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When I return home from grocery shopping and unload and sort through all my shopping bags, my fridge inevitably gets packed to the brim with stuff. Each shelf and drawer is stocked up — especially the produce drawers that get filled with not only fresh fruits and vegetables, but also the individual containers or bags they’re often sold in. READ MORE...

Boston Red Sox designated hitter Masataka YoshidaAnytime a player gets hurt is not a good time, but Masataka Yoshida's injury has come at a particularly unfortunate time for the Boston Red Sox.The Red Sox are looking to secure the top wild card spot in the American League, guaranteeing at least one series at Fenway Park in October. They are one of the best teams in baseball as of late and are close to being whole again. Trevor Story is starting a rehab assignment on Sunday and Roman Anthony is starting one on Tuesday. With those two back, the Red Sox would be able to replace Jarren Duran in left field, and fill one of the holes up the middle of the infield.However, with Yoshida hurt, the Red Sox will be missing another key piece. That means one of the lesser bats will have to continue to play, with the designated hitter spot wide open. Not only that, but Yoshida was red hot at the plate, so it will be nearly impossible to get that same production out of a replacement. According to MLB.com's Ian Browne, he is going on the 15-day injured list with a hamstring strain.Yoshida was hitting .324 with an 8.93 OPS in his last 34 games. He has the third-best OPS on the team since June 27 and has been a key part of the team's turnaround. He is still not the power bat the Red Sox expected when they signed him from Japan, but he has been a very important piece.Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand new baseball lifestyle brand!Not only are the Red Sox losing a red-hot hitter, but there is no guarantee that he will be the same after missing a significant chunk of time. If Yoshida comes back in September and does not get hot again before the postseason, the Red Sox could be in a bad spot.In an ideal world, Yoshida misses minimal time, and the Red Sox have Anthony in the outfield and Yoshida at designated hitter for the final stretch. However, it's currently unclear how long Yoshida will be out.More MLB: Roman Anthony Rehab Assignment Start Date Revealed

The Lions announced a handful of roster moves on Sunday morning. They have signed running back Trayveon Williams and cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe. They waived running back Kye Robichaux and defensive back Loren Strickland with injury designations in corresponding moves. Williams entered the league as a 2019 sixth-round pick of the Bengals and he spent six seasons in Cincinnati. He played three games for the Chargers and four games for the Browns last season. He has 72 carries for 343 yards in 75 career games. Boye-Dow signed with the Chiefs after going undrafted in 2023 and played six games during his rookie season.

Great Britain's women's flag football team suffered defeat at the World Championships as they missed out on qualifying for the 2028 Olympics.The two-time defending European champions fought back to take the bronze-medal game to the final play, only for Mexico to clinch a 20-19 win in Dusseldorf, Germany.That also meant Mexico - the world's top-ranked team - secured a spot at Los Angeles 2028, when the non-contact version of American football will make its Olympic debut.GB got off to a poor start as they were intercepted on their first two drives, with the second punished by a touchdown that put Mexico 13-0 up.An Angelica Tait touchdown saw GB, who are ranked third in the world, get up and running before Mexico struck again to make it 20-6.Grace Conway almost claimed an interception, which she could have run in for a touchdown, and GB ran out of time on offence as they aimed to cut the score before half-time.But they closed to within a point through two touchdowns from Emily Kemp - the tournament's leading scorer - then went for a two-point conversion to take the lead with two minutes left.Although Kemp caught Jess Allen's pass at the back of the endzone, her left foot came down just out of bounds, meaning Mexico could run down the clock to seal victory."We fell into a bit of a hole," GB's head coach Jack Reed told BBC Sport. "The drive at the end of the first half and the drop for the pick-six were unfortunate."I knew we'd fight, I knew we weren't out of it, and we held them scoreless in the second half. But it's a game of inches and Emily was out by an inch."The USA came from behind to beat GB 27-21 in the semi-finals and set up a meeting with Canada in the final.The USA automatically qualify for LA28 as hosts and will be joined by Canada and Mexico, while GB must wait two years for another chance to qualify."I'm super proud of the team," added Reed. "We showed the world that we can compete with anybody in the world. We played the number one ranked team today and number two yesterday (USA)."We had an opportunity to win both games, they went down to the very end, so I think we earned the respect of the flag football world and surprised a lot of people."GB's men beat Brazil 33-26 on Sunday to finish 13th overall, while the USA beat Italy 46-26 to secure their sixth straight world title.Canada claimed a 34-26 overtime win over Mexico in the bronze-medal game to ensure they and Italy punched their ticket to LA28 this weekend.NFL flag vote sees Olympic 'Dream Team' move closerThe unexpected region fuelling UK's American football riseFlag Football: Get to know the newest Olympic sportGet American Football news sent straight to your phone

Joey Logano didn’t just leave Richmond Raceway with another trophy.The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion also made one of the biggest moves in the standings.Logano’s victory in Saturday night’s Cook Out 400 vaulted the Team Penske driver four positions, from 13th to ninth, continuing a remarkable turnaround as the regular season enters its final two races.At the opposite end of the Chase picture, Austin Cindric climbed into 15th while Shane van Gisbergen slipped one position to 16th, leaving the Trackhouse Racing driver occupying the final Chase position.With New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Daytona International Speedway remaining before the 16-driver field is set, the margin for error is disappearing quickly.Denny Hamlin Holds Commanding Lead After RichmondDenny Hamlin remains firmly in control of the Cup Series standings.Hamlin’s fourth-place Richmond finish pushed him to 969 points, giving him a 115-point advantage over Ryan Blaney with two regular-season races remaining.Blaney moved up one position to second despite finishing 13th after starting from the pole. He has 854 points.Ty Gibbs slipped one position to third with 842 points, while Tyler Reddick remains fourth with 831.Richmond runner-up Chase Briscoe holds fifth at 715 points. Chase Elliott moved up one position to sixth and is tied with Christopher Bell at 695, although Elliott owns the sixth position.Kyle Larson was another significant mover Saturday. After starting 30th and recovering to finish sixth, Larson jumped two spots to eighth with 660 points.Then comes Logano.His second victory in four races propelled him four positions to ninth with 659 points, putting him only one point behind Larson. Chris Buescher rounds out the top 10 with 653.Shane van Gisbergen Holds Final Chase PositionThe most important line on the standings sheet may now be the one separating 16th and 17th.Van Gisbergen finished 14th at Richmond and sits 16th with 567 points. Ryan Preece is directly behind him in 17th with 517, leaving SVG with a 50-point advantage heading to New Hampshire.Ross Chastain sits 18th with 504 points, 63 behind van Gisbergen.Cindric gave himself some breathing room with an impressive Richmond performance. After starting 23rd, he drove all the way to third and moved up one position to 15th with 574 points, seven ahead of van Gisbergen.That leaves the current bubble looking like this:Austin Cindric — 574 pointsShane van Gisbergen — 567Ryan Preece — 517Ross Chastain — 504Richmond also formally locked several more drivers into the Chase. Hamlin, Blaney, Gibbs, Reddick, Briscoe, Elliott and Bell are shown above the clinch line in NASCAR’s updated standings.NASCAR Cup Series Standings After RichmondHere are the top 30 following the Cook Out 400:Denny Hamlin — 969Ryan Blaney — 854Ty Gibbs — 842Tyler Reddick — 831Chase Briscoe — 715Chase Elliott — 695Christopher Bell — 695Kyle Larson — 660Joey Logano — 659Chris Buescher — 653Carson Hocevar — 645William Byron — 630Daniel Suárez — 618Bubba Wallace — 587Austin Cindric — 574Shane van Gisbergen — 567Ryan Preece — 517Ross Chastain — 504Brad Keselowski — 489Erik Jones — 486Michael McDowell — 463AJ Allmendinger — 442Todd Gilliland — 428Zane Smith — 418Austin Dillon — 400Riley Herbst — 399Ricky Stenhouse Jr. — 389John Hunter Nemechek — 388Alex Bowman — 340Josh Berry — 337The Cup Series heads next to New Hampshire, where the pressure surrounding the Chase bubble will only increase. After that comes Daytona, one of the least predictable races on the schedule and the final opportunity for drivers to alter the 16-driver field.

Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman came one step closer to returning to Boston in 2027 by appearing in his 40th game of 2026 on Saturday, Aug. 15.When the 38-year-old left-hander signed a one-year, $13.3 million contract for 2026, it came with a number of incentive and bonus clauses — and a mutual option for 2027.That mutual option became a guaranteed option year once he makes 40 appearances and passes a physical at the end of the season. One down, one to go.MORE: Red Sox to promote No. 4 prospectChapman has been an ageless wonder for the Red Sox. He’s 27 for 29 in save opportunities, striking out 52 batters with a 1.20 WHIP and 1.99 REA in 40.2 innings.The $13 million contract option for 2027 can grow in value if Chapman unlocks one of any number of bonuses that have appeared increasingly attainable as the season has progressed.Chapman gets an additional $1 million next year if he wins the BBWAA Reliever of the Year award or the Mariano Rivera Reliever of the Year award.MORE: Former Red Sox All-Star, 36, announces retirement from MLBThe BBWAA will honor a relief pitcher with an award separate from the Cy Young Award (given to the best pitcher in each league, starter or reliever) for the first time in November.Chapman earns another $100,000 if he even finishes anywhere from sixth to 10th in the final award voting. The bonuses increase to $250,000 for finishing fourth or fifth, and $500,000 for second or third.In effect, by merely throwing a scoreless inning against the Pirates on Aug. 15, Chapman might have guaranteed himself another $14 million.MORE: Former Red Sox pitcher, 32, announces immediate retirement from baseballNow, Chapman has a chance to not only pad his stats, but help the Red Sox clinch a postseason berth that looked unlikely at one point this season.Boston’s rebound from 14 games under .500 to 13 games over in 44 days was the fastest in MLB history. They have Chapman, in part, to thank. Soon, his wallet will reflect that generosity— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —

2026-08-16T15:26:41Z LONDON (AP) — The BBC asked a U.S. court for help in getting documents and testimony from members of U.S. President Donald Trump ‘s family in connection with his $10-billion defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster, a court document showed.Lawyers for the BBC argued that Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner, and Donald Trump, Jr. have “personal knowledge” and likely have records relevant to elements of Trump’s claims against the broadcaster, according to a filing Friday in federal court in Florida. The broadcaster has been unable to serve subpoenas because the three have Secret Service protection and other security personnel around them, the filing says.Trump filed the lawsuit in December seeking $10 billion in damages from the BBC, accusing it of defamation as well as deceptive and unfair trade practices.The allegations center on the way a 2024 documentary edited a speech Trump gave on Jan. 6, 2021, before protesters attacked the Capitol in Washington. The lawsuit accuses the BBC of “splicing together two entirely separate parts of President Trump’s speech” to “intentionally misrepresent the meaning of what President Trump said.” It added that the editing was “a brazen attempt to interfere in and influence” the 2024 U.S. presidential election.The BBC has apologized to Trump for the misleading edit, but said it had not defamed him. The latest court filing said that Trump’s family members had knowledge of issues that were relevant to Trump’s argument “that it would be materially false to imply that he incited violence” on Jan. 6, 2021.It cited that Donald Trump, Jr. and Ivanka Trump were both present in the Oval Office when Trump was still revising his speech, adding that Donald Trump, Jr. spoke directly with his father after violence had broken out at the Capitol. Read More The filing says the BBC asked Trump to accept the subpoenas on his daughter and son-in-law’s behalf or to direct the Secret Service to allow the subpoenas to be served, but he refused. The broadcaster asked the court to allow the subpoenas to be served by email and certified mail.The judge has given Trump’s legal team until Friday to respond to the BBC’s request. Trump’s legal team said that “the BBC is simply trying to distract away from their own obvious liability.” Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. “The BBC intentionally defamed President Donald J. Trump, and now the BBC is seeking to harass him, his family, and supporters by abusing the deposition process,” according to the team.A trial has been provisionally set for February in the case.Last week, a federal judge in Florida granted Trump a temporary reprieve from an order that he provide details of his business empire’s financial performance as part of the lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Roy Altman agreed to put that order on hold while he considers an amended complaint from Trump that would narrow his claim that he suffered damage to both business and reputation.___Associated Press journalists Kate Brumback in Atlanta, Georgia, and Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington contributed to this report. SYLVIA HUI Hui, based in London, reports on UK news for The Associated Press with particular interest in foreign and social affairs and human rights. twitter mailto

A fatal accident has drawn attention to New York Harbor, a popular destination where not everyone necessarily knows the rules — or cares to follow them.

A shooting at a U.S. Consulate has thrust a neighborhood with a troubled past into the center of an emerging criminal phenomenon: young guns for hire as gig workers in the underworld economy.

Two Democrats are in a runoff to replace Eric Swalwell, who resigned from Congress in April. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is spending heavily against a progressive candidate.

Not all progressives are equal: Candidates of the activist left typically don’t perform as well as other Democrats.

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Offensive lineman John Niland, who made six Pro Bowls in a 10-year NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, died Saturday, Aug. 15. His death was announced in a post to his Facebook page, and on the social media accounts of his family.“On August 15, 2026 at 7:20am, John Niland of Amityville, New York passed away in his home in McKinney, Texas with his family,” the post read.Niland’s brain will be donated to the Boston University CTE Center to be studied and shed light on the effects of professional sports on the human body, according to the post.MORE: Former Jets punter, key figure in Patriots’ first win, dies at 90A native of Quincy, Mass., Niland was chosen fifth overall by the Cowboys out of Iowa in the 1966 NFL Draft. In college, he started out as a fullback before switching to guard during his junior campaign.Niland became the starter at left guard in his second year in Dallas. By his third year in the league, he was a Pro Bowler, and was selected to the Pro Bowl every season from 1968-73.Niland was an anchor on the offensive line that helped the Cowboys beat the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI on Jan. 16, 1972.MORE: Tight end for Georgia’s 1980 national championship team diesNiland competed in 15 playoff games with the Cowboys, starting all but one. He protected quarterbacks from Don Meredith to Roger Staubach, and opened lanes for Duane Thomas and Calvin Hill. Along with Rayfield Wright, Nate Newton and Larry Allen, Niland is one of only four offensive lineman in Cowboys history with at least six Pro Bowl selections. On September 14, 1975, Niland was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. He played 13 games for the Eagles that season, the final year of his NFL career.In 1989, Niland was selected to the Iowa All-time Football Team. He was inducted into the Suffolk (N.Y.) County Hall of Fame eight years later. In 2006, he was inducted into the University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —

The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the oldest teams in MLB, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It just means that some players on the squad are nearing the end of their careers. One of those players is utility infielder Miguel Rojas, who revealed shortly after last year’s World Series win that this would be his final year in the big leagues as he wanted one last chance to win a third straight title in Los Angeles.MORE: Former Dodgers fan favorite decides to join Padres organizationHowever, Rojas is considering making a change to those plans. Speaking with Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Rojas is considering playing another season before joining the Dodgers organization in a hybrid coaching and front office role. “I want to help young players,” he said, “any way I can. And one day I want to manage. I believe I can do it.”If Rojas were to suit up for another year, he would certainly have a spot on the Dodgers roster, not just because of postseason heroics but because he has still mashed left-handed pitching. The 37-year-old veteran has appeared in just 77 games this year, but Rojas has taken full advantage of his limited opportunities. He has posted a .286 batting average, .333 on-base percentage, .744 OPS, three home runs and 18 RBIs.With the Dodgers heading for the postseason in hopes of winning a third straight title, Rojas will certainly be a part of it and will be a key bat available off the bench. Last year, he had one of the most memorable moments in Dodgers history, launching a game-tying home run in Game 7 of the World Series.Whether he ultimately decides to retire after this season or return for one more year, Rojas has clearly earned the right to make that decision entirely on his own terms.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —

Köln chief comments on El Mala’s failed transfer to Borussia DortmundKöln responded to Borussia Dortmund’s claim about Said El Mala’s dream to join the Black and Yellows via their head of sports Thomas Kessler. The two clubs ended discussions after Köln rejected an offer that would surpass €50 million with easily achievable bonuses."I have noticed that Dortmund have spoken about it. I can do that now," said Kessler in an interview with "Geissblog". "We were in contact with Borussia Dortmund. In the end, it didn't come to the transfer.“But I never heard Said (El Mala) 'It's my absolute dream to play for Borussia Dortmund. The way he behaves shows that he's totally proud to be a player of 1. FC Köln.”BVB managing director Carsten Cramer spoke on Saturday about how the player looked forward to the transfer during negotiations. El Mala scored a penalty-kick on Sunday as Köln played two behind-closed-doors friendlies with Paderborn to end pre-season."It was a result of very respectful talks between two clubs. And, as it sometime happens, you don't always agree," Kessler concluded his verdict.

The Cadillac Formula 1 Team sent shockwaves through the paddock this past week by abruptly replacing its inaugural Team Principal, Graeme Lowdon, with former Alpine executive Marcin Budkowski just 11 races into its debut 2026 season.While the mid-summer break shakeup appeared sudden to outsiders, Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss revealed that the transition had been months in the making. The leadership swap is designed to spearhead the team’s shift from its foundational “build phase” into a highly competitive performance era. To lead that charge, Towriss sought a leader with a heavy technical background who could seamlessly bridge the gap between Cadillac’s UK trackside operations and its massive engineering resources at General Motors in the US.The Cadillac F1 test car on display during the Detroit Auto Show at Huntington Place in Detroit on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.For Budkowski, who brings over two decades of experience with Ferrari, McLaren, and the FIA, the decision to return to the pit wall wasn’t made lightly. Despite holding talks with over half the F1 grid in recent years, the 49-year-old Polish engineer was ultimately sold by Cadillac’s massive ambitions, the strong financial backing of TWG Group and GM, and a boardroom filled with genuine motorsport veterans.Here is what the two leaders said to the media in a recent online session regarding the hiring process, their shared vision, and Budkowski’s immediate priorities.Dan Towriss on why Budkowski was chosen:“I think as we look to the future, I think a model with a very strong technical team principal. And I think as you look at Marcin’s background, what he’s accomplished in Formula 1, he certainly fits the bill, but also combined with very strong leadership.”“I think the time that Marcin’s had away from Formula 1, I think, provides him a perspective to look at both how Formula 1 is evolved and developed, look at the resources across General Motors, TWG and the like, and really look at what the future, what a future vision of a Formula 1 team can look like, the role of AI and those kinds of things.”“Marcin’s technical background does give him a unique perspective. But even away from his technical background, I think he just demonstrates he’s a strong leader, and he’s a great communicator.”Marcin Budkowski on why he accepted the role:“I’ve had discussions in the past years with more than half of the teams on the grid, and some of them more advanced and some less advanced. But for me, it was important, if I come back to this kind of leadership role, to be in a project that I believe in.”“This project is very ambitious. It’s backed by TWG Group, which is extremely involved in motorsport, but General Motors is one of the biggest car manufacturers’ with funding, which wasn’t always the case in my previous ventures.”“All the people who effectively will be in the board of the team and in the top leadership of the team are motorsport people. They’re all people who live motorsport, who understand motorsport, who’ve been very exposed to motorsport.”Marcin Budkowski on his immediate priorities:“My first priority is going to be to listen, honestly, listen and observe in the factory, because I need to meet the people, I need to understand how they work, how they work together, how the various individuals and departments work together.”“I know that when a team is suffering reliability issues, as Cadillac had during the first half of the season, it’s a huge risk of creating a disconnect between the trackside operations and the factory. And that needs to be very, very strong in any Formula 1 team; that link needs to be very, very strong.”“I mean, these guys are sending spaceships to Mars in the future. So, Formula One, because of the expertise, is only in the so-called Formula One Valley, but I think there’s a lot more to leverage there on the US side.”

Cristiano Ronaldo is considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time and is close to hanging up his cleats. The legendary player told Voguein an interview that, following his recent wedding to Georgina Rodríguez, this upcoming season is "probably my last year of football."Ronaldo has been playing professional soccer since 2002, when he joined Sporting CP and then really burst onto the scene with Manchester United the following year. He is one of the most popular players in the world, but it is hard to imagine the sport without him. But the fact remains that he is 41 years old. Ronaldo played in the recent 2026 World Cup and said it would be the end of his international career. He finished his international career with the Portugal national team with 146 goals in 233 appearances. He is currently signed to Al-Nassr, which plays in the Saudi Pro League. Ronaldo has been with that club since 2023 and has played in 107 matches with 102 goals. When talking about his potential retirement, he said, "I want to leave a spectacular legacy." Ronaldo already has an idea of what he wants his future after soccer to look like. "I have my future all mapped out. I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard. Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one. And also have more fun, travel more, watch and play padel, which I really like, and continue to enjoy what I've earned—what we've earned. Because after all it's been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice."Ronaldo has five children, so a big impetus for moving away from football is to spend more time with his family. He even said that he and his wife could expand the family in the future, but Rodríguez had a slightly different opinion. "Another baby now would be overbooking [she uses the English word] at home. But when the youngest are 15 or 16 we'll still be young, so why not? It's true that I can't imagine myself without small children, so we'll see."If this is it for the footballer, Al-Nassr begins its season on August 18 against Al Diriyah. Their season is set to end on Friday, May 28, against Al Hilal, which could be Ronaldo's last match if this is his last season.

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This photo provided by Aaron Skillman shows flooding in Indianapolis, Ind., on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (Aaron Skillman via AP)2026-08-16T16:23:43Z INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (AP) — Days of storms and flooding in Indiana left at least six people dead as floodwaters peaked in Indianapolis’ White River and rains were expected to ease in the state capital region and other parts of the state Sunday.A 4-year-old boy, two men and three women were among those who had died since the storms began Aug. 11, said Liz Woods, a spokesperson for the state Department of Homeland Security.Flooding from the White River peaked early Sunday morning, with high water levels expected to hold for a few hours before beginning to recede, according to the city Department of Public Works. City shelters remained open after hundreds of homes along the river and its canals were evacuated. First responders used boats to rescue people stranded by rapidly rising floodwaters. Heavy rain and flash flooding were still possible across portions of the central part of the state, including Indianapolis, throughout the day, the National Weather Service said. The agency urged residents to check river and weather forecasts and “stay out of dangerous, fast moving waters” as heavy rain has led to significant flooding along most rivers and creeks across central Indiana. Roads and bridges across the state have also been seriously damaged or washed out entirely by the powerful rushing waters. About 130,000 utility customers statewide remained without power by midday Sunday, down from a peak of around 300,000, according to Woods and the online utility tracker PowerOutage.us. Heavy rains have hammered Indiana over the past week, causing rivers to crest and setting new records. Read More The White River crested at more than 24 feet (7.32 meters) in the communities of Anderson and Noblesville, surpassing records set in 1913.Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said the flooding was the worst the capital city has seen in more than 30 years.Gov. Mike Braun’s office said more than 350 evacuations and scores of rescue and welfare checks have occurred elsewhere in the state, including at a senior mobile home community north of Indianapolis.President Donald Trump on Saturday approved Braun’s request for federal disaster assistance to help with flooding response and recovery efforts. The drenching rains and destructive flooding were among the impacts of severe storms that have wreaked havoc across the Midwest and beyond in recent days. Tornadoes, heavy rains and flash flooding brought serious damage to communities from Illinois to western Pennsylvania. 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

TORONTO (AP) — Outfielder Cody Bellinger will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday and could rejoin the Yankees next weekend, manager Aaron Boone said before Sunday’s game at Toronto.Bellinger has not played since July 26 because of a strained left hamstring. He’ll play Tuesday and Thursday, likely with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Boone said.Bellinger re-signed with the Yankees last winter for $162.5 million over five years. He was the MVP of the 2026 All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Bellinger is batting .259 with 11 homers and 53 RBIs in 102 games this season.Three-time MVP Aaron Judge is scheduled to throw and run in New York today, Boone said. Judge hasn’t played since May 31 because of a broken right rib. On Friday, Judge threw for the first time since going on the injured list.Left-hander Carlos Rodón (elbow) is expected to make a minor league rehab start on Tuesday, Boone said, but the team hasn’t decided where Rodón will pitch. He’s made two minor league starts this month, one at Triple-A and one at Double-A Somerset.___See AP’s full MLB coverage here

CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 05: Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) in the guardians dugout after leaving the game during the sixth inning of the Major League Baseball interleague game between the New York Mets and Cleveland Guardians on August 5, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Here’s the Padres’ lineup:Sunday morning baseball. pic.twitter.com/tLZ1ARC8XM— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 16, 2026Here’s the Guardians’ lineup:Major League Baseball on a Sunday. Hard to beat it.#GuardsBallpic.twitter.com/5KTHu0o4Hk— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 16, 2026Let’s go, Guardians!

Archival photo of Geno Auriemma in “The Dynasty: UConn Huskies,” premiering August 21, 2026 on Apple TV. | Apple TV UConn women’s basketball has won more championships than any other Division I team. The 12 they’ve won came over a span of 31 years—about 39 percent of the time they won it all over that stretch, while finishing in the top 10 of the final AP poll 100 percent of the time. Every player who has come through Geno Auriemma’s program since the first title in 1995 has had good reason to hope that they could win at least one.So, it was inevitable that a film would be made about Auriemma’s tenure, and now the docuseries is here. Executive produced and directed by Matthew Hamachek and Erica Sashin, “The Dynasty: UConn Huskies” debuts globally on Apple TV on Friday, Aug. 21.What wasn’t guaranteed was that the filmmakers would capture a full-circle moment. Hamachek and Sashin stepped into UConn’s world at the beginning of the 2025 calendar year. At the time, the Huskies had two losses on the season: to then-No. 8 Notre Dame and then-No. 7 USC. Those defeats had caused them to fall to No. 7 in the nation.They were outside the top five. Their national championship drought was nine years long. Sure, they had a shot at winning it all. But given how hard it is to be that one team left standing at the end of the season, it appeared the docuseries would celebrate the still-unbelievable first 11 championships. Yet, things worked out in fairy-tale fashion, with the Huskies dominating their national semifinal by 34 points and the final by 23 points to claim No. 12, ensuring star Paige Bueckers would be leaving Storrs as a champion.“It didn’t seem like when we signed on that there was any great hope of a national championship in the future,” Hamachek told Swish Appeal. He elaborated:And I don’t think that Erica or I are real UConn fans necessarily; we’re not obsessed with women’s basketball. But I think it really benefitted us. I think when you have that perspective and you’re not entirely focused on the story, you focus on what makes these things universal. The basketball and the championships and how the team’s doing is less important than finding these characters and what makes what they’re doing recognizable to anybody who’s watching, whether they like sports or not.“We really set out to tell the story of this enduring dynasty without the expectation that they were going to win in 2025,” Sashin added. “And it was incredible that they did, especially after a nine-year drought.”The series is split into three episodes. The first focuses on Rebecca Lobo’s recruitment and the program’s build up to its first national championship run in 1995. The second tells the story of the Sue Bird-Diana Taurasi era, as well as Geno’s early life and how that shaped him as a coach. Viewers will get to see behind-the-scenes footage and hear from Auriemma, Lobo, Bird, Taurasi and a number of other UConn greats about what those early years of the dynasty were like, when the program began to contend with the greatness of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers and their head coach Pat Summitt. And the second episode, of course, completes the full story by showing celebrations from Maya Moore’s two and Breanna Stewart’s four championships that brought the total to 11. The third episode begins in Hopkins, MN with the recruitment of Bueckers, and takes us through the injury adversity UConn faced in the 2020s. It then gives us an in-depth look at the 2025 season, and, in eerie fashion, the program that was once the most intimidating and unbeatable force in all of sports is not denied during the season Hamachek and Sashin chose. Sashin said her favorite part of making the film was “getting to speak with some of the most incredible players and women and athletes out there.” She explained:That’s really one of the things that drew me to want to do this in the first place. It was just really a privilege to sit across from them and learn about their experience (at UConn) and their personal growth and what it was like to be a player under Geno—the struggles, and, really in all the cases, the eventual self-realization.Hamachek echoed Sashin’s sentiments, and added that “to be able to witness (UConn) accomplishing their dream and to be on the court with them at that time I think was also just extraordinary.”“Because a lot of these sports docs, you’re coming in long after they’re over and telling the story; you don’t get to actually be embedded with the team. So that was really special.”From watching the series, viewers will learn a great deal about both Auriemma and Summitt, and what makes them two of the most fascinating figures in women’s basketball history. Viewers will also get to hear what Bueckers was really going through during the adversity she faced in her five years in Storrs, beyond her obvious, surface-level desire to win a championship.From covering Auriemma’s belief from the beginning that women deserved the same respect and hard coaching as men to the rivalry between Auriemma and Summitt to Auriemma’s emotional reaction to Summitt’s passing to the utter dominance of Taurasi to the pressure on Bueckers to live up to her talent and the UConn mystique, the series delivers an epic time capsule that is all too appropriate and needed given all of UConn’s accomplishments, as well as how the program and the stars it has produced have impacted gender equality in basketball and beyond.Here is Swish Appeal’s full interview with Hamachek and Sashin:

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 12: Matthias Jaissle, Manager of Newcastle United talks to Jacob Murphy and Mason Miley during the pre-season friendly match between Newcastle United and Everton at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on August 12, 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images Newcastle United’s preseason defeat to Everton provided Matthias Jaissle with another useful look at the squad he inherited, but it also exposed several areas that still appear short of Premier League-level depth ahead of the Aug. 23 opener against Liverpool.Jaissle acknowledged afterward that Newcastle needs further reinforcements and suggested transfers could come soon, perhaps even before the week is over, although he refused to reveal names or even publicly confirm the positions being targeted.“You all see the matches,” Jaissle said. “You are also smart enough to see the needs in the squad. We handle these things internally. We are aware of what we need. Let’s see now. There is still some time.”The Athletic’s Chris Waugh reported that a right-back and a veteran, ball-controlling midfielder are Newcastle’s immediate priorities, while another attacker could also be considered.Jaissle would not rule out the possibility of additions arriving before or during this weekend’s last preseason friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and Strasbourg at St. James’ Park, although he stressed that completing deals is outside his direct control.“It’s not in my hands,” Jaissle said.That stance fits the structure Newcastle has adopted under sporting director Ross Wilson and a sentence echoed by Eddie Howe enough to fear the consequences. Jaissle previously explained that transfers will be collective club decisions rather than something dictated solely by the head coach, but he sounded like a man surrendering and just leaving it up to Wilson… or plain fate.On top of that, the German coach made it clear that while waiting until deadline day would bring its own problems, particularly with Liverpool visiting St. James’ Park so early in his tenure, landing one or more players now wouldn’t be a magic solution to all of Newcastle’s problems.“If you make new signings at the end of the transfer window, they usually need time,” Jaissle said. “Usually it takes time to adapt to the Premier League. Those are all things we consider, but we are all still positive. We all want to go in the right direction.“For sure, we cannot be on the peak against Liverpool on the opening day. This is clear. We’re just working now for a couple of days.”Newcastle clearly has business left to complete, and Jaissle is hardly disguising that fact even while refusing to name names. How many additions do you think the club needs before Liverpool arrives at SPJ, and how many new players do you believe will be announced before the game? Share your thoughts in the comments below.Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account at Coming Home Newcastle and get:Create community posts on The Feed for everyone to readComment on all articles and community postsRec comments and community postsEnjoy a new, improved notifications systemFewer ads

ATLANTA - JULY 17: '100 Years of the Coca-Cola Bottle' banner flies at the World of Coca-Cola on July 17, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) | Getty Images Today’s LineupsDIAMONDBACKSBRAVESGeraldo Perdomo – SSDrake Baldwin – CCorbin Carroll – RFRonald Acuna – RFGabriel Moreno – DHMatt Olson – 1BKetel Marte – 2BMichael Harris – CFMax Kepler – LFMike Yastrzemski – LFNolan Arenado – 3BOzzie Albies – 2BTim Tawa – 1BDominic Smith – DHJames McCann – CAustin Riley – 3BJorge Barrosa – CFJim Jarvis – SSMichael Soroka – RHPBryce Elder – RHPRoster movesThe Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster remains at 40.Selected from Triple-A Reno: RHP Dennis Santana (No. 59)Designated for assignment: LHP Philip AbnerNo great surprise to see Abner off the active roster: shoewizard was suggesting exactly that in the GDT. But more of a surprise to see a) him dumped from the 40-man roster, and b) Santana being the replacement. It may be a short-term thing, since it seems that Justin Martinez is very close to being ready for action. But I wonder if it might be Gerardo Carrillo who is now on the hot seat? It’d seem weird to add Santana to the 40-man roster, and lose Abner, if he’s only needed for a day or two. I’m sure Mike Hazen has a plan. We just don’t know what it is…So, we are back, exactly where we were after Tuesday’s game. Which would be, in a three-way tie with the Phillies and Padres for the second wild-card spot, because each team has gone 2-1 since then. The wins for the D-backs over the Braves have certainly helped the playoff odds to rebound. Arizona now sits at 53.2%, up sharply from the figure after losing the series to Colorado. Indeed, it puts them marginally ahead of San Diego (52.7%), though Fangraphs still puts the Phillies as strong favorites, at 75.6%. I’m not really seeing that, in terms of recent form and/or their remaining schedule. Philadelphia isn’t above .500 over the last 10, 20 or 30 games. AZ and SD are. Having put away the Braves handily last night, got to be looking for an unexpected, but most welcome sweep this afternoon. We should have an unlimited Michael Soroka this time out, since he threw 77 pitches last time out, in his first start since coming off the Injured List. Ketel Marte is back in the line-up this afternoon, after a day off for his balky knee. So we’ll see if that helps or hinders things. 🙂 TheRealRamona will be bringing you the guest recap, so hopefully she’ll get to write up that sweep, and the Diamondbacks can head off to Boston knowing a split of this tricky road-trip is already in the bag.

Steelers Receiving Corps Receive Major Injury Blow As Michael Pittman Jr., DK Metcalf Miss Practice originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Steelers have made a raft of changes to their receiving corps in recent campaigns, trimming the fat while adding a pair of Pro Bowl-caliber pass-catchers in DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr.Both are expected to feature prominently in Nathaniel Hackett's new-look attack. Metcalf and Pittman weren't quite able to hitting new heights during their 2025 seasons. And yet, Pittsburgh still is putting its faith in the 28-year-old wideouts to anchor its attack alongside Aaron Rodgers.Pittman inked a two-year, $35 million accord with the Steelers in the offseason. Metcalf preceded him by signing a four-year, $132 million deal a year before. Both need time to cement their partnership with Rodgers, who toiled at times in his age-42 season. They haven't gotten many opportunities to do so thus far, with both Pittman and Metcalf missing practices after sustaining apparent injuries.Here's the latest on Pittman and Metcalf's statuses, as well as timetables for their respective returns.Michael Pittman Jr. Injury UpdatePittman was one of six players ruled out of Pittsburgh's practice session on Sunday. He took to the facility, according to Steelers Depot's Alex Kozora, but took to the rehab room. Kozora reported that Pittman did some light stretching on Saturday morning.Pittman suffered a right leg injury during the Steelers' practice on Aug. 8. He missed all of Pittsburgh's practices this week, as well as its game on Thursday night. Head coach Mike McCarthy claimed that the former Colts wideout will be "hard-pressed" to return to action this upcoming week, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor.Recently signed in free agency, Pittman is expected to field the lion's share of targets alongside Metcalf. He has flaunted impressive durability over the course of his career, missing just three matches in his last four seasons. His latest absence is somewhat confounding — there is a paucity of details regarding the severity of Pittman's ailment. Nevertheless, his return to the practice facility, albeit in limited fashion, should breathe some life into Pittsburgh's fanbase — at least for a fleeting moment.DK Metcalf Injury UpdateMetcalf missed Sunday's practice session with an undisclosed injury. Like Pittman, he came to the facility, but wasn't wearing pads.The 28-year-old pass-catcher sat out of the Steelers' first preseason game, watching on from the sidelines as Will Howard, Mason Rudolph and Drew Allar impressed. Given the sparse details regarding his injury, its unclear what his timetable for return is. Whereas Pittman took part in some light stretching, Metcalf was on the field, accompanying the quarterbacks.Metcalf has enjoyed decent health as of late, playing 15 games last year. He was suspended two games following an on-field incident with a fan.Steelers WR Depth ChartWR1WR2WR3DK MetcalfMichael Pittman Jr.Roman WilsonGermie BernardBen SkowronekKaden WetjenMax HurlemanBrandon SmithJakobie Keeney-JamesLevi WentzCornell PowellJaheim BellWith Metcalf and Pittman missing for much of Pittsburgh's training camp thus far, second-year wideout Roman Wilson has vaulted to the top of Pittsburgh's wide receiver depth chart. The 25-year-old made 12 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns in 2025, which effectively proved to be his rookie season after missing all but one game due to a variety of injuries.More SteelersLatest Steelers newsHow 'Renegade' became Steelers' pump-up songComplete history of Steelers championships

TORONTO, CANADA - AUGUST 11: Patrick Sandoval #43 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the first inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 11, 2026 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images Paul Skenes hasn’t quite been PAUL SKENES this season — he gave up at least 5 earned runs in 3 of his 6 starts in July. Nevertheless, it’s still a nice little treat for the Sox that he’s been bumped from this afternoon’s start. Instead, it’ll be Lake Bachar taking the bump for the Pirates. Bachar is a reliever, but he has thrown 3 innings in a game 4 times already this season, including twice this month. Presumably, that’s what the Bucs will be hoping to get out of him before turning the game over to the rest of the bullpen. With Masataka Yoshida heading to the IL, Adley Rutschman will assume DH duties. Willson Contreras, who is hitting under the Mendoza line with just a single homer in August, will get the day off. On the other side of the ball,it’ll be Patrick Sandoval making his seventh start of the year. Sandoval’s superficial numbers are perfectly respectable, but anyone who’s watched him pitch knows he’s been the beneficiary a lot of luck and has walked on a tightrope every time out. Hopefully this afternoon he doesn’t fall off. Last one before we head home! pic.twitter.com/x2fRfpI05b— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 16, 2026126/162. 📺: @SNPittsburgh📻: @937theFanpic.twitter.com/XoiGPxLoq6— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 16, 2026

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 29: Dexter Lawrence II #97 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp at Kettering Health Practice Fields on July 29, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Cincinnati Bengals took the field for a Sunday morning practice ahead of their second preseason matchup. A joint practice with the Chicago Bears will be on Thursday, so the team is preparing accordingly.Jeff Blake in attendanceJeff Blake is at #Bengals practice today.The former Pro Bowler had a 14-year NFL career and retired at the age of 35.I asked him what he thinks of Joe Flacco still going strong at 41.“That’s a blessing,” said Blake. “I told him, ‘As long as they’ll keep paying you bro, keep… pic.twitter.com/NiGKIWhHuw— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) August 16, 2026Former Bengals quarterback Jeff Blake attended Sunday’s practice and gave Joe Flacco some funny advice.Myles Murphy good to goDay 12 of #Bengals camp is about to begin…and Myles Murphy is good to go. pic.twitter.com/RbP1fHphCH— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) August 16, 2026After a bit of an injury scare on Saturday, Murphy was back on the practice field and participated fully. Saturday’s issue was cramps, he just used a cart to get back to the locker room due to the long walk.Chase and Higgins get a rest dayJa’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are both not practicing today. Most likely a vet rest day.@WLWT— Jaron May (@jaron_may) August 16, 2026Star receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins got rest days, so some receivers lower on the depth chart had a chance to make a splash with the starting unit.Rookie vs. RookieRookie v rookie.Colbie Young wins this one against Bobo Davis.@WLWTpic.twitter.com/rVQpzIkECr— Jaron May (@jaron_may) August 16, 2026Colbie Young got some work with Joe Burrow with Chase and Higgins resting and took full advantage of this rep against fellow rookie Tacario Davis. Burrow placed the ball perfectly, while Young made a great adjustment to haul in the back shoulder pass.Dexter Lawrence speaks up“Everybody gotta do their job. Not just one, everybody.” -Dexter Lawrence at practice #Bengals@WCPOpic.twitter.com/Ij56gWVpy1— Noelle Blumel (@NoelleBlumel) August 16, 2026The offense got the better of the defense to open up team drills and Dexter Lawrence wasn’t happy about it. Lawrence has been a vocal leader on the defense since he was traded to Cincinnati in April. He spoke up in a way that this defense probably could have used last season.There wasn’t a ton of footage posted from practice today, but it seemed like a relatively mild practice.Head coach Zac Taylor mentioned on Saturday that Tuesday would be a fairly physical practice before Chicago comes to town, so it makes sense that Sunday was relatively light.

The Arizona Cardinals aren't expected to be very good in 2026. However, after the start of the preseason, perhaps they won't be quite as bad as people have believed. While they are projected to have the lowest win total in the NFL, in new preseason power rankings from NFL.com, they aren't at the bottom of the league. Surprisingly, they are ranked 26th. Once you're done sipping the Carson Beck Kool-Aid (I know, it really is refreshing), come take a seat with me and consider where the Cardinals are right now. They're entering 2026 with a veteran bridge quarterback, another respected backup behind him and a rookie who turned heads in the Hall of Fame Game. While it carries a lower ceiling, that scenario suddenly doesn't sound too bad, especially when considering the weaponry Arizona has assembled: newly minted Madden NFL 99 Club member Trey McBride, No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love, former No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. and 1,000-yard receiver Michael Wilson. Not bad! Much of the Cards' success will depend on whether they can protect Jacoby Brissett and if they can consistently get stops defensively. But despite this No. 26 ranking, I'm shifting toward a sunnier outlook with this team.Now, ranking 26th isn't exactly good. However, when the perception has been that they will be the worst team in the league and now they are ahead of six, it is a start. The regular season is still four weeks away, and the Cardinals have one of the toughest schedules in the league. And there is some optimism for the offense. The problem is that the defense doesn't look any better than last season, when it allowed 37 or more points six times in their nine-game losing streak to close the season. They were bad, they couldn't rush the passer, they couldn't stop the run, they couldn't stop teams on third down and they didn't offer much in the way of ball resistance in the passing game. They still have major concerns with the pass rush. The run defense looks like it could be better, but with no threat of getting the opposing quarterback, they won't stop many. Are there many 31-27 games in the Cardinals' future? Perhaps. Will they look like a bad team record-wise? Probably, but the vibes are certainly improving. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts.This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL power rankings: Arizona Cardinals not at the bottom

STUTTGART, GERMANY - MARCH 12: Rodrigo Mora of FC Porto celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between VfB Stuttgart and FC Porto at Stuttgart Arena on March 12, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) | UEFA via Getty Images Just when it seemed we wouldn’t have to spend our Sunday dredging up ghosts of past transfers, the Italian media has breathed new life into the seemingly moribund Rodrigo Mora saga. The 19-year-old Porto midfielder popped up on Roma’s radar earlier this month, whipping fans into a frenzy with visions of a Portuguese Messi dancing through our heads.Although prohibitively expensive by Roma’s customary standards, the Giallorossi were poised to smash their transfer record, handing over €50 million to acquire the talented teenager, albeit in a convoluted fashion. Unwilling or unable to pay the full freight for Mora, Sporting Director Tony D’Amico spent the better part of a week blazing creative paths toward the fifty-million mark. With the two sides reportedly agreeing to a 50/50 split that would see Roma pay €25 million this summer and €25 million next summer—the latter essentially serving to remove the rumored 40% to 50% sell-on fee—it seemed the deal was as good as done. There were also reports that the deal was structured as a loan with an obligation to buy—either way, the final cost would be in the €50 million neighborhood.But then Porto President André Villas-Boas began moving the goalposts, demanding easier benchmarks to make the deal permanent. With the negotiations halted, Mora and his representatives voiced their displeasure, reportedly attempting to persuade the Porto brass to accept the Roma deal.To date, Villas-Boas and Porto haven’t budged, but there may be hope on the horizon. According to nearly any Italian transfer journalist or agent mouthpiece you can think of, the deal is back on. In fact, Gianluca Di Marzio contends that the deal is making progress and that the two clubs are close to a €25 million transfer with a 50% sell-on clause.For the skeptics among us, this is nothing new (literally)—we read these exact same stories two weeks ago. Still, it’s good to see that Roma hasn’t given up yet. He may not be an actual left winger, but Mora will add some much-needed pace, trickery, and excitement to Gian Piero Gasperini’s attack.

One day, Trump will leave office. T he right-wing minds that control his presidency will have less power, and we’ll start dismantling the anti-trans scaffolding that his administration has built around society. When that day comes, some parts of society will heal faster than others, but the damage that Trump and those behind him have done to trans representation in media will fester for a long time, and it will keep harming trans acceptance in the world. Much has been done through executive orders, federal policy, and threats to federal funding. Those will likely evaporate not overnight, but over the course of a couple of weeks, even if it takes a while for organizations to follow the winds of change. The anti-trans laws at the state level will be difficult to overcome, but if Democrats can build a strong pro-trans majority in the future, we could see national protections put in place that would overrule some of those state laws. Related Commemorate the Trans Day of Visibility with these 5 excellent films While that change will come, the damage that Trump has done to the hearts and minds of our communities will take longer to heal. A major part of doing that will be rebuilding the damage done to representation in media, from blockbuster films to gender-inclusive children’s books. After a very dark period for trans representation in media, we have seen a great sea change over the last 30 years. When it comes to mainstream content, we only have to go back to the late ’90s to find Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, where the whole plot hinges on a horrific man-in-a-dress “joke” (one example of oh, so many). By the 2010s, The Danish Girl was at least trying to tell a genuine trans story (despite all the problems with that movie), compared to recent years, where trans and non-binary characters crop up incidentally in everything from The OA to John Wick to even Owl House. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today And that representation isn’t a luxury that’s just nice to have; it’s essential to our thriving in society. The media holds up a mirror to society, and it can be very telling who is missing from that reflection. Trans representation helps trans kids to know they’re not alone and comforts trans people of all ages who can see people like them living all sorts of stories. Crucially, it’s also a space for those unaware or misguided about who trans people are to learn about us in a way that would normally require them to meet a trans person and accept them from the beginning, or to be taught by trans people doing hard emotional labor. This last boon of representation is especially important in the wake of so many years of Trump and the Heritage Foundation attacking us and providing false narratives of the trans experience in full force. But we’re seeing all the work we did to build positive trans and non-binary representation undone, and Trump still isn’t halfway done with his second term. The representation gap created by this political cynicism will leave a scar across culture that won’t heal and can only be patched over. Since the 2024 election, in the media world we’ve seen studios like Disney reportedly scrap a trans character from their TV show Win or Lose to replace them with a Christian. GLAAD’s 2026 Where We Are in Film study found that there were zero trans characters in any of the 225 major studio films that were released last year. Lilly Wachowski just reported that she’s struggling to get funding for her next movie because it has a heavily trans cast. Fewer trans stories are making it to our screens, which means fewer trans roles for actors to be cast in. And when it comes to books, those that make it onto shelves face the ongoing attempts at censorship in libraries and school boards across the country. That’s part of the hearts-and-minds battle we’re losing right now. The understanding that positive trans representation can breed is being stifled by misunderstandings proliferated by the right’s false narrative. That’s going to be bad for us in the long term. Some of those lessons might come back naturally. But others are going to take a while to re-teach. We’ll have to work to create art that includes us on the big stage once again, and push studios and executives to do the right thing. For now, they’re following the money, and they fear that the dollar won’t come out for trans narratives. Hopefully the change won’t take another 30 years, but it’s certainly one we won’t see happen overnight. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva waves to supporters during a presidential election campaign rally in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)2026-08-16T17:02:55Z SAO BERNARDO DO CAMPO, Brazil (AP) — Brazil’s main presidential election candidates kicked off their campaigns Sunday in their political strongholds ahead of what is expected to be a tight October election. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke to more than 10,000 supporters at the Vila Euclides Stadium outside the city of Sao Paulo — where he rose to political fame 47 years ago as a metalworkers union leader during the country’s 1964-1985 military dictatorship. Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, one of the sons of former conservative President Jair Bolsonaro, gathered with thousands of voters on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. His father, under house arrest following his conviction for an attempted coup, did not attend.Sunday was the first day candidates were allowed to campaign in Brazil.Lula warns against foreign interferenceBrazil’s president once again said he does not want foreign interference in the country’s elections. His allies have accused the U.S. government of seeking to boost Bolsonaro’s bid with measures such as raising tariffs on Brazilian exports and revoking the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to Washington.In comments about Brazil’s vast reserves of rare minerals, Lula said “no one (abroad) will tap our minerals. We are going to tap them for the benefit of the Brazilian people.” Both candidates appeal to women votersLula, who seeks his fourth nonconsecutive term, and Bolsonaro each sought to appeal to women voters, who account for nearly 53% of Brazil’s 158 million eligible voters, according to the country’s electoral court.“Men need to learn from childhood that they are no better than women. We need to be equal,” said Lula, as first lady Rosângela da Silva stood by his side and nodded. She was one of the event’s main speakers in Sao Bernardo do Campo, where Lula lived a large part of his life. Lula said he will launch his platform within 10 days, with more details to come about his policies to benefit women, including education initiatives and policies to prevent and punish violence against women.Bolsonaro, with his mother and wife by his side, told supporters he would work to fight violence against women. Read More Bolsonaro seeks to distinguish himself from his fatherIn his speech Bolsonaro vowed to fight crime and to remove what he described as left-wing “ideology” from Brazilian schools. Every student “has the right to dream of being Elon Musk someday,” he said.Before his appearance on Copacabana beach, Bolsonaro, 45, said during a live broadcast that he has received 1,800 death threats, without offering evidence. The lawmaker noted that he was wearing a bulletproof vest. His father was attacked by a man with a knife as he campaigned for the presidency in 2018, suffering internal bleeding and intestinal injuries.Jair Bolsonaro chose his son to stand against Lula as the Liberal Party’s candidate. The younger Bolsonaro’s campaign has faced headwinds since its start, with moderate political parties keeping their distance. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. The 45-year-old lawmaker, who bears a physical resemblance to his father, clearly sought to establish his own identity.“I know I look like him. But it is hard to compare Pelé’s son with Pelé,” he said, referring to the three-time World Cup-winning soccer player who died in 2022. MAURICIO SAVARESE Savarese is a reporter since 2004, with a vast experience covering soccer and politics. English, Español, Português, some French and a bit of Italian. twitter instagram facebook mailto

A crane lifts a concrete slab to clear the way for rescuers searching through the rubble three days after an earthquake hit Pereira, Colombia, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Brandon Pinto)2026-08-16T16:57:20Z BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella has asked his ally U.S. President Donald Trump to suspend tariffs to help the South American nation recover from a powerful earthquake that killed at least 289 people.De la Espriella took office earlier this month just days before the 7.4 magnitude quake struck. He was backed by Trump in Colombia’s closely contested presidential election, which was decided in a runoff on June 21, and has sought to emphasize his connections with the U.S. leader.On Saturday night, de la Espriella wrote on X that he spoke with Trump and thanked him for aid sent by the U.S. in response to the earthquake. He added that he “asked him to consider the temporary suspension of the high tariffs that affect Colombian products, in order to provide relief to our businesspeople, who are facing very difficult times due to the effects of the earthquake.” There has been no immediate response from the Trump administration to de la Espriella’s request. The U.S. has offered a total of $26.5 million in earthquake aid, including food, shelters and health supplies, according to the U.S. State Department. The earthquake that struck Monday morning devastated parts of western Colombia, hitting cities including Pereira, Cali and Quibdo. Cities along the country’s Pacific coast were hit particularly hard. The president declared the quake a natural disaster. The government has said that 143 people are missing, while other civilian-run databases put the number in the thousands. Read More The natural disaster, whose epicenter was in one of the poorest regions of the country, Choco, has so far left 3,937 people injured, according to the government. In addition, it destroyed 14,705 homes and damaged another 81,536.In Cali, Colombia’s third biggest city, workers searched for the more than 70 people reported missing in that city. Hope remained alive even after the key 48 to 72 hour window to find survivors beneath the rubble has long passed.“Miracles do happen” even though more than 120 hours have passed since the earthquake struck, said Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder from the unified command post. “We are working where we know there are still victims; we are working in the hope of rescuing people alive.”

Tom Holland poses for photographers upon arrival at the 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' premiere in London, England, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (Photo by Alberto Pezzali/Invision/AP)2026-08-16T16:34:40Z Two very different dinosaur movies devoured a modest chunk of the North American box office this weekend, although neither came close to unseating “Spider-Man” from its perch atop the charts, nor managed to steal second place from “The Odyssey.”“Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie” and “The End of Oak Street,” one targeted to very young children and the other an original PG-13 rated action movie, battled for third place in their first weekend in theaters. According to studio estimates on Sunday, the Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor movie had the slight edge, with a projected $21 million to the animated pups’ $20.5 million. Neither stood a chance for first, however, while “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” continues to cast its sticky web around audiences three weekends into its historic run. The Sony Pictures release added another $70 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada, bringing its domestic total to a staggering $785.8 million, making it the fourth-biggest domestic release ever. With $118.7 million from overseas markets, it surpassed $2 billion globally, only the eighth movie ever to achieve that landmark (not accounting for inflation) and the second-fastest to do so. “Avengers: Endgame” did it in 11 days in 2019. “Brand New Day” took about 18. “The Odyssey,” now in its fifth weekend, also managed to stay in second with a $23.2 million weekend that pushed its domestic total to $504.7 million. With $98 million from international showings, propelled by $36.6 million from its first few days playing in China, Christopher Nolan’s epic has now made over $1.2 billion globally.“The End of Oak Street” came in ahead of expectations with around $21 million from 3,446 locations. It also made $26 million from international screenings, adding up to a $47 million global opening against a reported $80 million production budget. The film, written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, stars McGregor and Hathaway as suburban parents in 1982 whose neighborhood is mysteriously transported to prehistoric times. It was well-received by critics and currently carries an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences gave it a less enthusiastic B CinemaScore. According to PostTrak exit polls, just over half the opening weekend audience said they would “definitely recommend” to friends. Read More Family audiences showed up for “Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie,” which Paramount Pictures released in 3,545 theaters in the U.S. and Canada this weekend. Carrying a PG rating, it’s the third theatrically released Paw Patrol movie since 2021. The opening weekend audience gave it an A CinemaScore. Globally, it has a running total of $69 million. The Katseye documentary “Katseye: Wild Hearts” rounded out the top five with $4 million from only 724 screens. Several other newcomers also managed to get places in the top 10: “Six: The Musical Live” opened in sixth place with $3 million, followed by “The Brink of War” with $2.7 million. The Tamil-language romance “Vishwanath & Sons” made $1.6 million to take 10th place. The Matthew McConaughey crime thriller “The Rivals of Amziah King” opened outside of the top 10 with just over $1 million from 632 theaters. The young Anthony Bourdain biopic “Tony,” meanwhile, made $706,676 from 37 theaters in its second weekend. The A24 release is expanding in the coming weeks.The box office is strong with the summer season, now over, accounting for over $4.2 billion in ticket sales — about 5.7% ahead of the pre-pandemic summer of 2019. Paul Dergarabedian, the head of marketplace trends for Rentrak, noted that the number is only about $130 million shy of the record 2013 summer, which was led by “Iron Man 3” and “Despicable Me 2.” While this summer might not surpass 2013, Dergarabedian said, “This is going to be a top five summer of all time.”The year overall is just under $6.9 billion. Top 10 movies by domestic box officeWith final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak:1. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” $70 million.2. “The Odyssey,” $23.2 million.3. “The End of Oak Street,” $21 million.4. “Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie,” $20.5 million.5. “Katseye: Wild Hearts,” $4 million.6. “Six: The Musical Live,” $3 million.7. “The Brink of War,” $2.7 million.8. “Toy Story 5,” $2.3 million.9. “One Night Only,” $2 million.10. “Vishwanath & Sons,” $1.6 million. LINDSEY BAHR Bahr has been a film writer and critic for The Associated Press since 2014. twitter instagram mailto

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) walks off the field during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Miami Dolphins, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Landover, MD. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)2026-08-16T16:51:08Z Washington Commanders backup quarterback Marcus Mariota has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, according to a person familiar with the situation.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because the team had not yet announced the injury. Mariota, 32, is expected to miss time into the regular season as a result. He was injured during Washington’s preseason opener against Miami on Friday night. It is not clear what the Commanders’ plan is moving forward to get through the rest of training camp at the position. Coach Dan Quinn is set to speak to reporters later Sunday.Starter Jayden Daniels did not play against the Dolphins. The only other QBs on the roster are Sam Hartman and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis.___AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.___See AP’s full NFL coverage here

An El Niño weather pattern is expected to limit activity into the fall, providing a stabilizing force.

Every year, like clockwork, there are rookies who break into the NFL and make an impact. These players get all the headlines, but we also see second-year players take a major jump in production and carve out a major role on their side of the ball. The Minnesota Vikings have a chance to have a large number of rookies and second-year guys step up, but the guys at PFF highlighted this wide receiver specifically. When discussing second-year breakout candidates, Daire Carragher of PFF named Tai Felton as a breakout candidate. Felton has caught the eye of many for his camp performance so far, and has a chance to step up in 2026:Felton’s 4.37-second 40-yard dash speed should add an explosive element to a Vikings passing attack that desperately needs it after producing just 28 explosive passing plays from Week 11 onward last season, the fewest of any team not named the Jets.We all saw the incredible catch he had in camp last week, and if he can stack days and put together a string of strong performances in the preseason, he could push Jauan Jennings for snaps as the WR3 on the depth chart in 2026. This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings WR among the second-year players PFF has their eyes on

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JULY 30: Miami Dolphins quarterback Mark Gronowski (16) throws the ball during the Miami Dolphins Training Camp on July 30, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Complex in Miami Gardens, FL. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Miami Dolphins announced the re-signing of quarterback Mark Gronowski on Sunday, nine days after he had been waived by the team. The return comes a couple of days after Miami’s opening preseason game of the year, a 20-7 loss to the Washington Commanders. They also signed linebacker Cam Riley in the moves.To create space under the NFL’s roster limit rules, the Dolphins moved offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer to the injured reserve list and waived cornerback Ethan Robinson with an injury designation.Gronowski started his college career at South Dakota State, where he won two Football Championship Subdivision national championships and was named FCS’s top offensive player in 2023, winning the Walter Payton Award. He transferred to Iowa for the 2025 season, throwing for 1,751 yards in 13 games with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His 58 combined victories at South Dakota State and Iowa is the most wins ever for a starting quarterback in NCAA history. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dolphins in May, then was waived on August 7. The Colts hosted Gronowski for a tryout on Saturday before he returned to South Florida.Riley joins Miami after signing as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots in 2025. He spent time with the Tennessee Titans practice squad last year. He began his college career at Auburn in 2020 before finishing with a one-year stint at Florida State in 2024. Salyer signed as a free agent with the Dolphins in March. He has appeared in 64 career games, starting 40 times, splitting time between left tackle and right guard. He was a 2020 sixth-round pick in 2022 coming out of Georgia. The move to IR in training camp essentially ends his season before it began. Robinson joined the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota last year. He played his first three years of college at Bucknell. As a rookie with Miami, he appeared in two games playing nine special teams snaps. The Dolphins head into Preseason Week 2 with a game against the New York Giants on the schedule. Miami and New York are also scheduled to hold a joint practice on Thursday, a practice that will be open to the public as part of the Dolphins’ training camp schedule.

Tommy John, the namesake and first recipient of baseball's most important surgery, died on Sunday, the New York Yankees announced. He was 83 years old.John was reported to be entering hospice in early August, two years after he announced a battle with bladder cancer. He took the occasion to pen a goodbye letter to fans and other acquaintances on the day of the New York Yankees' Old-Timers' Day, where he was a frequent participant.“While his incredible longevity and post-surgery achievements changed the fortunes and trajectory of countless athletes around the world, it also overshadowed his excellence as a pitcher, which included consecutive 20‑win seasons with the Yankees,” the team’s statement read. “We pause to remember the totality of his legacy — his competitiveness and skill, his penchant for conversation, his kind and gracious nature, and his stature as an athletic and medical pioneer.”Thanks to the surgery, John's career spanned 27 years, appearing for six different teams and racking up 288 wins. Only 25 pitchers in MLB history have more wins, and only two — known steroid user Roger Clemens and dead-ball era star Bobby Matthews — are not enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.John remains a notable exclusion from Cooperstown, between his successful career and presence in the operating room that changed baseball. STATEMENT FROM THE NEW YORK YANKEES:“The New York Yankees mourn the passing of Tommy John, who was a bedrock of our rotation during his time in pinstripes and a longtime favorite of Yankees fans. While his incredible longevity and post-surgery achievements changed the fortunes… pic.twitter.com/p6ndlBxUTb— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 16, 2026Tommy John and Dr. Frank Jobe changed what a torn UCL meansBefore 1974, a torn UCL was an unrecoverable blow for a pitcher's career, with treatment usually consisting of some combination of rest, painkillers and prayer. That appeared to be John's fate after July 17, 1974, when the Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander felt something pop in his arm during the third inning of a start against the Montreal Expos.As recalled in a comment documented by the Society for American Baseball Research:"Right at the point where I put force on the pitch, the point where my arm is back and bent, something happened," he explained. "It felt as if I had left my arm someplace else. It was as if my body continued to go forward and my left arm had just flown out to right field, independent of the rest of me."The eventual diagnosis was a torn UCL, and the man tasked with treating John was Dodgers team physician Dr. Frank Jobe. As Jobe recalled in "The Arm" by Jeff Passan, his advice to John was straightforward: "We just told him to go home … he was through playing baseball."John, however, was desperate. He was 31 years old and had been a successful pitcher for the Dodgers, Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians across 12 seasons up to that point. He did not want that career to end and pressed Jobe for a possible fix.Jobe's answer was to use a surgery that had been in use for years, just never on elbows. He would take a tendon from John's right wrist and put it in his left elbow, to replace a UCL that turned out to be fully ruptured. He told John there was a 1% chance it would work, but later admitted to Passan that was to avoid false hope. He was pretty sure it could work.It worked, and the results speak for themselves. After an arduous rehab process that ate his 1975 season, John returned to the mound and went on to play 14 more seasons in the big leagues. He had 124 wins with his first UCL and 164 with its replacement. One All-Star nod with the first and three the replacement. Zero career Cy Young votes, then two runner-up finishes.John's penultimate season saw him lead the Yankees in starts with 32 at the age of 45. When he retired in 1989, he had tied Deacon McGuire's modern-era MLB record for seasons played with 26, which was later broken by Nolan Ryan.Modern baseball doesn't work without Tommy John surgeryThere is no procedure in the history of sports medicine that has altered a sport so drastically. Modern baseball and its high-octane arms are unthinkable without Tommy John surgery. Among the 10 pitchers to receive votes for the American League Cy Young Award in 2025, eight have undergone the UCL repair named after its first recipient.Rather than being a career-ender, news of a torn UCL is now essentially received as if the pitcher has been put in timeout for a year. The expectation is he will come back, though there are unfortunately still a few exceptions due to surgery complications. The risk is so minimized these days that there have been reports of horrendously misguided parents volunteering their young pitchers for a new UCL because they think it means a potential velocity bump.Jobe, who died in 2014, deserves the lion's share of the credit for what the surgery has done, but it took a pushy patient to get him there.

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell wants no part of the new NFL rule that allows coaches to designate an assistant to throw the challenge flag during games this fall.Campbell said Sunday, Aug. 16, he plans to handle all challenges himself this season. He unsuccessfully challenged one play in the Lions' preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals."I'm not giving that flag up to anybody," Campbell said. "No way.”Asked why, Campbell said, "Look, the buck stops with me, anyway.""I'm answering the questions, so why would I give it to somebody else for me to answer for somebody else?" he said. "It all comes to me, anyway. And so yeah, that's it.”The NFL tweaked its rules this offseason to allow the head coach or his designee to initiate a challenge by throwing a red flag onto the field. Previously, only head coaches were allowed to challenge plays under the league's replay rules.Since Campbell took over as coach in 2021, the Lions are 10 for 24 on challenges, according to Pro Football Reference. Campbell typically makes decisions on which plays to challenge in consultation with an assistant.Roster movesThe Lions waived running back Kye Robichaux and safety Loren Strickland with injured designations Sunday. Robichaux broke a bone in his foot, and Strickland suffered a leg injury against the Bengals. The Lions signed cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe and officially added running back Trayveon Williams as replacements.Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dan Campbell: 'No way' I'm giving up challenge flag under new rules

LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 13: Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jonathan Ward (35) walks off the field after a NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers a d the Las Vegas Raiders on October 13, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images On the morning after a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in their 2026 preseason opener, the Baltimore Ravens have reportedly made a running back addition. According to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, the Ravens signed veteran Jonathan Ward on Sunday. #Ravens news: signed veteran running back Jonathan Ward today, per a league source @KPRC2— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 16, 2026Ward is a five-year veteran who has played for four teams in the NFL thus far. He was originally signed by the Arizona Cardinals in 2020 as an undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan. After playing 32 games for the Cardinals, Ward joined the Tennessee Titans for two years and appeared in four games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024. The 28-year-old running back has only 22 rushing attempts for his career with 91 rushing yards, along with another 52 receiving yards a touchdown. Ward was previously a very productive college player, totaling 3,446 scrimmage yards and 32 scores in four seasons at Central Michigan.The Ravens are already set at running back with Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali and Adam Randall all likely to be on the regular season roster. Ali suffered an injury earlier this week in practice, though, which sidelined him for consecutive practice sessions and Saturday’s preseason game. The signing of Ward could signal the Ravens expect Ali to continue to miss some time and thus need another running back to take snaps. In their win over the Eagles, Randall led the team in rushing with 46 yards and a touchdown. Undrafted rookies Elijah Tau-Tolliver and Donte McMillan combined for 19 carries and 82 yards on the ground. Henry and Hill are unlikely to see any preseason action, so expect Ward to join this group as a candidate to receive playing time over the next couple weeks.

Palestinians remove iron from the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes during the war with Hamas, repair and recycle it for construction, building tents or selling it, in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)2026-08-16T17:39:03Z CAIRO (AP) — U.S. negotiator and President Donald Trump ‘s son-in-law Jared Kushner held a rare meeting with the Hamas chief on Sunday in a new diplomatic effort to make progress in the stalled Gaza ceasefire. Kushner will meet with Israel’s prime minister on Monday.The talks aim to salvage the new 15-point, U.S.-backed road map for Hamas to disarm in Gaza and Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territory shattered by war.At stake are the lives of some 2 million people in Gaza and the reconstruction of the crowded enclave now largely controlled by Israeli forces, more than 10 months since the ceasefire ended major military operations. A meeting between Kushner, fellow envoy Steve Witkoff and Hamas leaders in Egypt last year helped clinch the ceasefire, whose progress until now had been stalled over the key issue of Hamas’ disarmament. The rare meeting in Egypt with Hamas’ Khalil al-Hayya was confirmed by a regional official and a Hamas official, both speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters. Kushner was one of a trio of envoys meeting with al-Hayya, with officials from mediating countries Egypt, Qatar and Turkey also attending.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week rejected the 15-point plan in a rare public show of defiance against the Trump administration, Israel’s closest ally.Now Kushner, former British prime minister Tony Blair and the director of the U.S.-created Board of Peace overseeing the ceasefire, Nickolay Mladenov, are set to meet with Netanyahu on Monday, according to a source familiar with the plans and a diplomatic source. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a closed-door meeting. Regional powers accuse Israel of obstructing peace effortsAhead of Monday’s meeting with Netanyahu, several regional powers including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued a statement condemning Israel’s rejection of the road map, saying that “Israel now bears responsibility for obstructing the efforts to bring peace in Gaza.” Other signers included Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia and the ceasefire mediators. Read More The statement by foreign ministers also called on the Board of Peace and the U.S. to take “immediate and concrete measures” to keep any party from obstructing the plan’s implementation. Kushner’s meeting with the Hamas leader aimed at ensuring the militant group’s commitment to the road map, particularly disarmament, before his meeting with Netanyahu, the regional official said.The Hamas official said the group is committed and waiting for mediators to start the 14-day negotiation period to work out a timetable for the implementation. That period requires all parties’ approval of the road map to begin. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. The Hamas official also said the Hamas leader demanded that Israel halt its attacks on Gaza and withdraw to the so-called “yellow line” dividing the territory before beginning implementation of the road map. The yellow line was never precisely defined. Israeli forces have moved beyond it and now control about 60% of Gaza.In May, Netanyahu said the next step was to move to 70% control, with Israel “tightening the grip” on Hamas “from every direction.” The White House had no comment on the talksThe White House on Sunday referred questions about the meetings to the Board of Peace, which did not immediately comment. The Tony Blair Institute did not comment.Under the road map, Hamas would hand over weapons to the Palestinian technocratic committee meant to oversee daily operations in the territory. The committee has not yet entered Gaza. But Hamas has linked the surrender of its heaviest weapons to the creation of a Palestinian state, something Israel’s current government rejects.The road map involves Hamas gradually giving up its weapons while Israeli forces halt attacks and begin withdrawing from Gaza. But Netanyahu says Israel will not retreat from any position in Gaza until Hamas has been completely disarmed.That stance leaves other elements of the ceasefire, including reconstruction and the deployment of international forces to separate Israeli forces from committee-controlled areas, on hold.___Frankel reported from Jerusalem and Anna from Lowville, New York. Collin Binkley in Washington and Sylvia Hui in London contributed. SAMY MAGDY Magdy is a Middle East reporter for The Associated Press, based in Cairo. He focuses on conflict, migration and human rights abuses. twitter facebook mailto JULIA FRANKEL Frankel, based in Jerusalem, has reported from across Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Her reporting focuses on war, human rights, displacement and criminal justice. twitter mailto 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

After tearing an elbow ligament, he underwent a risky procedure and returned at his best, changing baseball and giving new hope to injured players.

PAOK fans protest Konstantelias to BVB in various waysGiannis Konstantelias is set to join Borussia Dortmund from PAOK as he arrived in Germany on Sunday morning ahead of his medical check. However, the move isn’t welcomed by his current club fans as they showed their discontent in multiple ways.Led by a popular ultras group called “Gate 4”, the fans protested the departure of the player who signed a deal until 2029 last summer. According to local newspapers, the fans arrived at the office of the club president with a demand for talks, and they also protested in front of the stadium.Curiously, there were similar incidents after Stuttgart agreed all terms with PAOK for the attacker last year. In the end, the move was cancelled by the club owner Ivan Savvidis as Konstantelias ended up signing a new deal.There were even reports that PAOK fans waited for him when he landed in Dortmund in hopes of convincing him to stay in Greece. However, that will not change matters for the player who has only left the club for a five-month loan to KAS Eupen so far.Konstantelias scored three goals for PAOK in this season’s Europa League qualifying rounds. Borussia Dortmund already signed his compatriot Konstantinos Karetsas from Genk. After their failed attempt at signing Said El Mala from Köln, the Black and Yellows immediately turned their attention to their second target.

Real Madrid youngster handed first-team debutAn up-and-coming member of the goalkeeper ranks at La Liga giants Real Madrid was on Sunday rewarded with his first-ever senior appearance in the club’s colours.The player in question? Illia Voloshyn.Voloshyn, for those not familiar with his name, is a 19-year-old shot-stopper, who has long been held in high regard in Spain’s capital.The youngster is best known for his towering stature, standing at over two metres tall. He spent this past season plying his trade with Real Madrid C, and caught the eye of incoming first-team boss José Mourinho along the way.Voloshyn, in turn, was recently afforded a call-up to senior training for pre-season at Valdebebas. And as alluded to above, on Sunday, as much culminated in a debut appearance for the talented Ukrainian.En route to Los Blancos brushing German outfit Schalke aside in a friendly clash, Voloshyn featured off the bench, a milestone outing for the shot-stopper.Conor Laird – GSFN

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas announced his intent to retire after the 2026 season during last year’s postseason run, but he may change his mind.“It’s been a wild ride,” Rojas said to Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain after the Dodgers clinched the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies last October. “I’ve given it everything that I have every single night for the four years that I’ve been here. And hopefully I can finish my career here next year. Because I’m going to retire after next year.”The Dodgers did bring him back for another year, signing him to a one-year deal early in the offseason and offering him a player development role with the team after he retires.According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, though, that offer may have to wait.“Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas says he’s thinking about changing his mind about retiring, and that it’s possible he’ll stick around for another year before he goes into a hybrid coaching/front office role,” Nightengale wrote.Rojas will be 38 come Opening Day 2027, but he certainly still has the ability to remain in MLB—and he knows it.“When I made this decision to retire and play for one more year, it’s not because I felt I couldn’t play,” Rojas said earlier in the season.“I can still play. I can prepare to go and play shortstop for 100 games.”Jul 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas (72) singles in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesCould Miguel Rojas Play Another Season?Rojas has more than proved his value this season, posting a .744 OPS through 79 games so far. Outside of his electric 2020 season, during which he posted an .888 OPS, that would rank as his second-highest mark in a single season, only behind his .747 OPS in 2024.Most of Rojas’ value, though, comes from his glove.Rojas, despite playing a largely supplementary role, ranks in the 86th percentile of MLB with four outs above average this season, and ranks above league average with a plus-2 fielding run value.Why Would Miguel Rojas Want to Retire?While Rojas has the ability to play in MLB for at least one more year, he has more than just baseball to worry about. The infielder said earlier in the year his family is a key factor in the decision.“He asks me, did you watch me play? I say yes, but I want to be there for him,” Rojas said of his son, Aaron. “That’s what my parents did for me.“I think it’s time. I know your time in the game is too short. But at the end of the day, I want to make sure I’m there for him, too.”

ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST 11: Cody Bradford #61 of the Texas Rangers pitches during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Tony Macon/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images Texas Rangers lineup for August 16, 2026 against the A’s: starting pitchers are Cody Bradford for the Rangers and Jacob Lopez for the Rangers.Texas will try to make a disappointing road trip a little less disappointing this afternoon. There’s a lefty on the mound for the A’s, so the righthanded-heavy lineup is being utilized. Corey Seager gets the day off.The lineup:Langford — LFDuran — SSNimmo — RFBurger — 1BFoscue — 2BFreeman — 3BDiaz — CWynns — DHCarter — CF3:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -133 favorites.

Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye absent from PSG squad to face Lens amidst Liverpool interestParis Saint-Germain forwards Bradley Barcola (23) and Ibrahim Mbaye (18) are both absent from Les Parisiens’ squad to face Lens in the Trophée des Champions. The PSG duo are both the subject of interest from Liverpool as the Premier League club look to bolster their attacking options ahead of the closure of the summer transfer window. The Merseyside outfit have been in active discussions with the Ligue 1 champions over signing both Barcola and Mbaye. However, as of yet, the Reds have been unable to strike an agreement with the French capital club for either of the forwards. PSG are demanding fees in the region of €200m to see the duo leave the Parc des Princes this summer. Nevertheless, with the pair absentees from Luis Enrique’s squad on the hunt for their second trophy of the campaign, it could be sign that they could be on the move. Barcola and Mbaye out, Torres and Godts in?Over the weekend, PSG confirmed the arrivals of two new attackers. Mika Godts (21) arrived from Ajax, and World Cup winner Ferran Torres (26) has arrived from Barcelona. With the French club actively recruiting new attackers, Liverpool could be set to take advantage of a surplus of options in Paris, seeing the club needing to sell. GFFN | Liam Wraith

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) raged against what she called the “criminal” action of a transgender college student getting top surgery while disabled. Micah Leroy is a University of Minnesota student who has gotten some attention on Instagram as he documents his transition on social media. Leroy also has cerebral palsy (CP), a movement disorder that commonly affects the muscles and the skeletal system, makes eating more difficult, and can affect a person’s spoken language abilities. Cognitive issues are possible with CP, but many people with CP don’t have problems with cognition. Related Marjorie Taylor Greene rages at Sarah McBride for reading to kids: “Child predator”! Leroy’s videos show that he uses a wheelchair for mobility and has trouble communicating with spoken language but he can communicate fine with written language and with the help of a speech-generating device. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today He posted about getting top surgery last month. “Hey everyone, I am one week post-op!” he wrote in a December 28 post. “I am starting to be really annoyed with the binder since I haven’t taken it off yet. But I’m mostly back to normal. Bye!” Afficher cette publication sur Instagram Une publication partagée par Micah Leroy (@disabled_trans_boy) Yesterday, he posted a video shirtless, something a lot of transmasculine people do on social media to show off their chests after top surgery. Despite understanding none of this, a sitting member of Congress attacked him. Anti-trans activist Oli London — who used to be trans and had surgery to appear more like a “Korean girl” — posted a couple of videos from Leroy’s account without any of their accompanying text. London said that “doctors cut off the breasts of [a] disabled woman with cerebral palsy to turn her TRANS,” misgendering Leroy. London’s implication was that Leroy, an adult college student who had been on testosterone for over a year and had been posting to social media about his upcoming surgery for months on Instagram, didn’t have the capability of advocating for his own medical care. London then said that Leroy is “wheelchair bound with cerebral palsy” to imply that he couldn’t make the decision on his own. Greene shared London’s post and added: “This is criminal! What doctor did this? What hospital allowed this? Who paid for this?” There is no indication that any laws were broken here. “I am making my own decisions,” Leroy told the Daily Mail. “I am my own legal guardian. And people don’t understand that.” He said that he was glad that his videos created a reaction on the right. “I want to blow up the internet because I want to help other people who are trans and disabled know that it’s okay,” he said. “I want people to keep their minds open and not be bigots. People with disabilities are able to do whatever they f**king want.” The infantilization of disabled people involves “treating individuals as if they were infants or children, regardless of their age or cognitive abilities,” according to neuroscience student Hari Srinivasan in an article in Psychology Today. “I am left to walk away feeling I am worth less than the ant crawling on the ground near my feet,” Srinivasan wrote about being treated like a child in public because of his disability. “Disabled autistics like me face these types of microaggressions every day from all manner of folk. This cognitive dissonance between our capability and how society treats us affects our mental health and hinders our personal development and potential for growth.” Greene is one of the most anti-trans politicians in the United States. She has introduced legislation to ban gender-affirming care for transgender teens with a bill that would also make it harder for transgender adults to access gender-affirming care. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.