A photo of Mark and Melissa Hortman is displayed during their funeral service inside the sanctuary at the Basilica of St. Mary's in Minneapolis on June 28, 2025. (Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP, Pool, File)2026-06-10T22:03:27Z MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — U.S. prosecutors said Wednesday they will not seek the death penalty as part of a plea agreement with the man charged in the political assassinations of the top Democrat in the Minnesota House along with her husband, as well as the attempted murders of a state senator and his wife.The defendant, Vance Boelter, was scheduled for a change-of-plea hearing Thursday morning in federal court in Minneapolis.“The Attorney General has authorized and directed the government not to seek the death penalty against Defendant Vance Luther Boelter in accordance with the terms delineated in a proposed plea agreement,” assistant U.S. attorneys Bradley M. Endicott and Matthew D. Forbes wrote in a letter to the court Wednesday.Boelter’s attorneys did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, were shot by a man who came to their doors in the early hours of June 14, 2025, disguised as a police officer and driving a fake squad car. Boelter, 58, was captured near his home in rural Green Isle late the next day after what prosecutors have called the largest search for a suspect in Minnesota history. He faces federal and state murder, attempted murder and other charges.

Hours before Wednesday’s game began, James Dolan, the owner of the Knicks, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani were publicly battling over who was to blame for the cancellation.

President Trump touched on what is an increasingly hot topic in Washington: how average Americans can get a piece of the tech industry’s A.I. windfall.

On election night, the Democratic candidate from Maine wore a button-up, a deviation from the candidate’s unvarnished image.

This DIYer was inspired by fond memories of the passed-down camper from when she was a child. READ MORE...

Fifa president Gianni Infantino (right) with Chelsea's Cole Palmer after last year's Club World Cup final [Getty Images]World governing body Fifa has struck a landmark deal with global players' union Fifpro that means players will be represented when major decisions affecting the game are agreed.Faced with a number of separate legal claims around player welfare, Fifa has agreed a memorandum of understanding with Fifpro, which it says "marks [a] paradigm shift in governance of professional football, with transfer system and player welfare standards".For the first time, Fifpro will have a veto over key areas of the game's governance and also observer access, with speaking rights, at the powerful Fifa Council, the decision-making body of global football.Fifa says it has struck the deal on the condition that all legal proceedings against it, initiated by Fifpro, are withdrawn.In October 2024, Fifpro filed an "abuse of dominance" claim against Fifa around the overcrowded match calendar.Earlier this week, former France midfielder Lassana Diarra reached a settlement in his damages claim, initially for 65 million euros (£56.1m), against Fifa and the Belgian Football Association after his contract was cancelled by Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow and he was subsequently denied a transfer to Charleroi in 2014.One of the key elements of the agreement is that players will have greater protection from what are regarded as abusive practices, including forcing them to train on their own, withholding passports or abusing registration procedures.In those circumstances, players will be able to cancel their contracts and still receive the payments they are due under those contracts, claim compensation for justifiable expenses and potentially demand an extra six months' pay in damages.Clubs that fail to respect their contractual obligations will face swifter and more effective sporting and financial consequences.Fifpro president Sergio Marchi said: "This agreement represents an important step forward for football. Ensuring that players and their representatives have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their careers is not only beneficial for footballers, but for the game as a whole."Speaking at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City a day before the World Cup begins, Fifa president Gianno Infantino hailed the agreement."It's about unity, about bringing everyone together," he said."We've always been having dialogues. Now, sometimes you don't agree, when you don't agree, well, you can go and say it to everyone, or you can sit down and discuss and see what makes sense."So, we signed a memorandum of understanding with Fifpro, everything is agreed."Infantino could have stood up for the World Cup - but he said 'chill, relax'Good news, but issues remain - analysisThis all looks very positive, but it is not quite perfect.The major issue over the congested match calendar is still to be resolved, and it is understood the Professional Footballers' Association is not yet in a position to back down from its own legal threat,It remains to be seen if a resolution for the outstanding issues can be found and, if it cannot, whether Infantino will threaten to pull the plug on the whole agreement.However, for now, the players' voice is starting to be heard.For too long, it has appeared the people most responsible for the enduring worldwide appeal of the game have no input into the major decisions around it. That is beginning to change.Follow your club with BBC SportListen to the latest Football Daily podcastGet football news sent straight to your phone

Listening to Fifa president Gianni Infantino and you would think the controversy surrounding the 2026 World Cup in recent days had been insignificant."Just, you know, chill, relax," Infantino told a news conference at the Azteca Stadium on the eve of Thursday's opening match between Mexico and South Africa.After all, it is not as though one of his referees was refused entry to the United States. Or Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for several hours at a Chicago airport before being allowed into the country.Nor that Iran have been forced to switch their base to Mexico, their fans have had all their tickets cancelled by US authorities, and members of the delegation refused visas.Of course, those incidents did all occur, and this was Infantino's chance to stand up for Fifa, to back Somali referee Omar Artan who had seen the pinnacle moment of his career ripped away from him.To criticise or question, if not condemn, the US government for the way the tournament has been handled before it has begun.It did not happen.Africa's number one referee being turned away by immigration was just "unfortunate".And there was a robust defence of US President Donald Trump, with Infantino claiming a World Cup in the US would be "impossible" without the 79-year-old.Nothing to see here.'Chill, relax, we can’t control everything' - relive Infantino news conference on eve of World CupUS official claims banned referee had links with 'terror organisations'Fifa and global players' union agree landmark deal'We are not the kings of the world'Gianni Infantino was first elected as Fifa president in 2016 [Getty Images]When Infantino sat down at the Azteca he knew exactly which questions would be coming his way.How could he not?The expulsion of Artan after an 11-hour interrogation at Miami International Airport had come just hours earlier, accused by a US official of having links to terrorists in his homeland."It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia," Infantino said. "But again, we don't control everything."We try, we'll discuss, we'll speak, we'll see. Maybe sometimes it's good as well to just, you know, chill, relax."Those words will have been of little comfort to Artan, who touched down back in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Wednesday after seeing his World Cup dream die.There were no words of support for the official, no regrets expressed. It was just "unfortunate".When questioned about other visa issues, which have affected fans and team delegates too, Infantino deflected attention to the 2035 Women's World Cup - which is almost certain to be awarded to the United Kingdom."Would you find it normal that Fifa would dictate to the British government who to let in the country and who not to let in the country?" Infantino asked.When England hosted the World Cup in 1966, a strikingly similar situation happened.The UK government feared the presence of communist North Korea could cause diplomatic shockwaves and it considered denying entry.After a letter from the Football Association warned the government that the country risking losing the World Cup, concessions were made to allow them to take part.Indonesia, due to be hosts of the 2023 U-20 World Cup, were stripped of hosting rights after saying Israel would not be permitted entry.Yet when the United States makes similar decisions which affect competing World Cup nations, such as Iran, Fifa says it is powerless."Unfortunately, our world is, you know, a very aggressive world, and security goes above everything," Infantino said. "You need to respect the decisions which are taken, and when I say to chill, I don't mean to chill and do nothing."We need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces."We are a sports organisation. We try to do our best with the means that we have."Why super-sized and politicised World Cup comes at a costDoes referee case show Fifa has lost control of its own World Cup?What is happening with World Cup ticket prices?'I don't know who else would ensure Iran could come'Iran have been granted permission to enter the US to play their three World Cup group games.But that was only after being told they could not stay in America and would have to be based in Mexico. And they would have to go into and out of the US within 24 hours each time to play their three games.Nothing can truly be taken for granted until they get through US immigration for their opening match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday (Tuesday 02:00 BST).But rather than question the war, or the barriers placed in the way of a competing nation, it is a triumph for Infantino."When people were saying it would be impossible for Iran to come to the World Cup, I promised them that they would come," Infantino said."I don't know who else would have been able to ensure in these circumstances - which we could not influence - Iran could come and play."Infantino turned his attention to ticket prices. Of course, there was nothing to see here either.That is despite Fifa facing accusations of "artificially inflating prices" and claims that it has been "misleading fans"."We check what we do with the best lawyers, with the best experts," Infantino insisted."If we do something wrong, probably everyone selling tickets in North America is doing something wrong as well."Questions about investigations over Fifa's ticket prices - launched by the attorneys general of California, New Jersey, New York and now Texas - were batted away.Infantino dismissed the investigations as based on "three, not 3,000" complaints.Fifa, he said, only had one chance every four years to raise money for the world.He defended the pricing structure as "accurate" for the North American market, insisting that demand had been "unprecedented by a factor of 10 or more".That will be of no comfort to the thousands of fans priced out of this World Cup.World Cup in the US 'impossible' without TrumpFifa president Gianni Infantino has ingratiated himself with US President Donald Trump over the past two years [Getty Images]Fifa has faced accusations that it has lost control of its own World Cup. That it has been unable to achieve any real, tangible concessions from a Trump government which has anti-immigration polices as the pillar of the administration.Given the opportunity to at least question how things have been handled, Infantino instead doubled down on his support for Trump."I don't regret anything," Infantino said when asked about the World Cup being held by the United States."I have a great relationship with President Trump. I'm very happy about that."Without his engagement and his involvement, I think it would have been impossible to organise a World Cup in the United States."Perhaps Infantino's last comment was most telling."He understood immediately the magnitude of the World Cup, the impact of the World Cup, and instructed the administration to help and assist," said the Fifa president."To be able to exchange with the president on important topics with his administration, to put everything on the table without asking for anything, is probably the key to having a positive relationship."For Artan and all the others who have faced serious complications getting into the United States, perhaps it does not feel like they have been assisted.Maybe Fifa and Infantino actually should have been asking for a few things.Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameWorld Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

How Bruno Fernandes surprised Man United legend Gary NevilleIt does not bear thinking about where Manchester United would be without Bruno Fernandes. Across the last few seasons, the supremely talented playmaker has single-handedly won points for the Red Devils and dragged his teammates to victories that would have been impossible were it not for his genius.Despite that, the United captain still regularly finds himself at odds with some of the most respected and knowledgeable pundits in the game. His long-standing feud with Roy Keane seems to have been put to bed with a recent phone call, but that is just one example of the adversity the Portugal international faces from the media.However, former United captain Gary Neville has now leapt to the defence of the Red Devils’ star player by highlighting a quality Fernandes possesses that became apparent when the cameras were not rolling.A record-breaking seasonBruno Fernandes was the stand-out player in the Premier League last season. The creative genius led United to a third-placed finish in the league and topped the assists chart, registering a record-breaking 21 assists across the campaign.These accolades rightly resulted in United’s captain being recognised as the Premier League Player of the Season. Head coach Michael Carrick, having been a terrific midfielder himself, certainly knows how to get the best out of his star player, and the former Sporting CP player will be pivotal as United aim to challenge for silverware next season.A surprising traitAfter sitting down with Fernandes for an interview with Sky Sports last month, Neville noted a surprising trait that only those close to the attacking midfielder would be able to spot. The former England international elaborated on the point on the Stick To Football podcast, explaining how impressed he had been by Fernandes’ knowledge of all things football.“I tell you what you realise when you speak to him one on one, and you speak to him off camera a couple of weeks ago,” he said.“He’s a massive football fan; he watches all the football. He’s intelligent about football, isn’t he? He’s intelligent about football. He’s like someone that you speak to.”Ian Wright weighs inNeville went on to explain to Keane that Fernandes’ astonishing knowledge is the perfect example of a trait that can surprise pundits. “Yeah, but you’re [Keane] also right, sometimes you think we have this perception that maybe some players are a bit more carefree, and they’re not as serious as we think they are,” he said.Ian Wright then gushed over the United ace, describing how it is the smaller details in Fernandes’ game that set him apart from his teammates. “Yeah, but you can tell by Bruno, when you watch how he plays every single pass, everything, he’s a perfectionist,” he explained.Wright believes it is this desire for perfection that sometimes causes Bruno to lose his temper. He said, “He wants it to be perfect, he doesn’t like people to drop below standards, he looks like somebody that’s just constantly… but you can see it with him, he gets so wound up about thinking.”Fernandes will be hoping to produce more perfect performances in the World Cup and beyond as he looks to get his hands on the silverware that his exceptional talent and attitude deserve.Featured image Ryan Pierse via Getty ImagesThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

The Denver Nuggets have parted with the longtime local TV broadcast team of Scott Hastings and Chris Marlowe.Team reporter and studio analyst Chris Dempsey was also let go as part of a talent shakeup at the team’s regional sports network, Altitude Sports, the Denver Post reported Wednesday.Marlowe later confirmed on social media that the Nuggets had declined to renew his contract after his 22 years of working as the team’s regional TV play-by-play voice.“All good things must come to an end,” Marlowe wrote. “I wanted to let you know personally that I will not be returning as the play-by-play announcer for the Denver Nuggets next season. Altitude Sports is moving in a difference direction and decided not to renew my contract.”Hastings did not make a public comment as of Wednesday afternoon.Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentKroenke Sports and Entertainment, the parent company run by Stan Kroenke that owns the Nuggets, Avalanche, Los Angeles Rams and Arsenal F.C. among other sports and entertainment holdings, did not address the reported dismissals. It wasn’t clear as of Wednesday who would replace the mainstays of Nuggets broadcasting. Scott Hastings, seen here interviewing Nikola Jokić in 2025, was a staple of Denver sports broadcasting since 1993.IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERSHastings played 11 NBA seasons with five different teams from 1982-93, including his final two seasons with the Nuggets. Per the Post, Hastings had worked as a color analyst for the Nuggets and Broncos for various broadcasters since his retirement as a player in 1993. He’ll continue to co-host a sports talk show on Altitude’s radio network, per the report.Marlowe had called Nuggets games for Altitude since Kroenke launched the network in 2004. He was a gold medalist on the 1984 U.S. men’s Olympic volleyball team and has worked calling beach volleyball at the Olympics for seven different Games, per the Post. Nuggets broadcast hosts and reporters Katy Winge and Vic Lombardi will be retained, the Post reports. Lombardi addressed the dismissals on social media. “Chris Dempsey is one of the nicest human beings I’ve ever met,” Lombardi wrote. “He’s a fellow native. I’m gonna miss our thoughtful conversations about Denver sports. “Scott Hastings, often blunt but always fair, you carry more than a quarter-century of lore. Thanks for teaching all of us the game. Will never forget how emotional you got during the final seconds of Game Five in ‘23. “Chris Marlowe — you are a mentor and a friend. Many of us consider you THE VOICE of Nuggets basketball. You will always be the voice. And we will truly miss that voice.”

Arsenal keen to sign Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, Juventus open talks with Aston Villa over deal for keeper Emiliano Martinez, while Paris St-Germain target Bayern Munich's Michael Olise.Arsenal remain firmly in the hunt to sign Athletic Club and Spain winger Nico Williams, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United also interested in the 23-year-old. (Teamtalk)Juventus are in talks with Aston Villa to sign their Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, 33, who has already agreed personal terms. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian)Paris St-Germain will to try to sign Bayern Munich's 24-year-old French forward Michael Olise this summer. (L'Equipe - in French)Manchester United are monitoring Everton's 26-year-old Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye as they look to bolster their squad for a Champions League return next season (Sky Sports)Liverpool are prepared to let Italy forward Federico Chiesa, 28, leave this summer for around £17m, with the player keen on a move back to Serie A. (Caughtoffside)Barcelona are aware of interest from Chelsea and Arsenal in Spain winger Dani Olmo, but will only allow the 28-year-old to leave if their £60m valuation is met. (Fichajes - in Spanish)France forward Mathys Tel, 21, could make a shock switch from Tottenham to Bournemouth this summer. (Teamtalk).Barcelona intend to sell Spain midfielder Marc Casado to raise money for other signings, with Bayer Leverkusen and Premier League clubs tracking the 22-year-old. (Fichajes - in Spanish)Leeds United want to break their transfer record to sign Ivory Coast defender Ousmane Diomande from Sporting, with an offer of up to £35m and another £8m in add-ons. (Mirror)Crystal Palace are preparing to rival Everton for Middlesbrough's English midfielder Hayden Hackney, 23, this summer with a £20m offer. (Mail)Get the latest on your Premier League teamAll your football quizzes in one placeListen to the latest Football Daily podcast

U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner won the Maine Democratic primary on Tuesday night with an overwhelming showing from voters fired up over prospects of replacing longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins and retaking Congress this fall. Collins has proven unbeatable over a 30-year career in the Senate under five presidents. Her first was Bill Clinton, whose campaign and presidency were plagued by the same kind of concerns over “bimbo eruptions” that Platner is currently facing over homophobic Reddit posts, a provocative tattoo, and accusations of infidelity. Related Democrat regrets use of anti-gay slurs online: “It’s indefensible” Like Hillary Clinton, Platner’s wife is standing by her man. “No marriage is perfect, and I don’t want a perfect marriage,” Amy Gertner said after The New York Times trumpeted private concerns over sexual text messages he had sent to other women, which were covered in an article two weeks ago. The Times followed up last week with claims of misogyny from some of the many women who’ve dated Platner, including a Republican campaign operative. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “I want my marriage, and I want to be married to Graham,” Gertner said. Others not so intimate with Platner are also standing by him. After the first-time candidate’s big win, Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), said, “In November, Maine voters will elect Graham Platner, and we will win a Senate majority.” Schumer said this despite having encouraged an inexplicable and short-lived challenge to Platner from fellow septuagenarian, Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D). Platner, an Army and Marine veteran with an oyster farm on Frenchman’s Bay in Sullivan, Maine, has attracted massive crowds and support with his progressive, working-man message. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was an early and enthusiastic supporter. Platner also supports LGBTQ+ rights. He supports passing federal anti-discrimination legislation and opposes bans on transgender athletes participating in sports. While he previously used anti-gay slurs online, he has apologized, describing his past language as abhorrent In October, Platner apologized for his authorship of posts on Reddit that used homophobic language, which he described as “indefensible.” “I made a lot of comments over the years and talked a lot of s**t on the internet. I have no reason to doubt that at some point I used language that I would not be using today,” Platner said. The admission came after weeks of similar disclosures, including a drunken wedding video with the candidate singing in his underwear, and numerous articles about his tattoo of the “Totenkopf” (a Nazi symbol that he has since covered up). Platner had already apologized for his use of racist and misogynistic language. The veteran posted to Reddit under the handle P-Hustle between 2016 and 2021, four years after he returned from multiple tours of duty in Afghanistan. He freely used terms like “gay” and “f*g” in recollections of his time in the Army and Marines. In a 2016 post, Platner described guard duty as a Groundhog Day of boredom and masturbation: “No, seriously. Flog that f**ker as often as possible … write gay poetry about how gay your current job is … Congratulations! You’ve made it through one shift! Now do it all again in 12 hours. Welcome to the world of standing post, where sanity is a sliding scale.” A “gay chicken” “gay off” gone wrong In Bahrain, homophobic slights directed at officers, and advice to “top bros” to “party on” were among Platner’s other uncovered observations about military life. The latest Reddit revelations, published by Fox News in May, include Platner’s admission concerning a Pavlovian response to porta-potties brought on by his wartime service.“I still have to jerk off every time I sit in a portash**ter,” he wrote. “That blue water smell conditioned me.” None of the revelations seem to have bothered voters, who rewarded Platner with almost 75% of the vote as of early Wednesday morning, with Mills still on the ballot. “Over the last nine months I have seen Mainers come together behind a vision to take back our power from corporations and billionaires,” Platner told supporters on Tuesday night, sticking with his message. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Forecasters warned that destructive storms were expected across the region into Wednesday night.

With the World Cup facing growing crises, Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, struck a defiant tone on the eve of the competition’s start.

Also, inflation jumps for a third-straight month. Here’s the latest at the end of Wednesday.

Soupy, hot weather will settle into the Northeast on Thursday and Friday, bringing with it the threat of dangerous storms.

WASHINGTON – Alex Pereira wants to hit the highest heights possible, but will let others decide how elevated he is compared to those who came before him.At UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday, Pereira (13-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) has the opportunity to claim an unprecedented third UFC title. Already having held the UFC middleweight and light heavyweight straps, Pereira will become interim heavyweight champion should he defeat Ciryl Gane (13-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in the co-main event at the White House."It's historical, something unprecedented," Pereira told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. "It's something that has never been done before. Ever since I got scheduled for this fight, when this fight was announced, I've been envisioning and thinking and seeing everything that I've been through in my life and everything I've been able to accomplish. I'm just happy to do something like this and just accomplish that."Should he win Sunday, Pereira enters an exclusive class of fighters frequented in public discourse as being the best of all time. UFC CEO Dana White, a stalwart advocate for Jon Jones being in that position, has even said he'll change his pick to Pereira should he win.However, Pereira is brushing all of that talk aside. To him, opinions are like... well, you know."I can't say it because I didn't follow everyone in the sport, the greatest of all time," Pereira said. "People say it. The people who follow the sport, the people who cover the sport have been saying that. There are a lot of different opinions. But there's a guy. Dana is the one who said it. Even so, there are other people who have opinions. Either/or, what people are saying, it's good to belong in that category."This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: One win until UFC GOAT status? Alex Pereira letting others determine

Manchester City have no choice but to go big to sign their top summer transfer targetManchester City had their first bid for Elliot Anderson rejected by Nottingham Forest. Despite this setback, it was expected that City would return with a second bid to sign the midfielder they desperately need. Manchester City’s second bid for Elliot Anderson has now arrived and been rejected once again by Nottingham Forest. It is now becoming clear that City will have to go big to sign their top transfer target this summer. Frankly, Manchester City has no choice given they are trying to sign the player they so desperately need to bolster their midfield.Manchester City has submitted a second offer to Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson.David Ornstein has reported for The Athletic that Manchester City has submitted a verbal offer to Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson. Manchester City’s offer was worth £106 million upfront, with potential add-ons taking City’s offer in excess of £120 million. However, Nottingham Forest is holding out for a fixed fee of over £125 million, which would surpass the British record transfer fee that Liverpool paid Newcastle to sign Swedish striker Alexander Isak last summer Ornstein also reports.Following David Ornstein’s report, Martin Blackburn has also reported on Manchester City’s bid to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for The Sun. Blackburn reports that Forest wants at least £110 million upfront to sell Anderson. Furthermore, it is also reported that Manchester City wants their move for Elliot Anderson tied up before the World Cup begins. Blackburn adds that a compromise between City and Forest could be found before England’s opening World Cup fixture against Croatia, which takes place next Wednesday.Lastly, John Percy has reported for The Telegraph that Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has deemed Manchester City’s second offer for Elliot Anderson unacceptable. Therefore, Forest have rejected Manchester City’s record-breaking bid. Furthermore, Percy reports that negotiations between City and Forest remain ongoing.City know the terms they have to meet to sign the midfielder they so desperately need.Manchester City’s bid to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest was never going to be a straightforward process. Anderson is by far Nottingham Forest’s most important player. His terrific performances throughout the 2025-26 season established him as one of the elite midfielders in the Premier League. Also, Anderson is only 23 years of age, with his best years ahead of him. Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis knows he has a true asset on his hands in Anderson. Therefore, his stance on what it will take for City to sign the England international is understandable.From a Manchester City point of view, they will have to pay up to sign Elliot Anderson. There is no other alternative. Also, Manchester City’s need to sign Elliot Anderson is clear to see. With Bernardo Silva having departed City, there is a gaping hole in Manchester City’s midfield. Anderson is the ideal player to fill this void. Also, Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders haven’t performed as expected; therefore, you do feel that City cannot afford to miss out on signing an elite Premier League-proven midfielder in Elliot Anderson.Manchester City’s bid to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest remains ongoing. City’s second bid has again been rejected by Forest. However, it does appear like City will be willing to break the transfer record for a British player but they may also have to break the British record transfer fee in the process. That may be the price that City have to pay to strengthen their midfield this summer.

One position group that Jacksonville Jaguars' head coach Liam Coen believes has improved greatly is the secondary.And there are a few reasons why Coen feels that way, starting with the addition of Matt Araujo to the defensive coaching staff, who took over as the cornerbacks coach this offseason after previously coaching in Miami."I feel like the secondary's improved drastically from where we were," Coen said. "I think the combination of Matt Araujo and Anthony Perkins have done a phenomenal job in the secondary, collaborating with what Campy's vision is back there. But what Matt brought has been some swagger, some confidence."One would also think that the continuity of being in Anthony Campanile's defensive scheme for a second season is also contributing to the improved play.And with that, there is a concerted effort from the second and third levels of the defense to be tighter in coverage on underneath routes in an effort to take those more high-percentage throws away."We're trying to play a little bit stickier underneath," said Coen. "And look, make people throw the ball over your heads. The percentages of completions of just a go-ball versus a hitch or a curl, it's so much smaller. The margin for error is so much smaller to say, man, the ball has to get completed 45 yards down the field on the red line one-on-one. So we're trying to just continue to take the air out of the coverage."At cornerback this season will be Montaric Brown, Travis Hunter -- who is not yet practicing as he rehabs from last season's knee injury -- and Jourdan Lewis. At safety will be Eric Murray, Antonio Johnson, and Caleb Ransaw could see playing time as the third safety.If the Jaguars play on the back end can take a step forward this season, which should then benefit the pass rush, giving the defensive front additional time to get to the quarterback."The rush and the coverage are always tied together, and if we can be a little bit more sticky, a little bit tighter coverage, even when we're in zones, I think it's only going to help our cause," added Coen.This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: What is behind improved play from Jaguars' secondary this offseason?

EXETER — Taylor Burness expected the pass.A senior defender, Burness clinched the Winnacunnet High School girls lacrosse team’s second straight NHIAA Division II title by causing a turnover.Second-seeded Winnacunnet defeated Hanover 12-11 in a back-and-forth final on Tuesday night at Bill Ball Stadium.In the closing seconds, Hanover junior Cassidy Loughman was awarded a free-position shot with the fifth-seeded Bears (12-7) trailing by one.Loughman, who scored five free-position goals in the contest, attempted a pass to classmate Maeve Bradley, but Burness broke up the connection.One of Winnacunnet’s five seniors, Burness then scooped up the ground ball and ran down the near sideline with the ball until the clock ran out.“Obviously, they cleared the lane for her (Loughman) and it was me and my teammate,” said Burness, who won a Division I title with the girls soccer team last fall. “I saw her (Loughman) call out her friend’s name. I knew she wasn’t going to drive to me. I knew she was going to the girl next to me so I totally let off and I went to (Bradley) because I knew it was going that way.”Hanover coach Sarah Martin credited Burness for making an outstanding defensive play against her young Bears team.Hanover had no seniors and six freshmen on its playoff roster.“We’ll learn from it and maybe we’ve got to be better at passing out of a double and triple team,” Martin said. “We’ll work on that next year but I’m so proud of (the players).”The Bears led 4-1 after the first quarter before Winnacunnet (18-3) stormed back behind a 7-0 second-quarter run.The Warriors, who are headed to Division I next year, took an 8-6 lead into halftime.Winnacunnet coach Glenn McKenzie said his team had the possession advantage in the second frame, which led to its seven-goal run.“We didn’t have the ball in the first, probably, seven minutes if not eight minutes of the first quarter,” McKenzie said. “We finally got the ball, won some draw controls. We were able to control it, settled into our offense and Ari (Rizzo) had a hell of a game. Once we got that momentum, we were able to continue it through.”In her second game back from a concussion, Rizzo scored three goals during the Warriors’ 7-0 run. The sophomore midfielder finished with five goals, including the 100th of her young career.Rizzo’s final goal came with 3.3 seconds left in the third quarter, giving Winnacunnet an 11-8 lead entering the final 12 minutes. It marked the Warriors’ largest lead of the second half.Loughman scored three free-position goals in the fourth quarter. Her third, which came with 4:10 remaining, cut Winnacunnet’s lead to 12-11.“We ended up giving up too many free-position shots,” McKenzie said. “You keep doing that, you’re going to get yourself in trouble and we did.”Loughman scored a game-high seven goals. The Bears also got two goals from Bradley and one each from junior Joia Collins and freshman Clare Higgins.Freshman goalie Rainey Fisher, while battling the flu, made 10 saves for Hanover.Warriors junior McKinley Fowler had a hat trick, while teammates Addison McErlain, Elle Emery and Leah Costa each had a goal. Emery, a senior, also notched four assists.Winnacunnet sophomore goalie Benten Lyford made six saves.The state championship is the Warriors’ third overall in six final appearances.Winnacunnet, which went 3-3 against Division I teams this spring, leaves Division II having played in the last three title games.“We’re losing five seniors, myself included, but I know this team,” Burness said. “They’re hard workers and they play really well together. If they just keep that mindset going, especially from the past two years...we know we can definitely have a good run in Division I.”ahall@unionleader.com

The Derryfield School baseball team built a big lead and held off Monadnock to earn a 10-9 NHIAA Division III semifinal win on Tuesday.The No. 5 seed Cougars (16-4) had a 10-4 lead against two-time defending Division III champion Monadnock (17-2) entering the seventh inning.The top-seeded Huskies pulled within one in the seventh on a grand slam by Sumner Hill-Goodell. The sophomore also had an RBI in the sixth inning.Max Larson caught a fly ball in right field to record the final out of the game, which clinched Derryfield its first D-III final appearance in its second season since moving up from Division IV.The Division III final on Saturday at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester (game time is to be determined) will be the first in six seasons not to feature Monadnock.Jake Larson earned the win, allowing two runs on two hits over five innings. He improved to 8-0 with a 0.90 ERA.Casey Peters, Sam Richard and Nate Boudreau pitched in relief for the Cougars, who are seeking their first state title in 23 years on Saturday.

Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Bill Pulte speaks with reporters at the White House, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)2026-06-10T19:19:08Z WASHINGTON (AP) — A lapse in a law that allows the U.S. to gather intelligence abroad grew more likely on Wednesday as President Donald Trump resisted calls from Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill to immediately name a permanent head of the nation’s intelligence agencies.Trump has doubled down on his temporary pick for director of national intelligence, federal housing finance regulator Bill Pulte, even though he has little experience for the job. Democrats say they won’t support the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA, unless he withdraws Pulte’s appointment and nominates a permanent replacement.The impasse could soon result in limitations on what intelligence the U.S. government can collect abroad just as World Cup games begin in cities around the country and ahead of celebrations for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The law expires on Friday at midnight. Trump on Wednesday asked Congress for a short-term extension of the law to “provide time for the selection and confirmation” of a permanent director.” But he stuck with Pulte as the acting head and said he wants to begin downsizing intelligence agencies. “We can’t let them extort us,” Trump said of Democrats. Senate Republicans floated an short-term extension of the law after Trump’s request, but it was immediately rejected by Democrats who argued that it’s up to the president to replace Pulte. Read More As the bill stalled in the Senate, Speaker Mike Johnson announced the House would hold a vote Thursday on a stopgap to keep the program running through July 2 even as the chances of passage appeared slim. “We’re going to ask every member here to do the right thing,” Johnson said. “We cannot allow that to go dark.”House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said if Trump wants a shot at a short-term extension, he needs to pull the Pulte appointment. Pulte is a “disgraceful individual” and a “partisan political hack” who is deeply unqualified for the job, Jeffries said. GOP leaders lobby the White House, to no avail Congressional Republicans have lobbied Trump all week to quickly nominate a permanent replacement. But he said he needs more time to do so. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Wednesday that Republican leaders have “made our views known” to the White House about the easiest way to get the bill passed, and “we’re just doing what we can here to ensure that the White House understands what will be necessary in order to make that happen.”Trump said on Friday that he is interviewing five candidates for his pick to lead the agency permanently and that all have a national security background.“It’s an important position and one that I think will be filled by a highly qualified person,” said Johnson, who met with Trump twice this week to talk about the FISA impasse.Trump made it very clear, Johnson said, that Pulte will serve a “very short term — a sort of renovation role” to help the Office of the Director of National Intelligence be “renovated and downsized.”To unlock votes for FISA, the pick would have to be soon — and Trump’s choice would have to satisfy both Republicans and Democrats. One of several possible replacements could be Pete Hoekstra, Trump’s ambassador to Canada and a former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. The White House has reached out to Hoekstra about the job and conversations are ongoing, according to a person familiar with the outreach who requested anonymity to discuss the private conversations. FISA will lapse at midnight FridaySection 702 of FISA allows agencies such as the CIA, National Security Agency and FBI to collect communications from foreign targets overseas without a warrant.While members of both parties who cite privacy issues have long wanted to limit the authority, there was broad bipartisan support to renew it, especially after Republicans and Democrats recently worked out a compromise bill. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, has worked with Republicans on the compromise legislation to renew the authority. But he called Pulte’s appointment to replace outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard “a live hand grenade” as they were trying to pass it. Republican leaders tried to start the process last week, but seven Republicans joined nearly all Democrats in blocking a long-term extension after Pulte was appointed. ( Warner said Wednesday that the only way he’ll support a short-term extension of the surveillance law is if the principal deputy director of national intelligence, Aaron Lukas, is the acting leader during the duration of that extension.Sen. Tom Cotton, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, have warned the administration that the spy tool is likely to lapse. The administration should prepare “for a potential significant gap in foreign intelligence collection,” they wrote in a letter. Trump doesn’t back down on Pulte After bipartisan pushback to Pulte’s temporary appointment, Trump said last week that he would not permanently nominate him to the position. But Democrats, and some Republicans, want his appointment pulled immediately and for Trump to nominate a replacement that can be confirmed by the Senate. On Tuesday, though, Trump announced that Pulte would not only take over as acting director — he’d also start earlier than expected, on June 19. And he stuck with Pulte on Wednesday, posting that he needed more time to find a permanent replacement and telling reporters that the agencies need to be downsized. Both Republican and Democratic senators skeptical of Pulte have pointed to his lack of intelligence experience and also his record at the Federal Housing Finance Agency. In the position, the Trump loyalist has been linked with criminal referrals over allegations of mortgage fraud by public officials Trump sought to punish, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat; Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.; and Lisa Cook, a board member of the Federal Reserve.___Associated Press reporters Joey Cappelletti and Kevin Freking contributed to this report. SEUNG MIN KIM Kim covers the White House for The Associated Press. She joined the AP in 2022 and is based in Washington. Kim is also a political analyst for CNN. twitter mailto

High temperatures across the San Francisco Bay Area will reach into the 90s on Thursday, forecasters said.

Mr. Wembanyama has had to keep a low-profile while in New York to try and win the N.B.A. finals, but on visits there, he has always resisted hiding in hotel rooms and private cars.

The country’s previous attempt to get tech companies to shelter young users failed amid heavy criticism from civil liberty groups.

The Detroit Tigers continue to receive positive news on the recovery of ace Tarik Skubal.According to manager A.J. Hinch, via Brad Galli, Skubal came through his recent bullpen session without any issues, an important step as the left-hander works his way back from elbow surgery that sidelined him in early May.“He’s checking every box,” Hinch said. “Today was another step towards that. I like where it’s going. I like where he is describing his normal work days. Everything is normal today, which is the best news we could get.”Those comments may not sound dramatic, but for a pitcher returning from an elbow procedure, “normal” is exactly what the Tigers want to hear. Teams closely monitor how a player feels during and after throwing sessions, and any setback can alter a recovery timeline. In Skubal’s case, the reports continue to be encouraging.The reigning two-time American League Cy Young Award winner last pitched on April 29 before undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow. Since then, Detroit has been forced to navigate a difficult stretch without the anchor of its rotation.While Hinch cautioned against looking too far ahead, signs continue to point toward Skubal being available to return to Detroit’s rotation soon. Current expectations have him lined up for a potential start against the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday, assuming he continues to progress without complications.For a Tigers club searching for stability during a challenging season, the return of one of baseball’s best pitchers cannot come soon enough. Every successful bullpen session brings Skubal one step closer to taking the mound at Comerica Park again.

CHICAGO (AP) — By the time Braden Montgomery returned to Rate Field on Wednesday, the glow from his major league debut the night before was a long way from fading.Montgomery capped a 2-for-5 night with a game-ending, two-run homer in the 10th inning to lift the Chicago White Sox to a 6-5 win over Atlanta Braves. He became the fifth player in MLB history to hit a walk-off homer in his debut, joining Billy Parker (1971), Josh Bard (2002), Miguel Cabrera (2015) and Carlos Pérez (2023).Montgomery was still buzzing hours after his 343-foot, opposite-field shot cleared the fence in left field.“I don't know if I would be considered calmed down at this point,” Montgomery said. “Just been enjoying it, sharing it with my family.”White Sox manager Will Venable said he isn't worried about the 23-year-old getting ahead of himself after one game.“We haven't had anybody with a debut like that, but I think he's as grounded as they come,” Venable said. “This is a guy that has really high expectations of himself. I'm sure he envisioned himself doing this, what he did last night. To be honest, his idea of what he can do in this league is as high as anybody else's. It was exactly what he expected.”Montgomery spent the start of his second day of his big league career responding to the text messages he continues to receive — “The number shrinks and grows as I answer them, but more come in,” Montgomery said — and spending time with his parents and family, who were sitting behind home plate Wednesday night.His mother, Gretchen Montgomery Willock, posted a video of the family celebration in the stands that went viral on social media. On Wednesday, she posted, “Let me tell you about a dream I had last night.”“It's not really something you can imagine,” Montgomery said. “You just kind of go into it with your expectations and do whatever the game brings.”One of the top prospects in the White Sox organization, acquired from the Red Sox in the December 2024 trade that sent Garrett Crochet to Boston, Montgomery was hitting .315 for Triple-A Charlotte. He became the 12th White Sox rookie to debut this season, the second-highest total before the All-Star break since the 1944 Cincinnati Reds had 13, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.The influx of youth has helped the White Sox go 29-18 since April 17, second only to the New York Yankees (30-17), despite injuries to Munetaka Murakami and Everson Pereira. among others. The White Sox are 5-4 since Murakami, a rookie from Japan who leads the team with 20 homers, injured his right hamstring on May 29.Colson Montgomery joined that list Tuesday. He is day to day with a sore back and was not in the lineup Wednesday. The second-year shortstop, a relative veteran of 135 MLB games, said his younger teammates are feeding off each other to pick up the slack.“You get up here, and it's like, these are my boys, my teammates, this is nothing new,” Colson Montgomery said. “That's why a lot of our young rookie guys are coming up here and they're thriving because they're just being themselves and they know they can be themselves. ... We have a lot of guys in the minor leagues who are coming up and they’re ready to show their impact.”___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Detroit — The Tigers-Twins game, for the second straight night, has been delayed by the threat of storms.They tried to dodge a pop-up storm that was scheduled to hit right at game time (6:40 p.m.). Both teams warmed up and the game actually started at 6:47 p.m.Tigers' lefty Framber Valdez pitched a scoreless first inning, throwing 11 pitches. But as the Tigers were coming up to bat in the bottom of the first, the fans were asked to seek shelter and the tarp was rushed onto the field at Comerica Park. This story will be updated.This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: The Tigers-Twins game has been delayed by storms again

The San Francisco Giants called up top prospect Bryce Eldridge in May, hoping that he could provide a spark to a sluggish offense. He delivered on Wednesday beyond any reasonable expectations to cap one of the wildest finishes of this or any MLB season.The Giants entered the eighth inning of Wednesday’s home game trailing the Washington Nationals, 9-1. They proceeded to score five runs in the fifth inning, then loaded the bases in the the ninth with a 10-7 deficit. Eldridge took the plate and delivered a walk-off grand slam to secure an 11-10 win to stun the visiting Nationals.Needless to say, the rookie was mobbed by his celebratory teammates once he crossed home plate. This story will be updated.

England 3-0 Costa Rica: Gordon shines in delayed final warm-up gameAnthony Gordon scored and assisted in an encouraging display as England coasted to a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica in their delayed final warm-up game before their World Cup opener against Croatia next Wednesday.Declan Rice rolled in the opener to put the Three Lions in front, after kickoff was moved forward an hour to nearby lightening, and they should have been two in front when Noni Madueke took the ball around the goalkeeper and hit the post.Gordon deserved his goal that eventually came in the latter stages of the second half when he dispatched a penalty awarded handball, before substitute Ollie Watkins capped off England’s preparations with an easy header minutes before full time.As it happenedEngland were much faster out of the blocks than in their first warm-up game against New Zealand as both Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane’s early shouts for a penalty were waived away by referee Facundo Tello.Bellingham had gone close with an effort deflected narrowly wide, before Anthony Gordon collected the ball and darted towards the left byline and cutting it back for Rice to caress the shot into the bottom right corner just 10 minutes in.England were the dominant force in the early stages and pressed on before the first drinks break, as Kane met Gordon’s free kick delivery from the left only to see his header tipped wide by Sequeira.Madueke was in disbelief that he hadn’t doubled the Three Lions’ advantage when he was slotted in behind by Kane and rolled the ball around the leg of Sequeira and hit the post using his weaker left foot from yards out.England’s captain had the ball in his hands, ready to take a penalty awarded after Gordon went down inside the box with Johnson breathing down his neck, but Tello was called over to the monitor for a second look and reversed her on-field call.Bellingham danced his way into the penalty area from the left channel with the game approaching the final stages and cut back to Eberechi Eze, whose shot was handled on its way wide by a Costa Rican defender and Tello pointed to the spot for a second time.Gordon powerfully dispatched the penalty into the top left corner giving the goalkeeper no chance and putting Costa Rica out of sight with just over 20 minutes of regular time remaining.England should have had a third when substitute Morgan Rogers steered the shot wide, one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but he refused to punish Costa Rica for some poor defending as some legs began to tire.Watkins punished Sequeira for carelessly beating Rogers’ curling effort from the edge of the penalty area in the 86th minute, nodding home from practically on the goal line to round off a far more encouraging display.England’s opener against Croatia will kick off at 21:00 (BST) next Wednesday, with the nation expecting a victory to get their bid to end 60 years of hurt with a first World Cup triumph since 1966 off to the perfect start.England analysis: stronger team, stronger performanceIt was Thomas Tuchel’s responsibility this evening to dispel any concern England fans carried into the game after Saturday’s tepid 1-0 victory against New Zealand, the World Cup’s lowest ranked side, and he delivered on that front.Anthony Gordon was one of the brighter outlets in the second half of the first warm-up game and was lively from the off against Costa Rica, proving a handful for Sam Johnson and leading to the right-back finding himself in the book.Barcelona’s new signing created the opportunity for Declan Rice to open the scoring with a great burst of pace towards the byline and incisive cutback, before showing the England faithful that he could be trusted in a penalty shootout if necessary.The Three Lions were just as dominant as they were at the weekend, with 82% of the possession and managing to limit their opponents to just one shot on goal. Though they were poor, it’s a marked improvement to the frailty on show against New Zealand.Alongside Manchester City target Elliot Anderson, Rice provided a solid midfield base that his country were desperately lacking last time out and found himself in the perfect place to steer England into the lead.But it wasn’t quite as encouraging a display from Noni Madueke and Morgan Rogers, who both missed chances that they would be expected to score nine times out of ten in the Premier League either side of the break.It won’t do them any favors as Tuchel decided to leave his substitutes until late and formulate the starting line up to face his team’s World Cup nemeses Croatia next Wednesday.On the whole, England fans can be encouraged but there is only so much a win against a side of Costa Rica’s standing will do to build faith before then. The only thing that will suffice in that respect is a winning start once the tournament is up and running.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. hit just his second home run of the season with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the San Diego Padres to a 5-4 win against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Tatis lined a 2-1 pitch from Chase Petty (0-1) into the first row of seats in left field, with a launch angle of just 18 degrees. He spread his arms wide in celebration as he approached second base and did an exaggerated stutter step around third. His jersey was torn off during a wild celebration.He didn't hit his first homer of the season until May 30 at Washington. Wednesday's homer was the fifth career walk-off for Tatis and fifth of the season for San Diego, which won for just the fourth time in 16 games.The Padres took two of three Cincinnati, who scored all their runs Wednesday on three home runs. Cincinnati took a 4-2 lead on its third homer, by Eugenio Suárez off Ron Marinaccio with one out in the eighth.San Diego tied it in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by Gavin Sheets and a run-scoring single by Samad Taylor.The rally got Michael King off the hook for what would have been his fourth straight loss. He has allowed six home runs in his last four starts, including two in each of his last two starts. Wandy Peralta (1-0) pitched the ninth.King allowed Spencer Steer’s two-run shot into the second deck in left field in the fourth that gave the Reds a 2-1 lead.San Diego tied it in the fifth when Tatis' two-out single brought in Rodolfo Durán, aboard on a one-out double.JJ Bleday homered off King with two outs in the seventh, his 11th, for a 3-2 lead. Up nextReds LHP Nick Lodolo (2-1, 5.51 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday night at home against Arizona. Padres RHP Griffin Canning (0-4, 6.34 ERA) is expected to start Friday night at Baltimore. ___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association named Florida pitcher Aidan King and two-way player Caden McDonald to its All-America teams on Wednesday.King lands on the First Team as the SEC Pitcher of the Year, and McDonald is one of two utility selections to the Second Team. Perfect Game also included both players on its second team.This is the first All-America team selection for both players; however, King was a unanimous Freshman All-American in 2025.King led Florida with eight wins, a 3.21 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP over 97 innings. He struck out 92 batters while walking 19 for a 4.84 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He is the first Gator underclassman to be named SEC Pitcher of the Year and the fourth in league history.McDonald entered the starting lineup on April 24 against Texas A&M and never left. Twice, McDonald threw three-plus scoreless innings and hit a home run, establishing himself as one of the best two-way players in college baseball. He finished the season with a .319/.379/.702 slash line and nine home runs. As a pitcher, McDonald carried a 3.42 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over 20 appearances.Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida baseball's Aidan King and Caden McDonald named All-Americans

International friendlies roundup: Messi and Ronaldo in action before World Cup farewellOllie Whitmore, Chief football news reporterLionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo got their last minutes to prepare for their final World Cup tournament as England faced Costa Rica after rain and lightening delayed the friendly game by an hour. Venezuela Iraq, and Senegal were also in action tonight before Mexico and South Africa kick start the action at the Mexico City Stadium on Thursday evening, as the finals in the US, Canada, and Mexico edge closer.FromTheSpot rounds up the action from the last international friendlies featuring World Cup teams before they take to the world stage.England 1-0 Costa Rica: Gordon shines in delayed final warm-up gameAnthony Gordon scored and assisted in an encouraging display as England coasted to a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica in their delayed final warm-up game before their World Cup opener against Croatia next Wednesday.It was Thomas Tuchel’s responsibility this evening to dispel any concern England fans carried into the game after Saturday’s tepid 1-0 victory against New Zealand, the World Cup’s lowest ranked side, and he delivered on that front.Declan Rice rolled in the opener to put the Three Lions in front, after kickoff was moved forward an hour to nearby lightening, and they should have been two in front when Noni Madueke took the ball around the goalkeeper and hit the post.Gordon deserved his goal that eventually came in the latter stages of the second half when he dispatched a penalty awarded handball, before substitute Ollie Watkins capped off England’s preparations with an easy header minutes before full time.The Three Lions were just as dominant as they were at the weekend with 82% of the possession and managing to limit their opponents to just one shot on goal. Though they were poor, it’s a marked improvement to the frailty on show against New Zealand.Alongside Manchester City target Elliot Anderson, Rice provided a solid midfield base that his country were desperately lacking last time out and found himself in the perfect place to steer England into the lead.But it wasn’t quite as encouraging a display from Noni Madueke and Morgan Rogers, who both missed chances that they would be expected to score nine times out of ten in the Premier League either side of the break.It won’t do them any favors as Tuchel decided to leave his substitutes until late and formulate the starting line up to face his team’s World Cup nemeses Croatia next Wednesday.Argentina 3-0 Iceland: Messi on target in final warm-upLionel Messi won’t have fond memories playing against Iceland at a World Cup, missing a penalty as Argentina were held to a 1-1 draw in Russia’s 2018 tournament, but it was smooth sailing this time around in the holders’ last friendly.Valentin Barco powered home the opener from the edge of the box just eight minutes into proceedings before Messi added a second from the spot with just over a quarter of an hour left in the tie.Atlético Madrid’s Thiago Almada rounded off a routine victory for La Albiceleste, ensuring they go into next Wednesday’s opening game against Algeria in a buoyant mood and on a run of eight consecutive friendlies won.Portugal 2-1 Nigeria: Ronaldo wins but goes goalless againPortugal will also head into the 2026 World Cup in fine form, beating Nigeria to earn a fourth victory in a row since their 9-1 dismantling of Armenia in the last qualifying match.Cristiano Ronaldo wasn’t amongst the goals in his second consecutive start since missing out on the demolition job due to serving his suspension after being dismissed in the 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland, but may well be scoring again soon.Instead it was Pedro Neto and 23-year-old Juventus midfielder Francisco Conceição who found the net either side of Akor Adams’ 37th-minute equalizer as Portgual look to give Ronaldo the perfect send off on his last attempt to win the tournament.The 41-year-old, who has famously never scored in the knockout stages, skewed a big chance inside the penalty area well wide of goal but will likely fancy himself against the DR Congo next Wednesday before facing Uzbekistan and Colombia.ElsewhereVenezuela were in action against fellow World Cup nation Iraq and emerged 2-0 victors, with Toulouse striker Cristian Cásseres and Chuchu Ramírez on target for the nation ranked 49 in the world.Nicholas Jackson saw red after receiving two yellow cards in Senegal’s goalless draw against FIFA Arab Cup semi-finalists Saudi Arabia, who will enter into their third World Cup appearance in a row when they take on Uruguay on the 15th of June.Senegal open their tournament against another Francophone nation, in the form of tournament favourites France.

Giants' John Harbaugh provides encouraging update on Malik Nabers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh provided an encouraging update on star wide receiver Malik Nabers at the conclusion of New York's mandatory minicamp. Nabers continues to recover after suffering a torn ACL during Week 4 of the 2025 season. He had surgery at the time and needed a follow-up procedure earlier this year.John Harbaugh says Malik Nabers is making 'really good progress' It's certainly been a tough road for the Louisiana State product, but Harbaugh is optimistic that he's moving in the right direction. "He said his plan is to be here most of the time, almost all the time he'll be here, I believe. I don't think he will be here all the time. He's going to be here a lot working really hard. He's making really good progress right now. I'm very hopeful that he'll be back soon," Harbaugh said of Nabers. "Also, understand when you come back from a knee, he'll be back, and he'll still be building his way back to his ultimate full-strength self. But he's doing great. He's doing a great job. He's made some real good progress in the last few weeks."This story will be updated. More NFL news: Baker Mayfield sends clear message regarding his future with Tampa Bay BuccaneersJared Verse gets brutally honest about trade from Rams to BrownsDallas Cowboys urged to trade edge rusher before start of 2026 NFL seasonMyles Garrett sends message to Cleveland Browns fans after trade to RamsA.J. Brown sends goodbye message to Eagles fans after trade to Patriots

Detroit — The Tigers added some bullpen depth on Wednesday.They acquired 32-year-old right-hander Jacob Waguespack from the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations. He is expected to report to Triple-A Toledo.Waguespack, who hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2024, had a 1.66 ERA with 33 strikeouts and 15 walks at Triple-A Nashville this season.He had brief stints with the Blue Jays and Rays, posting a 5.11 ERA and 1.543 WHIP in 31 games.Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com@cmccoskyThis article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Jacob Waguespack, a veteran pitcher, was acquired by the Tigers

A bombshell New York Times article, entitled “Inside the White House Freakout Over the Epstein Files,” repeatedly states that President Donald Trump and his closest White House staff have held numerous meetings discussing how best to delay any release of federal investigatory materials related to now-deceased millionaire child trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and how best to protect Trump from any insinuations that he was at all involved in Epstein’s crimes. The article makes clear that the administration has wanted to “dispose of” the scandal while ignoring substantial steps to actually shed light on Epstein’s crimes or achieve justice for his victims. Related Homoerotic statue of Trump holding Jeffrey Epstein appears on National Mall Major members of the Trump administration have repeatedly gathered in the White House Situation Room (the same room where former President Barack Obama and his top-level officials watched the raid that ended with the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011) to discuss how to handle public relations and political maneuvering about the files, the Times wrote. These meetings have included White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles; the White House counsel, David Warrington; the press secretary, Karoline Leavitt; the deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich; the communications director, Steven Cheung; the deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche; the associate attorney general, Stanley Woodward Jr.; and the deputy chief of staff James Blair, as well as Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI director, Kash Patel, the Times wrote. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Before becoming FBI director, Patel repeatedly accused the federal government of hiding Epstein’s client list to protect powerful people. He said a second Trump presidency would release “everything” to restore public trust. Before his own appointment, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino was a former Secret Service agent and podcaster who alleged that the withholding of the files was part of a massive government cover-up that would “rock the political world.” In a February 21, 2025 Fox News interview, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi said the client list was “sitting on my desk right now to review.” She later gave binders of investigative files to numerous right-wing influencers, making them look like P.R. props after online sleuths eventually realized that the binders only contained previously released materials. Four months later, when Bondi and then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche discussed releasing more of the files, their biggest concern was “to avoid putting out anything that could damage the president,” the Times wrote. In private, Trump had told then-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) that releasing the Epstein files could hurt some of his friends. He repeatedly called the entire demand for the files’ release a Democratic “hoax” and “fake news,” and insisted that he had done nothing wrong. Then on July 7, 2025, Patel released a memo saying there was no Epstein client list, that Epstein had killed himself while in jail (addressing a long-believed rumor that he had been murdered), and that no additional files would be released. A massive backlash occurred from both the MAGA base and left-wingers. MAGA conspiracy theorists were especially angered by Patel’s statement, and noted that a federal release of the video of Epstein’s cell on the night of his death excluded two minutes of missing footage (that were later restored); the missing minutes seemed like evidence of an ongoing cover-up. Infighting among White House officials occurred about how to handle it — Bongino blamed Bondi for mishandling the files, others blamed Kash and Bongino for generating such intense public interest in the files, and Vance suggested a mass release of the files. Despite the disagreements, everyone agreed any future actions should foremost seek to protect the president. The White House reportedly created a website with all the Epstein materials on it (excluding child pornography) — to “overwhelm the MAGAsphere with far-greater volumes of real information — in the form of a huge database,” the Times wrote — but one week before its intended launch date, the site was scrapped. It didn’t help that Trump and White House officials had tried to kill an article by The Wall Street Journal over claims he once wrote a birthday letter to Epstein that included a doodle of a nude woman & an ode to the pair’s secrets. In January 2024, Trump also declared that he had never been on Epstein’s private jet, though in a January 2020 email, a federal prosecutor said Trump had flown on it “far more than anyone knew.” Flight records in the files showed at least eight trips between 1993 and 1996. Last August, Trump relocated Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell to a lower-security prison where she’s “much happier” and allegedly gets both personally delivered meals and playtime with a puppy. In return, she denied that the president had any involvement in Epstein’s misdeeds. She is also seeking Trump’s presidential pardon; something Trump’s advisors have suggested against for its seeming collusion. Blanche suggested having Maxwell testify in front of Congress to give an air of transparency, but the idea was shot down. He eventually compelled Trump to issue a social media statement calling for judges to release Epstein-related grand jury testimonies — prosecutorial transcripts of legal presentations of witnesses and evidence to obtain indictments — knowing that judges rarely ever release such testimonies; these testimonies contained no damaging information about the president, and the administration could blame judges for withholding them. The Times article says the administration has tried to keep its rising sense of panic over the files out of public view while trying to “dispose” of the matter as quickly as possible. Trump’s Department of Justice, which has still refused to comply with a congressional 2025 law requiring the release of all government investigatory files on Epstein. Millions of pages remain unreleased, and the initial release of files withheld specific files mentioning Trump, leading to subsequent hearings to retrieve the missing information. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Photo by Maddie Meyer - FIFA/FIFA via Getty ImagesElliot Anderson was named in the starting XI by Thomas Tuchel as England took on Costa Rica in the final friendly before the World Cup, and it came just hours after Manchester City saw a bid worth £122m rejected by Nottingham Forest for the 23-year-old.The Reds are only willing to sell the England international for a new British transfer record, meaning Manchester City will have to go beyond the £125m fee Liverpool spent on Alexander Isak back in August.This transfer saga is potentially a distraction for Anderson just eight days before the World Cup begins, although the Nottingham Forest No.8 showed absolutely no evidence of a dip in performance with a masterful display against Costa Rica.Elliot Anderson shows exactly why Manchester City offered a new club-record fee with terrific Costa Rica performanceThe man born in Whitley Bay was his typically composed self after being given the nod by Tuchel, playing a key role in the 3-0 win.Sofascore shows that Anderson – who Yaya Toure admires – completed 74 of his attempted 81 passes, with 52 of those coming in the opposition half. All 22 of his attempted passes in his own half were completed.The Manchester City target also made seven ball recoveries and won two of his three aerial duels, carrying the ball 214.5 metres too as he took the game to Costa Rica – twice whipping dangerous crosses towards the back post as well.Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty ImagesIt was an all-action display from the former Newcastle man, who looked highly motivated to secure his spot in the starting lineup for that World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday 17th June.Elliot Anderson transfer latestManchester City ‘may’ make a third bid for Anderson by the end of this week – according to the Guardian – although Tuchel wants the situation to be carried out in an ‘orderly fashion’ to ensure as little disruption is caused as possible.Manchester United are also interested, but the Guardian add that the Red Devils could end their interest in the midfielder altogether after seeing Manchester City’s £122m offer turned down.Evangelos Marinakis wants a guaranteed £125m for Anderson, not including add-ons.

TORONTO (AP) — Max Scherzer came off the injured list and promptly reached another milestone.The Toronto pitcher reached 3,500 strikeouts when he caught Philadelphia slugger Kyle Schwarber looking at an 86 mph change up to begin the game Wednesday night.A three-time Cy Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star, Scherzer is the 11th pitcher in big league history with 3,500 strikeouts. Walter Johnson (3,509) is 10th on baseball’s career list.Scherzer’s former teammate Justin Verlander (3,554) is the only other active pitcher to reach the mark.Scherzer added to his tally by striking out Trea Turner, but Bryce Harper followed with a home run that bounced off the top of the wall in left wall and went out. Scherzer has allowed eight home runs this season.Toronto activated Scherzer off the 15-day injured list (right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation) before the game. He hadn't pitched since allowing seven runs in 2 1/3 innings against Cleveland on April 24. Right-hander Connor Seabold was designated for assignment.Scherzer returned to the reigning American League champions in February, signing a $3 million, one-year contract. He has completed the third inning just twice in five starts.__AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Two Florida baseball players earned All-American nods on Wednesday, June 11.The Gators’ starting pitcher Aidan King and two-way star Caden McDonald each landed on the National College Baseball Writers Association team.King, who was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year, was a first-team All-American. This season, the right-hander held a 3.21 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and recorded 92 strikeouts with 10 walks in 97 innings of work.McDonald landed on the second team, earning All-American honors for the first time. The redshirt sophomore batted .319 and hit nine doubles and nine home runs while driving in 28 runs in 21 starts.On the mound, McDonald registered a 3.42 ERA, 5-1 win-loss record, 48 strikeouts and eight walks in 47.1 innings. Perfect Game also featured King and McDonald on its All-American team. Both were second-team selections, with King as the starting pitcher, and McDonald as a two-way player.Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at AAbadie@usatodayco.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida baseball's Aidan King, Caden McDonald named All-Americans

This summer’s NBA Finals haven’t been decided just yet, but things looked very different the last time that both the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs won a title.The Knicks are carrying a 2-1 series lead over the Spurs entering Wednesday night’s Game 4 matchup at Madison Square Garden. This marks the first time that the Knicks have even played in the NBA Finals since 1999. Back then, social media didn’t really exist, the iPhone was nearly a decade away from dropping, and half of the current Knicks’ roster wasn’t even born. The Knicks’ last championship came back in 1973. They beat the Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West-led Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in that series. During that series, according to Yahoo Finance, a gallon of gas cost roughly 60 cents. The median price of a home was just $30,000, and the median rent in the United States was only $108 a month. The Spurs, thanks to star Victor Wembanyama, are on their first postseason run in seven years. They last won a championship back in 2014, when they beat the LeBron James-led Miami Heat 4-1. That year, a gallon of gas cost just shy of $3.70 in the United States. The average home cost about $290,000 and rent was at $934 a month. While it’s only been a decade since then, things across the board cost much more. Take a look:Movie tickets, for example, cost about $16 in 2026 compared to just $1.76 back in 1973. Today’s price is roughly double what it was in 2014, too. A Big Mac at McDonald’s went from just $0.55 in 1973 to nearly $4 in 2014 to now $6.72 today. Even though the Knicks have the lead, this series is still very much up for grabs. But across the board, from what things used to cost to how we now live our lives, the United States is a very different place today than what it used to be the last time that these two teams won an NBA title.

The Fubo logo.At long last, Fubo subscribers will have access to NBCUniversal’s full suite of channels after a carriage dispute stretching all the way back to November.On Wednesday, Fubo announced it has struck a new distribution agreement with NBCUniversal, bringing NBC, NBCSN, Telemundo, Universo, and the NBC Sports RSNs back to its subscribers after a blackout that has lasted seven months. Per the release, Fubo users will receive access to the Spanish-language networks immediately, with the English-language networks becoming available “in the coming weeks.”“We’re thrilled to announce the return of NBCUniversal networks to Fubo, given their robust portfolio of top-tier sports, entertainment and news,” Fubo executive Todd Mathers said in a press release. “Our agreement with NBCUniversal underscores Fubo’s promise to bring consumers more programming, value and choice through multiple packaging options.”The new deal will see NBC and NBCSN available in Fubo’s base English-language plan, making Fubo the latest platform to receive access to the recently launched NBCSN, which broadcasts live sporting events that were previously exclusive to Peacock. In addition, the four NBC Sports-branded regional sports networks (Bay Area, Boston, California, and Philadelphia) will also be included in the base-level plan for subscribers residing within those markets.Crucially, the deal will reinstate access to Telemundo and Universo for Fubo customers just one day prior to opening day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Telemundo is the exclusive Spanish-language broadcaster for the tournament within the United States. It is unclear if the World Cup was the impetus for the sides to come to an agreement.The deal should help Fubo compete among the crowded market for virtual TV bundles, particularly among sports fans.The post NBC, Fubo squash beef, end 7-month blackout ahead of World Cup appeared first on Awful Announcing.

The party is trying desperately to win back some voters in the key swing group.

Alabama football fans can plan ahead a bit more for the fall. The Southeastern Conference announced television windows for each of Alabama's remaining SEC-controlled games in the 2026 season. Half of Alabama's conference schedule was announced as "flex" with either an afternoon or night window start, decided within two weeks of the game. Aside from flex games, start time windows are as follows in CT: early (11 a.m. to noon), afternoon (2:30-3:30 p.m.), night (5-7 p.m.).Alabama will take the night slot against South Carolina (Sept. 26) and Georgia (Oct. 10). The Crimson Tide will play early vs. Mississippi State (Oct. 3) and Vanderbilt (Nov. 14). Flex matchups will take place against Tennessee (Oct. 17), Texas A&M (Oct. 24), LSU (Nov. 7), and Auburn (Nov. 28).Alabama's game time hosting Chattanooga was solidified for 1 p.m. Nov. 21. The game will air on SECN+. TV information for conference matchups will be released as games get closer.Alabama will open the 2026 season at home against East Carolina. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sept. 5 on ABC. The Crimson Tide's first SEC game on the road at Kentucky will kick off at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 12 on ABC, while Alabama will host Florida State at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 19 on ABC.NIGEL NEWKIRK: Alabama football, the 'relationship school,' sold 2027 RB Nigel NewkirkALABAMA DEFENSIVE LINE: These 3 facts define Alabama football 2026 defensive line roomAlabama 2026 football schedule Here's what we know about Alabama's 2026 schedule: Sept. 5: Alabama vs East Carolina; 11 a.m., ABCSept. 12: Alabama at Kentucky; 2:30 p.m., ABCSept. 19: Alabama vs. Florida State; 2:30 p.m., ABCSept. 26: Alabama vs. South Carolina; nightOct. 3: Alabama at Mississippi State; earlyOct. 10: Alabama vs. Georgia; nightOct. 17: Alabama at Tennessee; flexOct. 24: Alabama vs. Texas A&M; flexNov. 7: Alabama at LSU; flexNov. 14: Alabama at Vanderbilt; earlyNov. 21: Alabama vs. Chattanooga; 1 p.m. CT, SECN+Nov. 28: Alabama vs. Auburn; flexColin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter or Instagram @colingaytnews. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football 2026 schedule TV windows announced

Tennessee football will welcome quarterback Arch Manning and Texas to Neyland Stadium at noon on Sept. 26 in its first SEC game of the 2026 season.Plus, five of UT's SEC games will be in flex TV slots, either in the 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET period or the 6-8 p.m. ET window. Those games include Auburn (Oct. 3), at Arkansas (Oct. 10), Alabama (Oct. 17), at Texas A&M (Nov. 14) and LSU (Nov. 21).The Vols' game at South Carolina will kick off in the 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET window on Oct. 24. They will host Kentucky on Nov. 7 between 6-8 p.m. ET and play at Vanderbilt on Nov. 28 between 6-8 p.m. ET.On June 10, the SEC announced windows for kickoff times of SEC-controlled games.There are four windows: Early (noon-1 p.m. ET), afternoon (3:30-4:30 p.m. ET), night (6-8 p.m. ET) and flex (3:30-4:30 p.m. ET or 6-8 p.m. ET, to be determined). The exact kickoff times will be announced at a later date.Tennessee football game times in 2026 seasonGame times and TV arrangement for three Tennessee nonconference were previously announced.UT will play Furman at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 5, at Neyland Stadium. It will be aired on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.The Vols will play at Georgia Tech at 7 p.m. on Sept. 12, on ESPN.And UT will play Kennesaw State at 7:45 p.m. on Sept. 19, at Neyland Stadium. It will be televised on SEC Network. That will also serve as the Salute to Service game, when UT honors service members, veterans and their families.Here is Tennessee’s week-to-week schedule for the 2026 season.Tennessee football 2026 scheduleSept. 5: Furman (3:30 p.m. ET/ESPN+, SEC Network+)Sept. 12: At Georgia Tech (7 p.m. ET/ESPN)Sept. 19: Kennesaw State (7:45 p.m. ET/SEC Network)Sept. 26: Texas* (noon ET/ABC or ESPN)Oct. 3: Auburn* (TBA)Oct. 10: At Arkansas* (TBA)Oct. 17: Alabama* (TBA)Oct. 24: At South Carolina* (3:30-4:30 p.m. ET/TBA)Oct. 31: OpenNov. 7: Kentucky* (6-8 p.m. ET/TBA)Nov. 14: At Texas A&M* (TBA)Nov. 21: LSU* (TBA)Nov. 28: At Vanderbilt* (6-8 p.m. ET/TBA)*SEC gameAdam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing atknoxnews.com/subscribe. Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football 2026 game time windows announced by SEC

Haiti have been forced into a late change on their World Cup 2026 shirts after Fifa accused them of violating its regulations on political speech.Haiti, preparing to kick off their World Cup in Group C against Scotland in Boston on Saturday, previously had a shirt that depicted a war scene from the country's battle for ⁠independence. But shirt manufacturer Saeta confirmed on Wednesday that a swift, late change had been made after collaborating with the Haitian Football Federation on the design. It previously was said to be geared towards "celebrating the pride, resilience, and spirit" of the Haitian people, with the Colombian manufactuer emphasising that it did not intend it to be a political statement."During the review process, ‌FIFA determined that certain ‌visual elements could be interpreted differently under its equipment regulations and ultimately requested ⁠modifications to the design," Saeta said in a statement.Haiti’s home kit by Saeta (Saeta)"While this interpretation differed from our intention, Saeta respected the process and implemented the final requirements communicated by FIFA."Soccer's world governing ‌body FIFA, the Haitian Football ​Federation and the team's media ‌officer did not ⁠immediately respond when asked by ⁠Reuters for comment.Reuters contributed to this report

NEW YORK (AP) — The World Cup starts Thursday, and FIFA is charging record prices at the 11 stadiums in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada. FIFA is using dynamic pricing and has repeatedly raised the prices since tickets first went on sale last fall. FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended those prices Wednesday as fitting in the North American market, but they have been criticized for list prices that have reached five figures.Here's where things stand on the eve of the World Cup opener:Several venues have sold out, but there are seats available for most gamesOn the eve of the tournament, 29 games were sold out (with wheelchair seats available for some of those) and 75 had tickets remaining, including both semifinals, all four quarterfinals, five round of 16 matches and 14 of 16 games in the new round of 32. That’s in addition to unreleased knockout-stage tickets that won’t be available until FIFA knows which teams have advanced to specific matches.Many of those available tickets are in the high-priced category one and category two levels added by FIFA in April.Several hundred seats, all costing four figures, were available for the semifinal in Arlington, Texas, but just over 20 were on sale for the Atlanta semifinal on FIFA's official tickets site.There aren't many relatively cheap seats leftCategory three seats, the lowest-priced category, remained for just three matches. Two of those were high-priced to begin with.Those lower-priced tickets for the U.S. opener against Paraguay on Thursday at Inglewood, California, could be bought for $1,120 — but just two remained. Other available prices for the game were $4,105, $2,735, $2,330 and $1,645. More than 100 tickets were listed as available.Category three also was available for Canada's opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday at Toronto for $980 along with seats at $2,240 and $1,645.Category three seats priced at $180 remained for just one match, Egypt vs. Iran at Seattle on June 26, and more than 370 were on sale. Several hundred tickets also were available at $1,000, $875 and $550.More tickets will become available closer to match daysInfantino that “there are always tickets on sale.”In addition to tickets given back to FIFA, the governing body holds back seats.“We also need always to keep some tickets for those teams who qualify for the additional rounds,” he said.There are some better deals available on resale marketsFIFA has its own resale marketplace, where it collects 15% from both the buyer and seller.In addition, other resale sites such at StubHub and SeatGeek have tickets for sale.FIFA's resale site has tickets for the Paraguay-U.S. game starting at $661.25 and SeatGeek starting at $920. England's game against Croatia at Arlington, Texas, on June 17 started at $880 on Seat Geek and $850 on FIFA.Tickets for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, started at $7,986 on SeatGeek, $8,775 on StubHub and $9,085 on FIFA.___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

The San Francisco Giants pulled off a major comeback, walk-off win against the Washington Nationals after being down eight runs in the final two innings on Wednesday.Giants' young prospect Bryce Eldridge was the man of the hour, putting the nail in the coffin with a triumphant walk-off grand slam in the bottom ninth inning, giving San Francisco an 11-10 victory.Eldridge finished the game with a stat line of 1-for-4, including two runs and 4 RBIs. The 21-year-old rising star was the organization's top prospect in 2025, and he's proving why he was worthy of the ranking.During the 2026 MLB season, Eldridge has steamed up a batting average of .298 with four home runs and 12 RBIs. His OPS is .907 through 28 games played.BRYCE ELDRIDGE WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM 😱 pic.twitter.com/g0CTA9cxg9— MLB (@MLB) June 10, 2026More: 3 moves the San Francisco Giants must make to salvage their seasonGiants massive comeback win There hasn't been much magic in San Francisco. The Giants offense has highs and lows. In some spurts, they can look like one of the best groups in baseball, but then they'll turn around and have a letdown.Against the Nationals, all signs were pointing towards another letdown. Then the eighth inning happened.San Francisco trailed 9-1 as they took bat in the bottom eighth. All it took was one inning for the team to catch a rhythm and crawl their way back into the game. The trek for a comeback started with a solo homer from Matt Chapman that went yard 409-feet over center field. It was Chapman's second home run of the day. Rafael Devers, who had been an inconsistent hitter so far through 2026, smacked a solo home run right after Chapman. Devers' went 408 feet to center. Daniel Susac registered an RBI that brought Jung Hoo Lee in for a run. Drew Gilbert was next after Susac, registering an RBI on a sacrifice ground ball that took Eldridge home. Susac scored stealing home after a wild pitch.The Giants trailed 9-6 going into the final inning. San Francisco loaded the bases after Devers was walked and Lee singled to right.It was the perfect position for Eldridge to have a fairytale ending to their game with the Nationals. He took bat at the plate, swung and sent it back 326 feet to right field as he reeled in Chapman, Devers and Lee before he rounded the bases back home. Giants win, 11-10. Bryce Eldridge's first career grand slam was a WALK OFF 💪 pic.twitter.com/KJsYUREjQl— MLB (@MLB) June 10, 2026This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Bryce Eldridge walk off grand slam signals arrival for young star

After the college football world witnessed the controversial Texas court ruling in the Brendan Sorsby eligibility case, chaos quickly followed. The Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback’s legal victory opened a can of worms few ever expected to see. Endless questions and possibilities now threaten the integrity of college athletics.The Big 12 reportedly held emergency meetings after Nebraska and Georgia instructed their athletic departments to remove Texas Tech from future scheduling considerations. The conference has also discussed taking similar action for the 2026 season if Sorsby remains on the roster. Now, Texas Tech is threatening legal action in response.MORE: Every college football program should follow Big 12, remove Texas Tech from schedulingAccording to On3, sources close to the Texas Tech athletic department say the school has warned the Big 12 and other conferences that it is prepared to sue. Texas Tech certainly has deep pockets, but this development is absurd. No one is forcing the school to keep Sorsby on the roster. It could release him, suspend him until the legal process concludes, or impose a punishment far more severe than a two-game suspension.Former Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) warms up before a game at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn ImagesTexas Tech’s public relations strategy could hardly be going worse. Multiple boosters and football coaches have offered baffling explanations throughout the controversy, and Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt only added to the criticism. His recent statement stretched nearly 800 words without demonstrating much accountability.To be clear, no one is blaming Texas Tech for recruiting Sorsby. Based on current reporting, the school was unaware of his gambling activities until authorities uncovered them this spring. Likewise, no one is criticizing the university for supporting his rehabilitation efforts.However, Texas Tech appealed to the NCAA on Sorsby’s behalf in an effort to preserve his eligibility. The school continues to keep him on the roster. It could have delivered a much harsher reality: trust must be earned, and actions have consequences. Instead, Texas Tech backed him with a reported $5 million NIL deal and has repeatedly defended his situation.MORE: Tyrann Mathieu trolls NCAA after Brendan Sorsby ruling, raises fair questionTexas Tech is not fooling anyone. The university has shown little willingness to demonstrate accountability or acknowledge the broader implications of this case. Sorsby should not play a down for the Red Raiders. Even if he remains on the roster, he should not see the field. Yet Texas Tech continues searching for ways to justify putting him there.Brendan Sorsby runs with the ball during the Texas Tech football team’s spring game, Friday, April 17, 2026, at Jones AT&T Stadium.Ultimately, the responsibility may fall to the Big 12 and other conferences to take action. Significant television and broadcasting revenue is at stake, but the sport also faces a larger question about standards and accountability.The message should be simple: have the courage to do what is right and keep Sorsby off the field.In addiction recovery, shielding someone from the consequences of their actions rarely promotes growth or accountability. More often, it enables the behavior that created the problem in the first place.Texas Tech is not helping Sorsby by helping him avoid the consequences of his decisions. It is enabling him.

As Caitlin Clark and Indiana (6-5) look to build off Monday night's thrilling win over the Washington Mystics, the Fever released their day-before injury report ahead of their Thursday night clash against the Chicago Sky (4-8) from Gainbridge Fieldhouse.In its day-before injury report, Clark was listed as probable with her back ailment. Guard Sophie Cunningham joined Clark on the day-before injury report as questionable with a right elbow injury.Clark's designation marks the seventh straight game that she has been listed as probable on the day-before injury report.Status Report for tomorrow's game vs. Chicago:Caitlin Clark - Probable (back)Sophie Cunningham - Questionable (right elbow) pic.twitter.com/xkT9DyIjNX— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 10, 2026According to IndyStar's Chloe Peterson, Cunningham participated in the portion of practice open to the media Wednesday morning.The Fever and Sky are scheduled for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff on Thursday, and the game will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNewsThis article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Indiana Fever injury report: Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham statuses

Oct 19, 2024; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium during the second half of a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images | Randy Sartin-Imagn Images Kickoff times and television designations continue to emerge for the 2026 season with the SEC opener for the Texas Longhorns against the Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Sept. 26 set for an 11: 00 a.m. Central start time.Checker Neyland. Noon. Texas.🗓️ September 26📺 ABC or ESPN🏟️ Neyland Stadium pic.twitter.com/TpbdUilSfn— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) June 10, 2026ABC or ESPN will televise the fourth all-time matchup between the two UTs. All three previous games were in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, a 20-14 win by Volunteers in 1950 and two subsequent victories by the Longhorns — 16-0 in 1952 and 36-13 in 1968, the prelude to back-to-back national championships as the Wishbone took college football by storm.So the trip to Neyland will represent the first game between Texas and Tennessee played on campus with the Vols coming to Austin in 2028.Under sixth-year head coach Josh Heupel, the Volunteers were ranked No. 25 in the most recent too-early ESPN Top 25.

NORMAN — Oklahoma football has its game time ranges.ESPN released the rest of the SEC kickoff windows Wednesday, but only some of the games have exact times. The Sooners will face Texas in Dallas at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 10. The game will be broadcast on ABC or ESPN.OU will travel to Athens, Georgia, to face the Bulldogs in a flexed designation (won't be a morning kick) on Sept. 26. The game time will be determined six to 12 days out.No game outside of the Red River Rivalry on the Sooners' schedule had an exact time released Wednesday.The exact times for each game will be announced at a later date.The Sooners already knew two kickoff times for 2026 — Michigan and New Mexico. Now, they know the time slots they could play in next season.Here's OU's full schedule for 2026. All times are central.More: Will OU football improve run game in 2026? Examining Sooners’ offense in offseasonOU football schedule 2026: Dates, times, TV channelsvs UTEP: TBD, Sept. 5, TBDat Michigan: 11 a.m., Sept. 12, Foxvs New Mexico: 6:30 p.m., Sept. 19, ESPN2at Georgia: FLEX (afternoon or evening), Sept. 26, TBDvs Texas (in Dallas): 2:30 p.m., Oct. 10, ABC or ESPNvs Kentucky: FLEX (afternoon or evening), Oct. 17, TBDat Mississippi State: FLEX (afternoon or evening), Oct. 24, TBDvs South Carolina: FLEX (afternoon or evening), Oct. 31, TBDat Florida: FLEX (afternoon or evening), Nov. 7, TBDvs Mississippi: between 2:30-3:30 p.m., Nov. 14, TBDvs Texas A&M: between 11 a.m.-noon, Nov. 21, TBDat Missouri: between 2:30-3:30 p.m., Nov. 28, TBDColton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing adigital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football start windows, kickoff times announced for SEC games