This story is part of Billboard’s Global World Cup Series, a collection of 11 cover stories which pairs top soccer stars across the world competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with highly-touted musicians in accompanying countries. In just a few days, the eyes of the world will turn to Toronto and Vancouver for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. At the center of that global spotlight stands Alphonso Davies, captain of the Canadian men’s national team. More from BillboardJoey Bada$$ & Miles Robinson Compare Notes on What Drives Them & Why ‘Athletes Love Artists’ Ahead of World CupZeca Pagodinho, Romário and Bebeto: Three Legends Talk Music, Soccer, Brazil & the PartyEnzo Fernández Talks With La T y La M: ‘Music Is Life, and in Soccer It Helps You Stay Focused’ Though he’s battling through injuries and may miss the beginning of the tournament, the 25-year-old soccer star is a perfect encapsulation of the young and scrappy host team and the country they represent. He’s stylish and energetic, easy to root for, but not just happy to be here. He wants to win. He wants to show the world that Canadians aren’t just hockey-playing nice guys. They can be ruthless. They can win. And, as with globally popular artists like Drake and Justin Bieber, they can be the drivers of worldwide sport and culture. “A lot of people underestimate us Canadians,” Davies says. Born in a refugee camp in Ghana after his parents fled the civil war in Liberia, the player known affectionately as Phonzy has already lived many lives. His family immigrated to Canada when he was a young child, and he settled in Edmonton, Alberta when he was 5 years old. By the age of 15, he was a budding star on Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the first-ever player born in the 2000s to play professionally in the North American MLS league. Soon, he was transferred to Bayern Munich in Germany, where he has won seven Bundesliga titles — the most recent coming less than two months ago, after recovering from recent hamstring and ACL injuries and an earlier diagnosis of myocarditis (heart inflammation). Beyond the pitch, Davies is one of the most popular players in the world. He has more than 6 million followers on TikTok and more than 5 million on Instagram, and is often surrounded by music — afrobeats like Burna Boy and Davido, drill hip-hop like Tee Grizzley and Moneybagg Yo, and countrymen like Drake, who he got to know personally after attending his concert in Germany in 2025 (see our interview with Drake producer and Canada Soccer Music Ambassador Boi1da for more on that here). With high-profile fashion brand deals and friendships with online stars like iShowSpeed, he’s a star of the modern runway that is the arena tunnel, an occasionally drill rapper, and a man that everyone wants a piece of — especially now. Billboard Canada caught up with Davies to talk about the importance of music to him and his game, his favorite artists, his own forays into music and what he hopes the world will learn about Canada this summer.You’re usually the guy picking the music before a game. How did that start? One time after a couple of years at Bayern Munich, the team was staying in a hotel outside of Munich. I called my agent and asked him if he could pick up a boombox and bring it to the hotel. I jumped in and started playing my tunes, and from that day I kind of became the locker room DJ.How important is music to you before a match? I listen to a lot of music [before the game], just to clear my head so I can play the game of football, the game that I love. Being able to see the pitch before, knowing the atmosphere, knowing the calm before the storm, how it feels, that’s important too.Do you have a favorite song that helps lock you in? I don’t really have a favorite song, but I do listen to a lot of Drake. Him being Canadian and making good music, I listen to him a lot. But having a specific favorite song, I don’t really have just one. Just something that gets the tempo up, knowing the football that I play is very intense, each and every game. It helps get my mind clear and my brain focused for the game.Alphonso DaviesMat NeidhardtYou released a hip-hop song last year called “München My Throne” to announce you were re-signing with Bayern Munich until 2030. Why was it important for you to announce the news through music? That was a funny one. When I re-signed, the Bayern Munich media team decided to get a little studio and record a song. If you really listen to it, it’s not really my voice. I was just doing the adlibs and talking in between. But it was a cool idea because I love music. I love listening to music, and I dip and dabble in making music as well.You released the drill track “Nur Weil” as part of Stugang alongside fellow Bundesliga stars Alexis Fambo and Stephan Mensah, and you’ve teased some other songs. When did you start experimenting with making your own music? I’ve always had a passion for music. After becoming a professional football player I was exposed to the fashion world and to the music industry. I believe fashion and music along with football bring people together. Recording and making music [myself] really started in Covid in 2020. Not being able to play football and staying at home for so long, me and my friends just decided to just make some music in my basement, record it and drop it and see where it goes. And yeah, I fell in love with that. And no, I don’t make music anymore. I think that time is done. My music career is over … for now. Who are the musical artists who inspire you most? I listen to a lot of Tee Grizzly. I think I like his flow. I like what he talks about in his music, his story. And also Moneybagg Yo. Everything about those guys, the way they rap, the way they tell the story throughout the songs is very nice and they make it catchy as well. I think those two guys will be up there. And also Drake, as well.What does it mean to you to represent Canada at the World Cup? It means a lot. Being able to go to the World Cup in 2022 with Canada for the first time in so long, it was a very touching moment. I shared that moment on social media when we made it, during my heart problem, my myocarditis. But playing at home in the World Cup in Canada will be amazing — not just for me, but for the whole country. Also for the players playing on the pitch to open our home, open Canada to the world and see how Canada really is. What do you hope the world will see about Canada when the games are hosted in Toronto and Vancouver? A lot of people underestimate us Canadians. A lot of people see Canadians as very nice. I mean, we are nice, but I think they see us over-nice. [They don’t see us] as being ruthless, having that grit between our teeth, being that team on the pitch that does anything to win. But stepping on the pitch, I think we can show the world that we can play football too. It’s not just ice hockey or baseball or basketball. To show the world that will be truly amazing. You were born in a refugee camp in Ghana before coming to Canada, and now you’re based in Germany. How has being Canadian inspired how you are as a person and as an athlete? I vaguely remember our transition from Ghana. I was very young at the time. But my identity as a person and as an athlete developed in Canada. I loved playing all sports and I even tried hockey, but football was what I loved the most. It was not an easy journey, there was a lot of hard work, but I had good people around me to support me — from my parents to my former youth coach and now my agent, Nedal Huoseh. Becoming a UNHCR goodwill ambassador was influenced by my family’s struggles as refugees. Taking on this role was important to inspire other refugees that anything is possible. What do you miss most from home in Canada when you’re in season in Germany or on the road? The number one thing is not the snow. I don’t miss the snow at all. But I do miss my family. My family is still [in Canada]. Not being able to see them every single day and only being able to call them six months out of the year, or see them one out of ten days out of the year, is tough. So, I miss my family, and just being in the environment of Canada. Tim Hortons, all that Canadian stuff, I miss it. But not the snow. Definitely not. 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Already in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, former Cincinnati Bearcats basketball coach Bob Huggins added UC's James P. Kelly Athletic Hall of Fame to his list of honors June 10.Huggins was informed by two of his 1992 UC Final Four players, Terry Nelson and Corie Blount, who made the trip to Morgantown, West Virginia, to read UC athletic director John Cunningham's proclamation.- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer- UC’s all-time wins leader- 10 regular-season conference titles- Eight conference tournament titles- 14 NCAA Tournament tripsLegendary coach Bob Huggins is heading to the James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame❗️ pic.twitter.com/u36RwX97MI— Cincinnati Bearcats (@GoBEARCATS) June 10, 2026The veteran coach was in Cincinnati on March 25 for the introduction of new Bearcats coach Jerrod Calhoun, a former Huggins assistant at UC and West Virginia before forging his own path."A great quote from Bob Huggins was, 'You've got to be an everyday guy,' " Calhoun said.In April, Huggins came to Memorial Hall for a screening of a documentary about his career that drew a large audience. Another such appearance comes in Morgantown on June 20."It makes you feel good that people care about you," Huggins said of the "Beyond the Bench" film. Huggins was inducted in Springfield, Massachusetts, in the Naismith Class of 2022 and enshrined in the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.Bob Huggins road to Cincinnati, beyondAfter playing at Ohio University and West Virginia, his coaching career began as a grad assistant at WVU, before becoming an assistant at Ohio State. From 1980 to 1983, he was the head coach at Walsh before taking 1983-84 to coach under his good friend Chuck Machock at UCF.He returned to be the head coach at Akron from 1984 to 1989, before many glory years with the UC Bearcats. After one season at Kansas State, he moved to his alma mater, West Virginia, from 2008 to 2023."What he's done as a coach has been kind of remarkable," former UC guard and NBA player Nick Van Exel said in April. "A guy that came from way at the bottom to make several Final Fours and took programs that were not elite and made them elite, it says a lot about himself and his coaching."Huggins will be 73 when inducted Oct. 23 at Fifth Third Arena, the night before the 100th Homecoming at Nippert Stadium featuring the Cincinnati Bearcats football team against Big 12 rival Texas Tech.Bob Huggins won 399 games with Cincinnati Bearcats from 1989-2005When Huggins was hired from the Akron Zips to coach the Cincinnati Bearcats, UC had not been to the NCAA Tournament since March 1977 under Gale Catlett. Huggins vowed to compete for a national championship, drawing laughter and skepticism. In his first two seasons, the Bearcats made the NIT, then bolstered by what may be their best recruiting class ever, UC not only made its first NCAA Tournament in 15 years in 1992, but it made it to its first Final Four since 1963.It would be the first of 14 straight appearances at UC.Huggins was Conference USA Coach of the Year three times. ESPN named him Coach of the Year in 2001-02, and Sporting News and Basketball Times named him Coach of the Year in 1997-98. Between the Great Midwest Conference and Conference USA, Huggins won 10 regular-season titles and eight conference tournaments.Bob Huggins won over 75% of his UC Bearcats gamesHis winning percentage at UC was .759, only eclipsed by the five-year run Ed Jucker had that included two NCAA titles and a national runner-up. Jucker's winning percentage was .801. From the 1970s, Catlett was at .741, followed by George Smith, Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson's coach, at .733 with two Final Fours.The closest to Huggins in UC wins is Mick Cronin with 296.1992 UC Bearcats have had previous honorsThe '92 Final Four team was inducted into the Greater Cincinnati Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. The following year, Nick Van Exel was part of the 2018 class. And, Bob Huggins attended the 2023 induction of Corie Blount.Bob Huggins wins continued in Big 12, Big EastPost UC, Huggins spent a year at Kansas State, then joined his alma mater, West Virginia. With the Mountaineers, he made another Final Four in 2010 and won 345 more games. He has 934 overall wins.As a player, he was All-State three times at Indian Valley South and was the Ohio Player of the Year in 1972. He scored 2,438 high school points. In one season at Ohio University and two at WVU, he scored 800 collegiate points and averaged 13.2 points per game as a senior.The remainder of the 2026 University of Cincinnati Athletics Hall of Fame class will be announced later this summer.This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Naismith Hall of Famer Bob Huggins now in UC's Athletic Hall of Fame

Four months into his tenure, Jared McCain has quickly become a fan favorite. When the Oklahoma City Thunder added him at the NBA trade deadline, expectations for the short term were pretty low. Just show flashes of being a potent scorer who can help out in the future.Instead, McCain was handed the baton and ran away with it. Jettisoned to the front of the line out of necessity, the 22-year-old helped the short-handed Thunder push the San Antonio Spurs to seven games in the 2026 Western Conference Finals. Two of OKC's wins in the epic series featured 20-plus point outings by him.Even though the Thunder didn't accomplish their goal of going back-to-back, McCain's surprise contributions remain one of OKC's biggest developments this year. Now, they can enter an offseason filled with roster decisions with some reassurance that he could help their scoring depth and beyond.Thunder GM Sam Presti recently talked to the media in his 2025-26 end-of-season press conference. At the 100-minute event, one of the topics brought up was about McCain's arrival. They acquired him from the Philadelphia 76ers. In just three months, he went from being at the back of the bench on a play-in team to starting for the reigning NBA champions."I followed Jared since he was in high school and have always thought very highly of him. Just his makeup, his approach, his game. I've always felt like he's a guy that contributes to winning," Presti said. "I do think that with kinda the way he got on the train, his EQ is extremely high. There aren't many people that I would choose to try to assimilate into our particular team in the middle of the year, especially because the continuity issue was already very fractured because we didn't know who was playing."Coming out of Duke, McCain was a highly coveted player. He went at the No. 16 pick of the 2024 NBA draft. After a blazing start to his NBA career that saw him jump ahead of the Rookie of the Year race, a torn meniscus ended his season prematurely in Dec. 2024. And then the start of this past season was delayed due to thumb surgery in Oct. 2025.By the time McCain returned, he was buried on Philadelphia's depth chart. Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe became the Sixers' future starting backcourt. Eventually, that led to his early departure in a trade that shocked everybody. At his second NBA home, he slowly got more comfortable. Until he was thrown into a sink-or-swim situation due to injuries. All things considered, he floated well."Certainly couldn't have forecasted the situation we were going to be in in the postseason. He was very, very helpful in that," Presti said. "But he had the right mindset. To walk into a team like ours and in the right game. But I think going forward, there's a more balanced player in there and not just a guy that's going to come off and be able to hit shots like that. He really understands the game. He understands winning. He'll put his body out there."This is how the Thunder maintain a lengthy championship window. Find young talent whose career trajectories are pointing up. Especially with the upcoming ballooning of their payroll situation. Right now, OKC is on the cusp of some roster turnover for the first time in a couple of years. That happens in the NBA business. McCain looks like he could stick around and help for the next handful of seasons, though. Heck, he's already done it once on the fly."I'm looking forward to a full summer with him, full training camp," Presti said. "And just seeing really how he accents our full team."This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Sam Presti reflects on trading for Jared McCain: 'He understands winning'

For Benoît, a gay man in rural France, Pride flags are not decoration. They are a declaration that queer people belong to the same fields, towns, and forests that once made them feel unwelcome. The morning of their first rural Pride march, the organizers returned to the storehouse near the train station in Thiviers, a small town in southwestern France, and found that someone had tried to ruin the day before it had even begun. Related Caravan of Hope brings LGBTQ+ justice & support to rural queers in red states The building had been lent to them as a makeshift workshop where they could paint signs, decorate a tractor, and hang a six-stripe rainbow flag in preparation for the Pride. It was 2022, and the group was about to hold a march in a part of rural France where Pride was still mostly imagined as something that happened somewhere else: in a city, on a television screen, far from the fields and towns where many LGBTQ+ people had grown up learning to keep quiet. When they returned that morning, some of the placards were gone. A homophobic phrase had been scrawled on the ground, and the flag was missing. When they finally found it, it had been torn in two. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today There was no time for despair. It was the day of the march. People were arriving. Music, tractors, signs, bodies, and emotions had to get moving. Benoît recalls that it was his friend Lise who looked at the ripped flag and found a way to turn the moment around. “Too bad, they tore it apart,” she said, “so that will give us two flags.” So they marched with both halves. One flag became two. The hatred meant to diminish them ended up multiplying their most visible symbol. That moment, small and defiant and unexpectedly funny, has since become part of the founding story of the rural Pride march that Benoît and his friends organize each year in Dordogne. It is also now part of a film. Growing up gay in the country “I didn’t have a homosexual role model. I very quickly understood what the word meant, what being gay in the countryside meant, and to me, as a child and then as a teenager, it seemed like something dirty, something you shouldn’t be, like shameful, and against nature.” Benoît, 41, prefers to appear in this article by his first name alone. He was raised in a farming family a few kilometers from the town where he grew up, and he is the central figure of Pédale rurale, a French documentary directed by Antoine Vazquez that opened in French cinemas on March 4, 2026. When Benoît talks about growing up gay in the countryside, he does not begin with a single confrontation. He begins talking about the atmosphere and language that gave rise to the slow internalization of shame. “I didn’t have a homosexual role model,” he told LGBTQ Nation. “I very quickly understood what the word meant, what being gay in the countryside meant, and to me, as a child and then as a teenager, it seemed like something dirty, something you shouldn’t be, like shameful, and against nature.” That last phrase is the one he insists on. It situated homosexuality outside the whole order of the place he came from: outside the fields, the animals, the trees, and seasons that had shaped his life. The power of that framing is also what makes its reversal so important to him. “I had to do a whole process of deconstruction and affirmation in order to come back to the countryside [after studying in Marseille] and say: okay, that isn’t the case at all. I’m going to prove to them that I’m not against nature, but that I am fully part of this nature from which they want to exclude me.” Why not just go to the city? The first march took place in 2022. From the beginning, the need was straightforward and profound: people wanted to come together. “Our need was to come together and also to create a moment of conviviality and sharing,” Benoît said. “Because in a rural territory, we are still very far apart from one another, very scattered, because there is a lower population density in the countryside. So inevitably, we are more distant from one another than in the city.” The obvious question comes up often. Why not simply go to Périgueux or Limoges, the larger towns within reach? For Benoît, distance is not only a number. “For us, Périgueux and Limoges are thirty miles from where we live. And thirty miles is far, actually, in a rural territory. And before going thirty miles from our home, you cross many municipalities and, in the end, many territories with their own communities and personalities.” | Shutterstock That is the hidden geography of rural queer life. A Pride march in the nearest city may be meaningful, but it does not transform the quiet roads, the church square, the view from the school’s window, the landscapes where Benoît first learned that he was different. “For us, precisely, when I say that we internalized the idea that we were against nature, affirming that we are LGBT in the places where we live, in places we love and cherish, with the nature and people we love and cherish: that is political.” A rural Pride creates a different kind of memory for the next generation. It tells young people watching from a doorway that they do not have to imagine queer life only as an elsewhere. Benoît remembers that gay people in his area were either hidden or spoken of only vaguely. He is honest about how he himself would have received it as a child. “If it had really passed through my town, I don’t know whether I would have gone, because outing yourself in your town is still an extremely intense thing. In your town, you don’t know what you are going to reap. Everyone knows each other, and it isn’t always easy.” But if the march had passed through the town next door, he is sure he would have gone. Even watching would have mattered. “Going to watch it, having it pass close to my home, would have moved me. It would have helped me, that’s certain.” The first flag: one became two It was in that context, charged with the weight of everything a first march carries, that the attack on the storehouse hit. The torn flag was not just property damage. It was an attempt to stop a fragile form of representation before it had its first chance to reach the street. The insult on the ground was chilling and badly spelled. The group, running on adrenaline and mutual support, ended up laughing anyway. Even so, the stress was real. “Yes, it stressed us out. But in any case, we were fired up, and we were really ready, too. We were also preparing ourselves for that kind of thing. We knew that it might perhaps awaken bad things in people who have homophobic, narrow-minded ideas. So we were expecting it a little.” The torn flag, once found, became the turning point of that morning. Alice’s improvised quip transformed a symbol of hostility into something they could march with. In the years that followed, the climate around the march gradually shifted. The second year brought online harassment on social media. By the third year, the dynamic was different again. The mayor made her discomfort quietly clear without blocking the event. Benoît called the town hall after the march to ask whether there had been complaints from residents. “In fact, not at all. There was really no feedback at all. And during Pride, we had grandmothers talking to us in the street. It was nice. A rather pleasant curiosity in that town.” | Shutterstock The second flag: made from scraps, visible at the seams Four years after the first march, Benoît is not waiting for a perfect flag; he is making one. For the rural Pride march planned for June 6, he has been assembling a patchwork flag from secondhand fabrics, mostly synthetic satins he found in charity shops and thrift stores. He was looking for colors matching the stripes of the Progress Pride flag: the rainbow, the triangle, the full spectrum. He did not find what he wanted in cotton. What he found, in colors that satisfied him, were synthetic satins. “It won’t be a very original flag,” he acknowledges in reference to the Progress Flag model he is following, “but I’m not going to hide the seams. The seams will be visible. And I know that at least it’s a flag made from reclaimed materials.” The flag will be roughly three meters by one and a half, though the final dimensions depend on the pieces he has. He may paint part of the design if he runs out of time to sew it. He wants it to be imperfect. “I don’t want it to be clean,” he said, “precisely because manufactured rainbow flags are much too clean for me.” | Provided That line gets at something central to his relationship to Pride symbols. He is uncomfortable with corporate rainbow branding, with the promotional merchandise that appears each June on behalf of banks and multinationals. He has a word for it: pinkwashing. And he measures his own march against it deliberately. “I see lots of promotional trinkets and crap, like caps branded with a bank sponsoring something with a rainbow on it. I hate that.” Benoît trained as a weaver and worked for several years making stoles. He knows how to work with fabric, how thread holds under tension, how seams age and show their history. This flag is not woven from a single thread but assembled from fragments. He adapts the project to the pieces he has, which is its own form of craft. He is not sure yet where in the march the flag will go. There will be a truck with a sound system at the front of the procession and a tractor behind. Matter-of-factly, he also mentions that there will be a giant clitoris float built by a woman named Angélique. He will decide where the flag belongs once he sees how it moves in the wind. “I tell myself, our Pride flag could be that. And actually, it is a very good idea to make a flag with that. It would be really funny. Maybe that flag will exist soon.” Subverting the codes This year’s march has a theme: sports. The organizers chose it partly because sport remains one of the most resistant spaces for LGBTQ+ visibility, where coming out is still difficult and trans people are increasingly banned by governing bodies. Sport is also saturated with national symbols, flags, and demanded loyalties. Benoît finds something appealing about taking all of that and overturning it. There will be straw pom poms and cheerleader energy, plus a brass band. They also plan to have a disco football event where the only rule is to dance constantly. Into that atmosphere, he wants to bring a flag made by hand from secondhand satin, visible at the seams, imperfect in its proportions, unsponsored, and fully theirs. He has also been thinking about what a flag truly specific to this march might look like. Not a standard Progress Pride flag, however lovingly assembled from thrift-store scraps, but something rooted in the particular territory where the march takes place. This year, he designed a logo for the march. He drew a snail with a rainbow-colored shell. Instead of eyes, the snail has little oak leaves growing from its head. “I tell myself, our Pride flag could be that,” he said. “And actually, it is a very good idea to make a flag with that. It would be really funny. Maybe that flag will exist soon.” It is a small, wry image: an animal that carries its home on its back, moving slowly through a landscape it belongs to, its identity written in color across its shell. What the seams hold The patchwork flag being sewn in the months before June 6 belongs to that same logic. It is an international symbol, yet embedded in local history, made from available scraps in a particular landscape, by the hands of a farmer’s son, for a community that has been insisting, year after year, that this is where they live and where they will celebrate. Flags make Benoît a little uneasy, he admits. National flags carry the weight of borders, exclusions, and demanded loyalties. But the Pride flag, especially when it is worn out, torn apart, stitched back together, or assembled from thrift-store remnants, becomes something different. The torn flag from 2022 marched as two pieces. The patchwork flag of 2026 will march as a single piece assembled from many. Both, in their different ways, tell the same story: that what is broken or cobbled together can still be whole. Pédale rurale, directed by Antoine Vazquez, is currently in French cinemas. The next rural Pride march organized by Benoît and his community will take place on June 6 in Marval, Haute-Vienne, France. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10631-3Tumour network mapping of diffuse midline glioma (DMG) defines a conserved and prognostically important brain network in children with DMG, consistent with the hypothesis that DMGs exploit otherwise healthy brain circuits to promote tumour growth.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10636-yMacroscopic quantum coherence arises in two-component exciton Bose–Einstein condensates within MoSe2/hBN/WSe2 electron–hole bilayers, exhibiting distinct spin–valley polarized phases, quantum phase transitions under magnetic fields and stable condensate behaviour up to approximately 1.8 K.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10629-xAnalyses of brain single-cell transcriptomes from human, mouse, lizard, lamprey and amphioxus reveal that duplicated genes (ohnologues) played a pivotal part in early vertebrate cell-type diversification.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10596-3Efficient blue perovskite light-emitting diodes with an external quantum efficiency of 21.8% are achieved through in situ polymerization-driven nanocrystal confinement.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10546-zResearchers uncovered an enormous deep-sea accumulation of whale remains in the southeastern Indian Ocean, showing long-term, specialized ecosystems and an extensive fossil record that offers new insight into deep-ocean biodiversity and whale evolutionary history.

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A McDonald’s employee in California suffered severe burns across his face and body after a coworker tossed hot oil on him, the reason for the attack remaining unknown. What do you think? “Is my Ranch Snack Wrap coming or not?” Krista Giffee, Syrup Stirrer “It’s easy to mistake your colleague for a French fry after a long shift.” Lyle Seeds, Cabinet Sander “That’s why you should always check how hot your oil is before you throw it on someone.” Gene Valenti, Jingle Singer The post McDonald’s Worker Suffers Severe Burns After Being Attacked With Hot Oil appeared first on The Onion.

Between custom storage, playful color, and thoughtful family-friendly design, this 645-square-foot Paris apartment manages to feel much larger than its footprint suggests. READ MORE...

Serena Williams’ comeback to tennis might be over before it started. Following a successful first match back, Williams’ playing status is now in jeopardy after her doubles partner sustained an injury at the HSBC Championships on Wednesday.Victoria Mboko was forced to retire from her singles match against Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday after the Canadian was injured in a fall.The injury, and Mboko’s inability to finish Wednesday’s match, puts her and Williams’ HSBC Championships status in limbo. After the pair defeated Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez on Tuesday, Mboko and Williams were slated to play again Thursday. That match is now in question following Mboko’s injury.This story will be updated.

May 10, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw (6) fields a ground ball during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn ImagesThe Chicago Cubs have been linked to a plethora of trades already this season, many of which have included second-year infielder and former No. 13 overall pick Matt Shaw. Shaw has struggled to carve out starts over Alex Bregman and Nico Hoerner, raising trade rumors amid the team's 34-33 start to the season.The 24-year-old is expected to garner notable trade interest among clubs looking for long-term infield assets. He's still viewed as a high-upside contributor who could develop into a franchise cornerstone for the right team.Monitoring potential suitors for Shaw, the Boston Red Sox could present a compelling return for the third baseman, thanks to a plethora of controllable pitching assets. With the Cubs looking to return to postseason action following last year's NLDS loss, a potential deal could benefit both sides. Let's explore a mock trade that sends Shaw to Boston:Chicago Cubs-Boston Red Sox Mock Trade & Fantasy Baseball ImpactApr 29, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw (6) hits a solo home run during the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. | Denis Poroy-Imagn ImagesChicago receives Aroldis Chapman, Brayan BelloBoston receives Matt ShawThe proposed deal is a simple swap, the Red Sox land a high-upside, long-term asset in Shaw, while the Cubs bring in some much-needed depth for the bullpen. Aroldis Chapman has been linked to a plethora of trade rumors through the start of the season, and presents a notable centerpiece in a return for a unit in dire need of a reliable closer.Chicago also lands Brayan Bello, a fifth-year starter who offers valuable depth to an inconsistent bullpen. Bello has struggled throughout a turbulent start to Boston's season, but could rebound rather quickly with a change of scenery. He posted career-best production in 2025 and can recapture such momentum in a playoff-contending situation.Finally, let's look at the fantasy impact of Shaw's move to Boston. Despite some limitations at second, Shaw offers encouraging versatility within the field. On the offensive end, he's a contact-over-power hitter, posting 89 hits and 21 doubles during his rookie campaign while flashing base-stealing upside. Shaw's fantasy outlook could improve greatly with a trade, an encouraging sign for managers over the long term.Why The Cubs Make The TradeJun 5, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Aroldis Chapman (44) delivers a pitch during the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesShaw has emerged as an expendable asset for Chicago due to the performance within the infield to this point of the season. With two veterans limiting his starts, the Cubs can afford to move Shaw in a trade to bring in some much-needed help within the bullpen. The club is eyeing a deep postseason run and will look to capitalize on the value of its lineup ahead of the trade deadline to shore up weaknesses. Why The Red Sox Make The TradeApr 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw (6) walks in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. | Jonathan Hui-Imagn ImagesThe Red Sox have reportedly expressed interest in bringing in Shaw, and could meet the asking price considering their bullpen depth. Boston boasts a plethora of talent in the group, and could move off two veterans to bring in a potential cornerstone piece for the organization to build around. He could form long-term pairings with the likes of Franklin Arias and other high-end prospects under the Red Sox organization, bolstering the team's long-term outlook amid a lackluster 27-38 start to the year.Read More Fantasy On SI NewsTop Landing Spots For Brandon Aiyuk: Could He Reunite With Jayden Daniels In Washington?Giants Pitcher Robbie Ray's Fantasy Value Skyrockets In Mock Trade To Blue JaysRonald Acuna Jr Injury Update And Fantasy Impact: Should You Grab Braves SS Jorge Mateo On The Waiver Wire?Rookie Running Backs For Dynasty Managers To Avoid In Fantasy Football In 2026This article was originally published on www.si.com/onsi/fantasy as Cubs' Matt Shaw Emerges As Fantasy Breakout Candidate With Mock Trade To Red Sox.

DENVER — Cole Carrigg’s helmet flew off as he kicked it into high gear around the bases. He slid headfirst into third base and looked toward the Colorado Rockies dugout before breaking into a little dance.The first hit in his major league debut goes down as a triple.“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Carrigg said after the Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 7-3. “I love pushing it and going for three. Oh man, it was really awesome. It was the best feeling in the world.”Carrigg brings speed to the diamond and an aura of fearlessness to go with it.No way he’s dialing it back, either. Nor do the Rockies want him to. The outfielder who now wears No. 16 — it was assigned to him — finished his debut 1 for 3 with a walk. Carrigg became the second Rockies player to have a triple as their first big league hit, joining Ryan Ritter, who accomplished the feat last season.“As soon as it got by the first baseman, I’m thinking three for sure,” Carrigg said of his fifth-inning grounder down the line in right field.This prospect doesn’t hold back.“He plays with his hair on fire,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “We just want that to continue up here. Anytime he’s on the baseball field, anything can happen. Just want him to play without fear, have fun, play free, and just let his skills shine.”Carrigg was the fifth Rockies player to make their big league debut this season. He had a handful of family members, including mom and dad, along with friends and coaches in the stands to cheer.He treated them to quite a show, too. He was doused with the contents of a Powerade bucket after the game.“The nerves were running pretty high,” Carrigg said. “This is what I’ve worked for my whole entire life. If you’re not nervous for that moment, you’re not human.”He got a glimpse of this level during the World Baseball Classic while playing shortstop for Team Israel. He said facing Venezuela and Ronald Acuña Jr. in front of more than 20,000 fans certainly was an eye-opening experience.“As loud as I could have ever imagined,” said Carrigg, who was selected in the second round of the 2023 amateur draft from San Diego State. “It definitely got me prepared, for sure.”The 24-year-old was in the midst of quite a season for Triple-A Albuquerque, hitting .338 with 15 doubles, five triples, six homers, 42 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. He played outfield and mixed in some shortstop, too.This after after a spring training in which he hit .387 and made a compelling case to possibly be on the Rockies roster. He just went to work.“I think when you feel like you have a chance to be up here and a chance to help the team, and you know you’re kind of playing well, it’s hard not to look up here,” Carrigg said. “It’s hard to stay where your feet are. But I think that’s the best thing you can do is just keep using those opportunities in Triple-A to make sure that you’re ready for when you get here.”He officially found out about his promotion over the weekend in front of his Isotopes teammates. Then again, he had an inkling the moment was about to arrive. Or, his teammate, Adael Amador, did anyway.“Adael came up to me in the fifth inning of the game and he’s like, `I think you’re getting called up, bro,’” Carrigg said. “I’m like, `What do you mean?’ He’s like, ‘I got a feeling.’ He had a feeling.”About No. 16: Turns out one of his father’s favorite players, Bo Jackson, donned that number while with the Kansas City Royals.“That’s the first thing he said and I’m like, ‘That’s a pretty good number to have,’” Carrigg recounted.Schaeffer was eager to see how Carrigg’s skills translate in the big leagues.“I mean, listen, he can run, he can hit from both sides and he can play instinctual center field, plays good shortstop, he steals bases,” said Schaeffer, who plans to use Carrigg as an outfielder. “A lot of people do that, but there’s not a lot of people that do that without fear. That’s part of his game.“It’s one thing to have the tools, it’s another thing to use them, and he’s a guy that uses them.”

Lazio Market Stocks Soar Amid as Lotito Prepares for Major AnnouncementThe Lazio market shares are suddenly on the rise amid major developments concerning club president Claudio Lotito.Lazio Stock Prices on the Rise Ahead of Big Lotito StatementThe increasingly unpopular patron has been under great pressure to sell the club, as the organized fan groups have rebelled against him and his administration, accusing him of putting his own interests ahead of Lazio’s. The supporters have opted against attending next season’s home fixtures and purchasing season tickets. They have also cancelled their TV subscriptions to the Serie A broadcasters.And yet, Calcio e Finanza reveals that the club’s share price witnessed a sizable 5% rise, reaching €1.64, its highest value since December 2020. The source attributes this sudden development to the buzz surrounding the club ahead of Lotito’s major announcement, which is expected next week.Lotito Sale Rumors & Reggina TakeoverWhile the report didn’t specify the nature of the president’s upcoming statement, there have been growing rumors (mixed with enormous fanfare) of a potential sale. A recent report from Il Tempo claimed that members of JPMorgan Chase are preparing a consortium to purchase the Italian capital club for €450 million, although the official Lazio website swiftly denied it.Earlier this week, it was revealed that Lotito is in advanced negotiations to buy Serie D club Reggina. However, this wouldn’t be the first time that the Italian senator purchased another club, as he was also the owner of Salernitana between 2011 and 2021.The Winds of Change?In his interview with TMW Radio (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), football agent and pundit Claudio Anellucci fueled Lotito’s exit rumors by sensing that a major change is brewing behind the scenes.When you have a president who insults the fanbase, calling them a ‘thing’… that’s just one of the many reasons why supporters should hold a grudge against Lotito. With what Milan have spent in a single year, Lazio have funded five transfer windows. Lazio’s situation is absurd. There’s only one solution to get out of it; there are no alternatives. The fans have always tolerated Lotito, and there were seasons when things went his way, spending little and still winning something. Now there’s nothing left. Can things change? Today, I’m very optimistic; perhaps some good news could arrive. There’s a sense of movement behind the scenes.

When South Africa and Mexico officially kick off the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City on Thursday, it will coincidentally be a rematch of the 2010 opening match. But despite the Bafana Bafana being involved, this match will have an awfully different sound.Fans might remember the near-constant buzzing of vuvuzelas that became a signature element of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. And while it was at times annoying, it was an undeniably unique aspect of South Africa's soccer culture being shared with the world. Now, with South Africa back in the tournament to face El Tri, FIFA has instructed fans to leave their vuvuzelas at home. FIFA lists instruments that make excessive noise (such as airhorns and vuvuzelas) among the 30-plus banned items at 2026 World Cup stadiums. According to South African media, vuvuzelas will be confiscated if any fan attempts to bring one inside a stadium. FIFA’s Stadium Code of Conduct prohibits excessive noise-making devices, including vuvuzelas, air horns and bullhorns. Any such items brought to a venue will be confiscated.South Africa's first trip to the World Cup since 2010 evidently wasn't going to sway FIFA on its decision to ban vuvuzelas. This article originally appeared on For The Win: FIFA's rule on vuvuzelas being banned at 2026 World Cup

President Donald Trump talks with reporters before boarding Air Force One at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, early Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)2026-06-10T16:09:45Z WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed a bill into law on Wednesday that gives his immigration and deportation agenda a nearly $70 billion boost for the rest of his time in the White House. The bill provides $38 billion for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and $26 billion for the Border Patrol. An additional $5 billion would cover unforeseen costs, according to the White House. Trump signed the legislation in the Oval Office a day after House Republicans pushed the measure through by a 214-212 vote over the objections of Democrats. His signature ended a nearly six-month fight over Department of Homeland Security funding that began with shooting deaths of deaths of two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, in January during federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. Democrats began demanding changes to immigration enforcement after the shootings, creating an impasse — and resulting in the longest agency in history — that ultimately led Republicans to go it alone on the funding. The agencies will be funded through the next three years. The new law front-loads routine annual funding, ensuring a virtually uninterrupted flow of money as the Trump administration seeks to deport some 1 million people per year. The legislation had become sidetracked over $1 billion for White House security, including for Trump’s new ballroom, and a $1.8 billion fund to compensate his allies who claim to be victims of political prosecution. Both proposals became politically toxic and were scrapped.The bill as passed focused exclusively on immigration enforcement, a topic that Republicans have treated as a defining issue between the two major political parties and one the GOP hopes will carry it to victory in November’s midterm elections. DARLENE SUPERVILLE Superville covers the White House for The Associated Press, with a special emphasis on first ladies and first families. COLLIN BINKLEY Binkley covers the White House and education policy for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington and joined the AP in 2015. twitter mailto

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10645-xSIRT7 safeguards X-chromosome integrity and dosage balance with autosomes.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10640-2Structures of the AGO maturation complex reveal how chaperones and an RNA duplex drive assembly of the RNA-induced silencing complex.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10634-0Sleep and exercise can slow clonal haematopoiesis and limit mutant cell-driven atherosclerosis.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01851-8Physicists hope that the JUNO facility can determine which type of neutrino has the highest mass.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10646-wA co-optimized AI hardware–software system using resistive-memory computing improves energy efficiency and parallelism for sparse signal reconstruction in imaging and three-dimensional vision applications.

Marco Reus Partners With RITFIT To Redefine Off-Pitch Training Ahead of 2026 World CupWith the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, the physical demands on professional footballers have never been higher.Today players need to consistently maintain their strength and upgrade their durability and mobility throughout demanding physical seasons. As a result, elite players are extending their preparation beyond club facilities—into their own homes.This fitness model is shown in the campaign “Strength Built At Home,” which highlights the new collaboration between the home-fitness brand RITFIT and Marco Reus, former captain of Borussia Dortmund, German football icon, and current LA Galaxy midfielder. The campaign focuses on how athletes can work on their performance and consistency when they are not on the pitch.The Increasing Physical Demands of FootballA massive amount of pressure is put on modern football players, and conditioning and strength programs have become more important than ever before. In fact, players are now concentrating heavily on their lower-body fitness to prevent injury and improve their mobility and stability.RITFIT has positioned itself at the intersection of professional-grade performance and home-accessible training and gives athletes the flexibility that they need to implement training, recovery days and off-season months.Inside Marco Reus’ Home Training EnvironmentThe “Strength Built At Home” campaign looks at how modern athletes such as Marco Reus, can now bring professional-level training into everyday living spaces. Built around a fully integrated RITFIT home gym environment, the setup supports everything from strength and conditioning work to recovery-focused movement, all within a compact and practical footprint. Reus’s home gym showcases equipment such as the M3 Smith Machine package, Gazelle Pro, AURASPIN Grip Plates, and Gator Weight Bench, all of which work together to create a system that is high in performance, and easy to incorporate into daily living.Because lower-body training is central to a football training, exercises that combine controlled resistance workouts remain particularly important especially when it comes to supporting acceleration, balance, agility, and injury prevention.The M3 Smith Machine package is central to this system, and players can perform compound movements like presses, rows, pull-downs, and cable exercises.Upper-body and core training is also an important aspect of building stability and overall physical resilience of players during match time.For players who want to add to the versatility of their workouts, the Gator Weight Bench supports pressing movements and seated exercises, and the AURASPIN Grip Plates help with progressive resistance training.The Gazelle Pro adds conditioning and accessory training options for recovery-focused sessions.Why Home Gyms Appeal to Professional AthletesHome training is inherently efficient, and this is perhaps one of its biggest advantages, especially when professional players are trying to manage busy schedules and family responsibilities.A home gym now means that professional athletes can supplement their workouts without adding commute time to already demanding schedules.Athletes are continually looking at fitness as something that can fit into their daily lives outside of official training sessions.Overall, the campaign shows us that fitness can become part of a balanced home environment while complementing athletic preparation.A Shift Toward Long-Term WellnessHome fitness has gained popularity beyond that of professional sport, and everyday users are now able to train around their work and family commitments.The biggest challenge of exercising for most people is finding the time to do it; however, home gyms take away these barriers completely and allow users to work out whenever it best suits their daily routines.This is a massive move towards accessibility and flexibility, which is why multifunctional gym equipment is continuing to grow in popularity.The Continued Growth of Multifunctional Fitness EquipmentRITFIT, founded in the US in 2015, started off by focusing on beginner-friendly fitness products. Soon after, it expanded into strength- training systems that were able to fit seamlessly into home environments.Their aim is to make fitness designed for professionals more accessible to everyday users at various levels of experience. Equally important is the brand’s focus on multifunctionality as it recognizes that users prefer equipment that can support varied workouts without needing more space.A Smith machine package appeals to those who want to do varied exercises all within one easy setup, and with football continuing to demand exceptional fitness, home gyms are likely to become an important part of player performance.For footballers like Marco Reus, home-based training allows for flexibility to work out of the comfort of their own homes while supporting recovery and long-term physical wellbeing.

🥳 Ancelotti turns 67 and gets a light prank in trainingA six-seven kind of day for Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti of the Brazilian National Team.The coach celebrated his 67th birthday during a relaxed training session with the squad preparing for its World Cup debut. And there was even a prank.Reporter Raisa Simplicio shared the moment when Carlo Ancelotti went through the "guard of honor":The traditional smacks were lighter than when a player celebrates a birthday. And Don Carlo was also spared the egging.On the field, Ancelotti focused on small-sided drills to improve passing under pressure, intensity, and the players’ quick decision-making.The initial part of the warm-up was watched by a group of sponsor guests, while the goalkeepers trained separately.Among the visitors was American filmmaker Spike Lee. He showed up wearing a Brazil shirt and drew attention.Neymar remained out of on-field activities and continued working with the medical department as he recovers from a calf injury.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

MONROE — The Louisiana Sports Writers Association announced its Class 5A All-State baseball and softball teams for 2026 on Wednesday, June 10.Northeast Louisiana is well-represented on these teams as West Monroe's Evie West was named the Most Outstanding Player in softball. The rising junior played a major role in the Lady Rebels being LHSAA Division I nonselect semifinalists this spring as she batted .505 with 19 home runs and 60 RBIs. West also anchored West Monroe's rotation with an 18-4 record and 3.53 ERA.West's older sister, rising senior and Georgia commit Ava, also made Class 5A All-State after hitting .463 with 16 home runs and 58 RBIs. Bradyn Cupit and Jackson Lee, who graduated from West Monroe and Ruston, respectively, and Lady Bearcats rising junior Aubrey Stoehr made Class 5A All-State as well.LHSAA softball: How the Monroe area excelled during the championships in SulphurCupit, an LSU signee, went 7-3 on the mound with a 0.92 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 60⅔ innings for West Monroe. Lee (Co-Lin signee) had a .450 average with two home runs, six doubles and 10 triples while Stoehr batted .494 with nine home runs for Ruston.Ruston's JP Moak, Peyton Nations and Tyler Roach; West Monroe's Ryder DeJean, Peyton Starr and Kade Thomas and Neville's Hunter Robinson made All-State honorable mention in baseball. Local softball All-State honorable mentions included Ouachita's Taylor Madison, Alayjha Matthews and Malayah Vaughn; Neville's Hannah Creighton and Kameya West-Robinson and West Monroe's Parker Burford.Below are the full lists for the 2026 Class 5A All-State baseball and softball teams.BaseballFirst TeamPlayer, School, Class, StatsP – Bradyn Cupit, West Monroe, Sr., 7-3P – Kason Johnson, Dutchtown, Sr., 8-1P – Lawton Littleton, Barbe, Jr., 10-0P – Connor Smith, Northshore, Sr., 8-2C- Chase Marcotte, Destrehan, Jr., 341INF – Myles Ledoux, Barbe, Sr., .436INF – Connor Micheu, John Curtis, Sr., 451INF – Dom Pellegrin, Holy Cross, Sr., .489 INF – Andrew Sharp, Captain Shreve., Sr., .464OF – Jordan Griffin, Barbe, Jr., .485OF – Jackson Lee, Ruston, Sr., .450OF – Cole Snell, Benton, Sr., .424UT – Harrison Kidder, Catholic-BR, Sr., .403UT – Owen Nugent, Rummel, Jr., 10-0UT – Greyson Parker, Mandeville, Jr., 7-1UT – Mills Richardson, Catholic-BR, Sr., 10-1UT – Koa Romero, Hahnville, Jr., .433Most Outstanding Player: Koa Romero, HahnvilleCoach of the Year: Chris Schexnaydre, DutchtownHonorable mentions: J.D. Alexander, Barbe; Drake Amedee, Brother Martin; Jaden Ard, Walker; Myles Auxt, Catholic-BR; Triston Billiot, Thibodaux; William Brown, H.L. Bourgeois; Hudson Browning, East Ascension; Tanner Conley, Fontainebleau; Spencer Conrad, Thibodaux; Hunter Degeyter, Lafayette; Ryder DeJean, West Monroe; Amin Dip, Riverdale; Charlie Donaldson, Sam Houston; Clayton Doyal, Alexandria; Jackson Dugan, Jesuit; Eli Freeman, Dutchtown; Jackson Gaskin, Captain Shreve; Bryson Gates, Benton; Grant Gautreau, Prairieville; Peyton Gomez, Mandeville; Cole Guidroz, Central; Zant Gurney, Live Oak; Brayson Hartzog, Central; Trent Hennesey, Alexandria; Leo Heng, Airline; Denton Hester, Captain Shreve; Jaxson Hill, Fontainebleau; Daygen Johnson, Natchitoches Central; Seth Jorstad, Haughton; Ty Lamartina, Acadiana; Lucas Lawrence, Catholic-BR; Bronson Leaumont, Brother Martin; Bryson Phoenix, Alexandria; Carson Plant, Haughton; Madden McClure, Zachary; Brady McCluskey, Brother Martin; Creshaun McCollum, Mandeville; Chase Mire, Destrehan; J.P. Moak, Ruston; Braylon Montgomery, Walker; Peyton Nations, Ruston; Jacob Neely, Northshore; Jake Rappold, Walker; Jude Reason, St. Paul’s; Hunter Robinson, Neville; Tyler Roach, Ruston; Logan Rogers, H.L. Bourgeois; Jaxson Ross, Alexandria; Maxwell Sanchez, Prairieville; Braden Sanders, Zachary; Hayes Segar, Catholic-BR; Ty Smith, Sam Houston; Payton Starr, West Monroe; Andrew Stipelovich, Central Lafourche; Noah Sullivan, Zachary; Austyn Taylor, Pineville; Landen Teague, Hahnville; Cooper Templet, St. Amant; Kannon Templet, Southside; Kade Thomas, West Monroe; Brayden Todd, Evangel; Brody Turnipseed, Benton; Carter Wilson, Sulphur.SoftballFirst TeamPlayer, School, Class, StatsP – London Lambert, Hahnville, Fr., 22-8P – Bayleigh Moniz, Benton, So., 16-15P – Paige Reuther, Mount Carmel, Jr., 16-3P – Chelsie Simpson, Pineville, Jr., 26-9C- Layla Landry, Sam Houston, Jr., .580INF – Briley Byrnes, Pineville, Jr., .642INF – Gabby Fabacher, John Curtis, Jr., .514INF – Aubrey Portie, Sam Houston, Sr., .500 INF – Ava West, West Monroe, Jr., .463OF – Jadin Basco, Pineville, Jr., .444OF – Molly Latham, Live Oak, Sr., .504OF – Maggie Massia, Natchitoches Central, Jr., .508UT – Kelsie Schmidt, Archbishop Chapell, Sr., .440UT – Aubrey Stoehr, Ruston, So., .494UT – Cayden Tullier, East Ascension, Sr., .417UT – Harley Usry, Walker, So., .520UT – Evie West, West Monroe, So., .505Most Outstanding Player: Evie West, West MonroeCoach of the Year: Allison Frye, PinevilleHonorable mentions: Shelbi Alphonso, Mount Carmel; Catherine Andrade, Dominican; Oakley Bailey, Walker; Brianna Benecke, Haughton; Isabella Borne, Central Lafourche; Brianna Breaux, Terrebonne; Kendall Brown, Zachary; Parker Burford, West Monroe; Berkley Byrnes, Pineville; Hannah Creighton, Neville; Brylie Davis, Acadiana; Dani Doctor, Southside; Abby Drago, Ponchatoula; Bailey Ducote, St. Amant; Ella Dupre, Terrebonne; Makayla Escude, John Curtis; Ella Ezekiel, Sulphur; Giselle Flores-Gonzalez, John Ehret; Anna Flowers, Evangel; Lexie Guercio, Central; Ehren Guidroz, Natchitoches Central; Avery Hastings, Zachary; Andie Heard, Thibodaux; Ella Hendrick, Captain Shreve; Skylar Hogan, Haughton; Annaliese Holmes, Pineville; Kylee Hylton, Northshore; Mia Impastato, Archbishop Chapelle; Jeanne Janise, Live Oak; Caroline Johnson, Dutchtown; Aubrianne Kavanaugh, St. Scholastica; Raegan Keller, Central Lafourche; Charlie Kyle, Sulphur; Hayley Landry, Thibodaux; Kyndall Landry, St. Amant; Victoria Launer, Evangel; Olivia Livers, Benton; Jolie Lozano, Destrehan; Addison McCall, Parkway; Kinsley McInnis, Archbishop Chapelle; Taylor Madison, Ouachita; Addison Martinez, Thibodaux; Kenley Massett, St. Joseph’s Academy; Alayjha Matthews, Ouachita; Kailyn Mire, Sam Houston; Ava Moore, Pineville; Sydney Olivier, Barbe; AK Phillips, Live Oak; Alexis Pitre, Walker; Charlee Prothro, Haughton; Lila Robertson, Natchitoches Central; Emri Roussel, Mount Carmel; Ella Sanchez, Northshore; Bayleigh Scott, Barbe; Maddie Shortridge, Airline; Allie Smith, Terrebonne; Taylor Smith, Airline; Caroline Stephens, Fontainebleau; Sara Beth Terrell, Natchitoches Central; Josie Tilton, Barbe; Kynadi Torregano, John Curtis; Malayah Vaughn, Ouachita; Brooke Vicknair, Dutchtown; Rylee Villasenor, Hahnville; Lillian Virga, Ponchatoula; Kameya West-Robinson, Neville; Amiyah Wilson, Alexandria; Savannah Windham, Mandeville, Catelyn Yeager, Covington.This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Monroe-area LSWA Class 5A All-State baseball and softball honorees

Newcastle complete signing of goalkeeper JaouenGoalkeeper Ewen Jaouen says he is hugely excited to be joining Newcastle United.Newcastle have completed the signing of the 20-year-old shot stopper from Stade de Reims on a long-term contract.“I’m really excited to become a Newcastle United player,” he said.“When I visited the training ground, I could see how passionate everyone is about the club and the work they do, and I loved the environment straight away. I also had the chance to see the stadium and it’s huge.“I’ve heard so much about the supporters and how they are the best in the country. The passion of the entire city and the atmosphere at St James’ Park are famous throughout football, and I can’t wait to experience that for myself and become a true Geordie.“As a goalkeeper, I enjoy one on one situations and playing as a modern keeper, building from the back and being comfortable with the ball at my feet. Now I want to develop alongside the amazing players and staff here, enjoy my football, and prove my value on the pitch.”Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe said: “Ewen is a great addition and I am delighted to welcome him to Newcastle United.“He is an exciting young goalkeeper who has shown real promise during his time in France. He has a calmness and presence that belies his age, and he’s someone we feel can grow and improve within our environment.”

[BBC][Getty Images]Marcos Senesi says it is a "special feeling" to join Tottenham, after the club announced he will be signing on a free transfer on 1 July.The Argentina defender will move to north London after four years with Bournemouth following the expiry of his current deal with the Cherries.Speaking to the club media, Senesi said: "It's a very special feeling to be a Tottenham Hotspur player."From the first moment, the club has shown why they want me and how much they want me to be a part of what they are building. It's exciting and something I can't wait to be involved in."Every time I step on the pitch, I will do my best to make the fans proud and to take the club back to the place it belongs. I want to win things with Tottenham and will do everything I can to make that happen."The 29-year-old made 128 appearances for Bournemouth, scoring six goals and providing 10 assists, and helped the south coast side secure European football for the first time in his final campaign with them.Spurs head coach Roberto de Zerbi, added: "Marcos' experience, quality on the ball, and competitive edge will strengthen us defensively, as well as giving us flexibility in formation."He's comfortable playing in a possession-based team, reads the game very well and has the personality to thrive in a demanding environment."I also love his mentality and desire to keep improving and I'm looking forward to working with him and seeing the big contribution he can make to the team."What do you make of the new signing? Is Senesi the type of player to improve Spurs? And is this a sign of smart business and recovery following last season's difficulties?Get in touch with your views here

A far-right political action committee has released an anti-trans AI-generated attack ad depicting Texas Democratic Senate candidate and state Rep. James Talarico in a dress. The ad shows an AI-generated Talarico in a dress similar to the one worn by Julie Andrews in 1965’s The Sound of Music, singing a version of “My Favorite Things” with lyrics re-worked to mischaracterize the 37-year-old Democrat’s pro-trans positions. Related The GOP’s actual strategy against James Talarico? Call him a fa**ot “Boys in white dresses with blue satin sashes. Girls dosed with hormones til they grow mustaches. Changing the gender of all your offspring. These are a few of my favorite things,” the Talarico avatar sings in the ad, according to right-wing outlet The Daily Caller. The 15-second clip does not indicate that it was generated by AI. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today NEW: The Trump-aligned org Citizens for Sanity is dropping a six-figure ad buy in the Texas Senate race. The ad is a 15 second clip of AI-generated James Talarico singing a "trans kids" rendition of “Favorite Things." Obtained first by @DailyCaller: pic.twitter.com/JNY8vxYueG— Reagan Reese (@reaganreese_) June 9, 2026 Citizens for Sanity reportedly spent six figures on the ad campaign attacking Talarico, who is currently leading Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) by three points in the race for one of the state’s two U.S. Senate seats, according to a poll released this week. Reporting on the PAC in 2024, The Guardian described Citizens for Sanity, which formed in mid-2022, as a “dark money group with ties to Trump’s inner circle.” The outlet reported that CFS spent upward of $90 million on ads racist and anti-trans ads attacking Democratic candidates in the second half of 2022 alone. Democrats consider Talarico their best chance at flipping one of the state’s two Senate seats and retaking the chamber in November — especially since President Donald Trump endorsed the embattled Paxton. As Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld wrote for LGBTQ Nation earlier this month, Talarico has made his progressive Christian values a centerpiece of his campaign, including criticizing the Republican Party’s obsession with transgender Americans. Republicans, meanwhile, have launched what appears to be a coordinated homophobic and transphobic campaign against Talarico. After Talarico won the Democratic primary in May, White House advisor Stephen Miller labeled Talarico Texas’s “first transgender senate candidate,” citing no evidence. In a speech following his own primary victory, Paxton claimed that his opponent believes “there’s actually six biological sexes.” RNC Chair Joe Gruters claimed that “Tala-freako…wants to mutilate children” and “put boys in girls’ locker rooms.” MAGA loyalists like Fox News’ Jesse Watters, podcaster Benny Johnson, and even the president himself have attacked Talarico’s masculinity, describing him as “Low T” and suggesting that he is secretly gay. Despite the president’s endorsement, Paxton, who has made his anti-LGBTQ+ record as Texas Attorney General a centerpiece of his own campaign, is seen as a problematic candidate. As The Hill notes, Paxton was indicted on felony securities fraud charges in 2015, and his estranged wife, Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton (R), has accused him of infidelity. And with his approval ratings reaching a record low of 35 percent this week, according to one survey, even Trump’s endorsement may not do much to improve Paxton’s standing with voters. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01819-8From sky to sea, and then back to the lab, here are the top images from Nature’s 2026 photo competition.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10639-9Phylogenomic reconstruction of the proteome of the last eukaryotic common ancestor sheds light on the origin of eukaryotes, indicating an important role of horizontal transfer of genes from diverse bacterial and viral donors.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01701-7Water-suspended carbon nanotubes move more slowly in green light, suggesting that excited electrons in the tubes couple to the water through ‘quantum friction’.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10613-5Molecular glue degraders of the RNA-binding protein HuR have therapeutic potential for BRAF-mutant cancers.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10661-xStructures of the distinct binding poses of three agonistic peptide toxins—bullet-ant-derived toxin δ-paraponeritoxin-Pc1a, cone snail ι-conotoxin RXIA and the globular β-scorpion toxin Cn2—on the human Nav1.6–β1 channel complex illustrate a diversity in binding poses and mechanisms of action.

LeBron James called the GOAT at something he won't be happy about originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The NBA GOAT debate is never-ending, and the mainstream media has been debating for years whether it is Michael Jordan or LeBron James. Many media members and TV personalities have taken a strong stance on either side, including ESPN analyst Stephen A Smith. For years, Smith has suggested that Jordan is the GOAT and has made it clear that it will never change. On a recent episode of ESPN's First Take, Smith and the panel discussed James' recent comments on being the NBA GOAT in a Times 100 article.Smith ended up calling the 41-year-old 'the GOAT' but in a different way. "The GOAT of longevity and category number two, the GOAT of talking about who's the GOAT, he's [James] the GOAT of that conversation," Smith said. LeBron James is "the GOAT of talking about who's the GOAT" - Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/3Gywy5HMk9— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 10, 2026Kendrick Perkins went on to back James in the conversation, but Smith was not having it. LeBron James makes his case in NBA Goat debateThis debate stems from the four-time NBA champion claiming that he is the NBA GOAT over all the all-time greats. “I’m not taking nobody over me,” James said. “There’s no question. But I think Mike will say the same thing. Rest his soul, Kobe will say the same thing. Magic will say the same thing. Bird will say the same thing. Shaq could say the same thing. The late great Wilt. Kareem. I don’t think none of us are going to take somebody else. If there’s a general manager and he’s eyeballing all of us on a baseline, with the No. 1 pick, it’s gonna be hard not to take me, champ.”James has certainly made a strong claim to be the NBA GOAT. He is the all-time leading scorer in both the regular season and playoffs, has won four NBA titles, four NBA Finals MVPs, four NBA MVPs, is a 22-time All-Star, 21-time All-NBA and a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. One thing is for sure: with a resume like that, the NBA legend is well on his way to Springfield when all is said and done. More NBA news: Why Victor Wembanyama wasn't suspended for controversial Jalen Brunson shoveSpurs' Victor Wembanyama blasts Knicks fans for bad behavior: 'Unacceptable'Lakers predicted to lose $51 million free agent in deal to San Antonio SpursNew York is about to become the undisputed center of the sports world

Transfer update, 10 June 💰Just a few days before the opening of the 2026 summer transfer window, OneFootball brings you a daily transfer roundup. Official announcements, major rumors: the key transfer news for this Wednesday, June 10 can be found here!It’s official ✍️- Tottenham have completed the signing of Argentina international Marcos Senesi. The Bournemouth defender was available on a free at the end of the season.- Olympique Lyonnais have activated the purchase option for Paris academy product Noham Kamara for around €4.1 million.- Newcastle have signed 20-year-old Reims goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen for €28.5 million.- Benfica have officially announced José Mourinho’s departure to Real Madrid.- Manchester United have announced the free-agent departures of Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, and Tyrell Malacia.- Tottenham have announced Tyrell Malacia’s contract extension and Yves Bissouma’s free transfer exit.Credible rumors ✅- Vinicius Jr has reportedly made his decision and will stay at Real Madrid no matter what next season. Negotiations over a contract extension are not progressing, so he could leave the club on a free in a year. (AS)- FC Barcelona will not trigger the €30 million purchase option for Marcus Rashford. The England forward will therefore return to Manchester United. (Fabrizio Romano)- Jorge Mendes has shut the door on Vitinha and Joao Neves leaving PSG.- Everton are interested in signing Strasbourg’s Guéla Doué. (The Athletic)- Paris FC still want to sign Mathis Abline, but Nantes are reportedly asking for around €40 million. (L'Équipe)- FC Porto are reportedly interested in Saint-Étienne’s Lucas Stassin. (A Bola)This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

Former Jacksonville State right-hander Maddox McDougall has committed to the Florida Gators out of the transfer portal.Baseball America ranked McDougall No. 28 overall among available players in the portal. The junior Florida native carried a 2.76 ERA over 23 appearances and 49 innings for the Gamecocks last season, with a 54-to-18 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Opposing bats hit .238 against him with a .307 on-base percentage and a .683 slugging percentage.Only 11.7% of batted balls were line drives off McDougall last year; however, opposing hitters had a .318 batting average on balls in play, which is a little high. His SIERA — which removes defense and luck to determine a pitcher's true performance — was 3.22, which is very strong. An 8.7% walk rate is also good, and a 26.2% is solid, albeit against non-SEC opponents.Go gators 🐊 @GatorsBBpic.twitter.com/m1icj4eZDc— Maddox McDougall (@madmcdougall04) June 9, 2026McDougall has some starter experience, so he could end up being a midweek guy for Florida. More likely, he'll be a key arm out of the bullpen, behind Caden McDonald and Luke McNeillie, should both stay instead of going pro. Joshue Whritenour figures to be the closer once again, and Jackson Barberi should move into the weekend rotation, given the current roster outlook.Florida Gators activity in the transfer portalFlorida has already seen five arms depart for the transfer portal. McCall Biemiller, Matthew Jenkins and Cooper Moss announced on Monday, June 1, the first day the portal opened, and Christian Rodriguez followed on Thursday. Cooper Walls hit the transfer portal on Friday.Florida lost starting second baseman Cade Kurland to the transfer portal on Saturday. Infielder Kolt Myers and outfielder Blake Brookins are the two other position players to enter the transfer portal so far.Florida earned its first transfer commitment from former FGCU catcher Jon Embury, the 2026 ASUN Player of the Year, on Thursday.Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida baseball lands Jacksonville State RHP transfer Max McDougall

Following his arrival in San Francisco, it sounds as veteran wide receiver Mike Evans has integrated quickly into the 49ers' system during organized team activities (OTAs). Tight end George Kittle, who is still rehabbing from the Achilles injury he suffered at the end of the 2025 season, recently noted that Evans’ decision to participate in these voluntary sessions highlights his commitment to learning a new offense."He doesn't usually go to OTAs, and he showed up to this because he's in a new offense for the first time in 12 years," Kittle said on Fanduel TV's Up & Adams show. "And he cooks everybody. Like, he was cooking everybody, don't care who it is. You can't just cover him one-on-one, really. Like he's going to win almost every single time.""Everybody's getting cooked by Mike [Evans]" 🤣George Kittle on how the new 49ers WR is fitting with the team @MikeEvans13_ | @49ers | @gkittle46 | @heykayadamspic.twitter.com/2agVZIujJW— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) June 9, 2026Kittle was particularly struck by the immediate chemistry forming between Evans and quarterback Brock Purdy."Him and Brock, like, immediately established a rhythm, which is really fun to watch," Kittle said. "And like, he just, everything he does is just such at a high level of professionalism that, like, you don't always see it from a 13-year wide receiver who's put up a thousand yards in, what, 11 out of 12 seasons. You don't always see that. And so like, he came in and like, everybody's just so happy with Mike, and he's awesome."Evans appears on his way to becoming the 49ers' top receiving option for 2026. He joined Ricky Pearsall alongside fellow free-agent Christian Kirk and second-round rookie De'Zhaun Stribling as the top receivers for Purdy. But given Evans' pedigree as an 11-time 1,000-yard receiver, the veteran should quickly command a sizable target share in his first season with the team.This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: New 49ers receiver Mike Evans is already turning heads at practice

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 6: Taylor Walls #6 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after scoring against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at loanDepot park on June 6, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Sam Navarro/Getty Images) | Getty Images Go Rays!Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community postsNew, improved notifications system!

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10632-2Near-infrared fluorescent carbon nanotubes exhibit light-induced quantum friction in water, in which exciton interactions slow nanoscale motion and enable optical control of diffusion and fluid dynamics.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01753-9Bryozoans are marine invertebrates that live in colonies and have long been considered absent from the Cambrian explosion — a rapid evolutionary event that began around 538 million years ago. Newly discovered fossils from the Cambrian period reveal that the bryozoan phylum had already diversified by this time.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10580-xA chemical and biological redox process that resembles processes in petrochemical refining is used to convert lignin from poplar into a single, valuable bioproduct, adipic acid, in high yields.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01796-yModelling with artificial-intelligence tools has filled gaps in migration data, revealing detailed global population movements from 1990 to 2023.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10538-zThe first data of the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory deliver high-precision neutrino oscillation parameters, improving measurements and demonstrating readiness to determine neutrino mass ordering.

Companies appear hesitant to pass those price increases on to weary consumers, whose wages aren’t keeping up.

Antonio Gracias, an investor who has built a $65 billion stake in the company, exemplifies the economic upside of being Mr. Musk’s ally.