A right-wing victory in Latin America’s third-largest country could ripple across the region.

There is at least a chance that America will not return to war with Iran, but find a way to turn the page on 47 years of animosity and confrontation.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in action during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on November 03, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Getty ImagesOn the eve of the 2026 NBA draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to trade multi-time All-Star forward Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team deal for the No. 33 pick, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The Nets will send Nic Claxton to the Bulls, who will presumably absorb him into some of their open cap space.Charania noted that the Timberwolves "free up significant salary with the remaining two years of Randle's deal, giving them more flexibility to retain Ayo Dosunmu and use exceptions." Meanwhile, the Nets and Bulls still have plenty of available cap space, according to Spotrac's Keith Smith.The Timberwolves moved down five spots in the draft to trade Randle and got nothing else back. It wasn't a huge sacrifice in terms of draft value, but they're otherwise just outright salary-dumping someone who just averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists in only 33.0 minutes per game for them this past season.This trade is reflective of the new NBA, where teams are being forced to make purely financially driven moves that otherwise make zero basketball sense. The Wolves wouldn't salary-dump Randle in a league without contracts, but money is forcing their hand here.The Wolves' Salary Crunch Pre-Randle TradeBefore trading Randle, the Timberwolves were trending toward being a second-apron team.Between Anthony Edwards ($48.9 million), Rudy Gobert ($36.5 million), Randle ($33.3 million), Jaden McDaniels ($26.2 million), Naz Reid ($23.3 million) and Donte DiVincenzo ($12.5 million), the Timberwolves were entering the offseason with more than $180 million in salary on their books. That's before re-signing Ayo Dosunmu, whom they spent four second-round picks to acquire at the trade deadline and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in a week.Dosunmu's floor figured to be the $15.0 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception, but he easily could have fetched offers upward of $20-25 million per year from other teams. Instead, he agreed to sign a five-year, $112 million contract (including a fifth-year player option) to return to Minnesota, per Charania.Based on those reported terms, his contract can start as low as $19.3 million and increase by 8% annually from there. By clearing Randle, the Wolves effectively gave themselves the financial flexibility both to re-sign Dosunmu and use the non-taxpayer MLE and $5.5 million bi-annual exception.Only three teams had enough cap space to absorb Randle without sending any salary back—the Bulls, Nets and Los Angeles Lakers—and no team has a trade exception that's big enough to take him into. They couldn't start a bidding war for Randle—if that would have even materialized—without taking salary back from any team other than the Bulls, Nets or Lakers.If the Timberwolves cross the first apron, which is currently projected to land around $209 million, they would lose access to the non-taxpayer MLE and bi-annual exception. They'd have only the $6.1 million taxpayer MLE to offer instead. And if they crossed the second apron, which they were in real danger of doing before salary-dumping Randle, they wouldn't have had any mid-level exception at all.In essence, the Wolves had to pick between two paths: Run back the same team that lost to the San Antonio Spurs in six games in the Western Conference semifinals, or try something new? They chose option B.Why The Wolves Sold Low On RandleThat series against the Spurs exposed how woefully overmatched he was against Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. With Wembanyama and the Spurs seemingly set to rule over the West for the foreseeable future, the Wolves apparently weren't interested in running it back with Randle to see if he'd fare better in a rematch.There's good reason for that.In the first round of the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets, Randle averaged 19.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 43.0% overall and 30.0% from deep. Against Wembanyama and the Spurs, he averaged 12.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 34.2% overall and 19.0% from distance. In Randle's final game of the season, he finished with three points on 1-of-8 shooting in a 30-point blowout loss. The Wolves battled valiantly against the Spurs, especially with star guard Anthony Edwards nursing a significant knee injury, but team president Tim Connelly made it clear after the season that he thought he had some work to do this offseason."We have a lot of confidence in our guys," Connelly told reporters. "But it would be disingenuous to sit in front of this group and say we're happy with the sixth seed, we're happy with not being a homecourt playoff team, we're happy that our last three closeout games have been lopsided," Connelly said. "We have to be realistic about what we have, which is way more good than bad, but know that we're not good enough right now.”Randle is a perfectly fine regular-season player, but he's not the typical archetype who drives winning in the playoffs. He's a mediocre three-point shooter, so teams can dare him to beat them from deep, and he isn't much better than that on defense, either.Some teams might have given up something of minor value for Randle, but he's under contract for $33.3 million this year and has a $35.8 million player option in 2027-28. It's hard to make the case that he's a significantly positive-value contract. And for a team like the Wolves, who needed financial flexibility to re-sign Dosunmu and further shake up their roster, Randle was a luxury that they could no longer afford.The Wolves' loss is the Nets' gain, who now move up five spots in the draft and get a chance to rehabilitate Randle's trade value like they did with Michael Porter Jr. last year. They'll likely look to flip him at the trade deadline in February or next offseason when he's a $35.8 million expiring contract.This trade represented a sharp use of cap space for both the Nets and Bulls. For the Wolves, it was a necessary evil brought about by the league's current collective bargaining agreement.Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.Follow Bryan on Bluesky.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Manny Machado homered and Michael King pitched seven strong innings for his first win since May 18 as the San Diego Padres beat the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves 1-0 on Monday night. The Braves lost for the eighth time in 11 games and were overtaken by the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the majors. The Padres, coming off a 4-5 trip through Baltimore, St. Louis and Texas, face the Braves for three games before hosting the Dodgers for three games this weekend. Machado homered into the Padres' bullpen beyond the center-field fence leading off the fourth against Grant Holmes (4-4). Machado came in hitting just .179 but connected for his team-leading 14th homer and 43rd RBI.Machado also doubled leading off the eighth for San Diego's fourth hit. Ten of his last 13 hits have been for extra bases.King (5-6) held the Braves to six singles while striking out five and walking none. The Braves had runners on second and third with two outs in the second before King retired Jorge Mateo. King hadn't won since beating the Dodgers 1-0 on May 18, giving the Padres a half-game lead over Los Angeles in the division. The Dodgers regained the lead the next night. Mason Miller pitched the ninth for his NL-leading 21st save. He put two runners on with two outs before striking out Mike Yastrzemski to end it.Holmes allowed three hits in 4 2/3 innings, walked five and struck out four. He was lifted after issuing consecutive walks, but Didier Fuentes came on and struck out Gavin Sheets.Up nextBraves RHP JR Ritchie (1-2, 4.54 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday night. The Padres hadn't announced a starter.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Caleb Durbin Hot Month Continues, Numbers Rival Alex Bregman's originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Caleb Durbin's career with the Boston Red Sox got off to one of the worst starts in team history when Durbin was left hitless through the team's first six games of the season. It wasn't until the third series of the year, and first at Fenway Park, that Durbin secured his first hit as a Red Sox. His struggles offensively did not immediately expire. He has batted in the .100s all season. It wasn't until June 10 against the Tampa Bay Rays that the starter finally jumped into the .200s at the plate. He has been red hot in June, and his bat is starting to draw national attention. Durbin hit one home run in April before finishing the entire month of May without one long ball. Now 22 days through June, he has put four balls over the fence with an OPS nearing 1.000. Compare Durbin's numbers at the plate to those of the $175 million Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman, and you might be surprised by what the Red Sox are getting. Bregman is batting .250, has hit six home runs and driven in 25 runs and has an OPS of .693. Durbin is batting .221, has hit five home runs but driven in 30 runs and has an OPS of .646. And oh yeah, the Red Sox are paying him 800,000 dollars.Durbin has a higher slugging percentage than Bregman does and is playing in just his second season in Major League Baseball.The five-foot-six 26-year-old is proving he's worth the hilariously small contract he is playing under. More MLB: Alex Cora Seemingly Takes Shots At Rafael Devers/Red Sox In Viral Tweet

The knockout bracket in the FIFA World Cup 2026 is starting to take shape.It begins with the round of 32, which runs from June 28 to July 3.What is the format and criteria for qualification, and which teams have progressed or been eliminated?What is the format of the World Cup knockouts?The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-place finishers, advance to knockouts.The knockout phase begins with the round of 32, introduced for the first time at a World Cup after the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams.Then comes the round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and a playoff for third place. The final is on July 19.The stage-wise breakdown of the tournament’s schedule is:Group stage: June 11 to June 27Round of 32: June 28 to July 3Round of 16: July 4-7Quarterfinals: July 9-11Semifinals: July 14-15Bronze medal match: July 18Final: July 19What are the rules change for the tie-breaker criteria at the 2026 World Cup?FIFA is using head-to-head records instead of goal difference as the primary tiebreaker for teams level on points for the first time at a World Cup.Haiti, Turkiye, Tunisia and Jordan have been eliminated because they are unable to catch the third-placed teams in their respective groups, as they lost to those teams.Tie-breaker criteria for World Cup groupsAccording to FIFA’s rules for the tournament, if two or more teams in the same group are equal on points after the group stage ends, the following criteria, in the order below, will be applied to determine the ranking:Step oneGreatest number of points gained in the group matches.Superior goal difference in the group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head).Greatest number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head).If the teams are still tied, the criteria below applies:Step twoSuperior goal difference across all group matches.Greatest number of goals scored across all group matches.Highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained.If the teams somehow still cannot be separated, then the following criteria below applies:Step threeThe two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA world rankings.The criteria for the eight best‑ranked teamsThe eight best teams among those ranked third will be determined as follows:Greatest number of points gained in all group matches.Goal difference resulting from all group matches.Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.Highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained in all group matches.The two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA world rankings.The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed during a stop of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City on June 2, 2026 [Timothy A Clary/AFP]Which teams have reached the World Cup round of 32?(As of June 23, 05:00 GMT)⚽️ Mexico (Group A) The cohosts were the first to qualify for the knockouts, after taking top spot in Group A with a 1-0 win over South Korea on Thursday, June 18. The Mexicans started their campaign with a 2-0 win over South Africa in a chaotic tournament opener.⚽️ USA (Group D)The United States were the second team to punch their ticket to the knockouts, thanks to their 2-0 win over Australia that sent them on top of Group D on Friday, June 19. The USA thumped Paraguay 4-1 to kick off their campaign.⚽️ Germany (Group E) Germany became the third team to enter the last 32 with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast on Saturday, June 20. The Germans – who failed to get out of the group stage both at Russia 2018 and four years ago in Qatar – started their tournament with a 7-1 thrashing of Curacao.⚽️ Argentina (Group J)Argentina sealed their ticket to the knockouts with a 2-0 victory over Austria on Monday, June 22, as Lionel Messi scored twice, becoming the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals. The Argentina captain also bagged his maiden tournament hat-trick in their 3-0 opening game win over Algeria. Reigning champions Argentina are guaranteed the top spot in Group J.⚽️ France (Group I)Pre-tournament favourites France secured a place in the round of 32 with a 3-0 win over Iraq later on Monday, as Kylian Mbappe scored a brace. The 2018 world champions beat Senegal 3-1 to kick off their tournament, with Mbappe scoring twice in that game, too.⚽️ Norway (Group I)Norway beat Senegal 3-2 in their second game of the tournament, sealing their place in the knockouts. The Norwegians, who are back at the World Cup after 28 years, started their campaign with a 4-1 thrashing of Iraq.Norway team do the traditional rowing celebration with their fans after the match [Jeenah Moon/Reuters]Which teams have been knocked out of the World Cup 2026?⚽️ Haiti (Group C)Haiti became the first team to be sent home packing from the World Cup after suffering a 3-0 loss to Brazil on Friday, June 19. Playing in their first tournament since 1974, they also lost 1-0 to Scotland in their first game.⚽️ Turkiye (Group D)Turkiye soon followed suit, bowing out of the tournament after a 1-0 defeat to 10-man Paraguay later on Friday. They also suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Australia in the first group match – their first appearance at the tournament after 24 years.⚽️ Tunisia (Group F)Tunisia became the third team to be eliminated after they lost 4-0 to Japan on Saturday, June 20. The defeat came shortly after they suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Sweden in the opener. Tunisia were the first African team to win a World Cup match when they beat Mexico in 1978, but they have never progressed beyond the group stages.⚽️ Jordan (Group J)Jordan, one of the four debutants at the tournament, bowed out on Monday, June 22, after losing 2-1 to Algeria in their second group game. The Asian side also lost 3-1 to Austria in their opening game.Jordan’s Abdallah Nasib and Yazan Al Arab look dejected after their team was knocked out [David Gonzales/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters]

What time is England vs. Ghana? Live stream, TV channel, kickoff schedule for World Cup 2026 match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.As matches continue in the 2026 World Cup, the competition heats up. Gillette Stadium will host a match between England and Ghana. England made it to the quarterfinals in 2022. The nations attempts their first World Cup win since 1966. Harry Kane and Declan Rice look to lead one of the oldest national teams in the tournament to championship glory.This is Ghana's fifth World Cup appearance since 2006. The Black Stars attempt to repeat and surpass their incredible run during the 2010 World Cup where they made it to the quarterfinals. The team is led by Mohammed Salisu, Antoine Semenyo, and Inaki Williams. The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match and kickoff times.What time does England vs. Ghana kick off?This World Cup clash takes place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts and kicks off on Tuesday, June 23 at 4 p.m. local time.Here's how that time translates across the U.S.:DateKickoff timeEastern TimeTues., June 234 p.m.Central TimeTues., June 233 p.m.Mountain TimeTues., June 232 p.m.Pacific TimeTues., June 231 p.m.England vs. Ghana live stream, TV channelHere's how to watch this World Cup match in the U.S.:TV channel: FoxLive stream: fubo,Fox One, Fox Sports app/websiteThis match will be broadcast on Fox with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.The best place to catch the match is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up a for a FREE trial.Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)World Cup fixtures today and tomorrowAll times Eastern.Tuesday, June 23Portugal vs. Uzbekistan (1 p.m.)England vs. Ghana (4 p.m.)Panama vs. Croatia (7 p.m.)Colombia vs. DR Congo (10 p.m.)Wednesday, June 24Switzerland vs. Canada (3 p.m.)Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar (3 p.m.) Scotland vs. Brazil (6 p.m.)Morocco vs. Haiti (6 p.m.)Czechia vs. Mexico (9 p.m.)South Africa vs. South Korea (9 p.m.)MORE:Complete World Cup schedule and fixtures2026 FIFA World Cup FAQsWhen is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19, 2026. It will be the first World Cup hosted across three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup being played?The 2026 World Cup will be played across 16 host cities in North America, with matches taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will be the first men’s World Cup hosted by three countries.The 16 host cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle in the United States; Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; and Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico.How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams, expanding from the 32-team format used in previous tournaments. The larger field also means more matches, more knockout-round games and more countries involved than ever before.The 48 teams are Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Curaçao, Czechia, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, United States, Uruguay and Uzbekistan.How many games are in the 2026 World Cup?There will be 104 matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That includes the group stage, knockout rounds and the final.Can I stream the 2026 World Cup?Yes. Streaming options will depend on the match, language and broadcast partner. In the U.S., Fox Sports lists FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for English-language coverage, while Telemundo will stream every match live on Peacock and the Telemundo App for Spanish-language coverage.What channel is the 2026 World Cup on?In the U.S., English-language matches are expected across FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for those without cable, while Spanish-language coverage will air on Telemundo and Universo, which you can stream on DIRECTV and Peacock. Check the schedule for the specific match you want to watch.When is the 2026 World Cup final?The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026. The match will be played at New York-New Jersey Stadium, FIFA’s tournament name for MetLife Stadium.What time do World Cup games start?Kickoff times vary by date, host city and round. Because the tournament is being played across multiple time zones in the United States, Canada and Mexico, fans should check the official match schedule for start times in their local time zone.Is the United States playing in the 2026 World Cup?Yes. The United States automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup as one of the three host nations, along with Canada and Mexico.

Jake Bennett Spins Absolute Gem, Records Career-High Strikeouts originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jake Bennett had the best start of his career on Monday night. Bennett was called up to the majors in early May before going back to Triple-A Worcester for another month. Bennett now finds himself back in the rotation and made his fifth start of the season on Monday night against the league-worst Colorado Rockies.Going into the game, no team in Major League Baseball had fewer wins than the Rockies. Bennett retired the first seven batters of the game. He struck out three batters before surrendering his first base runner of the game in the bottom of the third on a single to shallow left-center field. He gave up another hit in the fourth, but was able to get a double-play ball and another strikeout to end the inning unscathed. Now carrying a scoreless outing into the fifth, looking to secure his fifth-consecutive quality start, Bennett struck out a pair and allowed a third single. Interim manager Chad Tracy sent Bennett out for the sixth, an inning he has struggled with this season. Bennett fanned the first two batters before surrendering an infield single and grounding out the fourth batter of the inning. When it was all said and done, Bennett had pieced together the best outing of his young career. He posted a career-high nine strikeouts, allowed just four hits and didn't walk a single batter. Bennett threw just 72 pitches on the night and finished with the first shutout start of his career. The Red Sox were unable to make his efforts worthwhile after a ninth-inning collapse led to the 45th loss of the season.More MLB: Caleb Durbin Hot Month Continues, Numbers Rival Alex Bregman's

Portugal vs Uzbekistan – Match preview and team newsPortugal and Uzbekistan continue their respective World Cup journeys at the Houston Stadium on Tuesday in a Group K Round 2 match against each other.Portugal drew their last match while Uzbekistan will look to get their first point of their World Cup campaign.Portugal vs Uzbekistan – Match preview and team newsDate: Tuesday, 23rd June.Kick-off: 6pm BST.Venue: Houston Stadium, Texas, USA.Portugal team newsPortugal manager Roberto Martínez is under pressure to sharpen his attack after a dull 1-1 draw against DR Congo.He receives a major boost as Manchester City star Rúben Dias returns to full fitness. Dias missed the opening match with a minor injury but is now ready to anchor the defense.His return will likely send young defender Tomás Araújo to the bench, as Araújo has been training on a separate program.Meanwhile, Martínez is expected to keep trust in forty-one-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo up front. This decision comes despite heavy criticism and Ronaldo going scoreless in his last ten major tournament matches.To spark more creativity, Martínez might hand a starting spot to young winger Francisco Conceição. Conceição impressed off the bench in the opening match and could replace Pedro Neto on the right wing to support Bruno Fernandes.Uzbekistan team newsUzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro is urging his squad to play with courage after a tough 3-1 loss to Colombia.The team has a clean disciplinary record with no suspensions, but they face a minor injury worry. Defender Rustamjon Ashurmatov is a game-time decision after picking up a knock, though he remains in the projected starting lineup.Cannavaro will rely heavily on his top stars to bounce back in this crucial match. Eldor Shomurodov is set to lead the front line once again as the main attacking threat.Behind him, young midfield playmaker Abbosbek Fayzullaev will pull the strings. Fayzullaev scored Uzbekistan’s lone goal against Colombia and remains the creative spark for the team.Alongside him, Oston Urunov will look to find spaces in Portugal’s defense to create scoring chances from the midfield.FormPortugalPortugal enters the match in mixed form after a frustrating 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their World Cup opener. Before the tournament, the European powerhouse showed great strength by winning consecutive warm-up matches, beating Chile 2-1 and defeating Nigeria 2-1. However, their inability to secure three points in the opener has put them under pressure. They must find their rhythm quickly to avoid an early group-stage scare.UzbekistanUzbekistan is struggling for momentum after a tough 3-1 defeat to Colombia in their historic first-ever World Cup match. The debutants have faced a rough patch, winning just one of their last five games. Their recent warm-up fixtures included a 2-0 loss to Canada and a 2-1 defeat against the Netherlands. Despite these setbacks, Abbosbek Fayzullaev’s landmark goal against Colombia gave the team confidence.Predicted lineupsPortugal: Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Veiga, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Fernandes; Silva, Conceicao, RonaldoUzbekistan: Yusupov; Khusanov, Abdullaev, Ashurmatov; Karimov, Mozgovoy, Shukurov, Nasrullaev; Fayzullayev, Urunov, ShomurodovHow to watch Portugal vs Uzbekistan?In the UK, you can watch the Portugal vs. Uzbekistan World Cup match live on ITV1.Read Also – Julian Alvarez makes transfer admission amid Arsenal and Barcelona linksSee More – Tottenham eye Marcus Rashford as De Zerbi pushes for dealFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

DR Congo predicted lineup and team news vs ColombiaDR Congo will face Colombia at Guadalajara Stadium on Wednesday following strong performance from them in their opening match.DR Congo comes into the match full of belief after pulling off a significant upset by holding Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their opening game. The Leopards showed great determination to reach the tournament, having defeated Jamaica 1-0 after extra time in the intercontinental playoffs.Their pre-tournament friendly results were inconsistent, including a goalless draw against Denmark and a 2-1 defeat to Chile. However, their defensive organization continues to be a major strength.DR Congo team newsDR Congo has a fully fit squad available. Coach Sebastien Desabre confirmed that there are no injury issues within the team.Following their strong result against Portugal, the Leopards are expected to adopt a defensive 5-3-2 formation designed to frustrate their opponents.Cedric Bakambu will lead the attack alongside Yoane Wissa, who scored the crucial equalizer in their last match and is currently in excellent form.On the flanks, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Arthur Masuaku will operate as wing-backs, contributing both defensively and during counter-attacks.Captain Chancel Mbemba will marshal the defense and organize the backline. In midfield, Samuel Moutoussamy will focus on breaking up play and disrupting Colombia’s rhythm.Desabre’s game plan revolves around staying compact, absorbing pressure, and launching quick counter-attacks when opportunities arise.DR Congo predicted lineupPossible DR Congo starting XI: Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Kayembe; Mukau, Moutoussamy, Sadiki; Bongonda, Bakambu, WissaWhen will the match kick off?The match will kick off at 3am BST on Wednesday, 24th June.How to watch Colombia vs DR Congo?The Colombia vs DR Congo World Cup fixture will be broadcast live in the UK and will be available free-to-air on ITV1 and STV.Read Also – Julian Alvarez makes transfer admission amid Arsenal and Barcelona linksSee More – Tottenham eye Marcus Rashford as De Zerbi pushes for dealFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Portugal vs Uzbekistan – Predicted lineup and team newsPortugal and Uzbekistan continue their World Cup campaigns on Tuesday at Houston Stadium, facing off in a Group K Round 2 clash.The European side heads into the match with inconsistent form following a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opener.Prior to the World Cup, Portugal looked sharp and confident, securing back-to-back wins in their warm-up games by beating Chile 2-1 and Nigeria 2-1.However, failing to take all three points in their first group match has increased the pressure on them. They now need to respond quickly to avoid any early complications in the group stage.Portugal team newsHead coach Roberto Martínez is facing growing scrutiny, particularly over his team’s lack of attacking sharpness after the underwhelming draw with DR Congo.There is positive news for Portugal as Manchester City defender Rúben Dias has recovered fully from a minor injury and is available again.Dias missed the opening match but is now expected to return straight into the starting lineup to strengthen the defense.His return is likely to push young centre-back Tomás Araújo out of the starting XI, especially as Araújo has been training separately.Up front, Martínez is expected to continue relying on 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo despite increasing criticism. Ronaldo has now gone ten consecutive major tournament matches without scoring, raising questions about his effectiveness. In an attempt to add more creativity,Martínez could introduce young winger Francisco Conceição into the starting lineup. Conceição made a strong impression after coming off the bench in the first match and may replace Pedro Neto on the right wing, offering more support to Bruno Fernandes in attack.Portugal predicted lineupPossible Portugal starting XI: Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Veiga, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Fernandes; Silva, Conceicao, RonaldoWhen will the match kick off?The match will kick off at 6pm BST on Tuesday, 23rd June.How to watch Portugal vs Uzbekistan?For fans in the UK, the match will be broadcast live on ITV1.Read Also – Julian Alvarez makes transfer admission amid Arsenal and Barcelona linksSee More – Nicolas Jackson set to stay and fight for his Chelsea futureFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

England vs Ghana – Predicted lineup and team newsEngland head to Boston Stadium in Foxborough tonight with the chance to seal their place in the knockout rounds with a game to spare.Thomas Tuchel’s side were exhilarating against Croatia on matchday one, scoring four goals and registering 20 shots inside the penalty area — a new World Cup record.However, the defensive frailties exposed in that match were equally notable, with Croatia finding space on the counter on multiple occasions.Tuchel will demand greater solidity at the back tonight while maintaining the attacking intensity that has made this England side so exciting to watch.England team newsTuchel has a largely fit squad at his disposal. Bukayo Saka continues to be managed carefully following his Achilles issue and is expected to start on the bench again, with Noni Madueke retaining his place on the right flank.Declan Rice and Marcus Rashford both took part in full training and are expected to be available, though Rice has been managing a hamstring issue throughout the tournament. Elliot Anderson is set to continue alongside Rice in the midfield base.Jude Bellingham orchestrates from the number ten position and is poised to earn his 50th England cap tonight. Harry Kane, who scored twice against Croatia, leads the line once more.In defence, Marc Guehi could come in for Ezri Konsa, who was at fault for one of Croatia’s goals on matchday one. John Stones continues alongside him. Reece James starts at right-back, with Nico O’Reilly on the opposite flank. Jordan Pickford starts in goal as England chase a first clean sheet of the tournament.England predicted lineupEngland possible starting XI: Pickford; R. James, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; KaneWhen does the match kick off?The Group L fixture kicks off at 21:00 BST this evening, Tuesday, 23 June 2026, at Boston Stadium in Foxborough.How to watch England vs Ghana?UK viewers can watch the match live and free-to-air on BBC One, with a live stream available via BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.Read more – Julian Alvarez makes transfer admission amid Arsenal and Barcelona linksSee Also- Tottenham eye Marcus Rashford as De Zerbi pushes for dealFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

Maxi Araujo: Manchester United target breaks silence on his futureManchester United have been on a roll since the start of 2026, finishing the campaign third in the Premier League table and subsequently qualifying for the Champions League. The Red Devils’ return to the premier European club competition will be a significant boost to their summer plans. The English giants enjoyed a strong run under Michael Carrick, registering 12 wins and just two defeats in 17 matches. However, with European football on offer next season and games set to come thick and fast, United have to invest wisely in the squad. Midfield reinforcements are a priority this summer following Casemiro’s departure , and recent reports suggest that United have already secured the services of Atalanta’s Ederson. Further additions are expected in the middle of the park, but other positions could also be on the agenda before the start of the new campaign. There are reports that the Red Devils want to add more firepower to their attack, but one area INEOS could be tempted to improve is the left-back role. United need succession plan for Luke ShawLuke Shaw has been impressive at left-back under Carrick, after also catching the eye as a left-sided centre-back under Amorim. However, the Englishman will turn 31 next month and his contract runs until 2027.Although Shaw remained injury-free all season, he has a poor fitness record, which could tempt United to consider options this summer. A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person states that the Red Devils have identified Maxi Araujo as a candidate to strengthen the position this summer.The 26 year old has been in impressive form for Sporting this season, registering seven goals and six assists in 47 games, 42 of which have been starts.Maxi Araujo Stats: 2025/26 SeasonSource: Transfermarkt. The Uruguayan’s blistering pace, attacking instincts and work ethic make him a fine long-term replacement for Shaw at the Theatre of Dreams. Araujo is also entering his prime and matches the age profile INEOS have targeted of late. A previous report relayed by The Peoples Person suggests that United have already held talks with the Uruguayan’s entourage. The player is currently with his national team at the FIFA World Cup, where he has registered two goals and one assist in two games, further highlighting his immense quality. Araujo has now provided an update on his future.United frontrunners for AraujoSpeaking after Uruguay’s 2-2 draw against Cape Verde earlier this week to Antena 1, as relayed by Sport Witness, Araujo remained coy about his future. He said: “I am very happy at Sporting, but you never know what will happen.”This is a stark contrast to his previous comments, where he openly expressed a desire to stay at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. Meanwhile, Sporting’s Ivan Fresneda was at the game, and the Uruguayan was delighted to see his club team-mate in attendance. He said: “I was happy to speak with Fresneda, I am grateful he was here and I love playing with him. I hope we can play together for a long time.”The Uruguayan is under contract until 2029, so Sporting are under no pressure to let him go this summer. However, recent reports suggest that the Portuguese club are already working to tie him down to a new deal.Final ThoughtsWith Tyrell Malacia leaving as a free agent this summer and Patrick Dorgu deployed further up the pitch by Carrick, a new left-back is fast becoming a priority for United. Araujo could be a fantastic option for the job, but only for a fee lower than his €80 million release clause. Featured image Carlos Rodrigues via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty ImagesManu Ginobili was in the stands to watch Lionel Messi make World Cup history, and the Argentine basketball icon could hardly believe what he had witnessed.Messi scored twice in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria to become the outright leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history, moving clear of Miroslav Klose and further cementing his place among the greatest players the sport has ever seen.Among those watching was San Antonio Spurs legend Ginobili, who attended the match with his family and later shared his reaction on social media after seeing the Argentina captain reach another remarkable milestone.Photo by Maja Hitij – FIFA/FIFA via Getty ImagesManu Ginobili felt privileged to witness Lionel Messi’s latest milestoneShortly after Argentina’s win, Ginobili reflected on the experience of attending a World Cup match with his family and watching Messi make history in the process.He wrote: “Today, my family and I had the enormous pleasure of watching an Argentina match in a World Cup for the first time, and on top of that, seeing number 10 become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history!! What a privilege!!”It was a fitting tribute from one Argentine sporting icon to another. Ginobili is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players his country has ever produced, winning four NBA championships with the Spurs and helping Argentina claim Olympic gold in 2004.Even for someone with those achievements, watching Messi break one of the game’s most prestigious records clearly left a lasting impression.Lionel Messi moved further clear in the World Cup scoring raceMessi entered the tournament level with Germany legend Klose on 16 World Cup goals. He first drew level with the record through his hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opening game, with his third goal matching Klose’s total.The 38-year-old then took sole possession of first place by scoring twice against Austria, lifting his tally to 18 World Cup goals and moving clear at the top of the all-time standings.France forward Kylian Mbappe has also climbed the rankings during the tournament. His second brace of the competition against Iraq moved him onto 16 World Cup goals, tying Klose and placing him two behind Messi.For now, though, the spotlight remains firmly on Argentina’s captain. Messi’s latest performance added another chapter to a remarkable career, and Ginobili’s reaction summed up how many Argentines felt after watching one of their greatest sporting heroes make history once again.Read more:Shakira could only say one thing after Lionel Messi made World Cup historyKylian Mbappe knows exactly where he stands in the Lionel Messi World Cup chaseLionel Messi’s 80-goal feat before the World Cup left his Inter Miami teammates stunned

John Wall: "I feel like it is that time. I love him and Jayson Tatum together, they won a championship. You always get these conversations when you have two guys that think they are 1A. It is always difficult and when you let the media get involved or the outside noise get involved, it can mess up a team. I think when he won Finals MVP, it kind of shook a lot of people up. I think his comments from this year when he came out and was like, 'This is my favorite year of all.' Why would you say that? Your best year, I get it, you had career numbers, you had the number one option, but your best career got to be winning Finals MVP and winning a championship in a season. That should have been your best year. So I think from that point forward at the end of the season, when he made that comment about this is my best year, that is when they realized we got to move on for JB. JB wants his own team, JB needs his own team."YouTubeThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: John Wall on Jaylen Brown: He wants his own team, he needs his own team

NBA on ESPN: "The Celtics were not willing to part with enough young players and assets to get a deal done." @ShamsCharania says Boston offered Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks for Giannis Antetokounmpo before he was traded to Miami 👀x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "The Celtics were not willing to part with enough …

Marc Spears: "The Pelicans are trying to trade Trey Murphy. I texted him the other day. He was kind of laughing about all these rumors. He's in France right now. But I do think the right, I think the thing is this: it probably will depend on who's sitting there at 11 when that pick comes up. And there's probably a certain amount of players that Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver have on their list that could be attractive to their franchise. If the Warriors can get Trey Murphy, I'm all for trading that pick for Trey Murphy."YouTubeThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "The Pelicans are trying to trade Trey Murphy. I …

Didier Deschamps praises Ousmane Dembélé’s performance against Iraq: “Maybe now you’ll get off his case.”Speaking to the press in the wake of France’s convincing win over Iraq, Didier Deschamps notably praised Ousmane Dembélé’s performance, which included a goal and an assist in the second half.The reigning Ballon d’Or recipient was the subject of criticism over his underwhelming display against Senegal, although his captain leapt to his defence on the eve of Monday’s match in Philadelphia.“Maybe now you [journalists] will get off his case now and find another target,” France’s head coach joked after the match. “There haven’t been any issues with him, he’s just adapting to a system he’s not used to playing in during the rest of the year. Once he’s in good form physically, it’s only a matter of making adjustments.”“He has my confidence and he knows it. He’s not the kind of player who doubts himself, but it’s important that he did what he did today because he’s a decisive player.”Dembélé assisted Mbappé’s second goal by intercepting a missed first touch by the Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil. Around ten minutes later, he converted a one-on-one chance from close range after being played through by Michael Olise. The goal was the first of his career at a major tournament with Les Bleus.GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin – reporting from Philadelphia

Scotland fans arrive at LoanDepot Park [Getty Images]Love can be found in the most obscure ways.Romance may spark over a couple of nervous swipes on an app, or perhaps even an old-fashioned shy glance across a crowded bar.According to Rihanna, it also can be discovered if you hunt hard enough in a hopeless place.But on a humid summer evening in southern Florida, Cupid's arrows were flying faster than a Hank Aaron swing in the unlikely romantic setting of the third floor concourse of LoanDepot Park, somewhere near the fried chicken stall.Amid the cacophony of "We've Got McGinn..." booming through the marching crowd at Miami Marlins v Texas Rangers, one lady smiled, while holding a sign at her target audience as they engulfed her."Looking for a Scot" was the simple message etched next to a saltire and a Cuban flag with a kiss. It worked instantly.The fact she snagged a cuddle off a passing and opportunistic Tartan Army foot soldier shows the direct approach sometimes works.Whether he remembers it until he reads this is another thing.While not everyone in the US has gone to the trouble of scrawling their love for the Tartan Army on a bit of cardboard, the warmth towards the invading Scots during this World Cup burns hotter than the searing Florida sun.Here, it was another city, another ball game featuring the Texas Rangers, another invasion and another iconic night of rampant revelry.Years of relentless school games of rounders are being put to extremely good use by the Scotland support, who bounced into their second ball game in a little over a week.This time the iconic and antique bleachers of Fenway Park in Boston were swapped for this domed colosseum in the heart of downtown Miami.Outside, Nick Morgan played his anthem "No Scotland No Party" on stage to thousands of Scots in a blurry sea of bedlam and perspiration.Inside, the star of the mercifully air-conditioned show wasn't giant mascot Billy the Marlin. It was wee Billy the Scot.The Tartan Army, who helped swell the crowd to 20,008 - the biggest Monday night gathering under this roof since 2017 - rose to their feet pre-match as Billy Gilmour emerged from the side of the field.With a brace around his knee and a Marlins top around his chest, the injured Scotland and Napoli midfielder slowly hobbled to the mound, took his time, then hurled the ceremonial first pitch.It was met with the gusto and celebration normally reserved for a statue being crowned with an orange traffic cone. Oor Billy grinned from ear to ear as he waved back to the crowd before hobbling back off.The Miami Marlins play the Texas Rangers at LoanDepot Park [BBC Sport]A cynic would say this is an opportunity to cash in on a captive audience rolling into town after seeing the Fenway love-in. And yes, there's an undoubted benefit to the footfall and the beer sales which flow with it.But, just like at the Red Sox, this felt like a unique experience. Another baseball match, but a wholly different snapshot of a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Filled with football, friends, foot-long hot dogs and dodgy first-base runs.This was a night at the ball park to be cherished in years to come.So much effort had gone into ramping up the experience.We had a tartan menu in the food kiosk. A man with a Dundee United tattoo on his leg told of how his mince and tattie hot dog was a nine out of 10, but not quite as good as the football at Tannadice. There's no accounting for taste.DJ CP, a lovely fella plonked at the far side of the arena in charge of the tunes with a Scotland flag flung around his shoulders, explained how he was excited at playing "Bits and pieces" for the crowd, as well as the Beatles.As the sun faded through the giant glass wall behind the Home Run Harbour and the ice cream stall, the soaring Miami skyline dimming with it, the Scots ramped up the atmosphere.At the bottom of the sixth the St Andrews Pipe Band of Miami, surrounded by a sea of phones and selfie sticks, bellowed so loudly that the noise of a Marlins run was barely audible behind them.By the bottom of the eighth a thumping swing shot cranked through the air like that cupid's arrow, bringing Miami back to within one of the Rangers.Scotland fans were on their feet celebrating. Some of them even on purpose.Going into the final inning the Proclaimers was the choice from Mr CP to rouse the Marlins to victory.Alas, it ended in another defeat as the Tartan Army drifted out of LoanDepot Park having now watched more wins for Rangers at this World Cup than Scotland. It's a strange time.There is still time for that to change and, on the most remarkable of trips, there was the odd moment of serendipity that could be seen as a good omen.Stephen McGinn, brother of Scotland hero John, caught an errant baseball as it scudded off a bat and rebounded off a metal railing and straight into his grasp. Another city. Another ballpark. Another Tartan Army love-in.Scotland's final Group C game against Brazil on Wednesday may go a long way to deciding if this holiday romance has another chapter.How Ferguson became Scotland's most influential World Cup playerThe night the Tartan Army took over iconic Fenway ParkWorld Cup fixtures and group standings

Manchester City seem to have their man as they look set to appoint their next managerEver since Pep Guardiola stepped down as Manchester City manager, the expectation has been that former Leicester City and Chelsea manager would be City’s next manager. However, the announcement of Maresca as City manager has dragged on. Chelsea demanded compensation from City for the manner of Enzo Maresca’s departure from his post at Stamford Bridge. Also, Matt Hughes has reported for The Guardian that Chelsea believes that City made an illegal approach to Maresca and that the Italian manager breached his contract by speaking to City.Now it seems that Enzo Maresca will be confirmed as City’s manager at some point this week. The wait for the Italian manager to take charge at the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders may finally be over.Manchester City have agreed on a settlement package with Chelsea that will finally see Enzo Maresca confirmed as City manager.Paul Hirst and Peter Rutzler have reported for The Times that Enzo Maresca is set to be appointed as Manchester City’s manager this week. Furthermore, it is reported that Manchester City will pay Chelsea a compensation package of over £10 million to enable them to finally confirm Maresca’s appointment. The Times report states that Maresca had three years left to run on his contract with Chelsea, which meant that City had to pay the current FIFA Club World Cup holders compensation.Also, it is reported by Hirst and Rutzler that AC Milan and Juventus were also interested in appointing Enzo Maresca as manager. However, the opportunity to take over from Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager was too good an opportunity for Maresca to pass up. Lastly, it is reported that the City board were impressed with Maresca’s man management ability and his commitment to playing attacking football.The path is now clear for Enzo Maresca to begin work at City and he looks to have the right philosophy to succeed.Finally, the last obstacle preventing Manchester City from confirming Enzo Maresca as their next manager seems to have been cleared. City appear set to confirm Maresca’s appointment at some point this week and a new era at the club will finally have its manager.One aspect of Paul Hirst and Peter Rutzler’s report about Manchester City being impressed about Maresca’s commitment to playing attacking football does fit the City mould. Maresca will be inheriting a City squad full of attacking talent. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had high praise for the attacking play of Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side. In quotes relayed by Sky Sports after Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 in March of last year, Arteta said: “In my opinion, they are the best attacking team in the league. In open play? By a mile.”Arteta added that Maresca was the reason why Chelsea were such a dangerous attacking side. He added: “Because of the manager they have. The stats say it and everything that I’ve seen say it.”“They can open you up, they can run in transition, they have individual quality, any player in the defensive line can throw you in behind, they can combine on both sides, on weak sides.”Manchester City are finally on the verge of confirming Enzo Maresca as their next manager. The formalities between City and Chelsea seem to be complete. Maresca will bring the type of attacking football that City want to play and it will be exciting to see what Enzo Maresca produces as Manchester City’s manager when he finally assumes the role.

Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) celebrates after hitting a home run during an MLB baseball game against the Braves, Monday June 22, 2026 in San Diego, California.SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- San Diego (40-37) earned a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves (48-29) on Monday night thanks to the right arm of Michael King and the bat of Manny Machado.The Padres opened a difficult homestand against the Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers, two of the strongest teams in the National League, and they needed strong performances from both players.King entered the game coming off a rollercoaster five-start stretch in which he allowed six home runs. On Monday, however, he looked much more like himself.“I think he's got something with the Braves that feels pretty good for him,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “Found his stuff tonight, had good fastball command, had the change up really working, sweeper was going good too. Anytime he gave up a hit, he got right back at the next couple hitters and got him out.”King pitched seven innings, allowing six hits and no earned runs while striking out five. It was the first time he had not allowed an earned run since May 18 against the Dodgers.“Definitely trending, still a lot of work to do,” King explained. “I was tired of getting beat up out there, so got a little bit away from a mechanical feeling, more about just competing out there. I know the mechanics will get there, but I always felt like one of my strengths was being able to figure it out almost on the fly and working with what I got. I got away from that last 4-5 starts.”King ran into trouble in the top of the second inning when Michael Harris II led off with a single. Austin Riley followed by hitting a ball toward Machado that went off his glove after he appeared to misjudge it. Designated hitter Dominic Smith then hit a slow roller toward King, who chose to take the out at first, leaving two Braves runners in scoring position with one out. Right fielder Mike Yastrzemski grounded out, and shortstop Jorge Mateo lined out to end the threat.The Padres had a chance of their own in the bottom of the second. Xander Bogaerts advanced to second after a Will Wagner single, putting a runner in scoring position with one out. Catcher Rodolfo Durán then grounded into an inning-ending double play.In the top of the fourth inning, Jackson Merrill made a vintage Jackson Merrill catch. Instead of robbing a home run, he turned on the jets to track down a deep fly ball before it reached the wall, drawing a loud ovation from the Petco Park crowd."I hugged him like six times today, that was impressive out there," King said of Merrill's catch.San Diego finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth when Machado crushed a Grant Holmes slider for his 14th home run of the season, giving the Padres a 1-0 lead.Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) celebrates after hitting a home run during an MLB baseball game against the Braves, Monday June 22, 2026 in San Diego, California.Aaron Brenner – The Sporting TribunePadres third baseman Manny Machado (13) celebrates after hitting a home run during an MLB baseball game against the Braves, Monday June 22, 2026 in San Diego, California.Machado has faced criticism this season for numbers that are below his career standards, but he has begun to heat up lately. He went 8-for-35 on the recent road trip, batting .228 with two home runs after entering Monday's game hitting .179.“Just think about staying committed to the work that I'm doing things staying true to it, and trust in the process,” Machado said. “Not really worried about the results. It's just about a matter of if you do what you need to do up there the results will come.”The defense came up big in the top of the sixth inning. First baseman Matt Olson singled to center, and second baseman Ozzie Albies followed with a ground ball to first. Ty France recorded the out at first and attempted to throw out Albies at second, but the throw struck Albies' left hand and skipped into the outfield, allowing him to advance all the way to third. With two outs, King got Harris II to ground out and escape the inning unscathed.The Padres had an opportunity to add insurance in the bottom of the eighth when Machado led off with a double to left field. However, he was stranded there after Miguel Andújar struck out, France popped out, Bogaerts walked and Jase Bowen struck out.Fortunately for San Diego, closer Mason Miller shut the door for his 21st save of the season. Albies flew out before Harris II and Yastrzemski struck out. There was some late drama as Riley singled and Smith walked, but Miller escaped the jam.“This is how the Padres have probably won ever since I've been a Padre,” Stammen said. “It feels like these are normal Padre wins. Low-scoring one or two run games, and find a way to close it out with a with an elite closer.”San Diego will continue the series against Atlanta on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. PT. JR Ritchie (1-2) is scheduled to start for the Braves, while the Padres have yet to announce a starter.

Tyler Herro breaks silence on joining Bucks after Heat's Giannis Antetokounmpo trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.After plenty of speculation about the Milwaukee Bucks moving on from Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two sides have finally parted ways. The deal sent Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks (including No. 13), a pick swap, and a second-rounderWhile Herro isn't the most exciting player in the deal -- far from it -- he does give the Bucks a player who grew up in Wisconsin.According to the latest report, the former Heat guard is excited for the opportunity."Sources: Tyler Herro is thrilled about a fresh start and playing for his hometown team the Milwaukee Bucks. Herro always envisioned returning home at some point during his NBA career," Chris Haynes reported.Tyler Herro tradeHerro, while a decent player in his own right, should never play a game in Milwaukee. The Bucks have no reason to keep him around after this deal and need to send him out for more assets. He can be excited all he wants, but from the Bucks' perspective, there's just no reason to keep him on the roster in the short or long-term.Perhaps Milwaukee is as excited as he is, but it wouldn't make sense if it felt that way. Herro is better suited on a different team and the Bucks could use all the young players with upside and picks they can get.More NBA news:Why Bucks trading Giannis before the draft makes senseThis is what a Timberwolves trade for Derrick White would look likeWarriors want Kawhi Leonard, but there's a problem

The ferris wheel on the National Mall is lit as preparation continues for the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick2026-06-23T04:04:13Z WASHINGTON (AP) — The complexities of the American story aren’t hard to miss.Just steps into the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the gavel used by Nancy Pelosi when she became the first female speaker of the U.S. House sits next to a red “Make America Great Again” cap. A shirt emblazoned with a pink triangle and “Silence = Death” protesting the government’s inaction during the AIDS crisis hangs alongside a campaign shirt for President Ronald Reagan, whose administration was blamed for ignoring the epidemic.The display is part of a broader exhibit flowing throughout the museum dubbed “In Pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness,” commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence. With artifacts ranging from a Revolutionary War-era gunboat to a 1970 Earth Day flag, it’s a reminder that the challenges and divides gripping the U.S. in the age of President Donald Trump, while stark, are not new. “In some of those contestations, people find the hope and the resiliency to move forward,” said Anthea M. Hartig, the museum’s director. “History is filled with those moments where we think we’re completely falling apart as we did in the Civil War and then we’re trying to figure out how to build it back together again.” A unifying theme is being testedThat unifying theme is being tested as the anniversary celebrations intensify in the coming weeks with Trump once again giving himself central billing. The creation of Freedom 250, an organization aligned with the White House, has come to rival America 250, a bipartisan group founded by Congress a decade ago. The different groups add to a sense that even a milestone anniversary can become the source of division. The tumultuous aftermath is apparent on the National Mall just outside the museum, where preparations are underway for “The Great American State Fair.” A wave of artists including Martina McBride pulled out of performances at the fair, saying they didn’t realize the political overtone of the event. Trump himself is now planning to speak there Wednesday. Read More The split screen will return on July Fourth as America 250 holds a concert in Los Angeles hosted by Queen Latifah and featuring performances from Chris Stapleton and The Smashing Pumpkins while the president returns to the National Mall for what he has described as a “Trump rally.” Trump is not the first president to deliver a high-profile July Fourth speech. In 1986, Reagan spoke from New York Harbor marking the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. In 1976, President Gerald Ford delivered an address from Independence Hall in Philadelphia commemorating the bicentennial. Their themes emphasized commonality and unity, framing the moment in a broader context that had little to do with the presidents themselves. Reagan joked he “wouldn’t even think about trying to compete with a fireworks display” while noting “all the celebration of this day is rooted in history.”Ford spoke of the “American adventure” as a “continuing process.”“Liberty is for all men and women as a matter of equal and unalienable right,” he said. “The establishment of justice and peace abroad will in large measure depend upon the peace and justice we create here in our own country, where we still show the way.” Trump tends to place the focus on himselfTrump, of course, tends to place more of the focus squarely on himself. He became the first president to host the Kennedy Center honors last year after a Trump-backed board named him chairman. The venue added his name to the building as well, prompting a federal judge to declare the move illegal and order its removal. More recently, Trump has remade Washington in his image, demolishing the East Wing of the White House to make way for a ballroom and moving toward building a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery. He’s eyeing renovations at East Potomac Park even as he struggles with the return of algae at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which he remodeled last month. He recently hosted a UFC fight at the White House. “Trump is putting himself at the center of the story,” said Mark Updegrove, chairman of the LBJ Foundation and a presidential historian. “Trump does not consider himself the steward of the presidency. He considers himself the embodiment of it.” The country is in a dour mood as the anniversary approaches. Only about one-quarter of Americans say the U.S. stands above all other countries in the world, according to an April poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About 3 in 10 say there are better countries than the U.S., an increase from 19% in an AP-NORC poll conducted in June 2016.Americans are less likely to see a democratically elected government as “extremely” or “very” important to the United States’ identity as a nation than they were just a few years ago. About two-thirds of U.S. adults now say a democratically elected government is highly important to the U.S.’s identity as a nation, down from 80% in 2021. Big cultural moments face new rivalsAgainst that backdrop, it’s little wonder that groups dedicated to the anniversary have multiplied. Even this year’s Super Bowl halftime show — typically one of the few cultural moments bringing together much of the country — contended with a rival program this year after conservatives objected to Bad Bunny performing on the main stage.Heading into the final days before the holiday, the main groups — Freedom 250 and America 250 — are outwardly aiming to downplay any tensions.Freedom 250 spokesperson Rachel Reisner said the organization was focused on “signature events and initiatives,” including the fair, and is “sparking a unifying movement across all 50 states.”Rosie Rios, the chair of America 250, said her main priority is delivering programming for all Americans, whether that’s eight consecutive ball drops that will unfold across the country, student competitions or a massive volunteer effort. As for other organizations that have emerged like Freedom 250, “the more celebrations, the merrier.”“We can’t be all things to all Americans,” Rios said. “But we have something for every American and the more opportunities for everyone to participate in July 4th and beyond, we’re thrilled.” STEVEN SLOAN Sloan is the Washington correspondent at The Associated Press. He managed the AP’s coverage of the 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns. twitter

Thomas Partey will make his first appearance in the 2026 World Cup when Ghana play against England on Tuesday. Partey was refused entry to Canada forcing him to miss Ghana’s opening match in Toronto, and he could be booed by spectators when he finally takes to the field in Boston.The former Arsenal midfielder has been charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by London’s Metropolitan Police and is awaiting trial. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.Ghana played Panama in their first game of the tournament, winning 1-0. The team and staff members travelled over the US-Canada border from their base in Rhode Island, but Partey was denied a visa and stayed behind.Under Canadian law, foreign nationals can be found inadmissible ⁠even without a conviction. Court documents also revealed that Partey’s application for a temporary resident visa, submitted in May, did not disclose his criminal charges, falsely answering “no” to a question about whether he had “ever committed, been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of any criminal offence in any country”.Partey’s lawyers sought an emergency appeal, which was rejected by the Federal Court in Ottawa.At the time, Fifa said in a statement: “FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp ... to Canada for their first match against Panama ... as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government.“FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”Partey, left, in training with his Ghana teammates at Bryant University, Smithfield (PA)Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said: “Canada is proud to be a host country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is working to facilitate a successful event while maintaining the safety and security of Canadians. Canada has been consistent that hosting major events does not change Canada’s immigration laws.“Every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies.”However Partey, who now plays for Spanish club Villarreal, was granted a US visa before the tournament and will be eligible to play against England, and against Croatia in Philadelphia on 27 June.Speaking to the media after training this week, Partey said: “I think for me now it’s part of football. Things happen outside football that you cannot control, but for me now I feel OK and I am ready to play.”It is one of the uncomfortable truths about this World Cup that so many playing staff and spectators have been denied visas or have been held up in their efforts to enter the US, extending to the respected Somali referee Omar Artan on grounds of an alleged “association with suspected members of terror organisations”, evidence for which has not been shared by either the US border force or Fifa. And yet two players facing trial over rape allegations have had no trouble arriving to play in America. The second is Morocco’s captain Achraf Hakimi, who is due to face trial over allegations of rape. He denies wrongdoing. Hours before kick-off in Morocco’s second match of the tournament, against Scotland in Boston, a French appeals court confirmed that Hakimi will stand trial in the rape case. Hakimi was loudly booed by Scotland fans every time he touched the ball, and Partey may receive a similar reception.Achraf Hakimi in action against Scotland during the World Cup (Getty)Whether the England players shake hands with Partey before kick-off, as is the common pre-match ritual between teams, remains to be seen. The Football Association has given no guidance to players over the issue and will leave it to their discretion. On coming up against his former Arsenal teammates Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, Partey said: “I’m really happy to see them again. I hope they are going to bring their best and try to give ourselves also the opportunity to play against the best and try to compete and enjoy the game.”Partey was first arrested in July 2022, but he was not charged and continued to represent Arsenal until his contract expired at the end of the 2024-25 season. Days later, he was charged by police.There have been other notable incidents involving sexual assault allegations among Premier League players in recent years. Manchester City suspended Benjamin Mendy and stopped paying his wages after he was charged with rape and sexual assault in 2021, and he was put under a precautionary suspension by the Football Association. He was acquitted of the charges at trial and the FA found no grounds for misconduct. Mendy later won around £8.5m from City after a judge ruled the club had wrongly stopped his pay. The defender now plays for Polish side Pogon Szczecin.Manchester United suspended Mason Greenwood after he was arrested in 2022. He was later charged with attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. However, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case when key witnesses withdrew their involvement. Greenwood has continued his career at Marseille.

Where to watch Aces vs. Liberty today: Channel, time, TV schedule, live stream for Tuesday WNBA game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Fans will get a Commissioner's Cup final preview as the Las Vegas Aces host the New York Liberty in Sin City on Tuesday night.With the in-season tournament final happening a week later, there's no way to tell how each franchise will play in this matchup. A'ja Wilson will surely be ready to lead her squad to a home win, but Aces guard Chennedy Carter could still be sidelined due to an undisclosed illness.Meanwhile, the Liberty will be hitting the road for this battle before hosting the Cup championship on June 30. New York is recovering from a surprise 86-83 loss to the Mystics last week, in which stars Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Satou Sabally played below their usual standard.Who will take this regular-season win?Here's everything you need to know about Aces vs. Liberty, including TV channel and streaming options for the WNBA matchup.Where to watch Aces vs. Liberty today: TV channel, live streamTV channel: USA NetworkLive stream:DIRECTVAces vs. Liberty will be broadcast nationally on USA Network. Fans and cord-cutters can also stream the action live on DIRECTV.Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.What time is Aces vs. Liberty today?Date: Tuesday, June 23Time: 10 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. PTThe Aces and Liberty will go head-to-head on Tuesday, June 23 at 10 p.m. ET. The matchup will take place at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.Las Vegas Aces schedule 2026Here's a look at the Aces' next five matchups.DateMatchupTime (ET)June 23vs. Liberty10 p.m.June 25vs. Wings10 p.m.June 28at Sky4 p.m.June 30at Liberty7 p.m.July 3vs. Sky10 p.m.New York Liberty schedule 2026Here's a look at the Liberty's next five matchups.DateMatchupTime (ET)June 23at Aces10 p.m.June 25at Storm10 p.m.June 28at Valkyries7 p.m.July 3vs. Lynx7:30 p.m.July 7vs. Wings8 p.m.Related LinksLatest WNBA news and rumorsWNBA scores, schedule 2026WNBA standings 2026

(Getty Images) | Getty Images Your daily dose of Everton news and rumoursEverton could roll back the years with Jarrod Bowen transfer but Hayden Hackney fear remains. [Liverpool Echo]An interesting look at whether the recent reduction in losses at Everton represents genuine long-term sustainability or a series of clever corporate moves designed to swerve strict regulatory hurdles. [Read Everton]Monaco are open to selling star striker Folarin Balogun to Everton this summer if they offer a sizeable fee for the USA international’s services. [Football Insider]Everton season ticket holder Andy Burnham has already made Everton vow if he became PM and detailed desired football change. [Liverpool Echo]Go ed lad #EFC#UTFTpic.twitter.com/0Du0N0TS7X— THE BLUE ROOM – EVERTON PODCAST (@TheBlueRoomEFC) June 22, 2026Everton have now held talks to sign Sander Berge from Fulham this summer. [SportsBoom]Everton are set to open talks with Braiden Graham over a new contract. [Click Liverpool]Here are some possible World Cup players that Everton should be considering as the World Cup ramps up. [Prince Ruperts Tower]What to WatchThe World Cup feeding frenzy continues with Portugal taking on Uzbekistan, England hosting Ghana, Panama and Croatia, and Colombia hoping to conquer DR Congo. Full schedule of games here.Follow UsTwitter | Threads | Facebook

Barcelona priority target drops transfer bombshell with stunning public admission: ‘Best thing for everyone is a transfer’Barcelona’s long-running pursuit of Julian Alvarez could finally be heading towards a decisive moment after the Argentine forward publicly opened the door to a summer departure from Atletico Madrid.For weeks, reports have suggested that the striker had privately informed Atletico officials of his desire to seek a new challenge. Barcelona, meanwhile, have continued to monitor the situation closely, believing that any move would depend on the player making his intentions clear in public.Now, that moment appears to have arrived.Alvarez breaks silence on Atletico Madrid futureSpeaking after Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria at the World Cup, Alvarez delivered the strongest indication yet that his time at Atletico Madrid may be coming to an end.The forward did not hide his feelings when discussing what comes next in his career. Explaining his position, he stated,Julian Alvarez is ready to leave Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)“The best thing for everyone is a transfer. I want to fulfil my dream.”Alvarez went on to reveal that conversations have already taken place behind the scenes with Atletico Madrid officials.“This isn’t the time to talk about this, but I can’t hide either. I try to be an honest person, and I’ve already spoken with the club officials and the people I needed to talk to,” he noted, according to AS.Those remarks are likely to increase pressure on Atletico Madrid, who have so far remained firm regarding the player’s future despite growing transfer interest from several European giants.Barcelona remain attentiveBarcelona’s admiration for Alvarez is no secret. The Catalan club view the Argentine as one of the elite forwards capable of leading their attack for years to come.Alvarez is tipped to join Barcelona. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)Notably, Barcelona already attempted to test Atletico Madrid’s resolve earlier in the transfer window. A proposal worth €100 million was submitted, but the offer failed to generate any meaningful response from the Madrid-based club.The communication came through sporting director Deco, who contacted Atletico executive Mateu Alemany to outline Barcelona’s intentions and financial proposal.Despite that approach, Atletico Madrid refused to entertain negotiations, maintaining their stance that Alvarez is not available for transfer.However, the situation may now be changing, as public comments from a player often carry significant weight during transfer sagas, and Alvarez’s statements have made it difficult to ignore the possibility of a departure.

The longer Giannis Antetokounmpo stretched the disjointed, awkward relationship between himself and the Bucks' brass — a segmented front office in its own right — the more strained it became. The more the 31-year-old future Hall of Famer waited patiently and publicly for Milwaukee to course correct its blatant lack of organizational alignment — albeit through a series of veiled comments and tense moments — the more appealing outside stability appeared. In the end, Antetokounmpo bet on himself and took his talents to South Beach with less than 24 hours to go before the NBA Draft. The blockbuster deal, Yahoo Sports confirms, sends Antetokounmpo to the Heat in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, the No. 13 pick in the 2026 draft, unprotected firsts in 2031 and 2033, a pick swap in 2030 and a 2033 second-round pick. Got all of that? You sure? With the bulk of offseason decisions being made — particularly in the Eastern Conference — through the lens of contention and potentially rubbing shoulders with the reigning champion New York Knicks, the Giannis deal is a fascinating move. I'm not certain if it immediately lifts the Heat into Tier 1 status, but they're certainly cousins at this point. Make no mistake, the departure of three integral pieces of Miami's core will sting, but what's left over is nothing to scoff at, not by a long shot. Assuming no other major piece of business happens with the Heat between now and the start of next season — outside of filling out the back end of the roster — the Greek Freak will slot into a lineup featuring Davion Mitchell, Norman Powell (assuming he stays; Miami has his Bird Rights and can exceed the cap to re-sign him), Andrew Wiggins and, of course, Bam Adebayo. That quartet finished the regular season outscoring their opponents by an impressive 72 points across 540 minutes together.But let's focus on why we're here. In one sweeping motion, Miami just assembled the most versatile, menacing defensive frontcourt the East has seen in years. Decades, even. "On paper" will be used quite a bit within the basketball ecosystem over the next few months before we're treated to having both Adebayo and Antetokounmpo share the floor together, but what these two accomplished defenders have produced in their remarkable careers should be enough to leave Erik Spoelstra salivating. They are in the 96th and 92nd percentile, respectively, in defensive estimated plus-minus; among the top 22 in DARKO, with Giannis fifth; and 99th and 97th percentile in efficiency differential. The rim protection, oh the rim protection. Opponents converted nearly 14% worse with Antetokounmpo as the nearest defender at the rim. Adebayo is well-versed in defending high-usage types, excels in pick-and-roll coverage and, as his second team All-Defensive nod suggests, remains one of the most impressive pound-for-pound stoppers around. Good luck generating successful half-court offense against those two and godspeed to those that attempt to crack Spoelstra's trademark zone, now with Giannis patrolling the gaps. Sprinkle in Wiggins' length, Mitchell's point-of-attack defense and Powell's underrated physicality and this should be a top-5 defensive unit for months on end. The spacing — or lack thereof — can't be ignored, though. Adebayo shot just under 32% on pretty high volume, while Antetokounmpo finished converting 33% of his 3s. However, I expect Spoelstra to get creative with these two. Both are capable initiators, both can roll to the rim and have downhill gravity, both can finish in the restricted area. Expect a flurry of pick-and-pop possessions with Giannis running the show and Adebayo — along with the likes of Wiggins, Powell and Mitchell — to space the floor. Miami's penchant for pushing the pace also bodes well with Antetokounmpo, one of the game's most menacing forces in the open floor. (Another facet folks shouldn't scoff at, given Giannis' recent injury woes, is Miami's pristine conditioning regimen and the onus the franchise places on physical health. While I don't expect lingering calf and knee issues to disappear overnight, his arrival in an environment with a built-in, no-nonsense culture should bode well with his recovery.)Don't expect this to be the finished product, either. According to capologists, the Heat, while hard-capped at the first apron, still have a shade under $20 million to dole out to fill at least four additional roster spots. Miami will also still have the ability to use its full mid-level and bi-annual exception to add some much-needed floor spacing to the roster. Paging one Buddy Hield! (Technically, the Heat could create even more cap space if Wiggins entered free agency and/or Nikola Jovic was traded, but this team needs to hold on to every remaining asset with a vice grip.) I'd also expect Wiggins, who should be playing ball now, to negotiate a longer-term contract at a more manageable number than his $30 million player option, which would give more wiggle room to retain Powell. This move doesn't come without risk. Giannis is leaving the only NBA home he's known for over a decade, and entering into a new organization past his prime with mileage and injuries. He's joining forces with a defensively inclined big (yes, the 83 that one time) who isn't regarded as an efficient shooter, and he'll now be tasked with leading a roster with a rather interesting fit.But South Beach is known for its magic, Pat Riley is known for his pursuit, persuasion and perfection and Antetokounmpo is known for not giving a damn about what's in front of him, if it's in the way of success. Something tells me this just might work out.

Jimmy Fallon poked fun at the name of the business under fire for turning the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool bright green: “Nailed it.”

West Ham want Dwight McNeil to replace Crysencio SummervilleWest Ham United are weighing up a move for Everton winger Dwight McNeil as they continue to look for cheap reinforcement this summer.According to ExWHUEmployee, the Hammers have identified the 26-year-old as a potential transfer target.However, any deal is likely to hinge on whether the player is prepared to drop into the Championship with West Ham.McNeil has been with Everton since 2022, making 128 appearances and contributing 34 goals and assists across all competitions.While his most recent campaign was underwhelming, producing just one assist in 22 league outings, the English star is a very experienced wide player.He has more than 250 top-flight appearances to his name and would be a good pick-up for the Hammers considering their circumstances.West Ham value that experience as they look to assemble a squad capable of challenging for an immediate return to the Premier League.With the fantastic McNeil entering the final year of his contract, the Irons could also secure him for a relatively modest fee.Despite his disappointing attacking numbers last season, McNeil offers qualities that do not always show up on the scoresheet.His devastating left foot, delivery from wide areas and tireless work rate have made him a dependable performer throughout his Premier League career.Should Crysencio Summerville leave the London Stadium this summer, McNeil would be a sensible replacement.The Dutchman brings flair and explosive dribbling, whereas McNeil offers consistency, intelligent movement and proven experience against elite opposition.His tendency to stay wide on the left and whip crosses would also provide a natural balance alongside Jarrod Bowen, who prefers to drift inside from the right onto his stronger foot.He may not be the marquee signing West Ham supporters dream of, but McNeil could prove to be one of the smartest and most sensible additions available this summer,

For the better part of a year, team sources have told the Journal Sentinel that should the Milwaukee Bucks trade superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, the goal was to acquire volume in players and draft picks.In a deal with Miami that was agreed to on June 22, but will not be made official until the new league year begins on July 6, the Bucks appear to have done exactly that. (Note: Because of the amount of time before the league year begins, it is possible more players and picks are added onto the trade.)Let's take a look at the initial iteration of the trade between the Bucks and Heat: Heat receiveGiannis AntetokounmpoAntetokounmpo, who will be 32 years old in December, is one of the top 75 players in the history of the NBA. He is a two-time league MVP, an NBA Finals MVP, an NBA Cup MVP and a Defensive Player of the Year. One of the most dominant players in the league, Antetokounmpo is coming off an injury-plagued year that limited him to just 36 games in 2025-26. Since becoming an all-NBA player in 2017-18, he has averaged 28.4 points, 11.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists.Antetokounmpo is eligible for a $275 million maximum extension.Bobby Portis Jr.The unofficial "Mayor of Milwaukee," Portis will turn 32 years old in February. The forward signed with the Bucks in 2020-21 and helped the team win the title that season. In his six-year career in Milwaukee, Portis finished third in the Sixth Man of the Year voting twice (2023 and 2024) and averaged 13.6 points and 8.0 rebounds while developing into a 40.9% shooter from behind the 3-point line.Bucks receiveTyler HerroThe Greenfield native made an all-star team in the 2024-25 season and was the 2021-22 Sixth Man of the Year. Herro, a 6-foot, 5-inch shooting guard, has averaged 21.4 points per game on 38.4% 3-point shooting since the 2021-22 season. Herro will turn 27 in January. He is eligible to sign a three-year extension worth up to $149 million.Jaime Jaquez Jr.Jacquez, who will turn 26 in February, was the runner-up in Sixth Man of the Year voting last season after averaging 15.4 points and 5.0 rebounds. In his three seasons with the Heat, the 6-6 forward has started 38 times in his 218 appearances and averaged 12.1 points per game. Jacquez is eligible for a five-year, $255 million extension – though a league source told the Journal Sentinel he will not command that amount.Kel'El WareThe 7-footer was the No. 15 pick in the 2024 draft and just turned 22 years old in April. He started 34 of 77 games last season and averaged 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. He also shot 39% from behind the 3-point line on limited volume (3.0 attempts per game).Kasparas JakučionisThe 6-5 guard was the No. 20 pick in the 2025 draft and appeared in 53 games last season. He shot 42.3% from behind the 3-point line on low volume (2.9 attempts per game). Jakučionis just turned 20 years old in May.2026 first-round draft pick (No. 13)2030 first-round pick swap2031 first-round pick2033 first-round pick2033 second-round pickThis article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A look at players Bucks are receiving in Giannis-Heat trade package?

For the better part of a year, team sources have told the Journal Sentinel that should the Milwaukee Bucks trade superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, the goal was to acquire volume in players and draft picks.In a deal with Miami that was agreed to on June 22, but will not be made official until the new league year begins on July 6, the Bucks appear to have done exactly that. (Note: Because of the amount of time before the league year begins, it is possible more players and picks are added onto the trade.)Let's take a look at the initial iteration of the trade between the Bucks and Heat: Heat receiveGiannis AntetokounmpoAntetokounmpo, who will be 32 years old in December, is one of the top 75 players in the history of the NBA. He is a two-time league MVP, an NBA Finals MVP, an NBA Cup MVP and a Defensive Player of the Year. One of the most dominant players in the league, Antetokounmpo is coming off an injury-plagued year that limited him to just 36 games in 2025-26. Since becoming an all-NBA player in 2017-18, he has averaged 28.4 points, 11.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists.Antetokounmpo is eligible for a $275 million maximum extension.Bobby Portis Jr.The unofficial "Mayor of Milwaukee," Portis will turn 32 years old in February. The forward signed with the Bucks in 2020-21 and helped the team win the title that season. In his six-year career in Milwaukee, Portis finished third in the Sixth Man of the Year voting twice (2023 and 2024) and averaged 13.6 points and 8.0 rebounds while developing into a 40.9% shooter from behind the 3-point line.Bucks receiveTyler HerroThe Greenfield native made an all-star team in the 2024-25 season and was the 2021-22 Sixth Man of the Year. Herro, a 6-foot, 5-inch shooting guard, has averaged 21.4 points per game on 38.4% 3-point shooting since the 2021-22 season. Herro will turn 27 in January. He is eligible to sign a three-year extension worth up to $149 million.Jaime Jaquez Jr.Jacquez, who will turn 26 in February, was the runner-up in Sixth Man of the Year voting last season after averaging 15.4 points and 5.0 rebounds. In his three seasons with the Heat, the 6-6 forward has started 38 times in his 218 appearances and averaged 12.1 points per game. Jacquez is eligible for a five-year, $255 million extension – though a league source told the Journal Sentinel he will not command that amount.Kel'El WareThe 7-footer was the No. 15 pick in the 2024 draft and just turned 22 years old in April. He started 34 of 77 games last season and averaged 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. He also shot 39% from behind the 3-point line on limited volume (3.0 attempts per game).Kasparas JakučionisThe 6-5 guard was the No. 20 pick in the 2025 draft and appeared in 53 games last season. He shot 42.3% from behind the 3-point line on low volume (2.9 attempts per game). Jakučionis just turned 20 years old in May.2026 first-round draft pick (No. 13)2030 first-round pick swap2031 first-round pick2033 first-round pick2033 second-round pickThis article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A look at players Bucks are receiving in Giannis-Heat trade package?

Milwaukee Bucks fans have been forced to listen to Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation for far, far too long. So while Monday, June 22, 2026, was truly the end of an era and a sad night for many, the fact that Antetokounmpo will finally be traded to the Miami Heat in a package that includes three first-round draft picks and Greenfield native Tyler Herro, the actual move certainly wasn't a shock to Bucks Nation.Perhaps the almost daily ad nauseum banter from national media over the years of Antetokounmpo eventually leaving Milwaukee for a bigger market despite showing loyalty to the franchise by signing multiple contract extensions prepared them for Giannis' summer exit after 13 mostly glorious years with the Bucks. Genuinely feel for Bucks fans. The last four years, with the incessant talk about a seemingly inevitable Giannis trade, must have been terribly wearing. But they got a decade-plus of excellence, and a championship, from one of the two best players in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/Fs2CouHDaO— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) June 23, 2026More: How many future draft picks do the Bucks have after Giannis trade to Heat?After it was reported that the Bucks and the Heat had reached an agreement on a trade late Monday night, most Bucks fans that posted immediate reactions didn't rant or appear angry. Many Giannis supporters typed various quick digital forms of gratitude to the global superstar. Thank you notes for the many outstanding memories Antetokounmpo provided, including an NBA championship in 2021.Others appeared pleased with the Bucks' return in the trade that included Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware and Kasparas Jakučionis in addition to the draft picks.Bucks in 6: Brandon Jennings reacts to the Giannis tradeHere's a sample of Bucks and NBA posters bidding adieu to Giannis' time in Milwaukee:I think Jon Horst and #Bucks ownership did a tremendous job on this Giannis deal landing young talent in Herro and Ware, a solid role player in Jaquez, and they will have 2 picks in the lottery plus 2 future unprotected 1sts Taylor Jenkins will also oversee this rebuild— Chris Camello (@Chris_Camello) June 23, 2026After 13 seasons, the Giannis Antetokounmpo era is over in Milwaukee:🦌 2021 NBA Champion and Finals MVP🦌 2024 NBA Cup Champion and MVP🦌 Back-to-back MVP in 2019 and 2020🦌 2020 NBA Defensive Player of the Year🦌 10-time NBA All-Star🦌 9-time All-NBA honors 🦌 5-time… pic.twitter.com/ivLRIzqw7g— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 23, 2026Happy For Giannis. Happy For the Bucks. The Run Was Nothing But Amazing!!!! Everybody won in this situation. Bucks & the City of Milwaukee got what they wanted and Giannis is the greatest Bucks Player Ever!!!! Bucks in 6— Brandon Jennings (@Tuff__Crowd) June 23, 2026Thank you Giannis…For keeping the Bucks in Milwaukee For staying throughout all the noiseFor a championship For 13 seasonsFor being the greatest to ever put on a Bucks uniform For everything pic.twitter.com/bjkAFzYh1q— Ryan (@BrewPack8) June 23, 2026Forever Milwaukee. Come back when you’re ready Giannis. We will be here. https://t.co/krmYDiR9yr— Justin Wills (@itsjwills) June 23, 2026That Giannis statue better be 200 ft tall @bucks— 🥤 (@34for2) June 23, 2026The Bucks and Giannis felt it was time to move on after 13 incredible seasons together.Miami’s trade package was the best offer that Milwaukee was going to receive.— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) June 23, 2026Milwaukee Bucks got every single promising young player on Miami and got 3 1sts and a peak swapGiannis was on an expiring contract too. What a haul— Joel Moran (@joelvmoran) June 23, 2026Weirdly, I don’t think Giannis is any closer to a championship. This feels a lot more like his relationship with the Bucks organization was broken beyond repair.— Justin Wills (@itsjwills) June 23, 2026Most points in Bucks history… GiannisMost rebounds in Bucks history… GiannisMost assists in Bucks history… GiannisMost blocks in Bucks history… GiannisMost games in Bucks history… GiannisMost minutes in Bucks history… Giannis& the Bucks just traded him.— Sam Block (@theblockspot) June 23, 2026This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks fans on social media thank Giannis Antetokounmpo, react to trade

Real Madrid will not return with bid for La Liga forward despite public admission of desire to leaveImmediately after the presidential elections, Florentino Perez and his board made a €150 million bid to Atletico Madrid for Julian Alvarez.Some interpreted the move to be Perez’s idea to wriggle away from his promise of a Galactico signing, while others saw it as a deliberate and engineered move to prevent Alvarez’s transfer to Barcelona.Ultimately, talks over the player’s departure stalled after that development as Los Rojiblancos also made it clear that they do not consider his sale a possibility. Now, however, matters have resumed in some style as Alvarez himself came out to speak and admit his wish to leave his club after Argentina’s game last night.“The best thing for me is a transfer, and I want to fulfil my dream,” he told the media after the game, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.Real Madrid’s stanceWere Real Madrid never interested in Alvare to begin with? (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)With Alvarez publicly announcing his desire to leave Atletico Madrid, some fingers immediately pointed to Real Madrid as they were the club to have the largest offer for the player rejected.Guillermo Rai via The Athletic, however, confirms that the club have no such intention around the Argentine star.Real Madrid, thus, will not return to the race to sign Alvarez despite his comments of wanting a departure. The door is closer and is unlikely to open anytime in the future, given the squad depth.A puzzling move to begin withOver the years, Real Madrid have seldom ever communicated details of a rejected deal as openly as they communicated their move with Alvarez, and it certainly raises some eyebrows.Perez played a masterstroke. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)Perez was indeed under pressure to send an offer for a Galactico before the deadline, and it somehow appears that he conspired with Atletico Madrid to use their player’s name to kill two birds with one stone.After all, that, the development made it clear that he sent an offer for a Galactico immediately after winning but also ensured that Barcelona will have to pay at least €150 million to sign Alvarez. That number, needless to say, is something the Catalans must ponder deeply given their situation.From Real Madrid’s perspective, there is simply no room for a new centre-forward in any capacity. The only attacking position that can accept a Galactico signing is the right wing.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks in the Oval Office of the White House during an executive order signing about quantum computing with President Donald Trump, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)2026-06-23T00:10:16Z WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has told senators it needs roughly $80 billion, mostly to cover the cost of the U.S. war against Iran, adding to what is already a sizable military spending boost being sought by President Donald Trump. The White House Office of Management and Budget has yet to make a formal request to Congress. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been making the rounds on Capitol Hill, including Monday evening. A top deputy defense secretary told senators about the Iran funding request last week, according to two people familiar with the situation but not authorized to discuss it publicly. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the developments. Push for Pentagon money faces skeptical lawmakersThe push for billions of dollars in Iran war funding comes at a fraught political moment. Lawmakers are skeptical of the deal Trump struck with Iran to bring an end to the war, and wary of next steps. The White House has requested a remarkable $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon — a nearly 50% increase over the current fiscal year’s funding levels.Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he’s expecting a supplemental spending request from the administration for the war, and when it arrives, “we’ll work through it and see where the votes are.”“We need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to replenish, resupply a lot our munitions that have been depleted — not only just with what’s happening with Iran, but prior to that,” said Thune, R-S.D. Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg spoke to several senators about the proposal in calls last week and he notified congressional committees that the $80 billion request had been sent to the Office of Management and Budget. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read More However, the funding package will almost certainly run into trouble from lawmakers who refuse to support Trump’s decision to go to war and are reluctant to give the Pentagon more money at a time of high costs of living for Americans at home.“You’re spending families’ hard-earned tax dollars on a war that many strongly oppose,” Democratic Sen. Patty Murray told Hegseth in a hearing last month. Trump seeks a record $1.5 trillion for Defense this yearIn addition to the Iran funding, Republicans hope to secure about $1.1 trillion through the regular appropriations process, which typically requires support from both parties for approval. Then, they hope to secure an additional $350 billion through a mostly party-line vote later this summer. The amount being sought by the Pentagon is far higher than the $29 billion estimate of war costs that Hegseth gave Congress during his testimony last month. The bulk of that amount was related to replacing munitions and repairing equipment but also included operational costs to keep forces deployed. That estimate did not include the cost to repair or rebuild U.S. military sites damaged in the region.It’s also far lower than the initial $200 billion the Pentagon floated as the costs at the start of the war. An early estimate put the cost of the first week of the war at $11.3 billion.Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, a member of Democratic party leadership, said he expects the actual price tag could be much higher than the $80 billion being proposed. Schatz said he hasn’t done any counting of Democrats about whether there is support for an Iran-focused bill, “but I haven’t found anyone who wants to do this.”But Republican Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana said, “To me it’s less about the war, it’s more about the stockpiles.” Banks said, “I would sell it to my state as an investment in our defense industrial base, reshoring defense production to Indiana.” Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said funding for an Iran supplemental can’t be done in isolation. It has to be done after lawmakers from both parties have agreed to a total spending amount for both defense and non-defense programs, “then the rest of this would follow pretty quickly,” Reed said.And Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota, a member of the Appropriations subcommittee on Defense, said he has been working with the administration to broaden the package to include funds for disaster aid for California, Hawaii and other states hard hit by fires and weather problems, as well as agricultural aid for farmers. “I think that’s the kind of combination that could pass,” Hoeven said.Hegseth declined to answer questions from reporters late Monday as he strode around the Capitol.But on the issue of the cost of the war, Hegseth responded rhetorically during a Senate hearing last month, asking, “What is the cost of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon?”He acknowledged the president’s decision to confront the threat of a nuclear Iran “comes with cost — and we recognize that.”___Associated Press writers Konstantin Toropin and Ben Finley contributed to this report.

Delegation staff members meet in the lobby on the first day of a quadrilateral meeting between the U.S., Iran, Pakistan, and Qatar at the Buergenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, near Stansstad, Switzerland, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Nathan Howard/Pool Photo via AP)2026-06-23T04:01:06Z NEW YORK (AP) — Ship traffic has picked up in the Strait of Hormuz since Iran and the U.S. signed an interim deal to end a war that constricted global oil supplies and fueled inflation, but questions surrounding control of the vital waterway and whether vessels will be charged tolls to cross it could interfere with negotiations to forge a lasting peace. Tehran and Washington clashed over the Strait of Hormuz again this past weekend. Citing Israel’s latest attacks on Lebanon, Iran declared that it reclosed the strait. The U.S. was quick to contest that. Maritime tracking data showed that dozens of ships passed through on Saturday and Sunday, though far fewer than the daily average before the war. President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. might impose its own tolls on strait crossings if a final deal with Iran was not reached during the countries’ 60-day negotiating period. Passage was free before the war, but Iran last month established a new governmental authority to collect money from ships and has said it still expects vessels to register with the Persian Gulf Strait Authority. No one country owns the Strait of Hormuz, which borders both Iran and Oman. Last week’s memorandum of understanding allowed Iran to manage the strait for now while holding discussions with Oman and six other Gulf states “to define the future administration and maritime services” of the waterway. Iran agreed not to charge transiting vessels tolls for 60 days. Legal experts and maritime associations have repeatedly stressed that a toll regime would upend decades of international trade precedent involving the world’s waters. If the U.S. and Iran cement a final deal, analysts say it could take months for the flow of oil, natural gas, fertilizer and other commodities to return to prewar levels.Here’s a closer look at the status of the Strait of Hormuz: Read More Ships are moving but not at the prewar paceData and analytics company Kpler said its tracking confirmed 71 ships traveled through the strait between Friday and Sunday, with a peak of 35 crossings Saturday. In contrast, about 100 to 130 vessels a day made the journey before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February, and Tehran responded with its own attacks and effective closure of the waterway.As part of the provisional Iran-U.S. framework, Iran said it would conduct demining work within 30 days and remove “technical and military obstacles” to shipping. Iran’s lead negotiator and parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, told Iranian state media Monday that his country would manage the strait in accordance with international maritime law. The main central route of the Strait of Hormuz is still mined and remains closed. Ships have been using the smaller northern route, which goes through Iranian waters, and the southern route, which goes through Omani waters. But “caution is still clear” in the many vessels either sticking to Iran’s prescribed route or trying to conceal their positions and identities by keeping their transponders off, Kpler said. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Both Iran and US have threatened tollsEarly in the war, Iran threatened to attack ships that tried to use the Strait of Hormuz without its approval and began vetting vessels in a pay-to-pass scheme that shipping analysts dubbed the “tollbooth.” Iran also demanded in early April the right to collect tolls as a precondition for relinquishing its chokehold on the strait. Although the Trump administration imposed sanctions on the Persian Gulf Strait Authority late last month to oppose what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described as Tehran’s attempt to extort global maritime trade, the president on Saturday suggested the U.S. could impose its own tolls for “services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East.” The administration has not provided details on how the U.S. would apply any charges on ships if talks with Iran do not yield a completed agreement. Shipping analysts have expressed surprise at how much control over the strait the inital agreement gave Iran.“Almost all the power goes into Iran to determine the arrangements going forward in the future. This is what we really need clarity on,” said Philip Belcher, marine director of Intertanko, a trade group for independent tanker owners, said Thursday. Experts say tolls would violate maritime lawCollecting tolls in the strait could violate an enduring principle of international maritime trade: freedom of peaceful navigation. The concept was codified by the United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Sea, which took effect in 1994.The treaty provides ships the right of unimpeded “transit passage” through more than 100 straits worldwide, including the Strait of Hormuz. It only applies to natural waterways, so authorities can charge fees for ships to traverse man-made waterways such as the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal.Oman is among the more than 170 countries that have ratified the U.N. convention, but the U.S. and Iran are not. Maritime associations have argued that all nations remain subject to the treaty’s provisions. James Kraska, a U.S. Naval War College professor of international maritime law, notes that the U.S. and Iran are both members of the International Maritime Organization, the U.N. agency that oversees safety and security measures in international shipping. Both countries also are parties to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, a treaty that governs standards for building and operating ships. In straits like Hormuz, fees can only be applied at established ports of entry or for services specifically requested by a ship, such as specialized navigation aid through hazardous areas, according to Kraska, who is also a visiting professor at Harvard Law School.. “If Iran wants to apply those to everybody, then it has to adjust the traffic separation scheme rules, and that can only be done through the member states of the International Maritime Organization,” he said. “You can’t impose fees for a ship exercising its right of transit passage,” Kraska added. “So the bottom line is, no — fees in this context are just not lawful.”Countries sometimes have joined forces to share the costs of maintaining of a strait, he noted. For example, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore worked with the International Maritime Organization and later other countries to develop such an agreement for the Strait of Malacca, but it involved negotiated contributions from the states using the passage, not fees on individual ships. Disruptions could continue for months aheadConditions in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated or deteriorated quickly over the course of the war. While the outlook for shipping has improved since the U.S. and Iran pledged to extend their ceasefire, “there is a degree of nervousness around the situation,” said Marcus Baker, the global head of marine, cargo and logistics at insurance brokerage and risk management company Marsh.“As far as the insurance position is concerned, there’s a good deal of support for ship owners that are trying to move out” during this period, but the interim deal between Iran and the U.S. does not include language for keeping the strait toll-free beyond the negotiating window, Baker said. “We’ll see what the next six weeks brings us,” he said. WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS Grantham-Philips is a business reporter who covers trending news for The Associated Press. She is based in New York. twitter mailto MAE ANDERSON Anderson reports for The Associated Press on a wide range of issues that small businesses face. She is based in New York. twitter mailto

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks to the media to announce his resignation outside 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, June 22, 2026.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)2026-06-23T04:01:39Z LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won his job after leading his party to a massive victory in 2024. Less than two years later, he resigned as his party rebelled in the wake of widespread losses in local elections.Starmer’s popularity plunged amid a struggling economy, a series of policy missteps, one particularly poor appointment and a perceived lack of vision. The combination of challenges led to a thrashing for his Labour Party in local elections this spring and calls to step down that cleared a path for a would-be challenger to step forward and ultimately force him aside Monday.This is a look at how his short-lived premiership unraveled. Victory put Labour Party in power after 14 years of Conservative ruleStarmer’s coronation on July 4, 2024 ushered in an optimism for Labour as it captured 411 of 650 seats in Parliament and drove out the Conservative Party after 14 years of rule. It was a massive turnaround from historic losses in the previous election.Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said Starmer would never be forgotten for leading the “party from the brink, back to power.” In his victory speech, Starmer spoke of national renewal and change that would restore government to support “working people.” “And now we can look forward,” he said. “Walk into the morning, the sunlight of hope, pale at first but getting stronger through the day, shining once again, on a country with the opportunity after 14 years to get its future back.”It didn’t take long for storm clouds to appear. Starmer inherited a lagging economy and had to reverse unpopular changesWith Britain’s public finances battered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the repercussions of Russia’s full-blown invasion of Ukraine, his government didn’t exactly have much room for big giveaways.Voters struggling to pay their bills had tossed out the Tories, but initial efforts by Labour to turn the economy around failed to bring major change. If anything, Starmer and his Treasury chief, Rachel Reeves, made things worse by being overly pessimistic about their inheritance. Their downbeat comments weighed on confidence and prompted businesses and consumers to further retrench. Read More Their initial policy actions didn’t help either. Labour’s election manifesto specifically ruled out increases in the major revenue earners of income tax and sales tax. Needing to plug a hole in the public finances, they opted to increase a tax that businesses pay on their staff. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. That proved unpopular and many companies opted to cut back on hiring.Several other policy changes led to blowback from the public and Starmer was forced to make a series of embarrassing U-turns that provided political capital for opponents and fed beliefs that the prime minister didn’t stand for much.The government dropped a plan to end winter home heating subsidies for millions of retirees, reversed itself on tough plans to cut welfare spending and eased a new agricultural inheritance tax after angry farmers protested and clogged the streets of London with tractors.Outside of the economy, there were further flip flops, not least in Starmer’s decision to launch a national inquiry into organized child sexual abuse after pressure from opposition politicians — and Elon Musk. Appointment of Jeffrey Epstein pal as US ambassador backfiredStarmer’s decision to appoint controversial Labour member Peter Mandelson as U.S. ambassador — despite knowing he had been friends with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — backfired badly.Initially, the decision to send a man dubbed “Prince of Darkness” for his ruthless spin doctoring seemed like a genius stroke in winning over the unpredictable U.S. President Donald Trump. Mandelson’s trade experience and ease schmoozing with billionaires helped secure a U.S. trade deal with favorably lower tariffs for Britain than many other countries.But when revelations emerged in September 2025 that Mandelson had been much closer to the late financier Epstein than he had led on, Starmer fired him.The appointment, though, has repeatedly haunted Starmer. Starmer’s judgment was further questioned when internal government files showed Mandelson was named to the post despite being labeled a “reputational risk.” Additional developments showed Mandelson failed a security background check before his appointment and was being investigated on allegations he passed sensitive government information to Epstein when he was a Cabinet minister more than 15 years ago.Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing. Rivals emerged as Labour took battering at polls Starmer’s popularity was in the tank when center-left Labour took a disastrous beating in local government elections last month and set in motion political maneuvering that ultimately led to his demise some six weeks later.More than 100 Labour members of Parliament called for Starmer to step down after Reform UK, a relatively new anti-immigration and hard-right party, won the largest number of local seats and the rising Green Party siphoned voters from the left.Several government ministers, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, quit in protest, fueling speculation he would challenge his former boss. A member of Parliament stepped down to make way for Andy Burnham, the popular Mayor of Greater Manchester, to return to London and take on Starmer.With Burnham’s victory last week, Starmer holed up in the prime minister’s country estate over the weekend to consider his options as some party insiders urged him to set a timetable for his resignation. An emotional Starmer announced on Monday morning that he would resign. Burnham was sworn in later in the day in the House of Commons, where he received a hero’s welcome. It remains to be seen if anyone other than Burnham steps forward when Labour’s national executive committee open nominations July 9 to replace Starmer.___Associated Press Writer Pan Pylas contributed to this report.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during his ruling Conservative Party's final election campaign rally at the Copper Box Arena in London, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)2026-06-23T04:04:06Z LONDON (AP) — Brexit fractured the European Union, and broke British politics.The U.K. is about to get its seventh prime minister since June 23, 2016, a decade ago Tuesday, when the country voted 52%-48% to leave the EU after more than four decades of membership. Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, who called the referendum but campaigned for the U.K. to stay in the bloc, quit the next day.His successors have all grappled, largely unsuccessfully, with the consequences of that rupture. The latest is Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who announced Monday that he was stepping down after two years of a sluggish economy, malfunctioning government and a divided and jaded electorate — all legacies, at least in part, of Brexit.Though the decision has faded from headlines, “the subterranean trace of Brexit” still runs through Britain’s increasingly unruly politics, said Chris Grey, an academic who has studied the fallout from Britain’s EU departure. The Brexit campaign channeled discontentCampaigners for Brexit promised that leaving the then-28 member political and economic bloc would let the U.K. “take back control” of its laws, economy and borders.While the “remain” campaign focused largely on the economic downsides of exiting, the “leave” side was emotive.“We can see the sunlit meadows beyond. I believe we would be mad not to take this once-in-a-lifetime chance to walk through that door,” Boris Johnson, a leading Brexit campaigner who later became prime minister, said a few weeks before the referendum. Margaret MacMillan, emeritus professor of history at the University of Toronto, said Brexit was fueled by a bundle of motives including nostalgia “for an imagined past.” Read More “It was against what people saw as unrestricted immigration. It was against what they saw as EU regulations. And then there was this mix of nostalgia — ‘We fought alone in the Second World War.’ Which was of course not true.“It was never clearly explained what Brexit might entail.” Trying to make Brexit work made everyone unhappyHard reality soon collided with Brexiteers’ bold promises of immigration controls, trade deals, more money for public services and an end to complex regulations emanating from Brussels.Acrimonious divorce talks dragged on for years. The U.K. formally left the bloc on Jan. 31, 2020, followed by an 11-month transition period until the final split.Prime Minister Theresa May, Cameron’s successor, quit in 2019 after failing to find exit terms acceptable to a divided Parliament.Johnson succeeded May and promised to “get Brexit done,” and managed to secure a bare-bones trade deal after negotiations that left U.K.-EU relations in the deep freeze. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. He was ousted by the Conservative Party in mid-2022 after mounting financial and ethical scandals. His replacement, Liz Truss, lasted just 49 days in office. Her successor, Rishi Sunak, thawed the frosty EU relationship without making major changes.Starmer promised a “reset, ” but refused to consider rejoining the bloc’s frictionless single market, which was free of tariffs and other trade barriers.As he hands over power, Brexit remains unfinished business. Political parties have fracturedHistorian Anthony Seldon said Cameron called the referendum hoping it would end arguments about relations with Europe that had riven the Conservative Party. It didn’t.“The people who obsessed about it still obsess about it. Britain’s problems have continued,” Seldon told Times Radio.During the divorce negotiations, Conservatives who wanted a softer Brexit and closer ties with the EU were pushed out of the party by the triumphant Brexiteer faction.Labour, though much more pro-EU, also has an internal division between those who want to get closer to the bloc or even rejoin, and senior leaders like Starmer who want to avoid reopening old wounds.A decade on, millions of voters have deserted the two big parties for alternatives including the left-leaning Green Party and the hard-right Reform UK led by Nigel Farage. Farage has arguably been the biggest political winner from Brexit. He campaigned for the divorce then complained it had been betrayed. His anti-immigration message has shifted from focusing on Polish plumbers to asylum seekers in dinghies. His party consistently leads opinion polls. Cynicism and political violence have grownThe economy has struggled in the past decade, with businesses facing new barriers to trade with Britain’s closest neighbors, though Brexit is not the only cause of low growth. The COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran war also played a part.Through it all, “we just haven’t had politicians who’ve been upfront with the public about the fact that when they get into power, they won’t be able to have no increases in taxes, no increases in debt, and better public services all in the same breath,” said Hannah White, director of the Institute for Government think tank.“And so people are disappointed.”Brexit failed to ease debate about immigration, which has only become more heightened, regardless of the numbers. Net migration rose after Brexit to more than 900,000 in 2023 before falling to 171,000 last year. Cynicism has grown and trust in politicians has plunged. In recent years, agitators have fueled anti-immigration street violence following crimes committed by, or falsely reported to have been committed by, immigrants.In the past, Britain had a firm barrier “between the conventional dominant politics of talk and argument, and what was seen as beyond the pale: violence on the streets,” Grey said. “I think that boundary is being eroded. And I think that did to some large extent begin with Brexit.”Regrets? The UK has had a fewPolls suggest a degree of “Bregret” about Britain’s choice a decade ago, with a recent Ipsos survey finding 52% of people in the U.K. would like to rejoin the EU while 33% oppose it.Hundreds of people, many waving blue and yellow EU flags, marched through London on Saturday on a “rejoin” march. It was a much smaller turnout than the mass protests on both sides at the height of the Brexit drama. Many people just want to move on.But Brexit remains a minefield that politicians fear to enter. Even if Britain wanted to rejoin, it would be a long road back to a wary EU.Grey said that until politicians are willing to face the legacy of Brexit, Britain faces an “undertow of low-grade crisis.”He likened the U.K. to a person with a nagging illness that saps their energy.“A chronic thing, in this case perhaps not incurable,” he said. “But it’s just that they don’t fancy going to the doctor because they know it’s not going to be very nice.” JILL LAWLESS Lawless is based in London, covering British politics, diplomacy and culture and top stories from the UK and beyond. She has reported for the AP from two dozen countries on four continents. twitter mailto

Democratic congressional candidates, Claire Valdez, Brad Lander, and Darializa Avila Chevalier gesture on stage with Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a Get Out The Vote rally ahead of New York's primary election, Thursday, June 18, 2026, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)2026-06-23T04:02:40Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Two opposing factions in the artificial intelligence industry square off in a Democratic primary for a U.S. House seat. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani tests his political clout by backing fellow democratic socialists. And President Donald Trump, after two of his chosen candidates for governor lost Republican primaries this month, ensured it won’t happen again — by endorsing both candidates in a South Carolina runoff.Those are a few of the races to watch on Tuesday as voters head to the polls for primaries in Maryland, New York, South Carolina and Utah.Manhattan House primary is a bellwether for pro-AI regulation candidatesThe crowded Democratic primary became a proxy battle between two powerful camps of the artificial intelligence industry because of one candidate: New York Assemblyman Alex Bores. Bores, a former Palantir employee who cited ethical concerns in leaving the company, pushed one of the more sweeping state-level AI regulation bills in the country. Now, Bores points to that legislation — which faced some industry pushback — as a framework for how he’d approach regulation in Congress. So when he stepped into the race for the New York congressional district being vacated by retiring Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler, a political group underwritten by investors in OpenAI spent more than $7 million on ads against Bores. Then an opposing wing of the industry, one more in favor of regulation, rode to Bores’ aid. Read More Political groups partly funded by Anthropic, which makes the chatbot Claude, spent more $10 million to boost Bores’ candidacy. Anthropic was co-founded by former OpenAI employee, Dario Amodei, who left the company partly over concerns about AI safety.The election will offer some measure of the political might of the two AI industry factions. Mamdani flexes his political influence by endorsing progressive insurgentsThe New York City mayor endorsed Democratic primary candidates hailing from his own political camp — a progressive and two democratic socialists — who are challenging more established candidates, some backed by party leadership.U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman, whose seat extends from lower Manhattan to a chunk of Brooklyn, is up against Mamdani-backed challenger Brad Lander, the former comptroller. A central contention between the two Jewish candidates is the war in Gaza, with Lander assailing Goldman for not being critical enough of Israel.North of that race, in upper Manhattan, Democratic U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, 71, is facing off against Mamdani-endorsed Darializa Avila Chevalier, 32. The latter is a democratic socialist who hasn’t held public office before and works at a public defender’s office providing legal aid to victims of police brutality.For the seat covering parts of Brooklyn and Queens, where U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez is retiring, Mamdani endorsed Assemblymember Claire Valdez, another self-described democratic socialist. The departing Velázquez has endorsed another contender, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. The three primaries will help distinguish not just Mamdani’s political clout, but the continued viability of democratic socialist platforms in New York City. Trump hedges in South Carolina after shaky endorsement record in gubernatorial races Trump often touts his otherwise strong record of endorsing winning candidates in Republican primaries, but his picks in gubernatorial races haven’t found as much success: his choices in Georgia and Iowa lost this month.After the defeats, Trump ensured an ironclad victory for his endorsement in South Carolina’s Republican runoff for governor: he backed both candidates on the same ballot. The president initially supported Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in May, but on Friday, he added an endorsement for Evette’s opponent, state Attorney General Alan Wilson.“I can’t hurt one of them by only Endorsing the other, so therefore, I am going to Endorse, for Governor of South Carolina, both Pam Evette and Alan Wilson!” he wrote in a social media post Friday. “It’s a Wealth of Riches – With either one you can’t go wrong.”The projected winner? Trump’s endorsement record. Utah redistricting opens up a sole Democratic battleground, and a debate over the party’s futureIt’s unusual for Utah’s Democratic primaries to draw much attention, but that’s because the party hasn’t had much of a shot in the staunchly red state. That is until redistricting last year.It created a lone Democratic island centered on Salt Lake City, which has a dark enough hue of blue that primary candidates have found themselves jostling for who’s farther to the left. And Democratic primary voters, as in other left-leaning districts across the country, will decide how progressive they’d like their candidate.That’s an unusual tune for Utah Democrats, and for primary candidate Ben McAdams. The former U.S. representative has tried to cast off his reputation as a moderate as he runs against three opponents from his progressive flank. When McAdams last ran in 2018, ousting a Republican, he described himself as pro-life and fashioned himself as a moderate. Now, in the new left-leaning district, he’s pledged to support abortion rights and said he’s only “moderate in tone.”The more progressive candidates challenging him include state Sen. Nate Blouin, who has said the electorate has grown accustomed to Democrats who will “play nice” with Republicans and who has won support from Sen. Bernie Sanders. Another is political newcomer Liban Mohamed. Maryland Republicans seek an heir to Hogan in bid to retake governorshipRepublican Larry Hogan reigned as Maryland governor for eight years, standing on a more moderate conservative platform to keep his perch in the left-leaning, East Coast state. At Hogan’s departure, Democratic Gov. Wes Moore took over in 2024, and is now seeking reelection for a second term. But so far Republicans haven’t found a clear successor to Hogan as Tuesday’s primary forces a decision from a field of nine candidates.One is Dan Cox, an attorney who lost his gubernatorial bid four years ago, and who has more embraced a rightward flank, pledging to cut taxes and invest in housing affordability programs. Then there’s Ed Hale, owner of the Baltimore Blast soccer team and retired banking executive, who flipped his party from Democrat to Republican for this race. JESSE BEDAYN Bedayn is a national politics reporter based in Austin, Texas. mailto THOMAS BEAUMONT Beaumont covers national politics for The Associated Press. He is based in Des Moines, Iowa. twitter mailto

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 22: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Austria at Dallas Stadium on June 22, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images) | Getty Images Day 12 of World Cup 2026 was all about the attackers as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland all scored twice and showed once again why they are the very best in the business. The goals simply flowed as France, Argentina and Norway enjoyed fine wins and mean the race for the Golden Boot is already hotting up. Messi leads the way with five but Mbappe and Haaland are just one behind with four after two games played.The Lionel Messi Show Part 2Messi followed up his hat-trick in Argentina’s opener against Algeria with another two strikes to down Austria and maintain the defending champions’ 100% start to the tournament. Yet Messi did show once again that he is human after all. Argentina were awarded a penalty when Lautaro Martinez was fouled early in the first half, giving Messi the perfect chance to open the scoring. However, the 38-year-old fluffed the chance with a poor kick that flew well wide.Yet it always felt like just a matter of time before Messi scored and he duly obliged towards the end of the first half, guiding home a trademark finish from just inside the penalty area to beat Miroslav Klose’s record and become the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer.Leo Messi makes FIFA World Cup goalscoring history just two days before his 39th birthday 🐐 pic.twitter.com/xHJa9GUMPT— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 22, 2026Austria offered very little in response and it was left to Messi to finish the game off deep into stoppage time. The Inter Miami star started the move off with a glorious pass and was then on hand to slam home a finish after seeing an initial shot blocked.All the angles of Leo Messi's 18th FIFA World Cup goal, two clear of Miroslav Klose on the all-time men's leaderboard 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/KwJGBsPomS— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 22, 2026The win sends Argentina safely into the knockout stage of World Cup 2026 ahead of a final group game against Jordan on Saturday night.Mbappe hot on Messi’s heels after France doubleMbappe took to the pitch for the 100th time for France on Monday and needed less than 14 minutes to get on the scoresheet against Iraq. The Real Madrid superstar left fly with a fierce left-footed strike from just outside the area that flew past Ahmed Basil in the Iraq goal to make it 1-0.Kylian Mbappé's 15th career FIFA World Cup goal was a work of art 🎨 pic.twitter.com/ZE9iuK2VHQ— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 22, 2026Even a two-hour weather delay due to lightning strikes in the area couldn’t prevent the Frenchman closing in on Messi at the top of the all-time World Cup standings. Mbappe benefited from some poor play from Iraq when goalkeeper Basil failed to control a short goal-kick taken by defender Zaid Tahseen. Ousmane Dembele was quick to pounce and simple rolled the ball to Mbappe to slot home from close range for his 16th World Cup goal, now just two behind Messi.A MASSIVE mistake at the back for Iraq and Mbappé capitalizes 🇫🇷France lead 2-0! pic.twitter.com/8sf1hwd6mD— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 23, 2026France then finished off Iraq thanks to Dembele’s first ever World Cup strike. The Ballon d’Or winner was presented with the chance from a cute outside-of-the-boot pass from Michael Olise and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner.3RD FIFA WORLD CUP. FIRST FIFA WORLD CUP GOAL.Ousmane Dembélé gets his moment on the biggest stage in the world 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/PxT4jYOnIO— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 23, 2026Haaland inspires Norway againErling Haaland followed up Messi and Mbappe’s goalscoring exploits by scoring a double of his own as Norway beat Senegal 3-2 in a thriller in New Jersey.Full-back Marcus Pederson opened the scoring after a poor mistake from Kalidou Koulibaly to net his first international goal. NORWAY TAKES THE LEAD OVER SENEGAL 🇳🇴It's the substitute Pedersen with the go-ahead goal! pic.twitter.com/TO1hzaIvGH— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 23, 2026Haaland then doubled Norway’s lead after the break following good work from Martin Odegaard. The Arsenal midfielder drove forward on the counter, slipped in Haaland and watched the striker power home a confident finish for 2-0.HAALAND GOOOAAL to double Norway's advantage! 🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/a6wPnRRk7E— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 23, 2026Ismaila Sarr pulled one back for Senegal to give his side some hope but Norway quickly restored their two-goal lead when Haaland volleyed home from inside the box.Ismaïla Sarr pulls one back for Senegal! 🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/XzpP3ha1X6— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 23, 2026ERLING HAALAND BAGS A BRACE TO MAKE IT 3-1 NORWAY! 🇳🇴Truly unreal goalscoring prowess from the Norwegian striker pic.twitter.com/WEWtTWdmtr— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 23, 2026Sarr struck again deep into stoppage time but it was a case of too little, too late for Senegal.Algeria end Jordan’s World Cup dreamsWorld Cup debutants Jordan were eliminated from the World Cup on Monday after slipping to a 2-1 defeat to Algeria in San Francisco.The underdogs took a shock lead when Nizar Al Rashdan converted with the outside of his right foot from inside the penalty area.Jordan's second ever goal in the FIFA World Cup comes from Nizar Al-Rashdan 🇯🇴 pic.twitter.com/tTuqdpV0dK— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 23, 2026Algeria hit back in the second half when Nadhir Benbouali headed home Riyad Mahrez’s corner but then had to wait until late on to win it. Another corner caused problems in the Jordan defence, allowing Amine Gouiri to knock the ball home from close range.Plenty of goals but which was your favorite? Have your say in our poll, as we cover every goal, goof and everything in between throughout the World Cup

England are competing in their 17th men’s World Cup this summer as they bid to end 60 years of hurt in North America, and they are sporting another new kit as they do so. The team’s sartorial expressions have shifted through the eras, from the simple shirts of the first tournaments in the 1950s to the uncharacteristically bold pattern of 1982 and the subtle flecks of red and blue in the early 2000s. Which kit carries the weight of history? Which shirt conjures sweet notes of nostalgia? Which design is wholly uninspiring? Here are all of England’s World Cup kits, ranked and rated:2010, South Africa: A bland kit for modern times, which complemented the team’s performance. England were knocked out by Germany, losing 4-1 in the round of 16 after Frank Lampard’s goal that never was.John Terry, June 18, 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa (Getty Images)2022, Qatar: The electric blue fade wasn’t great, in hindsight. England went out to France, losing 2-1 in the quarter-finals after Harry Kane’s missed penalty.Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, December 10, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar (Getty Images)1970, Mexico: Seemingly the same as 66 but with short sleeves for the Mexican heat. Pleasant enough but lacking the same weight of history. West Germany took a measure of revenge, beating England 3-2 in the quarter-finals.2018, Russia: A little more detail in the trim than 2014, but still not very exciting. England reached the semi-finals where they were beaten by Croatia.Harry Kane, June 24, 2018 in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (Getty Images)2006, Germany: Perhaps the one World Cup England could have won since 1966, and they would have looked sharp doing it with the St George’s Cross on their shoulder. Instead they lost to Portugal on penalties after Wayne Rooney’s red card.England players, July 1, 2006 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany (Getty Images)1990, Italy: A classic. England finished fourth after losing to West Germany on penalties in the semi-finals.Paul Gascoigne, June 16th, 1990 in Sardigna, Italy (Hulton Archive)2014, Brazil: Perhaps the most simple and elegant of England’s 21st century efforts. They finished bottom of the group.Steven Gerrard, June 19, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil (Getty Images)1958, Sweden & 1962, Chile: England lost the collar of the earlier tournaments and fashion moved to be a little more skintight. In Chile, England lost to Brazil 3-1 in the quarter-finals.Ruben Navarro and Johnny Haynes, 7th June, 1962 in Rancagua, Chile (Getty Images)2026: A little more intrigue than some of the other recent editions. Its fate is still to be determined.Jude Bellingham, June 17, 2026 in Arlington, Texas (AP)2002, Japan and Korea: The red stripe was a lovely flourish. England were sent home by Brazil in the quarter-finals after Ronaldinho lobbed David Seaman from 40 yards. David Beckham, June 2, 2002, Saitama-Ken, Japan (Getty Images)1982, Spain: England’s first World Cup kit with some bold colour. Defeat in the much-maligned second group stage spelt the end for manager Ron Greenwood despite going unbeaten in all five games.Trevor Francis, July 5th, 1982 in Madrid, Spain (Hulton Archive)1966, England: We are considering the red version in this list, given its significant place in history. The high neckline and long sleeves gave England’s World Cup-winning team a cosy, almost velvety look in their moment of triumph.Bobby Moore, 30th July, 1966 in London, England (Getty Images)1950, Brazil & 1954, Switzerland: Broadly the same design in both World Cups. A wide neck and collar with a large England crest. Clean aesthetic. Simpler times. England reached the quarter-finals in Switzerland, where they lost 4-2 to Uruguay.ENGLAND 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 entering the field at the Maracana for the game vs CHILE 🇨🇱 at the 1950 World Cup pic.twitter.com/2a3wf9nu7Q— FootballRetroPlus (@robertmdaws) May 31, 20261986: The subtle pinstripe was a good addition, and England looked pretty fetching watching Diego Maradona run past them during their quarter-final exit to Argentina.Gary Lineker, June 22, 1986 in Mexico City, Mexico (Hulton Archive)1998: Perhaps it’s just the nostalgia of Michael Owen scything through Argentina to score one of the great World Cup goals, but this will always be an elite edition of England tournament gear. It all ended in shootout misery in the round of 16.Michael Owen, 22 Jun 1998 in Toulouse, France (Getty Images)

Bremen and Gladbach monitoring Inter Milan striker AkinsanmiroAccording to the Gazzetta dello Sport, Werder Bremen are considering making an offer for Ebenezer Akinsanmiro from Inter Milan. The Italian source, however, notes that Bremen are not the only Bundesliga club interested – Borussia Mönchengladbach are equally keen.In addition to the pair German topflight sides, fellow Serie A outfit Bologna FC is also said to have made inquiries for the youngster.Last season, the central midfielder played on loan for Pisa SC who originally wanted to sign the Nigerian permanently for €7.5million.Due to a bureaucratic error, the deal fell through for the 21-year-old and now Inter are said to be eyeing an even greater transfer fee.According to a report in the Italian sports newspaper, the Nerazzurri are demanding up to €10million for the right-footed player.Currently, "a future in Germany seems more likely" than remaining in Serie A for Akinsanmiro, the report continues.

Subscribe to The Kevin O'Connor ShowApple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeThe trade has finally happened! The Milwaukee Bucks are trading franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, 3 first-round picks (including No. 13), 1 pick swap and 1 second-rounder, reported first by Shams Charania.0:00 Welcome 0:12 Giannis traded to the Heat 06:35 What's next for Heat? 09:36 What went wrong for the Celtics?Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Fiserv Forum on April 05, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images🖥️ Watch this full episode on the Yahoo Sports NBA YouTube channelCheck out all episodes of The Kevin O'Connor Show and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

Former St Truiden head coach Wouter Vrancken is tipped to take over at Heart of Midlothian as Lyon are linked with Claudio Braga and Rangers reportedly want £20m for Nicolas Raskin.Wouter Vrancken, who quit Belgian club St Truiden this summer to seek a new challenge after guiding them to third place in his homeland's Pro League, will be the new Hearts manager. ‌(Daily Record)Wouter Vrancken is close to becoming Hearts' new head coach after the former St Truiden 47-year-old was interviewed along with former AZ Alkmaar boss Maarten Martens and Rene Hake, who has previously been on the coaching staff at both Feyenoord and Manchester United. (Hearts Standard)Lyon are in talks with Hearts about forward Claudio Braga, with the Tynecastle club hoping to receive about £8.6m for the 26-year-old Portuguese forward. (Foot Mercato)Hearts will demand £8m-£10m for Portuguese striker Claudio Braga with French club Lyon, who have lost Brazil's Endrick after his loan from Real Madrid, and others showing interest. (Edinburgh Evening News)Hearts are interested in Zwolle striker Koen Kostons and are willing to pay around £1.3m for the 26-year-old signed from Paderborn last summer. (De Stentor)Michael Steinwender is in talks about a potential transfer to German second-tier club Bochum, with Hearts set to make a profit on the six-figure fee they paid Varnamo for the 26-year-old defender 18 months ago. (Edinburgh Evening News)Tottenham Hotspur have sanctioned another loan departure for Mikey Moore and Rangers are hoping he will return to Ibrox amid interest from the Championship and Europe in the 18-year-old winger. (TeamTalk)Rangers are set to demand around £20m for Nicolas Raskin this summer as clubs from the Premier League, Serie A and Super Lig all race to sign the 25-year-old Belgium midfielder. (Football Insider)Rangers are well-placed to re-sign Czech Republic winger Vaclav Cerny for around £5m in the coming weeks, with the 28-year-old open to leaving Besiktas. (Football Insider)Tuesday's English & European transfer rumoursMcCann talk seals Kilmarnock move for MathurinMonday's Scottish GossipMiddlesbrough are the latest Championship club linked with Hibernian midfielder Josh Mulligan as they prepare to sell Hayden Hackney to Everton. (Daily Mail)Middlesbrough will not be firming up their interest in Hibernian midfielder Josh Mulligan as the 23-year-old is likely to attract more lucrative offers amid interest from West Ham United and Southampton. (Teeside Live)Marcelo Saracchi's agent says Celtic have not made contact over a permanent move after the left-back's loan from Boca Juniors, but other clubs, including one from Scotland, have an interest in the 28-year-old. (Celts Are Here)Celtic are facing competition to land Bosnia & Herzegovina midfielder Ivan Basic, with Eintracht Frankfurt and Elche interested in the £2m-rated Astana 24-year-old. (Scottish Sun)Scotland striker Che Adams is one of Venezia's targets this summer, but Torino want more than the £3.5m being offered by their Serie A rivals for the 29-year-old. (Sky Sports)Bolton Wanderers are in advanced talks to sign Luca Stephenson after Liverpool told the 22-year-old midfielder he is free to find a new club after his loan spell with Dundee United. (Football Insider)Bournemouth defenders Owen Bevan, 22, and Harold William, 19, are on trial with Dundee. (The Courier)Sheffield Wednesday are considering re-signing Scotland-capped forward Callum Paterson after the 31-year-old's successful season with MK Dons. (The Wednesday Word)Former Scotland centre-half Declan Gallagher, released by Ross County, former Ayr United striker Curtis Main, defender Ewan Otoo, who left Dunfermline Athletic, and former Greenock Morton winger Owen Moffat are among the out of contract players for the first summer pre-season training camp run by the Scottish players' union. (The Courier)

A man walks past a monitor showing Japan's Nikkei 225 index at a securities firm in Tokyo, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)2026-06-23T02:38:48Z TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mixed in subdued trading early Tuesday, as recent enthusiasm cooled and markets faced uncertainty about efforts to end the war in Iran. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 0.9% in morning trading to 71,681.29.“We’ve had eight days of strong markets. The market was up for about 12.5%, and now it has cooled off a little bit,” said Neil Newman, Managing Director, Head of Strategy at Astris Advisory Japan.Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was up less than 0.1% in morning trading at 8,822.10. South Korea’s Kospi dipped 2.8% to 8,863.52. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 0.4% to 23,678.22, while the Shanghai Composite added 0.2% to 4,170.58. On Wall Street, stocks drifted through a mixed day of trading on Monday after oil prices eased and Big Tech stocks declined.The S&P 500 slipped 0.4%, coming off 11 winning weeks in the last 12, and pulled 1.8% below its all-time high set early this month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 148 points, or 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite slumped 1.3%. In the oil market, prices fell following talks over the weekend between the United States and Iran on their war. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said they created a “good foundation for a successful final deal.” An end to the war could open the Strait of Hormuz for oil tankers and allow for the full resumption of deliveries from the Persian Gulf. Iran’s military said Saturday that it had closed the strait again, though U.S. Central Command has disputed that. Read More Early Tuesday, benchmark U.S. crude rose 35 cents to $74.21 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, added 23 cents to $78.13 a barrel. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.50% from 4.46%. Yields have been climbing because of speculation the Federal Reserve may hike interest rates this year to keep a lid on inflation, which has been accelerating because of expensive oil caused by the Iran war. Economists expect a report on Thursday to show a measure of inflation for U.S. consumers sped up to 4.1% in May from 3.8% in April. SpaceX fell 16.4% to $154.60, the third straight drop for the company behind xAI since a big three-day run following its ballyhooed debut on the U.S. stock market, when it initially sold its stock at $135 per share. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. The day’s heaviest weights on the S&P 500 included drops of 5% for Alphabet, 4.7% for Amazon and 4.5% for Broadcom.All told, the S&P 500 fell 27.79 points to 7,472.79. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 148.01 to 51,712.71, and the Nasdaq composite fell 351.33 to 26,166.60.In currency trading, the U.S. dollar edged up to 161.60 Japanese yen from 161.52 yen. The euro cost $1.1427, down from $1.1431.___AP Business Writer Stan Choe in New York and AP Senior Producer Mayuko Ono in Tokyo contributed to this report.___Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama YURI KAGEYAMA Kageyama covers Japan news for The Associated Press. Her topics include social issues, the environment, businesses, entertainment and technology. twitter instagram facebook mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

World Cup, Bonny in action with Côte d'IvoireGERMANY 2-1 CÔTE D'IVOIREIt was heartbreak in stoppage time as Côte d'Ivoire were defeated 2-1 by Germany at Toronto's BMO Field. The Inter striker was part of coach Emerse Faé's starting XI before being replaced by Evann Guessand. Deniz Undav's brace decided a tightly contested match, which saw both sides creating plenty of chances. The Ivorians took the lead in the 30th minute thanks to Franck Kessié's close-range finish, but the game changed once the striker from Stuttgart came on at the hour mark. Undav equalised in the 68th minute with a volley from a spectacular cross from Nadiem Amiri, before securing victory for Germany in the 94th minute. Set up by Felix Nmecha, Undav controlled the ball inside the box, turned, and beat Yahia Fofana. Germany now have six points and sit at the top of Group E, while Côte d'Ivoire are in second on three points ahead of Ecuador. NETHERLANDS 5-1 SWEDENThe Netherlands recorded a huge victory, dominating Sweden and running riot in a 5-1 with thanks to braces from Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo, with Crysencio Summerville sealing the game with a goal. Denzel Dumfries was the standout performer, providing two assists. Both came from low crosses after breaking forward on the right flank, with his teammates adding the final touch. His first assist came in the 17th minute as he set up Brobbey for the Netherland's second goal when the striker got in front at the near post. Dumfries' second assist was for Gakpo to make it 3-0 just two minutes after the break. The result pushes Netherlands onto four points and the top of Group F. Sweden remain on three points with Japan ahead of them. The Oranje will look to secure first place when they face Tunisia in the early hours of Friday 26 June at 1:00 CEST.

Newport will face a Roma side who will be back in the Champions League in 2026-27 [Getty Images]Newport County are finalising plans to host Italian giants Roma in a glamorous pre-season friendly at Rodney Parade.The Exiles hope to face the Serie A side on Tuesday, 4 August in a high-profile warm-up for their 2026-27 League Two campaign that starts later in the month.There are reports Cardiff City could also host Roma - possibly on the first weekend of August - before their return to the Championship. That would suit Cardiff given they do not currently have a warm-up match scheduled for the first week of August. Roma have confirmed on their website that they are heading to Wales at the end of July for an eight-day training camp at the same complex where the Bluebirds are based, Hensol resort in the Vale of Glamorgan. The Italian club said their players would spend just over a week in Hensol, playing three friendlies during their time in Wales, before returning to Rome on 8 August.Evans follows Brennan in signing fresh Newport dealA money-spinning home friendly with Roma would clearly be a big coup for County, who are preparing for another season in League Two after narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of the 2025-26 season. Roma, by contrast, are preparing for a return to the Champions League for the first time in eight years after finishing third in Serie A last season.The opening round of the new English Football League season takes place between 14 and 16 August, with the fixtures released on 25 June.

World Cup: Lautaro plays in Argentina winArgentina made it two wins from two matches, securing qualification for the knockout stage with a 2-0 victory over Austria at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Named in the starting line-up by Lionel Scaloni, Lautaro Martinez played 64 minutes before being replaced by Julian Alvarez.Once again, it was an extraordinary performance from Lionel Messi that proved decisive against Austria. The Argentine star scored both goals, taking his tally at this World Cup to five. In doing so, he moved clear at the top of the competition’s all-time scoring charts with 18 goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16.However, the match did not begin particularly well for Argentina’s number 10. Messi missed a penalty after just nine minutes, awarded following a foul on Lautaro. He made amends in the 38th minute with a trademark finish, arriving to meet Medina’s cross and beating Schlager at his near post with a first-time side-footed effort. He then sealed the victory in stoppage time at the second attempt after his initial shot was blocked.Argentina now sit on six points in Group J and will round off their group-stage campaign against Jordan at 04:00 CEST on Sunday 28 June.

📝 2026 World Cup: overnight round-upThe recap of a night... unlike any other.The night's must-seeThe big story of the night was, of course, the long interruption during the match between France and Iraq in Philadelphia because of thunderstorms.Coming at half-time, the now-famous lightning protocol lasted more than two hours in total.Two hours and twelve minutes of stoppage, to be exact. The longest half-time break in World Cup history?📸 FRANCK FIFE - AFP or licensorsThe night's resultsFrance 3-0 Iraq. Click here to read the match summary!Norway 3-2 Senegal. Click here to read the match summary!Jordan 1-2 Algeria. Click here to read the match summary!The standingsGroup I: 1) France - 6 points (+5)2) Norway - 6 points (+4)3) Senegal - 0 points (-3)4) Iraq - 0 points (-6)Group J: 1) Argentina - 6 points (+5)2) Austria - 3 points (0)3) Algeria - 3 points (-2)4) Jordan - 0 points (-3)The 3 players who stood outWith another brace, Kylian Mbappé made a huge impact against Iraq. Just like Ousmane Dembélé, who finally got on the scoresheet for Les Bleus!But the standout performance of the night goes to Erling Haaland, who scored twice in the heavyweight clash against Senegal to send Norway through to the next round of the competition!📸 Buda Mendes - 2026 Getty ImagesToday's schedule and the upcoming night19:00: Portugal vs Uzbekistan (Group K)22:00: England vs Ghana (Group L)01:00: Panama vs Croatia (Group L)04:00: Colombia vs DR Congo (Group K)The player to watchUnder heavy criticism since Portugal's opening match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1-1), Cristiano Ronaldo will be under pressure this Tuesday.Another underwhelming performance from him and the crisis could drag on...📸 Leonardo Fernandez - 2026 Getty ImagesThis article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

Wouter Vrancken, who quit Belgian club St Truiden this summer to seek a new challenge after guiding them to third place in his homeland's Pro League, will be the new Hearts manager. ‌(Daily Record)Wouter Vrancken is close to becoming Hearts' new head coach after the former St Truiden 47-year-old was interviewed along with former AZ Alkmaar boss Maarten Martens and Rene Hake, who has previously been on the coaching staff at both Feyenoord and Manchester United. (Hearts Standard)Lyon are in talks with Hearts about forward Claudio Braga, with the Tynecastle club hoping to receive about £8.6m for the 26-year-old Portuguese forward. (Foot Mercato)Hearts will demand £8m-£10m for Portuguese striker Claudio Braga with French club Lyon, who have lost Brazil's Endrick after his loan from Real Madrid, and others showing interest. (Edinburgh Evening News)Hearts are interested in Zwolle striker Koen Kostons and are willing to pay around £1.3m for the 26-year-old signed from Paderborn last summer. (De Stentor)Michael Steinwender is in talks about a potential transfer to German second-tier club Bochum, with Hearts set to make a profit on the six-figure fee they paid Varnamo for the 26-year-old defender 18 months ago. (Edinburgh Evening News)Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.Wouter Vrancken has had a successful time in Belgium [Getty Images]