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Indian match-winner KL Rahul owns up after Champions Trophy triumph over New Zealand
Trump enemy Trudeau replaced by Mark Carney as Canada’s new Prime Minister to face looming ’51st state’ threat from Don
MARK Carney has been announced as Canada’s new Prime Minister after Justin Trudeau stepped down from the role.
The Liberal Party members confirmed the 59-year-old’s new position on Sunday night at the Rogers Center in Ottawa.
He saw off rival Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau’s former deputy prime minister, and won 85.9% of the total votes.
Carney’s position at the helm as the governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England during the 2008 financial crisis and the fallout from the 2016 Brexit vote made him a popular choice.
The political novice was the front-runner for the role after Trudeau announced his resignation in January as he faced a crushing election defeat.
He received a slew of support including endorsements from the majority of Trudeau’s cabinet.
Meanwhile, Trudeau spoke his final words as the prime minister of Canada.
In front of hundreds of his party members, he opened his speech and said: “I’m damn proud of what we’ve done over these past 10 years. But tonight is about our future as a party, as a country.”
He added: “Your country needs you maybe more than ever. And I have no doubt that you will answer the call, because you’ve done it before. Liberals will meet this moment.
He describes it as a “nation-defining moment”, adding: “Democracy is not a given, freedom is not a given, even Canada is not a given.”
The process to choose Canada’s next PM began on February 26 with the almost 400,000 Liberal Party members voting online through a verified process and ranking their favourites.
Carney, a centrist, will be taking over as PM at a turbulent time as Canada faces tariff and annexing threats from US President Donald Trump, which saw Trudeau hold back tears in his final days.
The new leader is expected to trigger an election shortly afterward. Either the new Liberal party leader will call one, or the opposition parties in Parliament could force one with a no-confidence vote later this month.
On Tuesday, the US slapped a brutal 25 per cent tariff on all goods imported from Canada, and despite a softening from Trump, the damage has been done.
This is a challenge, Carney says he is more than prepared to take on.
At his final rally on Friday, the former governor slammed Trump, accusing him of “attacking” Canada.
He said: “He is attacking what we build. He is attacking what we sell. He is attacking how we earn our living.
“We are facing the most serious crisis in our lifetime. Everything in my life has prepared me for this moment.”
Trump has – on multiple occasions – said that it would be a “great idea” to make Canada the 51st state of the US.
Carney said that Canada will never be part of America “in any form or shape”.
Polling from earlier in the week by the firm Angus Reid showed that the majority of Canadians from across the political spectrum back Carney as their choice to face off with the American president.
It is hoped that the PM will be able to see the governing Liberals through the upcoming federal election as current polls show a narrow win by the rival Conservative Party.
According to data collected by Angus Reid, 43 per cent of Canadians back Carney to deal with Trump compared to the 34 per cent who support Tory leader Pierre Poilievre.
A win by Freeland would have shocked Liberals and made them more fearful of an election loss.
Thanks to Trudeau’s unpopularity following his scandal-hit decade in power, she would have struggled to shake off the connection as the Conservatives attack the former Prime Minister’s record.
The election, which must take place by October 20, could happen in a matter of weeks so Carney will have to hit the ground running to win over voters.
Carney’s new role as Prime Minister is his first position in parliament and elected office – something that could work in his favour or be to his detriment in the upcoming election.
He has sold himself to supporters as a breath of fresh air for the Liberal Party, as there is no overlap with himself and Trudeau.
At his closing rally he said that across the country, Canadians want change and that he, as a political outsider, can give them that.
“It’s getting to the point where after two months I may have to start calling myself a politician,” he joked with supporters.
The new PM has vowed to boost Canada’s economy and build more homes while dropping Trudeau’s carbon tax and replacing it with a pricing system that will target industrial polluters.
Ousted Trudeau has said he will agree to a transition of power with an exact date set to be announced shortly.
Carney will then have to call a general election before the fall.
Since leaving Threadneedle Street in 2020, Mr Carney has been very critical of Brexit, blaming it for rising inflation.
He told MPs that the vote to leave the EU had lowered the UK’s economic growth by as much as 2 per cent.
Speaking at a Treasury select committee in 2018, Mr Carney said: “Real household incomes are about £900 lower than we forecast in 2016.
“The question is why and what drove that difference. Some of it is ascribed to Brexit.”
Stats show how Ruben Amorim emulated idol Jose Mourinho with cautious Man Utd tactics keeping Arsenal at bay
RUBEN AMORIM was able to emulate his idol Jose Moruinho by stifling Arsenal – as stats show.
The Red Devils manager oversaw one of his side’s best performances since he replaced Erik ten Hag earlier this season.
Amorim, 40, has not had a lot to cheer about since he was appointed Manchester United manager back in November.
But the credible 1-1 draw against the title-chasing Arsenal at Old Trafford was a measurable improvement on recent outings.
During the game, the hosts took the lead through a stunning Bruno Fernandes free-kick.
A wonderful strike from Declan Rice late in the second half earned Arsenal a share of the spoils, but effectively ruled them out of the title race.
Mikel Arteta‘s side dominated the ball for much of the game but struggled to create many clearcut opportunities.
The hosts, on the other hand created the most dangerous chances, and were unlucky not to be out of sight by the time Rice struck.
David Raya made great stops to deny both Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee to keep the difference to just one goal.
Following the match, stats showed that Man United were happy to camp in their own half and soak up the Arsenal attack.
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Of the entire Man Utd team, only Alejandro Garnacho had an average position in the opposition half over the course of the 90 minutes.
By comparison, every Arsenal player except Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba spent the bulk of the game in Man Utd territory.
But Amorim’s tactics allowed his side to create space behind the visitors’ backline.
This almost led to goals on multiple occasions, including in the dying moments, as Raya denied Fernandes with a reaction save then palmed the ball away on the goal line as it was about to roll in.
Speaking after the game, Amorim admitted that he does not want to play a low-block style regularly but knew it was needed to ensure the best possible outcome in Sunday’s game.
He told Sky Sports: “I think we did well. Of course, we don’t want to play like this [with a low block] defending so much and giving the ball to the opponent.
“But with all the games, all the problems, the characteristics of the players – Lindelof to let him not have a lot of metres to cover, Casemiro is comfortable in these types of games.
“I tried to adapt and imagine a game we could win. It’s also the opponent.
“The last game before the Champions League was high pressure by PSV, man to man. They are harder to make in this way.
“In the low block we can control the game and then we have some good players in the transition – Garnacho made a really complete game.
“We try to keep the starting eleven until the goal. When you suffer a goal, the players tire.
“We try to choose the best moments to press high. When you coach Manchester United, you cannot play too much like that.
“You have to try to win the game. I know it is frustrating for the fans sometimes.
“We have to deal with that and sometimes do things that are not popular.”
Amorim has previously admitted that he looks up to former Man United boss Jose Mourinho.
He has even been nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’ in the past.
The now-Fenerbahce boss enjoyed great success playing a low-block and counter-attacking style.
In his pomp he helped the likes of Inter Milan and Porto win the Champions League and Chelsea win the Premier League playing his football.
And the Special One arguably gave Man Utd its most successful period since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.
He won the Europa League at the club and led them to a second placed finish in 2017/18 and insisted that it was his most outstanding achievement.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, was frustrated by United’s style of play, despite not being averse to setting up his own side in the same way when necessary.
The Spaniard insisted his team dominated the game but struggled to create in the final third.
Before walking out of his interview with Sky Sports, he said: “Very frustrating we haven’t won with the dominance and the chances we had in the first half.
“We gave the ball away out of nothing. Gave a foul away. We had them in the second half, you could feel they were really fatigued.
“It was the threat in the final 25 metres to make something happen.
“They didn’t want to play. You come here and you want to win the game. It is frustration.”
Zara McDermott shows ex Sam Thompson what he’s missing as she dresses up for Sabrina Carpenter gig
ZARA McDermott has showed ex Sam Thompson what he’s missing as she sizzled in a sequin mini dress.
The TV star, 28, looked chic in the lime green halterneck number as she attended pop mega star Sabrina Carpenter’s 02 gig.
Zara, 28, shared a string of stunning snaps wearing the sparkly frock teamed with a pair of knee high white heeled boots.
The documentary maker captioned it: “Is it that sweet? I guess so. Best night ever at Sabrina Carpenter.”
Former Love Island star Zara was seem smouldering in the doorway before posing for some playful bathroom snaps.
Her fans were in full of compliments, with one writing: “You two have blown me away.”
A second posted: “You are a REAL LIFE Tinkerbell.”
A third added: “How can one be so PRETTY?”
Zara’s been living her best life since her split, flooding social media with glamorous pictures, red carpet appearances and work projects.
Just days ago Sam sparked concern with his latest podcast episode – as fans claimed he “looks and sounds so low”.
It came after Zara spent the night chatting and dancing with Emily in Paris star Lucien Laviscount, 32.
Sam, who split from Zara in December, was sat a few tables away from his ex during the ceremony.
Downbeat Sam, 32, needed cheering up as he recorded Staying Relevant with co-host Pete Wicks, who read out supportive messages from fans.
One said: “Oh Sam!!! You looked and sounded so sad!!! I really feel for you my lovely, you are such a wonderful human and normally keep everyone so upbeat, but this was so sad to see, I really wanted to give you a big hug!!
“Pete you are an amazing friend and really helped him through it even though you could tell he didn’t want to laugh!!
“You are sooo loved Sam, and you will find someone else who deserves to be with you!! Make sure they are as special as you are!”
Another added: “I don’t like seeing Sam this sad, please come back to your chirpy self soon, we love you Sam.”
Someone else added: “I listened on Monday and it made me sad hearing how low Sam sounded.
“Sending lots of love and hugs to you Sam. Hope your feeling brighter.”
Zara’s split from Sam after five years together was confirmed in December, with the former Strictly star later revealing she had moved out of their Fulham home.
She was amongst the first to arrive at the awards in a bid to avoid an awkward run in with Sam.
Our insiders at the bash revealed Sam arrived on the carpet some time later looking sheepish.
His sister Louise was also at the ceremony and shared footage of herself getting ready before arriving.
Wynne Evans’ lawyers compile ’30-page dossier’ in bid to clear Strictly star’s name as he learns fate over BBC radio job
AXED Wynne Evans will take a 30-page defence dossier into showdown talks with the BBC, friends say.
The opera singer, 53 — sacked from the Strictly tour — is fighting to keep his job on Radio Wales.
He was suspended in January amid accusations he used inappropriate language to pro dancer Janette Manrara.
Evans dismissed it as an “in-joke” that tour colleagues were in on, and has hired a lawyers to clear his name.
A source said: “As far as Wynne is concerned, he has been wronged.
“He understands the language he used was not appropriate but it’s all been taken so out of context.
“Wynne has got a legal team in his corner and he has a 30-odd page dossier which he thinks will help his case.
“He absolutely loves his job on BBC Radio Wales and having to step back from it in the wake of his [Strictly] dismissal was heartbreaking.”
The Welsh tenor is set to meet with the BBC this week.
The talks were due to take place last month, but Wynne — also star of the Go Compare adverts — pushed them back after struggling with his mental health.
A friend said: “This has hit Wynne hard. His Radio Wales job means so much to him and he will fight to keep his role there.
“The listeners love him, and they’ve even made social media pages supporting him.”
Insiders say Wynne, who has been supported by girlfriend Liz Brookes, also felt he had been “knifed” by some Strictly co-stars who he said understood the context of his comment to Janette.
Warning over ‘dodgy’ Amazon Fire Sticks as Sky issues new caution and calls for fresh crackdown on users
SKY has issued a new warning over “dodgy” Amazon Fire Sticks and called for a fresh crackdown on users.
Nick Herm, chief operating officer at Sky, said that illegal viewing of its subscription content was costing “hundreds of millions of dollars”.
“People will know you can get jailbroken Fire Sticks and you can access pirated services on them,” he told the FT Business of Football Summit.
“There are football fans who literally have shirts printed with ‘dodgy boxes and fire sticks’ on them.
“In addition to telcos, some of the tech giants – Amazon in particular – we do not get enough engagement to address some of those problems where people are buying these devices in bulk, they’re breaking them and sideloading pirated apps on them – and people are just buying them.
“It’s basically organised crime. We work closely with the police. The sums are huge.
“It’s a battle and you need a lot of people to lean in to solve it.”
Herm pointed the finger at Amazon, saying that the company in particular is not doing “enough engagement to address some of those problems, where people are buying these devices in bulk”.
He also believes that modified Fire Sticks “probably” make up “about half of the piracy” in the UK.
Herm continued: “It’s a problem in all of our markets and we dedicate a lot of time to trying to defeat it.
“It’s a never ending battle because there’s always new technology and forms that emerge that you need to stay across.
“It’s always difficult to put an exact number on it because if you ask people if they pirate or not they’re not always going to be honest with you.
“When you do analysis there’s plenty of evidence to show that it is sizeable.
“How many of those people would convert to a legitimate service if piracy was no longer available?
“I don’t know, but we’re talking hundreds of millions of dollars – it’s very substantial.”
Sky wants Amazon to take more action on so-called “jail-broken” Fire Sticks which have unofficial apps “side-load” onto them.
Asked how much piracy was accessed through doctored Amazon Fire Sticks, he said: “It’s a big percentage – probably about half of the piracy.
“And because it is a Fire Stick people think that it’s a legitimate service. They’re giving credit card details to criminal gangs.”
Amazon told the FT that it is “committed to providing customers with a high-quality streaming experience while actively promoting a streaming landscape that respects intellectual property rights and encourages the responsible consumption of content.
“On Fire TV, we’ve always encouraged our customers to use legal channels for accessing content and have included on-device warnings informing customers of the risks associated with installing or using apps from unknown sources.”
Sky’s words come amid a spate of arrests and warnings over illegal streaming.
Last year, a major series of raids across Europe took place leading to a huge network used by 22million people being shut down.
Five addresses in the UK were stormed, along with suspects in Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.
The biggest part was carried out in Italy, where 270 officers searched 89 properties in 15 Italian regions.
It’s believed the network made more than £208million in revenue per month.
At least 29 servers were seized along with around 270 pieces of IPTV equipment allegedly used to facilitate the illegal service, leading to one hundred domains being taken offline as a result.
More recently, an illegal streaming operator from Birmingham was jailed for two years and nine months.
Warning over 'jailbroken' Fire Sticks
Illegal streaming can be delivered by a number of devices by one of the most common are 'jailbroken' Fire Sticks, which means a third-party media server software has been installed on to it.
The software most commonly used is called Kodi.
It can grant users unrestricted access to new features and apps the normal version of the device wouldn’t allow – but it is not legal to use in the UK.
But it becomes illegal when a box is used to stream subscription channels for free.
It is also illegal to buy or sell these modified devices which have become known as “fully-loaded” – a term that describes how the software has been altered to allow access to subscription-only channels.
“These devices are legal when used to watch legitimate, free to air, content,” the government said at the time.
“They become illegal once they are adapted to stream illicit content, for example TV programmes, films and subscription sports channels without paying the appropriate subscriptions.”
Why should we be forced to pay for the BBC – when it fails to listen to its working class viewers?
Off me head, son
THE BBC’s chairman admitted what working class viewers have known for years.
That it has been failing to listen to them or make their voices heard.
Rightly condemning the rampant metropolitan liberal bias behind mistakes in the recent Gaza documentary, Samir Shah says BBC News is still not addressing licence-fee payers’ concerns about immigration.
Shah also wants to create a Line of Duty-style internal affairs unit to tackle the serial problem of powerful male stars like Huw Edwards from abusing their position.
So far, so good.
But the Chairman’s idea of showing LESS football on Match of the Day in favour of more “analysis” is a classic example of the Beeb missing the basic point of what punters want.
And in his solution to how Auntie should be funded in the future, Shah is also missing a sitter.
He dismisses the obvious idea of subscription insisting only a state-backed BBC can invest in screening things of minority or niche interest.
But that’s a myth.
Streamers are now leading the way in drama.
Sky pioneered women’s football when BBC coverage was virtually nil — and turned darts into a multi-million pound industry as BBC support for it collapsed.
Still wedded to a licence fee, Shah wants it collected via your Council Tax claiming it’s fairer and asking: “Why should the poor pay the same for the BBC as people in wealthy homes?”
Which raises this question.
Why should everyone be forced to pay for it at all?
Wave of terror
IT’S hard to think of a more chilling example of why Labour must grip the worsening small boats crisis.
A fanatical Hamas terrorist supporter from Gaza filming himself celebrating after arriving by dinghy.
Gun-toting Abu Wadei has made a mockery of Britain’s wide-open borders.
As the Home Office refuses to comment we must presume he is freely roaming our streets.
Of the 150,000 illegal migrants who have arrived by small boat since 2018, how many others were terrorist sympathisers?
The Government doesn’t have a clue.
Make it work
BRITAIN’S commitment to work was shredded by Covid and replaced instead by a widespread belief that the State should pay for everything.
In her welfare reforms, Rachel Reeves must reverse this and make handouts less attractive than a job.
People who DO work cannot afford to featherbed those that refuse to do so.
That’s not cruel. It’s only right and fair.
Outspoken Paloma Faith reveals why she will NEVER be cancelled
SHE has never been one to hold back and we can confirm Paloma Faith is more outspoken than ever on her new podcast Mad, Sad & Bad.
But sitting down with Bizarre’s Jack, Paloma proudly boasts she’s got no concerns about being cancelled because she’s always sticking to the right side of history.
“I’m not worried about being cancelled at all,” Paloma says. “I am pretty cocky about my morals and my ethics.
“I feel like my politics and everything I’ve done is OK. I was raised by a socialist in a multicultural environment, with gay, straight, trans, drag queens, everyone, all around me.”
On the first time she saw a “cross-dresser,” Paloma recalls: “I remember my cousin taking me to a house party when I was about ten and I saw a cross-dressing man for the first time in my life and them explaining to me.
“There is no way I could do anything that could get me cancelled. I have always been on the right side of ethics and morals.”
Paloma adds: “Most people getting called out are straight white men, isn’t it? They deserve it.
“You can’t just go around grabbing people’s bums and dropping drugs in women’s drinks or f***ing shouting homophobic abuse at people and then not expect it to come back on you.”
The first series of Mad, Sad & Bad sees Paloma teaming up with massive female names in the entertainment industry including the brilliant Katherine Ryan and Mel B.
“This first season, I’ve just asked people that I know – my mates – as it’s really hard to cold call people before you have a successful podcast,” Paloma explains.
“I’m lucky that I’ve got contacts and I’ve been nice enough to people along the way in my career that they have said, ‘Yes of course’. It just shows it pays to be kind.
“I only listen back to the ones that I worry about what I’ve said. In the edit I just want to check that I’ve come across as I intended.
“I know it’s easy sometimes for things to be taken out of context. Because it’s my own home, my podcast is very heart on sleeve. I wouldn’t necessarily talk as openly if it was someone I don’t know so well.
“Obviously I’ve been in the industry long enough to know what I’m doing. It’s not rushed. Some episodes are quite emotional.
“It is also entertaining. I’m mucking about a lot as that is what I’m like. It’s light and shade.”
In one episode, Paloma admits she was once caught hooking up with a bloke in an alleyway in Spain, but she never thought twice about cutting it out.
Paloma says: “I’m not ashamed of it so I’d only edit it out if I was embarrassed and I’m not embarrassed about that.
“The only edited stuff is if I think I will be misunderstood, but actually, there hasn’t been much editing as I’m quite lazy.
“After the first ten minutes I go, ‘I can’t be arsed to listen to the rest, I’m sure it’s fine’.”
Away from the podcast, Paloma is back in the studio working on her first album since 2024’s The Glorification of Sadness.
Paloma, who is dating music industry guru and former Shipwrecked star, Stevie Thomas, explains: “It’s not just sad and happy — it’s the bit in between where you are tentatively happy.
“I am pulling in from everywhere. It’s my life experiences, sometimes I have a conversation and I write things down or it’s how I feel that day. Sometimes it can be something I’ve read about that’s really struck me. It’s always been like that.
“I feel like the most structured writing I’ve ever done is the last album as it was only an album about my breakup.
“Every other album I’ve always written about lots of other areas about my life and I’m sort of doing that again. I like the lighter experience at the moment.”
Luke Littler wins back-to-back Belgian Darts Open titles after FOURTEENTH straight victory as he downs home favourite
LUKE LITTLER got soaked on stage after making it FOURTEEN successive wins in ten days as he retained the Belgian Darts Open.
The teen sensation followed up his UK Open and Premier League victories over the past week by beating Mike De Decker 8-5 in Sunday’s final.
Littler, 18, is also unbeaten in Wieze after eleven matches after taking the trophy on his debut a year ago.
He picked up the £30,000 prize, making it £150,000 in a week.
But rival De Decker poured water over his head doing the trophy ceremony to leave Littler in stitches laughing.
He said: “I’m very happy to retain the title in front of these great fans.
“I said it last year there should be a Premier League here.
“I think on my throw I was really good but Mike on his throw he was good at times.
“But I had to get in the lead and hit the winning double.
“I said after the World Championships if I don’t win anything throughout the whole year then I’m still a World Champion.
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“But I’m obviously happy to win the UK Open and come back here and do it back-to-back. Now it’s ProTours and back to the Premier League.”
Littler had beaten Dave Chisnall and James Wade in the quarters and semis while De Decker got past Gerwyn Price and Ross Smith.
The Nuke took early control in the final zipping into an early lead and was soon 6-3 up and had silenced the home crowd. He never looked back from that point.
He even teased the crowd by pretending to go for the bull to win with a 170 finish.
But instead he hit a single 10 and came back for tops to wrap it up.
De Decker said: “Luke has been a phenomenal player for the last eight years, since he was about eight-years-old!
“But it’s my fourth trophy now so I’m doing a good thing.”
From ‘multiple calls daily’ to her showing up at bachelor pad… all signs Ben Affleck regrets split with Jennifer Garner
WHEN Ben Affleck finally married Jennifer Lopez two decades after he first proposed, it seemed like a fairytale ending for the lovestruck couple.
But on their second wedding anniversary in August last year, Lopez filed for divorce — leaving the pair facing a messy break-up.
Since then, who has Ben turned to time and time again for support and guidance? Not his best friend Matt Damon, or brother Casey.
But his ex-wife and mother to his three children, Jennifer Garner.
Now, sources have told The Sun that he is not just in touch with her to offer “parental support” — he also calls her multiple times a day and has started to think that perhaps he chose the wrong Jen.
Last week, Ben, 52, was seen cuddling up to Garner a decade after their marriage crumbled amid heartbreaking claims he slept with their nanny.
She has even been spotted visiting his home in Brentwood, California, where Ben has lived alone since splitting from J-Lo again.
Our source said: “Jen (Garner) often visits Ben at his new bachelor pad. She was enormously helpful in helping him rebuild his life and stay on track when things started to fall apart with J-Lo.
“She didn’t interfere or pass judgment. That’s not Jennifer’s style at all.
“Instead, she helped Ben with whatever practicalities he needed, encouraged him to stay strong and follow his gut with whatever decision he needed to make.”
Our source added: “They talk every single day. He calls her multiple times and spends as much time with her as he possibly can.
“They enjoy meals together, family days, trips to the park, other activities with the kids — all pretty healthy, wholesome stuff.”
He and Jen have three children together — Violet, 19, Fin, 16, and 13-year-old Sam. But insiders say their relationship is now about much more than putting on a united front for the kids.
The source added: “It’s true she was never a huge fan of J-Lo, but she never trash-talked her.
“If anything, she was saddened things didn’t work out (for Ben and J-Lo) because she wants nothing more than for Ben to be settled and happy.”
Ben was due to marry Lopez after their whirlwind romance in 2003, when they were affectionately known as Bennifer.
But the wedding never happened due to the pressures of fame. They eventually tied the knot in 2022, but lasted barely two years.
Now, friends say the superstar singer feels “betrayed” after a video emerged of Affleck pulling his first wife close then hugging her around the waist during a paintballing party for their son earlier this month.
Although Deadpool actress Garner, 52, has been dating tech CEO John Miller on and off since her messy divorce from Ben in 2018, they have not been seen together in weeks.
“Right now, Jen is still dating John and Ben is respectful of that,” added our source. “Ben likes the guy and recognises that he’s a gentleman who respects boundaries and is a solid, kindly type of character.
“He’s not going to disrespect Jen’s choices by making a move.
“But it’s an open secret amongst Ben’s friends that he’d jump at the chance to date her again. Essentially he’s waiting in the wings. Only time will tell if Jennifer wants to turn back the clock and give Ben another chance.
“J-Lo is known to be extremely upset by all this talk about Ben and Jennifer getting back together. She always suspected that he was still holding a candle for her.
‘Number one girl’
“Even at the height of their rekindled romance, it was as though she could never compete.
“She feels very manipulated and played by Ben, like he was never truly honest with her and that he always regarded Jennifer, not her, as his number one girl.”
Ben and J-Lo are said to be barely speaking as they struggle to sell the $60million Beverly Hills mansion they bought together.
The source added: “She really hoped to have a far closer relationship with Ben once they split — something similar to what he shares with Jennifer (Garner).
“But instead, he’s pretty much ghosted her and spends every waking moment he can with Jennifer. It’s a real kick in the teeth.”
Garner continued to call Affleck the “love of my life” after their split — which they announced a day after their 10th wedding anniversary.
The actress said: “You can’t have three babies and so much of what we had . . . he’s the love of my life.”
She also gave an insight into the notoriously grumpy actor’s personality when she added: “He’s just a complicated guy. When his sun shines on you, you feel it.
“But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it’s cold. He can cast quite a shadow.”
Ben met Jenny From The Block singer Lopez in 2002 on the set of their movie, Gigli.
Despite being married to second husband Cris Judd at the time, she said: “I really felt when I met Ben, ‘OK, this is it’.”
Within months, they were engaged, but the wedding was called off at the last minute and they parted ways in January 2004. The following year, Ben wed 13 Going On 30 actress Garner.
But that marriage was blighted by Affleck’s long-standing battle with alcoholism. And the couple’s happiness crashed down in 2015 when he was accused of an affair with nanny Christine Ouzounian, which he denies.
Ben only added to the misery in a 2021 interview, when he said: “Part of why I started drinking was because I was trapped.”
He later apologised for the blunt remarks, claiming he was “vulnerable” at the time, adding: “The idea (was) that I was blaming my wife for my drinking.
“To be clear, my behaviour is my responsibility entirely.”
When he relapsed in 2018, Garner — who he was no longer with by that point — staged an intervention.
She arrived at his home with a lawyer and a Bible to drive him to his third rehab stint, stopping off to get him fast food on the way.
But then Affleck got back with J-Lo, and she gushed about the “beautiful story” that meant they got a “second chance”.
She said: “It was so painful after we broke up (the first time).
“Once we called off that wedding 20 years ago, it was the biggest heartbreak of my life. I honestly felt like I was going to die.
“It sent me on a spiral for the next 18 years where I just couldn’t get it right. But now, 20 years later, it does have a happy ending. It’s the most would-never-happen-in-Hollywood ending.”
Bored to tears
The couple wed at a Las Vegas chapel in July 2022, followed by a second ceremony in Georgia the following month. But sources claimed the cracks were already beginning to show during their honeymoon in Italy.
Ben looked miserable as paparazzi pursued them, while J-Lo appeared happy to play up to the cameras.
Sources later claimed that Ben was just getting sober when he fell for Lopez again.
They added of the honeymoon: “When they weren’t in front of the cameras, they would barely speak to each other during what was meant to be the happiest time of their life.
“He sold her on him being a changed man and that lasted a very short time.”
Another source said: “He was just getting sober. He was in a vulnerable state, and whatever their chemistry (was) played into that . . . he was in a frenzied, excitable state.”
J-Lo was also seen berating her husband at the 2023 Grammys, when he looked bored to tears. The couple have also been spotted seemingly rowing in public.
The big question now is whether Ben can tempt back his original Jen — and whether, after all the hurt, she will even want him.