Italy Withdraws Personnel from Military Base in Iraq Following Drone Strike

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Read more   Italy has begun withdrawing personnel from a military base in northern  Iraq  after the facility was struck by a drone attack, according to statements from Italian officials and international news agencies. The strike occurred at a base near  Erbil  in the Kurdistan region of Iraq , where Italian troops are stationed as part of international security operations. The facility hosts personnel involved in coalition missions supporting Iraqi and Kurdish forces . Italian Defence Minister  Guido Crosetto  confirmed that the attack caused damage to a logistics vehicle but did not result in casualties among the soldiers stationed there.  Officials initially described the incident as a missile strike but later indicated that the base was hit by a drone. Military personnel had reportedly been warned of potential aerial threats before the strike and took shelter, preventing injuries.  Following the incident, Italian authorities said they wo...

Rodri Wins Ballon d'Or 2024: Man City Midfielder Edges Out Vinicius Junior, Aitana Bonmati Claims Women's Award

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been crowned the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, becoming the first Premier League player to win the award since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati also made headlines by securing the women's Ballon d'Or for the second consecutive year.

The awards ceremony took place on October 29, 2024, in Paris, with Real Madrid boycotting the event after learning that Vinicius Junior would not win. Rodri triumphed over Real Madrid players Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal, and Jude Bellingham to claim the prestigious honor.

In response to the announcement, Vinicius took to social media, stating, "I'll do it 10 times if I have to. They're not ready."



Rodri enjoyed an outstanding 2023-24 season, overcoming an ACL injury to help secure Manchester City's fourth consecutive Premier League title and the Euro 2024 trophy with Spain. He became the first defensive midfielder to win the Ballon d'Or since its inception in 1956 and the first Spaniard to win since Luis Suarez in 1960.

Speaking in Spanish, Rodri expressed gratitude to France Football and UEFA, thanking his girlfriend Laura on their anniversary and acknowledging his family and teammates for their support.

Previous Premier League Ballon d'Or Winners:

  • 1956: Stanley Matthews (Blackpool)
  • 1964: Denis Law (Manchester United)
  • 1966: Bobby Charlton (Manchester United)
  • 1968: George Best (Manchester United)
  • 2001: Michael Owen (Liverpool)
  • 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
  • 2024: Rodri (Manchester City)


Bonmati's victory comes after an impressive season, contributing significantly to Barcelona's success in La Liga F and the women's Champions League. She was the clear favorite, having led her team to multiple titles, including the World Cup.


In other awards, Carlo Ancelotti was named men's coach of the year, while former Chelsea coach Emma Hayes took home the women's award after guiding the USA to Olympic gold.

Real Madrid was named men's club of the year, but the club's delegation chose to skip the ceremony, citing disrespect over the voting criteria. They argued that if Vinicius wasn't recognized, then Carvajal should have been awarded instead.

Emiliano Martinez retained the Yashin Trophy as the best goalkeeper, having played a crucial role in Argentina's Copa America victory and Aston Villa's successful season.


In addition, Barcelona's Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21, marking a memorable year for the club as they also took the women's club of the year title after their Champions League triumph.

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