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CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 01: Rhys Hoskins #8 of the Cleveland Guardians scores on a two-run homer during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Progressive Field on August 01, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images Sometimes, you gotta make the tough call to put the old steer out to pasture.Rhys Hoskins has a 95 wRC+ this season. That, especially on the Guardians, is not bad. However, this includes a 79 wRC+ since June 1st, during which time he has struck out 37% of the time. Even more prominently, since June 1st of LAST season, Hoskins has a 57 wRC+ against LHP. Why has Hoskins forgotten how to hit southpaws on a team that needs him to be able to be the career 130 wRC+ against them he has traditionally been like no other? I don’t know. Because the baseball gods hate us, probably. It’s likely one of two options: 1. small sample size and he’ll eventually correct things, or 2. the canary in the coal mine that he is washed overall.Regardless, Hoskins isn’t helping the Cleveland Guardians win baseball games in his current role of supposed lefty masher who plays first base when LHP are on the mound. He’s not a good defender. But, he is, from all accounts, great in the clubhouse. So great that the team is a game under .500 on August 8th. You can probably sense my skepticism that his clubhouse skills are indispensible to this team’s success.I think it’s probably time to give Kody Huff a chance at a platoon first-base/occasional catching reps role. Huff has a .793 OPS against LHP and .914 OPS against RHP this season, but has traditionally hit LHP better than RHP as most RHH’s do. Most importantly, he has a higher OPS away from the Columbus bandbox than at home (.888/.879). Zach Meisel of the Athletic has repeatedly mentioned on the Selby is Godcast that the team “LOVES” Huff and it was a big reason they were willing to trade Jacob Cozart and Bo Naylor at the trade deadline. Great opportunity to potentially get Huff some experience with Austin Hedges and Patrick Bailey and make use of the 235 innings he has played at first base to hopefully leverage their way to an improvement over what Hoskins has done against left-handed pitching.By September, if Huff struggles and Ralphy Velazquez continues his recent breakout, I would love to see the team give Velazquez reps in a first base/DH role and let him hit LHP. (Cooper Ingle cannot hit lefties, in case anyone is wondering about him in a full-time DH role). Ralphy has consistently hit LHP slightly better than he has RHP over the past two seasons. He’s a full-time hitter, eventually, and it would be great to give him a chance to experience big league pitching and potentially help a team trying to make the playoffs. But, for now, the team needs to take a shot at improving their roster in the Hoskins’ role, even at the risk to clubhouse chemistry, and Huff seems to be the best potential option.

Portraits of Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett, left, and CEO Greg Abel sit in a semi truck at the Pilot display in the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting on May 2, 2026, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz, file)2026-08-08T13:29:33Z OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Berkshire Hathaway’s new CEO Greg Abel spent a significant chunk of the company’s massive pile of cash as it invested $10 billion in Google’s parent company and repurchased about $4.5 billion of its shares.The conglomerate that legendary investor Warren Buffett built reported its second-quarter earnings Saturday morning and disclosed that its cash holdings had shrunk to $365.5 billion from nearly $400 billion at the end of March. Berkshire’s report suggested that it had added more than $24 billion worth of commercial, industrial and other stocks to its portfolio, but the earnings report doesn’t name the stocks it bought. That won’t be revealed until a separate filing later this month. Abel took over as CEO in January when Buffett retired after six decades leading the company. But Buffett remains chairman. Abel announced in March that Berkshire had resumed buying back its own shares for the first time in more than two years, but investors were underwhelmed when the company only repurchased about $234 million worth of Berkshire stock in the first quarter. The purchases in the second quarter that were disclosed Saturday demonstrate that Berkshire is serious about buybacks, but it is on the low end of the range that investors were expecting. Buffett watchers had been predicting repurchases somewhere between $5 billion and $11 billion based on a filing Buffett made when he announced his annual charitably donations in July.The company’s standard is that it only repurchases shares when Abel and Buffett believes they are selling for less than they are worth. They do not plan to spend a specific amount like many companies do. Most of Berkshire’s repurchases were made in June. They may not be buying much now as the stock just hit a new 52-week high on Thursday. Berkshire previously repurchased $78 billion worth of its own stock between 2018 and 2024. Read More In addition to the Google stock Berkshire bought this spring, the Omaha, Nebraska-based company also completed a $6.8 billion acquisition of homebuilder Taylor Morrison but that didn’t close until July so it’s not reflected in these quarterly figures. Berkshire’s bottom line profit more than doubled to $25.667 billion, or $17,868.44 per Class A share, on a big paper gain in the value of its investments as the company lapped last year’s $3.8 billion writedown in the value of its Kraft Foods stake. A year ago Berkshire reported earning $12.37 billion, or $8,600.89 per Class A share, Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. But Buffett has long urged investors to pay more attention to Berkshire’s operating earnings to get a better sense of how its dozens of companies are performing because those numbers exclude investments. By that measure, Berkshire’s operating profit grew to $12.983 billion, or $9,038.30 per A share, from $11.16 billion, or $7,759.58 per Class A share. Berkshire owns several major insurers, including Geico, a collection of big utilities, BNSF railroad and a varied assortment of manufacturing and retail companies, including Precision Castparts and See’s Candy. JOSH FUNK Funk covers transportation including aviation safety, trucking and airlines along with the major freight railroads. Funk also covers Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, drones, the effort to break China’s stranglehold on rare earth elements and agriculture. twitter mailto

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Ashleigh Gardner's position as Australia's vice-captain has come under renewed scrutiny after her estranged wife, Monica Wright, called for the star all-rounder to be removed from the leadership role and questioned Cricket Australia's response to allegations surrounding their marriage.In an exclusive interview with Code Sports, Wright criticised the governing body's silence after she publicly accused Gardner of having an affair with Australia teammate Georgia Voll.Wright argued that Gardner's position of leadership should carry additional responsibility, particularly given her allegation of a power imbalance between Gardner and Voll.“I think if you’re privileged enough to represent your country and be seen as a role model, there’s a responsibility to hold yourself to a high moral standard,” Wright told Code Sports.She also questioned why Cricket Australia had not publicly addressed the matter.“What I can’t understand is why Cricket Australia hasn’t said anything publicly,” she said.Wright's comments come after she publicly identified Voll in an Instagram post in July, writing: “This is who my wife cheated on me with.” Gardner and Wright have since separated and removed photographs of each other from their social media accounts.Neither Gardner nor Voll has publicly responded to Wright's allegations. Cricket Australia has also not publicly commented on the specific allegations.Wright questions Gardner's leadership roleWright believes the allegations should have consequences for Gardner's position within Australian cricket.“You can’t have an affair with a junior member of staff, especially when there’s a clear power imbalance, and then remain in a position of leadership,” she told Code Sports. “Captains are expected to set the standard, and that kind of conduct falls well short of it.”Wright's comments put the focus not only on Gardner's personal situation but also on how Cricket Australia handles relationships within its professional environment.Code Sports reported that Cricket Australia has maintained that it regards the situation as a private matter while enforcing its workplace policies.The controversy has not, however, affected Gardner's standing with the Sydney Sixers, whom she captains in the Women's Big Bash League.Sixers general manager Rachael Haynes said the club remained supportive of Gardner and confirmed that it intended to recommend that she continue as captain.“She’s a well-respected player within our program, an important player for us,” Haynes said.Asked directly whether Gardner would remain Sixers captain, Haynes replied: “Absolutely.”Gardner made history last year when she succeeded Ellyse Perry as Sixers captain, becoming the first Indigenous cricketer to captain a Big Bash side.Gardner remains key figure for AustraliaThe controversy comes at a significant point in Gardner's international career. She is Australia's vice-captain to Sophie Molineux and was part of the Australian side that recently defeated England in the T20 World Cup final at Lord's.Her leadership credentials have also been strongly backed by the Sixers. Coach Matthew Mott previously praised Gardner's development, saying her maturity and cricketing intelligence had made her ready to lead the side.Gardner's future leadership role with Australia, however, is now facing fresh questions following Wright's latest intervention.Wright's comments have intensified scrutiny on Cricket Australia's handling of the matter, while Gardner and Voll have continued to remain publicly silent on the allegations.The situation therefore leaves Australian cricket facing a difficult balancing act between its players' private lives, workplace responsibilities and the expectations placed on those holding leadership positions.

Getting sacked is often viewed as a negative statistic for an NFL quarterback, but it doesn’t always tell the full story. Sometimes it’s the result of poor offensive line play, sometimes it’s a quarterback holding onto the football too long, and often it’s a combination of both.DraftKings recently shared an interesting graphic highlighting the only three quarterbacks who were sacked 50 or more times during the 2025 season. The numbers themselves are eye-opening, but the biggest surprise is how different each team’s season turned out. MORE: Former NFL first-round pick ready to break outThe three quarterbacksJacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) puts pressure on Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) during the first quarter in an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]Here are the 3 quarterbacks to reach the 50-sacks mark in 2025:● Geno Smith (Raiders) – 55 sacks | Team record: 3-14● Cam Ward (Titans) – 55 sacks | Team record: 3-14● Justin Herbert (Chargers) – 54 sacks | Team record: 11-6 At first glance, Herbert’s inclusion is surprising. While Smith and Ward both played on teams that finished with just three wins, Herbert guided the Chargers to an 11-6 record despite facing constant pressure throughout the season.Herbert Stands Out. The contrast couldn’t be more dramatic.Las Vegas and Tennessee struggled all season long, and their quarterbacks spent much of the year under siege behind inconsistent offensive lines. For the Chargers, however, Herbert overcame similar circumstances and still helped lead his team to one of the better records in the AFC.It serves as a reminder that sack totals don’t always define quarterback play. Sometimes they’re simply a reflection of the environment surrounding the player.Still, no quarterback wants to be on this list. If the Raiders, Titans, and Chargers hope to improve in 2026, keeping their franchise quarterbacks upright will be one of the biggest priorities heading into the new season.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —

2. Bundesliga: Relegated Heidenheim beat promoted Osnabrück in seven-goal thrillerHeidenheim started their 2. Bundesliga campaign with a 4-3 win over Osnabrück. Frank Schmidt’s side led 3-2 at the end of the first-half after Osnabrück cancelled out their first two strikes.New signing Marcel Costly assisted Budu Zivzivadze’s opener in the tenth minute. The Georgian striker started the season with the form he had at the closing stage of their Bundesliga campaign as his second goal was nullified for an offside.The 3. Liga champions then leveled the score from a set-piece opportunity in the midpoint of the first-half. Center-back Niklas Wiemann headed home after Konrad Faber’s initial delivery from a corner-kick parried away by Heidenheim’s defense.It was the turn of Osnabrück to fail to clear their lines when Costly restored Heidenheim’s lead five minutes later. Another five minutes later, Faber produced his second assist of the game when David Kopacz caught everyone by surprise with a stunning strike from outside the box.However, the newcomers were behind once again as Jonas Föhrenbach’s corner-kick was converted by Jan Schöppner in the injury-time of the first-half. The next goal also came from another corner-kick, but it didn’t arrive until the 89th minute.Heidenheim led by two goals for the first time as debutant Costly registered his third direct goal involvement with a perfect delivery to Marvin Pieringer. A couple of minutes later, Marnon Busch was penalized for a handball from Robin Meißner’s free-kick. Osnabrück’s last season top-scorer netted the seventh and last goal of the game from the resulting spot.Osnabrück pushed for yet another equalizer in injury-time, but the hosts held on to grab all three points in the opening matchday. Heidenheim will face Hertha away from home next week as both teams will hope to maintain their perfect start to the season. Osnabrück host Magdeburg, who lost 6-1 at home to Eintracht Braunschweig.

The NFL has all 32 teams in training camp, while 30 of them are approaching their first preseason games. Thursday night featured a thrilling Hall of Fame Game, and now the first official week of the preseason is approaching. Some teams, like the Las Vegas Raiders, have players who are clearly ready to get on the field.The Raiders became the center of a rather interesting training camp scuffle. While these incidents aren’t uncommon, it is unusual to see Kirk Cousins get his temper fired up, especially with a teammate like Maxx Crosby.MORE: Kirk Cousins, Maxx Crosby get into heated exchange at Raiders practiceNow, a former NFL player has given his take on the Cousins-Crosby confrontation. Will Compton offered a rather interesting take on who he thinks would actually win an escalated fistfight.Jun 3, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) hugs quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during organized team activities at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)“Knowing both of these guys… Kirk Cousins would beat the tattoos off of Maxx Crosby.” Compton said on X.It was already a little uncharacteristic to see Cousins let his frustration get the best of him. To suggest he’d take things that far with Crosby is also borderline baffling. It’s not to say that Cousins couldn’t, but it just doesn’t seem like his personality to go to that extent.MORE: NFL analyst sets massive expectations for Justin Herbert, Los Angeles ChargersCrosby is an intense EDGE defender who didn’t mind testing Cousins. He is one of the NFL’s most relentless competitors to grace the field. Cousins, especially after his Netflix debut, doesn’t seem like someone ready to put up his dukes.Jun 3, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) speaks during a news conference during organized team activities at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Then again, no one expected to see reports of this scuffle pop up on their news feeds. The Raiders are set to open their preseason against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday.New head coach Klint Kubiak will get his first opportunity to see his team in a live competitive atmosphere outside of training camp. It’s unclear if Cousins will play in the first preseason game or see the field during the preseason at all.Crosby likely won’t play in the first game due to his respected veteran status on defense. Regardless, Cousins and Crosby will likely have this well behind them by the time the Raiders take the field Thursday.

Why Napoli cannot sign Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus on loan this summerSerie A Napoli face a roadblock in their attempt to sign Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus this summer. According to today’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport via Calcio Napoli 24, Napoli’s interest in acquiring the services of Arsenal man Gabriel Jesus on a loan deal ahead of the new season cannot proceed due to the Brazilian’s contract tenure with the Premier League champions. The Partenopei have entered the market to search for a striker following Romelu Lukaku’s decision to leave the club. Jesus has been eyed by sporting director Giovanni Manna as the potential successor to the Belgian, but they must consider the external factors that will determine a transfer. Jesus has only one year left on his current contract with Arsenal, and therefore, he cannot leave on a season-long loan spell elsewhere. While he will be available to speak for a free transfer with any club in January, Napoli cannot wait that long to materialise his signing. Another problem is Jesus’ salary at Arsenal, where he earns €9 million net per season. Napoli cannot afford this figure right now, and will be required to speak to the player directly to lower it to agree on personal terms before they approach the Gunners for a possible transfer. Trambak Bhattacherjee | GIFN

A California unemployment benefits form is shown Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)2026-08-08T14:10:06Z The economy, inflation and how those forces could impact the lives of Americans were front and center over the past week. Trips to the grocery store and gas station are more painful than they were last year, and rising costs are impacting the decisions of both households and businesses.Here’s a snapshot of prominent economic data and news that occurred over the past week and what it potentially means for you.US employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobsU.S. employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs last month, and Labor Department revisions shaved 103,000 jobs off payrolls in May and June. The unemployment rate dipped to 4.1% only because Americans left the job market.The July jobs numbers from the Labor Department Friday marked a sharp reversal for the American labor market and a political setback for President Donald Trump less than three months before his Republican party seeks to keep full control of Congress in the midterm election. Forecasters had expected job creation to approach 100,000 last month.Local public schools cut 50,000 jobs in July, restaurants and bars 26,000, retailers 19,000.The 4.1% unemployment rate was the lowest since June 2025 – but it dropped for the wrong reasons: Fewer people were competing for work as 264,000 dropped out of the labor market. The share of those working or looking for work fell to 61.4%, the lowest since February 2021. US job openings decline in JuneU.S. job openings fell slightly in June, but the labor market continued to show resilience in the face of an economic shock from fighting in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.Employers posted 7.36 million vacancies in June, down from 7.54 million in May, the Labor Department said Tuesday. The numbers were in line with economist expectations. Openings rose by 97,000 at warehouse, transportation and utility companies and 39,000 at federal government agencies. Openings dropped at wholesalers and manufacturers of nondurable goods.Layoffs were little-changed at 1.8 million, and the number of people quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects — rose slightly. Read More Mortgage rates rise for 5th straight weekThe average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose for a fifth consecutive week to its highest level in just over a year, marking the latest strain for prospective homebuyers who are facing steep borrowing costs.The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.69%, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday, up slightly from 6.66% reported last week. By comparison, the average rate was 6.63% at this time last year — and hadn’t been higher than its current level since late July in 2025. Higher mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting homebuyers’ purchasing power. As rates rise, that can lead prospective home shoppers to delay buying a home, one reason U.S. home sales have been sluggish this year.Meanwhile, borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages — which are often sought by borrowers looking to refinance a home loan — fell slightly this week. That rate averaged at 6.01%, down from 6.04% last week. A year ago, it was at 5.75%, Freddie Mac said. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. US filings for jobless benefits climbThe number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week but layoffs remain in the historically healthy range of the past few years.U.S. filings for jobless aid in the week ending August 1 rose by 1,000 to 199,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The previous week’s figure was revised up by 1,000 to 198,000.Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered representative of layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the U.S. job market. Wall Street rises as unexpected job cuts raise hopes for easier rate policyStocks climbed on Wall Street Friday and Treasury yields fell after the government reported that employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs last month.The S&P 500 edged higher, and was hovering around the record it set on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq composite both rose. Every major index was on track for weekly gains.The bond market reacted more strongly to the weaker signal on the job market, which can be seen as allowing the Federal Reserve more time before raising interest rates to fight inflation.

A tourist takes a photo of Lake Mead near Boulder City, Nev., on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)2026-08-08T14:01:41Z BOULDER CITY, Nev. (AP) — Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States, has plummeted to its lowest water level since it was filled some 90 years ago, another sign of the crisis plaguing the Colorado River system.Water levels at Lake Mead hit 1,040.4 feet (317.1 meters) above sea level on Friday, according to federal data. That’s just below the elevation of 1,040.58 feet (317.27 meters) recorded on July 28, 2022 at the reservoir that straddles the Arizona-Nevada border outside Las Vegas.The record follows a winter that produced the worst snowpack on record in the Colorado River Basin. Melting snow feeds the river, which is relied upon by farmers, industries, wildlife, hydropower producers and more than 40 million people across seven U.S. states, tribal nations and Mexico. It comes a week after federal officials announced a short-term proposal to stave off a crisis in the beleaguered waterway. Federal officials stepped in after states that rely on the river — California, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah — failed to reach an agreement on how to share the dwindling resource long-term. Under the proposal, California, Nevada and Arizona would share water cuts. Years of overuse combined with drought and rising temperatures have been depleting Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the country’s second-largest reservoir. Together, the two bodies of Colorado River water are the lowest they’ve been in nearly seven decades.To protect the strained system’s ability to produce hydropower, federal officials said Thursday that they will not release cool Lake Powell water from Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona to protect a threatened native fish whose habitat is between the reservoirs. Severe drought in 2022 on Lake Mead, which is held back by the Hoover Dam, exposed human remains and forced water officials in Las Vegas to pump water from deeper within the reservoir to continue to supply water to millions of people. Read More ___The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment DORANY PINEDA Pineda writes about water, climate and the environment in Latino communities across the U.S. twitter mailto

Malawian migrants stand in a queue for their deportation at a temporary centre, in Durban, South Africa, on June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, file)2026-08-08T13:57:19Z HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — More than 178,000 African immigrants have left South Africa in recent months, spurred by a crackdown on undocumented migration by authorities and sometimes violent anti-immigration protests that have led many to leave citing fears of attacks.It’s one of the most significant migrant exoduses from Africa’s most advanced economy in years.The count is from authorities in the home countries the migrants have returned to. More than 115,000 people returned to neighboring Zimbabwe alone since late May and more than 56,000 returned to Malawi, according to those governments. Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique and Lesotho have said they’ve each had more than 1,000 citizens returning from South Africa.The returns are a combination of people deported by South Africa and others taking up repatriation offers by South Africa or their home countries — which make up the vast majority. South Africa said this week that some 19,000 people had been officially deported since April.Advocacy groups have raised a series of concerns over the sudden movements of people, including for the thousands of children who have been pulled out of schools and for HIV patients cut off from life-saving treatment. Anti-immigrant sentiment has surged in Africa’s top economyThe mass movements underline the complications of internal migration within Africa, even as international attention is rather focused on issues around migration from Africa to Europe — like the crisis sparked this month by more than 70,000 people scrambling across the border from Morocco into the Spanish territory of Ceuta. Read More In South Africa, groups have held a series of protests against illegal migration this year, culminating in nationwide demonstrations on June 30, which the groups said was a “deadline” for migrants in the country illegally to leave. Protesters march against illegal immigration in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Protesters march against illegal immigration in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The groups have claimed migrants without documents are contributing to South Africa’s high unemployment rate by taking jobs, while also putting pressure on public services. For decades, South Africa as the region’s richest country has drawn millions of migrants from other African nations to work on farms, in restaurants, in construction and other low-paid sectors. South Africa’s latest census data from 2022 said there were 2.4 million foreign nationals in a total population of 62 million, though the criticism from protest groups is that many more migrants are in the country without documentation. Migration is causing tensions between African countriesThe protests against illegal migration in South Africa have been accompanied by door-to-door campaigns by mobs where rights groups say migrants have been threatened and attacked, and their houses or businesses burned, including some who were in the country legally. Mozambique’s government said 11 Mozambicans have been killed in attacks in South Africa, while Nigeria and Ghana also claimed some of their citizens were killed. South Africa has disputed the numbers, saying some of those deaths were connected to crimes like robberies and not migration protests. Some killings are under investigation by police.But it has led to unusual diplomatic tensions between South Africa and other African nations who are accusing it of being xenophobic.Ghana pushed for the issue of what it alleged was South Africa’s anti-migrant and xenophobic problems to be on the agenda of an African Union meeting in October. South Africa blocked the move but called for wider talks on migration in Africa. 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. Thousands of children caught up in deportations and repatriationsUNICEF and the U.N.'s Committee on the Rights of the Child said in a joint statement they were deeply concerned over the fate of children caught up in the returns. They face heightened risks of violence, exploitation, family separation and psychological distress, “particularly when movements are sudden, undocumented and uncoordinated,” the agencies said. While some governments haven’t released full figures, Malawi said nearly 4,000 children under the age of 5 were among those who returned from South Africa. The Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Coordinating Committee, a non-governmental organization, estimated more than 11,000 children had returned to that country by mid-July. The government has instructed schools not to discriminate and to try to find places for returning children. Migrants queue at a deportation site in Durban, South Africa, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo) Migrants queue at a deportation site in Durban, South Africa, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Health officials and aid groups say many migrants fled South Africa without medication or medical records, raising fears of interrupted HIV treatment in a region with some of the world’s highest infection rates.Doctors Without Borders, or MSF, established clinic tents at Zimbabwe’s Beitbridge border post to treat people “who are traumatized” after losing access to lifesaving HIV and other chronic medication. The crackdown is set to continueSouth African authorities said Friday that some 3,000 people are still awaiting deportation at a migrant detention centre near Johannesburg, while around 6,300 inspectors have been deployed nationally to check if workplaces are illegally employing migrants who don’t have documents.South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned any acts of violence against migrants but also conceded to government failures around enforcing immigration laws. He has promised more technology and personnel to secure borders, new immigration courts to deal with deportations quickly, and stricter penalties for those employing migrants without documents.___Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa. AP writers across Africa contributed to this report.___AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chair Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, talks with ranking member Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., right, before the start a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh,File)2026-08-08T13:56:23Z The Protect College Sports Act failed to reach a vote during an all-night, pre-recess session in the Senate that ended early Saturday, though the bill did gain a spot on next month’s calendar after the chamber comes back from its summer break.The measure has been touted as one that would put guardrails around an escalating spending spree in college sports as the industry struggles to adapt to a new model in which teams can pay players.“College sports is something that needs to be fixed, they have a good solution,” said Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. “We got it teed up for next month.”The bill has been on a roller coaster since it was introduced in late May but quickly failed to gain support of the two biggest conferences: the Big Ten and SEC.Those conferences signed on and saved it from near death late last month after a flurry of negotiations. But as quickly as it was revived, it faced a reality check in the Senate, where lawmakers from SEC states, including Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., were among its biggest skeptics. Then, as the bill neared closer to a vote, the Congressional Black Caucus and AFL-CIO also came out against it. Amendments dealing with issues that were never part of the bill also started coming up.All that, combined with a packed list of votes including on a short-term funding bill and the narrow confirmation of Todd Blanche for Attorney General, pushed the PCSA toward the back of the Senate’s agenda. Bill co-sponsor Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said “my colleagues and I have worked hard to end the chaos” that surrounds college sports and predicted the bill would receive support of 60 or more Senators to keep it on path to becoming law. Read More Co-sponsor, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said she was grateful Thune put it on the calendar.“This bipartisan bill is how we protect women’s and Olympic sports,” she said. “I look forward to its passage in September.”If it passes the Senate, the bill still figures to face a steep climb in the House, which is more narrowly divided and tried for months to bring the less athlete-friendly SCORE Act to a vote and failed repeatedly. A rethinking of third-party NILAmong the bill’s biggest features would be a redefinition of “third-party” NIL — the name, image, likeness sponsorship deals that most blame for spiraling costs. Under current rules, schools can share revenue of up to $21.3 million among all players across their athletic program.But there’s an uncapped amount of extra money to be made via these third-party deals, which are often brokered through multimedia rights companies labeled “associated entities” that sell a school’s promotional assets and move some of that cash to the players in exchange for their NIL.The law would presumably shift some of those arrangements under a newly expanded revenue share of up to $48.8 million while leaving open the possibility of “organic” third-party deals that don’t come from an existing arrangement with the school. A good example: Caitlin Clark got her sponsorship deal with State Farm because she was Caitlin Clark, not because she played for Iowa, which happened to have a deal with State Farm. (The Hawkeyes don’t have such a deal.)Sports leaders hope this new “retention pool” of money curtails runaway costs. The MMR groups aren’t promising it will. “It’s going to continue to grow,” Christy Hedgpeth, the president Playfly Sports Properties, said in an interview this week with The Associated Press. “We have a lot of data that proves that they don’t have to be nationally recognizable. On an average roster, you’re going to have far more than 20 (players) who are going to have several NIL deals.”___AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed from Washington.___AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

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TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: India are rocked by another injury blow as their designated No. 3 batter Sai Sudharsan is all but ruled out of the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka, starting August 15 in Galle.The southpaw is undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) for a niggle in his foot, but the management was optimistic about having him available before the first Test got underway. However, as things stand, it is highly unlikely that the Tamil Nadu batter will get the necessary clearances for the crucial fixtures.Shaik Rasheed or Sarfaraz Khan could be drafted in as a replacement for the batter. TimesofIndia.com has learnt that Sarfaraz has already been at the CoE for his fitness assessment for over a week, and Rasheed has also been asked to report to the Bengaluru facility on Sunday.Rasheed recently toured with the India A team for the two fixtures in Sri Lanka last month, contributing scores of 45, 63 and 20 in the three innings. The youngster has been on the selectors' radar and was also scheduled to be part of a specialist batter camp at the CoE in the coming weeks. The camp is also set to feature players like R Smaran and Aman Mokhade.The Indian team management is reportedly worried about the lack of specialist batters and has already conveyed this need to the selectors. The selectors were keen to try out more specialist batters but could not because Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel featured in the two India A fixtures. It is understood that Sarfaraz has been advised by some key figures to bat higher up the order in the domestic circuit as he remains in the selectors' scheme of things.The Mumbai batter is a quality player of spin, has worked hard on his fitness and has had enough experience of international cricket to ease into the set-up. But as things stand, it would not be a surprise if Rasheed gets the nod, as his progress has been constantly tracked and the feedback from the coaches at the CoE has been very good for the 21-year-old. An official word from the Indian cricket board is awaited, which will clarify the replacement.Ruturaj Gaikwad is also in the fray and could be a wild selection call as he hasn't really set the stage on fire with his outings for India A.

Report: Arsenal make first move to hijack deal for world-class forwardBradley Barcola Transfer Latest as Arsenal Enter Liverpool BattleArsenal have stepped into the developing race for Bradley Barcola, with TeamTalk reporting that contact has now been made with the player’s camp as the club weighs up its options on the left wing.The situation is advancing, although Liverpool remain the frontrunners at this stage. The Merseyside club have already opened lines of communication with Paris Saint-Germain and have discussed the level of offer they may be willing to put forward. For now, that has not progressed into a formal bid, but the interest is described as concrete and active.Barcola’s desire to move is central to the story. The 23-year-old is said to be “keen to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer” and had already informed PSG earlier in the window that he wanted to go. That has naturally alerted elite clubs across Europe, with two Premier League heavyweights now featuring prominently.Photo IMAGOLiverpool hold edge in Barcola pursuitLiverpool have “done the most groundwork at this stage and remain in pole position”, which is an important detail in a market where relationships, timing and clarity often shape the outcome. TeamTalk also states that “the two clubs are in direct contact and Liverpool’s interest is genuine.”PSG’s stance is equally clear. The French champions “remain firm in their valuation” and believe “€150million (£128m) is a fair price for a player of Barcola’s calibre.” That figure would place any deal into record-breaking territory in Britain, so the next move depends on whether Liverpool are prepared to test that valuation with a formal proposal.There has also been an effort from all sides to calm assumptions. “Liverpool sources have denied that they have agreed a deal in principle,” while PSG have indicated no firm offer has yet landed.Photo IMAGOArsenal assessing left wing marketArsenal’s involvement is significant, even if it is still at the exploratory stage. The club have “made contact with Barcola’s camp as they continue to assess a number of options for the left side of their attack.” That fits a wider recruitment picture, with Julian Alvarez admired primarily as a striker and the search for a left-sided attacker remaining a distinct priority.Barcola is understood to be one of several names under discussion, though Arsenal are “prepared to consider a significant investment for the right player.” In practical terms, that keeps them in the frame, particularly if Liverpool hesitate over the scale of PSG’s demands.PSG valuation sets up major transfer decisionThis now looks like a test of conviction and budget. Barcola is pushing for a move, PSG are holding their line, and both Liverpool and Arsenal are watching the numbers closely. With “Arsenal now firmly involved in the conversation”, the race has become one to monitor carefully in the coming days.Photo IMAGOOur ViewFrom an Arsenal perspective, this is exactly the kind of report supporters will want to hear. The club need more explosiveness, more unpredictability and more one-v-one quality in the front line, and Barcola looks like a player who could bring all of that. If Arsenal are serious about competing on every front, they need another elite attacker who can change games quickly.The encouraging part is the wording around Arsenal being willing to make “a significant investment for the right player.” That feels important. For too long, fans have watched top targets drift elsewhere when the numbers became uncomfortable. If Barcola is viewed internally as a genuine difference-maker, then this is the sort of deal that should at least be pushed hard.There is also a broader point here. Arsenal’s attack can sometimes become a little predictable over the course of a long season. Adding a player with Barcola’s speed, directness and confidence could give the side a different dimension, especially against deep blocks.Of course, £128m is a huge fee and there has to be discipline. Supporters would accept the club walking away if the deal becomes unreasonable. But if Liverpool are truly leading and Arsenal admire the player, then this is a moment to be bold. Hopeful Arsenal fans will be thinking the same thing, if a top-class left winger is available and wants a new challenge, Arsenal should be right there until the very end.Source: TeamTalk

Auburn basketball is preparing for the 2026-27 season by taking an overseas trip to Greece, where it will face some of the toughest competition the European circuit has to offer. On Saturday, the Tigers open their excursion by facing KK Mega Superbet at Ano Mera Indoor Hall on the island of Mykonos at 11 a.m. CT, and will get a rematch with the same club on Sunday at the same time. The Tigers are nearly as healthy as possible entering this weekend's action, with key returners Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton, as well as notable transfers Thomas Dowd and Adam Olson, available to play. According to Auburn Athletics, four players will be unavailable for this weekend's games. Vanderbilt transfer George Kimbel II and Creighton transfer Owen Freeman are injured, and international signees Mantas Rubštavičius and Narcisse Ngoy are being held out of this weekend's games in Greece as they await eligibility clearance from the NCAA. This year's overseas excursion is the first for Auburn basketball under head coach Steven Pearl, and the first since the Tigers visited Israel ahead of the 2022 season. This weekend's games will not be live-streamed or broadcast, but fans will be able to view behind-the-scenes content via TheStreamU. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Who is available for Auburn's games against KK Mega Superbet?

Aug. 8—There are several moments and events that seem to indicate the official start of the college basketball season. One of those in Champaign is the annual Basketball Tip-Off Event hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Champaign-Urbana, which is now in its 102nd iteration.This year's event is in exactly one month — Tuesday, Sept. 8 — at the iHotel and Conference Center. Like in years past, the C-U community will get a chance to meet the current crop of Illinois basketball players, including several who helped the Illini reach the Final Four last season.for the event, with prices set for $70 for adults and $20 for children under 12. Proceeds will go to Kiwanis of Champaign-Urbana to help with the club's philanthropic, youth-focused community activities. Those include sponsorship of the C-U Kiwanis Little League, Camp Kiwanis Girl Scout Camp, the C-U Kiwanis Tom Jones Challenger League, Little Free Libraries and the Kendall Gill Golf Outing in support of Cunningham Children's Home.Doors will open for this year's event at 4:45 p.m., with a 5 p.m. cocktail social hour and hors d'oeuvres followed by dinner and dessert and the program featuring Illinois coach Brad Underwood. Underwood will preview the 2026-27 season and introduce all of the players.For more details about the event, contact Doug Fink at or by calling (217)-714-5204, or contact Joy Owen at Webber & Thies Law Offices at or by calling (217)-367-1126.

Aug. 8—Andrew Todd had his hands on the football quite a bit last season.The Fisher junior compiled a team-high 725 rushing yards on a team-high 113 carries during his sophomore season in 2025 with the Bunnies. Todd will once again have his hands on the ball quite a bit during the upcoming 2026 season.Just in a different way.After playing fullback last season with the Bunnies, Todd is moving to quarterback this season. He'll get his first chance under center at 7 p.m. on Aug. 21 when Fisher hosts Cumberland at Kellar Field in the Lincoln Prairie Conference debut for the Bunnies.A conversation third-year Fisher coach Jeff Palmer had with his son, Jake, this offseason prompted the potential of Todd moving positions. Jake coached the Bunnies from 2016-2021, guiding Fisher to three playoff berths and two postseason victories, including its most recent one in both categories in 2019.He's back on the sidelines this season, serving as Fisher's offensive coordinator."Jake and I were just talking about it, and Jake was like, 'Who's your best dude?'" Jeff said. "Andrew is another really, really smart and high-character kid. He's picking up the things we're doing really well. He's never played quarterback before, but he looks really good."Blake Green started the first five games at quarterback last season for the Bunnies, but graduated in May. Keaton Jones started the final three games as a freshman, but Jeff said the sophomore will serve as Fisher's backup quarterback this season.Fisher has shifted junior Bo Epperson, last season's second-leading rusher with 428 yards, to fullback from halfback for this season to take the place Todd once occupied."It's like having two fullbacks back there," Jeff said.The flex-T, run-based offense the Bunnies like to use means Todd won't have to throw the ball much. His teammates have noticed his progression when it comes to that part of the game as Fisher tries to bounce back from a 1-8 season in 2025."He's very well-rounded," senior running back Cooper Miller said. "When we were doing routes on air, I was a little skeptical of him, but when we went through our first two scrimmages this summer, he was throwing some good balls. He caught me in stride a few times, which was pretty nice. I think he'll do really good this year."Fellow senior and four-year starter on the offensive line Gavin Rushing said he was shocked upon first hearing Todd would move from fullback to quarterback. He's come around on the concept, though."I was not expecting it, and I was surprised, but then the more I thought about it, it's a perfect fit," Rushing said. "He's smart. I can trust him to make the right play and the right decision. He can scramble. We all know that, and he can definitely throw the ball."* * *Another small-school area program known for its run-first approach is making a change at quarterback, too.Except the 2025 Salt Fork quarterback is still on the Storm's 2026 roster.Salt Fork second-year coach Les Siefert said he is planning on starting sophomore Weston Church at quarterback this season, with Zayden Bromley moving to halfback in the Storm's wing-T offense for his junior season.Bromley accounted for 17 total touchdowns last season and almost 1,400 yards of total offense split almost evenly between running and throwing the ball."Zayden, like all of our kids, was open to do something different if we asked, and we thought this is going to make us better," Siefert said. "He is a very good athlete, and he can play a lot of different spots for us, especially at the skill positions."Church started at quarterback last season for the Storm junior varsity team and at cornerback on the Salt Fork varsity team, and now has the chance to hold on to the position for the next three seasons."We're excited about Weston," Siefert said. "We're hoping Weston can be that guy for the next few years."The graduation of Weston's older brother, Ian, had a bit to do with the changes the Storm are making at two important skill positions. Ian was Salt Fork's second-leading rusher last season behind returning senior fullback Jamison Chambliss, with both players topping 700 rushing yards in 2025."We didn't really have that type of back with Ian graduating," Siefert said. "We're confident Zayden can step in and do that."Chambliss led the Storm in carries last season and will likely do so again this season, running behind an offensive line that returns four starters and will feature senior Mousa Abudayya at left tackle, senior Blake Trimmell at left guard, senior Bennett Smoot at center, junior Cale Boyd at right guard and senior Travor Boyd at right tackle.Chambliss has been impressed by Weston Church's toughness from last season when he played two games despite having a broken elbow and improvement in the weight room this offseason."He came back from those injuries really well," Chambliss said. "He works very hard in the weight room and has put on a lot of size. He's gotten a lot more vocal since last year, and he's not afraid to say what he thinks. It seems like he's been at quarterback for a long time."* * *Among area programs, Mahomet-Seymour had the most nonconference games it had to fill among its nine-game schedule. That's because the Apollo Conference only has six members, with those five league games taking place from Week 4 through Week 8.So, the Bulldogs will host Morton on Aug. 21 in their season opener — the fifth straight season those two teams have met to kick off the season — before hosting Normal U-High on Aug. 28 and playing Champaign Central at Tommy Stewart Field in Champaign on Sept. 4. M-S will end the regular season at home against Bloomington on Oct. 16. U-High, a former Corn Belt Conference member with M-S, Central and Bloomington are new additions to this year's schedule after the Bulldogs played Morris, Sycamore and Peoria Richwoods in their other three nonconference games in 2025."I was very thankful to get to play Morris and Sycamore in the past," M-S coach Jon Adkins said. "Those were two programs I wanted on our schedule, and I loved it. I hate that we couldn't renew that, but understand why."Central and Bloomington are already on the schedule for the 2027 season, too, and Adkins said he'd like to keep Morton on well into the future."Morton has been awesome about renewing our contract," Adkins said. "I love playing those guys because they're so much like us."The Bulldogs' coach is also grateful to U-High and Central for scheduling a program that has made five straight trips to the Class 5A playoffs and is 46-15 this decade."Thankfully, U-High and Central wanted to play us because, to be quite honest with you, a lot of teams told us no," Adkins said. "There were a few other teams that had those weeks open and turned us down. I know the kids are looking forward to that Week 3 opportunity against Central, but we've got to worry about Week 1. That's going to be a great test for us."

2026-08-08T14:39:56Z VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — More than 20,000 people were ordered to leave their homes overnight in western Canada as a fast-moving wildfire grew rapidly and raced toward towns along British Columbia’s Okanagan Lake, destroying homes in its path.The entire community of Summerland, home to about 12,000 people, was ordered evacuated, along with about 8,000 people in and around nearby Peachland. Officials had not determined how many homes were destroyed.The Bald Range wildfire was first reported on Friday evening but grew to about 50 square kilometers (19 square miles) within hours, overwhelming the smaller community of Faulder and covering the roughly 15 kilometers (9 miles) to Summerland at extraordinary speed.Erick Thompson, an emergency official with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, called it one of the “quickest-moving, fastest-growing” wildfires the region had experienced. Thompson eventually had to abandon the emergency operations center and evacuate his own family.“I had to leave the EOC to come and get my family to leave this area. We’re heading south,” he said in a video posted early Saturday from his vehicle as traffic backed up around him.Canada has endured increasingly destructive wildfire seasons in recent years, forcing mass evacuations and repeatedly sending smoke across large parts of Canada and the United States. Videos posted on social media appeared to show multiple homes burning as residents fled along roads with flames on both sides.Homeowner Kerry Gold and her husband, Mike Elsinga, fled around 12:30 a.m. after watching flames spread beyond nearby mountains. Read More “It’s scary. It’s moving fast,” Gold said.The couple, who recently moved from the city of Vancouver, had packed bags, prepared a carrier for their cat and planned to help a disabled friend evacuate.“You want to stay here and protect your home, but you also don’t want to get caught in it,” Elsinga said.

A view of the entrance to the Bleiberg Barracks, in Mechernich, Germany. Around 10:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, the security center at the Bundeswehr base in Mechernich reported that two drones had been spotted over the property, a spokeswoman for the Bundeswehr's Operational Command confirmed upon inquiry. (Fotoreport-DB/dpa via AP)2026-08-08T14:37:00Z BERLIN (AP) — Two drones were spotted flying over a German military base in the western part of the country earlier this week, just two days after a drone carrying explosives was found at a key cargo airport, the German Armed Forces said on Saturday.Security surveillance at the Bundeswehr base in Mechernich reported seeing two drones around 10 p.m. on Thursday, according to a statement from the German Joint Force Command. The sightings were confirmed and military police forces deployed to the site.The military said the Euskirchen police department has opened an investigation. The police did not immediately respond to a request for comment and the military did not release additional details.Recently, drone sightings over civilian and cargo airports have been more widely reported. Last year, mysterious drone flights over the airspace of European Union member countries alarmed the public and authorities, and also prompted the cancellation of dozens of flights that stranded thousands of passengers. Thursday’s sighting of the two drones came after a drone with explosives was found at Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport shortly before midnight on Tuesday. The device was defused but German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the incident posed a “new quality of danger.”Leipzig/Halle is a major hub for international freight and for providing support to Ukraine. The planes that regularly use it include Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft. It is also home to NATO’s Strategic Airlift International Solution, or SALIS, which is currently operational almost every day in delivering equipment to NATO battle groups along its eastern flank from Finland to Romania and supporting EU and alliance nation missions. Read More In 2024, an incendiary device ignited at a logistics center at the airport and set fire to a freight container, part of a plot that Western security officials suspect was organized by Russian intelligence. Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of attacks and other incidents across Europe since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago. The Russian Embassy in Germany on Friday called the Leipzig drone incident part of a “new wave of anti-Russian hysteria in Germany.” STEFANIE DAZIO Dazio covers Northern Europe from Berlin for The Associated Press. She previously covered crime and criminal justice from Los Angeles. 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) reacts after the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)2026-08-08T14:28:40Z MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Jorge Messi, the father of soccer star and Argentina captain Lionel Messi, died Saturday at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario. He was 68.The Rosario-based Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys announced his death in a social media post that said he had undergone treatment in recent months for an unspecified illness. The post described him as “the pillar and the person who, with vision, rigor and affection, supported the career of the best player of all time, alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittini.”The South American Football Confederation, CONMEBOL, in a statement also offered its condolences “with respect and affection for Lionel.”Lionel Messi led Argentina to a runner-up finish in this year’s World Cup. In the team’s first match, against Algeria, he was visibly emotional after scoring the first of his three goals. He said later that he wept for “a reason unrelated to sports.” “I went through some difficult, complicated days,” he said. “I am grateful to the delegation, to all my teammates, because they were always by my side wishing me strength so that I would be OK.”Media reports at the time outraged the Messi family, which days later released a statement confirming that “Jorge is experiencing a health issue,” without specifying the nature of his condition. “A person’s health and the peace of mind of their loved ones should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible media interest,” according to the statement, which also expressed “discomfort at the lack of sensitivity, respect and scruples with which some people have treated a strictly private and family matter.”Jorge Messi was a chemical technician and worked as a steelworker. He played soccer as a midfielder and reached the youth ranks of Newell’s Old Boys but had to abandon the sport to complete his mandatory military service in Argentina. Read More He played a fundamental role in his third son’s career, serving as his agent and managing his business affairs. He was the one who traveled with a young Messi to Barcelona in the early 2000s for the trial that would open the doors to La Masia, the Catalan club’s youth academy. Lionel Messi made his professional debut in 2005 and went on to win eight Ballon d’Or awards. He led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title. “My dad was always by my side,” Lionel Messi said in a 2007 interview with Radio del Plata. “Sometimes I would lock myself in my room to cry when we arrived in Barcelona, or my dad would do the same without me seeing him, or thinking I didn’t see him. We pretended we were both OK, but we weren’t. My dad even asked me what I wanted to do when we were feeling down, if I wanted to stay or go back, and I wanted to stay, and he stayed with me.”His father negotiated the contracts with Barça and later his transfers to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, while also managing the use of his famous son’s image rights and his numerous investments in real estate, hotels, and restaurants.In 2016, father and son were convicted in the Spanish courts on tax evasion charges, but avoided prison because the sentence was less than two years. 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

The head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said that the waterway will remain closed until the United States meets certain conditions.

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 07: Foyesade Oluokun #23 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates a interception during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium on September 07, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images This week, we asked Jacksonville Jaguars fans to predict how many turnovers the defense will force in 2026. Two-thirds of respondents said 20-29 turnovers, and the other third said 10-19 turnovers. “We’re just continuing to improve our physicality and the X’s and O’s behind the game,” linebacker Foye Oluokun said after Friday’s mock scrimmage. “When we know that and everybody can trust the communication, we can all fly around. So, I like what I saw in terms of being in the right spots and stuff and kind of ramping up, getting ready for a real game. Kind of get that energy behind it with the mock game feel, but it’s always good to see us back out there playing football, talking with each other and flying around.”While the defense was among the league’s best at creating takeaways last season, head coach Liam Coen is hoping that consistently sticky coverage on the backend will help out the pass rush.“I really have felt like that [defensive backs] group has gotten better and better. I think that Araujo and Perk and Drew Lascari have done a great job coaching those guys and working on some technique of maybe being able to challenge people a little bit more and be able to play a little bit more man, or just match coverages. I think that only helps the rush in how much those two are usually tied together. But I’ve been very pleased.” According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Jaguars have +3000 odds to win Super Bowl LXI.

Betfred Super LeagueHuddersfield (36) 42Tries: Halsall 2 Rogers, Wrench 2, Hewitt, Dunford Goals: Flanagan 7Catalans (0) 20Tries: Condon 2, Darrelatour, Staines Goals: Sexton 2Fenton Rogers (left) celebrates scoring Huddersfield's second try [SWpix.com]Huddersfield Giants marked the announcement of their move to Dewsbury from next season by cruising past Catalans Dragons to register their third successive Super League win.Huddersfield let nearly 9,000 fans into the Accu Stadium for free to hear the news at half-time and six first-half tries made it a party atmosphere, scores from Fenton Rogers, Connor Wrench, Sam Hewitt, Zane Dunford and two from Sam Halsall bringing a 36-0 interval lead.Huddersfield went flat after the announcement, which received a mixed reception from fans at the Accu, and Catalans - who had Franck Maria deservedly sent off for a high tackle - responded after the break through a Ben Condon double, and further tries from Leo Darrelatour and Charlie Staines.Wrench scored a seventh try for Huddersfield, who remain bottom despite the rousing win but are showing signs of progress under Aussie head coach Jim Lenihan, who was appointed in May.Huddersfield's target is to avoid collecting the wooden spoon and they are desperate to still be a Super League club when they move to Dewsbury next year.The hosts were ahead in the fourth minute when Halsall marked his return after nearly four months out with a partial Achilles tear by intercepting the ball and running from deep inside his own half to score under the posts.Rogers powered over for his first try of the season after eight minutes before Halsall touched down in the left corner for his second score of the afternoon.Huddersfield and their fans were having fun in the sun and they celebrated their fourth try after 21 minutes when they turned over possession in their own half and Wrench ran away to score.This was uncharted territory for Huddersfield and on 31 minutes Hewitt grounded Tui Lolohea's kick for his first score of the season before Dunford powered over from close range for their sixth try a minute before half-time.The announcement of the move to Dewsbury seemed to deflate the atmosphere for the second half and John Cartwright's Catalans finally showed what they can do.Condon crashed over underneath the posts before Wrench intercepted the ball and ran most of the length of the pitch for his second score for Huddersfield.Catalans were reduced to 12 men when Maria was sent off for a reckless challenge on George King on 61 minutes but, incredibly, the French side went up through the gears to score three unanswered tries.Condon showed great strength to score his second try before Darrelatour went over in the right corner and Staines bagged their fourth try five minutes from time.Huddersfield: Flanagan; Jagger, Gagai, Wrench, Halsall; Lolohea, Clune (c); King, Woolford, Rogers, Hewitt, Dunford, Rushton.Interchanges: Powell, Greenwood, Cozza, Geyer: RushCatalans: Staines; Darrelatour, Cotric, Cellier, Makinson; Sexton, Dodd; Allen, Da Costa, Maria, Rogers-Smith, Lipowicz, Garcia (c).Interchanges: Bousquet, Condon, Leeming, Lis: Tison.Referee: Tara Jones.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have some distractions heading into the 2026 NFL season after a recent Aaron Rodgers interview continues to receive backlash.Fox Sports 1 host Nick Wright is just one of several members of the sports media community outraged. Wright is always quick to deliver a quality hot take on his shows “First Things First” and “What’s Wright with Nick Wright.” MORE: Rating every NFL game on the Monday Night Football schedule in 2026However, he might be in the right on this occasion after Rodgers’ controversial interview with Pat McAfee went viral for all the wrong reasons. The veteran NFL quarterback made several comments targeting ESPN’s handling of the Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel controversy and took a shot at Dr. Anthony Fauci.“I’m gonna plead the 5th,” Rodgers joked in front of the Steelers crowd. “Like that absolute coward Tony Fauci. Absolute coward. Are you kidding me? What are you scared of Tony? I thought you were science?”MORE: Josh Allen still blames himself for Sean McDermott’s firing months laterRodgers’ interview causes more dramaPittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers takes the field for a practice session at Training camp. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Wright’s clearly had fed up with Rodgers’ antics and isn’t holding back in his latest response video. The FS1 host isn’t willing to let Rodgers’ years of COVID-19 takes slide.“Aaron has created this fake universe of martyrdom where he took a stand no one else was willing to take, and he paid a heavy price for it,” Wright says.Rodgers recently announced that he plans on retiring after the 2026 NFL season. Meanwhile, that doesn’t mean that the NFL community won’t have to hear the quarterback’s takes throughout the year.His relationship with McAfee has certainly benefitted ESPN over the years. That’s included countless viral moments, especially when he revealed he was joining the New York Jets two years ago.Nick reacts to Aaron Rodgers most recent appearance on the Pat McAfee show. pic.twitter.com/50CxTZgFBL— What’s Wright? with Nick Wright (@WhatsWrightShow) August 7, 2026MORE: Fantasy football draft decision, Luther Burden vs. Rome OdunzeHowever, ESPN’s been forced to take the good with the bad after delivering many questionable takes on-air. McAfee clearly will continue to bring Rodgers on in the future given their relationship.That puts the network in a very uncomfortable position though, especially with tension high at ESPN after the recent layoffs.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —

Geno Smith's arm talent has never been difficult to spot. Over the course of a long NFL career, the New York Jets quarterback has earned praise for his ability to make throws that few passers can attempt, but according to offensive coordinator Frank Reich, the most impressive thing about Smith during training camp has nothing to do with arm strength.It's his focus."He's a leader of the offense and, make no mistake about it, in every way, shape and form," Reich said Friday. "To me, what has come crystal clear ... the attribute that sticks out to me is his laser focus. This man is laser focused like people don't understand. He comes to work. He comes to work, and he is locked in. And I feel like the whole offense plays off of that. That's a big deal."That offers insight into why Smith has quickly established himself as the unquestioned leader of the Jets' offense. While coaches often praise veteran quarterbacks for their experience or command of the playbook, Reich emphasized the daily example Smith sets for teammates. That leadership appears to be translating onto the practice field.Smith continued his strong training camp on Friday, completing 8-of-12 passes during team drills while connecting repeatedly with star wide receiver Garrett Wilson. The veteran has earned positive reviews throughout camp for both his command of the offense and his willingness to challenge defenses down the field."I love the competitive spirit of this team, Smith said. "I love the progress we've made so far but we've got a long way to go."For more from Reich, see the attached clip below:OC Frank Reich: "Geno is the leader of the offense. Make no mistake about it. This man is laser focused like people don't understand. I feel like the whole offense plays off of that" pic.twitter.com/Gjl4G3tYcX— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 7, 2026Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2026 NFL season. This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Frank Reich reveals what sets Geno Smith apart at Jets camp

Aug. 8—BEMIDJI — By Week 6 of the 2025 Bemidji State football season, the Beavers finally found a winning recipe at the quarterback position.For the first four weeks, the Beavers shifted between QBs Connor Carver and Zach Romak as starters. Carver's biggest weapon is his legs, and while he would be responsible for electric plays, he became ineffective as games went on, as defenses figured out how to contain him.The Beavers didn't fare much better with Romak, who's more of a pocket passer. Drives routinely stalled with him under center, and his completion percentage rarely rose above 50%.That's when BSU decided to turn to redshirt freshman Bart McAninch. After rookie mistakes cost him leading a game-winning drive in his first career start against Minot State, things turned around in Week 6 against Northern State.McAninch appeared more comfortable in the pocket, and the Beavers secured their long-awaited first win of the season at homecoming, 24-21.His numbers didn't jump off the paper — he went 12 for 17 with only 87 yards passing and an interception. But it was the way the team used Carver that really changed the Beaver offense.Instead of being the main QB, Carver routinely popped in as a running back or as a wildcat QB. Two plays — a rushing touchdown and a 44-yard passing touchdown to Jake Hill — were the difference makers.With McAninch running a more traditional offense and Carver coming in as a wild card, BSU went 4-2 and ended the season on a high note.Now entering the 2026 season, Bemidji State's QB room has more options than ever before.McAninch now has six collegiate starts under his belt, and the coaching staff believes he'll do nothing but improve. There's Carver, whose skill set is so vast that he'll be used at any position besides offensive line.Then there's newcomer Mack Molander, a transfer from Augustana. The junior has only thrown11 passes in his collegiate career,but the coaching staff believes that he's another starting-capable QB that Bemidji State has to choose from.With the additions of freshmen Sam Johnson and Louis Bucksa, it's led to a competitive and talented QB room."Our QB room is amazing. We might have the best room on the team, I would say, just personality-wise," Carver said. "With me, Mack and Bart in general, I think it's just super competitive, but a lot of minds mixing and helping each other all the time, pushing each other to do better."Coaches have not decided who's going to be the starter on Aug. 27 for the season opener against Michigan Tech. Whoever it's going to be, they'll have some new faces to throw to.BSU's top two receivers from 2025, Drayton Lehman and Jake Hill, have both graduated. Combined, they accounted for more than half of the team's total receiving yards and touchdowns.Receivers who took on supporting roles last year will have their chance to shine this fall. Head coach Brent Bolte pointed to redshirt sophomore Lucas Peterson, redshirt junior Kaleb Miller and senior Zavery Guerra as ones to watch."All three of those guys are bringing a lot back for us," Bolte said. "Then we brought in a few guys — Tyree Lockett is a really good player, was a transfer (from Eastern Michigan) this summer. We also brought in, I think, some really talented freshmen that'll have a chance."So they're new, a lot of them, right? I think three or four guys that really have playing experience in the system. But overall, I think there's a pretty good group of solid guys."All five players who finished top five in rushing for Bemidji State in 2025 are returning. QB Carver led the team in rushing yards and touchdowns, while redshirt junior Antonio Brown, redshirt sophomore Isaiah Tisdle, redshirt senior Jayden Washington and redshirt freshman Mitch Olson return to the running back room with experience. Each running back recorded 30 or more carries last season."(They run) in different ways, but bring a lot back to the table," Bolte said of the running backs. "So it's fun to be able to have that amount of depth."Sixth-year senior Zach Ott returns to captain the young offensive line for the Beavers, a position they reloaded on in recruiting during the offseason. In that position group, there are 15 underclassmen on the roster compared to just six upperclassmen.Tight end may be the youngest position group on the team. Nolan Verdi, Gavin Oelschlager and Jaxon Bartkowicz are all redshirt freshmen or younger. While tight ends rarely appeared on the scoresheet last season, their role will likely help the offensive line with blocking.The same goes for fullbacks, of which Bemidji State has four on the roster. Redshirt juniors Eli Pfeiffer and Jadon Hellerud will likely lead that position group.After it took a while for the Beaver offense to get going in 2025, players like Carver are as confident as ever that the offense will find success quickly this fall."I think we were trying to find spots for a lot of guys (last year)," Carver said. "We had a lot of athletes trying to fill holes — we had a lot of young guys. Those guys are developed now. I found a spot just all over the place. Bart's developing really well. Our running back room's insanely deep. Obviously, our offensive line's always amazing."So it's just finding and putting guys in the right spot, making sure we're making the right play calls, and (we'll be) just rolling."The Beavers will open the season at home against Michigan Tech on Aug. 27 at Chet Anderson Stadium, with kickoff at 6 p.m.

The government agency Health Canada announced last week it has ended its restrictions on gay and bisexual sperm donors. Aziz M. told CBC he has “had a wonderful experience” as a sperm donor, with one child conceived with his sperm remaining an active part of his life. But when he encouraged other queer friends to donate, he realized it wasn’t an option for many. Related Hair salon forced into anti-discrimination training after horrific anti-LGBTQ+ Facebook rant Health Canada’s policy until 2024 banned men from donating sperm if they had sex with other men within three months due to an alleged higher risk of HIV and other STIs. Aziz challenged the policy in 2023. “It kind of reminded me of all the prejudice that we gay and bisexual men get in life and all the negative opinions that society often holds against us,” he explained. “It felt like it was a group judgment. Like, anybody from that group is having, you know, risky sexual behavior and they’re diseased.”He decided to continue the suit even after Health Canada changed the language from banning men who have sex with men to anyone engaging in anal sex. Aziz felt that was merely transferring “an explicit discrimination to an implicit one” since “the same group of people are more likely to be disqualified.” Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Affidavits submitted by three medical experts explained that the process in place to screen sperm for infectious disease was sufficient without needing to ban anyone for sexual behavior, CBC reported. Dr. Mona Loutfy, who specializes in infectious diseases, reportedly wrote that HIV testing methods today “are highly sensitive and accurate, such that there is effectively no residual risk associated with current testing methods.” And now, before Aziz presented the case in court, Health Canada announced it will completely eliminate the sexual behavior questions targeting gay and bisexual men from the donor screening process. In a statement, it said, “The Government of Canada is committed to making sure that sperm and ova donation policies are safe, non-discriminatory and based on scientific evidence.” Bennett Jensen, legal director for the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Egale Canada, called the case “an important opportunity to examine long-standing assumptions about sexual orientation in relation to HIV.” Jensen also told CTV News he is “filled with so much gratitude towards Aziz for tirelessly fighting this issue and not being willing to give up. It’s incredibly burdensome to be handling litigation, especially with respect to something that’s so personal. And I think that he’s done just an incredible public service for Canadians.” Gregory Ko, a lawyer on the case, called the move “an important and precedent-setting step in ending decades-long discrimination against gay and bisexual men.” Another lawyer, Frank Nasca, said the change “really took a massive push from Aziz and from others to get the government to really look closely.” Canada does not allow payment for sperm donation and so suffers from a lack of supply. Emily McIntosh, executive director of the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society, told CBC eliminating the unnecessary rules could help. Aziz is excited about the update and hopes more queer men will donate as a result. “For a lot of queer people, it’s very hard to have to build our own family and to have our own kids,” he told CBC. “It takes a lot of money and a lot of effort. This is a way to contribute and enrich our lives at the same time.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

By protecting a star from plagiarism charges, a storied college undermined its values.

When you don’t have a lot of traditional storage space like cabinets and closets in your home, it’s usually wise to start looking at your walls as a storage solution. Unfortunately, thanks to appliances like your fridge and oven, your kitchen may not have a lot of wall space to spare. But maybe you’ve been thinking about it all wrong. After all, what is the side of a fridge but a giant magnetic wall? READ MORE...

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has spoken about how fake news and online trolling can spread quickly, recalling an incident involving Pakistan cricketer Babar Azam during the 2023 ODI World Cup.Pathan said a false story claimed Babar had refused to give him an interview because of his alleged comments about Pakistan. According to Pathan, the report was created using a manipulated photograph.“The trolling and fake attribution happen every day," Pathan said on JioHotstar.He explained that a Pakistani media outlet had published a story suggesting he had approached Babar for an interview, only to be turned down.“The media in our neighbouring country once ran a story claiming that I had gone to interview Babar Azam, and that he refused because, according to him, ‘He trolls our country, so I won’t give him an interview.’ It was a complete lie. Someone had photoshopped my face onto a picture," he said.Pathan clarified that the person in the original photograph was actually a young Bangladeshi reporter who had approached Babar but was denied an interview.“The person in the original image was a young Bangladeshi reporter who had gone to the ground for the first time and was refused an interview. They literally put my face on his body and spread the story. It got over a million views, and people believed it was me. This happens every day, but I don’t respond. Every day, some lie is told in our name or about some player. If you keep responding to everyone, you won’t be able to live your life," he added.Pathan was part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team and was named Player of the Match in the final against Pakistan. He took 301 international wickets and scored 2,821 runs. In the IPL, he played 103 matches, taking 80 wickets and scoring 1,139 runs.

Jon Scheyer isn’t afraid of challenging his team with a difficult non-conference schedule. The Duke head coach hopes that the tough matchups early in the season will prepare his squad for ACC and tournament play, and once again, he’s loaded up the early part of the Blue Devils’ season with some marquee battles.Before the official season even begins, the co-favorites to win the national title will face off against Tennessee and Kansas, the latter in Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.The regular season hits the ground running with a matchup against perennial Big 10 powerhouse Michigan State on Nov. 10 in the United Center in Chicago. The Spartans reached the Sweet 16 last season before falling to UConn, who went on to defeat Duke in the Elite Eight and make the national title game.A home game against Illinois, which made the Final Four this past season, arrives on Nov. 17 before Scheyer and his squad fly west to take on Washington State in Palm Desert, Calif., on Nov. 21 and a rematch against UConn on Nov. 25 in Las Vegas. A battle of the two favorites to bring home the national title trophy comes on Dec. 1 when the Blue Devils travel to Gainesville, Fla., to face Todd Golden’s Gators. After the Brotherhood Game against Harvard, another SEC foe awaits in Georgia when Duke battles the Bulldogs in Madison Square Garden on Dec. 8. Duke returns to Madison Square Garden on Dec. 21 for a rematch against Texas Tech. The Red Raiders pulled off an 82-81 upset victory over the Blue Devils last December in the same venue.The final non-conference game comes in the middle of ACC play when the Blue Devils face off against Gonzaga in Detroit on Feb. 20.Here is the complete non-conference schedule: PreseasonOct. 8 - vs. BelmontOct. 20 - vs. TennesseeOct. 25 - at KansasRegular SeasonNov. 2 - vs. ArmyNov. 5 - vs. Coastal CarolinaNov. 10 - vs. Michigan State (Chicago, IL)Nov. 13 - vs. SIU EdwardsvilleNov. 17 - vs. IllinoisNov. 21 - vs. Washington State (Palm Desert, CA)Nov. 25 - vs. UConn (Las Vegas, NV)Dec. 1 - at FloridaDec. 4 - vs. HarvardDec. 8 - vs. Georgia (New York, NY)Dec. 15 - vs. CampbellDec. 17 - vs. Grambling StateDec. 21 - vs. Texas Tech (New York, NY)Feb. 20 - vs. Gonzaga (Detroit, MI)This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Duke basketball completes 2026-27 non-conference schedule

Joshua Kushner runs the investment group behind the plan to buy a minority stake in the World Cup [Getty Images]Fifa has been forced to U-turn on plans to sell off a slice of the World Cup after fierce opposition, with threats of future boycotts and calls for the governing body's president, Gianni Infantino, to quit.But why were a group of tech investors interested in the World Cup in the first place, and are similar proposals in the future inevitable? In a world in which AI could upend human recreation and pastimes, executives at Thrive Eternal, a spin-off of venture capital firm Thrive Capital, saw an opportunity to lead a group of investors to place cash in the biggest sporting competition on the planet.The football World Cup was seen as the latest in a new strategy from the firm, which believes that sport will not only survive the AI revolution, but grow in value. Run by Joshua Kushner, the brother of US Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared, Thrive mainly invests in technology companies developing artificial intelligence (AI) and it has been a major financial backer of OpenAI.But in April this year, the New York City-based entity created the new investment arm Thrive Eternal in order to invest in areas that have "qualities that cannot be replicated by technology".Sport is central to that strategy, and that is where football - and securing a minority stake in the World Cup under Fifa's proposed Forward Enterprise (FFE), - became an opportunity.The view is that the tradition, cultural and identity aspects of football will protect the sport from being upended by AI compared with other forms of entertainment such as movies and music, which are already seeing the technology start to replace humans.Professor Simon Chadwick has worked in the global sports industry for 30 years, including working with both fan groups, football clubs and governing bodies Fifa and Uefa.He said investment interests and commercialisation in general meant a lot of decisions were being made on behalf of football and fans "in Wall Street and Silicon Valley"."It is almost as though it's crept up on us and a lot of people haven't really thought about what's happening," he told the BBC.While it raised governance questions for Fifa, he added: "Whether people like it or not, private equity investment in sport is happening."Uefa says boycott may still go ahead as FA withdraws Infantino supportFaisal Islam: Four reasons why Fifa's World Cup plan never stacked upDespite this summer's World Cup, hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, providing an clear picture of World Cup commercialisation, the BBC understands talks over the FFE proposal involving Thrive started last year, with former Liberty Media boss Greg Maffei brought in as a commericial adviser for his experience in buying the commerial rights for Formula 1. Thrive also hired former Disney chief executive Bob Iger.Thrive Eternal already invests in other sports. As part of its launch, it announced it had agreed to buy a chunk of the San Francisco Giants baseball team There are also reports the firm is eyeing up a bid for a new NBA franchise in Las Vegas.It believes that such "iconic franchises and cultural institutions rooted in tradition, identity, and shared experience" will not just survive the AI revolution, but "will matter even more", according to its website.Kushner and Thrive Eternal have remained silent on the Fifa investment plan and the subsequent fallout.But a source close to the firm told the BBC the strategy behind the plan, which would have required the backing of Fifa's member associations, was that it would not be like a "typical investment fund looking for a speedy return on investment". The source said investors preparing to stump up the $4.2bn (£3.1bn) initial investment were doing so with the view of not seeing any return for a "long period of time - decades", due to Thrive Eternal being structured as a holding company.They higlighted had the FFE proposal been activated, it would have given each member association a stake worth as much as $91m each based on its $20bn valuation - stressing that the equity would be controlled by Fifa, not investors, and to sell part of that equity would have been down to individual member associations."The idea of outside investment...was to channel more resources upfront to countries that wouldn't typically get access to outside funding - so they could invest in things like stadiums and training to be able to develop their game domestically," the source said.According to Fifa, the aim of FFE was "to separate the business of football from the governance of the sport".In England, the business of football has exploded, especially since the establishment of the Premier League, so much so that the financial rules, transfer deals and boardroom gossip have become just as popular conversation topics between fans as the action on the pitch.US investment in football is not new, and the amount of American dollars being poured into English and other European clubs has been growing broadly since the Glazer family bought Manchester United more than two decades ago.But some question where Fifa - and the World Cup - needed this cash injection. Fifa has claimed the World Cup is "under-monetised", but hydration break adverts, dynamic ticket pricing and record broadcast and sponsorship rights have put the 2026 edition on track to generate record revenues. The 48-team tournament and potential for an even bigger 64-team competition gives a view of further commercial opportunities. More countries equal more viewers, which equals more money.Christina Philippou, an associate professor in accounting and sport finance at the University of Portsmouth, said the approach by Fifa to seek outward investment had been seen in other sports and by individual football clubs when cash flow had been a problem."Fifa are not in a position where they are desperate for money. In fact, they could very easily, with the money they already have, increase those payouts to the member associations. So there is no need to go external."Thrive Eternal is understood to respect the decision to take the plan off the table, but it is clear that interest, with or not this specific investment group, remains focused on football.

PFL Charlotte sent fans home sleepy on Friday night. Making his sophomore appearance in the promotion, Charlotte's own Bryan Battle entered the cage to take on Dalton Rosta. The middleweight main event ended somewhat controversially, as the hometown middleweight Battle (13-3, 1 NC) came out the victor via a lackluster split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).Rosta (11-4) started the early goings of the bout with some strong leg kicks early, chopping at Battle's upright stance. That appeared to be a great recipe for success until it was entirely abandoned for a big Rosta body-lock takedown. Control didn't last for Rosta, as Battle defended well, pushing down Rosta's hands as he stood and walked around the cage wall. That was effectively where the rest of the round was spent until the 30-second mark. Some strikes were attempted between the two, leading to a failed late Battle double leg.The second frame saw Battle get more aggressive, seeking long punches until Rosta worked his legs with kicks again. Those shots forced Battle to switch stance, and allowed Rosta to pursue another takedown. The remainder of the round was largely "highlighted" with more wall control exchanges and minimal strikes interjected.Rosta connects! 👊#PFLCharlotte | Main Card LIVE NOW on ESPN pic.twitter.com/v1xkUSAdhJ— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 8, 2026Round 3 saw Battle tied up within the first minute to land some elbows and punches against the cage. Rosta started to land some punches at range once separated, and it was right back to failed takedown attempts and cage control in arguably the most forgettable fight of the year.For Battle, the former UFC welterweight prospect will likely climb the PFL middleweight rankings with his win. After the fight, he threw out the idea of a future matchup against new PFL co-owner, Most Valuable Productions' Jake Paul.Bryan Battle vs. Jake Paul?? 👀#PFLCharlotte | Main Card LIVE NOW on ESPN pic.twitter.com/a2SZfUqpcr— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 8, 2026"Considering the merger, I think it's a great time to make a splash," Battle said in his post-fight interview with Dan Hardy and Sean O'Connell. "I don't think Jake Paul would fight me, but I'd fight Jake Paul, for sure."Rosta, on the other hand, now rides a three-fight losing skid after the close defeat. Prior to the stretch, Rosta had only lost once, which came against Aaron Jeffery in their Bellator days before Rosta scored redemption in what was his last win in June 2025.Earlier in the night, some big highlights were delivered in the forms of Denis Goltsov running through Hasan Mezhiev and Maxwell Djantou Nana crushing Eduardo Neves with a nasty body shot.DON'T BLINKDENIS GOLTSOV FIRST ROUND DOMINATION 😱#PFLCharlotte | 📺 Prelims LIVE NOW on the ESPN App | Main Card 10PM EST on ESPN pic.twitter.com/gcLDxNdRKZ— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 8, 2026SHUT. HIM. DOWN.MAXWELL DJANTOU NANA GETS IT DONE IN THE THIRD ROUND.#PFLCharlotte | 📺 Prelims LIVE NOW on the ESPN App | Main Card 10PM EST on ESPN pic.twitter.com/AUoYYDSpzf— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 7, 2026Catch full PFL Charlotte results below.Main cardBryan Battle vs. Dalton Rosta via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)Simeon Powell vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 30-27) Aaron Jeffery vs. Josh Silveira via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)Brandon Lewis vs. Lewis McGrillen via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)Josh Fremd def. Jhony Gregory via TKO (punches) at 1:44 of R2 | Watch finishPrelimsDenis Goltsov vs. Hasan Mezhiev via TKO (head kick and punches) at 0:52 of R1 | Watch finishCheyden Leialoha def. Robbie Ring via unanimous decision (30-27 All)Cheyanne Bowers def. Elora Dana via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:26 of R1 | Watch finishLandry Ward def. Michael Boylan via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)Bruno Cappelozza def. Valentin Moldavsky via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)Jonathan Martin def. Wilson Lopshire via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-25, 30-27)Maxwell Djantou Nana def. Eduardo Neves via TKO (body punch) at 2:01 of R3 | Watch finishTrey Waters def. Trukon Carson via TKO (knees and punches) at 4:37 of R1 | Watch finish

Real Madrid have published their starting lineup for the upcoming match against Ferencvaros, the second preseason friendly.Real Madrid starting XI: Lunin, Dumfries, Martinez, Rivas, Carreras, Camavinga, Valverde, Güler, Ciria, Brahim, Endrick.Ferencvaros starting XI: Dibusz, Osvath, Raemaekers, Gomez, Cadu, Corbu, Kanichowsky, Zachariassen, Levi, Yusuf, Joseph.Mourinho will finally have some depth in this one, so it will be interesting to see if he uses his bench a bit more than he did last week against Fiorentina. Madrid will face Deportivo next Wednesday, so it will be important for the coaching staff to manage the legs of their players carefully.HOW TO WATCH, STREAM REAL MADRID’S PRESEASONDate: 08/08/2026Time: 19:00 CET, 01:00pm EST.Venue: Ferencvaros Stadion, Budapest, Hungary.Available TV: Real Madrid TV.Available Streaming: Real Madrid TVManaging Madrid has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links.

Psychology Today published a fascinating article up on why straight guys have sex with other men a while back. I’ve said it repeatedly on Bilerico, but if it weren’t for straight guys I wouldn’t have had as much sex when I was younger. A good 50% of my experiences have been with straight guys. Most of my closest friends have been straight guys and I’d say I had sex with 99% of them. None of them identified as bisexual; the closest was one friend who called himself “hetero flexible.” Most of the guys just like the extra attention. As one friend said to me once, “If the gay dude is hitting on me and thinks I’m hot, then I know it’s true. Y’all have good taste. Most gay guys look better than straight guys.” It’s a flattery thing. Combine that with the opportunity to get their rocks off and it’s win-win in their world. One guy told me he wished I was straight or bi so we could include a woman and, therefore, have sex more often. It felt good and got him excited, but the absence of his preferred sexual partner – a woman – would make it better for the straight guy. He liked me, sex was fun, but it wasn’t quite “right” since he wasn’t bisexual. Understandable. Bi guys and straight guys are different. Many of my friends have always said that those guys weren’t actually “straight” and argued that they were at least a little gay. I disagreed, but no one ever seemed to really grock what I was telling them. The orientation and gender of the person they are f**king didn’t matter. What matters is that they are getting off. Period. It’s fun and enjoyable and there are no strings or romantic involvement. At best, it is a f**k buddy arrangement – but mostly close friends who occasionally get off together when bored or horny. Turns out, I was right all along. After going into a lengthy description of the differences between sexual identity and orientation, sexual preferences, sexual fantasies, and sexual behavior, the author gets to the heart of the matter. For straight men who have sex with men, same-sex encounters aren’t about romance or sexual attraction and desire, but about sexual and physiological arousal-“getting off” with another who’s male and accessible. They don’t sexually desire or get aroused by looking at other men, only by the sexual act. But if they don’t actively desire other men, how do they get to the point of having sex with them? These men typically want to bond with and get affection from other men. Their behavior may reflect a desire to experiment, to engage in something that’s taboo, or to express inner psychological conflicts involving their sexual feelings and desires that have nothing to do with having a gay or bisexual identity. Straight men who have sex with men do so for a variety of reasons. Some have been sexually abused and are compulsively reenacting childhood sexual trauma by male perpetrators; some find sexual release with another man more accessible; some have sex with men because it’s easier and requires fewer social skills than those required to have sex with women; some are “gay for pay” and get financial rewards; some like the attention they receive from other men; some like anal sex, which they’re otherwise too ashamed to talk about or engage in with their female partners. My (now ex-)husband, Jerame, is always amazed at my ability to flirt with a straight guy and get him to flirt back. Once when we were having drinks at a sports bar with friends, Jerame regaled the table with tales of my exploits and how straight guys will respond to me so easily, but no one believed him. I’m usually able to tell within a few minutes if the guy would go to bed with me and as the waiter left, I told them that he was do-able. They insisted I demonstrate. By the end of the evening, he’d given me free drinks, stopped checking on them altogether unless I ordered for them, given me his number so we could “hang out,” and had bought me a pack of cigarettes. What can I say? I have a gift. No matter the reason, I’m glad they occasionally do. Now if we could just move everyone past the labels to the heart of the matter: Does it feel good and not hurt anyone? If so, go for it.

PHILADELPHIA − After being away from the Eagles for a week, star right tackle Lane Johnson came to a realization upon his return.\n "Looking like, this is, potentially going to be probably my last year," Johnson said on Aug. 8. "Because I am getting to that point of those priorities away from football are starting to merge. I love everything about this game and preparing for it. But it's kind of where I'm at in my career. I'm looking forward to this year, playing the best I can and staying healthy."\n Buy Philadelphia Eagles tickets\n Johnson was away from the team from July 31-Aug. 7. The Eagles said they were excused absences and not injury related. Johnson returned for the Aug. 7 practice and also practiced on Aug. 8. Speaking to the media for the first time since he left, Johnson said he was away to attend to personal issues.\n He added that his mother is dealing with some health issues, and that he wants to see his kids grow up.\n Johnson will be leaving behind a certain Hall of Fame career. He was the Eagles' first-round pick in 2013 (No. 4 overall), and a full-time starter from Day 1.\n Johnson was selected to six Pro Bowls, with three of them (2022-24) coming after he turned 30 years old. Johnson, long considered one of the top right tackles in the NFL, would have been selected to the Pro Bowl again last season if not for a Lisfranc injury that ended his season midway through.\n Still, Johnson said the decision to retire after this season gives him the impetus to go out with another All Pro season (he was named an All Pro five times). Johnson said when he left last week, the plan was always to return. \n "I still feel like I can be a premier tackle in this league," Johnson said. "I'm here, my team supported me, and I'm where I need to be."\n Then he added this: "You can't play forever. Not everybody can do what LeBron James is doing. I am 36. And it is weird to say, but all the support and all the love here. I plan on having a really good last year."\n Check back later for more on this developing story\n Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the "Eye On The Eagles" newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com\n This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles' Lane Johnson cites LeBron James in stunning decision on future

The Oregon Ducks are well stocked at the quarterback position in the near future, with potential No. 1 pick Dante Moore leading the way in 2026 and former five-star and two-year Nebraska Cornhuskers starter Dylan Raiola waiting in the wings likely with two years of eligibility remaining. Five-star Will Mencl is also set to join the Ducks as part of the 2027 class.But that doesn't mean head coach Dan Lanning and offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer are resting on their laurels. They've been involved in 2028 five-star Donald Tabron II's recruitment recently, and were included among his top three, which also consisted of the Texas A&M Aggies and LSU Tigers. On Saturday, he officially announced that he will make a commitment decision on August 15 on the Rivals YouTube channel.🚨NEWS🚨 Elite QB Donald Tabron II will announce his commitment live on the Rivals YouTube channel August 15⏳Tabron is the No. 3 QB in the 2028 class.Read: https://t.co/I2wNjY5TyKpic.twitter.com/piJzj19vNu— Rivals (@Rivals) August 8, 2026Rated as a five-star, Tabron is the No. 3 quarterback and No. 29 player overall in the 2028 class, per 247Sports Composite. He competes for Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan, where he's the 2nd-ranked player in the state. Moore is also a Detroit native, potentially making it two extremely talented Ducks quarterbacks from the Motor City. But it will take some convincing for that to happen, as a crystal ball with 100% confidence has been placed for Tabron to land with at Texas A&M. The Ducks have both flipped and surprised with gaining the commitment of a number of prospects before, with Tabron now the next target in that category.Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon QB target Donald Tabron II announces commitment date

The Tennessee Titans wrapped up their annual Blue & White scrimmage at Nissan Stadium on Friday night and will now turn their attention to the joint practice and preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers.The Titans had a competitive and spirited scrimmage where the team went through over 100 plays that challenged both sides of the ball, leaving head coach Robert Saleh pleased with the efforts.#Titans HC Robert Saleh seemed very pleased with the scrimmage and how well they were able prepare as they go into joint practices with the Niners. #NFL#TitanUppic.twitter.com/rK800t9TF3— Courtlandt L.M. Griffin (@thecgriffy) August 8, 2026“It’s not perfect, it’s just being locked in for special teams, and the different transitions. It’s not realistic, but it’s as close as we can get in preparation for next week.The Titans did not go “live” within the scrimmage, but it did provide a solid baseline with simulated game conditions before the Titans head west to meet up with the 49ers in the first of their joint training camp practices. The Titans are a young team, and all of the reps that they can get will be important to development, and Saleh liked the effort put on the field on Friday night.This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans training camp: Robert Saleh 'pleased' with teams preparation

Nyquist wins the 2015 Best PalOnce in a while, a particular race invokes memories of a great horse. For me, the Grade 3 Best Pal, to be contested at Del Mar today, reminds me of Nyquist.Nyquist, now a terrific sire and well into his second career, was an unbelievable 2-year-old: after breaking his maiden on first asking at Santa Anita in June of 2015, he put together his best race by figures in the Best Pal. He went on to win a pair of races in September - both of them Grade 1s - before winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He kept his undefeated streak into the 2016 Kentucky Derby, and after a win in Louisville, many wondered if we could get back-to-back Triple Crown winners.“We all booked New York as soon as he crossed the line in the Derby,” John Cherwa, my former editor at the L.A. Times, told me. Alas, that year’s Derby runner-up, Exagerrator, got the best of Nyquist in the Preakness. Nyquist never won again, but retired with Grade 1 wins at 5 tracks in 4 states. Just a spectacular 11 months of racing, and one that I’ll always appreciate.Today’s Best Pal features a trio of terrific runners, and I’m hopeful we’ll meet a Breeders’ Cup contender. Let’s meet the field, and put together our weekly wager. If you’re wagering on Del Mar, check out AmWager! They have a $50 deposit match for new customers, and a player-friendly platform.Grade 3 Best Pal. 6 furlongs, dirt. 2-year-olds. $150,000.1. Phone Booth. 12/1. Jockey: Umberto Rispoli. Trainer: Doug O’Neill.In many stakes this time of year, you see a resume similar to Phone Booth’s: one run, one win. What you see less often: a win from a stalking trip on debut. Phone Booth did just that - sitting just off the leader in his debut effort prior to doing his best running at the end. If the clock was right, and he can keep rolling, he could enter into the exacta today.2. He Is No Lie. 2/1. Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo. Trainer: Doug O’Neill.Trainer Doug O’Neill liked He Is No Lie’s effort on debut enough to ship him to Churchill Downs for a run in the $225,000 Bashford Manor, a top 2-year-old race in Kentucky. He sped to an early lead before tiring in the stretch. He’s been working steadily in the mornings, so don’t be fooled by the workout times: he turns it on on race days. He is the class, and most likely winner.3. Hughes. 3/1. Jockey: Juan Hernandez. Trainer: Bob Baffert.Hughes exits a debut win at Los Alamitos, winning easily over the 5 furlong test in Cypress. Baffert has won the last 4 editions of this race, so leave Hughes out of your tickets at your own risk.. Hughes is by Into Mischief out of a Union Rags dam, so his breeding suggests he has the best chance to be the Nyquist of the group. Baffert isn’t known to debut his best at Los Al, but Hughes should be competitive in this group.4. Icanthelpmyself. 8/1. Jockey: Armando Ayuso. Trainer: Brian Koriner.Trainer Brian Koriner will send Icanthelpmyself to the gate for the first time today. The problem: Koriner’s last 20 debut runners didn’t win. Toss.5. You Want Some. 8/1. Jockey: Kazushi Kimura. Trainer: Peter Miller.Trainer Peter Miller will likewise send a maiden to the gate, with a son of champion sprinter Volatile. You Want Some has shown some ability in the mornings, but this is a big ask against a trio of more experienced and capable runners.6. Kennyten. 9/5. Jockey: Ricardo Gonzalez. Trainer: Vladimir Cerin.Kennyten exits a win on debut, putting up one of the best maiden-winning speed figures in California this year. Trainer Vladimir Cerin doesn’t have a huge operation, but when his horses win, they win again: 21% of his horses return to the winner’s circle after a win in the previous race. Kennyten is a son of the exciting freshman sire Drain The Clock, whose progyny have been running lights out. Include.The Sporting Tribune Wager$5 Early Pick 3, Starts Race 1 ($40): 4,5 / 1,3 / 2,6. Good Luck!

Wanted him to join Real: ex-Neymar adviser reveals wild storyNeymar’s career has been marked by highs and lows. The Brazilian reached his peak during his time at Santos and then, of course, at FC Barcelona. But as Neymar’s former advisor Wagner Ribeiro has now revealed, things could have turned out very differently.The Brazilian revealed that he actually wanted Neymar to join Real Madrid, FC Barcelona’s arch-rivals. A scenario that might have taken the career of one of the most talented players of the 21st century in a completely different direction.In the end, though, it is all speculation. After his time at Barça, Neymar moved to PSG for the record fee of €222 million and later went to Saudi Arabia before returning home to Santos FC.Now it’s your turn: Would Neymar’s career have gone better if he had joined Real? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments!This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

Psychology Today published a fascinating article up on why straight guys have sex with other men a while back. I’ve said it repeatedly on Bilerico, but if it weren’t for straight guys I wouldn’t have had as much sex when I was younger. A good 50% of my experiences have been with straight guys. Most of my closest friends have been straight guys and I’d say I had sex with 99% of them. None of them identified as bisexual; the closest was one friend who called himself “hetero flexible.” Most of the guys just like the extra attention. As one friend said to me once, “If the gay dude is hitting on me and thinks I’m hot, then I know it’s true. Y’all have good taste. Most gay guys look better than straight guys.” It’s a flattery thing. Combine that with the opportunity to get their rocks off and it’s win-win in their world. One guy told me he wished I was straight or bi so we could include a woman and, therefore, have sex more often. It felt good and got him excited, but the absence of his preferred sexual partner – a woman – would make it better for the straight guy. He liked me, sex was fun, but it wasn’t quite “right” since he wasn’t bisexual. Understandable. Bi guys and straight guys are different. Many of my friends have always said that those guys weren’t actually “straight” and argued that they were at least a little gay. I disagreed, but no one ever seemed to really grock what I was telling them. The orientation and gender of the person they are f**king didn’t matter. What matters is that they are getting off. Period. It’s fun and enjoyable and there are no strings or romantic involvement. At best, it is a f**k buddy arrangement – but mostly close friends who occasionally get off together when bored or horny. Turns out, I was right all along. After going into a lengthy description of the differences between sexual identity and orientation, sexual preferences, sexual fantasies, and sexual behavior, the author gets to the heart of the matter. For straight men who have sex with men, same-sex encounters aren’t about romance or sexual attraction and desire, but about sexual and physiological arousal-“getting off” with another who’s male and accessible. They don’t sexually desire or get aroused by looking at other men, only by the sexual act. But if they don’t actively desire other men, how do they get to the point of having sex with them? These men typically want to bond with and get affection from other men. Their behavior may reflect a desire to experiment, to engage in something that’s taboo, or to express inner psychological conflicts involving their sexual feelings and desires that have nothing to do with having a gay or bisexual identity. Straight men who have sex with men do so for a variety of reasons. Some have been sexually abused and are compulsively reenacting childhood sexual trauma by male perpetrators; some find sexual release with another man more accessible; some have sex with men because it’s easier and requires fewer social skills than those required to have sex with women; some are “gay for pay” and get financial rewards; some like the attention they receive from other men; some like anal sex, which they’re otherwise too ashamed to talk about or engage in with their female partners. My (now ex-)husband, Jerame, is always amazed at my ability to flirt with a straight guy and get him to flirt back. Once when we were having drinks at a sports bar with friends, Jerame regaled the table with tales of my exploits and how straight guys will respond to me so easily, but no one believed him. I’m usually able to tell within a few minutes if the guy would go to bed with me and as the waiter left, I told them that he was do-able. They insisted I demonstrate. By the end of the evening, he’d given me free drinks, stopped checking on them altogether unless I ordered for them, given me his number so we could “hang out,” and had bought me a pack of cigarettes. What can I say? I have a gift. No matter the reason, I’m glad they occasionally do. Now if we could just move everyone past the labels to the heart of the matter: Does it feel good and not hurt anyone? If so, go for it.

Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., from left, seated alongside daughter Nicole Nordone and husband Larry Nordone, looks on as a South Carolina Republican Senate candidate stump event gets underway ahead of the special GOP primary to replace her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, in Lexington, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)2026-08-08T15:55:45Z FLORENCE, S.C. (AP) — Few people have anything bad to say about Darline Graham, who was catapulted from obscurity last month when she was appointed to replace her late brother Lindsey Graham in the U.S. Senate. “I think Darline’s wonderful,” said Kathy Bustos of Mount Pleasant, after attending a Republican forum last week.But that doesn’t mean Bustos wants to vote for her in the state’s special primary on Tuesday.“I think it’s a very nice gesture for her to have the rest of his term to complete, but I’m not sure that she’s really qualified or ready to be elected to the Senate,” she said.It’s a common sentiment among Republican voters pondering an unexpected decision about replacing Lindsey Graham, who was nominated for a fifth term before he died from a tear in his aorta. Darline Graham was often by his side throughout his career, but she remains largely unknown in South Carolina’s clubby political circles.President Donald Trump has endorsed her, and she’s backed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is running television advertising to support her candidacy. However, Graham has been largely absent from the campaign trail, spending most of her time in Washington as an interim senator. Her appointment to the role, instead of giving her a leg up over the competition, may ultimately hold her back by preventing her from getting to know voters during a weeks-long sprint to Tuesday. A crowded field of contenders She is up against several well-known Republicans, including Representatives Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, as well as former Gov. Mark Sanford. The crowded field makes a runoff more likely, and it would be held on Aug. 25. All of them spoke at a Friday meeting of the Fourth District Republican Club in Greenville, but Graham sent a video message, saying she was “in Washington working hard for you.” She promised to be “a great friend and ally” to Trump and that she wanted to “earn your vote.” And at a candidate event in Florence on Saturday, where Graham was expected to speak, some of her supporters said they backed the interim senator’s decision to stay in Washington, even if it meant not campaigning.“She committed to not missing votes or not being there to push forward with those bills,” said Teresa Castrinos, who made the hours-long drive from Bluffton to see Graham. “I feel like she’s putting South Carolina first. She’s wanting to fulfill her time as a senator right now, so I really admire her for that.” Read More A low profile in Washington — and on the trail While Lindsey Graham was single and well known around the world, his sister lived a relatively quiet life with her husband and daughters in Lexington, South Carolina. She spent years in state government, working with people with disabilities and as agency head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. So far, her only public campaign event was a candidate forum in Lexington. Charles Brentnell of Greenville County, who was still considering his options, said he liked her decision to stay in Washington when the Senate was in session.“Let’s keep the Senate at the Senate instead of taking a month off for no good reason,” he said. Graham also participated in one of two televised debates, where she backed Trump’s plan to change filibuster rules to make it easier to pass strict proof-of-citizenship voting legislation. While other candidates came to speak to the media gathered afterward, Graham skipped the session and merely gave a thumbs-up outside when asked how she felt the debate had gone.In contrast to her loquacious late brother, Graham has not spoken with reporters in Capitol Hill hallways or fielded questions on the stump. She’s spoken at length to Fox News personalities Sean Hannity and Trey Gowdy, both of whom eulogized Lindsey Graham at memorial services last month, and granted two interviews to local news outlets. A second debate took place while Graham was in Washington on Tuesday, a date her campaign pointed out had been scheduled despite the senator’s conflict. Gigi Bray of Charleston said the idea of Darline Graham serving in the interim makes sense, but electing her to a full term does not.“I think it’s a great honor for her to hold her brother’s spot till November, but it’s time for a change,” said Bray, who backs Sanford. “I don’t think she has a lot of government experience, and I think right now, with the state of our country, I think it’s very important that somebody has experience.” ___Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP MEG KINNARD Kinnard covers national politics for The Associated Press. She lives in South Carolina. twitter instagram mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert talks to media at a news conference before a WNBA All-Star basketball game between Team Coop and Team Spoon in Chicago, Saturday, July 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)2026-08-08T16:07:42Z WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has sent a memo to teams that addresses ongoing discussions around transgender athletes in women’s basketball.“I know many of you have received questions in recent weeks regarding transgender athlete participation in women’s basketball, and I expect this topic will continue to receive significant attention,” Engelbert wrote in the memo, which was sent Friday and obtained by The Associated Press. “I wanted to reach out to share how we are approaching these conversations at the league office and to thank those of you who have responded to questions from the media with thoughtfulness and professionalism.”The memo said the topic will be discussed further by a task force of team presidents and general managers at a previously scheduled meeting next week.In an ESPN article published last month, Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham voiced support for barring transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s sports. Cunningham’s comments sparked small rallies and protests in Seattle and Portland when the Fever were on the road last week. There was a lone protester at the Fever’s home game against Las Vegas on Thursday night. Indiana visits Chicago on Saturday. Members of two conservative groups are planning a rally in support of Cunningham ahead of that game.The league hasn’t made any public comments on the issue. Engelbert wrote that the league will “always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league. Second, our player eligibility rules, unlike the eligibility rules of some other leagues and governing bodies, are collectively bargained. Lastly, preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition will always remain among the league’s highest priorities.”The league’s collective bargaining agreement states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” but it does not include any more specific language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth. On Friday, two former NBA players, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, saying they identify as women. Read More “We recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we will continue to have important conversations with all of you and the Players Association in the weeks and months ahead,” Engelbert said in the memo. “We also plan to convene additional discussions and offer listening sessions for any team leaders who would like to participate. Your perspectives and feedback are invaluable, and I appreciate those who have already reached out to share their thoughts.” The WNBA players’ association released a statement on social media Friday that emphasized diversity and inclusion while saying the group “will not be used as political pawns.”“We embrace justice equity, diversity, and inclusion,” the statement read. “Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women’s sports while creating transformational change. Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm. We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns.”Some WNBA players and coaches have come out in support of transgender athletes, including Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson and Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve. “We need to protect trans kids,” Reeve said on Aug. 1. “To me, it’s a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports.”___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Until the UCLA Bruins are in College Football Playoff contention, which has yet to happen in the CFP era, all UCLA fans can do is root for the demise of the rival USC Trojans. USC also has yet to make a CFP appearance but that might change in 2026.The Trojans went 9-4 last season and added another strong recruiting class, which should only help USC’s depth while giving head coach Lincoln Riley fewer excuses for missing the playoffs.Riley has been able to churn out strong offenses, the big questions for the Trojans reside on the defensive side of the ball. While UCLA had the worst scoring defense in the Big Ten last year, USC wasn’t too far behind with the eighth-worst defense in the conference.With the USC defense being the question mark, Trojans Wire writer Matt Zemek discussed whether or not he believes that the Trojans’ defense can take a step in 2026 under first-year defensive coordinator Gary Patterson.“I am skeptical about the defense. It got bullied last year by the best opponents on the Trojans' schedule. Lincoln Riley coaches soft defenses. It is what it is. That's his track record. USC fans don't like it, but they really can't argue the point, either. Lincoln Riley has to prove he can field a team with a snot-knocking defense,” Zemek said. “Until that's proven, Riley and USC by extension have simply not earned the benefit of the doubt. The defensive line is easily the most important position group. Jahkeem Stewart is the headliner, but even if he plays well, he can't do it himself. USC's defense was bad even when Tuli Tuipulotu was playing elite ball in 2022. It can't be one guy. It takes a village, as the saying goes. The jury is out on whether USC has that village in 2026. Those guys have to prove the skeptics wrong, and I'm one of the doubters.”USC will face Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana in the regular season, giving their defenses three matchups against elite offensive units.This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Will the USC defense improve enough in 2026 to lead to a CFP run?

The Miami Dolphins wrapped up their second week of training camp with a practice session on Saturday that took place inside Hard Rock Stadium for the first time under new head coach Jeff Hafley.With plenty of fans and media members in attendance for this ninth practice session of the year, we have quite a few videos of the players on the field and the work that they were doing.Let's see how the Dolphins looked on Saturday.Sully And Hafley 👀👀 Stadium Practice #phinsuppic.twitter.com/27mc5MJFAh— TonyH (@TonyH305) August 8, 2026Jonah vs Grant 👀 pic.twitter.com/T2u5DFEEVI— TonyH (@TonyH305) August 8, 2026Paul vs Uche 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/eOJICmVmf8— TonyH (@TonyH305) August 8, 2026Butler vs Ester 🐂🐂 pic.twitter.com/Hbhurx65gM— TonyH (@TonyH305) August 8, 2026What a nasty battle between Phillips and Brewer in 1 v 1’s today. #PhinsUppic.twitter.com/dTnWysHcOY— Reason (@the_real_reason) August 8, 2026Jacob Rodriguez making plays 👀 pic.twitter.com/PI8e66uJPX— TonyH (@TonyH305) August 8, 2026Touchdown Achane! pic.twitter.com/gftgrT3k5v— TonyH (@TonyH305) August 8, 2026Malik Willis rushing TD 👀 pic.twitter.com/CY0rj8Uo0z— TonyH (@TonyH305) August 8, 2026Chop with the sack 👀 pic.twitter.com/ZL7MH3mnrp— TonyH (@TonyH305) August 8, 2026Malik using his legs off of play action and rifling the completion on the shallow crosser. #PhinsUppic.twitter.com/zbgInVgxc3— Reason (@the_real_reason) August 8, 2026@the_real_reason what a boring scrimmage pic.twitter.com/4MtvlahcN2— Tommy in Hialeah 🇵🇷🐬 (@Dolphinfan201) August 8, 2026@the_real_reason playing catch pic.twitter.com/1YAvDiv4vd— Tommy in Hialeah 🇵🇷🐬 (@Dolphinfan201) August 8, 2026@The_Phinstones Tutu with a catch pic.twitter.com/rBL902SzWj— Tommy in Hialeah 🇵🇷🐬 (@Dolphinfan201) August 8, 2026@KevHarlanEffect Malik to mali pic.twitter.com/NSm3mqw6Ly— Tommy in Hialeah 🇵🇷🐬 (@Dolphinfan201) August 8, 2026@DouglieDoWrongpic.twitter.com/drRTZxthOt— Tommy in Hialeah 🇵🇷🐬 (@Dolphinfan201) August 8, 2026@KevHarlanEffect Malik to Douglas pic.twitter.com/MenPrEanQP— Tommy in Hialeah 🇵🇷🐬 (@Dolphinfan201) August 8, 2026@the_real_reasonpic.twitter.com/O1chcUrJfu— Tommy in Hialeah 🇵🇷🐬 (@Dolphinfan201) August 8, 2026@KingOfPhinland check dow Ewers pic.twitter.com/zt8najDunb— Tommy in Hialeah 🇵🇷🐬 (@Dolphinfan201) August 8, 2026@DouglieDoWrong Ewers goes deep pic.twitter.com/yy4sCNnaFY— Tommy in Hialeah 🇵🇷🐬 (@Dolphinfan201) August 8, 2026@KevHarlanEffect looks like its all run plays now pic.twitter.com/Hj72a4e8MB— Tommy in Hialeah 🇵🇷🐬 (@Dolphinfan201) August 8, 2026We will add more videos as they become available.This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Highlights from Day 9 of Miami Dolphins training camp

Lane Johnson knows his NFL career can’t continue forever. He also knows very few athletes can match LeBron James’ ability to defy time. While discussing his potential retirement Saturday, the Philadelphia Eagles right tackle referenced the new 76ers star and acknowledged that he can’t play forever like James.“I plan on having a really good last year,” Johnson said.James will enter his 24th NBA season at 41 years old after signing with the 76ers. Johnson is preparing for his 14th NFL season at 36, an impressive run for an offensive lineman who has spent more than a decade absorbing collisions from some of the league’s most powerful defensive players.Eagles star RT Lane Johnson likely planning to retire after this season#LaneJohnson says he can’t play forever like LeBron JamesJohnson says family reasons a driving factor as his kids get older and his parents battle health issues “I plan on having a really good last year” pic.twitter.com/BphCJlKvi8— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) August 8, 2026The LeBron comparison added humor to the conversation, but Johnson’s reasons for considering retirement are serious.Johnson said his children are getting older and his parents have dealt with health issues. He missed four training camp practices with an excused personal designation before returning to the team Friday. That time away reinforced the responsibilities pulling him toward life after football.Lane Johnson: “Looking like this is probably, potentially going to be, probably my last year, just because I had gotten to that point of those priorities away from football are starting to merge. Not that I don't enjoy (it) — I love everything about this game and preparing for it… https://t.co/rqcNjsHDs0— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) August 8, 2026Lane Johnson: "I thought about it last year, really. Lots of conversations with my family, my kids. My oldest is turning 13 in a few days. It’s hard to get time back, especially those years, I feel are very pivotal. It’ll be a fun transition. But as far as my focus is on here…— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) August 8, 2026Johnson is months away from submitting retirement paperwork or making a final announcement. Still, saying he plans to have a strong “last year” was his clearest indication that 2026 will probably close one of the greatest careers in Eagles history. Philadelphia selected Johnson with the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. He has earned six Pro Bowl selections, five All-Pro honors and two Super Bowl championships while developing into one of the best right tackles of his generation.Johnson returned this season because he didn’t want a Lisfranc injury to determine how his career ended. The injury cost him the final seven games of the 2025 regular season and Philadelphia’s wild-card loss to San Francisco.James has extended his career into territory rarely reached by a professional athlete. Johnson appears content with a different ending.He wants to stay healthy, help Philadelphia make another championship run and finish his career on his terms. If 2026 is his final season, Johnson has already defined the goal: make it a really good one.This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Lane Johnson jokes he can’t play forever like LeBron James

Luis Garcia (left) and Xabi Alonso spent three seasons together at Liverpool between 2004 and 2007 [Getty Images]When Chelsea arrive in Malaysia for the final leg of their pre-season tour, new manager Xabi Alonso will be reunited with former Liverpool team-mate Luis Garcia.Garcia is now the chief executive of Johor Darul Ta'zim, who welcome Chelsea to their 40,000-capacity Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Sunday.The two Spaniards go way back to 2004, when they both signed for Rafael Benitez's Liverpool on the same day.Despite facing each other multiple times in the Spanish football ecosystem, that day at Anfield was the first time they met properly."He told me he didn't speak English too well before our unveiling press conference," Garcia told BBC Sport."I answered the first question in Spanish, as we had a translator present, and he answered in perfect English and I thought: 'Why you little?!'"Both started in Liverpool's dramatic Champions League final win over AC Milan at the end of that season and they went on to play together for Spain.Garcia says they remain "really good friends" and have stayed in touch, but insists Alonso is facing a difficult final overseas friendly.After matches in Australia and other parts of Asia against elite European football opposition such as Tottenham, Juventus and AC Milan, Chelsea's tour ends in Johor.The match will be a monumental moment in the JDT's history and for Malaysian football as a whole. "Chelsea is the biggest test we will face this season," Garcia admits. "I'll be so happy to welcome them in Johor. The stadium is going to be packed. "We can't wait to challenge ourselves against a top club, top players and it is great to face Alonso. I can assure you on Sunday we will compete."I wish him all the best [at Chelsea], but even though I love him, hopefully he ends up second to Liverpool next season."Xabi Alonso (second from right) scored Liverpool's third goal in the 2005 Champions League final [Getty Images]'We want Malaysia to reach the World Cup some day'JDT drew with Rangers and Spanish second-division side Elche before beating Cartagena, as they took on European opposition in a training camp in Alicante. They have not lost a domestic match since 2021 and are currently on a world record-equalling 108-game unbeaten run, which could soon be extended when the Malaysian season restarts in August.Success on the Asian continent is also becoming a realistic prospect after reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League last season."Hopefully in the first game of the season we'll break one of the most incredible records in football, that is the domestic unbeaten run," Garcia said."The owner is the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Ismail Tunku. He has taken the club on an amazing journey. Top-class stadium and training facilities that people will be talking about."We don't have a limit, and that motto of 'the sky is never the limit' is something that we repeat quite often in the dressing room."Those facilities are based on Real Madrid's aptly nicknamed White House training base.Garcia, who splits his time between Spain and Malaysia, gained his Uefa Pro Licence and sporting director licence after retiring.However, his work also extends to commercial activities and wider planning behind the scenes, although he leaves the coaching duties to compatriot Xisco Munoz.There are also Spanish coaches throughout the backroom staff and academy, delivering best-in-class coaching to Malaysian talent."We want to increase the level of Malaysian football and have a fantastic academy. We brought Spanish coaches to the academy so we can get closer to the best, professional style of work," Garcia added."Spain winning the World Cup shows you the value of having a coaching programme and a football philosophy that lasts 25-30 years."We got to the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League and would like more Malaysian teams in the competition."The next step is to compete in the Asian Champions League and last year was our main introduction. We arrived there, and we kind of caught up with the situation. It was difficult against teams that [have] got budgets that pass over $150m (£111.2m) and we only have $15m, so it's quite a difference, a big gap between."But we want to contribute to the development of Malaysian football to reach the World Cup some day."Who will exit Chelsea? How Blues could cut 41-man squadMudryk returns after 20 months out in Chelsea defeatLatest Chelsea news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about Chelsea - what do you want to know?

Training camp began for the New York Jets and there is plenty of optimism surrounding the team in 2026. By most accounts, the team had a terrific offseason adding quality veterans with familiarity playing for head coach Aaron Glenn and also set themselves up for a nice future with their 2026 NFL draft class at key positions.Jets Wire will break down each position and focus on key matchups as well as discuss a player that has plenty to prove to this coaching staff in 2026. For our next position breakdown, we look at the defensive line: 2025 RecapIf not for general manager Darren Mougey making a few moves right before the start of the season, this would have been one of the worst defensive lines in all of football. The Jets added plenty of depth last offseason, signing Jay Tufele, Byron Cowart and Derrick Nnadi to rotate next to Quinnen Williams. However, neither of the three distinguished themselves in camp and only Tufele made the final roster. Cowart was injured in training camp and released with a settlement and Nnadi was traded back to the Chiefs after winning a Super Bowl in Kansas City the previous year.Mougey acted quickly, acquiring Jowon Briggs from the Browns and Harrison Phillips from the Vikings. Both were substantial upgrades on the defensive line and Briggs was arguably one of the team’s best players last year.The Jets traded Williams to the Cowboys at the deadline, and the line struggled the rest of the season. The defense finished 29th against the run allowing an average of close to 140 yards per game. They also generated little to no pressure on opposing quarterbacks, ranking 31st with 26 sacks. Only their former coach’s defense in San Francisco was worse.2026 Depth ChartT’vondre Sweat, Harrison Phillips, David Onyemata, Jowon Briggs, Darrell Jackson Jr. (Rookie), Mazi SmithMougey and head coach Aaron Glenn made sure to prioritize fixing the defense and focused most of their attention on the defensive line. The first move Mougey made was acquiring Sweat from the Titans. Sweat was one of the best against the run last year in Tennessee, finishing with a PFF grade of 83.4, ranking him fifth overall. He’s only 24 years old and is massive at 6’4”, 366 lbs. He’ll be the anchor of the defensive line.Onyemata has been a modicum of consistency over his entire career and played for Glenn in New Orleans. He is excellent against the run, finishing with a PFF grade of 74.3, ranking him eighth overall. He had 21 pressures last year with the Atlanta Falcons and his 42 solo tackles ranked him ninth overall among defensive linemen.Jackson Jr. was the Jets fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft and brings plenty of size at 6’5” and 337 lbs., but will need time to develop before carving out a role on the defensive line. Luckily, with the depth the Jets currently have, there is no need to rush his development this year.Player With Most to ProveJowon BriggsDespite how bad the 2025 season turned out, Mougey may have gotten the steal of the season when he acquired Briggs from the Cleveland Browns for a seventh-round pick. Briggs generated 38 pressures las season to go along with four sacks. He finished with a PFF pass-rush grade of 85.6, fourth best among 134 interior defensive linemen.Briggs now needs to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke. He’s heading into 2026 with high expectations and there is more depth on the defensive line with the additions of Onyemata, Sweat and Jackson Jr. Briggs may become more of a pass rushing specialist as he was one of the best on the defensive line to pressure the quarterback. He's only signed for this season at a little over a million dollars and will be a restricted free agent in 2027. Needless to say, he'll have plenty to prove if he wants to get a big pay day on his next contract.Key MatchupDarrell Jackson, Jr. vs. Mazi SmithI know, I know. I'm nitpicking a bit with this matchup because, quite frankly, there probably isn't one. Smith was part of the Quinnen Williams trade last year and was mostly an inactive for the last part of the season. The odds are stacked against him to even get a roster spot, let alone crack the defensive line rotation. But, stranger things have happened and Smith could wind up having a strong training camp and preseason which would only make the Jets defensive line depth chart stronger.Jackson Jr. has look good in the early stages of training camp and he is taking advantage of the extra reps while Sweat is recovering from a minor injury. It's unknown how much playing time he'll get in the regular season, but he should be able to beat out Smith for the final roster. 2026 Depth ChartT'Vondre Sweat, Harrison Phillips, David Onyemata, Jowon Briggs, Darrell Jackson Jr.This is easily one of the deepest units the Jets have ever had on their defensive line. On top of that, there is a nice blend of youth and veterans that will allow Aaron Glenn to mix and match however he chooses. Onyemata and Phillips will make sure that the younger players like Sweat and Briggs won't slack off. Briggs adds another pass rusher to go along with Will McDonald and David Bailey on the ends. Jets fans should be excited about how good this unit could be with Glenn calling the plays. They have potential to be one of the best in the league this season.This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: 2026 New York Jets training came preview: Defensive line

Nigerian brides attend a mass wedding ceremony in Kano, Nigeria, Saturday, Aug 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Sani Maikatanga)2026-08-08T16:45:38Z KANO, Nigeria (AP) — For groom Haruna Bashir, this weekend’s mass wedding event in Nigeria was more than a celebration — it was a hope-filled turning point after the months of pain and grief following the loss of his first wife and six children in a brutal attack earlier this year.Bashir was among 1,500 couples being married on Friday and Saturday in a state-sponsored mass wedding organized by Abba Kabir Yusuf, the governor of the Kano state, in northern Nigeria.For Bashir, the ceremony marks an opportunity to begin rebuilding his life after the tragic loss of his immediate family.“Since the tragic incident, he hardly interacted with people. Today, he is gradually returning to normal life,” said Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, commander-general of the Kano State Hisbah Board, which coordinated the ceremony.The mass wedding, the second organized under Yusuf’s administration, brought together widows and young women as part of a government effort to ease the financial burden of marriage on vulnerable families.Daurawa said all the couples had undergone screening and counseling before the ceremony and that all religious and legal requirements had been fulfilled. State funding for a fresh startSimilar marriage ceremonies were held simultaneously across Kano’s 44 local government areas, according to the state government.Each bride was to receive 200,000 naira ($145) as a dowry and to provide startup capital for a small business. The couples also received household items, including beds, mattresses, blankets, bed sheets and rugs. Yusuf described the initiative as a “bold social intervention aimed at restoring hope and supporting dignified family life in Kano.”“The program was designed not only to assist women who might otherwise struggle to afford marriage, but also to strengthen families and promote social stability in the state,” Yusuf said. Read More He said the mass wedding was part of his administration’s broader social welfare efforts to strengthen family institutions and promote a more peaceful and cohesive society.Kano Chief Imam Prof. Sani Zahraddeen offered prayers for the newly married couples, asking for divine guidance, blessings and lasting harmony in their homes. Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the state government, describing the program as an opportunity to begin a new chapter of their lives with dignity and hope.Malama Ainau Mudi, a 38-year-old widow, said: “Today’s date will never be forgotten in my life. My husband died four years ago, and today I wed my new husband whose love and caring will ease my years of being a widow.’' 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. Social intervention policiesKano, Nigeria’s most populous state and a major center of Islamic culture, has organized mass weddings for years as part of efforts to support widows, divorcees and young women facing economic hardship.The practice gained prominence under successive state administrations, with governments providing couples with wedding necessities and financial assistance.The initiative comes amid broader economic pressures facing families in northern Nigeria, where the rising cost of living has made marriage increasingly difficult for young people and vulnerable households.Dr. Musa Abdullahi, a university lecturer and social welfare expert, described the initiative as a measure that could help address some social challenges in society. He said programs that reduce the economic barriers to marriage could contribute to family stability, particularly among vulnerable groups, but cautioned that such initiatives should be accompanied by broader economic and social support programs.Kano’s government has portrayed its mass-wedding program as part of its broader social intervention policies aimed at reducing economic hardship and supporting vulnerable residents.Yusuf, who assumed office in 2023, has made social welfare programs a prominent part of his administration’s agenda.For Bashir, the support came at a moment when rebuilding a life after profound loss may have seemed impossible.Like many of the other hundreds of couples, the ceremony has given him a chance to start again.