Rehber

A legal loophole allows the government to sell mustangs on the cheap, stripping them of protections and clearing their path to destruction.

The Washington Commanders’ offensive line has come under scrutiny during training camp. Nick Allegretti, the Commanders’ guard-turned-center who’s been tabbed to replace Tyler Biadasz, missed much of training camp with a calf strain. Then, star left tackle Laremy Tunsil tore his triceps muscle, a season-ending injury that happened before the season even started.Allegretti returned to practice this week, and while there will be a ramp-up period, the hope is that he’ll be ready to go for Week 1. Unfortunately, he did leave Wednesday’s practice early. In place of Tunsil, the Commanders have selected Brandon Coleman, who was the starting left tackle in 2024. Because of all of these changes, the Commanders’ offensive line has been under the microscope, but right guard Sam Cosmi says he can’t wait to prove people wrong this season.Pro Football Plus: Sam Cosmi said today that he looks forward to proving people wrong this season. He also said that he’s excited about the entire o-line. He shouted out Brandon Coleman, Chris, Paul, and Josh Conerly pic.twitter.com/QRebu15Sr3— Donna Hopkins (@DonnaHopkins_) August 18, 2026“I can go down the line,” Cosmi says. "I’m excited for BC’s opportunity again to play at left tackle; I think he has all the measurables and athleticism to be very successful at that position. Chris Paul is a monster. I know a lot of people; he’s an under-the-radar type thing. Nicky’s very smart, very athletic. And then you have Josh (Conerly), who’s come into year two and is showing a big improvement in knowledge and technique, so I’m excited about our whole O-line.”One thing that seems common for the Commanders this season is hearing what the players are saying versus what the rest of the league and media outlets believe. This entire Commanders’ roster has embraced everything their coaches are preaching. They are putting in the work to get to know new faces, the veterans are imparting their knowledge to the younger players, and everyone is making a concentrated effort to be on the same page.With all the new faces in the organization, questions were bound to come up. The media spouts what it spouts, analysts and reporters provide their opinions, and all of that is to be expected. So now, the Commanders have to come out in Week 1 firing on all cylinders. There will be setbacks and mistakes, but they’ve faced adversity all offseason. Provided everyone stays healthy, there aren’t many obstacles this team can’t overcome.This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders' Sam Cosmi: 'I'm excited about our whole O-line'

The Green Bay Packers’ offensive line has become a constant topic of conversation in recent seasons, as the coaches relentlessly mix and match their linemen with the goal of finding the best combination.Entering training camp this year, it seemed reasonably cut and dry, with Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Anthony Belton and Zach Bako-Bewele expected to be the starting five.Instead, it has turned into a legitimate competition at both guard spots, and Belton, a second-round pick from last year, seems to be fighting an uphill battle to win the right guard job over rookie fifth-round pick Jager Burton and former fifth-rounder Jacob Monk.Green Bay’s coaches have talked plenty about how Belton’s acclimation to the guard position as a rookie was not helped by repping almost exclusively at tackle throughout camp, and the idea was that this summer he would get a proper runway on the interior.That has not really happened. Mostly due to Bako-Bewele working his way back from injury, Belton has again spent much of camp at right tackle, and quite frankly, has struggled.It does make sense to keep cross-training Belton at tackle as well as guard because as things stand, the Packers are not entirely sure who will be first off the bench if Morgan or Bako-Bewele gets hurt. They need to find the answer to that issue, and Belton needs to be in that conversation.However, it appears to be hurting Belton’s ability to get comfortable and truly compete at guard, where Burton and Monk are playing every day. In fact, Burton has even begun to threaten Banks’ job on the other side.Head coach Matt LaFleur was asked earlier this week whether he sees Belton as a guard or a tackle.He said: “He’s got the versatility we feel that he could do either or, and with some of the situations we had, Zach (Bako-Bewele) being down for as long as he was, we wanted to get him more reps at tackle and when he first got here that’s primarily where we played him as well."The obvious follow up question was that if he is going to be part of the battle at right guard, do the Packers need to let him play there more? LaFleur said: “Potentially. We’ve played one preseason game, not that we have a ton of time, but there’s still some time left."Meanwhile, Burton has received plenty of his adulation for his performances in camp.General manager Brian Gutekunst said of Burton on Tuesday: “He’s done a really nice job for us so far, and for me it’s just really exciting. He’s a young guy, who’s only gonna get better, who can play center and guard. Those guys are hard to find."Compare that to what LaFleur said about Belton: “He’s still a young player, he’s still growing, he’s still learning, we just wanna keep seeing that improvement from him."Belton appears to be falling behind in the battle for the right guard job, and he has somewhat been a victim of his size and versatility. There is a chance he spends his age 25 season as a swing tackle, rather than the starting right guard he was projected to be.This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Are Packers mishandling Anthony Belton amid guard position battle?

AB de Villiers believes Virat Kohli took India’s batting success in overseas Test cricket to another level, while crediting Sachin Tendulkar for first showing that Indian batters could thrive in conditions traditionally considered difficult for players from the subcontinent.The former South Africa batter and Kohli’s ex-Royal Challengers Bengaluru teammate was speaking after India’s 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in Galle on Wednesday.De Villiers acknowledged Tendulkar’s pioneering role but argued that Kohli went a step further in establishing himself as an outstanding overseas Test batter.“I think of someone like Sachin Tendulkar way back, who started that trend for India. Yet, he wasn’t as strong as someone like Virat Kohli, who was even better. But Sachin was the first guy to show that as a subcontinent batter, you can do well in bouncy and seaming conditions. Virat took that forward and raised the bar,” said de Villiers on his YouTube channel.Tendulkar remains the highest run-scorer in Test cricket, having accumulated 15,921 runs in 200 matches before retiring in 2013. Kohli, who retired from Test cricket in May 2025, ended his career with 9,230 runs in 123 Tests, placing him 19th on the all-time list.The statistics, however, suggest Tendulkar still holds the edge when it comes to performances away from home. Of his 15,921 Test runs, 8,705 came outside India, accounting for around 55% of his total. He is also the leading run-scorer among batters in overseas Test cricket.Kohli scored 4,774 runs in 66 Tests outside India.The comparison remains in Tendulkar’s favour even when the focus is restricted to SENA countries: South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia. Tendulkar amassed 5,387 runs in 63 Tests in those countries at an average of 51.30, including 17 centuries and 23 fifties.Kohli, meanwhile, scored 3,661 runs in 46 Tests in SENA conditions at an average of 42.08, with 12 centuries and 14 fifties.De Villiers’ assessment therefore appears to focus less on the raw numbers and more on Kohli’s wider influence on Indian Test cricket. During Kohli’s tenure, India established itself as a formidable side overseas, setting higher expectations for performances outside home conditions.According to de Villiers, that influence has carried into the current generation, with batters such as KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal following the path laid by Tendulkar and Kohli.“Because of that, there are quite a few players now like [KL] Rahul and [Devdutt] Padikkal, who have started to up that trend and follow in the footsteps of a Virat and a Sachin,” he added.De Villiers did, however, identify overseas batting as an area where Rahul needs to improve. Despite praising the Karnataka batter’s technique and importance to the Indian side, he pointed out that Rahul averages only 34 away from home.“KL is a guy with a sound technique and is a big asset in that Indian lineup. But he averages only 34 away from home. So you’ll expect more and that is one area where he has to work on. He has to get bigger scores once he gets in and not just get a 100 but make it a 180 because that first-ball duck and getting out to the newish ball is always around the corner. So for him, the name of the game will be to make the big scores even bigger,” said de Villiers. 133370611De Villiers’ comments come as India look to build on their Galle victory and continue developing a new generation of batters capable of maintaining the country’s strong record in challenging overseas conditions.

Mark Walter has agreed to sell his majority ownership stake in the Los Angeles Lakers just a little more than one year after buying it, a fascinating development with several side stories likely to continue unfolding over the coming months.The deal will also — maybe — end the Buss family’s 47-year run as stewards of the franchise. At least that’s what five of the six Buss siblings are hoping for. They’ve voted to sell their roughly 18 percent share in the team. Since the lone holdout is Jeanie Buss, the most powerful of the bunch, the five-against-one showdown kind of feels like a coin flip. Stay tuned.Meanwhile, the feds continue to dig into Walter’s sprawling business empire from multiple angles. You can read all about that here, and about some of Walter’s countermoves here.We’ll touch on the saga a little bit in this week’s quiz, with a whole lot more along the way. So enjoy, and make sure you try out our Connections: Sports Edition game, too!Top stories mentioned in this week’s quizMark Walter agrees to sell Lakers one year after buying the franchiseFormer NBA MVP calls it quits after 18 seasonsSt. Louis Cardinals prospect makes huge splash in debutMilwaukee Brewers tie modern-era record with 22-0 routDiana Taurasi’s jersey is retired in honor of legendary careerJayden Daniels sends cease-and-desist letter to LSUNFL cornerback signs historically lucrative contractKatie Ledecky’s historic run in 800-meter freestyle endsTennis player Nick Kyrgios tests positive for banned substanceLegendary college football stadium will finally allow advertisingThis article originally appeared in The Athletic.NFL, NBA, MLB, College Football, WNBA, Sports Business, Culture, Olympics, Tennis, College Sports2026 The Athletic Media Company

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesTom Brady was not exactly backing the New England Patriots ahead of their Super Bowl clash against the Seattle Seahawks earlier this year. Despite being former teammates with Mike Vrabel and the Patriots’ greatest-ever player, Brady opted to remain neutral ahead of the game.It was the Seahawks who secured their revenge for their infamous Super Bowl XLIX defeat against the Patriots.However, there will be some Patriots fans who will have been left feeling slightly uncomfortable by Brady’s stance ahead of the Super Bowl.Head coach of the Patriots, Vrabel, was not one of them, though, as he shared his stance on what Brady had to say ahead of his team’s Super Bowl in February.Photo by Michael Owens/Getty ImagesMike Vrabel shares his stance on Tom Brady’s Super Bowl commentsIn the lead-up to the Super Bowl, Brady claimed he ‘didn’t have a dog in the fight’ despite spending the large majority of his career in New England.Brady was drafted by the Patriots and played 20 seasons of football in New England, but his comments did not affect Vrabel.“No. I mean, clearly Tom’s gone out of his way to make it known that he’s trying to, you know, he has a new job and a new role and, you know, it is really, what it is,” Vrabel said.“Tom’s a friend, he’ll always be a friend, he’s a former teammate, but, I mean, he’s made it clear, I’m doing something new now.”Brady’s allegiances are being tested as he now holds a stake in the Las Vegas Raiders and is also a commentator for Fox Sports.On the back of the Super Bowl loss for the Patriots, Brady helped to hire the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak, as the new head coach of the Raiders.Amid the controversial comments from Brady, Vrabel admitted he has spoken to the former quarterback: “Since the Super Bowl? Yeah probably, I mean text.”Read more:‘Getting cut’ – Steelers fans are hoping Mike McCarthy’s comments lead to big Pittsburgh exitChiefs assistant GM on the real reason behind Travis Kelce’s contract structure amid retirement rumorsPat McAfee hints at even bigger role with ESPN after being added to Monday Night Countdown

Authors Percival Everett, left, and Barbara Kingsolver appear at the 75th National Book Awards ceremony in New York on Nov. 20, 2024. (Photos by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)2026-08-20T11:01:44Z NEW YORK (AP) — Barbara Kingsolver, Percival Everett and Daniel Kraus will be among the authors and other Pulitzer Prize-winning artists and journalists participating in a 20-city touring exhibition jointly organized by the Pulitzers and the American Library Association.“Pulitzer on the Road: Prize — Winning Works That Inform, Empower & Inspire” will launch in October at the Chicago Public Library and the Dallas Public Library and continue through May 2028, with stops at public libraries everywhere from Reading, Pennsylvania, to San Jose, California.The exhibit will highlight more than a century of Pulitzer winners, whether such groundbreaking news reporting as the Pentagon Papers and the Watergate scandal, iconic photographs such as the AP’s “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima,” poems by Sylvia Plath and Robert Frost, plays by Arthur Miller and Lin-Manuel Miranda or fiction by Toni Morrison and John Steinbeck. Kingsolver, Everett and Kraus, all Pulitzer-winning novelists, will be making appearances, along with composer Gabriela Frank and photojournalist Jon Cherry among others.“Pulitzer on the Road was created to bring Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism and storytelling to communities across the country, showcasing the exceptional work that has been honored since the prizes were first awarded in 1917,” Marjorie Miller, administrator of the Pulitzers, said in a statement Thursday.Maria McCauley, president of the American Library Association, said in a statement that the exhibit would create “opportunities for visitors to connect with the excellent prize-winning works that drive curiosity, conversation and civic engagement.” HILLEL ITALIE Italie has covered the publishing industry since 1998. He writes about notable books, industry trends and ongoing issues such as book bans, AI, consolidation and copyright. twitter instagram mailto

The Walmart logo is displayed on a store, Aug. 14, 2025, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)2026-08-20T11:10:52Z NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart reported another strong performance in the second quarter Thursday, but that was overshadowed by a more cautious outlook for the year.Shares slid 6% before the opening bell. Comparable sales in U.S. stores, those coming from stores open at least a year as well as online sales tied to those locations, rose 2.6%. That followed a 4.1% increase during the first quarter. Excluding the wellness category that includes Walmart’s pharmacies, comparable sales increased 3.4% in the second quarter. Those sales were hit by federal legislation that requires pharmacies to dispense some high-cost Medicare drugs at capped prices, the retailer said.Walmart’s U.S online sales rose 24%, down from 26% in the first quarter.Walmart is among the first batch of major retailers to report second-quarter results, which could offer industry analysts and economists another read on whether ongoing price pressures from the conflict in Iran impacted consumer behavior. Walmart is considered barometer of consumer spending given its vast customer base. More than 150 million customers are on its website or in its stores every week, according to Walmart.That may draw even more attention this quarter after the U.S. data released Friday showed that retail sales were surprisingly weak in July and a new read on consumers from the University of Michigan revealed growing pessimism about the economy with so many American struggling with higher costs for gas, groceries, and just about everything else. That has broadened Walmart’s customer base and the retailer has begun capturing a larger share of wealthier Americans. The biggest gains in market share for Walmart are coming from households with annual income over $100,000. Read More Walmart’s quarterly net income was $6.37 billion, or 80 cents per share, in the three-month period ended July 31. Adjusted per share results were 81 cents, easily topping the 74 cents Wall Street had expected, according to FactSet. It also outpaced last year’s $7.03 billion, or 88 cents per share.Sales rose 5.9% to $187.94 billion. Analysts were predicting $186.62 billion, according to FactSet. For the third quarter, Walmart expects earnings per share of 62 cents to 64 cents. It project sales to be up 3% to 3.5%. Analysts were expecting 68 cents per share and sales to reach $188.19 billion. 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. For the full year, Walmart now expects earnings per share to be in the range of $2.80 to $2.87 while sales should be up anywhere from 4% to 5%. Analysts expected $2.90 per share and sales of $752.06 billion for the year, according to FactSet. ANNE D’INNOCENZIO D’Innocenzio writes about retail, trends, the consumer economy and hourly workers for The Associated Press. twitter mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Nature, Published online: 19 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02614-1Printing custom lab tools can be cheaper than buying them. Plus, South African scientists might soon have to register with a regulatory body and what an exoskeleton-powered future might look like.

Nature, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02600-7Heatwave-driven sleepless nights are robbing people of a crucial aspect of health and recovery. Plus, dolphin calves learn hunting techniques from their mothers and how slavery is linked to health disparities in the United States today.

2026-08-20T11:41:36Z TORONTO (AP) — Quebec’s premier said Canada-U.S. trade negotiations are “far from over” and demanded more information from Prime Minister Mark Carney before deciding whether an emerging agreement adequately protects Quebec’s dairy and forestry sectors.Premier Christine Fréchette also pushed back against quickly restoring U.S. alcohol to provincial stores, saying Quebec alone would decide whether American products return to shelves at the SAQ, the Quebec government corporation that controls most retail sales of wine and spirits in the province.“Information is missing before I can make the right decisions to ensure Quebecers are protected. I am awaiting clarifications from Mr. Carney,” she said in a social media post late Wednesday.Canada and the United States moved closer Wednesday to finalizing a trade agreement that would avert threatened 50% U.S. tariffs. Trump has said the agreement was “very fair” to both sides and predicted U.S. farmers and manufacturers would benefit. Tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian imports have been postponed until 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Quebec does not have a veto over a Canada-U.S. trade agreement, but it controls provincial measures such as whether U.S. alcohol is sold through the SAQ.Carney asked provincial premiers during a briefing Wednesday to return U.S. alcohol to store shelves, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said, a step aimed at addressing one of the Trump administration’s key trade complaints. The White House says the emerging deal includes a Canadian commitment to address restrictions on U.S. alcohol. But Carney cannot order provinces to restore sales. Read More Fréchette’s Coalition Avenir Québec faces voters in an October provincial election, adding political pressure as she weighs concessions affecting dairy, forestry and U.S. alcohol sales.Houston and two other premiers voiced support for the direction of the talks, though Houston said whether Canadians would actually buy U.S. alcohol again “is a whole other discussion.”Eight of Canada’s 10 provinces restrict or ban U.S. alcohol — measures imposed in retaliation for Trump’s previous tariffs on Canadian goods and amid anger over his repeated talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state. Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, is especially important. Its government-run LCBO, one of the world’s largest alcohol purchasers, sold nearly C$1 billion ($723 million) in U.S. products annually before pulling them from shelves last year. 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. While details of the emerging agreement remain vague, Trump has claimed Canada agreed to end tariffs on U.S. agricultural products.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 gain full access to the Canadian market.Dominic LeBlanc, the Canadian minister responsible for trade with the U.S., said Canada’s “agriculture sector will be well protected and we have maintained our tough line.”

Britain's Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, speaks at a roundtable about support for veterans, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)2026-08-20T11:41:29Z LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry is coming home to Britain and bringing his wife Meghan and their children for an extended stay that could help repair a rift with the royal family.The bombshell news comes six years after the couple’s tumultuous decision to leave their roles as working members of the family, abandon the trappings of royalty and depart for America in a move that widened the gulf between Harry and his father, King Charles III, and older brother, Prince William, heir to the throne.It’s not clear what inspired the return and Harry refused to comment about the move to The Associated Press during an event Wednesday night. But the 41-year-old, who is fifth in the line to the throne, has recently expressed an interest in reconciliation so he could spend more time with his father, who is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer. Details of their return remain sketchy but the couple has already enrolled their children Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, at British schools and will start classes in September, a person close to the Sussexes who was not authorized to speak publicly told The Associated Press.Many other questions remain.Here are some things to know about the return of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Harry and Meghan are not returning to royal lifeThe family plans to live at a private, non-royal residence outside of London. They will maintain their home in the tony Southern California enclave of Montecito and their Portuguese vacation property in the resort of Costa Terra, south of the capital of Lisbon.The couple won’t resume roles as working royals, having abandoned that life to earn their living through lucrative contracts with Netflix, Spotify and other ventures. Read More Meghan will continue heading her As Ever company, which sells high-priced jams, tea and wine, from the U.K., while Harry can spend more time working with his British-based charities, a person close to the Sussexes said.“Perhaps Meghan is taking one for the team here, because I’m not sure this is her life’s desire to live back in the U.K.,” Jennie Bond, a former BBC royal correspondent, told Sky News. King only learned of the move in the past few daysHarry has only sporadically returned to the U.K. since his move, partly to pursue a series of lawsuits against the British tabloids with mixed results and unsuccessfully challenge the government’s decision to strip him of his security detail. Visits to his father have been few and brief until recently. Harry and Meghan and their kids visited the U.K. last month and spent time with Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House, a country estate west of London. It was the first time the children had seen their grandfather since the late Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee in 2022.Charles, however, was only informed of the couple’s plans on Sunday, according to British news media. 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. “If I was the king, I’d actually be thinking, ‘Hang on, you came to tea with me, and we sat down and we chatted, and you didn’t even mention this?’” Bond, the former royal correspondent said. “I find it entirely odd.”Buckingham Palace has a policy of not commenting on speculation about non-working members of the royal family. Repairing a royal ruptureHarry has made overtures to reconcile with his family and there has been a notable thaw recently in relations with Charles.“I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore,” Harry told the BBC last year. “I don’t know how much longer my father has.”But healing some wounds, particularly with his brother William, could be difficult. Harry and Meghan left their ties to the crown in tatters after a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey and a Netflix series that aired grievances that Buckingham Palace officials were insensitive to Meghan’s mental health. They alleged at least one member of the royal family expressed racist views when Meghan, who describes herself as biracial, was pregnant with their first child. Harry’s unsparing 2023 memoir “Spare” did further damage by alleging his “archnemesis” brother physically attacked him in an argument over Meghan. Harry described Camilla as “dangerous” and said in interviews promoting the book that she had cozied up to the tabloids to rehabilitate her own image in the press at the expense of others.Peter Hunt, a former BBC royal correspondent, said the surprise announcement would make William “apoplectic.”“In the short term, Harry will be able to deepen his rapprochement with his father,” Hunt told Britain’s Press Association. “And his presence back home will make it harder for his brother to duck a reconciliation.” Harry said he wouldn’t return without security detailHarry has blamed the palace for stripping him of his police protection detail on visits to the U.K., and said that was at the “heart” of the family dispute.Harry, who blames the press for the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car crash while being pursued by paparazzi in Paris, has said he is similarly hounded by the media and faces other threats. His security had been at the highest tier before he gave up royal life but it was downgraded to being evaluated on a case-by-case basis each visit home. But he appears to be accompanied on most visits by his private security team.Harry previously said he couldn’t “see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K” without a security guarantee.His return raises questions about whether there has been a change in his requirements — or, perhaps, the government committee that reviews protection of VIPs has provided a new assessment of his risk. Facing big legal bills for last tabloid battleHarry has fought a long-running legal battle with Britain’s tabloid press over allegations they invaded his privacy by hacking his phones and hiring private eyes to tail him and dig up dirt on his life. Those battles are now behind him, with one rather big exception.After winning a judgment against the publisher of the Daily Mirror and a settlement with an unprecedented apology from Rupert Murdoch’s Sun, Harry and a group of other famous people, including Elton John, lost a case against the publisher of the Daily Mail last month.A judge will rule Friday on how much to make them pay the Mail for their 34.5 million pounds ($47 million) in legal costs. He, presumably, also faces large bills to his own lawyers. ___Danica Kirka in London and James Pollard in Washington contributed to this report.

People dressed in protective gear lower into a grave the coffin containing the remains of 6-year-old Baudjo Baraka Jules, who died of Ebola, in Bunia, Ituri province, eastern Congo, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Dieudonne Dirole)2026-08-20T11:21:44Z BUNIA, Congo (AP) — Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, which has been effective in past Ebola outbreaks, the World Health Organization and partners said Thursday, announcing a step seen as a major boost to efforts to contain what officials have described as the fastest Ebola outbreak in history.The Ervebo vaccine is licensed for use against Ebola virus, one of the viruses that cause Ebola disease, but not for Bundibugyo virus, which is responsible for the current outbreak.WHO said in a statement that while it’s not known whether Ervebo may protect against the Bundibugyo virus, “early laboratory and animal data suggest it may provide some protection.”The allocation includes 20,000 doses for a Phase 3 clinical trial to understand the impact of the vaccine on the Bundibugyo virus, the agency said. The remaining 50,000 doses will be used for front-line and health workers as recommended by WHO experts. The outbreak raging on in eastern Congo has so far killed 2,476 people out of the 5,208 confirmed cases. It has infected and killed more people at a greater speed than any other Ebola outbreak in history, and is spreading about three times faster than that of 2014-2016 across West Africa, which was the deadliest Ebola outbreak on record with more than 11,000 deaths.The lack of approved vaccines or treatments for the rare Bundibugyo virus has been a major issue for responders. Also, most new cases are being reported outside of the people being monitored, showing it has spread quickly and left surveillance teams racing to catch up.

Gregory Rodrigues has a couple knockout setbacks during his UFC tenure, and earlier this year he got one of them back.This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Sacramento full fight: Gregory Rodrigues avenges Ferreira loss in big way

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 03: A detail view of the Indiana Pacers logo after the game against the Utah Jazz at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 03, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Goddin/Getty Images)Getty ImagesINDIANAPOLIS – DAZN (pronounced Da-Zone) is the new streaming home for Indiana Pacers basketball.The Pacers announced the partnership on Thursday morning, providing answers to fans who wondered where to watch the team this season. Main Street Sports Group, who owned the previous broadcast for the team, is officially winding down. The Pacers needed a new partner and picked DAZN over about a dozen options.“This partnership is about making Pacers basketball more accessible than ever before,” Pacers Sports & Entertainment President and CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment Mel Raines said in a statement.Accessibility was a major talking point on Wednesday as the Pacers explained their decision to stream games on DAZN. Chief Commercial Officer Joey Graziano detailed that in 2010, in the prime of cable, about 88% of their market had access to paid television. Now? That’s down to about 30%. That signals to Graziano that fans are accessing their lives much more via the internet, so putting the Pacers primarily there felt like the best way to reach fans.“Having something that felt accessible across a variety of different modes and channels,” he said. “And so that means your phone, that also may mean the tablet that you have, it may mean your gaming console, it may mean your smart television. And we wanted something that would meet our fans exactly where they are.”In the first year of the partnership between DAZN and the Pacers, 22 games and four preseason outings will be streamed for free on the DAZN app. 15 of those 22 games will also air on a local over-the-air broadcast partner, which will be determined well before the season begins. That deal will be made between the air-the-air partner and DAZN.The Pacers, and other NBA teams that ultimately end up streaming on DAZN, will have their own hub right in the DAZN app. That’s where fans can sign up and stream games. Pacers on DAZN will launch later this summer prior to the 2026-27 NBA season.DAZN will offer a seven-day free trial as well as an Early Bird Season Pass – that will come with a price tag of $59.99 and will unlock every paid game. Once that special ends, the price of the Pacers environment will be $119.99 for the year or $19.99 per month.“With [Tyrese Haliburton] coming back, the start of our season is going to be pretty anticipated,” Graziano said of the free trial. “We wanted to make sure that that was going to be available.”Graziano also made note of the price points and that with the Early Bird Season Pass, it’s about $1 per game. A lot of thought went into the pricing model, something that DAZN has experience with because of their wide variety of offerings.“Things are nuanced from a market-by-market perspective, but [we] put a lot of certain research using data we have on performance across the board and other sort of similar scenarios,” DAZN Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development Zander Berlinski said of the pricing choices. He expects the price to remain similar in future years as well but acknowledged that they will evaluate what did and didn’t work for fans after the first season. The 15 over-the-air games will remain beyond 2026-27.DAZN logo displayed on a phone screen and a website displayed on a laptop screen are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on April 30, 2021. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto via Getty ImagesBy going with the streaming route, the Pacers can easily reach fans within their local bubble in new ways. Their home television territory includes Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri. Fans in that area will be able to watch the team through the DAZN app.DAZN is a digital-first company, and they have no cable integration plans with the Pacers at this time. Their 15 over-the-air games will be available on linear television, and the Pacers are aware of the challenges that may come with that.“Of course we’re concerned about it. We’re concerned about all of our fans, and we’re going to be incredibly responsive to any concerns that come about for that,” Graziano said when asked what the team’s older fans might say about this partnership. He then pointed to DAZN’s 24/7 tech support as a resource. “We’re going to be responsible for all of those fans. And so we’ve got certainly thoughts to think about, how do we make sure that those fans are able to download the app to be able to get it onto their devices? We’ve got an entire marketing and digital team who’s hyper-focused on fan feedback that comes from our press release, and we will be responsive to fans who have concerns about their ability to be able to access.”The deal between the Pacers and DAZN is five years in length, but the NBA required teams to have a potential out in their broadcast contracts in case an aggregated solution with every team were to arise. “When we were looking at partners, one of the things we wanted to do was… to find somebody who we thought could be what the league refers to as their aggregated solution, where you would aggregate all the teams,” Raines said. “And DAZN is certainly a top potential partner that’s been in the news for that.”DAZN has a massive global footprint – 300 million users, according to Berlinski – with about 85% of them coming internationally. They are hoping to move into more U.S. markets and have already secured streaming deals with several New York sports teams and the Minnesota Timberwolves, with more NBA announcements yet to come.Some NBA teams have opted to broadcast their games exclusively over-the-air. There were challenges for the Pacers that kept them from choosing that route.“Some markets have the opportunity with a Scripps or a Gray to have an empty channel that’s already bought into the lower tier of Comcast or Spectrum or those kinds of channels – DirecTV, Dish. That’s not available in our market right now. As you know, there’s been a lot of consolidation,” Raines explained. “And so unfortunately, we didn’t have that opportunity. But frankly, we wouldn’t have reached… As many people. And so our goal here is to make everyone a fan. We have a company mission.” Accessibility is a big part of that mission.The Pacers broadcast team of Jeremiah Johnson, Chris Denari, Quinn Buckner, and Eddie Gill will return and call games in the coming season, which begins in about two months. And for the Pacers, it will begin on a new streaming home.“Local sports broadcasting has evolved significantly over the last decade and so has the way people watch games,” Raines said. “DAZN is a global leader in sports streaming, and its premium viewing experience gives our fans more flexibility and affordable access to Pacers basketball, while creating more opportunities to connect with the team.”This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Frankie McCabe and Winston Weaver combined to twirl seven shutout innings, and Tacoma’s SoundView Little League blanked Phenix City Youth Baseball (AL), 2-0, in its Little League World Series opener Wednesday afternoon in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.SoundView second baseman Kasen Workman’s single to right field snapped a scoreless tie in the seventh, plating two runs on an Alabama error.SoundView, the Northwest’s representative in a 20-team field, remains in the winner’s bracket and advances to Friday’s matchup with the Southwest’s Boerne (TX) Little League.northWest #LLWSpic.twitter.com/RHqcila9c9— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 19, 2026McCabe delivered five stellar frames, allowing one hit and four walks with five strikeouts. Weaver earned the win (2 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K) and retired Alabama’s seventh inning in order.SoundView (WA) battles the Southwest (Boerne, TX) in Williamsport at 12 p.m. PT on Friday afternoon, televised on ESPN from Howard J. Lamade Stadium.SoundView Little League serves communities in Brown’s Point, Tacoma, Fircrest and University Place.

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectThis NBA offseason has been an unforgettable one. Both Jaylen Brown and Giannis Antetokounmpo have been traded. LeBron James is on a new team. So much has happened. While there can only be one NBA champion each season, there are a handful of teams that believe they are best suited for the job. On the other end of that equation are the teams who know they don’t have what it takes to win the championship, and that’s ok.Each season, rosters around the NBA change drastically. Players get traded, they sign to a new team, or get drafted. Some teams make good moves, some make bad. Some make a lot, some make none. It all depends on the state of your team. Whether it looks like a good move or a bad move, only time can tell. It happens every year when teams and fans get ahead of themselves, thinking they are better than they truly are. So while some teams may fit in that boat, let’s take a look at teams that seem to be heading in the right direction going into the 2026-27 season.Chicago BullsJun 23, 2026; New York, NY, USA; The fourth pick in the 2026 NBA draft, North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson after he was selected by the Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectThe Chicago Bulls have finally begun trending in the right direction, and it all started at the draft lottery. While the Bulls were projected to have around the 9th pick in the 2026 draft, they jumped all the way to the fourth spot and selected Caleb Wilson. A very fortunate beginning to new General Manager Bryson Graham’s career. Wilson is exactly what the Bulls needed and what most teams search for. A young player who has star potential that they can build around. In summer league, Wilson looked extremely polished. He is super athletic, proved he can stretch the floor, and truthfully did everything you could ask for in a 20-year-old. On top of all this, they drafted Dailyn Swain in the first round, another guy who seems to be ready to make an impact on day one. They have a new Head Coach in Tiago Splitter, Noa Essengue should return healthy, and players like Rob Dillingham and Leonard Miller who are fighting to stay on the roster.Outside of their franchise player, they also acquired Nic Claxton for next to nothing. Essentially, the Bulls were a third team in a trade between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Brooklyn Nets just to make the money work. Chicago’s center spot was wide open, and for them to acquire Claxton, who will play defense and doesn’t need the ball in his hands, is perfect for this team moving forward. They also signed Norman Powell to a team-friendly two-year deal, which will help their offense tremendously. Utah JazzJun 23, 2026; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver greets the second pick in the 2026 NBA draft, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson after he was selected by the Utah Jazz at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectThe Utah Jazz seem to be ending the prototypical rebuild. For the past few years, they have been intentionally bad, but are finally changing their course of action. Utah struck on the trade market when the time was right, when they acquired Jaren Jackson Jr., and will be a different team with him in their lineup. Jackson Jr should be their starting center day one, with Lauri Markkanen by his side in the frontcourt. One of the highlights of Utah’s roster is their abundance of young talent. They drafted Darryn Peterson second overall in June, Ace Bailey fifth last year, and Cody Williams and Isaiah Collier the year before. They also have guys like Brice Sensabaugh, Keyonte George, and Kyle Filipowski. All of these players are 22 years old or younger. Their starting lineup of George, Peterson, Bailer, Markkanen, and Jackson Jr. is practically set moving forward, making the direction of this team clear.While they are still young, establishing a group of guys this early to grow with is all you can ask for. With Danny Ainge making the decisions, this team should be back in the playoffs very soon.Dallas MavericksApr 29, 2026; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Maverick Cooper Flagg speaks to media, teammates, Mavericks staff and family at a press conference in his honor for being named the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn ImagesCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectThe Dallas Mavericks have Cooper Flagg, and while that is solid, there are many other things they have done right recently. First off, Flagg is a Swiss Army knife type of player, and the ideal mold of guy you want to build your team around. The reigning Rookie of the Year will be back next season with a much more competitive cast around him.Kyrie Irving will play a huge part in Flagg’s development. Not only to teach him more about the game but also to pose as another scoring threat for the Mavericks. Dallas also made a massive coaching decision this offseason. They fired Jason Kidd after five seasons and hired Michigan University coach Dusty May. May’s course of action was clear on the night of the draft when they selected Morez Johnson Jr. ninth overallTheir frontcourt is set now with Johnson, newly acquired Santia Aldama, and returning Derrick Lively and Daniel Gafford. One sneaky move Dallas made was trading for Zaccharie Risacher, the first overall pick just two years ago. Risacher will have plenty of chances to prove why he was drafted first with Dallas. The last move this team should look to make is to move on from Klay Thompson. Unfortunately, he doesn’t quite fit in with this team and is probably looking to contribute elsewhere at this point in his career.Washington WizardsJun 25, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards first round draft pick and number one overall pick AJ Dybantsa poses for a photo with his jersey during a press conference at InterContinental Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn ImagesCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectThe Washington Wizards had maybe the best offseason of any NBA team simply because they landed AJ Dybantsa. Dybantsa instantly transforms Washington into a more competitive team and is just one more wing to a never-ending wing rotation. Last season, Washington acquired Anthony Davis and Trae Young before the deadline. While the new contract they gave Young may not age well, he is still an elite point guard in this league.Last season, the Wizards finished 17-65, putting them dead last in the NBA. Despite their many losses, there were still some bright spots. Two of them were the development of Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George. Both players took massive leaps in their second year and should excite Wizards fans everywhere. Washington has their core moving forward, which not many teams can say.On top of that, they have Tre Johnson, the sixth overall pick from last year’s draft, as well as Bilal Coulibaly, Will Riley, and Bub Carrington. Washington has the perfect mix of veterans and young players, and should continue to grow in the near future.Indiana PacersJan 10, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) in the second half against the Miami Heat at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn ImagesCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectDespite missing out on receiving a top draft pick, the Indiana Pacers are still in a great position. Much of this lies in the return of Tyrese Haliburton, the man who willed them to a Game 7 of the NBA Finals in 2025. Haliburton has stated he is fully healthy and ready to play at 100%, already putting this team on the right course.The great thing for Indiana is that he will now be playing with Ivica Zubac, an underrated center and a perfect big man to fill out the Indiana roster. When they acquired Zubac, that’s exactly what they had in mind; they just never got the chance to share the court last season. When you add him to the starting lineup, Indiana certainly looks like a contender.Finally, they added Kelly Oubre Jr. as well, one of the more underrated pickups of the offseason. With an already thin wing rotation, Oubre will take a lot of pressure off Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard, both offensively and defensively. When Haliburton went down with a torn ACL, Indiana didn’t panic. They simply took a gap year and strengthened the roster for when their superstar returned.

It’s that time of year again, where one of the most pure sporting events of the summer goes down with the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. 10 teams from the United States and 10 International squads face off in a double-elimination tournament, with the winners from each side facing off in the LLWS Championship on Sunday, August 30. MORE: How to watch Little League World Series 2026: Live stream, TV channel, scheduleThis year, the United States side features teams from Bridgewater, Massachusetts; West Chester, Pennsylvania, Boerne, Texas; Bonita, California; and Henderson, Nevada.Bridgewater’s Luke Schlatz during practice at the Little League World Series Complex in South Williamsport, PA on Monday, August 17, 2026. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)On the International side, we have representatives from South Korea, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Nicaragua, and Mexico.Every game throughout the tournament will air live on the ESPN family of networks, with the championship game set for a nationally-televised broadcast on ABC. Who is being represented in Williamsport this summer?A full look at the teams participating in this year’s Little League World Series can be seen below. MORE: 2026 Little League World Series bracket, TV schedule & full list of games2026 Little League World Series Teams & ParticipantsBridgewater’s Luke Schlatz, left, and teammates practice with the Japan team at the Little League World Series Complex in South Williamsport, PA on Monday, August 17, 2026. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)United StatesGreat Lakes Region: West Side LL (Hamilton, Ohio)Metro Region: Bayonne Central LL (Bayonne, New Jersey)Mid-Atlantic Region: East Side LL (West Chester, Pennsylvania)Midwest Region: Davenport Northwest LL (Davenport, Iowa)Mountain Region: Paseo Verde, LL (Henderson, Nevada)New England Region: Bridgewater Joe Lozaro LL (Bridgewater, Massachusetts)Northwest Region: Soundview LL (Tacoma, Washington)Southeast Region: Phenix City Youth Baseball LL (Phenix City, Alabama)Southwest Region: Boerne LL (Boerne, Texas)West Region: Sweetwater Valley LL (Bonita, California)InternationalAsian-Pacific Region: West Seoul (B) LL (Seoul, South Korea)Australia Region: Ryde Little League (Sydney, New South Wales)Canada Region: Little Mountain LLC (Vancouver, British Columbia)Caribbean Region: Los Nacionales LL (Santiago, Dominican Republic)Curaçao Region: Pariba LL (Willemstad, Curaçao)Europe and Africa Region: South Czech Republic LL (Brno, Czechia)Japan Region: Joto LL (Tokyo, Japan)Latin American Region: Ministerio Sobre Las Alas Del Aguila LL (Leon, Nicaragua)Mexico Region: Municipal De Tijuana LL (Tijuana, Baja California)Panama Region: David Doleguita LL (Chiriquí, Panama)— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —

On August 23, 1944, a test flight over the village of Freckleton, located in northwest England, ended in disaster, claiming the lives of 61 people, including 38 students between the ages of 4 and 6

The Treasury Department’s plan for bond interventions have calmed markets. But Wall Street is worried about the fallout for inflation and more.

Sometimes inspiration strikes where you’d least expect it — and closer to home than you’d imagine. For homeowners Sean and Brian, that couldn’t be more true: All it took was viewing their friend’s renovated, open kitchen — a friend who just happened to live in the same building. That layout showed them what they were missing, namely a space that would make entertaining so much more enjoyable. READ MORE...

Some of these ‘80s hot spots haven’t changed at all. READ MORE...

Swiss tourist Luzian Andrin Zgraggen who is accused of insulting the Balinese Hinduism's sacred Day of Silence in social media posts covers his face upon arrival at the district court in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (AP Photo)2026-08-20T12:14:34Z DENPASAR, Indonesia (AP) — A court on the Indonesian resort island of Bali sentenced a Swiss tourist on Thursday to one year in prison for insulting a sacred Balinese Hindu observance.Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, was found guilty of violating Indonesia’s new criminal code by posting social media messages about the Day of Silence, when people are required to stay home and are urged to remain silent and meditate. The Denpasar District Court determined that he posted the messages even after staff at the villa where he was staying informed him of the restrictions.“What the defendant did offended the Balinese people, hurt their faith and provoked public outrage,” said presiding judge Tjokorda Putra Budi Pastima. “The defendant must be held accountable for his actions.”The Day of Silence, locally known as Nyepi, usually falls in March. For a day, the island’s world-famous beaches and streets are empty of people except for special patrols meant to ensure silence is observed. The airport in Bali, a predominantly Hindu island in Muslim-majority Indonesia, shuts down and the internet is switched off. The restrictions apply to everyone regardless of religion or nationality. Zgraggen boasted in Instagram posts that he had defied restrictions that prohibit residents and visitors from leaving their homes or accommodations except for emergencies.In video clips shared online, Zgraggen smiled at the camera and described walking to a beach during the observance. In one, he called the tradition “crazy” and used an expletive. The posts were widely reposted on social media, triggering condemnation from Balinese residents who considered them disrespectful. Authorities tracked him down following public complaints, and he was arrested at a villa in Legian, a popular tourist spot near Kuta Beach. Read More During his trial, which began in June, Zgraggen told the court he had never intended to insult the Hindu holiday or the Balinese people. He said he made the posts while hungry and frustrated that he could not obtain food during the shutdown. He said he had not fully understood the extent of the restrictions.“I deeply regret what I did, I apologize to the Balinese people,” Zgraggen said in his defense plea.While authorities have previously detained foreign and domestic tourists for venturing outside during Nyepi, those cases were generally resolved without prosecution.

Members of the White Helmets carry the body of Mohammad Ghamira, a former White Helmets volunteer who died shortly after his release from jail, before his burial in the village of al-Haffa, Latakia province, Syria, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (AP Photo)2026-08-20T11:50:13Z DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A Syrian police investigator who slapped a man during interrogation despite having been warned that he had hemophilia will face prosecution, officials said Thursday.Syria’s interior ministry earlier this week launched an investigation into the death of Mohammad Ghamira and on Thursday announced initial results of the probe.Ghamira, a 29-year-old father of two, was a former volunteer with the White Helmets civil defense organization, which operated in opposition-held areas before the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in December 2024.Ghamira died in a hospital in Latakia on Sunday after being released from jail. He had been detained days earlier following a theft allegation, according to Latakia’s internal security command.Family members said they had told police that Ghamira had hemophilia, a condition affecting the blood’s ability to clot, and warned against hitting him. Ghamira’s death sparked widespread outrage in Syria, where it stirred up dark memories of torture and other abuse in detention centers under the Assad dynasty’s decades-long rule. Maj. Gen. Ahmed Latouf, head of the committee formed to investigate Ghamira’s death, said Thursday that medical experts found that he had died of complications from a cerebral hemorrhage.Investigators found that a police interrogator had slapped Ghamira in the neck during interrogation, despite Ghamira having told police personnel about his medical condition, Latouf said. The interrogator was referred to the public prosecution division, and disciplinary investigations into other police personnel are ongoing, he said. Read More Rights groups have said that abuses in detention centers have persisted under the country’s new authorities. However, one of the groups, Syrians for Truth and Justice, said it did not find evidence of a “single centralized system equivalent in structure and direction to the torture apparatus entrenched by the Assad regime.” 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Helicopters fly over with Taiwan national flag during an inauguration celebration of Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te in Taipei, Taiwan, on May 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying, File)2026-08-20T12:15:06Z TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan ‘s government on Thursday proposed a record-high defense budget of 1.12 trillion Taiwan dollars ($35 billion) for next year, signaling intensifying efforts to deter China’s military threats. The administration’s planned increase in military spending came after China stepped up its military and political pressure in recent years, asserting its claims that Taiwan was part of its sovereignty. China sends military planes, as well as coast guard ships and other vessels, toward Taiwan regularly and carries out large-scale military exercises from time to time. It has not renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. Under Taiwan’s plans, the island’s defense spending next year will exceed 3% of its estimated gross domestic product. The amount would be an 18% jump from last year’s proposed budget, according to a government statement. The government’s overall spending plans, including on defense, will be sent to the opposition-controlled legislature for review before late August, it said. But the process may come with some challenges. The legislature only passed the central government’s 2026 budget last Friday, after a record 266-day delay, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te previously pledged to raise defense spending to 5% of the island’s GDP by 2030. On Monday, Lai said next year’s defense budget would go beyond 1 trillion Taiwan dollars for the first time, adding that investing in national defense is an investment in peace. Earlier this month, the island ramped up the intensity of its annual Han Kuang drills, aimed at modeling a response to a possible Chinese military invasion. It incorporated reservists and more civilians into the exercises with a focus on real-world scenarios. Mobile internet in parts of Taiwan was briefly slowed to text-only speed. Read More Previously, urban resilience drills in Taipei went largely unnoticed as they were not disruptive. The United States has demanded that Taiwan raise its defense spending. Washington does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but maintains extensive unofficial relations and is required under U.S. law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. Under that framework, the U.S. has long been Taiwan’s main informal backer and arms supplier, a relationship that created tensions with Beijing. 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. When U.S. President Donald Trump visited Beijing in May, China’s President Xi Jinping warned him that their two countries could clash over Taiwan if the issue is not handled properly. After Trump’s trip to Beijing, he said arms sales to Taiwan were a “very good negotiating chip” with China, comments that stirred anxieties on the island.China and Taiwan have been governed separately since 1949, when a civil war brought the Communist Party to power in Beijing. Defeated Nationalist Party forces fled to Taiwan. The island has operated since then with its own government.

Israel international Manor Solomon joined West Ham from Tottenham (SAEED KHAN)English Championship club West Ham have warned fans not to sing an "offensive and divisive" chant about winger Manor Solomon that was heard during their season-opening game against Burnley.West Ham said they were aware that the chant relating to Israel international winger Solomon, containing an "anti-Palestine message", was being sung by some of the away supporters at Burnley's Turf Moor stadium in last Sunday's 2-2 draw.West Ham said in a statement they want to "remind supporters of the responsibility we all hold to represent the club in the right way" and that "each and every supporter is an ambassador".The club signed 27-year-old Solomon from Tottenham.West Ham added: "Regardless of their background, every supporter within our diverse fanbase should also be free to enjoy watching their team play football without fear, discrimination or abuse. "And we remain committed to ensuring that everyone feels safe, respected and included."It added: "We encourage our supporters to sing loud and proud about their football club and the players wearing the claret and blue shirt -- but never in a way that creates division or causes offence among fellow fans."Solomon has played 49 times for Israel.He previously played for Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine before moving on loan to Fulham, and he was also part of the Leeds team that won the Championship to earn promotion to the Premier League in the 2024-25 season.gj/ea

Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesBryson DeChambeau appears to have had issues with the golf media all year, and this week it reached its boiling point.Since missing the cut at The Masters, DeChambeau did not speak to the media at major championships all year. At The Open Championship, he hosted his own interview with a reporter, which he sent out to the media, and he declined to comment on his rules controversy after he was docked two strokes.This frostiness continued at LIV Indianapolis. DeChambeau called a few members of the media the “mafia” when he arrived at the driving range. He’s likely unhappy with the media coverage of LIV Golf over the last few months.After that comment, DeChambeau was evidently unhappy with his golf swing and then had a media member who was filming him practice thrown out of the driving range. It wasn’t the 32-year-old American’s finest hour, but he might have made up for it after.Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty ImagesBryson DeChambeau calls media member after throwing him off the driving range The news that DeChambeau threw a media member off the driving range spread quickly, as many flooded social media to criticise the two-time major winner.However, the media member in question, @acaseofthegolf1 on X, took to the platform to explain what DeChambeau did afterwards to make up for it.He posted, “Bryson gave me a call this afternoon, we spoke for about 20 mins. While the conversation will remain off the record, I really appreciate him calling. A lot of players wouldn’t have done that.”DeChambeau clearly has a lot on his mind at the moment, from his disappointing personal performances to the ongoing issues on LIV Golf. With that in mind, we can better understand his outburst at the range.It was good of DeChambeau to call the media member afterwards, and to do so privately. That was a display of some class after some difficult moments for the American.READ MORE: What Scottie Scheffler shot around Bellerive in practice ahead of the BMW Championship this week

Crystal Palace make €30m approach for Auxerre’s Kévin DanoisCrystal Palace are reportedly very keen on the idea of signing AJ Auxerre’s Kévin Danois (22), according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.A concrete approach, including discussions regarding a transfer fee of around €30m excluding bonuses, is said to have even been made to the French club.A product of the AJA academy, Danois made his professional debut there in January 2023, before playing a part in the Burgundians’ return to the top flight a year and a half later. Having become a key member of the Auxerre squad from his very first season in Ligue 1, the midfielder established himself as a true mainstay during the 2025-26 campaign, starting 32 of the 33 league matches in which he featured (scoring three goals and providing one assist).Under contract until 2029, Danois, a French Under-21 international (two caps), has seen his name linked with numerous clubs in recent weeks, both in France and abroad.GFFN | Léo Aschi

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesSean Payton may not have endorsed the recent scuffle that took place during the Denver Broncos’ training camp, but he is using it as a teachable moment.Payton had to watch as his star quarterback, Bo Nix, got into it with Nik Bonitto. Both players were held back, but it did catch a lot of media attention.However, the longtime Broncos coach isn’t ready to use the F-word to describe the situation yet… No, not that F-Word.Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty ImagesWhy Sean Payton won’t call Broncos situation a ‘fight,’ how he plans to use the ‘tussle’ going forwardSpeaking to reporters the next day, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton explained why he didn’t want to call the situation between Bo Nix and Nik Bonitto a ‘fight.’Payton then also explained that the new NFL rules allow for players to be ejected for excessive violence, among other reasons, so he is using it as an example of what not to do for his players.“Let’s call it a tussle. I got a chance to watch the film. There were no punches; it was just a tussle… We covered [it] last night.“What’s new — from an officiating standpoint — this is our first season where they can go to replay in New York and remove a player.“So with that being the case, it’s going to be hard to be the guy that gets the first jab. They’re going to be able to go to replay and get it right.“So we discussed that, and we had examples of shoving and then the officials just getting bumped; you’re ejected.“All of it, we kind of covered, especially with the replay now being changed, and it’ll be the first season we have that.”It’s clear that the new rule that allows referees to retroactively eject players from games for flagrant football or illegal acts away from play upon review by the referees has not gone down well among players and coaches.Similar to the review system in the NBA and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in soccer, this rule change makes it so that players cannot get away with shrewd and well-timed violations of the rules.Payton is one of the savviest coaches in the NFL. So for even him to show immediate respect and concern to this rule makes it clear to the Broncos that they cannot be making any mistakes on the field that could cost the team.The implications of ejecting players in the NFL might not seem nearly as severe as it would in the NBA, given the sizes of the rosters across the offensive and defensive units, but losing a key player could completely dismantle an entire team.Read more:Bo Nix gives perfect response after fight with Denver Broncos teammate during practiceSean Payton ‘can’t stop raving’ about one Denver Broncos player in training campSean Payton’s new deal sparks a wild future for the Broncos and here’s why

The tour poster inspired artwork was approximately 48m by 40m (157ft by 131ft) [Sand in Your Eye / East Lindsey District Council]The artists behind a large sand drawing on Skegness beach say they hope it will raise awareness of the town's role in the Tour of Britain men's cycle race. Work on the artwork, which recreated a tour poster, began at 04:00 BST on Thursday.Jamie Wardley, creative director of Sand In Your Eye, said: "It took about three-and-a-half hours for them to make it, which is pretty fast to make such a big picture. To see somebody making something is quite special." Stage one of the event will start and end in Lincoln. The second stage, on Thursday 3 September, will start in Boston and finish in Skegness.Wardley said work on the sand art was due to start on Thursday afternoon, but the timing was changed due to the weather forecast.He said there was "a bit of jeopardy for the team" due to the tide coming in towards the end of the process. "The sea was right on the drawing by the time they got the drone up to take the pictures, so they were just in time," he added. Councillor Steve Kirk, portfolio holder for coastal economy at East Lindsey District Council, said: "I just think it's absolutely amazing. They are so incredibly talented, and have captured everything."The actual race is on 3 September, which isn't far away now. So it's all about ramping up awareness, getting people involved, encouraging people to get out on their bicycle and explore our lovely coast." Listen to highlights fromLincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch thelatest episode of Look North.Download the BBC News app from the App Storefor iPhone and iPad orGoogle Play for Android devices More on this story Sand art on seafront to promote cycle tourStage details in full for 2026 Tour of BritainRoute announced for 2026 Tour of Britain Related internet links Sand In Your EyeEast Lindsey District Council

“Proud transphobe” Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is running for governor of South Carolina on a campaign that focuses heavily on her opposition to trans rights. Now she’s claiming that the person who shot rightwing political operative Charlie Kirk – who has not been identified or apprehended – is transgender, using an anti-trans slur to describe this person. She then claimed that the shooting made her afraid for her life due to her anti-trans advocacy. Related Nancy Mace starts screaming in rage on House floor when Democrat talked about gender affirming care “It sounds like the shooter was a tr***y,” Mace told reporters yesterday. “Or pro-tr***y.” “And just because I wanna protect women that I’m worried about getting murdered? Are you f**king kidding me?” she continued. “This is outta control and enough is enough.” 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 “I’m gonna be louder than I’ve ever been until this s**t stops.” Nancy Mace today: “It sounds like the shooter was a tranny, or pro-tranny.”Law enforcement tonight: We have idea who the shooter is. pic.twitter.com/bJptJvnJmT— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) September 12, 2025 On Wednesday, Turning Point America founder Charlie Kirk was shot to death at a public speaking event at Utah Valley University in Provo. Kirk was a prominent rightwing activist and podcaster known for his extreme statements, like that Jewish people control “not just the colleges; it’s the nonprofits, it’s the movies, it’s Hollywood, it’s all of it,” that “If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, boy, I hope he’s qualified,” and that being gay is an “error” that needs to be “correct[ed].” Just before his death, he was embroiled in controversy for saying that Taylor Swift to submit to her future husband because “You are not in charge.” Conservatives have, for the past several years, been blaming gun violence tragedies on transgender people, generally before any facts about such shootings are known and sometimes even after it’s known that the shooters were not transgender. In fact, Kirk died while debating how much trans people should be blamed for mass shootings despite the fact that the vast majority are perpetrated by cisgender men. A report in the conservative Wall Street Journal yesterday – which the newspaper cast doubt on in a later article – said that the shooter’s bullets or weapon had “expressions of transgender and antifascist ideology” engraved on them. That online rumor was started by rightwing podcast host Steven Crowder, who said he had obtained a leaked report from an ATF official. While it’s unclear what it even means for “trans ideology” to be engraved on bullets or a weapon, this may have been what Mace was referring to. A New York Times report said that another law enforcement official “with direct knowledge of the investigation” said that Crowder’s report had not been verified and didn’t correspond to other information gathered in the investigation. Mace has a history of using anti-trans slurs on social media, at campaign events, and at the Capitol. No suspect has been arrested in the shooting, but law enforcement officials have released images of a person of interest in the case. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Walmart and other big U.S. retailers have warned that consumers were being cautious, even if personal balance sheets seemed healthy.

I asked a pro organizer who works with empty-nesters. READ MORE...

Hiring sign for sales professionals is displayed at a store, in Vernon Hills, Ill., Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, file)2026-08-20T12:36:00Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, another sign that layoffs remain low and that most Americans enjoy job security.The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims dropped to 206,000 last week from a revised 212,000 the week before.Claims for jobless benefits are a proxy for layoffs, and economists watch them because they can be a harbinger for where the job market is headed. For the past year, claims have been at a historically low range of around 200,000 to 230,000 a week.The U.S. unemployment rate is low at 4.1%, partly because the economy has proven resilient in the face of higher energy prices caused by the war with Iran. But it’s also because President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and the ongoing retirement of Baby Boomers mean that fewer people are competing for jobs: More than 1.3 million people have dropped out of the U.S. labor force over the past year. The job market is tough for those looking for their first job and for those who lost their jobs and are looking for new work. At the same time, companies, remembering the worker shortages that followed the end of COVID-19 lockups, are still reluctant to let go of staff; but they aren’t eager to take on new workers. Economists regularly refer to a “no hire, no fire″ job market.In July, companies, government agencies and nonprofits together cut 23,000 jobs. So far this year, employers are adding 61,000 jobs a month. That is an improvement on the 9,700 they averaged last year — the weakest hiring outside a recession since 2002. The lingering effects of high interest rates and Trump’s erratic trade policies discouraged companies from hiring in 2025. Hiring this year remains well below the 166,00 monthly jobs created, on average, in 2023 and 2024, let alone the 491,000 a month recorded during the 2021-2022 hiring boom that followed pandemic lockdowns.

This aerial photo shows, the Spacia X express train stopped after coming into contact with four workers at Shin-Kanuma Station on the Tobu Nikko Line in Kanuma, north of Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (Kyodo News via AP)2026-08-20T12:29:48Z TOKYO (AP) — Four people doing weed control work on a railway track in Japan died after being hit by an express train as it entered a station while they were still working there on Thursday, officials said.The accident occurred at Shin-Kanuma Station, north of Tokyo, on the Tobu Nikko Line, and involved the Tokyo-bound Spacia express train, the Tochigi prefectural police said. The four — three workers and a supervisor — were rushed to a hospital but later pronounced dead, according to police and train operator Tobu Railway Co. Six other people at the site — two other workers, three on lookout duty and an on-site supervisor — were safe, Tobu Railway said. They had been assigned to spray herbicide. About 50 passengers on the train were also uninjured. Railway officials said it was unclear why the workers did not leave the site when the train was approaching, or what the lookout people were doing. They said they are cooperating with authorities investigating the cause of the accident. Those on lookout duty are supposed to warn fellow workers of an approaching train by waving a flag, using a whistle or a microphone. What happened Thursday before and during the accident was still under investigation, Tobu officials said.Fatal train accidents are rare in Japan, which has a reputation for safe and punctual transportation. Takao Suzuki, head of Tobu’s railway business division, apologized for the fatal accident. “We take this severe accident seriously and we will ensure preventive measures and never let this happen,” he said.Trains on the line were suspended for several hours, but services resumed later Thursday, officials said. MARI YAMAGUCHI Yamaguchi is based in Tokyo and covers Japanese politics, security, nuclear energy and social issues for The Associated Press. twitter mailto

Apr 3, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) moves to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesPoint guards have never been more expensive, and the 2026-27 salary rankings are a pretty good indication of that. The top of this list is dominated by franchise-changing stars, and some young guards are already being paid like the faces of their teams.The interesting part is the gap between the proven legends and the next generation: the biggest names are being paid accordingly while others might not be earning their salary on the court.Without further ado, the salaries below are based on the 2026-27 figures, and the ranking is presented from No. 20 through No. 1. The point guard with the highest salary on this list is also the highest-paid player in the league overall. 20. Jrue Holiday – $34,800,000Jrue Holiday might be the most accomplished player on the lower end of this list, and that is what makes his $34.8 million salary interesting. Holiday has built his reputation on doing almost everything a championship team needs, and the Trail Blazers are hoping their veteran continues to do that alongside Damian Lillard and Ja Morant.Jrue has been an All-Star, an All-Defensive selection, and a key contributor on multiple contenders, most recently with the championship Boston Celtics. His offensive numbers don’t completely leap off the page (16.3 PPG and 6.1 APG on 45.1% FG last season) the way some of the younger guards on this list do, but that has never really been the point with Holiday.At this stage of his career, $34.8 million is not about asking Holiday to carry an offense and more about paying for championship-level experience and lockdown defense. 19. Jalen Suggs – $32,400,000Jalen Suggs has already become one of the league’s most unique two-way guards, and his $32.4 million salary reflects the belief that his best basketball is still ahead of him. Last season, Suggs averaged 13.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.8 SPG, and 0.7 BPG on 43.5% FG and 33.9% 3-PT FG.Suggs is a natural defender, but his development as a scorer and playmaker should make him much more than a defensive specialist. Offensively, the next step is efficiency and consistency.Suggs doesn’t need to become a 25-point scorer to justify this kind of contract, but he does need to become comfortable making decisions with the ball when defenses load up on Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. 18. Immanuel Quickley – $32,500,000Immanuel Quickley‘s $32.5 million salary puts him firmly in the category of guards who are being paid for what their teams believe they can become. Quickley can get hot from three-point range in a hurry, which is why the Toronto Raptors were happy to acquire him a few seasons ago.Quickley posted 16.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 5.9 APG on 44.3% FG and 37.4% 3-PT FG over 70 appearances. Those are solid numbers, but are they All-Star-worthy? Not yet.The question now is whether he can turn those flashes into nightly consistency. A $32.5 million annual salary comes with expectations, and Quickley’s next challenge is proving he can generate wins instead of some hot-shooting nights. 17. Dejounte Murray – $32,785,071Dejounte Murray‘s $32.8 million salary is high considering the point guard has only played 45 combined games over the last two seasons. Earlier in his career, Murray was an exceptional rebounder for his position and a disruptive defender, so the Pelicans are hoping more of the same once he is healthy next season.At his best, Murray can push the ball, rebound, defend, create in the half-court, and score when needed. Over the 14 games he did play last season, the point guard averaged 16.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 6.4 APG, and 1.6 SPG on 48.4% FG and 30.6% 3-PT FG.At this salary, Murray doesn’t need to be perfect, but he needs to prove that his versatility is worth a contract that pays him among the 20 best at his position. Let’s just hope he can stay healthy. 16. Jordan Poole – $34,044,642Jordan Poole‘s career has already experienced some serious highs and lows. He went from a late first-round pick to an important contributor on Golden State’s 2022 championship team, and then a forgotten player in the league.But the bigger contract also brought bigger expectations, and Poole has had to navigate the pressure that comes with being asked to lead an offense rather than complement one. His $34 million salary is a reminder of how quickly the league can change for young players who once had sky-high potential.Poole has the talent to make the number look reasonable, but the next step is proving that he can get back to his best shooting percentages. Nailing only 33.3% from deep last season simply won’t cut it, as he needs to return to his 36.4% clip from 2021-22. 15. Jalen Green – $36,251,166Jalen Green enters the 2026-27 season with a $36.25 million salary, and we aren’t completely sold on that yet. At his best, Green can make a defender look completely helpless when his first step is working.The question has been whether he can become consistently efficient and impactful enough to influence winning at the highest level. A salary north of $36 million demands more than highlight-reel scoring, more than the 17.8 PPG he posted last season in 32 games.Green needs to become a stronger decision-maker, more reliable defender, and more complete offensive player. If that happens, this contract could eventually look like a bargain. If not, the criticism will only get louder. 14. Jalen Brunson – $37,739,521Jalen Brunson has already turned the conversation around him upside down. The former second-round pick has become the face of the New York Knicks and the undisputed king of the city, not long after taking a significant pay cut to put himself in a position to win.His $37.74 million salary actually looks modest compared with several of the contracts above him when you consider what he has become. Brunson is easily a top-five point guard in the world, and his leadership, toughness, and clutch gene have made him untouchable at his spot.The salary says star, but he is an undisputed superstar. Posting 26.0 PPG and 6.8 APG in the regular season and 28.4 PPG and 6.1 APG in the playoffs prove that Brunson should probably be getting an extra $15M on his current yearly salary. 13. Kyrie Irving – $39,491,282Kyrie Irving‘s $39.49 million salary is one of the strangest combinations in basketball: a player who has an unstoppable offensive bag but always has injury or off-court issues that hurt his status. No doubt, at his best, Irving is almost impossible to guard.He posted 24.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 4.6 APG in 2024-25 before a knee injury kept him out of last season. As he hopes to return next season, Irving should post similar numbers whether he is with the Mavericksor another team.When analyzing his worth, the biggest question at this point is availability and consistency over a full season. When Irving is on the floor and locked in, $39.5 million can look cheap. Let’s hope he can remind us all who he really is. 12. LaMelo Ball – $40,770,520LaMelo Ball is being paid $40.77 million because he can literally create offense for himself or others with relative ease. His court vision is special, which is why the Timberwolves blew up their core to bring him on board to pair with Anthony Edwards.The problem is that his career has been interrupted by injuries, and availability remains the biggest piece of the equation. The Timberwolves are hoping and praying that Ball can become the engine of a winning team.If Ball can finally put together a healthy stretch and his talent boosts Edwards’ production, his cache will improve tremendously. Remember, this is the same player who averaged 20.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 7.1 APG, and 1.2 SPG on 40.7% FG and 36.8% 3-PT FG over 72 games. 11. Tyrese Maxey – $40,770,520Tyrese Maxey‘s $40.77 million salary is a reflection of just how quickly he has exploded onto the NBA’s scene. No doubt, Maxey’s worth every penny after averaging 28.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 6.6 APG, and 1.9 SPG on 46.2% FG and 36.7% 3-PT FG over 70 games.He has also shown that he can shoulder enormous offensive responsibility, which became especially important as Philadelphia’s roster dealt with injuries and availability issues to Joel Embiid. Maxey averaged a league-high 38.0 MPG last season, finishing 7th in Clutch Player of the Year voting.Maxey’s next challenge is leading postseason success. The talent around him is obvious with Jaylen Brown and LeBron James in town, and now comes the expensive part of becoming the player who can carry a contender deep into May. 10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – $40,806,150It feels strange seeing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at No. 10 on a salary list when he is the reigning back-to-back MVP and former NBA champion. His $40.81 million salary is actually a fascinating number because his production and accomplishments have rapidly outgrown the figure.Last season’s MVP averaged 31.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 0.8 BPG over 68 games. He also won Clutch Player of the Year and was devastating in almost every big game. We thought SGA would have ranked among the top-five highest-paid point guards, but credit to Sam Presti for organizing the salary cap as well as he has.Overall, Shai is an offensive system by himself. Considering where his career is heading, this salary could eventually look remarkably team-friendly. 9. Darius Garland – $42,166,510Darius Garland‘s $42.17 million salary places him in the upper echelon financially, even if he does not impact the game on the level of SGA, for example. Garland has the handle and shooting range to bend defenses, but his rather miniature size hurts his impact at times.Garland posted 18.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 6.7 APG, and 1.0 SPG over 45 games last season. It wasn’t the easiest year, as he was traded to the Clippers mid-season and also struggled with his health. The Clippers hope that the 26-year-old can turn back into the All-Star we saw in the 2021-22 and 2024-25 seasons.Garland needs to understand that a great point guard isn’t just someone who scores 25 points. He has to organize a team, make the right read, and punish defenses when they make a mistake. Garland has enough offensive talent to justify his contract; the question is how consistently he can become a franchise cornerstone. 8. Ja Morant – $42,166,510Ja Morant was once one of the hottest prospects in the NBA, and his $42.17 million salary reflects the fact that he can completely change the game with his raw athleticism and talent. It’s a shame that he is now the poster boy for having one of the worst contracts in the league.When Morant is healthy and playing at his best, he cannot be stopped. His career, however, has also been interrupted by injuries and suspensions, making availability a central part of the conversation. Morant only played 20 games last season, posting 19.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 8.1 APG, and 1.0 SPG on 4.10% FG and 23.5% 3-PT FG.At this salary, Portland needs Morant on the floor and leading the franchise through the postseason. The Trail Blazers have offered Morant a chance to rebuild his image alongside Damian Lillard, so the player has to approach next season very carefully. 7. Tyrese Haliburton – $48,924,624Tyrese Haliburton‘s $48.92 million salary is more than fair when the player is on the court. Haliburton is a modern-day Steve Nash with the way he can create everything for his team by passing and scoring the ball. Remember, Hali led the Pacers to the NBA Finals in 2024-25.Unfortunately, the superstar point guard missed last season rehabbing from a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, and we hope he can get back to his best. There is no doubt that Haliburton is one of the best players in the NBA, and the Pacers value him at the highest level.Now, the contract comes with enormous expectations, though, especially as Indiana looks to remain a serious contender. Haliburton’s next level is proving that he can get back to his All-NBA form and get the Pacers back to winning ways. 6. De’Aaron Fox – $49,488,300Behind Ja Morant, no player has suffered image damage more than De’Aaron Fox. Once upon a time, Fox built his career around one devastating weapon: speed. He was a literal blur on both ends of the court and was worth a max deal.After last season’s horrific Finals performances, Fox needs to work very hard to rebuild his image. Many believe that Fox might never recover his All-Star-form from his Sacramento Kings days, and that means his contract is easily one of the worst in the NBA.However, we aren’t writing him off. Fox averaged 18.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.2 APG, and 1.2 SPG on 48.6% FG and 33.2% 3-PT FG last regular season, and he only needs to get those numbers back to that point to avoid major criticism. This will be a huge redemption season for the former All-Star. 5. Trae Young – $49,488,300Another player with an iffy contract, Trae Young (17.9 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 8.0 APG, and 0.9 SPG last season) is making nearly $49.5 million because the Wizards still recognize something few players can replicate: he can create an elite offense almost entirely through his own manipulation of the defense. Alongside AJ Dybantsa, that is sorely needed.Young will average at least 10 APG in his sleep playing with the young Wizards team, and that has never been in question for the 4-time All-Star. The criticism has always centered on defense and whether a small, ball-dominant guard can be the centerpiece of a championship team.That’s what makes his new max contract so polarizing. Young doesn’t need to become a different player. He needs to prove that his enormous offensive strengths can outweigh his limitations for a Wizards team that wants to finally climb out of the basement. 4. Jamal Murray – $50,105,628Jamal Murray‘s $50.11 million salary puts him in some very expensive company, but Nuggets fans know exactly why Denver was willing to pay it. His chemistry with superstar Nikola Jokic cannot be taught or bought, and that’s why he is eating up a ton of Denver’s cap space.Murray’s playoff resume is also significantly more impressive than his regular-season statistics might suggest. His 2020 bubble run immediately established his ability to explode in the postseason, and his performance during Denver’s championship run only strengthened that reputation.At $50 million, though, the standard is championship-level production. Murray needs to maintain superstar performances alongside Jokic next season or potentially be at risk for being a valuable trade chip. The Nuggets need to maximize Jokic’s presence, and nobody is untouchable as a result. 3. Cade Cunningham – $50,105,628Cade Cunningham is worthy of a supermax contract because he has proven that. The Pistons are paying him $50.11 million because they believe he will be their championship leader someday.Cade was exceptional last season, posting 23.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 9.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 0.8 BPG on 46.1% FG and 34.2% 3-PT FG while finishing 5th in the MVP race. He also led the Pistons to the top seed in the East while making the All-NBA First Team. That is an impressive resume being built.The next step for Cade is the biggest one: turning individual excellence into deep playoff success, beyond the second round. Cunningham is being paid like a player who can change Detroit’s trajectory, and we think he is good enough to have the Pistons in the Finals someday. 2. Luka Doncic – $51,033,600Any surprise that Luka Doncic is among the two highest-paid point guards? Luka is making $51.03 million in 2026-27, which somehow feels like a bargain when you consider the level of player we’re talking about.Doncic posted an incredible 33.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 8.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, and 0.5 BPG on 47.6% FG, 36.6% 3-PT FG, and 78.0% FT over 64 games last season. It is easy to say that Luka hasn’t had any issues settling in Los Angeles.The Lakers are paying for a franchise centerpiece, not merely a point guard. Doncic has already made six All-NBA teams by 27 years old and established himself as one of the league’s premier postseason performers. With the Lakers, the expectations are even higher, and the franchise trusts that the Slovenian is their guy.Who are we to argue that? Only one point guard, however, is making more money than Luka heading into the 2026-27 season. 1. Stephen Curry – $62,587,158Something is fitting about Stephen Curry sitting alone at the top. Curry will make $62,587,158 in 2026-27, making him the highest-paid point guard on this list and the highest-paid player in the NBA overall.But Curry’s salary isn’t paying for what he might produce next season after averaging 26.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.7 APG, and 1.1 SPG on 46.8% FG and 39.3% 3-PT FG. It is paying for one of the most loyal stars in the game. The four-time champion, two-time MVP, and greatest three-point shooter the sport has ever seen changed basketball, and the Warriors know that Steph is their cash cow.Even at nearly 39 years old, Curry is capable of completely taking over games with shooting bursts that can turn a 10-point deficit into a lead before an opponent has time to breathe. His 2026-27 salary also makes him the first player to cross the $60 million mark for a single NBA season, another milestone in a career filled with them.And honestly, if you’re going to pay one point guard more than everybody else, Curry is the easiest answer in the league.

Welcome back to the warehouse for high school football coverage at the Marion Star.If you want to know anything about the 10 teams we cover — Marion Harding, River Valley, Pleasant, Ridgedale, Elgin, Highland, Cardington, Mount Gilead, Northmor and North Union — it can be found here.Everything we've produced to date for this season is in this spot. Everything we are going to produce will end up here, too.Preseason team-by-team guides, game previews, analysis and columns, game stories, features, photo galleries, video highlights, postseason honors and awards, All-Ohio — all of it will be found below during the 2026 season.Be sure to keep this page bookmarked and check back often as new content is added weekly.Thanks for following and thanks for reading.Week 1Ranking the football player names to know in the Marion area for 2026Vote now in the Marion Star Preseason Football Player of 2026 PollWho won football titles in 2025, plus Week 1 games kicking off 2026Final Marion-area high school football statistics for 2025PreseasonWho's playing who in 2026 and when? Area HS football schedules in fullConsistent winning defines Elgin football in the 2020sRidgedale football ready to reload in 2026 after breakout seasonCardington-Lincoln football gets a new head coach for 2026Highland football's 'commitment is right on track' for 2026 seasonPleasant wants to bring back its winning tradition in footballNorth Union football making an encore in 2026Mount Gilead wants to be 'perpetual contenders' in 2026 and beyondNew coach Dan Arndt continues to build River Valley's football cultureNorthmor football set to compete for KMAC, playoff spot in 2026Marion Harding looking to add more football wins in 2026Jake Schaefer taking over as Pleasant's next football coachDan Arndt brings familiarity as River Valley's next football coachAll Marion-area football teams facing a new opponent in 2026OHSAA dates for the upcoming 2026 football seasonThis article originally appeared on Marion Star: High School Football Central | 2026 Marion-area content warehouse

The BMW Championship is the second leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs and there are only 50 players in the field.Last week, Scottie Scheffler hoisted a trophy for the 21st time in his PGA Tour career and this week, he's at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis as the defending champion.Get all the Thursday first-round live udpates from the 2026 BMW Championship from Golfweek.BMW Championship 2026 live leaderboardKeep tabs on every score posted on the BMW Championship live leaderboard.BMW Championship 2026 tee timesClick here to see every tee time for the first round of the 2026 BMW Championship.Where to watch the 2026 BMW Championship Thursday10 a.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET, PGA Tour Live on ESPN+10 a.m. ET to 12 p.m. ET, ESPN3 p.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET, Golf Channel1 p.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET, PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXMWatch PGA Tour Live on ESPN+Watch Golf Channel for free on Fubo TVBMW Championship 2026 betting oddsWhenever Scheffler and McIlroy compete in the same tournament, they're almost always clearly first and second on the list of betting odds, with the rest of the field following behind. Of course, it will come as no surprise that sportsbooks have tabbed Scheffler as the significant favorite to win again this week, but there has been a bit of a shakeup right below him. Check out all the pre-tournament betting odds courtesy of BetMGM.BMW Championship weather forecastThursday's forecast for St. Louis, according to accuweather, says to expect "humid with clouds and sun" and an expected high temp of 84 with a 25 percent chance of rain.BMW Championship 2026 fieldThe 50-man field comes after 20 were lopped off at last week's St. Jude's. There was one pre-tournament WD and one more WD after the first round last week. All 50 golfers are signed up and ready to go for this one.Is there a cut at the BMW Championship?No. Like the other two FedEx Cup Playoff events, there is no cut. There's also no alternate list, so if a player WD's before it starts, there will be no one replacing him. Inside the numbers at the BMW Championship 17. That is the number of players seeking to advance and make their first Tour Championship appearance: Ryan Gerard, Min Woo Lee, Kristoffer Reitan, Alex Fitzpatrick, Alex Smalley, Ryan Fox, Kurt Kitayama, Bud Cauley, Nicolai Hojgaard, Alex Noren, Jake Knapp, Michael Thorbjornsen, Nico Echavarria, Ryo Hisatsune, Michael Brennan, Eric Cole and Matt McCarty. BMW Championship past winnersHere are the last 10 winners of the BMW:YearWinnerGolf course2025Scottie SchefflerCaves Valley GC2024Keegan BradleyCastle Pines GC2023Viktor HovlandOlympia Fields CC2022Patrick CantlayWilmington CC2021Patrick CantlayCaves Valley GC2020Jon RahmOlympia Fields CC2019Justin ThomasMedinah CC2018Keegan BradleyAronimink GC2017Marc LeishmanConway Farms GC2016Dustin JohnsonCrooked Stick GCThis article originally appeared on Golfweek: BMW Championship 2026 leaderboard, Thursday tee times, live updates at FedEx Cup PlayoffsOur editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

CARY, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 9: Interim head coach Damon Nahas of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on prior to a game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at WakeMed Soccer Park on December 9, 2024 in Cary, North Carolina. (Photo by Ryan Hunt/Getty Images) | Getty Images The news slipped my eye when it was announced, but I happened to see in Al’s preview of the first week of UNC sports this academic year a nugget about men’s college soccer: namely, that starting in 2027, the sport’s season will likely be extended over the course of two semesters to better align with the global men’s soccer calendar (if you saw a version of that article that mentioned the same for women’s soccer, the change has currently only been proposed for the men’s game — and it’s not finalized; after initially being pushed through, the proposal has been remanded and is currently in limbo). The change makes some sense, not just from a workload perspective but because the sport is becoming increasingly international; about half of Carolina’s current roster hails from overseas and some of the program’s best players the past few years — Martin Vician, Quenzi Huermann, Bertil Rygaard Hansen, to name a few — have been international prospects. But it was also quite a surprise, because changing when a sport’s season happens seems like such a seismic shift. When something has been done in one way for so long, inertia is a powerful thing.But now, it’s clearly been shown to be possible — and that means it’s projectable. And thus, in the spirit of that projection, I got to wondering what other sports could do with a scheduling change. Obviously, football and basketball are non-starters — there’s no sport that more epitomizes fall than football, and ditto for winter and basketball. I’d love if college baseball could be more of a summer sport than a spring one (and it’d also be much fairer to teams further north), but the college schedule makes that impossible, so what we’ve got is probably the best it could be. And of course, college softball is the epicenter of the sport, so it has to stay where it is. Beyond that, though? Whether it’s to optimize one’s own year around the sports they enjoy the most, or to align with other versions of the sport, or just on vibes, surely there are changes that could be made. The most obvious one to me is volleyball. Right now, it’s a fall sport, but indoor volleyball reads a lot more winter to me. It’s played in the Winter Olympics, it’s played entirely indoors and thus gives crowds a way to hide from the cold, and putting it in the winter contrasts well with its beachy counterpart that’s so obviously a symbol of summer. Of course, that creates scheduling complications because of all the winter sports — including men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, and gymnastics — that often share venues, but that’s for somebody else to figure out. It’d work particularly well at UNC in a few years if and when men’s and women’s basketball move to a new stadium, as Carmichael Arena would then be freed up for winter volleyball. On a similar note, field hockey feels like it could share the spring with lacrosse and baseball. Based on the Olympic logic and having a counterpart that’s obviously a winter sport, it would make sense to me to do with field hockey what we do with baseball and place it in the spring as a summer sport. This doesn’t feel as good to me, though, because I think the field hockey and lacrosse fanbases probably have a lot of overlap and for the good of the sports, I wouldn’t want to split their attention. What about you? Any radical schedule changes you’d like to see made? Or even just that you’ve wondered about?

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 03: Nestor Cortes #65 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the first inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Petco Park on September 03, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images It was reported yesterday, first by Fansided’s Robert Murray, that the Phillies had agreed to terms on a major league contract with former Padres and Yankees starter Nestor Cortes. The 31-year-old lefty has not appeared in a major league game since September 3rd of 2025, as he underwent offseason surgery to repair a biceps tear in his throwing arm that has kept him out of action since. He had recently thrown for a handful of interested teams ahead of his reported signing with the Phillies. Cortes appeared in only eight games last season, as he dealt with a flexor strain before suffering the biceps injury that ended his season. He made two starts with the Brewers and six with the Padres and pitched to a 6.29 ERA in 34.1 innings. Cortes’ last full season in 2024 was a productive one, as he made 30 starts with the Yankees and logged a 3.77 ERA across 174,1 innings before being traded in the offseason to Milwaukee as part of the deal that sent Devin Williams to New York. His best season came in 2022 when Cortes was named an All-Star and finished eighth in AL Cy Young balloting after going 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA. Multiple injuries and poor performance led to him falling out of favor with the Yankees soon after, leading to the trade that sent Cortes to the Brewers. Cortes has been a good starter in the past despite averaging just around 92 MPH on his fastball in his career. The crafty lefty has relied on command and deception to get hitters out over the years, often primarily utilizing a fastball/cutter mix while mixing in a changeup and a sweeper. Perhaps not much can be gleamed from Cortes’ abbreviated, injury riddled 2025, but what can be seen is not encouraging. His already light velocity dropped even further, with his fastball averaging just 90 MPH. Cortes was also hit hard, as he allowed 13 home runs in just 34.1 innings. That comes out to 3.4 HR/9 and a home run/fly ball rate of 24.5%. For comparison, Aaron Nola leads the majors with 30 home runs allowed this season. Nola’s HR/9 of 2.1 and HR/fly ball rate of 19.2% are both lower than what Cortes showed in his short time pitching in 2025. It stands to reason that the Phillies have plans for Cortes to join their active roster soon, as the major league deal obviously points to. The major question will be in what capacity do they view Cortes? Is he going to join the rotation as the Phillies possibly deploy six starters to try and get their big three more rest down the stretch? Or is Cortes going to take the spot of Andrew Painter as the latter heads back to Lehigh Valley in the waning weeks of the Triple-A season to continue trying to make adjustments? Regardless, the Phillies were in desperate need of some sort of starting pitching depth, and they are hoping that Cortes can at least provide just that. So, what do you make of the Phillies’ signing of Nestor Cortes?

The post The Nude, Shrieking, 12-Foot Man Only We Can See: Could He Be The Next James Bond? appeared first on The Onion.

The post Dead Fantasy Football Commissioner’s Password Guessed Again appeared first on The Onion.

ICE announced plans to spend up to $20 million on gloves that deliver electric shocks to people who do not cooperate. What do you think? “Hopefully you can still opt in for the traditional beating.” Evilyn Hondo, Beet Slicer “They could also just rub their socks on the carpet.” Vaughn Campbell, Test Timer “Probably good to break up the monotony of shooting people all day.” Scott Tomlin, Quinceañera Coordinator The post ICE To Equip Officers With Electric Shock Gloves appeared first on The Onion.

CHICAGO—As she navigated the concert crowd with increased vigilance, local woman Penelope Frasier issued a red alert Thursday, warning that the music venue she and her friends had just entered was an absolute minefield of her ex-boyfriends. “There could be one hiding around every corner,” said Frasier, quickly peeking out from behind a support beam to check if the coast was clear before wordlessly signaling to her friends to follow her to the women’s bathroom. “They’re camouflaged well among the landscape of beards and black T-shirts, but I’ve already got eyes on three previous partners in the audience—not counting the two behind the bar. We just need to maneuver past the first row, bypass the left side of the stage undetected, and stay out of the sight lines from the merch table. If we evade the pack of people smoking outside, we’ll all make it home safely tonight.” At press time, Frasier reported being startled awake at 2 a.m. to a blitzkrieg of “I saw you at the show tonight” texts. The post Local Music Venue An Absolute Minefield Of Ex-Boyfriends appeared first on The Onion.

CHICAGO—Basing the instructions almost entirely on a mental map of his surroundings that had seemingly not been updated since 2002, local dad Kenan Volmer reportedly offered his children driving directions to their uncle’s house Thursday that hinged on where an old Shell station used to be. “So first you’re going to drive down Touhy Avenue, near that place with the good Italian sandwiches, and when you hit the old Shell station, turn right,” said Volmer, who further referred to the long-demolished landmark as located next to “you know, that church where that one cousin of yours was baptized.” “After that, take a left, then take two rights, and then go straight until you hit the shopping center with the old Circuit City. Man, I miss Circuit City. Then, keep going straight until you hit that corner where that cyclist got hit by a car. If you end up at a Costco, you’ve gone too far.” At press time, frustrated sources confirmed they were begging Volmer to stop talking about how cheap gas used to be at the Shell station and just text them an address. The post Dad’s Driving Directions Hinge On Where Old Shell Station Used To Be appeared first on The Onion.

On its surface, Jason Ferruggia's wrestling origin story sounds very familiar. Like countless others who grew up in the 1980s, Ferruggia's Saturday mornings revolved around watching Hulk Hogan, the British Bulldogs and the Ultimate Warrior, among others. For a generation, these wrestlers were larger-than-life superheroes — unstoppable, muscle-bound forces clashing on a television screen.For Ferruggia, they were also something of a blueprint."I started actually because of watching pro wrestling in the early '80s and I was just a fat kid," Feruggia told Uncrowned. "I was weak. I wasn't the most athletic kid. I got into lifting in 1986 and it kind of just became an obsession. I graduated high school, the same height I am now, six feet tall, 147 pounds and I'd been training for six years. It wasn't really working. I really didn't have great genetics at all for it, so I really had to do a deep dive and figure out how to make it work. It just became my obsession. I started my business when I was 21, still going to school and things just kind of took off from there."Ferruggia himself is not a professional wrestler, though.Instead of taking bumps, Ferruggia is the guy who is helping construct and fine-tune the bodies of the men and women who are performing in WWE rings. Forty years after training became his obsession, Ferruggia is a specialist tasked with transforming some of the industry's biggest names, due in part to a chance meeting a decade ago in Venice Beach that helped him break into the ranks of WWE."My first three friends in professional wrestling were Becky Lynch, who I met randomly just in Venice one day, and we hit it off immediately, and then she became one of my closest friends," Ferruggia said. "Also John Morrison and Torrie Wilson. I would train with all them, help them with stuff, and then Becky would get me backstage and introduce me to other people. I was backstage at the Royal Rumble in Arizona [in 2019], standing in line at catering to get some food, and Chad Gable came up behind me and he goes, 'Dude, I was just listening to your podcast.' We started talking, we hit it off, and then I took him into the weight room, showed him some stuff, I fixed something that he had going on. And so he became my first client."Chad Gable is having a career year in 2026.WWE via Getty ImagesWhile Ferruggia had experience working with professional athletes across various sports, training pro wrestlers presents an entirely different series of hurdles. Although the travel and work schedule isn't what it was even 15 years ago, many WWE stars wrestle multiple times per week, sleep in hotels and don't always have access to the cleanest food sources. It is a lifestyle that is not the most conducive for the demands Ferruggia's programs require."Luckily, most of my dedicated guys will bring a lot of their own stuff, but sometimes you just get called places and you don't have stuff," Ferruggia said. "So, you have to kind of get innovative. Gable meal preps all his own stuff. He'll take all his own meals and a big cooler on the road. So that's the challenge, is eating on the road and what that lifestyle of traveling and being in hotels all the time does too. There's an insane schedule. You wouldn't have Tom Brady and LeBron [James] at their age working [like this] all the time. Like, let's prioritize recovery and health a little bit."Lifestyle aside, there's also the actual physical demands of performing in the ring and training on both WWE and Ferruggia's schedule. A starting pitcher in the MLB or defensive lineman in the NFL does not necessarily need to worry about how he looks on TV, so training focuses more on function than anything else. How can I get my body to perform the way it needs to perform consistently, at the highest level, without injury? It's a question any professional athlete needs to answer, but in the world of pro wrestling — especially on television — the added reality is you also have to look the part, which tends to complicate the equation."Everybody wants to look good at the end of the day, but you have to really prioritize aesthetics more so with WWE clients, because they're in their underwear in front of 20,000 people and millions will watch it on TV," Ferruggia said. "Aesthetics are a huge thing, and they're still professional athletes, so you need to think about their injuries, what kind of overuse stuff do they have, what do we want to avoid? So a lot of the training has to be prehab, rehab stuff — it also has to be functional. All these guys are banged up. They're on the road all the time, it's very hard on your body, so they're all banged up. So we need to make sure that the training is joint friendly, not making them worse. We need to produce the least amount of fatigue from their training so that they're fresh in the ring and that they're looking their best at the same time."One of Ferruggia's biggest success stories in 2026 is the physical transformation of CM Punk. Punk, 47, entered the year as World Heavyweight Champion and was set to face Roman Reigns to close out WrestleMania 42 weekend's main event. During his rise to become one of the most popular figures in the world of professional wrestling, it was Punk's in-ring work and ability to cut reality-based promos that got him over as opposed to his "look." After seeing what Ferruggia was doing with Gable, Punk reached out and asked to be connected with WrestleMania roughly three months away. It wasn't until it was quite literally crunch time that Punk made the call."He finally hit me up six weeks before 'Mania," Ferruggia said. "I was like, 'I wish you got to me six weeks sooner, we don't have a lot of time here. We've got to go hard here, with no room for error and I'll be honest with you — I don't know what's going to happen in six weeks.' I had a pretty good idea based on 30 years of experience, but everybody's body is different, everybody's physiology is different. Sometimes it's a feeling-out process. I have to see how your body responds and what's going to work, but we're going to do our best. And if you do everything I say, eat everything I tell you to eat, take the supplements, do the workouts like I tell you, we can make some progress. And he did. He showed up."Punk and Reigns ultimately put together an instant-classic WrestleMania main event. At nearly 50 years old, Punk went 33-plus minutes in the ring on WWE's biggest stage. Physically, he looked great. But it was just the beginning.After WrestleMania 42, Punk made an appearance on "WWE Raw" the following night and then enjoyed some much-earned time off, having been World Heavyweight Champion since November. Although Punk was absent from WWE television in the ensuing months, his time off wasn't a full-on vacation, as he still trained with Ferruggia."We had another 90 days or so after 'Mania before he came back [to WWE] again," Ferruggia said. "Luckily, he's in L.A. and I'm in L.A., so we were able to see each other quite a few times. I think that made a difference, being able to get in a bunch of in-person sessions with him and just developing that bond and rapport and trust. Now I talk to him every day as well, and he works as hard as anybody I've ever seen. Like he does everything I say to the letter."CM Punk has had a monster 2026 campaign as champion.WWE via Getty ImagesPunk continued working with Ferruggia during his hiatus and pictures would pop up every so often on social media of the "Voice of the Voiceless" working out, and it became a major talking point, particularly as it pertained to his physique.Anyone who's trained knows there are several cosmetic advantages of being in a gym. First, the lighting is situated in a way that is more flattering than usual, with shadows accentuating everything. Second, if you are seen or photographed right after a workout — especially weight training — you'll have a "pump" going, where your muscles are quite literally bulging. If you've seen wrestlers warming up backstage with resistance bands, more often than not they are getting a last-second "pump" before their music hits.Of course these pictures of Punk, who was once unironically called "skinny fat" during a promo in his first stint with WWE, started to spark rumors."Anyone in that line of work is going to benefit from some time off," Ferruggia said "He was able to get way more sleep, do way more recovery stuff, get red light, sauna, massage all the time. Everywhere we would go, people in the gym would be filming him, taking pictures and then posting it online. [At first,] it was weird because he was bummed out saying, 'I hate hearing all these steroid comments,' like it was negating the hard work he was putting in. "But at the same time, it's like a compliment too. Now he even takes it as a compliment. I should certainly take it as a compliment that people would assume he's on something. He even sent me a text one night, a picture from a house show, and he goes, 'Now I really understand why people accuse me of being on steroids. Thank you so much.'"Earlier this month, Ferruggia traveled to Minnesota for SummerSlam. Three of his WWE clients — Gable, Punk and Seth Rollins — were set for major matches on the two-night card. On Night 1, Punk defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes. Like his clash with Reigns at WrestleMania, Punk wrestled for more than 30 minutes and won as one of the oldest wrestlers at one of the biggest shows of the year.On Night 2, Gable challenged Penta for the Intercontinental Championship. Gable, who had undergone a career renaissance as "El Grande Americano," was wrestling in front of his hometown crowd and eventually won his first singles title in WWE. Rollins closed out the night in an epic main event against Roman Reigns. View this post on InstagramFerruggia was there to watch as his clients-turned-friends showed off the collective fruits of their labor."Out of my three guys in those big matches, I was really the most excited about and proud of Gable, because I've been there with him," Ferruggia said. "We've talked every single day for years now, and he's become more than a client. He's a close friend and a brother, and I know how much work he puts in. I can't remember the last time I was ever that proud of and happy for someone when he finally won that first singles title."

“Won’t be around past a year.”“This is amateur. We are trying to take the men’s team to the Champions League.“Why are we wasting money on this?”“The ladies’ league is exactly why Jamie Tartt left.”The comments during the fictional AFC Richmond annual shareholder meeting on the latest episode of Apple TV’s “Ted Lasso” likely hit uncomfortably close to home for many women’s soccer fans.They reflected the persistent skepticism — and, at times, outright apathy — that has shaped perceptions of women’s soccer for decades: Why spend money on something that does not make money?While the top end of women’s soccer is successfully attracting investments from billionaire owners, nine-figure valuations and purpose-built stadiums, it has not always been the case. Life further down the football pyramid, where the fictional Richmond Women play, is also a place where some of these feelings and lack of investment still permeate.The challenges the show dramatizes, from the damning “Higgins Report,” named after Richmond executive Leslie Higgins (Jeremy Swift), to kits that fail to arrive on time, inadequate locker rooms and the struggle to secure sponsors, are, unfortunately, not far removed from reality.It would be easy to watch these scenes and assume the writers are exaggerating for effect.But they aren’t.For every Kansas City Current or Arsenal, there is a Blackburn Rovers or Southampton. While the Current built the first purpose-built stadium for an NWSL team, the budgets of Rovers and Southampton have been slashed in recent years.In the United States, Kansas City spent $140 million to build the privately funded stadium two years after opening an $18 million, 17,000-square-foot state-of-the-art training center. Several NWSL clubs are on the same path, or at least train in state-of-the-art facilities unimaginable in the league’s early years. In England, Arsenal are among the teams that have moved into men’s stadiums full-time and enjoy growing revenue.However, Richmond represents a staggering number of clubs across the globe that continue to face real financial and resource challenges. The dream of being given equal facilities — like a visitors’ locker room — remains far from reality.“Even in Serie A Women (Italy’s top-flight women’s soccer league), not every team has a dedicated facility,” former goalkeeper Arianna Criscione, who played in the U.S., Italy and France, told The Athletic. She is now the head of women’s soccer at Krause Group, which owns Parma Calcio 1913 and Portuguese club Casa Pia AC.“At Parma, our women train and play at the same place, so the locker room is theirs year-round. But we play teams that share facilities with men’s teams, where the locker room is only theirs for that day.”“Ted Lasso,” of course, takes some Hollywood liberties with its team. Richmond’s relatively new women’s team trains at the same facility as Richmond’s men.“They were training on grass. That’s already massive,” Criscione said. “Most women don’t get to train on the same pitch as the men.”Even the show’s supposedly miserable conditions contain luxuries few in reality can access.“When I was at PSG, we had our own locker room at the training facility, with these magnetic name plates on our lockers,” Criscione said. “I took mine home; they are still on my mother’s refrigerator. It was the first time I’d ever had something like that, and I was so happy. Taking home a magnet that said ‘Arianna Criscione’ with the PSG logo felt like a really big deal.”That magnet represented, as ironic as it may be, the permanence many women never experienced throughout their careers. “Most of my career, we walked into locker rooms that were simply not built for women,” she added. “There might be three urinals and one regular toilet, when what we actually need is more toilets.”For years, this was essentially the business model for women’s soccer: build it for men and figure out somewhere to put women. The speed at which Richmond’s PR consultant Keeley Jones (Juno Temple) can secure a locker room for the women’s team is purely fictional.The second tier of English women’s soccer only became fully professional in the 2025-26 season. Before that, players had to keep their day jobs.Renamed WSL2, the league’s financial fragility is yet to disappear. Blackburn, which came 10th in the 2024-25 season, is a prime example. The team was demoted from WSL2 despite finishing above the relegation zone after its owner declined to meet the financial requirements for players, infrastructure and staff of a tier-two team.“The gap between the top of WSL2 and the bottom of WSL has, in recent history, been more precarious than conquerable; the financial buy-in required to compete is not worth the pay-off for most owners,” The Athletic’s Megan Feringa wrote during her reporting, explaining the difference between the two divisions of English women’s football.Sounds familiar? That’s what the fictional “Higgins Report” says will happen to Richmond.For decades, women’s soccer was asked to prove its value while operating with a fraction of the resources afforded to the men. And while profitability remains a challenge, that is hardly unique to the women’s game.In the Premier League, the world’s richest domestic men’s league, only eight of 20 clubs reported an operating profit in 2024-25, according to Deloitte’s Annual Review of Football Finance, while aggregate pre-tax losses reached £948 million ($1.3 billion). The difference? Few question whether men’s soccer is a viable business.Men’s soccer teams are rarely evaluated simply by their yearly profits and losses. Investors consider their IP, media rights, sponsorship potential, real estate, and, of course, scarcity value, assuming the business will grow sustainably over time.Women’s soccer is slowly being evaluated the same way.The investment boom in women’s soccer is beginning to test those limits. Instead of expecting them to be profitable before receiving investment, a new generation of investors is betting that with the right investment, revenue will follow.That does not mean women’s soccer will suddenly become a reliably profitable business; many clubs in the U.S. and Europe still operate at significant losses, particularly as salaries and other costs rise, but that is also how emerging businesses are built: investors absorb losses today because they believe the asset can be worth substantially more tomorrow.“The growth of the game has been exponential. It’s almost unrecognizable from the early NWSL days when I played. So much of that comes down to investment, something we were screaming about for years,” Lori Lindsey, a soccer commentator and retired midfielder who played for the Washington Spirit in the NWSL’s inaugural season, told The Athletic.“The players and the product were always there. It was about convincing people that women’s soccer was worth investing in.”According to Deloitte’s 2026 Football Money League, the 15 highest-revenue women’s clubs it analyzed generated a combined €158 million ($185m) in 2024-25, with commercial revenue accounting for 72 percent of the total.In the show, Richmond’s men’s front-of-shirt sponsor gets wary of doing the same for the women after the contentious shareholders’ meeting. It takes Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) going to the investor to plead her case.In the women’s game, sponsorship is the engine of the business. Brands are effectively placing the same bet as owners: That the audience for women’s soccer is growing faster than the price of reaching it.In 2024, Arsenal took a leap of faith by designating Emirates Stadium as the main home of the women’s side. The decision followed the demand rather than trying to manufacture it.Four WSL matches at the Emirates during 2023-24 drew an average crowd of more than 52,000, including two sellouts and three league attendance records. Arsenal responded by putting more games there. By 2025-26, all of Arsenal Women’s WSL home matches were scheduled to be played at the Emirates. The average league attendance at Arsenal reached 33,808 last season — nearly four times Chelsea’s, the next highest average.It is not surprising that Arsenal has the highest revenue for a women’s club, according to Deloitte’s 2026 Money League, generating $29.1 million (£21.5 million). But the data from the previous season demonstrates the other side of the equation.WSL clubs generated $88 million (£65 million) but recorded combined pre-tax losses of $38 million (£28 million). Wage costs had climbed 44 percent to $70 million (£52 million), producing an average wage-to-revenue ratio of 81 percent.Translation: You need to spend money to make money.And that is where “Ted Lasso” highlights something important.The fundamental argument within AFC Richmond is not really about whether the Greyhounds’ women’s team is good enough. It is about whether the people controlling the money believe the team can become valuable and justify spending on it before the evidence is completely obvious.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.Sports Business, Women's Soccer, Culture, Women's Super League2026 The Athletic Media Company

The Cincinnati Bengals host the Chicago Bears for a joint practice near Paycor Stadium on Thursday ahead of Saturday's preseason game. There, the Bengals are expected to roll out their starters for notable work before keeping them out of the preseason game over the weekend. Here’s a live-updating look at some of the happenings to know from the joint practice.Bears vs. Bengals joint practice live updatesBen Johnson comments on Joe BurrowMedia sessions before joint practice starts include some major Joe Burrow praise from Bears head coach Ben Johnson: Bears coach Ben Johnson on Bengals QB Joe Burrow: “He’s like a surgeon back there.” Bears QB coach J.T. Barrett was Burrow’s teammate at Ohio State, too.— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) August 20, 2026This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bears vs. Bengals joint practice live updates and highlights

Aston Villa have inquired about AC Milan forward Christopher NkunkuAston Villa are reported to have made enquiries to explore the terms of a potential transfer for AC Milan player Christopher Nkunku (28), according to reports from Onze Mondial.The forward, who is said to have been placed on the transfer list by his new manager Ruben Amorim, is also reportedly on the radar of Newcastle United, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig. Turkish and Saudi clubs are also said to be monitoring his situation, whilst the Rossoneri are reportedly open to the idea of loaning him out.Having arrived in Lombardy from Chelsea for a fee of €37m a yeard ago, Nkunku made 35 appearances (17 as a starter) across all competitions last season, proving decisive on 11 occasions, scoring eight goals and providing three assists. Making two appearances during the Milan club’s pre-season, he notably scored a goal against rivals Inter Milan. Nevertheless, Amorim considered these performances to be insufficient to convince him to rely on his strengths for the upcoming campaign.GFFN | Léo Aschi

10Bet Sign Up Offer: Full Guide to the Welcome Bonus – August 202610Bet★★★★★5.0/510Bet Sign Up Offer: Full Guide to the Welcome Bonus – August 2026Claim a 100% Sports Bonus Up to £50Click to reveal code10BETVIPGET BONUS CODE✓ Tested and verified on 20/08/2026 T&C: 18+. New UK customers only. Select bonus at signup. Min deposit £10. First deposit matched 100% up to £50. 10x wagering within 30 days. Min odds 2.00 singles / 1.50 accas. Virtual Sports, voided, cashed-out & Free Bet wagers excluded. Skrill/Neteller excluded. Early withdrawal forfeits bonus/winnings. Not combinable with other promotions. Gamble Responsibly. T&Cs Apply.Looking into the 10Bet sign up offer? Well, our team of experts have done the efforts for players and here’s what this guide covers: what 10Bet’s welcome bonuses pay out, what the wagering requirements mean in practice, how to claim each one step by step, and how the offer stacks up against other UK bookmakers.New UK customers can claim a 100% sports welcome bonus up to £50, from a minimum £10 deposit.(10Bet runs two separate welcome bonuses, Sports and Casino, covered individually below; new customers pick one at sign-up.)Every figure below comes from 10Bet’s own published terms and conditions, checked against the operator’s site rather than lifted from other reviews.10bet Sports Offer T&Cs: 18+. New UK customers only. Select bonus at signup. Min deposit £10. First deposit matched 100% up to £50. 10x wagering within 30 days. Min odds 2.00 singles / 1.50 accas. Virtual Sports, voided, cashed-out & Free Bet wagers excluded. Skrill/Neteller excluded. Early withdrawal forfeits bonus/winnings. Not combinable with other promotions. Gamble Responsibly. T&Cs Apply.10bet Casino Offer T&Cs:18+. New UK customers only. Min deposit £10 within 7 days. Choose Casino Welcome Bonus at sign-up. Get 100% up to £25. Wager bonus 10x on eligible slots within 3 days. Max bonus winnings £1,000. Bonus non-redeemable. Skrill/Neteller and excluded games don’t qualify. Not valid with other promotions. T&Cs Apply.10Bet Sign-Up Offer ExplainedThis section breaks down what the 10Bet welcome offer actually includes, before getting into the fine print further down. Our research confirms that it’s built around a matched first deposit rather than a flat free bet, so the numbers below explain what that means for a typical £10 to £50 deposit. There’s no 10Bet promo code to hunt down either; the bonus is chosen from a menu at sign-up.10Bet★★★★★Claim a 100% Sports Bonus Up to £50Click to reveal10BETVIPClaim bonus18+. New UK customers only. Select bonus at signup. Min deposit £10. First deposit matched 100% up to £50. 10x wagering within 30 days. Min odds 2.00 singles / 1.50 accas. Virtual Sports, voided, cashed-out & Free Bet wagers excluded. Skrill/Neteller excluded. Early withdrawal forfeits bonus/winnings. Not combinable with other promotions. Gamble Responsibly. T&Cs Apply.Best 3 things about the 10Bet sign up bonus:No promo code is needed, so the bonus is selected during registration with nothing to remember or mistype.The sports offer matches your first deposit pound for pound, up to £50, rather than handing over a fixed free bet token.The 10x wagering requirement applies to a 30-day window, which is workable for anyone betting regularly rather than making one bet and forgetting about it.Through our analysis we confirm that new sports customers get a 100% deposit match up to £50: deposit £10 or more and 10Bet adds the same amount again as bonus funds, capped at £50 on a £50 deposit. The money lands as bonus balance rather than a separate free bet, so it’s used the same way as normal funds once the wagering requirement is cleared.10bet Sports Offer T&Cs: 18+. New UK customers only. Select bonus at signup. Min deposit £10. First deposit matched 100% up to £50. 10x wagering within 30 days. Min odds 2.00 singles / 1.50 accas. Virtual Sports, voided, cashed-out & Free Bet wagers excluded. Skrill/Neteller excluded. Early withdrawal forfeits bonus/winnings. Not combinable with other promotions. Gamble Responsibly. T&Cs Apply.User Reviews10Bet has a rating of 3.0 based on 747 reviews. However, 38% of the reviews are five-star rated.1. “I signed up today the people in live chat were very nice and helpful too I went to the 4t h slot it was my maybe 80th spin and I hit for a 2000x (hacksaw frkn bananas) I went to withdraw and it was in my account within 2 hours or less. I’ve never seen a provider pay that much so quickly. The layout and access is really user friendly and you can navigate in and out of slots without any fuss the website layout is very intuitive. 5stars” – Irish Lad, Trustpilot2. “The account manager experience at 10Bet is second to none. Always on hand, very helpful and just a great bunch of people. Takeshi and the rest of the gang know what they are doing and how to take care of their clients.” – KSK, Trustpilot3. “I have had nothing but great experience with 10bet, and my manager takeshi is absolutely awesome. He has been very generous with bonuses and communication is excellent, and he is very friendly and approachable.” – Cory Doidge, TrustpilotDo You Need a 10Bet Bonus Code?No 10Bet promo code is needed for the sign up offer, at least not currently. New customers pick their welcome bonus from a menu during registration, and it’s applied automatically. However, our experts suggest that bookmakers tend to shuffle their rules around, though, and it wouldn’t be the first time a 10Bet bonus code requirement got added later or rolled out for some limited promo. Worth a quick check of the sign-up page at the time of registering, since this can change without much warning.10Bet★★★★★Claim a 100% Sports Bonus Up to £50Click to reveal10BETVIPClaim bonus18+. New UK customers only. Select bonus at signup. Min deposit £10. First deposit matched 100% up to £50. 10x wagering within 30 days. Min odds 2.00 singles / 1.50 accas. Virtual Sports, voided, cashed-out & Free Bet wagers excluded. Skrill/Neteller excluded. Early withdrawal forfeits bonus/winnings. Not combinable with other promotions. Gamble Responsibly. T&Cs Apply.10Bet Sign Up Offer Terms & ConditionsThe headline number gets all the attention, but it’s the tiny details that decides whether the player will actually walk away with anything. Here’s what to watch for with the 10Bet welcome offer:Eligibility: 18+, new UK customers only, and one account per person, household, or IP address.Deposit window: Only your first deposit counts. Anything you add later doesn’t trigger the bonus.Wagering: There are 30 days to wager the sports bonus 10 times over. Miss that window and both the bonus and any winnings it generated are gone.Minimum odds: 2.00 on singles, 1.50 per leg on accumulators. Bet under that and it simply won’t count.Excluded bets: Virtual Sports, cashed-out bets, voided bets, and free bet wagers don’t add to your turnover.Excluded payment methods: Deposits with Skrill or Neteller won’t qualify for either welcome offer.Stacking: This offer stands alone, it can’t be combined with anything else running at the same time.The casino bonus follows the same logic but with tighter numbers: 10x wagering on eligible slots, and only 3 days to get it done, with bonus-related withdrawals capped at £1,000.Step-by-Step: How to Claim the 10Bet Sign Up OfferOur experts confirm that claiming the offer takes a few minutes from registration to a qualifying first bet. No 10Bet promo code is needed at any stage; the steps below cover the sports welcome bonus specifically, with notes on what to watch for along the way.Go to the registration page and start a new account.Fill in your details: name, date of birth, address, contact info, the usual.Skip looking for a code, there isn’t one. Just pick your welcome bonus from the options at sign-up.Deposit £10 or more. Stick to a debit card if you can, since Skrill and Neteller won’t work here.Place a bet at 2.00 odds or higher. A Premier League result market at even money or better does the job.Once that’s placed, your matching bonus funds show up, and the clock starts on wagering them 10x within 30 days.You can do all of this on the browser site or through the 10Bet app, they’re basically identical, just the app squeezes the same registration flow and bonus screen onto a smaller layout.10Bet★★★★★Claim a 100% Sports Bonus Up to £50Click to reveal10BETVIPClaim bonus18+. New UK customers only. Select bonus at signup. Min deposit £10. First deposit matched 100% up to £50. 10x wagering within 30 days. Min odds 2.00 singles / 1.50 accas. Virtual Sports, voided, cashed-out & Free Bet wagers excluded. Skrill/Neteller excluded. Early withdrawal forfeits bonus/winnings. Not combinable with other promotions. Gamble Responsibly. T&Cs Apply.How to Use the Sports Welcome Bonus on FootballOnce that bonus is sitting in the account, the real question is how to actually clear the wagering requirement without it turning into a hassle. There are two ways most people go about it: chip away with singles, or knock it out faster with an accumulator.Scenario 1: Building toward wagering with singles. Deposit £30 and you’ll get £30 back as bonus funds. Clearing the 10x requirement means £300 in total turnover, and doing that across a handful of match-result or over/under bets at 2.00+ odds is a lot less painful than trying to stake it all at once. Just keep an eye on the odds, anything under 2.00 doesn’t move the needle at all.10Bet★★★★★Claim a 100% Sports Bonus Up to £50Click to reveal10BETVIPClaim bonus18+. New UK customers only. Select bonus at signup. Min deposit £10. First deposit matched 100% up to £50. 10x wagering within 30 days. Min odds 2.00 singles / 1.50 accas. Virtual Sports, voided, cashed-out & Free Bet wagers excluded. Skrill/Neteller excluded. Early withdrawal forfeits bonus/winnings. Not combinable with other promotions. Gamble Responsibly. T&Cs Apply.Scenario 2: Using accumulators. Prefer to bet on a whole weekend of football in one go? That works too, as long as every leg is priced at 1.50 or above. A four-team acca across the weekend’s big matches, each leg clearing that bar, counts its entire stake toward the 10x requirement in a single bet. Quicker, sure, but remember the whole thing needs to settle, win, lose, or void, within the 30 days for it to actually count.How to Use the Casino Welcome Bonus on Casino GamesThe casino bonus works on a tight three-day timeline, so planning stakes ahead of time matters here. The two scenarios below cover a simple slots approach and a note on game eligibility.Scenario 1: Slots. A £25 casino bonus means 10x turnover, so £250 total, and it all has to happen in 3 days flat. Sticking to lower-volatility slots and spreading the stakes out gives more breathing room before the balance runs dry.Scenario 2: Mixing games. Not everything counts the same way toward wagering, and plenty of games get excluded outright. So, it’s worth a look at the eligible-games list before assuming a table game pulls the same weight as a slot spin. Playing it safe with confirmed eligible slots is really the more reliable path to clearing the requirement before that 3-day clock runs out.Does 10bet Have a Free Bets Offer?It’s worth being precise here, because “10Bet free bet” and “10Bet deposit match bonus” aren’t the same thing. This section separates the two so it’s clear what new customers actually receive versus what existing customers can claim later.10bet’s current UK sports welcome offer is a 100% deposit match up to £50: new customers get their first deposit matched as bonus funds, not handed a separate free bet token. It carries a 10x wagering requirement, minimum odds as set out above, and applies to first deposits only.Separately, 10bet also runs an ongoing offer for regular bettors: stake £75 across all sports and receive a £10 free bet, repeatable up to ten times a month. That one is opt-in and aimed at existing customers rather than new sign-ups, so it sits apart from the welcome bonus. There’s also a horse racing-specific promotion offering money back as a free bet if a selection finishes second in eligible extra-place races. Anyone comparing this against other free bets betting offers in the UK will find the deposit-match structure less common than a straight free bet token, so it’s worth reading the terms before assuming the £50 arrives as free bet credit.Bottom line: there are 10bet free bets out there, just not as the headline new-customer offer. That one’s a deposit match, not a stand-alone free bet.10Bet Existing Customer OffersThe welcome bonus is a one-time offer, but regular customers have a few ongoing promotions worth knowing about too. The three below cover football-focused options plus one for horse racing.10Bet Existing Customers Offer 1: Get 10 x £10 Free BetsOpt in, bet £75 on sport, and a £10 free bet lands, repeatable up to ten times across the month. It’s straightforward and covers any sport, so a run of football bets over a few weeks builds toward it just as easily as spreading stakes across other markets. Opt-in is required each time the promotion runs, and odds, stake limits, and the usual T&Cs apply.10Bet Existing Customers Offer 2: Bet Builder PlusThis one’s football-specific. Opt in to receive two Odds Boost tokens, add a football bet builder with two or more legs to the betslip, then apply a token for an extra 25% boost on winnings. It’s aimed squarely at anyone who builds custom multi-market bets on a single match, with the boost capped at £100 across two qualifying bet builders and a minimum odds requirement of 3/1.10Bet Existing Customers Offer 3: Winnings BoostA broader sports offer: bet, win, and get up to 100% added to the winnings. It covers singles and doubles on horse racing and greyhounds, plus three-or-more-leg bets on any sport including football, with the boost percentage depending on bet type and capped at £1,000. Less football-specific than Bet Builder Plus, but the potential upside is higher.10Bet Payment MethodsDeposit and withdrawal options matter as much as the bonus terms, especially since two common e-wallets are excluded from the welcome offer. The table below covers the main methods; a dedicated 10Bet deposit and withdrawal breakdown is available on-site for full details on limits.Debit card is the simple choice for claiming the welcome offer, since Skrill and Neteller deposits don’t qualify for the bonus even though they’re supported for regular play. For withdrawals, card payments tend to take longer to clear than e-wallets, worth factoring in if speed of payout matters more than bonus eligibility.How Does the 10Bet Offer Compare to Other Welcome Offers?Numbers only tell part of the story, so this section sets the 10Bet sign up bonus against a few other UK operators before giving a plain read on where it lands. For a deeper look at the operator itself beyond the bonus, the 10Bet review covers the sportsbook, casino, and app in full.Bonus Details ComparisonBonus Amounts ComparisonOn paper, a 100% match up to £50 sits mid-table against these three. It’s smaller than betfred’s £50 and BoyleSports’ £40 plus boost, and it comes with a 10x wagering requirement that none of the other three carry on their headline sports offer. Where 10Bet holds its own is the 30-day window, matching bet365 and BoyleSports rather than betfred’s tighter 7 days, and the 2.00 minimum odds are workable for normal match-result betting rather than a stretch target. For football specifically, the market range covers match results, both-teams-to-score, correct score, and a usable bet builder, similar in scope to what bet365 and betfred offer, though neither bet365’s 40-plus sports coverage nor betfred’s Bet Builder-specific bonus split has a direct equivalent here. It’s not the biggest number on the page, but for anyone who bets on football regularly enough to clear 10x turnover without changing their normal habits, the terms are realistic rather than optimistic, and it holds its own among the best British betting sites on that basis alone.10Bet★★★★★Claim a 100% Sports Bonus Up to £50Click to reveal10BETVIPClaim bonus18+. New UK customers only. Select bonus at signup. Min deposit £10. First deposit matched 100% up to £50. 10x wagering within 30 days. Min odds 2.00 singles / 1.50 accas. Virtual Sports, voided, cashed-out & Free Bet wagers excluded. Skrill/Neteller excluded. Early withdrawal forfeits bonus/winnings. Not combinable with other promotions. Gamble Responsibly. T&Cs Apply.Our Expert OpinionWell, there’s no promo code needed for the 10Bet welcome offer; the bonus is selected at registration, which keeps the process simple. Whichever welcome bonus you pick, it’s worth matching to how regularly you bet or play — clearing a 10x wagering requirement is realistic for an active bettor, less so for an occasional one.For the sports bonus, the 30-day wagering window is generous by market standards. For the casino bonus, the 3-day window is much tighter and worth planning around before opting in..10Bet has been operating in the betting space since 2003, which gives it a longer track record than several newer entrants in the UK market. The sportsbook covers more than 40 sports with upwards of 130,000 events available monthly, backed by responsible gambling tools and a support team. The casino side runs separately, with over 3,000 games on offer.How We Reviewed the BonusThis isn’t a bonus judged on headline size alone. The process below covers how the terms, comparisons, and exclusions were checked before writing any of the sections above.Read the full published terms and conditions directly from the operator, rather than relying on secondary sources.Compared wagering requirements, minimum odds, and deposit limits against other UK operators’ welcome offers.Checked which payment methods and bet types are excluded, since these are the details that most often catch new customers out.Cross-referenced current promotions with UK Gambling Commission licensing and responsible gambling standards.Responsible gambling matters throughout this process; betting should stay affordable and enjoyable, not something chased to recover losses. Anyone concerned about their gambling can find free, confidential support through BeGambleAware or GamCare.Why You Can Trust The Football FaithfulAt The Football Faithful, transparency and accuracy are at the heart of every betting recommendation we publish. Our team of experienced football writers and betting analysts independently research and test each bookmaker before suggesting any welcome offer. Every review, including this Betfred bonus guide, is based on verified information taken directly from the operator’s official site and updated frequently to reflect the latest terms and conditions.10Bet Sign Up Offer FAQsDo I need a 10Bet promo code to sign up? No. The bonus is selected during registration, with no code to enter.What are the sister sites of 10Bet? 10Bet doesn’t have any sister sites. It operates as a standalone company by Blue Star Planet Limited.What is the 10Bet sign up offer?New customers choose one welcome bonus at registration. The sports option is a 100% first deposit match up to £50, with its own wagering requirement. The casino option is a 100% match up to £25, with a separate wagering requirement.Can I use free bets on football or horse racing? Bonus funds from the sports welcome offer, along with other 10Bet free bets for existing customers, can be used across football and horse racing markets, subject to the minimum odds and exclusions listed in the T&Cs.What about casino free spins? The welcome casino offer here is a deposit match rather than free spins; separate free spins promotions may run at different times and are worth checking on the promotions page directly.How do I withdraw winnings? Winnings can be withdrawn once the wagering requirement is fully met within the given window. Withdrawing early forfeits the bonus and any related winnings.