to get the alleged perpetrators away from the injured Israeli.

The witness added: "This is a very big trauma for us and especially for the children who were there."

They also claimed one of the injured family members was a senior doctor, who said that the other injured Israeli would have been killed had the assault carried on for a short while longer.

According to Dutch police, the fight had started after a dispute on the rules of the paintball game with punches and threats dished out before the authorities stepped in to break it up.

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The incident has sparked a furious response from the Israeli government, who told the Netherlands to 'come to its senses'

The incident has sparked a furious response from the Israeli government, who told the Netherlands to "come to its senses and act resolutely to prevent attacks on Israelis in its territory, to locate the criminals, and to bring them to justice"

The violent attack comes after activists took to social media to fume about "Zionists" staying at a different Dutch Center Parcs location.

One post said: "Over a hundred of citizens of the Zionist Entity are staying at Center Parcs de Eemhof, Zeewolde this week.

"Who is screening these people traveling to the EU visa-free? Are they complicit in war crimes and genocide by the Zionist Entity?

"If all else fails: mobilise, show them we see them, and make clear they are NOT welcome."

A spokesman from the Israeli embassy in The Hague said: "This is not the first time that Israelis visiting the Netherlands were violently attacked. The sequence of actions is very alarming.

"We expect the Dutch authorities to take urgent measures to protect Israelis and Jews in the Netherlands.

"Intimidation and violence against people because of their background is unacceptable."

Russia economy meltdown as country on brink of recession after worst harvest in 17 years

 Russia's economy is edging toward a major crisis, according to economists and analysts, as war spending collides with falling energy revenues, a disastrous harvest, and Ukrainian strikes which are hitting the country's fuel industry. Tatiana Orlova, lead economist for emerging markets at Oxford Economics, said in a note that "it's too early to adopt a more optimistic view on the Russian economy, which we think is teetering on the brink of a recession.

We also think there's a significant probability of Russia's economy slipping into a technical recession in the coming quarters." Ms Orlova forecasted GDP growth will collapse from 4.3% in 2024 to just 1.2% this year, and stagnate below 1% in 2026 and 2027. Economy minister Maxim Reshetnikov has also admitted that Russia is "on the brink" of recession, while domestic banks have warned of a potential debt crisis as high interest rates weigh on borrowers.

The fiscal squeeze is tightening. Kremlin oil and gas revenue, its main source of war funding, fell by 27% in July compared with a year earlier to 787.3 billion rubles ($9.8 billion).

Moscow has been forced to draw heavily on its National Wealth Fund, which has dwindled from $135 billion in January 2022 to just $35 billion in May.

Peter Frankopan, associate fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, wrote in a recent post that "Russia's bad 2025 harvest is more than a weather event: it reveals the structural fragility of Russia's war economy and the growing risks to a system built on fiscal buffers and fossil fuels."

Russia is enduring its worst harvest in 17 years, with grain output expected to slump to 130 million metric tons, down 18% from its 2022 peak. Crops have been damaged first by spring frosts, then by record summer heat and drought.

Analysts warn that energy, long considered Russia's strongest pillar, is also becoming a weakness.

A post from the Russian Telegram channel Nezygar, translated and shared by former Ukrainian interior ministry adviser Anton Geraschenko, said that "tensions in Russia's fuel market are rising: in Primorye, there are kilometre-long queues at gas stations, and wholesale prices for gasoline and diesel have hit record highs.

"Officially, the reasons are no longer hidden - refineries are shutting down after Ukrainian strikes. During peak summer days, up to 14% of processing capacity was idle."

The same post said that in 2025 Ukraine had shifted its tactics from single strikes to repeated attacks on the same facilities, making repairs almost impossible.

It said: "For example, after a series of attacks, Ryazan Refinery (5% of Russia's capacity) has half its processing halted, while Novokuibyshevsk Refinery (3%) has its primary processing damaged.

"The largest refinery in southern Russia, Volgograd's Lukoil, as well as the Samara and Syzran refineries, have stopped receiving crude."

The Nezygar account also pointed to a technological bottleneck, saying: "Modern Russian refineries were built using equipment from Shell, Axens, UOP, and Haldor Topsoe.

"After 2022, deliveries of equipment, software, and catalysts ceased. Catalysts are consumables, replaced every 1-3 years; without Western supplies, Russia relies on old stock or Chinese analogues with inferior performance.

"As a result, every Ukrainian strike on a hydrocracking or reforming unit leads to months of downtime."

The post concluded that "Russia's oil and gas industry, once a source of economic strength, has become a vulnerable spot."

Anders Åslund, an economist and Russia expert, argued in a Project Syndicate article that "Russia's economy is fast approaching a fiscal crunch that will encumber its war effort.

"Though that may not be enough to compel Putin to seek peace, it does suggest that the walls are closing in on him."

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s position on selling Man United stake as fresh Qatar takeover update emerges

 The ownership picture at Manchester United could still change, with both Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers involved.

It’s been over 18 months since Ineos took charge of Manchester United, following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.2 billion deal for the club.

Since then, Ratcliffe has raised his stake to 29%, including a personal investment that covered a £50 million overhaul of Carrington.

The Glazers are still majority owners, but Ratcliffe and Ineos now have control over football operations at Old Trafford.

There’s also a clause in place that could lead to a full takeover – if another buyer comes forward with an acceptable bid, Ratcliffe would be required to sell his shares.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe not looking to sell Manchester United shares

Ratcliffe’s first year in charge of United was marked by a series of unpopular decisions, including widespread job cuts and higher costs for fans.

His net worth also took a significant hit, leading some to question his long-term commitment to the club.

But according to the Daily Mail, Ratcliffe has no intention of selling his shares. He and his team understand that turning United around will be a gradual process, with the ultimate goal being a return to the top of world football.

The Glazer clause is seen more as an emergency measure than something likely to be activated. As one source put it, it’s “a safety mechanism to be used in a Doomsday scenario rather than a likely option.”

Sheikh Jassim’s stance on reigniting a Qatar takeover

The two main candidates during United’s takeover saga were Ratcliffe and Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim.

Qatar was looking to take full ownership of the club, putting forward a bid just under £5bn.

In the end, Ratcliffe’s minority stake valued United higher overall, which helped sway the decision in his favour. There have been rumours since then that Qatar might still be interested, but that doesn’t appear to be the case anymore.

The Daily Mail also reports that while Qatar has continued to monitor United from afar, they currently have no intention of jumping back into another takeover battle.

Instead, their focus has shifted towards other ventures like their push to host the 2036 Olympics. They now see buying United as even more challenging than it was in 2023.

Benjamin Netanyahu slaps down 'weak' Keir Starmer again in scathing verdict of PM's Palestine plan

 Benjamin Netanyahu has blasted Sir Keir Starmer's "weak" and "shameful" plans to recognise the state of Palestine once again.

In a furious podcast appearance on Wednesday, the Israeli Prime Minister laid into his British counterpart - and issued a dire warning over his response to Israel's military activity in Gaza to boot.

Mr Netanyahu told the TRIGGERnometry podcast: "They [Hamas] commit the greatest savagery against Jews since the Holocaust, and the Prime Minister of Britain says we will reward you with a de facto state which is committed openly to repeating the October 7 massacre over and over and over again."

He added: "Let's imagine, what would be the response of Britain is about 15,000 people would be butchered in one day, and you'd have, I don't know, 2,500 hostages taken.

"Would you say, 'oh, well, we should give our attackers a state right next to London?' Of course not."

"The standard that is being applied is not merely wrong, it's just downright dangerous.

"Because you're really rewarding these monstrous terrorists with the greatest prize and that's because of weakness."

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Benjamin Netanyahu has said the Prime Minister's plans to recognise the state of Palestine are rewarding Hamas

Britain followed in France's steps to recognise a Palestinian state in September - with Canada and Australia set to follow suit.

The podcast's release also came just ahead of Israel's first steps of occuping the Hamas-controlled Gaza City.

According to Brigadier General Effie Defrin, spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces, said they "control the outskirts of the city".

The plans to begin a new phase of military operations in densely-populated areas of the city were approved by Israel Katz, the Israeli Defence Minister, on Wednesday.

Malang: Foreign students take part in Independence Day celebrations

 Dozens of international students at Brawijaya University participated in the flag-raising ceremony commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence, held on the university campus in Malang City on Sunday.

The university’s Director of the International Office, Dr. Didik Hartono, said the foreign students who joined the ceremony came from various countries, including Germany, Gambia, Sudan, Myanmar, Egypt, Pakistan, and Timor-Leste.

“We involved international students in the flag ceremony, and this is a positive step. There were around 30 foreign students in total,” Hartono stated.

He explained that involving foreign students in the Independence Day ceremony was aimed at introducing them to the spirit of Indonesian nationalism.

Hartono emphasized that Indonesia’s independence was not achieved instantly but through many sacrifices.

“For example, some students from the Middle East remarked that our nationalism is truly remarkable, as it begins with the highest leaders and is embraced by the general public,” he added.

The foreign students wore white uniforms like other participants, accessorized with Independence-themed attributes such as red-and-white flag stickers on their cheeks, neckerchiefs, and even replicas of bambu runcing or sharpened bamboo spears.

“I asked some of them to wear their traditional attire and combine it with Independence Day attributes,” he said.

Mohammed Bosha, a student from Sudan and President of the UB International Student Association, said he was honored to take part in the Independence Day ceremony.

He expressed that he could truly feel the spirit of independence radiating through the Indonesian people.

“This is an unforgettable experience. For me, independence is not just history—it is a spirit of unity and struggle,” Bosha said.

Bosha, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in Environmental Microbiology, remarked that Independence Day in Indonesia is always festive.

“I often take part in the competitions; they are so much fun and truly valuable learning experiences for us,” he commented.

Sizeable education budget boosts downstreaming via research: RI Govt

  Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto said Indonesia's sizeable education budget could be used to accelerate downstreaming through targeted research initiatives.

"Strategic research, such as the downstreaming of rare earth metals, is already underway in universities. These resources are in high demand globally," Yuliarto said in a statement on Saturday.

He added that his ministry is committed to optimizing the education budget to strengthen research and innovation ecosystems, expand access to higher education for Garuda School graduates, and promote downstreaming of natural resources to support the national economy.

"I hope the outcomes of this research will provide real solutions for industrial self-sufficiency," he said.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati previously announced that Rp150.1 trillion (USD9.26 billion) of the education budget was allocated for schools and universities.

This includes Rp401.5 trillion (USD24.7 billion) for student aid programs such as Kartu Indonesia Pintar (KIP) and Bidikmisi, and four thousand scholarships from the Education Fund Management Institute (LPDP).

Additionally, Rp9.4 trillion (USD580 million) is allocated for operational support to 201 state universities, she said.

The Garuda Schools program will also be expanded to nine remote, outermost, and underdeveloped (3T) regions to promote equitable access to quality education.

President Prabowo Subianto, in his first State of the Nation Address to Parliament on Friday, emphasized that the education sector remains a key priority, with Rp757.8 trillion (USD47.6 billion) earmarked for 2026 — the largest allocation in Indonesia's history.

"The education budget must be well-targeted to improve teacher quality and strengthen vocational education aligned with workforce demands," he said while emphasizing that education is a key tool in the fight against poverty.

Israel’s finance minister approves settlement to ‘bury the idea of a Palestinian state’

 Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich approved plans overnight for a settlement that would split East Jerusalem from the occupied West Bank, a move his office said would bury the idea of a Palestinian state.

It was not immediately clear if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed the plan to revive the long-frozen E1 scheme, which Palestinians and world powers have said would lop the West Bank in two and will likely draw international fury.

In a statement headlined "Burying the idea of a Palestinian state," Smotrich's spokesperson said the minister would give a press conference later on Thursday about the plan to build 3,401 houses for Israeli settlers between an existing settlement in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Israel had frozen construction plans there since 2012 because of objections from the United States, European allies and other world powers who considered the project a threat to any future peace deal with the Palestinians.

In Gaza

On Wednesday Israeli gunfire killed at least 25 people seeking aid in Gaza, health officials and witnesses said, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again called for what he refers to as the voluntary migration of Palestinians from the war-ravaged territory.

Witnesses and staff at Nasser and Awda hospitals, which received the bodies, said people were shot on their way to aid distribution sites or while awaiting convoys entering Gaza.

Netanyahu wants to realise Donald Trump's vision of relocating much of Gaza's population of over two million people through what he refers to as "voluntary migration" — and what critics have warned could be ethnic cleansing.

"Give them the opportunity to leave! First, from combat zones, and also from the strip if they want," Netanyahu said in an interview aired Tuesday with Israeli TV station i24 to discuss the planned offensive in areas that include Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people shelter.

Ceasefire

Efforts to revive ceasefire talks have resumed after apparently breaking down last month. Hamas and Egyptian officials met Wednesday in Cairo, according to Hamas official Taher al-Nounou.

Israel has no plans to send its negotiating team to talks in Cairo, Netanyahu's office said.

Israel's plans to widen its military offensive against Hamas to parts of Gaza it does not yet control have sparked condemnation at home and abroad, and could be intended to raise pressure on Hamas to reach a ceasefire.

The militants still hold 50 hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that sparked the war. Israel believes around 20 are still alive. Families fear a new offensive endangers them.

‘I’m 94 and still driving – I’m safer than younger drivers’

 A 94-year-old grandfather who is still driving believes most older motorists are perfectly safe to be on the roads and are safer than many younger drivers.

Brad Ashton, who lives in Enfield, north London, still loves driving and has never had a speeding fine. He is determined to keep driving as long as he can.

It comes as ministers are preparing a major shake-up of driving rules that could see drivers over the age of 70 banned from the roads if they fail compulsory eye tests.

The proposals, set to be published as part of a road safety strategy in the autumn, also include tougher penalties for uninsured driving and failing to wear a seat belt, according to The Times.

Mr Ashton, who has been married to his wife Valerie for 64 years and has three children and five grandchildren, has been driving since he passed his test in 1947, passing first time after just six lessons.

“I think most older drivers are fine and keep to the rules more than a lot of younger drivers do,” he said.

“I stick to the speed limits. When I am on roads which are 20mph, I slow down, but I see lots of cars driving past me driving at 30mph or more.

“I am a careful driver, which is why I have still got my licence. I have never had a speeding fine ever because I am never in that much of a hurry that I have to rush.”

Mr Ashton is so confident in his health that he has just renewed his licence for another three years and is particularly thankful he can still drive, as his wife is unable due to having ataxia, which affects her balance and walking.

“There are not a lot of buses around here, so driving gives us independence, so we don’t have to rely on relatives and can live a fairly normal life,” he said.

Motoring groups have hailed Government plans to overhaul road safety laws as “much overdue” and “a step in the right direction”.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said earlier this year that she was open to the measure.

On Britain’s roads last year, 1,633 people were killed and almost 28,000 seriously injured in traffic incidents, and numbers have remained relatively constant following a large fall between 2000 and 2010.

Under current rules, drivers are not subjected to mandatory checks and are instead required to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they are no longer fit to drive.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said “more clearly needs to be done” to improve road safety as “too many lives are being lost”.

Edmund King, AA president, said: “The time has come for a bold and proactive approach to road safety.” Vision checks for older drivers and targeting drink and drug drivers are “practical steps that can make a real difference”, he added.

A retired comedy scriptwriter, Mr Ashton wrote material for famous British comedians including Tommy Cooper, Les Dawson, Bruce Forsyth, and Bob Monkhouse. Early in his career, he was even head writer for the great Groucho Marx.

He even happened upon some comedy during his weekly driving lessons.

“Whenever I got there, the front seat was pushed so far back, it was almost at the seat behind,” he said. “I couldn’t understand why – until one week when I got there early and saw that Bernie Bresslaw – 6ft 7in tall and of Carry On fame – was the pupil before me and was getting out of the car.

“We ended up becoming great friends after that.”

Mr Ashton shares the tales from his career with comedy greats as a guest speaker at various groups and events.

He now tries to stick to talks within 10 miles or so from home – not because he does not fancy a longer drive, but because he does not want to leave his wife on her own for too long.

“I just love driving, and I hope I can keep on driving as long as I am able to,” he said.

Rob Heard, chair and founder of the Older Drivers Forum, supported efforts to ensure people continue to drive safely as they enter their seventies, eighties, and nineties.

“None of us, though, should rely on our past safe driving history and perhaps become complacent,” he said. “We all need to recognise that as we age, our sight, hearing, judgement of speed and distance may not be as good as it once was, and this can creep up on us without us actually realising.

“To ensure we continue to make sure we are still safe to drive, haven’t picked up any bad habits or are affected by a medical condition affecting our driving, then it is always sensible to ensure we carry out some simple regular [health] checks.”

PSG set transfer fee for Man Utd to sign Donnarumma

 Manchester United target Gianluigi Donnarumma’s relationship with PSG has been ‘completely broken’ after he was left out of the club’s latest matchday squad.

Champions League holders PSG face Europa League winners Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday night.

Donnarumma, who was integral to PSG’s Champions League and Ligue 1 win last season, is not expected to travel with his teammates to Udine, Italy.

The French champions completed a £47m move for Lucas Chevalier over the weekend and intend to make the former Lille star Luis Enrique’s No. 1.

Donnarumma will not settle for a place on the bench and has therefore decided to leave Paris Saint-Germain.

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The 26-year-old, rated as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, has one more year remaining on his current deal but the chances of an extension have evaporated after he was left out of the squad to face Premier League club Spurs.

Donnarumma’s camp are upset over how he has been treated this summer and are now exploring their options, with a move away from Paris ‘100% guaranteed’, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The transfer expert believes a move this summer is the ‘most likely’ outcome, although Donnarumma has not ruled out waiting and leaving as a free agent next summer.

The Premier League is the ‘most likely destination’ for Donnarumma, who has been linked with Manchester United and Manchester City in recent week.

The red half of Manchester appear to be at the front of the queue to sign Donnarumma after Man City re-signed James Trafford from Burnley for £27m.

Ruben Amorim is interested in signing a new goalkeeper to replace error-prone Andre Onana and Donnarumma has already given the green light to a move to Old Trafford.

As for a fee, the Daily Mirror say PSG want just £26m for the Italian Euros winner given he is destined to leave and into the final 12 months of his contract.

Manchester United were linked with a move for Emiliano Martinez earlier in the summer but Donnarumma appears to be a more concrete target.

The Red Devils have spent almost £200m so far this summer, bringing Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha to Old Trafford.

Current United No. 1, Onana, missed the entirety of pre-season due to a hamstring injury and faces a race to regain his fitness in time for Sunday’s Premier League opener against Arsenal.

If Donnarumma departs PSG, he will leave having made 161 appearances for the club, winning four league titles as well as the Champions League.

The Italian was one of seven PSG players named in UEFA’s Champions League team of the season following a brilliant campaign in Europe.

Farmers displaced by $1.5bn Trump golf course reportedly being offered rice and cash

 Villagers whose farms in Vietnam will be bulldozed to make way for a $1.5bn golf resort backed by the Trump family have reportedly been offered rice provisions and cash compensation of as little as $12 for a square metre of land by state authorities.

Thousands of villagers will be offered compensation based on land size and location, according to a report by Reuters. The agency spoke to elderly farmers who said they feared they would struggle to find a stable livelihood.

The sprawling golf resort, the first project by the Trump Organization in Vietnam, broke ground as the country scrambled to reach a crucial trade deal with the US.

Vietnam, which is heavily dependent on exports, was facing the threat of a 46% tariff in April, which has since been reduced to 20% for many goods.

Vietnam’s prime minister said the project played an important role in deepening the country’s relationship with the US and that villagers would be reimbursed. Pham Minh Chinh added that he hoped the development would create jobs and improve livelihoods.

The project will include a 54-hole VIP golf course, luxury resorts, high-end villas and a modern urban complex, according to state media. Reactions among local people have been mixed, with many farmers suggesting the compensation rates are too low.

The New York Times reported in May that the development had been approved unusually fast and was allowed to break ground even though at least half a dozen legally required steps, including environmental reviews, had not been conducted

The White House has denied suggestions of a conflict of interest, saying the business deals of the Trump Organization are entirely separate from trade negotiations and that Donald Trump’s assets are in a trust managed by his children.

However, disclosures in June showed income from those sources ultimately accrues to the president.

The golf course development in Hung Yen province, south of Hanoi, is a joint venture between the Trump Organization and the Vietnamese real estate company Kinh Bac City.

Trump’s family business is not involved in granting compensation to farmers, according to Reuters.

Five farmers facing a loss of land told Reuters they had been informed reimbursements would be offered of between $12 and $30 for every square metre of farmland, with additional payments for uprooted plants and rice supplies offered for several months.

A local official told the news agency that rates for farmland in the area had usually not exceeded $14 a square metre.

All land is managed by the state in Vietnam, a communist country, with farmers given small plots for long-term use, which can be taken back by the authorities.

Marcus Rashford leaves Barcelona players starstruck as four traits impress coaches

 Several members of the Barcelona squad are in awe at the arrival of Marcus Rashford, with the Manchester United loanee making a good early impression on coaches, according to a report.

Barcelona swooped for Rashford after seeing Nico Williams pen a new contract with Athletic Club and Luis Diaz join Bayern Munich. Barca had made the left wing position a top priority, feeling Raphinha needed more support, and ultimately brought in Rashford.

The Englishman’s versatility means he can also provide backup for Robert Lewandowski at centre-forward if needed.

Rashford has joined Barca on a season-long loan that includes an option to buy worth €30million (£26m, $35m).

He hopes to join the LaLiga giants permanently and will do all he can to convince them that such an outlay is worth it.

So far, Rashford has managed one goal and one assist in three pre-season appearances during Barca’s tour of Asia.

According to Catalan outlet Sport, the signing of Rashford has left Barca’s rising stars impressed.

Young players such as Lamine Yamal, Hector Fort, Roony Bardghji and Guille Fernandez are ‘amazed’, as they all looked up to Rashford during their childhood.

These teenagers used Rashford on FIFA, with 17-year-old midfielder Fernandez a particularly big fan of his.

They admire the fact that Rashford burst onto the scene for club and country – scoring goals on his debut in the Europa League and Premier League, as well as for England – and want to do the same at Barca.

It is not just the likes of Yamal, Fernandez and Bardghji who have been impressed by the 27-year-old, as he is also working hard to convince coaches of his ability and temperament.

The report adds that Rashford is ‘reserved, kind, caring and hardworking’, attributes which Hansi Flick and his coaching staff like a lot.

As would be expected, Rashford is being held back by a language barrier currently, though he is taking private lessons to overcome this.

According to previous reports in Spain, Yamal was left disappointed by the signing of Rashford as he wanted the club to land his good friend Williams from Athletic Club instead.

Barcelona looking to avoid registration problems

It emerged on Wednesday that Rashford is among six players Barca still need to register with LaLiga. They had difficulty registering Dani Olmo last season and do not want to face similar problems this time around.

When asked about potential registration issues recently, Rashford said: “I’m not worried. It’s something the club needs to resolve, and I trust they will. I’m focused on training and being ready for the start of the competition.”

The attacker previously suffered ‘humiliation’ during the early stages of his Barca spell, one report has claimed, but he has overcome this by netting his first goal against South Korean side Daegu.

More on Marcus Rashford

Rashford lavished praise on Yamal soon after being announced as Barca’s latest statement signing.

A report has revealed what Lewandowski thinks about Barca landing Rashford from United.

Plus, the Blaugrana supposedly rejected a Dutch talent in order to sign Rashford.

Frenkie de Jong: Barcelona status changes completely as Camp Nou war erupts

 Barcelona are ready to shake things up just days before the start of the new La Liga season, with Frenkie de Jong set for a dramatically different role at Camp Nou.

De Jong has been a thorn in the Catalans’ side for a prolonged period due to his high wages and refusal to negotiate a smaller wage. He also refused to leave for Manchester United in the summer of 2022, when the Red Devils were desperate to sign him under Erik ten Hag.

Barcelona even threatened legal action against De Jong, who remained a favourite of his coaches due to the quality that he brought on the field for the team.

Now it appears that the Dutchman’s status at the Blaugrana is ready to come full circle.

Javier Miguel reports that De Jong is set to be Barcelona’s first captain at Camp Nou.

Barcelona’s expected captaincy hierarchy for 2025/26

1. Frenkie de Jong

2. Raphinha

3. Ronald Araujo

4. Pedri

5. Gavi

Ter Stegen to lose captaincy

De Jong finds himself in position to become Barcelona captain following a spectacular fallout at the club with Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Leading Blaugrana officials, and especially president Joan Laporta, are furious with the Germany international goalkeeper, according to Cadena SER, and he was officially stripped of the Barcelona captaincy on Thursday.

Ter Stegen’s clash with the Barca board also stems from his refusal to leave the club in the summer. He still has two years left on his Camp Nou deal but has no inclination to depart.

To make matters worse, he has subsequently suffered an injury that Barcelona believe will rule him out for several months. In theory, Barca should be able to discount him from their payroll for Financial Fair Play (FFP) purposes but he is refusing to sign an agreement to give them the authority to give La Liga his medical files.

With Barcelona fighting for room on their wage bill to register five players, including new signings Marcus Rashford and Joan Garcia, as well as second-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, Ter Stegen’s actions have left the club furious.

Tottenham chief Daniel Levy reacts to Man City FFP charges as Gary Neville blasts ‘shameful’ saga

 Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has explained what needs to happen in the Manchester City Financial Fair Play (FFP) case ‘for the good of the game’, while Gary Neville has slammed the Premier League’s handling of the legal battle.

After a four-year investigation into the finances of Man City, the Premier League charged the club with breaking their FFP rules on 115 occasions in February 2023. City have been accused of repeatedly providing inaccurate financial information between 2009 and 2018 and of failing to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation.

The Premier League claim this allowed City to spend more money than other clubs and gain a competitive advantage. Among the charges – which have subsequently been increased to 130 – City have been accused of paying a manager extra money over a four-year period via a secret contract.

City strongly deny these claims and have stated there is an ‘irrefutable body of evidence’ that will prove their innocence.

The Premier League referred Pep Guardiola’s side to an independent commission and the hearing took place between September and December last year.

Guardiola told reporters he expected the verdict to arrive in March, but that did not happen.

Reports then suggested we would find out the result over the summer. However, The Independent revealed on Thursday that the verdict is unlikely to arrive before October.

Given there could be a lengthy appeals process, the saga has the potential to impact multiple Premier League seasons. For example, if City are found guilty of the most severe charges and deducted points, then relegated clubs could launch legal cases of their own.

Former Manchester United star Neville interviewed Levy for The Overlap at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. When asked about City’s case, the Tottenham chief replied: “I think it would be really unfair of me to talk about another club within the Premier League, all I would say is that it’s going through a process which I think has gone on for far too long.

“It needs to be brought, for the good of the game, to a conclusion one way or another.”

Neville then criticised the Premier League for failing to resolve the matter sooner.

“Why’s it gone on so long? Because it’s ridiculous, I think it’s shameful it’s gone on so long, it’s shameful we can’t get our house in order quicker,” he said.

“If the Premier League can’t sort out an issue like this with one of their own clubs, how can they be charged with running the entirety of the game?”

Levy responded: “Well I, as I said, I think it was the FA that should have brought us all together. I agree, it’s unfortunate that we haven’t managed to resolve things internally rather than the recourse of the lawyers because the lawyers are going to earn a lot of money out of this.”

Premier League CEO refuses to discuss Man City charges

Premier League CEO Richard Masters was quizzed about the issue while attending the league’s Summer Series in the United States recently. He said: “You can ask but unfortunately our rules are very clear; it’s a confidential process. So I really can’t give any information out on timing or anything like that, there’s nothing more I can add. Sorry about that.”

There has been speculation City could be relegated from the Premier League altogether if they are found guilty of the worst charges against them.

But former City player Terry Phelan has urged decision-makers to ‘think about the players’ and focus on punishing the club instead. After all, he insists the players ‘haven’t done anything wrong’.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire appeared on The Overlap earlier this year to discuss City’s legal battle with the Premier League.

He suggested a 40-50 point deduction could happen when comparing the case with similar scenarios involving Everton and Nottingham Forest.

Maguire added that only four to five people in the country know the exact date when the verdict will emerge, demonstrating how much the league does not want anything to be leaked.

More on City case; exciting Spurs talks

This is not the first time Neville has blasted City and the Premier League’s legal wrangle, as he called it a ‘disgrace’ in May.

While another observer has claimed the Cityzens and the Premier League are engaged in ‘war games’ as they await the verdict.

Elsewhere, TEAMtalk can reveal Spurs have identified two top-class stars as possible replacements for Son Heung-min.

Mourinho ‘highly desires’ Man Utd forward and Fenerbahce ‘will not step back’

 Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho reportedly ‘highly desires’ a Red Devils player, and Fenerbahce ‘will not step back’ from the transfer.

United have already let go of Marcus Rashford, who’s gone to Barcelona on loan with an option to buy clause. They have a few other members of their so-called bomb squad still to get rid of.

Each of Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia wants to leave.

The former is said to desire a move to Chelsea, though former United boss Mourinho is now eager on signing him. Garnacho is said to be ‘on the agenda’ at Fenerbahce and Mourinho ‘highly desires’ him, per Milliyet.

There is an obstacle in Garnacho’s price tag, believed to be around £45million now, though Fenerbahce president Ali Koc ‘will not step back’ from the transfer, according to the report.

Fenerbahce have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Marco Asensio, though they are ‘putting the brakes’ on his high cost, presumably meaning his salary demands, so Garnacho is viewed as an alternative.

The prospective signing of Brahim Diaz has been reported to be an ‘impossible transfer’, so if Fener feel Garnacho is more attainable, that might well be the route they go down.

But it will seemingly be a struggle to convince him to move, as it’s well known that he’d prefer to stay in the Premier League if he were to move on from United.

Chelsea are the frontrunners for his signature, despite having already signed forwards Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Estevao Willian this summer.

It was reported of late that the Blues were expected to make an offer for Garnacho before the transfer window shuts.

It has subsequently been suggested that Chelsea are ready to offer up players who are surplus to requirements: Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku.

United have been linked with both men this summer, so they might well be willing to accept their arrivals in exchange for Garnacho’s exit.

Trump may have accidentally 'admitted knowledge of a grotesque crime': legal expert

 A legal expert was taken aback Thursday night after watching President Donald Trump admit he knew of a "grotesque crime" when he talked about his falling out with Jeffrey Epstein.

Ryan Goodman, founding co-editor-in-chief of the legal and policy website Just Security, joined Erin Burnett on CNN's "OutFront" to weigh in on Trump's shocking remarks regarding his relationship with Epstein, who died in prison while awaiting trial on sex trafficking allegations.

Burnett noted the White House has offered multiple explanations about the falling out, including over a real estate deal. Trump, however, has instead said their friendship blew up because Epstein hired his spa workers — a claim that, she said, "doesn’t add up, because the hiring-away was two years before Trump was continuing to say wonderful things about Epstein—and seven years before he kicked him out of the club."

"Now they’re saying, and Trump has used this word before, that Epstein was a 'creep,' and that the White House says, quote, 'Trump kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his club for being a creep to his female employees.' I mean, does any of this add up legally?

Goodman was floored by the remarks.

"So I think they’ve gotten themselves in more trouble by these references, that the reason for it was that he was a creep or that he was a creep to the —

"It’s hard to say he’s a creep if you said you didn’t know what he was doing," Burnett interjected.

"Exactly," replied Goodman. "So if he kicked him out because of sexual predation toward the employees, then it means he had knowledge."

Goodman said Trump's timeline "doesn’t make sense." A Trump Organization attorney has said Epstein was booted from Mar-a-Lago in 2007 due to an arrest a year earlier in Florida. Now, the White House is claiming he took that action over what he knew.

"A year after the arrest for pedophilia. Seven years after Virginia Giuffre is hired—is stolen—seven years after that?" asked Burnett.

"Seven years after that. So it’s not a good look for them, at the least. And that’s about, in some sense, moral culpability, not legal culpability. There would have to be more for that. But it does seem as though he’s admitting to knowledge of a grotesque crime against minors. That’s the problem."

When Burnett asked whether any recourse is possible for Trump over what he knew at the time, Goodman poured cold water on the idea.

"If it’s just knowledge, there’s only one situation in which there would actually be legal obligations. And that’s if somebody is a mandatory reporter. But to be a mandatory reporter, they’d have to be like a schoolteacher or a medical doctor," he said.

"Not a rich friend?" Burnett clarified.

"No, not just a friend or anything like that. And that would also be under state law. And there would probably also be a statute of limitations problem for that particular offense. But otherwise, that would chalk up to moral culpability."

Man Utd split with Amorim, Vivell in disagreement over £60m striker – report

 Ruben Amorim and Christopher Vivell are in disagreement over which striker to sign for Manchester United, according to a report, but the latest indications are that the Red Devils’ director of recruitment is winning the battle against Ruben Amorim.

Having made three major signings in the summer transfer window, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Diego Leon, Man Utd are now on the hunt for a top-class number nine. Manager Amorim realised last season that he cannot rely on Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee to score the goals needed to finish in the Premier League top four.

After missing out on Liam Delap to Chelsea and Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal this summer, Man Utd are now going after Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins and Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig, as reported by TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher.

Man Utd have already been in contact with Watkins’s camp, with The Mirror reporting that the Villa value the England international striker at £60million (€69.5m, $79.5m).

While Villa have been adamant that they do not want to sell Watkins this summer, CaughtOffSide has reported that the Villans are already looking for a replacement for the 29-year-old striker.

One name our transfer insider can reveal is on Unai Emery’s radar is Porto’s goal machine Sami Aghehowa.

With Villa facing the prospect of Watkins joining Man Utd, Emery’s side are also now ‘seriously considering’ a bid for RB Leipzig striker Lois Openda.

Leipzig will not sell Openda on the cheap and want at least €60m (£51.8m, $68.6m) for the 25-year-old Belgium international striker, who scored 13 goals and gave 11 assists in 45 appearances last season.

According to the report, Man Utd manager Amorim is ‘really keen’ on Watkins, but the Red Devils’ director of recruitment Vivell is ‘the driving force’ behind the Red Devils’ quest to sign Sesko from Leipzig.

However, Newcastle United are also in the race for Sesko, who scored 21 goals and gave six assists in 45 appearances for Leipzig in the 2024/25 campaign.

Watkins was on Arsenal’s radar this summer, but with the north London club having signed Gyokeres from Sporting CP, that door is now closed for the 29-year-old, who scored 17 goals and gave 14 assists in 54 matches in all competitions for Villa in the 2024/25 campaign.

Benjamin Sesko over Ollie Watkins for Man Utd

Amorim may want Watkins in his team because of the Villa striker’s Premier League experience, but it seems that Vivell is winning the battle against the Man Utd manager.

Bundesliga pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft has claimed that Sesko ‘wants Manchester United’ despite interest from Newcastle.

The Daily Mail has reported that Newcastle internally feel that they will miss out on the signing of Sesko to Premier League rivals Man Utd.

Moreover, with Sesko, Man Utd also have the chance to get rid of Hojlund in a swap deal.

Reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has said on his YouTube channel: “Man Utd are showing Leipzig the opportunity to include a player into the deal for Sesko.

“Then we have to see if the player is open to going to Leipzig because they have no European football [next season] for the first time in many years.

“So I don’t think it’s going to be easy to include a player in this deal, but it is showing how Man Utd are really trying to do business for Sesko.”

Paris Saint-Germain are expecting Man Utd to make a move for one of their star players, who has been made available in the summer transfer window.

Man Utd have been linked with a Man City star, with a report claiming that the Red Devils are ready to raid their city rivals.

Meanwhile, a Man Utd star has taken a dig at four players that manager Amorim does not want in his squad and is keen on getting rid of.