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Treasury notified Congress on Dec. 19 that it intended to lift the sanctions because Deripaska had agreed to reduce his stake in En+ Group, the holding company that controls the aluminum giant Rusal, from about 70 percent to 44.95 percent, and to limit his voting shares to 35 percent. This would protect the companies “from the controlling influence of a Kremlin insider,” which had been the goal of punishing the firms, Treasury said.<doc-sep>In a surprise move Thursday, the House voted against a Treasury Department plan that would lift sanctions on the companies of Russian oligarch and Kremlin ally Oleg Deripaska. In what was an effective rebuke of President Donald Trump, 136 Republicans broke ranks and voted with House Democrats to oppose the plan. The move came exactly one day after the Senate blocked a measure proposed by Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer that would have prevented the Trump administration from lifting the sanctions on Deripaska's three firms. Only 11 Republicans in the Senate voted for the measure, which failed to win the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster. Wednesday's Senate vote means that the overwhelming vote in the House on Thursday will not stop the Trump administration from lifting sanctions. Deripaska was sanctioned in April 2018 along with a handful of other Russian companies and individuals. His three companies, Rusal, EN+, and ESE, had been lobbying ever since to be removed from the sanctions list. A Deripaska ally, the former U.K. energy minister and known Russophile Lord Gregory Barker of Battle, orchestrated the lobbying efforts in Washington. Former Republican Senator David Vitter was also lobbying on behalf of the companies. In late December, the Treasury Department notified Congress that it had struck a deal with the entities: Treasury would remove the three companies, but not Deripaska, from the sanctions list if they restructure their corporate governance so that the oligarch has less than a 50 percent share. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin gave a private briefing to Congress on the plan last Thursday, which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi later characterized as "one of the worst classified briefings" she'd received from this administration. Jed Shugerman, a professor at Fordham Law, told Newsweek that, although Deripaska will lose majority control of his three companies, the Treasury's plan will benefit the oligarch, and by extension, Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Given the reality of corporate structures, anyone looking at this understands that he was left with enough control that he would benefit if sanctions were lifted…Forty-five percent of a healthy company is better than 100 percent of a company that will fail," Shugerman told Newsweek, noting that the sanctions had left the three firms crippled economically. "Lifting sanctions benefits Putin because regardless of the shell games among oligarchs and Russian entities, this benefits Putin and has obvious implications. It is shameful that the Senate abandoned its duties," Shugerman added. Major questions had also been raised about who would benefit from the corporate restructuring. Two of the companies taking over Deripaska's shares would be the Swiss commodities firm Glencore, which has done business with Deripaska for years and owns a small stake in the Russian oil company Rosneft, and the Russian bank VTB, which has been nicknamed Putin's piggy bank. Meanwhile, Jean-Pierre Thomas, once an adviser to former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, will be named the new chairman of Rusal because the deal struck with Mnuchin's Treasury requires the company's former Kremlin-linked chairman to step down. Thomas often appears on Russian State TV where he vocally supports Moscow's foreign policy positions, and he has publicly defended Russia's role in the war in Ukraine. Bill Browder, a British-American businessman whose company Hermitage Capital Management was seized by the Russian state, argues that Thursday's vote is a sign that "the American people don't want to give Putin any gifts." "There is no good reason for the U.S. government to lift sanctions on one of the most compromised Russian oligarchs around. Deripaska has been Putin's main man in the private sector and the U.S. should hold his feet to the fire without showing any mercy," Browder told Newsweek. The rationale behind lifting sanctions is allegedly to ensure that only sanctioned individuals like Deripaska, and not the shareholders and employees of their companies, are punished by sanctions. The sanctions also caused global aluminum prices to rise. Brian O'Toole, an expert in economic sanctions at the Washington D.C.-based Atlantic Council, says that Thursday's House vote could make the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) more cautious when it decides whom to sanction in the future. "The fact that it has been this close to overturning a highly technocratic, administrative action will make OFAC less willing to go after Russian targets with significant economic holdings because they can't be sure they'll be able to mitigate the spillover effects via divestment deals or licensing," O'Toole told Newsweek. "This will make OFAC gun shy because they can't count on Congress to let it do its administrative duties." Deripaska is the same oligarch to whom former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort was deeply indebted.<doc-sep>U.S. slaps more sanctions on Russia U.S. slaps more sanctions on Russia U.S. slaps more sanctions on Russia Washington — In a rare split with the Trump administration, nearly a dozen Republican senators joined their Democratic colleagues to vote in favor of allowing debate on a resolution that would prohibit the Treasury Department from lifting sanctions against companies with ties to Russian tycoon and Kremlin ally Oleg Deripaska. During a Tuesday evening session squeezed in between the confirmation hearing for William Barr, President Trump's Attorney General nominee, eleven GOP senators voted alongside all Democrats present to proceed with the resolution, which was introduced by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York. The Republicans who voted with Democrats were John Boozman and Tom Cotton of Arkansas; Susan Collins of Maine; Cory Gardner of Colorado; Steve Daines of Montana; Josh Hawley of Missouri; John Kennedy of Louisiana; Martha McSally of Arizona; Marco Rubio of Florida; Jerry Moran of Kansas; and Ben Sasse of Nebraska. The bipartisan approval came after a motion to table the resolution failed. Schumer introduced the resolution after Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin unveiled a measure in December to lift penalties against three firms connected to Deripaska, an aluminum magnate. On Monday, Schumer called Mnuchin's decision "deeply flawed and wrong" and said it enabled Deripaska, whom the New York Democrat labeled an "agent of Russian President Vladimir Putin's interests abroad." European governments and American manufacturers have urged the Senate not to reimpose the sanctions, which have reportedly caused the price of aluminum to rise. Mnuchin had lobbied GOP senators to vote against Schumer's resolution. John Nolen contributed to this report.<doc-sep>Thursday’s House vote, in which nearly 70 percent of House Republicans sided with Democrats and against the Trump administration, represented an even more dramatic display of Republican opposition to the move, signaling concerns within President Trump’s own party about his administration’s handling of a key aspect of its Russia policy. The congressional showdown over Russia sanctions comes at a time when Mr. Trump’s allies have increasingly struggled to address questions about the investigation by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, into Russian interference in the 2016 election on behalf of Mr. Trump, and whether Mr. Trump’s team coordinated with the effort. Democrats had urged the administration to delay its decision on the fate of the sanctions until the conclusion of Mr. Mueller’s investigation. They noted that Mr. Deripaska had emerged as a bit character in the story lines around the investigation as a result of his relationship with Paul Manafort, Mr. Trump’s former campaign chairman. Mr. Manafort has been convicted of and pleaded guilty to charges brought by Mr. Mueller’s team. Last April the Treasury Department announced sanctions on Mr. Deripaska, his companies and those of other Russian oligarchs in retaliation for the Russian meddling, casting the penalties as evidence that the administration was taking a tough stance against Moscow. While the sanctions went into effect against Mr. Deripaska personally, the sanctions against three of his companies were repeatedly delayed amid an aggressive lobbying and legal campaign by his companies and their allies. They argued that the corporate sanctions would have unintended economic ripple effects that would damage companies in the United States, Europe, Jamaica, Guinea and elsewhere by disrupting the supply of aluminum.<doc-sep>

The move prompted howls of protest from Democrats and some Russia hawks, who accused the administration of going soft on Russia in the midst of the special counsel’s investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia’s election meddling. Mr. Deripaska has emerged as a bit character in the story lines around the investigation as a result of his payments to Paul Manafort, Mr. Trump’s former campaign chairman, who has been convicted and pleaded guilty to charges brought by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III. Democrats urged the Treasury Department to postpone the final decision on sanctions relief for Mr. Deripaska’s companies until after Mr. Mueller’s investigation concludes. And the party’s congressional leaders began pushing resolutions in the Senate and the House this week to override the sanctions relief. The resolutions were introduced under a provision in a 2017 law that allows Congress to override certain sanctions-related decisions by the Treasury Department. Under the provision, both the House and the Senate would need to pass resolutions by a Thursday deadline to block the administration’s move to lift the sanctions. Failing congressional action, the sanctions would automatically be lifted. The Democrats’ efforts at first seemed to stand little chance, given efforts to stifle them by the administration and the Republicans who control the Senate. Mr. Mnuchin visited Republican senators on Tuesday before the vote to implore them to support the sanctions relief. The appearance followed a briefing to the House last week in which he argued that the deal his agency negotiated with Mr. Deripaska’s companies would punish the oligarch by separating him from the companies, without having economic ripple effects. The briefing left Democratic leaders unconvinced. And Tuesday’s Senate vote indicated that Mr. Mnuchin’s assurances did not assuage doubts among the party’s Russia skeptics that the deal with Mr. Deripaska’s companies sufficiently decreased his control. “I don’t like the way it’s structured,” said Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, who voted with Democrats and has been among the party’s leading critics of Russia.

PHOENIX — The late Sen. John McCain's wife, Cindy, walked up to the flag-draped casket holding her husband's body Wednesday at the Arizona Capitol and patted it, then leaned over and kissed it. The rest of his children then filed past the casket and touched it, including his sons in uniform and daughter Meghan McCain, who was weeping. The private service at the Arizona Capitol marked the first appearance of McCain's family members since the senator died Saturday of brain cancer. During the service, Gov. Doug Ducey remembered McCain as a senator and internationally known figure as well as a major figure in the history of Arizona. While Barry Goldwater was an Arizona native, McCain was "Arizona's favorite adopted son," the governor said on would have been the 82nd birthday of McCain, who was born in the Panama Canal zone while his father served in the military. "Imagining an Arizona without John McCain is like picturing Arizona without the Grand Canyon," Ducey said.<doc-sep>The family of late Arizona Sen. John McCain tearfully paid their respects at a memorial service honoring him Wednesday at the Arizona Capitol. McCain’s widow, Cindy McCain, was the first to say goodbye as he laid in state, touching his flag-draped casket and gently resting her head on it and kissing it before walking away. Meghan McCain, the late Senator’s daughter who publicly and fervently defended her father, followed. She wept as she walked up to the casket and touched it with her with right hand, leaning on it for support as she walked away audibly sobbing. Meghan McCain, daughter of Sen. John McCain, touches the casket during a memorial service at the Arizona Capitol on August 29, 2018, in Phoenix, Arizona. John McCain will lie in state at the Arizona State Capitol before being transported to Washington D.C. where he will be buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis. Sen. McCain, a decorated war hero, died August 25 at the age of 81 after a long battle with Glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. When he passed away on Saturday, Meghan shared an emotional farewell statement to her father on Twitter, writing “All that I am is thanks to him. Now that he is gone, the task of my lifetime is to live up to his example, his expectations, and his love.” McCain has six other children, who are generally less visible in the public eye than Meghan – a host on ABC’s The View. McCain adopted his first wife Carol’s sons from a previous marriage, Doug, 58, and Andy, 56, before having one child with Carol – his oldest daughter Sidney, 51. He went on to have three children with his second wife Cindy — Meghan, 33, Jack, 32, and Jimmy, 30. The couple also later adopted their daughter Bridget, 27, from Bangladesh. All seven of his children sat together after publicly mourning their father at the Capitol Wednesday. The Arizona Capitol viewing was also open to the public Wednesday afternoon for those who want to pay their respects. The full schedule of memorial events honoring McCain can be found on his website. (L-R front) Cindy McCain, wife of US Senator John McCain, with her sons Jack, Jimmy, and daughter' Meghan and Bridget (R rear), attend the memorial service for Snator McCain at the Arizona Capitol on August 29, 2018, in Phoenix. The late Senator served in Congress for more than three decades and was widely admired for his patriotism and military service in the Vietnam War. He died Saturday after succumbing to an aggressive form of brain cancer. Wednesday would have been his 82nd birthday. McCain planned his own funeral, and asked former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama to eulogize him. He requested that President Donald Trump not attend his funeral. McCain’s body will be flown to Washington D.C. later this week and buried at his final resting place in the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis.<doc-sep>

In a moving moment that underscored just how great the loss of John McCain has been to his family, the late senator's wife, Cindy, leaned over his casket and kissed it during a memorial service Wednesday at the Arizona State Capitol. After the tender personal moment, John McCain's children filed past the casket to touch it as it laid in state in the building's rotunda — a rare honor. Cameras showed daughter Meghan McCain breaking down in tears as she stood by the coffin. Meghan McCain cries at the casket of her father during the memorial service. Jae C. Hong / AP John McCain died Saturday of brain cancer at the age of 81. He leaves behind a legacy as a naval aviator who survived a five-year span as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and returned to become a longtime Republican congressman and senator from Arizona and a two-time contender for the presidency. On Wednesday, signs of that military legacy were evident at the service. Uniformed Arizona National Guard members carried the casket into the rotunda. Before the service, veterans and active military members lined up outside to salute the hearse as it made its solemn journey to the Capitol. Cindy McCain embraces the flag-draped casket of her husband, the late John McCain. pic.twitter.com/wDClGrQyCN — NBC News (@NBCNews) August 29, 2018 McCain is the third person to lie in state at the Capitol rotunda in the past four decades, according to the Associated Press. The others were Olympian Jesse Owens (1980) and Arizona state Sen. Marilyn Jarrett (2006). Following a memorial service at North Phoenix Baptist Church on Thursday, McCain's body will be flown to Washington for a viewing Friday at the U.S. Capitol. Former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama will deliver eulogies during a private memorial service at Washington National Cathedral on Saturday, and McCain will be buried at the U.S. Naval Academy the next day.

Let’s do this! Tip-off: 7:30 pm Watch: NBC Sports Northwest | TNT I don’t post the rules nightly anymore, but just a reminder. Please be cool to each other here. Don’t cross the line when disparaging the people participating in the game (Players, coaches, refs, announcers, etc). And please no pictures.<doc-sep>Tuesday April 23, 2019 - 7:30 p.m. PT Blazers injuries: Jusuf Nurkic (out) Thunder injuries: Hamidou Diallo (out), Andre Roberson (out) How to watch on TV: NBCSNW, TNT How to stream: YouTube Live TV, Playstation Vue, Hulu Live TV, FuboTV Radio: 620 AM SBN Affiliate: Welcome to Loud City The Portland Trail Blazers were able to split the two games in Oklahoma City and are looking to close out the series at home on Tuesday. CJ McCollum (27 points) and Damian Lillard (24 points) led the way offensively in Portland’s 111-98 victory Sunday night. They were helped by Al-Farouq Aminu and Maurice Harkless who chipped in some scoring of their own (19 and 15 points, respectively) to complement their consistently solid defense. The Thunder are facing a first round elimination for the third year in a row. They did manage to win Game 5 of last year’s series with the Utah Jazz when they were facing a 3-1 series deficit. However, that game was in Oklahoma City. The Thunder have not won a playoff road game since Kevin Durant led them to a Game 2 victory over the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 Western Conference Finals. Key adjustments to watch for Keep the energy up. It can be tempting to get complacent with a 3-1 lead. The Blazers need to avoid doing so and play with the same energy and effort that has gotten them to this point. So far in the series, Portland has more rebounds, more steals, and more blocks than the Thunder. The effort of Portland’s defense has been a contributing factor to Oklahoma City’s poor shooting percentage in the series. Keeping that effort up for another 48 minutes will be key. It can be tempting to get complacent with a 3-1 lead. The Blazers need to avoid doing so and play with the same energy and effort that has gotten them to this point. So far in the series, Portland has more rebounds, more steals, and more blocks than the Thunder. The effort of Portland’s defense has been a contributing factor to Oklahoma City’s poor shooting percentage in the series. Keeping that effort up for another 48 minutes will be key. Get some contribution off the bench. If there is one area where Portland can improve in this series it would be the play of their bench. Portland’s bench has scored only 20.5 points per game in the series—the worst mark among playoff teams. The Blazer bench is also committing 5.7 turnovers per game. Zach Collins put in a good effort on Sunday, finishing with 10 points (becoming the first bench player to score in double figures for Portland in the series). Seth Curry hit a few shots in Games 1 and 2, but only scored 8 and 9 points, respectively. Rodney Hood leads the team in minutes off the bench. He has played well defensively but has only scored 16 points in 87 minutes. Getting some offensive production off the bench would go a long way in easing the burden carried by Lillard and McCollum. If there is one area where Portland can improve in this series it would be the play of their bench. Portland’s bench has scored only 20.5 points per game in the series—the worst mark among playoff teams. The Blazer bench is also committing 5.7 turnovers per game. Zach Collins put in a good effort on Sunday, finishing with 10 points (becoming the first bench player to score in double figures for Portland in the series). Seth Curry hit a few shots in Games 1 and 2, but only scored 8 and 9 points, respectively. Rodney Hood leads the team in minutes off the bench. He has played well defensively but has only scored 16 points in 87 minutes. Getting some offensive production off the bench would go a long way in easing the burden carried by Lillard and McCollum. Continue to defend the paint. One key for Portland has been keeping Oklahoma City from scoring inside. Russell Westbrook is capable of wrecking havoc inside with his athleticism. In the Thunder’s Game 3 win, he scored several times at the rim. In Game 4, the Blazers forced him (or baited him) into settling for jumpers. Paul George did not have particularly efficient games in Oklahoma City (shooting a combined 11-for-37 from the field for 29.7 percent), but the Thunder’s other star did a good job of driving and and getting to the line. After shooting 10 free throws combined in Games 1 and 2, George shot 17 and 14 in Games 3 and 4. The Blazers need to continue their aggressive defense while cutting back on the fouls What they’re saying Royce Young of ESPN examined Portland’s focused response to the trash talking of Game 3: Once again, Lillard and McCollum outplayed the Thunder’s two stars, with Paul George finishing with 32 points on 8-of-21 shooting, while Russell Westbrook had only 14 points on 5-of-21 shooting. Westbrook started hot, hitting a couple of 3-pointers early, and a pull-up jumper over Lillard in the first quarter. After he hit it, Westbrook stuck out his tongue and shot a look at the Portland bench. He was more restrained as well, but that might have had more to do with the fact he didn’t have many more opportunities to talk. J.A. Sherman of Welcome to Loud City discussed Portland’s run to end the first half of Game 4: The end of the first half was a microcosm of everything that has made this year’s Thunder both tantalizing yet so disappointing. The teeth of their defense had sunk into the Blazers, and with 2:31 remaining after a Westbrook three, the Thunder were sitting on a 7 point lead, similar to game 3. But despite holding Portland to only 13 points on 5-19 shooting in the quarter, and with the Thunder themselves outshooting them and hitting 4-7 from three, OKC’s focus fell off a cliff. They turned the ball over twice and Westbrook missed three consecutive contested shots with nary a pass mixed in, and a struggling Blazers squad rolled off 11 unanswered points to take a 4 point lead into the half. It was an astonishingly inept — and yet familiar — ending to a half where OKC, despite shooting reasonably well, could not string together any sort of competent offense that looked something other than street pick-up ball. Rohan Nadkarni of SI.com’s The Crossover wrote that Damian Lillard is highlighting Russell Westbrook’s flaws:<doc-sep>Oklahoma City forward Paul George says he doesn’t think the Thunder’s season will end after they face the Blazers tonight in Game 5 of their playoff series. Down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, the Thunder’s season will come to an abrupt end if they lose. “This team doesn’t have no quit in it. We’re built for this," George said following the Thunder’s shootaround Tuesday morning. "If there is a team that is down 3-1 and can come back from it, I think we’re the team to do it.” The Thunder biggest problem is their inability to consistently make shots. The Thunder have made just 39 percent of their shots overall and a paltry 25 percent of their 3-point shots in their three losses. Star guard Russell Westbrook is slogging through a major shooting slump. “Offensively, we just haven’t shot the ball as well as we wanted to,” George said. “Frustrating to a sense of I know what we’re capable of and I know what we can do.” Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan said the top priority for his team is taking better care of the basketball. The Thunder are averaging 15 turnovers a game during the series. “It starts with the turnovers," Donovan said after the Thunder’s shootaround Tuesday morning. "We’ve got to take care of the basketball.” George said the Thunder, knowing they could be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the third consecutive season, will step on the court with a different mind set tonight. “You look at our lineup one through five, our bench, we’ve got guys that are going to keep fighting,” George said. “We should definitely be a different team. Have a different mentality coming into tonight.” -- Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold<doc-sep>

The Portland Trail Blazers host the Oklahoma City Thunder Tuesday night at the Moda Center in Game 5 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. The Blazers, who own a 3-1 edge in the best-of-seven series, can advance to the Western Conference Semifinals with a win. Here are the details: What: Blazers vs. Thunder, 7:30 p.m. TV channel: TNT and NBC Sports Northwest (Comcast/Xfinity channel 37, or 737 for HD) Listen: Radio on KPOJ 620 AM in the Portland area. THE SKINNY The Blazers defeated the Thunder 111-98 Sunday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. CJ McCollum scored 27 points, Damian Lillard added 24 points and eight assists and Al-Farouq Aminu had his best game of the series, recording 19 points, nine rebounds and four three-pointers. ... The Blazers have held the Thunder to fewer than 100 points in three of the four games of the series — winning all three. ... Lillard entered Monday’s play averaging 28.8 points per game in the playoffs, tied with Golden State All-Star Kevin Durant for the most in the postseason. ... Moe Harkless, who finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two steals in Game 4, is averaging 2.00 blocks per game in the playoffs, tied for fourth. ... The Trail Blazers are 20-17 all-time in potential closeout games. ... In NBA history, teams that lead a series 3-1 and play Game 5 at home are 162-3. ... Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook scored just one point and missed all seven of his field goal attempts in the second half of Game 4. He finished 5 of 21 from the field, including 2 of 7 from three-point range. Westbrook is shooting just 30.4 percent in the series. ... Lillard has scored 40 points in the third quarters of the last two games. He ranked second in the NBA in third-quarter scoring during the regular season, averaging 9.5 points. ... The Blazers went 32-9 at home during the regular season and are 2-0 at the Moda Center so far in the playoffs. INJURIES For the Blazers, Jusuf Nurkic (left leg) is out. For the Thunder, Andre Roberson (left knee) and Hamidou Diallo (right elbow) are out. GAME 4 REWIND •Rapid Reaction: Blazers beat Thunder •Blazers ‘shut … up’ Thunder, take commanding 3-1 lead •Canzano: Dame Time right on time in Blazers win over Thunder GAME 3 REWIND •Rapid Reaction: Blazers beat Thunder •Taunting, trash-talking and sideshow antics take center stage in Game 3 •Canzano: Taunting Thunder trying to knock Blazers off Lillard’s back •Blazers not concerned about Thunder’s antics, will ‘use it as fuel for Game 4’ •Canzano: Lillard vs. Westbrook battle is just getting started GAME 2 REWIND •Blazers silence Westbrook, take 2-0 lead over Thunder in NBA playoffs •Canzano: Lillard and McCollum just shot the Thunder back to OKC •Blazers say ‘Everybody came in and gave us something’ in Game 2 •Thunder’s continuing shooting woes lead to another loss GAME 1 REWIND •Kanter, Blazers exorcise playoff demons in Game 1 win over Thunder •Canzano: Blazers hang questions and Game 1 loss on Thunder •Thunder encouraged despite loss to Blazers in Game 1 of NBA playoffs •A photo gallery of the biggest moments of Game 1 Joe Freeman | jfreeman@oregonian.com | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman | Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox

It’s become a bit of an English renaissance in Europe this season, with all four of last year’s top four still alive in the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in a decade, while both Chelsea and Arsenal are still going strong in the Europa League as well. Arsenal do have to overcome a 3-1 away first leg defeat at Rennes, but that’s certainly doable. Chelsea meanwhile have the cushion of a 3-0 first leg win at Stamford Bridge to carry into today’s second leg in Kiev, though that doesn’t mean we’ll get to relax. Four teams from one country in the UCL quarters: 2019 England (Tottenham, Man United, Man City, Liverpool) 2009 England (Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea) 2008 England (Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea) — Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) March 13, 2019 Date / Time: Thursday, March 14, 2019, 17:55 GMT; 1:55pm EDT; 11:25pm IST Venue: NSC Olimpiyskiy, Kiev, Ukraine Referee: Tobias Stieler — FIFA-certified since 2014, the 37-year-old German official has been a regular in continental competitions for the last three years. This will be his first Chelsea game. Forecast: Cold with a slight chance of rain late on. On TV: BT Sport 3 (UK); UniMás (USA); SONY TEN 2 (India); elsewhere Streaming online: BT Sport Live (UK); B/R Live, Univision NOW (USA); SONY LIV (India) Dynamo Kiev team news: Head coach Aleksandr Khatskevich is aiming for a “miracle” and will look to start quickly and aggressively to try to grab the first goal of the match and put some doubt into Chelsea hearts and minds. Dynamo followed up their 3-0 loss to Chelsea last week with a 4-0 hammering of bottom-of-the-table Arsenal Kiev over the weekend, which will have restored some measure of belief. The home side will be without suspended midfielder Vitaliy Buyalskyi and still injured winger Benjamin Verbič. New signing Fran Sol, who had lit up the Eredivisie’s goalscoring charts before moving to Ukraine in January, will also miss the game after undergoing shoulder surgery yesterday. Chelsea team news: The Blues’ three-match winning streak ground to a halt on Sunday and we needed a last-gasp equalizer from Eden Hazard just to split the points with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Clearly, the team’s turnaround is quite complete yet, and probably won’t be for a while, but neither the top four nor the Europa League crown are gone yet, so focus and belief must be maintained. Chelsea do not have any significant injury issues, though Gonzalo Higuaín did stay home due to illness. The team’s leading European goalscorer, Olivier Giroud (6) was probably going to start either way. Ross Barkley is one booking away from a one-match suspension. Previously: 3-0 last week, but it could’ve been so much more!<doc-sep>Our tipster thinks that most of the drama could come in the second half when Maurizio Sarri's Blues travel to the Ukrainian capital on Thursday night Chelsea have one foot in the Europa League quarter-finals ahead of Thursday's tussle with Dynamo Kiev. The Blues cruised to a 3-0 victory in last week's first leg in west London and will therefore feel confident of completing the job in the Ukrainian capital. Latest odds SportPesa make the Blues their 6/5 (2.20) favourites to secure their place in the last eight of the competition with victory in Kiev. The hosts are a 5/2 (3.50) chance with the same firm to restore some pride with a home victory against the Blues. SportPesa go 11/5 (3.20) that Thursday's tie ends all square. Team news Pedro, Willian and Callum Hudson-Odoi were all on the scoresheet at Stamford Bridge last week and will be hopeful of a starting berth in Kiev. Eden Hazard and Gonzalo Higuain could well be afforded a breather, with the tie seemingly won. The case for goals Chelsea have kept just one clean sheet in their last 12 matches away from home and that defensive frailty could offer the most slender of hope to the hosts ahead of this tie. SportPesa go 20/23 (1.87) that there are goals at both ends in Kiev. The odds compilers offer 9/4 (3.25) Alyaksandr Khatskevich's men score more than one goal in the Ukrainian capital; the Blues have shipped no fewer than 14 goals in their last five away matches. There have been at least three goals scored in five of Chelsea's last seven matches away from home in this competition and SportPesa offer 11/10 (2.10) that there are more than two goals in this game. Classy Chelsea Sarri's side have won eight of their nine Europa League matches so far this season and the Blues will be keen to rubber-stamp their authority on this tie with a fast start on Thursday. SportPesa go 39/20 (2.95) that Chelsea lead at both half-time and full-time. That particular play would have landed in three of the Blues' last four wins in this competition. Prediction SportPesa, though, offer 20/21 (1.95) that most of the scoring comes in the second half, a selection that would have landed in each of Chelsea's last three matches in this competition. Furthermore, both goals in the Blues' 1-1 draw with Wolves at the weekend came in the second half. The 20/21 (1.95) quote, then, for most of the goals in Kiev to come after the break could offer outstanding value here. Second half to be highest scoring half at 20/21 (1.95) for a 2pt stake with SportPesa<doc-sep>Dynamo Kiev vs Chelsea: TV channel, live stream, squad news & preview The Blues are back in continental club action as they look to sweep through to the last eight, buoyed by a hefty first leg advantage With one foot into the quarter-finals of the Europa League, Chelsea will be hoping to seal the deal in a straightforward fashion when they travel to Ukraine to face Dynamo Kiev on Thursday. The Blues are unbeaten so far in their continental campaign this season and kept that record intact with a 3-0 victory over their hosts at Stamford Bridge in the first leg last week. Maurizio Sarri’s side did require a late equaliser from Eden Hazard however to take a point away from Wolves in the Premier League this weekend, suggesting perhaps that their pre-Carabao Cup final woes are not fully put to bed. Regardless, their trip to the Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex presents them with a great opportunity to confirm themselves as frontrunners for European glory – and with all other hopes of silverware over for the year, their manager will be keen to bolster his standing after a rocky few months. Game Dynamo Kiev vs Chelsea Date Thursday, March 14 Time 5:55pm GMT / 1:55pm ET Stream ( US only) fubo TV (7-day free trial) TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial). New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser. US TV channel Online stream UniMas fubo TV (7-day free trial) In the UK, the game will be broadcast on BT Sport 3 and will be available for streaming on the BT Sport Live app. UK TV channel Online stream BT Sport 3 BT Sport Live Squads & Team News Position Dynamo Kiev squad Goalkeepers Boyko, Bushchan, Rudko Defenders Kedziora, Burda, Shabanov, Mykolenko, Sidcley, Kadar Midfielders Shepelev, Sydorchuk, Tsygankov, Shaparenko, Buyalskyi, Alibekov, Tche, Andriievskyi, Bueno, Harmash Forwards Rusyn, Duelund, Supriaha Alyaksandr Khatskevich is still unable to call upon star striker Fran Sol, who will be out for around a month and a half with a shoulder injury. Benjamin Verbic is however back after missing last week’s clash through suspension. Confirmed Dynamo Kiev starting XI: Boyko, Kedziora, Burda, Kadar, Mykolenko, Sydorchuk, Shepeliev, Tsygankov, Shaparenko, Sidcley, Garmash. Bench: Bushchan, Tche Tche, Andriyevskiy, Bueno, Shabanov, Smirniy, Alibekov. Position Chelsea squad Goalkeepers Arrizabalaga, Caballero Defenders Azpilicueta, Zappacosta, Rudiger, Luiz, Christensen, Cahill, Ampadu, Emerson, Alonso Midfielders Jorginho, Kante, Barkley, Loftus-Cheek, Kovacic, Drinkwater Forwards Willian, Pedro, Hazard, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Higuain Maurizio Sarri has no fresh injury concerns, and having rotated his squad for the draw against Wolves, may opt for a similar line-up as he did against Dynamo last week . Callum Hudson-Odoi gets his first start in a month, while Eden Hazard has been rested with the international break looming. Confirmed Chelsea starting XI: Kepa, Zappacosta, Rudiger, Christensen, Alonso, Kante, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Hudson-Odoi, Giroud, Willian. Bench: Caballero, Jorginho, Barkley, Hazard, Pedro, Azpilicueta, David Luiz. Betting & Match Odds Chelsea are the slight favourites to prevail and are priced at 6/5 with bet365 . Dynamo Kiev are meanwhile available at 13/5 while a draw is 12/5. Click here to see more offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more. Match Preview Having given themselves what very well may be an insurmountable advantage with their first leg victory, Chelsea head to Ukraine to face Dynamo Kiev for a Europa League quarter-final spot on Thursday. The Blues swept aside their visitors at Stamford Bridge in the reverse last week, delivering an emphatic 3-0 win to keep their spotless record on the continent this season intact. It provided yet another boost for Maurizio Sarri following a difficult new year that has seen a resurgence over the past few weeks. With their hopes of domestic silverware over – and their chances of qualifying for the Champions League reliant on a downturn in form for both Arsenal and Manchester United – the club know that their best passage to the premier European competition may very well be to lift this trophy instead. However, a slight blip at the weekend, when Eden Hazard’s late strike was required to rescue a point against a tenacious Wolves , proved that ‘Sarriball’ was still having some teething troubles in its application. Ahead of that encounter, Sarri went so far as to offer the idea las that his blowout with Kepa during the Carabao Cup final has served as a positive impetus for the team going forward . "In the end, the Kepa situation was a good thing for our group, too," he stated. "In the last five matches, we won four matches and drew against Manchester City. In five matches, we conceded only one goal. So we are improving in consistency. "But we have to be careful. We had a long period of good results in the past and then, suddenly, two weeks of disaster. So we have to be careful." Sarri also added that he felt his side could do more to support Jorginho , who has been a favoured player for the Italian since his arrival, but is widely seen as a weak link by pundits elsewhere. Article continues below “Jorginho, if the other players do not move without the ball, is in trouble, because he is really very able to play with one touch," he added. “Of course if you want to play with one touch you need movements with the other players. “I know him very well. He can go in trouble if all the rest of the team is not moving.<doc-sep>2 Find out how all of the action unfolded in Kiev courtesy of Sports Mole 's minute-by-minute updates below. Giroud went on to complete his hat-trick before the hour mark, with Marcos Alonso and Callum Hudson-Odoi also getting on the scoresheet. Maurizio Sarri 's side already held a 3-0 advantage from the first leg, and an early goal from Olivier Giroud set the tone for the reverse fixture in Ukraine. Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Hello and welcome to's live coverage of the match in the Europa League between Dynamo Kiev and Chelsea . The Blues have made the trip to Ukraine holding a 3-0 advantage from the first leg, leaving Kiev with a mammoth task to remain in this competition. The two teams are making their way out onto the pitch, so let's see who features in each starting lineup... DYNAMO KIEV XI: Boyko; Kedziora, Burda, Kadar, Mykolenko; Sydorchuk, Shepelev; Tsygankov, Shaparenko, Boyko; Kedziora, Burda, Kadar, Mykolenko; Sydorchuk, Shepelev; Tsygankov, Shaparenko, Sidcley ; Harmash CHELSEA XI: Arrizabalaga; Zappacosta, Rudiger, Christensen, Alonso; Kante, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek; Willian, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi KICKOFF: We are underway in Kiev! Chelsea had most of the ball during the opening two minutes, but Kiev won a free kick at the other end which needed to be cleared at the near post by Zappacosta. GOAL! Dynamo Kiev 0-1 Chelsea (Olivier Giroud) © Reuters GOAL! Well that should be tie over! An outswinging corner from Well that should be tie over! An outswinging corner from Willian is flicked on by Loftus-Cheek, and Giroud is there to produce a confident finish on the half-volley from close range. Dynamo need five goals... I don't expect this game to be played at a high tempo. Chelsea - if they choose to - can afford to stroll through the remainder of the contest with Sunday's Premier League encounter at Everton in mind. Chelsea are doing just that at the moment with the ball being retained in their defensive and middle third. That will be a regular occurrence in this game. CHANCE! Chelsea almost double their advantage. Alonso picks out the run of Loftus-Cheek inside the area, but the midfielder's low left-footed effort is tipped wide by Boyko. CHANCE! Willian's set piece from the right finds Giroud, but the Frenchman's header towards the top corner is claimed by Boyko. Kiev have literally had about 10% of possession during the opening 14 minutes. Chelsea are being allowed to do as they please. Hudson-Odoi is yet to have much joy down the right. The youngster is sometimes being too predictable when taking on his marker. Chelsea are seeing so much of the ball. Dynamo are just chasing shadows. This has all the makings of a very one-sided game. Most of Chelsea's attacks are coming down the left. Alonso is almost playing as a wing-back. The Spaniard is yet to deliver an accurate cross, however. DISALLOWED GOAL! Dynamo break and Harmash produces a confident finish into the far corner after latching onto a through-ball. The problem? The forward was at least a yard offside. Hudson-Odoi concedes a free kick on the edge of the area, and Tsygankov takes the opportunity to try his luck from distance. However, the winger's strike goes straight into the wall. Dynamo have improved over the past few minutes, but Chelsea are not alarmed. They probably don't mind a bit of time off the ball. Chelsea burst into life with Kante threading a pass through to Giroud. The forward bides his time before attempting to find his compatriot with a return pass, but Dynamo are able to clear. Dynamo have pushed Chelsea back over the last two minutes, but the visitors remain on the ball and are prepared to stay patient. Giroud has picked up a knock to his foot. I think that he will be fine to continue, but he looks in a bit of discomfort. GOAL! Dynamo Kiev 0-2 Chelsea (Olivier Giroud) GOAL! This will make him feel better. Alonso receives the ball on the left and delivers a low cross into the path of Giroud, who finds the net from eight yards out with another first-time finish. Giroud now has eight goals in this competition. He's had less starts in the Premier League! Makes you wonder why... Dynamo are really starting to look discouraged. Chelsea are toying with them, and not having to extend themselves in doing so. Giroud and Hudson-Odoi link up on the edge of the penalty area, and a defender needs to put out a leg to prevent a volley from the latter from heading towards the bottom corner. Chelsea look a threat from every set piece that they win around the penalty area. Dynamo cannot handle the quality of the delivery or the runs being made by players for the visitors. Sarri must be considering whether to make any alterations at the break. There is little point in any of Sunday's starters completing this contest. There will be one minute of added-on time. GOAL! Dynamo Kiev 0-3 Chelsea (Marcos Alonso) GOAL! Chelsea find a third just before the break. Hudson-Odoi plays a one-two with Giroud, and the youngster's cross picks out Alonso who converts from close range. It's a fine team goal. HALF TIME: Dynamo Kiev 0-3 Chelsea The half-time whistle goes in Kiev and Chelsea are coasting through to the Europa League quarter-finals. Two goals from Giroud and a third from Alonso have left Dynamo needing at least seven goals. It won't happen. Here's a look at who features on each bench. Both managers are certain to use their allotted three substitutions. DYNAMO KIEV: Bushchan, Tche, Andrievsky, Bueno, Shabanov, Smyrnyi, Alibekov CHELSEA: Caballero, Jorginho, Barkley, Hazard, Pedro, Azpilicueta, Luiz The two teams have made their way back out. No changes for either side at the moment. KICKOFF: Dynamo have got us back underway. Loftus-Cheek looks unstoppable when he bursts forward from midfield, and that's exactly what the midfielder does here. However, the Englishman hangs onto the ball for too long, and the opening is lost. SHOT! It has taken 140 minutes but Dynamo finally get a shot on target in this tie.<doc-sep>

GLYN KIRK/Getty Images Chelsea are in a strong position to qualify for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, as they head to Dynamo Kiev for the second leg of their last-16 showdown with a 3-0 lead secured. In the clash at Stamford Bridge, the Blues were totally dominant with goals from Pedro, Willian and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Manager Maurizio Sarri now has a decision to make on how much he rotates his side for the second leg. Kiev are now huge outsiders to progress, and an away goal for Chelsea would effectively end the tie. Still, the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium can be an intimidating venue for opposition players and the Premier League side will be wary of letting Dynamo build up any momentum in the game. Odds Result Videos you might like Dynamo Kiev win (49/18) Draw (12/5) Chelsea win (13/5) To Qualify Dynamo Kiev (33/1) Chelsea (1/200) Odds courtesy of OddsChecker. Date: Thursday, March 14 Time: 5:55 p.m. (GMT), 1:55 p.m. (ET) TV Info: BT Sport 2 (UK) Live Stream: BT Sport website (UK), BR Live (U.S.) Preview Given how difficult a trip to Kiev can be, Sarri would have been delighted with the manner in which his players approached the first leg of this contest and almost certainly secured progression. On the ball their passing was incisive and inventive, while off it the pressing of players like Willian and Pedro unsettled the Ukrainian outfit, allowing Chelsea to win the ball back consistently in dangerous areas. Here is the third goal of what turned into a routine victory for the Blues (U.S. only): The second goal scored by the Blues was a stunning free-kick from Willian. The strike was almost a carbon copy of a goal netted against the same opposition four years ago (UK only): While Sarri will take a strong squad with him to Kiev, supporters will be hopeful he uses this fixture as a chance to give some younger players time on the field. In the previous clash, Chelsea's third goal was a product of a fine finish from Hudson-Odoi, after he had been played in by another academy graduate in Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The Europa League has given both a chance to shine, and they've each been productive when given chances: In the case of Hudson-Odoi, who was strongly linked with a move to Bayern Munich in January, Liam Twomey of ESPN said Sarri is in a difficult situation: Kiev have to fly out of the traps in search of an early goal if they're to stand any chance of mounting a recovery. Manager Alyaksandr Khatskevich will want to see more from his attacking players too, with the likes of Viktor Tsygankov and Benjamin Verbic unable to get in the game at the Bridge. The hostile crowd and attacking approach should see a more spirited display from the Ukrainians, but it's hard to see them preventing Chelsea from netting a decisive away goal. Prediction: Dynamo Kiev 1-1 Chelsea

(CNN) — The Supreme Court has upheld President Donald Trump’s travel ban. The ruling was 5-4 along partisan lines, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing for the conservative majority. The ruling sends a strong message that Trump has broad powers under immigration law to act to protect national security and that statements made during a campaign may not be legally determinative of the President’s intent. “The Proclamation is squarely within the scope of Presidential authority,” Roberts wrote. Trump immediately reacted on Twitter: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS TRUMP TRAVEL BAN. Wow! The President then called the ruling “a tremendous victory for the American People and the Constitution” and said he felt vindicated. “This ruling is also a moment of profound vindication following months of hysterical commentary from the media and Democratic politicians who refuse to do what it takes to secure our border and our country,” Trump said. This is the third version of the travel ban. It was issued in September – after previous bans had ricocheted through the courts – and restricts entry from seven countries to varying degrees: Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Venezuela. Chad was originally on the list but it was recently removed after having met baseline security requirements. Challengers, including the state of Hawaii, argued that the travel ban exceeded the President’s authority under immigration law as well as the Constitution. They also used Trump’s statements during the campaign, when he called for a ban on travel from all Muslim-majority countries, but Roberts dismissed those concerns. “Plaintiffs argue that this President’s words strike at fundamental standards of respect and tolerance, in violation of our constitutional tradition,” Roberts wrote. “But the issue before us is not whether to denounce the statements. It is instead the significance of those statements in reviewing a Presidential directive, neutral on its face, addressing a matter within the core of executive responsibility. In doing so, we must consider not only the statements of a particular President, but also the authority of the Presidency itself.” Stephen Vladeck, CNN’s Supreme Court analyst and a law professor at the University of Texas School of Law, called the ruling a “big win” for the White House. “The Supreme Court has reaffirmed the President’s sweeping statutory authority when it comes to deciding who may and who may not travel to the United States, authority that both President Trump and future presidents will surely rely upon to justify more aggressive immigration restrictions,” Vladeck said. However, Vladeck noted that this was the third version of the travel ban and the administration made significant changes in response to lower-court rulings invalidating the first two iterations, including one issued one week after Trump became president in January 2017. The Supreme Court will wrap up its term Wednesday. Sotomayor dissent and Korematsu Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a blistering dissent, said the court was wrong to ignore Trump’s various comments. “The majority here completely sets aside the President’s charged statements about Muslims as irrelevant,” she wrote. “That holding erodes the foundational principles of religious tolerance that the court elsewhere has so emphatically protected, and it tells members of minority religions in our country ‘that they are outsiders, not full members of the political community.’” She also compared the opinion to one that came down in 1944 in which the court blessed the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. Reacting to the dissent, Roberts took the unusual step to declare that the 1944 case, Korematsu v. United States, was no longer good law and was wrongly decided. It is the first time the Supreme Court has ever made this public determination. Liberal lawmakers, groups denounce ruling Minnesota Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, said Tuesday’s decision “give legitimacy to discrimination and Islamophobia.” Neal Katyal, one of the lead attorneys for Hawaii in the case said although he was “disappointed” in the court’s decision, he argued that the process gives him hope and called on Congress to reverse the President’s travel ban. “While we continue to believe that this third version fails that test, there is no question that by striking down the first two travel bans, the judiciary forced a recalcitrant administration to at least give its order the veil of constitutionality,” Katyal said in a statement Tuesday. “We continue to believe, as do four dissenting justices, that the travel ban is unconstitutional, unprecedented, unnecessary and un-American.” The American Civil Liberties Union also strongly condemned the court’s ruling, writing on Twitter that “this is not the first time the Court has been wrong, or has allowed official racism and xenophobia to continue rather than standing up to it.” Omar Jadwat, director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, said in a statement that the court’s “ruling will go down in history as one of the Supreme Court’s great failures.” Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez said, “Discrimination is not a national security strategy, and prejudice is not patriotism. Let’s call this ban for what it is: an outright attack on the Muslim community that violates our nation’s commitment to liberty and justice for all.” Congressional Republicans applauded the court’s decision, arguing that it was a win for national security and dismissing the accusations that it is a ban on Muslims entering the United States. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said he was “pleased.” “As I stated when the new Executive Order was issued, it is not a religious ban,” Graham said on Twitter. “The order was focused on countries that are in true states of disarray and would have great difficulty vetting to ensure terrorists are not coming into the United States.” This story is breaking and will be updated.<doc-sep>WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, upheld President Donald Trump's restriction on travel to the United States from a handful of Muslim countries on Tuesday, giving the White House its first high court victory on the merits of a presidential initiative. 1. What changes after the decision? As a practical matter, nothing. Although a judge in Hawaii ordered the government last fall not to enforce the latest travel ban, the Supreme Court lifted that order in December, and the restrictions have been in place since then. The ruling Tuesday lifts that uncertainty and clears the way for continued enforcement. 2. What countries are covered? The heart of the travel ban puts restrictions on people who want to come to the U.S. from Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia and Yemen. It also bars most travel from North Korea, although few visas were issued to people from there anyway. And it limits travel to the U.S. by certain government officials from Venezuela but otherwise doesn't apply there. 3. Could the admin change the list? It already has. Since the original restriction was announced last September, the government removed Chad from the list, concluding that its system for evaluating visa applicants had improved enough to meet U.S. standards. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., at a "We Will Not Be Banned" protest sponsored by Muslim Advocates in front of the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Carolyn Kaster / AP Iraq was covered by earlier versions of the travel ban, but the administration removed it, citing its close cooperation in fighting ISIS. There's nothing in the Supreme Court ruling that would prevent the administration from adding a country to the list if it fell below the standards for cooperating with the U.S. in providing information about potential travelers. 4. Did Trump's tweets matter? The challengers to the travel ban said the president's statements about Muslims during the campaign and his repeated tweets on the subject show that the policy discriminated on the basis of religion. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing the dissent, said they show that the travel ban was motivated by animosity toward a disfavored group. But in his option for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said the court's job wasn't to decide whether to denounce those statements. The court concluded that because the president acted within the core of his responsibility, he clearly had the authority to impose the travel ban. The court said that the ban is "facially neutral toward religion," and that the Trump's statements don't change that fact. 5. What happens to the case now? Tuesday's Supreme Court ruling resolved one question, whether the Hawaii judge's order to block enforcement should go back into effect or be overturned, and the justices threw the order out. Under normal circumstances after such a decision, the case would go back to Hawaii for a trial on the underlying merits of the case. But that seems unlikely, because Tuesday's decision leaves the challengers almost no ground to stand on. Even so, the challengers say their lawsuits against the Trump administration forced the White House to narrow the travel ban.<doc-sep>Supreme Court allows Trump to fully enforce travel ban top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. The US Supreme Court today handed Donald Trump one of the biggest victories of his presidency. The court shockingly ruled the Trump travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries would be upheld. The court also rejected the idea the travel ban represented unconstitutional religious discrimination. In the 5-4 ruling, the court accepted the government’s argument that it was within the presidential power to “suspend entry of aliens into the United States”. Which countries are affected by the Trump travel ban? The travel ban targets mainly Muslim-majority countries, prompting mass criticism from opponents of the policy. The ban targets travellers from Syria, Iran, Libya, Yemen and Somalia, as well as limited sanctions against North Korea and Venezuela. The Supreme Court allowed the ban, which was announced last September, to go largely into effect in December while the legal challenge continued. The ruling affirmed broad presidential discretion over who is allowed to enter the United States. Trump travel ban: The travel ban targets mainly Muslim-majority countries The decision also means the current ban can remain in effect and that Trump could potentially add even more countries to his 'banned' list. Mr Trump has said the policy is needed to protect the country against attacks by Islamic militants. As he upheld the ban, chief justice John Robert’s ruled that the government "has set forth a sufficient national security justification." He added: "We express no view on the soundness of the policy." Trump travel ban: Protestors gathered outside the supreme court Mr Roberts included a speech on the importance of protection against religious discrimination. He said: “The President of the United States possesses an extraordinary power to speak to his fellow citizens and on their behalf. “Our Presidents have frequently used that power to espouse the principles of religious freedom and tolerance on which this Nation was founded. Mr Trump soon reacted on Twitter: "SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS TRUMP TRAVEL BAN. Wow!" Trump travel ban: The president tweeted shortly after the ruling Speaking in a press conference at the White House after the ruling, Mr Trump said the decision was "a tremendous success, a tremendous victory for the American people, and for our constitution." Mr Trump said: "We have to be tough, and we have to be safe and we have to be secure. "At a minimum, we have to make sure that we vet people coming into the country." However, a backlash has already begun on Twitter, with people asking how their families will visit them. Trump travel ban: Concerned Americans have taken to Twitter to ask how their families will visit Amnesty Internation has blasted the ruling, saying the policy "has no place" in the world today. The human rights organisation said in a statement: “This hateful policy is a catastrophe all around — not only for those who simply want to travel, work, or study here in the States, but for those seeking safety from violence as well. "While this decision doesn’t address the separate and equally harmful ban on refugees, it cruelly traps people in conflict-afflicted countries and prevents them from seeking safety in the U.S. or being reunited with family." Amnesty International has been of critical of Mr Trump's travel ban policy since it was first implemented. Trump travel ban: Protestors react outside supreme court after the verdict<doc-sep>Lower courts had struck down each of the three iterations of the president’s travel ban, the first of which was issued in January 2017. But the administration said it fortified the order in response to each judicial setback, and it had reason to be optimistic about the Supreme Court, since the justices previously decided to let the ban go into effect while considering the challenges to it.<doc-sep>

The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in favor of President Donald Trump's September order to restrict travel from several majority Muslim countries to the United States. In the 5-4 opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court found that Trump's travel restriction fell "squarely" within the president's authority. The court rejected claims that the ban was motivated by religious hostility. "The [order] is expressly premised on legitimate purposes: preventing entry of nationals who cannot be adequately vetted and inducing other nations to improve their practices," Roberts wrote. "The text says nothing about religion." The case, Trump v. Hawaii, has been central to the administration's travel policy, presenting a key test of the president's campaign promise to restrict immigration and secure America's borders. Trump, who issued the ban in September, hailed the ruling in the case. SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS TRUMP TRAVEL BAN. Wow! The travel restriction, the administration's third, affects people from Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. Chad was dropped from the list of affected countries in April. Previous versions of the ban were revised after facing challenges in court. "Though I am disappointed by the outcome, I am heartened that our system of government worked as the founders intended," Neal Katyal, attorney for the challengers, said in a statement. "Now that the Court has upheld it, it is up to Congress to do its job and reverse President Trump’s unilateral and unwise travel ban." After his tweet, the president said in a statement that the ruling was a "profound vindication" after "months of hysterical commentary from the media and Democratic politicians who refuse to do what it takes to secure our border and our country." "Our country will always be safe, secure, and protected on my watch," Trump said. The ruling broke down largely on partisan lines. Roberts and the four justices concurring with him — Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch — were appointed by Republican presidents. The dissenting justices — Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg — were appointed by Democrats. “The Supreme Court’s decision today was unsurprising," said Stephen Yale-Loehr, the co-author of a 21-volume book on U.S. immigration law. Yale-Loehr signed onto an amicus brief on behalf of Hawaii. "Because immigration touches on national sovereignty and foreign relations, courts have generally deferred to the president on immigration issues,” he said. Trump tweets not the issue, court says Hawaii alleged that the restriction was motivated by religious discrimination, noting that a majority of the countries included in the ban have primarily Muslim populations. The case began in November, when Trump's solicitor general asked the Supreme Court to stay a ruling from a federal judge in Hawaii who blocked the ban. In response to the administration's move, Hawaii argued that the travel ban would cause families of Hawaiian residents to be separated, harm the University of Hawaii and do damage to "the public as a whole inflicted by a radical departure from the status quo that had existed for decades." People protest the Muslim travel ban outside of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on June 26, 2018. MANDEL NGAN | AFP | Getty Images

Another week, another set of challenges for players to solve in Fortnite. Developer Epic Games has done a great job presenting unique puzzles for users to solve in-game and the Flaming Hoops are no exception. To complete this challenge, you will need to drive either an ATK or shopping cart through five different flaming hoops. This does not need to be completed in the same match, so take your time and focus on getting one hoop at a time. Below is a breakdown of every location for the flaming hoops in Fortnite. Keep in mind, Epic has a habit of adding more than the required amount of quest items to this game. This means as we discover more this post will be updated. If you discover a hoop that we haven’t listed, make sure to sound off in the comments below! South East Corner of A5: The first hoop you have to jump through is between Snobby Shores and the Viking Village. This ramp is near the front gate of the last house on a cliff. Sometimes an ATK spawns near this location. The first hoop you have to jump through is between Snobby Shores and the Viking Village. This ramp is near the front gate of the last house on a cliff. Sometimes an ATK spawns near this location. Middle of C5: North of Gresey Grove there is an indoor soccer field. Once you reach this location head north and you should run into the ramp. North of Gresey Grove there is an indoor soccer field. Once you reach this location head north and you should run into the ramp. Southern Part of C8: Just north of Flush Factory is a large mountain and a small town. Follow the road north and there will be a ramp to your right on the mountain. Just north of Flush Factory is a large mountain and a small town. Follow the road north and there will be a ramp to your right on the mountain. Middle of 9D: This ring of fire is directly in Flush Factory. It’s impossible to miss, so when you land look for the giant toilet and the hoop should be right above that. You will need to just build your own ramp up to it. This ring of fire is directly in Flush Factory. It’s impossible to miss, so when you land look for the giant toilet and the hoop should be right above that. You will need to just build your own ramp up to it. Northwest Corner of E3: To the left of Lazy Links in a large hole in the ground in the shape of an umbrella. At the southern portion of the hole will be a ramp you can take. Remember, a ton of carts spawn at Lazy, so this should be an easy one to grab. To the left of Lazy Links in a large hole in the ground in the shape of an umbrella. At the southern portion of the hole will be a ramp you can take. Remember, a ton of carts spawn at Lazy, so this should be an easy one to grab. South East Corner of E3: Just north of Loot Lake you’ll find a ramp over an ice cream truck. If you grab the one by the hole in the ground, this should be your next stop. Just north of Loot Lake you’ll find a ramp over an ice cream truck. If you grab the one by the hole in the ground, this should be your next stop. Middle of H7: At the edge of the desert, near the broken bridge you’ll find a ramp you can launch yourself off of. At the edge of the desert, near the broken bridge you’ll find a ramp you can launch yourself off of. Middle of HJ : To the right of Paradise Palms you will find a ramp that leads right off a cliff and into the water. There is a flaming hoop here, but remember the jump will kill you. : To the right of Paradise Palms you will find a ramp that leads right off a cliff and into the water. There is a flaming hoop here, but remember the jump will kill you. Northern Part of G4: This one is super easy to get and find. Drop at Tomato Town and go south through the tunnel to find the ring of fire. There are shopping carts in the town and on top of the tunnel. You can just build your ramp through this ring so don’t worry about constructing a ramshackle ramp. This one is super easy to get and find. Drop at Tomato Town and go south through the tunnel to find the ring of fire. There are shopping carts in the town and on top of the tunnel. You can just build your ramp through this ring so don’t worry about constructing a ramshackle ramp. South East Corner of I9: Another ramp can be found along the southern road to Paradise Palms. In between the purple dinosaur and the unnamed town is a ramp on the cliff next to the road. No shopping carts spawn here, but this location usually has a few ATKs. When completing this challenge, the biggest problem you will face is actually finding a vehicle to jump through the hoop. Don’t count on finding an ATK, so focus on just nabbing a shopping cart and using that. If you are having trouble launching yourself through the ring, consider constructing a downward ramp to gain some momentum. See Also<doc-sep>Cue your favorite Johnny Cash playlist because Week 4 of Fortnite: Battle Royale Season 5 is sending players careening through more than one “Ring of Fire.” (Actually, they’re called Flaming Hoops, but Rings of Fire is much cooler.) Week 4 kicked off on Thursday morning, and in addition to the usual Challenges, there’s on that has players “jump through Flaming Hoops with a shopping cart or ATK.” So literally, players will have to jump through hoops just to complete this Challenge. Like with many similar challenges of this kind, Fortnite offers more than enough Flaming Hoops around the entire map. Completing the challenge only requires five jumps through hoops, but there are 11 or more available to players. They’re easy to spot considering they’re all ablaze, and there are various ramps also marking the spots. Here’s a map with 11 locations, each marked with a red circle for easy viewing: Here are 11 flaming hoops that 'Fortnite' players can jump through in Season 5, Week 4. Epic Games The real trick will be tracking down and claiming a Golf Cart to use for these challenges. As such, pursuing this challenge with a full squad might be a good option so there are fewer players competing to do the same thing and some friends to increase your odds of survival. We also have a list of several key Golf Cart locations along with Shopping Cart locations. But as a general rule of thumb, just look for where you’d find these things IRL. Golf Carts will be in garages at ritzy places like Paradise Palms or Snobby Shores, and obviously, there are plenty near the race track to the east and the golf course Lazy Links to the north. Shopping Carts will usually be in parking lots and in or near grocery stores, but Golf Carts are a much better option for this challenge. Perhaps the best locations to pursue this Flaming Hoops Challenge would be Stunt Mountain south of Pleasant Park, but only after getting a Golf Cart from Snobby Shores and getting that hoop first. Then running a wide circle around Paradise Palms after getting a Golf Cart in a northern garage is a good route to take, assuming you do the suicidal easternmost hoop last. Season 5 won’t end until around September 27, so players have plenty of time to complete this and other challenges before then. Follow Inverse on Twitch to watch Squad Up: The Fortnite Talk Show.<doc-sep>

All fire ring locations in Fortnite Learn where to find all the rings of fire for the Week 4 Challenge in Fortnite. Week 4 Challenges are here for Fortnite, which means Battle Pass owners everywhere are one step closer to unlocking their next killer skin, emote, or other in-game item. One of the challenges this week is for players to track down fire rings – or flaming hoops – whatever you want to call them. Where to Find Fire Rings Earn 5 Battle Stars by jumping through flaming hoops during a match of Fortnite. As players have come to anticipate with these weekly challenges, the items will be scattered across the Fortnite: Battle Royale map. The rings of fire are pretty easy to see, they are after all giant flaming hoops. The trouble with this particular challenge is that players must jump through 5 fire rings with a shopping cart or ATK, this means actually having to find one on the map. Once players have a vehicle, simply find one of the rings of fire: A fire ring can be found south of Snobby Shores Three rings of fire are south of Pleasant Part , around the mountainous area , around the mountainous area One flaming hoop is north of Flush Factory Another fiery hoop is to the west of Lazy Links South of Lazy Links is another ring of fire is another ring of fire Head south of Tomato Town to locate another fire ring to locate another fire ring Northeast of Fatal Fields is another ring of fire is another ring of fire East of Paradise Palms is a fire ring is a fire ring A fire ring can be found south of Paradise Palms This challenge shouldn’t be too difficult to complete, so long as players are able to find a shopping cart or ATK early in the match and quickly get to a ring of fire. With this challenge out of the way, players will earn themselves a few Battle Stars, getting them one step closer to another skin. Alternatively, you could check out the new McFarlane toy-line of Fortnite action figures and get a real-life version!

OPELOUSAS, La. — The white man suspected in the burnings of three African American churches in Louisiana is now facing hate crime charges in the arson cases. Holden Matthews, the 21-year-old son of a sheriff's deputy, entered his not guilty plea via video conference from the St. Landry Parish jail on Monday. The judge set a September trial date. Matthews, who had no previous criminal record, was arrested Wednesday on three charges of arson of a religious building. Prosecutors filed documents Monday adding three more charges, accusing Matthews of violating Louisiana's hate crime law, confirming that they believe the fires were racially motivated, a link authorities had previously stopped short of making. Browning said federal officials also are considering filing additional federal hate crime and arson charges against Matthews. Holden Matthews, 21, was booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail on three counts of Simple Arson of a Religious Building. St. Landry Parish Sheriff Dept. In denying bail, state District Judge James Doherty sided with law enforcement officials who said they worried Matthews would try to flee the area or set more fires. "We felt that he was an immediate risk to public safety," said Louisiana Fire Marshal Butch Browning. "In my mind, I felt another fire was imminent." Testifying in court, Browning outlined a litany of evidence, including new details of the investigation, that he said tied Matthews to the torching of the three black churches over 10 days. The fire marshal described cellphone records placing Matthews at the fire locations, and he said images on the phone showed all three churches burning before law enforcement arrived and showed Matthews "claiming responsibility" for the fires. Matthews, shackled and wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, never spoke to the court during the hearing, letting his court-appointed lawyer enter the not guilty plea for him. His parents watched their son's appearance on video conference from the courtroom, his dad repeatedly wringing his hands and, at one point, leaving the room in tears. The fires, all started with gasoline, occurred in and around Opelousas, about 60 miles west of Louisiana's capital city of Baton Rouge. St. Mary's Church in Louisiana was the first to burn. Natalie Obregon / NBC News file A crowdfunding campaign for the three gutted churches was climbing Tuesday after social media posts urging the public not to forget the plight of the small houses of worship as the eyes of the world were on the fire-ravaged Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. As we hold Paris in our thoughts today, let’s also send some love to our neighbors in Louisiana. Three historically black churches have burned in recent weeks, charring buildings and scattering communities. If you can, contribute to rebuilding funds here: https://t.co/OSteYWzU9v — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 16, 2019 "As we hold Paris in our hearts today, let's also sent some love to our neighbors in Louisiana," a Tuesday tweet from Hillary Clinton read. Freelance journalist Yashar Ali, with 394,000 followers, struck a similar tone, tweeting that the Notre Dame restoration "will be well funded" and urging support for the Louisiana churches. "It's a blessing, truly a blessing," the Rev. Freddie Jack, president of the Seventh District Missionary Baptist Association, said of the fundraising campaign in a telephone interview Tuesday night. The three churches are members of the association. The campaign surpassed $900,000 Tuesday evening, with contributions ranging from $5 to thousands of dollars. "It's all working out for the greater good," Jack said, when asked about the connection being made to the Notre Dame fire. The money raised is to be distributed equally among the three century-old churches: St. Mary Baptist Church, which burned on March 26 in Port Barre, a town just outside of Opelousas; and Greater Union Baptist Church and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas. Matthews was arrested a little more than two weeks after the first blaze at the St. Mary Baptist Church on March 26 in Port Barre, a town just outside of Opelousas. Days later, the Greater Union Baptist Church and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas were burned. Each was more than 100 years old. The churches were empty at the time, and no one was injured. But at one location, two occupants of a nearby home had to evacuate when the siding on the home started to catch fire from the church. The fires set the community on edge. Gov. John Bel Edwards said the church burnings were a reminder "of a very dark past of intimidation and fear." Matthews' attorney Quincy Cawthorne questioned some of the evidence cited by Browning and said Matthews didn't have the financial means to be a flight risk. He also objected to suggestions that the house near one of the churches was intentionally set on fire, putting the residents' lives in danger. A pretrial hearing in the case was set for July 17, with jury selection scheduled to begin Sept. 10. Prosecutors, through Browning's testimony, gave more insight into the evidence that law enforcement used to build their case against Matthews. The fire marshal said a receipt shows Matthews bought a gas can and a package of oil rags similar to those found at the site of the fires. A lighter and the package of oil rags, missing some of its contents, were found in Matthews' truck, Browning said. He said Matthews documented the fire on his cellphone, while video surveillance in the area around the churches showed a truck similar to the one Matthews drives. Matthews had copies of news reports about the fires on his phone as well, Browning said. "He actually superimposed himself on those news reports, claiming responsibility for these fires," Browning said. In addition, Browning said video on Matthews' phone showed a conversation with a friend before the fires in which he talked about burning churches and using gasoline to do it. The fire marshal said Matthews posted on Facebook about and showed interest in a movie called "Lords of Chaos," which Browning said is a recent Norwegian film that involved church burnings. Matthews had shown interest in "black metal," an extreme subgenre of heavy metal, Browning said.<doc-sep>Update: The crowdfunding campaign surpassed its $1.8 million goal late Wednesday, April 17. The fire at Notre-Dame cathedral on Monday prompted immediate pledges of millions of euros to help rebuild it. On Tuesday, it spurred donations to do the same for much smaller places of worship thousands of miles away that were recently destroyed by arson. A crowdfunding campaign for three fire-ravaged black churches in Louisiana received more than $1.2 million after it was widely shared on social media on Tuesday. Many users noted that while hundreds of millions of euros had already been pledged to rebuild the famous cathedral, the small churches in Louisiana were still struggling. “These communities need to know that people care about them and what they’re going through,” Jessica Piombo, a professor who lives in Monterey, Calif., wrote on the campaign’s page. “Every little bit counts.” The campaign was posted on GoFundMe last Wednesday by the Seventh District Baptist Association, which includes 54 Baptist churches in southwest Louisiana, including the three that were burned. The association noted that donations would go to rebuilding and replacing what was destroyed, from pews to sound systems and musical instruments.<doc-sep>Matthews is the son of St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Roy Matthews, who was “shocked and hurt” at the news of the arrest, St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz said. Guidroz rebuffed earlier reports that Matthews was taken into custody by his own father.<doc-sep>Prosecutors in Louisiana have charged the man accused of setting fire to three black churches with hate crimes. Holden Matthews, who was arrested last week, pleaded not guilty to three hate crime charges on Monday, along with several counts of arson involving a religious building, according to the St. Landry Parish District Attorney’s Office. The three St. Landry Parish churches, which were all empty at the time, burned to the ground within 10 days of one another, with the first fire occurring on March 26. About 77% of residents in Opelousas, Louisiana, the town the burned churches were in or near, are black. The additional hate crime charges confirm that authorities believe that Matthews targeted the churches because of the race of their attendees, District Attorney Earl Taylor explained to BuzzFeed News, a potential motive that investigators had held off on suggesting until Monday. Matthews, 21, could face about 65 years in prison, Taylor said. The suspect is the son of a sheriff's deputy and has no history of arrests or violence, authorities say. According to CBS, Louisiana Fire Marshal Butch Browning testified in court that Matthews documented the fires on his phone, even superimposing himself on copies of news reports to claim responsibility for the damage. At a news conference last week, the state marshal's office said investigators believe black metal music may have influenced his actions. Matthews was passionate about the genre, specifically Norwegian black metal music, and was also very active in pagan Facebook groups. Using several aliases, Matthews often commented about Norse mythology and spoke out against organized religion. Last year, he talked about converting from Catholicism to paganism. In one post, he complained about Baptists, calling them "a bunch of brainwashed people trying to find happiness in a religion that was forced on their ancestors just as it was mine." At the hearing, Browning referenced Matthews' interest in the movie Lords of Chaos, a horror biopic about the beginning of the Norwegian black metal scene in the 1990s in which one of the lead musicians set several churches on fire. However, one of his good friends, Nygyl Brynn Blackwolf, insisted that Matthews is not racist or was lashing out against black people. "He was never aggressive, mean, racist, or anything like that," Blackwolf told BuzzFeed News. "He was just a kid who wanted to make music." At the request of Taylor, a judge ordered Matthews held without bond on Monday.<doc-sep>

The man who was arrested after a string of fires left historically black churches gravely burned is now facing hate crime charges. Holden Matthews was arrested Wednesday after investigators tied him to three church fires that spanned a 10-day period in Louisiana's St. Landry Parrish. Matthews, the 21-year-old son of a sheriff's deputy, appeared in court in Opelousas on Monday. He entered a not guilty plea via his court-appointed lawyer. The Associated Press reports Matthews did not speak during the hearing, which came after prosecutors filed papers to add three charges accusing Matthews of violating the state's hate crime law. Those three charges come in addition to three charges of arson of a religious building that Matthews already faced. Matthews was denied bond on Monday, which law enforcement officials pushed for because they view him as a continued threat. "We felt that he was an immediate risk to public safety," said Louisiana Fire Marshal Butch Browning, according to the AP. "In my mind, I felt another fire was imminent," Browning said in court Monday. Browning made similar sentiments shortly after apprehending Matthews. During a news conference on Thursday, Browning said officials were still working to determine his motives, but added they found that Matthews had ties to "black metal and its association and history with church burnings in other parts of the world." Black metal, a distant genre of devil-worshipping death metal music, has roots in the Norwegian heavy metal scene that reportedly was the inspiration for several church burnings in the country in the early 1990s. Matthews' father, who works for the local sheriff's department, was present at Monday's hearing. The AP said the suspect's parents watched from a video conference of the courtroom, and at one point his father was seen leaving the room in tears. The three fires investigators tied Matthews to were all near the town of Opelousas, and no one was hurt as no one was inside any of the structures at the time of the blazes.

Anthony Smith wanted to beat Jon Jones fair and square — that’s why he chose to continue fighting after Jones’ illegal strike. Smith, who challenged Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 235, could have avoided a loss when Jones landed an illegal knee in the fourth round. After the foul, “Lionheart” could have said he was unable to continue. In that case, referee Herb Dean would have had to determine whether or not Jones’ illegal shot was intentional or unintentional. Depending on Dean’s determination, the fight could have resulted in anywhere from a disqualification win for Smith to a no contest to a technical draw. Smith, however, did not take the easy way out — he kept going, and ultimately fell to Jones in a lopsided decision after one more round. Dean took away two points from Jones for the foul, but that did not actually impact the result of the fight. Jones won by 48-44 on all three judges’ scorecards. “I said at the beginning I wanted to win the title. I know as well as anyone I could’ve sat there and taken the DQ win,” Smith said in his post-fight interview. “But I want to win it, I don’t want to steal it.” Smith offered limited offense throughout the fight. He seemed to spend most of it trying to figure out Jones and on defense. Jones started beating Smith up badly in the third round and onward. Against Jones, Smith suffered his first loss at 205 pounds and his three-fight winning streak, which includes wins over Volkan Oezdemir, Mauricio Rua, and Rashad Evans, came to an end. “Bones” defended the light heavyweight title for the first time since a January 2015 win over Daniel Cormier. Jones won back the title in a TKO of Alexander Gustafsson last December. UFC 235 took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In the co-feature, Kamaru Usman won the UFC welterweight title with a dominant win over Tyron Woodley.<doc-sep>Anthony Smith spent 25 minutes locked in a cage with Jon Jones and if there’s one thing he took away from the encounter, it’s this: He’s still confident that he has what it takes to beat Jones. Expectations were low for Smith heading into his world title opportunity at UFC 235. Yes, Smith was a respected veteran with 44 pro bouts on his resume and yes, he looked like a rejuvenated fighter at 205 pounds after deciding to no longer force himself to undergo a grueling cut down to middleweight. But regardless of Smith’s credentials, this is Jones he was being compared to. The same Jones who has never been defeated inside the Octagon and owns just about every UFC light heavyweight record. In his most recent outing, Jones made short work of rival Alexander Gustafsson and the 31-year-old appeared to be back to his prime form, possibly even better. Smith’s five-round unanimous decision loss on Saturday contained few bright spots for “Lionheart”; even so, there wasn’t anything Jones did that Smith found too discouraging. “That’s a beatable man,” Smith said at the evening’s post-fight presser. “I didn’t walk out of there thinking, ‘Wow, he’s a lot better than I thought.’ Like when (Quinton) ‘Rampage’ (Jackson) lost to Jon and he stood there and said. like, ‘This kid’s for real, this guy’s good,’ like almost laying out to Jon. I don’t feel like that. “I’m not gonna take anything away from him because he did a phenomenal job of doing what he had to do tonight, but I don’t have the feeling that’s a guy that I can’t beat.” Of Smith’s 31 career wins, 28 have come by way of stoppage, but at no point on Saturday did it look like he was close to scoring a knockout or submission of Jones. On the flip side, Smith had to survive several rough patches in the later rounds as Jones’s control become more pronounced, including an illegal knee to the head of a grounded Smith in the fourth that could potentially have led to Jones being disqualified. Smith insisted that he was fine and went on to make it to the judges’ scorecards. At the very least, it was a moral victory for “Lionheart”, who felt some validation at the fact that Jones could not find the finish either. “I absolutely belong here and I think that the fight alone proves that,” Smith said. “I don’t know what other 205ers are gonna f*ck with me, I just don’t see that happening. I was in there, you know what I mean? “And I don’t feel like I got ran through, I just kind of got shut down. I don’t feel like Jon Jones just went in there and beat the shit out of me, I just couldn’t get going. That’s Jon Jones though. I said I needed to force Jon Jones to fight me and I didn’t do that. He didn’t fight me, he nullified me. It’s going to haunt me for a long time and I’m gonna have to get back to the drawing board and sit down with (coaches) Marc (Montoya) and Scott (Morton) and figure out what the f*ck happened.” Smith pointed to Jones’s length and intelligence as reasons why it was difficult to get any offense going, but he put most of the blame on his own shoulders. As a massive underdog, Smith’s best chance to pull off a historical upset might have been to throw caution to the wind and throw with reckless abandon. That switch never turned on and Smith was at a loss for words to explain why. “I don’t know what happened. I did exactly what I told everyone I wasn’t gonna do,” Smith said. “I let Jon Jones sit back and be Jon Jones. I guess sometimes you go in there and it’s not your night, I guess. But that’s just not good enough for me. I don’t know, I just couldn’t pull the trigger and when I did, I didn’t combo up like I was supposed to. “I didn’t do anything I was supposed to do except for defending takedowns and I think I did a much better job of checking kicks than I have in the past. My cardio held up so all you f*cking idiots can stop talking about it. That’s really the only positive I can take from this. It’s a whole f*ck ton of negatives, that’s for sure.” Considered a journeyman for most of his 11-year career, the fact that Smith was able to earn a title shot is a massive achievement. One that Smith plans to build on, not view as a career-peak, and one he expects to better should he and Jones cross paths again. “I’ll be back,” Smith said. “Jon Jones and I will see each other again, that’s for sure. Because there’s no one else in the entire f*cking division that’s gonna do anything about that. I don’t care who it is. There’s no one else that’s gonna stop me from getting back to Jon Jones.”<doc-sep>In the main event of UFC 235, Jon Jones dominated Anthony Smith throughout the whole fight to win by unanimous decision (48-44 x3). What was the high point of the fight? Smith opened up in the first round by firing off a hard low kick, Jones replied shortly after with a calf kick of his own. ‘Bones’ found success with side kicks to the body of Smith in the first round, and he continued his creative striking early in the second round landing front kicks and a spinning elbow. Jones landed the first takedown of the fight when he slammed Smith to the mat midway through the third round. At the end of the fourth, Jones landed a knee to Smith whilst he had one had on the mat which caused referee Herb Dean to take not one, but two points away. It didn’t matter in the end, as Jones dominance continued into the fifth round. Where do these two go from here? This was Jones’ first defense of his light heavyweight title after winning it back against Alexander Gustafsson in December of last year. With no real contenders at light heavyweight other than Thiago Santos, Jones could seek out a fight with either Brock Lesnar or a rematch with Daniel Cormier at heavyweight. The fight with Jones is one that Smith realistically had nothing to lose. His rise at light heavyweight was unprecedented, earning a title shot after just three fights at 205-pounds. If Santos isn’t next for Jones, a rematch between Smith and Santos would a be great fight to make next. Watch it now, later or never? It wasn’t a very exciting fight. You can watch it later,<doc-sep>

We almost got through a whole Jon Jones fight week without any sort of controversy. There were no drug-test fiascos, no fight venues changed at the last minute, no heated rivalries, or any of the usual histrionics that come with the UFC light heavyweight champion’s fight week when he defended his title against Anthony Smith in the main event of UFC 235. Then came the fourth round, and an illegal knee to the head that led to a rare deduction of two points on the champion. That, while providing the requisite controversy, simply made the bout sound closer than it was. Jones showed off most of his arsenal in what seemed more like a sparring session than a title fight and cruised to victory against an undeniably tough competitor at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The judges’ scores were 48-44 across the board for a unanimous decision. “Now I see why they call him “Lionheart,’” Jones said. “I have never had anyone talking to me while I was hitting him. This guy is so durable, he’s like The Terminator.” The stage was set early on, as Jones started throwing kicks off all sorts, both of the spinning and the conventional variety, landing all over Smith’s body. Smith, for his part, just missed with a head kick, but that was the closest he came to making the champ sweat. In the second, Smith landed an overhand right which cut Jones over his right eye, but that was the extent of his highlights, as Jones again landed at well, mixing in spinning elbows and shoulder shivers as Smith never got his offense untracked. The third round Saw Jones dominate Smith in the clinch, landing brutal body shots and shoulder shivers as they grappled along the fence. Jones was in the process of laying out a beatdown that would have stopped competitors less tough than Smith when the knee to the head of Smith, who had a hand on the mat and was thus downed, was landed. Referee Herb Dean watched a replay. Smith could have gotten a disqualification call and the title if he claimed to be too hurt to continue, but took the honorable route and continued the fight. Dean then deducted two points. “I wanted to win the title, I know as well as anyone I could have sat their and taken the DQ, but I wanted to win the title, not steal it,” Smith said. The fifth round was academic, as the tough Smith hung in there and went the distance, but also never did anything to put Jones on the defensive. With the victory, Jones is now 24-1 (1 NC), has won 15 in a row. It was his eighth career decision victory. “Tonight sure was a real learning lesson,” Jones said. “I felt like Randy Couture. It was a different part of my game, but I thought it was necessary.” The veteran Smith (31-14), had a three-fight win streak snapped and lost for the first time since going up to light heavyweight.

As we don't think it's possible to be on the web reading this story right now and not know what's happening, we'll save you a recap (but you can read all about the scandal and breakup here , and how the Kardashians have responded here ) and skip straight to the memes—aka the Internet's favourite coping mechanism for other people's drama.<doc-sep>On Tuesday, TMZ broke the story that Tristan Thompson had allegedly hooked up with Kylie Jenner's BFF, Jordyn Woods. Now, Twitter and Instagram users are going crazy with memes, predicting the future of Kylie and Jordyn's relationship. Kylie reportedly knew about the hook up days ago and has been in denial ever since. It seems like the only thing the internet can talk about right now is the alleged cheating scandal between Khloé Kardashian's ex, Tristan Thompson, and Kylie Jenner's BFF, Jordyn Woods. While the story is of course devastating for Khloé and the entire Kardashian clan, that hasn't stopped fans across the world from finding some humor in the situation and producing some of the best memes the internet has ever seen. Here's a roundup of the funniest jokes from Twitter and Instagram. This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. First off, many are thinking that Stormi predicted what was coming from a mile away. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Obviously, everything relates to Mean Girls, even this scandal. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. As you may know, Jordyn and Kylie have been inseparable for years, so this scandal has probably posed a very large problem for the girls' tight knit relationship. Many think Jordyn will be sent packing up her room in Kylie's guest house. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Of course, this means that some fans think Kylie will be on the lookout for a new BFF, a position MANY people are interested in. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Me signing up to be @KylieJenner’s new best friend now that Jordyn’s out pic.twitter.com/ZV7rH2sA4M — Sammy (@x_samanthajade) February 20, 2019 Fans are also proposing that Kylie's Kylie Cosmetics collab with Jordyn is probably not going to get an update any time soon. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Kylie putting the Jordan Woods collection on clearance on her website pic.twitter.com/KZjTSgAfHw — toe knee (@TonyPavlik) February 20, 2019 Some think that Kylie may even be looking at Jordyn in a whole new light after all this alleged news went public... This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. kylie when jordan laughs a little too hard at one of travis’ jokes https://t.co/TETtunEqgn — the bad guy chun li (@DIORSUNFLOWER) February 19, 2019 This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Kylie Jenner hearing Jordan Woods rap along to every single Travis Scott song word for word pic.twitter.com/dzOSf4pn6Q — SupremeKevv (@_Kevinnnn) February 20, 2019 And many fans believe that without the help of Kylie, Jordyn is in for a rough few months. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Khloe Kylie and Kris on their way to go beat up jordyn woods https://t.co/XdcwSuvSCm — ʚïɞ (@kristiancdo) February 20, 2019 This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Jordyn Woods when Kylie change the locks: pic.twitter.com/s4yNBkIzXV — Depressed but highly favored 👸🏽 (@kennadyrenee_) February 20, 2019 And, like with any Kardashian scandal, conspiracy theorists are out here thinking Kris Jenner concocted all the drama herself (Keeping Up With the Kardashians season 16 premieres next month if you forgot). This whole scandal is a reminder that no matter how bad things get...the internet will ALWAYS be able to find humor in them. Carolyn Twersky is the Assistant Editor at Seventeen.com. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram! Carolyn Twersky Associate Editor Carolyn Twersky is an associate editor for Seventeen covering celebrities, entertainment, politics, trends, and health. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>In case you somehow hadn't heard, in which case where have you been (!?!?! ), Tristan Thompson cheated on Khloé Kardashian with Kylie Jenner's best friend, Jordyn Woods. Kylie has reportedly cut Jordyn off, and Jordyn just made her first appearance post-scandal (and low-key commented on the drama! ). Please feel free to flail around and OMG at your computer/phone screen, because Jordyn Woods stepped out for a ~lash event~ last night. Which, um, makes this her first public appearance since news broke that she allegedly hooked up with Khloé Kardashian's boyfriend Tristan Thompson. While Jordyn didn't have much to say, she low-key broke her silence about the drama, telling fans, "Thank you guys for coming out and supporting me through everything that’s going on. It’s been real." This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. FYI, the Kardashians have reportedly fully cut off Jordyn, and she's taking it very hard. "Jordyn has been trying to reach out to Khloé and Kylie and everyone else in the family to apologize," a source said. "She wants to apologize and make everything right...She spent the whole night crying with her mom and sister." This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Mehera Bonner Mehera Bonner is a news writer who focuses on celebrities and royals. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>

Jordyn Woods Photo: Presley Ann/Getty Images for Oh Polly It’s been days since reports broke that Khloé Kardashian had broken up with Tristan Thompson for cheating on her with her younger sister’s (former) best friend, Jordyn Woods. And now, Jordyn herself has addressed the scandal that rocked the Kardashian-Jenner universe. On Thursday night, she made an appearance at an event for the launch of her new Eylure false-eyelashes line, and while she didn’t have a whole lot to say, she thanked everyone who came and briefly referred to the ongoing drama. “Thank you guys for coming out and supporting me through everything that’s going on,” she told guests. “It’s been real, and Eylure has been super-real with a project I’ve been working on for over nine months right now.” “Everything that’s been going on” sounds like the understatement of the year, but to be fair, it’s probably hard to figure out what to say about a scandal of this proportion. On Wednesday, Us Weekly reported that Jordyn moved out of Kylie Jenner’s home (after Kylie supposedly found out about the betrayal from Khloé), and a source told E! News on Thursday that Jordyn is “living her worst nightmare” in the wake of the news. Her comment comes after Khloé posted a series of vague quotes about being heartbroken to her Instagram Stories, seemingly a response to what transpired, and the Kylie lip kit that was named for Jordyn was quietly marked down on the Kylie Cosmetics website. Though Us Weekly also reported that the Kardashians weren’t 100 percent sure if Kylie would sever ties with Jordyn, E! News’ source claimed that Jordyn has been “completely cut off by Kylie and the family.” Stay in touch. Get the Cut newsletter delivered daily Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.

How to watch South Korea vs. Mexico in the World Cup group stage on Saturday, June 23. With its surprising seat at the top of the World Cup's Group F, Mexico will look to keep the ball rolling against South Korea and inch closer to a place in the knockout stage. Mexico turned in one of the performances of the World Cup thus far with a 1-0 win over reigning champion Germany. Hirving Lozano scored the goal, and amid rumors that he's in talks with Barcelona, he'll look to shine again. Standing in Mexico's way is a South Korea side that was stifled by Sweden and fell 1-0 on a VAR-ruled penalty kick. Led by Tottenham's Son Heung-min, South Korea can't be overlooked by a Mexico side that has big goals following its statement victory. Here's how to watch the match: Time: 11 a.m. ET TV: FOX, Telemundo Live Stream: Watch live on fuboTV. Sign up now for a free seven-day trial. SI TV is also now available on fuboTV. Watch Planet Futbol TV, SI’s soccer show starring Grant Wahl and Luis Miguel Echegaray, weekly on FuboTV or anytime, anywhere here.<doc-sep>The game played out more than 6,000 miles away in a Russian port city. But the event was as Los Angeles as they come. Soccer fans gathered all around the city Saturday morning to watch Mexico face off against South Korea in the World Cup. They watched on a giant screen outside La Placita Catholic Church in downtown, after baptizing their children. They gathered by the hundreds in a Koreatown park that was about evenly split between those wearing green Mexico team jerseys and red South Korea ones. Mexico had upset reigning champion Germany in its June 17 opening match and was the favorite to win Saturday, though it was fighting against history, since it had not won back-to-back matches at a World Cup since 2002. Advertisement Outside the landmark Koreatown Oaxacan restaurant Guelaguetza, Carlos Duran sold Mexico team shirts and flags on a clothesline strung between a tree and a light pole. Duran, a native of El Salvador, has lived in the area for 20 years. He works as a security guard and has built a side business from World Cup memorabilia. A longtime soccer fan, Duran said he was promoting Mexico because he knows his audience, but also because he likes the way the team plays. Business was good, he said. He had invested $1,500 and made more than double, so far. “If Mexico loses, we all lose,” Duran said moments before the game. “If, God willing, they win, then the sale continues.” Inside the restaurant, Veronica Vega, 30, of Long Beach rooted for Mexico with friends. She said she grew up watching soccer, and though her family is Bolivian, they’re proud Mexico fans. Vega said the World Cup holds a special place in her heart. She and her boyfriend started dating two tournaments ago. In 2014, they flew to Brazil together to watch it in person. She has been waking up at 5:30 a.m. to watch early games before heading to work at a YMCA summer camp. She also sneaks in time to watch during her lunch break. Advertisement Hailey Yoo, 30, of Beverly Hills was one of a small number of people at Guelaguetza rooting for South Korea. She works at a plastic surgery clinic, where many of the staff are Latino. They had invited her and two other Korean employees to watch the game. They arrived at the restaurant at 7:30 a.m., wearing red South Korea jerseys, and they were quickly surrounded by a sea of green. “We didn’t know there would be no Korean people, so it was a little bit of a surprise,” Yoo said. “But it was a lot of fun.” At the Koreatown viewing party at Wilshire Park Place, the crowd was about evenly split between Mexico and South Korea fans. Both countries’ flags waved above the crowd. Advertisement There were even a handful of South Koreans who wore Mexico jerseys and a few Mexicans in South Korea ones. Four-year-old Ayden Martinez-Shin wore a Mexico shirt decorated with a South Korean flag to show support for both teams. “This feels like home,” said Rodolfo Cervantes, 35, who lives in Koreatown, as he stood with two friends. College friends Samuel Choi, 30, and Arian Khodakarami, 29, watched the match together. Choi was in a red sweater with “Korea” on the back, Khodakarami in a Mexico national team shirt. “This event to me captures what L.A. is,” Khodakarami said. “There are pockets of communities celebrating and exchanging cultures.” Advertisement Choi said he had come to a previous World Cup viewing party for South Korea, but Saturday’s event was the most diverse crowd he has seen. “I think it was beautiful,” he said. At LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in downtown, at another viewing party sponsored by McDonald’s, hundreds watched the match on a big screen while small children kicked around a soccer ball and played foosball. Jesus Cruz, 28, and Bere Quezada, 23, of La Puente, had baptized their year-old daughter Lissandra in the morning at La Placita church next door. Advertisement After Mass, they walked over to the viewing party with the girl’s godparents. Cruz carried his daughter as he watched the game, her lace white dress and bonnet contrasting with the sports jerseys everyone else seemed to be wearing. The family would be hosting a baptism party in the afternoon and if Mexico won, the celebration would be double, Cruz said. About 25 minutes into Saturday’s game, Mexico scored its first goal, taking a 1-0 lead. Forty minutes later, Mexico scored again to take what proved to be an insurmountable lead. South Korea’s lone goal, in extra time, came too late and Mexico won, 2-1. Mexico is now almost assured of advancing to the elimination round, while South Korea, which lost to Sweden in its opening match, has almost no chance of advancing. Advertisement With the game over, Mexico fans jumped, danced and waved their flags a little higher. And Justin Park, 43, who was in Koreatown to root for South Korea, found himself compelled to join in the celebration. He raised his arms and shouted, “Viva Mexico!” Complete coverage of the 2018 World Cup » 1 / 12 Ayden Martinez-Shin, 4, wears a Mexico shirt decorated with a South Korean flag to show support for both teams at the World Cup watch party Saturday morning at Wilshire Park Place in Koreatown. (Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 12 Mexican defender Edson Alvarez heads the ball during Saturday’s Group F match against South Korea in Russia. (Joe Klamar / AFP/Getty Images) 3 / 12 Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (14) beats South Korea goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo for Mexico’s second goal on Saturday. (Khaled Dousaki / AFP/Getty Images) 4 / 12 Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez reacts after the final whistle signaling Mexico’s 2-1 win over South Korea. (Pascal Guyout / AFP/Getty Images) 5 / 12 Fans celebrate a first-half goal by Mexico while watching the World Cup soccer match between Mexico and South Korea at Plaza Mexico in Lynwood. (Michael Owen Baker / Michael Owen Baker / For The Tim) 6 / 12 Mexico soccer fans Pablo Lopez, CC Gerson and Pablo Lugo, from front-left, celebrate after a first-half goal by Mexico while watching the World Cup soccer match between Mexico and South Korea at Plaza Mexico in Lynwood. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times) 7 / 12 Mexico’s Hector Herrera blocks a shot by South Korea’s Lee Jae-sung. (Pascal Guyout / AFP/Getty Images) 8 / 12 Mexico’s Javier Hernandez (14) and South Korea’s Jang Hyun-soo duel for the ball during the Group F match Saturday. (Eduardo Verdugo / Associated Press) 9 / 12 A shot by Son Heung-min gets past Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa for South Korea’s only goal in stoppage time. (Joe Klamar / AFP/Getty Images) 10 / 12 Fans at the watch party at Wilshire Park Place in Koreatown react as South Korea scores its lone goal with time running out in a 2-1 World Cup loss to Mexico. (Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 12 Harold Lee, of Torrance, but originally from South Korea, is lifted up by Mexico fans after watching the World Cup soccer match between Mexico and South Korea at Plaza Mexico in Lynwood. Lee said he is a Mexican soccer fan. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times) 12 / 12 Dejected South Korean players on the field after their Group F loss to Mexico. (Hector Vivas / Getty Images) Advertisement 20 years ago, Mexico and South Korea faced off at the World Cup. Here’s what happened » ruben.vives@latimes.com andrea.castillo@latimes.com paloma.esquivel@latimes.com Advertisement Times staff writer Thomas Curwen contributed to this story. UPDATES: 12 p.m.: This article was updated with more comments from soccer fans after Mexico’s victory. 11:15 a.m.: This article was updated with more comments from fans and the final score. Advertisement 9:25 a.m.: This article was updated with more comments from fans. 8:50 a.m.: This article was updated with more comments from fans. 8:40 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from fans and vendors. This article was originally posted at 7:45 a.m.<doc-sep>

MOSCOW — It doesn’t feel like it after such a spectacular start to the tournament, but Mexico is the biggest loser at the World Cup. Wait, check that, it is the biggest loser in history. That’s right. No team has lost more games, more frequently, across the entire 88-year journey of soccer’s finest competition, as the team known as El Tri, the one that currently carries the hopes of its nation’s collective happiness upon its green-and-white clad shoulders. Yet before you start thinking this is a hit piece on a team that defied the odds to magnificently sink defending champion Germany in its opening game on Sunday, just hold on a second. In fact, statistics that show Mexico has experienced the sour taste of defeat more than any other member of the FIFA global family is not a tale of failure, but actually a story of significant and historical success. Mexico virtually always qualifies for the World Cup. Its record of having participated in 16 of the 21 renditions of the event puts it in truly esteemed company. The last time it failed to qualify was in 1982, it withdrew in 1938 and was banned in 1990 for fielding ineligible players in a youth tournament. In its 16 tournament appearances, Mexico has 25 losses in 54 matches played. Is Mexico the real deal? Upset of Germany could be start of deep World Cup run World Cup power rankings:Updates after every match Every World Cup champion:Brazil, Germany, Italy historically dominate So therefore, if you play a lot, it stands to reason that unless you are Brazil or Germany, you are probably going to lose a lot. By comparison, the United States has lost 19 times in the World Cup, but no one is going to argue that its pedigree in the championship is close to that of Mexico’s. Germany, if you ignore for a moment its poor performance to begin this summer’s campaign, is universally known as being defensively masterful. Yet it is that country that has conceded more goals across all World Cups (122) than any other team, primarily as a result of having played more games (106). Losing doesn’t always equate to a lack of success. New Zealand didn’t lose a single game at the 2010 World Cup, but it didn’t get anywhere either. Three ties were good enough for only third place in its group and an early exit. Mexico, meanwhile, lost twice in that tournament, to Uruguay in group play and then, controversially, against Argentina in the round of 16. Two defeats against New Zealand’s zero, yet without dispute Mexico had the better tournament, New Zealand’s courageous effort as an underdog notwithstanding. As it prepares for its second match in Russia, against South Korea in Rostov-on-don on Saturday, Mexico has no intention of losing any time soon. Its triumph over Germany elevated it into the status of genuine contender and favorite to top the group. Head coach Juan Carlos Osorio has demanded that his group “play with the love of winning and not the fear of losing,” a mindset that shone through with Mexico’s committed and resilient approach. Many of Mexico’s historic defeats came in the early days of the World Cup, when the tournament was smaller, leaving little room for easy opponents to sneak into the field. It lost in the group stage in each of the first six times it played in the tournament, but has fallen at the first hurdle just once in nine tries since, a magnificent record that dozens of teams would be proud to own. To satisfy the ambitions of the country, it will need to do a little better than that this time. The frustration has been in being unable to get out of the round of 16, with six straight losses at that juncture. This summer, there is more hope than at any time in recent memory, and justifiably so. Yet no one in Mexico truly expects the team to go on and win the tournament. It has been a superb effort so far and the spirit of the nation wants it to continue. They know that a defeat will likely come again this time, like it has so many times before, but preferably later rather than sooner. Follow USA TODAY Sports' Martin Rogers on Twitter @RogersJourno.

Today’s Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy<doc-sep>The deaths of two Saudi-born sisters discovered bound in duct tape along the banks of the Hudson River have been ruled suicides, officials said Tuesday. Rotana Farea, 22, and her sister Tala Farea, 16, drowned in the river after they bound each other together and leaped off the George Washington Bridge on Oct. 24, according to the city Medical Examiner’s Office. “Today, my office determined that the death of the Farea sisters was the result of suicide, in which the young women bound themselves together before descending into the Hudson River,” Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Barbara Sampson said in a statement. The sisters, who had been missing from their Farifax, Virginia, home since 2017, were found beached off the shore of Riverside Park near West 68th Street, bound together at the waist. Their mother said Rotana and Tala had applied for asylum in the US, which had put the family’s residency status in jeopardy, sources told The Post. During their last days, the sisters spent time at various Manhattan hotels before committing suicide.<doc-sep>The two Saudi Arabian sisters who were discovered duct-taped in a New York City river in October died by suicide, the city medical examiner's office revealed Tuesday. Tala Farea, 16, and Rotana Farea, 22, "bound themselves together before descending into the Hudson River," Chief Medical Examiner Barbara Sampson said in a statement. FLASHBACK: SAUDI SISTERS WHOSE BODIES FOUND DUCT-TAPED TOGETHER IN NYC LIKELY NOT VICTIMS OF A CRIME, POLICE SAY The sisters were discovered on Oct. 24 floating in the river near Manhattan's Upper West Side. Their bodies, fully clothed, bound by tape and facing each other with no obvious signs of trauma, were on rocks near the water, leading authorities to believe they washed ashore. It was later discovered the women had run away from their home in Fairfax, Virginia, before being placed in a shelter amid allegations they were abused at home. They traveled to New York City and stayed in high-end hotels, eventually maxing out the older sister's credit card. People who knew the sisters in Virginia told investigators that they made statements within the last year indicating "that they would rather inflict harm on themselves — commit suicide — than return to Saudi Arabia," New York City Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said in the fall. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The sisters moved to the U.S. from Saudi Arabia with their mother and two brothers in 2015. Investigators say they believe the Farea sisters filed for asylum. Their bodies were returned to Saudi Arabia on Nov. 3, and they were buried the same day in Medina. The Associated Press contributed to this report.<doc-sep>Two Saudi sisters found dead on the edge of New York's Hudson River in October entered the water bound to each other and killed themselves, the medical examiner’s office said Tuesday. The bodies of Tala Farea, 16, and Rotana Farea, 23, were found on Oct. 24, police said. The bodies of sisters Rotana, left, and Tala Farea were discovered on on the banks of New York City's Hudson River waterfront on Oct. 24, 2018. NYPD via AP Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Barbara Sampson said in a statement that "the young women bound themselves together before descending into the Hudson River." The causes of death of both were listed as drowning and the manner suicide. Suicide had previously been called by investigators a leading theory in their deaths, and when their bodies were found they had been duct-taped together. The sisters, who had been living in Virginia, were desperate not to return to Saudi Arabia, investigators have said. Detectives were told the sisters had previously made statements that "they would rather inflict harm on themselves, commit suicide, than return to Saudi Arabia," NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said in November. Shea said in November that neither sister had lived with their parents since Nov. 30, 2017, when they ran away. In December of that year they were located and placed in a "shelter-type" facility in Virginia, he said at the time. They remained there until Aug. 23 or 24, when they went missing from that facility, and the family told police they had no contact with the women during that time, according to Shea. The sisters are believed to have been in New York City since Sept. 1, staying at a number of hotels. Police have said a witness said he saw the pair in a playground near the river in Manhattan's Riverside Park on the morning their bodies were found. They were sitting about 30 feet away from each other and appeared to be praying. There were reports that the sisters' mother told detectives that on the day before the bodies were discovered, she received a call from an official at the Saudi Arabian Embassy, ordering the family to leave the U.S. because the daughters had applied for political asylum. A spokesperson for the embassy for Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C., in November said that reports anyone related to the sisters were ordered to leave the U.S. for seeking asylum were "absolutely false."<doc-sep>

The sisters were bound together with duct tape when they died. A pair of immigrant sisters from Saudi Arabia, whose bodies were found near the Hudson River in New York City last year, killed themselves, medical officials said Tuesday. Tala Farea, 16, and Rotana Farea, 23, were bound together with duct tape when their bodies were discovered back in October, about two months after they disappeared from a shelter in Fairfax, Virginia, authorities said. "Today, my office determined that the death of the Farea sisters was the result of suicide, in which the young women bound themselves together before descending into the Hudson River," Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Barbara Sampson said in a statement. The cause of death was drowning. Authorities said they'd been living in Manhattan since Sept. 1, shopping, ordering lavish meals and staying at lofty hotels until a credit card they were using maxed out. New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said they may have been abused at home, according to ABC's New York station WABC. People who knew the Farea sisters in Virginia told investigators that they made statements within the last year indicating "that they would rather inflict harm on themselves — commit suicide — than return to Saudi Arabia," WABC reported. Shea said the NYPD has seen reports the sisters applied for asylum and reported they were physically abused. He said detectives were informed the sisters expressed a desire to "inflict harm on themselves, commit suicide" rather than return to Saudi Arabia after they had been in the United States about three years, according to the station. A missing person's poster said the women were last seen on August 24 in Virginia, but their family hadn't seen them since November 30, 2017.

The Israeli army said it had shot down a Syrian fighter jet with surface-to-air missiles after the plane infiltrated its airspace. "A short while ago, two Patriot missiles were launched at a Syrian Sukhoi fighter jet that infiltrated into Israeli airspace," the Israeli Defence Forces said in a statement. "The IDF monitored the advance of the fighter jet, which infiltrated about two kilometres into Israeli airspace. It was then intercepted by the Patriot missiles." Israel's Army Radio said the jet may have crashed on the Syrian-held side of the border and the condition of the pilot was unclear. Syrian state media said Israel targeted the warplane, which it said was hit while conducting raids in Syrian airspace. It was the first time Israel shot down a manned Syrian fighter jet since 2014. The army said there had been an increase in "internal fighting in Syria," including involving the air force, since the morning hours. It said it was on "high alert and will continue to operate against the breach" of a 1974 ceasefire agreement between the two countries. Israel has been stressing for weeks that it would enforce the ceasefire between it and Syria amid a Russian-backed government offensive in the country's south. Today's incident comes a day after Israel's air defences fired at Syrian rockets it feared could hit its territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Jerusalem yesterday to discuss the Syrian conflict. Israel has been on high alert since 19 June, when Syrian government forces launched the Russia-backed offensive to retake Quneitra and Daraa and provinces, adjacent respectively to the Israeli-held section of the Golan and to Jordan.<doc-sep>Israel said it shot down a Syrian jet fighter with surface-to-air missiles Tuesday after it entered its airspace — but Damascus said the plane was attacked while taking part in strikes against rebels inside Syria. The Israeli military said it had been monitoring the Russian-made Sukhoi and brought it down with two Patriot missiles after it flew about a mile over the Golan Heights. The incident marked the first time Israel shot down a Syrian aircraft in four years. Syrian state media said the warplane had been “targeted” by Israel and hit while conducting raids in Syrian airspace. “The Israeli enemy confirms its support for the armed terrorist groups and targets one of our warplanes, which was striking their groups in the area of Saida on the edge of the Yarmouk Basin in Syrian airspace,” the SANA news agency quoted a military source as saying. The jet crashed on the Syrian-held side of the Golan Heights, according to the Israel Defense Forces, which appeared to acknowledge that its mission was related to the civil war in Syria. “We do not have any information so far about the pilots. I do not know of any reports of parachutes being spotted, and we do not know if any pilots have been retrieved,” IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus told reporters. He confirmed that the plane was Syrian, not Russian. “The only thing we know about the aircraft is that it crashed, most likely in the southern part of the Syrian Golan Heights,” he said. The IDF said in a statement: “Since morning hours, there has been an increase in the internal fighting in Syria, including an increase in the activity of the Syrian Air Force.” It said Israel would “continue to operate against” any breach of a 1974 UN armistice deal that established buffer zones in the Golan Heights. The IDF said the Sukhoi took off from the T4 airbase near Hama, which was the target of at least two Israeli airstrikes in the past, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Iranian forces used the base, which housed a command center for Iran’s drone operations inside Syria. Israeli forces have been on high alert across the strategic territory as Syrian government forces close in with Russian support to regain rebel-held ground. Tuesday marked the first time government forces reached the border fence with the UN’s Disengagement Observer Force at the edge of the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. Shortly before the reported downing, Syria’s state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV was broadcasting images from the fence demarcating the UN buffer zone between Syrian and Israeli forces. It is the first time government forces have taken up positions along the frontier since an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad swept through the country in 2011. ISIS militants later seized territory from rebels along the border territory. This is the second time the Israeli air force has shot down a Russian-made Syrian jet since 1985. The other time was in 2014, when it used a Patriot missile to down a Sukhoi-24 that had flown about 800 meters into Israeli airspace over the Golan Heights. The move to intercept that aircraft was made within 80 seconds, and by the time the missile hit the jet, it was already on its way back to Syrian airspace, according to Haaretz. The two pilots ejected and landed in Syrian territory. With Post wires<doc-sep>(CNN) — The Israeli military shot down a Syrian fighter jet after it entered Israeli airspace on Tuesday afternoon, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, raising fears of further military escalation in the region. The Russian-made Sukhoi jet entered two kilometers into Israeli airspace when two Patriot missiles were launched to intercept the aircraft, the IDF said. The missiles hit the jet once it had crossed back into Syrian airspace, the IDF said, adding that the military did not know what happened to the pilot of the aircraft. Syria said its jet was conducting an operation against “terrorist groups” when it was hit by Israeli fire, according to a state media report. “The Israeli enemy targeted one of our warplanes while conducting air raids against these groups in the area of Saida on the outskirts of al-Yarmouk Basin in the Syrian airspace,” a Syrian state TV banner said, quoting a military source. Yarmouk basin is one of the last remaining areas in southern Syria not yet under government control. Syrian forces, backed by the Russian military, have been carrying out an extensive campaign in the area in recent days, attempting to wrest control from an ISIS affiliate that is clinging on to a small pocket of territory. Israel said there had been a notable increase in activity by the Syrian military in the area on Tuesday, especially the Syrian air force, as a result of ongoing internal fighting in the war-torn country. The jet took off from the T-4 military base northeast of Damascus, according to IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus. Israel has struck the T-4 base multiple times in the last year, targeting what the Israeli military has said are Iranian military assets at the base. Before it launched its strike, Israel communicated with Russia to make sure the jet was Syrian, and not part of the Russian air force, according to Conricus. So-called “deconfliction measures” have been in place between the two countries since Russian forces entered Syria on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad. The jet was either a Sukhoi 22 or Sukhoi 24, the IDF said Tuesday. Both jets are Russian-made aircraft developed in the 1960s and 1970s and operated by the Syrian air force. One day earlier, Israel launched two missiles from the David’s Sling missile defense system at two Syrian rockets which the IDF believed were heading for Israeli territory. When it became clear the two Syrian SS-22 missiles were going to land inside Syria, the David’s Sling missiles were ordered to self-destruct, the Israeli military said. One missile successfully self-destructed, while it was unclear what happened to the second, the military said. It marked the first time David’s Sling has been used operationally. Designed to intercept medium and long-range missiles, David’s Sling is a larger, more powerful version of Iron Dome. Israel last shot down a Syrian fighter jet in September 2014 under similar circumstances. The IDF said that jet – a Sukhoi 24 – had entered one kilometer into Israeli airspace before it was downed by a single Patriot missile. The pilot and co-pilot ejected and landed in Syria. In February, Syria shot down an Israeli F-16 fighter jet which came under “massive anti-aircraft fire,” the IDF said at the time. The incident happened after an Iranian drone penetrated Israeli airspace, prompting Israeli airstrikes against Syria during which the fighter jet was downed. Both pilots aboard the Israeli jet ejected. One pilot was severely injured during the ejection, while the second was lightly wounded. As the Syrian regime has regained control of southern Syria, the border between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights has seen increased activity. Thousands of Syrians, fleeing the fighting, established tent camps along the border. While Israeli soldiers turned away dozens of Syrians seeking refuge on the Israeli side of the fence, the army has been distributing food, clothing and supplies to Syrians hit by the fighting, in a program called Operation Good Neighbor. Over the weekend, Israel assisted in the evacuation of hundreds of Syrian civilians, including members of the White Helmets volunteer rescue organization. An international effort, including the United States and Canada, backed the evacuation attempt, which saw the civilians transferred through Israel to Jordan. While the operation was lauded by the international community, including the British Foreign Secretary who called it “fantastic news,” the Syrian government slammed the effort as a “criminal operation.”<doc-sep>The Israeli military has been on high alert as fighting inside Syria has pushed closer to Israel’s northern border in recent weeks. As the civil war in Syria has shifted in favor of Assad, who is backed by forces from Iran and Russia, Israel has watched with alarm. Despite being technically at war with Syria, Israel says it has no issue with Syrian government forces returning to areas they held before the civil war — as long as forces linked to Iran are excluded.<doc-sep>

Israel shot down a Syrian fighter jet it said had breached its airspace on Tuesday, the Israeli military said in a statement. The incident occurred as Russian-backed Syrian forces took part in operations against rebels on the edges of Golan Heights, a strategic plateau between Syria and Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said it monitored the advance of the Syrian Sukhoi fighter jet and shot it down with a pair of Patriot missiles after it penetrated Israeli airspace by about 1.2 miles. It was not immediately clear where the plane crashed and no details were given as to the fate of the pilots. "Since this morning, there has been an increase in the internal fighting in Syria and the Syrian Air Force's activity," the IDF said in a statement. The Israeli military also said that it would "continue to operate against" any breach of a 1974 U.N. armistice deal that established buffer zones on the Golan. Russian-backed Syrian forces have been battling rebels and Islamic State militants at the frontier with Israel in recent weeks. The incident comes hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Kremlin officials. This is the second time Israel shot down a Russian-made Syrian jet. Four years ago, a Sukhoi-24 was shot down with Patriot missiles after entering Israeli airspace. The two Syrian pilots ejected from their aircraft and landed in Syrian territory. Raytheon's Patriot missile system is designed to track and hunt fighter jets, helicopters, drones and low-flying cruise missiles. The U.S.-made surface-to-air defense system is used by 15 countries and has been deployed to war.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan says Congress has sent a wrong message by singling out the Left as the primary enemy and not the BJP Congress workers in Kerala danced, burst firecrackers and distributed sweets on Sunday to celebrate the news that their national president Rahul Gandhi would contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Wayanad constituency. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who learned of the announcement in the middle of a meet-the-press programme here, said if Mr. Gandhi intended to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party, he should have stuck to Uttar Pradesh. "Even a child knows that in Kerala the fight is between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and United Democratic Front led by the CPM and the Congress respectively. "The BJP is a lightweight in Kerala's electoral politics. It has no presence in Wayanad. Hence, Mr. Gandhi's electoral battle would be against the LDF primarily. His choice of Wayanad is reflective of the myopic attitude of the Congress leadership. "Mr. Gandhi has sent a wrong message to the country. He has singled out the secular Left as the primary enemy and not the BJP." Mr. Vijayan said Mr. Gandhi's arrival had added no new dimension to the electoral battle in Kerala. He said LDF candidate P.P. Suneer of the Communist Party of India, was far ahead in the campaigning for the Wayanad seat. Mr. Gandhi's arrival appeared to have upended the political calculations of the BJP in Kerala. It wrested back the Wayanad seat from the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), a coalition partner, whose candidate Paily Vathiattu, had started campaigning last week. BJP State president Sreedharan Pillai hinted that the party's national leadership would take a final decision on Wayanad. Political circles in the capital were alive with rumours that a top BJP leader would battle Mr. Gandhi in the constituency, at the Western Ghats in the North Eastern part of the State. The names heard included that of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman, Union Textile Minister and Mr. Gandhi's rival in Amethi Smriti Irani and actor Suresh Gopi. The Wayanad constituency, formed in 2008, spans the districts of Wayanad, Malappuram and Kozhikode. It comprises of seven assembly segments. The Indian Union Muslim League is a dominant presence in the constituency, which has a sizeable Muslim population, an estimated 48%. Christians also form a large chunk of the electorate, and the Congress has held the constituency since its inception. "We would win all the 20 seats in Kerala", said Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Mullappally Ramachandran. T. Siddique, whose name was bandied about in connection with the Wayanad seat, said Mr. Gandhi had executed a "surgical strike" against the BJP in South India and the CPM in Kerala. IUML leader P. K. Kunhalikutty said the party was privileged to have Mr. Gandhi in its bastion.<doc-sep>THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It's the curious mix of Marxist, Congress and jihadi elements peculiar to Wayanad constituency that prompted Rahul Gandhi to consider Wayanad as a seat to contest, alleged BJP national executive member P K Krisha Das on Wednesday. "Rahul Gandhi is not a mere. Congress candidate. He represents the Marxist and Jihadi groups as well. All these groups project Rahul Gandhi as their choicest candidate as Indian Prime Minister. They all speak in one voice, though their language are different. Their voice sound same when they speak in favour of Pakistan. Rahul Gandhi considering to fight elections from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat has increased the prospects of NDA in Kerala’’, Krishna Das said in a news conference here. "Though Congress, Marxists and Jihadi elements have strong sway over different places in Kerala, Wayanad is a rare place where both these three elements have considerable presence and power’’, he said.He alleged that the Congress and CPM have jointly selected Wayanad as a safer seat for AICC president. ``It was a collective move. That’s why Wayanad is missing in the list of Lok Sabha segments where CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury is about to campaign during this election’’, he said. According to Krishna Das, there was no need to elaborate much on the bitter political concoction at work in Wayanad.Krishna Das also asked the CPM and Congress to explain reasons for not fielding a joint candidate in Thiruvananthapuram whereas the Congress, CPM, Muslim League and DMK have fielded a joint candidate in Kanyakumari district bordering Thiruvananthapuram.<doc-sep>Pathanamthitta and Wayanad, two young Lok Sabha constituencies which are mostly not among the 'happening' ones, are now the toast of the state of Kerala and the country at large for varying reasons. The suspense and uncertainty over the BJP and Congress candidates for these seats ended a week after the line-up of for the rest of the 18 seats in the state were announced. While Kerala would have its first ever Prime Ministerial candidate standing from Wayanad in the North, the BJP would be using Pathanamthitta in the South-Central region as a lab for testing its Hindutva ideology. DROPS BOMBSHELL While the Congress dropped the equivalent of a bombshell suggesting the name of its national President Rajiv Gandhi for Wayanad, the BJP has named BJP firebrand K Surendran for Pathanamthitta in its third list. Rahul Gandhi is yet to officially announce his candidature, the second after his home base Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, Surendran's candidacy has suddenly charged up the BJP rank and file in Pathanamthitta. T Siddique, who is thought to have been introduced as a dummy in Wayanad, has announced his withdrawal, 'gladly' ceding what is widely considered one of the party's surest bets in the state, to Gandhi. It is another thing that the Oommen Chandy loyalist was named after his mentor, former chief minister and amongst the senior-most leaders, won the case 'almost at gun point,' say sources. The Pradesh Congress Committee also made formal requests to the party President to stand from Wayanad, which has been 'thankfully acknowledged,' according to Randeep Surjewala, its national spokesperson. The Congress wants to dub this as a political master stroke, but ridiculed by rivals BJP and the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front as a defeatist strategy of a party steeped in self-doubt and vacillation. NATIONAL LIMELIGHT Meanwhile, an impromptu trip along the flanks of Thiruvananthapuram and Mavelikkara constituencies into what is the emerging core of the 'Hindutva' (read Sabarimala) land of Pathanamthitta was instructive. Pathanamthitta shot to national limelight as the constituency housing the Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala where the Supreme Court allowed entry of women of all ages, against rituals and traditions. Both the BJP and the Congress chose to ride the Hindu devouts' backlash against the court order while the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front said it was duty-bound to implement it. This set the context for the high-octane contest to prove which among the three political formations would go on to get the endorsement from the 'people's court' with respect to their positions on Sabarimala. While the LDF and the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) have finished two rounds of campaigning in Pathanamthitta, lack of a candidate seem to have held back the BJP from going all out. Things had come to a pass that even ex-Rajya Sabha Vice-Chairman and senior Congress leader PJ Kurian was rumoured could emerge as a dark horse BJP candidate to address the sizeable Christian votes. 'ALSO-RAN' CONGRESS In Kanjirappally, Ramesh, an autorickshaw driver, said that Surendran is his candidate and 'they' (his fellow drivers) would go to any length to ensure his victory. For him, Congress was just an 'also-ran' in terms of its delayed and hesitant support to the Sabarimala cause but Surendran had shown the way how to fight for it, even if it meant arrest, remand, and a stint in jail. Asked if the rival LDF and the UDF had not already stolen a march on the campaign trail, Ramesh and friends said it is just a matter of time before BJP would catch up, with support from like-minded cadres. They would go to any length to defeat UDF's sitting MP Anto Antony and LDF's sitting MLA Veena George who were being fielded to win over the Christian votes, and not necessarily uphold the Sabarimala sentiments. Pathanamthitta comprises seven Assembly constituencies. In the 2016 Assembly elections, the UDF won two, the LDF four while one went to an unaffiliated candidate. None of these seats feature among the seven in the state where BJP came up second in the 2016 elections, but observers are watching as to what extent the Sabarimala campaign could swing votes in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.<doc-sep>The Congress in Kerala has proposed AICC president Rahul Gandhi's name for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, a party bastion in the State, but he has yet to respond to the request, senior leaders said on March 23. Talking to reporters in Pathanamthitta district, AICC General Secretary Oommen Chandy said the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has requested Gandhi to contest from Wayanad but he has not commented on the proposal. There is a demand from party leaders that Gandhi should contest from any of the South Indian Lok Sabha seat and "we have requested Gandhi to contest from Wayanad seat," he said. "He has not commented on the request so far. But we expect that there would be a positive response," Chandy said. The party, which is contesting 16 out of 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, has announced the names of 14 candidates but has not declared its candidates from Wayanad and Vadakara. At Kottayam, the leader of opposition in the State Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala said he had requested Gandhi to contest from Wayanad when the Congress president visited Kerala recently to launch the party's election campaign. He also said the matter was discussed with senior party leaders including A K Antony. "I once again request Gandhi to contest from Wayanad. Congress president contesting from Lok Sabha seats in South India and North India will strengthen national unity and integration," Chennithala said. Gandhi's candidature from Wayanad will energise the Congress party in South India and thus the party can win majority of seats from the region, the leaders said. The Congress had earlier proposed T Siddique, the Kozhikode DCC president, for the Wayanad seat but he has backed out. Siddique said he also wants Gandhi to contest from the Wayanad seat. The election convention of the party-led UDF for Wayanad constituency will unanimously urge Gandhi to contest from the seat, he added. The Congress state units in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have also demanded that the party president contest the Lok Sabha elections from the respective states. The Congress earlier this month had announced that Rahul Gandhi will contest from his bastion Amethi and Sonia Gandhi from Rae Bareli.<doc-sep>

Two top Congress leaders in Kerala on Saturday said they had requested their national president Rahul Gandhi to contest to the Lok Sabha from Wayanad constituency. Former Chief Minister and member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Oommen Chandy told reporters in Kollam that the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has requested Mr Gandhi to contest the 2019 Parliamentary elections from the State. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra units of the Congress have also raised similar demands. Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said the KPCC and the United Democratic Front (UDF) had requested Mr. Gandhi to contest from Wayanad. He said Congress leader T. Siddique, who was considered for the seat initially, has agreed to withdraw his claim in favour of Mr Gandhi. Mr Chennithala said top Indian Union Muslim League leaders and other coalition partners agreed with the KPCC. He said the DCC president, Wayanad, I.C. Balakrishnan, has also raised a similar demand. "It is the Congress president who has to take a final call on the popular demand", he said. The Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, since its formation in 2008, has overwhelmingly voted for the Congress. Congress leaders posited Wayanad as a "safe seat" for Mr Gandhi who is facing BJP leader and Union Minister for Textiles, Smriti Irani, as his main competitor in Amethi, the traditional constituency of the Gandhi family in Uttar Pradesh. In the 2014 elections, M I Shanavas of the Congress had defeated Satyan Mokeri of the CPI by a margin of 20,870 votes. Shanawaz, working president of the KPCC, died last year. In the 2009 elections, he had defeated CPI’s M. Rahmathulla by a margin of 1,53,439 votes. P.P. Suneer of the Communist Party of India is the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in Wayanad. The National Democratic Alliance has accorded the Wayanad seat to its coalition partner, the BDJS. The party was yet to announce its candidate for Wayanad.

Arsenal hosted FC Vorskla on Thursday night in their opening Europa League group-stage match. Here are the player ratings from the 4-2 victory. It was a comfortable win in the end for Arsenal. Although FC Vorskla were disciplined and industrious in their deep defending for much of the first half, once the home side was able to break them down and engineer that first opening, the floodgates opened somewhat. There wasn’t much of a threat at the other end either, with the result rarely in doubt. Here are the Gunners’ player ratings from Thursday night’s 4-2 win. Goalkeeper<doc-sep>The puzzle for Unai Emery over the next 48 hours is deciphering just how much of this emphatic victory was down to Arsenal’s incisiveness, and how much was instead down to Vorskla Poltava’s sheer ineptitude. In the end it somehow finished 4-2 as the Ukrainian side plundered two late consolation goals, but in reality Brentford will pose a far sterner test in the Carabao Cup next week. Exactly how much those two goals should be allowed to tarnish this otherwise dominant performance will largely come down to whether you are a glass half-full or half-empty sort of spectator, and how much weight you afford the group stages of the Europa League. Something that most certainly was half-empty was The Emirates: Emery has a real job on his hands if he wants to rally supporters behind the kind of cup run he frequently enjoyed at Sevilla. “We need this competition,” he insisted after the match. “And so we need to show our supporters that we are excited for this competition. We want to play well in the Europa League and I am sure the fans will begin coming little by little. We have to work hard to bring them here.” Emery began his campaign to convert Arsenal’s fan base to the wonders of Uefa’s European hinterland by naming a starting XI strong enough to effectively dash any hopes Vorskla had of pinching a point before they had even stepped out onto the pitch. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang retained his spot in the starting XI, rapidly justifying his inclusion with two wonderful strikes. Danny Welbeck also advanced his claim for a first-team spot with a second-half header, while Mesut Ozil crowned his cameo with a confidence boosting goal. Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava player ratings Show all 12 1 /12 Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava player ratings Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava player ratings Arsenal 4-2 Vorskla Poltava PA Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava player ratings Bernd Leno - 6 out of 10 Wasn’t allowed to do much as his defenders were very solid but he looked confident on the ball when it came to him. REUTERS Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava player ratings Stephan Lichtsteiner - 6 Ran down the right and worked well with Danny Welbeck to get balls into the box from the wing, assisted Ozil for the fourth goal but got caught in possession to give Vorskla a consolation goal. AP Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava player ratings Sokratis Papastathopoulos - 6 Made a few well-timed tackles and commanded his area of the pitch letting nothing get past him, he also set up the fourth goal. REUTERS Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava player ratings Rob Holding - 6 Held his own at centre-back and controlled the ball well moving forward, he played a few good passes out into the wings that allowed Arsenal to quickly move up the pitch. AP Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava player ratings Nacho Monreal - 6 Ran well down the left wing and offered Arsenal a threatening attacking option when they looked a little sluggish in possession. REUTERS Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava player ratings Lucas Torreira - 6 Wanted to control the game for Arsenal, he perhaps got the ball too deep to make a positive impact and an injury to his left ankle didn’t help. Could have had a goal from a free kick but narrowly missed the target. Getty Images Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava player ratings Mohamed Elneny - 5 Played well in midfield, did his job adequately if not spectacularly. REUTERS Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava player ratings Henrikh Mkhitaryan - 7 Looked a little of kilter but managed little sparks of brilliance such as the interception in the first half that allowed Arsenal to break away and score the opener, and his cross in the second that set up Welbeck. REUTERS Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava player ratings Alex Iwobi - 7 Combined well with Aubameyang especially when he ran at the defenders, he outpaced them and created chances in and around goal. REUTERS Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava player ratings Danny Welbeck - 7 Looked lost in the first half but came into his own in the second. He scored a good header and could have had at least one more goal AP Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava player ratings Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 8 Scored the first half goal with a great finish as he was going to ground, made runs at the defenders and finished it with a glorious right footed strike. All in under 60 minutes. AFP/Getty Images This was also an opportunity for Emery to place three of his summer signings under the microscope, with Lucas Torreira, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Bernd Leno all handed full debuts. Of the trio it was Torreira who most impressed, the copy books of Lichtsteiner and Leno both blotted somewhat by Vorskla’s late rally, which never came close to changing the result but definitely managed to sour it. “We are happy because we wanted to win our first match in this competition in front of our supporters, but we want to be competitive for ninety minutes and in the last twenty we conceded too many chances,” Emery later admitted. “We need to improve this and this is our disappointment today.” That the Ukrainians even managed a goal — let alone two — is damning of Arsenal’s capacity for frustrating moments of defensive slackness, given the guests arrived at The Emirates with the clear intention of spending the vast majority of the match with eleven men determinedly entrenched behind the ball. And so it was rather ironic that Arsenal’s vaguely comical opening goal came as a direct consequence of one of just a handful of exploratory sorties forward. Danny Welbeck headed home Arsenal's second of the night (Getty) You could at least see what Dmytro Kravchenko was trying to do: dummy a short pass from out wide to allow Volodymyr Chesnakov to take a potshot from the edge of the area. The only problem was he didn’t think to glance over his shoulder first. Whoops. Instead there was Henrikh Mkhitaryan lurking with intent, releasing Alex Iwobi down the left. Iwobi quickly squared the ball and Aubameyang was left with a routine finish. Aubameyang was the match’s standout performer, along with tick-tock Torreira, whose sheer relentlessness alongside Mohamed Elneny meant Mkhitaryan and Iwobi could spend pleasantly long periods ambling forward. The pair combined once again for Arsenal’s second. This time it was Iwobi who teed up Mkhitaryan, with Welbeck on hand to glance his cross beyond Bohdan Shust. Just moments later Arsenal had their third, the pick of the bunch. Again there was a element of hapless between-the-legs fortune — as Artur clumsily stepped over Aubameyang’s heavy touch — but there was nothing lucky about the finish, rifled into the bottom right corner. Emery allowed himself a fist pump, before immediately withdrawing the goal scorer and Torreira. Sokratis Papastathopoulos attempts to turn away from danger (REUTERS) On ran Ozil to make an immediate impression. There is no danger of his goal ever earning a place on his personal highlight reel but it at least gives the German something to smile about at the end of a difficult summer. He had Lichtsteiner to thank: the Swiss looping a high ball across the face of goal which Ozil was on hand to nod into the net. But this is Arsenal. And it did not take long for 4-0 to become 4-2. A shoddy Vorskla consolation goal was not a matter of if but when, with Lichtsteiner failing to clear a set-piece and Chesnakov opportunistically lashing the ball home. Leno blew out his cheeks as he turned to pick the ball out of his net, and was forced to do the same thing again moments later, when Vyacheslav Sharpar got ahead of Guendouzi to add another with a thunderous strike.<doc-sep>

Arsenal eased to a Europa League victory after barely moving into second gear against minnows Vorksla. A brace from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and a Danny Welbeck effort were enough to stunt the Ukrainian side, but it was Alex Iwobi who really impressed on the night. His hard running down the left was the best outlet all evening as full debuts were handed to Lucas Torreira and Bernd Leno. The Uruguayan oozed class in midfield while the latter was barely tested. Sub Mesut Ozil netted a fourth and despite Vorksla pulling two back late on, there will be sterner tests than this. Here’s how they rated… (Image: REUTERS) Bernd Leno 6 Is he any good with ball at his feet? Yes, yes and yes. Hardly put a foot wrong in that respect, wasn’t really tested in any others. Was taken by surprise by the goal but would have been hard pressed to save it. Stephan Lichsteiner 6 Made some good runs down the right which belied his tag of a solid, dependable right-back. But also at the right place when he needed to be defensively. Still got a decent turn of pace, but maybe missing a trick or two in the final third. Rob Holding 6 Playing on the left-hand side of the centre backs the former Bolton man didn’t seem troubled. He was cultured on the ball too on his first start of the season. Sokratis Popastathopoulos 6 Strong in the tackle and assured in possession. Read the game well too. The old-fashioned defender Arsenal have been crying out for. If only they had signed him five years ago… 6 Nacho Monreal 6 Captain on the night and reasonably solid down the left-hand side. Did give the ball away a few times in the first period and was barely needed in the second. (Image: REUTERS) Mohamed Elneny 6 Recalled to the side and with Torreira holding, Elneny found himself further up the pitch. Considering this, and the amount of possession Arsenal had, his contribution wasn’t decisive. He did cover for Torreira when needed though. Henrikh Mkhiaryan 7 This game was made for him. Centre of a three with no defensive duties against a poor side. Had a hand in all three goals and was his incisive break that created the first, while neat passing conjured up the others. Lucas Torreira 7 Picked for the deep lying midfield role but a terrier in all areas of the pitch. Was on the ball more than anyone in the first period and didn’t waste his touches. Destined to be a cult hero. Danny Welbeck 7 How many times does he stay on the edge of a game before popping up with a goal? In the first half wasn’t effective but in the second was in the right place at the right time for the killer second. (Image: Arsenal FC) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 8 Hard to utilise his pace with the visitors dropping so deep. But on the one time they did afford him some room he raced clear for the opener. Hit the post just before half time and was a constant threat before snaffling the second. Alex Iwobi 8 The revelation of the night. Great early cross to release Aubameyang for the first and was always a threat down the left. Is he a different player under Emery? Subs: Ozil for Aubameyang (56 mins), 7, Guendouzi for Torreira (56 mins) 6, Smith-Rowe for Iwobi (70 mins) 6

Screenshot : Kotaku ( Google ) A day before Halloween, Google has reworked its logo into an online multiplayer game called The Great Ghoul Duel to help people get into the spirit of things. While the company has featured games on its homepage before, this is the first that actually lets you play against other random strangers around the world. Advertisement I know what you’re thinking: why would you want another way to engage with randos on the internet? But the game is actually fun and doesn’t involve actually communicating with other people. Instead, you simply run around small mazes trying to collect more spirits than the other team. While it’s not super complex, there are a few wrinkles that make it easy to forget what you came to Google to search for in the first place. In order to get the spirits you collect to contribute to your team’s total, they have to be deposited back at your base. The spirits follow you around in a trail like JRPG characters, and if an opposing player collides with it they automatically steal that portion of the spirits you’ve collected. The more spirits you collect, the faster you go, which certainly helps, but having a longer tail makes you more vulnerable to opponents. An alternative strategy is to simply stake out an opponent’s base and try to ambush them before they can deliver their spirits. As your spirit tally increases, you can get various buffs like night vision and magnetism, which make it possible to see bigger spirits that are worth 10 and attract smaller ones from around the map as you glide by. The fact that teams get stronger as their totals grow creates an interesting snowball effect as well. The Great Ghoul Duel really nails that feeling of when you do really well but your team still manages to lose. Screenshot : Kotaku ( The Great Ghoul Duel ) Google’s first interactive Doodle was back in May 2010 when the company made the logo on its homepage into a recreation of Pac-Man to celebrate the arcade game’s 30th anniversary. It debuted its f irst Halloween-themed game in 2016 with Magic Cat Academy where players traced shapes to cast spells and defeat enemies, but The Great Ghoul Duel is a lot more complex by comparison. Advertisement At the risk of severely over analyzing a simple browser game, the underlying mechanics actually remind me a lot of Destiny 2’s latest competitive mode, Gambit, because of the rudimentary risk-benefit calculations involved. Maybe next year’s Halloween Doodle will take the next step and add microtransactions.<doc-sep>PUBG introduces new Halloween updates FREE for the biggest new releases, reviews and tech hacks SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up forfor the biggest new releases, reviews and tech hacks When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Celebrate Halloween with Google by visiting Google’s homepage and you are in for a very special treat. Google updated it's Google Doodle today to celebrate Halloween 2018 with an interactive game. Great Ghost Duel is a fun multiplayer affair that pits you against others Google users. This year’s Halloween Doodle follows Momo the cat on her mission to rescue her school of magic. The aim of the Google Doodle is to capture as many mischievous spirits as you can and return them to your base in two minutes. The team built several systems to enable this multiplayer gaming Google This is achieved by swiping in the shape of the symbols above the ghosts’ heads. But time is of the essence as the ghost that stole the master spell book is escaping fast. Returning flames you to your base, provides players with power-ups. Great Ghost Duel: The Halloween Google Doodle celebrates the spooky holiday Great Ghost Duel: Visit Google’s homepage today and you are in for a very special treat Just be aware ghosts can steal flames from each other. The green and purple teams' score is kept on a coloured bar at the top of the screen. Begin the game by clicking on the animated doodle on Google’s home page. Those playing alone will be allowed allotted to the purple team or the green team. You have the option of playing with friends or family by inviting up to seven others to join in the fun via a custom link. The game includes five levels set in a school environment: the library, cafeteria, classroom, gym, and the building’s rooftop. Google said: “The team built several systems to enable this multiplayer gaming, all running on the Google Cloud Platform, including integrating Open Match, a highly-scalable, open source matchmaking framework cofounded by Google Cloud and Unity." And the development team revealed in a blog post: “We had lots of fun ideas for the resident foe of each level, including a chef ghost, a venn diagram ghost, and a big whistle ghost that summons other spirits. Halloween Google Doodle: Great Ghost Duel is a multiplayer affair Halloween Google Doodle: The game follows Momo the cat on her mission to rescue her school of magic<doc-sep>

As pretty much everyone's first stop on the internet, you may have noticed Google is looking a little different today. Like in previous years, the usual logo has been replaced with an interactive Halloween game - but this time Google's taken things a step further, as this particular doodle is multiplayer. Here is the loading scream. Great Ghoul Duel sees players fight it out to collect as many spirit flames as possible and bring them back to your team's collection point. The difficulty is that the other team is also vying for the same flames, and can steal them from your tail if you get too close. If you successfully deposit enough spirit flames, you can even earn power ups like "night vision" and increased speed to help you collect more goodies. In simple terms, it's a spoopy multiplayer version of Snake. If you're too young to remember that game, I'd suggest ghoulgling it. A good game if you have a competitive spirit. But Halloween's no fun on your own - ask any victim in a horror movie. Thankfully you can invite your friends to join in the fun by hosting a game and sharing a joining link with your friends. Alternatively, you can play with strangers online to make up the numbers. If you fancy another quick Halloween browser game, you can always return to Google's 2016 Halloween game: a single player Hogwarts-esque game in which players control a spellcasting cat. You draw lines in various directions to cast the spells and banish ghosts - it's a pretty fun little game that distracted me for a good ten minutes. Just make sure to swap windows at work if your boss looks over.

**Want FOX News Halftime Report in your inbox every day? Sign up here. ** On the roster: Harris fumbles on health insurance - Dems embrace left wing for Trump rebuttal - Dems delay vote on attorney general - Biden’s non-campaign rolls on - Pittsburgh vs. All yinz HARRIS FUMBLES ON HEALTH INSURANCE Imagine if the Los Angeles Rams had to play the Super Bowl against the Patriots and the NFC Championship against the Saints at the same time. That’s what running for president is like. We think of the primaries and the general election as two different games, but the truth is that whomever Democrats nominate is already auditioning for the general electorate – including loosely attached Democrats, independents and even some Republicans. As Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., is finding out today, the demands of the two games are often quite contradictory. Her glib, facile answer to a serious question about health insurance is the political equivalent to a fumble on her own ten-yard line. Being the frontrunner isn’t all puff pieces and pep rallies. In an interview with CNN, Harris was asked about the downstream consequences of her proposal to make Medicare, the entitlement program which provides health insurance for Americans age 65 and older, available to every citizen, regardless of age. The proposal is the key policy of one of her rivals, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and has become a litmus test for liberal activists assessing the 2020 Democratic contenders. It would also blow the bottom out of the private, employer-based health insurance which provides coverage for about half of all Americans. Employers generally hate having to be in the insurance business and many, especially those with large workforces, would be delighted to be able to shunt that responsibility over to Medicare. They chip in for extra coverage or otherwise defray costs and get to kiss goodbye one of the biggest hassles for companies in labor-intensive businesses. That reduced pool of customers would make insurance more expensive for those that remain in the private sector, which would cause more employers to follow suit, and so on and so on. Proponents and opponents of the proposal agree on where the road would end: the demolition of the system as it has mostly existed since the 1960s. They disagree about how quickly or chaotically that would happen and certainly are at odds about whether that is good or needful, but agree that it would begin the end of health insurance as we know it. Asked about this consequence, Harris was dismissive to the point of blitheness. “The idea is that everyone gets access to medical care and you don't have to go through the process of going through an insurance company, having them give you approval, going through all the paperwork, all of the delay that may require,” Harris said. “Who of all us have not had that situation where you have to wait for approval and the doctor says, ‘I don't know if your insurance company is going to cover this.’” “Let’s eliminate all of that,” she added. “Let’s move on.” Now, we want to be generous of spirit here and assume that Harris was blowing off another part of the question and entirely ignoring the downstream consequences. The elimination of the insurance that covers something like 160 million people isn’t something even the most oblivious politician would do. But that phrase “let’s eliminate all of that” will now be stuck to her until she comes to the end of the trail. John “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it” Kerry knows what we’re talking about. As the excellent and useful polling from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows, Democrats enjoy a substantial advantage on the question of health insurance and health care. That’s traditionally a better issue for the Blue Team and the Republicans’ 2017 ObamaCare debacle erased the considerable damage that the original passage and enacting of the law did to the Democratic brand. Buuuuuuttttt… Here’s Kaiser: “Net favorability towards a national Medicare-for-all plan (measured as the share in favor minus the share opposed) … ranges as high as +45 percentage points… Yet, on the other side of the debate, net favorability drops as low as -44 percentage points when people hear the argument that this would lead to delays in some people getting some medical tests and treatments. Net favorability is also negative if people hear it would threaten the current Medicare program (-28 percentage points), require most Americans to pay more in taxes (-23 percentage points), or eliminate private health insurance companies (-21 percentage points).” Everybody wants a unicorn. Nobody wants to have to clean all that glittery manure out of the stall. Republicans know this and will absolutely hammer Harris or any Democrat on the subject. The scaremongering around ObamaCare will look like kids’ stuff compared to what is said about the big government health insurance program backed by a self-described socialist Senator from Vermont. It’s a fact. Harris and other Democrats have glommed on to Sanders’ plan as a bumper-sticker solution. And given the fact that the number of uninsured Americans is climbing and voters are increasingly anxious about the situation, Democrats certainly are right to want something the sounds generous, simple and direct. But as Barack Obama learned and then Donald Trump said, “Nobody knew health care could be so complicated.” Lolz. Voters don’t like surprises and deeply mistrust any change that involves their policies or care. Democrats loved being able to run in 2018 on “saving ObamaCare” or “protecting your insurance.” It will be less fun to say exactly what they want to do. And that goes double with a plan that involves millions of Americans potentially being dumped into government-run health insurance and new pressures it will apply on doctors who already dislike the complexity and measly rates of Medicare. It tells us a lot about how Harris’ background in California politics is insufficient preparation for the national version. But it also tells us even more about the dangers ahead for Democrats as Sanders to continue to exact his revenge on the party that passed him over in 2016. If he succeeds in sticking his party with this one, Democrats will kiss off millions of votes from the very group they need so much: Suburban, middle and upper-middle class moms who are very skeptical about Trump. The lesson of ObamaCare is that American voters are compassionate and want to make sure everyone has access to care. But the moment that plan affects those who already have coverage, it gets chilly out there real quick. THE RULEBOOK: CHA-CHING “When the demand is equal to the quantity of goods at market, the consumer generally pays the duty; but when the markets happen to be overstocked, a great proportion falls upon the merchant, and sometimes not only exhausts his profits, but breaks in upon his capital. I am apt to think that a division of the duty, between the seller and the buyer, more often happens than is commonly imagined.” – Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 35 TIME OUT: SHOOTING HOOPS TO MOVIE SHOOTS Variety: “NBA Star Kyrie Irving will star in and executive produce a currently untitled horror movie with Imagine Entertainment about an Oklahoma hotel that has a reputation of being haunted. Imagine Entertainment has preemptively optioned an upcoming Players’ Tribune article, an oral history of experiences from NBA stars who have stayed at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City. The hotel is frequented by traveling NBA teams, but some players refuse to stay there because of its reputation. The hotel was opened in 1911 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. … The project is being developed as a horror film blending scares, satire, wit and social commentary inspired by the folklore of the Skirvin Hotel. The hauntings are believed to have started in the 1930s when the hotel’s owner had an affair with a chambermaid which led to her tragic demise.” Flag on the play? - Email us at HALFTIMEREPORT@FOXNEWS.COM with your tips, comments or questions. SCOREBOARD Trump job performance Average approval: 41 percent Average disapproval: 55.2 percent Net Score: -14.2 points<doc-sep>Sen. Kamala Harris Photo: Noah Berger/AFP/Getty Images The Democratic Party is gravitating toward two positions on health care. The first is to extend the gains of Obamacare by adding coverage options: a public option for the exchanges, Medicare buy-in for people 55 and over, and perhaps more generous subsidies for some middle-class consumers in the individual market. The second is far more bold but also more risky: Medicare for All, which would replace the patchwork existing system with a single-payer plan. Many Democrats in the first camp tend to downplay the rhetorical difference between the two approaches. Last night, Kamala Harris staked out a clear position locating her in the single-payer camp: In which Jake asks Kamala Harris whether people would be able to keep their private insurance, if they prefer, under Medicare For All system — and she rejects that. "Let's eliminate all of that. Let's move on." pic.twitter.com/A1AY2TOT4g — Rebecca Buck (@RebeccaBuck) January 29, 2019 There’s no doubting the worthiness of this ambition. Financing health insurance through private firms does not add any important value. It is obviously possible to run an entire country on a single-payer basis. Lots of countries do it, and people there tend to like the experience much better than Americans do. But the reason it’s never happened here is that the political barriers that stand in the way of transitioning to such a program in the United States are very imposing. Medicare for All polls reasonably well in the abstract. But once you inform people that it involves eliminating private insurance, the bottom falls out: If anything, this number may understate the peril of the change. People have a strong status quo bias. Actually moving them from their current plan to a new one — even a new one that they should like as much or more — makes them extremely nervous. Obamacare was carefully constructed to leave almost the entire existing system in place and create new insurance just for the people who lacked it. Yet, in so doing, it had to disrupt existing plans for people on the individual insurance market. Even though this was a tiny group of people, and even though individual insurance was a horribly insecure product of dubious value, the shake-up of this corner of the market produced a national firestorm. Moving people from employer-sponsored insurance to a government plan would disrupt a market literally ten times as large. And that’s not even including the political backlash that can arise when you transition from financing their insurance with premiums and employer contributions (which are not free to the workforce, but appear free) with taxes. All this is to say that, even if Harris can withstand the campaign attacks on her plan, actually passing it through two chambers of Congress would pose a much larger obstacle, and she would probably end up settling for the incremental version anyway. If I was advising a Democratic candidate, I would tell them to leave private insurance in place, and open up Medicare as an option. The notion that the Democratic Party is moving too far left and exposing the nominee to counterattacks from Trump is overblown in many ways — here is one issue where the risk is very real.<doc-sep>Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) said he stood with Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) Tuesday on her call to abolish private health insurance in favor of a single-payer system. Harris commented "let's eliminate all of that" with regard to private health care plans on Monday during a CNN town hall in Iowa, while endorsing a "Medicare for all" program. However, the same night Brown told MSNBC he agreed with her, CNN reported a Harris adviser said she would be open to more moderate reform plans that would not remove the private health care industry. While Harris has formally launched a presidential campaign, Brown has only floated the idea of running for president, touting his ability to win Rust Belt states that Democrats lost in 2016. "Hardball" host Chris Matthews, an enthusiastic progressive, told Brown he thought he and Harris could make a good potential 2020 team. "I'm not going to comment on a ticket. I'll just say I like Kamala," Brown said. "I was amazed that somebody called her un-American today for a proposal she had on health insurance, one of the billionaire candidates for president, so I stand with her on that. We've stood together on a number of issues, and I think very highly of her." The billionaire Brown referred to was former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, who has earned the wrath of liberals across the country for mulling a run for president in 2020 as a "centrist independent." They fear he could siphon votes away from the Democratic nominee and hand the election to President Donald Trump.<doc-sep>

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), 2020 presidential candidate, walked back her call for eliminating private health insurance and replacing it with a single-payer, government-run “Medicare for All” program less than 24 hours after she made her inflammatory remarks. Harris inflamed controversy on Monday night during a CNN town hall in which she suggested that she would eliminate private health insurance for millions of Americans and replace it with a “Medicare for All” socialized medicine program. “It is inhumane to make people go through a system where they cannot literally receive the benefit of what medical science can offer,” Harris said on Monday night. “Because some insurance company has decided it doesn’t meet their bottom line in terms of their profit motivation.” Less than 24 hours later, a Harris adviser and Harris national press secretary Ian Sams said Harris remains willing to back health insurance proposals that would not eliminate private health insurance. The Harris adviser said the backlash from Republicans serves as “good trouble” for the California Democrat. “Medicare-for-all is the plan that she believes will solve the problem and get all Americans covered. Period,” Sams told CNN. “She has co-sponsored other pieces of legislation that she sees as a path to getting us there, but this is the plan she is running on.” Harris’sc omments drew swift rebukes from fellow Democrats. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the second-highest Senate Democrat, expressed concern over Harris’s call to eliminate Americans’ health insurance. “I don’t want to guess what [Harris is] thinking, but that is a massive part of the American economy. There is a system in place for funding it,” Durbin said. “It would take a mighty transition to move from where we are to that.” Potential presidential candidates Michael Bloomberg and Howard Schultz also criticized Harris. Bloomberg rebuked the idea of Medicare for All on Tuesday, saying, “You could never afford that, you’re talking about trillions of dollars.” Former Starbucks CEO Schultz said the idea of Medicare for All is “not American.” “That’s not correct. That’s not American,” Schultz said in reference to Medicare for All. “What’s next? What industry are we going to abolish next? The coffee industry?” Harris hopes to stand out in a crowded 2020 Democrat field; however, her proposal for Medicare for All arouses mixed feelings amongst the American populace. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that 56 percent of Americans favor Medicare for All, but Americans’ favorability of the socialized medicine proposal drops to 37 percent when they hear that it would eliminate private health insurance. Tricia Neuman, director of Kaiser’s program for Medicare policy, said, “Most people are satisfied with the health insurance until they have a problem. The public favors these proposals that would broaden choice, but also want to be sure they don’t lose something that they value.” Progressives have noted in the past that Medicare for All serves as a popular slogan partly due to its “pleasant ambiguity,” meaning that it could encapsulate many proposals. This could explain why Sen. Harris has backed Medicare for All proposals ranging from Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) plan to eliminate health insurance to Sen. Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) plan to offer a public option on the Obamacare exchanges. Harris has backed multiple Medicare for All programs, including Sen. Sanders’ proposal which would eliminate private insurance, as well as Sen. Brian Schatz’s (D-HI) legislation which would create a “public option” allowing certain Americans to buy-in to Medicaid. The presidential hopeful also co-sponsored a plan from Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) which would allow Americans to enroll in a form of Medicare and allow employers to purchase it for their employees. Harris also backed a bill crafted by Sen. Kaine that would create a public insurance option for the Obamacare exchanges as well as keep private health insurance options on the exchanges. As Harris continues to move through the contentious 2020 Democrat battlefield, she might keep her options open to some form of Medicare for All. Adam Green, a co-founder of the leftist Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), said that Medicare for All’s ambiguity serves as one of its greatest strengths.

Romelu Lukaku has come clean on what he told Marcus Rashford before the England striker tucked away Manchester United’s crucial last-gasp spot-kick against PSG. Rashford’s dramatic stoppage-time penalty secured injury-hit United an extraordinary 3-1 victory against the odds at PSG as Solskjaer’s men marched into the Champions League quarter-finals. The odds were stacked against them after losing 2-0 in the first leg – but United turned the improbable into reality in an extraordinary Parc des Princes clash, securing a 3-1 victory and progress on away goals. Solskjaer revealed his game plan in Paris, while Lukaku also made an impassioned plea for the interim manager to be handed the reins permanently. Lukaku, with two goals to his name already in the game, could have claimed a hat-trick by netting from the spot – but he instead handed the responsibility to Rashford, who made no mistake against Gigi Buffon from 12 yards. Explaining the discussion they held before the penalty was taken, Lukaku told BeIN Sport: “I was happy that he scored. He came to me and wanted to shoot. “I said ‘man, this is your time. Do it for yourself and us’.” The duo have formed a great understanding in recent weeks and Lukaku admitted he had high hopes it could continue. “I like it more because Marcus and I, we are dynamic, we have a lot of running in us and we score goals,” he added. “It has been nice to play him. When we played against Southampton, he made it so much easier for me and I scored two goals.” Lukaku also hailed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tactics as United, missing 10 players through injury, knocked out the French champions. He added: “If you look at their side, you know they are good at keeping the ball and playing in the right spaces but the manager asked me and Marcus to screen the midfielders. “That is what we did and on the counter, when we had little chances, we pounced.” Get the latest personalised Red Devils products on our new TEAMtalk Man Utd shop!<doc-sep>Paul Pogba had to sit and watch his Manchester United teammates try and make history against PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday night and after the match he showed how much he enjoyed Marcus Rashford's penalty winner. Three weeks ago barely anyone thought that Manchester United had a chance of going through to the Champions League quarter finals. Then the Premier League side had lost their first game under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 against PSG. The Red Devils lost 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe. Advert 10 To make matters worse for them Paul Pogba was sent off late in the game meaning their best player would miss the game through suspension. Worse still United then lost other nine players through injury ahead of Wednesday's second leg. Being Pogbaless didn't end up hampering United though as Romelu Lukaku's brace and a late penalty for Marcus Rashford, that the French midfielder would have normally taken, sent United through. After the match the two goal scorers were being interviewed by BT Sport and Pogba crashed the interview to hug his teammates, and probably thank them for bailing him out a little: This is why we love football... Paul Pogba crashes Rashford and Lukaku's interview :joy: :microphone2: @DesKellyBTS pic.twitter.com/tgOgiFcgsr - Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 6, 2019 Advert 10 The former Juventus midfielder has been instrumental in helping the Red Devils overturn their fortunes since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over from Jose Mourinho. In the last manager's last game, a 3-1 loss to Liverpool. the World Cup winner stayed sitting on the bench with the manager preferring three substitutes ahead of him. Since then though there's been barely any players in the top five leagues in Europe as important to their team as Pogba. Solskjaer celebrates at full time. Image: PA Images Advert 10 Missing the 25 year old made Solskjaer's achievement on Wednesday even more impressive as he went with a midfield pairing of Fred and Scott McTominay, who haven't played much. United didn't set up well to start with Eric Bailly at right back being at fault for PSG's goal but Solskjaer soon replaced him with Diogo Dalot and Ashley Young moved to right back with far more success.<doc-sep>Manchester United players are in dreamland right now as Paul Pogba gatecrashed a post-match interview with Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford. The Red Devils staged an incredible comeback against Paris Saint-Germain this evening, winning 3-1 to go through on away goals after being beaten 2-0 at home in the first game. This is why we love football… Paul Pogba crashes Rashford and Lukaku's interview ? ? @DesKellyBTS pic.twitter.com/tgOgiFcgsr — Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 6, 2019 This will surely go down as one of the best Man Utd results ever in Europe, and it was also the first time a team had come from behind to go through after losing by two or more goals at home in the first leg. No wonder then that Pogba, Lukaku and Rashford couldn’t contain their excitement after the game!<doc-sep>Once you have subscribed we will use the email you provided to send you the newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the newsletter email. Manchester United produced a miracle last night. Very few expected them to go to Paris Saint-Germain and turn around a two-goal deficit in their Champions League last 16 tie. But that's exactly what they did. A Romelu Lukaku brace and a goal from Juan Bernat meant Man United desperately needed a goal in stoppage time to win the tie. They got it in dramatic circumstances when Diogo Dalot's speculative strike hit the arm of Presnel Kimpembe. Marcus Rashford then struck home the penalty with aplomb to complete one of the most unlikely comebacks in Man United's Champions League history. There was a great moment between Paul Pogba and the two goal-scorers after the game. Pogba missed the tie through suspension but travelled with his side to support them. He was captured celebrating wildly on the pitch at half-time, and he also decided to crash Lukaku & Rashford's interview after the game. Just seconds after the interview started Pogba came rushing in as he celebrated with his teammates. Watch it below: Quality stuff. There is a wonderful team spirit building at Old Trafford and that moment just emphasises it. Rashford's winner was the first penalty he has taken in a competitive match for the club. Despite being inexperienced at penalties, as well as being 21 years old, Rashford showed incredible composure to dispatch his spot-kick past Gianluigi Buffon. And he revealed afterwards he was trying to keep a cool head. “I was just thinking: keep a cool head, you know?" He said, per ManUtd.com. "They are the type of things you practice every day. "I wanted to take it, and probably other people on the pitch [did] as well, but it doesn't matter because we've progressed to the next round! “That's probably the hardest thing – the wait before [the penalty], but it's all part of the game. "Those moments, that's what we live for. You want to get through those moments and be smiling after.” News Now - Sport News<doc-sep>

(Image: GETTY) United are through to the next round of the Champions League in one of the great games of recent history after beating Paris St-Germain 3-1 at the Parc des Princes. In a stunning comeback and without 10 players including Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Nemanja Matic and Jesse Lingard, the Red Devils overturned a 2-0 deficit to win on away goals. A major error from Thilo Kehrer allowed Romelu Lukaku to open the scoring before Juan Bernat equalised soon after. But the 25-year-old struck again after Gianluigi Buffon spilled a shot, however, the most dramatic moment was yet to come. In the dying embers of the game and with the Old Trafford outfit going out, Diogo Dalot struck a potshot that struck Presnel Kimbempe’s arm which VAR ruled as a penalty. Marcus Rashford, with ice-cold veins, scored from the spot to send United fans into a frenzy and win the tie. There was talk on social media on letting Lukaku take the penalty to get his hat-trick. It paralleled a similar situation that happened at Southampton at the weekend, with United being given another last-gasp penalty. (Image: GETTY) Lukaku was also on for a hat-trick after scoring an excellent brace but Pogba took responsibility and missed. And the former Everton striker has revealed he was more than happy to step to the side for the second time in a row. “I was happy that [Rashford] scored, he came to me and wanted to shoot,” Lukaku told beIN SPORTS afterwards. “I said to him, ‘Man, it’s your time, so do it for yourself and for us’ and he did it, so I’m really happy.” The Belgian forward initially found it difficult to break into the team ahead of Rashford but Solskjaer is now playing the duo together and Lukaku has admitted he could not be happier. “I like it more [playing with two up front] because Marcus and I – obviously people think I’m more a target man but the manager wants me to be more dynamic, which I prefer – so Marcus is the same, dynamic as well. “We have a lot of running in us, we try to make actions or give the final pass and we score goals. “It’s been nice playing with him. I think when we played against Southampton, he played up front with me, and it made it so much easier for me.” *** LUKAKU HAS SOME INSIDE INFO ON SOLSKJAER ***

The couple got engaged in 2013 and have two children together Dustin Johnson is speaking up about the breakup rumors plaguing his relationship. The golfer, who got engaged to Paulina Gretzky in 2013, wrote on Twitter, “Every relationship goes through its ups and downs, but most importantly, we love each other very much and are committed to being a family. Thank you for your love and support.” Get push notifications with news, features and more. Johnson and Gretzky, the 29-year-old daughter of hockey icon Wayne Gretzky, share sons River Jones, 14 months, and Tatum, 3. RELATED LINK: WATCH: Wayne Gretzky Is Doing More Than Playing Hockey To Earn The Title Of ‘The Great One’ Earlier this week, Barstool Sports reported that Gretzky, a model, removed all pictures of Johnson, 34, from her Instagram. After Tatum’s birth, Gretzky gushed about Johnson to PEOPLE. “Dustin’s the best dad,” she said. “He’s my best friend. He’s been so supportive with me and we’re just there for each other.”<doc-sep>Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images Dustin Johnson released a statement on Twitter on Tuesday amid rumors of infidelity after his fiancee, Paulina Gretzky, deleted all photos of the couple on her Instagram account. "Every relationship goes through its ups and downs, but most importantly, we love each other very much and are committed to being a family. Thank you for your love and support," Johnson wrote. Johnson's alleged mistress, Yassie Safai, released a statement to TMZ denying all rumors of the relationship: "I am not in a relationship with Dustin Johnson. Nor have we had any prior relationship. I met Dustin Johnson at Sherwood Country Club. I have run into him at Sherwood maybe four times since then and yes briefly spoke with him, like I'm sure any avid golfer and member would." "I am sure he is a great person, but we do not have a close friendship. I have never met Paulina Gretzky and do not know the Gretzky family, but again, I am sure they are great people. I have no insight into the rumors around Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky's relationship. I wish them nothing but the best. I just want to go back to living my normal life." TMZ's report says Gretzky and Johnson are still together. Their source did not clarify why Gretzky removed Johnson from her Instagram. The two have been engaged since 2013. They have two children.<doc-sep>Paulina Gretzky returned to Instagram after a month-long absence to post a video of herself listening to a sad song about an old love. The model daughter of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky posted a video that showed her laying in bed as the Dustin Lynch song 'I'd Be Jealous Too' played over the video. On that song, Lynch sings during the chorus: 'I'd be jealous too, if she was with you / I’d be out of my mind, watching her move / If I was just a guy with across the room view / I’d be jealous too, if she was with you, with you.' Her decision to select that song in the wake of rumors that her longtime boyfriend had an affair with a young socialite only served to fuel speculation about the pair's relationship. Scroll down for video All the filters: Paulian Gretzky (above in post from Wednesday) shared an Instagram post with the song 'I'd Be Jealous Too' playing over video of herself lying in bed No sctbs: Gretzky has not scrubbed Johnson, 34, from her Instagram account however in the wake of these rumors and he still appears in her saved stories (left and right in stories from 2018) United: That rumor could be confirmed next week if Gretzky does not attend the Ryder Cup with Johnson due to the tradition of wives and girlfriends joining players (Gretzky and Johnson at the President's Cup last year) It was reported earlier this month that Johnson had been enjoying the company of 39-year-old Yassie Safai. That allegation was then followed by the false claim that Gretzky, 29, had deleted Johnson, 34, from her social media. Gretzky has not however scrubbed her Instagram profile of Johnson, despite the reports from a number of outlets. In fact, Johnson pops up frequently in two of the three tagged Instagram stories that Gretzky has saved at the top of her page. The two are seen downing shots, lounging around in swimsuits and cuddling up to one another as they fly private. Fore bag: It was reported earlier this month that Johnson had been enjoying the company of 39-year-old Yassie Safai Safai and Johnson were both quick to respond, but offered up markedly doferet statements. 'Every relationship goes through its ups and downs, but most importantly, we love each other very much and are committed to being a family,' said Johnson on Twitter. 'Thank you for your love and support.' Johnson has not spoken more on the matter at this time, despite showing up for a press conference this week ahead of his current tournament. Safai issued a far longer statement on the matter. 'I am sure he is a great person but we do not have a close friendship,' she said of Johnson, admitting they had crossed paths a few times at their country club. 'I have never met Paulina Gretzky and do not know the Gretzky family, but again, I am sure they are great people.' She continued: 'I have no insight into the rumors around Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky relationship. I wish them nothing but the best. I just want to go back to living my normal life.' Safai then disappeared from public eye while Gretzky got back to work practicing for the Ryder Cup, which begins next week. Little ones: Gretzky and Johnson became engaged after just seven months of dating back in 2013 and have two children: 3-year-old Tatum and River, who just turned one in June (above in June 2017 after River's birth) Motorboating: 'Every relationship goes through its ups and downs, but most importantly, we love each other very much,' said Johnson Through the wire: 'Every relationship goes through its ups and downs, but most importantly, we love each other very much,' said Johnson (above on Twitter) It has long been tradition that the wives and girlfriends of the players in competition attend the Ryder Cup, so f Gretzky is absent it would provide proof the her relationship with Johnson is on the rocks - or over. Gertzky was by Johnson's side the last time he appeared at the event , and in August of last year at the President's Cup. The speculation around Grtetzky's decision has reached such a fever pitch that fans can even bet on the outcome. Bovada is collecting bets, and 'No' is currently the heavy favorite. Gretzky and Johnson became engaged after just seven months of dating back in 2013 and have two children: 3-year-old Tatum and River, who just turned one in June. Dustin teed off on Thursday afternoon in DeKalb, Georgia at the Dell Technologies Championship, and from there will fly to Paris on Monday for the Ryder Cup.<doc-sep>So long, split rumors! Paulina made it clear that she and her fiancee were A-OK when she planted a big kiss on his cheek at the Ryder Cup. See for yourself! Paulina Gretzky, 29, made a major statement when she deleted all the photos of her fiancee Dustin Johnson, 34, from her Instagram account — but that was two weeks ago and she’s making a much different statement now! The social media star was at the Ryder Cup in Paris to support Dustin when the pro golfer helped his team beat out Europe. To celebrate, Paulina flung her arms around her fiancee and planted a big ol’ kiss on his cheek. She looked incredible as always with her hair curled and her makeup on point. She even matched her fiancee’s navy blue striped tee in a puffy blue jacket. Aw! After wiping her social media clean of her fiancee, reports emerged that socialite Yassie Safai was the reason why. “Every relationship goes through its ups and downs, but most importantly, we love each other very much and are committed to being a family. Thank you for your love and support,” Dustin fired back in response to those cheating accusations. Since then, we’ve seen these two looking back to normal and better than ever in Paris for the golf tournament. In fact, they attended the Ryder Cup Gala on Sept. 26 at the Palace of Versailles and were all smiles. And can we just say, Paulina stunned in a strapless gold gown. She and Dustin don’t just make a cute couple — they also share two adorable children together! Pictures of their daughters Tatum, 3, and River, 1, are often on Paulina’s Instagram and melt our hearts every time. We love this family of four, and it’s great to see them displaying such sweet PDA after so many wild rumors. Wishing them all the best!<doc-sep>

Things between Dustin Johnson and long-time girlfriend Paulina Gretzky appear to be on shaky ground. There is no sign of Johnson on Gretzky’s Instagram account as she seems to have scrubbed any posts involving the golfer from her page. Both have been mostly quiet on their relationship status, but Johnson did release a brief statement. “Every relationship goes through its ups and downs, but most importantly, we love each other very much and are committed to being a family. Thank you for your love and support,” Johnson said in the statement. As for Gretzky, she has been posting modeling photos except for this post on one of Gretzky’s Instagram stories. The post featured the song “I’d Be Jealous Too” by Dustin Lynch. Here’s part of the lyrics to the song. I’d be jealous too, if she was with you I’d be out my mind, watching her move If I was just a guy with across the room view I’d be jealous too, if she was with you, with you It is anyone’s guess what this means, but it does not seem like a good sign for the couple. TMZ Reported Johnson & Gretzky Are Not Broken Up The Sun reported Yassie Safai was at the center of the split, a woman Johnson met at the Sherwood Country Club. However, Safai denied being in a relationship with Johnson noting she has only met him a few times. TMZ reported Gretzky and Johnson have not broken up. According to the New York Post, Safai released a statement on her Instagram page which has now been deleted. I met Dustin Johnson at Sherwood Country Club. I have run into him at Sherwood maybe 4 times since then and yes briefly spoke with him, like I’m sure any avid golfer and member would… I am sure he is a great person but we do not have a close friendship. I have never met Paulina Gretzky and do not know the Gretzky family, but again, I am sure they are great people… I have no insight into the rumors around Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky’s relationship. I wish them nothing but the best. I just want to go back to living my normal life. The Couple Has Been Engaged Since 2013 The couple has been engaged since 2013, and Gretzky told Golf Digest they had planned to get married in 2014 but did not because of scheduling. Gretzky also spoke about planning a wedding in a 2017 Instagram post. Gretzky and Johnson originally met through Gretzky’s parents. They met Johnson at a golf tournament and wanted to introduce him to their daughter. Gretzky spoke with Golf Digest about being unprepared for their surprise meeting. At the end of 2011, my mom played with Dustin in the Wednesday pro-am at Tiger’s tournament at Sherwood. She told Dustin about her daughter, blah-blah-blah, and invited him to the house that night. I’m sure he was rolling his eyes, and so was I when my mom invited me over to meet this golfer she had just met. So I show up looking like a complete ragamuffin, and here’s this really cute guy. I didn’t stay long, but he was such a gentleman, so endearing. He’s always been that way to me. We exchanged numbers, and here we are. READ NOW: Paulina Gretzky & Dustin Johnson: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

The Central Elections Committee has released the latest results for the April 9 Knesset elections. With the completion of the vote count, including those of IDF servicemembers, Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party gained a 36th Knesset seat while his main rival, the Blue and White Party, remains at 35 of the Israeli parliament's 120 seats. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The figures, released by the committee, after a delay of several hours caused by technical issues, also showed that Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked’s New Right party failed to pass the threshold of 3.25% of the vote. Justice Hanan Melcer (Photo: Gil Yohanan) The latest results indicate that a party required 139,744 votes in order to pass the threshold and the New Right lacked 1,461 votes. The Right-wing bloc now has a 65-55 advantage over the Left and the Arab parties. However, minor changes to the final tally may still be forthcoming. The other parties have the following number of Knesset seats: Shas, 8; Yahadut Hatorah lost one seat to the Likud and now has 7; Labor and Hadash-Ta'al, 6; the Union of Right-Wing Parties, 5; Yisrael Beytenu, 5; Meretz and Ra'am-Blad, 4 each. The Zehut Party failed to pass the threshold. PM Netanyahu, Sara, on election night Netanyahu is already in the midst of negotiations in order to form, what would be a narrow, coalition of 65 MKs, but any of his partners will have the ability to bring down the government. Another option is for the prime minister to seek a national unity government with the Blue and White Party, or with defectors from that party, in order to form a more stable coalition. The announcement of the results was scheduled for 8pm but was delayed, due to what the head of the Central Elections Committee said were technical issues. Justice Hanan Melcer, said in a statement to the press that an announcement would be made before midnight. Bennett; Shaked (Photo: Shaul Golan, Yariv Katz) He said that there had been a problem with transmitting the final results to the commitee's website, but that the results would also be online at midnight. Earlier, CEC spokesman Giora Pordes said that several polling stations had been subjected to further investigation because their results were "out of balance" and that the data and the reporting protocols had not corresponded. "We are talking about 30-40 polling stations that are being investigated following complaints, because of the close race between some of the parties, every vote is important and examined with sensitivity," Pordes said. Meretz leader Tamar Zandberg (Photo: Yair Sagi) Representatives of several parties addressed the committee on Thursday, alleging fraud in the vote count, including Meretz leader Tamar Zandberg, whose left-wing, secular party won at least four seats, and Rabbi Haim Amsalem of the far-right Zehut Party, which failed to pass the electoral threshold of 3.25 percent for entry in to the Knesset. Zandberg told the committee that her party's votes had been interfered with by members of an ultra-Orthodox party. "They are trying to steal a seat from us. We have reports of political interference in counting votes. United Torah Judaism is trying to exert pressure so that Meretz's fifth seat goes to them. We have been informed of disappearing ballot boxes and discrepancies between the protocols and what is posted on the elections website," she said. "Even in the elections for the Tel Aviv municipality, this happened to us with United Torah Judaism and serious irregularities. This situation cannot be repeated, and the purity of the elections must be preserved." UTJ rejected the allegations, saying that her claims were groundless. The Zehut Party claims that confirmed votes counted at the polls are not showing up on the Central Committee's website and suspect foul play. Also earlier, outgoing Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked was at the committee offices where she expressed hope that once ballots cast by IDF servicemembers were counted, her New Right Party would pass the electoral threshold, but that seems to not be the case.<doc-sep>According to the near-final results of Tuesday’s general election in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has won a narrow but decisive victory. Netanyahu’s Likud party and former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party have tied for first place in the voting, but the right-wing bloc that will likely recommend Netanyahu as prime minister remains comfortably larger. According to Israeli news site Walla, with 97 percent of the vote counted, Likud and Blue and White both received 35 Knesset seats. However, the right-religious bloc that has supported Netanyahu in previous governments controls 65 seats, while the center-left that would support Gantz has only 55. As a result, it will almost certainly be Netanyahu who is called upon by President Reuven Rivlin to form the next government. Further results showed the religious parties Shas and Yahadut HaTorah receiving eight seats apiece. The center-left Labor party and Arab party Hadash-Ta’al received six seats respectively. Center-right Yisrael Beiteinu and religious-right Union of Right-Wing Parties won five seats each. Four seats apiece went to left-wing Meretz, centrist Kulanu, and Arab party Ra’am-Balad. The results come after a tense night in which exit polls showed uncertain results. One indicated a Blue and White victory, while two others showed a tie and an advantage for the right-wing bloc, which appears to have been accurate. Both Netanyahu and Gantz declared victory overnight before the final results came in.<doc-sep>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looked set for another term Wednesday as his main rival conceded defeat. "It is a night of colossal victory," Netanyahu told supporters in a speech late Tuesday. On Wednesday, Yair Lapid, a leader of the centrist Blue and White Party led by former military chief Benny Gantz, conceded in a televised statement that the party "didn't win in this round." "We will make Likud's life hell in the opposition," he added, referring to Netanyahu's right-wing party. Both Likud and Blue and White won the same number of seats in the 120-member Parliament. The results affirmed Israel's tilt to the right and further dimmed hopes of a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both Netanyahu and Gantz claimed victory after the exit poll results were released. But as the night went on, there were growing signs that Netanyahu's Likud was pulling ahead. "The right bloc in the Likud won a definite victory. I thank the citizens of Israel for their trust. I will begin forming a right-wing government with our natural partners tonight," Netanyahu tweeted in Hebrew. If Netanyahu's Likud Party succeeds in forming a parliamentary majority and he again serves as prime minister, it would be his fourth consecutive and fifth overall term, making him the longest-serving leader in the country's history. Gantz on Wednesday morning said that although "there is a dark sky," there was still reason for hope. "The reports tell an unfinished story," he tweeted. "There is nothing final in them since there may be electoral movements and we may be able to develop political moves of one kind or another." The election has been widely seen as a referendum on the scandal-plagued Netanyahu, who in the waning days of the campaign pledged to annex Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank if re-elected. His campaign was severely tested by Gantz, 59, a former head of the Israeli Defense Forces and a political novice who formed the Blue and White Party, a coalition of centrists and former military officers, on a promise of clean government and social harmony. Gantz, a retired three-star general, sent a jolt through Israeli politics this year when he partnered with centrist politician and former television host Yair Lapid to form the new party. If elected, Gantz would lead the government for two and a half years, with Lapid doing so for the remainder of the four-year term. Benny Gantz addresses supporters on Wednesday. Sebastian Scheiner / AP Gantz hit out at Netanyahu over the series of scandals swirling around him. Netanyahu tried to portray Gantz as inexperienced and weak. Palestinians on Wednesday morning expressed disappointment with the election result. "Regrettably, Israelis overwhelmingly voted for candidates that are unequivocally committed to entrenching the status quo," PLO executive committee member Hanan Ashrawi said. Under Israel's political system, building a government is an uncertain and sometimes tortuous process. No Israeli party has ever won an outright majority in the 120-seat Parliament — which means larger parties must form a coalition with smaller ones. More than 40 parties competed in the elections, including ultra-Orthodox religious parties, Arab factions and fringe movements such as the Pirate and Simply Love party. Only a handful were expected to win the 3.25 percent of the vote necessary to break the electoral threshold and earn the minimum four seats in Parliament. Negotiations could take days or even weeks. After final results are released in around 24 hours or so, President Reuven Rivlin will meet with party leaders and select the one he believes is most capable of forming a coalition based on each party’s recommendations. That party, usually but not always the largest faction, then has four weeks to form a coalition. A new government will be given the four-year term, but disagreements between coalition parties often result in early elections. Should neither bloc be able to form the coalition, Israel could face the prospect of a second election in November. Election Day is a national holiday and Israeli elections tend to have high turnout. The last elections in 2015 saw voter turnout of 72 percent. But Arab voters, who make up 20 percent of the electorate, were expected to boycott the vote amid accusations that Netanyahu was inciting the public against them. Netanyahu has run a series of right-wing governments that have included religious, far-right and marginal parties. But his recent decision to forge an alliance with a fringe extremist party inspired by an American-born rabbi, Meir Kahane, who advocated a Jewish theocracy and the forced removal of Palestinians, raised alarm among even some Netanyahu allies. The passage in July of the “nation-state” law declaring that only Israel's Jews had the right of self-determination and stripping Arabic of its designation as an official language alongside Hebrew was also decried by critics who say it institutionalized discrimination. Serious scandal dogged Netanyahu's run. On Feb. 28, Israel's attorney general recommended indicting Netanyahu on bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three different cases. He has also been caught up in a scandal involving the $2 billion purchase of submarines from a German company. Police have recommended that Netanyahu's personal attorney, who is also his cousin, be indicted on charges of bribery and money laundering, although the prime minister himself is not a suspect. Netanyahu has called the investigations a “witch hunt.” Likud campaign posters showing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu litter the floor at the party's headquarters in Tel Aviv. Jack Guez / AFP - Getty Images During the campaign, he highlighted his close relationship with President Donald Trump — an especially popular figure in Israel even when compared to decades of close relations between the countries. Trump has made a series of decisions that have endeared him to Netanyahu and to many Israeli voters. Washington's withdrawal from the nuclear agreement with Iran — which many Israelis see as an existential threat — was a coup for Netanyahu. Then came the decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. And on March 21, Trump recognized Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967. In addition, Trump's ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, is popular among Israeli right-wing voters. He has written articles against a two-state solution and given money to groups supporting Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Netanyahu visited the White House on March 25 — underscoring the relationship. And Monday, he issued a personal message to Trump after the administration announced it was designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization. "Thank you, my dear friend," he said. "Thank you for responding to another important request of mine, which serves the interests of our countries and countries of the region."<doc-sep>

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared an “incredible victory” as emerging results for Israel’s general election on Tuesday showed Likud with a clear lead. “This is an unimaginable achievement,” Netanyahu told jubilant supporters at Likud Party headquarters in Tel Aviv in the early hours of Wednesday morning. “I am very moved tonight, a night of tremendous victory. I am very excited that the people of Israel once again trusted me for the fifth time and with greater confidence.” “I believe that God and history gave the Jewish people another opportunity to turn their country into a strong nation, and that’s what I’m working for,” he said. With more than 3.4 million ballots counted as of early Wednesday morning in Israel, Likud had 27 percent of the votes, ahead of Blue and White at 25.9 percent. At the same time, Israel’s Channel 12 and Channel 13 both updated their exit polls, giving Likud a 35-34 seat lead over Blue and White leader Benny Gantz. Subscribe to The JNS Daily Syndicate by email and never miss our top stories Despite an emerging lead in the ballot results, Netanyahu did recommend patience until the final results are in. “A long night—maybe a long day—is still ahead of us, and we will wait for the final results,” he said. However, the Israeli leader said he has spoken to a number of right-wing party heads, and “nearly all of them” have declared that they will support him to form the next government. An Israel Hayom report also indicated that Netanyahu may ask Kulanu Party leader Moshe Kahlon, a former Likud member, to merge with Likud, thereby making it the largest party. Kahlon has already said that he would back Netanyahu as prime minister. ‘It’s definitely a victory’ An emotional Netanyahu, who thanked supporters, said he intends to be a leader of all Israelis: “The next government will be a right-wing government. Yet I intend to be the prime minister of all Israelis, right and left, Jews and non-Jews alike.” When the polls first closed at 10 p.m. local time, Likud members were cautious with initial exit poll results that put Gantz ahead. Nevertheless, key party members said they were confident that Netanyahu would remain Israel’s leader as more results rolled in. “We know the next prime minister of Israel will be Netanyahu,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Hotovely told JNS. “At the moment, he is creating his next coalition.” Sharren Haskel, Likud’s youngest member, told JNS that “it’s definitely a victory.” “Our group of the coalition of the right-wing [parties] grew as well, so it shored more secure and more trust that they are giving to us, so yes, it is definitely a win,” she said. Just hours before Netanyahu’s speech, Gantz addressed his supporters in Tel Aviv as well. The former Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces also declared himself the victor, saying that he would be the next prime minister. “Yes, friends, I will be the prime minister of everyone and not just those who voted for me. No one from a party that is not ours should worry. We all need to think about how we can work together, how we can bring everyone into the discussion,” he said. JNS reporter Josh Hasten contributed to this story.

The 2018 first-round pick has been showing up at Salmon River High School before classes start in the morning to work out with the new equipment. Salmon River High School in Idaho got a major addition recently thanks to Cowboys rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. As his first year in the NFL was wrapping up, Vander Esch wanted to help take care of the wretched weight room the students had been forced to literally help assemble in shop class, according to B.J. Rains of the Idaho Press. So in December, as the Cowboys were making a push to the playoffs and Vander Esch was finishing up a Pro Bowl season, he finalized the project with Scott Wilde of Boise Fitness Equipment. They designed the new weight room and hand-picked what equipment would be added. In the end, the project had a total value of about $70,000. Vander Esch footed the bill by putting up more than $45,000 in cash and also agreeing to a marketing deal with Boise Fitness Equipment to get a discount on the equipment and installation. "I don't know that we had a bench in the whole place that didn’t have a hole in it," Salmon River football coach Ty Medley told the Idaho Press. "A lot of barbells were refurbished, some were falling apart. Training there for a while you kind of knew what was usable and how to use it and make it stay together, but in our shop class we did make squat racks. It was bare bones. "I got to see the whole process, and to see the final product is just amazing. It's more than I ever would have seen us have in our weight room." The No. 19 pick from the 2018 draft has also been making use of this new weight room while in the offseason, showing up to the school at 6 a.m. to get a workout in before classes start. He is also helping provide the basketball and football teams new uniforms for next season through his apparel deal with Nike. In his first year out of Boise State, he set a Cowboys rookie record and finished third in the NFL with 140 tackles.<doc-sep>Getty Images Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch had an impactful rookie year on the field, and now he’s making an impact off the field as well. Vander Esch has purchased a new weight room for Salmon River High School, the school he attended in Riggins, Idaho. Vander Esch said he wanted to do something to help his community after signing his first NFL contract, and refurbishing the room where he spent so much time in high school seemed like a good fit. “It was the first thing that popped into my mind because it was a big need,” Vander Esch told the Idaho Press. “It just made the most sense. A lot of the racks and stuff were all made in shop class and everybody has been saying we need a new weight room. It was barely even a weight room before, and now to see the excitement level of the guys using the new room has just been awesome.” The total cost of the weight room is $70,000, of which Vander Esch paid $45,000 out of his own pocket and got a fitness equipment company to donate the rest in exchange for Vander Esch making promotional appearances for the company. Vander Esch is back home this offseason and has been going to his old school before 6 a.m. most mornings to work out there himself. He also personally unloaded the heaviest weights, 125-pound dumbbells, that the players aren’t strong enough to carry from the delivery truck to the weight room. At least not yet.<doc-sep>He may have had a Pro Bowl rookie season, but Dallas Cowboys’ Leighton Vander Esch hasn’t forgotten where he came from, and when he wanted to give back to his hometown, Vander Esch found a solution that benefits everyone — including himself. ‘It made the most sense’ Via the Idaho Press, Vander Esch wanted to do something for his alma mater, Salmon River High School, and needed somewhere to work out when he was back home in tiny Riggins, Idaho. Solution? Vander Esch paid for a desperately needed new weight room at the school. Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch paid for his high school to get a new weight room. (AP) “It was the first thing that popped into my mind because it was a big need,” Vander Esch said. “It just made the most sense. A lot of the racks and stuff were all made in shop class and everybody has been saying we need a new weight room. It was barely even a weight room before, and now to see the excitement level of the guys using the new room has just been awesome.” “It just shows his roots and how much he’s connected and still interested in helping the youngsters that are trying to follow in the same path he did,” Salmon River football coach Ty Medley said. “The positive momentum it has already created in two weeks has been great. All of a sudden the guys are far more interested in working out because it’s high quality, brand new stuff.” Since the weight room opened, Vander Esch has been using it most days starting at 6 a.m., working out before school starts. Huge improvement The old room was in dire condition: in addition to the racks Vander Esch mentioned, Medley said nearly every bench had a hole in it, the barbells were refurbished or falling apart. Now? There are two proper racks, a cable-cross unit, benches, 25 sets of dumbbells, kettlebells and other equipment. “I got to see the whole process, and to see the final product is just amazing,” Medley said. “It’s more than I ever would have seen us have in our weight room.” The project cost $70,000, and Vander Esch paid over $45,000 of that out of his own pocket; agent Ron Slavin negotiated a discount on equipment and installation with Boise Fitness Equipment in exchange for Vander Esch doing some marketing and promotional work with the company. Story continues Hands-on involvement Vender Esch was involved in designing the room with Boise Fitness, and when the equipment was delivered earlier this month, he was right there to help unload the truck and unpack boxes. But the weight room isn’t the only thing Vander Esch is doing to help Salmon River: as part of an apparel deal he has with Nike, he’s arranged for the school’s football and basketball teams to get new uniforms. More from Yahoo Sports:<doc-sep>We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email circulation@idahopress.com for help creating one.<doc-sep>

Leighton Vander Esch has come a long way from Salmon River High School in Idaho, but his heart never has. Now he’s taken a step toward repaying his gratitude to his hometown team by improving the facilities he used to pave his way to the NFL. As reported by the Idaho Press, Vander Esch donated a brand spanking new weight room to Salmon River, paying more than $45,000 to replace former antiquated benches and racks that were sometimes made by teenagers in the school’s shop class. No more. In addition to the $45,000 Vander Esch paid himself, he also agreed to approximately $35,000 worth of in-kind marketing for Boise Fitness Equipment, which provided the gear to Salmon River. That makes the total investment $70,000 for Salmon River students before the addition of new Nike uniforms for the school’s football and basketball teams, a result of Vander Esch’s endorsement deal with the company. “It was the first thing that popped into my mind because it was a big need,” Vander Esch told the Idaho Press. “It just made the most sense. A lot of the racks and stuff were all made in shop class and everybody has been saying we need a new weight room. It was barely even a weight room before, and now to see the excitement level of the guys using the new room has just been awesome.” If there was any doubt Vander Esch would make the most of the new gear during the offseason, he dispelled that very quickly, working out at 6 a.m. to use the equipment before the start of school. According to Boise Fitness Equipment’s Scott Wilde in the Idaho Press, Vander Esch’s personal connection with the school is readily apparent, and absolutely genuine.

Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) The granddaughter of World War II-era Italian dictator Benito Mussolini declared a war of her own — on Jim Carrey. Alessandra Mussolini on Sunday blasted the comic actor as a “bastard” for drawing a picture showing the 1945 public execution of her grandfather and one of his mistresses, Clara Petacci. “If you’re wondering what fascism leads to, just ask Benito Mussolini and his mistress Claretta,” the “Dumb and Dumber” actor and frequent political cartoonist wrote on Twitter. In response, Mussolini — a 56-year-old member of the Italian Parliament — tweeted out images of controversial moments in US history that she appears to think would be more appropriate for Carrey to depict. They included the story of Rosa Parks, an image of Native American leaders standing in front of Mount Rushmore and an atom-bomb mushroom cloud. She also went after Carrey for his drawings of President Trump, writing, “President @realDonaldTrump doesn’t have to worry about poor @JimCarrey politica attacks; his drawings are only dirty paper.”<doc-sep>Alessandra Mussolini, the Italian politician who is the granddaughter of Benito Mussolini, attacked Jim Carrey on Twitter over a political sketch. The actor shared an image he’d drawn of the former dictator and his mistress, Claretta Petacci, hanging upside down in Piazzale Loreto, Milan, after they were executed in April of 1945. Posted to Twitter, it was accompanied by the caption: “If you’re wondering what fascism leads to, just ask Benito Mussolini and his mistress Claretta.” “You are a b******,” Ms Mussolini tweeted at Carrey. The daughter of Romano Mussolini, the fourth son of Benito Mussolini, she is a former actress and model who was elected to European Parliament in 2014, representing the centre-right party Forza Italia. “President @realDonaldTrump doesn’t have to worry about poor @JimCarrey politica [sic] attacks; his drawings are only dirty paper,” she tweeted. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. 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Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. 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In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris.<doc-sep>The saying “there is still space in Piazzale Loreto” (“a Piazzale Loreto c’è ancora posto“) is still casually used in Italy when commenting on a civilian or a politician displaying or supporting authoritarian tendencies. Jim Carrey, the actor turned artist, provided his take on that sentiment when he tweeted a drawing he made of the slain World War II dictator Benito Mussolini and his mistress, Claretta Petacci, hanging upside down. He intended it to be a warning that all fascists are doomed to perish disastrously. The drawing was based in the historic photograph showing Mussolini and Petacci’s corpses displayed alongside two other fascists in Milan’s Piazzale Loreto, after they had been executed near Como on April 28, 1945. Public domani photo via Wikimedia Commons Benito Mussolini and Claretta Petacci’s corpses displayed in Piazzale Loreto. For an Italy that had been beset by fascism, war, and then civil war for two decades, the display was cathartic. Those mutilated corpses represented the end of a nightmare, a final victory against fascism as embodied in the man who had started it all. With his drawing, Carrey meant to send a warning to fascists worldwide. The undignified end of the man whose rule inspired Adolph Hitler is a graphic, powerful symbol. But the reaction to his tweet and the context into which he launched it shows how anti-fascists need to stand warned. Carrey was immediately attacked on Twitter by Alessandra Mussolini—granddaughter of dictator Benito Mussolini and member of the European Parliament who represents Silvio Berlusconi’s populist Forza Italia. “You’re a bastard,” she said in a reply that received more than 14,000 likes. She then went on to spar with others who criticized her, eventually railing against “the American #antifa“—the anti-fascist activists that Mussolini called “perhaps more annoying than our own.” Fascism never died in Italy Alessandra Mussolini didn’t just reply to Carrey as a private citizen—she has been a prominent member of Italian politics since 1992. Her rise, less than 50 years after her grandfather was hanging upside down in Piazzale Loreto, came because of her last name, not despite it. In the years since she entered politics, her far-right, sometimes outright fascist ideology became more influential, and normalized. Mussolini uses the freedom that the “antifa” she laments fought for to call Carrey a “bastard” on Twitter, in Italy freedom of speech is so endangered that author Roberto Saviano is facing a trial for libel because he called interior minister Matteo Salvini a criminal, after he refused rescuing migrants crossing the Mediterranean and let them die at sea. At the same time, Italy’s strongest political current is a deeply xenophobic interpretation of sovranismo (essentially nationalism under a new name) embodied by Salvini and an aggressive anti-immigration political doctrine that values being straight, male, white, and Christian above all else. Just this weekend, he addressed a self-described “congress of families” in Verona, which was organized to oppose the rights of LGBTQ people, amongst others. Only miles away, anti-fascist groups protesting against an anti-abortion rally by members of neofascist group Forza Nuova were met by police brutality. The long reach of the far right Italy is not alone in providing support for the far-right movements that have taken hold in democracies across the West by promulgating nationalist and anti-immigrant sentiment. Today (April 1), the president of the US—for whom Mussolini has expressed her support—described the almost universally recognized right of “the (sic) asylum” as a “loophole,” right after cutting aid to central American nations facing humanitarian emergencies. None of this appears to portend these movements coming any nearer the end Carrey alludes to. In fact, the reaction to his tweet—who reacted, and in what political context—serves as a stark reminder that the fight against fascism’s tenets is ongoing. Mussolini was elevated to power by the popular vote of a fractured, insecure country. His ignominious end was cheered by a war-battered Italy that decades before had seen him as the answer to its prayers. Many made the mistake of thinking the scene in Piazzale Loreto represent the end of fascism. If anything, the fight was just beginning.<doc-sep>

Susan Haas USA TODAY Jim Carrey's feud with Alessandra Mussolini is getting ugly. The actor, 57, stirred controversy over the weekend by tweeting a drawing of Benito Mussolini, the leader of Italy's National Fascist Party during World War II and ally to Adolf Hitler, and his mistress, Claretta Petacci, hanging upside down after their execution. "If you’re wondering what fascism leads to, just ask Benito Mussolini and his mistress Claretta," Carrey captioned his drawing. Mussolini's granddaughter Alessandra was not a fan, replying, "You are a bastard." The feud didn't end there. While speaking to Variety at CinemaCon Thursday, Carrey offered Alessandra some unfriendly advice. "She can always flip the cartoon upside down. And it looks like her grandfather is jumping for joy because he just got the head count," he said. "There’s her solve right there. Just turn it upside down. Turn that frown upside down." Carrey also said that it's a "little disconcerting" that Alessandra, a member of the European Parliament for Central Italy, is in government because "she’s obviously still embracing evil." Benito Mussolini established a dictatorship in Italy in the 1920s, and worked in concert with Hitler until he was forced from power in 1943. The drawing is based on a photo of the Mussolini and Petacci, who were killed in 1945. 'Baby snakes': Jim Carrey goes after Covington Catholic students in latest artwork Some applauded Carrey's drawing, with comments including, "I think you’re confusing Jim Carrey with your murderous grandfather" and "Thank you from Italy." But Alessandra wasn't done, adding suggestions to her own Twitter feed for historical moments the actor might tackle next, including a photo of a slave being whipped and a mushroom cloud. Mussolini isn't free of her own controversy. She once responded to criticism from a transgender politician with a gay slur. Carrey is also no stranger to stirring the waters. More:Jim Carrey puts explosive device in Trump's mouth in fiery new portrait The actor has released illustrations of everyone from high school students accused of aggression against a Native American elder in Washington to political figures including Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and, his favorite, President Donald Trump.

Listen to the huge Group G here as England's opponents clash in Russia Belgium will hope to replicate their result against Panama in their opening Group G match when they take on Tunisia today. Roberto Martínez’s men beat the Central American team 3-0 on Monday despite a less than impressive performance. 3 The Belgium team are preparing to face Tunisia in their second game of the tournament On the other hand, Tunisia’s World Cup dreams got off to a bad start after losing 2-1 to England – thanks to a late header by England skipper Harry Kane. When is Belgium v Tunisia? The match will take place on Saturday, June 23 and will kick off at 1pm UK time. The game will be played at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow, which has a capacity of around 45,000. 3 The game will be held at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow How can I listen? Click here to listen to our live commentary of the action as it happens on talkSPORT. Who are the key players? Belgium have a number of world class players but Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku is crucial for them. The Belgian ace netted two goals against Panama and if he scores in today’s game he will become the nation’s top scorer in major tournaments. He has five goals, which is just one behind Jan Ceulemans. Despite not having the game he would have hoped for against England, Tunisia midfielder Wahbi Khazri has the ability to unlock defences and will hope he can make an impact when he takes to the field in Moscow. Confirmed teams Belgium XI: Courtois, Alderweireld, Boyata, Vertonghen, Meunier, De Bruyne, Witsel, Carrasco, Mertens, Lukaku, Eden Hazard. Subs: Mignolet, Vermaelen, Kompany, Fellaini, Thorgan Hazard, Tielemans, Januzaj, Dembele, Batshuayi, Chadli, Dendoncker, Casteels. Tunisia XI: Ben Mustapha, Bronn, Syam Ben Youssef, Meriah, Maaloul, Khaoui, Skhiri, Sassi, Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, Khazri, Badri. Subs: Mathlouthi, Benalouane, Haddadi, Bedoui, Ben Amor, Khalil, Srarfi, Khalifa, Chaalali, Nagguez, Sliti. What does Group G look like ahead of the match? LATEST WOLRD CUP NEWS change FIFA considering proposals to hold men's and women's World Cup every two years WHAT A BEAUTY Nike reveal another stunning Nigeria kit for 2022 World Cup and AFCON GOAL MACHINE What happened next to England's previous Golden Boot winner? THIRD PLACE Does the World Cup have a bronze medal and what is the prize money? DAPPER BOSS Why does Gareth Southgate wear a waistcoat? ON THE PLANE England icon Gazza flies to Russia to support Three Lions in World Cup SPITTING IMAGE Incredible Gareth Southgate lookalike steals the show at England v Sweden 'ABSOLUTE DISGRACE' Fans turn on Manchester United star after shock World Cup exit talkSPORT are with listeners all day and all night at this year’s 2018 FIFA World Cup™ with over 800 hours of World Cup content and all 64 games live across the talkSPORT network.<doc-sep>Romelu Lukaku scored a first-half brace followed by a double from Eden Hazard as Belgium defeated Tunisia 5-2 in the Group G encounter. Khazri for Tunisia got a consolation in the stoppage time. The Belgian Red Devils dominated the game from the onset but Tunisia looked unpredictable as they pulled one back through a Bronn header delivered off a Khazri set piece. Tunisia had five attempts on goal from which they came twice to scoring in comparison to Belgium's seven shot on goal. The Tunisian, who have attacked well on the counter will have to return back in the second-half with better composure on the ball to find any chance to even share spoils with the ruthless Belgians. (Highlights: Belgium vs Tunisia). Highlights of 2018 FIFA World Cup, Belgium vs Tunisia at Spartak Stadium in Moscow. 19:30 IST: Thanks for joining our live coverage of the Belgium vs Tunisia match. For the live updates of the next match between Korea Republic vs Mexico click here. 19:26 IST: Full-time whistle goes! It finishes 5-2 to Belgium. 19:24 IST: GOAL! Khazri scores in the stoppage time to find a consolation for Tunisia as referee blows the final whistle, the match ends 5-2 in favour of Belgium as they secure a place in the knockout round from Group G ahead of England. 19:22 IST: GOAL! Batshuayi scores off a splendid ball in the box and he finally finds the back of the net finishes in the far corner in the 90th minute. 3 minutes added! 19:18 IST: Offside! Batshuayi again, bought on as a substitute he has got a plenty off chance in front of the goal but he has failed to convert it. 19:15 IST: Tunisia losing the ball, far too easily. Belgium has an easy control on the ball, complete dominance! 19:12 IST: Blocked! Batshuayi denied again in the 82nd minute, this time by Ben Mustapha who came in between the shot off a volley from inside the box. 19:10 IST: Crossbar! Batshuayi hits the bar in the 80th minute, how did that stay out, flurry of attack from the Belgians. 19:06 IST: Ben Mustapha steps out of his box to save a potential goal, Belgium keeping the ball well as Batshuayi comes close to scoring but the ball is cleared off the line in 75th minute. 19:00 IST: 69 minutes up, Tunisia gets a free-kick near the edge of the box, Khazri delivers but cleared away as the ball falls on re-bound for Tunisia and the shot goes high. 18:42 IST: GOAL! Hazard completes his brace now as Belgium take a massive 4-1 lead in the 51st minute. He controls the ball with a brilliant first touch and then puts it past the back of the net. 18:40 IST: Better work-rate from Tunisa, combining well, putting Belgium on the back-foot, on comes a cross for Khazri but he could not gather it, a bit too heavy, 49 minutes up! 18:37 IST: Second-half gets underway, Tunisia gets the ball rolling and they are straight onto attack, puts two back to back crosses but failed to make the most of it. 18:19 IST: GOAL! Lukaku with a brace, chips in the ball past Ben Mustapha as Belgium put some daylight between themselves and Tunisia taking a 3-1 lead at half-time that started off a Hazard penalty. 18:16 IST: 4 minutes added in the first-half, both the teams would need a breather after a high intensity drama. Meanwhile, de Bruyne plays a cheeky cross for Lukaku it happens to be a bit too heavy for the Manchester United star. 18:12 IST: Corner for Tunisia, Khazri delivers in the 42nd minute but comfortably collected by Thibaut Courtois in the nets. 18:11 IST: S.Ben Youssef has been stretchered off the field in the 41st minute for a niggle, not a good sight for the Tunisians. 18:07 IST: Khazri looked in a bit of trouble for Tunisia, a small breather was taken as Roberto Martinez passes on some key words to his playmaker Kevin de Bruyne around the 36th minute mark. 18:05 IST: Belgium imposing threat through their attack, but Hazard doing too much, unnecessarily to lose hold off possession. 18:00 IST: Brilliant cross from Tunisia, ball falls on space but the shot goes off target. Tunisia all off a sudden are looking the better side. 17:58 IST: 28 minutes up, it looks like a high scoring affair. Belgium keeping the ball well now but Tunisia challenging on the counter. 17:50 IST: GOAL! This time Tunisia on target as Bronn heads home from a free kick. Tunisia pull a goal back. | Belgium 2-1 Tunisia after 20 minutes 17:47 IST: GOAL! Lukaku finishes it coolly to give Belgium a 2-0 lead over Tunisia in the 16th minute. 17:36 IST: GOAL! Penalty for Belgium. Eden Hazard takes it and scores against Tunisia in the 6th minute. 17:30 IST: KICK OFF! 17:24 IST: National anthems! A huge roar goes out from the Belgium supporters as their national anthem is been sung, we are minutes away from the kick-off. Expect this to be a high scoring drama! 17:17 IST: Roberto Martinez has opted to go with an unchanged setting, he is going with a similar 3-4-2-1 line-up that he used in the last match. Meanwhile, Tunisia has made one change Khaoui replaces Sliti in the playing eleven. 17:15 IST: Hello and welcome to the live commentary from the Group G fixture between Belgium and Tunisia. History favours the Belgians. They are yet to lose to African opposition at a World Cup, while Tunisia have never beaten a European side at a finals. The experienced Oussama Haddadi is set to replace Ali Maaloul at left-back in the Tunisian defence and Martinez saw plenty of danger for his team in the north Africans' opening 2-1 defeat to England. Promoted Belgium, ranked third in the world, reached the quarter-finals of Brazil 2014 and are aiming to match their previous best of reaching the semi-finals at Mexico 1986. However, Tunisia will not make life easy for Belgium as they seek to provide a bright spot in a poor World Cup for African sides, with Egypt and Morocco already out.<doc-sep>Day 10 of the World Cup sees Belgium take on Tunisia in the first game. Roberto Martinez's men will be able to seal their place in the next round with a win today. This will be the 2nd time the two sides meet at the World Cup. They were drawn together in the 2002 edition as well and the meeting between the two sides ended in a 1-1 draw. Overall, this will be the 4th time they clash on the pitch. Both sides have won a game each while the other one was the 1-1 draw at the 2002 World Cup. The draw was the only game Belgium have failed to win against an African opponent at the World Cup. The most recent meeting between Belgium and Tunisia was a friendly in 2014. The game was held in Brussels and the hosts won it 1-0 thanks to a late winner by Dries Mertens. While Tunisia are coming into the game after a 2-1 loss to England, Belgium are on an unbeaten run. They have won 5 and drawn 5 of their last 10 games in the World Cup group stages. Tunisia know that a loss will signal the end of their World Cup campaign while a draw will keep them alive for another week. However, their qualification for the knockout stage will depend on the result of the England v Belgium game and they will have to win vs Panama. Belgium team news Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen are still not fully fit to start for Belgium. The two defenders are still recovering from their injuries but are expected to be available vs England. Everyone else is fit and thus, Roberto Martinez is expected to name the same starting XI today as well. Dedryck Boyata will be at the heart of the defence with Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld on either side. Yannick Carrasco and Thomas Meunier will be the wingbacks with Axel Witsel and Kevin de Bruyne as the midfielders. Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens will continue as the attackers. Belgium XI and Formation Belgium predicted XI<doc-sep>

Belgium and Tunisia keep going in World Cup Group G play in Russia when they square off in Moscow on June 23. Here’s all the info you need to watch. Belgium kicked off the 2018 World Cup with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Panama in their Group G opener. Dries Mertens opened the scoring with a wicked volley early in the second half, and that seemed to unleash the floodgates. Romelu Lukaku added two more as Belgium went to the top of the group. A generation of players is finally coming into full force. The Belgians were on fire in Sochi, and they held Panama to just five shots and allowed only two to go on target. After reaching the quarterfinals in 2014, could Belgium go even further in this tournament? They take on Tunisia next. The African side lost 2-1 to England, missing out on a point in stoppage time. England scored first on Harry Kane’s rebound goal in the 11th minute, and they dominated the field of play at the outset. Soon after, starting goalkeeper Mouez Hassen was substituted out due to injury. But Tunisia leveled 10 minutes from the intermission when they earned a penalty. Ferjani Sassi made the most of the penalty opportunity. For the next 55 minutes, it looked like Tunisia would walk away with a point against England. But Kane struck again in the 91st minute, beating reserve keeper Farouk Ben Mustapha to finish off a corner kick play. England escaped with victory, but Tunisia asserted itself as a team to take seriously. The showdown between Belgium and Tunisia at Spartak Stadium in Moscow as the early match on the second Saturday of the tournament. Tune in for a great accompaniment to breakfast on the east coast, and this is also a legitimate reason to wake up early on the weekend on the west coast. The World Cup match between Belgium and Tunisia will be broadcast live on FOX. Live streaming is available on FOX Sports, which you can access with your cable or satellite subscriptions, either online or through the FOX Sports app. Date: Saturday, June 23 Start time: 8:00 a.m. ET Location: Moscow, Russia Stadium: Spartak Stadium TV Info: FOX Live Stream: FOX Sports, Fubo.TV Tunisia mustered only one shot on target in the opening match against England. Belgium is going to make it even more difficult for the Tunisian side to generate quality scoring opportunities. And to get to the knockout stage for the first time in five tries, Tunisia needs three points against the Belgians. Meanwhile, several of Belgium’s other attacking stars are looking to open up their scoring ledgers. This could be the match where Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne, or perhaps even Axel Witsel get into the tournament scoring stats. Tunisia could pester Belgium, but the European side is likely going to prevail more easily than England managed. Look for Belgium to earn its passage through to the Round of 16 with a multi-goal victory in Moscow.

The second weekend of Bigg Boss Tamil season two witnessed the coming together of adorable father-daughter duo Kamal Haasan and Shruti Haasan on stage to perform the songs of Vishwaroopam 2 along with composer Ghibran. The second weekend of Bigg Boss Tamil season two witnessed the coming together of adorable father-daughter duo Kamal Haasan and Shruti Haasan on stage to perform the songs of Vishwaroopam 2 along with composer Ghibran. While the first song 'Naanaagiya Nadhi Moolamae' was crooned by both the father and the daughter, the latter sang the beautifully constructed 'Gnyabagam Varugiradha' track amid applause from her dad. Mamathi Chari becomes the first contestant of this season to get evicted On the show front, at the end of the second week, Mamathi Chari was shown the door by the audience. When she watched the AV of her clippings from the house, she was visibly hurt by the opinion the inmates had on her. Some of the contestants complained about her being too nice all the time and wearing a fake smile all the time. She hinted about enduring an unfortunate phase in the recent past and its repercussions taking a toll on her. Bigg Boss announces role reversal of the Master-Servant task This week witnessed some serious moments post the completion of the Master-Servant task. When the two-and-a-half day of luxury budget task came to an end, the female contestants finally got their chance to put their feet up. It was close to the end of the task Ananth Vaidyanathan opened up a little about his personal life in an attempt to make Mahath realize that what he is doing as part of fun-making is not fun at all. "When I was bed-ridden for two months, there was a lady who even cleaned my potty. She is not a servant but my mother. I know how hard it is to do certain things. That's why I call my domestic helps Thaayi (mother)," told Ananth although Mahath didn't show any signs of empathizing with him. After the role reversal between the male and female inmates, there were quite a lot of bitter moments between them. When the female contestants tried to make use of their chance as masters, the male contestants didn't receive it well. Ramya shed tears over things getting a tad unpleasant in the home and started feeling homesick. Fractured relationship between estranged couple Balaji-Nithya grabs the spotlight A slew of fretful moments between Balaji and Nithya made some of the contestants like Danny and Sendrayan feel that Balaji is going overboard. When Nithya brokedown at times, Balaji even went to an extreme to tell that she's pretending before the cameras to seek the sympathy of the audience. Nithya broke down to Mumtaz when Balaji used cuss words on her frequently, and the latter tried to sympathize, console and make her feel better. In an instance when Balaji was serving breakfast to Nithya, he slammed the plate on the table, and the upset Nithya dumped her meal in the trash. Danny who was present at the breakfast table tried to ease the situation. He even told in private to few of the inmates that Nithya is not to be blamed and he senses some sort of inferiority complex in her. Sendrayan agreed that Balaji is often hurling abusive words at her. Danny in an attempt to reduce the rift between Balaji and Nithya started sharing his bitter moments between his wife and how they would reconcile end of the day no matter what. Riythvika tried her part by speaking with Balaji in person and requested him to control his temper. The show saw a lighter moment at the end of day 12 when all the contestants tried to prank Mumtaz by staging a brawl, but Mumtaz sensed something fishy in their behaviour and didn't buy it. Kamal Haasan takes contestants to task for behaving fakely in the house On 30 June's episode, Kamal Haasan put forth the opinion that most of the inmates are being fake, which paved the way for some action-packed moments. He got every contestant's opinion of whom they think are fake in the house. And most of them mentioned Vaishnavi and Mamathi; a few proposed Mumtaz, Janani, and Mahath too. Ponnambalam and Riythvika felt almost everyone wants to save themselves and their image. About Mumtaz's mic removal episode, Kamal asked the contestants, "Is Mumtaz trying to establish her star status?" Mumtaz was startled when a few admitted that they fear her. Post this conversation, she was asked to remove the mic and stay in the garden area. In the first part of the master-servant task, the masters chose Danny as the best master and Nithya as the only servant who didn't take her role seriously. When Kamal was not convinced with Nithya's selection, his trademark Kurumbadam (Short Film) came to the rescue of her. After seeing quite a few clippings where Balaji used swear words on Nithya, "Amongst a million audiences watching Bigg Boss there's one soul you love — your daughter. Is this the best you can give her?" asked Kamal. "When we start a relationship, we celebrate and respect it, but it doesn't happen when we end it. It should always be amicable so that no one gets hurt in the process. I did that," added Kamal.<doc-sep>After Mamathi is evicted, Bigg Boss Tamil housemates try to convince Mumtaz to stop crying. Mumtaz used to be closest to Mamathi in the house, and she is in tears. Mahat cracks jokes to distract Mumtaz and make her smile. Inside the house, Sharik doesn’t seem to be in a good mood and when Yaashika asks him why he looks dull, Sharik speaks about his ex girlfriend. He says they were together for almost three years but had to break up because of family issues. The days ends. Next morning, Aishwarya is in no mood to eat. When Mahat and Yaashika speak to her, she says that she is not okay because Vaishnavi and she were called fake over the weekend. Mahat tells her that it is not good to take things seriously and also accuses Sharik of putting pressure on her. Bigg Boss then announces that the first two to enter the confession room after the announcement is over will take part in the captaincy task. Vaishnavi and Sendrayan succeed, and Bigg Boss then asks them to get hugs from the housemates. The one who gets the maximum number of hugs will become the captain of the of the house. This is also a secret task. Vaishnavi tries to apologise to everyone for her behaviour in the previous week and get the hugs. Senrayan, however, tells the housemates to congratulate him for how well he has cleaned the toilet. He is hugged by many of the housemates. However, the two are not able to keep their secret task a secret and the housemates figure out what is going on. In the meanwhile, Aishwarya is angry that Sharik played with her emotion. Earlier in the show, Sharik had confessed his feelings to Aishwarya, however, upon receiving a t-shirt the night before, he breaks down and that’s when he spoke to Yaashika about his ex girlfriend. Aishwarya feels that even though there is someone waiting for him outside, he confessed his feelings. Aishwarya doesn’t like being made fool of, and she also accuses her best friend in the house Yaashika of not being right. The argument gets heated at one point, and Aishwarya wants to get nominated this week and leave the house. The other housemates are shocked to hear the same. Mahat tries to resolve the issue between Yaashika and Aishwarya, and finally the two hug. In the captaincy task Senrayan loses and Vaishnavi becomes the next captain. The nomination also takes place and housemates choose Ponnambalam, Mumtaz and Balaji. Ananth and Nithya have also gone to eviction process directly as a result of the previous week task. Vaishnavi is protected from nomination as she is the current captain. Daniel and Riythvika too are saved because of their performance in the previous week’s luxury budget. After this, Aishwarya also airs the misunderstanding between her and Sharik. She also feels bad that he did not tell her the truth about his girlfriend, to which Sharik apologises. The episode comes to an end here. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-tv_listing-desktop<doc-sep>Bigg Boss Tamil 2: Kamal Haasan warned Balaji not to use such foul languages as even children, including his own daughter, watch the show. Bigg Boss Tamil 2: Kamal Haasan warned Balaji not to use such foul languages as even children, including his own daughter, watch the show. Superstar Kamal Haasan began Saturday’s episode of Bigg Boss Tamil Season two with a statement that sounded like his campaign slogan for the upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu. “Exceptions will not become a norm. Violation of the law will not go unpunished,” he said. He suggested that servants forget who their real masters are. “The general public is the boss for those who are inside the house and me. Those who forget this, no matter in which building they live in, will face troubles. Otherwise, they will be evicted,” he said. “They are playing this game without understanding this.” Of course, he was speaking in the context of the Bigg Boss Tamil Season Two. But, any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, outside the Bigg Boss compound at Chennai’s EVP amusement park is purely intentionally. Before diving into the show, he took a few questions from the studio audience. One of the questions was why the contestants are repeatedly reminded to follow the Tamil-only rule on the show, which has an English title. “I’m a true-blood Tamil but I have a north Indian sounding name. This name was given to me by my father, so it did not change even as I have changed a lot. Many people in other languages have fallen in love with Tamil. Some have even changed their names, some didn’t. What’s important is the emotional connect with Tamil identity. Bigg Boss is already a successful brand. So we let it be,” he reasoned. Also read | Bigg Boss Tamil Season Two serves the fantasies of a jilted husband The Vishwaroopam star seconded a viewer when she opined that many in the new season of the show were being ‘fake.’ “Thinking that they have understood all the nuances and techniques of this game fully after watching the first season, the contestants have become very stiff and fake. But they don’t understand that the audience can tell when they are acting.” He was also asked why does it feel the entire show, so far, has been built on the fight between the estranged couple, Nithya and Balaji. “They are the ones who are fighting nonstop without giving other’s a chance,” he replied. When Kamal began to speak with the housemates via video link, the show got interesting. He straight up told housemates that the viewers believed these contestants were ‘faking’ a lot. While Vaishnavi seemed to be a popular pick for ‘spot the fake person’ game played by Kamal, Mamathi Chari and Mumtaz also emerged as strong contenders. Kamal, however, called everyone’s bluff implying that most of them, if not all, were not genuine. Bigg Boss Tamil 2: While Vaishnavi seemed to be a popular pick for ‘spot the fake person’ game played by Kamal, Mamathi Chari and Mumtaz also emerged as strong contenders. Bigg Boss Tamil 2: While Vaishnavi seemed to be a popular pick for ‘spot the fake person’ game played by Kamal, Mamathi Chari and Mumtaz also emerged as strong contenders. Kamal took Mumtaz and Balaji to task later. He reprimanded Mumtaz for refusing to wear her mic while making some ‘unreasonable’ demands. She was asked to take off her mic and stay in the garden area, denying her the permission to be part of show temporarily. Remember Kamal said, “Violation of the law will not go unpunished.” Next up was Balaji’s case. He crossed the lines many times this week by abusing and mistreating his wife on the show. Kamal had to play a few ‘Kurum Padam’ (short films) to show that Nithya was being systematically sidelined to show her as the weaker contestant. And most of them were heavily censored, thanks to Balaji’s potty mouth. “I have played many short films on this stage. But this is the first time I have showed a film, which is filled with beeps,” Kamal noted. The 63-year-old superstar warned Balaji not to use such foul languages as even children, including his own daughter, were watching the show. And he also refused to even hear Balaji’s explanation when the latter tried to justify his actions. “You may think that what moral right do I have to question you?” Kamal said to Balaji. Kamal was referring to his failed relationships. “I have endured heartbreaks during the breakups but I never spoke badly about anyone after,” he advised. “You should separate from a person with the same respect, you had on them when you first met them.” The show ended with Kamal revealing that Ponnambalam has been saved from the elimination by the audience, while Ananth Vaidyanathan, Mamathi and Mumtaz were still in danger zone.<doc-sep>

As Ananth and Nithya were nominated directly for eviction during their earlier tasks, they both cannot participate in the competition to become next captain of the house. As Ananth and Nithya were nominated directly for eviction during their earlier tasks, they both cannot participate in the competition to become next captain of the house. Immediately after becoming the captain of the house, Vaishnavi divided the inmates into different teams for performing the duties in the house. Immediately after becoming the captain of the house, Vaishnavi divided the inmates into different teams for performing the duties in the house. In the latest episode of Bigg Boss Tamil Season 2 Mumtaz was in tears over Mamathi’s eviction and discussed the same with Ramya NSK. She says that Mamathi was targeted for being close with her. Ramya refused Mumtaz’s observation and consoled her. Ramya said, according to her observations she felt that, probably because of being in media, Mamathi was too much camera conscious and she was not her real self until the end. Shariq is tensed over thoughts about his old love. Shariq thinks about his girlfriend as he gets some dresses from her. Shariq says, his parents know about his love and it was on for two and half years, which broke up due to family issues. Yashika consoles him.Aishwarya is tensed over the comments passed by others about her and breaks down into tears. Mahat and Yashika advise Aishwarya not to take everything seriously.Bigg Boss announces that Nithya 's tenure as a captain has come to an end and that it is time to choose the next leader of the house.After the end of announcement, confession room’s door would be open just for few seconds. The first two persons who enter the confession room will get a chance to compete for the next captain of the house.Sendrayan and Vaishnavi are the first two people who manage to enter the confession room. Others are asked to move out of the confession room.Bigg Boss says Sendrayan and Vaishnavi will have to perform a secret task of getting maximum number of hugs from the inmates. The person getting maximum number of hugs would become the next captain of the house.Sendrayan speaks about the previous duties performed by him and tries to get hugs from the inmates. Vaishnavi speaks about her previous mistakes and apologises to inmates and tries to get hugs from them.Sendrayan gets maximum number of hugs before Vaishnavi and discloses the same in front of the camera.Vaishnavi highlights to Sendrayan that, knowingly or unknowingly he is breaking the rules of secret task to get more hugs for becoming captain of the house.Mumtaz appreciates the sudden apologies from Vaishnavi. Janani and Ramya get angry over this and tried tell Mumtaz that Vaishnavi’s sudden apologies are for secret task. Janani and Ramya further tell her that since Vaishnavi is a dominant character, If she becomes the captain, he can make life difficult for other housemates.Yashika tries to calm down Aishwarya and reduce her tensions.In the evening Bigg Boss announces that, Sendrayan and Vaishnavi were given secret tasks. But, in the attempts to get more hugs, Sendrayan’s actions were clearly identifiable to other inmates. Hence, Sendrayan is disqualified and Vaishnavi is the new captain for the week.Daniel, Bhalajie and Aishwarya are named as members of the cooking team. Mumtaz, Sendrayan and Ponnambalam are assigned to handle the vessel washing team. Nithya, Janani and Shariq are asked to take care of the restroom cleaning duties.In a surprise move, Aishwarya suddenly requested the inmates to nominate her for eviction in the forthcoming week. She said, she wants to leave the show. When Mumtaz, Yashika, Janani tried to cool down Aishwarya, she said no one including herself, cannot allow anyone to play with their emotions.But Yashika tells everyone that Aishwarya wants to leave the show for Shariq, since she has developed feelings for him and wants to distance herself from him. But Shariq is already in a relationship.Bigg Boss said, eviction process would happen today. As Ananth and Nithya are already nominated directly, they cannot be nominated for eviction. As Riythvika and Daniel have been saved from nominations, they also cannot be nominated for eviction. Vaishnavi also cannot be nominated since she is the captain of the house.Bigg Boss announces, Nithya and Ananth were already nominated during the tasks held last week.

The NFL has released its 2019 regular-season schedule. Here's a look at what's in store for the Tennessee Titans. Titans reporter Turron Davenport is predicting an 11-5 finish: Game-by-game prediction Sept. 8: at Browns, Win Sept. 15: vs. Colts, Loss Sept. 19: at Jaguars, Win Sept. 29: at Falcons, Win Oct. 6: vs. Bills, Win Oct. 13: at Broncos, Win 2019 regular-season NFL schedule Are you ready for Packers at Bears to kick off the NFL season? View the complete week-by-week schedule here. • Record predictions for all 32 teams » • Picking best matchups, biggest winners » • What the schedule means for fantasy » • Chalk: Full list of Week 1 NFL lines » • More NFL coverage » | NFL draft news » Oct. 20: vs. Chargers, Win Oct. 27: vs. Buccaneers, Win Nov. 3: at Panthers, Win Nov. 10: vs. Chiefs, Loss Nov. 24: vs. Jaguars, Win Dec. 1: at Colts, Loss Dec. 8: at Raiders, Win Dec. 15: vs. Texans, Win Dec. 22: vs. Saints, Loss Dec. 29: at Texans, Loss Strength of schedule: 9th, .514 Breakdown The Titans open the season with three of their first four games on the road, including a Week 1 trip to Cleveland that could be a tough one for the Titans' secondary since they'll face quarterback Baker Mayfield along with wideouts Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. Finishing with four of their final six games against AFC South opponents will give Tennessee a late opportunity to make a push for the division title. Murderer's Row, QB style The finishing stretch of the 2019 season will be a trying time for the Titans' secondary, with their final five games coming against some of the NFL's top quarterbacks. Andrew Luck has had the Titans' number, having accumulated an 11-0 record against Tennessee. After Luck, the Titans travel to Oakland to face Derek Carr, who has new wideouts Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams as weapons. A matchup against Drew Brees and the Saints is sandwiched between two games against Deshaun Watson and the Texans to close out the regular season. No respect The 2019 season finale against the Colts had playoff implications and was flexed to prime time. Unless a late-season clash with the Colts or Texans is flexed to Sunday Night Football, the Titans will have only one prime-time game -- in Week 3 against the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football. National expectations aren't high for the Titans so the underdog moniker could apply this year as they make a push for more prime-time games in 2020.<doc-sep>The NFL is set to release to the Tennessee Titans 2019 schedule at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday night, the NFL Network announced Tuesday morning. The Titans got back to work on Monday. Make sure you’re in the loop on the latest news on your Titans– take five seconds to Sign up for our FREE Titans newsletter now! According to CBS Sports, the Titans will have one of the most difficult schedules of all 32 teams in the NFL during the 2019 regular season. In fact, the Titans are projected to have the ninth most difficult schedule in 2019. Taking another look at the Titans' 2019 opponents (already set), they combined for a 131-124-1 record during the 2018 season. That equates to a .514 winning percentage. The 2019 schedule features five teams that made the playoffs last season in the Chiefs, Chargers, Saints, Texans and Colts. Let's take another look at the opponents for the Titans in 2019.<doc-sep>

The Cleveland Browns will open their 2019 season on Sept. 8 when they host the Tennessee Titans. CLEVELAND -- The entire 2019 NFL schedule won't be released until 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday. But we already know when Odell Beckham Jr. will be making his Cleveland Browns debut. Just as they have the past two seasons, the Browns will open their 2019 campaign at FirstEnergy Stadium -- although this time, they won't be facing the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rather, Cleveland will play host to the Tennessee Titans, in a 1 p.m. ET kickoff to be aired on CBS. Allan Ball of 247Sports was the first to report the Browns would be hosting the Titans in Week 1 of the 2019 NFL season. Cleveland's season opener is the fifth game to have leaked ahead of the NFL's official announcement of its 2019 schedule, with contests against the New York Jets, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins having previously been reported. Based on multiple reports, the following contests will be included on the Browns' 2019 slate: Sep. 8 vs. Tennessee Titans (1 p.m. ET) Sep. 16 at New York Jets (Monday Night Football) Oct. 27 at New England Patriots (4:25 p.m. ET) Nov. 10 vs. Buffalo Bills (1 p.m. ET) Nov. 24 vs. Miami Dolphins (1 p.m. ET) While Cleveland is expected to be featured prominently in primetime this season, of the games to have leaked, only two (the Titans and Patriots games) count against the six-game limit teams receive for being featured in nationally televised contests. In addition to their Week 2 Monday Night matchup vs. New York, the Browns are also expected to play in at least one Sunday and Thursday night matchup.

Fortnite Battle Royale's new Fly Explosives Limited Time Mode is a BLAST! The absolute best way to finish out challenges relating to explosives kills, and a fantastic way to laugh until your sides ache, is the new Fly Explosives LTM. The game mode features explosive weapons and insane maneuverability. You'll be 'sploding fools left and right. The much debated jetpack is back. I am a huge fan, but people who can build like mad hate how it levels the playing field. People who can build and fly become near unstoppable! Once far over-powered, the guided missile changed the entire meta the last time it was out of the vault. People would build small boxes, hide and fire missiles out a window. Hunting players down from relative safety made the game kinda boring and lame. This revision of the guided missile seems to be under-powered and seems to relegate the weapon to teamwork related kills. It is slower, turns wider, and does far less damage to buildings and people. I was able to complete a "Get Three Explosive Weapons Kills" challenge in my first game. I was able to rack up a "Kill 10 opponents" challenge in two more. Normally I'd have worked all night to get 10 kills and maybe 1 would have been with explosives. Game play certainly changes when you don't have to worry about being sniped or lasered from across the map. My squad mates and I were whooping it up dying of laughter just as often as grenades.<doc-sep>Fortnite 's latest Limited-Time Mode combines two beloved LTMs of old into one instant classic: welcome to Fly Explosives. Yes, that is a pun on High Explosives and the wordplay is entirely justified. The new LTM turns Fortnite on its head by limiting weapons solely to explosives like RPGs and grenade launchers, and by re-enabling jetpacks. You knew they were too cool to stay gone for good. Back from the vault, take to the skies and make it rain rockets in our new Fly Explosives LTM live now! pic.twitter.com/umJqfq9YZiJuly 31, 2018 See more Jetpacks aren't coming back to Fortnite Battle Royale at large like when they were first added to the game (though you can use them in Playground for the time being), but at least this new version has a faster recharge speed and decreased burn rate. Speaking of staying in the air, Fly Explosives is a very different kind of Fortnite. The height and shelter advantage offered by building is nullified by the fact that someone is always liable to come sailing over your carefully constructed base and fire a rocket down the middle, or failing that, knock it down in two hits. But it isn't just chaos and death everywhere (or at least it isn't if you can survive the first minute or two). Despite the fact that everybody's dishing out big damage all the time, the relatively slow travel speed of grenades and rockets means you're actually more likely to see who you're fighting. Boosting around the map, locking eyes with an enemy, then facing off in an aerial duel with both of you trying to predict when and where the other will land, is a thrill. It reminds me of Starsiege Tribes, or if Pharah was the only character in Overwatch . Just make sure you turn your volume up so you can hear those rockets coming and dodge out of the way in time.<doc-sep>Epic has rolled out a new batch of content for Fortnite: Battle Royale. The v5.10 content update is now available for all platforms (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and iOS), and on top of reintroducing the Guided Missile to the game, it marks the start of a new limited-time game mode: Fly Explosives. As its name implies, Fly Explosives is a new variation of the limited-time High Explosives event from earlier this year. Only explosive weapons such as Grenades and Rocket Launchers can be found in this mode. Jetpacks also return in Fly Explosives, where they will occasionally spawn as Floor Loot. This time around, Epic says jetpacks have an increased rate of fuel regeneration as well as a decreased burn rate compared to the ones that were previously available in Battle Royale, allowing players to stay airborne longer than before. Epic has also reduced the wait time between storms; as a result, the developer estimates that average match times should be less than 20 minutes. In addition to Fly Explosives, Epic has also recently brought back Fortnite's Playground mode. As before, Playground is a sandbox-style mode that allows players to jump into private matches and test out strategies and mess around with the game's various items. The v5.10 content update introduces three more weapons to Playground: jetpacks, Guided Missiles, and Crosssbows. You can read more details about the current limited-time modes on the official Fortnite website. Beyond that, the v5.10 content update brings back the aforementioned Guided Missile, following its removal from the game back in April. Epic says the weapon has been "tweaked and tuned down as it was too strong upon its initial release."<doc-sep>As expected, Fortnite's guided missiles are back. Part of its v5.10 Content Update—which is "all about jetpacks, explosives, and complete cartoon chaos"—the weapon joins its new Fly Explosives limited time mode. From back to front, Fly Explosives is an "explosives only" outing that equips players with Jetpacks—before blasting their foes from above. Floor Loot spawners will occasionally offer Jetpacks, explains the update's patch notes, which have increased fuel regen and decreased burn rates against their default counterparts. Likewise, Rocket Ammunition is capped at 120, while between-storm wait times have been reduced as players require time less scavenging time. Moreover, Jetpacks have been added to the Playground LTM, and, as mentioned above, guided missiles return. Available in Epic and Legendary variants, the weapon's fuse duration has been cut from 18 to 15 seconds. Movement speed has also been nerfed—down from 1100 to 1000; and reload times have been increased to 2.4/2.2. Explosions now damage structures with "no regard for line of sight," so says Epic, and player and structure damage has been cut down to 74/77 (from 105/110), and 400 (from 1100) respectively. Save the World-ers welcome the new Spyglass Sniper Rifle. It looks like this: And is described like this: "Husks don’t stand a chance against this newest addition to the Flintlock Weapon set. This powerful single shot sniper packs a punch, so hold on tight as you take aim and fire." Check out Fortnite's v5.10 Content Update patch notes in full over here.<doc-sep>

Fortnite Content Update 5.1 has arrived as version 1.69 on PS4, and it brings the Guided Missile back to Battle Royale alongside the new Fly Explosives limited-time mode. The official patch notes offer the full details, and we've listed them below. BATTLE ROYALE NEW FEATURES - UPDATE 5.1 Fly Explosives Mode Only Explosive Weapons can be found in this mode. Floor Loot spawners will occasionally spawn Jetpacks. Fly Explosives Jetpacks have increased fuel regen rate & decreased burn rate compared to Default Jetpacks, to keep pilots in the sky a bit longer. Between-storm wait times have been reduced due to players needing less time to find adequate loot (avg. match length should be lower than 20m). Rocket Ammunition capped at 120. Profile Stats (K/D & Wins) are tracked in this mode. Playground Tweaks Mode Details The following weapons and items have been added to the Playground LTM only. Jetpack Guided Missile Crossbow Guided Missile Available in Epic and Legendary variants. Fuse duration reduced from 18 to 15 seconds. Movement Speed decreased from 1100 to 1000. Reload time increased to 2.4/2.2. Reduced player damage from 105/110 down to 74/77 damage. Reduced structure damage down from 1100 to 400. Explosions now damage structures with no regard for Line of Sight. Guided Missile can also be controlled via keyboard using the default movement inputs. Bug Fixes Nameplates will no longer appear for members of the opposite team. The issues with Slurp Juice have been fixed and it can once again be looted in-game. SAVE THE WORLD NEW FEATURES Spyglass Sniper Rifle added to the Weekly Store An accurate, high-powered, scoped sniper rifle with a single round per magazine that kicks like a mule. Available Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. EDT until Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 8 p.m. EDT. The biggest change for Content Update 5.1 is undoubtedly the return of the Guided Missile, a controversial addition first introduced at the end of March in update 3.4. Since then the weapon has been significantly nerfed, which means players won't be able to wreck shop with it like they could before. Pretty much all facets of the gun have been made weaker, allowing it to be more balanced compared to other heavy weapons. Especially in the Fly Explosives mode, players will have plenty of chances to make use of it. While Fortnite Content Update 5.1 is indeed a Content Update by name, it should be known that the patch does require a download of varying sizes on all platforms. No server downtime was necessary. Fortnite is in early access across PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC and iOS. The 5.1 Content Update is available now as version 1.69 on PS4. What's your take on Fortnite's Guided Missile rework? Will you play lots of Fly Explosives this week? Tell us in the comments section!

The official changing of the guard in the AFC? Or maybe the old guard, featuring the ageless quarterback, has another trip to the Super Bowl in it. (Tom Brady figures everybody is counting the Patriots out, right?) New England won the first round against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6, a 43-40 win in Foxboro. But this one will be a rare playoff road game for Bill Belichick and Co. AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME Who: New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs Where: Arrowhead Stadium Kickoff: 6:40 p.m. Sunday TV: CBS Live stream: fuboTV Latest odds: Chiefs -3 The Patriots dismantled the Los Angeles Chargers in their playoff opener, 41-28, while the Chiefs handled the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round, 31-13. For Sunday’s game at Arrowhead, Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will be on the call for CBS. The winner heads to Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta on Feb. 3. This is the first time Kansas City will host the AFC Championship game.<doc-sep>USA TODAY Sports Here's everything you need to know for Sunday's NFC and AFC Championship Games: Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints Kickoff time: 3:05 p.m. ET Channel: Fox Streaming: Fox Sports Go Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans Line: Saints by 3 Injury report: With no players listed on the injury report, the Rams enter the game essentially at full strength. New Orleans, however, will be without wide receiver Keith Kirkwood, who is out with a calf injury. Saints tight end Benjamin Watson is listed as questionable, but an ESPN report said he was suffering from appendicitis and is expected to miss the game. 1. "Nice little bowl of gumbo": Just as in the AFC title game, the NFC Championship features two teams that met earlier in the regular season. In Week 9, the Rams went down to New Orleans and the Saints prevailed, 45-35. New Orleans raced out to a lead in the second quarter, but the Rams eventually knotted the game up with 21 unanswered points. Still, the Saints took the victory with a 10-point fourth quarter. Adding a little juice to the matchup with his remarks after that game, Rams cornerback Marcus Peters called out Saints coach Sean Payton for trash-talking him on the field and said, “We going to see him soon … and then we going to have a nice little bowl of gumbo together.” Peters gets his wish, but will any added motivation make a difference? 2. Turning defensive: New Orleans became known for its powerful offense in the first half of the season, but over the stretch run, it has been a smothering defense that has taken over. Since Week 7, the Saints have allowed opposing offenses to score just 16.9 points a game and have sacked opposing passers 28 times – and that’s without notching one against Nick Foles and the Eagles in the divisional round. In particular, the secondary has improved its play and shut down opposing passing attacks. Los Angeles’ offense, though, is the highest-scoring outfit the Saints will face since starting this run, so the challenge the Rams present – behind a healthy Todd Gurley – is significant. 3. Matchup nightmare: One of the NFL’s toughest covers, Saints receiver Michael Thomas, decimated the Rams when both teams played in Week 9, catching 12 of 15 targets for 211 yards and one score – a 72-yard catch-and-run that finished Los Angeles off late in the fourth quarter. Not only that, but Thomas is fresh off of a dominant performance in the divisional round, hanging 12 catches on 16 targets for 171 yards and one touchdown against the Eagles. How the Rams defend Thomas, who grew up in Southern California, might be one of the biggest factors in determining whether or not they move on to their first Super Bowl while representing the city of Los Angeles since the 1979 season. New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs Kickoff time: 6:40 p.m. ET Channel: CBS Streaming: CBS All Access Location: Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City Line: Chiefs by 3 Injury report: The Patriots have a clean bill of health, as defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. was the only player listed on the team's injury report this week. The Chiefs are set to get a big boost with the expected return of safety Eric Berry, who has been sidelined with a heel injury. Linebacker Dorian O'Daniel has been ruled out with a knee ailment. Three keys to the game (by Lorenzo Reyes) 1. Rematch: Anyone who tuned in for Week 6’s thrilling battle between these two teams – an eventual 43-40 Patriots victory – should be glad there’s another iteration of the matchup. It was a back-and-forth matchup with two ties and four lead changes. After the Chiefs tied the game with just more than three minutes to play on a 75-yard bomb to Tyreek Hill, the Pats fought back and kicked the 28-yard, game-winning field goal as time expired. That game earlier in the year was in Foxborough. This time it will be at Arrowhead, so the Chiefs may get a little boost from the home-field crowd in the first AFC title game hosted in Kansas City. One other interesting nugget: the last time the Pats played in Kansas City, it was the 2014 game – a 41-14 New England loss in Week 4 – after which many questioned whether Brady’s run as a dominant passer had come to an end. 2. Prolific passers: The duel between Brady and Patrick Mahomes is the marquee attraction of the AFC Championship Game. Mahomes is the favorite for the league MVP and boasts one of the strongest arms in the NFL. He uses creative arm angles and can slip out of the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield to find targets who may have raced past coverage. Brady, on the other hand, is masterful in the pocket and – despite many claiming that his demise was coming soon – was clinical in a divisional-round thumping of the Chargers. They have different styles, but this matchup – in some ways – is a representation of what happened this year throughout the NFL: Several young passers flourished, but they still need to get past experienced mainstays to reach the next level in the league. 3. (In)experience: This will be New England’s eighth consecutive trip to the AFC Championship Game and 13th in Brady's 17 seasons as the team’s full-time starter – not counting the 2008 campaign in which he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the season opener. The Patriots will be trying to reach their ninth Super Bowl in the Brady-Bill Belichick era. Kansas City, meanwhile, has a quarterback who’s in his first season as a starter. Its roster doesn’t come even close to the postseason experience that New England’s enjoys. While Kansas City coach Andy Reid has plenty of experience in big games, he may need to work on not having the stage become too big for his squad.<doc-sep>

Find out how to watch the Patriots and Chiefs play in the AFC Divisional Round game on Sunday, Jan. 20 The Chiefs will host the Patriots on Sunday, Jan. 20 in Kansas City in the AFC Championship. The game is set to be another quarterback showdown between New England legend Tom Brady and Kansas City rising star Patrick Mahomes. In the first meeting between the two teams this season, Brady led the Patriots to a 43–40 win. After the Patriots had a first round-bye, the Patriots moved past the Chargers 41–28 in the AFC Divisional Round. Brady went 34 for 44 with 343 yards and one touchdown. Kansas City had a first-round bye after finishing the season at 12–4 atop the AFC West. The Chiefs then beat the Colts 31–13 behind Mahomes, who went 27 for 41 with 278 yards. Mahomes finished with a record-breaking regular season as just the second player in NFL history to throw 50 touchdown passes and for more than 5,000 yards. The winner will face either the Rams in Super Bowl LIII, which takes place in Atlanta on Feb. 3. The Rams beat the Saints in overtime earlier on Sunday on a 57-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein. Here's how to watch Sunday's game at Arrowhead Stadium. How to watch: Time: 6:40 p.m. ET TV channel: CBS Live stream: Watch the game live on fuboTV. (Local restrictions apply.) fuboTV now features NFL Redzone as well as SI TV, available on the Sports Plus package. Sign up now for a free seven-day trial. Spread: Patriots +3

An Adelaide cabaret star whose onstage persona is that of a camp German accordion player has captured the hearts of millions and gone where no Australian has gone before by qualifying for the live finals of America's Got Talent. Known professionally as Hans, the self-proclaimed "international superstar, sex symbol, accordionist, home wrecker, Madonna fan", impressed the judges — including German supermodel Heidi Klum and Spice Girl Mel B — with his performance of the song It's Raining Men. He is understood to be the first Australian in the history of the US TV show, which is currently in its 13th season, to make it this far. Loading "I am just a little German boy standing in front of a music mogul asking him to love me," Hans told judge Simon Cowell, in a nod to the movie Notting Hill, before his act began. "You better prepare yourself Simon. You are going to see something you've never seen before." The typically acerbic Cowell replied "shall we just make this happen?" before Hans launched into his rendition of the 1982 disco hit, replete with umbrellas, backing dancers, signature moves and stockings. After the flamboyance reached its peak, there was yet more banter. "You definitely crammed it all in tonight," Cowell said, before Mel B told Hans he was "the gift that keeps on giving". 'Make America glitter again' The ersatz German, whose real name is Matt Gilbertson, makes a living in Adelaide as an entertainment writer and Fringe festival performer. Shortly after his successful performance, Hans tweeted that it was time to "make America glitter again". Cabaret star Hans, aka Matt Gilbertson, is enjoying a major rise in profile. ( Facebook: Hans "I'm thrilled with the reaction. I'm just here to give the world a show!" he told the ABC via Facebook, before hinting at a bigger and better performance next time. "I can say expect so much more than you've already seen. You think you know what I'm all about? Think again! This will be the greatest show on Earth!" Well-known in his home city, Hans has enjoyed a massive rise in his profile thanks to his appearance on the US mega show. His next performance on the show will be in front of a live TV audience of millions at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, where he is preparing for another encounter with Cowell. "He plays hard to get at the moment, but love is unstoppable. If all goes according to plan, there will be a wedding by Christmas!" Hans joked. The entertainer will also be performing his show Like A German at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and is predicting that, given his growing fame, tickets could "become more expensive than the Pink concert".<doc-sep>Adelaide's fake-German trailblazing cabaret star Hans spiced up America's Got Talent live finals but has fallen short of reaching the semi-finals. Entertainer Matt Gilbertson — who takes to the stage as Hans, a camp German accordion player — is the reality show's most successful Australian entrant after dazzling among fake snow and sequins during his rendition of Spice Up Your Life. The performance at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre was in front of a TV audience in the millions, and judges including German supermodel Heidi Klum, Spice Girl Mel B and English reality television judge and producer Simon Cowell. Loading "What can I say, it is hardly the first vote this country has got wrong," the Aussie said after the results were released. "And just like another famous German speaker, I'll be back." Earlier today he told ABC Radio Adelaide he "never" thought he would be singing a Spice Girl song to a Spice Girl. "I have to say I did feel a couple of times like, 'Am I actually in a coma and about to be woken up, is that what's happened here?'" he said in his faux German accent. "I wasn't sure if, you know, I've had some sort of relapse or something which, if you know anything about my lifestyle, is likely to happen one day eventually." But he added to have made it this far "was a dream come true". "I had Jennifer Lopez's choreographer, some of Janet Jackson's dancers and I had Liberace's real piano — I mean what more could I want," he said. "It really was his piano." When asked about how he secured Liberace's piano, he replied: "Honey, you just ask around here and somehow it happens. It is not like doing the Fringe, let me put it that way." Loading While still waiting for the results, he said anything beyond his Spice Up Your Life performance would be a "bonus". Fans will be left wondering what he had planned next after he said: "If you thought that was gay — wait for what I've got planned for the next one."<doc-sep>Singer, accordionist and dancer Hans (who may or may not have hailed from Germany) was shockingly eliminated during Wednesday’s results episode of “America’s Got Talent” in a tense showdown between him and married band Us the Duo. And “AGT” judge Mel B was furious about America’s decision. “Congratulations that you’re through,” Mel told Us the Duo. “[But] Hans, I need my glitz and my glamour still! I wish you could both go through, I really do.” Sound off down in the comments section about Hans’ elimination. SEE Zurcaroh tells epic Adam & Eve story in ‘America’s Got Talent’ live show: ‘You were perfect!’ raves Heidi Klum [WATCH] Hans took “Americas Got Talent” by storm in Season 13 with his outlandish, over-the-top performances. During what turned out to be his final showing in the Quarterfinals 3 episode, Hans took on “Spice Up Your Life” by The Spice Girls, a song that Scary Spice herself, aka Mel B, hardly even recognized. As she explained to Hans, “I was saying to Howie Mandel, ‘What song is it?’ At Spice Girls we write our own material and I didn’t even recognize my own song. But you killed it! Yes you did!” Back in the Judge Cuts Hans performed a show-stopping rendition of “It’s Raining Men” and wowed all of the judges. Hans had a running gag throughout all of his appearances where he continued to hit on Simon Cowell. “We’ve never met, but I feel like I’m stirring up something that has been lurking there,” he told Simon back in his original audition. After Hans’ “Spice Up Your Life” performance he whispered to Simon, “I promise you I’ll perform it on our wedding night.” SEE Christina Wells becomes Broadway ‘diva’ after ‘Dreamgirls’ performance on ‘America’s Got Talent’ live show [WATCH] Besides Hans, the other four acts eliminated this week on “AGT” 2018 were dance group The Future Kingz, singer/pianist Joseph O’Brien, illusionist Rob Lake and blacklight dance group UDI Dance. Which eliminated act will you miss the most? Vote now in our poll. In his “AGT” live blog our recapper John Benutty had this to say about Hans’ final performance: “In his pre-performance package he conceded that he isn’t the best singer or the best dancer, but knows ‘how to put on a show.’ And tonight he did exactly that — he enlisted a troupe of professional dancers to back him up in an electric and unique performance of ‘Spice Up Your Life’ by The Spice Girls. Heidi likened Hans to the child of Mel and Elton John and, honestly, that is spot on. She joined the other three judges in a standing ovation and Howie even called it his favorite act of the night.” SEE exclusive predictions: Who will win ‘America’s Got Talent’? Be sure to make your predictions to influence our reality TV racetrack odds. You can keep changing your predictions until just before the next live results episode airs on NBC. You’ll compete to win a spot on our leaderboard and a $100 Amazon gift card. See our contest rules and sound off with other fans in our reality TV forum. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.<doc-sep>

Adelaide's ersatz German cabaret wunderkind Hans has thrown down the gauntlet at the America's Got Talent live finals, but now faces a nervous wait to see if he will take another step towards glory. Key points: Hans, aka Matt Gilbertson, has again wowed audience and judges alike on America's Got Talent Hans, aka Matt Gilbertson, has again wowed audience and judges alike on America's Got Talent The Adelaide cabaret star qualified for the show's live finals last month The Adelaide cabaret star qualified for the show's live finals last month His latest performance of Spice Up Your Life was performed in front of Spice Girl Mel B The entertainer began his latest performance on the US mega show with a traditional accordion accompaniment as he descended from the ceiling of Hollywood's Dolby Theatre, surrounded by fake snow. But he quickly ditched the instrument, launching into a typically kitsch rendition of the hit song Spice Up Your Life in front of a judging panel that included former Spice Girl Mel B. "Hands down for the song choice," Mel B said after the extravaganza came to a halt. The performance was replete with sequins, fireworks and backing dancers, and Hans wearing his trademark feathered Tyrolean hat. "Smiling, dancing, everything is free. Tonight darlings all you need is a boy from Germany," Hans sang in front of a live audience of millions. Anne Wills and Sonya Feldhoff at a viewing party for Hans's performance. ( ABC Radio Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton Hans, aka Matt Gilbertson, is the first Australian to have made it this far in the show's history, after qualifying last month. But his fate is now in the hands of the US public as he waits to find out whether he has qualified for the semi-finals. Hans groupies gathered at the ABC in Adelaide to cheer him on, hosting a party that included small cakes bearing his image. "He's the loveliest, loveliest man in the world but he's also so talented," local personality Anne "Willsy" Wills — who is a close friend of Hans — told ABC Radio Adelaide's Sonya Feldhoff. "It is a dream come true because stage mothers live through their children. I'm there every second with him. "If he wins, I'll be even prouder." Cupcakes decorated with an image of Hans at a viewing party. ( ABC Radio Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton Wills said every birthday she buys Hans accoutrements, including eye shadow and eye lashes. "I buy all of his fishnet stockings for him. Whenever I see a sale I get half a dozen of them," she said. Gilbertson, an entertainment writer, is an established Fringe performer in his home city, but his profile has become much bigger thanks to his appearance on the American show. "I'm just here to give the world a show!" he told the ABC via Facebook. Friends at a viewing party for Hans's performance in America's Got Talent. ( ABC Radio Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton His previous act on the show, in which he performed the song It's Raining Men, was bookended by risque banter with judge Simon Cowell. At the time, Hans tweeted it was his intention to "make America glitter again".

Chris Schwegler/Getty Images The NBA playoffs will feature the Detroit Pistons for the first time in three seasons after they clinched a berth on Wednesday. Detroit secured its spot with a 115-89 victory over the New York Knicks. The Pistons endured incredible highs and agonizing lows in their quest to reach the playoffs. They looked like one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference with a 13-7 record after 20 games. Of course, that was a familiar position for Pistons fans. They started 14-6 in 2017-18 before losing 37 of their final 62 games to miss the postseason. This campaign looked to be following a similar arc, as the Pistons lost six straight games and fell to .500 after that hot start. Following a 95-92 loss to the Denver Nuggets on March 26 that left Detroit's record at 37-37, Blake Griffin told reporters the team needed that kind of game to help it through this crucial late-season push: "A game like this is a good test for us. Being this close to the end of the regular season, this close to the playoffs, I see guys come out here and fight and that’s going to be my message to everyone. "This time last year we were on the outside looking in, four or five games out of the playoffs. I can't say this is where we want to be. We want to be higher than this, but a chance to lay this foundation in [head coach Dwane] Casey's first year, it's a good place for us to be and a good test for us." Video Play Button Videos you might like The Pistons banded together after that moment to earn a spot as one of the eight teams in the Eastern Conference competing for a spot in the NBA Finals. Casey has them playing excellent defense at the right time. They currently rank 12th in defensive rating, per NBA.com. Any team capable of disrupting shots by the opposing team will have a chance to win. The Pistons are trending in the right direction and have now locked down their spot in the postseason.<doc-sep>The Pistons tonight can become the first Detroit major pro sports team to clinch a playoff berth in more than two years. The Pistons (40-41) will be in the postseason if they defeat the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden (8 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit). The Knicks have the worst record in the NBA (17-64). If the Pistons lose, they will still get it if Charlotte (39-42) loses at home to Orlando (41-40). The Hornets own the tie-breaker vs. the Pistons based on winning the season series 4-0. Here is how the Pistons can finish eighth in the Eastern Conference and face the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round: Pistons defeat Knicks. Charlotte defeats Orlando. Miami defeats Brooklyn. This scenario results in a three-way tie between Orlando, Brooklyn and Detroit, in which case the Pistons finish eighth (Orlando wins tie-breaker by virtue of being a division champion, Brooklyn is next by virtue of winning season series from Detroit 2-1). Pistons lose to Knicks. Charlotte loses to Orlando. Miami-Brooklyn result would have no bearing. Here is how the Pistons can finish seventh in the Eastern Conference and face the Toronto Raptors in the first round: Pistons defeat Knicks. Charlotte defeats Orlando. Brooklyn defeats Miami. This scenario results in a tie between Detroit and Orlando, in which case the Pistons win the tie-breaker by virtue of winning the season series from Orlando 3-1. The Pistons’ most recent playoff appearance was 2016, when they were swept in the first round by Cleveland. The Lions’ most recent playoff appearance came following the 2016 season, when they lost to Seattle 26-6 in an NFC wild card game. The Red Wings’ most recent playoff appearance was 2016, when they lost in five games in the first round to Tampa Bay. The Tigers’ most recent playoff appearance was 2014, when they were swept by Baltimore in the American League Divisional Series.<doc-sep>The Detroit Pistons are heading in the wrong direction, losers of three in a row, but they’re getting closer to the postseason. The Pistons can clinch their first playoff berth since 2016 as early as Sunday. They would need to defeat the Charlotte Hornets at Little Caesars Arena (4 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit), have the Miami Heat lose at the Toronto Raptors (noon) and have the Brooklyn Nets beat the Indiana Pacers (5 p.m.). Detroit has qualified for the playoffs only once in the past nine seasons. The Pistons lost at Oklahoma City 123-110 on Friday, despite 45 points from Blake Griffin, who returned after missing three games with a sore left knee. But Miami’s 111-109 loss at Minnesota reduced Detroit’s magic number to clinch to two – any combination of two Pistons victories or Heat losses. That’s because the Pistons hold the tie-breaker over Miami based on having clinched a better conference record (the teams split the season series 2-2, which is the first tie-breaker). However, the Pistons would need Brooklyn to win Sunday as well to avoid three- and four-way tie scenarios in which Detroit would lose out. The Pistons (39-40) have dropped from sixth to eighth in the Eastern Conference, but it’s a tight race. The Orlando Magic (40-40) moved up to sixth following a 9-2 run. The Brooklyn Nets (39-40) are seventh. The Hornets (37-42) are in 10th place and still in contention but need a lot of help. The Pistons hold the tie-breaker vs. Magic and Heat, but not against the Nets and Hornets. The team that finishes sixth will face either the Philadelphia 76ers (48-30) or the Boston Celtics (48-32) in the first round of the playoffs. The team that finishes seventh will face Toronto (56-24). The team that finishes eighth will face the Milwaukee Bucks (59-20). Here are the remaining games for the five teams competing for the final three spots in the East: Orlando (40-40): at Boston Sunday, at Charlotte Wednesday. Brooklyn (39-40): at Milwaukee Saturday, at Indiana Sunday, vs. Miami Wednesday. Detroit (39-40): vs. Charlotte Sunday, vs. Memphis Tuesday, at New York Wednesday. Miami (38-41): at Toronto Sunday, vs. Philadelphia Tuesday, at Brooklyn Wednesday. Charlotte (37-42): at Detroit Sunday, at Cleveland Tuesday, vs. Orlando Wednesday.<doc-sep>

Playing without an injured Blake Griffin, the Detroit Pistons beat the New York Knicks 115-89 on Wednesday to secure a playoff berth. The Pistons (41-41) finished in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, and they will face the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs. Detroit needed a road win on the final night of the season to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2016. "We're not where we want to be, but we're not where we were," first-year head coach Dwane Casey said after the Pistons' victory. If the Pistons had lost on Wednesday and the Charlotte Hornets (39-43) had beaten the Orlando Magic, Detroit would have missed the playoffs. But the Magic defeated the Hornets 122-114. "We knew what was at stake," Detroit's Andre Drummond said after scoring 20 points and grabbing 18 rebounds in the win. "We knew that [the Knicks] were coming in to try to ruin our season that we worked so hard for." Other Eastern Conference playoff matchups decided on the final night of the season: The Brooklyn Nets secured the sixth seed with a 113-94 home win over the Miami Heat in Dwayne Wade's final game. Brooklyn will face the third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs. The Magic secured the seventh seed, and they will face the second-seeded Toronto Raptors in the first round. The other Eastern Conference series is the fourth-seeded Boston Celtics against the No. 5 seed Indiana Pacers. With Griffin out with a sore left knee, Detroit leaned on Luke Kennard against New York in the season finale. Kennard had 27 points on 9-for-14 shooting off the Pistons' bench. Reggie Jackson had 21 points and seven assists.

Koffee with Karan Season 6 premieres today. Koffee with Karan Season 6 premieres today. Koffee With Karan, popular celebrity talk show hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, will arrive with its sixth season today evening. The show is famous for giving insights into the personal lives of Bollywood celebrities. Karan has been sharing photos and updates from the set of the show on his social media accounts for quite a while now. This time as well, the show has a stunning lineup. Stars like Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone, Aamir Khan, and pairs like Saif Ali Khan-Sara Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor-Janhvi Kapoor, Ranveer Singh-Akshay Kumar will get candid with Karan. Segments like Rapid Fire, Opinions and Koffee Quiz will also return. A one-minute teaser of Koffee With Karan Season 6 featured the first set of guests, Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt. The two actresses were seen discussing Ranbir Kapoor with Karan. The said promo promised that this time around, too, the show is going to be a lot of fun. If you are wondering where to catch the show, we are here to help. Koffee With Karan will be broadcast at 9 pm, every Sunday, on Star World starting from October 21. You can also watch it on Hotstar. If you have a premium subscription to Hotstar, you can watch the show three hours in advance – at 6 pm.<doc-sep>Koffee With Karan 6: Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt will appear on Karan Johar’s show tonight. Koffee With Karan 6: Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt will appear on Karan Johar’s show tonight. Karan Johar’s popular chat show Koffee With Karan is returning with its sixth season. It premieres tonight with two leading ladies of Hindi cinema. Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt are the first ones to answer all the ‘wrong questions’ by the ‘unafraid boy’ KJo. The promo of the show showed Karan being an unafraid boy since childhood who unabashedly asks uncomfortable questions. Just like every season, this season too, Bollywood actors are expected to reveal some secrets as they field every question thrown at them by Karan. After months of speculations around the guest list and rumours about who will accompany whom on the sassy couch, the filmmaker and the host of the show Karan has shared a few glimpses from various episodes of the show. We have compiled a list of all the teasers and the names of the celebrities who will be appearing on Koffee With Karan in its sixth edition. 1. Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt The first guests Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone strike a pose together on the sets of Koffee With Karan 6. The first guests Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone strike a pose together on the sets of Koffee With Karan 6. Beginning the season with girl power, host Karan Johar will be addressing “the elephant in the room” as he mentions to Deepika, “You have been in a relationship with Ranbir Kapoor and Alia is in one.” Last year, Alia opened the fifth season with Shah Rukh Khan and later made an appearance with her Badrinath Ki Dulhania co-actor Varun Dhawan. 2. Ranveer Singh and Akshay Kumar Ranveer Singh and Akshay Kumar will be sharing the couch on Koffee With Karan 6. Introducing the two livewires of Bollywood, Akshay Kumar and Ranveer Singh, Karan Johar wrote, “The koffee boys in the house!!! Wild whacky and beyond!” The duo will be joined by Hollywood star Will Smith during the episode. Akshay created ripples in the house during the last season as he shared the couch with wife Twinkle Khanna. Ranveer came along with Ranbir Kapoor and was not at all inhibited to talk about his ladylove Deepika Padukone who once dated Ranbir. Ranveer Singh and Akshay Kumar on Koffee With Karan season 6. Ranveer Singh and Akshay Kumar on Koffee With Karan season 6. 3. Saif Ali Khan and Sara Ali Khan Saif Ali Khan and Sara Ali Khan will appear together on Koffee with Karan. The next in the list is Saif Ali Khan, whose appearance on the show with his Rangoon co-actor Kangana Ranaut became the talking point for days to come and initiated the entire nepotism debate in Bollywood. This year, the Nawaab will have daughter Sara Ali Khan by his side. Sara will be making her Bollywood debut this year with Dharma Productions’ Simmba which also stars Ranveer Singh in the lead. 4. Arjun Kapoor and Janhvi Kapoor Janhvi Kapoor is making her debut on Karan Johar’s Koffee With Karan with half sibling Janhvi Kapoor is making her debut on Karan Johar’s Koffee With Karan with half sibling Arjun Kapoor Known for pulling off the biggest casting coups, Karan Johar has managed to bring together brother-sister duo Arjun Kapoor and Janhvi Kapoor for the first time ever. While it is Janhvi’s debut appearance on the show, Arjun is believed to be the Koffee King. Last year, the Namaste England actor was on the couch for four episodes. The audience can expect the episode to be “emotional and hysterical.” Koffee with Karan: Janhvi Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor come together for Karan Johar show. Koffee with Karan: Janhvi Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor come together for Karan Johar show. 5. Aamir Khan Karan Johar’s Koffee with Karan will air on October 21 on Star World Karan Johar’s Koffee with Karan will air on October 21 on Star World After being accompanied by his Dangal daughters Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh last season, Aamir will be seen in a solo appearance in season six. Karan shared a photo of the Thugs of Hindostan star as he enjoyed a hot cuppa and wrote, “Karan captioned the image as “@_aamirkhan in the koffee house!!!!! #koffeewithkaran @starworldindia @hotstar !! Some crazy banter and I played the raps fire with him!!! @malaikaarorakhanofficial was the master and the judge of that round!! !” Malaika Arora with Karan Johar on Koffee With Karan. Malaika Arora with Karan Johar on Koffee With Karan. 6. Varun Dhawan and Katrina Kaif Varun Dhawan and Varun Dhawan and Katrina Kaif on Koffee with Karan. You have never seen them together on the silver screen, but Karan Johar has brought together the sizzling duo of Varun Dhawan and Katrina Kaif on the small screen. While Katrina has a history of giving Karan some tough time on his own show, Varun has been all candid and fun during his last appearances. Now, what the two stars have to offer to the television audience together will be known soon. Koffee with Karan Season 6 premieres today at 9 pm on Star World.<doc-sep>Koffee With Karan 6 will be telecast on Star World, every Sunday, at 9 pm. Koffee With Karan 6 will be telecast on Star World, every Sunday, at 9 pm. Karan Johar is set to return with the sixth season of his celebrity talk show Koffee With Karan. And like always, the latest one is already boasting of a brand new line-up of guests who have been teamed up in the most unusual way to keep the excitement intact. Koffee With Karan 6 has a lot of fascinating new stuff in store for its viewers. The sensational chat show premieres on Star World on October 21 at 9 pm. But before its makers set the ball rolling, here are few of the new things to expect from the popular show. Unusual celebrity pairings Koffee With Karan 6: Koffee With Karan 6: Ranveer Singh and Akshay Kumar will come together on the show. (Photo: Twitter/KaranJoharTeam) In the first teaser of the show, we saw that Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt will open the season sipping some coffee and getting into a lot of girl banter, which would also include “the elephant in the room” – Ranbir Kapoor! That’s not all. Before we get to see Varun Dhawan-Katrina Kaif and Ranveer Singh-Akshay Kumar in a film together, Karan Johar has managed to bring them on the show. There will be some family time too, with Arjun Kapoor-Janhvi and Saif Ali Khan-Sara coming together. These unlikely celebrity pairings are already making fans curious. Coffee mug Koffee With Karan 6: Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt will open the season. (Photo: Twitter/KaranJoharTeam) Koffee With Karan 6: Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt will open the season. (Photo: Twitter/KaranJoharTeam) Who won’t want to sit on that glittery couch and sip the most delectable and priced coffee on television? While stars have claimed how they wait to be on the show every season to hold that beautiful signature coffee mug in their hands. This year, the fancy mug has been revamped to a dual tone of yellow and black. New games Koffee With Karan 6: The set of the latest season is bigger and fancier. (Photo: Twitter/karanjohar) Koffee With Karan 6: The set of the latest season is bigger and fancier. (Photo: Twitter/karanjohar) Koffee With Karan 6 is introducing a thrilling new gaming segment. We saw in the teaser how the makers have kept a large portion of the show’s set clear so that the celebrities can let loose and unveil their fun side. Now, how much whacky entertainment is in store in this particular segment, can only be guessed. Let’s wait and watch! Debutant guests Koffee With Karan 6: Janhvi Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan are set to debut on the show this season. (Photo: Twitter/KaranJoharTeam) Koffee With Karan 6: Janhvi Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan are set to debut on the show this season. (Photo: Twitter/KaranJoharTeam) After getting veteran and superstars, KJo will also bring the young brigade on the show. This includes Janhvi Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan. These Bollywood newbies will show us their side of stardom, bringing some raw and vibrant energy on to the show. New conversations Koffee With Karan 6: Arjun Kapoor and Janhvi Kapoor will get into a lot of sibling talk. (Photo: Instagram/arjunkapoor) Koffee With Karan 6: Arjun Kapoor and Janhvi Kapoor will get into a lot of sibling talk. (Photo: Instagram/arjunkapoor) And new guests will also bring with them a lot of unfiltered conversations. Gone are the days when stars tried to calculate their words on chat shows. We know that our current breed of actors believe in no holds barred conversations, and are open about their professional and personal lives too. So how much of the industry secrets will get spilled over on the show? We can’t wait to know more! Grab the autographed mugs Koffee With Karan 6: While Koffee With Karan 6: While Aamir Khan will come solo, Varun Dhawan will arrive with Katrina Kaif. (Photo: Instagram/karanjohar) The latest season will also give a chance to the viewers to participate and bring home the autographed coffee mugs. We see at the end of every episode how the guests sign the fancy mugs and decorate them on the coffee wall. Koffee With Karan 6 will give fans a chance to grab those mugs. This time, the stars will close the episode by asking a question to the audience and the lucky winner will stand an opportunity to bag the personally signed mugs.<doc-sep>Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt will feature as the first guests on the sixth season premiere of Koffee with Karan, host Karan Johar confirmed on Friday. Taking to Twitter, the filmmaker wrote, “The first cup of Koffee is all about girl power!! Welcome Deepika and Alia on episode 1 season 6 of Koffee with Karan.” According to a Pinkvilla report, Deepika and Alia will shoot for the episode in the coming week. The topics of discussion will range from Deepika’s rumoured wedding to Ranveer Singh and Alia’s relationship with Brahmastra co-star, Ranbir Kapoor. “Girl power, the changing role of women in films today and their real-life friendship, among other things,” is said to be the theme of the episode, according to the report. Interestingly, Ranbir and Ranveer - Deepika’s ex and current boyfriends respectively - have appeared together on a show during the last season. All five of them, including Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, were present for Ranbir’s recent pre-birthday bash at his new home in Mumbai. Photos from the party were shared online, with the most prominent one being shared by Karan himself. Alia has a handful of Dharma projects in the pipeline. Besides the ambitious Brahmastra and Gully Boy, she will appear in Kalank and Takht. Deepika is yet to finalise a follow-up to her record breaking Padmaavat, but is reportedly reprising her role in the xXx franchise opposite Vin Diesel. Ranveer will lead director Rohit Shetty’s Dharma film Simmba before joining Alia in Takht. Ranbir, meanwhile, is coming off the massive success of Sanju, the Sanjay Dutt biopic. Koffee with Karan season 6 will premiere on October 21 on Star World. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-tv_listing-desktop<doc-sep>

Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone will soon grace the sets of Koffee with Karan Season 6 Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone will soon grace the sets of Koffee with Karan Season 6 The first promo of Karan Johar’s popular chat show Koffee with Karan Season 6 is out and it promises to pack in all the drama and fun that the show is famous for. The one-minute sneak-peek features the first set of guests, Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt. “I am proud to start my season with girl power,” says the filmmaker at the beginning of the video and then proceeds to throw his guests into an awkward position by asking questions about Alia’s relationship with Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika’s wedding plans. “You have been in a relationship with Ranbir, Alia is in one right now…,” the filmmaker tells Deepika until he is interrupted by the actor herself, who says, “Don’t try and make it awkward, because it was not.” Deepika had shared this photo on her Instagram handle recently and had capitoned it #coffeewithkaran Deepika had shared this photo on her Instagram handle recently and had capitoned it #coffeewithkaran Karan Johar poses for the camera with Deepika and Alia Karan Johar poses for the camera with Deepika and Alia Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt flash a smile for the camera Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt flash a smile for the camera The host then asks his guests, “Who will get married first?” At which point, both the ladies point fingers at each other. Well, looks like the new season is upping its ante in terms of all the fun and games. Koffee with Karan Season 6 will also see Saif Ali Khan-Sara Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor-Janhvi Kapoor, Ranveer Singh-Akshay Kumar heating up the couch this season. The show will premiere on October 21 at 9 pm on Star World.

Since the Alabama Crimson Tide lost to the Clemson Tigers in the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship to end the season, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has seen offensive coordinator Mike Locksley (Maryland), quarterbacks coach Dan Enos (Miami), defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi (Cleveland Browns), wide receivers coach Josh Gattis (Michigan) and offensive line coach Brent Key (Georgia Tech) leave the program. Of the departures, Enos was the most surprising since he was expected to be promoted to offensive coordinator. Locksley agreed to accept the Maryland head coach job after the regular season ended, but remained with Alabama through the playoff. However, the manner in which Enos left is perhaps even more shocking, according to a report released Thursday by The Athletic's Bruce Feldman. The remaining Crimson Tide staffers and Saban gathered for a meeting last Friday, and several of them knew Enos had accepted an offer from new Miami Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz, per Feldman. Saban, though, was unaware, prompting the coach to ask, "Where the F#$% is Dan?!?" Feldman wrote. Enos' office had already been cleared out. Enos later responded to the report on Twitter. "I would never leave an employer without telling them I was doing so," Enos said. "No ghosting here. Nothing but respect for (Coach Nick Saban) and Alabama. Bottom line, business is business and it was time for me to exit. Wish all the best to (Roll Tide Roll), (Coach Nick Saban) and the program." Feldman appeared on The Paul Finebaum Show to discuss the story on Thursday. "Some of this was expected," Feldman said. "Before they had even beaten Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, a couple sources that I had had told me, last year they had six new assistants come in, and they were expecting similar amount of turnover. But the big surprise that no one was expecting was Dan Enos, who going to take over for Mike Locksley, and by all accounts inside the program had done a really good job in that quarterback room, not just with Tua Tagovailoa, but also Jalen Hurts. Was getting elevated to be the OC, and last Thursday night I heard some rumbling that he was in the mix for the Miami job. And I just thought, kind of dismissively, well he's not going to just leave Alabama with Tua and those four stud young receivers. Why would he do that? "And then the next morning it all blew up. And then the story that I lead with in the piece on The Athletic is ‘Where's Dan? Where the bleep is Dan?’ It kind of blindsided everybody there. People can read some of the color around it, but that was a curveball. Because what you've had with Nick Saban, and Nick Saban no doubt he is the greatest college football coach we've ever seen in the sport. And it's been remarkable what he's been able to do with a staggering amount of turnover. Five national titles at Alabama, four different offensive coordinators; coordinators have come and gone. Saban is the constant. Scott Cochran and Jeff Allen and the support side of things are a big piece of it, and that's part of the structure put in. "But the amount of turnover, well it really fits now into three categories. The first is the Kirby Smart(s) and the Jim McElwain(s), Mike Locksley, who got a chance, learned Nick Saban's system and then go on and get their own head coaching jobs. Even a guy like Josh Gattis I would put in that category, because he wasn't going to be the play caller at Alabama and now he goes on and gets the Michigan offensive coordinator job. Clearly not a lateral move. "Then there's the second category which is much more vague. Which is the guys which look like they're doing well, and they obviously are because the program's having success, but they're nudged out the door. And because it's Alabama, which is the pinnacle of the sport, and in some cases Nick Saban's resources and connections can help guys get interviews if they need to look elsewhere. And that's a decent sized number, like of the 10 guys who have been Alabama assistants that have gone on to be head coaches at some point a few of those guys are in that second category of guys who would be better served to find another job. "Well now there's this third category, which Dan Enos fits in there, and you're like, 'You're really going there instead of staying at Alabama?' And it's really a head-scratcher for a lot of people. But I think it comes back to what guys are comfortable in that environment. Some guys can handle the stress, and the challenges that come with working for Nick Saban. And it's no secret that he's extremely demanding with the work schedule and the grind of all grinds. So you're starting to see that. "Having said all that, yes it is noteworthy the turnover. But I think, and I wrote this in the story and I've talked to people that have worked there, anybody that thinks this means cracks in the armor and here's the beginning of the end at Alabama I think you're missing the boat there. Because Nick Saban is still there, and they still have a ridiculous amount of players and talent there. And as long as that's there, and the head guy is there, and the Scott Cochrans and Jeff Allens...there's chaos to some degree, but it works. And I suspect it's going to keep working."<doc-sep>Nick Saban was expecting Dan Enos to show up at a Jan. 11 staff meeting. Enos didn’t and was announced as Miami’s offensive coordinator later that day. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) Nick Saban was reportedly not plugged in about Dan Enos’ job opportunities outside of Alabama. Enos spent the 2018 season as Alabama’s quarterbacks coach and moved to Miami in the offseason to be the Hurricanes’ offensive coordinator under new coach Manny Diaz. That move to Miami came as an apparent surprise to his head coach. According to the Athletic, Saban was fully expecting Enos at the team’s regular staff meeting on Friday, Jan. 11. Except, unbeknownst to Saban, Enos had been in talks with Miami about their offensive coordinator vacancy. And when Enos didn’t show up to the meeting, Saban asked where he was multiple times. From the Athletic: “Where the F#$% is Dan?! ?” Several of the staffers knew the answer to their boss’ question. Word had already spread that the 50-year-old Enos was headed to Miami to become offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Manny Diaz. No one in the room wanted to be the one to break that news to Saban, even though Miami was primed to announce it in a couple hours. One staffer scrambled to check if Enos was in his office. It was empty, save for a pencil on the desk. Maybe he’d already moved into [current Maryland head coach and former Alabama offensive coordinator Mike] Locksley’s old office, but that one was empty too. Enos was officially announced as Miami’s OC on Jan. 11. He claimed on Twitter Thursday evening that he told Alabama officials he was leaving. I would never leave an employer without telling them I was doing so. No ghosting here. Nothing but respect for CNS and Alabama. Bottom line, business is business and it was time for me to exit. Wish all the best to RTR, CNS and the program. — Dan Enos (@CoachDanEnos) January 17, 2019 Enos set to be Bama’s next OC The report notes that Enos was set to take over as Alabama’s offensive coordinator after Locksley’s departure for Maryland. But Enos clearly thought it was a good idea to go somewhere else as Alabama’s coaching staff under Saban churns over at a rapid rate this offseason. In addition to Locksley and Enos, co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Josh Gattis has gone to Michigan. And defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi is reportedly set to join the Cleveland Browns coaching staff. Story continues Alabama is reportedly hiring Steve Sarkisian as the team’s new offensive coordinator. Sarkisian was the team’s OC for the 2017 National Championship Game after serving as an offensive analyst for the 2016 season. He’s spent the past two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons. The story about Enos’ departure is also a view into how unglamorous job switches can be in college football. And how coaches can be unable to break bad news to their superiors. Gattis said that Saban had “chewed” him for 20 minutes trying to get him to stay on staff. Apparently Enos didn’t want to have a similar conversation. Enos had been at Alabama for one season. He resigned as Central Michigan’s coach after 2014 and became Arkansas’ offensive coordinator. He briefly joined the staff at Michigan in the offseason after the 2017 season before he was hired at Alabama. – – – – – – – Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports. More from Yahoo Sports: • Turkey seeks arrest warrant for NBA star • Atlanta mayor clarifies Saints Super Bowl remark • The real reason for NFL playoff star’s weight gain • Paylor: ‘Redshirt’ year big for Mahomes<doc-sep>

The mass exodus of assistant coaches out of Tuscaloosa has been one of the crazier storylines so far when it comes to the college football offseason. Is the departure of so many full-time staff members for new jobs a sign of concern for Alabama’s dynasty under Nick Saban? Former Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin sure does not see things that way. As he often does, the FAU head coach took to social media with his own take on the latest developments out of Alabama. The tweet comes in response to a story about Dan Enos and the details of his departure from the program. According to a report by Bruce Feldman, Enos left for Miami without tipping off Saban. Enos later responded to the report on Twitter. "I would never leave an employer without telling them I was doing so," Enos said. "No ghosting here. Nothing but respect for (Coach Nick Saban) and Alabama. Bottom line, business is business and it was time for me to exit. Wish all the best to (Roll Tide Roll), (Coach Nick Saban) and the program." Two candidates that could be close to joining Nick Saban's staff (VIP) Enos is one of many departures for Alabama. The list includes offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, who heads to Maryland as head coach. Josh Gattis departs Alabama to become Jim Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator at Michigan. Brent Key leaves to coach offensive line at Georgia Tech. Defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi is the latest projected departure with a move to coach defensive line for the Cleveland Browns. Lupoi was promoted to full-time defensive coordinator last January after Jeremy Pruitt left for Tennessee. One of the nation’s top recruiters, Lupoi spent the previous three seasons as the Crimson Tide’s outside linebackers coach after initially serving as an intern in 2014. It has been a hectic 10 days for Alabama, but the Crimson Tide are still on track for the No. 1 overall recruiting class in the 247Sports Composite rankings come National Signing Day in three weeks. “We're all very, very disappointed, but I'd like to say that I'm very, very proud of what our team was able to accomplish this year, to win 14 games, win the SEC, win the Orange Bowl, have an opportunity to play for the national championship,” Saban said on the loss to Clemson in the National Championship Game. “Really proud of our players, really proud of our team. And I don't think that one game necessarily defines who you are, and that's certainly what I'd like for our players to know. I think you learn a lot from experiences like this.” Alabama checks in at No. 1 in the 247Sports "way too early" rankings for 2019. "The Crimson Tide should enter a new regular season as the nation’s No. 1. How could they not? Alabama returns almost everyone outside of star left tackle Jonah Williams, starting center Ross Pierschbacher and running back Damien Harris from its world-slaughtering offense, including early Heisman favorite Tua Tagovailoa," writes national college football writer Chris Hummer.

The only women to ever have won the Nobel Prize in Physics: Donna Strickland (2018), Maria Goeppert-Mayer (1963), and Marie Curie (1903) Photo : University of Waterloo Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons Scientists Arthur Ashkin from the U.S.-based Bell Labs, Gérard Mourou from École Polytechnique in France, and Donna Strickland from the University of Waterloo in Canada shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for their pioneering work in laser physics. Strickland is the third female physics laureate ever, after Maria Goeppert Mayer in 1963, and the third including Marie Curie in 1903. Advertisement Ashikin wins half of the 9 million Swedish krona prize for inventing optical tweezers, while Mourou and Strickland split the other half for devising a new procedure called chirped-pulse amplification that allowed for high-intensity laser pulses. Both of these methods have become ubiquitous in everyday physics research. Strickland’s recognition serves as a major milestone while highlighting the gender imbalance of the prize’s winners. “We need to celebrate women physicists because they’re out there… I’m honoured to be one of those women,” Strickland said in a statement. Lasers are incredible, of course. They’re a quantum phenomenon in which exciting the electrons in a medium causes the atoms to continue exciting one another, creating a coherent beam of light where the photons have the same wavelength. Both Nobel-winning groups employed this phenomena to develop widely used techniques. Ashkin’s work with optical tweezers, which use laser light as a tool to move around tiny objects, dates back to the 1980s. Passing a laser through a microscope and onto a sample squeezes the light beam, generating a force on the object in the opposite direction of the beam. This allows researchers to precisely manipulate tiny objects like single cells or molecules. “Dr Ashkin’s work on optical tweezers could be something out of a sci-fi book,” Clara Nellist, particle physicist at the ATLAS experiment at CERN told Gizmodo. “He took the idea of a tractor beam and shrunk it down to the microscopic scale in order to be able to capture individual viruses and bacteria.” Advertisement Chirped-pulse amplification uses lasers to create ultra-short, high-intensity pulses. Prior to Strickland and Mourou’s research, short pulses could damage the material used to amplify the laser—getting around this problem required larger beams and larger, more expensive laser facilities. The two got around this problem by devising a three-part method in which they stretched out the laser pulse, amplified it, then compressed it once again. The research, published in 1985, served as the basis of Strickland’s doctoral thesis. Today, chirped-pulse amplification is frequently used in the frontiers of laser physics to create incredibly short pulses. It led to the creation of high-power tabletop laser pulses, and it’s even used in laser corrective eye surgery, according to the Nobel release. Advertisement “I am very happy that they got the Nobel Prize,” Marie-Emmanuelle Couprie, scientist at the Soleil Synchrotron in France whose research builds on Strickland and Mourou’s, told Gizmodo. “It’s fundamentally important because it provides the highest-power laser with which you can do things that we haven’t dreamed of before.” And she’s especially excited about Strickland’s win. “Of course as a female scientist, I was very happy that once again the Nobel Prize was given to a lady, because there are so few in physics. It’s great pleasure to me.” Both of the prize-winning techniques are fundamental to present-day physics research. If you read Gizmodo often, these methods are frequently in the background of the science we cover, including in new lasers, their applications and uses, as well as by researchers who manipulate small particles. Advertisement Women win just 3 percent of the science Nobel Prizes, and last year’s winners consisted solely of white men, reported Axios. Science, especially physics, is still stacked mostly with white men, and there’s tons of work to do to ensure that we don’t go another 50 years before the next female winner. Just this week, women at CERN faced a sexist tirade at a event about gender parity in physics, highlighting the antagonistic atmosphere in which many female physicists must work. “We should celebrate that we finally have a third female physics laureate,” Nellist said, “but it’s also been a long time coming and there is still a lot of work to be done. Dr Strickland didn’t even have a Wikipedia page until this morning!” Advertisement Meanwhile, others have discussed that the Nobel Prize doesn’t accurately reflect the way physics gets done. Last year, Princeton physicist Shivaji Sondhi and Standord physicist Steven Kivelson penned an editorial proposing that the prize should go to more people, or should instead celebrate a scientist’s achievement over an entire lifetime. But this year, the committee was instead able to find individuals whose pioneering methods changed the way science is conducted. So congratulations to the 2018 winners. Given the ubiquity of the techniques and the third female Nobel physics laureate ever, this year’s prize is one to be excited about. Advertisement This post has been updated with comment from Clara Nellist.<doc-sep>Today, optical physicist Donna Strickland received the Nobel Prize for her work on ultrashort lasers. When her name was announced, a search for Strickland’s name on Wikipedia would have turned up nothing. As recently as May, Wikipedia editors weren’t convinced that Strickland’s work was significantly covered enough to merit an article on the site. Strickland is an associate professor of physics at the University of Waterloo in Canada—a title that, as many observers have noticed, does not seem to reflect the significance of her work. Strickland and colleague Gérard Mourou shared half of the 2018 prize, which was also awarded to scientist Arthur Ashkin. Strickland is now currently the only living female Nobel laureate in physics, joining Marie Curie and the theoretical physicist Maria Goeppert-Mayer as the only women of the award’s 209 recipients. Prior to winning the Nobel Prize, Strickland’s only previous mention on Wikipedia was in an article about Mourou, her male co-inventor. On May 23, a Wikipedia editor rejected a draft of an article about Strickland, claiming that it failed to “show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject.” The rejected draft noted that she was at that time the associate chair of the physics department at Waterloo, and a past president of the Optical Society. A revised draft including her Nobel win went live about 90 minutes after the prize was announced. Only 17% of the current biographical entries on Wikipedia are about women, and the site is particularly thin on women in science.<doc-sep>Three scientists have been awarded the 2018 Nobel prize in physics for creating groundbreaking tools from beams of light. The American physicist Arthur Ashkin, Gérard Mourou from France, and Donna Strickland in Canada will share the 9m Swedish kronor (£770,000) prize announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm on Tuesday. Strickland is the first female physics laureate for 55 years. Ashkin, an affiliate of Bell Laboratories in New Jersey, wins half of the prize for his development of “optical tweezers”, a tractor beam-like technology that allows scientists to grab atoms, viruses and bacteria in finger-like laser-beams. The effect was demonstrated by the award committee by levitating a ping pong ball with a hairdryer. Mourou at the École Polytechnique near Paris, and Strickland at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, each receive a quarter of the prize for work that paved the way for the shortest, most intense laser beams ever created. Their technique, named chirped pulse amplification, is now used in laser machining and enables doctors to perform millions of corrective laser eye surgeries every year. Giving her reaction to the call from Stockholm early on Tuesday morning, Strickland said: “First of all, you have to think it is crazy.” She is the first woman to win the physics Nobel since Maria Goeppert Mayer was honoured in 1963 for her work on the nuclear shell structure. Strickland becomes only the third woman in history to win the physics prize, and the only living female physics laureate. In a telephone interview with the Royal Swedish Academy, Strickland said she was unaware only two women had won the prize before her. “We need to celebrate women physicists because we’re out there, and hopefully in time it’ll start to move forward at a faster rate. I’m honoured to be one of those women,” she said. The head of the academy, Goran Hansson, acknowledged that it was doing more to ensure women were not overlooked for Nobel prizes. “It’s a small percentage for sure,” Hansson said on the proportion of women who have won the physics prize. “That’s why we are taking measures to encourage more nominations because we don’t want to miss anyone.” Ashkin, who at 96 is the oldest winner of any Nobel prize, told the committee that he may not be able to give any interviews because he was “very busy” on his latest scientific paper. He had previously complained of being overlooked for the Nobel prize in 1997 when another Bell Labs researcher, the US physicist Steven Chu, shared the award for cooling and trapping atoms with lasers. Through his research in the 1970s and 80s, Ashkin showed how the radiation pressure of light could be harnessed to move physical objects without burning them, realising “an old dream of science fiction,” according to the Swedish Academy. In 1987, Ashkin published a landmark paper showing how optical tweezers could capture living bacteria without harming them. Around the same time, Mourou and Strickland demonstrated how to create ultrashort, intense bursts of laser light by stretching, amplifying and finally recompressing light waves. Mourou said he had a key insight into solving the problem while riding on a ski lift at Bristol Mountain resort in Rochester, New York. The pair’s seminal paper in 1985 was Strickland’s first as an academic. Ultra-sharp laser beams make it possible to cut or drill holes in various materials extremely precisely – even in living matter. Millions of eye operations are performed every year with the sharpest of laser beams.#NobelPrize pic.twitter.com/MiYb4i8AHw — The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 2, 2018 Amanda Wright, associate professor at the faculty of engineering, University of Nottingham, said she was “delighted” with the prize announcement. She said a recently-funded collaboration between Nottingham, Heriot Watt and the University of Glasgow will use optical tweezers to explore how cells talk to their surroundings and vice versa, “and how these interactions affect disease progression.” Jim Al-Khalili, professor of theoretical physics at the University of Surrey, added: “The most thrilling thing for me is to see Donna Strickland share this year’s prize. It is quite shocking to know that she is only the third woman to win a physics Nobel ever,” said “It is also quite delicious that this comes just a few days after certain controversial and misogynistic comments made at a conference at Cern about women in physics. Congrats! Gérard Mourou immediately after receiving the news that he had been awarded the 2018 #NobelPrize in Physics. Credit: Mme Catherine Sarrazin pic.twitter.com/c87TamN75Q — The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 2, 2018 “Ashkin, Mourou and Strickland are all hugely deserving of this prize: their work on lasers will, I have no doubt, lead to other discoveries and further Nobel prizes in the future,” he added. On Monday, James Allison at Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and Tasuku Honjo at the University of Kyoto won the 2018 medicine Nobel for their work on harnessing the immune system to combat cancer. The award for chemistry will be announced on Wednesday, followed by peace on Friday and economics on Monday. The literature award is not being given this year after a scandal that resulted in a rape conviction on Monday.<doc-sep>

The 2018 Nobel Prize in physics has been awarded to three scientists — including one woman — for advancing the science of lasers and creating extremely useful tools out of laser beams. The winners include Arthur Ashkin, 96, a retired American physicist who worked Bell Labs; Gerard Mourou, 74, now at the École Polytechnique in France and University of Michigan; and Donna Strickland, 59, now at the University of Waterloo in Canada. These scientists are responsible for two important inventions. One is laser tweezers, which allow scientists to manipulate microscopic particles (often viruses and bacteria) within a laser beam. The second is a technology that led to the rapid increase of laser beam intensity, which has allowed for myriad laser-based tools, including the beams commonly used in laser eye surgery. Ashkin, who took half of the $1 million prize, invented the optical (laser) tweezers in his work with Bell Labs in the 1980s. Mourou and Strickland worked on laser amplification at the University of Rochester, also in the 1980s. Astonishingly, Strickland is just the third woman to have ever won the Nobel Prize in physics. The prize has not been awarded to a woman since 1963 when Maria Goeppert-Mayer won for her work on atomic structure. That was 55 years ago! The only time a woman was awarded the prize before that was in 1903 when Marie Curie won for her work on radioactivity. During the Nobel Prize press conference Tuesday morning, Strickland was reminded by a reporter that she was the just third woman to win, and immediately responded, “Is that all, really? I thought there might have been more.” She went on: “We need to celebrate women physicists because we’re out there. Hopefully, in time, it will start to move forward at a faster rate.” The Nobel Committee has long been criticized for neglecting to honor women (who have been denied prizes, despite being behind some incredible discoveries in recent decades). Why laser physics is worthy of a Nobel Prize The Nobel Prizes award discoveries and inventions that lead to the betterment of humanity. Strickland, and co-inventor Gerard Mourou, did just that. After lasers, which are focused beams of photons (i.e. light), were first invented in the 1960s, the power and intensity they could reach quickly plateaued. That’s where Strickland and Mourou came in. They realized that, through a series of steps that involve stretching, amplifying, and then compressing the beams, they could greatly increase their intensity. The breakthrough, called chirped pulse amplification, was published in 1985 and was Strickland’s first published scientific work. (Mourou was her supervisor at the time and they worked on the project together.) “The CPA-technique invented by Strickland and Mourou revolutionized laser physics,” the Nobel Committee writes in a press release. These high-intensity lasers have been used in a huge array of applications: drilling, cutting, data storage, manufacturing, and surgery (like eye surgery to correct vision). Ashkin, who was awarded half of the prize, also invented a highly transformative tool. In the 1980s, he led a team at Bell Labs that realized that tiny micrometer-size spheres would be drawn into the center of a laser beam (not so unlike the tractor beams of science fiction stories). Adding a lens to focus the beam into a smaller area, Ashkin was able to essentially create a vise out of the laser to hold on to the tiny particles. These “light traps” can hold on to individual atoms. He also discovered that bacteria and viruses could be held in its grip. “In many laboratories, laser tweezers are therefore standard equipment for studying biological processes, such as individual proteins, molecular motors, DNA or the inner life of cells,” the Nobel Prize press release states. Today’s prize announcement is historic. But the Nobel Committee has a long way to go to catch up in recognizing women scientists. (And they’ve had missed opportunities, like failing to honor Vera Rubin for her discovery of dark matter before she died and became ineligible to win the award.) The institutions of science, overall, need to do a better job of making women feel welcome. Just this week, a CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) scientist made headlines when he declared “physics was invented and built by men, it’s not by invitation” at a scientific conference.

WASHINGTON — Henrik Lundqvist was fine when he was talking about the game, and the goals he allowed, and all the other stuff that occurred during the Rangers’ 6-5 overtime loss to the Capitals on Sunday. Then he was asked to talk about Mats Zuccarello, his best friend on the team, who was traded to Dallas on Saturday night for a conditional second-round pick in 2019 and a conditional third-rounder in 2020. That was a lot harder. “It’s tough,’’ Lundqvist said after a long pause, his voice cracking, his face contorting and tears welling up in his eyes. Henrik Lundqvist gets choked up talking about the Mats Zuccarello trade. We're with ya Hank. #NYR pic.twitter.com/HyyfIS1NWS — MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) February 24, 2019 One of the most unique player and teammate I ever played with. Brings so much to the table. Will miss you a ton! 😔 My favorite moment as a Ranger, “We’re going to the finals! !” #36 #Zuuuuk pic.twitter.com/qMK5a54X21 — Henrik Lundqvist (@HLundqvist30) February 24, 2019 “He’s my friend . . . ,’’ Lundqvist tried saying before realizing it was pointless to go on. “I can’t talk,’’ he finally said. And that was that. Subscribe to Newsday’s sports newsletter Receive stories, photos and videos about your favorite New York teams plus national sports news and events. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. But if he couldn’t say out loud what Zuccarello meant to him, Lundqvist did share his feelings about him on Twitter on Saturday night. He posted a photo of them celebrating together on the ice the night the Rangers beat the Canadiens in the 2014 Eastern Conference finals to book their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final. “One of the most unique player [sic] and teammate I ever played with. Brings so much to the table. Will miss you a ton!’’ Lundqvist tweeted, adding a sad- face emoji and continuing to describe the photo by saying, “My favorite moment as a Ranger, ‘We’re going to the finals! !’ #36 #Zuuuuk’’ (In his first game for Dallas on Sunday, Zuccarello had a goal and an assist against the Blackhawks — but suffered an upper-body injury (possibly a broken right arm) while blocking a shot and reportedly is expected to miss at least four weeks.) It isn’t only Lundqvist who loves Zuccarello. The (allegedly) 5-8 Norwegian right wing, who signed with the Rangers as a free agent in the summer of 2010, was beloved by all in Rangers universe — from his teammates to his coaches to the fans delivering tributes to him on Twitter. Everyone knew Zuccarello had to go because he is 31 and in the last year of his contract, about to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. Once the Rangers decided they weren’t going to sign him to a contract extension, they had to move him to get assets back. The 2019 second-round pick they received will become a first-rounder if the Stars win two playoff rounds. The 2020 third-rounder will become a first-rounder if Zuccarello signs a contract to stay in Dallas. Zuccarello was the first Ranger to go in the hours leading up to Monday’s 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline. Forward Kevin Hayes and defenseman Adam McQuaid, also set to become unrestricted free agents this summer, are almost certain to be traded. They were held out of the lineup for the second straight game Sunday to protect them against potential injury. Former linemate Mika Zibanejad, who also was close to Zuccarello, said the emotions he and the rest of the team felt Sunday were different from what they felt Saturday — when they anticipated Zuccarello would be traded — but no less sad. “I found out it happened yesterday, around dinner, and I talked to him,’’ Zibanejad said. “I talked to him after . . . last night. It [stinks]. Not only is he a great hockey player and a great leader in the group — and the guy a lot of people turn to and look at for a guy leading by example — but for me personally, and a few others on the team as well, he’s a really close friend of mine. We became really good friends over these two-and-a-half, three years I was here. It’s obviously not going to break up just because we don’t play on the same team, but it [stinks]. “Obviously, you’d rather have him here, but you’ve got to kind of move past it and wish him all the best. He deserves it. Obviously, I want to see him back here in July [as a free-agent signing].’’<doc-sep>During every season and in every league, there's a trade deadline that leads to a number of prominent players switching cities and logos during the middle of the season. While it's often discussed how those trades affect the immediate outlook of the teams and players involved, the personal impact that such deals have on players (and their former teammates) is discussed far less frequently. However, those personal shockwaves exist and can be felt, and sometimes they can be quite evident in the aftermath. For example, take the trade of Mats Zucarello this weekend. On Saturday night, the Dallas Stars acquired the longtime Rangers forward in an effort to bolster their depth for a playoff run. On Sunday afternoon, after the Rangers played the Capitals in Washington, Henrik Lundqvist was asked about what Zuccarello has meant to him as a teammate and friend over the years. The veteran goaltender got choked up in his attempt to answer, only managing to let out an emotional "it's tough" response before eventually deciding to move on from the question. Lundqvist and Zuccarello had played together in New York since Zuccarello's rookie year in 2010, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals three times in that span -- including a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2014. Neither player had played for another team before Saturday's deal shipped Zuccarello to Dallas. After the announcement of the deal, Lundqvist took to Instagram to pay tribute to Zucc. "One of the most unique player and teammate I ever played with," wrote Lundqvist. "Brings so much to the table. Will miss you a ton!" Lundqvist certainly isn't the only one who will miss Zuccarello in New York. The offensively gifted forward was a fan favorite due to his production and his energetic personality. The team quickly posted a tribute video paying tribute to his lengthy tenure with the Blueshirts on Saturday night.<doc-sep>It’s easy to sometimes forget that the professional athletes that we watch all the time on television are actually real people with real emotions. Because they are often so good at fiercely competing in a sport they’ve come to master. Like New York Rangers goalie, Henrik Lundqvist. He’s long been one of the best goalies in the NHL, a rock for his team, and a star of the league. On Sunday he let us in to the personal side of him as he got very emotional while trying to talk about the Rangers trading fan favorite Mats Zuccarello to the Dallas Stars on Saturday: Henrik Lundqvist gets choked up talking about the Mats Zuccarello trade. We're with ya Hank. #NYR pic.twitter.com/HyyfIS1NWS — MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) February 24, 2019 Here’s the Instagram post by Lundqvist: Lundqvist and Zuccarello have been teammates for the last nine years but now that’s over and it has to be heavy for all Rangers fans. The team shared this message after trading him:<doc-sep>

Henrik Lundqvist and Mika Zibanejad react to the New York Rangers trading Mats Zuccarello to the Dallas Stars. The trade of Mats Zuccarello to the Dallas Stars is conjuring up emotions all around the fan base. From love to thanks to anger, everyone is feeling something including his New York Rangers teammates. As the news began to break, some players took to Instagram to wish Zuccarello the best of luck trying to get a Stanley Cup in Dallas. It all started with Mika Zibanejad who took the simple yet so effective way of using emojis after finding out the trade. Zibanejad used the sleeping “Z’s” emoji in reference to both he and Zuccarello’s name starting with a “Z”, a peace out emoji, and a heart to caption a picture of Mika giving No. 36 a hug on the ice. For the better part of the last few weeks, Zibanejad and Zuccarello have skated together forming one of the best first lines the game of hockey had to offer. While two-thirds of that line remains, it will be missing one major piece from here on out. Henrik Lundqvist If Zibanejad’s post didn’t bring a tear, wait until you see Henrik Lundqvist’s post. Lundqvist would share an image of the two embracing after the Rangers clinched their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 1994. He captioned the picture: “One of the most unique player and teammate I ever played with. Brings so much to the table. Will miss you a ton! ?My favorite moment as a Ranger, “We’re going to the finals! !” #36 #Zuuuuk” The King’s post definitely brings some tears considering the battles the two have gone through together. It’s only fitting for Henrik to use a picture and a caption like that, summing up what he called his “favorite moment as a Rangers.” Thank you for the memories Zucc, you will be missed greatly. Follow Dom on TWITTER

SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau just sat down for their bilateral meeting, on the heels of tense words between the two leaders as a result of trade. Trump floated the idea that NAFTA could be a one-on-one country agreement. "Could be with Canada, with Mexico, one-on-one much simpler agreement. Much easier to do. I think better for both countries but we're talking about that among other things," Trump said. Trump said there was "a lot of progress today" on trade and added that their relationship "is probably better than it's ever been." Trudeau did not remark on that comment. Trump began his remarks joking, "Justin has agreed to cut all tariffs and trade barriers between Canada and the United States," to laughter in the room. This meeting could have been awkward. Trump is expecting a drag-down fight with top US allies — including Canada — over trade.<doc-sep>President Trump: Russia should be part of G7 summit top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. G7 leaders from the group of the seven richest nations are holding a dramatic showdown with the firebrand Republican president as they pressure him to lift levies on steel and aluminium. Theresa May is joining forces with EU member leaders, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and new Italian PM Giuseppe Conte in a meeting to discuss how they plan to tackle the threat from Mr Trump before the summit gets started. Mrs May looks set to play a diplomatic go-between role as she tries to keep tensions from simmering over. She has called for restraint from the European Union, which is set to unveil its own list of tariffs on US exports in retaliation. Asked if Mrs May believed she had been snubbed, a spokeswoman replied: "No. She will be working alongside him today in many of the working sessions and she obviously spoke to him earlier this week, and will be seeing him for his visit next month. "So, she has had lots of opportunity to talk to him. They have a good working relationship. She speaks to him regularly and she's looking forward to seeing him next month." The confrontation threatens to rupture a body that during its 43-year history has traditionally sought to find consensus on the economy and other issues. And on Friday German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier called for Europe to remain unified in the face of rising trade tensions with the US, saying it was unclear how a summit of the Group of Seven rich nations would end. He told broadcaster ZDF: "We have a serious situation, not just since last night or this morning, but rather the entire last few weeks." Mr Altmaier also underlined the importance of European unity on free trade and economic interests, especially since domestic debate was continuing in the US about punitive sanctions imposed by Mr Trump on G7 allies. Follow our live coverage below. Tusk accuses Trump of 'undermining' international order 8.00am: EU and US agree to open fresh trade dialogue French official have indicated the EU and US will establish a dialogue on trade within the next two weeks, signalling a modest step forward at G7. Brussels is furious over Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports as part of his "America First" agenda. Some countries have retaliated with their own levies on US imports. A French diplomat said: "The principle of a dialogue was agreed. Everyone agreed, including President Trump." Reporting by Thomas Mackie 4:00am: Justin Trudeau says "we are stronger together" The Canadian PM tweeted: "The Welcoming our friends and allies to beautiful Charlevoix - working to create jobs, grow our economies and tackle pressing issues. "We are stronger together." 3:30am: G7 to cooperate against malign interference in elections A draft summit commitment said the G7 will agree on Friday to share information between themselves and work with internet service providers and social media companies to thwart foreign meddling in elections in their countries. The draft agreed to ensure high transparency of funding for political parties and all political advertising, especially during election campaigns. The leaders said: “Foreign actors seek to undermine our democratic societies and institutions, our electoral processes, our sovereignty and our security." 2:00am: Donald Trump joked with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the future of NAFTA during G7 Summit. He said:“Justin has agreed to cut all tariffs and all trade barriers between Canada and the United States, so I’m very happy.” 1:30am: Merkel says the EU have agreed the time is not right for the G7 to readmit Russia Ms Merkel said: “Here we all agreed that a return of Russia to the G7-format summits cannot happen until substantial progress has been made in connection with the problems with Ukraine. “That was the common view.” 12:30am: France’s Emmanuel Macron says ‘"things moving forward" after trade dispute Mr Macron said “things were moving forward” as he held talks with Donald Trump that focused on the US president’s decision to slap tariffs on America’s allies. He said: “I think we had a very open and direct discussion this afternoon, we’ve always had this kind of discussion. "And I think on trade, there is a critical path, there is a way to progress altogether.” He added: “We had a very direct and open discussion and I saw the willingness on all the sides to find agreement and have a win-win approach for our people, our workers and our middle classes.” 11:30pm: Donald Trump calls for Russia to be readmitted to the group of world powerhouses The US leader made a surprise call for Russia to be readmitted to the group of top industrialised nations after its expulsion for annexing Crimea. 11:00pm: Donald Tusk has slammed Donald Trump for undermining the global order the US helped to create At a G7 summit already marked by mistrust and bad feeling, Donald Tusk said the “rules-based international order is being challenged”. He said: “Not by the usual suspects, but by its main architect and guarantor, the US We will not stop trying to convince our American friends and President Trump that undermining this order makes no sense at all, because it would only play into the hands of those who seek a new, post-West order, where liberal democracy and fundamental freedoms would cease to exist.” The official themes for this year's summit include increasing investments and creating jobs Reporting by Joey Millar 9.20pm: Vow to crack down on foreign meddling in elections G7 leaders have agreed to share information between themselves and work with internet service providers and social media companies to thwart foreign meddling in elections in their countries, a draft summit commitment said. The draft, seen by Reuters, also says the G7 agreed to ensure high transparency of funding for political parties and all political advertising, especially during election campaigns. The draft appeared to be a thinly veiled reference to allegations by the United States and the governments of some European Union countries that Russia interfered in their elections. Moscow has denied the allegations. "Foreign actors seek to undermine our democratic societies and institutions, our electoral processes, our sovereignty and our security," the G7 leaders said in the draft. 8.20pm: Unity, what unity? G7 leaders are highly unlikely to issue a final communique when a two-day summit in Canada ends on Saturday because of a lack of consensus among the group, who are deeply divided over trade issues. Several G7 officials told Reuters that a communique - which must be agreed by the leaders of Canada, Britain, the United States, Germany, France, Japan and Italy - will be near impossible to achieve and Canada will issue a chair's summary of the meeting instead. Angela Merkel said the lack of final statement could be seen as a display of honesty, with the leaders accepting they cannot always agree. 7:10pm: Smile! Leaders pose for photos G7 and EU leaders have posed for their customary group photo, with Mr Trump taking centre-stage. Theresa May was placed second-from-the-left, wedged by Mrs Merkel and Mr Tusk. The leaders portrayed a united front despite the summit being hit by division between the US and the other leaders. 6.20pm: Merkel loves Markle Angela Merkel has revealed she was enthralled by last month’s Royal Wedding. The German Chancellor told Mrs May she watched the wedding between Meghan Markle and Prince Harry live. A Downing Street spokesman said that the first thing the Chancellor mentioned as she sat down with Mrs may was her enthusiasm for the wedding. He said: “The Chancellor raised it herself at the beginning of the meeting with the Prime Minister. “She said she had watched the wedding on the television and how much she had enjoyed it.”<doc-sep>(CNN) — President Donald Trump on Friday kept up his attacks on US allies ahead of his trip to the Group of Seven summit in remote Quebec. “Looking forward to straightening out unfair Trade Deals with the G-7 countries,” Trump wrote on Twitter early Friday morning. “If it doesn’t happen, we come out even better!” In a separate post, Trump said the host country Canada “charges the U.S. a 270% tariff on Dairy Products! They didn’t tell you that, did they? Not fair to our farmers!” (Canada charges an average tariff of 249% on imported dairy products, according to the World Trade Organization, and as much as 270% on some milk substances.) On Thursday, Trump traded barbs with French President Emmanuel Macron after Macron suggested that the G7 nations would band together without the US. On Twittter, Trump also called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “indignant” for his country’s trade practices. The summit comes amid a fractured moment for US alliances after the tariffs the US imposed last week on Canada, Mexico and the European Union. France and other US allies have also bristled at Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. The President has questioned privately why he should attend the G7 at all, according to a person familiar with the conversations, but was advised that skipping the meeting would appear as though he’s backing down. However, he plans on cutting his trip short to fly to Singapore for his upcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The White House announced Thursday that the President would depart the G7 mid-morning on Saturday, skipping sessions on climate change and the environment. CNN’s Kevin Liptak, Michelle Kosinski and Jeremy Diamond contributed to this report.<doc-sep>

Trump on trade: The way the US has been treated is ridiculous The six-plus-one tone of the gathering in Quebec means the leaders from Canada, Britain, the US, France, Germany Italy and Japan are unlikely to issue a joint statement as they remain sharply divided on trade and the environment to reach consensus. The two-day summit in Canada has been marred by fears of a trade war and tit-for-tat exchanges of hostile tweets, with US trading partners furious over Mr Trump's decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from the EU, Canada and Mexico as part of his "America First" agenda. But French officials have indicated the EU and US will establish a dialogue on trade within the next two weeks, signalling a modest step forward at G7. A French diplomat said: "The principle of a dialogue was agreed. Everyone agreed, including President Trump." Donald Trump plans to leave the G7 Summit early Mr Trump plans to leave the summit mid-morning on Saturday, four hours earlier than originally planned, to fly to Singapore ahead of his historic meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. But that means he will miss a working session among the leaders on climate change and clean energy, as well as talks among the G7 and poorer countries focused on the health of oceans. The early exit also means he will be gone before allies begin closing news conferences likely to be laden with criticism of the US stance on trade and Mr Trump's abrupt suggestion yesterday that Russia should be re-admitted to the group. Russia was booted out in 2014 because of its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said EU countries at the summit agreed that the conditions to readmit Russia had not been met and even Moscow seemed to reject the suggestion. Mr Trump's presidency has been clouded by a federal investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, and possible collusion by his campaign. Both Moscow and Mr Trump have denied the allegations. Follow our live G7 coverage below: G7 summit 2018 in pictures: World leaders unite in Canada Sat, June 9, 2018 The G7 Summit runs from 8 to 9 June in Charlevoix, Canada. Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 38 U.S. President Trump attends a G7 and Gender Equality Advisory Council meeting Sunday June 10 02.00am: Donald Trump refuses to sign G7 agreement The President U-turned to pull out of what little the G7 summit did agree. 00.00am: Donald Trump says he has good relationship with G7 but does not name Theresa May Donald Trump insisted he would score his relationship with fellow world leaders 10 out of 10 - but failed to name Theresa May in his list of counterparts. The US president defended the controversial trade policy which has put him at odds with the rest of the G7 leaders at their gathering in Canada, accusing the European Union of a "brutal" approach to business with the United States and warning that retaliating against American steel tariffs would be a mistake. Saturday June 9 11:30pm: Donald Trump slams Justin Trudeau Donald Trump tweeted: “Based on Justin’s false statements at his news conference, and the fact that Canada is charging massive Tariffs to our U.S. farmers, workers and companies, I have instructed our US Reps not to endorse the Communique as we look at Tariffs on automobiles flooding the U.S. Market. “PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that, “US Tariffs were kind of insulting” and he “will not be pushed around.” “Very dishonest & weak. “Our Tariffs are in response to his of 270% on dairy!.” 10.10pm: May says disagreements are natural Theresa May said it is “right” to air grievances about trade openly and transparently. She said the UK and the US had clashed over trade but said the summit had still been constructive. 9.45pm: Unity at last! Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has confirmed all seven G7 leaders have signed off on a final communique - despite Donald Trump's American first rhetoric. The group agreed on trade and security matters - although the US did not agree to the section promising to fight climate change.

Benicio Del Toro is ready for another “Sicario” movie and more “Star Wars” — even if neither role has been offered yet. “There’s nothing on my plate right now, but would I like to? Yes, sir,” he answered at Wednesday night’s world premiere of Sony’s “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” at Los Angeles’ Westwood Regency Theatre. Del Toro portrayed codebreaker DJ in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and is returning as the ruthless agent Alejandro Gillick in the “Sicario” sequel — not an easy task, he asserted. “It’s always tough,” he admitted. “Even though I’ve played the character before, this is a different Alejandro in this film. We discover another side to him and it’s interesting to work that arc in the middle of a roller coaster thriller.” Benicio del Toro on getting back into the mindset of #Sicario2's Alejandro https://t.co/wRMDrGN2a0 pic.twitter.com/Qs2AVJMvQl — Variety (@Variety) June 27, 2018 “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” was shot two years ago in New Mexico and centers on issues of the drug war along the U.S.-Mexico border, terrorism, and immigration. Matthew Modine, who plays the secretary of defense in the new installment, praised screenwriter Taylor Sheridan for having the insight to portray the current state of society ahead of time. “I don’t think any of us saw where we’d be in this moment,” Modine added, “Like ‘1984,’ like George Orwell writing a book well before 1984 that pre-visioned where we would be as a society.” Modine also joked that President Donald Trump would enjoy the movie: “He’d like it because he doesn’t have to read.” Mexican actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo said he’d tell Trump many things if he could, including the need to build bridges instead of walls, adding, “The thing about the kids being caged on the border broke my heart.” #Sicario actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo on the recent immigration battle and his message for President Donald Trump (Watch) https://t.co/wRMDrGN2a0 pic.twitter.com/AuOjtnRQOY — Variety (@Variety) June 27, 2018 Producer Molly Smith admitted that the film portrays extreme violence, noting that an estimated 140,000 people have died as a result of Mexican drug cartel violence since 2006. “It’s a war right next to us that a lot of people don’t really write about,” she added. “It’s rooted in authenticity, even though our movie is fictional. … It’s a brutal world down there.” Why the extreme violence of "Sicario: Day of the Soldado" is necessary, according to the film's producers https://t.co/wRMDrGN2a0 pic.twitter.com/lnyVfrjGWv — Variety (@Variety) June 27, 2018 Italian director Stefano Sollima, who helmed the “Gomorrah” series, said he was attracted to Sheridan’s script because of its portrayal of an amoral situation. “You have a crazy world, really ambiguous characters, without never judging them,” he reflected. “You try to tell their story with passion and honesty.” #SicarioDayoftheSoldado director Stefano Sollima on what attracted him to this script and movie https://t.co/wRMDrGN2a0 pic.twitter.com/e9LRvBuYxx — Variety (@Variety) June 27, 2018 “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” opens Friday.<doc-sep>With his furrowed brows and rugged facade, it’s hard to imagine a soft side to Benicio Del Toro’s gruff, deadly Sicario hitman Alejandro. But in Stefano Sollima’s Sicario: Day of the Soldado, the sequel to 2015’s Sicario (which translates to a cartel hitman), Alejandro finds himself on an unexpected emotional journey as he is initially contracted to help kidnap Isabel, the teenage daughter of a drug lord, and then finds her life in his hands. Del Toro, 51, tells EW that in Soldado, in theaters June 29, Alejandro has to face the reality of his descent into becoming a ruthless killer after a cartel killed his wife and daughter, and the presence of Isabel (Isabela Moner) “sparked the embers of a conscious in him.” “He finds himself in a little bit of a nightmare because part of the covert operation is to kidnap an innocent girl who’s about the same age as his daughter was when she was kidnapped and killed,” the actor says. “He puts this girl through perhaps the same experience that his daughter had when she was kidnapped, terrorizing her, and little by little, this starts to work in his psyche.” While Soldado may feel timely as it tackles the tensions of the U.S.-Mexico border (at one point, Josh Brolin’s DEA agent Matt Graver calls the unnamed U.S. president a “coward”) and the decades-long war on drugs, Del Toro said the film is not trying to make a political statement. Rather, he adds, it just reflects that the war on drugs “is still fresh, it’s out there, it’s in the news, there’s no solution.” “Writers can set stories in these settings of the war on drugs and explore the human condition, whether it’s good versus evil, morality, corruption, vengeance, greed, heroism or mortality,” Del Toro say. Del Toro has carved a prestigious career with often critically acclaimed performances playing criminals or men on the fringes of society, characters that are often tormented with a moral or existential dilemma. There’s his mainstream breakout role as a henchman in 1989’s James Bond film Licence to Kill; as the erratic Dr. Gonzo in 1998’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas; tackling cartels and corruption as a police officer in 2000’s Traffic, a role that won him an Oscar for best supporting actor; playing Argentinian revolutionary Che Guevara in the 2008 two-part drama Che. The Puerto Rican actor said he gravitates towards roles and projects that involve great filmmakers. While he doesn’t think he’s been typecast to play the complicated men that he tends to portray, he also says “as an actor, you don’t control what you want to do.” He joked that perhaps he was “a little bit typecast to be out in space” with his recent roles as The Collector in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and as the thief DJ in Star Wars: The Last Jedi — while he saya he hasn’t had any conversations for the upcoming Star Wars: Episode IX, he’d like to continue playing both roles “because they’re fun and the characters are up for evolution.”<doc-sep>Last week, when on the red carpet for his new film Sicario: Day of the Soldado, Benicio Del Toro was asked about the Trump administration’s decision to remove the children of undocumented migrants from their parents. “What’s the morality inside this monster for separating children from their parents?” he asked of Trump, adding that it was “immoral” and he was “horrified”. In fact, the Sicario sequel has become an unlikely lightning rod for one of the biggest political stories of the year. A week later, Puerto Rico-born Del Toro, 51, is still in combative mood and urging restraint from the US government (which has said it will stop the separations) and a common-sense solution. “It’s amazing that I’m in the middle of talking to the press about this movie and it happens that the biggest story in the world right now is what the government is doing to these families. “Being very honest, we have to start with the premise that they broke the law,” he says. “But innocent until proven guilty. They’ve been ‘guiltied’. They separated the families as if they’re criminals. Wait; keep them together and investigate. Some of those people deserved to have a second chance to start their lives in a new setting like the United States. “They’re running from really bad circumstances, they’re in despair, they’re hoping for a better life. That’s separate from Sicario,” he says, cautiously. But the film does focus on the importance of that border both politically and in terms of the cartels. Is it that much of a leap? “You can spin anything in any direction. I don’t think Sicario is saying anything.” Del Toro’s filmography says a lot about one specific subject: the drug war. His relationship with the genre goes way back. His really big break came in 1989 with License to Kill, Timothy Dalton’s second and final Bond film where, as a 21-year-old, Del Toro played a cartel henchman who ends up getting crushed under an industrial-sized cocaine grinder. Subtle, it wasn’t. He was paid $40,000 for the role, and then couldn’t find work for a year, so he watched Fellini and Kurosawa films instead. When he reemerged in the 90s, he built a career in which he “played every angle on the drugs”. He was the guy who sells the drugs (Escobar: Paradise Lost), the guy who steals the drugs (Usual Suspects), the guy who takes the drugs (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), the cop who tries to stop the drugs (Traffic), the cartel enforcer (Savages) and the guy who hunts the cartel enforcers (Sicario). “It’s become a genre. You can see it,” says Del Toro. “Maybe Easy Rider was one of the first movies to deal with it in a way, but more so the French Connection and [Brian De Palma’s] Scarface. They’re becoming the new westerns.” “Think about it,” he adds. “That Bond movie had something to do with the genre we’re talking about. James Bond is fighting with the cartel and that’s in 1989. It’s been going on for a long time.” Of all of his drug war films, Sicario might be the best. In 2015, 25 years after Dalton single-handedly fought off a cartel with little more than a stiff upper lip, Denis Villeneuve’s film managed to reinvent the narco thriller. Where the likes of Netflix’s Narcos focused on the personalities that drove the violence, Sicario lifted the curtain on the lengths the US government will go to in a seemingly unwinnable war, and what happens when someone with a moral code gets mixed up in it. Emily Blunt was the fledgling FBI agent who ends up out of her depth and compromised. Del Toro’s Alejandro Gillick was the former cartel lawyer turned CIA asset and assassin out for revenge, while Josh Brolin was his duplicitous, ruthless handler. From its grisly opening scene of a cartel massacre, to its big set pieces on either side of the Mexican border, it was a potent mix of ultra violence, double crosses and storylines ripped from the headlines. But when the sequel, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, was announced without Blunt or Villeneuve attached, fans and critics worried it wouldn’t live up to the original. So did Del Toro. “The first one was tight and it did its own thing very well, in my opinion,” he says. “So I was a little apprehensive [about the sequel], and then, when I heard that Denis wasn’t able to do it, that was a little bit of a red flag.” Gomorrah director Stefano Sollima was brought in to direct, and the script follows a similar pattern and pace to the original – which was also written by Taylor Sheridan. But the conversation around the film isn’t about on-screen violence, nihilistic machismo or the cartels – but immigration at the US and Mexico border. In the past, Del Toro has said that he is not “too political”; has being thrust into the conversation about US immigration changed his stance? “Have you seen my career?” he asks. “Have you seen what I do? Come on. Sometimes you say things and they can be put out of context. I am political, and I’m not. I’m a human being. If they got a guy on the moon, someone has got to be able to organise this.” There is more than a hint that Del Toro isn’t particularly comfortable being a spokesman on the issue of child separation (he has a six-year-old daughter, Delilah, with Kimberley Stewart). During his career, he has mostly let his work do the talking, only rarely lifting his head above the parapet, such as when he said he was in favour of legalising marijuana. “Whisky is just like rum; you drink a lot of it you’re going to get a hangover,” he says. “Drugs are more complicated. Marijuana is not like heroin. Marijuana is not like meth, so it gets a little bit more complicated.” ‘I’ve had people talk to me about Sicario as if it’s a documentary,’ says Del Toro. Photograph: Barry King/WireImage A recent profile described him as “the James Cagney of the drugs war movie”, but in person Del Toro has similarities with his more out-there characters, such as Fenster, the mumbling hood in Usual Suspects, or the zombified cop Jack Rafferty in Sin City. He is a tall man (he was once a promising basketball player), but not imposing. He wears a suit and tie, which he seems to be fighting to get out of. In the past, Del Toro has admitted to wanting to be in the same club as Sean Penn, Gary Oldman and Mickey Rourke: tough, masculine actors you go to see regardless of what films they are in. “I still look up to those guys,” he admits, but won’t say whether he feels he is in their class. “I don’t know, I think someone else needs to define that.” In truth, he’s cooler than all of them – without half their baggage. If being an Oldman fan is like following Manchester United, being a fan of Del Toro is the equivalent of supporting Hamburg’s St Pauli – the footballing outsiders with a skull and crossbones on their flag. His trademark laconic drawl only adds to his appeal, even if his points are sometimes hard to grasp. When I ask him about Alejandro’s journey from killer to saviour in Sicario, he goes off on a contradictory tangent worthy of Fenster. “Just because you start acting right it doesn’t mean I’m going to forget about your past,” he says, picking up a metaphorical gavel. “I’m not going to forgive him, but I might spare his life or maybe I reduce his sentence, but he’s still going to have to do time. If I was going to judge him … I don’t judge my characters. Well, I do, but I don’t. I mean, I’m judging him now because I can do whatever the hell I want … I try to understand him.” With Johnny Depp in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Photograph: Allstar/MCA/Universal Get Del Toro on a subject that annoys him, however, and he snaps into focus.<doc-sep>

MIAMI — Benicio Del Toro is known for going above and beyond when preparing for roles. When resurrecting his complex character, Alejandro, the Puerto Rican actor decided to learn sign language for "Sicario: Day of the Soldado." “You have got to practice a lot,” he recalled during a press day for the film in Miami explaining what it takes to add an extra dimension to an already compelling story. At 51, Mr. Del Toro is part of an acclaimed action-film franchise. Starring opposite Josh Brolin, the film follows their characters in a mission to create a war between powerful drug cartels. Del Toro plays the role of Alejandro, a mysterious Colombian agent. “When we met the character in Sicario, the first movie, he was a man that was set on revenge. We knew that his wife, and that his daughter had been killed by drug cartel violence,” the actor told NBC News. According to Del Toro, even though he has always tried to challenge the stereotypical Latino roles throughout his career, he always goes for the “good part.” He had his breakout role in "The Usual Suspects," (1995) for which he won his first Independent Spirit Award. Six years after, at 34, Benicio Del Toro became the third Puerto Rican Actor to win an Academy Award. His role as a Mexican police officer in the highly acclaimed movie, "Traffic" (2001) earned him an Oscar for best supporting actor, along with a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Benicio Del Toro stars in Sicario 2: Soldado. Richard Foreman, Jr. / SMPSP/Lions In addition to being part of an exclusive group of Academy Award-winning Latinos, Del Toro belongs to a small group of Latino actors who has managed to remain a Hollywood "A-lister." According to the 2018 Hollywood Diversity report from the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment at UCLA, Latino actors appeared in 2.7 percent of top movie roles in 2016; Asian and mixed race actors had these kinds of roles 3.1 percent and 3 percent of the time, respectively. This is not the first time Del Toro has been on screen this year. Recently, he played the role of The Collector in “Avengers: Infinity War,” released in April. He was also in “Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi,” released in 2017. Benicio Del Toro in "Stars Wars: The Last Jedi" Jonathan Olley / Lucasfilm In "Day of the Soldado," his character, Alejandro, becomes part of a new covert operation to create a war between the powerful Mexican cartels. Part of what he has to do is kidnap the 15-year-old daughter of a cartel leader — played by Isabela Moner, who recently spoke about her role to NBC Latino. The cartel leader's daughter is about the same age of Alejandro when his daughter was kidnapped and killed. “It is a movie that is character driven, and it is really about the evolution of the two main characters, Josh Brolin’s character, and the one I play,” Del Toro said. “The audience really meets Alejandro for the first time. Now, he is putting this young, innocent girl through basically the same experience that his daughter went through before she was killed, and this starts to create this mirror in him," he said. "It gets to the point that we learn more about his daughter. We learn that she was deaf; in a powerful moment in the film, it's the first time he has spoken sign language since his daughter died.” Regarding how he learned sign language, “Mexican actor, Bruno Bichir — who is fantastic in the movie — we basically locked ourselves up with a teacher that actually taught us sign language, we had to learned it.” The sign language they learned is Mexican sign language, which is different than American sign language, Del Toro explained. “The journey with him and the relationship between Alejandro and Isabel Reyes (Isabela Moner) becomes his own antidote for him to show us that there is still a conscience in the character,” he said. “I am not saying he is innocent, but I am saying that it is the beginning of the rehabilitation of Alejandro." Regarding his thoughts on the Trump administration’s policy recent policy separating migrant parents from their children after they had crossed the U.S. border, Del Toro said he felt “like most people do, horrified.

No matter how Roma’s season is going, the Derby della Capitale will always be a critical match. There’s just such a high level of enmity between the two clubs that inhabit the Stadio Olimpico; players, managers, and club officers all get caught up in it at least twice a year, and for the tifosi, it’s a 365-day-a-year battle. Last Match: A.S. Roma 3 - Lazio 1 Let’s put aside some of the uglier sides of this battle for now, particularly the renewal of anti-Semitic slurs marring the walls of Rome, and instead focus on the two sets of eleven players who will be taking the field tomorrow. In case you forgot, the first derby of the 2018-2019 season went quite well, with Roma “waxing” Lazio 3-1 with goals from Lorenzo Pellegrini, Aleksandar Kolarov, and Federico Fazio. This one was one of the first major instances where Kolarov and Fazio showed off their rather surprising goalscoring prowess this season, and considering the incredibly democratic nature of Roma’s attacking habits to date, the Giallorossi will probably need more of the same this Saturday. Lazio vs. Roma: March 2nd. 20:30 CET/2:30 EST. Stadio Olimpico, Roma. Looking at more recent history, Lazio are currently trying to recover from both a loss of form and a battle with the injury bug. They’re currently winless in their past four matches, including crashing out of the Europa League against Sevilla and losing grasp on a Champions League spot with a loss to Genoa. If anything, Romanisti should expect Lazio to act like an injured animal in this match. We’ve already said countless times that Roma has to treat every match in Serie A like a cup final if they want to get a Champions League spot; well, for Lazio, imagine that pressure and then double it.’ In contrast to their Roman brethren, the Giallorossi have found their form as of late, spurred in part by the explosion of Nicolo Zaniolo and a dramatic increase in goal output. After being booted out of the Coppa Italia very unceremoniously at the end of January, February saw Roma win four and draw one, with i Lupi finding the net in each match. There are certainly a boatload of defensive issues that still exist for Eusebio Di Francesco’s men, but Romanisti may just have to be resigned to this state of affairs until the summer mercato, barring a drastic change in defensive form by Federico Fazio, Aleksandar Kolarov, or perhaps even Ivan Marcano. This match isn’t just for bragging rights around Rome for the next half year. It’s a crucial step for both Roma and Lazio in their respective quests to make it into the Champions League for 2019-2020. Expect a hard-fought match with plenty of passion. If nothing else, the Derby will always give us passion.<doc-sep>A lacklustre Roma performance allowed Lazio to run out as 3-0 winners in the Derby della Capitale on Saturday night. Lazio were starting without Ciro Immobile, but Felipe Caceido made up for his absence with a smart finish as Roma’s defence - missing Kostas Manolas - failed to offer any resistance in the early stages of the game. Edin Dzeko brought a good stop from Thomas Strakosha, but the nominal home, who could cut the gap on their city rivals to three points with a win, remained in control. Serie A Inzaghi reportedly set to take charge of Inter 19 HOURS AGO In the second half, Roma put increasing amounts of pressure as they chased an equaliser, but found Strakosha in fine form before Javier Pastore missed from close range from a superb chance. Seconds later, substitute Immobile’s through ball for Joaquin Correa won the home side a penalty which the Italian converted to seal victory, and just before full time Danilo Cataldi made it three, before Aleksandar Kolarov saw red for two late yellow cards. Felipe Caicedo of SS Lazio celebrates a opening goal with his team mates during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico on March 2, 2019 in Rome, Italy. Image credit: Getty Images TALKING POINT Roma could not cope without Manolas: Without him the center of defence was strikingly lacking in pace, and that caused both the first and second goal. Eusebio Di Francesco will hope for a quick return in time for their trip to Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday. MAN OF THE MATCH Joaquin Correa (Lazio): His pass set up Caceido for the opener, and his direct running for Immobile’s through ball won the penalty for the second. He might not have been a constant presence on the pitch, but his contributions were vital. PLAYER RATINGS Lazio: Strakosha 7, Radu 6, Acerbi 6, Bastos 6, Leiva 7, Luis Alberto 6, Milinkovic 6, Lulic 6, Marusic 6, Caicedo 7, Correa 8. Subs: Immobile 7, Cataldi 7. Roma: Olsen 5, Florenzi 6, Fazio 5, Juan Jesus 6, Kolarov 5, Cristante 5, De Rossi 5, Pellegrini 6, Zaniolo 6, Dzeko 5, El Shaarawy 5. Subs: Perotti 6, Pastore 5, Schick 6. KEY EVENT 2’ - CORREA SHOT - Correa sidefoots a half-volley at goal from the edge of the box, but it sails a couples of yards over. 12’ - GOAL! Lazio 1-0 Roma. Caceido scores - Correa spins, saunters past Fazio and slips in Caceido, who slots the ball past the 'keeper with ease. That was sloppy stuff from the defence. 71’ - PENALTY! Correa is set down the middle to chase a ball towards goal, Fazio hacks at him to send him to ground, and that could be it. 73’ - GOAL! Lazio 2-0 Roma. Immobile scores - The substitute striker rifles in a low shot at goal, it clips against Olsen but still finds the net. 89’ - GOAL! Lazio 3-0 Roma. Cataldi scores - A wonderful goal to round off the game. Cataldi receives the ball from Milinkovic-Savic, 25 yards out, and he curls in a shot past Olsen, who flapped at it but was beaten by a fierce shot. 90+4’ - RED CARD! Kolarov gets a second yellow, what a ridiculous effort there. A second yellow in about 60 seconds for catching Immobile, but he barely touched him. Javier Pastore of AS Roma shoots on target during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico on March 02, 2019 in Rome, Italy Image credit: Getty Images KEY STATS That was only Felipe Caceido's fifth goal of the season. Lazio have won the Serie A derby by a 3 goals margin for only the second time ever, after the 3-0 win in December 2006. Serie A Police called to Milan hotel to break up Lukaku birthday party - reports 13/05/2021 AT 15:03<doc-sep>It’s been a long time coming, but EDF finally has (almost) all of the wolves back with the pack. With Kostas Manolas overcoming what looked like an awful ankle injury sustained last match, along with Rick Karsdorp and Patrik Schick returning to fitness, EDF will have his pick of the litter for Saturday’s Derby della Capitale. Only Cengiz Ünder remains sidelined for this match. SQUAD LIST | | v. Lazio (a) Rick Karsdorp Patrik Schick ✅ Kostas Manolas #ASRoma #LazioRoma pic.twitter.com/yJn0v5VKkO — AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) March 1, 2019 Currently, all of the major publications seem to believe that there is only one position up for grabs and that Roma will return to a 4-3-3 formation to combat Lazio’s preferred 3-5-2. EDF wouldn’t commit to either in his prematch presser though “Playing a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1? The players’ qualities determine the system you choose.”-EDF Starting in the net, Roma will hope that the Robin Olsen from two matches ago against Bologna shows up rather than the Olsen of last match against Frosinone. In front of Olsen will, of course, be the recovered Kostas Manolas leading the back line. EDF: "Manolas is available for the game. He trained alone for a few days and he'll train with the rest of the group today. "#ASRoma #LazioRoma pic.twitter.com/AUShWDsOpY — AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) March 1, 2019 Who partners him in the center of defense remains the big question mark in all the projections. Currently, it seems that Federico Fazio has a slight edge over Juan Jesus and Ivan Marcano. Flanking Manolas and his TBD defense partner will be Alessandro Florenzi and Aleksandar Kolarov. Florenzi will look to improve on his recent disappointing performances on the biggest of stages for a Roman like himself. Meanwhile, Kolarov will look to repeat his heroics from Roma’s September derby victory. Roma will return to a three man midfield that looks like it will be all-Italian and two-thirds Roman. It will be interesting to see how EDF manages Captain Daniele De Rossi’s minutes with the Porto return leg just days away. EDF didn’t seem concerned on Friday, saying, “De Rossi is fine. Potentially he could play in both of the next two games, but we need to assess him on a game-by-game basis.” There’s little doubt that DDR will be chomping at the bit to get a crack at Lazio Saturday. He’ll sit in front of the defense flanked by derby hero and fellow Roman Lorenzo Pellegrini with Italian international Bryan Cristante on his other flank. Up front, back in form Edin Dzeko will lead the Roma attack, looking to pick up where left off last week against Frosinone. Wide left will be Stephan El Shaarawy, whose own fine form has been overshadowed by the match winning Dzeko. EDF: "El Shaarawy has been more consistent this season. The task for him now is to maintain that. "#ASRoma #LazioRoma pic.twitter.com/hK7PjKJz3f — AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) March 1, 2019 Rounding out the starting XI will be wunderkind Nicolò Zaniolo, who will again play out wide in the absence of Ünder. It will be Zaniolo’s first chance to impress in a derby. EDF just wants the youngster to play his game.<doc-sep>Lazio moved within three points of fifth-placed Roma in Serie A with a 3-0 victory over their city rivals. Felipe Caicedo, Ciro Immobile and Danilo Cataldi all scored and Roma's misery was compounded by a red card for Aleksandar Kolarov deep into stoppage time. Caicedo deputised for Immobile, who was nursing a thigh injury on the bench, and the Ecuadorian gave Lazio a 12th-minute lead at the Stadio Olimpico when he rounded Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen. Edin Dzeko and Lorenzo Pellegrini saw efforts saved either side of the break, but Lazio doubled their lead after 73 minutes. Immobile, on as a 64th-minute substitute, blasted home a spot-kick after Federico Fazio had brought down Joaquin Correa. Fellow substitute Catladi added further gloss from 20 yards in the final minute before Kolarov was sent off after being booked twice in stoppage time. AC Milan leapfrogged city rivals Inter Milan into third place with a 1-0 home victory over 10-man Sassuolo. Pol Lirola's 35th-minute own goal settled a tight contest as Milan registered their highest league position in a second half of a season since 2012/13. Sassuolo had goalkeeper Andrea Consigli shown a straight red card midway through the second period. Consigli allowed the ball to bounce over his head while outside his area and stuck out an arm to bring down Krzysztof Piatek. Parma led three times at Empoli but were denied victory by Bruno Alves' own goal in stoppage time. Former Arsenal striker Gervinho put Parma ahead from Luca Siligardi's 13th-minute pass to make it nine goals for the season. Cristian Dell'Orco equalised five minutes later before Luca Rigoni restored Parma's lead moments before the half-time break. Francesco Caputo levelled from the penalty spot again after 59 minutes before an extraordinary finish. Alves put Parma in front for the third time after 82 minutes before his own goal in the first minute of injury time gave Empoli a 3-3 draw and a four-point cushion above the relegation zone.<doc-sep>

ROME, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 29: Lorenzo Pellegrini celebrates with his teammates of AS Roma after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and SS Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on September 29, 2018 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) Lazio face Roma at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, March 2. Here’s all the info you need to watch. The Rome Derby is one of the fiercest rivalries in Europe. The fans of Lazio and Roma absolutely detest each other. On Saturday, Lazio host Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. Roma are fifth in Serie A, one point behind AC Milan for the final Champions League spot and three points behind Inter Milan. Lazio are sixth in the table, six points behind Roma but have one game in hand. Lazio and Milan played a scoreless draw on Tuesday in the Coppa Italia. Simone Inzaghi’s team has struggled since the winter break ended, losing three of five Serie A, and were eliminated by Sevilla in the Europa League. The Eagles are 10th in Serie A with 33 goals. Outside of Ciro Immobile, who has scored 11 goals, Lazio have no dependable goalscoring options. Roma were terrible during the first half of the season. Eusebio Di Francesco looked like he was another loss away from being fired and it did not look like Roma would qualify for Europe. Roma’s season then completely turned around, going unbeaten over their last eight games. After picking up 20 of 24 points, qualifying for Europe is likely and Roma could finish in the top four. Edin Dzeko scored twice in Roma’s 3-2 win against Frosinone. Dzeko is second on the club with seven goals this season, one behind Stephan El Shaarawy. The duo will be the focal point of the attack on Saturday. The Serie A game between Lazio and Roma will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Live streaming is available on ESPN+, which you can access with your cable or satellite subscriptions, either online or through the ESPN+ app. Date: Saturday, March 2 Start time: 2:30 p.m. ET Location: Rome, Italy Stadium: Stadio Olimpico TV Info: ESPN+ Live Stream: ESPN+ | FuboTV. Sign up for a free seven-day trial here. Roma defeated Lazio 3-1 to earlier this season and have controlled the Rome Derby in recent years. Since the start of the 2013-14 season, Roma have won seven of 11 games. Lazio’s lone win came on April 30, 2017.

NEW A vastly improved search engine helps you find the latest on companies, business leaders, and news more easily.<doc-sep>WASHINGTON — Amazon is joining the list of companies planning a constellation of thousands of satellites for broadband internet connectivity. The internet shopping giant has asked international spectrum regulators to provide spectrum rights for a constellation of 3,236 satellites. Amazon hasn’t disclosed who would build the satellites or when they would be launched, and hasn’t yet filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for U.S. market access for the system. Amazon’s constellation is filed with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the name Kuiper Systems. Amazon confirmed its connection to Kuiper Systems in a statement to SpaceNews. "Project Kuiper is a new initiative to launch a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world," Amazon said. "This is a long-term project that envisions serving tens of millions of people who lack basic access to broadband internet. We look forward to partnering on this initiative with companies that share this common vision." News of Amazon’s constellation application was first reported by GeekWire. The Amazon constellation calls for three layers of satellites — 784 in a 590-kilometer orbit, 1,156 in a 630-kilometer orbit, and 1,296 in a 610-kilometer orbit. Many details about Amazon's proposed constellation remain unknown, such as who would build the satellites and when Amazon hopes to have them in orbit. Amazon has not yet applied with the FCC for permission to serve the U.S. market with the constellation. That application would include more details about the constellation, including how Amazon would deorbit satellites to maintain a sustainable space environment. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos also founded the launch company Blue Origin, which is developing a reusable rocket called New Glenn to launch government and commercial satellites. The rocket’s first flight is expected in 2021. News of Amazon’s ITU filing came the same day as reports that Bezos will retain full ownership of Blue Origin after his divorce. In a statement April 4, MacKenzie Bezos said that her husband will keep his full ownership of the spaceflight company as part of their divorce settlement. Bezos will transfer 25 percent of his existing stake in Amazon to MacKenzie, but keep "sole voting authority" over those shares. Even after the settlement Bezos will remain the wealthiest person in the world, with his remaining Amazon shares worth an estimated $108 billion. AWS Ground Station Amazon and Lockheed Martin in November announced the launch of AWS Ground Station to leverage the cloud-computing capabilities of Amazon Web Services to support communications with satellites, particularly those in low Earth orbit. Amazon’s proposed constellation, according to the ITU filing, would circle the Earth much closer than some of the other broadband constellations under development. OneWeb, for example, is targeting 1,200 kilometers for its initial constellation of 650 satellites. Telesat plans to have satellites in 1,000-kilometer and 1,250-kilometer orbits, though it’s not clear how many of its envisioned 292-satellite system would go in each orbit, since the target size of the constellation is 58 satellites above what the FCC approved for U.S. market access. LeoSat’s proposed constellation of 108 satellites would operate at 1,400 kilometers. SpaceX wants to operate most of its future 4,425-satellite constellation between the altitudes of 1,110 and 1,325 kilometers (though the company asked the FCC in November to authorize 1,584 satellites at a lower 550-kilometer orbit). Many spectrum applications never progress much beyond the filing of the initial paperwork. Boeing applied in 2016 with the FCC for a constellation of between 1,396 and 2,956 satellites, but said last June that it hadn’t moved forward with those plans. The FCC’s international bureau told SpaceNews that Boeing has withdrawn two applications in the past year. Amazon’s system, if realized, will likely cost billions of dollars, not unlike the projected cost of constellations for SpaceX, OneWeb, Telesat and LeoSat. Bezos said last year that he already sells $1 billion in Amazon stock annually to fund Blue Origin.<doc-sep>

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, founder of Blue Origin LLC, speaks at a space symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 12, 2016. Matthew Staver | Bloomberg | Getty Images Amazon is planning to build a network of more than 3,000 satellites federal filings reveal, in an ambitious attempt to provide global internet access. Known as Project Kuiper, the move represents the latest space ambition from Jeff Bezos. Amazon has previously announced its cloud business will build a network of satellite facilities on Earth and Bezos' space venture Blue Origin continues to move closer to launching space tourists. "Project Kuiper is a new initiative to launch a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world," an Amazon spokesperson told CNBC in an emailed statement. "This is a long-term project that envisions serving tens of millions of people who lack basic access to broadband internet. We look forward to partnering on this initiative with companies that share this common vision." Amazon's proposal is for a network of 3,236 satellites. Building, launching and operating the satellites will require intensive capital, likely billions of dollars. But Bezos has already been funding Blue Origin with upwards of $1 billion a year and Amazon itself remains one of the world's most valuable companies. GeekWire first reported the filings on Thursday. Kuiper is the name of a belt of objects that include asteroids and dwarf planets. It was named for the late Dutch American astronomer Gerard Kuiper. Source: NASA

(CNN) Rescuers at a cave where 12 boys and their coach are trapped in northern Thailand are carefully monitoring weather maps for signs of heavy rain. This image updates every 15 minutes, in line with forecasts from the CNN Weather Center. The members of the Wild Boar soccer team were found weak but alive on Monday, nine days after they disappeared into the Tham Luang Nang Non cave network in Chiang Rai province. Rescuers are racing against the clock to free the 13, who have been trapped underground for almost two weeks. While authorities would prefer to wait until the monsoon season is over in October and the water in the cave can dissipate, rescuers may not have that luxury with more heavy rainfall expected to hit the area this weekend. Read More<doc-sep>Thai Cave rescue: A race against water as more rain forecasted top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Authorities are examining all possible ways to rescue the members of the Wild Boar football team, who were found alive on Monday, a staggering nine days after they disappeared into the Tham Luang Nang Non cave. But they are to face yet another complication as meteorologists have forecasted a series of thunderstorms to hit Chiang Rai, the Thai province where the cave is located. The first storm is set to hit the province as early as by 6am local time tomorrow (9pm GMT today), and water will be pouring down over the whole weekend and into next week. Meteorologists have foreseen as many as four millimetres of rain falling on Sunday and nine on next Monday alone. The governor of the province, Narongsak Osottanakorn, said: "In the previous days we were fighting with time. “And now we are working against water.” This rainfall will badly increase the risk to the team, as it will raise water levels a potentially submerge the small underground island they have been sheltering on, four kilometres deep inside the cave. Pumps are working nonstop to reduce the water level, expelling an immense volume of water, but despite the efforts, the narrow passages remain under water. Meteorologists foresaw as many as four millimetres of rain falling on Sunday and nine on Monday The 13, who have been trapped underground for almost two weeks, are too weak and unexperienced to dive or swim out of the cave. And even if they could, they would face muggy waters, which would lower their visibility and make their efforts even greater. Channel News Asia’s Glenda Chong explained the challenges the boys and their 25-year-old coach would face if the authorities decided to lead them out via diving. She said: “What’s being considered now is getting the group to dive out but this poses major risks. “First thing is the water flow is very strong in some parts. It’s also muggy, meaning visibility is practically zero. The 13 have been trapped underground for almost two weeks now “A confined space, that’s also an issue because in some areas it is so narrow that divers had to take their tanks off to squeeze through. “Most of these young boys don’t know how to swim, let alone dive. “Rescue teams are now giving them crash courses. “A starting rope which is already in place should help. It can guide each boy and his rescue diver out. “Alternatively, rescue divers can position themselves along the route passing the boys. Thai Cave rescue: An incredibly daunting task, says expert Thai divers gather before they enter to the Tham Luang cave<doc-sep>Thailand cave rescue: Boys found alive after nine days top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. A group of Thai schoolboys and their football coach stranded in a cave system have been found, and have been pictured chuckling and smiling in the dark. So far, they have been supplied with food, foil blankets and medical attention, keeping them healthy while rescuers work out how to get them free. They are trapped in the region of Chaing Rai, which has recently been seeing dry conditions, but there is a deluge of rain on the horizon. Thai rescuers now have to fight against the clock before a monsoon forecast threatens the already flooded caves. When will the monsoon hit Chaing Rai? If monsoon season sets in at Chaing Rai, the chamber the boys are currently living in could be flooded completely. Rains are forecast to hit this weekend on Sunday, and will continue in ernest until the following Thursday according to Weather.com. On Thursday, 128 million litres of water had been freed from within the caves, but more is set to come. Thailand cave rescue latest: Weather forecast could see difficulties ahead The progress means rescuers can now walk through a 1.5km (0.9 mile) stretch from the cave system entrance. However, Narongsak Osotthanakorn, Governor of Chiang Rai said they were "racing against water". "We are calculating how much time we have it if rains, how many hours and days.“ The cave complex is regularly flooded over the course of the rain season, and large amounts of water are already preventing effective rescue. If flood waters are allowed to grow further, the boys could be threatened with months more time committed to the cave system. Thailand's missing boys need to be saved before monsoon conditions hit What is being done to rescue the boys? Thai authorities are employing a number of methods to deliver the boys from their section of the caves. A number of different outcomes are being prepared for by authorities, including Thai Navy SEALs attempting to help the boys dive out of the caves. Unable to dive, the boys will need to be taught how to use diving equipment, and need to be guided out of the area with the help of the navy. Navy divers will need to use ropes and rest stops stocked with oxygen tanks to guide the 13 people from inside. The area above the caves is also being scoured with the help of bird watchers who are well versed in finding ground-based openings. Thai divers prepare to bring supplies to the trapped group The Thailand cave rescue in pictures Wed, July 11, 2018 Thailand cave rescue: Pictures show the dramatic rescue operation of a trapped youth football team and their coach. Play slideshow EPA 1 of 45 All 12 of the trapped football team and their coach have been rescued from a cave in Thailand<doc-sep>

Thai Cave rescue: Elon Musk in talks to help authorities Authorities are trying to establish the safest method of rescuing the 13, who have been trapped inside a cave complex for almost two weeks after flash flooding cut them off. The death of former Thai Navy SEAL Samarn Poonan, who was helping with the rescue efforts, tragically highlighted the danger of the mission. Plans to keep the boys inside the Tham Luang cave, in Chiang Rai province, until the end of the monsoon season have been thrown into disarray by worsening weather conditions. The Thai Meteorological Department says heavy rainfall will pound the region in the coming days, stoking fears the cave chamber occupied by the 13 could be flooded. Rescuers are now considering an emergency rescue attempt to free the 11 to 16-year-olds, the majority of whom cannot swim. Rear Admiral Apakorn Yookongkaew said on Thursday: ”At first, we thought the children could stay for a long time... but now things have changed, we have a limited time.” When will heavy rain return? Latest Thai weather monsoon forecast The latest Chiang Rai rainfall forecasts show rain will return today before worsening on Sunday and Monday. The Thailand cave rescue in pictures Wed, July 11, 2018 Thailand cave rescue: Pictures show the dramatic rescue operation of a trapped youth football team and their coach. Play slideshow EPA 1 of 45 All 12 of the trapped football team and their coach have been rescued from a cave in Thailand Thailand’s meteorological department has warned up to 60 percent of the country's north, including Chiang Rai, can expect heavy rain from tomorrow until July 12. On Saturday, four mm of rain will hit the region before intensifying to 11m on Monday, according to Thailand Meteorological Department data taken from CNN. Conditions have been dry in previous days, enabling rescuers to pump out water out of the tunnels. While rescue efforts have previously focused on the boys being trained to use diving equipment to make their way out, new hope has been given of a possible drilling option. Thailand cave rescue weather: When will heavy rain return? Latest Thai weather monsoon forecast Thanes Weerasiri, president of the Engineering Institute of Thailand, said his engineers believe an area near the back of the cave where fragile limestone rocks lie could be only hundreds of metres from where the boys are trapped. He said: ”We want to find the way down. I believe we are close.” He added: “Originally we were exploring it as a way to bring supplies to the children from the back end of the cave, but now it could become more.” The senior Thai army office said one team reached 300 metres down a shaft on the hill on Thursday until they reached a dead end Thailand cave rescue weather: Heavy rainfall is forecast for the next few days Thailand cave rescue weather: Location of where the boys and their coach are trapped

Tonight, at 8 p.m. ET/PT and 7 p.m. CT, on the CBS network, a special titled Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney Live From Liverpool airs. The special includes never-before-seen footage from Paul McCartney’s Carpool Karaoke segment, which previously aired on The Late Late Show With James Corden. If you would like to watch the segment as it airs tonight, there are several cable-free options available and various ways to watch it online. Read on for options on how to watch tonight’s special episode online: Amazon Prime: If you have Amazon Prime or want to start a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime, you can watch any CBS content (both live and on-demand) via the CBS All-Access Amazon Channel, which comes with a 7-day free trial. Once you are signed up for both Amazon Prime and the CBS channel, you can watch CBS live on your computer via the Amazon website, or you can watch it by using your phone, tablet or streaming device via the Amazon Video app. CBS All Access: This service lets you watch a live stream of your local CBS channel (most markets included), as well as all of CBS’ on-demand library. It’s ultimately the same as the above option, only you’re watching through CBS’ digital platform rather than Amazon’s. You can sign up for a free 7-day trial, and then you can watch CBS live on your computer via the CBS website, or on your phone, tablet or streaming device via the CBS app. Hulu With Live TV: In addition to their extensive Netflix-like streaming library, Hulu now also offers a bundle of live TV channels, including CBS (live in select markets). You can sign up for “Hulu with Live TV” right here, and you can then watch a live stream of CBS on your computer via the Hulu website, or on your phone, tablet or streaming device via the Hulu app. FuboTV: CBS (live in select markets) is included in the “Fubo Premier” channel package. You can sign up for a free 7-day trial, and you can then watch CBS live on your computer via the FuboTV website, or on your phone, tablet or streaming device via the FuboTV app. Paul McCartney Carpool KaraokeJames Corden heads to Liverpool for a special day with Paul McCartney spent exploring the city of Paul's youth, visiting his childhood home where he wrote music with John Lennon, performing songs in a local pub and of course driving around singing a few of Paul's biggest hits. Pre-order Paul McCartney's new album Egypt Station… 2018-06-22T05:01:00.000Z The 2018 episodes of The Late Late Show With James Corden, which includes the original Paul McCartney Carpool Karaoke segment, are also available for purchase on Amazon. During the special, James Corden becomes emotional and sheds tears when he shares a memory of his father and his late grandfather playing music by McCartney and The Beatles for him. Corden told McCartney that if his grandfather were alive today, he would have gotten a huge kick out of his segment with McCartney. Also during the segment, Corden and the music legend travel around and visit fans, as well as iconic areas mentioned in some of McCartney’s songs, like “Penny Lane”. The two also visit McCartney’s childhood home and McCartney takes Corden on a tour through his memories in the house. The two even visit a pub that McCartney used to play at before he was famous. The locals definitely got a surprise, as McCartney dropped in.<doc-sep>Want more Macca? Well, James Corden has heard your prayers. On Monday, the "Late Late Show" host is airing a supersized edition of his "Carpool Karaoke" with Sir Paul McCartney, which is already one of the late-night show's most popular segments with more than 30 million views on YouTube since late June. "Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney Live From Liverpool" (CBS, 8 ET/PT) adds roughly 20 minutes of previously unseen material to their jaunt, in which McCartney gives Corden a tour of his hometown. Along the way, he peppers their ride with charming anecdotes about The Beatles and his solo career, including what he thinks of the "Paul is dead" fan theories ("We just kind of let it go," he says) and why he's the only one barefoot on the "Abbey Road" album cover (he wore sandals that day because it was hot and decided to take them off). MORE: James Corden reveals why he named his son after Paul McCartney He also recounts how he spent nine days in a Japanese prison in 1980 for packing marijuana in his bag, and once pretended to be someone else when a fan asked whether he was McCartney. ("I said, 'No, but I wish I had his money!' ") In addition to visiting his childhood home and singing an emotional rendition of "Let It Be" that left Corden in tears (both included in the original "Carpool" segment), McCartney also pulled over to pose with statues of the Fab Four and amusingly photo-bomb fans. The majority of the new footage is taken from McCartney's surprise gig at a local pub. Added live performances include a jaunty "Lady Madonna," "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," "I Wanna Be Your Man" and, of course, "Drive My Car." McCartney recently announced additional North American dates on his Freshen Up tour this fall, timed to the release of his new album "Egypt Station," out Sept. 7. If you love television and love talking about it even more, USA TODAY Life’s Yes, I’m Still Watching is here for you. Join our Facebook group to discuss all things TV with our critic Kelly Lawler.<doc-sep>Carpool Karaoke primetime specials type TV Show As soon as they walked away from the shoot, the producers of The Late Late Show with James Corden knew they had something special with Paul McCartney. In the latest edition of EW's Chasing Emmy podcast, executive producers Rob Crabbe and Ben Winston talk about how Monday's special primetime edition of Carpool Karaoke came together with the megastar and how they knew they had something special. "We traveled to Liverpool and got four hours with him," explains Winston of the June trip. "That's a long way to go, but we're excited that we finally got it and Paul had agreed to do it. Hearing Paul sing those songs was moving and special. Then seeing him back in Liverpool, seeing what it meant to him, going to his family home, the Beatles statues, that was special … ultimately we all felt as we walked away from that shoot that something very special happened that day that we hoped would be remembered." The longest Carpool Karaoke segment was 14 and a half minutes; the one with McCartney was 23 minutes. That's when they knew a primetime special was in order. "We had so much stuff that we weren't putting in it," says Winston. Until now, that is. Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney Live from Liverpool airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. You can find the original segment from The Late Late Show here. onÛmƵ×]ÜÝ­õ×Þí§}uݼ÷Gù÷Ý{5<doc-sep>

CBS is expanding on its hugely popular “Carpool Karaoke” segment with Paul McCartney with a primetime special. The network has greenlighted Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney Live From Liverpool to air Monday, August 20 at 8 PM. The network says the hourlong special will feature never-before-seen footage from the “Paul McCartney Carpool Karaoke” segment which aired on The Late Late Show with James Corden on June 21, during the week of shows from Central Hall Westminster in London. During the “Carpool Karaoke” segment, Corden and McCartney drove around Liverpool, visited McCartney’s childhood home and several of the places referenced in the song “Penny Lane,” and surprised locals with an intimate performance at a pub. “We were overwhelmed by the response to our ‘Carpool Karaoke’ with Paul McCartney. We loved making it and knew we had something special, but it was so wonderful for us to see how many people watched and enjoyed it,” said Ben Winston, executive producer of The Late Late Show. “I think it resonated with people as Paul’s music speaks to every generation, young and old, especially today. The message in the music is as relevant now as it has ever been. After the shoot, while we sat in the edit, we had to cut so much we loved for time. Not only did Paul do a concert in that Liverpool pub, but James and he discussed so much in the car. We are so delighted CBS has given us this primetime special to make an hour-long version of this ‘Carpool Karaoke.’ Now everyone can see the joy of that concert and more of their chat.” The “Paul McCartney Carpool Karaoke” has nearly 130 million digital views across Facebook and YouTube. It is the most-watched late night video on Facebook Watch. Paul McCartney’s new album, Egypt Station, will be released Sept. 7. His new song “Come on to Me” from this album was featured in the original “Carpool Karaoke” segment on The Late Late Show. You can watch the Paul McCartney Carpool Karaoke clip below.

A honeymoon turned fatal when an Israeli couple collided while ziplining in Honduras. Newlyweds traveling on Royal Caribbean Cruises' Allure of the Seas crashed into each other on a zipline ashore in Roatan, Honduras, last week. The husband and wife were sent to a local hospital, where the husband died from his injuries, Royal Caribbean Cruises spokesperson Owen Torres told USA TODAY. The wife was apparently hanging at a halfway point on the cable when her husband zoomed into her, fire chief Wilmer Guerrero told La Prensa. They suffered a number of serious injuries, including broken ribs, Guerrero told The Washington Post. The husband, who had complained of problems breathing, died the next day and his wife was flown to a hospital in Florida, where she had surgery and is in stable condition. More:Mother's nightmare at Mexico resort: 'There is more to this deeper darker story than we know' The couple involved was Egael Tishman, 24, and Shif Fanken, 27, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports. The island is home to several zipline attractions, the Agency reports. This excursion over a treetop canopy has been suspended, Torres said. Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets<doc-sep>An Israeli man died after colliding with his wife while the two were ziplining in Honduras on their honeymoon, according to local authorities. Egael Tishman, 24, set off on his turn on the zipline tour organised by the cruise ship on which he and wife Shif Fanken, 27, had just got married. He did not realise Ms Fanken was stuck on the line about halfway down, forcing a collision at high speeds. The couple suffered multiple injuries including broken ribs and Mr Tishman had complained of having difficulty breathing, Wilmer Guerrero, commander of the Roatan Fire Department, told the Washington Post. Recommended Barcelona attack victim was on delayed honeymoon Both were conscious on arrival at the local hospital where Mr Tishman died and Ms Fankel had emergency surgery. She was airlifted to a hospital in the US and remains in a stable condition. Mr Guerrero did not know the exact cause of death as yet, but a local radio station, Honduras Radio America, reported the cause could have been brain haemorrhage. It is unclear whether either Mr Tishman or Ms Fankel were wearing helmets at the time of the incident last week. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut.<doc-sep>According to Jim Walker, a lawyer who specializes in maritime litigation, this is not the first time a zip-line excursion in Roatan has resulted in injuries. About three years ago, a woman traveling on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship visiting the island was seriously injured while zip-lining, Walker wrote on his blog Cruise Law News. And about 10 years ago, a woman zip-lining in Roatan as part of a Norwegian Spirit cruise died when a cable snapped and she fell 65 feet.<doc-sep>

A freak zip-lining accident aboard a Caribbean cruise ship has claimed the life of a newlywed Israeli man after he collided with his wife. Twenty-four-year-old Egael Tishman and 27-year-old Shif Fanken were enjoying a Royal Caribbean cruise near Honduras when tragedy struck at around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. Zip-lining was an activity aboard their cruise ship and the newly married couple wanted to partake. The excursion trip—which is called Extreme Caribe Zip Line Tour—saw the couple zip-lining over a treetop canopy near Roatan, an island belonging to Honduras. Tishman went down the line first, but got stuck halfway. Without realizing the hold up, Fanken took off and heavily collided with her husband. According to Honduras newspaper La Prensa, both were seriously injured and needed to be airlifted to hospital. Tishman died overnight and Fanken was taken to a hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for treatment. Fire chief Wilmer Guerrero was alerted to the accident and arrived with ambulances to first take the couple to a hospital in Roatan. Guerrero confirmed the death of the man and that the woman had been taken by ambulance plane to the U.S. The news has been confirmed to the Miami Herald by Royal Caribbean spokesman Owen Torres. "Our care team is providing support and assistance to the guests' family and friends," Torres said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the couple, and we will continue to do our very best to assist them." The cruise had departed from Fort Lauderdale on July 1 and was bound for the Bahamas, Mexico and Honduras. The newlywed couple had boarded the cruise ship Allure of the Seas after marrying on June 30. Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier this week, a cruise ship crew member was found alive after 22 hours lost at sea in what has been described as a "miraculous" rescue effort. The 33-year-old Filipino man had fallen from the side of the Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Getaway vessel that was en route to Miami at around 3:20 p.m. Saturday, about 28 miles north of Cuba. He was found bobbing in the water by another ship at around 1 p.m. Sunday, the Miami Herald reported. The man was not injured and is reportedly in a stable condition. He was rescued by the Carnival Glory cruise ship, which is operated by the Carnival Cruise Line. Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, told the Herald the rescue was "nothing short of miraculous." She praised the crew members who found the man, lauding their "amazing effort to rescue a fellow seafarer." This story has been updated to include the name and location of the zip-line tour as well as the date of their wedding and the name of the cruise ship.

WASHINGTON — The last time the U.S. unemployment rate was roughly as low as the 3.7 percent it is now — December 1969 — the economy was overheating, inflation was spiking and a short recession soon followed. Could that happen again? Probably not anytime soon, most economists say. Yet there are some surprising similarities between today’s economy and the late 1960s, when the unemployment rate remained mostly below 4 percent for four straight years. The jobless rate, the government reported Friday, is now at its lowest level since the 3.5 percent it reached 49 years ago. And the strength looks likely to endure. There are a record number of open jobs, consumers are confident and economic growth has been brisk. America’s economic expansion is now the second-longest on record, having already surpassed the boom of the 1960s. Despite the similar jobless rates, the economy then was very different and by some measures stronger. Nearly a third of U.S. jobs were in manufacturing, which provided solidly middle-class pay and benefits. Prosperity was more broadly shared, with less economic inequality. It’s a period that is frequently recalled with nostalgia, although racial and ethnic barriers, educational disparities and institutional sexism prevented many millions of Americans from participating in it. “Prosperity has become the normal state of the American economy,” a White House report in 1969 said. Incomes, even after accounting for taxes and inflation, jumped 7 percent in 1964, the best showing of that decade. The biggest annual gain in the current decade, so far, was just 4.2 percent in 2015. “A family could afford to live on one income and own a house and a car,” said Diane Swonk, chief economist at Grant Thornton, a tax advisory firm. In the late 1960s, more than 95 percent of men in their prime working years either had a job or were looking for one; today’s corresponding figure is roughly 89 percent. Still, a sharp influx of women into the workforce in the 1980s has offset the decline in men in the job market. Overall, a greater proportion of Americans are now working or looking for work than back then. Back in December 1969, a mild recession was beginning. The long stretch of low unemployment had led to a classic case of an overheating economy. Growth was a robust 5.8 percent in 1964. Yet President Lyndon Johnson added more stimulus by ramping up government spending to pay for his expansive “Great Society” anti-poverty programs and for the Vietnam War. Steel mills and other factories cranked out more goods to support the war effort. Annual growth topped 6 percent in 1965 and 1966. The unemployment rate fell below 4 percent in February 1966. With more Americans splurging on appliances, televisions and cars, inflation started to accelerate. Prices jumped 4.7 percent in 1968. One in three workers belonged to a union, and many union contracts required annual cost of living increases. So did many non-union contracts. All that ignited what economists call a “wage-price spiral”: Paychecks grew to keep pace with inflation. Inflation, in turn, rose as companies raised prices to afford to pay those higher wages. Inflation hit 6.2 percent in 1969. The stage had been set for more than a decade of soaring prices, escalated by gasoline-price spikes in the 1970s. Responding to runaway inflation, the Federal Reserve jacked up the short-term interest rate it controls to nearly 9.25 percent in the fall of 1969. Congress also raised taxes in a belated effort to pay for the war and social spending. That double-whammy tipped the economy into a recession, with annual growth plummeting to just 0.2 percent in 1970. In December of that year, the unemployment rate jumped to 6.1 percent. The rate wouldn’t fall below 4 percent again for nearly 30 years, until September 2000. By many measures, the U.S. economy is now in a far different place. The Fed’s biggest chronic problem hasn’t been overly high inflation. Until very recently, the problem has been overly low inflation. The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge remained below its 2 percent target for six years until finally touching it in May this year. In part, that’s because consumer spending is comparatively weak. And, as a consequence, economic growth hasn’t topped 3 percent for a full calendar year since 2005 — never mind the 6 percent it achieved in the mid-1960s. Inflation has also been constrained by price competition among online retailers, low-priced imported goods and relatively weak pay raises for many Americans. After the 2008 financial crisis, the Fed kept its benchmark rate at a record low near zero for seven years. Even after a succession of rate hikes, the Fed’s key rate remains in a still-low range between 2 percent and 2.25 percent. Still, there are parallels between the two eras. The economy had already grown, if modestly, for more than seven years when President Donald Trump added stimulus in the form of corporate and individual tax cuts. Congress later passed legislation that increased spending on defense and social programs. And while inflation remains low, Trump has imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum and about half the goods the United States imports from China. It has also threatened duties on imported cars. Tariffs tend to elevate inflation by raising costs, which could lead the Fed to step up the pace of its rate increases. “That’s a risk that some economists have worried about,” Andrew Chamberlain, chief economist at the jobs website Glassdoor, said. “We could have a hangover effect.”<doc-sep>The economy continues its nine-year expansion, with an unemployment rate now at 3.7 percent, the lowest since 1969, according to data released Friday by the Department of Labor. However, the average monthly jobs total disappointed, with a gain of just 134,000 for September — the lowest monthly total so far in 2018, according to the employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wage growth, which has for months been a sluggish outlier among otherwise robust economic metrics, increased slightly to 2.8 percent year on year — indicating that employers now have to offer more competitive remuneration in order to retain and attract workers from a tightening labor pool. "The positive wages trend for workers should continue and even accelerate as long as the overall patterns of growth and hiring remain intact," said Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate. Although major storms such as Hurricane Harvey have negatively affected the Labor Department’s figures in the past, Hurricane Florence barely left any imprint on September's data, since the storm did not disable any major cities or economies to the same extent as Harvey did in the Houston area last year. “The high levels of employment have been feeding wage increases and fueling higher consumer spending, in turn leading to rising inflation," said Fiona Cincotta, senior market analyst at City Index. "Now the speculation will start if the Federal Reserve will speed up its planned rate hikes this year and next.” The Fed approved its third rate increase of 2018 last month, an indication that it may soon be able to take a back seat for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis and allow the economy to steer itself. Markets reacted positively to Friday's report, having suffered one of their worst days in months on Thursday as the Dow Jones had its largest one-day percentage drop since August, with the S&P and Nasdaq also seeing their biggest daily drop in more than three months.<doc-sep>But the very low unemployment rate also reflects an increase in the number not looking for work - if they are not looking they are not classified as unemployed.<doc-sep>Unemployment fell to a nearly 50-year low in September even as employers added a disappointing 134,000 jobs amid increasing worker shortages and possible effects from Hurricane Florence. The unemployment rate fell from 3.9 to 3.7 percent, lowest since December 1969, the Labor Department said Friday. Economists had estimated 185,000 new jobs were created last month, according to a Bloomberg survey. Goldman Sachs expected the hurricane to reduce employment by 33,000 in the Carolinas. But Morgan Stanley said the storm likely affected too limited of an area and struck too late during the week of Labor’s survey to have a meaningful impact. Workers are counted as employed as long as they show up for any part of their pay period. Yet employment in leisure and hospitality, which includes hotels and restaurants, fell 17,000 last month, suggesting the storm was a factor. "The headline payroll number is a weather story," Ian Shepherdson, chief economist of Pantheon Macroeconomics, wrote in a note to clients. The number of workers across the country who stayed home because of weather increased by 276,000 last month on a nonseasonally adjusted basis, compared with a median 7,000 rise over the past 10 September jobs report, says Jim O'Sullivan, chief U.S. economist of High Frequency Economics. Still another wrinkle is that Labor tends to undercount September employment in its initial estimate and revise it up later, O'Sullivan says. On the positive side, payroll increases for July and August were revised by a total 87,000. July’s gain was raised from 147,000 to 165,000 and August’s from 201,000 to 270,000. That largely offsets the weak September showing. Meanwhile, the labor market faces other challenges. Businesses are having a harder time finding qualified job candidates. Many analysts expect the crunch to slow hiring in the months ahead despite strong economic growth. And a new Trump administration tariff on $200 billion in Chinese imports – along with China’s retaliation against U.S. imports – took effect last month, hitting many consumer goods. That has dinged business confidence and could curtail hiring. So far, job growth has been surprisingly strong this year despite the hurdles, averaging about 200,000 a month, up from 182,000 in 2017. More:#MeToo one year later: Cosby, Moonves fall, sex harassment fight at work far from over More:Gas prices nearing highest levels in four years, adding to calls to repeal gas taxes Wage growth slows a tad Average hourly earnings rose 8 cents to $27.24, lowering the annual gain to 2.8 percent from a nine-year high of 2.9 percent in August. Goldman said the hurricane may have artificially inflated hourly earnings by trimming many workers’ hours without necessarily reducing their pay. Over the longer term, faster pay increases could lead the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates more briskly to prevent a spike in inflation. Market reaction There were enough positives in the jobs report, such as the continued decline in the unemployment rate and upward revisions of jobs created in July and August, to push long-term bond yields up again to fresh seven-year highs and pressure stocks. The 10-year Treasury, which climbed to nearly 3.25 percent, closed at 3.24 percent, its highest level since May 2011. "The sharp rise in bond yields has investors concerned," says Thorne Perkin, president of Papamarkou Wellner Asset Management in New York. Investors fear that interest rates will keep climbing higher and begin to slow economic growth. Stocks sold off for a second consecutive session, with the Dow Jones industrial average tumbling 180 points, or 0.7 percent, to close at 26,447. The Dow slid nearly 201 points Thursday when the 10-year government bond yield initially hit a seven-year high. Industries that are hiring Professional and business services led the job gains with 54,000. Health care added 30,000; transportation and warehousing, 24,000; construction, 23,000; and manufacturing, 18,000. Besides the 17,000 job losses in leisure and hospitality, retailers, which are struggling as shoppers increasingly buy products online, shed 20,000 jobs. African-American unemployment drops again The unemployment rate for African Americans fell sharply for the second consecutive month, from 6.3 to 6 percent, the second lowest on record behind May’s 5.9 percent. The worker shortages are giving more opportunities to blacks and other disadvantaged groups that have had a tougher time finding jobs. What it means On its face, the report was largely a clunker, with just 134,000 jobs added. But there are several mitigating factors. Hurricane Florence likely reduced employment in the Carolinas. And Labor has routinely underestimated payroll gains in September, only to subsequently revise them higher. Also, job gains for July and August were revised up by 87,000, more than offsetting September’s weak performance. As a result, the Fed is likely to shrug off the disappointing jobs total, especially with unemployment falling to a nearly 50-year low, and raise its key rate in December for a fourth time this year. Tumbling unemployment should put further upward pressure on wages and prices, and the Fed is trying to prevent a surge that weighs on middle-class U.S. households. Contributing: Adam Shell<doc-sep>

The numbers: The U.S. unemployment rate sank to a 48-year low of 3.7% in September as the economy added 134,000 new jobs, setting the stage for a strong holiday season to finish out what’s been stellar year for the U.S. economy. The increase in hiring was the smallest in 12 months and below the recent trend, perhaps reflecting the effects of Hurricane Florence. Economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast a 168,000 increase. Yet the increase in new jobs was enough to lower the unemployment rate to 3.7% from 3.9%. The last time the jobless rate was lower was in December 1969 — when the first man walked on the moon. Many economists predict the jobless rate will fall even further in the months ahead. The amount of money the average worker earns per hour, meanwhile, rose 0.3% to $27.24. The increase in pay over the past 12 months slowed to 2.8% from 2.9%, but it’s widely expected to top 3% soon because of the growing competition for a shrinking pool of available workers. Read:Jobs report still points to strong economy despite slower hiring What happened: The bulk of hiring in September was concentrated in the professional ranks, health care, construction and manufacturing. White-collar firms added 54,000 job and health-care providers filled 26,000 positions. Builders hired 23,000 workers and manufacturers 18,000. Employment fell among retailers, restaurants and hotels. The slowdown in hiring in September may have been partly caused by Hurricane Florence, but the government said it could not be certain. In any case, job creation earlier in the summer was much stronger than initially reported. Employment gains for August and July were revised up by a combined 87,000. The U.S. has added an average of 208,000 jobs a month through the first nine months of 2018, above the 182,000 pace during the same nine-month period last year. Most economists believe it’s just a matter of time before hiring slows sharply and they wonder if September is a hint of what’s to come. The economy is starting to run out of workers, they contend. Read: Amazon’s $15 vow puts focus on $7.25 U.S. minimum wage. Here’s who earns it Big picture: The economy might not be great, but it’s been a long time since it’s been this good. And the biggest source of strength is the labor market. Years of steady hiring have knocked unemployment back to levels last seen during the Clinton presidency. And layoffs are at the lowest levels in 50 years. The ultra-low unemployment is now forcing businesses to offer better pay to filling a record number of job openings. That’s boosted the confidence of Americans to the highest level in 20 years and also given businesses more confidence to invest and hire even more workers. The result: Growth in 2018 might top 3% for the first time in 13 years. The biggest risks to the economy? Rising wages and higher inflation are nudging the Federal Reserve to raise the cost of business and consumer loans. And some experts predict the burst of economic activity since the spring could fade next year as the jolt of adrenaline provided by the Trump tax cuts and increased federal spending fade. What they are saying? : “Despite the hurricane-weakened headline rise, this was a strong report,” said chief economist Chris Low of FTN Financial. “Overall, a strong report that will keep the Fed firmly on track to continue raising rates once a quarter, with the next hike likely to come in December,” said senior U.S. economist Michael Pearce of Capital Economics. Market reaction:The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.03% and S&P 500 SPX, +0.19% traded lower in Friday trades. The Dow set a fresh record earlier this week.

The odds of hitting all six numbers correctly are 1 in 292,201,338. One lucky Minnesotan is a millionaire after Wednesday night's Powerball drawing, matching all five white balls with the added "Power Play" option. But our neighbors to the east, it pains us to say, outshone us this round. A ticket sold in Wisconsin matched all six Powerball numbers - netting whoever purchased it the jackpot of $768.4 million. That's the third-highest jackpot total of all time, Powerball says, and it's the largest payout in Wisconsin State Lottery history. "It truly is incredible to think that the winning ticket for this historic jackpot was sold in our own backyard. I am extremely excited for the winners and for our state," Wisconsin Lottery Director Cindy Polzin said in a news release. The odds of a Powerball jackpot? 1 in 292,201,338. The winner (or winners, if some office pool just scored big) will get to choose between getting the $768.4 million as an annuity, paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years, or one lump sum payment of $477 million. And of course, they'll need to pay taxes on it. It's the second time in as many years someone from the Badger State has won the Powerball Jackpot, and it's the 17th time since 1988 a Wisconsin ticket has won the jackpot. For now, Minnesota will have to settle for runner-up. As mentioned above, ticket buyer here matched the five white balls, and paid an extra $1 to get the Power Play bonus, winning a total of $2 million. That slip was sold in Stillwater, at the Holiday on 2500 Orleans St. So not $768.4 million. But hey, at least that person now has the money to leave Wisconsin! (We kid, we kid.)<doc-sep>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP/WCCO) — A single ticket sold in Wisconsin matched all six numbers in the Wednesday night Powerball drawing to win the third-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history. Due to strong ticket sales, the jackpot climbed to an estimated $768.4 million at the time of the drawing with a cash option of $477 million. Powerball said the winning numbers are 16, 20, 37, 44, 62 and the Powerball number is 12. The $768.4 million is the third-largest behind the world record $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot shared by winners in California, Florida and Tennessee in January 2016, and the $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot won in South Carolina last October. “It’s going to be a very green spring for our first Powerball jackpot winner of 2019,” David Barden, Powerball Product Group chairman and New Mexico Lottery CEO, said in a statement. “A jackpot of this size can make many dreams come true – not just for the winner, but for all Lottery beneficiaries and the lucky state of Wisconsin.” Although the prize grew steadily since the previous jackpot winner on Dec. 26, the odds of matching the five white balls and single Powerball remained one in 292.2 million. The $768.4 million estimated figure refers to the annuity option, paid over 29 years. Nearly all grand prize winners opt for the cash prize, which for Wednesday’s drawing would be an estimated $477 million. Both prize options are before taxes. Seven tickets matched all five white balls, but missed matching the red Powerball in Wednesday’s drawing to win a $1 million prize. Those tickets were sold in Arizona, two in California, Indiana, Missouri, New Jersey and New York. Two other tickets, sold in Kansas and Minnesota, matched all five white balls and doubled the prize to $2 million, because the tickets included the Power Play option for an additional $1. Minnesota lottery officials say the $2 million ticket was sold at the Holiday station on Orleans Street in Stillwater. Three other $50,000 tickets were solid in Minnesota. They were at the Kwik Trip on Vernon Avenue in Savage, the Casey’s General Store on Minnesota Street in Paynesville, and the Casey’s General Store on Main Street in Zumbrota. (© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. CNN contributed to this report.)<doc-sep>While someone in neighboring Wisconsin hit the top Powerball jackpot, a ticket sold in Minnesota will make someone a new millionaire. The ticket that matched all five white balls drawn Wednesday night, but missed the Powerball, is good for $2 million. That’s because the player chose the Power Play option to double the prize for those numbers. State lottery officials haven’t yet announced where that ticket was sold in Minnesota.<doc-sep>One lucky lottery player in Stillwater is having a good end to the week, while someone in Wisconsin struck it really, really big. A Powerball player in Wisconsin won the $768 million jackpot on Wednesday; the winning ticket was sold in the Milwaukee suburb of New Berlin. The Powerball drawing on Wednesday also yielded a $2 million ticket in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Lottery, that winning ticket was sold at the Holiday gas station at 2500 Orleans St. in Stillwater. The numbers on that ticket matched the first five numbers, which is normally worth $1 million, but since the player added a Power Play option for an extra $1, the prize was doubled to $2 million, said Emily Frost, a spokeswoman for the Minnesota Lottery. “Lesson learned: Always add the Power Play option to your ticket because a dollar can go a long way,” Frost said. The numbers announced Wednesday are 16, 20, 37, 44, 62 and the Powerball number is 12. Officials at the Holiday gas station in Stillwater, located near Stillwater Boulevard and Orleans Street West, hadn’t heard the news until a Pioneer Press reporter called Thursday morning. “I had no idea,” said Thor Ho, manager of the store. “That’s pretty cool.” The Holiday in Stillwater earns a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket, Frost said.<doc-sep>

TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY While someone next door in Wisconsin hit one of the largest Powerball jackpots in history, someone else in Minnesota bought a ticket good for $2 million in the same drawing. The $2 Minnesota ticket matched all five white balls drawn Wednesday night but missed the Powerball number. Coming that close would normally would mean winnings of $1 million. But that player, along with another fortune hunter in Kansas, doubled the prize to $2 million because the tickets included the Power Play option for an additional $1. State lottery officials should be announcing sometime Thursday where the ticket in Minnesota was sold. That retail outlet will also be given a tidy sum for the honor of being the seller. Powerball lottery: 12 things not to do if you hit the jackpot Who holds that ticket will remain a mystery until that person steps up and checks in with Minnesota Lottery headquarters in Roseville. The net amount pocketed will be adjusted downward for tax purposes and should the winner choose to take the loot in a lump sum, rather than spread it out over a number of years. The $768.4 million ticket good for the jackpot was sold in New Berlin, near Milwaukee, and is the third-largest behind the world record $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot shared by winners in California, Florida and Tennessee in January 2016, and the $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot won in South Carolina last October. The win marked Wisconsin’s 17th Powerball jackpot since 1988. The state is now tied for sixth on the all-time list of most frequent winning states. Minnesota stands third with 22 jackpot winners. Powerball is played in 44 states, plus Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Powerball lottery:Should you take your jackpot as a lump sum or annual payments?

Credit-card networks talk of hopes for a cash-free society, but a Visa Inc. outage in Europe Friday showed that vision wasn’t quite ready for prime time. Visa V, -0.85% experienced a service disruption in parts of Europe on Friday as merchants and consumers tweeted about an inability to use or accept Visa-branded cards, with some businesses posting signs that advised customers to either use cash or cards offered by Mastercard Inc. MA, -1.24% or American Express Co. AXP, +0.36%<doc-sep>Visa says its service has returned to normal after millions of customers across Europe were left unable to pay for goods and services on Friday. For around six hours, customers across Europe were affected by the disruption, with some supermarkets reportedly facing angry customers after shoppers were unable to pay. The firm has apologised for the technical failing, and ruled out any “malicious” activity as the cause. Recommended Payment chaos as Visa networks breaks across UK and Europe In a statement Visa said: “The issue was the result of a hardware failure within one of our European systems and is not associated with any unauthorised access or cyberattack. “Visa Europe’s payment system is now operating at full capacity, and Visa account holders can now use Visa for any of their purchases and at ATMs, as they normally would.” Al Kelly, CEO of Visa, said: “We apologise to all of our partners and Visa account holders for any inconvenience this may have caused.” UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 23 May 2021 The Premier League trophy with the Manchester City club colour ribbons on, at Etihad Stadium, prior to the last Premier League match of the season. City will finally pick up the trophy after they won the league on 11 May Getty UK news in pictures 22 May 2021 Gary Kenny lifts the Buildbase FA Vase Trophy after Warrington Rylands won the FA Vase Final against Binfield at Wembley Stadium Getty UK news in pictures 21 May 2021 A family buffeted by the wind whilst crossing the the Millennium Bridge in London, with wind and rain forecast to ravage the UK on the first Friday that people have been allowed to meet in large groups outside in England PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2021 Devon And Cornwall Police Demonstrate Their Skills For Policing The G7 Summit Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 May 2021 An employee stands before a costume for the Queen of Hearts by Bob Crowley on display at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. PA UK news in pictures 12 May 2021 A couple have wedding photos taken in Westminster, London Getty UK news in pictures 11 May 2021 The sun rises on Coquet Island, off Amble on the Northumberland coast, where as many as 35000 seabirds cram onto this tiny island to breed PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2021 Newly elected for a second term Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during his signing in ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on London’s Southbank PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2021 People mill around St. Michael's tower on top of Glastonbury Tor as it is seen through blooming yellow rapeseed on a day of mixed weather in Glastonbury, Somerset PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2021 Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford elbow bumps newly elected MS Labour candidates Elizabeth Buffy Williams, Rhondda, left, and Sarah Murphy, Bridgend & Porthcawl Labour, right, as they meet in Porthcawl, Wales PA UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Women’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London. The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near King’s Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin, covered with His Royal Highness’s Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St George’s Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images UK news in pictures 16 April 2021 Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, checks the teeth of "Dentosaurus" during a visit to the Thornliebank Dental Care centre in Glasgow, as she campaigns ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 April 2021 Myanmar's former ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, outside his residence in north west London. The ambassador has been barred from entering the Myanmar embassy in Mayfair after he was removed from office PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2021 People take part in coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London. Thousands of residents have queued up to take coronavirus tests at additional facilities set up after new cases of the South African variant were found in two south London boroughs. 44 confirmed cases of the variant have been found in Lambeth and Wandsworth, with a further 30 probable cases identified PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2021 The core of the Milky Way becomes visible in the early hours of Tuesday morning as it moves over Bamburgh Lighthouse at stag Rock in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2021 Rebecca Richardson (left) and Genevieve Florence, members of the Aquabatix synchronised swimming team, during a practice session in the swimming pool at Clissold Leisure Centre in north London, which has reopened to the public. Many facilities have reopened in the latest easing of lockdown include pubs and restaurants who can serve outside, non-essential shops, indoor gyms and swimming pools, nail salons and hairdressers, outdoor amusements and zoos PA UK news in pictures 11 April 2021 A pub staff pins up a sign announcing the reopening of the Fox on the Hill pub on Denmark Hill in London EPA UK news in pictures 10 April 2021 The Death Gun Salute is fired by the Honourable Artillery Company to mark the passing of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the The Tower of London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 9 April 2021 A man arrives to lay a bunch of flowers outside Buckingham Palace in central London after the announcement of the death of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. - Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip, who recently spent more than a month in hospital and underwent a heart procedure, died on April 9, Buckingham Palace announced. He was 99. AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 8 April 2021 Cousin Pascal ridden by James King clears the chair on their way to winning the 4:05 Pool via REUTERS UK news in pictures 7 April 2021 Deliveroo riders from the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain outside Deliveroo headquarters in London, as they go on strike in a dispute for fair pay, safety protections and basic workers’ rights PA UK news in pictures 6 April 2021 Waves crash over the walls next to Seaham Lighthouse in Durham PA UK news in pictures 5 April 2021 Lusamba Katalay (third from left), the husband of Belly Mujinga joins activists at a vigil at Victoria station in London to mark the first anniversary of the death of railway worker Belly Mujinga who died with Covid-19 following reports she had been coughed on by a customer at London's Victoria station PA UK news in pictures 4 April 2021 People spend Easter Sunday at Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth Jake McPherson/SWNS UK news in pictures 3 April 2021 A woman looks into the camera as she attends a 'Kill the Bill' protest in London EPA UK news in pictures 2 April 2021 Members of the Bamburgh Croquet club play a game following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Northumberland, Britain Reuters<doc-sep>

Visa card payment failures have spread across Europe, frustrating shoppers and travelers who were advised to seek out cash—or use Mastercard’s service. The network disruption, while just an annoyance for some, highlights the risks inherent in a global economy that increasingly relies on electronic payments for just about everything. A Visa spokesperson confirmed the outage today (June 1) and said the company is investigating the cause while trying to resolve it “as quickly as possible.” In the meantime, some ATM machines in the UK were running out of money as people rushed to withdraw cash, according to the Financial Times (paywall), which noted that more than 95% of debit cards in Britain run on Visa’s network The market for global payment cards is dominated by China’s UnionPay, Visa, and Mastercard, according to research and consulting firm RBR (pdf). Visa, which acquired Visa Europe in 2016, is a vital backbone for payments in the UK and the rest of Europe. The Foster City, California-based firm handled $7.3 trillion in transactions around the world in 2017, a 40% increase from the year before. The big companies that operate the major payments rails are hoping to scoop up more business as consumers increasingly pay for things digitally. While notes and bills and coins are still widely used, global digital payment volume in 2017 exceeded cash for the first time, according to Visa’s annual report. Companies are also hoping, thanks to the proliferation of mobile phones, that many of the world’s 1.7 billion unbanked people will be bought into the formal financial system (and become customers). That has government watchdogs, banks, and consumers watching Visa’s disruption closely. While some countries, notably Germany, are still enamored with cash, much of Europe has gone digital, making it something of a laboratory for this transition. Sweden is on pace to become effectively “cashless” in five years, while the value of card payments is more than 40% of gross domestic product (pdf) in the UK. Policy makers are debating how to make electronic systems more robust, while also trying to assess the threshold at which the total number of digital payments become too many digital payments. Sweden’s central bank, for example, is considering an e-krona (pdf), but points out that this wouldn’t mean abolishing notes and bills. A decentralized network, resembling the encrypted ledger system behind bitcoin, could potentially provide a useful redundancy against failure. Even that, assuming the system could be build to handle the volume of speedy payments Visa already provides for, would be vulnerable to power outages and major disasters. These types of problems suggest that cold hard cash will be with us for a good while longer.

The MTV Video Music Awards are tonight at New York City's Radio City Hall. And the red carpet fashion is among some of the brightest and boldest you'll see at an award ceremony this year. Here, what everyone wore, from Kylie Jenner to Blake Lively.<doc-sep>It's all about the music tonight on MTV. For those who didn't already guess, the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards are finally here meaning your favorite singers and artists are coming together for an unforgettable pop culture event. Broadcast live at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the annual award show will not feature a host. Instead, the telecast will be jam-packed with awards, performances and more than a few surprises. Viewers tuning in should expect to see Ariana Grande belt out a new song from her album Sweetener. Cardi B will open the show to the delight of fans. As for Jennifer Lopez, she is receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award to celebrate two decades of hits. Before the trophies are handed out and while you prepare to sing your heart out from the comfort of your couch, we have to talk about the fashion. Take a look at our massive red carpet gallery updating throughout the night below.<doc-sep>1. Worst Indecision: Winnie Harlow Nicholas Hunt Getty Images Winnie nabbed a gig as a fashion correspondent for MTV, but we're confused as to why that requires a costume change while she's on the very red carpet she's supposed to be covering. It would be one thing if she couldn't decide between two slammin' ensembles, but she simply goes from one boring sheer dress to another, even sheerer one. Matthew Eisman Getty Images 2. Best Decision: Ariana Grande Paul Zimmerman Getty Images No, we're not talking about accepting Pete Davidson's proposal, although she certainly seems warm for his bleach-blond form. Rather, we're referring to Ariana scuttling her signature high ponytail for this party in favor of a shiny, sleek, and altogether more adult 'do. If Pete Davidson's BDE is responsible for Ariana shaking it up, well, long may your magical coupling reign. This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. 3. Worst New Trend: Teyana Taylor's Hip-Less Pants Paul Zimmerman Getty Images This feels like one of those OMG Look At What They’re Trying to Sell Us Now! memes that pops up occasionally on Facebook. World, do not let hip-less pants become a thing. PLEASE, O Gods of Nordstrom, say no to cheek cutouts. 4. Quickest Escape: Tiffany Haddish Paul Zimmerman Getty Images Tiffany’s head looks great, but we were happier to see that she changed out of this sheath basically immediately after presenting the first award. 5. Most Costumey—Discount Halloween Store Edition: Amber Rose Paul Zimmerman Getty Images Honestly, if you had run odds on what Amber would wear to ANY given event, this wouldn't even have been considered a long shot. What does she do on actual Halloween? Wear clothes from The Gap? 6. Most Costumey—Going About Their Usual Business Edition: Aerosmith Nicholas Hunt Getty Images If you told us that 75 percent of this also came in a plastic bag on a hanger at Halloween Depot, we’d be tempted to believe you, had Steven Tyler and Joe Perry not been so wildly consistent over the years. 7. Best Palate Cleanser: Sofia Carson in Carolina Herrera Matthew Eisman Getty Images On a night that is, essentially, a sheer and strange circus, Sofia turns up in a gown that makes her look like the undisputed Queen of the Big Top. In a good way. 8. Foggiest: Dascha Polanco Matthew Eisman Getty Images So many people went with the apparently never-dying transparency trend that it's impossible to pick one that we like the least. But while many of the other sheer efforts had consistent and identifiable patterns, this one just looks like stormy weather rolling in from the coast. Batten down the hatches. 9. Best Post-Baby Debut: Cardi B in Nicolas Jebran ANGELA WEISS Getty Images This is all-around delightful. The rich raspberry velvet, the gazillions of dollars worth of emeralds, the kicky pixie cut...Cardi looks both lively and elegant, a combination last seen at the VMAs...uh, never. This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. 10. Pantsiest: Blake Lively in Ralph & Russo Jamie McCarthy Getty Images Blake wore FIVE OTHER SUITS this past week alone, and these are the very definition of a big finish. If she starts to run, she may well actually take flight. 11. Most Surprisingly Business-Like: Kylie Jenner Jamie McCarthy Getty Images We feel weird: Kylie Jenner looks....chic, and adult, and coolly competent. We’re both thrilled to be alive to witness this historic moment, and also feel unmoored by how extremely surreal it is. Here’s hoping this turns into enough of a trend that we get used to it. 12. Most Princess-y: Camila Cabello in Oscar de la Renta Nicholas Hunt Getty Images This might almost be too restrained for the VMAs, but the tie-dye effect and the high-low hem save her from seeming too straitlaced: It’s fanciful and fun. 13. Most Restrained: Jennifer Lopez in Versace Jamie McCarthy Getty Images J.Lo got the Video Vanguard honor, which is the VMA equivalent of a lifetime achievement award—even though it frequently goes to people who are only partway through theirs. One might think she'd answer that call by going Maximum J.Lo, in something artfully designed to free the abs that she has sharpened to such precision that you could use them to slice cheese. But instead, J.Lo picks a slinky, sleek silver gown that flaunts her incredible assets just as well and just as confidently, if not more so. Shine on, you flawless diamond. Visit the Fug Girls on their website, or follow them on Twitter. Their book, The Royal We, is . This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>

Everything you need to know. 15 Gallery 15 Images No one danced with a python or made out with Madonna, but last night's 2017 MTV Video Music Awards featured stellar performances, meme-worthy moments and plenty of fine women. Cardi B, who had more nominations than any other artist last night, slayed the red carpet alongside fellow head-turners Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Lopez, Rita Ora, Shay Mitchell and more. Jennifer Lopez was awarded the "Michael Jackson Vanguard Award," in honor of her expansive and pioneering body of work. She put on one hell of a show as well, performing a medley of her greatest hits. Camila Cabello also had plenty of reason to celebrate after, taking home the coveted "Video of the Year" award for her song "Havana" and also "Artist of the Year." ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website Here, all the big moments from last night's ceremony: Post Malone, Aerosmith, and 21 Savage took the stage to perform "Rockstar," "Dream On," and "Toys In The Attic." ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website Jennifer Lopez performed a medley of her greatest hits. A-Rod spawned the meme of the night while recording girlfriend J-Lo perform. Travis Scott and James Blake performed a medley of "Stargazing,", "Stop Trying To Be God," and "Sicko Mode" Nicki Minaj performed a bunch of songs off her new album "Queen." Ariana Grande performed "God is a Woman." Madonna gave a tribute to Aretha Franklin, but sort of ended up just talking about herself... and got blasted for it online. Here, the complete list of winners from the 2018 MTV VMAs: MICHAEL JACKSON VANGUARD AWARD Jennifer Lopez VIDEO OF THE YEAR Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug – "Havana" ARTIST OF THE YEAR Camila Cabello SONG OF THE YEAR Post Malone featuring 21 Savage – "rockstar" BEST POP Ariana Grande – "No Tears Left To Cry" BEST NEW ARTIST Cardi B BEST LATIN J Balvin, Willy William – "Mi Gente" BEST COLLABORATION Jennifer Lopez featuring DJ Khaled & Cardi B – "Dinero" PUSH ARTIST OF THE YEAR Hayley Kiyoko BEST HIP HOP Nicki Minaj – "Chun-Li" BEST ROCK Imagine Dragons – "Whatever It Takes" BEST DANCE Avicii featuring Rita Ora – "Lonely Together" VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE Childish Gambino – "This Is America" BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY The Carters – "APES**T" – Cinematography by Benoit Debie BEST DIRECTION Childish Gambino – "This Is America" – Directed by Hiro Murai BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Kendrick Lamar & SZA – "All The Stars" – Visual Effects by Loris Paillier for BUF Paris BEST ART DIRECTION The Carters – "APES**T" – Art Direction by Jan Houlevigue, The Louvre BEST CHOREOGRAPHY Childish Gambino – "This Is America" — Choreography by Sherrie Silver BEST EDITING N.E.R.D & Rihanna – "Lemon" – Editing by Taylor Ward

Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor<doc-sep>Congratulations! You have successfully cast your vote Login to view result KOLKATA: Madhyamik 2018 results remained just a shade below the best every results in 2017 when the highest-ever aggregate score in the exam was secured by a candidate who bagged a whopping 690 marks out of 700, thus surpassing all other previous records.This year, Sanjibani Debnath from Sunity Academy in Coochbehar has secured the first rank with 689. 2017 also saw the highest ever pass percentage in the state board examination.From 82.74% in 2016, the pass percentage has jumped to 85.65%. This year the pass percentage is the second highest in the last 35 years and has taken a slight hit from 2017 and is down to 85.49%. This year, as many as 56 students made it into the top 10 merit list while last year the number was 64. In 2017, it was also after a gap of eight years that a girl topped the merit list. This year too, the first rank holder, Sanjibani Debnath is a girl.Breaking the last year's dominance of students from Bankura in Madhyamik when as many as six of its students bagged spots among the top 10, this year the trend moved to North Bengal . The number of students bagging spots in merit list from Coochbehar district is - 8. In the six districts of N-Bengal 21 students out of 56 bagged positions in top 10. The latest district Kalimpong too fared extremely well with 86.95% pass percentage. "My parents have been extremely supportive and have never pressurised me to study for extra hours or to perform extraordinarily. Even I didn't had any fixed study hours but spent around 6 - 8 hours swotting and revising the lessons. I am elated with the result and I would wish to keep performing in a similar manner in my future exams too," said Sanjibani Debnath, who ranked first in the Madhyamik Exam and scored 689 and wants to be a doctor in the future.One of the upsetting trends in Madhyamik examination this year was the inability of even the topper to match up to the scores of ICSE and CBSE - Class X, first rank holder. In ICSE the first rank holder from Navi Mumbai, Swayam Das had bagged 99.40% and CBSE-Class X topper, Prakhar Mittal from DPS Gurgaon bagged a whopping 99.80%, the Madhyamik examination topper -Sanjibani has 98.42% marks in the aggregate.Students from Kolkata fared poor with only two among 56 securing ranks within top 10. Sarthak Talukdar ranked seventh from Baranagar RK Mission Ashram High School with 683 marks and Pabitra Senapati from Government Sponsored Multipurpose School for Boys Taki House securing rank 10th with 680 marks. "It is up to the social scientists to explain reasons behind such performance of students from Kolkata as they found very few ranks in top ten," Kalyanmoy Ganguly, President of Madhyamik Board said.This year 1102726 students enrolled for the exam, 1084178 candidates appeared for the exam and 899564 students passed the exam. There was 2819 examination centres. Examination was cancelled of 17 students. Number of examiners engaged in Madhyamik 2018 were 53323.Unlike in ICSE, in Madhyamik boys ruled the roost. The pass percentage of male students reached 89.87% while of the female were 81.86%. In Kolkata pass percentage of female is 90.49% and 91.78% for male. In East Midnapore, pass percentage of female is 94.40% and male is 98.08%.Among districts the highest pass percentage is of East Midnapore with 96.13% followe by West Midnapore at 91.75%. Kolkata is third among districts with highest pass percentage of 91.11%. North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas secured 90.86% and 91.07% respectively.In 2019, West Bengal Board of Secondary Education has decided to prepone the examination to February 12. The exam will end on February 22.<doc-sep>WBBSE Madhyamik 10th Result 2018: The examination was conducted across the state from March 12 to March 21. The examination was conducted across the state from March 12 to March 21. WBBSE 10th Result 2018, Madhyamik Result 2018 West Bengal: The result of Madhyamik Class 10th examination has been declared. This year, 8,99,564 candidates have passed the examination successfully, drafting a pass percentage of 85.49. Students who have appeared for this examination can check their respective scores at the official website — wbbse.org. Results will also be available at other partner websites such as exametc.com, indiaresults.com, school.gradeup.co, schools9.com, vidyavision.com, results.shiksha and westbengalonline.in. The examination was conducted in 2,819 centres across the state from March 12 to March 21 and approximately 11,02,921 candidates had appeared for the same. Read | WBBSE Madhyamik result declared The students will get the mark sheets from the distribution centres today, May 6, 2018. Approximately 11,02,921 candidates had appeared for the examinations, a sharp increase from last year’s 10,71,846. The result will also be sent via SMS. Candidates have to type WB10, followed by the roll number and send it to 54242/ 56263/58888. Next year, the exams will start from February 12, and will be concluded on February 22. – With inputs from Priyanka Dutta, iebangla.com<doc-sep>

TBSE 10th Result 2018: The exams were conducted from March 6 to April 10. The exams were conducted from March 6 to April 10. TBSE 10th Madhyamik Result 2018: The result of Class 10 Board examination will be declared by the Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) today, on June 12. All those students who had appeared for the same will be able to check their respective scores at the official website — tripuraresults.nic.in, once released. The exams were conducted from March 6 to April 10 at around 51 centres across the country. In case if one is unable to open the above listed website due to heavy traffic, he/she can also check the same at other partner websites such as tripurainfo.com, tripurachronicle.in, exametc.com, indiaresults.com, examresults.net, innovaindia.com, knowyourresults.com. The results will also be available via SMS. The candidates have to type TBSE12 then space and then type the roll number and send it to 54242. This year, the assembly election of Tripura affected the board examination. The examinations of the Class 10 language papers, Bengali, Hindi and Mizo were shifted from March 9 to 10. In 2017, the Board declared the results on June 6 for 23,000 students who have appeared for the examinations. TBSE 10th Madhyamik Result 2018: Date and Time The Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) will release the Madhyamil result today on June 12. The result declaration time is 9:30 am. Earlier, the board declared the results of class 12 Science examination on May 22 at 9 am. A total of 2803 students have cleared the examination successfully, which were conducted from March 8 to April 11 at various centres across the country.

The Innocents Season 1 Episode 1 Recap Netflix’s The Innocents season 1 is here with 8 episodes. Come along with us as we recap this season and find out what Netflix’s new supernatural teen romance series is all about. “Please Don’t Do This” The opening scene of the show sets up a lot of questions. Dr. Ben Halvorson chased a scruffy-looking man through the woods who stopped at the edge of a cliff. The man had flashes of a blonde woman screaming and a child. Halvorson pulled him back from the edge and suddenly we were in the middle of a strange interrogation. Halvorson and the scruffy man spoke with glass between them. Strangely, the scruffy man was also sitting behind Halvorson in a trance. Furthermore, a blonde woman was reflected in a mirror where the speaking scruffy man sat. Eventually, it became evident that the blonde woman, Runa, had taken the form of the scruffy man, Steinar, who worked with Halvorson. Runa was the one who almost jumped off the cliff. Harry and June June lived with her father and brother. Her brother Ryan lived separately and in seclusion, seemingly self-imposed because of a deformity. Her father gave her sedatives with breakfast and controlled every aspect of her life. She wrote secret love letters to Harry, whose father appeared to have dementia. June and Harry planned to run away from their families and start a new life. June’s father was going to take her and her brother Ryan to live in Scotland the next day, on her birthday. Harry traded his father’s wedding band and some cash for a car. A New Family It seemed that Halvorson was in charge of a community of women called Sanctum, which included Runa and June’s lost mother, Elena. Elena tried to open up to another woman, but Runa shut her down. “Our secrets contain our triggers”, Runa warned. At this point, we’re assuming Sanctum was a place for people who can shapeshift like Runa. Sweet Sixteen That night, June and Harry left in the car and celebrated their freedom. However, they came across a man whose van was broken down. Harry got out to help with the engine. When June got out too, Steinar appeared out of the back of the van. He said that her mother had sent him and urged her to come with him. Harry saw him take out a syringe to sedate June, and he fought with Steinar and the van driver. Some blows from a lug wrench brought Steinar to the ground, and the other man drove off in the van. Harry and June moved Steinar’s body and checked into a motel. Harry was convinced he had murdered Steinar. When they went to bed, June left to go back to where Steinar was. She wanted to check if he was really dead. Soon, we saw Steinar stumble into a women’s restroom. He marched over to the motel. Harry answered the door and was alarmed, especially when Steinar grabbed him. But Steinar pulled the two of them to look at a mirror, revealing June had shapeshifted into Steinar. The real Steinar was back in the woods, naked among June’s clothes. What did you think about The Innocents season 1 episode 1? Let us know in the comments below!<doc-sep>Percelle Ascott and Sorcha Groundsell in 'The Innocents' Aimee Spinks/Netflix Netflix’s latest TV original, The Innocents, is probably unlike anything you’ve ever watched. Sure, it has the feel of certain shows that came before it—the international procedural flair of Happy Valley or Broadchurch and the sci-fi influence of any number of the streaming service’s genre shows—but it’s a creation wholly its own. It blends a YA romance with supernatural genre tropes, resulting in eight episodes that will keep you guessing, and rooting for the young couple at the show’s center, until the very end. The setup is simple, though the show is far from it. As Harry (Percelle Ascot) and June (Sorcha Groundsell) run away together through Great Britain while escaping the confines of June’s restrictive father and Harry’s life caring for an ailing parent, the two discover that June has the power to shapeshift. That is, through skin-to-skin contact, she can take on the forms of other people. They have no idea how it works, but what they do know is that it’s not just their parents looking for them. They’re also being stalked by a menacing, hulking man named Steinar (Jóhannes Hauker Jóhannesson), who in turn works for a doctor with mysterious motivations named Halvorson (Guy Pearce). He runs a secluded retreat where he purports to “cure” shapeshifters of their disease. As the two learn more about June’s condition, her mother who vanished years ago, and the men chasing them, their romance and understanding of the world is challenged again and again. Ahead of The Innocents dropping on Netflix on Friday, we caught up with the show’s creators and writers, newcomers Hania Elkington and Simon Duric—the latter a storyboard artist for Star Wars: The Force Awakens—to chat about genre storytelling, creating complicated characters, and their vision for The Innocents, which melds all of their favorite things while exploring themes of identity and self-discovery. GROK NATION: Tell us a little bit about the seeds of The Innocents: How did it come to be? HANIA ELKINGTON: Simon and I have pretty different tastes. Simon is very keen on intelligent genre, quite muscular storytelling. I really like community shows, families that keep secrets, that kind of stuff. We realized there was this space where we could create a world that would be quite an unusual hybrid of tones. When we started talking about shapeshifters and combined it with a young love story, that’s exactly what happened. GN: After watching the trailer and then digging into the episodes, I was surprised by how much the teen relationship becomes a large focus, with the sci-fi mystery filtering through their story of love and connection. Is that tricky to balance the need to reveal enough about the mystery while also making sure people are invested in the romance between June and Harry? HE: It was always crucial for us to put that love story front and center, to go through the journey with them, see it through their eyes, and come out with them at the end. I think we use the supernatural element as a lens on that relationship, to really explode the stakes and the dramatic situations. SIMON DURIC: The best sorts of genre shows and movies do it the same way: They make you care about the people in it first and foremost. The genre stuff, whether it’s sci-fi or horror or whatever, is obviously an important part, but it has to be secondary to the characters. GN: And yet, despite the young romance at the center, it’s not really a “teen” show. The Innocents has a broad appeal. HE: For us, we wanted to take the premise of falling in love, finding out who you are—what will you do for love?—and make it relevant to every character, whether what they’re doing seems to be good or bad. We wanted to address really universal themes in terms of identity and love and sacrifice, and look at them through a prism of very different characters. I hope that means it doesn’t just appeal to a YA audience, but also fans of genre, family drama, Scandi-noir, or whatever it might be. GN: What surprised me along the way was how you played in the gray areas with a lot of the characters. In your typical YA show, you’re expecting June’s dad to be this abusive monster, or Harry’s mother to be hiding dark secrets. You tease it a bit in the first episode, but then move away from that and show these are all people with complicated emotions and motivations. HE: No one really presents a genuine threat unless what they want is understandable and emotionally feels relatable. If somebody wants to save their child, I fear that person more because they’ll go to extra dark and devious lengths. So, what would you do for your family, for the person you love most in the world? These are questions that create great heroes, and great antagonists. So for each of our characters, it was important to us to give them a developed emotional storyline rather than just be— SD: —just “bad” or “good.” GN: Can it be hard to keep those characters in a sort of moral middle ground as you’re pushing them into situations where they do terrible things and perhaps their motivations are more sinister? SD: The very best villains are neither good or bad; they just believe 100 percent in what they’re doing. So when we were writing these characters, we understood why they were doing what they were doing. I don’t think we ever felt the need to push them to the bad end or good end of the scale. We just have to make sure that character is following what they wanted from the beginning of the series. HE: I think if you ask anyone—a character or a person in the real world—”Are you a bad guy?”, no one’s going to say yes. In their world, they’re the good guy. So there’s no point in writing anyone as a villain.<doc-sep>This supernatural take on growing pains reaches beyond mere teenage angst and rebellion. As doomed romances go, “Romeo & Juliet” is the pinnacle of young love, outsized emotions, and disastrous decision-making. What often falls by the wayside, however, is the part that the adults play in creating the conditions for the inevitable tragedy. Netflix’s “The Innocents” highlights this side of the conflict and how the central teenage lovebirds inherit the mess that their elders have made, often in the name of a horribly misguided love. June (Sorcha Groundsell) leads a sheltered, claustrophobic existence thanks to her controlling dad John (Sam Hazeldine), who keeps her from having any sort of life outside of her classes and caring for her agoraphobic brother Ryan (Arthur Hughes). But on the eve of her 16th birthday — the day that John plans to move the family to a remote island even further removed from people — she and her secret boyfriend Harry (Percelle Ascott) run away together to London. Read More: ‘The Innocents’ Sneak Peek: In Netflix’s Sci-Fi Series, Shape-Shifting Is the Ultimate Teen Angst — Watch “The Innocents” revels in its emotions like a feline smearing itself in catnip. The righteousness of teenage rebellion and joy in sudden freedom are palpable and almost too earnest to bear. And so too is the horrified misery when the twist is revealed: June is a shapeshifter who takes on the form of the person who touches her when she’s triggered. Those meds that her father made her take weren’t for epilepsy, but to repress whatever emotion provokes the transformation. And keeping her under lock and key was for the good of others as well as herself. Aimee Spinks / Netflix Of course, the young lovers have no clue what is happening other than the fact that June is somehow inside the bearded Nordic man named Steinar (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson) who had just tried to kidnap her earlier while they were on the road. The situation creates some incongruous visual moments as this rough-looking, hirsute fellow reacts like a scared, lovestruck teenager. But just as suddenly, June is herself again, and Steinar’s body wakes from its catatonic state. Supernatural transformations have long been used to amplify the confusion of adolescent growing pains. “Teen Wolf” is the ultimate example of puberty run amok, with all of that unwanted hair sprouting out of the blue. On “The Innocents,” June’s unusual condition could represent her exploration of self and establishing her own identity. Without her jailor, the princess in the tower only has herself to blame for her actions. June is not alone in her strange condition though, and over in Norway, Ben Halvorsen (Guy Pearce) leads a commune/laboratory called Sanctum in which he’s seeking a cure or at least treatment for the shifting. Serene, gorgeous shots of fjords create a tonal contrast to the unrelieving emotions of shapeshifters trying their best to control themselves: Everyone walks around wrapped in wooly sweaters as if to create a barrier to trap their problematic feelings. Read More: ‘Harlots’ Review: Liv Tyler Joins the Cast for a Heartbreaking Season 2 Filled With Horrifying Machinations Between London and Sanctum, the mechanism of shifting is explained to a certain extent. While it doesn’t really make much sense, it doesn’t really matter all that much either. What’s more important is the fact that shapeshifting is not a solitary act, and therefore, not one without moral and ethical consequences. This, of course, could be seen as an indictment of how people without the shapeshifting ability hurt themselves and each other. The cycle of trauma repeats as the secrets from Harry’s family, June’s parents, Sanctum, and a dormant police investigation are revealed. Richard Hanson / Netflix As it is, “The Innocents” is the very height of delicious, meaty melodrama that’s served up by stunning performances. Groundsell is like a luminous, tragic Tara Lipinski as she unwraps each appalling mystery, and yet holds every scene together. Pearce, presented initially as a mild-mannered professor, makes a meal of the last few episodes, chewing that Nordic scenery as if it were a tough day-old bagel. And Ingunn Beate Øyen as Runa is mesmerizing as she meets Pearce’s energy and turns it into heartbreaking calamity. “The Innocents” is a chaotic yet entertaining ride, as the identity switcheroos have viewers playing voyeur to often inappropriate situations, keeping them guessing as to whose skin is being worn in each scene. It’s as messy as all of the emotions at play, and yet the eight episodes are densely packed with very little extraneous storytelling. At times, this lack of establishing a sense of place and motivation makes the series feel unmoored, but the action moves along rapidly all the way up to its last-minute sick twist. Grade: B- ”The Innocents” is currently streaming on Netflix. Check back for more coverage of “The Innocents” on IndieWire. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.<doc-sep>The two story lines converge almost immediately, and June and Harry’s flight — which carries them to London and then off across the North Sea — becomes a season-long quest to figure out what’s wrong with her. The audience is on that same quest, because “The Innocents,” for this season anyway, is one of the myriad ration-out-the-clues past-tense mysteries — as with “Westworld,” say, or “Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger,” it’s less about what’s happening now than about what happened then. Much of the story is a slow buildup to some key flashbacks that take six or seven episodes to arrive. Though build isn’t quite the right word. The story spins in place, with people chasing each other around in scenes and episodes that amount to stall tactics, until it’s finally time to bring everyone together for the answers. The show’s creators and primary writers, Hania Elkington and Simon Duric, are new to the showrunning game — he’s a longtime storyboard artist producing his first series, and she’s a writer of short stories and hot but unproduced screenplays who’s also bringing her first project to the screen. On the evidence of “The Innocents,” neither of them yet knows or cares much about how to establish character through action. With the exception of the brave and impossibly noble Harry (Mr. Ascott gives the show’s most touching performance), people define themselves through talk, talk, talk, and the story isn’t developed so much as uncovered. Ms. Elkington and Mr. Duric could also be a little more rigorous when it comes to narrative contrivances. One aspect of the shape-shifting premise — that shifters still look like themselves in mirrors or other reflections — is central to the plot but never explained, and feels like an irritating storytelling shortcut. (It’s also awfully convenient that Harry’s mother is a detective with a cold case that connects her to June’s family.)<doc-sep>

Netflix’s latest YA TV series, The Innocents, is out today. The eight-episode show that features Guy Pearce follows a young girl, June, who escapes her oppressive family with her secret boyfriend, Harry, only to discover she has supernatural abilities. The show was created by screenwriters Haina Elkington and Simon Duric, the latter of which worked as a storyboard artist on shows like McMafia, Black Mirror and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Guy Pearce attends a special screening of "The Innocents" at The Curzon Mayfair in London It fills the young adult gap currently left by other Netflix shows such as 13 Reasons Why and Stranger Things, both of which return in 2019. Elkington described the supernatural element of the show, June’s shapeshifting powers, as the perfect device through which to explore the tribulations of being a teenager. ‘Your body is changing, you're trying to figure out who you are,’ she told BBC News. ‘Some elements of your emerging personality or psyche might frighten you or feel disconnected from you, so it's about self-acceptance, it's about unconditional love for another person, and shapeshifting seemed a very good way to explore that.’ Co-creator Duric added: ‘Shapeshifting hadn't been explored, and I'm a bit of a genre hound, and I thought 'oh, there's a gap here.’ Here is all you need to know about The Innocents including what is the show about, when is it released and who's in the cast. Watch The Innocents trailer here Netflix released the first trailer for the show back in April 2018, and it has been viewed over half a million times. The Innocents plot The show follows Harry and June, a teenage couple who escape their oppressive lives to live together. However, things are complicated when June begins to exhibit supernatural abilities including shapeshifting. As the trailer implies, June’s mother, who seemingly abandoned her family three years prior, has similar abilities. The answers to what is happening to June, and more importantly why, appear to lie with Guy Pearce’s professor called Halvorson. The show will certainly rock a strong Nordic feel, where some of the show was filmed. The overall tone of The Innocents appears to lean on bleak scenery, with other set locations including Yorkshire and remote areas of Scotland. The shapeshifting premise of the show is based on the Norse mythology of the Berserkers, Norse warriors who would enter such a trance-like state of pure rage during battle that they would shapeshift into the form of a bear. The official Netflix plot for the show reads: ‘June's adventure starting a new life in London becomes a LOT more complicated than she could have ever expected. 'Suddenly she finds herself the subject of a kidnap plot, their intentions unknown. Faced with extreme stress her body and identity begin to shift in ways she could have never imagined. The question is not just how...but why?’ When is it released on Netflix? The Innocents is released on Netflix on August 24. All eight episodes will be released at the same time. Who’s in the cast? Newcomer Sorcha Groundsell plays June, the teen who escapes with her boyfriend, only to discover she has a supernatural ability she can’t control. Groundsell quit school in Glasgow to pursue acting at the age of 16. She moved to London two years later and appeared in the BBC show Clique and indie film Iona. Groundsell recalls that her audition for The Innocents did not go as planned, telling British Vogue she ‘completely tanked it’ and didn’t hear back from the production for weeks. Percelle Ascott, Sorcha Groundsell and Guy Pearce play the main characters on The Innocents However, three months later she was invited back for a chemistry test with Percelle Ascott. According to producer Elaine Pyke, Groundsell was the penultimate actress they auditioned. Ascott plays June’s boyfriend Harry, who escapes their community with her. Ascott is most famous for his role on the CBBC series Wizards vs Aliens, as well as appearances on shows such as Silent Witness and Doctors. Like Groundsell, this is Ascott’s first lead role. Guy Pearce is the most high-profile actor working on the series. Pearce, who go this big break on Australian soap Neighbours, plays Halvorson, a man who may have the answers to what’s happening to June. Other cast-members include Laura Birn, Hohannes Haukur Johannesson, Sam Hazeldine and Lise Risom Olsen.

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 21: Greg Bird #33 of the New York Yankees celebrates scoring a run against the New York Mets in the fourth inning during their game at Yankee Stadium on July 21, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) We’re just three days away from Opening Day and the Yankees 25-man roster appears to be set. Due to the injury to Aaron Hicks, there are some surprise additions to the roster with the most notable being newly acquired outfield Mike Tauchman. On Sunday the Yankees played their final game of Grapefruit League play and before the game, they made their final roster cut of the spring. Just a day after the team acquired Mike Tauchman from the Rockies in exchange for LHP Phillip Diehl the team optioned utility OF/IF Tyler Wade to Triple-A. The news was somewhat surprising considering Wade had enjoyed a really good spring and after the injury to Hicks and the demotion of Clint Frazier, he seemed like a safe bet to make the team. However, since Wade is still relatively new to playing center field the Yankees opted to go with Tauchman for that fourth outfield spot. The lefty-hitting Tauchman is coming off a great season with the Rockies Triple-A club where he hit .323 with 20 HR and 81 RBi in the Pacific Coast League. He’s been blocked from playing with the Rockies at the big league level in recent years so he was expendable and the Yankees gave up a promising young relief prospect to get him. He can play all three outfield positions and is a career .304 minor league hitter but at 28 years old he’s never been given an extended look at the big league level. He might not get that opportunity with the Yanks but clearly, they see something in him. His situation seems similar to Luke Voit’s when he was with the Cardinals before the Yanks acquired him prior to last year’s trade deadline. Hopefully, he can turn out to be another diamond in the rough. As for the rest of the roster, Tauchman and Voit will be joined by Greg Bird who certainly earned his spot with another terrific spring. We’ll have to wait and see who will get the nod to start at first this Thursday, but it’s safe to assume that until Hicks return Bird and Voit are both going to get a lot of playing time. I think since Bird is the better defender he’ll see more time at first while Voit will be the DH with Giancarlo Stanton set to begin the year as the primary left-fielder. On the pitching side, the final bullpen spots will go to Luis Cessa and Stephen Tarpley. They both had excellent springs themselves and with Dellin Betances also set to start the year on the IL it opened up another spot on the roster. In what was a make or break spring for Cessa he led the team in innings with 17 and pitched to an outstanding ERA of 0.63. Tarpley, on the other hand, didn’t allow a single run in 11.1 IP and should serve a valuable role this year as a left-handed specialist. Even though CC Sabathia was expected to start the season on the injured list he was included on the roster but only to serve his five-game suspension to start the year. Once that’s up he will go to the IL and top prospect Jonathan Loaisiga will take his spot. Domingo German also made the club and will be the team’s fourth starter in the rotation. German will get a long look to make a strong impression with Luis Severino out until the beginning of May at the earliest. If he or Loaisiga struggle early on there’s a good chance we could see recently signed veteran Gio Gonzalez take one of their rotation spots. All together the Yankees will carry 13 pitchers and 12 position players with a three-man bench of Austin Romine, D.J. LeMahieu and Tauchman. The Yanks obviously won’t be at full strength to begin the season, but the roster they have set is still more than good enough to help them get off to a strong start in April.<doc-sep>TAMPA, Fla. — Injuries paved the way for unexpected players to make the Yankees’ season-opening roster, which was decided on Sunday. Although most of the decisions were not surprising, Manager Aaron Boone at the very least provided some clarity as to how the team will look in the early going. FIRST BASE Once locked in a battle for the starting job, Luke Voit and Greg Bird will both be on the team because of a lingering back injury to center fielder Aaron Hicks, who has not played in more than three weeks. On any given day that Voit or Bird plays first base, the other could be the designated hitter. INFIELD/OUTFIELD Brett Gardner will be in center field, with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton on each side. Aside from first base, the infield will be second baseman Gleyber Torres, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and third baseman Miguel Andujar — with Gary Sanchez at catcher.<doc-sep>TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 21: Stephen Tarpley #71 of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during the New York Yankees Photo Day on February 21, 2019 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) As voted on by Yankees beat reporters, 26-year-old left-handed reliever Stephen Tarpley was named the team’s best rookie during Spring Training. Yankees relief pitcher Stephen Tarpley first popped up on our radar last September when he was promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and proceeded to appear in 10 games (nine innings) while allowing six hits, three runs and 13 strikeouts. Though the third round pick by the Orioles back in 2013 did walk six batters during the final month of the regular season, his calm demeanor and ability to challenge hitters from the first pitch impressed the Yanks enough to carry him on the Postseason roster. Struggling mightily in his lone appearance against the Red Sox in the ALDS (three runs on four hits in one inning of work) only motivated the USC product to enter Spring Training with an even more dedicated approach. And boy did Tarpley proceed to get the job done. Across 10 contests (11.1 innings — one start), the man acquired from the Pirates in August 2016 for Ivan Nova, was almost perfect, not allowing a run while striking out eight and walking just one. Tarpley, the only Yankee this spring to toss 10+ scoreless innings was rightfully awarded the 2019 James P. Dawson Award as the best rookie in camp. Recent recipients include Miguel Andujar last season, Gleyber Torres in 2017 and Masahiro Tanaka in 2014. Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke glowingly about Tarpley, telling Kristie Ackert of the NY Daily News that Tarpley first opened his eyes last year during the middle part of the minor league season. “He came up and showed us something and I think this spring I know the numbers were great, but I feel like he’s got a chance to really help us short term, but long term as well. He’s a guy who has a chance to be another guy who can get both hands out, potentially who can be more than a one-inning guy. He came into camp and performed, vying for a spot… I am very happy for him.” With Dellin Betances out for at least the first two weeks of the season due to an impingement in his right shoulder, Tarpley will look to continue his hot streak and keep his spot in the bullpen even after Betances’ return.<doc-sep>

Just days away from regular-season baseball, it seems the New York Yankees have put together their official 25-man Opening Day roster. The #Yankees Opening Day roster appears to be set: SP (5): Tanaka Paxton Happ German Sabathia* RP (8): Chapman Britton Green Holder Kahnle Ottavino Tarpley Cessa C (2): Sanchez Romine IF (6): Andujar Bird LeMahieu Torres Tulowitzki Voit OF (4): Gardner Judge Stanton Tauchman — Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 24, 2019 The New York Yankees have seemingly completed all their roster moves after optioning Tyler Wade to triple-AAA and Bryan Hoch shared the lineup the team will likely begin the season with. The first thing to note is the inclusion of newly acquired Mike Tauchman instead of homegrown Wade. Most fans, myself included, thought Wade was an absolute lock due to his speed and defensive versatility. Further, Wade had a fantastic spring offensively working with a simplified swing and regular at-bats. Unfortunately, the team felt more comfortable going with Tauchman because of his ability to play all three outfield positions. The team also decided to carry both Luke Voit and Greg Bird to start the season. First base was the only competition that carried throughout the entirety of spring training. Both Voit and Bird were so good that it was absolutely impossible to send one of them down. Voit and Bird will likely split time between first base and DH until one of them starts to struggle. As for pitchers, Domingo German earned a spot in the rotation as Jonathan Loaisiga will start the year in Triple-A. An injured CC Sabathia will be on the roster due to the five-game suspension he received in 2018. His spot will likely go to recently acquired Gio Gonzalez until Sabathia is healthy. Tommy Kahnle is back in the bullpen after struggling in 2018 and losing a lot of velocity due to pitching through injury. Joining him in the middle innings are Luis Cessa and Stephen Tarpley, both of whom had incredible springs and will look to keep the momentum rolling into the regular season. In conclusion, the only real surprise here is that Tauchman will take the last spot on the bench rather than Tyler Wade. Cessa will work out of the bullpen but could receive some spot starts if the Yankees try bullpenning in the regular season. Voit and Bird will continue to battle until one of them emerges victorious. The loser of that battle will likely be sent down to triple-A and replaced with another reliever.

The airline said in a statement that the Boeing 737 aircraft took off from Trichy airport in southern India early on Friday when airport officials "observed that aircraft might have come in contact with the airport perimeter wall".<doc-sep>An Air India aircraft was damaged after hitting an airport wall during takeoff on a flight from Trichy to Dubai on Friday, according to the BBC and CNN. The Boeing 737 aircraft (Flight IX 611), which was carrying 130 passengers and six crew members, landed safely after being diverted to Mumbai. Photos posted on social media showed the plane with a shredded underbelly. And the wall appeared to have taken a beating too. Air India told the news sites that the two pilots have been grounded, pending investigation, but they have more than 6,500 hours of flying experience between them. No injuries to passengers or crew members were reported. Details on the extent of the damage to the aircraft is unclear. USA TODAY has reached out to Air India for comment. More:Woman kicked off flight over emotional support squirrel speaks out: 'You will not take my baby from me' More:Southwest removes 'unruly' passenger from plane for yelling N-word at flight attendant<doc-sep>Two wheels of an Air India Express flight hit a wall at the Trichy airport. A Dubai-bound Air India plane flew for three hours with extensive damage to its body after hitting a wall during take-off from Trichy in Tamil Nadu late last night. The pilots, apparently unaware of the damage to the Boeing 737 aircraft, reported that "all systems were functioning normally", but the flight was diverted to Mumbai anyway as precaution. It turned out to be a "very, very close shave" for with 136 passengers and crew members. It was only when the plane landed in Mumbai early this morning that it was found that its fuselage or body was practically "shredded". The plane could even be a write-off. The pilots have been grounded for an investigation. A little after 1.30 am last night, the plane hurtled down the Trichy airport runway at a speed of 250-290 km per hour and nicked the boundary wall before it was up in the air. The wheels of the Air India Express aircraft hit a wall of the Trichy airport. Two of its wheels hit the airport perimeter wall, which collapsed on impact, officials said. The Air Traffic Control then contacted the pilots that the aircraft "might have come in contact" with the airport perimeter wall. "The pilot in command reported that the aircraft systems were operating normally," said Air India Express in a statement. But it was decided that the plane, which had "climbed to cruising altitude" on its way to Dubai, would be diverted to Mumbai as precaution. The plane landed in Mumbai around 5.35 am and taxied to the parking stand. All 130 passengers and six crew members were safe. The belly of the Air India Express aircraft was damaged it the Trichy airport wall. But officials soon found that the plane's body had tears, cracks and dents that were potentially very dangerous. Images show incredible damage to the belly. Broken parts of the plane's antenna were found on the ground at the Trichy airport, an officer said. "They scraped the underbelly, had it been a bit lower, that would have been the end," a pilot -not from the flight - said. Another flight was arranged to take the passengers from Mumbai to Dubai. The pilot and the co-pilot have been taken off the roster, the airline said, detailing its pilots' flying record. "The pilot in command was Captain D. Ganesh Babu, who has a flying experience on the B 737 aircraft of 3600 hours, including about 500 hours as commander. The First Officer was Captain Anurag who has an experience of about 3000 hours on the B 737," said its statement. The Air India aircraft's fuselage or body was found to be be "shredded". The aviation watchdog will investigate what happened. "The plane appears to have overshot the runway. We will soon replace the ILS (Instrumentation Landing System) antenna," an official of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation told NDTV. Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said he had ordered a private company to look into safety at Air India in a recent review. He said he had also ordered a regular "safety compliance report" of all airlines. "Growth can't be at the expense of safety," the minister tweeted.<doc-sep>MUMBAI: An Air India Express Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 136 people on board hit a ground-based antenna and then the perimeter wall of Trichy airport during takeoff on Friday morning. The passengers had a miraculous escape as for close to four hours, the Boeing 737 stayed airborne cruising its way to Dubai at 36,000 feet with a portion of its underbelly lacerated and exposed.Sources said some 30-40 minutes after departure, Bangalore's air traffic control (ATC) was informed by its Trichy counterparts about the damaged airport wall. "It was conveyed to the pilots. Then the Mumbai ATC , too, informed them twice. The pilots reported that the aircraft systems were operating normally and decided to continue with the flight," said a source.The standard operating procedure is to return to the airport as soon as possible. "It was not until the Air India flight operations department asked them to divert and land in Mumbai that they turned back," said the source.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has begun a preliminary inquiry while the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will carry out an in depth inquiry. There is no cockpit voice recorder (CVR) data, though, on what transpired between the pilots during take off.The eight-year-old Boeing 737 (VT-AYD) operating the Trichy-Dubai flight IX611 took off at 1.18am. "It was very low and hit the localiser antenna," said a source.That is unlikely to have peeled off the aircraft underbelly. International Civil Aviation Organisation guidelines specify that the antenna has to be frangible or fragile enough to not impact an aircraft that might fly into it.The Boeing 737 then hit the upper portion of the airport perimeter wall, located about 50 feet beyond the localiser. Mohan Ranganathan, an air safety expert said,"The aircraft should not have been less than 100 feet when passing the antenna." The localiser antenna is not more than five to six feet high. "It is unlikely that the pilots didn't realise that the aircraft had hit something," he added. Post landing, the aircraft undercarriage was found to be covered with the green wire mesh installed on top of the perimeter wall.About 30 minutes into departure, the Bangalore ATC were informed by their Trichy counterparts about the mishap, which, in turn, informed the pilots, said a source. The pilots decided to continue. Then the Mumbai ATC informed them twice, at 2.30am and then at 3.30am. The aircraft was en route over the Arabian sea about 900km west of Mumbai, in the Muscat airspace, when it was finally diverted.An AIX spokesperson said, "Trichy airport officials observed that the aircraft might have come in contact with the airport wall. The matter was conveyed to the pilot in command, who reported that the aircraft systems were operating normally. It was decided to divert the aircraft to Mumbai as a precautionary measure. "Both the pilots have been derostered. The pilot in command has 3,600 hours of flying experience on the Boeing 737, including 500 hours as a commander and the first officer has about 3000 hours of experience on the Boeing 737. A pilot can fly a maximum of 1,000 hours in a year.<doc-sep>

Air India is "cooperating with the investigation" after one of its planes was damaged during takeoff. (CNN) — An Air India Boeing 737 aircraft was damaged after hitting an airport wall during takeoff on a flight from Trichy to Dubai on Friday. Flight IX 611, which was carrying 130 passengers and six crew members, took off from the south Indian city at approximately 1:30 a.m., but was diverted to Mumbai. Air India said the plane, which was operated by its low-cost wing, Air India Express, landed safely but two pilots have been grounded. India’s national carrier said in a statement that airport officials at Trichy, in Tamil Nadu, observed that the aircraft “might have come in contact with the airport perimeter wall.” “It was decided to divert the aircraft to Mumbai as a precautionary measure,” the statement added. A spokesperson for Air India told CNN that the plane was damaged but did not give any details. Air India says it has reported the crash to the aviation regulator and is “cooperating with the investigation.” The incident comes weeks after a Jet Airways flight from Mumbai to Jaipur was forced to turn back after around 30 passengers complained of nose and ear bleeds due to low pressure in the cabin. An official with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) told CNN affiliate CNN News 18 that the crew allegedly forgot to press a button to pressurize the cabin. The government put Air India on the auction block last year, but it failed to attract buyers.

The performance of "Shallow" is stripped down, which might not have been what fans were expecting from the Awards bait blockbuster. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper has teased their plans for the performance, and their cryptic comments could have heralded in just about anything from the dynamic duo. But instead of going for high production value, Cooper and Gaga simply ascended the Oscars stage from the first row, took their places, and sang to each other.<doc-sep>The 2019 Academy Awards are over, but we're going to prolong Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's Oscar moments for as long as possible. Here, we're looking back at the A Star Is Born duo's highlights from the ceremony, from their behind-the-scenes bonding to their intimate performance of "Shallow," and beyond.<doc-sep>Mel B really, really, really wanted to forget about that electrifying performance between Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper at the Oscars. Gaga and Cooper sent fans and celebrities into a frenzy Sunday night after they sang “Shallow” together and shared steamy chemistry throughout the performance. Toward the end, Cooper, 44, moved to the piano bench to sit very close to the 32-year-old singer. They belted out the last line with their eyes closed and heads touching. Following the performance, they looked intensely into each other’s eyes as the audience roared. Mel B wasn't cheering. The “Spice Girl” singer said on “Good Morning Britain” on Monday that she felt “very uncomfortable” for Cooper’s girlfriend, Irina Shayk, who was sitting in the front row during the “A Star Is Born” co-stars' intense performance, Us Magazine reported. “I felt so uncomfortable for Bradley’s girlfriend, oh my gosh,” Mel B said on Monday. “I would like to think it was part of the whole performance, because there’s a women’s code and hopefully that’s not…hopefully, it’s only professional.” LADY GAGA, BRADLEY COOPER'S 'HOT' OSCARS PERFORMANCE LEAVES TWITTER, TIFFANY HADDISH DROOLING Morning show host Piers Morgan agreed with the singer, adding that Cooper and Gaga shared a “look of love.” He said Gaga, who recently ended her engagement to fiancé Christian Carino, crossed “a few lines” with the look she gave Cooper, Us reported. Despite the Spice Girl's disapproval, fans praised the passionate performance and some people even wanted Gaga and Cooper to share kiss — but the co-stars smiled and hugged before standing up hand-in-hand bowing. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP While some speculated that Cooper's longtime girlfriend — and mother of his daughter — would be miffed, it was the opposite: Shayk, 33, was seen giving Gaga a huge hug during the show. A rep confirmed last week that Gaga and Carino called off their engagement. The singer first sparked split rumors when she was spotted not wearing her engagement ring at the Grammys. Fox News' Jessica Sager contributed to this report.<doc-sep>Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s Oscars performance of future karaoke mainstay and 2019 Best Original Song winner “Shallow,” the breakout hit from A Star Is Born, was suitably outsized. The 2019 Oscars winner for Best Original Song, “Shallow,” is maybe the best thing about A Star Is Born, but its prominence in the movie’s trailers immediately earned meme status. It’s a legitimately great song, of course, and Lady Gaga in particular sounds fantastic. But it’s also a song designed for a diva, and to a diva it belongs. Not only is Lady Gaga a diva, but Bradley Cooper is her smitten admirer. “Shallow” is an electric song for us in the audience, to be sure, but Cooper and Gaga’s performance felt almost like a prelude to something even more romantic. Perfectly channeling their A Star Is Born characters, a pair of doomed lovers, Gaga and Cooper are all over each other in this performance. It’s almost like an onstage recreation of the movie, with “Shallow” the tune that soundtracks the ebbs and flows of their relationship. If Cooper had somehow decided to propose to Gaga at the end of this song, well, we would not have been surprised. Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper perform Shallow at the #Oscars pic.twitter.com/smGbGzVKDO — Lady Gaga Now (@LadyGagaNowNet) February 25, 2019 And in appropriate fashion, Gaga gave a rousing, tearful speech when she received the trophy for Best Original Song. “If you are at home, and you’re sitting on your couch and you are watching this right now, all I have to say is that this is hard work,” she said. “I’ve worked hard for a long time, and it’s not about winning. What it’s about is not giving up. If you have a dream, fight for it. It’s about discipline, over passion, and it’s not about how many time you get rejected or you fall down or you’re beaten up. It’s about how many times you stand up and are brave and keep on going.” A Star Is Born is up for numerous awards tonight. Along with winning Best Original Song, the film is nominated for Best Picture and Best Actress, for Lady Gaga’s performance as the titular star. It’s the latest remake of the classic Hollywood story of a man and woman whose relationship is torn asunder by the woman’s rising fame, in contrast to the man’s fading star. Bradley Cooper, who sang “Shallow” with Lady Gaga both in the film and during the Oscars performance, both co-starred and directed the movie. Although critical acclaim has cooled since the film’s theatrical release in October, A Star Is Born has won commercial success. Despite that, however, A Star Is Born went from a surefire Best Picture contender to a reluctant nominee besieged by criticisms over its portrayal of mental health, consent, and the male-female dynamic between an established star and an ingenue.<doc-sep>

We all know that A Star Is Born co-stars Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga have chemistry, but at the 2019 Oscars on Sunday, their intimate performance of “Shallow” — the movie’s hit duet, which picked up an Academy Award for Best Original Song — was more than any of us were expecting. The song started with a mesmerizing cold open after Cooper and Gaga walked up to the stage from the audience (because by now, “Shallow” needs no introduction), and ended with the pair staring soulfully at each other. In the middle of our previously scheduled Oscar night to-dos — a host-free show for the first time in 30 years, a disappointing Best Picture win, several milestones reached, and red-carpet fashion — not even the fierce fandom for A Star Is Born was prepared for Gaga and Cooper to drape themselves lovingly across a piano bench and gaze into one another’s eyes. It might be the closest the Oscars have ever gotten to “horny on main.” The social media reaction was swift. Pizza is the only thing I’ve ever looked at with this much passion. #oscars pic.twitter.com/NXuhrfQurL — Jezza M (@JezzaMxwll) February 25, 2019 And the Oscar for “Best Intercourse, Sung” goes to pic.twitter.com/5QTK4Bd3Qx — Ben Boskovich (@benbosk) February 25, 2019 Speculation ran rampant among onlookers that the pair’s onscreen chemistry might be an offstage thing as well. The Oscar for convincing me they’re having a real life affair goes too.... #oscars pic.twitter.com/Rr2dzJv70f — Ashley Clements (@TheAshleyClem) February 25, 2019 One observant viewer even snuck in a comparison to beloved Canadian ice dancers Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue, the not-actually-a-couple who were the subject of similar shipping during the 2018 Winter Olympics. "Gaga and Bradley are the Virtue and Moir of this year" -a real thing i just thought to myself, i'm so sorry pic.twitter.com/KKE3E0dUGw — Kate Halliwell (@katehalliwell) February 25, 2019 But eventually, everyone caught their collective breaths. And then came the memes. when your Postmate doesn't make you come downstairs to pick it up pic.twitter.com/1zs4Ep63FN — Sam Lansky (@samlansky) February 25, 2019 It’s a fitting end to A Star Is Born’s moment of cultural dominance that it should finish off its awards season run by creating a social media flurry. From the moment the first trailer dropped in June, A Star Is Born was one of the buzziest films of 2018; it drew a huge fandom and generated plenty of memes well before it hit theaters in October. And it’s easy to see why: Despite the movie’s ultimately mixed critical reception, A Star Is Born completely revolved around the chemistry between its two stars. And on Oscar night, they reminded us all once again just how palpable and vibrant that chemistry was.

London (CNN) US President Donald Trump has wrongly claimed that Britain's Queen Elizabeth II reviewed her honor guard for the first time in 70 years during his visit to the United Kingdom last week. Trump made the claim Tuesday as he read from a prepared statement at the White House in an attempt to rebuff fierce criticism over his comments at a news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, a day earlier. "We met with the Queen, who is absolutely a terrific person, where she reviewed her honor guard for the first time in 70 years, they tell me," Trump said, without specifying who "they" were. "We walked in front of the Honor Guard, and that was very inspiring to see and be with her. And I think the relationship, I can truly say, is a good one. But she was very, very inspiring indeed." Trump shakes hands with the Queen at Windsor Castle. The Queen -- who has been on the throne for 66 years, not 70 -- regularly reviews a guard of honor from the Household Division. Read More<doc-sep>Donald Trump has falsely claimed the Queen reviewed her Guard of Honour for the first time in 70 years during his visit to the UK. But many royal fans will know it is common place for the monarch to carry out the tradition during visits from foreign dignitaries. The US President made the claim as he recounted his trip to Windsor Castle during a speech at the White House yesterday. He said: 'We met with the Queen, who is absolutely a terrific person, where she reviewed her Honour Guard for the first time in 70 years, they tell me. Donald Trump has falsely claimed the Queen reviewed her Honour Guard for the first time in 70 years during his Windsor visit. Pictured: The pair inspecting the guard on Friday Queen Elizabeth II inspects the Guard of Honour of the Welsh Guards at Brookwood Military Cemetary near Woking, Surrey on October 25 1958 The Queen with Barack Obama in May 2011 shortly before she reviewed the Honour Guard with the then-presidentt 'We walked in front of the Honour Guard and that was very inspiring to see and be with her. 'And I think the relationship, I can truly say is a good one. But she was very, very inspiring indeed.' But sharped-eyed social media users were quick to point out Trump's mistake. Many took the platform of Twitter to point out the information was incorrect. The Queen has been on the throne for 66 years since her coronation in June 1953. She has met hundreds of world leaders during that time and has hosted dozens of visits a year from heads of states. As part of the process, she has also frequently reviewed the Guard of Honour during her reign. The Queen's coronation was in June 1953 and she has been on the throne for 66 years. She has also reviewed the Guard of Honour frequently during her reign as monarch Queen Elizabeth II inspects the guard of honour during a visit to the Corps of Royal Engineers at Brompton Barracks, Chatham on October 25, 2007 The Queen inspecting the Grenadier Guards before presenting their new colours in the garden of Buckingham Palace in May 2011 In 2011 she reviewed the Guard of Honour when she met President Obama. A number of people mocked Mr Trump's comments on Twitter. 'Exactly how old does he think she is? One person asked. While another person said: 'Trump claims that the Queen reviewed her Honour Guard for the first time in 70 years. That's absolute nonsense.' The Queen has met with 10 US presidents during her time on the throne. Trump's visit to Windsor Castle caused controversy when he broke royal protocol by walking in front of the Queen as he discussed the Guard of Honour.<doc-sep>President Trump has falsely claimed that the Queen inspected her Honour Guard for the first time in 70 years - all because of his visit to the UK. During the President’s first official visit to London last week, he met Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle, where the pair proceeded to inspect a Guard of Honour comprised of the Coldstream Guards. The long-standing tradition was widely-discussed after it appeared President Trump had broken royal protocol by walking ahead of the Queen. Now, in a statement to the press on Tuesday, Trump wrongly stated that the honour bestowed upon him was one that had not been carried out for decades - which is untrue. He said: "We met with the queen, who is absolutely a terrific person, where she reviewed her Honour Guard for the first time in 70 years, they tell me. We walked in front of the Honour Guard and that was very inspiring to see and be with her. And I think the relationship, I can truly say is a good one. But she was very, very inspiring indeed." The Queen actually inspects her Honour Guard many times a year and does so for important events such as visiting heads of state. Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Show all 100 1 /100 Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump walk to a joint news conference holding hands Reuters Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting People march holding anti-Trump signs in Edinburgh while the US.<doc-sep>

President Trump Donald TrumpTrump lashes out after grand jury seated for New York criminal probe Schumer tees up vote on Jan. 6 commission bill Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission MORE on Tuesday inaccurately claimed that Queen Elizabeth II reviewed her honor guard for the first time in 70 years during his visit with the monarch last week. Trump made the comment while recounting his time abroad to reporters on Tuesday. "We met with the Queen, who is absolutely a terrific person, where she reviewed her honor guard for the first time in 70 years, they tell me," Trump said. "We walked in front of the honor guard and that was very inspiring to see and be with her. And I think the relationship, I can truly say, is a good one. But she was very, very inspiring indeed." Contrary to Trump's statement, however, the queen has reviewed her honor guard many times over the last 70 years. The tradition often takes place during visits from foreign officials, including during former President Obama's visit in 2011. ADVERTISEMENT The queen has met with 10 U.S. presidents since she inherited the throne. The president and first lady Melania Trump met the queen last Friday. They shook hands and exchanged smiles before listening to "The Star-Spangled Banner" and reviewing troops. The president, first lady and the queen then entered the royal residence for tea. Ahead of his meeting with the queen, Trump shared high praise for the monarch. “I really look forward to meeting her,” Trump told the right-leaning British tabloid, The Sun. “I think she represents her country so well."

Mumbai Rains: Water logging in several areas in Mumbai resulted in slow traffic and slight train delays Here are the highlights on Mumbai rains and weather: Jun 25, 2018 22:35 (IST) Heavy rains hit rail and road traffic in Mumbai. Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray compared Monday's downpour to rain in Meghalaya's Cherrapunji Jun 25, 2018 22:17 (IST) The parking lot of a 32-storey building collapsed in Wadala. IANS reported that as a precautionary measure, 270 families were evacuated. Jun 25, 2018 21:07 (IST) A portion of the road at Anandilal Podar Marg, Marine Lines caves in following heavy rainfall in Mumbai A portion of the road at Anandilal Podar Marg, Marine Lines caves in following heavy rainfall in Mumbai Jun 25, 2018 19:24 (IST) A private weather agency has predicted that Mumbai may receive heavy rain on June 26. Jun 25, 2018 19:22 (IST) A woman admitted to hospital in a critical condition after part of balcony of a flat collapsed at Jadhav Chawl near Durga Mandir in Andheri, ANI reports. Jun 25, 2018 16:01 (IST) A wall fell on a 37-year-old woman in Wadala's Antop hill. The building was under construction, ANI reported. The building collapsed at around 4:45 am following heavy rains. The woman is admitted to a hospital. A complaint has been registered against the builder. Jun 25, 2018 14:30 (IST) Incessant rain in Mahrashtra's Palghar causes water logging According to news agency ANI, continuous rain has caused water logging in Maharashtra's Palghar, which is around 108 kilometres away from Mumbai. The region around Mumbai has been grappling with incessant rain for the past one day. Jun 25, 2018 13:55 (IST) Sanjay Nirupam tweets on the Lloyd Estates incident Major landslide at #Wadala. Visiting there soon. pic.twitter.com/Aj3x7Y4DHS - Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) June 25, 2018 Jun 25, 2018 13:39 (IST) Number of rain-related deaths increases to 4 The number of rain-related deaths has increased to 4. After two deaths were reported to have occurred on Sunday and one death in Thane's Ambernath taluka, another death was reported in Mumbai's Malad area. A 15-year-old died after falling into an open pit in Mumbai's Malad. Jun 25, 2018 13:34 (IST) "Show must go on!" Western Railways has started restoring and strengthening damaged track affected due to floods Show must go on! WR started restoration/strengthening of track wch was affected due to floods betwn Bhilad & Sanjan in Mumbai Div following heavy rains in previous night, after clearing regulated trains in shortest possible time. Trains are being passed at restricted speed here. pic.twitter.com/KZf3Ck34l7 - Western Railway (@WesternRly) June 25, 2018 Jun 25, 2018 13:25 (IST) No disruption in running trains. However, a few trains are delayed. Details here. According to Western Railways, trains from Mumbai are experiencing delays. However, there have been no disruptions. The trains that have been delayed are the Bikaner Express, Ahmedabad Karnavati Express, Ahmedabad Double Decker Express, Ajmer Express and Bhuj Express. Jun 25, 2018 12:55 (IST) The Powai lake and dam overflowed due to the heavy rains The Powai lake and dam overflowed due to the heavy rains Jun 25, 2018 12:41 (IST) Visuals around Mumbai's Gateway of India show a rise in water level Jun 25, 2018 12:38 (IST) Jun 25, 2018 12:11 (IST) Milan, Khar subways open for commuters now: Mumbai police A traffic update tweeted by Mumbai police said that the Milan Subway near Santacruz and Khar subway are now open. Both subways were closed a few hours earlier because of water logging, which Mumbai police said is still responsible for the slow movement of traffic. Milan Subway & Khar Subway open for commuters now. However traffic is moving slow due to water logging #TrafficUpdate - Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) June 25, 2018 Jun 25, 2018 12:04 (IST) Last heavy rainfall was in June 2015, with 283.4 mm rain Mumbai's Santacruz received 231 mm rain since yesterday. The last time it had rained so heavily was in June 2015, when Mumbai received 283.4 mm of rainfall. The heaviest rainfall was recorded in 1991, when Mumbai received 399mm of rain in a single day. Jun 25, 2018 11:59 (IST) The two weather systems responsible for heavy rain in Mumbai The monsoon was stuck and had been in a weak phase since 13th June. There is a cyclonic circulation over Gujarat and North Konkan and another one over northwest Bay of Bengal. These two weather systems are the reason for heavy showers. While rain is expected for the next 5 days, intensity will decrease by tomorrow. Jun 25, 2018 11:41 (IST) In sassy tweet, Mumbai police says its 'bandobast' (preparation) is as heavy as Mumbai rains "The showers are heavy but so is our 'bandobast' on the streets to 'be there' for Mumbaikars," Mumbai police tweeted, saying they were 'always there' to help people reach their destinations. The showers are heavy but so is our 'bandobast' on the streets to 'be there' for Mumbaikars. We are #AlwaysUpForDuty to help you reach your destination with a little care & caution from you during your journey #RoadSafety#MumbaiRainspic.twitter.com/KFOgI4BTLv - Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) June 25, 2018 Jun 25, 2018 11:37 (IST) Mahesh Palawat, Skymet's Vice President tweets on Mumbai rains Private weather forecaster Skymet's Vice president tweeted saying Santacruz received 195 mm rainfall in the past 21 hours. Heavy #Rains continues over #Mumbai. #Santacruz received 195 mm in last 21 hours. More heavy #showers anticipated. Watch the #thunderclouds. #Mumbairains#MumbaiMonsoon@SkymetWeatherpic.twitter.com/8X7wXME9HI - Mahesh Palawat (@Mpalawat) June 25, 2018 Jun 25, 2018 11:28 (IST) Mumbai Rains: Monday Morning Chaos In Mumbai After Heavy Rain; Traffic, Trains Hit Heavy rains in Mumbai since last night led to a chaotic Monday morning in the city. Locals trains in Mumbai are running behind schedule and slow traffic is being reported from several areas after last night and this morning's downpour. Three people have died in Mumbai and Thane. Civic body officials placed pumps on stand-by as many low-lying areas in the city reported water logging." Jun 25, 2018 11:28 (IST) Mumbai Rains: Wall Collapses In Wadala East, Cars Stuck In Debris A huge section of the compound wall of Mumbai's Lloyds estate collapsed taking with it at least 12 vehicles this morning after incessant rain struck several parts of Mumbai. The dramatic visuals from Antop Hill in Wadala showed several cars stuck in debris while residents are trapped inside the building." Jun 25, 2018 11:12 (IST) "First extremely heavy rainfall recorded in current season": Weather Department chief "The Santacruz weather station recorded 231.4 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours. So much rainfall is categorised as extremely heavy showers," IMD Mumbai Director Ajay Kumar told PTI. There was flooding in several Mumbai areas, according to news agency IANS. Chunabhatti, Wadala, Dadar, Malad, Kurla, Gamdevi and Santacruz-Chembur Link Road all faced flooding. The Mumbai morning peak road traffic was badly hit as waterlogging was reported in some parts of the Eastern and Western Express Highways (EEH-WEH), according to an IANS report. Main and arterial roads and many low-lying areas of the city and suburbs and traffic to and from adjoining Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts were affected by the waterlogging. Jun 25, 2018 10:35 (IST) Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) workers at Hindmata in south Mumbai's Dadar Jun 25, 2018 10:22 (IST) Traffic closed at Khar subway, Santacruz, diverted to Link Road: Mumbai police Mumbai police has tweeted saying traffic has been closed off at Khar subway in Santacruz, due to waterlogging. Traffic has been diverted to Link road, according to Mumbai police. Traffic on Western Express Highway slowed down after a tree fell at Mahananda Dairy near NESCO, tweeted Mumbai police. Traffic slowed down towards Girgaon Chowpatty as well after a tree fell at Krishna Sanghi Junction. They also tweeted saying that a container broke down at JVLR bridge in Vikhroli, northbound near Eastern express highway, slowing traffic over there as well, according to Mumbai police. Traffic is also moving slowly on SCLR Kurla in both directions because of water logging, according to Mumbai police. Traffic moving slow on SCLR Kurla in both directions due to water logging #TrafficUpdate - Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) June 25, 2018 A container broke down on the JVLR bridge, Vikhroli, northbound near Eastern express highway. Traffic is moving slow #TrafficUpdate#MumbaiRains - Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) June 25, 2018 A tree fell at Mahananda Dairy, Near NESCO, slowing down traffic on Western Express Highway in both directions #TrafficUpdate - Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) June 25, 2018 Jun 25, 2018 10:11 (IST) Flooding was reported at Milan subway, Santacruz, Goregaon and Bandra Reports of flooding in many Mumbai areas have been recorded. The areas that have reportedly seen flooding due to rain are: Milan Subway in Santacruz Siddhart Hospital in Goregaon Filter Pada and Moraji Nagar in Powai Chembur SV Road in Andheri National College in Bandra Sion Jun 25, 2018 10:09 (IST) Wall collapsed in South Mumbai's Antop Hill, Wadala A major portion of a Lloyd Estates building compound wall collapsed in South Mumbai's Antop Hill, Wadala. No casualties have been reported from the incident. The collapse took with it 12 parked cars, while 5 more cars were left hanging on the cliff. The BMC and fire department have vacated the entire C wing of the building, which houses senior lawyers, judged and businessmen. Jun 25, 2018 09:59 (IST) According to private weather forecaster Skymet, rains have intensified in Mumbai's Chembur area. The private weather agency also tweeted saying there was an instance of waterlogging in Mumbai's Kurla area. According to Skymet, a radar image tweeted by them shows a 32 per cent cloud build up right over Mumbai. Latest radar image shows 32 percent cloud build up right over #Mumbai, expect more showers in the offing! #MumbaiRains#MumbaiMonsoon#MumbaiRainsLive#Mumbai@RidlrMUMpic.twitter.com/GCnkdtvhO5 - SkymetWeather (@SkymetWeather) June 25, 2018 Jun 25, 2018 09:32 (IST) Mumbai rains resulted in two deaths and five injuries on Sunday Two people died and five were injured on Sunday after a tree fell on them near Metro Cinema at MG Road in South Mumbai's Marine Lines area, according to news agency ANI. Jun 25, 2018 09:24 (IST) Trains between Thane and Byculla stations delayed due to rains Because of heavy rain, trains on the Up and Down lines are running late by 15-20 minutes, according to news agency ANI. #Mumbai: Due to heavy rainfall between Thane and Byculla stations, trains on Up and Down lines running late by 15-20 minutes. #MumbaiRain - ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2018 Jun 25, 2018 09:19 (IST) Mumbai's Malad, Powai and Mulund areas received maximum rain on Sunday: PTI Rains lashed Mumbai incessantly on Sunday. Malad (West) received the highest amount of rainfall at 110.80 mm between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm on Sunday, according to weather department officials. Powai received 77.80 mm rain and Mulund (West) received 76 mm rain. Mumbai rains have resulted in water logging in some parts of the city today along with delays in trains and traffic moving slowly. The Indian Meteorological Department has said that heavy to very heavy rains were expected to continue. Two people died and five were injured on Sunday after a tree fell on them near Metro Cinema at MG Road in South Mumbai's Marine Lines area. A 13-year-old boy was killed and his parents were injured in a wall collapse on their house at Wadol village in Thane at around 2 am today.15-year-old also died after falling into an open pit in Mumbai's Malad suburb.A huge section of the compound wall of Lloyds estate in south Mumbai's Wadala area collapsed today morning and took with it at least 15 vehicles due to heavy rain. Residents were evacuated and no casualties were reported.In South Mumbai's Colaba and Santa Cruz, rainfall of 90 mm and 195 mm were recorded respectively at 5.30 am. Water logging was reported at Sion station which resulted in a delay of 5-7 minutes, according to Central Railways.Western Railways have also said that the Uttar Pradesh line between Bhilad and Sanjan in Mumbai division was affected from 7.45 am. Western Railways however said suburban trains were running with no disruption, adding that a slight delay occurred due to low visibility.According to Mumbai police, traffic slowed down at JVLR bridge, Vikhroli, Khar, Malad subway and Andheri subway due to water logging.<doc-sep>Extremely heavy rains are expected at isolated places over Gujarat Region When rains have lashed parts of Maharashtra causing considerable damage in the highly-populated places including Mumbai and the adjoining areas where four persons have died in the past 24 hours. Among the four people who died included a 15-year-old child who died after falling into an open pit in the Malad's suburb. The water-logging caused by Mumbai rains is causing disruption to public transport including Indian Railway's western zone trains. However, some of the trains are running as per schedule. "WR Suburban trains are running normal. Rail traffic on both tracks between Bhilad & Sanjan normal," tweeted Western Railway.On Monday, however, several trains were rescheduled because of heavy rains . Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said that the rains in Mumbai will continue for some more time, while Gujarat has been put on high alert. "Due to maintenance, level crossing gate number 7 between Chandlodia & Ambli Road station will remain closed from 8 am on 29 June to 8 pm on 1 July," Western Railway retweetedFrom June 26 onwards, train number 19309 Shanti Express train will run from Ahmedabad to Indore while it will remain suspended between Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar. Train number 69191 Anand Gandhinagar memu passenger, and train number 69192 Gandhinagar-Anand memu will remain suspended till July 1, and July 2, respectively. : The weather department projected extremely heavy rains at isolated places including Gujarat Region. Some places are prone to heavy to very heavy rain such as Konkan & Goa, Assam & Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura, West Bengal and Sikkim and Odisha. At the same time, heavy rain is very likely at isolated places over Coastal and south Interior Karnataka, north Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Saurashtra & Kutch, East Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Bihar. Duststorm or thunderstorm is very likely at isolated places over West Uttar Pradesh. Thunderstorm accompanied with squall is very likely at isolated places over East Uttar Pradesh, stated IMD on its website on Tuesday.There are chances of heavy to very heavy rain at some places includng Konkan and Goa, Coastal Karnataka and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim. At the same time, heavy rain is expected at isolated places over Kerala, South Interior Karnataka, north Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat Region, Marathwada, Chhattisgarh, East Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, East Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura, East Rajasthan, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.There are some places that are vulnerable to thunderstorm accompanied with squall and Hail including Uttarakhand, Jammu division of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.There are chances of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places including Konkan and Goa, Assam & Meghalaya, Sub Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Coastal Karnataka and Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi. Heavy rain likely at isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, Rajasthan, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Kerala, South Interior Karnataka, Marathwada, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Uttarakhand, West Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, South Interior Karnataka and Kerala.Thunderstorm accompanied with squall and Hail is very likely at isolated places over Uttarakhand. At the same time, thunderstorm accompanied with squall is likely over Jammu division of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, West Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi There are chances of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, SubHimalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Coastal Karnataka, Konkan & Goa, Uttarakhand and Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi. Heavy rain is likely at isolated places over Rajasthan, Kerala, South Interior Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and West Uttar Pradesh. Thunderstorm is accompanied with squall over Jammu division of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand.There is a possibility of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, SubHimalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Coastal Karnataka, Konkan and Goa, Uttarakhand and Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi. At the same time, heavy rain is likely at isolated places over Rajasthan, Kerala, South Interior Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and West Uttar Pradesh. There are chances of thunderstorm accompanied with squall over Jammu division of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand.<doc-sep>

Waterlogging outside St Michael Church at Mahim. MUMBAI: Mumbai woke up to some extremely heavy rains on Monday morning leading to waterlogging and traffic disruptions at many places in the city.The India Meteorological Department , Mumbai (IMD) has forecast very heavy rains to continue in Mumbai all throughout Monday.The IMD Santacruz observatory has recorded extremely heavy rains in the past 24 hours (up to 8.30am today) of 231.4 mm while IMD Colaba observatory has recorded 99 mm of rainfall which falls in the heavy rain category. In case of the suburbs rainfall recorded of over 200 mm makes it the wettest monsoon day of the season so far.K S Hosalikar, IMD deputy director-general (western region), said that there are three weather systems which are giving Mumbai these intermittent heavy rains. "There is an offshore trough extending from south Gujarat to Kerala, an upper air cyclonic circulation and the strengthening of the westerlies. Such heavy showers will continue throughout the day," he said.Meanwhile, there have been no flight diversions or cancellations because of rain at the Mumbai airport. Departures are late by an average of 20 minutes while arrivals on time. No visibility problems so far. In case of BEST, the buses have been diverted on 47 routes in eight waterlogged areas in island city and suburbs.Meanwhile, there was a landslide at Wadala area with at least four cars having slid inside the cave in. No person has been injured in the incident so far. The exit of the adjoining building is flooded with fire brigade vehicles it the spot since early morning.Owing to the continuous downpour, traffic has been hit at Khar subway, Andheri subway and Malad subway.While Western Railway suburban trains are running with no disruption for now, there is slight delay due to low visibility in some areas due to rains. Meanwhile, between Virar and Surat, all mail and express trains arriving at Bandra Terminus, Dadar Terminus and Mumbai central are expected to be coming in late.

Justin Bilton and his 70-year-old father narrowly escaped the fast-moving flames at Glacier National Park after a lightning strike started theblaze Justin Bilton and his 70-year-old father were finishing up a trip through Wyoming and Montana earlier this month when they set up came in Glacier National Park. But the father-son duo had no idea that their vacation would turn into a fight for their lives. The day after setting up camp, Bilton and his father realized that a lightning strike had started a small fire, which eventually grew into a massive more than 7,500-acre blaze dubbed Howe Ridge Fire, according to KULR. With that, the pair jumped into their rental car and attempted to drive to safety. Get push notifications with news, features and more. “I just had a bad feeling about it, and I was like ‘Dad, I think we need to get out of here,’ ” Bilton told WHDH of the moments he and his father first spotted the small blaze. Soon, they were shocked by how much the fire had grown. “It was just like a firestorm. There’s like embers blowing. There’s trees completely on fire,” Bilton continued to the station. Footage of the incident shows the forest in flames as Bilton and his father made their way through the forest’s winding roads in a panic. “Oh my God. Dad, the car is heating up. It’s gonna explode,” Bilton is heard saying in the video. “Jesus. God, help us. Dad, what if a tree falls on us. Dad, we can’t get out!” Bilton told ABC News that the car’s headlights failed and he couldn’t see anything out of the back window. Still, he was able to drive in reverse, back the way they came. They drove as far as they could through the flames until they reached a nearby lake, KRTV reports. There, they waved down two people with a small boat, and were rescued, according to the station. Bilton wrote about the incident in a now-deleted Facebook post, according to KRTV, noting that the car burned in the fire.<doc-sep>This video is no longer available. We apologize for the inconvenience. This video is no longer available (CNN) — Justin Bilton and his father sized up the wildfire raging ahead of their car and, thinking their window to escape was closing, decided to race through it. “Dad, what if the car blows up?” Justin, the driver, asks his father, Charles, sitting beside him. “(Then) we’re dead,” Charles answers. “Just keep driving.” A two-minute video shot by Justin shows their harrowing drive along a narrow dirt road as Glacier National Park burned around them, why it didn’t work, and how they survived. ’Dad, this is insane’ The Massachusetts father, 70, and his son, 37, were camping in the Montana park earlier this month when the Howe Ridge Fire closed in on them. Justin, recalling their escape to CNN’s “New Day” on Tuesday, said they thought the blaze was far enough away that they could drive out in their rental car. He started to record a video, looking ahead through the windshield, as they got underway. Storyful Justin Bilton recorded the fire roaring just outside his car as he drove. But as they got around a few bends, they saw the crackling fire was much closer. Lush vegetation suddenly gave way to roaring flames and a yellow-pink haze. “Dad, this is insane,” Justin says after they decide to push forward. “I know. We don’t want to be trapped in here,” Charles responds calmly. They turn away from the flames, and it looks like they’re out of danger. But when they continue around another bend, an inferno awaits. Everything around the road is a roaring glow of yellow and reddish orange. Roadside trees are burning and scorched debris flicks off the windshield. The heat was getting unbearable. More than once, Justin resists his father’s call to drive slowly and carefully. “Dad, the car is heating up. It’s going to explode,” Justin says. “We’re alright,” Charles responds, sounding surprisingly calm. “Jesus, God, help us,” the son says. A blocked road Less than two minutes into the video, they come to a downed tree, burning in the road in front of them. It’s blocking the road. They can’t go forward. “Oh (expletive)! Dad, we can’t get out!” Justin says. Calm as ever, Charles announces he’s getting out of the car. “We get that out of the road. We get gloves,” he says. By now, Justin has put the camera down, and the video goes black. How they got out Charles, it turned out, did not remove the tree. Instead, Justin put the car in reverse and they drove back the way they came. “I was shocked how fast he backed that up, and how steady,” Charles told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota, recalling the episode days later. “We were on an 8-foot-wide dirt road with a lot of ruts. And it was hard to see because of the flames and because of the intensity. “And he did an amazing job. He backed it up. We were able to turn it around, and he drove out of it.” But that just put them back to the trailhead. They were still trapped by the fire. They pair abandoned their car and looked for another way out. At nearby Lake McDonald, they saw two park workers with a motorboat, watching the fire, Charles said. “We kept yelling and waving, and they just waved back at us like we were saying hi,” he said. “And … we’re going, ‘No, come here, come here, we need help.’” The workers picked up the pair and escorted them back to their campsite, where they packed up. Then the workers ferried them to safety on the other side of the lake, Charles said. “They saved their lives,” Charles said. The Howe Ridge Fire, ignited by a lightning strike on August 11, has scorched more than 11,000 acres in Glacier National Park. Looking back on it, Justin says he’s surprised they were able to back out of the inferno when they found the road blocked. “Once we saw that downed tree, I really didn’t think we were going to be able to get out of there alive,” he said.<doc-sep>When Elizabeth Bilton received a call from her son last week telling her that “everything is OK,” she immediately knew it wasn’t. Her son, Justin, and husband, Charles, were safe — that much was true. But her motherly instincts were right: The camping trip the pair had been on in the backwoods of Montana almost took a deadly turn. On Aug. 12, Justin and his father became temporarily trapped in their car along a winding road in Glacier National Park, after a wildfire that started on the ridgeline not far from their campsite quickly spread, burning acres of trees and creating a wall of flames and smoke that surrounded them on all sides. Advertisement “I have never seen anything like it,” Justin, 37, said in a telephone interview Monday. “It was just like looking at a war zone — like a nuclear bomb had gone off.” The Boston resident was on the last leg of a two-week vacation with his 70-year-old father when they found themselves caught in the harrowing situation, hoping to make it out of the fiery woods alive. Justin and Charles had driven down a dead-end road on Sunday to get to a trailhead that would take them to a campsite roughly two miles into the wilderness. A fire burns next to Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park in northwest Montana on Aug. 12. CHRIS PETERSON/HUNGRY HORSE NEWS VIA AP, FILE A “small fire, by Montana standards” had started on Howe Ridge, near the lake, the day prior, he said. At first, both father and son were unfazed by the smoke billowing in the distance. They even talked to some fire crews in the area who told them the fire was unlikely to spread. “It didn’t look like it was growing at all,” Justin said. Justin Bilton (left) and father Charlie. Justin Bilton But the winds picked up Sunday evening, shortly after they made camp, and things intensified. Suddenly, Justin said, the fire “exploded.” Advertisement “It grew . . . in a couple of hours,” he said. “I told my dad, ‘I think we need to get out of here before it gets any worse.’ ” The pair gathered their gear and headed through the woods toward their rental car, which they planned to drive back along Lake McDonald Road — the way they came in — to safety. “Everything looked fine for the most part,” Justin said of the start of their drive. “We thought, ‘We can get out of here.’ ” Initially, there was some “fire near the road,” he said. But after they took a few more turns, the situation deteriorated. “It was an inferno. It was just walls of flames on both sides of the car,” he said. “The car started getting hot really fast. It felt like it was a 100-degree day, and your car had been sitting in the parking lot all day.” A video taken from inside the car as Justin and his father tried to escape the inferno shows embers flying toward the windshield like a swarm of bugs on a highway. To the right and left of the vehicle, limbless and charred trees were glowing through the smoky forest air. Flames lined the dirt road and seemed to reach up toward the car like orange snakes, making a slight hissing sound. In the video, which has gone viral, a worried and shocked Justin can be heard praying that they make it out alive, as his father tries to calm him down, repeatedly telling him “you’re doing good, you’re doing good.” Advertisement That’s when things went from bad to worse: a tree ravaged by the intense fire had fallen down across the road, blocking their escape route. “I saw that and I thought we were going to die,” Justin said. “I thought we were trapped, there was no way we could turn around on the road.” With his father’s guidance, Justin kicked the car into reverse and drove the vehicle all the way back to the trailhead at the end of the road. At times, Justin said, he was going as fast as 40 miles per hour. “It was absolutely insane, I don’t know how I was able to keep the car on the road,” he said. “But somehow — a few prayers and a Higher Power — we stayed on the road.” Once they were back at the trailhead, which was safe from the fire for the time being, they walked down toward a nearby cabin to see if anyone could help them. That’s when they saw a small boat floating on Lake McDonald, with two people on board. “We flagged them down and they came over and grabbed us, and we got onto the boat,” said Justin. “Ten minutes later, we were on the water and we saw the whole part of the lake shore where we had been standing just go up in flames.” By Tuesday, Justin and his father were headed home to Boston, with little more than the clothes they had been wearing when they escaped the blaze two days prior. Advertisement Looking back, Justin said he’s grateful that a series of fortunate events — and the help of strangers — got him and his father out of the life-threatening scenario. “There are so many ‘what ifs,’ and things that seem too unlikely to be coincidental,” he said. “If another tree had fallen behind us while trying to reverse, we would have been dead. And if [those people] weren’t there in the boat, we would have been dead. That’s the most amazing thing to me.” Justin Bilton looked out at the wildfire from the safety of a boat. Justin Bilton Steve Annear can be reached at steve.annear@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @steveannear.<doc-sep>

Cellphone video has captured the terrifying moments of a father and son barely escaping with their lives after driving through a forest fire. Justin Bilton and his 70-year-old father Charlie were backpacking through Wyoming and Montana and had set up camp at Glacier National Park for their final stop when a lightning storm struck. The following day, August 12, the strike ignited a fire, which turned into the Howe Ridge Fire that has burned thousands of acres along Lake McDonald. The pair realized they needed to get out of there and hopped in their rental car but soon they had driven into - and were surrounded by - intense flames. Justin Bilton and his 70-year-old father Charlie (left and right) were camping on August 11 at Glacier National Park in Montana when a lightning storm struck After the small fire turned into the Howe Ridge Fire that began burning thousands of acres along Lake McDonald, the pair hopped into their rental car to escape the flames As they drove further down the road, Justin and Charlie's car became surrounded by more intense flames and embers began hitting the windshield In the video, Charlie is heard speaking to his son in a steady voice, trying to calm the young man's nerves. 'I think we can drive through this,' Charlie says. 'Dad, what if the car blows up?' Justin asks. 'Then we're dead. Just keep driving. Not too too fast, we'll be okay,' Charlie replies. As their visibility becomes worse, and embers begin to hit the windshield, Justin becomes more and more concerned. 'The car is heating up, it's gonna explode,' Justin tells his father. 'Jesus. Please, God, help us.' In a post on Facebook, Justin said the pair had safely driven down the road just a few hours earlier to get into the park, but were trapped on a road that was their only way out. While driving they came across a downed tree that was on fire, which Charlie suggested they move using fire-proof gloves. 'When my dad decided he was going to get out to move the burning tree I was most scared because I didn't think I could stop the stubborn old man!' Justin wrote on Facebook. 'He's [definitely] cool under pressure.' After Justin and Charlie came across a downed tree, they were forced to reverse down the road they had driven and back to the lake On the lake they found two park employees, tour boat captain Jess Kimball and an intern ranger named Dave, in a boat who rescued them As of Sunday afternoon, the Howe Ridge Fire has burned more than 7,800 acres, according to the National Park Service They had to reverse through the fire to get back to the trailhead and down to the lake. They abandoned their car, which later succumbed to the flames. On the lake they found two park employees, tour boat captain Jess Kimball and an intern ranger named Dave, in a boat and rescued Justin and Charlie, reported KRTV. 'We looked back and just saw the whole lakeshore where we had been maybe 10 to 15 minutes before just completely go up in flames,' Justin told WHDH. 'I do think it was some kind of higher power looking out for us. It seems like it wasn't our time to go.' As of Sunday afternoon, the Howe Ridge Fire has burned more than 7,800 acres, according to the National Park Service. At least nine homes and cabins have been destroyed prompting evacuations of hundreds of people from several campgrounds.

Video shows CO mom tell husband about pregnancy Daughter called her dad 'hero' before her death Court docs say victims may have been strangled Christopher Watts is escorted into the courtroom before his bond hearing at the Weld County Courthouse on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, in Greeley, Colo. Watts, of Colorado, whose wife and daughters disappeared this week was arrested on suspicion of killing them. (Joshua Polson/The Greeley Tribune via AP, Pool) Additional Embargo: Additional Source(s): POOL Date Shot: 11/19/2018 Shipping/Billing Info: Description: Projects: None Cost Center: Atlanta National Desk / 20100101 Created By: kdevlin On: 1542635649 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chris Watts gets life in prison for killing pregnant wife, kids Shanann Watts, 34, and her two children Bella, 3, and Celeste ìCeceî, 4, have been missing since Monday from Frederick, CO, according to Frederick Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Ian Albert. Police checked on the residence of Watts after a friend called and requested a welfare check for the 15-week pregnant mom. At this time police are not releasing additional information about the incident, but believe the public is not at risk, Sgt. Albert said. Police are asking the public to call if they have any tips that could lead to the whereabouts of Watts. (CNN) — Shanann Watts was looking forward to a party Saturday to disclose the gender of her third child, CNN affiliate KDVR said, quoting a friend. But the Colorado woman and her two daughters, Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3, were found dead Wednesday. Her husband, Chris Watts, was taken into custody. Now, the community is in shock and mourning the losses. Shanann Watts’ friend, Ashley Bell, told KDVR the “gender reveal” party was going to be held at the Watts’ home in the town of Frederick, north of Denver. “They were always so happy. They were always so – I’m completely lost for words,” Bell said. Shanann Watts was 15 weeks pregnant. She posted a video of herself on social media announcing the pregnancy to her husband. According to a Facebook post from her brother, Frankie Rzucek, she was pregnant with a boy. The baby was going to be named Niko, the post says. KDVR reported that only a few family members knew it was a boy. A candelight vigil was scheduled for Friday night in the neighborhood where the family lived. A makeshift memorial with flowers and stuffed animals was growing outside the Watts’ house. “Very surprised. Very shocked,” said Tim Sunderland of the homeowner association, who described the area as peaceful and quiet. “It’s a very good community.” Chris Watts faces three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of tampering with a human body, police said. He is being held without bond, with his next court appearance scheduled for Tuesday.<doc-sep>>> Related story: Colorado father charged with killing pregnant wife, 2 daughters, says wife killed children Shanann Watts was 15 weeks pregnant with a son they planned to name Niko, friends and family have said. A Change.org petition started by friends demands that Colorado adopt a new law, named "Niko's Law," to make the killing of an unborn baby like the Watts' son first-degree murder. As Chris Watts sat stone-faced throughout Tuesday's proceedings, which were streamed live by CBS Denver, Judge Marcello Kopcow advised Watts of the updated charges levied against him. Watts had been in custody since Wednesday on suspicion of murder and tampering with evidence. Chris Watts told 9News in Denver in an interview the day before his arrest that he had nothing to do with the deaths of his family. "Everybody's going to have their own opinion on anything like this," Watts said in the TV interview. "I just want people to know that I want my family back. I want them safe and I want them here." The charges Kopcow read in court state that Chris Watts caused the death of his wife on Aug. 13, the day she and her daughters were reported missing by a friend. The charges related to Bella and Celeste, however, state that he caused their deaths "between and including Aug. 12, 2018, and Aug. 13, 2018." Shanann Watts was out of town until early Aug. 13. An arrest affidavit released Monday states that the friend who reported Shanann and the girls missing, Nickole Utoft Atkinson, dropped Shanann off at the Watts' home just before 2 a.m. that day. The two women had been on a business trip to Arizona for Le-Vel, a health and wellness company that sells nutritional products. "Nicole (sic) stated Shanann was 15 weeks pregnant and was not feeling well during the trip," the affidavit states. Atkinson became concerned later that morning because Shanann Watts missed a 10 a.m. doctor’s appointment and was not answering phone calls or texts. She went to the couple’s home at 2825 Saratoga Trail to check on her. Read the charges against Chris Watts below. "(Nickole) went to Shanann's residence and discovered her car in the garage with car seats positioned inside of it," the affidavit says. "(She) attempted to enter the front door, but a latch prevented it from opening more than three inches." Atkinson called Chris Watts at work and asked him to return home to check on his wife, the court document reads. She was afraid that Shanann Watts, who reportedly had lupus, had passed out or was suffering some other medical emergency. Atkinson also called police, who arrived before Chris Watts did. Once Chris Watts arrived and allowed officers into the house, they found Shanann Watts’ personal belongings -- her cellphone, purse, wallet and medication -- inside. They also found a pair of women's shoes kicked off by the front door and a suitcase, apparently from her Arizona trip, at the bottom of the stairs, the affidavit states. Chris Watts initially told investigators that around 4 a.m. that day, he told his wife he wanted a separation. He said it was an emotional conversation, with both of them upset and crying, but that it was not argumentative. Chris Watts told detectives that when he left for work just before 5:30 a.m., Shanann Watts told him she and the girls would be going to a friend’s home later in the day. He said that he backed his work truck up into the driveway to load some tools into it before leaving. Read the warrantless arrrest affidavit in the Chris Watts case below. The truck's movements were captured by a neighbor's security camera, the affidavit says. During the investigation into the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her daughters, investigators learned that Chris Watts was having an affair with a female co-worker at Anadarko Petroleum Corp. -- an affair that he denied in previous interviews. Chris Watts was taken into custody Wednesday night, at which time Anadarko fired him. In a subsequent police interview Thursday, after being allowed to speak to his father, Chris Watts admitted strangling Shanann Watts the morning of Aug. 13, the affidavit states. "Chris stated after he told Shanann he wanted a separation, he walked downstairs for a moment and then returned to his bedroom to speak with Shanann again," the affidavit states. "While in the bedroom, via baby monitor located on Shanann's nightstand, he observed Bella 'sprawled' out on her bed and blue and Shanann actively strangling Celeste. “Chris said he went into a rage and ultimately strangled Shanann to death.” Chris Watts told detectives that, when he backed his truck into the driveway, it was his wife and daughters' bodies he loaded into the back seat, the affidavit states. He said he drove the bodies to an Anadarko work site just north of Roggan, an unincorporated area of Weld County about 40 miles from the family's home in Frederick. A Google Maps search using the coordinates of the site, which are included in the affidavit, shows a desolate area in which a dirt road leads to a couple of large oil tanks. This 2018 Google Maps image shows the location where Chris Watts, 33, of Frederick, Colorado, disposed of the bodies of his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts, 34, and their daughters, Bella, 4, and 3-year-old Celeste. Investigators found the girls' bodies submerged in crude oil inside the two tanks shown. Shanann Watts' body was buried in a shallow grave near the tanks. The bodies were dumped at a work site belonging to Anadarko Petroleum Corp., for whom Chris Watts worked prior to his arrest, about 60 miles from the family's home. Credit: Google Credit: Google Chris Watts told investigators he buried Shanann in a shallow grave near the tanks and dumped his daughters’ bodies inside the tanks. "Chris was presented an aerial photograph of the tank battery area and identified three separate locations in which he placed the bodies," the affidavit reads. Prior to Watts’ alleged confession, investigators did a drone search of the site and spotted a bedsheet in a field near the tank battery, the document says. The sheet matched the pattern of pillow cases and a top sheet discovered stuffed into a trash can in Watts’ kitchen earlier Thursday. Shanann Watts' body was found that afternoon, buried in a shallow grave near the oil tanks. Bella and Celeste were found inside the tanks, which were almost completely full of crude oil. The girls' bodies had been submerged in oil for four days, according to court documents filed by Chris Watts' defense lawyer. The attorney, James Merson, sought to have defense experts at the autopsies of the victims, and to have DNA swabs done on the necks of the children, an apparent bid to prove that Shanann Watts killed her daughters. Kopcow on Friday denied the motion to have defense experts present at the autopsies, but granted the request for DNA swabs of Bella and Celeste’s necks. He denied the defense’s request that their expert take the swabs, however. "Furthermore, defendant's request to order prosecution to collect evidence in the manner described by defense expert is denied," the order reads. "This court cannot order the prosecution and/or coroner how to conduct their investigation." Kopcow said there was no indication that prosecutors or the coroner would destroy evidence, improperly collect it or fail to collect it. The disappearance and killings of Shanann, Bella and Celeste Watts have captured national attention, and inspired gut-wrenching emotion from those who knew them. Shanann Watts' father, Frank Rzucek, tearfully spoke publicly Monday ahead of the news conference at which Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke announced the charges against Chris Watts. “We would like to thank everyone in the Frederick Police Department and all the agencies involved for working so hard to find my daughter, granddaughters and Niko,” Rzucek said. “Thank you, everyone, for coming out to the candlelight vigil and saying all your prayers. They are greatly appreciated. “Keep the prayers coming for our family.” Rzucek has also been active on his Facebook page, posting photos of Bella and Celeste smiling and playing together.<doc-sep>A Colorado man accused of killing his pregnant wife and two young daughters told police he strangled his wife in a fit of “rage” after she killed their the girls because he told her he wanted a separation, according to a police affidavit released Monday. Chris Watts was formally charged with three counts of murder Monday in the deaths of his wife, Shanann Watts, and their daughters Celeste and Bella, ages 3 and 4. Their bodies were found last week submerged in oil tanks on the property of the business where he previously worked near their home in Frederick, Colorado. According to the affidavit, Watts initially told police he did not know what happened to his wife and daughters after they were reported missing. But he later said he “would tell the truth.” Watts, 33, then told investigators he told Shanann that he wanted a separation after she returned home from a work trip to Arizona about 2 a.m. on August 13. Police said in the affidavit that an investigation had uncovered Chris Watts had been having an affair with a co-worker. Chris Watts told police that he walked downstairs after telling his wife he wanted a separation and then went back to his bedroom to talk to her. He said he saw via a baby monitor that his wife was “actively strangling Celeste.” He said his other daughter, Bella, was “sprawled” out on her bed and was blue. Chris Watts said he “went into a rage and ultimately strangled Shanann to death. Watts told police he then “loaded all three bodies onto the back seat of his work truck and took them to an oil work site.” He told police he buried Shanann near two oil tanks and dumped the girls inside the oil tanks. In the affidavit, Frederick Police said they began investigating the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her daughters about 1:30 p.m. on August 13 when they received a call from her friend, Nickole Utoft, who had dropped her off at the Saratoga Trail home where she lived with her husband about 1:45 a.m. after they returned from the trip to Arizona. She told police Shanann was 15 weeks pregnant and was not feeling well during the trip, so she was concerned for her health because Shanann was not answering her phone calls and messages and did not go to a doctor’s appointment at 10 a.m. Police said Utoft went to Shanann’s home and found her car in the garage, but no one answered the door. She called police. When the police arrived, officers checked the windows and doors of the home and determined they were all locked with no way into the house. An officer called Chris Watts and asked for the code to the outside garage door key pad. He said it didn’t work and that he was only five minutes away. When he got to the home, the officer went inside with his consent and tried to find Shanann and the girls, but found they were not there, according to the affidavit. Police said Chris Watts told them Shanann had come home about 2 a.m. from her work trip and when he woke up at 5 a.m., they began talking about marital separation and he said he informed her he wanted to “initiate the separation,” according to the affidavit. “Chris stated it was a civil conversation and they were not arguing but were emotional,” according to the affidavit. He said about 5:27 a.m. he backed up his truck to the garage, loaded up his tools and left for work, leaving Shanann in bed. According to the affidavit, a neighbor’s surveillance video system showed that occurring. He told police Shanann had told him she was going to a friend’s house later in the day with their kids, but he said he didn’t know her name. Police began searching the house about 2:35 p.m. and found Shanann’s cell phone, purse, wallet and medication inside. A suit case was also found at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the upstairs bedroom, police said. Police said in the affidavit that the bedding in the upstairs bedroom had been stripped and was on the floor. Detectives checked it for foul play, but found nothing, according to the affidavit. The investigators again asked Chris Watts to walk through when he last saw her. He told them she returned home about 1:45 a.m. and about 4 a.m. he told her he wanted a separation. He told police they were both “upset and crying” at that point. After talking to Watts, a neighborhood canvas was conducted. When Shanann Watts and the girls had not returned by August 14 at 7 a.m., police issued a press release asking for the public’s help in finding her and called for assistance from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI. During a two-day investigation, police said they learned Chris Watts had been having an affair with a co-worker, which he had denied in previous interviews, according to the affidavit. It was then that Chris Watts asked to speak with his father, who was present at the police station, telling the investigators he would “tell the truth” after speaking with him. Investigators allowed him to talk with his father, and Chris Watts then confessed to killing Shanann, but claimed he did it after seeing her strangling their daughter. You can read the full affidavit below: Chris Watts attorneys filed a motion over the weekend asking that a pathologist hired by the defense be allowed to take a DNA swab from the throats of the Celeste and Bella. In the motion, Watts’ attorney said DNA expert Richard Eikelenboom believes DNA would still be present on their necks despite their bodies being submerged in crude oil for several days. “Counsel has contacted the prosecution, advised them of this opinion, and asked whether or not they intend to take a DNA swab of the necks on the remains of the two children. It does not seem clear that the coroner, pathologist, or anyone working on behalf of the prosecution team in autopsy plan to take swabs of the necks of the two decedent children,” deputy state public defender James Merson wrote in the motion. “Counsel has a good faith belief that once the autopsies are finished, the remains of the two children—and more importantly, this evidence—will be turned over and lost forever. In other this concerns consumptive testing on the part of the government.” The motion was denied. Judge Marcelo Adrian Kopcow wrote in his response to the motion, “this court cannot order the prosecution and/or coroner how to conduct their investigation. No evidence exists that the prosecution and/or coroner will destroy evidence, improperly collect evidence, or not collect evidence.” You can read the full motion below: Despite knowing he had taken the bodies of his wife and daughters to an oil field Monday morning, Chris Watts gave an interview the day after they were reported missing to a local news station in which he asked for them to come home and said if anyone had harmed them, that person should come forward. You can watch that chilling interview here. Chris and Shanann Watts, who was 34, both grew up in North Carolina. They married there, in Mecklenburg County, on November 3, 2012, according to online records. They met in 2010, according to her Facebook page. They then moved together to Colorado, where Chris Watts worked for an oil and gas company, Anadarko Petroleum, and Shanann worked in human resources at a children’s hospital. She left that job in 2016 to become a stay-at-home mom and a brand marketer for Thrive, a health and wellness product owned by Le-Vel. Her Facebook page shows that she was highly successful at that career and had been traveling around the country, often accompanied by her husband. Shanann Watts had taken a trip home to North Carolina with her daughters for six weeks to visit her parents in July and early August. When she returned, she traveled to Arizona with friends for a Thrive event. She was planning to have a gender reveal party on August 18. “I’m so excited about August!<doc-sep>

Shanann Watts, 34, and her two children Bella, 3, and Celeste ìCeceî, 4, have been missing since Monday from Frederick, CO, according to Frederick Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Ian Albert. Police checked on the residence of Watts after a friend called and requested a welfare check for the 15-week pregnant mom. At this time police are not releasing additional information about the incident, but believe the public is not at risk, Sgt. Albert said. Police are asking the public to call if they have any tips that could lead to the whereabouts of Watts. Court docs say victims may have been strangled Christopher Watts is escorted into the courtroom before his bond hearing at the Weld County Courthouse on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, in Greeley, Colo. Watts, of Colorado, whose wife and daughters disappeared this week was arrested on suspicion of killing them. (Joshua Polson/The Greeley Tribune via AP, Pool) Correction: An earlier version of this article featured on the CNN app used the wrong photo of Shanann Watts. That photo has been removed and replaced with the correct image of Watts. (CNN) — New court documents filed in the case of a Colorado man suspected of killing his pregnant wife and their two daughters suggest that some of the victims may have been strangled. “Happy Husband Appreciation Day! I couldn’t imagine a better man for us,” Shanann Watts wrote next to their photo in April. “You spoil us with love an(d) attention! You put up with 3 impatient, demanding women in the house,” she continued. “You work so hard everyday to provide for us. I love you so much.” Four months after Shanann Watts posted that photo, her husband sits in a jail in Colorado, suspected of killing her, along with their daughters, Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3. The pregnant mother and her two daughters vanished Monday from their suburban Denver home. Their bodies were found Thursday at the site of the petroleum company where Chris Watts once worked, authorities said. Chris Watts, 33, was arrested in connection with their deaths but has not been formally charged. He’s next due in court Tuesday. Authorities have not suggested a motive in the killing. from facebook Shanann Watts is pictured with her two daughters, Bella and Celeste. Couple files for bankruptcy in 2015 As stunned friends seek answers on how the love story of a couple that seemed so picture perfect could end so tragically, bankruptcy filings reveal a family that had struggled financially. Chris and Shanann Watts filed for bankruptcy in June 2015, according to documents in the court record. That was after they bought their house, an asset valued at $400,000, records show. The year prior to the bankruptcy filing, the couple had a combined income of $91,000 – most of it earned by Chris Watts, who made about $63,000 from his job at Anadarko Petroleum, records show. The rest was earned by Shanann Watts, who worked in 2014 at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Still, they were about $70,000 in debt, most of it from student loans and credit card purchases, according to the filings. The couple reported two savings accounts with a total of $9.51 and a joint checking account with $864. By all accounts, they appeared to have moved past that, with Shanann Watts posting numerous times this year about her new job at a lifestyle company. She was also 15 weeks pregnant with a son the couple planned to name Niko, her brother, Frankie Rzucek, posted on Facebook. “Little peanut!! Lover her/him already! !” her husband texted back in June when she sent him a photo of her ultrasound picture, according to a screengrab she posted on Facebook. Some victims may have been strangled Documents filed Friday in Chris Watts’ arrest reveal some of the victims may have been strangled, along with other grim details. Shanann Watts and her daughters appear to have been killed at their house in Frederick, Colorado, a town of about 8,600 people some 30 miles north of Denver, prosecutors have said. KDVR/Weld County Sheriff Chris Watts Chris Watts’ attorneys asked a court Friday to require pathologists conducting autopsies to swab the little girls’ necks and hands for DNA, court filings show. In a second motion, obtained by CNN affiliate KDVR, defense attorneys asked the court to compel the coroner’s office to look for DNA under the mother’s fingernails and on her hands. They also asked the court to allow defense expert Richard Eikelenboom to take swabs from the bodies.

An update will go live for Pokémon Go users this week, Niantic announced. The update is one of the game’s biggest ever, adding features that many current and former players have anticipated since Pokémon Go’s 2016 launch: trading and a friends list. Making friends in Pokémon Go Friendship in Pokémon Go comes with special bonuses, according to Niantic. The social feature will encourage players to exchange six-letter, personalized Trainer Codes (think Nintendo’s Friend Code system) in order to add each other to their list of friends. Once a friend request has been accepted, trainers then can check out their friends’ stats in the main profile screen, including what their most recent in-game activity was. From there, players have the option to send each other gifts online. These new items will be found at PokéStops or gyms and can only be used for sharing with friends. The cool part is that these can include helpful items, but also exclusive Pokémon Eggs — a new, yellow Egg that requires players to walk seven kilometers to hatch. Once it does, they’ll receive an exclusive, Egg-only Alolan form of a classic Pokémon. All of this is important, but the most significant thing about the Friends feature is the Friendship Level. When players befriend each other, they start out essentially as acquaintances. The more they interact, however, the higher their Friendship Level comes. Battling a Gym or in a Raid together (a local-only feature) adds to that gauge, as does giving presents to one another or trading Pokémon (more on that in a second). The four tiers are Good Friend, Great Friend, Ultra Friend and Best Friend, with each granting additional bonuses. Battling a Gym with an Ultra Friend throws in a higher attack bonus than you’d get fighting with a Good Friend, for example. You’ll also get trading benefits and access to a unique version of Pokémon trading as you become better friends with someone. Trading Pokémon in Pokémon Go Friendship is a crucial addition to the game, but trading feels like an essential one. It’s certainly a long time coming; Niantic first teased that it would allow players to swap monsters in Pokémon Go in the game’s debut trailer. Since then, CEO John Hanke and others have continued to promise that trading was still on its way. The first thing to know about the trading function is that, in its first incarnation, it only works locally. Players cannot exchange Pokémon online; they must be physically near each other in order to initiate a trade. They must also have reached level 10 in-game to gain access to the feature. Once those boxes are checked, however, anything goes. There are no limitations on which Pokémon players can send to each other, pending approval from their trading partner. There is one extra step, however, and that’s the stardust required to complete each trade. Depending on your Friendship level, trades will cost more or less stardust; Best Friends may only have to spend 40,000 of the item while those who have just met may have to spend a million. Where it really helps to have close friends is with Special Trades. These trades are only available to Great Friends and above, and they’re the only way to exchange the following: Legendary Pokémon, shiny Pokémon and Pokémon you’ve yet to log in your Pokédex (like regional exclusives). Special Trades come with an inherently high stardust cost, but that will also go down as your Friendship level goes up. As for the trading process itself, it looks a lot like trading in the mainline games. Your Pokémon face each other on special screen, and you watch them transfer over from your phone to your friend’s. You then greet the Pokémon and can even change its nickname. A quirk of note is that trading randomizes the stats of the Pokémon, with higher Friendship levels increasing the likelihood that your new Pokémon will retain any of the high-powered stats it had under its previous ownership. What’s still to come “Trading definitely changed a lot [from its original design], and we have to take a lot of safety considerations for players and also the safety for the game value,” Kirsten Koa, lead software engineer on the social features update, told a small group of gathered press during E3 2018. “We don’t want to devalue their effort by making trading so easy to complete your Pokédex.” This is the philosophy behind restricting Pokémon trading to in person-only. Don’t expect remote trading any time soon, Koa told us; it’s against the point of the Pokémon Go experience. For Koa and the Niantic team, these updates are all about increasing the social element of the mobile game, which remains a key part of the game’s roadmap. “We wanted to make sure we got things right” The Friends feature is also something we should expect Niantic to continue toying with. The cap on Friends will start at 200, but that number may increase in later version updates. The hope is that players meet at events like Pokémon Go Fest, swap Trainer Codes (however unwieldy) and start gifting. It’s a bit tougher to maximize the benefits of a strong Pokémon Go friendship with people who live farther away, but perhaps that’s why events like Community Days and Go Fest just keep gaining ground. “[I grew up] playing a ton of Pokémon games and watching the anime and collecting and trading the Pokémon, cards with my sisters and friends at school,” Koa said of her experience designing the update. “Friends and trading is a really important aspect of the Pokémon franchise, so leading the implementation has been one of the most exciting but stressful points of my career. “We wanted to make sure that we got things right.” Expect friends and trades to arrive by the end of this week — meaning players should be acclimated by July’s Go Fest, where they’ll be sure to make even more friendships and trades. Update: Pokémon Go’s trading feature is now live in-game and available to all players level 10 and up. Players must also be at least 13 years old in order to participate.<doc-sep>Pokemon Go players at level 30 can access the new Friends features When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. UPDATE ONE: The development team have now confirmed that they have dropped the level needed to use the new Pokemon Go Friends feature. When first launched, the new options were only available to players at level 40. This has now dropped to Pokemon Go level 30 players and is likely to drop further during the course of the day. "Attention! Friends, gifting, and trading are now live for those level 30 to 40 Trainers! Stay tuned as we will be gradually rolling out these features to other levels soon," Niantic explains in their latest message. A gradual rollout of the new feature was probably chosen to protect the servers from any kind of player surge, as well as to make sure everything was working correctly. ORIGINAL: Niantic confirmed they were rolling out their newest features this week, and it appears that process has begun. It’s being confirmed by Level 40 Pokemon Go players that they have now received the new Friends and Trading features. This is something that has been done in the past and is a way for the company to test if everything is working okay. POKEMON GO ADD FRIENDS LIST FEATURE If the servers hold and there are no adverse effects, other Pokemon Go players can expect the rollout to begin very soon. Today seems the most likely time for everything to arrive, although there’s the chance Niantic may make it more gradual. The first signs that things were beginning to move for the new update came when Niantic forced players to update on Android and iOS.<doc-sep>

Pokémon Go trainers, brace yourselves. You can begin trading Pokémon this week. The popular mobile game has added a slew of features since its 2016 launch, but a new addition reminiscent of the classic Pokémon Game Boy games will finally roll out this week. SEE ALSO: The Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch look like a dream come true Niantic, the developer behind Pokémon Go, announced the big update today along with a new feature that will now allow trainers to curate friends lists, which the company calls "social features," that aim to foster a greater in-person Pokémon Go community. There will also be Alolan forms (a type of Pokémon) that trainers can only obtain by working together with their friends, and other rewards that stem from building strong friendships in the game, such as Stardust discounts. Here's how you can use the new functions. Friends Lists Pokémon Go trainers can send friend requests by using numerical codes — similar to how it's done on the Nintendo Switch. Although each player can only have 200 friends, it might increase later. The friend list is accessible by going to the trainer screen and tapping a friends tab. It will list your friends' statistics, such as the number of Pokémon they've caught and how far they've walked, and at this friend center, you can also send people gifts that you collect from PokéStops. Image: Niantic Image: Nianti Image: Niantic The friend list also displays the friendship level between you and another trainer: best friends (the closest), ultra friends, great friends, good friends, and friends (the most distant). "To get from friend to good friend is one day, and then from good friend to great friend is seven days total," explained Pokémon Go software engineer Kirsten Koa during the Niantic E3 press conference over the weekend. "And then great friend to ultra friend is 30 days total, and then ultra friend to best friend is 90." These categorizations unlock different capabilities and are based on how many battles and raids you perform together, gifts you send each other, and Pokémon you trade. Trading Pokémon At last, trading can commence. But expanding your collection requires Stardust and for you to be of age: trainers who require parental approval (i.e. those under the age of 13) won't be allowed to trade. Trainers who are friends must play near each other in order to trade Pokémon — online exchanges are not allowed — and the amount of Stardust required to trade is determined by the friendship strength. The stronger the friendship, the cheaper the trade. Image: Niantic Image: Niantic People at a basic friend level might have to pay seven figures each in Stardust to trade, while people at an ultra level could pay less than six figures in total for that same trade (trades cost the same amount of Stardust for both friends involved in the transaction). Image: Niantic Image: Niantic Friend levels also impact whether the traded Pokémon will get upgraded or downgraded after the trade (a higher-level one could become less powerful once the Pokémon reaches its new trainer's phone, while a lower-level one could become more powerful). Image: Niantic Image: Niantic Players can only trade once a day, and they have to at least be at level 10 to participate in this Pokémon tradition. According to software engineer Koa, the game has so many caveats for trading Pokémon, because they did not want a "black market" of Pokémon trading to sprout up. Whether this update significantly impacts the game competition remains to be seen, but we're just glad we finally have something we can do with all our unwanted (but good!) Pokémon.

When two of Russia’s most modern, nuclear-capable bombers landed in Venezuela earlier this week, American officials quickly took note. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted out a statement calling the move “two corrupt governments squandering public funds, and squelching liberty and freedom while their people suffer.” The angry reaction may well have been the intended purpose, according to experts on Russia and Venezuela. The arrival of the Tu-160 “White Swan” strategic bombers in Caracas on Monday serves to remind the United States that Russia can still project military might into the Western hemisphere, says Miriam Lanskoy, the Senior Director for Russia and Eurasia at the National Endowment for Democracy, a non-profit. “I don’t know that this constitutes some kind of military threat, but it is a communication about Russia’s overall global reach.” The Tu-160 bombers were manufactured at the end of the Cold War and are among the most advanced strategic bombers in the world. They are capable of flying at twice the speed of sound and carrying both conventional and nuclear-armed cruise missiles that have a range of more than 3,400 miles. It’s not known whether the Russian bombers were carrying any kind of armament on their visit to Venezuela. The White House told The Hill that the bombers — along with a Russian An-124 cargo plane and an Il-62 passenger jet — would leave on Friday. Russia and Venezuela have had close military ties for decades. During boom times, oil-rich Venezuela has been a major buyer of Russian military hardware — with contracts for fighter jets, tanks, small arms and other equipment totaling more than $12 billion, according to Americas Quarterly. More recently, Russia has helped Venezuela develop a cryptocurrency intended to help it evade U.S. sanctions. Those ties have loosened since Venezuela’s economy went into freefall in 2014 following years of declining oil production and economic mismanagement, but Russia is currently working to expand its influence in Latin America as well as around the world, Lanskoy says. Russia’s military has for years been intervening in Syria to help prop up dictator Bashar al-Assad, but it is also reportedly making inroads with U.S. allies like Turkey and Saudi Arabia. In Africa, a close Putin ally is reportedly offering mercenaries to strongmen in 10 nations. Russia’s decision to land bombers in Venezuela also comes as the U.S. plans to pull out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which restricts the United States and Russia from keeping a broad range of nuclear-armed missiles. American officials say new Russian weapons are in violation of the treaty. “This is Russia trying to force the U.S. to say, ‘listen, if you withdraw from this and if you make these moves in Europe, we will make these moves as well,’” says Diego Moya-Ocampos, a Venezuela analyst for IHS Markit. For Venezuela, whose collapsing economy has led to chronic food and medicine shortages, the Russian mission represents a useful cameo on the world stage. President Nicolas Maduro will also be happy of a demonstration to potential opponents in the Venezuelan military that he still has powerful friends in Moscow, Moya-Ocampos said. The United States has imposed sanctions on several top Venezuelan officials, and earlier this year barred Americans from buying Venezuelan debt or debt from the state-run oil company. The long-term repercussions of the Russian bombers’ presence are likely to be limited. Both Moya-Ocampos and Lanskoy say it’s unlikely the short-term stay of the Russian Tu-160 bombers could result in the establishment of of a Russian air base, like the one in Syria, or a Cuban Missile Crisis-style standoff with Russia stationing nuclear weapons in Venezuela. A Russian base would represent a much larger investment in Venezuela than Russia has signaled it’s willing to make, as well as a larger provocation to the United States. “The permanent deployment of Russian troops on Venezuelan soil would go beyond the big brother relationship between Russia and Venezuela,” Moya-Ocampos says. Moya-Ocampos also says Russia’s friendship with Venezuela is doing nothing to improve the desperate situation of Venezuelan citizens. The Russians — who had provided billion in loans to Venezuela — are now using the relationship to establish access to lucrative Venezuelan oil and mining. Dire conditions in Venezuela are likely to get even worse in 2019. The International Monetary Fund estimated that the Venezuelan economy shrank by 18% in 2018, and expects a further contraction by 5% in 2019. Hyperinflation, estimated at 1.37 million percent in 2018, could reach 10 million percent for 2019. “It’s simply a mess, the whole country is going down the drain,” Moya-Ocampos says. Get The Brief. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. Please enter a valid email address. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. Please attempt to sign up again. Sign Up Now An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. Please try again later. Check the box if you do not wish to receive promotional offers via email from TIME. You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thank you! For your security, we've sent a confirmation email to the address you entered. Click the link to confirm your subscription and begin receiving our newsletters. If you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder. Write to Michael Zennie at michael.zennie@time.com.<doc-sep>Russia has landed two nuclear-capable “Blackjack” bombers in Venezuela as part of a joint training exercise experts say is designed to showcase Moscow’s growing military prowess and shore up the position of Venezuela’s embattled president, Nicolás Maduro. The Tu-160 planes touched down at the Simón Bolívar international airport near Caracas on Monday morning, according to Venezuelan state media. Russia’s defence ministry said the strategic bombers – used during the country’s campaign in Syria – were part of a larger fleet also including an An-124 military transport plane and an Il-62 passenger jet that had flown more than 10,000km to Venezuela. Venezuela’s defence minister, Vladimir Padrino López, said the arrival of the aircraft for joint manoeuvres was not intended as a provocation. “We are makers of peace, not war,” he was quoted as saying by the state broadcaster Venezolana de Televisión (VTV). Russia’s ambassador in Caracas, Vladimir Zaemskiy, told VTV the deployment reflected the “very fruitful” military partnership that had developed since the relationship was forged by Venezuela’s late leader Hugo Chávez in 2005. However, specialists say the move – which follows a three-day visit to Moscow by Maduro last week – is designed to signal to Washington that Caracas is not without international support. Earlier this month the US defense secretary, James Mattis, described Maduro as an irresponsible despot who was leading his country into ruin and would ultimately “have to go”. Last year Donald Trump told reporters there were “many options” to resolve the Venezuelan crisis, before adding: “And by the way, I’m not going to rule out a military option.” “Russian military exercises involving Venezuela are not new, but the timing is suspect,” said Harold Trinkunas, a Venezuela specialist at Stanford University. Trinkunas said the deployment was “most likely a signal of support for the Maduro regime at a time when both Russia and Venezuela are experiencing increased tensions with the United States”. “Russia has also been keen to exercise its long-range military capabilities in recent years, and such a visit to Venezuela fulfils that function as well,” he added. For Maduro the visit was designed to underline that he did enjoy some “external support vis-a-vis the United States and its sanctions” as well as seeking to highlight Venezuela’s geopolitical relevance. Maduro, who blames his country’s economic collapse on a US-driven “economic war”, returned from his trip to Russia touting $6bn in investment and deals designed to shore up Venezuela’s crumbling economy. He lashed out at the US on Sunday night, claiming a White House-backed coup attempt was afoot designed to “disturb Venezuela’s democratic life”. Venezuela’s president offered no evidence to back up his claim but promised to reveal further details at a future press conference. A Pentagon spokesman, Robert Manning, said Russia’s deployment was inappropriate given the humanitarian “tragedy” unfolding in Venezuela. The US had responded by sending a hospital ship to treat ailing Venezuelan refugees in neighbouring Colombia, Manning noted. “Contrast this with Russia, whose approach to the manmade disaster in Venezuela is to send bomber aircraft instead of humanitarian assistance,” he said.<doc-sep>Venezuela has welcomed the arrival of Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers as an opportunity to demonstrate its resolve to defend the nation against possible foreign military intervention, with the help of “friends” if need be. Two Tu-160 strategic bombers made a gracious landing at Simón Bolívar International Airport on Monday where they were greeted by the honor guard of the Venezuelan air force. Wearing orange pilot suits and combat helmets, Russian servicemen descended onto the runway where they were eager to present their colleagues with a scaled model of the 'White Swan' bomber, which they had just flown over 10,000 kilometers to reach the Caribbean shores in order to take part in “combined operational flights” with the Venezuelan Air Force. We are getting prepared to defend Venezuela when it is needed. And Venezuela "will do it with our friends who advocate respect-based relations between states,” Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said after the two bombers, together with An-124 transport and an Il-62 plane, landed in Venezuela. #AHORA 📹|| Desde la rampa N°4 del Aeropuerto Internacional Simón Bolívar, en Maiquetía, G/J @vladimirpadrino, junto al Estado Mayor Superior de la #FANB, da la bienvenida a la Fuerza Aérea Rusa que participará en los vuelos operativos combinados Rusia-Venezuela 2018. pic.twitter.com/MHHCGYheOH — Prensa FANB (@PrensaFANB) December 10, 2018 While the Russian delegation painted their arrival to be a rare friendly visit, the Venezuelan Defence Ministry noted that 'Russia-Venezuela 2018' operational flights will represent a “demonstration of strength.” The training, Caracas maintains, will foster military-technical cooperation and facilitate the exchange of practical experience between the two militaries. #NOTICIA🗞|| Los vuelos operativos combinados Rusia-Venezuela 2018, representan una demostración de fuerza que tendrá como objetivo la integración de medios de aviación, tanto rusos como venezolanos, en términos de la cooperación técnico militar y el intercambio de experiencias. pic.twitter.com/9x04Pbmj5q — Prensa FANB (@PrensaFANB) December 10, 2018 The Tu-160, nicknamed the ‘White Swan’ in Russia and designated as ‘Blackjack’ by NATO, is the largest supersonic combat aircraft in the world. The long-range aircraft, capable of carrying nuclear and conventional missiles, can cover a distance of more than 12,000 kilometers without refueling. The Russian Air Force conducted similar non-stop flights to Venezuela in 2008 and 2013. Also on rt.com Norwegian F16s shadowed Russian bombers during flight to Venezuela – MoD The flight to Venezuela over the Atlantic Ocean, the Barents, Norwegian and Caribbean Seas did not go unnoticed, as Norwegian F-16 fighter jets shadowed the Russian planes during part of their flight, even though according to the Russian Defense Ministry the flight was conducted “in strict accordance with the international regulations on the use of airspace.” The bombers’ deployment to the Latin American nation follows Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s visit to Moscow last week. Like this story? Share it with a friend!<doc-sep>As Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro faces the biggest challenge to his rule since coming to power in 2013, Russia has quite literally come to the strongman leader's defense. On Friday, Reutersreported that Kremlin-linked military contractors from the Wagner group had traveled to Venezuela in the past several days to provide security for Maduro. At least one source told Reuters that there were around 400 Russian military contractors in the country. After the head of Venezuela's National Assembly, Juan Guaido, declared himself president of Venezuela on Wednesday, Russian officials have offered their full-throated support for the embattled Maduro. President Donald Trump and other leaders from the European Union and Canada, however, have recognized Guaido as Venezuela's interim president and have backed the position of Venezuelan opposition leaders who say Maduro's presidency is illegitimate. Maduro's approval rating is currently hovering at around 20 percent, but experts say Russia is unlikely to give up its support for Maduro even if he faces widespread opposition at home. Moscow has continued to support Maduro even as he oversaw a severe economic decline that provoked a humanitarian and regional refugee crisis. "As the financial situation of the Venezuelan government became precarious due to a lack of oil profits, the Venezuelan leaders have been forced to look to other countries to bring in hard currency, and Russia has been all too eager to support a regime in Caracas that is anti-United States and has taken a number of actions to threaten the interests of not just the U.S. but other countries in the region," Jason Marczak, director of the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center at the Washington, D.C.-based Atlantic Council, told Newsweek. "Russia has gained a strong ally in the Americas as Russia looks to counter the U.S. Also Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves, so Rosneft has acquired access to oil fields in Venezuela, and Russia supplies arms to Maduro and the military," Marczak added. Russia has also helped Venezuela develop a cryptocurrency to avoid U.S. sanctions. Maduro announced in February last year that Venezuela would launch an online currency called the petro, which would be backed by the value of one barrel of oil. The move mimicked Moscow's attempt to launch its own digital currency to avoid U.S. sanctions. The petro was widely deemed a desperate and risky attempt to attract foreign currency to the cash-strapped country. Meanwhile, other Russia-aligned countries such as China and Turkey have also thrown their weight behind Maduro. Researchers at the Atlantic Council who track disinformation online noted that some of the most prominent pro-Maduro Twitter hashtags originated out of Turkey. The Russian military contractor group Wagner is a secretive organization headed by a Russian lieutenant named Dmitri Utkin who is a member of the Russian military intelligence the GRU. The group has been linked to the death of three Russian journalists who were producing a documentary about Wagner's work in the Central African Republic. Aside from its incursions into Africa, Wagner is also present in Syria and Ukraine. Russian media claims that Wagner is coordinated by Yevgeniy Prigozhin, a man who has been nicknamed "Putin's chef." Prigozhin allegedly ordered the Russian mercenaries to attack U.S. troops in Syria in February 2018. Special counsel Robert Mueller indicted Prigozhin, alleging that his St. Petersburg-based troll farm the Internet Research Agency played a major role in Russia's efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election. Both Prigozhin and Utkin are also subject to U.S. sanctions.<doc-sep>

Russia and Iran were both set to send military forces to Venezuela in a show of support to the socialist Latin American nation, whose embattled economy has been further damaged by U.S. sanctions. The Russian Defense Ministry announced Monday that two Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers, an Antonov An-124 heavy military transport aircraft and an Ilyushin Il-62 long-haul plane arrived at the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said that up to 100 Russian personnel would arrive as part of a joint air exercise, according to his ministry. Padrino said "that nobody in the world should fear" the presence of the Tu-160s and other Russian aircraft because "we are builders of peace and not war," touting the country's bilateral ties. "The aircrew of the Russian Federation are welcome to this heroic land," Padrino tweeted alongside images of the Russian military delegation's arrival. "It is a new opportunity to strengthen our relations in the military field and continue walking a path of cooperation and sincere friendship. Peace is our objective." Despite this message, the Russian Defense Ministry noted that, "at certain stages of the flight, the Tu-160 bombers were followed by F-16 fighter aircraft of the Norwegian Air Force while the flight was carried out in strict accordance with the international rules on the use of airspace," as cited by Russia's state-run Sputnik News. Moscow's embassy in Washington also affirmed that the 6,200-mile journey was undertaken in compliance with international aviation law. Norway, which neighbors Russia, is a founding member of the U.S.-led NATO Western military alliance. Like a number of countries in the region, Oslo has expressed concern over what it viewed to be increasingly aggressive behavior from Moscow. The U.S. and Russia have accused one another of pursuing destabilizing foreign policies and, while Washington hardens its stance toward Moscow through sanctions, the Kremlin has sought to develop new ties with fellow critics of the U.S. in South America. Following Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel's visit to Moscow last month—a trip that inspired comparisons to the Cold War and Cuban Missile Crisis amid U.S. threats to scrap a nuclear missiles deal—Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro traveled to the Russian capital last week to boost ties. Russian President Vladimir Putin was said to have promised both countries lucrative deals, with Maduro's claiming to walk away with up to $6 billion worth of investment. The money was direly needed as Venezuela's economy has continued to spiral downward, with hyperinflation causing consumer prices to skyrocket some 833,997 percent in the past year. Maduro attempted to introduce a new currency in August, but the government's attempts have so far done little to ease a crisis that has led to massive shortages in essential goods as well as an exodus of millions. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has doubled down on efforts to undermine the Venezuelan government, reportedly mulling adding it to the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. Maduro has long accused the U.S. of preparing a coup against him, especially after he was apparently targeted in an assassination attempt using explosive-laden drones in August. Trump would later mock the incident. Last week, Defense Secretary James Mattis said that the Venezuelan strongman must let go of power, but "it's up to the Venezuelan people" and "regional states" to oust Maduro. His predecessor, Hugo Chavez, faced a 2002 coup that, to some degree, was tied to the U.S., though it has denied any direct involvement in the face of repeated Venezuelan accusations. Russia is not the only country backing Venezuela. Iran, another nation whose soured ties with the U.S. stemmed from regime change, is also offering some support. Like Russia and Venezuela, Tehran has been the target of U.S. sanctions. The two countries have been at odds since a 1979 Islamic Revolution that ousted a pro-West monarchy reinstalled by a CIA-backed coup in 1953. Though relations briefly improved as they came together to sign a 2015 nuclear deal together, Trump's decision to abandon this deal over accusations that the Islamic Republic sponsored terrorism and its development of ballistic missiles has brought another fallout, as well as costly sanctions for the revolutionary Shiite Muslim power. Iran was also in need of international allies, but it was the U.S. that was widely condemned for its unilateral withdrawal of the nuclear accord in May. Fellow signatories China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom have set out to establish a system to continuing dealing with Iran and bypass U.S. sanctions.

The report emphasizes the effects humans have on animals that are key to their own survival. Pesticides sprayed by farmers kill pollinators such as bees and other insects will likely to have a devastating effect on crops. Homeowners contribute to the problem by purchasing “bug zappers” that target mosquitoes but also eliminate key pollinators such as butterflies and moths, as well as common flies that some animals rely on for food.<doc-sep>The old man and the bee If coral reefs disappear, so will they A polar bear was found wandering in the Russian village of Tilichiki on April 16, 700km from his home. Story highlights The landmark UN report paints a bleak picture of a planet ravaged by an ever-growing human population. "We should act now to avoid a dire future," scientists warn. (CNN) — One million of the planet’s eight million species are threatened with extinction by humans, scientists warned Monday in what is described as the most comprehensive assessment of global nature loss ever. Their landmark report paints a bleak picture of a planet ravaged by an ever-growing human population, whose insatiable consumption is destroying the natural world. The global rate of species extinction “is already tens to hundreds of times higher than it has been, on average, over the last 10 million years,” according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), a UN committee, whose report was written by 145 experts from 50 countries. Read more: Australian mammal becomes first to go extinct due to climate change Shrinking habitat, exploitation of natural resources, climate change and pollution are the main drivers of species loss and are threatening more than 40% of amphibians, 33% of coral reefs and over a third of all marine mammals with extinction, the IPBES report said. “The health of ecosystems on which we and all other species depend is deteriorating more rapidly than ever,” said Sir Robert Watson, IPBES chair, adding that “transformative change” is needed to save the planet. The report comes six months after the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that the world has less than 12 years to avoid catastrophic levels of global warming. In the same way that the IPCC report put the climate crisis on the political agenda, the authors of the IPBES report hope that it will thrust nature loss into the global spotlight. Photos: The world's critically endangered species PHOTO: CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images Black rhino — Poachers and hunters are responsible for the early decline of black rhino population. The world's animal population has halved in 40 years as humans put unsustainable demands on Earth, according to a 2014 report from the World Wide Fund for Nature. Poachers and hunters are responsible for the early decline of black rhino population. The world's animal population has halved in 40 years as humans put unsustainable demands on Earth, according to a 2014 report from the World Wide Fund for Nature. Photos: The world's critically endangered species PHOTO: ROMEO GACAD/AFP/Getty Image Hawksbill sea turtle — The existence of Hawksbill sea turtles have been traced back 100 million years. Now they are critically endangered, the WWF says. The existence of Hawksbill sea turtles have been traced back 100 million years. Now they are critically endangered, the WWF says. Photos: The world's critically endangered species PHOTO: STEPHANIE AGLIETTI/AFP/Getty Images Mountain gorilla — As humans move more into the mountain gorillas' territory, the gorillas have been pushed farther up into the mountains, forcing them to endure dangerous and sometimes deadly conditions, the WWF report on the planet says. As humans move more into the mountain gorillas' territory, the gorillas have been pushed farther up into the mountains, forcing them to endure dangerous and sometimes deadly conditions, the WWF report on the planet says. Photos: The world's critically endangered species PHOTO: JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images Amur leopard — Amur Leopard, a rare species of leopard living on the borders of Russia and China, was the winner of the 2013 WWF award dedicated to the positive evolution of an endangered species, but remains critically endangered. Amur Leopard, a rare species of leopard living on the borders of Russia and China, was the winner of the 2013 WWF award dedicated to the positive evolution of an endangered species, but remains critically endangered. Photos: The world's critically endangered species PHOTO: ROMEO GACAD/AFP/Getty Image Sumatran orangutan — Sumatran orangutans are losing their natural habitats to mining, palm oil and paper plantations. Sumatran orangutans are losing their natural habitats to mining, palm oil and paper plantations. Photos: The world's critically endangered species PHOTO: ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Image South China tiger — The South China tiger is considered "functionally extinct," as it has not been sighted in the wild for more than 25 years. The South China tiger is considered "functionally extinct," as it has not been sighted in the wild for more than 25 years. Photos: The world's critically endangered species PHOTO: SUTANTA ADITYA/AFP/Getty Images Sumatran elephant — Sumatran elephants come into conflict with humans due to the rapid expansion of palm oil plantations which destroy their habitat. Sumatran elephants come into conflict with humans due to the rapid expansion of palm oil plantations which destroy their habitat. Photos: The world's critically endangered species PHOTO: ROMEO GACAD/AFP/Getty Images Sumatran tiger — Sumatran tigers are the smallest surviving tiger species and are protected by law in Indonesia. But despite increased efforts in tiger conservation, they remain critically endangered. Sumatran tigers are the smallest surviving tiger species and are protected by law in Indonesia. But despite increased efforts in tiger conservation, they remain critically endangered. Photos: The world's critically endangered species PHOTO: Peter Richardson via Getty Images Leatherback turtle — Leatherback turtles are the largest sea turtle species and also one of the most migratory, crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. According to WWF, their numbers have seriously declined during the last century as a result of intense egg collection and fishing. Leatherback turtles are the largest sea turtle species and also one of the most migratory, crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. According to WWF, their numbers have seriously declined during the last century as a result of intense egg collection and fishing. Photos: The world's critically endangered species PHOTO: Oli Scarff/Getty Image Western lowland gorilla — Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered species. Because of poaching and disease, their numbers have declined by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years, according to the WWF's report. Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered species.<doc-sep>Greenhouse gas emissions have doubled since 1980 and temperatures have gone up 0.7C as a result. This is having a big impact on some species, restricting their ranges and making extinction more likely. The global assessment finds that if temperatures go up by 2C, then 5% of species are at risk of climate-driven extinction, rising to 16% if the world warms by 4.3C.<doc-sep>An 1,800-page report, years in the making, has painted a profoundly stark picture for diversity. With up to a million species facing extinction, humanity itself is in peril, says the UN body that assesses the state of global ecosystems A selection of expert views on the report, compiled by the NZ and UK Science Media Centres Andrea Byrom: Nature is in peril, and humans are the cause This report could not be more clear. Nature is in peril, and humans are the cause. Even more importantly however, it makes a very explicit link between biodiversity and ecosystem function: a loss of biodiversity – which has accelerated massively in the past three decades – is beginning to impact human development, economic productivity, security, and the societies we live in. Put simply, we are making irrevocable changes to nature, and we need to take urgent action to prevent such changes before it is too late. In every domain, from the high mountaintops to the bottom of the oceans, from the Arctic to the tropics, in freshwaters and forests and oceans, human impacts are significant and wide-reaching. The report is also crystal clear about the big drivers of global environmental change: (1) Changes in land and sea use; (2) Exploitation; (3) Climate change; (4) Pollution; and (5) Invasive alien species. These are prioritised in the above order, but it is acknowledged that different regions, and across different domains (for example freshwater compared with oceans), one or other of these drivers need to be afforded higher priority. In Aotearoa, I suspect that invasive species are more front of mind for us than some other drivers (Predator-Free 2050 being the most well-known local example of the growing awareness of the plight of our biodiversity), but the take-home message is that together, these human-induced drivers of global environmental change need to be tackled head-on. It is heartening to see that significant attention was paid to traditional indigenous knowledge, and how indigenous peoples will be instrumental in co-developing solutions to our global environmental problems when so often in the past their voices have not been heard. The report is a stark wake-up call to action, and to that end it provides tangible examples of action that can be taken now – particularly but not limited to policy and governance – that would make a real difference in reversing the decline. And most importantly in my view, it highlights that the global growth-at-all cost economic paradigm simply cannot continue without significant environmental impact. It identifies a need for fundamental, system-wide, and transformative action across technological, social, cultural, economic and environmental fronts, highlighting the sense of urgency needed to address the crisis at hand. I’m in awe of the people that worked so hard over the course of last week to synthesise the huge amount of information available to them – and I’m in awe of the many scientists and researchers worldwide whose work provided so much solid background information for the report. Let’s just hope that the world is listening. Dr Andrea Byrom is director of the NZ Biological Heritage National Science Challenge Carolyn Lundquist: Amid the doom, there are seeds of hope The report is the first global biodiversity assessment since 2005 and shows that species extinctions and habitat degradation are continuing. This report recognises it’s not just about how many species are going extinct, it’s also about the services nature provides for us, such as coastal protection and water filtration, as well the social and cultural relationships we have with nature, like the mana associated with abundant stocks of kaimoana. It also shows amid the doom and gloom there are lots of seeds of hope. These are the many small-scale initiatives from community-led restoration programmes that are bringing nature back to cities, such as the many Hamilton gully restoration projects through to national commitments such as Predator Free NZ. These initiatives combined with new scenario modelling approaches are what we have to focus on if we are to bend the curve in the opposite direction. Dr Carolyn Lundquist is principal scientist, marine ecology, NIWA and associate professor, University of Auckland James Russell: No more time to debate or deny the science The IPBES exists to normalise biodiversity in the same manner the more well-known IPCC has raised awareness about the impacts of climate change. Framing biodiversity as a collective good is challenging, as it has many facets and threats to it, which has made it difficult to conceptualise in its global totality. The report paints a bleak picture of the current status of biodiversity and its decline over the past 50 years, but now makes clear that we can no longer say “we don’t have enough evidence”. The science is in and it’s no longer time to debate or deny the science, but to shift to discussions about appropriate policy responses. In saying that, I found the framing of “opposition from vested interests” as problematic, as it creates an othering where there are sides of “good” and “bad” people. I think the reality is simply that we live in a world of self-interested people, where we all live in a dissonance where our actions and desires are at odds with what the planet can sustainability provide, especially when all of us desire these things. As it has been noted elsewhere, the key here would probably be to rein in the excesses of capitalism, one of the most egregious forms of resource hoarding. It has been noted that the fundamental tenet of economics is unlimited growth which is at odds with the fundamental tenet of ecology that is finite resources. The emphasis on transformative change is important as it recognises we have to move beyond seeking technological fixes and look for meaningful behavioural changes at the personal and daily level. In particular the importance of acting locally to respond to the major threats in their local manifestations. I also want to emphasise how good the indigenous and local people section of the report is.<doc-sep>

A sweeping report assessing the state of the natural world found that humans are having an “unprecedented” and devastating effect on global biodiversity, with about 1 million animal and plant species now threatened with extinction. A summary of the report’s findings was released Monday by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, which was established in 2012 by the United Nations Environment Programme and includes representatives from 132 countries. Robert Watson, the panel’s chair and a professor of environmental sciences at the University of East Anglia in the U.K., said evidence collected over the past five decades from roughly 15,000 scientific and government studies paints “an ominous picture.” “The health of ecosystems on which we and all other species depend is deteriorating more rapidly than ever,” he said in a statement. “We are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide.” The report, which did not list individual species, found that 25 percent of mammals, more than 40 percent of amphibian species, nearly 33 percent of sharks and 25 percent of plant groups are threatened with extinction. Based on these proportions, the researchers estimated that approximately 1 million animal and plant species could die out, many “within decades.” Since the 16th century, humans have driven at least 680 vertebrate species to extinction, including the Pinta Island tortoise. The last known animal of this subspecies, a giant tortoise nicknamed Lonesome George, died at the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador in 2012. A subspecies of the Javan rhino went extinct in 2011, and the western black rhino and northern white rhino are extinct in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund. “The essential, interconnected web of life on Earth is getting smaller and increasingly frayed,” Josef Settele, the report’s co-chair, said in a statement. Rapid deterioration Extinctions have occurred throughout the planet’s history, but the report found that human actions threaten more species now than ever before, with the global rate of species extinction over the past 50 years already “at least tens to hundreds of times higher than it has averaged over the past 10 million years.” This quickening pace should be cause for alarm, according to David Wagner, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Connecticut, who was not involved with the report. “It’s happening faster than organisms can respond evolutionarily,” Wagner said. “That means new species generation won’t be able to keep pace with the loss of species.” This could have serious consequences for the stability of ecosystems around the world, which in turn could directly affect human health, experts say. The interactions between animals, plants, humans and the environment make up a complex web. Disruptions to any part of this biological architecture can have significant, cascading effects. For instance, humans need food to survive. More than three-quarters of the world’s food crops rely, at least in part, on the activities of bees, wasps, butterflies and other pollinators, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The new U.N. report found that 10 percent of insect species are under threat. “When you lose a species, think of it like a fabric, and you’re taking and plucking one of the strings,” said Brett Scheffers, a conservation ecologist at the University of Florida in Gainesville, who was not involved with the report. “Over time, the fabric gets looser and less stable. These are the types of changes we’re observing where entire ecosystems collapse.” Jessica Ware, an evolutionary biologist at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey, said the situation for insects could be even more dire than recent research shows because scientists don’t have a good grasp of the number of insect species. “There are more insects than anything else on Earth, and they are the most diverse group of organisms, but it’s estimated that upwards of 10 million more species haven’t even been described yet,” she said. “If you don’t know the number of species you have, it’s hard to know how many you’re losing.” A problem with many causes The primary threats to biodiversity identified in the report include changes in land use — such as expanding urban areas and devoting more land to agriculture or livestock — as well as pollution, poaching, overfishing and climate change. In many cases, these changes are working in tandem to destroy animal and insect habitats or force species to migrate to other regions, where they may be ill-suited to survive.

Wow. What else can you say after this game but "Wow"? The Golden Knights are up by three goals in the third period after Max Pacioretty scores 3:36 into the period. You think, as the minutes wind down, that this will be a Vegas win in Game 7 of the first-round series. But hold on. Joe Pavelski and Cody Eakin line up for a faceoff deep in Vegas' end. Off the puck drop, Eakin cross-checks Pavelski. The Sharks captain then bumps into Paul Stastny as he is falling and hits his head and shoulder directly on the ice. Pavelski appears to be knocked out and is bleeding. Whether or not it's the right call, Eakin is given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for cross-checking. Logan Couture scores just six seconds into the ensuing power play. As he says to the bench — that’s one. Forty-nine seconds later, it’s Tomas Hertl with the deflection goal. Two minutes and 44 seconds later, it’s Couture again with the tying goal. The Shark Tank is going crazy. Twenty-eight seconds later, it’s Kevin Labanc, and the Sharks have their first lead of the game. You probably think the game is over, but hold on again. Jonathan Marchessault fires a quick shot past Martin Jones with 47 seconds remaining in regulation. We're headed to overtime. Anyone will tell you overtime goals are usually scored in the first five minutes and the last five minutes of the extra session. Well, with one minute and 41 seconds remaining in the first OT period, Barclay Goodrow, who was on the ice for three of the Golden Knights' four goals during regulation, takes a pass, drives around the Vegas defense and buries the puck past a sprawled Fleury. Sharks win 5-4. It's the first Game 7 loss of Fleury's career. "I had a ton of energy," Goodrow tells NBC Sports Network analyst Ray Ferraro after the game. "I was sitting there for most of the overtime. I thought I might as well use my fresh legs to do something." Mission accomplished. Wow. What an ending, what a game. Sporting News tracked scores and highlights from Tuesday's Game 7 between the Golden Knights and Sharks: Golden Knights vs. Sharks: Score, highlights Final score — Sharks 5, Golden Knights 4 1:23 a.m. — What. An. Ending. 1:23 a.m. — GOAL. Barclay Goodrow. Wow. With under two minutes left in the first overtime, he drives to the net and tucks it around Fleury. What an ending. Sharks win 5-4. 1:17 a.m. — Both teams come within inches of scoring, within seconds of each other. 1:13 p.m. — Lots of back-and-forth action. Meier almost puts one past a leaning Fleury but Fleury gets the pad on it. 1:02 a.m — Big poke check by Fleury on Meier, who crashed the net. 12:55 a.m. — Two big stops by Fleury on Meier. 12:53 a.m. — Overtime starts. Third period — Golden Knights 4, Sharks 4 Shots: Golden Knights 29, Sharks 34 12:39 p.m. — We're heading to overtime. 12:36 p.m. — GOAL. This game is just, wow. Jonathan Marchessault buries it off the pass from Reilly Smith with 47 seconds left on the clock. Game tied at 4. 12:36 p.m. — One minute left. 12:36 p.m. — Goal post for Vegas. 12:35 p.m. — Just 90 seconds left. Fleury on the bench 12:32 a.m. — Martin Jones with a fantastic glove save on Mark Stone. 12:31 a.m. — Three minutes and 41 seconds left. Vegas to the power play trailing by one. 12:29 a.m. — Erik Karlsson makes the save of the game as he knocks the flying puck away. The crowd is loud and alive in San Jose. 12:23 a.m. — GOAL. What a turn of events. Kevin Labanc goes against the grain and beats Fleury over the shoulder. Sharks lead 4-3 The @SanJoseSharks have taken the lead late in the third. This game is crazy. Watch more here: https://t.co/Cxfh9sXayp pic.twitter.com/49AMqrbD61 — NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) April 24, 2019 Kevin Labanc of the @SanJoseSharks became the first player in NHL history to record 4 points in a period during a #Game7. #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/Ntf3Ph1eZc — NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 24, 2019 12:21 a.m. — GOAL. Great puck movement by the Sharks and Couture fires it from the point past Fleury. Wow. We're all tied up. Game tied at 3. 12:18 a.m. — GOAL. Here come the Sharks as Hertl deflects the Karlsson point shot. Still four minutes left on the power play. Vegas leads 3-2. 12:16 a.m. — GOAL. Logan Couture scores just six seconds in. Vegas leads 3-1. 12:15 a.m. — Eakin gets a five-minute major for cross-checking and is tossed. The replay shows that Eakin cross-checked Pavelski and Stastny bumped him. Pavelski's head and shoulder hit the ice. 12:12 a.m. — Pavelski is helped off the ice and is not really moving. 12:12 a.m. — Fans throw things on the ice. 12:11 a.m. — Off the draw, Joe Pavelski drops to the ice and does not move. He then gets up briefly and is seen to be bleeding. The doctors come out and Cody Eakin is immediately taken to the penalty box. He gets five and a game misconduct. Pavelski is cross-checked off the face-off and it looks like he hit his head on the ice. He had to be helped off the ice by his teammates. That's scary, awful, and the last thing you want to see. pic.twitter.com/OYqW0zP8GZ — Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) April 24, 2019 12:02 a.m. — GOAL. Max Pacioretty goes five-hole. Dagger for the Sharks. Vegas leads 3-0. 12:01 a.m. — So close as it goes off the post and a solid clear by Brayden McNabb in the paint. Dear Goal Post, HAVE WE TOLD YOUUUU LATELY THAT WE LOOOOOVEEEE YOU? — x-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 24, 2019 12:00 a.m. — After some sustained pressure from the Sharks, Eakin breaks in and is stopped by Jones. 11:58 p.m. — Third period starts. Period 3 coming up! pic.twitter.com/xH6XEDH3R3 — x-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 24, 2019 11:41 p.m. — Trying to get things going for the third with some alums.<doc-sep>LAS VEGAS — Tomas Hertl scored a short-handed goal 11:17 into the second overtime to lift the San Jose Sharks to a 2-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night, forcing a Game 7 in their first-round playoff series. Just 31 seconds after Barclay Goodrow was called for slashing Brayden McNabb, it was Hertl recovering the loose puck and skating in alone and beating Marc-Andre Fleury with a wrist shot to seal the win and force the deciding game Tuesday at San Jose. Logan Couture also scored for the Sharks, and Martin Jones had a playoff career-high 58 saves. San Jose has won two straight after being forced to the brink of elimination to even the series. Jonathan Marchessault scored for Vegas, and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 27 shots. Jones may have saved his best performance for Game 6, coming up with big saves to keep the Sharks in the game with huge saves while under rapid fire. With Vegas carrying momentum over from Marchessault’s goal that tied the score with 8:40 left in the second period, and a penalty kill that carried into the third, Jones’ biggest save came against Reilly Smith, whose point-blank one-timer was stymied. Moments later Jones snuffed out Mark Stone’s slap shot from the circle. The Sharks got on the board just before the end of the first period, when Vegas defenceman Deryk Engelland misplayed the puck in the neutral zone, and Couture gathered the puck, manuevered around Golden Knights defender Nate Schmidt and fired past Fleury glove side to give San Jose a 1-0 with 6.5 seconds left. Marchessault tied it as he gathered a rebound off Shea Theodore’s shot from the point, and lifted the puck over Jones’ right pad with a swift backhand. It gave Marchessault a goal in three consecutive games, and at least one point in four straight. San Jose defenceman Brenden Dillon came up with a big play late in the game. Theodore caught Nosek in stride with long stretch pass, but Dillon did a good job of not taking a penalty while his swiping poke check kept Nosek from even making an attempt on Jones. Both goalies came up with big saves during the first extra period, first with Fleury stopping Kevin Labanc just after the puck drop, and later when Jones stopped Max Pacioretty’s one-timer with 9:57 left. But the biggest moment came with roughly three minutes left in the first overtime, when Fleury and Vegas defencemen Jon Merrill and Colin Miller combined to make several saves and keep the game going. NOTES: Hertl’s goal was the first short-handed winner in NHL history in a game that lasted more than one overtime. … The game marked Vegas’ second only Game 6 in its young history, as its only other appearance in a Game 6 was a 3-0 victory in San Jose during the Western Conference semifinals of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. … The teams received a rare two-day break between Games 5 and 6 because the Jordan Brand Classic high school all-star basketball game was already booked for Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. UP NEXT Game 7 is Tuesday night at San Jose.<doc-sep>“He’s the heart of this team, and to see him go down like that and suffer like that was heartbreaking for us,” said centre Joe Thornton, who rallied his teammates and implored them to score three goals on the power play to erase the 3-0 deficit. “That power-play unit, it won us the game. The boys got together and said this is for Pavs. We love him. It was just a matter of will, and we willed that one for him.” The Sharks responded to the bloody injury to captain Joe Pavelski by scoring four goals on the ensuing power play and then bounced back after allowing the game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation to beat Vegas 5-4 on Barclay Goodrow’s goal 18:19 into overtime on Tuesday night. In Las Vegas, the Golden Knights will always lament the call that they believe was excessive and cost them a chance to advance to the second round. SAN JOSE, Calif. — In San Jose, the game will always be remembered as the Pavelski Payback for the four goals scored on one power play after the Sharks’ captain was knocked out cold, turning around a wild Game 7 that finally ended in overtime. Article content Photo by Jeff Chiu / AP The penalty happened on a faceoff in San Jose’s offensive zone when Cody Eakin cross-checked Pavelski in the chest with 10:47 to play. Paul Stastny then bumped Pavelski as he fell to the ice, his helmet slamming down. Pavelski was knocked out and bleeding on the ice. “You see our leader go down, he’s out cold on the ice and it was kind of like he was seizuring up a little bit so tough to see,” teammate Logan Couture said. The officials huddled as a dazed Pavelski was helped to the locker room and gave Eakin a five-minute major for cross-checking and a game misconduct. Series supervisor Don VanMassenhoven said the major penalty was given because the cross-check caused a significant injury. The Golden Knights disagreed. “They called five minutes for that? Why don’t you have hockey replay or something? It changed the whole outcome of the game,” forward Jonathan Marchessault said. “Seriously. What is that? It’s so disappointing. . The game is not even close, it’s 3-0. Call the two, OK, but a five? With something you don’t even see? You just called the outcome. It’s a joke, that’s what it is. It’s embarrassing.” Photo by Jeff Chiu / AP The Sharks then rallied behind their captain after a plea from Thornton thanks to two goals from Couture, one from Tomas Hertl and then the tiebreaker from Kevin Labanc, who assisted on the first three goals. That scoring spree in 4:01 against Marc-Andre Fleury sent the fans at the Shark Tank so used to playoff disappointment into delirium. It marked just the second time a team had scored four goals on one major power play in a playoff game. “You have to give credit to Jumbo,” Couture said. “He gathered the guys at the bench and said you guys go out and get … three goals right now. When a guy who has played 20 years orders you around like that, bosses you around, you have to do it. We got four.” Martin Jones then appeared ready to seal the win, robbing Mark Stone with a glove save with 3:10 to go and Vegas on the power play. But the Golden Knights didn’t go away and got the equalizer with Fleury pulled in the final minute. William Karlsson, who scored the first goal, leaped at the blue line to keep a puck in the zone and then Reilly Smith ended up with it behind the net where he set up Marchessault to make it 4-4 and set up overtime. It was the third-latest tying goal in a Game 7 in NHL history but it wasn’t enough for Vegas. “Last year we were in the Stanley Cup finals and it was tough to lose, tonight was tougher than that,” coach Gerard Gallant said. “It really was, the way we lost that hockey game.” Fourth-liner Goodrow, on his second shift in the overtime, delivered late in the extra period. He took a pass from Erik Karlsson and deking his way past Fleury for the game-winner that set off a wild celebration. The Sharks became just the second team ever to overcome a three-goal deficit in the third period of a Game 7 and win, joining the Boston Bruins, who did it in 2013 against Toronto.<doc-sep>Martin Jones answered the bell Sunday with the San Jose Sharks' season on the line. Jones turned aside 58 of 59 shots in a must-win Game 6, setting a franchise single-game record for saves. He surpassed Jeff Hackett's mark of 57 saves in 1992. The 29-year-old was considered the Sharks' biggest liability entering the series. He struggled through a poor regular season, posting an .896 save percentage and a 2.94 goals-against average. Until Sunday, Jones hadn't put Sharks fans at ease. He entered Game 6 with an .866 save percentage and a 4.37 goals-against average in the series and was yanked in Games 2 and 4. However, the veteran was able to flip the script, helping his team win after being outshot 59-29. The Sharks will hope for a repeat performance in Game 7 on Tuesday in San Jose.<doc-sep>

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Barclay Goodrow scored 18:19 into overtime to send San Jose into the second round of the playoffs with a 5-4 win Tuesday night, capping a wild Game 7 that featured the Sharks erasing a three-goal deficit by scoring four times on a disputed major penalty in the third period and Vegas tying the game in the final minute of regulation. What looked like was going to be a relatively easy Vegas win turned crazy with 10:47 to play in regulation after a bloody scene on the ice led to a major penalty on Cody Eakin and sent San Jose captain Joe Pavelski to the locker room dazed. The penalty happened on a faceoff in San Jose's offensive zone when Eakin cross-checked Pavelski in the chest. Paul Stastny then hit Pavelski as he fell to the ice, his helmet slamming down. Pavelski appeared to be knocked out and blood poured out of his mouth that was already injured after taking a puck to the face while scoring a goal in Game 1. The officials huddled as a dazed Pavelski was helped to the locker room and gave Eakin a five-minute major for cross-checking and a game misconduct. The Sharks then rallied behind their captain thanks to two goals from Logan Couture, one from Tomas Hertl and then the tiebreaker from Kevin Labanc, who assisted on the first three goals. That scoring spree in 4:01 against Marc-Andre Fleury sent the fans at the Shark Tank so used to playoff disappointment into delirium. It marked just the second time a team had scored four goals on one major power play in a playoff game. Martin Jones then appeared ready to seal the win, robbing Mark Stone with a glove save with 3:10 to go and Vegas on the power play. But the Golden Knights didn't go away and got the equalizer with Fleury pulled in the final minute. William Karlsson, who scored the first goal, leaped at the blue line to keep a puck in the zone and then Reilly Smith ended up with it behind the net where he set up Jonathan Marchessault to make it 4-4 and set up overtime. It was the third-latest tying goal in a Game 7 in NHL history. Fourth-liner Goodrow delivered late in the extra period, taking a pass from Erik Karlsson and deking his way past Fleury for the game-winner that set off a wild celebration. Eakin and Max Pacioretty also scored for Vegas and Fleury made 43 saves. Jones, who was pulled for ineffectiveness in two of the first five games, made 34 saves to close out the series and give the Sharks their first comeback from 3-1 down in a series in seven tries. San Jose will face Colorado in the Western Conference semifinals. The Shark Tank was rocking from the opening introductions as the fans came out hoping to witness the completion of the best series comeback in franchise history. The Sharks rode that momentum to a strong start but came up empty on two early power plays. Then in a reversal from Game 6 when Vegas controlled the shot clock but the Sharks came out as winners, the Golden Knights struck first midway through the period after San Jose was called for icing. William Karlsson won the offensive zone draw and Reilly Smith shot a puck toward the net that was deflected and went right to Karlsson, who swept it past Jones to make it 1-0. That appeared to be a good omen for Vegas considering the team that scored first won the first six games of the series and there wasn't even a single lead change during that time. The Golden Knights built on that lead and led 3-0 early in the third when everything changed with the penalty. NOTES: St. Louis also had four goals on one power play vs. Los Angeles on April 27, 1998. ... Sharks F Joonas Donskoi was replaced in the lineup by Lukas Radil after taking a hard hit in Game 6. ... Vegas F Brandon Pirri played in place of Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. UP NEXT San Jose: Host Colorado in Game 1. --- More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

FOREST FALLS, Calif. (KABC) -- A brush fire burning in the hillsides of the San Bernardino National Forest prompted the evacuations of Forest Falls and nearby trails Friday afternoon.Shortly before 2 p.m., a brush fire was reported near Forest Falls and Mountain Home in the area of Highway 38 and Valley of the Falls Drive.Authorities issued mandatory evacuations for the Forest Falls area as well as the surrounding trails as the fire grew to 1,000 acres by the evening hours. It was 0 percent contained.Fire authorities said the fire, dubbed the Valley Fire, was spreading rapidly up steep hills and rough terrain amid temperatures in the triple digits.As many as 500 firefighters were battling the blaze and all recreation sites, as well as trails were closed until further notice.An evacuation center was created at the Inland Leaders Charter School, 12375 California St. in Yucaipa. Animals are not accepted at this shelter, but authorities are working to create one for pets.Highway 38 was closed between Angelus Oaks and Lake Williams.The cause of the fire was under investigation.<doc-sep>CONCORD — A wind-driven grass fire ignited in Concord near the Walnut Creek border on Friday afternoon, prompting the evacuation of several homes, authorities said. After several hours, residents were allowed back into their homes by 10:30 p.m. Reported about 3:40 p.m. at Ygnacio Valley and Cowell roads, the blaze had burned 268 acres in and around the Lime Ridge open space area and was 85 percent contained as of 9:45 p.m., according to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. For breaking news and more get our free mobile app from the Apple app store or the Google Play store. There were no immediate reports of any damage, but two firefighters suffered minor burn injuries, said fire district spokesman Robert Marshall. Marshall said there was no estimated time for full containment. Although the fire was no longer making any forward progress, vegetation at the center of the affected area was still burning. Cal Fire Deputy Chief Scott McLean said 12 mph winds made the blaze challenging to fight. “It’s moving pretty quick and it’s wind-driven,” said fire district spokesman Ryan Bain in the opening hours of the fire. A backfiring and smoking vehicle sparked the blaze as it traveled eastbound on Ygnacio Valley Road, Marshall said. “We’re confident the fire was accidentally started as a result of that vehicle,” he said. Several homes along Crystyl Ranch Drive were evacuated about 4 p.m., according to Bain, and residents in the nearby Montecito neighborhood also reported evacuations. An emergency shelter was set up at Centre Concord at 5298 Clayton Road in Concord. A shelter-in-place order was issued about 5 p.m. for parts of Walnut Creek and Concord near the fire. Authorities also temporarily closed Ygnacio Valley Road at Oak Grove Road. Like our Facebook page for more conversation and news coverage from the East Bay and beyond. Smoke from the fire was visible from the Oakland hills as afternoon gave way to evening. “There is a lot of smoke being put up,” Bain said, “but at this point I think we’re gaining ground on it.” Elsewhere Friday, firefighters were battling a 60-acre fire near Tesla and Reuss roads in Livermore. Cal Fire reported that the blaze was 50 percent contained as of about 9 p.m. Check back for updates.<doc-sep>

Crime & Safety Valley Fire: Blaze Forces Evacuations, Grows To 1,000 Acres The fire has a "large potential for growth," officials said. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered. Reply PASS AREA, CA — A large smoke plume was visible Friday in the Banning and Beaumont areas as a fire broke out in the San Gorgonio wilderness. Dubbed the Valley Fire, the blaze grew to 1,000 acres by Friday evening near Forest Falls, according to San Bernardino National Forest officials. Due to the fire's location, mandatory evacuations were ordered for the community of Forest Falls, Cal Fire's San Bernardino Unit said on Twitter at 3:40 p.m. An evacuation center was established in Yucaipa. As of 9 p.m., here is the latest on the fire, courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service: Current Situation: The Valley Fire started at approximately 1:30 PM on July 6th. The fire is currently 1,000 acres in size, with zero percent containment. The fire is moving north and east, higher into the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area. Mandatory evacuations: The Forest Falls Community east of Highway 38 has been evacuated. Structure protection and security are in place if the fire moves toward the community. Evacuation Center: Inland Leaders Charter School-12375 California Street, Yucaipa CA 93299 (Animals are not being accepted at this time, please check back for additional information on animals shelters) Recreation Closures: Momyer Trail, Vivian Creek Trail, San Bernardino Peak Trail & Big Falls Picnic Area Roads Closures: Highway 38 from Bryant Street (Yucaipa) to Lake Williams Drive (South of Big Bear) closed to all access including residents.

WASHINGTON – As the nation learned special counsel Robert Mueller did not find evidence that the Trump campaign conspired with Russia, Republicans celebrated and then took aim at many of the president's foes. One of the biggest targets thus far: Rep. Adam Schiff, who heads the House Intelligence Committee. "Adam Schiff should resign," White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Monday morning on Fox News. "He has no right as somebody who has been peddling a lie day after day after day unchallenged." She added Democratic-led investigation in the House would "never have the credibility of the Mueller investigation." Attorney General William Barr issued a four-page summary of Mueller's report on Sunday, declaring that Mueller's 22-month inquiry had not found that President Donald Trump or his campaign conspired with Russian efforts to sway the 2016 election. But, on the issue of whether Trump had sought to thwart the investigation, Barr said he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein determined that the president's conduct did not constitute a crime because Mueller's team did not reach a conclusion on whether Trump had obstructed justice. Republicans took the findings as a victory lap and called out Schiff by name repeatedly on Monday. The Mueller shield:Analysis: With Mueller report in, nothing's over. But for Trump, everything has changed 'The American people deserve the full truth':Justice Department offers no clue when Mueller's full report could be released as pressure intensifies House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. asked for him to step down from his post leading the House Intelligence Committee. "I am calling on him to leave the committee as chairman," McCarthy told Fox News, firing off a number of concerns, including his past comments on evidence of possible Russian collusion with the Trump campaign. "He should apologize to the American public and he should step back from being chair of the intel committee," McCarthy said. Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, fired off a number of tweets attacking Schiff, even using the hastag "#FullOfSchiff." "Couldn’t agree more with my friend @GOPLeader," he said replying to McCarthy's call for Schiff to leave his committee post. "After spending 2 years lying to the American people about the collusion conspiracy, this truther is STILL doubling down on his lies. He's a hack & serial fraud. If he had an ounce of integrity, he would resign today. #FullOfSchiff" He also questioned why Schiff should not "face any repercussions" for his statements over the years about Trump's connections to Russia. In another tweet, he said Schiff's conduct had erased trust in the committee. After Barr's letter on Sunday, Schiff said he accepted Mueller's conclusions but contended that it did not clear Trump of wrongdoing. "Mueller did not find sufficient evidence to establish conspiracy, notwithstanding Russian offers to help Trump’s campaign, their acceptance, and a litany of concealed interactions with Russia. I trust Mueller’s prosecutorial judgement, but the country must see the evidence," he said on Twitter. He added in another post: "Mueller spent two years investigating obstruction of justice and found evidence that 'does not exonerate' Trump. Barr took two days to set aside that evidence. The entire report must be published and evidence provided to Congress so the American people can judge for themselves." Schiff seemed to shrug off the resignation calls and told CNN that the attacks weren’t surprising. “I’m more than used to attacks from my GOP colleagues and I would expect nothing less,” he told CNN. Other top Democrats also stood up for him, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "Democrats aren’t going to be intimidated by the White House or Congressional Republicans, we’re not going to be distracted from securing the release of the full Mueller report and the underlying evidence, and we will continue to pursue legitimate oversight because that’s what the Constitution requires," Ashley Etienne, a spokeswoman for Pelosi, told Politico. While Trump and other Republicans claimed vindication in the aftermath of Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, many still pointed to unanswered questions about whether the president's actions constituted obstruction of justice. By the numbers:Nearly 500 witnesses, 675 days: The Mueller investigation by the numbers Democrats continued to demand the public release of the report, sending a letter late Monday to Barr that demanded Mueller's findings by April 2. "Your four-page summary of the Special Counsel’s review is not sufficient for Congress, as a coequal branch of government, to perform [its] critical work," the letter reads. "The release of the full report and the underlying evidence and documents is urgently needed by our committees to perform their duties under the Constitution."<doc-sep>Every Republican on the House Intelligence Committee is calling on Chairman Adam Schiff to resign Thursday, accusing the California Democrat of weaving a "demonstrably false" narrative of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia and "undermining" the credibility of the panel. At a hearing Thursday, Republican Rep. Mike Conaway read a letter arguing Schiff has been "at the center of a well-orchestrated media campaign claiming, among other things, the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government." A visibly emotional Schiff, who did not know this broadside from Republicans was coming, had a strident response. At times raising his voice, he listed a litany of known and controversial interactions between the Trump campaign and Russia — including Donald Trump Jr.'s involvement in the Trump Tower meeting and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort's sharing of polling data with a Russian associate. "You might think it's OK," Schiff said. "I don't." Since special counsel Robert Mueller did not find that Trump campaign associates had colluded with the Kremlin, according to a letter sent to Congress by Attorney General William Barr, Republicans believe Schiff's continued investigation of Mr. Trump and his associates is an example of congressional overreach, and they accused him of abusing his position to "knowingly promote false information." "Your willingness to continue to promote a demonstrably false narrative is alarming," said the letter read by Conaway. "The findings of the Special Counsel conclusively refute your past and present assertions and have exposed you as having abused your position to knowingly promote false information, having damaged the integrity of this Committee, and undermined faith in U.S. government institutions." The letter also says Republicans have "no faith in your ability to discharge your duties in a manner consistent with your Constitutional responsibility and urge your immediate resignation as Chairman of this Committee." The letter was signed by all nine Republican members of the committee, including moderate Reps. Elise Stefanik and Will Hurd. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to remove Schiff from his assignment as chairman. "We need to restore the trust in the Intelligence Committee," McCarthy said, accusing Schiff of lying and comparing him to the infamous Sen. Joe McCarthy. The minority leader also said he would not consider removing Committee Ranking Member Devin Nunes, who was widely criticized by Democrats during his time as chairman and had to step away from the committee Russia investigation, in return for Schiff's resignation. President Trump is also picking a fight with Schiff, echoing the call on him to resign. "Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress!" Mr. Trump tweeted Thursday morning. The committee has been riven by infighting since before Democrats took the majority in the 2018 midterm elections. The Republican-led Russia probe broke down along party lines — Republicans concluded there was no evidence Mr. Trump or his campaign colluded, coordinated or conspired with the Russian government. Democrats decried the investigation as superficial and vowed to continue pulling threads they said Republicans ignored. Asked about the sudden push by Republicans for him to step aside, Schiff told CBS News' Ed O'Keefe Wednesday, "I'm used to attacks from the president and his allies in Congress. This is really nothing new and nothing unexpected." Emily Tillett contributed to this report.<doc-sep>President Trump on Thursday called for Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, who continues beating the drum on collusion, to be tossed from Congress. “Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress!,” Trump wrote on Twitter. Several hours later, Schiff responded to Trump and “his defenders in Congress.” “You may think it’s okay how Trump and his associates interacted with Russians during the campaign,” Schiff posted on his Twitter account. “I don’t. I think it’s immoral. I think it’s unethical. I think it’s unpatriotic. And yes, I think it’s corrupt.” Trump’s demand comes just days after Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, doubled down on whether the president conspired with the Russians during the 2016 election. “Undoubtedly, there is collusion,” he told the Washington Post on Tuesday. “We will continue to investigate the counterintelligence issues.” Schiff said special counsel Robert Mueller, during his 22-month investigation, did not look into whether Trump came under the influence of foreign powers. His insistence on collusion follows on the heels of Attorney General William Barr’s four-page summary of Mueller’s probe that concluded there is no evidence that either the president or his campaign associates conspired with the Russians. Trump’s Twitter comments echo remarks he made to Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday night. “I heard they should force him off the committee, or off the committee chair. He should be forced out of office,” Trump told Hannity. “He is a disgrace to our country.” The president said Schiff’s constant airing of the “collusion delusion” could be considered criminal because “he was making horrible statements that he knew were false.” Trump, who has tussled with Schiff since entering the White House, called the congressman a “pencil neck” during a White House meeting Tuesday with Senate Republicans, Politico reported on Wednesday. During the confab, Trump also said Schiff would be a horrible golfer because he would only be able to drive the ball 50 yards down the fairway. A number of Republicans and White House administration officials have called on Schiff to step down since Barr released his summary of Mueller’s findings Sunday.<doc-sep>He led the chorus on Russian collusion with the Trump campaign, and now top Republicans want Adam Schiff to say dosvedanya. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway and numerous GOP lawmakers are calling on Schiff, a California Democrat, to resign as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee for having claimed there was "more than circumstantial" evidence that Donald Trump's presidential campaign conspired with the Kremlin in an effort to win the 2016 presidential election. "You cannot have a chair of a committee that misled the American public, misled their conference, in a moment that we now have an answer," McCarthy said. "It is a time to turn the page and let America trust the committee again." Mike Turner, a Republican congressman who serves on the intelligence committee with Schiff, called for him to step down because he's been "divisive." "He's been dishonest with the American public on what was happening, blaming the Republicans" for stifling the congressional probe into Russia's election meddling, Turner said Tuesday on CNN. Rep. John Ratcliff, R-Texas, a member of the intelligence committee, criticized Schiff and others who have claimed to seeing collusion. "The special counsel said there is no evidence of a Trump-Russia collusion conspiracy, which is a clear indictment of those who say they have such evidence of collusion or conspiracy," Ratcliff said. "They helped Putin consume the public discourse for two years about a false story they claimed was true and, in so doing, gave Vladimir Putin a kind of success he could not have possibly imagined." Conway said earlier this week that Schiff should resign from Congress altogether, a call she doubled down on Tuesday. "Are we supposed to have faith in his ability to be a nonpartisan arbiter of what is right? This is somebody who has access to the nation's secrets," she told Fox News. Schiff has long been one of the loudest Democratic voices on the issue of Russian interference, repeatedly suggesting more incriminating information would emerge from the investigations into the Trump campaign. "I can tell you that the case is more than that and I can't go into the particulars, but there is more than circumstantial evidence now," he told Chuck Todd on MSNBC's "Meet the Press Daily" in March of 2017. He's also said the Russia case is "a size and scope probably beyond Watergate." According to a summary of Mueller's long-awaited findings by Attorney General William Barr, there was no coordination or conspiracy between Trump, his campaign and the Russian government. That's despite numerous interactions between the Trump campaign and Russian nationals that had not been disclosed publicly until after the election. Schiff stood behind his comments, and said he's not going anywhere. "I'm used to attacks from the president and his allies. This is really nothing new," he said leaving a House Democratic caucus meeting on Tuesday. He also vowed to press ahead with his committee's investigations, and to push for a public release of Mueller's report. "The American people need to see the whole report, and we'll be discussing with leadership if necessary what steps are going to be required to make that happen," Schiff told NBC News. On Monday, he told the Associated Press that while there was evidence of collusion in "plain sight," he accepted Mueller's conclusion that he could not prove a criminal conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt. Of the GOP attacks — which included a call from the Trump campaign that he be kept off television — he said, "I take it as a sign of effectiveness that they feel the need to go after me." Rep. Pete King, a Republican from New York, said Schiff should "put up or shut up." "I got along with Adam for a number of years, but in the last two years he has gone off the rails. If there's evidence that Adam has, he needs to come forward," King said, but "if Mueller couldn't find anything, I don't know where Adam Schiff is going to find it." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has said the Republican calls for Schiff to step aside are "absolutely so ridiculous."<doc-sep>

All nine Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee have signed a letter calling for its chairman, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, to step down, citing his claims that there was evidence that President Donald Trump's campaign colluded with the Russians during the 2016 race. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, introduced the scathing letter during a public committee hearing Thursday and then read it aloud. "Your willingness to continue to promote a demonstrably false narrative is alarming," Conaway said. "The findings of the special counsel conclusively refute your past and present exertions, and have exposed you of having abused your position to knowingly promote false information." "Your actions both past and present are incompatible with your duty as chairman of this committee," Conaway added. "As such, we have no faith in your ability to discharge your duties in a manner consistent with your constitutional responsibility, and urge your immediate resignation as chairman of the committee." Nine members of the House Intelligence Cmte have just called for Chairman Adam Schiff’s “immediate resignation as chairman of the committee.” For two years he misled the public on collusion, and the American people no longer have faith in his ability to lead. He should step down. pic.twitter.com/QecxGGeopt — Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) March 28, 2019 Schiff then defended himself, listing off a series of events investigated by Mueller that he deemed inappropriate, including when the president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., set up a meeting at Trump Tower with a Kremlin-linked lawyer and her Russian entourage after they offered unspecified Russian government "dirt" on Democratic president candidate Hillary Clinton. "My colleagues may think it is OK that the Russians offered dirt on a Democratic candidate for president as part of what was described as the Russian government's attempt to help the Trump campaign. You might think that's OK," Schiff said. "My colleagues might think it's OK that when it was offered to the son of the president, who had a pivotal role in the campaign, that the president's son did not call the FBI, he did not adamantly refuse that foreign help. No, instead that son said that he would love the help of the Russian." Referring to former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn, who admitted to lying to the FBI about the substance of his conversations with the then-Russian ambassador, Schiff continued: "You might think it's OK that the national security adviser-designate secretly conferred with Russian ambassador about undermining sanctions, and you might think it's OK he lied about it to the FBI. You might say that's all OK." "But I don't think its OK. I think it's immoral. I think it's unethical, and I think it is unpatriotic," Schiff said. "And yes, I think it is corrupt. And evidence of collusion." "Now, I have always said whether this amounts to proof of conspiracy is another matter. Whether the special counsel could prove beyond a reasonable doubt the proof of that crime would be up to the special counsel, and I would accept his decision and I do," the California lawmaker added. Schiff, who had long been one of the loudest Democratic voices on the issue of Russian interference, has been a target of Republicans in the days since special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation ended. Trump himself tweeted earlier Thursday that Schiff “should be forced to resign” from Congress and said he had “spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking.” Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Thursday that "Republicans are afraid of the truth" — "they're just scaredy cats... afraid of a leader" who's "calm, professional, patriotic," she said at her weekly press conference. "I'm so proud of the work of Chairman Adam Schiff," said Pelosi, adding that Schiff's GOP predecessor on the Intelligence Committee, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., had engaged in "irresponsible, almost criminal behavior." "It’s their own insecurity. Their own fear of the truth, their fear of the facts and their fear of an effective patriotic leader in his measured way who’s going to make sure that the American people know the truth," she added. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., who sits on the House Intelligence Committee with Schiff, defended her colleague, saying that the attacks on him were "orchestrated from the White House."

Donald Trump and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani exit the clubhouse following their meeting at Trump International Golf Club, November 20, 2016 in Bedminster Township, New Jersey. Photo : Drew Angerer ( Getty Images ) The sun had barely risen on the East Coast, on Tuesday, before the president got his hands on his phone to tweet the same words that just came out of Rudy Giuliani’s mouth: “Collusion is not a crime, but that doesn’t matter because there was No Collusion ...” Advertisement See, on Monday, Giuliani was doing one of his usual ham-fisted television appearances on CNN where he casually dropped this gem: that a president colluding with Russia wasn’t a crime. It was an unusual comment to make considering the firm company line for months had been that there was no collusion with Russia. It’s also odd that on the first day of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort’s trial—in which he faces “charges on 18 counts of violating tax and banking laws” in special counselor Robert Mueller’s “investigation into Russian election interference in 2016” the company line has switched from “There was no collusion!” to “Collusion is not a crime!” Does this mean that the Trump administration is worried? Most likely they are not. But it’s interesting to note the change of direction here. While the president and the worst lawyer to ever lawyer, Giuliani, are not technically wrong, it doesn’t change the fact that a person found guilty of working with Russia to influence the election can be charged with other crimes. Advertisement Here’s how CNN’s Carrie Cordero, a CNN legal analyst and an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, explained it some months ago: Collusion isn’t a crime “in the literal sense” but that there could be related criminal violations in colluding, such as receiving foreign money in a political campaign or assisting with or being an accessory to computer hacking. Advertisement CNN also notes that the president of people believe who believe tuxedo t-shirts are funny, and the lawyer whose bottom teeth look like calcified butter bits, were ruthlessly bashing Mueller on Twitter claiming that he needs to expose an unnamed “contentious business relationship” that should prevent him from investigating Russia. “On Monday, Giuliani called on Mueller to “be a man” and disclose the alleged conflict of interest, though the former New York City mayor said he “wasn’t aware of what it was,” CNN reports. Advertisement It appears that things are heating up. Remember the first rule in understanding the Trump administration is akin to understanding a teen: If he’s tweeting that means somethings bothering him. Russia is bothering Trump and not in a “Hey Russian hookers, can you all pee on these bed sheets” kind of way. Advertisement It’s a subtle shift in language but a significant shift in tone and it’s bizarre even for this backwards-ass administration.<doc-sep>President Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani sparked news headlines Monday morning by saying "collusion is not a crime." The president himself weighed in Tuesday morning, echoing his lawyer's assertion. Trump tweet But even if that's true, it won't help the president. Giuliani and Trump are correct, technically speaking, that there is no charge called "collusion" that can be found in the federal criminal code. And given that, Giuliani went on to say, then it doesn't matter if Trump or members of his presidential campaign actually "colluded" with Russians to interfere in the 2016 election. But here's the problem for Giuliani: Special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating possible "collusion" by members of the Trump campaign with Russians during the 2016 presidential election, has a number of possible criminal statutes that he could cite to charge such collusive conduct or a cover-up thereof, none of which rely on the word "collusion." Instead, those statutes contain words such as "conspiracy," "obstruction of justice" and making "false statements." And Mueller has the power — which he has repeatedly used since he was appointed in May 2017 — to charge people with crimes that are not related in any way to "collusion." In fact, he has obtained guilty pleas to various crimes unrelated to collusion from Trump's former national security advisor Michael Flynn, Trump campaign official Rick Gates and campaign advisor George Papadopoulos. Mueller also has pending indictments against Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort that are not linked to collusion. He also has obtained indictments against 25 Russians accused of interfering in the election by hacking and social media "warfare." Trump and his surrogates have repeatedly sought to delegitimize the special counsel's investigation by saying there was "no collusion" and calling the special counsel's probe a "witch hunt." Tweet But Giuliani's comments on Monday — which came a day after Trump backer and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said, "Collusion is not a crime" — represent a new stage in the anti-Mueller public relations battle. The two former federal prosecutors now suggest that because there is no law explicitly making "collusion" illegal, then a person can't be prosecuted for actions that constitute collusion. However, Giuliani's and Christie's former employer, the U.S. Justice Department, doesn't agree with them. When Rod Rosenstein, the acting U.S. attorney general for purposes of investigations related to Russian election interference, appointed Mueller in May 2017, he made it clear that Mueller's first order of business was to investigate possible collusion by the Trump campaign. "The Order authorized you to conduct 'the investigation confirmed by then-FBI Director James B. Comey in testimony before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on March 20, 2017, including: (1) any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump," Rosenstein noted in an Aug. 2, 2017, memo to Mueller. The memo went on to say that Mueller was also tasked with investigating "(2) any matters that arose or may arise directly from that investigation." If the words "links" and "coordination" are not close enough to collusion, Rosenstein went further in that same memo, when he explicitly laid out allegations against former Trump campaign chief Manafort, which Rosenstein said "were within the scope of the Investigation at the time of your appointment and are within the scope of the Order." Those allegations are "that Paul Manafort: Committed a crime or crimes by colluding with Russian government officials with respect to the Russian government's efforts to interfere with the 2016 election for President of the United States, in violation of United States law." Manafort hasn't actually been charged with such a crime related to his work on the Trump campaign. Instead, he was indicted, in two separate federal cases, on charges stemming from his consulting work for a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine, which pre-dated his role on the campaign. Rosenstein's memo said those charges are covered by the order authorizing Mueller's appointment — since they stemmed from "any matters that arose" from the investigation. Manafort's lawyers asked a federal judge to toss out one of the cases, based on a claim that the special counsel had exceeded the scope outlined by Rosenstein in the appointment order. That argument flopped. And now Manafort is set to go on trial Tuesday in federal court in Virginia, several miles from the White House, where his former boss Trump has sent out tweets claiming, "no collusion!" Tweet<doc-sep>

(CNN) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday embraced a line of defense offered by his attorney, Rudy Giuliani, that “collusion is not a crime,” even though he continued to deny any alleged ties between his campaign and Moscow during the 2016 election. “Collusion is not a crime, but that doesn’t matter because there was No Collusion (except by Crooked Hillary and the Democrats)!” Trump tweeted. For months, Trump has insisted that there was “no collusion,” but his Tuesday morning tweet hints at a potential expansion of his defense amid the ongoing special counsel investigation. Speaking to CNN’s “New Day” on Monday, Giuliani said he wasn’t sure if collusion was a crime. The President has repeatedly denied that there was any collusion between his campaign and Moscow, and he told The New York Times in December that “collusion is not a crime.” Legal experts, however, have repeatedly said that anyone found collaborating with Russia on the 2016 election could be charged with other crimes, such as conspiracy, and special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation has not concluded. At a CNN town hall in April, former FBI Director James Comey, whom Trump fired, said collusion “is not actually a thing that exists under the federal laws of the United States.” Instead, Comey continued, the question is whether any Americans conspired with a foreign government to commit crimes against the US, which is a crime. And speaking to CNN in May, Carrie Cordero, a CNN legal analyst and an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, said collusion isn’t a crime “in the literal sense” but that there could be related criminal violations in colluding, such as receiving foreign money in a political campaign or assisting with or being an accessory to computer hacking. Trump’s tweet came hours before the start of a trial brought on by the special counsel against Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, who is charged with 18 violations of tax and banking laws related to his foreign lobbying work. The charges do not concern Manafort’s work for Trump during the campaign. Over the weekend, Trump and Giuliani launched some of their most personal attacks to date against Mueller, claiming the special counsel personally has conflicts of interest – including an unnamed “contentious business relationship” – that should preclude him from running the investigation. Trump also accused Mueller of bringing on too many Democratic investigators, and the President made a false claim about the origin of the Russia investigation. On Monday, Giuliani called on Mueller to “be a man” and disclose the alleged conflict of interest, though the former New York City mayor said he wasn’t aware of what it was.

A woman's body was found bound inside a red suitcase near the side of a road in wealthy Greenwich, Connecticut, police said Tuesday. The woman, who was not identified, was discovered early Tuesday after a highway worker scanning the area noticed the suitcase. Inside, police found the woman fully clothed with her hands and feet bound. Officials said the woman appeared to be between 18 to 30. Police are investigating it as a homicide. "The body was constrained and restrained," Capt. Robert Berry of the Greenwich Police Detective Division said on Tuesday. Cold weather in the area where the body was found made it difficult for medical examiners to immediately determine when the woman was killed. Police also said they don't believe the woman was killed where she was found, adding they don't know where she was killed or how. "This is going to be a long, methodical process," Berry said. Anthony Zaccagnino, who owns a gas station near where the body was found, told NBC New York he was freaked out by the discovery of a body. "It's unnerving and a little scary, but hopefully they are good at their job and will get things done," he said. Greenwich, Connecticut, is among the wealthiest areas in the United States, and it was included within the top 20 list of America's wealthiest zip codes in 2018, according to Bloomberg News. Bloomberg listed the average adjusted gross income of Greenwich's 06831 zip code as $626,200.<doc-sep>"It's always sensitive to us that every time we have a tragedy such as this, or there is a family connected to it, we always try to keep that forethought in our minds, and our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to that family," Berry said.<doc-sep>Whoever killed Valerie Reyes and dumped her body in Greenwich, bound by the hands and feet and stuffed in a suitcase, may have crossed state lines in order to confuse investigators. “They’re behind the 8-ball because they don’t have a crime scene. We don’t know where she was killed,” Vernon Geberth said of Greenwich Police. “The killer wanted to complicate the investigation and separate himself from the event by jurisdiction.” Geberth, a retired New York City Police Department lieutenant-commander, has spent a lifetime investigating murders, and teaching police officers the craft. As commanding officer of the Bronx Homicide Task Force, he managed over 400 murders a year. He’s not involved in this case, but he knows that the “logistics and jurisdictional issues” would be a difficult challenge to overcome. Reyes was from New Rochelle, which means “that’s going to be tough for the Greenwich guys because they have to come down into Westchester.” “The dynamics of the homicide are in Westchester,” he said. “Connecticut has the body so they get stuck with the case.” Reyes had been reported missing from New Rochelle on Jan. 29. Her body was found in Glenville on Feb. 5, bound by the hands and feet and stuffed into a suitcase. Geberth said police are likely poring over Reyes’ friends, family and acquaintances. He said all signs point to a crime of passion. “It’s an interpersonal type of thing,” he said. “Every suitcase body I ever had they were known to each other, with the exception of the Mafia.” That suspicion is hightened by the fact that family members have said Reyes was in a state of anxiety and fear before she went missing. Reyes’ mother, Norma Sanchez, said her daughter was afraid, the night before she disappeared, that she would be murdered. “The fact that the young woman told her mother that she was afraid for her life indicates that she knew her her murderer,” Geberth said. Sanchez told The Journal News newspaper that her daughter did not mention being afraid of a specific person. “She was very scared, very frightened. She didn’t mention anything or no one specific. She just said, ‘I’m scared. I’m paranoid, mommy. I’m getting anxiety attacks.” Sanchez told the newspaper. “I asked her, ‘Why do you feel this way? Was there someone at your house?’ ... And she said, ‘No.’” Sanchez concluded: “We wonder, ‘Who made her feel this way?’” If he were involved in the case, Geberth said he would take a close look at the luggage in which Reyes was found. Whose luggage was it? Was it new or old? “What happens with a crime of passion is a person hasn’t thought about what they’re going to do with the body,” he said. Fans of true crime shows on television may jump to the conclusion that a serial killer is responsible, but Geberth said it’s unlikely. “Everybody is serial killer happy. Like I tell the classes that I teach, before you go for the serial killer look at the interpersonal type of crime,” he said. “Just from the presentation of the body, that’s not usually the M.O. of a serial killer.” Geberth, by the way, has some experience working with the Greenwich Police Department. He worked as a consultant with the department after the body of 13-year-old Matthew Margolies was found on a Pemberwick hillside in 1984. That case remains unsolved. “They get hit with some horrible cases,” he said. Jordan Fenster is digital products editor for Hearst Connecticut Media.<doc-sep>A mural of George Floyd is shown in the intersection of 38th St & Chicago Ave on March 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Community members continue preparations during the third day in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged with multiple counts of murder in the death of George Floyd. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 01: President Donald Trump's lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks to journalists outside the White House West Wing July 01, 2020 in Washington, DC. Giuliani did an on-camera interview with One America News Network's Chanel Rion before talking to other journalists about Vice President Joe Biden and the news that Russian intelligence may have paid Taliban operatives to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Vigils & tributes to George Floyd one year since his murder ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: Former President Donald Trump addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency on February 28, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. Begun in 1974, CPAC brings together conservative organizations, activists, and world leaders to discuss issues important to them. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Here's what reported grand jury in Trump case may look like NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 09: People walk past the Trump Tower as the impeachment trial of Donald Trump begins in Washington on February 09, 2021 in New York City. After listening to nearly four hours of legal arguments, the Senate has voted on Tuesday to move ahead with the impeachment trial of former President Trump. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Report: US companies may have benefited from forced labor of Uyghurs WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the conflict in the Middle East from Cross- Hall of the White House on May 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. Israel and Hamas announced that they would agree to a cease-fire, which will take into effect on Friday, following days of fighting that claimed more than 200 lives. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 26: A view of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) light-rail yard where a mass shooting occurred on May 26, 2021 in San Jose, California. A VTA employee opened fire at the yard, with preliminary reports indicating nine people dead including the gunman. (Photo by Philip Pacheco/Getty Images) A healthcare worker prepares to administer a Pfizer/BioNTEch coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine at The Michener Institute, in Toronto, Ontario on December 14, 2020. - Ontario, Canada's most populous province and one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, had 1,940 new cases and 23 deaths on Monday. The province is expected to give its next doses to nursing home workers as a priority, according to media reports. (Photo by CARLOS OSORIO / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CARLOS OSORIO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) 'Never seen levels like this': Union president on airline passenger misconduct Memorial Day weekend will bring rain and cool air for much of the East (CNN) — Days before her body was found inside a suitcase near a Connecticut road, Valerie Reyes called her mother terrified someone would kill her. “She was just really scared, very frightened,” her mother, Norma Sanchez, told CNN affiliate WABC. Tyler Sizemore/AP Valerie Reyes' mother, Norma Sanchez, said she received an unsettling call from her daughter days before she was found dead. The 24-year-old had been living in a basement apartment in New Rochelle, New York, for some time but had recently grown anxious and even felt paranoid of being alone there. “I’m afraid someone is going to murder me,” Reyes told her mother. But it’s unclear why Reyes was afraid. Sanchez said her daughter didn’t mention whether she was scared of anyone in particular. Tuesday, a group of highway workers found Reyes’ body stuffed into a red suitcase in the affluent town of Greenwich, Connecticut — about 14 miles from her apartment. At least three police departments have joined the investigation but no suspects have been named. Meanwhile, her family and friends are juggling grief and their quest for justice. Missing for a week Reyes went missing since the morning of January 29, police said. Neither her family nor the employees at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Eastchester, where she had been working for nearly three years, had seen her for a few days. Greenwich Police Department Valerie Reyes, 24, was last seen on January 29, police said. Several flyers with photos of Reyes and her description began appearing in New York City while relatives began making pleas on social media for information about her whereabouts. “We had hope that she would come back,” one of her cousins, Angelica Reyes, told WABC. “That’s all we knew. That she was in the city, so we thought she was looking for help.” Last week, the New York Police Department’s Midtown North tweeted a photo of Reyes asking whether anyone had seen her. “She was last seen wearing a green coat, black jeans, and black shoes. Suffers from anxiety and depression,” police wrote. A red suitcase hid her body A week after Reyes vanished, a group of highway workers who were on a routine sweep spotted a red suitcase in a wooded area in Greenwich. The bag was about 15 to 20 feet off the shoulder of a road in a quiet neighborhood. When they opened the bag, they found a woman with her hands and feet bound, authorities said. Greenwich, with a population of around 63,000, is on the Long Island Sound about 35 miles outside New York City. The affluent town is home to hedge fund and financial firms. The body was identified as that of Reyes on Wednesday. The Connecticut chief medical examiner’s office, which assisted in identifying Reyes, had not released the cause and manner of death as of Saturday. It could take up to eight weeks before the report will be available, the office said. One of the workers, who has not been identified, was placed on paid leave for taking photos of Reyes’ body and the crime scene.<doc-sep>

The ex-boyfriend of a woman whose body was found in a suitcase in Greenwich, Connecticut on Feb. 5 was arrested in connection with her murder, the New York Times reports. According to the New York Times, Javier de Silva was arrested at his home in Queens, New York City after using an ATM card that belonged o the victim, Valerie Reyes, 24. An officer with the Greenwich Police Department said in a news conference that de Silva "admitted a role in the death of Valerie Reyes" when he was questioned by detectives. Previous reports say Reyes was making frantic calls to her mom from her apartment in New Rochelle, New York, where she lived, in the days before she went missing. "She was going on about how frightened she was in that apartment," Norma Sanchez, Reyes's mother, told the New York Times. "She was hearing about all these murders of women. ‘I just can’t get it out of my head.’” Reyes was last seen by family members on Jan. 27, and didn't show up to work at Barnes & Noble on Tuesday, Jan. 29. It was at that time that Reyes reportedly stopped responding to texts and phone calls, and was seen by a friend near a train station in New Rochelle. But on Wednesday, Jan. 30, detectives reportedly saw surveillance video of Reyes leaving a Chase Bank branch in Manhattan, near Radio City Music Hall, early in the morning. The next day, the Midtown North Precinct of the New York City Police Department tweeted a photo of Reyes, listing her as a missing person, and mentioning that she "suffers from anxiety and depression." #MissingPerson Have you seen VALERIE REYES? 5' 3", black hair, brown eyes, 1/2 sleeve tattoo on left arm. Last seen wearing a green coat, black jeans, and black shoes. Suffers from anxiety and depression. pic.twitter.com/vxvXi40fiV — NYPD Midtown North (@NYPDMTN) January 31, 2019 By the next week, on Tuesday, Feb. 5, highway workers in Greenwich found a suitcase off the side of the road. As the New York Times reports, one worker was caught taking photos of the body inside the suitcase, was placed on administrative leave, and criticized for their "thoughtless and insensitive behavior." Captain Robert Berry with the Greenwich Police Department said in a news conference that investigators don't yet know the cause of Reyes's death or when it took place. Her wrists and ankles were bound when her body was discovered. Sanchez told Greenwich Time that she was alerted about de Silva's arrest just a few hours before family and friends got together to celebrate Reyes's life. Sanchez said she met de Silva a couple of times when he was dating her daughter in 2017, and added that she believes they met on an online dating site. At the gathering in a New Rochelle funeral home, friends and family reportedly expressed relief over de Silva's arrest while celebrating Reyes's life. "She was a good soul, a good person," Steve Costa, who worked with Reyes, told Greenwich Time. "She was the sweetest girl you could meet, always had a smile on her face." Follow Hannah on Twitter.

A group of women whose husbands work as Border Patrol officers are inviting Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiGOP leaders face new calls to boot Greene Biden, Bass press for police reform after meeting Floyd family Kinzinger calls for Greene to be removed from GOP conference after Holocaust remark MORE (D-Calif.) to come to McAllen, Texas, to see what's taking place at the U.S.-Mexico border. "We would like to show you around!" Jill Demanski wrote in a Facebook post to Pelosi last Thursday, which marked the 34th day of the government shutdown. "You don't need to bring any security detail. Our husbands/boyfriends/fiances/wives/significant others are actually very good at their jobs, thank goodness! And since you see no threat here, I'm sure you can just make a quick flight down here alone." ADVERTISEMENT In the post, Demanski said that the public letter was written on behalf of the "Wives of the [Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol]." It is unclear how many wives took part in the writing of the letter. The post had attracted more than 1,000 shares and 1,000 reactions as of Monday evening. “I felt it’s really important to have our leaders come here and see what’s happening first. It’s important to meet with the people who are here on a daily basis, that are witnessing it — the effects of it, that it has on our country,” Demanski said during an appearance on “Fox & Friends” on Monday. “We want them to come here and make an informed decision and to see what’s really going on.” Renea Perez, another wife of a Border Patrol officer, said on the news program that President Trump Donald TrumpTrump lashes out after grand jury seated for New York criminal probe Schumer tees up vote on Jan. 6 commission bill Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission MORE's long-sought border wall would help immigration officers "do their job more efficiently." Perez added that families of Border Patrol officers began feeling like they were "forgotten" amid the shutdown. Trump on Friday signed a continuing resolution to temporarily reopen the government following a 35-day shutdown. The funding lapse was triggered after Congress and the White House failed to reach an agreement on a new spending bill. Trump has repeatedly demanded that more than $5 billion for a wall be included in a bill. Democrats oppose the proposal. Demanski told Fox News that she'd like Pelosi to do a ride-along with with border agents in order to experience what their day-to-day job is like.<doc-sep>Two wives of border patrol agents who rebuked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared on “Fox & Friends” Monday to explain a letter they wrote to her. “I just felt that it was really important that our leaders come here and see what’s happening firsthand. It’s important for them to meet with the people that are here on a daily basis,” Jill Demanski said. “What they witnessing and the effects that it has on our country. And we want them to come here and make an informed decision and to see what’s really going on.” The Thursday letter invited Pelosi to McAllen, Texas, to get a firsthand look at the border and asked the speaker to “stop pretending” that she cares about federal workers. “If you did [care], you would care for their safety, not just their paychecks,” the letter read. WATCH: Renea Perez said her husband feels overwhelmed at the border because they lack the adequate backup and technology to do a sufficient job. (RELATED: Seventh Generation Rancher Explains Why America Needs A Border Wall) “It can be overwhelming. I mean, they do a fabulous job of protecting us. We feel safe in the valley because of them. But they definitely need a wall or a barrier in the high traffic areas,” Perez said. “It will allow them to do their job more efficiently and give them more time to have other people if they are by themselves to have another agent go and meet them. It is definitely needed. And, you know, we just want them to come down there on the line and actually see where the whole argument is about. Come and visit it and let the agents, let them know why they need it.” Co-host Ainsley Earhardt asked Demanski what she would show Pelosi if she accepted her invitation. Demanski said she would send her out with some of the border agents on patrol. “I would hope that she would go out with our agents right on the line and see,” Demanski replied. “I don’t think it’s fair that they’re asking one or two agents to handle groups of hundreds of people crossing over at one time and we see these caravans more and more coming. We don’t think it shows that they’re worried about our agents’ safety, when they’re asking one person to handle this many people coming through at one time.” “But if we have a barrier there, it will definitely slow that down and be able to get them the help and resources that they need,” she continued. “We just feel it’s really unfair to ask them to be doing that by themselves.” You can Follow Nick on Twitter Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.<doc-sep>A pair of women married to U.S. Border Patrol agents sent a snarky letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, inviting her to visit Texas's border with Mexico and see how her opposition to a barrier was misguided. Jill Demanski and Renea Perez, who are both wives of border patrol agents, appeared on Fox & Friends Monday morning to ask members of Congress who oppose President Donald Trump's border wall proposal to visit the Rio Grande Valley. The women said Pelosi and other Democrats who refused to include Trump's $5.7 billion demand for his wall were endangering the lives of their loved ones. Ironically, they also complained about the financial burden of the Trump-led government shutdown, which has temporarily ended until February 15, while touting Trump as the first president to "finally have [our] backs." Both border patrol wives repeatedly thanked Trump but also said it was agents and experts, not the president, who were really demanding the southern border barrier. The Border Patrol wives' letter to Pelosi read: "We the wives of the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol would like to cordially invite you to come visit McAllen, Texas as President Trump did. We would like to show you around! You don't need to bring any security detail. Our husbands/significant others are actually very good at their jobs, thank goodness! We'd also appreciate if you'd stop pretending you care about federal workers. If you did, you would care for their safety, not just their paychecks. We can hold out awhile longer, if it means our husbands and communities are safer." A 17-person bipartisan committee of legislators have until February 15 to reach a deal on Trump's proposed border wall. Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney warned those opposed to the plan that Trump would get his wall "with or without Congress" and was willing to shut the government down a second time. Demanski, whose husband met the president during his recent visit to the southern U.S. border, explained to the Fox hosts why she sent Pelosi a letter. "I just felt it was really important that our leaders come here and see what's happening firsthand. It's important for them to meet with the people that are here on a daily basis, that are witnessing it and the effect that it has on our country. We want them to come here and make an informed decision." Demanski continued, "It is not President Trump that is necessarily asking for the wall. Border Patrol and our agents, the experts here, have been asking for it for years. "We finally have a president that has come here and seen firsthand, the need for it, and has had our back. I don't know of many presidents that really have gone through the turmoil that he's gone through to try and help us try to get this. "It's Border Patrol and the agents that are asking for it, not Trump," Demanski reiterated. Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade claimed Pelosi "totally changed her stance since President Obama," saying Pelosi no longer cared about border patrol agents or their safety. Perez said that agents like her husband frequently spent long hours in remote areas trying to keep what could be hundreds of people from illegally crossing the border. "[The Border Patrol agents] definitely need a wall or a barrier in the high-traffic areas that will allow them to do their job more efficiently and give them more time to have other people, if they are by themselves, have another agent go and meet them," said Kilmeade. "We just want [members of Congress] to come down there on the line and actually see where the whole argument is about—come and visit it, let the agents show why they need the wall." Demanski agreed, calling on Pelosi to "go out with the agents" and see how one or two members of the Department of Homeland Security often handle hundreds of immigrants, especially to slow down migrant caravans. While the Border Patrol wives were as entrenched in their position as the president, they also complained about the Trump-led government shutdown and the effect it had on their family's financial safety. Perez said her husband was not paid for four weeks, and they're yet to receive back pay. "It felt like nobody cared," she said. "Bills don't stop." Kilmeade closed out the segment by claiming that opposition to Trump on a personal level was "the reason you don't have" the border wall. A Facebook group representing "Wives of the Border Patrol" featured several posts about MS-13 gang members in Boston and multiple calls for increased overall border security funding.<doc-sep>

A group of women whose husbands patrol America's southern border along the banks of the Rio Grande are inviting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to come to Texas so she can see first-hand why a barrier between the U.S. and Mexico is desperately needed. “We would like to show you around! You don’t need to bring any security detail. Our husbands/boyfriends/fiances/wives/significant others are actually very good at their jobs, thank goodness!” Jill Demanski wrote in the letter posted on Facebook. TRUMP SIGNS BILL TO END PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN Demanski added: “We'd also appreciate if you'd stop pretending that you care about federal workers. If you did, you would care for their safety, not just their paychecks. We can hold out a while longer if it means our husbands and communities are safer.” Posted on Thursday – a day before President Trump announced a tentative deal to reopen the government at least until mid-February – the letter quickly went viral. “I felt it’s really important to have our leaders come here and see what’s happening first. It’s important to meet with the people who are here on a daily basis, that are witnessing it – the effects of it, that it has on our country,” Demaski said on “Fox & Friends” on Monday. “We want them to come here and make an informed decision and to see what’s really going on.” A 17-person bipartisan committee of House and Senate lawmakers is expected to negotiate border spending as part of the legislative process. It’s unclear if Democrats will budge in their opposition to funding a border wall, while Trump said Sunday he doubted he could accept any agreement struck by congressional negotiators that gives him less than his requested $5.7 billion for the construction of a barrier on the U.S.-Mexico border. TRUMP DOUBTS HE'D ACCEPT ANY DEAL CONGRESS STRIKES FOR BORDER WALL Renea Perez, another Border Patrol wife, told “Fox & Friends” that, while the women feel safe in Rio Grande Valley, the men and women who patrol the southern border could still use some help in high-traffic areas. “[A wall] will allow them to do their job more efficiently and give them more time – if they are by themselves – have another agent meet them. It is definitely needed,” Perez said. “We just want them to come down there on the line and actually see where the argument is all about.” She added the partial shutdown was very hard for the families of Border Patrol agents, who hadn't received a paycheck during the partial shutdown, and, at times, it felt like nobody cared about their community. “It gets tough. The bills don’t stop. We were feeling like we were forgotten," Perez said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Demaski said if Pelosi sees the letter and agrees to visit, she hopes the California Democrat will do a ride-along with border agents to see the day-to-day experiences of those on the front lines of the border issue. “Border patrol and our agents and experts here have been asking for [the wall] for years,” she said. “Now we have a president who has come here and seen first-hand the need and has had our backs.” Fox News' Samuel Chamberlain contributed to this report.

A woman was held hostage by a man for two hours at a pharmacy in Cologne's central railway station on Monday. Police stormed the pharmacy and ended the situation, shooting the individual several times. Klaus Rüschenschmidt, who led the police operation, said the perpetrator had initially thrown a Molotov cocktail inside a fast-food restaurant in the station, injuring a 14-year-old. An eyewitness told DW's David Martin at the scene that the young woman fled the restaurant with her legs on fire. She was taken to the hospital. The assailant then "fled to the pharmacy, where he took a hostage," Rüschenschmidt said. When special forces intervened, the man "attempted to set light to the hostage." Homemade bombs Police spokesman Klaus-Stephan Becker said investigators had found a document belonging to a 55-year-old Syrian asylum seeker in the pharmacy, which "likely belonged to the perpetrator now being treated in hospital." The man demanded the release from custody of a Tunisian woman, and was reported to have said he was a member "Daesh," an Arabic acronym for the "Islamic State" militant group. He had camping gas canisters with him that were stuck together with adhesive tape, as well as bottles of fire accelerant. Cologne station hostage situation: How it unfolded Woman taken hostage A man took a woman hostage at a pharmacy at Cologne train station around 12:45 p.m. (1045 UTC) on Monday, police said. Police believed the hostage-taker was armed. "We're doing everything to get the hostage out of there unharmed," police spokesman Christoph Gilles said initially. Cologne station hostage situation: How it unfolded Cologne central station evacuated Cologne train station, one of the biggest in the country, was evacuated and cordoned off. Police urged locals to avoid the area and warned of likely disruptions to train services. Deutsche Bahn, Germany's main train operator, said the station would be closed until further notice and all traffic, including long-distance connections, had been suspended. Cologne station hostage situation: How it unfolded Police in contact with hostage-taker DW's Dana Regev was at the scene and watched as negotiation crisis units. Police spokesman Christoph Gilles said they were working to find out "what the hostage-taker wants, what his demands are and whether he carries a weapon," adding that police were not aware of the man's motive. Cologne station hostage situation: How it unfolded Witnesses heard shots Police could not confirm eye-witness reports that shots and explosions were heard. Ambulances and heavily-armed police were lined up and waiting behind the train station. DW's Dana Regev reported that two shots had been fired inside the station. A 14-year-old girl was seriously injured with burns during the course of the hostage situation. Cologne station hostage situation: How it unfolded Hostage rescued Police captured the hostage-taker who was seriously injured and rescued the woman he had taken hostage. "The suspect is under control," Cologne police said. "A female hostage has sustained light injuries and is being tended to." Cologne station hostage situation: How it unfolded Suspect claims to be IS member Police later said the suspect, who was badly wounded when police arrived, claimed to be a member of the Islamic State (IS). The man first hurled a Molotov cocktail inside a fast-food restaurant, injuring the 14-year-old girl, then took another woman hostage in a nearby pharmacy. He was holding a real or replica pistol when commandos stormed the site and was in possession of camping gas containers. Author: Louisa Wright Authorities said the perpetrator sustained life-threatening injuries and emergency personnel had to revive him with CPR. The hostage received medical treatment for light injuries. Major disruption Authorities ordered an evacuation of the station, which is a main hub for rail traffic across Germany and Western Europe. The man, who had left luggage behind at the restaurant, was said to have a history of criminal acts, including theft and drug offenses. Read more: German hostage drama: The day the press became the story Deutsche Bahn announced that the station would be closed until further notice and all traffic — including long-distance — has been suspended. Police appealed to locals to avoid the area for the time being. ls, law, rc/rt (AFP, dpa, AP, Reuters) Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.<doc-sep>Police quoted by the Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger daily said a couple were involved, and the man had argued with the woman in a McDonald's restaurant, before holding her in a pharmacy at the station.<doc-sep>

MAINZ, Germany — A teenage girl was injured and a woman was taken hostage on Monday at a train station in Germany in what police say may have been a foiled terrorist attack. Investigators said the incident began just before 6:45 a.m. ET when a man carrying several Molotov cocktails entered a McDonald's near Cologne's main train station and ignited one, which injured a 14-year-old girl. The attacker then fled to a pharmacy at Breslauer Platz, near the back side of the train station, taking a woman hostage, police said at a press conference. He "massively threatened" the hostage, police said, and at one point tried to set her on fire. Authorities said they believe the hostage taker had a weapon and fired multiple shots at him when they stormed the pharmacy around 9 a.m. ET, taking him down. He was seriously injured during his arrest and transported to the hospital for surgery, according to the Agence France-Presse. His current condition remains unclear. The woman held hostage was treated for minor injuries, police said earlier Monday. An eyewitness told local media outlets that the 14-year-old was screaming and "running for her life" with flames shooting up her legs, AFP reports. It was not clear what condition the teenager is in. Police originally said there was "no indication" the hostage situation was terror related, but said during the press conference they were investigating "all directions" and could not exclude it may have been an attempt to carry out a terror attack. According to police, several eyewitnesses said the attacker allegedly claimed to belong the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Investigators said a suitcase and a bag believed to belong to the attacker were found at McDonald's. Several Molotov cocktails were also found at the scene, along with an ID belonging to a 55-year-old Syrian asylum seeker. The prosecutor's office said it is "likely" the ID belongs to the hostage taker, but they are not 100 percent sure. Police said they found that the name on the ID was linked to a number of different crimes since 2016.

Emma Stone capped off her award season run for The Favourite at tonight's Oscars, saving one of her most striking outfits for last. Stone wore honeycomb-esque gold and brown gown to the Academy Awards from Louis Vuitton. She walked the carpet solo. Twitter users immediately started comparing it to different foods, namely toast, bacon, and waffles. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Emma Stone's dress looks like a waffle. Once you see it, you can't unsee it. #Oscars — Adam Mills (@millism) February 25, 2019 This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. I love Emma Stone but her dress looks like my burnt toast this morning for breakfast. #oscars #oscars2019 pic.twitter.com/kg4fWR7sdj — Jacob Gardner (@ThatBoyJacob) February 25, 2019 Stone's film The Favourite has a handful of nominations tonight, including one for Best Picture. And Stone herself has an individual nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Stone was last at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, where she wore a Louis Vuitton asymmetrical jumpsuit. The top was golden and embellished with a giant bow while the pants were black: Steve Granitz Getty Images Stone's boyfriend, SNL director Dave McCary, also made his first appearance with her at an event during the show. They were photographed with Bradley Cooper: Dimitrios Kambouris Getty Images Prior to that, Stone attended the Golden Globes wearing a pale pink and silver gown by Louis Vuitton: David Crotty Getty Images Stone skipped out on the BAFTA Awards two weeks ago and the Critics' Choice Awards. But Stone has a long history of attending the Oscars, especially in recent years. Stone made headlines last year for forgoing a dress and wearing a red blazer and black pants to the award show: Dan MacMedan Getty Images She wore a black, silver, and yellow mini dress to the Vanity Fair after party: JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX Getty Images And in 2017, Stone won her Best Actress Oscar for her work in La La Land. Stone went full old Hollywood with that look, wearing a gold dress with an embroidered top and fringe skirt. Her hair was styled in waves: Jason LaVeris Getty Images Alyssa Bailey News and Strategy Editor Alyssa Bailey is the news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>Five days and countless hours is what it took to put together the star's glamorous look for this year's Academy Awards Emma Stone's Dazzling Oscars Gown Took 712 Hours to Design: Get All the Details Emma Stone hit the red carpet in a high-fashion statement look. The 30-year-old actress glowed at the 2019 Oscars in a burgundy Louis Vuitton gown detailed with sharp shoulder accents. The dress is embroidered sequins, pearls and beads. Get push notifications with news, features and more. 91st Annual Academy Awards - Arrivals Her hair is elegantly pulled back in a low bun and she opted for a smokey eye and soft lip to go with her show-stopping look. She accessorized with rings and earrings from Louis Vuitton’s High Jewelry Collection. It’s no surprise that she stepped out wearing a head-to-toe ensemble by the French house as she is currently the current face of the luxury brand. Bringing this design to life was no joke. “The embroidery took 712 hours plus 22 hours to adjust it after shrinkage. The artwork was made by 2 people in 5 days. It was quite difficult because the design was geometrical and we had to reduce and increase the elements dimensions without changing their total number,” Louis Vuitton told PEOPLE. Stone is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Favourite, which is up for nine additional awards. Stone previously won for Best Actress in 2017 for her performance in La La Land. THE FAVOURITE Credit: Twentieth Century Fox The drama motion picture takes place in early 18th century England where Queen Anne played by Olivia Coleman is too ill to govern the country, leaving it to her close friend Lady Sarah (played by Rachel Weisz) to rule. Stone’s character comes in as a new servant and becomes close to Lady Sarah — but ends up potentially becoming a threat to power.<doc-sep>The 91st Academy Awards have kicked off and several stunning actors, actresses and filmmakers have already descended on the Oscars red carpet. The awards night, presented Sunday night at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, will see some of the biggest Hollywood names shine in their most impressive outfits. Stars like Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke, Saturday Night Live veterans Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph and Tina Fey, Best Actress in a Leading Role nominee Yalitza Aparicio and many others have already made an early appearance at the red carpet. Watch | IMDb Oscar coverage: Amanda Stenberg on the Oscars’ Red Carpet Check out LIVE updates from 91st Academy Awards here Eighth Grade star and presenter Elsie Fisher scurried by reporters calling her name to the entrance of the Dolby Theatre. There were many who wanted to greet Marie Kondo as well. The lifestyle guru gracefully managed requests while The Hate U Give star Amandla Stenberg greeted Dumplin Star Danielle Macdonald. Other early arrivals included nominated songwriter Diane Warren, If Beale Street Could Talk composer Nicholas Brittell and Mary Poppins Returns maestros Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Check out pictures from the red carpet: Serena Williams Serena Williams at the Oscars. (REUTERS) Olivia Colman Olivia Colman arrives at the Oscars on Sunday. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Lady Gaga Lady Gaga at the Oscars. (REUTERS) Rami Malek Rami Malek arrives at the Oscars. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Rachel Weisz Rachel Weisz at the Oscars. (REUTERS) Chadwick Boseman Chadwick Boseman at the Oscars. (REUTERS) Emma Stone Actor Emma Stone poses. (REUTERS) Emma Stone arrives at the Oscars on Sunday. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Brie Larson and Samuel L Jackson Samuel L. Jackson and Brie Larson. (REUTERS) Jason Momoa Jason Momoa arrives at the Oscars on Sunday. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Melissa McCarthy Best Actress nominee Melissa McCarthy. (REUTERS) Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem at the Oscars. (REUTERS) Marie Kondo Marie Kondo at the Oscars. (REUTERS) Sam Rockwell Sam Rockwell and Leslie Bibb. (REUTERS) Amy Adams Best Supporting Actress nominee Amy Adams arrives with her husband Darren Le Gallo. (REUTERS) Emilia Clarke Emilia Clarke arrives at the Oscars on Sunday. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Emilia Clarke arrives at the Oscars on Sunday. (REUTERS) Glenn Close Actor Glenn Close poses. (REUTERS) Glenn Close at the Oscars. (REUTERS) Yalitza Aparicio Yalitza Aparicio at the Oscars. (REUTERS) Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira. (REUTERS) Helen Mirren Helen Mirren at the red carpet. (REUTERS) Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Maya Rudolph, from left, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler arrive at the Oscars on Sunday. (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10<doc-sep>The Academy Awards red carpet is one of fashion's most important catwalks of the year, as Hollywood's men and women show off the looks that could make or break their sartorial reputations. And while pulling off a classic Oscars look can come to define a star's fashion legacy, the same goes for a disastrous red carpet showing, which can haunt them eternally. While truly nightmarish fashion choices were thankfully few and far between on the 91st annual awards' red carpet, plenty of celebs' Oscars looks didn't quite land this year. Oscars 2019:A minute-by-minute update of Academy Awards highlights More: The winners list Linda Cardellini In the immortal words of "A Christmas Story," Cardellini's dress is a pink nightmare. Looking alternately like a feather duster and Elmo in a nightie, it'll be difficult to top the "Green Book" actress' Schiaparelli gown when it comes to the night's wildest looks. Emma Stone Waffles. Microwave pizza. Stone's Louis Vuitton gown may have given us hunger pangs as she made her way down the red carpet, but invoking close-ups of cafeteria food probably wasn't what the "Favourite" actress was intending with her crispy-looking dress. Best-dressed at the Oscars: Charlize Theron, Brie Larson, Amy Adams and more More:So ... almost any movie could win best picture this year Rachel Weisz The "Favourite" actress' Givenchy gown would have been a great fit at, say, the 2018 Catholicism-themed Met Gala. But at the Oscars, her slightly-deranged red nun habit, paired with a prim and proper headband, was a too-daring choice for the night. Sarah Paulson The color works. The necklace works. The beautiful, billowing skirt works. But the wildly unfortunate top of Paulson's Brandon Maxwell gown totally sinks this look along with some truly confusing waist cutouts. Awkwafina We really tried to love the "Crazy Rich Asians" actress' Prince homage with her pale purple suit and matching floppy tie. But her Dsquared2 look was badly in need of better tailoring. Gemma Chan The "Crazy Rich Asians" cast has owned every other red carpet this season. That's why it's such a shame that Chan chose this Valentino look, which while certainly an ambitious and daring choice, made her look more like a floofy comforter than a high-fashion queen. More Oscars 2019:Predicting who will win — and who should Meagan Good "Tacky" is a strong word, especially at the Oscars, when the gowns on display are often meticulously crafted by teams of experts. But the Georges Chakra creation that Good modeled on the red carpet, unfortunately, veered into bad-prom dress territory. Giuliana Rancic For someone who does every major red carpet each awards season, the E! News host should be an expert at choosing gowns. She should have known to steer clear of this Kelly Ng look, with its flimsy lace bodice and a regrettable halter neck. Kacey Musgraves The country music star's mantra may be to "Follow Your Arrow," but perhaps she should've followed hers in a different direction, away from this dress. Alongside Gemma Chan and Linda Cardellini, Musgraves' Giambattista Valli gown may be the best of the three looks, but still lands her in the pink-loofah category. Marianne Farley There's something unfortunately Rennaisance Fair-esque about the ruched bodice and poofy sleeves of the Canadian filmmaker's dress from MAR by Maria Karimi. More:Anne Hathaway jokes about her cringe-worthy Oscars hosting job<doc-sep>

No competitiveness here. Emma Stone penned a sweet note to her fellow Oscar nominee Marina de Tavira ahead of the 91st annual Academy Awards. “Marina, Congratulations! Its [sic] a huge honor to be nominated alongside you,” Stone, 30, wrote to de Tavira, 44. “Have an incredible night!! xox, Emma Stone.” The Mexican actress shared a picture of the handwritten note next to an arrangement of flowers via Instagram on Sunday, February 24, just hours before the awards show was set to begin. She captioned the post: “Good morning! The honor is all mine #EmmaStone what an incredible way to start the day. @theacademy.” Stone and de Tavira are both nominated at the 2019 Oscars for best supporting actress for their roles in The Favourite and Roma, respectively. This is the third nomination for the Easy A actress (she won for best actress for her role in La La Land in 2017) and the first for the Falco star. “I’m so honored with this nomination,” de Tavira told Us Weekly in a statement shortly after she found out she was nominated last month. “Thank you to the Academy for this breathtaking recognition. Forever grateful to Alfonso Cuarón for trusting me with this beautiful character and thank you to Netflix for making this movie visible throughout the world. I share this with Yalitza [Aparicio] and with all of the incredible team that worked on Roma.” The Crazy, Stupid, Love star, for her part, told Us following her nomination: “Working on The Favourite alongside my brilliant friends Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and the whole cast was nothing short of incredible. I was grateful every day and am honored by this nomination. [Director] Yorgos [Lanthimos] created a palace for us all to play in. I am forever indebted to him and the whole team that brought this insane vision to life. Thank you to Fox Searchlight for their invaluable support and thank you to the Academy for recognizing our work.” Three women join Stone and de Tavira in the best supporting actress category: Vice’s Amy Adams, If Beale Street Could Talk’s Regina King and The Favourite’s Weisz.

[Sign up for the Canada Letter newsletter for more Canadian coverage.] Mr. McArthur’s string of murders has prompted an inquiry by a retired judge into how the Toronto police handle missing persons cases and whether their investigations are influenced by the sexuality or race of those who have vanished. In November 2012, the Toronto police began an investigation into the disappearances of three men who, it eventually emerged, were murdered by Mr. McArthur. But the inquiry was shut down after 18 months. Mr. McArthur, who was convicted of assaulting a man with a pipe in 2003, was arrested in 2016. A man said that Mr. McArthur had tried to choke him in the back of his van but that he escaped. The police, at that time, accepted Mr. McArthur’s story that they were engaging in consensual sex. A Toronto police officer is facing disciplinary charges over his involvement in that arrest and release. Two pieces of evidence finally connected Mr. McArthur to the killings when the police renewed their investigation in August 2017. Andrew Kinsman, his final victim, had written “Bruce” in a calendar on the date of his disappearance. The police then found surveillance video of someone who appeared to be Mr. Kinsman getting into a red Dodge minivan that day. The video did not capture the minivan’s license plate. But once the police identified it as a 2004 model, a search of Ontario’s license records showed that there were only five such red vans registered to men named Bruce. Mr. McArthur was the only one who had been in contact with the force.<doc-sep>He also took the time to commend the police investigation that brought McArthur to justice, a pointed statement at a time that the police department is under scrutiny for how it handled the early stages of the investigations into some of the victims.<doc-sep>Bruce McArthur, the Canadian serial killer who murdered eight men between 2010 and 2017, was sentenced to life in prison Friday for the crimes that haunted Toronto’s LGBTQ community. McArthur, a mall Santa and landscaper who dismembered his victims and placed their remains in potted plants, will be eligible for parole for 25 years, when he is 92 years old. If McArthur reaches the age of 92, the judge noted even then his chance for parole would be “very remote at best,” the New York Times reports. On January 29th, McArthur pleaded guilty to eight counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Andrew Kinsman, Selim Esen, Majeed Kayhan, Soroush Mahmudi, Dean Lisowick, Skandaraj Navaratnam, Abdulbasir Faizi and Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam, many of who were residents of Toronto’s Gay Village. Life imprisonment with no chance of parole for 25 years was the lightest possible sentence for McArthur, who avoided serving the eight life sentences consecutively by pleading guilty to the gruesome murders. “The accused has saved the family, friends and community at large from enduring a graphic public trial that would have been a nightmare for everyone,” Justice John McMahon told the courthouse upon sentencing. The prosecution sought two consecutive life sentences to ensure parole was not even an option, the Globe and Mail reports. However, McMahon also noted that he had “no doubt Bruce McArthur would have continued killing” if he wasn’t apprehended by police in January 2018, months after the disappearance of Andrew Kinsman. Upon searching McArthur’s residence, police discovered – in addition to victims’ remains – personal items belonging to the victims as well as photographs of them on McArthur’s computer.<doc-sep>TORONTO — A Canadian judge handed down a sentence for serial killer Bruce McArthur on Friday, condemning him to life in prison with no chance for parole for 25 years. McArthur pleaded guilty last week to eight counts of first-degree murder. The 67-year-old former landscaper sexually assaulted, killed and dismembered men he met in Toronto's Gay Village district over seven years. Convicted killer Bruce McArthur has been sentenced to life in prison. Facebook via Reuters Justice John McMahon called McArthur a sexual predator who killed for his own "warped sick gratification" and said the victims suffered slow and painful deaths. He called their dismemberments pure evil, but said the guilty plea spared a jury four months of graphic and gruesome evidence that would have likely required counseling after. McMahon said that even if McArthur lives to 91, the chances of him getting parole are remote at best. Prosecutor Craig Harper had asked for a parole ineligibility period of 50 years, when McArthur would have been 116. The judge said that would've only been symbolic. "All or most of the victims were vulnerable individuals who were lured to their death," McMahon said. "The accused exploited his victims' vulnerabilities, whether they involved immigration concerns, mental health challenges, or people living a secretive double life." The victims fit a pattern: Most were of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent and lived on the margins of Canadian society. Their disappearances attracted little attention. One victim hid the fact that he was gay from his Muslim family. Another was a recent immigrant with a drug problem. A third was a refugee who was ordered deported. And still another victim was homeless, smoked crack cocaine and worked as a prostitute. Many of Toronto's LGBQT community said for years a serial killer was at work. McArthur has been in prison since January 2018 when investigators discovered dismembered remains in planters at home he used as storage for his business. He also staged photos of some of his victims after they died, posing corpses in fur coats and putting cigars in their mouths. McArthur would access some of the photos long after the killings. McArthur pleaded guilty to killing Andrew Kinsman, Selim Esen, Majeed Kayhan, Dean Lisowick, Soroush Mahmudi, Skandaraj Navaratnam, Abdulbasir Faizi and Kirushna Kanagaratnam. The prosecution said that a frequent site of the killings was McArthur's bedroom and that he repeatedly strangled his victims either with his hands or with rope and a metal bar. The killings took place from 2010 to 2017. Criminal experts say it is unusual for someone to become a serial killer later in life, but the prosecution said there is no evidence of earlier murders.<doc-sep>

Serial killer Bruce McArthur, who murdered eight men with ties to Toronto's gay village, was sentenced to life in prison Friday. McArthur pleaded guilty to eight charges of first degree murder between 2010 and 2017. Justice John McMahon in the Ontario Superior Court said he had "no doubt Bruce McArthur would have continued killing," reported Reuters news agency, and noted McArthur had not expressed remorse or turned himself in to police. With each murder carrying a sentence of 25 years, McMahon did not sentence McArthur to serve the punishments, consecutively, meaning he is eligible for parole in 25 years, when he will be 91. McMahon cited McArthur's guilty plea and his age as grounds for his decision, reported CBC. McArthur and his eight victims all had ties to Toronto's gay village neighbourhood. After meeting them, McArthur sexually assaulted, killed them, and in some cases photographed their dead bodies. McMahon said: "All or most of the victims were vulnerable individuals who were lured to their death. "The accused exploited his victims' vulnerabilities, whether they involved immigration concerns, mental health challenges, or people living a secretive double life." McArthur's victims were Selim Esen, Andrew Kinsman, Majeed Kayhan, Dean Lisowick, Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam, Abdulbasir Faizi, Skandaraj Navaratnam and Soroush Mahmudi. Two were homeless with addiction problems, one a refugee awaiting deportation, and others married men who had hidden their sexuality from their families. Remains of seven of the men were found in garden planters in a Toronto home where McArthur had worked as a landscape gardener. The families and friends of victims expressed frustration that the judge had not handed down the harshest possible sentence. "It's not enough for the families, it's not enough for the lives lost and it's not enough for the community," Nicole Borthwick, a friend of Andrew Kinsman, told CBC after the sentencing. "There is no closure. There is no grace. This community is broken and it's going to be broken for a long, long time," Borthwick continued. Police had faced criticism over their handling of the case, with an independent review being conducted into how missing persons cases are handled, after McArthur was able to conduct a seven year killing spree. Members of Toronto's gay community claim their concerns that a serial killer was targetting them were not treated seriously by police.

MUMBAI: It's the weekend but citizens may want to stay indoors as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall in the city. Coming this weekend are also two of the biggest high tides of this season.The IMD has issued a heavy rainfall warning for Saturday with very heavy showers in some areas of Palghar, Thane, Mumbai and Raigad. On Sunday too, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at some places in Mumbai.The weekend high tides are highest this season-4.97m at 1.49pm on Sunday and 4.96m at 1.02pm on Saturday. As heavy rainfall coupled with a high tide is known to cause flooding in the city, BMC has put its officials on alert. During a high tide, the BMC closes flood gates to prevent seawater from entering the city but that also means there is no way out for the rainwater.On Friday, in the 12 hours ending 8.30pm, IMD's Colaba observatory recorded 3mm rainfall while IMD's Santacruz observatory received 12.2mm. Residents said that ever since the onset of monsoon on June 9, heavy rainfall has lashed the city almost every weekend. "While this is a dampener for many who have planned weekend outings as heavy rain makes travelling difficult, it spares Mumbaikars of chaos that follows heavy rainfall," said Mulund resident Mithali Dholas.Mumbai has already recorded the required average rainfall for July. The rainfall received so far is also in excess as IMD Colaba has received 511mm above normal and IMD Santacruz 793mm above normal.Ajay Kumar from IMD Mumbai said, "A circulation in the low pressure area along the north-west Bay of Bengal, a cyclonic circulation over north Chhattisgarh and another circulation over south Gujarat are causing the showers," he said.<doc-sep>This weekend promises to keep Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on its toes with the season’s highest high tide forecast for July 15. The BMC has released a list of high and neap tide days and the discharge of storm water into the sea is very slow. Neap tide is when the difference between low and high tides is the least. The neap tide days during this year’s monsoon are June 7, July 7, August 19 and 20, and September 17, 18 and 19. The BMC has also listed 24 high tide days, of which the highest high tide is expected to be 4.97 metres, on July 15. High tide is when the sea level rises above 4.5 metres. While there are no special plans for the next two days, a civic official said, “During high tides days on weekends, all agencies are on alert as the footfall near beaches and tourist places increases.” On high tide days, floodgates are closed to stop rising seawater from entering the city. If this is coupled with heavy rainfall, chances of flooding become significantly higher – particularly in low-lying areas – since there are no outlets for the rainwater. Marine Drive saw nine metric tons of garbage thrown out of the sea during high tide on Thursday and Friday. The data compiled by BMC showed that the garbage comprised plastic polyethylene bags and thermocol, which were collected by 30 workers.<doc-sep>No need to wait for Centre, we will give permission for door-to-door vaccination, Bombay HC tells BMC The court, saying it will take up the matter on Thursday, directed BMC Commissioner to file an affidavit whether it would be possible to introduce a home-based vaccination drive for senior citizens, differently-abled and bed-ridden or wheelchair-bound<doc-sep>Tonnes of garbage thrown back by the sea onto the beaches Tonnes of garbage is thrown back by the sea during high tide Municipal staff cleaning a beach in Mumbai after high tide MUMBAI: Friday’s high tide washed ashore an eye-popping 9 metric tonnes of trash along the Marine Drive promenade. This is nine times the garbage collected from the promenade every day, said a BMC official.Civic officials said the trash quantity was unprecedented as garbage overflowed onto the adjoining road and one lane had to be shut for traffic. “The washing up of garbage started an hour before the tide reached its peak height of 4.85m at 12.13pm. Later, when the water began to recede, the garbage stayed back,” said an official.Experts said waste that may be floating in the middle of the sea washes ashore on beaches because of intense wave action. “The bigger the waves, the heavier the items they can carry. So big waves can carry all sorts of garbage, from glass and plastic bottles to pieces of stones and bricks to tetrapacks, and dump it on the shores,” said an expert.But it’s not necessary that the garbage that washed ashore at Marine Drive was generated by Mumbai alone. Professor Kapil Gupta from IIT-B’s department of civil engineering said that wave dynamics is quite complex. “The garbage could have originated at some place far away or some ship may have discharged it into the sea,” he said. The city generates over 7,000 metric tonnes of garbage daily.BMC officials said that over two dozen labourers, a big compactor vehicle and two mini dumpers were deployed to clear the mess. Assistant municipal commissioner Kiran Dighavkar said, “On past high tide days, about one metric tonne or even lesser garbage washed ashore. On Friday, the quantum was a lot,” he said.Atul Kumar from Nariman Point Churchgate Citizens Welfare Trust said that earlier, high-tide days were occasions to visit the promenade. “It was relief after summer. But over the past two years, the sea has been throwing up garbage. On Friday, even the drains in the area got clogged due to the huge quantum of garbage,” he said.<doc-sep>

MUMBAI: The sea threw out as much as 361 tonne of garbage on the city’s beaches and seafronts during Friday and Sarturday’s high tides.The BMC managed to collect 226 tonne of the total garbage from just the 10km interconnected stretch of Juhu and Versova beaches.Sunday will see the season’s highest high tide at 4.97 metres. Saturday saw its second highest high tide at 4.96m; on Friday, the high tide rose to 4.8m.While pointing out that the quantum of garbage will only increase on Sunday, civic officials said the collection drive along the seafronts and beaches continued till late on Saturday.The BMC has deployed extra men and vehicles along the seafronts to collect garbage during the weekend. Although it did not rain heavily on Saturday, during the high tide at noon, seawater flooded areas close to the sea at some spots.Activists said the garbage, which mainly comprises plastic, is harmful to marine life. They warned that floating trash brooms installed by the BMC at some places are “not very effective”. Environmentalist D Stalin said, “Floating brooms can only catch floating material, not that which sinks deep into the water due to its weight. Netting the drains, nullahs and rivers is the only option to stop garbage from entering the sea.”Stalin has approached the National Green Tribunal for the netting project to prevent garbage from entering the sea and depositing into mangroves and disturbing biodiversity. The hearing is at its final stage.Activists said most garbage is dumped by slum dwellers due to lack of awareness about disposal. Prashant Gaikwad, assistant municipal commissioner, K-West Ward, under whose jurisdiction Juhu and Versova fall, said, “During monsoon, the quantity of garbage thrown by the sea increases four to five times. During higher high tides, more garbage gets washed ashore. We deployed 150 labourers along with required machinery to clean Juhu-Versova during low tide.”

Activision Blizzard employees officially informed of layoffs The rumored layoffs taking place at Activision Blizzard are now official, as employees were informed in an email sent out this afternoon. Activision Blizzard earnings were just made public and many were waiting to what the details would be regarding potential layoffs hitting the massive gaming company. A reporter learned via an internal email that employees were informed this afternoon that staff will be getting cut. Previous reports suggest the company will cut roughly 8% of its workforce. We'll update when official numbers are revealed. Jason Schreier of Kotaku reported on the email, which included this statement from Blizzard President J. Allen Brack. “Over the last few years, many of our non-development teams expanded to support various needs,” Brack said in a note to staff around 1 pm PT that was obtained by the publication. “Currently staffing levels on some teams are out of proportion with our current release slate. This means we need to scale down some areas of our organization. I’m sorry to share that we will be parting ways with some of our colleagues in the U.S. today. In our regional offices, we anticipate similar evaluations, subject to local requirements.” The move is part of a plan to restructure due to missed expectations for 2018 and lowered expectations for 2019. The letter, as reported, included a promise of a "comprehensive severance package", job placement assistance, continued health benefits, and career coaching. Profit-sharing bonuses for the previous year will also still be given out to the laid-off employees. Activision Blizzard generated $1.79 billion in operating cash for the year ending on December 31, 2018, compared to $2.21 billion for 2017. CEO Bobby Kotick said this in the Activision Blizzard earnings press release: “While our financial results for 2018 were the best in our history, we didn’t realize our full potential. To help us reach our full potential, we have made a number of important leadership changes. These changes should enable us to achieve the many opportunities our industry affords us, especially with our powerful owned franchises, our strong commercial capabilities, our direct digital connections to hundreds of millions of players, and our extraordinarily talented employees.” The plan for 2019 includes increasing development investment in the biggest Activision Blizzard franchises, "enabling teams to accelerate the pace and quality of content for their communities and supporting a number of new product initiatives." Though there are layoffs taking place, the number of developers working on Call of Duty, CandyCrush, Overwatch, Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Diablo will increase "approximately 20% over the course of 2019". This will likely be the result of restructuring once layoffs are completed. We at Shacknews wish speedy employment to all of those affected by this decision.<doc-sep>Activision Blizzard chief financial officer Spencer Neumann’s contract has been terminated, the publisher announced this week. Despite a decline in monthly active users and the drop in shares that accompanied the report, Activision Blizzard says that Neumann’s been fired over a "cause unrelated to the Company’s financial reporting or disclosure controls and procedures." The publisher didn’t specify what the cause was, but Reuters reports that Neumann was poached by Netflix and will be the streaming company’s new CFO. Returning CFO Dennis Durkin, who until recently was chief corporate officer, is taking over. With the share drop, Activision Blizzard is keen to emphasise Durkin’s experience and the company’s growth during his earlier tenure. Even with Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s popularity and the addition of the battle royale mode, Blackout, Activision Blizzard’s games aren’t maintaining the kinds of populations the publisher wants. Destiny 2: Forsaken also didn’t perform as well as it had hoped. Blizzard’s also had a wobbly year. President Mike Morhaime stepped down, BlizzCon was dominated by the poorly-received Diablo Immortal announcement, the Heroes of the Storm team is being scaled back and its tournaments cancelled and, most recently, employees are being paid to leave in the company in an attempt to cut costs. Cheers, CNBC.<doc-sep>Start transforming your game’s economy and increase your bottom line. Get the free guide now. Elevate your enterprise data technology and strategy at Transform 2021. The video game industry isn’t done with its bad news, it seems. Bloomberg reported that Activision Blizzard plans to lay off hundreds of people in a restructuring aimed at centralizing functions and boosting profits. The Santa Monica, California-based company is one of the largest companies in the global game business, but it has hit a tough patch, with slowing game sales and increased competition. Bloomberg cited unnamed sources who are familiar with the layoff plans. A spokesperson for Activision Blizzard declined to comment to me. This news follows a week of bad news for game companies. The company has been beset with leadership changes in recent weeks. Mike Morhaime, the cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment, announced he was retiring in October, to be replaced by World of Warcraft executive J. Allen Brack. Morhaime spent 27 years at the company. When he handed over the reins to Brack, Blizzard ran into an unexpected fan revolt at the BlizzCon event. Blizzard announced it was making a mobile version of Diablo, rather than a PC version. That ticked off a lot of hardcore fans, and Blizzard had to apologize. That seemed to blow over, but it was a rare moment in Blizzard history when fans were upset with the leadership. Then, at the end of December, Activision Blizzard announced it was firing its chief financial officer, Spencer Neumann, after it discovered he was preparing to take a job as CFO at Netflix. That was a red flag for investors that things might not be rosy at Activision Blizzard. Image Credit: Activision Another big shoe dropped on January 10, when game studio Bungie announced that it was parting ways with Activision Blizzard and would self-publishing its future Destiny titles. Sales of Destiny 2: Forsaken were disappointing. But the rift meant that Activision Blizzard would lose about $350 million in revenues in 2019. Now the fresh rumor suggests that the hard times aren’t over. Activision Blizzard employed 9,800 people at the end of 2017, which is the most recent data available. On the Activision side of the business, the main source of revenue is Call of Duty. But leadership has not been stable at the three studios making Call of Duty games. Most recently, both founders of Sledgehammer Games, Michael Condrey and Glen Schofield, left the studio. Condrey just announced he is building a new studio for rival 2K. Eric Hirshberg, former head of Activision, also left the company a while ago. The most stable job at Activision Blizzard has been that of Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard. On Tuesday, Activision Blizzard will report its results for the quarter ended December 31. Analysts believe that the fourth quarter earnings per share will be $1.29 on revenues of $3.05 billion. On the Activision side, revenues are expected to be strong for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, which had a battle royale mode dubbed Blackout. That mode was a response to the runaway success of rivals like Epic Games’ Fortnite and Bluehole’s PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Such battle royale games have captivated players, resulting in huge shifts in player patterns. That is ultimately what is shaking up companies like Activision Blizzard.<doc-sep>

Grassroots labor organization Game Workers Unite is calling on Activision Blizzard to fire its CEO, Bobby Kotick, following massive layoffs at the video game publisher earlier this week. “Upending 800 workers’ lives while raking in millions in bonuses for you and your c-suite buddies isn’t leadership, it’s theft,” Game Workers Unite said on Twitter Wednesday. “We, the workers of Activision and their friends, have had enough. Join us in saying that it’s time to #FireBobbyKotick.” Upending 800 workers' lives while raking in millions in bonuses for you and your c-suite buddies isn't leadership, it's theft. We, the workers of Activision and their friends, have had enough. Join us in saying that it's time to #FireBobbyKotick. ✊🏿✊🏽✊🏾 — Game Workers Unite ✊🏿✊🏽✊🏾 (@GameWorkers) February 13, 2019 Activision Blizzard announced on Tuesday it’s laying off approximately 775 workers, calling the move a “de-prioritizing of initiatives that didn’t meet expectations.” It plans to refocus on core first-party franchises like “Call of Duty,” “Candy Crush,” and “Overwatch.” But, the publisher also reported record revenues during fiscal 2018. Net revenue last quarter was $2.38 billion, which beat the company’s previous outlook of $2.24 billion. Net income for the year was $1.8 billion, an increase compared to the $273 million it reported for 2017, while net revenue was $7.5 billion, up from $7.02 billion in 2017. That money, along with the reported $30 million Bobby Kotick makes in a year as CEO, comes from the labor of Activision Blizzard employees, Game Workers Unite said. “It’s disgusting to hear Kotick boasting about record revenue for the company then announcing an 8% staffing cut in the next breath,” it said. “If we divided Kotick’s obscene annual pay (one the highest paid CEOs in the world), it alone could pay full salaries for all 800 laid off workers.” If we divided Kotick's obscene annual pay (one the highest paid CEOs in the world) it alone could pay full salaries for all 800 laid off workers. #FireBobbyKotick — Game Workers Unite ✊🏿✊🏽✊🏾 (@GameWorkers) February 13, 2019 The organization also took issue with Activision Blizzard’s recent decision to award its new chief financial officer, Dennis Durkin, a $15 million bonus for taking the job. Durkin served as CFO for five years until May 2017, when he became chief corporate officer, according to Bloomberg. He returned to the role after Spencer Neumann left the publisher to join Netflix. “Activision, under Kotick’s leadership, gave a $15 million dollar bonus to the CFO just for changing his job title, then they have the gall to turn around and lay off 800 workers just days later? #FireBobbyKotick,” Game Workers Unite said. “The cycle of layoffs continue to derail our industry because of the prioritization of shareholder profits over workers lives and quality game development,” it added. “If you want to help change the industry for the better, we encourage you to get involved today.” Variety contacted Activision Blizzard for comment, but it did not immediately respond.

Jordyn Woods' Red Table Talk: Watch The Full Interview With Jada Pinkett Smith HERE How to watch Jordyn Woods on Red Table Talk and when. Picture: Instagram/Red Table Talk As we know, Jordyn Woods has filmed a Red Table Talk to reveal her side of the Tristan Thompson cheating scandal. Here's everything you need from where to watch the Facebook Watch web series, how and what time it will be released. Jordyn Woods was the focus of web talk show Red Table Talk this week to, have her say on the Tristan Thompson cheating scandal and we've finally got details over when and what time you can catch the full interview on Facebook Watch. Jordyn Woods Set To Reveal All On Talk Show With 'Aunt' Jada Pinkett Smith Where can I watch the Red Table Talk? The talk show is a relatively new web TV talk show series, having debuted back in May of 2018, that is hosted on Facebook Watch, a video-on-demand service ran by the social media site. You can watch the full show below. Jordyn Woods Shares The Truth Jordyn Woods comes to The Red Table for an emotional first interview about the public scandal involving NBA Star Tristan Thompson, the father of Khloe Kardashian's daughter. She addresses the rumors and accusations. What really happened that night? It’s an RTT exclusive. Posted by Red Table Talk on Friday, 1 March 2019 Kylie Jenner's long term BFF shocked everyone when she broke her silence after the Kardashian scandal by posting a video of herself on a studio set to her Instagram page. So, when will the interview of the year air, how can you watch it and where are you headed for to hear Jordyn's take on the whole thing? What time will the Red Table Talk be on? The show debuted on Facebook around 5pm UK time on Friday 1st March. The full episode is available to watch NOW. RTT's Facebook account announced the episode would air today, Friday March 1st. Most episodes of Red Table Talk air at 5pm PT/8pm ET (1am on Saturday morning GMT. ), but it seems this exclusive was too good to sit on. As it's a web series, the episode will automatically save to be viewed after the fact, as can be seen with other episodes on their page. Facebook users are left wondering what time the Red Table Talk episode will air. Picture: Facebook What did Jordyn Woods say on the Red Table Talk? Jordyn Woods has admitted in her Red Table Talk interview that Tristan Thompson ‘kissed her on the lips’ but insisted there was ‘no tongue kiss’ and ‘no lap dancing'. When prompted by Jada Pinkett Smith, who she calls 'aunt', about exactly what happened, she said: “This is where the story gets tricky. I feel like I can’t point fingers because I allowed myself to be in this position. I allowed myself to be there.” “On the way out he did kiss me.” Although Jordyn's social media accounts went quiet again after the dramatic teaser, there are reports that the 21-year-old model is set to 'apologise' and acknowledge that she is to blame for the incident that went down just after Valentine's Day. Also despite reports that Jordyn claimed she was 'black-out drunk' during the incident, she reportedly admits she was 'totally lucid' and coherent throughout the evening. Khloé Kardashian calls out 'cheaters' and 'liars' on her Instagram story. Picture: Instagram Meanwhile, after laying low, Khloé has gone into full savage mode and is throwing some not-so-indirect shade at Tristan and Jordyn, branding them 'cheaters'. How do I watch Jordyn on Red Table Talk? Fortunately, as it's on a web series and not a US TV channel, the whole episode will be immediately available either to stream live on Friday, or to watch at a later time. This means no waiting around for anyone in a different country and we can only imagine how many people are going to be tuning in! Who is the host of Red Table Talk? Jada Pinkett Smith, wife of Will Smith hosts the show alongside daughter Willow and Adrienne Banfield-Norris. Jordyn Woods's family have been close friends with the Smiths for years and she's said to be so close to them she refers to them as 'aunt and uncle', so it's actually little surprise she's choosing to break her silence with someone she knows and trusts. me: Wow this Kardashian drama is going to get old fast Jordyn Woods: reveals she’s doing a #RedTableTalk interview me:pic.twitter.com/RXzoRjgHQN — haz (@harrylethaby) February 26, 2019 > Download Our Brand New App For All The Latest Kardashian News<doc-sep>EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING, DailyEdge.ie rounds up the best of the day’s celebrity dirt from the top to the very bottom. Source: PA Images Jordyn recorded an episode of Red Table Talk amid Tristan/Khloé scandal Jada Pinkett Smith, the host of Red Table Talk, reportedly wanted ‘to create a healing between Jordyn and Khloe’ by inviting the former onto her show to discuss the saga which is currently unfolding between herself and the KarJenners. And according to numerous reports, the fact that Jordyn agreed to the interview means she could face serious legal trouble. Source: JordynWoods/Instagram via YouTube TMZ suggests that Jordyn may have wanted to tread carefully in the episode, which was recorded yesterday and due to air on Friday, due to the fact she once signed an agreement with the famous reality TV family which prevents her from disclosing too much. And in a shocking twist, it’s believed that Khloé and Ko are fuming that Jordyn made the decision to discuss her supposed tryst with Tristan on television. Who’d have thought? (TMZ. com) Source: PA Images And while we’re on the subject… Brody Jenner, Khloé step-brother, thinks Khloé should have seen it all coming So, we all know that Tristan Thompson was caught cheating on Khloé shortly before she gave birth to their child last year. And former Hills star, Brody, can’t help but think that that should have been the red flag Khloé needed. Speaking to US Weekly at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party in recent days, Brody expressed sympathy towards Khloé, but suggested that his stepsister should have ditched Tristan last year. “Khloe is a great person. Nobody deserves that,” he began before throwing his mind back to the events of last year. I will say, though, he did it once, so she probably should have left him then. To have that happen again … yeah, of course I feel bad for her. Good to know. (perezhilton.com) Source: PA Images Prince Harry asked Meghan Markle if her unborn child was his… no seriously. Something tells us that the older members of the British Royal Family will have squirmed when Prince Harry joked about the paternity of his wife’s unborn child on camera. During a recent three-day trip to Morocco, one woman took the opportunity to celebrate Meghan’s pregnancy by sharing her congratulations. And Prince Harry saw his opening, and ran with it. “What? You’re pregnant?” he asked Meghan incredulously in footage which has been shared by the BBC. When she responded ‘surprise!’, Prince Harry turned to the people present and asked: “Is it mine?’ Lols Harry, lols. And in the rest of the day’s dirt Khloé Kardashian has sent her first message to her fans amid the latest shitshow KarJenner scandal. (khloekardashian/Twitter) Zachary Quinto and Miles McMillan have broken up following a five-year relationship. (eonline.com) Love Island’s Amber Davies feared having sex on television could have negatively impacted her career. (mirror.co.uk) Unsurprisingly, Bradley Cooper’s partner, Irina Shayk, is officially done with all the rumours surrounding her boyfriend and Lady Gaga. (mirror.co.uk) DailyEdge is on Instagram!<doc-sep>Woah, okay. Numerous Instagram users are reporting that Jordyn Woods — former BFF of Kylie Jenner, recently thrown out of Calabasas for risking it all and allegedly hooking up with Khloé Kardashian's boyfriend Tristan Thompson — hinted at an upcoming appearance on Jade Pinkett Smith's Red Table Talk during a brief Instagram Live story this afternoon. Appearing live only for a few seconds, Woods can be seen sitting at the eponymous red table. She looks ready to, well, talk. If a Red Table appearance really is on the cards, that's interesting. We're yet to hear Jordyn's side of the story, save for one awkward public statement she made while promoting her new line of false eyelashes. The Kardashian-Jenners are also yet to formally comment on the alleged betrayal. If Woods really is out of the family for good, a tell-all talk show appearance could be her opportunity to take control of her own narrative, and establish a new career phase. She's been getting a lot of heat from angry Kylie and Khloé fans over the past week, and has reportedly lost her stake in a bunch of Kardashian business ventures. Theoretically, Woods is about to spill tea hot enough to burn down several Calabasas mansions. Then again, would Jada actually book Jordyn without permission from Kardashian matriarch and business mogul Kris Jenner? Surely not. She and Jenner are friends, and close ones at that. Remember when Jaden Smith dated Kylie? Pinkett Smith attended an intimate Valentine's Day dinner at Jenner's house in 2018. Perhaps to help plot 2019's defining celebrity scandal? Not that Woods and the Smith family don't have close ties of their own — Jordyn's father John Woods was a sound engineer on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and she has sometimes referred to Will Smith as her "uncle." If she was going to retreat to another famous family post-Kardashian, the Smiths would be a good pick. Interesting, interesting. We'll update as this story develops.<doc-sep>Up until now, Jordan has remained relatively quiet, only briefly commenting on the drama. But it seems we’ll be hearing her side of the story very soon, as she’s set to appear on Jada Pinkett Smith'sfor a sit-down interview later this week.<doc-sep>

You guys … it’s happening! On Tuesday, February 26, Jordyn Woods took to Instagram Live to tease an appearance on Jada Pinkett Smith’s Red Table Talk. Considering it’s been almost a week since news broke that the model, 21, hooked up with Khloé Kardashian’s baby daddy, Tristan Thompson, we’d say that it’s definitely time for the former Kar-Jenner BFF to explain her side of the story. In the video, Jordyn is wearing all black as she slowly approaches the show’s infamous red table before taking a seat and looking straight at the camera. Intense, right? Question is, will her details of the scandal align with the truth or will Jordyn just try to salvage her reputation? Given just how salacious the details of her steamy night with Tristan are, we have our doubts that she is willing to spill that much tea during a live stream. A source revealed exclusively to In Touch that the SECNDNTURE designer met up with the NBA baller, 27, at SHOREbar in Santa Monica on Sunday, February 17. After partying the night away with friends — including Kanye West’s on-again, off-again rival Drake — the pair eventually ended up back at Tristan’s place with a few stragglers. MEGA “Tristan and Jordyn were into each other, they were cuddling and holding hands. Tristan was rubbing her ass, they were definitely hooking up,” the insider revealed. “It was surreal. We couldn’t believe it.” Couldn’t believe it, indeed! Not only have fans been in a constant state of shock, but the Kardashians themselves are seemingly having trouble processing the situation. Of course, Koko, 34, faces the majority of the pain. Taking to Twitter, the proud mama wrote: “Hi loves, wanted you to know that I appreciate you. I’ve been reading your kind words and they really are a blessing to me. I love you! Thank you, thank you! I’ll be back when I’m in the mood to chat with you all. Until then, remember to be kind to one another.” Hmmm, does kindness include throwing shade left and right? *Wink, wink. * Either way, we’re glad that Koko has spoken. Now, we’ll wait patiently for Jordyn to do the same. Thankfully, it won’t be for too long. Red Table Talk is expected to air on Friday, March 1 on Facebook Live. Can’t get enough celebrity content? Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for fun, exclusive videos with your favorite stars!

The Telegraph Two of the surprise packages of this clay-court season have been British – initially Dan Evans, who made a deep run in Monte Carlo, and more lately Cameron Norrie, who played his second final in three weeks on Sunday. Unfortunately, Norrie wasn’t able to land a maiden ATP title in Lyon. But then he was up against Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has been the dominant force of 2021 outside the slams, and now stands at No 1 in the table of most rankings points gained since January 1. Nevertheless, it had been a hugely creditable effort for Norrie to go this far, especially when you consider that he took out top seed Dominic Thiem on Thursday, and then trounced big-hitting Russian Karen Khachanov in Saturday’s semi-final, losing only two games in the process. Norrie has come to clay late in his career, but it feels like this is developing into his favourite surface. He has one of the heaviest left-handed forehands in the game, loaded with top-spin, and uses it like a miniature version of Rafael Nadal. The result has been a tally of 14 wins and only four losses since he began his European clay-court swing in Barcelona. So while the French Open, which starts next Sunday, has traditionally been a graveyard of British hopes, there are reasons to hope that this year’s event could deliver some more positive results. Norrie’s previous final in Estoril had been a nervewracking affair which he eventually lost on a deciding-set tie-break to the more experienced Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Sunday was more straightforward for Tsitsipas, who needed only 69 minutes to hammer home a 6-3, 6-3 victory. It was Tsitsipas’ second title of the clay-court sequence, after he won Monte Carlo in mid-April, taking out Evans in the semi-final along the way. He has become a serious contender to upset the establishment – specifically Nadal and Novak Djokovic – at Roland Garros over the next few weeks. “I felt in good shape from the beginning of the tournament,” said Tsitsipas afterwards. “I am proud of today’s match, I knew it would be a difficult one against Cameron, who has been showing great tennis this week. He has been winning against good players and showing what the left hand can do on clay. “It was not an easy match today. I had to handle the nerves and I am proud of my performance and the way I stayed focused towards my goal.” On this year’s results, meanwhile, both Evans and Norrie stand among the world’s 20 most successful men. Evans is at No 16 and Norrie No 14. The next challenge for them both is to convert that ATP Tour form into a deep run at a major.<doc-sep>“He was feeling bad and he’s at the hospital,” said manager Alex Cora. “From what I know, it’s nothing serious, but obviously whenever you have to go to the hospital you’ve got be, quote-unquote, worried. But he should be fine. Hopefully we get good news in the upcoming hours and he’ll join us in Houston.” One day after he lasted just four innings and pitched with diminished velocity in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Astros, Red Sox lefthander Chris Sale reported a stomach illness on Sunday afternoon and was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital for observation, the team announced. He was slated to remain at MGH overnight for further evaluation. Advertisement Sale had both diminished velocity and a startling lack of command during stretches of his Game 1 start, in which his four-seam fastball averaged 92.0 miles per hour and he walked four batters (tied for his most in any outing as a member of the Red Sox) while hitting another with a pitch. But Cora said that his struggle on the mound wasn’t a product of illness. “He started feeling bad after the game,” said Cora. Pitching coach Dana LeVangie identified the source of Sale’s struggles as being chiefly related to his lack of a consistent arm slot and mechanics — a product, LeVangie suggested, of altered work between starts rather than a physical issue. After Sale threw an inning out of the bullpen in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Yankees, he didn’t play catch on Wednesday or Thursday. His work to establish his timing and arm slot on Friday came on flat ground. “We’re trying to conserve bullets, throw less leading up to his starts or innings. Sometimes you lose feel a little bit of where the right slot is because you’re trying to conserve,” said LeVangie. “It’s about timing and finding that consistent slot right now, because he’s not allowed to do as much throwing. We’re trying to take care of everything and make sure he’s able to take the ball when we need him to. Advertisement “[Sale is searching for] the right feel, the right delivery. Health-wise, he’s doing fine, but we’re also trying to make sure that what he does pregame doesn’t affect him. It’s a balance that we’re trying to figure out.” LeVangie did acknowledge that Sale, like most pitchers in October, might not be feeling his best, but the pitching coach didn’t see a physical issue that should interfere with Sale’s ability to pitch. “We’re just at the time where you’ve got to go out there and compete, gut it out,” said LeVangie. “Not everyone is feeling their best right now. That’s the way it is.” Those remarks were made on Sunday afternoon, about four hours before the Red Sox’ announcement of Sale’s hospitalization. While LeVangie said at the time that there weren’t any physical concerns that would jeopardize another start by the lefthander, it remains to be seen whether his stomach illness alters that outlook. Assuming that Sale stays on turn, he’d be slated to start Game 5 in Houston on Thursday. Nathan Eovaldi is scheduled to start Game 3, with Rick Porcello likely to go in Game 4. Advertisement Alex Speier can be reached at alex.speier@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter at @alexspeier.<doc-sep>After pitching in Game 1 of the ALCS on Saturday night, Chris Sale finds himself in a hospital bed on Sunday. In the midst of their Game 2 ALCS showdown with the Houston Astros on Sunday evening, the Red Sox announced that their ace lefty reported a stomach illness and was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital this afternoon. The team says that he'll be kept overnight for evaluation. #RedSox LHP Chris Sale reported a stomach illness today and was admitted to MGH for observation this afternoon. He will be kept overnight for evaluation and any further updates will be released when available. — Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) October 15, 2018 This all comes just hours after Sale took the hill for Game 1 of the series. The south paw did struggle against the Astros early and lasted just four innings while piling up 86 total pitches on the night. For the night he allowed two runs, four walks and one hit, while striking out five in Boston's eventual 7-2 loss to go down in the series 1-0 as they try to make their bid for a World Series birth. "I just went out there and lost it for a little bit," Sale said after the game on Saturday, via ESPN.com. "I felt like I was battling myself for a little bit. I was trying to limit the damage and get out there as quick as we can." Sale enter the postseason after turning in a regular season where he also battled health problems with a few DL stints due to a shoulder injury. He finished the 2018 regular season with a 12-4 record, a 2.11 ERA and 237 strikeouts on 158 innings pitched.<doc-sep>Per Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston, the Red Sox announced that starter Chris Sale was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital on Sunday due to a stomach illness. He is being kept overnight for observation. Sale, 29, started Game 1 of the ALCS for the Red Sox against the Astros on Saturday. He lasted four innings, relenting a pair of runs on one hit and four walks with five strikeouts. It isn’t clear if Sale began experiencing symptoms during last night’s start or if they began on Tuesday. Assuming he doesn’t get pushed back in the rotation, Sale would be on target to start Game 5 of the ALCS (if necessary), which would take place on Thursday in Houston. Follow @Baer_Bill<doc-sep>

Update: Sale was released Monday afternoon and will rejoin the Red Sox in Houston in advance of ALCS Game 3 against the Astros. Boston beat writer Ian Browne tweeted the news, with Evan Drellich providing a Sox statement. The Red Sox just announced that Chris Sale has been released from MGH and will rejoin the team in Houston tomorrow. — Ian Browne (@IanMBrowne) October 15, 2018 "Chris Sale was released from MGH this morning and was cleared to rejoin the ball club in Houston tomorrow.” - The Red Sox — Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) October 15, 2018 Sale stayed overnight at Mass General with a stomach illness Sunday night, and hopefully he’s feeling well enough by the time his next start rolls around. Postseason Sale is fun for everyone to watch. This time of year, those 24-hour sicknesses can get anyone. *** Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital with a stomach illness on Sunday and will be kept overnight, the team announced. Sale started Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday, allowing two runs in four innings in a no-decision against the Houston Astros, with five strikeouts and a season high-tying four walks. It is not known whether Sale was affected by this illness during his Saturday start, but he averaged 92 mph on his four-seam fastball in Game 1, after averaging 95.8 mph during the regular season. In Sale’s other start this postseason, he averaged 94.6 mph on his four-seamer in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Yankees. Josh Reddick on Chris Sale: "It’s just a lot easier when he’s throwing 92-93 as opposed to 97. It’s not a comfortable at-bat but he’s finding ways to get outs. Anytime he’s not 100 percent you feel like you have an advantage." — Jason Mastrodonato (@JMastrodonato) October 14, 2018 The Red Sox said that Sale would be kept overnight for observation, and any further updates would be released when available.

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up fornow for the biggest moments from morning TV Coronation Street aired an emotional instalment earlier this evening when Kevin Webster (played by Michael Le Vell) was faced with a tortuous decision. He was told by the doctors he needed to sign a document to allow them to amputate his leg in a bid to save his life. Sophie Webster (Brooke Vincent) was distraught as Jack was on her watch when he was hurt in the first place. And as Kevin agreed to have his son’s leg amputated, he couldn’t hide his true feelings on the matter. He spoke to Gina Seddon (Connie Hyde) following the surgery and explained how they think Jack will recover enough to be able to walk and lead a relatively normal life.<doc-sep>CORONATION Street viewers were left in tears this evening when little Jack Webster was told his foot has been amputated. Kevin's 7-year-old has been fighting for his life over the last few days, after being rushed to hospital and diagnosed with sepsis. 4 Viewers were left in tears tonight in scenes between Kevin Webster and his son Jack Credit: ITV With Jack in a coma, the doctors examined his foot and realised he had ischaemia – a restriction in blood supply to tissues that was spreading. Kevin was then told that they'll need to amputate Jack's foot to keep him alive, leaving him with no choice but to give the go-ahead for the operation. Tonight viewers saw little Jack come round from the operation and ask his emotional dad what happened. Fighting back tears, Kevin tried to explain to Jack that they had to amputate his foot. 4 Kevin had to tell his little boy that he had to have his foot amputated Credit: ITV At first the youngster seemed confused then the reality set in. Turning to his dad he said: "But I can feel it [his foot], I can feel by toe." Referring to the phantom pains his son was feeling Kevin said: "The doctor says that can happen." Little Jack then asked his dad: "What about my football team? We've got a match next week." 4 It was after the little lad nearly died of sepsis Credit: ITV 4 The 7-year-old found the reality of it hard to take Credit: ITV Holding back the tears Kevin said: "I'm sorry son, when you are feeling better we can find a way to help you play again." Viewers couldn't contain their emotion and took to Twitter, with one saying: "Awwwww Kevin & Jack [crying emojis]#Corrie Another commented: "I'm getting emotional with little Jack" This fan found the scene hard to watch: "Awww Jack and Kevin having their chat [heartbreak emoji] Great acting @itvcorrie #Corrie" While another tweeting: "Bawling watching Kevin tell Jack" I'm getting emotional with little Jack 😢 #Corrie — Donna Chandler (@donnachan78) July 10, 2018 Bawling watching Kevin tell Jack 😭 #Corrie — Katie (@RubbaDubBubb) July 10, 2018 More on Corrie Live Blog SOAP BOX EastEnders spoilers LIVE – Kat Slater mugged plus Corrie and Emmerdale latest TROUBLE AHEAD? Coronation Street viewers fear newcomer Curtis spells danger for Emma Spoiler DEADLY REVENGE Corrie's Abi tries to murder Corey after he laughs about Seb's murder Spoiler GUN HORROR Shooting horror as Sharon Bentley's gangster life is exposed in Corrie SHOWDOWN Corrie's Rita Tanner and Jenny Connor held at gunpoint by evil Sharon Bentley Exclusive BETH'S BACK Corrie's Lisa George reveals she's returned to filming after months shielding Spoiler DEADLY REVENGE Corrie's Corey left for dead as Asha and Abi drug him MISSED GOAL Coronation Street fans distracted by age blunder during Sam's kidnapping 'SO PRECIOUS' Corrie fans relieved as Sam is reunited with dad Nick after kidnapping new love Corrie actress Elle Mulvaney goes Instagram official with boyfriend Euan Speaking about the storyline, Kyran Bowes, who plays Jack, told Digital Spy: "I made sure I showed the emotions and feelings of shock and upset that Jack and his dad would be going through in a real-life situation. "I hope I have done the story proud for Coronation Street and for all the people who have suffered sepsis. "It is a terrible illness and I hope that this storyline helps others and raises lots of awareness." Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 02077824220. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up fornow for the biggest moments from morning TV It wasn’t long ago Jack (played by Kyran Bowes) was showing his bravery by standing up to evil serial killer Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre) on Coronation Street. But the 11-year-old is now set for one of the most hard-hitting plots of the year when he develops a fatal condition called sepsis, which occurs when an infection suffers from a serious complication. As the realisation dawns his son could die, Kevin is forced to make the incredibly difficult choice to amputate his leg in an attempt to stop the deadly infection from spreading through his body. Now long-time actor Michael has shared all on his character’s upcoming storyline. Revealing how Kevin feels the hospital situation seems to happen very suddenly, Michael explained he will go through a myriad of emotions before his son’s trauma is solved.<doc-sep>

Coronation Street fans were 'heartbroken' tonight as seven-year-old Jack Webster learned the devastating news that his foot has been amputated. Jack had to have his foot and part of his leg removed after he contracted sepsis from a tumble while playing football. The budding young footballer woke to find his dad Kevin sitting by his hospital bed and asked him why his foot hurt. A tearful Kevin broke the news gently about the procedure and why it had been necessary to save his his life. (Image: ITV) "You've been really poorly. We thought we were going to lose you but the doctors and nurses they saved you," he said. "But to save you they had to do something. The poorly bit it was in your foot and your leg and it would have made the rest of your body poorly as well. "So they had to take your foot and part of your leg away." He added: "They had to do it to save your life, they had to do it." (Image: ITV) Heartbreakingly, Jack pointed out that he could still feel his toes and asked his dad about an upcoming football match he was meant to take part in. "I'm sorry son. We'll try to find a way you can play again," reassured Kevin before telling him to rest. "Jack is so young. Killing me this," tweeted viewer Danny Flexen. "This Jack and Kevin scene is breaking my heart," said Louise. "Aww Jack is breaking my heart," wrote another. Jack was found slumped on the stairs by babysitter Faye Windass after becoming ill from a graze to his knee and Kevin was gutted doctors needed to remove Jack’s foot to stem the infection. The soap has worked with the UK Sepsis Trust on the storyline with Jack played by Kyran Bowes. (Image: ITV) Sepsis, a rare complication of infection that can lead to multiple organ failure and death, kills 44,000 people every year in the UK Hundreds of people each day develop sepsis from infected cuts, insect bites and other common infections and sepsis can arise as a result of any infection from chest infections, flu or cuts and scrapes. The warning signs are feeling abnormally cold to touch, looking mottled, bluish or having very pale skin, having a rash that does not fade when you press it, breathing very fast, having a fit or convulsion and acting very lethargic or difficult to wake up. Want to talk about Corrie with other fans? Join our Coronation Street Fan Chat group on Facebook where you'll also get updates, spoilers and more.

Every four years, an episode of wilful wistfulness sweeps across England. The national football team’s last great moment was over half a century ago. And in the buildup to England’s first World Cup game (against Tunisia on Monday 18 June), there is plenty of careless talk about whether the side can emulate their success in the 1966 tournament, when England beat West Germany 4-2 in the final. In that far-off festival of football, aviation did not figure in ferrying players or fans around England: the most distant stadium from Wembley was Roker Park in Sunderland, little more than 200 miles away, and trains and buses were quite sufficient. Recommended Everything you need know for travelling to Russia for the World Cup Russia 2018 is partly run on rail, with fans heading for Yekaterinburg travelling on football specials the route of the Trans-Siberian. But many supporters, as well as the teams, the organisers and the media, are shuttling around the world’s biggest nation by air. The 2026 tournament, held jointly by Canada, the US and Mexico, looks even more extreme, with likely venues strung out across North America from Mexico City via Miami to Montreal. And in between: as you know, the 2022 World Cup was fairly and squarely awarded to Qatar. As this Gulf nation is smaller than Yorkshire, planes will not be necessary. Or will they? No one knows which teams will qualify for the desert tournament, but however fast Qatar’s infrastructure expands, there is no prospect that all the fans and players could be accommodated in the host nation. So there has been plenty of talk about staying in Dubai or Abu Dhabi and flying across the 200-mile divide for games in Qatar. That won’t be possible if the current geopolitical row in the Gulf continues. For almost a year, Qatar has been squaring up against the UAE, Saudi Arabia and some other Middle East countries. And from the traveller’s perspective, Qatar Airways is banned from a lot of useful airspace. The diplomats have four years to try to solve the crisis, but meanwhile passengers on Qatar Airways are enduring some painfully extended flights. I have been keeping tabs on the flight path of QR773 from Doha to Sao Paulo. From Manchester there is a swift one-hour connection for the flight to South America – but you might not be tempted when you see how extended the journey is between the great footballing nations of Qatar and Brazil. The most direct route between bisects Saudi Arabia. But the airspace ban extends the journey by almost 1,000 miles – nearly two hours’ flying. World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Show all 40 1 /40 World Cup 2018 opening ceremony World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Getty Images World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Iker Casillas and Russian model Natalia Vodianova present the World Cup trophy EPA World Cup 2018 opening ceremony EPA World Cup 2018 opening ceremony REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Russian President Vladimir Putin waves after delivering his speech AFP/Getty Images World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Robbie Williams performs with Russian soprano Aida Garifullina as former Brazilian international player Ronaldo applauds AFP/Getty Images World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Argentina fans heers during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Russia and Saudi Arabia Getty Images World Cup 2018 opening ceremony EPA World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony AP World Cup 2018 opening ceremony President Vladimir Putin speaks before the opening match Reuters World Cup 2018 opening ceremony REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony President Vladimir Putin on the big screen before the match REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Moscow Fan Fest Getty Images World Cup 2018 opening ceremony A Russia fan with Saudi Arabia fans EPA World Cup 2018 opening ceremony President Vladimir Putin speaks before the opening match REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Robbie Williams performs AFP/Getty Images World Cup 2018 opening ceremony REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Saudi Arabia fans EPA World Cup 2018 opening ceremony REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Robbie Williams and Aida Garifullina perform Getty Images World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Colombia fans before the match EPA World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Diego Maradona looks on AP World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Fan zone in Yekaterinburg AP World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Robbie Williams performs REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Robbie Williams performs Reuters World Cup 2018 opening ceremony AP World Cup 2018 opening ceremony REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony Robbie Williams performs Getty World Cup 2018 opening ceremony REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony AP World Cup 2018 opening ceremony AP World Cup 2018 opening ceremony REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony REUTERS World Cup 2018 opening ceremony AFP/Getty Images For the first half-hour the plane aims east, getting further away from South America by the minute, before turning south over the Musandam Peninsula of Oman. It then typically flies out over the Indian Ocean and across Yemen, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Congo. From the point when it leaves the African coast, there is still the equivalent of a London-New York trip ahead to Sao Paulo. At around 16 hours, QR773 is close to being the longest flight on the planet – a record currently held by Qatar Airways with its Auckland-Doha flight, which also has to take a longer track to avoid the UAE. As soon as Russia 2018 is over, fans and teams may be poring over maps of the Gulf to work out where they could possible base their headquarters. On the basis that England are almost certain to qualify (perhaps as a result of winning this summer), I speculate that Cyprus may be hosting the team in 2022. That might sound absurd, but with just 1,250 miles from Larnaca to Doha, it is barely further than England’s journey from their St Petersburg HQ to that first match in Volgograd on Monday.<doc-sep>Sergio Ramos vowed to continue playing for Spain, saying he would go to Qatar “with a grey beard” in order to get over the pain of penalty shoot-out elimination to Russia. The Real Madrid captain was instrumental in the goal that had given La Roja an early lead against the hosts and scored his penalty in the nail-biting climax of the game but he could only watch helplessly as Igor Akinfeev kept out Iago Aspas’s spot-kick to send Russia through and eliminate Fernando Hierro’s team. Sergio Ramos watched his side exit on penalties (AFP/Getty Images) “F***, it’s difficult,” he said to reporters through tears. “It’s so many hours, so much effort and so much dedication. Maybe this wasn’t our best moment but we go home without having lost a game. “I would like to carry on playing [for Spain] for many more years because I’m going home with a terrible pain. I’m going to have to go to Qatar with a grey beard if necessary.” One veteran who did call time on his Spain career was 34-year-old midfielder Andres Iniesta, scorer of the goal that won La Roja their only World Cup in 2010.<doc-sep>A senior Qatari official said that a 48-team tournament could be staged using only the eight stadiums in and around Doha. The organizers of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are open to talks about a 48-team tournament, and can see a format to host it alone. FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s wish to add 16 extra teams to the tournament was seen as pushing Qatar toward letting other states into a co-hosting plan at a time when some Persian Gulf neighbors enforced a hostile, year-long boycott of the tiny emirate. In Moscow last month, pressure on Qatar was eased when the Infantino-chaired FIFA Council agreed that the host nation’s consent was a “precondition” for change. A senior Qatari official said on Saturday a 48-team tournament could be staged using only the eight stadiums in and around Doha. “Yes, it’s doable, we just need to figure out how it is done,” said Nasser Al Khater, the assistant secretary general for organizers Tournament Affairs. “If the format is done right, it could actually be an edition that is exciting.” Although Qatar is willing to negotiate, the veto power it apparently gained is key to any progress on the tournament expansion. “If we feel that it’s not in favour of us or of football, we won’t go for it,” Al Khater said at the opening of a Qatari hospitality house in Moscow’s Gorky Park. “If the format of a 48-team World Cup is an exciting format, and it doesn’t follow the traditional type of format, yeah, why not? It might add an exciting new element.” Possible options One option stands out. A playoff round involving 32 nations from which 16 winners would join 16 seeded teams in a traditional group stage. “Maybe it’s a sudden death, one game sudden death and you’re out, and maybe it happens before the rest of the teams come,” Al Khater said. That format was rejected in January 2017 by the FIFA Council when it agreed to expand the World Cup. The 48 teams at the 2026 edition, which is set to be staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico, will play in 16 groups of three teams. FIFA said last year that the playoff round idea was disliked because sudden-death losers would feel they were going home before the real World Cup started with 32 teams. A further barrier to 48 teams in Qatar is any format would add to the 28-day World Cup program already agreed to for November-December 2022, which is already a departure from the regular mid-year schedule. Europe’s top leagues have said it would be unacceptable for them to lose another weekend of play in November to add extra World Cup playing days. “Everything we have done is toward a 32-team World Cup,” Al Khater acknowledged. Final decisions need to be made FIFA and Qatari organizers have said final decisions about the 2022 tournament are needed before the worldwide program of qualifying games starts early next year. Negotiations at the highest level could take place next weekend when the Emir of Qatar arrives in Moscow to attend the World Cup final. The opening game last month involving Saudi Arabia was attended by its crown prince. The Saudis have been hostile toward Qatar and its World Cup hosting status during the regional boycott. Qatar suffered just “a bit of a disruption” last year to supplies for World Cup-linked projects, Al Khater said. “We don’t have any delays in any of our stadiums, we don’t have soaring costs impact,” he said. “The political situation has not affected us at all.”<doc-sep>

THE big numbers of Latin American fans who came to Russia are making 2022 World Cup organizers rethink their own plans for Qatar. Tens of thousands of people gathered in central Moscow even when their team was not playing. The much smaller city of Doha would be packed for the tournament’s first two weeks in November 2022 if the same occurred. In the streets around Red Square, fans from Peru, Mexico and Argentina were a vibrant presence from days before the World Cup started. England's supporters celebrate in the fan fest of Moscow Source: AFP “What we saw in Moscow, which has two stadiums, is that a city can be very quickly overwhelmed by big crowds,” senior Qatari official Nasser Al Khater said in the Russian capital. “The fact you’re going to have the fans of 32 teams pretty much in a city, I think is going to be electrifying.” With eight stadiums in Doha or within an hour of travel, the 28-day World Cup is sure to dominate the tiny emirate of only 2.58 million people. “We want it to (take over Doha),” Al Khater said, adding one possible change. “Seeing the people and how they move, trying to imagine how the traffic flow will be like in Qatar, we’re re-considering where we put our Fan Fest.” A World Cup host city must have a hub for fans to meet and watch games on giant screens. Though Moscow has its Fan Fest south of the center, Qatar’s was planned in downtown Al Bidda Park next to Doha Bay. “It’s in the wrong spot,” Al Khater said. “It would get in the way actually of free flow of people.” Doha will likely have to cope with more fans of European teams. They were fewer than expected in Russia, yet the semifinal lineup has four teams from the continent. Russia fans react after Russia won the penalty shootout Source: AFP “I’m wondering, ‘Where are the European fans? "’ Al Khater said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be the same when Qatar comes along. People regret not coming if they didn’t come. It was amazing football, amazing atmosphere.” Qatari organizers have had 180 staff in Russia observing how to run a World Cup, and could keep one new feature in four years. Visitors to Russia applied for a laminated Fan ID photo card to bypass entry visa rules. The process also allowed Russian authorities to screen people considered to be a security threat, and monitor who entered stadiums. Some saw the ID system as a data protection risk, yet many fans embraced their laminates as though members of a World Cup club. “We think it worked well. We are looking into the Fan ID, to see if it’s a way of making sure that we know who’s entering Qatar,” Al Khater said, describing Russia’s organization as impeccable. “It’s going to be a high bar to beat.”

Maria Butina was ordered jailed pending trial on charges of conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign agent, after prosecutors argued she was a flight risk with Kremlin connections<doc-sep>A new court filing alleges Maria Butina, the Russian gun-rights activist who was recently arrested and charged as a foreign agent, offered “sex in exchange for a position within a special interest organization” as part of a bid to gain access and make contacts in American political circles. Butina, the filing notes, is believed to have “cohabited and been involved in a personal relationship” with an unnamed U.S. person for the sole purpose of developing her alleged influence operation, sparking comparisons to the recent spy thriller “Red Sparrow” starring Jennifer Lawrence as a Russian femme fatale. “This relationship does not represent a strong tie to the United States because Butina appears to treat it as simply a necessary aspect of her activities,” the filing said. “For example on at least one occasion, Butina offered an individual other than U.S. Person 1 sex in exchange for a position within a special interest organization. Further, in papers seized by the FBI, Butina complained about living with U.S. Person 1 and expressed disdain for continuing to cohabitant with U.S. Person 1.” At her first court appearance in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, a federal magistrate judge ordered Butina held without bond pending trial. Butina pleaded not guilty to criminal charges of conspiracy and failure to register as a foreign agent. If she is found guilty, Butina could face up to ten years in prison. The 12-page filing -- which quotes from electronic messages in which a Russian official compares her to Anna Chapman, the red-headed Russian spy who operated under deep cover until she was discovered and deported as part of a prisoner swap in 2010 -- notes that Butina’s lease was scheduled to end on July 31, and she packed her belongings and wired money from her bank account back to Russia, which they believe were signs she was preparing to leave Washington. “Her strong incentive is to retreat to Russia,” the court filing said. “Butina presents an extreme risk of flight.” Advocating for the court to allow Butina to remain out of jail pending trial, her attorney, Robert Driscoll, told the court on Wednesday that his client had plenty of opportunities to flee the country -- including after an April 2018 meeting with the Senate Intelligence Committee as part of their probe into Russian meddling during the 2016 campaign -- but did not. The case brought against her was not brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team, and it is not known whether it has any connection to the broader investigation into Russian meddling in the presidential campaign. Butina’s attorney has offered a strong rebuke against the government allegations, calling them “overblown” and saying she only sought to build friendly relations between Russians and conservative American activists. But the filing by counter-intelligence prosecutors says only some of what is known of Butina’s activities in the U.S. have been made public so far. “The weight of evidence against the defendant is substantial,” the filing said. FBI agents have been monitoring Butina for more than a year, the filing said, and believe she maintained contact with the Russian spy agency FSB during her stay. They allege that she built close relationships with several politically-connected Americans for the sole purpose of exploiting them for access. “The plan was calculated, patient, and directed by [a] Russian official,” the filing said. “The defendant’s covert influence campaign involved substantial planning, international coordination and preparation. The plan for Butina also required, and she demonstrated, a willingness to use deceit…to bring the plan to fruition.” Butina, 29, had been a mysterious presence in conservative circles over the past several years. She cofounded the Russian gun-rights group “The Right to Bear Arms” with Alexander Torshin, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, and then, according to prosecutors, used those seemingly shared interests to cultivate ties to high-ranking NRA officials and conservative politicians in the United States. Butina and Torshin were frequent attendees of the annual NRA conventions, and former NRA president David Keene returned the favor. In 2013, Butina introduced Keene at the Right to Bear Arms annual conference in Moscow, and in 2015, she hosted a delegation of NRA board members, including Keene, in Moscow. The relationship with Keene, who has not responded to requests for comment from ABC News, appears to have positioned her to get close to other powerful people, including the president. At the FreedomFest conference in Las Vegas in July 2015, Butina asked then-candidate Donald Trump a question about whether he would uphold “damaging” Russian sanctions. She also attended the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. in February 2017, where President Trump was the keynote speaker. Meanwhile, she was pursuing a master’s degree in international relations from American University, where she graduated in May, but law enforcement officials now believe that was just a cover as she acted as a “covert Russian agent” seeking to “exploit personal connections” and “infiltrate organizations active in U.S. politics in an effort to advance” Russian interests. After graduating, Driscoll said Butina planned on moving to South Dakota to live with her boyfriend, who was not identified during the hearing or in court filings. Throughout her time in the United States, according to the affidavit attached to the initial criminal complaint, she received guidance from an unnamed Russian official who, based on the description, appears to be Torshin, and coordinated with two unnamed U.S. persons, whose identities remain opaque. According to the affidavit, Butina and the Russian official “took steps to develop relationships with America politicians in order to establish private, or as she called them, ‘back channel’ lines of communication. These lines could be used by the Russian Federation to penetrate the U.S. national decision-making apparatus to advance the agenda of the Russian Federation.” That effort appears to have been focused on the NRA. In private messages, Butina emailed one of the unnamed U.S. persons, describing what she called the “central place and influence” an unnamed gun-right groups enjoys in an unnamed political party as the “largest sponsor of the elections to the US congress, as well as a sponsor of The CPAC conference and other events.” The following year, that U.S. person emailed an acquaintance, saying “I’ve been involved in securing a VERY private line of communication between the Kremlin” and leaders of an unnamed political party through an unnamed gun rights organization. ABC News' Lauren Pearle and Lucien Bruggeman contributed to this report.<doc-sep>A woman charged with carrying out a years-long conspiracy to work covertly in the United States as a Russian agent was ordered to remain jailed by a federal magistrate judge ahead of her trial after prosecutors insisted she was a flight risk in a salacious 29-page court filing. It was the latest twist in the case of Mariia Buttina, a 29-year-old recent graduate of American University, who prosecutors say lived a double life by using sex and a love of guns to infiltrate American political organizations, like the National Rifle Association, in order to advance Moscow’s agenda. The court filing, which presented new details on the case that was first made public on Monday, alleged Butina secretly communicated with Russian intelligence operatives and Kremlin-linked billionaires while simultaneously cultivating links with right-wing activists and Republican Party members. “The defendant’s covert influence campaign involved substantial planning, international coordination, and preparation,” prosecutors wrote. Butina appeared Wednesday in federal court in Washington after being indicted by a U.S. grand jury on criminal charges of conspiracy to take actions on behalf of the Russian government and acting as a foreign agent. American investigators executed a search warrant at Butina’s Washington apartment in April seizing her electronic devices, including her laptop and iPhone, which contained contact information that includes an email account with an “FSB-associated domain” and “individuals identified as employees of the Russian FSB.” The FSB is the main successor agency to the former Soviet Union’s KGB. “Based on this and other evidence, the FBI believes that the defendant was likely in contact with the FSB throughout her stay in the United States,” the filing said. Prosecutors describe how FBI agents observed Butina “sharing a private meal” in March 2018 with a person who the federal government believes is a Russian intelligence officer in the United States under diplomatic cover. They also claim she’s “well-connected to wealthy businessmen in the Russian oligarchy,” by detailing a correspondence with a “funder” who is a “known Russian businessman with deep ties to the Russian Presidential Administration.” (Prosecutors say the man is listed as having a net worth of $1.2 billion in 2018, according to Forbes magazine. The publication’s billionaires list for this year includes 11 Russian men whose estimated net worth equals that amount.) The documents against Butina, who also spells her first name Maria, were filed by the Justice Department, and not by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is probing Russian meddling in the 2016 elections. Butina, who lived in the U.S. under a student visa, was arrested in Washington and accused of being an unregistered foreign agent of Russia. In the days leading up to her arrest, prosecutors said that FBI surveillance observed her taking steps to possibly leave the country. According to the documents she had terminated her apartment lease, packed her boxes, visited a U-Haul truck rental facility and transferred $3,500 to an account in Russia. The disclosure offers up a possible rationale of the timing of Butina’s arrest. Her case was made public Monday mere hours after President Donald Trump stood beside his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, after a joint summit in Helsinki. The charges also came after the Justice Department unveiled an indictment last week against 12 Russian military-intelligence officers for conspiring to hack the Democratic National Committee, Hillary Clinton’s campaign and state boards of election in 2016. Robert Driscoll, a Washington lawyer representing Butina, told TIME in an email on Monday that his client was innocent and had been cooperating with “various government agencies for months.” He added that Butina voluntarily appeared “months ago” before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and “testified for 8 hours and produced thousands of documents.” She offered to do the same for the special counsel but Mueller’s team declined, Driscoll said. In court documents, Butina’s alleged Russian handlers remain unidentified. However, one appears to be Alexander Torshin, a former Russian senator and deputy central banker who has been part of a years-long campaign to build connections between Russia’s leaders and American conservatives. The crusade, which predates the rise of Trump, has achieved significant success, sparking new alliances with leading U.S. evangelicals, lawmakers and powerful interest groups like the NRA. The FBI uncovered messages shared in March 2017 between Butina and the official, who is presumably Torshin, after media articles were published about her exploits as a gun rights activist. (TIME published an article on Butina and Torshin around this time.) “Good morning! How are you faring there in the rays of the new fame?” the official wrote. “Are your admirers asking for your autographs yet? You have upstaged Anna Chapman. She poses with toy pistols, while you are being published with real ones. There are a hell of a lot of rumors circulating here about me too! Very funny!” Chapman, another red-haired Russian woman who was arrested for being unregistered foreign agent, was deported to Russia in 2010 as part of a prisoner swap after pleading guilty to conspiracy. Like Chapman, prosecutors say Butina used sex appeal to further her aims. She allegedly lived with an unidentified “U.S. Person 1” who was twice her age and politically connected. The relationship was labeled “duplicitous” by prosecutors, because Butina privately complained about the relationship and having to live with him. (The man is believed to be Paul Erickson, a longtime Republican activist and NRA member.) Prosecutors wrote Butina also offered sex to an American “on at least one occasion” in “exchange for a position within a special interest organization,” which isn’t named. Butina became well-known around Washington because of her odd self-promotion as a Russian gun rights activist. She stuck out — not only because there is no substantive gun rights movement in Russia — because of the deep connections she made in Washington. In 2015, a collection of NRA officials flew over to Russia to attend Butina’s annual gun conference, the Right to Bear Arms, details of which were included in a report from Democrats on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence made public on March 26. She also had broader outreach to Republicans. In April 2015, Butina and Torshin traveled to Tennessee to attend a fundraiser for a political group backing the presidential campaign of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, then viewed as a leading contender for the GOP nomination. In July, she attended Walker’s campaign kickoff in Wisconsin. The same week, Butina flew to Las Vegas for one of Trump’s first campaign events. She stood up and asked Trump whether he would end the “damaging” U.S. government sanctions on Russia. “I know Putin, and I’ll tell you what, we’ll get along with Putin,” he responded. “I don’t think you’d need the sanctions.” Get our Politics Newsletter. The headlines out of Washington never seem to slow. Subscribe to The D.C. Brief to make sense of what matters most. Please enter a valid email address. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. Please attempt to sign up again. Sign Up Now An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. Please try again later. Check the box if you do not wish to receive promotional offers via email from TIME. You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thank you! For your security, we've sent a confirmation email to the address you entered. Click the link to confirm your subscription and begin receiving our newsletters. If you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder. Write to W.J. Hennigan at william.hennigan@time.com.<doc-sep>

WASHINGTON — The gunslinging Russian woman accused of cozying up to American officials to infiltrate the U.S. political system — at the behest of her Kremlin-linked mentor and with the help of her American boyfriend — allegedly tried to trade sex for influence. The "Red Sparrow" scenario was unveiled Wednesday in a government memorandum that laid out the reasons why prosecutors believe Mariia Butina, 29, should remain jailed until trial. During a detention hearing in federal court on Wednesday afternoon, Butina pleaded not guilty to being an unregistered foreign agent and was again ordered held without bail. Butina's attorney said his client, who came to the U.S. in 2016 on a graduate student visa, could be trusted to stay on American soil. But prosecutors argued she was too great a flight risk, with no roots in the U.S. and strong links to Russian intelligence. In court papers, prosecutors said her only tie to the U.S. is a "personal relationship" with an unidentified man whose description matches that of Republican operative Paul Erickson, according to the Washington Post. Although Butina lived with the man, the relationship was "duplicitous," prosecutors said, suggesting that she had no real interest in him and was using him to further her goals. "Butina appears to treat it [the relationship] as simply a necessary aspect of her activities," the prosecutors' memo said. "For example, on at least one occasion, Butina offered an individual other than U.S. Person 1 sex in exchange for a position within a special interest organization. Further, in papers seized by the FBI, Butina complained about living with U.S. Person 1 and expressed disdain for continuing to cohabitate with U.S. Person 1." Court papers show that the American politico tried to help Butina make inroads in Washington, suggesting names of people she should meet. The FBI said in an affidavit that Butina also sought to establish relationships with a "gun rights organization." The organization was not named but a senior U.S. official confirmed it was the National Rifle Association, which did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Prosecutors said she was the protege of a Russian politician and banker, identified by sources as Aleksandr Torshin, who considered her a covert agent and compared her with a fellow redhead, the flame-haired Russian spy Anna Chapman. They cited a March 2017 message from Torshin to Butina after news stories about her activities in Washington that focused on her background as a gun rights activist and included photos of her posing with weapons. "Good morning! How are you faring there in the rays of the new fame?" he wrote. "Are your admirers asking for your autographs yet? You have upstaged Anna Chapman. She poses with toy pistols, while you are being published with real ones. There are a hell of a lot of rumors circulating here about me too! Very funny!" The government's memo also said that Butina maintained contact information for "individuals identified as employees of the Russian FSB," which is the successor to the KGB, and recently had dinner with a Russian diplomat suspected of being a Russian intelligence officer. You have upstaged Anna Chapman. She poses with toy pistols, while you are being published with real ones. In the days before her arrest, she appeared to be making plans to leave Washington and possibly the country, making a trip to U-Haul with her American companion and wiring $3,500 to an account in Washington, they said. Butina's lawyer, Robert Driscoll, said her relationships with Russian officials were innocuous and stemmed from her notoriety in Russia as a pro-gun figure. "My client is famous in Russia," he said. He said Butina, an A student at American University, has been cooperating with the government for months, appearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee and allowing FBI agents to search her apartment in April. "While we respect the judge’s decision, we strongly disagree that there were no conditions of release or incarceration to detain an innocent student before trial," Driscoll said after the detention hearing. "She’s been aware of a criminal investigation into her conduct for months and made no effort or attempt to flee nor as the government, who has had her under surveillance the entire time, alleged that she has." A spokeswoman for Russia's Foreign Ministry questioned the timing of her arrest, which came shortly after President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Freshman Quentin Grimes says the tradition of Kansas basketball is so palpable that his mission has been spelled out before he’s even played a game at Allen Fieldhouse. “Winning’s all that matters here,” says Grimes, a 6-5 explosive guard slated to be the latest one-and-done lottery pick in the Bill Self era. But as much pressure as winning a 15th consecutive Big 12 regular-season title provides on a campus with James Naismith’s statue, Grimes says he’s come to Kansas hardwired to do more than just help the program repeat last year’s Final Four appearance. “The goal is to win a national championship,” Grimes says. “Ultimately, anything less would be a failure here.” The lofty expectations are shared by the voters in the USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll who tabbed the Jayhawks as No. 1 team in the preseason poll released Thursday. PRESEASON TOP 25:Kansas start at No. 1 followed closely by Kentucky, Duke POLL ANALYSIS:Five teams that were snubbed or overrated in the rankings While a team that lost nearly 60% of its scoring and features a heavy batch of newcomers wouldn’t normally translate to national title chatter, Self has talent pouring in from virtually every angle to fill his 2018-19 roster. KU has returning starters Lagerald Vick and Udoka Azubuike to provide a veteran presence. It has Grimes, fellow five-star freshmen Devon Dotson and David McCormack ushering in the young talent. And then it welcomes eligible transfers Dedric and K.J. Lawson (Memphis) and Charlie Moore (California). Whereas the 2017-18 Jayhawks significantly lacked size and depth, this year’s team will have strength in numbers. “Talent-wise, we have the best team in the country,” Grimes says. “We have depth at every position.” Dedric Lawson, who transferred from Memphis after averaging 19.2 points and 9.9 rebounds in 2016-17, says he and his brother K.J. – 6-9 and 6-8, respectively – struggled in their NCAA redshirt season knowing they could’ve helped last year’s undersized team that often played with four guards and six scholarship players. “It was hard to watch,” Lawson says. “But having that season off just made me hungrier for what’s ahead.” If analysts are being optimistic, KU’s second string might even be capable of getting to the net-cutting stage. But that’s all fool’s gold, according to Self. “This is the deepest we’ve been in a while,” Self says. “But you can have all the talent and experience in the world and then not play well. Buying into the culture and putting in the work over the course of the season will determine what type of team we’ll have.” Facilitating the team’s overall chemistry will be the returning veterans — namely Azubuike (13.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and Vick (12.1 ppg), who both held off on the NBA to stay in Lawrence. “We still came up short in the Final Four last year, so we know what it takes but also still want more,” says Vick of KU reaching the sport’s final weekend last March after back-to-back Elite Eight losses the two seasons before it. “We’ve been focusing on the small things and really trying to come together (in the offseason).” Self thinks that Vick, a 6-5 guard, and Azubuike, a 7-foot- center, can take on more responsibility this season, and expects sophomore guard Marcus Garrett and forward Silvio De Sousa to step into larger roles as well. De Sousa is currently being held out as the school investigates his eligibility. During a federal trial that concluded this week, Self was accused by an Adidas executive of seeking a $20,000 payment from a consultant of the school company to be paid to De Sousa's guardian. Even though size will be a commodity for the Jayhawks this year, Self sees it as a luxury more than anything. “The last two years we really played small with four guards,” Self says. “This year we’re much more versatile, and even though we’re big we can still create a lot of (mismatches) by going with four guards.” Self says that transfers like the Lawson brothers and Moore, a candidate to replace Big 12 player of the year Devonte’ Graham running the point, give the team a significant boost based on their overall college basketball experience and discipline that they gained through sitting out a season. “We kind of lucked into having these transfers,” Self says. “Ultimately, they bring more maturity than freshmen, and that’s something we need. All three are very good. And sometimes it’s easier with transfers because they know what it’s like to win, and they know what it’s like to lose at this level. It’s a little more of a realistic approach whereas some freshmen don’t know they don’t know that yet.” Self and Grimes got a head-start on expectations and a dynamic player-coach relationship in June with Team USA — where Self was the coach and Grimes was named the MVP of the FIBA Americas U-18 Championships. “I feel like I got a glimpse of what he expects,” Grimes says. “It’s a 110%” Self, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame last fall, says the expectation to win at Kansas never dies down — and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I don’t see (Duke coach and NCAA wins leader) Mike Krzyzewski resting,” Self says. “Our motivation to get another (national championship) here is as strong as it was 5-10 years ago.”<doc-sep>The Kansas Jayhawks narrowly edged out the Kentucky Wildcats for the No. 1 spot in the preseason USA Today coaches poll unveiled on Thursday. It's the fourth time in school history the Jayhawks have opened the season No. 1 in the coaches poll. Bill Self's team garnered 14 of the 32 available first-place votes in the coaches poll just ahead of Kentucky, which received 12 of its own. Duke, ranked No. 3 in the Coaches Poll, picked up four first-place votes; Gonzaga and Virginia, ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, each received a single first-place vote. Check out the full Coaches Poll top 25 below, with first-place votes in parentheses. Preseason Coaches Poll<doc-sep>Kansas is No. 1 and Kentucky No. 2 in the preseason edition of the AP Top 25 poll, which was released on Monday. It's the first time since the 2009-2010 season the Jayhawks will begin the season atop the AP poll and just the third time in program history, the other occurrence coming in 2004-2005. Both previous times KU opened the season at No. 1 it failed to advance past the Sweet 16 of the Big Dance. Kansas is hardly the unanimous No. 1 to open the season. Seven teams in total garnered first-place votes by voters; Kansas with 37, Kentucky with 19, Gonzaga with 1, Duke with 4, Virginia with 2, Tennessee with 1 and reigning NCAA champion Villanova with 1. Bill Self's Jayhawks have both experience and young talent in Lawrence to give them a realistic shot at winning their 15th consecutive Big 12 title -- and potentially more. Back is Udoka Azuibuike, Lagerald Vick, Marcus Garrett and Mitch Lightfoot, as well as newly-eligible transfers like former Memphis standout Dedric Lawson and former Cal standout Charlie Moore. The No. 5 recruiting class in the country, headlined by five-stars Quentin Grimes and Devon Dotson, only adds to the hype it will bring into the season. Behind Kansas and Kentucky is Gonzaga, Duke and Virginia rounding out the preseason top-5. Below is a look at the full top-25, with first-place votes in parentheses. AP Top 25 Others receiving votes: Loyola-Chicago 162, Marquette 124, Indiana 98, Florida 71, Nebraska 35, Maryland 28, Wisconsin 24, Notre Dame 22, Cincinnati 21, UCF 15, Alabama 15, Arizona 14, Buffalo 14, Louisville 11, Miami 10, San Diego State 9, Texas Tech 6, Southern Cal 6, Butler 6, Texas 5, St. John's 3, Arizona State 3, Providence 2, Xavier 2, Davidson 1, Missouri 1, Marshall 1, NC State 1.<doc-sep>It was never going to be pretty. In Kansas’ 93-55 exhibition win over Emporia State the Jayhawks offense looked as expected — rusty. “I thought the first five to seven minutes were pretty good,” Bill Self said coyly of his team’s performance. “I thought after that it wasn’t very good at all.” For the majority of the roster, Thursday night was the first time playing as a cohesive unit against an opposition not consisting of other teammates. The lack of chemistry showed as KU racked up 22 turnovers. Emporia State did a good job of keeping KU’s big men uncomfortable from tipoff. “I think our post doubles worked incredibly well tonight. I think that’s where those turnovers came,” Emporia State coach Craig Doty said. "[Udoka] Azubuike didn’t score in the first half. I don’t think he had a shot in the first half.” From the start it was clear what the Hornets’ game plan was: double the post at every opportunity. Every time a KU big touched the ball in the paint a Hornet came from the opposite side to double with the corner man leaving to guard the open big. Self said that his team hadn’t worked on offense against post doubles yet but still was alarmed by the 14 turnovers committed by his big men. Azubuike was the biggest culprit, committing six turnovers with the majority of them coming on double teams. It wasn’t until the 12-minute mark of the second half that Azubuike scored his first bucket, a thunderous dunk over Justin Washington. Chances are it won’t take Azubuike that long to score a bucket this season. In the immediate aftermath of the game, Dedric Lawson already knew the performance was far from acceptable. “The bigs have to take care of the ball for us to be a successful team this year,” Lawson said. “It was kind of a sloppy game. Four of [the turnovers] are because of me.” While Lawson had a great night scoring and rebounding, he only finished with one assist and those four turnovers. One of the turnovers that stood out was when David McCormack was in the game with Lawson. Lawson and McCormack tried to run a high-low action with McCormack in the low post. Lawson tried to get the ball to McCormack in the post but the pass was lazy and Hassan Thomas came from behind McCormack to steal the post entry and start a fast break. While a lot of the criticism will be pointed at the bigs and their turnovers, the overall offense was out of rhythm. For instance, midway through the first half, Azubuike had a nice slip on a screen but the pass from the wing was just a tad early and the ball went over Azubuike’s head and out of bounds. That was among the subtle intricacies that showed the KU offense as a whole has a long way to go to reach the high expectations set by being preseason No. 1. McCormack finished with four turnovers, Charlie Moore had three and Quentin Grimes added two more. Yet looking forward, Lawson isn’t concerned when it comes to the Jayhawk’s offense. “As the season goes on, as we get these next couple practices under our belt, the game will get easier for us,” Lawson said, “because we’re learning our ways.”<doc-sep>

Top-end talent tends to turn over quickly in the modern era of college basketball. As a result, a slew of teams that competed for championships last year look a lot different heading into the 2018-19 campaign. By extension then, the preseason USA TODAY Sports coaches poll bears little resemblance to the final rankings of the previous season. Kansas will open the year with the No. 1 ranking, though the voting was far from unanimous. The Jayhawks received 14 of 32 first-place votes to edge No. 2 Kentucky by 10 poll points. It is the first preseason No. 1 ranking for the Jayhawks since the 2009-10 campaign. Built around returning big man Udoka Azubuike and an infusion of talented transfers and recruits, KU is expected to continue its reign in the Big 12. TOP 25:The complete USA TODAY Sports preseason men's basketball poll BIG EXPECTATIONS: Kansas enters season thinking national title or 'failure' POLL ANALYSIS:Five teams snubbed or overrated in the preseason rankings Second-ranked Kentucky was voted first on12 ballots, thanks to another in a string of highly rated recruiting classes joining some key holdovers from last year’s haul. Duke, which will be even more freshman oriented, opens at No. 3, claiming four first-place votes. The Blue Devils head a list of seven ACC members in the top 25 that also includes No. 5 Virginia and No. 7 North Carolina. Gonzaga and the Cavaliers round out the top five, picking up a single first-place vote each. Kansas is the lone member of last season’s Final Four to even be rated in the top five. Defending champion Villanova opens at No. 8, runner-up Michigan starts at No. 18, and Loyola-Chicago will begin outside the top 25 at second among others receiving votes. The Wildcats are the only Big East team in the rankings. There are four teams each from the Big 12, Big Ten and SEC. The top team from the Big Ten is No. 10 Michigan State. No. 6 Tennessee and No. 9 Nevada achieved their highest preseason ranking since USA TODAY Sports took over administering the poll in the 1991-92 season. The complete preseason top 25 (2017-18 record) 1. Kansas (31-8) 2. Kentucky (26-11) 3. Duke (29-8) 4. Gonzaga (32-5) 5. Virginia (31-3) 6. Tennessee (26-9) 7. North Carolina (26-11) 8. Villanova (36-4) 9. Nevada (29-8) 10. Michigan State (30-5) 11. Kansas State (25-12) 12. Auburn (26-8) 13. West Virginia (26-11) 14. Syracuse (23-14) 15. Florida State (23-12) 16. Oregon (23-13) 17. Virginia Tech (21-12) 18. Michigan (33-8) 19. Mississippi State (25-12) 20. UCLA (21-12) 21. TCU (21-12) 22. Purdue (30-7) 23. Clemson (25-10) 24. Washington (21-13) 25. Nebraska (22-11)

What is the future of Europe? Get local insights from Lisbon to Moscow with an unrivalled network of journalists across Europe, expert analysis, our dedicated ‘Brussels Briefing’ newsletter. Customise your myFT page to track the countries of your choice.<doc-sep>(CNN) The leaders of the failed 2017 Catalan independence movement appeared in court on Tuesday for the start of a long-awaited trial that has the whole of Spain talking. Twelve leaders are appearing before the country's Supreme Court in Madrid on charges of rebellion and violating court orders, among others. The separatist leaders triggered a standoff with the Spanish capital after attempting to push forward with the region's secession in the fall of 2017, sparking the country's worst political crisis since the restoration of democracy in the 1970s. Judge Manuel Marchena (C) speaks next to magistrates during the trial of former Catalan separatist leaders at the Supreme Court in Madrid on February 12. Catalan separatists have dismissed the trial as a "farce" and said the outcome for the 12 defendants has been pre-determined. Spanish Supreme Court President Carlos Lesmes has branded the proceedings "the most important trial we've had in democracy." Who's on trial? The defendants -- most of whom are ex-officials of the Catalan regional government -- are being tried for their roles in the botched bid for regional independence. Twelve former Catalan leaders go on trial at Spain's Supreme Court for their role in a failed 2017 bid to break away from Spain. Despite warnings from the national administration in Madrid that any vote would be unconstitutional, Catalonia went ahead with a referendum, which saw 90% vote in favor of independence, but turnout was low and marred by a violent police crackdown. The scenes shocked Catalans and reverberated around Europe. Madrid's representative to Catalonia later apologized for the violence. After the vote, Madrid seized control of the region and dismissed the entire Catalan government and Parliament. In a bid to curb the calls for secession, it held new regional elections that December but was delivered a blow when voters backed separatist parties. With the Catalonia question back in the global spotlight, Supreme Court President Lesmes has said he expects proceedings to last around three months. Perhaps the most prominent name to appear in court is Oriol Junqueras, former deputy leader of Catalonia and head of the separatist Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (Republican Left of Catalonia) party. Junqueras faces up to 25 years in jail if found guilty. One notable absence will be that of his erstwhile boss -- and the previous leader of Catalonia -- Carles Puigdemont, who is living in self-imposed exile in Brussels. Of the 12 defendants, three were released on bail until this week's court proceedings, as they face lesser charges of disobedience and embezzlement and were not considered flight risks. How the court proceedings will unfold The Spanish government has been keen to combat any claims of prejudice, publishing a file of documents to illustrate how Spain's justice system is as impartial and fair as its European counterparts. Included in the documentation were court rankings by the European Commission, the European Court of Human Rights and Transparency International. A panel of seven Supreme Court justices will preside over the trial and the verdict must be approved by a majority of the panel. Additionally, the trial will be broadcast live on television so that all can judge the neutrality of the country's highest court. About 500 witnesses are expected to testify, including Mariano Rajoy, who was the country's Prime Minister during the constitutional crisis. Upon completion of proceedings, the panel of judges is expected to take some time to reach a verdict. As such, Lesmes has predicted that an outcome is unlikely before late June. What drove the bid for independence? Catalonia is the richest of Spain's 17 autonomous regions. It has its own government and holds considerable powers over healthcare, education and tax collection. But the region still pays tax to Madrid, and separatists argue that complex mechanisms for redistributing tax revenue are unfair on wealthier areas. Catalonia has long complained that its revenues subsidize other parts of Spain. The region hosts some 16% of the Spanish population and much of the country's manufacturing and finance sectors. Photos: Catalonia declares independence from Spain as political crisis deepens People wave "estelada," or pro-independence flags, outside the Palau de la Generalitat in Barcelona, Spain, on Friday, October 27, after Catalonia's regional Parliament passed a motion it says establishes an independent Catalan Republic. Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: Catalonia declares independence from Spain as political crisis deepens Catalan President Carles Puigdemont casts his vote for independence from Spain at the Generalitat de Catalunya on October 27, 2017, in Barcelona, Spain. Members of the Catalan Parliament voted for independence following a two-day session on how to respond the Spanish government's enacting of Article 155, which would curtail Catalan autonomy. Hide Caption 2 of 9 Photos: Catalonia declares independence from Spain as political crisis deepens Opposition Catalan lawmakers place Spanish national flags and Catalan esteladas over the benches ahead of a vote on independence inside the Catalan Parliament in Barcelona, Spain. Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: Catalonia declares independence from Spain as political crisis deepens A deputy of Catalonian Parliament, who is oppose to independence of Catalonia holds a "No" ballot during the independence voting at Catalonian Parliament in Barcelona, Spain. Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: Catalonia declares independence from Spain as political crisis deepens Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy attends a session of the Spanish Senate in Madrid. Rajoy asked the Senate for the go-ahead to depose Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and his executive in a bid to stop their independence drive. Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: Catalonia declares independence from Spain as political crisis deepens Maria Salut, 50, center, celebrates the unilateral declaration of independence of Catalonia outside the Catalan Parliament, in Barcelona, Spain. Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: Catalonia declares independence from Spain as political crisis deepens A book of the Spanish Constitution is placed on the benches of opposition Catalan lawmakers who left the chamber to boycott a vote on independence inside the Catalan parliament. Catalonia's regional government passed a motion saying they are establishing an independent Catalan Republic. Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: Catalonia declares independence from Spain as political crisis deepens Protesters holds banners that read ''freedom'' in Catalan and include portraits of Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, the imprisoned leaders of two Catalan grassroots organizations, during a rally outside the Catalan Parliament in Barcelona. Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: Catalonia declares independence from Spain as political crisis deepens A protester appears to pray as she takes part in a rally outside the Catalan Parliament. Hide Caption 9 of 9 Catalan nationalists argue that they are a separate nation with their own history, culture and language and that they should have increased fiscal independence.<doc-sep>Just 20 metres away, across the road, another protest was being held, by leftist Spaniards and pro-independence Catalans. Brandishing Catalan independence symbols and flags representing the Spanish republic, they chanted their support for the 12 defendants in the trial, who they called "political prisoners", and in favour of the right to decide for Catalonia.<doc-sep>

Twelve former Catalan leaders have gone on trial at Spain's Supreme Court for their role in a failed 2017 bid to break away from Spain. Here are some key facts about the trial. The accused The 12 people on trial include former Catalan government officials, civil leaders of pro-independence groups and the former president of Catalonia's regional parliament, Carles Puigdemont. Nine have been held in pre-trial detention for months, including former Catalan vice president and regional economy minister Oriol Junqueras. Former Catalan vice president Orial Junqueras (R) and former regional Foreign Minister Raul Romeva (L) Public prosecutors have asked for a jail term of 25 years for Mr Junqueras. He remains in charge of Catalonia's pro-independence party, ERC, despite being in jail since November 2017. The former speaker of the Catalan regional parliament who read out the declaration of independence in the assembly, 63-year-old Carme Forcadell, faces a possible jail term of 17 years. Mr Puigdemont - who fled to Belgium shortly after the declaration of independence - is not among the group on trial because Spain does not allow trials in absentia for major offences. However other former ministers in his regional government are in the dock. The charges Public prosecutors accuse nine of the 12 defendants - including Mr Junqueras and Ms Forcadell - of rebellion, which carries a jail term of 15-25 years. Under Spain's criminal code, rebellion is defined as "rising up violently and publicly", especially to "declare the independence of a part of the national territory". This charge is disputed by separatists and many Spanish legal experts. The trial will focus on the alleged use of violence, which the defendants deny. But public prosecutors point to "violent incidents" during pro-independence protests orchestrated by two grassroots groups in Barcelona on 20 September 2017. Prosecutors also accuse the separatists of fostering "acts of violence and aggression against police officers" on the day of the referendum. The independence referendum on 1 October 2017 was marred by a violent police crackdown on polling stations. Six of the defendants accused of rebellion are also accused of misusing public funds to stage the independence bid. Three other former Catalan government ministers face jail terms of up to seven years for disobedience and misuse of public funds. The accusers Spain's legal system allows for three different bodies to file criminal complaints against defendants: public prosecutors, state attorneys and a third party, in this case far-right party Vox. Public prosecutors are made up of magistrates who are appointed by the government but are supposed to act independently. The state attorneys, lawyers who represent the government, have taken a more lenient line than the public prosecutors. They are pushing the less serious charge of sedition and are seeking jail terms of up to 12 years. In Spain third parties can also file criminal complaints and take part in the legal proceedings even if they are not directly involved in the case. Vox, which is rising in the polls thanks to its hard line against Catalan separatism, is demanding a combined jail sentence of over 700 years for the 12 defendants. The party will be represented at the court by its secretary-general Javier Ortega Smith.

While the wreckage of the aircraft rests at the bottom of the English Channel - holding, investigators hope, at least some of the answers as to how this tragedy unfolded - parallels could be drawn with the impenetrable trail of ownership and registration enveloping this plane.<doc-sep>The football world has paid tribute to Emiliano Sala. THE SUN from The Sun Football was united in grief for tragic Emiliano Sala after police confirmed the body pulled from the plane crash wreck was his. Cardiff, who had signed the £15 million ($27million) Argentine striker just days before his disappearance on a flight over the English Channel, issued a heartfelt statement. And stars from around the world including Kylian Mbappe, Alexandre Lacazette and Benjamin Mendy led the tributes online after Dorset Police said they had identified the body. A statement posted on Cardiff’s official website read: “It is with great sadness that we report the following statement, issued on February 7 2019 bu the Dorset Police: ‘The body brought to Portland Port today, Thursday 7 February 2019, has been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala. “’The families of Mr Sala and the pilot David Ibbotson have been updated with this news and will continue to be supported by specially-trained family liaison officers.’ “We offer our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family of Emiliano. He and David will forever remain in our thoughts.” France World Cup winner and Paris Saint-Germain sensation Mbappe - who donated £26,000 to help fund the private search for the plane Sala was on - posted a photo of a candle burning with ‘Sala 9’ on it. He wrote alongside the image: “RIP EMI.” Arsenal star Lacazette posted a photo of Sala with the message “1990-2019 RIP.” Man City star Mendy posted a photo of Sala celebrating when in action for Nantes and wrote: “RIP.” Cardiff defender Sol Bamba tweeted: “Tragic. May you rest in peace.” Chelsea’s Batshuayi, on loan at Crystal Palace, wrote: “Resting in peace.” The Argentine Football Association wrote on their official Twitter: “We send our condolences to all your family and loved ones.” Sala, 28, was identified by the Dorset coroner today after his body was removed from the plane, which had been flown by pilot David Ibbotson. The footballer’s family has been told the devastating news and they being supported by specially-trained family liaison officers. “Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time,” a spokesman for Dorset Police said. BODY RECOVERED FROM PLANE IS THAT IF MISSING STAR SALA “HM Coroner will continue to investigate the circumstances of this death supported by Dorset Police.” Pictures today showed the body bag being stretchered into a silver ambulance before being transported to the coroner for official identification. The Piper Malibu N264DB plane went missing at around on January 21 en route from Nantes to Cardiff, where Sala was due to join his new club after a £15m transfer. The wreckage was discovered by the Air Accident Investigation Branch and robots subs were used to pull the body out of the 220ft-deep water “in as dignified a way as possible” yesterday.<doc-sep>The devastated sister of footballer Emiliano Sala said his 'soul will shine forever' after it was confirmed he died in a plane crash in the English Channel. Police announced last night that a body recovered from the light aircraft wreckage on the seabed off the coast of France is that of the Argentinean striker. Following the announcement, Sala's sister Romina posted a picture of him on Instagram, with the poignant message: 'Your soul in my soul, it will shine forever, illuminating my existence. I love you, Tito.' The family later released a statement thanking the public for their support at what they described as 'the most painful time of our lives'. The statement continued: 'Seeing the whole world mobilized to support us in our research has been an infinitely precious help. Thanks to you, we are now able to mourn our son, our brother. 'On this Friday morning, our thoughts go to David Ibbotson and his family, hoping that the authorities will do their best to find him.' The sister of Emiliano Sala posted this picture of the footballer on Instagram last night after it was confirmed his body has been recovered from the wreckage of an air crash at sea. The photo shows him on the pitch at Nantes, the French club he was leaving to join Cardiff City She wrote this message on the social network shortly after the announcement was made Flowers and tributes have been laid for Emiliano Sala at FC Nantes Stadium in western France The Sala family and relatives of pilot David Ibbotson had been nervously awaiting news after just one body was pulled from the crashed Piper Malibu plane on Wednesday. After it was confirmed the body was that of Mr Sala this morning, an expert said he fears Mr Ibbotson's remains may never be recovered because it was not in the wreckage still at the bottom of the seabed. Stars of world football posted tributes to Sala online in the wake of the announcement. Diego Maradona posted a tribute on Instagram. He told how many had kept a 'light of hope' for the footballer, adding: 'I send a big hug to your family and friends'. Fellow Argentine, Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero, added: 'Terribly sad. Rest in peace, Emiliano. My condolences to his friends and family.' Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil said: 'No words to describe how sad this is.Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and also to the family of the pilot.' Wayne Rooney added his voice to the many tributes, tweeting a black and white picture of Sala with the message: 'Rest in peace. Thoughts are with friends and family.' Cardiff released a statement on their website which read: 'We offer our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family of Emiliano. He and David will forever remain in our thoughts.' Scores of fellow footballers went online to post their condolences after the announcement Pilot's body may never be found, says expert Undersea explorer David Mearns said there is only 'a fairly small chance' that the pilot' Dave Ibbotson's body will ever be recovered causing his family even more heartache. Speaking to BBC Radio 4s Today prgramme he said: 'Everyone has to think about David ibbotson's family now. We hope the family will get the same comfort as Sala's family. There is a fairly small chance that the body will be found. It is a possibility but remote.' He spoke out after Dorset Police revealed last night that the unidentified body found among the wreckage was that of the 28-year-old £15million player. Mr Mearns' team located the Piper Malibu craft off the coast of Alderney on Sunday. It then emerged that a body could be seen on video footage of the plane 60m below the surface. Mr Mearns told the programme: 'We will be relying on the body being found in another location. It i impossible to say if this could happen, I don't want to eliminate all possibility of hope.' Advertisement Shipwreck hunting expert David Mearns, who assisted in the second search, said his thoughts were with the family and friends of both Sala and Mr Ibbotson. He tweeted: 'Rest in Peace Emiliano. I was glad to provide some small comfort to Romina, Mercedes and the whole Sala family during the past two weeks but my heart goes out to the family and friends of David Ibbotson whose loss is the same.' The aircraft remains 67 metres underwater 21 miles off the coast of Guernsey in the English Channel as poor weather conditions stopped efforts to recover it. Sala was flying to start his new life in the UK from Nantes in France after his £15million signing to Cardiff FC when the plane went down. A coroner's examination of the body, which was recovered from the seabed, established which of the two men they had found. Since the news was announced hertfelt tributes to the late footballer have been paid across social media and at the Stade de la Beaujoire. Hours before the news was announced publicly the footballer's sister Romina posted an image of her brother and their mother Mercedes. Emiliano Sala's sister posted an image of her brother with his mother before the news was given officially by police An image of Sala was unveiled at FC Nantes as they played AS Saint-Etienne at the Stade de la Beaujoire - in tribute to the player Missing footballer Emiliano Sala was confirmed dead after his body was brought up from the bottom of the English Channel At the Stade de la Beaujoire a huge image of the player was unveiled over the crowd while his former Nantes team mates carried images of him on t-shirts. The weather conditions are so bad off Guernsey it is not clear if the wreckage can be brought to the surface - meaning it remains unclear whether not Mr Ibbotson's body will be returned to dry land. An official search was called off after four days after it was deemed unlikely the men could have survived. A private search was launched for the plane and the men.<doc-sep>Eighteen days after Emiliano Sala’s disappearance over the English Channel, the human tragedy has reached its resolution. The wreckage of the Piper Malibu plane piloted by David Ibbotson has been located on the sea bed, and the body of his passenger identified. While the anguish of the two men’s families endures, the uncertainty at their fate is assuaged. One senses, though, that the football morality tale lurking behind this terrible incident is only just beginning. Compounding the desperate sadness of Sala’s death aged 28, confirmed on Thursday night by Dorset Police, are the suggestions that his transfer from Nantes to Cardiff was not all that it seemed. For every person insisting that the Argentine was joyfully anticipating his next chapter in south Wales, there is another expressing doubt as to whether he ever wanted to leave Brittany in the first place. Despite the initial impressions that his £15 million move was a deftly-handled piece of business on both sides, it has since emerged that four middle-men were competing over a share of the spoils. Now, before Sala’s family have even had chance to think about the funeral, the story takes another lurch towards the game’s ice-cold heart, with Nantes sending Cardiff an invoice for the first of three payments to cover his transfer fee.<doc-sep>

Investigators have confirmed that the body of Emiliano Sala has been recovered from the wreckage of his plane that went missing last month. A body was pulled from the aircraft, which was found on the bottom of the ocean north of Guernsey, earlier this week. The plane, which was carrying Sala and pilot David Ibbotson, disappeared off the radar around 8:30pm on January 21, as the Cardiff City striker was travelling from Nantes to the Welsh capital. The investigation to find the plane was initially called off after three days, but Sala's family raised the funds to keep the search alive, with thanks to donations from the international football community. Sala’s sister paid an emotional tribute to her tragic brother in the early hours of Friday morning. Heartbroken Romina uploaded a photo of the star to Instagram after the news was confirmed. “Your soul in my soul it will shine forever thus illuminating the time of my existence. I love you, tito,” she wrote. Cardiff said in a statement: "We offer our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family of Emiliano. "He and David will forever remain in our thoughts." Other tributes were paid by Arsenal player Mesut Ozil, Manchester City's Benjamin Mendy and Paris Saint-Germain footballer Kylian Mbappe. A private search team announced that they had found the wreckage of the plane at the bottom of the English channel on February 4. (Image: emilianosala9/Instagram) One body was inside the aircraft, which has now been successfully recovered and confirmed as being that of Sala. Dorset Police confirmed: "The body brought to Portland Port today has been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala. "The families of Mr Sala and pilot David Ibbotson have been updated. Our thoughts remain with them all." (Image: Maxppp/PA Images) (Image: Getty) Investigators used remotely operated vehicles to help pull the body out of the water "in as dignified a way as possible" despite "challenging conditions" in the recovery, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said. The whereabouts of Mr Ibbotson remain unclear at this time. The Piper Malibu plane, registration N264DB, was found 67 metres underwater 21 miles off the coast of Guernsey and weather conditions meant that investigations were delayed. Sala, 28, had just completed a club-record £15million transfer to Cardiff and had not made an appearance for the club. (Image: AAIB / SWNS) (Image: AAIB / SWNS) He had travelled back to Nantes, his former club, to say his goodbyes to his former teammates. Disaster struck on the journey back to Wales. It has been confirmed that the plane requested to descend before it lost contact with the air control staff. The remains of the aircraft were discovered by David Mearns, known as the "Shipwreck Hunter", who discovered the aircraft within two hours of starting his search on a target area. He told the Press Association the discovery had been so quick because the team had been looking for a static object rather than in a dynamic environment searching for survivors. (Image: Getty Images) "No-one should walk away with the impression that the Coastguard and also the Channel Islands air search did anything other than a professional job," he said. The AAIB said it expected to publish an interim report within the month. But those looking into the plane's crash face a battle to determine the whole story. Even if the investigators are able to retrieve the wreckage and examine it up-close, the light aircraft is unlikely to have been fitted with a flight recorder, according to the UK's aviation regulator, which would have been a vital source of information. (Image: Getty Images) Known as black boxes, they record flight data and cockpit audio, and are mandatory in airline planes and private jets - but not for the Piper Malibu plane. Sala had turned down a mega-money transfer to the Chinese Super League in favour of putting pen to paper on a three-and-a-half year contract in Cardiff. Tributes were paid in Cardiff and in Nantes for the striker, as the search for him continued. However, things have threatened to get nasty after Nantes threatened legal action to ensure the £15million transfer fee was paid.

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State released its official depth chart ahead of Monday’s 2018 season opener against Virginia Tech. You can see the depth chart below. The starting quarterback -- Deondre Francois -- was not a surprise after coach Willie Taggart announced him as the No. 1 signal caller on Monday. Wednesday’s release of the depth chart, however, had intrigue regarding who was Francois’ primary backup: James Blackman or Bailey Hockman. FSU releases depth chart pic.twitter.com/iruLeT3GH2 — Brendan Sonnone (@BSonnone) August 29, 2018 Other positions and storylines we were interested to see regarding the depth chart: Outside Linebacker - Would FSU go with two smaller, quicker players in DeCalon Brooks and Jaiden Woodbey, or would it opt to go with one twitchy linebacker at Star and then a bigger one at Money/Sam (such as Adonis Thomas, Leonard Warner)? Based on the depth chart, Brooks and Thomas are listed as the co-starting Sam LBs...and Woodbey is the starting Star. Wide Receiver - How would this group shake out, especially at outside receiver? Guys like Tamorrion Terry and Keith Gavin flashed in camp, but some bouts with inconsistency left their standing as potential starters unknown heading into game week. The depth chart has Gavin as the only surefire starter at outside wide receiver. Ontaria Wilson and Tre'Shaun Harrison have "OR" along with Terry at the other outside receivers spot. Second Team Offensive Line - The starting five was set for the majority of preseason camp, but FSU did some mixing and matching to find the optimal backups at each position. The backups: LT Abdul Bello, LG Arthur Williams, C Baveon Johnson, RT Brady Scott. Mike Arnold is ahead of Cole Minshew but with an "OR" at right guard. How many true freshmen made it into the two-deep? Woodbey was a given, but we were curious to see who was listed among the newcomers. Wide receivers Keyshawn Helton and Tre’Shaun Harrison , as well as cornerback A.J. Lytton, were some of the rookies who received steady praise throughout camp. Helton was listed as a co-starter at slot receiver, Warren Thompson is Gavin's primary backup, Asante Samuel Jr. and Isaiah Bolden are the No. 2 cornerbacks (Lytton was not listed). Below are other notes on the depth chart: --There are two starting field safeties: Stanford Samuels III and Hamsah Nasirildeen. Samuels has been limited with an unspecified injury, but participated in individual drills on Tuesday. --WR D.J. Matthews is the No. 1 punt returner. --RB Amir Rasul and WR Keith Gavin are the starting kickoff returners. --Taggart must feel good about his running backs, because five players are listed: Cam Akers, Jacques Patrick, Khalan Laborn, Amir Rasul and Anthony Grant.<doc-sep>There are only five days remaining until No. 20 Virginia Tech returns to the football field to take on the No. 19 Florida State Seminoles, and the Hokies have released their highly anticipated depth chart. The depth chart provides the first official look at how the Hokies will line up in the season opener. Following the 2017 season, Virginia Tech lost a good portion of their key contributors to the NFL, including Tremaine and Terrell Edmunds who were selected in the opening round. Virginia Tech also lost Wyatt Teller, Tim Settle, Greg Stroman and Adonis Alexander to the NFL Draft while Andrew Motuapuaka, Cam Phillips, and Brandon Facyson all signed free agent deals. With minimal experience returning at cornerback and linebacker, Virginia Tech’s Bud Foster will have to have his defense grow up in a hurry as they prepare to face the Seminoles in an ACC clash on Monday night. Get your first look at the Hokies depth chart below.<doc-sep>

It’s another sign that Florida State football is right around the corner: a new depth chart. The Seminoles released their first depth chart of the Willie Taggart era today, and we’ve a few observations from the initial offering: On offense, there’s no clear-cut backup quarterback; check out the infamous “OR” between James Blackman and Bailey Hockman. And FSU is definitely not shy about touting its impressive running back depth. Five deep! We heard great stuff about freshman receiver Keyshawn Helton throughout fall camp, and that’s reflected below, as he’s listed as being in a basic dead heat with proven returning WRs Nyqwan Murray and D.J. Matthews. And forget this nonsense about rookie receivers not contributing early: the final WR spot includes two redshirt freshmen (Ontaria Wilson and Tamorrion Terry) and a true frosh (Tre’Shaun Harrison). Speaking of receivers, George Campbell is nowhere to be found. The offensive line looks like we thought it would, with a wrinkle: Mike Arnold is listed as even with presumptive starter Cole Minshew at RG. At tight end, Tre’ McKitty gets the nod as expected, but it’s worth mentioning that former fullbacks Gabe Nabers and Johnathan Vickers are listed above Naseir Upshur. Defensively, the early message is clear: with a lack of proven linebackers surrounded by a deep DL and a talented secondary, the ’Noles will be small and fast. As in DeCalon Brooks being listed as a co-starter at the SAM spot— at 211 pounds. Freshman safety Jaiden Woodbey assumes the STAR role, as expected. No real surprises in the backfield, although another frosh, Asante Samuel Jr., makes the two-deep. Special teams look about how we anticipated, although it’s a little surprising not to see Harrison’s name among the kick returners.

Kawhi Leonard has been vocal about joining Lakers says expert FREE now and never miss the top F1 stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top F1 stories again When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. That is the claim of former NFL star-turned-NBA pundit Cris Carter. Leonard is keen to leave San Antonio after a fall-out with the organisation over the quad injury that kept him to just nine games last season. And it is no secret that the All-Star forward wants to go to his California hometown, be it via a trade this summer or when he has the option to enter free agency in 12 months’ time. But while Leonard has long been strongly linked with a move to the Lakers, who recently recruited LeBron James, the Spurs have demanded a major return package to let the two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year leave. Kawhi Leonard's complex trade saga expects to rumble on for a while yet Kawhi Leonard next team odds: Where could the NBA star go next? Sun, June 17, 2018 Kawhi Leonard could be set to leave the San Antonio Spurs this summer, but where could he go? (Odds provided by Betfair) Play slideshow NBAE/Getty Images 1 of 8 Kawhi Leonard could leave the San Antonio Spurs – but where is he most likely to go? The Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers have emerged as potential alternatives although there is no guarantee Leonard will re-sign with any team outside of Los Angeles after a one-year deal. It has been suggested that the 28-year-old will only move to the Sixers and not the Celtics if he does not get his Los Angeles wish with the Sixers looking to add a star name to their talented young line-up. Carter's claims contradict suggestions the Spurs will do everything but trade Leonard to the Lakers Gregg Poppovich wants to accommodate Kawhi Leonard's request according to Cris Carter And Carter has revealed that, despite beliefs, Popovich wants to make Leonard happy - hinting that he would trade him to a rival in the Western Conference rather than a team in the East. I believe Popovich is trying to accommodate Kawhi and trying to please him. Cris Carter Speaking on First Things First on Fox Sports, Carter - who has the same agent as Leonard - said: “Kawhi, in meeting with Pop, Pop gave him every indication that he was going to trade him and he was going to try to make Kawhi happy. “I never said that before because I was holding it until now. “So all these discussions about Kawhi going to the East, I believe Popovich is trying to accommodate Kawhi and trying to please him.” On why the Spurs would be better suited to trading Leonard to the Lakers this summer, Carter added: “If you do help him, you’re going to fetch the best of talent and picks. “Why would Philadelphia give him [Pop] two starters and two picks when he’s only going to be there for one year if he shows up? “You can’t guarantee me Kawhi is going to show up at your facility if you’re Boston or Philadelphia and you train for him today.” Kawhi Leonard wants out of the Spurs after seven seasons<doc-sep>Kawhi Leonard could speak with Gregg Popovich at the Team USA training camp When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up fornow and never miss the top F1 stories again That’s the suggestion from ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst, who points to the Team USA training camp later this month as a chance for Popovich and Leonard to have another meeting. Popovich held crunch talks with Leonard last month after reports emerged that the 2014 NBA Finals MVP had expressed a desire to head to Los Angeles, with a preference to join the Lakers. However, it didn’t seem to change the situation much with San Antonio now inviting trade packages from other teams for Leonard. They have so far discussed deals with the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics and Lakers but the teams have been put off by the high asking price by San Antonio. The Spurs can still offer Leonard a supermax contract extensions worth in excess of $200million, but they also risk losing their franchise player for nothing in free agency next year.<doc-sep>The San Antonio Spurs and Gregg Popovich have not made Kawhi Leonard happy for the last year or so. But Popovich and company are looking to try to make Kawhi “happy” with the eventual trade they include him in. "Kawhi in meeting with Pop, Pop gave him every indication that he was going to trade him & he was going to try to make Kawhi happy. "@criscarter80 reportspic.twitter.com/aqnV7ZLstl — FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 10, 2018 This makes sense for the Spurs. On one hand, they should be trying to get as much as possible out of a Kawhi Leonard trade. But on the other hand, if they trade Leonard somewhere he doesn’t want to be, they may not get the best possible deal. It wouldn’t make sense for a team to trade away a wealth of assets for a player that they may only have for one season. But if Popovich and the Spurs trade Kawhi to a place where he can be “happy” then the team will have a great chance to have Leonard for longer than one season. Finding a suitable trading partner is going to be a balancing act for Popovich. He’s caught between a rock and a hard place. This may drag on through the summer and a trade might not be met until closer to training camp. It’s always hard to find equal value for a superstar. It’s even harder when that superstar is holding the organization hostage like Leonard is. This is eerily similar to the Kyrie Irving situation in Cleveland last season and the Cavaliers were the clear losers of that deal despite trading Irving to a preferred destination. Popovich is hoping to avoid making that same mistake, but for now, he’s committed to making Kawhi happy.<doc-sep>

Kawhi Leonard information has been coming from a lot of people different this summer, with the San Antonio Spurs star forward reportedly demanding a trade, as he’s no longer happy with the organization. Surprisingly, no one appears to have more sources inside Kawhi Leonard’s camp than Cris Carter. The FOX Sports 1 personality has been dropping interesting tidbits of information over the past couple of weeks. Today, Carter revealed some more news. He has information on what Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told Leonard during a one-on-one meeting. Popovich reportedly flew to California last month to meet with Leonard. During that meeting, Popovich reportedly told Kawhi that he would trade him and attempt to make him happy. “Kawhi, in meeting with Pop, Pop gave him every indication that he was going to trade him and he was going to try to make Kawhi happy,” Carter said on First Things First. “I never said that before because I was holding it until now. So all these discussions about Kawhi going to the East, I believe Popovich is trying to accommodate Kawhi and trying to please him.” You can watch Carter’s full comments below: "Kawhi in meeting with Pop, Pop gave him every indication that he was going to trade him & he was going to try to make Kawhi happy. "@criscarter80 reportspic.twitter.com/aqnV7ZLstl — FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 10, 2018 It’s not surprising that Popovich would be willing to trade Kawhi and that he wants to make him happy. However, the Spurs don’t appear to be gaining any serious traction on a trade. San Antonio is reportedly asking for too much right now when it comes to a Kawhi Leonard trade. Teams like the Lakers and the Sixers have been unwilling to give up the package it would take.

Seven people were injured in a knife attack in Paris on Sunday night. The attacker is in custody, and the event is not believed to be related to terrorism. Paris has been the site of several large-scale terrorist attacks in the past few years, though there have been no major attacks since 2015. Seven people were injured in a knife attack in Paris on Sunday night. The attack occurred about 10:45 p.m. local time when a man armed with a crowbar and a knife began attacking people in the 19th Arrondissement, northeast of Paris, according to La Parisien. The attacker is accused of stabbing three people at the MK2 theater near the Quai de la Loire, La Parisien reported, before two men playing petanque at a court nearby tried to disrupt the assailant by throwing a ball at him. The attacker continued down the street, apparently attacking several more people, including two British tourists, before the police arrested him. Officials said seven people were wounded, including four with serious injuries. There was no indication the episode was related to terrorism, according to La Parisien, though the police have not revealed a motive. Paris has been the site of several large-scale terrorist attacks in the past few years, though there have been no major attacks since 2015. France has seen violence carried out by individual attackers in recent months. In May, a Chechnyan national attacked four people in Paris with a knife, killing one and injuring four. In June, a woman stabbed two people with a box cutter in a supermarket in Toulon. And in August, a 19-year-old Afghan asylum seeker stabbed four people in the southwestern French town of Perigueux, injuring four.<doc-sep>PARIS — Seven people were injured by a knife-wielding assailant in Paris on Sunday night, including two British tourists, French news reports said. The attacker was arrested by the police, and the assault was not initially being treated as terrorism. His motives and identity were not immediately known. A spokesman for the Paris police prefecture confirmed that several people had been wounded in the 19th Arrondissement, in the northeast of the French capital, but said it was unclear exactly how many people were attacked, or whether the assailant was also hurt. The spokesman declined to comment further. The assailant, armed with a knife and a metal bar, attacked three people near a cinema on the Quai de la Loire, shortly before 11 p.m., according to the newspaper Le Parisien and the news channel BFM TV.<doc-sep>PARIS — Seven people including two British tourists were wounded Sunday in Paris after they were attacked by a man armed with a knife and an iron bar, according to police and other sources. A source close to the inquiry said the suspect has been arrested and is believed to be an Afghan national. "Nothing at this stage shows signs of a terrorist nature in these assaults," the sources said, adding that the attacker had targeted "strangers in the street." Of the seven wounded, four are in a critical condition, police said. It was not immediately clear if the attacker was among one of the injured. The incident took place just after 11 p.m. local time (2100 GMT) on the banks of a canal in the northeast of the capital. Evidence is shown on the street in downtown Paris where seven people were wounded in a knife attack on Sept. 10, 2018. Reuters A security guard at one of two cinemas on either side of the Canal de l'Ourcq said he saw a man who had already assaulted people being chased by two other men who tried to stop him. "He had an iron bar in his hand which he threw at the men chasing him, then he took out a knife," he told AFP. A police investigation has been launched for attempted murder, according to a judicial source.<doc-sep>The suspect was captured and detained by Good Samaritans until police arrived. PARIS -- A man wielding a knife and an iron bar went on a stabbing spree on Sunday night in Paris, injuring seven -- four of them critically -- before being captured by Good Samaritans and arrested by French police, a spokesperson for the French interior minister told ABC News. The attacks took place in northeastern Paris in an area dotted with cafes, cinemas and other cultural venues. Two British tourists were among the victims, Paris police officials said. Victims were rushed to nearby hospitals in the French capital. No terror investigation has been launched in regard to the attacks, a Paris prosecutor's office spokesperson said, but an attempted murder probe is underway. They threw their petanque balls as he was trying to stab people in the street. French authorities have not released the assailant’s name, but local media are describing him based on witness accounts as an Afghan citizen in his thirties. Among witnesses at the scene of Sunday night's attacks were a group playing petanque, a French game with heavy metallic balls, who sprung into action when they saw the attacks unfolding. One of the petanque players told a French commercial radio station, "I managed to jump on him and throw him to the ground and get his weapon off him." The man, identified only as Smain, said that the attacker sustained several blows from petanque balls, iron bars and sticks. “They threw their petanque balls as he was trying to stab people in the street,” he told the radio station, adding that the assailant was overpowered and pushed to the ground until police arrived and arrested him. On Twitter, French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb praised the "courage and reactivity" of those who intervened.<doc-sep>

SEVEN people including two British tourists were wounded in Paris after they were attacked by a man armed with a knife and an iron bar, according to police and other sources. A source close to the inquiry said the suspect has been arrested and is believed to be an Afghan national. “Nothing at this stage shows signs of a terrorist nature in these assaults,” the sources said, adding that the attacker had targeted “strangers in the street”. Of the seven wounded, four are in a critical condition, police said. One of the British tourists was stabbed in the head, while the other was “cut in the chest”, reports suggested. Paris - Plusieurs personnes blessées dans une attaque au couteau le long des Quais de la Loire vers 23H30. pic.twitter.com/G0NZNciizn — Remy Buisine (@RemyBuisine) September 9, 2018 The incident took place just after 11pm on the banks of a canal in the northeast of the capital. A security guard at one of two cinemas on either side of the Canal de l’Ourcq said he saw a man who had already assaulted people being chased by two other men who tried to stop him. “He had an iron bar in his hand which he threw at the men chasing him, then he took out a knife,” he told AFP. A police investigation has been launched for attempted murder, according to a judicial There were conflicting reports about the offender’s nationality, with Le Parisien saying he was of Afghan decent, while a local TV report suggested the man was from Pakistan. Le Parisien says that three people were stabbed at MK2 Cinema, and the others were attacked nearby. A witness hurled a boule at the offender to stop the random attack, French TV station BFM reported. Those injured are being treated in hospital, Le Parisien says. “A source close to the investigation indicates that there is no evidence that this is a terrorist attack,” the newspaper reported.

Devil May Cry 5 is the sort of video game where it’s impossible to think of a single moment my mom wouldn’t shake her head at as she folded laundry in the basement circa 1988. And that will never stop me from absolutely loving it. Inspired by the beautiful friction experience that is this game, I made a video about what it’s like to be an adult who thinks Little Caesars Pizza deserves a Michelin Star. Advertisement In this video I also talk about playing God Hand at my desk at seven o’clock in the morning with Shinji Mikami. I’ve only ever hinted at this in a couple of videos that I’ve made here at Kotaku these past couple of years, so today I’ll state it clearly: in the mid-late 2000s, I worked at Grasshopper Manufacture in Tokyo, Japan. I’ve sat through dozens of brainstorming meetings in which a room full of developers yell any stupid idea that comes to mind. My life experience outside those meetings had led me to believe that there would be no way 99% of those shouted ideas would make it into the finished game. In this video, I offer some insight into how and why I think perfect hardcore action games like Devil May Cry 5 end up never forgetting their silly inspirations, with their final versions emerging so densely full of mismatched cultural references and labyrinthine in-jokes. Also in this video, I tell a somewhat long story about a BMW M3 that used to be parked under a citrus tree across the street from my house in Emeryville, California in 2013. I promise the story ends up being related to Devil May Cry. I put a clip of a SSS combo on top of said BMW story, so you can always mute me and just watch some hot Dante action. Don’t you dare tell me if you muted me, though. By the way! You could subscribe to our YouTube channel, if you like videos like this. There’s even a playlist of all my other videos. Wow!<doc-sep>Devil May Cry 5 is out now and is a heckin’ good time. Learning how to be the best devil hunter can be tricky, though, so I’ve put together a breakdown that will help you get started. Advertisement Keep in mind that this guide mostly outlines mechanics, and is meant to help newbies and experts alike get started. Part of the fun of Devil May Cry is figuring out your skills and what works for you. These tips should help you understand how characters work and set you up for some general badassery. Play On ‘Devil Hunter’ Difficulty There’s two difficulties to start with: Human and Devil Hunter. Devil Hunter is the default, so you might as well start there if your goal is to get better faster. If you need to adjust down, do it as challenges arise. Enemies on Human do less damage and are easier to kill. And don’t worry about feeling like a punk if you adjust. Devil May Cry 5’s director Hideaki Itsuno says it’s okay. Turn Off Auto-Assist There’s an “auto” option that makes it easier to do certain combos. This might seem nice, but it takes a lot of the moment-to-moment tactics out of combat encounters by chaining certain abilities automatically into others. Devil May Cry 5 is a bit like a fighting game; you want to learn combos, abilities, and spacing. Auto-Assist removes a lot of that depth, so I’d advise against it. Play Once For Story, Again For Style Devil May Cry 5’s combat is intuitive enough that you’ll pull off some really sexy action, especially as the game progresses. But obsessing over rank on your first playthrough is a mistake. Sit back and enjoy the wild cutscenes and campy drama, then go back to focus on getting the best ranks. Advertisement Don’t Buy Red Orbs Red orbs are Devil May Cry 5’s upgrade currency and you can actually purchase them for real-world money. Don’t bother. The game is incredibly generous with orbs and allows you to keep the ones you’ve gathered already, even if you die and go back to a checkpoint. Keep playing and pushing forward; you’ll have more than enough to buy items and unlock abilities. Advertisement Devil May Cry 5’s levels aren’t large but they often have side rooms where you can collect extra orbs, spare Devil Breakers for Nero to use, and even find hidden missions. Look around and you’re bound to find something good. Advertisement Unlock Combos Early There are a lot of skills to purchase in Devil May Cry 5. but I suggest grabbing combo abilities first. These are basic variations to your hacking and slashing that can help keep your style score from falling. Advertisement Switch Things Up As you fight, you receive a ranking ranging from D to SSS. Devil May Cry favors variety over anything else when it comes to increasing your score. Alter what techniques you use, remember to fire your gun, and try not to fall back into the same patterns. The less predictable you are, the better your score will be. Advertisement Get Cocky I forget to do this all the time! If you press the view button on Xbox or the touchpad on PlayStation 4, your character will do a taunt. Taunting increases your style score, so it’s worth doing if you have downtime in combat. Advertisement Playing As Nero: Nero is the first character you’ll play as, and while he’s pretty straightforward, he has a few unique mechanics to be aware of. The idea is to get in the enemy’s face fast and often, and he has some pretty great tools for doing that. (I’m also gonna recommend some things to unlock for him and the other characters as well.) Advertisement Devil Bringers: Nero has access to a variety of prosthetic arms with different abilities. You can use them by pressing B on Xbox or circle on Playstation. Hitting it once will trigger their standard attack, while holding it down leads to different results. For instance, the “Punch Line” normally launches a rocket fist to pester enemies, but if you hold the button down, Nero will ride on the arm like a hoverboard. Experiment with Devil Bringers until you know which are your favorites, then bring those into missions with you. Finding out which Devil Breakers you prefer will really elevate combat as Nero. Exceed: Nero’s sword can be revved like a motorcycle to do extra damage or unlock powerful attacks. The timing can be tricky, but you want to hit your shoulder button and hold a bit before your next rev in order to fill your Ex-Gauge. Think vrr vroooom, vrrr vroooom. He also has a skill called Ex-Act, allowing you to time a rev immediately after a sword swipe to charge a portion of his Ex-Gauge. This can later be upgraded to Max-Act, which fills the entire gauge. You don’t need to use it, but it’s worth learning. Advertisement Wire Snatch: If you target an enemy and press your Devil Trigger button, Nero will snatch them with a grappling hook and either draw the enemy toward him if he’s on the ground or fly to them if he’s in the air. Use this to move from enemy to enemy and keep your combos going. Recommended abilities: Streak, Split, Enemy Step, all the Red Queen combos, MAX-Act Advertisement Playing As V: V’s a newcomer to the Devil May Cry series and a bit more complicated than Nero. As V, the idea is to have your animal pals beats up enemies until you can strike a final blow. His skills are about misdirection and building up his Devil Trigger meter to set up for explosive moments that clear out tons of enemies at once. Here’s how that works: Griffon is V’s cranky bird buddy. He attacks whenever you press square on the Playstation or X or Xbox. A normal tap of the button will fire a ranged attack, but many of his unlockable abilities focus on controlling portions of the battlefield with laser beams and other tricks. Use his basic attack to chip down weak enemies and special moves to knock back enemies that get too close. Advertisement Shadow is V’s pather pal, and your main source of damage. He attacks if you press Y on the Xbox or triangle on the Playstation. Think of him the same way you think of Nero’s sword. Focus him on beefy targets and use his special attacks to knock enemies into the air where you can juggle them with Griffon. Devil Trigger: If you press LB on Xbox or L1 on PlayStation, you set off V’s Devil Trigger. This summons a massive golem that attacks all enemies on-screen. It’s worth saving up for a moment when there’s lots of targets to hit. You can also spend a small portion of Devil Trigger by hitting Left Trigger on Xbox or L2 on Playstation plus your attack buttons to charge up Griffon or Shadow. Advertisement Read Book: V burns through Devil Trigger gauge quickly. One way to gradually get it back is to make him read the book he carries around. Hold the right trigger on Xbox or R2 on PlayStation and he’ll start reading. This gradually restores the Devil Trigger gauge. Since V’s not in the thick of fighting, you should do this as often as possible. Recommended abilities: Blockade, Round Robin, Flank Attack, Breakthrough, Guillotine, and Trigger Heart Advertisement Playing As Dante: You won’t get to play as Dante until later in the game, but you’re in for a treat when it happens. Dante can do everything. He has access to a variety of styles and weapons that give him tons of possible options for building combos. Dante facilitates a lot of play styles thanks to a variety of stances that you can select using the D-pad. You can choose to master one or play around with all of them. Here’s how that works: Swordmaster focuses on melee attacks, either giving the ability to summon spectral swords or unlocking new moves for the weapons you have. That’ll change depending on what weapon you’re currently using. If you enjoy straight-up combo building, this is a good stance. But it also means memorizing the most amount of moves. Advertisement Trickster grants access to extra dodge moves that make it easy to avoid attacks and close the gap toward enemies. It’s very straightforward, but if you want some more freedom of movement, this is the way to go. Gunslinger is similar to Swordmaster, but it expands the moves for your guns and projectile weapons. It’s not too complicated, and many of the attacks allow you to hit multiple enemies at once for crowd control and style points. Advertisement Royal Guard is about blocking attacks and timing punishing counters. It’s possibly the most difficult stance, as it requires a lot of knowledge about enemy attacks. The idea is to block enemy attacks at the last moment to build up a small meter and then, when the meter is filled, counter attack for a massive hit. Very good against bosses! You’re bound to find a style that you love while playing as Dante. Here, I have a lot of fun with Swordmaster In addition to these stances, Dante has his own Devil Trigger with some nuances. Pressing the Devil Trigger button will cause him to transform into a demon and gain more powerful attacks. Additionally, you regain health while Devil Trigger is active. You’ll eventually get the Sin Devil Trigger as well. To use that, you need to hold the button and charge up your meter. It can do a ton of damage, so it’s best saved for boss fights or when you’re overwhelmed. Advertisement Recommended Abilities: All of the things! Go buck wild! Embrace Mistakes Even after you’ve gotten a grasp on these characters, you’re going to mess up. You’ll take a stray hit or drop a combo and it’ll feel like a big bummer. Don’t restart the encounter right away. Keep going. It’s possible to turn things around, and even if you have one rough fight, you can still get a good rating at the end of a chapter. Advertisement Embrace Experimentation In combat, try out new ideas and random hunches. It’s easy to get caught up chasing rank points and style combos, but this is game about expression. Play around. Advertisement Have Fun This is a game, and a really fun one! Devil May Cry 5 is campy and a bit trashy. For maximum enjoyment, try to embrace some of that smokin’ sexy silliness. Enjoy the cutscenes and grin as the voice actors turn pulp nonsense into compelling drama. Marvel at your luscious combos. Have a drink of your choice, sit with a pal on the couch or whatever. You’re gonna do great.<doc-sep>

Devil May Cry 5 doesn’t release until Friday, but I’ve played it and had a veritable ass-load of fun. Each of its three protagonists plays differently, with neat quirks and flashy moves. Tim Rogers and I played as all of them, in order to break down their smokin’ sexy styles. Oh, yeah. If you want to know nothing about the abilities you unlock in Devil May Cry 5, maybe avoid this video for now. I’m pretty good at character action games, even if there’s always room to get better . (I know this because I watch YouTubers who have the time to devote their lives Bayonetta. I’m decent but those folks are wild.) Devil May Cry 5's combat is incredibly intuitive, to the point that most players will grab coveted S ranks or even SSS ranks on each encounter. There’s a lot of variety here, with three characters providing different experiences. Nero, the protagonist from Devil May Cry 4, returns as an aggressive demon hunter with tons of flashy tricks. He can rev his sword like a motorcycle for extra damages and special attacks, but he also has access to “Devil Breakers.” These are special prosthetic limbs that have a variety of effects. For instance, the Overture can blast monsters with lightning, while the Punch Line detaches to automatically attack foes. Time thing right and you can even fly around on your mechanical arm to do tricks. Nero is about getting in enemies faces and feels the most straightforward out of all the characters. He’s great for learning the basics. Then there’s V, a newcomer who fights using summoned familiars. He moves slowly and is very fragile but commands a cool panther pal and a foul-mouthed bird bud. He can even summon a massive golem. The idea is to use your animal friends to damage enemies and then finish them off using V. The play style is deliberate and focuses on being in the right place at the right time. It’s great. Of course, you’ve got Dante too. Dante can do everything. He has tons of weapons including swords, shotguns, nunchucks, punching gauntlets, and his dual pistols. He also can assume one of four stances: Gunslinger, Swordmaster, Trickster, and Royal Guard. These should be familiar to series fans, and each grants different effects. For instance, Swordmaster unlocks extra melee moves for each weapon, while Royal Guard allows for punishing counter attacks.... if you block at the right time. Dante’s a complex character who is a Master of Everything. He’s hard to master but really fun to experiment with. No matter what, you’re bound to find a style you enjoy. I’ve played through Devil May Cry 5 once on default difficulty and hope to start on the harder modes soon. Having unique characters whose intricacies I can learn is fantastic, and it’s encouraged me to try to go from Pretty Good, Actually to Hopefully Excellent. I hope this preview gives an idea of what to expect in Devil May Cry 5, and gets you eager for beating up bug-dudes and shadowbeasts in the most stylish ways imaginable.

Jarrett Stidham is headed to the most successful NFL franchise in the modern era. The former Auburn quarterback was selected with the 133rd overall pick by the New England Patriots. He steps into a situation where he will train behind future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. Stidham's four-year contract will be worth a total of roughly $3.1 million, with a $626,604 signing bonus, according to OvertheCap.com. Stidham left Auburn following his junior season at Auburn. His production dropped in his second season as the Tigers' starter, but he still managed to finish with 18 touchdowns, five interceptions and 2,794 passing yards in his final season. Stidham was at his best during his first season at Auburn in 2017. He led the Tigers to an SEC West title, victories against No. 1 teams Alabama and Georgia, and threw for 3,158 yards and 18 touchdowns with six interceptions while completing 66.5 percent of his passes, the best completion rate in the SEC. “He throws a beautiful ball,” former NFL scout and current Reese's Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy said after the Senior Bowl on ESPN's NFL Live. “I’ve said it before, he looks like he came out of the womb throwing the football. Mechanically, he’s the best in this class. The ball just comes off his hand really clean. I don’t think he had the year he expected to have. I don’t think Auburn fans had the year they expected, but a lot of times as a quarterback, you have to look around what happens at the quarterback position. I think you saw in the bowl game when Coach Malzahn was calling those plays and they put up 56 points in one half. I think Jarrett is a potential starter (in the NFL).” Stidham was impressive at Auburn's Pro Day in March. He was downright surgical with his throws. His release at the correct height and his feet were set perfectly on his three- and five-step drops. He connected on 48 of 50 passes, one a miss on a seam route and another on a corner route from the 10-yard line. “Today was an A-plus day for him, for sure,” Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead told Auburn Undercover at the time. “I was not dialed in at the (NFL) combine on QBs as much, and I heard it was a very similar day. But I think this day definitely helped him.” “It’s probably the best [Pro Day] that I’ve run,” said quarterback guru Jordan Palmer, who trained Stidham. “You’re talking about Deshaun Watson and Sam Darnold and Josh Allen, and Kyle Allen, who had an unbelievable pro day last year. He went undrafted, but he started and he’s going to be a guy in Carolina now. Yeah, that was about as impressive as I’ve seen.” Mock drafts had Stidham all across the board with him as high as the second round to as low as the third and final day of the draft in the final four rounds. Stidham was critiqued every way imaginable since the season ended. NFL personnel wanted to know why he struggled, why he crumbled in big games and why he ran away from pressure rather than stepping into the rush and throwing the ball during his final season at Auburn. NFL teams constantly asked him questions about the changes between his 2017 and 2018 seasons. Which quarterback would they get should they pick him? The perception of a Jekyll and Hyde career was reflected in the mock drafts spreading his name across the board. “It’s hard to say I’ve proven myself or whatever,” Stidham said at Auburn's Pro Day. “I’m just trying to be me. Whatever that looks like to other people, what they think, they have their opinion. But I’m just being me every single day and will kind of let the chips fall where they may.” Three- and five-step drops, especially from under center, are not common in Auburn’s hurry-up, no-huddle system. Stidham has primarily worked on his footwork, hip and waist placement in the offseason. Balance is key, said Palmer. “I’m not like a whisperer or a guru or anything,” Palmer said. “I’m just the older vet, and these guys are sponges. Jarrett, he did everything he needed to do [at Auburn Pro Day], and I think he’s going to go a lot higher than people would expect.” Former Auburn teammates and coach Gus Malzahn heaped praise on Stidham following his performance Pro Day. “I feel like he’ll be one of the top quarterbacks taken in this draft when everything’s all said and done," Malzahn said. "The more he can get around these NFL coaches and scouts and everything, I think they can see he can make all the throws, has a very high IQ, football IQ. He’s going to be an excellent pro.” *** Get 30% off as a subscriber to get the latest Auburn recruiting and team scoops *** *** Get FREE Auburn breaking news in your inbox ***<doc-sep>The New England Patriots picked a quarterback Saturday. What that means remains to be seen. Near the end of the fourth round of the NFL draft, with the 133rd selection overall, the reigning Super Bowl champions selected Auburn's Jarrett Stidham — who's actually the ninth quarterback Bill Belichick and Co. have taken since Tom Brady quietly arrived with the 199th pick of the 2000 draft. Normally, a passer coming off the board in Round 4 wouldn't generate much hubbub. But the Patriots' drafting acumen combined with Brady's advancing age (he'll be 42 in August) and fact backup Brian Hoyer is unsigned beyond 2019 makes this a story worth monitoring. Stidham's college career began at Baylor, but he transferred in the wake of the school's sexual abuse scandal and firing of coach Art Briles after what was also an injury-plagued freshman season. During his two seasons at Auburn, Stidham completed 63.6% of his passes for 5,952 yards with 36 TDs and 11 INTs. He quietly had a very impressive showing at the scouting combine in February, impressing several observers with his throwing session and posting a not unimpressive 4.81 40 time. Stidham (6-2, 218 pounds) comes in the mold of a classic drop-back pro passer, fairly accurate and someone who can operate from under center, his mobility a nice bonus. He has a reputation for being a smart guy who generally makes good decisions on the field and throws a nice ball with good touch even if he can't necessarily fire it through a brick wall — quite a few traits that sound reminiscent of a certain six-time Super Bowl champion. "Tom Brady is obviously a great player and, from what I’ve heard, a great teammate. So I’m just looking forward to spending some time with him," said Stidham. "Just being able to sit there and soak up everything that he’s gone through and pick his brain here and there about different things. ... It’s going to be great and I’m really looking forward to it." Brady, who's currently under contract for one more year himself, has openly expressed a desire to play into his mid-forties. Even though New England's offense became more reliant on the run late last season, he hasn't shown any signs that suggest an immediate dropoff is forthcoming. But with Stidham presumably coming to Foxborough for at least the next four years, maybe he winds up as the heir apparent that Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett, Matt Cassel and others ultimately were not. But Stidham doesn't seem to be feeling any of that pressure. "I’m sure everybody wants to be as good as Tom Brady one day," he said. "I’ve got to take it one day at a time, and that’s what I’m going to do and I’m going to work as absolutely hard as I can to make sure I can do whatever it is to help this organization out." *** Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis<doc-sep>

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots continue to explore possibilities to succeed Tom Brady in the future, as they selected Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham on Saturday in the fourth round of the NFL draft. Stidham, the 133rd overall selection, was the seventh quarterback picked overall, following Kyler Murray (first overall, Cardinals), Daniel Jones (sixth, Giants), Dwayne Haskins (15th, Redskins), Drew Lock (42nd, Broncos), Will Grier (100th, Panthers) and Ryan Finley (104th, Bengals). That's similar to Brady, the 199th overall pick of the 2000 draft who saw six quarterbacks -- sometimes referred to as the "Brady 6" -- selected before him. "Tom Brady is obviously a great player and, from what I've heard, a great teammate," Stidham said Saturday on a conference call. "So I'm just looking forward to spending some time with him. You can't play for 20 years and not have so much knowledge of the game, so just being able to sit there and soak up everything that he's gone through and pick his brain here and there about different things." The 6-foot-2, 218-pound Stidham joins veteran Brian Hoyer and 2018 seventh-round pick Danny Etling on the depth chart behind Brady, and added that he's looking forward to working with them as well. Auburn wide receiver Darius Slayton, a fifth-round pick of the New York Giants on Saturday, said the Patriots are a perfect fit for Stidham. "I think he can be Tom Brady-esque because Jared's really smart, he throws well from the pocket, he's good at making quick decisions. I think that is a great fit for him. And he loves Tom Brady to death. I'm sure that is like getting drafted by God for him," Slayton said. Stidham completed 470 of 739 passes for 5,952 yards, with 36 touchdowns and 11 touchdowns over the past two seasons at Auburn after transferring from Baylor. His completion percentage dipped from 66.5 in 2017 to 60.7 in 2018, which has sparked questions. "I think there's different things that happen throughout the season, and I think myself, Coach [Gus] Malzahn, Coach [Chip] Lindsey, if we were all to kind of look back through the season, I think we'd just open it up a lot more," he said. "When you lose a guy like [running back] Kerryon Johnson, and Braden Smith up front, some of those guys that have a lot of experience, you just have to find out your identity. And I think we found our identity during our bowl game against Purdue. "It's one of those things, but I wouldn't trade my time at Auburn for anything. I loved it there, and the great thing about Auburn is that it can really help prepare you for the next level. And sure enough, I'm lucky enough to sit here and be a Patriot and further my career a little bit." How much longer he furthers his career, and how well the 22-year-old Stidham ultimately develops, could help the Patriots transition to life after Brady, who turns 42 in August and has said he hopes to play until he's 45. At the least, Stidham should have the luxury to develop behind the scenes in 2019. Hoyer, the team's veteran backup, enters the final year of his contract. Meanwhile, Etling will vie for a backup spot after spending his rookie season on the practice squad. When Stidham visited the Patriots' facility in April, he said he shared lunch with Etling. "I'm extremely excited," Stidham said. "I couldn't think of a better situation." ESPN's Jordan Raanan contributed to this report.

On Tuesday, the first of three scheduled trials in the college basketball corruption scandal took place. And boy did it get ugly real quick. Names were released of people that could be brought up in court and it included Rick Pitino, Bill Self, Sean Miller, Jim Larranaga, Tom Jurich, Isaiah Whitehead, Nassir Little, Kyle Kuzma, Jason Richardson, Markelle Fultz, Romeo Langford, and Zion Williamson. These names do not necessarily mean that there has been any wrongdoing; they were just listed as names to be brought up during the trial. What we know about the corruption case from before was that in September of last year, the FBI arrested ten people, including former Auburn Tigers assistant coach Chuck Person, former Oklahoma State Cowboys coach Lamont Evans, and former Adidas executive James Gatto. They were arrested on fraud and corruption charges, such as bribery, money laundering, and wire fraud. James Gatto was the one to have allegedly set up the payment between Adidas and the University of Louisville for Brian Bowen to commit to the Cardinals. All of that seemed to be just the beginning as on Tuesday morning, the attorney for James Gatto said the corruption scandal was more widespread than we had originally thought. During opening statement this morning, Jim Gattto's atty promised evidence would show Oregon offered "an atronomical amount of money" to recruit Brian Bowen to play for the Ducks. The $100,000 deal to attend Louisville was to "level the playing field." — Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) October 2, 2018 Gatto’s attorney alluded that Oregon would pay an “astronomical amount” of money to try and land Brian Bowen. This was allegedly to “level the playing field” against the Cardinals, as Bowen’s recruitment had just turned into a bidding war at this point. Gatto’s attorney claimed that they had solid evidence that Oregon was willing to pay a fine price for Bowen. Gatto's atty also said Under Armor paid $20,000 to recruit Silvio De Sousa to sign with Maryland and Arizona offered $150,000 for Nassir Little. De Sousa is at Kansas, Little at UNC now. Goal is to make all of college hoops look corrupt. — Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) October 2, 2018 Gatto’s attorney also alluded that Under Armour also paid upwards of $20k for the recruitment of Silvio De Sousa and for him to sign with Maryland. De Sousa is now at Kansas, along with Bill Self who has been mentioned in names to be brought up in trial and also has strong ties to agent Andy Miller, who was a part of the corruption case last year as well. Arizona also allegedly offered an absurd amount of money, $150k, to try and get Nassir Little to commit there. If you remember, Mark Schlabach of ESPN released a damming article earlier this year stating that Sean Miller had allegedly offered and paid former Arizona Wildcat and the first pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Deandre Ayton, $100k for his services to Arizona this past season. That appeared to be all smoke in mirrors however, as Schlabach never followed up on that and Miller kept his job as head coach of the Wildcats. Gatto's atty also acknowledged the family of Dennis Smith Jr. Was paid $40,000 while he played for North Carolina State. — Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) October 2, 2018 Also mentioned on the first day of trial today was that North Carolina State had allegedly paid the family of Dennis Smith Jr. $40,000 while he was playing for the Wolfpack. Today proved to be just the tip of the iceberg in the NCAA corruption case. Schools mentioned last year are almost certainly going to be joined by other programs, coaches, and players. We all had a feeling this was about to get messy when the news first broke in late September of 2017. It took a year, but here we are. Buckle up, folks, it’s going to be a crazy ride.<doc-sep>As the first of three trials in the federal government's ongoing effort to nix corruption within college basketball bleeds over into a second week, the NCAA says it is watching and waiting to see if – or when – relevant information related to potential violations comes out. "We are closely monitoring the trial of three individuals charged with corruption in college basketball," the NCAA said in a statement Friday to The Washington Post. "If information relevant to potential NCAA violations is uncovered, we will continue to follow-up and investigate all the facts." Meanwhile, the grimy minutiae of college basketball and its underbelly is being laid bare in a courtroom in New York. Salacious details – from backdoor deals worth upwards of $100,000, details of bidding wars on prospects, and the incredulous lengths at which schools, agents and apparel companies will go to get involved with elite prospects – is being exposed with great detail by those intimately familiar with the process. Brian Bowen Sr., the father of former five-star prospect Brian Bowen II, who signed with Louisville out of high school, was the star witness last week. He testified at length about how Adidas paid him for his son to play for the shoe company's youth league for a season. $25,000, he says. $7,000 more than what a Nike team offered, he testified. That's bombshell information in itself. It doesn't include his testimony that, additionally, college programs all willingly offered at least twice that amount. The Post reports that, despite the clear violation of NCAA rules being spelled out in court over the past week, federal authorities have asked the NCAA to hold off on any investigations related to the Justice Department's ongoing probe until the conclusion of the last of three trials in the case. That could come in mid- to late-2019. As for what repercussions might be on the table remains unclear, but what has crystallized over the past week – something that has been known for some time – is that apparel companies' illicit interests in prospects starts at the grassroots level and crescendos as they near the professional level. Meantime, college hoops programs ensnared in the ongoing case can only mimic the NCAA, watching and waiting to see if – or when – relevant information related to potential violations comes out.<doc-sep>NEW YORK – During his sophomore year of high school in Saginaw, Michigan, Brian “Tugs” Bowen II was offered a summer job. It was a heck of a good one – Adidas allegedly would pay him $25,000 to play basketball for its Michigan Mustangs AAU team. Twenty-five grand. One summer. It sounds absurd, but Tugs’ father, Brian Bowen Sr., didn’t just testify Thursday in federal court that he received the money. Prosecutors showed wire transfers that delivered at least some of the payments. [Yahoo Fantasy Basketball leagues are open: Sign up now for free] The most profound and revealing part, though, was when Bowen almost shrugged about it, like this should be common knowledge. “Tugs was one of the top players in the country,” Bowen Sr. testified. “Every shoe company wants good players on their teams.” Twenty-five thousand for one summer may seem like a bad business decision, but Adidas didn’t get so big and successful by accident. That’s its risk. The market was set, anyway, by competition from Nike and Under Armour. The real issue is: Why is this even a problem? Or shocking? Maybe for those who haven’t been paying attention or came of age at a time when high school sophomore basketball players weren’t worth a dime. Is it in non-compliance of NCAA rules? Absolutely. But isn’t that the tail wagging the dog? If a multinational, multibillion dollar corporation wants to identify a teenager, negotiate a deal with his parents and pay him significant money to go work for them in the summer, then why would anyone care, other than to congratulate the Bowens? Call it a (well-)paid internship if you will. No one is getting hurt here. No one. And if Adidas’ real motivation was to establish a relationship with a kid who projects to be a coveted and highly valued employee down the road, then would anyone care if a Silicon Valley tech company did the same with the members of a math team it views as future coding geniuses? The college basketball bribery trial that continues next week in federal court here is ostensibly to resolve wire fraud and conspiracy charges against would-be sports agent Christian Dawkins and Adidas executives Jim Gatto and Merl Code. Story continues What it’s really about is the federal government codifying NCAA rules into laws. Watching prosecutors fumble about in that attempt last week only further revealed the absurdity of the task. “I’ve seen better presentations,” Judge Lewis A. Kaplan cracked earlier this week after one clumsy argument. NCAA president Mark Emmert doesn’t have the courage to make an appearance at the federal fraud trial in New York. (AP) On one side, the government is pointing to NCAA documents and official-sounding statues as what is right. And on the other there are witnesses such as Bowen (a prosecution witness no less) pulling back the curtain and showing what’s real – namely that the wheels of capitalism make the NCAA rulebook obsolete and everyone, absolutely everyone, inside the sport knows it. In this country, you are worth what someone will pay you. Unless you’re a college athlete. Or, these days, even project to be a college athlete. It’s bad enough for the NCAA to try to limit compensation while the players are enrolled and receiving a full scholarship – a valuable deal but well below market value for top talent. It’s unconscionable for the NCAA to say its rules also apply years before a player is of college age, while providing no guarantee the player would be a college athlete. If these are truly amateurs, then the NCAA should have less control over them, not more. And while players don’t technically have to go to college, the NCAA is well aware that under current NFL and NBA draft rules, they pretty much do. “College basketball is the top proving ground for the NBA,” Bowen Sr. noted. The NCAA still believes a player doesn’t have true value until the player enters the pro ranks. The fact is, these days the “pro ranks” begin before college, not after. If someone is willing to pay you to play, you’re a professional. The NCAA is just in the middle, which is why its coaches, as Bowen detailed extensively, are willing to offer massive amounts in an underground economy to get players. Teenagers can be major influencers on product sales and brand building to other teenagers. A great basketball player is of great value. The market is speaking. This is 2018, not 1945. If the NCAA just allowed the Bowens to take that job with Adidas, then none of this is a problem. Instead they had to do everything under the table, and link up with an uncertified agent and two back-channeling shoe executives that caused all of them to wind up in court. At one point Bowen Sr. testified Adidas’ Chris Rivers handed him $4,000 in cash in the parking lot of an AAU event. It was the start of many secret payments as the Bowens meandered through the system. Everyone involved wishes this could just be done out in the open. The NCAA, however, would rather say that a family – or any family of a kid who might (but with no guarantee) play college hoops – remain poor (or poorer) because … well, just because. That’s all this is. You can’t help your family with the bills. You can’t earn money to put away for your future. You can’t get your mother into a better apartment. You have to wait and hope the same opportunity is there later. We, however, can switch jobs and renegotiate contracts and take millions and millions in Adidas dollars. Why? Who knows? Is there concern the shoe company would then have a say in the player’s college decision? Well, that’s been going on for decades. Are they worried this will somehow “ruin” the player? Please check your paternalism and puritanism. No, this is about control, including controlling finances. A college scholarship is compensation and is not worthless. However, it is only applicable when the athlete arrives on campus. At the very least, the NCAA should be hands off until enrollment. Amateurism may not do much for the kids, but it sure is lucrative for the coaches, conference commissioners and athletic directors who cling to it. For people such as NCAA president Mark Emmert, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany and Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby to deny Tugs Bowen a job, to tell him and his family they need to keep scraping by in Saginaw because there is some nobility in being an amateur, is ethically bankrupt. They should be shamed, but it’s a shameless lot. Emmert and the others lack even the courage to come to Lower Manhattan to listen to the reality of the sport and the families and the kids that have made each of them generationally wealthy. They’d rather stay away, bury their head in the sand and commission some “blue ribbon” committee headed by Condoleezza Rice to tell them whatever predetermined truth they are desperate to hear. Rinse, repeat, cash the check. A multinational corporation allegedly went to Saginaw and offered a high school sophomore a glorious opportunity. It could help him. It could help his family. It could help his future. The NCAA finds this objectionable, a bad and terrible thing that must be stomped out, even prosecuted. It seems like the wrong people are on trial here. More from Yahoo Sports: • Tom Brady throws 500th career TD in win vs. Colts • LeBron sports Kaepernick shirt during NBA preseason • Tim Brown: Braves understanding October’s cruelty • Dan Wetzel: Underbelly of college hoops is being exposed<doc-sep>

Jim Gatto's lawyer said his client did facilitate a payment of $100,000 to the family of Brian Bowen because "Oregon, a Nike school, offered [Bowen] an astronomical amount of money." We knew there were going to be fireworks during the trials for the eight men facing wire fraud charges stemming from the FBI’s investigation into corruption in college basketball, and Day 1 did not disappoint. The defense attorney for Jim Gatto, a former Adidas executive accused of funneling money from the apparel company to recruits and their families, acknowledged that her client had more or less done all of the above. According to Casey Donnelly, Gatto did facilitate a payment of $100,000 to the family of Brian Bowen because “Oregon, a Nike school, offered [Bowen] an astronomical amount of money if he’d go to Oregon.” Bowen was never cleared and eventually turned pro before heading to Australia for this season. According to Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel, "this was the first direct allegation against the Oregon program since the FBI-led scandal broke just over one year ago." Matthew Kish of The Portland Business Journal obtained a statement from the University of Oregon, which said the school was aware of the claim and would monitor the court proceedings going forward. UO has not been contacted by the government or anyone else involved in the case, the statement said. .@GoDucks statement after defense attorney in NCAA criminal case alleged it offered "astronomical" money to a basketball recruit: pic.twitter.com/zik0vmPFTH — Matthew Kish (@matthewkish) October 2, 2018 Donnelly admitted that Gatto paid $40,000 to the family of Dennis Smith Jr. while the current Dallas Maverick was playing at N.C. State. She said that Gatto paid $20,000 to Silvio De Sousa, who played for Kansas during the second semester last season, because “Under Armour had paid for De Sousa to [commit] to the University of Maryland.” Donnelly then confirmed that Gatto was also involved in the discussions surrounding the recruitment of Nassir Little, who Adidas was considered paying to attend Miami after the player was “offered” $150,000 by Arizona. Little has since enrolled at North Carolina. Donnelly did not specifically say who requested that Gatto make those payments, simply stating that he was working based off of what the coaches wanted. Those quotes alone are enough to make headlines around the internet, but they aren’t the story of the first day of the trail. The story is this: “Jim Gatto broke NCAA rules,” Donnelly said. “NCAA rules are not laws.” This is the defense that Gatto’s attorney will be mounting. Their game-plan appears to be throwing the sport under the bus, showing how corrupt the world of high-major recruiting is, how pervasive breaking NCAA rules has become all while emphasizing one, simple point: The coaching staffs at these universities and, thus, the universities themselves wanted these things to happen. They weren’t victims of fraud. They were complicit, willing participants that happily kept their head in the sand as they profited off of the free labor Gatto and company provided them. And they’re right. The FBI and the Southern District of New York should not be in charge of enforcing the NCAA’s draconian amateurism rules. There are elements in this case that are worthy of investigation. Coaches taking bribes to funnel kids to financial advisors they don’t know, that have a history of defrauding clients, should be cleaned up. (Read: Person, Chuck.) But it’s genuinely baffling to me that there are smart, important federal investigators that believe college athletes capitalizing on a percentage of their true value on the open market while still “amateurs” is worthy of their time, resources or man-power. Truthfully, they should’ve spent their time investigating whether or not it’s legal for the NCAA and the universities that make up the NCAA to artificially cap players’ earning power to ensure that all the money goes to the schools and rich decision-makers. But that’s besides the point. The story from Day 1 of the first trial of the college basketball corruption scandal is that Jim Gatto and his lawyer are going to freely and willfully toss around names and identify who he worked with, what players he paid and what coaches requested that it happen.

Share this Story: Alvarez defeated in wildly entertaining headline bout at UFC Fight Night in Calgary Alvarez defeated in wildly entertaining headline bout at UFC Fight Night in Calgary Article content The first time they fought, Dustin Poirier came oh-so-close to getting the finish over Eddie Alvarez, but just couldn’t quite get it done. In the main event of Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night: Calgary, Poirier did what he couldn’t do the last time and earned himself a TKO win. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Alvarez defeated in wildly entertaining headline bout at UFC Fight Night in Calgary Back to video Expectations were high for the Alvarez-Poirier matchup, given their reputations as two of the most entertaining brawlers in the UFC’s lightweight division – or any other weight-class, really – but somehow, Saturday night’s fight was even wilder than people had predicted. After a first round in which both guys tried to establish range and never quite went all-in, Alvarez came out swinging to start the second. But Poirier kept his composure and twice went for guillotine submissions. They didn’t quite work, and Alvarez took back control until he threw what the referee considered an illegal elbow. Suddenly, though, everything changed. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Poirier and Alvarez met in the middle of the octagon and Poirier connected with a nice punch. Alvarez stumbled, and it would be nearly impossible to describe what happened next. Poirier followed Alvarez to the fence and unloaded a seemingly neverending barrage of punches, kicks and elbows. It was a miracle that Alvarez was able to stay standing for as long as he did, but eventually he did drop to the mat and the fight was mercifully ended before the second round was over. It was a hugely impressive win for Poirier over a former champion, and he’s absolutely done enough to earn himself a shot at Khabib Nurmagomedov and the lightweight belt. That might be unlikely, though, with Conor McGregor returning. That’s a conversation for another day, though. On Saturday, Poirier proved he was one of the best fighters in the world and a guy who rises to the occasion in big, headline fights. VINDICATION We should have known not to write Jose Aldo off. No, the last couple years haven’t been all that kind to the Brazilian legend, but he didn’t suddenly just lose the skills that made him the greatest featherweight in history. On Saturday night in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night: Calgary, Aldo provided a reminder of why he’s been considered such a special talent for so long. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content If there were questions about his chin after he was knocked out by Conor McGregor and lost twice by TKO to current 145 lbs. champion Max Holloway, well, maybe we can stop asking about that. Jeremy Stephens is a knockout artist, a guy whose opponents fall when he hit them. But Aldo stood and traded bombs with the American. One uppercut, in particular, looked like a knockout punch, but Aldo just kept swinging. It was a borderline crazy strategy for Aldo to take into the fight, but it worked. Midway through the first round, Aldo connected with a powerful punch to the body. It wasn’t the sort of shot that fighters can recover from, and when Stephens dropped to the octagon floor Aldo swarmed him and finished the fight with punches on the ground. Officially, the fight was stopped at the 4:19 mark of Round 1. It was a spectacular fight from a guy who has deserved better than what the MMA gods have given him over the last few years. His fight with McGregor in late-2015 was heavily promoted, as both men were trotted around the world while the Irishman ripped into Aldo’s legacy. When they finally stepped into the octagon – with a massive audience watching – McGregor knocked Aldo out in only 13 seconds. The two losses to Holloway were decisive, as well, and it seemed as if one of the sport’s all-time greats was somehow having his legacy tarnished because he couldn’t keep up with a new generation of featherweights. On Saturday night, Aldo got to step back into the spotlight and put on a vintage performance that reminded the world what he’s capable of. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content And as anyone who has watched him knows, Aldo is capable of being one of the most exciting fighters in all of MMA. JJ’S BACK Joanna Jedrzejczyk never lost faith in herself. After losing her women’s strawweight belt to Rose Namajunas last November and then failing to reclaim it in their rematch this spring, Jedrzejczyk insisted that she was still the best women’s 115 lbs. fighter in the world. On Saturday in Calgary, she proved that she’s definitely deserving of being in the conversation by topping Tecia Torres in a unanimous decision victory. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Jedrzejczyk wasn’t at her most spectacular and never really looked like she was going to be able to finish Torres, but she largely controlled the action and avoided taking any real damage herself. Torres went for several takedowns, but wasn’t able to keep control of Jedrzejczyk either on the mat or against the fence. The victory probably isn’t going to be enough to earn Jedrzejczyk a third shot at Namajunas – the UFC doesn’t give those out very often to fighters who have lost to the same opponent twice – but she’s not far off from being the No. 1 contender. In the first fight on the main card of Saturday night’s card, Alexander Hernandez out-pointed Canadian Olivier Aubin-Mercier to earn a unanimous decision victory. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content daustin@postmedia.com www.twitter.com/DannyAustin_9 FIGHT CARD Main Card Dustin Poirier def Eddie Alvarez via second round TKO Jose Aldo def. Jeremy Stephens via. First round TKO Joanna Jedrzejczyk def. Tecia Torres via unanimous decision Alexander Hernandez def. Olivier Aubin-Mercier via unanimous decision Preliminary card Jordan Mein def. Alex Morono via unanimous decision Hakeem Dawodu def. Austin Arnett via unanimous decision Islam Makhachev def. Kajan Johnson via first round submission Ion Cutelaba def. Gadzhimurad Antigulov via first round TKO John Makdessi def. Ross Pearson via unanimous decision Katlyn Chookagian def. Alexis Davis via unanimous decision Dustin Ortiz def. Matheus Nicolau via first round TKO Nina Ansaroff def Randa Markos via unanimous decision Devin Powell def. Alvaro Herrera via first round KO We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Calgary Sun Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Calgary SUN, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up!<doc-sep>The lightweight division has a new title contender, and two former champions are back in the championship hunt. UFC on FOX 30 delivered in spades Saturday night at Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome, as Dustin Poirier settled his rivalry with Eddie Alvarez with a thunderous second-round knockout, and longtime beltholders Jose Aldo and Joanna Jedrzejczyk proved they still have plenty of gas left in the tank with resounding victories over Jeremy Stephens and Tecia Torres, respectively. Catch reactions to those performances from the pros below, plus the best of the rest from a wild night north of the border. DUSTIN POIRIER DEF. EDDIE ALVAREZ Good Job Kid @DustinPoirier — Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) July 29, 2018 Another Eddie Alvarez fight turns into, well another Eddie Alvarez fight. @DustinPoirier beats him in exactly what you want to see on national TV, two warriors takedowns, defending submissions and banging. Shoutout to both fighters and Amazing booking by @ufc — Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) July 29, 2018 Proof that 12-6 elbow rule is fuckin bullshit #UFCCalgary — Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) July 29, 2018 Omfggggg what a fight !!! #ufccalgary wow!!! — JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) July 29, 2018 GOT DAMN EDDIE! What a fucking warrior!!! Congrats to Dustin on avenging the rivalry loss. What a crazy ass fight!! AGAIN!! #UFCCalgary — Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) July 29, 2018 I didn’t have a dog in the fight...I wanted the under to hit. However, that’s a crazy stand up imo — Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) July 29, 2018 On top of a illegal 12-6 elbow, Alvarez also grabbed the fence on the submission attempt. And landed an illegal knee last fight. Come on now. #ufcCalgary — Scott Holtzman (@HotSauceHoltzy) July 29, 2018 Wow I called it Dustin’s boxing it’s to crisp #UFcCalgary — Belal muhammad (@bullyb170) July 29, 2018 Goddard shoulda reffed Jeremy’s fight #UFcCalgary — Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) July 29, 2018 Dustin Poirier is the fucking man — Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) July 29, 2018 Alvarez really has himself to blame. In a dominant position and brings himself undone with yet again another illegal strike. He’s been fighting long enough to know that was a blatant 12-6. Congrats to @DustinPoirier looked awesome out there #UFConFOX30 — Damien Brown (@beatdown155) July 29, 2018 @DustinPoirier def earned that title shot. Money fights are nice for @ufc but to deny someone an opportunity that he earned would be wrong. Does everything the ufc loves and deserves his chance at the belt — Tony Martin (@tmartinmma) July 29, 2018 Fuck that referee. I will not fight if that ref is calling my fight. He cost Eddie that fight smfh #UFcCalgary — KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) July 29, 2018 JOSE ALDO DEF. JEREMY STEPHENS — Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) July 29, 2018 What a liver shot!!!! — Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) July 29, 2018 Jose is back bitch #UFCCalvary — AlexSpartanNicholson (@spartanlife32) July 29, 2018 Early stoppage ‍♂️ — #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) July 29, 2018 Emocionante demais essa vitória @josealdojunior que o Brasil nunca deixe de acreditar e apoiar nossos guerreiros! #UFCNoCombate #ufccalgary — Thiago Marreta (@TMarretaMMA) July 29, 2018 Body SHOTS!!! An emotional Jose Aldo Jr on his victory! HUGE CONGRATS #UFCCalgary — Marion Reneau (@BelizeanBruiser) July 29, 2018 Yesss aldo — Neil 2 Tap Seery (@NeilSeeryMMA) July 29, 2018 That was a ridiculous body shot!! — James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) July 29, 2018 I don’t care what what you think. That was early #ufcCalgary — Jessica Penne (@JessicaPenne) July 29, 2018 What a beautiful body shot! The emotion from Aldo #UFCalgary — Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) July 29, 2018 Also still got the juice!!! I could only imagine the emotions he’s experiencing. Being doubted by fans, and maybe even some family members as well. Damn! The fight game is beautiful #UFCalgary — Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) July 29, 2018 What a body shot!! Congrats @josealdojunior — Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) July 29, 2018 I disagree. Rolling to turtle in a combat situation is to protect yourself from further punishment and it’s a strong sign you’re hurt. If you sit there without moving for more then a few secs it should be stopped. — Damien Brown (@beatdown155) July 29, 2018 Thank you for the well wishes @josealdojunior glad to see you back champ! — Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) July 29, 2018 JOANNA JEDRZEJCZYK DEF. TECIA TORRES Pretty typical JJ fight: she ate a couple big shots, but generally was impossible to takedown, landed a ton in any clinch situation and dissected her opponent on the feet. JJ for the win. #ufccalgary pic.twitter.com/05nKWH2X3n — The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) July 29, 2018 Great respect ladies! Great fight! — Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) July 29, 2018 ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ DEF. OLIVIER AUBIN-MERCIER Holy shit imma need a diagram to explain that backtake. #UFCCalgary — Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) July 29, 2018 I would love to fight Hernandez and or Mercier #UFCCalgary — Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) July 29, 2018<doc-sep>Regardless of where you sit from the standpoint of intention and how the finish was handled, the lightweight duel between Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier from UFC 211 in May 2017 came to an abrupt end just as it was dramatically heating up. A trio of knee strikes from Alvarez (29-5, 1 NC), the former champion in his first bout since losing the title, brought a controversial end to the bout late in Round 2 after one (if not all three depending upon where you stand) landed to the head of Poirier as he was bent over with his hands on the canvas. Referee Herb Dean, after a long cageside meeting with Marc Ratner, UFC's vice president of regulatory affairs, ruled the bout a no contest instead of a disqualification. Can't get enough UFC? Subscribe to my podcast In This Corner with Brian Campbell where we break down everything you need to know in the Octagon. After a slow start throughout a tactical opening round, the second stanza heated up considerably in one of the best rounds of 2017 as Alvarez, 34, showcased his trademark recuperative abilities to rally from a daze to hurt Poirier (23-5, 1 NC) in a toe-to-toe war. One year later, the two fighters have agreed to do it again in search of closure (if not revenge for Poirier) when they meet in the main event of Saturday's UFC Fight Night card in Calgary (Fox, 8 p.m. ET). The back-and-forth exchanges on social media since their first fight have only raised the ante of disrespect and legitimate dislike between the two fighters. But before we get into what's at stake in this much-anticipated rematch, let's hear from both fighters about exactly what happened in their first bout. Both Alvarez and Poirier spoke with CBS Sports on this week's "In This Corner" podcast about their infamous second round from last year and what happened in the aftermath. Alvarez entered Round 2 with a small cut under his left eye and was rocked by a big right hand to the head just 18 seconds in. The action only intensified just over three minutes into the round as a hard left hand from Poirier sent Alvarez wobbling to the cage and set up a wild exchange of punches. After eating a head kick which brought the crowd to its feet, a visibly damaged Alvarez unleashed haymakers with his back to the cage wall and hurt Poirier with a right hand as chaos ensued. Eddie Alvarez: "Dustin caught me with a good shot. He had me against the ropes and he was trying to finish me." Dustin Poirier: "I thought I had him hurt really bad, obviously I did." EA: "He couldn't land the finishing shot. I caught him with a really hard left hook and kind of wobbled him and took him down and he was sort of on his way out." DP: "He hit me with a shot. I ended up with my back on the fence. He shot a double leg and I went for a guillotine. He tripped me up and I was getting back up on the fence, he started shooting knees." EA: "I kneed him twice, legally. I kneed him twice, legally. When he dropped to the ground, at this point I was kind of just fighting instinctually." DP: "The first two were glancing or one missed, but then one got me real good and that's exactly what happened." EA: "I threw a knee, it hit him and it was questionable. I don't know what the rules are because I don't care what the rules are. It's up to the referee and the referee called it what he called it." DP: "Oh, the [third] knee [rocked me] for sure. No doubt, hands down." EA: "So I think he was playing the game a little bit [by putting his hands on the ground] but once I hit him with the second knee, his spirit was kind of leaving him. He already got hit by a shot, his eye was cut wide open, blood was spilling on the floor and I think he just got a bit overwhelmed. When the referee asked him if he wanted to continue, I truly believe that he was conscious and he was clear headed and he said no to the ref. If you're a fighter and you are conscious, you do whatever you can to continue the fight." DP: "I think he [did it on purpose] because he was fighting for his life. He was doing anything in his power to hurt me. Fight or flight and he doesn't flight because he's a fighter so I give them that. But we knew that going into the fight." EA: "I never do anything, ever. Never do I do anything outside the rules intentionally. Never. I'm just not that kind of guy, I've never been that guy and I never will be. To even question that is foolish. If you know who I am and you watched me fight the years that I have, it's just silly to even think about that." Alvarez and Poirier are ready to run it back. Getty Images DP: "I just had more respect for him as a human being before the fight and in the moment. That's why I told [the crowd] to stop booing him and maybe it was accident. But seeing the way he reacted to stuff that happened after, I don't know anymore." EA: "Yeah, I don't care. I don't care what he says. [Laughs]. I know what it is. If I wanted to get out of a fight, when he hit me with the left hand I would've just curled up into a ball and let the ref stop the fight. I never want to get out of a fight. I would've begged. If I was on that stool in the same position he was, I would've begged the referee not to stop the fight. I've been in that position a number of times in my career, the same position he was where a referee is threatening to stop the fight on me and I begged them with everything in me. 'Please let this fight continue because I'm a fighter.' That's what fighters do." DP: "Him saying that I wanted out of the fight [is what hurt the most.]" EA: "That fight was going in the direction of me winning by knockout, that's where that fight was headed. That fight was going in the direction of a W in my favor, not in his. His spirit was in the middle of breaking and you guys got robbed of another victory by me, that's the only victory you got robbed of. I don't care what happened before that. If you talk to a lot of my opponents, they are all going to say the same exact thing he's saying to the public, 'I was winning.' They are all going to say that, 'I was winning.' You either win or you don't win, it's not 'I was winning.' This is a fist fight." DP: "Then one time he tweeted, 'Are you finally off of your stool yet?' I just don't see how you can take shots. That's where I lost the respect for him." EA: "Yeah, yeah that was good right? [Laughs.] When I tweet and do things, I usually do them for fun and I think people should laugh and everybody should be entertained by it. I don't care what he feels about it. If it got under his skin than good. Hopefully I can send some more tweets that will get under his skin. At the very least, what's he going to do? Punch me? He has to do that anyway." DP: "I don't see how you can take shots at somebody when you did something illegal and the fight was stopped." EA: "[There's no] bad blood on my part. Look, Dustin is a little angry. I met him in Calgary when we did our media shoot and he seemed very tense and very angry. He's taking this fight very seriously. I'm looking forward to the fight and it's exciting.<doc-sep>

One year after their lightweight duel was marred by Eddie Alvarez's illegal knees, Dustin Poirier proved that revenge was best served violently on Saturday. Poirier (24-5, 1 NC) survived both Alvarez's never-say-die style and an illegal 12-to-6 elbow that threatened to ruin their rematch just moments before Poirier recorded a resounding second-round TKO in the main event of UFC on Fox at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary. In the process, the red-hot Poirier may have secured a future title shot at 155 pounds. "I told you so," Poirier said defiantly after the bout. "I told you so." Although Poirier originally vouched for Alvarez (29-6, 1 NC) in the aftermath of their first meeting at UFC 211 in May 2017, the buildup to their rematch was overtaken by trash talk and statements from both that the other was on the verge of quitting as Alvarez delivered the illegal blows which caused the fight to end via no contest. "What really irked me this whole camp and after the fight is how I stood up for this man in Dallas, Texas, and then he comes back to say I quit," Poirier said. "I'll never quit, I'll die in here. This is what I do, I live for this everyday, all day. This is who I am, I'm a fighter at heart. I'll never quit in here, that's disgusting to hear." The first round played out very similar to their first fight as Poirier, 29, landed the cleaner shots in a very tactical round. But just like the first time, fireworks ensued one round later. The 34-year-old Alvarez, a former UFC champion who was fighting out the last bout on his contract, came out aggressive and scored a pair of early takedowns. Alvarez cut Poirier with punches and briefly worked a neck crank. But his dominant position was taken away midway through the round. Alvarez attempted an illegal 12-to-6 elbow from his knees while Poirier was seated against the cage, causing referee Marc Goddard to stand them up and sternly warn Alvarez. "The elbow actually landed on my shoulder, it didn't hurt me at all," Poirier said. "It felt like a normal elbow, I'm not even sure. After the fight, Eddie said, 'They stood you up though,' as in I won the fight because of that. But don't throw a 12-to-6 elbow just like you don't knee a downed opponent." After the illegal strike, the action only intensified on the feet. A straight left hand from the southpaw Poirier hurt Alvarez and he followed with a knee to the chest and seven straight jabs which landed flush and backed Alvarez up to the cage. Given Alvarez's history of brawling through pain and damage, Goddard allowed him to hang in despite enduring tremendous punishment against the cage. Although Alvarez was countering with haymakers, Poirier stayed poised and picked him apart with a brutal series of punches, forearms, kicks and knees until Alvarez collapsed to the ground and Goddard waved it off at 4:05. "I felt good coming in here. This is the most calm I've ever been," Poirier said. "This is my 30th pro fight. I'm a young veteran and I just feel at home in here." Poirier, who improved to 7-1 since returning to lightweight, called for a title shot after the fight. "Just look at my track record," Poirier said. "Eddie Alvarez, former champ. Anthony Pettis, former champ. Justin Gaethje, former champ. Eddie Alvarez, former champ. That's four champions in a row. What else do I got to do, that's like my 25th fight in the UFC? Khabib [Nurmagomedov], where you at?" Although Poirier could see a title shot in his future over the next year, the division remains as crowded as ever. Nurmagomedov is expected to face returning former champion Conor McGregor later this fall and Poirier may still find himself behind Tony Ferguson in the pecking order when all is said and done. Can't get enough UFC? Subscribe to my podcast In This Corner with Brian Campbell where I break down everything you need to know in the Octagon. UFC on Fox 30 results Dustin Poirier def. Eddie Alvarez via second-round TKO (punches) Jose Aldo def Jeremy Stephens via first-round TKO (punches) Joanna Jedrzeczyk def. Tecia Torres via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Alexander Hernandez def. Olivier Aubin-Mercier via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) CBS Sports was with you for every punch, kick and submission attempt on Saturday night with our live blog below.

In a statement, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said that although the attacker's motivation is not yet known, "the fact that his victims were both young African-American women stirs deep pain and palpable fear in all of us who acknowledge the reality that our country still suffers from a tragic and deeply racist history".<doc-sep>An 18-year-old girl was stabbed and killed while exiting a train at the MacArthur BART Station on Sunday night Woman Reveals Her Final Words to Her Sister After They Were Stabbed at a BART Station, Man Arrested Less than 24 hours after a family day out turned to tragedy, a California woman has spoken about her sister’s senseless death. With her neck still bandaged from where her alleged attacker stabbed her, Lahtifa Wilson revealed how she pleaded with her sister to hold on after she too was stabbed in the neck at an Oakland BART Station on Sunday night. Get push notifications with news, features and more. “I’m her protector and I feel like I didn’t protect her,” she told ABC 7 News. “She’s just yelling my name, ‘Tifah, Tifah, Tifah,’ and I said, ‘I got you, baby, I got you.’” Lahtifa reassured her sister, Nia, telling her they would survive this, “We’re gonna get through this, I got you, you’re my baby sister.” Despite Lahtifa’s pleas, her 18-year-old little sister died from her wounds on the MacArthur platform, according to a press release from the BART Police Department. Late Monday, their alleged attacker, John Lee Cowell, was arrested after BART police released images of him from surveillance footage and police bodycam footage, according to a second press release from the police department. Cowell, 27, was found via an anonymous tip from another BART rider. He was aboard another train bound for Antioch at the Pleasant Hill Station. John Cowell Credit: BART Police John Cowell Just hours before Cowell’s arrest, a heartbroken Lahtifa told ABC7 that Nia was the “sweetest person on the earth.” “She didn’t do nothing to nobody, I didn’t do nothing to nobody and for this to happen is just outright crazy,” she said. bart-stabbing-2 Before the stabbing, Lahtifa told the outlet she and her sister had never met Cowell and were “blindsided” by the attack. “All of a sudden we transfer just to get blindsided by a maniac, for what I don’t know,” she said. bart-stabbing-3 Lahtifa Wilson | Credit: ABC 7 Allegedly, as Cowell walked away, Lahtifa claimed she saw him standing on the stairs and looking at her and Nia. “I looked back and he was wiping off his knife and stood at the stairs and just looked,” she claimed. “From then on I was caring for my sister.” “That’s my heart, she was my heart, no matter our ups and downs we still come back to each other like it was nothing,” she continued. Cowell is on parole and was released from prison four months ago, BART Police Chief Carlos Rojas told reporters Monday night. Cowell was previously convicted of felony second-degree robbery, according to SFGate. He was also previously convicted of battery in June 2013. Rojas said despite claims that Cowell may have links to white supremacist groups, so far investigators “haven’t connected him with any type of radical group or white supremacist group.” Prior to Cowell’s arrest, Nia’s godfather Darryle Allums spoke to reporters and asked the public to come together and solve the crime. “We have supported a lot of families with violence, but this is special, this is family,” he said. “They didn’t ask to get cut or stabbed. Those are our baby girls, those are our children. We need the community, especially the African American community to stand down right now.” Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. “We don’t know if this was racism, we don’t know if it was random, we don’t know what it was. Let’s get the information to find out what really happened, let’s get the facts so we can deal with this situation,” he added.<doc-sep>CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos or video on a mobile device Update: The suspect in the stabbing that left Nia Wilson dead has been arrested by BART Police at the Pleasant Hill station. Details are here. OAKLAND — The manhunt for a Concord man identified as a primary suspect in a double stabbing on a BART platform that killed an 18-year-old Oakland woman and critically wounded her sister continued Monday as authorities released his mug shot and images of him. John Lee Cowell, 27, is considered dangerous, and authorities urged anyone who sees him to call 911 immediately. He is suspected of following Nia Wilson, 18, and her sister off a train onto the platform at the MacArthur Station and stabbing both of them. Wilson died at the scene. Her sister, whom authorities identified as Latifa Wilson, remained hospitalized Monday with critical injuries, police said. Murder suspect identified in MacArthur stabbing. John Cowell is considered dangerous. Please call 911 if spotted. RIP Nia Wilson. We will bring this suspect to justice. Our thoughts are with the family and friends. Details: https://t.co/DEkTJvJnNe pic.twitter.com/igZU2bdel7 — SFBART (@SFBART) July 23, 2018 Nia Wilson’s godfather, Daryle Allums, called for the community to help bring justice to the family but not react violently. “They didn’t ask to be stabbed, those are baby girls,” Allums said Monday. “We don’t know if it’s racist, we don’t know if it’s random.” The stabbing death marked the second in two days on a BART train and third in five days. BART said a man punched at the Bay Fair station early Saturday morning hit his head on the cement and died Sunday at a hospital. Police also were investigating the death of a man assaulted at the Pleasant Hill station on July 18. Police did not put out a statement regarding either the Bay Fair or Pleasant Hill incidents until Monday, when they released Cowell’s images. BART officials did not immediately address the delay in reporting the incidents. Cowell, a transient based in Concord, has a history of arrests, including for assault with a deadly weapon and robbery. In 2016, a Richmond hospital sought a restraining order against him for allegedly calling a worker a “crack-headed (expletive)” and constantly threatening to kill her. He also had prior arrests in Alameda County for one case involving petty theft and another involving misdemeanor vandalism and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. Authorities said that Wilson and her sister both boarded a train at the Concord station, as did Cowell. All three then exited at the MacArthur transfer station to wait for a Warm Springs train. The stabbing happened on the platform of the station, authorities said. At a Monday news conference, BART Police Chief Carlos Rojas said the stabbing was similar to a “prison yard assault” and happened quickly, which allowed the suspect to escape. It also was captured on video “very clearly,” according to a source. Rojas said that video will not be released. Police found a knife used in the stabbing at a nearby construction site, Rojas said. A backpack left behind at the crime scene helped police identify Cowell as the suspect. It’s “one of the most vicious attacks I’ve ever seen,” Rojas said. Cowell had just finished completing a two-year prison sentence for a robbery conviction. It stemmed from a May 2016 incident, when he displayed a box cutter and replica handgun during an “encounter” with a loss prevention officer at a Lucky’s in El Cerrito, authorities said. In 2015 and 2016, separate restraining orders were issued against Cowell, one alleging that he entered his family’s home several times without permission while “high on drugs,” prompting a family member to call police. The other restraining order, issued in July 2016, alleges Cowell began harassing a woman who worked at the Kaiser Permanente hospital in Richmond. Cowell, according to the restraining order, began swearing at the woman and demanding she find his backpack. “(Cowell) then turned to a co-worker who was also working at the reception desk. He stated to her that she ‘better not be friends with’ me or she would get ‘shot in the face also,'” the woman wrote in court records. “Every time he comes to the department when I am working, he is verbally abusive and threatens my life.” The situation was serious enough that Kaiser asked for the restraining order request to be expedited, writing they were afraid Cowell would carry out his threats if an order wasn’t issued right away. In Alameda County, warrants for Cowell were issued when he failed to show to court for hearings involving his arrests on suspicion of petty theft in one incident and misdemeanor vandalism and possessing a controlled substance in the other. Cowell was in jail at the time in Contra Costa County. In the petty theft case, police arrested Cowell on suspicion of stealing underwear from Whole Foods in Dublin. Cowell is a Caucasian male who is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 190 pounds, authorities said. He has short, dark hair, a closely cropped beard and a mustache. He has scared acquaintances in the past. Carol Kincaid, a neighbor who said she has known Cowell since he was in diapers, was informed of Cowell’s suspected involvement in the stabbings by a reporter Monday. She said she wasn’t surprised. “I think he would absolutely kill somebody if he had something against someone,” Kincaid said. “He’s no good at all.” Kincaid remembered one story about Cowell from a few years ago where he went to a nearby Burger King with his grandmother and ordered food through the drive-through window. The clerk upset him, so after returning home, Cowell grabbed a brick, walked back to the restaurant and threw it through the window. Kincaid said Cowell recently returned to the neighborhood a few months ago after serving time and was living with an aunt across the street. She said Cowell asked her for a ride to BART about a month ago, and that she and her husband reluctantly agreed. She said Cowell acted odd the entire trip, the last time she saw him. “As he got older and older and out of school, he was always in trouble,” Kincaid said. “… Everybody was afraid of him. He didn’t care what he did to anybody. He’s not any guy you want to be around.” No one answered the door bell Monday afternoon at Cowell’s childhood home, a grey Ranch-style house with brick accents. Two large trucks were parked in the driveway, next to a well-manicured lawn, a decorative well and a sign that read: “Welcome Y’All.” Other neighbors in the small cul-de-sac that sits at the end of a long driveway from Concord Boulevard and a vet hospital, had vague memories of Cowell. Some occasionally saw him smoking on a bench next to an adjacent dirt yard with out buildings, stored boats and tractors. On Monday morning, a Contra Costa County sheriff deputy knocked on the doors and showed the residents a photo of Cowell and asked if they had see him around recently. Shortly after the stabbing around 9:35 p.m., passengers flagged down officers at the Oakland station and they found the two women. Wilson died at the scene. The station was closed overnight while investigators processed the scene on the platform, BART spokesman Jim Allison said. The station reopened at 4 a.m. Monday. Wilson’s death sent Twitter into a rage. Around 11:45 a.m., it was briefly the top-trending story on the site. Many people reacting to the stabbing demanded security footage immediately. #NiaWilson needs to be the #1 trending topic in America and a manhunt needs to be underway for her killer. She was a kid. The 25-30 year old white man who murdered her and critically injured her sister walked up to them and began slashing them with a knife. (via @ShaunKing) pic.twitter.com/hw3sh0CxtB — Arturo Tha Cuban (@ExtremeArturo) July 23, 2018 A post by @veganwaterpls spoke for many of them, saying, “Nia Wilson was murdered last night at MacArthur @SFBART station in Oakland, CA by a white male still at large. Where is the security footage?<doc-sep>

Crowds and police vehicles gathered in response to reports of an active shooter on the Ohio State campus Monday morning. What we know about the Paris attacker A police officer cordons off the area after a knife attack in central Paris, Saturday May 12, 2018. The Paris police said the attacker was subdued by officers during the stabbing attack in the 2nd arrondissement or district of the French capital Saturday. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Policemen stand guard in Paris centre after one person was killed and several injured in a knife attack in Paris on May 12, 2018. - The assailant was killed by police. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images) People stand in front of the Louvre museum on February 3, 2017 in Paris after a soldier has shot and gravely injured a man who tried to attack him. "Serious public security incident under way in Paris in the Louvre area," the interior ministry tweeted on February 3 as streets in the area were cordoned off to traffic and pedestrians. / AFP / ALAIN JOCARD (Photo credit should read ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/Getty Images) Corey Johnson, 17, was arrested after admitting to stabbing three victims because of his faith, according to a probable cause affidavit from Palm Beach Gardens Police. SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 15: Bronze medalist Denis Ten of Kazakhstan celebrates during the medal ceremony for the Men's Figure Skating on day 8 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Medals Plaza on February 15, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (CNN) — An 18-year old woman was stabbed to death at a public transit station Sunday evening in Oakland, California, marking the third death in less than a week from unrelated attacks on the Bay Area transit system known as BART. On Sunday night, Nia Wilson was walking on the subway platform with her sisters when a man stabbed her in an unprovoked attack, according to the Bay Area Rapid Transit officials. Nia’s sister Lahtifa, was also stabbed and seriously injured. “In my close to 30 years of police experience, it was probably one of the most vicious attacks that I’ve seen,” BART Police Chief Carlos Rojas said, citing surveillance video in a Monday press conference. Police identified the suspect as John Cowell, 27, who was taken into custody Monday, according to BART police. Murder suspect now in custody! BART Police took him into custody at Pleasant Hill BART. Full details to come and Chief availability at Rockridge BART at 8pm. Thank you BPD and thank riders for keeping your eye out!! https://t.co/OxZmOw2OkI — SFBART (@SFBART) July 24, 2018 Rojas described Cowell as a violent felon, saying he was currently on parole after getting out of the California prison system four months ago. Surveillance video showed not just the stabbing on the platform, but the attacker removing his clothing in the parking structure as he fled, police said. BART police officers were patrolling the MacArthur station on Sunday night when the two sisters were stabbed around 9:36 p.m. They rendered aid to the two victims, according to a BART news release. As the search intensified for Cowell in the hours after the attack, BART police received a call Monday evening that a passenger had spotted the suspect on one of the trains, Rojas said. Officers were able to take Cowell into custody. He was not armed when he was detained, Rojas said. “We’re very glad that less than 24 hours, we were able to get this suspect into custody,” Rojas said. It was unclear whether Cowell has a lawyer. Rojas said he had not yet been charged. On Monday evening, marchers held a vigil for Wilson that brought nearly 1,000 people to downtown Oakland, according to an estimate by the Oakland police. “The senseless and violent stabbing of two young women on a BART train platform last night has shaken our community,” said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf in a statement. “Although investigators currently have no evidence to conclude that this tragedy was racially motivated or that the suspect was affiliated with any hate groups, the fact that his victims were both young African American women stirs deep pain and palpable fear in all of us who acknowledge the reality that our country still suffers from a tragic and deeply racist history,” she said. Cowell is white, but police say no motive has been established.

The oldest man living man the world died on Sunday night, according to Guinness World Records World's Oldest Man, Who Loved Sweets and Lived at a Hot Springs Inn, Dies in Japan at 113 The oldest living man in the world died on Sunday, according to Guinness World Records. Masazo Nonaka, who was 113 years and 179 days old at the time, passed away peacefully in his home on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. He did not have any health problems, and the death appeared due to natural causes. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Nonaka lived at and ran his family’s inn, which is home to multiple hot springs, according to The Guardian. He believed soaking in the springs once a week and his love of sweets contributed to his longevity. He also enjoyed watching sumo wrestling on TV, the outlet reports. Nonaka had a big family, including six brothers and one sister. After getting married in 1931, he went on to have five children of his own. He outlived all of his siblings, his wife, and three of his five kids, Insider reports. RELATED VIDEO: New Jersey Boy, 11, Dies from Apparent Allergic Reaction Seemingly Prompted by Smell of Cooking Fish “We feel shocked at the loss of this big figure,” his granddaughter Yuko told Kyodo News. “His last moments were calm. He passed away without causing our family any fuss at all.” Nonaka — who was born on July 25, 1905 — was confirmed as the oldest living man in April 2018 after Spain’s Francisco Nuñez Olivera died on Jan. 29, 2018 at the age of 113 years 47 days.<doc-sep>(CNN) — A 113-year-old Japanese man, Masazo Nonaka, recognized in April 2018 by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest male, died on Sunday, according to Japanese public service broadcaster NHK. Nonaka, a resident of Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, was born on July 25, 1905. Nonaka’s family noticed on Sunday morning that he wasn’t breathing. His doctor confirmed that Nonaka had died. The family said that he seemed to be fine on Saturday, according to NHK. Guiness World Records named Nonaka as the world’s oldest man in April 2018 when he was 112 years and 259 days old. He spent his retirement reading newspapers, eating sweets and cakes, and watching TV, particularly sumo wrestling, Guinness World Records wrote. He said at the time he believed his longevity was due to soaking in hot springs and eating sweets, but his daughter said it had more to do with living in a way that doesn’t bring stress, the site wrote. The oldest ever living man was Jiroemon Kimura, a Japanese man who lived to be 116 years and 54 days old before his death in June 2013.<doc-sep>Tokyo (AFP) - "World's oldest man" Masazo Nonaka, who was born just two years after the Wright brothers launched humanity's first powered flight, died on Sunday aged 113, Japanese media said. Nonaka was born in July 1905, according to Guinness World Records -- just months before Albert Einstein published his special theory of relativity. Guinness officially recognised Nonaka as the oldest living man after the death of Spaniard Francisco Nunez Olivera last year. "We feel shocked at the loss of this big figure. He was as usual yesterday and passed away without causing our family any fuss at all," his granddaughter Yuko told Kyodo News. Nonaka had six brothers and one sister, marrying in 1931 and fathering five children. He ran a hot spring inn in his hometown and in retirement enjoyed watching sumo wrestling on TV and eating sweets, according to local media. Japan has one of the world's highest life expectancies and was home to several people recognised as among the oldest humans to have ever lived. They include Jiroemon Kimura, the longest-living man on record, who died soon after his 116th birthday in June 2013. The oldest verified person ever -- Jeanne Louise Calment of France -- died in 1997 at the age of 122, according to Guinness.<doc-sep>File—Masazo Nonaka receiving a certificate for the Guinness World Records oldest man living title at a ceremony in Ashoro, Japan, on April 10, 2018. Nonaka died on Jan. 20, 2019, aged 113. (Jiji Press/AFP/Getty Images) World’s Oldest Man Dies in Japan Aged 113 The world’s oldest man—Masazo Nonaka, Japanese—has died at the age of 113. Nonaka died in the early morning hours of Jan. 20 at his home—an inn on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido run by his family for four generations. Family members told Japanese media that Nonaka died peacefully from natural causes in his sleep. “We feel shocked at the loss of this big figure. He was as usual yesterday and passed away without causing our family any fuss at all,” his granddaughter Yuko told Kyodo News. When Nonaka was 112 years old, he was recognized as the oldest man living by the Guinness World Records in an April 10 ceremony attended by family and local officials. Nonaka was born on July 25, 1905, 42 days before the Russo-Japanese War ended with the Treaty of Portsmouth, mediated by Theodore Roosevelt. Reuters reported that Nonaka was a farmer and lumberjack in his youth, later going on to run a hot-spring resort in his hometown Ashoro. He had six brothers and one sister, marrying in 1931 and fathering five children—two sons and three daughters. A document kept by the local welfare authorities describes how Nonaka regularly soaked himself in sulfur-rich hot springs and has an insatiable appetite for sweets, especially strawberry shortcake. During the Guinness World Records ceremony, he was offered cake but could only eat the whipped cream as he was not able to eat solid food. In retirement, he enjoyed watching sumo wrestling on TV and eating sweets, according to local media. Japan has one of the world’s highest life expectancies and was home to several people recognized as among the oldest humans to have lived. These included Jiroemon Kimura, the longest-living man on record, who died soon after his 116th birthday in June 2013. The oldest verified person—the French woman Jeanne Louise Calment—died in 1997 at the age of 122, according to Guinness World Records. Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press contributed to this report<doc-sep>

The world’s oldest man has died at his home, a hot springs inn on Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido, at the age of 113. His family said Masazo Nonaka died peacefully from natural causes in the early hours of Sunday while sleeping in the inn in Ashoro, which has been run by his family for four generations. Born on 25 July 1905, Nonaka grew up in a large family and succeeded his parents to run the inn, which is now operated by his granddaughter. He has outlived his wife and three of their five children. “We feel shocked at the loss of this big figure. He was as usual yesterday and passed away without causing our family any fuss at all,” his granddaughter Yuko told Kyodo News. Nonaka had six brothers and one sister, marrying in 1931 and fathering five children. In retirement, he enjoyed watching sumo wrestling on TV and eating sweets, according to local media. Japan has one of the world’s highest life expectancies and was home to several people recognised as among the oldest humans to have lived. These included Jiroemon Kimura, the longest-living man on record, who died soon after his 116th birthday in June 2013. The oldest verified person – the Frenchwoman Jeanne Louise Calment – died in 1997 at the age of 122, according to Guinness World Records. Guinness officially recognised Nonaka as the oldest living man after the death of Spaniard Francisco Nunez Olivera last year. Agence France-Presse and Associated Press contributed to this report

Beyoncé and Jay-Z chose not to grace the Grammys with their presence tonight—but it wasn't because they weren't in town or didn't win an award. The Carters won the Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album for Everything Is Love. And they were nominated for Best Music Video for their single "Apeshit." Why they skipped the award show might be due to when their Grammy win was announced: The award they won was revealed during the Grammys pre-show. Neither Beyoncé nor Jay-Z were performing during the actual show either, so there was no need for them to attend the ceremony if they didn't want to. And this year, it seemed that was the case. Jay-Z additionally addressed the Grammys's history of snubbing him in "Apeshit". He rapped, "Tell the Grammy’s fuck that 0 for 8 shit/Have you ever seen the crowd goin' apeshit?" in response to the Academy nominating his album 4:44 for 8 awards in 2018 but giving him none. The two were in Los Angeles this weekend, though. Bey and Jay-Z made headlines for their style at the Roc Nation pre-Grammys brunch yesterday. The couple coordinated in pastels there, with Jay-Z selecting a light blue suit and Bey opting for an asymmetrical pastel print mini dress by Balmain. The architectural statement sleeves of Beyoncé's dress were a highlight: Kevin Mazur Getty Images Bey and Jay-Z attended the Grammys last year with Blue, but Bey did not walk the red carpet. She arrived during Bruno Mars and Cardi B's performance of "Finesse," taking her seat in the front row next to Blue. For that ceremony, Beyoncé wore a black velvet custom Nicolas Jebran dress, and accessorized with Alain Mikli sunglasses, a giant saucer hat, and drop Lorraine Schwartz earrings. CBS Photo Archive Getty Images Blue wore a tuxedo pantsuit created by Valery Kovalska, a clutch by Judith Leiber, and silver Mary Jane shoes from So Danca detailed with Swarovski crystals by Western Costume Co. Beyoncé has been relatively active on Instagram in the weeks leading up to tonight's ceremony. The singer shared several of her signature outfit of the day photos—reminders that Bey will always deliver true statement fashion, even if it's not at award ceremonies. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Alyssa Bailey News and Strategy Editor Alyssa Bailey is the news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Superstar couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z skipped the Grammy Awards, but the two were still spotted around LA over the weekend. Beyoncé was seen at hot spot Avenue with her mother, Tina Knowles, after the awards were over. “They ordered a martini and french fries,” said a spy. Beyoncé and Jay-Z — who did win the Best Urban Contemporary Album Grammy for their “Everything Is Love” — also attended a Roc Nation brunch on Saturday.<doc-sep>Some of music's biggest stars unfortunately ended up missing music's biggest night. During the 2019 Grammys, there was plenty of star power everywhere you looked. From the red carpet to the Staples Center stage, artists from a variety of genres were represented and celebrated for their massive hits in the past year. Ultimately, not everyone can make the same event at the same time. From conflicting schedules to busy travel plans, some artists couldn't make it to Downtown Los Angeles for this year's telecast. It got us thinking of some of the stars we truly, truly missed at this year's show.<doc-sep>

The couple were up against her protégées Chloe x Halle, Chris Dave and the Drumhedz, Miguel and Meshell Ndegeocello at Sunday's awards show Beyoncé and JAY-Z Win Best Urban Contemporary Album for Everything Is Love at 2019 Grammys Everything is love when you’re a Grammy winner! Beyoncé and JAY-Z took home the best urban contemporary album honor at Sunday’s 2019 Grammy Awards for their joint effort, Everything Is Love. They beat out Beyoncé’s protégées Chloe x Halle (The Kids Are Alright), Chris Dave and the Drumhedz (Chris Dave and the Drumhedz), Miguel (War & Leisure) and Meshell Ndegeocello (Ventriloquism). The couple surprise-dropped Everything Is Love as The Carters in June after years of speculation that they were working on an album together. The release came at the end of Jay and Bey’s London show on their On the Run Tour II, when they casually flashed, “Album Out Now.” on the stage’s giant screen. Be sure to check out PEOPLE’s full Grammys coverage to get the latest news on music’s biggest night. On Everything Is Love, JAY-Z addresses his cheating scandal referenced on Beyoncé’s Lemonade, and puts to rest rumors of an alleged love child, saying they’re false. RELATED VIDEO: Five Things To Know About Beyoncé and JAY-Z’s Surprise New Album The nine-track record features hit “Apes—,” for which the duo secretly filmed a video in the Louvre museum in France over two nights while rehearsing for their tour in Paris. “Apes—” earned a best music video nomination, and the parents of three‘s song “Summer” off Everything Is Love received a nod in the best R&B performance category. Their best urban contemporary album win marks Beyoncé’s 23rd Grammy, and her husband’s 22nd. Be sure to check out PEOPLE’s full Grammys coverage to get the latest news on music’s biggest night.

The first member of the 2019 class to commit for Michigan basketball is Jalen Wilson. The small forward announced his decision to join the Wolverines Wednesday evening. MY DECISION HAS BEEN MADE... pic.twitter.com/Z4rvamWi0F — Jalen D. Wilson (@thejalenwilson) May 30, 2018 The 4-star recruit picked U-M over Baylor, Kansas, Marquette, Oklahoma State and UCLA. According to the 247Sports Composite, he was a 94 percent favorite to be John Beilein’s first 2019 commitment. Wilson is the 34th ranked player in his class, the highest for Michigan since Kam Chatman of the 2014 class. He is the fifth-best ranked recruit under Beilein behind Glenn Robinson III, Chatman, Mitch McGary and Zak Irvin. His recruitment with the Wolverines began in the spring and he was given a formal offer on the weekend of May 11. The Denton, Texas native is averaging 19.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game for the AAU team YGC36, apart of the Adidas Gauntlet series. At Guyer High School, Wilson averaged 16.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists in helping his team to a 33-2 record and the 6A state quarterfinal. The 6-foot-8, 215-pound wing isn’t the only highly rated recruit for the 2019 class. Point guard D.J. Carton (No. 27 nationally) from Bettendorf, Iowa is also favored to head to U-M. He is the No. 3 point guard in the nation, according to 247Sports. Mark “Rocket” Watts (No. 51) and Joe Girard III (No. 151) are also being recruited by the Wolverines. As of now, U-M had one scholarship slot left to fill for the 2019 class, but Charles Matthews is currently testing NBA waters. He and many others could have early departures following the 2018 campaign. Jalen Wilson highlights:<doc-sep>Yesterday was a big day for John Beilein and the Michigan Wolverines. Fans rejoiced as Charles Matthews announced his to return to Ann Arbor for another season after he deliberated joining the NBA Draft. Then Michigan secured a top-40 commitment from class of 2019 4-star forward Jalen Wilson. With these two studs, and a great haul of recruits from the class of 2018, Michigan has set itself up to be a top-15 team for the next two seasons. The return of Charles Matthews will pay immediate dividends for the Wolverines in 2018. The small forward was a transfer from Kentucky that was upset about his playing time with the Wildcats. That was not an issue at Michigan, where he averaged 30 minutes per game. The redshirt junior averaged 13.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game in his first year with Michigan. Matthews played a key role as the Wolverines fought for a Big Ten title and a spot in the National Championship. Matthews was the best player on the court at times and it showed throughout the postseason. His growth as a player was led by playing with more confidence and shooting the ball with authority late in the season. In the games leading up to the National Championship, Matthews averaged nearly 17 points and 7 rebounds per game. He also tallied a steal and a block per game. If Matthews continues that production, plays with confidence and takes the leadership role he did late in the season, Michigan will be a very tough team to beat. Matthew’s return will probably make him the best player on the roster, and the Wolverines will return six players who averaged more than 10 minutes per game, three of which were starters. That gives Beilein a very experienced roster in 2018. Then you have to add the stellar recruiting class Beilein has for the upcoming season. The 2018 class is listed as 11th in the country according to 247sports, and is composed of three 4-star recruits, a 3-star recruit, and 5-star PF Ignas Brazdeikis. Brazdeikis has drawn a lot of comparisons to former Wolverine Moritz Wagner. This is a solid foundation for the future, and classes like this will ensure Michigan will stay in contention for a national title in the years to come. With that being said, Beilein is off to a great start for the class of 2019 as well with Wilson committing to U-M. Wilson has the potential to put the Wolverines over the top. He can shoot from three, is extremely athletic and plays solid defense. But Wilson is not the only one. The Wolverines are also reportedly high on the lists of 4-star PG DJ Carton, 5-star SF Keion Brooks, and in-state 4-Star SG Rocket Watts. All three of these players are top-50 prospects and will be forces to be reckoned with in 2019. If Michigan could land just two of them, they could easily be a top-5 team in 2019. More often we are seeing recruits of this caliber putting Michigan in their top lists. Even if they do not end up in Ann Arbor, more prospects are noticing Michigan as a legitimate basketball powerhouse, and with good reason. Michigan is producing and developing players in college and preparing for the next level. The Wolverines have reached at least the Elite 8 four times in the last six seasons, two of those times going all the way to the National Championship. They have also only missed the tournament one time in the past eight seasons under Beilein. This production from Michigan has translated to top picks in the NBA draft like Trey Burke, DJ Wilson, Caris Lavert, and Nik Stauskus. In fact, Michigan has had four first round picks in the last five NBA drafts, with a possibility of another one in Wagner this season. At the end of the day, what else could a high school athlete want? They get to play at a school that wins big games with a great coach who produces NBA talent. That is why I don’t see this ending anytime soon. As long as Beilein is the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, and they continue to produce the way they have over the past six seasons, you can expect more big time recruits and deep tournament runs coming from Ann Arbor.<doc-sep>One of Marquette’s prospects for the class of 2019 is off the board, as top 30 recruit Jalen Wilson committed to Michigan on Wednesday evening. Wilson is listed as a 6’6”, 185 pound forward from Denton, Texas. According to 247 Sports, he is ranked 29th nationally and 3rd in the state of Texas. While the Golden Eagles were one of the six teams in Wilson’s early May cutdown, things were trending heavily in Michigan’s direction since then. Typically when a recruit makes their decision this early, it’s to go to a Power 5 school with a basketball pedigree like Michigan. First I would like to say that I’m essentially cousins with Wilson, since I grew up a few towns over from where he went to school. As much as I would love a fellow Texan to come to Marquette, I can’t fault him for choosing Michigan. They just went to the NCAA Championship for crying out loud. If he wants to come close to guaranteeing a deep tournament run right away, Michigan is the better choice. Not to state the obvious but Marquette has made ONE tournament appearance in the last four years. Onwards then! Marquette can now turn its focus towards the other prospects it’s made offers to. The Golden Eagles have been very busy this recruiting cycle and have seven top 200 prospects according to 247 sports. You can check them out in a recent article by the great Brewtown Andy. The point being, Coach Wojo and company have set themselves up well to land some high quality talent by getting involved early in the recruitment process. The next player to keep an eye on is 6’1” point guard out of Bettendorf, Iowa DJ Carton. Carton is ranked #27 nationally and #3 at his position. According to the 247 rankings, Marquette currently has an 8% chance of landing Carton. The two other schools on the list are Michigan (surprise, surprise) and Wisconsin. Funny thing about Wisconsin is that they aren’t in Carton’s final 6 list that he tweeted out on May 10. So make what you will of these rankings. This exclusive interview by Leader Johnson of 247 sports more accurately describes where Carton is leaning. Although Carton didn’t list Marquette as one of the schools he’s planning on visiting, he did say he plans on making his decision in late summer/early fall so that still leaves some time for Marquette to make a late push for Carton.<doc-sep>

John Beilein has secured his first commitment of the 2019 recruiting class — and it’s a big one. Four-star forward Jalen Wilson announced his decision on Wednesday in a statement posted to Twitter. The 6-foot-6 small forward from Denton, Texas, was one of the top players on Michigan’s recruiting board. He received a scholarship offer from Beilein on May 13 during an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor. Wilson is commonly regarded as one of the top wings in his class. He’s No. 34 in the 247Sports Composite rankings, the eighth-ranked small forward in the class and the third-best player out of Texas. According to the 247Sports Composite, Wilson is U-M’s highest-ranked commitment since Kam Chatman in the 2014 class. More Michigan basketball: Michigan basketball to play in Naismith Tip-Off tourney in November Michigan basketball, John Beilein working on contract extension Last winter, he reportedly averaged a team-high 16.2 points for Denton Guyer High School, adding 6.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 54 percent (40 percent from 3). MaxPreps ranked Guyer, which posted a 38-2 record, as the top high school team in the nation. Wilson played on the adidas Gauntlet AAU circuit this spring, reportedly averaging 19.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Wilson recently released a top six consisting of Michigan, Kansas, Baylor, Marquette, Oklahoma State and UCLA. The Wolverines have been linked to Wilson since April. Early that month, Wilson told Adam Zagoria that he was named after former Michigan star Jalen Rose, and that his mom “loves” U-M. Things heated up quickly between both parties. In mid April, Beilein and assistant coach Luke Yaklich made an in-home visit. Beilein was then seen watching Wilson play with his AAU team later that month. Michigan is also favored to land 4-star point guard D.J. Carton, who holds an offer and named the Wolverines one of his finalists. Earlier this year, Beilein signed the nation’s No. 11-ranked class for 2018, adding 4-star forwards Ignas Brazdeikis, Brandon Johns and Colin Castleton, 4-star guard David DeJulius and 3-star guard Adrian Nunez. It was Beilein’s highest-ranked class since 2012, when he signed Mitch McGary, Glenn Robinson III, Nik Stauskas, Caris Levert and Spike Albrecht. Contact Orion Sang: osang@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @orion_sang. Download our Wolverines Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!

“It’s a tragedy when black churches + mosques are bombed, burned or vandalized, but of course the world pays more attention to an 800-year-old architectural masterpiece in the heart of a city everyone visits! That’s not white supremacy, and nonwhites who love Paris aren’t dupes.” journalist Thomas Chatteron Williams wrote on Twitter. “How are we going to build the multiethnic/multicultural/pluralistic societies we need on the basis of such petty divisiveness? We really all need to do better.”<doc-sep>Within hours after firefighters extinguished the catastrophic blaze at Notre-Dame Cathedral, people around the world had already pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild the historic site. That included commitments from French businessman François-Henri Pinault, the L’Oreal cosmetics company, and Apple CEO Tim Cook, who said the Silicon Valley company would make a donation. The massive financial support for Notre-Dame prompted journalist Yashar Ali, who has nearly 400,000 followers on Twitter, to point people toward another worthy cause: rebuilding three historically black churches in Louisiana that were recently destroyed by arson. "The rebuild of Notre Dame will be well funded," Ali wrote in a tweet. "In the past month, three historically black churches in Louisiana were destroyed by a racist arsonist. He has been charged with hate crimes, but these churches need your help. Please join me in donating[.]" Ali linked to a GoFundMe launched April 10 by the Seventh District Baptist Association, a nonprofit religious organization to which the three gutted churches belong. Ali said he donated $1,000 to the campaign. The rebuild of Notre Dame will be well funded. In the past month, three historically black churches in Louisiana were destroyed by a racist arsonist. He has been charged with hate crimes, but these churches need your help. Please join me in donating https://t.co/gj1BcNsGpu — Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) April 16, 2019 The churches served as the "spiritual homes of generations of black families" for more than a century, according to the New York Times. Authorities charged a 21-year-old son of a Louisiana deputy sheriff with arson and hate crimes; he pleaded not guilty. The GoFundMe had received attention and donations, including from former New Orleans Saints player Benjamin Watson, but contributions surged Tuesday morning. Soon after Ali's first tweet, he said that GoFundMe would match $1,000 donations to the campaign. Actress Busy Phillips and Late Night host Seth Meyers said they made $1,000 contributions. At the time of this story's publication, the campaign had raised $347,000 of its $1.8 million goal. The Seventh District Baptist Association said donations would be disbursed equally amongst the churches to aid with rebuilding as well as replacing items like pews, sound systems, and musical instruments. In a video update posted to the GoFundMe campaign Tuesday, Gerald Toussaint, pastor of one of the affected churches, expressed his gratitude for the financial support. "I can't thank you enough," he said. "If I had 10,000 tongues, I couldn't thank you enough. God bless you."<doc-sep>Update: The crowdfunding campaign surpassed its $1.8 million goal late Wednesday, April 17. The fire at Notre-Dame cathedral on Monday prompted immediate pledges of millions of euros to help rebuild it. On Tuesday, it spurred donations to do the same for much smaller places of worship thousands of miles away that were recently destroyed by arson. A crowdfunding campaign for three fire-ravaged black churches in Louisiana received more than $1.2 million after it was widely shared on social media on Tuesday. Many users noted that while hundreds of millions of euros had already been pledged to rebuild the famous cathedral, the small churches in Louisiana were still struggling. “These communities need to know that people care about them and what they’re going through,” Jessica Piombo, a professor who lives in Monterey, Calif., wrote on the campaign’s page. “Every little bit counts.” The campaign was posted on GoFundMe last Wednesday by the Seventh District Baptist Association, which includes 54 Baptist churches in southwest Louisiana, including the three that were burned. The association noted that donations would go to rebuilding and replacing what was destroyed, from pews to sound systems and musical instruments.<doc-sep>

A crowdfunding campaign for three African American churches in Louisiana recently gutted by arson was climbing Tuesday after social media posts urging the public not to forget the plight of the small houses of worship as the eyes of the world were on the fire-ravaged Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. "As we hold Paris in our hearts today, let's also sent some love to our neighbors in Louisiana," a Tuesday tweet from Hillary Clinton read. Freelance journalist Yashar Ali, with 394,000 followers, struck a similar tone, tweeting that the Notre Dame restoration "will be well funded" and urging support for the Louisiana churches. "It's a blessing, truly a blessing," the Rev. Freddie Jack, president of the Seventh District Missionary Baptist Association, said of the fundraising campaign in a telephone interview Tuesday night. The three churches are members of the association. Suspect Holden Matthews, 21, is in custody in connection with the Louisiana fires and faces charges that include hate crimes. The fires happened in and around Opelousas beginning in late March. Matthews was arrested a week ago. The campaign hit $500,000 Tuesday evening, with contributions ranging from $5 to thousands of dollars. "It's all working out for the greater good," Jack said, when asked about the connection being made to the Notre Dame fire. The money raised is to be distributed equally among the three century-old churches: St. Mary Baptist Church, which burned on March 26 in Port Barre, a town just outside of Opelousas; and Greater Union Baptist Church and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas, which burned over the following 10 days.

PITTSBURGH -- The second day of the 2019 NCAA wrestling Championships is in the books, and five New Jersey wrestlers will compete for national titles on Saturday night. UPDATED BRACKETS: 125 | 133 | 141 | 149 | 157 | 165 | 174 | 184 | 197 | HWT NJ Advance Media is on the ground at PPG Paints Arena with two reporters and two photographers covering everything Rutgers, Princeton, New Jersey and more. Follow the links below to our complete coverage: DAY 2 IS COMPLETE: SESSION 4: • Meet the 80 All-Americans: National finalists and medal winners • Complete semifinal round results | Complete final round pairings | Complete team scores after Day 2 • Nick Suriano avenges loss to Stevan Micic, advances to final | One last trip on the revenge tour: Daton Fix • Anthony Ashnault beats Princeton’s Matt Kolodzik, advances to final | Inside the ‘chess match’ • N.J.'s Mekhi Lewis upsets his way to national final, matchup with two-time champ • N.J.'s Joey McKenna wins semifinal on third try, to face national champ • N.J.'s Anthony Cassar beats Minnesota’s Steveson in heavyweight semifinal SESSION 3: • Complete quarterfinal results | Complete semifinal pairings | N.J. results | PHOTOS from Session 3 • WATCH: Virginia Tech’s Mekhi Lewis talks upset of No. 1 seed • Anthony Ashnault, Matt Kolodzik will meet for 6th time in semis | WATCH Ashnault after win | Kolodzik ready to get Ashnault again • Nick Suriano pins way to semis | WATCH Suriano after win • Rutgers reset: Here’s what to watch from Anthony Ashnault, Nick Suriano, more • How to watch Day 2 of the NCAA Championships FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE: Session 3 (quarterfinals and wrestlebacks): 11 a.m.-2 p.m., ESPNU/ESPN3. Session 4 (semifinals, blood round, wrestlebacks): 8-11 p.m., ESPN/ESPN3. RECAPPING DAY 1: SESSION 2: • PHOTOS from Session 2 | Pre-quarters results | Quarterfinals pairings | N.J.-only results | Wrestleback pairings | Team scores after Session 2 • Rutgers’ Anthony Ashnault storms into quarters | Dominant on top | Nick Suriano in quarters too | RU has four alive • Dominant freshman Pat Glory leads three Princeton wrestlers into quarterfinals • Virginia Tech freshman Lewis one of 11 N.J. wrestlers to reach quarterfinals SESSION 1 COMPLETE: • PHOTOS from Session 1 | Complete first-round results | N.J.-only results | Wrestleback pairings | Complete pigtail round results | Team scores after Session 1 • Rutgers sends three to second round after morning session PREVIEWS: • 10 N.J. storylines to watch at the NCAA Wrestling Championships • Who are N.J.'s 32 national qualifiers and where they seeded? • Who are N.J.'s best title shots? Martin, Ashnault, Rivera? • Why Rutgers’ Nick Suriano is grateful for another NCAA Wrestling Championships • Rutgers’ John VanBrill trying to make amends for agonizing blood-round loss last year • Despite injury, Rutgers’ Nick Gravina finds his way back to NCAA Wrestling Championship • Coach Goodale reflects on journey to possible historic weekend • Former Rutgers wins leader impressed by Ashnault • Patrick Brucki, Princeton’s quiet leader, focused for NCAA Wrestling Championships • Rider sending four to NCAA Wrestling Championships, including 2x state champion • Ohio State’s Myles Martin, a N.J. native, looking to bring career full circle with 2nd title Bill Evans can be reached at bevans@njadvancemedia.com or by leaving a note in the comments below. Follow him on Twitter @BEvansSports. Like our NJ.com High School Wrestling Facebook Page James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.<doc-sep>Three-time defending national champ Penn State claimed its fourth consecutive crown, and eighth in the last nine years, Saturday afternoon at the 2019 NCAA Wrestling Championships. The Nittany Lions were so dominant that they clinched the team crown, the Big Ten's 13th straight, by the way, before the event's individual finals. Here's a look at the Big Ten's recent run of national champions: 2007: Minnesota 2008: Iowa 2009: Iowa 2010: Iowa 2011: Penn State 2012: Penn State 2013: Penn State 2014: Penn State 2015: Ohio State 2016: Penn State 2017: Penn State 2018: Penn State 2019: Penn State A whole lot of this going on. Congrats on No. 8 in nine years, @pennstateWREST! pic.twitter.com/mjEumkErCL — Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) March 23, 2019 The dynasty continues! @PennStateWREST has mathematically clinched the 2019 team title. The dream to be crowned a national champion is alive for each finalist!#NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/lzPKtCUw80 — NCAA Wrestling (@ncaawrestling) March 23, 2019<doc-sep>PITTSBURGH — If this year’s 2019 NCAA wrestling championship showcased anything, it’s the depth of talent at the collegiate level. Three-hundred thirty athletes put their souls on the mat for three days to battle for the sport's ultimate honor, and 10 walked out of PPG Arena as champions. Two of those champions, however, left a legacy in the sport together that will be hard to match. Jason Nolf and Bo Nickal of Penn State won a combined six national titles and appeared in a combined eight national finals. They’ve battled all year for the Hodge Trophy, and they’ve elevated Penn State to four national team titles. The Nolf-Nickal duo has a compiled a resume of combined team and individual championship honors that is ten long. NCAA TOURNAMENT: Relive all of the best moments from the 2019 NCAA wrestling tournament College wrestling fans will miss their wild moves and dominating performances, but before we envision a 2020 NCAA tournament without Nickal and Nolf, let’s take a look at what has helped them achieve their success as student-athletes in Penn State singlets. What does @PennStateWREST head coach Cael Sanderson look for in a wrestler? The love of the sport.#NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/zjJs9iKSR8 — NCAA Wrestling (@ncaawrestling) March 23, 2019 In 2018, Nickal took the mat against Ohio State’s Myles Martin in his third national final. The 184-pounder wanted a another title, but so did his opponent, the 2016 champ. With the team title on the line, Nickal found himself rolling around on his back, under Martin’s control early in the first period. He was in trouble. Or not. Nickal flipped around to pin Martin, clinching the championship for Penn State and sending the Nittany Lion fans into a frenzy. His famous quote “I’ve been doing that move since I was six” made its way into every wrestling story about that tournament. The quote became a go-to line for his teammates, and it was 100-percent true. In preparing for this final match ever as a student-athlete, Nickal said he went back to those early years and watched film from his childhood wrestling days. He watched himself pull off moves like that against his opponents, and he watched himself battle. These videos could have made him emotional in his last tournament, but all he felt was gratitude. DEFENDING CHAMP: Watch Bo Nickal pin Myles Martin in the 2018 NCAA wrestling tournament “I’ve come a long way and there are so many people that have put energy and time into me,” Nickal said after his semifinal win. “My parents and my coaches at Penn State have lugged me around the country since I was little, and I feel incredibly grateful for the people in my life and the things wrestling has allowed me to do and places it’s taken me.” It’s easy to be grateful walking into PPG Paints Arena, but it’s harder to maintain that gratitude through five matches, three days and a national final. This is a tough tournament, and 310 wrestlers failed to reach that national finals stage. Nerves would be normal. But Nolf and Nickal aren’t normal. Bo Nickal is headed to the 197-pound finals! He joins 4️⃣of his teammates in title bouts tomorrow night!#PSUwr#NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/rxWW66XGRH — Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) March 23, 2019 Nolf completed his successful collegiate career with a win over Tyler Berger of Nebraska 10-2 in major decision fashion. The senior Nittany Lion topped Berger in the Penn State-Nebraska dual and then picked up another win over the Cornhusker in the Big Ten tournament. He completed the trifecta with his national championship and left the mat a champion again, only to comment, in Nolf-style, about how the team is the reason for much of his success. PINNING WARS: The nation's leading pinners talk about putting their opponents on their backs "That's definitely a blessing to be part of such a great team. Sometimes you can take it for granted and kind of expect that it's going to happen," Nolf said. "But at the beginning, at the end of the day, you've got to go work hard for it, and everybody individually has to do their part. I'm definitely blessed to be around people that have such a clear mind and know exactly what they want. And they're willing to sacrifice maybe some other things that other people are doing in order to get it. Our team is just full of a bunch of great guys and definitely blessed." Teammate Nickal picked up his third and final NCAA championship in the 197-pound weight class with a win over No. 2 Kollin Moore 5-1. Like Nolf, he too defeated his opponent at the Big Ten tournament and earlier in the Nebraska-Penn State dual. HIGHLIGHT REEL: These are the most insane moves we've seen so far at the 2019 wrestling tournament These two men are champions, and their results and their mentality accentuate this reality. Confidence and gratitude has helped shape these wrestlers, and speaking specifically about Nolf, head coach Cael Sanderson praised the competitiveness and intensity of his senior. “I think Jason is special. You can tell just by the look in his eye,” Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said. “He's very confident. And the bigger the match, the better he wrestles. But, yeah, I think especially midway, kind of late into his high school career you could just kind of see that he was separating himself and a lot of that is his desire, his work ethic, his drive. It's just him wanting to be the best and believing that he can be that.” The two wrestlers have also been pinning machines, leading the country in falls and challenging each other for Most Outstanding Wrestler Honors and the Hodge Trophy. Nolf picked up the Big Ten Most Outstanding Wrestler honor at the conference tournament, a distinction he shared with Iowa's Alex Marinelli. Nickal picked up Most Dominant Wrestler honors at the national tournament. STANDINGS AND STATISTICS: Division I wrestling championship records | Wrestling teams ranked Heading into NCAA championship, Nolf led the country in pins by three heading into the tournament. But before Saturday evening's session, Nickal had cut that lead down to one. Neither athlete earned a pin in their final bout, but they still went out as dominant champions. They've been bonus-point machines all year, and in an interview earlier this year, former teammate and two-time national champion Zain Retherford said it's been Penn State's culture of gratitude (there's that word again) that helps create this success. A legend. Jason Nolf majors Berger to end his career as a four-time finalist and three-time NCAA champion. pic.twitter.com/YTjMX6olRd — FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) March 24, 2019 "Enthusiasm and gratitude are two qualities that stand out to me about Penn State wrestling," Retherford told NCAA.com in February. "At the NCAA tournament, we get to test our abilities and will power on the nation's largest stage. The culture is focused on being excited to compete hard." After all, Bo Nickal and Jason Nolf have been looking forward to competing on this stage since they were six. And while they will never wrestle in a Penn State singlet again, their legacy will always remain. NCAA TOURNAMENT INFO: How the NCAA wrestling tournament works<doc-sep>

The Penn State wrestling team got its cake earlier in the day when it clinched its fourth consecutive NCAA title and eighth in nine years. Tonight was all about the icing. The Nittany Lions entered the evening with five finalists and the title well in hand. Things started about as well as Cael Sanderson’s squad could’ve possibly hoped at 285 pounds. Anthony Cassar, wrestling in the tournament for the first time in his career, put in a virtuoso performance in a 10-1 major decision victory over Derek White. White handed Cassar his only loss of the year in January at the Southern Scuffle. It was a different story this time around as the Penn State heavyweight took White from feet to back in the second period to build a 6-1 lead. He continued to build on that lead throughout the rest of the bout en route to victory. The next Penn Stater to wrestle wasn’t until Jason Nolf at 157. Nolf, as he’s done all throughout his college career, dominated Nebraska’s Tyler Berger to the tune of a 10-2 major decision victory. The win gave Nolf, a four-time finalist, his third career national title to wrap up an outstanding career. Things took a sharp turn briefly not long after the Nolf match. Vincenzo Joseph, looking to win his third title in three years, was upended by Virginia Tech freshman Mekhi Lewis. Lewis, a Junior World Champion, fought off a deep shot early in the first to take things into the second tied at 0-0. In the second, Lewis started the second on top and locked up a nearside cradle to take Joseph over for four points. From there on out, Joseph had to chase the match and never got back in it, falling 7-1. The rough stretch continued at 174 where Zahid Valencia once against topped Mark Hall in the finals.’ Hall got out to a 2-1 lead after the first period thanks to some solid scrambling. He escaped to lead 3-1 early in the second. With about 40 seconds remaining in the period, Valencia scored a (dubious) takedown of his own and rode it out to make the score 3-3 after two. An early escape in the third for Valencia gave him a 4-3 lead and Hall couldn’t grab any points of his own before time expired. Thankfully, the night ended on a bright note with Bo Nickal, Nickal toed the line against Kollin Moore of Ohio State for the third time this season and came away with a 5-1 win. While the match was far from a Picasso, Nickal was always firmly in control. Penn State finished the tournament with 137.5 points. The rest of the trophy winners were Ohio State with 96.5, Oklahoma State with 84.0 and Iowa with 76.0.

NEW A vastly improved search engine helps you find the latest on companies, business leaders, and news more easily.<doc-sep>Start transforming your game’s economy and increase your bottom line. Get the free guide now. Elevate your enterprise data technology and strategy at Transform 2021. Just a couple of weeks after coming out, blockchain gaming startup Forte has announced a big deal with Ripple’s Xpring cryptocurrency platform to invest $100 million in game developers who make games based on blockchain technology. Kevin Chou, who led Kabam in mobile games and Gen.G in esports, announced in February that he had created a blockchain gaming company called Forte. Together with industry veterans such as Brett Seyler, Chou’s company is making a platform for adoption of blockchain technologies for new and existing games. The San Francisco-based Forte hasn’t announced its own funding yet, but it has money from investors including Marc Andreessen’s venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. Ripple will provide all of the $100 million to fund developers of games with blockchain, the transparent and secure decentralized ledger behind many cryptocurrencies. The fund will operate alongside Forte’s platform technologies and include open-source solutions designed in collaboration with Ripple to accelerate the mainstream adoption of blockchain technology in gaming. Image Credit: Forte “Blockchain technologies’ key innovations unlock vast potential for nearly all forms of digital interaction. Gaming is a $140 billion global industry driven predominantly by digital microtransaction economies, which we believe will benefit immensely from the integrity and resilience of blockchain technology,” said Brett Seyler, the chief platform officer at Forte, in a statement. “The industry needs solutions that can support these economies at scale with cross-chain interoperability.” Chou and Seyler said in an interview two weeks ago that blockchain technology has the potential to improve game designs and help developers run better and more successful game economies, but for many developers it’s difficult to develop and deploy. Forte’s platform is meant to make it easy for developers to apply blockchain technology to their games, increasing engagement and monetization with their players. The inaugural fund, managed by Forte, is primarily targeting game developers operating live game economies with over 50,000 daily active users and an interest in using blockchain to unlock support for new game designs and drive business results. Forte’s technology stack includes components designed in close collaboration with Ripple, namely leveraging the open-source Interledger Protocol with XRP serving as a base pair settlement and the container-based hosting solution Codius supporting seamless transactions across blockchains. By focusing on cross-chain interoperability out of the gate, Forte is setting the foundation for long-term, sustained consumer adoption of blockchain technology. Forte’s platform components blend this supporting technology behind easy to integrate components for game developers. I don’t know what that means, but the info is intended for developers that do. “We are thrilled to partner with such a world class team of game industry veterans. Both Forte and Ripple have a shared belief that blockchain technology will have a massive impact on games, and that providing tools that are easy-to-use, chain agnostic and interoperable is a necessary step in driving scale consumer adoption,” said Ethan Beard, senior vice president of Ripple’s Xpring, in a statement. Image Credit: Ripple One of Ripple’s rivals, Tron, has also started a $100 million fund to invest in game developers. Asked why Forte chose Ripple, a Forte spokesman said in an email, “Our partnership with Xpring starts with a technical foundation, and stems from our desire to support and create best of breed solutions across the entire blockchain ecosystem. The goal was create a crypto-based platform that would enable mainstream adoption and we’re aligned with the Xpring team that the future is interoperable. Our platform technology leverages open source projects Codius (for trustlessly hosting software services with performance computation) and Interledger Protocol (for facilitating cross-chain interoperability), as well as XRP which serves as a low cost, rapid settlement layer. These design choices were based on the merits of the architecture, technology and capability. The business relationship between Forte and Xpring emerged from this organic alignment.” Forte’s founding team comes from Kabam, Unity, and GarageGames. Forte’s backers include a16z crypto, Andreessen Horowitz, Battery Ventures, Canaan Partners, Coinbase Ventures, 1confirmation, and others. Forte has also garnered investment and support from blockchain luminaries including Fred Ehrsam, co-founder at Coinbase; Balaji Srinivasan, co-founder at Earn.com and CTO at Coinbase; and Forte economist-in-residence Richard Lyons, former Dean of Berkeley’s Haas Business School. The company noted that the history of the games industry is one of new business models and mass market adoption as technology platforms are invented. From specialty pay-per-play arcade machines, to retail boxed games with the advent of PCs and home consoles, to downloadable games with the advent of the internet, to free-to-play games with the advent of cloud technology and now billions of users with the advent of mobile free-to-play experiences, games have adapted innovative technology platforms and business models to grow from a $1 billion industry 30 years ago, to a $140 billion behemoth today. Blockchain technologies present the next vector of innovation and enables new business models and game economies. Image Credit: Ripple Forte is actively funding game developers that meet its criteria. “We’re excited to connect with developers who are running live game economies with tens of thousands of daily active users or more and have an active interest in using blockchain technology to improve their business,” said Allen Ma, vice president of partnerships at Forte, in a statement. Xpring is Ripple’s initiative to develop infrastructure and collaborate with innovative blockchain projects. Its aim is to create a robust community of developers, entrepreneurs and companies who are transforming industries using blockchain technologies such as Interledger and XRP Ledger. Ripple’s vision is to enable the world to move money like information moves today, the Internet of Value. Ripple has more than 200 customers.<doc-sep>

Ripple development initiative Xpring has partnered with games-focused blockchain company Forte to support game development and further push blockchain technology into the mainstream gaming consciousness — to the tune of $100 million. The inaugural fund will be managed by Forte and will target those game developers with already-successful live game economies who are interested in using blockchain technology to advance both game design and their businesses. According to an official press release, Forte will leverage Ripple’s Interledger Protocol. Ripple’s XRP coin will serve “as a base pair settlement.” Container-based hosting solution Codius will also be used to support cross-chain interoperability from the start. On that subject, Forte’s Chief Platform Officer, Brett Seyler, stated: Blockchain technologies’ key innovations unlock vast potential for nearly all forms of digital interaction. Gaming is a $140 billion global industry driven predominantly by digital micro-transaction economies, which we believe will benefit immensely from the integrity and resilience of blockchain technology. The industry needs solutions that can support these economies at scale with cross-chain interoperability. Big Backers Forte itself is backed by a whole host of blockchain/cryptocurrency industry players, including a16z crypto, Andreessen Horowitz, Battery Ventures, Canaan Partners, Coinbase Ventures, and 1confirmation. Individuals backing the company include Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam, Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan, and former Dean of Berkeley’s Haas Business School Richard Lyons. Though Ripple has certainly not shied away from partnerships in 2018 and 2019, the collaboration between Forte and Xpring appears to be one of legitimate significance, particularly in the ever-growing gaming industry. No Price Reaction Despite the news that XRP will serve “as a base pair settlement,” the price of the third-ranked cryptocurrency by market capitalization has failed to react. At the time of this writing, XRP is down 0.64 percent over the last 24-hours. It appears as though announcements, unless truly groundbreaking, should not cause a price pump for XRP in the medium-term — particularly following the long-awaited announcement that Coinbase would list the coin.

Taylor Swift could have taken a lot of inspiration from her colourful 'Me' music video for last night's camp-themed Met Gala, but the singer skipped the ball this year to hangout in London instead. The singer was photographed by a fan enjoying a stroll with a minder behind her in Notting Hill, and fans think she was in the capital to hangout with actor boyfriend Joe Alwyn instead, as that's where The Favourite actor is from. Taylor likes to keep their relationship low-key, and was most recently pictured with Joe leaving a BAFTA Film Awards afterparty back in February. Taylor missed last year's ball as she was just about to start her Reputation world tour. But she first attended in 2008 and has made appearances in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2016. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Some fans think Taylor and Joe might have originally met at the 2016 Met Gala, as Tay Tay's 2016 single 'Dress' features her singing: "Flashback to when you met me/ Your buzz cut/ And my hair bleached." At the gala, Joe's hair was certainly shorter and Taylor rocked a bleached blonde bob. Taylor at the Met Gala in 2016 Rabbani and Solimene Photography Getty Images The 29-year-old star gave a subtle update on their relationship last month, after she liked an image of Joe sorting out his windswept hair as he was hanging out in London. Garett Hedlund and Joe Alwyn at the 2016 Met Gala Daniele Venturelli Getty Images Joe and Taylor have yet to make their official red carpet debut as a couple but Taylor skipped the Grammys earlier this year to support Joe at the BAFTA Awards, and has been photographed leaving his premieres' after parties to support him, and attending the Vanity Fair Oscars after party. Naomi Gordon Naomi Gordon is news writer mainly covering entertainment news with a focus on celebrity interviews and television. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>The 2019 Met Gala was filled with all the glamorous, camp-inspired celebrities we could ask for, but there were still some clear absences. Perhaps the most glaring non-attendees were some of pop culture's heaviest hitters: Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Ariana Grande, who all are known for turning out looks at the storied New York City event. So why did three of the most important women in pop music miss the Met Gala? Well, these kinds of absences usually come down to timing. Take Ariana Grande, for example. There's a really specific reason she wasn't there: she's currently touring for Sweetener and Thank u, Next and was playing shows in Los Angeles, California during the event. To be fair, she's a pretty busy artist. Some absences are a little less easily explained. Rihanna, reigning queen of the event, clearly became aware of how much her presence was missed at the Met Gala, because it felt like everyone was tweeting about it (and also Photoshopping her into various carpet photos to play pretend). She even reposted one tweet on Instagram, in which a fan wrote, "Rihanna at home playing with that f*ckin makeup." As BuzzFeed pointed out, Rihanna added to the tweet an IRL photo of her hanging with some beloved Fenty Beauty products. Hey, I can totally relate to preferring a night at home trying on makeup instead of big high-pressure evening out. Luckily, Rihanna still christened a best-dressed star of the night: none other than Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Taylor Swift also didn't provide a real reason for missing the Met Gala, though she has attended in previous years (including in 2016, when her infamous dance with future ex-boyfriend Tom Hiddleston occurred). Last year, she didn't make the party because of a timing conflict with preparation for the Reputation tour.<doc-sep>Plenty of stars went all out for the 2019 Met Gala. But a few who normally frequent the biggest night in fashion were noticeably absent from this year's festivities. So who was missing and where were they Monday night? 1. Bradley Cooper Bradley Cooper was one of the 183 people approved by Vogue editor Anna Wintour for this year's gala committee, according to E! and The Hollywood Reporter. But the "A Star is Born" actor was noticeably absent from the red carpet. He's currently in Los Angeles working as a producer on post-production of "Joker," the Joaquin Phoenix-led "Batman" origin story, publicist Nicole Caruso told USA TODAY. Still in attendance? His longtime girlfriend, Irina Shayk, who dazzled in a dark blue velvet Burberry gown. 2. Blake Lively (and Ryan Reynolds) More members of the committee that were MIA: Blake Lively and hubby Ryan Reynolds. The couple usually turns heads and gives us and major couple goals, but neither made an appearance. Could the couple still be traveling in promotion of Reynolds's "Pokemon Detective Pikachu?" USA TODAY reached out to the couple's representatives for comment. 3. Beyoncé Queen Bey hasn't been on the Met Gala red carpet since 2016 and it appears we'll have to wait at least another year. Beyonce and Jay-Z have been silent on social media. Entertainment Tonight reports the couple is on vacation. 4. Rihanna Last year, Rihanna served as one of three guest co-hosts alongside Amal Clooney and Donatella Versace. She was missing this year but posted a shot of Anna Wintour with the caption "best dressed" and added the caption "met ball 2019 😩🤷🏿‍♀️" to a fan's tweet speculating she was "at home playing with that (expletive) makeup." 5. Brie Larson Captain Marvel herself may have been featured in that iconic 2017 Kardashian bathroom selfie, but Larson sat this year out. She didn't explain why, but posted a selfie on Instagram Monday night that she was "in sweats while I watch everyone else at #metball." 6. Kate Hudson Though she skipped this year's red carpet, she did share a photo of herself getting ready before the 2017 gala. "#MissingTheNightNotTheHangover ;)" she wrote. 7. Taylor Swift There's only one of Taylor Swift, and she wasn't at the Met Gala this year. With the release of her single, "ME!" and a new album on the horizon, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for another appearance. The singer, who was photographed walking in London on Sunday, may still be out of the country. Swifties have also theorized that the 2016 Gala is when Swift met boyfriend Joe Alwyn. The song "Dress" from her "Reputation" album includes the lyrics: "Flashback to when you met me / Your buzz cut and my hair bleached." Indeed, Swift had bleached-blonde hair on the red carpet that year, while Alwyn rocked a short 'do. 8. Sarah Jessica Parker Another Met Gala mainstay, Parker revealed on Instagram that she was in New York City on Monday, but would be "traveling out of country this eve." 9. Ariana Grande After Grande made a marvelous Met Gala debut in 2018 with her Sistine Chapel gown, we would have loved to see her take on camp. Alas, the "Thank U, Next" singer had a previously scheduled tour date in Los Angeles on Monday. 10. Chadwick Boseman The "Black Panther" star got another invite this year, but announced on Twitter that he would be unable to attend "due to my shooting schedule." He may have been referring to Spike Lee's Netflix Vietnam veteran drama, in which Deadline and Variety reported he was cast earlier this year. Red-carpet official:Did Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx finally confirm dating rumors at the Met Gala? Creepy!Jared Leto carries his own head at Met Gala, beard and all<doc-sep>

Taylor Swift ultimately didn't return to the New York City tonight for the Met Gala. The singer was last at the Upper East Side event three years ago, when she co-hosted it. But Daily Mail reported that Swift was seen walking in London's Notting Hill yesterday, meaning she likely remained abroad. (Swift's boyfriend Joe Alwyn lives in North London.) Swift skipped the Met Gala last year, as she was just about to start her Reputation world tour. But she first attended in 2008 and has made appearances in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2016. At the 2008 Met Gala. Getty Images At the 2010 Met Gala. Getty Images At the 2011 Met Gala. Getty Images At the 2013 Met Gala. Getty Images At the 2014 Met Gala. Getty Images At the 2016 Met Gala. Getty Images The event does have some history for her. It's where she and her ex-boyfriend Tom Hiddleston were first filmed dancing ahead of her breakup with her other ex-boyfriend Calvin Harris. The song "Getaway Car" is believed to be inspired by the Hiddleswift romance and its Met Gala origins. It's also where, fans believe, Swift met her current boyfriend Joe Alwyn. Alwyn was there with Garrett Hedlund in 2016. Swift's Reputation song "Dress" is where the theory spawned from, given Swift sings, "Flashback to when you met me, your buzz cut and my hair bleached," and Alwyn visibly had a buzz cut then. And Swift, of course, was in her brief Bleachella phase after Coachella. Daniele Venturelli Getty Images Taylor Hill Getty Images The Met Gala comes less than one week after Swift opened the Billboard Music Awards with her first live performance of "ME!" with Panic! at the Disco's Brendon Urie. On that red carpet, Swift wore a—you guessed it—ruffly pastel dress by RaisaVanessa. That time, it was lavender: Frazer Harrison Getty Images Alyssa Bailey News and Strategy Editor Alyssa Bailey is the news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton).

The 2018 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards were given out at San Diego Comic-Con last night, rewarding excellence in comics over the past year. What better place to celebrate excellence in comics? "Monstress" from Image Comics won several awards, and both Ta Nehisi Coats' run of "Black Panther", and Saladin Ahmed's run of "Black Bolt," (both from Marvel) came away winners. Marjorie Liu and Tom King tied for best writer, for their work on "Monstress" (Image) and "Batman" (DC) respectively. The presenters of the awards included Star Trek legend Nichelle Nichols, Cas Anvar (The Expanse), Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange), critic Leonard Maltin, "Watchmen" co-creator Dave Gibbons, Phil LaMarr (Futurama, Justice League, Star Wars: The Clone Wars), and Felicia Day (The Guild, The Magicians). Here is the full list of nominees, with the winners highlighted in bold: BEST SHORT STORY ”A Life in Comics: The Graphic Adventures of Karen Green,” by Nick Sousanis, in Columbia Magazine (Summer 2017) “Small Mistakes Make Big Problems,” by Sophia Foster-Dimino, in Comics for Choice (Hazel Newlevant) “Trans Plant,” by Megan Rose Gedris, in Enough Space for Everyone Else (Bedside Press) BEST SINGLE ISSUE/ONE-SHOT Barbara,by Nicole Miles (ShortBox) Hellboy: Krampusnacht, by Mike Mignola and Adam Hughes (Dark Horse) Pope Hats #5, by Ethan Rilly (AdHouse Books) The Spotted Stone, by Rick Veitch (Sun Comics) What Is Left,by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell (ShortBox) BEST CONTINUING SERIES Black Hammer, by Jeff Lemire, Dean Ormston, and David Rubín (Dark Horse) Giant Days, by John Allison, Max Sarin, and Liz Fleming(BOOM! Box) Hawkeye, by Kelly Thompson, Leonardo Romero, and Mike Walsh (Marvel) Monstress, by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (Image) The Wicked + The Divine, by Kieron Gillen & Jamie McKelvie (Image) BEST LIMITED SERIES Black Panther: World of Wakanda, by Roxane Gay, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Alitha E. Martinez (Marvel) Extremity, by Daniel Warren Johnson (Image/Skybound) The Flintstones, by Mark Russell, Steve Pugh, Rick Leonardi, and Scott Hanna (DC) Mister Miracle, by Tom King and Mitch Gerads (DC) X-Men: Grand Design, by Ed Piskor (Marvel) BEST NEW SERIES Black Bolt, by Saladin Ahmed and Christian Ward (Marvel) Grass Kings, by Matt Kindt and Tyler Jenkins (BOOM! Studios) Maestros, by Steve Skroce (Image) Redlands, by Jordie Belaire and Vanesa Del Rey (Image) Royal City, by Jeff Lemire (Image) BEST PUBLICATION FOR EARLY READERS (UP TO AGE 8) Adele in Sand Land, by Claude Ponti, translated by Skeeter Grant and Françoise Mouly (Toon Books) Arthur and the Golden Rope, by Joe Todd-Stanton (Flying Eye/Nobrow) Egg, by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books) Good Night, Planet,by Liniers (Toon Books) Little Tails in the Savannah, by Frederic Brrémaud and Federico Bertolucci, translated by Mike Kennedy (Lion Forge/Magnetic) BEST PUBLICATION FOR KIDS (AGES 9-12) Bolivar, by Sean Rubin (Archaia) Home Time (Book One): Under the River, by Campbell Whyte (Top Shelf) Nightlights, by Lorena Alvarez (Nobrow) The Tea Dragon Society, by Katie O’Neill (Oni) Wallace the Brave, by Will Henry (Andrews McMeel) BEST PUBLICATION FOR TEENS (AGES 13-17) The Dam Keeper, by Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi (First Second/Tonko House) Jane, by Aline Brosh McKenna and Ramón K. Pérez (Archaia) Louis Undercover, by Fanny Britt and Isabelle Arsenault, translated by Christelle Morelli and Susan Ouriou (Groundwood Books/House of Anansi) Monstress, by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (Image) Spinning, by Tillie Walden (First Second) BEST HUMOR PUBLICATION Baking with Kafka, by Tom Gauld (Drawn & Quarterly) Batman/Elmer Fudd Special#1, by Tom King, Lee Weeks, and Byron Vaughn (DC) The Flintstones, by Mark Russell, Steve Pugh, Rick Leonardi, and Scott Hanna (DC) Rock Candy Mountain, by Kyle Starks (Image) Wallace the Brave, by Will Henry (Andrews McMeel) BEST ANTHOLOGY A Bunch of Jews (and Other Stuff): A Minyen Yidn,by Max B. Perlson, Trina Robbins et al. (Bedside Press) A Castle in England, by Jamie Rhodes et al. (Nobrow) Elements: Fire, A Comic Anthology by Creators of Color,edited by Taneka Stotts (Beyond Press) Now#1, edited by Eric Reynolds (Fantagraphics) The Spiritanthology, edited by Sean Phillips (Lakes International Comic Art Festival) BEST REALITY-BASED WORK Audubon: On the Wings of the World, by Fabien Grolleau and Jerémie Royer, translated by Etienne Gilfillan (Nobrow) The Best We Could Do, by Thi Bui (Abrams ComicArts) Calamity Jane: The Calamitous Life of Martha Jane Cannary, 1852–1903, by Christian Perrissin and Matthieu Blanchin, translated by Diana Schutz and Brandon Kander (IDW) Lennon: The New York Years, by David Foenkinos, Corbeyran, and Horne, translated by Ivanka Hahnenberger (IDW) Spinning, by Tillie Walden (First Second) BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM— NEW Crawl Space, by Jesse Jacobs (Koyama Press) Eartha, by Cathy Malkasian (Fantagraphics) My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, by Emil Ferris (Fantagraphics) Stages of Rot, by Linnea Sterte (Peow) The Story of Jezebel, by Elijah Brubaker (Uncivilized Books) BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM— REPRINT Boundless, by Jillian Tamaki (Drawn & Quarterly) Fantagraphics Studio Edition: Black Hole by Charles Burns, edited by Eric Reynolds (Fantagraphics) Small Favors: The Definitive Girly Porno Collection, by Colleen Coover (Oni/Limerence) Sticks Angelica, Folk Hero, by Michael DeForge (Drawn & Quarterly) Unreal City, by D. J. Bryant (Fantagraphics) BEST ADAPTATION FROM ANOTHER MEDIUM Beowulf, adapted by Santiago García and David Rubín (Image) H. P. Lovecraft’s The Hound and Other Stories, adapted by Gou Tanabe, translated by Zack Davisson (Dark Horse) Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, adapted by Christophe Chabouté, translated by Laure Dupont (Dark Horse) Kindred, by Octavia Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy and John Jennings (Abrams ComicArts) BEST U.S. EDITION OF INTERNATIONAL MATERIAL Audubon: On the Wings of the World, by Fabien Grolleau and Jerémie Royer, translated by Etienne Gilfillan (Nobrow) Flight of the Raven, by Jean-Pierre Gibrat, translated by Diana Schutz and Brandon Kander (EuroComics/IDW) FUN, by Paolo Bacilieri, translated by Jamie Richards (SelfMadeHero) Ghost of Gaudi, by El Torres and Jesús Alonso Iglesias, translated by Esther Villardón Grande (Lion Forge/Magnetic) The Ladies-in-Waiting, by Santiago García and Javier Olivares, translated by Erica Mena (Fantagraphics) Run for It: Stories of Slaves Who Fought for the Freedom, by Marcelo D’Salete, translated by Andrea Rosenberg (Fantagraphics) BEST U.S. EDITION OF INTERNATIONAL MATERIAL— ASIA Furari,by Jiro Taniguchi, translated by Kumar Sivasubramanian (Fanfare/Ponent Mon) Golden Kamuy,by Satoru Noda, translated by Eiji Yasuda (VIZ Media) My Brother’s Husband,vol. 1, by Gengoroh Tagame, translated by Anne Ishii (Pantheon) Otherworld Barbara,vol. 2, by Moto Hagio, translated by Matt Thorn (Fantagraphics) Shiver: Junji Ito Selected Stories, by Junji Itotranslated by Jocelyne Allen (VIZ Media) BEST ARCHIVAL COLLECTION/PROJECT— STRIPS Celebrating Snoopy, by Charles M. Shulz, edited by Alexis E. Fajardo and Dorothy O’Brien(Andrews McMeel) Crazy Quilt: Scraps and Panels on the Way to Gasoline Alley, by Frank King, edited by Peter Maresca (Sunday Press) Foolish Questions and Other Odd Observations, by Rube Goldberg, edited by Peter Maresca and Paul C. Tumey (Sunday Press Books) Sky Masters of the Space Force: The Complete Dailies, by Jack Kirby, Wally Wood et al., edited byDaniel Herman(Hermes Press) Star Wars: The Classic Newspaper Strips,vol. 1, by Russ Manning et al., edited by Dean Mullaney (LOAC/IDW) BEST ARCHIVAL COLLECTION/PROJECT— COMIC BOOKS Akira 35th Anniversary Edition, by Katsuhiro Otomo, edited by Haruko Hashimoto, Ajani Oloye, and Lauren Scanlan(Kodansha) Behaving MADly, edited by Craig Yoe (Yoe Books/IDW) The Collected Neil the Horse, by Arn Saba/Katherine Collins, edited by Andy Brown (Conundrum) Fantagraphics Studio Edition: Jaime Hernandez, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics) Will Eisner: The Centennial Celebration, 1917-2017,by Paul Gravett, Denis Kitchen, and John Lind(Kitchen Sink/Dark Horse) Video of Tom King How Batman Will End (Behind the Panel) | SYFY WIRE BEST WRITER Tom King, Batman, Batman Annual #2, Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1, Mister Miracle (DC) (tie) Matt Kindt, Grass Kings (BOOM! Studios); Ether(Dark Horse); Eternity, X-O Manowar (Valiant) Jeff Lemire, Black Hammer (Dark Horse); Descender (Image) Marjorie Liu, Monstress (Image) (tie) Mark Russell, The Flintstones (DC) BEST WRITER/ARTIST Lorena Alvarez, Night Lights (Nobrow) Chabouté, Moby Dick (Dark Horse); Alone, The Park Bench (Gallery 13/Simon & Schuster) Emil Ferris, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters (Fantagraphics) Cathy Malkasian, Eartha (Fantagraphics) Jiro Taniguchi, Furari, Louis Vuitton Travel Guide: Venice (Fanfare/Ponent Mon) BEST PENCILLER/INKER OR PENCILLER/INKER TEAM Isabelle Arsenault, Louis Undercover (Groundwood Books/House of Anansi) Mitch Gerads, Mister Miracle (DC) Gary Gianni, Hellboy: Into the Silent Sea (Dark Horse) Ramón K. Perez, Jane (Archaia) David Rubín, Black Hammer #9 & #12, Ether, Sherlock Frankenstein #1–3 (Dark Horse); Beowulf (Image) BEST PAINTER/MULTIMEDIA ARTIST (INTERIOR ART) Federico Bertolucci, Love: The Dinosaur, Little Tails (Lion Forge/Magnetic) EFA, Monet: Itinerant of Light (NBM) Jean-Pierre Gibrat, Flight of the Raven (EuroComics/IDW) Cyril Pedrosa, Portugal (NBM) Sana Takeda, Monstress (Image) BEST COVER ARTIST Jorge Corona, No. 1 with a Bullet (Image) Nick Derington, Mister Miracle (DC); Doom Patrol (DC Young Animal) Brian Stelfreeze, Black Panther(Marvel) Sana Takeda, Monstress (Image) Julian Totino Tedesco, Hawkeye (Marvel) BEST COLORING Emil Ferris, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters (Fantagraphics) Mitch Gerads, Mister Miracle (DC) Ed Piskor, X-Men: Grand Design (Marvel) David Rubín, Ether, Black Hammer, Sherlock Frankenstein (Dark Horse); Beowulf (Image) Dave Stewart, Black Hammer, BPRD: Devil You Know, Hellboy: Into the Silent Sea, Sherlock Frankenstein, Shaolin Cowboy (Dark Horse); Maestros (Image) Rosemary Valero-O’Connell, What Is Left (ShortBox) BEST LETTERING Isabelle Arsenault, Louis Undercover (Groundwood Books/House of Anansi) Clayton Cowles, Bitch Planet: Triple Feature, Redlands,The Wicked + The Divine (Image); Black Bolt, Spider-Gwen, Astonishing X-Men, Star Wars(Marvel) Emil Ferris, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters (Fantagraphics) Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo, Groo: Slay of the Gods (Dark Horse) John Workman, Mother Panic(DC Young Animal); Ragnorak (IDW) BEST COMICS-RELATED PERIODICAL/JOURNALISM Alter Ego, edited by Roy Thomas (TwoMorrows) The Comics Journal, edited by Dan Nadel, Timothy Hodler, and Tucker Stone, tcj.com(Fantagraphics) Hogan’s Alley, edited by Tom Heintjes Jack Kirby Collector, edited by John Morrow (TwoMorrows) PanelXPanelmagazine, edited by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, panelxpanel.com BEST COMICS RELATED BOOK Deconstructing the Incal by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Moebius, by Jean Annestay and Christophe Quillien(Humanoids) How Comics Work, by Dave Gibbons and Tim Pilcher (Wellfleet Press/Quarto Group) How to Read Nancy: The Elements of Comics in Three Easy Panels, by Paul Karasik and Mark Newgarden (Fantagraphics) Line of Beauty: The Art of Wendy Pini, by Richard Pini(Flesk) Monograph, by Chris Ware (Rizzoli) To Laugh That We May Not Weep: The Life and Times of Art Young, by Glenn Bray and Frank M. Young (Fantagraphics) BEST ACADEMIC/SCHOLARLY WORK The Comics of Charles Schulz: The Good Grief of Modern Life, edited by Jared Gardner and Ian Gordon (University Press of Mississippi) Ethics in the Gutter: Empathy and Historical Fiction in Comics, by Kate Polak (Ohio State University Press) Latinx Superheroes in Mainstream Comics, by Frederick Luis Aldama (University of Arizona Press) Neon Visions: The Comics of Howard Chaykin, by Brannon Costello (LSU Press) Picturing Childhood: Youth in Transnational Comics, edited by Mark Heimermann and Brittany Tullis (University of Texas Press) BEST PUBLICATION DESIGN Akira 35th Anniversary Edition,designed by Phil Balsman, Akira Saito (Veia), NORMA Editorial, and MASH•ROOM(Kodansha) Celebrating Snoopy, designed by Spencer Williams and Julie Phillips (Andrews McMeel) Monograph, designed by Chris Ware (Rizzoli) My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, designed by Jacob Covey (Fantagraphics) Will Eisner: The Centennial Celebration, 1917-2017, designed by John Lind (Kitchen Sink/Dark Horse) BEST DIGITAL COMIC Bandette, by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover (Monkeybrain/comiXology) Barrier, by Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin (Panel Syndicate) The Carpet Merchant of Konstaniniyya, by Reimena Yee (reimenayee.com/the-carpet-merchant) Contact High, by James F. Wright and Josh Eckert (gumroad.com) Harvey Kurtzman’s Marley’s Ghost, by Harvey Kurtzman, Josh O’Neill, Shannon Wheeler, and Gideo Kendall (comiXology Originals/Kitchen, Lind & Associates) Quince, by Sebastian Kadlecik, Kit Steinkellner, and Emma Steinkellner, translated by Valeria Tranier (Fanbase Press/comiXology) BEST WEBCOMIC Awaiting a Wave, by Dale Carpenter and Nate Powell (The Weather Channel Digital) Brothers Bond, by Kevin Grevioux and Ryan Benjamin Dispatch from a Sanctuary City, by Mike Dawson The Tea Dragon Society, by Katie O’Neill Welcome to the New World, by Jake Halpern and Michael Sloan (New York Times Sunday Review) Congratulations to all of the winners! Click here for SYFY WIRE's full coverage SDCC 2018, including up-to-the-minute news, exclusive interviews, and videos.<doc-sep>Marjorie Liu, for instance, became the first woman to win the best-writer honor, which was first awarded to Alan Moore exactly three decades ago. Liu is the co-creator, with artist Sana Takeda, of Image Comics’ fantasy epic “Monstress,” about young female warriors who, according to Liu, “become monsters in their own right.” “Monstress” won five Eisners, including best continuing series and best publication for teens.<doc-sep>

The 2018 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards were handed out Friday night at San Diego Comic-Con. Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda’s Monstress and Emil Ferris’ My Favorite Thing is Monsters led with the most wins, with Monstress taking best continuing series, best publication for teens, best painter/multimedia artist, best cover artist and best writer. My Favorite Thing is Monsters took best writer/artist, best coloring and best graphic album, new. Another big winner was Katie O’Neill’s The Tea Dragon Society, which took best webcomic and best publication for kids. The complete winners’ list follows below: Best Short Story ”A Life in Comics: The Graphic Adventures of Karen Green,” by Nick Sousanis, in Columbia Magazine (Summer 2017) Related Story Comic-Con Unveils Fall Dates For In-Person Convention; Confab Returns To San Diego For First Time Since 2019 Best Single Issue/One-Shot Hellboy: Krampusnacht, by Mike Mignola and Adam Hughes (Dark Horse) Best Continuing Series Monstress, by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (Image) Best Limited Series Black Panther: World of Wakanda, by Roxane Gay, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Alitha E. Martinez (Marvel) Best New Series Black Bolt, by Saladin Ahmed and Christian Ward (Marvel) Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 8) Good Night, Planet, by Liniers (Toon Books) Best Publication for Kids (ages 9–12) The Tea Dragon Society, by Katie O’Neill (Oni) Best Publication for Teens (ages 13-17) Monstress, by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (Image) Best Humor Publication Baking with Kafka, by Tom Gauld (Drawn & Quarterly) Best Anthology Elements: Fire, A Comic Anthology by Creators of Color, edited by Taneka Stotts (Beyond Press) Best Reality-Based Work Spinning, by Tillie Walden (First Second) Best Graphic Album—New My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, by Emil Ferris (Fantagraphics) Best Graphic Album—Reprint Boundless, by Jillian Tamaki (Drawn & Quarterly) Best Adaptation from Another Medium Kindred, by Octavia Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy and John Jennings (Abrams ComicArts) Best U.S. Edition of International Material Run for It: Stories of Slaves Who Fought for the Freedom, by Marcelo D’Salete, translated by Andrea Rosenberg (Fantagraphics) Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia My Brother’s Husband, vol. 1, by Gengoroh Tagame, translated by Anne Ishii (Pantheon) Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips Celebrating Snoopy, by Charles M. Schulz, edited by Alexis E. Fajardo and Dorothy O’Brien (Andrews McMeel) Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books Akira 35th Anniversary Edition, by Katsuhiro Otomo, edited by Haruko Hashimoto, Ajani Oloye, and Lauren Scanlan (Kodansha) Best Writer Tom King, Batman, Batman Annual #2, Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1, Mister Miracle (DC) Marjorie Liu, Monstress (Image) Best Writer/Artist Emil Ferris, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters (Fantagraphics) Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team Mitch Gerads, Mister Miracle (DC) Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art) Sana Takeda, Monstress (Image) Best Cover Artist Sana Takeda, Monstress (Image) Best Coloring Emil Ferris, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters (Fantagraphics) Best Lettering Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo, Groo: Slay of the Gods (Dark Horse) Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism The Comics Journal, edited by Dan Nadel, Timothy Hodler, and Tucker Stone, tcj.com (Fantagraphics) Best Comics-Related Book How to Read Nancy: The Elements of Comics in Three Easy Panels, by Paul Karasik and Mark Newgarden (Fantagraphics) Best Academic/Scholarly Work Latinx Superheroes in Mainstream Comics, by Frederick Luis Aldama (University of Arizona Press) Best Publication Design Akira 35th Anniversary Edition, designed by Phil Balsman, Akira Saito (Veia), NORMA Editorial, and MASH•ROOM (Kodansha) Best Digital Comic Harvey Kurtzman’s Marley’s Ghost, by Harvey Kurtzman, Josh O’Neill, Shannon Wheeler, and Gideon Kendall (comiXology Originals/Kitchen, Lind & Associates) Best Webcomic The Tea Dragon Society, by Katie O’Neill, teadragonsociety.com (Oni Press) Hall of Fame: Judges’ Choices: Carol Kalish, Jackie Ormes Voters’ Choices: Charles Addams, Karen Berger, Dave Gibbons, Rumiko Takahashi Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award: Frederick Joseph; Comics4Kids Bill Finger Excellence in Comic Book Writing Award: Joe Murchison Kelly; Dorothy Woolfolk Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award: Hamish Steele (writer/artist, Pantheon), Pablo Tunica (artist, TMNT Universe) Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award: Norma Comics, Barcelona, Spain

For the first time since 1962, Nebraska did not have a player selected in the NFL raft. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) In the year 1962, John F. Kennedy was president, the Space Needle was constructed and Spider-Man debuted. It was also the last time Nebraska did not have a player selected in the NFL draft — that is, until 2019. Perhaps embodying the downturn the Huskers football program has taken in recent years, no Nebraska player was taken by an NFL team with the draft wrapping up on Saturday. This comes a year after Nebraska’s only player selected in the 2018 draft, quarterback Tanner Lee, had to wait until the 203rd overall selection. The Huskers are coming off consecutive 4-8 bowl-less season after making a bowl game the previous nine years. They fired head coach Mike Riley following the 2017 campaign and hired former UCF coach Scott Frost. But Frost has some work to do before duplicating the magic he produced in Central Florida. While Nebraska prospects like Devine Ozigbo and Stanley Morgan (and others) received free agent contracts, the fact that none were picked is a significant benchmark for a program that was not long ago a perennial contender. Even they had picks? What makes this look even worse is some of the obscure programs that did have selections. Not only was Nebraska the lone Big Ten school besides Purdue to not have a player drafted, but it also watched as players from programs such as Charleston, Elon, Idaho, James Madison, North Carolina A&T, Prairie View A&M, Sioux Falls, Southeast Missouri State, Tarleton State and Washburn saw their names called. The last time a team did not have an NFL draft pick: Illinois: 2018 Indiana: 2013 Iowa: 1977 Maryland: 2017 Michigan: 1938 Michigan State: 1940 Minnesota: 2018 Nebraska: 1962 Northwestern: 2014 Ohio State: 1998 Penn State: 2005 Purdue: 1997 Rutgers: 2017 Wisconsin: 1978 — Steven Elonich (@ThanksSteven) April 27, 2019 Nebraska isn’t alone Story continues Nebraska wasn’t only the only high-profile program that went without a draft selection on this year. Purdue snapped its streak dating back to 1998. Virginia Tech had a 25-year streak. Tennessee, which pulled in the fourth best recruiting class in 2015, didn’t see any of those players called. Draft picks update First-round Iowa TEs: 2 Utah specialists: 2 David Longs: 2 Tennessee Volunteers: 0 — Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) April 27, 2019 The other Power Five programs without a pick were Cal, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Louisville and Oregon State. Still, the adage goes that sports is like a pendulum — there will be downturns, and even the most prestigious of programs are not immune to them. Perhaps, given a few years, Frost can turn things around at Nebraska. But going 0-for-the-draft has to be a rough day for a proud football program. More from Yahoo Sports:<doc-sep>They keep rolling in: Cole Conrad, OL, has been invited to the Minnesota Vikings camp Nebraska center Cole Conrad going to Vikings camp. https://t.co/Q4Khdkr0Fd — Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) April 28, 2019 Tanner Farmer, OL, will get tryouts with the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans Thank you everyone who has supported and followed my football journey. A special thanks to everyone that came out today to watch the draft. I will be heading to Indianapolis next week for a minicamp with the Colts and then Houston the following week for a minicamp with the Texans — tanner farmer (@TRFarmer73) April 28, 2019 Jerald Foster, OL, will be joining the New York Giants New York Giants. Enough said. Congratulations Jerald. — Jesse J. Foster, II (@J2F2Ministries) April 28, 2019 Aaron Williams has signed with the Arizona Cardinals Aaron Williams picked the Cardinals over a lot of offers. Free agents start getting calls before the Draft ends - that's why it goes so fast afterward - and Williams wasn't watching draft. He was at a party. So he had to decide quick. Agent said Zona was better sit. than Wash. — Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) April 28, 2019 —- It’s almost a cliche to say that it’s actually better to be a free agent than get drafted at the end of the draft. I have no idea whether that is true. Regardless, it is an exciting moment for the former Huskers who have found a home with an NFL team. Somebody with some personal experience... Luke Gifford, OLB, has signed with the Dallas Cowboys. He was received a large amount of attention from NFL teams toward the end of the process. Luke Gifford's got a free agent deal with the Dallas Cowboys. He said he had a good amount of interest as the day went on. Thought maybe he was going to get drafted but likes his landing spot. "It's all good," he said. #Huskers — Parker Gabriel (@HuskerExtraPG) April 27, 2019 Stanley Morgan, WR, signed a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. #Bengals sign Tyree Kinnel, Stanley Morgan as undrafted free agents https://t.co/FHbbHVj59h — Cincy Jungle (@CincyJungle) April 27, 2019 Devine Ozigbo, RB, is now a New Orleans Saint after singing a free agent deal. #Huskers RB Devine Ozigbo has a free-agent deal with the New Orleans Saints. — Parker Gabriel (@HuskerExtraPG) April 27, 2019 Dedrick Young, ILB, has signed with the Cleveland Browns. NU LB Dedrick Young said he signed with the Browns because that team liked him a lot and he liked that spot. Not a guy of a lot of words, but he knows the game. #huskers — Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) April 27, 2019 We will update as we learn more!<doc-sep>Two major college football NFL Draft streaks came to an unfortunate end this weekend. For the first time in the modern era of the NFL Draft, the Nebraska Cornhuskers did not have a player selected. It’s the first time in nearly 60 years, snapping a 56-year streak. Nebraska had three potential NFL Draft prospects, though Devine Ozigbo, Stanley Morgan and Luke Gifford all had to settle for free-agent contracts. For the first time since 1962, the #NFLDraft has concluded without a Nebraska player selected. — RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) April 27, 2019 Another major NFL Draft streak ended this weekend, too. Virginia Tech did not have a player selected for the first time in 25 years. The NFL Draft is done and no #Hokies had their named called, ending Virginia Tech's 25-year draft streak. Ricky Walker, Yosuah Nijman and others will have a chance to sign as undrafted free agents here in the next couple days. #Hokies — Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) April 27, 2019 Alabama, of course, had the most players selected in this year’s NFL Draft. The Crimson Tide had 10 players taken.<doc-sep>

The unofficial “eighth round” of the NFL draft quickly got underway Saturday afternoon after no Nebraska players heard their name called during the seven-round NFL Draft. That eighth-round, or free agency, is an opportunity for a number of Huskers to play their way onto NFL rosters, as former Huskers like Brent Qvale, Jeremiah Sirles and others have done in recent years. Here’s a quick rundown of where Nebraska NFL free agents stand on Saturday evening. Devine Ozigbo will get his shot with the New Orleans Saints. The running back was expected to be picked in the late rounds, but went undrafted on Saturday. Ozigbo, who became Nebraska’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Ameer Abdullah in 2014, will get a chance with a team he met with prior to the NFL Draft. Stanley Morgan Jr., quickly found a home with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he will reunite with fellow New Orleans native and former Husker Cethan Carter. Morgan will be coached by former Husker quarterback Zac Taylor, who joined the franchise as its head coach after the Super Bowl. “While some scouts see Morgan as 'just a guy' with average size and athleticism who fails to stand out as a prospect, others may appreciate his professional approach to the position and competitive demeanor," wrote NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. "He’s best judged by the sum of his parts, which takes into account his toughness and durability, as well. He doesn’t open wide catch windows, but his ball skills and ability to haul in contested catches tend to make up for it.” Husker fans know not to bet against Morgan after he piled up a school-record 2,176 receiving yards at NU. Congrats @Thekidstan for signing with the @Bengals. Look forward to watching you have a great NFL career. Welcome to the NFL brotherhood ?? pic.twitter.com/2Wqs4fUlhl — Troy Walters® (@CoachWalters1) April 28, 2019 Outside backer Luke Gifford confirmed he has signed a free agent deal with the Dallas Cowboys. Gifford weighed in at 243 pounds during Pro Day and posted some good numbers and had the interest of various NFL clubs who see him with the versatility to fit in either a 3-4 scheme or 4-3. "All you need is an opportunity, really," Gifford said last month. "It doesn't matter if you get drafted in the late rounds or you're a free agent, you still get the same opportunity. There's a lot of guys who get drafted that get cut and a lot of guys that make it that are free agents. Once you get there, it's really not a big deal how you do it. It's really just kind of getting your foot in the door." Inside linebacker Dedrick Young signed with the Cleveland Browns. Young ran a 4.51 in the 40 at Nebraska's Pro Day, and finished his Husker career among the Top 10 tacklers in program history. Offensive lineman Tanner Farmer announced he will attend a minicamp with the Indianapolis Colts next week, followed by a minicamp with the Houston Texans the following week. According to multiple reports, safety Aaron Williams will be headed to the Arizona Cardinals. Williams was a multi-year starter at safety. Offensive guard Jerald Foster is headed to the New York Giants on a minicamp invite.

Bandai Namco's starting 2019 off with a bit of bang, it seems. A big bang, you might say. The publisher has revealed that it'll be hosting a Dragon Ball-based stream next week, titled the 'Dragon Ball Games Super Showcase'. Apparently, the stream will feature "big reveals, big news, and big interviews with the producers of Dragon Ball FighterZ and Dragon Ball XenoVerse 2". It's scheduled to go live on Twitch on the 14th January at 16:00 PT -- that's 00:00 on the 15th January here in the UK. Earlier in the week, we reported on Bandai Namco's not-so-subtle teasing of a Dragon Ball FighterZ announcement, but that was supposedly set for the game's world finals tournament that's happening on the 26th and 27th January. Whatever's going on, it should be a big month for Dragon Ball fans.<doc-sep>News on the Dragon Ball FighterZ front has been sparse, but a new announcement livestream has fans excited for the future of the best fighting game of 2018. Dragon Ball FighterZ is approaching its one-year anniversary, and Bandai Namco will likely celebrate the occasion with new content. The livestream is also going to have news on Bandai's other Dragon Ball fighting game, Xenoverse 2. Bandai Namco has confirmed that both Masayuski Hirano, producer of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, and Tomoko Hiroki, producer of Dragon Ball FighterZ, will be special guests during the stream. If you're a fan of both or either game, you'll want to catch this stream. Here's all the information you'll need including when it starts and how to watch it online. WHAT TIME DOES THE DRAGON BALL FIGHTERZ LIVESTREAM START The start time for the Dragon Ball FighterZ announcement livestream will begin at 7 p.m. EST and end around 8 p.m. EST. HOW TO WATCH DRAGON BALL FIGHTERZ LIVESTREAM ONLINE If you're looking for the Dragon Ball FighterZ and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 livestream, the best place to go is Bandai Namco's official Twitch channel. You can watch the announcements live and interact with others in the Twitch chat. Watch live video from BANDAINAMCOUS on www.twitch.tv So what can fans expect from this upcoming livestream? Speculation suggests that a season 2 of DLC characters will be announced for Dragon Ball FighterZ. During the fighting game's first year, fans received Broly, Bardock, Cooler, Base Goku, Base Vegeta, Vegito, Fused Zamasu, and Android 17 as DLC fighters. The final Dragon Ball FighterZ DLC, Android 17 and Cooler, was released in September. Since then there hasn't been any significant content added to the game. With so many characters from the Dragon Ball universe to choose from, a Season 2 of DLC fighters would revitalize this popular game. As for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, there hasn't been any shortage of content added to the game since its release. The two-year-old game has given fans plenty of characters and missions to enjoy, so this announcement could be about a number of things. We're honestly hoping for a Xenoverse 3 announcement, but if that game was in the works we think it would be saved for a bigger stage like E3 2019. So what do you think will be announced during the livestream? Which game is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section below.<doc-sep>Bandai Namco Entertainment will release Super Dragon Ball Heroes World Mission, a card game-meets-RPG, this April. The company announced that the Nintendo Switch and Windows PC game will mark the popular franchise’s first appearance outside of Japan. The Dragon Ball Heroes series kicked off last summer with both the card game and a promotional anime tied into it, which lies firmly outside of the primary Dragon Ball canon. In this game, players star as Beat, who lives in a place called Hero Town, and takes part in World Mission’s meta-game: He wants to be the best in the world at playing the Super Dragon Ball Heroes card game. Turns out that his in-game desires bleed into the real world, bringing the fighting out of the game. Expect characters like Goku, Trunks, and Vegeta to appear to help Beat out along the way. Unlike the original Super Dragon Ball Heroes game that launched in Japanese arcades last summer, this one will definitely lean heavier into the RPG elements. The arcade game uses actual cards to then scan into the virtual game, while this Western release will have zero cards required. Super Dragon Ball Heroes World Mission launches stateside April 5.<doc-sep>

If you think there’s too many Dragon Ball games in the world right now, Bandai Namco would like to let you know that you’re wrong. There can always be more, as Bandai are working on an action RPG set in the DBZ world. In 2019, the project of a New Game focusing on the World of Dragon Ball Z begins! And more news coming to DRAGON BALL Fighter Z! The Warrior from Universe 11 is joining the fight! More information to be revealed at the DRAGON BALL FighterZ World Tour Finals in January 26th ~ 27th https://t.co/K8tc4BvnZa — BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe (@BandaiNamcoEU) January 16, 2019 On top of that, more content will be coming to the smash hit fighting game Dragon Ball FighterZ, as “The Warrior from Universe 11 is joining the fight”. I wonder who that could b- Jiren. It’s going to be Jiren. More details are going to be revealed during the FighterZ World Tour Finals on January 26th-27th, but expect the big grey destroyer to make his FighterZ debut. If that wasn’t enough for you, it was also announced this week that Super Dragon Ball Heroes World Mission will be coming to West via PC and the Nintendo Switch in a series first. A departure from the usual Dragon Ball games, World Mission is a card game featuring the characters from the series, and follows and completely new story and protagonist. It’ll be available from April 5th 2019. MORE GAMING: – Biggest New Fighting Games of 2019 – 15 Best PS4 Fighting Games You Should Play – Mortal Kombat 11 Finally Revealed At The Game Awards

Islamabad: The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee will meet at the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s offices in Karachi today (Monday) evening to sight the new Hijri year 1440 AH's moon and examine the countrywide evidence for it. Committee chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman will preside over the meeting. The committee is assisted by the PMD, Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, and Pakistan Navy. The PMD has forecast that there is little chance of Muharram, the first month of the next Islamic lunar calendar, beginning on September 11. According to it, the new moon of Muharram 1440 AH will be born on crossing conjunction point at 23:02 PST on September 9. "According to astronomical parameters, there is a slight chance of the sighting of the moon of Muharram on the evening of September 10, 2018, i.e. on 29th of Zilhij 1439 AH," said Abdul Rashid, director at the PMD Climate Data Processing Centre. He said the climate record showed that the weather on September 10 was expected to be 'fair/partly cloudy' in most parts of the country.<doc-sep>Email updates on the latest on shopping, restaurant news and more Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice For Muslims across the world, the time of new year has arrived. Islamic New Year, also called Hijri New Year or Awal Muharram, marks the start of the calendar year for the Muslim community across the world. It comes on the first day of the month of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar Awal means beginning. The first day of Muharram is Islamic New Year's Day and also the date when the Hijrah began - this was the prophet Muhammad's historic journey from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD to escape persecution. The Hijrah - meaning 'migration' - was later adopted as the starting point for the Muslim era. What year is it in the Muslim calendar? (Image: AP) For Muslims, their calendar began with the Hijrah in 622 AD. The Islamic calendar is based on the moon, unlike the solar-based Gregorian calendar used by much of the western world. The start and end of each month is determined by an observation of the first crescent of the new moon, or sometimes by following astronomical charts predicting the lunar cycle. A lunar year - consisting of 12 cycles from new moon to full moon - covers around 354 days, shorter than the 365 of the Gregorian/Western calendar. So we are in the year 1439 and coming up to the year 1440 for the Islamic calendar When is Muharram 2018? Has there been a moon sighting? In 2018, the first day of Muharram will be either Tuesday, September 11 or Wednesday, September 12 . The date depends on the moon - and on whether it's visible. If the first crescent of the new moon is seen in the evening of the 29th day of a month, then that month ends and the next month begins. If the moon isn't seen, the month goes on for another day. There is sometimes a second attempt to observe the moon, on the evening of the 30th day, to get positive confirmation of the date of the start of the month. The new moon began on Sunday, September 9, 2018. But it was not visible anywhere in the world. On September 10, the first crescent of the new moon was expected to be easily visble in Africa, North America and South America, and if there are perfect conditions it will also be seen in southern Europe and the Middle East. In other parts of the world it will only be visible using binoculars. If the moon is seen, then it will be announced that the current month of Dhul Hijjah has ended and then Muharram begins. Some Muslim organisations and communities follow moon sightings in Mecca, others rely on local sightings or use astronomical charts instead of observations. In Pakistan, officials met on Monday night (September 10) to look for the moon, saying there was only a "slight chance" of seeing it - due to patches of cloud across much of the country. As expected, they did not see the moon and therefore declared that the first month of the Islamic calendar will begin on September 12 in Pakistan, followed by the Day of Ashura being observed on September 21. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now Across the UK, the moon was not seen due to heavy cloud. Wifaqul Ulama, the UK-based Board of Islamic Scholars, reported various attempts to catch a glimpse of the moon including in Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Leicester. It was not seen in any of these locations. But some rely on more distant observations. The Iqra Learning Centre - an Islamic centre serving the community in Chapelfields, Earsldon and Coundon areas of Coventry since 2003 - declared that the moon had been seen in Morocco and South Africa, meaning Muharram would be Tuesday, September 11. In Oman, it has already been announced that Muharram will be on Tuesday, September 11. That day will be a holiday for the public and private sector. In Saudi Arabia, where the government relies on astronomical charts, Muharram will also be on Tuesday, September 11. The Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia said the crescent of the month of Muharram 1440 was not sighted on Sunday evening and that therefore Monday, September 10, would be the end of the month of Dhul Hijjah. The Dubai Government announced a public holiday in the United Arab Emirates from September 13 to 16 but had not yet declared the actual date of Muharram. In Saudi Arabia, it has also been announced that the Umrah pilgrimage season will begin in the month of Muharram. In previous years, it began in Safar, the second month of the calendar. Officials want to increase the number of pilgrims taking part. They are expecting to see the number of overseas visitors coming for the Umrah rise to 15 million by 2022 and then to 30 million by 2030. At the moment, around seven million people travel to Saudi Arabia each year for the Umrah. Whereas the Hajj pilgrimage must be carried out on specific dates during the month of Dhul Hijjah, the Umrah can be undertaken at other times of year.<doc-sep>The ruet-e-hilal committees did not receive any testimony of moon sighting in any part of the country on Monday. — Geo News FILE KARACHI: The moon of the month of Muharram could not be sighted in Pakistan on Monday, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced, saying that Youm-e-Ashur will be observed on September 21. Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman presided over a meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee in Karachi on Monday. The meeting had officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Pakistan Meteorological Department, and members of zonal moon sighting committees. Apart from this, zonal committees also met at their respective headquarters. The committees did not receive any testimony of moon sighting in any part of the country. After the moon could not be sighted on Monday, the 1st of Muharram will fall on Wednesday, Sep 12, Subsequently, the 10th of Muharram will fall on Friday, Sep 21.<doc-sep>

New Delhi/Islamabad/Tehran: Muslims in India, Pakistan, Iran and South Asia will attempt to sight the moon this evening to mark the begining of Muharram 1440, the first month of Islamic calender. If the moon is sighted, the month of Muharram will begin from Tuesday, September 11. If the moon is not sighted, Dhu al-Hijjah month will complete 30 days, and Muharram will start from Wednesday, September 12. Catch live updates on Muharram moon sighting here. A new month in the Islamic lunar calendar begins the with a sighting of the moon on 29th of every month. If the moon is not sighted on 29th, that month completes 30 days. Muslims in India, Iran, Pakistan and South Asia will look for the moon this evening which is the 29th of Dhu al-Hijjah. Depending on the moon sighting, Muharram will either begin from September 11 or September 12. The sight of the moon will determine the date for the start of Muharram 2018. Muharram 2018: Date of Observance in Iran & Saudi Arabia, Relevance, Importance and Key Facts About the 1st Month of Islamic New Year. Ruet-e-Hilal Committees (moon sighting committee) in India, Pakistan and other South Asian countries will meet this eveing and decided the final date for Muharram. The tenth day of Muharram is known as the Day of Ashura. Hence, if Muharram begins from September 11, Ashura will be on September 20. If Muharram begins from September 12, Ashura will be on September 21. Muharram is one of the four sacred months that is mentioned in the Quran. Shia Muslims mourn the death of Imam Hussein and his family members on the day of Ashura. Imam Hussein was the grandson of prophet Mohammed. The mourning gets momentum in last few days as Imam Hussein and his family members were deprived of water from the 7th onward, and on the 10th of Muharram, Imam Hussain and 72 of his followers were killed by the army of Yazid I at the Battle of Karbala.

It was one of country music’s biggest nights, and stars rose to the occasion! Artists including Kacey Musgraves, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert looked stunning as they arrived at the 2019 Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas. While some stars sported dresses or pantsuits in pale, spring pastels, others rocked all-black ensembles with lace accents. Metallics also ruled the ACMs red carpet this year. Men and women alike rocked every shade imaginable of gold, bronze and silver with plenty of sequins, shiny satins and metallic embellishments to go around! Here are some of our favorite red carpet looks from the 54th annual ACMs. Reba McEntire Reba McEntire went for some funky fringe. AP The country legend, who returned to host the ACMs this year, arrived in style in a burgundy dress with plenty of fringe. She accessorized with a funky necklae and black and silver cowboy boots. Carrie Underwood Carrie Underwood is rocking some serious slits! Getty Images In her first red carpet appearance since giving birth to her son, Jacob, Underwood dazzled in a silver and black metallic gown with a dramatic slit. Miranda Lambert Miranda Lambert and and her husband, Brendan McLoughlin, made their first red carpet appearance together. Getty Images The country superstar, who attended with her new husband, Brendan McLoughlin, looked stunning in a bright green dress. She accessorized with a colorful clutch and neon orange nails. How fun is her clutch bag, too? ! Kacey Musgraves This ombre pantsuit is a great choice for Kacey Musgraves. Getty Images The singer, who won Album of the Year, hit the red carpet in a dreamy, ombre pantsuit with pleated sleeves. Kelly Clarkson Kelly Clarkson is rocking this black, lacy look. Getty Images The superstar “Voice” coach wore a sleek, black gown with lace accents, and accessorized with black nail polish and white hoop earrings. Chrissy Metz LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 07: Chrissy Metz attends the 54th Academy Of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on April 07, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images The “This Is Us” star shimmered in a black and silver gown and metallic, low heels. Metz also made her live TV singing debut at the ACMs, singing her new single, “I’m Standing With You” with Carrie Underwood and other stars. Luke Bryan and Caroline Boyer Luke Bryan and Caroline Boyer were going for gold! Getty Images The country superstar and his wife coordinated their looks: she in an embellished, gold dress and Bryan in a shiny, rose gold jacket. He kept the rest of his outfit simple with black trousers and a crisp white shirt. Danielle Bradbery This is a gorgeous shade of blue on Danielle Bradbery. Getty Images The rising country star, who won “The Voice” in 2013, walked the red carpet in a flowing gown in a gorgeous shade of blue. She polished off the look with chic bangs, hoop earrings and strappy, metallic heels. Cassadee Pope Cassadee Pope looks sleek in this white dress. FilmMagic The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, who won “The Voice” in 2012, looking stunning in a sleek, white dress with triangular cutouts. She accessorized with white pumps and added a pop of color with a green, satin clutch. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban make quite the couple on the red carpet. Getty Images Kidman was on hand to support her hubby as he won ACM entertainer of the year. As usual, she looked lovely on the red carpet in a black and silver dress with a metallic skirt and black, lacy sleeves. Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins Thomas Rhett and Lauren Atkins make a perfect pair. Getty Images The couple looked so stylish (and adorable) together in coordinated black outfits. Rhett wore an all-black suit and bow tie while his wife sported a chic, black pantsuit with a crop top. Mickey Guyton This color is stunning! Getty Images Lovely in lace! The singer looked elegant in a periwinkle, lace gown with long sleeves. Lady Antebellum Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum wear coordinating looks on the red carpet. Getty Images The members of Lady Antebellum all looked chic on the red carpet, and it looks like Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott may have coordinated their outfits. Kelley’s pastel pink jacket brought out the pale pink hues in Scott’s ‘70s-inspired striped dress. Maren Morris Maren Morris looks young and fresh in this lilac number. Getty Images The singer stole the show in this lilac Christian Siriano dress with a short skirt and long train. The Brothers Osborne T.J. Osborne and John Osborne of The Brothers Osborne aren't afraid of a little color in their wardrobes. Getty Images The Brothers Osborne brought some fun to the red carpet with their colorful, embellished suits. Jessie James Decker Jessie James Decker wore a flirty, heart-printed dress to the awards show. Getty Images The singer-songwriter looked beautiful in a one-shouldered dress with a cute, heart pattern. She accessorized with a red clutch and a bold, red lip. Maddie and Tae Maddie Marlow and Tae Dye of Maddie and Tae attend the 54th Academy Of Country Music Awards together. Getty Images Maddie Marlow rocked a bronze pantsuit on the red carpet, while fellow singer Tae Dye sported a fun, metallic mini-dress with gold heels. Danica Patrick Orange is a great color on famous racing driver. Getty Images The racing star walked the red carpet in a glittery, orange gown and a statement bracelet. “This event will probably double the amount of times I walk the red carpet this year,” she joked on Instagram. “The styling part feeds the creative side of me! And I can’t wait for some live music!” Florida Georgia Line Now that's a double date! Getty Images Bandmates Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley were a stylish duo on the red carpet. Kelley’s wife, Brittney Kelley, also looked chic in a short, pinstriped pantsuit and Hubbard’s wife, Hayley Hubbard, stunned in a sleek, blue dress that showed off her baby bump. It was a fantastic night all around!<doc-sep>At the 2019 Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday night, the focus isn’t only on honoring the best in country music. Fans and professional critics alike will be weighing in on the good, the bad and the merely questionable fashions worn by celebrities arriving on the 54th ACM red carpet at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Sunday’s show airs at 8 p.m. Eastern on CBS. The show is being hosted by Reba McEntire. Check back here throughout the evening for the latest in photos and other updates from the red carpet. Sing with us... 🎶Like strawberry wine and seventeen!🎶 @DeanaSings takes us right back to summer of 1996. 🍓🍷 #ACMawards pic.twitter.com/JylJisZude — ACM Awards (@ACMawards) April 7, 2019 The #ACMawards red carpet has just begun, but we’ve already got a TREND ALERT for y’all! 💍 pic.twitter.com/jx5WNMStXp — Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) April 7, 2019 Nominees for Entertainer of the Year are Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Chris Stapleton and Keith Urban. Female Artist of the Year nominees are Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves and Carrie Underwood. Up for Male Artist of the Year are Dierks Bentley, Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett, Stapleton and Urban. Here is a complete list of nominees and winners. Among the scheduled performers are Bryan, Urban, Blake Shelton, Old Dominion and Kelly Clarkson, who will be singing with both Aldean and Dan + Shay.<doc-sep>Colton Underwood and Cassie Randolph The happy couple shared a quick smooch on the red carpet. The Huntington Beach babe just moved to Los Angeles to be closer to the former football player. It seems like things are going pretty well for the two since The Bachelor!<doc-sep>

There’s always a mix of classic and head-turning outfits paraded down a red carpet when musicians gather. Today at the ACM Awards in Las Vegas was no exception as some of the biggest entertainers celebrated outstanding achievement in country music. Kacey Musgraves CREDIT: Shutterstock Kacey Musgraves, who is a rising red carpet star, gave a tuxedo a soft, feminine twist with a rainbow-pastel palette that had an ombre effect, pleated sleeves and flared, high-waisted trousers. The singer added a sensual touch by forgoing a top under the jacket, showing skin instead. The footnote to the look was a pair of pink satin shoes that peaked out from under her pants. Lindsay Ell wears silver glitter platform sandals with a green dress. CREDIT: Shutterstock Meanwhile, Miranda Lambert and Lindsay Ell embraced neon green — a color that popped up on runways during fashion weeks. Ell wore a halter dress that had an asymmetric cutout around the bust and a high slit that gave way to her glittery, silver platform sandals. Similarly, Lambert had on a halter silhouette, opting for a dress designed with a latex-like fabric with a slick appearance. Her shoes were hidden under the skirt hem, but knowing her red carpet history, she likely stepped out in a chic pair of heels. Related Carrie Underwood Looks Angelic in Glittering Gown at the ACM Awards Miranda Lambert & Elle King Are Edgy in Leather and Fringe, Mickey Guyton Glistens in Sheer + More Red Carpet Arrivals at the 2021 ACM Awards Miranda Lambert's Neon Heels Pop Against Her Bubble-Gum Pink Dress at the CMA Awards Danielle Bradbery CREDIT: Shutterstock “The Voice” alum Danielle Bradbery cut an elegant figure in a head-turning teal gown by Jason Grech, featuring a dangerously high slit cut from around the waistline down to the floor. The dress was teamed with a pair of sandals by Ritch Erani that had a PVC upper with tan straps that cross-crossed around the midfoot and tied around the ankle. Jake Owen CREDIT: Rob Latour/Shutterstock The men did not disappoint either. Crooner Jake Owen took a page from the tradition of country stars and other musicians who’ve worn ornate Nudie suits, including Elvis Presley and Porter Wagoner. The purple suit featured floral embroidery and bead embellishments. Completing the outfit was a pair of champagne-hue boots. See more celebrity arrivals on the red carpet at the 2019 ACM Awards. Want more? Reba McEntire Takes the Red Carpet in Cowboy Boots and More Celeb Arrivals at the ACM Awards The Big Difference Between Carrie Underwood & Miranda Lambert’s ACM Awards Style Over the Years Kelly Clarkson Goes for a Goth-Glam Look on the 2019 ACM Awards Red Carpet Miles-Long Legs and Soaring Heels Are Trending on the ACM Awards Red Carpet

New York (AFP) - Men's semi-final matches on Friday, the 12th day of the US Open (x denotes seeding): Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) v Juan Martin del Potro (ARG x3) Head to head: Nadal leads 11-5 2018 Wimbledon Grass QF Nadal 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 2018 French Open Clay SF Nadal 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 2017 US Open Hard SF Nadal 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 2016 Rio Olympics Hard SF Del Potro 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) 2013 Shanghai Hard SF Del Potro 6-2, 6-4 2013 Indian Wells Hard F Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 2011 Davis Cup Clay F Nadal 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (7/0) 2011 Wimbledon Grass R16 Nadal 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 2011 Indian Wells Hard SF Nadal 6-4, 6-4 2009 US Open Hard SF Del Potro 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 2009 Montreal Hard QF Del Potro 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 2009 Miami Hard QF Del Potro 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/3) 2009 Indian Wells Hard QF Nadal 6-2, 6-4 2007 Queen's Club Grass R32 Nadal 6-4, 6-4 2007 French Open R128 Nadal 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 2007 Miami Hard R16 Nadal 6-0, 6-4 World number one and defending champion Nadal, a three-time US Open champion takes on 2009 winner and world number three Del Potro in their third Grand Slam meeting this year. Nadal cruised past del Potro in straight sets in the semi-finals of Roland Garros on the way to his 11th French Open crown. Their quarter-final clash at Wimbledon was another affair altogether although it was again Nadal who emerged victorious after rallying from two sets to one down to win in four hours and 48 minutes. Nadal has won 11 of their 16 meetings, but they are 5-5 on hardcourts including Del Potro's semi-final US Open win in 2009 and Nadal's semi-final win on the way to the title in Flushing Meadows last year. "He's a great player everywhere," Nadal said of Del Potro. "I will have to play at my highest level to keep having chances of success." Del Potro's take: "I like to play always with the number one of the world -- doesn't matter the tournament or the conditions or the weather. I just have the chance to play the greatest in this sport, and it's amazing for me." Story continues Kei Nishikori (JPNx21) v Novak Djokovic (SRB x6) Head to head: Djokovic leads 14-2 2018 Wimbledon Grass QF Djokovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 2018 Rome Clay QF Djokovic 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 2018 Madrid Clay R64 Djokovic 7-5, 6-4 2016 ATP Finals Hard SF Djokovic 6-1, 6-1 2016 Toronto Hard F Djokovic 6-3, 7-5 2016 Rome Clay SF Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) 2016 Madrid Clay SF Djokovic 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) 2016 Miami Hard F Djokovic 6-3, 6-3 2016 AUS Open Hard QF Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 2015 ATP Finals Hard RR Djokovic 6-1, 6-1 2015 Rome Clay QF Djokovic 6-3, 3-6 6-1 2014 ATP Finals Hard SF Djokovic 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 2014 Paris Hard SF Djokovic 6-2, 6-3 2014 US Open Hard SF Nishikori 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 2011 Basel Hard SF Nishikori 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 2010 French Open Clay R64 Djokovic 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 Djokovic, the 2011 and 2015 US Open champion, will hae a chance to avenge his loss to Nishikori in the semi-finals in 2014 -- when the Japanese player finished runner-up to Marin Cilic. The good news for Djokovic: Since losing two of his first three matches against Nishikori he has won all 13. That includes a four-set victory in the Wimbledon quarter-finals, where Djokovic burst out of his malaise to win make his first title in more than a year his 13th Grand Slam crown. Djokovic continued his impressive form with a Cincinnati Masters title in August. Nishikori, like Djokovic hindered by injury last year, is also on the upswing as his gritty five-set victory over former champion Marin Cilic in the quarter-finals showed. "He's got one of the best two-handed backhands in the game and very quick," Djokovic said. "Has phenomenal footwork. He's definitely a top-5, top-10 player. I'm expecting a tough one." Nishikori's take: "I don't have great record against Novak, but always it's been a tough match last couple of years. I've seen a chance, but I haven't been able to make the last step. Especially after coming from injury, I'm enjoying this challenge."<doc-sep>Adam Hunger/Associated Press And then there were four. The men's semifinals for the 2018 U.S. Open are set after the conclusion of Wednesday's two quarterfinal showdowns. No. 21 Kei Nishikori and No. 6 Novak Djokovic joined No. 1 Rafael Nadal and No. 3 Juan Martin del Potro in the semifinals after beating No. 7 Marin Cilic and unseeded John Millman, respectively. Nadal and del Potro advanced to the semifinals Tuesday. The top seed needed the full five sets against No. 9 Dominic Thiem in one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament, while del Potro handled American John Isner in four sets. With the quarterfinals in the books, here is a look at the schedule for the semifinals. 2018 U.S. Open Men's Semifinals Schedule Video Play Button Videos you might like No. 1 Rafael Nadal vs. No. 3 Juan Martin del Potro, Friday on ESPN No. 6 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 21 Kei Nishikori, Friday on ESPN *Live streams available on WatchESPN. According to the tournament's official website, the men's semifinals session starts at 4 p.m. ET on Friday. Predictions Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press Nadal facing del Potro in the latter rounds of a major is becoming the norm for tennis fans. The Spaniard star holds an 11-5 advantage in head-to-head matchups, and Stanley Kay of Sports Illustrated noted this will be the fourth time in the last five Grand Slam tournaments they play each other. Nadal defeated del Potro in last year's U.S. Open, this year's French Open and this year's Wimbledon in a classic quarterfinals showdown. Nadal won the Wimbledon clash in five sets, 7-5, 6-7, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, providing a glimpse at what fans in New York may be in for in this semifinal matchup. Del Potro appeared on the verge of winning multiple times before the top-ranked player was able to bounce back and seize control down the stretch. Del Potro did beat Nadal and Roger Federer on his way to the 2009 U.S. Open championship before wrist injuries cost him during his prime. He is playing at a career-best ranking, though, and fatigue figures to favor him if it comes into play. Nadal needed five sets and two tiebreaks in the quarterfinals, four sets and a tiebreak in the fourth round, and four sets and two tiebreaks in the third round. Del Potro won each of his matches in straight sets except for the quarterfinal, when he needed four sets to beat Isner. Still, it is impossible to ignore the head-to-head results on the game's biggest stages when projecting this matchup. The thought here is Nadal continues to serve as an obstacle del Potro cannot overcome in his career revival. As for the other semifinal, Djokovic holds a commanding 14-2 advantage over Nishikori in head-to-head matchups, although one of the latter's victories came at the 2014 U.S. Open semifinals. The Serbian star is also playing well this summer and won the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, won Wimbledon and reached the final at the Fever-Tree Championships in London. BBC noted his victory over Federer in Cincinnati made him the first men's player in the sport's history to win all nine Masters 1000 tournaments. It stands in contrast to Nishikori, who is yet to win a title this year. Djokovic eliminated him at Wimbledon in the quarterfinals and in Masters tournaments in Rome and Madrid this year. Djokovic has dominated Nishikori in their matches recently and throughout their careers, and there is no reason to think things will change in New York. Get ready for a star-studded final. Prediction: Nadal and Djokovic win their semifinal matchups and square off in the championship match.<doc-sep>TPN/Getty Images Anastasija Sevastova stands between Serena Williams and yet another U.S Open final on Thursday, as the semi-finals for the 2018 edition of the tournament begin. Williams has won at Flushing Meadows six times already in her career and has been in excellent form so far at the competition. Sevastova is an underdog, although not someone to take lightly, as she knocked out defending champion Sloane Stephens in the quarter-finals. In addition to that tussle, Naomi Osaka will be seeking to continue her surprise run into the latter stages of this Grand Slam event up against last year's finalist Madison Keys. Here is the schedule for the women's semi-final matches, a prediction for each and a preview of what to expect from this pair of absorbing encounters. Thursday Schedule—Women's Semi-Finals Video Play Button Videos you might like Arthur Ashe Stadium (17) Serena Williams* vs. (19) Anastasija Sevastova (20) Naomi Osaka* vs. (14) Madison Keys *Picks to win In the United States, ESPN (live stream at ESPN Player) and the Tennis Channel will provide coverage. For viewers in the UK, the matches will be streamed live on Amazon Prime. Serena On Brink of More History at U.S. Open Jason DeCrow/Associated Press Aside from one wobble in the fourth round against Kaia Kanepi, so far at the 2018 U.S. Open it's been plain sailing for Williams. Her previous win over eighth seed and former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova was arguably her best performance of the tournament. In a 6-4, 6-3 win for the American there was never any real danger of her relinquishing her grip on the contest. Tom Perrotta of the Wall Street Journal commented on how the American seems able to accelerate through the gears when the situation demands: Given the players remaining in the draw, this feels like the best chance Williams has had of winning a Grand Slam since returning to the sport after pregnancy. Sevastova is not a player to take lightly, though, as was evident in the previous round when she cruised to a straight-sets win over Stephens. The Latvian has never made it this far in a Grand Slam before and will be desperate to rise to the occasion of playing against an iconic player like Williams. Sevastova is always fascinating to watch too. As noted by tennis journalist Tumaini Carayol, she's not someone who hides her emotions when out on court either: The other semi-final also sees a competitor enjoying her best run at a Grand Slam in the shape of Osaka. The Japanese player has shown talent from an early age but few would've anticipated the 20-year-old to make it quite so far here. Osaka didn't appear daunted by the stage in the quarters either, dropping just two games on her way to victory over Lesia Tsurenko. American tennis icon Billie Jean King commented on her show of delight following the biggest win of her career on Wednesday: Keys has also slipped into an impressive groove in recent days, breezing past Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round and then turning in a similarly dominant display in Wednesday's showdown with the dangerous Carla Suarez Navarro. The American appears to be developing a familiarity with the big stage at Flushing Meadows, and with last year's conquerer eliminated she will view the final Grand Slam event of 2018 as a massive opportunity to win a major for the first time.<doc-sep>US Open 2018 Live: Novak Djokovic into the final Novak Djokovic: "It felt great. I was out of the blocks with greatest intensity. Had to get the shots going from the word go. I thought I played really, really well against a player like Nishikori who gives you little time." "The majors are the biggest events and every player performs to best in these events. I have been fortunate to win big events over the last decade and have also lost a few. Playing at arenas like these gives me strength." "Like thousands around the world, I am trying to reach bigger things. Hopefully you guys are enjoying my tennis!" "New to face Del Potro in a slam final. Have tremendous respect for him. He's respect around the locker room, struggled with injuries. He's a big match player and showed against Nadal today. I'm sure it will be a great final."<doc-sep>

TPN/Getty Images Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic both face huge tests if they're to progress into the U.S. Open final on Sunday. Nadal, after overcoming Dominic Thiem in a five-set epic in the quarter-finals, now has to tame big-serving Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro. Del Potro was the champion here in 2009, while Nadal has won at Flushing Meadows three times, including a year ago. Meanwhile, Djokovic will be out to continue his excellent end to 2018 with a win over Kei Nishikori, who has finished a tough year on a high. Djokovic is a two-time champion at the U.S. Open, while the Japanese was the runner-up to Marin Cilic four years ago. The pair of matches are poised to be absorbing on Friday, setting up what should be a pulsating final. Here is the broadcast information needed for these encounters and a preview of what's to come in the semis. Friday Schedule—Men's Semi-Finals Video Play Button Videos you might like Arthur Ashe Stadium (1) Rafael Nadal* vs. (3) Juan Martin del Potro (6) Novak Djokovic* vs. (20) Kei Nishikori *Picks to win In the United States, ESPN (live stream at ESPN Player) and the Tennis Channel will provide coverage. For viewers in the UK, the matches will be streamed live on Amazon Prime. Epic Semis on the Cards in Men's Draw The ATP Media Info Twitter account broke down the head-to-head records between the upcoming semi-finalists: After Nadal lost the opening set to Thiem 6-0, a sense of shock lingered around the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Not only was the Spaniard out of sorts and seemingly on his way out of the tournament, he was being dominated. However, Nadal was able to dig deep after losing the opening set and found a way back into the match. In the end, Thiem missed a great chance on match point and the defending champion prevailed in a deciding stanza. The tournament's Twitter account provided some of the highlights of what was an incredible contest: Afterwards, Nadal said he kicked himself into life again after enduring a bagel from Thiem in the opening set: If there is similar sluggishness against Del Potro then a route back into the match may not be there for Nadal, as the third seed has been exceptional in pursuit of a second U.S. Open title. In the previous round, he came through against home player John Isner. It's rare Del Potro is outmatched in terms of aces—Isner served 26 to his opponent's 14—but the third seed showcased better variety in general play to come from a set down and win in four. Tom Perrotta of the Wall Street Journal thinks Del Potro can capitalise if Nadal is jaded too: The other semi will see a red-hot Djokovic in action. Having taken some time to get into a rhythm at Flushing Meadows, he's been excellent in the second week and disposed of John Millman easily in the previous round. Despite the tension that inhibits so many at this stage of a Grand Slam, Djokovic continues to cut a relaxed figure, per Live Tennis: Nishikori will be a fascinating opponent. The Japanese will be bristling with confidence after beating Marin Cilic in five sets and will hope that offsets the physical toll that thrilling quarter-final would've had on him. The Japanese is a big talent and has recaptured some momentum after a challenging stint in his career. He'll feel as though he has little to lose and is the type of player who can be dangerous when assuming the role of an underdog.

Hold on to your seats real tight because K-pop sensation BLACKPINK is coming out with new music just in time for their April Coachella performance. The band’s management, YG Entertainment, announced the female quartet will be releasing their highly-anticipated new EP, entitled Kill This Love, on April 5, with a title track of the same name. On March 25, YG Entertainment took to Twitter to make the announcement with a teaser poster that featured a suit-clad Lisa against a bright red background, revealing the album’s title and expected drop date — and sending fans into an understandable frenzy. “MARK YOUR CALENDARS, GAY NATION! WE ARE GETTING THE COMEBACK OF THE YEAR,” a fan announced on Twitter upon reading the news. “We all better secure our wigs, save some voice for upcoming screaming infront [sic] of the screen and prepare our souls cause BLACKPINK is going HARD this time,” another blink proclaimed. The album is no small feat. Not only will it be the first release from the group since the viral "DDU-DU DDU-DU" took over the K-pop scene (and beyond) last summer, it will also mark their debut since signing to Interscope Records and Universal Music Group. Plus, the album will come just one week before the group is set to make a historic appearance at Coachella, becoming the first female K-pop act to ever perform at the popular festival — the same performance that will mark their U.S. debut. As expected, the date selection doesn’t quite seem to be a coincidence, and fans have some questions. “April is BLACKPINK's comeback, April is the coachella month. Are we gonna see the girls performing their new track in coachella? Hmmm…” one user wondered. It’s unclear whether BLACKPINK will be performing the new music at Chella, though we certainly hope so. Not much else has been revealed about the upcoming album, but YG released a statement alongside the poster that heralds a “more intense” future for the four musicians, which wouldn’t come as much of a surprise looking at their previous record progression. “Blackpink got darker and darker [...] new era's coming,” a fan wrote anticipating BLACKPINK’s future chapter. Per a translation of the statement, choreography for the songs included in the EP is also “expected to be more dynamic than the choreography of any song that Blackpink has introduced and will meet the expectation and eye level of fans around the world." The group is also reportedly working on new music videos, which are expected to drop soon. 2019 is certainly looking like BLACKPINK’s year. Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the Teen Vogue daily email. Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: These Young Girls Flawlessly Recreated a BLACKPINK Video and the Internet Is Obsessed<doc-sep>Getty Images Blackpink are about to unleash new music with an upcoming mini album. The South Korean girl group, one of the hottest acts in K-pop right now, announced they will be dropping new tracks at the end of March. They've yet to reveal a title or concept for the album, but that's all the more reason for Blinks around the world to get excited. A Blackpink representative reported to Naver, "While we can’t yet reveal the exact comeback date, it’s true that we are filming the music video for the new song this week." Honestly, there's never been a more exciting time to be a Blink, and given the girls' aesthetic-laden videos for hits like "As If It's Your Last" and "Whistle," we can't wait to see what Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé, and Lisa have planned for us. Though the group has been hitting the American talk show circuit with their first-ever performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, this will be their first new music release in nine months. Previously, they dropped their full-length Japanese album BLACKPINK IN YOUR AREA back in 2018, which spawned bangers like "Boombayah" and "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du." They also continued their hotly anticipated U.S. takeover with their morning show debut on Good Morning America back in February. With the new songs on the way, Blackpink is going to be hitting the global market hard. The girls have a jam-packed schedule over the next few months, as they'll be descending upon Coachella this April and then heading out on their first North American tour on April 17. They'll begin in Los Angeles, and then travel to Chicago, Newark, and Atlanta — and Blinks have their hammers ready. If you're still new to Blackpink, make sure you brush up on everything there is to know about the group before it's time to memorize another set of fan chants. We suggest starting with "Whistle" to get those Blink juices flowing again.<doc-sep>

Blackpink are back, and they're more lethal than ever. It's been nine months since the release of their last single, and now the K-pop quartet are ready to take the world by storm with their forthcoming album, Kill This Love. South Korean entertainment company YG Entertainment made it official on Sunday (March 24) with a teaser image of youngest member Lisa — and a release date announcement. The mini album is set to drop on April 5, which is already less than a month away. The teaser features a sultry image of Lisa front and center with glossy hair, striking pink lipstick, and a navy blue pinstripe blazer adorned with white diamonds on a blood red background — possibly a nod to the title track's upcoming music video. According to a report by YG's CEO Yang Min Suk, Blackpink have already filmed the music video, and now we just have to wait for it to drop alongside the new album in April — before Blackpink kick off their U.S. tour. "Blackpink's new song is a song that is even more powerful than 'DDU-DU DDU-DU.' Blackpink worked with four world-class choreographers for this comeback, so the choreography for this comeback will be more dynamic than any other Blackpink song before," said YG Entertainment in a statement. That's all we know so far; the number of tracks and their titles have yet to be released. But we do know that the new album will drop just in time for the group to descend upon Coachella on April 12, so it's likely that Kill This Love will make the festival set list. Following Coachella, the girls are also set to embark on their first North American tour on April 17, which kicks off in Los Angeles. From there, they'll stop at Chicago, Newark, and Atlanta. Still cementing your status as a new Blink? Read up on everything you need to know about Blackpink before the new album drops. Also, check out "As If It's Your Last," one of the group's hit singles. As of March 24, it became the latest Blackpink video — following "DDU-DU DDU-DU" — to reach 550 million views on YouTube. Their star keeps rising, and we can't wait to see where they go next.

The casket of late Aretha Franklin arrives at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History for a viewing on August 28, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (CNN) — Sabrina Owens started to consider how to bid her beloved aunt Aretha Franklin farewell before the world even knew the legendary singer was ill. “I tend to be a very organized person,” Owens said. “I started thinking about this back in January, because a bunch of family members were headed out of the country in a few months and I was worried something might happen while everyone was away.” The intensely private Franklin family went public earlier this month with the news that the woman known as “The Queen of Soul” was gravely ill and receiving hospice care. Days later she died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Franklin was 76. Everything in excellence Owens told CNN a great deal of thought has gone into how to honor her aunt, who, she said, didn’t leave behind any final instructions. Franklin’s family has been intent on doing everything in the excellent manner the singer was known for, her niece said. “We know that she would have wanted nothing but the best,” Owens said. “She gave the best, she expected the best and she would want her fans to have the best.” The result has been a week’s worth of activities in Franklin’s hometown of Detroit meant to pay homage to a woman who helped define the city. Franklin began lying in repose at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit Tuesday. Aretha Franklin fans gather for public viewing in Detroit Her body – clothed in red from head to toe to pay tribute to her honorary membership in the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and surrounded by massive rose floral arrangements – will then be transported for a four-hour viewing Thursday at the parish where her father once pastored, New Bethel Baptist Church. A special concert titled “A People’s Tribute to the Queen” will be held Thursday night at Chene Park Detroit Amphitheater, followed by a star-studded funeral set for Friday at 10 a.m. at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit. Owens said a group of family, friends and supporters dubbed “Aretha’s angels” have worked tirelessly to pull it all together. “I know people think two weeks is a long time to arrange all this, but it’s really not with all that has to be done,” Owens said. “Two weeks seems like a lot of time, but you need that time in order to do this right.” Working together There has been a great deal of coordination between the family, the museum, the funeral home, the church where the funeral will take place and the city of Detroit. George Hamilton, interim director and board member for the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, said they are used to serving the public. After all, more than 300,000 visitors a year come through the museum’s doors to view exhibits such as “And Still We Rise: Our Journey Through African American History and Culture,” a 22,000 square foot exhibition that tells the story of the African-American journey from Africa to present day. But Hamilton said being a part of the home-going activities for a star of Franklin’s magnitude has been quite different. “There are some challenges in hosting an event for an international jewel of a performer like Aretha Franklin,” Hamilton said. “She is, after all, a queen.” Hamilton added that every detail – from additional security to how much water would be needed for the parched crowds standing in the heat – had been accounted for. Most importantly, he said, has been delivering what the family wants. “The position we have taken is honoring the family’s wishes,” Hamilton said. “Their direction has been that they want this to be an opportunity for the public and her fans to offer their respects. We all came together pretty quickly for the Queen to make sure that happened.” O’Neil Swanson II of the Swanson Funeral Home handed out memorial cards Tuesday to those waiting to view Franklin’s body. He talked to CNN about all the work that has gone into making this week run smoothly. “You know the saying ‘Leave no stone unturned?’ That’s exactly what you have to do,” he said. “You have to coordinate with law enforcement to make sure routes are clear for the funeral service. It’s important to contact the clergy that’s going to be involved in the service.” A special hearse transported Aretha Franklin “So a lot of that includes planning,” Swanson added. “And, of course, she was such a unique person who impacted lives, not only in Detroit, but in this country and really all over the world.” Not just a star Owens said she drew inspiration from the various parts of Franklin’s life to aid in her planning. Franklin’s songs and appearances with Martin Luther King Jr. helped to make her one of the faces of the Civil Rights Movement and her niece said she thought of Detroit’s first black mayor Coleman A. Young and civil rights icon Rosa Park’s services when she decided to have Franklin lie in repose. The tribute concert planned for Thursday celebrates her dedication to the industry she inhabited for more than six decades and Owens said the funeral service itself will pay homage to Franklin’s gospel roots and her love of church. “We knew we wanted to have certain gospel artists like The Williams Brothers and Pastor Shirley Caesar,” Owens said. “And there were other people who called us wanting to participate.” Ariana Grande added to Aretha Franklin’s funeral Knowing that they wanted to keep the funeral service private for friends, family and special guests made the family sensitive to providing Franklin’s fans an extended opportunity to say goodbye, Owens explained. And in the midst of all the planning, the family still hasn’t had time to grasp that the matriarch of their family, who loved them fiercely and would often text, is no longer here to share her wisdom. “We really haven’t not had much of an opportunity to have private moments,” Owens said. “I know the world lost the Queen, but her sons lost their mother, her nieces and nephews lost their aunt … we lost a family member and we haven’t had a chance to come together as a group to truly realize that we have lost one who loved us so much and was so loyal to us.” “It’s going to be very difficult after all this is over and people have all gone away,” Owens added. So how are they holding it all together and getting it all done? Owens said it’s all come together with a bit of divine assistance. “We are being guided by the hand of God,” Owens said. “Guided by God and by Aretha Franklin.”<doc-sep>The 1940s vehicle brings Aretha Franklin's casket for a public viewing Tuesday at a Detroit museum. (CNN) — The hearse that brought Aretha Franklin’s body to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit on Tuesday has historical significance. The ivory, two-door 1940 Cadillac LaSalle also transported the body of Franklin’s beloved father, the legendary pastor and civil rights figure the Rev. C.L. Franklin, decades ago. “Ironically around this time,” funeral director O’Neil Swanson II told CNN. “He died in July 1984.” Aretha Franklin died August 16 of pancreatic cancer. The “Queen of Soul” was 76. This week, Franklin’s home city of Detroit has transformed into a massive tribute to the beloved singer. The vehicle that carried Franklin’s body Tuesday also transported civil rights icon Rosa Parks in 2005 and Temptations singer David Ruffin in 1991. Swanson, whose family has been in the funeral services business for 60 years, said they were “honored to be able to help,” as they did when Franklin lost her dad. Crowds gathered to view the singer lying in repose inside the museum. Fans gather to view Aretha Franklin’s body in Detroit The hearse arrived early Tuesday. A group of pallbearers wearing dark suits and white gloves escorted the casket inside the museum. The sight sparked a great deal of emotion. JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/AFP/Getty Images The late singer's casket arrives Tuesday at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. “I was so stunned when we took the body out of the hearse; people all over the crowd were tearful and saying, ‘I love you Aretha, “’ Swanson said. “They really loved her, and she loved Detroit.” He said Franklin is resting in a 24-karat, gold-plated casket that’s the top of the line. “God didn’t make a better singer. and there isn’t a better casket,” Swanson said. “She deserves the very best.”<doc-sep>At Tuesday's public visitation for Aretha Franklin at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, some cultural news quietly broke. An exhibition titled "Think," described as a tribute to the Queen of Soul, is opening Sept. 21 at the Wright Museum. It will run through Jan. 21. The announcement was printed on the back of memorial cards handed out to fans who lined up to pay their respects to Franklin, whose public viewing will continue at the Midtown landmark from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday before moving to New Bethel Baptist Church from noon-4 p.m. Thursday. The Wright Museum exhibit will feature photographs and personal items that help put Franklin's many artistic and cultural achievements into context. "Our goal is to showcase Aretha Franklin as the legendary singer she was and as a fashion icon, but also to spotlight her impact as an activist for civil rights," says Delisha Upshaw, the director of marketing and communications for the Wright Museum. Mourning the Queen of Soul: Visitation continues Sorority gives final rite to Aretha Franklin The exhibition is being put together rapidly as an homage to the legendary Detroit singer, who died on Aug. 16. It will be done in close cooperation with Franklin's family. Upshaw says the Wright Museum is deeply honored to be the site of Franklin's public viewing. With the museum's usual exhibit space closed during the public visitation, "Think" will allow fans to return and take what Upshaw calls "a deeper dive" into Franklin's remarkable life story. More information is expected soon on specific details of the exhibition. Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds: 313-222-6427 or jhinds@freepress.com.<doc-sep>

Detroit continues to say goodbye to the Queen of Soul on Wednesday as public visitation for Aretha Franklin is held again at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Franklin lay in honor for a second day at the Wright Museum, after thousands of fans and mourners waited in line on Tuesday for their chance to bid farewell. Wednesday's visitation ends at 9 p.m. The museum will be handing out water and port-a-potties will be available for well-wishers. Franklin was dressed in a sheer light blue dress and matching shoes, mourners said, after wearing red on the first day. Gale Smith arrived 5 hours early, starting the line outside the museum at about 4 a.m. "I love Aretha," said Smith, a 56-year-old Detroiter. "She's done a lot for Detroit, the civil rights movement. She opened a lot of doors for women. ... I just love her. I imitate her a lot in the mirror." By 6:30 a.m., vendors were setting up souvenir tables and about 75 mourners were in line to pay their respects to Franklin, including Hermenia Wilson, 58, of Cincinnati. "I've listened to her since I was a little girl," Wilson said, adding that she related to the Queen of Soul's music, which was all about relationships, respect and love. "When I see her I just want to say to her, rest in peace. I love you and now you're free," Wilson said. Here's the schedule for the rest of this week: Thursday Visitation moves to New Bethel Baptist Church, founded by Aretha Franklin's father, the late Rev. C.L. Franklin, which will host its viewing from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday. The New Bethel viewing was added to the celebration of her life to help members of the congregation who may face difficulty attending the bigger museum event. Then at 6 p.m. Thursday, the Aretha Franklin tribute concert, dubbed "A People's Tribute to the Queen" begins at 6 p.m. at Chene Park Amphitheatre, 2600 Atwater St., Detroit. Aretha's funeral procession: 7 Mile, Woodward Aretha Franklin's funeral will be broadcast live Aretha's funeral: List of 19 performers revealed Friday Former President Bill Clinton, lifelong friend Smokey Robinson, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and recording mogul Clive Davis are among a list of high-profile speakers who plan to attend a private funeral service for Franklin, which starts at 10 a.m. at Greater Grace Temple, 23500 W. Seven Mile Road, Detroit. Aretha Franklin funeral and tribute: Key details, locations and more

According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, the second year of Avery Bradley’s reported 2-year, $25 million contract with the Clippers is only partially guaranteed. We don’t know the exact terms of Bradley’s new contract, but with Lowe reporting that a total of $14 million is guaranteed, we can finally take a decent stab at guessing. The second year of Avery Bradley's two-year, $25 million deal with the Clippers is only partially guaranteed, league sources say. Acts almost as a team option. If Clips decide not to guarantee Year 2, Bradley will receive a total of $14 million for one season of play. — Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) July 3, 2018 My immediate reaction to the reported two-year deal was a hunch that this would be the case—but with the details unconfirmed, I was driving myself a little crazy worrying that it could be fully guaranteed for both seasons. Thankfully, it took Lowe less than 24 hours to track down the partial guarantee and share it with us. Because of NBA rules that limit raises (or decreases) in bird rights contracts to 8%, the Clippers and Bradley have a narrow range across which the $25 million in this deal can be distributed. The contract can start at $12 million and be raised to $12.96 million in year two (essentially totaling $25 million), in which case $2 million of the second-year salary would be guaranteed to meet the reported $14 million total. Or, the Clippers may have shrewdly decided to do the reverse, paying Bradley $13 million in year 1 and $11.96 million in year two, making the final season only $1 million guaranteed. That would even further mitigate the downside of adding a partial guarantee. A third option would be a flat contract at $12.5 million in each season, in which case $1.5 million would be guaranteed in year 2. Those terms remain to be seen, as well as what Bradley’s guarantee date is on the second year of his contract. If his deal becomes guaranteed before free agency, the Clippers would need to make a decision blind ahead of free agency, but if his guarantee date is in mid-July, LAC could choose to hang out to Bradley until they were certain they had a better use for that money. A couple days ago, I wrote about some of the Clippers’ different options with Bradley’s bird rights, including this section on re-signing him to a short-term deal: Bradley’s bird rights allow the team to re-sign him to a mutually agreeable contract in addition to using their mid-level exception and bi-annual exception on outside free agents at positions of need. That means that the real opportunity cost here isn’t financial, it’s in terms of minutes and roster spots. We’re assuming that Patrick Beverley and Lou Williams will be back in major roles next season, so keeping Avery around will make all of the Clippers’ young guards compete for one rotation spot, basically meaning that only one of Gilgeous-Alexander and Robinson will be able to earn minutes. It also makes it incredibly unlikely that all three of Jawun Evans, Sindarius Thornwell, and Tyrone Wallace will be able to be on the roster next season—the team can carry 7 guards if they have to, but carrying eight would make for an irresponsibly unbalanced roster. For those reasons, I don’t expect the Clippers to keep Avery around on the sizable multi-year deal that he’s going to want. But, if he doesn’t find that kind of contract elsewhere, he could very well end up stuck with only mid-level exception offers. The Clippers can beat that on a one-year deal where Bradley can rebuild his value for next summer’s free agency. If he plays well, he’ll have positive trade value at the deadline, and if he doesn’t, he can come off the books next summer. The upsides and downsides of this deal remain the same—although the more team-friendly Bradley’s contract is (guarantee amount and guarantee date), the better. The partial guarantee on the second season essentially functions as a team option, which adds a lot of value for any team acquiring Bradley in a trade—he is neither a half-season rental nor someone they have to make a multi-year commitment to. The Clippers were able to use Bradley’s bird rights to beat out the MLE offers he was getting from other teams, and negotiate a higher salary in exchange for the team-friendly partial guarantee in year 2. Bradley is likely going to be the team’s starter at shooting guard, which is a helpful talent boost to have if the Clippers are able to land Kawhi Leonard via trade this off-season. There’s some downside to the move, though. Generally speaking, the minor guaranteed money next summer is negligible. While every small bit of money adds up, especially when the Clippers are trying to potentially open two max salary slots, between $1-2M of dead money on Avery Bradley will almost certainly never impact the Clippers’ free agency plans. For a price tag that small, even if no team wants Avery on their roster, the Clippers will easily be able to send Bradley’s contract to be waived by a team with cap room along with cash to cover the guaranteed portion of his salary and a second-round pick for eating that money as a cap hit. So the worst-case cost of this deal is that the Clippers have to send out a cash and a second-round pick next summer, and only if they fail to move Bradley at the deadline and are lucky enough to lure the kind of free agents that would require opening two max salary slots next summer. However, Bradley has downside in some other areas. The Clippers now have three entrenched veteran guards in Bradley, starting point guard Patrick Beverley, and reigning sixth man of the year Lou Williams. That leaves limited minutes available for guard prospects like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jerome Robinson, Tyrone Wallace, Jawun Evans, and Sindarius Thornwell. Not only does it deprive those players a chance to develop in games, but Bradley’s presence also likely makes the Clippers better, hurting their chances in the NBA Draft Lottery.<doc-sep>Paul Sancya/Associated Press The Los Angeles Clippers and guard Avery Bradley agreed to a two-year, $25 million contract late Monday night, according to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports. The 27-year-old made $8.8 million in 2017-18 as a member of the Detroit Pistons and Clippers. He signed a four-year, $32 million extension that started in 2014-15, which was seen as a risk at the time but proved shrewd amid the leaguewide cap explosion. Contracts such as Bradley's opened up space for the Celtics to pursue big-name free agents, landing Al Horford in 2016. Boston then cut bait last summer a year before Bradley hit free agency, sending him to Detroit for Marcus Morris to clear space for Gordon Hayward. There were rumblings Bradley had grown unhappy with his contract throughout his time in Boston. With lesser players signing deals for upward of $15 million per season, it stood to reason that he could more than double his salary when he hit the market. Unfortunately, the 2017-18 season depressed his value. He struggled on both ends of the floor with the Pistons before a trade to the Clippers, and his campaign ended due to injury after a nine-game Los Angeles stint. Bradley averaged 14.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 41.4 percent from the floor. Video Play Button Videos you might like The Clippers will hope Bradley returns to his 2016-17 form, when he was one of the league's best three-and-D players with the Boston Celtics. He averaged 16.3 points and 6.1 boards during that campaign while also earning All-Defensive first-team honors.<doc-sep>The Los Angeles Clippers re-signed Avery Bradley, but is his past merit enough to warrant this new deal? The Los Angeles Clippers and guard Avery Bradley have agreed to a two-year, $25 million contract, per Shams Charania of Yahoo! Sports. This deal was overshadowed by the news of DeMarcus Cousins’ agreeing to join the Golden State Warriors, reported a little over four hours earlier. Even before Cousins, it was already understood that the Pacific Division would be significantly stronger with LeBron James signing with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Phoenix Suns have also made moves throughout the offseason, starting by taking Deandre Ayton with the first overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft and signing Trevor Ariza in free agency. Lottery teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies all made solid additions through the draft and will be competitive if healthy. It’s unlikely the Clippers remain in the playoff race in the Wild West. That’s why they drafted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson with the No. 11 and 13 picks in the draft, respectively. They also let All-Star DeAndre Jordan walk in free agency. It was time for a rebuild, rather than continued mediocrity. With this in mind, retaining Bradley was not the right move for the Clippers. Here are three reasons why re-signing him won’t help the team’s future.<doc-sep>The Telegraph Two of the surprise packages of this clay-court season have been British – initially Dan Evans, who made a deep run in Monte Carlo, and more lately Cameron Norrie, who played his second final in three weeks on Sunday. Unfortunately, Norrie wasn’t able to land a maiden ATP title in Lyon. But then he was up against Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has been the dominant force of 2021 outside the slams, and now stands at No 1 in the table of most rankings points gained since January 1. Nevertheless, it had been a hugely creditable effort for Norrie to go this far, especially when you consider that he took out top seed Dominic Thiem on Thursday, and then trounced big-hitting Russian Karen Khachanov in Saturday’s semi-final, losing only two games in the process. Norrie has come to clay late in his career, but it feels like this is developing into his favourite surface. He has one of the heaviest left-handed forehands in the game, loaded with top-spin, and uses it like a miniature version of Rafael Nadal. The result has been a tally of 14 wins and only four losses since he began his European clay-court swing in Barcelona. So while the French Open, which starts next Sunday, has traditionally been a graveyard of British hopes, there are reasons to hope that this year’s event could deliver some more positive results. Norrie’s previous final in Estoril had been a nervewracking affair which he eventually lost on a deciding-set tie-break to the more experienced Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Sunday was more straightforward for Tsitsipas, who needed only 69 minutes to hammer home a 6-3, 6-3 victory. It was Tsitsipas’ second title of the clay-court sequence, after he won Monte Carlo in mid-April, taking out Evans in the semi-final along the way. He has become a serious contender to upset the establishment – specifically Nadal and Novak Djokovic – at Roland Garros over the next few weeks. “I felt in good shape from the beginning of the tournament,” said Tsitsipas afterwards. “I am proud of today’s match, I knew it would be a difficult one against Cameron, who has been showing great tennis this week. He has been winning against good players and showing what the left hand can do on clay. “It was not an easy match today. I had to handle the nerves and I am proud of my performance and the way I stayed focused towards my goal.” On this year’s results, meanwhile, both Evans and Norrie stand among the world’s 20 most successful men. Evans is at No 16 and Norrie No 14. The next challenge for them both is to convert that ATP Tour form into a deep run at a major.<doc-sep>

Avery Bradley won't be switching uniforms this offseason. According to a report from Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports, Bradley has agreed to a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers worth $25 million. From Charania: "Free-agent guard Avery Bradley has agreed to a two-year, $25 million deal to return to the Los Angeles Clippers, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Bradley was acquired by the Clippers in January in the trade that sent Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons. Bradley averaged 9.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in six games for the Clippers before his season ended in February because of abdominal surgery. In eight NBA seasons, Bradley has established himself as a strong two-way player. He has made two NBA All-Defensive teams in his career, first team in 2016 and second team in 2013. Bradley was the No. 19 overall pick to the Boston Celtics in 2010 out of the University of Texas. He played seven seasons with the Celtics and was traded to the Detroit Pistons last offseason for Marcus Morris." The Clippers are clearly going through a rebuild of sorts after losing Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan over the course of a year, but the team clearly likes what Bradley brings to the table as a player that can produce on both ends of the floor. Earlier this year, Bradley discussed his reputation as a defensive stopper. "It's a blessing and a curse," Bradley said of being labeled as a 'defender', via CBS Sports. "I always tell people that. Whenever I come into a situation, you might have a guy that just plays, that's just a good offensive scorer on the team. I feel like I'm one of the rare cases in this league of a two-way player. I feel like it's hard for certain people to be able to coach me because of that. If you have a guy that just can score, you almost want, everybody has to be inserted in different roles. Sometimes I feel like my defense is so elite that sometimes my offense gets put on the backburner. Boston was a good situation for me, but I think it was over time they were able to understand what they had." Bradley played for Clippers coach Doc Rivers for three years in Boston, and as a result a mutual respect has developed between the two. "We understand each other on and off the court," Bradley said of Rivers. "I think it's mutual respect." Bradley will now get to work with Rivers for two more years.

West Brom's start to life in the EFL Championship may have begun with a defeat to Bolton, but their opening day of the season was not a total disappointment. Saturday's game at The Hawthorns saw the club unveil 'Boiler Man', West Brom's new mascot following their sponsorship deal with Hull-based company Ideal Boilers. West Brom announced the lucrative two-year sponsorship agreement with Ideal Boilers back in May and the company's logo is now the main sponsor on West Brom's match shirts and training kit. A statement on West Brom's website confirmed the news by saying: “With a history dating back to 1906, Ideal can claim a rich heritage just like the Baggies. “Since those early days, Ideal have grown to employ 1,100 staff and develop a turnover of £435m, garnering multiple awards as millions of their products have found their way into British homes and businesses.”<doc-sep>IN the 1800s, when mascots were first introduced to sport, they were real life animals designed to strike fear into the opposition. On Saturday, some 200 years later, West Brom sent new mascot 'Boiler Man' out the Hawthorns tunnel ahead of the Bolton game. The Baggies lost 2-1. 8 West Brom have a new mascot and it's called 'Boiler Man' Credit: Twitter @MikeyGregory It is a weird and, very occasionally, wonderful world when it comes to mascots. Here, SunSport takes a look at the strangest examples from around the sporting globe, from the Scottish Premier League to the NBA in Louisiana. Stanford Tree - Stanford University He may look harmless but Stanford Tree, the unofficial mascot of Stanford University, shot to fame when he was fined by the college for "cavorting" at the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. An article by Deadspin, titled 'Horny, Inebriated Stanford Tree A Menace to Decent Society', listed his misdemeanours including being arrested, fined and banned by the NCAA. 8 Stanford Tree has quite a history of trouble Credit: Getty - Contributor King Baby - New Orleans Pelicans Going back to tradition, there are few things more terrifying than an eight-foot, giant-headed baby zipping around on a scooter, wearing little more than a nappy and tiny crown. That's what the NBA teams that travel to New Orleans Arena have to face. 8 Not many fans will want to be confronted by King Baby Credit: NBA Classic - Getty Superfrog - TCU Horned Frogs At first glance, the Raiders' chief cheerleader appears to offer some normality - as far as you can get when it comes to mascots. He seems, at a distance, to be a muscular rhino, sent to terrify the opposing team. But no. Take a closer look and you've got a grey horned piece of pond life named 'Superfrog'. Worry not. 8 Superfrog gets weirder the closer you get Credit: Getty - Contributor Kingsley - Patrick Thistle There's definitely fear here: fear of the unknown. Quite what Kingsley, Partick Thisle's bright yellow mascot, is will always end in head scratching. At best bet, we're looking at a half-made sun that constantly frowns as he prepares to gnaw on any opponent that crosses the touchline. Best to take your sunglasses to Firhill Stadium with you - if only to avoid eye contact. 8 Kingsley is the strangest this Scottish football has ever produced WuShock - Wichita State Shockers Aptly nicknamed the Shockers, Wichita State men's basketball team did a good job when it came to their mascot. What WuShock is nobody truly knows. Possibly the long lost evil cousin of the Bananas in Pyjamas, who took a wrong turning when coming down the stairs. His bashed up head and mop of hair must be rather disturbing for visitors to the Scottrade Center. 8 Does anybody know what WuShock is? Credit: Getty Images - Getty Suri - Copa America 2011 No individual has to take responsibility for this one. In cartoons, he was bizarre. In real life, he was unsettling at best. The long-necked bird with dilated pupils and pointy beak was one of the more forgettable parts of Copa America in 2011. It is now, thankfully, extinct. 8 Suri is extinct after the Copa America 2011 Credit: AFP - Getty Saluki - Southern Illinois Salukis You wouldn't want to come face-to-face with this hound. Baring his teeth, Saluki ticks the boxes for mascots. Although his floppy ears do more resemble a pony-tailed man adamant that his hair isn't receding.<doc-sep>F ootball fans are in awe of West Bromwich Albion's new talismanic mascot, a combi boiler. Boiler Man, aka Colin the Combi, sent fans wild when he appeared at West Brom's Championship game against Bolton yesterday. The Baggies lost 2-1 but fans were distracted and left "lost for words" at the sight of a grown man dressed as a boiler wearing a baseball cap. Jack Corcoran wrote online: "The only positive thing about today's match was that we now have the best mascot in the league." Elliot Hackney wrote: "Just had my weekend made finding out West Brom’s new mascot is Boiler Man." Ste Hoare posted: "West Brom having a Boiler as a mascot is the highlight of the year. Might as well jib the entire season off, nothing is going to top that. " Boiler man delighted fans by waddling up and down the touchline during yesterday's game, shaking his rear towards Bolton fans. Boiler man is already being embraced by fans as a "national icon." Sky Sports pundits were overheard after the game saying: "West Brom may have been beaten but they have certainly caused a stir in the ground, on social media, about their new mascot, "That is their new mascot ladies and gentlemen. That's a mascot. It's a boiler. That's as a result of a new sponsorship deal. What do you think of that? They've got a boiler as a mascot. A boiler. A boiler John."<doc-sep>

West Bromwich Albion's new 'Boiler Man' mascot has people extremely confused Bet he was boiling in that outfit... The Football League season began today, and with it a few new names. West Brom played their first game in the second flight for eight years after a toothless relegation from the Premier League last season. The Baggies lost to Bolton 2-1 thanks to an 89th minute goal from Bolton substitute Yanic Wildschut, but incredibly that was not the most surprising part of the game. No, that came on the touchline, in the form of West Brom's new mascot, who is a boiler. Yeah, the thing that heats the water in your house. A big, white, square boiler. West Brom’s new mascot is a combi boiler... 😳 pic.twitter.com/pMDggOXNW4 — Football Mumble (@football_mumble) August 4, 2018 Usually, mascots come in the form of people in animal costumes. Pete and Alice the Eagles at Crystal Palace, for example. Fred the Red. Gunnersaurus. There's a generic formula and it works. But West Brom decided to shake things up this season and have a household appliance cheering them on from the side of the pitch. There is a reason behind this, obviously, though it remains really fucking weird. West Brom's new prinipal sponsor is Ideal Boilers and as part of the deal, the Baggies appear to have agreed to advertise the company's product on a matchday by dressing someone up as a boiler. The poor soul who was stuck in the outfit this afternoon did make the most of his chance to entertain the fans. Somebody had to, etc. etc.

A duck boat on Table Rock Lake, about 18 miles from Branson, Missouri, capsized, leaving dozens of people in the water. Early reports indicated that six people were killed, but the Stone County Sheriff later confirmed that eight people had died. That number has since been increased to 17. It is believed that a storm caused the accident. According to local weather stations, there had been wind gusts of more than 60 mph at the time the boat capsized. Strong winds can greatly impact water vessels, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. “According to the most recent Coast Guard accident data, nearly three percent of all recreational boating accidents are directly related to severe weather conditions that can quickly overwhelm smaller craft. Some thunderstorms, for example, create microbursts – intense downdrafts over an area a half-mile to three miles wide capable of producing wind gusts from 60 mph to more than 100 mph. Microbursts can capsize a small boat or blow a passenger overboard,” according to the United States Coast Guard’s Boating Safety. There is also some scanner audio that suggests that there may have been a tornado in the area, but that has not been confirmed at this time. “Need a water rescue. Will be north of the show boats. Will be a duck that has capsized. We have approximately 30 individuals in the water,” a dispatcher says in the early scanner audio of the tragedy. You can listen to that audio below. VideoVideo related to table rock lake duck boat accident cause believed to be severe weather 2018-07-19T21:37:38-04:00 “Major wind causes major incident on Table Rock Lake, Branson. Ride the Ducks capsized 30 people in the water, Other boater Problems, Showboat Branson Bell Staging Area and State Park over six fatalities. Divers searching. Also other area damage,” the scanner audio caption on Broadcastify said. Duck boats are designed to both drive on land and to travel in the water. They are very popular amongst tourists. It’s unclear how the wind may have flipped the boat. A line of severe thunderstorms moved through the area about an hour ago, but it’s unclear if that weather system may have impacted the Table Rock Lake area. “Crews from multiple agencies are on scene of an MCI ‘Mass Casualty Incident’ ‘tourist type boat involved’ this is on Table Rock Lake, Stone County, Branson, Missouri. Taney County assisting. Several patients transported to area hospital. Divers on scene. Staging at Branson Belle. However the Branson Belle is not involved. More info to follow. 8:20pm PIO E. Nielsen,” read a Facebook post from the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District. The company that is believed to own the duck boat that capsized, “Ride the Ducks,” has not released a statement of any kind. “Ride through the scenic Ozarks on our amphibian Duck that goes right from land into the river. Climb to the top of the Mountain, discover the history behind some of America’s unique military vehicles then splashdown and cruise Table Rock Lake. Drive the duck a little if you want. Quack along with the captain and the music aboard this 70-minute Ozark adventure,” reads a description on the company’s website.<doc-sep>Crews raise duck boat from Table Rock lake Share Shares Copy Link Copy Hide Transcript Show Transcript WEBVTT BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE TODAY. BRETT: MARY BRISTOL DROVE 5 HOURS FROM ST, LOUIS TO SEE THIS -- FROM ST. LOUIS TO SEE THIS MEMORIAL HERE IN BRANSON. HER TWO FRIENDS WERE CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY BY RIDING THE DUCKS, BUT THEY NEVER RETURNED HOME. >> SHE TOLD MY SISTER BARB THAT SHE WAS COMING TO BRANSON TO RIDE THE DUCK BOAT BRETT: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME MARY BRISTOL HAS SEEN THE MAKESHIFT MEMORIAL THAT’S SET UP AT RIDE THE DUCKS IN BRANSON. IT’S WHERE ROSE HAMMAN AND WILLIAM ASHER BOARDED A DUCK BOAT TO CRUISE TABLE ROCK LAKE LAST THURSDAY EVENING. FRIENDS SAY THE ST. LOUIS COUPLE LOVED HELPING PEOPLE. >> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, AN ACCIDENT THAT PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. I’M JUST REALLY SHOCKED. I JUST COULDN’T BELIEVE IT. BRETT: TODAY, THE DUCK BOAT WAS HOISTED UP FROM ABOUT 80 FEET OF WATER. AS THE BOAT BROKE THE SURFACE, LIFE JACKETS COULD BE SEEN POPPING UP FROM THE WATER. INVESTIGATORS SAY REGULATIONS REQUIRE A FLOTATION DEVICE FOR EVERY PASSENGER, BUT THE REGULATIONS DO NOT SAY THEY MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES. THE DECISION TO DON THOSE PFD’S IS AN OPERATIONAL DECISION MADE BY THE CAPTAIN ON BOARD. BRETT: NOW INVESTIGATORS ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHY THE PASSENGERS WEREN’T WEARING LIFE JACKETS, EVEN AS THE BOAT STARTED TO SINK. IT WAS ALL CAUGHT ON CAMERA BY A PERSON EATING DINNER FROM THE BRANSON BELL SHOWBOAT. INVESTIGATORS ARE ALSO ASKING WHY THE BOAT WAS ON THE WATER DURING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. WARNINGS WERE ISSUED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE BOAT WENT IN THE WATER. THE MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS IT APPEARED THE OPERATORS WERE TRYING TO BEAT THE WEATHER. MARY BRISTOL SAYS HER FRIENDS AND THE 15 OTHER VICTIMS SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED. >> I BELIEVE THEY’RE IN A GOOD PLACE RIGHT NOW. BRETT: SINCE WE’VE BEEN IN BRANSON, WE’VE SEEN THIS MEMORIAL CONTINUE TO GROW AS PEOPLE DROP OFF FLOWERS, CARDS AND STUFFED ANIMALS FOR THE CHILDREN WHO DIED. TODAY, THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED IT WILL PAY FUNERAL EXPENSES FOR THE 17 VICTIMS AS WELL AS TRAVEL AND LODGING EXPENSES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS. THE COMPANY WILL ALSO PAY FOR RECOVERING THE BOAT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Submit Privacy Notice<doc-sep>Park authorities said they're awaiting more information to decide if or when the rides will resume. DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Stone Mountain Park is suspending the use of its fleet of amphibious "duck boats" on the lake at the park, because of the tragedy in Missouri that claimed nearly 20 lives. A spokesperson for the park said on Friday that its "Ride the Ducks" attraction--which is owned and operated by Stone Mountain Park--had been put on hold until park administrators could gather more information. The decision comes after the transport, which has wheels but also has a boat-like body, capsized on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri. Of the 31 people aboard, 17 people were killed and others injured. The land-water vehicles make the news perennially for injuries and even deaths sometimes tied to their design. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the overhead canopies on the boats have contributed to passenger deaths by preventing people from escaping in emergencies. “Duck boats are death traps,” said Andrew Duffy, an attorney whose law firm Philadelphia law firm handled litigation related to two fatal duck boat accidents there. “They’re not fit for water or land because they are half car and half boat.” However, a more obvious factor may have been involved in the Thursday the deaths as well - weather. USA TODAY reports that the boat sank in several feet of water after a severe thunderstorm churned up 5-foot waves. The owner of Ride the Ducks in Branson later added in an interview that, in hindsight, the boat shouldn't have been on the water, but he defended not halting the tours. He claimed that the fast-moving storm came out of nowhere. However, 11Alive meteorologist Wes Peery said it's unlikely that they were unaware of the storm coming in. Peery said that a severe storm watch was in effect 7 hours before the boat capsized. And 30 minutes beforehand, the National Weather Service issued a severe storm warning with predictions of 60-plus mph winds. Here is the statement that Stone Mountain Park emailed to 11Alive News on Friday: "All of us at Stone Mountain Park are heartbroken about the accident that happened last evening on Ride the Ducks in Branson, Missouri. Our prayers are with the victims, their families and the team at Ripley Entertainment. "As always, safety is our top priority here at Stone Mountain Park. Therefore, we have suspended our Ride the Ducks operation until more information about the Branson tragedy becomes available."<doc-sep>

Governor on duck boat incident: Doesn't look good for survival From Southern Stone County Fire Protection District via Facebook: This is the staging area during the initial response to the "MCI" The Branson Belle was not involved in the incident. https://www.facebook.com/sscfpd/videos/10155428857546697/ Thee Southern Stone County Fire Protection District posted this video of the article scene at Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri. A duck boat that sank in Branson, Missouri, is raised out of the water. Thee Southern Stone County Fire Protection District posted this video of the article scene at Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri. (CNN) — For the latest developments on the duck boat sinking, please click here. A duck boat capsized and sank during a severe thunderstorm in Missouri, killing at least 11 people, some of them children, authorities said. Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader said 31 people were aboard the boat during Thursday night’s incident on Table Rock Lake near Branson. Six people are unaccounted for and 14 survived, he said. Video posted by Jennie Phillips-Hudson Carr and shot from a nearby larger vessel showed two duck boats rocking and tilting to the side as the lake’s ripples turned into massive waves. “Oh my God, those poor people, oh no!” someone says in the background as the water crashes into the bobbing boats. “If there’s kids on there, those poor babies,” a female voice says. Diving teams from various agencies scoured the waters for potential victims, and will resume again in the morning. CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Viewer captures trouble for 2 Ride the Ducks moments before sinking of one boat: https://t.co/kukkIEGybI — KY3 News (@kytv) July 20, 2018 The duck boat had life jackets An off-duty deputy working security helped rescue people, Rader said, without providing details. He said there were life jackets aboard the boat, but he doesn’t know whether people were wearing them. Ripley Entertainment, the parent company of Ride the Ducks Branson, said it recently acquired the vessel involved in the incident. It said there were other boats on the lake that returned to dock safely. Rader confirmed that there were two duck boats headed toward land, but one made it out safely. The amphibious boat travels on both land and water, and is popular among tourists in major cities. The boats’ history dates back to World War II, when such boats were a common sight due to their versatility. Severe thunderstorms hit Branson Branson was under a severe thunderstorm warning issued shortly before 6:30 p.m. local time, about half an hour before the boat capsized. There were numerous reports of damage throughout the county, including trees down and structural damage, said CNN meteorologist Taylor Ward. The highest wind gust reported in the area was 63 mph. “I believe it was caused by weather, yes,” said Rader, the sheriff. Gov. Mike Parson asked for prayers for first responders and those involved in the incident. The investigation will be conducted by the Coast Guard, said Sgt. Jason Pace of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which is assisting. A team from the National Transportation Safety Board will travel to the scene Friday morning. Branson is about 200 miles from Kansas City, and is considered a major family vacation destination. 27 reported tornadoes rip through Iowa CNN’s Deanna Hackney, Steve Almasy and Sheena Jones contributed to this report.