Many deaf runners arrive at community running events hoping to improve their wellbeing, only to feel isolated because they cannot follow safety briefings, says Amanda Cooper. This is something Amanda, a sign language volunteer, is determined to help change. She travels to parkruns across the country to ensure deaf participants aren't left feeling unsure about the course they're about to tackle. Amanda, from York, says communication barriers can turn a positive Saturday morning into a stressful one, with some people finishing feeling "worse mental health than when they arrived". Parkrun, a free weekly 5k event held across more than 900 UK locations, held more than 250 parkruns last month with sign language support present, a spokesperson said.Amanda signs during briefings for people attending their first parkrun and in the main safety briefing, ensuring deaf participants receive the same information as everyone else. Deaf runners can feel unsafe on the course when they miss hazard warnings or cannot hear instructions from marshals, she says, sometimes worrying they are doing something wrong or unaware of changes to the route. These moments can quickly turn a relaxed community event into an anxious experience, she adds, with Amanda volunteering 40 times so far as a sign language support volunteer. UK Deaf Sport, a national charity advocating for deaf inclusion in sport, says many deaf people still face barriers that make mainstream activities "highly stressful".Chris Ratcliffe, its chief executive officer, says many deaf participants struggle because events "rely heavily on auditory cues" and "spoken communication".Parkrun says its events are "continuing to take meaningful steps to remove barriers to participation" across the UK.Amanda highlights that one in six people have some degree of hearing loss, yet many take years to acknowledge it.She says it can take seven to 10 years for people to come to terms with hearing loss due to stigma, embarrassment and fear of being left out. Having lost her own hearing gradually since her twenties, she uses hearing aids - but stresses they are not a complete solution. "They don't give you your full hearing back, they just improve it," she says, comparing them to a walking stick that helps but doesn't fully restore ability.Her own experiences of communication barriers led her to set up Deaf Advocacy and Support York, helping people across North Yorkshire access services that often rely on phone calls or spoken communication. Many deaf people are still told to "just give us a ring", she says, leaving them unable to resolve issues.A lack of sign language support at some parkrun events "can be very isolating", says Philippa Wynne, a board member at UK Deaf Sport.Negative experiences at sporting events can "impact confidence and mental wellbeing and often puts people off returning", she adds. Philippa, who has attended parkrun since 2012, explains: "Having sign language support makes a huge difference."It means I can fully access information and feel part of the event." Reflecting on her time as a parkrun deaf and hard of hearing outreach ambassador in 2017, Philippa says she and others pushed for sign support to be recognised as an official volunteer role."Support like this isn't optional - it's essential if sport is going to be truly inclusive for everyone," she says.Amanda says volunteering has been hugely positive for her own wellbeing, with being in the parkrun team boosting her confidence and reducing her own sense of isolation."There's nothing out of bounds, deaf volunteers have done every role - even run director," she says."It's a great atmosphere and everyone should be able to enjoy it on equal terms."Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Similar stories New parkrun will 'spread happiness and positivity'Man becomes first in world to complete 1,000 parkruns'My GP prescribed Parkrun - it changed my life' Related internet links UK Deaf Sport

The wait for Manchester City to announce their next manager continuesAs of right now, Manchester City remain without a manager. Pep Guardiola’s decade of dominance as City manager has ended and although Guardiola believes that the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders are well placed for the future, they are yet to confirm their next manager. The expectation is that former Chelsea and Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca will be Manchester City’s next manager. However, that announcement has been delayed and when the Italian manager is announced as their next man in the City dugout remains to be seen.Manchester City and Chelsea remain in talks over compensation for Chelsea for Enzo Maresca before City can confirm their next manager.A report from the BBC has provided an update as to why Manchester City have yet to confirm Enzo Maresca as their next manager. As per the BBC report, City and Chelsea are continuing negotiations over a compensation package for Chelsea regarding Maresca’s departure. Furthermore, the BBC reports that Chelsea believes they are due compensation from City due to the fact that Maresca left his post as manager despite being contacted until 2029. Lastly, the BBC report states that it isn’t clear how much compensation Manchester City will pay Chelsea or when the matter will be resolved.City will be getting a manager who will give everything to his team and Maresca will hopefully be worth the wait.The wait continues for Manchester City to confirm Enzo Maresca as their next manager. Hopefully, it is only a matter of time before the matter of compensation being paid to Chelsea is resolved. That way, City can confirm their next manager and the new era at the club can have its figurehead confirmed.Enzo Maresca is a highly regarded manager and he does appear to be well suited to replacing Pep Guardiola. Maresca is tactically adept, and his teams play a similar style to that of Guardiola’s teams. That isn’t a surprise given that Maresca has previously served as Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad manager and was Pep Guardiola’s assistant during Manchester City’s famous treble-winning season in 2022-23.Also, Enzo Maresca is a hard working manager who leaves no stone unturned in his efforts to help his team. Former Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has provided a glimpse into how Enzo Maresca operates. Speaking on Enzo Maresca and his dedication on the Vardy Party Podcast, Vardy explained: “Enzo’s agreed to be manager, who’s the spit of Pep. I’d say he’s very capable. Honestly it was like having a clone.”“He’s literally, exactly the same style of play. Like, he never used to sleep. He used to come in, we’d have a meeting in the morning and he’s like, ‘I didn’t go to bed until five o’clock this morning because I was scared I wouldn’t be able to show you this. And we’re like, ‘what time did you get to training’, and he’s like ‘half-six’.”Final thoughts.The wait continues for Manchester City to officially confirm Enzo Maresca as their next manager. Hopefully, City’s negotiations with Chelsea over compensation can be concluded in a timely manner. Enzo Maresca isn’t expected to be Pep Guardiola, that isn’t fair on him. However, he carries similar traits to those of Guardiola which should hopefully see Maresca hit the ground running when he is finally confirmed as City manager.

UFC fighter Josh Hokit ensured he would not go a night without controversy as he yelled “Michelle Obama is a man” after winning his bout at the White House.Hokit knocked out Derrick Lewis in the third round of their heavyweight clash at the extraordinary UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn, staying undefeated after his polarising antics dominated the headlines in the week leading up.Follow live - UFC Freedom 250 at the White HouseBut it was his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan that will go down in infamy as he addressed US president Donald Trump from the cage, who was sitting in the front row.He said: “I’m the man with the plan, the beast that’s ready to feast.Josh Hokit after knocking out Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 (AP)“You know what? F*** the speech. Shoutout to Trump for having the balls to put some s*** like this on.“And if I’m gonna say anything, there’s only one person more incredible than the ‘Incredible Hok’, and that’s my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.”He then called out Alex Pereira, who was due to fight Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight championship in the co-main event, before saying: “Michelle Obama is a man, am I right America?”Hokit had given Trump, who was seen showing a brief smile at the comment, his chain during the celebrations of his win over Lewis, though the president took this off as Hokit left the Octagon to a mix of cheers and boos.Hokit gave Donald Trump his chain after the fight (AFP/Getty)Hokit has made a name for himself in recent months by playing different characters, something that has dominated fight week. At Friday’s press conference, he continually referenced “The Incredible Hok”, while he spoke nervously about all of the fighters at the event.There, his behaviour culminated in him referencing the recent divorce of main-event fighter Ilia Topuria, with UFC president Dana White immediately ending the press conference after that insult.Then at Saturday’s weigh-ins, Hokit seemingly pretended to throw up as he dribbled a sick-coloured liquid from his mouth, claiming he had been drinking the previous night.Hokit previously had to be escorted off stage by security at the launch press conference for UFC Freedom 250 in May after insulting Topuria, as well as fellow headliner Pereira.While a polarising personality, Hokit remains a force at heavyweight as he took his record to 10-0 with victory over former title challenger Lewis.

Cauley won his maiden title on his 239th career start [Getty Images]Canadian Open final leaderboard-17 B Cauley (US); -15 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -14 V Hovland (Nor)Selected others: -13 J Stanger (US), B Garnett (US), J Svensson (Swe), J Suber (US); -11 T Fleetwood (Eng); -10 R McIntyre (Sco); -9 A Fitzpatrick (Eng)Bud Cauley won the Canadian Open to land his first PGA Tour title and complete a remarkable comeback eight years after his career was derailed by a car accident.The 36-year-old American took the lead with a birdie chip on the 12th hole as he shot a five-under-par 65 in the final round to finish on 17-under 263 in Caledon, Ontario.It was his 239th tournament on the tour, with the victory a reward for Cauley's persistence in coming back from severe injuries.England's Matt Fitzpatrick was two strokes back in second place, with Norway's Viktor Hovland taking third at 14 under.In June 2018, Cauley was a passenger in a car when he sustained six broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a fractured left leg.Although he returned to action four months later, he experienced complications in 2020 which kept him away from the professional tour until 2024."There were times when I was hurt that we weren't really sure if I was going to be able to play again," Cauley said."So many people helped me get here. Once I got the opportunity to start playing again, I just told myself that I was going to try and do everything the right way and give myself the best chance."Cauley added: "I put my wife, Kristi, through so much during those dark times. It's just nice to have a little success as a kind of thank you."He started the day one stroke behind leader Jackson Suber but took control on the back nine with four birdies in five holes for a three-shot lead heading into the 16th hole.Fitzpatrick shot 64 in the fourth round to climb 10 positions on the leaderboard into second, but his title hopes were dashed by a bogey on the 17th hole."It's a good week," Fitzpatrick said. "I would have taken it at the start of the week. I feel like there was a lot of good stuff in there."My putting was a little bit of a struggle last week, and I feel like I got a bit of a better process for what I'm working on this week and that showed. I putted really solid." More golf news Club revokes Mickelson membership over allegations Why Hull's US Open near-miss shows major win is closeGolf pals defy 17m-to-one odds with holes-in-one

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesJalen Brunson’s NBA Finals masterpiece has pushed a debate that once felt premature into the middle of New York Knicks history.The Knicks’ 2026 championship ended a 53-year wait, and Brunson was the player holding the biggest argument when the conversation turned from celebration to legacy.His Game 5 performance against the San Antonio Spurs gave fans and analysts the kind of title-clinching image that changes how a franchise remembers a star.That is why the strongest claims started arriving almost immediately after New York won it all.Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty ImagesBreiden Fehoko calls Jalen Brunson the greatest New York Knick of all timeIn a post shared by Breiden Fehoko on X, Joe Burrow’s former LSU teammate gave Brunson the highest possible Knicks praise.“Jalen Brunson is the greatest Knick of all time. Yes, I am stamping that,” Fehoko claimed.Fehoko’s take came after Brunson led New York to its first championship since 1973 and won Finals MVP. The guard closed the series with 45 points in Game 5, shooting 14-of-27 from the field and carrying the Knicks through the biggest night of their modern era.The timing explains the emotion behind the statement. Brunson did not just have a great season, he delivered the trophy that generations of Knicks fans had been waiting to see.Jalen Brunson now has a real New York Knicks case beside Willis Reed and Walt FrazierBrunson’s case is legitimate because championship context matters more in New York than almost anywhere else, but the all-time debate still has several layers.Willis Reed remains a giant of the franchise because he led two title teams, won two Finals MVP awards and owns one of the most famous moments in NBA Finals history. Walt Frazier was also central to both championships, combining elite guard play with defensive greatness.Patrick Ewing’s argument is different. He never won a title, but he carried the franchise for 15 years and still owns much of the Knicks’ statistical record book.Brunson does not yet have Ewing’s longevity or Reed and Frazier’s two-ring résumé, but he has something no Knick since 1973 could claim. He was the clear engine of a championship team and the Finals MVP who ended the drought.That makes Fehoko’s statement bold, not empty. Brunson may still need years of elite production to settle the argument, but after 2026, he has already forced his name into the greatest Knick conversation for real.Read more:Rick Brunson takes cheeky shot at Mark Cuban after New York Knicks championship runJalen Brunson enters Michael Jordan territory with insane fourth-quarter stat in Game 5Rick Brunson gives his pick for the ‘greatest Knick’, and it’s not his son Jalen

AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 18: Quarterback Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns on the field during the Texas Longhorns Football Fan Day on April 18, 2026, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Larry Brown Sports recently reported that Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning, who’s returning as a starter in 2026, is once again listed among the preseason favorites to win the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s top college football player each year. From Larry Brown Sports: “[Bovada] listed Arch Manning as a co-favorite to win the coveted award, along with Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr. The two have 8/1 odds to win the award, which is the best odds of any player in the country. Here is the full list of odds (only players with odds of 25/1 or better are included). … Manning passed for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns and 7 interceptions for the Texas Longhorns last season. He also rushed for 399 yards and 10 touchdowns. His potential as a dual-threat quarterback should allow him to rack up the stats needed to contend for the award.”Are the expectations for Manning fair?Does fair even matter in conversations around modern college football? You tell us.

Justin Gaethje defied the odds to become the UFC lightweight champion at the White House on Sunday night.UFC Freedom 250 closed in the wildest fashion imaginable, as America's Gaethje went into his 155-pound title tilt as a heavy underdog opposite the previously undefeated, now-former champion Ilia Topuria. Four grueling rounds resulted in a back-and-forth war before Topuria's corner called off the fight between rounds to score Gaethje the win. Gaethje spoke afterward about how dangerous his opponent really was."He's very good. My liver still hurts right now," Gaethje said at the UFC Freedom 250 post-fight press conference. "Those body shots were crazy. He was really, really fast, but when he didn't get the finish at the end of the second round, I think it really took his spirit. And I said it in the press conference leading up — he really backed himself into a corner, saying he's going to be so dominant. And I said it — when we go to the second round, you're going to be like, 'What the f***?' Then the third round, and that's what I did today."I never felt he was broken because he was so dangerous the whole time, but in the third round, when I started landing those jabs, when I started finding his back foot, I knew something was different."Against Topuria, Gaethje faced an uphill battle from his seat as the interim champion. But the first round instantly flipped the script of expectations, as Gaethje utilized his jab to perfection and took the early lead. In the second round, the champion battled back in a big way, downing Gaethje with body shots but ultimately failing to maintain momentum down the stretch.Gaethje noted on the UFC Freedom 250 post-show that early in the fight, Topuria was visibly distracted by the damage he had sustained."He's such a pretty boy that he was so concerned about the blood so immediately," Gaethje said. "I hit him with the uppercut, he's bleeding, and he started touching it over and over and over again."He's so f***ing dangerous, I don't know how I stayed away from some of those shots. He definitely rocked me. ... I won the first round, but he definitely hurt me in the first round. He definitely smoked my liver in the second. I've been working so hard on my jiu-jitsu, and that's what kept me calm in the chaos and got me through to the third round."The moment couldn't have been more perfect for UFC Freedom 250 to end on; an epic back-and-forth war concluded with the heavy underdog American coming out on top against the undefeated champion — on Gaethje’s third attempt at undisputed gold, no less.Gaethje, 37, explained that he did his best to detach from any emotions before this big fight, which he considered his absolute last chance. Additionally, he credited his last loss — the epic last-second Max Holloway knockout at UFC 300 — for getting him to this point."I just kept telling myself just to trust my abilities. Not be emotional," Gaethje said. "When I say I don't have emotions, I mean nothing feels better than what I feel now. So, obviously, I have emotions, but I understand that emotions can kill you and will kill you, and cause you to hesitate and cause you to overthink and take shortcuts sometimes, because you think you can do it. But again, getting knocked out by Max was such a blessing for me. I fought like an idiot, but that was such a blessing because it makes the story that much greater."Gaethje wound up taking home an additional $825,000 in bonuses after being awarded with Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night honors.

Done deal – Former Real Madrid midfielder to return as part of Mourinho’s staffReal Madrid continue to make major moves in the market to strengthen the squad as well as the backroom staff heading into the new season.Following the appointment of Jose Mourinho as the new head coach, one of the major talking points has been surrounding his backroom staff, with Los Blancos having been keen on bringing in a former player to help run things smoothly.Names ranging from Pepe to Ricardo Carvalho and Luka Modric have been doing the rounds, but it is former midfielder Sami Khedira who is all set to return to the Santiago Bernabeu.Deal agreed for Khedira returnIndeed, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, Khedira will now return to Real Madrid as part of Mourinho’s backroom staff, with the deal already being sealed.Sami Khedira will return to Real Madrid. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)An agreement has been finalised for the former German international to come back to the Bernabeu, where he will begin working with Mourinho from July.It is still unclear as to what role Khedira will assume in the backroom staff at Real Madrid, but as things stand, his return to the club is now only a matter of time.Strong partnership with MourinhoKhedira joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2010, with Mourinho being the one who brought him to the club during his first managerial stint with the club.The partnership stayed intact for three years until the Portuguese tactician left the club to return to Chelsea in 2013. Sami Khedira will reunite with Mourinho at Real Madrid. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)During that period, Khedira played 126 matches for Real Madrid under Mourinho, scoring eight and assisting 12 goals.The 39-year-old midfielder left the club in 2015, signing for Juventus, where he spent more than five years, before joining Hertha BSC, where he eventually retired in the summer of 2021.Following his retirement, Khedira briefly served as the Advisor of Management at German club VfB Stuttgart during the 2022/23 campaign.Now, he will return to Real Madrid as part of Mourinho’s backroom staff, aiming to help the club back to the top after two lean seasons.

Today’s Papers: Hamilton delirium, Ancelotti storm, Juventus impressed by DiazLa Gazzetta dello Sport‘I’m back’ Hamilton and the Ferrari dreamHis first victory and tears in red at the age of 41: ‘See? I’m still the best Lewis’. Mercedes betray Antonelli in Barcelona. The champion challenges the kid in the World Championship raceCuracao take 7, Italy aren’t there Infantino’s formula under attackToo many games, squads not at the level, little spectacle and Germany are having funAncelotti, Montella and the tough lives of our CTsCriticism in Brazil and TurkiyeCorriere dello SportMondialewis Ferrari triumph | Hamilton wins in Barcelona, his first victory with La Rossa‘A dream fulfilled, thank you’‘Forever grateful, I hope it’s only the beginning’. Antonelli let down by Mercedes, 41 points in the lead, but the race for the title is now open: ‘Our problem is reliability’. Another zero from Leclerc: ‘Now we need to reset’Enter the prince Yamal, World Cup attraction: Could become the heir to Messi and CR7Spain, Champions of Europe, against Cape Verde at 18.00. Lamine dreams of the Ballon d’Or. Cucurella to Mou’s Real Madrid. The Belgium of KDB and Lukaku take on Salah’s Egypt (20.00). Germany beat Curacao 7-1: Havertz doubleTuttosportLEWIS: Rosso delirium Fabulous Hamilton: Dominates in Barcelona and Ferrari return to World Championship dreamsFirst triumph with Ferrari after almost two years of nothing for both: ‘Winning in this car and with these fans is something else, I almost fainted. You made me remember who I am’. Tears and 41 points behind Antonelli, who retires after the duel with Russell (second, ahead of Norris’. Mercedes fury. Leclerc nightmareJuve, did you see Diaz? Carnevali’s first day today: Meeting to settle the accountsThe attacking midfielder, Spalletti’s favourite for that role, shines against Brazil: The Bianconeri still putting the pressure on Real Madrid for the Moroccan. The sporting director search: Tognozzi takes a step forwards. Vlahovic yes, Vlahovic no: All the reasons why. Juve-Inter for the U16 ScudettoStadium nerves: The Turin council urges Cairo ‘We’re still waiting for the partnership proposal’The councillor for sport: ‘Respond to us as soon as possible, the future of the Granata is at stake’. The links with the club’s potential sale is unsettling the fans. Auction for EspositoAncelotti’s Brazil immediately in a storm, How about Morocco!Selecao, just a draw (1-1). Bouaddi impresses everyoneTurkey flop, Yildiz sad and Calhanoglu shoots for 0Australia surprise: 2-0Curacao go home happy even after conceding seven: Historic first goal Germany dominate after the initial fears

Jun 14, 2026; Washington, D.C., UNITED STATES; Justin Gaethje walks out prior to his fight against Ilia Topuria (not pictured) during UFC Freedom 250 at White House South Lawn.Let’s just call a spade a spade, whoever wrote the script for UFC’s Freedom 250 card at the White House on Sunday had the Midas Touch. In what will go down as mixed martial arts’ “Miracle On Ice”, 38-year-old Safford, Arizona native Justin Gaethje shocked the UFC’s top-ranked pound for pound fighter and 6-to-1 favorite, Ilia Topuria, to earn the lightweight title and finally become an undisputed champion for the first time in his long and storied career. "Coming from such a small town, I can't tell you how blessed I am to have made it this far," Gaethje said. "To have represented my small town as well as I have. Now I get to represent my country as a whole, and I think I did a pretty good job tonight ... I said before it's going to be like some miracle on ice stuff. I'm so happy to put my country in such a good light. I am from the middle of nowhere here in southeast Arizona."It was a definitive performance for Gaethje, who dismantled Topuria to a shocking degree and left his face looking essentially unrecognizable. The fight was nearly ended via doctor stoppage between the third and fourth rounds, but the doctor appeared to overturn his initial decision to call the fight after being pressured by an animated Topuria. After Gaethje unloaded a vicious knee to Topuria’s ribcage at the end of the fourth, Topuria retired to his bench and his corner threw in the towel despite his brother’s insistence that he finish the fight. Despite the fact that he was hurt and in trouble for most of the fight, Topuria spent much of the fight advancing on Gaethje and you could have even made the case the he won the second and fourth rounds and that the fight was 2-2 when Topuria’s corner decided to call off the fight. I don’t know if I’d personally make that case, but those rounds were close enough where it would not have been a surprise to see a judge score them both for Topuria. Regardless, it didn’t matter in the end. Gaethje has long been considered the quintessential American UFC fighter, so the fact that he pulled off what may well be the biggest upset in UFC history at the biggest event in UFC history is already beyond belief. For him to win his first undisputed title at the twilight of his career on that stage is a moment that feels closer to a delusional fever dream than reality, but it very much is. “Seeing all the portraits of many great Presidents we’ve had in the past, that was incredible,” Gaethje said. “That part I remember. Usually I kind of blank out when I’m getting ready to walk to the cage. I was in a holding room and there were more portraits of amazing men of the past. I was like, I have to dig deep and represent these people. I have to do it.”Aside from the main event providing a defining moment for the sport, the card was historic in its own right. All seven fights ended by KO/TKO, which was the first time in UFC history that an entire fight card was filled with such finishes. Not to mention, six of those fights ended inside the first two rounds. For an event that could have easily turned into a punchline with ill-timed rain or an underwhelming card, it could not have gone better. I’m not even somebody who was a huge fan of the idea of this spectacle to begin with, quite the opposite actually, but the objective truth is that tonight will be looked at – and should be looked at as an overwhelming success. The co-main event saw Cyril Gane put a halt to Alex Pereira’s quest to become the UFC’s first three division champion, as Gane hurt Pereira with a jab and eventually finished him a few moments later after Pereira was never really able to regain his bearings. Gane’s victory likely sets up a rematch with Tom Aspinall, after their first bout ended in a no contest after Gane gouged Aspinall’s eyes and forced him into an extended recovery that’s still ongoing. “Suga” Sean O’Malley also rose to the occasion, finishing Aiemann Zahabi with a walk-off knockout in the second round that re-affirms O’Malley as a bantamweight title contender and likely puts him in line with another fight against current champion Petr Yan for the belt, who O’Malley has already beaten once before. In the fight before that, rising heavyweight star Josh Hokit continued his rise up the ranks of the division by knocking out future Hall of Famer Derrick Lewis in the second round after a dominant effort.

With 74% of the total vote share, Marlboro baseball's Liam Correa won the Poughkeepsie Journal Boys Athlete of the Week poll for June 1-7.The Poughkeepsie Journal Boys Athlete of the Week for June 8-14 is now live.Nominations are based on information gathered and received by the Poughkeepsie Journal throughout the week. For consideration, coaches are asked to submit game information and player stats to Edecker@usatodayco.com before the end of the week.More: Ketcham alum Owen Paino prepares for College World Series with Ole MissEach week's winner will be selected and posted in the upcoming week's poll. Polls will close at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday night before the announcement the following morning.Nahzy Avent, Poughkeepsie track & fieldThe sophomore placed fifth in the Class A 200-meter dash at the NYSPHSAA New York State Championships at Webster Schroeder with a time of 22.09.Wayne-Daniel Russell, Spackenkill track & fieldThe senior placed eighth in the Class C long jump at the NYSPHSAA New York State Championships at Webster Schroeder with a jump of 21-4.Zavier Durandisse, Arlington track & fieldDurandisse placed sixth overall in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the NYSPHSAA New York State Championships at Webster Schroeder with a time of 9:30.14.Nate Johnson, John Jay track & fieldJohnson won his third-straight Class A state championship in the pentathlon at the NYSPHSAA New York State Championships at Webster Schroeder.Brevin Timm, Beacon track & fieldTimm won the Class B state championship in the pentathlon at the NYSPHSAA New York State Championships at Webster Schroeder.This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Poughkeepsie Journal Boys Athlete of the Week voting poll June 8-14

Man United open door to Rashford return as Barcelona permanent buy option expiresWhen Barcelona signed Marcus Rashford from Manchester United on a season-long loan ahead of the 2025/26 season, they negotiated a €30 million purchase option in the deal.The Englishman had a career revival at the Spotify Camp Nou and established himself as an important player for Hansi Flick, with his goal contribution numbers proving quite impressive.Rashford had hoped to stay at Barça, but the Catalan club chose not to activate the purchase option, which is set to expire today, 15 June.Manchester United ready to welcome him backAccording to AS, Manchester United are now leaving the door open for Rashford to return.The signing of Anthony Gordon at Barcelona has changed the picture completely. The Blaugrana no longer see the left-wing position as an urgent need, making Rashford’s permanent arrival much harder to justify.Rashford to return to Manchester United? (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)The salary issue was another important factor. Rashford was willing to accept a significant pay cut to stay, but even that may not be enough given Barça’s current priorities.Meanwhile, new Manchester United permanent manager Michael Carrick does not view the forward’s comeback negatively, especially after a season in which he showed at Barcelona that he remains a high-level attacker.Carrick has already spoken with Rashford about the possibility of staying at Old Trafford. The player is still under contract with United until 2028, which gives the English club control over his next step.Among other European clubs, Bayern Munich have shown interest, but that has cooled in recent times.Barcelona’s decision is understandableBarcelona’s stance in this Rashford situation is very much understandable, albeit a bit harsh.Barcelona do not wish to activate buy option for Rashford. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)Rashford did very well, wanted to stay and showed commitment to the club. He was willing to wait for Barça and shut out all other contract offers.That said, football decisions do not always follow the logic of merit. Once Gordon arrived, Barcelona had to be careful about spending €30 million on another attacker for a similar area of the pitch.The club have bigger needs elsewhere, especially at centre-forward. Rashford may still be appreciated internally, but appreciation is not the same as priority. Unless there is an unexpected twist, his loan spell looks set to end without a permanent deal.It is a disappointing outcome for a player who clearly wanted the Blaugrana chapter to continue, but Barcelona appear ready to move in a different direction.

Cucurella, Rashford... 5️⃣ stories beyond the World CupThe summer transfer market exploded completely this Monday, stealing the spotlight from the World Cup itself for a few hours. Clubs from Europe’s top leagues don’t want to waste any time, and the offices are working overtime with major deals, strategic transfers for young prospects, and last-minute decisions on multimillion-euro purchase options.The day is marked by key moves in Spain and England, where squads are beginning to reshape at a dizzying pace. From lightning-fast signings in the capital to tense negotiations in the north of England, today’s club football news agenda centers on five key names that will define the immediate sporting landscape.Cucurella is now a MadridistaThe big bombshell at the start of the week has materialized at the Santiago Bernabéu. After reports of fast-track negotiations emerged during the final hours of Sunday, Real Madrid will make the signing of Marc Cucurella official today. The Spanish left-back therefore returns to LaLiga after his spell in English football, in a move that immediately strengthens Los Blancos’ defense.Muñoz set for NewcastleCA Osasuna’s talent is very close to making the jump to the Premier League. Negotiations for Víctor Muñoz with Newcastle are in their decisive phase. Although the Catalan attacker’s release clause stands at 40 million euros, the deal will ultimately be structured at just over 30 million fixed plus performance-related add-ons, a formula that satisfies both boards. Rashford returns to ManchesterA final twist in the future of the English striker. Today marks the expiry of FC Barcelona’s 30-million-pound purchase option for Marcus Rashford. The Blaugrana have ruled out triggering the clause after a year in which the forward performed under Hansi Flick. Given this situation, Manchester United coach Michael Carrick has already publicly opened the door for him to rejoin the Red Devils. Japanese gamble at MestallaValencia CF is on the verge of completing one of the market’s most exotic and promising deals. Nineteen-year-old left winger Ryunosuke Sato is all but set to join the Mestalla side. The young FC Tokyo talent, who was also wanted by Feyenoord, will sign imminently with the club from the Turia capital for a fee close to 4 million euros.Level terms in the Andalusian derbyThe road to the top tier of Spanish football remains finely balanced. The first leg of the grand final for promotion to LALIGA ended in a goalless draw between Málaga and Almería at La Rosaleda. The match, played in front of a packed stadium, lacked a cutting edge in front of goal, a result that leaves the tie open but gives Almería a slight edge ahead of the return leg due to their higher league position.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Feyenoord reach agreement to sign OGC Nice’s Charles VanhoutteOGC Nice and Feyenoord have struck an agreement for the transfer of Charles Vanhoutte (27), according to a report from L’Équipe.Vanhoutte only joined Nice last summer, signing from Union Saint-Gilloise. He hoped that the move to the Allianz Riviera would bolster his hopes of making Rudi Garcia’s Belgium squad for the FIFA World Cup. The midfielder started well under Franck Haise, who pushed to bring him to the club, but his impact waned as Nice struggled. By the end of the season, under Claude Puel, he was no longer the key player that he was at the start of the campaign.L’Équipe revealed last week that Feyenoord were in talks with Nice over a transfer and on Sunday, an agreement between the two clubs was reached. Le Gym will receive €6m for the midfielder, L’Équipe report. He is expected to travel to the Netherlands in the coming days in order to undergo a medical and complete the move. GFFN | Luke Entwistle

TORONTO – In his last at-bat Sunday afternoon, Jose Caballero didn’t delay – except going around the bases.Caballero jumped on a first-pitch sinker by Blue Jays reliever Tommy Nance for a long, three-run homer, capping a five-run ninth at Rogers Centre.When he finally crossed home plate, Caballero gave a subtle “That’s for you’’ to plate umpire Steven Jaschinski, though he directed it toward Yankees teammate Max Schuemann for cover.“I meant it for everybody,’’ said a smiling Caballero after the Yankees’ 8-3 victory, completing a weekend series win against a bitter division rival, in a nightmarish building for the Bronx visitors.Caballero wasn’t in a playful mood during the game, when his latest stall tactics regarding the pitch clock resulted in a lengthy argument with Jaschinski, and a warning from crew chief John Tumpane.“We got the full Caballero experience today,’’ said manager Aaron Boone, who started him at second base, then moved him to third base and left field during Sunday’s game.Plus, Caballero “got the right level of ticked off’’ to fuel a solid defensive game and his sixth homer of the year.But the pitch clock stuff is becoming a serious matter.Jose Caballero: Umps are "changing the rules''During his sixth inning at-bat, in a 2-2 game, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. on base, Caballero engaged in a contentious pitch-clock related discussion with Jaschinski, eventually drawing in Boone and Tumpane.Once the pitch clock starts, a batter must engage the pitcher by the eight-second mark or else it’s an automatic strike.Caballero often takes it right to the edge. But he claimed Sunday that if he kept looking down, Jaschinski would call a strike against him.This speaks to some gray area in the rule's interpretation. Tumpane announced that Caballero had been warned for "intentionally delaying,'' and would be in violation if it happened again.“They’ve been changing the rule without any warnings,’’ said Caballero. “The rules are the rules…it’s not like I invented the rules.’’According to Boone, Sunday’s argument “was a little different’’ than the usual back-and-forth. “I’ve got to talk to the league about it.’’Caballero said he just wants more clarity about his right to use the allotted time.“I do the same thing over and over,’’ said Caballero, adding that his issues with plate umps mostly occurs in situations with runners on base.That’s when pitchers are “thinking faster and they rush (the delivery). That’s when the problem comes,’’ said Caballero, pleading for a better interpretation of the rules of engagement since “I’m kind of confused at this point.’’Jose Caballero answers back As infuriating as his delays can be for opponents, Caballero’s teammates are naturally on board.“That’s his game,’’ said starter Will Warren. “He never leaves his game plan.’’“We like that competitive attitude he brings,’’ said Ben Rice, who hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth. “I’m sure it’s coming from a good place.’’Caballero’s contentious at-bat resulted in a groundout that pushed Chisholm to third base, and the Yanks eventually scored that inning on Anthony Volpe’s second RBI single of the day.“This is the first time someone is telling me if I do my (delay) move, I was going to get called a strike,’’ said Caballero. “Which doesn’t make a sense to me. It’s my routine.’’Caballero was at-bat in the eighth (he would line out) when an enraged Toronto manager John Schneider was ejected by Jaschinski for arguing his balk call on reliever Jeff Hoffman.Next time up, Caballero launched one 420 feet to left.“Every time I’m…not in my happy zone, I try to do a lot,’’ said Caballero, OK with Boone’s assessment of his “right level’’ of anger.“Sometimes it goes good,’’ said Caballero. “But then sometimes it goes bad.’’This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees Jose Caballero's pitch clock "routine'' reaches a new level

Bangor striker Ben Arthurs will return for pre-season after being suspended by the club in April, the Irish Premiership side has confirmed.The 28-year-old did not feature in the final games of the season after being investigated and suspended over a disciplinary matter.In a statement on 20 April, Bangor said the club were "unable to provide further details" while an investigation took place.However, the club said on Monday that an internal review has been completed and Arthurs will be available for the start of pre-season.The forward has been part of the Bangor squad as they earned promotions through the divisions in recent seasons, initially playing for the club in the Ballymena & Provincial League, and culminating in their return to the top tier of Irish League football for the 2025-26 season.Arthurs sits second in the all-time scoring charts for the club and the new campaign will be his ninth year with the north Down outfit.Lee Feeney's side finished their first campaign back in the Irish Premiership in 10th place.

Toulouse submit offer for Viborg FF’s Thomas JorgensenToulouse FC have submitted a €6m bid for Viborg FF midfielder Thomas Jorgensen (20), according to a report from Sacha Tavolieri. Toulouse recently appointed a new manager in the form of Jens Berthel Askou. The highly-rated Danish manager joined from Scottish club Motherwell and he is now pushing for the arrival of one of his compatriots. Last season, Jorgensen, a Denmark youth international, played 36 times in all competitions, scoring five goals and registering six assists. He has been linked with a move to the Bundesliga, however, Le TéFéCé, who are looking to strengthen ahead of next season, have joined the race. Not only that, the Ligue 1 club have submitted an offer to their Danish counterparts worth €6m. Tavolieri understands that the talks between the two clubs are ongoing and are advanced. Jorgensen is a player that Berthel Askou knows well from his time with FC Copenhagen’s academy side. GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The fastest goals by substitutes in FIFA World Cup history as Svanberg strikes in 18 seconds for SwedenSweden’s Mattias Svanberg scored the second-fastest goal by a substitute in FIFA World Cup history during his nation's 5-1 win over Tunisia on Sunday.The Wolfsburg midfielder netted with his very first touch after being introduced at the Monterrey Stadium, turning in from a Sweden set piece as Graham Potter's side made a dream start in their Group F opener.After initially seeing the flag raised, Svanberg was soon celebrating as VAR confirmed the goal should stand.The result took Sweden top of the group after an earlier draw between the Netherlands and Japan, and wrote Svanberg into the record books.Timed at 18 seconds, the 27-year-old's goal is the second-fastest ever recorded by a substitute in World Cup history.Therecord is held by Uruguay's Richard Morales, who took only 16 seconds to score off the bench against Senegal at the 2002 World Cup.Just four World Cup substitutes have ever taken less than a minute to score after arriving from the bench.

World Cup debutants from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean have expressed their "profound disappointment" following UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin's warnings of "uninteresting games" at the expanded 48-team tournament."For our countries, there is no such thing as an unimportant World Cup match," said a joint statement on Sunday signed by debutants Cape Verde, Curaçao and Uzbekistan, as well as Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, both of which are appearing for the first time since 1974, when the latter competed as Zaire.The statement was also supported by Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast and South Africa.It comes as a response to comments by Ceferin in a recent press conference in Ljubljana, in which the UEFA boss said the World Cup's expansion to 48 teams is not necessarily good for football.While he did also say that the larger tournament "allows smaller teams to participate and feel the atmosphere of the World Cup, which is very important," the remarks have caused frustration outside Europe."We respectfully but firmly reject these comments," the joint statement read."We believe that every nation that qualifies deserves respect. Every team has earned its place on merit. Every supporter has the right to dream. Every match carries meaning for millions of people around the world.""Every match matters," the statement concluded.Haiti impressed in their World Cup opener with their attacking style, but were unable to break down a solid Scottish defence in their 1-0 defeat in Group C.Curaçao, which is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, also gave their opponents Germany a scare when Livano Comenencia equalized with the nation's first-ever World Cup goal, before they were ultimately outclassed 7-1.Debutants Cape Verde and Uzbekistan begin their campaigns with matches against Spain and Colombia, while Congo face Portugal.

Germany kick off World Cup with big winAll six Bayern players in Germany’s squad featured as the four-time world champions began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 7-1 win over Curaçao. Manuel Neuer and Aleksandar Pavlović both played the full 90 minutes in Houston on Sunday, while Joshua Kimmich (83 minutes), Jonathan Tah (73), Jamal Musiala (64) and Leon Goretzka (17) were also involved.Felix Nmecha’s early opener was cancelled out midway through the first half by Livano Comenencia, but Germany restored their lead before the break thanks to Nico Schlotterbeck and then Kai Havertz’s penalty. Musiala made it 4-1 after the restart from a Kimmich assist. Nathaniel Brown added a fifth before captain Kimmich set up Deniz Undav for the sixth. Havertz rounded things off in the closing minutes.“It’s important in a tournament like this that we got off to a good start and played in an exciting way,” said Neuer after the game, which was his 20th at the World Cup to go level with France’s Hugo Lloris for most appearances by a goalkeeper in the finals. Germany’s second game of Group E is on Saturday (22:00 CEST) in Toronto against Ivory Coast, who beat Ecuador 1-0 in their opener.Bayern defender Hiroki Ito played the full 90 minutes as Japan claimed a late 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their first game of Group F. Virgil van Dijk put the Dutch ahead early in the second half, but Keito Nakamura hit back only six minutes later for the Samurai Blue. Parity lasted only seven minutes before Crysencio Summerville put the Oranje back in front. Daichi Kamada’s 89th-minute equaliser snatched Japan a point in Dallas. Ito’s second group game is at 6am CEST on Sunday in Monterrey against Tunisia, who were beaten 5-1 by Sweden in their opener.Follow FC Bayern's players at 2026 World Cup

ToplineFighter Jos Hokit made a crude remark about former First Lady Michelle Obama while being interviewed after winning his bout during the controversial UFC Freedom 250 event held on the White House lawn on Sunday night, which saw several high-profile attendees, including celebrities, athletes, billionaires and political leaders.Josh Hokit speaks to Joe Rogan following his win in a heavyweight fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event.Zuffa LLCKey FactsThe show began after a short weather delay and saw seven bouts on the card and ended with American fighter Justin Gaethje pulling off an upset win in the main event against Georgian Ilia Topuria to claim the Lightweight Championship.One of the most controversial events took place after a mid-card fight, when Jos Hokit was interviewed in the octagon by UFC commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan following his win over Derrick Lewis.Hokit ended the interview by blurting out a right-wing conspiracy theory, “Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?”Rogan appeared to be smiling but did not address the comments and ended the interview, saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, Josh Hokit.”Before the fight, Hokit presented the president—who was seated ringside—with what appeared to be a gold chain with an encased trading card.What Do We Know About The Daniel Cormier Controversy?An apparent X post made by UFC commentator and former Light Heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier hours before the event triggered another controversy before the fight. The now-deleted post included screenshots that claimed to show text messages from the president’s son, Eric Trump, asking Cormier if any of the fights at the UFC White House event were rigged. The post was captioned: “The UFC is a sport that I am deeply passionate about. I will not tolerate this type of insider behavior. Shame on anyone trying to ruin this beautiful event.” However, the alleged text messages were quickly denied by Eric Trump and were swiftly deleted from Cormier’s timeline. Responding to a screengrab of the alleged post, the president’s son wrote: “This is completely fake! I have never reached out to Daniel. In fact, this is scary.” He followed this up by tweeting: “We are aware of the fake, AI generated screenshots being circulated online. I have never spoken to Daniel. He has since deleted his post, which confirms it was clearly fabricated.” But the X post carried a community report that read “Multiple journalists and eyewitnesses confirm Daniel Cormier posted the screenshots himself before deleting them.” Cormier also issued an X post saying: “Are people really this dumb?” It is unclear if the MMA star and commentator actually made the alleged post or if his account was hacked. This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Yasin Ayari played a key role in Sweden’s 5-1 rout of Tunisia in their opening game of the World Cup - but after scoring the first goal he chose not to celebrate.The Brighton star latched onto the rebound after Viktor Gyokeres had an early attempt blocked and volleyed past Tunisia keeper Abdelmouhib Chamakh in the seventh minute at the Estadio Monterrey.But having enjoyed a dream start to his World Cup debut, the 22-year-old did not celebrate, instead raising his hands in apology to the opposition fans. Ayari did so as a way of paying respect to his heritage, having been born in Solna, Sweden to a Tunisian father, Azzouz Ayari. The younger Ayari, who represented Sweden at the youth level, was given the chance to switch allegiances and play for Tunisia ahead of the 2022 World Cup, but he declined. When asked about his son’s choice to represent Sweden, Azzouz Ayari told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet earlier this year that he agreed with the decision. “No, I wanted him to play for Sweden,” Azzouz Ayari said. “He must feel like he’s giving back to the country that took care of him.” Ayari himself said: “I was born in Sweden and feel Swedish, and Sweden is the country I want to represent.”He joined Brighton in 2023 and made his debut for the Swedish national team the same year. On Saturday, Tunisia coach Sabri Lamouchi also offered support to Ayari. “I know him and his brother,” Lamouchi said. “He made a choice, I have a lot of respect, and he’s a very good player. We wish him after the game best of luck, but that is after the game.” In the final seconds, Ayari scored a second goal with a long-range shot to the left corner. He celebrated more enthusiastically, sliding on his knees while cupping his ear with his hand toward the Sweden fans behind the goal. AP

Mario Gila Requests Lazio Exit as New Revelation on Real Madrid’s Clause EmergesLazio defender Mario Gila has reportedly asked the management to sell him amid keen interest from Napoli.Lazio Undergoing Defensive OverhaulThe Biancocelesti are preparing to sell Alessio Romagnoli to Al-Sadd, while Ivan Provedel is pushing to join Inter Milan. Therefore, Gila’s exit would truly mark the end of an era for Lazio’s backline. Like his two teammates, the Spaniard’s contract will expire in 2027, so this summer represents the club’s last chance to make a significant profit by cashing in on his services.Mario Gila Asks to Leave LazioWhile there have been conflicting reports regarding the hierarchy’s intention and Gennaro Gattuso’s role, Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla insists that Gila has already reiterated his desire to leave the club this summer, and that the new head coach has resigned to the decision.Napoli Leading the Race for GilaGila has been linked with several clubs over the past few months, but Napoli have emerged as the frontrunners in the race, especially after reaching an agreement with Massimiliano Allegri, who had already plotted to bring him to AC Milan before his sacking at the end of the season.How Much Real Madrid Are Entitled to Receive From Gila’s Sale?Previous reports had indicated that Lazio president Claudio Lotito had set his asking price at €25-30 million. However, the Aquile will have to split the transfer fee with the player’s former employers, Real Madrid, who have a 50% sell-on fee.Nevertheless, Il Messaggero sheds some light on this clause. Contrary to common belief, Los Merengues will not receive half of the transfer fee, but half of the profit generated by Lazio. In other words, the €5 million that the Italian club had paid to acquire Gila in the summer of 2022 will be subtracted.Therefore, if Lazio were to sell the player for €25 million, the 50% sell-on fee would only be applied on the €20 million profit. In this case, Real Madrid’s clause would earn them €10 million, while the Biancocelesti would pocket €15 million in total.

Real Madrid suffer major setback as defensive target edges closer to contract renewalReal Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has come in like a man on a mission and has already worked on a number of deals to bolster the squad ahead of the new season.Los Blancos have already signed both Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries as free agents and are on the verge of completing a deal for Marc Cucurella.Judging by how Mourinho is operating, he has identified defence as an area he wants to reinforce, and it looks like he is not done.One player Madrid wanted to sign was Manchester City star Josko Gvardiol. However, it was reported that the English club were in talks with him to extend his contract.Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, City are increasingly confident of securing Gvardiol’s agreement on a new contract, with improved financial terms already presented to the player.Set to renew. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)The renewal is expected to be completed soon, and this would be a blow to Madrid’s plans.Mourinho’s ideal defensive profileThere is a reason Gvardiol’s name has repeatedly done the rounds as an excellent defensive target.His profile is what modern managers dream of. The 24-year-old combines physical dominance, composure on the ball and tactical versatility. He can operate both as a centre-back and as a left-back, making him exactly the type of multifunctional defender Mourinho values.The Croatian also possesses the experience and winning mentality required to thrive at a club where expectations are relentlessly high.He would immediately raise the ceiling of the backline and would do so more than any of the other players the club have signed.Manchester City move quicklyGvardiol’s imminent renewal a blow for Real Madrid. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Manchester City’s response has been decisive. Rather than allowing uncertainty to grow around one of their most important defenders, the Premier League side have moved to secure his future with a contract extension reportedly running until 2031.The improved salary package reflects how highly the Premier League side value the defender and demonstrates their determination to keep him away from Europe’s biggest clubs.Real Madrid must look elsewhereUnless something unexpected happens before the contract is signed, Gvardiol will no longer be a realistic target for this summer or the foreseeable future.The focus will now likely shift towards alternative defensive options as Mourinho continues shaping his squad.Gvardiol may have been one of the most attractive solutions available on the market, but Real Madrid have enough options, and it remains to be seen who they eventually go for.

DHARAMSHALA: The Indian team management has pinned its hopes on Nitish Kumar Reddy ’s evolution as a seam-bowling allrounder as they look for a stable alternative for the injury-prone Hardik Pandya. On Saturday, amid Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s assault on the Indian attack, when captain Shubman Gill threw Reddy the ball, he responded with four impressive overs for 2/31 to restrict the visitor’s innings.Reddy understands that when Hardik comes back, it will be difficult for him to hold on to his place in the XI. To make most of the opportunities that could arise, he has been working hard to sharpen his bowling skills over the last one year, even having worked with UK-based bowling coach Stefan Jones.“I figured that I’m a front-on bowler and started working on the stride lengths as I wanted to go much quicker on the run-up. It changed my bowling action a little bit. It’s coming good now and there are some more improvements which I’ll hopefully do in the coming days,” Reddy said. 131737351Reddy was understandably reluctant to divulge details of working with Jones. “It’s just been seven days since we worked together. We have discussed specifics and worked on them and identified some points where I need to change a little bit in my specific bowling. We’re working on it, basically it’s what we want to achieve in the coming days,” he said.

A rescue worker checks an apartment that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)2026-06-15T07:13:17Z DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States and Iran reached an initial agreement early Monday that would extend their shaky ceasefire and lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but challenges immediately loomed, including Israel insisting it would hold onto land seized in Lebanon as it battles Hezbollah.Details of the deal, which would potentially allow desperately needed oil and natural gas to reach the global market through the critical waterway, were not immediately released. Iran signaled implementation would not start until the signing, which key mediator Pakistan said would take place Friday in Switzerland. But the memorandum of understanding over the war already faced hurdles. Israel’s continued hostilities with the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah in Lebanon, where Israel bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs Sunday, nearly derailed the negotiations. Israel joined the U.S. in launching the war on Feb. 28. Israel says it won’t withdraw from LebanonIn the first official Israeli comments after the announcement of the deal, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel won’t withdraw from land seized in Lebanon as the interim deal is pending. Katz said Israel plans to stay “indefinitely” in lands it holds in Lebanon, as well as Syria and the Gaza Strip. Iran has tied the interim deal over the war to halting Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon.Katz also threatened that if Iran attacks Israel over Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Israel will strike Iran with “great force.”Over the past 2 1/2 years, Israel has taken control of areas in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria amounting to 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of territory — an area that is slightly smaller than New York City. Meanwhile, the deal between the U.S. and Iran gives just 60 days to resolve what to do about Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and its atomic program. That took years to resolve in Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from that accord in his first term, setting the stage for the tensions that culminated in the war. Read More “Congratulations to all!” Trump wrote on social media as he celebrated his 80th birthday Sunday with a UFC cage match fight at the White House. He added, “I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade,” which was imposed in retaliation for Iran’s grip on the crucial waterway. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. He soon hedged, however, saying the strait wouldn’t open until Friday’s signing. Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed the agreement on state television but said Iran would not start implementing it until it was signed Friday. He said the deal followed talks with Qatar, another mediator. World leaders applaud the agreement Leaders from China to Europe welcomed the announcement. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has roiled international markets and sent prices of fuel and other essential goods, including food, spiraling. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that China “hopes the U.S. and Iran will sign the initial memorandum of understanding as scheduled.” Beijing hopes that safe and free passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be restored as soon as possible, he added. France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot welcomed the agreement “that should bring an end to hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon.” He said that “all parties to the conflict must respect this agreement.”Barrot said “for far too long” the war in Iran has driven prices of fuel and fertilizer painfully high. With the ceasefire, he said dozens of nations like France and the United Kingdom could send ships to protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.The European Union’s top diplomat pledged support for further negotiations over outstanding issues like Iran’s nuclear program.“Fingers crossed that they will be also initialized on Friday, because everybody needs the Strait of Hormuz to be open and actually this war to stop,” Kaja Kallas, foreign policy chief of the 27-nation EU, said ahead of a gathering of foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday. But some of the ministers, like Luxembourg’s Xavier Bettel, expressed skepticism. “It’s a long time till Friday,” he said. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also welcomed the breakthrough and said it was vital that all parties in the region seize the opportunity to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.“We will now work closely with our partners to support this agreement and to ensure that it turns into a durable, lasting peace,’’ he said. Pakistan, a key mediator, announced the dealPakistan first announced the deal, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying “both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.” He added that mediators this week will facilitate meetings to “lay the foundation for the technical talks.”Broader negotiations on outstanding issues like Iran’s nuclear program would continue over the next 60 days, two senior Pakistani officials said earlier Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. If the sides fail to reach a resolution within that time, the timeline could be extended.Iranian state television cited the secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council as saying the war on all fronts “will end immediately and permanently beginning tonight” — and that the U.S. blockade “will be terminated immediately and in full.”Qatari mediators later left Tehran following 17 hours of negotiations, said an official briefed on the developments who spoke on condition of anonymity due to sensitivity of the talks. Separate preparatory meetings with each side will take place in Doha this week, the official said.It was not clear who from Iran would sign the deal on Friday. U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News the White House was still figuring out who would attend: “I certainly plan to be there, but it’s possible the president himself could be there.”But concern among Republicans in the U.S. already could be seen. They included U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who described Vance as “the architect of the deal.”“I am somewhat concerned that Iran’s view of the agreement seems different than what the American negotiating team is claiming,” Graham wrote online. ___Becatoros reported from Athens, Greece. Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sam McNeil and Sylvain Plazy in Brussels, Danica Kirka in London, Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, Simina Mistreanu in Taipei, Taiwan, Cathy Bussewitz in New York and Cara Anna in Lowville, New York, contributed to this report. JON GAMBRELL Gambrell is the news director for the Gulf and Iran for The Associated Press. He has reported from each of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran and other locations across the world since joining the AP in 2006. twitter instagram mailto ELENA BECATOROS Becatoros oversees coverage of southeast Europe for The Associated Press, with frequent assignments to the Middle East and Afghanistan. Based in Athens, Greece, she has worked around the world, including covering war in the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine. twitter instagram mailto

Health workers prepare the coffin of Angèle Muyumba Nsimire, a university student who died of Ebola at the Citadelle Clinic in Bunia, Congo, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)2026-06-14T21:00:33Z KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The number of confirmed Ebola cases in Congo has increased to 782, with 181 deaths, the Congolese Ministry of Health said in a statement on social platform X on Sunday evening.However, the number of cases in Congo is believed to be higher because the outbreak was confirmed on May 15, weeks after it is suspected to have begun, and the contact tracing coverage rate is at 56%, a sharp decrease from last week.The latest Ebola outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccine or treatment, unlike the “Zaire virus,” which was responsible for most of Congo’s past 16 outbreaks of the disease.Fifty-six people have recovered, and the current fatality rate of the outbreak is 23%, the Ministry said.The outbreak is concentrated in Congo’s eastern province of Ituri, which accounts for more than 90% of the cases. Cases have also been recorded in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and have spread across the border to Uganda. Nearly a million people have been displaced by conflict in Ituri, according to the U.N. humanitarian office, making contact tracing difficult as people flee attacks or move frequently in the vast province with dense forests, poor roads and remote villages that can take days to reach. Tracing is also difficult among the thousands of artisanal miners who regularly move between remote sites in the mineral-rich region. Read More Attacks on health workers from angry residents, skepticism among some locals, and armed conflict in hot spots continue to challenge efforts to stop the outbreak.Last month, U.S. officials said Washington intends to send Americans exposed to Ebola while abroad to a new facility in Kenya rather than flying them back home. They said the center would be located at Laikipia Air Base with a capacity of 50 quarantine beds. The move led to protests over the plans to build an Ebola quarantine center, which was later halted by the courts.

A large real estate development in the middle of Vancouver, British Columbia, shows how cities can build more housing.

The Louisville-area nominees for Courier Journal boys lacrosse athlete of the year delivered on the field throughout the 2026 season.Voting is underway for The Courier Journal's boys lacrosse athlete of the year. The poll closes at 6 p.m. Thursday, and the winner will be announced Friday.Follow our sports Instagram page, @courierjournal_sports, to get the latest local and statewide news.Looking for more high school sports coverage? Subscribe here today and sign up for our high school sports newsletter.Here are the nominees:Henry Ewen, CollegiateFreshman garnered second-team All-State honors after averaging 11.6 saves per game and allowing 6.8 goals per game.Logan Huelsman, CollinsSenior ranked second in the state with 108 goals and added 36 assists.Connor Marks, St. XavierSenior midfielder was a first-team All-State pick after posting 33 goals and 13 assists.Bo Norrenbrock, TrinityJunior attacker earned first-team All-State honors after leading the state champion Shamrocks in goals (46) and assists (37).Ryan Schock, South OldhamSenior goalkeeper made 15.9 saves per game and allowed 7.2 goals per game on his way to first-team All-State honors.More high school sports: Trinity baseball repeats as state champion in shutout of Boyd CountyJason Frakes: (502) 582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; follow @kyhighs on X.This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville high school KHSAA boys lacrosse CJ player of the year poll

The Louisville-area nominees for Courier Journal girls lacrosse athlete of the year delivered on the field throughout the 2026 season.Voting is underway for The Courier Journal's girls lacrosse athlete of the year. The poll closes at 6 p.m. Thursday, and the winner will be announced Friday.Follow our sports Instagram page, @courierjournal_sports, to get the latest local and statewide news.Looking for more high school sports coverage? Subscribe here today and sign up for our high school sports newsletter.Here are the nominees:Ellie Beam, Kentucky Country DaySenior was named Kentucky’s Midfielder of the Year and led the state with 110 goals and 53 assists.Kate Hamill, EasternJunior midfielder was a first-team All-State pick after posting 70 goals and 17 assists.Audrey Kuhn, AssumptionSenior was named Kentucky’s Goalkeeper of the Year after averaging 7.8 saves per game and allowing 6.9 goals per game.Layla Lococo, CollegiateJunior attacker was a first-team All-State pick after posting 58 goals and four assists.Maddie Van Allsburg, Christian AcademySophomore midfielder was a first-team All-State pick after scoring 26 goals and adding 43 assists. More high school sports: Bullitt East softball falls to unbeaten South Warren in state finalJason Frakes: (502) 582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; follow @kyhighs on X.This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville high school KHSAA girls lacrosse CJ player of the year poll

EXCLUSIVE | Alan Hutton on his time at RCD Mallorca: ‘It made an impression on us all. It was just a brilliant time for me.’Former Scotland international and RCD Mallorca defender Alan Hutton sat down with Get Spanish Football News to discuss his time in Spain with his former team. Can you tell me a little bit about your time at Mallorca and any memories that really stand out for you?The whole experience was absolutely brilliant. It’s something that I’d not gone through before. In terms of going to a different country and playing. It came out the blue from an agent I knew up in Scotland. It happened really quickly. In terms of experiences, it was like night and day from England or Scotland. Its culture was very different, where we’d go train with the team and then after that we’d go down to the beach and all sit and have a laugh. It was something I’ve never experienced. There wasn’t that pressure down on your shoulder where every day people are saying things to you in the press or the media, and it wasn’t like that; it was about enjoying your football. And to have the chance to go and play at some of the stadiums, Atlético de Madrid, it was obviously the old one [The Vicente Calderón Stadium] at the time, the Mestalla, going to the Bernabéu, the Nou Camp. All these things were just incredible for me. And also the overall look at football, even though we were a smaller team, it was go and play and go and attack. You were going to Real Madrid or Barcelona, and we want to play our game. Obviously, ultimately, we were playing against top opposition. But it was what we did. And I’ve never really come across that before, to go and attack those big teams. I thought the whole experience was brilliant, and ever since then, I always go back. My brother-in-law was there two weeks ago at a Mallorca game. It made an impression on us all. It was just a brilliant time for me. You mentioned the move came about quite quickly. How did the move first materialise, and what were your initial thoughts? I’m going to be brutally honest with you: I didn’t know Mallorca had a team. It was an agent that I knew from Glasgow, John Viola, it was kind of out of the blue. He said, ‘I’ve got this opportunity; would it be something you fancied?’ I needed to think about it. I wasn’t playing for Aston Villa at the time, and it was coming close to the end of the [transfer] window. I looked up the team and saw that Giovani Dos Santos was there, who I played with at Spurs. I was kind of like, ‘Alright, let’s just do it. I need to go and play. Let’s just do it. It’s something totally different.’ And it happened, really quickly after that. It was just get out here, fly over, and do everything we need to do. And as soon as I got there, I just felt at home. Everybody was really good around me. The staff that was looking after me. Everything was just perfect, and I felt that this was the place to be. Can you tell me a bit more about Giovani Dos Santos? When he first emerged, he was talked about as being on the path to being one of the best players in the world. You’re right, when he first came to Tottenham from Barcelona. I thought this boy was going to be the real deal; he’s going to be the next big thing – technical ability, he had pace, he could make something out of nothing. For some reason, it didn’t quite work at Tottenham. I don’t really know why. He left there, and when I got to Mallorca, you could tell that he was the star man. The fans loved him. And it was [all about] can we get the ball into him in dangerous areas. He could score the goals that we need. I think he went to America after that. I don’t really know why he didn’t go to the next level, because the talent was there. You could see it every day, be it in training or in games. It came very easy to him, and I don’t know if that was maybe a bit of a hindrance, because when you have technical ability, you need to work harder to get to the next level. You see that throughout careers. If you’ve got talent and you don’t work, you kind of taper off a little bit. Whether that was the reason, I’m not sure. But he had everything to make it to the top, so I don’t really know why that didn’t quite happen. You were playing in La Liga at a time I think many people in the UK consider to be a golden era for the league. What did you make of it? I just loved every moment of it because in our team, we had technically gifted players. It was all about what we’d done on the pitch. We weren’t really focusing on the other teams, even though they were much better and bigger in stature than us. It was what we’d done against them, and I’d never really experienced that. But to go and put your talents and skills up against some of the best players was just really exciting for me. Going against Real Madrid and being up against Cristiano Ronaldo was something you don’t really dream of. You don’t really think of yourself playing in La Liga, so to have done it was amazing. Even just thinking back, it seems like a crazy situation to sit here and talk about how I’ve actually done that and played against some of these brilliant football teams. It’s something I look back on very fondly. Thinking about the environment in Mallorca, and playing your games on an island. Was that in itself a culture shock for you? Yes, I suppose it was. Flying to every away game, things like that. It was a case of when you left the stadium or left the training ground, that was it. You had the freedom to do what you wanted. You weren’t getting stopped in the town. You weren’t getting asked for pictures or this or that. There weren’t too many interviews to be done. You turned up, you had your work, you did your work, you worked hard, and then you left. It was something I hadn’t really experienced before. I think over in Scotland or England, there’s always that pressure. There’s always that media spotlight on you. There’s always people that want to talk to you and ask you questions. You just didn’t get that over there. You could just totally switch off. When you were at football, you’d give it a hundred per cent, and you were all in and focused. But when you left the building, it was like a total different culture – a little bit like you were on holiday. As long as you put everything into the pitch or in training, you could have your off time. It was a strange dynamic, but I did get used to it, I must admit [laughs]. Did you want to stay there beyond the loan? So what had happened was, we got relegated, which of course wasn’t ideal. I came back home and was in discussion with Mallorca. I loved it that much, I went, ‘I don’t care, I want to go back.’ I had three years, I think, left at Villa. And the whole house was packed up, ready to get shipped across, because we were going. And I bumped into an ex-player at the time; our kids went to the same school, and we were chatting away and talking about it, and he basically said to me, and it’s always stuck in my mind, ‘Out of sight, out of mind.’ He said, ‘If you go over there and it doesn’t work. How are you getting back here? What team are you going to go to back here?’ And it stuck with me forever. I left the school and went back home and told my wife, who’d packed everything up, ‘We’re staying; we can’t go. I need to stay here and try and fight for my place.’ So, as much as I wanted to, it hit home speaking to other people about the situation. Mallorca struggled after that relegation; they went down the leagues, so it probably turned out it was the right move for me at that time to just stay where I was. Alan Hutton was speaking exclusive to GSFN on behalf of Best Betting Bonuses.GSFN | Nick Hartland

Denny Hamlin is in the best driving form of his NASCAR Cup Series career.Hamlin won the Great American Getaway on June 14 at Pocono Raceway, his third victory in a row. The driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota is now within 19 points of Tyler Reddick's points lead with 10 regular-season races to go.Hamlin again was the fastest throughout the race, speed that erased any other strategical advantage from others in the field.As the narrative continues in 2026 about Toyota's dominance, maybe there should be a shift. It's not necessarily Toyota et al, but Hamlin and Tyler Reddick are the drivers dominating this season. Reddick, who finished second at Pocono, and Hamlin have combined to win 9 of 16 races so far plus the All-Star Race. Five other Toyota drivers are inside the top 15 in points, but Reddick and Hamlin are in a class of their own right now.Here are the winners and losers from the NASCAR Pocono race:POINTS AFTER POCONO: NASCAR points standings, Cup Series Chase points picture update after Pocono raceNASCAR Pocono winners and losers as Denny Hamlin continues on career-best runWinner: Denny Hamlin as the 2026 title favoriteAnd while Reddick owned February and March, Hamlin is dominating May and June.Hamlin is on a three-race winning streak going into next week's race at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego. Road courses are not Hamlin's strength, and the Cup Series have two such races in a row coming up.The point should be made now, then. Hamlin is the 2026 Cup Series championship favorite through 16 weeks.Forget that the Chase format will be in Hamlin's favor, and that four 1.5-mile tracks in the 10-week race to the championship gives him a clear advantage.Hamlin is on pace to set career highs in wins, laps led and average finish in his age-45 season. The No. 11 Toyota has unloaded well this year. And Hamlin has but one more career checkmark to make — a Cup Series title.Reddick vs. Hamlin should be a fun showdown to watch this fall. As of now, Hamlin has the advantage.Winner: Legacy Motor ClubAll of the Hamlin-Reddick talk aside, the next best story is the recent surge by Legacy Motor Club and its two cars.Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek have each shown top-five speed over the last three weeks, and Pocono was their best combined runs on speed in the team's current makeup.Nemechek led a race-high 42 laps and finished fourth, while Jones ran in the top 10 for most of the race before finishing sixth. Jones vaulted to 15th in the points standings, on the right side of the bubble with 10 races to go before the cutoff.Nemechek is too far off the Chase cutline to make that kind of impact this year (even if the Chase bubble is very soft), but he and Jones are talented enough to drive good race cars into contention each week. If Jones can manage a couple solid runs on the road course races coming up, he will be in a great spot to get into the 16-driver Chase.Loser: Brad KeselowskiRFK Racing has featured too often in this section over the last six weeks, and Keselowski is back here after a no-good, very-bad weekend at Pocono.Keselowski's problems began on June 13 with an engine issue during his qualifying run, forcing him to start at the back of the field.The No. 6 Ford made OK progress through 46 laps, but was still mired outside the top 20 when it was caught up in a multi-car crash caused by contact from Austin Hill to Shane van Gisbergen and Josh Berry. Keselowski hit a spinning Bubba Wallace square in the door and suffered major damage.No driver wants to be running toward the back of the pack, but there's extra risk involved by being around slower cars in traffic. For the third straight week, Keselowski had a DNF after a crash while running outside the top 20.Keselowski was ninth in points, 41 points above the cutline after Watkins Glen. Now? Keselowski is 17th, four points behind 16th.Not a lot of room to go three-wide exiting Turn 3.@joshberry makes contact with the wall, and multiple cars are collected. pic.twitter.com/TOqyK2jEjJ— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 14, 2026Loser: Joey LoganoLogano's mini-run of solid results ended with a 34th-place finish at Pocono after being involved in the same Lap 46 crash that knocked Keselowski out of the race.Logano made a pit stop for a strategy play and was toward the back after earning points in Stage 1. But he was caught up in other people's issues, suffering damage to the splitter in the crash after making contact with Connor Zilisch and at least one other car.Logano lost a lap under caution for repairs, then was well off of race pace throughout the final 100 laps.The No. 22 had recorded finishes of eighth, 14th and 7th over the last three weeks to keep pace with the Chase bubble. Logano's struggles at Pocono were offset somewhat by other drivers' issues, but he has not shown the pace and race execution to consistently run up front and erase a points deficit.This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Pocono winners, losers. Denny Hamlin is 2026 Cup title favorite

What will the Washington Commanders look like in 2026? Expectations are mixed for the Commanders, based on how they finished last season. Washington went 5-12 in 2025, one year after going 12-5 and reaching the NFC Championship Game.While skepticism is warranted, there are reasons to be excited about Washington's upcoming season. General manager Adam Peters spent heavily to improve one of the NFL's worst defenses. Washington will be younger, faster and, most importantly, better in 2026. How much better? That remains to be seen. Another reason to be excited is the healthy returns of Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin. Both are out to prove last season was a fluke after the pair missed a combined 17 games. Matt Verdareme of Sports Illustrated recently gave every team a reason to hope in 2026. He wasn't done, though, also giving each team a reason to mope. First, a reason to hope.Jayden Daniels is healthy, and we saw the magic he worked as Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024, leading the Commanders to the NFC title game. The defense was also bolstered by myriad signings, including defensive ends Odafe Oweh and Charles Omenihu, safety Nick Cross and linebacker Leo Chenal.That sounds familiar. Now, a reason to mope. Who is catching a pass outside of Terry McLaurin? Right now, the depth chart includes Treylon Burks, Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane, who all combined for 558 yards in 2025.This one is a common criticism of the Commanders. A healthy McLaurin changes everything. Burks is having an impressive offseason, but no one can pencil him as Washington's No. 2 receiver until he does it consistently in games. Tight end Chig Okonkwo could be the Commanders' No. 2 receiver. Many believe Okonkwo is set for a huge role in David Blough's offense.If some of the younger receivers, like Burks, McCaffrey, and Lane, all take steps forward, this position will be discussed much differently. There's also the chance that the Commanders add another well-known veteran, whether it's Stefon Diggs or Brandon Aiyuk. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Reasons to hope and mope in 2026 NFL season

Nature, Published online: 15 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01887-wAdvances in machine learning and other technologies are helping researchers to trace the movements, landmarks and social practices of wildlife.

Illustration by Shoshana Gordon/ProPublica What would you think of me, the ProPublica editor responsible for newsroom standards, if I placed a bet on the baseball game I’m currently listening to on the radio? Probably that I’m doing something plenty of others do, and that my wallet will be lighter in a few innings. What would you think of me if I stood to make a tidy sum based on the outcome of a news event ProPublica has been covering? You’d probably think that’s downright shady, because isn’t the job of a journalist to report the news and not make money off it? Lest you think I’m an ethically compromised editor, you can rest easy. According to a recent update to ProPublica’s code of ethics, “no employee should wager on the outcome of news events on the prediction markets — regardless of whether or not they are involved in coverage of said event.” ProPublica has always prohibited employees from profiting off inside information, so you may wonder why we amended our code of ethics to specifically single out prediction markets. We have not encountered any instances of this happening on our staff, but it has become harder and harder to deny the influence and reach of prediction markets beyond sports. In fact, deals between prediction markets and news organizations abound, such as Kalshi with CNN, Fox News and The Associated Press, and Polymarket with Dow Jones. But there have also been worrying examples of these markets at play. Look to the case of a U.S. soldier involved in the ouster of Nicolás Maduro from power in Venezuela who was said to have made over $400,000 by betting on the mission. (He was charged with “unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction,” according to the Department of Justice, and has pleaded not guilty.) Or to the political candidates who were accused of trying to make trades on their own races. (All three received fines from Kalshi ranging from about $540 to about $6,230 and were suspended from the platform for five years.) Or even to the journalist who detailed receiving threats from gamblers trying to get him to change his report on a missile impact in Israel. (He didn’t.) At ProPublica, it felt imperative for us to establish professional boundaries in a world where a person can have a financial stake in almost anything. Our thinking was: If one of our employees has money riding on an outcome, can a reader be sure we’re covering a story without bias? We take your trust seriously and know that it is something to be earned and maintained. We’ve always held ourselves to high standards. The code of ethics specifically exhorts our journalists to “avoid any actions that could make a reasonable reader doubt their ability to report fairly or with neutrality on the subjects of their coverage.” We know that even the appearance of us doing anything other than working in the public interest is troubling. When we began seeing instances of people making money off the outcome of news events, one of our concerns was that readers might assume journalists were doing the same. Even gambling on news events that ProPublica would most likely not cover, like next year’s presidential election in France, isn’t a good look for a journalist. If someone on our staff is doing that, a reader might wonder if they are betting on something closer to home or to their field of expertise. However, we also wanted to take care to not close the door on activities that don’t pose such an existential reputational risk. A bunch of investigative journalists throwing a few dollars into an office sports pool will probably not have the public thinking we’re incapable of being fair — although some of our team allegiances might make readers think we’re gluttons for punishment. And putting a bit of money on a ballgame isn’t a huge cause for alarm. So we took care to say that “betting on sporting events (like the Super Bowl or the Kentucky Derby) and taking part in small-stakes, friendly contests (like office pools on the Oscars) are permissible when legal and when employees are not involved in coverage of those events.” (And even though our code of ethics allows us to bet on sporting events in these cases, I don’t because I prefer to spend my money on cheap seats and stadium novelties.) Other outlets are also tackling this issue. NPR recently issued guidance that says “editorial employees are not allowed to use prediction markets or similar sites to place bets on developments of news events, or anything else we might cover, or on things NPR controls,” including who will appear on upcoming Tiny Desk Concerts. And the New York Times’ standards editor said in a memo to staff that “betting on the outcome of news events on the prediction markets is a violation of our principles and ethical guidance and is not permitted.” Beyond journalism, this has also gotten attention at the state and national levels. Places like Maryland and New York have put rules in place to prohibit state employees from using inside information to bet on prediction markets. And a number of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives have called for banning members of the chamber and their staff from gambling on the platforms. Our code of ethics isn’t immutable, and down the road we may revisit this topic and further bolster our guidelines. Or we may tackle something that isn’t even on our radar today. But we will always act with the reader in mind so you know you’re getting the truth from people who are accountable only to you. You can bet on it. Actually, maybe don’t do that. The post Why We Changed Our Code of Ethics to Address Prediction Markets appeared first on ProPublica.

Confirmed: Real Madrid sign Marc Cucurella from ChelseaReal Madrid have officially announced the signing of Marc Cucurella from Chelsea, confirming their first transfer of the summer.“Real Madrid CF and Chelsea FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of Marc Cucurella, who will be linked to our club for the next six seasons, until June 30, 2032,” the club statement read.Cucurella was also being targeted by both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, but Real Madrid have moved swiftly to close the deal and secure his signing.The defender has signed a six-year contract with Los Blancos, committing to the Spanish capital club until the summer of 2032.While there is no mention of the transfer fee in the statement, Real Madrid are understood to have paid a fee of €55 million plus another €5 million in add-ons for the Spanish left-back.Cucurella comes in as a part of a major defensive restructuring that Real Madrid are carrying out under new manager Jose Mourinho.While his is the first signing that has been announced officially, Los Blancos have also secured the transfers of Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries to bolster the backline.Bernardo Silva has also agreed to join on a free transfer to further reinforce the midfield. Official announcements of those deals are likely to take place after the World Cup.

Fifa’s discrimination monitor at the World Cup has called for the removal of a video review official after he appeared to make a hand gesture resembling a white supremacist sign. Shaun Evans, an Australian official, was seen making an "OK" symbol with his right hand in front of his right leg when the official broadcast of Germany's opening game against Curaçao on Sunday cut pre-game to show the team of video review analysts. Though the game was played in Houston, video officials work in Dallas at the World Cup broadcast centre. The gesture, with thumb and forefinger touched in a circle and other fingers outstretched, was designated a hate symbol by the New York-based Anti-Defamation League in 2019.“Advice from our experts is that the gesture used clearly resembles an upside down ‘OK’ hand symbol used as a ‘white power’ symbol in global far-right circles,” the Fare network, a long-time partner of Fifa and European soccer body UEFA to monitor racist and discriminatory chants, flags and symbols at international games, said in a statement.“Clearly this official should have no further role to play in this World Cup,” Fare said in a statement, describing the gesture as “neo-nazi.”Evans is among 30 video review analysts selected by FIFA to work at the World Cup being played in the United States, Canada and Mexico (Getty)Fifa was asked for comment.In Australia, the Professional Football Referees Association and governing body Football Australia were contacted for comment.It was unclear if Evans, working at his first game at the World Cup, was making a political gesture or playing a children’s game prank.The “gotcha” or “circle game” is where someone flashes an upside-down OK sign below their waist and punches in the shoulder anyone who looks at it.It was appropriated a decade ago as a signal for white supremacy that started as a hoax on the far-right online message board 4chan.In 2019 when the sign was designated as a hate symbol, Oren Segal, director of the ADL’s Center on Extremism, said context is key to interpreting whether an “OK” symbol is hateful or harmless.At the time, he said, “there is enough of a volume of use for hateful purposes that we felt it was important to add.”Evans is among 30 video review analysts selected by Fifa to work at the World Cup being played in the United States, Canada and Mexico.“Why is a VAR supervisor using this symbol at a global football event at the very moment he knows the cameras are on him?” Fare said. “We note that in the two subsequent games it appears TV directors have stopped introducing the VAR panel to the TV audience.”

A Mexican man caught making an offensive gesture during a World Cup match between South Korea and Czech Republic has lost his job after being accused of racism. A Korean Youtuber was filming a video during the match in the city of Guadalajara on Friday when the man seated behind her, later identified as Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes, looked directly into the camera and pulled the corners of both his eyes in a gesture widely regarded as racist and insulting towards people of Asian descent. The Youtuber Yoon Su Jin, who also goes by the name Ino Cat, later posted the video on her Instagram. "You travelled across the world for the World Cup,” she wrote, “and experienced racism.”The video was liked by 511,000 people by last count and commented upon 66,000 times. “Ugh so terrible,” one user commented. “And then he laughs like he cracked the best joke.” “As a Mexican, I feel very sorry for this situation, and I offer you my sincerest apologies,” another noted. After the video went viral, Mr Bernal, president of the College of Geomatics and Topographic Surveying Engineers of the State of Jalisco, commonly known as Citgej, apologised for his behaviour. “I sincerely regret everything this situation has caused. I have taken time to reflect on what happened and I understand the responsibility I’ve in this moment," he said, adding that he did not want to justify himself nor debate different interpretations."Throughout my personal and professional life, I’ve always tried to treat others with respect and I will continue working to ensure that my actions consistently reflect those values," he added.Pavel Šulc gets away from Hwang In Beom during the World Cup match between Czechia and Korea Republic at the Guadalajara stadium in Mexico on 11 June 2026 (Getty)Citgej, a professional association of engineers specialising in surveying, mapping and measuring land, issued a statement saying that they “deeply regret” the incident and had launched an internal review.The association later confirmed that Mr Bernal had been removed from his position. “In accordance with our statutes and regulations, the matter will be reviewed through the corresponding internal mechanisms,” Citgej’s board of directors said in a statement. The guild stressed that it was committed to “promoting a culture of respect, hospitality, and healthy coexistence for all people”.

As World Cup fever takes hold, commercials become more patriotic, the U.S. national team jerseys suddenly appear on the backs of influencers, and a few outlets inevitably dust off the “monthlong Super Bowl” take. All of which is magnified this summer as the U.S. co-hosts the 2026 edition.The U.S. men’s national team did its part to fuel this optimism, opening the tournament with a 4-1 statement win over Paraguay on Friday. Even the staunchest skeptics were forced to acknowledge the progress on display. After the victory, the U.S’s odds of advancing from Group D soared to 97 percent.The potential is obvious. But while the result provided a jolt of enthusiasm, the reality is that the United States remains a work in progress, rather than a genuine contender to lift the trophy.Except the U.S. has won a World Cup — four, in fact, including one at home — and five Olympic gold medals and produced a Ballon d’Or winner. It has also regularly been ranked the best in the world. The U.S. has bona fide soccer superstars. However, the players who transcended the sport, changed culture and are among the world’s top 100 players are sitting at home … because their World Cup is next summer in Brazil at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.In April, the U.S. men’s head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, offered perhaps the most melodramatic assessment of the U.S. men’s national team after back-to-back losses in international friendlies.“We are USA,” he told reporters at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. “We are competing against Belgium, Portugal. I think, for sure, Belgium and Portugal have, in the top 100 players, a few or some players playing in that top 100. I think we don’t have (any).”The Argentine coach might not have intended to offend his players one month before announcing his World Cup squad, especially his star, Christian Pulisic, who is No. 39 on The Athletic’s list of best players in the World Cup. But it’s hard not to take those words to heart.Shortly after, U.S. women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes was asked whether American players need more recognition. The coach, who has won FIFA coaching awards in her own right, explained the nuance needed with such lists.“My issue and struggle with it is this is just a team game, so I hate the individual awards,” Hayes said. “I know the individual awards are something that maybe matter to the players, but fundamentally, it’s about the team trophies that I probably care about most. … I don’t read too much into them.”The stark contrast between the answers is only the beginning of the divergence between the teams. Days after the women beat Brazil 1-0 in Fortaleza, the men’s squad arrived at the tournament lacking the star power and momentum expected of a host nation.Why the U.S. men don’t have a men’s superstar, yet, is the same reason the U.S. women do: culture.Soccer is a global game, and as Henry Bushnell writes, the American men’s belated emergence, decades after Europe and Latin America, “created handicaps that no amount of money, facilities or coaching education can fully unwind.”It is hard to compete with nations such as Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, where children often begin playing soccer almost as soon as they can walk.They spend countless hours playing in the streets and local pitches before being identified by scouts and brought into youth academies, often at little or no cost. By the time they reach adolescence, many are already highly developed players, driven by talent and the ambition to make their mark on the world’s most popular sport. For many talented young boys across much of the world, few dreams burn brighter than becoming a global soccer superstar.The sport is more than a game. It is an identity.The USWNT, founded in 1985, might be behind the global men’s game, but it is at the forefront of the women’s game, dating back to the first FIFA Women’s World Cups in the 1990s. The U.S. also had the advantage of not enduring the same bans on women’s soccer as countries like England and Brazil.This dominance in women’s soccer is rooted in a remarkable paradox: women benefited from the very forces that kept soccer on the fringes of American sports culture.For decades, men’s soccer sat behind football, basketball and baseball. Because it lacked the deep-rooted male traditions, it was more accessible to girls and women. While many traditional soccer nations treated the game as a male preserve, the U.S. was building opportunities for female athletes. The catalyst was Title IX in 1972. The landmark legislation dramatically expanded athletic opportunities for girls and women, and soccer became one of its biggest beneficiaries. Schools and universities invested heavily in the sport, creating a vast player pool and a development pipeline unmatched anywhere in the world.Unlike Major League Soccer — which operates in a far more crowded global marketplace and is generally viewed as outside the sport’s top tier — often ranked somewhere around the world’s sixth-best men’s league, the National Women’s Soccer League is widely regarded as the premier women’s league in the world, attracting many of the game’s top players.In The Guardian’s annual ranking of the world’s 100 best female players, the United States had nine representatives: Lindsey Heaps (ranked No. 27), Trinity Rodman (35), Alyssa Thompson (46), Emily Fox (24), Sam Coffey (55), Catarina Macario (62), Rose Lavelle (67), Lily Yohannes (80) and Phallon Tullis-Joyce (84). The breadth of that representation is perhaps more telling than the rankings themselves. Two of the United States’ previous top goal scorers, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson, were absent last year while they started families, but have made similar lists in the past.Hayes’ squad features elite players across every line of the field, from goalkeeper to attack, and several are still in their early 20s. The list underscores what has become increasingly evident over the past year: the U.S. women’s team is once again building a roster with world-class talent and significant depth.The U.S. men’s picture is far different. The Athletic’s ranking of the top 100 players expected at the 2026 World Cup included just one American: Pulisic, who was the highest-ranked Concacaf player on the list.During the 2026 World Cup, the rankings serve as a reminder that the U.S. women enter major tournaments with a deeper pool of globally respected talent than their male counterparts.This U.S. men’s team’s generation is supposed to be “the golden generation.” We have heard that phrase for nearly a decade now. Yet for all the hype surrounding the European clubs, transfer fees and social media clips, the team felt oddly anonymous in the broader American sports landscape before Friday night.Even when it comes to marketability, the women might have the edge. Rodman has become one of the most recognizable faces in American soccer, fronting campaigns for Adidas, Red Bull and Oakley. In Adidas’ recent World Cup commercial, actor Timothée Chalamet recruits Rodman, Spain’s Lamine Yamal and England’s Jude Bellingham in his quest to take down a neighborhood champion team. The advertisement is packed with soccer stars past and present, yet not a single U.S. men’s player makes an appearance.Rodman is hardly an exception. Sisters Alyssa and Gisele Thompson have assembled endorsement portfolios that include Nike, BodyArmor, NYX Professional Makeup and TOCA Football. Meanwhile, Macario reportedly signed a 10-year, $10 million deal with Nike last summer, further evidence that some of the biggest brands in sports increasingly see the USWNT’s stars as among the most valuable faces in American soccer.Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, Ali Krieger, Abby Wambach, Mia Hamm, Crystal Dunn, Tobin Heath, Christen Press or any of the other women who built soccer into a meaningful part of American sports culture are more recognizable than their male counterparts.Rapinoe became a global political and cultural figure whose fame extended far beyond soccer. Morgan turned into one of the most marketable athletes in the country. Lloyd’s ruthless 2015 World Cup final hat trick became one of the defining moments in modern American sports television. Krieger and her teammates helped create visibility for LGBTQ+ athletes in a way American men’s soccer never approached.The U.S. women spent decades playing with a level of intensity and clarity that made people care, even if they did not regularly watch soccer. Their matches felt important. Their celebrations became memes before sports social media weaponized every celebration into content strategy. They embraced pressure instead of treating every knockout-stage appearance like a miraculous achievement. The men’s team talks about “growth,” “potential” and “the future of the sport in America.” And yes, before the angry reply that guys text about FIFA rankings and Champions League appearances, this is about relevance, visibility, star power and, perhaps most importantly, cultural impact.The women became stars in America because they won repeatedly on the biggest stages while simultaneously pushing conversations about equal pay, gender equity and athlete activism into the mainstream. They forced Americans to care with their play on the field and fight off it. The men still feel like a team America is waiting to fall in love with.Sure, the men have Landon Donovan’s goal against Algeria that surprised the world and now Folarin Balogun two goals and Gio Reyna’s trivela. But the U.S. women have Brandi Chastain’s penalty celebration in 1999, which remains bigger than any men’s soccer image this country has produced; Lloyd’s historic hat trick against Japan in the 2015 final was far from the first time a U.S. player scored multiple goals in a single World Cup game; and Rapinoe’s pink hair, outstretched arms and unapologetic persona, which became instantly recognizable globally.That differentiation matters.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.US Women's national team, Women's Soccer, FIFA Men's World Cup2026 The Athletic Media Company

Welcome back to the Monday Tennis Briefing, where The Athletic will explain the stories behind the stories from the past week on court.This week, Serena Williams returned, an awkward run of results for two best friends continued, and the dog days might be over at Wimbledon.If you’d like to follow our fantastic tennis coverage, click here.How did Serena Williams’ comeback feel?It was the headbands that got me.I can’t think of a moment I’ve been excited about a GOAT coming out of retirement. Call me grumpy, but I tend to get bummed out at the idea of a monumentally accomplished athlete returning to see what’s left to squeeze out of their career. I want these all-time greats to be satisfied enough to move on with life; I want them to avoid having to face being fractionally as good as they once were; I want society to be able to let its legends lie.I also know this type of mindset is utterly opposed to one of the things that makes generational athletes spectacular: The undying desire to push one’s limits as far as possible.Still, I had mixed personal feelings about Serena Williams’ return. As a reporter, I am interested in getting a look at her tennis. As a follower of the sport, I wasn’t quite as swept up with the Queen returning as others seemed to be, though I understood Williams wanting her children to see her play competitive tennis — to know her fully.I did not expect to be so transported watching her play.It wasn’t Williams’ tennis that did it at first, but rather the sights and sounds of her game on a grass court in London, coming through my TV on a late summery afternoon, just the way I watched her win so many Wimbledons as a kid — first as a teen, then as a young adult.I chuckled to myself when she first walked out and I saw the two skinny headbands bobby-pinned to her bouncy curls, her specific bubble ponytail trailing down her back. A friend texted, “she’s still loyal to that hairstyle.” I smiled. Then I heard the grunts, the wails, a “YES!” the familiar sounds of Williams competing. Watching her service motion was like climbing into a time machine, though I appreciate its grace and power much more now than I was able to 15 years ago.Then it was over, and I was watching Williams twirl in victory as she waved at the crowd alongside Victoria Mboko, as she always does after a match. I wasn’t thinking about how far Williams might make it at a Grand Slam, or if she would play singles. I wasn’t trying to analyze the broader impact of a 44-year-old woman playing professional sports.I was sat on my couch, awash in nostalgia, thinking how lovely it is to spend an afternoon watching Williams play tennis.— Ava WallaceHow do best friends cope with one-sided matchups?For Iva Jović, last week’s women’s event at Queen’s marked the second straight tournament in which she thrashed Alexandra Eala — one of the 18-year-old American’s best friends on tour. They’ve played doubles together at a couple of events this year, and their friendship goes back to the 2022 U.S. Open girls’ tournament.That was when they first faced one another, with Eala of the Philippines, who is now 21, and future French Open champion Mirra Andreeva beating Jović and compatriot Shannon Lam 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of the girls’ doubles.Close friends having to face one another is a longstanding tennis dynamic, and can lead to some uneven head-to-heads or strange matchups. Serena and Venus Williams were too close for their matches to have any real edge or needle, which resulted in a few disappointing matches for the neutral. Russian pair Daniil Medvedev, and Andrey Rublev meanwhile are so friendly that the latter is the godfather to Medvedev’s daughter. Medvedev leads the head to head 7-2, creating a “big brother-little brother” dynamic, in which the older sibling has almost always won out.So far in their young rivalry, Jović, the world No. 19, has won both meetings with Eala, ranked No. 33, handsomely: 6-4, 6-2 in the French Open first round in May and then 6-2, 6-2 in the second round at the Queen’s Club in west London last week.“I wish we could play at later stages of the tournaments,” Jovic said in a news conference after her latest win. This echoed a sentiment offered by America’s Tommy Paul a couple of years ago, when asked how he found facing good friends like fellow Americans and contemporaries Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz. “I hate playing them first or second round,” he said in an interview.“Playing semis or finals of a big tournament? That’s what we dreamed about when we were young.”During an interview ahead of Wimbledon 2024, Fritz said that he hates such matchups.“It’s tough to get into it when you’re playing a friend. I’ve had a good record in these matches, but it’s definitely uncomfortable.”Jović and Eala will hope they’ll soon be meeting when the stakes are even higher.— Charlie EccleshareWhy are tennis players’ dogs back in the spotlight?Tennis players’ dogs were everywhere at the French Open this year. They were sitting in boxes on Court Philippe-Chatrier, running around the players’ lounge, napping in news conferences and, in the case of one dog, celebrating on court with Mirra Andreeva after she won her first Grand Slam title. Luna, canine companion to Conchita Martinez, Andreeva’s coach, surely made Andreeva’s own pup, Rassy, jealous watching from home.Roland Garros treated the pups like royalty. Responding to a notable uptick in recent years of players traveling with their dogs on tour, the French Open partnered with a luxury dog concierge who provided individualized care for players’ pups. Roland Garros viewed the service as an extension of how they take care of their players, who got to focus on their day jobs while knowing their beloved pets were being pampered.Wimbledon, in keeping with its stately tradition, isn’t quite as dog friendly.Chief executive Sally Bolton reiterated the tournament’s policy earlier this week.“The only dogs that we permit on site are service dogs, and those security and search dogs,” Bolton said in a news conference. “We’re in constant communication with the players and we don’t anticipate that being a problem, but that’s our policy and always has been our policy.”That doesn’t mean there won’t be any dogs at Wimbledon. Several of the dogs who travel the tennis circuit are registered service animals. But will Wimbledon be catering to pups in the same manner as Roland Garros? It doesn’t sound like it — and it’s a bit hard to imagine a four-legged friend sitting at Centre Court.Still, Wimbledon is known as the tournament that dotes on its players most. It’s hard to imagine their reputation for impeccable player care taking a hit because there isn’t a doggy pool on site.— Ava WallaceHow much should tennis fans pay attention to viewing figures?It’s tempting to draw conclusions about the state of tennis by using viewing figures from its most important matches, but their sensitivity to stardom means that context is key.This year’s French Open men’s final, in which No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev beat No. 10 seed Flavio Cobolli over five tense sets, delivered 1.3 million viewers across TNT and truTV, according to data from Sports Business Journal. It was the least-watched French Open men’s final in more than 20 years, and was also down 25 percent on last year, when the two best players and biggest stars in men’s tennis, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, played out one of the most dramatic matches in the history of the sport.That’s not exactly a surprising outcome.It was a similar story with the women’s final. 826,000 watched Mirra Andreeva defeat Maja Chwalińska in straight sets, down 44 percent from 1.5 million for Coco Gauff’s three-set win over Aryna Sabalenka last year. That too was a hugely eventful match. Andreeva’s win over Chwalińska, the world No. 114 and qualifier who made a stunning run to the final attracted more viewers than the 756,000 that NBC drew two years ago for Iga Świątek’s similarly one-sided victory over Jasmine Paolini.Overall, TNT had similar viewing numbers this year as 2025 — helped by an action-packed first week in which big names like Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Gauff suffered dramatic exits. The price a tournament pays for those kinds of upsets is having finals with less star power than usual. This year’s French Open averaged 387,000 viewers, down just one percent from 390,000 last year.At a Wimbledon where many of the star names may have better fortunes, and Serena Williams could make a Grand Slam comeback after four years out, there will likely be another bounce in viewership.— Charlie EccleshareShot of the weekSerena Williams’ two-handed backhand winner off an overhead in her first match back was a ripper …But the prize has to go to 17-year-old Thijs Boogard, for this audacious use of the underarm serve against deep-return master Daniil Medvedev when down break point:🏆 The winners of the week🎾 ATP: 🏆 Ben Shelton (1) def. Taylor Fritz (2) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to win the Stuttgart Open (250) in Stuttgart, Germany. It is Shelton’s third title of 2026; he defeated Fritz in two of his three finals played.🏆 Kamil Majchrzak def. Alex de Minaur 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(5) to win the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships (250) in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. It is the 30-year-old’s first ATP Tour title.🎾 WTA:🏆 Donna Vekić (LL) def. Emma Raducanu 6-0, 7-6(6) to win Queen’s (500) in London. It is the Croatian’s first WTA 500 title.🏆 Robin Montgomery (Q) def. Barbora Krejčíková (8) (W/O) to win the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships (250) in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. It is the 21-year-old’s first WTA Tour title.📈📉 On the rise / Down the line📈 Donna Vekić moves up 44 places from No. 76 to No. 32 after winning the title at Queen’s.📈 Kamil Majchrzak ascends 29 spots from No. 76 to No. 47, a new career-high ranking.📈 Robin Montgomery reenters the top 200 after rising 290 spots from No. 484 to No. 194.📈 Jesper de Jong rises 11 spots from No. 83 to No. 72.📉 Gabriel Diallo falls 30 places from No. 54 to No. 84.📉 Tatjana Maria leaves the top 100, dropping 65 places from No. 52 to No. 117.📉 Reilly Opelka also leaves the top 100, tumbling 16 places from No. 86 to No. 102.📉 Zheng Qinwen falls 38 spots from No. 122 to No. 160.📅 Coming up🎾 ATP 📍London: Queen’s (500) featuring Alex de Minaur, Jakub Menšík, Rafael Jódar, Tommy Paul.📍Halle, Germany: Halle Open (500) featuring Alexander Zverev, Félix Auger-Aliassime, Ben Shelton, João Fonseca.📺 UK: Sky Sports; U.S.: Tennis Channel 💻 Tennis TV🎾 WTA📍Berlin: Berlin Tennis Open (500) featuring Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Serena Williams.📍Nottingham, England: Nottingham Open (250) featuring Zheng Qinwen, Maria Sakkari, Leylah Fernandez, Emma Navarro.📺 UK: Sky Sports; U.S.: Tennis ChannelTell us what you noticed this week in the comments below as the men’s and women’s tours continue.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.Sports Business, Culture, Tennis, Women's Tennis2026 The Athletic Media Company

The Georgia Bulldogs women and Arkansas Razorbacks men successfully defended their titles at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships on Saturday night.Georgia became the fifth school to win back-to-back outdoor championships. The Bulldogs also won the indoor championship this season. Georgia finished with 50 points. Florida (43) was second and Arkansas (38) took third.[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]Georgia’s Adaejah Hodge won the 200-meter race with a NCAA-record time of 21.68 seconds, and was runner-up in the 100 behind Florida State’s Shenese Walker — who clocked 10.88. The Bulldogs’ Dejanea Oakley set a collegiate record in winning the 400 in 48.79.It was Georgia’s fourth championship and second under head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert, who also won two titles at Southern California.Arkansas’ Sanu Jallow-Lockhart won the women’s 800 in a collegiate-record time of 1:56.85. She also anchored the second fastest 4x400 relay in history, winning in 3:18.88.Alabama’s Doris Lemngole won the women’s 5,000 in 15:11.71 to claim her sixth national championship.Sofia Cosculluela finished with 6,182 points in the heptathlon to win Washington’s first championship in the event.Oregon’s Aaliyah McCormick won the 100 hurdles in 12.47 to become the first repeat champion in 18 years.Clemson’s Shantae Foreman leaped 46 feet, 7 inches on her sixth and final try to win the triple jump.Arkansas cruised to the men’s indoor and outdoor championships a year after Southern California pulled off the feat.Razorbacks coach Doug Case captured the school’s 11th title and first since 2003 in his first season. Arkansas had 2004 and 2005 championships vacated.The Razorbacks totaled 56 points despite having no individual champions. Georgia (49) was second and Tennessee (46) placed third.New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel won the men’s 5,000 in 13:38.93 after winning the 10,000 earlier.Georgia’s Kimani Jack cleared 7-5 3/4 to win the high jump and the Bulldogs won the 4x400 relay by 0.03 seconds over LSU.Alabama’s Samuel Ogazi set a collegiate record in the 400 with a winning time of 43.38.Northern Arizona’s Colin Sahlman won the 800 in 1:44.22, while Auburn’s Kanyinsola Ajayi clocked a wind-aided 9.72 to win the 100.It was the first time the men’s and women’s champions defended their titles since LSU’s women and Arkansas’ men did it in 2003.[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

National team manager admits responsibility for Barcelona star’s injury scare – ‘There is something wrong’The 2026 FIFA World Cup is truly underway, and two Barcelona players, Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha, have already played their first games with their respective nations.Tonight, Spain are set to take on Cape Verde, and La Roja have a significant Barça contingent. Uruguay are another team who play tonight but will have to do so without Ronald Araujo.The Barcelona defender has been dealing with calf discomfort suffered during a Uruguay training session.As quoted by Mundo Deportivo, Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa addressed the situation and accepted a degree of responsibility for the setback.He said: “In the last six months Araujo had no muscle injury and if a player tears something while training, there is something wrong.”Araujo is dealing with a calf problem. (Photo by Guillermo Legaria/Getty Images)Araujo’s injury history means any physical problem, even a minor one, immediately becomes a concern for both club and country.Uruguay defend Barcelona treatment tripAraujo recently made an unusually rapid trip to Spain to receive treatment from trusted medical professionals, a decision that raised eyebrows because of the travel involved so close to the tournament.Bielsa defended that move clearly. He said:“Araujo works with people he trusts a lot, all decisions are agreed with those people and with Araujo. We feel responsible and we could not have done anything different from what we did.”Uruguay and Bielsa seem keen on allowing players to make decisions like these based on what and whom they trust, and that is what they did with Araujo.Araujo will be unavailable for Uruguay’s WC opener. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)The Barça club captain flew to Spain to receive treatment before flying back to link up with the rest of his teammates at the training camp.Barcelona will want cautionAraujo is hugely important for Uruguay, but Barcelona will hope there is no unnecessary risk in the opening match.The defender’s power, aggression and speed make him one of the best in the world when fully fit.They also make muscle issues a common theme, especially considering he is expected to play at right-back for Uruguay.If there is even slight doubt, Uruguay should manage him carefully. Araujo has a long tournament ahead, and Barcelona have an even longer season waiting after it.Bielsa’s honesty is welcome. Now the priority must be simple: protect the player, avoid a setback and make sure Araujo returns to the pitch only when his body is ready.

As Iowa basketball continues to be active on the recruiting trail, the Hawkeyes have earned a scheduled official visit from coveted four-star point guard Jaxson Davis, who has drawn attention from top-tier programs throughout the nation.According to Davis, his scheduled trip to Iowa City is set for Sept. 19 and will be the first official visit of his recruiting journey. The 6-foot-1, 165-pounder out of Gurnee, Ill., previously played his high school ball at Warren Township High School, where he elevated his national ranking to No. 42 in the 2027 class, per 247Sports. According to 247Sports, Davis is the nation's No. 16 point guard.NEW: 4⭐️ Jaxson Davis sets first official visit.Where things stand with Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Northwestern & Michigan State plus what’s driving his recruitment right now 👀[READ] 👉 https://t.co/mFQxMeFV13pic.twitter.com/ZrpCMZ96RA— Jamie Shaw (@JamieShaw5) June 11, 2026Davis recently announced he has transferred to Monarch Academy in Kansas City, Kan. in Nike’s EYBL Scholastic League.This season, Davis averaged 23.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.5 steals for the Blue Devils (30-4), who eventually lost in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 4A sectional semifinals this year after advancing to the state championship game in 2025. Davis' sensational seasons have earned him several local, state, and national-level recognitions, including 2026 Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year, Illinois Media Class 4A Player of the Year, unanimous first-team All-State honors, back-to-back Illinois Mr. Basketball awards and back-to-back Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year awards.Along with Iowa, Davis also holds offers from other Big Ten foes, including Michigan, Ohio State, Indiana, Illinois, Northwestern, and Purdue. Fellow Pour Four programs Arizona State, Kentucky and Missouri have offered as well.Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNewsThis article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: 4-star 2027 PG schedules official visit with Iowa basketball

ELKHART LAKE – The NTT IndyCar Series is returning to Road America for the XPEL Grand Prix presented by AMR, a four-day event set to begin June 18.The event is expected to feature a deep field of drivers, including defending Road America winner Alex Palou, Pato O’Ward, Will Power, Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon, Kyle Kirkwood and newly crowned Indianapolis 500 champion Felix Rosenqvist, according to a community announcement.The main race is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday and will be broadcast live on FOX, according to the announcement. Practice and qualifying sessions will be available on FS1, FS2 and FOX One, with radio coverage on SiriusXM channel 218 and the INDYCAR App.What to know about the Road America eventRoad America is a 4-mile, 14-turn circuit known for its long straightaways, fast corners, elevation changes and natural viewing areas. The track is widely recognized as one of the most respected road courses globally and is considered one of the most demanding stops on the IndyCar schedule.IndyCar XPEL Grand Prix at Road AmericaBeyond the main event, the weekend will feature several other races, including Indy NXT by Firestone, USF Pro 2000, USF2000, Radical Cup North America and Vintage Indy. Indy NXT will have two races, with the first scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Saturday on FS1, and the second at 11 a.m. Sunday, also on FS1.Vintage Indy will showcase historic IndyCar machines, allowing fans to see cars that have played a significant role in the sport's history. The weekend also highlights emerging talent in the open-wheel developmental series.Off the track, Road America will offer a range of activities for fans of all ages, including public karting at the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex, a disc golf course, a family fun zone, camping, various fan activities and a wide selection of food and beverage options across the 640-acre property.Fans are wantedThe event promises an immersive experience, with fans able to walk the grounds, explore different viewing areas, visit the paddock and watch crews at work.Children 16 and younger will receive free general admission at the gate with a paying adult. The races will take place rain or shine.Tickets are available at roadamerica.com or by calling 800-365-7223.IndyCar XPEL Grand PrixXPEL Grand Prix — 1 p.m.Indy NXT Race 1 — 11:30 a.m. SaturdayIndy NXT Race 2 — 11 a.m. SundayThis story was created by reporter Nida Tazeen, NTazeen@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.​This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Road America IndyCar race returns to Elkhart Lake June 18

[Getty Images]Scoring a goal at the World Cup finals for Australia is "a dream come true" for Watford forward Nestory Irankunda.The 20-year-old opened the scoring with a 27th-minute strike in The Socceroos 2-0 win over Turkey in Vancouver on Sunday.Irankunda is the youngest player to score for Australia at the World Cup at 20 years and 125 days, beating the previous record set by Brett Holman at the 2010 tournament."It is unreal. A dream come true," said Irankunda after Sunday's Group D victory."It feels amazing (to be the youngest scorer). You've got to thank the staff, you've got to thank the nation. They all believe in me to do so well and, getting that goal was amazing. It is just a great feeling."Irankunda moved to Watford from Bayern Munich in July 2025 and scored four goals in 40 Championship appearances last season as the Hornets finished in 16th place.Australia are second in their group and play the leaders and co-hosts the USA in Seattle on Friday, 19 June.

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Even though negotiations will begin for Ukraine to join the bloc, the path ahead is a long one.

The war had stirred doubts about the team’s participation in the tournament. It is set to play New Zealand in a Los Angeles area stadium on Monday.

President Trump has long been at odds with European leaders over trade, Ukraine and NATO, but he has lashed out in recent weeks over their refusal to support the U.S. war with Iran.

Representative Barry Moore, an early backer of the president during his first campaign, faces Jared Hudson, a former Navy SEAL tapping into the excitement for outsiders.