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Houthi supporters chant slogans during a rally against the Saudi-led coalition in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, July 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)2026-08-07T13:01:47Z CAIRO (AP) — Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a series of deadly attacks this week, escalating the conflict between them and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces and raising fears of a wider regional conflagration.The attacks have killed dozens of civilians and troops and also targeted Saudi tankers in transit from Red Sea ports through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait out to the Gulf of Aden and the rest of the world.Though less significant than the Strait of Hormuz, around 12% of the world’s trade, including a fourth of global container traffic, once passed through Bab el-Mandeb, moving between Europe and Asia via Egypt’s Suez Canal. Fewer tankers have passed through the strait since this week’s attacks, according to shipping data published by the analytics firm Kpler this week. Weeks of Houthi escalation reflected how Iran “is scaling up pressure on the United States in Yemen through its close ally,” according to Yemen researcher Afrah Nasser. “The escalation is directly connected to regional developments,” she wrote in an analysis for the nonprofit DAWN on Friday.The Houthi attacks — including one in northeastern Yemen on Friday morning — come weeks after the rebels declared a blockade on Saudi-linked ships leaving the strait in retaliation for a yearslong Saudi siege on Yemen and recent attacks on the Houthi-controlled capital.One Houthi attack on Thursday injured 11 civilians, including a 4-year-old child, according to the Saudi military. Others on Saudi-backed military camps in eastern Yemen killed at least 17 soldiers, according to SABA news agency, which is affiliated with Yemen’s internationally recognized government.Houthi spokesman Nasruddin Amer said on X on Friday that the group will continue to target any Saudi buildups in an effort to lift the kingdom’s blockade on Yemen. Sporadic attacks risk largely blocking the waterwayIn the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has shown that even sporadic attacks on ships can be enough to effectively close a critical waterway by driving up risks and insurance premiums. Experts have warned that if ships fear traversing Bab el-Mandeb so much that they do not attempt passage, it means two of the world’s most important maritime routes will effectively be disrupted, compounding the crisis facing commercial shipping and the global oil supply. Read More Bab el-Mandeb has worked as a pressure release valve since the start of the Iran war, with more tankers transiting through it with the Strait of Hormuz under threat. Exports flowing from Saudi ports have blunted some of the impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure. Three Houthi officials told The Associated Press in July that the group has planned for months how to disrupt shipping in the strait. The group doesn’t control the part of Yemen’s coastline along Bab el-Mandeb but holds territory less than 100 kilometers (60 miles) away.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to be able to speak to the media.Outside Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz, the options for exporting Gulf oil and gas to the broader world are limited, but include piping supply across the Arabian Peninsula and routing it through Egypt’s Suez Canal or rerouting ships toward a costly and lengthy journey around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. 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. Attacks could draw retaliation and reignite Yemen’s warYemen’s civil war began in 2014 when the rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, forcing the government into exile. Saudi Arabia has led an international coalition fighting the rebels and also imposed an air and sea blockade on Houthi-held parts of Yemen, which had eased in recent years. The Houthis say closing Bab el-Mandeb to Saudi traffic aims to break the coalition’s blockade.Ahmed Nagi, a senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group, said the blockade also benefits the Houthis’ ally, Iran, at a time when the U.S. has resumed daily airstrikes.″From Iran’s perspective, opening additional pressure points across the region gives it more leverage,” Ahmed Nagi, a senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group, told the AP last month. “The Houthis provide Tehran with influence over one of the world’s most important maritime choke-points.”——Al-Haj reported from Aden, Yemen. Associated Press writer Sam Metz in Jerusalem contributed to this report. FATMA KHALED Khaled is based in the Middle East region. She covers humanitarian crises, conflict, among other news beats for The Associated Press. twitter mailto

A soldier keeps watch from the turret of an armored vehicle ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella in Cali, Colombia, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)2026-08-07T12:53:17Z BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Conservative Abelardo de la Espriella will be sworn in as Colombia’s president Friday under heavy security in Cali, a city in the country’s volatile southwest, breaking with the tradition of holding the ceremony in the capital, in a move meant to signal his hard-line approach to illegal armed groups De la Espriella, 48, will succeed Gustavo Petro after winning a close runoff election on June 21 against the outgoing president’s ally, Sen. Iván Cepeda. De la Espriella, who has never held public office before, ran as an outsider, financing his campaign with the fortune he amassed as a lawyer and businessman. His inauguration, to be held at a university auditorium before Congress, marks a further shift to the right in the region.King Felipe VI of Spain and Latin American presidents including Argentina’s Javier Milei, Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa and Chile’s José Antonio Kast are expected to attend. After the ceremony, de la Espriella will travel to a military battalion in Cali to address the troops. He aims to boost the morale of the service members and simultaneously warn the illegal armed groups operating in the area that they must surrender or face being declared “military targets.”De la Espriella, who calls himself “El Tigre” or “The Tiger,” has pledged to tackle the persistent violence in Colombia by breaking with Petro’s policy of negotiating with armed groups, arguing that the peace process has failed.Illegal economies, such as drug trafficking and illegal mining, are disputed among groups like the dissident factions of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia that did not accept the peace agreement signed a decade ago, the Clan del Golfo cartel, and the National Liberation Army guerrilla group. Impact on the regionDe la Espriella, a Colombian-American citizen, comes to power after receiving the backing of U.S. President Donald Trump and as regional concerns grow about crime, immigration and the economy.“His rise to power will reinforce this rightward shift across much of Latin America and consolidate a regional bloc of conservative governments against a dwindling number of left-wing administrations,” Glaeldys González, an analyst with the International Crisis Group for the Andes, told The Associated Press.De la Espriella has said that his government will unite Colombia with the “Shield of the Americas,” a regional coalition to fight drug trafficking that emerged from the summit held by Trump in March. He also announced that he will resume diplomatic relations with Israel and sever them with Cuba and Nicaragua, which he considers “tyrannies.” Read More Petro vows fierce oppositionDe la Espriella will face robust opposition from Petro, who refused to recognize his electoral victory and insisted on alleged fraud, claiming that results from thousands of tally sheets were manipulated by programmers. The accusations of fraud have been dismissed by international observers as well as electoral authorities in Colombia. Petro will be “relentless” and “acerbic” as an opponent, seeking to strengthen his leadership, said political analyst Sergio Guzmán. 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. Petro has urged social movements in the southwest of the country to organize “people’s militias” to defend themselves against potential attacks from what he called the “fascists,” and called on his supporters to prepare for a general strike should they try to imprison him after he leaves office. Petro was named a “priority target” by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the AP reported in March.These kinds of calls from Petro, coupled with the hard-line approach de la Espriella intends, increase the likelihood of “confrontations during demonstrations or more forceful responses from the authorities,” according to Andrés Macías, a researcher specializing in conflict and peace at Externado University. In Cali, where Petro has a large following, social and student organizations have called for demonstrations during the inauguration ceremony. Protests are also expected in Bogota and Barranquilla.___Follow the AP’s Latin America coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Nature, Published online: 07 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02488-3Nature staff discuss how animal studies are starting to uncover how DNA repair could prolong life, and how COVID-19 can reawaken dormant viruses.

Deborah Fitzgerald and Quentin Korda: The happy couple were wed in a quiet ceremony attended by 20 friends and one new virus the rest of the world will learn about soon enough. The post Deborah Fitzgerald and Quentin Korda appeared first on The Onion.

ROME—In addition to crossing his arms and shaking his head as he listened to the tech billionaire spread blatant misinformation about the End Times, the Antichrist reportedly rolled his eyes Monday throughout a lecture given by Peter Thiel. “This second-rate charlatan doesn’t know the first goddamn thing about my plans to bring widespread doom,” said the Beast, who grimaced and exhaled black plumes of smoke from his nose while sitting in the front row of the 2,000-person auditorium. “It’s so annoying when armchair eschatologists discuss the Battle of Armageddon without really knowing jack shit. Inverting the order of Christ is something I’m super into, of course. But this guy barely scratches the surface of my schemes, and what details he does bring up are completely fucking wrong. Like, does he seriously think the U.N. has anything to do with the apocalypse? If his claims weren’t so laughable, I’d almost feel the need to publicly correct his dumb ass.” According to lecture attendees, the Lawless One grew fed up and stormed out of the building after Peter Thiel suggested the Antichrist might be Greta Thunberg. The post Antichrist Rolls Eyes Throughout Peter Thiel Lecture appeared first on The Onion.

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While the NFL season is still a few weeks away, we are still right in the thick of bug season. Insects all over the country are reporting to outdoor areas to crawl and fly around and make the most of their incredibly short lifespans. For the most part these tiny creatures go unseen, but every once in a while, they interact with humans. On Thursday one of those interactions was caught on video at Los Angeles Rams training camp when a large flying insect invaded the space of ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry. The NFL reporter was preparing to go live when she was approached by the unidentified bug. Thiry kept her hands up as she backpedaled and eventually knocked the bug down with her microphone. The clip was then shown on “NFL Live” following her report on Aaron Donald. The clip was then shared on X by ESPN VP of PR Bill Hoffmeier with Thiry quote-tweeting the video and confirming it was in fact a “really big bug.” All things considered, Thiry did a pretty good job keeping her composure in this situation. Some people would have run or made some much more embarrassing sounds. Just this morning my 9-year-old had a total freakout when a small spider appeared in the car. In the future I’ll make sure he always has a handheld microphone available to defend himself. Aaron Donald updateConsidering Thiry has to go viral for being attacked by a bug while just trying to do her job, it’s only fair that we take a look at her actual report from Rams’ training camp. MORE: Aaron Donald plots sports media move amid potential NFL comebackAccording to Thiry, Donald looked good in his workout earlier this week. Whether or not Donald returns will come down to how he feels and a decision could come as soon as the Rams finish their training camp. Donald last played in the Rams’ Wild Card loss to the Detroit Lions in January 2024. While he sat out the last two seasons, he just turned 35 in May. He registered eight sacks in 2023 and was named first team All-Pro for the eighth time in his 10-year career. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —

INGLEWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 27: Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Justin Eboigbe #92 stands on the field during warm ups prior to an NFL game between the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Chargers on December 27, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Greg Fiore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Good morning, Chargers fans!Thursday brought with it the first day of full pads for the Bolts. Normally on this day, the defense has the better performance over the offense as it’s just easier to flip that switch in regards to full contact, and that’s exactly what happened with Chris O’Leary’s unit.One of the biggest standouts of the day was defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe, a third-year player who broke out with six sacks to rank third on the team in 2025. O’Leary described Eboigbe as one of those types of players who will always “try to be at their best” every day. Even as a backup, Eboigbe found a way to be an impact player last season and it ‘s already looking like he wants to take yet another step forward in 2026.And now for today’s links.Chargers News:Intensity at Chargers training camp picked up with full pads on Thursday (Chargers.com)Bleacher Report ranks Derwin James as a top-five defensive player in the NFL (Chargers.com)A pair of safeties stood out on day eight of Chargers training camp (Chargers Wire)How will the Chargers handle the future contracts of both Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still? (Bolt Beat)NFL News:What we learned from this year’s eventful Hall of Fame Game (NFL.com)Jahmyr Gibbs and the Lions agreed to a massive contract extension (CBS Sports)Sean McVay says Aaron Donald looked “outstanding” during his workout (ESPN)The Bills and OG O’Cyrus Torrence agreed to a massive contract extension (Bleacher Report)The Commanders officially signed Stefon Diggs (Pro Football Talk)What we’ve learned from the 49ers thus far in training camp (Sports Illustrated)

Monday Night Raw was must see.Smackdown might be even bigger.Two of the biggest things that happened at SummerSlam impacted the blue brand, with Kevin Owens returning as the No. 1 contender to CM Punk's title, and Randy Orton returning to take out Cody Rhodes.Those will be two of the biggest storylines heading into the first Smackdown after SummerSlam! When is Friday Night Smackdown?Friday Night Smackdown airs every Friday.What time does Friday Night Smackdown start?Friday Night Smackdown will air at 8 p.m. EST.What channel is Friday Night Smackdown on?Friday Night Smackdown will air on USA tonight.Where to stream Smackdown?Smackdown airs on Peacock the day after it airs on cable.Friday Night Smackdown location tonightFriday Night Smackdown was held at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.Friday Night Smackdown card and features Charlotte Flair vs. Jade CargillChelsea Green to celebrate championship winRandy Orton to appearCM Punk to address Kevin OwensHow long is Smackdown?Smackdown will be two hours tonight.This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: WWE Smackdown tonight card. Smackdown preview for tonight. How to watch

Gianni Infantino is facing a battle to stay afloat as Fifa president after his botched bid to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors resulted in a significant loss in support.England, Wales and other European nations have led the charge in officially withdrawing their endorsement of the Swiss-Italian for re-election in March 2027, while Uefa asserted that its boycott of Fifa competitions still stands in a bid to oust him from power.The global players union, Fifpro, have also turned on Infantino, accusing him of a “profound abuse of presidential power” in an explosive statement.However, Infantino’s allies are beginning to surface, with the likes of Mexico and Argentina joining Caf, the African football governing body, in reaffirming support for the under-fire president.As dominoes continue to fall, here is every country and confederation to have expressed their opposition or support for Infantino:Who has withdrawn its support for Infantino?Uefa 🇪🇺Uefa, the governing body for Europe, has staunchly opposed Infantino’s leadership, insisting that its boycott of Fifa competitions still stands despite the sell-off scheme being scrapped.It points to how there have not been “assurances” that attempts like the privatisation of the World Cup “to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again”.England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿The English FA are one of many European member associations to send a letter to Fifa withdrawing its support for Infantino’s re-election in 2027.Infantino’s apology letter that was sent around on Wednesday night changed nothing for the FA, who was “deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance” surrounding his sell-off scheme.FA chief executive Mark Bullingham (left) next to Gianni Infantino (PA)Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿The Football Association of Wales were one of the first to send its letter withdrawing support for Infantino.“The ‌recent failures in good governance, processes, ‌leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgment ​have led us to a position ‌where Mr Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to ‌remain at the helm of world football,” a statement read. “Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept.”Finland 🇫🇮Finland kickstarted this process, with it being revealed that the Scandinavian member association was the first to send a letter officially withdrawing support for Infantino.Serbia 🇷🇸 The Football Association of Serbia then sent a similar letter to Fifa.“We would like to remind you that we provided our support to Mr Infantino in writing on 25 May of this year, but after carefully considering the events that have seriously damaged the image and reputation of both Fifa and its president in the past period, this is the only logical and rational course of action,” a statement read.Sweden 🇸🇪Sweden’s federation (SvFF) followed suit: "At an extraordinary board meeting on Monday, SvFF has chosen not to support Fifa President Gianni Infantino ​in the upcoming re-election."This is after a long-term assessment of the development within Fifa and the organization's leadership. The decision is based on recurring shortcomings in governance, transparency and management, which means that trust in Gianni Infantino's leadership no longer exists."Infantino has officially lost the endorsement of numerous Uefa nations (PA)Croatia 🇭🇷As did the Croatian Football Federation (HNS): "The Croatian Football Federation has informed Fifa of its decision to withdraw the support previously expressed for Mr Gianni Infantino's candidature for another term as Fifa president. "This decision followed a thorough reassessment within the federation in light of recent developments surrounding the Fifa World Cup 2026 and discussions within our governing bodies. We consider our position to be clearly communicated to Fifa and have no further comment to add at this time."Albania 🇦🇱The Albanian Football Federation also took the same stance, aligning with Uefa. “The Albanian Football Association has sent an official letter to Fifa Secretary General Mattias Grafström, informing him that it has withdrawn its support for Mr Gianni Infantino’s candidacy for another four-year term as Fifa President,” the statement confirmed.Greece 🇬🇷The Greek federation similarly sent their withdrawal of support Fifa’s way.Who is also opposing Infantino?Concacaf (Confederation for North America and the Caribbean) 🌎Concacaf have come out in opposition of Infantino after being left stunned at the lack of consultation during the Fifa sell-off plan, which they went on to reject.After the plan was aborted, the confederation said: “This recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership follows a pattern of missteps and similar behaviour. A comprehensive reckoning with this presidency is imperative.”Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is widely being seen as a front-runner to challenge Infantino in next March’s election.Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is widely being seen as a front-runner to challenge Infantino (Getty)AFC (Asian Football Confederation) 🌏The AFC was similarly aggrieved by the non-existent consultation from Fifa regarding the Infantino’s scheme, rejecting the proposal before calling on Fifa to undertake an “urgent review of its governance”.Germany 🇩🇪The German federation (DFB) already opted against endorsing Infantino earlier in the year so has not had to send a letter withdrawing support to take an opposing stance.“The DFB has not signed a letter of support for the re-election of Gianni Infantino," the governing body stated in July. "Further steps will be discussed in the DFB presidential board."Denmark 🇩🇰Denmark are in a similar position to Germany, having not endorsed Infantino’s re-election bid prior to the scheme’s reveal.There is also a precedent for their opposition to Infantino, with federation president Jesper Moller not supporting his re-election efforts back in 2022: “There is only one candidate ... but Denmark will not be supporting the current president.”Norway 🇳🇴The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) have been one of the most vocal bodies to call for Infantino’s resignation, and while they have not yet officially sent a letter to withdraw their support in him, such action is expected in the coming days.NFF president Lise Klaveness told the Guardian: “We decided that there is no trust in Infantino now. We have been worried consistently and there has been one more step in worrying direction every year, every part of the year. The trust is now gone for us, there is no way back for Infantino. “We’re left in a very polarised cooperation globally and, I would say, chaos. So we will ask him to resign immediately so that the global football community can look ahead and cooperate going into the future.”Lise Klaveness has called on Infantino to resign (Reuters)Netherlands 🇳🇱The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) is also yet to officially withdraw its support but is among the many to have confirmed it has lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership.“The way this process has unfolded has resulted in a fundamental loss of confidence in the leadership of Fifa President Gianni Infantino. The KNVB no longer has confidence in his leadership,” a statement read.Romania 🇷🇴The Romanian Football Federation (FRF) were among the countries to resolutely reject the sell-off proposal, calling it “a dangerous initiative to turn football into a private asset.As a result, the FRF will withold support for Infantino’s re-election for the time being, with a statement reading: “FRF is suspending the discussion regarding the support of Fifa President Gianni Infantino for a new term, until further clarifications.” Jordan 🇯🇴Jordan are so far the only non-Uefa member association to publicly oppose Infantino after federation president Prince Ali bin Hussein levelled accusations of blackmail against Fifa.Prince Ali alleged the organisation offered assistance with the kingdom's issues in exchange for his endorsement, following Infantino's withdrawal from a World Cup stake sale proposal. Among the problems cited was the association's eight-month wait for prize money, due since December for reaching the Arab Cup final in Qatar.After taking to X to reveal the outstanding payments, the Jordan Football Association received the prize money two days later - but Prince Ali has not changed his stance over not endorsing Infantino: “It does not change my clear position concerning the leadership of Fifa: my FA and I will not endorse president Infantino, nor will we vote for him.”Thank you to the FIFA administration for suddenly this morning delivering what was owed to our players and coaching staff, for the Jordan National team’s accession to the final of the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar last December. This was funding that should have been received 8 months…— Ali Al Hussein (@AliBinAlHussein) August 6, 2026Sierra Leone 🇸🇱Former Sierra Leone FA president and ex-Fifa Council member Isha Johansen has indicated that Africa’s support of Infantino is not unanimous across the continent after emerging as one of the African voices opposing the privatisation project.He urged African football chiefs to think carefully about the game’s future, saying: "What price does one have to pay in order to get to this elevated development for football in Africa?"Canada 🇨🇦Canada prime minister Mark Carney joined his UK counterpart Andy Burnham in calling for Infantino to be ousted from his position as president.“It should be fatal,” Carney said, whose country co-hosted this summer’s World Cup. “Certainly I don’t have confidence in Mr Infantino."Who is supporting Infantino?Caf (African Football Confederation) 🌍Caf, the governing body for African football, has become the first confederation to unanimously back Infantino. Its 54 member associations account more than a quarter of Fifa’s 211 members.“We are committed to continue working together with Fifa, its member associations, other football confederations and stakeholders to safeguard and adhere to governance, due process, and transparency global best practises and to contribute to the development and growth of football worldwide,” Caf president Patrice Motsepe said.Argentina 🇦🇷Argentina became the first member from South America to voice its support for Infantino, on the same day that confederation Conmebol - which had thus far only expressed support of Infantino - expressed concern over Fifa’s procedures."Of our highest consideration, on behalf of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), and its Executive Committee, we address you, dear President, and through your worthy intermediary the Fifa board, to express our support for the management carried out during the last 10 years, which had as its main axes the development of football throughout the world and institutional solidity based on a clear governance model, stable and transparent,” a statement read.Argentina president Javier Milei (left) behind Infantino at the "Board of Peace" hosted by US president Donald Trump (AFP/Getty)Mexico 🇲🇽Mexico joined Argentina from the Americas, breaking rank from the United States, Canada and the rest of Concacaf that had condemned Infantino’s plan and aligned itself against his leadership.The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) stated: "The FMF will neither recognise nor approve any process convened outside of that institutional framework, and it joins the call made... by President Infantino to collectively continue developing football for the benefit of the 211 member associations."Paraguay 🇵🇾Paraguay has also followed suit as Infantino’s Conmebol support base begins to surface.Their federation published a letter of support addressed to Infantino, writing that it "reaffirms its commitment to continue working alongside Fifa”.Qatar 🇶🇦Qatar was the first football association to publicly back Infantino, even though they later welcomed the decision to scrap the plan."While the proposal had merit, we applaud the wisdom behind prioritising unity among member associations. The Qatar Football Association fully supports President Infantino's efforts to continue growing and strengthening the game globally,” a statement read.Qatar's FA has backed Infantino to continue as president (Getty Images)Sri Lanka 🇱🇰Like Qatar, Sri Lanka welcomed the decision to scrap the investment plan and has since reaffirmed its support for Infantino. "One of President Infantino's defining leadership qualities has always been his willingness to listen to the views and concerns of Member Associations. This decision is a clear reflection of his inclusive leadership style, built on dialogue, mutual respect, and a genuine commitment to serving the global football community," its statement read.Kuwait 🇰🇼Like others, Kuwait welcomed the decision to halt the plans but Sheikh Ahmed Yusuf Al-Sabah, the president of the Kuwait Football Association, affirmed his support for Infantino.A statement read: “He concluded by affirming the Kuwait Football Association's confidence in the leadership of Fifa President Gianni Infantino, and its support for efforts aimed at developing the game and enhancing its opportunities for growth in a way that serves all national associations and achieves the shared interests of global football.”Lebanon 🇱🇧Lebanon, who granted Infantino citizenship last year, have backed the Swiss-Italian, with FA president Hashim Haidar all but echoing the same sentiments as Kuwait.“Haidar reaffirms the Lebanese Football Association’s support for Fifa President Gianni Infantino and his confidence in the decisions he makes in the best interests of global football, as well as in his efforts and initiatives aimed at developing the game,” he said, while also asserting that Infantino’s proposal “could be re-examined ... in a away that serves the greater good of the sport and preserves its unity”.Indonesia 🇮🇩The president of the Indonesian FA supported Infantino’s sell-off plan and has now backed him for another term. Hailing Fifa as a “strategic partner that is truly present” in its football development, Erick Thohir said: “This is proof of President Infantino’s vision that football development must not be centered on a single region; it must proceed worldwide.”Philippines 🇵🇭Philippines have also backed Infantino and backed for co-operation among confederations."We stand behind President Gianni Infantino's leadership, and trust that continued dialogue among all confederations and member associations will keep the global game moving forward together,” the Philippines confirmed.Mongolia 🇲🇳Joining the Philippines, the Mongolian Football Federation has put out a statement in support of Infantino.Bhutan 🇧🇹The Bhutan Football Federation has published a letter that extends its “sincere appreciation” to Infantino for scrapping the plans, hailing him for demonstrating “true leadership” by “prioritising consensus over commerce”.“We stand united with Fifa and President Infantino in their ongoing efforts to serve the global football community,” wrote federation president Dasho Ugen Tsechup.Morocco 🇲🇦The location of Infantino’s crisis meeting on Wednesday, Morocco have stuck by the Swiss-Italian as one of his most loyal allies.“What has been achieved in recent years through Fifa’s development programmes, particularly in Africa, represents an important accomplishment that must be preserved, to the benefit of all member associations,” said the Royal Moroccan Football Federation’s president Fouzi Lekjaa.Infantino held his crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco (AP)Egypt 🇪🇬Similar to their north African counterpart, Egypt have maintained their endorsement of Infantino."The Egyptian Football Association reiterates its full trust in President Gianni Infantino's leadership and its continuous support for any initiatives that benefit Fifa member associations and the future of world football,” a statement read.Mauritania 🇲🇷Ahmed Yahya, the country's representative on the Fifa Council, was one of a number of African football leaders to say he was backing Infantino early on, pledging his support before Caf took its stance.Niger 🇳🇪Same as above, with Hamidou Djibrilla from Niger coming out quickly in support of Infantino.DR Congo 🇨🇩DR Congo's federation (Fecofa) president Veron Mosengo-Omba, who was only elected in May, spoke out in “full support”. of Infantino. The two studied at university in Switzerland together. Fecofa said it had "greatly benefited" from Fifa's programmes, citing investment in development and infrastructure.Nigeria 🇳🇬The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has largely aligned itself towards a supportive stance for Infantino's leadership, with former NFF president and deputy chairman of Fifa's Men's National Teams Competitions Committee, Amaju Pinnick, backing his initial sell-off plan.Comoros 🇰🇲The president of the Comoros Football Federation, Said Ali Athouman, also backed Infantino’s scheme due to the financial benefits to smaller nations."Our problem is how to obtain money,” he said. “Right now, we have no sponsors. So how do we compete? The richest nations can train players, have infrastructure and equipment, and it's no coincidence that they then achieve results. Most European countries don't have ​these problems.”A number of African nations have fallen in line with the stance of Caf president Patrice Motsepe (Getty)Malawi 🇲🇼Fleetwood Haiya, Malawi's football chief, echoed the same concerns in his support for Infantino.He told BBC Sport: "Our government is not able to make sure that they have medical supplies in hospitals and at the same time to look at football. Malawi needs money." Uganda 🇺🇬The Ugandan federation are said to have echoed Malawi’s sentiments, with football officials from the federation telling BBC Sport that Fifa investment has transformed their game both on and off the pitch.Gambia 🇬🇲Lamin Kaba Bajo told BBC Sport that his federation not just stood by Infantino, but would do "everything within our means" to get him re-elected."That's my personal opinion as president of the federation, and a good number of African memberships also stand on that line. He is here to stay,” he said.Djibouti 🇩🇯The Djiboutian Football Federation has similarly welcomed the decision to withdraw the sell-off proposal, with president Souleiman Hassan Waberi saying the climbdown “demonstrates a firm commitment to preserving the unity, solidarity and cohesion that define the football family”.He said in a statement: “I reaffirm my full support for Fifa President Mr Gianni Infantino and for all initiatives aimed at promoting the sustainable, transparent and inclusive development of football around the world.”South Africa 🇿🇦While not an official statement from the federation, South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture of South Africa, Gayton McKenzie, posted on X saying that Infantino had been "very good to African football"."Africa should be cautious in joining the public lynching of Infantino,” he warned. “He has been very good to African football. We can debate his ideas but let's not forget who has been a friend to us. Many of those calling for his head want the old status quo back too."Who are yet to confirm a stance?The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has not publicly stated its position, though its biggest footballing nation New Zealand did come out in opposition to Infantino’s proposal.Conmebol, the governing body for South America, also took a while to break its silence. It expressed “concern about the repeated unilateral actions taken” and welcomed the decision to withdraw the plans, affirming it will “not support any action” that “ignores or deviates” from the “democratic procedures that represent the 211 Fifa member associations”. However, it is yet to reveal their stance on Infantino and has previously been very supportive of the incumbent president, with Conmebol pushing for a 64-team World Cup for the 2030 edition.

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 24: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox walks to the bullpen before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 24, 2025 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images Before the trade deadline, I asked who the Red Sox shortstop would be in the month of September. Nine days later, we only have a slightly clearer idea of that answer. Andruw Monasterio is hardly a wizard with the glove, but he has put up an OPS above .900 over the last 13 games, all of which he’s started. But Franklin Arias is tearing it up in his introduction to AAA and Trevor Story is said to be close to starting a rehab assignment. So who is it going to be? “Physical gifts and tools wise, you can watch Franklin and feel like this guy’s going to play in the big leagues. But you never know,” Chad tracy said of Arias. “The best thing you could do is [ask], does he have the physical skills to do it? And do you like the character and the mental capacity and the ability to overcome things when they aren’t going right? Those are two big ones. By all intents and purposes, from what I know about the kid, he’s got those skills.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)If you’re a believer in momentum, then the answer to the shortstop question is don’t mess with what’s working and keep Monasterio where he is. But the history of Major League Baseball suggests that momentum doesn’t exist — that’s the underlying message of the whole “momentum is the next day’s starting pitcher” thing we’ve been hearing forever. But in light of how this season has played out, it’s hard not to rethink things. “As it turns out, baseball streaks tend to be somewhat self-sustaining. A Globe analysis of Retrosheet data that includes the outcome of every MLB game from 1901 through 2025 revealed a striking pattern: The longer a winning streak lasts, the higher a team’s winning percentage in the next game.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)Garrett Crochet has missed this entire run, of course. And while he’s finally started throwing baseballs again, he has likely run out of time to complete a full rehab that would see him return as a starter. So will he come back in a relief capacity? “If he’s healthy and right, and he looks like Garrett Crochet, I think we’d be foolish not to consider that,” said Chad Tracy. (Ian Browne, MLB.com)If Crochet does join the bullpen, Crochet will find himself alongside some of the best relievers in baseball, a list that no longer just includes Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock, but Brayan Bello now as well. (Colin Kennedy, 98.5)And when he comes back, hopefully he’ll be throwing to a completely healthy Adley Rutschman, who looked good on the field before last night’s game:Regardless of what happens with Crochet, this season has already been one of the most improbable campaigns in Red Sox history. And it may end with one of the most improbable Manager of the Year awards in MLB history. (Matt Vautour, MassLive)

Researchers say that the fossilized bones of "Homo naledi," so far found exclusively underground in South Africa, lack a key genetic male marker

On June 24, two quakes above magnitude 7 struck the northern part of the country only 39 seconds apart. While doublet sequences aren't unheard of in seismology, they are uncommon—especially in such short succession

The tall creature escaped from a private ranch this month, and she's been roaming the Texas Hill Country ever since

Nearly 80 years ago, Kiyoshi Tanimoto documented the aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing during World War II. His manuscript was recently found in a U.S. library

While working as a tutor in 1778, the composer created seven short pieces for flute and harp with his student's help. This month, audiences heard the works performed for the very first time

Long ago, I started skipping keychains and T-shirts while on vacations and opted for vintage goods as souvenirs instead. That’s why I always look for secondhand stores on my travels. On a recent trip while my husband and I were wandering the streets of Lucca, Italy, we happened upon an adorable antique shop named Benedetta Bodega. There, I found something a bit more unorthodox compared to what I usually buy (original art or antique tins, for instance): a chipped wooden stool. READ MORE...

We have pick-by-pick data from paid-only leagues on Underdog dating back to 2020. This column will look at the trends from the best and worst teams from strictly a data perspective, before I translate what it means for the best 2026 fantasy football strategies.Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL seasonStrategy No. 1: Have Exactly 3-4 RBs Through Round 8Here's a look at the optimal time to draft running backs based on average team points from last season.Hayden WinksThese charts are intimidating, but take the time to scan them. They're really helpful! This chart shows how many points fantasy teams average depending on how many RBs they've drafted through each round. For example, the first red dot shows teams who don't draft a RB in Round 1 are barely out-scoring teams who select a RB in Round 1. And teams with 4 RBs through 18 rounds have been outscoring teams with 5+ RBs through Round 18. This comes from half-PPR and from best ball, but we can extrapolate it to managed PPR leagues with some obvious adjustments, too.The data in half-PPR was overwhelmingly in favor of starting drafts with RB-heavy builds from 2020-2025. This was specifically true in Rounds 2-7. Things won't look as drastic in full PPR leagues, and it's still possible to hit the nuts in a Zero RB build, but what's the upside for taking on the very provable extra risk?The best builds have been just playing for starting-lineup projections, which usually means an RB in the flex. The data from the 2020s has suggested having our RB2 by Round 7 at the latest, but I'll take it a step forward and formally suggest having our RB3 through Round 8 this season.There's a projection fall-off in the Round 7 range this year. We go from Tony Pollard, Rhamondre Stevenson and Jadarian Price to Jonathon Brooks and Kenneth Gainwell in a span of just 2-3 rounds this year. I really want the former in my flex rather than going with a WR4 or Gainwell.I'm also open to having my RB3 be as early as Travis Etienne Jr., Javonte Williams or Josh Jacobs depending on the format and players available. When I do draft a true Robust RB team (3 RBs through Round 5), then I'm often barely touching the position for the rest of the draft. That could mean a RB4 in Round 10 and calling it quits, or two dart throws late in the draft as my RB4 and RB5. Strategy No. 2: Have Exactly 2-3 WRs Through Round 5Here's a look at the optimal position to draft wide receivers based on average team points from last season.Hayden WinksEven with RBs being undervalued since 2020 with NFL defenses shifting and offenses using more heavy personnel, there is still plenty of value at WR in fantasy football. Teams with 2-3 WRs through Round 5 have clearly outscored teams with fewer (or more!) than that threshold. It hasn't been close on average either, with teams averaging 15 more points across the regular season on a massive sample size. And remember, this is in half PPR! In full PPR, this will only materialize further. This trend could matter even more in 2026 with NFL teams expected to trot out even more TEs than they did in recent seasons. When that happens, there are fewer WRs on the field and those WRs get an even higher target share than normal. That means that the No. 1 WR on each NFL team is separating from the No. 2 and especially the No. 3 WR. The WR depth in the middle rounds is going to feel a bit worse, which makes the early-round WRs without playing time concerns relatively more valuable.For example, all of the Jaguars WRs face real snap concerns, as there are four of them and the offense is going to use 2- and 3-TE sets more than normal. If it's a full-blown rotation, then all Jacksonville WRs are going to struggle being fantasy starters. That means WRs like Terry McLaurin, who won't come off the field but go inside the top-five rounds, are relatively more valuable now.Strategy No. 3: Be Very Picky with Elite TEs (AKA, Draft Loveland)Here's a look at the optimal time to draft tight ends based on average team points from last season.Hayden WinksElite TE data is very noisy because of small samples, but it hasn't been pretty since the peak of the Rob Gronkowski era. Teams drafting a TE before Round 10 have been worse than teams without a TE1 before Round 10, and the gap between the two is actually widest when teams didn't draft an "Elite TE" in the first five rounds.This does not mean we can't take our shots on elite TEs, but we have to be picky. Far pickier than the market has been since 2020. That said, I am very open to Brock Bowers at the end of Round 2 and Colston Loveland in Round 4 this fantasy draft season. These two are future All-Pro talents with the upside to be clear top targets on their teams. If forced to be picky about one of them, I worry far more about Trey McBride's ADP with very shaky QB play and solid teammate competition. Bowers and Loveland are even more valuable in full-PPR redraft leagues for a couple reasons, too. We have to actually set our lineups, unlike in best ball where we can just play ping-pong with TD scoring. More importantly, the gap between the elite TEs and the rest of the pack shows itself when we get the extra half point per reception. Fringe TE1s like Mark Andrews can get lucky with TDs, but it'll be hard to replicate the 8+ targets we can expect from Bowers and McBride on an every-week basis.If we don't get Bowers or Loveland at a good draft-price tag, then I'm often waiting until Kyle Pitts Sr. or Dalton Kincaid much later on. This is in redraft and best ball.In both formats, we should almost always wait until Round 10+ to get our TE2s.Strategy No. 4: Avoid QB2 before Round 9Here's a look at the optimal time to draft quarterbacks based on average team points from last season.Hayden WinksThere hasn't been much of a difference between elite QB and punt QB strategies on the averages. Both strategies can obviously work, but waiting on QB becomes more valuable in redraft and in PPR leagues. In redraft, we can find usable QBs on the waiver wire and play the matchup game. In PPR, the other positions score a higher percentage of a fantasy team's points, so the QBs become less impactful. Know your league settings.A clear trend is waiting until about the double-digit rounds to get your second QB. This would be especially true in redraft leagues where it's not even a requirement to have a second QB. I'd also say this is true in 2026, where we have about 20 QBs projecting for fringe QB1 numbers. In 8- and 10-team leagues, it's really advantageous to wait on QB to take advantage of the flat scoring from QB3 to QB20. If we've drafted one of the semi-elite QBs (like Jayden Daniels in Round 6), then we should be skipping the Trevor Lawrence to Patrick Mahomes tier of QBs. My favorite QB2 targets this year are Kyler Murray, Jordan Love and Malik Willis. Meanwhile, take more flex options in Round 7-9, as the opportunity cost at RB goes from potential upside flex plays (like Blake Corum) down to pure risky backups (like Tyler Allgeier). A similar drop-off occurs at WR. Picking our backup QB after the drop-off happens at other positions is clearly paying off.ConclusionThe balanced builds are winning. That's the Law of Diminishing Returns in effect. Most of our leagues include a flex spot (or two) and that means punting on RBs and WRs is just never going to work. We're better off loading up on those two positions, while being very selective at QB and TE. Elite QB, and at a lesser frequency Elite TE, can work, but I'd be price conscious in full-PPR. Our teams should compete if we stick to the basics: 2-3 WRs fairly early, 3-4 RBs by the prime flex rounds, be picky with our elite TE selections and punt QB2.

NBA free agent James Harden will no longer face charges following a June arrest in Houston. Harden — who was charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon — had those charges dismissed Thursday after he completed an “alternative resolution agreement,” per multiple reports. Harden, 36, was arrested in June after a traffic stop. During that stop, officers noticed Harden had a handgun in plain view and unholstered. That led to his arrest and charge. Harden was held on $100 bond and released later the same day.At the time, the Cleveland Cavaliers — Harden’s most-recent NBA team — released a statement confirming they were aware of the situation, but would not comment further. Though Harden is still a free agent, it’s believed he will eventually sign a new, multi-year contract to return to the Cavaliers. Unlawfully carrying a weapon is a misdemeanor in Texas. Because of that, it wasn’t certain that he would face punishment from the NBA following his arrest. With the charge now dropped, it seems less likely the NBA will get involved. That should pave the way for Harden to pick his next team and have an uninterrupted regular season. Despite his age, Harden remains an effective scorer. After a midseason trade from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Cavaliers, Harden averaged 20.5 points in 26 games with Cleveland.

Haynes King may never take an NFL snap again. But for one night, for one play, the undrafted quarterback for the Carolina Panthers lived out every player’s, every fan’s, dream. There are worse NFL legacies to leave. For fringe undrafted players, the NFL preseason is a special kind of hell. You’re so close to achieving your dream you can literally touch it. You get a jersey with your name stitched on it, a helmet with the logo of a team you’ve followed for years. You walk down the same hallways, smack pads on the same fields as the stars of the game. All the while, your connection with the team is more tenuous than your relationship with a bartender or barista. At least with them, you know you’ll be getting a drink. As anyone who’s watched 10 minutes of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” knows, the call to meet with the coach — and bring your playbook — could come at any moment. But every so often, everything breaks just right, and the opportunity for glory stretches before you. For King, that opportunity came with two seconds left on the clock in Thursday night’s Hall of Fame game against Arizona. King had gone 21 of 34 for 180 yards and two touchdowns, hadn’t taken a sack or given up a turnover, and had rushed for 34 yards. But the Panthers were still down 30-27, and five yards away from the end zone. So King handled matters himself: HAYNES KING WALKS IT OFF FOR THE PANTHERS WITH A RUSHING TD 🔥The NFL IS OFFICIALLY BACK 😤(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/Hza6F8aOYQ— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) August 7, 2026Don’t tell the players a preseason game is meaningless. King’s desperation scramble came as absolutely no surprise to Georgia Tech fans. As a Yellow Jacket, King had a habit of solving problems by hurling his body at them, a technique which works remarkably well in the ACC but probably won’t hold up in the NFL. Still, sometimes the brute force solution is the right one. Who wants to throw the ball away or take a game-ending sack in that situation when you can run in the direction of glory? You never know, you might just grab it. Panthers QB Haynes King scored the game-winning TD over Arizona on a tough scramble as time expired. The Pro Football Hall of Fame game was a thriller, in large part because of King. pic.twitter.com/L7GR3Fj7N9— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) August 7, 2026“It was a dream come true,” King said after the game, per Pro Football Talk. “Growing up, you hear about all these first-ballot Hall of Famers, and to see some of them walking in front of you before the game is pretty amazing. And to be able to showcase your talent in front of them is a dream come true.”All too often, the NFL preseason is a grim march of bad news. There’s nothing worse than a season-ending preseason injury. And when cuts come, they don’t just end seasons, they often end careers. A game that a player has played since childhood, a dream they’ve dreamed all their lives, the hopes and ambitions of an entire community around them, all end on a Tuesday afternoon in a coach’s office somewhere far from the stadium crowds. It’s a brutal time, but it’s the business. And it’s not for everyone, which is why the ones who survive the gauntlet deserve all the praise they’ll receive. King is currently listed at third on the Panthers’ depth chart, a spot that’s not unlike being the third choice for a prom date. Several very bad things have to happen for you to get the call, and you can get replaced the moment that an even slightly more appealing candidate comes along. Still, he’s in the building, and he had the entire Panthers sideline behind him Thursday night. That’s not nothing. “Haynes is a fantastic athlete and he just finds a way to win, and that’s what he did,” Panthers head coach Dave Canales said after the game. “Really proud of the group and also proud of the whole team celebrating. That’s something we pride ourselves on, celebrating how hard we work on these situations and then watching it come alive.”Absolutely no disrespect intended to King or any of the hundreds of other players like him who are on NFL rosters now but probably won’t be come September. The truth is that most of them are headed to jobs outside of football, and for all of them, that day will come sooner than they’d like. But before the sun sets on their football days, they’ll get a moment like King had on Thursday night. They may not achieve that NFL career, but they’ll have a story to tell forever.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers were able to land some huge names in the 2026 offseason headlined by Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. Those two have won titles as well as finals MVPs as they bring a level of professionalism that the franchise needs as they move forward.The presence of both will help VJ Edgecombe as he heads into his second season. The No. 3 overall pick of the 2025 draft averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists along with 1.4 steals per night as a rookie. He then had a historic playoff debut as he had 30 points and 10 rebounds against Brown's Boston Celtics in Game 2 of Round 1. He was the first rookie to have a 30 and 10 playoff game since Tim Duncan in 1996.As Edgecombe heads into year 2, he has a ton of experienced players around him. Much like Brown did in his second season with the Celtics when Boston had some serious experience and proven talent around him."I think VJ is in a similar situation to maybe that I was in a couple years ago when we had one of those rosters that were really stacked with like a decent amount of talent, and I looked at it like a learning opportunity. You know what I mean?" Brown stated. "Some of those moments that I learned from back then, the players that I played with, Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, Kemba Walker, etc. Some of that stuff I benefited from later in my career because I took the time to learn and talk to and watch their workouts and see their mentality and their approach. Take things that they do well and add it to my game, and just keep an open mind."Edgecombe was a real difference-maker as a rookie, and it was obvious to Brown and Co. in Round 1 while with Boston. Like the aforementioned stars were able to help Brown when he was a young player, he will look to do the same for Edgecombe."I'm gonna be in VJ’s ear all year to just learn and grow," Brown stated. "He just turned 21. So, he's got a bright future. This could be a great opportunity for him to learn from a bunch of guys, and then also his talent level. He’s going to carve out space for himself because of his talent level alone. So I'm excited for VJ, and I'm a fan. He killed us in that series. It was a lot of the other guys we knew about, but a lot of times he played well those series. So, I'm a fan from afar for sure."With that being said, Brown isn't going to take it upon himself to be Edgecombe's mentor. This will come down to Brown leading by example and trying to chase a championship. Whatever Edgecombe takes from his experience with playing next to the 2024 champion will be on the second-year guard and what he can add to his overall game as a player and a professional."I mean, yes and no," Brown said of the notion of being a mentor to Edgecombe. "I mean, I just come in with the mentality to come in with the mentality to impact winning, lead by example. I'm not designating myself as nothing. You got to earn that with time and trust. People gravitate naturally, or they don't, but my focus is on winning. My focus is on leading by example, and just go from there."This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers star singles out VJ Edgecombe as he heads into second season

The New York Yankees paid Trent Grisham for his massive breakout during the 2025 MLB season. They cannot keep playing him because of it, though. New York gave Grisham a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer after he produced career highs with 34 home runs, 87 runs and an .812 OPS in 2025. Brian Cashman even called the contract a potential bargain during the offseason. It has become anything but, as Grisham is hitting .211 with 12 home runs, 43 RBIs and a .689 OPS.Those numbers are disappointing enough. His current stretch is considerably worse. The Yankee Report captured the problem in one post. He is 8 for his last 70, which is a .114 batting average. That is not a routine slump anymore. It is nearly three weeks of an everyday lineup spot producing almost nothing.MORE: Yankees’ Aaron Judge gives significant injury updateOct 1, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham (12) celebrates his double against the Boston Red Sox during the seventh inning of game two of the Wildcard round of the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesGrisham still offers occasional power, patience and capable center-field defense. That combination gave him value when the home runs were leaving the yard. Now the Yankees are paying middle-of-the-order money for production they could receive from a fourth outfielder.The timing makes it worse. Without Aaron Judge, New York’s offense has fallen near the bottom of MLB in batting average, on-base percentage and OPS. The Yankees cannot keep giving premium plate appearances to a hitter this cold while trying to protect a fragile postseason position.MORE: Mets continue to do what can only be described as ‘Mets things’The roster offers alternatives, friends. The cupboard isn’t bare. George Lombard Jr., Spencer Jones and deadline acquisition Heliot Ramos need meaningful opportunities as New York determines which younger players belong in its future.The Yankees do not necessarily need to release Grisham tonight. They should reduce his role, move him out of the leadoff spot and let him walk after the season. Last year’s breakout earned Grisham a bag. Seventy at-bats of almost nothing should help ensure it is his last one in New York.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —

Researchers examined data on 1,758 butterfly species—about ten percent of all those known—from 105 countries and estimated that about one in ten global species has shifted its distribution range

A fossil of the creature provides the first evidence that microraptors lived in what is now northwestern China. Its discovery might also solve an ancient murder mystery

The recently launched system involves two thermal cameras that can detect gray whales up to four miles away, giving ships enough time to slow down or change course—and avoid running into the marine mammals

The massive settlement, which spans more than a million square feet, likely dates to the late Iron Age or early Viking Age between 600 and 950 C.E.

The painting has been authenticated but not revealed. Reports suggest it is one of Picasso's portraits of Marie-Thérèse Walter

Police officers secure Debsirin Nonthaburi School, where a shooting killed several people in Thailand's Nonthaburi province, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)2026-08-07T13:57:18Z BANGKOK (AP) — At least seven people were shot dead on Friday by a 14-year-old student in Nonthaburi province, a northern suburb of the Thai capital Bangkok. The boy killed five members of the staff at the Debsirin Nonthaburi School and the two grandparents with whom he lived, the authorities said. Thailand has among the highest rates of gun ownership in Asia, though shootings involving indiscriminate killings are not common. Its deadliest recent mass killing of civilians took place in a village in the country’s northeast in 2022, when a police sergeant who had lost his job used guns and knives to kill 37 people, including two dozen toddlers at a daycare center. These are some recent cases not related to political violence.— February 11, 2026: One person was killed and two others wounded when a 17-year-old boy stole a gun from police and opened fire at a public high school in southern Thailand’s Hat Yai province. He was arrested after a short standoff. — July 28, 2025: A gunman shot and killed five people at a popular fresh food market in Bangkok before killing himself. Police said the attack involved a personal grudge.— Oct. 3, 2023: A 14-year-boy opened fire with a handgun inside a major shopping mall in Bangkok, killing two people before being apprehended. Police said his weapon was originally manufactured to shoot blanks but was modified to fire live ammunition. — March 23, 2023: Police commandos in Phetchaburi province, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) southwest of Bangkok, killed a man to end a 14-hour standoff after he had shot to death three people. Read More — Oct. 6, 2022: A police sergeant who had lost his job used guns and knives to kill 37 people, including two dozen toddlers at a daycare center in the northeastern province of Nong Bua Lamphu. After the attack at the daycare center, the assailant returned home and killed his wife and stepson before taking his own life. — Feb. 8, 2020: A soldier angry about a land dispute went on a 16-hour shooting rampage in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima, killing at least 29 people and wounding dozens more. Police and military personnel shot him dead after an overnight siege. — Jan. 9, 2020: A masked gunman shot dead three people, including a 2-year-old, during a robbery of a gold shop in a shopping mall in central Thailand’s Lopburi province. A school headmaster was arrested less than two weeks later and was sentenced to death after pleading guilty to murder charges.

Officials at the Federal Reserve are chiefly focused on the trajectory of inflation after five years of overshooting the central bank’s 2 percent target.

One of the more powerful chins in calcio. | Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images Fabio Paratici has built an interesting but unbalanced Fiorentina during his first official transfer window. Having reshaped the defense and the midfield, the wings were begging for reinforcement, particularly on the right. By signing Franco Mastantuono from Real Madrid, he’s addressed that need with one of the most promising teenaged attackers in the world. Before anyone gets too excited, remember that it’s a dry loan. There’s no option to keep the kid around even if things go well, although Niccolò Ceccarini reports an agreement to extend the move should the Viola finish in the European places this year.Franco Mastantuono joins our History💜⚜️ pic.twitter.com/U7ectXt9Li— ACF Fiorentina English (@ACFFiorentinaEN) August 7, 2026Mastantuono broke into River Plate’s first team aged just 16, becoming la Banda’s 3rd-youngest player. The following month, he became its youngest-ever goalscorer and the 2nd-youngest scorer in a Superclásico. Despite being a child, his technical ability and character were obvious. When he scored 3 goals and assisted 3 more in just 10 games in the 2025 Apertura, all the megaclubs started jostling for him. Real Madrid ponied up the €45 million to trigger a move and off he went to Spain on his 18th birthday last year.Despite the outrageous collection of attacking talent los Merengues have acquired, Mastantuono played a significant role. He played in 35 games, mostly as a rotational option, scoring 3 goals and adding an assist. Despite his tender years, he garnered quite a bit of criticism from fans for fading out of games, although his hard work out of possession kept him in Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa’s plans.In Florence, he’ll step into the starting job immediately. I’m very interested to see how he meshes with the rest of the team: this midfield is designed to break the lines and find space in the final third, leaving Mastantuono the task of playing that final ball. The main questions are 1) whether he’ll drift in to the same areas as Arthur Atta and Albert Guðmundsson, leading to a kludgy mess in the middle; and 2) how he’ll link up with Moise Kean.As far as I can tell, Mastantuono’s always been the sort to put team success above personal accolades. However, he’s always been the youngster who still needs to prove it. If his mindset is to use this year to improve his standing in Madrid by showcasing his individual talent, this could go very wrong. If he continues his usual course and puts the collective first, he could be one of the keys to this Viola puzzle.His arrival has certainly energized the supporters, at least: several hundred showed up to greet him. Showing up in Florence with a guitar has excellent precedents for an Argentine arriving from Spain. If this foreshadows Mastantuono falling in love with a local gelato shop owner and becoming an emblem of this era of Fiorentina and a fan favorite, I certainly won’t complain.🟣 L’arrivo di Mastantuono a Firenze, tripudio viola 💜 pic.twitter.com/J33eRC2yWE— Flavio Ognissanti (@Flavio_Ognissan) August 6, 2026Bienvenido, Franco, y buena suerte.

HONG KONG, CHINA - AUGUST 6: Head coach Vincent Kompany of FC Bayern Munich talks to media during the FC Bayern M¸nchen Press Conference ahead of the Audi Football Summit 2026 match against Aston Villa at Kai Tak Stadium on August 6, 2026 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty Images Bayern Munich is continuing to build toward the start of the competitive season, and head coach Vincent Kompany was encouraged by what he saw in the club’s 2-1 preseason victory over Aston Villa.Despite acknowledging there is still work to do before the campaign begins, Kompany believes his team is making steady progress against quality opposition.“We’re trying to find our form as quickly as possible, but at this stage of preseason against a strong Villa side, I was really pleased with our performance,” Kompany said (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). It is a measured assessment that reflects where Bayern Munich currently stands. Preseason results are always secondary to fitness, rhythm, and tactical development, but defeating a Premier League opponent while delivering a strong overall performance is another positive step forward.With the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup and Bundesliga season fast approaching, Bayern Munich appears to be trending in the right direction. The squad is continuing to regain match sharpness, new signings are settling in, and more players are returning to full fitness after joining later in preseason.Kompany is not suggesting Bayern Munich has reached its peak just yet, but his comments make it clear that the team is progressing as expected. If the performances continue to improve at this pace, Bayern Munich should enter the new season with plenty of confidence.Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

🚨 Official: Madrid loan Mastantuono to FiorentinaReal Madrid and ACF Fiorentina have agreed on the loan of Franco Mastantuono. The Argentine will play for the Italian club until June 30, 2027, according to the official statement from the Madrid club.The player therefore leaves Madrid’s first team in order to get more playing time in Serie A. Fiorentina strengthen their squad with a player of international promise whom Madrid have decided to loan out to ensure the development that has been interrupted this season.According to Marca, the agreement does not include an option to buy, so the player will return to Real Madrid next season. His performances in Florence will shape his immediate future at the club.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Tight ends are the most consistently overlooked players in all of college fantasy football, as an elite, tier-1 producer at the position can create a sizable weekly advantage over your opponents. With a seemingly endless pool of 40-60 target tight ends to sort through, how do we differentiate between the rank-and-file options beyond just a good old-fashioned eyeball test? Play Yahoo's new College Fantasy Football game: Create or join a league now!Projecting legacy schools like Iowa, Penn State and Notre Dame, who churn out NFL TEs, is a tried and true method and a great place to start. The next phase of evolution is to play “Follow The Coordinator/HC” based on their historical TE production and chase the pass-heavy TEs who accrued the most targets the previous season. More CFF Positional PreviewsQuarterbackRunning BackWide ReceiverTight EndI’ve found metrics such as average target depth, flex rate and wide rate to be particularly helpful when projecting year-over-year growth at the position. When coaches trust a tight end to win in 1-on-1 situations, especially on the boundary, it’s usually indicative of greater receiving utility and schemed touches for the player. Same for ADOT as a predictive measure, since the further downfield a TE is featured, the more confident the coaching staff is with that player’s overall receiving acumen. Draft strategyMy standard for determining elite TE production is 500 receiving yards and five touchdowns, with anything in the 600+ yard/6 TDs range being rarified air and legitimately game-changing numbers for the position. Achieving elite 500/5 status requires a high-functioning offense that features tight ends to the tune of 50+ targets on average for their TE1.Tight ends can be potent fantasy assets if they are talented enough to be schemed touches on screens, drags, block and release, Y-option routes, etc. I generally like TEs who receive a 20% +/- target share and are priorities in their team’s weekly game plan. Lower target shares on high volume passing teams like LSU, SMU and Cal are acceptable since they offer an easier path to 50-60 targets. Top-12 TEsTargetsTrey’Dez Green, LSUGreen leads all returning tight ends with a 33% wide-alignment rate and drew a 34% red-zone target share. An early injury suppressed his season, but he returned to secure an impressive 13-of-22 contested targets with 6.0 yards after the catch. Simply the most dangerous TE in college football and a threat to score from any alignment. DJ Vonnahme, IowaVonnahme is Iowa's primary offensive weapon who should expand on his massive 37% target share. His 9.2-yard average depth of target creates more downfield access than a traditional safety-valve TE. Vonnahme is a priority selection after the first three tight ends, particularly for managers seeking consistency and bankable usage.Luke Reynolds, Virginia TechA 74% catch rate and 6.0 yards after the catch average foreshadow the coming breakout campaign for the third-year phenom. Reynolds boasts a tantalizing athletic profile and should assume the kind of prolific receiving involvement we’ve seen from former James Franklin TEs Tyler Warren, Theo Johnson and Pat Freiermuth. He’s the perfect fallback option for drafters who opt to wait until the later rounds to address the tight end position.FadesGarrett Oakley, Kansas StateOakley commanded an elevated 26% target share and 38% red-zone usage rate while scoring six touchdowns, production that would normally create an easy breakout case. However, new Kansas State coach Collin Klein rarely featured tight ends during his A&M tenure, while gifted sophomore TE Lincoln Cure is going to command additional snaps and targets. I don’t recommend carrying a second tight end in Yahoo Standard Leagues with 18 roster spots, and feel like there are better TE1 options available. Dorian Thomas, Cal Thomas already had one shot at the Power Four level when he drew a sparse two targets over two seasons at Arizona. Much of his value at New Mexico last year stemmed from the gigantic 84 targets he earned, a number which is implausible given the presence of established starting Cal TE, Mason Mini. I think Thomas ends up being a rotational contributor as opposed to a must-start asset. Leave him for the wire.Rocky Beers, OklahomaA sparsely utilized backup TE who bounced between Air Force and FIU for his first four years, Beers transfers over from a dismal 2-10 Colorado State team where he was the lone viable offensive weapon for a lame duck coaching regime. A sixth-year journeyman who now enters a SEC caliber TE room for an OU program that plays one of the five toughest schedules in the country, leave Beers for someone else.Top SleeperWillie Rodriguez, KentuckyRodriguez has the most aggressive route profile among returning tight ends with at least 20 targets, posting an 11.2-yard average target depth. He flexed out on 63% of snaps and ranked third among Power Four returners in wide rate at 8.7%, showing the previous staff wasn’t afraid to single him up on the boundary. New Kentucky coach Will Stein arrives from Oregon, where he consistently featured tight ends, and pass-heavy game scripts should work in Rodriguez’s favor for a retooling UK squad that will be chasing most of the time.

It took some time for Brenton Strange to be the featured tight end in the Jaguars’ offense. For a while, he was relegated into a situational role behind the incumbent Evan Engram. But when Engram went down with injury, Strange slotted right in and offered the Jaguars a new breed of tight end. While Strange can certainly be an offensive weapon, leading the Jaguars in receiving three times last season despite missing five games, he offers the Jaguars so much more at the position. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the fifth best run-blocking tight end and the NFL’s very best at zone blocking in 2025. Per Sports Info Solutions, he also had one of the lowest blown block rates in the league. With the presumed shift towards running heavier personals, the value of Brenton Strange only becomes more invaluable. Prior to his injury, the Jaguars actually ran the ball fairly effectively, averaging 4.86 YPC. Over the next six weeks, that 4.86 YPC (7th in the NFL) fell to just 3.83 YPC (29th), over a yard less on average. Despite his return in Week 12, the run game still failed to return to what was shown early on in 2025. Nonetheless, his presence was sorely missed. With Strange, the Jaguars were 11-1, scoring 30.1 points per game. Without him, they were just 2-3, scoring over a touchdown less on average (22.6 PPG). Brian Thomas Jr, Parker Washington, and Jakobi Meyers get the publicity, but Strange was equally as important to the Jaguars passing attack and offense as a whole last season. And the Jaguars staff knows it, locking Strange down with a three-year, $48 million extension this offseason. Speaking of those heavier personnel packages, that’s the exact reason the Jaguars went out and spent the 56th overall selection on the position, drafting Texas A&M’s Nate Boerkircher. Not too long after, general manager James Gladstone double dipped, selecting Houston’s Tanner Koziol. With this trio, in addition to Quintin Morris, the Jaguars have the bodies to run the creative heavy personnel sets they so desire. Strange spoke about this very thing to Brent Martineau and Austen Lane of Action Sports Jax. “It’s really fun. You get to have more opportunities and it’s a lot more on the plate. And that’s what we want as tight ends,” said Strange. He later added, “It’s just an exciting feeling, honestly. Because, to have those guys, I’m going to open things up for them and they are going to open up things for me. An exciting opportunity.” With two young guns in the room and fresh ink on a contract, Strange now is the leader in the clubhouse. He no longer is just expected to perform but to help these young players grow and learn as well. “It’s important for me to be the best leader I can be, set the example for them as it was set for me. I feel like I do that through my actions,” said Strange All things are pointing towards a big year for both Brenton Strange and tight ends on the whole. With two rookies behind him, Strange has a lot of responsibility this season as a player and, now, leader. It’s hard to predict he won’t meet or even exceed those expectations.>>> STREAM ACTION SPORTS JAX 24/7 LIVE

A pop art installation featuring more than 30 sculptures from artist Philip Colbert is the first contemporary sculpture exhibition to land in Pompeii in three decades

Based on the composition of gases spewed by the icy space rock, researchers estimate that our guest might be up to 12 billion years old—about three times the age of the solar system

Meanwhile, other actors are pushing back against the use of artificial intelligence in creative projects, including through a new “human consent” registry tool

Two independent teams of scientists have created the first functional clocks that can keep ultraprecise time using the nuclei of a radioactive element

Flung prey can reach speeds of up to 14.4 feet per second, or a little less than ten miles per hour. An insect will land in the spider's main web about a foot above the spring-loaded trap

Chicago police investigate South Chicago Chapel after authorities discovered dozens of decomposing bodies in the funeral home's basement on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)2026-08-07T14:45:34Z More than 50 bodies were found improperly stored and decomposing at a Chicago funeral home on Thursday, prompting a hazardous materials response and efforts to identify the remains and notify relatives, authorities said.Illinois state officials, meanwhile, suspended the license of one of the funeral home’s directors — alleging bodies were being kept in an unrefrigerated area in “deplorable conditions” — and said the owners previously ran a crematory that was shut down after improperly stored bodies were found there.The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said it was notified by state and local officials that bodies were being stored improperly at South Chicago Chapel, and investigators and forensic pathologists were dispatched. The remains were in various states of decomposition, officials said.“Staff is assessing the conditions of the remains, searching for documentation regarding identification of the decedents as well as death certificates. This process could take several days to ensure proper disposition,” the medical examiner’s office said in a statement. No arrests have been announced, but city police said detectives are investigating.Neighbors told local media outlets that there was a horrible smell coming from the funeral home area. Messages for the funeral home were left by phone and through its website Friday.State business records show that funeral director Johanna Morgan incorporated South Chicago Chapel Inc. in 2022 and her funeral director’s license was temporarily suspended on Wednesday. The state Department of Financial and Professional Regulation said the license suspension was due to “a finding that Respondent’s continued practice is a danger to the public safety, interest and welfare due to Respondent allowing multiple decedents to be kept in an unrefrigerated area with deplorable conditions including rodent infestation, causing decomposition and maggot infestation of the bodies.” Read More The state business records also list Clark X. Morgan as the funeral home’s president. The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation said it revoked the funeral director license of a Clark X. Morgan and fined him $10,000 in 2024 for practicing with an expired license and “unprofessional conduct” that it did not specify. State Comptroller Susana Mendoza said Friday that Johanna and Clark Morgan previously ran a crematory in Chicago Heights, south of Chicago, which had its license revoked last year after authorities discovered improperly stored bodies and hundreds of cremated remains that had never been returned to their families. 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. Mendoza said many of the bodies at the crematory were stacked on top of each other and not refrigerated.“Horrified. Again,” Mendoza said in a statement. “The discovery of decomposing remains waiting to be laid to rest this week at a South Side funeral home is heartbreaking and an abomination. These are people – someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, child or friend, and they deserve better.”Both Johanna and Clark Morgan are listed in Cook County court records as defendants in connection with lawsuits involving Heights Crematory in Chicago Heights, south of Chicago. Public records show Johanna and Clark X. Morgan live at the same address in the Chicago suburb of Evergreen Park, and an obituary for Johanna Morgan’s mother lists her husband as Clark. Phone messages were left Friday for numbers listed in public records for Johanna and Clark Morgan. South Chicago Chapel’s website says the funeral home is “dedicated to providing compassionate care and personalized services to support families during life’s most challenging moments.”“Our experienced and caring team is here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring your loved one’s life is honored with dignity, respect, and heartfelt attention to detail,” the site says. “We believe that every life is unique, and we work closely with you to create meaningful tributes that reflect their story and legacy.”

Chicago police investigate South Chicago Chapel after authorities discovered dozens of decomposing bodies in the funeral home's basement on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)2026-08-07T14:35:56Z EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) — A teenager accused of dressing as a clown and randomly stabbing a man to death at a bus stop in the St. Louis area has been charged with murder, authorities said. Video of the 15-year-old suspect showed him dressed in a clown costume, Illinois State Police said.Police in East St. Louis, Illinois, found the body of 78-year-old John W. Allen of Jennings, Missouri, in a street Monday. Jennings is also in the St. Louis area.State officers quickly identified a suspect and later arrested a 15-year-old boy at a residence, according to Illinois State Police. The teenager, whose name has not been released, was charged with first-degree murder Thursday.The suspect has remained in jail since his arrest. The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office said it wants to prosecute the teen as an adult.

Abdul El-Sayed departs following a news conference at the Spirit of Detroit shortly after winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Michigan, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)2026-08-07T14:30:04Z DETROIT (AP) — Michigan Democrats will gather Friday in a show of unity behind their statewide candidates, three days after a bitter U.S. Senate contest highlighted divisions between the progressive and moderate wings of the party.Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health official who narrowly beat establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens in a contentious primary for an open Senate seat, will be the most closely watched candidate at the event. With less than three months before the general election where El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers, the Democratic Party is under pressure to close ranks in a race that will help determine control of the Senate. “The things that unite us are so much bigger than the things that divide us,” El-Sayed said in a Wednesday speech.Former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, a potential presidential candidate who lives in Michigan, is also slated to attend on Friday. Current Democratic Sen. Gary Peters’ decision to not seek reelection left the seat open. Michigan is a perennial battleground state, having voted for President Donald Trump in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020 and Trump again in 2024.Stevens, who lost the primary by just under 1 percentage point, told CBS News on Thursday she was willing to campaign with El-Sayed. “Whatever he wants me to do,” she said. Gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson, who easily won her primary, is scheduled to attend the event as well. She will face Trump-backed Rep. John James in the general election. Also slated to attend will be Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, who is running for secretary of state; Eli Savit, who is running for attorney general; and Curtis Hertel, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. Read More ___GaNun is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

The small town that arrested a person who clapped during a city council meeting about a hyperscale data center held its meeting on Wednesday virtually and had no public comment period in the name of “public safety.” It says it will do the same for another meeting later this month.The city, Emporia, Kansas, announced the change just two days before the meeting. “In the interest of public safety, the Emporia City Commission meetings scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, 2026, and Wednesday, August 19, 2026, will be conducted virtually,” Emporia said in a post about the change on Facebook. “No public comment period will be provided during either meeting.” Then it shared the city’s email and phone number for citizens who wanted to voice concerns privately. Emporia’s police chief told KVOE News that city leaders had received death threats. “The City remains committed to conducting the public’s business in an open and transparent manner while taking reasonable measures to protect the safety of elected officials, City staff, and members of the public,” the post said. “The City appreciates the public's understanding and cooperation as it implements these temporary measures while ensuring the continuity of City business.”Citizens upset about the data center and no longer allowed to make a public comment gathered outside Emporia’s municipal auditorium to protest on Wednesday. Lux Claridge, the person arrested for clapping, attended the protest and told 404 Media that both the protest and the virtual city commission meeting went well. “The commissioners voted unanimously to get our petition on the ballot measure to ban high-impact data centers to a judge. They said that doing otherwise could open up the city to a lawsuit but didn't really elaborate on who, why, or how,” they said.Some citizens in Emporia are upset about a proposed gigawatt data center called the Flint Hills Digital Campus that would sit on 1,000 acres of prairie land. Zoning and city commission meetings have been held about the project, during which citizens have pushed back during the public comment periods of meetings. During a July 22 meeting, a city leader ordered Claridge to be arrested for clapping. Police charged Claridge with disorderly conduct and interference with police.On Wednesday, the city commission streamed its meeting on the city website. Residents could watch, but not participate. The commission voted 5 - 0 to send the petition to a judge to see if Kansas law would allow that kind of restriction. “I would like to see it go to the courts, that way it has an outside decision, so that we don't get ourselves entangled in something that could come back later and we'd be sued over,” Emporia mayor Becky Smith said.“I think if you accept it or decline it, you’re opening yourself up to a legal battle either way so let’s just send it straight to a judge,” commissioner Erren Harter said. Claridge said the reason the commission meetings had gone virtual and closed public comment was that members of the commission had reported receiving death threats. “This was also happening days leading up to my arrest, but the threats seem to have ramped up. While I don't doubt that there are credible threats, my big question is on how many there are and from where they are coming,” they said. “Mayor Smith did mention in yesterday's meeting that the threats don't seem to really be coming from locals but ‘it only takes one’ to ruin a meeting so they went virtual. I feel like we're being punished for the actions of outsiders.”“I'm not so upset about going virtual, it makes sense, but back it up with examples of these threats. I'm more upset that they opted to close public comment and I don't understand why,” Claridge added.The commissioners will meet, virtually, again on August 19 but they have not yet published the agenda on the city’s website. The commission did not return 404 Media’s request for comment.

Tiny Hudson, Colo., was mostly known as a speed trap between plains and suburbs. Then ICE announced it was coming, setting off months of protests.

MIAMI GARDENS ― The Miami Dolphins held their eighth training camp practice under first-year coach Jeff Hafley at the Baptist Health Training Complex.Hafley said it would be a long and tough practice. The team will have a practice at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 8, which is also open to fans.Miami fans have been showing up to see Malik Willis, De'Von Achane and rookies such as Kadyn Proctor, Chris Johnson and Jacob Rodriguez.Miami Dolphins training camp Day 9 Fins Up/Fins DownFins UpCaleb Douglas, WRCaleb Douglas, the rookie from Texas Tech, caught a deep ball from Malik Willis in 11-on-11.Then he did it again.The he caught more passes. The Willis to Douglas combination is intriguing. Douglas has the physical tools. Speed. Size. Range. Body control.If Douglas can improve his technique and consistency he may be a very good pick by general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan.Some felt Douglas as a third-round pick was a reach.Fins DownQuinn Ewers, QBEwers was intercepted by cornerback Miles Battle twice.Ewers has not had a particularly strong start to training camp.It should be noted that Ewers got off to a very slow start in his first training camp and recovered nicely. Training Camp Observations: Miami Dolphins Takeaways, Day 7Rookie Watch: What Miami Dolphins coaches are saying about the top rookiesJoe Schad: Why Jeff Hafley's scheming and play-calling give Dolphins hopeJoe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins Fins Up/Fins Down: Caleb Douglas shine on Day 8 of camp

Heriberto Hernández came from left field. Esteury Ruiz traveled from center. Both Miami Marlins outfielders were in position to snuff out a deep fly ball from Atlanta Braves slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. in the third inning on Thursday night.It didn’t end up in either of their mitts.Actually, the ball caromed over the Truist Park left-center wall after it ricocheted off the gloves of Hernández and Ruiz, who collided at the catch point on the warning track."When I saw the ball, I thought it was leaving the ballpark,” Ruiz said through an interpreter, per MLB.com. “While I was running, I noticed it was going to stay on the field. I said, 'I got it,' and you can see in the video that [Hernández] also said, 'I got it.' “But we couldn't hear each other with the noise of the ballpark. We couldn't hear each other.”What could be heard was the roar of a Braves crowd that relished in the unorthodox two-run tater and eventually celebrated an 11-3 win, Atlanta’s eighth straight. Acuña also hit a solo shot in the eighth inning. That opposite-field dinger flew only 337 feet, but it willed itself into the field-field seats.“The second was special,” Acuña said, according to The Athletic. “Because the first one looked like I needed help. The second one I didn’t need help with. “The most important thing is we won eight in a row, so let’s continue with the series in New York.”The Braves (70-45) completed their three-game sweep of the Marlins (58-58) and now will head to the Bronx to face the Yankees. Atlanta has a firm lead in the NL East, as it’s currently 8.5 games up on the second-place Philadelphia Phillies.And fortunately for the Braves, Acuña is finding a charge in his swing. He’s homered in four of his past 28 at-bats and has boosted his season total to 11 long balls. That’s a welcome sight in Atlanta, considering the 2023 NL MVP’s injury and hitting struggles in 2026. Hamstring issues have forced him to miss significant time this season, including 38 consecutive games earlier this summer.“It’s good to have him back at the top of the lineup swinging like this,” Braves first baseman Matt Olson said, per MLB.com.

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 24: Everson Pereira #80 of the New York Yankees doubles for his first Major League hit in the eighth inning during the game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, August 24, 2023 in New York, New York. (Photo by Katherine Woolson/MLB Photos via Getty Images)MLB Photos via Getty ImagesThe New York Yankees have seen plenty of highly regarded prospects come through their farm system over the past decade, but not every player manages to turn elite minor league tools into sustained major league success.For Everson Pereira, the journey has included cuts from multiple organizations, waiver claims and another reminder of how quickly opportunity can disappear. Now, the former Yankees slugger prospect is getting another chance in the National League.FORBES | By Peter ChawagaESPN Castoff Sends Little League World Series Message After Being FiredSt. Louis Cardinals Acquires Former New York Yankees OutfielderJust days after being placed on waivers by the Chicago White Sox, Pereira has landed with the St. Louis Cardinals as they retool for the future.“Welcome to St. Louis, Everson!” the team announced on X. “We have claimed OF Everson Pereira off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.”The move represents yet another stop in a whirlwind stretch for the 25-year-old outfielder, who originally signed with the Yankees as an international free agent before emerging as one of the organization's most intriguing power prospects.“Pereira, 25, was an international signing of the Yankees out of Venezuela,” Darragh McDonald wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “As a minor leaguer, he showed off big power potential but that also came with a lot of strikeouts. Despite the concerns, Baseball America still ranked him a top 100 guy in 2023 and 2024.”While the Yankees hoped Pereira's raw power would eventually translate at the major league level, consistency remained elusive, leading to his departure from the organization before subsequent stops with other clubs.FORBES | By Peter ChawagaPhillies Boss Reveals Luis Arraez Wasn’t His First Trade Deadline ChoiceSt. Louis Cardinals Bet On New York Yankees Castoff’s Power PotentialThe Cardinals are now hoping Pereira can finally develop into the hitter evaluators envisioned during his prospect days.The opportunity comes with some immediate pressure, however.“Time will tell how St. Louis doles out the playing time,” McDonald added. “Since Pereira is out of options, he could be back in DFA limbo in the near future. If he finally clicks and hits like he has in the minors, he can be controlled for five seasons after this one.”That combination of upside and roster risk makes Pereira an intriguing gamble for St. Louis. The Cardinals aren't simply acquiring organizational depth — they're taking a chance on a player whose prospect pedigree suggests there's still untapped offensive potential waiting to emerge.For Pereira, meanwhile, the waiver claim offers another fresh start after his latest roster setback. Whether this stop finally becomes the one where his impressive minor league power translates into consistent major league production could determine if he establishes himself as a long-term contributor or finds himself navigating another trip through baseball's waiver wire.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Twins' .845 OPS top infield prospect to make MLB debut vs. Brewers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Minnesota Twins have promoted their No. 2-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline to the Major Leagues. According to JD Cameron of Just Baseball Media, the AL Central club has selected the contract of shortstop Kaelen Culpepper from Triple-A St. Paul. Culpepper, 23, will likely make his MLB debut in the Twins' upcoming series against the Milwaukee Brewers. As a first-round draft pick from Kansas State University in 2024, Culpepper brings a strong mix of power and speed to Minnesota's offense. He hit .271/.367/.478 with 14 home runs in 343 plate appearances. In 20 stolen base attempts, Culpepper swiped 17 bags. Culpepper's defensive scouting reportCulpepper began his Kansas State career at third base but eventually shifted to shortstop. "The jury is still out over where Culpepper’s ultimate defensive home will be. He plays a solid shortstop with plenty of arm for the premium position, but his lack of first-step quickness or range could mean a move in the future," Culpepper's MLB Pipeline bio reads.MORE: How Cubs inadvertently helped Dodgers trade for Tarik Skubal"He did get a little time at third and second in 2025, and there likely will be more of that as he hits the upper levels full time." This is an exciting roster move for the Twins as they attempt to chase down the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central standings. Before Friday's game against the Brewers, they stand three games back of first place. More MLB news:Cubs land Kevin Gausman in blockbuster trade with Blue JaysRed Sox expected to trade Jarren Duran during offseason, not MLB trade deadlineWhat did Mets get for Freddy Peralta? Rays send three prospects for 4.99 ERA SPTigers receive lousy grade for Tarik Skubal trade to Dodgers from ESPNRoyals DFA former Phillies All-Star reliever Matt Strahm after trade deadline

Howie Roseman remains impressed with how Jalen Hurts has handled everything the Philadelphia Eagles have placed in front of him. During an appearance with Kay Adams, Philadelphia’s general manager was asked about Hurts and the possibility of another contract extension. Roseman did not offer any indication that an agreement was close, but he provided another strong endorsement of the Eagles’ franchise quarterback.“When you are around somebody for as long as you’ve been around, you’ve got a pretty good feel about who the person is and who the player is,” Roseman said.Hurts signed a five-year, $255 million extension in April 2023 that keeps him under contract through the 2028 season. The Eagles have time before another agreement becomes necessary, but the quarterback market continues to rise, and Philadelphia has regularly moved early to retain its cornerstone players.Roseman focused on Hurts’ ability to handle change.The 28-year-old is learning from his sixth offensive coordinator since joining the Eagles as a second-round pick in 2020. Philadelphia’s offense has changed repeatedly, but Hurts has led the team to two Super Bowl appearances and was named MVP of Super Bowl LIX.“He’s been thrown a lot of offensive coordinators at him, and he hasn’t blinked,” Roseman said. “The guy continuously overcomes adversity, never complains and puts his head down and goes to work.”Howie Roseman compliments Jalen Hurts for how he has handled adversity - learning from now six offensive coordinators with the Eagles but doesn’t give an inclination an extension is close for Hurts. https://t.co/Ql84t6o9Y2— Ashlyn Sullivan (@ashlynrsullivan) August 7, 2026Hurts earned his third Pro Bowl selection after completing 64.8% of his passes for 3,224 yards, a career-high 25 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2025. He added eight rushing touchdowns while starting 16 games.Roseman also praised Hurts for understanding the expectations that come with playing quarterback in Philadelphia.“He knows what it means to be an Eagle, and I think that’s a great example for what we’re looking for,” Roseman said. “I’m excited for him with the players he has around him, the leadership he displays and the coaching staff.”The answer was a clear endorsement, not a contract update. Hurts remains signed for three more seasons, giving Roseman little reason to reveal the Eagles’ plans before the organization is ready to act. For the moment, Roseman is focused on Hurts’ continued development and his transition into Sean Mannion’s offense. Whether that confidence eventually leads to another extension remains unanswered.This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Howie Roseman praises Jalen Hurts but stays silent on extension

The project in Athens started in 2017 and involved quarrying, transporting, hand-carving and placing new marble blocks in one of the landmark’s triangular pediments