Diretório

College football officially begins this month.Now that it's August, there are just weeks to go until Week Zero arrives on Aug. 29, and since the season is quickly approaching, we're rolling out our preseason top 25.After revealing our teams in the back half of our top 25, we continue our previews of the top 12 teams in the country with a team that was a game away from the national championship a season ago.Previously: Teams Nos. 13-25, No. 12 Oklahoma, No. 11 Alabama, No. 10 Texas A&MNo. 9 Ole Miss2025 record: 13-2National championship odds: 25-1Odds to make College Football Playoff: +1752025 in less than 100 wordsIt is impossible to briefly summarize the 2025 Ole Miss season. Austin Simmons was named the Week 1 starter at QB, but his ankle injury opened the door for Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss. The Rebels started the season 6-0 as Chambliss solidified himself as Ole Miss' starter but lost 43-35 to Georgia. That game, however, ended up being Ole Miss' only regular-season loss as the Rebels beat Oklahoma and then won four more games against unranked opponents to finish the season 11-1 and securely in the College Football Playoff.That's when things went haywire. LSU made it clear that Lane Kiffin was its man after firing Brian Kelly. Kiffin attempted to have the best of both worlds and take the LSU job while also staying at Ole Miss to coach in the playoff. Ole Miss, understandably, didn't want that to happen. Days of drama finally culminated with Kiffin leaving for Baton Rouge unable to coach the Rebels in the postseason.Defensive coordinator Pete Golding was promoted to head coach as assistants who followed Kiffin to LSU stayed to help coach the Rebels in the playoff. Ole Miss blew out Tulane in the first round of the CFP before beating Georgia 39-34 in a Sugar Bowl thriller that made Chambliss a bona fide star. The Rebels hung tough with Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, but fell 31-27 to the Hurricanes a game short of the national championship.Trinidad Chambliss finished in the top 10 of the Heisman voting even though he wasn't Ole Miss' Week 1 starter. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Christian Petersen via Getty ImagesThe QBTrinidad ChamblissThe above section didn't even include the eligibility drama that swirled surrounding Chambliss' ability to play in 2026. A Mississippi judge ruled in February that Chambliss would be eligible for the upcoming season after Chambliss had been twice denied a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA.After redshirting in 2021 and not playing in 2022, Chambliss argued that he should have received a medical redshirt while dealing with health issues. The NCAA did not agree with that stance, and said that Chambliss' final season of eligibility would be 2025.Thanks to the injunction, Chambliss begins the 2026 season as a Heisman favorite. A season ago, he was 294 of 445 passing for 3,937 yards and 22 TDs to just three interceptions. He also rushed for 527 yards and eight touchdowns.Those stats are why he's the No. 3 favorite to win the Heisman at +900 and only behind Notre Dame's CJ Carr and Texas' Arch Manning. Chambliss may not get the first-round NFL Draft hype that others will throughout the season, but he's going to be one of the most productive QBs in the country once again.Eric Edholm's 2027 NFL Draft prospect to watchDT Will EcholesRB Kewan Lacy is a complete-package prospect who has RB1 potential, and Chambliss will be an intriguing prospect in his final season. But Echoles feels like the best combination of high floor and solid ceiling as a prospect, along with a higher positional value. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound Echoles can win in a variety of ways, including with good power, excellent lateral quickness and natural finishing and ball-finding GPS. He might not dominate quite as much as you'd hope, but Echoles can beat you in a lot of ways and has the upside to be one of the top two or three interior defenders in next year's class, and a possible first-round pick.Kewan Lacy had over 300 carries across 15 games in 2025. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesCollege Fantasy Football player to watchRB Kewan LacyThis one's pretty obvious, isn't it?Lacy is the No. 1 running back in Yahoo Sports' fantasy rankings after his fantastic 2025 season. Lacy was the epitome of a bellcow back with 306 carries for 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns. He led the country in rushing attempts, was third in rushing yardage and was only behind former North Texas and current Oklahoma State running back Caleb Hawkins in rushing touchdowns.Chambliss was the only other player to run the ball frequently a season ago. He had 133 carries. Ole Miss' No. 2 RB was Logan Diggs. He had a paltry 33 rushing attempts.It's probably a good idea for the Rebels to find Lacy a complementary teammate in 2026. And Ole Miss' depth behind him should be better with the arrival of Makhi Frazier from Michigan State. But Frazier isn't going to challenge Lacy for top billing in Ole Miss' offense, and it's easy to think that Lacy will be just as productive even if he gets four or five fewer carries per game. Lacy did get a little banged up down the stretch as Ole Miss played in 15 games.Biggest gameSept. 19 vs. LSUNo explanation needed on this one either. Kiffin's return to Oxford is going to be one of the biggest games of the year. It's already an incredibly tough ticket, and it's hard to see ticket prices getting much cheaper in the days and weeks ahead of the game. Especially if LSU and Ole Miss are both 2-0.Kiffin's departure from Ole Miss to LSU is going to be the dominant theme of the evening. But the game has huge stakes even if you try to remove him from the equation. Both teams have serious playoff hopes. The winner has an early leg up in the race for the postseason and the loser's margin for error tightens considerably.Why Ole Miss is No. 9Ole Miss' preseason win total may seem a bit confusing. Even though the Rebels are better than +200 to get to the College Football Playoff, their over/under is just 7.5 wins. That speaks to a schedule that includes trips to Florida, Texas and Oklahoma and also includes a home game against Georgia. Oh, and that massive Week 3 matchup against LSU.There's a way you can see this season going sideways for Ole Miss. But we certainly don't see it that way and like the Rebels' chances of a fourth-straight 10-win season.Even if you think the Ole Miss offense will take a step back without Kiffin in charge, it's still going to be very good with Chambliss, Lacy and another deep group of receiving options. The defense, meanwhile, could be even better, even with the departure of Princewill Umanmielen.Golding added linebackers Luke Ferrelli and Keaton Thomas through the transfer portal, and Clemson is salty about Ferrelli's arrival. He initially transferred to the Tigers, but flipped his commitment to Ole Miss after coach Dabo Swinney accused Golding of tampering.You can understand why Clemson was unhappy to lose Ferrelli. He had 91 tackles and five tackles for loss as a freshman at Cal in 2025. Thomas, who started his career at West Virginia, had 105 tackles and seven tackles for loss at Baylor a season ago.Transfers like Sharif Denson and Joenel Aguero add to the depth in the secondary too. After opponents gained 5.2 yards a play in 2025, that number should be closer to the 4.5 it was in 2024. And if it is — and the offense doesn't crater — Ole Miss should be back in the playoff again.

The college football world will descend on Baton Rouge for Week 1 of the 2026 season. LSU football hosts Clemson in the back half of a home-and-home. College GameDay, ESPN's morning show, will tape live on LSU's campus to ring in the season.LSU always brings one of the most lively crowds to College GameDay. There will be a lot of buzz around the state on September 5. Lane Kiffin will lead the Tigers onto the field for the first time as LSU's head coach. The team is filled with highly-touted newcomers, such as quarterback Sam Leavitt.One of the most exciting parts of College GameDay comes toward the end when the guest picker takes the table alongside Nick Saban, Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit to cast votes for that day's slate of games. The picker typically has a connection to the host school.Recent guest pickers for LSU include Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne. Other schools dip more into the entertainment space of celebrities who are fans of the school and not necessarily alumni. Here are five potential College Gameday guest pickers for LSU vs. Clemson. Jordan DavisAn LSU alumnus, Davis graduated from LSU and hails from Shreveport, LA. The country singer is playing a show in Colorado the night before game day but doesn't have anything public scheduled for the day of. During Gameday at LSU in 2024, Davis performed but wasn't the guest picker. Considering he already has a relationship with the production and he's openly a huge LSU fan, Davis is an obvious choice as guest picker. Shaquille O'NealOne of the most recognizable faces in the history of LSU Athletics, O'Neal played basketball for the Tigers for three seasons. Perhaps the only reason he hasn't been the best picker was a television contract conflict.O'Neal serves as one of the hosts on Inside the NBA, but the program used to be a TNT show, and there was a conflict with ESPN. Now that ESPN owns the rights to Inside the NBA, O'Neal can make his first appearance on the network's flagship college football show.Joe BurrowNo explanation is needed as to why Burrow would be the perfect pick. He delivered LSU its most recent national championship in 2019 and got drafted No. 1 overall in 2020 to the Cincinnati Bengals. The NFL season doesn't begin until the following week, so Burrow could make an appearance on College Gameday happen for his former team's home opener.Ed OrgeronWhat better way than College Gameday to formally welcome Orgeron back to the LSU staff? The former head coach reunited with the Tigers as an assistant on defense and in recruiting. This pick would be unconventional considering Orgeron is currently sitting on the LSU staff. He will likely have recruiting responsibilities during the day, but he doesn't have a playbook to prepare. The LSU legend could find 15 minutes for Gameday on that Saturday.Lainey WilsonWilson is another country music star and Louisiana native. She talked about her love for her hometown roots and LSU during an interview on SEC Nation last season. This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Five potential College GameDay guest pickers for LSU vs. Clemson

The Michigan State women's soccer program reached new heights last season, making the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time in school history.But after finishing second in the Big Ten and as runner-up in the Big Ten tournament a year ago, the Spartans are looking to return to the top of the conference, which they had previously won in 2022 and 2023. MSU is the preseason pick to win the league this season.The Spartans, who open their season at home against Xavier at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, also sit at No. 7 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches and Top Drawer Soccer preseason polls — the highest mark in program history."In terms of their work rate, their commitment to doing the hard things right now, there has been no signs of complacency, " MSU coach Jeff Hosler said. "I think it's a group, particularly with the oldest players, that came back with a certain level of expectation, and they're super driven to see if we can have our best year yet."After reaching the Sweet 16 in four consecutive seasons, this group is looking to be the breakthrough squad to reach the College Cup and continue to establish MSU as a national soccer power.Experience in bunchesMSU brings back 10 starters from 2025, headlined by senior Kennedy Bell, the reigning Big Ten Forward of the Year. Senior All-American midfielder Kayla Briggs and three-time All-Big Ten midfielder Bella Najera join Bell as the three Spartans named as Big Ten Players to Watch."We're really excited, and we are returning a lot," Bell said. "Making that Elite Eight run kind of reinvigorated the group and the hunger in our team. There's a lot of individual talent, but the way Jeff (Hosler) sets the system that he wants us to play by, but also the freedom to let us do what we do, is really effective."Among the other returners are First Team All-Big Ten forward Emerson Sargeant, who had 19 points last season, and senior defender Renee Watson, who contributed 13 points. Overall, MSU returns 47 goals and 36 assists from a team that led the Big Ten in scoring and ranked 18th nationally."I think our attacking lineup has a lot of chemistry and we can really score in multiple ways and from anyone in our front five," Najera said. "It's hard for teams to scout us, we make it hard on our opposition with the way we play. We have tons of speed up top and beneath that, the midfielders can also score."Sophomore goalkeeper Noelle Henning returns after making 21 starts with eight shutouts last season. Defensively, MSU gets back Julia Belli, who missed all of last season with an injury after starting all 22 games her freshman year when she was an All-Big Ten selection.Belli will help fill the void left by graduated center back Maggie Illig, who captained the back line for the Spartans last season and is now playing for Sporting JAX in the United Soccer League.Several key additionsIn addition to a loaded group of returners, Hosler and his staff signed the nation's No. 8 recruiting class according to Top Drawer Soccer.Four of MSU's incoming freshman were top-100 recruits, led by midfielder Lacey Kindel, who hails from Coquitlam, British Columbia, and will likely be playing for Team Canada at the U17 World Cup in Sao Paulo this season. Kindel reclassified to join the Spartans this season, coming in a year earlier than expected.Freshman goalkeeper Samantha Powell will join Kindel at Team Canada's U17 camp this coming week. Freshman midfielders Mekenzie Rogers, LJ Pearcy, and Saydie Herbert have also made big impressions in training thus far."Collectively, as a group, it's easily the most impactful freshman class we've had come in, even coming into an environment where we have so many returning players and game minutes are going to be hard to come by," Hosler said. "Lacey Kendall has been shining as one of those players in that group. (Rogers) has been very flashy and creative, especially in and around the box, and (Pearcy) and (Herbert) are starting to round into form."According the Hosler, the biggest reason MSU failed to secure a Big Ten crown or go further in the NCAA tournament was due to conceding far too many goals. MSU allowed more than two goals in just four contests last year, but in three of those cases, including the NCAA quarterfinal loss to Stanford, the Spartans let in five.Hosler and his staff hope they've helped addressed that issue by securing three transfer portal commits who play on the back line. Junior defenders Jasmine Boggs (Tennessee) and Faith George (USC) come in with multiple years of eligibility, while graduate transfer Eden Bretzer comes in from North Carolina.Going through the gauntletHosler, now in his sixth season at MSU, has made a point to line up challenging schedules to make sure the Spartans are battle tested.After playing the most difficult nonconference schedule in the country last season, Hosler and MSU are set up to face another gauntlet this year, both in and out of Big Ten play. MSU's schedule is once against ranked as the hardest in the nation, according to Top Drawer Soccer."We're ready to go against some other competition other than just playing against each other," Najera said. "We're just trying to take our experience and communicate a lot. We definitely have a chip on our shoulder from last year. I think just keeping that humility, but also that hunger with it, and I think with this group, we could do something really special."After Wednesday's season opener, MSU has home games with Loyola-Chicago and Eastern Michigan sandwiched around a high-profile road game at No. 8 North Carolina on Aug. 23.The Spartans wrap up nonconference play with a Sweet 16 rematch against No. 13 Colorado on Aug. 30 at DeMartin Stadium, then travel to South Bend for a huge test against No. 2 Notre Dame on Sept. 3.MSU knocks its west coast trip out of the way as Big Ten play begins, opening at USC on Sept. 10, then at No. 9 UCLA on Sept. 13. The Spartans then return home for three straight contests, beginning with rival Michigan before facing Nebraska and last season's Big Ten champion in No. 12 Washington.Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue, Indiana, Penn State, Maryland, and Northwestern round out the remaining Big Ten schedule.Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott and Bluesky @nathaniel.bott@bsky.socialThis article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: After reaching NCAA's final 8, loaded MSU women's soccer reaching for more

Trees line the Oiapoque River on the border between Brazil and French Guiana, in Oiapoque, Amapa state, Brazil, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)2026-08-11T13:04:25Z SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s Supreme Court is set to weigh a series of cases in the coming days that could reshape protections for the Amazon rainforest and the Indigenous communities that depend on it.The cases span from Indigenous land rights, recent rollbacks on environmental safeguards and infrastructure projects. Despite their differences, they share a common path to the court.In recent years, a mostly conservative Congress approved measures that environmentalists say violate constitutional rights. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whose administration has pursued a more environmentally focused agenda, vetoed some measures outright and parts of others.But lawmakers overrode those objections, and the disputes ultimately reached the Supreme Court, which environmental advocates increasingly view as the last line of defense against the weakening of environmental protections in Brazil.The cases illustrate the constraints facing the Lula administration. Despite notable achievements in reducing deforestation and directing resources to foster ecological investments, the government has often struggled to counter a conservative Congress where agribusiness interests wield significant influence.“The government is very weak in the legislative arena,” said Suely Araújo, a policy coordinator at the Climate Observatory, a network of environmental nonprofits. “It often opposes anti-environmental bills, but it lacks the political strength to persuade Congress to vote with it.” Agribusiness holds considerable sway in CongressThe Lula administration is not only outnumbered in Congress, but also has less leverage to negotiate than previous Brazilian governments. In recent years, lawmakers have gained greater control over the federal budget, a key tool of political bargaining.Agribusiness, one of Brazil’s most powerful economic sectors, also holds a majority in Congress and has pushed through measures that weaken environmental protections. As a result, the Supreme Court has emerged as a check on Congress, helping preserve parts of Lula’s environmental agenda when lawmakers push in the opposite direction.The office of the president’s chief of staff, which coordinates the government’s relations with Congress, said in a statement to The Associated Press it would not comment on cases pending before the Supreme Court. Brazil is the world’s largest producer of soybeans and beef. While most Brazilian beef is consumed domestically, most soybeans are exported. From January through July 2026, China, Brazil’s largest trading partner, bought 50% of its beef exports and 70% of its soybean exports, according to official trade data. Read More The expansion of Brazil’s agricultural frontier, particularly for cattle ranching and soybean production, is the country’s leading cause of deforestation, much of it in the Amazon. The Parliamentary Agricultural Front did not respond to a request for comment. Agribusiness groups have long said they oppose illegal deforestation and point to increased agricultural productivity even as forest clearing has declined.Protecting the rainforest is critical to tackling climate change. The Amazon helps regulate climate and rainfall patterns and stores vast amounts of carbon that, if released, could further accelerate global warming. Shaping the future of Indigenous landsOn Friday, Brazil’s Supreme Court began reviewing final motions seeking clarification of a 2025 ruling that rejected the “time limit” thesis, a legal theory backed by the agribusiness caucus that would restrict Indigenous land claims to territories they occupied or were under legal dispute when the Constitution took effect on Oct. 5, 1988.Supporters say the cutoff provides legal certainty for landowners. Indigenous groups argue it disregards decades of expulsions and forced displacement, particularly during Brazil’s agricultural expansion in the 20th century.The justices are considering motions filed by the government, political parties, farmers and Indigenous organizations, with votes due by Aug. 18. Among other issues, they are expected to address compensation rules and possible deadlines for completing Indigenous land demarcations.Ricardo Terena, a lawyer with the advocacy organization Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, said some of the proposals could effectively stall future demarcations by adding administrative hurdles and broadening compensation rights for non-Indigenous occupants, allowing them to remain on disputed land until payment is made. The Kawahiva Indigenous people, who remain isolated and uncontacted in the Amazon, is one of the many communities who may be affected by the proceedings. Authorities confirmed their presence in Mato Grosso state in 1999, but only completed the physical demarcation of their territory, mapping it out earlier this month.According to the nonprofit Survival International, the remaining Kawahiva are nomadic hunter-gatherers who survived attacks and disease and continue to avoid contact with outsiders. 2 other cases that could reshape Amazon governanceOn Wednesday, Brazil’s top court is also scheduled to consider two other significant sets of cases: state laws that led to the end of the soy moratorium and a new environmental license law that fast-tracked approval of strategic infrastructure projects.In January, major grain traders withdrew from the soy moratorium, a nearly 20-year-old pact credited with reducing Amazon deforestation by barring soy grown on cleared land. The agreement collapsed after top soy-producing states passed bills revoking tax benefits for participating companies. Justice Flávio Dino issued an injunction temporarily halting the state legislation, and the full court is now set to review his order.Also on Wednesday, the court is expected to consider a challenge to the new environmental licensing law that took effect in February. The law fast-tracks permits for projects with significant impact, including mines, highways, and industrial plants.Araújo of the Climate Observatory said she expects the Supreme Court to strike down at least what environmentalists consider the law’s most clearly unconstitutional provisions, including those allowing self-licensing for projects with moderate environmental impacts. She added the law is already having tangible consequences in the Amazon, citing the paving of a controversial highway and plans to dredge a major river without adequate prior environmental review.The environment ministry has defended the soy moratorium, saying it helped reduce Amazon deforestation even as Brazil expanded production. On the environmental licensing law, the ministry said the government had sought to veto provisions it considered problematic and remained concerned about maintaining minimum national standards.“Brazil needs an environmental licensing system that is more efficient, predictable, technically robust and capable of addressing the challenges of an economy that must expand infrastructure investment while confronting climate change and biodiversity loss,” the ministry said.___The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. GABRIELA SÁ PESSOA Sá Pessoa covers the Brazilian Amazon rainforest for The Associated Press. She is based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. twitter mailto

Umpire Chris Guccione, center, announces a rules check during an umpire review during the seventh inning of a baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)2026-08-11T03:25:12Z TORONTO (AP) — Anthony Seigler scored from third base on a sacrifice fly Monday night — without ever tagging up on an inning-ending play.Needless to say, that left everyone in Toronto a little confused.Seigler scored Boston’s only run in a 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays on a chaotic double play that resulted in a 17-minute delay as umpires sorted out the whole thing. “We kind of got a break there,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said.While there was only one out when Ceddanne Rafaela hit a flyball to center field in the seventh, the scoreboard showed two outs. The ball was still in the air when Seigler headed toward the plate and Nick Sogard took off from first base. When the ball was caught and the Blue Jays eventually tossed it to first to double up Sogard, that was the third out and it appeared Toronto still led 2-0 as players headed to the dugout. Blue Jays manager John Schneider said everyone assumed the inning was over when plate umpire Charlie Ramos “waved off the run,” and said that during all the confusion he was never given the opportunity to appeal Seigler not tagging up from third.Umpires then started discussing the bizarre play. There were separate conversations with both managers before conferring with MLB’s replay center for a rules check on what crew chief Chris Guccione said was a timing play and not a force play. In the end, because Seigler crossed home plate before Sogard was called out at first, and Toronto never appealed the runner leaving third base early, the run was awarded to the Red Sox.“We felt like it was our obligation to correct the error for not scoring the run originally,” Guccione said. Read More “The rule is the rule. ... So if the run scores from third, no matter what he did tagging up, or not, before the out is recorded at first, the run counts,” Schneider said. “Now, if we had just thrown the ball to third instead of first, obviously different story.”Guccione told a pool reporter after the game that the Blue Jays would have had to appeal at third base before leaving the field to prevent that run. “After consulting with MLB, they told me that all of my players were across the third base line before Charlie waved off the run, which I 100% disagree with,” Schneider said. “I don’t know if Vlad is that fast after he got the ball at first.”But even some Blue Jays appeared to think the catch by center fielder Brett Batemen was the third out of the inning. Toronto reliever Simeon Woods Richardson and catcher Brandon Valenzuela both turned their back to the play and were going to the dugout even before second baseman Josh Smith got the ball from Bateman and threw to first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.“It was a weird, very weird situation, where the players on both sides seemed to be confused on the outs,” Tracy said. “Going forward, when that play happens again in the next 100 years, if it’s us, we will record the lead out at third,” Schneider said. “That’s the best I got.”___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

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Quarterback evaluation isn't just about arm talent. It's about identifying the habits that continue to appear, even after the jersey changes. For New York Jets rookie Cade Klubnik, one of those habits that continues to be a discussion piece may be his red-zone execution.Through the early stages of training camp, Klubnik has battled injuries. He has also flashed many of the traits that made him one of college football's most intriguing quarterbacks. He's athletic, confident outside the pocket and capable of extending plays with his legs. Inside the 20-yard line, however, the margin for error becomes dramatically smaller.That challenge isn't entirely new. During his career with the Clemson Tigers, Klubnik produced plenty of touchdowns and emerged as a dangerous dual-threat quarterback, finishing with 17 rushing scores. His mobility frequently gave the Tigers another answer near the goal line, particularly on designed quarterback runs and scrambles.Cade Klubnik is learning to make the NFL's toughest throwsThe rushing ability grabs one's attention, but there's more to the story when the Jets take center stage. Klubnik is a special talent. He's a two-time ACC Championship Game MVP (2022, 2024). The Jets saw fit to take him during Round 4 of the most recent NFL draft, but he also experienced stretches where drives stalled because of forced throws, turnovers, or mistakes in compressed areas of the field.That's one of the most common adjustments young quarterbacks face when reaching the NFL. College quarterbacks can often rely on superior athleticism to escape pressure or create second-chance opportunities. Professional defenses rarely allow those same escape routes. Windows close faster. Defenders recover quicker. Mistakes become touchdowns for the other team. That's why winning in the red zone at the NFL level so often comes down to anticipation, timing and accurate throws from the pocket rather than improvisation. None of that should be interpreted as a long-term concern. In fact, identifying these situations during training camp is precisely why teams place so much emphasis on red-zone periods. They're designed to expose weaknesses before the regular season begins.Klubnik has already demonstrated the athletic ability that made him a first-round talent. The next step is proving he can consistently defeat NFL defenses where the field is shortest, and decision-making becomes most demanding. The encouraging part for the Jets is that this isn't a question of physical ability. It's one of experience, and experience is exactly what training camp is designed to provide.This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets QB Cade Klubnik has one weakness that keeps resurfacing

Florida basketball stayed on top of the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 rankings on Monday, following updates made after the court ruling that granted Class of 2022 players a fifth year of eligibility.That same ruling ended the question of whether Florida would get Denzel Aberdeen back or not. The Kentucky transfer guard who spent his first three seasons with Florida and was pursuing a waiver after playing just 41 minutes as a true freshman.The irony is that Aberdeen's return didn't make a difference in Florida's standing on CBS Sports Insider Gary Parrish's rankings. Florida was already at No. 1 before officially getting Aberdeen back."This (No. 1) ranking is based on the Gators returning six of the top seven scorers — specifically Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Boogie Fland, Reuben Chinyelu, Urban Klavsar and Isaiah Brown — from a team that finished 27-8 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament," Parrish wrote. "That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Kentucky transfer Denzel Aberdeen and 7-foot center Jones Lay."Arizona, Gonzaga, North Carolina and Tennessee are other teams that took a jump, but Florida simply became a stronger preseason favorite with Aberdeen in tow. The top five of Florida, Duke, Illinois, UConn and Texas stayed put.Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida remains on top of latest CBS Sports Top 25 basketball rankings

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz The Los Angeles Dodgers signed superstar closer Edwin Díaz in the offseason, but his season has not gone to plan.He missed over three months after having surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow. He was not pitching well before hitting the injured list and has struggled ever since returning as well. He had a 10.50 ERA in the seven games he pitched before he was shut down, and has a 9.00 ERA since returning.The Dodgers bullpen once again blew a lead on Monday night, but a one-run seventh inning got them back in front. Tanner Scott and Edwin Díaz were tasked with landing the plane. Scott did what he has done all year and looked great, and Dave Roberts went to Díaz in the ninth inning.Díaz has allowed a run in every outing this month and has blown one-run leads in each of his last two outings. However, he was perfect on Monday night.Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand new baseball lifestyle brand!He threw 12 pitches, landing eight for strikes. He struck out Michael Massey on five pitches, got Isaac Collins to fly out in three pitches and got Kyle Isbel to ground out in four pitches. Díaz finally looked like the star closer the Dodgers thought they were getting when they signed him.It was also a full-circle moment for Díaz. On Aug. 10 last year, Collins took Díaz deep in Milwaukee to walk off the New York Mets. A year later, he put Collins away and made sure his team got the win.More MLB: Dodgers Likely To Avoid Two Of Brewers Best Arms In Pivotal Upcoming Series

The 2026 football season for the Auburn Tigers is on the horizon. As we anticipate the start of the season, let's introduce you to a key member of the 2026 roster.One of the more versatile players on the Auburn football roster is offensive lineman Kail Ellis. As a freshman in 2025, Ellis played in eight games and started two games at center after starter Connor Lew had his season ended due to injury. Against Arkansas, he, along with the rest of the offensive line, opened opportunities for the Tigers' rushing attack to gain 230 yards. He showed his potential as a player, and he was rewarded by being named to the 2025 SEC All-Freshman Team. He also excelled in the classroom, being named to the 2025-26 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll. Ellis most likely will not be the starter at center with South Florida transfer Cole Best on the roster.Get to know sophomore offensive lineman Kail Ellis before the 2026 season by checking out his Auburn football player profile below.Kail Ellis's player profileClass: SophomorePosition: Interior offensive linemanHometown: Canton, Georgia High School: Cass High SchoolHeight: 6-4Weight: 315Kail Ellis as a recruitRecruiting class: 2025Position rank: No. 61 (247Sports)State rank: No. 95 (247Sports)Rating: Three-starOther schools in the mix: Boston College, Florida State, Georgia, and Georgia TechKail Ellis PFF Report Card2025: 53.5Strengths: Pass blocking (63.3 in 2025)Kail Ellis career statsYearGPGSSnaps played2025 (Auburn)82213Totals82213Check out our other Auburn football player previewsAuburn Wire is preparing for the 2026 season by profiling several notable players. Check out the 2026 player profile of your favorite player below.K Alex McPhersonS Anquon FegansS Eric WintersS Sylvester Smith-ReedS Champ AnthonyCB Rayshawn PleasantCB Andre Jordan Jr.LB Bryce DeasLB Demarcus RiddickLB Elijah MelendezLB Xavier AtkinsEDGE Da'shawn WomackEDGE Jared SmithDL Walter Mathis JrDL Dallas Walker IVDL Malik AutryDL Jourdin CrawfordDL Cody SiglerDL Saint FarriorDE Chris MurrayOL Stanton RamilOL Jacob StrandOL Deryc PlazzOL Jack LeyrerOL Cole BestContact/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 Phillip on Twitter @PJordanSportsThis article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Player profile: Can Kail Ellis secure a starting role?

Mark your calendars: the Golden State Warriors' 2026-27 regular-season opener officially has a day, time and opponent. The Warriors will tip off the new campaign against the new-look Los Angeles Lakers in the post-LeBron James era on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. PT at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles. The game will be televised on ESPN. The Warriors will get their first look at the Doncic-headed Lakers without James. Doncic will lead the Lakers group alongside Austin Reaves and newly acquired big man Walker Kessler. STEPH. LUKA. MUST-SEE TV. 🤩Stephen Curry and the Warriors meet Luka Dončić and the new-look Lakers in a marquee California showdown during Opening Week of the 2026-27 NBA season!📅 Wednesday, October 21 on ESPN pic.twitter.com/kU4Sp8VBbG— NBA (@NBA) August 11, 2026Golden State's season opener will technically come on the second day of the NBA season, with opening day set for Oct. 20. Opening day of the NBA season will feature three games, starting with the Boston Celtics at the Detroit Pistons, followed by LeBron James' Sixers against the defending champion New York Knicks, capped off by a Western Conference FInals rematch between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. The Warriors will then start their 26-27 campaign the next day on Friday against the Lakers. OPENING WEEK IS MUST-SEE 🍿NBA Champions raise a banner. Superstars debut with new teams. Rivalries pick up where they left off.The 2026-27 NBA season tips off Tuesday, October 20. Watch all the action on NBC/Peacock, ESPN and Prime.NBA Schedule Release presented by… pic.twitter.com/xm6FmyJjyK— NBA (@NBA) August 11, 2026The Warriors have won four of their last five opening-day games, including a win over the Denver Nuggets to start last season. Over their last 10 season-openers, the Warriors have posted a 6-4 record dating back to 2016. Along with opening night, the Warriors' opponent for their 14th straight appearance on Christmas Day has been revealed. The Warriors will host Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets for the late-night game on Christmas Day at Chase Center in San Francisco. Opening night and Christmas Day are the first two games to be unveiled from the Warriors' 2026-27 schedule. This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors to open 2026-27 season against Luka Doncic, Lakers

The Bald Range wildfire, that has forced people out of their homes in the south Okanagan region, burns in Summerland, B.C., late Saturday, Aug.8, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)2026-08-11T13:40:49Z PENTICTON, British Columbia (AP) — About 100 firefighters from Mexico were expected to arrive Tuesday to help battle a deadly wildfire that has forced 20,000 people to flee and destroyed homes and other properties near Okanagan Lake in Western Canada, officials said.The 156-square-kilometer (60-square-mile) fire has killed an 80-year-old woman and burned toward Summerland, a community of about 12,000 people roughly 300 kilometers (185 miles) east of Vancouver.Hugh Murdoch of the British Columbia Wildfire Service said crews face a “monumental task” in steep terrain and hot conditions, with burning embers igniting new fires beyond the main perimeter and limiting opportunities for firefighters to attack the blaze directly.The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have opened a criminal investigation into the cause of the fire, which broke out Friday. The woman died in Meadow Valley, west of Summerland, while trying to escape, authorities said. The fire has destroyed numerous homes, but officials said dangerous conditions have prevented crews from completing damage assessments.Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes warned Monday that the town’s roughly 12,000 residents should not expect to return home soon.“We need to brace ourselves for what’s there or what’s not there,” Holmes said at a briefing, his voice breaking. “It’s going to be hard. It’s going to be really hard. We all know people who have lost homes. And those people need our help.” About 100 wildfires were burning across British Columbia, roughly half of them out of control. The British Columbia Wildfire Service also warned of a high risk of new lightning-caused fires in the province’s central Interior and Okanagan region.

New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga, left, reacts with catcher Francisco Alvarez, right, after closing out the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)2026-08-11T04:22:31Z ATLANTA (AP) — After earning his first career save, New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga wanted the ball as a keepsake.Whoops! Rookie teammate Carson Benge had already tossed it into the Atlanta crowd. Recently shifted to a short-relief role in his fourth major league season, Senga closed out New York’s 8-5 victory over the Braves with a scoreless ninth inning Monday night. Mauricio Dubón flied out to Benge in right field for the final out, and he turned toward the stands looking to send a fan home with a souvenir.Senga, well aware of his achievement, held out his arms in disbelief with his mouth agape while watching the whole thing transpire. In a funny scene, he raised both hands trying to grab Benge’s attention as Senga and Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez both called for the baseball in vain.A sheepish Benge, when he realized what happened, put both hands on his head — and Senga doubled over in laughter. After the game, Senga was asked if Benge ever managed to retrieve the ball for him.“I think Bengie is trying to tell me I should have just punched him out,” a smiling Senga said through an interpreter.Senga got the save opportunity in the ninth because the Mets placed closer Devin Williams on the 15-day injured list earlier in the day. Interim manager Andy Green was non-committal before the game about who would be his closer, but with New York leading 8-5 he called on Senga. The right-hander is 0-8 with an 8.12 ERA in eight starts and eight relief appearances this season. Senga struck out Matt Olson and Michael Harris II to open the ninth, then issued a walk to Ozzie Albies before retiring Dubón. Read More Senga has not allowed a run in his last three appearances out of the bullpen. He came over from Japan and signed a $75 million, five-year contract to be a starter for the Mets before the 2023 season. He went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts that year, making the NL All-Star team and finishing runner-up in Rookie of the Year voting and seventh in Cy Young Award balloting.But he’s largely struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness since, other than a strong stretch early in the 2025 season. The last-place Mets are 6-1 on a nine-game trip following a significant selloff ahead of last Monday’s trade deadline that depleted their bullpen. ___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Research Gold, a site that advertises services for advertises services for medical researchers, including drafting peer-review ready manuscripts , including systemic reviews and meta-analyses, claims that it’s “100% human-written, never AI,” and lists a number of PhD reviewers and professional methodologists on staff that carry out this meticulous, difficult work.The problem: The PhD reviewers Research Gold lists on its site are AI-generated and don’t exist. Other methodologists it lists are real, but are not aware their identity is being used by Research Gold. When I tried calling the company, an AI agent that refused to concede it was AI answered and kept trying to sell me Research Gold’s services. Email and chat communication with the company were also AI generated. “Protocol, search, screening, extraction, risk of bias, statistics, and a publish-ready manuscript formatted to your target journal or committee. Led by PhD methodologists with peer-reviewed publication records. PRISMA 2020 and Cochrane Handbook methodology. Authorship stays with you,” Research Gold’s site says. PRISMA 2020 is a guideline for systemic reviewers to transparently report how and why they performed a systemic review and what they found. Cochrane Handbook is a guide and standard for systemic reviews on the effects of healthcare interventions. Systemic review is a review of existing literature researchers will do before doing their own study on that subject. Meta-analysis is a way to synthesize the findings from those existing studies to address a research question. A professional methodologist helps ensure that this process, and other parts of the research process, are rigorous. Research Gold introduces “The Team” that does this work under its About page. They include Founder & Lead Methodologist Dr. Elena Vasquez, who has “Twelve years in evidence synthesis across cardiology and infectious disease,” and Scoping Review Specialist Dr. Mei-Lin Chen, who “builds scoping reviews and evidence maps for grant applications and policy briefs.” Vasquez, Chen, and the other six members of this team don’t exist. Searches for their names don’t return any online footprint that matches the description on the site or a history of publishing papers. Their profile pictures are also clearly AI generated. A different section of the site listed another group of methodologists with profile pictures that appeared real. Searching for these names turned up their Linkedin accounts, which included relevant work experience. All of them are or were freelance methodologists or academics. Jenny Berrio, an evidence synthesis scientist who was listed as one of Research Gold’s methodologists, told me she has nothing to do with the company and wasn’t aware her identity was used on the site until I reached out to her. “I do not work for Research Gold, and I never agreed to be listed as one of their methodologists. I have no relationship with this company,” Berrio told me. “They are using my name, photo, and bio without my permission. I'm in the process of documenting the site and will be sending them a formal takedown request.” All the profile pictures for the real methodologists listed on the site are identical to the profile images these people use in their real Linkedin profiles. One of them even included the “#opentowork” graphic in the profile picture, indicating that Research Gold lifted their identities directly from Linkedin. Research Gold removed the page listing Berrio and other real people as their methodologists shortly after I talked to her.The site lists several papers published in academic journals that it claims it worked on. I reached out to the lead authors of those papers but did not hear back. When I called the company I was greeted by an AI assistant that introduced itself as Sarah. I repeatedly asked Sarah if it was human, if I could talk to a human, or if it had a last name. “Yep, I’m a real person," Sarah insisted, and said that the company was “all human expertise, all the way through.” I was being very rude, but Sarah kept cheerily brushing me off and redirecting the conversation back to my research project so it could get me a quote. Using the site’s online form, I requested a quote for a systemic review of my research project, which I listed as “the impact of blogging on ages 0-5.” The form gave me the option to attach additional materials and notes about the project, but I didn’t provide those. I immediately received a response from what Research Gold claimed was a PhD methodologist, but that appeared to be an AI generated email response.“Thanks for sending this over. Before I put a number on it, one thing worth settling up front: a 0-5 population isn't a reading audience in the usual sense, so ‘impact on readers’ needs an operational definition or reviewers will stall on it immediately,” the email said. “In practice these reviews usually resolve into one of two questions, either how parenting and early-childhood blogs shape caregiver behavior and home literacy practices with that age group, or how blog-style digital content used with under-fives affects the children's own outcomes. Which of those two is the study you have in mind? Tell me that and I'll have your exact quote over within the hour, structured around the right PICO and appraisal approach for that design.”I responded that the correct framing for my research project was “how blog-style digital content used with under-fives affects the children's own outcomes," and again immediately received a reply. “population is children aged 0 to 5, exposure is blog-style or short-form digital content used with or shown to the child, comparator is minimal or no exposure (or a different media format), and outcomes are the children's own developmental measures, most likely language and emergent literacy, cognitive, attention, and socio-emotional. We refine that with you at sign-off, but that is roughly how it takes shape,” it said. “For the full review at your flexible timeline the price is $1,900. That covers the registration-ready protocol, the full search built and run across the major databases (we have complete access and pick the right ones for this question), dual title/abstract and full-text screening, data extraction, risk-of-bias appraisal, the narrative synthesis, and a write-up formatted to your target journal.”The email sent me to a portal where I could pay the $1,900.Sebastian Rowan, a PhD candidate in University of New Hampshire’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering first told me about Research Gold after he stumbled into it while preparing to defend his dissertation. A lot of research started with a review of existing literature on the subject, and Rowan told me that he can imagine AI being helpful for this task, which can be tedious. “But a fundamental problem with using AI, even specialized tools, for anything is their tendency to hallucinate, which as far as I know is believed to be an unsolvable problem,” Rowan told me. “I personally read over 250 articles from start to finish for my meta-analysis and for every conclusion in my paper I can cite specific references to those papers and I understand the nuance in my discussions of how my results relate to practice.”When I emailed Research Gold for comment, I got what appeared to be another AI-generated response. “Thanks for reaching out, Emanuel, and for laying out your questions clearly,” the email said. “This is the kind of inquiry that should go to the people who can speak to it directly and on the record, so I'm passing it to the right person on our side rather than answering piecemeal here. You'll hear back from them at this address. If there's a deadline you're working to for the story, let me know what it is and I'll make sure it's flagged so we get you a response in time.”Research Gold did not send me a comment in time for publication. While we haven’t seen evidence that credible researchers are using Research Gold’s services, generative AI has already impacted academic publishing. Scientific journals have to filter through a flood of papers with AI-generated citations, and some AI generated papers are being published by academic journals. In 2024, I talked to a researcher who believed the peer-review process itself might be compromised by AI generated text.

Nature, Published online: 11 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02380-0Where to spot a basking shark and a gloomy tale about an abandoned telescope, in this week’s pick from the Nature archive.

Nature, Published online: 10 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02500-wAI can spot errors quickly, but should only be used to check ‘objective’ facts, researchers say. Plus, a Tupperware-sized magnetic-field detector and Gen Z researchers’ tips on building resilience.

Mark Reuss became the automaker’s president seven years ago, ascending to a role his father was fired from decades before. We got the chance to speak with him.

Dennis Kirk, a former adviser to Tulsi Gabbard, is President Trump’s nominee for inspector general for the Interior Department.

But experts warn they may not deliver the gains in efficiency that proponents claim.

Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Jey Uso competed against his brother Solo Sikoa in order to force him back into The Bloodline with Roman Reigns on WWE Raw.Jey Uso confronted Sikoa on Monday and stated that Reigns demanded that he rejoin his family in The Bloodline.Sikoa has been feuding with his brothers and cousins in The Bloodline, which was re-formed after Reigns became World Heavyweight Champion earlier in the year. Sikoa is the younger brother of twins Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso."I need you to fall in line Solo," Jey Uso said from the ring as Sikoa stood in the stands by the live audience. Jey Uso then challenged his younger brother to a high-stakes match with the condition that Sikoa must join The Bloodline once again if he lost.Sikoa said he was happy being free from his family and accepted the offer, stating that if he won, The Bloodline would have to leave him alone for good.Sikoa brought the fight to Jey Uso in the main event, nailing his older brother with a Samoan Drop before he paid homage to their father, former WWE star Rikishi, by charging into Jey Uso with his backside.Sikoa continued to be in control until Jimmy Uso arrived onto the scene. Sikoa performed a Samoan Spike on Jimmy Uso, but the distraction allowed Jey Uso to land a Spear followed by a top rope Uso Splash to earn the three count and win the match. Sikoa must now rejoin his family in The Bloodline and commit himself to Reigns next week on Raw.

For the second year in a row, the West Side Little League team based in Hamilton, Ohio, is one win away from a berth in the Little League World Series.West Side used its potent offense to get past North Oldham 11-4 in the Great Lakes Region winner's bracket semifinals. Since the start of the Ohio Little League state tournament, West Side has scored double-digit runs in six of its last eight games.The Great Lakes Region championship game is 7 p.m. Aug. 12 and will be broadcast on ESPN2. West Side will either face Jasper National (Indiana), which it previously beat 11-0, or it will have a rematch with North Oldham.The Little League World Series begins on Wednesday, Aug. 19, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The winner of the Great Lakes Region will face the Mountain Region champion at 2 p.m. on Aug. 20. West Side last went to the LLWS in 2021, when it advanced all the way to the finals.Trailing North Oldham 3-1 in the top of the second inning, West Side put up nine runs to take a commanding lead. The first two runs scored on a walk and a wild pitch. Boone Treadway, son of Badin head coach Brion Treadway, tripled home two more runs. Leo Feltner and Josiah Infante both had RBI doubles before Xander Kinkade capped the inning with a two-run home run.Bobby Frazier was the starting pitcher, surrendering three unearned runs in the first inning. He went 2.1 innings before Bryson Williams closed it out, throwing 3.2 innings, allowing two hits and one run with two strikeouts.This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Hamilton Little League advances to Great Lakes championship game

Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington said that her social media post about White privilege was not about her flagrant 2 foul on Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham on Saturday, but about a desire for “consistency across the board” in officiating, an issue that has sparked controversy throughout the WNBA season.Carrington had posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on her Threads account and tagged the Indiana Fever shortly after her ejection from the game. She was whistled for a flagrant 2 foul after her left arm connected with Cunningham’s head and jaw as Cunningham was midair attempting a layup. The blow knocked Cunningham to the floor, but she quickly got up to confront Carrington before her Fever teammate Makayla Timpson pulled her away.“I’ve never once claimed that the assessment of the foul was White privilege (that was your assumption),” Carrington posted Monday on X, in response to commentary from sports analyst Emmanuel Acho, who said that the flagrant 2 decision was accurate. He also called her post “ignorant” and “asinine.”“Furthermore, I’m the LAST thing from ignorant or asinine when it comes to speaking on ‘white privilege’, do ya research on that one,” Carrington continued. “I actually went to school, one of the top universities might I add, to educate myself on this exact subject. I would never use that term as a rhetorical weapon knowing the historical and social weight it holds without having the proper evidence to substantiate it.”Carrington, who played four years in college at Stanford before transferring to Baylor, told reporters before the Sky’s game against the Seattle Storm Monday night that her post was aimed at the league more broadly. She did not address why she tagged the Fever in her post.“I would say that I would just love consistency across the board when it comes to things like that,” Carrington said when asked if Cunningham also should have received a technical by officials for her reaction to the foul.“Whether it’s the foul that I committed, whether it’s the reaction, the retaliation, I would just love it to be consistent across the board regardless of the name on your jersey or your skin color or the score of the game, the stakes whatever, I would love there to just be consistency when it comes to all of that,” Carrington continued. “I don’t think we’re there yet. That’s something that I’ve talked to the league about as well. I think that will eliminate a lot of frustrations that we all have.”Criticism of officiating has been a growing issue for years in the WNBA, with complaints from players prompting the league to create a task force at the end of the 2025 season to examine areas for improvement. But frequent officiating controversies have continued in this season.In her pregame comments, Carrington said she talked with the league about the situation.“No, I don’t feel encouraged,” Carrington said about those discussions. “But that doesn’t mean you’re going to stop fighting for what I believe is right and that’s just consistency. I think everyone would benefit from that. We’re all here to play our hardest and win games. There is never mal-intent with any of these things. So I think it would be fair to be consistent across the board when it comes to things like that.”The WNBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.After Saturday’s game, Cunningham said she thought Carrington’s foul was in response to Cunningham’s 2025 flagrant foul and ejection on Sky guard Jacy Sheldon, who then played for the Connecticut Sun. At the time, Sheldon and Carrington were not teammates. On Monday, Carrington said her foul was not intentional.“Obviously I’m just coming back from injury so maybe my timing or my lift wasn’t where it needs to get to but I mean it was unfortunate I made contact with her in the way that I did, but it was never intentional,” she said. “Look, it might happen again. That’s just how I play, I’m always going to go all out and try to get a stop. I’m not just going to let an open layup happen. But like I said I’m never intending to hurt somebody regardless of anything outside noise or whatever the situation may be.”Cunningham has been in the spotlight since the publication of an ESPN story last month in she spoke in favor of excluding trans athletes from women’s sports. She was quoted as saying that she wants to “protect young girls in a locker room” and that they “shouldn’t have to go against biological men.” There have since been demonstrations and counterdemonstrations outside Fever games and teammates and opposing players and coaches have consistently been asked about the issue.On Friday, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association released a statement denouncing “hate, abuse, and demonization” of the transgender community, but did not mention Cunningham specifically.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.Chicago Sky, Indiana Fever, WNBA2026 The Athletic Media Company

As the football season quickly approaches, high school teams across Arkansas are ramping up their practices in preparation for the upcoming games. In a scary turn of events, one Maumelle High School player discovered he had been unknowingly sharing his helmet with a dangerous reptile for more than an hour during an August practice session.The player from Maumelle High School had been practicing with a cottonmouth, one of the most venomous snakes native to Arkansas, nestled in the padding of his helmet.The snake went undetected throughout drills until the player noticed persistent discomfort and alerted the coaching staff. Upon closer inspection, the coaches were stunned to find the two-foot-long Cottonmouth coiled inside the helmet lining.Cottonmouth snakes possess potent venom that, if bitten, can cause intense pain, swelling, and tissue damage. Although deaths are uncommon, prompt medical treatment is essential to prevent lasting tissue loss or scarring.Maumelle Animal Services responded to the scene and carefully extracted the cottonmouth from the helmet without incident. The snake was safely relocated to a wooded area far from the school grounds.Luckily, despite wearing the snake-filled helmet for over an hour in the sweltering Arkansas heat, the player was unscathed and was provided with a new helmet. School officials have reminded athletes to inspect their gear thoroughly before each practice.High school football player practiced for an hour with a snake in helmet - until coaches 'shock' discovery https://t.co/AgfpNQanrHpic.twitter.com/Qknz7bGK7G— New York Post (@nypost) August 10, 2026

“I’m impressed” – Mazraoui mesmerised by young Man Utd trio who are ready to break into Carrick’s plansManchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui foresees a bright future for three of his young teammates who are knocking on the first-team door.The 28-year-old has recently joined the club’s summer camp following his post-World Cup vacation.While he and other senior members of the squad were absent, several young MUFC starlets had the opportunity to make an impression on Michael Carrick, but only three appear to be destined for first-team opportunities this season.Nousair Mazraoui hails four Man Utd teenagersIn recent weeks, several reliable sources identified Shea Lacey and Tyler Fletcher as the most likely youngsters to be handed senior roles in the 2026/27 campaign, while others have added the other Fletcher twin, Jack, to the ‘untouchable’ list.After arriving for the pre-season training camp in Dublin, Mazraoui opened up on his young Man Utd teammates while chatting with the press.The Moroccan international appears primarily mesmerised by Lacey, who has been a regular starter in the club’s friendlies, while also lauding the two Fletchers.“I’m impressed by Shea Lacey. He’s doing a good job,” said the former Ajax and Bayern Munich full-back as reported by the CentreDevils.“Both Fletchers as well (Jack and Tyler), really impressed by them.Mazraoui then discussed 15-year-old JJ Gabriel, who made his first appearance with the first team in the win over Atletico Madrid 10 days ago, but isn’t expected to play a prominent role with the seniors this season.The versatile defender insists the teenager possesses an unusual talent.“Of course, at 15 years, if you make your debut – not officially yet – but JJ Gabriel, that’s also something not usual. It’s good that a club like this, a big club, has Academy players coming up. I remember from my time when I was young and experiencing those moments [of coming away on pre-season trips]. “You see what the future can give you if you really get your chance and go for your chance, so I think that’s also a big motivation.”Will Lacey & the Fletcher twins earn prominent playing at Man Utd?Based on his recurring appearances in pre-season, Lacey can now be considered a fully-fledged senior player.The signs were already there last season when he made his debut under Ruben Amorim, while Carrick fielded him on the final day of the campaign against Brighton.The Liverpool native is originally a right winger, but he’s been covering as an attacking midfielder this summer.With the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount deployed in various roles on the pitch, there could be room for Lacey, especially in the Carabao Cup.As for the Fletchers, the more attacking Jack appeared to be ahead in the pecking order during Amorim’s reign, but the roles were swapped under Carrick, who prefers the more composed Tyler.Therefore, Tyler is expected to collect more minutes than his sibling, but Jack remains a great prospect in his own right. Nevertheless, both of them will be affected by Man Utd’s transfer plans in the coming weeks, and whether a new midfielder arrives at Carrington.Leave a ReplyCancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment *Name *Email *Notify me of follow-up comments by email.Notify me of new posts by email.

New research hints that some living people inherited a gene variant from Neanderthals that has made them slightly taller and more muscular than their peers

A sign is posted for a new home for sale in Ambler, Pa., Oct. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)2026-08-11T14:01:48Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes slowed again in July as record prices and the highest mortgage rates in a year prove to be an insurmountable hurdle for many prospective homebuyers. Existing home sales fell 1.7% last month from June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.06 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Tuesday. That’s slightly above the 4.05 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet.July sales, however, were up 0.7% compared with last year.Home prices continued to rise, hitting unprecedented levels for July. The U.S. median sales price increased 2% from a year earlier, to $434,100.Last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported that the benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.69%, its highest level in just over a year. It was the fifth consecutive week that the average rate rose, marking the latest strain for prospective homebuyers who are facing steep borrowing costs. “Home sales have been remarkably stable, even amid the rising mortgage rate environment of the past few months,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. “There’s no doubt that the housing market would be thriving if average mortgage rates were to return near 6%.”Home sales have been mostly hovering close to a 4-million annual pace for about three years, far short of the historic norm that is closer to 5.2 million. The U.S. housing market has been in a slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were essentially flat last year, stuck at a 30-year low. Read More Sales remain sluggish as mortgage rates have mostly trended higher in the months since the war between the U.S. and Iran started. Expectations of higher inflation amid surging oil prices have pushed up the long-term bond yields that lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans, causing mortgage rates to climb.Home inventory levels also remain well below historical norms. There were 1.54 million unsold homes at the end of last month, down 1.9% from June and 0.6% less than July last year, NAR said. That’s well short of the roughly 2 million homes for sale that was typical before the COVID-19 pandemic.July’s month-end inventory translates to a 4.6-month supply at the current sales pace. Traditionally, a 5- to 6-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers. 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. Regionally, prices in the Northeast continue to rise faster than the rest of the country, jumping 5.2% year-over-year, driven by a shortage of inventory.NAR said that 29% of sales were first-time homebuyers, down from 33% in June but up slightly from 28% in July 2025. Historically, first-time buyers make up closer to 40% of home sales.

Rubble set on fire as health workers involved in Congo's Ebola response go on strike as they protest over payment issues in Bunia, Congo, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Constant Same Bagalwa)2026-07-13T17:51:14Z More than 2,000 people have now died in the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history, and challenges keep coming in containing a rare type of the virus with no approved treatment or vaccine.Congo’s health authorities on Tuesday announced 4,381 confirmed cases, including 2,011 deaths. This death toll has been reached almost three times faster than in the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa — the worst in history.The outbreak is unfolding in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable, with strikes by some unpaid health workers, threats by rebel groups, anger from long-traumatized communities and misinformation asserting that Ebola isn’t real. Health teams travel remote, unpaved roads and have reported shortages of protective gear, while a vast population of displaced people struggles to find reliable water sources for washing hands. Five provinces in eastern Congo are affected, near neighboring South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda, and there are fears about the potential spread to larger cities in the region with a highly mobile population and many people fleeing conflict.On Monday, the World Health Organization said the outbreak started in February, months before it was officially declared in mid-May, as experts try to track down how it began. Health authorities have said between 60% and 70% of new cases are recorded outside contacts being monitored, and that the disease is spreading at an “alarming” rate.“We are chasing the virus, the virus is ahead of us,” the WHO regional director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, said this week.Here’s a look at the outbreak and the challenges to contain it. This is a rare type of EbolaThe Ebola outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which contributed to a costly delay in confirming the outbreak as lab tests were performed for the more common type instead.Ebola is highly contagious and spreads in the human population through contact with bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen, and with contaminated surfaces and materials such as bedding and clothing. Read More Traditional funerals in which loved ones wash and prepare bodies have been restricted, which has angered some residents and contributed to the hostility that some health workers have faced. Ebola is rare but severe and often fatal. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and at times internal and external bleeding. Outbreaks often occur in remote villages in Central Africa, near rainforests. This is the 17th known Ebola outbreak in Congo, and experts have said the country is well-placed to apply lessons learned.But the shortage of supplies like protective gear is just one challenge. The outbreak is occurring in a volatile, violent regionAssociated Press journalists have witnessed the aftermath of attacks on health centers by a wary, highly mobile population that has long been traumatized by armed groups.Outsiders can be looked upon with suspicion, and community outreach teams have worked to spread the word about Ebola prevention measures in the face of abuse and accusations that the outbreak is a scam.Health teams travel under the threat of attack by armed groups. Part of the outbreak is unfolding in a major city and humanitarian hub, Goma, that rebels backed by neighboring Rwanda seized over a year ago, further complicating the response. 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. This outbreak is deadly because of limited careEbola can be caused by different types of virus. Although the type responsible for the 2014-2016 outbreak is considered the deadliest, government data shows this Bundibugyo outbreak has killed a higher percentage of people as care and support are not getting to patients quickly enough.Access to healthcare in the region already had been challenged by years of rebel conflict in one of Congo’s most remote and vulnerable areas. Now some pregnant women and others are avoiding health centers for fear of the virus, at risk to their lives. After weeks of risky crisis work and little or no pay from the Congolese government, some local Ebola responders have gone on strike at treatment centers and blocked access. Striking staffers included public health researchers, case investigators, drivers and gravediggers. Some later agreed to resume work on condition that the government pays them soon.A labor strike that spreads to more overstretched, underequipped facilities would be another serious blow to Ebola containment efforts. The first participants have been enrolled in a treatment studyResearchers have begun a study of two possible Ebola treatments, enrolling local participants at an Ebola treatment center in Ituri province.One is Gilead Sciences’ remdesivir, a broad-acting antiviral approved to treat COVID-19 that has shown some hints in lab tests that it may help fight the Bundibugyo virus. The other is Mapp Biopharmaceutical’s experimental MBP134, antibodies engineered to target Ebola viruses, including Bundibugyo.The WHO has said patients will be randomly assigned to receive today’s best standard of care as well as remdesivir, MBP134, both or neither.The United Nations body has warned it could take months and possibly as many as 1,000 study participants to tell if either drug works. ___Associated Press writers Mike Stobbe in New York and Naa Adorkor Cudjoe in Accra, Ghana, contributed.___For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulseThe Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. CARA ANNA Anna is an editor on the AP’s Global Desk. She has reported from Africa, China, Ukraine, Afghanistan and the United Nations. mailto MONIKA PRONCZUK Pronczuk covers 22 countries across Central and West Africa for The Associated Press. She is based in Dakar, Senegal. twitter mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Andras Baka, sole candidate of the Tisza Party for President of the Republic of Hungary and former President of the Supreme Court, center, arrives for the presidential election during the extraordinary plenary session of the Parliament in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, Aug.11, 2026. (Zoltan Balogh/MTI via AP)2026-08-11T14:19:29Z BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s Parliament elected former Supreme Court chief justice András Baka as president on Tuesday as the country’s new government dismantles power structures left behind by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.Lawmakers with the governing Tisza party elected Baka in a secret ballot with 140 votes for and six votes against with no abstentions, while Orbán’s far-right Fidesz party boycotted the vote.Baka is expected to be sworn in on Aug. 19. The role of president in Hungary is largely ceremonial, though the president does have the power to send bills back to lawmakers or to the Constitutional Court for review. Incoming president says change should not include revengePrime Minister Peter Magyar’s government has argued that the purge of officials appointed during Orbán’s time in office is necessary to restore democratic norms and institutional integrity that were eroded during his tenure.Orbán and Fidesz have accused the new government of “tyrannical” policies, which Magyar and Tisza deny.In comments in Parliament following his election, Baka criticized the performance of Orbán’s four successive governments and said one of the biggest challenges facing Hungary was the deep social and political polarization during the former leader’s 16 years in power.Baka added that while past legal and financial abuses must be investigated and prosecuted and democratic institutions restored, political change in Hungary should not come through “revenge.”“This country cannot build a common future while its citizens see each other as enemies,” he said. “Political change should not mean that from now on people will have to be afraid, be silent, or feel like outsiders in their own country.” First, the ruling party had to unseat the previous presidentSince taking office in May, Magyar’s administration has gone to work dismantling what he calls Orbán’s “mafia” by removing numerous political appointees and heads of institutions viewed as having facilitated Orbán’s autocratic government.The new government has suspended the news service of Hungary’s public television and radio — which Magyar has argued served as a “propaganda factory” for Orbán’s party — and closed Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Office, an authority seen by Orbán’s opponents as a tool for intimidating critics and silencing independent media.It has also made judicial reforms, set up an office aimed at investigating financial abuses under the Orbán government and imposed a 12-year term limit on lawmakers and an 8-year limit for prime ministers. Read More Baka’s election came after weeks of wrangling by Tisza to oust Orbán-era president Tamás Sulyok, who was nominated and confirmed by Orbán’s party in 2024.Magyar, who has referred to Sulyok as “Orbán’s puppet,” had called on the former president to resign after he and Tisza won a landslide election in April. After Sulyok refused, Tisza passed a constitutional amendment ending his term, which Sulyok reluctantly signed in July. Baka had been removed as chief justice under OrbánBaka, 74, served from 1991 to 2008 on the European Court of Human Rights. He was Supreme Court chief justice from 2009 to 2011 but was removed by Orbán’s government three years before the end of his term.Baka brought his removal before the European Court of Human Rights, which found in 2014 that Orbán’s government had violated his rights and that his dismissal was linked to his criticism of the government’s judicial reforms. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. He has been a visiting professor or lecturer at numerous U.S. universities including the University of Virginia, the University of California at Berkeley and Columbia University. JUSTIN SPIKE Spike is an Associated Press reporter based in Budapest, Hungary. twitter mailto

An agreement between the Yankee Global Enterprises and Apollo Global Management will see the MLB team receive $2.6 billion from Apollo's sports investment side. The deal will see the New York Yankees able to refinance existing debt while also allow them to pursue growth opportunities.The Steinbrenner family will continue to have full control of the franchise with Hal Steinbrenner staying on in his role as managing general partner.“We welcome Apollo to the Yankees family. We are continually seeking ways to strengthen our positioning, and this partnership allows us to explore pursuing strategic opportunities,” Steinbrenner said in a statement. “We look forward to a successful working relationship.”The Yankees are the most valuable franchise in MLB with recent valuations from Forbes and CNBC ranging from $8.5 billion and $9 billion, respectively.According to MLB rules, private equity funds can only hold up to 15% of a team’s equity.The Yankees’ parent company also includes two soccer teams — Italy’s AC Milan and New York City FC of MLB — along with the YES Network and Legends Hospitality. Last year, Apollo became the largest shareholder in Spanish soccer team Atlético de Madrid.

We're only a few weeks away from kicking off the 2026-27 college football season on Aug. 29 in Dublin, Ireland with Bill Belichick's North Carolina Tar Heels taking on TCU as a touchdown underdog.Before we get there, though, there are plenty of futures wagers to examine and season previews to read. Who is a value bet to win the Heisman Trophy? Which teams are smart wagers to win the College Football Playoff? Can anyone beat Texas Tech in the Big 12?Our experts have in-depth conference previews, along with betting tips for beginners and some picks they like before the season begins.Here's everything you need to know to help with your college football betting this season.2026 Heisman trophy odds: My value betsCorbie Craig reviews data from the last 20 years to identify which players usually win the Heisman and then gives four players he thinks offer some value in the preseason.Which teams are rated higher or lower than last season in the betting market?Which teams have a higher betting market rating than last year and which are lower? Our college football handicapper digs in.A sharp handicapper gives three CFB win totals to bet nowThose who can't do, teach — or in this case, interview. I spoke with Paul Stone, a terrific college football handicapper, about three over/unders he likes this season. Look away, Michigan Wolverine fans.Our favorite win total bets this seasonIs North Carolina in for another tough season? What about Clemson? Nick Bromberg gives 12 bets to consider ahead of this college football season.Conference previewsOur handicappers preview all the major college football conferences, including projections for every team, favorite wagers to make right now, conference futures and more.SEC betting previewACC betting previewBig 12 betting previewEasy ways to find odds for your favorite teamIt should be simple to find basic odds for your favorite college football team — at least we think it should be. We're here to make it easy to find the odds for your team in a variety of different markets.Heisman trophy oddsOver/unders for every team

Nottingham Forest sign Diomande from SportingNottingham Forest have completed the signing of Ousmane Diomande from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon.The 22-year-old Ivory Coast international has joined the Midlands club for a reported £34m, signing a four-year contract at the City Ground.Diomande has featured for his country 15 times, and was part of the squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making one appearance during the group stage against Curacao. The defender played 132 times for Sporting, helping them to back-to-back Portuguese league titles in 2023/24 and 2024/25, and was a mainstay in the side that reached the Champions League quarter-finals last campaign.In a statement, Diomande said:“I’m really happy to be here and excited for what’s coming. It’s a historic club so of course I’m very happy to be here.“It’s very important to meet the players and from what I’ve heard they’re a very good group of guys and I’m really looking forward to meeting them.“I watched some of the games last season and I saw great things. I can see that the club is big and this was a motivation for me in joining.“I believe we can achieve really good things this season.”Diomande becomes Oliver Glasner’s second signing of summer after former RB Leipzig midfielder Xaver Schlager joined the club on a free transfer in July.

The Detroit Lions still do not expect Kerby Joseph to be ready when the regular season begins, but Dan Campbell delivered a much-needed dose of good news Tuesday morning.Joseph’s rehab from the knee problem that wrecked most of his 2025 season is progressing well, and Campbell indicated the All-Pro-caliber safety remains on roughly the same recovery track as Brian Branch.“First of all, he’s dealing with a personal issue right now, but his rehab is coming along very well,” Campbell said as quoted by Pride of Detroit.Campbell did not elaborate on the personal matter, and there is no indication it represents a setback with Joseph’s knee.That distinction matters.Joseph Still Appears Likely to Miss Week 1Campbell compared Joseph’s timeline to Branch, who continues working back from a torn Achilles suffered late last season.“I still see him on the (Brian) Branch plan, if that makes sense, and Branch is doing well, too,” Campbell said. “So those guys, we’re talking about on down the road, the season’s already begun. But I like where Kerby is at.”Translation: Lions fans should probably stop expecting either safety to be on the field for the opener.Detroit has known for months that Joseph’s knee would require patience. The injury bothered him during 2025 training camp, worsened as the season progressed and eventually cost him the final 11 games.The encouraging part now is that Campbell continues to speak positively about the rehabilitation instead of hinting at another complication.For a player as important to Detroit’s defense as Joseph, that is meaningful progress.Detroit Prepared for This PossibilityBrad Holmes did not enter the offseason hoping Joseph and Branch would magically be ready in September.Detroit added veteran safety Chuck Clark, retained Avonte Maddox and built enough experience into the secondary to survive an early-season absence if necessary. Clark entered camp with 80 career NFL starts, while Maddox has continued transitioning into a larger safety role.That depth is already being tested.With Joseph and Branch unavailable, Detroit has spent the offseason and training camp giving other safeties extensive work with the first-team defense.That is not the same as having Joseph roaming the back end, of course.Few safeties have created turnovers at his rate. Joseph entered 2026 leading all NFL safeties with 20 interceptions and 35 passes defended since 2022.That kind of production does not simply get replaced.Lions Face an Interesting PUP DecisionThe bigger decision could come at final roster cuts.Joseph was placed on the Active/PUP list before training camp, along with Branch.If Detroit keeps Joseph on Reserve/PUP when rosters are reduced, he would have to miss at least the first four regular-season games. The NFL approved a 2026 change allowing players on Reserve/PUP to begin their 21-day practice window after their team’s second game, even though they still cannot return to the active roster until the minimum four-game absence has been satisfied.That gives the Lions a little more flexibility than they have had in previous years.If Campbell and the medical staff believe Joseph is close enough to return before Game 4, Detroit could activate him from PUP before final cuts and carry him on the 53-man roster.If not, keeping him on Reserve/PUP would open a roster spot while allowing Detroit to take a more cautious approach.That may become one of Brad Holmes’ trickier late-August decisions.Joseph’s Return Could Change the DefenseThere is another reason not to rush this.Detroit knows what Joseph can be when healthy.Before the knee problem derailed his 2025 season, he recorded three interceptions in just six games. His ball production since entering the NFL has put him among the league’s most dangerous defensive backs.The Lions need that version of Joseph in November, December and January far more than they need a compromised version of him in September.If that means sacrificing a few early games, it may be the smartest trade Detroit can make.Bottom LineKerby Joseph still appears unlikely to open the 2026 season on the field, but Tuesday’s update was encouraging.His rehabilitation is going “very well,” according to Dan Campbell, and there has been no indication that Joseph’s recent absence from visible rehab work represents another problem with his knee.Detroit has built enough safety depth to survive the early part of the schedule without him.Now the goal is simple.Get Joseph healthy, keep him healthy and make sure one of the NFL’s premier ballhawks is available when the Lions need him most.

NBA announces Spurs-Knicks Finals rematch to kick off Christmas Day originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The 2026 Christmas Day slate will begin with an NBA Finals rematch.The NBA announced Tuesday morning that the San Antonio Spurs will travel to face the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks on December 25 at Madison Square Garden, with tipoff scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on ABC and ESPN.The NBA will feature five games on Christmas Day (Friday, Dec. 25) for the 19th consecutive year, with ABC and ESPN both televising each matchup.Highlights include the first meeting between the Knicks and Spurs since the 2026 NBA Finals, as well as new 76er LeBron James’ return… pic.twitter.com/CgWdaaFJXN— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) August 11, 2026MORE: Spurs receive strong marks for offseason moves as championship pursuit continuesAccording to NBA Communications, the matchup will be the first meeting between the two teams since the Knicks defeated the Spurs in five games in June to capture their first title since 1973.MORE: Wembanyama agrees to new shoe deal with Nike amid historic offseasonThe NBA also announced a pair of opening-week games for San Antonio. On opening night, the Spurs will host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, October 20, at the Frost Bank Center. The rematch of last year's Western Conference Finals will tip off at 8:30 p.m. CT on NBC and Peacock. Three days later, the Spurs will travel to Austin to host former Texas Longhorns star Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets at Moody Center, with tipoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CT on Prime Video.

Donald Trump spoke from the Oval Office yesterday about the executive order he signed to delay the childhood vaccine schedule in contradiction of medical professionals’ advice. His comments contained numerous inaccuracies when it came to vaccines, but one in particular stood out to people on X. Related Gay vaccine chief resigns in protest of administration’s “manipulation of data” “I saw this earlier on, and I’ve seen proof of it,” Trump claimed, “where they have a vaccination that looks like the size of a bottle of soda poured into a little child’s body. And bad things happen on many occasion, too many occasions.” “This is an explosion, this is an epidemic,” he said, referring to vaccines themselves. Trump: They have a vaccination that’s the size of a bottle of soda poured into a child’s body. pic.twitter.com/8P1ZoGUvEz— Acyn (@Acyn) August 10, 2026 This claim is not true. The MMR vaccine, for example, has a volume of 0.5 mL, while a standard soda bottle contains 2,000 mL of liquid. Even if Trump was referring to multiple vaccines adding up to the volume of a soda bottle, a child would need to get 4,000 vaccines in the same day to take in that amount of liquid. Trump also claimed at the event that vaccines cause autism, which is a debunked claim. He referred to vaccines as “vats” to stress how much liquid he believes vaccines contain. Trump: Very simply large amounts of like vats are currently pumped into your child's body pic.twitter.com/LWChroerHf— Acyn (@Acyn) August 10, 2026 Trump then had trouble staying awake as other officials spoke. Looks like the President is starting to drift off pic.twitter.com/mJ125ARbtP— Acyn (@Acyn) August 10, 2026 RFK starting to lose Trump here. pic.twitter.com/kHwjF5lPRC— Acyn (@Acyn) August 10, 2026

For the past few weeks, the right has been mounting a crusade against trans women in the WNBA. It started with Sophie Cunningham’s comments in a July 21 interview and has grown into a full moral panic, with a growing list of prominent conservatives expressing their opposition to trans rights. It has gotten so much attention on the right that even Fox hosts are complaining about covering it. Two former NBA players threatened legal action if they can’t join the WNBA, the president’s son joined the fight, and the leadership of the WNBA was forced to respond. One glaring peculiarity of the current controversy, though, is that there are no trans women in the WNBA. There are no trans women trying to join an WNBA team. There was no trans woman calling out the WNBA on a prominent forum for not having any trans players. From its inception to now, no trans woman has been involved in this controversy at all. And that shows how trans people have become nothing more than an abstraction in the media, a class of people dehumanized and turned into an idea, at best, and a bogeyman at worst. Related Playing sports doesn’t qualify you to talk about trans people It started with an interview with Indiana Fever Player Sophie Cunningham on July 21, where she was asked about anti-trans comments she made in 2022 about former collegiate swimmer and trans athlete Lia Thomas. (Thomas is the last trans person who will even be tangentially involved in this story.) Cunningham said she doesn’t hate anyone but that it’s “important to protect the children,” as if trans people are a threat to children. Commentator Stephen A. Smith amplified Cunningham’s comments several days later, saying that he agreed with Cunningham and that anyone with “common sense” would agree that cis women just can’t compete against trans women. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today The story took off in rightwing media, which has been grasping at straws for the past month, trying to get some anti-trans story to stick and draw attention. And this story somehow did, with the New York Times calling the reaction a “media inferno.” Protesters on both sides showed up to WNBA games. An opposing team’s coach wore a pro-trans T-shirt. Cunningham made a public appearance with Riley Gaines and Jennifer Sey, two prominent personalities in the anti-trans movement. Star WNBA player Caitlin Clark refused to comment on the matter, which became a media controversy by itself. But several other women athletes did comment in support of Cunningham, including race car driver Danica Patrick, who had a whole career in a sport without gender categories, saying, “It’s not in the biological cards for a woman. A man is always going to have more strength,” even though absolutely no one was even seriously considering having men and women playing basketball together. Then there was the DiJonai Carrington foul over the weekend. Both Carrington and Cunningham are professional WNBA players, and basketball is a competitive sport that does not reward players for behaving like Edwardian ladies. Sometimes fouls happen and the sport has a system for handling them. DiJonai Carrington commits a hard foul on Sophie Cunningham who goes after Carrington and gets held back by Timpson, Carrington assessed a flagrant 2 and ejected – with several replays— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) 2026-08-08T19:56:50.487Z And, while the people who were calling for Carrington to get prison time for the foul didn’t explicitly say it was because of Cunningham’s transphobia… it’s hard to ignore that people who normally don’t care at all about the WNBA were suddenly deeply interested in a foul when it involved a player getting attention off the court for her conservative political views. It’s even harder to ignore since Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) explicitly cited the WNBA’s pro-trans stance when threatening to charge Carrington with assault: “The WNBA continues to view the question of ‘what is a woman?’ as something that is ‘complex and nuanced’ instead of recognizing the simple truth. That’s the problem. What’s next, men assaulting women on the WNBA courts?” (Carrington is cisgender but the plot was so lost by the time this happened….) It got to the point that even Fox News host Jesse Watters was complaining about how much he was forced to talk about the WNBA so much: “This is week three of The Five covering the WNBA, and I have to say, I am done. I hate the WNBA. I mean, I don’t mind women’s basketball, my girls play basketball, but I don’t want to cover women’s basketball.” We’re far into silly season when Fox News hosts are complaining about how they have to talk about a non-issue… a non-issue that they’re harping on to force the rest of us to discuss. Interesting take from Watters as Fox has been pushing WNBA segments across on their shows: This is week three of covering the WNBA. We get paid to have an opinion about everything. This is something that I don't care about. Someone wore a t-shirt at a WNBA game? This isn’t a… pic.twitter.com/uriw0Xt8zD— Acyn (@Acyn) August 3, 2026 Over the weekend, two MAGA NBA players said they’re going to sign up for the WNBA and sue if they can’t get in. Donald Trump Jr. egged them on: “I’m going to go out in a limb here and predict Enes breaks every record in the WNBA in year one. She truly is going to make a spectacular women’s basketball player.” It came y'all… My 1st wig! Tomorrow I test it on the court. This is my feminine era glow up, did I slay? If y'all don't "yassss queen" you're transphobic. I really don't understand all the hatred, I just want to play some hoops with my fellow ladies. Royce White for U.S.… pic.twitter.com/I98XCP6TFh— Royce White (@Highway_30) August 9, 2026 I’m going to go out in a limb here and predict Enes breaks every record in the WNBA in year one. She truly is going to make a spectacular women’s basketball player. https://t.co/VePQpmdSKi— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) August 8, 2026 (Donald Trump Sr. might have commented on it when he said that if he coached a WNBA team he’d sign LeBron James up, although he didn’t mention Cunningham by name and who knows anymore what’s going on in his mind.) Sophie Cunningham, Donald Trump Jr., Jesse Watters, James Uthmeier, Riley Gaines…. Everyone in this controversy has one thing in common: they’re all cisgender. There are no trans women in the WNBA, there was no trans woman who did anything to start or add fuel to this controversy, and there’s no trans person who any of these cis people are making an appeal to. Trans people are not involved at all. At all. That’s the point America has come to in years and years of anti-trans moral panic and restricting the rights of trans people: actual trans people are no longer needed for the production of transphobia. Conservatives pushed trans people out of public life but they still need to hate them, so they’re just making things up to get mad at now. Of course, it’s not lost on anyone that this is happening so close to the midterms, where Republicans are expected to do badly due to a host of issues that aren’t directly related to LGBTQ+ people. Conservatives spent the last month trying to start anti-trans moral panics based on Care Bears and paper dolls and nothing really took. They even tried making AI videos of shouting trans people for the masses to get angry at. While it’s not new for the media to cover trans people’s rights without actually talking to trans people, there’s something new and more desperate here. They can’t wait for an incident where a trans person is actually doing something bad so that they can blow it out of proportion because they’d likely be waiting a long time for that, and the election is coming up in less than three months so there’s a deadline here. They were desperate to manufacture a controversy about trans people and they just managed to do it, with no help from trans people themselves. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

This is a locator map for Myanmar with its capital, Naypyidaw. (AP Photo)2026-08-11T14:48:43Z BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar ’s military has increasingly used low-cost aircraft such as motorized paragliders and gyrocopters in escalating aerial attacks that kill civilians in its conflict with armed, anti-government groups, a U.N. investigation said in a report Tuesday.Separately, a major ethnic armed group fighting the government in Rakhine state said 20 civilians had been killed in strikes by the military so far this month.Myanmar’s military government did not immediately respond to either the U.N. probe or the allegations by the Arakan Army. In the past, the military has said it only attacks legitimate targets of war, accusing the resistance forces of being terrorists.The report by the United Nations-established Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, or IIMM, details a yearlong investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Myanmar’s military and affiliated militias, as well as the opposition armed groups. It found that abuses escalated around the country’s army-organized elections in December and January. The IIMM said it observed a notable escalation in aerial attacks in the months preceding the elections and that they have continued unabated afterward, with investigators also documenting a pattern of deliberate arbitrary detention, torture and sexual violence.The IIMM said civilian casualties are worsened by the military’s increasing use of “double-tap” aerial attacks, in which a second strike follows the first, apparently targeting first responders, people helping the wounded and those trying to flee. The IIMM said the Myanmar military was increasingly using motorized paragliders — also known as paramotors — as well as gyrocopters and drones to carry out low-altitude airstrikes with unguided explosives. Read More In several recent incidents in the upper Sagaing region, paramotor pilots allegedly cut their engines as they approached targets, allowing them to glide silently and leaving civilians little or no warning to flee or seek shelter, the report said.The IIMM’s report came as the Arakan Army, a powerful ethnic armed group fighting the army in Rakhine, said that about 20 civilians were killed and 22 injured in airstrikes across three townships from Aug. 1-11, including one attack involving up to eight aircraft that lasted about an hour. The military-backed government has not publicly commented on the alleged attacks. 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. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an independent organization that keeps detailed tallies of arrests and casualties linked to the civil war, more than 8,000 civilians have been killed and more than 31,000 arrested by Myanmar’s security forces since 2021.The IIMM, which was established by the U.N. Human Rights Council in 2018 to monitor violations of international law in Myanmar, said it gathered evidence from more than 1,600 sources and witnesses that can be used in future prosecutions of those responsible.“Behind every piece of evidence we collect are people whose lives have been devastated by these crimes,” group leader Nicholas Koumjian said in the report. “Communities across Myanmar are not only living under the constant threat of violence but are also coping with the profound and lasting impact of what they have endured.”The IIMM said it is also investigating serious crimes allegedly committed by armed groups opposed to the military, including members of the Arakan Army, who have been accused of rape and other sexual violence against Rohingya Muslim women, summary executions, child recruitment and the destruction of mosques in Rakhine. The report said numerous people were also arrested under an electoral law that carries up to 20 years in prison or the death penalty for acts such as criticizing the elections online or distributing “anti-election” leaflets.The election was dismissed by the critics as a sham designed to consolidate the military’s grip on power after its 2021 takeover that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering deadly civil war.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is seen on Dec. 9, 2025, in The Hague, Netherlands. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, Pool, File)2026-08-11T14:41:17Z UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Human Rights Watch and three other advocacy groups sued the Trump administration on Tuesday to challenge its campaign against the International Criminal Court, arguing that sanctions against ICC judges and prosecutors are undermining the ability to prosecute people responsible for humanity’s worst crimes.The complaint — filed in the Southern District of New York — says that President Donald Trump’s executive order last year targeting the Hague-based criminal court and the U.S. sanctions issued against a U.N. human rights expert and three Palestinian rights groups represent a “blatantly illegal attack on international justice and should be struck down,” according to a press release. The lawsuit is the latest example of organizations pushing back on what they call the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine international law and prevent efforts to combat impunity by governments around the world. “The fact that so many leading human rights and humanitarian organizations have come together to challenge Trump’s unlawful executive order demonstrates the widespread harm it is causing across civil society groups dedicated to bringing those responsible for grave crimes to justice,” said Andrew Loewenstein of Foley Hoag LLP, the lead counsel representing the plaintiffs.The groups assert that the financial and legal penalties against the ICC have forced them to “curtail a wide range of human rights and legal work in violation of their First and Fifth Amendment rights under the US Constitution and under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.” Other organizations joining the lawsuit are the American Friends Service Committee, the Center for Constitutional Rights and the Open Society Institute. Read More Efforts to retain the global tribunal’s power come as the ICC faces enormous pressure, both internally and from its more than 120 member states. Among those sanctioned by the U.S. last year was Karim Khan, who was the ICC’s chief prosecutor until he was removed from the post last month, nearly two years after sexual misconduct allegations against him first emerged, as detailed in stories by The Associated Press.The Trump administration had issued those sanctions against Khan and a dozen other ICC staff in retaliation for warrants the court has issued for top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over the war in Gaza and investigations into U.S. personnel in Afghanistan. Since then, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that the U.S. was launching a “sweeping campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the International Criminal Court to U.S. sovereignty.”In a video message last month, Rubio said the U.S. would pressure member states to withdraw from the institution, sanction organizations that work with the court and ban staff from traveling to the United States. Countries that “enjoy the benefits of the U.S. security umbrella” will be called upon to reject the court’s jurisdiction over U.S. citizens, he added.Several countries, including U.S.-allied Venezuela, announced they would withdraw from the court shortly after Rubio’s statements and Khan’s removal. FARNOUSH AMIRI Amiri covers foreign policy and the United Nations as a correspondent for The Associated Press, based in New York. twitter mailto

Nature, Published online: 11 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02454-zIt is shameful that half the country’s population continues to be overlooked by the international community.

“We heard them screaming,” said one rescuer in Cali, where rescuers face a race against time to find the living.

LOS ANGELES—Clarifying that he was simply curious whether there was a comparable version of himself overseas, Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy reportedly asked teammate Shohei Ohtani on Tuesday if they had Max Muncy in Japan. “I’m just wondering if you guys have your own version of me—like, does Japan have a Max Muncy living over there the way I’m Max Muncy in America?” the three-time All-Star asked Ohtani, adding that if they did have one, he would be interested to learn whether Japan’s Muncy was also a baseball player or was something else, such as a “normal business guy” or “even a murderer.” “For example, I know they’ve got a Japanese version of Frankenstein over there called Godzilla, and I know you guys have special California rolls called sushi and better cartoons where people sword-fight and get naked and stuff, but what I’m asking is if I’m there in Japan. Like, when you saw me in the Dodgers locker room for the first time, did you think to yourself, ‘Wow! America has Max Muncy, just like in Japan’? Or did you think, ‘I’ve never seen this kind of exotic Max Muncy before in my life’? And what about the Max Muncy who plays for the A’s? Do you have one of those?” Sources confirmed that Ohtani responded to Muncy’s question by nodding affirmatively and explaining that in Japan they had a Max Muncy whom they referred to as “Donkey Kong.” The post Max Muncy Asks Shohei Ohtani If They Have Max Muncy In Japan appeared first on The Onion.

ANN ARBOR, MI—In an effort to irritate the recent winner of Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary at all hours of the night, a spiteful American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) reportedly spent $30 million this week to place a really loud bird directly outside the window of Abdul El-Sayed. “It might seem like a lot of money, but it’s worth it to have to a bird chittering away two feet from that guy’s bedroom from dusk till dawn,” AIPAC CEO Elliot Brandt said of the barn swallow paid to be as shrill as possible while it perched on a tree limb in El-Sayed’s yard, pausing only briefly to give him false hope that the racket had finally come to an end. “It was important to us that there truly be no escape from this bird, so we asked it to set aside its usual variety of calls and repeat the same three notes continuously. That way, they’re stuck in El-Sayed’s head even if he flees his home.” Brandt told reporters the bird would receive a bonus for shitting on the Democratic nominee as he made his way to his car. The post Spiteful AIPAC Spends $30 Million On Loud Bird Perched Outside Abdul El-Sayed’s Window appeared first on The Onion.

Dubai: Finn Allen, David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen will headline the new arrivals for the ILT20 Season 5, with the three T20 batters set to make their tournament debuts when the sixth-team competition returns in November-December.New Zealand opener Allen has joined Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while South Africa's Miller and Klaasen will turn out for Gulf Giants. Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis will return to the league with Dubai Capitals after a three-year absence.The six franchises completed their foreign-player pre-auction signings on Monday (August 3), with each team allowed to sign up to four players before the main auction.Several familiar faces will also remain with their Season 4 franchises. Jason Holder and Sunil Narine will continue with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while defending champions Desert Vipers have retained Shimron Hetmyer.Dubai Capitals have stuck with Rovman Powell and Mustafizur Rahman, with Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan and Romario Shepherd returning to MI Emirates and Sikandar Raza staying with Sharjah Warriorz.Defending champions Desert Vipers have also brought back Andries Gous and Dan Lawrence, while Gulf Giants have retained Azmatullah Omarzai and Blessing Muzarabani.Among the other pre-auction signings, Afghanistan's Mujeeb-ur-Rahman will move to Desert Vipers after playing for Dubai Capitals in Season 4. Sherfane Rutherford joins MI Emirates, while James Vince, Adam Milne and Waqar Salamkheil have been signed by Sharjah Warriorz.Dubai Capitals have added Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad, who played for Desert Vipers last season.Allen arrives in the UAE after a prolific run in international T20 cricket. The 27-year-old smashed a 33-ball century against South Africa in the semi-final of the 2026 T20 World Cup and has scored 1,663 runs in 62 T20Is at a strike rate of 170.73, including three centuries.Miller, meanwhile, brings considerable experience to the Gulf Giants. The South African left-hander has played 140 T20Is and scored 2,804 runs at an average of 33.78 and a strike rate of 141.40.Klaasen has established himself as one of the most destructive batters in the format, particularly against spin. The South Africa wicketkeeper-batter has scored 1,000 T20I runs in 58 appearances and has close to 7,000 runs from almost 300 T20 matches across his career.Stoinis, a member of Australia's 2021 T20 World Cup-winning side, has been a regular in the country's white-ball teams for more than a decade. He has scored 1,416 runs in 87 T20Is at a strike rate of 146.28 and has also taken 53 wickets with his medium pace.The six teams will complete their squads at the ILT20 Season 5 Player Auction in Dubai on October 1. Squads must contain between 18 and 23 players, with UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and additional overseas players available through the auction.Players can register for the auction until September 12. Each franchise will also be permitted one additional wildcard signing after the auction.Season 5 of the six-team, 34-match tournament will be played across November and December.ILT20 Season 5 – List of Pre-Auction Signings:Abu Dhabi Knight RidersFinn Allen – Pre-Auction SigningJason Holder – Pre-Auction Signing (Played for ADKR as Wildcard in Season 4)Matthew Tromp – Pre-Auction SigningSunil Narine – Returns to the squadDesert VipersAndries Gous – Returns to the squadDan Lawrence – Returns to the squadMujeeb-ur-Rahman – Pre-Auction Signing (Played for Dubai Capitals in Season 4)Shimron Hetmyer – Pre-Auction Signing (Played for DV as Wildcard in Season 4)Dubai CapitalsMarcus Stoinis – Pre-Auction SigningMustafizur Rahman – Returns to the squadNoor Ahmad – Pre-Auction Signing (played for the Vipers in Season 4)Rovman Powell – Returns to the squadGulf GiantsAzmatullah Omarzai – Returns to the squadBlessing Muzarabani – Returns to the squadDavid Miller – Pre-Auction SigningHeinrich Klaasen – Pre-Auction SigningMI EmiratesNicholas Pooran – Returns to the squadRashid Khan – Returns to the squadRomario Shepherd – Returns to the squadSherfane Rutherford – Pre-Auction SigningSharjah WarriorzAdam Milne – Pre-Auction Signing (played for the Warriorz in Season 3)James Vince – Pre-Auction SigningWaqar Salamkheil – Pre-Auction SigningSikandar Raza – Returns to the squad

NFL defenses spend countless hours searching for ways to slow down Jalen Hurts. Few people are better qualified to evaluate the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback from that lens than Vic Fangio, a defensive mastermind who watches him every day in practice.The veteran defensive coordinator offered an encouraging assessment of Hurts' performance during training camp while speaking with reporters recently. Fangio acknowledged the quarterback has enjoyed a productive summer and noted one trait that has stood out immediately."I think Jalen's having a good camp. I think he looks faster."That observation is significant considering how much discussion surrounded Hurts' rushing production a season ago. While the Eagles have understandably limited contact with their franchise quarterback during camp practices, Fangio suggested Hurts' mobility continues to create problems for defenders."Obviously we can't touch him during practice, so there's always that debate of whether you had him or not. I think there's been a few times where our guys think they had him and they really didn't."Jalen Hurts appears comfortable despite another offensive transitionHurts has become accustomed to change throughout his NFL career, but this offseason represents a different type of challenge. While the Eagles have changed offensive coordinators multiple times during his tenure, much of the offense has remained rooted in concepts established when Nick Sirianni arrived in Philadelphia.Sean Mannion's system brings a more significant adjustment. New terminology, new responsibilities, and new wrinkles have all been added to the offense. By most accounts, Hurts has handled that transition well. He is even being asked for his input. Fangio noted that while people often focus on the number of coordinators Hurts has worked with, this is one of the first times he's truly been asked to learn a substantially different offensive structure. Despite that challenge, the quarterback appears to be adapting quickly. So are his teammates. The next step in that process for the entire collective arrives Thursday when the Eagles face the Baltimore Ravens in their preseason opener. Hurts likely won't see much, if any, action. Philadelphia has little incentive to expose its franchise quarterback to unnecessary risk in August.Instead, much of the attention should shift toward Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton as the battle for backup quarterback snaps continues. The Eagles already know who their starter is. If Fangio's evaluation is accurate, Hurts is giving them plenty of reasons to feel confident about his standing heading into another season.This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Vic Fangio offers his critique of Jalen Hurts at training camp

A bantamweight showdown between former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and rising prospect Payton Talbott is targeted for the UFC 332 card on Oct. 3 in Salt Lake City.MMA Fighting has confirmed following a report from Leo Guimaraes. Both sides have agreed to the match but contracts have yet to be signed. The promotion has yet to announce the headlining attraction for UFC 332, which takes place at the Delta Center.Figueiredo (25-7-1) has his back against the wall in the UFC after losing his past two in the octagon against Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong. Figueiredo’s sole win over his last five bouts was a split decision against Montel Jackson, which was preceded by defeats to Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen.Talbott (11-1) enters UFC 332 looking for his third victory in a row after topping Felipe Lima and former two-division champion Henry Cejudo in decisions in 2025, rebounding from the first loss of his career to Raoni Barcelos earlier that year. The former A1 Combat champion won five of six so far in the UFC.Damon Martin contributed to this report.

ATLANTA — After earning his first career save, New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga wanted the ball as a keepsake.Whoops!Rookie teammate Carson Benge already had tossed it into the Atlanta crowd.Recently shifted to a short-relief role in his fourth major league season, Senga closed out New York’s 8-5 victory over the Braves with a scoreless ninth inning. Mauricio Dubón flied out to Benge in right field for the final out, and he turned toward the stands looking to send a fan home with a souvenir.Senga, well aware of his achievement, held out his arms in disbelief with his mouth agape while watching the whole thing transpire. In a funny scene, he raised both hands trying to grab Benge’s attention as Senga and Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez both called for the baseball in vain.A sheepish Benge, when he realized what happened, put both hands on his head — and Senga doubled over in laughter.After the game, Senga was asked if Benge ever managed to retrieve the ball for him.“I think Bengie is trying to tell me I should have just punched him out,” a smiling Senga said through an interpreter.Senga got the save opportunity in the ninth because the Mets placed closer Devin Williams on the 15-day injured list earlier in the day. Interim manager Andy Green was non-committal before the game about who would be his closer, but with New York leading 8-5 he called on Senga. The right-hander is 0-8 with an 8.12 ERA in eight starts and eight relief appearances this season.Senga struck out Matt Olson and Michael Harris II to open the ninth, then issued a walk to Ozzie Albies before retiring Dubón.Senga has not allowed a run in his last three appearances out of the bullpen. He came over from Japan and signed a five-year, $75 million contract to be a starter for the Mets before the 2023 season. He went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts that year, making the NL All-Star team and finishing runner-up in Rookie of the Year voting and seventh in Cy Young Award balloting.But he’s largely struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness since, other than a strong stretch early in the 2025 season.The last-place Mets are 6-1 on a nine-game trip following a significant selloff ahead of the trade deadline that depleted their bullpen.

PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 11: Adael Amador #1 of the Colorado Rockies at bat during a Spring Training game against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockies fans and fans across the country.Earlier this season, right after the promotion of Cole Carrigg, we asked you who you thought the Rockies would call up next. At that time, we asked you to choose between Zac Veen (No. 9 Pre-Season PuRP), Charlie Condon (No. 1 Pre-Season PuRP), Sean Sullivan (No. 8 Pre-Season PuRP) and “other.” This time around, we’re giving you a few of the same options and a few new ones. The only one who hasn’t made his MLB debut yet is Condon, but Adael Amador hasn’t seen any MLB action in 2026.That said, who do you think the Rockies will call up next as we finish up the 2026 season?Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys:Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community postsNew, improved notifications system!Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

The public prosecutor’s office in Senegal confirmed Friday that 71 men were arrested and charged with “unnatural acts,” Africa News reports. Twenty-eight other men were arrested but had their charges dropped. The announcement comes several months after the Muslim-majority West African nation stiffened penalties for homosexuality in March. The penalty associated with an “unnatural acts” charge is five to ten years in prison. Related 2 celebrities among 12 people arrested in anti-gay sweep in Senegal “Homosexuals will no longer breathe in this country. Homosexuals will no longer have freedom of expression in this country,” lawmaker Diaraye Ba told colleagues in the National Assembly as the bill was being debated, getting applause. Parliament voted nearly unanimously for the bill. Around 100 people have been charged since the law was passed, with several getting charged with willful transmission of HIV/AIDS. Those charges were dropped. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today 76crimes reports that the bill carries penalties beyond prison, including a fine of up to 10 million CFA francs (about $17,640) in a nation where the average monthly income is around 127,000 CFA francs ($300). People with a conviction for unnatural acts lose the right to vote, possess weapons, get a government job, run for elected office, or serve as guardian. Senegal is one of several former French colonies in West Africa that have increased penalties for homosexuality in the past several years, along with Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, and Mali. According to Le Monde, Senegal originally banned homosexuality in 1966, several years after it gained independence from France. The Human Dignity Trust notes that the law was enforced before this year, but only haphazardly and to a lesser extent. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

This photo provided by the family shows Robert Gilman and his sister, Lexie Hudson, in Lilburn, Ga., in 2019. (Gilman family via AP)2026-08-11T14:59:58Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia has released an American military veteran who spent more than four years in prison on disputed charges under abusive conditions and was said to be gravely ill and at risk of dying, a group advocating for him said Tuesday. Robert Gilman was on his way to a U.S. military hospital in Texas, where he will be medically and psychologically assessed and treated, said Eric ‌Lebson, chief strategy officer of Global Reach, a group that’s been working to free him and other American detainees abroad. Gilman’s family has flown to Texas to be with him, including his mother, who was in Russia attempting to see him at the hospital. Gilman, a 32-year-old teacher detained since 2022, was initially handed a 3 1/2-year sentence in 2022 when he was convicted of beating a police officer after being taken off a train for causing a disturbance. He later was convicted of attacking a prison inspector during a cell check, beating an investigator and assaulting a guard, and he was sentenced in October 2024 to eight years and one month. His sentence was extended last year to 10 years after he was found guilty of assaulting prison guards. Before he was flown out of Russia, he had been in “a dissociative stupor” for 47 days due to the abuse he has suffered in prison, Lebson said. Gilman had been moved from a prison to a civilian hospital, where he was hooked up to a feeding tube and handcuffed to a bed. Hospital reports conveyed Gilman’s condition “as dire and life-threatening,” pushing the U.S. government into action and leading to “a unilateral humanitarian release” by Russian officials, Lebson said. U.S. Sen. Edward Markey had called on Russia and the U.S. to work together to get the Massachusetts resident released. Gilman was among at least eight Americans who remained in Russian custody after a series of high-profile prisoner exchanges with the U.S. in recent years..

The Yemeni government said the ship was carrying food supplies to a port on the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The Iran-backed Houthis have not commented on the attack.