The New England Patriots received wide receiver A.J. Brown in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. The trade ended months of speculation and one of the biggest offseason storylines in the NFL. The Patriots gave up ample compensation for the wide receiver, as a new era starts in New England.The Patriots sent the Eagles a 2028 first-round draft pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick in exchange for Brown. The Eagles will get the better of the Patriots' fifth-round picks in the deal.This compensation gives New England a top-tier wide receiver and a true No. 1 weapon for quarterback Drake Maye. Brown is a game-changer on the field who should make waves playing across from Patriots newcomer Romeo Doubs.The Patriots' offense looks remarkably different with Brown and Doubs as the top receivers. That goes without mentioning the team drafting a young tight end, bolstering the fullback position, and dramatically improving the offensive line. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: A.J. Brown trade details revealed for Patriots, Eagles

Liverpool stunned as Galatasaray make Van Dijk top transfer targetLiverpool will part ways with some of their biggest stars once their contracts officially expire at the end of June. Mohamed Salah reached an agreement to rip up his £400k per week deal one year early.Andy Robertson meanwhile was not offered new terms and is expected to now join Tottenham on a Bosman.Ibrahima Konate is now confirmed to be leaving Liverpool once his deal expires with Richard Hughes failing to come to terms with the Frenchman over a new deal.The outgoing Premier League champions will be heading into the 2026/27 season with a new coach too following the dismissal of title-winner Arne Slot.Maintaining some continuity will be vital in the upcoming months and that’s why the news that Alisson Becker is set to stay should be welcomed.Van Dijk attracting interest from GalatasarayBut there is another problem on the horizon in the shape of Galatasaray’s pursuit ofVirgil van Dijk.The Reds’ skipper turns 35 this summer and only has one year left on his deal. But his importance cannot be understated - becoming the oldest outfield player to complete every minute of a Premier League season.With Liverpool seemingly intent on reducing the contract burden they may see fit to rid themselves of Van Dijk’s £400k per week salary.And while he is still under contract there may even be the possibility of securing a half-decent transfer fee for the Netherlands’ captain.Would Liverpool be tempted to remove Van Dijk's wages?"If the circumstances are right, they want Virgil van Dijk. He is the top target," Turkish insider Yagız Sabuncuoglu is reported by Voetbal Primeur as having said on his YouTube channel.Van Dijk may be tempted by a longer contract on offer in Istanbul - beyond the one year he currently has on his Liverpool deal.The centre-back legend joined the Reds back in 2018 for £75m from Southampton and has had a transformative effect on the club since then.He has won all there is to win in the club game - including two Premier League titles as well as the Champions League. Van Dijk has also established himself as one of the best defenders of all time though his stint on Merseyside.He still has plenty to offer but Liverpool might well consider moving on from Van Dijk considering the number of promising young centre-backs they have signed of late.

A nurse gives painkillers to patient Amna Adam Hessen, whose baby was delivered stillborn the previous day, at the Birao District Hospital in the Central African Republic, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Caitlin Kelly)2026-06-02T05:03:10Z BIRAO, Central African Republic (AP) — The agony began for Maude Ahmad Fadala shortly after sunset.Her baby was coming. She was in a refugee camp, weakened by typhoid. There were no camp facilities for what was about to happen, and she had no money to travel. She struggled to her feet and started walking.She stopped every few minutes, gripped by pain from contractions, then could go no farther.“I gave birth in the street,” she said. “There was no doctor, no midwife, and no one holding my hand.”___This is part of a series on maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, which has the world’s fastest-growing population and the majority of mothers dying from pregnancy-related causes: 70%, or around 182,000 deaths every year.___Nearly two-thirds of maternal deaths worldwide occur in countries affected by conflict or “fragility,” the World Health Organization said this year. For women like Fadala, fleeing Sudan’s war to countries like Central African Republic, the danger doesn’t stop at the border. A woman holds her baby outside the registration center for new refugees on the outskirts of the Korsi Refugee Camp in Birao, Central African Republic, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Caitlin Kelly) A woman holds her baby outside the registration center for new refugees on the outskirts of the Korsi Refugee Camp in Birao, Central African Republic, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Caitlin Kelly) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Displacement can mean missed prenatal appointments, dangerous journeys and weakened health systems, often in remote settings.Women in Central African Republic are 40 times more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth than in the United States, the United Nations has said. For every 100,000 births in the country, one of the world’s poorest, 829 women die. ‘Risk of maternal death is going to increase’Years of internal conflict have made Central African Republic and its health system fragile. Despite its vast reserves of gold, health services are scarce outside major cities. One in three people live on less than $2 a day.The government, aware of its maternal mortality problem, announced a plan in 2024 to increase spending for resources such as skilled birth attendants. Officials did not respond to questions about how it’s working. A nurse gives painkillers to patient Amna Adam Hessen, whose baby was delivered stillborn the previous day, at the Birao District Hospital in the Central African Republic, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Caitlin Kelly) A nurse gives painkillers to patient Amna Adam Hessen, whose baby was delivered stillborn the previous day, at the Birao District Hospital in the Central African Republic, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Caitlin Kelly) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A woman has her first pre-natal consultation with nurse Delphine Zanabe at the Birao District Hospital in Central African Republic, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Caitlin Kelly) A woman has her first pre-natal consultation with nurse Delphine Zanabe at the Birao District Hospital in Central African Republic, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Caitlin Kelly) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Now, sweeping cuts in humanitarian aid funding by top donor the United States and other countries have made it even harder for women to find care. Read More In the remote town of Birao near the Sudan border, where Fadala shelters, four local midwives who had been supported by the U.N. Population Fund lost their jobs last year as the Trump administration cut every U.S. funding agreement with the U.N. sexual and reproductive health agency. Opposite Fadala’s tent is a former UNFPA-funded “safe space” providing transport for pregnant women to the district hospital. It was one of four such spaces in Birao serving nearly 50,000 women. Those have closed without U.S. funding, along with two U.S.-backed health facilities.Now, “some women run the risk of dying in pregnancy situations that are not medically managed,” said UNFPA program officer Marie Justine Mamba Ibingui. UNFPA’s budget in Central African Republic has been halved in the past two years to $6.5 million, country director Victor Rakoto said. UNFPA was the only provider of reproductive health products in Birao.“The risk of maternal death is going to increase if there is no solution,” Rakoto said.Conflict-affected settings like Birao account for six in 10 maternal deaths globally, according to the U.N. ‘Giving birth here is exhausting’The district hospital, which Fadala had tried to reach, is a few kilometers (over a mile) away over dirt roads.On a recent day, birthing assistant Delphine Zanabe moved between patients as dozens of women waited, sitting thigh-to-thigh on hard benches in the sweltering heat. Some had walked for hours to reach the hospital. Others had risked their pregnancy with motorbike journeys over rough ground. A pharmacist hands pregnant women painkillers from boxes at the pharmacy of the Birao District Hospital in the Central African Republic, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Caitlin Kelly) A pharmacist hands pregnant women painkillers from boxes at the pharmacy of the Birao District Hospital in the Central African Republic, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Caitlin Kelly) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More From the border, adjoining a part of Sudan held by paramilitary forces fighting the Sudanese military, it’s a 65-kilometer (40-mile) journey to the refugee camp.“They only come when they are about to give birth,” Zanabe said. “It’s a struggle and it’s either the baby or the mother who suffers.” According to WHO guidelines, pregnant women should attend at least eight prenatal consultations.For refugees, living in survival mode in unfamiliar surroundings compounds the challenges of poverty and lack of education. Zanabe said those factors often put women at risk for pregnancy and childbirth complications. In the maternity ward, eight beds were in a room so small they almost touched. They serve a population of about 70,000 people, along with 22,000 Sudanese refugees.Doctors said 12 staffers have lost their jobs as a result of aid cuts. The majority were from the maternity department.Amna Adam Hessen had arrived the day before, burning with fever from malaria. Her unborn child was found to be in a breech position, a discovery made late because she had missed prenatal appointments. Brought by motorbike from the refugee camp, she bled heavily during labor and lost her baby.The next day, her mother, Salet, fanned her in the suffocating heat.“Giving birth here is exhausting,” she said, describing the long and difficult night.Amna writhed with fever on the bare foam mattress and cried out, “Mama, mama.”Zanabe is worried about future cuts in humanitarian assistance affecting mothers.Over 40% of births in Central African Republic already occur away from medical facilities, the United Nations has estimated — a traditional approach that risks otherwise preventable complications. UN peacekeepers stand guard of a UN flight refuelling on the tarmac of the Birao Airport in Central African Republic, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Caitlin Kelly) UN peacekeepers stand guard of a UN flight refuelling on the tarmac of the Birao Airport in Central African Republic, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Caitlin Kelly) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More ‘I abandoned them like that’Clara Abessendé was one of the four midwives who lost their jobs.She had watched as the number of women arriving daily at the hospital tripled after Sudan’s war began in early 2023, and as staffers ran out of supplies like antibiotics and malaria treatments.“As a result, there were more cases of infant and maternal deaths,” she said. Abessendé said she feels heavy with the guilt of having to leave her job.“The children born in my hands ...I abandoned them like that,” she said.Katidje Idrisse Tahire is one of the women she’s no longer there to help.Tahire walked slowly through the refugee camp to fetch water, one child on her back and two others at her side. She was late in her ninth month, preparing to have another.She said she fled Sudan four months ago on foot. At the border, armed men robbed her of everything. Her husband hasn’t been seen since they fled Darfur.“My whole body aches,” she said. “I am very tired and unwell.”She has no money and doesn’t know if care will be available when her baby comes.___For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulseThe 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.

New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference)San Antonio; Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. EDTLINE: Spurs -4.5; over/under is 218.5NBA FINALS: Spurs host first series matchupBOTTOM LINE: The San Antonio Spurs host the New York Knicks to open the NBA Finals. San Antonio and New York tied the regular season series 1-1. The Knicks won the last regular season meeting 114-89 on Sunday, March 1 led by 25 points from Mikal Bridges, while Victor Wembanyama scored 25 points for the Spurs.The Spurs have gone 32-8 in home games. San Antonio is 8-5 in games decided by less than 4 points.The Knicks are 23-19 on the road. New York is seventh in the league with 45.6 rebounds per game. Karl-Anthony Towns paces the Knicks with 11.9.The Spurs make 48.3% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.3 percentage points higher than the Knicks have allowed to their opponents (46.0%). The Knicks are shooting 47.8% from the field, 2.7% higher than the 45.1% the Spurs' opponents have shot this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Wembanyama is averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks for the Spurs. Stephon Castle is averaging 19.5 points over the last 10 games.Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson is averaging 27.4 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 51.8% over the past 10 games.LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 6-4, averaging 116.3 points, 47.9 rebounds, 25.0 assists, 8.9 steals and 6.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.3 points per game.Knicks: 10-0, averaging 123.8 points, 45.0 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 9.5 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 53.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 99.2 points.INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).Knicks: Mitchell Robinson: day to day (finger).___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The Los Angeles Lakers are about to begin what could turn out to be a very consequential offseason. They're projected to have tens of millions of dollars of salary cap space, as well as two future first-round draft picks to offer in a trade, and those resources could allow them to start to truly build a championship-caliber team around Luka Doncic.Los Angeles will also have the No. 25 pick in this year's draft. They have been starting to work out prospects in this year's draft class, including Zuby Ejiofor, a power forward from St. John's University.Ejiofor spent four years in the NCAA, and he transferred to St. John's University after spending his freshman year at the University of Kansas. During his first two years of college basketball, he didn't play much, but he blossomed as a junior. Over the last two years, he averaged 15.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, one steal and 1.8 blocks a game while shooting 55.5% from the field.The 6-foot-8, 245-pound frontcourt player is known as a strong and energetic defender, and he's coming off a season in which he won both the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and Big East Player of the Year awards. His reported 7-foot-1 wingspan will help him at the next level, and he has the potential to become a switchable defender in the NBA.Ejiofor isn't a true scoring threat, but he could become a bit of a supplementary scorer. However, he shot just 27.7% from 3-point range during his time in the NCAA, and most of his scoring comes in the paint. He can run the floor well and finish in transition, and he can finish well in the paint in halfcourt settings when set up by teammates.The 22-year-old has solid athleticism, and there is some thinking that he could become an adequate outside shooter if he puts in the work. He has improved as a passer, to the point where he went from 1.6 assists a game last season to 3.5 assists a game this season, so he could also have the potential to be a connective passer.Ejiofor is projected to be a second-round draft pick, although there is a chance he goes undrafted.This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: 2026 Lakers draft prospects: Zuby Ejiofor

📺 Tuesday: international friendlies and Copa do Nordeste finalFRIENDLY1:00 PM - Croatia vs. Belgium - ESPN 4 and Disney+2:00 PM - Georgia vs. Romania - Disney+3:45 PM - Wales vs. Ghana - SporTV and YT (GE TV)9:00 PM - Haiti vs. New Zealand - SporTVBRASILEIRÃO U-176:00 PM - Flamengo vs. Fluminense - SporTVCOPA DO NORDESTE9:00 PM - Fortaleza vs. Vitória - SBT (AL, BA, CE, MA, PI, RN, PE and PB), SportyNet and YouTube (SportyNet and Canal do Benja)This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

It's no secret that there's beef between wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and his team, the San Francisco 49ers. It's been said that Aiyuk has taken his last snap with the Niners, and Aiyuk has made it clear that he doesn't want to return to the team.One of the places he's been said to land is with the Washington Commanders. He already has a relationship with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels from their time together at Arizona State, and Aiyuk has hinted that Washington is one of the places he'd be willing to go.Now, though, it appears as if Aiyuk will only end up in one place. A recent look at his Instagram profile shows that Aiyuk follows exactly three accounts on Instagram:Brandon Aiyuk follows 3 accounts on IG:-His wife-Jayden Daniels-The Commanders pic.twitter.com/9lIhYnrkn4— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) June 1, 2026Most husbands follow their wives on social media, so that's unsurprising. Actually, it's almost expected. That he follows Daniels and the Commanders both isn't all that surprising either. What's surprising is that he doesn't follow anyone else.Aiyuk is making a statement. The 49ers are still hopeful they can trade him, but no team in the league will absorb his current contract. Especially since it's been made very clear that Aiyuk will not be a member of the 49ers when the season starts.Unfortunately for Aiyuk, he is at the mercy of the 49ers. Until they release or trade him, he's sidelined and waiting in limbo. Once that happens, though, expect a flurry of activity, likely from the Commanders, as teams look to add the veteran to their roster.This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders 1 of 3 accounts Brandon Aiyuk follows on IG

May 31, 2026; Paris, France; Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine reacts during her match against Iga Swiatek of Poland on day eight at Stade Roland Garros. © Susan Mullane-Imagn ImagesCompatriots Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk will battle it out in the quarterfinals of the French Open on Tuesday. Both players are in sublime form at the moment, with Kostyuk triumphing in Madrid and Svitolina lifting the WTA 1000 title in Rome. The 15th seed also claimed the big scalp of Iga Świątek in the last round, while Svitolina saw off Belinda Bencic to make the last 8.Elina Svitolina vs Marta Kostyuk Match DetailsDate: June 2, 2026Tournament: French Open 2026Round: QuarterfinalsVenue: Roland Garros Stadium, Paris, FranceSurface: Outdoor ClayCategory: Grand SlamLive Telecast: HBO Max, TNT, TSNSvitolina vs Kostyuk Head-to-Head RecordSvitolina and Kostyuk have met twice on the WTA Tour, with their head-to-head record evenly split at 1-1. The former came out on top in their first meeting at the 2026 Australian Open, while the latter emerged victorious in three sets at the 2024 Canadian Open.Both players are in excellent form at the moment, with Kostyuk currently on a 15-match winning streak. She hasn’t lost a match on clay this year, winning titles in Madrid and Rouen.Kostyuk defeated four-time French Open champion Świątek in straight sets in the last round and will enter this match full of confidence. She has been dominant on her serve so far at Roland Garros, while also creating break-point opportunities at will.Svitolina has been one of the most consistent players this year and holds a 32-7 win-loss record for 2026 going into this match. The world No. 7 won the Italian Open on the back of impressive wins over Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Świątek.The 31-year-old came from behind to defeat Bencic in the last round. She has largely been in control during her Roland Garros campaign, with longtime nemesis Anna Bondár providing her with her toughest assignment so far.Svitolina vs Kostyuk Prediction and PickThis quarterfinal looks evenly poised, with not much to separate these two players at the moment. Svitolina has more experience at the highest level and is looking to reach her fifth Grand Slam semifinal.Kostyuk, on the other hand, will be eyeing her first-ever semifinal appearance at a Major. She will look to ride the momentum of her impressive unbeaten run and dictate proceedings with her aggressive approach against her defensively strong opponent.Svitolina is one of the best counter-punchers on the WTA Tour and is playing some of the best tennis of her career at the moment. She defeated three of the top 4 players in the WTA Rankings in Rome and has followed that up with a strong start at Roland Garros.MORE: ‘Not in Therapy Session’ – Iga Świątek Spells Out Difficulty in Handling Stress After French Open UpsetThis match could well go the distance, with fine margins set to decide which player prevails. We believe that Svitolina’s experience at the big stage will help her secure the win and end Kostyuk’s incredible winning run.Pick – Svitolina in three sets.

TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: Seven years ago, around the same time of the year, Nadeem Dar was playing a club game in Chandigarh, where he was studying at the time. He received a call from Rasikh Salam Dar, his cousin and the one he had trained since the age of eight."It was the darkest day of my life. I remember him saying, 'Sab khatam ho gaya bhai jaan (It is all over now).' Before I could even ask what exactly had happened, he broke down," Nadeem told TimesofIndia.com.Rasikh was banned for two years in 2019 following a discrepancy involving the submission of a faulty birth certificate to the BCCI. The ban put him out of contention for the 2020 Under-19 World Cup and effectively closed the door on a comeback in Jammu and Kashmir cricket as well. After facing three rejections in Under-19 trials, Rasikh was picked ahead of the 2018 season when Irfan Pathan joined Jammu and Kashmir as a mentor."In six months, he went on to play U-19, U-23, Ranji Trophy and in the IPL. Then one day we got to know about the ban," he said."It was not even his fault. I don't want to talk about it because this is a very happy moment. He has played an extremely important role in helping RCB win the title. We remember it as a bad dream," Nadeem added.Growing up in Ashmuji, a picturesuqe village located in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, it was Nadeem who introduced Rasikh to cricket.— RCBTweets (@RCBTweets) The journey started with a tennis ball and this is where Rasikh learnt all his variations. But at 13, Nadeem took him to a local club, where he bowled with a leather ball for the first time. Within a few weeks, he had made a name for himself with his swing bowling."There are a few turf wickets in Kashmir nowadays and they were a rarity a few years ago. So in tennis-ball cricket, you just need a cement wicket and even if the outfield is wet and soggy, it doesn't matter. The back-of-the-hand slower one that everyone is praising now, he learnt it at the age of 14. His slower ones are very difficult to pick. They were difficult to pick even back then. In the last couple of seasons with Bhuvneshwar (Kumar), he has added the knuckleball to his armoury as well. He is a quick learner, without any doubt," Nadeem said about his brother.— RCBTweets (@RCBTweets) After completing his two-year ban and moving base to Mumbai, Rasikh suffered a lower-back stress injury, which kept him out for even longer."For four years, he didn't play any competitive cricket. First the ban, then the injury, but he never lost hope. Never said that he wanted to quit. Giving up is just not in his blood," Mir Murtaza, Rasikh's childhood friend, told this website in Dharamsala ahead of Qualifier 1."He is very introverted. From the outside, everyone thinks he is a soft-spoken guy, but he is very tough inside. We grew up together, played all our cricket together and even when he was facing rejections in his early days, he never backed down. Mentally, he is very tough. We would often pull his leg for not being active on social media like other cricketers or for living a simple, ordinary life, and he would just say one thing: 'All these things can wait. I want to play for India, which is the ultimate dream,'" Murtaza shared.When RCB picked Rasikh for Rs 6 crore ahead of IPL 2025, a few eyebrows were raised. He had played only two games and had a solitary wicket to his name."My only aim was to improve. I continued to work with Omkar Salvi sir. I watched Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar and tried to pick their brains as much as I could. I kept bowling because that's the only thing I know and, by God's grace, I got the desired results," Rasikh told TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad.Dar finished with 19 wickets at an economy rate of 9.45. In the final against Gujarat Titans, he was RCB's most successful bowler, finishing with figures of 3 for 27."They (Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood) made my job easy. Throughout the tournament, they gave us the perfect start and it made my job easier. All credit to them. I was just lucky to share the dressing room with them. I have learnt so much and I can't wait to come back next year," said Dar, oozing confidence.But captain Rajat Patidar showered praise on the 26-year-old for his contributions throughout the season."The way Rasikh has come in and performed for the team, giving those breakthroughs, is important because you cannot win competitions or matches with just one or two bowlers," Patidar told reporters on the eve of the final.After the final, Patidar again lavished praise on Dar."He is very confident about his skills, his slower ones, back-of-the-hand deliveries and especially his yorkers. I think he supported Bhuvi and Hazlewood well. Again, it's clear that whenever I see him, he has clarity about his role and what he has to do. I always tell my bowlers that if you have something, if you have a plan, go and execute it."For Rasikh, the goal is simply to continue the process, stay fit and keep doing the one thing he absolutely loves, marking his run-up and bowling for hours."When I have the ball in my hands, that is my happiest place. It has been a long season. I can't wait to go home and meet my parents. I want to dedicate this trophy to my father, Abdul Salaam, who always encouraged me to pursue my love for the game. Abbu ne kabhi ye nahi kaha ki kyu waqt barbaad kar rahe ho (My father never told me that I was wasting my time playing cricket). Like a pillar, he stood by me through thick and thin," said an emotional Rasikh.India are set to play around 45 T20Is over the next two years and what the future holds for Rasikh remains unknown. But with his wicket-taking ability in the middle overs, he has certainly knocked on the doors of the national team. If he stays fit and continues doing what he loves, the blue jersey may not be far away for 'Ashmuji's sher' (lion), a moniker he has earned from his peers.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah: Former United man reveals feelings on Bruno FernandesCarrington youth product Timothy Fosu-Mensah has shared his thoughts on Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.United careerFosu-Mensah began his youth career with Dutch side Ajax before joining Manchester United in 2014.He made his debut in 2016 under Louis van Gaal and played a total of 30 games for the Red Devils.The versatile defender had loan spells at Crystal Palace and Fulham before leaving the club in 2020.He spent four seasons at Bayer Leverkusen, but his time there was plagued by injury, as he only played 30 games for the Bundesliga club.The Netherlands international is now officially without a club, but he gave an interview to Sky Sports recently.Bruno FernandesCommenting on the Portuguese star, Fosu-Mensah claimed people still do not appreciate just how good Bruno Fernandes is.He claimed, “I would say maybe Bruno Fernandes is maybe the same situation as Paul (Pogba) because he’s still active, you don’t really see what he’s doing for the club but later you’ll be like ‘this was ridiculous what he is doing.'”Elaborating further on Fernandes, he said, “he doesn’t fear anything. I remember there was one game. I think we played against Everton away, me and Luke (Shaw) were on the bench and Luke was like, “Bruno, it’s not normal!” and I agree because since he came in the standard was from that moment until now, so high.”Incredible seasonThe Dutchman’s observations have been supported by an incredible season from Fernandes.He broke the Premier League assist record with 21 in a season and also added nine goals to a highly successful campaign.Fernandes will now be focusing on guiding Portugal to a first ever World Cup trophy next month.Timothy Fosu-Mensah career statsonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Welcome to a very special episode of Haway The Podcast, as Jeff Brown joins Martin and Andrew to discuss his new documentary, Finding Roly (which is available on BBC iPlayer!) In today’s podcast, we coverHow the documentary came aboutJust how Roly was tracked downThe process of putting the documentary togetherThe abuse Roly faced from inside and outside of the clubThe path for Roly to eventually find peace with his time at the club.All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss another episode of our free daily show.Want to get in touch with us? You can drop us an email at HawayThePodcastSAFC@Gmail.com, or you can contact us via social media – we’re @RokerReport on almost every platform. For your daily SAFC fan-written content, head over to⁠⁠RokerReport.SBNation.com ⁠⁠𝗛𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 🎙️📺 ‘FINDING ROLY’ DOC 📺Jeff Brown tells us about his new documentary on BBC iPlayer about former Sunderland player Roly Gregoire!APPLE: https://t.co/PYTirpIrmPSPOTIFY: https://t.co/UV0pGWnVnPhttps://t.co/MrScfojZL0 | #SAFC ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/WG2nKDvWSV— Roker Report (@RokerReport) June 2, 2026

Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington announced his retirement from mixed martial arts on May 19, informing the fight promotion of his intentions to focus on wrestling instead. Covington inked a deal with Real American Freestyle and debuted in the wrestling organization in January against former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. He won his debut and picked up a second win in March, defeating Dillon Danis. In his third appearance on the RAF mat on May 30 at RAF 09, Covington picked up another win against former UFC middleweight titleholder Chris Weidman.He's set to headline the RAF 11 event on July 18 against top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan in Milwaukee. While focused on wrestling, "Chaos" hasn't ruled an MMA return in the future. When asked if he believed he's fought his last MMA fight, Covington told The Ariel Helwani Show, "It's 50/50. You know, I don't think I have because I know I have a lot left in the tank. I know there's a lot of good miles still left on the tread."If Covington decides to comeback to MMA at some point, it will only be in the UFC octagon, "I could never go anywhere else. I'm a UFC fighter for life. And I'm thankful to be a UFC fighter. They made me, you know, a very successful man," he said. "I wasn't let go. I'm still a UFC fighter. I'll always be a UFC fighter. If I come back to fight again, it will be in the UFC," continued Covington. "I'm still a UFC fighter. I'm still under contract with the UFC. All still good with the UFC. I'm very grateful for everything they did for me."

After awful title defence, will Liverpool be back challenging for Premier League glory in 2026/27?From basking in the afterglow of Premier League title glory this time last year, Liverpool are now licking their wounds at the end of a brutal season in which they fell over the line for Champions League qualification.A combination of porous defending, a lightweight midfield, a largely ineffective attack, late lapses in concentration and a glut of injuries all undermined the Reds’ 2025/26 campaign, which was played out amid continued grieving at Anfield after the tragic death of Diogo Jota last July and culminated in the sacking of Arne Slot.Despite the myriad issues plaguing the squad, and the improvements seen at several other top-flight clubs in the meantime, Liverpool are third-favourites with many bookmakers to reclaim the Premier League trophy in 2026/27.The UK betting market is experiencing enormous growth. From generating a revenue of US$11.24 in 2024, it’s projected to reach US$21.32m by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 11.4% per annum. Players Time helps online casino players to resolve complaints with fair, independent mediation. Submit your case, track progress, and get support.Can Liverpool challenge for the title next season?Can the Reds bounce back from the nightmare campaign they’ve just endured and become genuine title contenders next season under a new head coach?When Liverpool last finished fifth in 2022/23, they enjoyed a substantial improvement the following year to come third, only dropping off in the final month of Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield.However, at that time they had a legendary figure in the dugout, a prolific Mo Salah in attack, the effervescence of Luis Diaz on the other wing, and the dynamism of Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold in the full-back positions.None of those will be at Anfield next season, with Kopites still waiting to truly see the best of 2025 arrivals Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. The one unqualified success from last summer’s £446m trolley dash in Hugo Ekitike is set to miss the first half of the upcoming campaign due to a horrific injury.Do Liverpool have much cause for optimism?Right now there seems little reason for optimism at Liverpool ahead of 2026/27, certainly not enough to justify them being the bookies’ third-favourites to lift the title and overhaul a 25-point deficit to champions Arsenal.This summer’s transfer window isn’t going to be as wild as last year’s, but with a handful of astute signings in key positions, better luck on the injury front and a new head coach calling the shots, maybe the Reds can repeat the trajectory of three years ago and enjoy a marked improvement on the past nine months.After all, very few people (if anyone) had them down to win the Premier League title in Slot’s first season in charge!

Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)2026-06-02T04:02:50Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to face a litany of questions Tuesday about the Trump administration’s fragile or stalling diplomatic efforts around the world when he appears for back-to-back hearings on Capitol Hill for the first time since the Iran war began.The former Republican senator will sit before House and Senate committees to make the State Department’s annual budget request. But the focus is likely to shift quickly to the already unsteady ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, which has been further tested in recent days by back-and-forth attacks. Cabinet members, including Rubio, have defended President Donald Trump’s decision to launch the conflict despite promises over the years not to engage in “forever wars” in the Middle East. That work has been made more difficult by Trump’s shifting goals for the conflict. While Rubio is testifying before Congress for the first time since the Iran war started on Feb. 28, he took part in a classified briefing for lawmakers days after the first U.S. and Israeli strikes. He faced Democrats’ anger over the lack of congressional approval but strong support from most Republicans for taking action against one of America’s oldest adversaries. In the two months since the war began, however, a small but growing faction of Republicans have joined Democrats in questioning the astronomical price tag and overall economic consequences of the conflict as they head into midterm elections in the fall. Read More Last month, the Senate managed to advance legislation for the first time that would have forced Trump to withdraw from the conflict after GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy — fresh off a primary election loss in which Trump endorsed his opponent — joined Democrats in pushing it forward. The House also had scheduled a vote on a war powers resolution, but GOP leadership kept it from coming to the floor after it became clear that the majority party would not have the numbers to defeat it. The actions show the GOP is struggling to maintain political backing for Trump’s handling of the war as rank-and-file Republicans are increasingly willing to defy the president over the conflict.Following his appearances Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Appropriations subcommittee responsible for the State Department, Rubio will return to the Hill on Wednesday to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee and equivalent Senate Appropriations subcommittee. Rubio — the son of Cuban immigrants — also is likely to be questioned about the administration’s escalatory behavior toward Cuba, as Trump has hinted that the small island country could be the next U.S. target after operations in Iran are wrapped up. Despite a series of meetings between U.S. and Cuban officials, Trump and Rubio have renewed threats against the island’s government, which take on greater weight after the administration announced criminal charges against former President Raúl Castro.Over his congressional career and now as America’s top diplomat, Rubio has maintained that Cuba is a national security threat because of its ties to U.S. adversaries and that Trump is intent on addressing it.___Amiri reported from New York. FARNOUSH AMIRI Amiri covers foreign policy and the United Nations as a correspondent for The Associated Press, based in New York. twitter mailto

Rioters storm the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)2026-06-02T04:08:00Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans will meet Tuesday to discuss next steps after the Justice Department said it would comply with a court order pausing the implementation of a $1.776 billion settlement fund designed to compensate President Donald Trump’s political allies.GOP senators who revolted against the settlement before leaving for a Memorial Day recess two weeks ago say they want more information from the administration about the future of the fund, which could potentially go to Trump supporters who beat police and attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Meanwhile, Trump is reconsidering whether to move forward with it at all, according to a person familiar with his thinking. Caught in the middle is legislation that would fund Trump’s immigration enforcement agencies for three years. Republicans abruptly left town without passing it after Democrats said they would offer amendments to scrap or scale back the judgment fund, forcing Republicans to go on the record for or against it and endangering the money for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. Returning to Washington on Monday evening, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he wasn’t sure if the immigration spending bill would move this week. “To be determined,” he told reporters. The extraordinary standoff comes after Trump announced the fund with no heads up to lawmakers as part of a settlement to resolve his lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. When word of the settlement broke, the Senate was navigating tricky passage of the immigration legislation with an added $1 billion in White House security costs — including for Trump’s ballroom project. Read More Furious, Senate Republicans jettisoned the White House security money from the bill and made clear they would not pass the legislation at all unless the White House made major changes to the settlement. “I do think the best way to handle it is if the administration decides to shut it down themselves,” Thune told reporters Monday, referring to the fund. He said Republicans will have a better idea of how to proceed after they meet for their weekly conference lunch on Tuesday. Senators say they need more ‘explicit’ commitment The Justice Department said it would comply with a ruling Friday from U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, who temporarily halted the fund for two weeks. The judge scheduled a June 12 hearing for arguments on whether to extend her order.The department said in a statement that it strongly disagrees with the ruling but would comply.Republican senators weren’t satisfied. They said Monday evening that they need more detail from the administration on what happens after that deadline before deciding next steps.“It’s pretty clear that the president has to say very explicitly that there’s not going to be a weaponization fund,” said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.Oklahoma Sen. Jim Lankford said Trump administration officials “need to say what they actually mean.”“They need to say, we’re setting this whole thing aside,” Lankford said. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said that if the settlement is “completely pulled, then I’m satisfied. But I haven’t heard anybody say that.”Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said the administration already has to abide by the court decision, “that’s in the Constitution. I have to know more about their position.”“Right now, the reconciliation bill looks like a broken arm with the bones sticking out,” Kennedy said. “It won’t move this week, in my opinion, unless we have some resolution on the weaponization account.” Senators issue ultimatum to Justice Department The outrage of the fund came to a head last month at a closed-door meeting between senators and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas described on a recent episode of his podcast as “one of the roughest meetings I’ve seen in my entire time in the Senate.”GOP senators had been discussing several ways that they could curb the fund, including limiting who can receive payouts, changing the makeup of the commission in charge of settlement decisions, adding some sort of judicial review for applicants or scrapping the fund altogether. Amid the backlash, a person familiar with the matter, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the president’s thinking, said Monday that Trump was reconsidering whether to move forward with the fund. But the president has not said publicly what he intends to do. Also complicating matters is Trump’s campaign-year push to defeat GOP lawmakers whom he sees as disloyal, including some of Thune’s most reliable Republican votes in the narrow 53-47 Senate. Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and John Cornyn of Texas both lost reelection bids in May after Trump endorsed their primary opponents, and it’s unclear how supportive they’ll be of the president’s agenda going forward. “I think it’s hard to divorce anything that happens here from what’s happening in the political atmosphere around us,” Thune said before the Senate left town. ___Associated Press writers Joey Cappelletti and Eric Tucker contributed to this report. SEUNG MIN KIM Kim covers the White House for The Associated Press. She joined the AP in 2022 and is based in Washington. Kim is also a political analyst for CNN. twitter mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra shakes hands with supporters during a campaign event in West Hollywood, Calif., Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)2026-06-02T04:01:07Z WASHINGTON (AP) — For a state that’s home to Hollywood, there isn’t much star power in California’s governor race. It’s a somewhat different story in Los Angeles, where a reality television personality is running for mayor as the city prepares to host the Olympics. More primaries are being held on Tuesday as well. Democrats are banking on a rare chance to regain ground in Iowa, a rural state that has repeatedly eluded them in recent years. Republicans, meanwhile, are grappling with a New Jersey congressman whose unexplained absence could put their already slim majority at risk. Here are some things to watch as voters in California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota cast ballots. California’s low-wattage race for governorRonald Reagan. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Jerry Brown. Gavin Newsom.The governor’s office in California typically attracts some of the highest-wattage names in politics, but not this year. Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Alex Padilla took a pass on the race. And with Newsom barred from seeking a third term, the campaign to succeed him turned into a sprawling, often messy contest.In the final stretch, much of the attention has focused on Democrats Xavier Becerra, the former congressman and state attorney general who was also health secretary under President Joe Biden, and Tom Steyer, a billionaire known for his climate activism. Republican Steve Hilton is campaigning with President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Under California’s primary system, all candidates appear on a single ballot and the top two finishers advance to the November general election, regardless of party. The absence of a front-runner incentivized virtually anyone with political ambition and a modicum of organization to join the race, leaving Democrats worried that their candidates would divide the vote and ultimately be shut out of the fall campaign. But those fears have eased in the primary’s closing weeks, with the party now expecting to secure at least one slot on the November ballot.The results could offer insight about how voters are feeling in a state where Democrats have dominated statewide elections for two decades. Read More Los Angeles mayor seeks to fend off reality star challenger In a city still recovering from the most destructive wildfire in its history, Mayor Karen Bass is in a tough fight for reelection. The mayor, who is a frequent target of Trump’s criticism, was in Ghana as part of a presidential delegation when the blaze began. She has acknowledged mistakes but has centered her campaign around a message of recovery and progress. Bass is facing a spirited challenge from reality television personality Spencer Pratt, who has blamed Bass for presiding over destruction that claimed his own home. Pratt, who rose to fame on “The Hills,” has shared videos created by artificial intelligence that show him taking on a superhero persona to battle street criminals and Democratic politicians. The race is officially nonpartisan, but Bass is a Democrat, as is progressive city council member Nithya Raman, who made a last-minute decision to challenge her one-time ally. Pratt is a registered Republican who has received a nod of approval — if not an outright endorsement — from Trump. Unless a candidate receives a majority of the vote in the primary, the top two will advance to a general election in November.Los Angeles hasn’t elected a Republican mayor since Richard Riordan won his second term in 1997, and the results will be closely watched for signs of dissatisfaction with liberal urban governance. The winner will emerge as a national and global figure as the city prepares to host the Olympics in 2028.Democrats look to Iowa to rebuild in the heartlandIowa wasn’t always a Republican stronghold.Before Trump reshaped American politics, this was the state the lifted the political career of Barack Obama and sent Tom Harkin to the Senate for five terms. The party is particularly excited about Rob Sand, who is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination for governor. A native of Decorah, Iowa, he has the rural roots that have become rare among Democrats. Perhaps most importantly, he’s a proven winner in a Republican-leaning state, having been elected twice as auditor. Republicans head into the primary with five candidates. Trump jumped in last week to endorse Rep. Randy Feenstra.This is the first open contest for the governor’s seat since 2006. Democrats are hoping that a combination of the economic fallout from Trump’s tariff policies, rising gas prices stemming from the Iran war and the lack of a Republican incumbent could give them their best opportunity in years. Sand also has a fundraising advantage over the Republicans, including Feenstra. State Rep. Josh Turek and state Sen. Zach Wahls are competing in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by incumbent Republican Joni Ernst. The race has divided in part along questions of who should lead the party in Washington, with Wahls openly criticizing Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. Republicans have largely coalesced behind U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson as their candidate for the Senate seat. An unexplained absence puts crucial GOP seat at risk In the final frenzied days before an election, voters can sometimes grow tired of hearing from candidates so much. But in New Jersey’s 7th congressional district, they’re not hearing from one candidate at all.Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is running unopposed in Tuesday’s primary. But he’s facing growing scrutiny for an unexplained medical absence that has stretched for three months, causing him to miss more than 100 votes in Congress. That’s not an ideal statistic for any lawmaker, but it’s especially problematic for someone running in one of the few genuinely competitive congressional districts. While gerrymandering has yielded most U.S. House seats reliably Democratic or Republican, Kean’s district has flipped between the parties in each of the last two midterm elections. Republican Leonard Lance lost to Democrat Tom Malinowski in 2018. Malinowski lost to Kean in 2022. As they cling to a narrow majority in the House, Republicans can’t afford to lose a district like Kean’s. Several Democrats vying to take on Kean in the fall have made his absence — and the lack of clarity surrounding it — a central part of their message. New Jersey was one of the first places that voter pushback to Trump became apparent last year when Democrat Mikie Sherrill won the governor’s race by more than 14 percentage points. The turnout in the 7th district on Tuesday could provide clues about whether that Democratic enthusiasm remains in place. Democrats pin their hopes on independent candidates in some statesDemocrats are hopeful they can mount a serious challenge against Republican Senate candidates in deep-red South Dakota and Montana this fall. But their best hope may not be the Democrats featured on Tuesday’s primary ballot.Both states feature higher-profile independent candidates, who, because they’re not running to represent a political party, do not have to compete in primary elections.In Montana, there are five Democrats competing for the party’s Senate nomination. But independent Seth Bodnar, the former University of Montana president, has raised more money than all of them combined. He’s even significantly out-raised Trump-backed Republican candidate Kurt Alme.In South Dakota, three-term incumbent Republican Mike Rounds is expected to cruise to his party’s nomination on Tuesday. He’ll face Democrat Julian Beaudion, a former highway patrol trooper and small business owner, on the November ballot. But it’s a former Democrat now running as an independent, Brian Bengs, a military veteran, who may be the tougher challenger. STEVEN SLOAN Sloan is the Washington correspondent at The Associated Press. He managed the AP’s coverage of the 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns. twitter

Ammar Campa-Najjar, right, a Democratic candidate for California's 48th Congressional District, speaks with a family as he canvasses in a neighborhood Saturday, May 23, 2026, in San Marcos, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)2026-06-02T04:03:53Z California Democrats persuaded voters to let them redraw the state’s congressional map so the party could potentially gain five seats in the U.S. House to counter GOP redistricting in Texas. Tuesday’s primary will be the first indication of whether that will pay off. The state’s unusual primary system, in which the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party, means Democrats have a chance of effectively missing out on a pickup in the San Diego suburbs, where Republican Rep. Darrell Issa’s district was redrawn to give it a slight Democratic lean.Issa retired, and a Republican San Diego County supervisor, Jim Desmond, stepped in to run. So did an avalanche of nine Democrats — so many that some fear the Democratic vote will be split among them, leaving Desmond and the only other GOP candidate, Jim O’Neil, as the top vote-getters. Under that scenario, Democrats would be locked out of the November general election. “After millions of dollars and a nationwide effort to redraw these districts in response to Texas, Democrats being shut out would be a nightmare,” said Ammar Campa-Najjar, a former Obama administration official who is one of the Democrats running. California has been the bright spot for Democrats in a redistricting war kicked off by President Donald Trump to help his party retain control of the House. After Texas redrew its map to make as many as five more seats winnable for the GOP, California voters allowed Democrats to suspend their state’s own independent redistricting commission and create a new map in retaliation. Read More But when Virginia Democrats tried to replicate that, they were blocked by their state Supreme Court. Meanwhile the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court gutted a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, letting Republicans eliminate some majority-Black congressional districts in the South. Campa-Najjar, San Diego City Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert and investor Brandon Riker, who is financing his own campaign, are the most prominent Democrats in the race for the seat vacated by Issa. Many Democrats are optimistic their voters will coalesce around one candidate and set up a competitive election against Desmond in the fall.The 48th district would not be the only competitive fall race for Democrats.In the Central Valley, they redrew the seat held by Republican Rep. David Valadao to make it even more Democratic. Valadao is a survivor of several targeted Democratic campaigns and one of two remaining Republican House members who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.He’s expected to make it to the general election, so the primary will determine which Democrat faces him — state Assemblywoman Jasmeet Bains, a moderate backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, or Randy Villegas, a political science professor at College of the Sequoias and a school board member who represents the party’s liberal wing.The schism between establishment Democrats and a younger, insurgent progressive wing is a defining characteristic of many of this year’s primaries. In a safe Democratic district in San Francisco, Scott Wiener, a state lawmaker and former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, is considered likely to make the November race to replace retiring former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The suspense is over whether he will face Saikat Charkrabati, a wealthy former technology entrepreneur who supported Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez’s insurgent primary in 2018, or Supervisor Connie Chan, who was endorsed by Pelosi.In Sacramento, city council member Mai Vang is challenging 81-year-old Rep. Doris Matsui, who succeeded her late husband after his death in 2005. Rep. Brad Sherman, whose Southern California district stretches from the San Fernando Valley to Malibu, is being challenged by Democrat Jake Levine, a 42-year-old lawyer who argues that it is time to move on from the 15-term congressman.And in a redrawn district that stretches from Napa Valley into conservative Northern California farming communities, 14-term Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson has drawn a younger challenger, former venture capitalist Eric Jones. California’s congressional primaries also will determine the fate of Republicans targeted in the Democratic redraw.In Southern California, sitting Republican Reps. Ken Calvert and Young Kim, were drawn into the same conservative district and are battling over their pro-Trump credentials. In the Sacramento suburbs, Rep. Kevin Kiley, who left the GOP to become an independent and a critic of partisan gerrymandering, hopes to survive in one of the two Democratic-leaning districts where his more conservative district’s voters were scattered.Meanwhile in the San Francisco suburbs, six Democrats and two Republicans are running for the seat formerly held by Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned and ended his gubernatorial bid amid sexual harassment allegations. The top two vote-getters advance to the November ballot to fill the seat starting in 2027, while a special election will be held June 18 for the remainder of Swalwell’s current term.

Chikei Rick Chow, a convenience store owner accused in the 2023 fatal shooting of a Black 14-year-old, appears in court during closing arguments in his murder trial, Monday, June 1, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)2026-06-01T15:49:22Z COLUMBIA, S.C (AP) — A South Carolina jury on Monday found a store owner not guilty of murder in the 2023 shooting of a Black 14-year-old.The jury returned the verdict for Chikei Rick Chow. Chow, 61, who is Asian, shot Cyrus Carmack-Belton in the back after chasing him from his convenience store in Columbia. He maintained he acted to defend his son.The killing sent waves of anguish and grief through the African American community in Richland County, where nearly half the population is Black.After the verdict was read, sobs and cries of distress could be heard coming from Carmack-Belton’s family seated in the gallery. Chow sat silently frozen before slowly bowing his head onto his interlocked hands.Defense lawyer Jack Swerling said they’re very pleased with the verdict but also feel for Carmack-Belton’s family.“My heart goes out to them, but 14-year-old kid should not be roaming the streets of Columbia or South Carolina with semiautomatic pistol loaded and ready to fire,” he said. Todd Rutherford, an attorney and representative in the South Carolina Legislature, stood next to Carmack-Belton’s father as he told reporters that they don’t agree with the verdict. “This makes us feel as if our children don’t matter and they do,” he said. “This makes us feel like Cyrus’ life didn’t matter and it did.”Rutherford announced they will pursue a civil lawsuit.“I’ve been practicing law for almost 30 years. I’ve never seen anything like this. I don’t understand it,” he said. Read More Prosecutors and a defense lawyer in closing arguments painted different pictures of the 2023 shooting. Prosecutors said Chow acted in anger because he wrongly thought the teen had stolen four bottles of water from the store. A defense lawyer said Chow fired to defend his son only after the teen pointed a gun at him.“This case is not about a shoplifter. This case is about a father who sees a gun pointed at his son and had to make a decision,” defense attorney Shaun Kent told jurors during closing arguments, noting that Andy Chow testified Carmack-Belton pointed a gun at him. Prosecutors acknowledged Carmack-Belton had a semiautomatic pistol, but they say it fell on the ground during the chase, and he never threatened anyone with it. Prosecutors said Chow chased the teen more than 130 yards (119 meters) from the store.Gipson told jurors that Chow “chased a kid down, shot him in the back.”During closing arguments, Gipson placed a bottle of water before jurors. Gipson said Chow “at the end of the day, believed that a human is not more than that.”Gipson said multiple witnesses testified that they didn’t see anything in Carmack-Belton’s hands and didn’t see him point a gun as he ran from the store.“Nobody testified that happened that doesn’t have the last name Chow,” Gipson said.The fatal shooting prompted vigils and protests outside the store. Empty water bottles were arranged to spell out “Cyrus” at one 2023 vigil.

NEW DELHI: The Royal Challengers Bengaluru coaching staff huddled in a room with a projector, making plans for what was ahead. With RCB Director of Cricket Mo Bobat taking notes and hovering in the room, Mentor and Batting coach Dinesh Karthik made a bold proclamation -- much to the surprise of Head Coach Andy Flower. As the former Zimbabwe cricketer expressed concerns about Bhuvneshwar Kumar's fitness, DK defiantly told the room: "Bhuvi, just for the record, I'm convinced he's the best bowler India has after (Jasprit) Bumrah even today." The statement stumped Flower but Karthik stuck to his guns and added, "Bhuvneshwar Kumar, he's the best T20 bowler."Two years of association and two titles later, Flower echoes the effusive -- and "spot on" -- praise Karthik bestowed upon Bhuvi. So much so, Flower believes the success in the last two years might not have been possible without the seamer's contributions."Bhuvi has been outstanding for these last two seasons. And it's arguable that we wouldn't have had our success at all over the last two seasons if he hadn't been producing performances under pressure repeatedly that he's done over the last two seasons," said Flower during a virtual interaction after RCB joined Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in winning consecutive IPL trophies.— YashViratstan (@YashViratstan) In the last two IPL seasons, Bhuvi has taken a combined 45 wickets, including 28 wickets this season. It is his best IPL performance, going close to his IPL 2016 (23 wickets) and IPL 2017 (26 wickets) tallies. In the last two seasons, no one has been as lethal as Bhuvi with Prasidh Krishna (41 wickets) coming closest. Among the bowlers who've bowled at least 100 overs, his economy (8.55) is only marginally behind Noor Ahmed (8.27).This season he finished just one short of eventual Purple Cap winner Kagiso Rabada. The 36-year-old was more economical and had a better average than his Gujarat Titans rival and finished with best figures of 4/23 against the Mumbai Indians. The four wickets that day in Raipur were no small names, either: Ryan Rickelton, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma."One of the privileged positions that Mo and I find ourselves in is we watch training very closely. We're very closely involved in every training session, and it's an absolute pleasure and privilege to watch guys like Virat (Kohli) train, for instance, or Tim David's power, or indeed Bhuvi's mastery of his art. And I call it art because that control that he's got out of his fingers, and what he can do with the ball, and the control of the ball and where he wants it to go is really a pleasure to watch," explained Flower when talking about what Bhuvi brings to the table.— RCBTweets (@RCBTweets) "I admire him greatly. He's grown that skill over the years. He's kept himself fit. If you just look at last night as an example, the ball wasn't swinging that much, and he used that surprise whippy bouncer of his to great effect."So he probably has surprised me a little with his level of skill, his calmness under pressure, his competitiveness, and his positive effect on everyone around him. You know, whether that's in a preparation meeting or a debrief or around the training ground."And most certainly out there in the middle where he's influencing people around him, not just with his words, but with his demeanour and with his actions. That's incredibly impressive and has surprised me about how outstanding he is," continued Flower. 131455708On Sunday, RCB beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad following an all-round shower by the bowlers curtailed the Shubman Gill-led side. Virat Kohli steered the chase with an unbeaten 75 runs from 42 balls, including hitting the winning runs.

Tottenham Hotspur's players celebrate on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on May 24, 2026. Tottenham won the game 1-0 and were saved from relegation. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / | AFP via Getty Images good morning hoddlers! It’s the offseason, which means it’s running season. But does running season ever take time off? No! You might remember that your hoddler-in-chief ran his latest marathon on 4 April in 3:02. Three minutes north of the sub-three barrier. I’m not giving up hopes in my chase for a sub-3 and I think it’s doable. It’s just going to require some more work.I’m currently in-between training blocks (assuming I’m running another marathon in the autumn, which I haven’t decided on yet). There are a couple stages to this, but I’ve finished the first one which is the recovery phase.The recovery phase lasted a couple weeks longer than I anticipated due to a weeklong holiday and an illness. But I set a goal: To run another half marathon before June. I didn’t want to race it, I just wanted to run the distance and keep my racing edge.So I woke up at 4.30am on Sunday and ran a half marathon two hours later. Distance: 13.1 milesTime: 1:27.42Average pace: 6:41/miWhile I ran 14 miles the other week, this race was the most intense run I’ve done since marathon day. Thirteen sustained miles at a sub-7 pace, with the first 10 around a 6.35/mile pace. It was only in the final three miles where I learnt that my legs still aren’t fully there.This was actually a pretty frustrating morning, all things considered. Here’s a list:A mass start of runners on a narrow trail as opposed to a staggered start time. AA group of 10K and 5K runners further up ahead who I had to dodge both coming and going (and several of whom wouldn’t move after I called on them to pass).I was in a leading pack with two different runners. They made me lead for the first eight miles of the race so I had to all the heavy lifting. This includes dodging the 5K and 10K runners, navigating rocks and puddles and large cracks, finding the easiest path and spotting two deer crossing the trail. They eventually sped ahead after Mile 8 which, fine, I had no interest in chasing after then. But if they could run that fast they should’ve helped out.A flock of territorial geese.Even though my legs didn’t have it that day, and despite some of the troubles on the trail, I’m really pleased with the day. My time was only 45 seconds slower than my personal best which, considering I wasn’t running at a half marathon effort, I’m very excited about.So what’s next? I’m going to take it easy the next week or so and possibly switch back to running four days a week and lifting twice a week. And then I’m thinking about a short training session to get that half marathon personal best, which might transition to the next full marathon training block. Still lots to be decided.Fitzie’s track of the day: ideations on rain, by Duval TimothyAnd now for your links:The Telegraph: “England land in US as Harry Kane admits: We are expected to win World Cup”BBC: “Southampton owner will not sack head coach Eckert”The Guardian: “Michail Antonio: ‘In football, no one really cares about you as long as you perform’”PA via ESPN: “Kevin Keegan reveals stage four cancer diagnosis”

CARLSBAD, Calif. – When the clock struck 5 o’clock on Monday afternoon at the NCAA Championship, it was absolute chaos.Not only were five teams tied for sixth in the race for the eight, but a potential playoff was brewing to determine the individual national champion. Stanford and Tennessee were in the clubhouse at 2 under, where they were joined by Arizona, North Carolina and UCLA, who were all just trying hang on over the last handful of holes, the Tar Heels on the front side and Wildcats and Bruins on the back.Oklahoma State junior Preston Stout, the world’s third-ranked amateur chasing his fifth win this spring but the biggest title of his career, birdied his final after some late hiccups to finish at 14 under, then had to wait to see what Alabama sophomore William Jennings in the final group of individuals wrapping on the front.Jennings, the former top-ranked high-schooler who last spring shot 92 in a tournament before reviving his game to win three times this season, carded seven birdies on Monday, including one at the par-3 eighth to pull even with Stout. But the threat soon ended, as Jennings couldn’t get up and down for par at the ninth.Watching the coverage on a phone from the driving range, Stout exhaled when he saw Jennings miss his comeback putt to force extras, then wrapped his arms around assistant Donnie Darr. Stout has now won eight times in three years, three of those coming at the Big 12 Championship as Stout just weeks ago became the first player in that conference’s history to three-peat.“Major relief,” said Stout, who led by five shots before bogeys at Nos. 12, 14 and 17 made things interesting. Still, Stout posted the lowest winning score in relation to par in over 25 years at this championship, since former Cowboy Charles Howell III fired an NCAA-record 23 under in 2000.“I feel like it hasn’t hit me yet, honestly,” Stout continued. “It was just such an up-and-down day. I was playing really well there first 11 holes, and then the putter kind of left me there for a little bit, which made it difficult. … I was pretty stressed out there.”While Stout accepted his trophy, the 10th such hardware in program history and first since Matthew Wolff seven years ago, the pressure was still building at Omni La Costa, where the craziest playoff in the match-play era’s 17 years – four teams for two spots – was about to commence.Arizona avoided overtime thanks to 18th-hole birdies by Zach Pollo and Tianyi Xiong. Same for Florida, which shot the round of the day by eight shot (12 under) and jumped a dozen spots the last 36 holes to T-4 alongside Oklahoma State.Stanford and Tennessee each rose six places to get into the playoff while UCLA, the Big Ten champ for the second straight year, held on despite playing the last five holes in 10 over. North Carolina was on the ropes before freshman Carson Bertagnole rolled in a 10-footer for birdie at the ninth to keep the Tar Heels’ season alive.Bertagnole with HUGE clutch birdie on the final hole to give Carolina a chance in a playoff. #GoHeelspic.twitter.com/LzpiBKX7OK— UNC Men's Golf (@UNCmensGolf) June 2, 2026There have been team playoffs before at nationals, including a 4-for-3 showdown outside of Atlanta in 2013, but nothing this intense. The get-in score for extras of 2 under marked the lowest match-play cut ever by four shots.With each team sending players out to Nos. 1, 15, 16, 17 and 18, everyone would have to count in the aggregate format, even North Carolina’s Andrew Riley, whose 15 over through 72 holes beat only four of the 83 players who advanced to Monday.Riley drew the par-3 16th hole, playing 162 yards to a tucked left pin over water. But when he took his swing, his 8-iron stuck heavy into the turf, producing a ball speed of just 91 mph and a tee shot that splashed in the middle of the pond about 50 yards short of the green.Crazy enough, that wasn’t even the worst shot of the evening. That belonged to Tennessee’s Josh Hill, who cold-shanked an iron off the 15th tee, his ball coming out low and right, skipping off a front tee box and into the junk.Both Riley and Hill double-bogeyed their holes while the rest of their teammates carded pars. Each at 2 over for the playoff, North Carolina and Tennessee saw their seasons end in a matter of minutes. UCLA posted 1 over to earn the seventh seed, determined by the low drop score, while Stanford shot even par thanks to the only birdie of overtime, a short make at the par-5 18th by Dean Greyserman.“My knees were shaking,” said Greyserman, the younger brother of PGA Tour player Max Greyserman. “That was a quick putt, right edge, 4 feet, straight downhill. Just got it going, and thankfully, it rolled in.”IN DEAN WE TRUST!#GoStanfordpic.twitter.com/HfyhgNDY8d— Stanford Men's Golf (@StanfordMGolf) June 2, 2026Stanford advanced to match play for the first time since 2019, when the Cardinal won it all, while UCLA is back in the knockout stage for the first time since 2015. Both schools have been riding some serious momentum. The Bruins were under .500 in early March before rattling off two runners-up and a win. The Cardinal dismissed former top recruit TK Chantananuwat before the ACC Championship because of a violation of team rules, then went out and took the stroke-play title at conference before placing second at regionals.“I’m just so overflowing with emotion right now,” UCLA head coach Armen Kirakossian said. “The last three hours have been crazy. We had a huge cushion to make match play and then a colossal collapse coming down the stretch, but I’ll tell you what, I’ll give credit to our guys. You could have been big-time discouraged after that, but they weren’t. They came out and they were fired up and ready.”“It’s been a crazy ride for this last month. … We were not playing great golf and were getting our butts kicked. The guys knew it. It’s on them, and they just got together and figured it out.”THE BRUINS AND CARDINAL ADVANCE ‼️After a playoff, we'll see @uclamensgolf and @StanfordMGolf in the quarterfinals at the NCAA's. pic.twitter.com/3vb0H6zqTJ— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 2, 2026Now, the Bruins will have to figure out Texas. Stanford gets top-ranked Auburn.History hasn’t been kind to teams that get through sudden death, as no schools in the five occasions where there has been a playoff have gone on to win in the quarterfinals. The good news for Stanford and UCLA, though, is every year since 2019, the NCAA team champion did not qualify for match play the year prior; both programs fall into that category, as do Arizona and Vanderbilt, who face each other on Tuesday morning.“Exciting for our guys to sneak in there,” Ray said. “No one has been talking about our team, which makes it really fun to have a shot at the No. 1 seed and play the underdog. Our guys have worked hard all year, and we've had a great spring, and I think they’re ready to go, so we will see what happens.”If Tuesday is half as chaotic as Monday, it’ll be fireworks.

Southampton owner Dragan Solak says he will not sack Tonda Eckert, despite the "mistake" the head coach made when authorising a spying campaign against rival Championship clubs."I think he deserves a second chance and I would give it to him," the Serb businessman told BBC Sport in an exclusive interview."My full support would be behind him actually, because I think he's a super-talented manager."After a short spell as caretaker boss, Eckert was appointed on a permanent basis in December to lead a Southampton side who were involved in a relegation fight. He guided them not only to safety but to the Championship promotion play-offs after a fourth-place finish.However, Saints were expelled from the play-offs after admitting observing opponents' training sessions, and they have been deducted four points for the 2026-27 season.An independent disciplinary commission said that Eckert, the club's 33-year-old German boss, accepted he had orchestrated what it called a "contrived and determined plan from the top down".On Monday, it was revealed that a junior member of staff claimed that Eckert's proposals had placed them "under extreme pressure" to carry out a task they were uncomfortable with and felt was morally wrong.Details emerged after the publication of the written reasons of an arbitration panel appointed to hear Southampton's appeal against their punishment. Eckert was said to be "surprised" to learn that EFL regulations prohibited the practice."I believe Tonda that he didn't know that it was the rule that he was breaking," said Solak, whose media company acquired a majority stake of the club in 2022."My personal opinion, and the opinion of the board, is that he is a manager who deserves to be backed by us and to be supported by us. I will obviously seek advice from the team. I will seek advice from the players, from the fans. But yes, if it's ultimately my decision, he stays."Speaking from Slovenia, Solak added: "In Italy or in Germany, where Tonda was working, this is basically common practice that nobody cares about."However, Solak said he also issued Eckert with a warning. "I told him: 'You almost broke my heart. You do it again, you'll kill me. The next time I see you in July, if you don't know the EFL book of rules by heart, you can't work for me. Because, we can't have another mistake.'"I truly hope that he will learn from this experience and he will achieve an incredible career."What if FA bans Eckert?Tonda Eckert's job at Southampton appears safe for now at least [Getty Images]Southampton admitted to charges of spying on Oxford United and Ipswich Town in the regular season, and then Middlesbrough before the play-off semi-final. The Football Association is investigating the scandal and could yet decide to charge Eckert.When asked what he would do if Eckert was eventually banned by the governing body, Solak said: "I can support him even if he's banned, but I can't make him manage if he's banned. My support comes from a very simple legal situation where there is no double jeopardy."Whatever crime you did, you can be sentenced only once. I think we were 'over-sentenced'. The punishment that the club received was severe and completely disproportionate to the mistake that we made. We lost our chance to win £200m."But if they're going to go again and then double that with [a] ban, we might appeal. But he will have my support through the process. But if he's banned, he's banned. I mean, I can't put somebody to manage the club if he is not allowed."I'm looking at him as a young, extremely talented manager - the guy who took our club when we were 21st in the table and brought us almost to direct promotion. I am amazed that Tonda is willing to come back in this hostile environment after the witch hunt he had in the media."I'm pretty sure if the FA decides to ban him, he will get a triple better-paid job in Italy or Germany."When asked if it was fair to call it just "a mistake" when, under Eckert, Southampton had spied on three rivals, Solak said, "It was three times out of 46 games. If he would do it on an industrial level, he would do it on every game. Right?"'You legend. Manager loved it' - Southampton's Spygate WhatsApps revealedSpygate: Who is Tonda Eckert and can he keep his job?Southampton expelled from play-offs for spying'Diving has more impact on match than spying'In a wide-ranging interview, Solak insisted he had been unaware of the spying plot, revealing he only found out about it when the news broke last month on social media."I actually learned from X. I sent a message: 'What the hell is this?'"Even people I talked to at the highest level of the club didn't have a clue what was going on. They really thought it was a joke."Describing the punishment Southampton received as "ridiculous", Solak tried to downplay the seriousness of the club's cheating."Yes, we tried to obtain an information that was not legally allowed," he said. "OK, what you do with this information and how you use it on the pitch, is a different thing. And what is the direct influence of this information on the pitch?"On the other side, we can see on almost every game, players diving, trying to basically get a penalty or get a red card. That is not fair. And it's very simple to call this cheating because they know what they're doing, it's much, much more direct influence on the game and the result than whatever we did."I'm not saying that what we did is right. I agree with the league that they want to stop it once for all. I just think that they are not treating every offence equally."Asked how he felt about the club staff, other than Eckert, who were aware of the spying, Solak said, "This whole thing was happening within the environment of our analysts. "I think we have a couple of guys that are foreign analysts, so for them you could say probably that they didn't have a clue that this was against the rules. "And then we have probably five or six British analysts. How come they either didn't know or they didn't tell? I don't know. But this is something that will be additional soul-searching for us... I am definitely very focused that we come to the understanding of this because this is the only way it will never happen again."'A lot of pity' for analyst internThe EFL's commission said it was "deplorable" of the club to have used junior staff members to "conduct the clandestine observations".Solak admitted that such a culture was "unacceptable", but he blamed "a huge amount of misunderstanding, ignorance and arrogance, we have dysfunctions in the club, but we will actually make an effort for people to understand that whoever orders them to do something, that is putting them out of their comfort zone, they have every right to refuse".When asked about the analyst intern who had been sent to spy on opposition training sessions, and who had been caught doing so at Middlesbrough, Solak said: "I don't see really this culture when somebody is really making junior staff do something they don't want."I believe that our junior intern felt personally it's wrong, and he didn't feel right for doing this, and I think he should have expressed that stronger. I'm pretty sure that if [he had] come to us, the top management, actually it would be the seniors who would be punished, not him."I have a lot of pity. I'm sorry for what he had to go through. And we obviously would like him to stay in the club and we offered him a prolonged job with the club."It has been reported that some of Southampton's players want to leave and may even consider taking legal action against the club over lost promotion bonuses. The team beat Middlesbrough over two legs to reach the play-off final, before they were ejected from the competition.Solak said: "Honestly, it's on them to decide. I had a very open conversation with them, and they were actually very nice. And you could see that they are hurting. But through that, they still behaved as gentlemen. You go through things, but life is fair."If you are a player of Southampton that really has quality to play in Premier League, I'm pretty sure you'll play in Premier League this season or the next."A Southampton fan in camouflage attire during the second leg of his side's Championship semi-final against Middlesbrough [Getty Images]'Imperfect' responseThe EFL Arbitration Panel condemned the "mystery" of Southampton initially providing misleading information about the spying mission to Middlesbrough.At first the club denied that any video was captured or analysed, before acknowledging that was not the case.When asked why the club had failed to give an accurate version of events, Solak said: "We were requested by the EFL to respond in 12 hours, ahead of a huge game where everybody's travelling."So the people who made the response had a limited time to try to get the truth. And that's why I think their response was imperfect. During the process later, we absolutely delivered everything we know."Solak also pointed to the legal advice the club had sought, saying: "When we were preparing for this whole process with the EFL, we hired football expert lawyers, they hired a criminal prosecution expert lawyer. So I would say we have been a bit naive in the whole thing. But since we made a mistake, I'm not going to justify anything."He added: "I'm completely devastated. As a club, we need to apologise to our fans. They gave everything to us. And I'm sure we gave them a lot of great moments, but at the end we gave them this huge disappointment. So I really feel sorry for them. I feel sorry for the whole club, you know, because few people made a mistake, but the whole club suffers."But all I can tell them is that my dedication to the club is not wavering at all. I think that out of all of this, we will become stronger."Latest Southampton news and analysisListen to Southampton content on BBC Sounds

Real Madrid legend Raúl González will be the club’s sporting director if Enrique Riquelme wins the upcoming elections, said the candidate during an interview with Cadena SER.He is the right individual to lead a sports project such as the one approaching at Real Madrid. That would be Mr. Raúl González Blanco. If I become president, Raúl will be Real Madrid’s sporting director. The project’s scope, expectations and his potential contributions necessitated a detailed explanation. He is uniquely qualified for this position. Furthermore, several Real Madrid legends are slated to join the initiative.Riquelme also said that he also has an agreement with a coach.Indeed, I already have one. My intention is to announce names throughout the week. Each day will bring new surprises from distinguished professionals, some of whom are prominent Real Madrid supporters who will be joining. The name will be revealed after the other player, following Wednesday.Florentino Pérez will almost certainly win the election, but it will also be interesting to see his next move during the campaign.

Fans can follow the entire tournament on BBC platforms [BBC]The biggest World Cup in history starts on 11 June and there are more ways to follow it on the BBC than ever before.With 48 teams in action, up from 32, there will be a record 104 games to be played across the United States, Canada and Mexico.There will be 54 matches shown live on the BBC, including the final on 19 July, with 92 games on BBC Sounds and every single match covered on the BBC Sport website and app.On top of that, there will be new innovations, regular shows - with England, Scotland and the other 46 nations all being covered - plus more on our dedicated BBC Football YouTube channel.Here is the guide on how to follow the Fifa World Cup 2026 on the BBC.World Cup fixtures and group standingsEverything you need to know about the World CupHow to watch the games liveKelly Cates, Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott will be fronting BBC Sport's television coverage [BBC]There will be 54 live games shown on BBC One or Two, with all of them available on BBC iPlayer - in UHD - and the BBC Sport website and app.They include Scotland's group games against Haiti and Brazil - and England's match with Ghana.The Three Lions' games in the last 32, last 16 and semi-final - if they get that far - will all be on the BBC. The final, as usual, will be shown on both the BBC and ITV.Click here to see which group games the BBC - and ITV - are showing live here.Find out who all of the BBC's pundits will be here.For peak-time matches there will be the option of watching games with BBC Radio 5 Live commentary on the Red Button, iPlayer and website.And if you're watching online and only start watching in the middle of the game - don't worry, every match will feature chapters, marking the best moments to catch up on instantly.There is an all-new way to watch matches via the BBC Sport website - with the Fifa World Cup 3D experience.You are in total control of the angles and can relive goals as your favourite player - plus watch tactics unfold in real time - with side-by-side stats and player data.How the BBC's new 3D experience will look [BBC]How to follow on BBC radioKelly Cates and Mark Chapman join Steve Crossman to lead BBC Radio 5 Live's World Cup coverage [BBC]There will be live commentary on every World Cup game (except for the clashing final group games, when one of the two matches being played simultaneously will be broadcast live in full, with updates from the other) on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds.And there will be podcasts galore.The BBC will have a Football Daily podcast every day of the World Cup, released at 06:00 BST, while from then until 09:00, Rick Edwards will be live in Los Angeles for 5 Live Breakfast.There will be two episodes of The Wayne Rooney Show every week - and a 606 every week too.BBC Radio Scotland will will have a daily podcast every morning - plus YouTube live shows throughout the group stages - and extended programming on the radio on game days.Special editions of The Saturday Show from Boston, Off the Ball and Breaking the News are on the agenda.There are also offerings on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and BBC ALBA's YouTube page.And Sunday League manager Steve Bracknall has six World Cup specials of Game's Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast, plus reaction to home nations games.To find a home nations commentary, you can say to your smart speaker 'ask BBC Sounds to play the England or Scotland match' or request it to play the radio station you want.And BBC World Service will have a Global World Cup podcast three times a week. The Sport Today (Monday to Friday) and Sportsworld (Saturday and Sunday) shows will be broadcast to more than 66 million listeners worldwide on location from host cities.How to follow onlineOn the BBC website, all 104 games will have live text commentaries - even those at 03:00 BST for all the night owls.As well as that, you can watch and listen to any of the BBC live games on the page. There will be highlights of every match.There will be a daily live page every day from 07:00 BST - with reaction, talking points, polls and all the colour from the World Cup.Plus BBC Sport will have a World Cup predictor game, with the chance to enter a prize draw to win a signed football, a daily 'name the player' quiz and player raters on every game.We will also have a 'Shorts' video tab in the BBC Sport app, which is a new way for fans to watch bite-sized highlights, sharp analysis, explainers and get exclusive behind-the-scenes access. Users can choose this to be the app's default landing page.And the BBC's World Cup page can be your home of following the groups, schedules, fixtures, scores and results - and even plot England or Scotland's route to the final here.What can you follow on social media?There will be highlights of all 104 matches available on BBC iPlayer, the new BBC Football YouTube channel and TikTok - as well as the BBC website.For selected games, the BBC will stream build-up and the first 10 minutes of the match on our YouTube and TikTok channels - as part of a new Fifa idea to give audiences more ways to enjoy the tournament.We will have regular short videos from Alan Shearer in the USA with his thoughts and some behind-the-scenes footage.There will also be the best clips on Instagram and TikTok - and more fan-led content than ever before.Our YouTube channel will have several bespoke shows, including...Game Changers (tactical)The Group Chat (fans' debate)SV2 v World (challenge/entertainment)WatchalongFans2So get ready to follow the World Cup across the BBC. Let's make it iconic.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Manny Malhotra was hired as coach of the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.The former Canucks forward takes over for Adam Foote, who was fired May 19 after Vancouver finished last in the NHL during his only season behind the bench. Malhotra becomes the 23rd head coach in franchise history. In a statement, general manager Ryan Johnson said he knows firsthand what a good teacher, leader and quality person Malhotra is. The pair worked together with the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks and won a Calder Cup championship during the 2024-25 campaign.It's the latest move in an overhaul that has seen Vancouver replace general manager Patrik Allvin, president of hockey operations, and Foote since finishing last season at the bottom of the NHL standings with a 25-49-8 record.Malhotra immediately emerged as a prime candidate to replace Foote when the former NHL defenseman was fired last month after just one season behind the Canucks bench.The hiring reunites Malhotra with his former Canucks teammates Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who were named co-presidents of hockey operations last month.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Report: Top Liverpool target to decide before World CupLiverpool Face Growing Competition for Diomande as Transfer Race IntensifiesLiverpool’s pursuit of Diomande is gathering pace, but the Premier League champions are far from alone in the race for one of Europe’s most sought-after young talents.The transfer market is beginning to heat up ahead of the summer window, and Diomande has emerged as a key target for several elite clubs. Liverpool remain firmly in the conversation, although competition from Paris Saint-Germain threatens to complicate matters as both sides attempt to secure an agreement before the player’s international commitments begin.According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are actively engaged in discussions over a potential deal.Speaking on his latest transfer update, Romano said: “Liverpool are in negotiations with Diomande’s camp. So, Liverpool are on it for Diomande for sure. Paris Saint-Germain are on it as well.”That update confirms the Reds’ serious interest while also underlining the challenge they face from the French giants.Diomande Battle Shapes Liverpool Transfer PlansLiverpool have been linked with several exciting young players in recent months, but Diomande appears to be among the club’s priority targets.Romano explained that PSG have also held talks with the player’s representatives and view the youngster as a significant option heading into the new season.The transfer insider added: “The battle is on.”With multiple clubs circling, there is a growing desire from the player’s side to reach a swift resolution. The aim is reportedly to finalise his future before the Ivory Coast’s upcoming World Cup campaign, allowing Diomande to focus entirely on international football rather than ongoing transfer speculation.That timeline could increase pressure on all parties involved. Liverpool will be keen to avoid a prolonged saga, particularly if rival clubs attempt to accelerate negotiations.The original source of Romano’s update came via his latest transfer market briefing, where he outlined Liverpool’s ongoing discussions and PSG’s genuine interest in the player.Romano Reveals Preference for Quick ResolutionOne of the most significant details from Romano’s update concerns the wishes of Diomande and those around him.According to Romano, there is a preference for a deal to be completed as quickly as possible. While Liverpool remain in a strong position, the presence of PSG means there is no room for complacency.The French champions have demonstrated their willingness to invest heavily in emerging talent and are believed to view Diomande as a player capable of strengthening their long-term project.For Liverpool, the attraction is obvious.Diomande possesses the athleticism, technical quality and potential that align with the recruitment model that has delivered success at Anfield in recent years. The club’s focus on acquiring elite young talent before they reach their peak has been a cornerstone of their strategy.Whether that proves enough to convince the player remains to be seen.Liverpool Must Overcome Tough NegotiationsEven if personal terms can be agreed, there remains another obstacle.Romano highlighted the difficulty of negotiating with Diomande’s current club, pointing to previous examples where transfer talks proved complex and lengthy.Securing an agreement will require patience, determination and potentially a significant financial commitment.Liverpool’s recruitment team are well aware of the challenge. However, the club’s continued involvement demonstrates their belief that Diomande could become an important figure in the squad for years to come.The coming weeks are expected to be crucial as Liverpool, PSG and other interested parties assess their options and attempt to move discussions forward.For now, Romano’s update provides the clearest indication yet that Liverpool are serious contenders in the race. Yet with PSG firmly involved and negotiations still ongoing, the battle for Diomande is only just beginning.Crucial Weeks Ahead for Diomande DecisionAs the summer transfer window approaches, all eyes will remain on Diomande.Liverpool’s interest is genuine, Romano’s reporting has confirmed ongoing talks, and the player’s camp would ideally like clarity before international duty takes centre stage.The Reds have positioned themselves strongly, but this is a transfer that remains wide open. PSG’s presence ensures there will be no straightforward path to an agreement, while the negotiating stance of Diomande’s club could prove equally influential.What is clear is that Liverpool view Diomande as a player worth pursuing. Whether they can beat their rivals to his signature could become one of the defining transfer stories of the summer.

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Preston Stout spent much of Monday stalking a national championship. By the end of the day, he was sitting in wait.The Oklahoma State junior, who used to skip junior tournaments if they overlapped with hunting trips, held off a late charge from Alabama's William Jennings to win the NCAA individual title Monday at Omni La Costa. Stout finished at 14-under 274 after rounds of 73-67-65-69, claiming the title by one stroke.After firing a bogey-free, 7-under 65 on Sunday to enter the final round one clear of the field, Stout appeared in control for much of the day, opening up a five-shot advantage through 11 holes. For a guy who's won two big amateur and college tournaments by seven or more in the past year, this championship was seemingly all but over. But three bogeys by Stout on the back nine brought Jennings back into the mix and turned the closing stretch into a two-man race."It was stressful," Stout said. "Obviously, got off to a good start and the putter felt really good and then missed some short putts through the middle of the back nine and had a bad three-putt on 17. Was stressing on 18 tee."Stout's birdie at the 18th hole, the final hole of stroke play, ultimately became the championship-winning shot."I am just glad I kind of squeezed by there," Stout said. "It is something I will never forget."When Stout finished, however, the outcome remained uncertain. Jennings, competing as an individual for Alabama after the Tide failed to get through regionals, continued his charge on the opposite side of the course. The Crimson Tide standout played his final 12 holes in 6 under and pulled even with Stout at 14 under with a birdie on the par-3 eighth hole.The scenario was straightforward heading to the ninth: Par would force a playoff, birdie would make Jennings Alabama's first individual national champion to add to their two NCAA team titles.Instead, Jennings closed in bogey, failing to get up and down after having his approach roll off the front of the green, and finished at 13-under 275.Stout learned the news while staying warm on the range and preparing for the possibility of a playoff. Moments later, he was a national champion.The victory was the fifth of the spring for the Richardson, Texas, native and the eighth of his collegiate career. Any other season and Stout would've been a runway player of the year, though Auburn's Jackson Koivun and his six wins this semester will likely see him add to his second Hogan Award in the next few days. Stout is also the 10th Oklahoma State golfer to win the NCAA individual championship and first since Matt Wolff in 2019."Our program has a really deep history and whenever you get to etch your name in Oklahoma State history it is awesome," Stout said. "I am proud of myself and glad I get to do that."Stout recorded 21 birdies during the championship, plus his eagle at the par-5 10th hole during Sunday's third-round 65 that moved him into the lead. He never trailed after that.“He was built for that moment,” Oklahoma State Alan Bratton said. “... Moments like this is why you practice, and everyone in the field would love to be in that spot, and he rose to the occasion."Like the old proverb says, until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Few things at a wild Women’s College World Series this week were simple. How Texas Tech head coach Gerry Glasco assessed his ace was one of the few no-doubters. “That was the 2025 version of NiJa Canady,” Glasco said. In a winner-take-all game against No. 1 Alabama on Tuesday night, Canady pitched her first complete game of the NCAA tournament to lead Texas Tech back into the Women’s College World Series championship series. The Red Raiders needed two wins on the day, first forcing the nightcap with a 5-4 win to give Alabama its first loss of the WCWS. “We've been on this plan,” Glasco said. “We took the whole fall off, and we said we'll peak in May and peak at the World Series. I don't have any doubt that was her best performance of the year, and that's a great confidence builder for our team and NiJa to go into the finals with that effort.”NiJaree Canady allowed two hits with one walk and six strikeouts in a showing that couldn’t touch any other she’s had this postseason. The senior right-hander hasn’t been as dominant, and Glasco continuously opted to swap his aces out for one another throughout the tournament. He did so in the first game, starting junior Kaitlyn Terry and swapping to Canady in the second inning. When she gave up an inning-opening homer in the fourth that tied the game, he pulled her and dugout cameras caught a tense conversation in the dugout. “I just let her know, I'm paying a pitching coach a lot of money to call pitches,” Glasco said. “If you shake it off, it better work. If it don't, you own it. You take accountability. We're in a close game.Canady shook off the pitch call, opting for a change-up that bounced. She had boxed herself in, showing her hand. It was too much of a risk in a game they needed. Glasco gives his pitchers that privilege, but not too much or often. She called it off later and threw a change-up for a strikeout. Glasco and the coaching staff laughed. “That's the greatness of NiJa,” Glasco said. “I tore her up about it, I'm getting on her, and she still had the courage to do it a couple times in the game, and I don't mind that at all. I don't think you need to shake off 10. If you shake off 10 times, I need to get a different pitching coach. Two times, then maybe that's a great thing.”Texas Tech pitcher Nijaree Canady (24) points after a strikeout in the fifth inning against the Alabama Crimson Tide.IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERSThe day turned on its head in the bottom of the fifth in Game 1, the score still tied at 2-2. Alabama freshman Vic Moten came in for Jocelyn Briski, who had been near perfect the last few weeks, and was one out away from closing the inning. Texas Tech’s Taylor Pannell took the third pitch to left, and Alabama left fielder Audrey Vandagriff missed a catch over the fence. She approached it as routine rather than jump for the out. Canady pitched the final two outs of the first game, still tied at 4-4, setting up Mia Williams for a season-saving home run to left center. Canady and Briski took the circle in a pitching duel for a second game that Canady won. That wasn’t expected a day ago. Briski was arguably the better pitcher this postseason, while the lights-out version of Canady that tore through last year’s field went missing. She allowed 21 runs off of 28 hits over 22 1/3 innings in eight games of the NCAA tournament entering Monday’s semifinals. She hadn’t pitched more than four innings in a game since the regional win over Ole Miss. “Obviously this postseason hasn't gone the way I wanted it to go,” Canady said. “I feel like I haven't been my best. But like Coach Glasco said, it's about when you peak. I don’t know, if I’m going to be good, at least it’s toward the end of the year.” Canady controlled the zone in her start and made Alabama chase. She threw 71 strikes on 99 pitches, moving the ball around in a way she’d missed on prior. The three-time consensus All-American kept reminding herself to go at hitters, instead of remaining timid. The Crimson Tide, who arrived here with one of the best pitching staffs, couldn’t figure it out even while Briski and Moten combined to allow only two runs off of 10 hits. “If [Canady] throws a mistake, you cannot miss it,” Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. “You cannot foul it back, and we had a couple of those. She's only going to probably throw four mistakes a game, and you've got to capitalize.” Jasmyn Burns hit a home run in the fourth and Mihyia Davis added an insurance run in the seventh on an outfield throwing error. Down to Alabama’s final out, Vandagriff scooted one up the right line and turned it into a double. Murphy still held out hope, thinking that yet again the fans would see extra innings late into the night. Canady drew a fly out, watched Lauren Allred snag it and delivered her final circle stomp of the night. But not the competition. The three-time consensus All-American will play in her record 19th WCWS game on Wednesday chasing a national championship that has eluded her in three straight trips to the final series. She lost the first two playing for Stanford before transferring to the Red Raiders ahead of the 2025 season. The double wins by Texas and Texas Tech sets up a rematch of the 2025 championship series that went the distance. Texas won the first game 2-1, but lost the second 4-3. The Longhorns sealed their first national championship 10-4 in the winner-take-all final game. There are slight variations in the roster from a year ago. Canady, given what she showcased in the semifinals, is back to herself.

Missiles and drones struck the cities of Kyiv and Dnipro, Ukrainian officials said. At least 10 people were killed.

“Instead of music, the entertainment will be an 80-year-old man yelling about windmills,” Jimmy Kimmel said after President Trump said he would headline a summer concert series.

ORCHARD PARK - On the surface, it looks like the Buffalo Bills simply swapped out Taron Johnson for Dee Alford at the nickel cornerback spot, but that’s only true in that the names are different on the official 2026 depth chart.New defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard is going to be using Alford a little differently, and probably less frequently, than Sean McDermott and his defensive coordinators, Bobby Babich and Leslie Frazier, used Johnson during his wonderfully effective eight-year career in Buffalo.McDermott always wanted to play with at least five defensive backs on the field, and the fifth was Johnson who was basically a third linebacker in the even-man front scheme because the Bills trusted him so much to not only cover but to play against the run.That meant Johnson was on the field more than most traditional nickels and from 2021 to 2024 the lowest percentage of snaps he played was 84% and that was only because he missed five games in that 2024 season with injury. And he performed those duties all of the time from the slot.How Dee Alford’s role could look different in BuffaloAlford’s usage will vary. In Leonhard’s odd-man front that features three down linemen, two inside linebackers and two standup edge rusher/outside linebackers, there’s no room for a slot corner until the Bills go into a sub package. In Atlanta’s defense the previous four years, the most Alford played was 69% of the snaps in 2024 and last year it was 57%, and it wasn’t always from the slot, so that would seem to line up with what Leonhard has planned in Buffalo.Alford is considered a more versatile player than Johnson because with the Falcons he played plenty of snaps as a boundary corner. Without question, the bulk of his snaps here will be in the slot, but there could be calls where he’s moved outside depending on what the offensive formation is showing, something Johnson never did.“We were very intentional about a guy like Dee Alford and bringing him in and his versatility to be an inside nickel and have the flexibility to play on the outside,” Leonhard said last week. “In my opinion, Dee did a great job in Atlanta. Did some similar things schematically to what we're asking.“One of the perks of being a versatile defense is you’re going to be playing nickel, you’re going to play base defense, you're going to have a bunch of different packages, and having as many guys as we can move around as possible.”Dee Alford's path to the BillsAlford was not drafted out of tiny Division II Tusculum University where, in 40 games he made 140 tackles and 10 interceptions while his 40 passes defended set a school record. Thus, he went north of the border to begin his pro career in the Canadian Football League.He missed the 2020 season due to the pandemic, then was part of the 2021 Winnipeg Blue Bombers team that won the Grey Cup which is the CFL’s championship game. He caught the eye of the Falcons and joined them in 2022 as a free agent and made the team as a slot corner and special teamer. During his four seasons he started 23 of 64 games and he totaled four interceptions, two forced fumbles, three recoveries, 216 tackles and 3.5 sacks.As soon as the Bills began showing interest when he hit the free agent market, Alford knew Buffalo’s switch to a base 3-4 would be a good fit.“If you look at the type of defense (Leonhard) had in Denver, you’ll see they’re really a match, a lot of cover guys,” he said. “I feel like he’s going to let me come in and be a cover guy and fit right in with this system. Jim’s a great guy and a great coach who also knows what it feels like to be in the locker room as a player.”If 2025 was an indication, Alford seems to be an ascending player. Three of his four career interceptions came last season when he also made a career-best 13 pass breakups. One of the picks came against Josh Allen in Atlanta's 24-14 Week 6 victory over the Bills, a game where he also recorded a sack on a blitz, had four tackles and allowed just two completions on five targets.It’s very early in the process, just starting the third week of OTAs, but Leonhard likes what he has seen so far.“He's killing it,” Leonhard said. “He's a pro. He just wants to be coached, he soaks up every opportunity that you have to meet with him, and he's a technician. So really excited about where that can go.”Fair or not, there will be comparisons made between Johnson and Alford, and the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Alford - same height, 12 pounds less than Johnson - certainly has big cleats to fill.Johnson, a fourth-round draft pick in 2018 out of Utah State, became one of the best value picks Brandon Beane has ever made. He ultimately started 87 of 113 regular-season games and accumulated six interceptions, eight sacks and 572 tackles, 23 for lost yardage. Further, he started 12 of 15 playoff games and in January 2021 made one of the most memorable plays in Bills history, his interception of Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and subsequent 101-yard touchdown return.“Taron’s been great here,” Beane said. “The guy’s played nickel, but he's also basically been half of a Will linebacker just with the way our defense was constructed. I can tell you - a lot of love and respect for him. We did get Dee Alford which is a guy we are very excited about.”Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for more than four decades including 37 years as the full-time beat writer/columnist for the D&C. He has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills defense shift impacts Dee Alford role

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 05: Justin Gaethje is seen on stage during the UFC 274 press conference at Arizona Federal Theatre on May 05, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Justin Gaethje is still his father’s boy.Gaethje is widely expected to get creamed in his UFC White House main event versus Ilia Topuria, who is quite possibly the best fighter on the roster right now. Gaethje’s father isn’t worried, however, because “The Highlight” has handled lots of “little short guy” opponents in the past like Michael Chandler and Rafael Fiziev.Justin Gaethje's dad believes Ilia Topuria presents a matchup Justin has already mastered. 😳🔥"Justin's fighting another little short guy, and he's done really well against Chandler, Fiziev, and a few others. I just see the same thing happening for this fight. This is what we… pic.twitter.com/8h77hDaTq9— FREAK.MMA (@FREAKMMA1) June 1, 2026Mr. Gaethje’s tone in the video is more supportive of his son than insulting to Topuria, but “El Matador” didn’t appreciate his words all the same. Less than 12 hours after the video gained traction online, Topuria was on social media ready to teach a lesson about humility.“Fathers hope. Champions know,” Topuria replied to the video clip on X. “I’ve heard this story before: bigger men, stronger men, better men. Men who said I was just a small guy who was about to get a lesson in humility. They all learned the truth the same way. Your son already knows who I am. On June 14th, you will too. 18-0 PAPA”It’s been just shy of a year since Topuria captured his current crown by smoking Charles Oliveira inside a round. With his family issues settled, the 29-year-old knockout artist can hopefully focus fully on defending his title actively. Gaethje, meanwhile, beat up Paddy Pimblett back in January to earn his current interim title, which he hopes to finally convert to undisputed gold after multiple previous attempts.Whether or not size is a factor? We’ll find out June 14.

Paris, France - June 1: Felix Auger Aliassime of Canada plays a forehand against Alejandro Tabilo of Chile during Day Nine of the 2026 French Open at Roland Garros on June 01, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images via Getty Images Extension🚨❤️💙 Paris Saint-Germain and Luis Enrique plan to continue together and get new contract sealed soon.Luis Enrique, confident to proceed with the project and try win another Champions League title.PSG also started internal talks about summer targets with Luis Enrique. pic.twitter.com/BxE81R81jJ— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 1, 2026Hmm🚨🚨| Vitinha completed an incredible 1,589 accurate passes in the Champions League this season, nearly (500) more than any other player in the competition. {@WhoScored} pic.twitter.com/0wGhIntTPh— Goals Side (@goalsside) June 1, 2026Type your predictions in the comments10 DAYS TO GO. 🏆Reply with your 2026 FIFA World Cup predictions:◉ Winner: ◉ Dark Horse: ◉ Golden Boot: ◉ Best Player: ◉ Best Young Player:Let's see them. 👇 pic.twitter.com/jYwTLzH9bY— Squawka (@Squawka) June 1, 2026

MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 17: Rafael Leao of AC Milan competes for the ball with Ibrahima Konate’ of Liverpool FC during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between AC Milan and Liverpool FC at Stadio San Siro on September 17, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) | Getty Images The season is over and summer transfer rumors have begun swirling as to who Bayern Munich is going to look to bring in the replace the outbound Leon Goretzka, Nicolas Jackson and Raphaël. Of course, there’s still other players that could wind up getting sold this summer, but having already lost out on Anthony Gordon choosing to move to Barcelona from Newcastle United instead of Bayern, there’s added impetus for the German Rekordmeister to do the right business this summer. In addition to Gordon, Herthe Berlin youngster Kennet Eichhorn has emerged as one of Bayern’s top transfer targets, but there’s now a bevy of other clubs across Europe trying to get him as well. They’ll face a stiff battle to try to land the promising midfielder, so they have to keep their options open elsewhere.There have been loose links connecting Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté and AC Milan’s Rafael Leão to potential moves to Bayern this summer, but per Sky Sport journalist Florian Plettenberg (via @iMiaSanMia), there have not been any talks with the French center back, nor are they interested in considering a move for Leão right now. Even before the Arne Slot sacking announcement was made official, it was reported that Konaté was looking to leave Merseyside and the managerial staff upheaval following AC Milan failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League have left question marks next to Leão’s future at the club. The Portuguese winger’s contract with Milan currently runs through June 2028, so Milan will know they’re in a crucial window where they could probably get the most for him if they were to sell him this summer and Manchester United are reportedly interested in trying to sign him, per BBC Sport. Nonetheless, Bayern have maintained their priorities for this summer are getting a Harry Kane backup, another winger, and possibly a defensive reinforcement. There’s plenty of time to make different moves in the transfer market and player’s values can go in either direction based off of their World Cup performances, but Bayern will certainly want to avoid losing out in another transfer race like they did with Gordon and Barcelona. If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor… Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

Tottenham launch formal transfer talks with Manchester City for SavinhoTottenham have begun formal negotiations with Manchester City for Savinho, per GETalks between the two clubs are understood to be at an early stageCity are seeking around £60 million for the Brazilian winger this summerTottenham have opened formal negotiations with Manchester City over the transfer of Brazilian winger Savinho, as per reports from Brazil.Savinho has been widely expected to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer after falling out of favour under Pep Guardiola in the second half of last season, with City having deemed the 22-year-old surplus to requirements ahead of Enzo Maresca‘s arrival as the new manager.Tottenham have reignited their interest in the Brazilian, having previously been blocked from signing him last year when Guardiola and Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano rejected a £70 million approach.How Savinho is perceived behind the scenes at Manchester City as Tottenham eye £60M swoopCity are understood to be seeking around £60 million for the winger, with many inside the club still holding Savinho in high regard and acknowledging the considerable ceiling he possesses – a nuance that may yet influence the club’s negotiating stance as talks develop.Report: Formal talks underway between City and TottenhamAccording to GE, Tottenham have begun formal negotiations with Manchester City over a move for Savinho, though discussions between the two clubs are at an early stage and considerable ground remains to be covered before an agreement can be reached.The Brazilian winger signed a new contract until 2031 last summer – a decision that reflected City’s belief in his long-term potential at the time – but Savinho endured a rather underwhelming second season at the Etihad Stadium since joining from Troyes in 2024.Maresca is yet to formally complete his appointment at the Etihad Stadium, with a confirmation expected in the coming days, and a full assessment of the squad is understood to be among his first priorities upon taking charge.What is the wider context for Savinho’s potential exit?Savinho arrived at Manchester City from Girona — a fellow City Football Group club — in the summer of 2024 for £34 million and showed flashes of genuine quality across his first season in the Premier League, though a lack of consistent minutes and a failure to nail down a starting position ultimately led to the current situation.Tottenham’s formal approach marks a significant step forward in a pursuit that has been building for some time. Fabrizio Romano confirmed the renewed interest earlier this month, with the north London club understood to be willing to meet City’s asking price in principle.Fabrizio Romano confirms renewed Tottenham interest in Manchester City forward surplus to requirementsWhether the two clubs can bridge the gap between City’s valuation and Tottenham’s opening position will determine how quickly negotiations progress — but with formal talks now underway, the direction of travel is clear.

Wolfsburg winger set for Hoffenheim moveAfter four years at VfL Wolfsburg, Patrick Wimmer is set to leave the Volkswagen Arena.According to Sky Germany, a full agreement has been reached with TSG Hoffenheim, with the 25-year-old winger expected to undergo his medical on Wednesday ahead of the move.Hoffenheim informed Wolfsburg on Monday that they would activate the €10 million release clause in Wimmer’s contract, which became active following Wolfsburg’s relegation.If everything goes according to plan, Wimmer will sign a long-term deal running until 2031 with Hoffenheim.Brighton & Hove Albion were also linked with the player, but everything indicates Hoffenheim have won the race, with Sky reporting that there has been no late attempt from the Premier League side to hijack the deal.

📸 Chelsea unveil their new kit 🔵🟡A jersey that puts the Club World Cup in the spotlight.Chelsea and Nike unveiled the Blues’ new home kit for the 2026-2027 season this Tuesday morning.A dark blue and gold jersey that beautifully highlights the London club’s “world champions” badge. A smart choice to remind everyone that despite a completely disastrous 2025-2026 season, Chelsea are still world champions?Do you approve?This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

Martin O'Neill and Robbie Keane are reportedly in a head-to-head battle to be Celtic manager as Heart of Midlothian are said to be close to signing two forwards.Title-winning interim manager Martin O'Neill and Robbie Keane, who recently quit as Ferencvaros head coach, are in a straight fight for the Celtic job, with major shareholder Dermot Desmond holding talks with the latter on Monday. (Scottish Sun)Celtic's board members were set to meet with Robbie Keane on Monday evening as the former Republic of Ireland striker is earmarked as the frontrunner to be their new permanent manager. (Alan Nixon on Patreon)Robbie Keane would want a backroom team of Stephen Glass, who was his assistant at Ferencvaros, former Celtic captain Scott Brown and current youth coach Jonny Hayes should he become the Scottish champions' manager. (Daily Record)Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has reportedly dropped down the pecking order in Wolfsburg's next manager hunt, with the relegated German club setting their sights on Verl boss Tobias Strobl, according to reports in Germany. (Daily Record)Estoril sports director Helena Costa says they are still planning for next season with Ian Cathro as head coach but admits there is a lot of interest in the former Heart of Midlothian and Dundee United boss. (The Herald)Arne Engels has joined a new agency as he seeks a move away from Celtic and several Premier League and Serie A club, including AC Milan, are monitoring the 22-year-old midfielder. (Sacha Tavolieri on X)Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's fiancee, Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards, is hoping Celtic take up the option to extend the 32-year-old midfielder's contract for another season. (Hanging Out With Ant & Dec Podcast)Celtic have again rejected an offer from Lech Poznan to sign Luis Palma following the winger's loan spell and the Polish champions have a week to pay the £3.5m option to buy with Sevilla monitoring the 26-year-old's situation. (De La Rocha on X)Sevilla have entered the race to sign Celtic winger Luis Palma after the Scottish champions rejected Lech Poznan's attempt to negotiate their option-to-buy from £3.5m to around £2.6m. (Anthony Joseph on X)Tuesday's English & European transfer rumoursHearts hope to seal Miller move from FalkirkMonday's Scottish GossipColby Donovan remains under contract at Celtic until 2028, despite recent uncertainty over the 19-year-old right-back's deal. (Glasgow Times)Dundee United have rejected an offer worth £900,000 for Will Ferry, who has caught the eye of top clubs in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and the Tannadice club are demanding a fee well into seven figures for the 25-year-old winger. (The Courier)Falkirk and Hearts have agreed a fee for Calvin Miller and the 28-year-old winger will join the Edinburgh club once he has completed a medical. (Edinburgh Evening News)Hearts are close to finalising the signing of 24-year-old forward Amadou Ba-Sy from Rouen as well as Falkirk winger Calvin Miller. (Hearts Standard)Falkirk are set to sign Latvian centre-back Denniss Melniks, with the 23-year-old leaving Auda as a free agent. (Daily Record)Bojan Miovski has not ruled out leaving Rangers this summer with the 26-year-old striker determined to start more games next season. (FlashScore)Odense are considering a move for Aberdeen winger Topi Keskinen and had the 23-year-old watched in Finland's friendly against Germany on Sunday. (Daily Record)Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson has confirmed 19-year-old midfielder Kjartan Mar Kjartansson could be sent out on loan in the upcoming season. (Press & Journal)Striker Owen Elding says he turned to offers from bigger clubs to join Hibernian from Sligo Rovers in January because he wanted to play regular senior football rather than play in under-21s. (Edinburgh Evening News)

PSG “have already held talks” with in-demand winger ahead of huge summer competition to sign himYan Diomande is a top attacking target for a number of clubs this summer, and it looks like PSG are very seriously in for him.If you enjoy PSG Talk coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.Transfer season is about to begin in earnest, and this is the time of year when certain names start coming into focus as the potential big sagas of the summer.PSG have been involved in a few of them down the years, and it looks like they could be central to the summer’s main attraction too.Yan Diomande has exploded as an RB Leipzig player, coming from nowhere to be among the hottest properties in Europe this summer. Liverpool are being strongly linked, but according to top German insider Florian Plettenberg, PSG are right in there.PSG “have already held talks” with top attacking option“Liverpool are pushing for a quick agreement… [but] PSG and Man City are closely monitoring the situation and have already held talks. There are still no agreements with any club,” Plettenberg put on Twitter today.Along with Eli Junior Kroupi, Diomande looks the favourite option to add to PSG’s attack, potentially replacing the outgoing Bradley Barcola. He’s an electric dribbler who looks ready for the next level without question.In other news…Joao Neves had some strong comments for Arsenal after the final, accusing the Gunners of not having played football.Vitinha was superb in the final, as he has been all season, and in playing in that game he continued a quite insane run he’s had going since 2022.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL PSG TALK APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORE

Alexander Isak shows Liverpool fans what they’ve been missing with outrageous goal for SwedenAlexander Isak didn’t have many opportunities to repay his club-record £125m transfer fee in his first season at Liverpool, but on Monday night he offered a reminder of why the Reds were so desperate to sign him last summer.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYFitness issues and a broken leg heavily curtailed the 26-year-old’s on-field involvement since his high-profile move from Newcastle nine months ago, and his debut campaign at Anfield ended with just four goals in 22 appearances.That didn’t prevent him from being named in Sweden’s squad for the World Cup, though, and he produced a moment to remember despite his country going down to a 3-1 defeat to Norway last night.Isak nets stunning solo goal for SwedenWith 15 minutes of normal time remaining, Mattias Svanberg launched a counterattack with a sublime long-range pass from defence which fell straight into the path of Isak, who gathered the ball about 40 yards from goal.The Liverpool striker charged at Sondre Langas and accelerated into the penalty area before sidestepping the Norway defender and curling an unstoppable shot into the far corner of the home side’s net, with Orjan Nyland powerless to stop it.Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trustHopefully Isak can shush his critics at the World CupThe goal may have counted for little in the overall scheme of things, but it would’ve meant plenty to Isak after the difficulties he’s endured since joining Liverpool last year.Yes, there have been a few performances where we’ve been looking for so much more from the 26-year-old, but he showed with his wonderstrike on Monday just what he’s capable of producing when he’s at his sharpest.Provided that no further injury issues flare up over the next fortnight, the Sweden striker will go to the World Cup reinvigorated and ready to remind his detractors just why the Reds made him their club-record signing.If Isak and his nation enjoy a positive tournament in North America, it should enable him to return to Liverpool later in the summer on a high and freshly revitalised to make a consistent impact at Anfield next season.For the Reds’ sake and for his, here’s hoping that he takes the World Cup by storm and silences the critics who’ve been queuing up to hammer him since his tempestuous departure from Newcastle.You can view Isak’s goal below, taken from Polsat Sport’s coverage and shared via @laurens_ss on X:

People walk in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)2026-06-02T03:38:22Z TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly declined Tuesday as renewed fighting threatened the U.S.-Iran ceasefire. U.S. futures also fell. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.3% to finish at 66,734.24. South Korea’s Kospi dipped 0.2% to 8,772.08. The Hang Seng gained 2.2% to 25,956.72, while the Shanghai Composite rose 0.4% to 4,075.34. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 shed less than 0.1% to 8,724.40.On Monday, U.S. stocks ticked to more records. The S&P 500 added 0.3% to close at 7,599.96 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1% to 51,078.88. The Nasdaq composite climbed 0.4% to 27,086.81. In the bond market, the yield for the 10-year Treasury briefly approached 4.52% before regressing to 4.46%, up from 4.45% late Friday.U.S. companies with big fuel bills were hurt by rising oil prices. United Airlines lost 2.6%, and Alaska Air Group fell 3.3% after the price for a barrel of Brent crude oil climbed in overnight trading. In Asian trading Tuesday, benchmark U.S. crude lost 94 cents to $91.22 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, slipped 90 cents to $94.08 a barrel. The levels are still well above the roughly $70 level they were at before the war. Much hinges on whether the United States and Iran will reach an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, allowing deliveries of oil to resume from the Persian Gulf and easing the upward pressure on inflation.Japan, for instance, imports almost all its oil, although the effects on prices of gas and other products have been relatively contained by the release of the nation’s reserves so far. Read More “Crude shortages have already forced refiners across Asia and Europe to aggressively reduce runs,” said analyst Stephen Innes. “The result is that the squeeze is no longer confined to crude inventories. It is spreading into the fuels that actually power economies: gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, LPG, and naphtha.” On Monday, the United States said it bombed Iranian radar and drone sites after Tehran downed an American drone. Iran said it targeted U.S. soldiers in Kuwait with missiles that the U.S. said it shot down. However, U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel and Hezbollah agreed to dial back their fighting after he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and communicated with the Lebanon-militant group through mediators.On Wall Street, Nvidia was the strongest force lifting the market and rose 6.2% after CEO Jensen Huang announced several product updates at a conference. What Nvidia does matters immensely for the U.S. stock market because it’s the biggest in terms of overall market value. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar rose to 159.72 Japanese yen from 159.66 yen. The euro cost $1.1654, up from $1.1631. ___AP Business Writer Stan Choe contributed. Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama YURI KAGEYAMA Kageyama covers Japan news for The Associated Press. Her topics include social issues, the environment, businesses, entertainment and technology. twitter instagram facebook mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

People walk in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)2026-06-02T03:13:12Z MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Iowa are investigating the fatal shootings of six people who they believe were killed by a relative who took his own life when confronted by police Monday.Police were called Monday to a home in Muscatine, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Cedar Rapids, where they found four people fatally shot, Muscatine Police Chief Anthony Kies said during a news conference.Officers later found the suspect, 52-year-old Ryan Willis McFarland, of Muscatine, on a trail in the city, Kies said. “While talking to Ryan Willis McFarland, he took his own life,” he said.Two other men who also are believed to be relatives of McFarland were later found fatally shot elsewhere in the city, according to Kies. One man was found in his home and the other was discovered dead inside a business, he said.Authorities have yet to release the names of the victims and any details about them. “Today I simply do not have the words,” said Kies. “This act of evil and what it has done to our community.”The city’s police department is continuing to investigate the shootings, working to process the crime scenes and conduct interviews. Police have asked anyone with information to contact its major crimes unit.Kies confirmed that McFarland had a criminal record, but wouldn’t share any details.

President Trump is pressing Israel to not strike the Lebanese capital. An escalation in Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah could threaten peace talks with Iran.

The proposal marks the latest effort by the administration to rebuild its tariff agenda through Section 301 investigations.

Southampton owner will not sack head coach Tonda Eckert over SpygateSouthampton owner Dragan Solak has confirmed he will not sack head coach Tonda Eckert despite authorising a spying campaign against Middlesbrough.In an interview with BBC Sport, Solak said: “I think he deserves a second chance and I would give it to him.“My full support would be behind him actually, because I think he’s a super-talented manager.”Southampton were expelled from the Championship play-off final after being found guilty of spying by the EFL’s independent disciplinary commission.Besides losing the opportunity to compete for Premier League promotion, the Hampshire club were also handed a four-point deduction for next season.Eckert admitted to authorising a spying campaign against rival Championship clubs.The EFL commission reinstated Middlesbrough into the final at Wembley, despite the 2-1 aggregate defeat in the semi-final tie.Boro lost the final to Hull City after an injury-time winner from Oli McBurnie.Eckert is set to keep his job at Southampton after owner Solak said he will not be sacked.The German took over as the Saints’ permanent coach in December after a brief spell as caretaker boss.The team was battling relegation at the time of his appointment, but he led them to an impressive run of results and ultimately secured a play-off spot.But all the good work went in vain as they were expelled from the play-off final over Spygate, which cost them a shot at promotion – a prize worth over £200million.

It was fitting that Iraq secured a place at the 2026 World Cup by beating Bolivia in Mexico, the location of their first ever appearance on the global stage back in 1986.Karim Allawi was a player 40 years ago as the Lions of Mesopotamia lost all three games against Paraguay, Belgium and the hosts but now he is a fan, desperately hoping that his successors can fare a little better even if games against Norway, France and Senegal look daunting.The 66-year-old will, along with the vast majority of the 46 million people in the football-mad country, be watching on 16 June as Iraq take on Erling Haaland's Norway in Boston."This is truly a group of death and tougher than 1986," Allawi told BBC Sport. "France are multiple-time world champions, Norway are one of the strongest developing European teams, and Senegal are African champions who have qualified for the World Cup several times. "I hope they deliver strong performances and achieve better results than we did in 1986."Compared to the past team, this Iraq side, ranked 57th in the world, is full of players with European experience such as Ali Al-Hamadi of Ipswich Town, former Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal, now at Utrecht in the Netherlands, and Kevin Yakob, fresh from helping AGF become champions of Denmark.Hiring Graham Arnold, who took Australia to the second round of the 2022 World Cup, in 2025 has also paid off. The 62-year-old helped Iraq through the third and fourth rounds of qualification, a tight play-off victory against the United Arab Emirates before the win against Bolivia. That was the 21st game on a long road to the finals.The celebrations may have died down but the excitement remains. TV sports reporter Nawar Faeq Al-Rikabi told the BBC: "People may think we are the weakest team in the group but anything could happen. "We will be fine, there is no pressure on the Iraqi players, they just have to perform and we have quality players who can perform."The addition of Arnold could make the difference. "In 2022, Argentina found it very hard to win against Australia," added Al-Rikabi. "It will be the same with us. He is very experienced and I think we will do something really good."The target is to improve on 1986. "To score more than one goal would be a new achievement, to win a game would be a great achievement, to qualify for the next stage would be terrific. People have waited so long and we are now ready."Al-Hamadi and Iqbal named in Iraq's World Cup squadWorld Cup: Every squad as they are announcedThe World Cup line-up is complete - here's what you need to knowWars, political challenges and sanctionsThere has always been talent in Iraq but due to mainly off-pitch factors, it has taken four decades to return. "Just like the country, the national team went through many difficult circumstances, including wars, political and economic challenges, and at times international sanctions," Allawi said. "There was also, at times, a lack of proper planning for the qualifiers and insufficient preparation for matches. That is why it took such a long time."And then there was Saddam Hussein. In 1984, the dictator placed his son in charge of Iraq football. Uday Hussein instigated a reign of terror over the national team, a regime of cruel punishments and torture with full details emerging after the fall of the regime in 2003 – players being forced to train with concrete balls, being flogged and imprisoned and much more besides. Allawi is reluctant to talk about those times. "To put it briefly, during that period, there was a very strict principle of reward and punishment in place," he said.The US-led invasion that toppled Saddam also created years of instability that still affect football even today. The national team has not played a World Cup qualifier in Baghdad since. In March 2020, Fifa gave the green light to the southern city of Basra, meaning that, at last, crucial home games did not have to take place in Jordan, Malaysia, Iran and elsewhere.In 2026, conflict in the Middle East almost caused March's play-off against Bolivia to be postponed with some players, as well as coach Arnold struggling to get out of the country and into Mexico. In the end, they made it and returned victorious, on an open-top bus parade through the crowded streets of a delighted Baghdad.BBC to show Scotland's first World Cup game since 1998What would it cost England and Scotland fans to go to World Cup?Echoes of the 80sWhen qualification was achieved in 1985, with a 3-1 win over Syria, the Iran-Iraq war meant that the game was played in Saudi Arabia."We were also playing our matches outside the country, which made the feeling even greater," said Allawi. "It was similar when we came back, there was also a huge public attendance, and many celebrations were organised by the people, especially festivals and public gatherings. We were a good team."This golden generation reached all three Olympics in the 1980s and won all kinds of regional championships. Allawi played his part along the road to Mexico. "Throughout all the qualification matches, I was a starter but at the World Cup I was on the bench because of the injury I suffered the day before the Paraguay game. It was very unfortunate."So were Iraq in a 1-0 loss that is still discussed to this day in Baghdad. Iraqi legend Ahmed Rahdi headed home an equaliser against the South Americans but the referee blew the whistle for half-time as the corner was on its way into the area. "The referee did not count the goal and we suffered from poor decisions, against Belgium too, we had a red card and came close to equalising," said Allawi."Despite that, it was a special time, the atmosphere of the World Cup is completely different from any other tournament with massive crowds, legendary players everywhere. "You try to get to know them and interact with players from different countries."They remain very good memories for us and I am sure that the players in the team now will say the same in years to come."World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

Andre Drummond shared his experiences competing against Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant when they teamed up with the Golden State Warriors. The two-time NBA All-Star center played for the Detroit Pistons then and faced the dynamic duo multiple times.Curry and Durant created arguably the best one-two punch in the league in the 2010s, joining forces from 2016-2019. Their partnership delivered back-to-back championships and three consecutive Finals appearances. Durant departed from the Warriors and signed with the Brooklyn Nets.MORE: Gilbert Arenas issues harsh reality check on Kevin Durant’s rings and legacyDrummond appeared on N3on’s YouTube channel on Monday. He admitted that he “hated” playing the Warriors as they effectively made traditional centers irrelevant in the NBA.“I hated playing them,” Drummond said. “I would sleep a day early just for that game. They changed the NBA and made it very hard for centers to stay around. A lot of people fizzled out not being able to shoot the 3 ball.”Nov 19, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (1) grabs a rebound against Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) during the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesAndre Drummond is set for free agencyIn June 2025, Drummond picked up his player option with the Philadelphia 76ers. He signed it for the second year of his two-year, $10 contract that he secured in the previous offseason. He will enter unrestricted free agency after this campaign, leaving his future in the league uncertain.The 32-year-old entered the NBA as the No. 9 pick in 2012. While he has proven that he can still defend and rebound against the league’s best centers, more teams have embraced the youth movement. It remains to be seen if he will generate interest around the league, but he could still contribute significantly to a title contender.

Ephron Mason-Clark, left, and Brandon Thomas-Asante, right, were two of Coventry's top four goalscorers in the Championship this season [PA Media]Ephron Mason-Clark takes an excellent first touch to get the ball under control before slotting home from close range.Just 16 minutes later, Brandon Thomas-Asante provides a perfect glancing header to steer past the keeper from six yards out and wheels away in celebration.But this is not two of Coventry City's star forwards scoring goals in a Championship game in the 2025-26 season on the way to promotion to the Premier League. This is two young prospects netting in non-league football on exactly the same day in March 2019.With just 500 spectators watching on, a 20-year-old Thomas-Asante scored for Oxford City in a 5-3 defeat by Hampton & Richmond Borough in National League South.Mason-Clark, aged 19 at the time, was on the scoresheet for Barnet in a 2-1 loss to Gateshead in the National League with a little more than 650 supporters in attendance.Fast forward seven years and the duo contributed 36 goals between them in the Championship to help fire the Sky Blues back into the top flight for the first time in 25 years.'A decade-long journey'Brandon Thomas-Asante had the second best minutes per goal ratio (143 minutes) of any Coventry player in the Championship this season behind only Ellis Simms (125) [Shutterstock]"Wow, what a moment," Thomas-Asante told BBC CWR after Coventry lifted the Championship trophy following a 3-1 win over Wrexham in the penultimate game of the season."Moments like this, they're not out of nowhere. They're built up over years and decades. It's a journey."And what a journey it has been for the 27-year-old who has grafted his way to the top flight after 10 seasons as a senior professional.From starting his career in the MK Dons academy in 2011 to breaking into the first team in League One in 2016, Thomas-Asante went on to play for Sutton United and Ebbsfleet United in the National League and Salford City in League Two, as well as Oxford City.When he signed for West Bromwich Albion in the summer of 2022, Thomas-Asante completed the set of playing in all three EFL divisions.And now, two years after making the switch to the Sky Blues, he will be able to add the biggest league of the lot to his CV.'Mason-Clark is becoming inevitable'Ephron Mason-Clark registered more assists (nine) than any other Coventry player this season [PA Media]For Mason-Clark, 26, things got under way in the seventh tier in 2016 with a brief loan spell in the Isthmian League Premier Division at Metropolitan Police, one month after making his Barnet debut in League Two.He would go on to play for the Bees for six years, predominantly in the National League, before joining Peterborough United in League One in 2022 and then Coventry in 2024."We've got a running joke," Thomas-Asante said. "We say we've got our jumpers at home - anyone who's played National League will know as everyone wears the same jacket before a game."So I kept that because I never want to forget the tough times. But I also don't want to downplay the National League because as we saw with York and Rochdale, the standard is unreal."It gets downplayed and it's not a joke, so to see that, see League Two, League One, the Championship and, god-willing, soon the Premier League is special."Given the similar path both Thomas-Asante and Mason-Clark have trodden, it was perhaps somewhat poetic that they both found the net in the final home game of the campaign for Coventry.They also combined for the opener on that day of celebration with Mason-Clark setting up Thomas-Asante, who was waxing lyrical about his team-mate afterwards."I'm a fan of football before I'm a player and the player he has become, he is just unreal," Thomas-Asante said."Even to watch from the other side of the pitch, I had to remember to get in at the back stick."He always adds to his game, he's just becoming inevitable. No one can really stop him."Mason Clark, pictured (left) at Barnet in 2019, and Thomas-Asante, pictured (right) at MK Dons in 2016, have risen through the footballing ranks [Getty Images]EFL expert George Elek described Mason-Clark as "one of the unsung heroes of the Championship this season"."He's someone who provides so much quality off that left hand side," Elek told the Not The Top 20 podcast."He is another one of these players Coventry signed two years ago. He had a decent first season but they've just retained the faith in him, given him a lot of minutes, given him time to grow."I'm excited to see him in the Premier League next season."Quiet confidence, then tears - but 'unsinkable' Coventry are backHow Lampard's own revival ended Coventry's 25-year waitA parade that made 25 years of heartbreak worth itThomas-Asante ended the season with 13 goals and four assists, while Mason-Clark scored 10 goals and registered nine assists.Only Haji Wright (18) contributed to more goals than Thomas-Asante (17), while Mason-Clark led the way with 19.Mason-Clark's output has come as no surprise to Thomas-Asante, who recalled recognising his talent when lining up against him as a youth player.He said: "It's funny because when I first joined, he was one of the players where I saw him and I thought, 'I played against him a lot at academy level, I know he gave some of my mates a tough time'."So I just wanted to play with him. And [now] seeing no one in the country being able to deal with it is just an amazing sight."Mason-Clark was rewarded for his fine form with an international debut for Jamaica in March.Meanwhile, the dream season might not be over just yet for Thomas-Asante, who could have a World Cup campaign with Ghana to go alongside his Championship winners' medal after being named in the preliminary squad."I'm really eager to keep my head down, to keep ready, because I'm so passionate about my nation," he added.From playing to crowds of fewer than 300 people on occasions seven years ago, Thomas-Asante could be featuring in front of 70,000 fans at the biggest tournament in world football, against England in the group stages no less.Latest Coventry City news, analysis and fan viewsListen to Coventry City content on BBC Sounds

Bayern enquire about Arsenal wingerBayern Munich have made contact over a potential summer move for Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, according to TEAMtalk.The report suggests that the German champions have “made recent checks” on the 24-year-old's situation as they look to strengthen their attacking options this summer.After missing out on Anthony Gordon, who joined FC Barcelona, Bayern have turned their attention to alternative targets, with Gabriel Martinelli seemingly among those under consideration. The report adds that Paris Saint-Germain are monitoring the Brazilian winger's situation.Martinelli scored 11 goals and laid on seven assists in 53 games for Arsenal through the 2025/26 season.Another option for Bayern appears to be PSV's Ismael Saibari, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that talks have already begun over a potential deal for the Morocco international.

NEW DELHI: Young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was at his destructive best throughout IPL 2026, dispatching some of the world's leading bowlers into the stands with ease. Known for his fearless approach and explosive strokeplay, the teenager consistently kept the scoreboard moving at a breathtaking pace while leaving bowlers struggling to contain him.Sooryavanshi was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament after finishing as the leading run-scorer with 776 runs from 16 innings at an average of 48.50 and a staggering strike rate of 237.30. His season included one century and five half-centuries, earning him the Orange Cap.The Rajasthan Royals opener also rewrote the record books by surpassing Chris Gayle's previous IPL record of 59 sixes in a season, smashing an astonishing 72 maximums during IPL 2026.Although Rajasthan Royals' campaign ended with a defeat in Qualifier 2, Sooryavanshi dominated the awards ceremony. He walked away with the Most Valuable Player award, Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker of the Season, Orange Cap, and Super Sixes of the Season honours.— IPL (@IPL) After collecting multiple awards, former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin jokingly pointed out that the only award Sooryavanshi had missed was for hitting the most fours in the tournament.Responding to Ashwin, Sooryavanshi revealed his ambition to excel in the longest format of the game as well."Yes, I will have to play on the ground because the next assignment is in a one-day format. I have practised a lot with a red ball, but no one has seen me do that, but they will soon," said Sooryavanshi."People think I love to hit every ball, but this is the T20 format, and coaches give me a free hand to go all guns blazing. And I hit the ball only because I know I can hit them, and it isn't out of compulsion," he said."I want to play Test cricket, obviously, because my father also taught me that it is the ultimate format, and I have played it as well. I'm yet to play many games, though. I played Ranji Trophy cricket but did not get too many opportunities, and it was challenging for me. But I am going to keep working on that aspect of my game," he added.Former India chief selector MSK Prasad described Sooryavanshi as a "super talent" and one of the "best in the world in T20 cricket", urging selectors to fast-track him into the national side for the upcoming Ireland series later this month."He is not just a prodigy or a super talent. He is already among the best in the world in T20 cricket. He should be fast tracked immediately into the Indian side. He should be picked for the Ireland series which happens after the India A tri series in Sri Lanka," Prasad told PTI."I think, it's nicely poised for him to be drafted into the senior Indian team. I think he is going to flourish in the India A tri series in Sri Lanka as well. See, there is no point holding him back. He is going to play for India soon and he is going to play for a long time," the former India wicketkeeper-batter predicted. 131455688"Playing India A and then playing for India is usually the norm but playing high pressure IPL among the best in the world is the best way to get into the Indian side. I think the selectors are also thinking on the same line. It's just a matter of time that he will play for India and will play for a long time," he reiterated.