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Nature, Published online: 19 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02585-3Models of how the brain changes over time could help researchers to understand how diseases affect the organ later in life.

Nature, Published online: 19 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02373-zEngineering of polymer crystals has vastly increased the activity of these materials as catalysts for producing hydrogen fuel from water, using only sunlight.

Nature, Published online: 19 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02376-wSince 2020, snowfall has largely counterbalanced the melting of the Antarctic ice sheet. The atmospheric effect that causes this has been identified — and it’s temporary.

Nature, Published online: 19 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02554-wFemale treefrogs select less carefully when hearing a chorus of males.

Nature, Published online: 19 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02537-xViruses that infect bacteria must either evade or counter the defence systems of their host. The viral kinase enzyme T7K has been found to phosphorylate nearly all bacterial proteins, but its specificity for DNA-binding proteins enables it to disable defence systems that target nucleic acids.

Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s July gathering showed broadening support for higher borrowing costs to stamp out lingering price pressures.

Kim Yo-jong, a powerful adviser and sister of Kim Jong-un, also said she was “unaware” of any communication with Washington, contradicting President Trump’s claim her brother had responded to his outreach.

I can’t believe it’s not vintage! READ MORE...

Ice cream on a waffle cone is displayed in Phoenix, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)2026-08-19T18:46:56Z DETROIT (AP) — Read this quickly, before it melts.Ice cream was a rare and expensive treat for centuries because of the difficulty of storing ice. In the summer of 1790, President George Washington spent $200 on ice cream, the equivalent of $7,259 today, according to the International Dairy Foods Association. By the 1800s, inventions like mechanical refrigeration had made ice cream cheaper and more accessible. But America’s pushcart vendors needed a way to serve ice cream to customers.Enter “penny licks.” Customers would pay a penny for a scoop of ice cream served in a thick glass, which they would lick clean and hand back to the vendor. The glass — sometimes rinsed, sometimes not — was then filled for the next customer. But vendors were frustrated by broken glass and cities were concerned about the spread of disease. London banned penny licks in 1898. Italian immigrants came to the rescue. In 1902, Antonio Valvona, an ice-cream maker living in Manchester, England, was granted a U.S. patent for a metal mold that could form edible waffle-like cups. He quickly started selling the cups on both sides of the Atlantic.The following year, Italo Marchiony, an ice cream vendor in New York, was granted a patent for a similar device. Marchiony went on to develop the ice-cream sandwich. But it was the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair that gave the ice-cream cone its now-familiar shape and vaulted it to popularity.Several concessionaires at the fair have been touted as the inventors of the ice-cream cone. Joy Baking Group, founded in 1918 and currently making 2 billion cones a year, credits Ernest Hamwi, a 20-year-old Syrian immigrant. Read More Hamwi was selling zalabiyeh – a crisp, fried pastry – in a booth next to Albert Aboussie, a Lebanese-born ice cream vendor. When Aboussie ran out of paper cups, Hamwi began rolling his pastries into cones dubbed “cornucopias.” They were an instant hit.By 1910, “cornucopia” had been simplified to “cone,” and Hamwi founded the Missouri Cone Co. Cone technology quickly advanced, with machines replacing hand-rolling. For those who wanted a lighter texture, the cake cone arrived in the early 1940s — around the time Dairy Queen and Baskin-Robbins emerged.Increasingly health-conscious Americans eat less ice cream than they used to. In 1984, the average American consumed 17.8 pounds of regular ice cream each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. By 2024, that had fallen to 12 pounds.But as anyone from George Washington to Ben & Jerry could tell you, on a hot summer night it’s a treat that’s hard to beat.___Part of a recurring series, “American Objects,” marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. For more American objects, click here. For more stories on the anniversary, click here. DEE-ANN DURBIN Durbin is an Associated Press business writer focusing on the food and beverage industry. She has also covered the auto industry and state and national politics in her nearly 30-year career with the AP. twitter mailto

The logo of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors is seen before a news conference with Federal Reserve Board Chairman Kevin Warsh at the Federal Reserve in Washington, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)2026-08-19T18:38:43Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Many Federal Reserve officials think the central bank will have to lift its key short-term interest rate in the coming months if inflation doesn’t subside, minutes of the Fed’s meeting last month showed. The minutes of the July 28-29 meeting, released Wednesday, don’t provide specifics on how many of the 19 officials supported higher rates. Only 12 of the 19 policymakers vote on the outcome. Officials voted 9-3 at the meeting to keep their key rate unchanged at about 3.6%.Inflation has since showed some signs of cooling, though gas prices have rebounded this month on renewed hostilities in the Middle East. Wall Street investors now expect the Fed to remain on hold at its next meeting in September and potentially lift rates in December, though that outlook could change. Fed officials were heavily focused on the threat of stubbornly elevated inflation at last month’s meeting. “Participants judged that their inflation outlooks were highly uncertain and that inflation risks were skewed to the upside,” the minutes said. “Many participants assessed that (higher rates) would likely be necessary if inflation did not decline.”New Fed chair Kevin Warsh also unnerved Wall Street investors last month by providing little guidance at a July 29 news conference on what the Fed’s next steps might be, threatening the Fed’s inflation-fighting credibility. Interest rates, or yields, on longer-term Treasury securities, which had already risen before the meeting, moved higher. Read More Warsh has said he will provide less of what he calls “forward guidance” about the Fed’s plans, which he sees as limiting the central bank’s policy options even if economic circumstances change. At the news conference, Warsh didn’t fully commit to boosting the Fed’s key rate even if inflation stayed persistently high. CHRISTOPHER RUGABER Rugaber has covered the Federal Reserve and the U.S. economy for the AP for 16 years. He is a two-time finalist for the Gerald Loeb award for business reporting. twitter mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

The official seal of the Federal Trade Commission is seen on an office building in Washington, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)2026-08-19T18:35:30Z Companies that secretly vary prices based on how much they think individual customers will pay could face federal charges under a proposed policy released Wednesday by the Federal Trade Commission.“When consumers see a listed price, they expect it to be same price that everyone else sees, not the retailer’s estimate of how much they are willing to pay based on their personal data,” FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said in a statement.The FTC has had its eye on personalized pricing for a while. In a preliminary report filed in January 2025, the agency found that grocers, clothing companies and others were using third-party companies to help them individualize online prices based on shoppers’ locations, browsing histories and how long they left items in their virtual shopping carts. In one hypothetical example, the FTC said a consumer profiled as a new parent might be shown higher-priced baby thermometers on the first page of their search results. Ferguson said the FTC doesn’t have the legal authority to ban personalized pricing in all circumstances. But under the proposed policy, businesses would have to “clearly and conspicuously disclose” if they are engaging in personalized pricing and share the types of data they’re using to set those prices.The proposed policy states that companies engaged in personalized pricing without revealing the practice and the data behind it could violate the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive practices in the marketplace, Ferguson said.The FTC is seeking comment on the policy for 30 days. DEE-ANN DURBIN Durbin is an Associated Press business writer focusing on the food and beverage industry. She has also covered the auto industry and state and national politics in her nearly 30-year career with the AP. twitter mailto

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent walks past reporters following an interview with Fox News outside the White House, Thursday, July 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)2026-08-19T18:30:12Z NEW YORK (AP) — Normally quiet, the bond market can occasionally send warning signals loud enough to hit stock markets worldwide and even grab the attention of U.S. presidents and other world leaders. After the bond market’s alarm bells rose in volume through the summer, the Trump administration announced on Wednesday a move that could help calm it down. The U.S. Treasury Department said it will more than double the amount of U.S. government bonds that it will buy back, and the move worked in getting longer-term yields lower, for now at least.Yields worldwide had earlier climbed to heights not reached in years and, in some cases, decades, because of the jump in oil prices due to the war with Iran, worries about big and growing debts for governments and other concerns.The stakes are high because high yields drag on economies and bring downward pressure on stock markets after Wall Street hit records on excitement about big corporate profits and the promise of artificial-intelligence technology. But what’s to come is still uncertain, and some analysts warn the Treasury Department’s move could even ultimately backfire.Here’s a look at what’s going on and how things got this way: Bond yields have been risingIn the United States, the centerpiece of the bond market recently touched its highest yield in more than a year. The 10-year Treasury yield, which shows how much interest investors want the U.S. government to pay them before they’ll lend it money for a decade, topped 4.70%, before falling back to 4.65% Wednesday. That’s up from just 3.97% before the Iran war began in late February, and it’s a significant move for the bond market. Read More More notably, the 30-year U.S. Treasury yield has jumped well above 5%, back to where it was in 2007, before the 2008 financial crisis sent yields crashing toward zero worldwide. In Japan, the yield on the 10-year government bond has touched its highest level in nearly 30 years, while the German 10-year yield is back to where it was in 2011. High yields can slow the economyWhen the U.S. and other governments have to pay more in interest to borrow money, so do people and companies. For many U.S. households, that’s most easily seen through rates for mortgages. Such rates have climbed with the 10-year Treasury yield since the Iran war began, and the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is near its highest level in a year. Higher yields also make it more expensive for U.S. companies to borrow money to build factories and otherwise grow. That’s particularly dangerous at this moment, when big investments in data centers to power AI are a major driver of the U.S. economy’s growth. 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. High yields affect all kinds of investmentsIf high yields slow the economy, that puts pressure on the stocks. An economic slowdown would threaten how much profit companies can make, which is the lifeblood of the stock market.High yields undercut the stock market in other ways too. When a Treasury is paying more in interest, that can draw investors away from investments that carry more risk. Why pay record prices for U.S. stocks when a U.S. government bond is paying more than before to wait in relative safety?Gold, bitcoin and many other investments can also feel downward pressure from high yields. Then there’s the impact on the governmentWhen yields rise, the U.S. and other governments have to pay more in interest to cover their debts. That’s painful when debt loads for governments worldwide are ballooning as they spend far more than they’re bringing in through revenue.And if the U.S. government is already paying this much to borrow money when the economy is growing, what will happen if it needs to borrow even more to manage the pain when the next severe recession hits? That’s why jumps in yields can scare politicians even more than swings in the stock market. The bond market helped make Liz Truss the United Kingdom’s shortest-serving prime minister in 2022, when it revolted against her plan to cut taxes and raise spending without a way to pay for them. Last year, President Donald Trump said the bond market may have played a role in his decision to delay many of his proposed tariffs, saying that he noticed investors there “were getting a little queasy.” The long-term effect of the Treasury department’s move is uncertainU.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s move is a high-stakes effort to contain the rise in long-term yields, and some analysts are skeptical the impact will last.“The operation changes almost nothing in terms of the fundamentals, in particular the unchanged need to finance the tidal wave of hyperscaler debt in addition to very large government deficits,” Krishna Guha, an analyst at Evercore ISI, and colleagues wrote in a note to clients. “Hyperscalers” refers to the Big Tech companies that are borrowing mountains of money to build AI data centers. The bonds they’re selling are competing with U.S. Treasurys for buyers, which can push bond yields higher. The U.S. government, meanwhile, continues to run its own large deficits regardless of what the Treasury Department does with its repurchases. “The move could even backfire if the limited firepower results in little sustained impact,” Guha said. A rate cut by the Federal Reserve won’t magically solve the problemThe Federal Reserve could always cut the federal funds rate, which affects very short-term, overnight loans.But longer-term yields like the 10- and 30-year Treasury yields are set by investors in the bond market. And recently, they have been demanding more in interest to make up for the growing risks of high inflation, continued government deficits and other factors.The Fed also appears more likely to raise its benchmark short-term rate than to cut it. At its last meeting in late July, three Fed policymakers voted to raise the fed funds rates even as nine voted to keep it unchanged. And Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s decision to signal little about the Fed’s next moves appeared to push longer-term Treasury yields higher amid questions about what the central bank will do to get inflation back to its 2% target. The government’s most recent inflation data suggest inflation may be slowing, leading many on Wall Street to forecast the Fed will keep the federal funds rates steady at its next meeting in September. The next big potentially market-moving event may come on Aug. 28, when Warsh will give a speech at the Fed’s annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. CHRISTOPHER RUGABER Rugaber has covered the Federal Reserve and the U.S. economy for the AP for 16 years. He is a two-time finalist for the Gerald Loeb award for business reporting. twitter mailto

President Donald Trump speaks on the South Lawn of the White House at the construction site of the new helicopter landing zone, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, seen from the Washington Monument in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)2026-08-19T18:30:10Z WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump played White House tour guide on Wednesday, showing off the helipad he is building on the lawn before leaning over to autograph a piece of it and bragging about the ballroom he’s rushing to complete despite legal challenges.Trump gushed for several uninterrupted minutes about granite being laid and said the chopper landing area would leave visiting foreign leaders “very impressed” — including Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is coming next month.At times, he sounded almost like a construction manager, singing the praises of granite over asphalt in painstaking detail and noting for reporters he brought out for the show that the stone could withstand 35,000 pounds per square inch of pressure. “That’s stone that, if you took a hammer and you started hammering right now — all day long — you wouldn’t see a mark on it, literally, that’s the kind of power it is,” Trump said, at times straining to be heard over the thrum of ongoing work behind him. The president also revealed for the first time that he has replaced the walkway from the White House’s diplomatic entrance along with a portion of the asphalt driveway around the South Lawn with white granite.“One thing I know how to do is build,” he said, asserting that asphalt is “not appropriate for a great house, or a great place like the White House.” He said that, had he instead merely used “really powerful concrete,” it would have supported ”just a tiny fraction of that in terms of strength.” Trump relishes being the builder-in-chief The president is called upon to fill many roles as president, but embraces none with as much zeal as managing various building projects to mold the White House and large swatches of Washington in his own image, seeming happiest recalling his days as a real estate developer. Trump also likes to show off his handiwork and having the White House press pool on hand at all times gives him a readymade audience. Last year, he made an appearance on the roof of the briefing room to survey a future work site, and earlier this summer, he took reporters for a closer look at the ballroom construction site.It suggests Trump remains focused on such projects, even as his war in Iran nears the six-month mark, his approval ratings sink with just 2 1/2 months to go before critical midterm elections, and as voters are increasingly worried about a weakening economy. Trump drove home just how important the construction projects are to him, calling the work “very exciting.” Read More “This will be here long after we’re gone,” Trump said of the projects. “No matter what happens with the world.”But whether it will endure after he leaves office remains to be seen. Trump once suggested that his refurbishing of the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool would last a century, only for the paint to fade and its liner to peel away in chunks just days after it was laid. Trump again says his ballroom will have security value The president has increasingly insisted that the $400 million ballroom will add security to the White House and include things like anti-drone technology. His administration even unsuccessfully sought $1 billion in congressional funding to make military improvements to the structure. “This will be the greatest military complex slash ballroom anywhere in the world,” he said. Trump also scoffed at court orders seeking to block its construction without congressional approval, saying work is continuing regardless and predicting that the Supreme Court will eventually side with him and allow the project to be completed. The president found time to talk again about one of his favorite subjects of late — grass — and praised at length Scotts-Miracle Gro. The company’s former CEO is a Trump supporter, and it donated $1 million to repair the grass on the White House lawn after it was damaged by Trump’s UFC fight marking his 80th birthday in June and by the helipad construction. At one point on Wednesday, Trump signed the back of one of the granite stones that was marked “Donald Trump 45-47 president” for the occasion. Its front is shaped like an eagle and will be laid into the helipad’s presidential seal once work is completed. “I thought this would be a little different kind of a news conference,” the president said. “We were going to sign this privately and just put it in. I said, ‘This is something I think the press should see,’ and I hope you liked it.” Trump had some of the construction workers sign the granite, too, and joked about leaving it upside-down so that his signature would be visible for future generations. “Nice job, fellas,” he told the workers. “Does anybody know the word media?”Trump also confirmed Wednesday that he’d delayed ongoing work on the helipad to ensure the project could be regraded to lay flatter. He said that the granite used “has a million-year life” and predicted that it “will never break. It will never leak. It will never do anything” — which would mark a departure from the problem-plagued Reflecting Pool project. “Nature is stronger than what the human can produce,” Trump said of the granite. “It’s really pretty amazing.”___Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report. WILL WEISSERT Weissert covers the White House for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington. twitter mailto COLLIN BINKLEY Binkley covers the White House and education policy for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington and joined the AP in 2015. twitter mailto

Chock-full of statistics, sports are always ripe for rankings and comparisons. But there’s seldom been an empirical way to measure one of their most abstract dimensions: fandom. Nielsen’s new Scarborough NFL Fandom Index, however, provides some insight into the matter—at least for the NFL. Built on the latest edition of the company’s nationally syndicated consumer study that surveys more than 200,000 U.S. adults every year, the index assessed the NFL’s 30 markets on eight key metrics to determine where the most avid football fans live. Those metrics were apparel purchases, event attendance, streaming, social media following, TV viewership, radio listening, betting intent, and overall interest level. Buffalo, Kansas City, Green Bay, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia emerged as the markets with the highest composite fandom scores; the league’s largest media markets, Los Angeles and New York (which each have two teams), ranked last. The entirety of the AFC North—whose four teams sit (largely) within the Ohio River Valley, an area that has famously produced some of the sport’s best coaches—landed in the top 10, too. Considered together, a trend surfaces: the league’s smallest markets punch well above their weight in fandom, and vice versa.This becomes especially clear when looking at the top 10 fan-apparel-purchasing markets, which Nielsen provided exclusively to Front Office Sports. Outside of Philadelphia and Detroit, no market cracks Nielsen’s 20 largest television designated market areas (DMAs). More than half of the list, meanwhile, falls outside of the top 30 DMAs. Kansas City and Buffalo topped the apparel purchase category by a wide margin with index scores of 280 and 272, respectively. This means residents in these markets are nearly three times more likely to say they purchased NFL apparel in the last 12 months than the average U.S. adult. Their fervor shows up in the NFL Players Association’s annual Top 50 Player Sales List, where Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen jerseys routinely land among the top 10 best-selling across the league. (Allen’s jersey was No. 1 overall last year.) Philadelphia (196) comes in a clear second on the player sales list, followed by Green Bay (178) and Detroit (175), which form a distant third-place cluster. Collectively, the three teams accounted for 10 jerseys on the NFLPA’s 2025 Top 50 List, or 20% of the total. Officially licensed jerseys alone netted nearly $2 billion in retail sales last year, per the NFLPA. But avid fans go for more than just standard merch; Packers fans, for example, buy so many “Cheesehead” foam hats that the organization acquired the company responsible for manufacturing them back in 2023. Jacksonville—No. 41 on Nielsen’s DMA list—rounded out the top 10 apparel markets, thanks, in part, to the Jaguars’ strong 2025 season, which ended in a wild-card round loss to the Bills. The findings come as the league, and individual clubs, push harder than ever for international growth. Earlier this week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he has “no doubt” that there will be “NFL teams outside the USA” at some point.But if the online response to the ranking—which drew hundreds of thousands of views and thousands of spirited comments—is any indication, the league already has enough highly engaged domestic fans to sustain its popularity, regardless of where they live. True to their nature, NFL fans remain invested in more ways than one—including the rankings of their own fandom.The post NFL Fans in the Smallest Markets Are Buying the Most Merchandise appeared first on Front Office Sports.

Wiebes has more than 100 career race victories [Getty Images]Parents should not be scared their children might not come back from a race following the death of Finlay Tarling, says the winner of stage one of the Tour of Britain Women.Dutch cyclist Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx - Protime) sprinted to take the opening stage in Cockermouth.Before the race began, there was a touching tribute to the British 19-year-old who died last week in a high-speed collision with a van, which had strayed on to the road during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal.As the 114 riders lined up to set off on the first stage in Cockermouth, a photograph of Tarling was projected on to a large screen and a minute's applause rang out around the packed centre of the market town.After her win, Wiebes said: "Most of these riders have family at home. Your parents shouldn't be scared that you are not coming back from a race. “It cannot happen again, and it's happened already too many times," the 27-year-old added.Safety has been on the minds of every rider since the teenager's death stunned the cycling community.The Tour of Britain is a smaller event in the cycling calendar - similar to the Volta a Portugal. But they both use 'rolling roadblocks', where police and officials travel in front of and behind the peloton. However, several roads were completely closed off in the Cockermouth town centre.Riders united in a minute's applause in tribute to Fin Tarling [Getty Images]British rider Hayley Simmonds, holder of three British time trial records, has been vocal about safety for cyclists, particularly after she was involved in the abandonment of the Tour of the Pyrenees in 2023.At the time, riders complained roads were not closed to traffic for the three-day race in south-west France. Several teams pulled out before governing body the UCI officially cancelled the race with the unhappy organisers describing the women as "spoiled children"."Our response at the time was, 'No, we just expect to be safe'," Simmonds said. "When you go out on your bike, you expect to get home safely.” Recalling the event in 2023, the DAS Hutchinson rider said: "We were riding along a road and suddenly there was a car moving towards us in the opposite direction, coming towards you."And then you're half thinking about that, half thinking about the race, and no race is worth losing your life over."And that's why on stage three, we chose not to race. But it shouldn't come down to riders having to stop in the middle of a stage and have a discussion about whether they feel safe on their bikes or not."So what's the answer? While races in road cycling are set up by independent organisers, the UCI oversees most of the events and can set standards for race management.Simmonds agrees action needs to be taken by the sport's governing body."I don't think it's necessarily right or fair to say that the responsibility lies solely with one particular party. But ultimately, they should have some set of mandates that say we need proof that rider safety has been considered, and we need proof that the roads will be safe to ride on."I think you need real collaboration between the UCI and the race organisers. The UCI needs to be asking questions of the race organiser. Like, what group have you got doing the road closures and looking after the race? Do they actually have legal authority to stop all traffic? Do drivers have to respect that?”Following the fatal crash involving Tarling, the UCI issued a statement saying it was "deeply saddened, and extended its deepest condolences to Finlay's family, friends, and team-mates", but has not made further comment since then.Tarling family heartbroken as riders pay tribute to British cyclist'Fury' at Tarling death as cycling union calls for better helmetsTarling death shows risks of smaller races - VaughtersThe Tour of Britain is run under rolling road closures, with marshalling and traffic management teams operating throughout.Jonathan Day, event director of British Cycling Ventures, said: "It's understandable that people will be thinking about safety at events following what happened to Finlay.“We take safety at the Lloyds Tour of Britain extremely seriously, and the race has an excellent safety record.“We have a highly experienced organising team supported by an equally experienced police central escort group."It’s an event Hannah Barnes knows well. In 2017 she finished third overall - but her most prestigious win was at the final stage in 2015.She said: "I think the Tour of Britain has always been renowned for how seriously they take it. "I've never felt unsafe. But that's because I trust the British police, and also you can see what goes on behind the scenes.“Barnes said every cyclist on the start line will have been thinking about the tragic events of last week. "Even if you aren't from Britain or you didn't know Fin personally, it's still one of your fellow cyclists. I've been thinking about him every day, about his family and the team, so I think for them to have a tribute beforehand is really important."For the first time the Tour of Britain Women features five stages, achieving full stage-count parity with the men's race. It ends on Sunday, 23 August.Wiebes' SD Worx - Protime team held off multiple attacks before she sprinted to victory on the 158.9km opening stage [Getty Images]

In an NBA offseason dominated by LeBron James and unrelated Lakers drama, Kawhi Leonard received a surprising amount of attention. With Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers and team owner Steve Ballmer still the subject of a league investigation, a sudden June trade of Leonard to the Toronto Raptors brought that situation back to the forefront. Was the NBA's investigation still active? And would the league step in, with Leonard now on his way to a different team? Those questions were both answered with a resounding "yes." The trade was officially put on hold after both teams confirmed the NBA was still looking into the situation.Given that it's been nearly a year since the NBA launched its current investigation, it's worth remembering why Ballmer, Leonard and the Clippers are under investigation in the first place. Below is a full timeline of the events leading up to the NBA's investigation and every significant development since the league announced it would look into Leonard's original agreement with the Clippers. July 6, 2019: Kawhi Leonard signs with the ClippersFresh off a championship run with the Raptors, Leonard — a free agent — decided to leave Toronto to sign with the Clippers. He originally joined the team on a three-year, $103 million deal. That same offseason, the Clippers traded for Paul George. That influx of talent was supposed to make the Clippers a premier contender in the Western Conference. Dec. 23, 2019: Reports suggest NBA investigated Clippers over Leonard signingA few months after Leonard signed, a report from The Athletic detailed the superstar's free agency, which resulted in an NBA investigation. According to that report, one member of Leonard's camp — Dennis Robertson — reportedly asked teams for impermissible benefits if they wanted to sign Leonard. Robertson is also known as "Uncle Dennis," and is Leonard's actual uncle. This was the key portion of The Athletic's report: Sources say the league was told that Robertson asked team officials for part ownership of the team, a private plane that would be available at all times, a house and — last but certainly not least — a guaranteed amount of off-court endorsement money that they could expect if Leonard played for their team. All of those items, to be clear, would fall well outside the confines of the league's collective bargaining agreement.It was believed Robertson made those requests to both the Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA looked into whether the Clippers granted any of those requests, but an investigation found no evidence that that was the case. Months earlier, the NBA revamped its tampering and free-agent rules, perhaps as a response to the rumors surrounding Leonard's free agency. Sept. 3, 2025: Pablo Torre prompts NBA to open another investigation into Clippers Between Dec. 2019 and Aug. 2025, things are mostly quiet on the Leonard front. While he remained an elite player on the court, Leonard missed time here and there with injuries with the Clippers. Despite his original contract running out, Leonard continued to re-sign with the club, eventually landing on a deal that kept him under contract through the 2026-27 NBA season. The Leonard-George pairing didn't work out as well as intended, with the Clippers failing to win a title with the two stars. George eventually left for the Philadelphia 76ers, and Leonard was set to open the 2025-26 NBA season with hopes of keeping the Clippers in contention in a tough Western Conference. But a little over a month before the 2025-26 NBA season, journalist Pablo Torre released an episode of his podcast "Pablo Torre Finds Out" that accused the Clippers of using a sponsor to pay Leonard for "no-show jobs" as a way to circumvent the NBA salary cap. That company — named Aspiration — was funded by Ballmer. During the show, Torre argued that Aspiration paid Leonard $28 million to essentially do nothing. Leonard would only be paid if he remained a member of the Clippers, per Torre. If team owner Steve Ballmer was aware of that arrangement, or encouraged it, that could constitute the Clippers circumventing the NBA salary cap, a significant violation. One former employee of Aspiration, which has since gone bankrupt, said they were told the agreement with Leonard was a way for the team to "circumvent the salary cap." That same day, the Clippers released a statement denying all accusations made by Torre. The team said it was not unusual for team sponsors to reach agreements with players and that Ballmer and the team had no oversight of Leonard's agreement with Aspiration.Given all the evidence revealed in Torre's program, the NBA announced it would launch an investigation into the situation. Sept. 5, 2025: Steve Ballmer says he was conned by AspirationIn his first interview since Torre's podcast, Ballmer claimed he was the victim of fraud by Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg. "These are guys who committed fraud. Look, they conned me. I made an investment in these guys thinking it was on the up and up. And they conned me. At this stage, I have no ability to predict why they might have done anything they did."Ballmer also reiterated that the Clippers introduced Leonard to Aspiration, which is not against NBA rules. From that point, Ballmer said the team was not involved in Leonard's negotiations with the company. Sept. 10, 2025: Adam Silver addresses NBA investigation into Clippers, LeonardFollowing a Board of Governors meeting in September, NBA commissioner Adam Silver publicly addressed the Leonard investigation for the first time. He didn't get into specifics, merely saying the NBA would need clear evidence suggesting the Clippers tried to circumvent the NBA salary cap. Silver said the "mere appearance of impropriety" would not be enough to force the league to act. Sept. 11, 2025: Torre unearths more evidence suggesting Clippers funded payments to LeonardTorre, meanwhile, kept releasing episodes providing more suspicious evidence suggesting the Clippers may have known about and funded Leonard's deal with Aspiration. Torre's next episode into the matter focused on Clippers co-owner Dennis Wong, who reportedly invested a hefty amount of money into the failing business just days before Leonard was set to be paid. It provided more evidence suggesting the Clippers were aware of the agreement between Leonard and Aspiration.Steve Ballmer has owned the Clippers since 2014. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)Allen Berezovsky via Getty ImagesSept. 16, 2025: Ballmer says he's confident he'll be cleared in NBA investigationDuring an appearance at Sports Business Journal's Drive event, Ballmer said he welcomed the NBA investigation and remained steadfast that the team did not violate any rules when signing Leonard. Sept. 18, 2025: Ballmer reportedly sent payments to Aspiration around time Leonard was due to be paidTorre put out yet another episode of his program, this one focusing on payments Ballmer made to Aspiration just before Leonard was set to be paid. Torre found multiple instances in which the team or a member of the team made significant payments to Aspiration just days before Aspiration sent a large payment to Leonard. There was still no smoking gun directly confirming Ballmer paid Leonard extra money through Aspiration, but enough evidence had been uncovered by Torre that the NBA couldn't look away.Sept. 19, 2025-May 3, 2026: NBA goes silent, Torre keeps posting After acknowledging a new investigation was launched, the NBA mostly went silent on all things involving the Clippers and Leonard. Torre, meanwhile, continued to post episodes with more evidence casting suspicion on the team and its actions. Torre posted one more video in September, and then a seven-and-a-half-hour compilation of every single episode on the topic in December. In January, Torre started posting new videos on the Leonard situation. He posted a new video roughly every month between January and June, providing more evidence and going in depth on questionable agreements involving Leonard, Ballmer, the Clippers and the team's sponsors. May 4, 2026: Torre wins Pulitzer Prize for unearthing Leonard situation Torre received one of journalism's highest honors in May, when it was announced his show won a Pulitzer Prize for audio reporting. Torre won the award thanks to the program's deep dive into the Leonard situation. June 1, 2026: Aspiration co-founder sentenced to 14 months in prisonAspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two charges of wire fraud. Two months earlier, Steve Ballmer had his attorneys send a letter to the judge presiding over Sanberg's case. That letter outlined all the ways in which Ballmer believed he was defrauded by Sanberg and Aspiration. June 30, 2026: Clippers trade Leonard to the RaptorsWith the investigation still ongoing, the Clippers decided to trade Leonard to the Raptors. From a basketball perspective, the move made sense. The Clippers failed to make the playoffs despite Leonard posting excellent numbers last season. With the 35-year-old entering the final year of his contract, the Clippers had legitimate reasons for trading away the aging star. The optics, however, were questionable at best. And given that the investigation was still underway, it was unclear whether the NBA would be forced to address the issue now that Leonard was involved in a significant offseason transaction. July 9, 2026: Clippers, Raptors say Leonard deal on hold for nowThe NBA did address the trade, though not publicly. Both the Clippers and Raptors confirmed the Leonard deal was on hold until the NBA completed its investigation into the matter. The Clippers used the opportunity to again reiterate that they did not funnel money to Leonard through Aspiration. The team added that it expects the trade to eventually be completed. “On June 30, we reached an agreement in principle to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors,” the team said. “We have since been informed that the trade can only be finalized if the Raptors' ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi's contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and we expect the trade to be finalized following its conclusion.”The Raptors said they were told they "would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi" if they allowed the trade to go through now. With that uncertainty lingering, the team said it would wait until the league's investigation was complete before moving forward with the deal. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the Kawhi Leonard investigation in July. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)Anadolu via Getty ImagesJuly 15, 2026: Silver publicly addresses Leonard trade, investigationAt the Summer League, Silver addressed both the Leonard trade and the status of the league's investigation. Silver said the league did not pause the Leonard deal, instead saying both the Clippers and Raptors made that decision. Regarding the actual investigation, Silver said he hoped to have things resolved over the summer, before the start of the 2026-27 NBA regular season. That same day, it was reported that the NBA was looking into a separate endorsement deal Leonard had with a different company. July 29, 2026: Reports emerge suggesting Leonard investigation could continue into 2027While Silver said he hoped the NBA's investigation would cease before the start of the 2026-27 NBA season, reports emerged suggesting it could extend into 2027. An ESPN report claimed the issue could get pushed to next year, depending on whether all parties agreed with the findings of law firm Wachtell Lipton, which the NBA hired to perform its investigation. That report seemed to suggest the league's investigation was over … or at least close to being concluded. Aug. 7, 2026: Torre reports on another questionable Leonard dealTorre dropped another bombshell in August, reporting on a deal Leonard signed with the company Daktronics. Despite seemingly not doing any endorsement work for the company, Leonard reportedly received millions from Daktronics. Torre claimed that some people who worked on the Intuit Dome were "openly" joking about the deal as being "1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap."Aug. 17, 2026: ESPN reports NBA has no evidence Ballmer funneled money to LeonardThe NBA's investigation into Leonard, the Clippers and Ballmer reportedly found no evidence Ballmer funneled money to Leonard, ESPN reported. Despite that, the NBA was still looking into other potential violations by the team, with ESPN reporting "both sides have been negotiating a resolution to the investigation."Shortly after that report emerged, the NBA said there were inaccuracies in ESPN's reporting. ESPN stood by its article. In response to that piece, the Clippers once again released a statement claiming they did not funnel money to Leonard. The team also reiterated that introducing players to sponsors is not against NBA rules. ESPN also reported that any punishment from the league would likely be taken to arbitration by Ballmer and/or the NBPA, which wouldn't look kindly on a player being punished for working with a team sponsor. Oct. 20, 2026: Opening night of the 2026-27 NBA seasonThe 2026-27 NBA regular season is set to begin Oct. 20. Three games will occur that day, none of which will feature either the Clippers or Raptors. Those teams will play their first games the following day, Oct. 21. It's unclear whether Leonard will be eligible to play in that contest … or what team he'll be on when the 2026-27 NBA regular season begins.

Listen to Sportsound commentary from Celtic ParkStunning Usor effort ruled out inside first minuteSummer signings Baur, Duran and Hogh all startCeltic one tie away from Champions LeagueAustria's LASK welcome Scottish champions to Linz next Tuesday Champions League play-off: LASK have stunning early effort ruled out against Celtic

"I think they've got a wee bit of everything," David Gray says of Hibernian's Conference League opponents, KAA Gent.Nae pressure, then, Hibs. The Belgian Pro League outfit host Gray's side in the first leg of their play-off tie and he is under no illusions "two complete performances" will be required in their quest to create history and reach the group/league phase of a European competition for the first time."This is by far the toughest test we've had in Europe so far," the head coach told BBC Scotland in Ghent on Wednesday evening, "but it's one the players need to look forward to. "It's going to take a huge effort to try and get over the line. It's going to take two complete performances, because it is a side that are used to playing in Europe, they're playing at a very good level in the Belgian League, always up near the top. "They've got real quality throughout their squad, a real good balance within it - a good bit of youth and experience - really good athletes that will certainly hurt you on their day, so we need to be ready for that."But Gray wasn't only focused on Gent. He says his squad ought to come into the tire with "all the confidence in the world," especially how they've navigated the last couple of hectic weeks."I think over the last couple of seasons we've been very fortunate in trying to create our own history and tomorrow's another opportunity to go and do that," he added. "It's also important to remind the players that they deserve to be here because of what we've achieved so far."Some of the results and performances, especially away from home, in Europe last year were memorable and nice to be involved in. "We're going to need another one of them tomorrow night to give us the best chance to get through."

A lot has changed since 2024 in America, especially when it comes to LGBTQ+ people’s lives. Can the 2026 midterms turn that around? The September Issue of LGBTQ Nation will be about the stakes of the midterm elections. While the media will spend a lot of time reporting on the horserace, the LGBTQ+ community knows that who’s up and who’s down is a lot less important than how real people’s lives are going to be affected. So we want to know what you think is important in the coming election. Do you want Congress to use its oversight powers more? Are there specific policy issues you think they should be acting on? Are there state or local issues that affect you directly? Throughout September, we’ll be publishing your opinions. Use the form below to let us know what you think is at stake in the 2026 midterms. [wpforms id=”521077″ title=”false”]

A Russian publisher censored passages about LGBTQ+ issues contained in Hope, the recently released autobiography of now-deceased Pope Francis, TVP World reported Monday. An image posted by Christians Against War — a group of regional Christians who oppose Russia’s four-year, ongoing invasion of Ukraine — showed entire passages of the book blacked out. The book was published by Alpina Publisher, one of Russia’s largest publishing houses. Related Russia forces its largest LGBTQ+ org to close after designating it as a “terrorist” group Natalla Vasilevich, a member of Christians Against War, said the censored passages are ones in which the former pontiff says that gay and transgender people are welcome in the Church, that trans people can be baptized and serve as godparents, that homosexuality is “not a crime, but a human reality,” and that non-liturgical blessings can be given to same-sex couples, the aforementioned media outlet stated. Pope Francis's autobiography censored in RussiaThe Russian publishing house Alpina has released the late Pope Francis's book "Hope," an autobiography he worked on for over six years. However, the text has not reached Russian readers in its entirety. In its advertisement for the… pic.twitter.com/S71HSuG2e7— Christians Against War (@shalt_not_kill) August 16, 2026 Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The censorship stems from Russia’s 2013 law banning “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations.” The ban effectively criminalized Pride parades and any public displays of affection by gay people in Russia. In 2022, the Duma (the lower legislative chamber of Russia’s parliament) expanded the propaganda ban “protecting children” to include all ages, criminalizing “any action or the spreading of any information that is considered an attempt to promote homosexuality in public, online, or in films, books, or advertising.” Putin signed the law as part of a broader push for Russians to embrace the nation’s “traditional values” against “decadent” Western “perversions.” The push has been used as a justification for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Russia’s stance against the Western multinational defense coalition NATO, which seeks to limit Russia’s military expansion in Europe. The law has mostly been used to silence LGBTQ+ activist organizations, events, websites, and media, as well as to break up families and harass teachers. But it has also reportedly led to around 600 titles disappearing from Russian bookstore shelves, according to the independent Russian media outlet The Insider, including works from Oscar Wilde, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Stephen King. The censorious law has been roundly condemned by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, the human rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, as well as civil rights activists around the world. Vasilevich said that the aforementioned Russian-language version of the Pope’s autobiography completely cuts out a section in which he describes his visit to the Russian embassy the day following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In that section, the Pope mentions his efforts to facilitate peace talks to stop Russia’s bombing amid its “monstrous cruelty” and attacks in various Ukrainian cities. Pope Francis had mixed feelings towards LGBTQ+ people In the past, Pope Francis has criticized his own Church’s leaders for becoming too focused on divisive issues like homosexuality. He told U.S. bishops to lay off the anti-gay attacks and compared homophobes to Nazis. He also suggested that he could support same-sex unions, said that celibate gay priests should be allowed to serve, and even met with other LGBTQ+ activists, reportedly telling one man that God made him gay and donating money to a group of transgender sex workers. In January, he called laws criminalizing homosexuality “unjust” and insisted that God loves all his children just as they are. He also called on Catholic bishops to welcome LGBTQ+ people into the Church. In 2020, he also said that nations should recognize civil unions for same-sex couples because they “have a right to a family.” However, Pope Francis has also said that the Catholic Church can’t bless same-sex relationships because they’re a “sin,” that gay priests are being “fashionable” and should “leave the ministry,” that bishops should reject priesthood applicants suspected of being gay, that gay couples can’t be families, that US clerks have a right to deny marriage certificates to same-sex couples, that parents should send their gay children to therapy, that trans people will “annihilate the concept of nature,” and that trans youth shouldn’t try and access gender-affirming medical care. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A growing number of Americans report they are unable to quit or cut down.

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman delivers remarks at a press conference on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the Hall of Justice in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Safiyah Riddle)2026-08-19T19:15:41Z LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles district attorney has backed off felony charges against a police officer who secretly recorded his colleagues making racist remarks after facing criticism the response was too harsh and could deter whistleblowers from coming forward.Los Angeles Police Officer Daniel Flores was charged in July with 16 felonies after he shared recordings last year that captured officers in LAPD’s recruitment division making racist and sexist comments. He reported those recordings to the LAPD’s internal affairs in early 2025. The Los Angeles Times first reported the existence of the tapes at the time.More than a year after the tapes were shared, District Attorney Nathan Hochman charged Flores for violating a decades-old California eavesdropping statute that prohibits secret recordings without informed consent of all parties present. He faced up to 13 years in prison. But those charges prompted swift backlash, including from Flores’ attorney, who said it was wrong to prosecute Flores for exposing bad behavior. Attorney Alan Jackson told the LA Times in July that the charges sent a message that “if you document bigotry inside the LAPD, you will be the one who ends up in a courtroom. It tells them the safe move is to hear slurs and say nothing.”Hochman on Wednesday said he still believed Flores violated the law, but announced that prosecutors would downgrade all 16 charges to misdemeanors. That will allow Flores to enter a diversion agreement, which means he can avoid jail time as long as he doesn’t violate any laws for a year. Jackson did not respond to an emailed request for comment on Wednesday morning. Hochman said his office was “listening to the impact the case was having on potential whistleblowers” when it decided to reduce the initial charges, which he said, “sent the wrong message” to the public. Hochman vehemently denounced the comments made by the other officers, saying the remarks amounted to “hate speech.” But he said that there wasn’t evidence that they amounted to a hate crime, which prevented his office from criminally prosecuting those who made the comments. Read More The recordings Flores shared with LAPD internal affairs showed other officers making a wide array of offensive comments. Officers joked about a famous Latino baseball pitcher dying from eating “too many tacos,” invoked racist tropes about Black people, and on one occasion called a young LAPD recruit “rapeable” because they were “someone who could be taken advantage of,” according to a motion filed by the district attorney’s office. Hochman condemned the officers’ remarks on Wednesday, but said that he still adamantly believes Flores should face some consequences for breaking the law. He said he hoped his decision would encourage officers to work with the district attorney’s office to gather evidence through legal channels. 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. “Here we have an LAPD officer who should know the law better than anyone else,” he said, adding later that his office works “every single day with individuals who are whistleblowers who have brought wrongdoing forward through legitimate means.” Flores was found guilty in a separate, internal LAPD investigation, and given a 22-day suspension without pay, the LA Times reported. It is not clear whether Flores served that time. The LAPD also opened confidential disciplinary hearings against the officers who made the comments, but the department has not said whether anyone has been disciplined. SAFIYAH RIDDLE Riddle is a national law enforcement reporter based in Los Angeles, California. mailto

This photo provided by NASA shows Kieran Wilson, LINK's principal investigator, and Hunter Robertson, a space systems engineer, both at Katalyst Space, standing next to their spacecraft inside the SES (Space Environment Simulator) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., April 17, 2026, ahead of thermal vacuum testing. (Sophia Roberts/NASA via AP, File)2026-08-19T19:07:35Z CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The mission to save NASA’s sinking Swift Observatory was called off Wednesday, dooming the telescope to a fiery reentry later this year.NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies announced the news more than a month after the startup’s Link spacecraft rocketed away to the telescope’s rescue. Katalyst said Link will not attempt to capture Swift and boost it to a higher orbit because of problems with controlling the spacecraft. NASA said this means the telescope will plunge through the atmosphere after more than 20 years of tracking some of the biggest explosions in the universe like gamma ray bursts and exploding stars. NASA paid $30 million to Katalyst in an attempt to raise the telescope to a safer, longer-lasting orbit. Intense solar activity caused it to lose altitude faster than expected. The rescue spacecraft went into an uncontrollable spin a few weeks after its liftoff in early July. While flight controllers managed to slow Link’s tumble, issues continued to plague its pointing and positioning in orbit. “This is not the outcome we were working toward, but it does not change why this mission was worth attempting,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement. As a consolation prize, Katalyst will continue to operate Link in proximity with the telescope to demonstrate capabilities for future rescue operations. Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee said it was an ambitious mission on an aggressive timeline that was thrown together in under a year .“We took on this high-risk, high-reward challenge and are proud of the milestones we reached along the way,” Lee said in a statement. “We have already learned a tremendous amount.” Read More Launched in 2004, Swift’s science instruments were turned off earlier this year to slow its descent. It was orbiting 216 miles (347 kilometers) high as of last week. NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope could benefit from an orbital boost and had been next in line for a rescue attempt had this mission gone well. The 36-year-old Hubble is also dropping in orbit because of all the sun’s recent outbursts. It wasn’t immediately known whether Hubble is now out of luck. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

This image released by Neon shows Phinehas Yoon in a scene from "It Ends." (Neon via AP)2026-08-19T19:12:28Z Every generation deserves its own postgrad malaise movie. Not every attempt is going to be “The Graduate” or “Frances Ha,” but even when they’re mediocre, they’re also often a pure expression from a young filmmaker about what their contemporaries are feeling at that exact moment.Though the details may change — the clothes, the hairstyles, the gadgets, the soundtrack — the vibe kind of stays the same even in a high concept horror like “It Ends,” in which four friends find themselves on an endless road to nowhere. It’s kind of reassuring, unlike, say, the encroaching doom of adulthood.“It Ends” was written and directed by Alexander Ullom, who graduated from college during the pandemic and is open about how he struggled with dissociative depression. You don’t need to know this to watch the film, but it makes sense once you’ve met James (Phinehas Yoon). He’s the rational and inquisitive one whose seen-it-all-already jadedness about his future is its own kind of poison. Somehow, however, he hasn’t alienated his high school friends. They still like him enough to help him move into his new apartment (which is, by all accounts, super depressing). We meet them as they all cram into a white Jeep Cherokee to find some food. Tyler (Mitchell Cole) is driving, and Fisher (Noah Toth) is leading a spirited discussion about which animals they’d pick to defend them (10,000 rats, 50 hawks, one man with a gun, or five gorillas etc., etc.). It was, apparently, a popular meme for a time. Day (Akira Jackson) is navigating with her phone’s maps app and wondering whether she could choose gorillas trained to use guns as a loophole.Tyler is the outlier in this group, the one who didn’t go to college. He went into the military and has been working for some time in HVAC. He’s even talking about wanting to get married sooner rather than later. And he’s the only one with a discernable Southern accent (they’re apparently in Florida). The others are all just out of college and really feeling it. Day is ambling around on job search sites, trying to put her graphic design degree to work. James has an entry level engineering job and his future all mapped out (although the way he describes his inevitable life in a Midwestern city in which he’s married with kids and making six figures sounds like a death sentence). He’d rather, he says, be in a medically induced coma hooked up to “oxy serotonin” cocktails. Personally, I prefer Noah Baumbach’s line from “Kicking and Screaming” about wishing they were just retiring after a lifetime of hard work to the drugged out coma thought, but I long ago aged out of the postgrad demo. Read More Is it believable that these four would have stayed friends in high school and beyond? Not really, especially Tyler. But there needs to be a few different types to handle their new predicament of seemingly being stuck forever on a country road in this Jeep. Some hope in vain for a way out. Some are content to pass the time as happily and aimlessly as they can (learn dances, tell jokes, scream sometimes). James just wants to understand. And then there’s the question of the zombielike people in the woods who attack when they stop for more than 90 seconds, which is good for a few jump scares. The metaphors might not be especially subtle, but the film does have a kind of hypnotic appeal. With its minimalist approach, “It Ends” almost feels like a pandemic-era production. It’s a neat concept that wears a little thin after a while, but it’s a movie that shows promise not only in Ullom’s ability to create a sustained, ominous mood, but in his eye for casting a group of talented and essentially unknown actors. Ullom’s bio says that he “makes films for anyone going through stuff.” And Gen Z, like all the generations before them and all the generations after, are certainly in the thick of “going through stuff.” Maybe “It Ends” is just what they need. “It Ends,” a Neon release in New York and Los Angeles on Friday and nationwide Aug. 28, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for “pervasive language.” Running time: 89 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four. LINDSEY BAHR Bahr has been a film writer and critic for The Associated Press since 2014. twitter instagram mailto

President Donald Trump speaks on the South Lawn of the White House at the construction site of the new helicopter landing zone, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, seen from the Washington Monument in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)2026-08-19T18:26:09Z Dramatic body camera footage shows nine members of a U.S. Marshals Service task force falling to the ground as a second-story wooden deck they were standing on suddenly collapses.The video shows the deck collapsing on July 21 as the officers, several holding firearms, stand in a line just outside an apartment door in Huntsville, Missouri. The officers fall straight down within seconds. None of their weapons discharged.The officers were there to arrest a 26-year-old man for failing to register as a sex offender. The Randolph County Sheriff’s Department said the task force included members of its office, as well as the Moberly Police Department and the North Missouri Drug Task Force. They were serving an arrest warrant in coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service, the sheriff’s department said.Seven officers were treated and released from the hospital for injuries “consistent with a pretty serious fall,” including broken bones, Steven Lewis, U.S. marshal for the eastern district of Missouri, told KMIZ television in Columbia, Missouri.The man officers were seeking was taken into custody later that day, U.S. Marshals Service spokesperson Abigail Meyer said in an email Wednesday. SCOTT BAUER Bauer is the AP’s Statehouse reporter covering politics and state government in Madison, Wisconsin. He also writes music reviews. twitter mailto

Hoops 360 hosts Caroline Fenton and Cassandra Negley break down the heated matchup between Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever and Marina Mabrey and the Toronto Tempo. The red-hot Fever extend their winning streak to five games as they continue to showcase more of their championship formula.Caroline and Cass also highlight exciting moments from this past week in basketball: WNBA legends Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne and Chamique Holdsclaw were inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Diana Taurasi was inducted into the Phoenix Mercury’s Ring of Honor and retired her iconic No. 3 jersey, plus Nneka Ogwumike announced her retirement from the WNBA after 15 seasons.Plus, stay tuned for an exclusive interview with Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and director Matthew Hamachek, who takes us behind the scenes of the upcoming docuseries The Dynasty: UConn Huskies. Hamachek reveals new sides of Geno Auriemma and dives deep into the story behind the Huskies’ historic dynasty.01:15 - Big takeaways from Fever vs. Tempo matchup?21:33 - Celebrating the 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction25:19 - How iconic is Diana Taurasi to the Phoenix Mercury?30:06 - Breaking: Nneka Ogwumike announces retirement. What does this mean for the WNBA?35:58 - Filmmaker and director of upcoming docuseries, The Dynasty: UConn Huskies, Matthew Hamachek joins Hoops 360!01:07:45 - Must-watch matchups

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, former Alabama Crimson Tide cornerback Trevon Diggs is reportedly signing a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks. With the signing, Diggs will become the latest Alabama player to join the Seahawks, a list which features the likes of Jarran Reed, Josh Jobe, and Jalen Milroe, among others. A six-year NFL veteran, Diggs was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Alabama by the Dallas Cowboys, and went on to make two Pro Bowl appearances with the organization prior to being waived a year ago. Last season, Diggs saw action in eight games with Dallas, and later went on to play a game with the Green Bay Packers, ending the year with 27 total tackles.Across his six seasons in the league, Diggs has amassed a combined 242 tackles and 20 interceptions. Diggs is also a one-time First Team All-Pro selection, doing so during his stellar 2021 season in Dallas where he led the NFL with 11 interceptions. The Seahawks are one of the NFL's top teams entering the 2026 season. Seattle went 14-3 a year ago, winning the Super Bowl. Source: Former Cowboys two-time Pro-Bowl CB Trevon Diggs is signing a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks. pic.twitter.com/ddPVeh6WER— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 19, 2026Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Former Alabama cornerback reportedly signing with Super Bowl champions

Red Sox Find Out How Much Garrett Crochet Can Pitch When He Returns originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Boston Red Sox are very hopeful that at some point over the next month or so, they can get Garrett Crochet back in the rotation. Crochet, undoubtedly one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball, finds himself in a situation where he has to make a decision. If he doesn't feel comfortable coming back and throwing, it might not be too surprising to see him sit out for the remainder of the campaign. However, Crochet is a big-time competitor, and if he has any chance to get back on the mound and the Red Sox are content with how he looks, he's going to give them some innings come October.The only question that still remains is how comfortable he feels and how much he believes he can throw. Speaking to reporters recently, Crochet stated that he could probably go about two innings.“What could I build up to, max? Probably two innings, just looking at the schedule based on when I started throwing and being smart about it,” he said, per Chris Cotillo.The Red Sox want to be smart, too. While the short-term satisfaction of winning a World Series would be awesome, the Red Sox have found themselves in a really good spot over the past few months and should be able to do so as long as Crochet can give them a few innings here and there.More Red SoxLatest Red Sox news2026 Red Sox schedule2026 Red Sox rosterComplete history of Red Sox championships

Buccaneers first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. remained on the field in full pads for roughly an hour after practice ended to continue working.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had plenty of reasons to be excited about first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. throughout training camp, and the rookie is apparently making sure the work doesn't stop when practice does.Greg Auman reported on X 30 minutes after practice ended that Bain was still on the field in pads getting additional work. Interviews had already wrapped up, and the Tampa heat hadn't let up, but Bain wasn't finished. He ultimately remained on the field for roughly an hour after the conclusion of practice."Practice ended a half-hour ago, interviews have ended, still ridiculously hot out, and Rueben Bain is still on the field in pads working," Auman wrote.It's a small moment during a long training camp, but spending an extra hour on the field says something about how Bain is approaching his first NFL season. The Buccaneers selected the former Miami standout with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, bringing him in to add a potentially disruptive presence to the defensive front.Bain has already generated positive attention throughout camp, but Tampa Bay will eventually need that work to translate when the games count. As a first-round pick, expectations were always going to follow him into his rookie season. For now, Bain is doing his part to prepare for them, even if it means being the last one left on the practice field.This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Rueben Bain Puts in Extra Work After Buccaneers Practice Ends

Breakthrough Barcelona talent to replace Marc Casadó in Hansi Flick’s squad this seasonThe coaching staff at La Liga giants Barcelona are ready to promote from within in their bid to replace the outbound Marc Casadó this coming season.This comes amid the understanding that Xavi Espart is essentially set to step into the void left by the Spanish international in Hansi Flick’s first-team ranks.Midfielder Casadó is for his part set to depart Catalunya’s capital before the summer is out, having been deemed surplus to requirements by Flick and his staff.Considered a rotation option, the Barcelona brass are therefore eager not to dip back into the market to source a replacement for the 22-year-old. Instead, the Blaugrana, it is claimed, are ready to lean on the talents of young full-back Xavi Espart.As per a report from Mundo Deportivo, after shining in a midfield berth during pre-season:‘Xavi Espart is expected to fill the spot on the roster that Marc Casadó will vacate, whose number ’17’ is no longer listed on the league website as he finalizes his departure.’Conor Laird – GSFN

Donald Trump has a long history of berating and insulting female reporters for asking him basic questions, and a recent interaction makes it clear he has gotten more comfortable than ever doing so. “Quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet,” Trump sneered at CNN reporter Kristen Holmes after she asked a question about military operations in South Korea. Earlier in the briefing, Holmes had asked the president about a comment Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) made about his relationship with his aide, Natalie Harp. Related “One of the worst responses”: Lindsey Graham’s sister fumbles debate question hard “You’re very disrespectful in front of this young man,” Trump continued. The president was referring to 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams, who he hosted at the White House after Williams rescued a 10-year-old from rough waters in California. “Quiet,” Trump snapped again, and then ranted about CNN being “fake news.” 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 “You’re a loud, boisterous person, you’re fake news,” he said. And when Holmes tried to respond, Trump spoke over her, yelling, “Be quiet” over and over again. He called her a “fake reporter” and refused to answer her question before calling on another journalist. Trump scolds a reporter: Quiet! You’re very disrespectful in front of this young man. Don’t you find her disrespectful? He understands. Quiet! You’re fake news. BE QUIET! You’re a fake reporter. pic.twitter.com/AevIZXEaGp— Acyn (@Acyn) August 17, 2026 CNN released a statement defending Holmes, calling her “one of the most respected and accomplished journalists covering the White House” and slamming Trump for acting “beneath the office and inconsistent with the principles of a free press.” Many on social media expressed their horror at this kind of behavior coming from the president of the United States and said it’s clear evidence of his hatred for strong women. Others also voiced frustration that other journalists in the room did not stand up for Holmes. This is fucking insane. Shame on any America who thinks he's fit to lead. https://t.co/JC5f1slH3D— Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) August 17, 2026 I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again… If this is how he treats women in front of the entire country, imagine what he’s been capable of alone with them when he doesn’t get what he wants… https://t.co/l2tTUHvsKE— Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) August 18, 2026 The President is clearly intimidated by female reporters. He cannot handle their questions and it shows. https://t.co/5wjydReyHN— Jessica Tarlov (@JessicaTarlov) August 17, 2026 This isn’t a President.This is a small man,Intimidated by smart women.This is a misogynist prick.Full Stop. https://t.co/8oFxahmFzV— Not Your Average Liberal (@NotAvgLiberal) August 18, 2026 Before I even clicked the link to watch the replay, I knew if he was scolding, it was a woman reporter. https://t.co/wcdyZIxdme— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) August 17, 2026 He's intimidated by women he can't control. https://t.co/tVQe2isYJK— DeathMetalViking (@DeathMetalV) August 17, 2026 Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Thunder is back!The Denver Broncos welcomed a brand-new Thunder team in a Twitter/X post on Wednesday morning. The new team is comprised of Dr. Kelly Tisher (program lead and veterinarian), Elizabeth Tisher (program lead), Gretchen Flynn (trainer and rider), Phillip Flynn (trainer) and, of course, a new Thunder horse.Less than 10 days after the retirement of the old Thunder team, the Broncos once again have a new live mascot. The Walton-Penner ownership group has tried to keep the traditions of the team before them intact, so it was important that a new Thunder team be chosen.#BroncosCountry, join us in welcoming the new Thunder team with a big #MileHighSalute! 🫡Follow @BroncosThunder for more as we officially pass the reins to the new team at our Home Opener on Sept. 20. pic.twitter.com/ro2Mb9hL43— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 19, 2026"For more than three decades, Thunder created lasting memories for fans as an iconic part of our gameday experience and community outreach," Broncos owner Carrie Walton Penner said of the horse team.The new Thunder will not be seen in the preseason; the horse and team will make their 2026 debut during the Broncos' home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team announced. The Broncos return to Empower Field at Mile High for their first home preseason contest against the Green Bay Packers on Friday evening. Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos announce new Thunder mascot team for home games

Scottie Scheffler is hopeful the PGA Tour can eventually welcome back LIV Golf's best players, but Rory McIlroy didn't sound as eager as the two tours get set to hold competing events for perhaps the final time.The world's two best golfers were asked about LIV Golf's uncertain future hours before LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil preached "high confidence" in the league's future. O'Neil called for more cooperation among the sport's leaders in the league's latest attempt to deflect speculation that this week's LIV event in Indianapolis could be its last one before folding."I wouldn't bet against us," O'Neil told reporters during a pre-tournament news conference on Wednesday, August 19.PGA TOUR: Ranking all 50 golfers in FedEx Cup Playoffs by BMW Championship oddsScheffler, McIlroy differ on LIV Golf 'value' to PGA TourWhether LIV Golf survives in a new form or not, Scheffler said he wants LIV Golf's best to be allowed to defect back to the PGA Tour, provided there are "some sort of penalties" as designated by PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. "The depth that we have on our Tour is a bit unmatched, but I think when you look at the higher levels of LIV Golf, there's definitely some players that would provide a lot of value to the Tour," Scheffler told reporters at the BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club outside St. Louis for the second event of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs. "... I look forward to the chance to compete with them more often."McIlroy, an outspoken LIV Golf critic, offered a harsher take than Scheffler when asked a similar question."I mean, I'd argue have they brought value to LIV?" McIlroy said. "... I think the PGA Tour is in a really good spot."Rolapp has previously indicated he was open to allowing more golfers who defected to LIV Golf to return to the PGA Tour if it made the PGA Tour stronger. But he emphasized it was not one of the PGA Tour's priorities as it eyes a revamped schedule beginning next year.What's the latest on LIV Golf's new investor?O'Neil, who took over as LIV Golf CEO in January 2025, described the past few months as "severely challenging" and emphasized the sport "doesn't need another five years of fighting." He proposed LIV Golf members be permitted to play on other tours and noted current LIV golfers have a deadline to commit to remaining with LIV Golf moving forward. He did not, however, specify a date for that deadline.The league has plans for a reduced schedule and a new operating format in 2027, with golfers as the majority equity holders in the tour.O'Neil's latest comments come in the midst of LIV Golf's pursuit of long-term funding from a new investor that it has not yet publicly named. O'Neil once again declined to name the investor on Wednesday, though he previously said there was an "agreement" in place. Multiple reports have identified private equity firm BC Partners as LIV Golf's potential new partner.BC Partners CEO Ted Goldthorpe was in attendance at LIV Golf New York earlier this month along with U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. Goldthorpe also spoke with LIV golfers on Tuesday ahead of the season-ending event in Indianapolis, according to The Athletic.LIV Golf confirmed on Monday that the LIV Golf Indianapolis event slated to begin on Thursday, Aug. 20 will mark the end of its 2026 season after weeks of speculation that its team championship event slated for next week in Michigan would be called off amidst funding issues.Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which has reportedly spent more than $5 billion founding and operating LIV Golf, announced in April that it would not continue funding the tour following the 2026 season as part of a strategic shift, leaving LIV officials to find an alternative source of funding.LIV Golf is now facing lawsuits from multiple vendors over unpaid invoices related to its events. The $40 million purse for this week's event in Indianapolis is about $30 million less than what was originally announced for the Indianapolis and Michigan events.The 2027 LIV schedule will feature just 10 events, instead of 14, with five taking place in the U.S. and five at international sites, according to O'Neil. But rumors of LIV Golf's impending demise have continued in recent weeks, with prominent LIV Golf member Ian Poulter noting in a recent interview that "time might run out.""There is a hard deadline I think of September 1st ... to find $300 million," Poulter said on GOLF LIFE on YouTube. "That is not a lot of time considering people and contracts have got to be signed."This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy weigh in on LIV Golf's uncertain future

Aug. 19—CHENEY — Eastern Washington earned its second straight win to open the season, defeating Bucknell 1-0 behind a late goal from Mia Miconi and another standout performance in goal from Payton Hyde, according to a statement by EWU Athletics.The Eagles recorded 11 shots in the match, while Bucknell finished with 21. Despite consistent pressure from the Bison, Eastern's defense held strong to secure its second consecutive shutout.Bucknell came out aggressive, pressing the Eagles early and creating an immediate scoring opportunity with a shot that struck the crossbar. Eastern cleared the danger, but the Bison continued to apply pressure. Hyde answered with a diving save to keep the match scoreless.Hyde finished the afternoon with nine saves in just her second collegiate start, providing a steady presence in goal throughout the match."Her reactionary shot stopping is fantastic," head coach Missy Strasburg said. "To see Payton in all of her glory in those reaction saves was pretty special. And to do it with a calm and poise, she does not look like somebody who's on her second career start with us. She just stood in there with a massive amount of confidence today."Eastern began to find its rhythm over the final 20 minutes of the first half, recording four shots and earning its first corner kick of the match. P. Hyde added two key saves down the stretch to send the teams into halftime tied at 0-0.The Eagles opened the second half on the front foot, putting early pressure on the Bison. Riley Roesch picked up her first yellow card of the season, but Eastern's back line handled the ensuing pressure and cleared the ball out of danger.With 30 minutes remaining, Bucknell found another gear offensively and spent extended time in the attacking third, creating multiple chances on goal. P. Hyde continued to stand tall in net, while Eastern's back line contributed several key blocks to keep the Bison off the scoreboard.Captain Iris Mattern helped anchor the Eagles defensively, making several key tackles and organizing the back line throughout the match."Iris has always done an exceptional job being the general of that back line group," Strasburg said. "Her performance today was stellar. To go to ground two or three times, give us super clean slide tackles, stop shots, block some things and then pop up and keep possession, we're seeing her at her very best right now."The breakthrough finally came in the 81st minute when Miconi unleashed a strike from 16 yards out to give Eastern the 1-0 advantage. The unassisted goal was Miconi's second in as many games to begin her Eagle career."She's so dangerous," Strasburg said. "We know every time she's on the ball, she's dangerous, even from the wide space. Any time she's inside that box, we keep telling her, 'Just put your laces on it and let it rip.' And she clearly does. She's off to a great start."Bucknell made one final push for the equalizer, but Hyde delivered back-to-back saves in the closing minutes to preserve the shutout and seal the 1-0 victory.Eastern will now hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to Illinois for a pair of matches. The Eagles face UIC on Thursday in Chicago before heading to Macomb to take on Western Illinois on Sunday.

PSG player gets 3 game ban and Parisians to have fixture venue changed in double bad admin updatePSG have had two pieces of bad admin news in the last few hours, with a venue change and a suspension incoming.If you enjoy PSG Talk coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.PSG’s match against Rennes this weekend will now be played at the Roazhon Park (Rennes’ home ground) instead of the Parc des Princes because of the poor condition of the pitch in Paris.“We were Informed on August 17th by Paris Saint-Germain of the condition of the Parc des Princes pitch,” an LFP statement read.“The LFP proceeded on the morning of August 19 with a visit from a specialized engineering firm and a delegate to conduct a thorough examination of the playing surface. Following this examination, it was determined that the current condition of the pitch did not allow for ensuring the safety of the players.”PSG hit with admin bad news doubleIn other news, PSG have been hit by more bad news. The Parisians decided not to appeal Nuno Mendes’ red card picked up against Lens in the Trophee des Champions. The LFP have now decided that the Portugal full back will be banned for three Ligue 1 games.In other news…PSG want £140m for Bradley Barcola, and the ball is now in Liverpool’s court to see if they will pay it.The Barcola replacement, Mika Godts, is already in the building and training with PSG after signing from Ajax.Godts’ arrival spells the end for Bradley Barcola, who has made it clear he won’t sign a new contract and wants to leave. Liverpool are in talks.Luis Enrique’s team decisions for the Trophee des Champions made his squad plans for the season ahead very clear.

Manchester City find Koné interesting after Manchester United pursuitThere are reports in England that Roma midfielder Manu Koné could become a target for Manchester City, after Manchester United were turned off by the €60m asking price.It had seemed all summer as if Koné would be on his way out after seeing his value sky-rocket thanks to fine performances both in Serie A for the Giallorossi and for France at the 2026 World Cup.He was the breakout star of Les Bleus in that tournament, so the €50m asking price went up to at least €60m.Koné caught the eye of Premier League clubsDORTMUND, GERMANY – AUGUST 15: Manu Kone of AS Roma is challenged by Jobe Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund during the pre-season friendly match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Roma at Signal Iduna Park on August 15, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)Inter and Manchester United had been hovering around, but looked elsewhere, and it was assumed by mid-August that there would be no new developments.However, Mail Sport claim today that Manchester City have turned the spotlight back on Koné for a potential swoop after selling Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah for €61m.This comes just a year after spending €55m plus €14m in add-ons to buy Reijnders from Milan.Roma know that they need sales to fund other transfer activity, in areas where they are more lacking in alternatives.SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 15: Omar Marmoush #22 of Egypt carries the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between Belgium and Egypt at Seattle Stadium on June 15, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)In turn, it’s reported today that Manchester City are ready to sell Omar Marmoush and Savinho to Tottenham Hotspur for a combined €150m.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, left, and United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speak to reporters in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, the day after the Trump administration temporarily delayed tariffs on Canada. (Kelly Geraldine Malone/The Canadian Press via AP)2026-08-19T19:48:05Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Canada has dodged President Donald Trump’s threat of 50% tariffs — at least for now.Trump went on social media late Tuesday to say he was pausing for three days the taxes on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports less than two hours before they were set to go into effect. Speaking to reporters at the White House Wednesday, Trump said that talks with Canada yielded a “very fair deal for both” sides. “Our farmers are going to be thrilled, our manufacturers are going to be thrilled,” Trump said in an impromptu gaggle during a tour of South Lawn construction.Trump also noted that the agreement is all subject to the “finalization of documents.” For now, the tariffs have been postponed until 12:01 a.m. Saturday.Dominic LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, returned to Ottawa on Wednesday to meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was also set to chair Cabinet and a virtual meeting with provincial and territorial leaders.Here’s what to know: Trump’s tariff threat would hit 5% of Canadian exports Last month, Trump invoked a never-before-used legal authority, dating back to the Great Depression, to announce that the United States would slap 50% tariffs on $20 billion, or about 5%, of Canadian exports to the United States, ranging from hockey sticks to tongue depressors. Trump claimed that Canada discriminates against American exports of autos, alcohol and cheese. The U.S. president is also furious that Canada and China were the only countries that punched back with retaliatory tariffs of their own when he slapped levies on their products.The United States and Canada have sparred for decades over trade, poking each other over sore spots like Canadian softwood lumber imports and U.S. access to Canada’s protected dairy market. Canada’s dairy market has been a persistent irritant While details of the agreement emerging Wednesday remain vague, Trump claimed that Canada had agreed to end tariffs on U.S. agricultural products. “The tariffs will be non-existent for our farmers. Our farmers were paying tremendous tariffs into Canada, and those tariffs are going to be totally eviscerated. Down to zero,” he said. Read More Canada currently allows a set amount of dairy imports at low tariffs. Once imports exceed that limit, much higher tariffs apply. The U.S. says Canada’s “supply management″ system makes it harder for American dairy producers to get full access to the Canadian market. LeBlanc, talking to reporters in Washington, said that Canada’s “agriculture sector will be well protected and we have maintained our tough line.’’That leaves another key question unresolved: how Canada can preserve supply management while giving U.S. farmers the additional access Trump says they will get.Also unclear is what Canada would get out of the deal. Carney says the emerging agreement would provide greater certainty and preserve favorable terms for key sectors, but Ottawa has not detailed what tariff relief Washington has offered. 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. Trump raised the prospect of reviving Keystone XLIn the Truth Social post announcing the three-day tariff pause, Trump declared that the long-canceled Keystone XL pipeline “may be awoken from the grave.” He posted an illustration of himself wrangling with a pipeline. He did not say whether reviving Keystone XL was part of the agreement.The White House did not return a request for more details on the Keystone element. But earlier this year, Trump granted a key approval for a major new Canada-to-U.S. pipeline nicknamed “Keystone Light.” It would carry up to 550,000 barrels (87,400 cubic meters) of oil a day from Canada through Montana and Wyoming, where it would link with another pipeline.Keystone XL was designed to carry up to 830,000 barrels of crude a day from Canada’s oil sands to Nebraska and onward to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries. The project became a major political and environmental fight: President Barack Obama rejected it in 2015, Trump revived it in his first term and President Joe Biden canceled its permit in 2021. The Canadian company behind it later abandoned the project. Carney had already raised reviving Keystone XL with Trump at the White House in October 2025, and Trump was receptive, according to a Canadian government official familiar with the discussion. A revival would align with a longstanding Canadian goal rather than amount to a new U.S. concession.Carney did not mention the pipeline in his latest statement or detail what Canada had agreed to in the broader trade talks. Both sides wrangle over American alcohol importsEight of Canada’s 10 provinces restrict or ban U.S. alcohol — measures imposed in retaliation for Trump’s previous tariffs on a number of Canadian goods last year and amid anger over his repeated talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state. The Distilled Spirits Council says U.S. spirits exports to Canada have fallen more than 70%.Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, is especially important. Its government-run LCBO, one of the world’s largest alcohol purchasers, sold nearly $1 billion Canadian dollars ($723 million) in U.S. products annually before pulling them from shelves. The White House says the emerging deal includes a Canadian commitment to address the restrictions. But Carney cannot order provinces to restore sales. And provincial leaders could resist if the broader deal falls short of their priorities. For instance, Quebec is focused on dairy supply management, Ontario on protecting its auto industry and British Columbia on softwood lumber. The backlash extends beyond liquor stores, with Canadian travel to the United States falling sharply. Even if U.S. alcohol returns, sales could take time to recover.An agreement could clear the way for a broader trade dealThe U.S. is renegotiating a North American trade pact — the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement — that Trump strong-armed America’s neighbors into accepting in his first term. The U.S. has begun formal USMCA negotiations with Mexico but not with Canada.If the threat of 50% tariffs is cleared, it “should help pave the way for formal U.S.-Canada negotiations,’' said Wendy Cutler, a former U.S. trade negotiator who is now senior vice president the Asia Society Policy Institute.Both countries had incentives to head off an escalation in trade tensions.Nearly 72% of Canada’s goods exports last year went to the United States. And the Trump administration might be wary of imposing a hefty new tariff — paid by U.S. importers who try to pass along the cost to consumers via higher prices — ahead of November’s midterm elections. American voters are already frustrated with the high cost of living.___Gillies reported from Toronto. SEUNG MIN KIM Kim covers the White House for The Associated Press. She joined the AP in 2022 and is based in Washington. Kim is also a political analyst for CNN. twitter mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Tom Fletcher, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, speaks during an interview in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dan Bashakov)2026-08-19T19:35:08Z KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The intensifying use of drones against civilians and humanitarian workers is a dangerous obstacle for aid operations in Ukraine, the U.N.'s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, said on Wednesday. Fletcher spoke to The Associated Press in an interview after a visit to the southern city of Kherson, where he witnessed how communities there are coping while living under the constant threat of Russian drones. Fletcher described the visit to Kherson, split by the Dnipro River, which acts as an active front line, as “quite chilling.”Russian forces occupy the eastern bank, while Ukrainian forces hold the western bank. From across the water, kamikaze and surveillance drones routinely hunt and attack civilians, vehicles and public transit. “It really gives us an insight into the dangers ahead of us,” he said. The threat is also making it harder for humanitarian organizations to reach people who need assistance. Fletcher spoke after attending a commemoration for two humanitarian workers who had died while doing their jobs.“Drones are a real threat to not just civilians but the humanitarians who are here to protect them,” Fletcher said. He said that aid workers are protected under international humanitarian law and yet marked humanitarian vehicles have still been hit. “So that does restrict what we can do,” he said. Local organizations are particularly exposed. More than two-thirds of operations funded through Ukraine’s humanitarian fund are carried out by local organizations, according to Fletcher.“They’re the ones who are saying most loudly to us, we’re not protected,” he said. Read More Fletcher said the U.N. needs more than $2 billion for its prioritized humanitarian response in Ukraine this year, with winter among his biggest concerns. Damage to civilian infrastructure, including electricity, water and gas systems, could once again leave millions vulnerable during the harsh winter months, raising fears of a repeat of last winter’s severe conditions.The U.N. has sharply narrowed its humanitarian priorities all over the world as donor funding has fallen. Fletcher said the organization initially identified 87 million people facing the most severe humanitarian needs, but that figure has since risen to about 92 million with the onslaught of Ebola in Africa, the earthquake in Venezuela and other conflicts. The U.N. is seeking $23 billion to provide life-saving assistance to those people and had raised about $11 billion, said Fletcher. 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. Ukraine is relatively well funded compared with many other crises, he added, with roughly 70–75% of its hyper-prioritized funding requirement covered. But even full funding of the humanitarian plan would address only part of Ukraine’s needs.Fletcher also admitted that raising money for humanitarian operations has become more difficult as governments have increasingly redirected spending toward defense and domestic priorities.“We’re in a more transactional world, I would say a more selfish world,” he said.Fletcher said the U.N. now has to demonstrate that it is using limited taxpayer money efficiently and strategically.“We have to show governments that we are spending their taxpayers’ money sensibly, wisely, in a prioritized way,” he said. In a stark new assessment released on Wednesday, the U.N. warned that 907 aid workers were victims of violence last year and over 1,000 have been killed in three years. Fletcher said he could not reassure colleagues that those responsible would be held accountable based on how the international community has reacted.He said accountability should extend beyond identifying the person who physically carried out an attack.“I want to see investigations into the people who fired the weapon or flew the drone,” he said. SAMYA KULLAB Kullab is an Associated Press reporter covering Ukraine since June 2023. Before that, she covered Iraq and the wider Middle East from her base in Baghdad since joining the AP in 2019. twitter instagram mailto

Parents hold pictures of their deceased children during a protest against social media platforms outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)2026-08-19T19:23:59Z OAKLAND, California (AP) — A former engineering director at Meta who has testified before Congress about child safety on Instagram told jurors Wednesday at a landmark trial that the company took a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach on kids under 13 on its platforms. During his second day of testimony, Arturo Béjar said Meta consistently prioritized profits over safety in designing its products, focusing on how often and for how long people used them, even if it was detrimental to their mental well-being. “If you step away from the product, they are not going to make any money,” he said. The trial that began Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, pits Meta against the states of California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey and is expected to last about six weeks. The four states were among 29 that sued the tech giant in 2023 over child safety and privacy — the other 25 will go to trial later. The company also faces lawsuits in state courts, including one underway in Tennessee. The lawsuit accuses Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features that addict children to its platforms and hide these harms from the public. It also argues that Meta routinely collects data on children under 13 without their parents’ consent, in violation of federal law.“The attitude in particular on Instagram was ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell,’” Béjar said in response to a question about his perception of the company’s attitude towards users under 13. The company has rejected the claims and said evidence at the trial will show its commitment to safety.“You will hear over the course of this case a lot of important issues, issues like teen mental health, issues like social media, issues like how teens use social media,” Meta lawyer Paul Schmidt said Tuesday. “Those are important issues, and they’re issues where Meta believes that it has a responsibility. It has a responsibility to act on its own. It has a responsibility to try to work with teens and parents in partnership to try to address those questions.” Read More Plaintiffs’ witness says safety was an ‘afterthought’Béjar worked at Facebook from 2009 to 2015, attracting wide attention for his work to combat cyberbullying. He returned from 2019 to 2021 as a contractor to work on safety issues. He testified before Congress in 2023 about social media and the teen mental health crisis, saying that Meta executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, knew about harms Instagram was causing but chose not to make meaningful changes to address them. In his testimony Wednesday, Béjar said employee performance reviews and compensation for those who worked on user-facing products were mostly focused on user numbers and how long they spend with those products. 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. “In that context, safety was an afterthought,” he said. The states are seeking changes to user experiences for Facebook and Instagram as well as financial damages, which could include billions of dollars in penalties. In a written statement, the office of California’s attorney general said if Meta loses, the amount of any damages would be set by the court. “This case is about stopping Meta from offering a dangerous product to teens, and from lying to teens, families, and the public about the dangerousness of their platforms. The primary remedy under our state consumer protection law is an injunction,” the statement said. Béjar walked through Meta features he said were designed for adults and are “inherently unsafe for teenagers.”This includes video autoplay, which can mean teens see videos that may cause them harm even if they don’t click on them; as well as various counters that track how many people liked, viewed or commented on your content or how many followers you have.Child development experts have noted teenagers are more susceptible to social comparison than adults, so products that reward popularity can be more harmful to their mental health. Age verification has been criticized for not going far enoughMeta says users must be at least 13 years old to create an account, in line with federal child privacy laws.But Béjar testified that he found “tens of thousands” of kids under 13 on Instagram through his research. He said it was “common knowledge” at the company that such young children were on Instagram. “Meta has one of the most sophisticated infrastructures in the world to detect fake accounts,” he said. But despite that, he added, there were “no goals, no metrics” to detect and check kids’ ages who were suspected to be under 13.Over the years, Meta has introduced features it says are designed to make the experience safer for young people. But Béjar said these did not work. For instance, a tool called “Take a Break,” introduced in 2021, is a feature that is “designed to fail,” he said. First, it is a setting that people have to turn on if they want to use it. Béjar said that in his experience building settings, very few users actually go through the trouble of turning them on. He compared it to an airbag that drivers have to turn on every time they get in a car. “A safety tool has to be on by default,” he said. The feature can also be dismissed with a tap of a finger. If Meta was serious about wanting users to take a break, Béjar said, it would not be so easily swiped away. ___AP Technology Writer Kaitlyn Huamani contributed to this story from Los Angeles. BARBARA ORTUTAY Ortutay writes about social media and the internet for The Associated Press. mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Sea Wolf head chef Justin Waldman prepares a dish with fresh local shrimp at his restaurant on Tybee Island, Ga., Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (Justin Taylor/The Current GA/CatchLight/Report for America via AP)2026-08-19T19:22:18Z Coastal Georgia is known for its hospitality as well as its shrimp-abundant waterways and estuaries. However, not all restaurants along the coast source their seafood from local waters, while allowing people to assume they do. Foreign imports have flooded the market in the United States, selling farm-raised shrimp for lower prices and making it difficult for local shrimpers to compete. A new state law, House Bill 117, took effect on July 1, turning the tide for both Georgia shrimpers and the state’s restaurants. The bill requires that all Georgia restaurants, excluding those operated by a state agency, disclose whether the menu items they serve contain foreign imported shrimp.The disclosure can be labeled either on the menu or on signs visible to the public. While HB 117 has officially been signed into law, it will not be enforced until January in order to give restaurants time to prepare. Chefs and restaurant owners around downtown Savannah, many food service establishments who sell imported shrimp say they are in no hurry to update their menus. State Rep. Jesse Petrea, who represents parts of Chatham and Bryan counties, sponsored HB117. Petrea drafted the bill with the intent of providing transparency for consumers to make informed decisions about the seafood that they choose to buy.“There’s a lack of information by consumers,” said Petrea, “and what you discover, if you dig superficially, is that we have huge problems with foreign imports having a multitude of things that cause them to be sent back.” According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 94% of all seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, with shrimp being the most popular seafood product in the nation. Although federal programs serve to ensure the safety of our food, foreign imports are sometimes flagged or recalled by the FDA as unfit for consumption. Read More A notable instance of shrimp contamination that reached the mainstream media was coined as “radioactive shrimp.” In 2025 the FDA announced a recall on frozen shrimp imported from Indonesia for testing positive for Cesium-137 (Cs-137). But the impacts of HB 117 doesn’t just concern safety, it’s also intended to keep Georgia shrimpers in business.“If people think they’re eating domestic, as they usually do when they aren’t, then we have almost lost our entire shrimp and fleet,” said Petrea. “And when we lose that, when America can’t feed itself, that’s a loss that you don’t just fix overnight.” 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. From boat to forkDockside restaurants are a main attraction on Tybee Island, Savannah and Brunswick, drawing in both locals and tourists with the full experience of Georgia’s marshes and rivers. With the sound of seagulls and the smell of salty air, diners at these dockside restaurants expect their dinner to come from the coast. However, several establishments serve imported shrimp despite being near shrimp-abundant waters.Some Tybee Island businesses such as Bubba Gumbo’s and Sea Wolf Tybee, take pride in serving fresh seafood and supporting local shrimpers. Tom Worley, owner of Sea Wolf Tybee, explained that a shortened supply chain can lead to a better product when it comes to shrimp. By cutting out the middle distributors, restaurants are able to ensure that the safety and quality of the shrimp doesn’t degrade in transportation due to temperature fluctuations. Sourcing from local shrimpers also has the benefit of building trust and clear communication between restaurant owners and suppliers.“You have a better control over what you’re eating when it comes from a closer source,” said Worley.Food service establishments that sell imported shrimp for some portions of the year benefit from getting more bang for their buck as food distributors allow them to buy imported shrimp at a lower price for large purchases. A general manager at Dockside Seafood in Savannah, Chase Crenshaw, said that the restaurant buys shrimp from Ecuador, a decision he said “just made sense” to them. He claimed that shrimp imported from Ecuador and Georgia shrimp is similar as far as taste and quality. Crenshaw said that while many restaurants use low quality shrimp to make a couple extra dollars, Dockside is willing to narrow its margins a little more to buy Ecuadorian shrimp. Crenshaw described local shrimp as being something that is hard for their restaurant to find due to the inflated cost. “At the end of the day, we’re all out here trying to survive, and you know, we try and give the customers the best quality we can while also being able to make a couple dollars ourselves,” he said. But while making a profit is, of course, essential for running a business, a disclosure on shrimp origin is long overdue as customers are often misled as to who is serving local shrimp and who isn’t. Even restaurants who decorate their walls with fishing nets and model shrimping boats may not be meeting the standards that their customers expect.DNA tests conducted in 2025 found that only 10 of 47 samples of shrimp from 44 restaurants tested in Savannah, Tybee Island and Port Wentworth were American species. Tests from the Golden Isles — Darien, Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island and Brunswick — showed 43 out of 44 restaurant samples were wild-caught, American shrimp. This study ultimately boosted the approval of HB117 and revealed mislabeling and false perceptions about shrimp served in restaurants tested. SeaD Consulting, the firm hired to conduct DNA tests, released a list of 10 restaurants that passed the test but did not name the restaurants that failed the test for locally sourced shrimp. Some restaurant owners and managers say they felt the DNA results weren’t communicated fairly because the list released only names of those that tested positive for local shrimp. For example, Bubba Gumbo’s, a locally owned restaurant and marina on Tybee Island which serves shrimp fresh off the nearby dock, wasn’t tested, and therefore did not make it onto the “nice” list.“It left all of it up to the consumer’s assumption, you know, with them saying only these restaurants were tested positive for selling domestic shrimp,” said Chris Gulser, executive chef at Bubba Gumbo’s. “That meant people immediately thought that we weren’t selling domestic shrimp.” In spite of the initial public misunderstanding that resulted from Bubba Gumbo’s being excluded from the DNA testing, Gusler expressed the importance that restaurants on Tybee be transparent as to where they source their shrimp. When vacationing diners come to Tybee Island, they likely expect to get fresh, Georgia shrimp, he said. “They’re expecting a specific product and they should be able to get that product,” said Gusler.John Wallace, shrimper and owner of Anchored Shrimp Company in Brunswick, says that HB117 can be nothing but good for shrimpers and shrimp sellers. Wallace explains how foreign imports have the largest hand in controlling the cost of staying in business. In recent years, the profit margin for the local shrimping industry has dwindled, with the price of shrimp rarely keeping up with inflation.“I was actually getting more for shrimp in 1979 than I am today,” said Wallace. “In 1979, my net cost me $400, which now has cost me $4000. Also, fuel back then was less than a dollar, and sometimes it gets between $4 and $5 now.”Wallace believes that as HB117 begins to take effect, many consumers will begin to take interest in supporting local shrimpers.“We can already see interest changing. You know, we’re getting more and more calls for the product,” said Wallace.___This story was originally published by The Current and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press. 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins works out during the team's NFL football training camp in Houston, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)2026-08-19T19:19:12Z Houston Texans receiver Jayden Higgins is expected to miss the season with a torn ACL, according to a person with knowledge of his injuryThe person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the Texans haven’t announced the severity of his injury.Higgins fell awkwardly while running a route during a joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday in Houston. Coach DeMeco Ryans said at the time that Higgins was being evaluated for a leg injury.The second-year receiver was expected to team up with No. 1 wideout Nico Collins in the Texans offense led by quarterback C.J. Stroud. A second-round pick in the 2025 draft, Higgins made 41 catches for 525 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie year.___AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.___See AP’s full NFL coverage here ROB MAADDI Maaddi is senior NFL writer for The Associated Press. He’s covered the league for 24 years, including the first two decades as the Eagles beat writer. mailto

New York City says the Council’s legislation violates collective bargaining law. The dispute could set up the first high-profile battle between the mayor and a public sector union.

A draft report from the city estimates that 700,000 new units would need to be built over the next decade to meet the need for homes.

The Detroit Lions got one of their big four offensive weapons back at practice Wednesday, Aug. 19, while another missed his first practice of training camp.Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams returned to practiced Wednesday after sitting out the past two sessions with a minor shoulder injury, but tight end Sam LaPorta did not practice for undisclosed reasons.LaPorta has been a fixture at practice this summer in his return from back surgery. He caught a touchdown on the final play the first-team offense ran in the Lions' intrasquad scrimmage Monday, Aug. 17, and the team had a walk-through and recovery day Tuesday."You come off a back and you want to make sure that you're doing everything right by him and he's doing everything right, sometimes you’ve got to protect the player from himself," Lions coach Dan Campbell said earlier this summer. "But yeah, it's pretty exciting, he feels pretty good. And so man, it'll be great to get him back. He's a big piece for our offense, he’s a weapon.”LaPorta set a then-rookie record for catches by a tight end with 86 for 869 yards in 2023. He caught 60 passes for 726 yards in 2024 and had 40 catches for 489 yards in nine games last season.MORE LIONS: Ready or not, Lions O-line is taking shape. But what about secondary?Brock Wright took most of the first-team reps in LaPorta's absence Wednesday.Williams declined to stop for an interview after practice, but was a full participant in individual and team drills. It's unclear if either Williams or LaPorta will play in the Lions' preseason game Saturday, Aug. 22, against the Washington Commanders.Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jameson Williams back at Lions practice, but Sam LaPorta sits out

Novig Promo Code TSNEWS: Claim New $25 Predictions Bonus (Aug. 19) originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.By using the Novig promo code TSNEWS, new customers can unlock a highly valuable welcome offer ahead of MLB action this week. Just sign up here and make a $10 trade within the platform to receive $25 in trade credits for your your upcoming predictions.Get $25 Bonus with the Novig Promo Code TSNEWSNovig Promo CodeTSNEWSNew User OfferTrade $10, Get $25 in Trade CreditsTerms and Conditions21+ and Present in Participating StatesDate Last VerifiedAugust 19, 2026This current Novig promo code provides a real chance for us sports fans to jump into the action with confidence. By signing up and making a simple $10 trade on the platform, eligible new users will score $25 in trade credits.Once your account is activated and that first $10 trade is locked in, you can instantly put your bonus credits to work across the schedule. I love using these credits on heavy-hitting matchups, making it the perfect tool for tonight's AL East clash between the New York Yankees (70-55) and Baltimore Orioles (61-65) at Camden Yards. If you prefer the National League, you can also fire away on the Miami Marlins taking on the Philadelphia Phillies (69-58) or the Seattle Mariners battling the Milwaukee Brewers (78-48).Moneylines and Totals for Today's MLB MatchupsMatchupMoneylineTotal (O/U)ARI @ BOSBOS -162 / ARI +1468 (O -115 / U -106)MIA @ PHIPHI -125 / MIA +1128.5 (O -110 / U -110)NYY @ BALBAL +108 / NYY -1209 (O -120 / U -100)SEA @ MILMIL -121 / SEA +1097 (O -115 / U -105)If you are looking to put your Novig MLB promo to work, we've got some fantastic value on today's board. Here is how I'm handicapping the slate and the exact wagers I'm targeting:New York Yankees Moneyline (-120)The Yankees head to Oriole Park with Will Warren on the mound against Baltimore's Chris Bassitt. New York's pitching has been absolutely stellar, boasting a 3.373 ERA and striking out 9.344 batters per nine innings. Plus, the Bronx Bombers bring serious power, having crushed 172 home runs this season. At -120, backing New York's potent offense and reliable rotation makes for a highly compelling wager with a real chance at a solid payout.Philadelphia Phillies Moneyline (-125)Aaron Nola takes the hill for the Phillies as they host Sandy Alcantara and the Marlins. When handicapping this one, you have to look at Philadelphia's elite starting staff, which is posting a massive 10.009 K/9 rate this year. Backing Nola at home with a modest -125 price tag is a smart, strategic way to utilize your promo against a Miami squad still trying to find its footing.Seattle Mariners vs. Milwaukee Brewers Under 7 (-105)With Logan Gilbert toeing the rubber for Seattle and Dustin May starting for Milwaukee, runs are going to be at a premium. The Brewers' pitching staff has been phenomenal, holding opponents to a .219 batting average and a 3.428 overall ERA. Seattle's starters hold their own with a 3.818 ERA. Given the high-end arms, playing the under here presents fantastic value.Novig Promo Code: Steps to RegisterGetting started with this offer is a straightforward process. We want to get you in the game quickly so you can start chasing those bigger payouts. To claim your bonus and begin wagering on today’s MLB slate, follow these simple activation steps:Register Your Account: Create a new account here by providing standard personal information (such as your name, address, and date of birth).Verify Your Identity: Provide proof of identification to securely verify your new account.Enter the Promo Code: Make sure you enter the Novig promo code TSNEWS during the registration process to lock in your offer.Fund Your Account: Make a first-time deposit using your preferred payment method.Place Your Trades: Finally, make at least a $10 trade in the app to fully activate the promotion and trigger your $25 in trade credits.

Ligue 1 Full-Back Fails His Medical At Sunderland: Big Blow For Le Bris?In a recent post on X, journalist Sacha Tavolieri mentioned that Toulouse full-back Dayann Methalie has failed a part of his medical at Sunderland. It is understood that the French talent is now back in France for further medical tests as his move to join the Black Cats have stalled due to a light back injury.Methalie’s Impressive Form In Ligue 1Methalie enjoyed a good run of form at the Ligue 1 club in the previous campaign after he produced a string of impressive displays for them on the defensive end of the field. The 20-year-old registered two goals and picked up two assists in 30 appearances for Toulouse last season in various competitions.The French talent is currently one of the most talented full-backs in Ligue 1. Therefore, the Black Cats would do well to lure him to the Stadium of Light in this transfer window.His current contract at the French club will run out in the summer of 2030, which could make it tough for Sunderland to sign him on the cheap this off-season.BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 28: Regis Le Bris, Manager of Sunderland, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Sunderland at Vitality Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)Methalie Fails His Medical At Sunderland: Big Blow For Regis Le Bris?Methalie is a good tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to secure possession back for his team inside his half. He usually puts his foot through the ball when required and is a good passer as well.Standing at 1.88m, the French sensation can use his strong frame to dominate the opposition attackers in the air. Methalie is primarily a left-back but can also play as a centre-back if asked to do so by his manager. However, there are some question marks over whether he can adapt to the high intensity of the Premier League if the Black Cats manage to land him in this transfer period.We can expect Methalie to add more firepower to Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris’ defence. He is good enough to compete for a regular starting spot at the Wearside club in the coming seasons.At 20, Methalie has the potential to be a future star in English football. Hence, his failed medical would be a big blow for Le Bris this late in the transfer window. The Black Cats cannot afford to lose out on Methalie after losing Arthur Masuaku earlier this summer.

The WNBA “Felt Like a Lifeline” for LGBTQ+ Fans. Anti-Trans Attacks Are Testing That Refuge.Editor’s note: This article was updated to include a statement from the WNBA after its meeting on August 12.Irene Vázquez found the WNBA at just the right time. It was the summer of 2020, and emergency pandemic guidelines had kept them physically separated from their friends and support system for months.The National Women’s Soccer League had just wrapped its Challenge Cup, and Vázquez, a longtime fan, needed a new outlet. On a whim, they borrowed a friend’s League Pass subscription to watch WNBA games — first the Connecticut Sun, whose roster included a high number of openly LGBTQ+ players, and then the New York Liberty, their local team after moving to New York City in 2021. They’ve been hooked ever since.Vázquez, who is Black and queer, saw themself reflected in both the WNBA and its fanbase as they attended more games in person. “It felt like a lifeline to queer community at a time when I felt really disconnected from it,” they said. “It was really important to me that I would see intergenerational queer communities, like queer families and older lesbians, and it just felt so special to me in a way that I hadn’t seen in other sports.”They said that has made it all the more heartbreaking to watch the WNBA become the latest flashpoint in anti-trans activism, after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said during a recent ESPN interview that “young girls” in sports should be protected from transgender women, whom she called “biological men,” igniting a firestorm over their participation in the WNBA.“I can’t even be disappointed with her, because she was just voicing beliefs that were not at all shocking to me,” said Vázquez. “The disappointing part was seeing the platform that she’s been given to express these views.”Conservative media personalities and politicians — including Vice President JD Vance — have praised Cunningham as “courageous” for taking a public stance on the issue, attracting national media attention. A photo that Riley Gaines, a vocal proponent of policies against trans athletes in girls’ and women’s sports, posted with Cunningham on X has been viewed more than two million times.Cunningham’s remarks have fueled demonstrations outside Fever games, both in support of and opposition to her stance. Inside, some spectators boo when Cunningham takes the court or touches the ball.In July, ahead of a matchup between the Fever and the Seattle Storm, Storm center Stefanie Dolson arrived at the game in a white tank top that read “trans rights are human rights” in the colors of the transgender pride flag. The Storm shared a photo of Dolson in the shirt on the team’s official social media pages.As both teams took the court at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton reportedly scolded two teenage fans who had brought signs thanking Cunningham “for speaking up for girls.” The WNBA suspended Keaton from attending the team’s next five home games, and the Storm’s majority owner issued a public apology.Less than a week later, Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve wore a blue “Trans Kids Belong” t-shirt under her jacket during a game against the Fever in Minneapolis. Reeve told reporters she and Cunningham had spoken ahead of the game, and described the exchange as positive. “We need to protect trans kids,” she said. “To me, it’s a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports.”There are no out trans women currently competing in the WNBA, and a transgender woman has not played for the league in its entire 30-year history. Layshia Clarendon, who played for 12 seasons, including three with the Fever, is widely recognized as the WNBA’s first trans and nonbinary player. AD Durr, who played for the New York Liberty and the Atlanta Dream before joining the new UpShot League in April, publicly identified as non-cisgender in 2022.“They are trying to ‘fix’ a problem that does not exist,” Vázquez said of recent discussions surrounding transgender women in professional basketball.“That’s the thing that’s both fascinating and incredibly demoralizing about where we have arrived in the litigation of trans existence in public,” they said. “A variety of sports leagues have robust trans inclusion policies, and those policies were more than sufficient to cover the realities of trans inclusion in sports.”Under a collective bargaining agreement reached earlier this year between the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), “only players who are women” are eligible to compete in the league. But the agreement, which runs through 2032, does not explicitly define “women,” an omission criticized in recent weeks by opponents of transgender women in sports.Citing the agreement, two former NBA players, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, announced this month that they would declare for the 2027 WNBA draft, saying they had met the league’s criteria for eligibility.Following his announcement, Freedom posted a social media video claiming he would “dominate” the WNBA “without batting an eyelash.”White, who is under a no-contact order filed by his ex-wife, said he would be “unstoppable” in the women’s league despite playing just three regular-season games during his brief stint in the NBA. He made his announcement days before losing a long-shot Minnesota Senate bid on Tuesday, telling Fox News that he “sometimes” identifies as a woman “for the purpose of basketball.” Jen Barnes, founder and CEO of Rough & Tumble, one of the nation’s first women’s sports bars, said Freedom’s and White’s declarations for the draft were “absurd” and misogynistic.“It is incredibly disrespectful to the athletes — the professional elite athletes who play this game,” Barnes said. “There is zero reason to be having this conversation. We don’t even have trans women players in the league right now.”Barnes, a Washington state native and longtime Storm fan, said she worries that debates surrounding transgender people in the WNBA will make the sport less welcoming for everyone.“Women’s sports are born from and exist in a space of inclusion. And whether it’s kids, or families who are queer, or women or trans people, the leagues and these teams are supported by an inclusive fan base,” she said. “We see ourselves represented on the court and on the field in women’s sports, and the W and its players have long been an incredibly inclusive space.”In a statement on August 7, more than two weeks after Cunningham’s original remarks, the WNBPA said its players “will not be used as political pawns,” and that “hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm.”The following day, in a memo sent to team presidents, general managers and coaches, the league commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, said the organization would address its eligibility rules Wednesday at a previously scheduled meeting, but stressed that any changes would need to be collectively bargained.The meeting on Wednesday did not yield any proposed changes to the WNBA’s eligibility rules. In a statement to ESPN, the league said the meeting had covered a range of topics, “including ongoing discussions on transgender athletes.”“We will approach these important conversations thoughtfully and in alignment with the values of our league,” the statement read. “There are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA and we strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others.”Katie Hultquist, a Storm fan of more than 25 years, said she appreciated that the players association’s statement emphasized its commitment to diversity and inclusion. “This is a league that has fans of all different kinds of experiences and backgrounds and opinions,” she said. “And that is part of what makes it beautiful, because it’s bringing us together.”“A very small number of people — probably not actually even fans of the league — are trying to use this opportunity and this issue to divide fans and divide players,” she said.Hultquist, who works for an international LGBTQ+ nonprofit in the Seattle area, said she’s been encouraged by statements from WNBA players like Gabby Williams of the Golden State Valkyries, who has said she would welcome a transgender player and has spoken out against policies restricting trans rights.“When we don’t say anything, I think it leaves trans people hanging out to dry with no support,” Hultquist said. “Especially as cis people, I think we need to show that we have their back and that we don’t need to take the bait, so to speak, into bad-faith arguments.”Nat Pearman, a season ticket holder for the Dallas Wings, said she’s also appreciated how some of her favorite players and coaches have navigated recent national scrutiny surrounding the league.Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve reacts in the second half against the Indiana Fever on August 2. (Getty Images)“Cheryl Reeve is a national treasure,” she said. “She’s very much like, we can have a difference of opinion and actually have a conversation about it. At the same time, we can’t have a conversation if one side sees the existence of trans women as a sort of existential threat.”Pearman, who is trans and an “OG” WNBA fan of roughly 30 years, said she expects WNBA leadership to “take the path of least resistance” as it eyes a nationwide expansion, but added that the league has a history of player-driven progressive activism. WNBA players were among the first to affirm the Black Lives Matter movement and protest the rise of police brutality and gun violence in the United States. In 2020, the league and players association launched the WNBA Social Justice Council, a first-of-its-kind effort to address systemic racism, healthcare inequity, gender equality, and LGBTQ+ rights.It was in that same spirit that Chris Paulsen, a 27-year Fever season ticket holder and CEO of IYG, a local LGBTQ+ nonprofit, asked the team’s leadership for a meeting.The two groups had formed a close partnership over the last decade, she said, and Fever players for years had visited IYG’s headquarters in Indianapolis to meet with queer and trans youth. At the Fever’s annual Pride night in June, the team honored Paulsen, who will retire at the end of the year, at center court.Paulsen said she met with executive leadership at the Fever and its parent company, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, about Cunningham’s remarks and the ensuing fallout. She asked if they would be open to releasing a joint statement, but they declined, telling Paulsen the Fever is not a political organization.“I’m just really disappointed in them for not supporting trans people. I thought our partnership was stronger than that,” Paulsen said of the meeting. “But we’re still here. We’ve offered to educate any of their staff about trans girls in sports and things like that. And right now, they’ve chosen not to take that offer, but I’m hoping maybe that will change.”This story was originally published by The 19th.The post The WNBA “Felt Like a Lifeline” for LGBTQ+ Fans. Anti-Trans Attacks Are Testing That Refuge. appeared first on Katie Couric Media.

The Chargers signed wide receiver Liam Clifford on Wednesday, the team announced.In a corresponding move, the Chargers waived wide receiver Luke Grimm with an injury designation. Clifford entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent this offseason, spending part of camp with the Colts. He appeared in 52 career games, including 15 starts, in four seasons at Penn State. Clifford made 42 receptions for 530 yards and a touchdown during his time in State College.Last season, he scored a touchdown on special teams for the Nittany Lions, returning a blocked punt 6 yards for a score at UCLA. Clifford’s brother, Sean, was a 2023 fifth-round draft selection by the Packers and currently plays for the Bengals.

2026-08-19T20:13:24Z In May, a southwestern Idaho probation officer emailed immigration authorities about a man she would meet the next day for his regular check-in. “His meeting has not changed and he is expected to be here tomorrow morning at 7:30 am,” Norma Naranjo, a senior probation officer for Canyon County’s misdemeanor probation department, wrote in a May 13 email to six Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The following day, the man arrived a few minutes early to his appointment, and Naranjo sent another email to the agents. “He is here are you guys on your way?” she wrote. It is unclear from the emails, which are heavily redacted, if ICE agents detained the man at his probation appointment. Naranjo’s messages are among over 140 emails between Canyon County probation officers and ICE agents, obtained by InvestigateWest, from May to July 2026. They show how the probation department has recently coordinated with ICE’s Boise office, including by combing through its case files to compile a list for ICE of foreign-born people on probation, apparently without validating that those people are in the country illegally. People born outside the U.S. include individuals with green cards or pending asylum applications and naturalized U.S. citizens. While Idaho law enforcement agencies have long worked with federal immigration agents to detain undocumented immigrants who are in jail or serving their sentence on probation, immigration attorneys and advocates are concerned that Canyon County’s “foreign born list” could lead to probationers with legal status getting detained, at a time when ICE agents have arrested U.S. citizens, people with pending green card applications and people with pending asylum claims.Jeff Breach, the director of the county’s Misdemeanor Probation Department, declined to be interviewed for this story. In an email response to a list of questions, he said the list includes “individuals whose place of birth is a foreign country — and can also include individuals that have been previously flagged with an immigration hold.” “Verifying and determining legal presence/status, along with any related enforcement, is within the purview of federal authorities,” Breach added. Read More ICE has requested a list of people that could be in the country without authorization “typically on an annual basis and across administrations,” Breach said. Steve Cushman, director of constituent services for Canyon County, said he didn’t know exactly when “those lists were first requested and provided, but it is my understanding that it goes back as far as the Obama administration.” Breach said the probation department, which supervises misdemeanor offenders within the county, cooperates with ICE the same as it would any local or state law enforcement agency, by providing them “information to carry out their lawful duties.” Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. The county has faced criticism before for its efforts to help ICE detain people. In 2019, the Idaho Press, a local newspaper that covers the Boise area, reported the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office had a policy where staff were instructed to notify immigration officials of “all foreign born inmates” who were booked into the jail. Some of the people they flagged were U.S. citizens, according to the Idaho Press. The sheriff’s office is also facing a lawsuit from the ACLU of Idaho alleging the county and other agencies that participated in an October 2025 ICE raid racially profiled Latinos at a horse race track for immigration enforcement when they detained them, regardless of their immigration status.Nikki Ramirez-Smith, an immigration attorney with Ramirez-Smith Law in Nampa, Idaho, said the county’s decision to compile and send ICE a list of foreign-born people on probation is “an invasion of privacy.” “It’s one thing to know that someone is undocumented, it’s another thing to just start targeting every single person who was born in another country,” she said. The “foreign born list” On June 3, Naranjo emailed five ICE officers that she would speak to Breach about “the foreign born list.” “We are working on a procedure to keep a list current for your agency,” Naranjo wrote. “I will get back to you on this as soon as we figure something out.”Two days later, Breach sent an email to his staff: “ICE has requested a list of offenders who are in the country illegally,” he wrote. “I need you to go through your caseload this month and send me a list of names of offenders who you believe are in the country illegally. I’ll review the names and put together a list that can be sent to ICE so that they can look into if the person is in the country illegally and if they want to take any action.” Although most of the over 400 pages of emails obtained by InvestigateWest from May 1 to July 10 are heavily redacted — emails from immigration authorities appear to be redacted entirely — they show how probation officers used information in their case files to compile the list. “That’s everyone in my cabinet that filled out (an) intake form and stated not born in US,” wrote Brandon Black, a Canyon County probation officer, in an email back to Breach on June 8. Another officer, Justin Donovan, told Breach that he only identified one person under his supervision who “may be here illegally.” That man “only had an ID from Mexico during his last arrest,” Donovan said. Naranjo, Black and Donovan did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Canyon County released to InvestigateWest a redacted version of the list, which contains information for 82 people on probation in Canyon County. It identifies the charges that people were placed on probation for, but blacks out names, addresses and dates of birth. Over half, or 54%, of the people on the list were on probation because of driving under the influence. Five people were on probation for drug-related crimes and nine people for disturbing the peace. Only seven people were identified as having an ICE hold, meaning ICE had already identified them for potential deportation. Between May and July, the emails show probation officers were regularly notifying ICE agents about the dates and times that certain probationers would be at their office. In some instances, probation officers asked ICE if a person who had missed check-ins was in their custody. On two occasions, officers emailed agents right before and during the appointments to verify they were coming to apprehend a probationer. One probation officer also gave ICE agents the home address and make, model and license plate of a probationer’s car. Breach estimated that in the last three months, ICE agents have “been present” at one or two probation appointments per month.“All the law enforcement agencies we work with prefer to meet with offenders up in the office due to it being a controlled environment, which means it is safer for the offender, the officer, and the public,” he wrote. “There is an expectation from law enforcement agencies and the public that probation officers work cooperatively with law enforcement to ensure the safety of all parties involved.”Asked whether the department is concerned that citizens or others with legal status might be included in the list, Breach referred to a previous statement that verifying a person’s status “is within the purview of federal authorities.”Alycia Moss, an immigration attorney with Fennemore Law in Coeur d’Alene, said ICE agents should know if someone on the list is deportable or not, but she is still concerned they could mistarget someone on the probation department’s list. “ICE may still target someone if they think the conviction is a deportable or removal offense even if they (have legal) status,” she said. “Sometimes, ICE doesn’t get that right.” In Oregon, ICE agents arrested Juanita Avila, a 47-year-old legal permanent resident, last November. Last July, ICE agents also arrested and detained Mahdi Khanbabazadeh, a 38-year-old father who was married to a U.S. citizen and had a pending green card application, while he was dropping his child off at preschool in the Portland area. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently formed a new unit dedicated to reexamining immigrants who have green cards, according to the New York Times.Ramirez-Smith, whose law firm is located in Nampa, Canyon County’s largest city, wasn’t surprised by how closely the Canyon County probation department was working with ICE. In previous years, Ramirez-Smith said she could often negotiate and get her client out of detention. But now ICE is quickly moving detainees out of state, leaving her little time to get clients out of detention. “I’m getting a lot of people picked up from probation to the point now where if they have probation, I just prepare a habeas (petition) just to get ready,” Ramirez-Smith said, referring to the process to challenge the legality of someone’s detention.Canyon County has been a recent target for immigration authorities Canyon County is Idaho’s second-largest county by population, where Latinos make up about 27%. The county is an agricultural hub and one of the top five seed-producing regions in the world. Farms there rely heavily on an immigrant workforce. The county was also the location of a high-profile immigration raid in Wilder last October, where over 100 people were detained at a horse racetrack, a popular gathering spot for Latino families in the area. According to witnesses of the raid, local police and Canyon County sheriff’s deputies assisted ICE agents by zip-tying children and detaining people without asking about their immigration status. The raid shocked the community, leading to low attendance at the Wilder School District the day after the raid, according to reporting from the Idaho Statesman. The ACLU of Idaho also filed a lawsuit on behalf of three Latino families and their children, who are U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, who were detained for four hours, alleging federal and local law enforcement racially profiled them during the operation. Beyond the raid, Canyon County law enforcement has for years helped ICE by agreeing to hold people in jail for up to 48 hours past their release date. In 2019, the Idaho Press reported that Canyon County jail staff emailed ICE agents when they had booked someone into jail who they suspected was undocumented — in several cases flagging people who were U.S. citizens and holding them after they had posted bond. If inmates served jail time and posted bond, staff were instructed to contact immigration officials, the newspaper reported. That year, Canyon County faced three lawsuits from people who alleged they were illegally held in jail, despite posting bond, because the county refused to release them due to their undocumented immigration status. The county settled with at least one man for $13,000.In an email, Breach said the probation department does not have a written policy addressing how to interact with ICE, but instead follows a “long-standing practice” of cooperating with federal law enforcement agencies. He said the department has worked with immigration authorities since at least 2008.ICE has relied on county and state probation departments across the country to coordinate arrests of undocumented people, according to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. Many states have passed laws barring this type of cooperation between probation departments and ICE, including Colorado and New Mexico, after probation departments were found to be flagging ICE agents about the appointment times for undocumented people.Idaho Gov. Brad Little encouraged state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration agents in an executive order last year. Eleven Idaho law enforcement agencies have signed up to participate in a program to help with immigration enforcement, known as the 287(g) program, with some agencies receiving tens of thousands of dollars in incentive payments for their cooperation. In neighboring Washington and Oregon, immigration lawyers say the level of coordination happening in Canyon County would never fly, because of the states’ sanctuary laws barring local and state law enforcement from working with federal immigration agents to detain and deport people. “In Washington, this would never be allowed because the state has protections in place to prevent this kind of information sharing,” Aaron Korthuis, an attorney with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, said in an email. “In Idaho, it’s permitted (and likely even encouraged). I think it is simply another tactic ICE has developed to identify easy and low-risk environments for the agency to detain people.”___This story was originally published by InvestigateWest and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press. 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site