Three months after leading India to the T20 World Cup title, Suryakumar Yadav has not only lost the captaincy but also his place in India's T20I setup, with the selectors deciding that the 35-year-old no longer fits into the team's plans for the next cycle.Chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed that the decision was driven by a combination of form and the need to look ahead to the next World Cup. "With regards to Surya, obviously it's a tough one having just won the World Cup. But as it happens after most World Cups, we try and reassess what your best way forward is," Agarkar said after announcing India’s T20I squads for the Ireland and England series."It was partly his own form but also looking at the next two-year cycle, or a little bit more than two years now till the next World Cup, we thought this was the best way forward," he added, admitting that replacing a captain who had just delivered a World Cup was "not the easiest sort of discussion to have."For a player who, at his peak, looked untouchable and redefined T20 batting, the fall has been swift. But was the decision purely about age and succession planning? Or had Suryakumar's numbers already stopped justifying his status as India's automatic No. 4?A deep dive into his performances reveals that while the decline is not as straightforward as it may appear, the selectors' decision was rooted in a trend that had been building for nearly two years. At first glance, it feels counterintuitive. India has just won the World Cup. Suryakumar remains one of the most accomplished T20 batters of his generation. His captaincy record is excellent. Yet when selectors sit down to build towards the 2028 T20 World Cup and the Los Angeles Olympics, sentiment rarely enters the equation. They look at age. They look at fitness. They look at the trajectory.And increasingly, those indicators pointed away from Suryakumar Yadav.The Peak That Made Him UntouchableBefore discussing why India is moving on, it is worth remembering just how extraordinary Suryakumar's peak was.Between 2022 and early 2023, there was arguably no more destructive batter in T20 cricket.In 2022 alone, he scored 1,158 T20I runs at an average of 48.2 and a strike rate of 187. He followed it with 733 runs in 2023 at an average of 48.9. Across those two seasons, he averaged 48.5 while striking at 173.6.This was the version of SKY that became India's most important T20 batter. This was the version that became the captain. The problem for India is that this version of SKY has not existed consistently since 2023.The Decline Is Not ImaginedOne poor series can be ignored, and so can a poor tournament. But it was tough to overlook a worrying trend. The numbers show a decline beginning midway through 2024, then deepening throughout 2025. The comparison between peak SKY and current SKY is stark.The decline is visible everywhere. His average has almost halved, his strike rate has fallen sharply, and so has his six-hitting frequency. Most importantly, he was no longer converting starts into match-shaping innings.The collapse reached its lowest point in 2025. Across 20 T20I innings, Suryakumar managed only 221 runs at an average of 13.8 and failed to register a single fifty. For a batter occupying India's premium middle-order position, those are impossible numbers to ignore.The Captaincy Can No Longer Protect HimOrdinarily, winning solves everything. And India certainly won under Suryakumar: The Asia Cup in 2025 and the T20 World Cup in 2026.A win percentage approaching 77%. But international cricket does not work on leadership alone.Captains must justify their place as players first. As captain, SKY scored 1232 runs in 52 matches, and since taking full charge in July 2024, he has managed 932 runs in 45 matches while enduring repeated lean spells with the bat.India's captain was winning, but India's captain was not performing like India's best batter.In fact, even though his numbers for India in the middle-order show that he has the most runs by volume by virtue of playing more matches, his impact per innings for the winning case was falling behind. Contrastingly, he was right at the centre of India’s wins during his peak. And for the position that Suryakumar Yadav made his own - the No.4, Successors have already arrived. With Shreyas Iyer coming into the setup as captain, he will be India’s new No.4, but even before that, SKY was losing to his teammates already. Tilak Varma's numbers, batting at No.4, since January 2024 are impossible to ignore. He averages 50.5 in T20Is compared to Suryakumar's 26.6. In victories, the gap widens even further. Tilak averages nearly twice as much.Shivam Dube has also outperformed him post-2024. So the selectors are not moving on from a player who remains clearly India's best option. They are moving on from a player whose competitors have begun outperforming him.The Contradiction Suryakumar Yadav’s IPL numbers though give a glimmer of hope. It not a case of SKY losing his touch completely. His 2025 IPL season was arguably the best of his career: 717 runs at an average of 65.2 and since 2024, only Shreyas Iyer has scored more IPL runs among India's middle-order batters.In 2025, he produced his worst T20I season and his best IPL season simultaneously. Then in 2026 he delivered a strong T20 World Cup campaign while enduring his worst IPL season in nearly a decade.Why Shreyas Iyer Makes SenseThe captaincy switch ultimately says more about India's future than it does about Suryakumar's past. Shreyas Iyer is younger. He has built a strong leadership resume. He has demonstrated success across multiple franchises. Most importantly, he can realistically lead India through the entirety of the next cycle. Right now, Suryakumar no longer offers that certainty.The Wrist Nobody Wants To Talk AboutThen there is the fitness issue. Throughout the T20 World Cup campaign, Suryakumar repeatedly required treatment on his right wrist. The taping became routine. The padding became routine. The medical attention became routine. India's support staff publicly downplayed concerns, but the images told their own story.At 35, injuries carry different significance than they do at 25. The wrist issue alone may not justify moving on. Combined with declining output, however, it becomes another variable selectors must factor into long-term planning.Peak SKY remains one of the greatest T20 batters the format has seen and the IPL numbers suggest that the skill has not disappeared. But international cricket is ultimately about what comes next.The selectors see a 35-year-old carrying a recurring wrist issue. They see an average of 26.6 since January 2024. They see younger batters outperforming him in the same role. They see a captain who may not even be part of the next World Cup cycle.And they see an opportunity to reset now rather than later.

Mets' Jorge Polanco reportedly re-injured his achilles, says manager Carlos Mendoza originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The New York Mets are currently sitting at 28-36 after losing to the San Diego Padres on Saturday. This season has been disappointing for the Mets thus far, and at times it has been difficult to find the light at the end of the tunnel.Coming into this weekend, there was some positive news surrounding New York, as there was a possibility that Jorge Polanco could be reinstated from the injured list.“The Mets could activate Jorge Polanco (left Achilles bursitis) as soon as Friday in San Diego. But if he's not ready at that point, the team could give him additional time on rehab. Polanco will mostly DH once he returns,” Mets beat writer Anthony DiComo posted.However, Polanco’s return now appears to be on hold after he was removed from his rehab game on Saturday. He continues to struggle to stay healthy amid his lingering injury.“Jorge Polanco’s imminent return to the Mets may not be so imminent. The veteran infielder was removed from his minor league rehab assignment Saturday due to ankle soreness, according to the team, and he will return to New York for further evaluation,” New York Post’s Mike Puma wrote.After the game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza met with the media. He addressed the game, but was later asked about Polanco’s injury. Mendoza acknowledged that Polanco re-aggravated his lingering Achilles issue.“Carlos Mendoza says that Jorge Polanco felt some discomfort in his running progression before playing on his rehab assignment. Mendoza says that this is related to Polanco's Achilles bursitis that he has dealt with since late-March,” SNY Mets posted.This is especially unfortunate for Polanco, as he was expected to be a key piece for New York this season. The Mets are not too far out of contention, and there is still plenty of time to turn things around.However, it is difficult for any team to gain momentum when injuries like Polanco’s continue to pile up throughout the season. New York will now wait to learn the severity of his latest setback after further evaluation.Braves writer urges GM Alex Anthopoulos to trade for 'impact' starter amid Spencer Strider's returnBraves-Twins trade pitch sends $100M disgruntled Silver Slugger, Gold Glove winner to AtlantaPhillies predicted to trade for Twins' disgruntled $100M Silver Slugger, Gold Glove winnerYankees predicted to trade for $32M 2-time Cy Young winner to supercharge World Series dreams

Lennart Karl runs the risk of missing Bayern pre-season and Bundesliga returnAfter Lennart Karl's World Cup aspirations with Germany cruelly went up in smoke, his injury could now have grave implications for Bayern Munich.The 18-year-old sensation was due to feature for Julian Nagelsmann's side until an untimely muscle bundle tear ended his chances. Now, the concern for the recently crowned double champions of Germany is down to the severity of the thigh problem.From a medical perspective, a muscle bundle tear is a more serious and requires significantly more time to heal than a muscle fiber tear.Depending on the severity and healing process, the recovery time for an injury in the quadriceps area is usually between six and twelve weeks.Should this be the case and six weeks is required, Karl may return just in time for Bayern's pre-season which starts 20 July. However, if the winger is out for 12 weeks, he runs the risk of missing Bayern's first few games of the 2026-27 Bundesliga campaign.Karl, who produced 5 goals and 5 assists in his maiden topflight season last year, may not be fit for the Bundesliga's start date of 28 August.

PSG watching Premier League star – but transfer fee may be too large to make deal workMorgan Gibbs-White is being linked with Arsenal and PSG after a superb season with Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.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.With transfer season now underway, we are getting a steady stream of rumours about PSG and their links to potential signings.Some of those names – Eli Junior Kroupi, Yan Diomande – have been repeated many times already. But there are fresh ones too. Today was the first time we saw Premier League star Morgan Gibbs-White linked with the Parisians.PSG watch brilliant English star and consider monster bidThe Sun report that Gibbs-White is a top target for Arsenal this summer, with PSG considering putting in a rival bid.The 23 year old had a brilliant season for Nottingham Forest, and is attracting attention from all over. It was a huge shock that he was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup, given his Premier League success.With 15 Premier League goals to his name, he was the top scoring Englishman in the division after Ollie Watkins. An attacking midfielder capable of operating centrally or wide, it would be really interesting to see how he would fit into a top level team like this PSG outfit.Gibbs-White signed a new contract a year ago, meaning any move would now be very expensive for the buyer.In other news…Lucas Chevalier could leave PSG after just one year, with a top Premier League team apparently interested in signing him.One pundit had to admit that “football won” after the Champions League was lifted by PSG in Budapest.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL PSG TALK APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORE

Manchester United legend believes he could have kept Barcelona superstar quiet – “Would have eaten him alive”Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has never been one to mince his words, and the former defender has now made a bold proclamation involving Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal.The Spaniard has gone from strength to strength in the past couple of seasons, establishing himself as one of the best players in the world.He has proven to be a nightmare for opposition left-backs, running circles around them and leaving them flummoxed with his bag of trickery.Evra sends bold message to LamineEvra is confident he could keep Yamal quiet. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)Speaking on ESPN UK, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo, Evra claimed that he could have kept Lamine Yamal quiet had the two faced each other during his prime.“I’m sorry Lamine, I love you very much, I like you a lot, you are a crack in one-vs-one situations, but in my prime I would have eaten you alive. Ask Cristiano Ronaldo, ask Messi, ask other players when they faced me. I am not a good friend,” he said. Evra was known to be a strong, athletic left-back. In his prime, he was very difficult to get past, even for the best wingers, but his history against Barcelona suggests otherwise.The history that gives this comment extra spicePatrice Evra is currently enjoying life outside football. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)Evra, during his career, faced Barcelona in three Champions League finals and ended up on the losing side in all three, twice with Man Utd and once with Juventus.To put things further into perspective, Lionel Messi was decisive in all three. Evra played in a position that brought him face-to-face with the Argentinian maestro, but was unable to stop him.This is not to say that Evra is not a great defender, but to claim that he would have “eaten” Lamine feels a bit outlandish.Evra may believe that his prime would have been enough to stop the Barcelona teenage sensation, but this is a battle that could have gone either way, and there is no way to know how it would have actually played out.

Korda, who finished tied for second last year, is aiming to win the US Women's Open for the first time at her 12th attempt [Getty Images]US Women's Open third round leaderboard-6 S-Y Kim (Kor), N Korda (US); -5 IG Chun (Kor), J Kupcho (US); -4 G Lopez (Mex), N Hataoka (Jpn), R Yin (Chn) Selected others: -3 C Hull (Eng); -2 M Stark (Swe); +1 A Thitikul (Tha); +7 L Woad (Eng)Full leaderboardWorld number one Nelly Korda carded a four-under-par 67 as she moved into a share of the lead after the third round of the US Women's Open, while England's Charley Hull put herself in contention with a stunning 65.American Korda sank three of her five birdies on the final three holes at the Riviera Country Club in California to move to six under following a round which included one bogey.Sei-Young Kim posted a 68, which included five birdies and two bogeys, as the South Korean joined Korda at the top of the standings.Hull shot the best round on Saturday with seven birdies and one bogey in her 65 and is now three off the lead. "I kind of like chasing," Hull said. "I just find it more fun and I can then be free and then just play golf how I want to play golf."The US Women's Open is the second of five majors on the women's tour, with Korda having won the first with victory at the Chevron Championship in April.She is aiming to win the US Women's Open for the first time in her 12th attempt after finishing as joint runner-up in 2025."I think last year I really, really wanted it, and the more you want it sometimes, the more you stiffen up and you get a little bit more nervous," said Korda, who has recovered from a first-round 73 with two rounds of 67. "I play my best golf when I'm happy, free Nelly, and I'm kind of joking around out there. So that's kind of the attitude that I'm going to have tomorrow [Sunday]."First-round leader Jennifer Kupcho is a shot off the lead on five under, along with In-Gee Chun, after they both hit 69s in their third rounds."I can't control what anyone else is doing, so I'm just going to go out there and do my best and see how that matches up with them," said American Kupcho.

Former player backs Real Madrid to sign Spanish coach ahead of Jurgen Klopp and MourinhoReal Madrid’s presidential election has generated significant debate about the club’s future direction, and one of the most discussed topics has been who should take charge of the first team, at least in the long-term.While Jose Mourinho remains Florentino Perez’s preferred choice and Jurgen Klopp has been floated by rival candidate Enrique Riquelme, a former Real Madrid player has offered a different perspective entirely.Torres picks Luis EnriqueSpeaking to Movistar+, former Real Madrid defender Miguel Torres believes PSG’s Luis Enrique would be the ideal man to lead the team.It is far from an outlandish suggestion. The Spanish coach has just guided PSG to back-to-back Champions League titles, cementing his status as one of the most in-form managers in world football right now. His track record at the highest level, combined with his familiarity with Spanish football, makes him a compelling option on paper.The reality of the situationIn practice, however, Luis Enrique is under contract at PSG and shows no signs of leaving the French champions anytime soon. Luis Enrique feels closer towards Barcelona than Real Madrid this. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)Mourinho remains the frontrunner for the Real Madrid job should Perez win re-election, with the two parties understood to have already reached a broad agreement.It must also be noted that Enrique, despite having a Real Madrid past, feels much closer to Barcelona, and he has not been shy in showing his admiration for the Catalan team.Keeping that in mind, it remains unlikely Real Madrid would even want to attempt bringing in Enrique, even though the prospect of the Spaniard potentially leading a transition phase at Santiago Bernabeu is certainly intriguing.

Medieval Combat Wales competed in the Tournament of Deeds in 2025 [Knight Illuminations]Steel crashes against steel as Jasmine Ironborne drives her sword into an opponent's armour.This is not theatre or re-enactment, it's hand-to-hand medieval combat and it's something she discovered at her own wedding.She loves the chaotic group fights, but enjoys the technical side of duelling too and, as one of the only women in Medieval Combat Wales, Jasmine often has to join other teams, but is determined to change this and build Wales' own female team."Other teams are flourishing because they already have an established women's team. So when they show up, it's a room full of women and it's a different environment," she said. Jasmine, 36, and her husband Ethan, 36, from Cardiff, have always been interested in medieval history and fantasy, so it seemed like a natural choice for their wedding theme. Having been pointed towards Medieval Combat Wales by a medieval re-enactment group, Jasmine believed she was booking just that. Jasmine (centre) won gold in a competition at Fantasy Forest in 2023 [Mary George]However, the group of knights who arrived at the ceremony suited up in armour were in fact experts in hand-to-hand combat, also known as Buhurt, which is modelled on 13th to 15th Century warfare."Everyone's minds were completely blown by it. After the wedding, I thought, 'you know what, I really want to do this'," she said.Two weeks later she turned up to training and the rest, as they say, is history. Jasmine and her husband had a medieval-themed wedding in 2022 [Ian Gilbert]When she joined, there were about four people at training. Over the years more men have joined and a men's team was formed. For the first time, the men's team will represent Wales at the International Medieval Combat Federation (IMCF) World Championship in Denmark. But with so much heavy kit to transport, the team are fundraising to cover the costs of getting to the competition. While the group meets weekly in Pontypridd, groups in north and west Wales have also been launched. Men and women can train together, but mixed groups for competitions are not allowed.This means female members have to represent other areas' women's teams, something they hope to change, said Kaine Stuart, the group's vice-captain. Jasmine and Kaine say the community spirit of the group is what keeps them coming back [Knight Illuminations]The fights may look brutal, but they are tightly controlled. Strikes to the neck, knees and groin are banned, and every fighter is checked before entering the arena.Dai Watkins, president and captain of the group, added that weapons with spikes are not allowed, and all weapons must be blunt. The idea is to get the opponent to the ground, and then they are out. Kaine said: "If you're fighting in a real medieval battle and you're in armour, if you've hit the ground, the odds are you in a pretty much a position where you're not coming back from."Dai said his favourite move was the leg sweep as "the weight of the armour wants to take you down anyway". He added that he liked to get himself ready for the fights by hitting himself on the head - while wearing his helmet - with his axe, "just to wake myself up a little bit".While personal armour can cost thousands of pounds, the group's members help overcome this barrier for those starting out by sharing their own. This is the same with weapons, from maces and axes to swords, every team member has their favourite. The first knight to fall on the ground during combat is out [Knight Illuminations]Jasmine said the sense of community within the team has kept her coming back, but - on the surface - "a room full of blokes all smacking each other as hard as they possibly can with foam weapons" can look intimidating which she thinks has put other women off in the past. To combat this, Jasmine is starting a weekly women's beginner session to encourage more people to get invovled."It's hard getting the ball rolling, you need like a few women to make everyone feel comfortable and not like 'oh God, I'm going to get smacked by a 6ft bloke'. It's not like that." Jasmine had bespoke armour made that weighs about 110lb (50kg) [Kyle Edwards]Jasmine borrowed Dai's armour for about a year, despite it being too big, before buying her own bespoke armour for about £1,000.Weighing about 110lb (50kg) it makes every step, swing and fall a test of endurance and skill, but training in it regularly means she hardly notices.Adrenaline also helps Jasmine concentrate on the battle at hand, she said. Despite the cost, she said that people looking to get into the sport begin without armour and can get second-hand armour from club Facebook groups when they want. Beginners train in soft kit before they make the move to armour [Medieval Combat Wales]Jasmine's weapon of choice? A sword and buckler, a small shield: "It tends to be the favourite of smaller people because it's fast."There are many different types of battling, but Jasmine likes duelling because "it is about the technique".However group fights are her favourite as they are "more chaotic and fun"."It's not points based, it doesn't really matter about the technique so much as just trying to get your opponent down."She said wearing the armour means she does not feel it when she is hit.Medieval Combat Wales will represent the country at the world championship in Denmark in July [Medieval Combat Wales]Jasmine has fought in many competitions over the years, but she said her favourite moment was when she stood in for another competitor last minute at the Saturday Knight Fight in 2024. Initially, she said she did not feel ready, but after the Knight marshal said she could tap out at any point, she was persuaded. Walking out into the cage to Cassyette's 'Like That', Jasmine felt like a wrestler, she said. "I lost," she said. "But I had the most fun." More top stories Paddleboard firm owner who caused four deaths has bid to cut sentence refusedOur estate was labelled a war zone after the riot - but the reality is very differentQueen presents medal to seriously ill boy who asked if she had dragon in her castle

Liverpool star sends come and get me plea to Euro giantsLiverpool are going to go through another transitional phase this season. The Anfield outfit may have turned their entire team around last term but, after finishing fifth in the Premier League, it's clear that more change is needed.Replacing Arne Slot with Andoni Iraola is a good first step for Liverpool to have taken with the Spaniard's attacking style of football exactly what the Reds need.However, in order for his system to work, he's going to need players suited to his style of play which could result in several members of the Reds' first-team squad getting moved on.And now, one of Liverpool's players has basically asked a European giant to prise him away from Anfield.Federico Chiesa admits that he wants to return to JuventusFederico Chiesa's future has been up in the air ever since he joined Liverpool.During his first season with the club, he hardly played at all and, even though he had a bit more playing time during his second campaign, it still wasn't enough for a player of his quality.This led to many rumours emerging about his future with his former club Juventus being heavily linked with a move for the attacker during the January transfer window.That move obviously never came to fruition and, now that Slot is gone, some people are suggesting that he may finally be given the game time that he deserves.But, at the moment, it seems like Chiesa has given up his Liverpool dream after what he said to La Gazzetta Dello Sport about his future."In the end, things went badly [for Juventus]. I'd like to return to the Bianconeri," he said."I would never have left. It was also said that I wanted a lot of money, but the truth is different: I was never offered a renewal. We never even discussed it."Giuntoli and Thiago Motta told me: 'Fede, we don't need you: find a team.' I was lucky; I started again with one of the top five in the world, Liverpool."But Juventus is always in my heart, and I'd like to return. I've never discussed money with Juve, and I never will."Liverpool must decide whether they can afford for Federico Chiesa to leaveWhen called upon, Chiesa has often put in a decent performance.Of course, there have been times when his outings have been a tad underwhelming but, if he's not being given any sort of regular game time, then how could Slot have expected him to improve?At the moment, the Reds' attack is one of their weakest areas with forward players being the ones that they're most-linked with.Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola have been two players consistently linked with Liverpool but, neither of them are natural replacements for Mohamed Salah.Chiesa, on the other hand, is an out-and-out right-winger and would be a perfect stop-gap solution for now.Liverpool wouldn't get all that much money for the Italian if they were to sell him which surely makes the decision to keep him a simple one.Of course, it all depends on Iraola and whether or not he liked him but, with the change of style that the Spaniard will implement, it feels like the 28-year-old could find a new lease of life at Anfield if he stays put.

Panama: 2026 World Cup Squad, Fixtures and SchedulePanama arrive at their second FIFA World Cup this summer, eight years after a chastening debut at Russia 2018.Los Canaleros finished bottom of their group on that occasion. Defeats to England, Belgium and Tunisia ensured a swift exit. Thomas Christiansen’s side return determined to register a first-ever World Cup victory. Christiansen named his 26-man squad on 26 May at the CAR Pandeportes in Panama City. The selection blends seven 2018 veterans with the next generation of Panamanian football.Panama: 2026 World Cup Squad, Fixtures and ScheduleCaptain Aníbal Godoy leads from defensive midfield as the country’s record cap-holder. The 36-year-old San Diego FC anchorman has 157 international appearances to his name. Pumas UNAM playmaker Adalberto Carrasquilla, 27, remains the creative engine despite an injury concern.The midfielder suffered a groin issue in the Liga MX final shortly before the squad announcement. Christiansen included him anyway, with his fitness for the opener crucial to Panama’s plans. Norwich City defender José Córdoba and Beşiktaş full-back Amir Murillo bring genuine European experience.León striker Ismael Díaz leads the line after a productive qualifying campaign. Veteran goalkeeper Luis Mejía starts in goal, providing calm at the back. Fidel Escobar, who featured at Russia 2018, anchors a defence comfortable in a low block. Victory over El Salvador in CONCACAF qualifying sealed Panama’s World Cup place.Group L pits Los Canaleros against Ghana, Croatia and England. The opener against Carlos Queiroz’s Ghana in Toronto looks the squad’s most realistic chance of points. Thomas Tuchel’s England close the campaign in East Rutherford on 27 June.Panama 2026 World Cup fixturesThursday, June 18th – Panama vs Ghana – Toronto, CanadaWednesday, June 24th – Panama vs Croatia – Toronto, CanadaSaturday, June 27th – Panama vs England – East Rutherford, USAWhat time do Panama’s World Cup games kick off?All kick-off times are BST.Panama vs Ghana, 12amPanama vs Croatia, 12amPanama vs England, 10pmPanama 2026 FIFA World Cup SquadGoalkeepers: Luis Mejía (Club Nacional), Orlando Mosquera (Al-Fayha), César Samudio (CD Marathón)Defenders: Eric Davis (CD Plaza Amador), Fidel Escobar (Saprissa), Michael Amir Murillo (Beşiktaş), Roderick Miller (Turan Tovuz), Andrés Andrade (LASK Linz), César Blackman (Slovan Bratislava), José Córdoba (Norwich City), Jiovany Ramos (Academia Puerto Cabello), Jorge Gutiérrez (Deportivo La Guaira), Edgardo Fariña (Pari Nizhny Novgorod)Midfielders: Aníbal Godoy (San Diego FC), Alberto Quintero (CD Plaza Amador), Yoel Bárcenas (Mazatlán FC), Adalberto Carrasquilla (Pumas UNAM), José Luis Rodríguez (Juárez), Cristian Martínez (Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona), César Yanis (Cobresal), Carlos Harvey (Minnesota United), Azarías Londoño (Universidad Católica de Chile)Forwards: José Fajardo (Universidad Católica), Ismael Díaz (Club León), Cecilio Waterman (Universidad de Concepción), Tomás Rodríguez (Saprissa)Read more – Ghana: 2026 World Cup Squad, Fixtures and ScheduleSee Also- Uzbekistan: 2026 World Cup Squad, Fixtures and ScheduleFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

Iowa democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand speaks to media after voting on primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Bryon Houlgrave)2026-06-07T04:04:00Z DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Rob Sand will rally a crowd for the first time as the official Democratic nominee for Iowa governor on Sunday, kicking off a countdown to November with the support of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.The race for governor between Sand and Republican Zach Lahn stands to be one of the most competitive in the country as Iowans face a state budget deficit, struggling agricultural economy and cancer crisis. Even as Sand downplays party politics, Democrats are putting faith in him to blaze a trail in the state after struggling electorally in recent cycles.“We are all in on flipping Iowa,” said Beshear, chair of the Democratic Governors Association and a potential presidential candidate in 2028. “It’s certainly time for a change, and I think the people of Iowa know that Rob Sand will always put them first and lead in a way that lifts families up and doesn’t leave them out.” Sand, who was unopposed on the primary ballot, learned who his opponent would be after Tuesday’s primary settled an unpredictable five-way Republican contest.Little known before his bid for governor, Lahn made a splash as a business owner criticizing farm consolidation and tax breaks for corporate giants, a regenerative farmer who subscribes to Robert F. Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement and a former political operative who galvanized Iowa’s conservative grassroots. Iowa has open races for both governor and U.S. senator for the first time since 1968, plus three battleground congressional races. National attention on the state has soared in recent months, drawing President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance to Iowa. Read More Democrats will have an uphill climb with a 200,000-person deficit in statewide voter registration, and they are outnumbered in every House district. Sand, along with Senate candidate Josh Turek, say they can win over independents and Republicans who are frustrated with party politics and a Republican trifecta in Washington and Des Moines that they blame for the state’s challenges. Turek will face U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who already has portrayed Turek as a liberal puppet for party leader Sen. Chuck Schumer.Lahn has also rejected Sand’s nonpartisan pitch.“Rob Sand is not a moderate,” Lahn said in his victory speech Tuesday. “He’s a liberal career politician pretending to be someone he’s not.”Sand says divided government is a good thingSand is vocal about his dislike of partisanship, his distrust of both political parties and his desire for divided government in Iowa. He says he thinks most Iowans feel the same.Even if Sand is elected governor in November, he will likely have to work with Republican majorities in the state House and Senate, which recently passed bills to restrict the executive’s power that outgoing Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law.“I’m not here to tell you that the answer to 10 years of one-party control is to give the other party 10 years of one-party control. I don’t think that’s right,” Sand said Tuesday after casting his primary ballot. “But I do think that it’s time to say enough to the people who have had 10 years of one-party control. It’s time for balanced government in Iowa.” Neither Sand or Lahn use their party’s traditional blue or red in campaign materials, opting instead for green. They both say they aren’t beholden to their party establishments and that Iowans want a new direction, though Lahn’s Republican Party has held a statehouse trifecta for nearly a decade.Sand’s campaign has given about $750,000 to the Iowa Democratic Party already this cycle, funding that Republicans call hypocritical for a candidate who claims he is not a party man. The Sand campaign says that sum reflects his investment in a state party-run coordinated campaign that will help him get elected as governor, even as it also supports candidates up and down the ballot. Beshear brings national support as he considers his own futureAs Democrats continue to debate what went wrong in 2024 and the direction of the party, Beshear has offered up his own example as the leader of a red state for lessons on how the party can go forward.Beshear said he is trying to be a “voice of reason in the chaos” of Trump’s administration and that he is comfortable being listed among the names of Democrats considering a presidential bid in 2028, even as he said he is focused on the critical midterms.In addition to rallying with Sand, Beshear will also be at a “Beers with Beshear” fundraiser for congressional candidate Sarah Trone Garriott, who wants to unseat Republican Rep. Zach Nunn in the competitive House district that includes Des Moines. Beshear said he will see Turek too. The Democratic Governors Association, which Beshear chairs, gave the Iowa Democratic Party about $140,000 so far this cycle, according to filing reports. HANNAH FINGERHUT Fingerhut is a government and politics reporter based in Des Moines, Iowa. mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

A woman leaves a voting center after voting, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Marietta, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)2026-06-07T04:06:47Z After a blitz of congressional redistricting ahead of the midterm elections, a national battle for partisan control is about to enter a new phase that could affect representation on everything from tax rates to social safety net programs, teacher salaries, housing regulations and local road repairs. Georgia’s Republican-led Legislature will convene June 17 for a special session focused on redistricting for the 2028 elections. The agenda includes new voting districts not only for Congress, but also for the state House and Senate — and potentially even the state’s utility regulatory commission. It will mark the first time since a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling weakened minority voting protections that a state legislature will attempt to redraw its own districts. Mississippi Republicans and New York Democrats also could undertake legislative redistricting before their 2027 and 2028 elections, respectively. Ir remains to be seen, though, how many legislatures will follow, and whether the outburst of mid-decade redistricting will extend down to county commissions, city councils and school boards that make myriad decisions affecting people’s lives. The impact could be widespread.“The stakes here are not political, they are deeply human,” said Joe Kennedy III, founder of Groundwork Project, a nonprofit that supports local civil rights and democracy organizations. What’s fueling the redistricting movement?Voting district boundaries typically are redrawn once a decade after each U.S. census to account for population changes. But last summer, President Donald Trump urged Texas Republicans to redraw congressional districts to try to win additional seats in the midterm elections. Other states followed with their own partisan gerrymandering.Then a 6-3 Supreme Court ruling in late April jumpstarted even more redistricting. The court struck down a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana as an illegal racial gerrymander, providing grounds for Republicans in other states to reshape districts with large minority populations that have elected Democrats. Read More Why is Georgia redrawing its districts?A federal judge ruled in 2023 that some of Georgia’s congressional, state Senate and state House districts were drawn in a racially discriminatory manner. The Legislature quickly approved revised maps with new majority-Black districts, though they resulted in little change to Republican majorities in the 2024 elections. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has called lawmakers into special session to again redraw districts in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Louisiana case. That could allow Republicans to undo the court-ordered changes they made in 2023 and potentially redraw other Democratic-held minority districts to the GOP’s advantage. Republicans have yet to unveil details of their plans. But Democratic state Rep. Tanya Miller, who is running for attorney general, denounced the upcoming redistricting as a means of “rigging maps to maintain power.” How many seats are at stake?Several months before the Supreme Court ruling, a report by Fair Fight Action and Black Voters Matter forecast that Republicans in 10 Southern states could eliminate 191 Democratic-held legislative seats — including 140 districts with Black or Hispanic majorities — if the Supreme Court gutted federal Voting Rights Act protections for minorities. “If anything, our report was an understatement,” Cliff Albright, co-founder and executive director of Black Voters Matter, recently told The Associated Press. “What’s at stake is the future of this democracy.”Other analysts don’t expect that many seats to be redistricted. But they do expect the Supreme Court’s decision to ripple through states. “We’re going to potentially see a lot of frenzied efforts at every level, including at the local level, to try out undoing district maps and configurations that have performed quite well in providing improved representation for communities of color,” said Kareem Crayton, vice president of the Washington office of the Brennan Center for Justice. What states have pending court cases?The precedent from the recent Supreme Court decision already is being applied in several states. In light of the ruling, a federal appeals court is allowing Alabama to use a state Senate map approved by Republican lawmakers in this year’s election instead of one imposed by a federal judge who found the state had diluted the voting power of Black residents. The change affects two state Senate districts in the Montgomery area. The Supreme Court has sent legislative redistricting cases filed on behalf of Black voters in Mississippi and Native Americans in North Dakota back to lower courts for further consideration in light of its Louisiana decision. The Washington attorney general has asked the Supreme Court to do the same for legislative redistricting cases involving Hispanic voters in that state. What’s stopping states from redistricting?About half the states have provisions in their constitutions prohibiting mid-decade redistricting of state legislative seats, said Justin Levitt, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles who runs the “All About Redistricting” website. But even in states where it’s allowed, lawmakers may have fewer reasons to redraw their own districts than those for Congress, Levitt said. Politicians who promoted congressional redistricting for the 2026 midterms often justified it as a way to counter gerrymandering in other states and win as many seats as possible for their party. They had extra motivation because a swing of only a few seats nationally in the November elections could affect control of the closely divided U.S. House. By contrast, most state legislative chambers already are dominated by one party.”There’s a lot less incentive, if you already control the state legislature by 10 or 12 seats, to eke out an incremental one or two at the expense of really ticking off your own party membership, or at the expense of maybe risking losing seats in a broader way,” Levitt said. Could local governments also redraw districts?The Supreme Court decision making it more difficult to prove Voting Rights Act violations already has affected some local governments. Plaintiffs have voluntarily dismissed a challenge to commission districts in Meriwether County, Georgia. A federal court has accepted new legal briefs in a challenge to Board of Supervisors districts in DeSoto County, Mississippi. And Indiana’s attorney general has asked a federal appeals court to take note of the Louisiana case when deciding a challenge to how judges are selected in Lake County. Over roughly the past four decades, data from the University of Michigan shows that cities, counties and school boards have been involved in more than three-fifths of the 466 lawsuits alleging violations of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which forbids providing minorities less opportunity than other voters to elect the representatives of their choice.But that doesn’t necessarily mean local governments will rush to redistrict as a result of a weakened Voting Rights Act. The Supreme Court decision cleared the way for officials to justify redistricting based on partisan ambitions. But many local offices are officially nonpartisan. DAVID A. LIEB Lieb covers issues and trends in state governments across the U.S. He’s reported about government and politics for The Associated Press for 30 years. twitter mailto

A customer prepares to pump diesel fuel at this Madison, Miss., Sam's Club, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)2026-06-07T04:05:08Z NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. consumers haven’t stopped spending money since the Iran war drove up fuel prices, but many shoppers are reassessing what they buy and where, according to company executives and retail analysts. The behavior changes observed so far are subtle, such as altered routines for buying gasoline and fewer visits to clothing and furniture stores. They also are uneven across the population. During recent earnings calls with analysts, executives from American mainstays like Walmart, McDonald’s and Dollar General cited overall shopper resilience as well as noticeable cutbacks by lower-income customers. But the new signs of strain cited by major retailers as generous income tax refunds helped shore up their sales make some economists and analysts think they will see a wider retrenchment when the refunds are gone and consumers face the cumulative impact of more expensive gas and higher prices for food, clothing, insurance and other goods and services. Trevor Chapman, a communications executive in West Hills, California, said that instead of going to a local independent gas station, he and his wife now plan their fuel stops around Costco stores with filling stations. The couple also is doing more online food shopping to avoid impulse buys, he said. “Gas is a kind of catalyst,” Chapman said. “It trickles down into the entire budget. We’re trying to keep everything as normal as possible. But it’s starting to feel like it’s adding up more and more.” Read More Well before the U.S. and Israel launched the war, many consumers already were being more choosy with their discretionary purchases, fatigued by several years of stubborn inflation and tariffs on imported goods imposed last year. The U.S. Commerce Department reported last week that higher prices, not more purchases, accounted for most of the growth in Americans’ spending in April, when a key inflation gauge reached the highest level since October 2023. Topping up instead of filling upMembers-only warehouse stores like Costco, Walmart’s Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club have seen more traffic at their fuel pumps since the war began in late February, according to the companies. Fuel typically costs less at the wholesale clubs. But many drivers are not filling their tanks up, Walmart Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey told analysts late last month. For the first time since 2022, Walmart customers and Sam’s Club members are buying an average of less than 10 gallons per trip, he said. “That’s an indication of stress,” Rainey said. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Costco members also are making changes. They are visiting store gas stations more frequently to “top up in between what would have normally been a gap between getting the tank to empty because of the concern about what might the gas price be tomorrow,” Chief Financial Officer Gary Millerchip said in late May.Meanwhile, the gas price surge has hurt convenience stores, where 80% of all fuel is sold in the U.S., according to Jeff Lenard, a vice president at the National Association of Convenience Stores.A sales analysis by the trade group found that the number of pump transactions at the properties of 130 convenience store companies fell by nearly 10% across March and April compared to the same two months last year. The number of sales inside the companies’ stores dropped by 10.4%, according to the analysis. “When you lose gallons to the big box, you also lose in-store sales,” Lenard said. Changing eating habitsHigher gas prices did not stop many Americans from dining out in the first two months of the war with Iran. Tax refunds helped, the National Restaurant Association said. Customer traffic at U.S. restaurants in April was unchanged from the same month last year, although a 2.6% increase in restaurant spending resulted largely from higher menu prices, according to market research firm Circana. But cracks are starting to form as budget-conscious U.S. residents shoulder the combined weight of paying more for gas and other consumer goods on top of increasing costs in other areas from inflation past and present. The price of gas won’t help bring customers with household incomes of $45,000 or less back to U.S. fast-food restaurants, McDonald’s Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski said last month. People in that income group began scaling back their fast-food purchases after the period of inflation that accompanied the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the trend picked up speed last year. U.S.-based restaurant consulting firm Revenue Management Solutions analyzed 14.6 billion restaurant transactions from the last ‌four years ⁠and found that as gasoline gets more expensive, restaurant visits gradually decline, according to Chief Research Officer Sebastián Fernandez. The analysis indicated the impact doubles when gas hits the $4 mark, which it did as a nationwide average on March 31.Consumers also are making concessions when they shop for groceries, according to Stew Leonard, president of an eight-store supermarket chain his father founded, Stew Leonard’s. He’s noticed customers buying meat in bulk to freeze and being less tempted to buy the products showcased during live food demonstrations or offered for sampling. “It’s telling me that people are sticking more to their shopping list,” Leonard said.Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos also cited $4 a gallon gas as a tipping point that had more consumers with household incomes above $100,000 frequenting the discount chain. Vasos told analysts Tuesday that many of Dollar General’s core shoppers, who have mid-to-low incomes and live in rural areas, were paring back their food spending.Sophie Tolsdorf, 29, of La Grange, Kentucky, said she is one of the consumers stocking up on meat when the price is reasonable. She also switched to buying whole fruit instead pre-cut fruit in containers and cut back on the rawhide bones for her dog that cost $40 a pack. “He might have noticed,” Tolsdorf said. “He’s definitely a little bit bored during the workday now.”Needs versus wantsBefore the war, retailers had spent multiple earnings seasons highlighting consumer caution and selectivity as factors that could weigh on sales of nonessential products. Shoppers appear to have curbed their discretionary spending even more as the cost of buying gas went up, said Marshal Cohen, chief retail advisor at Circana.Between April 25 and May 23, U.S. retailers sold 6% fewer non-grocery products than they did during the comparable four-week period of 2025, Cohen said. Housewares, clothing, footwear and sports equipment had the biggest declines, anywhere from 5% to 7%. Circana reported that toys and beauty items remained bright spots, registering at least an 8% increase in the number of units sold. Location intelligence company Placer.ai, which tracks people’s movements based on cellphone usage, saw visits to the gas stations of BJ’s, Costco and Sam’s Club stores start to accelerate in early March, aligning with a sharp rise in fuel prices, according to R.J. Hottovy, the company’s head of analytical research. By early May, Placer.ai’s data showed four consecutive weeks of reduced foot traffic at clothing, electronics and home furnishing stores, and more trips to grocery stores and dollar stores.“Consumers are prioritizing value-oriented retailers like warehouse clubs, superstores, and off-price chains,” Hottovy said. ___AP Food Writer Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit contributed to the report. ANNE D’INNOCENZIO D’Innocenzio writes about retail, trends, the consumer economy and hourly workers for The Associated Press. twitter mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Chinese President Xi Jinping walks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, to a reception following a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar, File)2026-06-07T04:08:37Z SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — China’s Xi Jinping is traveling to North Korea for the first time in nearly seven years in a trip that offers North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a stage to showcase an increasingly assertive foreign policy anchored by closer ties with his country’s former Cold War allies. China, the North’s economic pipeline, is expected to reassert its influence over a traditionally allied government that has grown closer to Russia in recent times.The meeting between the two leaders is their first since Kim traveled to Beijing for a World War II event in September 2025.Here is a look at what they may be seeking from their upcoming meeting: What Kim wantsAfter years of prioritizing Russia — dispatching thousands of troops and munitions to support Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine — North Korea’s leader is now seeking stronger ties with China to break further out of isolation, embracing the idea of a “new Cold War” and projecting Pyongyang as part of a united front against Washington.Since the era of its previous leaders, North Korea has long maintained an “equidistance” approach toward Beijing and Moscow, playing its two main benefactors against each other to maximize its gains.While he is receiving crucial support from Russia for backing its war effort, likely including military technologies and aid, Kim cannot fulfil his promise to improve the living standards of his populace without greater economic assistance from China, according to Koh Yu-hwan, a former president of Seoul’s Institute of National Unification. “North Korea vows to maintain a self-reliant economic system and focus on advancing its nuclear capabilities, but in reality it’s nearly impossible to raise living standards by mobilizing internal resources alone,” Koh said. Read More The Kim-Xi meeting could include discussions on resuming Chinese tourism to North Korea and opening a bridge over the Yalu River that has remained unused years after its completion, Koh said. The leaders could also discuss joint economic development projects in border regions shared by North Korea, China and Russia. It remains to be seen whether Kim at some point will use his increased diplomatic footing to reengage with Washington after his talks with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019 over disagreements about sanctions on North Korea. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Pyongyang has so far rebuffed Trump’s offers to resume talks after the American president entered his second term, insisting that Washington first drop its demand for North Korea’s denuclearization as a precondition for negotiations. Kim also met Xi before traveling to Singapore and Vietnam for his summits with Trump in 2018 and 2019, moves widely interpreted as efforts to bolster his bargaining position. “From North Korea’s perspective, there’s belief that having China’s backing provides a sense of security and confidence when seeking to improve relations with the United States,” said Park Won Gon, a professor at Seoul’s Ewha University. What Xi wants For China, the visit is a chance to bring back a traditional ally closer into its orbit, by offering possible economic incentives and food aid, traditional assets it has given to North Korea. “I think the Chinese are privately a little uneasy at the embrace of Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, that the North Koreans have really gravitated towards very heavily towards the Russians. Part of Xi Jinping’s goal is to correct the balance,” said Mike Chinoy, a former CNN journalist and author of an upcoming book about the insular country.Xi is making his first overseas trip in 2026 after become increasingly selective about making state visits since the pandemic. Coming on the heels of separately hosting both Trump and Putin, the choice is strategic. “The trip ensures no one can reshape the peninsula’s security architecture without his concurrence,” Seong-Hyon Lee, a senior fellow at the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations, said.Beijing is also realistic in response to Kim’s clear nuclear ambitions. In April, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Pyongyang and met with Kim. Observers noted the absence of the word “denuclearization” from the statement on the visit, a departure from the standard line that China usually deploys which calls for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. “The most telling sign of the visit may be a silence: if China’s official readout omits the word ‘denuclearization,’ Beijing has effectively accepted North Korea as a nuclear state, folding the issue into its broader buffer strategy against the U.S.,” said Lee. In exchange, China could seek greater access to the estuary of the Tumen River, which forms part of the border between the two countries, and navigational rights in waters off the Korean Peninsula’s east coast.Ultimately Kim is likely to give Xi a grand and lavish welcome at the symbolic level, but China may not be able to extract much from an increasingly confident Kim, experts say.“He’s going to give Xi Jinping a welcome befitting of the head of state of their giant neighbor, but he’s not going to play the pliant ‘little brother,’” said Chinoy. __ Wu reported from Bangkok. KIM TONG-HYUNG Kim has been covering the Koreas for the AP since 2014. He has published widely read stories on North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, the dark side of South Korea’s economic rise and international adoptions of Korean children. twitter mailto HUIZHONG WU Wu covers Chinese culture, society, and politics for The Associated Press, as well as the country’s growing overseas influence from Bangkok. She was previously based in Taiwan and China. twitter

Anti-ICE protesters disperse during clashes with law enforcement officers outside the Delaney Hall detention center on Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)2026-06-06T21:27:58Z Clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement outside a New Jersey immigration detention center since late May have become the latest flashpoint for protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. More than 80 people have been arrested following a series of protests at Delaney Hall in Newark, where demonstrators say they are showing up in solidarity with detainees over accusations of poor living conditions. The Trump administration has defended the treatment of detainees at the 1,000-bed facility. Here’s what to know: Accusations of neglect at Delaney HallThe facility is owned by Geo Group, a private prison contractor that runs multiple detention centers across the country. Detainees launched a hunger strike last month, according Cosecha, an immigrant advocacy group. They issued a number of handwritten letters from inside with their demands, including improved living conditions and better medical care, as they say some are being denied medication.Detainees across the country have alleged medical neglect for serious and chronic conditions, and they have announced hunger strikes at other facilities. The Delaney Hall detainees say they are being given moldy and expired food, some of it with maggots, and are housed in overcrowded cells that lack air conditioning. Democratic members of Congress from New York City visited the facility early in the protests and said the detainees’ accounts are credible. Trump administration defends conditions President Donald Trump and his deputies have defended the center’s operations and denied there is any hunger strike, abuse or poor conditions inside.“The fact is, we’re giving them the calories they want,” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said recently. “This isn’t Holiday Inn.”Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, praised the food after a recent visit. “The spaghetti was good,” he told CBS News.GEO Group has dismissed the criticisms as “a politically motivated campaign by outside groups to dismantle ICE and federal immigration detention by targeting the government’s facility contractors.” Read More Arrests and protesters try to stop vehicles The protesters, some wearing gas masks and helmets, have used traffic cones, trash cans and other items as makeshift shields, and they tried to block vehicles from entering or leaving the facility. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche shared images online of bloody wounds and bruises sustained by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Videos on social media show officers in riot gear deploying tear gas and using batons to beat back the demonstrators. Some videos have shown police on horseback marching into the crowds. On Friday night, ICE officers arrested four on charges of assaulting law enforcement officers, obstruction and threats, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said on X. Newark police, meanwhile, said they a Seattle man was charged with criminal mischief for smashing car windows. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. “No one has the right to come into our city, destroy personal property, or incite violence,” Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda posted on social media. “Think twice before coming to Newark with any other agenda than to protest peacefully.” One law enforcement official was charged with stealing $10,000 worth of camera equipment from an Associated Press photojournalist who had been injured while covering the standoff. The journalist, Angelina Katsanis, was struck in the knee by a wood beam during a clash between police and demonstrators. She sought medical attention and used a geo-tracking device to trace her missing gear to his home, the state’s attorney general said Thursday. New Jersey leaders and local officials take actionDemocratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill was initially reluctant to intervene in the growing protests. But as the violence intensified, she declared the situation had “grown unsafe” and “unacceptable” and called in the state police to restore order. State troopers set up designated protest zones and vehicle checkpoints as ICE officers who had been stationed in front of the detention center agreed to stand down. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, meanwhile, imposed a 9 p.m. curfew and sent in city police to enforce it. But just a week later, the Democrat said the city would scale back its police presence, saying arrests had dropped and he was reluctant to continue spending tax dollars to guard a privately owned facility.The state’s attorney general filed a lawsuit this week against Geo Group, alleging that the facility denied state health inspectors “full access” to investigate allegations. PHILIP MARCELO Marcelo is a general assignment reporter in the NYC bureau. He previously wrote for AP Fact Check and before that was based in Boston, where he focused on race and immigration. twitter mailto CLAIRE GALOFARO Galofaro is a national writer on AP’s investigations team. She is based in Louisville, Kentucky. twitter mailto

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning at Dodger Stadium. LOS ANGELES — The game was effectively over before most of the crowd had settled into their seats.The Dodgers erupted for nine runs in the first inning Saturday night at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto made sure there would be no path back for the Angels in a commanding 9-2 victory.Shohei Ohtani's second hit of the 1st inning is a home run!The @Dodgers have scored NINE runs already 😱 pic.twitter.com/5Zt7k9w3SG— MLB (@MLB) June 7, 2026Behind another dominant outing from Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani’s 11th home run of the season, the Dodgers improved to 42-23 and continued their complete control of the Freeway Series. Through five meetings this year, the Dodgers have outscored the Angels 41-5.“I was given the big lead because I had a lot of run support today,” Yamamoto said. “So I was focusing on executing my pitches one at a time.”That focus never wavered.Yamamoto delivered one of his most efficient starts of the season, allowing just two hits and one earned run across eight innings while walking nobody and striking out four. He needed only 93 pitches to complete eight innings and generated a 29 percent called strikes plus whiffs rate.The lone blemish came early when Oswald Peraza lined a two-out RBI triple in the first inning. From there, Yamamoto took complete control.After allowing the run-scoring triple, the right-hander retired 22 consecutive batters. The Angels rarely threatened and never forced him into stressful situations, a testament to both his command and ability to attack hitters regardless of the scoreboard.“Sometimes you catch a big lead and the pitcher starts losing focus and walking guys and not making pitches,” Dave Roberts said. “He was pitching like it was a tie ballgame.”The outing continued a remarkable stretch for Yamamoto, who has surrendered just three earned runs over his last four starts. During that span, his ERA has dropped from 3.60 to 2.68, and he has recorded three quality starts while improving to 6-4 on the season.“The adjustment throwing out of the stretch is one thing, but overall, the main stuff is coming all together, so it’s been working out,” Yamamoto said.The biggest challenge may have come before he ever returned to the mound.The Dodgers sent 13 batters to the plate during a marathon first inning that lasted long enough to test any starting pitcher’s routine. While the offense piled on run after run, Yamamoto worked behind the scenes to stay loose.“I went back inside in the cage and then I kept myself moving,” Yamamoto said. “So I can focus on containing my condition.”The Dodgers' offensive avalanche began immediately.Ohtani opened the game with an infield single before Andy Pages crushed an 89 mph changeup into the Dodgers bullpen for his 14th homer of the season, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Max Muncy followed with consecutive singles to load the bases. Rookie Ryan Ward then delivered a two-run double to center field, extending the lead to 4-1.Dalton Rushing, starting after Will Smith was scratched with neck stiffness, drew a walk that chased Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz from the game after just one-third of an inning.Things only got worse for the Angels.After reliever Brent Suter entered, Alex Freeland hit a routine ground ball to shortstop Zach Neto. Instead of ending the threat, Neto’s errant throw sailed past first base, allowing three Dodgers runners to score and stretching the lead to 7-1.“We always say you can’t give a good team extra outs,” Roberts said. “To give us extra outs, just makes us tough to beat.”Then came Ohtani’s exclamation point.Batting for the second time in the inning, Ohtani launched an 89 mph sinker into left-center field for a two-run homer, his 11th of the season and 35th RBI. The blast pushed the Dodgers' lead to 9-1 and capped the highest-scoring inning by the Dodgers this season.The nine-run first inning marked the most runs the Dodgers have scored in a single inning since July 2, 2021, against Washington.Remarkably, they never scored again.They didn’t need to.Kochanowicz absorbed the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits in just one-third of an inning. His ERA climbed to 6.05 and his record fell to 2-5.Meanwhile, Yamamoto turned the remainder of the evening into a pitching clinic.“I allowed the first run of the game,” Yamamoto said. “After that, I stayed composed and kept my pitch count low and that was a good thing so I was able to go through eight innings.”The Angels added their final run in the ninth when Neto connected for a solo homer off reliever Jack Dreyer, but by then the outcome had long been decided.Rushing appreciated what Yamamoto's efficiency meant beyond just Saturday's win.“That was pretty big for us,” Rushing said. “It leaves our bullpen fresh for tomorrow, sweep the series.”Yamamoto also took time after the game to praise fellow Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki, who has found success recently behind a devastating splitter.“Obviously I’m very happy because he’s been doing good over his last few starts,” Yamamoto said. “I know because he’s been accumulating a lot of work, putting in a lot of effort, so I’m very proud of him.”Nine runs in the first inning grabbed the headlines. Yamamoto’s quiet dominance ensured there would be no drama afterward.The Dodgers are now 5-0 against the Angels this season and will go for a series sweep Sunday afternoon behind right-hander Emmet Sheehan. The Angels will counter with Jose Soriano as they try to avoid being swept and salvage one game from a rivalry that has belonged entirely to the Dodgers in 2026.

NEW CHANDIGARH, India (AP) — Afghanistan hit back with three wickets in the opening session of Day 2 but India remains in control at 475-6 in its first innings in a one-off cricket test.Mohammad Saleem added two more wickets to his tally as India added another 107 for the loss of three wickets in the first session Sunday at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. After joining Lokesh Rahul (100) with a century of his own on Day 1, Indian skipper Shubman Gill could only add another 23 runs before he was caught behind off Saleem (4-109) for 126, with 15 fours and a six.Gill and Rishabh Pant put on 169 runs for the fourth wicket to seize control for the hosts. Pant then added a quick-fire 36 runs with Dhruv Jurel before the set duo was out in the space of six deliveries – Saleem bowled Jurel (19) to get his fourth, while Pant was caught at the boundary off Hashmatullah Shahidi for 8Washington Sundar was 14 not out and debutant Manav Suthar was on nine at the break.It is only the second test between the teams – India had hosted Afghanistan’s inaugural test in Bengaluru and the home side won by an innings and 262 runs.On Day 1, India had won the toss and opted to bat, finishing the day at 368-3. ___AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may finally don senior India jersey as the 15-year-old was picked for the England and Ireland T20Is as well as the 2026 Asian Games squad.If Sooryavanshi earns a cap on the UK tour, he will make history as he will become the youngest player ever to represent India in international cricket, going past a record that has stood for decades, that of Sachin Tendulkar, who debuted at 16 years and 207 days.CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR BET WITH DAFABETSooryavanshi had already made an impact in his first IPL year before following it up with an even more dominant campaign, where he swept individual awards after scoring 776 runs in 16 matches. Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar lavished praise on the youngster and said: "I think he has just picked himself, really. What do you say? We've seen what he can do. You saw even towards those playoffs, he almost single-handedly carried Rajasthan Royals."For a young kid, I don't need to talk about how well he's batting or how well he's playing. And it's not just this season. He obviously had a great start last season, and to back it up, for a young kid in a competition that's as competitive and as high-pressure an environment as this, is special."Add The Sporting News as a preferred news sourceWill Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's parents accompany him on England, Ireland tour?The Board of Control for Cricket in India has requested Sooryavanshi's parents to travel alongside him to the tours England and Ireland.Sooryavanshi has been included in the India A squad, which is set to play three ODIs in Sri Lanka, and will also fly out to Ireland after being included in the senior T20I squad. “As he is a child, we have decided to allow his parents to accompany him to Ireland and England, so that they can be with him and help him settle in the new environment. The Board will cover all their expenses,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia was quoted as saying by Sportstar.“We will make a request to his parents. If they are willing to go, then they can go. In fact, his father is travelling to Sri Lanka tomorrow. That is our thinking. And after that, if his parents also wish to go to England, BCCI will support that because he is a kid."MORE: Visit Cricket News for all the latest cricket coverage and opinionIndia squad for Ireland, England T20Is 2026PlayerRoleShreyas IyerCaptain (c)Tilak VarmaVice-captain (vc)Sanju SamsonWicketkeeper (wk)Ishan KishanWicketkeeper (wk)Abhishek SharmaBatterShivam DubeAll-rounderNitish Kumar ReddyAll-rounderAxar PatelAll-rounderWashington SundarAll-rounderVarun ChakravarthyBowlerMohammed SirajBowlerArshdeep SinghBowlerPrince YadavBowlerVaibhav SooryavanshiBatterIndia schedule for Ireland, England T20Is 2026SeriesMatchDateVenueIndia vs Ireland1st T20IJune 26, 2026BelfastIndia vs Ireland2nd T20IJune 28, 2026BelfastIndia vs England1st T20IJuly 1, 2026DurhamIndia vs England2nd T20IJuly 3, 2026ManchesterIndia vs England3rd T20IJuly 6, 2026NottinghamIndia vs England4th T20IJuly 9, 2026BristolIndia vs England5th T20IJuly 11, 2026SouthamptonDafabetBEST ODDS AND OFFERSCLICK TO BET

Bruno Fernandes: Man United star’s electric form continues for PortugalManchester United had numerous players involved in international friendlies on Saturday.Bruno FernandesBruno Fernandes has had a wonderful season for his club, breaking the Premier League record with 21 assists.The United catalyst scored a stunning long-distance strike as Portugal beat Chile 2-1.He also had four key passes and created one big chance in the game for his side. The Portuguese star also completed 100% of his long ball attempts.Diogo DalotDiogo Dalot came on for the second half of Portugal’s win.He completed one key pass and 86% of his attempts found their target. Dalot also had a glorious chance to score but ballooned his effort over the bar from close range.Tyler FletcherTyler Fletcher made his second appearance for Scotland in a 4-0 win over Bolivia.He came on as a second-half substitute for the final 10 minutes. Fletcher kept it tidy, completing 100% of his pass attempts.Marcus RashfordThe United man had five key passes in England’s 1-0 win over New Zealand.He completed 82% of his passes and had two shots on goal without hitting the target.Rashford was successful in one dribble attempt and won two of his three ground duels in his 45 minutes of action.Kobbie MainooKobbie Mainoo played 45 minutes for England as well, making one key pass. He was tidy on the ball, keeping possession 89% of the time.He also completed 100% of his dribbles and 100% of his tackles in a tidy showing.Matheus CunhaMatheus Cunha came on as a second-half substitute in a 2-1 win over Egypt.He had one shot that was blocked and completed 78% of his passes.Cunha did win three duels too. Former United star Casemiro started the game for the Brazilians. He made one key pass and had one shot on goal.Lisandro MartinezLisandro Martinez played 63 minutes of Argentina’s 2-0 win over Honduras.He won two of his three aerial battles and completed 100% of his passes. Martinez also had a shot on goal but it did not hit the target.Hinata MiyazawaHinata Miyazawa played 75 minutes of Japan Women’s 5-0 win over South Africa.She made one key pass and had one shot on target. The Japanese midfielder also won 100% of her aerial duels.Bruno Fernandes' stats vs ChileFeatured image by Molly Darlington/Getty Imagesonline 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

Braves exposed by glaring problem during Drake Baldwin's oblique recovery originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Atlanta Braves’ primary catcher is Drake Baldwin, and that has essentially been the case for the past two seasons with Sean Murphy battling injuries. This season, Baldwin got off to a hot start as he looked to build on his Rookie of the Year campaign.The Braves are the best team in baseball with 44 wins, and there is no denying that. However, Baldwin has been sidelined for the past couple of weeks while dealing with an oblique injury.“The Atlanta Braves put Drake Baldwin on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, with an MRI revealing that the star catcher has a Grade 1 right oblique strain. Baldwin, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year, was replaced by backup catcher Sandy Leon in the sixth inning of Monday's 12-0 loss to the Miami Marlins. Manager Walt Weiss said Baldwin initially felt a slight discomfort after his second at-bat but not painful enough to warrant his removal,” ESPN wrote.Baldwin is nearing a return, though it remains unclear exactly when that will be for Atlanta. The catcher has recently resumed baseball activities.“Drake Baldwin said he has just started doing some baseball activities. Still hasn’t been cleared for dry swings. While he’s hopeful to return as soon as possible, he said he’s not aiming for a specific date,” MLB.com’s Mark Bowman wrote.However, without Baldwin, the Braves have a significant lineup problem that cannot be ignored. The offensive production from the catcher position has been extremely poor in his absence.“Braves catchers are 1-for-40 over the past 13 games,” MLB writer Jason Foster posted.Baldwin is an important bat in the lineup, but the production from the catching spot has been a major issue. Combined with Ha-Seong Kim’s struggles, it often feels as though Atlanta is effectively hitting with just seven players.Even so, it is impressive that the Braves have continued winning at the rate they have. The catching situation has provided little help, and Baldwin’s return cannot come soon enough to restore balance to the lineup.Mets' Jorge Polanco reportedly re-injured his achilles, says manager Carlos MendozaBraves writer urges GM Alex Anthopoulos to trade for 'impact' starter amid Spencer Strider's returnBraves-Twins trade pitch sends $100M disgruntled Silver Slugger, Gold Glove winner to AtlantaPhillies predicted to trade for Twins' disgruntled $100M Silver Slugger, Gold Glove winner

Arne Slot decision may have just stopped 'brilliant' star from exiting AnfieldArne Slot was relieved of his duties last week. The Dutchman massively underdelivered and, even though he thought his job was safe, Fenway Sports Group had other ideas.Andoni Iraola is now the man at the helm and, for most Liverpool fans, the Spaniard was the perfect player to take over.His attacking-style of football is exactly what the Reds have been lacking this term and, with the summer transfer window just around the corner, some serious moves could be about to get made.However, in order for this to happen, some of the Reds' players will need to be moved on so that they can generate funds to abide by the Premier League's PSR rules.But, for one Liverpool player, Slot being relieved of his duties may have just kept him at the club.Arne Slot being sacked may have stopped Rio Ngumoha from exiting LiverpoolRio Ngumoha is one of the Premier League's brightest prospects.Although the 2025-26 campaign has been his first time being fully integrated into Liverpool's first-team squad, he still set the footballing world alight.His performances were better than Cody Gakpo's on many occasions and his versatility was a sight to behold.However, since it took Slot a rather long time to give him the first-team chance he deserved, there's no wonder why he may have been questioning his future, especially if Bayern Munich were calling him up.But, a fresh update from Florian Plettenberg has shared that talks between the two parties have since collapsed."The deal between FC Bayern and Rio Ngumoha already collapsed yesterday (despite a verbal agreement) because it was clear behind the scenes that Liverpool would NOT sell the player," he wrote."However, there were phone calls, meetings and direct talks between Vincent Kompany/Ngumoha. As also reported by David Ornstein, Ngumoha became Bayern’s primary target once the Anthony Gordon deal began to collapse."Bayern are now focused on two transfers: Nathaniel Brown and Ismael Saibari. If both deals go through, it’s very likely that NO additional left winger will be signed, as both players are capable of playing in that position."Andoni Iraola's arrival may have saved Liverpool's baconDuring his first Premier League start, Ngumoha was described as a "brilliant" player by Jamie Carragher.The attacker offered something that the Reds didn't have for most of the campaign and, without him in some of their games, results could have ended up going the other way.And, since their attacking options are already fairly limited, losing Ngumoha would be a travesty.The two years he currently has on his deal will keep him around for now but, without a new deal being negotiated, it does feel like he could be prised away at any point.Iraola needs to give the 17-year-old a fair chance at playing time and, if he manages to meet expectations like everyone knows he will, Liverpool could end up saving a fortune.Nobody knows what Liverpool have planned for their future but for now, giving Ngumoha a chance to prove his worth should be at the top of their priority list, especially since t.

🥐☕️ FC Breakfast: Marquinhos howler 🥶, EAFC predicts champions 🔮Brazil dominate Egypt, but...On the night from Saturday to Sunday, Brazil faced Egypt (2-1) in their final warm-up match before the World Cup. While the Seleçao won thanks to two goals from Bruno Guimaraes (7th) and Endrick (52nd), the Brazilians lost Wesley to injury and also saw their captain Marquinhos stand out with a huge mistake on Egypt’s goal.Check out the videos of the match’s three goals below.EA Sports predicts the World Cup winner 🔮As before every major competition, EA Sports runs a simulation. They correctly predicted the previous 4 winners, and this time their pick is Spain... agree or not? Endrick pulls off an impossible challenge 🤯Red Bull challenged several pro players with different tasks. One of them was Endrick, who impressed with his technical speed. It’s in moments like these that you realize the huge gap between us and the pros... How many cones do you think you could get past? Evra too strong for Yamal ⚔️Known for his regularly provocative statements, Patrice Evra has once again dropped an opinion that will get people talking... according to him, he would have had Yamal in his pocket if he’d had to defend against him in his prime. Has Uncle Pat lost it again or do you agree? Yesterday’s must-see stories 🍿- This week’s kit news - This World Cup star loses it in a friendly- These brothers will play in the World Cup for different national teamsTV schedule 📺18:30: Denmark - Ukraine (L'Equipe live) 20:45: Croatia - Slovenia (L'Equipe live)21:00: Greece - Italy (La chaîne L'Equipe) 21:00: Morocco - Norway (L'Equipe live) This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN - JUNE 06: Grant Enfinger, driver of the #9 Grant County Mulch/Ed's Equipment Chevrolet, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #42 Precision Vehicle Logistics Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series DQS Solutions & Staffing 250 presented by Precision Vehicle Logistics at Michigan International Speedway on June 06, 2026 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Brett Farmer/Getty Images) | Getty Images Termination🚨🇫🇷 EXCL: Anthony Martial and Rayados have agreed on contract termination on a mutual agreement.The French striker leaves Mexican side as a free agent. 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/FAPFFZRd4H— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 6, 2026Hmm🚨 Official: Zadok Yohanna joins Brighton from AIK Stockholm on a contract until June 2031, winning the race against 4 clubs. 🇳🇬£21.5m fee invested on talented winger by #BHAFC. 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Xfj9yUIgKS— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 6, 2026Keen🚨 Roberto De Zerbi is keen to bring Cody Gakpo to Tottenham this summer.Gakpo is open to leaving Anfield after Arne Slot’s departure – they had a special relationship.De Zerbi is said to be a long-time admirer of the Dutch forward and is currently working on a strategy to… pic.twitter.com/YrHmgktt3Q— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) June 6, 2026

Motorsport photoMotoGP teams have agreed to increase the distance between the rows on the starting grid from the upcoming German Grand Prix, Motorsport.com has learned.The measure comes in response to the multi-rider crash that occurred at Turn 1 of the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit during the first restart of the Catalan Grand Prix, from which Johann Zarco has yet to fully recover. The Frenchman suffered a serious knee injury after his left leg became trapped in the rear section of Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati following a high-speed chain-reaction accident under braking at the first corner.Since the incident, which took place in mid-May, officials from MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group (MGPSEG), the championship promoter, have held several meetings with the Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers Association (MSMA) and team representatives to devise a strategy aimed at reducing, as much as possible, the congestion of bikes into the first corner of grands prix, where the majority of race-start accidents tend to occur.Following a series of discussions, the parties held a final meeting on Saturday afternoon, from which emerged a two-phase roadmap.Starting with the Sachsenring round on 12 June, the distance between each row of the starting grid will be increased by four metres, providing riders with more room and greater separation at the launch. At the same time, the intention is to ban the use of ride-height devices at the start of races from the British Grand Prix in mid-August, the first event after the summer break.Carlos Ezpeleta, Dorna SportsCarlos Ezpeleta, Dorna SportsTeams have agreed to carry out an initial test of the revised procedure at the next round of the calendar, scheduled to take place in Brno in two weeks’ time. If the outcome proves satisfactory, the proposal will be submitted to the Grand Prix Commission for approval and the corresponding amendment to the regulations.In practice, this is considered a formality given the broad consensus among all parties involved.Speaking at Mugello last week, MotoGP sporting director Carlos Ezpeleta acknowledged that MGPSEG was evaluating a number of measures together with the teams and the MSMA, which are now set to be introduced as soon as possible.“Changing the grid is a very, very significant modification for the championship and, depending on the space available between the starting line and the final corner, it could require substantial changes at some circuits,” Ezpeleta said in Italy last week regarding the proposal to increase spacing between grid rows.The ban on ride-height devices had already been planned as part of the new technical regulations due to come into force next season, but the Barcelona accident has accelerated its implementation.Unlike the rules that will apply from 2027, riders will still be allowed to use the rear ride-height device during the race itself. Initially, the possibility of introducing the ban only at Silverstone and Phillip Island was considered, given the higher level of risk posed by their fast, sweeping first corners when the field arrives in a tightly packed group. Ultimately, however, it was decided that the restriction should apply at all circuits.“The proposal to ban ride-height devices is for every circuit [...]. It is now up to the manufacturers to evaluate it. This is a discussion with an expiry date because the devices will no longer be part of the sport in 2027, so the question is whether we can do something already this year,” Ezpeleta said at the time. Read Also: MotoGP proposes four safety solutions following Barcelona drama To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig) looks on during match day 33 1.Bundesliga, RB Leipzig and St. Pauli, Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany on May 09 2026. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande was named Bundesliga rookie of the year for the 2025/26 season after a solid campaign with Die Roten Bullen that saw him finish with 13 goals and 10 assists from a total of 36 appearances across all competitions. Diomande’s numbers are all the more impressive when factoring in the time he spent away from the club for the African Cup of Nations in the winter with the Ivory Coast national team — even it he really only missed one match during that span for Leipzig, it’s still a task to reintegrate with the club after time away with a national team in a different part of the world and a different climate.In winning the rookie of the year award, Diomande, who is a highly sought after transfer target heading into this summer, takes the place of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, who won the accolade after his 12 goals and 15 assists in his first Bundesliga campaign with the German Rekordmeister. Naturally, comparisons between the two players have been drawn much like Lennart Karl has been likened to a similar playing style and frame as Lionel Messi — it’s almost human instinct to relate similar playing styles as a football fan despite them all being separate individuals.As such, when Diomande was recently asked about whether or not he is looking up to Olise after succeeding him as the Bundesliga’s rookie of the year, he said that he’s just taking what he can from what he sees while remaining his own type of player. “I’m not [trying to learn from Olise]. I have a big respect for him, but I’m not looking at him. I’m looking at him as a player, I want to do something like him, but I’m watching him on TV when Bayern are playing…like, I watch Harry Kane, or Luis Díaz, because they’re top players. So I’m learning something from them, but it’s not feeling like I’m going only to my TV to watch him play,” the winger recently told ESPN (via @iMiaSanMia).Diomande has been linked with a potential move to Bayern along with a plethora of other top clubs across Europe as he’s expressed an openness to leaving Leipzig this summer. Both Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain have showed heavy interest as of late, though Sky Sport’s Florian Plettenberg has reported that Leipzig’s Oliver Mintzlaff, Jürgen Klopp, and Marcel Schäfer are remaining hopeful that their winger will sign a new deal with the club.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

SANTOS, Brazil (AP) — As the FIFA World Cup approaches, the image of one of Brazil's most recognizable footballers lives on in Santos, the one-time home of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, far better known as Pelé.Tourists like Mario Álvarez Gamiño, a 67-year-old retired salesperson from Mexico, flock to Santos to see anything that connects the Brazilian port city to the man. The soccer legend's legacy is everywhere — in vibrant murals by street artist Eduardo Kobra, among the memorabilia of his beloved club and even on posters glued to local lampposts.“His legacy is fundamental. His life will always be an example to follow,” Álvarez said. “At the moment we have Cristiano Ronaldo ... but he lacks something that Pelé had, which is humility. ... He was really a genius.”Pelé, who died in 2022 at age 82, played at Santos Futebol Clube for most of his career, from 1956 to 1974. He also played for Brazil's team in the World Cup — including three wins in 1958, 1962 and 1970.Santos is also home to the Pelé Museum, where fans can learn more about Pelé's life and see various memorabilia, including jerseys and trophies.“When you tell a foreigner you’re from Santos, the first thing they say is ‘Pelé’. That’s why we at the museum have a great responsibility: to carry the name of Pelé and the city of Santos,” said museum director Paulo Monteiro. "After his death, we now have a greater and more difficult mission, which is to keep his legacy active and alive.”Many of the more than 400,000 residents of Santos never had the chance to see Pelé in action, but they want the legacy to live on.Among them is bar owner Anderson Albino.“As local business owners, we see how much international media comes here and how that draws huge numbers of visitors,” Albino said. “For those of us from the city, it’s a privilege that Pelé played for Santos.” ____Savarese reported from Sao Paulo.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Jürgen Klopp’s agent Marc Kosicke has dismissed assertions by Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme, who claimed the German coach was his top choice to lead the team if he wins Sunday’s election.“It’s annoying, Jürgen Klopp is content in his role at Red Bull and has no ambitions of coaching a club. The Real Madrid chapter is currently closed for him, especially given the present situation and surrounding circumstances. The only job he finds particularly appealing in the future is the German national team,” said Kosicke in quotes for Sky Germany.Riquelme is unlikely to win the election, but he will almost certainly have to look elsewhere for his coaching position even if he manages to beat Florentino Pérez today.

Barcelona keeping track of these five European super talents including Bayern Munich starletBarcelona have raised eyebrows with the acquisition of Anthony Gordon this summer and are in active pursuit of another great striker in Julian Alvarez.However, the club are also attentive to the youth market and are on the lookout for young talents with a higher ceiling. According to Mundo Deportivo, five names in particular are generating strong internal reports at the club.Lennart Karl — Bayern MunichThe 18-year-old German midfielder has been causing a sensation with his goalscoring ability and pace. Lennart Karl will miss the World Cup. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)An injury sustained in training last Friday, a muscle tear, will prevent him from featuring at the World Cup, but his development trajectory has clearly caught Barcelona’s attention.Kees Smit — AZ AlkmaarThe 20-year-old Dutch midfielder is considered one of the most promising players in the Netherlands, noted for his tactical intelligence, passing range and ability to control the tempo of matches. Several major European clubs are monitoring his situation, and Barcelona are among them.Rodrigo Mora — PortoThe 19-year-old Portuguese playmaker is regarded as one of the most exciting creative talents in European football. Barcelona are keeping tabs on Rodrigo Mora. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)Capable of making things happen between the lines through his technique, dribbling and chance creation, he made his professional debut at a record age and is already drawing widespread admiration.Lewis Miley — NewcastleThe 20-year-old Englishman has quickly established himself as one of the great hopes of his generation, combining physical maturity with the ability to play multiple roles in midfield. His composure and reading of the game have been described as well beyond his years.Ibrahim Maza — Bayer LeverkusenAfter excelling at Hertha Berlin, the 20-year-old Algerian-German attacker was signed by Leverkusen and continues to develop rapidly. His creativity, driving runs and vision make him one of the most watchable young players in the Bundesliga.

NBA reporter calls for Spurs to bench De'Aaron Fox in favor of better fit with Victor Wembanyama originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The San Antonio Spurs lost Game 2 of the NBA Finals in heartbreaking fashion after having a chance to win it at the end. The Spurs are now down 2-0 in the series after defeating the defending champion New York Knicks in Game 1.At the end of regulation in Game 2, San Antonio had an opportunity to run the clock down for the final shot. Instead, Victor Wembanyama tried to push the ball upcourt and turned it over, which led to Jalen Brunson free throws and a loss.“Having just contested a Jalen Brunson miss, Wembanyama grabbed his ninth rebound and looked to initiate the fast break for what could have been the game-winning basket. The Frenchman would later admit urgency got the better of him, ultimately leading to the Spurs falling 105-104 to the New York Knicks to go down 2-0 in the series,” ESPN’s Michael C. Wright wrote.The Spurs will need to win Game 3 if they want any chance of taking control of the series. Dylan Harper has provided the Spurs with a different dimension compared to De’Aaron Fox.“Harper, listed at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, is bigger than Fox (6-3, 185) and defends far more physically. That better equips him to guard Brunson and potentially switch onto bigger players as well,” CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn wrote.Not only has Harper provided more than Fox at times, but he is also more versatile. Harper has been more effective alongside Wembanyama than Fox has been. NBA reporter Evan Sidery believes the Spurs should consider benching Fox in favor of Harper.“The Spurs are outscoring the Knicks by 15.3 points per 100 possessions when Dylan Harper shares the court with Victor Wembanyama. Needing to win three of the next four to force a Game 7 in the NBA Finals, it’s time to bench De’Aaron Fox in favor of Wembanyama’s long-term option,” Sidery wrote.All of the pressure is now on the Spurs, while New York will be able to play freely. If San Antonio wants its best chance to win, it may need to give Harper an opportunity in the starting lineup to see if it sparks a shift.It would be a bold move for the Spurs to start Harper over Fox, but they will likely stick with the veteran. However, numbers don’t lie, and if they are paying attention, the data suggests Harper deserves a larger role.More NBA news:Rockets predicted to trade Jabari Smith Jr., ex-Laker for Wizards' $175M Finals champion, All-StarSpurs' Victor Wembanyama admits he was stuck on the Thunder 'high' after going down 2-0 vs. KnicksWarriors' Stephen Curry reportedly meeting with LeBron James to finish careers in Golden StateLakers predicted to trade Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, draft capital for Bucks' $175M former MVP

Rio Ngumoha, 17, dazzles on England debut vs New Zealand, becomes fifth-youngest Three Lions player everNgumoha was handed his first appearance for England as a second-half substitute during England's 1-0 win over New Zealand on Saturday.Though the 17-year-old has not been included in the squad for the 2026World Cup, he is among a group included by Tuchel to join the pre-tournament preparations.Ngumoha came on at half-time in Tampa to become the youngest England debutant since Jude Bellingham in 2020, and the fifth youngest of all time.A live-wire performance from the teenager saw him earn the man-of-the-match accolade, in an impressive first outing for the Three Lions.Ngumoha's debut concludes an impressive breakout campaign at Liverpool, in which the winger made 29 first-team appearances, scoring twice. He has been nominated for thePFA Young Player of the Year award.Four of England's five youngest debutants have come this century. Theo Walcott holds the record, having made his first international appearance aged just 17 years and 75 days against Hungary in 2006.The 10 youngest players in England history:1. Theo Walcott - 17 years and 75 days (Debut v Hungary on 30/05/2006)2. Wayne Rooney - 17 years and 111 days (Debut v Australia on 12/02/2003)3. Jude Bellingham - 17 years and 136 days (Debut v Republic of Ireland on 12/11/2020)4. James Prinsep - 17 years and 252 days (Debut v Scotland on 05/04/1879)5. Rio Ngumoha - 17 years and 281 days (Debut v New Zealand on 06/06/2026)6. Thurston Rostron - 17 years and 311 days (Debut v Wales on 26/02/1881)7. Raheem Sterling - 17 years and 342 days (Debut v Sweden on 14/11/2012)8. Clement Mitchell - 18 years and 24 days (Debut v Wales on 15/03/1880)9. Michael Owen - 18 years and 59 days (Debut v Chile on 11/02/1998)10. Callum Hudson-Odoi – 18 years and 135 days (Debut v Czechia on 22/03/2019)

Gasperini wants to keep Ndicka: Ghilardi, Ziolkowski can leaveFor long stretches of the season, Roma had the best defense in Europe’s top five leagues. From Svilar to the trio of Mancini, Ndicka, and Hermoso, the contribution should be extended to the entire team, which worked well without possession. For Gian Piero Gasperini, the defensive block was crucial to reaching the Champions League. It’s important to remember that Roma’s central defenders are also the team’s top scorers in Serie A (10). A valuable dual role that the Grugliasco-born coach doesn’t want to give up.Gasperini has sent a clear signal to the club in discussions about building the team of the future: he wants to keep the defensive block from the recently concluded season intact and aim even higher. Here’s what Il Tempo reports. Roma finished the season with the second-best defense in Serie A, conceding just 31 goals in 38 games. The four pillars of the Giallorossi defense are in different situations: Svilar is considered indispensable, Hermoso will remain as his annual renewal clause has been exercised, Mancini has been secured by Gasperini, while Ndicka is the player most rumored to be involved in the transfer market. The 1999-born player seems the prime candidate to leave the capital. He has also attracted interest from several clubs abroad. Gasperini, however, is looking more at Ziolkowski and Ghilardi to secure the necessary capital gains by June 30th rather than the Ivorian center-back.

Tuchel not concerned by lacklustre England performanceThomas Tuchel has insisted England will get better when the competition improves after a lacklustre performance against New Zealand on Saturday.Harry Kane scored the only goal as England laboured to a 1-0 win over a New Zealand side currently ranked 85th in the world. The Three Lions experimented heavily in the red-hot Tampa heat, with two entirely different teams featuring in either half.As a result of the conditions and changes, England lacked rhythm, in a fixture played at training ground pace. Despite that, Tuchel is not concerned, and insisted his team will continue to improve as the World Cup approaches.England face Costa Rica in a second warm-up fixture, before opening their World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 19th.“The better the opponent gets, the better we will get,” Tuchel said.“I was happier with the second half. I thought we had more hunger and more desire. We played better but did not score.“We didn’t play according to our plan in the first half. It slowed the game down, but it was better in the second half.“We will acclimatise to the humidity and the sun while we are here. Tomorrow will be recovery day, then we have two days to prepare for Costa Rica. Then a chunk of players will get more minutes. The Arsenal players are in now, which is good because it gives us energy and quality, and then we have another one and a half days off.“Then we go to Kansas and prepare for Croatia.”Read – Bellingham admits England tactics ‘difficult’ to pull off at World CupSee more – Every Premier League player at the FIFA World Cup 2026Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

Curtis Jones one step away from Inter Milan dealLiverpool are making big changes to the midfield. Arne Slot lost his job as head coach last week and midfield was a problem during the 2025/26 season.The Reds were unable to defend their Premier League title and there were poor performances from the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister.Accordingly it has been suggested that sporting director Richard Hughes is in the market for midfield reinforcements.Lamine Camara and Adam Wharton are among the players linked with an Anfield arrival but space will need to be made for new faces.The biggest candidate for a departure is Curtis Jones.Inter prefer Curtis Jones to Manu KoneLiverpool’s homegrown midfielder is only under contract until 2027 and struggled to nail down a place in the starting XI last season. With little chance of a breakthrough in contract talks the England international may well be sacrificed.Inter Milan are leading the chase for Jones - and view him as a more economical signing than Roma’s France international Manu Kone.The Italian champions were interested in Jones back in January but ultimately no deal could be done. Now - pending negotiations - the 25-year-old could be on the way to the Serie A giants.Inter still need to come up with the cash“Jones hasn't forgotten Inter, and Inter hasn't forgotten him, especially because Chivu sees the 25-year-old Liverpool midfielder as the ideal candidate to strengthen his midfield,” a report reads in Tuttosport.“Jones, as a good Premier League player, has pace and versatility and would certainly add something different to the players currently in the squad.“Furthermore, and not least, Jones costs less than Roma's Frenchman.”It has been claimed that Inter lowballed Liverpool in initial talks - failing to meet the Reds’ demands.Green light soon around €25mThere remains a gap in valuations between Inter and Liverpool - but subject to certain conditions being met - including a resale clause - the deal will soon get the green light.“Koné is valued by the Giallorossi at €50 million, a figure that could be lowered to around €45 million in a negotiation, while Liverpool have started with a €30-€35 million request for Jones,” the report reads.“Last week, Ausilio made an initial offer of €20 million, backed by a contract that expires in 2027 and which Jones has so far refused to renew (an idea that shouldn't change despite the change in management from Slot to Iraola).“There's therefore a gap, but also the feeling that the deal could be halfway there. How much? Probably €25 million, although an agreement on the percentage of the future resale price would need to be reached, a detail the Reds are very keen on.”

Bruno Fernandes scores winner as Portugal beat ChileBruno Fernandes scored the decisive goal as Portugal beat Chile 2-1 in a World Cup warm-up fixture.The Manchester United continued his outstanding club form for the national team, sweeping in the second goal for Portugal after Goncalo Guedes, on as a substitute for Cristiano Ronaldo, had opened the scoring.Lucas Cepeda’s late goal was little more than consolation for Chile, who failed to qualify for this summer’s tournament in North America.The pre-tournament friendly saw both sides reduced to 10 men before half-time, as Rafael Leao and Ivan Ramon received red cards for a needless scuffle near the touchline.However, it ended with Fernandes as the difference-maker, underlining the huge role he has in Portugal’s challenge this summer. The 31-year-old arrives at the World Cup after a career-best club campaign, in which he broke the Premier League’s single-season assist record (21).That achievement saw him win the Premier League Player of the Season and FWA Footballer of the Year awards, alongside a record fifth Manchester United Player of the Season prize. He is also the frontrunner to win the PFA Player of the Year award, which will be revealed in August.Read – Tuchel not concerned by lacklustre England performanceSee more – Bellingham admits England tactics ‘difficult’ to pull off at World CupFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

Roma show interest in PinamontiThe D’Amico era is about to begin. For the former Atalanta sporting director, awaiting the waiver to gain full powers as sporting director, tomorrow should be the day for the long-awaited announcement of his new experience at Roma. There’s plenty of work to do, from the incoming transfer market, with attention to Pinamonti, to the renewals and sales by June 30th. D’Amico also met yesterday in Bergamo with Atalanta to resolve his contract. Behind the scenes, however, he’s already started work, especially as Gian Piero Gasperini is pressing. The Grugliasco-born coach wants 16 starters to compete on multiple fronts. One of the hot topics is the attack. Gasperini expects some key signings that can raise the level of the attack, and the dream remains Greenwood from Marseille.Roma’s attacking certainty is Donyell Malen. As Il Messaggero reports, the Giallorossi are seeking buyers for Dovbyk, possibly permanently, and Vaz (loan), to improve their attack. Scamacca is not an option, while Pinamonti, offered by Riso, has not been ruled out. The Sassuolo striker finished the season with nine goals and four assists in 36 appearances.

Akram Awwad works on a locally manufactured toilet, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, June 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)2026-06-07T04:01:31Z Khan Younis, Gaza Strip (AP) — In their bare-bones tent in southern Gaza, Mostafa Shaaban built his family’s makeshift toilet behind a curtain in a corner. He dug a shallow pit in the sandy soil, poured a concrete slab around it, fixed a bottomless bucket over the hole, then topped it off with a battered, plastic toilet seat.It reeks with a foul odor and buzzes with flies and mosquitoes only a few feet from where they sleep and prepare meals. Every week, Shaaban has to dig the sewage sludge out of the pit. But at least it’s more private than the fetid communal latrines used by hundreds of other people in their sprawling tent camp.“I did not want the kids and my wife to use any public toilet. It is humiliating,” said the 38-year-old Shaaban, who was driven from his home city of Rafah by Israeli forces two years ago and eventually settled in a tent camp in Khan Younis. “The situation is revolting,” he said of having the toilet inside the tent, “but at least it has more dignity.”There is not a single proper toilet across the vast tent cities housing most of Gaza’s 1.7 million Palestinians left homeless by the war. Displaced families have largely been left on their own to dig their own latrines, some shared by extended families. At communal camp toilets, men, women and children wait in long lines then do their business behind a thin cloth or sheet of metal separating them from the crowd of strangers outside. Women fear walking to the communal toilets at night. Read More The result is a hygienic nightmare as horrible smells drift among the tightly packed tents and pools of sewage collect from leaking cesspits or from people dumping the contents of their latrines. More than 80% of the sewage pumping stations in Gaza have collapsed under Israel’s bombardment and offensives over the past 2 ½ years, rights groups say.Some aid groups have carried out projects to improve family toilets, but they have been small scale and supplies are limited. It remains far from certain when reconstruction of Gaza will begin. The U.S.-backed official overseeing the ceasefire in place since October has blamed Hamas for holding up the process by failing to reach an agreement on disarmament. The ceasefire deal calls for the entry of major construction and repair equipment into Gaza even before disarmament, and so far little has entered. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. “It’s the most basic right. Making a toilet is more important than food and water, because you see the insects everywhere, the smell covers everyone,” said Shaaban’s wife, Iman Mansour, who is pregnant with their third child. “We want something clean.”Building a latrine is not cheap. Shaaban said it took him a long time to set up his toilet because he had to buy the pipe for the latrine hole and the concrete to seal around it. The concrete often crumbles, so he has to buy more when he can afford it.A porcelain toilet seat runs from 1,700 to 2,000 shekels ($500 to $680), out of reach for most families. In any case, a seat in a tent latrine would simply be set over the hole to provide a more comfortable seat, unable to flush. So people improvise, using chairs or buckets with the bottom knocked out. Or they just squat over the hole. One vendor working out of a tent in Khan Younis makes metal sheets to fit around a latrine hole that at least are easier to clean, selling them for 100 shekels ($34).In one of the camps around Khan Younis, Khaled Kollab laboriously cleared the sewage drain and pools of untreated wastewater next to his tent. His tent latrine is a simple squat toilet with no seat, which he said was made of ramshackle supplies because he couldn’t afford anything better. His 3-year-old daughter, Sila, stood nearby, her body covered in lesions.“You go into this toilet and feel humiliation and shame,” Kollab said.___Ezzidin reported from Cairo.

MUMBAI: One of Indian cricket’s worst-kept secrets became official on Saturday as BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced Shreyas Iyer as India’s new T20I captain. In a cruel twist of fate, Suryakumar Yadav, who had led India to a third T20 World Cup title just three months ago, now finds himself out of the squad altogether.It’s the first time a world title-winning skipper has been axed for the team’s next international assignment, though some — like Imran Khan in 1992 and Rohit Sharma, who quit T20Is in 2024 — chose to retire on a high while savouring their triumph.The Rajasthan Royals opener forced his way into the team after a stunning IPL season in which he smashed 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.3, with a record 72 sixes.The appointment as captain marks a remarkable comeback for Shreyas, who has not played a T20I since Dec 2023. The 31-year-old will now lead India into a new T20 cycle that includes the 2028 Olympics and T20 World Cup.‘Shreyas was standout candidate’Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain, replacing Axar Patel, who served as deputy during India's 2026 World Cup triumph. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said Shreyas’s leadership record and consistency made him the standout choice.“We have seen what he has done over the last few years, leading different franchises. He won the IPL with KKR and then handled a tougher season this year after a great start. His own performances have been really good. He was quite close to making the World Cup squad as well. In my opinion, he is a standout candidate with enough experience now of having led in the T20 format,” Agarkar said.Agarkar acknowledged that Surya’s form and longterm planning influenced the decision. “With regard to Surya, it’s a tough one, having just won the World Cup. But after every World Cup, you reassess the best way forward. Partly his own form and partly looking at the next two-year cycle, we thought this was the best way forward,” he said. Agarkar was effusive about Sooryavanshi. “We have seen what he can do. Even in the playoffs, he almost singlehandedly carried Rajasthan Royals. For a young kid to perform in such a high-pressure environment and be such a game-changer is commendable,” he said.Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal has replaced the injured Virat Kohli in India’s ODI squad for the three-match series against Afghanistan.Delhi pacer Prince Yadav has been retained for the Ireland and England tours after earning an ODI call-up against Afghanistan.Squads for Ireland and Eng tours: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammad Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.India squad for Asiad: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh,Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

After a season of thrilling rivalries and deep postseason runs, it's time to decide the 2026 StarNews Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year in our end-of-season poll. The 2026 high school boys lacrosse season was packed with nonstop action, starting with Hoggard's conference title and state championship appearance. The Topsail boys lacrosse team also made a deep playoff run, falling in the state semifinal. This fan-driven poll features 31 nominees, at least one from each of the area's nine boys lacrosse programs. Vote as many times as you like now below until 11:59 p.m. on June 25. Now it's your turn to voice your opinion and vote for the 2026 StarNews Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year. VOTE FOR GIRLS LACROSSE Here are 26 nominees for StarNews girls lacrosse player of the yearThis article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Vote here in the 2026 StarNews Boys Lacrosse end-of-season poll

'An RCB fan!’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi breaks silence on emotional chat with 'elder brother' Virat Kohli after IPL final originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi reveals he was an RCB and Virat Kohli fan before.He described Kohli's post-final chat as feeling like talking to an elder brother.Sooryavanshi broke Gayle's six record and won five individual IPL awards.Vaibhav Sooryavanshi opens up on 'dream come true' chat with 'elder brother' Virat Kohli after IPL finalVaibhav Sooryavanshi has revealed that he was a Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru fan when he started following the Indian Premier League.The 15-year-old, who has become the most talked-about cricketer in the country over the past few months, saw Kohli walking up to him at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad following RCB's second consecutive title win against the Gujarat Titans. It was a surreal moment for Sooryavanshi, and he admitted that meeting the legend was a "dream come true".MORE: Revealed: RCB star Virat Kohli’s heartwarming 'Ek Bihari' message to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after IPL 2026 FinalIn a video shared by Rajasthan Royals, Sooryavanshi shared: "I was a fan of RCB before. Actually, I was a big fan of Virat Kohli. When Virat bhaiya placed his hand on my shoulder like that and when he was talking to me, it actually felt like a dream come true."What struck Sooryavanshi most was not the fact that Kohli, one of the biggest names in the sport's history, had sought him out, but the way in which he spoke."The way he spoke, it didn't seem that he was Virat Kohli," he said. "He was talking to me like an elder brother, the way he explained things and the way he told me things. He told me what I need to do and what focus I should have."Vaibhav Suryavanshi - I was an RCB fan before, and a hardcore Virat Kohli fan. When he put his hand on my shoulder and spoke to me, it genuinely felt like a dream. The way he was talking, it didn't even feel like I was speaking to Virat Kohli himself. pic.twitter.com/novZtpVAF6— Kohlistic🔥 (@Kohlistic18) June 7, 2026What did Virat Kohli say to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?RCB's official social media handle had already released the audio of the exchange, revealing the content of the conversation in full. Kohli told Sooryavanshi to keep climbing and not let outside noise distract him. “Yaha se upar jana hai. Jo huya hai woh achi mehnat aur belief ke wajah se huya. Kaun kya bol raha hai, kaise bol raha hai... Ek Bihari sab pe bhaari. Khatam game (From here, you only go higher. Whatever has happened is because of your hard work and belief. Doesn't matter what people say or how they say it. A Bihari beats them all. End of story),” he told Sooryavanshi.Sooryavanshi had a sensational IPL campaign as he struck 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.31. He broke Chris Gayle's long-standing record for the most sixes hit in a single IPL season, and walked away from the competition with five individual awards including the Orange Cap, the Most Valuable Player prize, and the Super Striker award. MORE: Why Tim David has been banned for RCB's first game in IPL 2027He spoke with an unaffected simplicity about winning the Orange Cap, the award given to the season's highest run-scorer. "Whenever I used to watch the IPL, I used to see the Orange Cap. I used to think, 'Let me touch it once and see how it feels.' Now I have won it, it feels very good, and that's why I always pray to God," he said. MORE: Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi make his India debut in UK trip?IPL 2026: All awards won by Vaibhav SooryavanshiAwardWinnerStatMost Valuable Player of the SeasonVaibhav Sooryavanshi436.5 MVP PointsOrange Cap (Most Runs)Vaibhav Sooryavanshi776 runsSuper Sixes of the SeasonVaibhav Sooryavanshi72 sixesSuper Striker of the SeasonVaibhav SooryavanshiSR: 237.31Emerging Player of the SeasonVaibhav SooryavanshiYoungest ever winner at 15To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics, visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

F1 free live streams: How to watch Formula 1 2026 Monaco Grand Prix without cable originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The 2026 Formula 1 Drivers' Championship continues this weekend with competition heading over to Europe for ten straight races. The Monaco Grand Prix gets underway Sunday.Heading into the seventh Grand Prix of the season, Mercedes is leading the pack far and away. 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli won his fourth race of the year in Canada on May 24, opening up a 43-point gap in the standings. Antonelli's teammate George Russell holds second.McLaren has been struggling to keep up, with reigning world champion Lando Norris barely holding onto fifth place, and Oscar Piastri in sixth. Lewis Hamilton helped Ferrari stay in second after securing a second place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix.How will the standings look after Monaco?Here's how to watch the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix for free, including TV channel and streaming options for the Formula 1 race.How to watch Monaco Grand Prix 2026 without cableTV channelStreamingNoneApple TVIn the United States, Apple TV has the exclusive rights to F1 for the 2026 season. New subscribers to Apple TV can sign up for a 7-day FREE trial. If you've bought an eligible Apple device recently, you can also get up to three months of the streaming service totally free. After that, the subscription will cost $12.99/month. For the 2026 season, Apple TV will host all Free Practice, Qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix with select races and all Free Practice sessions throughout the season available to watch for free in the Apple TV app.F1 TV Premium, F1’s own premier content offering, will continue to be available in the US via an Apple TV subscription only and will be free for those who subscribe.AppleMonaco Grand Prix 2026 start timeThe 2026 Monaco Grand Prix will take place at the Circuit de Monaco in Monaco on Sunday, June 7 and will begin at 3:00 p.m. local time.Here's how that start time translates across North America:DateStart timeEastern TimeSunday, June 79 a.m.Central TimeSunday, June 78 a.m.Mountain TimeSunday, June 77 a.m.Pacific TimeSunday, June 76 a.m.Formula 1 2026 calendar and schedule 2026DateCountryVenueMarch 6-8AustraliaMelbourneMarch 13-15ChinaShanghai (Sprint)March 27-29JapanSuzukaApril 10-12 (canceled)BahrainSakhirApril 17-19 (canceled)Saudi ArabiaJeddahMay 1-3USAMiami (Sprint)May 22-24CanadaMontreal (Sprint)June 5-7MonacoMonacoJune 12-14SpainBarcelona-CatalunyaJune 26-28AustriaSpielbergJuly 3-5Great BritainSilverstone (Sprint)July 17-19BelgiumSpa-FrancorchampsJuly 24-26HungaryBudapestAugust 21-23NetherlandsZandvoort (Sprint)September 4-6ItalyMonzaSeptember 11-13SpainMadrid*September 24-26AzerbaijanBakuOctober 9-11SingaporeSingapore (Sprint)October 23-25USAAustinOctober 30 - November 1MexicoMexico CityNovember 6-8BrazilSao PauloNovember 19-21USALas VegasNovember 27-29QatarLusailDecember 4-6Abu DhabiYas Marina

Liverpool face La Liga giants in battle for £80m midfield dynamoMateus Fernandes Emerges as Midfield Target Amid Liverpool and Real Madrid InterestAs the summer transfer window gathers momentum, few young midfielders have seen their stock rise quite as sharply as Mateus Fernandes. The Portuguese talent has become one of the most talked-about names in European football after an impressive campaign with West Ham United, attracting attention from some of the continent’s biggest clubs.According to reports originally published by AS, Mateus Fernandes has emerged as a player admired by José Mourinho, who is reportedly keen to bring the midfielder to Real Madrid should he return to the Santiago Bernabéu. However, Real Madrid are not alone in tracking the 21-year-old, with Liverpool also credited among the clubs monitoring his progress.Mateus Fernandes of Southampton under pressure from Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool Southampton v Liverpool, EFL Carabao Cup, Quarter Final, Football, St Mary s Stadium, Southampton, UK – 18 Dec 2024 EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxGRExMLTxCYPxROUxBULxUAExKSAxONLY Copyright: xJamesxMarsh/Shutterstockx 15007610ecPremier League Breakthrough Raises ProfileMateus Fernandes may have been unable to prevent West Ham’s relegation, but his individual performances stood out throughout a difficult season. The Portuguese midfielder established himself as one of the most consistent performers in the squad, demonstrating a blend of energy, tactical intelligence and technical quality that has become increasingly valuable in modern football.The former Sporting CP academy graduate featured in 36 Premier League matches during the 2025-26 season, scoring three goals and registering four assists. Those numbers only tell part of the story. Fernandes impressed with his ability to dictate tempo, recover possession and drive his team forward from midfield.His development has been rapid. After spending a season at Southampton, his move to West Ham accelerated his growth and transformed him into one of the most highly regarded young midfielders in England.Real Madrid Plans Taking ShapeReports from the original source suggest Mourinho views Fernandes as an ideal fit for the style of football he wants to implement if he takes charge at Real Madrid. The Portuguese coach is said to value players who combine technical ability with discipline and commitment, qualities Fernandes has displayed consistently throughout the season.The report states that Mourinho wants “faithful warriors” who prioritise the collective over individual recognition, and Fernandes appears to fit that profile perfectly.Real Madrid’s interest is also aided by circumstances surrounding West Ham’s relegation. Remaining in the Championship is unlikely to appeal to a player whose reputation has grown significantly over the past 12 months, creating an opportunity for elite clubs to make their move.The relationship between Real Madrid and influential agent Jorge Mendes is also highlighted as a factor that could help facilitate discussions should the Spanish giants decide to pursue a deal.Liverpool Monitoring Midfield OpportunityLiverpool’s recruitment team will undoubtedly be aware of Fernandes’ progress. The club has consistently targeted technically gifted midfielders capable of thriving in a high-intensity system, and the Portuguese international certainly fits that description.His ability to cover ground, win duels and contribute creatively would make him an attractive option for any side competing at the highest level. Liverpool have demonstrated in recent years that they are willing to invest heavily in emerging talent with elite potential, and Fernandes falls firmly into that category.Competition for his signature is expected to be fierce. Arsenal have also been linked with the midfielder, while reports in England suggest a valuation of around £80 million could be the starting point for negotiations.That figure reflects both his age and his potential. At just 21, Fernandes appears to have all the attributes required to become one of Europe’s leading midfielders over the coming years.Transfer Battle Could IntensifyOne of the more surprising aspects of Fernandes’ rise has been his omission from Portugal’s World Cup squad despite his outstanding club form. National team manager Roberto Martínez opted for more experienced options, but that decision is unlikely to affect the growing interest from Europe’s elite.For Liverpool and Real Madrid, the appeal is obvious. Fernandes offers defensive reliability, technical quality and the capacity to influence matches in multiple phases of play. Those qualities are increasingly difficult to find in one player.As the transfer market develops, his future will be one of the stories worth watching closely. Whether he remains in England, moves to Merseyside or heads to Madrid, Mateus Fernandes has already established himself as one of the most sought-after young midfielders in European football.

Atul Wassan, former India cricketer believes Virat Kohli's absence from the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Team India. According to Wassan, the break will help manage Kohli's workload ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup while also creating opportunities for emerging talents such as Yashasvi Jaiswal.Kohli has been ruled out of the ODI series after sustaining a hamstring injury during the IPL 2026 final on May 31. Despite the injury, the star batter remained unbeaten on 75 and played a crucial role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's title-winning campaign, helping the franchise secure back-to-back IPL trophies. What was initially believed to be cramps was later confirmed to be a hamstring issue.The three-match ODI series against Afghanistan begins on June 13 in Dharamshala, with the remaining matches scheduled to be played in Lucknow and Chennai. In Kohli's absence, young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been drafted into the squad. Jaiswal last featured in an ODI against South Africa, where he scored a century.Speaking to ANI, Wassan welcomed the decision to rest Kohli."I'm actually happy with this news about Virat Kohli missing this series against Afghanistan. I thought it would have been overkill if Virat played every single series going forward to the next World Cup. Looking at the intensity on his body during the IPL, and him playing in this heat at his age, I think it would have been pragmatic for him to take a backseat anyway," Wassan said.The former cricketer compared Kohli's workload management to that of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and stressed the importance of preserving key players for major ICC tournaments."We have to take a balanced look at how we use Bumrah these days. These are the two guys we have to save in cotton wool because we want to take them to the next World Cup. That's where every team wants its best players available and performing," he added.Wassan also highlighted the depth of Indian cricket, pointing out that Kohli's absence opens the door for a player of Jaiswal's calibre."Imagine, Virat goes out and Jaiswal comes in. Can you imagine the embarrassment of riches Indian cricket has? Even a player like Yashasvi Jaiswal is struggling to find a regular place in the ODI side, and now he gets an opportunity. I think it's a win-win situation for India. I'm not even a little bit bothered about Virat not playing, and for me, it's actually good news,'' Wassan asserted. Looking ahead, Wassan emphasized that Kohli's experience will be vital during India's ODI tour of England, which begins on July 14."By the England tour, because we're playing in England, I think we'll need him there to rally the forces. I think it's the perfect outcome for us," he concluded.Kohli enjoyed a remarkable IPL 2026 campaign, scoring 675 runs in 16 matches at an average of 56.25 and a career-best strike rate of 165.85. India's next ODI assignment after the Afghanistan series is the tour of England, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar has indicated that Kohli could return for the series if his recovery progresses as expected in the coming weeks.

Darnell Washington became the second player from the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2023 NFL Draft class to receive an extension, and the details behind his new deal have now been revealed.On Saturday, Spotrac reported via X the numbers behind Washington's deal, including each cap hit from 2026 to 2030. Fans can view his contract details below:Darnell Washington's contract detailsLength: Four yearsTotal amount: $42 millionGuaranteed: $11.25 million2026 cap hit: $3.4 million2027 cap hit: $11.3 million2028 cap hit: $9.75 million2029 cap hit: $10.3 million2030 cap hit: $11 millionSelected by the Steelers with the 93rd overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Washington quickly emerged as one of the league's premier blocking tight ends thanks to his 6-foot-7, 300-plus-pound frame.With Washington and Nick Herbig receiving new deals, the Steelers still have a few more players from the 2023 NFL Draft class to extend this offseason, including Broderick Jones, Keeanu Benton, and Joey Porter Jr.For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' Darnell Washington has new contract details revealed

Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has skipped voluntary offseason work and is reportedly interested in getting traded. But Boutte will be with the team this week.Boutte told WBZ in Boston that he will attend this week's mandatory minicamp. As for talk that he won't be a Patriot this season, Boutte says that's not on his mind right now."I try not to buy into it. At the end of the day I can control what I can control," Boutte said. "As long as I'm doing what I'm supposed to do off the field, everything else will play out."The Patriots drafted Boutte in the sixth round in 2023, and after not doing much as a rookie, he has topped 500 receiving yards each of the last two years. The arrival of A.J. Brown may result in fewer opportunities for Boutte, which could be why he's reportedly interested in an exit. But for this week, anyway, he's ready to get to work in New England.

After a tournament of upsets, crash-outs and rank outsiders storming into the mainstream, the men’s and women’s French Open finals have ended up looking remarkably familiar. Three of the four finalists were seeds, with an Italian man and Polish woman both in the line-up. That they weren’t the expected pairing was testament to the upside-down quality of this Roland-Garros – and the determination of both characters.Poland’s Maja Chwalinska had previously shown promise on clay but was always a highly unlikely finalist, rising from world No 114 to just outside the top 20 and coming through three qualifying matches to even make the main draw. Meanwhile the men’s final will not feature Jannik Sinner, nor the absent Lorenzo Musetti, but another promising young Italian seizing the opportunity of the draw suddenly collapsing around him. 10th seed Flavio Cobolli is now into his first major final and while his story may not rival Chwalinska’s for its Cinderella quality, it writes another page in one of the most remarkable success stories this decade: the seemingly endless rise of Italian tennis. Three Italians made the quarter-finals and Cobolli then guaranteed an Italian finalist, while Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani have already secured one title this week, in mixed doubles. There are six Italians in the top 100 and two more hovering just outside: quarter-finalist Matteo Berrettini, whose tournament was crippled once more by injury, and semi-finalist Matteo Arnaldi, whose big moment was spoiled by viral illness.So it is 24-year-old Cobolli who is the last man standing. In many ways the clear foil to the level-headed, introspective Sinner, Cobolli is charismatic on and off the court, his game full of style and flair, and he has for some time been a natural understudy to his compatriot. He stepped up to fill the void left by the four-time major winner in last year’s Davis Cup, saving seven match points in the semi-final en route to sealing their title defence. And the 24-year-old has stepped up again in Paris, with his quarter-final victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime guaranteeing an Italian flag in the final, even without the country’s totemic player. He advanced to the final by walkover after his semi-final opponent, Arnaldi, withdrew with illness just 25 minutes before the pair had been due to take to the court. Cobolli joined him for a press conference immediately afterward – sat far apart in a move harking back to the Covid days – and gave an emotional speech to his close friend, revealing, “When he came to me [to explain] I almost cried.”Cobolli advanced to the final after compatriot Arnaldi withdrew (Getty)Cobolli is a bubbly, extroverted character and his genuine affection and disappointment for Arnaldi was endearing. But immediately after the press conference he switched back into tournament mode, heading straight to a practice session on Court Philippe-Chatrier to give the to-be-reimbursed ticket holders at least something to watch, walking out with the mascots who had been selected for the semi-final and having a knockabout with a delighted fan.An extra day off before Sunday’s final will have given him more time to recover from the rigours of five-set tennis, but no doubt also further built up the nerves, and the emotion, before the biggest day of his life. He only reached the top 20 in the world last July, but is guaranteed to break into the world’s top 10 for the first time when the rankings are updated on Monday, and would rise to fifth should he lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires. Cobolli beat Auger-Aliassime, the highest seed left in his half, in four sets (Reuters)An excellent mover and a natural on clay, Cobolli has been relatively untroubled throughout this fortnight. The Florence native has dropped only two sets and was most impressive in grinding down the resistance of the highest-ranked player left in his half, fourth seed and title contender Auger-Aliassime, despite the conditions and closed roof for most of their encounter being expected to favour the Canadian. He will similarly be the underdog against Zverev, the second seed and overwhelming favourite, and if the nerves do not get to Cobolli first the world No 14 can swing freely, with all the pressure on the other side of the net. Zverev has been remarkably consistent on serve throughout this fortnight and has ironed out most issues with his game, but his tendency towards passivity in big moments remains a weakness to exploit and Cobolli’s supreme athleticism could further trouble him. The pair have one win apiece on clay this year, with Cobolli triumphing in Munich on his way to the final before Zverev got one back in the Madrid quarter-finals. It will be his most difficult task yet, and a huge test of the mental fortitude which has seen him avoid following Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and many other elite players out of the Roland-Garros exit door. The lively, windy conditions in Paris thus far this weekend have caused trouble for many players and the roof being open on Chatrier, as is expected, should benefit the Italian. A win for the 24-year-old would be a fitting end to a tournament dominated both by upsets and, as shown in the women’s final, by rising stars fulfilling their potential. And it would be just reward for the faith of those Italian fans to have bought Chatrier tickets weeks in advance.

Everton international roundup: Mixed night for O'Brien, Pickford starts drab England win(Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)Everton were represented across a number of international friendlies and World Cup warm-up games on Saturday.Jordan Pickford started England's drab 1-0 win over New Zealand in Tampa with the Everton goalkeeper playing the opening 45 minutes.Pickford made just one save before Thomas Tuchel changed his entire 11 at half-time, in a useful exercise, but a performance that has done little to raise pre-tournament optimism for the Three Lions.Nathan Patterson will also feature at this summer's tournament in North America, though was an unused substitute as Scotland thrashed Bolivia 4-0. Brentford's Aaron Hickey was preferred at right-back, as goals from Lawrence Shankland, Scott McTominay and a Che Adams double sealed a comfortable Scotland win.The Toffees' trio of Irishman, including departing club captain Seamus Coleman, all played from the start as The Boys in Green held World Cup co-hosts Canada to a 1-1 draw.Mark Travers earned the nod in goal, while Jake O'Brien recovered from scoring an own goal to pick up the man-of-the-match award. O'Brien featured on the right of a back three for Ireland, who equalised through Chiedozie Ogbene. The 25-year-old had a busy night, with six clearances and five blocked shots.Elsewhere, Tom King remained an unused substitute for Wales, who lost 2-1 to Romania. Senegalese pair Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye are next in action against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, before their World Cup campaign kicks off against France on June 16th.

People wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV ahead of a Holy Mass and Corpus Christi procession at Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June 7, 2026, on the second day of his seven-day apostolic visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)2026-06-07T07:57:03Z MADRID (AP) — More than a million people poured into a central Madrid plaza on Sunday for Pope Leo XIV ’s main Mass and a procession highlighting one of the most iconic expressions of Spanish popular piety: flower carpets.They cheered and shouted “This is the youth of the pope!” as Leo arrived for the Mass, looping around the plaza and surrounding streets in his popemobile to a crowd packed several rows deep behind barricades.Sunday’s Mass falls on the Catholic Corpus Domini feast day, which often features processions of faithful through towns and cities led by a priest carrying the Eucharist. In Spain as in other predominantly Catholic countries, the processions often feature elaborate floral carpets arranged along the route.Leo, who arrived in Spain on Saturday at the start of his weeklong visit, has been keen to highlight the long tradition of Catholic devotion here to encourage especially young generations to find their faith. At a vigil service Saturday night, an estimated 600,000 young Spaniards knelt for several minutes in silent prayer alongside Leo, suggesting that there is indeed interest among young people despite Spain’s heavily secularized society. “Let me take the opportunity to tell all of you: Don’t ever be afraid of thinking about a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, or other services in the church!” Leo told the crowd. Irati Valda and Javier Hormazal, a young couple, held up a cardboard sign announcing they are going to get married on June 13 and were ushered up close to receive Leo’s blessing during the vigil.“To see so many young people together, it’s incredible. Half a million people in silence, this is something you will only live once,” Valda said. Read More A form of popular piety dating back centuriesFor Sunday’s Mass and procession, local organizers said 1.2 million people had turned out on a brilliant spring morning at the central Plaza Cibeles and surrounding streets, with more trying to get in.The tradition of laying flower carpets — and destroying them when the procession tramples them — dates back two centuries and is popular also in Latin America, where elaborate sand designs are also made. The painstaking displays are considered an offering to the Eucharist.Poland has already had its tradition of Corpus Domini flower carpets recognized by UNESCO, and Spain’s Galicia region is trying to have its tradition listed along with other countries as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. According to Spanish organizers, the 16 flower carpets decorating the half-kilometer (mile) procession route were prepared by a Spanish florists association from Galicia. Florists used more than 30,000 flowers, most the yellow and white colors of the Holy See flag, for the carpets that feature decorations such as the Holy See keys.Wildly popular religious processions, pilgrimages and feasts continue to be held in most Spanish regions. The most recognizable are Holy Week processions during the final week of Lent where brotherhoods and robed penitents parade ornate statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary through cities, towns and villages alongside marching bands. Such processions draw the faithful as well as droves of non-believers and tourists. Spanish towns and cities also regularly honor local patron saints with fiestas. Religious pilgrimages to local shrines mix piety with communal festivities and music. In Andalusia, the El Rocío pilgrimage fetches a million people that make a long, dusty journey over the Pentecost weekend on horseback and decorated covered wagons to venerate an icon of the Virgin Mary.Leo arrived in Spain on Saturday and urged its people to put an end to polarization and work for unity. Later Sunday he is to meet privately with members of his Augustinian religious order and address cultural leaders.___AP visual journalist Helena Alves contributed.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. NICOLE WINFIELD Winfield has been on the Vatican beat since 2001, covering the papacies of St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and the Francis pontificate and traveling the world with them. SUMAN NAISHADHAM Naishadham is an Associated Press reporter covering Spain and Portugal. She is based in Madrid. twitter mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Reo Hatate has reportedly told Celtic he wants to leave this summer, while Ross Stewart could exit Southampton because of a contract loophole and Rangers' Youssef Chermiti is again linked with Galatasaray.Reo Hatate, the 28-year-old Japan midfielder who remains under contract until 2028 but fell out of favour under Martin O'Neill, has informed Celtic that he wants to leave the Scottish champions this summer. (The Herald)Tokyo have agreed a £1.3m transfer fee for centre-half Hayato Inamura to move permanently from Celtic following the 24-year-old's loan spell back in Japan. (Kazu Kakiuchi on X)Michael Noonan, the 17-year-old striker for whom Celtic submitted an offer in January, is in advanced talks to join Ajax from Shamrock Rovers, according to the42.(Scottish Sun)Southampton missed the expiry date on a contract extension clause for Scotland striker Ross Stewart because of the "Spygate" scandal that denied them promotion to the Premier League and the 29-year-old now has the option to join another club. (Daily Echo)Youssef Chermiti is one of the names on Galatasaray's list of possible signings, but Rangers will demand £25m for the 22-year-old striker. (Sergan Dag on X)Sunday's English & European transfer rumoursSaturday's Scottish GossipHammarby sports director Mikael Hjelmberg says there has been no approach by Rangers or any other club for Hampus Skoglund despite reports of interest from the Ibrox club and others from Germany, Italy and France in the 22-year-old right-back. (The Herald)Harvey Barnes, the 28-year-old Newcastle United winger who had talks about switching allegiance from England to Scotland, has emerged as a target for Aston Villa. (Football Insider)A number of English clubs are interested in Emile Acquah after the 25-year-old out-of-favour Dundee striker's loan spell with Harrogate Town. (The Courier)Leicester City are in advanced talks with Russell Martin to take over as manager following their relegation to League One, but the former Rangers head coach has other options in the UK and abroad. (TalkSport)Celtic players "love" assistant Mark Fotheringham and hold him in high regard, former Celtic striker Tony Watt has claimed. (The National)Former Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson is the favourite to take over at League Two club Salford City. (TalkSport)

98 days from today, the Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium. In the spirit of the countdown to kickoff, we at Steelers Wire will take a look at the history of the No. 98 jersey and analyze which players wore it best.Steelers current No. 98 wearer: N/AThere isn't a Steeler currently wearing No. 98 on the team roster as of June 7, 2026.Last five Steelers to wear No. 98DeMarvin Leal, 2022-2025Taco Charlton, 2021Vince Williams, 2013-2020Casey Hampton, 2001-2012Ernie Brown, 1999Best No. 98 in Steelers history: NT Casey HamptonWhile yesterday's decision between Levon Kirkland and Brett Keisel was a toss-up, No. 98 is a little more straightforward: the best Steeler to ever wear the jersey is hands down Casey "Big Snack" Hampton.Selected by the Steelers with the 19th overall pick in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft, Hampton recorded 398 combined tackles, 39 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and four forced fumbles in 173 games. But his impact went beyond stats, as Hampton's massive size, strength, and presence against the run are why he's arguably one of the greatest nose tackles of all time.A five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time Super Bowl champion, Hampton is, without a doubt, the greatest Steeler to ever don No. 98.For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Pittsburgh Steelers countdown to kickoff: No. 98 jersey history

Julie Roe Lach, executive vice president of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, will be the guest speaker for Monday’s IndyStar High School Sports Awards at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.Roe Lach took on her new role in the fall of 2025 after five years as commissioner of the Horizon League and more than a decade overall with the conference. She also serves as chair of the board of directors of Indiana Sports Corp and is a board member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.Roe Lach got her start in sports playing basketball at a young age and is a member of the Millikin University Athletics Hall of Fame.The IndyStar Sports Awards, presented by the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, will celebrate the best of Indiana high school athletics. The sports awards nominees for players of the year in each sport will be announced during the live show, in addition to the winners for fall and winter sports. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 7 p.m. The show will also announce the winners of premier awards such as overall male athlete of the year, overall female athlete of the year, Courage Award, Team of the Year and Coach of the Year.Theresia Wynns will be honored as the 2026 IndyStar Women’s Sports Trailblazer Award winner. Wynns had a 50-year career in education at the local state and national levels prior to her retirement in 2021. The South Carolina native came to Indianapolis in 1971 and spent the next 26 years as a teacher and administrator in the Indianapolis Public Schools and Warren Township Schools. Wynns officiated the girls’ state basketball championship games in 1977, 1981 and 1986.She went on to a role with the Indiana High School Athletic Association, administering the sports of girls and boys soccer, girls’ basketball and girls and boys tennis from 1997 to 2012. She worked at the National Federation of State High School Associations from 2012 to 2021.Nominated athletes who RSVP for the event will receive a free ticket thanks to sponsors. The IndyStar High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards program.Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Julie Roe Lach guest speaker for IndyStar High School Sports Awards program