The Knicks turned New York City into a stage, where movement is a catalyst for untainted happiness.

The tragic passing of Aldon Smith is starting to come into focus as details are emerging of his last hours.According to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle, Smith was found by his friend Amir Shirazi in his truck. Shirazi thought that Smith was sleeping.But then Shirazi attempted to resuscitate him, as well as former 49ers running back Antonio Dixon, who assisted with CPR. Shirazi then called 911, but it was too late."We were joking about life and talking about stuff right before," Shirazi told the Chronicle.Smith was declared dead an hour later in Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, per the report.Just a few hours before his death, Smith was delivering pizza to the homeless. Smith and Shirazi delivered pizzas to Scott Wagers, the co-founder of CHAM Deliverance Ministry, a charity that feeds the homeless."He got out of the car, and he looked maybe kind of tired," Wagers told the Chronicle, “but he’s a giant man. I’m like, 'Hey man, are you good? Are you good'’ and I said, 'Can I take some pictures?' So we took some pictures, we got the pizzas with my team, and we went and took all the pizza out there."Despite this new information on the last few hours of his life, a cause of death has still not been released by Smith's family. This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: New details emerge in the death of Aldon Smith

Manchester City Are Ready To Move In For This EFL Championship Keeper: Should They Go For Him?In a recent report, journalist Graeme Bailey mentioned that Manchester City are ready to move in for Sheffield Wednesday keeper Pierce Charles. It has been claimed that the Mancunian giants are keen on getting a deal over the line for the Northern Ireland goalie this summer.Charles’ Tough Campaign In The EFL ChampionshipCharles struggled to find consistency with his performances for Sheffield Wednesday last season, but managed to put in a few impressive displays for them in the EFL Championship. The 20-year-old conceded 41 goals and secured a couple of clean sheets in 21 matches for the English outfit in the previous campaign across various competitions.The Northern Irish talent is currently among the best young keepers in English football. Therefore, Man City would do well to bring him on board later this year.His current contract at the Championship club will run out at the end of next season, which could open the door for the Mancunian club to sign him on the cheap in this summer transfer period.OXFORD, ENGLAND – APRIL 25: Pierce Charles of Sheffield Wednesday during the Sky Bet Championship match between Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday at Kassam Stadium on April 25, 2026 in Oxford, England. (Photo by Leila Coker/Getty Images)Should Manchester City Go For Charles?Charles can be a safe pair of hands in between the sticks when he is playing with confidence on the pitch. He is a solid handler of the ball and can use his quick reflexes to make a few important saves at the back for his team.The Northern Irish custodian doesn’t mind clearing the danger when being chased down by the opposition attackers and can use his strong 1.86m frame to command his penalty area with conviction. However, Charles is still quite inexperienced at the highest level and would need time to prove his worth in the Premier League if the Mancunian club manage to snap him up later this year.We can expect Charles to enhance the quality of Man City‘s backline in the long run. He is good enough to serve as an ideal back up to Gianluigi Donnarumma at the Mancunian club in the coming seasons.At 20, the future looks quite promising for Charles as long as he continues to improve with each year. However, Man City would have to be patient with his development before they can get the best out of the gifted keeper in top-flight football.

Cooper Connolly produced the innings of his ODI career as Australia avoided a series whitewash against Bangladesh with a dramatic one-wicket victory in the third and final ODI in Dhaka on Sunday.The left-hander struck a magnificent 149, his maiden ODI century, and held Australia's chase together despite a remarkable fightback from Bangladesh spearheaded by Shoriful Islam's six-wicket haul. Australia eventually crossed the line with three balls remaining, finishing on 277/9 in pursuit of 275.After electing to bat, Bangladesh overcame a shaky beginning to post a competitive 274/5. Towhid Hridoy top-scored with 83, while Litton Das contributed an unbeaten 58 and Mosaddek Hossain added a rapid 56 not out as the hosts recovered impressively from early setbacks.Australia's chase started positively, with Josh Inglis attacking from the outset. The wicketkeeper-batter struck 21 from just 12 deliveries as the visitors raced to 40 without loss inside five overs.Bangladesh responded through Shoriful Islam, who turned the game on its head with two wickets in the same over. Inglis fell to a leg-side trap before Matt Renshaw was bowled, leaving Australia suddenly under pressure. Taskin Ahmed then removed Alex Carey, courtesy of a spectacular catch from Soumya Sarkar at cover, reducing the tourists to 71/3.Amid the collapse, Connolly remained composed. He absorbed the pressure, rotated the strike effectively and punished scoring opportunities whenever they appeared.Together with Marnus Labuschagne, Connolly rebuilt the innings through a crucial 64-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Labuschagne contributed a patient 29 before edging Shoriful Islam behind to substitute wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan.Connolly continued to dominate the chase and received further support from Cameron Green. The pair added 58 runs before Green was dismissed by Mahedi Hasan for 27.Despite battling cramps in the humid Dhaka conditions, Connolly reached his maiden ODI hundred from only 87 balls and appeared set to guide Australia comfortably to victory.However, Bangladesh mounted one final challenge.Shoriful completed his maiden five-wicket haul in ODI cricket by dismissing Oliver Peake and Xavier Bartlett in successive deliveries. The left-arm pacer later removed Ben Dwarshuis as well, eventually finishing with outstanding figures of 6/48.The tension increased further when Mustafizur Rahman bowled Connolly in the penultimate over. His dismissal for a superb 149 triggered panic as Australia slipped from 266/5 to 271/9, leaving the result suddenly in doubt.Needing two runs from the final over, Australia relied on their last recognised batter. Adam Zampa responded calmly, driving Taskin Ahmed through the covers to seal a thrilling victory and prevent Bangladesh from completing a clean sweep.Earlier, Bangladesh's innings had begun on a difficult note after Xavier Bartlett removed Parvez Hossain Emon cheaply.Tanzid Hasan Tamim briefly counterattacked with 20 from 19 deliveries, including a six and two boundaries, but Bangladesh lost their second wicket at 53 when Matt Renshaw forced a miscue to mid-on at the end of the Powerplay.Renshaw struck again soon after, bowling captain Najmul Hossain Shanto for 24 and leaving Bangladesh struggling at 62/3 in the 15th over.Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy then stabilised the innings with a composed partnership. Australia's spinners, led by Adam Zampa and Renshaw, kept the scoring under control, but the pair continued to rotate strike and gradually rebuild.Litton found momentum during the middle overs despite battling a calf issue, while Hridoy became increasingly fluent as the innings progressed. The right-hander reached his half-century and helped Bangladesh move beyond 190 in the 39th over.The hosts accelerated significantly in the closing stages. Hridoy and Mosaddek added 90 runs together, shifting the momentum firmly in Bangladesh's favour.Hridoy's impressive innings ended for 83 from 88 balls after he was caught at deep midwicket in the 46th over. His knock featured eight boundaries.Mosaddek completed a brisk fifty from just 43 balls, while Litton, who had briefly retired hurt because of cramp, returned to the crease and reached his own half-century from 75 deliveries.Although Australia picked up a few late wickets through Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis, Bangladesh's middle order ensured they finished with a challenging total of 274/5.Ultimately, however, Connolly's career-best knock proved decisive as Australia escaped with a dramatic victory in the series finale.Brief Scores: Bangladesh 274/5 in 50 overs (Towhid Hridoy 83, Litton Das 58*, Mosaddek Hossain 56*; Matt Renshaw 2/44) lost to Australia 277/9 in 49.3 overs (Cooper Connolly 149, Marnus Labuschagne 29; Shoriful Islam 6/48) by one wicket.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JUNE 14: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari is congratulated by Fourth placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Barcelona-Catalunya at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 14, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) | Getty Images A long-awaited day arrived at the Formula 1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, as Lewis Hamilton climbed to the top step of a podium in his first Grand Prix win with Ferrari.While that victory took a long time to materialize, it did not take long for praise to pour in for the veteran driver from around the paddock.Moments after Hamilton climbed out of his race-winning car, drivers including Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, George Russell, and Drivers’ Championship leader Kimi Antonelli came by to congratulate the living legend on the victory. Some of that praise spilled over to social media as well:A bit of a lonely race out there today, but we maximised the result.Congrats @LewisHamilton, first win in red 👏 Now some World Cup football. Let's go @OnsOranje 💪 pic.twitter.com/nd9vUEu2DD— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) June 14, 2026But that was only the beginning, as rivals old and new sang Hamilton’s praises in the media.“Well done to Lewis,” said Williams team principal James Vowles, who worked with Hamilton at Mercedes. “I caught up with him in Monaco and it is great to see the spring back in his step. He drove a brilliant qualifying, and a brilliant race. Well deserved.” “Congratulations to Ferrari and Lewis on the victory,” said Alpine boss Flavio Briatore. “It’s great to see a champion like Lewis on the top step once again, so well done to them on a fantastic race.”Antonelli, the driver Hamilton is chasing in the Drivers’ Championship, began his post-race comments with a nod to the Ferrari driver.“First of all, I’m very happy for Lewis because he’s been chasing that first win with Ferrari for so long and I’m really happy for him to see him succeed in that,” said the young Mercedes driver, who took Hamilton’s seat after the veteran moved to Ferrari.Hamilton was joined on the podium by a pair of British drivers, former teammate George Russell and 2025 Drivers’ Champion Lando Norris, which made for the first all-British podium since the 1968 United States Grand Prix, which saw Sir Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill, and John Surtees take the top three positions. Both Norris and Russell were full of praise for a driver they watched while “growing up,” starting trackside and then continuing into the FIA Press Conference. “Yeah, I mean, first, a huge congrats to [Lewis] because I know how hard he works and obviously we spent a lot of years together with Mercedes,” said Russell trackside to Nico Rosberg. “So really pleased to see him back to Lewis I remember when I was growing up watching Formula 1. But, yeah, tough day. It’s good to be back on the podium and have a bit of a clean race from my side, but Ferrari mighty impressive today and, yeah, we need to keep on pushing.”“Yeah. I guess, first of all, I want to congratulate Lewis. Nice to see him back on top, so I’m very happy for you, mate,“ added Norris trackside.Both drivers were asked about Hamilton’s in the subsequent press conference.“I think pretty cool. It’s pretty special. It’s nice. You know, the last few weekends he’s certainly seemed to have upped his game and as much as it, yeah, was something we once could kind of take advantage of and try and make the most of, it seems like he’s making the most of what he’s got now, and that’s cool to see,” started Norris.“I grew up as a fan of Lewis and I don’t know if I would still say I’m like that kind of fan, but I’m still a fan of him. And as a seven-time World Champion, it’s always a pleasure to see those kinds of things. And with Ferrari again, it’s even cooler to kind of see that partnership come through and kind of pay dividends, as it is doing now. So, yeah, special. “And also, to share the podium with him and then with George, to have three Brits up there, I think the first time since 1968, I think someone said. Pretty special, pretty cool for us to represent our country that way. And, yeah, I’m happy for him. I hope he’s not this fast the whole season, because it would be nice if we could battle a bit more, but good for him. I think you could see how much it meant to him. At the same time, he’s obviously had a lot of people talk badly about him and he’s got a lot of crap online from a lot of people, so it’s nice that he can stick the middle finger up to all of them,” concluded Norris.“Yeah, I mean [Lando] said it pretty well. We both sort of grew up as fans of Lewis and, you know, for myself, spending three years together in Mercedes, so much respect. It was a big, bold move to join Ferrari, and to see it now paying off for him is very special to see given the magnitude of the decision. And, yeah, he’s going to be a real threat. So, as Lando said, hopefully it doesn’t continue for too long, but to be standing up here, three Brits, first time in 60 years, it’s a special feeling,” added Norris.Joining in the chorus of praise was none other than Hamilton’s former boss.“Congratulations to Lewis,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. “It has been a while since his last victory, and he has worked incredibly hard to earn the top spot again. We always say that if it can’t be one of our two drivers then we hope it is him. Despite the Virtual Safety Car helping him at the final stop, he drove a great race and is a fully deserving winner. I am also happy for Fred [Vasseur]. Being the Team Principal of Ferrari is not easy, and I am pleased for him as my friend.”Time will tell if Sunday’s win sparks a title charge from Hamilton, but it was certainly a win that was enjoyed throughout the paddock.

Denny Hamlin ran away with his third victory in a row, claiming the Great American Getaway 400NASCAR Cup Series race on June 14 at Pocono Raceway.Hamlin was in control of the race after taking the lead following the final restart. He compiled enough of a lead to easily hold that advantage among the lead pack despite running longer before his final pit stop under green.Christopher Bell attempted to run the final 52 laps on one tank of fuel but ran out coming to the white flag. He finished 26th, the next-to-last car on the lead lap.Legacy Motor Club had a strong day, with John Hunter Nemechek leading a season-high 42 laps en route to a 4th-place finish and Erik Jones earning 6th to close in on the Chase bubble.Here are the results from Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono:Who won the NASCAR Cup Series Pocono race? Winner, race results for the Great American Getaway 400 raceUnofficial results from the NASCAR Cup Series race on June 14, 2026 at Pocono Raceway.Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaTyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing ToyotaWilliam Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJohn Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club ToyotaKyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletErik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club ToyotaChris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing FordRoss Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletTy Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaRyan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske FordChase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaDaniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletAustin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske FordRicky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports ChevroletRiley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing ToyotaMichael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletAustin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletTodd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletBubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing ToyotaAJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing ChevroletConnor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletCole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team ChevroletAustin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletChristopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaAlex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletRyan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford (-1 lap down)Daniel Dye, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet (-1)Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet (-1)Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (-2)Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (-2)Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford (-3)Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford (-4)Casey Mears, No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet (OUT)Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports FordZane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford (OUT)Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford (OUT)This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Cup Pocono results, Denny Hamlin is winner Sunday

Browns have one big offensive line question to answer originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Cleveland Browns made a lot of roster moves this offseason, trading away Myles Garrett, the latest one, and the most shocking.But, before the stunning trade, the Browns made it a focus of theirs to completely overhaul their offense, specifically, the wide receiver room and the offensive line.After some big offseason moves, the Browns, according to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi, only have one question remaining on the offensive line, with four out of the five starting spots figured out.Browns have only one question left to resolve along OL"Monken said he believes the team already has four starters in place: right tackle Tytus Howard, left guard Zion Johnson, interior offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins, and first-round left tackle Spencer Fano," Oyefusi writes.The Browns have four-of-five offensive line spots figured out, but only three positions are set-in-stone for the Browns right now, according to Monken.Trade pickup Tytus Howard is the right tackle, first-round pick Spencer Fano is the left tackle, and free-agent signing Zion Johnson is the left guard.But when it comes to the center and right guard spots, the Browns are going to start Jenkins at one of those spots, and the other will be filled by some other offensive lineman.MORE: Taylen Green has a much higher ceiling for Browns than Shedeur SandersThis versatility is a huge plus for the Browns, as this one final OL question can be answered by a few more players than if Jenkins were locked in at OG or C.Teven Jenkins, Zak Zinter, Jack Conley, and Kendrick Green are the starting guard options, while rookie Parker Brailsford is vying for the starting center job.Cleveland has seemingly resolved four-out-of-five offensive line spots, with the only question left being which interior offensive lineman will win a starting job and earn the center or right guard spot this summer.More NFL news:Stefon Diggs linked to Rams, Chiefs, Commanders after Patriots releaseHarold Fannin Jr. will need to prove his worth in Todd Monken’s Browns offenseBengals fans should worry about second-year linebackers in 2026Seahawks’ Nick Emmanwori can be an All-Pro if he plays better in pass coverageBears need Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland to step up with DJ Moore traded

Victor Wembanyama Says Spurs’ Mistakes, Not Talent, Cost San Antonio NBA Finals Title originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama delivered an honest assessment of his team’s NBA Finals defeat after the New York Knicks captured the championship with a 94-90 victory in Game 5 on Saturday night.Despite losing the series 4-1, Wembanyama believes the Spurs controlled large portions of the matchup but failed in critical moments when it mattered most.“The margin for error is very thin,” Wembanyama said following the loss. “Our domination stints are absolute. We absolutely dominated for most of the series. But our errors, our mistakes are punished so hard that we can’t have ups and downs like this so much. The ups are OK. The downs are the reason we lost.”His comments reflected the frustration surrounding a series that saw San Antonio repeatedly build significant leads only to watch them disappear. The Spurs led by double digits in all four of their losses, including a historic 29-point collapse in Game 4 that shifted momentum permanently in New York’s favor.Wembanyama reflects on Finals lossWembanyama did everything he could in the deciding game, finishing with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks. Rookie Dylan Harper added a team-high 25 points, but San Antonio struggled offensively down the stretch as the Knicks closed the game on a decisive run led by Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, who scored 45 points.The loss capped a remarkable season for the Spurs, who finished with a 62-20 record, won the Southwest Division, and reached their first NBA Finals since 2014. Wembanyama also captured NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors and continued to establish himself as one of the league’s premier stars.Still, the 22-year-old called the defeat “the biggest lesson” of his life and vowed to use the disappointment as motivation moving forward. While the pain of coming so close to a championship remains fresh, Wembanyama believes the experience will ultimately strengthen a young Spurs core featuring Harper, Stephon Castle, and De’Aaron Fox.More NBA news:Victor Wembanyama knows what separates contenders from champions nowMitch Johnson pays the price after ignoring Charles Barkley’s halftime warning in Spurs Game 5 collapseEx-Spurs teammate may have given Knicks blueprint against Victor WembanyamaMitch Johnson’s blunt Victor Wembanyama take proves why Knicks had no answer in Game 3Victor Wembanyama revealed one thing he can't stop thinking about

Who is Japan's goalie? Meet Zion Suzuki, who was born in USA to parents from different countries originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Japan enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a ton of confidence.One of the reasons: They believe in their goalie, Zion Suzuki.Suzuki hasn't taken a traditional path to the Japanese national team, but he earned the job between the posts and now will play a key role in their journey in North America this summer.Here's what you need to know about Suzuki.MORE: Cyle Larin proves all the cliches true for CanadaWho is Japan's goalie?Japan's goalie is Zion Suzuki.He's a 23-year old who plays in Italy's Serie A for Parma.He entered the World Cup having played 22 matches at the senior level for Japan.MORE: Tim Howard commercial disrespects USMNT legendWhere are Zion Suzuki's parents from?Suzuki was born to a father from Ghana and a mother from Japan.He was actually born in Newark, New Jersey.When he was still a kid, Suzuki and his family moved to Urawa in Japan.He played goalie from an early age and came up in the academy of the Urawa Red Diamonds.Suzuki never represented another country at the youth level, either, starting his Japanese career at the U15 level and carrying on all the way to the starting goalie job for the senior national team.More FIFA World Cup news:Japan fans clean up the stadium after World Cup gamesLamine Yamal hanging out at a WalmartMexico has a World Cup… duck?Lawrence, Kansas has fallen in love with the Algerian national teamGermany fan Freddy is going viral for his journey through the American South

Details as Roma prepare first offer for Mason GreenwoodSerie A side Roma are pushing for an attacking signing and it come in the form of Mason Greenwood, who is set to leave Marseille.Today’s Corriere dello Sport has a claim about the Englishman – via Calciomercato.Roma want to close the deal by as early as June. They have sensed competition and do not want to be caught in an auction.Money mattersRoma will not offer the €55 million Marseille are asking for as they consider the demand excessive. The Friedkins are currently formulating a proposal to present to the French club. The Giallorossi intend to offer €40 million plus bonuses and a percentage of the player’s future resale.It would not be a permanent transfer, but a loan deal worth €5 million with an obligation to buy set at €25 million and a €10 million bonus for his first appearance.Roma should make offer soonGreenwood’s performances at Marseille mean that his reputation has grown again. While his signing has the obvious elephant in the room, his relentless approach to the game could suit Gian Piero Gasperini’s system.He is constantly taking players on, beating them and can shoot using both feet. These are qualities that the Italian wants and has a reputation of making the most out of attackers like him.Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN

BALTIMORE (AP) — Rodolfo Durán homered and drove in three runs, Fernando Tatis Jr. had two RBIs and the San Diego Padres beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Sunday.Walker Buehler (4-3) allowed one run in five innings for the Padres, who won consecutive games for the first time since May 22-23.Batting ninth and coming in with a .133 batting average, Durán hit a bouncer off second base for an RBI double in the second inning and added a two-run homer in the seventh for a 4-1 lead. It was his third career home run, second in two games, and the three RBIs doubled his season total.The weekend surge by the seldom-used rookie occurred after San Diego starting catcher Freddy Fermin was struck on the head by a warmup pitch Saturday and placed on the seven-day concussion injured list Sunday. Buehler gave up six hits and struck out five to earn his first win in five starts since May 16. The Padres are 7-2 when the right-hander throws at least five innings.Mason Miller, the fourth San Diego reliever, got four outs for his 19th save.Jeremiah Jackson hit a solo homer for the Orioles. Trevor Rogers (3-7) took the loss despite allowing only two runs in six innings.San Diego used a lucky hop to go up 2-0 in the second. Durán hit a slow grounder up the middle that Jackson was poised to pick up, but the ball hit the base and trickled into the outfield.Tatis followed with a run-scoring single.Up nextSan Diego opens a three-game series in St. Louis on Monday. The Orioles have Monday off before Brandon Young (5-1, 3.04 ERA) faces the Seattle Mariners to begin a nine-game trip on Tuesday.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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Clement Turpin sent Thomas Tuchel to the stands in the Champions League against Manchester City [Getty Images]Clement Turpin has been appointed referee for England's opening World Cup game against Croatia on Wednesday - and was once labelled a "Grade E" official by head coach Thomas Tuchel. The Frenchman showed then Bayern Munich boss Tuchel two yellow cards in the German club's Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City in April 2023, sending him to the stands.In the second leg in Germany, Turpin produced five yellow cards in the first half and a straight red for Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano for a last-man challenge on Erling Haaland, but an offside call from the video assistant referee (VAR) reversed the decision. Bayern's 4-1 aggregate loss prompted Tuchel to criticise Turpin post-match, saying: "Two things couldn't keep up with the level - the pitch wasn't in good condition and also the referee, unfortunately, was Grade E."I'd give him a one out of 10. He was absolutely terrible. It's unbelievable at this level. "He was whistling for everything and anything. Everything was against us. "In the end, we were never in a position to turn things around with three men against us. That's a fact."England midfielder Jude Bellingham has also seen Turpin's no-nonsense approach first-hand. While playing for Real Madrid, Bellingham was pushed away from the penalty spot by Turpin while trying to put Bayern's Harry Kane off taking a penalty.Despite his run-ins with Tuchel and Bellingham, Turpin is regarded as one of Europe's best referees - taking charge of the 2021 Europa League final and 2022 Champions League final. Turpin was also selected to officiate at Euro 2024, where he took charge of England's 0-0 draw with Slovenia. 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

🔴 Netherlands-Japan 0-0 | Italian duel, Malen v Suzuki 💥 Two chances 🤯At Boston Stadium, Koeman’s Netherlands make their debut, considered by many as one of the tournament’s possible dark horses. Facing them is Moriyasu’s Japan, appearing at the World Cup for the eighth time in their history.💡 Want to stay up to date on everything happening in the USA, Mexico and Canada? Don’t forget to add the World Cup to your favorites! To follow the competition, search for "World Cup" on OneFootball and click the star next to it so you don’t miss a single piece of news!Group F is completed by Sweden and Tunisia, who will face each other later in the Italian night.For the Netherlands, it’s a chance to get off on the right foot and confirm their ambitions of being one of the main contenders; for Japan, meanwhile, it’s an opportunity to send an immediate message to the group and keep alive the dream of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time. 🔴 Article constantly being updated — for live text commentary, click on the match card above.🔥 Japan with a double chanceJapan grow in confidence after the Netherlands’ strong start and try to threaten on the counterattack.Shortly before half-time, the first chance for the Japanese falls to Nakamura, who sets himself and shoots right-footed from the edge of the box: the ball goes just wide to Verbruggen’s right.Shortly afterwards, Ueda tries his luck as well: he bursts down the right and shoots towards goal, but the effort is too angled and does not hit the target.⚔️ An all-Italian duel: Malen vs SuzukiAn aggressive start from the Netherlands, who go close to taking the lead through Malen. In the 2nd minute, the Oranje forward finds space for a shot, but Zion Suzuki produces a great save to keep Japan in it.Ronald Koeman’s men keep pushing and create two consecutive headed chances in the 34th minute: first Malen tries again, then van de Ven has his turn. On both occasions, however, Suzuki is alert and keeps the game level.✅ OFFICIAL line-upsNETHERLANDS (4-3-3): Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; De Jong, Garnvenberch, Reijnders; Summerville, Gakpo, Malen. Coach: Koeman.JAPAN (3-4-2-1): Suzuki; Watanabe, Taniguchi, Ito; Doan, Kamada, Sano, Nakamura; Kubo, Maeda; Ueda. Coach: Moriyasu.📊 Qualification and head-to-headThe Netherlands qualified for the 2026 World Cup by winning European qualifying Group G with 20 points. The Oranje recorded wins against Finland (2-0 and 4-0), Malta (8-0 and 4-0) and Lithuania (3-2 and 4-0), while drawing both matches against Poland (1-1 and 1-1).It was also a dominant campaign for Japan. After winning Group B of the second Asian qualifying round with six wins from six matches against Myanmar, Syria and North Korea, Moriyasu’s side also finished top of the third round with 23 points, ahead of Australia.There have been three official meetings between the two national teams. The only one played at a World Cup dates back to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, when the Netherlands won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Wesley Sneijder. The other two meetings were friendlies: a 3-0 Dutch win in 2009 and a 2-2 draw in 2013.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann said that his side's "intensity" against Curacao boded well for the rest of the World Cup (Paul ELLIS)Julian Nagelsmann said Germany's 7-1 win against World Cup debutants Curacao on Sunday will grow his charges' self-belief as they seek a fifth title.Since lifting the World Cup for the fourth time in their history 12 years ago in Brazil, Germany have struggled on football's biggest stage and failed to progress beyond the group stage at the last two editions."We really need this self confidence. I think it grew, it was definitely there but it grew," Nagelsmann said after Germany thrashed Curacao to record their first opening-match win at a World Cup since 2014.Stiffer tests than the tiny Caribbean nation against Ecuador and Ivory Coast lie in wait for the Germans in Group E, but Nagelsmann said that his side's "intensity" against Curacao boded well for the rest of the competition."I'm very satisfied with us scoring seven goals and our performance for the most part," the 38-year-old said. "A winning start is always important and we're glad we managed it."We played with the right intensity. I think we can have a good tournament."In Houston, an early German goal by Felix Nmecha was cancelled out by a deflected strike from Livano Comenencia.However, Nico Schlotterbeck, Kai Havertz with a double, Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav scored to put to bed any possibility of one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.Nagelsmann added that his side dealt well with the pressure of being overwhelming favourites against Curacao."The team was not nervous," he said."When you write it down Curacao had easier conditions, I think we do have high quality, one team has high expectation and the other does not. And that is a bit tricky."Germany next play 2023 Africa Cup of Nations champions Ivory Coast in Toronto on Saturday.bur-nf/pi

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost their series finale against the Chicago White Sox, 6-4,dropping a series for the first time since May 10.The Dodgers last lost a series against the Atlanta Braves last month, losing the final two games of a home set after winning the first game. They won seven of their previous nine series, tying the other two in four-game sets.Emmet Sheehan started for the Dodgers, and had a strong outing before a rough sixth inning took him out of the game. He finished his afternoon with five innings pitched and eight strikeouts, though was credited with three earned runs.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Dodgers Nation (@dodgersnation)The Dodgers struck early through Freddie Freeman, as the first baseman stayed hot and hit a home run to right field to make the score 1-0.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Dodgers Nation (@dodgersnation)Neither team managed much traffic on the basepaths for the next several innings, though the Dodgers threatened in the fifth and sixth with a couple runners on.The White Sox capitalized on the Dodgers’ poor offensive showing in the sixth inning, finally getting to Sheehan. The right-hander allowed a solo home run against the first batter he saw in the sixth inning, and the White Sox took the lead two batters later after a single and a double.Jun 14, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) leaves the game against the Chicago White Sox during the sixth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn ImagesJack Dreyer came in to reliever Sheehan after the second run crossed, but he allowed a homer of his own as Chicago took a 4-1 lead. They didn’t stop there, hitting yet another homer two batters later to take a five run elad in the bottom of the sixth.The Dodgers slowly mounted a comeback, scoring in both of the following inning with a sacrifice fly and a solo homer off the bat of Mookie Betts, then had an encouraging ninth-inning rally.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Dodgers Nation (@dodgersnation)Ryan Ward kicked the frame off with a walk, and Alex Freeland doubled to score the left fielder immediately after. White Sox closer Seranthony Dominguez pitched around Shohei Ohtani after the lineup turned over, walking him to bring the go-ahead run to the plate.Andy Pages hit into a fielder’s choice afterwards, putting Freeland on third, but Freeman struck out and the Dodgers went down.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Dodgers Nation (@dodgersnation)How did you feel about the Dodgers’ performance this series?

The plane carrying Iran's World Cup team comes into land in Los Angeles (ETIENNE LAURENT)Germany swept aside tiny Curacao at the World Cup on Sunday, thrashing the debutants 7-1 in Houston while the Iran team touched down in the United States.Curacao, the smallest nation by population ever to qualify for the tournament, came face-to-face with the four-time winners and despite Livano Comenencia scoring an early equalizer to give his nation a historic first World Cup goal, they soon found the going tough.Felix Nmecha opened the scoring for the Germans and despite the equalizer, they soon overran the blue shirts of Curacao, with Kai Havertz grabbing a double.Despite their proud record in the competition, Germany have struggled in recent tournaments and this was the first time they had won their first opening match at a World Cup since they lifted the trophy in 2014."It took us a few minutes to get back into the game after they equalized. Curacao can play football too, as we saw, and I'm curious to see how they'll fare in the group going forward," said Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann."I'm very satisfied with us scoring seven goals and our performance for the most part. A winning start is always important and we're glad we managed it," he added.Curacao will hope they can get more out of their remaining Group E games against Ecuador and Ivory Coast.- Iran touch down in US -Iran's participation in the World Cup has been shrouded in doubt for months after the United States and Israel launched an aerial assault on the Islamic Republic that became a wider Middle East war.But on Sunday the plane carrying the team from its base camp in Mexico touched down in Los Angeles on the eve of their first game, according to AFP journalists.Iran take on New Zealand in the city on Monday, marking the first time that a World Cup host has hosted a country it is at war with.But the Iran team has had to leave some of its support team in Tijuana after the US refused to grant visas to 15 administrative and management staff.In other games on Sunday, the Netherlands were playing a Japan team weakened by the absence of their injured captain Wataru Endo who announced on Thursday that his international career was over.Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu on Saturday described Liverpool midfielder Endo as "hurt" and apologised after saying it had been his call that the 33-year-old should not be involved following a foot injury.In Philadelphia, Ivory Coast face Ecuador and Sweden play Tunisia in the final match of the day.Sweden had a curious route to the tournament, having failed to win a single match in the qualifying group phase. They only obtained a ticket thanks to their UEFA Nations League performance.Sweden do though boast a strikeforce featuring Premier League stars Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres.Five-time champions Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by a powerful Morocco side as they lit the touchpaper on their challenge on Saturday.Scotland got their first World Cup win since 1990 as John McGinn's deflected strike gave them a 1-0 win against Haiti.And Australia stunned Turkey 2-0 to give the Socceroos a strong chance of progressing from Group D.pi-gj/rcw

A parade up Broadway to City Hall on Thursday will celebrate the team’s N.B.A. championship win, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani will present players with keys to the city.

TORONTO (AP) — Ben Rice hit a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning, José Caballero added a three-run blast and the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 on Sunday for their sixth win in seven games.The Yankees won for the seventh time when scoring the go-ahead run in the ninth inning or later.Paul Goldschmidt hit an infield single off Braydon Fisher (2-2) to begin the ninth and advanced on Fisher’s throwing error. After Ryan McMahon ran for Goldschmidt, Rice drilled a 381-foot homer, his 19th.Jasson Domínguez and Jazz Chisholm walked before Caballero connected off Tommy Nance for his sixth of the season.The AL East-leading Yankees won 3-1 Saturday when Goldschmidt hit a tiebreaking homer in the ninth.Camilo Doval (3-0) struck out two of the three batters he faced in the eighth for the win.Toronto’s Davis Schneider hit a solo home run, his second, but it wasn’t enough for the Blue Jays.Blue Jays manager John Schneider was ejected for arguing with home plate umpire Steven Jaschinski after a balk call against Jeff Hoffman put Chisholm at third base with one out in the eighth. After the argument, Hoffman struck out Max Schuemann and Anthony Volpe to leave Chisholm stranded.Volpe and Ali Sánchez had back-to-back RBI hits in the second. The Blue Jays answered with two-out RBI hits by Kazuma Okamoto in the third and Nathan Lukes in the fourth.Volpe’s two-out single restored New York’s lead in the top of the sixth, but Davis Schneider homered in the bottom half.Blue Jays shortstop Andrés Giménez was scratched because of a sore left wrist. Toronto was without Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (back) for the second straight game.Up nextYankees: RHP Gerrit Cole (1-1, 2.45 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday against White Sox RHP Davis Martin (9-2, 2.41).Blue Jays: Toronto begins a three-game series at Boston on Tuesday. Neither team had announced a starter.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Spurs, Lakers linked to same beloved $48 million former Celtics All-Defensive center originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Luckily for the San Antonio Spurs, they don’t have the same frontcourt issue that has plagued the likes of the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles, as they’ve already identified their long-term center in Victor Wembanyama. However, the Spurs’ second-unit low-post production leaves much to be desired, as Luke Kornet was unplayable for San Antonio at times in the postseason (though he was far from the sole reason the Spurs failed to win an NBA championship). Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus thinks the Spurs could compete with the Lakers this summer for a beloved former Boston Celtics All-Defensive center looking to join a contender.“The Portland Trail Blazers didn't last long against the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs, but just making the postseason was a significant step forward for the franchise,” Pincus wrote Saturday.“(Robert) Williams, who has struggled to stay healthy for most of the last few years, stepped into an important defensive role, living up to his status as a veteran with playoff experience. Depending on his medicals, Williams could be set to earn another deal above $10 million, though probably no more than 1-2 years in length. He could fit with several teams with playoff aspirations, presumably in a managed-minute role off the bench.’“Teams that could threaten to steal him from the Blazers include the San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Chicago Bulls. While Chicago may not be postseason-ready, they have a glaring need for center depth and defensive acumen.”Williams isn’t the most polished sound big man option on the trade market, but what he lacks in fundamentals, he makes up for in energy, vertical athleticism, upper-body strength, and rim protection. The Texas A&M product has spent the past three seasons with the Trail Blazers after a successful five-year stint with the Celtics, and impressively, his third season with Portland was his most durable yet. Williams, who appeared in only 26 seasons with the Trail Blazers from 2023-25, was active for 59 contests this season and averaged 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 70.8% from the field. The Spurs could use Williams' immediate two-way impact off the bench in 2026-27, and the Lakers could potentially insert the 28-year-old into their starting lineup depending on what happens with Deandre Ayton and his $8.1 million player option.Needless to say, it makes sense why both Western Conference franchises have been linked to the former first-round pick.More NBA news:Warriors named landing spot for disrespected $186 million ex-Lakers superstarLakers rumor is good news for Luka Doncic, bad news for LeBron JamesLakers predicted to cut ties with Dalton Knecht, acquire $175 million two-time MVP

The FIFA Fan fest is underway in Boston and fans from all over the world are coming together to watch the matches. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Lisa G. (@lisagtv)“I love it! I love this place! Fantastic!”Fans agreeing, if they can’t make it to a match, the fan fest is the place to be especially because it is in the heart of Boston. “Buzzin’ absolutely buzzin’ to be here. Really optimistic, you can probably tell my voice is almost broken,” One fan from Scotland told Boston 25 News. Fans were losing their voices well before their matches began because the excitement was overwhelming. “We met last night!” A group of fans, laughing at how close they’ve gotten already. “It’s really, really, good. We’ve spoken to so many people from so many different countries. Mexicans, Americans, Brazilians... it’s brilliant!”So many of the fans realizing in real time what makes the entire World Cup experience so special. “I feel like if we were watching it at home, you’re just with your friends, your people. So, it’s just like an opportunity to just meet a lot of people that you wouldn’t otherwise. I just met a bunch of Scottish people, and I don’t think I’ve ever met a Scottish person before,” another fan explained. The crowd knowing that no matter who wins, these are key memories in the making. “Go Scotland! They’ve not won in 28 years. They are going to win!” From keeping it cool in the much-needed mist fan, to playing soccer themselves, fans loved their surroundings. “Amazing, once in a lifetime atmosphere. It’s brilliant!”“This will last us a life time. We will never forget it!”Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

Here's what happens if it rains at UFC's White House Freedom 250 card originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The octagon is ready, the fighters have weighed in and the stage is set for the UFC's Freedom 250 card at the White House.While the logistics have come together smoothly to this point, the threat of rain on Sunday night in Washington D.C. risks putting a damper on the festivities.Thunderstorms are nothing out of the ordinary in the nation's capital this time of year, but dangerous ones could throw a wrench into the grand plans of Dana White and U.S. president Donald Trump.Here's what you need to know about what might happen if weather impacts the Freedom 250 card at the White House.MORE:UFC Freedom 250 live weather updatesWhat happens if it rains at UFC's White House Freedom 250 card?Weather is not often a factor at UFC events, which are typically held indoors. This card has been billed as being unlike any other, and the mere possibility of weather playing a role validates that label.UFC CEO Dana White said Friday that "the show goes on" regardless of the weather on Sunday night. The octagon is partly protected by a canopy that should allow fights to continue in the event of light or moderate rain, but lightning or extreme wind would put the event on pause.UFC chief content officer Craig Borsari told The Athletic that a passing storm would pause the card but not the broadcast. "We do have contingency planning where we can remain and continue to broadcast from a location close by the South Lawn, and if we feel like a weather pattern's coming in that will pass and we can resume, we will," Borsari said.Here's the latest weather forecast for the UFC's Freedom 250 card.MORE: Everything to know about UFC White House card detailsUFC White House weather updatesWhile it's still currently dry and sunny in the nation's capital, the National Weather Service has the chance of storms at 63% at 8 p.m. ET.The Weather Channel forecasts a much more optimistic 21% chance at 8 p.m. and 33% chance at 9 p.m., so there could still be some positive luck for White and Trump. Even if storms don't pass through, heat and humidity will be a factor. Though not a surprise given the time of year, temperatures are expected to remain in the high 80s unless or until storms push through and cool the air down.

The Yankees broke a late-game tie with two home runs in the ninth inning for an 8-3 win at the Toronto Blue Jays to seal New York's series victory.TakeawaysHomers by Ben Rice and Jose Caballero saved the day for the Yankees (43-27), who were stuck in a 3-3 deadlock after Davis Schneider's sixth-inning home run against Jacob Bird. New York's five-run ninth set the stage for David Bednar to close the door in the inning's bottom half, allowing two hits during a scoreless frame.Will Warren allowed a season-high eight hits and lasted four innings while throwing 62 strikes on 98 pitches. He struck out one and walked three while yielding two runs, both of which came after the Yankees held a 2-0 lead following the second inning. Warren (7-1, 3.47 ERA) did not have his best stuff but limited the damage before the pitch count neared 100 through the fourth inning. He has not pitched five innings or more since May 31.Anthony Volpe was a bright spot, singling home two of the Yankees' first three runs with RBI knocks in the second and sixth innings. Volpe's second RBI single, which scored Max Schuemann, gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead entering the game's final 3.5 frames. June has not been kind to Volpe, but he posted his first game with two hits since May 31. He entered Sunday with a 2-for-24 line through his first nine games of the month.Ali Sánchez has his first two hits as a Yankee. The first, an RBI single in the second-inning that scored Volpe and doubled the Yankees' early lead to 2-0, was especially key. Sánchez is 2-for-10 through his first six games with New York.Who's the MVP?Rice, whose 19th home run of the season and 46th and 47th RBI made the difference.HighlightsVolpe knock 👊 pic.twitter.com/TaOYfm0teg— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 14, 2026Sánchez's first RBI as a Yankee 👏 pic.twitter.com/tt4PdyCTCp— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 14, 2026AV comes through again 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ihhVMpWZsq— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 14, 2026He is Ben Arroz. Vote Yankees 🗳️👉 https://t.co/8m0RdBIan1pic.twitter.com/s8DwoHMiKS— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 14, 2026Cabby for three 💪 pic.twitter.com/1AAPg7qk1G— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 14, 2026What's nextThe Yankees have Monday off before they begin their six-game homestand with this week's three-game series against the Chicago White Sox.RHPs Gerrit Cole (1-1, 2.45 ERA) and David Martin (9-2, 2.41 ERA) are set to start Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. opener.

In Ghana last week, participants from 20 African nations advanced the latest iteration of the African Inter-Parliamentary “Family, Sovereignty and Values” Charter, a document African rights activists say threatens to dismantle protections for women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people in service of a Christian nationalist worldview. Attendees at the annual conference have set an ambitious goal to realize the document’s illiberal agenda: ratification of the charter by the African Union General Assembly. Organizers hope to take it to the pan-African governmental body next February, where it would be put to a vote. Related Ghana’s Parliament to host conference about how LGBTQ+ rights are against African “cultural values” “It is a license to oppose, regress on, or refuse to implement existing commitments on sexual and reproductive health, and on LGBTQ rights,” Gilbert Mitullah, a Kenyan lawyer and board member at Queer African Network, told the Guardian. “That is its operational function, even before any signature is placed on it.” A comprehensive analysis of the latest charter by the Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA), a pan-African feminist initiative, reveals that authors have distorted legitimate claims around sovereignty and colonialism in service of a neocolonial goal: the end of abortion, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights on the continent. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today It defines a strict two-sex binary, recognizes marriage and family as heterosexual only, and would outlaw comprehensive sexuality education across Africa. “The charter is not a continental instrument that happens to share vocabulary with Western anti-rights groups,” Kenyan lawyer Mitullah asserted. “It is a transplant.” Activists point to the organizers of the annual draft-writing conferences. They say the events are supported, organized, and directed by right-wing American and European Christian nationalist organizations. According to U.S.-based international reproductive rights organization Ipas, the events have been supported by Family Watch International (FWI), the Arizona-based Christian nationalist group run by co-founder Sharon Slater and designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Slater has repeatedly claimed that the UN and Western donor nations are imposing a “radical sexual rights agenda” on Africans. Writing in the Ghana-based Labari Journal, Professor Jeffrey Haynes of London Metropolitan University called FWI and the Netherlands-based Christian Council International two wealthy and influential Western far-right organizations “behind the African faces and the ‘protection-of-family-values-and-sovereignty’ language” employed in the charter. The charter’s narrow definition of family is one example, excluding any form outside of “traditional” heterosexual marriage, and ignoring what Professor Haynes calls “the continent’s history of tolerance and community-focused ‘living well together’ and respect for diversity.” CCI claims authorship of the charter, while FWI has been a documented supporter of past conferences and of Uganda’s efforts to adopt “family values” legislation in the East African country. Like FWI, legislators there have called the progressive goals of women’s and LGBTQ+ rights threats to African sovereignty. Uganda’s notorious “Kill the Gays” law is the most pernicious response. FWI denied participating in or sponsoring the latest conference, in a statement to the Guardian. “The draft charter is Africa-inspired, African-initiated, and African-directed and controlled,” it claimed. “That being said,” the group added, “FWI strongly supports the draft charter’s restrictions on the dissemination of harmful [comprehensive sex education] programs in Africa, given their propensity to sexualize children. We also strongly support the provisions encouraging governments to use a family lens when developing and implementing laws, policies, and programs.” Famia Nkansa, communications director at Purposeful, a Sierra Leone-based young feminists organization, said, “Anti-rights activity on the continent is simply an extension and expansion of the same colonial playbook: Africa serving as a battleground on which the West wages its ideological and economic wars.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ryan Kreidler’s RBI double off the center-field wall in the eighth inning scored Luke Keaschall and completed the Minnesota Twins’ comeback in a 5-4 win against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.Kreidler had a pinch-hit single and scored the tying run in the seventh for Minnesota, which took two of three games in the series. Victor Caratini hit a two-run homer for the Twins in the fourth.Andrew Morris (2-2) pitched a scoreless inning of relief, striking out three of the four batters he faced. Yoendrys Gómez earned his sixth save of the season and fifth with the Twins.Kreidler made a diving stop and throw from shortstop in the ninth to get José Fermín at first after a successful replay challenge by Minnesota manager Derek Shelton.Byron Buxton had three hits for the Twins and drove in a run during the seventh-inning rally.St. Louis reliever George Soriano (3-1) gave up one run and three hits in 1 2/3 innings. He allowed the tying run to score in the seventh after inheriting a bases-loaded jam from JoJo Romero with one out.JJ Wetherholt and Alec Burleson homered for the Cardinals. Michael McGreevy allowed two runs in six innings. McGreevy has given up two runs or fewer 10 times in 14 starts this season but hasn’t won since May 8.Wetherholt had a two-run homer, his 10th, and an RBI single. Burleson opened the scoring with his 13th home run of the season in the fourth. He's homered in five of his past six games and has a career-high 14-game hitting streak.Up nextCardinals: Return home for a three-game series with San Diego. RHP Dustin May (4-6, 4.21 ERA) starts Monday for St. Louis. The Padres had not announced a scheduled starter.Twins: RHP Mike Paredes (0-0, 4.35 ERA) makes his second major league start Monday in Texas against LHP MacKenzie Gore (4-5, 4.18) and the Rangers.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

NEW YORK (AP) — Breanna Stewart had 14 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high seven blocks to help the New York Liberty beat the Washington Mystics 86-64 on Sunday and clinch a spot in the Commissioner's Cup championship game.Jonquel Jones scored 17 of her 20 points in the second half to lead the Liberty (10-4), who have won seven straight games.The Liberty have made the finals of the mid-season tournament three times, winning once and losing once. Now, New York must wait to find out its finals opponent and whether or not it will host the title game. That will come down to whether the Liberty or the Western Conference representative has a better overall record.The game marked the return of Sabrina Ionescu, who missed the last seven Liberty games with back soreness. Playing just her second game after she had an ankle injury to start the season, Ionescu checked in midway through the first quarter and received a loud ovation from the crowd.She had a trio of stellar passes in the first quarter, the third of which led to an open 3-pointer for Leonie Fiebich, which gave New York a 20-13 advantage. The Liberty were up 36-28 at the half as Stewart had 11 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in the opening 20 minutes. She's only the second player to have at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in a half in WNBA history, joining Brittney Griner.With Ionescu healthy, the Liberty had their entire roster available for the first time this season.After a sluggish start to the third quarter, coach Chris DeMarco called a timeout and Jones scored the next seven points for New York, which extended its lead to double-digits. Jones had 12 of her points in the period.Washington (5-7), which was coming into the game off a thrilling last-second victory over Toronto on Friday night, was only able to get within six points the rest of the way.Michaela Onyenwere scored 17 points to lead the Mystics.Up nextMystics: Visit Connecticut on Wednesday.Liberty: Visit Chicago on Wednesday.___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

The Los Angeles Rams' roster doesn't have many flaws heading into the 2026 season, but one area the team could add depth to is at receiver. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are clear studs at the position, but who will emerge as the team's third receiver is a bit of a mystery between Xavier Smith, Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield and 2026 sixth-round pick C.J. Daniels. Another of those four could take on a big role in the offense, but the Rams could also add a veteran from free agency to fill the need in the offense.CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani believes that the receiver could be Stefon Diggs. The former Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans and New England Patriots star remains a free agent after an 85-catch, 1,013-yard and four-touchdown season. He also won't face a suspension from the NFL following an off-field assault allegation.The Rams had the No. 1 offense in the league last year with MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford and star wideouts Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Despite that talented room, the Rams showed interest in A.J. Brown earlier this offseason, so they could still be in the market for a new weapon. Diggs isn't the same player as Brown, but he could join a loaded offense and chase a ring with the Rams. Maybe Aaron Donald comes out of retirement to do the same.L.A.'s real interest in a caliber of player like Brown indicates the team is keeping its eye open at the position ahead of the year. Whether that means Diggs is on the Rams' radar is another element entirely, though.This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams named top landing spot for WR Stefon Diggs

Shaquille O'Neal identifies what Victor Wembanyama needs to do after Spurs' Finals collapse originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 on Saturday night to win their first NBA championship since 1973. With this victory, Mike Brown's squad kept their perfect 3-0 road record in the Finals intact. They lost only once at home in the postseason. Meanwhile, for the Spurs and their 22-year-old phenom, it was a brutal end to what had been a generational season. Victor Wembanyama averaged 26 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game in the Finals and won Defensive Player of the Year during the regular season. He was the clear face of the Spurs' future and one of the most compelling players in the league all year. But in the biggest moments, his lack of physicality became an issue. And Shaquille O'Neal, who spent his Hall of Fame career overpowering opponents, had no interest in sugarcoating it while speaking on ESPN's “Inside the NBA.” O'Neal delivered a direct offseason prescription to him, saying, "As good as he is, he's going to need to get stronger," O'Neal said. "Because when you become a dominant big man, people are going to force, and a lot of times he couldn't handle it. So, I don't know what he's going to do this summer, but he definitely needs to get in that weight room and get stronger."Shaq says Wemby needs to hit the weight room this summer after losing to the Knicks:“As good as he is, he’s going to need to get stronger. Because when you become a dominant big man, people are going to force…. So, I don’t know what he’s going to do this summer, but he… pic.twitter.com/JOQyUVk4Za— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) June 14, 2026New York made Wemby's life difficult on the hardwood by constantly switching physical defenders onto him, using Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson. Towns attacked him on offense, while Anunoby used his body strength to counter Wembanyama's height. The Knicks didn't even try to outplay him with skill. They just outmuscled him.And, it wasn't a new problem. During the first two games of the Finals, analyst Michael Wilbon noted that Wembanyama seemed passive against New York's physical defense. In the first half of Game 2, he scored just seven points before recovering in the second half. His talent is obvious, but his thin frame was exposed.O'Neal knows this dynamic well because he used to be the one overpowering players. At 22 years old, Wembanyama has a long career ahead, and his summer priority is clear following the NBA legend's advice.More NBA news:Spurs finally find Victor Wembanyama's perfect championship partnerVictor Wembanyama’s silver story grows again after Spurs’ NBA Finals heartbreakMavericks fans know exactly what Spurs fans are feeling about De'Aaron Fox right nowKyrie Irving reportedly bring off trade block is the clearest sign yet of what Mavericks are buildingVictor Wembanyama finds himself at center of ugly postgame scene

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 14: Jamal Musiala #10 of Germany celebrates with Julian Nagelsmann, Head Coach of Germany, after scoring the team's fourth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Germany and Curacao at Houston Stadium on June 14, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images At first, Jamal Musiala’s substitution after 64 minutes in Germany’s 7-1 victory over Curaçao in their World Cup opener did not seem abnormal. Musiala is still on the path to full fitness and had scored a goal to make it 4-1 for the 2014 World cup winners, so he was taken off to give him some well earned rest.But Germany’s #10 clutched his thigh as he walked off and immediately disappeared into the locker room after he got brought off. Was there something more to the story? After the match, Sky Germany reporter Kerry Hau got confirmation off of Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann that Musiala’s substitution was fitness related, but also that it was nothing abnormal:All clear for Jamal Musiala, who frequently clutched his thigh during the game and also headed to the locker room after being substituted. It’s “normal” and “nothing serious,” says Julian Nagelsmann. Pure precautionary measure!Outside of the goal, this was perhaps Musiala’s best performance in a long time. It would have been a massive shame if the Bayern Munich player’s injury problems forced him off just as his form started to trend upwards.If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor… Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

TORONTO (AP) — Angel Reese had 15 points and 17 rebounds — which included a career-high 11 offensive, one short of tying the WNBA single-game record — and the Atlanta Dream beat the Toronto Tempo 102-77 on Sunday. Reese, who came in averaging 14.6 points and a league-leading 11.9 rebounds, has nine double-doubles this season and 59 in her career, the most in WNBA history through 76 games. Reese, acquired April 6 from Chicago in a trade for two first-round picks, has 17 rebounds in three of the past four games. Reese's 11 offensive rebounds were one shy of the franchise mark set by Sancho Lyttle, who shares the WNBA’s single-game record with Glory Johnson, Nneka Ogwumike and Cheryl Ford.Allisha Gray added 26 points and seven assists for the Dream (9-4) and Rhyne Howard had 24 points and three blocks. Rookie second-round pick Isobel Borlase shot 5 of 6 from the field and scored a career-high 17 points.Gray made five 3-pointers and moved past Angel McCoughtry (233) into third place in franchise history with 235 career 3s. Howard, who made four from behind the arc, has a franchise-record 408 career 3-pointers. Atlanta — which shot just 6 of 25 (24%) from the field, including 1 of 12 from behind the arc, in the first quarter as the Tempo opened a 12-point lead — shot 64% (11 of 17) overall, made each of its four 3-point shots and had nine assists in the second. Gray had 11 points and four assists as Atlanta outscored the Tempo 34-14 in the second period, the Dream's highest-scoring quarter this season. Toronto’s Isabelle Harrison scored 17 points before she was called for a flagrant foul 2 and ejected about four minutes into the third following a hard foul on Reese. Julie Allemand had 13 points, six assists, two steals and two blocks for the Tempo (7-7).Toronto's Nyara Sabally (hamstring) missed her second consecutive game. Up next Dream: Play Thursday at Indiana. Tempo: Visit Indiana on Tuesday. ___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Matt Slocum is a staff photographer for The Associated Press based in Philadelphia. He has been with the AP for over 20 years, starting as a summer intern in Dallas. He has covered a wide range of news and sporting events, including 15 Super Bowls, seven Olympics and countless Major golf tournaments.Why this photo?I shot this photo because the evening sun was streaming through the stadium, creating long shadows of players on the field from my photo position way up in the catwalk. We usually don’t get to shoot from these elevated positions. It's a kind of catch-all photo position at larger events where we have a team of photographers on the ground. It’s not a primary position, but it can make unique photos that you just don’t see from down below. I thought the shadows could make an interesting frame and break up all the action photos my colleagues were shooting. It just took a little time before a couple players would enter the band of light and cast their shadows.How I made this photoI made this photo from the stadium catwalk with a handheld Sony A1 Mark II and 600mm lens. An elevator ride, a hike up the stands and then a few tight ladders to climb. I tried to pack light, but didn’t. No going up and down for forgotten items. Dodging cables and ducking beams. Shooting through the stadium lights. Searching for ethernet lines that worked. Trying not to look straight down.Why it worksI think this frame works mainly because of the players’ body language and the ball — still flying in — are mirrored and exaggerated by the long shadow. The players' strained faces is a nice bonus. ___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

🚨 Wake up! Oranje v Japan is finally coming to lifeThere wasn’t much happening in the first half of the World Cup cracker between the Netherlands and Japan. Both teams largely canceled each other out. So a little nap in the stands at the stadium in Dallas was actually somewhat understandable. But things have really started to heat up by now. Within 15 minutes, there was a wild back-and-forth between Oranje and the Japanese. First, Virgil van Dijk headed the Elftal into the lead. Shortly after, Keito Nakamura fired home the equalizer. But the Netherlands only needed a brief moment to regroup and, just before the hour mark, took the lead again through Crysencio Summerville. In classic Arjen Robben fashion, the World Cup debutant cut inside from the right wing and curled the ball low into the far corner. For the sake of entertainment, let’s hope it keeps going like this. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

The UFC is making history on Sunday night as UFC Freedom 250 heads to the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.MORE: Jon Jones shares major news about UFC White House fight cardJun 13, 2026; Washington, D.C., USA; Sean O’Malley during weigh-ins for the UFC Freedom 250 at The Ellipse. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn ImagesHow to Watch UFC Freedom 250Date: Sunday, June 14, 2026Time: 8:00 PM ETTV Channel: Paramount+Live Stream: Paramount (watch now)The event, held as part of the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration, marks the first time a major combat sports event has been staged at the White House and features a specially constructed outdoor arena for a seven-fight card. The event begins at 8 p.m. ET and streams exclusively on Paramount+.The historic setting is matched by a championship-caliber lineup. The main event features a lightweight title unification bout between champion Ilia Topuria and interim champion Justin Gaethje. Topuria enters as one of the sport’s biggest stars after becoming a two-division champion, while Gaethje’s aggressive style and knockout power have made him one of the UFC’s most popular contenders. Their heated buildup included an intense faceoff during fight week, adding even more intrigue to one of the year’s most anticipated title fights.– Watch UFC Freedom 250 on Paramount+ –The co-main event also carries major implications as former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira faces Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight championship. Pereira has an opportunity to become the first fighter in UFC history to win titles in three different weight classes, while Gane looks to reclaim his spot atop the heavyweight division. The card also includes notable matchups featuring Sean O’Malley, Michael Chandler, Bo Nickal, and Diego Lopes, giving the event plenty of star power beyond its championship bouts.Beyond the fights themselves, UFC Freedom 250 represents a milestone for mixed martial arts. The promotion has transformed from a niche combat sport into a mainstream attraction capable of hosting an event at one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. With approximately 4,000 invited guests, including military members and celebrities, and the Octagon set against the backdrop of the White House, Sunday’s card promises to be one of the most memorable and unique events in UFC history.Live stream UFC Freedom 250 with Paramount+: Start your subscription now!Paramount+ is now the exclusive streaming service for the UFC, marking a shift away from the traditional pay‑per‑view model to bringing premier fight cards directly to subscribers. Sign up now to never miss a second of the action. You can now live stream everything from the press conferences and weigh-ins to the prelims and main event, all in one place.Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

Arsenal and Liverpool are keen on Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, Manchester City target a move for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke to resolve future after World Cup amid Tottenham interest.Arsenal have started talks about signing 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who helped Morocco to a 1-1 draw with Brazil in his country's opening game of the 2026 World Cup. (Times - subscription required) Liverpool are also in negotiations for Bouaddi, while Chelsea and Paris St-Germain have been monitoring the player who might cost at least £60m. (Talksport)Bayern Munich's move for PSV Eindhoven's Morocco striker Ismael Saibari, 25, could be made more difficult with his high-profile goal against Brazil at the World Cup set to drive up his price. (Bild - in German)Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke, 26, says he will resolve his club future following the World Cup after the Seagulls rejected two bids from Tottenham for the Netherlands international. (Sky Sports)Manchester City have set their sights on Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, 23, as a replacement for the departing John Stones, 32, but the Toffees want £70m for the England defender. (Football Insider)Roma are set to make a £35m bid for England striker Mason Greenwood, 24, and include a sell-on clause which they hope will convince Marseille to agree to a deal. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian)Brazil midfielder Ederson was scheduled to have a medical on Sunday as the 26-year-old closed in on completing his move to Manchester United from Atalanta.(Corriere dello Sport - in Italian)Manchester United sacked manager Ruben Amorim in January and could make a significant saving on the £15.9m compensation package following his departure if the Portuguese takes over at AC Milan.(Mirror)Arsenal and Liverpool chase Barcola - Sunday's gossipGet the latest on your Premier League teamAll your football quizzes in one placeListen to the latest Football Daily podcast

Some universities’ tax returns showed that their legal bills had more than doubled. Others reported that their spending on lobbying had risen at least fivefold.

Cesar Conde of NBCUniversal News thinks that the “pendulum will eventually swing back” to mainstream media brands.

Kevin O’Leary of “Shark Tank” fame hopes to build a sprawling data center on the parched shores of the Great Salt Lake. It has become a burning issue in Utah’s looming primaries.

Though electric machines are now standard, the Venezuelan weaver Margarita Mora has clung to a mix of ancestral Indigenous and Spanish practices to create surprisingly modern work.

Darializa Avila Chevalier won the backing of Mayor Zohran Mamdani in her bid to unseat Representative Adriano Espaillat. Then her social media history took center stage.

Lazio Making Progress for Bayern Munich Midfielder but Want to Avoid ‘Gila Clause’Lazio and Bayern Munich continue to negotiate a deal for young attacking midfielder Jonathan Asp Jensen.Jonathan Asp Jensen Wanted at LazioThe 20-year-old is a Danish player who has been developing his game at the Bavarian club since 2022. This season, he spent his campaign in Switzerland, playing on loan for Grasshoppers. The youngster contributed with nine goals and six assists in 40 appearances, piquing the interest of Lazio, who identified him as the right profile for their project.Lazio Closing in on Asp Jensen DealAccording to Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla, the Biancocelesti are making important strides on this front, closing in on an agreement with Bayern Munich for Asp Jensen. The Italian capital side is expecting to pay a transfer fee between €3.5 and €4 million. However, the Bundesliga champions are seeking a comprehensive sell-on fee.Lazio & Bayern Munich Haggling on Sell-on FeeAs Pedulla explains, Lazio are open to adding a sell-on clause, but it must be lower than 50%. As the source notes, the Aquile had agreed to a similar percentage when they bought Mario Gila from Real Madrid in 2022, a decision that has returned to haunt him four years later, as the Spaniard could be on his way out of the club, and Lazio could miss out on a significant profit due to this clause.The report believes Lazio aren’t planning to go beyond a 30% sell-on fee in their negotiations with Bayern Munich. It remains to be seen if the two clubs will be able to reach an agreement for Asp Jensen’s transfer in the coming days.

For the second time in two weeks, Jackson Chourio could be counted on by his Milwaukee teammates for big-time offense, blasting two big home runs in the same game on Saturday, June 13.But unfortunately, the impressive accomplishment still got buried in a loss for the Brewers, just as it had a few weeks before.Chourio rocked his second homer of the night in the seventh inning of a comeback attempt that fell just short by the Brewers, hitting a 1-1 pitch to center field that trimmed a five-run deficit to 8-5.After the Phillies tacked on a run in the top of the eight, the Brewers scored three times – with the last run scoring on a single by Chourio – in the bottom of the inning to bring the score to 9-8.But Milwaukee couldn’t finish and lost by a run to Philadelphia at American Family Field.The outcome was the same June 4 when Chourio had two home runs in the 12-9 loss to San Francisco.Still, it’s a bright spot to see Chourio so productive, coming back from the left hand injury that sidelined him for the first month of start the season. Chourio's stat line – 4 of his last 8 home runs this season have come in the last four games – has boosted Milwaukee's offense. He also has four doubles and 20 RBI in his last 14 games before Sunday.“He’s making up for lost time,” said Brewers manager Pat Murphy.Chourio impressed Murphy with his swing decisions as well, and Chourio said he knew when to adapt his approach at the plate in the game Saturday. The first time, he launched a solo home run in the fifth inning on a 2-2 pitch that sparked a two-run inning by the Brewers to tie the game.“I’m trying to go out there and play my same game,” said Chourio after the game through the team interpreter. “Its sometimes a question of where there’s different moments where I try to be as disciplined as possible. "There’s other moments I’m looking to do the best contact that I can. The kind of game calls for and dictates different things.”Chourio joins a club of 24 Major League Baseball players who have hit two or more home runs in a single game this season.Murphy said Chourio’s hand has healed after holding him out to start the season, even 15 days longer than Chourio was ready to come back. That was the point – that Chourio would be completely healthy.“I think from the start of the season, you know, thanks to God … I've been feeling great and been able to, you know, connect on some big swings there,” said Chourio.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Chourio's home runs cap a nice stretch in his comeback

Following three days of minicamp practices, let's put together a revised projection of what the Jacksonville Jaguars' depth chart looks like for the defenseAs we mentioned when breaking down each positional depth chart on offense, what takes place in minicamp won't solely determine playing time and final roster decisions. Ultimatley, training camp and the preseason will carry the most weight.That said, minicamp is a piece of that puzzle, and during these practices, there are players who stand out. The foundation for the start of training camp is laid during the offseason programs.So with that in mind, here is an early guess on where things stand on defense.Defensive endDE Josh Hines-AllenDE Travon WalkerDE Wesley WilliamsDE Danny StriggowDE Zach DurfeeDE BJ GreenDE Bryan Thomas Jr.DE Quindarius DunniganWe know who the top two spots on the depth chart belong to, but after that, there's a lot of guesswork taking place right now. As a fourth-round pick, Williams gets the early DE3 nod -- the Jaguars will want to see what he can do, not to mention he brings a well-rounded skill set to this position, which will help earn more opportunities. I have Striggow at DE4 given his experience over Durfee and that he played more defensive snaps last season than Green.Defensive tackleDT Arik ArmsteadDT DaVon HamiltonDT Albert Regis'DT Ruke OrhorhoroDT Matt DickersonDT Quinton BohannaDT Keivie RoseDT TJ BollersDT Jalen HuntThe first five spots on the depth chart seem pretty straightforward.LinebackerFoye OluokunVentrell MillerDennis GardeckJack KiserBranson CombsJalen McLeodParker HughesYasir AbdullahThe first three players listed are the starters when the Jaguars are in their base 4-3 look. Combs seems to be climbing the depth chart in Year 2, not only as a special teams contributor but on defense.CornerbackTravis HunterMontaric BrownJourdan Lewis Jarrian JonesChristian BraswellJabbar MuhammadKeni-H LovelyPresont HodgeDevon MarshallHunter, Brown, and Lewis are the starters, with Jones first off the bench. Braswell began to emerge last season, while Muhammad has put together a very strong showing during offseason programs.SafetyEric MurrayAntonio JohnsonCaleb RansawJalen HuskeyRayuan LaneCam'Ron Silmon-CraigTrevian ThomasDevin NealMurray and Johnson will start, while Ransaw seems to be the front-runner for the third safety role, which will see playing time in Anthony Campanile's defense. Huskey gets the nod right now over Lane, given his versatility, which could create more opportunities to help out defensively.This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars roster: Revised defensive depth chart following minicamp

World Cup: RB Leipzig’s star Diomande starts for Ivory Coast against EcuadorRB Leipzig’s sought-after winger Yan Diomande is in the Ivory Coast starting lineup for their opening World Cup game against Ecuador. The 19-year-old is tipped to replace Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, with the Bundesliga club expecting a record transfer sum.Emerse Faé’s side also have another Bundesliga prospect in Bazoumana Touré as the Hoffenheim attacker starts on the left wing. Eintracht Frankfurt’s returnee Elye Wahi is one of the two strikers for one of the ten African representatives after his excellent loan spell at OGC Nice.Ex-Bundesliga defenders Piero Hincapié (Bayer Leverkusen) and Willian Pacho (Frankfurt) start for Sebastián Beccacece’s team. Spanish-born Jeremy Arévalo, who has only played 32 Bundesliga minutes for Stuttgart, is on the substitute bench for Ecuador.German-born John Yeboah, who has played for Wolfsburg and Duisburg early in his career, starts for the South Americans after playing his part in Venezia’s promotion to Serie A.Confirmed Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador LineupsIvory Coast: Yahia Fofana; Guela Doué, Singo, Agbadou, Konan; Diomande, Seko Fofana, Kessié ©, Touré; Pepé, WahiEcuador: Galindez; Ordóñez, Pacho, Hincapié; Vite, Caicedo, Franco, Minda; Yeboah, Valencia ©, Plata

World Cup 2026: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador lineups – Kossounou and Ndicka on the bench as Yeboah leads Ecuador attackIvory Coast vs Ecuador meet in their World Cup Group E opener in Philadelphia, with Germany having already set the early pace in the group by thrashing Curacao 7-1 earlier today.Atalanta defender Odilon Kossounou is named among the Ivory Coast substitutes, while Roma’s Evan Ndicka features on the bench also due to a fitness concern.Inter’s Ange-Yoan Bonny, who switched international allegiances from France ahead of the tournament, is also among the substitutes.Former Milan midfielder Franck Kessie starts in midfield alongside Seko Fofana, with Elye Wahi and Nicolas Pepe in attack.Ex Atalanta forward Amad Diallo is also among the substitutes for the African side.For Ecuador, Venezia forward John Yeboah starts up front, while Milan full-back Pervis Estupinan is named among the substitutes. Juventus and Inter defensive target Joel Ordonez starts in central defence.PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 14: Fans arrive before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Ivory Coast vs Ecuador at Philadelphia Stadium on June 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Ivory Coast vs Ecuador – Official LineupsIvory Coast: Fofana; Konan, Singo, Doue, Agbadou; S.Fofana, Kessie; Diomande, Wahi, Pepe; Toure.Ecuador: Galindez; Hincapie, Ordonez, Pacho; Minda, Vite, Franco, Caicedo; Yeboah, Valencia, Plata.

City parks officials will put about 70 seasonal playground associates in New York City parks this summer to run free games and activities for any young person who shows up.

An eminent fossil hunter takes the reins at the National Academy of Sciences in a turbulent moment for American researchers.

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 06: Members of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels stand for the national anthem during the game against the University of Southern California Trojans at Boshamer Stadium on June 06, 2026 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Alex Halloway/Getty Images) | Getty Images Day 3 of the Men’s College World Series started with a thrilling elimination game between Troy and Ole Miss, as the Trojans fell behind 6-2 before exploding for a 12-8 win.Now it’s time for the nightcap, with Carolina and West Virginia facing off in a 1-0 game. Whoever comes out on top will be one win away from the championship series, while the loser will have to win three games in as many days to stay alive. In case you missed it, Thomas Blackington had a preview of the Mountaineers on Thursday (they beat Troy 7-5 in their opener on Friday), and Al Hood had the broadcast details this morning.Share your thoughts in the comment section below as the game goes on. Here’s hoping the Tar Heels can keep it rolling!

Bud Cauley carries a laminated four-leaf clover in his golf bag, a gift from his grandfather who found it in his yard. The lucky charm had failed to deliver a PGA Tour victory until Cauley pulled away from the field down the stretch of the RBC Canadian Open to grab win No. 1 in start 239.falseTitleistVokey Design SM11$200|Golf Galaxy 5.0 GD SCOREGD HOT LIST SCOREHot List Gold$200A new version of Titleist’s Spin Milled grooves features 5 percent more volume than the SM10 to channel away debris and retain more spin.A new directional face texture provides increased friction and prolongs contact on the face, delivering reliable spin on short shots.A heat treatment is applied to increase the durability of the groove edges to prolong maximum stopping power.Additions to the line include a stronger pitching wedge at 44 degrees and a 60-degree K-grind option with 12 degrees of bounce.The center of gravity is identical across all grinds in each loft, meaning you don’t have to compromise on your launch window for a specific grind choice.Top 5 in Performance, all handicapsSPECS: 27 options (44-60 degrees), 6 sole grinds, 4 finishesBUY NOW DETAILSA couple of well-played mid irons and a hole out fueled Cauley’s back-nine run. At the par-3 11th he struck a 7-iron that went 206 yards before trickling to within four feet for birdie. On the following hole it appeared he might give the stroke back but holed his shot with his Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks lob wedge for another birdie. Cauley was fourth in strokes gained/around the green, picking up nearly three shots on the field.Cauley made it three in a row with a 6-iron from 216 yards at the 13th to 13 feet and dropped that putt as well. Cauley’s irons are Titleist’s 620 MB model with True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 shafts.For the week Cauley picked up nearly eight strokes on the field on the greens with his Scotty Cameron by Titleist GoLo 7 S1 tour prototype putter, a center-shafted, rounded mallet.Asked after the third round about what his emotions might be like after his first win, Cauley said, “I don't know. I don't really want to think about that now. I guess we'll find out when that day happens.”That day has now happened. With an assist from a lucky charm.What Bud Cauley had in the bag at the 2026 RBC Canadian OpenBall: Titleist Pro V1xDriver: Titleist GTS2 (Fujikura Ventus Black Velocore+ 6X), 8 degrees3-wood: Titleist GTS3, 15 degreesIrons: (3) Titleist U•505; (4): Titleist T250; (5-9): Titleist 620 MBWedges: Titleist Vokey SM11 (48, 52, 56 degrees); Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks (60 degrees)Putter: Scotty Cameron by Titleist GoLo 7 S1 tour prototype

Champions Tour rookie and Iowa golf icon Zach Johnson won the Principal Charity Classic on June 14 at Wakonda Club in Des Moines.The Iowa City native, Cedar Rapids Regis alum and former Drake golfer beat Richard Green and Retief Goosen by four strokes to claim the championship in his first year on the Champions Tour.Johnson finished with a 17-under-par score of 199 after shooting a 5-under 67 in Sunday’s final round. Johnson, 50, is best-known for winning the 2007 Masters. He added another major championship in 2015 when he won the British Open. He was ranked as high as No. 6 in the world in 2014.A 12-time winner on the PGA Tour, Johnson's win in Des Moines was his second on the Champions Tour. He won the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational on March 8.Johnson shot 3-under-par 69 in Friday's opening round before a scorching-hot 63 on Saturday at Wakonda. Johnson's 63 was the low score of the day Saturday. He hit 17 of 18 greens during the second round."Yeah, and the one green I missed, I was trying to make an eagle and I hit it to about two feet," Johnson said. "Yeah, I did everything pretty solid (Saturday). I drove it great, hit a lot of crisp iron shots. ... I hit the ball nice and gave myself opportunities, that's all you can ask for."Johnson entered Sunday's round round tied with Brett Quigley and Scott Hend at 12-under.This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Champions Tour rookie Zach Johnson wins Principal Charity Classic

Japan earned a late draw against the Netherlands (Aric Becker)Japan scored an 88th-minute equaliser as they twice fought back to rescue a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in front of 69,285 in Texas on Sunday to open their World Cup campaigns.A match that had bubbled away in the first period sparked into life in the second half.Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk scored with a fine header, only for Keito Nakamura to quickly level, before winger Crysencio Summerville's delicious curled finish into the bottom corner just after the hour.The Dutch looked like they would hold on, but Japan levelled at the death with Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada credited with the goal after a deflection.Sweden face Tunisia in a competitive-looking Group F later Sunday.Japan and the Netherlands are in North America missing key players through injury, but on paper this was still one of the more attractive fixtures in the group stage.Both have been touted as dark horses capable of going far at the tournament -- the Dutch have been runners-up three times whereas Japan have never gone beyond the last 16.The Netherlands made a confident start and nearly took the lead after three minutes, Donyell Malen allowed to swivel inside the box and forcing a smart save from Zion Suzuki.The impressive air-conditioned arena is usually home to the Dallas Cowboys, and at the hydration break the NFL team's cheerleaders were shown on the massive screen hanging over the pitch performing one of their routines.The stoppage seemed to help Ronald Koeman's side and Roma forward Malen again worked Suzuki with a header from a corner, then Cody Gakpo fired wildly over the bar.Japan's fans, who had hardly stopped singing and outnumbered the Dutch contingent, were briefly silenced. The first real chance for Hajime Moriyasu's team came a few minutes before the break when a cross evaded the backtracking Summerville but Nakamura pulled his low effort wide. The Dutch had looked most threatening in the air, so it was no surprise when Liverpool talisman Van Dijk rose to plant a well-placed header into the bottom corner after a pinpoint cross from club team-mate Ryan Gravenberch on 51 minutes.The lead lasted just six minutes, Nakamura wriggling free and firing low past goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, the ball taking a small deflection off Jan Paul van Hecke.In a madcap period of play, the Dutch forged ahead once more on 64 minutes when West Ham's Summerville beat his man on the right wing and curled into Suzuki's bottom-right corner with his left foot.Both teams rang the changes and had chances to score again, before Kamada's chaotic leveller from a corner. pst/nf