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Man Utd reject Rasmus Hojlund scores two more as Denmark run riot in World Cup qualifier held in empty stadium
RASMUS HOJLUND scored twice as Denmark romped past Belarus 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier this evening.
The Manchester United flop, on loan at Napoli, has been netting at a steady rate since departing Old Trafford.
Hojlund, 22, has scored four goals in six matches for the Serie A side, including a recent Champions League double against Sporting CP.
While he has also excelled for his country.
Having scored against Greece off the bench last month, Hojlund was handed a start as Denmark took on Belarus in Group C.
The match took place behind closed doors in Hungary, because of sanctions placed upon Belarus by Uefa due to their support for Russia in the ongoing war with Ukraine.
Hojlund put his side 2-0 up on 19 minutes, whacking home Victor Froholdt’s centre from close range.
He then added another to make it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time, bundling home after Man Utd full-back Patrick Dorgu‘s shot was saved.
Amazingly there was time for another deep into first half stoppage time, Hojlund turning provider by squaring for Dorgu to score.
The Napoli loan star was substituted on 77 minutes with his side 5-0 up.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
Hojlund’s shift was enough to earn him Uefa’s official “Player of the Match” award.
Denmark went on to win 6-0, Anders Dreyer adding another goal after Hojlund was replaced.
In addition to Hojlund and Dorgu, ex-Man Utd star Christian Eriksen also appeared in the match.
Eriksen, 33, left Old Trafford on a free transfer at the end of last season.
After spending the entire summer without a club, the former Tottenham star finally signed for Wolfsburg last month.
The playmaker has made three substitute appearances for the Bundesliga side thus far.
And he came on as a half-time sub in Denmark’s victory this evening.
Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis reveals his top tips for growing your small firm to a big one in 2025 and beyond
DESPITE the turbulent economic conditions, the number of UK businesses is on the rise.
Fresh figures from the Department for Business and Trade show there are 5.7million firms registered, an increase of 191,000 from 2024.
This growth is being driven by sole traders and microbusiness, as more people start side hustles or decide to work for themselves.
One of the biggest cheerleaders for small firms is British-Cypriot entrepreneur Theo Paphitis, who was a regular on BBC business show Dragons’ Den.
He owns a string of high street favourites, including stationers Ryman, homeware specialist Robert Dyas, lingerie business Boux Avenue and art and design store London Graphic Centre.
Through his Small Business Sunday campaign, he has mentored thousands of fledgling firms and helped start-ups across the country.
This weekend marks the 15th anniversary of Small Business Sunday, so we’ve teamed up with Theo to see what’s changed over the years and reveal his top tips for growing your small firm to a big one in 2025 and beyond.
Theo explains: “Fifteen years ago, I sat at my kitchen table on a Sunday night and I started #SBS Small Business Sunday by accident.
“I was on Dragons’ Den at the time, had quickly gained 50,000 followers on Twitter, and thought why not use this platform to give small businesses a marketing boost that I could only have dreamt of when I started out?
“The next Sunday, they (small business owners) messaged me again, and then the following Sunday the same again, and it became a regular Sunday night slot.”
Small firms can reach Theo on the platform, now X, plus LinkedIn and Instagram every Sunday between 5pm and 7.30pm.
So far, more than 4,500 companies have benefited from his advice.
Each week, he chooses a winner from firms that pitch to him and shares their details with his followers.
He added: “The difference between starting a business in 2025 compared to 2010 is like chalk and cheese.
“The passion of small business owners is the same, but the tools at their disposal are very, very different now.
“It’s tech that is the big gamechanger. Entrepreneurs should grab this with both hands and make it count.”
l Learn more about Theo’s free small business community at theopaphitissbs.com.
‘HIS HELP HAD A BIG SNOWBALL EFFECT’
SALLY DEAR, owner of kids’ clothing brand DuckyZebra.com, was a winner of Theo’s Small Business Sunday.
She said: “Winning #SBS has had a real snowball effect on Ducky Zebra.
“It started with one small tweet and has led to incredible opportunities, from joining a supportive community of inspiring businesses to winning a highly competitive stand at the NEC Birmingham’s Spring Fair.
“That experience helped us grow our UK stockist numbers to over 30, win Pitch Live (a scheme in which small firms can pitch to investors for a cash injection) and, most importantly, build the confidence to secure a fantastic licensing deal with The Roald Dahl Story Company.
“As a founder with dyslexia, Theo’s support and belief that dyslexia is a superpower has been hugely empowering.
“It’s made me believe even more in myself and what Ducky Zebra stands for – sustainable childrenswear that’s thoughtfully made and free from harmful stereotypes.”
...AND HERE ARE HIS 9 TOP TIPS FOR START-UPS
- Don’t see yourself as just a small business. Understand what you bring to the table.
- Dream big. Every business starts with a dream and you need that spark to push you forward.
- Along the way, it’s OK to fail, but fail quickly, learn from it and go again.
- AI is your time saver on those tricky jobs and filling in the gaps in expertise. Use it with common sense and avoid it at your peril.
- Data is everything now — it will help you understand your customer, create a strategy and cement your reason to exist.
- If you need funding, look at crowdfunding to get started and open up new opportunities.
- It’s essential to be socially aware and give back to your community. Think sustainably and understand the importance of supply chains.
- Cash is king. Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity, but if you run out of cash, it’s a heart attack.
- Take calculated risks and know your numbers.
GET BEST OUT OF DYSLEXIC THINKERS
IT is Dyslexia Awareness Week, with research from Virgin StartUp showing dyslexic entrepreneurs contribute £4.6billion to GDP each year.
However, recruitment firm Randstad Enterprise suggests dyslexic staff could add a total of £98.2billion to the economy, as currently only 30 per cent feel fully empowered at work.
Kate Griggs, founder of charity Made By Dyslexia, said: “One in five people are dyslexic and typically excel in areas like creative thinking, complex problem-solving, communication and interpersonal skills.
“These are now the most valuable skills in today’s AI-powered workplaces.”
Here, she shares her advice on building workplaces where dyslexic thinkers can thrive . . .
DEFINE DYSLEXIA AS A VALUABLE SKILL
Recognising dyslexia as a different way of thinking – not a disadvantage – creates a culture where dyslexic thinkers feel valued. Shifting language from critical to supportive is one of the quickest and most powerful ways to transform a workplace.
PUT SUPPORT IN PLACE
Every dyslexic person has their own pattern of strengths and challenges. Encouraging employees to explain these – and what they need to lean into their dyslexic thinking – allows them to do their best work. AI is a game-changer for support.
TAILOR RECRUITMENT PROCESSES
Acknowledge dyslexic thinking in recruitment material to show you value it. Train HR and Talent teams in what dyslexic thinking is. Ensure role profiles and job adverts specify skills such as creativity and problem-solving. Ask dyslexic employees to test your process and highlight barriers.
CATEGORISE IT RIGHT
Define dyslexia as both a neurodiversity and a skill. Don’t stereotype it as a disability.
ENCOURAGE NETWORKS
Affinity groups such as dyslexic networks provide support and create a sense of belonging. They also help attract and retain dyslexic talent, as candidates favour workplaces where they feel understood and valued.
STAFF CARE VITAL
MORE than a quarter of workers believe that their employer is responsible for their wellbeing – the same number who feel it is their GP’s duty.
But only 29 per cent of staff believe their bosses genuinely care about it.
Nine in ten employees agree that businesses who care for their staff retain them for longer, and four in five believe good wellbeing policies help to attract a more diverse group of workers.
Chris Britton, from employee benefits platform Reward Gateway, which conducted the study, said: “As sourcing and retaining talent becomes harder, companies who fail to meet the wellbeing demands of their employees risk losing staff, reducing productivity and damaging their bottom line.”
ON YOUR MARKS…
ALMOST one in four people begins their career in the retail sector, which is more than double any other UK industry.
However, a new study from Marks & Spencer and the Centre for Economics and Business Research shows 16 per cent of young people have been rejected for more than 50 jobs.
To help create more opportunities, the Marks & Start scheme provides four weeks of work experience in partnership with The King’s Trust for young people who face the biggest barriers.
Marks & Spencer CEO Stuart Machin said: “Retail is a powerful engine of social mobility.
“When so many young people are struggling to get their foot on the ladder, it can give them that first crucial opportunity.”
See kingstrust.org.uk.
JOBSPOT
COSTA COFFEE has brewed up 400 festive barista roles this Christmas. Search for your closest job at costacareers.co.uk.
MANGO is hiring for 120 seasonal sales assistant roles across the UK, with successful applicants enjoying a 35 per cent staff discount. Apply at jobs.mango.com/en.
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Biggest great white shark ever is caught by scientists – known as ‘Contender’ – 14ft beast is 30 years old
THE biggest great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic has been caught by scientists.
Researchers say the 14ft, 1,653lb predator known as Contender could help unlock one of the ocean’s greatest mysteries.
The colossal shark, estimated to be around 30 years old, was first tagged by marine research group OCEARCH in January about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast.
His satellite tracker only “pings” when his dorsal fin breaks the surface.
And last week, it did just that, near the remote Gulf of St. Lawrence off Canada’s Labrador Peninsula.
Researchers say that makes Contender “one of the furthest northern pinging sharks that we’ve had.”
All summer and fall, the giant predator has been gorging on seals to bulk up for his return south in winter.
Chris Fischer, founder and expedition leader of OCEARCH, said: “Only a couple have made it that far north.
“An animal like that, spending the summer and fall up north – what are they doing?
“Well, a lot of what they’re doing is preparing for the winter.”
Fischer said Contender is “putting a lot of pressure on the seals, eating seals constantly, swimming in front of seal colonies, trying to put on some weight before he proceeds back down to Florida for the oncoming winter.”
And that seal-slaughtering spree is doing more than just feeding the shark.
“The byproduct of putting that pressure on the seals is really good, they’re guarding our fish stocks,” Fischer said.
“We know that if the white sharks are in front of the seals putting pressure on them, they eat one-fourth as much per day.
“If that white shark’s not there, those seals go out and they wipe out all the fish.”
Contender’s northern adventure also highlights the great white’s adaptability.
“White sharks have the capacity to warm themselves and be in cold water, but they have to have a lot of food,” Fischer explained.
“Like horses in winter – as long as they have food, they’re fine. If they run out of food, they freeze very quickly.”
Contender briefly surfaced off Natashquan, Canada, on September 29, followed by a “z-ping” on October 2 – a fleeting signal too brief to pinpoint his exact location.
Tagged just months ago, the shark represents hope for a species once devastated by overfishing.
“We wiped out the sharks so badly in the seventies, eighties, and sixties – we got down to nine percent of our population,” Fischer said.
Now, Contender could help scientists solve a mystery that has eluded them for decades: where great whites mate.
“These big mature males are hugely important because they can help us understand where and when mating is occurring,” Fischer said.
Unlike females with complex two-year migratory cycles, “the male white sharks basically have their whole year revolve around mating.”
“There’s never been a white shark mating site identified anywhere in the world in any one of the nine populations,” he added.
“It would be a first.”
The shark’s movements over the next year – especially in spring 2026 – could offer crucial clues.
Early signs point to the southeastern United States as a possible hotspot.
Despite his massive size, Contender could grow even larger, possibly topping 20 feet as he ages.
“It’ll be really interesting to watch Contender this year,” Fischer said.
“I want to know where Contender will be in March of 2026, in April of 2026.
“I think that could be a massive clue for identifying where they mate.”
Trans woman facing jail for sexually assaulting date by hiding her male organs insists ‘he must have known’
A TRANS woman facing jail for sexually assaulting a Snapchat date by hiding her male organs has insisted: “He must have known.”
Ciara Watkin, 21, was convicted of duping the young man into believing she was a biological female during their short sexual relationship.
She performed sex acts on him but wouldn’t let him touch her below the waist.
Watkin told him that she was “on her period”, but later texted him to say she had a “massive secret”, her trial heard.
When she revealed she was trans he replied: “WTF. So you have a d***? OMFG. I feel ill,” before reporting her to the police.
She was convicted of sexual assault and is due to be sentenced today at Teesside crown court.
But ahead of the case she told The Sun: “He must have known I’m not female. He knew all along I was trans and at first chose to ignore it.
“His mum knew and all his mates who met me knew, so how could he claim to be the only one who didn’t?
“I am not finished with this – I have a strong case that I have been unfairly prosecuted and I’m prepared to make a legal case for that.”
Watkin spent the night with the man during which she performed sex acts on him, the court heard.
Prosecutor Paul Reid said: “The defendant had concealed from the man that she had a penis, during their brief relationship.
“The man told the police that if he had known Watkin was transgender, he would not have consented. He said: ‘I don’t swing that way’.”
Watkin, of Thornaby, Teesside, denied two counts of sexual assault and one of sexual assault by penetration but the jury took just 75 minutes to find her guilty in August.
Judge Peter Makepeace warned her that “the overwhelming likelihood is custody”.
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