MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States arrived Wednesday in Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu, where he was received by a crowd of supporters and officials.Omar Artan was set to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup after making FIFA’s final list for the tournament. He is one of Africa’s top referees and was named the continent’s best male referee in 2025.He was denied entry at Miami International Airport on Saturday over “vetting concerns,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement without giving details of those concerns. FIFA subsequently cut him from the tournament's referee list.Artan was issued a visa to travel to the U.S. last week, according to the Somalia Embassy in Kenya that processed it.He returned to a hero’s welcome at the airport in Mogadishu, where he thanked the Somali government and people as well as FIFA for their support for him.“I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one,” he said as hundreds of supporters at the airport waved the Somali flag. “I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident.” The U.S.'s highly unusual move to deny a FIFA-appointed match official permission to enter a World Cup host country drew outrage across the world and raised questions among some fans about America's capacity to host the competition.Somalia is one of nearly 40 countries subject to new travel restrictions under the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.

Today’s Papers – Palestra’s assist for Inter, Juventus agreement with Dibu MartinezLa Gazzetta dello SportHere we are; tomorrow we startWorld Cup: weight of goldPlayers valued at over 13 billion on the pitch. Yamal the most valuable star: 292m. Real offer 150m for the Argentine Alvarez; Atletico reject the offer.Inter put muscles on: there’s Atta with SoletJuve, Dibu saves: agreement done, discount needed.Milan offer Glasner a two-year dealCorriere dello SportWorld Cup revolutionIt starts tomorrow with Mexico-South Africa: many new rulesPalestra, assist for ChivuNew meeting: the Percassi prefer to sell him in ItalyInter, Atalanta are open. Blitz for Solet and AttaThere’s still a gap for the full-back’s value, but La Dea picks Oaktree as their first interlocutor. Double operation with Udinese: there’s the box-to-box midfielder along with the defender.Napoli, Khalaili blockedRoma, Gasp is in a hurryPulisic: Milan at stakeJulian, shock offerJuve, Dibu savesPrinciple of agreement with the Argentine: three-year contract worth 5m per season. He’s Spalletti’s first target. Now Aston Villa must be convinced; they ask for 10m. Palmisani (Frosinone) is being followed. Sorloth promised himself.TuttosportDe Biasi launches the new coach, one of his ex-players, with a message for the club‘Toro if you have Abate’s ambition…’‘Hand off Yildiz.’Arsenal move for Kenan. Juve: ‘He’s not for sale.’The Gunners can offer up to 100m, but the Bianconeri’s refusal follows Comolli’s promise: ‘Kenan is not for sale.’ The player is happy to stay. The algorithm says Kessié, Spalletti would like something different in midfield. Wait for Brahim. Goal: Dibu Martinez advances.Sorloth & Co. ‘Us World Cup.’Juventus relaunch with Atletico for the hitman who has big dreams in the USA alongside Haaland.Atletico-Real: Alvarez controversyGlasner says yes to Milan, so many insults for Ibra!The new coach is incoming from Crystal Palace. Zlatan ‘reporting’ from the World Cup infuriates the fans.Solet, Inter push: 20m plus add-onsAtta is the alternative to Jones. Palestra too expensive? There’s Ndoye of Nottingham.

Real Madrid-bound midfielder prefers another season at current club – RomanoNico Paz’s expected return to Real Madrid is no longer as straightforward as it seemed just a few weeks ago. Despite the club holding a €9 million buy-back option and working towards bringing him back to the Santiago Bernabeu, the young midfielder now prefers to spend another season at Como.According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, as relayed by Madrid Xtra, Nico believes remaining in Italy would be the best step for his development. While the Argentine remains deeply attached to Real Madrid and sees his long-term future at the club, he feels another year of regular football under Cesc Fabregas could accelerate his growth before making the jump back to Madrid.Nico Paz wants to stay at Como. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)The situation now leaves Real Madrid with an important decision to make ahead of the June 30 deadline to activate their buy-back clause.Nico wants to stay at ComoFor much of the summer, Nico Paz’s return appeared almost inevitable. Real Madrid have maintained close contact with the player and have repeatedly expressed their desire to bring him back into the first-team environment.The midfielder was also understood to be open to the challenge, although the reality of the current squad situation appears to have influenced his thinking.Mourinho will decide Nico Paz’s fate. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)With competition for places already fierce and further arrivals possible this summer, the Argentine believes he would benefit more from another campaign where he is guaranteed significant playing time. All eyes on MourinhoAt Como, he would likely continue as a key figure and receive the consistent minutes that are often crucial for young players at this stage of their careers.Given the situation at hand, it is obvious to imagine that the final call is expected to involve Jose Mourinho, who will have to determine whether Nico Paz should be integrated immediately into the first-team project or allowed to continue developing elsewhere.Regardless of the outcome, it must be remembered that Real Madrid remain in a strong position thanks to the favourable terms of the buy-back agreement.

Portuguese veteran has never been a priority for BarcelonaDespite speculation surrounding Bernardo Silva’s future, Barcelona are not treating the Portuguese international as a priority target this summer. According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan club remains relaxed about the situation and is not planning to accelerate any move for the experienced midfielder.Bernardo Silva has found himself linked with a switch to Camp Nou, while reports have also connected him with both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in recent days. However, Barcelona’s position appears far less dramatic than the growing transfer rumours suggest.The report indicates that the initiative has largely come from the player’s side, with the midfielder making himself available after deciding to leave Manchester City.An opportunity rather than a priorityBernardo Silva is not Barcelona’s priority. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Despite his obvious quality, it is said that Barcelona view Bernardol Silva as a market opportunity rather than a signing they must complete at all costs. Club sources maintain that although they value the player and experience, he has never occupied a leading position on the club’s transfer shortlist, which explains the calm surrounding the situation.The 31-year-old recently stated that he is under no pressure to decide his future and will ultimately join the club that demonstrates the strongest desire to sign him. Barcelona are unfazedAt Barcelona, with other areas of the squad demanding greater attention, the Blaugrana are currently focusing their efforts elsewhere rather than treating Bernardo Silva as their priority.Bernardo Silva is also wanted by Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)Barcelona’s position is largely influenced by their priorities. While Silva would undoubtedly add quality and experience, the club do not consider midfield reinforcement their most urgent need at this stage of the transfer window.Instead, resources are being directed towards positions viewed as more important to the project heading into the new season.Notably, that does not mean the door is closed. As a free agent, the Portuguese represents an attractive option and a low-risk opportunity should circumstances change later in the summer. However, Barcelona are unwilling to alter their transfer strategy simply because a high-profile player has become available.

People gather at the site of the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut's southern suburbs, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)2026-06-10T06:40:42Z BEIRUT (AP) — As Israeli warplanes pounded Beirut’s southern suburbs last March and residents fled in panic, one man found his opportunity. Amid the chaos, he slipped out of his imprisonment in a Hezbollah cell and made his way to the green hills overlooking the Lebanese capital.There, in the posh diplomatic quarter of Baabda, he disappeared inside the gates of the Ukrainian Embassy.Where he is now is a mystery, tangled up in an ongoing spy game as Hezbollah attempts to root out Israeli intelligence operatives that have infiltrated the militant group.The man identified by Lebanese officials as Khaled al-Aydi is said to be a Palestinian refugee from Syria who also holds Ukrainian citizenship. He had been detained by Hezbollah in the Beirut suburbs and accused by Lebanese officials of being part of a thwarted Israeli intelligence plot to carry out bombings and assassinations. Details of al-Aydi’s escape and a Lebanese military court’s case against him were provided by three judicial officials and two senior security officials in Lebanon who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. A senior political official in Hezbollah also provided details. Al-Aydi’s disappearance could have political implications for the Lebanese government, which has largely remained silent about the case.If evidence were to emerge that al-Aydi escaped Lebanon with help from the government, it could inflame tensions with Hezbollah’s largely Shiite Muslim base. The government already faces scrutiny for directly negotiating with Israel, which has been engaged in fierce fighting with Hezbollah since the early days of the Iran war. Read More The Ukrainian embassy asked Lebanese authorities in March to facilitate al-Aydi’s departure from the country after he escaped Hezbollah detention, according to a Lebanese government document obtained by The Associated Press. But Lebanon’s General Security agency refused, saying a judicial warrant for his arrest had been issued in September 2025, according to the document. Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency declined to comment. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry also declined comment. 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. A Ukrainian official with knowledge of the case said al-Aydi is not in the Ukrainian Embassy or its compound in Lebanon. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, would not say where al-Aydi is — and out of concern for the security of Ukraine’s embassy and its personnel, would not say whether al-Aydi was ever in the embassy, or whether Ukraine helped him escape.Israel’s intelligence networksUsing human and high-tech surveillance, Israel has cultivated far-reaching intelligence networks in Lebanon. That has helped it carry out dramatic operations against Hezbollah.In the most elaborate example, Israel infiltrated Hezbollah’s supply chain and sent the Iran-backed militant group thousands of booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies. Israel remotely detonated the devices in September 2024, killing at least 37 people. Days later, Israeli airstrikes killed Hezbollah’s longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, while he was hiding in a heavily fortified bunker. Even before that, Israel’s intelligence within Hezbollah allowed it to hit the group’s senior leaders and field commanders “with relative ease,” said Nicholas Blanford, an expert on the militant group at the Atlantic Council.Since the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah war, Hezbollah and Lebanese authorities have cracked down on alleged spy networks. About 50 people have been convicted and are serving sentences, while others remain under investigation, the judicial officials said.“We were successful in detecting many spy networks, and the state was also successful in this matter,” Hezbollah political official Wafiq Safa, said. But “the Israelis are always working to recruit young Lebanese people from all communities.” Al-Aydi doesn’t fit the profile of other alleged spiesMany alleged spy networks have involved current or former Hezbollah members or individuals with family ties to the group.Al-Aydi, in contrast, was an outsider. He had Ukrainian citizenship through his mother, according to the Lebanese government document AP obtained. It is not known how he was allegedly recruited by Israel.Hundreds of thousands of Syrians came to Lebanon for refuge during Syria’s 14-year civil war. But Al-Aydi entered the country in August 2025 on a flight from Ethiopia, one of the Lebanese security officials said.While Hezbollah began in the 1980s as a small guerrilla operation fighting Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon, it greatly expanded after its 2006 war with Israel, making it “easier for the Israelis to penetrate,” Blanford said. The group’s entry into the Syrian civil war further exposed it, as recruitment standards were lowered, he said.Lebanon’s economic crisis also aided Israel’s recruitment efforts, Blanford said. Cases filed in Lebanon’s military court describe operatives being paid between $2,500 and $20,000 to provide intelligence on Hezbollah weapons depots and political offices. Many of the alleged agents were recruited by Israeli handlers through social media, judicial officials said.One high-profile case was Mohammad Hadi Saleh, a singer and prominent religious performer within circles connected to Hezbollah. He was arrested in May 2025 and charged with providing the Mossad with maps and coordinates of key Hezbollah sites later struck in Israeli operations. He is in jail awaiting trial.“It’s ironic that they (Hezbollah) were spending a lot of time accusing their opponents of being Israeli spies, and it turns out that the spies were actually from within the organization and its support base,” said Mohanad Hage Ali, a senior fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut.Recruitment efforts continue. During the latest war, Israel has dropped leaflets over Lebanon with QR codes that, according to the Lebanese army, direct people to an Israeli military unit tasked with recruiting agents. Al-Aydi is thought to have fled the country Lebanon’s General Security said in October it had broken up a network planning bombings and assassinations in Lebanon, including an operation meant to target events for the one-year commemoration of Nasrallah’s death. Authorities discovered a motorcycle rigged with explosives and a car modified to hold explosives, security and judicial officials said.Al-Aydi and six others, all Lebanese, were charged. One of the six also escaped, and the others are in a Lebanese jail awaiting trial, the judicial officials said. Only al-Aydi was being held by Hezbollah, likely because he was seen as a high-value catch.The military court alleges the operation was orchestrated by a Mossad handler living in Germany who communicated with others through encrypted applications. The court sent a summons to the Ukrainian embassy that went unanswered.Safa said there was an unsuccessful attempt to smuggle al-Aydi out of Lebanon to Syria. He did not elaborate.The two senior Lebanese security officials said al-Aydi is believed to have left the country. It was not clear whether he crossed into Syria, where officials said they had no information about him. Alleged spy’s disappearance raises political tensionsRelations between the Lebanese government and Hezbollah are at a low point. The government was angered by the militant group’s unilateral decision to enter another war with Israel, while Hezbollah is furious the government has chosen to negotiate a ceasefire and potentially wider security and political agreement directly with Israel.Al-Aydi’s escape could exacerbate tensions and put the Lebanese state in a difficult situation.If Lebanese authorities refused to let al-Aydi leave the country, the U.S. and Ukraine were “well-positioned to exert significant pressure” to secure his release, Hage Ali said. On the other hand, if the state is seen to have let al-Aydi escape, it would face “public anger, predominantly among Lebanese Shia” sympathetic to Hezbollah, which could use that emotion to inflame internal tensions, he said. ——Associated Press writers Samya Kullab in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Josef Federman in Jerusalem, contributed to this report. ABBY SEWELL Sewell is the Associated Press news director for Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. She joined the AP in 2022 but has been based in the region since 2016, reporting and guiding coverage on some of its most significant news stories. twitter mailto

Smoke rises after a fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a residential estate in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong's New Territories, Nov. 26 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei, File)2026-06-10T07:07:17Z HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong authorities on Wednesday charged seven people and two companies with offenses including manslaughter and conspiracy over the city’s deadliest fire in decades last November.The massive blaze engulfed seven apartment buildings and killed 168 people on Nov. 26, 2025. Former residents and relatives of the dead have been waiting for answers for months after the fire shattered the close-knit community of Wang Fuk Court, which housed thousands of people in the suburban district of Tai Po.In a statement on Wednesday, authorities said police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption charged the suspects with 25 counts. Money laundering, attempting to pervert the course of public justice and tax evasion were also among the allegations. The seven people played different roles in the major renovation project of Wang Fuk Court. The two companies charged are the project consultancy firm and the main contractor involved in the project. The cases were scheduled to be heard in court Wednesday afternoon. In March, police said they arrested 38 people on accusations related to the complex, including manslaughter and fraud. Nine have been charged, police said. The anti-graft agency said in the same month that they also arrested 23 people on suspicion of offenses such as bribery and conspiracy to defraud.Victor Dawes, a lawyer representing an independent committee conducting an ongoing inquiry into the fire’s cause, previously said almost all fire safety systems failed on the day of the blaze because of human error. KANIS LEUNG Leung covers Hong Kong, Macao and mainland China for The Associated Press. She is based in Hong Kong. twitter

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01662-xJapan and South Korea are challenging Western peers in a shifting research landscape.

Expectations for Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward are rising rapidly heading into the 2026 season. The latest vote of confidence came from NFL analyst Kay Adams, who predicted that Ward will have a top 10 quarterback season on her "Up & Adams" show.For Titans fans, the prediction is exciting and also surprising. Ward's rookie season featured plenty of ups and downs, which is typical for a young quarterback adjusting to the NFL. However, he consistently flashed the traits that made him the number one overall pick last year. His arm talent, ability to extend plays, and confidence under pressure have given Tennessee reason to believe it has finally found its franchise quarterback. Now, in his second season, Ward's circumstances are significantly improved.This is a prediction worth watchingBecoming a top-10 quarterback in today's NFL isn't an easy task. However, New England Patriots QB Drake Maye made the leap to becoming an MVP candidate in his second season last year. That rise followed an up-and-down rookie season, giving precedence for Ward to follow in his second season. Kay Adams' prediction reflects a growing belief that Ward has the talent and supporting cast necessary to make that jump. The Titans added a well-respected offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll, who has a proven track record of growth. They also added his top receiver from his tenure coaching the New York Giants, Wan'Dale Robinson, and drafted former Ohio State WR Carnell Tate fourth overall in the NFL Draft.Of course, projections in June do not win games in September. Ward will ultimately need to prove it on the field. But the fact that national analysts are beginning to place him among the league's potential breakout stars speaks volumes about the talent he flashed during the second half of his rookie season.If Adams is right, the Titans won't just have a top-10 quarterback. They'll have one of the biggest reasons to believe a playoff push is within reach in 2026, which she also predicted.This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans: Kay Adams says Cam Ward will be top-10 NFL QB

Richard Hughes given green light to sign £39m defenderLiverpool only just scraped Champions League qualification this season. The Anfield outfit were expected to put up a decent fight to retain their Premier League title but, in reality, this was far from the case.Whether that was because of the poor management from Arne Slot, the number of injuries the club suffered or the lack of cohesion among their players, nothing went right for the Anfield outfit.This has resulted in the rumour mill going into overdrive and fans getting excited over the slightest links.However, for one of their many targets, Richard Hughes has just been given a green light to sign them during the summer transfer window.Marco Palestra is interested in joining LiverpoolOne of Liverpool's main problem areas in the 2025-26 season was their right-back.Even though they started the campaign with Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong as their main options, injuries ruled them both out of a lot of games and, when Frimpong was fit, he was rarely played at right-back anyway.This resulted in Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones sharing the role which is obviously far from ideal.So, it's unsurprising to see that the Reds are getting linked with multiple right-backs this summer.Several defenders have already been linked with an Anfield switch but, according to a fresh update from La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Marco Palestra has named Liverpool as one of the few clubs he'd be interested in joining."Palestra isn't just interested in Inter, but also in England's top clubs (Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City) and Real Madrid in Spain," they wrote."Therefore, despite not needing to raise funds, Atalanta understands the dynamics of the transfer market. Given a suitable offer, they would be open to selling him. At the same time, they would already have a replacement ready.Marco Palestra is exactly what Liverpool need this summerThere are several positions among Liverpool's ranks that could do with an upgrade this summer.The Anfield outfit struggled this season and, without some new faces bolstering their ranks, it's hard to see how Andoni Iraola will do any better than Slot.Palestra is only 21 years old and has emerged as one of Caligari's most important players this term.While on loan from Atalanta, the Italy international played 37 games for the Serie A outfit an contributed to five goals.His one-on-one defending is a sight to behold and, with how injury prone Bradley is and how unlikely Liverpool are to use Frimpong at right-back next term, he'd probably become the Reds' first-choice right-back.which is a similar price to what they paid for Milos Kerkez.Of course, competition for his transfer will be high but, since there's a clear path into Liverpool's starting XI for the youngster, he'd be silly to go elsewhere and, now a transfer for Denzel Dumfries is off the table, the Anfield outfit don't have many more options to choose from.

The high school sports season is winding down, but several highlight performances still are making for a memorable spring.All-state track and field performances, baseball heroics and a sectional medalist round all happened in a span of four days.But which performance was the best?That's up to you to decide.Below are the nominees for Ivy Tech Journal & Courier male and female athletes of the week for June 3-8. Fans and readers can vote an unlimited amount of times until Sunday at noon. Winners will be announced on Monday morning.Male athlete of the week nominees∎ Eli Barnes, Rossville, baseball: The senior pitched a complete game shutout, allowing six hits and striking out eight in the Hornets' 3-0 victory over Riverton Parke that led Rossville to it first regional championship since 2019.∎ Zion Clopton, Harrison, track: The sophomore hurdler earned all-state honors in two events at the IHSAA boys track and field state finals. Clopton placed sixth in the 300-meter hurdles in 38.24 seconds and eighth in the 110-meter hurdles in 14.49.∎ Phillip Ferger, McCutcheon, golf: The sophomore carded a 72 at Battle Ground Golf Club on Monday to earn individual sectional medalist honors and lead the Mavericks to a runner-up finish. ∎ Isaiah Hopkins, Central Catholic, baseball: The junior catcher scored two runs, including the game winner, in the Knights' 3-2 win over Lapel. Hopkins led off the bottom of the seventh in a tie game with a triple and later scored on a sacrifice fly to win a regional championship.Female athlete of the week nominees∎ Ashley Caplinger, Faith Christian, track: The junior became the first Faith Christian state medalist when she placed eighth in the 800 meters at the girls IHSAA state finals with a time of 2:11.75.∎ Olivia Dahlenburg, North White, track and field: The junior high jumper placed highest among local athletes at the girls IHSAA state finals with a height of 5 feet, 6 inches. The jump landed Dahlenburg sixth on the podium.∎ Kynlee Dunbar, West Lafayette, track and field: After clearing 11 feet to place fifth in the Lafayette Jeff Regional, the senior added three more inches to her height at the IHSAA state finals, placing ninth after clearing 11-3 to outperform her No. 12 seed.∎ Eva Stokes, Harrison, track and field: The junior thrower competed in both shot put and discus at the IHSAA state finals and took home a pair of top 12 finishes. Stokes earned all-state honors with a mark of 138 feet, 7 inches to place seventh in discus.This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Vote for the Ivy Tech Journal & Courier Athlete of the Week

The last few months have been a whirlwind of change for Eddie Faulkner.After seven years as the running backs coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Faulkner is now serving the same role for the Baltimore Ravens after the two AFC North rivals revamped their staffs amid head coaching changes. In a period of such a dramatic shift, one thing has remained the same for Faulkner — his love for his hometown.Faulkner, a Muncie native and legendary Muncie Central football player, will return to his alma mater this summer for the third annual Team Faulk Youth Development Football Camp on Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Central High School.More: Yorktown alumnus Jesse Minter named head coach of Baltimore Ravens"It's awesome because it gives you a little peace," Faulkner said in a phone interview with The Star Press. "It's something that you stay into. Obviously, with our transition and everything that goes along with that, buying a house, moving, working your job, it's a lot going on. But we stayed diligent on what we wanted to do with Team Faulk and organizing the camps as normal."The Team Faulk Camp is open to boys and girls ages 6-18 and is completely free to attend. Walk-up registration begins at 9 a.m., but pre-registration is recommended. Sneakers/tennis shoes are required, cleats are recommended, and all participants will receive a camp T-shirt. A liability waiver must also be signed by a parent or guardian. Click here to access the pre-registration and liability waiver forms.This year's camp will be one session for all ages — a key difference from the previous two Team Faulk camps, which consisted of two separate sessions for younger and older kids. As usual, the Team Faulk Camp will be a family affair, with Faulkner's son, Eddie Faulkner IV, overseeing the 13-18 age group and his nephew, Chris Reaves, coordinating the 6-12 age group. Faulkner IV is an assistant secondary coach at Ohio University, and Reaves is an assistant secondary coach at Wabash College.The decision to combine the two sessions into one was inspired by Steelers running back Jaylen Warren, who has previously appeared as a coach at the other two Team Faulk camps."Jaylen Warren had a camp in the Pittsburgh area while we were there, it was actually Morgantown High School in West Virginia," Faulkner said. "They had 350 kids on one field at a high school and managed it. I know we'd be able to do the same thing with the space we've got there at Muncie Central, so that was the primary driving factor because I saw it exactly go down that way."In addition to Faulkner, his son and his nephew, the camp will also feature coaches and players from the NFL and college football levels. The Muncie Central football coaching staff serves as volunteer coaches, as do many former Bearcat stars who take the opportunity to return home and pour back into the next generation of Muncie football."You're always going to have Muncie's finest, people who have gone on and done great things. I'm always reaching out to those people first, some of Muncie Central's best players to come through their program, it's been cool to get them back," Faulkner said. "Everybody's just been phenomenal, from the superintendent of schools to Coach (Kyle) Buresh, he's been unbelievable. Every time I reach out on what I may need, he's there to support, there to help with the advertising and marketing piece, he's been phenomenal and we've developed a good relationship through it all."While the camp is free, donations will be accepted. Any donations will go to the Edgar Faulkner Sr./Ermal S. Roundtree Fund at the Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County. The fund is named after Eddie Faulkner's grandfathers.Contact Cade Hampton via email at cbhampton@usatodayco.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CadeHamp10.This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Eddie Faulkner bringing Team Faulk Football Camp back to Muncie Central

The local high school sports season on Maryland's Eastern Shore has officially come to a close, and many Bayside South squads saw themselves have successful seasons during the 2025-26 school year. And now, fans have the opportunity to vote for the EZ Cash of Delaware, Inc. Boys and Girls Bayside South Teams of the Year. Whether it be teams that became conference or state champions, teams that made deep playoff runs, or teams that surprised everyone, there are plenty of top Bayside South teams to choose from. The poll will open on Wednesday, June 10, and closes on Friday, June 12 at 3 p.m.Here are the teams nominated for this poll:Men's Teams of the YearStephen Decatur Boys Soccer: Won the Class 3A MPSSAA State ChampionshipWicomico Football: Made it to the Class 2A MPSSAA State SemifinalsWashington Football: Snapped six-year losing streak, finished with winning record and won first playoff game since 2003Stephen Decatur Football: Won their third consecutive Bayside Conference ChampionshipWicomico Basketball: Made it to the Class 2A MPSSAA State Championship GameStephen Decatur Boys Lacrosse: Won their first Class 2A MPSSAA State ChampionshipMardela Baseball: Won the 1A East II Regional ChampionshipStephen Decatur Baseball: Won the Bayside Conference and made it to the MPSSAA Class 3A State Championship GameWomen's Teams of the YearStephen Decatur Girls Soccer: Won the Bayside Conference ChampionshipStephen Decatur Field Hockey: Won the Bayside SouthParkside Volleyball: Won the Bayside SouthPocomoke Field Hockey: Made it to the Class 1A MPSSAA State SemifinalsWicomico Girls Basketball: Made it to the Class 2A MPSSAA State SemifinalsStephen Decatur Girls Basketball: Won the Bayside Conference ChampionshipMardela Softball: Won their second consecutive Class 1A State ChampionshipStephen Decatur Girls Lacrosse: Won the Bayside SouthMore: Greatest women's basketball players from the state of Maryland? You decide.More: Mardela's Ava Twilley named Gatorade Maryland Softball Player of YearThis article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Vote for the EZ Cash of Delaware, Inc. Bayside South Team's of the season

Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers had surgery in October to repair his torn ACL, then had a second surgery this offseason to remove scar tissue. But the Giants still believe Nabers will be good to go for the season opener.Giants General Manager Joe Schoen said this week that Nabers should be on the field on September 13, when the Giants host the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football."I still think he’ll be fine Week 1," Schoen told Yahoo Sports on Monday. "So we'll see. He's trending in the right direction. Again, these things take time, so it's not instant. Every patient is different."Nabers isn't practicing yet, but new Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said he's been impressed with Nabers' mental approach to the offseason, learning Nagy's system quickly."I see why he's as good as he is," Nagy said.Schoen noted that the Giants brought in some insurance this offseason in the form of wide receivers Darnell Mooney, Odell Beckham Jr., Calvin Austin III, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios. But the Giants are optimistic that the No. 1 receiver in Week 1 will be Nabers.

Photo by Al Bello/Getty ImagesKenyon Martin believes New York Knicks fans aimed their Madison Square Garden frustration at the wrong person when Donald Trump was booed during Game 3 of the NBA Finals.Trump’s appearance became one of the loudest off-court stories from the Knicks’ 115-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.The president was shown inside the arena, and the reaction from the crowd included heavy boos that quickly became a national talking point.Martin did not argue that fans had no reason to be annoyed by the distraction. His point was that the person who brought Trump into the building mattered more than the guest who accepted the invite.Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty ImagesKenyon Martin says James Dolan deserved New York Knicks boos over Donald TrumpNBA Courtside shared Kenyon Martin’s take from Gil’s Arena after Donald Trump attended Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.“Let’s start there, it was an invitation. He didn’t pick up and decide to come to the game, he was invited to the game.“He could have declined, but he was invited by the man who owns that building and owns that team,” Martin said.He added, “So, this is another James Dolan fault right here. This is not on Trump for showing up this is on the owner for inviting him.”Martin’s argument was less about politics and more about accountability. If Knicks fans felt the night became a circus, he believes Dolan created the conditions for it by extending the invitation.Donald Trump’s boos at Madison Square Garden lead back to James Dolan’s inviteTrump was invited by James Dolan, who owns both the Knicks and Madison Square Garden, and watched Game 3 from a suite as New York tried to protect its Finals lead.When Trump was shown inside the arena, fans delivered a mixed reaction, but the boos were loud enough to dominate the conversation.The moment came on a night already carrying extra tension because security delays, road closures, and watch-party changes had frustrated some supporters around the Garden.That is why Martin’s take cuts differently. He is not saying fans had to cheer Trump; he is saying the anger should have traveled upstairs to the owner who made the night possible.The Knicks still lead the series, but Dolan’s invitation made Game 3 about more than basketball. For Martin, that is exactly why the boos belonged somewhere else.Read more:Stephen A. Smith launches scathing shot at Donald Trump for needing ‘rest’ during Knicks’ Game 3 lossStephen A. Smith offers an annoyed clap back at Donald Trump for ‘low IQ’ insultWhy Donald Trump won’t attend New York Knicks’ Game 4 at Madison Square Garden

Ben Stokes has found himself at the centre of fresh scrutiny after reports linked the England captain to a nightclub incident involving a Saracens rugby player. The controversy has sparked questions about both his leadership role and his long-term future in the game.Stokes, along with England fast bowler Gus Atkinson, is currently under investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over an alleged breach of team curfew regulations. The incident reportedly took place during the early hours of Monday, shortly after England's win over New Zealand in the opening Test at Lord's.According to reports, the evening allegedly escalated beyond a curfew violation, with suggestions that the pair became involved in an altercation that turned physical. The claims have intensified attention on the matter and placed Stokes under renewed public scrutiny.For English cricket, the episode represents another unwanted distraction at a time when the sport has already faced criticism over player behaviour. Concerns regarding the team's drinking culture emerged during the Ashes tour in Australia, where England endured a difficult campaign that ended with a 4-1 series loss in January.Amid the growing controversy, speculation has surfaced that Stokes could be considering his future in international cricket, with retirement reportedly among the possibilities being discussed.Former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara has urged observers not to rush to judgment while the ECB investigation remains ongoing. Speaking on Sky Cricket, Bopara stressed the importance of allowing the proper procedures to unfold before conclusions are drawn, noting Stokes' significance to the national side."I think it's important that the right process is taken and we don't jump to any conclusions, because that wouldn't be fair on Ben [Stokes] or English cricket. Ben's a huge figure for English cricket and with that comes huge responsibility, like any top-level sport or any elite player. Let's just hope the correct process is taken and then everything comes to a conclusion," Bopara said on Sky Cricket.Bopara also expressed hope that any decision by Stokes to step away from the game would not be influenced by the fallout from the nightclub controversy. He suggested it would be a disappointing end for a player who has played such a major role in English cricket."That [retirement] would be a sad way to go. If it is because of that, then that would be a very sad way to go. I think that would be a little bit extreme. If he's retiring for other reasons, whether he's had enough of playing cricket or his body can't handle it, that's a different story. It would be a shame to see him go on the back of this situation," he concluded.

The World Cup will be back in North Jersey June 13 for the first time in more than three decades.Thousands of soccer fans will flock to East Rutherford's MetLife Stadium, temporarily renamed New York New Jersey Stadium, to see Brazil and Morocco kick off at 6 p.m. It will be the first World Cup match at the Meadowlands since July 13, 1994, when Italy defeated Bulgaria in a semifinal at what was then called Giants Stadium.The tournament's return to the United States is welcome news for New Jersey soccer fans in particular, who will have no shortage of ways to immerse themselves in the festivities. For those unable to attend any matches in person, there are plenty of local watch parties, restaurant specials and other soccer-themed events to enjoy.Here are some suggestions for all fans, from lifelong residents to out-of-towners, to plan their day around the first match in New Jersey.Pregame meals in NJ and NYCFor the soccer diehards that want to start their day early, Mulligan's Pub in Hoboken opens at 7 a.m. on Saturdays. The restaurant is billed on its website as "NJ's premier football bar" and serves Irish breakfast all day.Fans who prefer to stay closer to the stadium — or who just want another place to go after Mulligan's — can visit Blarney Station Pub in East Rutherford starting at 11 a.m. The pub is just a few minutes from MetLife and is directly across from the Rutherford Train Station, making it a convenient spot for fans seeking a quick bite and something to drink.Soccer fans looking for a place with a strong rooting interest can go to Boi Na Brasa in Newark. The Brazilian steakhouse is hosting a watch party at its Adams Street location, featuring outdoor TVs and a live appearance from former Brazilian soccer player Rodrigo Costa.Visiting fans who are more inclined to check out a bar in New York City for the match can head to The Long Acre Tavern in Times Square. The restaurant will be offering various specials catered to different international cuisines thanks to chef Darren Hamilton, the former executive head chef for Manchester United. Other matchday eventsNew Jersey officials are organizing dozens of World Cup fan events throughout the state. Some will be held on specific days over the next month, while others will be ongoing during the tournament's run.Among the events taking place in North Jersey June 13 is the Union City Soccer Festival & Fan Celebration, a full day of free family-friendly activities from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Other nearby attractions include Passport to Paterson and Linden Welcomes the World, a pair of citywide experiences designed to showcase the area and celebrate cultures of visiting teams and fans.Getting to MetLife Stadium for the World CupAfter a full day of celebrating soccer, fans attending the match need to figure out how to actually get to New York New Jersey Stadium. And unlike previous sporting events and concerts at the venue, planning this trip is not as straightforward as simply driving into the parking lot.There will be no vehicle access to the stadium on any match days. Instead, spectators are encouraged to use public transportation or ride-sharing to and from the Meadowlands.Ticket holders can travel round trip on NJ Transit trains for $98. All routes are through New York Penn Station, Hoboken Terminal or Secaucus Junction, meaning passengers coming from other stops must transfer at one of the New Jersey stations to board the World Cup trains.Those going to the match can also buy roundtrip tickets for the official stadium shuttle for $20. The shuttle has four pickup locations: three in Manhattan, and one at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in Nutley.There are a limited number of parking spots available at American Dream mall for $225, which must be purchased in advance. Fans may also take private bus and car services to the stadium if they have appropriate credentials or use ride-sharing apps, which will drop them off at the adjacent Meadowlands Racetrack.This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: World Cup 2026 is back, soccer-related things to do in NJ-NY

Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17, in the Pacific Division) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division)Raleigh, North Carolina; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDTLINE: Hurricanes -154, Golden Knights +129; over/under is 6STANLEY CUP FINAL: Series tied 2-2BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights are in a 2-2 series tie in the Stanley Cup Final. The teams meet Tuesday for the seventh time this season. The Hurricanes won 5-3 in the previous matchup. Jordan Staal led the Hurricanes with two goals.Carolina has a 53-22-7 record overall and a 36-12-2 record on its home ice. The Hurricanes have a 29-9-3 record when scoring a power-play goal.Vegas has a 26-16-9 record on the road and a 39-26-17 record overall. The Golden Knights have a 50-8-12 record when scoring three or more goals.TOP PERFORMERS: Sebastian Aho has 27 goals and 53 assists for the Hurricanes. Staal has six goals and one assist over the past 10 games.Jack Eichel has 27 goals and 63 assists for the Golden Knights. Brett Howden has scored seven goals and added two assists over the last 10 games.LAST 10 GAMES: Hurricanes: 7-2-1, averaging 3.8 goals, 6.3 assists, 3.4 penalties and 8.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.Golden Knights: 8-1-1, averaging 3.8 goals, 6.6 assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.INJURIES: Hurricanes: None listed.Golden Knights: None listed.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Mohali: When India’s ODI team assembles here in Mohali on Wednesday, it will be the formal onset of their preparations for the ODI World Cup in South Africa in Oct-Nov 2027. Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya are expected to be declared fit for the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan starting in Dharamshala on Saturday. Even as the selectors and the team management try to get combinations right, the first thing that needs to be addressed is the dynamics in the dressing room. Since Shubman Gill took over as full-time ODI captain last Oct, India lost both the ODI series that he played — in Australia and against New Zealand at home. The only series India won was against South Africa at home when Gill was ruled out due to a neck injury. With Gill’s two predecessors Rohit and Virat Kohli fighting doubts over their ability to last another 17 months till the World Cup, there is a sense of unease in firming up a core.Head coach Gautam Gambhir is yet to flex his authority in the ODI format. For the two years that he has been in charge, he has primarily owned the dressing rooms in the T20Is and Tests. The chest-thumping results in the T20 format are there to be seen. The T20 World Cup-winning team in March had Gambhir’s stamp all over it. It helped that chief selector Ajit Agarkar was on the same page. The Test team, too, is developing a brand a year after it went into transition in England exactly a year ago. The difference between the ODI team and the other two teams is dealing with mega stars like Rohit and Kohli. Pandya, it is learnt, too has to prove his utility as a bowler in the format. The selectors have been consistent in ruthlessly wielding the axe over the last year. ODI format is where indecision has set in. Sources told TOI that the team management and some of the senior players need to be brought on the same page. It has also been learnt that a few senior players have been in constant touch with the power forces in BCCI to get clarity about the plans going into 2027. Kohli, about to turn 38 in November, will not be part of the Afghanistan series due to a hamstring injury. But he recently made it very clear that he doesn’t want to be in an environment where he is made to prove his value. Rohit, now 39, firmly believes he can go one better than finishing runners-up in 2023. While Kohli has been in regal form since the South Africa series in Nov, Rohit’s approach at the top of the order has been significantly different since he led India to the ICC Champions Trophy title in March 2025. Gill averaged under 30 in the six ODIs he captained in. “With such big players in the team, Gill needs to have a stronger say in the dressing room. Gambhir hasn’t got involved in the planning as intently as he has done in the other two formats. So far, he has let things take its course,” a BCCI source said. “Now that the focus has shifted on the preparation for the ODI World Cup, one may expect Gambhir and Gill to take charge and firmly communicate their ideas in the dressing room. It’s important that the senior players, who have served India with distinction for so many years, are conveyed what role the team expects them to play and the plan for the buildup over the next 16 months,” the source added. 131627378Gill has enjoyed a stellar start to his Test captaincy career where he led a bunch of young boys after veterans like Rohit, Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin retired from the format. It’s up to him and Gambhir how soon they get the ODI dressing room around.

Rob Lee's career began as a teenager with Hornchurch [Getty Images]National League newcomers Hornchurch have appointed former England and Newcastle United midfielder Rob Lee as their new director of football.Lee, 60, began his career at the London club, who were promoted to the National League last month after winning the National League South play-offs.He went on to play almost 350 times for Charlton Athletic before, in 1992, joining Newcastle, where he scored 56 goals in 381 games during a decade on Tyneside and earned 21 caps for England, including playing at the 1998 World Cup.Lee helped Newcastle claim the First Division - now the Championship - title in 1993 and two second-placed finishes in the Premier League as well as reaching two FA Cup finals.He went on to have spells with Derby County, West Ham United, Oldham Athletic and Wycombe Wanderers before retiring in 2006.Rob Lee spent a decade at Newcastle United between 1992 and 2002 [Getty Images]"Rob brings with him a wealth of experience, knowledge, professionalism and a deep understanding of the game at both the professional and elite levels," Hornchurch chief executive Mark Hammond told the club website."His reputation within football speaks for itself, and we are excited to have someone of his calibre joining us at such an important stage of the club's journey."As we continue to build for the future, strengthen our football operations and establish ourselves at a higher level of the game, it is essential that we have the right people in place to help drive our ambitions forward. "Rob's experience in player development, recruitment, performance environments and football strategy will be invaluable as we look to create sustainable success both on and off the pitch."Lee has spent the majority of his post-playing career as a co-commentator and pundit, with the Hornchurch role his first permanent involvement at a club since retiring."Hornchurch will always hold a special place in my heart," he said."This is where my dream began, and I'm honoured to come back and help shape the future of this club. I can't wait to get started."Follow your club with BBC SportListen to the latest Football Daily podcastGet football news sent straight to your phone

🇫🇷 Magic stones for France! The French amulet for World Cup 2026The French national team dreams of stitching a third star onto their shirt at the 2026 World Cup. However, what no one expected was that Les Bleus’ secret weapon would be not tactical, but mystical. Sports Minister Marina Ferrari has surprised everyone with a truly surreal gift.During President Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to the training camp in Clairefontaine, the minister handed out two “protection stones” to each player. The esoteric pack includes a blue jasper, to help achieve goals, and a rock crystal, ideal for reducing stress and muscle pain.“Blue jasper gives the strength to achieve goals. Rock crystal reduces anxiety and boosts confidence,” the minister told the squad.The players, stunnedDidier Deschamps’ squad, along with Macron himself, were completely taken aback. Although the intention was to motivate the world runners-up, the scene prompted poker faces and tremendous bewilderment among the elite footballers.As expected, social media has exploded with memes and criticism. Many fans are furious over lithotherapy’s lack of scientific rigor, demanding that real mental and physical preparation be prioritized over the magic of minerals.Will the amulet work in the United States, Mexico and Canada? Mbappé and company already have their stones ready. Only time will tell whether this curious talisman guides them to glory or turns into the tournament’s biggest meme.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty ImagesGeorge Kittle did not shut down the idea of Taylor Swift returning to the Tight End University stage, and that was enough to restart the guessing game.The annual event already carries extra attention because of Travis Kelce’s role as one of its founders. Once Swift made a surprise appearance there before, any hint about another mystery performance was always going to lead back to her.Kittle knows that, which made his answer on the upcoming country concert feel more like a tease than a denial.Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty ImagesGeorge Kittle teases Tight End University country concert amid Taylor Swift rumorsOn the Up & Adams Show, George Kittle was asked about the entertainment plans for Tight End University, and he kept the names hidden.“That night, we have a country music show. I can’t tell you the names of the people are performing because some of them are on tour, and I guess, I’m not wanting to do that,” Kittle said.He added, “But I’ll just tell you that it’s going to be an amazing show. We have some awesome talent. And I don’t know how we got this much talent. … I’m looking forward to the country concert.”That answer alone gave fans room to wonder. Kittle did not mention Swift, but the combination of secrecy, touring artists, and TEU’s history made the speculation easy to understand.The event is returning to Nashville, and the Tight Ends & Friends concert has already built a reputation for surprise moments beyond football.Taylor Swift’s Tight End University return talk comes from past surprise performanceThe obvious reason fans keep connecting Swift to the event is what happened in 2025, when she made a surprise appearance at Tight End University in Nashville.Swift joined Kane Brown on stage at Brooklyn Bowl and performed “Shake It Off,” giving the event a viral moment far bigger than a normal offseason football gathering.Kelce was there, Kittle was part of the scene, and the clip traveled quickly because it blended NFL culture with one of music’s biggest stars.So when Kittle was asked if any global sensation might be coming this time, his answer only fed the rumor, “I neither confirm nor deny. I could never.”That is not confirmation, and Kittle clearly avoided giving away the lineup. But after Swift’s previous TEU moment, a non-answer may be all fans need to start believing the stage could have another major surprise waiting.Read more:Brooks Koepka’s wife’s latest ‘hall pass’ claim on Travis Kelce could make Taylor Swift angryTaylor Swift leaves behind a $6,000 souvenir after Cavaliers playoff appearanceTaylor Swift’s ‘huge circle’ of friends has reportedly shrunk as Travis Kelce becomes the center of her world

95 days from today, the Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Atlanta Falcons at home in the Steel City.In the spirit of the countdown to kickoff, we at Steelers Wire will take a look at the history of the No. 95 jersey and analyze which players wore it best.Steelers current No. 95 wearer: Benton, drafted by the Steelers in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, is the current No. 95 wearer on Pittsburgh's roster. Benton is coming off a breakout 2025 season and looks to make the most of his upcoming contract year.Last five Steelers to wear No. 95Keeanu Benton, 2023-presentChris Wormley, 2020-2022Jarvis Jones, 2013-2016Corbin Bryant, 2011Donovan Woods, 2008-2009Best No. 95 in Steelers history: LB Greg LloydAnother day, another countdown looking at the greatest Steelers to wear their respective jersey numbers. When it comes to No. 95, it's easy: the best Steeler to wear that number is linebacker Greg Lloyd.Lloyd, selected by the Steelers with the 150th overall pick in the sixth round of the 1987 NFL Draft, went on to play 10 seasons with Pittsburgh and one with the Carolina Panthers before calling it a career following the 1998 season.Recording 791 combined tackles, 54.5 sacks, 11 interceptions, and 38 forced fumbles, Lloyd was named to five Pro Bowls, earned three straight First-Team All-Pro selections from 1993 to 1995, and entered the Steelers' Hall of Honor in 2020.An intense leader with toughness that would strike fear in any opposing offense, Lloyd is undoubtedly the best Steeler to ever wear No. 95.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 2026 countdown to kickoff: Best and current wearer of No. 95

This week, the UFC will host an unprecedented event at the White House, putting on a series of fights to celebrate 250 years of the United States.The UFC’s cage is being constructed on the South Lawn, where seven fights will take place – on the 80th birthday of US president Donald Trump, coincidentally.Trump is a close friend of UFC president and CEO Dana White, who promised the greatest card in MMA history. And although fans have expressed disappointment in the actual quality of the bout list, it is still a strong collection of contests.Here’s all you need to know: (AFP/Getty)When is the UFC White House event?The event, named ‘UFC Freedom 250’, will take place on Sunday 14 June. The fights will begin at 5pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET (1am BST on Monday). How can I watch it? The event will stream live on Paramount+ in the US and UK. In the US, CBS will also provide live coverage, while TNT Sports and HBO Max allow access to the fights in the UK.Who is fighting? Subject to change; ‘C’ denotes champion:Ilia Topuria (C) vs Justin Gaethje (lightweight title) –related: Topuria teases Trump in Oval OfficeAlex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane (interim heavyweight title)Sean O’Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi (bantamweight)Derrick Lewis vs Josh Hokit (heavyweight) – related: Hokit to fight at White House after Trump’s ringside requestMauricio Ruffy vs Michael Chandler (lightweight)Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus (middleweight) – related: Daukaus claims he doesn’t deserve to fight at White HouseDiego Lopes vs Steve Garcia (featherweight)Left to right: Alex Pereira, Ilia Topuria, Trump, Justin Gaethje and Ciryl Gane (Reuters)Who can attend? Can I get a ticket? There will be no general admission for the White House fights, which are expected to be invite-only. However, fans can apply for free tickets to watch the fights from the Ellipse park, next to the White House. White, 56, said in May: “[Trump] wants this to be mostly for the military, so there’s gonna be 4,300 people there. I just literally went over it right now; 4,300 people, and most of them will be military. 100 per cent [it’s a ‘thank you’ to the military].“We’re gonna give away about 85,000 tickets [to the Ellipse]. There’s a process, you have to register for tickets, and they’re free [...] For those who don’t know, the Ellipse is a massive park. Literally, you’ll be able to see the fight[s] from the Ellipse, but we have screens, we’ve got stages, we’ve got music.”What other events will take place that week?Trump holding a mock-up image of the UFC’s Octagon on the South Lawn (AFP/Getty)A press conference will take place at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday 12 June, beginning at 5.30pm PT / 7.30pm CT / 8.30pm ET (1.30am BST on Saturday).Then, on Saturday 13 June, a fan festival will play out at the Ellipse, a large park located next to the White House. That will begin at 12.30pm PT / 2.30pm CT / 3.30pm ET (8.30pm BST). Thereafter, the ceremonial weigh-in for the fight card will get started at 5.30pm PT / 7.30pm CT / 8.30pm ET (1.30am BST on Sunday), followed by a concert from the Zac Brown Band at 6.30pm PT / 8.30pm CT / 9.30pm ET (2.30am BST on Sunday).Finally, the fight card itself will take place on Sunday 14 June, beginning at 5pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET (1am BST on Monday).What will security be like?UFC president Dana White before the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner (Getty)Speaking last September, White said:“The last time I was at the White House, I went up on the roof of the White House, and they’ve got snipers with .50 cals all over the roof of the White House. It’s pretty crazy. But yes, I mean, the security is gonna be a massive issue, because at the end of the day, secret service’s job is to protect the president.” In late April, Mr Trump was seemingly targeted by a shooter at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and alleged suspect Cole Allen was later charged with attempted assassination. In fact, White was present and said afterwards: “It started to get noisy. Tables started getting flipped over, guys running with guns and they were screaming ‘get down!’ I didn’t get down. It was f***ing awesome, and I literally took every minute of it in. It was a pretty crazy, unique experience. We were sitting right in front of the table, right in front of where the president was. Nobody got tackled but guys came in looking for shooters, I thought the shooter was over by us or something.”

The 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup gets underway on June 12, with 12 nations playing 33 matches across seven venues in England and Wales over 24 days.The tournament is in its 10th edition and sees England host for the first time since the inaugural event in 2009.Australia head into the showpiece sitting at the top of the ICC Women's T20I Team Rankings. New Zealand, meanwhile, are the defending champions, having won the 2024 edition in the UAE while India and South Africa are also in the mix to cause a major upset.Favourites to win the Women's T20 World CupAustralia head into the tournament as the clear market leaders. Here are the pre-tournament outright winner odds according to Sky Bet:TeamOddsImplied ProbabilityAustralia4/660.0%India7/222.2%England9/218.2%South Africa10/19.1%New Zealand25/13.9%West Indies80/11.2%Sri Lanka125/10.8%Pakistan300/10.3%Bangladesh400/10.3%The gap between Australia and the rest of the field is significant.India at 7/2 represent the main challenger in the market, with England's home advantage keeping them close behind at 9/2.MORE:The best Sky Bet FIFA World Cup betting offers for new customersWhy Australia are most likely to win Women's T20 WCThe case for Australia is built on a record no other side in women's T20 cricket has come close to matching.They are the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won the title six times — in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023. They are targeting a record-extending seventh world title in England.Australia are also currently placed at the top of the ICC Women's T20I Team Rankings and are in superb form, having recently won a three-match T20I series against West Indies 3-0.The squad is stacked: Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll are expected to provide aggressive starts at the top, while Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath offer stability and finishing power through the middle overs. The bowling attack is equally loaded, with the pace spearheaded by Megan Schutt and Kim Garth alongside allrounders Sutherland, McGrath, Perry and Nicola Carey.The spin resources, led by captain Sophie Molineux, vice-captain Ashleigh Gardner and leggies Georgia Wareham and Alana King, are expected to be particularly effective in English conditions.Veteran all-rounder Perry, who has been part of every Australian squad since the inaugural Women's T20 World Cup in 2009, is set to become the first player to make 50 appearances in the tournament. That kind of experience in knockout cricket is invaluable.MORE:Read all the latest Women's T20 World Cup news with The Cricket News Who and what could stop Australia winning?Australia have lost in the semi-finals in their last two World Cup appearances. Schutt admitted the motivation this time is "revenge, or spite," which tells its own story.New captain Sophie Molineux lost her first series in charge to India 2-1, and the Darcie Brown omission leaves a genuine question mark over the pace attack if things get tight in the knockouts.Meanwhile, England on home soil, with full crowds at venues like Lord's and Headingley, will generate an atmosphere that no rankings table or selection policy can prepare for. (Getty) Key players who could decide the Women's T20 World CupEllyse Perry (Australia) arrives at her 10th World Cup chasing a seventh title, a record that no player in the history of the game has come close to matching.Smriti Mandhana (India) has the ability to take any bowling attack apart inside the first six overs and, on her day, makes chasing targets look routine.Lauren Bell (England) will be the player the hosts will build their tournament around on pitches that were made for her.Amelia Kerr (New Zealand) showed in 2024 that she can win a final almost single-handedly with bat and ball, and the defending champions will go as far as she takes them.Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) has been the most destructive opener in the women's game this year, and South Africa will need her firing early if they are to reach a second consecutive final.Hayley Matthews (West Indies) will be crucial if the Windies are to cause the upset everyone suspects they are capable of. Matthews is close to unplayable when the conditions and the moment suit her.Bet Here: Bet £10 for £30 FREE bet when you join Bet365 as a new customerExpert predictions for the Women's T20 World CupThe expert consensus going into the tournament has Australia, England, India and defending champions, New Zealand, as the four semi-finalists, with this edition widely tipped as the most open in the competition's history.Here's our expert picks:Australia are expected to be the hardest side to beat across the full tournament.Most pundits are pointing to Beth Mooney as the likely leading run-scorer.Annabel Sutherland is a popular Player of the Tournament pick given her dual-threat value in English conditions.🏆 Our overall final prediction: Australia to beat India in the final.Best value bets for the Women's T20 World CupEngland have a favourable draw in Group 2 alongside New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Ireland and Scotland and we expect them to top it.TipOddsBet withEngland to top Group 28/15Paddy PowerFAQsWho is the favourite to win the Women's T20 World Cup 2026? Australia are the outright favourites, with best market odds.When does the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup start? The tournament runs from June 12 to July 5, 2026. It is hosted across seven venues in England and Wales, with the final at Lord's.Who are the defending champions? New Zealand are the defending champions, having won the 2024 edition in the UAE. How many times have Australia won the Women's T20 World Cup? Australia have won the title six times, in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023.Do favourites usually win the Women's T20 World Cup? Australia have won six of nine editions, which broadly validates backing the favourite. New Zealand in 2024 and West Indies in 2016 are the main exceptions.

At least Pete Golding didn’t pretend he followed all of the rules. Nobody would’ve believed him anyway, and he didn’t try to persuade us Mississippi didn’t tamper to raid linebacker Luke Ferrelli off Dabo Swinney’s roster.Swinney said Clemson turned in receipts to prove Golding cheated, to which Golding basically shrugged and hinted at SEC spring meetings if the NCAA punishes him, he’ll tattle on other cheaters.He didn’t confess. He didn’t deny, either.In effect, he said: If I cheated, at least I’ve got company.“There's a lot more people involved that everybody might not know,” Golding told reporters in Miramar Beach, Florida, last month. “I'm not gonna sit up here and say whatever we did or we didn't do, (and) was it right or was it wrong?”Hayes: Pete Golding is SEC’s favorite punching bag. That says more than you thinkToppmeyer: Brendan Sorsby admits he trampled NCAA gambling rules. Texas Tech wants to play him anywayPete Golding doesn't bother to pretend he followed NCAA rulesGolding threatened to expose other coaches who cheated if the NCAA punishes him, sources told my USA TODAY colleague Matt Hayes.I don’t doubt he’s got company in Club Cheat. If Golding has dirt on other coaches, I’m sure the NCAA would love to see it. Put the cards on the table.If the NCAA has sufficient evidence Golding tampered, it should attempt to punish him — although, if the Brendan Sorsby case tells us anything, a judge will have the final word on any suspension, not the NCAA.Coaches' actions speak louder than words: They don't want rulesCoaches pretended they wanted “guardrails!” these past five years, but they weren’t being honest. Most don’t want rules, or at least they don’t want rules that apply to them.Insomuch as rules exist, many coaches don’t follow them.Hayes: Dabo Swinney learns hard lesson: If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'Steve Spurrier reminds Dabo Swinney: 'There ain't no rules anymore' amid tampering claimsOh, sure, some coaches (and their bosses) might say they want rules. (Golding didn’t bother with that line.) Their actions tell us what they really want is to find ways to break the rules, slither around them, or procure a judge to bully the NCAA into a corner. See Texas Tech.As much as everyone likes to pretend NCAA rules don’t exist anymore, that’s not true. Some rules exist, but whenever the NCAA tries to enforce its rules, the affected party tries to escape punishment.So, whenever a coach or an athletic director or a university administrator says they want rules — sorry, you must call them “guardrails!” — you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t buy it.Here’s what they really want: Rules only apply to their competition.A brief review of the scofflawing:∎ Sorsby became a gambling addict while trampling NCAA’s black-and-white betting rules. He made numerous wagers on college football, including bets on games involving his own team. Sorsby sued the NCAA to regain eligibility. His legal team argued that because Sorsby became a gambling addict, he shouldn’t be ruled ineligible for gambling. Absurd theory, right? Not to Texas Tech. It vigorously supports Sorsby. The school celebrated a judge's ruling allowing him to play.∎ When the NCAA investigated Tennessee’s recruitment of Nico Iamaleava in an effort to enforce its rules prohibiting pay-for-play after the advent of NIL, Tennessee sicced the state’s attorney general on the NCAA, and UT's administration stood behind Iamaleava and scolded the NCAA. Hello, lawsuit. Goodbye to the NCAA’s pay-for-play rules.∎ NCAA rules prohibit players who depart college and sign an NBA contract from returning to college basketball. Alabama coach Nate Oats said, who cares? He brought in the NBA G League’s Charles Bediako to suit up for the Tide last season. Never mind this violated rules. The university supported the move. Bediako played in a few games, before a judge finally stopped the insanity.∎ LSU basketball coach Will Wade signed ex-NBA G Leaguer RJ Luis Jr. NCAA rules deem Luis ineligible. Wade doesn’t care.I could go on. You don’t need me to.One athletic director admits: 'We really don’t want to have rules.'Why should anyone believe a coach or an athletic director or a university president when they say they want rules, when actions say otherwise?“That’s a fair observation,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey conceded.I asked a few other stakeholders that same question at SEC spring meetings.To a man, here’s how they answered — and I’m paraphrasing here: You shouldn’t believe us.Here’s how my exchange went with Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts:Me: “Athletic directors, presidents and chancellors say they want rules, but anytime a rule goes against their institution …”Alberts interjected and finished the thought for me: “… they don’t like those rules anymore.”Bingo.So, I ask again: Why should anyone believe these people when they say they want rules?“I think that’s a very good question,” Alberts said, “and I think that’s a very fair question, and I’d say the evidence supports your notion that we really don’t want to have rules.”“But,” Alberts added, “I still believe that if there was confidence in (swift) enforcement, I think you could get people there.”I’m unconvinced of that last part.Mostly, I just think nobody really wants rules.So, please, let’s put a moratorium on all the “guardrails!” talk.Say this much for Golding: He’s not pretending he wants rules or that he intends to follow them, and he never said he didn’t tamper to get Ferrelli.Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Say this for Pete Golding: He’s not pretending to follow NCAA rules

Zappacosta on Roma’s radar but relations with Atalanta make deal complicatedIn addition to Lorenzo Bernasconi, Roma’s new sporting director, Tony D’Amico, has reportedly explored the idea of ​​bringing Davide Zappacosta back to the Giallorossi. As Alfredo Pedullà reported on his website, however, relations between the director and Atalanta have cooled due to a less than ideal relationship in recent months. For Atalanta, the full-back is a valuable asset, and the way the parties parted ways was not welcomed. Furthermore, D’Amico is also working on a Baldanzi deal with Genoa. Lorenzo Venturino could also be included in the deal, but he would risk being left out of the squad and receiving limited playing time.

🏆 One day to go: test your knowledge in the World Cup quizGuys, there’s just 1 DAY left until the 2026 World Cup!To get into the World Cup spirit, OneFootball is bringing you a special quiz series. Every day, until Thursday (11), a brand-new quiz about the World Cup.👉 Click here to take Quiz 1 and show that you know everything about the World Cup.And let us know in the comments if you got a 10/10 or if it was really tough.Missed a quiz? Take the previous ones too:Quiz 2Quiz 3Quiz 4Quiz 5Quiz 6Quiz 7Quiz 8 Quiz 9 Quiz 10Quiz 11 Quiz 12Quiz 13Quiz 14Quiz 15Quiz 16 Quiz 17 Quiz 18Quiz 19Quiz 20Quiz 21Quiz 22Quiz 23Quiz 24Quiz 25Quiz 26Quiz 27Quiz 28Quiz 29Quiz 30This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

ASHEVILLE - The 2026 FIFA World Cup has come to North America, with matches scheduled at stadiums across the U.S., including Atlanta, Boston, New York and New Jersey. Asheville establishments are ready for soccer (or football) mania, with fans seeking the best seats to watch the games without leaving the city. Here's what to know about the World Cup and local sports bars and breweries offering prime TV viewing and hosting watch parties.When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?The more-than-monthlong tournament will begin on June 11 and end on July 19.First up are Mexico vs. South Africa at Mexico City Stadium and Korea Republic vs. Czechia at Estadio Guadalajara in Mexico. On June 12, catch the U.S. team play against Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium in California. View the complete schedule here.What teams are playing in the World Cup?World Cup 2026 will feature 48 teams from around the world competing in 104 matches. Get live results and more details about the World Cup at fifa.com. FIFA also offers an app for smartphone users to stay up to date wherever they go. Where to watch the World Cup in AshevilleWatch parties are popping up across the city. Here are some of the places offering big screen TVs, themed food and drink specials, giveaways, raffles and more for the World Cup. Send your business's World Cup watch party details to tkennell@citizentimes.com. Olde London Road270 Depot St., River Arts District; olrpub.com.The home of soccer, Olde London Road, is a go-to for diehard fans to watch on any of the indoor and patio large-screen TVs. The pub is regularly open from 12 p.m.-12 a.m. Monday-Friday and 11 a.m.-12 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, opening at 7:30 a.m. in Premier League season. Doors will open one hour before the first match of the day during the World Cup. Guests must have a wristband, available at no cost, which is available only in person. Fifty reserved wristbands per match will be allocated, which can be claimed at the bar. Additional wristbands will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. For updates, follow @oldelondonrd on Instagram.Easy Tiger/Flour125 S Lexington Ave.; South Slope. easytigeravl.comEasy Tiger sports bar is temporarily sharing space with its sister cafe, Flour, which means more time for World Cup watchers to spend at the South Slope establishment.Daytime matches will be played during Flour's service hours, with the kitchen serving fresh biscuits, coffee, breakfast sandwiches, lunch meals and mimosas through 2 p.m. Remote workers are encouraged to bring their laptops and tune in to the 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. games. Easy Tiger will then take over with a complete dining and drink menu, including rotating food and cocktail specials inspired by the competing countries — such as Pimm's Cup for England and Toki Highball for Japan. Easy Tiger/Flour's watch parties, giveaways and raffles for World Cup merchandise and other prizes will be in collaboration with spirit brands and distributors. For USA evening matches, a projector will cast the games on the patio for a bonus outdoor viewing experience. Flour's regular hours are 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Thursday-Monday, with Easy Tiger opening after the cafe closes, until midnight or later, depending on the end of the game. Hours of operation are subject to change based on World Cup matches and special event times; follow Easy Tiger on Instagram for updates, @easytigeravl.The Draftsman68 Patton Ave., downtown; thedraftsmanasheville.comThe Draftsman, the underground speakeasy-style bar and game room at The Restoration Hotel, will turn into a World Cup den, offering a festive space to enjoy bar bites and drinks, including specialty craft cocktails to fit the occasion. Get into the competitive mode with friends -- The Draftsman offers bowling and arcade games for open play. Hours of operation are 5 p.m.-12 a.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-12 a.m. Sunday. For updates, follow @thedraftsmanasheville on Instagram. Highland Brewing 12 Old Charlotte Highway, East Asheville; highlandbrewing.com.From June 11 to June 27, Highland Brewing will host "Watch the World Cup with Scotty" ― the Gaelic Amber Ale's mascot ― from 3-10 p.m. in the festively themed taproom. Highland Brewing's drink menu features original craft beers, mixed drinks, nonalcoholic beer and other beverages. Big matches will be broadcast on the screens, and extended hours will allow brewery guests to party longer. View the complete watch party schedule on Highland Brewing's website, and follow @highlandbrewing on Instagram for updates and food truck schedules.More sports bars to visit for the World Cup:Archetype Brewing. 265 Haywood Road, West Asheville, archetypebrewing.com.The Mule at Devil's Foot Beverages. 131 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, devilsfootbrew.com. Kicking off on June 11 with family-friendly outdoor mini soccer games, a Futbol828 Penalty Kick Shoot Out, local vendors, a Latin dance party and more.Bear's Smokehouse BBQ. 135 Coxe Ave. South Slope, bearsbbq.com.Asheville Sports Club. 137 Coxe Ave., South Slope, ashevillesportsclub.com.Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Co., covering the food and beverage industry, including the James Beard Awards, Michelin Guide, restaurant openings, closings and other hospitality industry news and events.Tips, comments, questions? Email tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram. Sign up for AVL Bites and Brews, our weekly food and drink newsletter here.This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville bars, breweries hosting 2026 FIFA World Cup watch parties

The high school football season is getting closer for Western North Carolina.The NCHSAA regular season will kick off on Aug. 21 and run through Oct. 30, with the playoffs starting on Nov. 6. The top eight seeds in each bracket will receive byes, leading to the state championships Dec. 10-12.Bookmark this page to see all the area's top matchups and when they take place as WNC schools release their 2026 football schedules.Here are the schedules that have been announced for the 2026 WNC football season.AndrewsAug. 21 - vs. MadisonAug. 28 - vs. Smoky MountainSept. 4 - at MitchellSept. 11 - at Anderson (South Carolina)Sept. 18 - vs. Swain CountySept. 25 - vs. RobbinsvilleOct. 2 - OpenOct. 9 - at RosmanOct. 16 - at MurphyOct. 23 - at CherokeeOct. 30 - vs. HayesvilleAsheville Christian AcademyAug. 14 - vs. Spartanburg DayAug. 21 - vs. Spartanburg ChristianAug. 28 - at Lakeway ChristianSept. 4 - at Avery CountySept. 11 - vs. SouthLake ChristianSept. 18 - vs. Copper Basin (Tennessee)Sept. 25 - OpenOct. 2 - vs Kings AcademyOct. 9 - at Harrell's ChristianOct. 16 - vs. Grace ChristianOct. 23 - at Greenville HurricanesOct. 30 - OpenAsheville HighAug. 21 - at East RutherfordAug. 28 - vs. Dobyns-Bennett (Tennessee)Sept. 4 - vs. CrestSept. 11 - vs. Asheville SchoolSept. 18 - OpenSept. 25 - at WataugaOct. 2 - at RobersonOct. 9 - vs. ReynoldsOct. 16 - at ErwinOct. 23 - at North BuncombeOct. 30 - vs. EnkaAsheville SchoolAug. 21 - at Corvian CommunityAug. 28 - vs. Webb (Tennessee)Sept. 4 - OpenSept. 11 - at Asheville HighSept. 18 - at Charlotte Country DaySept. 26 - at Christ School (100th edition of The Game)Oct. 2 - OpenOct. 9 - vs. High Point ChristianOct. 16 - vs. Covenant DayOct. 23 - at SouthLake Christian AcademyOct. 30 - vs. Ambassador ChristianBrevardAug. 21 - at ReynoldsAug. 28 - OpenSept. 4 - vs. ErwinSept. 11 - at North BuncombeSept. 18 - vs. FranklinSept. 25 - at North HendersonOct. 2 - at Smoky MountainOct. 9 - vs. East HendersonOct. 16 - vs. West HendersonOct. 23 - vs. TuscolaOct. 30 - at PisgahCherokeeAug. 21 - at North BuncombeAug. 28 - at TuscolaSept. 4 - vs. Choctaw Central (Miss.)Sept. 11 - vs. EnkaSept. 18 - at RosmanSept. 25 - at MurphyOct. 2 - vs. HayesvilleOct. 9 - OpenOct. 16 - vs. Swain CountyOct. 23 - vs. AndrewsOct. 30 - at RobbinsvilleChrist SchoolAug. 22 - vs. Carolina Mavericks (South Carolina)Aug. 28 - at East RutherfordSept. 4 - at Harrells ChristianSept. 12 - vs. North Cross School (Virginia)Sept. 18 - vs. Charlotte LatinSept. 26 - vs. Asheville School (100th edition of The Game)Oct. 2 - OpenOct. 9 - vs. Charlotte ChristianOct. 16 - vs. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Georgia)Oct. 23 - at Metrolina ChristianOct. 30 - at Cannon SchoolEast HendersonAug. 21 - at HendersonvilleAug. 28 - vs. MadisonSept. 4 - vs. RosmanSept. 11 - vs. FranklinSept. 18 - at Smoky MountainSept. 25 - vs. West HendersonOct. 2 - at North HendersonOct. 9 - at BrevardOct. 16 - OpenOct. 23 - vs. PisgahOct. 30 - at TuscolaEnkaAug. 21 - vs. North HendersonAug. 28 - vs. HayesvilleSept. 4 - at PisgahSept. 11 - at CherokeeSept. 18 - vs. McDowellSept. 25 - OpenOct. 2 - at North BuncombeOct. 9 - vs. ErwinOct. 16 - at RobersonOct. 23 - vs. ReynoldsOct. 30 - at Asheville HighErwinAug. 21 - vs. West HendersonAug. 28 - at Mountain HeritageSept. 4 - at BrevardSept. 11 - vs. HendersonvilleSept. 18 - at WataugaSept. 25 - OpenOct. 2 - vs. ReynoldsOct. 9 - at EnkaOct. 16 - vs. Asheville HighOct. 23 - at RobersonOct. 30 - vs. North BuncombeFranklinAug. 21 - at MurphyAug. 28 - vs. RobbinsvilleSept. 4 - vs. Swain CountySept. 11 - at East HendersonSept. 18 - at BrevardSept. 25 - vs. PisgahOct. 2 - at TuscolaOct. 9 - vs. North HendersonOct. 16 - OpenOct. 23 - at Smoky MountainOct. 30 - vs. West HendersonHayesvilleAug. 21 - at Towns County (Georgia)Aug. 28 - at EnkaSept. 4 - vs. Copper Basin (Tennessee)Sept. 11 - at Georgia Force ChristianSept. 18 - vs. RobbinsvilleSept. 25 - vs. RosmanOct. 2 - at CherokeeOct. 9 - at Swain CountyOct. 16 - OpenOct. 23 - vs. MurphyOct. 30 - at AndrewsHendersonvilleAug. 21 - vs. East HendersonAug. 28 - at West HendersonSept. 4 - vs. North HendersonSept. 11 - at ErwinSept. 18 - at MitchellSept. 25 - OpenOct. 2 - at MadisonOct. 9 - vs. OwenOct. 16 - vs. Avery CountyOct. 23 - at Mountain HeritageOct. 30 - vs. Polk CountyMitchellAug. 21 - at Charlotte LatinAug. 28 - at McDowellSept. 4 - vs. AndrewsSept. 11 - vs. RobbinsvilleSept. 18 - vs. HendersonvilleSept. 25 - at Polk CountyOct. 2 - vs. OwenOct. 9 - OpenOct. 16 - vs. Mountain HeritageOct. 23 - at MadisonOct. 30 - at Avery CountyMountain HeritageAug. 21 - at PisgahAug. 28 - vs. ErwinSept. 4 - at RobbinsvilleSept. 11 - vs. Swain CountySept. 18 - OpenSept. 25 - vs. MadisonOct. 2 - at Polk CountyOct. 9 - vs. Avery CountyOct. 16 - at MitchellOct. 23 - vs. HendersonvilleOct. 30 - at OwenMurphyAug. 21 - vs. FranklinAug. 28 - OpenSept. 4 - at East SurrySept. 11 - vs. ReynoldsSept. 18 - at Westside (South Carolina)Sept. 25 - vs. CherokeeOct. 2 - at RosmanOct. 9 - at RobbinsvilleOct. 16 - vs. AndrewsOct. 23 - at HayesvilleOct. 30 - vs. Swain CountyNorth BuncombeAug. 21 - vs. CherokeeAug. 28 - at RosmanSept. 4 - at MadisonSept. 11 - vs. BrevardSept. 18 - OpenSept. 25 - at McDowellOct. 2 - vs. EnkaOct. 9 - vs. RobersonOct. 16 - at ReynoldsOct. 23 - vs. Asheville HighOct. 30 - at ErwinNorth HendersonAug. 21 - at EnkaAug. 28 - vs. R-S CentralSept. 4 - at HendersonvilleSept. 11 - vs. TuscolaSept. 18 - at PisgahSept. 25 - vs. BrevardOct. 2 - vs. East HendersonOct. 9 - at FranklinOct. 16 - OpenOct. 23 - at West HendersonOct. 30 - vs. Smoky MountainOwenAug. 21 - at RosmanAug. 28 - vs. CherryvilleSept. 4 - vs. PattonSept. 11 - at West HendersonSept. 18 - vs. Polk CountySept. 25 - vs. Avery CountyOct. 2 - at MitchellOct. 9 - at HendersonvilleOct. 16 - at MadisonOct. 23 - OpenOct. 30 - vs. Mountain HeritagePisgahAug. 21 - vs. Mountain HeritageAug. 28 - at Swain CountySept. 4 - vs. EnkaSept. 11 - at Smoky MountainSept. 18 - vs. North HendersonSept. 25 - at FranklinOct. 2 - vs. West HendersonOct. 9 - vs. TuscolaOct. 16 - OpenOct. 23 - at East HendersonOct. 30 - vs. BrevardPolk CountyAug. 21 - at ChaseAug. 28 - at Newton-ConoverSept. 4 - vs. Landrum (South Carolina)Sept. 11 - vs. PattonSept. 18 - at OwenSept. 25 - vs. MitchellOct. 2 - vs. Mountain HeritageOct. 9 - vs. MadisonOct. 16 - OpenOct. 23 - at Avery CountyOct. 30 - at HendersonvilleReynoldsAug. 21 - vs. BrevardAug. 28 - vs. MaidenSept. 4 - at J.M. RobinsonSept. 11 - at MurphySept. 18 - vs. FreedomSept. 25 - OpenOct. 2 - at ErwinOct. 9 - at Asheville HighOct. 16 - vs. North BuncombeOct. 23 - at EnkaOct. 30 - vs. RobersonRobbinsvilleAug. 21 - at TuscolaAug. 28 - at FranklinSept. 4 - vs. Mountain HeritageSept. 11 - at MitchellSept. 18 - at HayesvilleSept. 25 - at AndrewsOct. 2 - at Swain CountyOct. 9 - vs. MurphyOct. 16 - vs. RosmanOct. 23 - OpenOct. 30 - vs. CherokeeRosmanAug. 21 - vs. OwenAug. 28 - vs. North BuncombeSept. 4 - at East HendersonSept. 11 - at Copper Basin (Tennessee)Sept. 18 - vs. CherokeeSept. 25 - at HayesvilleOct. 2 - vs. MurphyOct. 9 - vs. AndrewsOct. 16 - at RobbinsvilleOct. 23 - at Swain CountyOct. 30 - OpenSmoky MountainAug. 21 - at Swain CountyAug. 28 - at AndrewsSept. 4 - vs. ForestviewSept. 11 - vs. PisgahSept. 18 - vs. East HendersonSept. 25 - at TuscolaOct. 2 - vs. BrevardOct. 9 - at West HendersonOct. 16 - OpenOct. 23 - vs. FranklinOct. 30 - at North HendersonSwain CountyAug. 21 - vs. Smoky MountainAug. 28 - vs. PisgahSept. 4 - at FranklinSept. 11 - at Mountain HeritageSept. 18 - at AndrewsSept. 25 - OpenOct. 2 - vs. RobbinsvilleOct. 9 - vs. HayesvilleOct. 16 - at CherokeeOct. 23 - vs. RosmanOct. 30 - at MurphyTuscolaAug. 21 - vs. RobbinsvilleAug. 28 - vs. CherokeeSept. 4 - at South CaldwellSept. 11 - at North HendersonSept. 18 - at West HendersonSept. 25 - vs. Smoky MountainOct. 2 - vs. FranklinOct. 9 - at PisgahOct. 16 - OpenOct. 23 - at BrevardOct. 30 - vs. East HendersonWest HendersonAug. 21 - at ErwinAug. 28 - vs. HendersonvilleSept. 4 - OpenSept. 11 - vs. OwenSept. 18 - vs. TuscolaSept. 25 - at East HendersonOct. 2 - at PisgahOct. 9 - vs. Smoky MountainOct. 16 - at BrevardOct. 23 - vs. North HendersonOct. 30 - at FranklinEvan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email him at egerike@citizentimes.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @EvanGerike.This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: See schedules for 2026 WNC high school football season

Jim Furyk's TV profile keeps expanding. The Jacksonville resident and 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup captain, who has worked on Golf Channel coverage of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players Championship and the Masters, will branch out to the USA Network for its early round coverage of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills next week. Golfweek first reported the news. Furyk will work on June 18, beginning at 6 a.m. on USA's early coverage, then check back in later that afternoon, and on weekend coverage. Furyk also will be part of USA's British Open coverage July 16-19 at Royal Birkdale. In between, Furyk will work for Golf Channel at the Travelers Championship June 25-28 at TPC River Highlands, where he was the first player in PGA Tour history to shoot 58, when he won in 2016. PGA Tour joins anti-doping group The PGA Tour has become the newest member of the Board of Governors of the Partnership for Clean Competition (PCC), an anti-doping research collaborative. It marks the first expansion of the PCC since 2008. The Tour joins Major League Baseball, the NFL, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committees and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to help preserve worldwide sports integrity. “Through consistent dedication to ensuring fair competition among their athletes and tournaments, and the unwavering support they have provided to the PCC, the PGA Tour stands as a model to all other sports organizations,” said Jon Coyles, Chair of the PCC Board and MLB’s Senior Vice President of Drug, Health and Safety Programs, said in a statement. “The priority they place on the furtherance of the PCC’s crucial work in anti-doping affirms the TOUR’s commitment to the health and safety of their players and their fans.” “Having a seat on PCC Board of Governors is a natural progression extending from the Tour's longstanding relationship with the PCC and like-minded sports organizations that are committed to clean sport,” said Andy Levinson, the Tour's Senior Vice President of Tournament Administration in another statement. Detroit losing PGA Tour event The Rocket Classic, a summer staple on the PGA Tour since 2019, will be played for the final time July 30-Aug. 2, according to a report in the Detroit News. Rocket Companies and the PGA Tour have confirmed the report. Rocket declined to exercise its option for 2027 and the event will end after the company spent more than $150 million as a Tour sponsor, including five years in the Washington D.C. Area. "After nearly 13 years as a PGA Tour title sponsor, including eight years in Detroit, 2026 will mark the final Rocket Classic," Mark Hollis, Rocket tournament director and a longtime Gilbert right-hand man, said in a statement to The News. "We are incredibly proud of what this tournament has meant to the city, from creating unforgettable moments for fans to raising more than $10 million for local organizations,” Holllis continued. “When we launched the Rocket Classic, our mission was to shine a national spotlight on Detroit. That mission has been accomplished. Our city is celebrated as the model for resilience, innovation and community-driven progress." "We remain interested in the Detroit market," the PGA Tour said in a statement to The News, "and will explore options for a new sponsor." PGA Tour Event: RBC Canadian Open, June 11-14, TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. Purse: $9.8 million ($1,764,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner. Defending champion: Ryan Fox. TV: Golf Channel (June 11-12, 3-6 p.m.; June 13-14, 1-3 p.m.); CBS (June 13-14, 3-6 p.m.).Area players: Chandler Blanchet, Michael Brennan, Bud Cauley, Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Billy Horschel, Patton Kizzire, Keith Mitchell, J.T. Poston, Aaron Rai, Sam Ryder, Davis Thompson, Michael Thorbjornsen, Alejandro Tosti, Karl Vilips, Danny Walker. LPGAEvent: Dow Championship, June 11-14, Midland Country Club, Midland, Mich. Purse: $3.3 million ($495,000 to the winning team). Defending champions: Jin Hee Im-Somi Lee. Area players (partners): Auston Kim (Jenny Shin), Amelia Lewis (Paula Reto), Jessica Porvasnik (Kate Smith-Stroh). TV: Golf Channel (June 11-12, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 13, 2-3 p.m.; June 14, 3-5 p.m.). PGA Tour Champions Event: Principal Charity Classic, June 12-14, Wakonda Club, Des Moines, Iowa. Purse: $2 million ($300,000 to the winner). Defending champion: Miguel Angel Jimenez. Area players: Davis Duval, Fred Funk, Zach Johnson. TV: Golf Channel (June 12, 10-12 p.m.; June 13, 5-7 p.m.; June 14, 3-5 p.m.).Korn Ferry Tour Event: OccuNet Classic, June 11-14, Tascosa Golf Club, La Paloma Course, Amarillo, Texas. Purse: $1 million ($180,000 to the winner). Defending champion: First-year event. Area players: Tyson Alexander, Nick Gabrelcik, Will Gordon, Robbie Higgins, Nick Infanti, Philip Knowles, Russell Knox, Ben Kohles, Rick Lamb, Doc Redman, Julian Suri, Michael Thompson, Travis Trace, Carl Yuan. TV: None.This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk expands TV presence to season's final two majors

Motorsport photoWas the criticism of the Lamborghini Temerario GT3 premature? After the catastrophic start in Spielberg, where the Lamborghini drivers languished at the back of the pack, Abt driver Luca Engstler managed an eighth and a sixth place at Zandvoort. "It can't be such a handful if we're on the second row," Lamborghini factory driver Engstler defended his car on Sunday at ran.de after a strong third place on the grid.But what role did the DTM additional homologation play in this upward trend, which allowed the Lamborghini teams for the first time to run with a rear wing configuration not homologated by the FIA? "It's a combination of things, but of course the rear wing helps us," clarified team principal Gottfried Grasser."The downforce from the rear wing mainly helps with driveability, because you can push more at the corner entry and the car is better to drive in that area. It also makes it a bit easier to set up the car," he explained.The specifics of the Lamborghini special regulationWhat changed for the Temerario GT3 through the additional homologation? Shortly before the DTM weekend at Zandvoort, the DTM GT Committee decided that the Lamborghini teams Grasser and Abt - despite opposition from other manufacturers manufacturer pushback, the DTM approved a special solution for Lamborghini - would be allowed to run a rear wing setting that generates more downforce and is not covered by the car's FIA homologation.In the updated Balance of Performance (BoP), it stated that the rear wing could be set three degrees steeper. This meant the minimum allowed angle of attack was no longer five, but eight degrees.This would not have been possible without a hardware change: With the help of the DTM additional homologation, the maximum achievable angle of attack was increased from seven to twelve degrees, enabled by a new bracket. This is the connecting piece between the L-mount, which is fixed to the chassis, and the rear wing blade.Steeper rear wing than previously possible even at MonzaFrom the outside, the difference is barely visible, as only the mount was slightly adjusted and the rear wing is now set steeper than in the past. How desperately the Temerario needed the change was evident during the GT World Challenge Europe weekend at Monza, where the car was also allowed to use the change thanks to SRO additional homologation.Because even on the high-speed track, the Temerario headed out with an angle of attack of eight degrees - something that would not have been possible with the FIA homologation.Abt tested with special solution before ZandvoortWhile the Grasser team ran the modified configuration for the first time during DTM free practice at Zandvoort, the Abt team had a slight head start: According to information from Motorsport-Total.com, the Lamborghini team had already tried the change two weeks before the Zandvoort weekend during their single private test day per season, which Abt utilized at Zandvoort on May 8.The change primarily has a positive effect in high-speed corners, as it makes the car aerodynamically more stable. Furthermore, it helps the balance, as the Temerario GT3 previously generated far too little downforce at the rear axle, making the car unstable, especially in fast corners.Since the car now generates a few more kilograms of downforce at the rear axle, the top speed of the vehicle decreases. To compensate for this, the Temerario received up to 0.1 bar more boost pressure in the high RPM range at Zandvoort, which means DTM and SRO are once again operating outside the FIA's homologation window."You have to work with the car in a completely different way"For the Grasser team, the change at Zandvoort meant a major adjustment. "We were searching a bit at the beginning," Grasser explained. "In terms of philosophy, you now have to work with the car in a completely different way. And that needs driving experience. The two practice sessions are almost not enough for that. Therefore, the first part of the weekend was like a test."Whether it felt like a new car? "Yes and no, that would be an exaggeration," he replied. "But it is a major impact where you now have to learn step by step." This is why they made a big leap from Saturday to Sunday, which was also demonstrated by Mirko Bortolotti's fourth place on the grid.Whether Grasser believes the progress at Zandvoort was also related to the abrasive asphalt and the high temperatures? "No, I believe it will generally go better," he said. "The high energy from the track and the higher temperatures certainly helped us, but that also applies to other tracks when it's warm."To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

CLEMSON — Clemson football eyes more talent for the Tigers' 2027 recruiting class.Dabo Swinney's class ranks No. 7 nationally (second in the ACC), according to the 247Sports Composite, with 22 commits, including 12 four-star players and nine three-stars.Clemson's 2027 class rose into the top 10 rankings after landing 15 commits from May 18 through June 2 with recruits committing before, during and after the Tigers' big visit weekend on May 29.Prior to this surge, Clemson ranked outside the 20s, putting the Tigers in jeopardy of finishing in the 20s for the third straight season. Clemson has another official recruiting visit weekend starting June 12 that will feature notable recruits but will be smaller than the May 29 weekend.Coming off a 7-6 record in 2025, the second-worst season under Swinney, here are other notable recruits Clemson is pursuing.Who is visiting Clemson football June 12-14According to 247Sports, here is everyone who is visiting Clemson on June 12-14.All rankings from the 247Sports Composite rankings.Seth Tillman, DTTillman attends South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The four-star defensive tackle is the No. 15 DT overall, No. 123 player nationally and No. 3 recruit in the state. He visited Clemson in March, and he is considering South Carolina, Georgia and Michigan.Segun Alexander, DTAlexander attends Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Georgia) High School. The three-star defensive tackle is the No. 62 player in the state and No. 502 recruit nationally. He is considering Clemson, Cal, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Notre Dame.Raymond Hudson, LBHudson is a three-star recruit who attends Varina High School in Richmond, Virginia. He is considering Clemson and Maryland and plans to announce his commitment on June 19.MORE: Why Clemson's Gideon Davidson had quiet freshman year after making preseason All-AmericanOther recruits Clemson football could land in 2027 recruiting classJayden Aparicio-Bailey, SAparicio-Bailey, a four-star safety, attends Prattville (Alabama) High School. He is the No. 134 player nationally, the No. 9 safety overall and No. 6 recruit in the state. He visited Clemson on May 29 and is considering Georgia, Auburn, South Carolina and Ohio State.Nate Carson, OLThe 6-4, 270-pound offensive tackle is a four-star player. Carson is the No. 5 player in South Carolina, attending Irmo High School in Columbia, and the No. 23 tackle nationally. He visited Clemson on May 29 and is considering Texas A&M, Tennessee and South Carolina. He will announce his commitment on July 3.Roman Igwebuike, LBIgwebuike is a four-star linebacker who attends Mount Carmel High School in Chicago. He is the No. 8 player in Illinois, No. 13 linebacker and No. 149 recruit nationally. He visited Clemson on May 29 and is considering Indiana, Missouri, Notre Dame and Tennessee.Sean Fox, LBThe four-star linebacker attends Warren Central High School in Indianapolis. He is the No. 4 player in Indiana, No. 24 linebacker and No. 299 recruit nationally. He visited Clemson on May 29 and is considering Georgia, Kentucky and Notre Dame.Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football recruiting visit weekend: Who Dabo Swinney is hosting

It is time for California to catch up to its own past.

There’s ample cause for celebration and consternation alike.

A World Cup referee from Somalia, who was denied entry into the United States, received a hero's welcome in Mogadishu on Wednesday, where he vowed to officiate at the next tournament and urged Somali youths to embrace national pride.Omar Artan was poised to become the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup, having been included on Fifa’s final list for the competition. Recognised as one of Africa’s top referees, he was named the continent’s best male referee in 2025. However, his journey was cut short at Miami International Airport on Saturday due to "vetting concerns," according to a statement from US Customs and Border Protection, which offered no further details. Fifa subsequently removed him from the referee list.Despite being issued a visa last week by the Somalia Embassy in Kenya, Artan, who was due to join other World Cup referees at their training base in Miami, was forced to return home. Upon his arrival in Mogadishu, he expressed gratitude to the Somali government, its people, and Fifa for their unwavering support.Omar Artan was due to referee at the World Cup in America but was denied entry into the country (AFP/Getty)"I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one," he declared, as hundreds of supporters waved the Somali flag. "I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident."The highly unusual decision by the US to bar a Fifa-appointed match official from entering a World Cup host nation sparked global outrage and prompted questions among some fans regarding America's capacity to host the prestigious event. Somalia is among nearly 40 countries subject to travel restrictions implemented under the Trump administration’s immigration policies.Hundreds of supporters, government officials, and members of Somalia’s football community gathered hours before Artan’s arrival at Aden Adde International Airport. As he disembarked, flag-waving supporters crowded around him, draping him in the national flag. He was then escorted by police tothe airport’s VIP terminal, where he was greeted by Somalia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, officials from the Somalia Football Federation, and other dignitaries, before addressing the press.The Somalian public condemned the US foe denying Artan the chance to officiate at the World Cup (Reuters)"It is up to all of us to defend the Somali name," Artan stated. "Somalia belongs to us, whether it is in a bad state or a good state. That flag belongs to us, and that passport belongs to us."In a nation where decades of conflict and the rise of the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group have often limited opportunities, Artan's denial brought widespread disappointment. Yet, for many, it also served as a powerful reminder of what is possible when dreams are pursued. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus echoed this sentiment on X, writing: "You reached the summit of your profession and inspired a generation back home just by getting there, and being kept off the pitch you earned doesn’t change that."

Serena Williams is back.Teaming up with rising Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko for a straight-sets win over the No. 3 seeds in women’s doubles at the Queen’s grass-court tournament in London, Williams sent a message to the tennis world that it may be in for an interesting summer.Williams’ comeback comes just under one year after she decided she had something else to tell the world.Last summer, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion said she had been taking Zepbound, one of the new generation of drugs which are designed to treat diabetes, but can also help people lose weight: GLP-1s.Williams, 44, said that she made the decision after trying just about every other avenue. She had not wanted to take “the shortcut,” she said on Oprah Winfrey’s podcast last August, but, Williams said, getting to where she wanted to be after her two pregnancies was not working through training alone.“I couldn’t beat the weight. It was the one opponent I couldn’t beat,” Williams, who manages her treatment through Ro, a telehealth company for which she serves as a paid ambassador, said.Charles Barkley, the NBA Hall of Famer and TV analyst, is also an ambassador. Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, a founder of Reddit, is a major investor in Ro.At the time, Williams had not played a professional match in nearly three years. She had snuffed out talk of a comeback, busy being Serena Williams, one of the greatest tennis players and athletes of all time, a star of business and pop culture as much as the tennis court.That all changed last week, when Williams announced that she would play doubles at one of the main tuneups for Wimbledon, which she has won seven times. No one expects her comeback to stop at Queen’s, or with doubles, though she has not directly committed to playing singles yet.Immediately, Williams reclaimed her position as the most magnetic star in the sport. She also became by far the most prominent athlete to compete at the highest level of their sport having taken GLP-1 drugs, which anti-doping authorities have been monitoring since 2024.They are not a prohibited substance, nor classed as a performance-enhancing drug. They may never be. Williams’ communication team declined an interview for this story, and to express her views on the debate about whether the drugs could be banned.Williams, who has always been a story unto herself, returns to the arena she dominated as a character in a larger debate hanging over the world of sports.Semaglutides and tirzepatides, the two main classes of GLP-1 drug, have been on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) monitoring program since 2024. They work by mimicking the behavior of glucagon, a naturally occurring hormone that triggers the pancreas to release insulin, slow digestion and reduce appetite and hunger.People who take GLP-1s — Glucagon-Like Peptides — report significant reduction in “food noise,” the part of their mind that thinks about the next snack or meal. The reduction in food intake can lead to significant weight loss.There is no timetable on the WADA process for establishing whether GLP-1s are performance-enhancing, a spokesperson for the organization said. Tennis anti-doping protocol is managed by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), but as an Olympic sport, WADA oversees its compliance with its code.“The WADA List Expert Advisory Group has discussed their status, as well as other substances of the same class,” the statement said.“Semaglutide and tirzepatide were added to the Monitoring Program to track patterns of use in sports in and out of competition. The Monitoring Program includes substances which are not on the Prohibited List, but that WADA wishes to monitor in order to detect potential patterns of misuse in sport.”A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk said in a statement that the pharmaceutical company, which produces and distributes GLP-1s, agreed with WADA’s decision to monitor GLP-1 usage: “We are supportive of the WADA recommendation, and we strongly discourage use/promotion outside the indicated population and approved label.”Eli Lilly, another company that manufactures and distributes GLP-1s, did not respond to messages seeking comment.To land on the banned list, a substance has to satisfy two of three criteria: The potential to enhance sport performance; the potential to be a risk to athletes’ health; the potential to violate what WADA defines in its code as the “spirit of sport.”There is a divide in the anti-doping world over whether violating the “spirit of sport” is too vague a criterion, and that enforcement should be based on science alone. For now, though, taking what WADA deems a shortcut in training can contribute to a substance landing on the banned list.It has shown increasing concern about the role of weight-loss drugs in sports. Minutes of a meeting of WADA’s Health and Research Committee last August show a discussion of “whether a new class addressing all types of weight management substances should be created, not only for weight category sports but also weight-sensitive ones (e.g. gymnastics, figure skating, cycling).”The concern is that as companies develop GLP-1s to become faster-acting and more effective, athletes could use them as a shortcut for training. That’s where the violation of the “spirit of sport” could come into play.The question is whether enough experts and officials ultimately agree that GLP-1s will offer a shortcut equivalent to substances like diuretics, which are pills that cause the kidneys to put extra salt and water into urine.They are on the banned list because by diluting urine they can make it harder to detect actual performance-enhancing drugs through urine tests, but they can also help athletes in sports like boxing and mixed martial arts make weight before a bout.GLP-1 drugs act much more slowly, with the goal of a more permanent result. Losing weight with the assistance of one can take months.When Williams began to do research into GLP-1 drugs, how they worked, and why no matter how much training she did, she wasn’t going to be able to lose the weight she wanted to, she felt she was not taking any kind of shortcut.Instead, she told Winfrey, she was assisting something with her biology that wasn’t working, a view shared by weight and diet specialists.In her late career, Williams felt her bid for yet more tennis records was compromised by joint issues associated with her weight.“My joints are so much lighter,” she told Winfrey.How GLP-1s cause weight loss may further complicate whether they can be considered performance-enhancing.Fat loss is the main contributor. But studies of GLP-1 patients have shown that muscle loss also occurs, which for athletes, would do the opposite of enhancing performance.The muscle-wasting effects have prompted scientists to try to find a drug to counteract them. In 2023, VERU, a Miami-based pharmaceutical company, announced that one of its experimental drugs, Ostarine, also known as enobasarm, had shown some early success in clinical trials to prevent muscle-wasting among elderly patients and people suffering from diseases such as cancer.It is currently conducting trials that could ultimately lead to its use in concert with GLP-1 drugs (a process known as adjunctive therapy) so patients don’t lose lean muscle. That option won’t be available to athletes. Ostarine, which athletes can and do purchase in the black market, is on WADA’s Prohibited List.“It should be on the list and banned from sport because it’s very effective,” Mitchell Steiner, chief executive of VERU said during an interview. “It’s a performance drug. Our job is to get the right indication and show the safety in a controlled setting.”GLP-1 manufacturers may eventually tweak the molecular structure of the drugs to minimize muscle loss. That could tip the scale of any judgment on their ability to enhance performance.“I think what you’re going to start seeing is new products being introduced to the market that actually have less of those side effects, which then would be more advantageous for athletes,” said Matthew Fedoruk, the chief science officer at the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).“So this is a growing threat that I think needs to be monitored closely.”If GLP-1s do become prohibited, athletes could theoretically apply for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE), which allows them to take a drug if it is treating a legitimate medical condition, and does not meaningfully enhance their performance.These can be common, for instance, among endurance athletes who suffer from asthma and need to take low-grade steroids through an inhaler. In the case of GLP-1 drugs, the most likely exemption could be for diabetes.In the months after she gave birth to her second child in 2023, Williams quickly found herself fielding questions about whether she would consider a comeback.In her essay in “Vogue” announcing her “evolving away” from tennis, Williams wrote that she did not have the opportunity to play on with the freedom of someone like her friend, the great NFL quarterback Tom Brady, whose then-wife had three children during his career, which lasted, uninterrupted — barring one change of heart 12 months from the end — until he was 45.Fitness never stopped being a part of her routine. Eventually, she made her way back to the tennis court. Through last year, there were rumors that she was considering a comeback.In the fall, Williams’ name appeared in the sport’s anti-doping testing pool, the first step in a potential comeback.Players who leave tennis and remove themselves from the pool have to return to it for six months before becoming eligible to play in tournaments. Once they are in the testing pool, they have to commit to being at a certain location for one hour each day and be subject to random drug testing.In December, Williams took to social media to tell the world it was much ado about nothing: She was not coming back.A few months later, on “Today,” she dodged questions about a return from Savannah Guthrie, but refused to take the opportunity to say it wasn’t happening.Then, last week, it did. Twenty-four hours after she and Queen’s Club announced the comeback, she released photos of herself in the bespoke Nike kits she plans to wear on the court.Then, on Tuesday, she played. She cracked serves and whipped forehands and connected on touch volleys and overheads. She walked the court with that majestic presence that was long her trademark. Her two daughters sat courtside, taking it all in with the thousands of others who packed the main stadium, as Williams and Mboko defeated New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the U.S. 7-6(2), 6-2.“I wish I had done this while I was still playing,” Williams told Winfrey of taking GLP-1s, when her comeback was still just an idea. “It would have made such a big difference for me and my career.”Now, she is finding out how right she might have been.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.Sports Business, Culture, Olympics, Tennis, Top Sports News, Global Sports, Women's Tennis2026 The Athletic Media Company

They were the cool kids on the block, the everyman tired of getting pushed around but with enough financial heft to do something about it. Now they’re just the annoying neighbor, blaring techno music at all hours from a brand new booming sound system — because the HOA is toothless, and you can’t do a thing about it.From envied by most, to hated by all. In a matter of hours. How Texas Tech couldn’t see this coming weeks away ― while fumbling its response to Brendan Sorsby's admitted gambling addiction ― is as profoundly remarkable as it was completely avoidable. Fighting the Big Ten and SEC super conferences at their own money game with billionaire booster Cody Campbell is one thing. Fighting the NCAA on the unspeakable sin of gambling in college sports is, as they say on the windswept landscape of West Texas, “Windier than a 50-pound bag of whistling lips.”All hot air, no substance. Opinion: If the NCAA can’t stop it, the CFP should — Ban Texas TechNCAA said no to Brendan Sorsby. A court just said yes. Here’s whyThere’s no excuse for Texas Tech to declare Sorsby ineligible, and then apply to the NCAA for his reinstatement — after learning of his habitual gambling problems. No excuse for Texas Tech to not simply tell Sorsby — who, like all NCAA athletes, signs an affidavit every season stating he hasn’t gambled — you can play somewhere else, but you’re not playing here.No excuse to make it clear to all involved in the ever-flexible world of college sports rules enforcement, this was the line no one can cross. Not even a star quarterback from the transfer portal who just rolled into town as the missing piece of a championship buildout.Because if there is no trust in competition, there is no competition. Sorsby has gambled on sports since the 2022 season with Indiana, and through two seasons at Cincinnati in 2024-25. He bet on various sports (including on Indiana football games), he bet unders and overs and props. He knew every single time he placed a bet it was wrong, and was jeopardizing his NCAA eligibility. He admitted to all of those undeniable truths, and argued they were all part of a “mental disorder.” Now think about this: Cincinnati, in the past two seasons with Sorsby as its starting quarterback, was 0-8 in games played in November.The Bearcats were 5-2 in 2024 before losing five straight to finish the season. They were 7-1 last season, and in the middle of the College Football Playoff hunt, before losing four straight to finish the regular season. Two of the eight games were against ranked teams, and all were Big 12 conference games. In those eight games, Sorsby had 10 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. In all other games over the 2024-25 seasons, he had 35 touchdowns and five interceptions.Sorsby also had four fumbles lost over the past two Novembers, pushing his total to 11 turnovers in those eight games. There were three one-possession losses, and two of those losses had similar betting line circumstances. Arizona was a 5.5-point favorite against Cincinnati in 2025, and the over was 56.5. The teams combined for 54 points in a 30-24 Arizona win, and Sorsby had two interceptions: one on the first play of the game at the Cincinnati 25, and another in the second quarter on the Cincinnati 30. The two turnovers led to 10 Arizona points.Cincinnati was a 5.5-point favorite against West Virginia in 2024, and the over was 54.5. The teams combined for 55 points in a 31-24 WVU win, and Sorsby threw a pick six, threw a fumbled backward pass returned for a touchdown, and had another fumble that led to a WVU field goal.Do those oddly consistent circumstances mean Sorsby was shaving points, or manipulating the game in any way? No one knows — and that’s the point.When a player has an admitted history of gambling, the integrity of the game is constantly questioned. Past, present and future. It took me all of five minutes to find those numbers on Sorsby and Cincinnati, which is just as culpable as Texas Tech in this win at all cost ideal. The Bearcats knew Sosrby was gambling before last season ― it doesn't matter which sport ― and played him, anyway. Any gambling — be it on an athlete’s particular sport or games, or otherwise — is detrimental to the integrity of the game. If an athlete loses money gambling on anything, he’s liable to do anything to get out of the monetary hole. Texas Tech knew all of this, had all the metadata from the NCAA about Sorsby’s gambling addiction, and still decided it would declare him ineligible and immediately apply for his reinstatement. Texas Tech did this knowing full well, of course, the NCAA would deny its reinstatement appeal and the decision would be placed in the hands of a Texas judge. If there’s one thing the good folks in the state of Texas are clear about, it’s that you’re not coming into Texas and telling Texans what they can and can’t do. Which sounds a lot like Texas Tech over the past 12 months. It started out as a story for the ages, with a billionaire booster full of bravado taking on all comers from the SEC and Big Ten — by using the rules the two super conferences manipulated. With former high school football coach Joey McGuire masterfully managing elite, high-priced players form the transfer portal and assimilating them into a fight for each other West Texas mentality.Then they all flew too close to Screw Everybody when Sorsby rode into town. And suddenly, as they say on the windswept flatlands of West Texas, “You can’t ride two horses with one ass.”Because the higher you get on the ladder, the more your ass shows. Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas Tech's rise and fall after controversial Brendan Sorsby decision

[BBC][AFP via Getty Images]We asked for your Manchester United questions for reporter Simon Stone before the summer transfer window opens.In the first part of a special Q&A, he focuses on goalkeeper Andre Onana and United's back-up goalkeeper situation.Paul asked: Manchester United need to get rid of Onana. Are there any clubs out there that would sign him on a permanent transfer this summer? If so, who are they and how much would they realistically pay?Simon: At this present moment, no, I don't think there are - or at least none that will match Onana's wages which, it must be remembered, go up next season because Manchester United are in the Champions League.Onana has been told he can find another club but, as it stands, he will be coming back for pre-season training at United in the second week of July. You can never be sure how these things work out because injuries can happen anywhere at any time, but if Onana does come back, it will be interesting to see how Michael Carrick - and Manchester United - deal with it.Do they go down the 'bomb squad' route, like Ruben Amorim, and make him train on his own? Or do they bring him back into the fold for early pre-season games when first choice Senne Lammens won't be around?Explore all Manchester United content on BBC SoundsPadraig asked: Will Radek Vitek go out on loan or be sold permanently, and is there any truth in the rumours linking United with a move for Sam Johnstone from Wolves?Simon: The Vitek situation is really interesting. I interviewed him a couple of months ago and he said he wanted to play next season, wherever that may be.I am pretty sure that has not changed and my latest understanding is for him to leave. Now, that could either be a loan - his contract runs to 2028 - or on a permanent deal with a buy-back option.As with last summer, ideally Vitek would have his future sorted out early enough for him not to be needed for Manchester United's first pre-season games against Wrexham on 18 July and Rosenborg on 24 July.However, depending on Onana's situation, United may only have 40-year-old Tom Heaton and youngsters Will Murdock, Elyh Harrison and Cameron Byrne-Hughes available at that point.Given you have mentioned Johnstone, it is possible United sign an experienced - Premier League experienced - back-up goalkeeper to replace Altay Bayindir. Whether it happens is another matter but the advantage of Johnstone is that he would count as a "locally trained" player, which United need four of in their European squad, because he came through the ranks at Old Trafford.Keep across this page on Wednesday for parts two, three and four of Simon's Q&A, which will look at subjects including Marcus Rashford, left-back options and the redevelopment of Old Trafford.

The games are still nearly half a year away, but Manon Rheaume sounds like she can't wait to see her team take the ice. And that's with only about a fourth of it in place.Rheaume, named general manager of Detroit's PWHL franchise, has five foundational players in place – and a superstar sixth reportedly on the way – ahead of the June 17 expansion draft. She cautioned her comments on two-time Olympic gold medalist Hilary Knight coming to Detroit while talking to reporters on Tuesday, June 9, because the trade was not official.Five players are under contract: Forward Hannah Bilka, defenseman Cayla Barnes, forward Jesse Compher, forward Britta Curl-Salemme and forward Daryl Watts. "We're really excited about the five first players, having the chance to have five Olympians to start your roster when you're an expansion team," Rheaume said. "And not only that, but five players that played together in either college hockey or with their PWHL team, with the national team. When you're a new expansion team, to create some of that chemistry early on, I think it's important." Knight is expected to be announced via a sign-and-trade with the Las Vegas expansion squad. She's the most recognizable name in U.S. women's hockey, and a sure draw even as she's 37 next month."I can say that Hilary Knight is one of the most accomplished players in hockey, and I have so much respect for what she did for the game of hockey," Rheaume said, leaving it at that until the news is official. Cayla Barnes was teammates with Knight at the 2026 Milano Olympics, where they won the gold medal, and played professionally for the Seattle Torrent. MORE BACKGROUND: Why Professional Women's Hockey League picked Detroit for expansion"I can speak to is Hillary as a person and as a player," Barnes said. "She brings so much to any team she will be on. Any team she is a part of, she will make an immediate difference. She is a great human and a great leader, and I think that she's an important piece to any puzzle."Rheaume said at the end of May that, "long term, it's really important to have Michigan players here," but so far the closest to local name recognition is Compher, whose brother, J.T., plays for the Detroit Red Wings."For me the main focus was this hockey organization that we're building here in Detroit in the PWHL," Compher said. "That's definitely my first priority, but the thought of playing in the same city as my brother and seeing what the fans bring to Little Caesars, how passionate they are, that was just something that was added to the extra bonus and how excited I am to be there."Obviously, I'll take a free dinner here and there, so it'll be fun and I know my family's really excited about it."Compher, 26, has spent the past two seasons playing for the PWHL's Toronto Sceptres. That led to a little slip-up as she discussed her familiarity with the Detroit sports scene. "I've been in that building a bunch of times, Little Caesars Arena, and I've seen how passionate the fans are," she said. "The Red Wings have been pushing for playoffs year after year, and you can see how passionate the fans are. They want a playoff team, and I think that we here in the PWHL, we're going to be able to bring that to them with our signings and what we're building."I think you can even see it with the Lions and the Raptors, or sorry, not the Raptors, the basketball team in Detroit. They just support their sports team so much. It's such a sports city, and I think that they're going to do such a great job supporting us."Britta Curl-Salemme, another 2026 U.S. Olympian, is a high-end forward who has drawn controversy for her social media activity advocating against trans woman athletes. Rheaume said that, "I understand that some of the fans have strong feeling about this signing, and we don't take that lightly. We want to make sure that people know we want a place where everybody feel welcome."We did put a lot of time in talking to people that either coach Britta or played with Britta, and everybody that talks about how she is as a teammate and how she treats every player on the team. We felt confident within the teammate we were bringing into our organization."Curl-Salemme acknowledged her reputation, saying that, "there's some upset fans and I get that, it's not something new to me. Manon wouldn't have taken this on if she didn't do her research and talk to the right people."For Rheaume, her first five players signed represent a chance to forge a team that will be competitive when games start in late November/early December."I look at our player like Daryl Watts, her skills, her vision, she can score goals," Rheaume said. "Hannah Bilka with her speed, she opens up space for our forwards to create offensive chance. Britta Curl and Jesse Comfort, two power forwards that can play a 200 foot game. They both can play center or wing. And Cayla Barnes, quiet leader that leads by example, another player that can play both on a PK and PP. We're really excited about this group."Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Manon Rheaume 'really excited' about Detroit's Olympic-heavy PWHL team

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, heads to the chamber before votes on the immigration enforcement funding package, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)2026-06-10T09:01:43Z PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — This election year is déjà vu for Sen. Susan Collins — the Maine Republican is running for reelection as Democrats pin their hopes on a new candidate to defeat her. Last time, it was state lawmaker Sara Gideon. This time, it’s combat veteran and oyster farmer Graham Platner.But Collins has proven to be a hard target for Democrats over the years — even for candidates without the baggage of Platner, who has faced criticism for his relationships with women, inflammatory online posts and a previous tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol. Collins is seeking her sixth term with sky-high name recognition, a record-breaking run of consecutive Senate votes and a history of bringing back federal funding for her state for years. She is also the rare Republican who sometimes can boost her own popularity back home by keeping her distance from President Donald Trump, and she has perfected that delicate dance even as his tightening grip on the party has cost two of her Senate Republican colleagues their reelection. Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana lost their primaries when facing Trump-endorsed opponents. But despite the president’s complaints about Collins, he did not campaign against her. Years of practice have made her adept at staying close — but not too close — to the president when it is politically advantageous, and moving away when showing an independent streak is helpful. “She’s shown time and time again where her state’s electorate is. She understands what’s too far, she understands where she needs to be,” said political consultant Matt Mackowiak, who worked for Cornyn’s failed reelection campaign. Trump endorsed Cornyn’s opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Read More The road to Senate control goes through MaineThe Democrats need to flip four seats to take control of the Senate in November and hope that Trump’s falling approval ratings and the war in Iran — as well as its subsequent effect on oil prices and the economy — could buoy their chances. Maine is among the top targets, along with Alaska, Ohio and North Carolina. Platner wants to make the case that Collins isn’t as independent of Trump as her reputation suggests — repeatedly noting that she allowed his Supreme Court nominations to go through, which in 2022 led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, a landmark 1973 decision that legalized abortion, among other major issues. “Susan Collins may have started her career decades ago in Washington with good intentions, but she has become just as spineless and corrupt as the establishment she now serves,” Platner said at a victory party on Tuesday.Platner supporters are ready for change, said John Keenan, of Sullivan, Maine. “I think Maine has grown tired of the same old system,” he said. “And putting youth into the campaign, with new instead of a rubber stamp, is very refreshing.” Trump has often criticized Collins — but not lately Even as she faces Platner in November, Collins may have to stay wary of Trump. The president has spent years singling her out for daring to occasionally defy him on some issues. However, he’s refrained from doing so more recently — especially as Collins failed to draw a credible challenger and cruised to a Republican primary victory. The White House declined to comment. Political advisers close to Trump, however, said the president understands how critical it is that Republicans maintain control of Congress after November, which requires accommodating Collins. Trump understands the need to avoid a Republican wipeout like 2018’s “blue wave” midterms that saw Democrats flip the House and derail much of the last two years of his first-term plans.“Senator Susan Collins represents the people of Maine first and foremost and has proven herself to be a dedicated public servant,” said Republican National Committee spokesperson Kristen Cianci in a statement. Collins spokesperson Blake Kernan said the senator “has worked with five different Presidents throughout her Senate tenure, and has never agreed with any of them on every issue.” “When she agrees with an effort, she will support it; when she disagrees, she does not hesitate to speak up for what she believes is the right outcome for Maine and for America,” Kernan said in a statement. Other Republicans ran into trouble with TrumpThat didn’t work out for some Republican senators. Cornyn was among his party’s top voices, rising through the ranks after joining the Senate in 2002. Paxton trounced him in a runoff race days after Trump endorsed the attorney general. In office since 2015, Cassidy voted to convict Trump during his impeachment trial after the U.S. Capitol siege on Jan. 6, 2021. He lost his primary to Trump-endorsed state Rep. Julia Letlow.Maine figures to be a more competitive race in November — as evidenced by Trump recently refraining from singling out Collins. That’s despite her voting last week with Democrats to block the nearly $1.8 billion fund the president wanted to create to benefit allies that he claims were unfairly targeted by law enforcement. “She’s always down in the polls and she survives,” Trump conceded when asked about Collins in an interview with the New York Post last week.Collins defeated Gideon, the Maine House speaker, by almost 9 points in 2020, the same year that Biden beat Trump by a similar margin in the state. Mackowiak said “there’s just no pathway to a MAGA senator from Maine.”“It does appear that the Trump political operation is soberly analyzing the electoral environment in Maine and really kind of follows her lead as it relates to that state and that race, particularly this cycle,” he said.Maine Republicans are ‘a bit more pragmatic’ Chuck Ellis, a Republican from Westbrook who runs a digital marketing company, said Collins’ reluctance to move in lockstep with Trump can be a plus. Although there are some “hard-line” voters who may disapprove, Ellis said, “ultimately a lot of your conservatives, your Republicans, are people who are a bit more pragmatic.”After Collins opposed the White House’s signature tax cut and spending package last year, and voted against a proposal to claw back $9 billion in foreign aid and public media funding, the president complained about her on social media. “Republicans, when in doubt, vote the exact opposite of Senator Susan Collins,” he wrote.Then, in January, Trump lashed out at the “stupidity” of Collins and four other Senate Republicans who joined Democrats to start a debate over restricting the president’s use of force in Venezuela. She later received a profanity-laced call from Trump.White House may keep a further distance from Collins’ raceAs chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, Collins last week cast her 10,000th Senate vote in a row, setting a record.“She has been able to do and show that ‘I am bringing money and resources from the federal government to Maine to help Maine,’” Ellis said. The president is unlikely to travel to Maine ahead of November despite visiting other states with key Senate races, like Iowa and Michigan. He could even campaign personally for Paxton.Vice President JD Vance has been to Maine, where he promoted his anti-fraud task force. Collins didn’t attend Vance’s speech in Bangor last month where he acknowledged the senator’s distance from the Trump administration. “If she was as partisan as I sometimes wish that she was,” Vance said, “she would not be a good fit for the people of Maine.”___Weissert reported from Washington. PATRICK WHITTLE Whittle is an Associated Press reporter based in Portland, Maine. He focuses on the environment and oceans. twitter mailto WILL WEISSERT Weissert covers the White House for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington. twitter mailto

Mindan Ocon poses for a photo with her daughter, Angelise Ocon, 3, at their family home in Portland, Oregon, on March 9. Protests at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility have turned the street outside Ocon’s affordable housing complex into a battlefield of stinging smoke and pepper spray. Ocon has relied on air purifiers and taking her daughter into the bathroom to hide from tear gas, and she’s prepared to use gas masks given to her by community members if it gets worse. Leah Nash for ProPublica In city after city, the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has been met by protests and rallies from members of the local community opposed to the White House’s deportation policies. Federal agents from the Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have repeatedly attempted to break up and drive back these crowds through the use of airborne irritants like tear gas and pepper spray, which can cause an array of immediate reactions — from eye pain to shortness of breath to nausea and vomiting — intended to temporarily disable their targets. DHS has defended its use of these weapons on crowds and said that it “does NOT target children,” but after reviewing news accounts, lawsuits and officer-worn body camera footage, as well as verifying incidents by interviewing more than 40 victims or witnesses, ProPublica recently identified more than six dozen instances in which children had been harmed by tear gas and pepper spray. Here are five things you should know about how these airborne weapons have been used during Trump’s immigration crackdown and how their use has particularly harmed children. Dozens of children have been harmed by tear gas deployed by immigration agents. So-called less lethal weapons like tear gas and pepper spray were developed to inflict severe pain and debilitate adult combatants and rioters, but ProPublica identified 79 children across the country since 2025 who have been harmed by these chemicals after they were deployed by federal immigration officers. Our tally is nearly four times the number cited in a recent congressional report, yet it is likely still a vast undercount. The Department of Homeland Security has defended its agents’ use of the chemicals and claimed the blame lies with “agitators” in the crowds and parents who put their children in harm’s way. Many children harmed by tear gas and pepper spray were in their cars, at home or walking to school when they came into contact with the airborne weapons. What It’s Like When Officers Deploy Tear Gas Tear gas and pepper spray are especially toxic to children. There is no one such thing as “tear gas.” It’s a catch-all term for various chemical irritants that exist as a fine powder and trigger nerve endings to feel as if they’re on fire. The chemicals sear your lungs and throat, inflaming your airways until it feels like you’re breathing through a straw, while snot and tears stream down your face. They can cause vomiting, rashes and coughs that last for weeks. Pepper spray is made from compounds found in hot peppers and causes similar effects. Because children breathe more rapidly and can pull in more contaminated air than adults relative to their body weight, these weapons are particularly dangerous to the young. Children are also more vulnerable because they have narrower airways and they are closer to the ground, where tear gas tends to pool after being deployed. The Trump administration’s use of tear gas has been so extraordinary that no one yet knows what long-term harm may result from children who’ve come into contact with these chemicals — some of them multiple times. Courts have found that agents’ use of tear gas is excessive, but their power is limited. In November 2025, a federal judge in Illinois ruled that ICE and CBP officers had deployed these chemicals “without justification, often without warning” against people who didn’t pose a physical threat. This constituted an illegal use of excessive force, said the judge, ordering the agencies to stop. But her injunction covered only the areas mentioned in the complaint. Agents were unfettered to continue using the weapons elsewhere. After federal agents in Portland, Oregon, responded to a Jan. 31 rally by firing various less-lethals into the crowd — including Triple Chaser grenades that each separated into three tear gas canisters; dozens of pepper ball projectiles filled with chemical munitions; and “rubber ball grenades” that released stinging pellets, bright lights, and loud sounds — a judge there issued a temporary restraining order that forbade federal agents from using chemical munitions unless targeted at someone who posed “an imminent threat of physical harm.” However, appellate courts have subsequently vacated the Illinois judge’s ruling and multiple rulings from judges in Portland seeking to enjoin the use of these weapons. Once deployed, these weapons are difficult to contain. Though the Trump administration has defended agents’ training and said ICE officers are taught to use “the minimum amount of force necessary to resolve dangerous situations,” not only can tear gas canisters launched into a crowd bounce and roll unpredictably, but the toxic chemicals can travel through the air, sometimes for blocks. In Minneapolis, ProPublica found that tear gas had traveled at least a quarter mile before seeping into a McDonald’s. Derrick Nash and his family live a block and a half east of an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois. Even from that distance, they felt the effects inside their homes when officers tear-gassed protesters. Each time the tear gas seeped in, the kids — ages 6 to 17 — coughed, and their throats often burned. The eldest, a high school senior with asthma, would hide out in his second-floor bedroom. One evening, his face turned red as he coughed uncontrollably and sucked on his inhaler without relief. “He was wigging out, saying, ‘I can’t breathe,’” Nash recalled. The family considered calling an ambulance, but the street was closed. No national standard for use of tear gas exists. Law enforcement policies governing the use of tear gas and pepper spray differ widely by location, and no federal standard exists. The DHS policy on force says officers must use tactics that “minimize the risk of unintended injury” and should be guided by “respect for human life.” The CBP’s policy says officers “should not use” pepper spray or “less-lethal” chemical munitions against “small children.” ICE’s policy says “the presence of other officers, subjects, or bystanders” are a factor in determining whether an officers’ use of force is reasonable. Read More Kids Are Being Harmed by Tear Gas, Pepper Spray Under Trump. There Could Be Long-Term Consequences. At 17, He Was Tear-Gassed at Selma. At 78, He’s Watching Kids Tear-Gassed During Trump’s Deportation Campaign. U.S. Lawmakers Demand Reforms to Immigration Officers’ Use of Tear Gas and Pepper Spray Compare that with tear gas policies in two cities that have experienced Trump’s immigration crackdown firsthand. In Portland, police officers who consider using tear gas must take into account their proximity to homes. Meanwhile, Minneapolis forbids officers from using chemical munitions for crowd control unless authorized by the police chief — even when officers fear they will be physically harmed. Requiring all law enforcement agencies to adopt uniform policies and training methods would go a long way, experts told ProPublica. At the same time, they acknowledge that this would likely require Congress to pass a bill mandating that federal law enforcement entities adopt stricter practices and incentivize local police departments to do the same. Bills that seek to strengthen use-of-force training on such a wide scale and legislation that targets DHS and its use of these weapons have thus far failed to even make it to a vote in Congress. Following ProPublica’s investigation, U.S. lawmakers have begun demanding reforms to immigration officers’ use of these weapons. The post What You Need to Know About How Tear Gas Harms Kids appeared first on ProPublica.

During this time of the year, it's difficult to truly evaluate offensive line play without the pads being on and that physical element being restricted. But through OTAs and Day 1 of minicamp, head coach Liam Coen is pleased with the depth of the Jacksonville Jaguars' offensive line unit.This is one position group that didn't experience any roster turnover from last season. Those who made up the depth chart on last year's 53-man roster are still on the team, and the Jaguars added Emmanuel Pregnon to the mix in the NFL draft."The chemistry and continuity's been there and it's been good," Coen said on Tuesday. "Nice to see some of the young guys get some reps and be thrown into the fire and thrown into the mix. It's just always nice when you have a lot -- I mean, right now, we got nine guys that I would feel confident and comfortable putting into a game right now and say, 'Let's go win and see what happens.'"The abundance of depth creates competition, not only for potential playing time, but spots on the depth chart.Right now, the safe assumption is that the starting five this season looks the same as last year, but for a team that embraced competition along the offensive line last year at this time, there's no reason to think the Jaguars won't do that again, specifically at guard, where Wyatt Milum and Pregnon -- two recent Day 2 picks -- could push for snaps.One area where the Jaguars' offensive line unit must improve this season is in the run game. Overall in 2025, the Jaguars ranked 27th in yards per rush. From Week 10 on, there were five games where Etienne failed to rush for over 60 yards.A good run game keeps an offense ahead of the sticks and out of predictable passing situations, thus taking some of the burden off the passing game, which is then able to operate from manageable down and distances.As good as the Jaguars' offense was down the stretch in 2025, adding a steady run game to that mix will help this unit reach a new level. "So you're building your depth right now," Coen said. "You're building the continuity and chemistry with the younger guys coming into the mix, and then once we get to the pads, we'll see what we actually have in terms of being able to move people and run the football."This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Depth a strength of Jaguars' offensive line unit in 2026

Jones waits for Iraola’s decision as Inter talks with Liverpool continueLa Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Curtis Jones is waiting to discuss his future with new Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola, while Inter continue talks to sign the English midfielder with a gap of €10m between their proposal and the Reds’ asking price.Inter continue to push to sign Liverpool midfielder Jones, according to a report by Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday.Jones transfer: latest updates as Inter talks ongoingAccording to the newspaper, Jones has now become the Nerazzurri’s top target in central midfield, followed by Udinese’s Arthur Atta.Jones’ Liverpool contract runs out in June 2027, and just a few weeks ago he was pushing to leave Anfield due to his strained relationship with Arne Slot.MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 09: Curtis Jones of Liverpool controls the ball whilst under pressure from Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale Milano during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at Stadio San Siro on December 09, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)However, with Iraola arriving in Liverpool to replace Slot, Jones is now waiting to meet his new coach to discuss his future plans at Anfield.According to Gazzetta, Inter remain in talks with Liverpool over the English midfielder, but there’s currently a €10m gap between the Nerazzurri’s offer and the Reds’ asking price.Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa recently dropped a transfer hint on Jones, saying that his teammate has asked for tips about life in Italy.

Talk about an eventful day for the Cincinnati Bengals. First, the Bengals restructured Joe Burrow’s contract. Then, the Bengals turned around and got the rookie contract done with Cashius Howell, as the team announced. And as if that weren’t enough, the Bengals had a brief injury scare during an OTAs session on the same day. There, Bengals safety Daijahn Anthony appeared to briefly suffer some sort of setback during drills. He worked with trainers, got taped up and eventually returned, according to Local 12’s Yanni Tragellis.It’s a small note, but a key offseason for Anthony, who finds himself in a serious battle on the back end of the depth chart after the arrivals of Bryan Cook and Kyler Dugger. As for Howell, he’s been getting some interesting looks as a linebacker in subpackages and appears headed for a meaningful role as a rookie. While a formality, the Bengals now have the entire draft class under contract. This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals OTAs feature injury scare and rookie contract on busy day

We knew when John Harbaugh took over the reins as head coach of the New York Giants that there would be upgrades not only on offense and defense but on special teams. Harbaugh began his NFL coaching career as a special teams coordinator, and, given the recent struggles his new team has had in that area, it was apparent that changes were in order. The Giants have a new punter (Jordan Stout) and will have a new long snapper, which will play itself out in training camp. Another position that will be decided in training camp and the preseason is kicker, where holdover Ben Sauls is battling undrafted rookie free agent Dominic Zvada for the job.Thus far, Zvada has looked better, but Harbaugh isn't about to declare a winner this early. There's still plenty of time for Sauls to make his case.Giants kicking competition Day 2Ben Sauls 3-5 today, 8-14 totalDominic Zvada 5-5 today, 13-13 total— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) June 9, 2026"I was talking to Ben out there. I feel like this is preparation for training camp, which is where the competition will really heat up," Harbaugh told reporters on Tuesday following the Giants' second day of workouts at their mandatory minicamp."The good thing about that is with Ben's misses, they've all been left, if you've noticed. They've all been pushed left. It's the same exact miss every time. That's a good problem to have. He knows the problem with it from a technique standpoint. He's just got to lock in and fix it. He'll do that. I'm confident in it."Harbaugh was reminded that it has been Zvada that has stolen the show thus far. "He has looked good. Same thing you've seen," Harbaugh said of Zvada. "You haven't seen as many of the practices. What you saw yesterday was what he's been all the way through. He's been consistent and done a good job."It sounds like the Giants may have solved their kicker problem, but they've been here before. Training camp under Harbaugh promises to be different. He's reminding everyone how much he likes it. "What do I like about training camp? It's all football all the time. If you love football, you love training camp," he said. "I love every day waking up and starting football and doing football all day and going to sleep and waking up and doing football again. For a coach, it's the funnest thing ever. Players might not agree, but coaches do."This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants' John Harbaugh: Kicker competition a 'good problem to have'

Feb 20, 2025; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Cleveland Guardians hitting coach Grant Fink (56)poses for a photo during MLB Media Day at Cleveland Guardians Spring Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images The Guardians can’t hit for average, and can’t hit for power. They do draw walks, but opponents have made the extremely obvious adjustment to that: Just throw strikes, since they can’t hit for average or power.9 more innings. Only 2 more runs. This offense is painful to watch, and they still think Grant Fink is the man for the job. Up next is Carlos Rodon, so pencil in a bunch more 0’s on your scorecard. Parker Messick needs to pitch a perfect game to force extra innings.Around baseball• Braden Montgomery made his MLB debut, and hit a walkoff home run. 2nd place is calling the Guardians’ name.• Meisel wrote a long, good article about knee-down catching leading to more baseballs to the, um, higher-than-knee.• Not wanting to miss a game against CLE’s offense, Tarik Skubal likely to return in the coming days.Hot Take of the Day• Austin Hedges is better than Patrick Bailey at everything. Framing. Game calling. Blocking. Catching the ball. Even hitting.

Omar Irfan was dropped from the list of World Cup officials on Monday after being denied entry to the United States [Reuters]Referee Omar Artan has vowed to officiate at the 2030 World Cup after arriving home in Somalia following his ban from entering the United States.The 34-year-old - Africa's referee of the year in 2025 - was set to be the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals but was denied entry at Miami International Airport on Monday despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single entry US visa.No reason for his repatriation has been given by US immigration authorities, but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump.He arrived back in Somalia on Wednesday, landing at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu where he was greeted by government officials and representatives of the Somali Football Federation, as well as fellow referees and local residents.Artan is expected to attend a public event at Mogadishu Stadium later on Wednesday afternoon and watch a match between Heegan and Dekadaha."I'd like to thank the officials, ministers, MPs and everyone. I want to thank my country and people for their support. The encouragement I received here, I know I'll get more support outside [the airport]," Artan said, translated into English by the BBC."Everything is pre-destined. Fifa supported me well and were in touch with me until I reached Mogadishu."I promise you that I'll be officiating you in the next World Cup. Somalia, everywhere, I'm letting you know."Does referee case show Fifa has lost control of its own World Cup?I have right papers and visa - barred referee ArtanArtan, who was named the Confederation of African Football (Caf) men's referee of the year in 2025, was one of 52 referees selected for the tournament.However, his "dream" came crashing down as he attempted to travel to the on-pitch officials' base in Florida, with Artan telling the New York Times he had faced an 11-hour immigration interview and was detained for several hours before put on a flight back to Istanbul, Turkey.Speaking to BBC World Service, Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, said: "While I can't go into the derog [derogatory information] on that I can tell you it was the right decision by customs and border patrol and I support that decision."It was not possible for Artan to stay outside the United States and referee matches played in Canada or Mexico, with all on-pitch officials based in Florida for training, preparation, and security.Trump placed a full entry ban under any visa category for 12 countries, including Somalia, in June 2025.Two days before the World Cup draw in December 2025, Trump drew widespread attention for comments made about Somalia in the lead up to a planned immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, which has a large Somali community."With Somalia, which is barely a country, you know, they have no anything," he said. "They just run around killing each other. There's no structure."He added that Somali immigrants should "go back to where they came from" and that the US would "go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage to our country".On arriving home, Artan urged Somalia's youth not to lose hope in their country in the face of his treatment, stating: "Let's all defend Somalia's honour. We all belong to Somalia whether it's bad or good. "That flag is ours and so is the passport - let's defend it."The youth shouldn't be demoralised about their country. Despite this happening to me, I'll still standing for my nation."I want to continue my journey from here and urge the youth the same."World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

Pedro Caixinha and Andy Halliday briefly worked together in 2017 [SNS]Picture the scene, a new manager has been appointed and is meeting with his players. It's time to talk tactics, ambitions, opposition.Or not.Recently retired former Hearts, Motherwell and Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday played under his fair share of managers.But one first meeting with a new boss has lived long in the memory - Pedro Caixinha's arrival at Ibrox from Al-Gharafa in 2017. The Portuguese manager would leave Rangers later that year after seven defeats in 26 games."Quite often you'll just talk about your non-negotiables, you'll talk about the club culture, what you want to bring to the group, whether it's a fine system, it's your style of play, your system," Halliday told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast."But his (Pedro Caixinha's) very first meeting was to show us a picture of the house that he left in Qatar."And his first words were, 'I've left this house to come coach you guys'."So, straight away we didn't quite feel on top of the world in the first minute or two."

Joe Root dethroned! Harry Brook reclaims No.1 spot in latest ICC Test rankings as Shubman Gill makes major gains originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:England's Harry Brook returns to No.1 in ICC Test batter rankings after Lord's half-century.Joe Root drops to third as Travis Head climbs to second in the latest update.India's Shubman Gill moves up to eighth following his century against Afghanistan.Harry Brook reclaims ICC Test No. 1 ranking after Lord's half-century against New ZealandHarry Brook is the world's best Test batter again as the England right-hander has returned to the summit of the ICC Men's Test Rankings following his first-innings knock of 56 during England's 115-run victory over New Zealand at Lord's.Brook first reached the top of these rankings in December 2024 and has now reclaimed the position. His half-century was one of only two innings of 50 or more across the entire Test match, and that was more than enough to edge him past Joe Root at the top. Root had a difficult match by his own high standards, contributing just one run in the first innings and eight in the second. He drops to third in the latest rankings.Travis Head of Australia has moved up to second, sitting between the two England stalwarts ahead of the second Test between England and New Zealand at The Oval, which begins on June 17.MORE: "Always Ready!": Harry Kane swaps football for cricket ahead of World Cup, offers services to Virat Kohli's RCBShubman Gill breaks into the Top 10Shubman Gill scored a century during India's one-off Test against Afghanistan and, thanks to that performance, he has stepped up two places in the ladder and is currently ranked eighth. His compatriot, Yashasvi Jaiswal, got dismissed cheaply in the same Test match at Mullanpur and has slipped a place to the ninth position. The Lord's Test produced a few other shifts as well. Ben Duckett climbed three places to reach 15th, while Jamie Smith moved up five spots to joint 23rd.New Zealand's Glenn Phillips was the biggest mover from that match, jumping 15 places to reach 40th in the rankings.MORE: What really happened in Ben Stokes' nightclub incident: Timeline of ENG captain's controversyTop 10: ICC Men's Test Batting RankingsRankPlayerTeamRating1Harry BrookEngland8692Travis HeadAustralia8533Joe RootEngland8514Steve SmithAustralia8315Kamindu MendisSri Lanka7816Kane WilliamsonNew Zealand7807Temba BavumaSouth Africa7758Shubman GillIndia7439Yashasvi JaiswalIndia73310Dinesh ChandimalSri Lanka717* Click here for the detailed ICC rankingsTo 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.

As if the Alex Highsmith trade rumors weren't troublesome enough, the Pittsburgh Steelers' edge rusher has been linked to not one, not two, not three, but four potential landing spots.According to NFL insider Jason La Canfora, his sources indicated that the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, and San Francisco 49ers could be trade landing spots for Highsmith."Highsmith has flashed strong pass-rush potential in the past, but has been unable to get home consistently," La Canfora wrote. "Getting with new coaches in a new scheme could help, and several teams were at least monitoring the Garrett situation, league sources pointed to Washington, Philadelphia, Buffalo and San Francisco, who could well end up suitors for Highsmith."Drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Highsmith quickly emerged as a consistent edge presence opposite T.J. Watt, helping the team transition away from Bud Dupree, who left Pittsburgh in 2021.While many believe Highsmith could remain with the Steelers through the 2026 season, his recent absence at OTAs and Nick Herbig's massive contract extension, along with the recent trade rumors, are raising questions about his immediate future in Pittsburgh.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' Alex Highsmith linked to Commanders, Eagles, Bills, 49ers