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The partly flooded street by heavy rain is seen in Geoje, South Korea, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (Kim Dong-min/Yonhap via AP)2026-08-17T11:04:30Z SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Torrential rains have pounded southern South Korea, leaving one person dead and four others injured, officials said Monday.One person died in a landslide that struck an apartment building in the southern city of Geoje on Monday, the Interior and Safety Ministry said in a report. It said two people were injured in Geoje and two others in nearby cities.The heavy rains that have pummeled southern South Korea since Saturday have forced about 390 people to evacuate to safe places and caused power outages at about 3,580 houses, the ministry report said. In the Philippines, heavy monsoon rains flooded key streets and snarled traffic early Monday in the densely populated region of metropolitan Manila and a dozen outlying provinces, forcing the government to suspend government work and cancel classes at all levels starting at noon. Schools were asked to shift to online learning. About three weeks of intermittent monsoon rains and a storm that lashed the main northern island region of Luzon two weeks ago left at least 23 people dead, mostly due to landslides and floods, and affected 5 million people, including nearly 25,000, who remained in government emergency shelters on Monday in several northern provinces, according to the Office of Civil Defense. Among the dead were 10 people, including children, whose houses were buried by an Aug. 9 landslide in the northern mountain resort city of Baguio. Three others were dug out alive with injuries by rescuers from the avalanche of mud, rocks and debris that collapsed from a mountainside as people slept, officials said.

PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain hardly needed to bolster a squad good enough to win five consecutive Ligue 1 crowns and two straight Champions League titles. Yet that's exactly what coach Luis Enrique did this offseason and it remains to be seen whether it was a wise move.“Strengthening the squad does not mean we lack confidence in the current players,” he said. “Bringing in new players provides a different energy and mentality.”Spain's World Cup forward Ferran Torres joined wingers Maghnes Akliouche and Mika Godts in garnishing an already prolific PSG attack.PSG will be odds-on to secure a record-extending 15th Ligue 1 title, starting with a home game against Rennes on Sunday.It will give a first indication of how Luis Enrique plans to manage a top-heavy front line and, in the longer term, how established players react to not being picked. Take Torres, for example.He scored Spain's winning goal in the World Cup final and offers great movement, speed and skill across the front line.“He can adapt to how we want to play,” Luis Enrique said. “He can play anywhere in attack.”But PSG already has two players who do precisely that: Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, who scored six goals for France at the World Cup, and Désiré Doué. So there's no certainty Torres will start in a side which also contains France forward Bradley Barcola and Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.Akliouche caused PSG problems when Monaco narrowly lost a Champions League playoff 5-4 on aggregate last season, and tormented the capital club's defence in a league win. But how does he dislodge either Barcola, who scored three times at the World Cup, or Kvaratskhelia, arguably the world's best winger?Godts is a 21-year-old with big promise and comes with a hefty price tag of 55 million euros ($64 million). Yet unless Barcola leaves to join Liverpool — as has been widely touted — he can expect to be third choice.However, most observers would say PSG is spoilt for choice, which is not the case for its Ligue 1 rivals.Marseille opens its campaign at home to Strasbourg on Friday.Here's a look at PSG's potential challengers:LensThe northern side, formerly a mining town, has a passionate fanbase which helped push the team last season.For the first time in several seasons, PSG had a genuine title challenger until the players ran out of steam toward the end. Lens finished an impressive second and won the French Cup under coach Pierre Sage, who has since joined Crystal Palace.Lens hired Dino Toppmöller, a fluent French-speaking German who likes to play attacking soccer, and managed to keep Florian Thauvin, the club's inspirational goal-scoring winger.With new France coach Zinedine Zidane watching, Thauvin scored as Toppmöller's first game in charge ended with a 1-0 win against PSG on Sunday in the Trophée des Champions. Lens is at home to Auxerre on Saturday.MarseilleExperienced coach Bruno Genesio was hired to bring stability to a club again in turmoil last season.Marseille had two coaches, Roberto De Zerbi and Habib Beye, failed to get past the Champions League group stage and finished sixth in Ligue 1, including a 5-0 loss to PSG.Former striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who left after a second spell, said the atmosphere was unhealthy as too many outside factors disturbed the squad. Last season began with a dressing-room fight between two players, and tensions have already surfaced this time after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was stripped of the captaincy — against Genesio's wishes. The midfielder reportedly turned down a move to Newcastle, with Marseille trying to balance the books.“It’s a decision that was dictated to me by the club’s management," Genesio said. "It’s not a decision I agree with. But I am an employee and must abide by certain obligations.”Hardly the ideal atmosphere to start rebuilding a team which last won the league in 2010.Without Aubameyang and Mason Greenwood, Genesio's side could be short on goals.MonacoThe eight-time champion also had two coaches last season — Adi Hütter and Sébastien Pocognoli — but finished a frustrating seventh. New coach Filipe Luís is tasked with making Monaco competitive again.The attack will be relying on U.S. forward Folarin Balogun, the player at the center of a red card controversy at the World Cup which became political.Former teenage prodigy Ansu Fati has joined permanently, after scoring 12 goals on loan from Barcelona last season.But the club needs better judgement, after the signing of former star midfielder Paul Pogba on a two-year deal backfired completely. The 2018 World Cup winner played only a handful of games last term and got injured in preseason.Monaco is at Le Havre on Sunday.LilleGenesio guided Lille to third place in Ligue 1 last season thanks to a strong late finish.But expecting Olivier Giroud to lead the attack once again seems a long shot, given the former France striker turns 40 in September.Lille needs more goals from 21-year-old Belgium winger Matias Fernandez-Pardo, although he wants to leave, with big clubs competing to sign him ahead of Sunday's game at Angers.The club could also lose highly-rated midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old who made a big impression for Morocco at the World Cup, with Manchester City reportedly ready to meet Lille's asking price of 100 million euros.___See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Texas A&M's 2026 season-opener vs. Missouri State is less than three weeks away, and entering his third sesaon at the helm, coach Mike Elko should be encouraged by what he's witnessed from the redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed, who has improved accuracy, especially on the deep ball, which was on full display during Saturday's scrimmage after hitting Alabama transfer wideout Isaiah Horton in stride on a 30-plus yard throw.The only thing preventing Marcel Reed, in my opinion, from matching his 2025 production is whether the revamped offensive line, featuring four new starters, gels early in the year. This group will feature returning starting center Mark Nabou, four new SEC transfers, and several rising offensive linemen from the 2025 signing class.Again, if this group at least becomes an above-average pass-blocking unit, Marcel Reed will be passing to what is nationally considered one of the deepest wide receiver rotations in the country, now including Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton, who brings much-needed size at 6'4", while Mario Craver, Ashton Bethel-Roman, Terry Bussey, and freshman Aaron Gregory fill out the rotation. Last season, Reed passed for a career-high 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns, while 8 of his 12 interceptions came against top-35-ranked defenses, which has been the focus this offseason, working with new OC Holmon Wiggins and QB coach Joey Lynch. Entering the 2026 season with a solid 77.9 QBR, On3 ranks Reed 9th nationally. "Reed was tremendous in leading Texas A&M to an 11-0 start last season. Then, he was fairly pedestrian — and that might be generous — in the team’s two losses to Texas and Miami to close out the 2025 campaign. Decision-making in big moments is the real key for Reed. He needs to avoid costly turnovers in big games. But in terms of raw skill, he’s got as much as anyone in the country. And he’s probably aptly motivated after the way 2025 ended."Marcel Reed is nationally considered a "high-variance" quarterback given his up-and-down performances throughout the 2025 season, but for all the reasons I laid out above, Reed is on track to cut down his interceptions and, once again, be in the Heisman Trophy conversation based on what I've witnessed this preseason. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M star QB enters the 2026 season with a Top 10 ranked QBR

Image Credit: Josh Revell/YouTubeMotorsport is a dangerous game. It always has been, and it always will be. Thankfully, over the last two to three decades, deaths in racing have been mercifully low. Yet some crashes, as horrific as they are, can change the sport forever, as did one back in Japan in 1998.YouTuber Josh Revell recently covered the crash in a brilliant video. It took place at Fuji Speedway in 1998, with the series being the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship. The series today is known as Super GT.It was, and still is, one of the premier sports car racing series in the world. But in 1998, the round at Fuji Speedway, held in the shadow of Mount Fuji, was to take place in horrible weather conditions. And we mean horrible. It was wet, misty, and visibility was at a premium.Racing that day was Tetsuya Ota, a driver who had become Ferrari's main man in Japan. He had started racing slightly later in life, but soon made a name for himself in sports car racing. Yet on this day in 1998, his life was about to change forever.The Backstory to the Accident at Fuji Speedway Ota had a slow-burning career, but after racing in Formula Japan 1600, Formula 3, and Japan F3000, he eventually began to make a name for himself in sports car racing. He became a factory driver for Mazda and would soon begin driving for Ferrari. By the mid-1990s, he was their main driver in Japan and Maranello's highest-regarded driver in the country.On that day in Fuji, the weather was horrendous. Wet and with poor visibility, the pace car led the field around for extra laps to give the drivers more of a feel for the conditions. Yet after maintainign 150km/h down the main straight, the pace car suddenly slowed down. This caused a concertina effect, and drivers had to check up. This is when things went wrong. Two Porsches collided and headed into the barriers. A BMW then had to avoid the mess before things got much worse.Ota's Ferrari suddenly slid off the track, hit one of the Porsches, and the car, full of fuel for the race's first stint, burst into flames. The fire stretched the width of the track. One of the Porsche drivers broke his leg, but he managed to get out of his car. Ota, however, was trapped inside his car. And the trackside marshals were nowhere to be seen. But, disregarding his own safety, Mazda driver Shinichi Yamaji stopped, grabbed a fire extinguisher, started to put the fire out, and dragged his fellow racer out of his car.Things Then Went From Bad To WorseImage Credit: Josh Revell/YouTubeYet, despite this, the marshals still didn't appear. It took 90 seconds for them to do so, and after laying Ota down, the marshals just abandoned him. All while his helmet had begun to melt, with the visor melting onto Ota's face. Blind and gasping for air, he was fighting for his life. By the time he was placed into an ambulance, Ota had third-degree burns to his face and neck.Ota did pull through and survive. But he underwent so many surgeries to his face and nerves over 12 months, causing all sorts of pain for the racing driver. Tragically, nerve damage would mean that Ota would never race again. Yet despite contemplating taking his own life, Ota's stance changed when he saw the report on the crash from the Japan Automobile Federation.The JAF said marshals had arrived on the scene after just 20 seconds and tried to pin the blame on Ota himself. Ota could accept some of the blame, due to throwing the car into the barriers; he couldn't believe what the report said regarding the marshals. Ota then decided to sue the parties involved for 290 million yen in damages, beginning a four-year-long legal battle.Ota Would Eventually Win the Legal BattleImage Credit: Josh Revell/YouTubeOta and others had been made to sign a waiver before the race. This absolved the organizers of any blame should such an accident take place. Yet thankfully, Judge Tsuyoshi Ono presided over the case, which worked in Ota's favor. In October 2003, all parties involved were found guilty of negligence, with TV images from the crash sealing the verdict.Ota won 90 million yen in damages, and a raft of changes were made to ensure an accident like this could never happen again. Ota himself would become a car tuner, and even raced in the lower levels. Yamaji meanwhile raced on to huge success, but in 2014, after checking himself into a hospital, he would pass away the next day due to a worsening illness.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don’t miss what’s coming next.

Bayern Munich is not perfect when it comes to financial decision-making. The club has made expensive transfers, handed out massive contract extensions and, at times, allowed its fixed-term deposit reserves to shrink considerably per Tz journalists Philipp Kessler and Mano Bonk (as captured by @iMiaSanMia_GER). What might separate Bayern Munich from many of its European competitors, however, is what happens when the club recognizes that its spending trajectory could become a problem. Simply put, Bayern Munich does not double-down — it changes course.According to Tz, that is exactly what happened after several expensive transfers and contract extensions significantly reduced Bayern Munich’s fixed-term deposit account. Rather than continuing to spend at the same pace, the club’s decision-makers embarked on a strict austerity course.It is debatable on just how much the reserves were hurting (also, do not forget that Bayern Munich is rumored to have another reserve it can call upon as well), but certainly it is possible that some deals strained the club financially. That is an important part to all of this, though, is understanding how Bayern Munich operates financially. The club is willing to spend when it believes an investment makes sense, but it is also willing to alter plans when the numbers start pointing in the wrong direction. That discipline is particularly important now because Bayern Munich is entering a period of significant investment.The club has purchased Sportpark Unterhaching for approximately €7.5 million, with renovation costs for the stadium expected to at least double that figure. The facility is intended to become the new home of Bayern Munich’s women’s team.At the same time, Bayern Munich is extensively modernizing its professional facilities at Säbener Straße. Starting in 2027, the basketball department will also begin construction of a new Performance Center, funded by the club’s e.V.That is a significant amount of money being committed to infrastructure across multiple areas of the club, yet Bayern Munich is not approaching those projects from a position of financial desperation.President Herbert Hainer made that philosophy clear. “FC Bayern has always been known for acting very sensibly in economic terms as well. And we still have a bit of money in the fixed-term deposit account. Everything we own, we paid for ourselves—and it’s all already paid off,” Hainer said. That final point is particularly important.Bayern Munich owns its major assets outright and has paid for them itself. The club is now using that financial foundation to invest in its future rather than simply chasing the next expensive signing. Hainer is clearly enthusiastic about what the Unterhaching project can become.“In September, the new turf is coming too. That’s really a gem that we’ve got here right on the outskirts of Munich. The perfect home for the women. When the first Champions League match takes place, the place will be sold out,” Hainer remarked. There is a larger lesson here for Bayern Munich.Financial responsibility does not mean refusing to spend money. It means understanding when spending has become excessive, making adjustments and preserving enough flexibility to invest when the right opportunities come along.Bayern Munich may occasionally spend aggressively, but the club has repeatedly demonstrated that it is willing to recognize when the situation requires a change in strategy. That ability to at least pump the brakes before a financial problem becomes a crisis could ultimately be just as important as Bayern Munich’s willingness to spend.Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

ANTONIO HARRIS #20Height: 6’0” Weight: 180lbPosition: DBClass: RS FreshmanHometown: Louisville, KYSummary: I realize there may be some of you reading this who don’t know who Nate Harris is, and maybe even some of you reading this who have never heard of Doug Beaumont, and frankly, that makes me sad….and evidently old, but those two guys are not only Louisville family but bloodline family (Nate-Dad, Doug-Uncle) for Antonio. The Male High grad adds to a long line of Bulldogs to come play for the Cardinals, and this Bulldog has a chance to be one of the better ones.Antonio was a Top 10 player in the state of Kentucky by multiple recruiting sites, and the two way corner/wideout had plenty of numbers to back up those rankings and accolades. Harris chose the Cards last year over the bi-state trio of Kentucky, Indiana, and Purdue. Harris played a bit on special teams last year but kept his redshirt in tact so he still has four years left to play. Another corner with good speed and aggressiveness, Harris lacks a little size but is not afraid to get into the mix and create plays in space. As we sit today I think Harris is a threat to stick around in the two deep rotation at corner, but as we know things can change fast in a matter of days. I like what the Cards are building in the secondary for the future, as guys like Harris are not only stellar athletes, but they “bleed red” from birth. Hometown Harris looking to turn heads sooner than later.

Nature, Published online: 17 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02529-xHistory shows that breakthroughs are often sparked by innovative instruments, and AI’s ability to help design them might be its most important scientific contribution.

Nature, Published online: 14 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02581-7A sharp rise in carbon dioxide around 56 million years ago was catastrophic for forests. Plus, mRNA-based flu vaccines have been approved in the United States and Anthropic is to introduce an AI watermark.

The Chicago Bears appear to have a wide open competition for their starting left tackle job, with even more intrigue being added to it on Sunday. Following their Week 1 preseason win over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, the team was back at practice on Sunday and announced they have activated left tackle Ozzy Trapilo from the physically unable to perform list, just seven months after he suffered a ruptured patellar tendon.In the win over the Browns, the Bears split the reps between Kiran Amegadjie and Jedrick Wills, where the former played 34 and the latter played 31 offensive snaps, but neither came out of the game with an upper-hand. Speaking to the media on Sunday, offensive coordinator Press Taylor said that the competition is still up for the taking.“It wasn’t as clean as we’d love it to be going forward. And that’s kind of why there still continues to be an open competition for the position," Taylor said, while also adding that he did see both players show positive traits, but there is clearly still a battle for the spot. There's no telling when Trapilo could insert himself into the conversation and compete for the left tackle spot, but after the first week of the preseason, the competition is still very much open. Between Trapilo, Wills, Amegadjie, and veteran Braxton Jones, who returned to practice recently, the team is not short on options for the left tackle spot. And they're clearly not in any rush to name the starter with two more preseason games remaining.Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and InstagramThis article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears OC Press Taylor sounds off on left tackle competition

Di Gregorio already out of Juventus squad ahead of Vicario arrivalMichele Di Gregorio will not take part in Juventus’s final pre-season friendly of the summer as he has not been named in the matchday squad for Monday’s internal friendly against the Next Gen side ahead of the imminent arrival of Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.An agreement has been reached between Juventus and Tottenham for the transfer of goalkeeper Vicario, who is set to join the Bianconeri on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy for €8m plus bonuses according to reports from various outlets on Monday.Vicario is expected to fly over to Turin on Monday for his medical and contract signing.His arrival is the beginning of the end of Di Gregorio’s reign as the Juventus no.1. The 29-year-old, who has spent the last two seasons with the Bianconeri, failed to impress over the course of the 2026-27 campaign and it has been clear throughout the summer transfer window that Juventus have been looking to upgrade.Juve had been in negotiations for Liverpool’s Alisson Becker and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez before striking a deal with Tottenham for Vicario.As for Di Gregorio, reports from Fabrizio Romano claim that he has been offered to Ligue 1 side Marseille on loan for the 2026-27 season as well as one other club abroad.LECCE, ITALY – MAY 09: Michele Di Gregorio during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Juventus FC at Stadio Via del Mare on May 09, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)He had reportedly been struggling with flu-like symptoms earlier this week, and has not been named in the Juventus squad for Monday’s internal friendly against the Next Gen side at the Allianz Stadium.Confirmed Juventus squad for Next Gen friendlyLECCE, ITALY – MAY 09: Luciano Spalletti smiles during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Juventus FC at Stadio Via del Mare on May 09, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)Goalkeepers: Perin, Pinsoglio, Nava.Defenders: Celik, Bremer, Gatti, Kelly, Kalulu, Cambiaso, Rugain, Cabal.Midfielders: Locatelli, Koopmeiners, D.Luiz, Thuram, Miretti, McKennie.Forwards: Conceicao, Kolo Muani, Yildiz, Zhegrova, Boga, Alajbegovic, David.

Lorenzo Bailey, a teacher and multi-sport coach at Elite Scholars Academy in Jonesboro, has been named the 2026 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Scholastic Coach of the Year. Bailey is the first nominee from the Atlanta Hawks organization to receive the national award.The award, presented in partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance, recognizes school coaches who emphasize integrity, character development and positive experiences for student-athletes. As part of the recognition, Bailey will receive a $2,000 grant and coaching resources for youth initiatives at Elite Scholars Academy. He previously received a $1,000 grant after being selected as one of five national finalists for the award.More than 600 students, faculty and staff gathered at Elite Scholars Academy for a surprise celebration honoring Bailey. Former Atlanta Hawks player Salim Stoudamire and members of the Hawks Entertainment team attended the event to present Bailey with a trophy.Bailey was chosen for the national honor following an evaluation process that included public voting, a formal interview and a review by an executive panel. He reflected on the award after receiving the recognition.“To be selected as the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Scholastic Coach of the Year is a tremendous honor,” Bailey said. “This award is a reflection of the incredible students, families, colleagues and communities that have supported me throughout my journey as a coach and educator. I want to thank the Atlanta Hawks for recognizing the work being done to empower young people through sport, as well as the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA for continuing to highlight coaches who are committed to making a lasting impact.”Jon Babul, vice president of basketball programs for the Atlanta Hawks, noted Bailey’s multi-decade involvement in youth education and mentorship.“Lorenzo’s impact is a testament to the difference one coach can make when they invest in the growth of young people,” Babul said. “For nearly two decades, he has used his platform as an educator to create meaningful opportunities, helping student-athletes reach their full potential. We are proud to celebrate Lorenzo as the first Hawks nominee to earn this national recognition as the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Scholastic Coach of the Year and grateful for the example he continues to set for coaches and athletes throughout our community.”[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks][SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 08: Kelsey Mitchell #0 of the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever during a game against the Chicago Sky on August 8, 2026 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Thanks to an overtime victory against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday night, the Indiana Fever have won four straight games. They’re 23-12, owners of the fourth-best record in the WNBA, and if the playoffs were to start today, they’d host the Atlanta Dream in the first round of the playoffs. For Indiana, it’s been an up-and-down season — filled with plenty of highs and plenty of lows. A litany of off-court storylines have dominated their year, from Sophie Cunningham’s controversial comments on trans women in sports, to hard fouls that have taken on a life of their own, to Fever fans booing head coach Stephanie White. These controversies have dominated so much that the (elite) on-court product has almost flown under the radar. But the Fever are just two games behind the Golden State Valkyries for second place in the standings. They have the third-best point differential in the league, and two legitimate MVP candidates in Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark, who are the league’s second and third-leading scorers, trailing only four-time MVP A’ja Wilson. Clark is averaging 22 points and 8.3 assists, while putting together the most efficient season of her career, shooting 45% from the field and 35.4% from three. Mitchell is averaging 24.2 points on 50.3% shooting, while hitting 43.7% of her threes.Both players came up huge in Sunday’s overtime win over the Atlanta Dream, with Clark finishing with 26 points and 9 assists and Mitchell adding 20 points. Mitchell has now scored at least 20 points in 19 consecutive games, the longest single-season streak in WNBA history. Clark has scored at least 25 points in 8 games this season, becoming the first-ever point guard to accomplish that feat. Caitlin Clark today 🔥• 26 points • 9 ASSISTS • 3 rebounds pic.twitter.com/FkHkkeyq3u— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) August 16, 2026The two players are routinely compared, especially since both have become legitimate MVP candidates. At Fever practice last year, fellow teammate and co-star Aliyah Boston deemed Mitchell the league’s MVP, likely inadvertently adding fuel to the fire. “Honestly, [Mitchell is] really just the MVP,” Boston said, per James Boyd. “I think that’s just what she’s been doing. Every single night you see her come out, and she drops I don’t even know how many points at this rate. She defends her butt off… she does exactly what she needs to do, so I’m really proud of her.” It’s hard to compare the two: Mitchell is a pure scorer and has been more efficient this season, but Clark is a far superior playmaker who bends opposing teams’ defenses and creates for others. Both players have established themselves among the league’s best scorers. The good news for Indiana? They have both players. And, in turn, they have a legitimate shot at a WNBA title. The Fever have the league’s best offensive rating at 96.2 and field goal percentage at 48.7%. In addition to Mitchell and Clark, they have another perennial All-Star in Aliyah Boston. Boston is averaging 17 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, rounding out Indiana’s Big 3 and bolstering the team’s frontcourt. Indiana has benefitted from other contributors, too. Second-year forward Makayla Timpson has found her footing; on Sunday, she poured in a career-high 20 points to go along with 7 rebounds. Cunningham is shooting 45.3% from three off the bench, and Monique Billings is averaging 7.3 points and 5.2 rebounds. Last year, the Stephanie White-led squad was just a few minutes removed from a WNBA Finals appearance, and that was with Clark sidelined for the entirety of the postseason. Now, with Clark playing the best basketball of her career, Indiana might have what it takes to get to the mountaintop.

STRASBOURG, France (AP) — Real Madrid has agreed to transfer center forward Jacobo Ortega to French club Strasbourg, the Spanish team said on Monday.Madrid didn’t provide any details about the deal for the 20-year-old, who scored in the UEFA Youth League final against Club Brugge last season.After a 1-1 draw, Madrid won the competition — effectively the Champions League for under-19 teams — in a penalty shootout in Lausanne, Switzerland on April 20.It was the club’s second title in the 12-year history of the UEFA youth competition.Strasbourg said the forward had signed a contract till 2031.The French side also signed United States midfielder Gio Reyna from Borussia Mönchengladbach earlier this month.Strasbourg, in a shared ownership group with Chelsea, placed eighth in Ligue 1 last season and did not qualify for Europe.___See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Eruptive activity continues on Mount Etna, where lava flows continue to descend on the slopes of the volcano, as seen from Mareneve near Catania, Italy, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Salvatore Allegra)2026-08-17T11:41:39Z MILAN (AP) — An American tourist was killed by a lightning strike on Sicily’s Mount Etna while hiking in an area that was closed to visitors due to recent volcanic activity, Italian firefighters said Monday.The 29-year-man from Kansas was rescued by helicopter after being struck Sunday evening in an exposed area above the tree line. He was later declared dead by medical personnel. His name was not released.Authorities have closed vast areas of the volcano’s slope to hikers due to the volcano’s prolonged activity — which forced the closure of the airport in nearby Catania for most of last week. Officials said that more people have died on Etna from lightning strikes over recent decades than from volcanic activity. The last eruption-related fatalities on Europe’s most active volcano were in 1987.

A firefighter walks through a burned area as flames engulf a house during a wildfire on the island of Salamina, west of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)2026-08-17T11:37:26Z SOURBRODT, Belgium (AP) — One of Belgium’s biggest ever wildfires blazed out of control Monday even as cooler weather and rain eased conditions for firefighters, while in Greece a fire briefly flared up near the main airport on the outskirts of Athens.Europe is sweltering through one of its hottest and driest summers on record, which a recent study said was fueled by climate change.Rain helps, but Belgian blaze is not yet under controlBelgium’s King Philippe interrupted his summer vacation to visit emergency services fighting the wildfire in the eastern High Fens, about eight kilometers (five miles) from the German border, as it spread east after moving into a pine forest on Sunday.The fire in Liège province has burned an estimated 30 square kilometers (about 12 square miles), leaving blackened trees and smoldering ground. The scent of wood smoke drifted through the fog-drenched forest early Monday. Dozens of firefighters were aided by aircraft sent from Norway, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands and local police with drones monitoring the fires after a much-welcomed cold front brought overnight rain.“We managed to maintain the fire where the firemen are situated but there’s still a place which is totally inaccessible, where the fire is still going on in the direction of Monschau in Germany,” said Nicolas Yernaux, the spokesperson for the Wallonia regional public services.He said overnight rains helped contain the blaze and dampen the possibility that smoldering fires will flare up again, but he said they did not significantly impact the center of the fire. “Where it is burning, I am not sure it’s really helping,” he said. Read More Tourists have left the region and canceled reservations, said Thomas van Sante, the owner of the Mont Dragon hotel near the park where the fire was raging.“There’s rain now but it is not enough,” van Sante said.Precautionary evacuation orders remained in effect Monday for hundreds of residents. 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. Greece quickly extinguishes fire near main airportIn Greece, fire department investigators examined the area on the island of Salamina where a fast-moving wildfire on Sunday killed two people, injured another nine and destroyed several homes. The island lies just west of the Greek capital. New wildfires broke out elsewhere Monday. Dozens of firefighters along with two water-dropping planes and two helicopters raced to tackle one in Spata, an area east of Athens that includes the main international airport. The fire department said the blaze was contained within 30 minutes.Separately, the fire department said an 80-year-old man was arrested in the northern town of Kavala on arson charges for allegedly deliberately setting fire to dried vegetation. The arrest was among 302 fire-related arrests since Jan. 1 in Greece, including 31 for deliberate arson and 271 for negligence that sparked fires, the department said.France says a fire in the southwest is under controlIn southwestern France, authorities said a fire in the Landes region was under control after four days of battling the flames, allowing about half of the evacuated residents to begin returning home.More than 600 residents evacuated last week as the fire burned about 17 square kilometers (6.6 square miles) during a prolonged spell of extreme heat. Some respite was on the way Monday as temperatures began to drop.___Corbet reported from Paris. Elena Becatoros in Argostoli, Greece, contributed. SYLVIE CORBET Corbet is an Associated Press reporter based in Paris. She covers French politics, diplomacy and defense as well as gender issues and breaking news. twitter

Newly uncovered documents reveal the story of David Maltbie, who relayed intelligence to the patriots in 1776, narrowly avoiding execution as a spy

Learn the secrets of underground cave radio, and you can talk through solid rock. The post Cave Radio – Talking Through Solid Rock appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.

Learn the secrets of underground cave radio, and you can talk through solid rock. The post Cave Radio – Talking Through Solid Rock appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.

We explain the climate phenomenon.

Although closets can be great for stashing coats, scarves, umbrellas, games, sports equipment, and more behind closed doors, recently designers and DIYers have proven that removing the doors can also be quite fruitful — that is, if you want to create an alcove-esque design feature without having to do much demo. (Check out this closet-turned-home office or this cute entryway bench for inspiration! READ MORE...

This photo combination shows Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, Oct. 10, 2024, in Anchorage, Alaska, left, and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Feb. 8, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Bill Roth, Mariam Zuhaib/Anchorage Daily News via AP/AP, file)2026-08-17T12:11:23Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Alaska voters will narrow down a long list of contenders Tuesday for a competitive U.S. Senate seat that’s expected to play a pivotal role in determining which party will hold a majority in the chamber next year. Crowded fields of candidates for governor, U.S. House and the state Legislature will also compete for spots on the general election ballot.Although the state has long been safe Republican territory in federal elections, this year marks the third consecutive election cycle in which Alaska finds itself among a handful of states at the center of the fight for control of Congress. At the top of the ballot, Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan faces a strong challenge from Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola in his bid for a third term. They are the most notable contenders among 16 candidates in the state’s all-party primary, in which the top four vote-getters will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. The winner in November will be determined by ranked choice voting, as is the case for all Alaska general elections following a new law approved by voters in 2020. Sullivan was first elected in 2014 after defeating Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, 48% to 46%. He won his 2020 reelection with 54% of the vote and a 13-percentage-point lead over his Democratic opponent.Peltola was first elected in a 2022 special election to replace longtime Republican congressman Don Young, who died after almost 50 years in office. She defeated Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich in Alaska’s first statewide ranked choice voting election. She was elected to a full term later that year but lost her 2024 reelection bid to Begich, who is the nephew of the former U.S. senator. Peltola has raised about $18.5 million for her campaign, compared with about $11.7 million for Sullivan. As of July 29, Sullivan had about $7.3 million in his campaign account, compared with about $4.6 million for Peltola. Read More The only other U.S. Senate candidate who reported raising any money was another Dan Sullivan, a former teacher who shares the same first and last name as the Republican incumbent. Republicans tried unsuccessfully to block the other Dan Sullivan from appearing on the ballot, accusing him of colluding with Democrats to help elect Peltola by confusing voters, which he and the Peltola campaign have denied. An Alaska court overturned efforts to boot the challenger from the ballot. Sen. Sullivan will appear on the ballot as “Dan S. Sullivan” alongside the labels of “Registered Republican” and “Incumbent.” Challenger Sullivan will be listed as “Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.” without any party affiliation listed, although he filed for office as a Republican.Nick Begich also faces a crowded field in his bid for a second term in the state’s lone congressional seat, but only commercial fisherman and former Bristol Bay Borough School Superintendent Bill Hill has emerged as a credible challenger. Hill is running as an independent, but he has the backing of several local union organizations as well as that of Anchorage pastor Matt Schultz, the top Democrat in the race before he suspended his campaign and endorsed Hill.Begich raised about $5.5 million for the campaign, compared with about $1.3 million for Hill, and the incumbent sits atop a far larger campaign war chest. Seventeen candidates are running to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Among them is former Gov. Bill Walker, who is running as an independent.Republican candidates include former state Sens. Click Bishop, Shelley Hughes and Lesil McGuire, former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, former state revenue Commissioner Adam Crum, Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Edna DeVries, former state Attorney General Treg Taylor and business owner and conservative activist Bernadette Wilson.Former state Sen. Tom Begich and former state Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins are the two Democrats in the race. Begich is the brother of Mark Begich and the uncle of Nick Begich.Voters will also decide a statewide ballot measure that would impose contribution limits on state and local political campaigns. A 2021 federal court ruling lifted limits on what an individual could give a candidate.Half of Alaska’s 20 state Senate seats and all 40 state House seats are up for election in 2026. Republican lawmakers outnumber Democratic lawmakers, but both chambers are organized by multiparty coalitions rather than along strict party lines.Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Team will monitor as the votes are tallied: When do polls close?Polls close at 8 p.m. local time, which is midnight and 1 a.m. ET. Almost all polls in the state close at midnight ET, but one polling location in the Aleutian Islands closes at 1 a.m. ET.What’s on the ballot?The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in contested primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, state Senate and state House, as well as a statewide ballot measure. Who gets to vote?Any voter registered in Alaska may participate in the state’s all-party, top-four primary system.How many voters are there?As of Aug. 3, there were about 602,000 registered voters in Alaska. About 380,000 voters, roughly 63%, were either undeclared or nonpartisan voters; about 142,000, or 24%, were Republicans; and about 70,000, or 12%, were Democrats.How many people actually vote?Roughly 190,000 voters participated in the 2022 U.S. Senate and gubernatorial primaries. About 108,000 voters participated in the 2024 U.S. House primary.How much of the vote is cast early or by absentee ballot? About 23% of the U.S. Senate primary vote and about 28% of the U.S. House primary vote in the 2022 state primary was cast early in person or by mail.As of Thursday, about 18,000 ballots had already been cast in Tuesday’s election.When are early and absentee votes released?A mix of vote results from in-person Election Day and early in-person voting are released in the first vote update of the night. Typically, nearly all in-person Election Day results and in-person early voting results are released by the last update of the night, with the bulk of mail voting results released in the days following election night.How long does vote-counting usually take?In the 2024 state primary, the AP first reported results at 1:03 a.m. ET, or three minutes after final polls closed. The election night tabulation ended at 4:58 a.m. ET, with about 89% of total votes counted. The count reached 100% on Sept. 1 at 6:57 p.m. ET, 12 days after the election.When will the AP declare a winner?The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow a trailing candidate to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.How do recounts work?Recounts in Alaska are automatic in the event of a tie vote. Candidates may also request and pay for a recount. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is subject to a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.Are we there yet?As of Tuesday, there will be 77 days until the 2026 midterm elections.___Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/. ROBERT YOON Yoon is an elections and democracy reporter for The Associated Press, with a focus on analyzing vote and demographic data and explaining the intricacies of the electoral process. He is now covering his seventh presidential campaign cycle. facebook mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Hayden Panettiere arrives at the 21st annual Critics' Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar on Jan. 17, 2016, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)2026-08-17T11:53:44Z Stars are paying tribute to Hayden Panettiere after the actor’s death Sunday at 36.Panettiere was a prolific actor who rose to fame as a star on NBC’s “Heroes” and scored a crossover TV-music hit with the series “Nashville.” She was open about her struggles with alcohol and post-partum depression and stopped acting for several years, returning for “Scream VI” in 2023.Among those paying tribute to Panettiere on Monday were fellow actors Viola Davis, Melissa Barrera and Bethany Joy Lenz, and podcaster Jay Shetty.Viola Davis, actor“What an amazing talent you were....so gifted. Julius and I loved working with you....an old, wise soul with such a deep heart. I wish the world had more time with you because I had a burning curiosity about who you were becoming. I saw this beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes. Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy. You will be remembered. Rest well, Hayden. Sending healing prayers to your family, your daughter, and all who loved you. May they always speak your name...” via Instagram. Bethany Joy Lenz, actor“I dont understand how this is real. Everything seemed to be turning around. She was coming BACK to life, wasn’t she? It’s too young and there’s still so much more life. And her daughter…. Hayden, you are surround by love. I’m sorry for every moment I didn’t reach out or check in. This can’t be real.” — via Instagram. Jay Shetty, podcaster“I can’t believe it. Our friendship had just begun and I was so moved by the conversation we shared earlier this year. My love and condolences to her family and fans.” — via Instagram. Read More Selma Blair, actor“I love you. Don’t be gone. Don’t be gone . Please. Please.” — via Instagram.Melissa Barrera, actor“Rest in peace sweet Hayden.” — via Instagram.David Arquette, actor“I love you Hayden” — via Instagram.Rosie O’Donnell, actor“Oh my god — heartbroken #hayden — ” via Instagram.

Pat Cummins’ captaincy record took an unwanted turn after Australia suffered a nine-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin on Sunday.The match ended inside four days, with Australia conceding a 228-run first-innings lead before setting Bangladesh only 57 runs to win in the fourth innings. The visitors reached the target in 14.2 overs, losing just one wicket.The defeat was Australia’s first-ever home Test loss against Bangladesh and also added Cummins to an unwanted list.Cummins, who has been Australia’s Test captain since the 2021-22 Ashes, became only the second Australian captain after Greg Chappell to lose home Tests against two different Asian teams.Chappell lost two home Tests against Pakistan — in Sydney in January 1977 and Melbourne in December 1981 — and another against India in Melbourne in February 1981.Cummins has now lost one home Test against India, in Perth in November 2024, and one against Bangladesh in Darwin in August 2026.Bangladesh needed only three Tests to record their first Test win in Australia. They are now the fastest Asian team and the second-fastest team overall to win a Test on Australian soil.Fast bowler Hasan Mahmud played a key role in the victory, taking nine wickets across the match to claim the Player of the Match award. He picked up six wickets in Australia’s first innings and three in the second.Mehidy Hasan Miraz also contributed with both bat and ball. He scored a half-century in the first innings before taking five wickets in the second.Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 84 in the first innings, while opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim made 101 off 197 balls.For Australia, Josh Hazlewood took six wickets in the first innings, while Cameron Green scored 104 in the second innings. However, the rest of the Australian side could not make enough of an impact as Bangladesh completed their first Test victory in Australia.

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 13: Scottie Scheffler of the United States hits a tee shot on the 16th hole during the second round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind on August 14, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)PGA TOURScottie Scheffler’s 2026 season has been sub-par by his standards, yet most professional golfers would absolutely love to experience a season like Scheffler’s to date.Coming into the St. Jude Championship, the first leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, Scheffler had one just one tournament, the American Express back in January, with no major titles to his name. Scheffler has been a fixture near the top of the leaderboard, but his struggles of getting over the finish line first have been well-documented.It might not be a major championship, but Scheffler certainly proved what he’s capable of against the Top 70 golfers this year. The St. Jude Championship saw Scheffler dominate the field by way of an eight shot victory. Scheffler posted 68-61-68-66 for a final score of -17 under par. That was eight shots better than Si Woo Kim who finished in solo second place. The golfers who made it to the next leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the BMW Championship, are the Top 50 golfers in the game. Of course, players like Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have already punched their tickets to the next two rounds of the playoffs, but it will be another week of high drama as the tour season comes to a close.Time to review our picks and predictions from the St. Jude Championship.Let’s take a look at who was projected to be contending, based on pre-tournament odds.2026 St. Jude Championship OddsScottie Scheffler (+450)Rory McIlroy (+1000)Cameron Young (+1800)Xander Schauffele (+1800)Tommy Fleetwood (+1950)When it comes to picks for this event, I’d start with my favorite and long shot picks. The favorite pick is the winner pick I like the most. For the long shot winner, that is a golfer who has over +2000 odds to win. It is a long shot pick for a reason, and finding those can be like finding a needle in a haystack.Here are my favorite and long shot picks for the 2026 St. Jude Championship:Favorite: Scottie Scheffler (+450) - HITIt was only a matter of time before Scottie Scheffler won another tournament. The past two years golf fans could bet Scheffler to win every tournament he is in the field, and they would win more than they lose. But this year hasn’t been that way, with Scheffler only winning one other tournament this season. Nonetheless, it was good to get the win, even if it’s only +450 odds.Long Shot: Viktor Hovland (+3600) - MISSHovland had a good tournament, but finished T19, so our streak of not hitting a long shot play continues. However, when you get the favorite pick right it doesn’t sting as bad.Top 5 Bets For The St. Jude Championship 2026Rory McIlroy (+200) - MISSMost would suggest McIlroy is still in his prime, but there is something odd about how he approaches the game these days. Outside of major championships, Rory doesn’t seem to care very much. After the tournament, where he finished 66th, he suggested how he hadn’t had many “reps” leading up to the tournament and he couldn’t find his swing. McIlroy clearly doesn’t care about the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Meanwhile, we were way off with this Top 5 pick.Scottie Scheffler (-106) - HITIt was minus odds (-106), but even though it was close to even odds it was worth making the play. Scheffler Top 5 would give you back what you put in. If you placed a $10 bet, you would have made just shy of that same amount. Scheffler winning cashes this Top 5 pick.Top 10 Picks For The St. Jude Championship 2026Colin Morikawa (+200) - MISSMorikawa’s season continues to have plenty of peaks and valleys, and him finished T52 in this tournament isn’t something I expected coming into the tournament at TPC Southwind. Morikawa will be in the Top 30, but not sure if he’ll be a play moving forward.Ludvig Aberg (+190) - HITAberg has a weird knack for falling apart on the weekends of tournaments, and it looked like the same was going to happen when Aberg posted a 74 on Saturday. However, he played well on Sunday to finish T7 and help us cash the Top 10 pick at +190 odds.Top 20 Value Picks For The St. Jude Championship 2026Rickie Fowler (+150) - MISSFowler was my “gut pick” of the week, and my gut didn’t pan out for me. Fowler had been playing good golf heading into the playoffs, and he had a hot start to the St. Jude Championship. However, the weekend wasn’t kind to him and he finished T34.Wyndham Clark (+132) - HITWhen I saw Wyndham Clark getting +132 odds to be a Top 20 finish, it felt like a no-brainer. Clark is still one of the top golfers this season, and he helped prove our theory right with a T5 finish. Best Prop Bets, Parlays And Bonus Plays For The 2026 St. Jude ChampionshipFor bonus plays, these are picks which I don’t necessarily hang my hat on, but still provide value for some who want more exotic plays outside of the aforementioned picks. Sometimes bonus plays are parlays, double chances, triple chances, and even some fun plays for that particular event.Here are the bonus plays for the 2026 St. Jude Championship:Big Guns (+110) vs. the Field: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, Sam Burns, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Aberg to win - HITMargin of Victory: 2 Shots (+355) - MISSTournament Review:Outright Plays: 4/8Bonus Plays: 1/2This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson scored 25 goals in 94 appearances for Bolton Wanderers [Getty Images]Former Iceland striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson has announced his retirement at the age of 34.Bodvarsson scored four goals in 64 international appearances for Iceland and started the Euro 2016 match in which his country upset England 2-1 to advance to the quarter-finals, a result that led to Roy Hodgson's resignation.The striker spent almost ten years in England, first at Wolves, and then Reading and Millwall, before a successful spell at Bolton between 2022 and 2024 where he scored 25 goals in 94 appearances.He also played for Wrexham and Burton Albion before heading home to Iceland to return to his first club Selfoss.Bodvarsson said in a statement on social media: "I want to thank all my managers, coaches, players and staff members that I've been grateful enough to have met and worked with. It was great sharing the highs and lows of football with you."All the latest Bolton Wanderers news

The Chicago Bears had some issues with pre-snap penalties throughout last season, which was especially evident at this point last year and carried over into the regular season.There have been notably less pre-snap issues this summer compared to last year in the first season in head coach Ben Johnson's complex offense. And those issues were not apparent in Chicago’s 34-10 preseason win against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday.Johnson sounded off on what still needs to be cleaned up on offense, but he noted that those pre-snap procedure issues aren't among the biggest concerns heading into the 2026 season."My concerns last year were a lot with the pre-snap. We don’t have those procedure issues to that degree anymore," Johnson said. "So, provided we can keep those to a minimum, I think that’s where we’ll continue to get better. I think our defense is going to continue to get better because they’re facing a clean unit as well. We’ll see what it looks like going against a couple of new opponents. I’m excited to go down to Cincinnati, and they’ve got a lot of new talent on defense that we’re going to have to be on our Ps and Qs if we want to have success against. That to me is going to help us really shape where we’re at as an offense right now."Against the Browns, Chicago only had two penalties for 10 yards. One of those penalties was a false start right after a timeout, which will be frustrating to Johnson. The Cincinnati Bengals will be a good test for the Bears in next week's preseason game with all the talent they have on defense to see if Chicago’s offense can minimize their pre-snap issues like they did against the Browns.Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and InstagramThis article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Ben Johnson addresses Bears' pre-snap procedures this summer

Eddie James has played 53 games for Scarlets [Scarlets]Wales centre Eddie James has signed a new contract with Scarlets.After making his international debut in 2024, James became a Wales regular in the 2025-26 season under head coach Steve Tandy and now has 11 caps to his name.The 24-year-old still had a year to run on his existing contract but has committed early to his home region. "Growing up in the region and supporting the Scarlets as a youngster, the club means a huge amount to me," said James."It's home - and so it was an easy decision to extend my contract and I am delighted to be staying on at Parc y Scarlets."The length of James' new contract has not been disclosed.James and the rest of the Scarlets' international contingent will return to training next week.Scarlets chief Daniels dismisses Ospreys mergerScarlets vow to remain at heart of west WalesWRU confirms Ospreys or Scarlets will be cutJames is the latest player to have signed a new contract before the 2026-27 campaign alongside Fletcher Anderson, Josh Macleod, Henry Thomas, Gareth Davies, Dan Davis, Sam Lousi, Harri O'Connor, Jac Davies, Will Evans, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones and Gabe Hawley.The club have also added 10 new signings, with fly-half Gareth Anscombe, props Chris Apoua and Corey Domachowski, second rows Harvey Cuckson, Alex Groves and Tom Allen, hookers John McKee and George Roberts, full-back Isaac Murray-Macgregor and All Black Cullen Grace arriving in Llanelli."Keeping Eddie at Parc y Scarlets is a significant signing for our club and we are delighted he will continue his rugby journey with us," said Scarlets director of rugby Nigel Davies."Having players like Eddie at the heart of what we're building is as important as new players coming into the squad. "We're proud of our ethos of developing our own players and we want to give our young Welsh players an environment in which they know they can achieve their ambitions in a Scarlets jersey."Welsh rugby's ins, outs and re-signings for 2026-27

My little corner house is a colonial-style home built in the 1930s, when galley kitchens were incredibly common and larger formal dining rooms were prioritized. The galley kitchen doesn’t necessarily feel cramped, but its layout is incredibly awkward. READ MORE...

A sign on the border of Wyoming and Montana appears on the side of Belfry Highway, May 24, 2017, in Powell, Wyoming. (AP Photo/Robert Yoon, File)2026-08-17T12:37:28Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Wyoming voters will choose nominees for an unusually high number of open-seat races in a state primary Tuesday, thanks to two prominent Republican officials whose retirement announcements set off a scramble for contests throughout the ballot.The upcoming departures of Gov. Mark Gordon and U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, along with U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman’s decision to run to replace Lummis, marks the first time in 32 years that Wyoming has had open seats for governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House at the same time. The races for Wyoming Secretary of State and state Superintendent of Public Instruction are also open seats, with both incumbents seeking higher office.All statewide elected offices in Wyoming currently are held by Republicans.Gordon considered seeking a third term and challenging a state term limit law but ultimately decided against it. Four candidates now seek the Republican nomination to replace him: state Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder, former state House Speaker and current state Sen. Eric Barlow, retired Marine Corps colonel and 2022 gubernatorial candidate Brent Bien, and professional bull rider and rodeo producer Curt Blake. The Degenfelder and Barlow campaigns are on roughly even financial footing, with Degenfelder raising about $1.3 million and Barlow raising about $1.2 million. Bien raised about $192,000, while Blake reported raising no money.President Donald Trump has endorsed Degenfelder. The winner will face Democrat Kenneth Casner in November. Among the five Republicans running to replace Lummis in the U.S. Senate are Hageman, former Kirby Mayor Sam Mead and former environmental services business owner Jimmy Skovgard. Read More Hageman is in her second term in Congress. She was Trump’s pick in 2022 to defeat then-U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, one of the president’s harshest Republican critics following the attack on the U.S. Capitol and his attempts to remain in office after his 2020 election defeat.Trump has once again endorsed Hageman in her U.S. Senate bid. She has raised about $2.4 million for her campaign, nearly 10 times that of Mead, her closest competitor in fundraising. The winner will likely face former Democratic state Rep. James Byrd, who is the only candidate in the two-person primary field to report raising any money for the campaign.Nine active candidates are competing for the Republican nomination to replace Hageman in the U.S. House in what’s shaping up to be the most expensive contest on Tuesday’s ballot. The field includes former state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow, Senate President Bo Biteman, businessmen Steve Friess and Reid Rasner, and Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray.Friess, Rasner and Gray have outspent the rest of the field, thanks to sizable loans each candidate has made to their campaigns. Friess, who is a son of the late Republican megadonor Foster Friess, loaned $3 million to his campaign. Rasner loaned about $1.9 million to his campaign, while Gray floated his campaign about $1.4 million.Neither Trump nor Hageman have made an endorsement in the primary. In the Democratic primary, former Democratic state Sen. Lisa Kinney, like Byrd in the U.S. Senate race, faces an opponent who has not raised any money.About half of Wyoming’s 31 state Senate seats and all 62 state House seats are up for election in 2026. Democrats hold only eight seats across both chambers, giving Republicans overwhelming supermajorities. Republican members of the conservative Freedom Caucus movement hold an outright majority in the state House.Laramie and Natrona counties, home to Cheyenne and Capser, respectively, are the state’s most populous and most influential in statewide elections. Campbell, Sweetwater, Fremont, Sheridan and Park counties also tend to play important roles in primaries. Albany and Teton counties are the most Democratic-friendly in the state and tend to have an outsized say in Democratic primaries. They were the only counties that Cheney carried against Hageman in the 2022 primary, before a 2023 law prohibited Democrats and Republicans from changing their party affiliation at the polls.The winners of Tuesday’s Republican primaries will have an advantage heading into the general election in a state that’s only elected one Democrat statewide in more than 30 years. Wyoming is one of the most reliably Republican states in the country. It was Trump’s best state in 2024 and 2020 and his second-best state in 2016.Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Team will monitor as the votes are tallied: When do polls close?Polls close at 7 p.m. MT, which is 9 p.m. ET.What’s on the ballot?The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in contested primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, secretary of state, treasurer, state school superintendent, state Senate and state House. Who gets to vote?Only voters registered with a political party may participate in that party’s primary. Democrats may not vote in the Republican primary or vice versa. Independent or unaffiliated voters may not participate in either primary. Voters registered with a party had been able to change their party affiliations at the polls on Election Day, but the 2023 law ended that practice.How many voters are there?As of August 1, there were about 272,000 registered voters in Wyoming, including about 212,000 Republicans, about 30,000 Democrats and about 25,000 voters not affiliated with any party.How many people actually vote?About 104,000 Republicans and about 10,000 Democrats participated in the 2024 state primaries for U.S. Senate. More Republicans voted in the 2022 primary for governor, with about 164,000 voters casting ballots, compared to about 7,000 in the Democratic primary. 2022 was the last statewide primary held before the law restricting party affiliation changes was enacted.How much of the vote is cast early or by absentee ballot? About 30% of the Republican primary vote and about 52% of the Democratic primary vote in the 2024 state primary was from absentee ballots cast either in-person or by mail.As of Friday, about 30,900 Republican primary ballots and about 4,300 Democratic primary ballots had already been cast in Tuesday’s election.When are early and absentee votes released?In recent elections, more than half of Wyoming counties released all their vote results in their first vote updates, regardless of vote type. Almost every county released at least some in-person Election Day vote results in their first vote updates.Laramie County tends to release a significant amount of in-person Election Day vote before releasing any results from absentee voting.How long does vote-counting usually take?In the 2024 state primary, the AP first reported results at 9:27 p.m. ET, or 27 minutes after polls closed. The last vote update of the night was at 12:58 a.m. ET with about 98% of total votes counted.When will the AP declare a winner?The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow a trailing candidate to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.How do recounts work?Recounts in Wyoming are automatic if the vote margin is less than 1% of the votes cast for the winning candidate. Candidates alleging fraud or error in the result may request and pay for a recount. The cost is covered by the affected counties if the recount changes the result. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is subject to a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.Are we there yet?As of Tuesday, there will be 77 days until the 2026 midterm elections.___Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/ ROBERT YOON Yoon is an elections and democracy reporter for The Associated Press, with a focus on analyzing vote and demographic data and explaining the intricacies of the electoral process. He is now covering his seventh presidential campaign cycle. facebook mailto

The Boston Celtics have built their teams in a number of ways over the decades, but few if any methods have born more fruit than through the NBA draft. The best players to suit up for the Celtics have, by and large, come to Boston either through being taken directly in the annual event, or via trades made that night.And it is not just the top stars who have been picked up by the Celtics via the draft. Countless members of the storied ball club's alumni have been taken by the team via that annual event, and some schools are better represented than others. We can see blue blood programs and some very small schools both delivering top talent to Boston's rosters over the years, so we decided to take a look at which players came from which schools overall.So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Celtics out of Tennessee.Marshall Hawkins - forwardDraft year and position: 3rd round, 1948 BAA DraftSeasons at Tennessee: 1Seasons played with Celtics: did not make the teamBobby Croft - centerDraft year and position: 8th round (4th pick, 123rd overall), 1970 NBA DraftSeasons at Tennessee: 3Seasons played with Celtics: did not make the teamSteve Hamer - centerDraft year and position: 2nd round (9th pick, 38th overall), 1996 NBA DraftSeasons at Tennessee: 1Seasons played with Celtics: 4Grant Williams - forwardDraft year and position: 1st round (22nd pick, 22nd overall), 2019 NBA DraftSeasons at Tennessee: 3Seasons played with Celtics: 4Julian Phillips - forwardDraft year and position: 2nd round (5th pick, 35th overall), 2023 NBA DraftSeasons at Tennessee:Seasons played with Celtics:All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKpiTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Every Tennessee player drafted by the Boston Celtics

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images via Reuters ConnectGreen Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur are about to test America’s media illiteracy epidemic.The Cardinals hired Mike LaFleur as a first-time NFL head coach in February, while Matt LaFleur is entering his eighth season in charge of the Packers.Now, the LaFleurs aren’t the first pair of NFL head-coaching brothers. Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh and New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh have been there and done that. But the Harbaugh brothers never had to deal with synonymous star players.The Cardinals selected former Notre Dame star running back Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft this April. The Packers boast Jordan Love at quarterback. We got a glimpse at how confusing the dual LaFleurs and Loves could be problematic throughout the upcoming 2026 NFL season.On Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love is “dealing with a high ankle sprain.”“‘LaFleur says Love will miss a week with a sore ankle,'” this Twitter user posted. “This is going to be a long and confusing season.”ESPN and NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport quote-tweeted that post, sarcastically writing, “How about: ‘M. LaFleur says J. Love will miss a week with a sore ankle?’ Better?”How about: “M. LaFleur says J. Love will miss a week with a sore ankle?”Better? https://t.co/qvWL0lcmO2— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 16, 2026Fortunately, taking five extra seconds to write out the first name of the LaFleur or Love in question should be an easy solve. But this could become an annoying nuisance for stressed-out beat reporters and insiders on deadlines. At least the LaFleurs make up for it by providing an endless well of heartwarming brotherly content.Packers head coach Matt LaFleur surprises Mike LaFleur on NBC ahead of Mike’s debut as an NFL head coach with the Arizona Cardinals.“I did not expect that right there. I appreciate that, guys. That’s pretty cool. I appreciate that… Now you’ve got me a little bit emotional.” pic.twitter.com/e0MnalpnhW— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 7, 2026There will be plenty more where that came from when the Cardinals visit the Packers at Lambeau Field on Friday, Aug. 28 for the preseason finale.Arizona will visit Harbaugh’s Chargers, while Green Bay will visit the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL regular season on Sunday, Sept. 13.The post Ian Rapoport surfaces why Cardinals, Packers just became reporters’ nightmare for 2026 NFL season appeared first on Awful Announcing.

College football officially begins this month.Now that it's August, there are just weeks to go until Week Zero arrives on Aug. 29, and since the season is quickly approaching, we're rolling out our preseason top 25.After revealing our teams in the back half of our top 25, we continue our previews of the top 12 teams in the country with the clear favorite in the Big 12.Previously: Teams Nos. 13-25, No. 12 Oklahoma, No. 11 Alabama, No. 10 Texas A&M, No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 8 Texas Tech, No. 7 Miami,No. 6 GeorgiaNo. 5 Texas2025 record: 10-3Odds to win national championship: +650Odds to make College Football Playoff: -1752025 in 100 words or lessThe Arch Manning era officially began with a loss. Texas scored just seven points in a 14-7 Week 1 defeat at Ohio State. It was a game that came to define the season. Texas wasn't simply good enough to make the playoff.A 29-21 loss at Florida dropped Texas from the top 10 to unranked as Manning was sacked six times. The Longhorns rebounded with four straight wins to keep their hopes of the postseason alive. But it was clear that Texas needed to beat Georgia to have any realistic chance of making the playoff. And boy, did that not happen.The Bulldogs shellacked the Longhorns 35-10. A run game that had been inconsistent all year was nonexistent and Georgia QB Gunner Stockton had just five incompletions. The regular season ended on a high note with a convincing win over Texas A&M, before Manning had four total touchdowns in a Citrus Bowl win over Michigan.Arch Manning entered the 2025 season as the preseason Heisman favorite even though he had never been a full-time starter. (Photo by Parker S. Freedman/Getty Images)Parker S. Freedman via Getty ImagesThe QBArch ManningTake away the preseason expectations of simply being Arch Manning and the redshirt junior's first full season as a starter would get a passing grade on a blind test. Manning was 248-of-404 passing for 3,173 yards and 26 TDs and seven interceptions. That loss to Florida was Manning's only multi-interception game of the season.Manning ended the season strongly after that loss to Georgia. He threw four touchdowns and rushed for another in a win over Arkansas before scoring two touchdowns in the win over A&M.He also showed just how valuable he was as a runner. Manning rushed 92 times for 399 yards and led Texas with 10 touchdowns. Given the way Manning ran the ball in 2025, it's hard to call that part of his game underrated any longer.But Manning's running was also part of Texas' problem. The Longhorns had to rely on him on the ground too often. Tre Wisner led Texas with 131 carries for 597 yards. No other player had more than 55 carries or 236 rushing yards. Given Texas' offseason moves to add running backs Raleek Brown (Arizona State) and Hollywood Smothers (NC State) in the transfer portal, it's obvious that Texas doesn't want Manning to be it's No. 2 rusher again in 2026. The offense will be better for it if he isn't, either.Cam Coleman's transfer to Texas was one of the biggest transfer portal moves of the offseason. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesNon-QB to watchWR Cam ColemanTexas sure acted like a team loading up on playmakers to surround a star quarterback this offseason. While Brown and Smothers should anchor an improved run game, the star offseason addition was the uber-talented Coleman from Auburn.Over two seasons with the Tigers, the former five-star recruit had 93 catches for 1,306 yards and 13 TDs. And he was catching those passes from quarterbacks who are not considered to be in the same stratosphere as Manning, either.Coleman's addition should free up space for Ryan Wingo — and Wingo should prevent defenses from paying too much attention to Coleman. After Wingo had 54 catches for 834 yards and seven scores in 2025, the two players should be one of the top receiving duos in the country."The thing about Cam, everybody sees the highlight plays, the playmaking ability, the physical ability that he has," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said at SEC media days. "What I love is the person. The guy is a great human being. He's a guy that is a great teammate. He's one of our hardest workers. I think he's been a great addition to [the wide receiver room], to that offense. I know he's got a good rapport with Arch."Eric Edholm's NFL Draft prospect to watchQB Arch ManningDid you expect someone else? Reasonably, the Longhorns have multiple candidates who could be the top UT prospect in the 2027 class — especially if Manning stays in school another year — including Coleman and Wingo, OT Trevor Goosby and EDGE Colin Simmons. But Manning is the pick here because NFL teams have been fascinated with him since before he ever set foot in Austin. He's far from a perfect prospect, even while carrying a name befitting of football royalty, and scouts have questioned his occasionally loose mechanics and average arm strength. But Manning is a quality athlete with a pro-caliber frame and underrated toughness who made notable improvements down the stretch in 2025 and could be in line for his best season yet in 2026.College fantasy football player to watchRB Raleek BrownIf you're all-in on the Texas passing game, you'll be looking at drafting Manning, Coleman and Wingo early in your drafts. Don't sleep on Brown or Smothers given Texas' concerted efforts to bolster the run game.Brown had the best season of his college career in 2025. The converted wide receiver rushed 186 times for 1,141 yards and four touchdowns at Arizona State and is also, unsurprisingly, an asset in the passing game. He had 34 catches for 239 yards and two scores.Smothers, who chose Texas over Alabama, had 160 carries for 939 yards and six scores in 2025 along with 37 catches for 189 yards. Both players can be assets in a full PPR league. And don't overlook that the Texas offensive line returns three starters from last year's team and added Wake Forest tackle Melvin Siani.Biggest gameSept. 12 vs. Ohio StateThere are so many options for this category. Texas' schedule includes the Buckeyes, a trip to Tennessee, the annual rivalry game vs. Oklahoma, Ole Miss and three road games in November including trips to LSU and Texas A&M.But much like a season ago, the Ohio State game will be a barometer for the Longhorns. Sure, it helps that it's the game of September — and the biggest non-conference game of the year — but Texas will be in a far more advantageous playoff position with a victory.Why Texas is No. 5Any team in our top six or seven is capable of winning the national title. It's easy to envision everything coming together for the Longhorns this year as they are toughened up by one of the nation's best schedules and make a playoff run. That schedule could also produce three or four close losses to top-10 teams and put Texas out of the playoff again.We're banking on a season closer to the former possibility. And for as much as we've talked about the Texas offense in this preview, it's the defense that will be the reason why the Longhorns are better in 2026.Texas' passing defense took a major step back last season. After holding opponents to 174 yards a game in 2024, quarterbacks threw for 235 yards a game in 2025 and completed nearly 63% of their passes. Sarkisian bemoaned the defense's ability to give up big plays all season and with Will Muschamp back at defensive coordinator (but not the head coach in waiting this time), Texas should be a lot better against the pass.It helps that star safety Jelani McDonald returns after leading the team in tackles and former Rutgers CB Bo Mascoe should be an immediate starter. Also, don't discount the impact that CB John Meredith III could make later in the season after he enrolled this summer and reclassified from the class of 2027.But even if the defense is one of the best units in the country, all of the focus is still going to be on Manning and the offense. Manning knows that. Texas knows that. And it's why the Longhorns used the transfer portal to add top-tier talent around him.

(Inside Lacrosse Photo: Sean Sadayasu)The throne is vacant; it’s time to crown a new king.The 2026 regular season has officially reached its conclusion, and we now know (well, we had a pretty good idea already) the six teams that will battle to raise the trophy just over one month from now at Sports Illustrated Stadium. As for this past weekend, the Waterdogs got their bye, the Outlaws may have gotten their goalie back, and the Redwoods’ offense bounced back with a message to their Western Conference opponent. Here’s the Week 13 Wrap-Up:No. 31Speaking of new kings, let’s start with CJ Kirst, who set the single-season goal record with this effort against the New York Atlas on Saturday afternoon. the goal that broke the single-season goals record: pic.twitter.com/FLnP9LN9cQ — Philadelphia Waterdogs (@PLLWaterdogs) August 15, 2026“Definitely was a special moment,” he said. “Honestly, didn’t really think too much of it heading into the game — tried not to, at least. Having tied it last weekend, having a bye week, and some people texting me about it, but honestly it really hit me once everyone came on the field and I was able to celebrate with every guy. I think that was pretty special and definitely something that I’m going to carry with me…not really putting the ball in the back of the net but being able to celebrate with every guy on the field.” Kirst finished his regular season with 34 goals in 10 games, the MVP contender reaching the absurd total thanks to 40.5% shooting. Atlas’ Last StandRetaining the title was out of the picture prior to taking this field this weekend, but as of Saturday afternoon, the New York Atlas have officially played their final game with the 2025 championship belt around their waists. The effort was on display throughout the entirety of the team’s 11-9 loss to the Philadelphia Waterdogs, but the 3-9 Atlas were ultimately like a Formula One car crossing the finish line with four flat tires, and former league MVPs Connor Shellenberger and Trevor Baptiste were both forced to make early exits from the season-finale due to injury. What does the immediate future look like for the New York Atlas? “End of the year, you take the emotion out of it, " said coach Mike Presler. “Let a week go by, start thinking about it a little bit more and evaluate everything you’re doing — pro and con, the players, and the coaches, everything….I’ll get to the guys individually over by the end of September, let it cool off, we’ll have another call at the end.”“Like I said last year after we won it — the team we had in ‘25? It’ll never be assembled again. It’ll never be assembled again. And it wasn’t. The team in ‘26 will never be assembled again. It’ll be a different team, regardless of if you win or lose. It’s just the way pro sports are.”There’s Simply No Stopping Jimmy FreehillCitizens of New York and Atlas fans all over the world, I regret to inform you that Jimmy Freehill’s reign of terror has no end in sight. That’s right, just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse for your beloved Bulls, here comes notorious Atlas antagonist Jimmy Freehill, ready to show you just how much worse things could get. After pulling up at X for some reason and dishing an assist in the Waterdogs’ Week 10 victory over the Atlas, Freehill renewed his New York lease during Saturday’s 11-9 win in Philadelphia. After a diving Hugh Kelleher goal cut the Waterdogs’ lead to a lone goal, Freehill responded with his fifth career 2-pointer (his third against the Atlas), and the lead only grew from there. May or may not be related, but this happened as well: Jimmy Freehill took on the entire @PLLAtlas bench by himself… 😳💥 pic.twitter.com/rHg2Yt7myE — TLN 🥍 (@LacrosseNetwork) August 15, 2026McNaney Returns, to a DegreeLogan McNaney was out of the Denver lineup during the team’s 14-9 win over the Atlas in week 12, but he returned to action for Sunday’s 18-11 loss to the Redwoods. Well, not completely — he played the first half, recording six saves before ultimately handing the job over to Owen McElroy as he did in Weeks 10 and 11. Following the game, coach Tim Soudan helped shine some light on Denver’s goalie strategy heading into the postseason:“I think Logan felt really good this week, and we didn’t want to press it too much,” he said, also noting that they’d made their usage plan prior to the game. “I thought Logan played great in the first half, I thought he saw the ball really well. I don’t know if it was a psychological thing, but we didn’t play great defense in the second half. As far as Owen goes, after standing on his head last week and getting the victory for us, it was maybe a little tough to swallow, but we know McNaney’s our guy, and so does he.”DeLuca Returns TooAfter recording 19 saves in a little over 46 minutes of action against the New York Atlas, Sean Byrne approached head coach Bill Tierney and suggested that Matt DeLuca, no longer on the injured reserve with a strained adductor, step back into the goal and finish the game. The final minutes of the game marked DeLuca’s first action since July 18, and he saved the two shots he faced in relief. “I was a little worried this week about telling the guy who started a lot of games for us early in the year that he wouldn’t be starting,” said Tierney. “[DeLuca] said, ‘Coach, you’re starting Sean.’ There was no doubt in his mind…He supported Sean, he called him all week, just got him ready, and the rest is history.” But Back to ByrneSean Byrne has stepped in the goal for the Philadelphia Waterdogs on seven occasions this season, and only once did he fail to record more saves than he did the time before. That lone exception? A 13-6 win over the Carolina Chaos in which he recorded 11 saves while allowing just four scores. Byrne closed out his regular season with 19 saves against the Atlas, then 20 against the Whipsnakes. When reflecting on the secrets of Philadelphia’s success, Bryne remarked, “The quality time together, it’s honestly just making us play better lacrosse on the field, so I think we’re all just enjoying the moments. You know, when you get to be out on the field, running around with 19 of your best friends, it’s really cool and really special.” Lefty SowersMichael Sowers celebrated his homecoming weekend with a pair of five-point afternoons (4G, 1A in each), and in each outing, his third goal was something that’s been a bit of a signature finish for the Philly product: A bit of a north-bound sweep from below GLE, capped off with a lefty finish. The only player to tally double-digit lefty and righty goals this season (both TJ Malone and CJ Kirst finished with nine righty goals), Sowers scored 12 left-handed goals on 52.2% shooting, both marks setting new career-highs. Last season, Sowers recorded nine left-handed goals on 34.6% shooting, and he averaged 33% for his career prior to this summer, but the improvement wasn’t the result of any sort of off-season adjustment on his part.“Big picture, at the end of the day, you go up the left side - we’ve got another pretty good player playing on that side that they don’t like to slide off of,” he said with a grin. “So, I think that opens up a lot of things, and a lot of times you go off that side and people are looking away, and you get hands free to turn the corner.” Here’s one such example, featuring Zach Currier joining in with a pick. cease and desist be damned, michael sowers now has 5 points 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/B0uE1MH609 — Philadelphia Waterdogs (@PLLWaterdogs) August 16, 2026If “Zach Currier setting consequential picks for MVP front-runners” is one of your favorite genres of film, you’re in luck — here’s another one: mvp him too!!!!!most goals in a season AND COUNTING 😏 https://t.co/QQCueh7TmIpic.twitter.com/mHzNqohV21 — Philadelphia Waterdogs (@PLLWaterdogs) August 16, 2026Ryder’s ReboundRyder Garnsey contributed three points in the Redwoods’ Week 12 loss to the Boston Cannons, but his five turnovers were the number on the stat sheet drawing most of his attention following the game. “You’re not going to win many games when a guy who touches the ball as much as I do turns the ball over every third time,” he said. Garnsey bounced back in Sunday’s 18-11 win over the Denver Outlaws, tying a season-high with five points (4G, 1A) while shooting 100%. Furthermore, he recorded just one turnover, and above all, was back/remained on some bull mess: RYDER MF GARNSEY. pic.twitter.com/rYQ5MAr56e — California Redwoods (@PLLRedwoods) August 16, 2026Following the win, Garnsey discussed the self-reflection that made the difference in his production. “I think it was important to know what I’m good at and know what I’m not good at,” he said. “We talked about dodging off the catch rather than the cradle. I don’t think I’m great at dodging off of the cradle. I thought I was doing too much of that last week, so, just honestly trying to set myself up off-ball to be effective when I caught it and not over carry. I think when I’m doing that, that’s when I’m not very good, and I didn’t think I was very good last week, so I’m just trying to work hard off-ball to make sure than when I’m catching the ball, I can catch it and attack rather than catch it and cradle, and at that point, try to go by somebody. I’m not very good at doing that.” California’s Long & Short GameWith a 18-11 win over the Denver Outlaws, the California Redwoods not only closed out the regular season in emphatic fashion, but also gave future opponents (starting with quarterfinal opponent the Denver Outlaws) a bit more to worry about when composing their scouting reports. After shooting a combined 1-of-58 on 2-pointers in their first 11 games of the season, the Redwoods shot 2-of-5 in Sunday’s win, with both Jared Conners and Andrew McAdorey scoring from long range. McAdorey’s two-pointer was the second of his career, the first scored last summer against the Outlaws as well. As for the short game, Finn Thomson tallied his first career hat trick and a career-high four points in the win. The rookie from Syracuse was unable to suit up until the end of July, but he’s become increasingly involved in California’s offense as of late: After two points and just 13 combined touches in his first two games, Thomson recorded seven points on 42 touches in the latter two.Note: If you want to “Yeah but” the Redwoods’ win because the Outlaws were missing all three of their traditional starting defensemen, do remember that while the replacements may have a bit more room in their personal trophy cases, they’re still good enough to play lacrosse in exchange for financial compensation, and the list of people capable of doing that is tremendously short. “I don’t think it’s fair to slight on their players that played today,” said Redwoods coach Anthony Kelly, “They’re great players and guys who earned the opportunity to be here and be pros.”

When Colorado opens the college football regular season, it may do so without head coach Deion Sanders. The 59-year-old Sanders was reportedly subpoenaed to testify in court as part of his son Shilo’s bankruptcy trial, according to USA Today. That trial is expected to begin Aug. 31 and last roughly five days, potentially taking it through Sept. 4. Colorado opens its season against Georgia Tech on Sept. 3. The judge presiding over the case, Judge Michael E. Romero, noted the potential conflict for Sanders during a pretrial conference attended by USA Today. Romero added that, due to the game, Sanders would likely fight the subpoena. “I’m also concerned there’s a game: CU’s first game is that same week,” Judge Romero said on the Zoom conference, which also was attended by USA TODAY Sports. “So I can see that coming. I am not a CU alum or I have no ties to CU. So I don’t care. But I’m just recognizing that is a potential issue.”It’s unclear whether Sanders has been served the subpoena yet. Romero merely noted that the subpoena had been issued. While Deion did not witness the alleged assault at the time, he was reportedly on the phone with Shilo before the incident. Romero said Deion’s conversation with Shilo could be relevant to the case, which is likely why Deion the subpoena was issued. Shilo Sanders, who played for Deion at Colorado, is set to appear in court over a 2015 incident. Shilo, who was in high school at the time, was accused of assaulting a school security guard — John Darjean — after Darjean attempted to confiscate Shilo’s phone. The incident reportedly left Darjean “neurological injuries and damage to his cervical spine” per USA Today.As a result, Darjean sued Shilo. When Shilo did not show up to the trial, the court entered a default judgement against him for roughly $12 million. Shilo attempted to get out of that payment by filing for bankruptcy in 2023. Darjean, however, sued Shilo to prevent him from discharging the debt, arguing it “stems from a willful and malicious injury,” per USA Today. Shilo has faced additional legal challenges related to the alleged assault. In 2025, a trustee assigned to manage Shilo’s assets — David Wadsworth — sued Sanders over violating bankruptcy law by making unauthorized transfers. Given the timing of the trial, and its proximity to Colorado’s first game, it’s unclear whether Deion will testify. If that does happen, however, it’s not going to occur on Colorado’s game day. Deion will almost certainly choose a different day to appear in court if he’s forced to be there.

LGBTQ+ people were the only demographic in a recent poll that supported allowing trans people to compete on sports teams as their gender. In results just posted online from the Pew Research Center, 73% of American adults said that they were either “not too” or “not at all” comfortable with “transgender athletes competing on sports teams that don’t match their sex at birth, with only 13% saying they were “extremely” or “very” comfortable. The remaining said they were “somewhat” comfortable, which Pew treated as an in-between position. Related Playing sports is good for trans kids’ mental health This held across several demographics reported by Pew, including those based on gender, race/ethnicity, and age, with 18- to 29-year-olds showing the most support, with 22% saying they were “extremely” or “very” comfortable. The poll, though, found that 45% of LGBTQ+ people were “extremely” or “very” comfortable with trans athletes participating in sports, and only a minority – 34% – said they were “not too” or “not at all” comfortable. 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 | Pew Research Center The only other breakouts that had opposition to trans athletes in the minority were ideological, not identity-based. 37% of people who answered that “gender can differ from birth sex” were “not too” or “not at all” comfortable, but only 33% were “extremely” or “very” comfortable. This means that a substantial number of people in the US who say they agree that trans women are women are not OK with them playing sports. | Pew Research Center Also, people who called themselves Democrats or Democratic leaners and who identify as “liberal” – as opposed to “conservative” or “moderate” – were the most likely ideology to support trans athletes, with 37% saying they were “extremely” or “very” comfortable. A full 95% of conservative Republicans were opposed in the survey. | Pew Research Center The survey was part of Pew’s American Trends Panel poll, which was conducted in November 2025. Over 10,000 people responded to the survey, which was conducted online and by phone. One limitation of the data is that it did not divide the question of trans athletics into the two distinct policy issues that different parts of society are dealing with: school sports and professional sports. It’s unclear if respondents thought they were being asked about young people in school for whom sports is a part of their education, or professional athletes who may have undergone hormone therapy but for whom the stakes are higher. The results are similar to other surveys conducted in the past several years that show that trans people’s participation in sports has fairly low support among Americans, and support has dropped since Republicans made it one of their top issues in the early 2020s. A 2021 Gallup Poll found that only 34% of American adults believed that trans people should be allowed to play sports on a team that matched their gender, while 62% said that trans people should be forced to play sports on teams that match their sex assigned at birth. But a 2025 Gallup Poll found less support for trans student athletes, with 69% opposing letting them play as their gender and 24% supporting. A 2025 NBC News poll found that only 25% of Americans supported trans women being allowed to participate in women’s sports, while 75% opposed. That survey did not specifically ask about students. And an Economist/YouGov poll in January asked US adults if they support or oppose “allowing transgender student athletes to play on sports teams that match their gender identity, rather than the sex they were assigned at birth?” Overall, only 22% of respondents said they support it, while 67% said they oppose letting trans kids play with others of their gender. Among people who voted for Harris, only 39% said they support trans student athletes, while 43% said they oppose them. The difference was more stark among people who voted for the current president; only 6% supported trans student athletes and 89% opposed. While opponents often cite the alleged competitive advantage trans women have over cis women in sports, science has not produced good results that back such claims among trans women who have undergone several years of hormone therapy. Some studies have even found that transitioning could give trans women a disadvantage in sports compared to cis women. And trans girls who take puberty blockers and hormone therapy before they undergo male puberty haven’t been shown to be any different from cis girls in terms of sports ability, something that many people who are not informed on the issue refuse to accept, even in the face of evidence. There is currently a Supreme Court case specifically about trans student athletes in this situation, and some Supreme Court justices refused to believe experts’ testimony saying that, absent male puberty, trans girls won’t have any sort of advantage. Trans athletes, though, benefit from being able to participate in sports. Amateur rugby player Archer, a trans man, recently described how sports helped him to Outsports. “In the best way, it really doesn’t matter that I’m trans. The pitch becomes a sanctuary where I can leave any worries and expectations off the pitch, and just play,” he said. “Rugby has helped me increase my resilience. The opportunity to make small inconsequential mistakes at training and just accept them and keep moving on has helped my mental health so much.” “My message to young trans people thinking about playing rugby is simple: no matter who you are, there is a place for you within our family.” “While some people are trying to take sport away from us, there is an entire community holding down this space, just waiting to welcome you in. Unfortunately, sport sometimes looks different to how it should, but rest assured there are lots of passionate people working hard to change that.” “Finding rugby and falling in love with the sport has meant everything to me. If you’ve ever felt pushed out or had to give up on a sport you love, give rugby a chance — and keep yourself in the game.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

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President Donald Trump speaks while meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)2026-08-17T13:00:19Z Wealth, perhaps second only to loyalty, has been a prized attribute for Donald Trump during his second presidency.The number of people worth at least $100 million whom the Republican president has appointed to his administration is more than four times the combined total under the three previous presidents, according to a report from the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen.It’s the numbers for the Trump administration, in the context of previous administrations, that stand out in Public Citizen’s report, published on Monday. In all, 57 Trump officials are worth at least $100 million, including 17 ambassadors and the remaining 40 in senior posts across the executive branch. Look no further than Trump’s Cabinet. Eight of its 23 members fit the category, notably Treasury Secretary Howard Lutnick and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, both billionaires. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick speaks during an event with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick speaks during an event with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent applaud as President Donald Trump speaks at Wheeler High School, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Marietta, Ga. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent applaud as President Donald Trump speaks at Wheeler High School, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Marietta, Ga. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The president, himself a billionaire, has described his inclination toward appointing the ultrawealthy as deference to financial success. And yet, Trump, who owes his White House comeback to support from middle-income, working Americans drawn to his pledge to lower everyday costs, now faces a midterm election electorate decidedly less keen on his handling of the economy. Presidents have long sought counsel from the nation’s wealthiest people and tapped some for high-profile administrative leadership roles. Likewise, presidents routinely reward wealthy and influential supporters with ambassadorships. Among the most notable examples is Andrew Mellon, the aluminum, oil and banking tycoon who was among the handful of the nation’s wealthiest people in the 1920s and served as treasury secretary for three presidents. Read More The Trump officials worth at least $100 million include Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg and Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, who are also billionaires, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and special envoy Steve Witkoff, both worth hundreds of millions of dollars. By comparison, Republican George W. Bush’s administration and Democrat Joe Biden’s each included five members worth $100 million or more. Democrat Barack Obama’s included three, the report states. A government populated by so many of the economic elite presents potential problems, the report’s authors said. “When the people holding the reins of government are drawn overwhelmingly from the ranks of the ultra-rich, it leads to misplaced incentives and corruption, and begs the question, ‘Whose interests they are truly serving?” said Lisa Gilbert, Public Citizen’s co-president. The list does not include Trump, whose net worth Forbes estimates at more than $6 billion. Nor does it include space and social media giant Elon Musk, who advised Trump last year on an effort to reduce the federal government’s size, scope and workforce and is the world’s wealthiest person, with a net worth Forbes estimates at about $860 billion. Trump’s views are well established: Financial success is evidence of executive mastery and negotiating strength. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More “They have great competence, those people. Incredible competence. Some of the smartest business leaders,” Trump said last year in explaining why he put considerable weight on advice from business executives. He has also pointed to investments by wealthy people as a signal of future economic growth. To encourage billionaires to deliver, Trump, in his first year back in the White House, pursued policies on artificial intelligence and financial regulation that could benefit wealthy people, along with tax cuts and reduced regulatory burdens for large-scale investments.Still, last month, only 32% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s handling of the economy, down from 40% at the beginning of his second term and as his Republican Party faces headwinds in its attempt to hold both majorities in Congress in November. THOMAS BEAUMONT Beaumont covers national politics for The Associated Press. He is based in Des Moines, Iowa. twitter mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Employees prepare voting equipment at the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Training and Support Center warehouse to be transported to voting precincts in advance of the August 18 Florida primary election, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Doral, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)2026-08-17T13:01:41Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Florida voters will select nominees Tuesday to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and to complete the remainder of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s unexpired U.S. Senate term. The state also will hold its first congressional primaries since adopting a redrawn district map designed to boost Republican candidates in November.The primary for governor could set the direction for both parties in the state. A longstanding rivalry between DeSantis and President Donald Trump broadly shapes the Republican contest, while moderate and progressive candidates compete to guide beleaguered state Democrats out of their electoral doldrums.Eleven candidates are competing for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, including Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, former investment firm CEO James Fishback and former state House Speaker Paul Renner. Donalds has Trump’s endorsement and enjoys an overwhelming financial advantage over the rest of the field. He backed Trump over DeSantis in the 2024 presidential primaries and was considered as a possible Trump running mate that year.Collins is a close DeSantis ally who says he is running to “protect the DeSantis legacy.” He was tapped by DeSantis to serve as lieutenant governor in August 2025. In his announcement, DeSantis said Collins, an Army Special Forces veteran who lost a leg to combat injuries, was “the Chuck Norris of Florida politics.” Nonetheless, DeSantis has not endorsed a candidate in the primary. Six Democrats are running to succeed DeSantis, including former Republican U.S. Rep. David Jolly, state Rep. Dotie Joseph and former high school math teacher Dayna Marie Foster, who is backed by the state’s Democratic Progressive Caucus. Read More Jolly took an unlikely path to running for governor as a Democrat, joining the party in 2025 after leaving the GOP in 2018. He has a commanding fundraising lead over the rest of the field in spite of his past political affiliation. He has tapped former Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham as his running mate, and her name will appear alongside his on the ballot. Graham is the daughter of the late Bob Graham, the longtime Democratic U.S. Senator and governor.Florida Democrats have faced a drought in statewide elections, particularly for governor. A Democrat last won the governorship more than 30 years ago. DeSantis was reelected in 2022 with a 19-point margin over former Gov. Charlie Crist, another former Republican-turned independent-turned Democrat. In the U.S. Senate race, Republican U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody faces minimal opposition for the party’s nomination. Moody was state attorney general in January 2025 when DeSantis appointed her to fill Rubio’s vacant U.S. Senate seat. She is now running to complete the final two years of Rubio’s term.Her Democratic opponent in November will be either state Rep. Angie Nixon or retired Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman. Vindman, a former National Security Council staff member, was a key witness in Trump’s first impeachment in 2019. His brother, Eugene, was elected to Congress from Virginia’s 7th District in 2024.Nixon, along with Joseph in the race for governor, was among a group of Black state lawmakers who led unsuccessful Democratic efforts to block Republican redistricting plans in 2022 and 2026. The new congressional boundaries Republicans enacted in May essentially eliminate four congressional districts currently or most recently represented by Democrats. Democratic U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor in the 14th District around Tampa and Darren Soto in the 9th District near Orlando are both running for reelection in their new Republican-friendly districts and will face the winners of crowded GOP primaries.In South Florida along the Gold Coast, Republicans redrew the area with the hope of reducing the number of Democratic districts from five to three. Like Castor and Soto, U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz is running for reelection in a new Republican-friendly district, but he must first clear a primary challenge from union organizer and democratic socialist Oliver Larkin.In another South Florida district, former U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is mounting a comeback bid after resigning from the 20th District in April. She’ll face U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the Democratic primary in the new 20th, which is no longer a majority-Black district. Republican U.S. Reps. Randy Fine and Cory Mills face competitive primary challenges in the 6th and 7th Districts, respectively, while a crowded Republican primary to replace Donalds in the 19th District has attracted a lot of out-of-state interest. Former U.S. Reps. Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina and Chris Collins of New York, as well as a former Illinois state senator, all seek the Republican nomination.Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Team will monitor as the votes are tallied: When do polls close?Polls close at 7 p.m. local time, which is 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET. Most of the state is in Eastern time, and polls there close at 7 p.m. ET. A few counties are in Central time, and polls there close at 8 p.m. ET.What’s on the ballot?The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in contested primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, chief financial officer, agriculture commissioner, state Senate and state House.Who gets to vote?Only voters registered with a political party may participate in that party’s primary. Democrats may not vote in the Republican primary or vice versa. Independent or unaffiliated voters may not participate in either primary.How many voters are there?As of July 20, there were about 13.5 million registered voters in Florida. Of those, about 5.6 million, or about 42% were Republicans; about 4.1 million, or 30%, were Democrats and about 3.3 million, or about 25%, were not registered with any party. The rest were registered with other parties.How many people actually vote?About 1.5 million Republican primary voters and about 1.1 million Democratic primary voters participated in the 2024 U.S. Senate primaries.How much of the vote is cast early or by absentee ballot? About 63% of the Republican primary vote and about 77% of the Democratic primary vote in the 2024 U.S. Senate primaries was cast early in-person or by mail.As of Friday, about 663,000 Republican ballots and about 610,000 Democratic ballots had already been cast in Tuesday’s election.When are early and absentee votes released?Florida counties release all or almost all of their results from early in-person and mail voting in their first vote updates of the night, usually before releasing any results from in-person Election Day voting. Less than a third of counties release any in-person Election Day results in their first vote update.How long does vote-counting usually take?In the 2024 state primary, the AP first reported results at 8 p.m. ET, just as the final polls closed in the state. The last vote update of the night was at 11:47 p.m. ET with about 99.9% of total votes counted.When will the AP declare a winner?The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow a trailing candidate to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.How do recounts work?Florida requires a machine recount in races where the vote margin is 0.5% or less of the total votes cast. A manual recount of overvotes and undervotes is then required if the machine recount results in a vote margin of 0.25% or less of the total votes cast. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is subject to a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.Are we there yet?As of Tuesday, there will be 77 days until the 2026 midterm elections.___Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/ ROBERT YOON Yoon is an elections and democracy reporter for The Associated Press, with a focus on analyzing vote and demographic data and explaining the intricacies of the electoral process. He is now covering his seventh presidential campaign cycle. facebook mailto

Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham speaks to the media after chairing a COBR meeting at Downing Street on the UK's ongoing response to extreme heat, wildfires and drought in London, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool)2026-08-17T12:55:21Z LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged messages with an impostor posing as U.S. President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, according to reports published Monday.A spokesperson for Burnham declined to comment, saying it was policy not to discuss “national security matters.”Politico cited four unnamed officials in first reporting that Burnham thought he was messaging with Susie Wiles before he became suspicious and cut off communications.Last year, the U.S. government investigated a series of messages that elected officials, business executives and other prominent figures in the U.S. received messages from someone posing as Wiles. Soon after those incidents, the State Department warned U.S. diplomats of attempts to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio and possibly other officials using artificial intelligence. The warning followed the discovery that an impostor posing as Rubio had attempted to reach out to at least three foreign ministers, a U.S. senator and a governor.The FBI had warned of “malicious actors” misusing AI to impersonate senior U.S. government officials.Burnham, who became prime minister less than a month ago, has tried to forge good ties with the White House. Trump initially warmed to Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, before souring on him.

Amazon is buying massive quantities of books, scanning them for AI training data, and destroying them in the process. A 404 Media investigation was able to reveal Amazon’s book buying operation, which hasn’t been previously reported, by placing a tracking device in a rare book we suspected would be acquired by an AI company for training data, and following it around the country to its final destination. That final destination was an Amazon warehouse in Las Vegas, Nevada. Amazon employees who work at this location say all they do is receive massive shipments of printed books which they then cut the bindings off in order to scan the books more quickly. The printed book is destroyed in the process. The logo of the Amazon team that works at this warehouse, called VGT3, is a dinosaur, brandishing its teeth and with a book in its hands.“Amazon purchases books through commercial channels to help develop and improve the products and services our customers use,” an Amazon spokesperson told me in a statement. The world’s AI companies are constantly looking for, and spending extreme resources to locate, more material to train their AI models. With books, that sometimes means destroying them in the process, something that large parts of the public have spoken up against, and which we can now confirm Amazon is doing.In July, I published a story about booksellers who reported a historical spike in sales starting in the past year. They suspected this spike in sales was due to AI companies acquiring any books they can in search of new training data. Printed books are valuable as training data because a lot of the text they contain is not readily available on the internet, which AI companies have already scraped. The data is also conveniently organized and, if the book was printed before 2022, is guaranteed to be free of AI-generated text, which can make any AI model that is trained on it worse via a recursive process called “model collapse.” 📖Do you know work at a facility where you scan books? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at @emanuel.404. Otherwise, send me an email at emanuel@404media.co.These booksellers suspected AI companies were behind these large bulk purchases because of the high number of books they were buying, the seemingly random choice of books, and the fact that these buyers, unlike libraries and universities, did not seem price sensitive at all. But booksellers couldn’t say for certain who was behind the large purchases because the marketplaces where they sell their books keep the buyers anonymous. When an order comes in, a bookseller ships the sold books to a warehouse operated by the marketplaces, where books are sorted and then sent to the buyer.In July, one bookseller told me they received a very large order of around 1,000 books on Biblio, one of these marketplaces. The seller agreed to put an Apple AirTag provided by 404 Media in one of the books included in this order so we could see where the book was going. And by extension, which company, AI or otherwise, was behind this massive order.404 Media granted the bookseller anonymity because they worried sharing this information would harm their business. Biblio did not respond to a request for comment. 1 California The shipment of books we tracked flew out of an airport in California. 2 Milwaukee Next time we see it is right outside Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. 1901 E College Ave, South Milwaukee, WI 53172 3 Distribution center We then saw it in a warehouse belonging to a specialized shipping and distribution company Trifinity, right outside Kenosha Regional Airport, 30 miles south. 5312 104th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53144 4 Colorado Springs It then starts heading West via truck. We see it on a highway outside Colorado Springs. 5 Truck Stop It stops for the night at a trucking travel center. 2195 Hwy 6 and 50, Grand Junction, CO 81505. 6 Amazon warehouse: LAS8 The next day it arrives at an Amazon warehouse called LAS8. 5801 Nicco Way, Las Vegas, NV 89115. '})}}();

The New York Mets returned home this weekend for a three-game series with the division rival Washington Nationals. The Mets completed the sweep Sunday, holding off the Nationals in a 4-3 victory. This was the club’s second sweep of August; they swept the Cleveland Guardians on the road from the 4th through the 6th. After the weekend they have advanced to 56-69.Following the sweep, New York announced a roster move. They will be calling up former Chicago Cubs slugger and utility defender Christopher Morel from Triple-A Syracuse, per Mike Mayer of Metsmerized.Morel’s 2026Morel started the season with the Miami Marlins but missed the first month with an oblique strain, returning on April 28. In 22 games playing strictly first base, he slashed just .162/.219/.206 for a grim .433 OPS. He could not manage a home run and had only one RBI, a go-ahead single on May 10.Morel’s Miami performance got him designated for assignment on June 21. He elected free agency and signed with the Mets on a minor league deal. He has been at Triple-A Syracuse since.In 31 games with Syracuse, Morel had quite the showing. He slashed .321/.382/.716 for a ridiculous 1.098 OPS, along with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs. His torrid stretch, mixed with the Mets’ uncertainty at third base, explains his call-up.MORE: Brewers’ Brice Turang reveals an update ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the DodgersMorel’s careerJun 4, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs third base Christopher Morel (5) scores against the Chicago White Sox during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports Credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect (Reuters)The utility made his debut with the Cubs at age 23 in the 2022 season. He was Chicago’s No. 8 prospect at the time and played all over the field. This included a decent amount of time in center field, second base, third base and shortstop.Morel posted a .741 OPS in 2022, displaying a good power swing before blossoming during the 2023 season. In 107 games, he slashed .247/.313/.508 (.821 OPS) with 26 home runs and 70 RBIs.Morel was traded during a down 2024 season to the Tampa Bay Rays. He played 2025 with them as well to mediocre offensive results. When he debuts with the Mets, they will be the fourth MLB team he has suited up for in the last three seasons.Currently sitting at 499 career games, Morel’s next one will be a milestone. The Mets are hoping his power can play in Citi Field and that his 30.7% career strikeout rate takes at least a little dip.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Fred Warner had heard that Cam Ward liked to talk trash.So when the San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans faced off in joint practices last week, San Francisco's four-time All-Pro linebacker decided to test the 2025 first overall draft pick.A back-and-forth dialogue ensued, each player having fun ahead of Warner ultimately giving Ward tips on how to control the middle of the field, Ward later told reporters.But the advice didn't stop there.After the teams' Thursday preseason game, Warner shared a note of caution."Let him know I love that he does have that edge to him, but don't ever let the edge override you playing the position because quarterback is different from any position on the field," Warner told Yahoo Sports on Sunday after practice. "You can't be out there just chirping guys the whole time. You got to actually be in control of the huddle, be in control of the entire offense, delivering the ball where he needs to go. It's my job [on defense] to get you out of your game."I think he learned a good valuable lesson."Play Yahoo's new College Fantasy Football game: Create or join a league now!Warner enters his ninth season working to get quarterbacks off their game after a fractured and dislocated ankle sidelined Warner for most of Year 8. Ward enters his second campaign, hoping to rebound from a 3-14 rookie year as he teams up with new Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Warner believes Ward's ceiling is higher than the 15-touchdown, seven-interception performance he posted last year. Would reducing the sparring help that improvement? "I told him, I see something in him," Warner said. "He definitely has the talent. And I think obviously that's a given, given you're the first overall pick for a reason. So the talent's all there. It's just really for him just continuing to grow in his system and in his game."He was very receptive."Here are four more takeaways from Yahoo Sports' training camp visit to the San Francisco 49ers:One reason 49ers were higher on De'Zhaun Stribling than someSome draft analysts wondered about the 49ers' selection of Stribling with the 33rd overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. The 49ers stood by the pick even before Stribling's strong preseason debut (more on that in a minute), and they stand by it now. "When you've been some place 10 years, you go on your conviction," general manager John Lynch told Yahoo Sports. "You don't worry about what anyone else thinks. You obviously use that to know where do we have to go to pick them. But our conviction was high and we moved on that."Two reasons for possible divergence among opinions: Stribling's multi-school college career and his latest offense. The 23-year-old played two seasons at Washington State, two at Oklahoma State and one at Ole Miss before the 49ers selected him. He amassed 2,964 yards and 23 touchdowns in total, but never hit 900 yards or seven touchdowns in any of those seasons. Did Stribling's last stop, Ole Miss, position him to show all he can contribute at the NFL level? Systems use players in different ways."Ole Miss, I mean, I got all the respect in the world for Lane and what he does, but they do a lot of it in tempo," Lynch said. "So there wasn't a lot of variety to his routes. You saw fades. You saw stops. You didn't see the whole route tree. So you had to go back and do your homework, but that's our jobs. He did it."What the 49ers learned in Stribling's preseason debut Stribling led all players in the Titans-49ers preseason game with seven catches for 63 yards, including a 32-yard contortion act on third-and-5 with 13:32 to play in the second quarter. Across his seven catches, and in practices, Stribling has caught teammates' eyes with his speed, his quick earning of quarterback Brock Purdy's trust, and his aggressiveness at the catch point."You'll never see him catch a ball with his body," Warner said. "It's always hands extended, coming back to the football."Stribling is harder on himself than the external narrative has been since his preseason debut. Sure, he felt good being out there, but also: "A lot of things I can clean up," he told Yahoo Sports. "A lot of things I can be better at [with my] route running and then details of the offense."Stribling is working to take his veteran teammates' advice on using his body to get open and improving how flat he runs his routes. Head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed Stribling's performance in front of the whole team, tight end George Kittle told reporters, praising individual plays while reminding the rookie some of his weaknesses on run plays and routes. Thus coaches and teammates alike continue to preach that rookies often don't grasp Shanahan's offense right away and Stribling is no different. Consider Stribling aware of growth areas."Just driving off the ball, just being more explosive off the ball, hearing the cadence, hearing the count," he said. "Trying to time it up so I can be quicker off the ball so I can get into my route faster and just pressure all the DBs with a speed factor."Fred Warner (middle) enjoys a moment on the 49ers' sideline during San Francisco's preseason game against Tennessee on Thursday. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesHow similar will latest 49ers defense be?Niners defensive coordinator Raheem Morris has known Shanahan and Lynch for decades. But this is Morris’ first stint with the 49ers, and he marks San Francisco’s fifth defensive coordinator in five years.Shanahan and Lynch liked that he comes from similar NFL defensive origins to Lynch, the duo overlapping in the Tampa Bay defensive backs room in 2002 and 2003 (Morris laughs about Lynch, then a Buccaneers safety, stealing his assistant coach’s popcorn then). Morris has since spent time around the Vic Fangio defensive tree and Sean McVay offensive tree, creating a schematic blend the 49ers valued. Lynch cited a “newness” that Morris’ packages could offer. Warner echoed that sentiment about Morris, who came most immediately from the Atlanta Falcons head role.San Francisco’s 4-3 base, attacking front will remain. But expect wrinkles, including linebacker blitzes.“Being more multiple and different sort of sets personnel-wise that we’re bringing out,” Warner said. “We have some more versatility with guys being able to play on the line of scrimmage, off of the ball. Obviously we've always brought a nickel to play on the field, but having an ability to have an extra D lineman, an extra backer or something like that.“It’ll kind of be a different look for offenses from what they’re accustomed to seeing from us.”49ers regaining ‘coach on field’ as Warner returnsFor six straight years, the 49ers' defense had ranked top 10 in yards allowed. Last year, as Warner’s first sidelining injury in his career limited him to six games, San Francisco fell to 20th. Warner of course wasn’t the only factor in the dip. But if the quarterback of the 49ers’ defense returns even close to his prior iteration, the defense’s alignment and diagnoses should jump considerably.When did Warner feel back?“Day 1, honestly,” he said. “Day 1 was the first time being exposed to a team setting. Even though it wasn't pads, but having to get in the fray of an inside run or something like that. That's truly where you have to really test. I got injured being in the fray in the trenches. So that's where you kind of test that. And I’ve never thought about it ever since I got hurt … “It’s hard for me to think back.”Warner’s limited reflection isn’t only a response to his injury. The linebacker who’s registered 948 career tackles, 56 pass deflections and 17 forced fumbles while anchoring 49ers teams that advanced to two Super Bowl stages doesn’t internalize even those résumé notes. He noticed two years ago that the game was slowing down for him. But in terms of accomplishments: “Reflecting on what I’ve done or accomplished, in my mind I’ve done nothing. And it’s like I have everything to prove every single time I step out there.”Week 1 in Australia, Warner will have the chance to prove his ankle holds up to a live game against the Super Bowl-favorite Los Angeles Rams. He’ll have a chance, too, to give Matthew Stafford his best jabs in hope of disrupting Stafford’s game. The 49ers don’t worry Warner will disrupt his own.“He has the ability to talk smack across the line of scrimmage, talk smack to the opposing quarterback, and at the same time, keep this internal stillness about him,” Morris told Yahoo Sports. “Fred never goes off the ledge, but you always think he is. And that’s a unique skill set.”

A strong previous week for two-start pitchers is followed up by a weak group for the current scoring period. A pair of Cardinals headline the list, but once we get past that point, the options mostly include subpar pitchers with favorable matchups.On the hitting side, a five-game series at Great American Ball Park could provide fireworks.Two-Start Pitchers (listed in order of preference)Kyle Leahy, Cardinals, 39% (@ CIN, @ PHI): The Cardinals tend to save this column during down weeks, as their rotation ranks ninth in baseball in ERA despite lacking a member who is rostered in 50% of Yahoo leagues. After a slow start in his first season as a rotation member, Leahy has been the team’s most consistent starter of late, having logged a 1.52 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 46:9 K:BB ratio in his past nine starts. Although he has been more effective at home (2.91 ERA) than on the road (3.96 ERA), he should have success in two road starts against the Phillies and Reds, who rank 16th and 29th respectively in OPS vs. righties.Andre Pallante, Cardinals, 38% (@ CIN, @ PHI): Although Leahy has been the Cardinals most reliable starter this summer, Pallante is the rotation member who has been the most consistent throughout the season (3.46 ERA, 1.22 WHIP). The righty lacks the strikeout skills to be a high-end fantasy contributor but maintains a significant floor thanks to his elite groundball rate (55.6%). In a poor week for two-start pitchers, he can be started in any format.Tyler Mahle, Braves, 30% (@ MIN, @ MIL): Mahle has been terrific across two starts as a member of the Braves, posting a 16:2 K:BB ratio, along with a 0.75 ERA and 0.75 WHIP. But we can’t overlook the fact that his 18 outings with the Giants resulted in a 5.13 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. It’s worth noting that the ERA estimators don’t mind Mahle, assigning him marks in the range of 4.00 this season. The right-hander is set to tangle with two top 10 offenses in terms of OPS versus righties, but his success with Atlanta should still get him a look in 12-team leagues.Rhett Lowder, Reds, 6% (vs. STL, @ ARI): Although he has struggled at times this season, Lowder has enjoyed his most consistent stretch of late by allowing exactly two runs in each of his past four starts. The right-hander owns a subpar 77:40 K:BB ratio overall but has been slightly better (16:5) over the improved recent stretch. Although most managers will look at his season-long ratios (5.15 ERA, 1.48 WHIP) and move on, it’s worth noting that the right-hander will face two offenses that rank 26th (Cardinals) and 28th (Diamondbacks) respectively in OPS against righties.Cristian Javier, Astros, 5% (vs. LAA, vs. ATH): Although Javier has endured a rocky season that includes a stint on the 60-day IL due to a shoulder injury, he deserves credit for logging a 3.94 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 11:1 K:BB ratio over his past three outings. He heads into a week with favorable matchups, as the Angels have the second most strikeouts and rank last in OPS versus righties, and the Athletics are abysmal (.644 OPS) when they aren’t at their offense-inducing home park. Surprisingly, the righty may be worth the risk in 12-team leagues.Martin Pérez, Braves, 35% (@ MIN, @ MIL): Pérez has quietly been one of the most successful pitchers in the second half (1.08 ERA, 1.00 WHIP). Unfortunately, his success has mostly been the result of a .194 BABIP, rather than excellent skills (18:11 K:BB ratio). Pérez induces plenty of grounders, but the compliments stop there. His matchups are reasonable this week, as although the Twins and Brewers are top 10 in runs scored, they are both among the bottom 10 clubs in OPS versus lefties. Still, his luck is likely to run out soon.Brandon Young, Orioles, 32% (@ TB, vs. TB): Young is about to accomplish the rare feat of facing the same opponent in both matchups of a two-start week. Unfortunately, that opponent is a Rays offense that has the best record in the American League and ranks third in baseball in OPS versus righties. Young has been consistently mediocre this season (3.33 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 93:41 K:BB ratio) and has slightly outperformed his ERA estimators, which sit in the vicinity of 4.00. Given his low odds of dominating the opposition or earning a win this week, he is only an option in 15-team leagues.Jansen Junk, Marlins, 4% (@ PHI, vs. WSH): Junk is the definition of a fifth starter in the modern era, as he averages five innings per start and logs mediocre ratios (4.41 ERA, 1.32 WHIP). His lack of swing-and-miss skills (6.6 K/9 rate) lowers his ceiling, and he would only be a use in favorable matchups. That isn’t the case this week, as the Phillies are a respectable foe and the Nats continue to lead the majors in runs scored.Carson Whisenhunt, Giants, 1% (@ CLE, @ BOS): A notable prospect, Whisenhunt has thus far been overmatched (5.61 ERA, 1.60 WHIP) in 11 career major league starts. The lefty has logged a miserable 22:18 K:BB ratio this season, and he cannot be considered in any fantasy leagues until those numbers improve. Even if one were to take a second look thanks to a matchup against the low-scoring Guardians, a start against a Red Sox offense that ranks fourth in OPS versus left-handers closes the door.One-Start StreamersIn order, here are the best streamers for the week, with their start date and Yahoo roster rate in brackets.Dustin May vs. SEA (Wednesday, 38)J.T. Ginn @ KC (Thursday, 36)Landen Roupp @ CLE (Thursday, 35)Walbert Ureña @ HOU (Wednesday, 44)Gage Jump @ KC (Wednesday, 16)Hayden Wesneski vs. ATH (Friday, 18)Sean Manaea @ CWS (Friday, 36)Christian Scott @ CWS (Saturday, 34)Jacob Lopez @ HOU (Friday, 24)Brandon Pfaadt @ BOS (Wednesday, 43)Patrick Sandoval vs. SF (Sunday, 16)Adrian Houser @ CLE (Wednesday, 1)Chad Bradford vs. LAA (Saturday, 14)Zac Thornton vs. SD (Tuesday, 23)Robert Gasser vs. SEA (Thursday, 9)Brady Singer vs. STL (Thursday, 22)Grant Holmes @ CWS (Thursday, 27)Grayson Rodriguez @ HOU (Thursday, 6)Andrew Painter vs. STL (Saturday, 18)Favorable Monday-Thursday hitting matchupsCardinals @ Reds: By sheer volume, players on the Cardinals and Reds are terrific options for a five-game, four-day series. And of course, it doesn’t hurt that the quintet of contests will be played at Cincy’s homer-happy venue. Rookie Joshua Baez (62%) is the top St. Louis hitter to add in shallow leagues, while Nathan Church (2%) and Masyn Winn (32%) should be contributors as well. There are more options from the Reds, as Matt McLain (27%) could contribute homers and steals, while JJ Bleday (22%) is a good candidate to hit a homer. Finally, Tyler Stephenson (16%) is a great option for those who are streaming the catcher position.Rays vs. Orioles, Blue Jays: A Tampa Bay offense that uses strict platoons and ranks third in OPS versus right-handers will face righties in each of the next four days. Cedric Mullins (5%), Richie Palacios (1%) and Victor Mesa Jr. (1%) will start all four contests, while those in shallow formats should ensure that Chandler Simpson (69%) is in their lineup and not on the bench.

One of Miami’s rookies is getting on the practice field.The Dolphins announced on Monday morning that the club has activated receiver Chris Bell off of the non-football injury list.Bell, a third-round pick in this year’s draft, suffered an ACL tear last November while playing for Louisville. He was nevertheless a first-team All-ACC selection for his performance.In 47 collegiate games, Bell caught 151 passes for 2,166 yards with 12 touchdowns. He had 72 receptions for 917 yards with six TDs in 2025.

In his memoir of life in the tech industry, "Chaos Monkeys," Antonio Garcia Martinez wrote that it’s not the rats who first abandon a sinking ship but rather the crew members who know how to swim. By that measure, Brooks Koepka made like Michael Phelps, presciently jumping overboard early from LIV Golf and stroking his way to safe harbor. Now that the Good Ship Yasir seems doomed for the sea floor — the bullshit that long acted as ballast having shifted to expose the dead weight of washed-up hangers-on — those who remained are left eyeing leaky life rafts. Just two members of LIV’s roster matter, no matter how much its CEO, Scott O’Neil, blathered about the importance of Dean Burmester on the South African stop. They are Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm. The former because every carnival needs a barker, the latter because leagues need credible competitors. While DeChambeau remains welded to LIV, Rahm’s tone has been lukewarm and several sources in his orbit are convinced he’ll exit soon. He has alternatives, but they’re not painless and require accepting conditions that the prideful Spaniard might balk at. Rahm’s obvious first choice for life after LIV would be returning to compete on the PGA Tour. He lives in the U.S., and it’s the most lucrative, competitively demanding and commercially relevant circuit. But no one around the Tour thinks Rahm will be offered the terms Koepka accepted, and many believe he’d be asked to pay stiffer financial penalties, accept restricted playing privileges and perhaps even apologize (for what, and to whom, is unclear). How would that sit with a man who went to war with the DP World Tour in Europe over comparatively modest fines? Koepka chose to leave LIV with time remaining on his contract. Rahm would be leaving by necessity, knowing he won’t see all of the cash promised and that the league, if it survives, would do so only because someone wanted to leverage its losses to dodge taxes elsewhere in their investment portfolio. His former peers haven’t forgotten that he went to LIV months after the Framework Agreement was announced, willingly becoming leverage for the Saudis, and that he later said (with amusing self-regard) that he felt his leaving would be the catalyst to uniting the game. Rahm thought he could take the bag and return as a hero. No one did more to ensure there’d be no deal between the Tour and the Saudis (with the possible exception of Patrick Cantlay in the boardroom). He chose his side and the guys he left behind were determined to make him live with the decision. Plenty remain so, and are disinclined to roll out the welcome mat too quickly. The PGA Tour’s CEO, Brian Rolapp, surely sees business value in repatriating Rahm (or DeChambeau) but has to weigh that against spending the political capital necessary to make it happen. Rolapp would hear out Rahm (and DeChambeau) if an approach is made, but wouldn’t even waste a thought on anyone else in LIV’s ranks. Rahm’s second option would be Europe, but that would mean working far from his family and for modest purses. Along with other LIV members, he was welcomed back to the DP World Tour after settling his outstanding fines. But the terms he agreed to expire with 2026, and the DP World Tour is indicating that it might reinstate fines for those who continue to play LIV tournaments opposite its ’27 schedule — a more onerous threat now that LIV pays less and Yasir isn’t covering penalties, and significantly reducing the appeal of a hybrid schedule between LIV and Europe. The DP World Tour wants to force players to choose a lane, daring them to go with the dead end that is LIV. Sending LIV’s relevant players — Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Joaquin Niemann — to plow the lonely furrow in Europe could also serve a purpose for Rolapp since bolstering that business can eventually reduce the subsidy he’s sending that way, which is well into eight figures. And if the number of PGA Tour cards available annually to Europe’s top performers is reduced from the current 10 — or if Wentworth limits eligibility for those cards by LIV guys for a year or two — they might be trapped on that side of the Atlantic for some time before earning a path back. The least appealing option facing Rahm is to remain with LIV. He’s reportedly owed a significant amount of money that he’s unlikely to ever see. Settling instead for equity in LIV 2.0 would be akin to accepting part ownership of a house that’s on fire, uninsured and built on a toxic dump. Making the smart decision — and accepting whatever sanctions accompany it — requires that he not listen only to the voices who ushered him into this career cul-de-sac almost three years ago. He needs at least one person in his circle who won’t just tell him what he wants to hear. To that end, it’s encouraging that spies saw Rahm playing golf a few days ago on Long Island with his longtime friend, Jimmy Dunne, the former PGA Tour board member who isn’t at all timid about delivering unvarnished counsel. If he’s asked. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jon Rahm has three choices. But he won’t totally love any of them | Opinion

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Boston Red Sox catcher Adley RutschmanThe Boston Red Sox took a major swing at the trade deadline, acquiring three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles.The Red Sox gave up four top-30 prospects and Carlos Narváez to get Rutschman, but they desperately needed an offensive upgrade at catcher. Rutschman was an All-Star this season, but was on the injured list with wrist inflammation when the team got him. He has since then gone on a rehab assignment and played five games for the Red Sox.He is 1-for-17 since joining the team, and his only hit was an infield single in his first game. He has struck out nine times, but does have five walks."Just trying to stay with my process, not make any drastic changes,” Rutschman told The Boston Globe's Alex Speier when asked about his struggles.Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand new baseball lifestyle brand!Leaving the Orioles was not easy for Rutschman, as he posted an emotional goodbye to his former team on social media. The transition to a new club has to be weighing on him as he tries to find his swing again."No,” he told Speier when asked if it was easy to stick to the process while also adjusting to a new team. “The competitor in me, I want to go out there and perform.“Bottom line. I want to perform for these guys and come out here and be able to do what I do, but at the end of the day... you really have to stick with (process) or else baseball is a game of failure and can get you in a bad mind-set quickly.”The Red Sox will need Rutschman to start swinging a hot bat soon if they want to get out of their recent slump. The postseason is not far, and with Masataka Yoshida now on the injured list, the offense will need others to step up.More MLB: Dodgers Place Justin Wrobleski on Injured List; Who Will Take His Place In Rotation?

The Scottish Football Association has publicly withdrawn its support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino. It comes after Infantino shelved controversial plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup and other Fifa competitions last month. Infantino has lost the support of three confederations – Uefa, Comnebol and the Asian Football Confederation – but some nations have also split from their region. (PA)The SFA’s statement on Infantino comes after English FA, Welsh FA and Football Association of Ireland backed Uefa’s stance and withdrew support. The SFA’s chief executive Ian Maxwell told the BBC that the governing body’s position has “been clear” since Uefa’s collective statement. “We have aligned ourselves with the Uefa position and 55 nations are stronger than one voice.“Their statement since then has talked about a lack of confidence in the Fifa leadership and the Scottish FA agree completely with that decision.“The SFA will not be voting for Gianni Infantino come the re-election in early 2027.”It was announced last week that Uefa, Concacaf and the AFC have begun preliminary discussions about the possibility of organising competitions among themselves if they boycott Fifa events.Uefa accused Fifa of breaking trust through “deception” and said Infantino has so far failed to acknowledge his proposal was fundamentally wrong. But a number of football associations, including Argentina, Morocco and Mexico, have backed Infantino while the African Football Confederation has done so unanimously.