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Arsenal mascot Gunnersaurus Rex waves to the fans as the North London team take to the field for the mascot derby (Photo by Nigel French - PA Images via Getty Images) | PA Images via Getty Images Hello y’all! Welcome to another Arsenal season here at TSF. My name is Aaron and I’ll be your captain. It’s a pleasure to wear the armband and be back with everyone for, what, my fifth or sixth year guiding the good ship Short Fuse. It’s my first with Arsenal as DEFENDING PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS! Given that it had been 22 years since the Gunners last won the title — Ted founded TSF nearly a decade after that — it’s all y’all’s first season with our club as holders, too. How does it feel?Recently, I’ve seen a fair few new names in the comments, which is awesome. We’re proud of our community and want to make sure it’s a fun and welcoming place for everyone. There are several people here who have become real life friends after connecting on TSF. To that end, we always do a “getting to know you” post to kick off the season. I’ll get us started.I’m Aaron. Born and raised in the D.C. area and still here. Besides Arsenal, my sports fandoms are the Washington Capitals (and other D.C. sports teams I suppose — definitely the Spirit!), Duke University (my alma mater), and LSU football because my mother’s family is from Baton Rouge. I’m a big NFL fan but more the sport than any particular team. Really, if it’s sports and it’s on TV or streaming, there’s a decent chance I’ll watch.When I’m not engrossed in sports, you’ll find me walking Gunner the Rescue Dog. I’m generally Very Online and enjoy games, Hearthstone most of all. I love cooking, particularly for my fiance (surprise – I think that’s a TSF reveal – we got engaged in March) and working in my yard. I enjoy fantasy (most recently Mistborn and the Starlight Archive) and sci-fi books and TV (working on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) and will listen to most any music. And I really enjoy a nice pair of slacks.Please share a little bit about yourself in the comments and engage with the other readers! This site is only as good as we make it! We’re running the TSF fantasy league this year through the Premier League app. The entry code is: ziz7u5. No prizes, just bragging rights. Please do check out the IKTS series that Ray runs in The Feed. It’s been going on for a long time and people enjoy it. I’m excited for the season. Come on you Gunners!

The new government of Peter Magyar hoped to use the suite overlooking the Danube as evidence of an autocrat’s indulgence. The trappings fell short.

Researchers believe a young man buried inside a Scottish castle was a victim of the long-feared siege weapon, more powerful than a typical catapult.

Christie Slape, of Round Rock, Texas, holds a sign outside American Airlines Center before a WNBA basketball game between the Indiana Fever and the Dallas Wings, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)2026-08-21T03:55:05Z DALLAS (AP) — WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert denounced people she said are trying to “sow divisiveness” as the league grapples with a debate over transgender athletes.Engelbert made the comments Thursday before the Indiana Fever’s 91-85 loss to the Dallas Wings at the home of the Dallas Mavericks.Demonstrators showed up outside American Airlines Center, as they have at other venues since the Fever’s Sophie Cunningham voiced support for barring transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s sports in an extensive ESPN profile.The league issued a statement last week criticizing efforts to make an issue about the eligibility of transgender athletes in the WNBA. Engelbert’s comments in a pregame gathering in Dallas were her first since the league called out what it said were bad faith efforts to use the debate to “demean or marginalize others.” “People are trying to use the league to sow divisiveness,” Engelbert said Thursday while sitting alongside Wings CEO and managing partner Greg Bibb.“We’re being the center of political football for people who have never watched the WNBA, never have written about the WNBA or reported on the WNBA,” Engelbert said, echoing NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s recent use of “political football” to describe the debate that has engulfed the WNBA.The league’s collective bargaining agreement states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” but it does not include any more specific language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth. Earlier this month, two former NBA players, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, saying they identify as women. Engelbert sent a memo this month to team presidents and general managers saying the league would discuss the subject of transgender women in women’s basketball. Read More “There’s always going to be haters out there and we denounce it,” Engelebert said Thursday. “But that’s what happens when you have made it as a legitimate sports media and entertainment product.”___See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Christie Slape, of Round Rock, Texas, holds a sign outside American Airlines Center before a WNBA basketball game between the Indiana Fever and the Dallas Wings, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)2026-08-21T01:29:58Z ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The University of Georgia women’s soccer team broke the NCAA attendance record for men or women with a crowd of 25,433 on Thursday night at Sanford Stadium for a 6-0 victory over James Madison.Honoka Hamano scored twice for Georgia in the “Soccer in Sanford” match honoring the 30th anniversary of the United States women’s gold-medal victory over China in the 1996 Olympics at the iconic 93,033-seat football stadium.The crowd broke the women’s mark of 14,410 set in the 1999 NCAA championship between North Carolina and Notre Dame in San Jose, California. The previous overall mark was 22,512 for a 1980 men’s game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis between Saint Louis and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.___See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Britain's Prince William and Britain's Prince Harry walk beside each other after viewing the floral tributes for the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England on Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)2026-08-21T04:05:09Z LONDON (AP) — The royal family’s long-running American soap opera is returning to Britain. The question is whether it will blossom into a happy reunion or descend into anger, division and chaos.Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, plan to return to the United Kingdom from California in a matter of weeks. They have already enrolled their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, in British schools so they can start the autumn term with their classmates.News of the surprise decision, which broke late Wednesday in stories published by the Telegraph and Sun newspapers, has sparked widespread discussion about where the couple will live, who will pay for their security and whether they will return to royal duties one day.But perhaps the most difficult issue is whether Harry can repair his once-close relationship with Prince William, the heir to the throne, which was decimated by Harry’s very public complaints of mistreatment at the hands of Buckingham Palace staff, racism in the royal family and the failings of the monarchy. There are also concerns that Harry and Meghan could try to upstage William and his wife Catherine, when they once again share the British stage. “That will be something for the palace to deal with …” Craig Prescott, an expert on the U.K. constitution and the monarchy at Royal Holloway University of London, told The Associated Press. “They wouldn’t want Meghan and Harry’s presence in the U.K. here to overshadow the work of the monarchy, and there will have to be some discussion and allowance for that.” Harry and Meghan wanted their children to grow up BritishThe couple are expected to live at a private, nonroyal residence outside of London and they won’t resume their royal duties, which they gave up when they moved to the exclusive Southern California community of Montecito six years ago, British media reported late Wednesday.Their return to the U.K. comes as King Charles III, Harry’s 77-year-old father, continues to undergo treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer that was discovered in 2024. The prince said last year that he didn’t know “how much time my father has left,” and has expressed a desire for his children to have a chance to get to know their grandfather.While Harry and Meghan’s decision is a surprise to many, royal historian Ed Owens said recent events created a pathway for the couple’s return.First, Harry spoke of his desire for reconciliation, then there was the apparently successful meeting between the king, his younger son and daughter-in-law and their children last month at Charles’ Highgrove estate in western England. In addition, there is Harry’s stated desire for his children to grow up British and that the U.K. looks like a safer place to be right now, given the divisions in American society, said Owens, author of “After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself?” Read More Royal experts expect Charles to forgive HarryFinally, Owens said he expects Charles to forgive Harry because as the supreme governor of the Church of England he has to demonstrate the teachings of Christianity, including the virtue of forgiveness. William may find forgiving his brother more difficult, but someday he too will become head of the church, Owens said. “It may be that privately William never fully forgives his younger brother for what he deems the betrayal of the family,” Owens told The AP. “But publicly,” he will, “because for traditional moralists, traditional Christian values, they demand that there is this public act of forgiveness, that there’s reconciliation between the brothers.”Charles was informed of Harry and Meghan’s plans on Sunday and the matter wasn’t discussed during their recent visit to the U.K. 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. Relations have been strained in the House of WindsorRelations between Harry and Meghan and the rest of the royal family have been strained since the couple gave up their royal duties and moved to California in 2020 to earn their own living. The couple later signed lucrative contracts with Netflix and Spotify.The rift deepened after the couple gave a series of interviews and Harry published his explosive memoir “Spare,” in which he said they left Britain to escape the restrictions of royal life. The couple also criticized palace officials for being insensitive to Meghan’s mental health and alleged at least one member of the royal family had expressed racist views when she was pregnant with their first child. Meghan describes herself as biracial.Oprah Winfrey asked Harry to summarize his reasons for leaving Britain in a 2021 interview that was broadcast around the world.“Lack of support and lack of understanding,” he replied. Strains are exacerbated by long-running battles with the newspapersThose tensions were exacerbated by Harry’s long-running legal battle with Britain’s tabloid newspapers, which he alleges illegally hacked his phones and invaded his privacy when he was younger. The courtroom drama seemed to be nearing an end after Harry and other plaintiffs lost their lawsuit against the publisher of the Daily Mail last month. That case left Harry facing a potential bill for millions of pounds after the court ruled the plaintiffs were liable for the publisher’s legal fees. Associated Newspapers has filed documents showing that its costs amounted to 34.5 million pounds ($47 million). Harry has also been embroiled in a legal wrangle with the British government after a government committee refused to authorize police protection for him and his family when they are in the U.K. The prince says they need armed police protection because they are at risk as members of the royal family, regardless of whether they are working royals.The couple’s security arrangements are a “private matter” for Harry and Meghan to deal with, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said when asked about the issue on Thursday.After Harry lost his court challenge of the committee’s decision in May 2025, the prince said he hoped to reconcile with his family while continuing to vent his anger at those in Britain he feels have mistreated him and his wife.“I can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point,” he told the BBC at the time. “And the things that they’re going to miss is, well, everything. You know, I love my country. I always have done, despite what some people in that country have done.”Although much of the media attention on Harry and Meghan has focused on family tensions and recriminations in recent years, Owens suggested that the story may now shift to the royal’s efforts to rebuild family harmony.“I think time is a great healer. It creates space in a social media-saturated world,” he said. “People are always looking for the next thing to talk about and, arguably, that will be reconciliation between first of all father and son, and then potentially the two brothers.”

Amanda Bickerstaff, CEO of AI for Education, speaks at Academic Magnet High School during the Charleston County School District Charleston Educator Symposium Wednesday, July 22, 2026 in North Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)2026-08-21T04:05:08Z NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Artificial intelligence chatbots have become the bane of teachers everywhere, but to prepare for the new school year, a group of educators in Charleston, South Carolina, packed into a high school auditorium and talked about inviting AI into the classroom.The teachers and principals watched as an instructor prompted an AI tool to “create a map of the world.”The result drew gasps of disbelief and laughter. Projected on a large screen was a map riddled with bizarre errors. Mali was spelled “Mail.” Egypt was identified as “Sopth.” In place of Libya was something simply called “Africa.” Dozens of other countries’ names were misspelled or written in pure gibberish.“If you ever want kids not to over trust these tools, try the map demo,” said the instructor, Amanda Bickerstaff, founder and CEO of AI For Education, an organization that helps schools draft AI policies and train teachers and students in what she calls safe, ethical and effective use of the technology. After initially trying to ban AI use, a growing number of U.S. public schools are trying a new strategy: encouraging classroom experimentation, partly so students can see its shortcomings, including generative AI’s notorious tendency to “hallucinate,” or fabricate information.AI literacy has become a buzzword of this back-to-school season as educators try to strike a balance between equipping students with the skills they need for an AI-driven future while preventing them from outsourcing their thinking to chatbots. There is no single definition of what AI literacy means, or how it should be taught. Tech giants like OpenAI, Google and Anthropic offer schools training sessions in how to use their AI tools. But for educators, there is a growing consensus that AI literacy is about more than learning how to use generative AI and write good prompts.“Good AI literacy,” said Rebecca Winthrop, director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution, “includes knowing when not to use it.” Read More Some districts build their own approaches on AI literacy Thirty-seven states have now published official AI guidance that schools can use as a blueprint. South Carolina is not one of them.So the state’s second-largest school district set out to do it on its own, said Lucas Clamp, deputy superintendent of the 50,000-student Charleston County School District. “It has been a huge endeavor.” A year ago, the district contacted AI for Education, which helped draft guidance for Chicago Public Schools, Houston and dozens of other districts.Phase 1 was laying the foundation. The district developed an AI policy, seeking input from teachers, students and parents.The district organized student focus groups and learned that student AI use was ubiquitous but unguided. Teachers and students said they were navigating the technology on their own and wanted clear rules and instruction. Studies show a majority of teenagers and teachers nationwide are using AI for schoolwork, but they’re teaching themselves how to use it; very few say they have a technical understanding or have received formal training on how it works.Schools and parents are eager to avoid mistakes made with social media, where kids were left to explore the online world without learning about addictive algorithms, comparison culture and other downsides that have been linked to a youth mental health crisis and dwindling attention spans. As the school year begins in Charleston, Phase 2 kicks in: training. Teachers and middle and high schoolers will get a mix of online and in-person instruction on how AI tools work and how to use them effectively.The student course walks through familiar scenarios — like asking a chatbot to help with a research paper — to show that generative AI might deliver wildly inaccurate information, including made-up studies, with unflinching authority. “Always verify any factual information you get from GenAI, especially for your classwork,” the course advises.A section on data privacy cautions against sharing personal information with AI tools because conversations can be stored, used for data training and potentially leaked.High school teacher Ray Knauer attended the summer training and left with “teachable moments” for his AP Research class. He plans to show examples of AI bias and hallucinations to fuel student discussions. “We’re all trying to figure this out right now: What’s the right balance so we don’t scare students away from AI but don’t encourage them to run to it,” Knauer said. “We have to teach students: You can’t just get an answer and move on. You have to use analytical skills and dig deeper.” Some states offer top-down guidance on AI in classrooms Utah was an early pioneer in taking a statewide approach to AI in education.In 2024, the board of education named Matt Winters as its AI education specialist, making Utah the first state to create a full-time position overseeing the technology in schools.Over the past year, Winters led AI training for over 7,000 teachers, almost a third of Utah’s public school instructors. He is helping districts shape AI policies, which they are required by state law to have in place by July 2027.“There is a clear method from the top in Utah,” said Chris Agnew, director of the Generative AI for Education Hub at Stanford University. “When you’re tackling big change, it’s easier to have coherence if everyone is singing from the same hymn book.” A handful of other states have since replicated Winters’ post, including Maine, West Virginia and Georgia. In other states, a patchwork of AI approaches has emerged, with variance from one school district to another. Extensive AI literacy training requires steep investment, raising concerns that kids in under-resourced districts might not get the same attention.In Utah, training starts with the basics of how AI works to teach an understanding of AI bias, hallucinations, ethical concerns and data privacy needs, Winters said. Teachers can then pursue additional training on specific tools.“If I had to give advice: Figure out how to make training accessible to everyone,” said Emma Moss, who oversees AI at the Canyons School District and also led an eight-person team that traveled the state doing over 150 AI literacy trainings. The training was funded by a $500,000 AI literacy grant from a local healthcare provider. “We said, ‘We will come to you.’ Whether you are in a rural area or urban, it didn’t matter.”The state has also played a key role in procuring AI tools, Winters said. He negotiated data privacy agreements along with discounted prices, which has allowed rural and under-resourced districts to get access.“Everyone needs to understand what this technology is and how it works,” said Winters, who cautions against blanket bans. “AI literacy is much larger than saying: ‘Don’t use AI.’ It’s about how we can prepare kids for the future.”Changing adult mindsets is also key, said Kristina Yamada, the state Board of Education’s digital technology specialist. “I think teachers need to change their mentality about students using AI to cheat,” Yamada said. There has always been cheating, she said. It’s up to teachers to speak students’ language and convince them they can’t rely on AI for all the answers. For younger kids it means starting to talk about AI early, with conversations like, “People can lie. A program can lie. A robot can lie,” Yamada said. “For older students it’s different: ‘Sure, you can use ChatGPT to write computer code. But when the program stops working, you need to be able to fix it.’” ___Gecker reported from San Francisco.___The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. JOCELYN GECKER Gecker is an Associated Press reporter covering education with a focus on social media and youth mental health. twitter mailto

U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., speaks with reporters after a debate with U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., ahead of the special GOP Senate runoff election to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Newberry, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)2026-08-21T04:02:10Z MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to South Carolina on Friday to make a last-minute appeal for Sen. Darline Graham, his chosen candidate to replace her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, ahead of a Republican runoff next week.Voters will decide Tuesday whether Graham or Rep. Ralph Norman will be Republicans’ nominee on the November ballot. The Myrtle Beach rally is the sort of campaign trail occasion that Trump hasn’t done as much of this year, compared with past midterms, making it a signal of the importance Trump is placing on a win for his pick. It’s also an opportunity for the president to wade into friendly territory ahead of the midterm elections that leave his party’s control of Congress hanging in the balance. South Carolina hasn’t elected a Democrat statewide in decades, its House delegation has only one Democrat and Trump’s own victory in the 2016 presidential primary here helped propel him toward the nomination and ultimately the White House. In the scramble of a special Republican primary election that was called after Lindsey Graham’s sudden death last month, Darline Graham was picked by Gov. Henry McMaster — also a Trump ally — to serve as interim senator and entered the special primary at Trump’s urging. The president had said he told McMaster that appointing her would be a “fabulous tribute to Lindsey,” although the governor pointed out that he asked Graham to serve “in the wee hours” after her brother’s death, adding that Trump “thought it was a great idea” when he later told him of his pick. The president pressed “RUN DARLINE, RUN” on social media, and gave her his “Complete and Total Endorsement” before she’d officially announced her campaign. And at every turn on the campaign trail, she’s reminded voters of this anointing, as well as her commitment to advancing his priorities if elected. On the eve of the primary two weeks ago, he held a tele-rally for Graham. Trump also considered Lindsey Graham a close ally and friend, though they ran against each other in 2016 and had their ups and downs, so part of the visit is personal for Trump. He eulogized his longtime golfing partner and wartime consigliere at Washington National Cathedral last month. Like Trump, Darline Graham has portrayed herself as a political outsiderA political newcomer, Graham has stressed that she’s “not a politician,” as she’s hurriedly introduced herself to voters across the state. Regularly touting her support for Trump’s policies, as well as his endorsement, she has pointed to her years heading up a state agency, as well as her weeks on the job in the U.S. Senate, as evidence of her readiness. Read More Saying she’s “answering President Trump’s call to serve,” she has repeatedly said she wants “to fight for President Trump’s agenda” and cited his core goals of border security and passing the SAVE Act voting bill as among her top priorities. This is our AP Ground Game newsletter. You can subscribe below and we will email it you 3 times per week. Sign up for the Ground Game Newsletter: Your guide to the biggest stories in politics, policy and U.S. elections. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Graham has said she’s focused on kitchen table issues like gas prices and household spending rather than international affairs. Earlier this week, after stumbling on an elemental foreign policy question related to U.S. interests in Taiwan, Graham defended herself as “not a polished politician up here.”Trump has made no comment on the gaffe, which garnered attention after Graham told moderators, “National security is not my thing.” Trump’s rally will be in Myrtle Beach, a conservative — and growing — areaBy meeting voters in Myrtle Beach, both Trump and Darline Graham are aiming to capitalize on a growing part of the state that’s known to be deeply conservative, loyal to Trump and full of new residents.It’s also the home district of Rep. Russell Fry, the House ally whose name Trump had floated as an “outstanding” possible replacement for Graham after the senator’s death. Elected to the House in 2022 with Trump’s help, Fry ousted a five-term GOP congressman who had voted to impeach Trump a year earlier.Running in the Senate primary, Fry touted his support for and previous backing from the president, but was hampered by the absence of it in this race. Finishing third, he swiftly endorsed Graham, a calculated move for the 41-year-old, two-term congressman, who, dating to the origins of his 2022 election, has seen the ramifications for some Republicans who have crossed Trump. ___Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP MEG KINNARD Kinnard covers national politics for The Associated Press. She lives in South Carolina. twitter instagram mailto

First-year NFL head coach Jesse Minter continues to bring a different kind of energy to Baltimore Ravens. The team is preparing for the upcoming season by running reps at training camp. He grabbed the spotlight during a team outing. Minter stepped in front of his players and delivered a seemingly impromptu rap performance. This happened as the team prepares for its second preseason game on Saturday against the Minnesota VikingsMORE: Ravens get positive Nate Wiggins injury update after he was carted offMinter rapped to Eminem’s hit song “Lose Yourself.” He looked comfortable in the moment while his players cheered him on. The scene offered a glimpse into the personality behind Baltimore’s new head coach.Minter took over the Ravens this offseason. Baltimore hired him in January after he spent the previous two seasons as the Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive coordinator. He also worked for the Ravens from 2017 through 2020.The team defeated the Eagles 24-7 in its preseason opener last Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium. The team never trailed and controlled the game from start to finish.And just like how the song goes, “this opportunity comes once in a lifetime.” No truer words can describe how Minter must feel at the helm.Jesse Minter’s coaching careerAug 16, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter watches from the sidelines against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesMinter has taken a long road to the Ravens’ head coaching job.He began his coaching career at Notre Dame in 2006. Minter then worked as a defensive intern before joining Cincinnati as a graduate assistant from 2007 to 2008.A football coach’s son himself, Minter, the 43-year-old moved to Indiana State, coaching linebackers from 2009 to 2010. He became the program’s defensive coordinator in 2011 and held the role through 2012.Georgia State came next. Minter served as defensive coordinator from 2013 through 2016. His coaching improved significantly during his tenure with the program. That was also when the Panthers earned their first bowl appearance in history in 2015.The Ravens hired Minter in 2017. He spent three seasons as a defensive assistant before taking over as the team’s defensive backs coach in 2020. The Ohio native moved back to college football taking his experience to Vanderbilt. He spent only one season in Nashville before Michigan called him.And the rest as they say is history. Minter is the fourth head coach in Baltimore franchise history.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —

Even Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans knew Jayden Higgins was in for a special season.Following Thursday's 22-20 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, Ryans officially confirmed that Higgins suffered a torn ACL in Tuesday's joint practice and would miss the rest of the season. A once-promising second-year player in the passing game now must begin to prepare for the 2027 season.And replacing him with just one player won't be easy. "It hurt," Ryans said of losing Higgins. "Jayden is a guy I’ve highlighted every time I’ve gotten up & talked because of the work that he’s done in OTAs, throughout training camp; he’s one of our best players, if not arguably the best player on the field when he’s been out there. It’s a significant loss for us, we got a void to fill there. It won’t be easy to fill the void that Jayden is leaving behind.”DeMeco Ryans on Jayden Higgins being out for the year:“It hurt. Jayden is a guy I’ve highlighted every time I’ve gotten up & talked because of the work that he’s done in OTAs, throughout training camp, he’s one of our best players, if not arguably the best player on the field… pic.twitter.com/uAE8WmSFYl— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) August 21, 2026During red zone team drills, Higgins ran a route in the end zone and fell awkwardly. He lay there in pain while teammates came to check on him before the medical staff arrived. While the cart was pulled out, Higgins was able to walk off the field under his own power and head back to the locker room with the training staff.It was a non-contact injury, so the results weren't expected to be good. Following an MRI, reports confirmed the worst. Higgins will now undergo surgery and begin the rehab process to hopefully return by the start of next training camp. "It's tough, man," quarterback C.J. Stroud said. "He was doing great; it was the best I’ve seen him. He was making plays, doing things I hadn’t seen him do before, playing physical. My thoughts and prayers are always with him. I’ve been talking to him as much as I can. He’s definitely going to be missed.”Higgins' departure is a massive blow to the Texans' passing game. After a promising rookie campaign, he seemed poised to have a breakout season opposite Pro Bowler Nico Collins for Stroud, especially on intermediate routes.As the Texans' first selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Higgins made strides. The Iowa State product had 525 receiving yards and six touchdowns while helping Houston secure 12 wins.#Texans QB C.J. Stroud on WR Jayden Higgins (torn ACL) lost for the season, “Yeah, it’s tough man, he was doing great, it was the best I’ve seen him. He was making plays, doing things I hadn’t seen him do before, playing physical. My thoughts and prayers are always with him. I’ve… pic.twitter.com/iAhqeWDXbh— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) August 21, 2026Houston now turns to the rest of the receiving department, including Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel. Hutchinson, a 2023 draft pick, is entering his fourth season with the team and is in a contract year, so he could be playing for a new deal with Houston or another franchise. Noel hasn't practiced much throughout training camp as he's been dealing with a broken finger and hamstring tightness. A third-round pick out of Iowa State, Noel has potential but was limited on offense last season, mostly finding success on special teams.The big mystery is Tank Dell's status for the regular season. Dell, the Texans' third-round pick in 2023, also enters a contract season and is coming back from a serious knee injury in December 2024 that held him out all of 2025. Right now, there's no timeline for when he could ramp up his rep count and actually begin practicing against contact. Even after that, Dell still would need time to ramp up before a live game. The Texans have one more preseason game before Week 1 rolls around. By then, hopefully they'll have an answer on what to do with the second receiver position. Of course, that's way easier said than done. This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans begin life without 'best player on the field' in Jayden Higgins following season-ending injury

As the debate between grass and artificial turf continues, the NFL continues to have one club in its bag.On a Thursday conference call with reporters, NFL executive V.P. Jeff Miller reiterated the league's default position regarding the two primary playing surfaces."We've made public injury data on grass and synthetic for many years," Miller said. "Last three years, there's no difference between the two in any injury category or overall."But that's only part of the story, obviously. The players strongly prefer grass, given the overall impact on the body. They feel better the next day, because the forces go into the ground on grass. On artificial turf, the forces ricochet back into the player's bodies.Beyond that, the occurrence of an injury during a game doesn't always mean the injury happened at that time. Plenty of injuries occur when an accumulation of wear and tear results in something breaking, tearing, straining, etc.Miller also pointed out that the grass fields used for the World Cup wouldn't withstand the demands of pro football games. Frankly, that's a given; soccer and football have very different requirements when it comes to the manner in which the surface performs. The notion that a FIFA-quality grass field wouldn't work for NFL games obscures the reality that the NFL wouldn't use a FIFA-quality field. The NFL would use an NFL-quality field.The broader takeaway from the World Cup is that grass can be done indoors. The challenge becomes the willingness of owners to make the necessary financial investment, by installing a system that will protect the grass when other events happen or by forgoing the revenue from those non-football activities.It's now a collective bargaining issue. And the league undoubtedly would want to share the cost of converting turf fields to grass — including the revenue losses if the only solution in a given venue is to do nothing but play football there.That's why the best approach for the players would be not to pressure the league generally but to pressure specific owners. Starting with new Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla, who recently opened the door to making a change from turf to grass in Seattle.

ONE Championship is continuing to bring the heat, as the promotion returns to Asia primetime with two more scorching-hot events, The Inner Circle 27 and ONE Friday Fights 167.The world’s largest martial arts organization will broadcast The Inner Circle 27 and ONE Friday Fights 167 live from Bangkok’s historic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, August 21.In the headline attraction of The Inner Circle 27, former ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title challenger “Mini-Hulk” Songchainoi Kiatsongrit will collide with surging Thai dynamo Banluelok Sitwatcharachai.View this post on InstagramIn the main event of ONE Friday Fights 167, Road to ONE: Thailand Champion Dedduanglek Torfunfarm will run it back with two-division Lumpinee Stadium World Champion Kongsuk Sitsarawatsuer in a rematch that’s been three years in the making.Plus, over two dozen rising stars will compete for a chance to earn a life-changing US$100,000 contract and coveted spot on ONE Championship’s global roster.For up-to-the-minute results and video highlights from every Muay Thai, MMA, and kickboxing match at The Inner Circle 27 and ONE Friday Fights 167, check below.View this post on InstagramSource

FRISCO, TX - MARCH 24: Djordije Jovanovic #31 of the Ontario Clippers shoots a free throw during the game against the Texas Legends on March 24, 2024 at Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Cooper Neill/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images It’s almost September, and the St. John’s men’s basketball roster continues to be a work in progress. One day after welcoming its newest addition in Indiana transfer Reed Bailey, the Red Storm are already saying goodbye to a player who hasn’t even stepped on campus yet.Montenegrin forward Djordije Jovanovic will reportedly not join the St. John’s men’s basketball team due to visa issues and will return to his previous professional club KK Buducnost for the upcoming season. BPG Info, an independent news account covering the Hungarian basketball club on Instagram (@bpg_info), first reported the news, which was later confirmed by Dave Berov and Adam Zagoria.“Djordije Jovanovic had an agreement with St. John’s University, a move that would have benefited both the player and Buducnost,” the Buducnost news account wrote via translation. “However, because of visa issues, Jovanovic was unable to travel to the United States, so he remained in Podgorica and will spend next season with the club he is under contract with.”Jovanovic becomes the Red Storm’s second international addition to exit the team before the new season even begins. Spanish wing Gildas Gimenez was ruled academically ineligible earlier this month.The 6-foot-8 forward committed to the Red Storm back in April and was supposed to factor as a knockdown shooter and defensive difference-maker in the frontcourt. He averaged 5.1 points and 1.8 rebounds on 41.9% shooting across all competitions for KK Buducnost in the 2025-26 campaign.Losing Jovanovic opens one more roster spot for St. John’s, and the program is likely to fill that vacancy with one of the newly eligible fifth-year transfers. The Red Storm are still in the running for All-SEC honoree Keyshawn Hall, who would conveniently plug in as the injured Donnie Freeman’s replacement.If they do not target Hall, then St. John’s could reunite with one of its former centers, Georgetown transfer Vince Iwuchukwu.The big man recently won a temporary restraining order in a New York state court, which interestingly, specifically stated that St. John’s University (as well as other NCAA member institutions) cannot be restricted by the NCAA from permitting Iwuchukwu to practice, condition, train, and compete as a member of its men’s basketball team in the 2026-27 academic year.Iwuchukwu was one of several former Red Storm players to participate in a few scrimmages with the current roster in July. The 7-foot-1 center averaged 2.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in his only season with St. John’s in 2024-25, but saw those averages climb to 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game with Georgetown last season.

Currency traders work at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)2026-08-21T04:46:44Z HONG KONG (AP) — Asian shares were mixed on Friday following a retreat on Wall Street as a U.S. Treasury Department plan to boost its government debt buybacks had only limited capacity to calm markets.U.S. futures edged higher.Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.2% to 66,080.25. South Korea’s Kospi climbed 0.9% to 6,914.09. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.7% to 25,888.36, while the Shanghai Composite index was unchanged at 3,903.81.Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was trading 0.3% lower at 9,053.90. Taiwan’s Taiex gained 0.4%, while India’s Sensex was 0.1% lower.The Treasury Department announced Wednesday that it will at least double the size of its planned purchases of longer-term government debt, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled Thursday that the repurchase program could be larger.The announcement temporarily brought down government bond yields, which have been elevated under concerns about high inflation partly caused by the war in Iran and rising U.S. government debt. Higher yields tend to slow the broader economy due to increased borrowing costs across the financial system and can undercut stock prices. But analysts said they expect the effect on bond yields were to be temporary. The yield of the U.S. 10-year Treasury was at around 4.71% early Friday, up from nearly 4.64% on Thursday and back to around the level before the Treasury department’s announcement.The 30-year Treasury yield was at about 5.26%, up from 5.18% on Thursday. In Asia, bond yields also rose back. Japan’s 10-year government bond yield, which had been trading near 30-year highs, rose to 2.88% from around 2.83% on Thursday. Read More The latest climb in bond yields has weighed on share prices. On Thursday, Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 lost 0.9%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.3%, and the technology-heavy Nasdaq composite dropped 1%.In other dealings early Friday, oil prices fell slightly, even as the U.S. stepped up its economic threats toward Iran while limited progress has been made toward de-escalation of tensions between Washington and Tehran.Brent crude, the international standard, fell 0.2% to $93.64 a barrel. It was trading at roughly $72 per barrel before the start of the war. Benchmark U.S. crude was down 0.3% to $86.59 a barrel. The U.S. dollar fell to 159.01 Japanese yen from 159.05 yen. The euro was trading at $1.1694, up from $1.1678.___AP Business Writer Stan Choe contributed to this report. CHAN HO-HIM Chan writes about business and economy in China for The Associated Press, reporting on key sectors of the world’s second-largest economy from trade and technology to autos. He is based in Hong Kong. mailto

Vice President JD Vance smiles during a roundtable event in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)2026-08-21T04:01:35Z MIDDLETOWN, OHIO (AP) — Vice President JD Vance will return to his hometown Friday to campaign for Republican candidates at the same steel plant where his grandfather used to work.Vance is set to speak at the Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works facility, which was known as Armco Steel when his grandfather James Vance worked there for nearly 40 years.Vance has highlighted his Rust Belt rootswhile trying to boost GOP candidates ahead of the November midterm elections and to promote the Trump administration’s economic policies and efforts to try to expand U.S. manufacturing. The Middleton event comes as he’s expected to ramp up his travel schedule with more public events and fundraisers, according to a person familiar with the plans who was not authorized to speak publicly and discussed it on condition of anonymity.In a radio interview Thursday on the “Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show,” Vance said Friday’s stop will be “personally very meaningful” because of his family connection. He said it was “an amazing opportunity for me to go talk about, frankly, plants like this wouldn’t exist were it not for some of the Trump administration’s economic policies.” Vance, who will be joined by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, said he will also use the visit to stop by some Cincinnati chili restaurants. In his bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vance described the steel plant as an economic savior for his family that brought his grandparents from Kentucky’s hills into the American middle class. He described how his grandfather, known to his grandchildren as Papaw, would boast when he saw an old Ford or Chevy that its steel was made by his company. His grandson’s election as vice president of the United States spurred pride in the Midwestern city, though Vance has faced some pushback to his portrayal of it in the book. He said kids “derisively called it ‘Middletucky’” when he was a child because it had so many transplants like his family. He said they brought problems with them from Kentucky such as drug addiction, ”Mountain Dew mouth” and problematic fathers. Read More In the 2024 election, Trump and Vance won about 62% of the vote in the city’s precincts. His mother, Beverly Aikins, and his sister still live in Middletown. This is our AP Ground Game newsletter. You can subscribe below and we will email it you 3 times per week. Sign up for the Ground Game Newsletter: Your guide to the biggest stories in politics, policy and U.S. elections. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Ohio has lost its political bellwether status and turned red during the Trump era, but Democrats see a chance to win both the governor’s office and a U.S. Senate seat from Republican hands this year as anti-Trump sentiment buoys their party. Republican Sen. Jon Husted, who was appointed to replace Vance in the Senate, is trying to hold on to his seat against a challenge from former Sen. Sherrod Brown, a longtime Ohio politician with a pro-working class message who lost his reelection bid to Republican Bernie Moreno two years ago.Brown has capitalized on public opposition to data centers in the campaign and aired ads calling Husted the “face of data centers in Ohio.” The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the GOP’s Senate campaign arm, warned in a memo this week that backlash to the centers has left Husted vulnerable.Vivek Ramaswamy, a Vance ally, is the party’s nominee for governor in a race against Democrat Amy Acton. Democrats have not won the Ohio governor’s office in two decades. Vance, whose family still keeps a home in Cincinnati where they sometimes spend weekends, is making his first public visit since his fourth child was born in July.As part of his plans for ramping up his travel schedule, his office announced a trip Monday to Brewer, Maine, where former Republican Gov. Paul LePage is running against Democrat Matt Dunlap, the state auditor, in a competitive House district.___Price reported from Washington. MICHELLE L. PRICE Price covers the White House. She previously covered the 2024 presidential campaign and politics, government and other news in New York, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. She is based in Washington. twitter mailto JULIE CARR SMYTH Smyth covers government and politics from Columbus, Ohio, for The Associated Press. She was part of the AP team honored as a finalist for the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in breaking news. twitter mailto

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with technology leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)2026-08-21T04:01:02Z NEW YORK (AP) — Nearing the six-month mark of the Iran war and facing diminishing stockpiles of key weapons, the Trump administration is touting a crushing financial campaign against Tehran, promising an “economic D-Day” against a country that has so far withstood nearly five decades of punishing American sanctions.With sparse details, President Donald Trump announced this week that the U.S. would be imposing an “unprecedented” level of economic warfare and isolation on Iran, aiming to force its leadership to cave to demands to end its nuclear program and fully reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz to oil and natural gas tankers. It reflects the dire reality Trump faces with an increasingly unpopular war he can’t seem to end just months before pivotal midterm elections that will decide whether his Republican Party keeps control of Congress. Whether out of desperation or strategy, the president is refocusing America’s might on bringing Iran to its knees through an accelerated sanctions campaign against one of the most economically penalized countries in the world. The immediate response from Iran hawks has been praise and a call for patience as it plays out, while other analysts warn that Trump is refusing to learn the lessons of his predecessors.In an interview Thursday on CNBC, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered a small glimpse of what may be ahead, threatening secondary sanctions on nations and companies that conduct business with Iran. He did not say exactly whom would be targeted as part of this next phase of the administration’s “ Operation Economic Fury, ” which earlier had focused on entities and individuals that buy oil from or bank with Iran. China and India, however, are major buyers of Iranian oil.“If you insist on doing business with them, then the U.S. Treasury and U.S. government will put its full might and force against you,” Bessent said. “It’s time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision.” Read More Some experts see ‘uncharted waters’ that could force Iran’s handDespite decades of U.S. sanctions against Iran, the Trump administration is arguing that it’s only a matter of time and that striking the right economic target would get Tehran to its breaking point. Richard Goldberg, who coordinated efforts to put diplomatic pressure on Iran in Trump’s first term, said the consequences of U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites last year, the war this year and the American naval blockade on Iranian ports have created the perfect storm for capitulation — one that didn’t previously exist.“I think we’re watching a strategy, whether it takes a short time or a long time, that is very much about fundamentally changing the future of the world by seeing the end of this regime,” said Goldberg, who is now at the hawkish Washington think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies. This is our AP Ground Game newsletter. You can subscribe below and we will email it you 3 times per week. Sign up for the Ground Game Newsletter: Your guide to the biggest stories in politics, policy and U.S. elections. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. “I caution everyone — including myself, who has worked on sanctions, who’s worked on financial warfare — to have the humility to admit that we are in uncharted waters,” he said. He said the decision this week by the United Arab Emirates — once one of Tehran’s most important trading partners — to suspend trade with Iran over an alleged missile attack will only further isolate the government. Beyond trade in domestically produced goods, the Emiratis had helped the country absorb some of the shocks caused by sanctions through its re-export hub. Targeting allies and partners comes at a priceWith nearly all of Iran’s energy, financial and transportation sectors already covered by U.S. sanctions, Trump’s aim appears to be to apply secondary sanctions on countries, including allies and partners, that have not cut all ties with Iran to starve the country of any remaining income it may still be receiving.In many ways, it is a redux of Trump’s first-term “maximum pressure” campaign, which he has ramped up during his second term to include military action.But as Trump and his allies discovered during his first administration, it can be difficult to enforce secondary sanctions without harming U.S. interests and provoking reciprocal measures. There were numerous instances of the administration granting sanctions waivers to countries, particularly those that rely on Iranian oil for their energy needs.“Trump’s strategy now rests on targeting Tehran directly by impeding its touch points and access to the formal financial system and international economy,” said Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of FDD’s Iran program. “This will require making the Iran issue more important in U.S. bilateral relations with countries in Europe and Asia.” Iran doesn’t see an ‘open door’ at the end of the sanctions campaignIranian officials and analysts have accused the Republican president of flip-flopping with his latest pivot to economic pressure against Iran. Trump has long derided past leaders who used sanctions to limit Iran’s ability to pay for its military and nuclear development.In a post last week on X, Esmail Baghaei, spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, wrote that Washington’s pattern of retreating to sanctions when it doesn’t want to pursue diplomacy has proven to be futile. “Iran has demonstrated over decades that it will not be strangled by these exhausted refrains,” he said. “The real risk is that American politicians, clinging to this bad habit, will instead strangle their own remaining chances of a less humiliating exit from a crisis of their own making.”Ali Vaez, Iran director at the International Crisis Group, said the Trump administration’s decision to take its own “maximum pressure” policy to new heights with military action seems to ignore years of U.S. foreign policy lessons that show Iran does not respond well to pressure. If anything, he says, the latest economic campaign has only “hardened Iran’s position.”“I think (Trump’s) blind spot is the fact that the only thing that the Iranian regime views as more dangerous than suffering from U.S. sanctions is surrendering to U.S. terms,” Vaez said. Plus, the past year of start-stop diplomacy has only worsened the already fragile dynamic between the longtime adversaries, Vaez says, adding that Iranian officials’ lack of trust in Trump and his mediators has created an untenable foundation.“They believe that even if they capitulate to U.S. terms under economic duress, Trump would move the goalposts and ask for more,” he said. “And this is really the fundamental problem: Pressure without an open door is an exercise in futility.”___Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Fatima Hussein in Washington contributed to this report. FARNOUSH AMIRI Amiri covers foreign policy and the United Nations as a correspondent for The Associated Press, based in New York. twitter mailto

Thai dynamo Komawut FA Group hops back into action at The Inner Circle 27 in search of a much-needed victory, one he confidently insists he is fully prepared to deliver.He goes to war against Myanmar’s Kyaw Swar Win in a bantamweight Muay Thai co-main event clash. The highly anticipated bout emanates live in Asia primetime this Friday, August 21, exclusively for subscribers at live.onefc.com from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.View this post on InstagramThe 27-year-old phenom burst onto the scene with a stellar 7-2 promotional record since debuting on the inaugural edition of ONE Friday Fights back in January 2023, a remarkable run capped by a concussive second-round knockout of Panrit Lukjaomaesaiwaree in their February 2025 rematch.Since that explosive finish, however, the FA Group affiliate has dropped five straight — a difficult stretch that has clearly weighed on him both physically and mentally.Komawut reflected:“I regret that the results turned out so poorly, especially since I put my all into preparing for every fight. I used to fight with a relaxed mindset, but as hype built around me potentially earning a ONE contract, I got overly tense and started overthinking every move.“This time, I’ve pushed myself to train even harder and completely reset my mindset. I’m going out there to give it everything I’ve trained for and bring out my absolute best performance again. This fight feels like a make-or-break moment for my career.”View this post on InstagramRather than simply move past that difficult run, Komawut and his dedicated team made a point of dissecting exactly where things went wrong across each of those setbacks, treating the intense film study as a strategic roadmap for this camp rather than something to bury.That honest review process led to a specific area of focus heading into fight week — one the Thai standout believes directly influenced how his recent appearances unfolded and ultimately left him trailing on the judges’ scorecards.The 27-year-old shared:“For this fight, my trainers worked on building my stamina so I can maintain a high pace in the ring for longer. Lately, I was gassing out easily, which went hand-in-hand with my fading confidence.“Plus, my opponent Kyaw Swar Win is extremely tough, so I really have to stay focused and keep my composure throughout the fight.”View this post on InstagramWith his conditioning now significantly sharper heading into The Inner Circle 27, Komawut is eager to put the tough skid to rest in the most definitive way possible.A decision win would certainly do the job, but the Thai slugger has bigger plans than simply surviving three rounds inside the mecca of Muay Thai.He shared his prediction with onefc.com:“I’m confident I’m strong enough to stand toe-to-toe with him for all three rounds, but I’m looking to finish it early. I’m ready to meet his power with power. I’ll let him get comfortable, wait for him to leave an opening, and then land a sharp, decisive counter strike.“I don’t want to let the fight drag out because that could work against me and open the door for unexpected mistakes. I’m going all-out with everything I’ve got.”View this post on InstagramKomawut Has Kyaw Swar Win Figured OutThat same all-out mentality carries directly into how Komawut FA Group sizes up Kyaw Swar Win, who brings an impressive 59-2 résumé built on relentless aggression from his Lethwei background.Only two men have ever beaten the Myanmarese star, and the Thai is not about to assume he can valiantly become the third without a real firefight on his hands come fight night.He added:“Kyaw Swar Win’s biggest strength is his durability. He can march forward and push the pace for all three rounds. On top of his durability, he has dangerous weapons like elbows and heavy punches, and he can press forward the entire fight.“I definitely view him as the ideal fight to rebuild my confidence because he has a massive fanbase. If I can beat him, it’ll feel like I’ll be fully able to reclaim my form.”Photo Credit: ONE ChampionshipBeyond simply snapping the skid, Komawut wants his loyal supporters to know exactly where his head is at heading into The Inner Circle 27.After five difficult results in a row, he understands better than anyone how much a simple message of support can mean at a crucial juncture like this.The FA Group warrior concluded:“To all my fans, I’ve trained extremely hard and prepared everything for this fight. I am fully determined to get back in the win column, and I definitely won’t let it become six losses in a row. Please send your support and cheer for me.”Photo Credit: ONE ChampionshipSource

Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesAngel Reese had arguably her most impressive WNBA performance against the Los Angeles Sparks. She broke multiple records on the night, and they’re related to efficiency, too. Angel Reese has had to deal with WNBA fans sometimes questioning whether she is a superstar on the court. The biggest knock against her game has to do with her poor efficiency.The Atlanta Dream star regularly goes viral on social media for clips where she’s missing layups and having trouble scoring efficiently. However, even her haters acknowledge that if she fixed that, it would change everything.Reese took a huge step towards silencing those doubts during Atlanta’s Thursday night win against the Los Angeles Sparks. And in the process, she also made history.Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesAngel Reese records most efficient 20-point, 10-rebound game everThe 24-year-old ended the game with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists to her name. Two assists shy of what would have been a legendary triple-double.However, in getting her usual double-double, Reese managed something which no player in the league’s history ever has before.Angel attempted nine field goals during the game, but made all nine. These included two three-pointers, both of which she obviously made. This means Reese did not miss a single shot all night.With an unbelievable true shooting percentage of 111 percent, this means she just had the most efficient 20-point, 10-rebound game ever recorded in the W.Angel Reese’s first half numbers have never been achieved by any WNBA playerDuring the game, Reese did most of the damage in the first half. The Dream went up by 22 points after the first quarter alone, and it was a blowout.In the process, the young forward’s 18 points on 100 percent efficiency, combined with five boards and five assists led to her creating another piece of history.It seems that no amount of superlatives can do justice to the performance that she just delivered. After having dealt with a lot of criticism, this will feel quite good for Reese.Poor efficiency is the only thing holding the 24-year-old back. If games like this become routine for Angel, then the rest of the WNBA will have to be worried.Read more:Seattle Times writer offered new job hours after quitting over spiked Sophie Cunningham storyCathy Engelbert slams ‘political football’ surrounding WNBA amid trans debateCathy Engelbert addresses WNBA finances after Sophie Cunningham callout

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 11: Tyson Fury exchanges words with Anthony Joshua after his fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images)Getty ImagesWhere and when are Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua going to fight? It seems the fight is destined to be next for both men, but no one is publicly saying where or when the fight will take place. Recent news suggested the fight was headed for Madison Square Garden in New York, but that's not sitting well with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom. We may have a long way to go with this one. Let's talk boxing.Fury vs Joshua Venue Key FactsDetailInfoReported dateNovember 20, 2026Reported venueMadison Square Garden, New YorkWhat the contract saysSigned for a UK stagingWho must approve a moveMatchroom, as Joshua's promoterMatchroom's asking priceSubstantial compensation plus further concessionsConcessions citedJoshua's tax position, travel schedule, media dutiesPushing for New YorkNetflix, Turki Alalshikh, Dana White and TKO, Nick KhanFury's positionReported as willing to fight in New YorkThe holdupJoshua's sideDana White's claimThat he is the promoter and did the venue dealHearn's responseDisputes it and raised the idea of suing over the MSG approachOfficially announcedNothing. No venue, no date, no cardThere is more on the record than the silence suggests. Reports put the fight at November 20 with a contract already signed for a UK staging, and that contract is the leverage Eddie Hearn is pulling on: “You didn't do the venue deal because there's no agreement on the venue, mate.”The asking price is not a number yet. Matchroom wants compensation and concessions covering Joshua’s tax position, travel schedule and media duties. Will Hearn get his way or is this just performative protest? Unfortunately, it might be the latter.Wembley Stadium has been the venue most often associated with the heavyweight super fight. It’s iconic and its the largest stadium in the UK with a capacity of 90,000.However, the 11pm curfew is creating a major issue. Because of this, the event is seemingly being forced out of England and into the US where it can get what’s expected to be a suitable global audiences. This is how iconic MSG in New York City became a contender to host it.I'm American, but I must admit, this fight just seems like it should be at Wembley Stadium or somewhere in England. As it is, money talks and appropriateness is often forced to sit down and shut its mouth. We'll see what happens and the boxing world will be watching no matter where it happens.More Heavyweight And Promoter CoverageEddie Hearn Accepts Dana White's $30 Million ChallengeTyson Fury Pounds His Way To Victory, Presses AJ With WWE-Like Mic WorkAnthony Joshua Vs. Kristian Prenga Full Card, Location and Viewing InfoThis article was originally published on Forbes.com

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (9) rounds second base after hitting a three-run home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at Daikin Park. HOUSTON - It's safe to say the Los Angeles Angels brought their bats with them to Houston.The Angels exploded for an 18-3 blowout of the division rival Houston Astros and Zach Neto, batting in the cleanup spot once again, led the way with a career-high five hits and seven RBIs, tying Freddie Patek for the most RBIs in a game by an Angels shortstop while going a triple shy of the cycle. Neto knocked in all of those runs with three singles, a double and a three-run home run and while he got things started in the first inning with a RBI single and the Angels added three more runs in the second inning to take a 4-2 lead over the Astros, it was the fourth inning where they really turned things up a notch. everything really is bigger in Texas 🤠#RepTheHalo | #SoCalMcDpic.twitter.com/mHfrDGyvfM— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) August 21, 2026The Angels put up six runs in the fourth inning with a mixture of small ball courtesy of a sacrifice bunt from Tyler Heineman, hits from Neto, Moisés Ballesteros, Vaughn Grissom, Josh Lowe and Adam Frazier and walks from Wade Meckler and Mike Trout to set the stage for an offensive explosion that put the Angels well ahead at 10-2, but of course, they didn't stop there. A Massive FifthTwo straight singles from the Angels started the fifth before a scary moment where Meckler was hit square in the head with a pitch from Astros pitcher Bryan King to load the bases. The pitch from King mostly caught Meckler's helmet and the scrappy Angels outfielder was able to walk off the field on his own power, but he was replaced in the game by Jose Siri. TOUCHDOWN ZACH NETO 🏈He collects his 7th RBI for a career high! https://t.co/Syzu6k3QBZpic.twitter.com/oueWbmDs8x— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) August 21, 2026Nolan Schanuel drove in another run by grounding into a fielder's choice to second base, who tried to turn two and end the inning. Schanuel beat out the return throw to keep the inning alive and set the stage for Neto, who ripped a four-seam fastball from the top of the zone deep into the left-center field seats for a three-run home run to put the Angels ahead a whopping 14-2. "My teammates put me in a really good spot. If it wasn't for Meck [Meckler], unfortunately he wore it off the head, but if it wasn't for him getting on and Nolan [Schanuel] beating a double play, the inning would have not kept going. It's just the small things that matter and we're making sure to put a big emphasis on it to finish the year," Neto said [via ABTV]Angels are demolishing the Astros tonight pic.twitter.com/9Y7ejEN8rV— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 21, 2026Neto drove in two more runs in the seventh inning with a double and just to make things safe, Denzer Guzman hit a two-tun home run in the ninth after the Astros put outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. on the mount to try and finish the game to make it an 18-2 game, the most runs the Angels had scored in a game since a franchise record 25-run explosion against the Colorado Rockies in 2023 and the most the Angels had scored against the Astros in franchise history. FINAL: Angels 18, Astros 3— Houston Astros (@astros) August 21, 2026Spoiling the AstrosThe Angels may have been offensively challenged this season and found themselves near or at the bottom of baseball for most of the season, but night's like Thursday's game show that there is still some juice in the lineup and to have that kind of performance against the Astros, who are in the middle of a race for the American League West title, does make things just a little bit sweeter. "Always taking it serious [against] in-division opponents. especially a team that's in the playoffs," Neto said. "We look at it as like if we're not in it and then we got to beat people so they can't be in it. And who other than the Astros?"

Thursday, August 20Selma 20 - Sunnyside 14Coalinga 31 - Roosevelt 14Bullard 34 - Reno 33Fowler - Granite HillsMonache - WascoWashington Union - Sanger WestBakersfield 14 - Clovis 14 (4th quarter)Friday, August 21Tranquillity vs. Mendota @ 7 p.m.Parlier vs. Hanford West @ 7 p.m.Central vs. Dos Palos @ 7 p.m.Bishop Manogue (NV) vs. Clovis West @ 7 p.m.Sierra Pacific vs. Chowchilla @ 7 p.m.St. Genevieve vs. Minarets @ 7 p.m.Orange Cove vs. Firebaugh @ 7 p.m.Riverdale vs. Avenal @ 7:15 p.m.Madera South vs. Orosi @ 7:15 p.m.Templeton vs. Caruthers @ 7:30 p.m.Reedley vs. Fresno @ 7:30 p.m.Kerman vs. Torres @ 7:30 p.m.Immanuel vs. Central Valley Christian @ 7:30 p.m.Kennedy vs. San Joaquin Memorial @ 7:30 p.m.Clovis North vs. Frontier @ 7:30 p.m.Dinuba vs. Redwood @ 7:30 p.m.Lemoore vs. Sanger @ 7:30 p.m.Golden West vs. Buchanan @ 7:30 p.m.Tulare Western vs. El Diamante @ 7:30 p.m.Tulare Union vs. Mission Oak @ 7:30 p.m.Clovis East vs. Liberty @ 7:30 p.m.Arroyo Grande vs. Kingsburg @ 7:30 p.m.Woodlake vs. Exeter @ 7:30 p.m.Highland vs. Porterville @ 7:30 p.m.Chavez vs. Corcoran @ 7:30 p.m.

With Iran exerting influence on the Strait of Hormuz, Houthi attacks on a nearby Red Sea passageway assume even greater importance for the world economy.

NFL coaches typically play some of their starters in Week 2 of the preseason. Such was the case for the San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers exhibition at SoFi Stadium.Justin Herbert and many of the Chargers starters played a series. Meanwhile, the 49ers trotted out Brock Purdy and some of their starters in what was a Bay vs. LA preseason tilt.Based on reports on the ground, the Chargers got the better of San Franciso when the two teams met for a joint practice on Tuesday. Thursday was a complete role reversal.San Francisco outplayed the Chargers in all three phases in a dominant 41-17 preseason win.Led by De'Zhaun Stribling’s four first-half catches and Jacob Cowing’s punt return touchdown, the 49ers got out to a comfortable 20-3 halftime lead and never looked back. USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon examines the winners and losers from Thursday night’s preseason game:Winners Rookie WR De'Zhaun Stribling continues to shineThe 49ers have a promising wide receiver in Stribling. The 2026 second-round pick out of Ole Miss continued his superb summer. He had a decided advantage against Los Angeles’ secondary in man coverage. Stribling produced four catches for 46 yards. He was a go-to target for both Purdy and Mac Jones.Stribling did drop a ball that might’ve resulted in a touchdown late in the first quarter. Otherwise, it was an impressive showing from the rookie.Stribling had a team-best seven catches for 63 yards in San Francisco’s preseason opener.49ers' Jacob Cowing has house callCowing retrieved a punt and raced down the field 83 yards for a touchdown to extend San Francisco’s lead to 17-3 late in the second quarter.Cowing beat multiple Los Angeles special teamers as he showed off his speed and scampered down the sideline. It was the type of punt return that could win him San Francisco’s punt returner job.ALL. THE. WAAAAAAY. 📺: ESPN & KPIX pic.twitter.com/C5MNaxOBab— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 21, 202649ers' run defenseSan Francisco’s defensive line created a steady push in the run game. Chargers running backs couldn't find any running lanes with defenders often meeting them in the backfield. Defensive linemen Sam Okuayinonu and Romello Height each had a tackle for loss in the first half.Chargers running backs Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal combined for eight carries for 4 yards in the first half. They didn’t have much room to operate because of the 49ers' defensive front.Chargers LB Junior Colson reaches paydirtChargers edge rusher Nadame Tucker pressured 49ers backup QB Adrian Martinez up the middle and forced Martinez into an errant throw that was corralled by Colson.Colson caught the football and had an easy 16-yard walk-in touchdown. Colson's touchdown was one of the few bright spots for the Chargers in the loss.snatched that up pic.twitter.com/lLNoUf5cpp— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 21, 2026The 2024 third-round pick out of Michigan is fighting for a spot in the Chargers’ inside linebacker rotation.Undrafted rookie safety Devin Grant also had an interception late in garbage time. Rematch set ... with more at stakeThe 49ers and Chargers will be well acquainted with each other this year. In addition to Tuesday’s joint practice and Thursday’s preseason game, the Chargers will host San Francisco for “Thursday Night Football” in Week 15.Jim Harbaugh, who coached the 49ers from 2011-2014, has never faced his former team during the regular season.George Kittle ahead of scheduleNiners coach Kyle Shanahan said on Tuesday he thinks Kittle will start practicing “sooner than later.” Shanahan’s update on the 49ers tight end was followed by another encouraging report. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Kittle visited Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who repaired Kittle’s Achilles in January. The visit was reportedly encouraging, and Kittle is on track to play Week 1 versus the Los Angeles Rams.Kittle ruptured his Achilles during San Francisco’s wild-card playoff win versus the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11, 2026.LosersChargers' first-team offenseHerbert and much of the Chargers’ first-team offense went three-and-out in their first series. The 49ers blew up a run play for a tackle for loss on first down. Herbert completed a 9-yard pass to tight end Charlie Kolar on second-and-11, but was unable to connect with a tightly covered Ladd McConkey on third-and-2, which forced a punt on fourth down.Trey Lance and the Chargers’ second-team offense wasn’t much better. Multiple penalties negated big plays. The best play from Los Angeles was a 37-yard scramble by Lance.The Chargers went 1-for-8 on third down and had just three first downs in the first half.The Chargers' entire offense was terrible.Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel won't be satisfied with what the Chargers put on film on Thursday.Cameron Dicker shanks another extra point Sure it's the preseason, but the Chargers kicker has missed an extra point in consecutive weeks. Dicker missed one extra point all of last season. Chargers' backup QB situationThe Chargers have to do whatever they can to keep Herbert upright because neither Lance or DJ Uiagalelei have proven they can lead the team's offense if Herbert is sidelined. Lance and Uiagalelei had multiple inaccurate passes. The Chargers struggled to sustain drives throughout the loss.On the other sideline, Jones has shown he's a quality backup. Even Martinez had a couple nice moments under center. Chargers' special teams unitAs bad as the offense was, the Chargers' special teams was worse. The unit gave up an 83-yard punt return touchdown, Dicker missed an extra point and Devonte Ross fumbled a kickoff return.Final roster spots are often decided by special teams play. Ross and many Chargers players didn't do themselves any favors. Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winners and losers from 49ers vs. Chargers: De'Zhaun Stribling breakout star of preseason

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Jacob Cowing returned a punt for an 83-yard touchdown, Eddy Pineiro kicked a pair of field goals and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Los Angeles Chargers 41-18 on Thursday night in a preseason game.49ers quarterback Brock Purdy saw his first preseason action, going 4 of 6 for 29 yards in the first quarter. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert played the opening series in his first appearance of the preseason. He was 1 of 2, hitting Charlie Kolar with a 9-yard pass as the team went 3-and-out.Battling for a roster spot at wide receiver, Cowing showed off his speed and agility after the Chargers went 3-and-out with three minutes left in the second quarter. Chargers punter JK Scott kicked 52 yards to the 49ers' 17-yard line, where Cowing fielded the ball. He dashed to the left and ran in for the score, giving San Francisco a 17-3 lead.The 49ers (1-1) got field goals of 48 and 45 yards from Pineiro in the second quarter and led 20-3 at halftime. Their other TDs came on a 7-yard run by Sincere McCormick and a 1-yard plunge by fourth-string running back Khalil Herbert. 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey didn't play although he was on the field for pregame warmups. Coach Kyle Shanahan has downplayed what he described as “tightness” for McCaffrey, saying the veteran would be practicing if it was the regular season. The Chargers were stuck in neutral most of the game. They had eight punts, seven penalties and eight first downs. They scored late in the game on Jerand Bradley's 28-yard TD catch from DJ Uiagalelei and Evan Svoboda's 2-point conversion.Los Angeles (1-1) closed to 20-9 in the third. 49ers' fourth-string QB Adrian Martinez's pass for Cowing was intercepted by Junior Colson, who ran 16 yards for the score. Cameron Dicker's extra-point attempt went wide left. Dicker hit a 21-yard field goal for the Chargers' first points of the game. Martinez scored on a 9-yard keeper and then hit Jordan Watkins for a 17-yard TD in the fourth. 49ers backup QB Mac Jones took over on their second drive of the game. He was 6 of 13 for 89 yards.Rookie De'Zhaun Stribling and KhaDarel Hodge led the 49ers' receiving corps with 4 catches for 46 yards apiece. McCormick was their top rusher with 53 yards on six carries.Chargers backup QB Trey Lance, a former top pick of the 49ers, was 10 of 16 for 73 yards.Chargers left tackle Branson Taylor was hurt on a play in the second quarter and did not return.Up next 49ers: At Las Vegas next Thursday in final preseason game.Chargers: Host SoFi Stadium co-tenant the Rams next Thursday to close preseason.___See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Arsenal vs Coventry City – Match preview and team newsThe Emirates Stadium hosts the opening match of the 2026-27 Premier League season on Friday evening as Arsenal begin the defence of their title against Coventry City, back in the top flight for the first time in 25 years.Arsenal won the league by seven points last season, their first title in 22 years, and followed it up with a 3–0 demolition of Manchester City in the Community Shield last weekend.Coventry arrive having won the Championship by 11 points under Frank Lampard, scoring 97 goals along the way — the most in the division. The two clubs last met in the league in February 2001, before Coventry’s relegation, and have not faced each other competitively since a 4–0 Arsenal win in the FA Cup in January 2014.Arsenal vs Coventry City – Match preview and team newsDate: Friday, 21 August 2026Kick-off: 20:00 BSTVenue: Emirates StadiumReferee: Thomas BramallVAR: Jarred GillettLast meeting: Arsenal 4–0 Coventry City, January 2014, FA Cup third roundRead – Our writers’ predictions for the 2026/27 Premier League seasonTeam newsArsenalSaliba remains out long-term with a back injury and Timber is sidelined with a groin problem. Bruno Guimarães is a doubt after being substituted at half-time in the Community Shield with a thigh issue — he was seen with ice on the injury afterwards, and Arteta was non-committal when asked about his availability.Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, both late back from World Cup duty, are confirmed fit after appearing as substitutes against Manchester City. Arteta has strongly hinted, without confirming, that Ezri Konsa’s arrival from Aston Villa is close.Coventry CityHaji Wright is confirmed out for Friday’s match. Lampard revealed at his pre-match press conference that the striker has a serious quad injury that could keep him sidelined for up to 12 weeks. There was better news on Ephron Mason-Clark and Jack Rudoni, both of whom missed pre-season matches but are in contention to face Arsenal.Frank Onyeka, signed permanently from Brentford, has a slight knock but is expected to start. Several of Coventry’s eight summer arrivals could make their competitive debuts, including goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, Caleb Yirenkyi and Loum Tchaouna.FormArsenalArsenal’s title win last season was built on defensive solidity and a settled core, and the summer business — Guimarães, Tzolis, Piero Hincapié’s permanent deal and goalkeeper Illan Meslier — has added depth rather than wholesale change.The Community Shield performance offered an early marker: Calafiori scored inside 26 seconds, with Havertz and Ødegaard adding further goals in a comfortable win over Manchester City. Arsenal have won their last five Premier League matches and are unbeaten in a record 45 home league games against newly promoted opposition.Coventry CityLampard’s side were the standout story of the Championship, racking up 97 goals and conceding only around 45 across 46 matches — comfortably the best attack and defence in the division. Pre-season brought a goalless draw with Northampton, a 3–1 win over Espanyol and a 2–0 victory over Monaco, with Simms and Tchaouna both scoring in the latter.The scale of the step up to the Premier League is significant, but Coventry’s set-piece threat — 29 non-penalty set-piece goals last season — and their direct, high-tempo approach under Lampard give them a route to cause problems even against the champions.Predicted lineupsArsenal predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, TzolisCoventry City predicted XI (4-3-3): Rushworth; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Amenda, Dasilva; Onyeka, Yirenkyi, Grimes; Tchaouna, Simms, Thomas-AsanteHow to watch Arsenal vs Coventry City?The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.Read more – Carrick confirms Man Utd star will return ‘very, very soon’See also – Alonso addresses Enzo Fernandez’ Chelsea future amid Man City linksFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

Coventry City XI vs Arsenal – Predicted lineup and team newsCoventry City return to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years at the Emirates Stadium on Friday evening, facing the champions in their first top-flight fixture since February 2001.Frank Lampard’s side won last season’s Championship by 11 points, scoring 97 goals in the process — comfortably the most in the division. That attacking identity, built on directness and pace, now faces its sternest possible examination against Arsenal’s defence.Coventry City team newsHaji Wright will not feature. Lampard confirmed at his pre-match press conference that the striker has a serious quad injury that ruled him out of recent friendlies against Espanyol and Monaco. “He won’t be available for a little while,” Lampard said. “It’s certainly going to be a number of weeks, could even be up to 12 weeks.” It is a significant blow, given Wright was Coventry’s first-choice penalty taker and one of their most experienced attacking options.There was more positive news elsewhere. Ephron Mason-Clark and Jack Rudoni both missed recent pre-season matches but have been confirmed as in contention to face Arsenal. Frank Onyeka, who joined permanently from Brentford after impressing on loan last season, has a slight knock but is expected to be fit enough to start.Several of Coventry’s eight summer signings could make their competitive debuts. Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi, winger Loum Tchaouna and centre-back Aurele Amenda are all in contention. Gustavo Hamer returns to the club for a second spell after three seasons with Sheffield United. Taiwo Awoniyi, who joined from Nottingham Forest on Monday, is available but more likely to feature from the bench given his lack of match sharpness.Ellis Simms is expected to lead the line in Wright’s absence. The striker scored 14 times in all competitions last season and already has Premier League experience from his time at Everton. Milan van Ewijk and Jay Dasilva provide the width from full-back, with Bobby Thomas and Amenda forming the central defensive partnership. Matt Grimes and Onyeka anchor the midfield, with Brandon Thomas-Asante completing the front three alongside Tchaouna and Simms.Coventry City predicted lineupCoventry City possible starting XI (4-3-3): Rushworth; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Amenda, Dasilva; Onyeka, Yirenkyi, Grimes; Tchaouna, Simms, Thomas-AsanteWhen will the match kick off?The Premier League match kicks off at 20:00 BST on Friday, 21 August 2026.How to watch Arsenal vs Coventry City?The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League in the UK.Read more – ‘Need to face reality’ – Arteta delivers honest message to Arsenal fringe playersSee also – Carrick confirms Man Utd star will return ‘very, very soon’Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

Arsenal vs Coventry City – Predicted lineup and team newsArsenal open their Premier League title defence against Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium on Friday evening, just days after thrashing Manchester City in the Community Shield.Mikel Arteta’s side head into the new season as champions and heavy favourites against newly promoted opposition. The performance in Cardiff last weekend, capped by Calafiori’s goal inside 26 seconds, gave an early indication of the intent Arteta wants to carry into the campaign proper.Arsenal team newsWilliam Saliba remains out long-term with a back injury, and Jurrien Timber is sidelined with a groin problem. Bruno Guimarães is a doubt for Friday after being substituted at half-time in the Community Shield with a thigh problem, later seen with an ice pack applied.Arteta gave little away when asked about his fitness: “Let’s see how he is. He’s evolving really well, but let’s see for tomorrow.” Should he not be risked, Myles Lewis-Skelly is the likely replacement in midfield.Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are both confirmed fit. The pair returned late from England’s deep World Cup run and appeared as substitutes in the Community Shield win over Manchester City — both are now expected to start. Arteta has strongly implied, without confirming outright, that Ezri Konsa’s move from Aston Villa is imminent, though the defender will not be involved against Coventry regardless.Kai Havertz is expected to lead the line, having scored in the Community Shield, with Viktor Gyökeres a viable option from the bench. Martin Ødegaard operates just behind the front line. David Raya continues in goal, with Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori at full-back.Arsenal predicted lineupArsenal possible starting XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, TzolisWhen will the match kick off?The Premier League match kicks off at 20:00 BST on Friday, 21 August 2026.How to watch Arsenal vs Coventry City?The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League in the UK.Read more – Carrick confirms Man Utd star will return ‘very, very soon’See also – Alonso addresses Enzo Fernandez’ Chelsea future amid Man City linksFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

People walk on sandbanks exposed by record-low water levels in the Danube River after drought and extreme heat near Nagymaros, Hungary, on Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)2026-08-21T05:06:56Z GÁRDONY, Hungary (AP) — A fisherman disembarked from his boat in a small harbor on Lake Velence in Hungary last week, trudging up the dock plank that had become extremely steep as the water receded to record lows. Árpád Selmeci said navigating even a small fishing boat on Hungary’s third-largest lake is becoming increasingly difficult as the water level has ebbed to around 20 centimeters (8 inches), well below the 150 centimeters (5 feet) optimal for August. Swimming beaches across the lake, once popular with tourists, have been closed. Lake Velence’s decline is part of a broader water crisis confronting Hungary as increasingly prolonged droughts and climate change-driven heat waves have pummeled Europe. “I’ve lived on Lake Velence since I was a child, and I’ve never seen the water so low,” said Selmeci, 58. “It’s terrible. My heart aches every single moment.” This summer, wildfires scorched the continent from the United Kingdom to Greece, while in Hungary, drought has damaged crop yields, led to drinking water shortages and threatened to shut down the country’s only nuclear power plant. Yet the lack of rainfall linked to human-driven climate change is only part of Hungary’s water problem. Experts say the country’s long-standing practice of channeling water away from its landscape and draining natural wetlands has left it especially vulnerable as droughts become more frequent and severe. A legacy of draining away waterAround 99% of Hungary’s lands are currently under severe or extreme drought conditions, according to the national meteorological service, and desertification, a process where vegetation recedes because of high heat and low rainfall, threatens much of the Great Hungarian Plain. Yet more than a quarter of Hungary consists of low-lying land that naturally retains precipitation, and in past centuries its many rivers and streams made it rich in freshwater resources. However, a 2023 study published in the journal Nature estimated Hungary’s historical wetland loss at more than 80%. Zsuzsanna Ujj, a biodiversity policy specialist and project coordinator with environmental group Friends of the Earth Hungary, said the country “has not been a good steward of its waters in the last 200 years.” A major contributor is Hungary’s network of more than 40,000 kilometers (25,000 miles) of drainage canals — a length that exceeds the circumference of the Earth — which drain accumulated precipitation from fields, wetlands and the soil to make room for agriculture and other enterprises. Read More The priority on draining land rather than allowing natural flooding cycles to occur has contributed to a consistent drop in the water table and the drying out of wetlands and topsoil. With less water available to evaporate, the air dries out, further reducing the chances of localized precipitation. Ujj said that Hungary — which is among the most drought-exposed countries in Europe and ranks 16th globally, according to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development — “needs to realign its water management practices, shifting from a drainage-based approach to one focused on water retention.” Disappearing lakesThe drying out of Hungary isn’t limited to streams and wetlands. Lake Garancsi, a small recreational lake around 20 kilometers (12 miles) northwest of Budapest, was once a popular destination for fishing, swimming and ice skating, and was the setting of the 2001 cult Hungarian comedy “Üvegtigris” (“Glass Tiger”). 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. But the lake, present since the Middle Ages, has shrunk so dramatically in recent years that none of the previous recreational activities are permitted, and most of the former lake bed is now exposed, cracked and dry. What remains of the water is so shallow and warm that all of the fish and most of the other wildlife have disappeared, and authorities have predicted no water will be left by the end of summer. Zoltán Mettner, who runs the Glass Tiger bar on the shores of the lake, said conditions have gotten worse every year. After spending years beside the lake, he said looking at it now is “terrible, there’s no other way to put it.”“It’s sad enough that we’ve let things get this far, and that we couldn’t have taken gradual steps to prevent this lake from being completely destroyed,” he said. Hungary’s government plans a change of courseHungary’s new government has promised to begin taking those steps. In late June, on the same day the country set a high temperature record of 42 Celsius (107.6 Fahrenheit), Prime Minister Péter Magyar told lawmakers that his government would put water management policies “on new footing,” and launch a comprehensive water conservation program to mitigate the effects of drought.“Many have said year after year that water shortage will be one of Hungary’s problems and one of the most important strategic issues to be solved. They were right,” Magyar said.In addition to poor water retention practices, Magyar said that aging water utility infrastructure causes 20-25% of the country’s drinking water to leak out through damaged pipes, costing some 17 billion forints ($54.4 million) annually. “For years, even the existence of the problem was denied and relativized,” Magyar said. Now, he added, “water retention will be the basic principle of Hungarian water management.” Danube River at historic lowsYet implementing such sweeping changes will be time consuming and costly, while Hungary’s current water crisis threatens its ability to produce adequate energy. The Danube, the European Union’s longest river which runs through 10 countries from southwestern Germany to the Black Sea, has set successive records this summer for low water levels, threatening to shut down Hungary’s only nuclear power plant, which uses water from the river to cool its reactors, for the first time in its 44-year history. Hungary’s government has taken emergency interventions to raise the water level at the Paks plant, including sinking two 80-meter (262-foot) barges just upriver and beginning to install a riverbed sill designed to divert more water toward the plant’s pumps. In such drought conditions, wetlands near rivers like the Danube normally act as a “natural reservoir” for retaining water when weather gets dry, said Ujj, the biodiversity specialist. The extremely low level of the Danube — as well as the increased chances for more frequent and intense floods — are effects of human-driven climate change that can be partially mitigated through appropriate land use and restoration of wetlands and other natural habitats, she added.“We do indeed expect water levels to fluctuate more, and we also expect precipitation patterns to become more extreme with drier summers,” she said. “However, restoring wetlands and increasing evaporation in certain areas could help boost precipitation during the summer months.” JUSTIN SPIKE Spike is an Associated Press reporter based in Budapest, Hungary. twitter mailto

Douro Wonkourou Idrissou, who described himself as a nutrition support member, uses a tape to measure the circumferences of a child's upper arm, in N'dali, northern Benin, Sunday, May. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)2026-08-21T05:04:14Z N’DALI, Benin (AP) — Sabi Bera Zakari didn’t appear to care much how tall his children would grow. The farmer said he only sometimes wished they could gain more weight.“For me, height is not a problem,” Zakari said. “It’s mainly their weight that sometimes worries me.”Aboudou Salamatou, the farmer’s wife, seemed to disagree, as did development sociologist Boris Gloni, who shook his head as he listened. He believed two of the family’s young daughters suffered from stunted growth. As a former representative of The Hunger Project, an international organization working to combat hunger across Benin, Gloni spent years trying to convince men like Zakari that stunting in children was a rampant issue that needed to be addressed by families first and foremost. Despite the abundance of natural resources and widespread subsistence agriculture, stunting — impaired growth and lower than average height-for-age caused by malnutrition — affects over 30% of children younger than 5 in Benin, according to factsheets by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, a Geneva-based nonprofit that tracks stunting figures. Children who are not achieving the average height for their age may otherwise seem healthy to their parents. But experts believe stunting is mostly irreversible in those afflicted during their first 1,000 days of life, with lasting effects on brain development and general health later in life. Gloni, who now works as an agricultural adviser, said he knows people who wrongly believe that regularly giving children milk and eggs is bad because it risks making them so rapacious that they might want to steal more of that protein. In many homes, the goats tethered to poles and the chickens that scratched the dirt compounds are kept for commercial reasons, to be sold for cash when needed in an emergency.“Our perception is wrong,” Gloni said. “People don’t have knowledge.” Lack of knowledge and poor diets exacerbated by droughtBeninese authorities want to bring the prevalence of stunting to under 30% by 2030. To achieve that target, the government needs the help of volunteers such as Douro Wonkourou Idrissou, who moves from house to house with the color-coded tape that he uses to gauge wasting in children.Idrissou, who described himself as a nutrition support member of his pastoral community in N’dali, a commune in the Borgou area of northern Benin, uses his tape to measure the circumferences of the children’s upper arms. While he doesn’t have the equipment to measure height, he said he feels “sad” when he sees children he knows should be taller than they are.Idrissou said the children’s parents are to be blamed — though they are also in need of help. The diet of most families here is heavy on starchy foods, from yams to cassava. And many mothers who rise early to cultivate their gardens usually don’t return home until late afternoon, exposing their children to hunger and what he described as a general loss of appetite. Read More “If it is maize season, they are doing only maize,” he said. “We are saying, ‘No, you can’t do only maize.’ It is this knowledge that we are sharing with the women in the households.” Stunting is more widespread in the north of this west African nation, with its dry savannah landscape. The region faces sporadic drought conditions, forcing some to move in search of pasture for their cherished herds. In the worst of times, families feed on a soup of vegetables pulled from the bush. 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. Despite efforts to reduce stunting rates in northern Benin, the situation has more or less “stagnated,” said Rolland Essou, who helps look after northern Benin for The Hunger Project. He said some statistics appeared to show stunting rates across Benin going up, not down, despite projects such as the World Bank-funded “1,000 Days” program to support children in their first two years of life.Launched in 2024 and run by the National Agency for Food and Nutrition, the pilot program has helped provide micronutrient supplements for mothers and their babies and set up school canteens providing hot meals.Still, stunting in Benin will remain a challenge for years to come because many families lack knowledge and have many mouths to feed, Essou said.“When we look at the profile of the household suffering from malnutrition, we notice that the head of the household is very young,” he said. “Secondly, the head of the household is illiterate. Thirdly, it is a household with many children.” Zakari, the farmer who isn’t worried about stunting, wasn’t sure how old his children were — and even had to look at an ID card to confirm his own age. His neighbor Fati Aboubacar, a mother of five, said some in her community are too busy or poor to properly look after their children. Her own family could only afford to eat eggs once a week.Health volunteers say efforts need to start from preg nancyRazak Kotchoni, a project manager in Borgou with CASCADE Benin, a nongovernmental organization, said efforts to combat stunting in children need to start before children are born. Social customs against the widespread consumption of eggs among children also apply to pregnant woman, who are discouraged from drinking nutrient-rich cornmeal porridge because it is thought to instigate a ravenous appetite, he said.“These standards are contributing factors to malnutrition,” he said. “We have facilitators in the field who conduct reflective dialogues with elders, mothers and others in order to challenge the practices there.”One strategy, he said, has been to identify and support exemplary mothers so that they can raise awareness among others.Idrissou said that while some parents call him when they get concerned their children are not growing normally, seeking a remedy, many others “don’t care.”Aboudou, Zakari’s wife, said that her family didn’t have the means to feed their kids better. When a chicken pecked at the dirt near her feet, she said the bird was one of many kept as money “in the bank,” not for eating. Even the eggs the chickens lay may be sold for cash.“We would like to vary our food, but we don’t have the means,” she said. “When we have a little money, we invest it in the field, in health and in other problems.”___The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

South Korea army soldiers take part in an anti-terror drill as a part of the Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise between the U.S. and South Korea in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)2026-08-21T05:01:57Z SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.S. and South Korean militaries were wrapping up their annual drills six days earlier than initially scheduled on Friday in a conciliatory gesture toward North Korea, though the North said the step isn’t enough to convince it to return to talks.U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier abruptly ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises just before they began Monday. Trump cited what he described as a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s refusal to support him over the war in Iran.Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, brushed aside Trump’s overture on Wednesday, saying “the provocative, aggressive nature of the drills” won’t change only with the reduction of their duration and size. The next day, North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea, apparently following through with its previous threat to respond to the U.S.-South Korean drills that it views as an invasion rehearsal. The U.S. Pacific Command said the events didn’t pose an immediate threat to U.S. territory or its allies. The command said the U.S. remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and its allies in the region.Kim Yo Jong’s statement dampened hopes for an early resumption of talks between Trump and Kim Jong Un, whose earlier nuclear diplomacy collapsed in 2019. Kim Jong Un has used the diplomatic stalemate to increase his leverage by modernizing his nuclear and missile programs and aligning with Russia over its war against Ukraine. Kim Jong Un suggested last year that he won’t return to talks unless the U.S. drops its demand for North Korean denuclearization as a precondition for diplomacy. Kim Yo Jong still used relatively measured language, avoided typical harsh North Korean rhetoric and touched upon what she called an “excellent” relationship between her brother and Trump. This suggests North Korea doesn’t want to completely shut the door for future talks and may seek to win bigger U.S. concessions, such as international recognition as a nuclear state and broad sanctions relief. Read More With its supply of ammunition and troops to Russia, North Korea is likely receiving economic and military assistance in return, and its expanding ties with Russia provides it with leverage to ask for greater support from China, its biggest trading partner. “After this strategic play has run its course, Kim may seek further economic and reputational benefits from Washington,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. “But that will probably be after the U.S. midterm elections when Trump is expected to be in a weaker domestic political position and in search of headline-grabbing foreign policies.” 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. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said that Kim Yo Jong’s statement showed North Korea’s position that a personal relationship between her brother and Trump “can’t be a factor that moves current North Korean-U.S. relations.” He said Kim Yo Jong likely aimed to head off speculation that Trump’s move can restore diplomacy so as not to fully take the blame when it doesn’t happen.Kim Yo Jong denied Trump’s claim that Kim Jong Un had responded to his request for a conversation. When asked by reporters Wednesday if he would be meeting with Kim Jong Un this year, Trump said that “Yeah, I will be.” The Ulchi Freedom Shield is one of the main military exercises conducted by the U.S. and South Korea annually to enhance their ability to cope with potential North Korean aggression. Its downsizing has caused worries about joint U.S.-South Korean readiness. HYUNG-JIN KIM Kim is an Associated Press reporter in Seoul, South Korea. He reports on security, political and other general news on the Korean Peninsula. twitter mailto

This photo shows a deadly fire at a pachinko parlor in Osaka, western Japan, July 5, 2009. (Kyodo News via AP)2026-08-21T05:00:38Z TOKYO (AP) — Japan on Friday announced the execution of a man convicted of killing five people after setting fire to an Osaka pachinko parlor in 2009, a first execution by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ‘s government as the country faces growing calls for more transparency and the abolition of capital punishment.The Justice Ministry said Sunao Takami, 58, was hanged to death earlier Friday.Takami in 2009 set fire to the crowded pachinko parlor in Osaka by spreading gasoline and throwing a lit match, engulfing the building, killing five and injuring 10 others, Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said.“It caused extremely serious outcomes and dealt a major shock and fear to the society,” he told a news conference, adding “the victims whose lives were taken away must have felt unimaginable pain and fear, and those who suffered injuries ... were forced to live with long-term effects.” “As justice minister, I have ordered an execution after careful and thorough considerations,” he said. Takami was convicted of murder, attempted murder and arson and sentenced to death in a 2011 Osaka District Court ruling. His appeals up to the top court were rejected in 2016 by a Supreme Court decision upholding the death penalty.Japan now has 100 people on death row, including 43 seeking retrials, Hiraguchi said. Japan has faced growing criticism over its use of the death penalty, as a majority of the international community has abolished capital punishment. Japan and the U.S. are the only two countries in the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations that put people to death.Calls to abolish capital punishment or increase transparency have grown after the 2024 acquittal of the world’s longest-serving death-row inmate, Iwao Hakamada. Read More Executions are carried out in secrecy in Japan, where prisoners are not informed of their fate until the morning of their hanging.Since 2007, Japan has begun disclosing the names of those executed and some details of their crimes, but disclosures are still limited. Hiraguchi said he has no intention to change the ongoing practice, saying disclosure of additional details would disturb the mental state of the death-row inmates. 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. Friday’s hanging was the first by Takaichi’s government and comes during a parliamentary recess — a move criticized as a tactic to avoid public debate. Hiraguchi denied it was intentional.Japan previously executed in June 2025 a man known as the “Twitter killer,” who was convicted of killing and dismembering nine people in his apartment near Tokyo in 2017.Japan’s crime rate is relatively low, but it has seen some high-profile mass killings in recent years. MARI YAMAGUCHI Yamaguchi is based in Tokyo and covers Japanese politics, security, nuclear energy and social issues for The Associated Press. twitter mailto

The Vuelta a Espana 2026 gets underway this week with another gruelling, mountainous edition of the year’s final - and often, most unpredictable - grand tour.That unpredictability has taken a bit of a hit this year after the news that Tadej Pogacar will return to the race for the first time since 2019, as he targets the only grand tour he has yet to win after demolishing the competition at this summer’s Tour de France.After a month off the Slovenian returns to action with the likes of last year’s runner-up Joao Almeida and Jay Vine for support, while Primoz Roglic is expected to go for a record fifth title and Wout van Aert helms Visma-Lease a Bike in the absence of reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard, who will not defend his title after crashing out of the Tour and ending his season early.As per usual this Vuelta is one for the best climbers and feels tailor-made for Pogacar, starting in his base of Monaco and winding through France and Andorra before crossing over into Spain. There are four ‘sprint’ stages on the menu but six mountaintop finishes and another nine considered either hilly or medium-mountains, with two individual time trials; it’s also a very southern edition of the race, with much of the action taking place in the baking hot climes of Andalusia, adding yet another challenge. (Unipublic)Stage 1: Monaco > Monaco (9.4km)The Vuelta kicks off with what is essentially a prologue, a 9.4km jaunt of an individual time trial beginning by the Monte Carlo Casino, passing many of Monaco’s landmarks and the F1 racing circuit. The first couple of kilometres are slightly undulating before it flattens out entirely for a tricky, technical city-centre circuit. There are two very brief uphills right before the finish, which peak at 7% and could be a sting in the tail for some. The finish line will be familiar to F1 fans as it’s the same as for the Monaco Grand Prix. La Vuelta stage 1 (Unipublic)Stage 2: Monaco > Manosque (214km)From the shortest stage to the longest: stage two takes the riders from Monaco towards Nice and into the Provencal hills, and is tailor-made for a breakaway as the big guns are likely to preserve their energy for stage three’s summit finish. The climbing begins straight out the gate, with only two categorised climbs - the cat-three Col de Châteauneuf-Grasse and the Col de Saint-Andrieu - but it’s up and down all day before a narrow, technical finish in Manosque, with an uphill drag to the line. La Vuelta stage 2 (Unipublic)Stage 3: Gruissan - Aude > Font Romeu (174km)The first mountaintop finish of this year’s Vuelta. It’s a classic Vuelta route, flat all day - in this case passing through some lovely vineyards and skirting Perpignan - before a pair of climbs close together to finish, although not as brutal as the likes of the Angliru. The double ascent of the category one Col de Mont-Louis and the final climb up the category-two Font-Romeu, 1800m above sea level, should give an early indication of the main contenders’ form and weed out some of the chaff. La Vuelta stage 3 (Unipublic)Stage 4: Andorra la Vella > Andorra la Vella (104.8km)Stage four starts and ends in the Andorran capital and is a real test for the GC contenders after yesterday’s first skirmishes. It’s short for a road stage but punchy: there are three category-one climbs on the agenda - expect UAE Team Emirates-XRG to make life difficult for everyone else - before the cat-three Alto de la Comella and and a 4km descent to the finish line, with the mountains coming back-to-back and little respite as each descent leads straight into the next climb. La Vuelta stage 4 (Unipublic)Stage 5: Falset (Costa Daurada) > Roquetes (Terres de l’Ebre) (173.4km)After four stages of a foreign Grand Depart the race enters Spain proper. It’s another hilly day out but in a race short on chances for the sprinters, the fast men may try to stamp their authority on this one. There’s plenty of uncategorised climbing on the agenda bookending a flat middle third of the stage, with only the category-three Alto de Pauls to surmount in terms of official hills. That comes with 20km remaining for the sprinters’ trains to get themselves in order on the descent and flat approach to the line in Roquetes.La Vuelta stage 5 (Unipublic)Stage 6: Alcossebre > Castello (177.4km)Tadej Pogacar killed off the Tour de France competition on stage six this year; could he do the same in this Vuelta? There’s no Tourmalet on this stage six but there are four categorised climbs as the peloton turns inland from a coastal start in Alcossebre and winds through the dramatic ravines and limestone cliffs of Castellon. The main test of the day is the the cat-one Puerto El Bartolo, the last climb, which features 3km of dirt track for added jeopardy and difficulty. La Vuelta stage 6 (Unipublic)Stage 7: Vall d'Alba > Aramon Valdelinares (149.8km)The climbing continues on stage seven, which features the second-highest altitude finish of the entire race after the climb to Aramon Vadelinares. There are two category-two and two cat-three climbs to get over before then on another unforgiving day for the sprinters, before the riders head up to just shy of 2,000m above sea level at the summit of the final climb. This one could catch out some GC contenders. La Vuelta stage 7 (Unipublic)Stage 8: Pucol > Xeraco (171km)Stage eight should be another opportunity for the sprinters, with a flat finish, although the category two Puerto de Barx 22km from the finish could instead provide the springboard for a late attack. The stage begins near the coast on the outskirts of Valencia before heading inland and wending its way south and back out to the finish line on the seafront at Xeraco. La Vuelta stage 8 (Unipublic)Stage 9: La Vila Joiosa > Alto de Aitana (187.4km)The last stage of the opening week is the toughest to date, with more than 5,000m of elevation gain across six categorised climbs and more uncategorised rises. We’re into the mountains of the Costa Blanca, with the two major climbs of note the category-one Puerto de El Miserat, at around the halfway point of the stage, and the summit finish of Alto de Aitana. El Miserat is about as miserable as the name suggests: it has multiple double-digit sections with the worst maxing out at 20%, averaging 10% for 5.2km, while the final 6km of Aitana rarely drop below 8%. The searing heat of Alicante in late August will also be a factor. La Vuelta stage 9 (Unipublic)Rest day Stage 10: Alcaraz > Elche de la Sierra (184.7km)Not too taxing a first day back after the rest day, with three category-three climbs on a fairly long but otherwise not particularly remarkable day out. This should be one for the breakaway, while the heat as the race beds down in southern Spain will continue to be an important factor for teams to manage. La Vuelta stage 10 (Unipublic)Stage 11: Cartagena > Lorca (151.3km)A similar parcours to stage eight: in theory this is one for the fast men but the category-three Alto del Morron de Totana, which comes with just under 34km to go, could put some of the purer sprinters in difficulty. After that though it’s a gentle descent and flat approach to the line in Lorca, where we should get a rare bunch sprint. La Vuelta stage 11 (Unipublic)Stage 12: Vera > Calar Alto (166.6km)Stage 12 is another big summit finish after a couple of gentler days in the saddle. The climbs get tougher as the race barrels through eastern Andalusia, with an early pair of category three climbs followed by the category-two Collado Garcia before the double ascent of the category-one, 13km Alto de Velefique, which hits highs of 16%, and the summit finish atop Calar Alto, which rises more than 2,000m above sea level. The first half of the Calar Alto regularly hits double-digit gradients before tailing off, with another nasty section closer to the top. Miguel Angel Lopez won here in the 2017 edition. La Vuelta stage 12 (Unipublic)Stage 13: Almunecar v Loja (192.8km)Stage 13 should be a day for the breakaway, with three classified climbs, the toughest of which is the category-one Venta de la Cebada inside the first 30km. The undulating terrain through the climbs of Granada will likely put paid to the pure sprinters’ chances, particularly after the gruelling stage 12, with the punchier fast men major contenders as the parcours flattens out after the final third-category climb, 38km from the line. We could see Wout van Aert and Mads Pedersen duking it out at the finish in Loja. La Vuelta stage 13 (Unipublic)Stage 14: Jaen > Sierra de La Pandera (154.5km)After one day’s respite for the breakaway we’re back into serious climbing territory as the race heads to Jaen, home of the Clasica Jaen and its treacherous gravel sectors through the picturesque olive groves of Andalusia. The scenery will be beautiful but the actual racing brutal: hot temperatures and blazing sunshine on the steep climbs will be important to manage once again.From the provincial capital the race heads in the direction of another summit finish atop the category-one Sierra de la Pandera, 1,800m above sea level. Before that there are two category-two climbs to surmount and plenty more uncategorised climbing - nearly 4,200m of elevation gain in total - on another day for a general classification battle. La Vuelta stage 14 (Unipublic)Stage 15: Palma del Rio > Cordoba (189.7km)The second week of the Vuelta ends with a transitional stage which could well see a bunch sprint, if the fast men have recovered from their exertions. Otherwise, this could be a day for the enterprising escape artist. There are three category three ascents and a few more undulations on the way to Cordoba, with the descent towards the line a key moment to navigate, before a flat run-in to the provincial capital. La Vuelta stage 15 (Unipublic)Rest day Stage 16: Cortegana > La Rabida (Palos de la Frontera) (181.1km)The final week of the Vuelta kicks off with a long stage of two halves: a hilly first half beginning in the Sierra Morena, leading to a flat run-in towards the southern coast on the outskirts of Huelva. For once there’s more descending than climbing, but the gradients are still fairly steep at points. The flat finish means we’re likely to be in for two bunch sprints in a row, separated by the rest day, although anything is possible this late in the race.La Vuelta stage 16 (Unipublic)Stage 17: Dos Hermanas > Sevilla (185km)A third bunch sprint in a row, in fact: stage 17 is a cookie-cutter sprint stage, the flattest of the entire race. Expect lots of aerial footage of beautiful countryside and much grasping at straws on commentary to find something to fill the time. Technical narrow streets will add some jeopardy, however, as will the city centre circuit through Sevilla to finish. La Vuelta stage 17 (Unipublic)Stage 18: El Puerto de Santa Maria > Jerez de la Frontera (32km)A second individual time trial of this year, but much longer than stage one, at 32km. This is another designed for the pure time-trial specialists, flat with long straights where aerodynamics and position will be absolutely crucial, although the Levante wind could cause some trouble. A big test for the general classification riders ahead of one final mountainous double-header. La Vuelta stage 18 (Unipublic)Stage 19: Velez-Malaga > Penas Blancas (Estepona) (210km) Back in the mountains for another long, hot day in the saddle. The first third of the stage is largely flat before a pair of category-two climbs, the Puerto de Las Abejas and Puerto del Viento, providing the perfect springboard for a breakaway. The route wends its way along the coast past Malaga before swinging inland and uphill, before heading back towards the coast near Marbella for the final test of the day at Estepona: the category-one Penas Blancas, which regularly hits double-digits gradients and maxes out at 17% on the lower slopes. And that’s with 190km already in the legs. La Vuelta stage 19 (Unipublic)Stage 20: La Calahorra > Collado del Alguacil (187km)Landslides earlier this year have meant a late change to the route for stage 20, which has been shortened by nearly 20km and had one climb swapped out for another, but it remains a fearsome beast and the queen stage of this year’s race. There are five categorised climbs on the menu, with the category-one Puerto de El Purche to be summited twice before a first-ever ascent of the Puerto de El Duque as the route weaves in and out of Granada into the Sierra Nevada. That is followed by the monstrous hors-categorie Collado del Alguacil (8.3km at 9.8%), which has never featured in the Vuelta before. This one has Pogacar written all over it. La Vuelta stage 20 (Unipublic)Stage 21: Granada > Granada (99.4km)The Collado del Alguacil will have decided the general classification, but stage 21 is no procession, with four circuits of Granada, each featuring a short, sharp climb up to the Alhambra, to round off this year’s Vuelta. The Vuelta loves a gimmick and this stage will start in the Granada Carrefour supermarket, a callback to a couple of years ago and a handy bit of product placement for the race’s main sponsor, before a gentle ride around the outskirts of the city en route to the city circuit itself. Narrow streets and sharp corners will make this a dramatic finale, which is likely to be contested by the punchier riders rather than sprinters. La Vuelta stage 21 (Unipublic)

Angel Reese, not far removed from missing two close-range buckets in a loss she said kept her up at night, recorded a historically flawless performance in the Atlanta Dream's 124-88 win over the Los Angels Sparks on Thursday.Reese went 9-for-9 from the field with two 3-pointers in the victory, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals. She's just the third player in WNBA history with a 20-point double-double on 100% shooting.She also had three offensive rebounds in the first half to break her own WNBA season record of 172 from 2024. It was Reese's WNBA-leading 25th double-double of the season. With eight games left in Atlanta's regular-season schedule, she needs four more such performances to beat Alyssa Thomas' single-season record of 28 double-doubles, set in 2023.There's more to add to the résumé for Reese, who also set a Dream franchise-high mark on Thursday for field goals without a miss."I was just in the mode. When you see the ball go through the net, you just continue to shoot it. I think the defense really led to the offense, and we got a lot of deflections," Reese told reporters. "So, I kind of knew what kind of game it was going to be from the first steal I got, and just continuing to fight through."The perfect night comes after the disappointment of losing Sunday's overtime matchup against the Indiana Fever, which saw Reese miss two late layups that could have won the game in regulation. "I didn’t sleep. The competitor in me wanted to win that game so bad," Reese said Tuesday night. "I replayed that play so many times." Atlanta has responded with back-to-back wins, including Tuesday's victory over the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces. Reese has combined for 41 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists over those two games."She's had two excellent games since then," Dream coach Karl Smesko said of Reese's play since Sunday. "Today was just outstanding, and hopefully it's just something to build on from here."The last player to record a 20-point double-double without missing a single shot was Los Angeles Sparks center Nneka Ogwumike, 10 years ago. Ogwumike had 32 points and 10 rebounds when she did it, in a win over the Dallas Wings on June 11, 2016.A WNBA champion, league MVP, All-Star and president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, Ogwumike announced on Wednesday that she'll be retiring at the end of the season.It gave the performance extra meaning for Reese, who joined Sports on Prime's broadcast after Thursday's win and spoke about her admiration for Ogwumike. "It means a lot, I mean Nneka has poured into me since I've been in the league. She's done so much for us, being able to be the president and being able to pour into the next generation," Reese said. "A lot of things that we have right now is because of her. She was one of the people that built this house here in LA and being able to see her legacy continue 15 years — a very long time. To see how flawless she continues to be day in and day out, I'm really proud."Angel Reese stats vs. SparksPoints: 20FG: 9-for-93PT: 2-for-2Free Throws: 0-for-0Rebounds: 10Assists: 8Steals: 3Blocks: 0Turnovers: 5Fouls: 2Minutes: 30This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Dream star Angel Reese perfect, gets historic double-double vs. Sparks

The San Francisco 49ers couldn't quite get out of SoFi Stadium without any injuries. Keeping players healthy is the top priority in the preseason and head coach Kyle Shanahan had a trio of injury updates immediately following his team's 41-17 romp over the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday. Cornerback Renardo Green left the game early with a hamstring issue. Shanahan said the team doesn't know the extent of the damage just yet. "We'll have to get some imaging on that tomorrow to see if he pulled it," Shanahan said. The other key injury came to reserve offensive lineman Austen Pleasants who went down with a knee injury in the third quarter. Shanahan told reporters it isn't an ACL tear, but they'll find out exactly what the injury is after imaging Friday. Linebacker Nick Martin also exited the game late with a hamstring issue, per Shanahan. An injury for Martin would be particularly rough since he's trying to hold on to a roster spot with fewer than two weeks until final cuts are due. Martin forced a special teams fumble before exiting Thursday's game. Shanahan later on indicated left guard Robert Jones is dealing with an unspecified injury that could keep him out for the third preseason game. Jones is one of the leading candidates for the starting left guard job so his absence down the stretch could be massive in the 49ers' hunt for a starting left guard.We should get more information when Shanahan speaks with reporters Saturday at practice.More 49ers: 49ers vs. Chargers highlights: 49ers dominate preseason matchupThis article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers starter among Kyle Shanahan injury updates after win vs Chargers

Morgan Rogers joined Aston Villa from Middlesbrough and Youri Tielemans arrived from Leicester [Getty Images]Aston Villa's European heroes are already part of history.They ended a 30-year wait for a trophy by lifting the Europa League in May against Freiburg but the club could have sold six of the starting XI by the end of the transfer window.Ezri Konsa's imminent £51m departure to Arsenal is the latest high-profile exit at Villa Park this summer as Unai Emery's squad undergoes drastic change. Istanbul goalscorers Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers left last month, Rogers' £117m move to Chelsea a record for an English player.Lucas Digne was sold to Paris St-Germain and Villa must also find a solution for goalkeeper Emi Martinez after his failed move to Juventus and the signing of his replacement - Zion Suzuki.Al-Hilal may also test Villa's resolve again before the 1 September transfer deadline for Ollie Watkins, with the Premier League club reportedly tabling a new contract to try to keep the striker. That would leave Matty Cash, Pau Torres, Victor Lindelof, John McGinn and Emi Buendia as those who remain from the 11 that started in Istanbul.Villa £18m bid for Harwood-Bellis rejected by SouthamptonWhen is the Champions League draw and who is in each pot?Why are Villa a selling club?Like many, Villa are a selling club, mainly due to necessity, and have been for a number of years. They must comply with Uefa's squad cost ratio (SCR) which restricts them to spending 70% of their football related revenue on player and staff wages, transfer fees and agent fees. They have already been fined twice by Uefa for breaches, being hit with a £9.5m sanction last year and a £19.4m fine in June, although £12.9m was suspended after Villa came to a settlement agreement with Europe's governing body. But it has meant the club's hands are tied in the transfer window.The Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) also limited financial losses to a maximum of £105 million over a rolling three-year period. In their latest accounts, ending 30 June 2025, Villa had a post-tax profit of £17m but their two previous years showed losses of £119.6m (2023) and £85.4m (2024). The regulations have now been replaced by SCR, which sees the Premier League fall in line with Uefa's model"It's necessity because of the rules," one former Villa executive told BBC Sport, when asked about the sales. "The PSR, the SCR, issues are well documented. "It does seem slightly unfair they're having their ambition capped at this level. But it has forced this very big churn of players, which is unfortunate."Some will be forced due to PSR, some will be player demand. Combined it makes a big problem for Emery and certainly it is a lot to swallow in one go and to try and replace. "This summer has crystalised their situation further because of the high profile nature of the departures.Villa had raised just over £200m with the sales of Jhon Duran (£71m), Douglas Luiz (£42.5m), Jacob Ramsey (£40m) and Moussa Diaby (£50m) over the past two years.This window will see them bank, once the Konsa deal goes through, around £212m, including £9m for Lewis Dobbin who never played a senior game for Villa before leaving for Southampton. The academy has also paid its way comfortably with Jaden Philogene and Cameron Archer being bought back to be sold again, while Burnley spent £12m on Aaron Ramsey in 2023.Internally, when Villa first returned to the Champions League in 2024, it was recognised it would be harder for academy prospects to break into the squad which left Villa more open to selling them. Last summer their gross transfer spend was £71m which was dwarfed by Manchester, City, Chelsea and Arsenal who were all over £200m while Wolves, who finished bottom last season, were £109m. It justifies Emery's argument Villa are not part of the elite, especially when they spent months working on a deal for Conor Gallagher only for Tottenham to be the ones to step in and buy him in January.Rogers' £117m move to Chelsea this summer was the easiest way for Villa to comply with Uefa's financial rules.The plan came after their first fine last year and under it they must break even in 2026-27.Their run to the Champions League quarter-finals in 2024-25 banked them close to £70m and the main reason they managed to turn a profit in the latest accounts.Winning the Europa League means Villa guaranteed themselves around £45.6m, which includes the minimum earned for qualifying for next season's Champions League.Brian Madjo was only registered by Aston Villa a week before his Super Cup debut [Getty Images]Despite the departures optimism remains. Last week's battling Super Cup defeat in Salzbug to Paris St-Germain still showed Villa's competitiveness and Emery's powers of adaptability. Emery has constantly needed to roll with the punches during his three-and-a-half years in charge but he has consistently improved Villa, having taken over when they were 14th following Steven Gerrard's reign. In Austria, skipper John McGinn pointed to the fact they still have Emery while others - Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea - have new managers and that Villa's structure remains intact. "We have a structure in place, standards and rules which have made us a success. I am really excited about the new Aston Villa," said McGinn.That includes Brian Madjo after Villa won their battle with Fifa to register the 17-year-old earlier this month.The striker scored on his debut against PSG, eight months after initially signing from Metz for £10m, and could prove one of the surprises of the season. The drive towards younger players comes after Roberto Olabe replaced Monchi last September as president of football operations with a long-to-mid term directive on transfers. Midfielder Joao Gomes, 25, goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, 23 and defender Matteo Ruggeri, 24, have joined this summer after 20-year-old Johan Manzambi became the club's record buy in July.They have also had an £18m bid rejected for 24-year-old Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis. The loan signing, with an obligation to buy, of Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea allows Villa to spread the cost while Aaron Wan-Bissaka is due to move from West Ham on a similar deal."The problem is they may now be at the end of a chain of transfer deals, with the players involved and their transfer targets dependent on other moves happening first," said the former Villa decision-maker.Above all, though, Emery remains Villa's biggest asset and he has overhauled them before. This time it would be one of his biggest achievements."There's a lot of hope and ambition resting with the manager," said the ex-Villa Park executive."He's the ace card they've got left and everybody's hoping with his experience and knowledge they can pull through. "It's a lot of pressure on him and you've got to wonder if he's trying to think 'maybe I need to go somewhere else with more resources?'"I don't think it'll be this season but, at some stage as a manager, you get fed up juggling all those demands."Villa £18m bid for Harwood-Bellis rejected by SouthamptonPremier League predictions 2026-27: BBC Sport pundits pick their top fourThe Premier League's new plan to end corner chaos

Jack Shore retired from professional MMA fighting in December 2024 [Getty Images]Nearly two years after retiring from fighting in professional mixed martial arts, Jack Shore's name is back on a combat sports poster.The former UFC fighter from Abertillery remained in the sport as a coach but now turns his hand to fight promotion.The first iteration of Shore's new Stand and Bang venture is on Saturday, 22 August when 23 bouts will take place inside a 20-foot boxing ring.It will feature only striking, with no takedowns or grappling, at Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre.Shore is hoping to make the show a success with the Welsh MMA scene at "an all-time high".He told BBC Sport Wales: "It was always going to be hard to jump into an MMA or pure Thai show."I thought, 'what's a little niche in the market that I can kind of go after?' "I'm a big fan of ONE Championship and I don't always know the guys fighting but I'll always put it on because it's exciting."Shore says his event is shaped by friends coming to shows when he was fighting.He said: "All my mates used to say that if I wasn't fighting, they wouldn't come because they didn't understand the grappling and it was a bit boring."To the untrained eye it is, what's more fan friendly than essentially an MMA fight but with no grappling and no wrestling?"That's what we're trying to do, stand-up fights. Most of them are going to be in MMA gloves so it should make for an entertaining night." Shore hopes the points scoring makes it easier for the public to follow who is ahead.He said: "If one guy is inflicting more damage, the average Joe can look at that and say, 'well, that guy's winning'."Don't get me wrong, ring control scores and good defence scores. I daresay a flashy move will score a little bit higher than maybe a jab. "But ultimately the judges are being told that we're scoring on damage."Jones' career gamble pays off with second UFC runFighting for the fighters as a promoterShore has been "riding the wave" since the fight night was announced in March and has aimed to put on a fighter-friendly show.He said: "I know what it's like coming up as an amateur or as a new pro and to have promoters think they're better than you and almost look at you just as if you're funding their pocket."As much as I'm running this show to help make a bit of a living, I also want to put the fighters first. "If I've got to sacrifice a bit of money to make sure this guy is well looked after or make this guy get a fight on short notice, then I've always been more than prepared to do so. "Being a fighter who has gone into promotion is a big thing because you know what it's like to be on the other side of the coin."It has been a steep learning curve for Shore, who has had to rebook fights after late withdrawals."In my eyes, it's already a success because we've got to the fight week," he said."The fact the show is going to go ahead, and I can say that I've promoted my own show, is brilliant. "It's not even about breaking even or making money or losing money. A success for me will be to just put on a show that the crowd enjoys."If it is a success, I promise to just get bigger and better every time."Welsh bantamweight Shore signed by UFCWales' Jack Shore wins UFC debutOffers rejected and 99% retiredShore's retirement at 29 may have come as a shock, having risen up the ranks to the top 15 of the UFC's bantamweight division before swapping to featherweight.It could be argued that the man affectionately known as 'Tank' still has more in the tank.He finished with a professional record of 17 wins and three losses but the 31-year-old is happy in retirement, despite the occasional temptation."I'm in the gym every day with the boys and I do like the sparring," said Shore."I'm still young enough to compete with the lads and a lot of my coaching style is sparring with them."I'm still competing with the top lads in the gym comfortably, and that's not a knock on anyone."It's not like I'm a 45-year-old man and I've been retired for two years. "I'll spar on a Wednesday night and I'll wake up Thursday morning and think that the last thing I want to do now is go to the gym."Shore says he has had offers since retiring but none of them have persuaded him back."I've had fight offers - boxing, kickboxing, grappling - and I've got good people around me," he said."My missus is my main influence if I want advice on something. I usually go to her first, then I'll go to my dad. "She tells me that if I am going to do it, go back and do it properly in the UFC."The reality is that I don't want to do that. I'm not going to go and do some circus show just to feed my ego. "Mentally, I've checked out, even though now and then the demons are creeping. Never say never, I suppose, let's push it to 99% [retired]. "But it would take a lot of money and a massive opportunity to pull 'The Tank' back in."MMA schedule and results 2026Watch every Born to Brawl episode

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) reacts in the second half of an WNBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)2026-08-21T04:44:57Z LOS ANGELES (AP) — Angel Reese had a stunning perfect shooting night after struggling recently to make even the shortest of shots, and the Atlanta Dream set a franchise record for points in a game in a 124-88 victory over the Los Angels Sparks on Thursday night.Reese was 9-for-9 from the field, hitting two 3-pointers, for 20 points and had 10 rebounds and eight assists for her WNBA-leading 25th double-double of the season. She had 18 points in the first half.Reese set a Dream record for field goals without a miss and became the third player in WNBA history with a 20-point double-double on 100% shooting. She’s four shy of Alyssa Thomas’ WNBA double-double record of 28 set in 2023. In addition, she had three offensive rebounds in the first half to break her own WNBA season record of 172 set in 2024. Rhyne Howard added 26 points and five 3-pointers for Atlanta (23-13), which has won eight straight in the series with Los Angeles. Naz Hillmon had 14 points and Allisha Gray 13. Cameron Brink scored 14 points off the bench for Los Angeles (12-24), which was eliminated from playoff contention. Rae Burrell added 12 and Nneka Ogwumike had 11.The Dream led by 42 points and reached the 100-point mark with 8:10 left. Play was briefly interrupted with 2:59 left in the third quarter after a sex toy was thrown on the court near where Jihyun Park was about to attempt a free throw for Los Angeles. Up nextDream: At Phoenix on Saturday. Sparks: Host Connecticut on Saturday. ___See AP’s full WNBA coverage here 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

“It’s kind of weird to think he spent more nights with me this week than Melania,” O’Donnell said of President Trump on her last night guest-hosting “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

Uncrowned has Amanda Serrano vs. Lucrecia Manzur live results, round-by-round updates, ring walks, highlights and start time for the Serrano vs. Manzur fight card on Friday night at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California. Amanda Serrano defends her unified WBA and WBO featherweight titles against Lucrecia Manzur in the night's main event on TikTok.Serrano (49-4-1, 32 KOs) returns to the ring following her TKO victory over Cheyenne Hanson in May. The seven-division champion is tied with Christy Martin for the most knockouts in women's boxing history and looks to break that record on Friday.Manzur (14-4-1, 7 KOs) enters the biggest fight of her career riding a five-fight win streak, culminating in a unanimous decision over Nahir Aymara Erlin in March. The Argentine challenges for a world title for the first time.The Serrano vs. Manzur fight card starts at 7 p.m. ET on TikTok, with the main event ring walks expected around 12 a.m. ET.Follow all of the action with Uncrowned's live results and play-by-play of the main card below.Fight card (7 p.m. ET, TikTok)WBA & WBO Featherweight titles: Amanda Serrano vs. Lucrecia ManzurLightweight: Jahmal Harvey vs. Hammet Kowany Keb del ValleWBA Super Bantamweight title: Mayelli Flores vs. Melissa MortensenWelterweight: Avious Griffin vs. Jackson MarinezSuper lightweight: Jully De Oliveira vs. Cinderella LinnearCruiserweight: Keno Marley vs. Braylan BrooksMinimumweight: Lupita Medina vs. Brook SibrianHeavyweight: Nelvie Tiafack vs. Salvador ZavalaFeatherweight: Iyana Verduzco vs. Miguelina HernandezMinimumweight: Jocelyn Camarillo vs. Ashley Felix

Real Madrid legend backs PSG star for Ballon d’Or ahead of Mbappe: ‘Number 1 without hesitation’In a FIFA World Cup year, the Ballon d’Or is often decided by the result of the global event and performances at the same time.The situation this time around, however, is queer.Spain, who won the World Cup, had no clear bona fide overperformer and won because of their collective efforts. The teams that had clear standout individuals, meanwhile, all fell short.Lionel Messi, Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and even Vinicius Jr. had spectacular World Cup campaigns but all fell short. Further, all their club seasons were far from impressive, making the Ballon d’Or complicated.In the Spanish contingent, meanwhile, Rodri stood out but barely played for the club through injury, and Lamine Yamal who shone for Barcelona was not as effective in the World Cup.At this point, the race is thus more open than ever before.Kroos names his favourite for the Ballon d’OrReal Madrid legend Toni Kroos spoke to the media recently as reported by Florian Malburg, and one of the topics touched upon in the process was that of the Ballon d’Or.Kroos has backed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for Ballon d’Or.. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)Making his stance clear, the German international backed Paris Saint-Germain’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as his clear favourite for the award and even reasoned out the same.“The Ballon d’Or should go to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia,” he began.“He’s probably not going to win but he’s the number 1 without hesitation,” he added, acknowledging that the likelihood of it really happening was very slim.Kroos then backed up his claim with reasons and explained why he felt the Georgian star was the most deserving candidate despite missing out on the FIFA World Cup.“The best World Cup players: Messi, Jude, Mbappé, Rodri had average club seasons.”“Kvara was the best player from the best club in the world,” he added, showering praise on Kvaratskhelia and PSG.Mbappe has a chanceMbappe had a stunning individual season. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)At this point, the only Real Madrid player who has a real chance at the Ballon d’Or is Mbappe, and certain outlets even proclaim him as a favourite.Given the season the Frenchman had, it would indeed be thoroughly deserved for he was the Pichichi winner and Real Madrid’s top scorer by some distance last season. What is against Mbappe, however, is the fact that he did not win a single trophy – neither with Real Madrid nor with France. In all likelihood, the lack of team success will play against his chances.

“Yes!” – Jacobs confirms Man Utd are still pushing for another midfielder after Baleba coupManchester United will reportedly launch another attempt to sign young Leicester City midfielder Louis Page.The Red Devils have seemingly completed their midfield revamp, as they’re now close to buying Carlos Baleba from Brighton.The Cameroonian will join a department that features fellow new signings Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, in addition to Kobbie Mainoo, while Tyler Fletcher and his twin brother Jack will offer extra depth when required.Man Utd eyeing a move for Louis PageWhile Man Utd’s midfield department looks sorted, the club is also planning for the future. In recent days, it was reported that INEOS made an offer for Louis Page worth around £10 million, but it was rejected by Leicester.The 18-year-old was promoted to the senior squad last season and went on to make 18 appearances in the Championship.Although his contribution wasn’t enough to prevent the Foxes from getting relegated to League One, he still managed to earn himself suitors, who were impressed with the composure and skill set he showcased at his tender age.So according to British football journalist Ben Jacobs, MUFC have yet to give up on Page, so he expects them to launch a new onslaught.“Is Page still a target for Man Utd? Yes!” claimed the transfer market expert during his latest appearance on The United Stand.“Man United had a bid rejected last week; I expect them to be back, and the player is likely to be on the move.”It should be noted that the Lutterworth native is tied to Leicester through a contract valid until the summer of 2029.The Foxes were keen to tie him down with a long-term professional deal after he turned 17 last summer.Where would Page fit at Man Utd?If Baleba is to join Man Utd, Michael Carrick will have four senior central midfielders at his disposal, in addition to Mason Mount, who showed he can adapt to a deeper role prior to his pre-season injury.Moreover, the Fletcher twins will be eyeing more first-team opportunities this season, especially Tyler, who appears to be higher than his brother on the manager’s pecking order.Therefore, Page could struggle to earn his senior debut this season, and thus might have to settle for a place with Man Utd’s U21 team.The young midfielder may view it as a step back in his career, having made 22 appearances at the senior level for Leicester.Nevertheless, a move to Carrington could help him develop his skill set while training alongside top-notch stars, a boon that the regressing Leicester can no longer offer.ShareTweetShareShareEmailLeave a ReplyCancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment *Name *Email *Notify me of follow-up comments by email.Notify me of new posts by email.

Following the blockbuster news that Max Verstappen has officially ended all the paddock rumors by extending his contract with Red Bull Racing through the 2030 season, the entire Formula 1 world has been asking the exact same question: just how much did it cost to keep him?Thanks to some fresh industry leaks, we finally have an answer—and the numbers are absolutely astronomical.According to F1 business journalist Marc Limacher, the Dutch driver’s new deal will completely shatter existing Formula 1 pay scales.Limacher reports that starting in 2027, Verstappen is set to earn a staggering baseline annual salary of €92 million at Red Bull Racing. However, the paycheck doesn’t stop there. Once lucrative performance bonuses are factored in, Verstappen’s yearly on-track earnings are structured to reach a maximum of €115 million per season.Because this extension secures his seat for four additional seasons (2027 through 2030), the total agreement is reportedly worth a jaw-dropping €460 million.Verstappen Shattering the Global MarketTo put this kind of money into perspective, it helps to understand F1’s financial rules. Driver salaries are famously exempt from the FIA’s stringent operational cost cap. This crucial loophole allows heavy-hitting legacy teams like Red Bull to essentially write a blank check for generational talents, preventing them from jumping ship to rival constructors with deep pockets.Verstappen was certainly not struggling for cash before this extension. According to recent Forbes data, the four-time world champion was already ranked 14th on the list of the highest-paid athletes globally, taking home an estimated $86 million in total earnings—with $78 million of that stemming directly from on-field performance.SPA, BELGIUM – JULY 18: Second placed qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the Drivers Press Conference during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 18, 2026 in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202607180278 // Usage for editorial use only //However, this newly negotiated €115 million (roughly $128 million USD) annual ceiling catapults him entirely out of the standard motorsport financial brackets. While he might still trail the absurd, sovereign-wealth-backed contracts seen in Saudi Arabian soccer, this new package solidifies Verstappen as one of the single highest-paid athletes in the history of global sports.Clearly, Red Bull’s top brass decided that you simply cannot put a price tag on a guaranteed championship contender.

Amanda Serrano - Lucrecia ManzurCredit: Most Valuable PromotionsAmanda Serrano is a boxing legend. Her status as a fighter and a pioneer in the sport is secure. On Friday night, live on TikTok, Serrano takes on Lucrecia Manzur with her WBO and WBA featherweight championships on the line. Serrano is also chasing a magic number as she looks to close out her career on a winning note. Let's talk boxing.Serrano vs Manzur Key FactsDetailInfoDateFriday, August 21, 2026VenuePechanga Resort Casino, Temecula, CaliforniaCard start7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PTMain event ring walkApproximately 11 p.m. ETWhere to watchTikTok LIVETitlesUnified WBA and WBO women's featherweight, 126 poundsDistance12 rounds, two minutes eachSerrano's record49-4-1, 32 KOsManzur's record14-4, 7 KOsThe numberA win puts Serrano at 50Billed firstFirst championship boxing card streamed live on TikTokAfter retirementSerrano becomes Chairwoman of MVP's women's boxing initiativesThe platform is a story alongside the milestone. Most Valuable Promotions is billing this as the first championship boxing card streamed live on TikTok, which puts a unified world title in front of an audience that does not buy pay-per-views.The format is a first as well. The promotion says this is the first unified women's world championship contested over 12 two-minute rounds.Serrano sits one win shy of 50 for her career and she's made it clear that's a milestone she wants to reach. No other woman has reached that mark in professional boxing, and when coupled with everything else Serrano has accomplished in her career, it cements her legacy as one of the best female fighters of all time.Here's a look at the rest of the card.Serrano vs Manzur Full CardPer MVPTIKTOK CARD – 4:00 PM PTWBA/WBO Featherweight World Titles (126 lbs) Amanda Serrano vs. Lucrecia Manzur125.6 | 125.8Carolina, Puerto Rico | Tucuman, ArgentinaLightweight Bout (135 lbs)Jahmal Harvey vs. Hammet Keb134.0 | 134.4Oxon Hill, Maryland | Veracruz, MexicoVacant WBA Super Bantamweight World Title (122 lbs) Mayelli Flores vs. Melissa Mortensen122.0 | 121.6Mexico City, Mexico | Varde, DenmarkWelterweight Bout (147 lbs)Avious Griffin vs. Jackson Marinez146.2 | 146.6Chattanooga, Tennessee | Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicJunior Welterweight Bout (140 lbs)Jully Poca vs. Cinderella Linnear139.6 | 139.8Santo Andre, Brazil | Arlington, TexasCruiserweight Bout (200 lbs)Keno Marley vs. Braylan Brooks199.8 | 194.2Sao Paulo, Brazil | Addison, TexasMinimumweight Bout (105 lbs)Lupita Medina vs. Brook Sibrian104.8 | 105.0Maywood, California | Coachella, CaliforniaHeavyweight BoutNelvie Tiafack vs. Salvador Zavala251.4 | 234.8Cologne, Germany | Zapopan, MexicoFeatherweight Bout (126 lbs)Roxy Verduzco vs. Miguelina Hernandez126.0 | 124.8Los Angeles, California | Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicMinimumweight Bout (105 lbs)Jocelyn Camarillo vs. Ashley Felix104.6 | 103.0Indio, California | Tijuana, MexicoPRELIMINARY CARD – 3:15 PM PTLightweight Bout (137 lbs)Paolo Barredo vs. Jorge Elias Garcia136.8 | 136.6Walnut, California | Ensenada, MexicoJunior Welterweight Bout (140 lbs) Albina Moldazhanova vs. Sheila Fabiana Liesegang139.4 | 138.0Tyumen, Russia | Montevideo, UruguayMore Fight Week CoverageAmanda Serrano Vs. Lucrecia Anabella Manzur: Date, Time And How To WatchRolly Romero Vs. Teofimo Lopez: Full Card, Start Time And How To WatchClaressa Shields Calls For Former Heavyweight Champ's Retirement After Exciting FightThis article was originally published on Forbes.com

⚽️ Football is BACK! Europe’s top leagues live on NOW 🔥The countdown has officially begun: football is coming back. The new season is ready to put the spotlight back on three of the leagues fans look forward to most: Serie A, the Premier League, and the Bundesliga. Three tournaments, three completely different ways of experiencing football, but with the same essential ingredient: matches you won’t want to miss.It all starts again with Serie A, where every matchday brings the usual question: who will go all the way? Then there’s the Premier League, with its frantic pace, big matches, and a table that can change in an instant. And finally the Bundesliga, where goals, intensity, and entertainment are never in short supply.And don’t think the fun is limited to clashes between the big teams. Because that’s exactly the beauty of a new season: new signings to discover, teams ready to surprise, young talents on the rise, and those matches that look straightforward on paper but end up delivering 90 completely crazy minutes.In short, the calendar is about to fill up. From Italian football to English football by way of Germany, the great European spectacle is ready to take center stage again every week.👀 When they playSerie A gets back underway on Saturday, August 22 at 6:30 PM, with Udinese hosting Cesc Fabregas’ Como at home. This year too, Italy’s top flight promises a season packed with excitement, from the Scudetto race to the battle for Europe and the fight to stay up.The Premier League will kick off a day earlier with the opening match on Friday, August 21 at 9:00 PM, as defending champions Arsenal open the doors of the Emirates Stadium to Coventry.Then there’s the Bundesliga, where football means pace, intensity, and goals. The new season will begin a week later than the others, on Friday, August 28 at 8:30 PM, when reigning champions Bayern Munich take on Stuttgart.🖥️ How to watch NOW and how much it costsOn NOW you can follow all the top tennis with the ATP Tour and WTA Tour, including the Nitto ATP Finals, the WTA Finals, the US Open, and the prestigious exclusive streaming rights to Wimbledon! But that’s not all, because there’s also plenty of motorsport! The adrenaline of Formula 1®, exclusive on NOW until 2032, and all the thrills of MotoGP™.And then there’s top football, with Serie A Enilive (with three matches from every league round and at least 30 of the best 76 matches of the season) and the three European cups, starting with the UEFA Champions League, with 185 of the 203 matches each season available exclusively via streaming, as well as every match in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League, also thanks to Diretta Gol. The football offering continues with the entire Serie C Sky WIFI through the 2027/28 season, for a total of 1,143 matches exclusively nationwide and 48 co-exclusive matches each season: Regular Season, Playoffs, the Coppa Italia (from the round of 16), and the Supercoppa. There’s also international football, available exclusively via streaming wherever and whenever you want, with the Premier League and the Bundesliga.The offering continues with the best of basketball: NBA, EuroLeague, and BKT EuroCup, along with Serie A – LBA. Then there’s volleyball, rugby, golf, and many other must-watch sports available with the Sport Pass.Watching sport on NOW is very simple: just download the app on a modern smart TV or on mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. The cost is €19.99 for the annual plan with a commitment for that period. From the 13th month, the pass renews automatically month by month according to the terms and price in effect on that date, currently €29.99 per month, unless the pass is deactivated at least 24 hours before the end of the viewing period.Alternatively, you can take out a subscription for €29.99 per month with automatic monthly renewal, but with the option to cancel at any time.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

Report: Arsenal considering move to sign Serie A forwardArsenal Eye Kenan Yildiz as Mikel Arteta Refines Summer Transfer PlansArsenal are assessing whether a move for Kenan Yildiz can be made this summer, with Mikel Arteta still intent on strengthening the left side of his attack before the new campaign. According to Independent, the Juventus forward is firmly under consideration after the club missed out on their preferred option.Arteta has been clear internally that he wants to add quality in that area, especially as Arsenal prepare for what the original report describes as “an assault on both the Champions League and Premier League for the new season”. Vinicius Jr had been viewed as the standout target, but “The Brazilian’s decision to stay at the Bernabeu caused Arsenal to reconsider the situation”, forcing a recalibration of plans.Kenan Yildiz Emerges in Arsenal Transfer ThinkingYildiz is said to have remained “high up on their list of targets”, and there is a strong sense that Arteta values both his profile and potential. At 21, he fits a recruitment line that blends immediate impact with long-term growth. The report adds that “Arteta especially keen on the Turkish international”, which speaks to the seriousness of Arsenal’s interest.Photo IMAGOJuventus, however, are in no rush to entertain offers. Yildiz is regarded as one of their most exciting young talents and the asking price reflects that. The Italian club “would want upwards of £60m”, a figure that immediately makes any negotiation more complex. Arsenal are also conscious of squad balance and “do want to ensure more outgoings” before pushing too far.Possible Structures and Alternative TimingsOne idea mentioned in the report is Gabriel Martinelli potentially being included in discussions, although that would plainly require careful work from all parties. As it stands, any structure of that kind appears highly complicated, with Juventus needing to weigh “fan backlash” as well as the football implications of losing Yildiz.There is also a wider strategic question. Arsenal have considered delaying major movement until later, and “thought has been given to waiting until either January or next summer when other deals could become possible”. That same patience applies to other names on the shortlist.Julian Alvarez Situation Still LingersThe wider market remains relevant too. “The future of Julian Alvarez also weighs over this”, with the Argentine still part of Arsenal’s broader thinking after Vinicius. Yet the landscape around him is delicate, particularly given the report’s line that Atletico are “currently completely unwilling to deal with Barcelona”. If that position softens, the final weeks of the window could still become significant.Our ViewFrom an intrigued Arsenal supporter’s perspective, this feels like a believable and interesting development. Yildiz has the sort of technical quality and bravery in possession that would immediately catch the eye in an Arteta side. If the manager truly wants another left-sided attacker, then pursuing a younger, high-upside option after missing Vinicius Jr makes sense.There is, though, a clear balance to strike. £60m plus for a 21-year-old with huge talent but limited room for error at a club chasing the biggest honours is a serious commitment. Arsenal supporters will understandably ask whether that money should go on a more proven wide forward, especially if the aim is to get over the line in the Premier League and Champions League straight away.The Martinelli angle is the part that may divide opinion most. Many fans still believe he can rediscover his sharpest level, and letting him go as part of a deal for another developing attacker would feel risky. At the same time, Yildiz brings a freshness and versatility that could reshape the attack over the next few years.What stands out most is that Arsenal appear to be keeping multiple doors open. That is usually wise late in a market. If Yildiz becomes attainable, supporters will see the logic. If Alvarez or another elite option shifts, the club may pivot. Either way, this feels like a window-defining decision for Arteta and the hierarchy.

“Everyone has written him off” – Liverpool star backed to silence his criticsAlexander Isak Has a Point to Prove in Liverpool’s New SeasonLiverpool do not need a complicated story here. They need goals, availability and a centre-forward who looks like a £125m striker. That is the starting point with Alexander Isak heading into the new campaign.Credit to Troy Deeney for BBC Sport, who cut through the noise and landed on the central issue. As he put it, “They are decently balanced although I still think they need an additional left-back and an extra midfielder.“Ultimately they have got one X-factor, Isak. He is a top goalscorer who has got a point to prove because everyone has written him off.”That assessment feels fair. Liverpool have areas that still need attention, but the season will swing on whether Isak can stay fit and produce at the level expected when the club made him their record signing. Last season never got going properly. A broken leg and a long spell out wrecked any rhythm, and four goals in 22 appearances is not what anyone had in mind.Isak Form Could Define Liverpool SeasonThere is no need to overthink the criticism. When a striker costs £125m and delivers a modest return, people will talk. That comes with the fee, the role and the club. The question now is what comes next, and there are at least some encouraging signs.Photo: IMAGOIn pre-season, Isak has looked sharper. The movement has been cleaner, the touch more assured and there are early hints of understanding with Florian Wirtz. Liverpool need that connection to develop quickly. With Hugo Ekitike sidelined until around the turn of the year, the burden up front falls squarely on Isak.St James’ Park Return Adds Extra EdgeThe fixture list has also provided a rather obvious subplot. Liverpool open with a trip to Newcastle, which means Isak returns to St James’ Park straight away. Given how his exit played out, nobody should expect a warm welcome. Fine. Elite forwards are supposed to handle that. In truth, it may even suit him.If he scores there, the story changes fast. Football can be brutal, but it is also very simple. Big games, big moments, big players. That is the territory Isak was bought for.Our ViewFrom a Liverpool fan’s perspective, this feels like the right time to back Isak properly. Last season was messy for him and for the team, and injuries destroyed any chance of momentum. It is very easy to label a striker after one disrupted year, especially when the fee is so huge, but supporters have seen enough quality to believe there is a serious player here.What gives real hope is that he does not need five chances to score when he is fully fit. He is sharp, intelligent and more complete than some give him credit for. If Iraola can build a system that gets runners close to him and keeps him healthy, Liverpool could suddenly look far more dangerous.There is also something appealing about the pressure on him. Some players shrink when people start calling them a flop. Others take it personally. Fans will hope Isak falls into the second category. The trip back to Newcastle is the perfect stage for that response.No one is asking for miracles. Liverpool just need the version of Isak that justified the £125m outlay. If they get that, this conversation changes very quickly, and so might Liverpool’s season.

[BBC]The score is Machines 1-0 Humans - at least when it comes to predicting football results, anyway.AI - in this case Microsoft chatbot CoPilot - finished top of the BBC predictions league at the first attempt last season, but will it stay there?BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton, his guests and the BBC readers will be hoping to strike back, and land a blow for the human race."It was a final-day defeat for me, that is how close I came to the title," Sutton said."But I keep reading how AI models are going rogue and attacking each other. "So, was I hacked too? It sounds like cheating to me - if so, then last season should really go down as a victory for me."Who will win this time? Sutton is again making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.You can make your own score predictions below too, and then see which scoreline is the most popular. That will be used to calculate the readers' points total.A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.Sutton's guest for the opening round of games is Courteeners frontman Liam Fray.Courteeners' latest single, Plus One Forever, is out now. It is taken from their forthcoming 'best of' compilation, God Bless The Band, which is out on 28 August.Liam is a Manchester United fan who is optimistic about their prospects for the new season, mostly because of boss Michael Carrick."I am pretty excited," he told BBC Sport. "Listen, we are not going to be challenging for the title because we are not at Arsenal or Manchester City's level, but I think we will be up there - and I love Carrick. I was like 'give him the job straight away' when Ruben Amorim was sacked in January."I am biased because we play a bit of golf and we have had a few beers, but it means a lot when you see someone stood on the touchline who seems to care."I don't mean that just because he used to play for us, I mean it because he seems to have that connection with the club, and especially with the fans."We have had plenty of managers recently who I am sure are passionate in their own way but, for me, it is a bit like being on stage - it is not that difficult to let people watching see that you are fully into what you are doing."I think that, when you do that, you get a lot back. Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag and Amorim were all good coaches I am sure, but it is good to see someone who cares and seems to want to do it for us as well as himself and the team... so, yeah, with him in charge I am really up for it."Chris Sutton and Liam Fray were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.The AI predictions were generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat - we simply asked the tool to 'predict this weekend's Premier League results'.Want to make more predictions? You can play BBC Sport's new Match of the Day predictor game every week, featuring six fixtures from domestic and European competitions.The last time Liam did these predictions, on the opening weekend of the 2024-25 season, he not only beat Chris to the weekly win but posted a score of 150 points that kept him top of the guest leaderboard for the entire season. "That means this is a free hit this time," he said. "Even if I get everything wrong, there is no pressure." [Getty Images]Premier League predictionsFriday, 21 AugustEmirates Stadium, 20:00 BSTArsenal are the team to beat, and their squad just looks so strong. I never read too much into the Community Shield but to beat Manchester City as comprehensively as they did was hugely impressive, and shows where they are at.Bruno Guimaraes is a good signing and while Christos Tzolis could not cut it at Norwich - the jersey was too big for him - he looks the part too.Joking aside, it was Daniel Farke who signed Tzolis for the Canaries in 2021 and called him one of the brightest young prospects in Europe, and he has been proven right about that.This is all bad news for Coventry, though. Speaking of Norwich, they have not been in the top flight for a few years now but I always remember them getting stuffed in their opening-day fixture in 2019 when they played Liverpool away, and it is a nightmare for Sky Blues boss Frank Lampard to open with a game like this.I suppose, on the flip-side, if Coventry can somehow go to the Emirates and get a draw against the champions, that would provide such a huge boost to their players.But I can't see past an Arsenal win and the scoreline just depends how much Mikel Arteta's side put their foot down.Sutton's prediction: 3-0Liam's prediction: It is good to have Coventry back in the Premier League - I remember completing my Merlin sticker album when I was a kid, when they had Roy Wegerle and Steve Ogrizovic in their team. I think they will have a good season, and I don't expect them to get battered every week, but they just need to take the hit here, because this is just about as tough a start as you can get. 3-0AI's prediction: 3-0Saturday, 22 AugustMKM Stadium, 12:30Hull's assistant head coach Dean Holden came on the Monday Night Club this week and spoke really well about how they will approach the Premier League. It sounds like they will be horrible to play against, and will be happy to go direct when they have to.With them starting at home, getting a result against Manchester United - who Holden is a big fan of - could really make their season.I think they will be competitive, but my worry for Hull is from looking at how they did last year, when they lost a third of their games in the Championship. As a story, Sergej Jakirovic getting them from 21st place into the play-offs, and then up, is remarkable. Now they just need to hang on in there in the Premier League, but that will be very difficult.United have not done much in the transfer market this summer, but Youri Tielemans is a really good signing - a safe signing, if there is such a thing - like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were last year.As things stand, they are going to be stretched by being in the Champions League and I do feel like Carrick over-achieved by getting them there.Now the expectations are rising following their third-place finish, but they are nowhere near Arsenal at the moment.I think them having European football, while Tottenham and Chelsea don't, will have a huge bearing on the season, which is why I left United out of my top four.They should begin with a win, but this is the start of a full-on campaign for them, which makes it far more difficult, and they will need to add to their squad.Sutton's prediction: 1-2Liam's prediction: There will be a party atmosphere at Hull but that might play into our hands. Hopefully we can start this season the way we finished the last one - I had us down to win this 2-0 but I hate that because it sounds conservative, so I am going bigger. 0-3Liam on Marcus Rashford's future at United: I love Marcus, and the fact he is one of ours, and I would love him to come back and be as good as he was for us. We know what a player he can be and if anyone can get it out of him at United, it is Michael Carrick - he might know exactly what Marcus needs.I think about walking on stage at a hometown gig and I know how that feels. If I was Marcus, I'd be thinking 'I am going to make this work' because of how special it could be if it does. Every part of me wants that to happen, but I don't know if it will.AI's prediction: 1-3Hill Dickinson Stadium, 15:00After the success Oliver Glasner had at Crystal Palace, new boss Pierre Sage has got some big shoes to fill.Still, Palace have got some serious firepower and plenty of goals in their team, so I think they will be fine this season.Goals are a bigger problem for Everton and again the key to their campaign probably rests on what manager David Moyes can get out of strikers Cherno Barry and Beto.But I am sure Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will chip in too because he is a wonderful footballer and, while I do see Palace scoring, I fancy Everton to edge this.Sutton's prediction: 2-1Liam's prediction: A lot of our crew are Everton fans and so is our mate Tommy O'Dell (from Australian band DMA's) but I couldn't split them and Palace here. 1-1AI's prediction: 1-1Portman Road, 15:00I must point out that Ipswich boss O'Neil is a former Norwich player, so where do his loyalties really lie? And has he gone to Ipswich to sabotage them? Seriously though, I wish him well and I genuinely hope for East Anglia that Ipswich can make a decent fist of it and stay up.I really like some of their signings too - Daizen Maeda is a player I know well and is a really good piece of business, coming in from Celtic.Maeda plays with such intensity. He will be the best pressing player in the Premier League bar none and, if you want to play on the counter-attack and you want someone to run in behind, there are not many quicker than him.Seeing what Sunderland did last season, when they also signed lots of players after getting promoted, will give Ipswich hope. Ditto with Leeds, who also recruited well.But then it is about knitting the new players together and connecting early on. That has to be O'Neil's aim, but it will be difficult.Sunderland did so well they qualified for Europe, and I am not sure how their squad will cope with the extra games. For now, though, I think they will remind us of how good they were last season.Like I said on the Monday Night Club, I never saw another team beat Arsenal up the way they did. They faded as the campaign went on and they are not going to surprise anyone this time, but they still have the leadership of Granit Xhaka in midfield and Wilson Isidor and Brian Brobbey up top to hurt teams.Sutton's prediction: 0-1Liam's prediction: Like Hull, this is Ipswich's first game back in the Premier League and the crowd will be well up for it. There are going to be some goals. 2-2AI's prediction: 2-1City Ground, 15:00What a strange season Nottingham Forest had last time, going through four managers and all with differing styles.They were 'kneejerk Nottingham Forest' but they stayed up and got to the Europa League semi-final.Now? Well Glasner is in charge and they have got Chris Wood back from injury, which is great news for them - his experience and goals will be crucial. Of course they are going to miss Elliot Anderson in midfield but holding on to Morgan Gibbs-White was a big deal, and Callum Hudson-Odoi too.I was delighted for Leeds boss Daniel Farke that he proved people wrong by keeping them up last year.There will be high hopes they can stay out of trouble this time after signing Harry Wilson, who was so good for Fulham, and James Trafford is an excellent buy too.I am covering this game for Radio 5 Live but it is almost impossible to predict. Glasner usually went with a 3-4-3 shape at Palace but has gone on record saying he works with what he has got, so I am not sure how they will line up for this game.It will be very interesting to see how Forest start, and how Glasner fares. Will he still be there in September?Sutton's prediction: 1-1Liam's prediction: I thought all three of these 3pm games were hard to split but I could not see them all ending in draws - so I have gone for Forest to edge this. 2-1AI's prediction: 2-1Gtech Community Stadium, 17:30There is a lot of excitement surrounding Spurs and I understand why.Sandro Tonali is an excellent signing for them in midfield while, at the back, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke are both very good defenders and Micky van der Ven has penned a new deal too.I am really looking forward to seeing Spurs under Roberto de Zerbi and the expectation will be that they do well. Without European football, they must be thinking about the top six.Keith Andrews had a sensational first season as Brentford manager and it will be interesting to see how they set up - will it be a case of 'counter-attack Keith' again?The way I see this game going, Spurs will have most of the ball but Brentford are well organised and very dangerous on the break.Igor Thiago had an incredible campaign for the Bees last time and they have got Kevin Schade too, so I don't see them struggling for goals.Sutton's prediction: 1-1Liam's prediction: Spurs have bought some good players in Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Andy Robertson, and with James Maddison fit again that is four big players who were not there last year. They are going to have a much better season this time. 1-2AI's prediction: 1-2Sunday, 23 AugustAmex Stadium, 14:00The Champions League is going to stretch Aston Villa and I don't see them making it back into the top four this season.They have lost Morgan Rogers as well as Tielemans and, while Johan Manzambi is a young man with a lot of talent, it is a big ask for him to hit the ground running and replace Rogers straight away.Also, I am not sure if anyone can get a tune out of Alejandro Garnacho, but I suppose if anyone can it is Unai Emery.Their goalkeeper situation is interesting too, with Japan's Zion Suzuki arriving - he will come in revved up, while Emiliano Martinez looked like he was on his bike until his move to Juventus fell through.As I had to remind Mark Chapman on the Monday Night Club, you can't play with two goalkeepers - they changed many of the laws of the game over the summer, but not that one - so we will have to see who gets the nod on Saturday.As for Brighton, they have also lost a couple of key players - Danny Welbeck and Van Hecke - who were the spine of their team, but I am expecting a big season from Jack Hinshelwood, who was phenomenal for them last season.Villa started really slowly last season and it took them six league games to get a win. This will be close, but I think they will get off to a flier this time.Sutton's prediction: 1-2Liam's prediction: I am never quite sure what to expect from Villa. Morgan Rogers is a massive miss for them now he has gone to Chelsea but I've still gone for them to win. 1-2AI's prediction: 2-2Etihad Stadium, 14:00A lot of people have been putting the boot into Manchester City after their performance in the Community Shield.I don't think they will win the Premier League but they are not going to fall away to mid-table either - look at the players they have got - and I still think they will be right up there.I am expecting Bournemouth to be very attack-minded under Marco Rose after watching his teams at RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg.He is a front-foot coach but, in his first game, will he really be brave and go to Etihad Stadium and try to go toe-to-toe with City?I think he will, and because of that I think there will be goals... but most of them will be scored by City.Sutton's prediction: 4-1Liam's prediction: This is the first game that City's new stand will be open and it will be a full house. Pep Guardiola has gone but if they can get Phil Foden firing again they will be a force to be reckoned with. 3-0AI's prediction: 3-1St James' Park, 16:30I like everything I have seen from new Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle, but he has had the heart ripped out of his team with Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes leaving.They were two absolute monsters in midfield, who were horrible to play against, but they have gone. So has the influence of Anthony Gordon and the experience of Kieran Trippier.It is sad to see. That's not to say Newcastle can't do well now, but I think their fans are realistic about this season and how it will go.This will be a fascinating game because Liverpool are still adapting to life under Andoni Iraola and have struggled defensively in pre-season. Hopefully they can run for more than half an hour now, too.I don't think they will have any problems up front, however. Alexander Isak will get quite a reception - and not in a good way - from the home crowd but I do think he will shine for Liverpool this year, starting on Sunday.Sutton's prediction: 1-3Liam's prediction: I feel for Newcastle fans a bit because they had the takeover but it never really seems like it got going. They have sold some big players and it will be interesting to see how St James' Park reacts - when it is banging, it is really banging, but it is also really obvious when the mood is different. The first few weeks of this season will be very interesting to see how things go for them.Liverpool were really off it last year but if Isak hits the ground running and Florian Wirtz turns up, then they are going to be a different beast this year. 1-2AI's prediction: 1-1Monday, 24 AugustCraven Cottage, 20:00I worry about Fulham without Marco Silva in charge. They have also lost Harry Wilson's attacking influence from last season and Raul Jimenez, who led the line for them so well too.They have brought in Alvaro Arbeloa to replace Silva and gone down the youth route to rebuild their frontline, signing Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid and Swedish teenager Jonah Kusi-Asare from Bayern Munich.If I am a Fulham fan, my concern would be that they always felt stable under Silva and I am not sure what this new approach will bring. They were never in trouble last season, but I am expecting more of a struggle this time.It's a new era at Chelsea as well with Xabi Alonso in charge and I think things will be different there too, but in a positive way.I don't think Chelsea will go from 10th to first again, like they did under Antonio Conte 10 years ago, because they had a much stronger team then.But they have got Cole Palmer and Rogers is an exciting signing. Alonso is a breath of fresh air too, and I think he will begin with a win.Sutton's prediction: 0-2Liam's prediction: I've never been to Craven Cottage and I want to get down there and see the infinity pool - I might tap Felix White [of The Maccabees] up for tickets when we play down there.Fulham always seem to be safe and never get dragged into a relegation fight but this might be the year they struggle a bit. I am just putting it out there, Fulham fans - keep an eye on that line, above 18th place. 0-2AI's prediction: 1-2Listen to the latest Football Daily podcastGet football news sent straight to your phone

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty ImagesPaige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark had a small altercation during the Indiana Fever’s loss to the Dallas Wings on Thursday. Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers are widely considered by many WNBA fans as the two young superstars fighting to become the face of the league.Both have been enjoying excellent seasons with their respective teams, who clashed once again on Thursday. The Dallas Wings secured the win, but it was a tight contest.Emotions always run high in games of this magnitude. And when they boiled over between Bueckers and Clark during the game, it was a moment that made fans take notice.Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty ImagesPaige Bueckers intentionally fouled Caitlin Clark, then told her to ‘calm down’ after she complainedThe score between the Fever and the Wings was practically tied in the final seconds of the first half. Dallas was leading 42-40 with Clark coming down the floor to try and end the half on a good note.During the possession, Bueckers intentionally fouled Caitlin, who took exception to the transgression. As she reacted with visible frustration, the young Wings superstar had some words for Clark.“Calm down,” Paige could be seen saying to the Indiana superstar as she complained to the referees. It was a fairly heated moment, although it didn’t escalate any further.The Wings managed to secure a 91-85 win, a huge result for them as they continue to battle for a playoff spot. The Fever have been on quite the run themselves and are almost certain to make the postseason.If things are this testy between Bueckers and Clark right now, basketball fans will be excited to see a potential playoff series between the two. Even if it doesn’t happen this year, it does seem inevitable.Read more:‘Where the haters at?’ – WNBA fans can’t get enough of Angel Reese dominating in epic 10-0 runAngel Reese makes history with two ‘perfect’ WNBA records in Atlanta Dream winSeattle Times writer offered new job hours after quitting over spiked Sophie Cunningham story

British rapper Yung Filly, whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, leaves the Western Australian District Court in Perth, Australia, on July 27, 2026. (Aaron Bunch/AAP Image via AP)2026-08-21T06:22:53Z PERTH, Australia (AP) — British social media celebrity and rapper Yung Filly will be retried on three charges that allege he raped a fan in Australia following a music performance two years ago.The 30-year-old entertainer, whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, learned on Friday that prosecutors intend to try him for a second time on the charges.Barrientos underwent an eight-day trial for the same alleged attack last month in the District Court of Western Australia state in Perth.A jury found him guilty on two charges that he had assaulted the woman, then aged 20, occasioning bodily harm in a Perth hotel room in September 2024.The jury also found him not guilty of choking her and not guilty of four of seven charges of rape.The jury could not reach majority verdicts of at least 10 out of 12 jurors on the remaining three rape charges. Prosecutor Danielle Clarke told Judge Linda Black that the alleged victim, who cannot be identified, was willing to testify again at a retrial.The Colombian-born entertainer will be sentenced for the assault convictions after his retrial. No date for the trial has been set.Barrientos has been free on bail since he was charged and was allowed to return to Britain for several months. He said nothing to reporters as he left the court on Friday.Barrientos had been touring Australia and had already performed in Sydney and Melbourne before he encountered his victim in Perth. He was arrested several days later in the east coast city of Brisbane, where the tour was to end.Prosecutors alleged the woman initially agreed to have sex but withdrew her consent because she feared for her safety.

AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 18: Quarterback Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns walks onto the field during the Texas Longhorns Football Fan Day on April 18, 2026, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Texas quarterback Arch Manning, a redshirt junior, has been named to this year’s Davey O’Brien Award preseason watch list, according to the Davey O’Brien Foundation’s announcement this week.The honor is given each season to college football’s top quarterback. Following Manning’s notable victorious performance in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl versus Michigan last season (after the Longhorns were robbed of a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff just weeks prior), Manning was named to honor of the O’Brien Award’s Postseason Great 8 list. Several Longhorn legends have won the O’Brien Award over the years, including former Texas running back Earl Campbell in 1977 (back then, the award recognized the top player in southeastern U.S.), former Texas quarterback Vince Young following a BCS Championship-winning season in 2005, and, most recently, former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy following the Longhorns’ most recent national championship appearance, in which Texas fell to Alabama in the 2009 BCS Championship game (McCoy was also a finalist for the O’Brien Award following the 2008 college football season.) Former Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was an award semifinalist in 2024. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS Austin American-Statesman: Key questions, players and predictions as Texas volleyball begins seasonAustin American-Statesman: Safety Jonah Williams impresses during Texas football campHouston Chronicle: Meet the new Longhorn at the UT football complex. It’s a bronze statue.247Sports: The Insider: The 15 players who will have the most influence on the outcome of the Longhorns’ 2026 season247Sports: What Colin Simmons’ endorsement of Will Muschamp says about Texas football’s offseason revolution on defenseInside Texas: Texas Practice Report: Texas cleans it up as Cryer, Bell and Phillips stand outInside Texas: Simmons, Coleman and Littleton reveal the latest from Texas fall campInside Texas: Why Graceson Littleton is the unsung glue guy of the Texas Longhorns defenseInside Texas: Sifting through Steve Sarkisian press conference answers for hidden meaning about the 2026 Texas LonghornsInside Texas: 2026 Texas Longhorns Defensive Identity: Will Muschamp’s aggressive fortress strategyICYMI IN BURNT ORANGE NATION Timetable established for Texas LT Trevor Goosby’s returnTexas WR studs Ryan Wingo, Cam Coleman land on Biletnikoff Award watch listTexas is trying to leave its penalty problem in the pastRECRUITING ROUNDUP 247Sports: 2029 Football Recruiting Rankings: Intel on Midlands prospects from Ryder Flugence to Shaun Phillips247Sports: 2029 Football Recruiting Rankings: Latest buzz, school leaders for nation’s top 10 prospectsInside Texas: Texas Longhorns Recruiting Intel: Horns hosting No. 3 WR commit, elite targets in SeptemberSEC SHOWDOWN Good Bull Hunting: Texas A&M to unveil statue of RC Slocum outside Kyle FieldRock M Nation: Five more questions for fall campAnd The Valley Shook: Pair of LSU receivers named to Biletnikoff Award watch listRed Cup Rebellion: Three former Rebels granted a restraining order to return to college footballRocky Top Talk: Heading into the second scrimmage, Faizon Brandon has all the momentum in Tennessee’s quarterback battleRoll ‘Bama Roll: 2026 Alabama Fall Football Preview: The edge rushersA Sea Of Blue: Jaxon Kohler commits to BYU Cougars after pursuit from Kentucky WildcatsWHAT WE’RE READING SB Nation: The Lakers won the breakup with LeBron James, and they will be better than the SixersSB Nation: Patriots defense rises to Mike Vrabel challenge in second Eagles joint practiceSB Nation: This robot runner slammed straight into a wall, and I can’t stop laughingNEWS ACROSS LONGHORN NATION AND BEYOND Big reps energy. every great season starts below the surface 🤘#HookEm | @groundworkspic.twitter.com/yKLLULcBLD— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) August 20, 2026