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Aug 9, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego FC forward Bryan Zamblé (14) brings the the ball down pitch during the second half of the Leagues Cup Phase One match against Tijuana at Snapdragon Stadium.San Diego FC held off cross-border rivals Club Tijuana in a slim 1-0 sold-out Snapdragon Stadium victory on Sunday night, with 18-year-old forward Bryan Zamblé claiming the sole goal of the match.Una noche inolvidable para San Diego 😤 pic.twitter.com/7VhhIlPQ8C— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) August 10, 2026La energía se sintió 🏟️ #RiseWithUspic.twitter.com/d2lYu7WsyW— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) August 10, 2026The Baja Cup met the Leagues Cup for the first time on Sunday night, marking the two clubs’ first-ever official meeting.Just separated by 25 miles, San Diego FC and Club Tijuana are each other's geographically closest opponents. The first edition of The Baja Cup, an unofficial friendly, took place last season on Sept. 16, 2025, as part of the clubs' five-year partnership, with SDFC defeating Xolos 4-2 to claim the first-ever Baja Cup win.SDFC came into the second match looking to claim their first points of Phase One, having left the historic Estadio Azteca on Wednesday night empty-handed against continental giant Club América after a 3-1 loss to open up their 2026 Leagues Cup campaign. SDFC looked to have got off to a dangerous start against Xolos, netting the apparent opening goal of the match within two minutes of the first half whistle. With the ball landing onto his feet and left with space inside the penalty box, SDFC’s All-Star forward Anders Dreyer found the bottom right corner of the goal to give SDFC the early lead before any VAR intervention.A lengthy VAR discussion into referee Steven Madrigal's earpiece prompted him to take a closer look at the lead-up play on Dreyer’s score, with a potential foul from 18-year-old Bryan Zamblé on a missed shot making contact with Xolos’ Ramiro Árciga.After the review, Madrigal deemed the contact enough to disallow SDFC’s go-ahead goal as the game returned to a scoreless affair at the six-minute mark. After multiple sloppy defensive half turnovers from the visiting Xolos, SDFC finally pounced on their opportunity with quick transition play from Anders Dreyer and Alejandro Alvarado, which ended with a back-post tapping finish from Bryan Zamblé as they retook their 1-0 lead in the 22-minute. Alvarado ➡️ Zamblé slides it home 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/oG6bbTim2V— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) August 10, 2026ZAMBLÉ, ZAMBLÉ, VAMOS ZAMBLÉ! pic.twitter.com/dTtyYPs6H5— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) August 10, 2026Zamblé netted his third goal for the Chrome & Azul, claiming his first score in the 2026 Leagues Cup. EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO DREAM🌟18 year-old Bryan Zamblé scores for SD! pic.twitter.com/QdKSn5dp4i— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) August 10, 2026Xolos' offensive pressure ramped up in the second half, with SDFC goalkeeper CJ dos Santos called upon to retain the slim one-goal lead. His biggest save of the night came in the 58-minute, making a diving save to push Yael Padilla's on-target curling strike away from goal, keeping his squad up 1-0. Tremendous save by dos Santos! 🧤🤩 El portero de @sandiegofc voló para tapar el disparo de Padilla📺 Disfruta el partido en vivo en https://t.co/1csbLFdTZ4#LeaguesCup2026pic.twitter.com/qrmQN4hOic— Leagues Cup (@LeaguesCup) August 10, 2026Only minutes later, he came up big once again to deny Ignacio Rivero's long-range effort on goal in the 67-minute as the Xolos continued to search for the tying score.Xolos' best chance of the match came in the 72-minute, with Elias Manoel's right-footed shot going inches away from the 1-1 score, with his near penalty spot attempt blasting off the right post and off target as SDFC’s lead survived.The final time whistle blew at Snapdragon Stadium on Sunday night with SDFC seeing out their 1-0 lead through the five added stoppage time minutes to the regular 90, claiming their first win in the 2026 Leagues Cup. At the postmatch press conference, SDFC head coach Mikey Varas spoke on Bryan Zamblé’s performance and goal against Club Tijuana.“I'm just really happy for Bryan because I think more than the goal, he played a really mature game and he kind of gassed out a little bit,” Varas said. “Which is normal because he hasn't had a lot of minutes. But he's an example of a guy who took his opportunity, took it really well.”For their third and final matchday, San Diego FC remain at home on Wednesday night to close out Phase One of the 2026 Leagues Cup against Club Puebla, slated for a 7:15 p.m. kickoff at Snapdragon Stadium. A top-four MLS table finish to advance into the tournament's knockout rounds will require an SDFC win and many other results around the Leagues Cup as SDFC head into the final matchday three points off the standings leaders.

Gurnoor Brar impresses in warm up game in Sri Lanka: Can the pacer make his India Test debut in Galle? originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:India quick Gurnoor Brar impresses with bat, ball in Colombo warm-up match. Pacer takes 2/37, smashes four sixes in final over of first innings. Zaheer Khan backs Brar for a long, promising international career, if managed well. Gurnoor Brar shines in Colombo warm-up: Will he make his Test debut at Galle against Sri Lanka?India's fast bowlers got in some valuable match practice as Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar all bowled with real intent on day three of the warm-up fixture against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI at the NCC ground in Colombo, ahead of the first Test starting in Galle on August 15.Brar stood out on a surface offering little assistance to seamers, still managing to extract useful bounce throughout his spell. A sharp, well-directed delivery forced Pavan Rathnayake into an awkward shot, with Harsh Dubey completing the catch at covers.His next breakthrough came when opposition captain Sonal Dinusha edged behind to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel. Across his eight-over spell, Brar finished with figures of 2 for 37, a solid return given the lack of assistance from the pitch.MORE: Gill availability for 1st Test: Coach provides positive updateGurnoor Brar's rapid rise through Indian cricket ranksBrar, who represents Gujarat Titans in the IPL, earned a surprise call-up to India's ODI squad for the series against Afghanistan. He justified that faith quickly, picking up seven wickets across the three ODIs, before backing it up further with a ten-wicket match haul for India A against Sri Lanka A in a first-class fixture.He also contributed four wickets across India's first two ODIs against England. His latest red-ball outing in Sri Lanka adds further weight to his growing case, potentially prompting head coach Gautam Gambhir to consider selecting him ahead of Prasidh Krishna for the Test series opener on August 15. Beyond his bowling, Brar also produced a memorable cameo with the bat, taking on left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera in the final over of India's first innings with a stunning display of clean hitting.He opened with a six over deep mid-wicket off the second ball, followed immediately by another maximum straight down the ground. He then swept the next delivery for a boundary before launching another six over deep mid-wicket, and capped off the over in style with a final six over deep extra cover. The tailender's aggression delighted Gambhir in the Indian dugout, and the coach made sure to congratulate the young pacer while he walked back towards the dressing room at stumps on Day 2. MORE: IND vs SLC XI practice Test: Scores and highlights as India win by 6 wickets#Breaking - GURNOOR BRAR HITTING 6,6,0,6,6, IN FINAL OVER AGAINST DILUM SUDEERA pic.twitter.com/2z48RxABXR— NEWS WALA (@NEWSWALApy) August 8, 2026Zaheer Khan backs Gurnoor Brar's long-term international potentialFormer India pacer Zaheer Khan admires the current crop of young fast bowlers emerging in Indian cricket, but singles out Brar as the standout.Speaking in a conversation with journalist Vimal Kumar, Zaheer said he believes Brar possesses the ability to build a long and successful international career, and praised the selectors for fast-tracking his development.“It’s good to see a young crop of fast bowlers coming through that bowl high speeds," he said. "I believe Gurnoor Brar is the one who has the ability to have a good and lengthy career. It’s good that he has been fast-tracked. Even when I spent some time with him, I could see exciting potential in him. We have to wait and see how his career materialises eventually, but on potential, he has impressed me the most."MORE: BCCI secretary explains Bumrah and Sudharsan's selection in initial India squadWhy Gurnoor Brar's all-round display strengthens his Test caseWhat makes Brar's performance particularly compelling isn't just the wickets or the boundaries individually; it's the combination of both in a single outing that elevates his profile as a potential Test candidate.Bowlers who can contribute meaningfully with the bat are preferred by Gambhir, particularly in conditions where extra batting depth down the order can prove valuable. His numbers across formats this year, seven ODI wickets against Afghanistan, a ten-wicket first-class haul, and now a strong all-round showing in Colombo, paint a picture of a bowler adapting quickly across different conditions and formats.That said, red-ball cricket in Galle will present a sterner test, and Gambhir's team management will need to weigh Brar's promise against Prasidh Krishna's existing experience. Still, on current form, overlooking Brar for the Galle Test would be a difficult decision to justify.For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.

'A Nearly Unwatchable Diva War' -- Pundit Unleashes on WNBA As Controversies Surround Caitlin Clark, Sophie CunninghamThe WNBA is heading into the final stretch of its 2026 regular season, but the conversations around the league have had almost nothing to do with what’s happening on the scoreboard.Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, two of the most talked-about players all year, were once again the story out of Saturday’s slate, and once again, it wasn’t for anything they did with the ball in their hands.The repeated drama has now pushed veteran sports commentator Skip Bayless to question where the league is headed.Skip Bayless Blasts WNBA After Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham DramaSaturday’s Fever-Sky game delivered two separate flashpoints. Clark picked up a technical foul for making contact with an official while tumbling out of bounds after a pass. It was her would-be eighth of the season, a number that carries an automatic one-game suspension.Both Clark and coach Stephanie White were furious over the call. The team appealed immediately and had the technical rescinded within two hours of the game, sparing Clark a forced absence from Indiana’s next game against the New York Liberty.In the same contest, Cunningham, already at the center of the league’s ongoing debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports, was on the receiving end of a hard foul from Chicago’s DiJonai Carrington, who caught her across the face on a breakaway layup attempt.The play was upgraded to a Flagrant 2 on review, and Carrington was ejected. She stirred up further controversy by posting “WHITE PRIVILEGE @indianafever” on Threads before deleting it and posting the date of the two teams’ next matchup.SEE ALSO:‘Impossible Feat,’ ‘Underrated’ — WNBA World Erupts As Kayla McBride Outshines Olivia Miles, Paige Bueckers, Breaks All-Time 3-Point RecordIt was against that backdrop that Bayless opened the latest episode of “The Skip Bayless Show” with a message aimed squarely at the WNBA as a whole, captioning the video: “The WNBA has turned into a race war, a sexual identity war, a nearly unwatchable diva war.”He didn’t ease into it. The veteran commentator pointed to the Cunningham-Carrington confrontation and Clark’s dispute with the referee as examples of what he sees as a league increasingly dominated by conflict.“Now it’s DiJonai Carrington vs. Sophie Cunningham and it’s a black referee vs. Caitlin Clark,” Bayless said. “And I for one, I am getting sick and tired of the WNBA. I’m getting disgusted by the WNBA to the point that I am finding it harder and harder to love or even like, definitely watch.”He closed the segment with an equally pointed message directed at the league’s players: “Come on, women. Wake up. Wise up. Grow up. Embrace what could be great. You should be skyrocketing, and you’re just plunging into the abyss. The race war, the culture war, the political war, the sexual identity war, and in the end, just a divas gone wild war.”The frustration lands at an odd moment for a league that’s actually been producing some of its best basketball of the year.Clark herself made history in that same Sky game, recording at least 25 points, 10 assists, and 5 made threes for the eighth time in her career. She’s also in the middle of a career year, averaging 21.6 points a night.Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles has been just as notable a storyline, if for entirely different reasons. The No. 2 overall pick is shooting better than 50% from the field, a mark Clark never reached during her own rookie year.MORE:‘Constant Gaslighting and Gatekeeping’ — Sportswriter Calls Out ‘WNBA Mafia’ for Defending DiJonai Carrington’s Flagrant on Sophie CunninghamMiles has also consistently produced around 20 points per game during her rookie season.That kind of production has fueled Rookie of the Year buzz and even some MVP chatter. The Lynx themselves have been the league’s best team by record, having strung together a 10-game winning streak before losing to the Los Angeles Sparks.Likewise, the Golden State Valkyries, in just their second season, have been nearly as impressive, sitting at 23-9 and second in the standings.None of that, though, has managed to out-shout the noise. Between Clark’s technical foul controversy and Cunningham’s ongoing spotlight, the basketball keeps getting pushed to the background.This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

He played the mechanic Cooter Davenport on the hit television series before serving two terms as a Democratic congressman from Georgia.

Real Madrid ‘not convinced’ by any midfield options on the transfer marketHaving already made most of the signings they require for the upcoming season, Real Madrid are now focused on departures in the second half of the transfer window.There are, however, certain positions regarding which the club are alert on the transfer market, looking for a potential signing that can improve the squad.The midfield, on that front, remains a priority after Rodri’s decision to join Barcelona. After all, it has been known for a long time now that Los Blancos lack a controlling and creative presence in the middle of the park.No quality option to signAs conveyed by Diario AS in a recent report, Real Madrid are currently not convinced by any option available on the transfer market. They do not see a single profile available that would genuinely improve the team.Mourinho has faith in his troops (Picture credit: X/@realmadrid)The club have not closed the door to a new signing, but they continue to watch the market in silence without any desperation for a transfer.The management and administration are certain that the current midfield will be competitive and that a signing is not absolutely required. If a suitable profile pops up, they will go for the kill.Three profiles of interestWhile Los Blancos are indeed of the opinion that there is no profile that can improve the squad, they have maintained a couple of options on their radar.Real Madrid are monitoring Adam Wharton. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)The three players they are monitoring on that front are Kees Smit, Adam Wharton and Ayyoub Bouaddi, although none of the options appears conducive at this point.While Bouaddi is nearing a move to Manchester City, Wharton’s price tag is a serious deterrent given how much Real Madrid have spent this summer. Smit, meanwhile, lacks the required experience and is not as seasoned an option.It thus remains to be seen what Real Madrid decide in the coming weeks regarding the midfield, and it will heavily depend on what Jose Mourinho sees in preseason.

Tom Bischof: 'I saw the long break as a chance'The summer could have been quite a relaxed one for Tom Bischof: a bit of sea, a bit of sun, a bit of space from the day-to-day life of a professional footballer. Instead, the 21-year-old made a deliberate decision for extra shifts in the gym and on the pitch. He’s one of the few first-team players to have completed the whole pre-season having not been involved in the World Cup, and he goes into the new campaign with more responsibility and the number 8 shirt. An interview about how a young player is taking his chance – and what his new squad number reveals about his ambition.Tom, hand on heart: did you switch off from football on holiday, or stay up for the odd World Cup match? Tom Bischof: “Now and then I like to not watch any football, but obviously you can’t go completely without TV – I did watch a few World Cup matches. Still, I was able to swtich off. First I went away with friends, then I spent a lot of time with my family and my girlfriend. For the last two or three weeks, I’ve been training very intensively.”You’re one of the few players to have done the full pre-season. Did you already have it in your mind on holiday: this is my chance? “Yes, of course. I saw the long break as a chance. I had a clearly defined plan with the FC Bayern fitness coaches and did some additional work with a personal trainer. It was important to me that everyone knows who’s doing what.”Pre-season used to mean long runs and medicine balls; nowadays everything is scientifcally organised in detail. Be honest: for the better? “I certainly toiled a few times on holiday. It’s been intensive but not just simply hard – also guided by science. You need a mixture of both. Going through a bit of pain and overcoming your weaker self is good.”Dieser Inhalt kann hier leider nicht dargestellt werden. Zum Anschauen kannst du die Website des FC Bayern München besuchen:Artikel auf fcbayern.comYou’ve inherited the number 8 shirt from Leon Goretzka – what does that mean for you? “As a child you dream of the 10. That’s what I always wanted when I was younger. Now I play more defensively, so 8 fits. I waited for a while out of respect for Leon, and then initially spoke to Aleks Pavlović. He’s been here longer and is a friend of mine, but Pavlo is sticking with his number. So, I asked and they indicated early that I could have it.”The 8 carries weight. Is that an incentive for you or also a burden? “When you play for Bayern, you’re generally under the spotlight anyway, regardless of what number you wear on your back. Nevertheless, squad numbers do have a significance for most people. It's a special feeling to wear such a significant number. I just like it, it suits me. And I appreciate the fact it's been entrusted to me. I want to take the next step now and I definitely believe I’m capable of it. So: incentive! I’m looking forward to wearing the number 8 jersey and will do so with pride.”Two new signings have joined in Ismael Saibari and Nathaniel Brown. What did you see of them both at the World Cup? “I rate Nene very highly, he fits into our system perfectly. I’ve experienced myself how important it is to have a left-back who often moves into the middle and gets involved in attacking play. He has good technique, good passing and can defend strongly too. Saibari had an excellent World Cup, but before that we’d already seen his reading of the game. He’s versatile and will help us.”It starts with two tough tests straight away in August: Supercup against Dortmund, first league match against Stuttgart. Do you prefer be thrown straight into the action or ease your way in? “We’ll never get comfortable anyway, the coach makes sure of that. Therefore it’s good that it’s starting with a bang. I think every player would prefer to play games than just train constantly. And the fact it’s starting against Dortmund and Stuttgart, I think is good! We’ll be ready.”It’s the summer holidays in Bavaria in August. Where did the Bischof family used to go in the holidays? “Way back, we used to go to Croatia with two other families. We rented a house together there. That was a really nice time with great memories. Then it became more and more difficult because football took over and we normally weren’t free in that period anymore.”There’s also a partial solar eclipse on August 12th. Do you watch things like that? “Yes, generally I do – even though I probably won’t sleep quite as well afterwards, which used to be the case as well.”Interview taken from the August edition of Members’ Magazine ‘51’.

The world’s largest martial arts organization returns to Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, this Friday, August 14, for another explosive installment of its weekly event series live in Asia primetime.ONE Friday Fights 166 features nine bouts across Muay Thai, kickboxing, and MMA, with each athlete hunting a coveted US$100,000 contract and spot on ONE’s global roster.View this post on InstagramIn the main event, Thai standouts Khunpon Aekmuangnon and Panpadej Looksuan square off in a flyweight Muay Thai showdown between two of the division’s most promising young technicians.At just 20 years old, Khunpon has already established himself as one of the most exciting fighters in the weekly series. The Phuket native fights out of Petchnumnoi and brings a 63-18 record and one of the sharpest southpaw body kicks in the division into Friday’s headliner. Composed beyond his years and dangerous at every range, he steps into the main event knowing a statement performance could accelerate his climb toward a six-figure contract.Standing across from him is the 24-year-old Panpadej, whose 58-7 record and 89 percent win rate speak to a level of consistency few can match. The NF Looksuan product is a precise, well-schooled technician who picks his opponents apart with calculated shot selection and clean scoring. With both men known for their technical brilliance and neither willing to take a backward step, this headliner has all the makings of a Muay Thai chess match with a razor-thin margin.In the co-main event, seasoned Thai veteran Denkriangkrai Mavinn Muaythai takes on dangerous Moroccan Abdessamie Rhenimi in a flyweight Muay Thai clash of experience against youth.Denkriangkrai is one of the most battle-tested names on the roster. The 27-year-old from Team Mavinn Muaythai has shared the ring with the division’s toughest throughout his long ONE Friday Fights tenure, and his sharp southpaw game and elite clinch work have made him a consistent threat. He heads into Friday looking to reassert himself and remind the flyweight division exactly how much trouble his experience can cause.Across from him, the 19-year-old Rhenimi represents the next wave of international talent in the series. The young Moroccan out of Petchsaman Gym has yet to prove himself against this level of opposition, but he is fearless. Now he steps into the co-main event against a grizzled veteran with everything to gain and nothing to lose. For Rhenimi, a win over an established name like Denkriangkrai would announce his arrival at the top of the weekly series in emphatic fashion.View this post on InstagramONE Friday Fights 166 Full CardKhunpon Aekmuangnon vs. Panpadej Looksuan (Muay Thai – flyweight)Denkriangkrai Mavinn Muaythai vs. Abdessamie Rhenimi (Muay Thai – flyweight)Kaewkangwan Torfunfarm vs. Babak Haghi (Muay Thai – flyweight)Pet Sitchalongsak vs. Sompongchai Sit Dr.Charnchai (Muay Thai – featherweight)Aidangkoeychai Sitkaewprapon vs. Saipetlek Coachnatsamartmuaythai (Muay Thai – atomweight)Arthur Klopp vs. Gabriel Pereira (kickboxing – bantamweight)Batochir Batsaikhan vs. Mirmehti Miriyev (MMA – bantamweight)Nongfahsai Pooksuphan PK vs. Zeynep Cetintas (Muay Thai – atomweight)Chi Lu Lee vs. Kenya Yamada (MMA – bantamweight)Source

Liverpool given green light to sign ‘excellent’ star, he’d improve them massivelySo far this summer, it feels like Liverpool have been linked with an abundance of players. Almost every area among their ranks needs upgrading and, without them doing this, they could end up falling even further down the table than they did last term.This would be far from ideal, especially when the Anfield outfit only just managed to qualify for the Champions League this time around.But, since they spent over £450 million last summer, it does feel like their dealings will be limited which is why every move will count.At the moment, Ibrahim Mbaye and Bradley Barcola seem like Liverpool's top priorities but, that doesn't mean that they're not looking at other potential options that they could explore.Roma have extended Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract which could open the door for Manu Kone's exitLiverpool's attack is the main area that they need to bolster this summer.Hugo Ekitike's return date hasn't been set yet and, now that Mohamed Salah has joined Trabzonspor, the hope of him making a dramatic return has dissipated.So, having Mbaye and Barcola as their main targets makes a lot of sense.But, that doesn't mean that Liverpool shouldn't be looking for ways to improve the other areas of their squad.Barely any of the Reds' first-team squad met expectations last term which is why rumours about improving their midfield have also emerged.And now, thanks to an update from Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool may have just moved a step closer to signing Manu Kone from AS Roma."Lorenzo Pellegrini has just signed a new one year deal at AS Roma until June 2027," he wrote."Club statement to follow."Why Lorenzo Pellegrini signing an extension could allow Liverpool to sign Manu KoneLast season, Kone was one of AS Roma's most important midfielders.The Frenchman played 37 times for the Serie A outfit across all competitions and contributed to five goals across all competitions.Thanks to these performances, several clubs showed an interest in signing him with Liverpool and Manchester United at the front of the queue.One of the main reasons why Roma haven't moves him on yet was their inability to replace him.However, now that Pellegrini is staying put, it means that the Serie A outfit have one less thing to worry about.In the past, the 25-year-old has been called an "excellent" player and, since he's only rated at around €50 million (£42.8 million), he wouldn't even cost Liverpool that much to sign.There's obviously less than a month left of the summer transfer window now so time is running out for deals to be made but, now that Roma have a back-up option to replace Kone, a deal could be struck fairly quickly.

Roma trying to sign both Endrick and MoraIt’s not just Rodrigo Mora. The Portuguese forward’s possible arrival doesn’t rule out the arrival of Endrick, who has been on the list for several months, and D’Amico is awaiting Real Madrid’s decision. Yesterday, ‘Il Messaggero’ reports, further discussions took place with agents, and as soon as Los Blancos open up to a loan, Roma will try to beat off competition from several English clubs, including Aston Villa. In short, Roma could sign two attacking midfielders, and the other name they’ve been working on for over a month now is the Brazilian. Real Madrid will almost certainly loan him out, and Roma is working with his agency (Roc Nation) to convince them that the Giallorossi could be a truly interesting challenge. D’Amico also has other options on his mind, explains ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’. Malik Fofana, for example, although Leipzig are now also interested in the Lyon player, having been asked by Roc Nation to sign Fofana to recoup Diomandé’s fee, who signed with two agencies. Then there’s PSG’s Ibrahim Mbaye, just 18, who is obviously closed to Paris and could leave on loan (but Liverpool have also swooped in). Finally, Chelsea’s Jamie Gittens, 22.

In this photo released by the East Java Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency, firefighters attempt to extinguish a wildfire that razes through Mount Bromo National Park in Probolinggo, Indonesia on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (East Java Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency via AP)2026-08-10T06:17:08Z JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia intensified efforts Monday to combat a growing number of wildfires across the archipelago, deploying helicopters, hundreds of firefighters and disaster personnel as blazes spread through a popular national park in East Java and peatlands in Sumatra during an unusually dry season, officials said.East Java authorities said the largest blaze is burning in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java province, where about 743 hectares (1,836 acres) have been scorched. Dry weather and strengthening El Nino conditions raised the risk of more forest and land fires during the peak dry season, Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry said in a statement Sunday.It said the fire has burned large areas of dry grassland, vegetation and protected edelweiss flowers as flames have spread to the Penanjakan area, a popular viewpoint for tourists visiting Mount Bromo, one of Indonesia’s best-known attractions. No injuries or evacuations have been reported. Hundreds of firefighters, soldiers, police officers, park rangers and volunteers worked to contain the blaze. Authorities have closed the park to visitors until further notice.As of Monday, at least three helicopters have been deployed for water-bombing operations over hot spots that are difficult to reach by land. Ground crews are carrying out manual firefighting, cooling operations, patrols and constructing firebreaks to prevent the flames from spreading further. “We continue to coordinate efforts to address and anticipate forest and land fires,” said Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni while visiting the park Sunday. He urged the public to avoid activities that could spark new blazes, including discarding cigarette butts and clearing land by burning. Read More The Bromo fire comes as several other wildfires have been reported across Indonesia during an unusually dry season. More than 50 hectares (124 acres) of peatland have burned in Jambi province on Sumatra island, causing choking haze in some areas and raising concerns about worsening air quality. The largest fire has been reported in the village of Sungai Gelam in the Muaro Jambi district, where dozens of hectares of oil palm plantations owned by local residents have been destroyed. The blaze has burned since Wednesday. About 300 firefighters and disaster personnel have been deployed to battle the fire. Officials said deep peat soil, limited water supplies, difficult access and strong winds have complicated efforts, even with three helicopters conducting aerial firefighting operations. 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. Indonesia’s Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency said August and September are expected to be the most critical months as dry vegetation and strong winds create favorable conditions for fires to spread rapidly. Forest fires on Sumatra and Borneo islands often break out during dry spells. Fires are often started illegally by plantation owners or traditional farmers to clear land for planting, and those burns periodically blanket parts of Southeast Asia in hazardous haze.

What Darwin Nunez has told Ronald Araujo about Liverpool fans ahead of impending Anfield loanDarwin Nunez has openly told Ronald Araujo just how ‘special’ a fan base Liverpool have, with the Barcelona defender reportedly on the cusp of a loan move to Anfield.The centre-back is understood to have travelled to Merseyside on Sunday for a medical ahead of the proposed transaction, and the Reds are expected to cover the entirety of his wages while he’s playing for Andoni Iraola’s side (Liverpool Echo).The move has yet to be formally announced by the club, but Barca manager Hansi Flick effectively confirmed it over the weekend by saying (via talkSPORT): “I said goodbye and I think he was very happy and Liverpool is also a fantastic club. I wish him all the best because he deserves it.”Nunez tells Araujo all about Liverpool fansNunez also gave the game away with a social media post directed at Araujo, wishing his Uruguay teammate all the best at Anfield and promising the defender that he’ll have unwavering support from Kopites even after he leaves Merseyside.The former Reds striker posted on X: ‘I wish you the best in this great club, friend @RonaldAraujo_4 … I’m deeply glad that you can feel what the affection and support of the @LFC fans is like. They are special and they’re going to make you feel it that way, now you’re a Red too. From afar always wishing you the best ¡VAMO ARRIBA!’Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trustNunez earned (and has kept) the affection of Liverpool fansNunez knows from his three years at Anfield just how supportive Liverpool fans can be, with Kopites taking the now Al-Hilal forward to their hearts and backing him even when criticism reained down on him from elsewhere.The 27-year-old was a highly frustrating figure at times when he played for the Reds, frequently missing chances that he’d ordinarily be expected to score, but his heart-on-his-sleeve nature struck a chord with a fan base who are always appreciative of maximum effort.Araujo has a similar reputation for giving himself wholeheartedly on the pitch, even if at times that can result in impetuous decision-making leading to errors, or a rush of blood to the head which can prompt a red card (he’s been sent off five times in his Barcelona career).The defender might end up making some mistakes at Liverpool, but so long as he’s generally reliable and gives everything to the cause, then he’ll be regarded every bit as fondly as Nunez continues to be.Once the impending loan move is confirmed, hopefully the centre-back will forge an uncompromising partnership with Virgil van Dijk and make the Reds’ backline more difficult to breach than it has been in leaking seven goals across their defeats to Leeds and Monaco over the past few days.

Just in: Rodri to Barcelona is now increasingly close to completionBarcelona are increasingly close to completing the signing of Rodri from Manchester City, with Mundo Deportivo reporting that the midfielder’s move to Catalonia is now approaching its final stages.Notably, the most important part of the operation has already been completed. Barcelona and Rodri have reached an agreement over the player’s contract, leaving negotiations between the two clubs as the final major hurdle before the transfer can be made official.Those talks have now made significant progress, with the gap between Manchester City’s demands and Barcelona’s initial offer having been reduced considerably. Right now, only minor details are left to resolve before the clubs can exchange documents and begin the formal signing process.Barcelona and Rodri have agreed personal termsRodri’s agreement with Barcelona has been in place for several days, meaning the player’s decision is no longer the main issue holding up the transfer.Barcelona have an agreement with Rodri. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Instead, the focus is on the final transfer fee between Barcelona and Manchester City.That is an important development for the Catalan club, as Barcelona have been working to make the operation possible despite the financial demands involved.Manchester City initially held a much higher valuation of their midfielder than Barcelona were prepared to offer. However, negotiations have continued, and the two clubs have now bridged much of that difference.The deal is therefore no longer at the stage of simply exploring whether a transfer could happen. Rather, the negotiations are in their final phase, with only some details still preventing an official announcement, which explains why the Rodri to Barcelona is now looking increasingly realistic.Flick could have Rodri in training this weekThe timing of the potential transfer is also becoming increasingly important for Hansi Flick, who wants clarity over his squad before the start of the new La Liga campaign, and having Rodri available during the early stages of preparation would give him a major boost.Rodri could be on his way to Barcelona. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images)Flick could potentially have the midfielder at his disposal as early as this week if the remaining details are resolved quickly. That would allow Rodri to begin working with his new teammates and start adapting to the German’s tactical demands.At the same time, however, there is still a slight complication.Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has indicated that Rodri is expected to return to England this week when City resume training. That suggests that the transfer may not be officially completed immediately, despite the encouraging progress in negotiations.

Real Madrid’s smartest summer addition may not be the one grabbing the headlinesReal Madrid have had a summer of changes, starting with the appointment of a new manager in Jose Mourinho.Los Blancos have also completed as many as six signings in the transfer window: Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Bernardo Silva, Marc Cucurella, Yan Diomande and Carlos Espi.Supporters may be focused on the arrivals of bigger names this summer, but Bernardo’s first outing under Jose was a reminder that not every important signing needs to dominate the headlines.The Portuguese midfielder looked sharp on his debut against Ferencvaros despite arriving with only a handful of training sessions behind him.He may still need time to reach peak physical condition, but his football intelligence was evident from the moment he stepped onto the pitch.A different kind of midfielderBernardo is not the explosive, headline-grabbing signing many fans expected in midfield.However, he offers something that Real Madrid have arguably lacked in recent seasons: control.Bernardo Silva has arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City. (Photo by David Balogh/Getty Images)His biggest strength is not goals or assists, but his ability to dictate rhythm, retain possession under pressure and make the right decision in tight spaces.Those qualities often go unnoticed until they are missing. Against Ferencvaros, Madrid looked calmer with Bernardo in midfield.He helped connect defence and attack, recycled possession intelligently and brought composure whenever the game threatened to become chaotic.An even bigger role after the Rodri sagaMuch of the summer was dominated by Real Madrid’s pursuit of Rodri, who would have fitted the bill as Los Blancos’ marquee, headline-grabbing midfield signing.Now that the move for the 30-year-old star is off the table, with the player giving preference to Barcelona, Bernardo’s importance increases manifold.Rather than being a complementary piece, the Portuguese now looks set to become one of Mourinho’s primary organisers in midfield.His experience, tactical discipline and positional awareness make him the closest profile Madrid currently have to someone capable of controlling matches from the centre of the park.Bernardo Silva could be a strong weapon for Real Madrid next season. (Photo by David Balogh/Getty Images)He may not be a traditional deep-lying playmaker, but he has all the tools needed to bring balance to a side packed with attacking talent.Bernardo brings quality that may not translate into headlinesThere will naturally be questions about managing Bernardo’s workload, given he is now in his thirties.With Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and eventually Thiago Pitarch competing for places, rotation will be essential throughout the season.Still, if his debut is any indication, Bernardo could be one of Real Madrid’s smartest additions this summer, having arrived on a free transfer.He may not have arrived with the fanfare of a statement signing, but while other players may impress individually, whatever Bernardo does improves the team.He has built a career in football doing just that, and Los Blancos supporters will hope he can continue to do the same for them in the coming seasons.

Jose Mourinho has spoken about why he decided not to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United [Getty Images]After years of speculation, Jose Mourinho has confirmed that he agreed to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013, before changing his mind and rejoining Chelsea instead."When I left Real Madrid, I signed to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex," Mourinho - now back at Real for a second spell - said in a new documentary series about his career, which is on Netflix from 11 August."He was offered the job, yes," confirmed Ferguson, who won 13 Premier League titles over 26 years at Old Trafford before retiring in 2013."I sat him down and explained the situation," Ferguson added. "As far as I was concerned, he was accepting. And then, within hours, it changed."What changed was that Mourinho felt he could not turn down a return to Chelsea, where he had won consecutive Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006."One night, he phoned me and he was crying and he says, 'Alex, I can't take it. I've given my word to Chelsea and I'm not going to break my word'," said former United boss Ferguson."The reason he gave to me, I could understand, but I was disappointed."Mourinho, 63, said he was "very flattered" to be offered the job of replacing Ferguson "because Manchester United has an incredible appeal"."But one thing is love for football, another thing is love for a certain club," he explained."I think this is more powerful than love for football and fundamentally, after Real Madrid, I needed to feel that I'm loved."For me to lose the chance to be the coach to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson was dramatic, but I don't regret [it] because it was a decision that I made with my heart."After returning to Stamford Bridge in 2013, Mourinho went on to win his third Premier League title as well as the League Cup.In May 2016, he accepted a second chance to take over at United, succeeding Louis van Gaal.Over a two-and-a-half-year spell at Old Trafford, Mourinho won League Cup and Europa League titles before being sacked in December 2018 following a slump in results.He recently made a return to another of his old clubs, Real Madrid, with his appointment confirmed in June this year. Mourinho's last spell there ended in acrimony as he fell out with club captain Iker Casillas and other players.On the eve of his Real reunion, the combative manager and former Spain goalkeeper Casillas spoke candidly about the reasons behind those differences.Mourinho also spoke about difficulties he has faced with former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who hired him twice and sacked him both times.'The relationship I had with Jose was very cold'After taking over a struggling Real side, Mourinho helped them challenge the dominance of Pep Guardiola's Barcelona, winning La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup trophies in his first two seasons at the Bernabeu. The 100 points they amassed in 2011-12 remains unsurpassed in La Liga history.However, the wheels came off in Mourinho's third season in the Spanish capital and he was dismissed at the end of 2012-13 with his side finishing 15 points behind rivals Barcelona, who matched Real's 100-point record.Mourinho's treatment of Casillas divided the dressing room. The goalkeeper made 725 appearances across 25 years at Real, winning three Champions League titles and five La Liga crowns, but had spent much of the 2012-13 season on the bench."The relationship Jose and I had was very cold," Casillas said."In those years, I really think it was taken to a limit where in the end, the rope broke."Former Real midfielder Sami Khedira said that Mourinho's rift with Casillas affected everyone."Iker is a Real Madrid legend, loved by every Real Madrid supporter. He benched him, doesn't speak to him, spoke bad about him in the media, so then this locker room was a nightmare, honestly," he said."After that, the relationship between Jose and many, many players was broken – like Cristiano [Ronaldo] and the Spanish guys, Casillas, Sergio Ramos. And those players were super, super important for the atmosphere in the locker room."Mourinho claimed that the keeper had a bad attitude."The first three times that I spoke to Casillas, the captain, the first thing he told me was, 'I want to ask for more holidays for the national team players'," Mourinho said."The second time he spoke to me was, 'I would like to ask you to put the training sessions one hour later because at the time you want the training sessions, there is a lot of traffic in Madrid'. The third time he comes to speak with me was, 'We don't want to go to [the] hotel. We prefer just to meet on matchday and go direct to the stadium to play'. And in a short period of time, I realised they're spoilt."Former Spain captain Casillas also revealed that he clashed with Mourinho over the manager's attitude towards his international team-mates who played for Barcelona.The 63-year-old's response was unapologetic.Mourinho said: "There are things that I don't accept and I will never accept and when somebody doesn't respect me, it's a problem. I say, this is Barcelona, Real Madrid. When you go to the national team, then you can kiss the guy, but not now. This is war."An iron fist joining a broken team: Inside Mourinho's Real returnWhat is Mourinho's managerial record?Friendship with Mourinho & search for new club - what next for Smalling?'I was playing against Roman that game' – on Chelsea sackingMourinho was sacked by Abramovich at Chelsea in 2007 and 2015.The veteran manager said that his former boss became increasingly interfering during his first spell at the club, including pushing for the signing of Andriy Shevchenko.The Ukraine striker joined Chelsea in May 2006 for a then club record fee of approximately £30m, but scored only nine league goals in 48 games over a three-year spell in West London."Abramovich - incredible passion for football, but knowing nothing about the situation," Mourinho said on the new documentary."Shevchenko was on the table because of connections with the boss, connections with agents and I never wanted to sign him, but I never told no-one, so it's also my responsibility. You want to know the player that I wanted? [Samuel] Eto'o."Following his dismissal by the Russian oligarch in September 2007, Mourinho had a chance for revenge when he returned to Stamford Bridge in March 2010 with Inter Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League. The Italian side beat Chelsea 1-0 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate, in a season when they went on to lift the trophy."Honestly, I was playing against Roman that game," Mourinho said."I was playing against a guy that sacked me. I go home happy and he goes home upset. Because I know how much he loved Chelsea, I know how much he loves to win."But I needed revenge, because football belongs to people like me. The other ones are the intruders that don't belong. Football belongs to the players, belongs to the coaches, belongs to the fans. Football will always belong to us."Follow your club with BBC SportListen to the latest Football Daily podcastGet football news sent straight to your phone

Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan finally got the news he had been waiting for. After being called up to India's Test squad for the Sri Lanka series, Sarfaraz shared his first post on social media. The 28-year-old posted a couple of pictures in the Team India travelling jersey. In one of the pictures, his father was also seen sitting beside him.The moment came after a long wait for the right-handed batter, who has continued to impress in domestic cricket despite being away from the Indian Test team.Sarfaraz was added to India's squad as a replacement for Sai Sudharsan, who has been ruled out of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.Sudharsan suffered a toe injury during the India A tour last month. He is currently recovering at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru.The BCCI said Sudharsan has made significant progress and that its medical team is closely monitoring his recovery."The men's Selection Committee has named Sarfaraz Khan as a replacement for Sai Sudharsan for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka," the BCCI said in a release."He will link up with the Indian squad in Colombo before the team travels to Galle for the first Test match, starting August 15, 2026," BCCI said.Long wait for SarfarazSarfaraz has already played six Tests for India and has scored 372 runs. His last Test appearance came against New Zealand in Mumbai in 2024.He was part of India's squad for the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia but did not play in any of the five Tests.Sarfaraz was also part of the India A squad during the England tour but did not make the main Indian Test squad for the five-match series in June-July 2025.Despite the setbacks, he continued to perform strongly in domestic cricket and remained in contention for a return to the national team.ID@undefined Caption not available.Important series for IndiaIndia are currently fifth on the World Test Championship (WTC) points table. The two-Test series against sixth-placed Sri Lanka will be important for India's hopes of reaching the WTC final.The first Test will be played in Galle from August 15, with the second Test to follow in Colombo.Updated India squad vs Sri LankaShubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan.

A currency trader talks on the phone at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)2026-08-10T06:26:49Z BANGKOK (AP) — Shares were mixed in Asia on Monday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 leading advances after stocks rose on Wall Street, ending last week with gains.Oil prices rose and U.S. futures were little changed. In Tokyo, the benchmark Nikkei 225 jumped 2% to 66,890.02, pulled higher by strong gains for technology companies.Computer chip equipment maker Tokyo Electron climbed 3.5%, while chip testing device maker Advantest rose 4.9%. In South Korea, the gains were more modest, as the Kospi added 0.8% to 6,305.86 as shares in major chipmakers slipped. Samsung Electronics lost 0.9%, while its smaller rival, memory chipmaker SK Hynix, lost 1.3%. Analysts said foreign investors were selling shares in the Big Tech companies to lock in profits from recent gains and rebalance holdings into other industries, such as defense contractors. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.6% to 25,810.95, while the Shanghai Composite index was nearly unchanged at 3,941.48. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.4% to 9,231.00. Taiwan’s Taiex surged 1.8% and the Sensex in India was up 0.1%.Oil prices rose after Israel rejected a deal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump for Gaza. Details emerged on the potential deal between Iran and Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz as Tehran suggested that vessels linked to “hostile countries” would be barred. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels struck a government-held port on the country’s Red Sea coast, deepening fears over threats to strategic shipping routes and a potential return to civil war. Brent crude, the international standard, gained 0.6% to $84.04 per barrel. U.S. benchmark crude advanced 0.5% to $78.58 per barrel. Read More On Friday, U.S. stocks rose and Treasury yields fell after the government reported that employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs last month.A weaker jobs market raised hopes the Federal Reserve might wait longer before raising interest rates to fight inflation. That buoyed share prices, pushing every major index to a second straight week of gains and several fresh records. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to 7,757.64, topping an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3% to 54,036.93, just short of the record it set on Wednesday. The Nasdaq composite rose 1.3% to 26,690.62. Overall, the jobs report dimmed one of the brighter areas of the economy, adding to worries about household spending at a time of high inflation. It included a revision to the figures for June and May that involved slashing a combined 103,000 jobs from payrolls for those months. 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. Slowing employment complicates the Fed’s effort to balance job growth with fighting inflation. Higher interest rates can help tame inflation by slowing economic growth, but businesses will find it more difficult to expand under increased borrowing rates.As usual, technology stocks did much of the heavy lifting for the broader market. Nvidia jumped 2.3% and Broadcom rose 1.7%.The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.64% from 4.67% just before the jobs update. It was as low as 4.60% before recovering a bit. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which more closely tracks expectations for Fed action on interest rates, fell to 4.20% from 4.22% before the report’s release. It was as low as 4.15% before edging back up. This week, investors will get several important inflation updates. The most closely watched will be the consumer price index, or CPI, which measures costs for consumers. Inflation in July is forecast to have risen at a 3.4% rate, easing slightly from 3.5% in June. Inflation has held stubbornly above 3% for most of the year.In other dealings early Monday, the U.S. dollar rose to 158.37 Japanese yen from 157.71 yen. The euro fell to $1.1553 from $1.1568. ELAINE KURTENBACH Based in Bangkok, Kurtenbach is the AP’s business editor for Asia, helping to improve and expand our coverage of regional economies, climate change and the transition toward carbon-free energy. She has been covering economic, social, environmental and political trends in China, Japan and Southeast Asia throughout her career. twitter mailto

Residents view cars damaged by a fallen wall in the aftermath of Typhoon Dolphin in Wenzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. (Chinatopix via AP)2026-08-10T06:32:00Z BEIJING (AP) — Tropical Storm Dolphin dumped heavy rain in eastern China on Monday, causing flooding in places after making landfall as a typhoon the previous day.Authorities have warned of risks of severe flooding and landslides in some areas. Your browser does not support the iframe HTML tag. Try viewing this in a modern browser like Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Internet Explorer 9 or later. Dolphin had maximum sustained winds of 65 kph (40 mph) in the morning and was continuing to weaken, Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said. The China Meteorological Administration said Dolphin was moving northwest at 15 to 20 kilometers per hour (9 to 12 mph) and was expected to continue weakening until it dissipates.Dolphin made landfall Sunday evening in Taizhou in Zhejiang province with winds of 151 kph (93 mph), after bringing heavy rain to northern Taiwan over the weekend. State broadcaster CCTV reported that authorities in Yueqing, a city in Zhejiang province, searched for people trapped in flooded homes and began clearing broken branches from streets. Before the typhoon hit, more than 300,000 people were preemptively relocated and Shanghai’s two airports canceled more than 1,300 flights.Dolphin also helped intensify seasonal monsoon rains in the Philippines, setting off floods and landslides.Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Chan-hom was heading toward Japan’s Pacific coast. The storm had 83 kph (51 mph) winds Monday morning and was forecast to strengthen slightly before landfall Tuesday into Wednesday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.