Livramento has won six England caps [Getty Images]Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento is a major doubt for England's World Cup campaign, with Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah poised to replace the full-back.Livramento, 23, is understood to have sustained an injury during a training session on Sunday before England's World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday night (21:00 BST). While the Football Association is not commenting on the extent of Livramento's injury, it is understood there are fears he could be out of action for up to four weeks.Livramento's involvement in the tournament had already been in doubt after he missed the final five weeks of the season with a thigh injury. If, as is now expected, Livramento is ruled out of the tournament, Chelsea defender Chalobah is set to replace him - though he will not join up with the squad until after the Croatia match. Outfield players who sustain a serious injury or illness can be replaced in a World Cup squad up to 24 hours before the team's first match of the tournament gets under way.Livramento, who was handed his international debut under Gareth Southgate in November 2024, has featured five times during Tuchel's reign, starting twice.He came on at half-time during England's 1-0 warm-up win over New Zealand but was left on the bench against Costa Rica.Reece James is Tuchel's first choice at right-back but there are also question marks about his fitness, following another injury-plagued campaign. The 26-year-old missed nine games for Chelsea at the end of the season because of a hamstring injury.Other options who are already in the England squad include Djed Spence and Ezri Konsa. Spence, who can play on both flanks, has featured six times under Tuchel while Konsa, predominantly a centre-back, has played 11 times, including nine starts.Chalobah has not featured for England since June 2025 when he played the full 90 minutes in a friendly against Senegal, but was on the bench for multiple World Cup qualifiers under Tuchel. Like Konsa, the 26-year-old's preferred position is centre-back.World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

[Getty Images]Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento is a major doubt for England's World Cup campaign, with Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah poised to replace the full-back.Livramento is understood to have been injured during training on Sunday.England begin their World Cup bid against Croatia on Wednesday.The 23-year-old's involvement in the tournament had already been in doubt after he missed the final five weeks of the season with a thigh injury.If, as is now expected, Livramento is ruled out, Chalobah is set to replace him - though he will not join up with the squad until after the Croatia match.Outfield players who sustain a serious injury or illness can be replaced in a World Cup squad up to 24 hours before the team's first match of the tournament.Chalobah, 26, has not featured for England since June 2025 when he played the full 90 minutes in a friendly against Senegal, but was on the bench for multiple World Cup qualifiers under Thomas Tuchel.

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – The USGA is already having some fun at Shinnecock.The first- and second-round tee times were released on Tuesday morning, and on the tee sheet are several notable groupings, many of which have particular themes to them.Here are some of the best:6:57 a.m. ET (10) – Peter Uihlein, a-Eric Lee, Sam StevensTheme: Oklahoma State Cowboys.7:19 a.m. ET (1) – Padraig Harrington, a-Miles Russell, Cameron SmithTheme: Oldest (Harrington, 54) and youngest (Russell, 17) competitors in field.7:30 a.m. ET (1) – Brooks Koepka, Cameron Young, Chris GotterupTheme: New York, New York! Young and Gotterup are Met area products while Koepka has won two majors on Long Island.7:30 a.m. ET (10) – Sungjae Im, Lucas Herbert, Kristoffer ReitanTheme: All three played their first U.S. Opens at Shinnecock in 2018.7:41 a.m. ET (1) – Daniel Berger, Keegan Bradley, Rickie FowlerTheme: Former PGA Tour rookies of the year.8:14 a.m. ET (1) – a-Mason Howell, Scottie Scheffler, J.J. SpaunTheme: Traditional group of the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, Open champion and U.S. Open champion.8:14 a.m. ET (10) – Max Greyserman, Brian Harman, Jacob BridgemanTheme: The man group!8:25 a.m. ET (1) – Sahith Theegala, a-Jackson Koivun, Michael KimTheme: Former Haskins Award winners.12:41 p.m. ET (10) – Adrien Saddier, Ugo Coussaud, Jackson Van ParisTheme: Vive la France! Paris, from Pinehurst, is French in name only.1:03 p.m. ET (10) – Pierceson Coody, Zac Blair, Kevin RoyTheme: All three players have had relatives compete in a U.S. Open. No, Roy is not the son of the Hall of Fame NHL goalie Patrick Roy.1:25 p.m. ET (10) – Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Matt FitzpatrickTheme: Former U.S. Amateur champions.1:36 p.m. ET (10) – Dustin Johnson, Wyndham Clark, Gary WoodlandTheme: Similar to previous group, just U.S. Open.2:09 p.m. ET (10) – Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, Jon RahmTheme: Another all-U.S. Open champion group.2:20 p.m. ET (10) – Ben Kohles, Johnny Keefer, Matt McCartyTheme: Former or current Korn Ferry Tour Nos. 1.

Numerous San Francisco Giants pitchers faced criticism after inscribing Bible verses on their caps during the team’s annual Pride Night on Friday. Now, MLB is cracking down on the practice, warning those players they could face “future violations” for writing on their uniforms.MLB chief communications officer Pat Courtney issued a statement to multiple outlets Monday explaining that policy is “consistent with normal practice.”"The writing on the cap violates our rules, and consistent with normal practice, we have warned the players about future violations."Starter Landen Roupp, as well as JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker, all took the field with Bible verses written on their caps on Pride Night. Another reliever Sam Hentges took the field wearing the team’s traditional cap instead of the rainbow-colored cap worn by most other players on the team during the game.It’s unclear if Hentges was warned, though his tactic may have also been a direct violation of MLB rules, which state, “No player whose uniform does not conform to that of his teammates shall be permitted to participate in a game.” Hentges was allowed to pitch in the contest, a 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. A day after the contest, the Giants put out a statement addressing the “pain and anger” those players caused with their actions, per ESPN."The San Francisco Giants are proud to support Pride Night and the LGBTQ+ community. Baseball should be a place where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued. We also respect that individuals may make personal choices about participating in team activations."We understand that the choices by individual players have caused pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community and we are sorry for that. Those choices do not change our organization's commitment to inclusion, belonging, and creating a welcoming environment for all. We remain grateful to our fans, partners, employees, players, and coaches who help make Pride Night a meaningful celebration."The Giants stressed that those decisions “do not change our organization’s commitment to inclusion, belonging, and creating a welcoming environment for all.”The Giants lost two of three games to the Cubs during the series. Entering play Tuesday, San Francisco sits at 29-43, good for fourth place in the National League West.

The Football Association’s chief executive, Mark Bullingham, has claimed that Thomas Tuchel’s contract extension provides crucial stability and control for the national team, particularly should England’s World Cup campaign encounter difficulties.Tuchel, who took over from Sir Gareth Southgate 20 months ago, is on the cusp of leading England into his inaugural international tournament. His initial deal was set to expire this summer, but a flawless World Cup qualification campaign prompted the FA to secure his services until the conclusion of the home European Championships in 2028.The decision to extend a manager’s contract before a major tournament carries historical weight, notably with Fabio Capello’s pre-2010 World Cup extension which ultimately backfired. England gave Fabio Capello a new contract before the 2010 World Cup which backfired (Getty)However, Bullingham expressed confidence that the FA has struck the right balance, especially given the widespread interest in the former Chelsea manager.Addressing whether Tuchel being linked to other high-profile roles influenced the timing, Bullingham stated: "We’d actually started speaking to him a little bit before that managerial merry-go-round started, so, no, it wasn’t." He elaborated on the proactive approach: "I think the reality is he is a top-level manager who would be in demand, right? And we knew we had someone we felt was doing a really good job and they would be in demand and you can’t expect someone to wait around and say, ‘Well, I’ll just leave it a long time and see how we go’."Bullingham continued, emphasising the practicalities of the decision: "That’s not the reality of life, I don’t think, in any profession, so our decision was, we’ve got someone doing a really good job. “We think we can sign them up for another two years. It’s a home tournament; it’s really, really important. Home tournaments as well, the pressure is even bigger than a normal tournament and you want someone who’s been there and done it."England, having reached the finals of the last two European Championships, head into the World Cup as one of the favourites. While Bullingham refrained from defining success for the upcoming tournament, he confirmed that Tuchel’s contract includes performance clauses, designed to offer safeguards should results not meet expectations."There’s performance clauses in every single contract with the FA, right? I’m not going to go into any detail on what they are," he said ahead of Wednesday’s Group L opener against Croatia. "The reality is we’re really confident he’s going to be our coach in 2028."This confidence extends to Tuchel’s commitment to international football over a return to club management. Bullingham does not believe it is a risk to give Tuchel a new deal (PA)"He’s very happy with us," Bullingham affirmed. "We’re very happy with him. So I don’t see it as a risk. But I’m not saying those approaches won’t happen, because they could."Bullingham lauded Tuchel’s adaptation to the international game, highlighting his dynamic energy and commanding presence. "In his own environment, he’s incredibly dynamic and energetic, but he absolutely owns the room and owns the camp and he’s brilliant at connecting with everyone," he added.Acknowledging the distinct styles of Tuchel and his predecessor, Bullingham also paid tribute to Sir Gareth Southgate for establishing a strong foundation. "There’s no question that Gareth laid brilliant foundations that made the job attractive," he said. "The level of manager that wanted to work with us was extremely high. A lot of big names were keen on the job and I’d say that is a tribute to Gareth and Steve (Holland), who made it an attractive role."

Justin Wise, a four-star shooting guard in the 2027 class, is scheduled to take an unofficial visit to Texas on Monday, July 22nd, he told Rivals. The 6-foot-4 rising senior out of North Oconee (GA) received an offer from the Longhorns in February. He is ranked as the No. 89 overall prospect in the class, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.Along with Texas, his offer list includes Miami, Clemson, Georgia, Auburn, Mississippi State, Cincinnati, Villanova, Florida State, Tennessee, Cal, and Virginia Tech.“My leadership has been big,” Wise told Rivals in a previous interview. “And my ability to get to spots and initiate the offense, getting my teammates open. I watch a lot of the elite combo guards like Tyrese Maxey and Tre Johnson. Just how they move around the court and how they create without the ball, or with the ball to get their teammates open.”Wise was also one of the top performers at last week’s NBPA Top-100 Camp, according to Rivals national recruiting analyst Jamie Shaw, who had the following to say about his game:“Justin Wise moved seamlessly between the one and two in this setting. He shot the ball very well off the catch, and that might be his superpower at the next level. However, he advanced the ball well when pushing and moved it to open teammates in the half-court. A low-maintenance guy who raises the floor of his team.”“He looked very comfortable in this setting as a go-to scorer. The 6-foot-4 guard showed he can play on ball as a primary initiator, but on Thursday at the NBPA Top 100 Camp he self-created advantages and finished plays at multiple levels. He had 18 points on 6-11 shooting in his first game.”

The Oklahoma Sooners enter the 2026 season with a returning starting quarterback for just the second time in the Brent Venables era. As redshirt-senior John Mateer prepares for his final year of college football, he is looking to lead OU back to the College Football Playoff.Though the Sooners were mainly a playoff team due to strong defense and special teams, Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle helped the offense take a step forward from the disaster that was the 2024 season. However, that offense still wasn't nearly as good as it needed to be, and Oklahoma's CFP berth came despite that.This offseason, Mateer has put in work to improve his footwork and throwing mechanics, as the Sooners will look to improve their running game and skill position players around him. Still, OU's offense will go as he goes, and there's a wide range of opinions nationally as to how good Mateer will actually be this season.Last week, CBS Sports' David Cobb ranked all 68 projected Power Four starting quarterbacks for this year into tiers. While Mateer was at the top of the tier he was placed in, he wasn't exactly as high on the list as Sooner Nation would like. Cobb had Mateer as the No. 1 quarterback in a tier labeled "High ceiling, low floor".A September thumb injury derailed the early-season Heisman buzz surrounding Mateer. But he gritted through it and got the Sooners into the CFP. He's a fearless gunslinger who is unafraid to lower his shoulder as a runner. It's a risky way to live, but he's got serious upside. - David Cobb, CBS Sports.Obviously, Mateer's throwing hand wasn't close to fully healthy down the stretch of last season, and a healthy hand alone will help him improve this year. Last year's offense was often too Mateer-centric, even after the hand injury. This year, the Sooners hope to have a running game they can rely on to provide a more balanced approach.While Mateer is certainly capable of making magic happen at times, the whole focus this offseason at OU has been on cutting down the number of times per game that he's forced to do so. Elite defense, solid special teams, protecting the ball, forcing turnovers, winning field position, and a diverse running game are how the Sooners plan to win under Venables. However, all great teams also need a quarterback who shines in the biggest moments. Oklahoma is looking for just the right mix of gunslinger and field general from Mateer in 2026.Projected Power Four Starting QBs for 2026Alabama: Keelon Russell or Austin MackArkansas: KJ Jackson or AJ HillAuburn: Byrum BrownFlorida: Aaron Philo or Tramell Jones Jr.Georgia: Gunner StocktonKentucky: Kenny MincheyLSU: Sam LeavittMississippi State: Kamario TaylorMissouri: Austin SimmonsOklahoma: John MateerOle Miss: Trinidad ChamblissSouth Carolina: LaNorris SellersTennessee: George MacIntyre or Faizon Brandon or Ryan StaubTexas: Arch ManningTexas A&M: Marcel ReedVanderbilt: Jared Curtis or Blaze BerlowitzIllinois: Katin HouserIndiana: Josh HooverIowa: Jeremy Hecklinski or Hank BrownMaryland: Malik WashingtonMichigan: Bryce UnderwoodMichigan State: Alessio MilivojevicMinnesota: Drake LindseyNebraska: Anthony ColandreaNorthwestern: Aidan ChilesOhio State: Julian SayinOregon: Dante MoorePenn State: Rocco BechtPurdue: Ryan BrowneRutgers: Dylan Lonergan or AJ SuraceUCLA: Nico IamaleavaUSC: Jayden MaiavaWashington: Demond Williams Jr.Wisconsin: Colton JosephBoston College: Mason McKenzieCal: Jaron-Keawe SagapoluteleClemson: Christopher Vizzina or Tait ReynoldsDuke: Walker Eget or Dan MahanFlorida State: Ashton DanielsGeorgia Tech: Alberto MendozaLouisville: Lincoln KienholzMiami: Darian MensahNorth Carolina: Billy Edwards Jr.NC State: CJ BaileyPittsburgh: Mason HeintschelSMU: Kevin JenningsStanford: Davis WarrenSyracuse: Steve AngeliVirginia: Beau Pribula or Eli HolsteinVirginia Tech: Ethan GrunkemeyerWake Forest: Gio LopezArizona: Noah FifitaArizona State: Cutter BoleyBaylor: DJ LagwayBYU: Bear BachmeierCincinnati: JC French IVColorado: Julian LewisHouston: Conner WeigmanIowa State: Jaylen RaynorKansas: Cole Ballard or Isaiah Marshall or Chase JenkinsKansas State: Avery JohnsonOklahoma State: Drew MestemakerTCU: Jaden CraigTexas Tech: Brendan Sorsby or Will Hammond or Kirk FrancisUCF: Alonza Barnett IIIUtah: Devon DampierWest Virginia: Michael Hawkins Jr. or Scotty Fox Jr.Notre Dame: CJ CarrContact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Where does John Mateer rank on Power Four QB tier list from CBS?

Nature, Published online: 16 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01811-2A scientist’s account of switching focus to tackle pressing problems, and researchers consider the best way to preserve eggs, in our weekly dip into Nature’s archive.

Nature, Published online: 16 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10770-7Author Correction: Ontogeny and transcriptional regulation of Thetis cells

Nature, Published online: 15 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01929-3Newly uncovered bones hint at how Iron Age Britons treated their dead. Plus, AI models have failed to beat human mathematicians at research-level problems and the everyday items that make great scientific tools.

And the price is unbeatable too. READ MORE...

🤔 CBF backtracks on Neymar return in the first phase, says paperThe Brazilian national team coaching staff’s planning regarding Neymar has changed course, given slower-than-expected progress. According to the newspaper O Globo, the CBF has given up on setting a return date for Neymar during the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. The No. 10 has now gone a month without stepping onto the pitch to train and has officially been ruled out of the clash against Haiti this Friday (19).According to O Globo, the new behind-the-scenes approach is aimed at easing the overwhelming pressure on both the player and the squad. If he shows significant improvement in the coming days, the forward could, in the most optimistic scenario, get a few minutes against Scotland on June 24. However, the current mindset of the medical staff is zero risk: Neymar should only be pushed if Brazil faces a situation of extreme urgency, with his realistic use projected only for the knockout stage.Recovery processCurrent stage: After undergoing new imaging tests in New Jersey, the forward showed satisfactory progress in the injury to his right calf, but still not enough to move on to the next phase. He remains limited to strength work in the medical department and still needs to go through the on-field physical transition before touching the ball.Deadline up: The initial three-week forecast given by doctor Rodrigo Lasmar expires tomorrow, making it clear that the deadline has passed without the star being ready.Protective strategy: The CBF, which had been quite transparent about the player’s medical condition, has chosen to shut the doors. Details of the treatment will now only be released if there is a real qualitative leap. The lack of clarity has caused friction and criticism within the entity’s political wing, but Carlo Ancelotti’s priority is to protect the group.After the 1-1 draw in the opener against Morocco, medical updates had been used as “ammunition” for outside criticism. In response, Brazil increased its level of isolation in the United States, even limiting players’ exposure in press conferences at the training center to contain internal unease.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Photo by Rich Storry/Getty ImagesEngland manager Thomas Tuchel has called up Trevoh Chalobah to replace the injured Tino Livramento.Livramento was forced to withdraw from England’s World Cup squad on Monday due to a hamstring injury.Instead of another full-back, Tuchel has selected experienced Chelsea centre-back Chalobah to join the squad.While it is a shame for Livramento, England have been extremely fortunate with the timing of his hamstring injury.Here are FIFA’s rules on replacing injured players at the World Cup, with England almost missing a key deadline.Why England were allowed to replace Tino Livramento with Trevoh ChalobahAll 48 nations at the 2026 World Cup were required to name their 26-man squads for the tournament no later than 1 June.After FIFA confirmed the squads on 2 June, teams are only allowed to make changes for two reasons.If an outfield player sustains an injury or illness, they can be replaced in the squad up to 24 hours before the team’s first match.England’s opening game against Croatia is on Wednesday evening, meaning they had until Tuesday evening to make changes.Therefore, if Livramento had suffered his injury later this week, England would not have been allowed to replace him.It also means that Tuchel cannot replace any other outfield players in the squad throughout the remainder of the World Cup.The only exception is if one of Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, or James Trafford suffer an injury this summer.Every team must have at least three goalkeepers in the squad, allowing them to be replaced at any stage of the tournament.Read more:Jameis Winston explains why he joined Japanese fans cleaning stadium after World Cup drawKorean Football Association directly respond after Heung-min Son is mocked by journalistsJude Bellingham’s unique skill that puts him in top 1% according to Morgan Rogers

The Indiana Fever will try to extend their win streak on Tuesday against the Toronto Tempo.The Fever are set to host the Tempo at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Indiana is currently on a three-game win streak, despite surrendering double-digit leads in each matchup.The Fever held on to defeat the Washington Mystics 78-76 on June 8 on Caitlin Clark's buzzer-beating 3-pointer after surrendering a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Fever had a 19-point lead over the Sky on June 11, but Chicago was able to close the gap and force overtime before the Fever ran pulled away with 114-106 win. Similarly, the Fever coughed up an 11-point lead against the Connecticut Sun on June 13, before winning 85-75.When asked what has led to Fever's troubling trend, Kelsey Mitchell pointed to fouling. The Fever lead the league in fouls per game with an average of 23.9 fouls per game. "A lot of it, you get a little comfortable, but I think... discipline," said Mitchell, who is averaging 20.3 points per game. "Not fouling people and sending them to the line. I think that's the big for us... that's one our Achilles' heel right now. That's just kind of (letting) people back in the game."More fouls, more frustration: What’s really going on with WNBA officiating?Like Mitchell, Clark is also averaging 20.3 points per game, in addition to 7.8 assists. Clark (back) is listed as probable for Tuesday's matchup, while Raven Johnson (left ankle) is questionable. Here's what you need to know about the game between the Fever and Tempo:What time is Indiana Fever vs Toronto Tempo?Date: Tuesday, June 16Time: 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT)Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN)The Fever and Tempo play at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 16, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.What TV channel is Indiana Fever vs Toronto Tempo on today?TV: USA NetworkReach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever vs Toronto Tempo: Channel, time, how to watch

Arkansas baseball continued its roster revamp by adding an outfielder from the Big 12 who was a Freshman All-American in 2025. Former Kansas State outfielder AJ Evasco committed to the Razorbacks on Tuesday, June 16. He is the second outfielder to join Arkansas out of the transfer portal, following UCA's Zeb Allen.Evasco just completed his sophomore campaign with the Wildcats. He slashed .348/.415/.548 with eight home runs and 51 RBIs. Evasco is a lefty at the plate and a righty in the field. Arkansas will hope to maximize his power numbers with 22 extra-base hits in 2026. He only struck out 30 times in 234 plate appearances with 19 walks. The Nebraska native was named Freshman All-American by D1Baseball and selected to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team coming off his debut season in 2025. He actually had better power numbers that season with 11 homers and 12 doubles. Evasco also helped Kansas State reach the NCAA Tournament as a freshman. He went 4 for 10 with three runs and an RBI as the Wildcats went 1-2 in the Austin Regional. Arkansas will lose all three of its outfield starters from the most recent season if Damian Ruiz signs as an MLB draft pick next month. Evasco primarily played right field for Kansas State, but he also spent time at first base during his freshman season. Carter Rutenbar and Christian Turner both earned playing time as freshmen, while Brenton Clark missed the season with an injury. Those three returnees figure to compete with Evasco and Allen and anymore additions for the three starting roles.Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@usatodayco.com or follow him@jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Former Kansas State outfielder AJ Evasco commits to Arkansas baseball

PHOENIX — It may not be quite vintage Mike Trout, the one who was the game’s best all-around player for nearly a decade, but for the first time in five agonizing years, he’s reminding everyone once again of his greatness.Trout, who’ll be 35 years old in two months, showcased those brilliant skills Monday night by not only hitting his first home run at Chase Field, the 420th of his career, but also beating out an infield single sprinting to first base, while playing the entire game in center field.Once again, the Los Angeles Angels lost, 4-3 on June 15 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and again are last in the American League West with a league-worst 29-44 record.This will be the 12th consecutive year the Angels won’t make the postseason, with Trout having played only three postseason games – never having won a single one of them – in what will be a Hall of Fame career.Now that Trout is healthy, and should be heading back to the All-Star Game for the first time since 2019, this time in Philadelphia – just a 40-minute drive where he grew up in Millville, New Jersey – everyone is asking the same questions all over again.Does he finally want to be traded to a contender?Will he formally ask the Angels for a trade?Does he really want to spend the rest of his career with the Angels where he still has four more years left on his 12-year, $426.5 million contract extension.And once again, at least publicly, Trout is mum"I’m going to keep those conversations, you know," Trout said in the Angels’ clubhouse after Monday's game, "in-house."The reality, whether folks in Philadelphia or anywhere accept it or not, Trout and his family of four are quite comfortable in Southern California, and aren’t going anywhere.He’s not asking for a trade. Angels owner Arte Moreno has no interest in trading him. And with $140 million still remaining on his contract after this season, opposing GMs don’t even bother calling.Sure, Trout wishes the Angels were more competitive. He’d love more than anything to be back in the postseason. But he also embraces being a life-long Angel, and with a full no-trade clause, has no desire to ever leave."He definitely wants to win," Angels GM Perry Minasian tells USA TODAY Sports. "He’s a winning person in all facets of life. So, he definitely wants that on the baseball field, too."Yet, never once in Trout’s career has he ever asked to be traded, certainly not since Minasian became GM in 2020.And there’s absolutely zero indication he’s about to start now.When he’s introduced on July 14 at the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, in front of hundreds of friends and family, he’ll be the one proudly representing the Angels, likely as their lone All-Star once again."I don’t believe," Minasian said, "that there will be anybody else that wears the 'A' like he does. He represents the team as well as you possibly can."The idea of Trout playing for a contender only surfaces now that he is finally healthy, after missing 414 games the last five years. He has missed just one game all season, and is hitting .230 with 16 homers, 33 RBIs and an .852 OPS, while leading the American League with 53 runs.It’s not like the glory days when won three MVP awards and finished in the top 5 in each of his first nine seasons, hitting 297 homers with 197 stolen bases and a 1.008 OPS.But, oh, he’s certainly reminding folks that he still is among the game’s elite players.Trout is on track to make his first All-Star Game appearance since 2019, when he received the second-most votes among all AL outfielders in the first phase of the All-Star balloting with 926,601 votes, trailing only injured New York Yankees star Aaron Judge."It’s great to see him back in there again," Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said, "and people are appreciating what he does for the game. I think this is great for baseball."Trout, who was also voted to the All-Star Game in 2021, 2022 and 2023 but was sidelined with injuries, concedes the past few years have been difficult not only on his body, but his psyche. He felt at times that he was letting everyone down, his teammates, Angels’ fans and the game of baseball.He wanted to be that guy again, the one that everyone emulated, the next Ken Griffey Jr., but his body kept failing him."It’s been tough, you know," Trout said. "I’ve got great support at home with the family, but it’s definitely been a grind. It’s finally good to be able to come in every day, and obviously not just hit, but play the outfield, too."He’s even showing off some of his old running skills, beating out a ground ball to first base with a 30.1-second sprint speed (30.0 is considered elite)."It’s tough to go out there and try to play banged up, you know, especially your lower half with your legs bothering you," he said. "It’s fun to go out there play my game."Now, after diligently preparing his body to play a full season, and back in center field for the first time in two years, he’s just a month away from playing in the All-Star Game that he has badly coveted ever since Philadelphia was awarded the game in 2019.He may no longer appear on all of the offensive leaderboards, and in the middle of the MVP race, but the fans have shown just how much they still appreciate him, with their love refusing to fade."It feels awesome," he said, "you know being able to play every day and just go out there and just play, and obviously playing center field, and being in Philly, it’d be pretty cool to go play there."It won’t be quite like the first time he played at Citizens Bank Park with the Angels in 2014, when Millville, New Jersey, invaded the joint. There were 4,000 fans from his hometown, with 15 buses, who came in for the game, including his high school marching band and the Millville mayor throwing out the first pitch."It slowed down a little bit now," Trout said, laughing.But, oh, he realizes this year’s All-Star Game may be the most significant of his career, wondering at times if he’d ever be an All-Star again."It’s been tough,"’ he said. "I’ve got great support at home with the family, but it’s definitely been a grind."But finally, he has found peace and comfort, and with that, Trout has exuded leadership skills to let his teammates know that he’ll always be with them, and has no plans on leaving.He constantly organizes and pays for team dinners on the road. He offers guidance to the young players in the clubhouse before and after games. He’s usually the first to arrive at the clubhouse each day and the last to leave."As outstanding as he’s been on the field," says Minasian, "he’s been even more impressive off the field. This is the best from a leadership standpoint I’ve seen since I’ve been here. Not that it was bad before, but he’s taking it to a different level."He’s been great with the guys, especially with our younger players watching him play, watching him have fun, and obviously watching him perform healthy."Trout’s teammates and coaching staff will tell you it’s a privilege every day just being around him, knowing that one day they can tell their kids, their grandkids, and every other family member that they once played or worked with legendary Mike Trout.Really, iIt’s no different with the fans who clamor to see Trout, with the Angels drawing 33,259 fans a game, fourth-most in the American League, with Minasian’s own 7-year-old son, Cash, asking him each morning when he awakes whether Trout is in the lineup."He’s the most humble superstar I’ve ever been around in my life," says Angels bench coach John Gibbons, former manager of the Toronto Blue Jays. "He’s the best. The absolute best. I’ve never seen anything like it."And every once in a while, just when you may have forgotten just how dominant he was in this sport, he’ll subtly remind you with one swing of the bat."He does stuff every day when you say, 'Wow,'" Minasian said. "Even at this age, and with the amount of experience he has, the way he can destroy a baseball, you just don’t see it. It’s just a different sound."And now, after being snubbed in preseason rankings listing the game’s top 100 players, and left off Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, Trout is showing the world he still is one of the greatest players in the modern era."I don’t know if it’s a show-people thing," Minasian says. "I don’t think he’s that type of guy. I think with what he’s done in his career, I don’t think he personally has to show anybody anything."He’s already shown everybody."Follow Nightengale on X: @BnightengaleThis article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Trout is healthy, hitting and happy to stay with the Angels

The French legislature observed a minute of silence for a teenager who was killed in a potential homophobic hate crime last month. Two men, ages 20 and 27, allegedly attacked a 19-year-old identified only by the first name Noahm in the media late at night on May 29 in the city of Metz in northeast France. Noahm died on June 2 in the hospital due to his injuries. Related Vandals tore their Pride flag in two. Activists turned it into a surprising symbol of resilience. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “I yelled, I screamed as loud as I could,” one of Noahm’s friends who witnessed the attack told the local news outlet ICI Lorraine Nord. The friend said that their group encountered another group that accused Noahm and his friends of filming them. “They hit [Noahm] once and he fell to the ground,” the witness said. “Even after he was on the ground, they continued. They hit his head. After that, they let out all their hatred, calling Noahm ‘pédé’ and ‘pédale’ [homophobic slurs], and flipped him off. It was a homophobic hate crime, pure and simple.” Several LGBTQ+ organizations immediately denounced the attack as an anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime, as did prominent French politician Jean-Luc Mélanchon, who called it a “homophobic attack” on X. On June 9, the National Assembly – the lower chamber of the French legislature – was scheduled to observe a minute of silence for Lyhanna, an 11-year-old who was found dead earlier this month and whose death has led to demonstrations across the country. “The nation’s emotions also ran very high after the murder of Noahm, victim of a real lynching in the streets of Metz,” said National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet (RE) on June 9 as she introduced the minute of silence for both victims. “Noahm was 19. He was just going home from a night out with friends.” “In our Republic, no one – absolutely no one – should be insulted, harassed, killed for being who they are, for loving.” Braun-Pivet didn’t mention the alleged homophobic nature of Noahm’s killing, so a deputy – a member of the National Assembly – pointed it out. “Madame President, because words are important, please permit me to say on this floor that Noahm was killed because gay, because of homophobia,” said Deputy Marie-Charlotte Garin (Ecologist), getting applause from her colleagues. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SIMILIQUEER (@similiqueer) At Pride in Metz this past weekend, Noahm’s cousin Nabil said, “His story reminds us why Pride still exists and why it’s still necessary,” earning applause, AFP reports. Two suspects were arrested in connection with Noahm’s death. They were held on charges of “murder aggravated by state of intoxication,” which is not a hate crime, leading to outcry against prosecutors. A third suspect, age 19, was brought in for questioning and later cleared. Describing his death as the result of “an attack obviously motivated by his gender expression and perceived homosexuality,” the organization Inter-LGBT denounced the lack of media attention on Noahm the day after the minute of silence. “We are profoundly angry at this loss of life, at the lack of reaction of certain elected officials and media outlets, which are often very fast to take up such stories,” the statement read. “We are disgusted that, once again, despite the testimony of people who witnessed the crime, the aggravating circumstance related to sexual orientation was not taken into account by prosecutors.” “Noahm was the victim of a hate crime. We expect authorities to shine a light on all aspects of this murder,” the group continued. “We appreciate the minute of silence observed in the National Assembly, but we are concerned that there was no mention of the victim’s homosexuality.” The next day, prosecutor David Touvet expanded the investigation to include the possibility that Noahm was killed in a hate crime. Noahm’s family’s attorney said this was because of “serious and consistent clues,” while the suspects’ attorneys accused prosecutors of capitulating to public outcry around Noahm’s death. A source with the prosecutor’s office told France Inter that they estimate the investigation will take 18 months to two years to complete. The LGBTQ+ organization SOS Homophobie said that an estimated 1,800 anti-gay attacks occurred in France in 2025. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The 2026 World Cup — Day 6It could be the biggest day yet at the 2026 World Cup as Afcon winners Senegal take on France in the first Group I game tonight.20:00 France v Senegal (Group I) — BBC 123:00 Iraq v Norway (Group I) — BBC 102:00 Argentina v Algeria — ITV 105:00 Austria v Jordan (Group I) — BBC 1At ToffeeWeb, we will follow the France v Senegal match live on this thread and on the Live Forum.Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()There are no responses so far to this article. Be the first to offer a comment using the form below.

Monday’s plethora of 2026 World Cup draws brought with it a slew of shocks — including two of the most surprising results since FIFA started ranking teams in 1992.The opening game of the day, Cape Verde’s steely 0-0 draw against European champion Spain was the first shocking result of the day. Cape Verde is ranked No. 64 in FIFA’s rankings, while Spain is No. 3, a difference of 61 places.Next, the 2-2 nightcap between New Zealand and Iran had an even bigger disparity. New Zealand entered the 2026 World Cup ranked No. 85, lowest in the tournament. Iran, meanwhile, is 65 spots ahead at No. 20.Both are among the biggest gaps between an underdog that either beat or drew a favorite, per FIFA’s rankings. The Cape Verde-Spain result is the fifth biggest gap, while New Zealand-Iran is the fourth.The three larger gaps all came at the 2010 World Cup.In South Africa, the hosts were ranked No. 83. They went on to beat No. 9 France 2-1 and drew No. 17 Mexico 1-1 (however, a 3-0 defeat to eventual semifinalist Uruguay sent South Africa packing).New Zealand’s 1-1 draw against Italy was the other big result from the 2010 tournament. The Kiwis were ranked No. 78 at the time, while Italy was fifth.It’s also worth noting that the draw versus Cape Verde is the third time Spain has made the top 10 list. The nation previously went to penalties (and lost) against host and No. 70 Russia as No. 10 in 2018 and lost to No. 74 Nigeria as No. 15 in 1998. FIFA’s rankings are perhaps an imperfect measure of team strength (in 2006, the Czech Republic and the United States entered the World Cup in the top five of FIFA's rankings before both got bounced in the group stage). It is nonetheless an official source when it comes to ranking international sides.With the World Cup expanding from 32 to 48 teams, the tournament is ripe for rankings mismatches. Later this week, for instance, we will see No. 6 Brazil take on No. 84 Haiti, a gap of 78 places.Monday also saw Saudi Arabia draw Uruguay and Egypt draw Belgium, both by 1-1 scores. While those are surprising in their own right, by FIFA ranking gap, neither cracks the top 10. No. 60 Saudi Arabia and No. 17 Uruguay represent a gap of 43 places, good for 15th on this list, while No. 29 Egypt and No. 10 Belgium are 19 places apart.Methodology source: World rankings come from the official FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings. Match results come from FBref.Matches that went to penalty shootouts were counted as draws.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Inside two of the biggest World Cup upsets in more than 30 years

How much did these fans pay for their World Cup tickets?For many fans, going to the World Cup is a priceless, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But if you look into the costs, there are eye-watering sums of cash being spent.From match tickets to flights and hotels, plus the travel to stadiums and the cost of a drink once inside, the costs of attending can add up fast.Five days into the tournament, football fans in the host nations of Mexico, Canada and the US have told the BBC how much they are spending at the World Cup.Norwegian in US spends $3,600 on one matchMorten Oftedal takes the phrase "once-in-a-lifetime" seriously. A Norwegian now living in Atlanta, Georgia, he knows this summer was likely to be the only chance for his 82-year-old father to see their country play in the World Cup, after Norway qualified for the first time in 28 years."I've been a huge soccer fan my whole life, and it's mostly due to dad," Oftedal told the BBC. "I can't be like, 'no, let's do it next time, or somewhere else'. So, we're very excited."What did not excite him was the cost. Oftedal purchased three tickets to see Norway v Iraq in Massachusetts for $380 (£282) apiece. Round-trip flights from Atlanta to Boston cost him 180,000 of his frequent flyer points for three tickets. And transport to the stadium will cost $80 round trip for each person.In total, Oftedal will spend about $3,600 worth of cash and points for himself, his father, and his wife to attend one match. It's a number that Oftedal described as "insane"."It's not really for individuals, I feel like it's for corporate America," Oftedal said of the 2026 tournament.Iain Bagwell (right) and his son [Iain Bagwell]Several people told the BBC their cost of attending the tournament stretched into the low thousands. But they said their love of football and the memories they hoped to create eased the sting."I paid about $1,200 for each ticket, for category 2," said Iain Bagwell, a 58-year-old Brit who lives in Atlanta and will take his son on a road trip to see England v Croatia in Dallas, Texas. "At the time I thought it was like daylight robbery. But looking at the way it's going, and the way that Fifa handled it, it probably wasn't such a bad deal."Bagwell and his son are camping during the journey to Dallas, for equal parts fun and thrift. After seeing England play, they will drive to Kansas City and watch Tunisia battle the Netherlands for $235 per ticket.Many American fans have become used to the high cost of sporting events. For example, the cheapest ticket to see the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden during the recent NBA finals started at about $3,500.For fans visiting from other nations, the cost of attending the 2026 World Cup have come as a shock.'Amazing' experience but match tickets $900 eachAlisa and Admir Maric conceded their trip to Toronto was expensive - but worth it. The journey included tickets to watch their team, Bosnia and Herzegovina, play against Canada."It's an amazing feeling, I never thought I was going to a World Cup game," Admir said. "I always wanted to experience it."They picked up tickets at the "last minute", Maric said, paying CAD$1,250 (US$890; £665) a piece for seats in the third row. On top of that, the hotel was about $600 a night and flights were $1,150 per person. All in, the cost was about CAD$5,400 for their trip.Husband and wife Admir and Alisa Maric flew from Bosnia and Herzegovina to watch the tournament's first match in Canada [BBC]Sisters Aida and Emina Tucic, also supporters of Bosnia and Herzegovina, didn't have as far to travel - they came from Hamilton, a city outside Toronto.They knew they wanted to come to the game "the second" Bosnia qualified, said Aida."We were a little trepidatious just because the tickets prices started to become, like, crazy," she said. They monitored the prices for a while and snagged their tickets three days before the game. They spent CAD$1,200 each. And Emina had some tips for other travellers, including checking local social media for suggestions for cheaper eats when out and about.Asked whether they thought the ticket price was a fair one to pay for the experience, Aida said "probably not", and that the football "should be accessible to the fans".But, she added, it's "priceless for me"."It's once-in-a-lifetime," Emina said. "Both the countries you love, one where you were raised, one where you were born - getting to see them both play on the world stage, it's amazing."One ticket costs about three months' rent in MexicoWatching an impromptu street match from the sidelines in Mexico City's Zona Rosa (Pink Zone) between passers-by and police officers was about as close as some Mexicans will get to the sporting action this World Cup. The ticket prices for the opening game were well beyond the means of most people in a nation where an estimated 30% of the population lives in poverty.Outside the Azteca Stadium on Friday for the opening match against South Africa, fans quoted a range of figures they'd paid for one of the hallowed tickets. Few paid less than the equivalent of USD$1,500 in Mexican pesos and some went as high as $4,000 or more. A lucky few received free courtesy tickets through work or as gifts.Aaron Vieyra and his partner outside the Azteca Stadium [Aaron Vieyra]"I paid 30,000 pesos ($1,750; £1,300) for each one," explains Aaron Vieyra, of the Mexican national team fans group Furia Azteca. Vieyra purchased two tickets at that price for him and his girlfriend through a well-placed contact. One ticket alone was worth about three months' rent to many residents of Mexico City, he pointed out.Having seen the Mexican team play at previous World Cups in Brazil and Russia, he said he spent more on one game in Mexico than what he paid combined for the matches he saw in those other tournaments."The game itself was historic and we were so happy to be in the Azteca for that moment, I still get goosebumps," Vieyra said.But was it value for money? "It was worth it, but only just," he says with hesitation. "It worked out for us because I didn't have to pay for flights or hotels. If we'd have had to pay for those costs on top, then there is no way I'd have spent that kind of money on a ticket."$16 for a beer inside New Jersey stadiumThe price of food and drink inside the stadiums varies depending where you are, but they seem to be within the range that sport and music fans would pay inside top venues and arenas in the US. An investigation by The Athletic website found that fans could pay $16 (£12) for an American beer (16oz) at the New York New Jersey (NYNJ) Stadium, which will host the final, and $5 for a water (20oz). At the Mercedes-Benz in Atlanta, however, a US beer will set you back only $5 for a small (12oz) and $9 for a large (20oz). Fans must part with just $3 for water (20oz).Other costs are also inflated. A train ticket from New York City's Penn Station to the NYNJ Stadium for a World Cup match costs $98. The price of the ticket, which usually costs $12.90, was increased so locals were not burdened with paying for fan transportation, New Jersey Governor Governor Mikie Sherrill has said. Sherrill has also said Fifa is not contributing to the $48m transit costs.Brazil fans gathered in New York's Times Square ahead of the match on Saturday against Morocco [Getty Images]Meanwhile, local officials have tried to negotiate with Fifa to bring the cost down for average fans.New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani negotiated with Fifa to secure 1,000 $50 tickets for residents, which they can win through a lottery. The Canadian province of Ontario passed the Putting Fans First Act to tamp down on resale prices. And Dallas will provide complimentary transport to and from its stadium.Though headlines about ticket costs have dominated the tournament, the fans who spoke to the BBC remained enthusiastic about the games and suggested the prices were worth it.Oftedal, the Norwegian fan, said creating memories with his father would be the most important thing, and that "the (worry about) money goes away after a while".[BBC]GUIDE: Everything you need to know EXPLORE: All 48 squads confirmedDOWNLOAD: The World Cup 2026 wallchart

Shortstop Cooper Pratt is on his way to Milwaukee, two days after an emotional scene at Class AAA Nashville where he could be seen shaking hands and receiving hugs from teammates after he was pulled from a game. The Milwaukee Brewers will begin a three-game set with Cleveland on June 16.Here's what to know about Pratt, regarded as the No. 2 prospect in the organization by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel before the 2026 season. How old is Cooper Pratt?He's 21 years old and will turn 22 in August.Where is Cooper Pratt from?He was born in Florida but played high-school baseball in Mississippi, where he became the state's Gatorade Player of the Year in 2023. It's good company; current big leaguers Braden Montgomery, Austin Riley, Blaze Jordan J.T. Ginn and Colt Keith won that honor in the years before Pratt, and Pirates phenom Konnor Griffin won the year after Pratt.How tall is Cooper Pratt?As shortstops go, he's a big player, standing 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds.How did the Brewers acquire Cooper Pratt?Milwaukee selected him in the sixth round of the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.Only the sixth round?Yes, but he was considered one of the jewels of the draft for Milwaukee in 2023, if not the headliner. Remember how the MLB slot system works, where one of the main goals is allocating a team's "bonus pool" in such a way that maximizes the talent of selections. Pratt signed then for $1.3 million, the fourth-highest bonus given to any Brewers draftee that year. What are Cooper Pratt's stats?After a slow start in Nashville this year, Pratt has rebounded and posted a .735 OPS despite being young for the level, with a .349 on-base percentage, .241 average and six homers in 261 plate appearances. He also has six doubles, four triples and 17 stolen bases (caught just once).He's regarded as an elite defensive shortstop; two years ago he won the minor-league gold glove as the top defensive shortstop across the minors, chosen when he played for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. What else does Cooper Pratt do well?The Brewers believe more power will follow as he gets older, given his size, but he's already got excellent contact skills and a penchant for good swing decisions. He's drawn 34 walks this year in the 261 plate appearances, a quality 13% walk rate that has risen throughout his career. On the other side, he has 36 strikeouts for a 14% strikeout rate, another strong number that's been headed in the right direction as he gets older.He's been working on cutting down chase with two strikes. He's also an elite base stealer who will fit right in with the Brewers' penchant for speed and chaos. He has a great arm.What to know about the Brewers signing Pratt to a contract early this seasonIn early April, the Brewers signed Pratt to an eight-year extension worth $50.75 million, and maybe more with incentives and team options. It means he could be in Milwaukee through 2035.That put Pratt on the 40-man roster, so adding him to the active 26-man roster doesn't automatically require designating a player for assignment or moving a player to the 60-day injured list to make room. It also eliminates any concerns about "arbitration clock" or "service time" (both of which wouldn't matter at this point in the season, anyway), because he's already getting paid on a big-league contract, with numbers cemented in stone for possibly the next decade.It's a bold stroke to sign a player before his big-league debut, but the trend has grown across MLB and certainly in Milwaukee, where similar deals were struck for Jackson Chourio and, most recently, Luis Lara. Where does Pratt rank on prospect lists?MLB Pipeline ranked Pratt as the No. 63 prospect in the big leagues and the No. 4 prospect in the organization. In its offseason roundup, FanGraphs had Pratt as the No. 10 prospect in the Brewers organization.Baseball America had Pratt at No. 54 across baseball and third in the Brewers organization. Whose spot will Cooper Pratt take on the Brewers roster?We'll learn that later June 16, but we can guess.Given that Pratt was seen shaking hands in the dugout shortly after the Brewers game ended and didn't simply report to Milwaukee before his AAA game began that day in Nashville, it's reasonable to conclude that something compelled the Brewers to make the call quickly Sunday, as opposed to a fully pre-meditated maneuver. That leads us to believe either someone got injured or something convinced Milwaukee that now was the time, a sudden reaction that isn't particularly common in the organization.Luis Rengifo, who has struggled mightily at the plate this season, didn't leave Sunday's game early against the Phillies but did incur a couple injury scares, making him someone to watch. Since Pratt is a shortstop, it'll also be worth noting how roles change for Joey Ortiz and David Hamilton, both of whom have struggled overall this season at the plate but have seen better results in June.The Brewers have tried to get Hamilton more playing time at shortstop with Ortiz struggling offensively, though Ortiz is the stronger defender at that spot on the diamond. Hamilton has also played third base this year for the first time in his career, and Ortiz played the entire 2024 season at third base with Willy Adames handling shortstop.Pratt has played almost exclusively shortstop in his minor-league career, except for three games at second base in rookie ball and one game this year as a designated hitter.You may remember Cooper Pratt from ...Remember when Jacob Misiorowski went viral in spring training for seemingly throwing a fastball that clipped an apple off the head of someone sitting at home plate? That someone was, in fact, Cooper Pratt. No shortstop prospects were harmed in the filming of the segment, thanks to some Brewers movie magic.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers prospect Cooper Pratt will debut this week; what to know

Shortstop Cooper Pratt is on his way to Milwaukee, two days after an emotional scene at Class AAA Nashville where he could be seen shaking hands and receiving hugs from teammates after he was pulled from a game. The Milwaukee Brewers will begin a three-game set with Cleveland on June 16.Here's what to know about Pratt, regarded as the No. 2 prospect in the organization by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel before the 2026 season. How old is Cooper Pratt?He's 21 years old and will turn 22 in August.Where is Cooper Pratt from?He was born in Florida but played high-school baseball in Mississippi, where he became the state's Gatorade Player of the Year in 2023. It's good company; current big leaguers Braden Montgomery, Austin Riley, Blaze Jordan J.T. Ginn and Colt Keith won that honor in the years before Pratt, and Pirates phenom Konnor Griffin won the year after Pratt.How tall is Cooper Pratt?As shortstops go, he's a big player, standing 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds.How did the Brewers acquire Cooper Pratt?Milwaukee selected him in the sixth round of the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.Only the sixth round?Yes, but he was considered one of the jewels of the draft for Milwaukee in 2023, if not the headliner. Remember how the MLB slot system works, where one of the main goals is allocating a team's "bonus pool" in such a way that maximizes the talent of selections. Pratt signed then for $1.3 million, the fourth-highest bonus given to any Brewers draftee that year. What are Cooper Pratt's stats?After a slow start in Nashville this year, Pratt has rebounded and posted a .735 OPS despite being young for the level, with a .349 on-base percentage, .241 average and six homers in 261 plate appearances. He also has six doubles, four triples and 17 stolen bases (caught just once).He's regarded as an elite defensive shortstop; two years ago he won the minor-league gold glove as the top defensive shortstop across the minors, chosen when he played for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. What else does Cooper Pratt do well?The Brewers believe more power will follow as he gets older, given his size, but he's already got excellent contact skills and a penchant for good swing decisions. He's drawn 34 walks this year in the 261 plate appearances, a quality 13% walk rate that has risen throughout his career. On the other side, he has 36 strikeouts for a 14% strikeout rate, another strong number that's been headed in the right direction as he gets older.He's been working on cutting down chase with two strikes. He's also an elite base stealer who will fit right in with the Brewers' penchant for speed and chaos. He has a great arm.What to know about the Brewers signing Pratt to a contract early this seasonIn early April, the Brewers signed Pratt to an eight-year extension worth $50.75 million, and maybe more with incentives and team options. It means he could be in Milwaukee through 2035.That put Pratt on the 40-man roster, so adding him to the active 26-man roster doesn't automatically require designating a player for assignment or moving a player to the 60-day injured list to make room. It also eliminates any concerns about "arbitration clock" or "service time" (both of which wouldn't matter at this point in the season, anyway), because he's already getting paid on a big-league contract, with numbers cemented in stone for possibly the next decade.It's a bold stroke to sign a player before his big-league debut, but the trend has grown across MLB and certainly in Milwaukee, where similar deals were struck for Jackson Chourio and, most recently, Luis Lara. Where does Pratt rank on prospect lists?MLB Pipeline ranked Pratt as the No. 63 prospect in the big leagues and the No. 4 prospect in the organization. In its offseason roundup, FanGraphs had Pratt as the No. 10 prospect in the Brewers organization.Baseball America had Pratt at No. 54 across baseball and third in the Brewers organization. Whose spot will Cooper Pratt take on the Brewers roster?We'll learn that later June 16, but we can guess.Given that Pratt was seen shaking hands in the dugout shortly after the Brewers game ended and didn't simply report to Milwaukee before his AAA game began that day in Nashville, it's reasonable to conclude that something compelled the Brewers to make the call quickly Sunday, as opposed to a fully pre-meditated maneuver. That leads us to believe either someone got injured or something convinced Milwaukee that now was the time, a sudden reaction that isn't particularly common in the organization.Luis Rengifo, who has struggled mightily at the plate this season, didn't leave Sunday's game early against the Phillies but did incur a couple injury scares, making him someone to watch. Since Pratt is a shortstop, it'll also be worth noting how roles change for Joey Ortiz and David Hamilton, both of whom have struggled overall this season at the plate but have seen better results in June.The Brewers have tried to get Hamilton more playing time at shortstop with Ortiz struggling offensively, though Ortiz is the stronger defender at that spot on the diamond. Hamilton has also played third base this year for the first time in his career, and Ortiz played the entire 2024 season at third base with Willy Adames handling shortstop.Pratt has played almost exclusively shortstop in his minor-league career, except for three games at second base in rookie ball and one game this year as a designated hitter.You may remember Cooper Pratt from ...Remember when Jacob Misiorowski went viral in spring training for seemingly throwing a fastball that clipped an apple off the head of someone sitting at home plate? That someone was, in fact, Cooper Pratt. No shortstop prospects were harmed in the filming of the segment, thanks to some Brewers movie magic.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers prospect Cooper Pratt will debut this week; what to know

SpaceX's mega rocket Starship prepares for a test flight from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)2026-06-16T11:31:33Z SpaceX will move forward with its $60 billion acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Cursor as Elon Musk’s space exploration and AI company seeks a competitive edge against rivals Anthropic and OpenAI after its Wall Street debut last week. SpaceX said in April that it had the rights to buy Cursor, or pay $10 billion to “work together” with the company. In a regulatory filing Tuesday, SpaceX said that Cursor will become a wholly owned subsidiary when the deal closes in the third quarter. Cursor, made by San Francisco startup Anysphere, is a popular AI coding assistant. What SpaceX has described as Cursor’s wide “distribution to expert software engineers” is likely part of what made it attractive to Musk’s company, giving it access to a new customer base.When it first announced the potential acquisition, Cursor said the partnership with SpaceX subsidiary xAI would enable it to build future AI products using xAI’s massive AI data center complex Colossus, based in Memphis, Tennessee. Cursor, which started in 2022, helped sparked a trend called “vibe coding” as AI coding assistants have become increasingly capable of doing the work of computer programming. Cursor competes with other coding tools like Anthropic’s Claude Code and OpenAI’s Codex but also has relied heavily on partnerships with those larger AI research companies for the foundations of its technology. Read More It was Cursor’s Composer, combined with Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet, that a prominent AI researcher was playing with for weekend projects when he coined the phrase “vibe coding” in early 2025.SpaceX became a public company on Friday in what is largely considered a successful debut. Shares of the company have jumped since Friday, and are up 9% before the opening bell Tuesday.

Hackers have published data stolen from Madison Square Garden online for anyone to download, including what they say is customers’ personal information. A sample reviewed by 404 Media includes files mentioning specific sports teams, and specifically Knicks-related personalities, with fields such as “address,” “claim to fame,” “cost of talent,” and sometimes contact information for them or their representatives.“It’s very simple. When you pay us, your data is deleted, and you move on with your life. When you don’t pay us, you get posted here, among other things,” a popup on the hackers’ website reads. The group publishing the data is Shiny Hunters, which has been responsible for an array of breaches over the years.The data dump comes just days after the Knicks won the NBA Finals in five games against the Spurs. Although the breach likely happened before that—a spokesperson for the hacking group said the hack was on June 5—the Knicks’ victory has put a huge amount of attention on them and MSG.💡Do you know anything else about this breach? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at joseph.404 or send me an email at joseph@404media.co.Shiny Hunters published the MSG data on Tuesday. The full file download is nearly 45GB. A spokesperson of the group sent 404 Media a smaller sample of the data. One file includes what appear to be emails sent by customers to MSG and sometimes MSG’s response. One email is a man complaining about potentially being flagged by MSG’s facial recognition systems (MSG owner Jim Dolan has long spied on people inside his arenas, with MSG deploying various surveillance technologies, WIRED reported.) The sample included a file with “Talent” in the filename, then a long list of high profile people in the sports world. It includes family members of MSG executives, former New York Knicks players and head coaches, and celebrities.Ben Stiller, a huge Knicks fan and who was at MSG for the Knicks’ recent NBA finals games, is also included in the file. The contact information is an email address for Red Hour Films, the production company Stiller runs. The file lists Stiller as “Low Risk,” although it's not clear from the file itself what that means. Only one person in the file is listed as “High Risk”: rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie. MSG did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Shiny Hunters website indicates MSG did not pay a demanded ransom.In March MSG confirmed it had suffered a data breach which targeted users of Oracle’s E-Business Suite. In that hacking campaign, the Cl0p ransomware group was responsible, SecurityWeek reported. Those hackers named MSG specifically as a victim in November 2025, the report added.

The world’s attention is on the Middle East.

“Of course it’s the Knicks, so they won’t really show up until the second half,” the host Jimmy Fallon said.

The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the 2026 NBA Finals, capturing their first championship in 53 years. New York simply had San Antonio's number all year — between the Finals and the 2025 NBA Cup championship, the Knicks beat the Spurs five times out of six meetings this season.This exit interview breaks down how the Knicks' fantasy basketball pieces performed on the way to glory and what it means heading into next season.The new King of New YorkJalen Brunson’s legend was written in the playoffs, where he not only led the Knicks to their first championship since 1973 but actually leveled up compared to his already-impressive regular season. After a strong campaign that included being named MVP of the 2025 NBA Cup in December — scoring 25 points in a comeback win over the Spurs — Brunson went off in the postseason.He averaged 32.6 points, 4.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals in the Finals, capped by a 45-point masterpiece in Game 5 that secured a unanimous Finals MVP award. He became only the fourth second-round pick ever to win Finals MVP, joining Knicks legend Willis Reed, Dennis Johnson and Nikola Jokić. The leader of the most dominant playoff team in modern NBA history, Brunson is a top-three PG in the league.As great as Brunson was, one surprise was seeing OG Anunoby (33rd) and Mikal Bridges (35th) finish higher than him in 9-cat leagues in 2025-26, even though Brunson was a top-25 player in points formats. Even so, Brunson remains a clear third-round pick and one of the best point guards in fantasy — his elite scoring, efficiency and playmaking keep him among the most valuable options at his position, especially after this title run.The Big Bodega bags a chipKarl-Anthony Towns didn't replicate the numbers he posted under Tom Thibodeau, and that's not a shock given the transition to a new coaching staff and offensive philosophy. With Thibs’ exit and Mike Brown's arrival, workloads across the roster shifted, and Towns needed time to find his footing within the new system. Following the NBA Cup, KAT was slumping hard, shooting 42% from the field, averaging just 15.9 ppg. But as the season wore on, KAT settled in, and his production trended upward. KAT ended the season as the top-ranked Knicks player, finishing 25th in 9-cat and 37th in High Score. He remains a second-to-third-round target and is about as well-rounded as it gets for a big man. He tallies traditional frontcourt stats while being one of the most efficient shooters in the league. With a title in hand and a full offseason to gel further in Brown's system, Towns is a safe and consistent pick across formats.“Wing Stop” deliveredThe Knicks' wing defense was one of their greatest strengths, as they wreaked havoc on opposing offenses all season. Both OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges averaged over two stocks per game, and both comfortably outperformed their ADPs in 9-cat leagues — finishing as top-35 players thanks to a combination of efficiency, defensive production and 3-point volume. Two habitually underrated guys in fantasy did their thing and were pivotal to the Knicks winning it all.Anunoby was the better fantasy player of the two. In High Score formats, he averaged 33 fantasy points per game compared to Bridges' 31, with Bridges landing just outside the top 100 at 104 overall. Both are better suited for 9-cat than points leagues, but they're effective fantasy assets regardless — especially for managers who value durability. Bridges is the ironman of the group, the type of player you can count on for all 82 games, while Anunoby appeared in 67. Different injury profiles, similar fantasy value — both are safe, productive picks who do a little bit of everything without hurting you anywhere.Forget them picks.Hart of a championIt doesn't matter whether he's starting or coming off the bench, Hart remains a key asset for the Knicks — and for fantasy managers, too. His game has never been about scoring; it's the intangibles. He’s one of the best rebounders under 6-foot-5 and he chips in across assists, steals and 3-pointers in a way that makes him a reliable source for counting stats. A true fantasy basketball utility glue guy.Hart’s production fell short of his seventh-round ADP, ranking 85th in 9-cat and 89th in High Score this season. With 66 games played and tri-positional eligibility, his fantasy value didn’t take as much of a hit as it seemed. He won't be confused for a star, but Hart is an integral piece for the Knicks and a decent late-round asset if you need hustle and effort stats.Final ThoughtsOne of the most encouraging signs for the Knicks was Mike Brown’s willingness to trust his bench and get value from depth pieces — a real-life win that didn’t always translate to fantasy. Deuce McBride broke out, but remained off the fantasy radar.Looking ahead, the core five (Brunson, OG, Towns, Mikal, and Hart) are the only true long-term locks, though Mitchell Robinson could return to bolster rim protection and rebounding. With depth possibly thinning, rookie Mohamed Diawara will be a name to watch in Summer League, as he could carve out a role if he impresses. If the rotation shifts, New York still holds a first-rounder (No. 24) and two second-round picks (Nos. 31, 55) to help reload.Bottom line: this is the Knicks' third championship in franchise history, and with the core intact and draft capital in hand, they'll be right back in contention next season. Great for the franchise and for your fantasy rosters, too.

The Cowboys are continuing to look at options for key positions on their depth chart, turning now to a source that's paid dividends for them in the past.The club on Monday worked out three players having just wrapped up their spring season in the UFL, including one local talent they've had particular interest in for quite some time.Wide receiver Denzel Mims, cornerback Ameer Speed, and linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi reportedly visited The Star in Frisco one day prior to the team's mandatory minicamp. While it's possible the Cowboys are merely scouting for competent fill-ins to take the place of current star or injured players, each of these NFL veterans also has the experience and potential to compete for an actual roster spot. The Cowboys, of course, have gone to the spring league well before, with considerable success. Return specialist/wide receiver KaVontae Turpin came from the USFL's New Jersey Generals, and kicker Brandon Aubrey was a star for the Birmingham Stallions. Just the two most notable examples, Turpin and Aubrey have six Pro Bowl nods between them.As of this writing, none of this year's tryout candidates- all of whom have NFL experience- has been signed. But here's your look at who the Cowboys are looking at.WR Denzel MimsA Texas native, Mims has been on the Dallas radar since his college days at hometown Baylor. He was considered a legitimate target for the team in the 2020 draft until CeeDee Lamb unexpectedly fell into their lap with the 17th overall pick. Mims was then selected in the second round by the Jets.Things never clicked with Mims and Gang Green. He missed the start of his rookie season with a hamstring and then put up very pedestrian numbers once he got on the field. He was requesting a trade before his third season, with the Cowboys thought to have at least reached out to the Jets at the time. No trade ever materialized; Mims caught 42 balls for 676 yards in three seasons in New York.He bounced around with short stints at Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Jacksonville but never saw action in a game. Mims has even worked out for the Cowboys previously, early in the 2024 season, when Brandin Cooks went down with a knee issue.The speedy Mims was with the the St. Louis Battlehawks during the 2025 UFL season and the Dallas Renegades this past spring.The Cowboys have 13 wide receivers on the updated roster, but George Pickens has not worked out with the team all offseason, and Lamb and Turpin may not be asked to do much at this early stage. Ryan Flournoy and Marquez Valdes-Scantling likely lead the rest of the receivers in terms of making the team, but Mims would provide an experienced set of hands in a group that includes mostly second-year guys and rookies.CB Ameer SpeedSpeed spent five years at Georgia- winning a national championship in 2021- before finishing his college career at Michigan State in 2022. Originally a sixth-round draft pick, Speed has been something of a journeyman, playing for four different teams- the Patriots, Colts, Bears, and Texans- over the three years of his NFL career. He's seen time in 17 games, with the vast majority of his snaps coming on special teams.Speed was a member of the Houston Gamblers for the most recent UFL season.In Dallas, DaRon Bland is still coming back from foot surgery. And while there are 10 other cornerbacks on the current roster, it has proven to be a position at which the team simply cannot be too deep.LB Olakunle FatusakiWhile listed as a linebacker, Fatukasi would be an outside linebacker in Christian Parker's defense in Dallas. He comes off a strong season with the UFL's Birmingham Stallions and was with the Battlehawks the year prior.Originally undrafted coming out of Rutgers in 2022, the younger brother of NFL veteran Folorunso Fatusaki has been on the field with the Buccaneers and Rams and spent time either on the practice squad or in camp with the Broncos, Patriots, and Chiefs. Over his two NFL seasons, he logged time in 14 contests.In Dallas, the edge rusher/OLB role is going through a transition under Parker. While Rashan Gary leads the group, Donovan Ezeiruaku is coming off hip labrum surgery and likely won't practice until training camp. James Houston, Sam Williams, Isaiah Land, and Tyrus Wheat are veterans, while highly-touted Malachi Lawrence is still a rookie, and Marist Liufau is in his first year at the position.Todd is on X at @ToddBrock24f7. Also, follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys work out 3 from UFL, including former Baylor WR Denzel Mims

Fantasy football managers are smarter than ever, so finding a player who's actually being slept on can be difficult. With that in mind, we're shifting our focus to late-round targets who could drastically outproduce their ADP in 2026. Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL seasonOver the next week, I'll shine the spotlight on my favorite sleeper candidates at every key fantasy position — starting with quarterbacks.Cam Ward, TitansWard was in consideration for my breakout quarterbacks article, but after an extremely disappointing rookie campaign, he's going off the board so late (12th round, QB22) that he's reached sleeper status. Fortunately, entering his second year, the environment in Tennessee has improved dramatically — creating renewed hope for the first player taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. That starts with a new coaching staff, which features offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Regardless of how you feel about Daboll's time as the Giants head coach, you can't deny that he's a quality playcaller who helped Josh Allen and Jaxson Dart emerge as fantasy starters in his last two stops. He should provide a noticeable upgrade to the Titans' offense while giving Ward a better chance to excel in Year 2. It's also impossible to ignore the massive leap the receiver room took over the course of the offseason. Last year, Ward was forced to throw to oft-injured veteran Calvin Ridley and a pair of Day 3 rookies in Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor. Now, the reliance on Ridley is gone thanks to the arrival of first-round wideout Carnell Tate and high-priced free agent signing Wan'Dale Robinson, who knows Daboll well from their time together in New York. When you add in a strong backfield trio of Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears and Nick Singleton, as well as promising tight end Gunnar Helm, you have a real collection of skill position talent surrounding Ward. Though the offensive line remains a question mark, there is a path to that group improving with the addition of center Austin Schlottmann and the potential development of former first-rounders Peter Skoronski and JC Latham under the new regime. From a fantasy perspective, Ward should have the wind at his back with the third-easiest QB schedule in 2026. And while he lacks an elite ceiling due to his limited rushing production, the enhanced weaponry alone should create a significant jump in his passing numbers, turning him into an ascending fantasy QB2 with an opportunity to flirt with low-end QB1 stats if everything goes his way. C.J. Stroud, TexansStroud hasn't been able to fully replicate his year-long rookie season production, when he was the QB11, averaging 18.5 fppg. However, full-season stats can be deceiving. The first-round passer wasn't far off early in his sophomore campaign, posting QB14 fantasy results through the first six weeks before injuries struck his receiving corps. After that, he was the QB38 from Week 7 on in 2024. While he only managed QB23 fantasy numbers last year, an injury derailed his season and caused him to miss three games. If you remove the outing where he got hurt and only played part of the contest, as well as the first game back when he struggled, Stroud averaged 16.8 fppg in his other 11 contests. That would have tied him as the QB15 with Baker Mayfield, Jacoby Brissett, Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels. We can also quite easily paint a brighter picture for him in 2026 with a stronger supporting cast that features a pair of exciting young wideouts in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel emerging alongside Nico Collins. It's even possible we see Tank Dell contribute after the gruesome injury that nearly ended his career. The Texans offense should benefit from the addition of veteran back David Montgomery, who should help bring balance to their attack after their run game suffered without Joe Mixon. The front office even made an effort to address the offensive line, though that might still be a work in progress. Regardless, unlike some of the quarterbacks going in his ADP range, Stroud is locked in as his team's starter for the full season and he'll face the ninth-friendliest fantasy QB schedule. In a make-or-break year for the 24-year-old, a return to his rookie year stardom could be on the horizon. Geno Smith, JetsSmith's fantasy stats have taken a step back since his breakout campaign with the Seahawks in 2022, when he finished with the sixth-most points at his position and was a top-eight QB in fantasy points per game (18.7). He was also eighth in passing yards, fourth in passing touchdowns and first in completion percentage. The 2023 season was more of a struggle, but injuries to Seattle's offensive line — including both starting tackles going down in the opener — increased the degree of difficulty. He stumbled to a QB24 result (15.4 fppg). In 2024, Smith's numbers bounced back and he ended the year among the top five in passing yards and completion percentage. Fantasy-wise, that made him the QB17 on a per game basis (15.9 fppg). But he posted eight top-12 weekly performances, including six in the first half of the season.Now, coming off a dismal campaign with the Raiders — which featured a midseason coordinator change and several injuries to key players, including star tight end Brock Bowers — Smith's fantasy stock has fallen even further. However, the Jets have quietly put together a very solid offense with a ton of depth at every position. Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Adonai Mitchell, Braelon Allen and Mason Taylor have been joined by a pair of first-round rookies in wideout Omar Cooper Jr. and tight end Kenyon Sadiq. New York also has the makings of a solid offensive line with several highly-drafted blockers. Smith is being selected as the QB29 in ADP, but recapturing some of his past fantasy success is well within his range of outcomes in this offense.

India A will have one final opportunity to book their place in the Sri Lanka A-Team Tri-Series final when they take on Afghanistan A in a crucial Match 5 encounter at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on June 17.The stakes could not be higher for Tilak Varma's side. After suffering a narrow four-run defeat to Afghanistan A via the DLS method and then losing to Sri Lanka A in a dramatic Super Over finish, India A must win to remain in contention for a place in the title clash.Pitch Report and Toss OutlookThe Dambulla surface is expected to offer something for both pace and spin bowlers. Early morning conditions could assist seamers with some movement off the pitch, but the track is likely to slow down as the match progresses. Spinners are expected to play a significant role in the middle overs, with the surface traditionally offering turn and grip later in the innings. Given the conditions and chasing trends at the venue, the captain winning the toss may prefer to bowl first.Players to WatchRuturaj Gaikwad (India A): The India A batter has been the standout batter of the tournament so far, leading the run-scoring charts with 204 runs.Suryansh Shedge (India A): Shedge showcased his finishing ability with a counter-attacking 72 off 66 balls against Sri Lanka A.Imran Mir (Afghanistan A): The Afghanistan A captain played a match-winning role in the previous meeting between the sides, scoring an unbeaten 75. Abdullah Ahmadzai (Afghanistan A): The pacer tore through India's batting order in the earlier fixture, claiming a five-wicket haul.India A vs Afghanistan A, Tri-Series 2026: Live Streaming DetailsWhen will the India A vs Afghanistan A, Tri-Series 2026 match take place?The India A vs Afghanistan A, Tri-Series 2026 match will take place on June 17.Where will the India A vs Afghanistan A, Tri-Series 2026 match be held?The India A vs Afghanistan A, Tri-Series 2026 match will be held at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla.What time will the India A vs Afghanistan A, Tri-Series 2026 match start?The India A vs Afghanistan A, Tri-Series 2026 match will begin at 10:00 AM IST.Which TV channels will live telecast the India A vs Afghanistan A, Tri-Series 2026 match?The India A vs Afghanistan A match will be televised live on the Sony Sports Network.Where to follow the live streaming of the India A vs Afghanistan A, Tri-Series 2026 match?The India A vs Afghanistan A, Tri-Series 2026 match will be live streamed on the Sony LIV app and website.Squads for India A vs Afghanistan AIndia A: Tilak Varma (c), Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Suryansh Shedge, Prabhsimran Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Vipraj Nigam, Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, Arshad Khan, Anukul Roy, Ashok SharmaAfghanistan A: Imran Mir (c), Noor ul Rahman (wk), Hassan Eisakhil, Bahir Shah, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Farmanullah Safi, Shams Ur Rahman, Khalil Gurbaz, Zahir Khan, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Mohammad Ibrahim, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Khalid Taniwal, Ishaq Rahimi, Faisal Khan Ahmadzai

MLB has completed the first 12 weeks of the 2026 season. Specific players have continued producing great numbers, while a handful are missing time due to injury. Now is the time when player production starts garnering attention for All-Star rosters. Entering Week 13, here are the top ten shortstops in the league. MORE: MLB catcher power rankings entering week 131. CJ Abrams, Washington NationalsAbrams is having a strong season. Entering the week, he is second in home runs, first in RBI, and first in OPS among MLB shortstops. He is on his way to representing the National League in the upcoming All-Star game.2. Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati RedsMay 31, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz scores a run against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn ImagesDe La Cruz is showing improvements this season. He’s seen his batting average progress compared to his first few seasons. Entering the week, he is one of two MLB shortstops with double-digit home runs and stolen bases. The Reds need to get him back from the IL ASAP. 3. Colson Montgomery, Chicago White SoxMontgomery is making a name for himself in year two. He is turning into a future superstar for the White Sox. Entering the week, he leads MLB shortstops in home runs.4. Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City RoyalsWitt Jr. started the season slow but has been on a tear. Entering the week, Witt Jr. is second in hits and first in stolen bases among MLB shortstops. If healthy, he can contend for the American League MVP Award.5. Otto Lopez, Miami MarlinsLopez is having an outstanding season. Entering the week, he leads MLB shortstops in hits. Otto Lopez leads the Marlins in batting average and hits.6. Kevin McGonigle, Detroit TigersMar 31, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (7) reacts after missing a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn ImagesMcGonigle is having a strong rookie season. Entering the week, he ranks third in hits and first in on-base percentage among MLB shortstops. He will be a finalist for the AL Rookie of the Year Award.7. Brayan Rocchio, Cleveland GuardiansBrayan Rocchio is having a strong season. Entering the week, he is tied for ninth in hits among MLB shortstops. He leads the Cleveland Guardians in batting average.8. Zach Neto, Los Angeles AngelsNeto has hit for power while striking out often. Entering the week, he is one of two MLB shortstops with double-digit home runs and stolen bases. He is on pace for a third consecutive season with 20 home runs and 25 stolen bases.9. Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore OriolesHenderson has sold out for power. Entering the week, he’s tied for second in home runs among MLB shortstops. However, his strikeout rate is at an all-time high.10. Konnor Griffin, Pittsburgh PiratesThe rookie is working his way back from a strained flexor tendon. He’s produced when on the field. He will be a finalist for the NL Rookie of the Year Award.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

Vice President JD Vance now says it was “boneheaded” of him to call several prominent Democrats “childless cat ladies.” In his new book Communion, Vance said that the comments were “One of the dumbest things I ever said.” Related Pete Buttigieg is playing JD Vance in Tim Walz’s debate prep He was referring to statements he made on Fox News in 2021 on Tucker Carlson’s show where he said that the U.S. is run by “Democrats” and “corporate oligarchs” who are “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the voices that they’ve made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too.” He then named three examples: Vice President Kamala Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “And how does it make any sense that we’ve turned our country over to people who don’t really have a direct stake in it?” Vance asked. Less than a month after Vance’s comments, Buttigieg announced on social media that he and husband Chasten were in fact in the process of becoming parents. In September 2021, they announced that they had adopted fraternal twins Penelope Rose and Joseph August. Moreover, Harris was already a mother to her two stepchildren. But now Vance is walking back that insult: “It was a boneheaded comment, intentionally (and successfully) provocative rather than illuminating.” Vance discusses the episode in a part of the book where he talks about how it’s “okay to admit error.” He said that he intended his comments to be about how “our society is becoming pathologically hostile to having kids” but that he “could have made that point much more effectively, and with the benefit of showing a little charity to the many Americans who — some for reasons beyond their control —­ don’t have children.” Buttigieg said as much in 2024, noting that he and his husband were going through a difficult – and private – adoption process when Vance made his comments. “The really sad thing is he said that after Chasten and I had been through a fairly heartbreaking setback in our adoption journey,” Buttigieg said at the time on CNN. “He couldn’t have known that, but maybe that’s why you shouldn’t be talking about other people’s children.” Vance’s book discusses his “faith journey” from Protestant to atheist to Catholic, according to NBC News. The book reportedly has a chapter about how Pope Francis died the day after he encountered Vance. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

We considered every plausible theory of his death, both official and otherwise, seeking out the most persuasive arguments and evidence for each.

Kevin VandenBerg has been perched atop the Golfweek National Senior Amateur Rankings for months upon months for a reason: He always seems to rise to the top of a senior tournament. This week, VandenBerg is a New Yorker among Southeasterners at the top of the Golfweek Senior National Championship.VandenBerg, along with Yancey Johnson of Simpsonville, South Carolina, lead the Senior division after the first round. Both opened with even-par 72 on Monday at Benvenue Country Club, a historic Donald Ross design in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.VandenBerg, who won the Apogee Investment Management Senior Championship a month ago, came out of the gate at Benvenue with two birdies in his first three holes. He lost some ground with bogeys at Nos. 6 and 9 before playing the back nine in even par. Similarly, Johnson, who is coming off a top-10 finish at the U.S. Senior Challenge earlier this month, was 2 under on the sixth tee, made bogey there but birdied No. 7 on his way to an opening 34. He had three bogeys and a birdie on the back nine.After his victory at the Apogee event, VandenBerg told the Central New York PGA that he felt he hadn’t played his best this year. He headed to U.S. Senior Open Final Qualifying in Texas the next week but failed to make it into the tournament.Bryan Hoops, defending champion in the Golfweek Senior National Championship and another favorite entering the tournament, is tied for fifth at 3-over 75.In the Super Senior division, Bob Beck of Allentown, Pennsylvania, leads after a 2-over 74. Beck is the top-ranked Super Senior in Golfweek’s rankings.The theme continues into the Legends division, where top-ranked Terry Tyson of Perrysburg, Ohio, leads after day one. Tyson is 1 under, which puts him five shots ahead of Lawrence Daniels in second place.Don Donatoni of West Chester, Pennsylvania, is 2 over and three shots ahead of Don Kuehn, winner of the U.S. Senior Challenge earlier this month.This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Golfweek Senior National Championship 2026 first round scores

When the World Cup trophy is presented to the winner of the 2026 tournament on July 19, President Donald Trump will reportedly have a big hand in the ceremony.According to Ben Jacobs of TalkSport, the U.S. president is expected to be part of the on-field presentation at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — so much so that FIFA has no problem if Trump is the one to hand the trophy over to the winning captain.This would be a similar situation as to what played out during last summer’s Club World Cup final, which was also played at MetLife Stadium. Trump was on the stage next to FIFA president Gianni Infantino as Chelsea players received their medals. He then helped carry the trophy with Infantino to captain Reece James and remained next to James as he lifted it to begin the celebrations."Before, they told me he was going to present the trophy, and then exit the stage," James said of Trump afterward. "I thought that he was gonna exit the stage. But I think he wanted to stay."It’s not uncommon for heads of state to take part in trophy presentations. But it’s usually the winning team that is given the stage to celebrate.How the Club World Cup Final celebration played out could also happen after the World Cup final as FIFA will reportedly let Trump decide if he wants to remain on stage as the world champions raise the trophy.While Trump did not attend the 4-1 win by the USMNT over Paraguay Friday night in Los Angeles, he has stated he will be in attendance during the World Cup, though it has not been announced when he will get to a match.

Jamie Clark's four appearances for Newcastle all came from the replacements bench [Getty Images]Cornish Pirates have signed prop Jamie Clark for the 2026-27 season following his departure from Newcastle Red Bulls.The 23-year-old joined the Prem side on a short-term deal for the rest of the campaign in April and played in four league games.Clark was born in Australia and represented the Wallabies at under-20 level as well as playing in the New South Wales Waratahs' academy, but is English-qualified through his father."Jamie is a very talented young man, with plenty of room for development and growth in his game," said Pirates' joint head coach Alan Paver. "We have a real history, especially recently, of Australians joining the club so I'm sure he will be another excellent addition. "I'm especially looking forward to looking at the set-piece with him and how we can get him ready for the vigour of Champ Rugby, where that is so important." Related internet links Cornish PiratesForward Elderkin re-joins Cornish Pirates

The Edmonton Oilers’ coaching search has taken a troubling turn as the NHL officially begins its investigation into Mike Babcock’s 2023 resignation from the Columbus Blue Jackets. While Edmonton remains interested in Babcock as a candidate, growing resistance from player agents has raised fresh questions about whether the organization can afford the distraction that comes with a potential hire.According to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman, the Oilers were prepared to move forward with Babcock if the league determined there was no obstacle to hiring him. Friedman reported that Babcock met with ownership, management, and a small group of players during the process. And they are all on the same boat.However, the reaction beyond the organization has become a significant issue. Friedman wrote, “Several agents of Edmonton players who were not involved in direct conversations with Babcock also voiced concerns, adding they didn’t like the idea of clients being traded there, either.”MORE: Oilers Rumors: Edmonton hiring Mike Babcock could ‘work’ under one conditionThat sentiment cuts deeper than a typical coaching debate. Edmonton is built around franchise stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but roster building in today’s NHL depends on attracting and retaining talent. Concerns from agents could complicate future negotiations and impact the team’s reputation among NHL players.Analyst Jason Gregor also highlighted the growing unease. He shared a text from an NHL player agent, who said, “The opportunity to play with McDavid or Draisaitl is diminished with the potential to be coached by Babcock. It is a valid concern voiced to me by a few of my clients.”What does the Edmonton Oilers’ Mike Babcock pursuit stands?Former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn ImagesEdmonton’s interest is understandable. The organization wanted a coach with experience, structure and a proven track record after moving on from Kris Knoblauch, and Vegas not allowing them to interview Bruce Cassidy. Babcock’s history includes a Stanley Cup and years of success behind NHL benches, so they saw him as a fall back option.Yet the investigation creates uncertainty for the Oilers. Reports indicate league investigators will examine concerns beyond the well-publicized phone-related allegations from Columbus. The NHLPA has also expressed objections during discussions surrounding a possible hire.“We asked the NHL to do an investigation before they hire a coach… they’ve agreed,” NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh said. “… we’ll see what happens when it’s over.”MORE: Frank Seravalli introduced a new name to Edmonton Oilers coaching raceIf the Oilers ultimately choose Babcock after investigation results, they may gain an experienced coach. But if player perception continues to trend negatively, Edmonton risks creating a challenge that would obstruct their retool plans. For a team chasing a Stanley Cup, that may be the biggest concern of all.

The PGA may be abandoning Firestone Country Club, but honors continue to roll in for the beloved golf course in Akron.Golfweek recently released its annual list of best public golf courses for every state. Firestone's three courses — Firestone (South), Firestone (North) and Firestone (Fazio) — all made the top five.It's not much new for Firestone. The courses have topped Golfweek's list the past several years.Golf news: Kaulig Companies Championship returns for one last party at FirestoneWhile many think Firestone is solely a private country club, the public can still play its courses. How golfers can play Firestone Country Club without a membershipFirestone offers "Stay & Play Packages," where golfers can book a club room or villa on the golf course grounds for two or three nights and play three rounds of golf (one each on the North, South and Fazio courses) or four rounds (All courses with one replay that excludes the South Course), depending on the package selected.Pricing varies by season, according to Firestone's website, which recommends calling the club for details.The country club is also available for corporate outings and private events, another way non-members might have a chance to play.Ohio's best public-access golf coursesKEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. 1. Firestone (South) Akron (c)2. Firestone (North) Akron (m)3. Manakiki Willoughby (c)4. Fowler’s Mill (Lake & River) Chesterland (m)5. Firestone (Fazio) Akron (m)6. The Virtues Nashport (m)7. The Quarry Canton (m)8. Sleepy Hollow Brecksville (c)9. Stonelick Hills Batavia (m)10. Little Mountain* Painesville (m)CONTRIBUTING: Chad Murphy, USA TODAY Network OhioThis article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Golfweek's best public courses topped in Ohio by Firestone South

Nature, Published online: 12 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01920-ySoftening cells enable flytraps to shut with astonishing speed. Plus, the cutting-edge science happening at the World Cup and why scientists shouldn’t ignore the Pope’s AI message.

The Chicago White Sox, ranked first in the AL Central with a 38-32 record, face the New York Yankees, who are first in the AL East with a 43-27 record. The New York Yankees are favored with a -150 moneyline compared to the Chicago White Sox's +125. Starting pitchers are Davis Martin for Chicago, with a 2.41 ERA, and Gerrit Cole for New York, with a 2.45 ERA.How to watch Chicago White Sox vs. New York YankeesDate: Tuesday, June 16Time: 7:05 p.m. ET / 4:05 p.m. PTWhere: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NYTV Channels: YES, Chicago Sports NetworkLive Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo SportsTeam recordsChicago White Sox: 38-32 (first in AL Central)New York Yankees: 43-27 (first in AL East)OddsSpread: New York Yankees -1.5Moneyline: New York Yankees -150 / Chicago White Sox +125Over/Under: 8.0Starting pitchersChicago White Sox: Davis Martin (9-2, ERA: 2.41, K: 79, WHIP: 1.10)New York Yankees: Gerrit Cole (1-1, ERA: 2.45, K: 18, WHIP: 1.05)Series: Game 1 of 3 (series tied)Weather: 75°F at first pitch

India will look to wrap up the three-match ODI series when they face Afghanistan in the second ODI at Lucknow's Ekana Stadium on June 17. Shubman Gill's side leads 1-0 after a comfortable seven-wicket win in the rain-shortened opener, where Gill starred with an unbeaten 84 while debutants Harsh Dubey and Gurnoor Brar claimed three wickets each.Afghanistan, meanwhile, will be desperate to level the series after Rahmanullah Gurbaz's explosive 102 went in vain in the first match. The visitors will bank on star spinner Rashid Khan on the slow, spin-friendly Lucknow surface, which is expected to assist bowlers in the middle overs.India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI: Live Streaming DetailsWhen is the India vs Afghanistan first ODI?The first ODI will be played on June 17.Where will the match be played?The match will be held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, LucknowWhat time does the match start?The game begins at 1:30 PM IST, while the toss will take place at 1:00 PM IST.Where can fans watch the match on TV?The match will be telecast on the Star Sports Network.Where can fans watch the live stream?The match will be streamed live on JioStar.Where can fans follow live updates?Live coverage and updates will be available on TimesofIndia.com.India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI: Lucknow Weather Report The weather forecast for the 2nd ODI in Lucknow indicates scorching heat with zero chance of rain delaying play. Unlike the rain-shortened series opener in Dharamshala, players and fans will deal with intense summer conditions. The day will start with clear skies and a rapid spike in temperature, peaking at 40°C by mid-afternoon. Due to the high humidity (around 33% to 38%), the "Feels Like" temperature is expected to reach a grueling 45°C during the first innings. West-northwesterly winds will blow at around 8 mph, which may cause a slight haze over the stadium. Conditions will ease somewhat into the evening under clear skies, dropping to 33°C by the end of the match.India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI: Pitch ReportThe pitch at Lucknow's Ekana Cricket Stadium traditionally features a slow, black-soil surface that strongly favors spin bowlers. However, the track has undergone notable changes, with modern wickets displaying vastly improved behavior for batsmen. The historic average first-innings score on this ground is 175 runs. A competitive One Day International (ODI) total on Wednesday is expected to hover around the 250 to 270 mark. India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI: Predicted XIsIndia Probable XI: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Harsh Dubey, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar (or Kuldeep Yadav).Afghanistan Probable XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Ziaur Rahman, Allah Ghazanfar, Mohammad Saleem.India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI: SquadsIndia: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav.Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Darwish Rasooli, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.

Justin Rose and the rest of the U.S. Open field will be teeing off on Thursday at Shinnecock Hills. (Warren Little/Getty Images)Warren Little via Getty ImagesSOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — The 126th U.S. Open gets underway on Thursday at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island, and the tee times contain some must-watch pairings.Because of the size of the field, players will go off in threesomes on both the 1st and 10th tees on Thursday and Friday. Wind will be a challenge, particularly on Thursday. Some of the notables include:7:30 a.m. Thursday/1:25 p.m. Friday*: Brooks Koepka, Cam Young, Chris Gotterup7:52 a.m. Thursday*/1:47 p.m. Friday: Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood8:14 a.m. Thursday/2:09 p.m. Friday*: Scottie Scheffler, Mason Howell (a), J.J. Spaun1:47 p.m. Thursday/7:52 a.m. Friday*: Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama, Xander Schauffele1:25 p.m. Thursday*/7:30 a.m. Friday: Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick1:36 p.m. Thursday*/7:41 a.m. Friday: Dustin Johnson, Wyndham Clark, Gary Woodland2:09 p.m. Thursday*/8:14 a.m. Friday: Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm*-10th tee startThis is a developing story and will be updated.

CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 12: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts after striking out swinging during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on June 12, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images Tonight will begin a stretch of 4-8 weeks without Jose Ramirez for the Guardians.Briefly, the lineup for the subsequently rained out game on Sunday was:Travis Bazzana, 2BBrayan Rocchio, SSKyle Manzardo, 1BRhys Hoskins, DHDaniel Schneemann, CFDavid Fry, RFSteven Kwan, LFGabriel Arias, 3BPatrick Bailey, CAssuming Angel Martinez is back, he may sub in for Fry who may go in for Manzardo against the lefty. And good old Stuart Fairchild for Schneemann. Of most interest will be seeing if Chase DeLauter hits the injured list or not. If he needs time for the bruised rib, I expect CJ Kayfus to see a return engagement.AROUND MLB:Twins and Tigers won and the Royals lost.Guardians all-star candidates are all trailing pretty significantly. Remember to vote, especially for Travis Bazzana and Jose Ramirez!

Former NHL player Kyle Calder died Monday. He was 47.His daughter Madison announced her father’s death in a social media post. The Los Angeles Jr. Kings, the team Calder coached from 2020-22, said he died after a brief illness.“Never in a million years would I have thought this day would come,” Madison Calder wrote on Instagram. “There will forever be a void in my heart but forever a spot just for you.”Calder played 608 regular-season and playoff games as a winger in the league from 1999-2009. The Manville, Alberta, native spent a majority of that time with Chicago and also played for Philadelphia, Detroit, Los Angeles and Anaheim.“Kyle embodied the values that make our alumni family so special: his loyalty, toughness, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to those around him,” the NHL Alumni Association said in a post Tuesday memorializing him. “He was tough as nails on the ice, a fierce competitor who never backed down, yet behind that grit was a teddy bear heart. Kyle cared deeply for his teammates, friends, and everyone fortunate enough to know him. He was a protector, a loyal friend, and someone who always put others before himself.”Calder coached youth teams in Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston since 2018.“Kyle approached life with the same passion, intensity and incredible dedication that defined his play,” Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz said. “His commitment to the game remained strong long after his professional career ended, sharing his love for hockey with all generations of players."___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

People are reacting strongly to images of Donald Trump appearing excessively fatigued as he met with French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday for the G7 summit. “Trump looks like death warmed over,” independent journalist Aaron Rupar wrote while sharing a picture of the two presidents shaking hands. Related Trump has people wondering if he’s about to die with his latest social media post Trump looks like death warmed over(Anna Moneymaker/Getty) pic.twitter.com/HUpmaEYviL— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 15, 2026 Shortly after Sunday night’s White House UFC fight, Trump hopped on a plane and flew to Europe to meet Macron at Évian-les-Bains, near the Swiss border, for the G7 summit. Macron, who is hosting the summit, even postponed it so that Trump could attend the UFC fight on his birthday. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today But observers noted that Trump didn’t appear to be in great shape when he arrived in France, noticeably struggling to keep his eyes open while meeting with Macron, The New Republic noted. get a load of Trump's drowsy body language during this Macron meeting pic.twitter.com/gQkFjUlXDb— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 15, 2026 Trump does not look like a man that’s in full control of his faculties. https://t.co/Q6LguUCjhj— Gissur Simonarson (@GissiSim) June 15, 2026 The same outlet noted that Trump’s hands were swollen and bruised again, a chronic issue for Trump over the past year. “If this is what the public is seeing, how much worse is Trump doing in private?” TNR’s Hafiz Rashid wrote. “The WH is trying to project Trump as the president who never stops working, going right from the UFC thing to Paris and nailing down the Iran agreement when others were sleeping,” posted author and conspiracy theory expert Mike Rothschild. “In reality, he looks and sounds totally spent. How much longer can they keep the plates spinning?” While the UFC fight may have kept him up late the night before his meeting with Macron, people have pointed out that it appears Trump slept through at least part of it. There is no confirmation that he was actually sleeping and not just blinking really hard, as some Trump supporters claimed. BREAKING: DONALD TRUMP HAS FALLEN ASLEEP AT HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY UFC FREEDOM 250 EVENT. pic.twitter.com/Q7hdbDWQOW— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) June 15, 2026 Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

In a new memoir, Mr. Vance recalls an “unsettling” meeting with Vatican officials on immigration policy and disavows his infamous disparagement of some Democrats as “childless cat ladies.”

Look, we know you're going to watch the 2026 World Cup games at work and while you're out and about with family and friends this summer. But where can you stream the games while you're on the go? Don't worry. We've got you. MORE — Daily World Cup schedule: What games are on today?Below is all of the information you need to stream all 104 games at the 2026 men's World Cup. Where can you stream the 2026 World Cup games live?The answer is simple: Peacock. You can watch and stream every single 2026 World Cup game live in the USA on Peacock en Espanol.How to watch the 2026 World Cup live, stream link, TV channelsDates: June 11 to July 19, 2026Where: 16 stadiums across Canada, Mexico and the USA — DetailsStreaming: All 104 games available to watch on Peacock (en Espanol)TV channel: Telemundo (92 games) and Universo (12 games)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Major League Baseball has warned players about writing on their uniforms after San Francisco starter Landen Roupp and two other pitchers added Bible verses to their Pride Night caps last week.Roupp started the 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Friday night with “Gen 9:12-16” written on his cap. A portion of the Bible verse overlapped the rainbow SF logo players wore for the Pride Night. San Francisco relievers JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker also added Bible verses to their caps.Another Giants pitcher, left-hander Sam Hentges, wore the team's standard black cap with the orange logo instead of the Pride Night version.MLB issued a warning about future violations of the league's uniform policy.“The writing on the cap violates our rules and consistent with normal practice we have warned the players about future violations,” MLB said in its statement.The portion of the Genesis verse cited by Roupp includes God's promise to never again send a worldwide flood and the rainbow in the sky is the sign of that covenant.“That’s just kind of something I believe in, and I stand firm in that, and I’m thankful we live in a country where, you know, we have the freedom to believe what we want … and express what we want,” Roupp told reporters.Giants manager Tony Vitello told reporters nothing was discussed with the pitchers before the game. Vitello said it was “just kind of a general knowledge" that players "have the freedom to do what they think is best.”___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Russell Martin oversaw just five wins from 17 games in charge of Rangers last season [Getty Images]Is new Leicester City boss Russell Martin adaptable? Can his possession-based passing style of football work in League One? Has he learned from what went catastrophically wrong at Rangers?Questions, and lots of them, have come with Martin's arrival at a Foxes side that finds itself in English football's third tier after back-to-back relegations.His job is to revive Leicester.Do that and he might very well revamp his own managerial image after the disastrous 17-game spell with Scottish Premiership side Rangers, which spanned all of 123 days.Even before his high-profile failure at Ibrox, Martin drew plenty of criticism for his rigid commitment to possession-heavy football at Southampton - with it eventually getting him sacked in the Premier League after overseeing their promotion in 2024.Foxes supporters have previously chanted their opposition to Martin's appointment when he was linked with the club in the past and the division among the fanbase is not something that former Leicester defender Matt Heath says can be ignored."It's probably not the most popular appointment," he told BBC Radio Leicester."His recent history isn't great, he's had a couple of poor runs as a manager, but he has spent time in League One with MK Dons and he has definitely got pedigree and was successful as a player."Ex-Rangers boss Martin appointed as Leicester managerReaction to Martin's appointment on BBC Radio LeicesterIs Martin a more extreme version of Maresca?What Martin brings to Leicester this season - beyond the promotion success he enjoyed previously at Saints - is that League One knowhow with MK Dons.Heath says delivering early results next season will be vital if Martin is to win over Foxes supporters who doubt him now.And style will matter just as much as the substance of any result, with Heath adding that Martin can show he is "learning as a manager" by not being fixated on one way of playing."If he doesn't, then he's not adapting," Heath continued."He's not going to be any mug, is he? He's going to have learned from his mistakes, and I would hope that he'd have Plan A, Plan B and Plan C."The style that Martin has so far stuck to will be familiar to Leicester, with the former Scotland international's approach being a reflection on what the Foxes played under Enzo Maresca as they won the 2024 Championship title."Marescaball" is why Chelsea recruited the Italian in the weeks after that promotion and why he is now expected to succeed Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager.But Maresca's football philosophy was not universally liked by Foxes fans, with the former Parma boss coming out a number of times to defend his approach in what was a solitary and hugely successful season in charge of the East Midlands side.A point of difference with Martin is that his tactics can be more attack-minded and incisive."A lot of fans didn't like how slow it was with Enzo," Heath said."As a fan, I'd prefer us to have the ball at our feet. If we do get it right, I'm pretty certain it has the potential to be entertaining."Foxes need players to fit Martin's 'mould'How a side in the third tier pulls off such a technically demanding level of football will be another challenge that faces Martin.Leicester are undergoing a summer rebuild, having moved on 10 players - including captain Ricardo Pereira as well as strikers Patson Daka and Jordan Ayew.Big paypackets at a club that has battled to reduce its wage bill, as well as a need to raise money in an effort to comply with financial rules, could mean a number of high-profile players - including in-demand winger Abdul Fatawu, as well as high earners Harry Winks and Jannik Vestergaard - could be moved on.A recruitment drive will also be needed to get the Foxes ready for what will be just their second season in the third tier in the club's 142-year history."It's really important that we've got that manager in place before we have started pre-season," Heath said."It means we can start to look at buying the players that will fit his his mould, fit his type and, I think most importantly, the players that he actually likes."We have the foundations in now and hopefully the club can work hard behind the scenes to get the players that Russell wants."Latest Leicester news, analysis and fan viewsListen to Leicester City content on BBC Sounds

The central part played by a League of Ireland defender in Cape Verde's stunning draw against Spain led to the result being celebrated almost as much in Dublin as by the less than half a million inhabitants of the archipelagic country off the coast of West Africa.Shamrock Rovers centre-back Roberto 'Pico' Lopes produced a commanding display as the World Cup debutants secured a deserved 0-0 draw against Spain, one of the pre-tournament favourites, in their Group H opener in Atlanta.After playing a starring role in one of the biggest upsets in recent World Cup history, the 33-year-old said: "To get a point and a clean sheet in our first game in a World Cup against a team like Spain was amazing. "It's a very happy moment for us against one of the best teams in the world and I'm very proud of this group."It was definitely a surreal moment. After the game I felt a little bit lost. I was just looking for my family and wanting to share that moment with them, but then afterwards it was like, 'what just happened there?'"The third-smallest country in terms of population to qualify for a World Cup, Cape Verde were 67th in Fifa's latest rankings and many expected them to be swept aside by the Euro 2024 winners.Spain were however unable to find a way past inspired 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, who kept them at bay with numerous fine saves and narrowly edged out Lopes in the BBC player ratings poll for player of the match."We knew going into the game that we'd be up against it and they'd have most of the ball and we would have to be resolute in our defending and hope that they maybe would have a bit of an off day in terms of firing at the goal," explained Lopes."Our goalkeeper was amazing and he deserves all the plaudits. Forty years of age and putting in performances like that. I think to a man defensively we were very, very good, and probably deserved a point from that point of view"From an attacking perspective we probably only showed that bit of danger near the end and the subs that came on really got us through the game."The Cape Verde defender said earning a precious point against one of the powerhouses of world football was some time in the planning."The performance is something we have worked on over the past few weeks and we got our just rewards."To get a point against a team like that just shows why we love the game."This is the stuff of dreams for me and it's a pleasure and an absolute privilege to live my dream.Rovers fans 'immensely proud'Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on Tuesday morning, Ciaran Stafford of the Pride of Ringsend Shamrock Rovers Supporters' Club, expressed something of the delight felt by fans of Lopes' club after his heroic display against the European champions."It was an incredible evening, and we went to the pub to watch it and just to see Pico play. To see him play at that level against that calibre of player and to hold his own, we are immensely proud of him," said Stafford."He's probably been the best centre-back in the league for the best part of six or seven seasons now and in that time he has played close to 60 European games, he has played against the likes of [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, Sadio Mane, so he has had a taste of what that kind of level is like."Considering some of the players we've seen him play against in Europe in recent years I'm not surprised."His performance, some of those last-ditch challenges, that last-ditch challenge in the 88th minute just epitomised Pico and epitomised the team's performance last night."The 40-year-old keeper who inspired Cape Verde's historic debutDublin-born Cape Verde star recruited on LinkedIn gets World Cup chanceLopes 'living out a dream' at World Cup - GraceLopes 'a massive part' of securing drawSpain came into the game as heavy favourites but the spirit and ability shown by Lopes, who has played for Shamrock Rovers since 2017, and his team-mates proved enough to pull off a major shock."I think everyone expected it to be a walk in the park for the Spanish, understandably," added Stafford."I think what Pico showed was his strength, his organisational skills have always been excellent, and for a team to keep their shape and discipline for as long as they did yesterday is a credit to them and I reckon he was a massive part of that. "He also showed his fitness level, not only physically but mentally, to be tuned in. Yes, they rode their luck at times, but when you're playing the reigning European champions, you're going to have to ride your luck at times."Born in Dublin to a Cape Verdean father and an Irish mother, the ex-Bohemians player is the first League of Ireland player to participate in a World Cup finals match.He made his debut for the country in 2019, having previously made one appearance for the Republic of Ireland Under-19s in 2011.After his move to Shamrock Rovers and with the club competing in the Champions League and Europa League, Lopes received a message on his LinkedIn profile from the then-Cape Verde manager Rui Aguas that set the ball rolling."Everyone knows his story, it's probably the most talked about story in history at this stage with the whole Linkedin thing. I would say he is probably sick of telling people the story," said Stafford."He's a fantastic ambassador for the league, he's the chairperson for the Footballers' Association here, so he does great stuff off the pitch as well as on the pitch."Cape Verde's remaining two Group H fixtures will see them take on Uruguay on Sunday 21 June (23:00 BST) and Saudi Arabia on Saturday 27 June (01:00)."The feeling here is that yesterday's result should spur them on even more and they should only build on that. "It might be difficult to replicate that kind of work-rate in those games, and that discipline, but if they can do it against a team that good I don't see why they can't do it in their remaining two games."Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameWorld Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup